But take a look at this verse and ask yourself why Claudius is mentioned and why are there SO many books on Rome?
Do you think Claudius is mentioned as a clue for us to dig deeper into this historical puzzle???
Acts 18:2
King James Version
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
The persecution that arose over Stephen lasted three and a half years, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days (A.D. 34-38) (Rev.12:6, 14); it collapsed with the removal of Caiaphas from the high priesthood; Pilate’s leaving Judaea, and the conversion of St. Paul. This is represented by the earth opening its mouth to swallow the flood of persecution pouring out of the dragon’s mouth. (Rev. 12:16) It is also symbolized by the beast receiving a mortal wound to one of its heads. (Rev. 13:3)
In receiving the mortal wound to its head, the beast lost the power to persecute and symbolically went down in death to the bottomless pit . (Rev. 11:7; 17:8) The dragon, which gave the beast power, also went down to the bottomless pit. (Rev. 20:1, 2) Both the dragon and beast remained in the bottomless pit for a period symbolized by a thousand years. (Rev. 11:7; 17:8; 20:7)
Claudius was the “angel” that bound the dragon. (Rev. 20:1) All during Claudius’ reign the church enjoyed the protection of law; even banishing Jews from Rome for rioting against the church. (Acts 18:2) St. Paul alludes to Claudius in his second epistle to the Thessalonians as “he who lets” (restrains). (II Thess. 2:6, 7) The persecution of the last day would not come so long as Claudius was upon the throne, repressing the mystery of iniquity and powers of persecution. When Claudius was taken out of the way, Nero would be revealed as the man of sin and son of perdition, and the church would be gathered in martyrdom unto Christ. John portrays this by the dragon and beast being loosed from the bottomless pit and the mortal wound to the beast’s head having healed. John described the beast in Rev. 17:8 as the beast that “was and is not and is about to ascend out of the bottomless pit.” That is, the persecuting power of the empire that suffered defeat by the collapse of the persecution over St. Stephen was about to manifest itself again, this time under Nero, whose name the beast bore. This is the point at which the battle of Gog and Magog begins:
the adversary in this case was world civil power embodied in Rome, Nero, and the Jews. In Rome, the beast was identified with Nero, who was its driving power (Rev. 13:1-10); in Asia and other parts of the empire, the Jews, at the behest of their leaders in Jerusalem, were the driving force. John portrays this by a harlot, riding the beast in a surfeit of blood and gore. (Rev. 17:3-6) In Palestine, the persecution was driven by the “false prophet,” the religious leaders of the Jews who bade them to make an inquisition against the church like unto the beast’s. (Rev. 13:11-18) The dragon and beast make war against the church by surrounding the “camp of the saints” (the church). But fire comes down from God out of heaven and consumes Gog and his host, and the dragon, beast, and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20, 21; 20:9, 10) The harlot is also consumed. (Rev. 18) An angel calls to the birds of heaven to come and devour the carcasses of the slain. (Rev. 19:17, 18; cf. Ezek. 39:17) Following the world-wide devastations of the last days, God renews the earth, in which the church reigns supreme with Christ. (Rev. 21, 22)
.The name Nero is proverbial for murder, rape, sodomy, incest, cruelty, and every kind of crime imaginable.
The persecution that arose over Stephen lasted three and a half years, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days (A.D. 34-38) (Rev.12:6, 14); it collapsed with the removal of Caiaphas from the high priesthood; Pilate’s leaving Judaea, and the conversion of St. Paul. This is represented by the earth opening its mouth to swallow the flood of persecution pouring out of the dragon’s mouth. (Rev. 12:16) It is also symbolized by the beast receiving a mortal wound to one of its heads. (Rev. 13:3)
In receiving the mortal wound to its head, the beast lost the power to persecute and symbolically went down in death to the bottomless pit . (Rev. 11:7; 17:8) The dragon, which gave the beast power, also went down to the bottomless pit. (Rev. 20:1, 2) Both the dragon and beast remained in the bottomless pit for a period symbolized by a thousand years. (Rev. 11:7; 17:8; 20:7)
Claudius was the “angel” that bound the dragon. (Rev. 20:1) All during Claudius’ reign the church enjoyed the protection of law; even banishing Jews from Rome for rioting against the church. (Acts 18:2) St. Paul alludes to Claudius in his second epistle to the Thessalonians as “he who lets” (restrains). (II Thess. 2:6, 7) The persecution of the last day would not come so long as Claudius was upon the throne, repressing the mystery of iniquity and powers of persecution. When Claudius was taken out of the way, Nero would be revealed as the man of sin and son of perdition, and the church would be gathered in martyrdom unto Christ. John portrays this by the dragon and beast being loosed from the bottomless pit and the mortal wound to the beast’s head having healed. John described the beast in Rev. 17:8 as the beast that “was and is not and is about to ascend out of the bottomless pit.” That is, the persecuting power of the empire that suffered defeat by the collapse of the persecution over St. Stephen was about to manifest itself again, this time under Nero, whose name the beast bore. This is the point at which the battle of Gog and Magog begins:
the adversary in this case was world civil power embodied in Rome, Nero, and the Jews. In Rome, the beast was identified with Nero, who was its driving power (Rev. 13:1-10); in Asia and other parts of the empire, the Jews, at the behest of their leaders in Jerusalem, were the driving force. John portrays this by a harlot, riding the beast in a surfeit of blood and gore. (Rev. 17:3-6) In Palestine, the persecution was driven by the “false prophet,” the religious leaders of the Jews who bade them to make an inquisition against the church like unto the beast’s. (Rev. 13:11-18) The dragon and beast make war against the church by surrounding the “camp of the saints” (the church). But fire comes down from God out of heaven and consumes Gog and his host, and the dragon, beast, and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20, 21; 20:9, 10) The harlot is also consumed. (Rev. 18) An angel calls to the birds of heaven to come and devour the carcasses of the slain. (Rev. 19:17, 18; cf. Ezek. 39:17) Following the world-wide devastations of the last days, God renews the earth, in which the church reigns supreme with Christ. (Rev. 21, 22)
The name Nero is proverbial for murder, rape, sodomy, incest, cruelty, and every kind of crime imaginable.
The emperor Nero was blamed by the Roman populace for the great fire that broke out in Rome in 64 A.D., and in turn blamed the Christians. The Roman historian Tacitus explains what happened in his narrative.
The execution of Christian was a comic relief to Nero and
the c l i m a x of these cruel shows was the mockery of the crucifixion of Christ: according to a second-century tradition, the Christian leader Peter was crucified upside down.
Jesus says, “Then the >>>>sign<<<< of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory” (Mt. 24:30). Futurists claim that Jesus will return literally on the clouds. However, we shouldn’t press the words too literally. In the OT, clouds are often a symbol for God’s judgment—not a literal appearing (Ps. 104:3; Isa. 19:1).
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
…64“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and >>>coming on the clouds of heaven.<<<<<” 65 At this, the high priest tore his garments and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered.
**WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION WHICH MAY BE EXTREMELY CLOSE**!!
Revelation 16:13-16: Then I saw 3 impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the Dragon {Satan}, out of the mouth of the Beast {666}and out of the mouth of the False Prophet. They are demonic demons that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty! Jesus will say, "Look, I come like thief {To unbelievers}! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remain clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed!" Then they gathered the kings to gather to the place called Armageddon! {While the saints in Israel flee to the mountains}
Then these evil armies will travel 77 miles South from Armageddon to Jerusalem where 666 will kill Moses and Elijah in the new Holy Place right where Jesus was crucified:
Revelation 11:7-10: Now when they {Moses & Elijah} have finished their {1260-day} testimony, the Beast {666} that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will be in the public square of the great city--which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt--**WHERE ALSO THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED** {The New Holy Place}. For 3 1/2 days some from every people, tribe, language and nation {On Worldwide TV} will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these 2 prophets had tormented the Lost who live on the earth.{As per Rev 11:6}
Matthew 24:15-21: Jesus says, "So when you see standing in the Holy Place {Where Jesus was Crucified--See Rev 11:8 above} the Abomination that causes Desolation {666} spoken of through the prophet Daniel {In Daniel 9:27b}--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then their will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those {1278 days or 3 1/2 years} will be shortened. {To 1260 Days}
Revelation 11:11,12,15,18: {Continued from Rev 11:7-10 above} But after 3 1/2 days the breathe of life from God entered them {Moses & Elijah} and they stood up on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. For they heard a loud Voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And the went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on...
Revelation 11:15,18: Then the 7th angel sounded his {7th & Last} Trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which will say, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever... The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small--and for destroying those who destroy the earth!"
**ALL* the following things will happen on the **DAY OF THE LORD** OR **SAME LAST DAY**of the 1260-day Great Tribulation:
{*1*} God's 2 Witnesses who will be killed by 666 will rise from the dead and rise to heaven after a loud voice tells them to **COME UP HERE* as per Revelation 11:7-12.
{*2*} Acts 2:20: The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious **DAY OF THE LORD**! There will amazing signs in the heavens such as the stars falling to earth as per Matthew 24:29.
Luke 21:28: Jesus says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!"
{*3*} The 7th angel will sound the 7th and Last Trumpet as per Revelation 11:15 and I Corinthians 15:52.
{*4*} Jesus will come in the clouds of the heavens with all of his angels as per Matthew 24:30,31 and 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
Matthew 24:29-31: Jesus says, "Immediately after the distress of those {1260 days}: The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky! {Luke 21:28 adds: "When these things begin to take place; stand up sand lift up your heads , because your salvation is drawing near!"} The will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. and the all the {unsaved} peoples of the earth will mourn when the see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud {7th and Last} trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the 4 winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." {Mark 13:27 adds: "From the ends of the earth."}
I Thessalonians 4:17,18;5:1-4: According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the Coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the {7th and Last}Trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever!... You know very will that the **DAY OF THE LORD** will come like a thief in the night {To the Lost}. While people are saying " Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly... But you brothers and sisters are not in darkness so that **THIS DAY** should surprise you like thief. For you are all children of the Light and children of the **DAY**. We do not belong to the night or the darkness!
{*5*} All the lost who have died will be awakened to witness the 2nd Coming of Jesus. See Matthew 26:64 and Revelation 1:7: "Look He is coming with the clouds and **EVERY EYE** will see Him, even those who pierced Him!"
{*6*} The angels will gather all the living and dead saints of all ages and they will immediately receive their new heavenly bodies; except for the 24 Elders and the Martyrs who already be AWAKE in heaven with their new heavenly bodies as per I Corinthians 15:50-53 and Revelation 7:9-17!
John 6:40: Jesus says, "For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the **LAST DAY**!"
{*7*} There will then be the Marriage Feast of the Lamb in heaven as per Revelation 19:7,8.
{*8*} Then Jesus will mount a white Horse and all of His saints will follow Him on heavenly white horses as per Revelation 19:9-14 .
{*9*} They will then conquer 666 and His False Prophet and all their 10 armies and 666 and his False Prophet will be thrown **ALIVE** into hell as per Revelation 19:19-21.
{*10*} Fire from heaven will destroy all of Satan's armies and Satan will be thrown alive into hell as per Revelation 20:10.
{*11*} There will then be **JUDGMENT** and the saints will receive their eternal rewards and all the unsaved will then be resurrected and be thrown into hell as per Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 20:10-15 and 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Matthew 25:31-34,41: Jesus says, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory , and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right 'Come you who are blessed by the Father ; take your inheritance; the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world!.... Then He will say to those on His left. 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!'"
John 12:48: Jesus says, "There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words. The very words I have spoken will condemn them at the **LAST DAY**!"
{*12*} Then the present heavens and earth will be completely destroyed and disappear as per 2 Peter 3:10-13: But the **DAY OF THE LORD** will come like a thief {To unbelievers} The heavens will **DISAPPEAR** with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth with everything in it will be burned up... That Day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise **WE** are looking forward to a **NEW HEAVEN** and a **NEW EARTH**, where righteousness dwells!
{*13*} Then the NEW EARTH, the NEW HEAVENS and NEW JERUSALEM will appear!!
{*14*} Revelation 21:1-5: Then I saw a **NEW HEAVEN** and a **NEW EARTH**, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City the **NEW JERUSALEM**, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making **EVERYTHING NEW**!! Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are **TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE**!!"
On further study the glory cloud had left in Ezekiel and did not inhabit the second temple.
After the Jews had proven their determination to continue in false, idolatrous worship, the presence of God did eventually leave the Jerusalem temple prior to its looting and destruction by the Babylonians. Even when the second temple was rebuilt in its place after the return from Jewish exile, God's glory did not occupy it. Moreover, there is no record of the shimmering, luminous glory ever again occupying an earthly building. However, centuries later the shepherds saw the glory appear in the sky as angels announced the birth of the Savior (Luke 2:9). Indeed, the coming of Christ in the flesh was, in essence, God coming to dwell with human beings (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:23). And after His death and resurrection, He would again do so through the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul taught that the greatest mystery of all time is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Jesus Christ living in us through His Spirit is the most wonderful thing a human being can experience in this life. Yet one of the main lessons from Ezekiel is that God stays only where He is wanted and obeyed. This is true of nations, this is true of church fellowships, and this is true of every individual.
God withdrawing is never what He wants—it is people who force it on Him. Whenever His place of dwelling—whether a person, a church or religious organization or an entire nation—is filled with objects of false worship or idols, there is no more room for Him. After all, His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14) and He will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8). Satan has organized society so that God is squeezed out—we now have no time for Him. Christ illustrated this in the parable of the sower with the new plants being choked by the thorns (see Matthew 13:7, 22). As individuals we often fill our lives with economic pressure, constant entertainment and various pursuits—and then we wonder why God is not truly manifested and working in our lives. The book of Hebrews warns us not to neglect so great a salvation as that which has been offered to us (2:1-3)—yet we at times come to the realization that we are doing just that. As Paul said to all of us, "It is high time to awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:11). May studying God's message through Ezekiel aid us in doing just that.
The following Scripture from God's Word can not be found in the Preterist or KJVonly Bibles who believe that the Second Coming of Jesus took place in AD 70???
**WILL THE CHURCH SAINTS AND THE LOST BE RESURRECTED ON THE SAME **LAST DAY** WHICH IS ALSO THE **DAY OF THE LORD** IS THE WORD RAPTURE IN GOD'S WORD**??
**WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**??
John 12:48: Jesus says, "There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words, that very word which I spoke will condemn him on the **LAST DAY**!" {See Matthew 25:31-46; Daniel 12:1,2 and John 5:28}
John 6:40: Jesus says, ""For My Father's will is that **EVERYONE** who looks to the Son and believes in Him {**CHURCH SAINTS**} shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the {**SAME**} **LAST DAY**!"
**WILL THE **7TH AND LAST TRUMP** SOUND ON THE **DAY OF THE LORD** WHICH IS ALSO THE **LAST DAY**??
**THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES ARE RELATED TO THE **7TH AND LAST TRUMP** MENTIONED IN I CORINTHIANS 15:51**!
The only 2 resurrections mentioned in Revelation are **POST-TRIB** and are found in Revelation 14:14-16 and Revelation 11:15-18 when the **7TH AND LAST ANGEL** will sound the **7TH AND LAST TRUMP**!!
Revelation 8:2: I saw the 7 angels who **STAND BEFORE GOD** and **7 TRUMPETS** were given to them.
**NOTE**: The first 6 trumpets will be sounded **DURING** and not **BEFORE** the Great Tribulation in Revelation 8:7 to Revelation 9:21!!!
And then on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation just before the 2nd Coming of Jesus for **HIS CHURCH SAINTS** we read in:
Revelation 11:15,18: The 7th {*AND LAST} angel sounded his {**LAST**} **TRUMPET**, and there were loud voices in heaven which said: "The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever... The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name (**CHURCH SAINTS**}, both small and great and for destroying those who destroy the earth!"
I Corinthians 15:50-52: I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Listen, I tell you a **MYSTERY** {See Rev 10:7 above}, we will not all sleep, but we **ALL** will be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, **AT THE LAST TRUMPET**. For the {7th & Last} **TRUMPET** will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and **WE** {**CHURCH SAINTS**} will be changed!!
Now the pre-tribbers make the ridiculous claim that this {**7TH**AND} **LAST TRUMP** in I Corinthians 15:51; when all the **CHURCH SAINTS** receive their new heavenly bodies; will take place at a pre-trib rapture just **BEFORE** the Great Tribulation and the coming of 666 even though the first 6 trumpets take place **DURING** the Great Tribulation???
**IS THE PRE-TRIB TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD **HARPAZO** IN REVELATION 4:17 AS **RAPTURE** AN **EVIL SIN**??
According to Webster's dictionary the **RAPTURE** means "An expression or manifestation of **ECSTASY** or **PASSION**" The pre-tribbers claim that the Greek word **HARPAZO** in I Thessalonians 4:17 can be translated **RAPTURE** while the NIV, RSV and KJV versions translate **HARPAZO** to be **CAUGHT UP** and the Todays English version translates it to be **GATHERED UP**!
However, the word **ECSTASY** is never mention in God's Word and means a "State of being beyond reason and self control, swoon or trance"! The words **PASSION**, passions and passionate are mentioned 7 times in God's Word and **EACH TIME** it is an **EVIL SIN** as per Romans 7:5, Galatians 5:24, I Corinthians 7:9, I Thessalonians 4:5, Titus 2:12, Titus 3:3 and Hosea 7:6.
I Thessalonians 4:16,17: For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a **LOUD COMMAND**, with the voice of the Archangel and with the {7TH & LAST}**TRUMPET CALL OF GOD**, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be **CAUGHT UP** {*RAPTURED*??} together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air!
And so the pre-trib translation of the Greek word Harpazo as **RAPTURE** which means "An expression or manifestation of **ECSTASY** or **PASSION**", is an **EVIL SIN**!! And when all of God's saints are **CAUGHT UP** to heaven and receive their eternal heavenly bodies they will no longer sin and will have **EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS** on the **LAST DAY** of the 70 7's which is also the **LAST DAY** of the 42-month Great Tribulation!!
Daniel 9:24: 70 7's {Or 490 years} are decreed {From the decree of Cyrus} to Anoint the Most Holy {After 69 7's or 483 years}, To Atone for Wickedness {After 69 1/2 7's or 486 1/2 years} to finish transgession, put and end to sin and to bring in **EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS** on the **LAST DAY** of the 70 7's or 490 years which is also the **LAST DAY** of the 42- month Great Tribulation!
Titus 2:13: **WE**{**CHURCH SAINTS**} wait for the **BLESSED HOPE**--the **GLORIOUS APPEARING** of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!!
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Revelation 10:5-7 King James Version (KJV)
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Read also Daniel 13-19
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake,>>> How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?<<<<
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed >>>the end shall be<<<<.
Daniel tells us that the resurrection takes place at the time of the “abomination that makes desolate”. In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus refers to the “abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet” and he associates it with the destruction of the temple. He says that the temple will be destroyed before that generation passes away. And, we know that the temple was destroyed in AD 70. So, if you connect the dots, you can see that these Scriptures place the resurrection in AD 70.
Daniel 12: 1-2
“… And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Jerusalem fell three and one half years after the declaration of war with Rome. Three and one half years is “time, times and half a time.” This phrase, from Daniel 12, is another reason to believe that the resurrection happened in AD 70.
“The son of man will come in the glory of his father, with his angels and shall reward every man according to his works.>>> Behold some of you standing here shall not taste of death until ALL of this is fulfilled.” <<<<( 16: 27,28). Jesus told his disciples that he would return to reward and punish and that he would do this before all of them had died. And doesn’t this sound like the resurrection/judgment day. And doesn’t this accord perfectly with his promise to come again>>>> “before that generation passed away.” <<<<There are dozens of other passages that teach that he would come again in the first century but our faulty paradigm blinds us to this truth!
A friend of mine has been asking about the tree of life and thinks of it as a literal tree.
I found some passages in Proverbs not long ago and did a recent study.
The Revelation account reveals that the Genesis event was a clear cut act of treason and disobedience and the rights to that tree were only for those who were loyal to the King of Kings commands and decrees.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom...She is a tree of life...
— Proverbs 3:13,18
Blessed are those who do His commandments , that they may have the right to the tree of life
— Revelation 22:14
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
— Psalm 34:8
...or he could eat from the tree of knowing good and evil which meant he wanted to independently experience and define for himself good and evil.
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies
— Proverbs 1:30-31
So a literal tree doesn't seem to make sense.
A similar passage is when John was told to EAT the little book.
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
How does this tie in with my thread?. It reveals that we can eat from the tree of life NOW.
