From The Website Eliyah's Home Page
(Click on the Link Above)
Many are the web sites and books that are out there teaching about prophecy. It seems that everyone has their own opinion about the events that are taking place in this world as it relates to prophecy. I just wish that more people would pay attention to what the coming Kingdom will be like!
When the day of Yahweh comes, it will come as a shock to millions:
Isaiah 66:15-24 For behold, Yahweh will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword Yahweh will judge all flesh; And the slain of Yahweh shall be many. 17 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together," says Yahweh. 18 " For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
19 "I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 "Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to Yahweh out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says Yahweh, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. 21 "And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says Yahweh.
22 " For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says Yahweh, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says Yahweh. 24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Here it speaks of people gathering to worship Yahweh on the New Moon and Sabbath. Some have said these things are abolished. If it is abolished, how can this be so? It says that some will taken as priests and Levites. It also speaks of Yahweh destroying all those who eat swine's flesh just before His coming Kingdom. If it were abolished now, why would it be reinstated in Yahweh's kingdom? If eating pork is ok to do now, why then is Yahweh destroying those who do? The answer must be that the law never really was abolished. In fact, the kingdom of Yahweh will be ruled by it:
Isaiah 2:2-5 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
More verses:
Zechariah 14:12-21 And this shall be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. 13 It shall come to pass in that day That a great panic from Yahweh will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, And raise his hand against his neighbor's hand; 14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations Shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.
15 Such also shall be the plague On the horse and the mule, On the camel and the donkey, And on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So shall this plague be. 16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which Yahweh strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
20 In that day "HOLINESS TO YAHWEH" shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in Yahweh's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to Yahweh of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of hosts.
It is obvious that this scripture has not yet been fulfilled. Now to this I ask every man, "Why are people observing the Feast of Tabernacles if this has all been abolished?". When Yahweh's Kingdom is established and He rules over all the earth, His will is going to be done "on earth, as it is in heaven." This being the case, we see that the feast days are going to be kept and we see that all Gentiles will be expected to keep them. If the feast days really were only for Israel, why would Yahweh punish the Gentiles who refuse to keep the Feast of Tabernacles? I think it's high time that we start doing the will of Yahweh now. After all, how can we be rulers in His kingdom if we don't seek to adhere to the rules of the kingdom?
You might also have noticed that sacrifices are mentioned in verse 21. To this I also ask, "Why is it speaking of the altar and sacrifices coming back if this has all been abolished?" Now it is evident from scripture that we are not to do this without a priesthood in place. At this time our High Priest is reigning from heaven and there is no established priesthood on earth. But when there is an established priesthood on earth, sacrifices will indeed be returning. This may seem bizarre to the average Christian, but it is often missed that Paul himself went into the temple to make sacrifices:
Acts 21:26 - Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
Acts 24:17 - Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
Paul was there with four other brethren who had taken a Nazarite vow. The offerings mentioned were related to the Nazarite vow mentioned in Numbers 6. The entire reason Paul was there was to prove to false accusers that he kept the law of Yahweh. And it was James who suggested he do it. I don't believe Paul or any of the disciples were liars or pretenders. They were Torah observant believers in Yahushua even as we should seek to be.
It is also predicted in the book of Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 37:21-27 - "Then say to them, `Thus says Yahweh Elohim: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim. "David My servant [shall] [be] king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
"Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David [shall] [be] their prince forever. "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. "My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Following this chapter of Ezekiel begins a vision of a future kingdom of Yahweh that has never been fulfilled. It speaks here about the House of Judah and the House of Israel being united into one kingdom. This all leads into the remaining chapters of Ezekiel which go into GREAT detail about what the coming kingdom of Yahweh will be like. It talks a lot about sacrifices and feasts. Here is one example of where it speaks of the Passover:
Ezekiel 45:21-24 - "In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. "And on that day the prince shall prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull [for] a sin offering. "On the seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to Yahweh, seven bulls and seven rams without blemish, daily for seven days, and a kid of the goats daily [for] a sin offering. "And he shall prepare a grain offering of one ephah for each bull and one ephah for each ram, together with a hin of oil for each ephah.
Note here that there is no Passover Lamb! We know that Yahushua is our Passover Lamb (1Corinthians 5:7). So sacrifices will still be offered, but they will be done in somewhat different ways than the way described in the law of Moses. Some of these verses in the latter chapters of Ezekiel mirror passages found in the book of Revelation. For instance:
Ezekiel 47:12 - "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Revelation 22:2 - In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Taking all these scriptures into consideration, it is very clear that the Law was never abolished or taken away. Some may try to say, "Well, Yahweh gave the law, then took it away the law for a time and then He brought it back again". This is absurd! Not only that, it is unscriptural. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not change (Mal. 3:6). Also, consider:
Colossians 2:16-17 - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of the Messiah.
The Torah/Law that we observe ARE a shadow of things to come. Not WERE (As some might say). The Torah will be kept in the Kingdom of Yahweh, no doubt about it. This is why when I keep the Feast of Tabernacles this year, that will foreshadow the coming Kingdom in which all flesh will be forced to observe it. For anyone to judge me for keeping it, they need to take a closer look at scripture because these things are commanded to be kept. Sadly, men have adopted the festivals of pagans (Christmas and Easter for instance) and incorporated them into their worship instead. And oh yes, about these verses in Colossians? Notice the word "(is)" which is in parenthesis. This means the word was added to the text by the translators. Therefore this scripture is speaking literally of the "Body of the Messiah". Now if you read it as it stands it would say...Let no man judge you therefore in meat, drink, etc....which are shadow of things to come, but the body of the Messiah. In other words, we SHOULD be keeping these things just as we will be keeping these things in the wonderful Kingdom of Yahweh. Read a more detailed study of Colossians 2 here. When the day of Yahweh comes, those who sought to keep Yahweh's commandments will be revealed as people who sought to walk in the ways of the kingdom. The true things concerning this kingdom have been ignored for too long.
Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of Elohim, and the name of Yahushua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women.
Waiting For The Messiah
From the website JewishRoots.Net
Are We Commanded By The Bible
To Wait And Look Forward To End Time Events?
From The Bible:
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach about waiting, watching and Praying for the coming Messianic Redemption.
Old Testament Reference:
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay (Habakkuk 2:3).
“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal (Zephaniah 3:8).
New Testament Reference: Those who read, hear and apply the End Time teachings of the Book of Revelation are promised a blessing by God. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).
Do Commentators Teach That It Is Good To Look Forward To End Time Events
Maimonides (Rambam)
“Whoever does not believe in him (Messiah), or does not await his coming, denies not only the other prophets but also the Torah and Moses, our teacher, for the Torah attests to his coming.” (1)
In his Thirteen Articles Of Faith,http://jewishroots.net/library/prayer/thirteen-articles-of-faith.html Maimonides reflects on this issue in article #12 which states "I firmly believe in the coming of the Messiah; and although He may tarry, I daily hope for His coming." This principle was put into the form of a prayer (Yigdal), often said each morning which reads; "By the End of Days He will send our Messiah, to redeem those longing for His final salvation." (2)
Rambam thus rules that whoever does not believe in and whoever does not await (eagerly looking forward to) - the coming of Messiah, in effect denies the whole Torah, and all the prophets beginning with Moses. (4)
Rambam views believing in the coming of the Messiah and waiting for the coming of the Messiah as two separate concepts. "To believe" is a doctrinal affirmation of the Torah, believing that Messiah will come, whenever that may occur. "To await" means an active and eager anticipation of the redemption. It means we are to be of the mind set that we await for him each and every day.(4)
Talmud: why do we await it? — To be rewarded [for hoping], as it is written, blessed are all they that wait for him.
Praying For The Coming Of The Messiah:
Maimonides 13 articles of faith (the Yigdal) is said daily.
From the Amidah - Shemoneh Esrei: As an aid to remind Jews to await Messiah's coming every day, this prayer (the Amidah) is to be said three times a day. In the prayer 18 Blessings (the Amidah), the 15th blessing reads "The offspring of Your servant David may You speedily cause to flourish, and enhance his pride through Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day long. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who causes the pride of salvation to flourish." (5)
Prayers for the coming of Messiah are said daily. One reason may be that Malachi teaches that when the Messiah comes, He will come suddenly, perhaps even the same day the prayer is said. “Behold, I am going to send My messenger. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come...(Mal. 3:1).
Miscellaneous:
To learn how the Biblical Prophets saw the Messiah please view the Master Prophecy Page. http://jewishroots.net/master-pages-new/mp-prophecy.htm
Acknowledgments:
1).Hilchos Melachim from the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam, 11:1.
2).The Complete Artscroll Siddur p.15.
3).Talmud Sanhedrin 97b.
4).Mashiach; The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition by Jacob Immanuel Schochet p.51-52
5).The Complete Artscroll Siddur p.109.
Are We Commanded By The Bible
To Wait And Look Forward To End Time Events?
From The Bible:
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach about waiting, watching and Praying for the coming Messianic Redemption.
Old Testament Reference:
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay (Habakkuk 2:3).
“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal (Zephaniah 3:8).
New Testament Reference: Those who read, hear and apply the End Time teachings of the Book of Revelation are promised a blessing by God. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).
Do Commentators Teach That It Is Good To Look Forward To End Time Events
Maimonides (Rambam)
“Whoever does not believe in him (Messiah), or does not await his coming, denies not only the other prophets but also the Torah and Moses, our teacher, for the Torah attests to his coming.” (1)
In his Thirteen Articles Of Faith,http://jewishroots.net/library/prayer/thirteen-articles-of-faith.html Maimonides reflects on this issue in article #12 which states "I firmly believe in the coming of the Messiah; and although He may tarry, I daily hope for His coming." This principle was put into the form of a prayer (Yigdal), often said each morning which reads; "By the End of Days He will send our Messiah, to redeem those longing for His final salvation." (2)
Rambam thus rules that whoever does not believe in and whoever does not await (eagerly looking forward to) - the coming of Messiah, in effect denies the whole Torah, and all the prophets beginning with Moses. (4)
Rambam views believing in the coming of the Messiah and waiting for the coming of the Messiah as two separate concepts. "To believe" is a doctrinal affirmation of the Torah, believing that Messiah will come, whenever that may occur. "To await" means an active and eager anticipation of the redemption. It means we are to be of the mind set that we await for him each and every day.(4)
Talmud: why do we await it? — To be rewarded [for hoping], as it is written, blessed are all they that wait for him.
Praying For The Coming Of The Messiah:
Maimonides 13 articles of faith (the Yigdal) is said daily.
From the Amidah - Shemoneh Esrei: As an aid to remind Jews to await Messiah's coming every day, this prayer (the Amidah) is to be said three times a day. In the prayer 18 Blessings (the Amidah), the 15th blessing reads "The offspring of Your servant David may You speedily cause to flourish, and enhance his pride through Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day long. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who causes the pride of salvation to flourish." (5)
Prayers for the coming of Messiah are said daily. One reason may be that Malachi teaches that when the Messiah comes, He will come suddenly, perhaps even the same day the prayer is said. “Behold, I am going to send My messenger. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come...(Mal. 3:1).
Miscellaneous:
To learn how the Biblical Prophets saw the Messiah please view the Master Prophecy Page. http://jewishroots.net/master-pages-new/mp-prophecy.htm
Acknowledgments:
1).Hilchos Melachim from the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam, 11:1.
2).The Complete Artscroll Siddur p.15.
3).Talmud Sanhedrin 97b.
4).Mashiach; The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition by Jacob Immanuel Schochet p.51-52
5).The Complete Artscroll Siddur p.109.
The Location of the Second Coming of The Messiah at Petra
From the website http://www.yeshuatyisrael.com/end2.htm
Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this who comes from Edom (Southern Jordan), with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? "I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger, And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. "For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. "And I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me; And My wrath upheld Me. "And I trod down the peoples in My anger, And made them drunk in My wrath, And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."
Yeshua will not return until the Jewish people ask Him to return by saying; "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." Luke 13:35, Matthew 23:39
All people of the world will see the Shekinah Glory Light Matthew 24:30 , Isaiah 60:1
The Lord is returning with His Saints who come from heaven. It is written, Rev 19:14-AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN.
Zech 14:5-AND THE LORD MY GOD SHALL COME, AND ALL THE SAINTS WITH THEE.
Jude 14-AND ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED OF THESE, SAYING, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS.Jesus coming with the saints was prophesied even before the flood.
2 Thes 1:7-THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS. In the other verses, the word "saints" is used. Here the word "angels" is used. It has been noted in the Revelation that the saints were referred to, in some instances, as angels.
1 Thes 3:13-AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS SAINTS.
Col 3:4-WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, SHALL APPEAR, THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
Initial touchdown of the Messiah will be in Bozrah (Sheep Pen) also called Petra which is located in Southern Jordan. Isaiah 34:6 Isaiah 63:1-6
The Messiah will fight the battle alone. Isaiah 63:1-6
Anti-Messiah will be first casualty of this battle. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Habakkuk 3:13
Anti-Messiah's spirit is thrown in Hell Isaiah 14:3-11
Anti-Messiah's Army continue to fight Zechariah 12:10-13:1
Blood will reach up to the horses neck for 200 miles Revelation 14:19-20
Victory Ascent upon the Mount of Olives Zechariah 14:3-4
The Mount of Olives with split east to west in two part.
Remaining Jews in Jerusalem will flee to meet remaining Jews in Bozrah. Zechariah 14:3-4
Seventh bowl Judgment is poured out Revelation 16:17-21
There will be Earthquake in Jerusalem Zechariah 14:4-5
Fifth Blackout Matthew 24:29 , Joel 3:14-17
Gentiles will be judged (The Sheep and Goats)
This judgment is for all nations (Gentiles) that come against Israel since all living Israel is saved at the Second Coming the living Gentiles must be judged. This judgment takes place in the valley south east of the Temple mount in Jerusalem. See The Seven Significant Judgments for details about the judgments of God.
Judgments of the Gentile nations in the Valley of Jehosephat Joel 3:1-3
Separation of Sheep Gentiles from the Goat Gentiles Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep Gentile will help Yeshua's brethren, the Jewish people, during the Tribulation.
Separation of the Wheat and Tares (True and False Believer's in the Church) Matthew 13:24-30
Parable of the Dragnet Matthew 13:47-50
Resurrection of Old Testament Saints Isaiah 26:19 Daniel 12:2
Resurrection of Tribulation Saints Revelation 20:4-6
Seventy-five Day Interval
Seventy-five day period for the removal of the abomination before the restoration: (1335-1260= 75) Daniel 12:11-12
They will turn Military Equipment to Farming Equipment (Beat swords into plowshares)
Anti-Messiah (counterfeit-son) and False Prophet (counterfeit-Holy Spirit) cast alive in the Lake of Fire Revelation 19:20
Satan's will be confined to the Abyss for 1000 years Revelation 20:1-3
Renovation for the Millennial New Heavens and New Earth Isaiah 65:17-25
Establishment of the Davidic Throne Isaiah 16:5 Psalm 2:6-8, 1Choronicals 17:10-14 Jeremiah 33:17-26 , Luke 1:30-33
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:6-8; Isaiah 25:6-9
Although the Old Testament does not reveal God's purpose in calling out a church comprised of Jew and Gentile, (Ephesians 3), a great feast prepared by God Himself for his people was described by the Prophet Isaiah nearly 700 years BC:
"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isaiah 25:6-9)
Messianic Kingdom - General Characteristics
The Lord will establish a house in Zion: Micah 4:1-5
And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. And many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (not heaven). And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war.
Messianic Kingdom General Characteristics Psalm 15:1-5, Psalm 24:1-6
House established on a Mountain in Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:13, Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 2:2-4
Ezekiel 20:40-41, Ezekiel 17:22-24, Ezekiel 45:1-8, Ezekiel 48:8-20
Millennial Temple will be built. Ezekiel 37:26-28 Jeremiah 3:16 Ezekiel 44:1-46:24
Millennial River will begin at the Messianic Temple and flow to the Dead Sea, then to the Mediterranean sea. Ezekiel 47:1-12, Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8, Ezekiel 47:8-10
Millennial Messianic Israel Ezekiel 47:13-48:29
Millennial Jerusalem Psalm 122:1-9, Isaiah 4:3-6, Isaiah 33:20-24,
Animals will live in peace Isaiah 11:6-9,
Government during the Kingdom on Yeshua's Shoulders Isaiah 9:6-7
Yeshua the King rule in the Land of Israel Jeremiah 33:14-17, Jeremiah 23:5-6,
Zechariah 14:9
He will rule with a Rod of Iron Revelation 12:5, Revelation 19:15
The King is YHVH - Ha Shem Psalm 24:7-10, Jeremiah 33:17-26
There is a Gentile Branch of Government
Faithful Church Saints and Tribulation Saints shall reign with Messiah Revelation 20:4-6
There is a Jewish Branch of Government
King David will reign Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 34:23-24, Ezekiel 37:24-25, Hosea 3:5
Twelve Disciples (minus Judas plus Mathias) will reign over the Twelve Tribes of Israel Matthew 19:28
There will be Princes of Israel Isaiah 32:1, Ezekiel 45:8, Haggai 2:20-23
There will be Judges and Counselors Isaiah 1:26
Israel will be over the chief nation over all Millennial Gentile nations Deuteronomy 15:6 ; Deuteronomy 28:1 ; Deuteronomy 28:13 , Isaiah 14:1-2
Animals will live in peace on earth! Isaiah 11:6-9
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth (not heaven) will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Israel in the Messianic Kingdom
Regeneration of Israel is based on the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34, Isaiah 29:22-24 Isaiah 44:1-5, Isaiah 44:21-23, Ezekiel 11:19-20, Ezekiel 36:25-27 , Joel 2:28-32, Micah 7:18-20, Zephaniah 3:9-13, Romans 11:25-27
World Wide Regathering of Believing Israel to the land of Promise. Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Isaiah 11:11-12:6, Isaiah 7:12-13
All of Israel will know the Lord. There will be no need to tell a neighbor to know the Lord for they shall all know Him. Jeremiah 31:31-34
Possession of the Land of Israel that belongs to the Jewish People
For additional information on the covenants see: The Covenants of God a description of the unconditional promises given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Given to Abraham and his descendants Genesis 13:14-17 , Genesis 15:12-21
Given to Isaac and his descendants and not Ishmael Genesis 26:2-5
Given to Jacob (Israel) and his descendants not Essau Genesis 28:13-15
Israel will be a productive land Isaiah 30:23-26 , Isaiah 35:1-2 , Jeremiah 31:1-6
Gentiles in the Messianic Kingdom
Gentile kings will worship the King of Kings Isaiah 56:1-8 , Isaiah 66:18-24
Gentiles born in the Kingdom have 100 years to accept the King Messiah or be condemned to hell Isaiah 65:20
Gentile Nations are obligated to observe Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles if they do not observe it they will be without rain. Zechariah 14:16-19
Israel's relationship to the Arab Nations Psalm 83:1-8
Lebanon (Gebal) - will be at peace by occupation Ezekiel 47:13-48:29
Southern Jordon (Edom) will suffer total destruction Ezekiel 35:6-15 , Jeremiah 49:7-13
The entire book of Obediah is devoted the destruction of Edom Jeremiah 49:19-20, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Isaiah 34:8-15
Bozrah or Petra will be perpetual wasteland Jeremiah 49:13,22 , Amos 1:12
Central Jordon (Moab) will suffer partial destruction Jeremiah 48:47
Northern Jordon (Ammon) will suffer destruction and possession Jeremiah 49:1-6
Egypt (Hagarenes) will experience destruction, dispersion, then return Isaiah 19:1-21 , Ezekiel 29:1-16
Northern Iraq (Assyria) will be at peace by conversion Isaiah 19:23-25
Saudi Arabia (Kedar and Hazor) will suffer destruction Jeremiah 49:33
Iran (Persia or Elam) will suffer destruction, dispersion, then return Jeremiah 49:34-39
Iraq (Babylon) will suffer total desolation never to be inhabited again. Isaiah 13:20-22 , Jeremiah 50:39-40 , Jeremiah 51:41-43 , Revelation 18:1-2The Aftermath
Loosening of Satan to deceive after the 1000 years of confinement Revelation 20:7-10
1.Final invasion of Israel
Satan cast into the Lake of Fire
Transfer of Authority 1Corinthians 16:24-28
The Great White Throne Judgment for all dead unbelievers Revelation 20:11-12 . For additional information see The Seven Significant Judgments for details about the judgments of God.
There are different degrees of punishment in Hell Matthew 11:20-24 , Luke 12:47-48
The Book of Life recording all people ever born Psalm 139:16
Unbelievers names are not recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life Revelation 13:8
Believers names are retained in the Book of Life Revelation 3:5
Unsaved are blotted out of the Book of Life Psalm 69:28
The Second Death is Eternal Lake of Fire Revelation 20:13-14
The Eternal Order - Newer Heavens and Newer Earth Revelation 21:1-8
New Jerusalem from will come down from the heavens. Hebrews 11:9-10 , Hebrews12:22-24 , Revelation 21:9-22
No further Scriptural Revelation past the Eternal Order.
Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this who comes from Edom (Southern Jordan), with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? "I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger, And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. "For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. "And I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me; And My wrath upheld Me. "And I trod down the peoples in My anger, And made them drunk in My wrath, And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."
Yeshua will not return until the Jewish people ask Him to return by saying; "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." Luke 13:35, Matthew 23:39
All people of the world will see the Shekinah Glory Light Matthew 24:30 , Isaiah 60:1
The Lord is returning with His Saints who come from heaven. It is written, Rev 19:14-AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN.
Zech 14:5-AND THE LORD MY GOD SHALL COME, AND ALL THE SAINTS WITH THEE.
Jude 14-AND ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED OF THESE, SAYING, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS.Jesus coming with the saints was prophesied even before the flood.
2 Thes 1:7-THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS. In the other verses, the word "saints" is used. Here the word "angels" is used. It has been noted in the Revelation that the saints were referred to, in some instances, as angels.
1 Thes 3:13-AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS SAINTS.
Col 3:4-WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, SHALL APPEAR, THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
Initial touchdown of the Messiah will be in Bozrah (Sheep Pen) also called Petra which is located in Southern Jordan. Isaiah 34:6 Isaiah 63:1-6
The Messiah will fight the battle alone. Isaiah 63:1-6
Anti-Messiah will be first casualty of this battle. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Habakkuk 3:13
Anti-Messiah's spirit is thrown in Hell Isaiah 14:3-11
Anti-Messiah's Army continue to fight Zechariah 12:10-13:1
Blood will reach up to the horses neck for 200 miles Revelation 14:19-20
Victory Ascent upon the Mount of Olives Zechariah 14:3-4
The Mount of Olives with split east to west in two part.
Remaining Jews in Jerusalem will flee to meet remaining Jews in Bozrah. Zechariah 14:3-4
Seventh bowl Judgment is poured out Revelation 16:17-21
There will be Earthquake in Jerusalem Zechariah 14:4-5
Fifth Blackout Matthew 24:29 , Joel 3:14-17
Gentiles will be judged (The Sheep and Goats)
This judgment is for all nations (Gentiles) that come against Israel since all living Israel is saved at the Second Coming the living Gentiles must be judged. This judgment takes place in the valley south east of the Temple mount in Jerusalem. See The Seven Significant Judgments for details about the judgments of God.
Judgments of the Gentile nations in the Valley of Jehosephat Joel 3:1-3
Separation of Sheep Gentiles from the Goat Gentiles Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep Gentile will help Yeshua's brethren, the Jewish people, during the Tribulation.
Separation of the Wheat and Tares (True and False Believer's in the Church) Matthew 13:24-30
Parable of the Dragnet Matthew 13:47-50
Resurrection of Old Testament Saints Isaiah 26:19 Daniel 12:2
Resurrection of Tribulation Saints Revelation 20:4-6
Seventy-five Day Interval
Seventy-five day period for the removal of the abomination before the restoration: (1335-1260= 75) Daniel 12:11-12
They will turn Military Equipment to Farming Equipment (Beat swords into plowshares)
Anti-Messiah (counterfeit-son) and False Prophet (counterfeit-Holy Spirit) cast alive in the Lake of Fire Revelation 19:20
Satan's will be confined to the Abyss for 1000 years Revelation 20:1-3
Renovation for the Millennial New Heavens and New Earth Isaiah 65:17-25
Establishment of the Davidic Throne Isaiah 16:5 Psalm 2:6-8, 1Choronicals 17:10-14 Jeremiah 33:17-26 , Luke 1:30-33
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:6-8; Isaiah 25:6-9
Although the Old Testament does not reveal God's purpose in calling out a church comprised of Jew and Gentile, (Ephesians 3), a great feast prepared by God Himself for his people was described by the Prophet Isaiah nearly 700 years BC:
"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isaiah 25:6-9)
Messianic Kingdom - General Characteristics
The Lord will establish a house in Zion: Micah 4:1-5
And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. And many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (not heaven). And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war.
Messianic Kingdom General Characteristics Psalm 15:1-5, Psalm 24:1-6
House established on a Mountain in Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:13, Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 2:2-4
Ezekiel 20:40-41, Ezekiel 17:22-24, Ezekiel 45:1-8, Ezekiel 48:8-20
Millennial Temple will be built. Ezekiel 37:26-28 Jeremiah 3:16 Ezekiel 44:1-46:24
Millennial River will begin at the Messianic Temple and flow to the Dead Sea, then to the Mediterranean sea. Ezekiel 47:1-12, Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8, Ezekiel 47:8-10
Millennial Messianic Israel Ezekiel 47:13-48:29
Millennial Jerusalem Psalm 122:1-9, Isaiah 4:3-6, Isaiah 33:20-24,
Animals will live in peace Isaiah 11:6-9,
Government during the Kingdom on Yeshua's Shoulders Isaiah 9:6-7
Yeshua the King rule in the Land of Israel Jeremiah 33:14-17, Jeremiah 23:5-6,
Zechariah 14:9
He will rule with a Rod of Iron Revelation 12:5, Revelation 19:15
The King is YHVH - Ha Shem Psalm 24:7-10, Jeremiah 33:17-26
There is a Gentile Branch of Government
Faithful Church Saints and Tribulation Saints shall reign with Messiah Revelation 20:4-6
There is a Jewish Branch of Government
King David will reign Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 34:23-24, Ezekiel 37:24-25, Hosea 3:5
Twelve Disciples (minus Judas plus Mathias) will reign over the Twelve Tribes of Israel Matthew 19:28
There will be Princes of Israel Isaiah 32:1, Ezekiel 45:8, Haggai 2:20-23
There will be Judges and Counselors Isaiah 1:26
Israel will be over the chief nation over all Millennial Gentile nations Deuteronomy 15:6 ; Deuteronomy 28:1 ; Deuteronomy 28:13 , Isaiah 14:1-2
Animals will live in peace on earth! Isaiah 11:6-9
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth (not heaven) will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Israel in the Messianic Kingdom
Regeneration of Israel is based on the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34, Isaiah 29:22-24 Isaiah 44:1-5, Isaiah 44:21-23, Ezekiel 11:19-20, Ezekiel 36:25-27 , Joel 2:28-32, Micah 7:18-20, Zephaniah 3:9-13, Romans 11:25-27
World Wide Regathering of Believing Israel to the land of Promise. Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Isaiah 11:11-12:6, Isaiah 7:12-13
All of Israel will know the Lord. There will be no need to tell a neighbor to know the Lord for they shall all know Him. Jeremiah 31:31-34
Possession of the Land of Israel that belongs to the Jewish People
For additional information on the covenants see: The Covenants of God a description of the unconditional promises given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Given to Abraham and his descendants Genesis 13:14-17 , Genesis 15:12-21
Given to Isaac and his descendants and not Ishmael Genesis 26:2-5
Given to Jacob (Israel) and his descendants not Essau Genesis 28:13-15
Israel will be a productive land Isaiah 30:23-26 , Isaiah 35:1-2 , Jeremiah 31:1-6
Gentiles in the Messianic Kingdom
Gentile kings will worship the King of Kings Isaiah 56:1-8 , Isaiah 66:18-24
Gentiles born in the Kingdom have 100 years to accept the King Messiah or be condemned to hell Isaiah 65:20
Gentile Nations are obligated to observe Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles if they do not observe it they will be without rain. Zechariah 14:16-19
Israel's relationship to the Arab Nations Psalm 83:1-8
Lebanon (Gebal) - will be at peace by occupation Ezekiel 47:13-48:29
Southern Jordon (Edom) will suffer total destruction Ezekiel 35:6-15 , Jeremiah 49:7-13
The entire book of Obediah is devoted the destruction of Edom Jeremiah 49:19-20, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Isaiah 34:8-15
Bozrah or Petra will be perpetual wasteland Jeremiah 49:13,22 , Amos 1:12
Central Jordon (Moab) will suffer partial destruction Jeremiah 48:47
Northern Jordon (Ammon) will suffer destruction and possession Jeremiah 49:1-6
Egypt (Hagarenes) will experience destruction, dispersion, then return Isaiah 19:1-21 , Ezekiel 29:1-16
Northern Iraq (Assyria) will be at peace by conversion Isaiah 19:23-25
Saudi Arabia (Kedar and Hazor) will suffer destruction Jeremiah 49:33
Iran (Persia or Elam) will suffer destruction, dispersion, then return Jeremiah 49:34-39
Iraq (Babylon) will suffer total desolation never to be inhabited again. Isaiah 13:20-22 , Jeremiah 50:39-40 , Jeremiah 51:41-43 , Revelation 18:1-2The Aftermath
Loosening of Satan to deceive after the 1000 years of confinement Revelation 20:7-10
1.Final invasion of Israel
Satan cast into the Lake of Fire
Transfer of Authority 1Corinthians 16:24-28
The Great White Throne Judgment for all dead unbelievers Revelation 20:11-12 . For additional information see The Seven Significant Judgments for details about the judgments of God.
There are different degrees of punishment in Hell Matthew 11:20-24 , Luke 12:47-48
The Book of Life recording all people ever born Psalm 139:16
Unbelievers names are not recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life Revelation 13:8
Believers names are retained in the Book of Life Revelation 3:5
Unsaved are blotted out of the Book of Life Psalm 69:28
The Second Death is Eternal Lake of Fire Revelation 20:13-14
The Eternal Order - Newer Heavens and Newer Earth Revelation 21:1-8
New Jerusalem from will come down from the heavens. Hebrews 11:9-10 , Hebrews12:22-24 , Revelation 21:9-22
No further Scriptural Revelation past the Eternal Order.
A MARK
From HHC Sermons
Rome was not an anarchy. The once free society which had risen to a state of prominence in the Mediterranean with a voluntary welfare system and a locally supported militias. It became an authoritarian benefactor which led to tyranny and despotism.
Wealth steadily seduced an industrious people into an apathetic welfare state With growing system of social benefits came tax burdens upon the rich, which shifted to the craftsmen and laborer. Centralization of power brought a burgeoning bureaucracy. Together they all brought debasement of social morals. The love of wealth, comfort and security replaced the love of simplicity, service and sacrifice.
Many societies became dependent upon elaborate systems of taxation. In Judea Gabbai [tax collector], collected ... ground-, income-, and poll-taxes while the Mokhes collected duty upon imports and exports; on all that was bought and sold.... They had invented taxes that reached into the life of almost everyone. There were taxes based on the number of axles, wheels, pack-animals, pedestrians, the use of roads, highways; on admission to markets; on carriers, bridges, ships, and quays; on crossing rivers, on dams, on licenses, in short, on such a variety of objects, that even the research of modern scholars has not been able to identify all the names.1
They not only had to collect these taxes, but they had to keep track of who had paid and who had not, as well as who was a taxpayer and who was exempt or excluded. Among the slaves, citizens, and residents there were more than one status. They had many ways to keep track of slave and freeman as well as who had paid and who was still owing on the myriad of taxes, fees, and tariffs, including interest, and penalties.
Both Greeks and Romans used small framed boards filled with wax or clay. A thin coating of dark wax was used for brief or short term notations. Scratching letters in the soft wax with a stylus so that the light-colored backing would showed through. The tablets were sometimes linked together with rings, which was called a codex.
Longer documents were written on a paper called papyrus and could be glued together into rolls 15 to 40 feet long called volumen. Contracts might be etched or engraved in wet clay with a quill with marks or seals of the parties pressed in as a signature. After drying they were stored in the temple. This ancient method of record keeping was widely accepted.
Loans of indebtedness and usury sometimes took advantage of this more permanent form. Record keeping solemnized by seals and marks in clay that were fired to make them “unbreakable”.
Slaves in the market place were given dried clay tablets to identify them and their occupation. If these tablets were baked with the seal of the owner they took on a permanency that protected the slave from unwarranted detention as he traveled through the public streets on errands for his master. That etched document was referred to as a charagma2 [caragma]. The word might refer to several other forms of identification that appeared during Rome's long history.
Some employed servants or slaves were very wealthy because of their skills or position. They might be physicians or engineers or lawyers. Their charagma would identify a status, occupation or use, and might be made of clay, stone, lead, iron, copper, silver, or even gold. It originally was of private issue but became a form of official identification.
A “Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the first and second centuries.”3
The word mark in Revelations is from charagma. It is a stamp or a badge or an imprinted mark. It is from the word charax from charasso (to sharpen to a point). A charax is a pole or stake, a palisade. The only connection between a charax and a charagma is that the early charagmas were made in clay with a charax, a sharp stick.
Knowing your status quo during the census required usually required a token to mark those who had been counted subjects of the Empire. The census called for by Augustus “was regarded as the badge of servitude, and incompatible with the Theocratic character of Israel.”4
What is the essential characteristic of a charagma? Is it important to note that it is etched with a sharp object or on the forehead or in the hand? Or is it because a charagma is a badge of servitude? Does it mark who is bound and loosed, who is free and who must serve?
“Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them...” Ex 23:24
Is the essential characteristic of a mark its location, shape, form or is it what the mark stands for? A charagma had a specific purpose. It was a mark that expressed ownership, the right of possession, the right to---or the employer of---the use of an item, creature or human as a resource.
Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts. (Pr 22:26)
The word mark in Revelation is specifically a “badge of servitude”. Charagma appears 9 times in the Bible and is translated graven in Acts 17:29. This is the only place outside of Revelations that charagma appears, and it is also the only place it is not translated mark.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven [a charagma] by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:28, 30
The word offspring is from genos which is translated, kind, kindred, or nation expressing that God is the original authority in our lives.
The word ought is from the Greek opheilo rather than the more common dei or tis. It is also translated owe, be bound, be (one’s) duty, be a debtor, be guilty, be indebted. Opheilo is defined “to owe, to owe money, be in debt for, that which is due, the debt.” It also appears in John 13:14 expressing this concept of indebtedness: “If I ... have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
The words “graven [charagma] by art and man’s device”, are talking about systems of authority created by men, which include social programs or schemes, making the word of God to none effect.5
The word device here is from enthumesis, which means a thinking, consideration; thoughts. There are no more powerful false gods than those created in our minds and bound by pride. Men begin to worship,6 and give allegiance to their created institution more so than God.
We are commanded not to let the creations of our own thinking become our godhead, our patronus, or our father because we owe that title to our Father in Heaven. No man on earth should stand as our substitute father, with the authority to mark us with his charagma.7
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. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, Revelation 14:8-9
IF ANY MAN is translated from two words; e,i meaning if or whether, and tis, meaning a certain. Together they mean “whoever, whatever” and is followed by conditions which need to be examined.
WORSHIP is from proskuneo meaning an expression of profound reverence… used of homage shown to men of superior rank: such as a profound reverence for an office or a flag or the acceptance of an exercising authority.
Worshiping God has nothing to do with singing in Church. Worshiping has to do with accepting a superior authority. In the Hebrew worship is often translated from “hxv shachah” meaning “to bow down”. If God is the ultimate authority, then to bow down or worship Him is to bow to His authority. Singing may be a gesture along these lines but is concerned with a more substantive behavior. Are we taking His name in vain if we are bowing to other authorities to obtain their benefit. Are we to rule over our fellow man or be ruled by them?
The BEAST is from the word therion from the diminutive thera which means “trap” or “hunting to destroy.” Therion is translated beast, wild beast, venomous beast. In the Bible the beasts always represented governments, such as Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.
There are two fundamental classifications of governments. The first type is based upon faith, hope, love and charity and obeying their natural Father or Creator in heaven. It is a voluntary union of people based on an equal love of neighbor and self, with forgiveness and thanksgiving. This government is created by families coming together in a fellowship, which shares a common acceptance of the Character of God’s Name or Nature, (e.g. justice and mercy) written on their hearts and minds.
The second type is the one that hunts or devours men. It operates on the basis of enforced control, imposed restrictions, exercising authority, and ultimately, bondage and oppression. It seduces the masses by promising security at the expense of their neighbor. It solicits their applications, which, upon acceptance, becomes binding social contracts, covenants, and leagues of allegiance.
“The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and Benefits.” Plutarch, 2000 years ago.
In such systems, men endlessly write and codify laws and become the ruling elite. Born or elected they share a desire to control and rule over their neighbors. They are corrupted by power and a willingness to covet.
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 1 Samuel 8:12
The righteous system is spiritually based, and dependent on faith, patience, charity and thanksgiving. It is populated by those who are willing to give---and forgive---under the perfect law of liberty. They maintain free choice by granting the same to others and accepting responsibility for themselves and showing mercy and justice to all.
In a government of liberty people must seek to rule themselves, not their neighbor. They hope to master only charity and mercy, forgiveness and service. They serve God by serving one another.
Both systems depend on faith or allegiance and are composed of dedicated believers. One is based on the authority of men over men, and has a man sitting as a central father (or patronus) or ruling authority. The other has God the Father of all men living in their hearts and minds.
Both types of governments are in essence a family. In one, the family is truly free, in the other men are Parens Patriae, "father of the people".
God the Father’s family is based on the natural family instituted by God with the solemn joining of Husband and Wife. These families freely associate as a nation through a voluntary network. The natural Family holds the dominion of God bound only in love of their neighbor.
Can a government be based on love and charity? Can people unite on a national scale and still remain a free people? Voluntary governments have been the rule in man’s history, “our modern reliance on government to make law and establish order is not the historical norm.”8
“That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who [were] the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:” Numbers 7:2
Note here the word OVER. It is from amad [dme], which is translated stood or stand or endure hundreds of times and is translated over only one time in the Bible. These fathers were not to rule over each other but came together as equals. In their homes they were to rule as Christ ruled the Church with love and patient service, self sacrifice, and obedience to the Father, enduring the burdens of their Natural Office.
In authoritarian governments, men substitute faith in God for allegiance to men who would be gods over them, the word god simply meaning ruling judges, and was used to address magistrates in court.
“If we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.”9
Israel was the kingdom of God, not the religion of Heaven on earth. Herod the Great had been baptizing his citizenry into his version of the kingdom of Heaven. This Hellenization of Judea was rejected by John the Baptist who had another vision for that kingdom of God.
"Herod's scheme of initiation into a new form of Judaism was immensely successful. Jews everywhere were willing to join the worldwide society ... Entry was for members only; they had to show at the door an admission token in the form of a white stone from the river Jordan which the missionaries gave them at baptism." "The missionaries... with their leather wallets full of white stones, would come back with the same wallets full of money, in foreign currency. Once put into Jewish currency by the money-changers, it would be stored in vaults, ready to be used by Herod for his vast building projects, or any subsequent causes."10
Eventually many of the citizens of Judea accepted John's cousin, Yeshua, a.k.a Jesus, as king. Proclaimed by the people as Hosanna son of David, the anointed, and officially recognized King of the citizens of Judea by the Roman god,11 Pontious Pilate.
Eventually thousands of Judeans followed the Way of John and Jesus and were apart of His kingdom at hand; they were excluded from the the social schemes of Herod which we know as the Corban of the Pharisees.
THE IMAGE of the Beast in Revelation 14:9 is translated from the Greek word eikon which means an image or likeness.
Who was the first beast? Was it Babylon or Rome, or does it matter? Are they not all the same, as was Egypt, Ur and even Haran? Who or what is the beast like? What is that image, or similitude, of the beast?
At the time of Jesus, Rome, as a faltering republic, was well into a process of decay. “Each class contributed its share to the common decay… The free citizens were idle, dissipated, sunken; their chief thoughts of the theater and the arena… more than two hundred thousand persons were thus maintained by the State, what of the old Roman stock remained was rapidly decaying, partly from corruption, but chiefly from the increasing cessation of marriage, and the nameless abominations of what remained of family-life.... The sanctity of marriage had ceased. Female dissipation and the general dissoluteness led at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. Abortion, and the exposure and murder of newly-born children, were common and tolerated; unnatural vices, which even the greatest philosophers practiced, if not advocated, attained proportions which defy description.”12
Family values were a chief topic of political rhetoric before every election and during the writing of the new constitution by Augustus. The rise of that Empire out of the ashes of a free republic was unrelenting.
After their civil war, the first of the three offices sought by Augustus was Emperator,13 commander in chief of the army and naval forces. The second office was Principas Civitas, the First Citizen, the chief executive officer or President of Rome,14 a municipality. The third office was ApoTheos, literally translated the appointor of gods.
The duties of this office were to appoint all the judges or magistrates for the empirical courts. Each office required an oath based on constitutional restrictions. Successors were determined by an electoral college of the Senate, known as the “Conscripted Fathers.”15
The word ‘and’ in “Worship AND Receive” can make a great difference in the interpretation of this text. If you merely received the mark without worshiping the beast, then you do not qualify. If you receive the mark, through ignorance or deception or a combination of both, but have not made a conscious decision to pay homage, or allegiance to the beast, then you have not really worshipped16 it.
The word RECEIVE [his] mark comes from the Greek word lambano, and means “to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it; to take up a thing to be carried; take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one’s self … to receive what is offered; not to refuse or reject… give him access to one’s self.”
In the word lambano there is nothing about a tattoo or the injection of a chip into the hand. Taking the mark is about receiving what is offered, it is simply a matter of not refusing or rejecting an offer. It is about an acceptance or to receive what is offered.
We do see the word HAND at the end of the text which is translated from the word khire. Its definition is expressed as “1) by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.” It is clear by this definition that the word is not limited to the concept of the physical appendage.
The preposition IN could lead us believe the mark must go inside the hand. The word ‘in’ in this verse is translated from the word epi. It is a generic preposition that is translated many different ways. For example, it is translated on, in, upon, come to, by, at, before, over, etc.
There can be no assumption that the mark actually enters the flesh of the hand. One may obtain the use of mark or badge of servitude without ever even touching it with the physical hand. Khire expresses that you may receive the use of the mark through the help or agency of any one.
FOREHEAD is translated from metopon and is defined the space between the eyes, the forehead. Some people have suggested that the mark is a lithium powered microchip injected along the hairline near the ear. Again, there is no reason to make that assumption.
The word metopon is often associated with memory or thought. If you only need to remember the name or the number associated with the mark, it could be assumed that the physical possession of a mark is not even necessary, and that the reference to the forehead or the space between the eyes is cognizant of the mind, thought or memory.
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: Revelation 14:10
What is the WRATH OF GOD? The Hebrew word for wrath [Pa Aleph Phie] is translated face, nostrils, nose, before, countenance, forbearing, forehead, even worthy The same Hebrew letters are also translated also, even, yet, moreover, yea, with, low, therefore, and much.
In the Greek WRATH is from thumos and may include the idea of passion or ardour, and is from the word translated “gods” or “God.”17
The word DRINK is from pino which does mean to drink but figuratively, to receive. To drink of the wine of the wrath of God seems to be a metaphor meaning that they will receive something poured out at full strength and not very diluted.
The words AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED can give us the idea of torture or punishment. Tormented here is from basanizo which actually means “to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal” It might imply torture but the word was also used by sailors or fishermen whose ship was struggling with a head wind. The word has the sense of a test.
The word PRESENCE is from enopion which is more commonly translated before or in the sight of. To emphasize the nature of these events as a test rather than a cruel punishment with torment and tortures I must ask, “Why would the holy angels and the Lamb want to watch people being tortured and suffering”?
Does the good shepherd take delight in punishing his sheep?
Is this a test of our love, faith, hope, and humility?
What is written in your heart and mind?
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelation 14:11
Many will tell you that smoke of their TORMENT ascendeth up means if you take the mark, you will be cast into hell. This is a conclusion based again on the word torment, which we have seen has to do with a test and the words fire and brimstone are not, nor have they ever been, synonymous with hell.
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE appears during the time of the liberation and redemption of the Israelites from Egypt. I suspect that since most of the world is now back in a bondage worse than that of Egypt,18 it would seem reasonable that we will see some “fire and brimstone” before the people are all free souls under God on earth again.
The words SMOKE ASCENDING has also been interpreted as coming from hell. Throughout the Bible the idea of smoke going up has to do with the accepting of a sacrifice as worthy and in the times of the great test men will be called on to sacrifice many things, including their very lives in order to pass the test hence the smoke goes up.
REST is not from the word anesis, meaning a loosening (which is translated rest 3 times and liberty and be eased once each). Nor is it from koimesis, meaning a reposing, taking rest. It is from anapausis, which actually means intermission, cessation of any motion, business or labor. As more is revealed about the nature of the “test,” our understanding of this passage may increase. One may see in this sentence two different points of view. One is that the smoke from the test goes up forever, and the others who do not repent, change their ways, get no cessation or intermission from their labors, their bondage. It may help to examine more of the context to this one line:
Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
The word PATIENCE is from hupomone, which means steadfastness, constancy, endurance. This may be disappointing to those who are expecting to be raptured away during this test, since it is clear you are going to need steadfastness, constancy, and endurance to pass.
There is also some requirements to keep the commandments. Salvation is by grace, but God does not owe us salvation simply because we say we believe. Many people proclaim that they believe just as the Pharisees claimed to believe. The test will be a witness to the truth.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Revelation 13:11
The beast comes OUT OF THE EARTH, rather than the sea. If these beasts are governments, it could be presumed that the difference between rising from the land, verses rising from the sea, could have to do with the “Law of the Land” rather than the “Law of the Sea.”
Most people are not schooled in these classic forms of jurisprudence. For simplicity here we will just say that the Law of the Land is based in the Mosaic Law, Common Law and the Law of Nature and Nature’s God, while the Law of the Sea could include Admiralty, Commercial Law and Equity, a.k.a. the law men establish for themselves. One form of law encourages the virtues that set men free and the other lends itself to delivering men into debt and bondage.19
Lamb’s horns could denote that the original authority was small.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Revelation 13:12
Numerous people interpret the beast as the Roman Church who was wounded at a particular point in time and recovered. Amazingly, they also interpret the Roman Church as the Harlot. It seems that it cannot be both. The Beast, at the time of the writing of St. John's Revelations, was clearly the empire of Rome. The image of the beast is not a matter of location, but the nature, characteristics and precepts of the beast.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Revelation 13:13
One distinction between the beast and the image of the beast is that the latter can make fire come down from heaven in the sight of the men. The emperor, or “commander-in-chief” of Rome, had an army and navy while a modern commander-in-chief often has an air force which gives them the power to MAKE FIRE COME FROM THE SKIES.20
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Revelation 13:14
Just about everyone on earth is DECEIVED. What helps bring about this deception are miracles. Are those miracles yet to come or have they already deceived us? We have television, computers, modern medicine the power of flight even into space. Some say that these are miracles.
Semeion is defined a sign, mark, token. It is translated sign 50 times and MIRACLE only 23. In this age of modern miracles, could we have been deceived? Where is the image of the beast? Do we give it power?
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Revelation 13:15
The words POWER TO GIVE is from didomi and simply means to give. The word LIFE is from pneuma which is the word translated into spirit. It is the beast out of the land with little horns of authority that really gives life and force to the image of the beast. Those who will not pay homage to the image of the beast are to be killed.
There are many words for KILLED in the Greek: Thuo can be translated killed but is usually used in the context of sacrifice. Phoneuo is translated “killed, murder,” and is from the word phonos, to murder. Thanatoo is also translated killed and does mean put to death. Anaire also is translated killed, slay or put to death. Each word can have a different meaning or use. But they are not the word used here.
The word in 13:15 is apokteino which means to kill in any way whatever, to destroy, to allow to perish. The words should be are from hina which means in order that. Because the word apo means of separation the Greek apokteino means more that they would be allowed to die or perish because of separation or exclusion during the test in order that they might perish.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: Rev. 13:16
AND HE CAUSETH what? He causeth to receive. Causeth is from poieo meaning to make as in to be the author of, make ready or to prepare. It is most often translated do. RECEIVE is from didomi which means simply to give, to give something to someone, of one’s own accord to give one something, to his advantage, to bestow a gift, to grant, give to one asking, let have, to supply, furnish, necessary things… something to be administered. Although the English words causeth to receive may give the idea of force, the Greek text does not support such interpretation. In this verse the original text gives the idea of an offer, gift or grant as a result of asking or applying, not compelling.
Does RIGHT HAND mean that it is okay to receive the mark in our left hand? Right hand is from dexios which is an adjective that is translated right hand 39 times, right 12 times, right side twice. It can mean “the right” or “the right hand side” but it also is commonly used as “a place of honour or authority”. Note that this word is from dechomai, which also means receive, take or accept.
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:17
The words And that NO MAN are not translated from oudeis, which is translated 94 times “no man” and “none” 27 times, or “any” or “any man” 6 times. Nor is it from medeis which is translated no man 32 times and means nobody or no one. Nor did the author use ou anthropos meaning no man or no human.
The words THAT NO is translated from “hina me” which is translated “that not” 45 times, or “lest” 43 times and “that … no” only 6 times or even “albeit not” and “so that not” once each.
MAN is translated from “tis” which is an enclitic [leaning] indefinite pronoun translated certain 104 times, some 73, any man 55, any 37, one 34, man 34, anything 24, a 9, certain man 7 times, something 6, somewhat 6, ought 5, some man 4 times.
It is defined “a certain, a certain one ; some, some time, a while”.
It should be becoming clear that many misconceptions, unsupported by the earlier text, are being propagated in the world today. There are many specific statements and words used by the author of the Bible that have been blurred, twisted and distorted by modern versions of the text.
Many are being misled by words like cause and no man. Will no one be allowed to BUY OR SELL if they do not take the mark? The word man is not even in the original text. We may now see that the words of the author, who used an indefinite pronoun to express, at best, that only certain or some would be excluded---and because of this exclusion or separation, they might die because they do not take the mark.
The phrase HAD THE MARK is from“echo.” It means “to have, i.e. to hold. to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind… 2) to have i.e. own, possess 2a) external things .... 2b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc. …” Those who think they have nothing to worry about as long as they do not take the chip implant appear to be deceived.
To have the mark has nothing to do with the injection of a chip but does clearly includes the idea membership, joined by bonds of family, or duty or law. If you have to prove you are a member of the family of the beast with a special identification card or number, or else you will be excluded from the some of the benefits of its commercialized market place, then that would meet the language of the authors of Revelations.
If government policy requires a numerical identifier to get a job, a bank account, credit, business license, marriage license, and even a drivers license (or the individual is excluded from that market place), then such exclusion by the political benefactors and commercial world might make survival difficult or even impossible in a time of deficiencies, deficits and deprivation. Such exclusions are already law according to Section 666, of the United States Codes, Title 42.21
The word MIGHT is from dunamai meaning, “to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom” The word custom includes the synonym “practice” and therefore policy. It is again clear in the Greek text that the author, in the original language, is denoting the idea of favorable circumstance or permission of the legal system---or even just a matter of policy.
All these exclusions presently apply to people without a Social Security Number. They have been excluded for years and those exclusions are growing. Obtaining a Social Security Number is also a key point of consent, since it is absolutely voluntary. The number is linked to similar systems in over a hundred and seventy different countries. Are the social security numbers of the world systems the modern mark of the beast? Shouldn't we look at the biblical and spiritual implications of these systems or schemes?
The word NAME in the text is from onoma which does mean name but is also “... used for everything which the name covers.” It is used to express “one’s rank, authority, interests… the cause or reason named: on this account,…” The word “name” denotes the authority by which the number is used not a particular name but rather an authorization.
The word BUY is from agorazo which means “to be in the market-place, to attend it, hence to do business there, buy or sell”. The marketplace, since we are dealing with the world merchants, traffickers, or Canaanites allow men into their system, first by adoption, the birth certificate, the acceptance of benefits, and finally the application to labor or to serve as a registered member, making your offering.22
The modern social insurance systems with compelled contributions are identical to the system of Corban, or unrighteous mammon,23 instituted by the Pharisees before Christ's arrival. The sacred temple of Rome, called the Capitol, had a similar systems called Qurban. The Pagan and Moslem Qurban or Korban systems were similar.
These words all have to do with the sacrifices of the people, but have not always been collected in the same way. In these systems, the widows and orphans, elderly and needy of society were taken care of by either freewill or compelled offerings. The compelled offering was contrary to the the precept of freewill offerings and were forbidden by Christ, who claimed these traditions, also translated as “ordinances,” made the word of God “of none effect.”24 The religion of the Pharisees was not pure.
As things got worse in Rome there was a rationing of benefits and also essential goods. Those without the “mark” were excluded.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore25 upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image. Revelation 16:1 2
Many believe this NOISOME AND GRIEVOUS SORE has to do with a lithium battery operated-computer chip that will leak, causing a terrible sore will result. If this hypothesis is incorrect millions of people are being lulled into a false sense of security. The idea that the mark is a chip is really without any true support except in the imaginations of the producers of Christian fables. Let us look with clear eyes.
There are at least nine different words that are used to produce the English word SORE in the King James New Testament text. Eight of them [sphodra, aganakteo, lian, en, polus, ekthambeo, megas, hikanos] have nothing to do with a sore as a sore or wound, or even being sick or ill.
The word NOISOME, describing this sore, is from kakos, meaning “of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be or of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting, base, wrong, wicked or even troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful.”
According to Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) the word Noisome does mean Noxious to health; hurtful; mischievous; unwholesome; insalubrious; destructive. The problem is that kakos is only translated noisome once and is translated evil forty times. Kakos is not normally be found modifying the word sore or wound.
The second word to modify sore is GRIEVOUS, which is from poneros from a derivative of ponos, meaning great trouble, intense desire. It is also translated evil some fifty-one times and wicked or wicked one some sixteen times. To translate both poneros and kakos into the word evil does not do the Greek text justice. Poneros is defined, “full of labours, annoyances, hardships 1a) pressed and harassed by labours 1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils;…”
Poneros is commonly used to describe something such as pressed labor or bringing toil and again has an evil or wicked nature. Again, with the words poneros and kakos, we have something that is full of pressed labors and not what it ought to be, with a bad or wicked nature, possibly as a result of wrong thinking. These words have a great deal to do with forced labor for an evil cause or condition. In the bondage of Egypt the people were forced to labor and God delivered them from that state and told them never to return.26
The word helkoo means to make SORE or cause to ulcerate and that word is from helkos which can mean a wound or even a sore or ulcer. It is helkos that appears in the text. Helkoo is from helkos not the other way around. The word helkos with a Strong’s number 1668, is from helkuo or helko which means to draw, drag off. It is akin to the word haireomai which means to take for oneself, to prefer, choose or to choose by vote, elect to office. Helko appears in Acts 21:30 “they dragged him from the temple” and James 2:6 “Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?” Also the Greek holkos, connected with helko meaning I draw.
In “Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament,” Moulton and Milligan say the Greek term helko or helkuo has almost the sense of dragging by force. It is used of hauling bricks, of towing, of dragging along, and even in connection with impressing people as laborers.
This meaning would fit well with poneros and kakos, NOISOME AND GRIEVOUS, which can both easily be used with the idea of impressing people as laborers as they were in the bondage of Egypt, which at first was a government where the gold and silver were in a central treasury, the people paid 20% income tax,27 and they only had a legal title to their land.28
The fact is a Charagma means a badge of servitude, the Ten Commandments29 tells us not to “serve” the other “gods,” and we are not to covet our neighbors' goods through the agency of governments, including the authoritarian benefactors which Christ told us not to be like in Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42 and Luke 22:25.
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2Pe 2:3
In the Old Testament there is a mark of God related to the forehead.
“And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” Ezekiel 9:4
This is the Mark of the LORD. This mark was not a computer chip either. The Mark of the Beast is the antitheses of the Mark of God. The Mark of God is the Tav, [t]. The Tav is the final letter of the Hebrew Alef-beit. It corresponds to malchut, meaning kingdom. The Tav is said to be the seal of Faith.
Through faith the malchut or kingdom passes in inheritance from generation to generation. The precept of this faith is the secret of the power that makes the kingdom of God a reality at hand.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice; By faith, Enoch was translated; By faith, Abraham obeyed and he went out; By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Samson, David, Samuel, and the prophets “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”30
Christ said the kingdom of God is at hand and we were to seek it and His righteousness, as well as to preach it. We were to have faith and believe that the perfect law of liberty, with Christ in our hearts and minds, would work and be our salvation. When people were baptized under Moses, they were supposed to drink of the same spiritual rock which is Christ.31 But God was displeased with them. Many did not pass the test of faith, and they gave us examples of lust and idolatry, fornication and the rejection of God. Could God be displeased with us now? Do we understand the precepts of that faith that was in the prophets? Do we have that working faith or do we fall short?
We know that “Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21). There are no magic words or incantations of faith that open the living kingdom of God to men.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not ... done many wonderful works?” (Matthew 7:22). But the answer will be “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”(Matthew 7:23). Jesus even asks the question, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Where do we stand in relationship to this warning? What is the evidence and precepts of faith and what is its antithesis?
The Mark of the Beast is the evidence of a lack of faith in God and His ways. If the Mark of God is a life of faith, hope, and charity, under the perfect law of liberty, where we love our neighbor as ourselves, then the Mark of the Beast would be a life where people force their neighbor to provide for their benefit through benefactors, who exercise authority one over the other. Those who will not live by hope often desire entitlements guaranteed by the right arm of governments. They do not live by charity, but by enforced contributions taken from the sweat and blood of their neighbor. Are they coveting their neighbor's goods and rejecting the righteousness of God.32
The Christian lived in the world of Rome in a much different way than modern Christians live in modern governments today. The Pharisees had ordered that all who saw Jesus as the Christ were to be cast out of the system of Corban managed at the temple. Like Exodus, Pentecost was the liberation of the people from the social contracts that had bound them to the systems established by the Hasmonians, Herod.
This idea of centralizing the control of society and its charitable functions is as old as the city of Cain. Lemech did it. Nimrod and Pharaoh, Saul and Solomon all forced the contributions of the people. Samuel told Saul that because he had done this foolish33 thing and forced the contributions of the people his kingdom would not remain.
The Christian understood that the social programs offered by governments were voluntary in the beginning, but soon became oppressive. Having been cast out of one system, they did not desire to enter another. Christ had set them free. The religion of the Pharisees had conformed to Rome. It was not a pure religion taught by John and Jesus. They took care of the widows and orphans and needy of their society, but they did so with those compelled Corban, like the Romans.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The early Christians lived in the world but not of it. They still took their day of rest on the Sabbath, but we also see them meeting on the first work day of the week, For what purpose?
In Justin's First Apology we see an explanation of the government of the Christians with the words, “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place... And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and, in a word, takes care of all who are in need.”
Justin had written the Emperor Antonius Pius, “And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost.”34
The Romans and many other countries had systems of social welfare but to the Christians those were the Nicolaitan35 altars which God hated.
Re 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Romans persecuted many of the early Christians because they would not take oaths of allegiance, nor serve, by contributing to the “gods” of Rome. These gods required donations, or tribute, in the form of an excise tax. A small book, or “libellus, made of papyrus”36 was used as a passport throughout their world. It identified you as a contributing member and contained your signature --- and was believed to be the mark of the beast in its time. These temples administered systems of social security, education, justice, and national defense.37 They even operated as a world bank.38
Very few people understand the similarities between the system of the Roman beast and the image of the beast in the world today. Nor do they understand how those early systems came into conflict with the kingdom preached by Christ and the early Church.
In Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” he praised “the union and discipline of the Christian republic.” He pointed out that “it gradually formed an independent and increasing state in the heart of the Roman Empire.”39 How did it work before the apostasy of Constantine?40
Constantine did not require that the people repent. Those who received his baptism continued in the systems offered by Rome. They were instant Christians claiming a new religion but keeping the old ways under a new name. Most modern Christians sometimes follow the ways of Constantine more than Christ. They may cry Lord, Lord in their Church buildings but do they do the will of the Father?
To learn that the Christians would not participate in the social security and welfare systems of that authoritarian world of Rome because they demanded an allegiance rather than faith, force rather than charity. They offered entitlements rather than hope. This is an area of moral and spiritual conflict not addressed by the modern Church. It is in that conflict that we find the defining characteristics of the Mark.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49).
In 168 AD, Marcus Aurelius wanted no child to be left behind. He required, by law, that everyone must register the birth of their children with the Secretary of Treasury or Provincial Registrars within 30 days. The Christians would not. They would called no man on earth Father.
Such registration would be an application to the Father of the State, and would be turning from Christ’s command.41 The State would be “In Loco Parentis” which in the Latin, means “in the place of a parent,” which is a turning away from the Natural Family instituted by God.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Mt 23:9, 11
This is a reiteration of the precepts and the prime directive of the Church.42 Christ was a king. Shepherds knew it, angels knew it, Kings from the east knew it, the Sanhedrin knew it, Pontius Pilate knew it, and thousands on Pentecost knew it. It is modern Christians who seems to not know it, for they have learned a gospel devoid of the kingdom.
Christ said he would take the kingdom from the Pharisees.
Mt 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
He said that he would appoint it to other:
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
And then Christ appointed, with instructions, a new kind of prince.
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; Luke 22:29
Christ gave specific instructions to those he would appoint to minister to His kingdom. Before appointing this kingdom at hand to his new ambassadors he clarified some of those instructions.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Lu 22:25, 26
In modern Churches it is acceptable to pray (apply) to benefactors who exercise authority one over the other. It is acceptable to covet your neighbors' goods through the agency of men who exercise that authority.
There are always those who make the word of God to no effect. They make covenants,43 swear oaths,44 and will not let every man remain subject to the higher liberty.45 There were in the days of Cora, and Saul, Rehoboam and the Pharisees. They gave God lip service, said their prayers, sang their songs, and built their churches but they forgot justice and mercy.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Mt 7:22
The Mark of the Beast is evidence of who owns our service, our labor, and our estate as free souls under God. Have we become the package, the merchandise, the human resource of a foreign power? Is it faith or allegiance? It is the vain coveting of your neighbors' goods through the agency of government, which has made you merchandise under an alien dominion.
“Redemption is deliverance from the power of an alien dominion and the enjoyment of the resulting freedom. It involves the idea of restoration to one who possesses a more fundamental right or interest. The best example of redemption in the Old Testament was the deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage, from the dominion of the alien power in Egypt.”46
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven47 is the same as the Kingdom of God. The phrase kingdom of Heaven only appears in Matthew because he wrote originally in Aramaic. In Aramaic, the word malkuthach is translated into kingdom of heaven. It actually means a dominative realm on earth.
According to John Burnet, ouranos, is best translated “world”.48
“He owns the land from the heavens and to the center of the earth.”49
The word Ouranos actually means not so much what is beyond the sky but it is “the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things with in it.” Ouranos, comes from a root that means “to cover, encompass.” Jesus was a king. His kingdom was not a part of Rome but it was and is at hand upon earth.
Jesus told Pontious Pilate that his kingdom was “not of this world.” He did not use the Greek word meaning “planet.” He used the Greek word meaning “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.”50 There are five different Greek words in the New Testament which are occasionally translated into the word world.
The words “kingdom of God” are translated from the words basileia theos. Theos means ruling judge and is often translated God or gods. We know there were “gods many,” because Paul tells us---and because there were many judges throughout the Roman Empire and Judea. The word basileia is translated “kingdom,” but it really means the right to be ruled by. What Jesus was saying is “the right to be ruled by God is at hand.”
“Are men the property of the state? Or are they free souls under God?
This same battle continues throughout the world?”51
God led Abraham out of Ur and Haran. He lead the Israelites out of Egypt. And Jesus led the people out of the the power of Rome, and into the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees did not want to let go of their acquired power over the people and condemned themselves by saying “we have no king but Caesar.” The Christians found salvation by saying there is another king named Jesus, but they did not just say it, they lived it. They gathered their families together in congregational groups of ten, uniting tens, hundreds and thousands in a system of charity and hope.
What does the kingdom look like? What was the early Church doing, and what were the early Christians really seeking? Is the kingdom of God appointed by Christ the only way to liberty under the God?52
Have we exchanged ritual and form for the spiritual substance of justice and mercy? The kingdom of God is not of the dead, but of the living.53 It does not come by observation.54 It is at hand. We should be seeking it, rather than benefits from those who exercise authority.55
How should the Church be organized today?56 Should it be incorporated by the state?57 Should Christians be getting marriage licenses from the State?58 What about Birth Certificates?59 What was baptism all about?60
The Mark of the Beast is a badge of servitude which you can receive and carry with you or you may just remember its' number. Without it, you will not have much access to the commercial or political benefits of society. You may be excluded from the market place by policy and law.
The modern mark identifies you and is used to prove who is a member entitled. Those with a numerical identifier your faith, hope, and charity may be tested in hard times.
The mark of God is faith, hope, and charity under that perfect law of liberty. It is mercy and justice. It is forgiving and forgiveness. It is thanksgiving among free people. It is about loving God and loving your neighbor as your self. Those who do not cultivate the love of God will feed the beast in their own hearts and minds and in the world.
The “world” means the benefactors and governments that exercise authority one over the other. They are filled with the people who covet their neighbor's goods. The kingdom of God is filled with those who love God and their neighbor as themselves. They would rather go without than to be a part of a system that takes from their neighbor without his daily consent.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. …
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it:
but if it be not worthy, let your peace61 return to you. Mat. 10:7-13.
See also print ready formats:
Mark of the beast booklet
http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/markofthebeast.pdf
Mark of the Beast Standard print
http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/markofthebeastst.pdf
Footnotes:
1“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Bible CD: Chapter III.
2charagma {khar’-ag-mah} from the same as 5482; a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue); graven mark.
3Walter A. Elwell (Ed.). Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books. 1996. 22nd, July, 2003.
4This was the sole grounds of resistance to the census. Josephus. Ant. xviii. 1. 1, 6.
5 Mark 7:13 Christ was speaking of their system of social welfare, Corban.
6See Worship http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/worship.html
7Call no man Father http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/fatherabba.html
8The Enterprise of Law: Justice without the State. Bruce L. Benson Publisher: Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (San Francisco), 1991
9William Penn
10Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Barbara Thiering.
11Theos, commonly translated into the word gods or God, was a common term used to address judges in courts of Rome and Judea. This is why Paul says There Are gods Many http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/theosgod.HTM
12“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Chapter XI.
13Emperator, emperatoris m.commander in chief Collins L.E. Dict. '62.
14"Thus the republic was restored under the presidency of its 'first citizen' (princeps civitatis)." (Encyclopedia Brittanica Vol 2, p. 687, '53
15Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
16Worship http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/worship.html
17There Are gods Many http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/theosgod.HTM
18Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
19Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
20Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
21http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/article/Section666.html
22Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
The Charagma http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/chvca.htm
23The Unrighteous Mammon http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/SSSfail.asp
24 ... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. ... But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban,... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mr 7:9…
25helkos probably from 1670; n AV - sore (3) 1) a wound, especially a wound producing a discharge pus, a sore, an ulcer
26Deuteronomy 17:16 But he shall not ... cause the people to return to Egypt, ... forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
27Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
28Law vs. Legal http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/lvl.htm
29Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:...
30Hebrews Chapters 11 and 12.
311Co 10:2, 5 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
32The Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.asp
331Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
34The Eucharist http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/eucharist3.PDF
35The Nico-laity were the conquered people. They were the people who no longer had a choice in what was to be contributed to the needy. Nicolaitians http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/nicolaitans.PDF
36According to the expert testimony of Dr. Elliott, concerning the Mark of the Beast, the priests of the temples, like the Capital, “were functioning, not as we would think religious priests would, but rather as police...” David Stevens v. Stephen Berger, United States District Court, New York, 428 F.Supp. 896 (1977)
37Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
38Temples and Churches http://www.hisholychurch.net/temples.asp
39Rousseau and Revolution, Will et Ariel Durant p.801. fn 83 Heiseler, 85.
40The Wolves http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkczzg12.html
41Call no man on earth Father http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/fatherabba.html
42ARTICLE X Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/polity/articlex.html
43The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/writings.htm
44"Oaths http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/a4constitution6aoath.html
45ROMANS 13 http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/Romans13.html
46Zondervan’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible
47Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
48“…indeed we have no suitable word to express what the Greeks at first called an ouranos. It will be convenient to use the term 'world' for it; but then we must remember that it does not refer solely, or even chiefly, to the earth, though it includes that along with the heavenly bodies.” John Burnet,. Plato’s Dialogues, Early Greek Philosophy, Introduction.
49Cuius est solum, ejus est usque ad caelum et ad inferos
50My kingdom is not of this world http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/world.HTM
51Cecil B. DeMille in “The Ten Commandments.”
52Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
53Lu 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
54Lu 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
55Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: ...
56http://www.hisholychurch.net/church/index.html
57The Body of Christ Vs. The Body of the State
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/bvb.htm
58Holy Matrimony vs. Marriage http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/mvm.html
59Birth certification http://www.hisholychurch.net/pdfiles/births/
60Baptism, Washing up http://www.hisholychurch.net/net/baptism/index.html
61Peace from eirene meaning 1) a state of national tranquility
Rome was not an anarchy. The once free society which had risen to a state of prominence in the Mediterranean with a voluntary welfare system and a locally supported militias. It became an authoritarian benefactor which led to tyranny and despotism.
Wealth steadily seduced an industrious people into an apathetic welfare state With growing system of social benefits came tax burdens upon the rich, which shifted to the craftsmen and laborer. Centralization of power brought a burgeoning bureaucracy. Together they all brought debasement of social morals. The love of wealth, comfort and security replaced the love of simplicity, service and sacrifice.
Many societies became dependent upon elaborate systems of taxation. In Judea Gabbai [tax collector], collected ... ground-, income-, and poll-taxes while the Mokhes collected duty upon imports and exports; on all that was bought and sold.... They had invented taxes that reached into the life of almost everyone. There were taxes based on the number of axles, wheels, pack-animals, pedestrians, the use of roads, highways; on admission to markets; on carriers, bridges, ships, and quays; on crossing rivers, on dams, on licenses, in short, on such a variety of objects, that even the research of modern scholars has not been able to identify all the names.1
They not only had to collect these taxes, but they had to keep track of who had paid and who had not, as well as who was a taxpayer and who was exempt or excluded. Among the slaves, citizens, and residents there were more than one status. They had many ways to keep track of slave and freeman as well as who had paid and who was still owing on the myriad of taxes, fees, and tariffs, including interest, and penalties.
Both Greeks and Romans used small framed boards filled with wax or clay. A thin coating of dark wax was used for brief or short term notations. Scratching letters in the soft wax with a stylus so that the light-colored backing would showed through. The tablets were sometimes linked together with rings, which was called a codex.
Longer documents were written on a paper called papyrus and could be glued together into rolls 15 to 40 feet long called volumen. Contracts might be etched or engraved in wet clay with a quill with marks or seals of the parties pressed in as a signature. After drying they were stored in the temple. This ancient method of record keeping was widely accepted.
Loans of indebtedness and usury sometimes took advantage of this more permanent form. Record keeping solemnized by seals and marks in clay that were fired to make them “unbreakable”.
Slaves in the market place were given dried clay tablets to identify them and their occupation. If these tablets were baked with the seal of the owner they took on a permanency that protected the slave from unwarranted detention as he traveled through the public streets on errands for his master. That etched document was referred to as a charagma2 [caragma]. The word might refer to several other forms of identification that appeared during Rome's long history.
Some employed servants or slaves were very wealthy because of their skills or position. They might be physicians or engineers or lawyers. Their charagma would identify a status, occupation or use, and might be made of clay, stone, lead, iron, copper, silver, or even gold. It originally was of private issue but became a form of official identification.
A “Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the first and second centuries.”3
The word mark in Revelations is from charagma. It is a stamp or a badge or an imprinted mark. It is from the word charax from charasso (to sharpen to a point). A charax is a pole or stake, a palisade. The only connection between a charax and a charagma is that the early charagmas were made in clay with a charax, a sharp stick.
Knowing your status quo during the census required usually required a token to mark those who had been counted subjects of the Empire. The census called for by Augustus “was regarded as the badge of servitude, and incompatible with the Theocratic character of Israel.”4
What is the essential characteristic of a charagma? Is it important to note that it is etched with a sharp object or on the forehead or in the hand? Or is it because a charagma is a badge of servitude? Does it mark who is bound and loosed, who is free and who must serve?
“Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them...” Ex 23:24
Is the essential characteristic of a mark its location, shape, form or is it what the mark stands for? A charagma had a specific purpose. It was a mark that expressed ownership, the right of possession, the right to---or the employer of---the use of an item, creature or human as a resource.
Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts. (Pr 22:26)
The word mark in Revelation is specifically a “badge of servitude”. Charagma appears 9 times in the Bible and is translated graven in Acts 17:29. This is the only place outside of Revelations that charagma appears, and it is also the only place it is not translated mark.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven [a charagma] by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:28, 30
The word offspring is from genos which is translated, kind, kindred, or nation expressing that God is the original authority in our lives.
The word ought is from the Greek opheilo rather than the more common dei or tis. It is also translated owe, be bound, be (one’s) duty, be a debtor, be guilty, be indebted. Opheilo is defined “to owe, to owe money, be in debt for, that which is due, the debt.” It also appears in John 13:14 expressing this concept of indebtedness: “If I ... have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
The words “graven [charagma] by art and man’s device”, are talking about systems of authority created by men, which include social programs or schemes, making the word of God to none effect.5
The word device here is from enthumesis, which means a thinking, consideration; thoughts. There are no more powerful false gods than those created in our minds and bound by pride. Men begin to worship,6 and give allegiance to their created institution more so than God.
We are commanded not to let the creations of our own thinking become our godhead, our patronus, or our father because we owe that title to our Father in Heaven. No man on earth should stand as our substitute father, with the authority to mark us with his charagma.7
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. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, Revelation 14:8-9
IF ANY MAN is translated from two words; e,i meaning if or whether, and tis, meaning a certain. Together they mean “whoever, whatever” and is followed by conditions which need to be examined.
WORSHIP is from proskuneo meaning an expression of profound reverence… used of homage shown to men of superior rank: such as a profound reverence for an office or a flag or the acceptance of an exercising authority.
Worshiping God has nothing to do with singing in Church. Worshiping has to do with accepting a superior authority. In the Hebrew worship is often translated from “hxv shachah” meaning “to bow down”. If God is the ultimate authority, then to bow down or worship Him is to bow to His authority. Singing may be a gesture along these lines but is concerned with a more substantive behavior. Are we taking His name in vain if we are bowing to other authorities to obtain their benefit. Are we to rule over our fellow man or be ruled by them?
The BEAST is from the word therion from the diminutive thera which means “trap” or “hunting to destroy.” Therion is translated beast, wild beast, venomous beast. In the Bible the beasts always represented governments, such as Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.
There are two fundamental classifications of governments. The first type is based upon faith, hope, love and charity and obeying their natural Father or Creator in heaven. It is a voluntary union of people based on an equal love of neighbor and self, with forgiveness and thanksgiving. This government is created by families coming together in a fellowship, which shares a common acceptance of the Character of God’s Name or Nature, (e.g. justice and mercy) written on their hearts and minds.
The second type is the one that hunts or devours men. It operates on the basis of enforced control, imposed restrictions, exercising authority, and ultimately, bondage and oppression. It seduces the masses by promising security at the expense of their neighbor. It solicits their applications, which, upon acceptance, becomes binding social contracts, covenants, and leagues of allegiance.
“The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and Benefits.” Plutarch, 2000 years ago.
In such systems, men endlessly write and codify laws and become the ruling elite. Born or elected they share a desire to control and rule over their neighbors. They are corrupted by power and a willingness to covet.
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 1 Samuel 8:12
The righteous system is spiritually based, and dependent on faith, patience, charity and thanksgiving. It is populated by those who are willing to give---and forgive---under the perfect law of liberty. They maintain free choice by granting the same to others and accepting responsibility for themselves and showing mercy and justice to all.
In a government of liberty people must seek to rule themselves, not their neighbor. They hope to master only charity and mercy, forgiveness and service. They serve God by serving one another.
Both systems depend on faith or allegiance and are composed of dedicated believers. One is based on the authority of men over men, and has a man sitting as a central father (or patronus) or ruling authority. The other has God the Father of all men living in their hearts and minds.
Both types of governments are in essence a family. In one, the family is truly free, in the other men are Parens Patriae, "father of the people".
God the Father’s family is based on the natural family instituted by God with the solemn joining of Husband and Wife. These families freely associate as a nation through a voluntary network. The natural Family holds the dominion of God bound only in love of their neighbor.
Can a government be based on love and charity? Can people unite on a national scale and still remain a free people? Voluntary governments have been the rule in man’s history, “our modern reliance on government to make law and establish order is not the historical norm.”8
“That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who [were] the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:” Numbers 7:2
Note here the word OVER. It is from amad [dme], which is translated stood or stand or endure hundreds of times and is translated over only one time in the Bible. These fathers were not to rule over each other but came together as equals. In their homes they were to rule as Christ ruled the Church with love and patient service, self sacrifice, and obedience to the Father, enduring the burdens of their Natural Office.
In authoritarian governments, men substitute faith in God for allegiance to men who would be gods over them, the word god simply meaning ruling judges, and was used to address magistrates in court.
“If we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.”9
Israel was the kingdom of God, not the religion of Heaven on earth. Herod the Great had been baptizing his citizenry into his version of the kingdom of Heaven. This Hellenization of Judea was rejected by John the Baptist who had another vision for that kingdom of God.
"Herod's scheme of initiation into a new form of Judaism was immensely successful. Jews everywhere were willing to join the worldwide society ... Entry was for members only; they had to show at the door an admission token in the form of a white stone from the river Jordan which the missionaries gave them at baptism." "The missionaries... with their leather wallets full of white stones, would come back with the same wallets full of money, in foreign currency. Once put into Jewish currency by the money-changers, it would be stored in vaults, ready to be used by Herod for his vast building projects, or any subsequent causes."10
Eventually many of the citizens of Judea accepted John's cousin, Yeshua, a.k.a Jesus, as king. Proclaimed by the people as Hosanna son of David, the anointed, and officially recognized King of the citizens of Judea by the Roman god,11 Pontious Pilate.
Eventually thousands of Judeans followed the Way of John and Jesus and were apart of His kingdom at hand; they were excluded from the the social schemes of Herod which we know as the Corban of the Pharisees.
THE IMAGE of the Beast in Revelation 14:9 is translated from the Greek word eikon which means an image or likeness.
Who was the first beast? Was it Babylon or Rome, or does it matter? Are they not all the same, as was Egypt, Ur and even Haran? Who or what is the beast like? What is that image, or similitude, of the beast?
At the time of Jesus, Rome, as a faltering republic, was well into a process of decay. “Each class contributed its share to the common decay… The free citizens were idle, dissipated, sunken; their chief thoughts of the theater and the arena… more than two hundred thousand persons were thus maintained by the State, what of the old Roman stock remained was rapidly decaying, partly from corruption, but chiefly from the increasing cessation of marriage, and the nameless abominations of what remained of family-life.... The sanctity of marriage had ceased. Female dissipation and the general dissoluteness led at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. Abortion, and the exposure and murder of newly-born children, were common and tolerated; unnatural vices, which even the greatest philosophers practiced, if not advocated, attained proportions which defy description.”12
Family values were a chief topic of political rhetoric before every election and during the writing of the new constitution by Augustus. The rise of that Empire out of the ashes of a free republic was unrelenting.
After their civil war, the first of the three offices sought by Augustus was Emperator,13 commander in chief of the army and naval forces. The second office was Principas Civitas, the First Citizen, the chief executive officer or President of Rome,14 a municipality. The third office was ApoTheos, literally translated the appointor of gods.
The duties of this office were to appoint all the judges or magistrates for the empirical courts. Each office required an oath based on constitutional restrictions. Successors were determined by an electoral college of the Senate, known as the “Conscripted Fathers.”15
The word ‘and’ in “Worship AND Receive” can make a great difference in the interpretation of this text. If you merely received the mark without worshiping the beast, then you do not qualify. If you receive the mark, through ignorance or deception or a combination of both, but have not made a conscious decision to pay homage, or allegiance to the beast, then you have not really worshipped16 it.
The word RECEIVE [his] mark comes from the Greek word lambano, and means “to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it; to take up a thing to be carried; take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one’s self … to receive what is offered; not to refuse or reject… give him access to one’s self.”
In the word lambano there is nothing about a tattoo or the injection of a chip into the hand. Taking the mark is about receiving what is offered, it is simply a matter of not refusing or rejecting an offer. It is about an acceptance or to receive what is offered.
We do see the word HAND at the end of the text which is translated from the word khire. Its definition is expressed as “1) by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.” It is clear by this definition that the word is not limited to the concept of the physical appendage.
The preposition IN could lead us believe the mark must go inside the hand. The word ‘in’ in this verse is translated from the word epi. It is a generic preposition that is translated many different ways. For example, it is translated on, in, upon, come to, by, at, before, over, etc.
There can be no assumption that the mark actually enters the flesh of the hand. One may obtain the use of mark or badge of servitude without ever even touching it with the physical hand. Khire expresses that you may receive the use of the mark through the help or agency of any one.
FOREHEAD is translated from metopon and is defined the space between the eyes, the forehead. Some people have suggested that the mark is a lithium powered microchip injected along the hairline near the ear. Again, there is no reason to make that assumption.
The word metopon is often associated with memory or thought. If you only need to remember the name or the number associated with the mark, it could be assumed that the physical possession of a mark is not even necessary, and that the reference to the forehead or the space between the eyes is cognizant of the mind, thought or memory.
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: Revelation 14:10
What is the WRATH OF GOD? The Hebrew word for wrath [Pa Aleph Phie] is translated face, nostrils, nose, before, countenance, forbearing, forehead, even worthy The same Hebrew letters are also translated also, even, yet, moreover, yea, with, low, therefore, and much.
In the Greek WRATH is from thumos and may include the idea of passion or ardour, and is from the word translated “gods” or “God.”17
The word DRINK is from pino which does mean to drink but figuratively, to receive. To drink of the wine of the wrath of God seems to be a metaphor meaning that they will receive something poured out at full strength and not very diluted.
The words AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED can give us the idea of torture or punishment. Tormented here is from basanizo which actually means “to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal” It might imply torture but the word was also used by sailors or fishermen whose ship was struggling with a head wind. The word has the sense of a test.
The word PRESENCE is from enopion which is more commonly translated before or in the sight of. To emphasize the nature of these events as a test rather than a cruel punishment with torment and tortures I must ask, “Why would the holy angels and the Lamb want to watch people being tortured and suffering”?
Does the good shepherd take delight in punishing his sheep?
Is this a test of our love, faith, hope, and humility?
What is written in your heart and mind?
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelation 14:11
Many will tell you that smoke of their TORMENT ascendeth up means if you take the mark, you will be cast into hell. This is a conclusion based again on the word torment, which we have seen has to do with a test and the words fire and brimstone are not, nor have they ever been, synonymous with hell.
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE appears during the time of the liberation and redemption of the Israelites from Egypt. I suspect that since most of the world is now back in a bondage worse than that of Egypt,18 it would seem reasonable that we will see some “fire and brimstone” before the people are all free souls under God on earth again.
The words SMOKE ASCENDING has also been interpreted as coming from hell. Throughout the Bible the idea of smoke going up has to do with the accepting of a sacrifice as worthy and in the times of the great test men will be called on to sacrifice many things, including their very lives in order to pass the test hence the smoke goes up.
REST is not from the word anesis, meaning a loosening (which is translated rest 3 times and liberty and be eased once each). Nor is it from koimesis, meaning a reposing, taking rest. It is from anapausis, which actually means intermission, cessation of any motion, business or labor. As more is revealed about the nature of the “test,” our understanding of this passage may increase. One may see in this sentence two different points of view. One is that the smoke from the test goes up forever, and the others who do not repent, change their ways, get no cessation or intermission from their labors, their bondage. It may help to examine more of the context to this one line:
Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
The word PATIENCE is from hupomone, which means steadfastness, constancy, endurance. This may be disappointing to those who are expecting to be raptured away during this test, since it is clear you are going to need steadfastness, constancy, and endurance to pass.
There is also some requirements to keep the commandments. Salvation is by grace, but God does not owe us salvation simply because we say we believe. Many people proclaim that they believe just as the Pharisees claimed to believe. The test will be a witness to the truth.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Revelation 13:11
The beast comes OUT OF THE EARTH, rather than the sea. If these beasts are governments, it could be presumed that the difference between rising from the land, verses rising from the sea, could have to do with the “Law of the Land” rather than the “Law of the Sea.”
Most people are not schooled in these classic forms of jurisprudence. For simplicity here we will just say that the Law of the Land is based in the Mosaic Law, Common Law and the Law of Nature and Nature’s God, while the Law of the Sea could include Admiralty, Commercial Law and Equity, a.k.a. the law men establish for themselves. One form of law encourages the virtues that set men free and the other lends itself to delivering men into debt and bondage.19
Lamb’s horns could denote that the original authority was small.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Revelation 13:12
Numerous people interpret the beast as the Roman Church who was wounded at a particular point in time and recovered. Amazingly, they also interpret the Roman Church as the Harlot. It seems that it cannot be both. The Beast, at the time of the writing of St. John's Revelations, was clearly the empire of Rome. The image of the beast is not a matter of location, but the nature, characteristics and precepts of the beast.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Revelation 13:13
One distinction between the beast and the image of the beast is that the latter can make fire come down from heaven in the sight of the men. The emperor, or “commander-in-chief” of Rome, had an army and navy while a modern commander-in-chief often has an air force which gives them the power to MAKE FIRE COME FROM THE SKIES.20
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Revelation 13:14
Just about everyone on earth is DECEIVED. What helps bring about this deception are miracles. Are those miracles yet to come or have they already deceived us? We have television, computers, modern medicine the power of flight even into space. Some say that these are miracles.
Semeion is defined a sign, mark, token. It is translated sign 50 times and MIRACLE only 23. In this age of modern miracles, could we have been deceived? Where is the image of the beast? Do we give it power?
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Revelation 13:15
The words POWER TO GIVE is from didomi and simply means to give. The word LIFE is from pneuma which is the word translated into spirit. It is the beast out of the land with little horns of authority that really gives life and force to the image of the beast. Those who will not pay homage to the image of the beast are to be killed.
There are many words for KILLED in the Greek: Thuo can be translated killed but is usually used in the context of sacrifice. Phoneuo is translated “killed, murder,” and is from the word phonos, to murder. Thanatoo is also translated killed and does mean put to death. Anaire also is translated killed, slay or put to death. Each word can have a different meaning or use. But they are not the word used here.
The word in 13:15 is apokteino which means to kill in any way whatever, to destroy, to allow to perish. The words should be are from hina which means in order that. Because the word apo means of separation the Greek apokteino means more that they would be allowed to die or perish because of separation or exclusion during the test in order that they might perish.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: Rev. 13:16
AND HE CAUSETH what? He causeth to receive. Causeth is from poieo meaning to make as in to be the author of, make ready or to prepare. It is most often translated do. RECEIVE is from didomi which means simply to give, to give something to someone, of one’s own accord to give one something, to his advantage, to bestow a gift, to grant, give to one asking, let have, to supply, furnish, necessary things… something to be administered. Although the English words causeth to receive may give the idea of force, the Greek text does not support such interpretation. In this verse the original text gives the idea of an offer, gift or grant as a result of asking or applying, not compelling.
Does RIGHT HAND mean that it is okay to receive the mark in our left hand? Right hand is from dexios which is an adjective that is translated right hand 39 times, right 12 times, right side twice. It can mean “the right” or “the right hand side” but it also is commonly used as “a place of honour or authority”. Note that this word is from dechomai, which also means receive, take or accept.
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:17
The words And that NO MAN are not translated from oudeis, which is translated 94 times “no man” and “none” 27 times, or “any” or “any man” 6 times. Nor is it from medeis which is translated no man 32 times and means nobody or no one. Nor did the author use ou anthropos meaning no man or no human.
The words THAT NO is translated from “hina me” which is translated “that not” 45 times, or “lest” 43 times and “that … no” only 6 times or even “albeit not” and “so that not” once each.
MAN is translated from “tis” which is an enclitic [leaning] indefinite pronoun translated certain 104 times, some 73, any man 55, any 37, one 34, man 34, anything 24, a 9, certain man 7 times, something 6, somewhat 6, ought 5, some man 4 times.
It is defined “a certain, a certain one ; some, some time, a while”.
It should be becoming clear that many misconceptions, unsupported by the earlier text, are being propagated in the world today. There are many specific statements and words used by the author of the Bible that have been blurred, twisted and distorted by modern versions of the text.
Many are being misled by words like cause and no man. Will no one be allowed to BUY OR SELL if they do not take the mark? The word man is not even in the original text. We may now see that the words of the author, who used an indefinite pronoun to express, at best, that only certain or some would be excluded---and because of this exclusion or separation, they might die because they do not take the mark.
The phrase HAD THE MARK is from“echo.” It means “to have, i.e. to hold. to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind… 2) to have i.e. own, possess 2a) external things .... 2b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc. …” Those who think they have nothing to worry about as long as they do not take the chip implant appear to be deceived.
To have the mark has nothing to do with the injection of a chip but does clearly includes the idea membership, joined by bonds of family, or duty or law. If you have to prove you are a member of the family of the beast with a special identification card or number, or else you will be excluded from the some of the benefits of its commercialized market place, then that would meet the language of the authors of Revelations.
If government policy requires a numerical identifier to get a job, a bank account, credit, business license, marriage license, and even a drivers license (or the individual is excluded from that market place), then such exclusion by the political benefactors and commercial world might make survival difficult or even impossible in a time of deficiencies, deficits and deprivation. Such exclusions are already law according to Section 666, of the United States Codes, Title 42.21
The word MIGHT is from dunamai meaning, “to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom” The word custom includes the synonym “practice” and therefore policy. It is again clear in the Greek text that the author, in the original language, is denoting the idea of favorable circumstance or permission of the legal system---or even just a matter of policy.
All these exclusions presently apply to people without a Social Security Number. They have been excluded for years and those exclusions are growing. Obtaining a Social Security Number is also a key point of consent, since it is absolutely voluntary. The number is linked to similar systems in over a hundred and seventy different countries. Are the social security numbers of the world systems the modern mark of the beast? Shouldn't we look at the biblical and spiritual implications of these systems or schemes?
The word NAME in the text is from onoma which does mean name but is also “... used for everything which the name covers.” It is used to express “one’s rank, authority, interests… the cause or reason named: on this account,…” The word “name” denotes the authority by which the number is used not a particular name but rather an authorization.
The word BUY is from agorazo which means “to be in the market-place, to attend it, hence to do business there, buy or sell”. The marketplace, since we are dealing with the world merchants, traffickers, or Canaanites allow men into their system, first by adoption, the birth certificate, the acceptance of benefits, and finally the application to labor or to serve as a registered member, making your offering.22
The modern social insurance systems with compelled contributions are identical to the system of Corban, or unrighteous mammon,23 instituted by the Pharisees before Christ's arrival. The sacred temple of Rome, called the Capitol, had a similar systems called Qurban. The Pagan and Moslem Qurban or Korban systems were similar.
These words all have to do with the sacrifices of the people, but have not always been collected in the same way. In these systems, the widows and orphans, elderly and needy of society were taken care of by either freewill or compelled offerings. The compelled offering was contrary to the the precept of freewill offerings and were forbidden by Christ, who claimed these traditions, also translated as “ordinances,” made the word of God “of none effect.”24 The religion of the Pharisees was not pure.
As things got worse in Rome there was a rationing of benefits and also essential goods. Those without the “mark” were excluded.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore25 upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image. Revelation 16:1 2
Many believe this NOISOME AND GRIEVOUS SORE has to do with a lithium battery operated-computer chip that will leak, causing a terrible sore will result. If this hypothesis is incorrect millions of people are being lulled into a false sense of security. The idea that the mark is a chip is really without any true support except in the imaginations of the producers of Christian fables. Let us look with clear eyes.
There are at least nine different words that are used to produce the English word SORE in the King James New Testament text. Eight of them [sphodra, aganakteo, lian, en, polus, ekthambeo, megas, hikanos] have nothing to do with a sore as a sore or wound, or even being sick or ill.
The word NOISOME, describing this sore, is from kakos, meaning “of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be or of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting, base, wrong, wicked or even troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful.”
According to Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) the word Noisome does mean Noxious to health; hurtful; mischievous; unwholesome; insalubrious; destructive. The problem is that kakos is only translated noisome once and is translated evil forty times. Kakos is not normally be found modifying the word sore or wound.
The second word to modify sore is GRIEVOUS, which is from poneros from a derivative of ponos, meaning great trouble, intense desire. It is also translated evil some fifty-one times and wicked or wicked one some sixteen times. To translate both poneros and kakos into the word evil does not do the Greek text justice. Poneros is defined, “full of labours, annoyances, hardships 1a) pressed and harassed by labours 1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils;…”
Poneros is commonly used to describe something such as pressed labor or bringing toil and again has an evil or wicked nature. Again, with the words poneros and kakos, we have something that is full of pressed labors and not what it ought to be, with a bad or wicked nature, possibly as a result of wrong thinking. These words have a great deal to do with forced labor for an evil cause or condition. In the bondage of Egypt the people were forced to labor and God delivered them from that state and told them never to return.26
The word helkoo means to make SORE or cause to ulcerate and that word is from helkos which can mean a wound or even a sore or ulcer. It is helkos that appears in the text. Helkoo is from helkos not the other way around. The word helkos with a Strong’s number 1668, is from helkuo or helko which means to draw, drag off. It is akin to the word haireomai which means to take for oneself, to prefer, choose or to choose by vote, elect to office. Helko appears in Acts 21:30 “they dragged him from the temple” and James 2:6 “Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?” Also the Greek holkos, connected with helko meaning I draw.
In “Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament,” Moulton and Milligan say the Greek term helko or helkuo has almost the sense of dragging by force. It is used of hauling bricks, of towing, of dragging along, and even in connection with impressing people as laborers.
This meaning would fit well with poneros and kakos, NOISOME AND GRIEVOUS, which can both easily be used with the idea of impressing people as laborers as they were in the bondage of Egypt, which at first was a government where the gold and silver were in a central treasury, the people paid 20% income tax,27 and they only had a legal title to their land.28
The fact is a Charagma means a badge of servitude, the Ten Commandments29 tells us not to “serve” the other “gods,” and we are not to covet our neighbors' goods through the agency of governments, including the authoritarian benefactors which Christ told us not to be like in Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42 and Luke 22:25.
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2Pe 2:3
In the Old Testament there is a mark of God related to the forehead.
“And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” Ezekiel 9:4
This is the Mark of the LORD. This mark was not a computer chip either. The Mark of the Beast is the antitheses of the Mark of God. The Mark of God is the Tav, [t]. The Tav is the final letter of the Hebrew Alef-beit. It corresponds to malchut, meaning kingdom. The Tav is said to be the seal of Faith.
Through faith the malchut or kingdom passes in inheritance from generation to generation. The precept of this faith is the secret of the power that makes the kingdom of God a reality at hand.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice; By faith, Enoch was translated; By faith, Abraham obeyed and he went out; By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Samson, David, Samuel, and the prophets “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”30
Christ said the kingdom of God is at hand and we were to seek it and His righteousness, as well as to preach it. We were to have faith and believe that the perfect law of liberty, with Christ in our hearts and minds, would work and be our salvation. When people were baptized under Moses, they were supposed to drink of the same spiritual rock which is Christ.31 But God was displeased with them. Many did not pass the test of faith, and they gave us examples of lust and idolatry, fornication and the rejection of God. Could God be displeased with us now? Do we understand the precepts of that faith that was in the prophets? Do we have that working faith or do we fall short?
We know that “Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21). There are no magic words or incantations of faith that open the living kingdom of God to men.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not ... done many wonderful works?” (Matthew 7:22). But the answer will be “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”(Matthew 7:23). Jesus even asks the question, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Where do we stand in relationship to this warning? What is the evidence and precepts of faith and what is its antithesis?
The Mark of the Beast is the evidence of a lack of faith in God and His ways. If the Mark of God is a life of faith, hope, and charity, under the perfect law of liberty, where we love our neighbor as ourselves, then the Mark of the Beast would be a life where people force their neighbor to provide for their benefit through benefactors, who exercise authority one over the other. Those who will not live by hope often desire entitlements guaranteed by the right arm of governments. They do not live by charity, but by enforced contributions taken from the sweat and blood of their neighbor. Are they coveting their neighbor's goods and rejecting the righteousness of God.32
The Christian lived in the world of Rome in a much different way than modern Christians live in modern governments today. The Pharisees had ordered that all who saw Jesus as the Christ were to be cast out of the system of Corban managed at the temple. Like Exodus, Pentecost was the liberation of the people from the social contracts that had bound them to the systems established by the Hasmonians, Herod.
This idea of centralizing the control of society and its charitable functions is as old as the city of Cain. Lemech did it. Nimrod and Pharaoh, Saul and Solomon all forced the contributions of the people. Samuel told Saul that because he had done this foolish33 thing and forced the contributions of the people his kingdom would not remain.
The Christian understood that the social programs offered by governments were voluntary in the beginning, but soon became oppressive. Having been cast out of one system, they did not desire to enter another. Christ had set them free. The religion of the Pharisees had conformed to Rome. It was not a pure religion taught by John and Jesus. They took care of the widows and orphans and needy of their society, but they did so with those compelled Corban, like the Romans.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The early Christians lived in the world but not of it. They still took their day of rest on the Sabbath, but we also see them meeting on the first work day of the week, For what purpose?
In Justin's First Apology we see an explanation of the government of the Christians with the words, “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place... And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and, in a word, takes care of all who are in need.”
Justin had written the Emperor Antonius Pius, “And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost.”34
The Romans and many other countries had systems of social welfare but to the Christians those were the Nicolaitan35 altars which God hated.
Re 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Romans persecuted many of the early Christians because they would not take oaths of allegiance, nor serve, by contributing to the “gods” of Rome. These gods required donations, or tribute, in the form of an excise tax. A small book, or “libellus, made of papyrus”36 was used as a passport throughout their world. It identified you as a contributing member and contained your signature --- and was believed to be the mark of the beast in its time. These temples administered systems of social security, education, justice, and national defense.37 They even operated as a world bank.38
Very few people understand the similarities between the system of the Roman beast and the image of the beast in the world today. Nor do they understand how those early systems came into conflict with the kingdom preached by Christ and the early Church.
In Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” he praised “the union and discipline of the Christian republic.” He pointed out that “it gradually formed an independent and increasing state in the heart of the Roman Empire.”39 How did it work before the apostasy of Constantine?40
Constantine did not require that the people repent. Those who received his baptism continued in the systems offered by Rome. They were instant Christians claiming a new religion but keeping the old ways under a new name. Most modern Christians sometimes follow the ways of Constantine more than Christ. They may cry Lord, Lord in their Church buildings but do they do the will of the Father?
To learn that the Christians would not participate in the social security and welfare systems of that authoritarian world of Rome because they demanded an allegiance rather than faith, force rather than charity. They offered entitlements rather than hope. This is an area of moral and spiritual conflict not addressed by the modern Church. It is in that conflict that we find the defining characteristics of the Mark.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49).
In 168 AD, Marcus Aurelius wanted no child to be left behind. He required, by law, that everyone must register the birth of their children with the Secretary of Treasury or Provincial Registrars within 30 days. The Christians would not. They would called no man on earth Father.
Such registration would be an application to the Father of the State, and would be turning from Christ’s command.41 The State would be “In Loco Parentis” which in the Latin, means “in the place of a parent,” which is a turning away from the Natural Family instituted by God.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Mt 23:9, 11
This is a reiteration of the precepts and the prime directive of the Church.42 Christ was a king. Shepherds knew it, angels knew it, Kings from the east knew it, the Sanhedrin knew it, Pontius Pilate knew it, and thousands on Pentecost knew it. It is modern Christians who seems to not know it, for they have learned a gospel devoid of the kingdom.
Christ said he would take the kingdom from the Pharisees.
Mt 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
He said that he would appoint it to other:
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
And then Christ appointed, with instructions, a new kind of prince.
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; Luke 22:29
Christ gave specific instructions to those he would appoint to minister to His kingdom. Before appointing this kingdom at hand to his new ambassadors he clarified some of those instructions.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Lu 22:25, 26
In modern Churches it is acceptable to pray (apply) to benefactors who exercise authority one over the other. It is acceptable to covet your neighbors' goods through the agency of men who exercise that authority.
There are always those who make the word of God to no effect. They make covenants,43 swear oaths,44 and will not let every man remain subject to the higher liberty.45 There were in the days of Cora, and Saul, Rehoboam and the Pharisees. They gave God lip service, said their prayers, sang their songs, and built their churches but they forgot justice and mercy.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Mt 7:22
The Mark of the Beast is evidence of who owns our service, our labor, and our estate as free souls under God. Have we become the package, the merchandise, the human resource of a foreign power? Is it faith or allegiance? It is the vain coveting of your neighbors' goods through the agency of government, which has made you merchandise under an alien dominion.
“Redemption is deliverance from the power of an alien dominion and the enjoyment of the resulting freedom. It involves the idea of restoration to one who possesses a more fundamental right or interest. The best example of redemption in the Old Testament was the deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage, from the dominion of the alien power in Egypt.”46
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven47 is the same as the Kingdom of God. The phrase kingdom of Heaven only appears in Matthew because he wrote originally in Aramaic. In Aramaic, the word malkuthach is translated into kingdom of heaven. It actually means a dominative realm on earth.
According to John Burnet, ouranos, is best translated “world”.48
“He owns the land from the heavens and to the center of the earth.”49
The word Ouranos actually means not so much what is beyond the sky but it is “the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things with in it.” Ouranos, comes from a root that means “to cover, encompass.” Jesus was a king. His kingdom was not a part of Rome but it was and is at hand upon earth.
Jesus told Pontious Pilate that his kingdom was “not of this world.” He did not use the Greek word meaning “planet.” He used the Greek word meaning “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.”50 There are five different Greek words in the New Testament which are occasionally translated into the word world.
The words “kingdom of God” are translated from the words basileia theos. Theos means ruling judge and is often translated God or gods. We know there were “gods many,” because Paul tells us---and because there were many judges throughout the Roman Empire and Judea. The word basileia is translated “kingdom,” but it really means the right to be ruled by. What Jesus was saying is “the right to be ruled by God is at hand.”
“Are men the property of the state? Or are they free souls under God?
This same battle continues throughout the world?”51
God led Abraham out of Ur and Haran. He lead the Israelites out of Egypt. And Jesus led the people out of the the power of Rome, and into the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees did not want to let go of their acquired power over the people and condemned themselves by saying “we have no king but Caesar.” The Christians found salvation by saying there is another king named Jesus, but they did not just say it, they lived it. They gathered their families together in congregational groups of ten, uniting tens, hundreds and thousands in a system of charity and hope.
What does the kingdom look like? What was the early Church doing, and what were the early Christians really seeking? Is the kingdom of God appointed by Christ the only way to liberty under the God?52
Have we exchanged ritual and form for the spiritual substance of justice and mercy? The kingdom of God is not of the dead, but of the living.53 It does not come by observation.54 It is at hand. We should be seeking it, rather than benefits from those who exercise authority.55
How should the Church be organized today?56 Should it be incorporated by the state?57 Should Christians be getting marriage licenses from the State?58 What about Birth Certificates?59 What was baptism all about?60
The Mark of the Beast is a badge of servitude which you can receive and carry with you or you may just remember its' number. Without it, you will not have much access to the commercial or political benefits of society. You may be excluded from the market place by policy and law.
The modern mark identifies you and is used to prove who is a member entitled. Those with a numerical identifier your faith, hope, and charity may be tested in hard times.
The mark of God is faith, hope, and charity under that perfect law of liberty. It is mercy and justice. It is forgiving and forgiveness. It is thanksgiving among free people. It is about loving God and loving your neighbor as your self. Those who do not cultivate the love of God will feed the beast in their own hearts and minds and in the world.
The “world” means the benefactors and governments that exercise authority one over the other. They are filled with the people who covet their neighbor's goods. The kingdom of God is filled with those who love God and their neighbor as themselves. They would rather go without than to be a part of a system that takes from their neighbor without his daily consent.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. …
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it:
but if it be not worthy, let your peace61 return to you. Mat. 10:7-13.
See also print ready formats:
Mark of the beast booklet
http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/markofthebeast.pdf
Mark of the Beast Standard print
http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/markofthebeastst.pdf
Footnotes:
1“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Bible CD: Chapter III.
2charagma {khar’-ag-mah} from the same as 5482; a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue); graven mark.
3Walter A. Elwell (Ed.). Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books. 1996. 22nd, July, 2003.
4This was the sole grounds of resistance to the census. Josephus. Ant. xviii. 1. 1, 6.
5 Mark 7:13 Christ was speaking of their system of social welfare, Corban.
6See Worship http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/worship.html
7Call no man Father http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/fatherabba.html
8The Enterprise of Law: Justice without the State. Bruce L. Benson Publisher: Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (San Francisco), 1991
9William Penn
10Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Barbara Thiering.
11Theos, commonly translated into the word gods or God, was a common term used to address judges in courts of Rome and Judea. This is why Paul says There Are gods Many http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/theosgod.HTM
12“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Chapter XI.
13Emperator, emperatoris m.commander in chief Collins L.E. Dict. '62.
14"Thus the republic was restored under the presidency of its 'first citizen' (princeps civitatis)." (Encyclopedia Brittanica Vol 2, p. 687, '53
15Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
16Worship http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/worship.html
17There Are gods Many http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/theosgod.HTM
18Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
19Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
20Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
21http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/article/Section666.html
22Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
The Charagma http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/chvca.htm
23The Unrighteous Mammon http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/SSSfail.asp
24 ... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. ... But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban,... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mr 7:9…
25helkos probably from 1670; n AV - sore (3) 1) a wound, especially a wound producing a discharge pus, a sore, an ulcer
26Deuteronomy 17:16 But he shall not ... cause the people to return to Egypt, ... forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
27Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm
28Law vs. Legal http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/lvl.htm
29Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:...
30Hebrews Chapters 11 and 12.
311Co 10:2, 5 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
32The Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.asp
331Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
34The Eucharist http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/eucharist3.PDF
35The Nico-laity were the conquered people. They were the people who no longer had a choice in what was to be contributed to the needy. Nicolaitians http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/nicolaitans.PDF
36According to the expert testimony of Dr. Elliott, concerning the Mark of the Beast, the priests of the temples, like the Capital, “were functioning, not as we would think religious priests would, but rather as police...” David Stevens v. Stephen Berger, United States District Court, New York, 428 F.Supp. 896 (1977)
37Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
38Temples and Churches http://www.hisholychurch.net/temples.asp
39Rousseau and Revolution, Will et Ariel Durant p.801. fn 83 Heiseler, 85.
40The Wolves http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkczzg12.html
41Call no man on earth Father http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/fatherabba.html
42ARTICLE X Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/polity/articlex.html
43The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/writings.htm
44"Oaths http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/a4constitution6aoath.html
45ROMANS 13 http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/Romans13.html
46Zondervan’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible
47Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
48“…indeed we have no suitable word to express what the Greeks at first called an ouranos. It will be convenient to use the term 'world' for it; but then we must remember that it does not refer solely, or even chiefly, to the earth, though it includes that along with the heavenly bodies.” John Burnet,. Plato’s Dialogues, Early Greek Philosophy, Introduction.
49Cuius est solum, ejus est usque ad caelum et ad inferos
50My kingdom is not of this world http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/world.HTM
51Cecil B. DeMille in “The Ten Commandments.”
52Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html
53Lu 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
54Lu 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
55Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: ...
56http://www.hisholychurch.net/church/index.html
57The Body of Christ Vs. The Body of the State
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/bvb.htm
58Holy Matrimony vs. Marriage http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/mvm.html
59Birth certification http://www.hisholychurch.net/pdfiles/births/
60Baptism, Washing up http://www.hisholychurch.net/net/baptism/index.html
61Peace from eirene meaning 1) a state of national tranquility
The Qetoret (Temple Incense)
Vendyl Jones Research Institute
An estimated 600 lbs. of what looked like "reddish earth" was uncovered at the North entrance of the Cave of the Column by excavation volunteers in the late Spring of 1992. Team members reported detecting the smell of cinnamon present in the substance. Preliminary analysis by Dr. Marvin Antelman of the Wiezmann Institute revealed that the find was indeed, organic. "Density indicates that the material which is lighter than water is excluded from the category of red soil or red minerals......also the high percentage of ash is typical of plant source." Dr. Antelman later told the Jerusalem Post in a story dated May 1, 1992, "I'm very excited about this find. He added that he had positively identified borit karshina (karsina lye)which is one of the ingredients spelled out in the Talmud."
When Dr. Terry Hutter performed a more exhaustive analysis and stated that, "the red-brown spice sample is composed of nine different and unique plants. The plants are recognizable both by pollen and organic maceral types." Dr. Hutter listed these as :
•Three kinds of Cinnamon
•Saffron
•Balsam
•Myrrh
•Galbanum
•Cassia
•Frankincense
The quantity of the Incense is also significant. It corresponds to the amount prepared for one year of daily Temple service. The Torah only lists four ingredients for the Qetoret. The Mishna lists eleven, in addition to Sodom salt and Karcina lye. The latter text also tells of the Avtinas family and how they were charged with the secret of compounding these precious spices. The fragrance of the Qetoret was said to be so powerful that that when it was being prepared, one could smell it as far away as Jericho, 12 miles to the north of Qumran.
Curiously, when young Muhammed adh-Dhib, discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, only two of the ten clay jars contained anything. One of the pots held the Scrolls and the other was filled with "reddish earth."
An estimated 600 lbs. of what looked like "reddish earth" was uncovered at the North entrance of the Cave of the Column by excavation volunteers in the late Spring of 1992. Team members reported detecting the smell of cinnamon present in the substance. Preliminary analysis by Dr. Marvin Antelman of the Wiezmann Institute revealed that the find was indeed, organic. "Density indicates that the material which is lighter than water is excluded from the category of red soil or red minerals......also the high percentage of ash is typical of plant source." Dr. Antelman later told the Jerusalem Post in a story dated May 1, 1992, "I'm very excited about this find. He added that he had positively identified borit karshina (karsina lye)which is one of the ingredients spelled out in the Talmud."
When Dr. Terry Hutter performed a more exhaustive analysis and stated that, "the red-brown spice sample is composed of nine different and unique plants. The plants are recognizable both by pollen and organic maceral types." Dr. Hutter listed these as :
•Three kinds of Cinnamon
•Saffron
•Balsam
•Myrrh
•Galbanum
•Cassia
•Frankincense
The quantity of the Incense is also significant. It corresponds to the amount prepared for one year of daily Temple service. The Torah only lists four ingredients for the Qetoret. The Mishna lists eleven, in addition to Sodom salt and Karcina lye. The latter text also tells of the Avtinas family and how they were charged with the secret of compounding these precious spices. The fragrance of the Qetoret was said to be so powerful that that when it was being prepared, one could smell it as far away as Jericho, 12 miles to the north of Qumran.
Curiously, when young Muhammed adh-Dhib, discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, only two of the ten clay jars contained anything. One of the pots held the Scrolls and the other was filled with "reddish earth."
Shemen Afarshimon
Vendyl Jones Research Institute
The Shemen Afarshimon, the Holy Anointing Oil, from the Holy Temple, was found in April, 1988 by the VJRI excavation team. After intensive testing by the Pharmaceutical Department of Hebrew University, financed by the VJRI, the substance inside the small juglet was verified to indeed be the Shemen Afarshimon of Psalm 133.
The oil was used as the fragrance on the oblation for a sweet smelling savor on the sacrifices. It was also used as the Holy Anointing Oil for the priest, prophets and kings.
The finding of the oil was important for two reasons. It is the first item to be found from the First Temple period and is one of the items listed among the treasures in the Copper Scroll. http://www.bnainoah.net/VJRI/copperscroll.html
On February 15, 1989, the news of the find was broken to the public by the New York Times newspaper. During the ensuing few weeks, most major news media institutions, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN, carried the story on national and international television. In October, 1989, National Geographic Magazine featured the find, followed by Omni Magazine in December of the same year. Countless other news sources carried the story for their publications.
The Shemen Afarshimon, the Holy Anointing Oil, from the Holy Temple, was found in April, 1988 by the VJRI excavation team. After intensive testing by the Pharmaceutical Department of Hebrew University, financed by the VJRI, the substance inside the small juglet was verified to indeed be the Shemen Afarshimon of Psalm 133.
The oil was used as the fragrance on the oblation for a sweet smelling savor on the sacrifices. It was also used as the Holy Anointing Oil for the priest, prophets and kings.
The finding of the oil was important for two reasons. It is the first item to be found from the First Temple period and is one of the items listed among the treasures in the Copper Scroll. http://www.bnainoah.net/VJRI/copperscroll.html
On February 15, 1989, the news of the find was broken to the public by the New York Times newspaper. During the ensuing few weeks, most major news media institutions, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN, carried the story on national and international television. In October, 1989, National Geographic Magazine featured the find, followed by Omni Magazine in December of the same year. Countless other news sources carried the story for their publications.
In Search Of Tola At Shani- The Crimson Worm
From The Temple Institute.Org
THE RETURN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL to the land of Israel continues to inspire the rediscovery of ancient scientific, cultural and practical knowledge, all necessary for the reemerging sovereign nation of Israel, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, and the renewal of the Divine service. The Temple Institute plays a formidable role in these efforts as the recreation and renewal of Temple vessels and priestly garments requires a working knowledge of the materials and methods commanded by Torah. Knowledge lost over two millenia of exile must be relearned. This rediscovery is itself part of the redemptive process that we are experiencing in our day. The following words describe once such leap forward toward the redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. The feeling of all who took part in the events described was one of being an active participant in G-d's unfolding plan for mankind.
ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 13TH OF TAMMUZ (JULY 16TH), the Temple Institute organized an historic event: the first tola'at shani - crimson worm - harvest in the land of Israel in perhaps 2000 years. The location of the harvest was the Samarian hilltop village of Neve Tsuf. The immediate purpose for the event was the need to gather the crimson worms for the purpose of creating the avnet - the sixteen meter long belt for the bigdei kehuna - the priestly garments now being produced by the Temple Institute. The long-term goal was to educate a new generation about the elusive tola'at shani, how to harvest it, and how to produce from it the crimson dye prescribed in the Torah for a number of Temple related purposes, including the priests' avnet - belts, the scarlet wool tied onto the se'ir l'azazel - the scapegoat - on Yom Kippur, and one of the essential ingredients for producing the ashes of the red heifer.
WEDNESDAY'S GATHERING BEGAN with a fascinating lecture delivered by Professor Zohar Amar, of the Bar Ilan University, researcher and world expert in the ancient dye and incense ritual and industry of the Middle East, focusing on their application in the Holy Temple. Professor Amar described his own odyssey with the tola'at shani, which he has been intensely researching for ten years. Studying ancient texts, including Torah and Talmudic literature, as well as ancient Greek, Latin and Aramaic works, and more recent Arabic texts, the professor began to re-identify and re-discover the unique properties and characteristics of the tola'at shani. He travelled the world in search of the worm, and indeed, discovered the worm being harvested in the mountains of Turkey, and being grown on plantations in South America, where they are used commercially as food color (E120). Ironically, it was only after his travels abroad that he discovered the tola'at shani worms he had been so diligently studying, literally 50 feet from his own front door, in their favorite nesting ground in Israel - the common Israeli oak tree.
THE SHANI - RED DYED WOOL OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, along with the biblical techelet and argaman, (blue and purple), was among the most prized and valuable fabrics of its day. Naturally, it fulfilled an important function in the Holy Temple, where, aside from the ritual purposes mentioned about, it was copiously employed in the various curtains and tapestries that adorned the Holy Temple.
PROFESSOR AMAR EXPLAINED TO HIS AUDIENCE, which included representatives from the Temple Institute, and well as fifty students from two nearby yeshivas, the art of identifying and removing the five millimeter tola'at shani from the bark of the oak trees to which it attaches itself. The worm is actually not a worm at all, but a tiny insect. The female attaches herself to the trunk and branches of the oak, and as its eggs develop during the early summer it grows from the size of a pinhead to its maximum of five to seven millimeters in diameter. It is essential to harvest them at this point, before the red eggs hatch and leave the mother, taking with them their red pigment.
THE PROFESSOR CONCLUDED HIS LECTURE with a demonstration, dissolving worms previously harvested and dried, in a glass of boiling water. The results can be seen in the photographs above.
FINALLY THE TIME HAD ARRIVED to take to the trees and being what we hope will be the first annual harvest of the tola'at shani in the land of Israel. Although many worms were gathered, it was still short of the amount needed for the dying of the wool to be embroidered onto the avnet - belts - of the 120 priestly garments that the Temple Institute is currently producing. To supplement the supply of tola'at shani the Institute has sent an emissary to Ankara, Turkey, to purchase the tola'at shani that are native to the mountains of Turkey.
THE RETURN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL to the land of Israel continues to inspire the rediscovery of ancient scientific, cultural and practical knowledge, all necessary for the reemerging sovereign nation of Israel, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, and the renewal of the Divine service. The Temple Institute plays a formidable role in these efforts as the recreation and renewal of Temple vessels and priestly garments requires a working knowledge of the materials and methods commanded by Torah. Knowledge lost over two millenia of exile must be relearned. This rediscovery is itself part of the redemptive process that we are experiencing in our day. The following words describe once such leap forward toward the redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. The feeling of all who took part in the events described was one of being an active participant in G-d's unfolding plan for mankind.
ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 13TH OF TAMMUZ (JULY 16TH), the Temple Institute organized an historic event: the first tola'at shani - crimson worm - harvest in the land of Israel in perhaps 2000 years. The location of the harvest was the Samarian hilltop village of Neve Tsuf. The immediate purpose for the event was the need to gather the crimson worms for the purpose of creating the avnet - the sixteen meter long belt for the bigdei kehuna - the priestly garments now being produced by the Temple Institute. The long-term goal was to educate a new generation about the elusive tola'at shani, how to harvest it, and how to produce from it the crimson dye prescribed in the Torah for a number of Temple related purposes, including the priests' avnet - belts, the scarlet wool tied onto the se'ir l'azazel - the scapegoat - on Yom Kippur, and one of the essential ingredients for producing the ashes of the red heifer.
WEDNESDAY'S GATHERING BEGAN with a fascinating lecture delivered by Professor Zohar Amar, of the Bar Ilan University, researcher and world expert in the ancient dye and incense ritual and industry of the Middle East, focusing on their application in the Holy Temple. Professor Amar described his own odyssey with the tola'at shani, which he has been intensely researching for ten years. Studying ancient texts, including Torah and Talmudic literature, as well as ancient Greek, Latin and Aramaic works, and more recent Arabic texts, the professor began to re-identify and re-discover the unique properties and characteristics of the tola'at shani. He travelled the world in search of the worm, and indeed, discovered the worm being harvested in the mountains of Turkey, and being grown on plantations in South America, where they are used commercially as food color (E120). Ironically, it was only after his travels abroad that he discovered the tola'at shani worms he had been so diligently studying, literally 50 feet from his own front door, in their favorite nesting ground in Israel - the common Israeli oak tree.
THE SHANI - RED DYED WOOL OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, along with the biblical techelet and argaman, (blue and purple), was among the most prized and valuable fabrics of its day. Naturally, it fulfilled an important function in the Holy Temple, where, aside from the ritual purposes mentioned about, it was copiously employed in the various curtains and tapestries that adorned the Holy Temple.
PROFESSOR AMAR EXPLAINED TO HIS AUDIENCE, which included representatives from the Temple Institute, and well as fifty students from two nearby yeshivas, the art of identifying and removing the five millimeter tola'at shani from the bark of the oak trees to which it attaches itself. The worm is actually not a worm at all, but a tiny insect. The female attaches herself to the trunk and branches of the oak, and as its eggs develop during the early summer it grows from the size of a pinhead to its maximum of five to seven millimeters in diameter. It is essential to harvest them at this point, before the red eggs hatch and leave the mother, taking with them their red pigment.
THE PROFESSOR CONCLUDED HIS LECTURE with a demonstration, dissolving worms previously harvested and dried, in a glass of boiling water. The results can be seen in the photographs above.
FINALLY THE TIME HAD ARRIVED to take to the trees and being what we hope will be the first annual harvest of the tola'at shani in the land of Israel. Although many worms were gathered, it was still short of the amount needed for the dying of the wool to be embroidered onto the avnet - belts - of the 120 priestly garments that the Temple Institute is currently producing. To supplement the supply of tola'at shani the Institute has sent an emissary to Ankara, Turkey, to purchase the tola'at shani that are native to the mountains of Turkey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)