The new heaven and earth.

Suppose you are the Apostle John and you are suddenly taken from the first century and found yourself in the 21st Century. The year is 2012 and it is the election year. There are two big political party rallies going on. At one political rallies there are representatives from the Democrats party on one side of the street waving flags with the symbol of a donkey, on it. On the other side of the street there are Republicans representatives waving flags with the symbol of an elephant, on it.

We know these political symbols identify two political party but what would John think? Would the Apostle John immediately know what these symbols represent? Or would he think these two symbols represent a literal donkey and elephant? The point is John would have to do a little study of our culture to find out their true meaning. The same applies to us. We need to also spend time studying the figuratively and metaphorical language that is so often used in the culture of those in the Bible.

To help you understand how the Jews communicated in terms of symbolical language, open your Bible and turn to (Genesis 37:9-10). This is the way symbolical language is used in the Old Testament. It was adopted for like use later in the New Testament.

A language within the language, that the first century Christians would have understood. It was a uniquely Hebrew concept I believe, to have a meaning within words that related directly to Covenant Relationship, or the interaction between God and men.

This is the story of the family of Jacob.* When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flocks with his brothers; he was an assistant to the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and Joseph brought their father bad reports about them.

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his brothers, they hated him so much that they could not say a kind word to him. Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, "Listen,"I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

His brothers said to him, “Are you really going to make yourself king over us? Will you rule over us?” So they hated him all the more because of his dreams and his reports. Then he had another dream, and told it to his brothers. “Look, I had another dream,” he said; “this time, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told it to his father and his brothers, his father reproved him and asked, “What is the meaning of this dream of yours? Can it be that I and your mother and your (brothers are to come and bow to the ground before you)?” emphasis, added.

So his brothers were furious at him but his father kept the matter in mind. As you can see, Joseph dream was related to his father, mother, and brothers, not the universe. Any Jewish readers were certainly well versed in the sort of symbolic language and imagery and understood there meaning.

Since the writers of the Old Testament used such highly symbolic language to picture the actions of God, the writers of the New Testament, and Jesus in particular would use the same kind of imagery to describe events of historic proportions? The problem is we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like a new heaven and new earth the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc, without thinking literally. However to the Jews, using this type of language figuratively and metaphorically was natural as we see in Genesis 37:9-10.

Let explore more definition of the prophetic language of heaven and earth. A good example of how this symbolic language is used and applies to the "de-creation of heaven and earth" is used in Psalm 18:5-16 to describe the downfall of Saul's Kingdom. And in Isaiah 13:6-13 we see that destruction of heavens and earth pertain to when the Medes broke up the Babylonian empire.

Nahum applies this earth-shattering metaphor to Yahweh's judgment of Nineveh (Nahum 1:1-5). Isaiah applies this language to Edom of 703 BC (Isa 34:3-8). Ezekiel applies this language to Babylon's victory over Egypt (572 BC) in Ezekiel 32:7-11. There is no question about when these things would happen. The Jewish readers were certainly well versed in this symbolic language and imagery.

It was a very special historical occasion when God chose Israel from all of the nations of the earth to be His own people. Deuteronomy7: 6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Not only did God make them His own, people in addition, He created for them a world of their own; and covenant called “heavens and earth.” “But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people (Isaiah. 51:15,16).”

Clearly Jehovah could not be talking about the formation of the literal heaven and earth, for that had taken place more then 3,000 years before! The verse explains itself. Jehovah is talking about “Zion my people.” God was speaking of the time when He created Israel’s heavens and earth. The material creation existed long before Yahweh spoke these words. The Mosaic Covenant was thought of as the heaven and earth.

This form of address is sometime used when Yahweh is speaking to and admonishing the people of Israel. In this instance, as in other places, the words are being addressed to the rulers and the people of Israel. The following is another example of where the nation of Israel is being addressed by Moses and metaphorical language is used, with the rulers depicted as the heavens and the people as the earth.

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. (Deuteronomy 31: 28-30)

In Deuteronomy 32:1, Moses said, “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.” ” Moses was not speaking to the literal heavens and rocks on earth he was speaking to the people of Israel. In figurative language, the "heavens and earth here are simply the covenant, religious/political authorities in the land of Palestine and the people who lived there. With these things in mind, lest dig a little deeper.

During the ancient times of Israel the Temple signified the presence of God (the shekinah of glory) and Israel’s place in election etc. Josephus a Pharisee kept track of the biblical historical records of Israel. Josephus portrays the first century Jewish understanding of "heaven and earth" in his writings.

He describes how the Jews looked upon their place of worship in the Mosaic Tabernacle and later in the Temple as "a heaven and earth." They believed that their Temple was at the very center of the earth, and saw it as the place where heaven and earth came together, and where God met man.

In a quote Josephus, calls the outer part of the tabernacle "an imitation of the system of the world" and the "sea and land, on which men live." By contrast, the inner Holy of Holies he terms "heaven peculiar to God." There was a fabric veil that separated these two compartments in the Tabernacle and the Temple, which he describes as being "very ornamental, and embroidered with all sorts of flowers which the earth produces." This last quote is found in Antiquities, Book 3, Chapter 6, Paragraph 4, Section 126.Moses was told by God to patterned the Tabernacle after heavenly-things (Hebrews 8:5) This clearly illustrates how the Temple was seen as a meeting point between heaven and earth, its service being an earthly representation of heavenly reality. This is why the 1st century Jews saw the destruction of the Temple in 70AD representing Heaven/Earth passing away? (Matthew 24)

In 2 Peter 3:10–13 we must pay close attention to the Greek words that Peter uses as they are of utmost importance in understanding what it is he is saying. Let look closely at the Greek word he uses which is translated "new." "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for “new heavens and a new earth,” wherein dwelleth righteousness."

There are two words translated "new" in the New Testament. Those words are "neos" and "kainos." "Neos" means new in time, something that has never been before, or that which has recently come into existence/what has only just now arisen or appeared. "Kainos" means new in quality/nature, not in time, different from what is old/distinctive as compared with other things different from the usual, better than the old, superior in value or attraction. The word Peter uses in this verse is "kainos." If Peter meant that God was going to physically destroy the physical heavens and earth and create a replacement, Peter would have used the word "neos!"The new heavens and new earth Peter writes about are an echo from Isaiah 65:17-18. "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.

In this chapters we read where God will create a new heavens and a new earth (spiritually, not physically) new heavens and new earth along with a new Jerusalem. This is the very same spiritual Jerusalem which Paul says is the Jerusalem above and mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)

And John says is descending out of heaven out from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2; 10)

Until heaven and earth passed away.

Matthew 5:17-19 is a favorite passage that often raises discussions and debates. Jesus said he came not to destroy the Law but to keep the Law perfectly. “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets; I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.”

Remember now Jesus was a familiar with how the Moses and the prophets used metaphorical language about the heaven and earth over and over in Old Testament.

Of special significance the word “destroy” translates the Greek term kataluo, literally meaning to “loose down.” The word is found seventeen times in the New Testament. It is used, for example, of the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans (Matthew. 26:61; 27:40; Acts 6:14), and of the dissolving of the human body at death. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

It is especially important to note how the word is used in Matthew 5:17. In this context, “destroy” is set in opposition to “fulfill.” Christ came "…not to destroy, but [alla — adversative particle] to fulfill. Jesus did not come to this earth for the purpose of acting as an adversary of the law. His goal was to obeyed it keep it perfectly, to fulfill it.

The elements of the law (Torah) (Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, "Instruction"), also known as "The Pentateuch" a.k.a. are the Five Books of Moses that had to be fulfilled before heaven and earth passed away. The word 'Law' in Matthew 5 is a reference to the whole of the Old Testament."Both the Law and the Prophets together (v.17) were standard Jewish ways of referring to entire Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament)."

What did Jesus mean by till heaven and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" When He spoke these words the New Testament had not begun to be written and the Old Testament was all that existed. He declared that not so much as a stroke of the pen will be altered from the law until all is fulfilled, referring to all prophecies recorded in the Old Testament. Jesus made it clear until heaven and earth passed away. Not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"

Do you get the power of these words? Jesus plainly said that not one “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) would pass away until heaven and earth passed away.

If heaven and earth did not pass away the law of Moses was not fulfilled by Christ, and thus remains as an obligatory legal system for today, then it is not a partially binding regime; rather, it is totally compelling system.

Consequently, nothing of the law was to fail until heaven and earth (the Mosaic covenant) had completely accomplished its purpose. The harmony between Matthew 5:17-18 and Isaiah. 51:15,16 is this. When the old Mosaic covenant known as the heaven and earth have completely accomplished its purpose every “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) has passed away.

It was “easier” for the old Mosaic covenant known as the heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

So heaven and earth and the Mosaic law has to have passed away. There can be no Mosaic law apart from have a Temple, animal sacrifices, and Levitical priesthood. You cannot have one part of the law and not the rest you have to have all the parts of the law. So heaven and earth had to have passed away since there is no system in place for keeping the Mosaic law today.

The shaking of the heaven and earth.

Hebrews 12:26-29 "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

In Hebrews, the author which I believe is Paul is referring to the establishment of the first covenant and the new covenant. He begins by saying that the Lord would not only shake the earth, but also heaven earth during the establishment of the New Covenant (12:26a) "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
What are the things that are made that can be shaken? The Temple, and priest hood and all the copies and shadows that were made under the literal Jewish kingdom. What were the thing that remained which cannot be shaken? Paul gives us the answer in verse 28. Therefore, since we are receiving A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

This passage is as close to any eschatology passage that one will find in the Letter to the Hebrews, with reference to the eschatological kingdom. As such, it clearly refers to a removal of the temporal reality.

The New Testament writers often borrowed highly figurative apocalyptic language that used by the prophets of the Old Testament. In these verse Paul is borrowing the language from the prophet Haggai as he refers to shaking of the heavens and the earth, when God spoke to Israel after coming out of Egypt. Haggai 2:5-7 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.

In the same way that the Lord shook the heaven and earth, (not literally ) in Haggai 2:5-7 so God will shake the heavens and the earth as part of the new covenant. This second shaking will result in the removal of all created things, so that only that which is uncreated, that which cannot be shaken, will remain.

In Hebrews 12:28b, the author or Paul exhorts his readers to give thanks or to show gratitude for the promise of receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, To do so is to worship God with reverence and awe, which is pleasing to God.

He adds that God is a consuming fire, which seems to be a reason for regarding God with reverence and awe. The reference to God in Hebrews 12:29 as a consuming fire is an allusion to Deuteronomy 4:24, where Moses warns the Israelites against idolatry: "For Yahweh, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (see also Deuteronomy 9:3; Exodus 24:17). God destroys all that which is temporal and disobedient.

The use of the metaphor of consumption by fire to depict God's judgment occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

Moses used figuratively and metaphorically language explaining how God created Israel.

Moses used figuratively and metaphorically language explaining how God created Israel.

Isaiah. 51:15,16 “But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, (Thou art my people).” (emphasizes, added)

God was speaking of the time when He created Israel’s heavens and earth. The material creation existed long before Yahweh spoke these words. Not only did God make them His own, people in addition, He created for them a world of their own; and covenant called “heavens and earth. Any Israelite who were remotely familiar with the law were well aware of the fact that heaven and earth was synonymous with the law or the Old Covenant.

Moses is using metaphorical language when emphasizing rulers of Israel as the heavens and the people as the earth.

In Deuteronomy 32:1, Moses said, “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.” Moses was not speaking to the literal heavens and rocks on earth he was speaking to the people of Israel. In figurative language, the "heavens and earth here are simply the covenant, religious and political authorities in the land of Palestine and the people who lived there.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses said I call heaven and earth to RECORD this day AGAINST you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19) Moses was not called the literal heaven and rocks against Israel but a covenant. If they obeyed the covenant they had life.

Through the law, all of their transgressions were recorded against them. Deuteronomy 31:26-28 Take this book of the LAW, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that IT (the law) may be there for a WITNESS AGAINST thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call HEAVEN AND EARTH to RECORD AGAINST them.

What was records against them? Certainly not the physical heavens and earth, but rather the law: Deuteronomy 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a WITNESS AGAINST thee.

In the above passage it evident that the witness against them is the two tables of stone which is in the ark of the covenant.

Other prophets spoke the same way (e.g. Isaiah 1:2: Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth’...”) This applied to Israel as mentioned in verses 3. The heavens well portrays that which was once “over them” and is government of those in authority. “Earth” was used in a reference to the authority on earth, the leaders or authority, government, of Israel.

The prophet Isaiah predicted the passing of heaven and earth in chapter 24. He said the earth would be utterly broken down, clean dissolved, and completely removed, vs. 19. Now this sounds like the destruction of material creation but closer examination reveals it to be speaking of the destruction of Israel's Covenant World under the imagery of "heaven and earth". Note verse 5 gives the reason for the destruction--"they have broken the everlasting covenant". What covenant was that? It was the Mosaic Covenant! God was going to destroy "heaven and earth" because Israel had broken her covenant with Jehovah! Thus, we have another example of the Bible speaking of the passing of heaven and earth when it means the passing of the Old World of Israel. This is very same covenant Peter spoke of in (Peter 3:12-13).

Hebrews is another text that speaks of the passing of the Old Covenant world under the imagery of “Vanishing away.” Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Isaiah compares the temporal quality of the law versus the eternal quality of the New Covenant salvation. Those who dwelle in the old heavens and earth will die in like manner. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust. {6} Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the (heavens will vanish away) like smoke, The (earth will grow old like a garment), And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished. (Isaiah 51:4-5)

notice the future tense in this old testament prophecy. The heavens WILL vanish away like smoke. The earth WILL grow old like a garment. Of course if you were a Israelite this should bring to mind Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Notice the use of the present tense to describe what was taking place at this time. . The language the writer of Hebrews uses is synonymous to Isaiah 51:4-5. We see Isaiah used the language in a (future tense) and the writer of Hebrews used the language in a (present tense) and waxing old (present tense).

This kind of language was used over and over. Any person at all familiar with the phraseology of the Old Testament Scriptures, knows that the dissolution of the Mosaic economy, and the establishment of the Christian, is often spoken of as the removing of the old earth and heavens, and the creation of a new earth and new heavens.

New heavens and a new earth.

ISAIAH 65:17-19 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem a a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor th...e voice of crying.

I was asked to do some articles on the “heaven and earth.” What does all this mean? There are many misconceptions about the new heavens and new earth mentioned in the Bible. This quotation from Isaiah must be taken in its context. The use of the words heavens and earth as will as the new Jerusalem are often used figuratively and metaphorically in scripture.

The context of Isaiah’s prophecy is the coming new covenant. Notice within this context the Lord speaks of creating a new heaven and a new earth along with creating a new Jerusalem. The new heaven and new earth are synonymous, with creating the new Jerusalem. In other words one cannot be fulfilled or created without the other. Returning to Isaiah 65: 17-19 there is a clear statement of the location of this new heavens and earth. The new Jerusalem is clearly the location.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, (I create Jerusalem) a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65; 17-19)

During the time that Isaiah lived, over 2,700 years ago, he lived in a world of rebellion against God and evil was everywhere. There we two sons fleshly Israel and spiritual Israel living in one house hold.

The older brother fleshly Israel from Jerusalem below was persecuting the younger brother from Jerusalem which is above. Galatians 4:22-29 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, (as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now) emphasis added.

The promise of the new heavens and earth which occurs in Isaiah, where the prophet uses it to describe the happy circumstance of Gods people after the time of tribulation and persecution is past, and their enemies are destroyed and removed. Paul relates to this time in Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of Yahweh's fury being poured out. `For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and rebuke with flames of fire.' (Isaiah 66:15)

The Lord will then use `fire' and the 'sword' to plead with all flesh and there will be many slain. We have here a major conflict against the nations, which are subdued. There is not a complete annihilation of the people, as the chapter goes on to show that there will be worship established in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66 deals extensively with the process by which Jerusalem blow would be changed. As we follow the words of the prophet through this chapter, the destiny of Israel is revealed. Out of tribulation, oppression and conflict, a new Jerusalem will rise again.

'And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto Yahweh out of all nations... to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.' (Isaiah. 66:20)

It is here that the prophet refers to the new heavens and the new earth in Isaiah 66:22. 'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. From one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.' Note here that there is a reference to all 'flesh', which suggests that Jews and gentiles in this time of glory in a mortal state.

Isaiah speaks here of the new heavens and new earth and Jerusalem and how they will not even remember the pain and suffering they endured in this lifetime under the old Jerusalem. With their eyes focused on what is to come, under the new covenant it was also an encouragement for Isaiah to continue spreading God’s message of the coming Messiah and His glorious kingdom to come.

The new heavens and earth and Jerusalem describe the changed circumstances of Gods people, in which the former troubles were now forgotten. Whereas they had been under oppression and persecution by their fellow countrymen in the Jerusalem below who refused to heed Gods word, they would see happier times.

The Jerusalem that had suffered siege and famine and weeping would give way to a new Jerusalem that enjoyed an abundance of God’s peace. The new heavens and earth as portrayed by the prophet Isaiah. John also writes about the new heaven and earth in the book of Revelation. He does not change what Isaiah wrote, but adds a few particulars of his own.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation. 21:1-3)

With the defeat of their enemies, John sees the new heaven and earth and new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. It is distinguished from the first heaven and earth only by the absence of the sea.

The absence of the sea points to the fact that all men approach God on equal terms. Seas are natural barriers, separating earths people. The Psalmist also makes a distinction between the sea versus those upon the earth: Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. (Ephesians. 2:13, 19)

In Revelation, the sea symbolized the Gentiles; and the earth or land, the Jews are under the new economy, those distinctions are removed and all men have access to God equally. The gates of the city (church) are always open in every direction of the compass, showing that men from all over the world are invited to enter and find salvation and communion with God. (Revelation 21:13, 25)

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

It has been generally believed that Peter here is saying there will be a new physical heavens and earth after the old earth and solar system are destroyed. At first glance, it looks as though Peter was saying just that. But are the physical world and universe what Peter had in mind? There is a lot more to this statement of Peter that meets the eye.

In order to understand what Peter is trying to convey about the “new heaven and earth” we need to think like an Israelite who was familiar with the flood of Noah. The Jews had another understand of the heaven and earth then our modern literal understanding.

Let go back to 2 Peter 3:5-7 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of “old,” and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Notice the context of what Peter writes in these verses 5. The “old” heavens and earth (that then existed) are the same heavens and earth that rain destroyed in Genesis. And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis7:12)

So, the post flood heavens and earth that then existed are the “old” heaven and earth when Peter was writing. The reason the “old” heaven and earth were destroyed in the days of Noah was because of ungodly men who were thoroughly corrupt upon the earth in God's sight. Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The “heavens and earth” that existed after the flood, Peter calls the “now “ heaven and earth in (2 Peter 3:7). Peter also says the reason for the destruction of the current heavens and earth was ungodly men. Peter continually links the two events together. The difference between the two events are the method of judgment. The heavens and earth of Noah’s day were destroyed by water and the heavens and earth Peter refers to are destroyed by fire. Some, who take the literalistic interpretation approach to all prophecy, apply this to the end of the world's history. But prophecies like this actually applied to spiritual things the passing away of the old, order and the transformation of things into newness of life.

Here are two dilemmas with our old modern interpretation that the heaven and earth Peter is refers to are the material world, and universe that will be burned up. Why should we think that fire will destroy (the Glob and Universe) when Peter uses the example of the “old” heavens and earth (that existed) were destroyed in Noah’s flood? We need not. The flood did not destroy the literal heavens and earth, as Peter refers to its destruction in. (2 Peter 3:5) The people came under judgment by water. The literal heavens and earth were not destroyed. Peter explains the earth was standing out of water and in water.

The second dilemma. Have you ever thought to yourself if the literal heaven and earth were destroyed in the days of Noah's flood were did the “now” heaven and earth that Peter mentions will be destroyed by fire come from? Its obvious that Peter had something else in mind other then the literal planet and universe burning up.

ISRAEL was the heavens and the earth that God had formed, and some day that same heavens and earth would pass away as described in (2 Peter 3). In Isaiah 51:13 God said that He had "stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth" Once again, is God speaking here of the literal heavens and earth?

Read on in this same passage to verse 16: "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people."

This could not be talking of the formation of the literal heavens and earth, for that had taken place more than 3,000 years before! The verse explains itself. He is talking about "Zion." He is talking about "my people Israel" In other words, He is talking about the formation of Israel or the creation of Israel.

In Jeremiah 22:29 God says, "0 earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord." And in verse 1 (along with verses 11, 18 and 24) we read that the words were for the people of Judah, concerning the time when they would be taken "into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans" (vs. 25). It was not the whole physical earth God was talking to, but the people.

The new heavens and earth that Peter mentions where righteousness dwells are based upon "GOD’S PROMISE" The only prophecies "promise" that Peter referred to are in the Old Testament that specifically mention the new heavens and new earth are found in Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22.

These are the only two places in the Old Testament where this promise of a new heavens and a new earth can be found, and neither of these speak of a literal heavens and earth passing away. Nor do they speak of a literal new heavens and new earth.

The heaven and earth, in which Peter is refers to in Genesis and 2 Peter 3 are Bible language referring to change or transformation, from a old order and making into a new thing, of God's people.

The Old Covenant was obsolete and growing old and ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13) In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky.

"Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)."

Remember when I gave the allegory of John being suddenly taken from the first century into the 21st century and it is a election year. And there are really big political rallies going on. At one political rallies there are representatives from the Democrats party on one side of the street waving flags with the symbol of a donkey, on it. On the other side of the street there are Republicans representatives waving flags with the symbol of an elephant, on it.

We know these symbols identify two political party but what would John think? Remember John was suddenly taken from one world and placed into another world. Would John immediately know these symbols represent two political party?

Or would John think these two symbols represent a literal donkey and elephant? The point is they are symbols and John would have to do a little study to find out their true meaning to our culture

This text has been the subject of all sorts of speculation and wild theories about the end of time and the events that will happen at the return of Christ. Many believe that this text is talking about a literal destruction of the world. But let us put out of our minds what we have been traditionally taught about this passage and put ourselves in the mind set of a first century Jews.

The first thing that we must understand is that each particular gospel had a particular audience that the words were for, especially when considering the synoptic gospels. The gospel of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience, that is why Matthew quotes the Old Testament prophecies so many times in his book.

The problem is we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc, without thinking literally. However to the Jews, this was not new language. Matthew’s Jewish readers were certainly well versed in the sort of symbolic language and imagery and understood the meaning. The sun, darkening and the moon not give its light; and the stars falling from the sky, represents the ceasing of a kingdom."

The prophet Isaiah is a good example of how this symbolic language is used in Jewish thought. This type of apocalyptic, figurative language, was used to describe the desolation and judgment of God by invading forces. Take for example the prophesied fall of Babylon to the Medes in 539 BC.

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil..." (Isaiah 13:9-11)."

This is applied to Babylon, as mentioned in verse 1. The fall of Babylon is represented by the stars and constellations of heaven withdrawing their light, and the sun and moon being darkened (9,10).

Whenever there was a overthrow of the rulers and authorities of a nation it was represented by the sun, moon, and stars not give their light.

In the judgments of God, through all the prophets, the heaven, sun, moon, stars, and the like represented the overthrow of governments, governors, dominions in political states, as Joel 2:10-11 The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?

The "shaking of the heavens and earth" was used by Haggai 2:6-7 to speak of political overturnings. "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.

Notice how the shaking of heaven and earth are associated, with the overthrow of thrones and kingdoms; and the strength of the Gentiles. Haggai 2:21-23 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: 'I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother

"The destruction of the Jews by Antioch Epiphanes, is represented by casting down some of the host of heaven, and the stars to the ground. (Daniel 8:10)

And further note Amos 8:9, "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day." This had reference to the northern kingdom.

Now note the prophecy of Ezekiel against Egypt: "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 32:7-7). This applied to Egypt, as mentioned in verse. 2, 12, 16.

In other contexts, when stars fall, they fall to the earth, a sure sign of temporal judgment (Isaiah 14:12; And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

In Isaiah 13:6-13 we see that destruction of heavens and earth pertain to when the Medes broke up the Babylonian empire.

Nahum applies this earth-shattering metaphor to Yahweh's judgment of Nineveh (Nahum 1:1-5). Isaiah applies this language to Edom of 703 BC (Isa 34:3-8). Ezekiel applies this language to Babylon's victory over Egypt (572 BC) in Ezekiel 32:7-11. There is no question about when these things would happen. We have literature from the Old Testament that we must read figuratively unless the words demand otherwise.

When Jesus said, "Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)." No doubt it is the overthrow and abolition of the Mosaic dispensation, or old covenant; the destruction of the Jewish governments, governors, dominions and political states.

In Bible figurative language, when the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken refers to governments and rulers.

The writer of Hebrews borrowed, the language from Haggai 2:6-7 and writes, Hebrews 12:27-28 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

The Jewish readers were certainly well versed in this symbolic language and imagery. Matthews aim is to stare up the memory of his Jewish audience about what was written in their Old Testament scriptures. When the ruling authorities of the nation of Israel passed away, it was said that the sun was darkened and the stars fell from the sky, the moon did not give its light and the passing of the old heavens and earth etc.

The elements will melt with fervent heat.

Most people are naturally prone to accept without question the teaching from a person or organization they hold in high regard, never considering or presuming that they could be teaching something based upon an assumption or preconceived notion they were taught. It may be that many of us have come to understand these verses based on prior traditional assumptions.

We need to examine the meaning of this word "elements", which is the same word used several other times in the New Testament. The Greek word for "elements" is "stoicheion" and means "something orderly in arrangement - element, principle, rudiment."

The word itself can refer to the parts of which our universe. It can also have another meaning it can refer to the rudimentary things of religion as well as other things too, of course. Perhaps we should consider what other scriptures may have to say on this matter of “the elements” and how the word is used? At this point in our study will look at the symbolic meaning of the passing away of the heavens and the earth, in connection with the "elements.” The elements would be the dong away with the things related to Israel’s religion which would be abolished.

We find this word first in Galatians 4:3 where Paul said, "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage, under the elements "stoicheion"of the world." Here Paul was saying that the Jewish people before Christ and salvation were living under the worldly ceremonies and ordinances of the old covenant, though now they no longer needed the law as a schoolmaster as they had graduated to Christ by faith. The elements "stoicheion" were no longer needed. When they were under the Mosaic, law before Christ they were in bondage, under the elements "stoicheion"of the world."

The Jewish leader believed just because they were fleshly descendants of Abraham that they had never been under this bondage. However Jesus pointed out whoever commits sin is a slave of sin and bondage. (John 8:33-34)

Then in Galatians 4:9 the word is used again. "But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements where unto you desire again to be in bondage?" Paul follows this by saying that because "You observe days, and months, and times, and years;" verse10. He was afraid he had bestowed his labor upon them in vain. Paul used the term in his stinging rebuke to the Galatians Christians who were tempted to forsake the freedom of the New Covenant for an Old Covenant "elementary" style legalist religious system. The things of that legalist system would shortly be "burned up."

In Colossians 2:8 Paul encourages the Colossian Christians not to go back into these elementary things of the old law. He uses the same word for "elements" ("stoicheion") though here translated "principles" "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." The spiritual lives of these Christians could be spoiled if they listened to those Judaizers who tried to get them to return to the old way. These things would soon go up in smoke.

Then in the same chapter, Colossians 2:20, Paul said, "Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the elements ("stoicheion") of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances ... " These ordinances would soon "perish" (be destroyed) he said (vss. 22).

The writer to the Hebrews says, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elements (stoicheion) of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (Hebrews. 5:12). In context, the writer to the Hebrews is clearly speaking of Old Covenant truths particularly since he connects it with the term oracles of God, an expression used elsewhere in the New Testament for the provisional.

These words are a complaint, which the apostle makes of a certain defect in the Christian Hebrews, to whom he wrote. What is the defect? The apostle complains was they had not made that progress in their acquaintance with the things of the law or things taught in the oracles of God, which they should have made by then. They should have been moving behind the knowledge of elementary things and teachers spiritual things in Christ. Yet they were still in need of the milk of the word and not solid food.

If these other five places are using the word "elements"(stoicheion) in terms of the old legalist religious system why would we think the meaning in 2 Peter 3:10 would not mean the same thing as in these other places?

When Peter said "the elements shall melt with fervent heat" in II Peter 3:12 the Greek word for "melt" there is "teko which means "to liquefy" But interestingly, in verse 10 where those same identical words (in English in the King James version) are used: "the elements shall melt with fervent heat", the Greek work for "melt" is different. It is "luo", which means "break up, destroy, dissolve, loose, melt, put off." In actuality, this is what happened to those "elements" of the old Jewish religion - they were broken up, destroyed, dissolved, loosened and put off. This is how the elements melted in that day of the Lord when the heavens and the earth felt the judgment of God.

Until we learn to set aside our modern gentile traditional understand of these things and think like a first century Jew who was familiar with this stile of figurative language out understanding of the Bible will forever be on the milk of the word and not solid food.

Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together."

In the song of Moses, Moses is talking to Israel and says, "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the (eagle flies), a nation whose language you will not understand, " (Deuteronomy 28:49) emphasis, added

God often used the symbols of birds of pray with coming judgment on the nation of Israel. In Deuteronomy 28:26 Moses warns Israel about the curses for disobedience and says, Your dead body will be food to all birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth; and there will be no one to frighten them away.

This warning is repeated in Jeremiah 6:33 Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

In Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law”

When speaking of this period of tribulation period Jesus also motioned eagles. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. But when the disciples asked the Lord where the one would be taken? Christ replied, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." (Luke 17:36-37) The language of Luke 17:36-37 ff. is thus highly figurative.

In the same way a lion is considered the king of the beasts the eagle is regarded as the eminent bird. One of the most striking visual aspects of the Roman army were the symbols that were placed on tall poles. These poles was topped with various insignia and symbols, including many types of animals.

The most important symbol in each legion was the legionary eagle made of a precious metal (usually silver) which was the symbol of power for Rome and the honor of the legion. The eagles were not just for show; they served important practical functions as well. Its presence on a flag during war was a source of victory and an aid in battle.

It gave courage to the warriors who fought under it and put fear into their enemy. The staff helped to keep the units together, since the soldiers could see them above the action. The eagle was on the soldiers armor and cohorts. It was carried by a special staff bearer who wore a lion-skin headdress. The seal of eagle was used by the Roman empire to depict power for thousands of years. Roman legions always marched behind the emblem of an eagle.

To lose the legionary eagle in battle was a terrible disgrace. Romans thought the Eagle was a messenger of the Gods. When a Roman emperor died, his body was burned in a funeral pyre and an eagle was ceremonially released into the flames. The Romans believed the eagle would carry the emperor's soul to the heavens.

Getting back to Jesus’ statement Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. The question of who is taken and who is left here is one of my favorite Bible prophecy questions. Our dispensational friends claim this is the rapture of the church at the end of the Christian age. Is a 50% "rapture-rate" the point of the message? To understand this, first we need to be clear just what day and event Jesus is specifically speaking about.

It helps greatly to read the parallel account in context. Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Exactly who will be taken away just like the Days of Noah'? The wicked. Noah and his family were left to start over. Further, Luke says about the days of Lot the wicked were also "destroyed" Luke 17:19 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

The rapture view makes no sense because Noah and his family and Lot and his family were left behind to start a new life. When reading the Bible we must approach scripture with a Hebrew mind set. The idea of being “taken and left” is very old concept in scripture. In ancient biblical times when a conquering army invaded another country they kept the smartest, youngest, and strongest.

This historical background is also recorded in scripture. 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 And those who escaped from the sword he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Any survivor was taken prisoner into exile in Babylon and made a slave to Nebuchadnezzar and his family. Josephus a Jewish historian tell us during the invasion of the Roman army everyone over the age of seventeen was sent in bonds to work the Egyptian mines. (Josephus 37:B.C A.D. 70 p. 230)

Josephus also reckon the number of captive taken during the war at 97,000 and the number of those who perished during the siege at 1,100.000. The number who perished in the whole war are reckoned at the total of 1,337,490 and the number of prisoners at 101,700; but even these estimates do not include all the items of many skirmishes and battles, nor do they take into account the multitudes who, throughout the whole country, perished of misery, famine and disease. (F.W. Farrar. pp 487-489).

Jesus’ words were certainly true, for wheresoever the bodies were, there the eagles (Roman) were gathered together." (Luke 17:36-37)

Ezekiel's figurative image of `death.'

To be dead, as used in the Bible, can mean different things. It can mean to be dead physically; it can mean to be dead spiritually; or it can have yet another meaning. It is the last image of figurative`death' that will be our subject of study.

God showed Ezekiel a vision. It had to do with a with the death of national Israel and resurrection but what does this resurrection in the valley... of the dry bones represent? Let's look at a passage of Scripture that gives us a feeling for this third definition of death.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, `Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' Therefore prophesy and say to them, `Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 37:11-14)

The land of Israel is often referred to as the Promised Land because of God's repeated promise (Gen. 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8) to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. The land is described repeatedly in the Torah as a good land and "a land flowing with milk and honey" (e.g., Exodus. 3:8).

The rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua (ca. 1250 BCE). The land of Israel was central to Judaism. In 587 BCE, Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar's army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylon (modern day Iraq).

During the Babylonian captivity Israel was cut off from her homeland. They spent seventy years in another country. While Israel was cut off from the promised land she was in the sight of God, as dead! Israel was not in her rightful place because of her sin.

All these Jews were alive physically, but as the Lord showed Ezekiel 37:11 they were a valley of dry bones (in a grave nationally). When the Israelites were living in exile outside of the land of Palestine, they were (figuratively dead and in a grave).

God in restoring His covenant people back into their own land uses the figure of graves opening and His people coming forth in (a national resurrection). Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, (I will open your graves) and cause you to come up from your graves, and (bring you into the land of Israel) (Ezekiel 37:12) When the Jews were living inside of land they were all live nationally.

It is obvious from this scripture that God see life and death independent of the physicality of man. If you now understand this third definition of death (national Israel was cut off from the promised

The sounding of the last trumpet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Mark Of The Beast.

Revelation 13:16-18 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The first thing one must understand about the book of Revelation is that it is a book composed almost entirely of symbols that a first century Jew would found immediately recognizable. These symbols were used before in such books as Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah.

Jesus, Paul, and John used a lot of metaphors from Old Testament scripture. John more then any other disciples uses metaphors. And because we have all been ironically taught “not to flow” the first principles of sound biblical hermeneutics to let scripture interpreter it's own many have found the book of Revelation hard to understand and given up all together.

However in Revelation also, we are to study the passage or verses in question, and see how the “words are used” in other related situations throughout scripture. In this way, we have God, interpret His Word. The Jews in the first century were very familiar with figurative language and they surely understood the language Jesus and the disciples used in the same way it was used in Old Testament scripture.

The "mark" received upon the right hand or the forehead, is a Jewish symbolic picture (as is virtually all of Revelation). It is not a "physical" mark on a persons body. The first century Jews were familiar with this Jewish thought and they know (exactly were John was coming from). But how did one, receive "the mark" and what did it mean in Jewish thought? It means that those who "took the mark" willingly, on their "right hand"did whatever they did under the control of a ungodly religious and they acted in accordance.

The "mark" on the foreheads, was referring to the fact that Rome and their ideologies religions etc, were controlling the "minds and thoughts" of those who willingly followed this mind set. A perfect picture of this action in see in John. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold you King!" But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priest answered, "We have no king “but Caesar!" (John 19:14-15)

In John 11:48 we read, Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, What shall we do' For this Man works many signs. "If we let Him alone like this everyone will believe in Him, “And the Romans will come and take away both place and nation.” This is the meaning of the "mark of the beast. Those who "took the mark" in the foreheads, were referring to the fact that Rome and their ideologies religions etc, were controlling the minds and thoughts of those who willingly followed this mind set. All the Jews understood this typological picture.

The metaphors that John used from the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when we have not been taught to look for them. A good example of this is when a "mark" is spoken of, it should bring to mind as it did the Jews a previous reference to a mark, found in another place in the Old Testament.

The very same language about a “mark” is spoken of in a previous reference. It is found in Ezekiel 9:3-8. 3Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side; 4 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." 5 To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 "Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple 7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" And they went out and killed in the city. 8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?"

In this context, Jerusalem was also about to be besieged and destroyed (by the Babylonians). The Lord commanded an angel to place "a mark on the foreheads" of those that lamented the wickedness of the city. This angel is described as having "a writer's inkhorn at his side" (9:3), with which he was to mark the righteous.

It is clear from the context that this was not to be taken literally, as if an angel needed to carry a pen around with him and an inkhorn in which to dip it. This was a figurative symbolic way of showing that there was a specific class of people within the doomed city that were being set apart for preservation (9:6). We must allow Scripture to interpret itself whenever possible.

Since John was a Hebrew he used numerous Jewish metaphors out of the Old Testament in his book of Revelation. John thinks in Hebrew, and his writing naturally affected the vehicle of express.

In Revelation, a similar "mark" is placed on those whom God wishes to preserve. Revelation 7:2-8 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD ON THEIR FOREHEADS. And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

A "mark" is also received by those loyal to the beast, one which sets them apart for destruction (14:9-11) The mark is an emblem of ownership and submission. The mark is said to allow some to purchase, and others not to purchase (That's MONEY) it is said to bear the name, number & image of the beast. Remember when Christ asked: "Whose superscription is this"? Roman currency bore the “image of Caesar.” It is a well recorded fact that within the Roman Empire, nobody bought, sold or traded without Roman currency. This was the purpose of the moneychangers on the court of the gentiles. Since Rome was paid tribute from the Temple treasury, it had to be Rome coinage!

No one "can buy or sell" describes the ban the Pharisees put on Christian Jews who were considered apostates see Acts 21:21 where they accuse Paul of teaching apostasy against Juduism). In fact the law is still in the Tosefta: "We do not sell to them, nor do we buy from them. We do not take from them, nor do we give to them." (t Hullin 2:20). Having any interaction whatsoever with Christians back then could land a Jew in big trouble. A Rabbi b. Hyrkanos was put on trial for his life in the latter first century just because he "enjoyed" an interpretation of a scripture that came from a Christian Rabbi (b Abodah Zarah 16b-17a). Apparently the Christian heretics were considered "harlots" and Jews were stay "far from them."

Israel the vineyard of the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The apostle John sees a scarlet woman called “ Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” She is drunk on the blood of Christians the martyrs of Jesus. (Revelation 17: 5-6) John also uses the symbol of a women sitting on a scarlet beast to picture this arrangement between Israel and Roman to destroying the Church. (Revelation 17:2-3)

God gives us a way to identify the harlot the woman who drunks the blood of Christians the martyrs of Jesus. No Christians were ever martyrs for Jesus during the time of Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Jesus was not even born. It was fleshly Israel who killed his prophets and saints of Jesus. Act 7:52 "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 1Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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