In the Bible, various kings were identified in the Book of Daniel that play a significant part in knowing how close we are to the end of times as we now know it.
Daniel 2:37- You, O king, the king of kings, you to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the might, and the strength and the dignity,
38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever the sons of mankind are dwelling, the beasts of the field and the winged creatures of the heavens, and whom he has made ruler over all of them, you yourself are the head of gold.
39 “And after you there will rise another kingdom inferior to you; and another kingdom, a third one, of copper, that will rule over the whole earth.
40 “And as for the fourth kingdom, it will prove to be strong like iron. Forasmuch as iron is crushing and grinding everything else, so, like iron that shatters, it will crush and shatter even all these.
41 “And whereas you beheld the feet and the toes to be partly of molded clay of a potter and partly of iron, the kingdom itself will prove to be divided, but somewhat of the hardness of iron will prove to be in it, forasmuch as you beheld the iron mixed with moist clay.
42 And as for the toes of the feet being partly of iron and partly of molded clay, the kingdom will partly prove to be strong and will partly prove to be fragile.
43 Whereas you beheld iron mixed with moist clay, they will come to be mixed with the offspring of mankind; but they will not prove to be sticking together, this one to that one, just as iron is not mixing with molded clay.
44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;
45 forasmuch as you beheld that out of the mountain a stone was cut not by hands, and [that] it crushed the iron, the copper, the molded clay, the silver and the gold. The grand God himself has made known to the king what is to occur after this. And the dream is reliable, and the interpretation of it is trustworthy.”
46 At that time King Neb·u·chad·nez′zar himself fell down upon his face, and to Daniel he paid homage, and he said to offer even a present and incense to him.
47 The king was answering Daniel and saying: “Truly the God of YOU men is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a Revealer of secrets, because you were able to reveal this secret.”
48 Consequently the king made Daniel someone great, and many big gifts he gave to him, and he made him the ruler over all the jurisdictional district of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 And Daniel, for his part, made a request of the king, and he appointed over the administration of the jurisdictional district of Babylon Sha′drach, Me′shach and A·bed′ne·go, but Daniel was in the court of the king.
Revelation 17:9-11 says, “Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. 10 And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while. 11 And the wild beast that was but is not, it is also itself an eighth [king], but springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction.
In the bible, Mountains are identified as governments. Hills are identified as smaller governments such as cities, states etc.
These historical kings are not all of the kings of their empires that have ruled over the course of history, but they are the only kings described in the Book of Daniel that have significance to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It is critical to identify them in knowing where we stand in the understanding of this prophecy. So far all eight kings that have been identified are:
1st King - Egypt - 3150B.C.E. - 30B.C.E. (Others say it was about 2650 B.C.E. to 2150 B.C.E.)
2nd King - Assyria - 900 B.C.E. to 600 B.C.E.
3rd King - Babylon - 626 B.C.E. to 539 B.C.E. (only 87 years)
4th King - Medo Persia - Around 550 B.C.E. - Around 350 B,C,E,
5th King - Greece - Unknown 800 B,C.E.? (But since other world powers were in place according to world history, Greece must have only ruled from . . .) 350 B.C.E. to 146 B.C.E.
6th King - Rome - (The legendary starting of Rome was 753 B.C.E.) 212 B.C.E. to 565 C.E. (The Romans conquer Saguntum from the Carthaginians in 212 B.C.E.) (With the death of Justinian I after 38 years ruling the Roman Empire.)
7th King - Anglo-American dual world power. America & Great Britain - Britain came on the world scene in 1707 later joined by America around 1898. They (America & Great Britain) became a dual world power since then.
8th King - Initially, The League of Nations (began January 10, 1920) replaced by The United Nations (UN) on October 24, 1945.
The Kingdom that will crush all these kings is identified in Daniel 2:44. It is the same kingdom that Jesus prayed for in Matthew 6:9 to rule over earth as it does in the heavens.
These are the list of WORLD POWERS OF DANIEL’S PROPHECY
The immense image (Daniel 2:31-45)
1. EGYPT
2. ASSYRIA
3. BABYLONIA during 607 B.C.E. – 632 B.C.E.
4. MEDO-PERSIA during 525 B.C.E. - 539 B.C.E.
5. GREECE from 331 B.C.E.
6. ROME from 30 B.C.E.
7. ANGLO-AMERICAN DUAL WORLD POWER from 1763 C.E. (some say 1898) to present.
For a look into all the Dynasties of the world, see the next post entitled, "World Dynasty's in order of their appearance"
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
World Dynasty's in order of their appearance
Based on the information I have researched, this is a list of all the Empires that have had an affect on human history. In the coming months, I intend to list the years that they were in power as well as a little about their dynasty's an the affect they had on humanity while they were in power.
1. Sumer and Akkad
2. Elam
3. Hurrian kingdoms
4. Assyria
5. Hittite Empire
6. Median Empire 625-550BCE
7. Achaemenid Empire 559-330BCE
8. Parthian Empire
9. Sassanid Empire
10. Ancient Africa
11. Ancient Egypt
12. Kush
13. Aksumite Empire
14. Greek powers 800BCE – 146BCE
15. Athens 480BCE – 404BCE
16. Sparta
17. Macedonia
18. Hellenistic Kingdoms
19. Seleucid Empire
20. Ptolemaic Egypt
21. Carthage
22. Ancient India
23. Nanda Empire
24. Maurya Empire
25. Sunga Empire
26. Satavahana Empire
27. Gupta Empire
28. Pāla Empire
29. Ancient China
30. Qin Dynasty
31. Han Dynasty 206 BC – AD 220
32. Xiongnu
33. Roman Empire 27BCE –
34. Hunnic Empire 370-454AD
35. Medieval Powers 476-1492AD
36. Medieval Middle and Near East –
37. Byzantine Empire 330 – 1453AD
38. Medieval Turkic Empires – Göktürk
39. Uyghur Khaganate 8th century
40. Great Seljuk Empire 1040–1154 AD
41. Arab Caliphates 632 – 1258 AD
42. Rashidun Caliphate
43. Umayyad Caliphate
44. Abbasid Caliphate
45. Al-Andalus 711-1492
46. Fatimid Caliphate 909-1171
47. Ayyubid Sultanate 1171–1246
48. Bahri Mamluks Empire 1250–1380
49. Bulgaria 800s - 1000s
50. Serbia 1346–1402
51. Georgia 1184–1225
52. Ghaznavid Empire 960s – 998
53. Timurid Empire 1370–1526
54. Medieval China and Far East region
55. Tang Dynasty 630s - 800s
56. Song Dynasty 990s - 1080s
57. Mongol Empire 1206 - 1370s
58. Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
59. Ming Dynasty 1370s - 1550s
60. Medieval Europe
61. Frankish Empire 790s - 840s
62. Kingdom of Germany and after
63. Medieval Kingdom of Hungary 1000-1526
64. Jagiellon Dynasty 1386–1572
65. Norman Empire 1017–1154
66. Papacy 756 – 1870
67. Kingdom of Sicily 1059–1250
68. Republic of Genoa 1099–1380
69. Medieval Venetial Republic 1204–1489
70. Capetian Kingdom of France 987–1453
71. Angevin Empire 1154–1453
72. Kingdoms of Aragon 1340s - 1480s
73. Kingdom of Castile 1230–1480
74. Kalmar Union 1397–1523
75. Medieval Africa
76. Mali Empire 1300-1450
77. Ethopian Empire 1137 – 1975
78. Medieval India
79. Chalukya Empire 543–753
80. Rashtrakuta Empire 753–982
81. Pala Empire 750–1174
82. Chola Empire 985-1200
83. Medieval Southeast Asia
84. Khmer Empire 802-1431
85. Srivijaya
86. American Pre-Columbain Empires
87. Maya Civilization 2000 BC to 250 AD
88. Inca Empire 1438 to 1533
89. Aztec Empire
90. Modern Powers – Early Modern Powers
91. France 1450s – 1815
92. Modern Venetian Republic 1489–1718
93. Qing Empire 1660s - 1700s
94. Persian Safavid Empire 1550s - 1700s
95. Dutch Republic 1581–1795
96. Early British Empire 1600–1815
97. Mughal Empire 1526 – 1857
98. Early Ottoman Empire 1400s – 1815
99. Poland – Lithuania 1569–1795
100. Portugal 1415 – 1815
101. Prussia
102. Early Spanish Empire 1492-1815
103. Sweden 1638–1663 and later 1784-1878.
104. Moscovian Empire and After 1400-1815
105. Maratha Empire 1674–1820
106. High modern historical powers 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries
107. Persian Qajar Empire 1794-1925
108. The Netherlands 1815–1949
109. France 1815–1956
110. Late British Empire 1815–1956
111. Late Spanish Empire 1815–1898
112. Austrian Empire (Austria-Hungary) 1867–1918 and 1815–1867
113. Prussia and after 1815–1871 and 1871–1945
114. Late Ottoman Empire 1815–1918
115. Russian Empire and after 1815–1917 and 1917–1991
116. Italian Empire 1895–1945
117. Empire of Japan 1895–1945
118. United States (America) 1848-Present - And to be a bit more accurate this World Power could be named the Anglo 118-American Dual World Power America & 110-Great Brittain.
And somewhere around the early 1920's The League of Nations followed by its successor The United Nations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_powers
Here's a few supporting charts:
1. Are Bible prophecies Specific
1. Are Bible prophecies specific?
Only Almighty God can foresee the future in detail. (Amos 3:7) For example, since early times, he foretold the arival of someone called the Messiah, or Christ. The Messiah would be a descendant of the faithful man Abraham. He would be a ruler who would make it possible for obedient humans to regain the blessing of perfect life free of disease. (Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 53:4-5) This Promised One was to come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Jesus proved to be the Messiah. Over seven centuries in advance, the Bible foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would be despised. He would give his life for the sins of many and he would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 7:14, 53:3,9 & 12) The Bible also proclaimed, over five centuries in advance, that he would enter Jerusalem on a donkey and that he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Every detail came true. (Zechariah 9:9 & 11:12)
Peace and Security
1Thessalonians 5:2 says, "For YOU yourselves know quite well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever it is that they are saying: “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape. 4 But YOU, brothers, YOU are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake YOU as it would thieves"
Only Almighty God can foresee the future in detail. (Amos 3:7) For example, since early times, he foretold the arival of someone called the Messiah, or Christ. The Messiah would be a descendant of the faithful man Abraham. He would be a ruler who would make it possible for obedient humans to regain the blessing of perfect life free of disease. (Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 53:4-5) This Promised One was to come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Jesus proved to be the Messiah. Over seven centuries in advance, the Bible foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would be despised. He would give his life for the sins of many and he would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 7:14, 53:3,9 & 12) The Bible also proclaimed, over five centuries in advance, that he would enter Jerusalem on a donkey and that he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Every detail came true. (Zechariah 9:9 & 11:12)
Peace and Security
1Thessalonians 5:2 says, "For YOU yourselves know quite well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever it is that they are saying: “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape. 4 But YOU, brothers, YOU are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake YOU as it would thieves"
2. Does God predict names & dates?
2. Does God predict dates? or better yet, does he reveal to us the names & dates he has pre-planned?
As with most prophecies, He gives clues as to the timing of their fulfillment, allowing those interested to look for the answer instead of just telling us the answer. For example, when asked of Jesus by his disciples on the Mount of Olives, Jesus stated at Matthew 24:3, "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" The answer Jesus gave to them is found in part at Matthew 24:4-14. The entire Bible hinges on the fulfillment of this prophecy since it leads us to understand the full purpose of Gods intended direction for the earth. Jehovah could reveal that date or time period to anybody He chose, but instead, through Jesus, He has chosen to reveal it by using a "sign" (Matthew 24:3). This is clearly stated when Jesus stated at Matthew 24:36 where he says, "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." Jesus was then and is still now Jehovahs chief spokesman and representative. Jesus is known and referred to as Michael the Archangel (Jude 9) Take note that the word "sign" is singular it is not plural. There is one sign which identifies this time period.
Jesus arrival prophesied - Over five centuries in advance (500 years), the Bible prophesied the exact year of the Messiah's appearance. The time until his arrival was measured in weeks of years, meaning that each "week" was seven years long. There would be 7 plus 62 of such weeks, making a total of 69 weeks of years. That equals 483 years. When did that span of years begin? According to the Bible, the period began when God's servant Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and began to rebuild the city. Persian history establishes the date as 455 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 2:1-5) Jesus was baptized as the Messiah 483 years later, in the year 29 C.E. exactly on time (Daniel 9:25)
Consider the Account of Noah's Day - The Genesis account reveals that Jehovah did not have the ark built and then decide when to bring the floodwaters, as if he needed to keep the timing of the start of the Flood flexible in case the construction project ran behind schedule. Rather, long before he said anything to Noah about building an ark, God fixed the time for the Flood to begin. How do we know that? The Bible tells us that Jehovah issued a decree in heaven. According to (Genesis 6:3) After that Jehovah said: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” This is not a statement regarding the average human lifespan. It was a judicial decree in which Jehovah declared when he would act to cleans the earth of ungodliness. Since the Flood began in 2370BCE, we infer that God made this pronouncement about the coming Flood in the year of 2490BCE. At that time, Noah was 480 years old. (Genesis 7:6) "And Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge of waters occurred on the earth."
Some 20 years after the announcement to Noah to build the Ark, in the year 2470BCE, Noah's sons began to be born. (Genesis 5:32) "And Noah got to be five hundred years old. After that Noah became father to Shem, Ham and Ja'pheth." About 100 years remained before the Flood was to begin, but Jehovah had still not revealed to Noah the special role he would play in preserving the human family and the Ark had not yet begun to being built.
How long would God wait before he told Noah? Jehovah apparently waited decades before revealing to Noah what He was going to do. The Bible says that Noah's sons were already grown and married when God commanded Noah to build the ark. Jehovah tells Noah, "I do establish my convenant with you; and you must go into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you" (Genesis 6:9-18) It is possible, therefore, that when Noah received the commission to build the ark, only 40-50 years remained before the Flood occurred. As the constructing the ark progressed, Noah and his family must have wondered how God would accomplish his purpose and when the Flood would begin. Yet, their lack of knowledge of these details did not stop them or slow them from getting the ark built. The Scriptural record states: (Genesis 6:22) "And Noah proceeded to do according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so." Seven days before the floodwaters fell, just enough time for Noah and his family to load the animals into the ark, Jehovah finally told Noah exactly when the Flood would begin. (Genesis 7:1-5) After that Jehovah said to Noah: “Go, you and all your household, into the ark, because you are the one I have seen to be righteous before me among this generation. 2 Of every clean beast you must take to yourself by sevens, the sire and its mate; and of every beast that is not clean just two, the sire and its mate; 3 also of the flying creatures of the heavens by sevens, male and female, to preserve offspring alive on the surface of the entire earth. 4 For in just seven days more I am making it rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will wipe every existing thing that I have made off the surface of the ground.” 5 And Noah proceeded to do according to all that Jehovah had commanded him. Jehovah was very specific in his keeping an accurate time table for here at (Genesis 7:11) he states: "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on this day all the springs of the vast watery deep were broken open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened." The account of the Flood testifies to Jehovah's skill not ony as a Timekeeper but also as a Deliverer. Everything that Jehovah has purposed will take place at his appointed time, to the very day and hour.
As with most prophecies, He gives clues as to the timing of their fulfillment, allowing those interested to look for the answer instead of just telling us the answer. For example, when asked of Jesus by his disciples on the Mount of Olives, Jesus stated at Matthew 24:3, "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" The answer Jesus gave to them is found in part at Matthew 24:4-14. The entire Bible hinges on the fulfillment of this prophecy since it leads us to understand the full purpose of Gods intended direction for the earth. Jehovah could reveal that date or time period to anybody He chose, but instead, through Jesus, He has chosen to reveal it by using a "sign" (Matthew 24:3). This is clearly stated when Jesus stated at Matthew 24:36 where he says, "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." Jesus was then and is still now Jehovahs chief spokesman and representative. Jesus is known and referred to as Michael the Archangel (Jude 9) Take note that the word "sign" is singular it is not plural. There is one sign which identifies this time period.
Jesus arrival prophesied - Over five centuries in advance (500 years), the Bible prophesied the exact year of the Messiah's appearance. The time until his arrival was measured in weeks of years, meaning that each "week" was seven years long. There would be 7 plus 62 of such weeks, making a total of 69 weeks of years. That equals 483 years. When did that span of years begin? According to the Bible, the period began when God's servant Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and began to rebuild the city. Persian history establishes the date as 455 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 2:1-5) Jesus was baptized as the Messiah 483 years later, in the year 29 C.E. exactly on time (Daniel 9:25)
Consider the Account of Noah's Day - The Genesis account reveals that Jehovah did not have the ark built and then decide when to bring the floodwaters, as if he needed to keep the timing of the start of the Flood flexible in case the construction project ran behind schedule. Rather, long before he said anything to Noah about building an ark, God fixed the time for the Flood to begin. How do we know that? The Bible tells us that Jehovah issued a decree in heaven. According to (Genesis 6:3) After that Jehovah said: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” This is not a statement regarding the average human lifespan. It was a judicial decree in which Jehovah declared when he would act to cleans the earth of ungodliness. Since the Flood began in 2370BCE, we infer that God made this pronouncement about the coming Flood in the year of 2490BCE. At that time, Noah was 480 years old. (Genesis 7:6) "And Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge of waters occurred on the earth."
Some 20 years after the announcement to Noah to build the Ark, in the year 2470BCE, Noah's sons began to be born. (Genesis 5:32) "And Noah got to be five hundred years old. After that Noah became father to Shem, Ham and Ja'pheth." About 100 years remained before the Flood was to begin, but Jehovah had still not revealed to Noah the special role he would play in preserving the human family and the Ark had not yet begun to being built.
How long would God wait before he told Noah? Jehovah apparently waited decades before revealing to Noah what He was going to do. The Bible says that Noah's sons were already grown and married when God commanded Noah to build the ark. Jehovah tells Noah, "I do establish my convenant with you; and you must go into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you" (Genesis 6:9-18) It is possible, therefore, that when Noah received the commission to build the ark, only 40-50 years remained before the Flood occurred. As the constructing the ark progressed, Noah and his family must have wondered how God would accomplish his purpose and when the Flood would begin. Yet, their lack of knowledge of these details did not stop them or slow them from getting the ark built. The Scriptural record states: (Genesis 6:22) "And Noah proceeded to do according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so." Seven days before the floodwaters fell, just enough time for Noah and his family to load the animals into the ark, Jehovah finally told Noah exactly when the Flood would begin. (Genesis 7:1-5) After that Jehovah said to Noah: “Go, you and all your household, into the ark, because you are the one I have seen to be righteous before me among this generation. 2 Of every clean beast you must take to yourself by sevens, the sire and its mate; and of every beast that is not clean just two, the sire and its mate; 3 also of the flying creatures of the heavens by sevens, male and female, to preserve offspring alive on the surface of the entire earth. 4 For in just seven days more I am making it rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will wipe every existing thing that I have made off the surface of the ground.” 5 And Noah proceeded to do according to all that Jehovah had commanded him. Jehovah was very specific in his keeping an accurate time table for here at (Genesis 7:11) he states: "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on this day all the springs of the vast watery deep were broken open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened." The account of the Flood testifies to Jehovah's skill not ony as a Timekeeper but also as a Deliverer. Everything that Jehovah has purposed will take place at his appointed time, to the very day and hour.
3. Are Bible prophecies coming true now?
3. Are Bible prophecies coming true now?
Jesus prophesied momentous events for our time. His prophecy mentions the good news of God's kingdom, which will bring worldwide relief to people who love Him. The Kingdom will bring an end to the entire wicked system of things in which we live. (Matthew 24:14 & 21-22)
Bible prophecies describe in detail the concluding period of the present system of things. The Bible revealed that in contrast with what might be expected in an age of progress, people would be ruining the earth. Revelation 11:18 says, "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” Distress caused by wars, food shortages, earthquakes and disease epidemics would incdrease. (Luke 21:11) Moral standards would collapse. In these difficult times, Jesus' followers would preach the good news of God's Kingdom in all nations. (Matthew 24:3, 7-8, & 2Timothy 3:1-5)
Jesus prophesied momentous events for our time. His prophecy mentions the good news of God's kingdom, which will bring worldwide relief to people who love Him. The Kingdom will bring an end to the entire wicked system of things in which we live. (Matthew 24:14 & 21-22)
Bible prophecies describe in detail the concluding period of the present system of things. The Bible revealed that in contrast with what might be expected in an age of progress, people would be ruining the earth. Revelation 11:18 says, "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” Distress caused by wars, food shortages, earthquakes and disease epidemics would incdrease. (Luke 21:11) Moral standards would collapse. In these difficult times, Jesus' followers would preach the good news of God's Kingdom in all nations. (Matthew 24:3, 7-8, & 2Timothy 3:1-5)
4. What is the future for mankind?
4. What will be mankind's future?
Almighty God has good things in store for faithful mankind. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, along with his chosen ones, will rule over the earth from heaven. They make up the Kingdom government which will rule for a thousand years. (Matthew 6:9, Daniel 2:44) The dead will be raised and will have the opportunity of being judged worthy of everlasting life. Furthermore, the kingdom will cure everyone then living. Sickness and death will be no more. (Revelation 5:10, 20:6&12, 21:4-5 Isaiah 65:17-25) The following is just a list of a few scriptures that might lead you to believe that there is a hope for mankind, well . . . at least for those that learn to love Jehovah.
(Psalm 37:10, 11) "And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. 11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."
(Psalm 37:29) "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it."
(Isaiah 65:17-25) “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart. 18 But exult, YOU people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For here I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation. 19 And I will be joyful in Jerusalem and exult in my people; and no more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or the sound of a plaintive cry.” 20 “No more will there come to be a suckling a few days old from that place, neither an old man that does not fulfill his days; for one will die as a mere boy, although a hundred years of age; and as for the sinner, although a hundred years of age he will have evil called down upon him. 21 And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. 22 They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. 23 They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them. 24 And it will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear. 25 “The wolf and the lamb themselves will feed as one, and the lion will eat straw just like the bull; and as for the serpent, his food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” Jehovah has said.
(Isaiah 66:22) “For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making are standing before me,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “so the offspring of YOU people and the name of YOU people will keep standing.”
(Revelation 21:1-4) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
Almighty God has good things in store for faithful mankind. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, along with his chosen ones, will rule over the earth from heaven. They make up the Kingdom government which will rule for a thousand years. (Matthew 6:9, Daniel 2:44) The dead will be raised and will have the opportunity of being judged worthy of everlasting life. Furthermore, the kingdom will cure everyone then living. Sickness and death will be no more. (Revelation 5:10, 20:6&12, 21:4-5 Isaiah 65:17-25) The following is just a list of a few scriptures that might lead you to believe that there is a hope for mankind, well . . . at least for those that learn to love Jehovah.
(Psalm 37:10, 11) "And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. 11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."
(Psalm 37:29) "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it."
(Isaiah 65:17-25) “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart. 18 But exult, YOU people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For here I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation. 19 And I will be joyful in Jerusalem and exult in my people; and no more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or the sound of a plaintive cry.” 20 “No more will there come to be a suckling a few days old from that place, neither an old man that does not fulfill his days; for one will die as a mere boy, although a hundred years of age; and as for the sinner, although a hundred years of age he will have evil called down upon him. 21 And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. 22 They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. 23 They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them. 24 And it will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear. 25 “The wolf and the lamb themselves will feed as one, and the lion will eat straw just like the bull; and as for the serpent, his food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” Jehovah has said.
(Isaiah 66:22) “For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making are standing before me,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “so the offspring of YOU people and the name of YOU people will keep standing.”
(Revelation 21:1-4) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
5. Gods purpose for the earth
5. What is Gods purpose for the earth?
The Bible clearly states God's purpose for the earth and how man was to take part in this purpose. Simply stated, man would live forever on earth, man would reproduce with his chosen mate and would cultivate the grounds in peace and security. Genesis 1:27-28 says, "And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: 'Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.'" Further, in Genesis 2:17 He says, "And Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it." This purpose of God was first stated as his objective for the earth. But when Man chose independance from God as explained in Genesis 3:15 discussed above, this purpose then became a prophecy since this purpose now became an event that must take place at some point in mans future history or else it would be obvious that something was stronger than God so that He could not realize what he had purposed for the earth. Since nothing is stronger than God, this purpose was now set for some future time.
The Bible clearly states God's purpose for the earth and how man was to take part in this purpose. Simply stated, man would live forever on earth, man would reproduce with his chosen mate and would cultivate the grounds in peace and security. Genesis 1:27-28 says, "And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: 'Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.'" Further, in Genesis 2:17 He says, "And Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it." This purpose of God was first stated as his objective for the earth. But when Man chose independance from God as explained in Genesis 3:15 discussed above, this purpose then became a prophecy since this purpose now became an event that must take place at some point in mans future history or else it would be obvious that something was stronger than God so that He could not realize what he had purposed for the earth. Since nothing is stronger than God, this purpose was now set for some future time.
6. And War broke out in Heaven
6. And War broke out in Heaven
Here is the chronology of the Bible as it relates to these last days and when the last days would begin. Revelation 12:7 says that War broke out in heaven between the Dragon (Satan) and Michael (Jesus). "And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled" This scripture prophecy was fulfilled sometime shortly before 1914. This prophecy refers to when God's Kingdom would be set up in the heavens under the direction of Jesus Christ. It's first assignment was to cleanse the heavens of Satan & his demons. Jesus did this as prophecied in Revelation 12:7-9 specifically at vs. 9, "So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him." Giving clues as to the timing of the fulfilment of this prophecy are stated at Daniel 4:25 which says that "seven times themselves will pass over you until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it." Of course the purpose of establishing this Kingdom came to light when man, through Adam & Eve chose their independence from Gods personal direction, thus establishing the need for the kingdom to return mankind to perfection. This was evident in Matthew 6:10 when Jesus prayed for this kingdom to rule on earth as it does in heaven.
The math then works out like this: Each year, at the time of this writing, is 360 days long, 7*360=2520. In this particular prophecy, the day for a year principle is found at Ezekiel 4:6b where it says, “And you must lie upon your right side in the second case, and you must carry the error of the house of Judah forty days. A day for a year, a day for a year, is what I have given you." The prophecy herein sited begins at 607B.C.E. when Gods kingdom was last represented on earth. So 2,520 years from the year 607B.C.E. and since 607B.C.E. is before the -0- year, subtracting 607 from 2,520 = 1913, then since there is no -0- year add 1 year to arrive at 1914. From the establishing of this kingdom in heavens, it would take one generation for the last days to accomplish its purpose which was to make disciples of as many of mankind as wanted to participate in everlasting life and to declare to the nations that God is the sanctified ruler over mankind and that only by means of Gods kingdom can man ever experience endless life on earth in peace and security as prophesied in Revelation 21:3-4 where it says, “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
Here is the chronology of the Bible as it relates to these last days and when the last days would begin. Revelation 12:7 says that War broke out in heaven between the Dragon (Satan) and Michael (Jesus). "And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled" This scripture prophecy was fulfilled sometime shortly before 1914. This prophecy refers to when God's Kingdom would be set up in the heavens under the direction of Jesus Christ. It's first assignment was to cleanse the heavens of Satan & his demons. Jesus did this as prophecied in Revelation 12:7-9 specifically at vs. 9, "So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him." Giving clues as to the timing of the fulfilment of this prophecy are stated at Daniel 4:25 which says that "seven times themselves will pass over you until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it." Of course the purpose of establishing this Kingdom came to light when man, through Adam & Eve chose their independence from Gods personal direction, thus establishing the need for the kingdom to return mankind to perfection. This was evident in Matthew 6:10 when Jesus prayed for this kingdom to rule on earth as it does in heaven.
The math then works out like this: Each year, at the time of this writing, is 360 days long, 7*360=2520. In this particular prophecy, the day for a year principle is found at Ezekiel 4:6b where it says, “And you must lie upon your right side in the second case, and you must carry the error of the house of Judah forty days. A day for a year, a day for a year, is what I have given you." The prophecy herein sited begins at 607B.C.E. when Gods kingdom was last represented on earth. So 2,520 years from the year 607B.C.E. and since 607B.C.E. is before the -0- year, subtracting 607 from 2,520 = 1913, then since there is no -0- year add 1 year to arrive at 1914. From the establishing of this kingdom in heavens, it would take one generation for the last days to accomplish its purpose which was to make disciples of as many of mankind as wanted to participate in everlasting life and to declare to the nations that God is the sanctified ruler over mankind and that only by means of Gods kingdom can man ever experience endless life on earth in peace and security as prophesied in Revelation 21:3-4 where it says, “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
7. The Sign shows Christs Presence
7.1. Parts of the "sign" showing the presence of Jesus' kingdom has come to power are identified in Matthew 24:4-14. vs. 5 says, "for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many" The explosion of false religion claiming to represent Christ, currently known as professed Christians, claim to represent this kingdom, but their teaching is far from the truth as explained in the Bible. These professed Christians are the ones identified in Matthew 7:21-22 ) “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness" And also in 2Timothy 4:3 says of them, "For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled". Further in Romans 10:2 it says, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; 3 for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God".
• False Prophets – Fulfilled throughout the entire generation stemming from 1914 through the present when masses of individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a superhuman source but that do not originate with the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will and purpose. I have learned that of them, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets.
7.2. Matthew 24:6-7 YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars
• Nation against Nation – Since 1914, over 100,000,000 lives have been slaughtered in war. 93% of the world was involved. Since 1945 up to 1982, there have been 270 international wars fought. It is estimated that 10’s of thousands of nuclear warheads are immediately ready for deployment. That it would only take a fraction of them to eliminate mankind from the surface of the earth. Sub-marines travel the ocean floor with enough warfare power to annihilate entire nations. An interesting website on wars and various statistics is found at http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/demowar.htm and another site is http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100925230308AAMX9ln
7.3. Matthew 24:7 Food Shortages
• Food Shortages – Nearly ¼ of the worlds population is considered as starving. The Reasoning on the Scriptures book says that 450 million people go to bed in a starving condition each night. 40-50 million die annually from lack of food. Revelation 6:6 says: “A quart of wheat for a danarius.” This scripture implies that a full days wages would be required simply to provide for a days basic food supplies.
7.4. Matthew 24:7 Earth Quakes
• Earth Quakes & other natural disasters – In just two quakes along since 1920, over 420,000 died. From 1914 up to 1991, there have been 30 major quakes. With the sensitive equipment now available, there are more than 1,000,000 quakes recorded each year. And this is with a tabulation of at least 7.5 on the Richter scale or that resulted in $5,000,000 or more in damage or that caused 100 or more deaths. On record, only 856 such quakes occurred before 1914 for the previous 2,000 years. In the 69 years after 1914, there were 605 such quakes. Therefore the average quakes since 1914 has been 20 times as great. An interesting phenomena is whether or not this scripture applies to other natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and the like. For example there are now an average of 1,000 tornadoes alone in the U.S. Over half of them are considered major in the F3 category or above. An F3 category tornado has wind speed up to 180 mph. A category F5 tornado has a wind speed up to 260 mph, which apparently is the strongest wind speed man currently has the ability to measure.
7.5. Matthew 24:9 Persecution
• Objects of hatred – Persecution of Christians was to come, not because of political meddling but because of obeying Christ over any earthly ruler. See data on Hitler’s attacks during WWII. Matthew 13:13 says, "and YOU will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."
7.6. Matthew 24:12 Increasing of lawlessness
It should be noted that the calculations of these statistics into the varying categories did not begin until the 1970’s when laws and punishment for various crimes began to be refined to what they are today. Nationwide (or across the US) since the middle of 1997, the number of people in prison was 1 in 155 citizens. Prison overcrowding is out of control nationwide and is continuing to be a burden on the governments. The cost to build one prison in Hawaii today is $120,000,000 for a prison to house only 1,000 body’s. That’s an average cost of about $120,000 per bed. From the source Justice Files, it was stated that $18,000,000 per day 365 days a year is spent in the U.S. building new prisons. There are over 125,000 elderly (over 70) people in prison in the U.S. and it costs 3 times as much to care for the elderly than for a younger person because of the medical. It costs $20,000 per year to care for a young person in good health and over $60,000 per year to care for each elderly person. To care for those elderly people in prison each year for cardiac care is $94,000,000. In Hawaii the overtime needed to pay the guards averages over the last 7 years $8,500,000 - $9,000,000 per year and on the news tonight 1/25/98 the Governor mentioned that he was perplexed about the problem and didn’t know what could be done about it except to build more prison space with money that didn’t exist. That in California in 1996, there have been 20 new prisons build, but not one new university. In years before 1914, it is true crime existed, but criminals have never been so pervasive as today. Children from age 11-14 have been known to commit crimes on a regular basis in front of a society that is helpless against them, due to existing laws. According to CNN in an April 1998 report, in the US alone, there have been more than 102,000 crimes committed by children under the age of 16 and 1 in 10 schools have experienced violent crimes in their classrooms. Included in these offenses are various types of crimes, so I have chosen 8 of the most categorized crimes taken from the Baltimore County Police Department, a major U.S. city, statistics are from 1996 for the sake of this report. Crimes in this report have not been sorted out by ethnic background, gender or age of the assailant.
1. Homicide: 34 cases per month
2. Rape: 274 cases per month
3. Robbery: 2,427 cases per month
4. Aggravated Assault: 4,673 cases per month
5. Burglary: 6.858 cases per month
6. Theft – General: 25,743 cases per month
7. Motor Vehicle Theft: 4,720 cases per month. There are 1.4 million vehicles of one sort or another being stolen each year across the nation or an average of 2,333 per month per state or as in the case of Baltimore nearly twice the nations average.
8. Arson: 403 cases per month
• Other crimes such as embezzlement, fraud, trafficking, gambling and drug related crimes have not been included in this report simply because they are too numerous to calculate for the support of this data. There are 8 major cities in the US which report more violent crimes than New York. That from 1935 to 1980 reports of violent crime has increased 1,000% while the population has increased only 78%.
9. Suicides: The highest rate in the nation is in Las Vegas where 272 were reported in 1997. This rate is nearly double any other city in the Nation which almost averages nearly one per day. The main reason quoted is a failed relationship with a potential mate. (Source: Associated Press 4/5/98)
10. Divorce: Where before 1914, divorce was unheard of, since 1914 divorces have increased to the point where records show 50% of all marriages end in divorce. It began to be taught as an acceptable answer to marital problems. Divorce was no longer a bad thing. Divorce was liberating. Extra-marital affairs were accepted and divorce’s were only natural. Child protective services came into existence in the 1970’s out of necessity to protect children from violent parents and other family members who were by now out of control.
11. Abortions: Especially fulfilled towards the end of this generation in that abortion clinics are set up without a concern as to the murdering of the unborn. That abortions are common in the marketplace of doctors and those who consider pregnancy an inconvenience. Statistics show that worldwide some 60,000,000 abortions were performed in 1992 alone. Using this average, since 1990 through 1997 there were 420,000,000 +/- abortions world wide in only 7 years. Again statistics show that the trend to agree to abort an unborn child is increasing rapidly.
12. Homosexuality: Especially fulfilled towards the end of this generation, in that many known celebrities and entertainers in any and all fields of entertainment, sports, government and religion have openly admitted to being homosexual. In many parts of the Orient, homosexual activity is rampant and openly practiced without reservations. In today’s world it is considered popular, even prevalent and is viewed as normal.
13. Good News of the Kingdom to be preached – Through 1995 end Jehovah’s Witnesses have increased to 5,199,895 members world wide and last year had 338,491 baptisms each year with approximately 4,865,060 on going bible studies world wide, with 13,147,201 attending the memorial of Christ’s death. These numbers are increasing each year. Although, increase in numbers means little on a scale of concern other than the fact that many now living have been able to discern that something is going on and they wanted answers. But Bible truths appeal to those seeking to establish a relationship with Jehovah, quantity of worshipers would not be part of the criteria in identifying the true religion.
7.7. Matthew 24:14 Good News Preached in all the inhabited earth
• Isaiah 43:10-11 – Identification of Jehovah’s Witnesses as his people. Fulfilled sometime in the mid 1930’s when the name of Jehovah’s Witnesses was adopted and accepted by the Remnant of Anointed Ones and the Great Crowd then in attendance.
• John 10:16 – Identification of the Other Sheep. Fulfilled sometime in the mid 1930’s when the separation of the Anointed and the Other Sheep were identified. Perhaps at the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio Convention.
• Isaiah 60:22 – Jehovah would speed it up in its own time. Fulfilled to a greater degree as the end draws ever nearer. Today, time seems to have been shot from the guns of expectation and anticipation as today’s hurried climate races to accomplish yesterday’s tasks tomorrow. To the point where large blocks of time seem to have faded into oblivion without so much as a recollection of remembrance. The old are wondering “what happened to my life” and “where did it all go so fast,” while the youth see no end in sight. Yet another feature of the “speeding it up” fulfillment of the prophecy was that the “little one” would become a thousand and the “small one” a mighty nation. See the section above from Matthew 24:14 and Haggai 2:7.
• Zachariah 8:23 – We will go with you people, because we have herd that God is with you people. Began its fulfillment when Jehovah’s people began actively pursuing the ministry. This scripture continues its fulfillment until the end of this system of things.
• Isaiah 2:4 – People would beat their swords into plow shares. Began its fulfillment when Jehovah’s people began actively pursuing the ministry. This scripture also continues its fulfillment until the end of this system of things as more and more people worldwide take in enough knowledge according to Jehovah’s purpose to lay down their sword of anger and choose to wait on Jehovah to address the issues of this world in a way He chooses.
• Haggai 2:7 – Jehovah will rock the nations and the desirable things will come out. Fulfilled from the mid 1930’s through the present.
• Revelation 14:6 says, "And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, 7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”"
• False Prophets – Fulfilled throughout the entire generation stemming from 1914 through the present when masses of individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a superhuman source but that do not originate with the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will and purpose. I have learned that of them, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets.
7.2. Matthew 24:6-7 YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars
• Nation against Nation – Since 1914, over 100,000,000 lives have been slaughtered in war. 93% of the world was involved. Since 1945 up to 1982, there have been 270 international wars fought. It is estimated that 10’s of thousands of nuclear warheads are immediately ready for deployment. That it would only take a fraction of them to eliminate mankind from the surface of the earth. Sub-marines travel the ocean floor with enough warfare power to annihilate entire nations. An interesting website on wars and various statistics is found at http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/demowar.htm and another site is http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100925230308AAMX9ln
7.3. Matthew 24:7 Food Shortages
• Food Shortages – Nearly ¼ of the worlds population is considered as starving. The Reasoning on the Scriptures book says that 450 million people go to bed in a starving condition each night. 40-50 million die annually from lack of food. Revelation 6:6 says: “A quart of wheat for a danarius.” This scripture implies that a full days wages would be required simply to provide for a days basic food supplies.
7.4. Matthew 24:7 Earth Quakes
• Earth Quakes & other natural disasters – In just two quakes along since 1920, over 420,000 died. From 1914 up to 1991, there have been 30 major quakes. With the sensitive equipment now available, there are more than 1,000,000 quakes recorded each year. And this is with a tabulation of at least 7.5 on the Richter scale or that resulted in $5,000,000 or more in damage or that caused 100 or more deaths. On record, only 856 such quakes occurred before 1914 for the previous 2,000 years. In the 69 years after 1914, there were 605 such quakes. Therefore the average quakes since 1914 has been 20 times as great. An interesting phenomena is whether or not this scripture applies to other natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and the like. For example there are now an average of 1,000 tornadoes alone in the U.S. Over half of them are considered major in the F3 category or above. An F3 category tornado has wind speed up to 180 mph. A category F5 tornado has a wind speed up to 260 mph, which apparently is the strongest wind speed man currently has the ability to measure.
7.5. Matthew 24:9 Persecution
• Objects of hatred – Persecution of Christians was to come, not because of political meddling but because of obeying Christ over any earthly ruler. See data on Hitler’s attacks during WWII. Matthew 13:13 says, "and YOU will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."
7.6. Matthew 24:12 Increasing of lawlessness
It should be noted that the calculations of these statistics into the varying categories did not begin until the 1970’s when laws and punishment for various crimes began to be refined to what they are today. Nationwide (or across the US) since the middle of 1997, the number of people in prison was 1 in 155 citizens. Prison overcrowding is out of control nationwide and is continuing to be a burden on the governments. The cost to build one prison in Hawaii today is $120,000,000 for a prison to house only 1,000 body’s. That’s an average cost of about $120,000 per bed. From the source Justice Files, it was stated that $18,000,000 per day 365 days a year is spent in the U.S. building new prisons. There are over 125,000 elderly (over 70) people in prison in the U.S. and it costs 3 times as much to care for the elderly than for a younger person because of the medical. It costs $20,000 per year to care for a young person in good health and over $60,000 per year to care for each elderly person. To care for those elderly people in prison each year for cardiac care is $94,000,000. In Hawaii the overtime needed to pay the guards averages over the last 7 years $8,500,000 - $9,000,000 per year and on the news tonight 1/25/98 the Governor mentioned that he was perplexed about the problem and didn’t know what could be done about it except to build more prison space with money that didn’t exist. That in California in 1996, there have been 20 new prisons build, but not one new university. In years before 1914, it is true crime existed, but criminals have never been so pervasive as today. Children from age 11-14 have been known to commit crimes on a regular basis in front of a society that is helpless against them, due to existing laws. According to CNN in an April 1998 report, in the US alone, there have been more than 102,000 crimes committed by children under the age of 16 and 1 in 10 schools have experienced violent crimes in their classrooms. Included in these offenses are various types of crimes, so I have chosen 8 of the most categorized crimes taken from the Baltimore County Police Department, a major U.S. city, statistics are from 1996 for the sake of this report. Crimes in this report have not been sorted out by ethnic background, gender or age of the assailant.
1. Homicide: 34 cases per month
2. Rape: 274 cases per month
3. Robbery: 2,427 cases per month
4. Aggravated Assault: 4,673 cases per month
5. Burglary: 6.858 cases per month
6. Theft – General: 25,743 cases per month
7. Motor Vehicle Theft: 4,720 cases per month. There are 1.4 million vehicles of one sort or another being stolen each year across the nation or an average of 2,333 per month per state or as in the case of Baltimore nearly twice the nations average.
8. Arson: 403 cases per month
• Other crimes such as embezzlement, fraud, trafficking, gambling and drug related crimes have not been included in this report simply because they are too numerous to calculate for the support of this data. There are 8 major cities in the US which report more violent crimes than New York. That from 1935 to 1980 reports of violent crime has increased 1,000% while the population has increased only 78%.
9. Suicides: The highest rate in the nation is in Las Vegas where 272 were reported in 1997. This rate is nearly double any other city in the Nation which almost averages nearly one per day. The main reason quoted is a failed relationship with a potential mate. (Source: Associated Press 4/5/98)
10. Divorce: Where before 1914, divorce was unheard of, since 1914 divorces have increased to the point where records show 50% of all marriages end in divorce. It began to be taught as an acceptable answer to marital problems. Divorce was no longer a bad thing. Divorce was liberating. Extra-marital affairs were accepted and divorce’s were only natural. Child protective services came into existence in the 1970’s out of necessity to protect children from violent parents and other family members who were by now out of control.
11. Abortions: Especially fulfilled towards the end of this generation in that abortion clinics are set up without a concern as to the murdering of the unborn. That abortions are common in the marketplace of doctors and those who consider pregnancy an inconvenience. Statistics show that worldwide some 60,000,000 abortions were performed in 1992 alone. Using this average, since 1990 through 1997 there were 420,000,000 +/- abortions world wide in only 7 years. Again statistics show that the trend to agree to abort an unborn child is increasing rapidly.
12. Homosexuality: Especially fulfilled towards the end of this generation, in that many known celebrities and entertainers in any and all fields of entertainment, sports, government and religion have openly admitted to being homosexual. In many parts of the Orient, homosexual activity is rampant and openly practiced without reservations. In today’s world it is considered popular, even prevalent and is viewed as normal.
13. Good News of the Kingdom to be preached – Through 1995 end Jehovah’s Witnesses have increased to 5,199,895 members world wide and last year had 338,491 baptisms each year with approximately 4,865,060 on going bible studies world wide, with 13,147,201 attending the memorial of Christ’s death. These numbers are increasing each year. Although, increase in numbers means little on a scale of concern other than the fact that many now living have been able to discern that something is going on and they wanted answers. But Bible truths appeal to those seeking to establish a relationship with Jehovah, quantity of worshipers would not be part of the criteria in identifying the true religion.
7.7. Matthew 24:14 Good News Preached in all the inhabited earth
• Isaiah 43:10-11 – Identification of Jehovah’s Witnesses as his people. Fulfilled sometime in the mid 1930’s when the name of Jehovah’s Witnesses was adopted and accepted by the Remnant of Anointed Ones and the Great Crowd then in attendance.
• John 10:16 – Identification of the Other Sheep. Fulfilled sometime in the mid 1930’s when the separation of the Anointed and the Other Sheep were identified. Perhaps at the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio Convention.
• Isaiah 60:22 – Jehovah would speed it up in its own time. Fulfilled to a greater degree as the end draws ever nearer. Today, time seems to have been shot from the guns of expectation and anticipation as today’s hurried climate races to accomplish yesterday’s tasks tomorrow. To the point where large blocks of time seem to have faded into oblivion without so much as a recollection of remembrance. The old are wondering “what happened to my life” and “where did it all go so fast,” while the youth see no end in sight. Yet another feature of the “speeding it up” fulfillment of the prophecy was that the “little one” would become a thousand and the “small one” a mighty nation. See the section above from Matthew 24:14 and Haggai 2:7.
• Zachariah 8:23 – We will go with you people, because we have herd that God is with you people. Began its fulfillment when Jehovah’s people began actively pursuing the ministry. This scripture continues its fulfillment until the end of this system of things.
• Isaiah 2:4 – People would beat their swords into plow shares. Began its fulfillment when Jehovah’s people began actively pursuing the ministry. This scripture also continues its fulfillment until the end of this system of things as more and more people worldwide take in enough knowledge according to Jehovah’s purpose to lay down their sword of anger and choose to wait on Jehovah to address the issues of this world in a way He chooses.
• Haggai 2:7 – Jehovah will rock the nations and the desirable things will come out. Fulfilled from the mid 1930’s through the present.
• Revelation 14:6 says, "And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, 7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”"
8. Attitudes of people identify The Last Days
8. Prophecy identifying Attitudes of people confirm timing of the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 critical times hard to deal with include:
1. Lovers of themselves – Materialists are self-centered, an attitude anchored in commercial advertising which argues: “You deserve the best. Be good to yourself and look out for number one.” A me-ism attitude prevails in today’s world. Commercial advertising had its roots in this generation. Its love and sole aim is to purchase your attention at all cost.
2. Lovers of Money – Fraud has become an orgy of economic crime. In the United States, the toll of health-care fraud alone hovers between $50 billion and $80 billion annually. In today’s world, heroes are the business people who rip off the system and get away with it. White collar crime didn’t have a name until it became a rampant part of today’s society. The gathering of excess income so as to live or appear to live the lavish lifestyle is a main pursuit of a majority of mankind in all affluent countries. Money in this century has become an object of worship for those that have placed it on the pedestal of necessity. Unfortunately, this includes both those with and those without it. One doesn’t necessarily have to possess money in order to have an all consuming love for it. In this generation, money and its ability to control has been placed as an obsession to be desired and longed for by all. It has been said in today’s society, far different than at any time before that some people worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power but all worship money.
3. Self Assuming – This generation has seen a deterioration of respect for authority and the ability to learn from others mistakes. One now only needs to rely on his TV, his peers, his own ability to make a decision he chooses without any reliance on any source of professional administrator much less a parent or educator with the proper training. It is a concern that this trend is continuing down its self destructive pathway at a pace unparalleled in history.
4. Haughty – The haughty person looks upon others with contempt, beneath him, of little or no value. All minorities are targets. Racial violence is on the rise with no relief in sight. Genocide, complete extermination of a nations people solely because of the color of skin or the location of birth is common in many parts of the world. It has been called the “arrogance of power.”
5. Blasphemers – Suggests a language that has no parameters. That allows even consents to vulgar and obscene verbiage during the course of what has been deemed normal conversation. That this language is acceptable as a whole has been used by religious leaders and their flock, attorneys, government officials, parents as well as a population as a whole with a fundamental acceptance. Where decades ago, a foul word was not only noticed then corrected, but certainly not tolerated. Today is used without reservation. It is as common as breathing and just as palatable. Other words in harmony to blaspheme is to speak with irreverence towards others or another subject not deserving it. In today’s world, just referencing one class of public speakers is comedians, who have promoted foul language and slander to a degree previously not known.
6. Disobedient to Parents – The baby boomers are being credited by many with raising a generation of mouthy, confrontational, disrespectful brats. Today children as young as 4 often talk back with abusive language having learned that they do so with the protection of “child abuse” laws to the extent that both parents and educators as a whole have learned a fear of persecution to themselves for trying to protect themselves from a trend that is so unprecedented that not only is no end in sight, the simple thought of educating the youth has been replaced with a “do what you have to protect yourself attitude” just to get through the day. Take things one day at a time, but watch your back.
7. Unthankful – With a society training its clients through the media sources available today, TV has an audience to great today that these statistics were said that every house in America has at least one TV where only 1 in 10 has a Bible and of those only 1 in 30 know where the Bible is and of those only 1 in 50 have ever opened it and of those, few have said that they had ever considered that the information contained therein was understandable. The TV programs that have become so addictive to its listeners and fans that a disposition favoring discontentment, depression and stagnation have deflated most personalities to a hopeless depth of “Why care, Why try.”
8. Disloyal – Throughout this century loyalties have often been traded for selfish gain. Riches, however amplified, rather enlarge than satisfying appetites. However, this is not to conclude that the price for a persons loyalty is always measured monetarily. There are abundant cases showing other values such as power, position and self-gratification have just as strong an incentive to transfer affection from one agency to another often with little more than misguided ambition. Often even without regards to the physical or emotional effect on others, some have asked for very little in exchange for their loyalty forgetting that what one is sowing, this he will also reap.
9. Having no nature affection – Not only are we seeing a marked deterioration in the family, where more than anywhere else, natural affection should not only prevail but flourish. In this generation though domestic violence is the leading cause of injury and death to American women, causing more harm than vehicular accidents, rapes and muggings combined. Most child molestation is perpetrated by trusted family members. The high divorce rate, the abuse of the elderly and abortion also give evidence that many are utterly lacking in normal human affections. Also, in this century, ½ of the world forests have vanished.
10. Not open to any agreement – The extent of lawsuits due mostly in part to different parties not able to come to any agreement has clogged the courts to a degree unparalleled any other time in the history of man. Worldwide, reports of arguments ranging from domestic differences, problems in agreeing with the direction at ones place of employment to all phases of government and even religion are now beyond control. They have escalated to the courts and beyond. When satisfaction cannot be reached in the courts, little is any longer thought about taking matters into ones own hands and pursuing a matter to a degree that satisfies the pursuer.
11. Slanderers – Carries the context of being rude or abusive. One hardly needs to do more than drive on any highway in the world to see the deterioration of today’s society and their concerns or lack of concerns toward their fellow man. Ever try changing lanes on a highway? New language is becoming more and more or in the fore front today. Today the term for highway rudeness is called “Road Rage.” It is serious and has become a problem in epidemic proportions. Drive by shootings have become a common source of entertainment in some areas of the mainland during the 1980’s with little to no chance of getting caught or of having to pay the price for a crime against society and putting entire neighborhoods in fear of simply driving to work.
12. Without self control – Excessive installment buying, credit card spending sprees, and the buy now, pay later mentality fostered by commerce for personal gain, betray a lack of self control; some commercial pursuits pander to human weaknesses and make fortunes from drugs, vice and gambling. Issues and attitudes that were relatively unknown only a century ago before the introduction of the credit card into society. But there are many more areas of self control that could be discussed here more than just spending.
• Control or balanced view of hatred –
• Control or balanced view of discipline –
• Control or balanced view of recreation –
• Control or balanced view of work –
•
13. Fierce – A survey of some 2,500 youths in a large suburban city revealed that 15% of them had carried a gun at some point during the previous 30 days. 11% had been shot at during the past year and 9% had at some time fired a gun at another person.
14. Without Love of Goodness – Youths today don’t need much in the way of motives to commit what has become a lust for badness. Large numbers of kids have enthusiastically embraced the concept of blowing away another human being to the point that the term “thrill kill” has an accepted and acknowledged place in our society. It has become another new term that the American language has adopted. Many parents now lack any moral sensitivity towards this and many other issues that some consider an epidemic. Gangs of kids now rival each other for their turf to control a certain part of their neighborhoods. Gang colors and tattoos have become common to those that wear them. They have secret words, sayings and goals, mostly connected with drugs, money and most importantly power over one another.
15. Betrayers – With the colossal cost of coping with environmental pollution is concerned, moral standards are easily compromised with little or no concerns for the welfare of others. A governmental betrayal for profit is no longer considered a commercial or ethical wrong, but rather a valued direction and an accepted option for an otherwise unprofitable venture.
16. Head strong – Powerful groups, such as gun and tobacco lobbies and their agencies have maneuvered events so as to gain an audience in government in recent years and stubbornly spend fortunes trying to dictate political policies to ensure high sales despite knowing full well that their wares endanger the health and public safety of the consumer.
17. Puffed up with pride – This attitude is not only felt in society as a whole but reflected in their songs, dress and me-ism disposition with a temperament of insensibility towards anyone, not even themselves. Where sayings such as: “After first place, there’s plenty of room” being drilled into society at all ages, “to be” the best quickly replaces “to try” your best. This side show is in reality a poor substitute for inner worth.
18. Lovers of Pleasures rather than Lovers of God – According to research, teenagers spend 15 hours with electronic media for every hour spent with a religious group. Many think that this estimate is an understatement. That the statement should read, “teenagers spend 15 hours with electronic media for every one minute spent hearing but not necessarily listening to a religious group.” This media driven culture that thrives in shop0ping malls and school hallways dominates teen life. With the children’s obsession continually being fed a main course of “if it feels good, do it,” there is hardly any room left for family or God. It has been observed that if parents are absent and churches silent, then the ever present electronic media is the loudest voice in the lives of young people to the creation of a generation of hedonistic pleasure addicts with no income or means to survive.
19. Having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power – Bible truths should have the power to change lives. The plea for money from a spiritually starved clientele is only dwarfed by the ever growing façade of some of the most ungodly acts that take place under the veil of religion. A tragic example is the sexual abuse of children by the clergy and those having religious responsibility. The “Sin now for forgiveness is only a donation plate away,” attitude is not only anticipated but expected.
• Zehaniah 3:9 – Changing his people to have a pure language took place early in the 20th century, but officially realized in the mid 1970’s when the pure language was acknowledged as “the Truth” as identified and explained in the Bible.
• 6,000 years of mans existence on earth was to happen within our life time. By checking chronologically the time table from Adams day to our day, we know that from Adam to the flood there was 1,656 years. The flood happened in 2370 BCE which can be calculated to show that using the table of years that certain Kings and events had their day throughout the Bible, we find that Adam was created in 4026 BCE. We cannot calculate when Eve was created or when Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden. So with simple math from Adams creation in 4026 marks the year 1975 as 6,000 years since Adam and Eve was ousted and then banned from the Garden.
• 2 Peter 3:10 - Earth’s works will be discovered. Partially undergoing fulfillment today as we speak. Identification of Earths works is when all the works of religion, government (both city and world governments and large and small governments) high ranking individuals in government as well as society in general are exposed for their corrupt life styles, cheating and lying. For this reason the Bibles admonition for all mankind is to simplify. (Matthew 6:22-23) “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright; but if your eye is wicked, your whole body will be dark. If in reality the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!
• Revelation 13:16-17 – Only those with the mark of the beast will be able to buy or sell. Some have reasoned that since having the mark of a true Christian was to act and live ones life in a manner so that all would conclude that you were one of Jehovah’s people – that having “the mark of the beast” in order to buy or sell would therefore indicate that a person would appear to be so preoccupied with work that his work took first place in his live over all else and that only by having this outlook would allow a person to buy or sell so as to live as comfortably as would seem necessary.
• Daniel 7:1-27 – Identifies 4 huge beasts with 10 horns. We have come to learn that these horns resemble the 10 Biblical world powers. All world powers have been identified and have come and gone except for the final world power which is the Anglo-American dual world power and is currently in power (the 7th king). The 8th king or small horn as identified in Revelation 17:11 appears now to be the United Nations which is also in power, but has not assumed the role as the 8th king as of the time of this writing 2009.
1. Lovers of themselves – Materialists are self-centered, an attitude anchored in commercial advertising which argues: “You deserve the best. Be good to yourself and look out for number one.” A me-ism attitude prevails in today’s world. Commercial advertising had its roots in this generation. Its love and sole aim is to purchase your attention at all cost.
2. Lovers of Money – Fraud has become an orgy of economic crime. In the United States, the toll of health-care fraud alone hovers between $50 billion and $80 billion annually. In today’s world, heroes are the business people who rip off the system and get away with it. White collar crime didn’t have a name until it became a rampant part of today’s society. The gathering of excess income so as to live or appear to live the lavish lifestyle is a main pursuit of a majority of mankind in all affluent countries. Money in this century has become an object of worship for those that have placed it on the pedestal of necessity. Unfortunately, this includes both those with and those without it. One doesn’t necessarily have to possess money in order to have an all consuming love for it. In this generation, money and its ability to control has been placed as an obsession to be desired and longed for by all. It has been said in today’s society, far different than at any time before that some people worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power but all worship money.
3. Self Assuming – This generation has seen a deterioration of respect for authority and the ability to learn from others mistakes. One now only needs to rely on his TV, his peers, his own ability to make a decision he chooses without any reliance on any source of professional administrator much less a parent or educator with the proper training. It is a concern that this trend is continuing down its self destructive pathway at a pace unparalleled in history.
4. Haughty – The haughty person looks upon others with contempt, beneath him, of little or no value. All minorities are targets. Racial violence is on the rise with no relief in sight. Genocide, complete extermination of a nations people solely because of the color of skin or the location of birth is common in many parts of the world. It has been called the “arrogance of power.”
5. Blasphemers – Suggests a language that has no parameters. That allows even consents to vulgar and obscene verbiage during the course of what has been deemed normal conversation. That this language is acceptable as a whole has been used by religious leaders and their flock, attorneys, government officials, parents as well as a population as a whole with a fundamental acceptance. Where decades ago, a foul word was not only noticed then corrected, but certainly not tolerated. Today is used without reservation. It is as common as breathing and just as palatable. Other words in harmony to blaspheme is to speak with irreverence towards others or another subject not deserving it. In today’s world, just referencing one class of public speakers is comedians, who have promoted foul language and slander to a degree previously not known.
6. Disobedient to Parents – The baby boomers are being credited by many with raising a generation of mouthy, confrontational, disrespectful brats. Today children as young as 4 often talk back with abusive language having learned that they do so with the protection of “child abuse” laws to the extent that both parents and educators as a whole have learned a fear of persecution to themselves for trying to protect themselves from a trend that is so unprecedented that not only is no end in sight, the simple thought of educating the youth has been replaced with a “do what you have to protect yourself attitude” just to get through the day. Take things one day at a time, but watch your back.
7. Unthankful – With a society training its clients through the media sources available today, TV has an audience to great today that these statistics were said that every house in America has at least one TV where only 1 in 10 has a Bible and of those only 1 in 30 know where the Bible is and of those only 1 in 50 have ever opened it and of those, few have said that they had ever considered that the information contained therein was understandable. The TV programs that have become so addictive to its listeners and fans that a disposition favoring discontentment, depression and stagnation have deflated most personalities to a hopeless depth of “Why care, Why try.”
8. Disloyal – Throughout this century loyalties have often been traded for selfish gain. Riches, however amplified, rather enlarge than satisfying appetites. However, this is not to conclude that the price for a persons loyalty is always measured monetarily. There are abundant cases showing other values such as power, position and self-gratification have just as strong an incentive to transfer affection from one agency to another often with little more than misguided ambition. Often even without regards to the physical or emotional effect on others, some have asked for very little in exchange for their loyalty forgetting that what one is sowing, this he will also reap.
9. Having no nature affection – Not only are we seeing a marked deterioration in the family, where more than anywhere else, natural affection should not only prevail but flourish. In this generation though domestic violence is the leading cause of injury and death to American women, causing more harm than vehicular accidents, rapes and muggings combined. Most child molestation is perpetrated by trusted family members. The high divorce rate, the abuse of the elderly and abortion also give evidence that many are utterly lacking in normal human affections. Also, in this century, ½ of the world forests have vanished.
10. Not open to any agreement – The extent of lawsuits due mostly in part to different parties not able to come to any agreement has clogged the courts to a degree unparalleled any other time in the history of man. Worldwide, reports of arguments ranging from domestic differences, problems in agreeing with the direction at ones place of employment to all phases of government and even religion are now beyond control. They have escalated to the courts and beyond. When satisfaction cannot be reached in the courts, little is any longer thought about taking matters into ones own hands and pursuing a matter to a degree that satisfies the pursuer.
11. Slanderers – Carries the context of being rude or abusive. One hardly needs to do more than drive on any highway in the world to see the deterioration of today’s society and their concerns or lack of concerns toward their fellow man. Ever try changing lanes on a highway? New language is becoming more and more or in the fore front today. Today the term for highway rudeness is called “Road Rage.” It is serious and has become a problem in epidemic proportions. Drive by shootings have become a common source of entertainment in some areas of the mainland during the 1980’s with little to no chance of getting caught or of having to pay the price for a crime against society and putting entire neighborhoods in fear of simply driving to work.
12. Without self control – Excessive installment buying, credit card spending sprees, and the buy now, pay later mentality fostered by commerce for personal gain, betray a lack of self control; some commercial pursuits pander to human weaknesses and make fortunes from drugs, vice and gambling. Issues and attitudes that were relatively unknown only a century ago before the introduction of the credit card into society. But there are many more areas of self control that could be discussed here more than just spending.
• Control or balanced view of hatred –
• Control or balanced view of discipline –
• Control or balanced view of recreation –
• Control or balanced view of work –
•
13. Fierce – A survey of some 2,500 youths in a large suburban city revealed that 15% of them had carried a gun at some point during the previous 30 days. 11% had been shot at during the past year and 9% had at some time fired a gun at another person.
14. Without Love of Goodness – Youths today don’t need much in the way of motives to commit what has become a lust for badness. Large numbers of kids have enthusiastically embraced the concept of blowing away another human being to the point that the term “thrill kill” has an accepted and acknowledged place in our society. It has become another new term that the American language has adopted. Many parents now lack any moral sensitivity towards this and many other issues that some consider an epidemic. Gangs of kids now rival each other for their turf to control a certain part of their neighborhoods. Gang colors and tattoos have become common to those that wear them. They have secret words, sayings and goals, mostly connected with drugs, money and most importantly power over one another.
15. Betrayers – With the colossal cost of coping with environmental pollution is concerned, moral standards are easily compromised with little or no concerns for the welfare of others. A governmental betrayal for profit is no longer considered a commercial or ethical wrong, but rather a valued direction and an accepted option for an otherwise unprofitable venture.
16. Head strong – Powerful groups, such as gun and tobacco lobbies and their agencies have maneuvered events so as to gain an audience in government in recent years and stubbornly spend fortunes trying to dictate political policies to ensure high sales despite knowing full well that their wares endanger the health and public safety of the consumer.
17. Puffed up with pride – This attitude is not only felt in society as a whole but reflected in their songs, dress and me-ism disposition with a temperament of insensibility towards anyone, not even themselves. Where sayings such as: “After first place, there’s plenty of room” being drilled into society at all ages, “to be” the best quickly replaces “to try” your best. This side show is in reality a poor substitute for inner worth.
18. Lovers of Pleasures rather than Lovers of God – According to research, teenagers spend 15 hours with electronic media for every hour spent with a religious group. Many think that this estimate is an understatement. That the statement should read, “teenagers spend 15 hours with electronic media for every one minute spent hearing but not necessarily listening to a religious group.” This media driven culture that thrives in shop0ping malls and school hallways dominates teen life. With the children’s obsession continually being fed a main course of “if it feels good, do it,” there is hardly any room left for family or God. It has been observed that if parents are absent and churches silent, then the ever present electronic media is the loudest voice in the lives of young people to the creation of a generation of hedonistic pleasure addicts with no income or means to survive.
19. Having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power – Bible truths should have the power to change lives. The plea for money from a spiritually starved clientele is only dwarfed by the ever growing façade of some of the most ungodly acts that take place under the veil of religion. A tragic example is the sexual abuse of children by the clergy and those having religious responsibility. The “Sin now for forgiveness is only a donation plate away,” attitude is not only anticipated but expected.
• Zehaniah 3:9 – Changing his people to have a pure language took place early in the 20th century, but officially realized in the mid 1970’s when the pure language was acknowledged as “the Truth” as identified and explained in the Bible.
• 6,000 years of mans existence on earth was to happen within our life time. By checking chronologically the time table from Adams day to our day, we know that from Adam to the flood there was 1,656 years. The flood happened in 2370 BCE which can be calculated to show that using the table of years that certain Kings and events had their day throughout the Bible, we find that Adam was created in 4026 BCE. We cannot calculate when Eve was created or when Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden. So with simple math from Adams creation in 4026 marks the year 1975 as 6,000 years since Adam and Eve was ousted and then banned from the Garden.
• 2 Peter 3:10 - Earth’s works will be discovered. Partially undergoing fulfillment today as we speak. Identification of Earths works is when all the works of religion, government (both city and world governments and large and small governments) high ranking individuals in government as well as society in general are exposed for their corrupt life styles, cheating and lying. For this reason the Bibles admonition for all mankind is to simplify. (Matthew 6:22-23) “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright; but if your eye is wicked, your whole body will be dark. If in reality the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!
• Revelation 13:16-17 – Only those with the mark of the beast will be able to buy or sell. Some have reasoned that since having the mark of a true Christian was to act and live ones life in a manner so that all would conclude that you were one of Jehovah’s people – that having “the mark of the beast” in order to buy or sell would therefore indicate that a person would appear to be so preoccupied with work that his work took first place in his live over all else and that only by having this outlook would allow a person to buy or sell so as to live as comfortably as would seem necessary.
• Daniel 7:1-27 – Identifies 4 huge beasts with 10 horns. We have come to learn that these horns resemble the 10 Biblical world powers. All world powers have been identified and have come and gone except for the final world power which is the Anglo-American dual world power and is currently in power (the 7th king). The 8th king or small horn as identified in Revelation 17:11 appears now to be the United Nations which is also in power, but has not assumed the role as the 8th king as of the time of this writing 2009.
9. Satans Seed
9. Prophecy that Satan would have a seed - Genesis 3:15 says, "And I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed"
Revelation 12:3 – The great dragon dragged 1/3 of the stars with him parallels with Daniel 7:10. This scripture was fulfilled shortly before Noah’s flood when 1/3 of the angels rebelled and were cast out of Jehovah’s favor. But at the time were allowed access to the heavens but not for spiritual enlightenment.
Revelation 12:3 – The great dragon dragged 1/3 of the stars with him parallels with Daniel 7:10. This scripture was fulfilled shortly before Noah’s flood when 1/3 of the angels rebelled and were cast out of Jehovah’s favor. But at the time were allowed access to the heavens but not for spiritual enlightenment.
10. Faithful and Discreet Slave
10. Prophecy identifying the Faithful and Discreet Slave - Matthew 24:45 says “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?" - Identification of the Faithful and Discrete Slave Class. Fulfilled at the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio Convention.
Proverbs 4:18 says, "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." It is the obligation of the Faithful & Discreet slave class to continue feeding the flock of Gods people with spiritual nourishment until that day (the New World Order) is firmly established.
Proverbs 4:18 says, "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." It is the obligation of the Faithful & Discreet slave class to continue feeding the flock of Gods people with spiritual nourishment until that day (the New World Order) is firmly established.
11. Identifying Babylon the Great
11. Identification of Babylon the Great - Revelation 14:8 says, "And another, a second angel, followed, saying: “She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen, she who made all the nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication!”"
When this scripture was written, it was about 96C.E. The Apostle John was writing these series of signs.(Revelation 1:1) A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John," All these "signs" were all part of the "sign" that was discussed in Matthew 24:3 where Christ responded to his disciples who were sitting on the mount of olives and asked him when these things would be. Here he used the word, "sign" in the singular sense. But in this part of Revelation 1:1 the use of "signs" is in the plural. Therefore, we can see that this "sign" singular as brought out in Matthew 24:3 must have multiple facets to identify it.
History of Babylon. Nimrod, who lived in the latter part of the third millennium B.C.E., founded Babylon as the capital of man’s first political empire. Construction of this city, however, suddenly came to a halt when confusion in communication occurred. (Ge 11:9) Later generations of rebuilders came and went. Hammurabi enlarged the city, strengthened it, and made it the capital of the Babylonian Empire under Semitic rule.
Under the control of the Assyrian World Power, Babylon figured in various struggles and revolts. Then with the decline of the second world empire, the Chaldean Nabopolassar founded a new dynasty in Babylon about 645 B.C.E. His son Nebuchadnezzar II, who completed the restoration and brought the city to its greatest glory, boasted, “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built?” (Da 4:30) In such glory it continued as the capital of the third world power until the night of October 5, 539 B.C.E. (Gregorian calendar), when Babylon fell before the invading Medo-Persian armies under the command of Cyrus the Great.
That fateful night in the city of Babylon, Belshazzar held a banquet with a thousand of his grandees. Nabonidus was not there to see the ominous writing on the plaster wall: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN.” (Da 5:5-28) After suffering defeat at the hands of the Persians, Nabonidus had taken refuge in the city of Borsippa to the SW. But Jehovah’s prophet Daniel was on hand in Babylon on that night of October 5, 539 B.C.E., and he made known the significance of what was written on the wall. The men of Cyrus’ army were not sleeping in their encampment around Babylon’s seemingly impregnable walls. For them it was a night of great activity. In brilliant strategy Cyrus’ army engineers diverted the mighty Euphrates River from its course through the city of Babylon. Then down the riverbed the Persians moved, up over the riverbanks, to take the city by surprise through the gates along the quay. Quickly passing through the streets, killing all who resisted, they captured the palace and put Belshazzar to death. It was all over. In one night Babylon had fallen, ending centuries of Semitic supremacy; control of Babylon became Aryan, and Jehovah’s word of prophecy was fulfilled.—Isa 44:27; 45:1, 2; Jer 50:38; 51:30-32; see PICTURE, Vol. 2, p. 325; CYRUS.
From that memorable date, 539 B.C.E., Babylon’s glory began to fade as the city declined. Twice it revolted against the Persian emperor Darius I (Hystaspis), and on the second occasion it was dismantled. A partially restored city rebelled against Xerxes I and was plundered. Alexander the Great intended to make Babylon his capital, but he suddenly died in 323 B.C.E. Nicator conquered the city in 312 B.C.E. and transported much of its material to the banks of the Tigris for use in building his new capital of Seleucia. However, the city and a settlement of Jews remained in early Christian times, giving the apostle Peter reason to visit Babylon, as noted in his letter. (1Pe 5:13) Inscriptions found there show that Babylon’s temple of Bel existed as late as 75 C.E. About the fourth century C.E. the city appears to have passed out of existence. It became nothing more than “piles of stones.”—Jer 51:37.
Today nothing remains of Babylon but mounds and ruins, a veritable wasteland. (PICTURE, Vol. 2, p. 324) The book Archaeology and Old Testament Study states: “These extensive ruins, of which, despite Koldewey’s work, only a small proportion has been excavated, have during past centuries been extensively plundered for building materials. Partly in consequence of this, much of the surface now presents an appearance of such chaotic disorder that it is strongly evocative of the prophecies of Isa. xiii. 19–22 and Jer. l. 39 f., the impression of desolation being further heightened by the aridity which marks a large part of the area of the ruins.”
Part of this one remaining sign left to be seen is the falling of Babylon the Great. So, first of all Babylon the Great needs to be identified. We do know under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the seat or foundation of false religion. At Daniel 2:46-49 the Bible says, "At that time King Neb·u·chad·nez′zar himself fell down upon his face, and to Daniel he paid homage, and he said to offer even a present and incense to him. 47 The king was answering Daniel and saying: “Truly the God of YOU men is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a Revealer of secrets, because you were able to reveal this secret.” 48 Consequently the king made Daniel someone great, and many big gifts he gave to him, and he made him the ruler over all the jurisdictional district of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel, for his part, made a request of the king, and he appointed over the administration of the jurisdictional district of Babylon Sha′drach, Me′shach and A·bed′ne·go, but Daniel was in the court of the king."
Genesis 11:1 says "Now all the earth continued to be of one language and of one set of words. 2 And it came about that in their journeying eastward they eventually discovered a valley plain in the land of Shi′nar, and they took up dwelling there. 3 And they began to say, each one to the other: “Come on! Let us make bricks and bake them with a burning process.” So brick served as stone for them, but bitumen served as mortar for them. 4 They now said: “Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth.” 5 And Jehovah proceeded to go down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built. 6 After that Jehovah said: “Look! They are one people and there is one language for them all, and this is what they start to do. Why, now there is nothing that they may have in mind to do that will be unattainable for them. 7 Come now! Let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not listen to one another’s language.” 8 Accordingly Jehovah scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth, and they gradually left off building the city. 9 That is why its name was called Ba′bel, because there Jehovah had confused the language of all the earth, and Jehovah had scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth."
Along with this scattering, they each took their various forms of worship with them. These people worshipped a miriad of gods. There were gods for this and gods for that, but all of them were false gods and were not approved by Jehovah who wanted to be worshiped in spirit and in truth.
Religion. Babylon was a most religious place. Evidence from excavations and from ancient texts points to the existence of more than 50 temples. The principal god of the imperial city was Marduk, called Merodach in the Bible. It has been suggested that Nimrod was deified as Marduk, but the opinions of scholars as to identifications of gods with specific humans vary. Triads of deities were also prominent in the Babylonian religion. One of these, made up of two gods and a goddess, was Sin (the moon-god), Shamash (the sun-god), and Ishtar; these were said to be the rulers of the zodiac. And still another triad was composed of the devils Labartu, Labasu, and Akhkhazu. Idolatry was everywhere in evidence. Babylon was indeed “a land of graven images,” filthy “dungy idols.”—Jer 50:1, 2, 38. The Babylonians believed in the immortality of the human soul.
The Babylonians developed astrology in an effort to discover man’s future in the stars. (See ASTROLOGERS.) Magic, sorcery, and astrology played a prominent part in their religion. (Isa 47:12, 13; Da 2:27; 4:7) Many heavenly bodies, for example, planets, were named after Babylonian gods. Divination continued to be a basic component of Babylonian religion in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, who used it to reach decisions.—Eze 21:20-22.
One cuneiform tablet has been found referring to a campaign against Egypt in Nebuchadnezzar’s 37th year (588 B.C.E.). This may be the occasion when mighty Egypt was brought under Babylonian control, as foretold by the prophet Ezekiel evidently in the year 591 B.C.E. (Eze 29:17-19) Finally, after a 43-year reign, which included both conquest of many nations and a grand building program in Babylonia itself, Nebuchadnezzar II died in October of 582 B.C.E. and was succeeded by Awil-Marduk (Evil-merodach). This new ruler showed kindness to captive King Jehoiachin. (2Ki 25:27-30) Little is known about the reigns of Neriglissar, evidently the successor of Evil-merodach, and of Labashi-Marduk.
More complete historical information is available for Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, who were evidently ruling as coregents at the time of Babylon’s fall.
By now the Medes and Persians under command of Cyrus the Great were on the march to take over control of Babylonia and become the fourth world power. During the night of October 5, 539 B.C.E. (Gregorian calendar), Babylon was seized, and Belshazzar was slain. In the first year of Cyrus, following the conquest of Babylon, he issued his famous decree permitting a group that included 42,360 males, besides many slaves and professional singers, to return to Jerusalem. Some 200 years later, Persian domination of Babylonia came to an end when Alexander the Great captured Babylon in 331 B.C.E. By the middle of the second century B.C.E. the Parthians, under their king Mithradates I, were in control of Babylonia.
Among John’s visions recorded in the book of Revelation appear pronouncements of judgment against “Babylon the Great,” as well as a description of her and of her downfall.—Re 14:8; 16:19; chaps 17, 18; 19:1-3. In Revelation 17:3-5, Babylon the Great is described as a woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, richly adorned, and sitting upon a scarlet-colored wild beast having seven heads and ten horns. Upon her forehead a name is written, “a mystery: ‘Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.’” She is also depicted as sitting on “many waters” representing “peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.”—Re 17:1-15. The luxury and the dominion attributed to Babylon the Great do not allow for simply equating her with the literal city of Babylon in Mesopotamia. After ancient Babylon fell to Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C.E., it lost its position as a dominant world power, its captives, including the Jews, being freed. Although the city continued to exist even beyond the days of the apostles, and hence existed in John’s day, it was no longer a city of world importance, and it eventually fell into decay and utter ruin. Thus, Babylon the Great must be viewed as a symbolic city, one of which the literal city of Babylon was the prototype. Because the ancient city gives the mystic city its name, it is helpful to consider briefly the outstanding features of Babylon on the Euphrates, features that provide clues as to the identity of the symbolic city of John’s vision.
When this scripture was written, it was about 96C.E. The Apostle John was writing these series of signs.(Revelation 1:1) A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John," All these "signs" were all part of the "sign" that was discussed in Matthew 24:3 where Christ responded to his disciples who were sitting on the mount of olives and asked him when these things would be. Here he used the word, "sign" in the singular sense. But in this part of Revelation 1:1 the use of "signs" is in the plural. Therefore, we can see that this "sign" singular as brought out in Matthew 24:3 must have multiple facets to identify it.
History of Babylon. Nimrod, who lived in the latter part of the third millennium B.C.E., founded Babylon as the capital of man’s first political empire. Construction of this city, however, suddenly came to a halt when confusion in communication occurred. (Ge 11:9) Later generations of rebuilders came and went. Hammurabi enlarged the city, strengthened it, and made it the capital of the Babylonian Empire under Semitic rule.
Under the control of the Assyrian World Power, Babylon figured in various struggles and revolts. Then with the decline of the second world empire, the Chaldean Nabopolassar founded a new dynasty in Babylon about 645 B.C.E. His son Nebuchadnezzar II, who completed the restoration and brought the city to its greatest glory, boasted, “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built?” (Da 4:30) In such glory it continued as the capital of the third world power until the night of October 5, 539 B.C.E. (Gregorian calendar), when Babylon fell before the invading Medo-Persian armies under the command of Cyrus the Great.
That fateful night in the city of Babylon, Belshazzar held a banquet with a thousand of his grandees. Nabonidus was not there to see the ominous writing on the plaster wall: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN.” (Da 5:5-28) After suffering defeat at the hands of the Persians, Nabonidus had taken refuge in the city of Borsippa to the SW. But Jehovah’s prophet Daniel was on hand in Babylon on that night of October 5, 539 B.C.E., and he made known the significance of what was written on the wall. The men of Cyrus’ army were not sleeping in their encampment around Babylon’s seemingly impregnable walls. For them it was a night of great activity. In brilliant strategy Cyrus’ army engineers diverted the mighty Euphrates River from its course through the city of Babylon. Then down the riverbed the Persians moved, up over the riverbanks, to take the city by surprise through the gates along the quay. Quickly passing through the streets, killing all who resisted, they captured the palace and put Belshazzar to death. It was all over. In one night Babylon had fallen, ending centuries of Semitic supremacy; control of Babylon became Aryan, and Jehovah’s word of prophecy was fulfilled.—Isa 44:27; 45:1, 2; Jer 50:38; 51:30-32; see PICTURE, Vol. 2, p. 325; CYRUS.
From that memorable date, 539 B.C.E., Babylon’s glory began to fade as the city declined. Twice it revolted against the Persian emperor Darius I (Hystaspis), and on the second occasion it was dismantled. A partially restored city rebelled against Xerxes I and was plundered. Alexander the Great intended to make Babylon his capital, but he suddenly died in 323 B.C.E. Nicator conquered the city in 312 B.C.E. and transported much of its material to the banks of the Tigris for use in building his new capital of Seleucia. However, the city and a settlement of Jews remained in early Christian times, giving the apostle Peter reason to visit Babylon, as noted in his letter. (1Pe 5:13) Inscriptions found there show that Babylon’s temple of Bel existed as late as 75 C.E. About the fourth century C.E. the city appears to have passed out of existence. It became nothing more than “piles of stones.”—Jer 51:37.
Today nothing remains of Babylon but mounds and ruins, a veritable wasteland. (PICTURE, Vol. 2, p. 324) The book Archaeology and Old Testament Study states: “These extensive ruins, of which, despite Koldewey’s work, only a small proportion has been excavated, have during past centuries been extensively plundered for building materials. Partly in consequence of this, much of the surface now presents an appearance of such chaotic disorder that it is strongly evocative of the prophecies of Isa. xiii. 19–22 and Jer. l. 39 f., the impression of desolation being further heightened by the aridity which marks a large part of the area of the ruins.”
Part of this one remaining sign left to be seen is the falling of Babylon the Great. So, first of all Babylon the Great needs to be identified. We do know under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the seat or foundation of false religion. At Daniel 2:46-49 the Bible says, "At that time King Neb·u·chad·nez′zar himself fell down upon his face, and to Daniel he paid homage, and he said to offer even a present and incense to him. 47 The king was answering Daniel and saying: “Truly the God of YOU men is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a Revealer of secrets, because you were able to reveal this secret.” 48 Consequently the king made Daniel someone great, and many big gifts he gave to him, and he made him the ruler over all the jurisdictional district of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel, for his part, made a request of the king, and he appointed over the administration of the jurisdictional district of Babylon Sha′drach, Me′shach and A·bed′ne·go, but Daniel was in the court of the king."
Genesis 11:1 says "Now all the earth continued to be of one language and of one set of words. 2 And it came about that in their journeying eastward they eventually discovered a valley plain in the land of Shi′nar, and they took up dwelling there. 3 And they began to say, each one to the other: “Come on! Let us make bricks and bake them with a burning process.” So brick served as stone for them, but bitumen served as mortar for them. 4 They now said: “Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth.” 5 And Jehovah proceeded to go down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built. 6 After that Jehovah said: “Look! They are one people and there is one language for them all, and this is what they start to do. Why, now there is nothing that they may have in mind to do that will be unattainable for them. 7 Come now! Let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not listen to one another’s language.” 8 Accordingly Jehovah scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth, and they gradually left off building the city. 9 That is why its name was called Ba′bel, because there Jehovah had confused the language of all the earth, and Jehovah had scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth."
Along with this scattering, they each took their various forms of worship with them. These people worshipped a miriad of gods. There were gods for this and gods for that, but all of them were false gods and were not approved by Jehovah who wanted to be worshiped in spirit and in truth.
Religion. Babylon was a most religious place. Evidence from excavations and from ancient texts points to the existence of more than 50 temples. The principal god of the imperial city was Marduk, called Merodach in the Bible. It has been suggested that Nimrod was deified as Marduk, but the opinions of scholars as to identifications of gods with specific humans vary. Triads of deities were also prominent in the Babylonian religion. One of these, made up of two gods and a goddess, was Sin (the moon-god), Shamash (the sun-god), and Ishtar; these were said to be the rulers of the zodiac. And still another triad was composed of the devils Labartu, Labasu, and Akhkhazu. Idolatry was everywhere in evidence. Babylon was indeed “a land of graven images,” filthy “dungy idols.”—Jer 50:1, 2, 38. The Babylonians believed in the immortality of the human soul.
The Babylonians developed astrology in an effort to discover man’s future in the stars. (See ASTROLOGERS.) Magic, sorcery, and astrology played a prominent part in their religion. (Isa 47:12, 13; Da 2:27; 4:7) Many heavenly bodies, for example, planets, were named after Babylonian gods. Divination continued to be a basic component of Babylonian religion in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, who used it to reach decisions.—Eze 21:20-22.
One cuneiform tablet has been found referring to a campaign against Egypt in Nebuchadnezzar’s 37th year (588 B.C.E.). This may be the occasion when mighty Egypt was brought under Babylonian control, as foretold by the prophet Ezekiel evidently in the year 591 B.C.E. (Eze 29:17-19) Finally, after a 43-year reign, which included both conquest of many nations and a grand building program in Babylonia itself, Nebuchadnezzar II died in October of 582 B.C.E. and was succeeded by Awil-Marduk (Evil-merodach). This new ruler showed kindness to captive King Jehoiachin. (2Ki 25:27-30) Little is known about the reigns of Neriglissar, evidently the successor of Evil-merodach, and of Labashi-Marduk.
More complete historical information is available for Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, who were evidently ruling as coregents at the time of Babylon’s fall.
By now the Medes and Persians under command of Cyrus the Great were on the march to take over control of Babylonia and become the fourth world power. During the night of October 5, 539 B.C.E. (Gregorian calendar), Babylon was seized, and Belshazzar was slain. In the first year of Cyrus, following the conquest of Babylon, he issued his famous decree permitting a group that included 42,360 males, besides many slaves and professional singers, to return to Jerusalem. Some 200 years later, Persian domination of Babylonia came to an end when Alexander the Great captured Babylon in 331 B.C.E. By the middle of the second century B.C.E. the Parthians, under their king Mithradates I, were in control of Babylonia.
Among John’s visions recorded in the book of Revelation appear pronouncements of judgment against “Babylon the Great,” as well as a description of her and of her downfall.—Re 14:8; 16:19; chaps 17, 18; 19:1-3. In Revelation 17:3-5, Babylon the Great is described as a woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, richly adorned, and sitting upon a scarlet-colored wild beast having seven heads and ten horns. Upon her forehead a name is written, “a mystery: ‘Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.’” She is also depicted as sitting on “many waters” representing “peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.”—Re 17:1-15. The luxury and the dominion attributed to Babylon the Great do not allow for simply equating her with the literal city of Babylon in Mesopotamia. After ancient Babylon fell to Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C.E., it lost its position as a dominant world power, its captives, including the Jews, being freed. Although the city continued to exist even beyond the days of the apostles, and hence existed in John’s day, it was no longer a city of world importance, and it eventually fell into decay and utter ruin. Thus, Babylon the Great must be viewed as a symbolic city, one of which the literal city of Babylon was the prototype. Because the ancient city gives the mystic city its name, it is helpful to consider briefly the outstanding features of Babylon on the Euphrates, features that provide clues as to the identity of the symbolic city of John’s vision.
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