Christ and his beloved bride.

This was a time unlike any other time in history. In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul affirms that the Son of God came to this earth at just the right time in the divine scheme of things. He expresses the thought like this: “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law.” (Galatians 4:4) For centuries this time had been in preparation.

Paul also tells us that Jesus came to fulfill all the promises made unto the fathers. Romans 15:8 I SV For I tell you that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth in order to confirm the promises given to our ancestors.

The problem was during Jesus' time the Jews were under Roman domination. Many of the Jews were hoping the Messiah would be more like a political Savior, a King the Messiah who would free them from the Roman yoke.

In response to this hope, a huge crowd set up a virtual parade for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. They laid down palm branches across the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (also prophesied regarding the Messiah). And they called out, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Even Jesus' disciples enthusiastically asked him, "Is this when you will set up your kingdom?"

In short, Jesus did not fit who they expected the Messiah to be. In fact, most of what Jesus did was contrary to their view of a Messiah. The Old Testament Scriptures do contain a multitude of prophecies about the Messiah who will come as ruling, triumphant King and set up his kingdom. In addition to this portrayal of the Messiah as King, there are hundreds of other Old Testament prophecies clearly refer to the Messiah as a Savior from sin. (Isaiah 53:5)

They thought if Jesus was the Messiah, he should think and behave more like themselves. As time went on many of the Jews were going apostasy from the church 1John 2:19; Act 15:24 and became the primary enemies of Christians in the early years. Paul said, “Five time I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes” (2 Corinthians 11:24) as well as in ‘dangers from my countrymen’ (11:26). Then at Lystra,’... Jews came from Antioch and Iconiun, and having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to dead’ (Acts 14:19) Of course, when the unbelieving Jews instigated the Gentiles, they also joined in persecuting Christians. (Acts 14:2) It shows how passionate the Judaizers hatred was against the Christians. Acts recording in 23:14 how the chief priests and elders has made a great oath to even kill Paul.

They were extremely bitter toward believers and inflicted much tribulation. One of the main purposes of Revelation was to encourage the “bride” in the midst of severe persecutions and tribulation they were undergoing. John calls himself their brother and companion in the tribulation. Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

As time progressed things became worse and Nero began his assault on the Church. This began a great persecution of the Church for 3 ½ years from A.D 64 till A.D 67, These early churches, staggering from both persecution and apostasy. Rather than stand up for Jesus and die, many of the Jews went apostasy. It was a rugged time for the infant churches.

The first collective persecution of the Christians took place in Rome under Nero, towards the close of the year 64, very soon after sentence had been passed on to Paul.
Nero came up with some most extraordinary ways to torture Christians. Nero performed the worst atrocities upon his victims he did not want to just kill Christians, he wanted to make them suffer first. Nero enjoyed dipping Christians in tar, or oil, or resin, and nailed them on pine poles were lighted and burned as torches for the amusement of the mob; while Nero, in fantastical dress, figured in a horse race, and displayed his art as charioteer. Burning alive was the ordinary punishment of incendiaries; but only the cruel ingenuity of this imperial monster, under the inspiration of the devil, could invent such a horrible system of illumination.

Around his palace, were also Christians torches that illumined the night while he yelled: "Now you truly are the light of the world." Nero also performed many other kinds of torture, often killing them in the Amphitheater in front of large crowds of spectators where he did some of his most gruesome murders. The ghastly way in which some of the victims aroused were put to death was to wrap Christians up in animal skins and throw them to the lions, or wild dogs to be ripped apart. Many others men and woman were tied between two oxen or horses tearing these men and women apart in front of thousands of entertained spectators.

At other times he would crucify them, and after the crowd would get bored, he would set the Christians on fire. Nero falsely accused and executed Christians, who were infamous for their faith in Christ. Ultimately, Christians were executed not for the public good or any criminal acts, but on the account that they were believers in Christ.

These are the ones who John said came through that great tribulation in Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The bride’s is clean and bright, denoting her sinlessness before God. The clean and bright linen, which the bride wears also corresponds to the clothing promised to the over comers in the church at Sardis (Rev. 3:4-5).

These Christians had not been defiled by the “harlot woman” and are “virgins to the Lamb of God.” Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These saints were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Pentecost, the Feast of Firstfruits, represents the first part of God's spiritual harvest.

Notice how the New International Version interprets this verse. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were (purchased from among men) and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4) [emphasis added] The purchase here is the betrothed or bride-price for the virgin. We first see this concept of a bride-price in. (Exodus 22:16-17)

Revelation 14:4 states unequivocally that these first century saints are the virgin to the Lamb Christ. The Bible also unequivocally states, these numbers of them which were sealed are from the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:4-10) The 144,000 are called "virgins." Isaiah tells us how God loving delights, over this virgin. “For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)

Revelation tells us the bride has made herself ready and the fine linen is identified as the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-9 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His “ wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the “fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." [emphasis added]

The characteristics describing the bride, making herself ready, and being “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,”the righteous acts of the saints” identify those who have been redeemed. In Isaiah 61:10 the saints are joyful to be clothed with the garments of salvation, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah. 61:10)

The chapter begins with a prophecy of Jesus Christ: Isaiah. 61:1-3 Uses the imagery of marriage pictures God's supreme gift. Jesus righteousness, is presented to the saints as a costly robe of righteousness adorning His bride. Just as the bridegroom is adorned with a beautiful robe on his marriage day, so is the bride decked out or adorned with her jewels.

The Bride Of Christ.

The bride of Christ. Paul tells us that there was a remnant who remained faithful to Yahweh. Romans 9:26-27. Before we start to tie all this in together we need to back up a bit and take a quick look at another historical setting of Israel. Elijah marked a time of awful apostasy in Israel. After Jeroboam died, there were many kings of Israel, but none so wicked as Ahab. He married a heathen woman, named Jezebel, and worshiped gods and built temples for them, which provoked the anger of the Lord against Ahab more so than against all the kings of Israel that were before him. So bad was it that Elijah felt he was the only true Israelite left.

Elijah had been true to the Lord, and under God had done his best to fight the idolatry that covered the nation. In God's power he had challenged the prophets of Baal on mount Carmel. God had wonderfully proved himself to be the one true God by answering Elijah's prayer and sending fire down from heaven to consume Elijah's offering, when all the crying of the prophets of Baal to their god had been in vain.

The prophets of Baal had been killed, and the people had bowed down and cried 'The Lord he is God'. Then the Lord had sent rain on Israel and ended the drought, but all seemed in vain. Jezebel still dominated over Ahab, and Elijah found himself fleeing for his life. In this situation Elijah cried out to God in despair. In his flight from Jezebel, God asks Elijah what he is doing. Elijah replies I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me. Elijah was in despair, yet after God had dealt with him in earthquake and fire and thunder and a great stillness, God points out to Elijah that his assessment of the situation was wrong. God tells Elijah "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." For the entire story, read all of 1 Kings 16-19.

Paul goes into the history of the Jews, and for this he chooses a spectacular example in the history of Elijah the prophet. "I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the scripture says in the passage about Elijah - how he appealed to God against Israel: 'Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me?' And what was God's answer to him? 'I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:1-6)

Paul asks the question as to whether God has rejected his people. This seems to be so because the nation of the Jews had been rejected by God, and the understanding prevalent at the time was that the whole nation of the Jews constituted the chosen people of God. Much like some believe today.

Paul's answer to his own question is a plain rejection of such an idea. Has God rejected his people? By no means! Paul then proves his point by two illustrations. The first one is concerning himself, and the second is found in the history of the Jewish nation.

Paul argues that to say God had rejected his people, and had gone back on his word, was proved wrong straight away because of his own experience. Paul then describes briefly his Jewish pedigree. He was a true Jew. He could trace his ancestry back to Abraham, and to the fact he belonged directly to the tribe of Benjamin. What Paul is arguing is that here was a true Jew, of the nation of the Jews, and this true Jew was accepted by God.

Paul plainly had in mind the fact of his conversion. As a Jew, he was angrily opposed to Christians, and to the Gospel. He went out of his way to exterminate the followers of Jesus. Never in his wildest dreams does he think of becoming a Christian and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Yet in spite of this God stopped him in his tracks and in his virulent attack of the church of Christ, and made him one of Christ's disciples. Paul had no desire to become a Christian yet he was owned by God, and made by God one of God's own people. Paul saw this as a very powerful argument that God had not rejected his people. If God had rejected his people, he would not have gone out of his way to save and accept Paul who was a true Jew.

Paul then is telling the truth. God foreknew Paul, and it was because he was foreknown by God before the foundation of the world, that God accepted him in Christ's death, and numbered him amongst the members of the true Israel of God.

What Paul is arguing, therefore, is that God had not rejected the people of the Jews altogether. The nation of Israel had been rejected, but there was still the remnant whom God had chosen before the foundation of the world, and these were being saved all the time.

Paul tell us about this remnant in Romans 9:26-27 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: " Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.

Paul argues that this was and is the pattern of the work of God since the days of Elijah. Just as in the past God preserved a remnant chosen by grace all down the history of the Jews, so now and in the future, he was doing the same, as in the time of Baal.

What was true of Paul in this respect was all the apostles, and many other Jews, the 3000 converted on the day of Pentecost, and indeed many thousand souls were added (Act 2:41) God had not forgotten his promise to Abraham. There were on Gentiles in the early Hebrew Christian Church from 32 to 42. He was accepting all the true children of Abraham by faith. Paul himself, happened to be one of those Jews, that God had not forgotten.

The Gentiles did not start coming into the Hebrew Christian Church until the council at Jerusalem in the 60's. Starting from Pentecost, the infant Church was being trained and prepared as a pure virgin to take on the role of a wife and fitting bride for her mate.

Here is one prime example from the words of Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 NIV I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, “ so that I might “present you” as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (emphasis added)

It should not be overlooked here that Paul says he promised the Church of Corinth to one husband, to Christ as a pure virgin. The church was already promised to Christ as a radiant, blameless bride. This is the period of time that she is observed for her purity. It is with this remnant of Spiritual Israel that Yahweh make his bride.

Old covenant Israel the treacherous wife of Yahweh.

In Exodus 19 Yahweh comes down to the Israelites to sign the wedding covenant agreement with the people. Moses now brings the proposal of Yahweh to the elders and the people. Israel promised to be faithful in all things. Exodus 19:6-8 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

The proposal was accepted. "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." Now the bride, the children of Israel, had to be prepared for the wedding. Exodus 19: 10 "Then Yahweh said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day Yahweh will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people'."

Later, Yahweh gave the bride the contract or agreement for the marriage. The terms of the Covenant contract between Yahweh, and Israel, contained the Ten Commandments. The main condition of this marriage contract was that the Wife (the congregation of Israel -PSALM 135: 4), would not become an adulteress woman.

Let's have a look at a few of the clauses of this marriage contract found in the Book of -EXODUS "You shall have no other Gods before Me"... -EXODUS 20: 3. ."You shall not commit adultery"... -EXODUS 20: 14.
Now readers, what finally happened in this relationship between Israel and Yahweh is that, the congregation of the “Nation of Israel” (the Wife of Yahweh) became an adulteress woman. Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. Finely Yahweh calls her a harlot. (Hosea 9:1)

As a wife treacherously departed from her husband so does the Nation of Israel treacherously departed from her husband. Jeremiah 3:20 Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," says the LORD. The children of Israel are a stiff necked lot for the marriage had only just begun when they went astray.

God would punish them and they would cry out for help. He would help them and they would obey for a time and disobey again. Judges 2:11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook Yahweh God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked Yahweh to anger. 13 They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of Yahweh was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.

Now, because Israel breached the marriage contract by committing adultery, Yahweh then made a judgment on her according to the terms set forth in the marriage contract, which started at (Mount. Sinai) and gave her a bill of divorce. In Jeremiah 3:8 Yahweh gives Israel a bill of divorce for her adultery. The Greek word apoluo, translated as “divorce in this passage, means to let loose from, let go free.

Unlike marriage, divorce was not instituted by God. His comments on divorce, Jesus explained that divorce represents a change in God’s order because "from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8). He further observed that it was because of the "hardness" of the human heart that Moses "allowed" divorce (Matt 19:8) Yahweh determines to override the law for the sake of a future divorce from His partner National Israel. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

Israel has left her husband, Yahweh, and committing spiritual adultery “with another” (Baal) and worshiped wooden images. (1 Kings 16:31). Then Ezekiel writes "How degenerate is your heart!" says the Lord GOD, "seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot. (Ezekiel 16:32)

This deed entitled Yahweh to divorce his wife National Israel. In terms of the divorce law, Yahweh cannot remarry the former wife (Israel), and the unfaithful wife cannot return to her husband. Such action would pollute the land even more severely. Jeremiah 3:1 "They say, 'If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man's, May he return to her again?' Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me," says the LORD.

Also, according to the law once at women has become a harlot, she could not be taken as a wife. Leviticus 21:7 'They shall not take a wife who is a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God. If Yahweh asked the priest to do something that was just right and holy would He not do the same? Under just these two sets of circumstances Yahweh could not remarry His old bride. So, if one is to obey the law, no renewal of the relationship between God and National Israel was possible.

While Yahweh could not remarry His old harlot bride He also could not comply walk away from her because through her the Messiah would be born. (Isaiah 9) So Yahweh waited until Jesus the Messiah was born then He judged the harlot according to the terms of the marriage contract. Ezekiel 16:38 "And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. This judgment was done when the harlot was completely destroyed in A.D. 70.

This left the way open for Yahweh to take a “virgin as a wife.” Leviticus 21:13-14 'And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 'A widow or a divorced woman or a defiled woman or a harlot, these he shall not marry; but he shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife.

Israel the vineyard: of the Lord.

The application of the vine goes back to the time the nation of Israel left Egypt. David. Speaking of God, said, “You brought a vine out of Egypt: you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.” (Psalms 80:8-9, 16)

Isaiah later continues this figurative language about the house of Israel to which he says; Isaiah 5:1-7 I will sing for the One I love a song about His vineyard: My Loved One had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 2He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it, and cut out a winepress as well. Then He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. 3Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard. 4What more could have been done for My vineyard than what I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? 5Now I will tell you what I am going to do with My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. 6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned, nor cultivated, and briars and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. 7The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of His delight. And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. What did God want to communicate to the people of Judah in the Song of the Vineyard? It’s obvious that the Song is actually a true story. In the story God planted a vineyard and it’s clear it. He chose fertile soil on a hillside where there would be plenty of sunshine and rainfall. He cleared away the stones—which is no small task in the land of Israel!

The Lord planted His “choicest vine” of Abrahams descendants in the vineyard. For protection and security, He planted a hedge and built a wall around the vineyard, and built a watchtower in the center. In addition, He made a winepress in anticipation of a bountiful harvest. Then He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.

God gave His people every advantage and opportunity to produce good fruit. However, Israel produced nothing but the worthless fruit of wild grapes. In sorrow and disappointment, the vineyard keeper decided to turn away from His vineyard and allow it to go to waste. He would no longer cultivate and protect it, and it would become overgrown with briars and thorns. God would remove His hand of protection from the nation, and would literally allow it to be destroyed verse 5.

There are several other “vineyard passages” in the Old Testament. Israel is likened to a vine or vineyard in Jeremiah 2:21 and 12:10, Ezekiel 15 and Hosea 10:1. In every one of these passages God’s people were expected to produce fruit. In fact, Ezekiel belabors the point that producing fruit is the only purpose for a vine! It’s good only for producing fruit—and it’s expected to bear good fruit!

The good fruit here is related to the fact that Israel was to be the light of God unto the gentiles. However Jesus said when they win one over they made him twice as much a son of hell as themselves ( Matthew 23:15)

What more can the Lord do for them? In Isaiah’s Song, God’s vineyard willfully produced only wild, worthless, unusable fruit—in spite of the fact that God did everything that could possibly be done to assist it to produce a glorious harvest.

John’s original Jewish audience knows these metaphors were drawing no the spiritual truths and historical realities of the nation of Israel. The language had a specific purpose to remind Israel of her long history.

As a result John writes in Revelation14 about the subject of God’s divine wrath poured out upon the vine. This is done by way of the picture of a harvest by which God reaps the earth. Revelation 14:14-20 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the “vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

One may note some key elements in these verses: (a) The Reapers are. The Son of Man (is the Lord Jesus Christ) with His holy angels (vss. 14-14-20) This stresses the source. It is an act of God.

The “vine of the earth, are fully ripe." The words “are ripe” represent the Greek akmazw which means “to be in its prime, be at its peak of ripeness.” A peak of ripeness THEN not over 2.000 years later.

Israel is the only nation in the Bible call the vine. Jeremiah 2: 20 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

Then to this, John adds the word “grapes.” John’s original Jewish audience knows these metaphors were drawing no Isaiah. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. (Isaiah 5:2)

The vine of the earth, in the land of Israel, is thrown into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Isaiah 5:2 63:3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.

The term “earth” is often used in our translations of the book of Revelation. The Greek word ym would often be better translated “land.” Its definition is given by various Greek Lexicons as land, earth, soil, or dirt. Our modern definition of the word “earth” makes many passages appear to be world-wide when the context indicates a localized action or condition. Note how it is normally translated “land” as in Matthew 10:15 and Mark 11:24.

The Results of the Reaping, a harvest would be bloody carnage occurring particularly in Palestine. This will result in the bloodiest battle and carnage of human flesh that Israel has ever known. From this battle blood will flow up to the horse’s bridle. Revelation 14:20 . And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

The blood flowing as high as the horses’ would portray the gravity of this judgment. The distance of 1600 stadia (about 180 miles) just happens to be the approximate length of the land of Palestine.

Revelation perfect "harmony."

When I began to study the book of Revelation I begin to see the complete and perfect "harmony" that Revelation has with all the Bible. One of the promises themes that runs throughout the Bible is God’s promise Wedding to Israel. (Isaiah 62)

In Matthew, Jesus spoke in parables about the wedding feast, and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:2-7)

A call went out to them that were bidden, “as in already invited to the wedding.” In its 1st-century Palestine setting, the parable in Matthew 22:1-14 is one of many which Jesus declares that God was going to bring about His kingdom. The time had come when God was going to consummate all his promises to Israel including the wedding.

The king sends his servants to call them in, and they would not come. Then he sends forth other servants to tell them again, and they still don't come. Did you see the mercy the Lord showed in this parable on the ones bidden (Israel) to the wedding? Two times the Lord asked the people of Israel to come and they chose not to.

They PAID NO ATTENTION to the second invitation and ignored the king in favor of their agriculture and commerce. And the rest of the servants the (prophets) they seized and treated spitefully, and killed. Jesus speaking to Pharisee, and scribes later said, "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. (Matthew 23:34)

Paul confirms this as well. Act 7:52 "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 1Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

Notice also that those the king invited to make light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. " They thought more of their agriculture and commerce than the king's invitation to come to the wedding. Jerusalem was a beautiful city, and the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world John tell us when all these things were destroyed the merchants will cry and weep. (Revelation 18:11-19)

Next the king was going to sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7; Luke 19:43; 21:20-22)

The analogy of Matthew 22:1:7 refers unmistakably to the time when Babylon/Jerusalem is destroyed as will. There are two very important parallels that should not be over looked. One there is gong to be a wedding. Two the king will send out his armies, to destroy those murderers, who killed his servants and burned up their city.

These events Jesus mentioned are synonymous with John’s teaching in Revelation after all Jesus was John’s teacher. In Revelation 18:24 we see that it was Babylon the Harlot Jerusalem who killed the “prophets and saints” and were guilty of “all who were slain on the earth.” That city would be burned. Revelation 18:18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying “What is like this great city?

What happened after God the king sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. The wedding of the Lamb begins. Revelation 19: 6:9 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

John’s prophecy is in perfect harmony with Jesus’ teaching in (Matthew 22:2-7) The Wedding motif in Revelation, demands that we place Revelation in the first century context along with the fall of Jerusalem that Jesus also mentioned in (Matthew 22:7)

The city of Tyrus.

As we have seen Tyrus was a beautiful seaport, and the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world.Let's continue 22 "The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 "Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 "These were your merchants in choice items--in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace. 25 "The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise. You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas. 26 Your oarsmen brought you into many waters, But the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas. 27 "Your riches, wares, and merchandise, Your mariners and pilots, Your caulkers and merchandisers, All your men of war who are in you, And the entire company which is in your midst, Will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin. 28 The common-land will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots. 29 "All who handle the oar, The mariners, All the pilots of the sea Will come down from their ships and stand on the shore. 30 They will make their voice heard because of you; They will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads; They will roll about in ashes; 31They will shave themselves completely bald because of you, Gird themselves with sackcloth, And weep for you With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. 32 In their wailing for you They will take up a lamentation, And lament for you: 'What city is like Tyre, Destroyed in the midst of the sea? 33 'When your wares went out by sea, You satisfied many people; You enriched the kings of the earth With your many luxury goods and your merchandise. :34 But you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters; Your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst. 35 All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you; Their kings will be greatly afraid, And their countenance will be troubled. 36 The merchants among the peoples will hiss at you; You will become a horror, and be no more forever.' " ' " (Ezekiel 27:22-36).

All of this greatness, all of this power, all of this glory, all of this wealth, all of this commerce is going to cease. The Lord is going to bring it all to an end.

Israel always wanted to be like other nations. (1 Samuel 8:5) However the problem is if you don’t learn anything from the history that tells why those nations were destroyed you are boomed to repeat it.

Ezekiel prophesied this warning to people of Tyrus century’s before now God gives Christ this revelation to show to John. In Revelation, chapter eighteen, the Bible speaks of the destruction of the commercial system of Babylon/Jerusalem in the great tribulation period. God is finally bringing an end to commercialism that has preyed upon the weakness of man. These are many parallels between Ezekiel 27 and Revelation 18. Tyrus was at one time, the center of the commercial activity of the world. (27:8-21) Babylon/Jerusalem was the center of the commercial activity of the world. (Rev. 18:12:13)

Tyus claimed 'I am perfect in beauty.' (27:3) Babylon/Jerusalem “glorified herself.” (Rev. 18:7)

The merchants said, “What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?” (27:32) In Rev. 18:18 the merchants cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like this great city?

The mariners, and all the pilots of the sea threw dust on their heads while walling and weep, because they have been made rich by bringing the merchandises. (27:30-32) The merchants threw dust on their heads while wailing and weep over the rich wealth that are lost. (Rev. 18:19) Their kings will be greatly afraid, And their countenance will be troubled. (27:35) The kings of the earth will stand at a distance for fear of her torment. (Rev 18:9-10)

Tyre will fall into the midst of the season the day of its ruin. (27:27) Babylon/Jerusalem will be threw into the sea. (Rev 18:21) The greatness, and glory of Tyrus, would be no more . (27: 36) The greatness, and glory of Babylon/Jerusalem will be no more. (Rev. 18:21-22)

The message against Tyre was given in the year 586 B.C., just after the fall of Jerusalem. The name Tyre means "rock." It was built on an island rock about half a mile from the main-land. Unlike other Phoenician cities, it formed a little kingdom in itself. Hiram, king of Tyre, built a house for David in Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 5:11) This same Hiram brought materials to Jerusalem to build the temple. The wood was hewn in Lebanon, taken to the sea, and sent in floats over seventy-five miles to Joppa. ( 2 Chron. 2:16)

He also furnished sailors for Solomon's navy when it went from Ezion-geber to Ophir for gold. (1 Kings 9:26) Tyre again supplied cedar wood for the building of the second temple. (Ezra 3:7-8) Tyre citizens were merchant traders and abounded in wealth.

Here in Ezekiel, however, is a picture of the greatness of Tyre, and of its fall. How well equipped was this city! How widespread was her trading and how valuable her goods! Yet "thy riches, thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy marines, and thy pilots, thy entire company, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee . . . shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin." Knowledge is power. And interior knowledge of scripture brings great power. Israel knows what was written in Ezekiel, about Tyre any why. They also know there was nothing wrong with wealth after all God really blessed her as a nation. But when wealth is made into a minister called legalized extortion on the backs of other people by the Temple Priests of all people Jerusalem was headed to doom.

The more I read the Bible the more I understand that fleshly Israel stocked up a long list of reasons as to why she was headed to destruction. In Malachi 2:1-9, the people of Israel, and in particular their priests, were guilty of having “corrupted” the covenant that God had made with them. She treacherously departed from God her husband. Jeremiah 3:20 Surely as a wife treacherously departed from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

She backslides on God and played the harlot. Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. She became murderers. Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

She turned her Messia over to be put to death.. She made wealth out of legalized extortion. And the list goes on. It is times like this that I say thank you Lord for it is only by your grace that I am not in their place.

The city of Tyrus. Part 1

Many years before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70 under divine inspiration Ezekiel predicted the fall of the city of Tyrus. Ezekiel 27 So the word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, And it is a lamentation that he is told by the Lord to take up a funeral dirge for Tyrus.

This great, glorious, beautiful seaport, sort of the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world, is going to be destroyed, it’s going to die. So the funeral dirge, the lamentation for Tyrus.

Thus saith the Lord God; And again the claim, “God is speaking”. O thou that are situated at the entry of the sea (Ezekiel 27:3), This is a reference to the harbor of Tyrus, and there was two entries from the harbor, one from the north, and one from the south, so that it made it easier to enter the port, because of the direction that the wind might be blowing. You could enter the port from the south, or the port from the north.

You are a merchant of the people for many coast lands, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, you have said, I am of perfect beauty (27:3). That was the claim.

Your borders are in the midst of the seas, It was, it’s a, it’s directing the attention to this island city of Tyrus, a half mile off shore. your builders have perfected thy beauty. They have made all of your ship boards of fir trees from Senir: Which is mount Herman, the beautiful fir trees on mount Herman.] they have taken the cedars from Lebanon to make the masts for the ships. Because they’re tall and straight, and of course they’re strong, they resist dry rot. The oaks of Bashan Which was famous for its oaks, it was on the other side of the Jordan river. that use them for the oars of these ships; and the company of the Ashurites have made your benches of ivory that have been brought out of the islands of Chittim. Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt Comprised the sales of these ships. they were blue, and purple from the coast of Elishah which covered thee (Ezekiel 27:4- 7).

So there were beautiful ships of the Phoenician merchant marine. With their beautiful blue, and purple sails as they plied the waters of the Mediterranean, were the main merchants of those days.

The inhabitants of Zidon A neighbor city, twelve miles, fifteen miles away from Tyre. and Arvad were your mariners: The sailors your wise men, O Tyrus, that were in you, were your pilots. The men who learned to navigate by the stars and all, pilots of the ships. The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee as thy calkers: and your ships of the sea with their sailors were in thee to occupy your merchandise. So it speaks of the very prosperous commercial enterprise by the people of Tyrus, their ships, the description of the ships, but then, Those of Persia and Lud and Phut were your army, your men of war: and they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; and they set forth your beauty. The men of Arvad with your army were upon your walls round about, and the Gammadims were in your towers: and they hanged their shields on the walls round about; that you might be made perfect, or in beauty. Tarshish An area of Spain was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; They brought from Tarshish silver, iron, tin, lead, and they traded in your fairs. Which were the trademarks. Javan, Tubal, Meshech, There around the Black sea in Russia. they were your merchants: they traded in slaves They used in those days slave trading from those tribes, and at that time they were just tribal people, and they were slaves actually, and trading in slaves. vessels of brass in your market. The house of Togarmah Which was Armenia] traded in your fairs with your horses and their mules. And the men of Dedan Now this is not Dedan of Arabia, but this is Dedan that is further north. were your merchants; many coasts were the merchandise of your hand: they brought you for presents these horns or tusks of ivory and ebony. Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of your making: and they occupied in thy fairs with their emeralds, and their broidered work, and the fine linen, the coral, and the agate. Judah, the land of Israel, they were your merchants: they traded in your market the wheat of Minnith, and pannag, A couple of areas in Israel that were noted for the wheat and the honey, Of which the land of Israel was known, as the land of milk and honey. and oil, and balm. Damascus Syria, the capital was your merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all the riches; in the wine of Helbon, An area just north of Beirut, where they grew the grapes for wine and it was a famous wine in those days. the white wool. Dan also Javan going to and fro occupied your fairs: they brought the bright iron, the cassia, the calamus, and they were in your market. More into spices. And Dedan This is the Dedan of Arabia. was there with the precious clothes for the chariots. Arabia, and all of the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in the lambs, and the rams, and the goats: in these were thy merchants (Ezekiel 27:8-21).

I think you’re getting the idea, and the feel of a vast commerce in all of these goods. It would be more or less, like going over to the port of Los Angeles, and watching these ships come in from the far east with all of the goods from the far east, the various kinds of merchandise. More on this tomorrow.

The musicians, mourn over the collapse of this international system call Jerusalem.

The merchant, money changers and priest and others were all getting rich on the extortion of others. King Herod was rich off the backs of the people with his taxes, building his massive structures as monuments to himself, and keeping the Priesthood content by building them in the Temple.

Jewish history records that these High priests who walked the temple courts during the first century, were despised by the majority of the people for their brutality and hunger for money. So much so that there is a strong condemnation of these men in the Talmud. Tosefta, Menachoth 13.21 states a Rabbinic Lament over the brutality of the Sadducees - Abba Saul Ben Betnith and Abba Jose Ben Johanan of Jerusalem say: “Woe to the house of Boethus! Woe to me because of their rods!" (Simon, son of Boethus, father in-law of Herod. He was a high priest during the reign of Herod the Great)

"Woe to the house of Qadros (Cantheros)! Woe to me because of their pens!" (Simon Cantheros was one of the high priests appointed during the rule of Herod Agrippa) “Woe to the house of Elhanan, woe to the house of whispers!" (Elhanan is translated ‘Ananus or Annas’ in Greek and here refers to the high priest Annas of the New Testament and his sons.) "Woe to the house of Elisha! Woe to me because of their pens!" "Woe to the house of Ismael Ben Phiabi! For they are high priests and their sons, treasurers and their sons-in-law who were (temple) officers!" "And their servants came and beat us up with staves!" (Ishmael son of Phabi was a high priest under Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea or may refer to Ismael son of Fabi who was a priest under Herod king of Charles.) Jewish history records that these High priests who walked the temple courts during the first century, were despised by the majority of the people for their brutality and hunger for money. So much so that there is a strong condemnation of these men in the Talmud. Tosefta, Menachoth 13.21 states a Rabbinic Lament over the brutality of the Sadducees - Abba Saul Ben Betnith and Abba Jose Ben Johanan of Jerusalem say: “Woe to the house of Boethus! Woe to me because of their rods!" (Simon, son of Boethus, father in-law of Herod. He was a high priest during the reign of Herod the Great)

"Woe to the house of Qadros (Cantheros)! Woe to me because of their pens!" (Simon Cantheros was one of the high priests appointed during the rule of Herod Agrippa) “Woe to the house of Elhanan, woe to the house of whispers!" (Elhanan is translated ‘Ananus or Annas’ in Greek and here refers to the high priest Annas of the New Testament and his sons.) "Woe to the house of Elisha! Woe to me because of their pens!" "Woe to the house of Ismael Ben Phiabi! For they are high priests and their sons, treasurers and their sons-in-law who were (temple) officers!" "And their servants came and beat us up with staves!" (Ishmael son of Phabi was a high priest under Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea or may refer to Ismael son of Fabi who was a priest under Herod king of Chaleis.)

Yet Scripture says that God will have His way with this City, it belongs to Him, and one day, soon and very soon, He will make a lesson and an astonishment to the nations that are all around the city of Jerusalem when he execute judgment on them. Ezekiel 5:15 'So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken.


Indeed the destruction of Jerusalem was a lesson and an astonishment to the other nations. Musicians, mourn over the collapse of this international system because the whole world economy fell with it. This is the loss of world-wide trade. Revelation 18:1-12 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore.” “merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble”

The musicians, grieve over twenty-nine items of wealth in verses 12-14. First, they mourn the loss of precious metals and stones. They also grieve over the loss of precious fabrics. They grieve over the loss of their furnishings business. Souls that derive their central value from material things find disappointment. Wealth escapes from them. There comes a point when they will never find fulfillment in these things again because God removed them. (Revelation 18:14).

The merchants who became rich by her “Jerusalem” on the backs of the people will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing” out of fear. (Revelation 18:15). The apostate religion was good for business. Now that the great whore has fallen and now that the corrupted system has fallen, their business is ruined. Their profits slip through their fingers. ‘For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ (Revelation18:6).

Captains of ships and sailors stand in shock over the fall of Babylon’s/Jerusalems world economy. The transportation industry comes to a halt. (Revelation 18:17) The musicians, in the transportation industry watch as the international economic system goes up in smoke, they lament because there is no other city that had such a strong world economy. (Revelation 18:18-19).

The merchants do not grieve for the loss of Jerusalem as much as they mourn their own personal losses. Jesus warned against making wealth a god.“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

In Revelation 6:9-10 we see souls under the altar of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Each of them; was given a white robe and it was said to them that they should rest “a little while longer,” until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:11) Notice it says “a little while longer” not over 2000 years.

Now the time had come when God would avenge these souls that cried out for avenges. Revelation 18:20-21 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you (holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her)!” Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters, shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. (emphasis added) They grieve over the loss of their furnishings business.

And the ten horns which you saw on a the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which you saw on a the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. As we have seen the book of Revelation is not hard to understand as long as we keep it within its original first century setting.

During the early days of Christianity it was seen as just another sect of Judaism. In Philippians 4:22, we learn of saints in "Caesar's household," which at that time would be Nero's household. The good news of the gospel gave an impulse to the growth of Christianity. (Act 2:47) Soon after the Jewish authorities felt threatened by this new oddball religion of “righteousness without works” and convinced Rome that it was not apart of legal Judaism, and a unlawful, religion.

Because Rome had the men and ships to stomp out Christianity were every it started. Israel entered into a alliance with Roman in order to destroying the church. John uses the symbol of a women sitting on a scarlet beast to picture this arrangement between Israel and Roman to destroying the Church. (Revelation 17:2-3) The alliance between Israel and Rome against the Church had been temporarily successful.

Now God would step in to alter the course of events. God would now use the same beast, “Roman” as a instrument of judgment on the harlot women. Revelation 17:16 tells us that the beast and the ten kings will “hate the harlot” and destroy the harlot with fire. God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. v. 17

This was accomplished by God sending the Jews a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 2Thessalonians 2:11 The nation of Israel thought God was going to restore a earthly throne in literal Jerusalem. They thought the world to come would consist of a literal fulfillment of all their Messianic prophecies. She wanted her types and shadows to be fulfilled in a literalistic or nationalistic manner being blinded by the earthly or carnal system of Moses. So the Jews foolishly believed the time had come for them to “throw off the Roman yoke” that they were under and thereby established the kingdom of her prophecies which proved to be her complete destruction. There is no doubt that this Zealot rebellion movement was filled with a theocratic ideal and fervent messianic hopes.

Rome did not initiate the war against Jerusalem. Jerusalem was already under the authority and control of Rome. Headstrong man in Jerusalem itself, kept irritating the people and inciting them to rebel against Rome. The people quit paying their taxes. This would have been sufficient in itself to cause Rome to turn against Jerusalem. In November of 66 Jewish Zealots had driven all Roman forces from Jerusalem and had actually slain more than 600 Roman troops. The bull-necked emperor Nero gave two simple commands - destroy Jerusalem - level the temple. The Romans knew the world was watching and knew that the stakes were high. If the Jews were to win their independence the whole empire would be in revolt.

When Jerusalem was surrounded, the Christians were to think of their safety, and seize the first opportunity for flight. The expression “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. (Revelation 8:4) Is similar to Jesus’ warning when these things started happening to flee into the mountains. (Matthew 24:16-20) Had they not left Jerusalem they two would have been caught in the judgement.

Nero picked the heavy, plodding fifty seven year old commoner Vespasian, who would be assisted by his energetic son Titus. Josephus tells us that when Cestius Gallus had earlier come with his army against Jerusalem, after some time he raised the siege many of the oldest of the Jews went out from Jerusalem as from a sinking ship. He says that a few years later, when Vespasian come with his troops against Jerusalem, a great multitude fled from Jerusalem to the mountains for security.

Titus pressed the siege of Jerusalem, which was crowded with people because of the paschal festivities, cutting off the water and food supply. The besieged were terribly hard pressed by these tactics, as well as by the insufferable heat. Those who tried to escape were captured and crucified before the very walls as an example to others. According to Josephus, such famine that a mother actually ate the flesh of her own small son. He tells of 2,500,000 assembled at the last Passover just before the city was taken by Titus. 1,000,000 perished in the siege, 347,000 perished in other places. Of the remainder, 97,000 were carried into captivity and 11,000 starved through neglect or sullen refusal of food. On July 17th the daily sacrifices were interrupted.

The Romans put to the sword all Jews whom they happened to encounter. The Temple swam with the blood of more than 8000 Zealots. Titus desired greatly that the Temple should be spared, and promised to spare the Jews if they would stop their resistance. Several times he sent Josephus to persuade his countrymen, but the providence of God directed otherwise

First the Jews themselves set fire to the court of the temple, and afterwards the Romans. Fire consumed the buildings and the temple went up. The destruction of the temple occurred on the Jewish Sabbath, August 10th, 70. When Jerusalem was captured, the temple was burned and scavengers would turn over every stone to retrieve the melted gold. The Jewish people were expatriated, and never since has sacrifice been offered up to God on Jewish altars.

After bitter fighting and frightful massacres, in September of 70, after a stubborn and desperate resistance, the city fell and the national existence of biblical Judaism came to an end. The Holy City was taken and burned, and the Tenth Legion encamped in the ruined temple. The temple was leveled to the ground and utterly destroyed. Only the Roman garrison was left. John’s prophecy that the “beast, will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire had been fulfilled.

Many years before John made his prophecy about the beast, burning the harlot with fire Ezekiel had this to say. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 'and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them. 'Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,' says the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 15:6)

The apostle John sees a scarlet woman called “ Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.”

The apostle John sees a scarlet woman called “ Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” She is drunk on the blood of Christians the martyrs of Jesus. (Revelation 17: 5-6) John also uses the symbol of a woman sitting on a scarlet beast to picture this arrangement between Israel and Roman to destroying the Church. (Revelation 17:2-3)
God gives us a way to identify the harlot the woman who drinks the blood of Christians the martyrs of Jesus. No Christians were ever martyrs for Jesus during the time of Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Jesus was not even born. It was fleshly Israel who killed his prophets and saints of Jesus. Act 7:52 "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 1Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

Revelation 18:24 says that the great city is guilty for having shed the blood of the Hebrew prophets of all who were slain on the earth. Jesus said the same concerning the rulers of Jerusalem, the Pharisees: "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, "that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar" (Matt. 23:35). The once and faithful city has become a harlot, and murderers!" Isaiah 1:21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

From Moses through the prophets, Israel is repeatedly characterized as an imperious whore. In more than 80 instances, she is specifically denounced as a harlot or lewd woman. Ezekiel 16:15 Israel you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame and poured out your harlotry on every passer-by who might be willing. Fleshly Israel is the same harlot woman we see showcased throughout Holy Scripture.

“On her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT...” Revelation 17:5. Only apostate Israel can be the “mother” of spiritual whoredom with the name MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT has written ON HER FOREHEAD. Long before John wrote the Book of Revelation, Jeremiah said, “You had a “harlot's forehead”, you refused to be ashamed.” (Jeremiah 3:3) As a result, when she became a spiritual whore, she was indelibly marked, “Mother of Harlots.”

John goes on to write, “And the women whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:18) The title “the great city” is exclusive to Israel. When the two witnesses are killed, their dead bodies lie in the streets of “the great city” (hey polish megaley) Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8). This unmistakably implies to the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified, in the city of Jerusalem. Not Sodom and Egypt. Because apostate Israel has now become an enemy of God and his people, God called “fleshly Israel” by the names of her former enemy’s Babylon, Sodom and Egypt, and Gog and Magog.

The apostle Peter uses the word "Babylon" to describe Jerusalem, in a greeting at the end of his first epistle. 1 Peter 5:13 Salute you both the assembly in Babylon jointly elected, and Markus my son. Peter was in Jerusalem, writing to those in Jerusalem, not Babylon. He is clearly identifying the moral cesspool of antiquity, Babylon, with the city where Christ was killed. At the time Peter wrote 1 Peter, the literal city of Old Babylon was in ruins, and uninhabited. Therefore, "Babylon" was a name for Jerusalem.

The colors of the woman’s adornment matches those of the Temple and the priesthood. The high priest also wore a gold plate on his forehead that was engraved “holiness to Yahweh” (Exodus 28:36-38). In Revelation 17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a “golden cup” full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. Daniel 5:3 Then they brought the “golden vessels” that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

Because of the harlotry and the alliance between Israel and Rome against the Church the women would drink the cup of God wrath. Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

Do the prophets ever mention, Jerusalem receives a cup of wrath during these End Times? You bet they did for instance, Jeremiah 25:15-18, prophecy verses refer to the future, mentions that Jerusalem will drink from the cup of the Lord’s hand (wrath). Jeremiah 25:15-18 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me: To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

In addition, Isaiah 51:17 Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem, “You who have drunk from the Lord's hand the cup of His anger;” The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs.

Some have wrongly concluded that the woman is Rome, however Rome was never in covenant relationship with God and therefore could not have forsaken God and became a spiritual whore. The implications and evidence of scripture that "Jerusalem” is Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots are endless. If we remain true to the number one rule to let God’s words interpret God’s words. God will open up an endless new way of seeing scripture.

The great harlot of Revelation.

One of the main reasons why the book of Revelation has been so confusing to many is because we have “all” been taught to try to understand the book “out of its original historical setting in which it was originally written.” John’s original audience knows these symbols were drawing no spiritual truths and historical realities of the nation of Israel.
All we need to understand these symbols is a burning desire to study the Old Testament to see what it has to reveal along with “recorded history.” To the ungodly these symbols were flags of warning being raised. To believers, these symbols were signs of victory. I cannot say this enough. God never intended for the book of Revelation to be a great mystery to Christians. Lest continues where John writes; Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you “the judgment” of the “great harlot” who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth “committed fornication”, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." (emphasis added) (Revelation 17:1-2)

Many have made the assumptions that the“Great Harlot” mentioned in Revelation can apply only to Rome, Islam, and even the US.

The truth is John used language in the book of Revelation that is closely associated with the language used in the Old Testament. This type of language was not new to John’s original audience. John did not randomly pull this kind out of language out of the sky as if it was never used before in scripture. This language had a specific purpose to remind Israel of her long history.

All we have to do is let scripture interpreted scripture to find out the identity of the “great harlot. In Hosea 9:1 we read, Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

Over and over God calls the fleshly nation of Israel “a harlot” in scripture. Jeremiah 2:20 "For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, 'I will not transgress,' When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot. (Jer 3:1.6; Eze 16:15-17, 16:28)

The women here are also pictured and introduced as a prostitute women. Spiritual fornication or harlotry in scripture indicates the breaking of God’s covenant, or a departure from God. The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. (Jeremiah 3:6) The nation of Israel had been in covenant relationship with God for 15.000 years, and had been referred to as a woman married to the Lord, had sworn faith and love in all things to her rightful husband; but as so often the case in the day of her redemption and visitation, she has shamefully forsaken and rejected God in whoring after strangers. Jeremiah 3:20 concerning Jerusalem, Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel.’ says the Lord. Rome is never called a harlot in scripture, Rome was never associated with God in a covenant relationship as a wife.

Lest return to Revelation 17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

What does the term mean she sits on many waters or lives by many waters’? This terminology is used in (Jeremiah 51:13) concerning the ancient city of Babylon where it was first applied. There it denoted the vast expanse of influence she had in both civil and political realms. “Waters" in Revelation often signifies "people" or nations instead of "H2O." (Dwelling upon many waters) denoted the broad expanse of the Babylon kingdom in the exercise of its political and civil power. Babylon was the civil king of that day. Jerusalem was to the world religiously what Babylon was politically.

John makes another observation. And I saw a “woman sitting on a scarlet beast” which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3) Here the harlot women is riding or sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

An interpretive angel appears for the express purpose of explaining the vision: “But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” (Revelation 17:7) Then in verses 9 and 10 this angel explains the vision: “Here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitting. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”

Most scholars recognize that the seven mountains represent the famed seven hills of Rome. John’s original audience who lived under the rule of Rome, which was universally distinguished by its seven hills would have immediately recognizable this symbol. How could the recipients, living in the historical churches of Asia Minor and under Roman imperial rule, understand anything else but this geographical picture of John?

But there is an additional information involved. The seven heads have a twofold referent. We learn also that the seven heads represent a political situation in which five kings have fallen, the sixth is, and the seventh is yet to come and will remain but a short while. It is surely no accident that Nero was the sixth emperor of Rome, who reigned after the deaths of his five predecessors and before the brief rule of the seventh emperor.

Flavius Josephus, the Jewish contemporary of John, clearly points out that Julius Caesar was the first emperor of Rome and that he was followed in succession by Augustus, Tiberius, Caius, Claudius, and Nero (Antiquities 18; 19). We discover this enumeration also in other near contemporaries of John: 4 Ezra 11 and 12; Sibylline Oracles, books 5 and 8; Barnabas, Epistle 4; Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars; and Dio Cassius’ Roman History 5.

The text of Revelation says of the seven kings “five have fallen.” The first five emperors are dead, when John writes. But the verse goes on to say “one is.” That is, the sixth one then reigning even as John wrote. That would be Nero Caesar, who assumed imperial power upon the death of Claudius in October, A.D. 54, and remained emperor until June, A.D. 68.
John continues: “The other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space.” When the Roman Civil Wars broke out in rebellion against him, Nero committed suicide on June 8, A.D. 68. The seventh king was “not yet come.” That would be Galba, who assumed power in June, A.D. 68. But he was only to continue a “short space.” His reign lasted, but six months, until January 15, A.D. 69. Thus, we see that while John wrote, Nero was still alive and Galba was looming in the near future. Revelation could not have been written after around Domitian (81-96), according to the internal political evidence. In this vision we discover strong evidence that Revelation was written before the death of Nero, which occurred on June 8, A.D. 68.

The woman/whore represents apostate Israel and sitting on the beast means she is using the political power of the beast. A beast is a symbol used to depict a political state, such as the lion, bear, and leopard of Daniel 7, representing the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persian and Greece respectively.

The ten horns of the beast (17:12-17) are defined as ten kings or provincial governors who aided in the war against the Lamb Christ. Verse 14. Farrar lists ten major provinces that constituted the Roman Empire in the days of Nero–namely: Italy, Achaia, Asia, Syria, Egypt, Africa, Spain, Gaul, Britain and Germany.

The book of Revelation can be understood all we need is a burning desire to grasp the Old Testament and the desire to first century study history.

The sounding of the trumpet.

But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7) One of the keys to tell “when a verse of scripture you are examining has been fulfilled” is to look for other scriptures that have the same (time statements). In this way you have a guide to determine when the (time frame) of the scripture you are examining has been fulfilled as well. You then let the (time statements) of other scriptures interpreted (the time frame) of the scripture you are examining.

John is writing about the very same (time frame and event) of the other disciples, but in apocalyptic language. What was the biblical (time-element involved) before the seventh angel was to sound his trumpet? The Bible tells us the time-element involved here was when the “mystery of God” would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7) In other words the sounding of the seventh angel and the mystery of God are biblically tied into one event. These two events would happen simultaneously according to John.

God always supplies us with tools in order to understand how a prophecy has been fulfilled in the book of Revelation. God never gives a prophecy without also giving us a way to know “when and how” that prophecy has been fulfilled. “Using the books of Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Peter as a “guide” and the “word mystery” as a template we can know the “time frame” when the seventh angel sounded his trumpet.

The mysteries were a familiar subject to the apostle Paul; a topic which he addresses in his epistle to the Ephesians in chapters 1:9-10, 3:3-9, and 5:32: “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will. He might gather together in one all things in Christ.” “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” The mystery centers around the Person and work of Christ,

The apostle preached it to the Colossians in chapter 1:26-27: “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saint the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

The Romans heard it in chapter 16:25-26: “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began. But now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith.

The apostle Paul referred to the gospel as a mystery which at the time of the Old Testament was kept secret, but in his time, the New Testament dispensation, it had been revealed. This agrees with his fellow laborer and apostle Peter when he spoke of the burning desire that the prophets of the Old Testament had as they “inquired and searched diligently” of the things which they, through the Holy Spirit, were prophesying.

They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. (1 Peter 1:12 NLT) For all their searching, they were made to understand that the fullness of those things which they desired to know was to remain a mystery in their time and be revealed to those of another time.

Wonderful truths were now being unveiled that once were hidden away in the heart of God. In all of his many references to mysteries, all of which are not mentioned here, it is the mystery of the gospel the apostle Paul speaks. It is this to which he referred in addressing the Corinthians in Chapter 2:7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”

Thus we are informed by the apostle Paul that the mystery of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was being reported to the saints as he wrote this epistle. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the “revelation of the mystery,” which was kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25).

Now is when we allow the inspiration of Scripture to tell us the time and manner the last trumpet sounded. According to the inspired Apostle Paul the mystery that had been hidden from the ages and generations, was now is made manifested to his saints (Colossians 1:26; Ephesians 3:3; 6:19). The things that had been hidden before the world was created concerning Christ were now unveiled and made public.

Since Paul says the (time-element) “the mystery” was established by the preaching of Christ to the saints the seventh trumpet, according to John in Revelation 10:7 had to also begin to sound. The inspired Apostle John ties the events of the mystery being finished and the sounding of the seventh angel together. They cannot be separated. Paul said the conditions were meant, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began. But now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith. (Romans 16:25-26) John said when those conditions were meant the seventh angel would begin sounding his seventh trumpet.

This, of course, puts the sounded of the seventh trumpet and its results in the spiritual realm along with the saints coming to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) Much of what God does is out of the senses of this world like the salt of the earth; Matthew 5:13 the new temple of God I Corinthians 3:16 the priesthood of God, 1 Peter 2:9 and the new city of God that comes down from heaven (Revelation 21:2)

The correct time and place for the last trumpet in the last book of the Bible will never be found in out future events or history. A literal concept of the sounding of the trumpet is contrary to the (time-element) and purpose of John's revelation. The revelation or gospel, of Christ, was connected with the sounding of the last trumpet. We will do well to allow the inspiration of scripture to tell us when the time last trumpet sounded.

Revelation wow I will never understand it.

Please don't be deceived by those people who come along and say, "The book of Revelation is apocalyptic; therefore, you can't understand it." That's a bunch of nonsense — just nonsense. I heard that nonsense for years. Over the next two weeks or so we will examine John’s use of apocalyptic language in the book of Revelation. I will also show you a “key” to knowing how a verse has “been fulfilled” by using other verses as a “template” that are also in the Bible. God does not use a word in one place and then change its meaning in another place.

Apocalyptic literature is a type of literature that flourished in Judaism. All the term means is that the book of Revelation is a type of prophetic literature that uses a lot of Jewish symbols. Because it contains so many symbols, some people will tell you the book just cannot be understood. Well, if Revelation was not meant to be understood God would never have said blessed is he who reads and those who ear the words of this prophecy. (Revelation 1:3) John wrote these things down so that we could know about them, as well.
God does not use symbols randomly, just pulling them out of the sky as if they have no meaning whatsoever. Symbols are used for a specific purpose. They stand for something and they have a deeper meaning behind them. They were not selected to take up space in scripture.

When a symbol is used, in the Revelation, always look for the meaning behind it in other places of the Bible. Another key to understanding the book of Revelation, is a very important key, let scripture interpret scripture and accept the "plain sense interpretation." My "Golden Rule of Interpretation" that I use throughout the Bible from beginning to end, whether it's prophecy or not, is this. Let scripture interpreted scripture and accept the plain sense that makes sense. Don't look for or try to make the verses fit into our future, then you will end up with what has become traditional nonsense."

God doesn't write in riddles to confuse us. He knows how to communicate. If you don't understand it, don't worry about it. Put aside, what is confusing and hang on to what you do understand. Don't give into the temptation, I will never ever understand Revelation. The more time you spend reading Revelation, along with studying the Old Testament the more you will understand Revelation.. "The book of Revelation is not a hard book to understand at all.

In the mid-60s A.D. there were two big crises. The first was the Jewish leaders who persecuted Christians. The second crisis was the Roman empire who persecuted Christians. John, the author of Revelation, did not want Christians to lose their hope. The central message of Revelation is that God is fulling the hope of Israel and God is in control.

The symbols in the book of Revelation were not written to confuse Christians. They were written so the Romans couldn't understand it not Christians. John used images and descriptions familiar to his Hebrew audience. “Using Old Testament prophecies in a book like Daniel for example, as a “guide” we see a basic "template" of the “First prophecies.”

This is an extremely important point because the way in which the first prophecy is given is the best clue to understand the “time frame” when John’s “Second prophecy about the same event was being fulfilled” in Revelation. We will compare the language of Daniel with John’s Revelation in this short study. The beast in Revelation 13 is depicted in the following terms: "It was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion" (Revelation. 13:2). Notice the animals mentioned-a leopard, a bear and a lion.

To understand prophecy, it is important to understand the symbols used. All we need to do is carefully study the Old Testament we can expect an answer. God does not use a symbol in one place and then change its meaning in another. So we will use Scripture to interpret Scripture. The symbols God used in prophecy are consistent.

Daniel saw a vision of four beasts rising from the sea. "I was looking in my vision by night, and then, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. • Lion. "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. • Bear. "And then, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, "Arise, eat much meat!' • Leopard. "After this I kept looking, and then, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. • Terrible Beast. "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and then, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It engulfed and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. (Daniel 7: 2-7)

Daniel tells us these four successive powers would govern from his time down to the coming of the ruling Messiah (Daniel 2:37-44). As we survey the four kingdoms of Daniel 7. The 4 beasts vision of Daniel chapter 7 are commonly explained as follows: Lion = Babylonian Empire. Bear = Media-Persia, Empire. Leopard = Greek Empire. 4 th Beast = The Roman Empire. It is generally accepted, with good reason, that the four beasts in both Daniel 2 and 7 represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome, in that order, reflecting the order of their appearance. John writes during the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom, would continue to exist in some form until its fatal encounter with the Kingdom of Christ, the fifth and final kingdom. Daniel 2:37-44 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

John looked backward from his perspective at the time of Rome Empire and Daniel was looking forward beginning with Babylon. By using the “template in Daniel 7 we know when Revelation. 13:2 was fulfilled. People have spent centuries, explaining away the symbols in Revelation simply because they don’t take the time to study the basic "template" of the symbols in the Old Testament and try to remove them out of their first century historical setting in which the book was originally written.

I'm saying take the time to study the Old Testament "templates" and take the plain sense approach. The symbols stand for something that is often found in the Old Testament all we have to do is accept them how the disciples used them in “their first century historical setting” that makes plain sense. You will find that God wants to communicate, that God knows how to communicate, and that God, what us to understand what He communicates in the book of Revelation.