Though from the point of view of an increasing majority of archaeologists, there were always two distinct cultures in Canaan, a strong and prosperous northern kingdom and a weaker and poorer southern one, in the Biblical account the Israelite tribes were initially united in a single kingdom, and only later fractured into the northern and southern kingdoms; this fracture is blamed by the Bible on the jealousy of Ephraim over the growing power of Judah.This is a massive over simplification of the Biblical Narrative. It ignores the Judges period where the various Northern Tribes and Judah are all very distinct. As well as the division between north and south during the first 7 years of David’s reign. The Judges period also tended to have the dominant leaders be northern, coming from Ephraim or Manasseh.
This Blog is retired, for now check out this one. https://materialisteschatology.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
More Wikipedia BS attacking The Bible
The Trumpets and Bowls
Those who want to insist the Trumpets and Bowls are the same events from different angles, make a strong argument when they point out certain parallels between the 2nd, 3rd 5th, 6th and 7th of each.
Well they have no parallel for the 1st, they're not the same at all. And the 4th is the opposite effect. For 2 and 3 it's clear the Trumpets are only partial while the Bowls are complete. And for 5 and 6, the parallels are small superficial details of larger complex situations.
To a certain extend I don't think these parallels are coincidences. As I said before Trumpets are warnings, I think each Trumpet is a warning of each Bowl. And the Seven Angles may well be the same Angels connected to each. This is a conjecture, but I think maybe each Trumpet is 42 months before each Bowl.
Well they have no parallel for the 1st, they're not the same at all. And the 4th is the opposite effect. For 2 and 3 it's clear the Trumpets are only partial while the Bowls are complete. And for 5 and 6, the parallels are small superficial details of larger complex situations.
To a certain extend I don't think these parallels are coincidences. As I said before Trumpets are warnings, I think each Trumpet is a warning of each Bowl. And the Seven Angles may well be the same Angels connected to each. This is a conjecture, but I think maybe each Trumpet is 42 months before each Bowl.
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Lost Tribes and Bible Prophecy
I know all the arguments out there against thinking The Lost Tribes are a thing. I've heard it from Chuck Missler and Chris White.
I know that the Levites moved South when Jeroboam fell into idolatry. And Chuck insists we can infer everyone not Ok with the idolatry did the same. Even though it's repeatedly demonstrated that The North had a believing remnant. God never tells his people that as a rule they must leave a country if it's sinful, we should be trying to make our countries better. The Levites had a special purpose linked to The Temple.
I know that they claim Assyrian Records show the deportation to be not just incomplete but even it seems only a very small portion from select regions. I prefer to believe Biblical Records over Secular ones, which say people remained but not a whole lot. Most of those that did intermarried with Gentiles to become the Samaritans, who Jesus considered not Children of Israel.
See the problem with the point about the Assyrian Records is the Deportation happened in phases. Just as the Southern Kingdom's did. And those records cited deal with only one of what were at least 3 deportations. The records of the 722 BC (724 BC in Usser) deportation is what people focus on. But 1 Chronicles 5 alludes to earlier deportation of specifically the Trans-Jordan tribes, and additional deportations likely happened during Sennacherib's campaign against Hezekiah, or when they deported King Manasseh, the latter probably explains when Simeon was deported.
I know Josiah and Hezikiah and Asa had their special Second Passover where they invited northern Kingdom Survivors to come South and join them. There were far from complete, but Anna the Prophetess I think descends from those Asherites.
I know the return from captivity records people from every Tribe but Dan returning. That Return wasn't complete even for the Southern Tribes. After even the last major return in the days of Nehemiah a significant population remained behind.
I know that after the captivity The Bible often treats Judah and Israel as synonymous. But that is poetic in nature.
Even if all those points were as completely valid as they make them seem. The Fact remains that Bible Prophecy speaks of a reunification of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim as Eschatological/End Times.
Chuck Missler in his commentary on Ezekiel 37 actually goes on about all those points as if Ezekiel 37 proved his point, Judah and Joseph are one. The entire point of that reference is it's foretelling their reunification as part of that Prophecy. And I also disagree with Chuck's desire to remove the literal Bodily Resurrection from this passage. Yes it is about Israel's restoration as a Nation. But it's not 1948, it's them being restored in belief, during The Millennium, after the First Resurrection is finished. The references to the Resurrected David being there should leave that beyond dispute.
Now the thing neglected by people who tend to want to see this reunification as all flowers and roses is some of the Prophecies on this theme seem to predict more conflict between Judah and Ephraim, like they often had before. Isaiah 9-11 may or may not have an End Times second application, but Isaiah 28 is indisputably End Times. Zachariah 9-11 may also be of interest. But on Isaiah 9-11, those that see the End Times there usually think The Assyrian is The Antichrist. But in Ezekiel, The Assyrian is the Terrible of The Nations, who kills The Antichrist. Isaiah 11 seems to me to allude to both The Antichrist and The False Prophet when speaking of Ephraim. Jeremiah 4 and Micah 1 are also worth considering.
Jeremiah and Ezekiel when foretelling the Southern Kingdom's coming fall to Babylon compared it to the earlier fall of the Northern Kingdom. God is saying you fell into the same error so I'll do unto you as I did unto them. Well it's interesting that the captivity of Judah happened twice, it had a second fulfillment under The Romans.
Lots of Christians see an eschatological significance to much of Hosea. But they insist the End Times application must manifest in Israel as a whole, even though the book is about Ephraim.
Chris White makes a solid argument that The Antichrist might claim to be the non Biblical Messiah Ben-Joseph. I've talked on that before and how he leaves out the whole Northern Kingdom aspect of that. I also discus some of my thoughts on British Israelism there.
I also have a post where I respond to his view on Daniel 7.
Hosea 13:7-8 "Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. "
I don't think it's a coincidence that this uses the same three animals used of the first three Beasts in Daniel 7. Yes God uses them of himself coming upon Israel, but he often Judges Israel by foreign nations fighting wars with them. But if that's the case where is the fourth beast? I'm speculating it could be viewed as Ephraim, in the sense that Ephraim represents the Northern Kingdom in general.
I know that the Levites moved South when Jeroboam fell into idolatry. And Chuck insists we can infer everyone not Ok with the idolatry did the same. Even though it's repeatedly demonstrated that The North had a believing remnant. God never tells his people that as a rule they must leave a country if it's sinful, we should be trying to make our countries better. The Levites had a special purpose linked to The Temple.
I know that they claim Assyrian Records show the deportation to be not just incomplete but even it seems only a very small portion from select regions. I prefer to believe Biblical Records over Secular ones, which say people remained but not a whole lot. Most of those that did intermarried with Gentiles to become the Samaritans, who Jesus considered not Children of Israel.
See the problem with the point about the Assyrian Records is the Deportation happened in phases. Just as the Southern Kingdom's did. And those records cited deal with only one of what were at least 3 deportations. The records of the 722 BC (724 BC in Usser) deportation is what people focus on. But 1 Chronicles 5 alludes to earlier deportation of specifically the Trans-Jordan tribes, and additional deportations likely happened during Sennacherib's campaign against Hezekiah, or when they deported King Manasseh, the latter probably explains when Simeon was deported.
I know Josiah and Hezikiah and Asa had their special Second Passover where they invited northern Kingdom Survivors to come South and join them. There were far from complete, but Anna the Prophetess I think descends from those Asherites.
I know the return from captivity records people from every Tribe but Dan returning. That Return wasn't complete even for the Southern Tribes. After even the last major return in the days of Nehemiah a significant population remained behind.
I know that after the captivity The Bible often treats Judah and Israel as synonymous. But that is poetic in nature.
Even if all those points were as completely valid as they make them seem. The Fact remains that Bible Prophecy speaks of a reunification of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim as Eschatological/End Times.
Chuck Missler in his commentary on Ezekiel 37 actually goes on about all those points as if Ezekiel 37 proved his point, Judah and Joseph are one. The entire point of that reference is it's foretelling their reunification as part of that Prophecy. And I also disagree with Chuck's desire to remove the literal Bodily Resurrection from this passage. Yes it is about Israel's restoration as a Nation. But it's not 1948, it's them being restored in belief, during The Millennium, after the First Resurrection is finished. The references to the Resurrected David being there should leave that beyond dispute.
Now the thing neglected by people who tend to want to see this reunification as all flowers and roses is some of the Prophecies on this theme seem to predict more conflict between Judah and Ephraim, like they often had before. Isaiah 9-11 may or may not have an End Times second application, but Isaiah 28 is indisputably End Times. Zachariah 9-11 may also be of interest. But on Isaiah 9-11, those that see the End Times there usually think The Assyrian is The Antichrist. But in Ezekiel, The Assyrian is the Terrible of The Nations, who kills The Antichrist. Isaiah 11 seems to me to allude to both The Antichrist and The False Prophet when speaking of Ephraim. Jeremiah 4 and Micah 1 are also worth considering.
Jeremiah and Ezekiel when foretelling the Southern Kingdom's coming fall to Babylon compared it to the earlier fall of the Northern Kingdom. God is saying you fell into the same error so I'll do unto you as I did unto them. Well it's interesting that the captivity of Judah happened twice, it had a second fulfillment under The Romans.
Lots of Christians see an eschatological significance to much of Hosea. But they insist the End Times application must manifest in Israel as a whole, even though the book is about Ephraim.
Chris White makes a solid argument that The Antichrist might claim to be the non Biblical Messiah Ben-Joseph. I've talked on that before and how he leaves out the whole Northern Kingdom aspect of that. I also discus some of my thoughts on British Israelism there.
I also have a post where I respond to his view on Daniel 7.
Hosea 13:7-8 "Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. "
I don't think it's a coincidence that this uses the same three animals used of the first three Beasts in Daniel 7. Yes God uses them of himself coming upon Israel, but he often Judges Israel by foreign nations fighting wars with them. But if that's the case where is the fourth beast? I'm speculating it could be viewed as Ephraim, in the sense that Ephraim represents the Northern Kingdom in general.
Deuteronomy 33:17 "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns
of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the
earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of
Manasseh."
Jeremiah 31:18 " I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and
I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I
shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God."
And remember the Idols Jeroboam set up were Bulls, modeled after The Golden Calf. Bulls are horned animals, they don't have 10 but that's irreverent, they're a horned animal. The number being 10 could mean 10 nations that are claiming to be the Ten Lost Tribes.
I think the 4th World Empire is a hydride Empire, Edom/Rome (the Iron in both) and Ephraim/Dan. I think in the Statue of Daniel 2 Ephraim would be the Miry Clay. Many have interpreted the Miry Clay to represent the "Barbarian" tribes mingling with Rome as the Western Empire fell apart. Those are the same tribes often identified as being entirely or at least partly descended from The Lost Tribes in British Israelism/Franco Israelism/Britam. Usually those two Biblical connections for them aren't made by the same commentator however, (Example: Britam sees the Miry Clay as Ishmaelites).
Chris White continues to be skeptical of seeing the European Union as the Fourth Beast because it has more then 10 nations. I've posted one response to his objections before. But I now have a better one. The Ten Horns are not the entire confederation, only part of it as they'ree only part of The Beast.
I think the Ten Horns are the nine European nations Britam claims are Israelite nations plus Germany (who Britam wants to see Edom but they're really more like the other supposedly Israelite nations then the Edomite ones). The iron teeth are Edom/Rome and hence Italy, Spain, Portugal and Western Mediterranean Islands like Malta and Corsica. And the nails/claws of brass/bronze going back to Daniel 2 would be Modern Greece, and perhaps to a lesser extent Turkey/Cyprus. I know people like to list all kinds of reasons Turkey will never become part of the EU, but militarily speaking it effectively already is via it's involvement in both the WEU and NATO.
That even those don't cover the entire EU (mostly it's eastern Europe that is left out) isn't a big deal because they're still not the entire body of The Beast clearly, but they're the key clues emphasized.
Chris White continues to be skeptical of seeing the European Union as the Fourth Beast because it has more then 10 nations. I've posted one response to his objections before. But I now have a better one. The Ten Horns are not the entire confederation, only part of it as they'ree only part of The Beast.
I think the Ten Horns are the nine European nations Britam claims are Israelite nations plus Germany (who Britam wants to see Edom but they're really more like the other supposedly Israelite nations then the Edomite ones). The iron teeth are Edom/Rome and hence Italy, Spain, Portugal and Western Mediterranean Islands like Malta and Corsica. And the nails/claws of brass/bronze going back to Daniel 2 would be Modern Greece, and perhaps to a lesser extent Turkey/Cyprus. I know people like to list all kinds of reasons Turkey will never become part of the EU, but militarily speaking it effectively already is via it's involvement in both the WEU and NATO.
That even those don't cover the entire EU (mostly it's eastern Europe that is left out) isn't a big deal because they're still not the entire body of The Beast clearly, but they're the key clues emphasized.
In the closing verses of Obadiah, the prophecy of the finale Destruction of Edom seems to allude to some Judgment coming on Ephraim/Samaria at the same time.
I made a post arguing against the Jerusalem as Mystery Babylon view. What I have considered since then is that maybe Mystery Babylon could be Samaria, looking at passages like Micah 1. Or maybe a different Northern Kingdom Capital within the land allotted to Ephraim and/or Manasseh.
In Hosea God says he shall avenge the Blood of Jezreel against the House of Jehu. Jehu I've argued could be a type of The Antichrist.
Chris White has argued that Armageddon in Revelation might refers to Hadadrimmon rather then Megiddo. Zechariah 12:11 refers to both, and both like Jezreel are in or by the Valley of Jezreel.
In Revelation 16 Armageddon is the gathering place, not where the battle itself is. I think maybe The Beast gathers his armies after the 6th Bowl and then marches south. Attacks whatever city Mystery Babylon is in the Mountains of Samaria (could that be why it's on 7 hills?) because we're told The beast will turn on The Harlot. Then he marches on Jerusalem, but Jerusalem he won't destroy because Jesus comes back to defend Jerusalem.
Follow Up Post
Follow Up Post
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Preterists and Pre-Tirbulationists
I find it amusing when I see people who hold a Preterist and/or Amillenial view of Revelation/Matthew 24 joining the trendy chorus of Post-Tribbers in mocking Pre-Trib and going on about how there is no mass vanishing in The Bible.
However the basic fallacy that lies behind the Secret Rapture doctrine, That Christ's Coming described in 1 Thessalonians 4 could go mostly unnoticed by The World, that he won't be seen by every single living person, is needed for Preterism to work too.
But Pre-Tribbers at least see it as a world wide event, while Preterists mostly think what was visible to the world was only seen in Jerusalem. Citing Supernatural events described by Josephus and Tacitus and The Yossipon (I could do a whole post on Yossipon if an English version was available to the masses).
Preterism views the 70th Week of Daniel as the 7 years of the First Jewish-Roman War. With the Abomination of Desolation event happening in it's 4th year in 70 AD. One Preterist website I was reading cited historical references to what they view as the "Spiritual Resurrection" (reading this website made me realize how Gnostic full preterism tends to be) fulfilling 1 Corinthians 15, places them in 66 AD.
And some will add an event Cassius Dio and Suetonius record Nero seeing in Greece. This must have been earlier then 70 AD.
One event they refereed to happened on Pentecost 66 AD, at the start of the War. So they're even specifically Pre-Trib in timing.
And this same Website refereed to multiple returns of Jesus during the 60s and 70s AD. So they don't even agree with those Post-Tribbers on only one "Second Coming".
All those three basic Biblical points of contention they are with Pre-Trib on more then any other Futurist model. All they share with Post-Trib is Replacement theology. And that makes no sense, all Futurists who believe in Two Comings believe it's because he has two covenant people to come back for. These Preterists have Jesus doing all this back and forth for not much of a reason at all.
On the subject of the Pentecost incident recorded by Josephus, Tacitus and Yossipon (the latter two are merely adapting Josephus to suit their own agendas so no they aren't independent witnesses).
Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.5.3.
In this same account, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread before this Pentecost Josephus says.
In Jerome's commentary on Matthew he repeatedly mentions differences that Gospel has in the version used by a sect of Jewish Christians (who's over all views he may or may not be misrepresenting) he called the Nazarenes or Ebonites. When discussing Matthew 27:51 he says this Gospel claimed the lintel of The Temple was broken and split.
The Talmud actually claims the Veil was Torn because Titus slashed it with his Sword, in a passage Preterists love to quote as proving he committed an Abomination of Desolation. So there is a precedent for the concept that some people wanted to move things that happened to the Temple in 30 AD up to 70 AD.
However the basic fallacy that lies behind the Secret Rapture doctrine, That Christ's Coming described in 1 Thessalonians 4 could go mostly unnoticed by The World, that he won't be seen by every single living person, is needed for Preterism to work too.
But Pre-Tribbers at least see it as a world wide event, while Preterists mostly think what was visible to the world was only seen in Jerusalem. Citing Supernatural events described by Josephus and Tacitus and The Yossipon (I could do a whole post on Yossipon if an English version was available to the masses).
Preterism views the 70th Week of Daniel as the 7 years of the First Jewish-Roman War. With the Abomination of Desolation event happening in it's 4th year in 70 AD. One Preterist website I was reading cited historical references to what they view as the "Spiritual Resurrection" (reading this website made me realize how Gnostic full preterism tends to be) fulfilling 1 Corinthians 15, places them in 66 AD.
And some will add an event Cassius Dio and Suetonius record Nero seeing in Greece. This must have been earlier then 70 AD.
One event they refereed to happened on Pentecost 66 AD, at the start of the War. So they're even specifically Pre-Trib in timing.
And this same Website refereed to multiple returns of Jesus during the 60s and 70s AD. So they don't even agree with those Post-Tribbers on only one "Second Coming".
All those three basic Biblical points of contention they are with Pre-Trib on more then any other Futurist model. All they share with Post-Trib is Replacement theology. And that makes no sense, all Futurists who believe in Two Comings believe it's because he has two covenant people to come back for. These Preterists have Jesus doing all this back and forth for not much of a reason at all.
On the subject of the Pentecost incident recorded by Josephus, Tacitus and Yossipon (the latter two are merely adapting Josephus to suit their own agendas so no they aren't independent witnesses).
Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.5.3.
"Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence.""Tacitus
“The doors of the holy place abruptly opened, a superhuman voice was heard to declare that the gods were leaving it, and in the same instant came the rushing tumult of their departure.”Sepher Yosippon, Trans. Dr. Steven Bowman, Ch. 87, Burning of the Temple, cited in Edward E. Stevens, First Century Events in Chronological Order: From the Birth of Christ to the Destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, (Pre-publication manuscript, 2008), 59-60.
“When the holiday of Shavouth came in those days, during the night the priests heard within the Temple something like the sound of men walking, the sound of many men’s marching feet walking within the Temple, and a terrible and mighty voice was heard speaking, ‘Let’s go and leave this House.’”This doesn't seem like a Resurrection to me, but the divine presence leaving The Temple. Josephus does not claim to have been an eyewitness to this event. He was near Jerusalem but not in her at the time. The Talmud says the Door of The Temple suddenly flew open 40 years before The Temple was destroyed, same year I believe Jesus was Crucified. Maybe Josephus had deliberately changed or been mislead on when this happened. Maybe this is the divine presence of The Holy Spirit leaving the Temple made of Stone and entering The Body of Christ on the Pentecost of 30 AD. After the Veil was Torn.
In this same account, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread before this Pentecost Josephus says.
Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner [court of the] temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in the temple came hereupon running to the captain of the temple, and told him of it; who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty was able to shut the gate again.Before this it also talked about a strange Light in the Temple at the ninth hour, and a heifer giving birth to a Lamb. Both signs that were originally interpreted as positive things but that Josephus insists the learned men knew were signs of disaster.
In Jerome's commentary on Matthew he repeatedly mentions differences that Gospel has in the version used by a sect of Jewish Christians (who's over all views he may or may not be misrepresenting) he called the Nazarenes or Ebonites. When discussing Matthew 27:51 he says this Gospel claimed the lintel of The Temple was broken and split.
The Talmud actually claims the Veil was Torn because Titus slashed it with his Sword, in a passage Preterists love to quote as proving he committed an Abomination of Desolation. So there is a precedent for the concept that some people wanted to move things that happened to the Temple in 30 AD up to 70 AD.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The Census of Luke 2
Is a problem to chronology only if you forget Luke was written in
Greek not Latin. Syria in classical Greek writings often refers to more
then just the Roman province given that name, same as Asia, Africa and
Libya did. It often included modern Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and parts
of Modern Turkey like Commenge and Cilicia specifically.
The word translated Governor here (Hegemoneuo Strongs#2230) is first NOT whatever his actual Roman title was, but a Greek word, and 2nd it’s not even a Noun hence not even a title, it’s a Verb which means “to rule, command”. A more accurate translation could conceivably be “Was Governing in Syria”. The word is used in Luke and Acts for Pilate (Who was Prefect, never a title Quirinus held) and other latter Roman Procurators.
Josephus mentioned that actually there were “governors” (plural) in Syria during the rule of Saturninus. (Josephus, Antiquities XVI.280, 285, 357, 361.) While during the governorships of Titius and Quintilius Varus, Josephus spoke of a “governor” (singular), (Josephus, Antiquities XVII.89.) but during the administration of Saturninus why does he mention the plural “governors”?
From about 5-3 BC or 12-1 BC Quirinus was leading a military campaign in Galatia and Cilicia against the Homonadenses, we’re not certain what title he held while doing this, but either way he would have qualified as a “Governing in Syria” at this time. Quirinus was rector or adviser to Gaius Caesar when holding Armenia (Tacitus, Ann. 3:48). The nearness of Syria to Armenia was probably a reason for choosing Qurinus, Syria’s governor, to be the young prince’s adviser.
Based on what Josephus says of the History surrounding Herod’s death, the Legate of Syria at the time I date the Nativity was Saturninus (Agreeing with Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, ch.8.) And Varus at the time The Magi came to Jerusalem. Quirinius’ war against the Homonadenses, for which Tacitus singled him out for praise, has been called a “special command.” ( Hugh Last, quoted by Rice Holmes in “Architect of the Roman Empire,” II.89, note 1.) This status is also reflected in an inscription which mentions Quirinius “as holding an honorary municipal office at Antioch-by-Pisidia.” (Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament, 165.) And it was certainly a special command for Quirinius when he became rector of the young Gaius Caesar when Gaius acquired residential authority at Antioch over the eastern provinces in A.D. 1. (Tacitus, Annals, III.48.) Gaius was probably not strictly called the governor of Syria at the time (C.E. 1 to 4) and it may well be that Quirinius was responsible for running the everyday affairs of government.
Tacitus said that Quirinius was one having “considerable talents for business.” This could account for his selection as being “guardian” of Gaius who was the heir to the Empire. Quirinius already had experience in Syria by administering the censuses Tertullian talked about in 3/2 B.C. which took place during the time when Saturninus was governor. All these references indicate special commands for Quirinius throughout his entire governmental career. There are other historical records about Quirinius which show his special assignments.
Luke mentions Herod at this time just like Matthew does, if Luke had the 6 AD Census in mind he’d have also mentioned Coponius who was appointed at that same time and was far more relevant to Judea directly.
Census is another example of a term often used more loosely by some then others, none of the normal Roman Censuses happen in 3 or 2 BC when I date the Nativity, but isn’t the context Luke implies itself Abnormal? Luke implies an Empire wide event, the 6 AD Census was Local only.
2 BC marked the 750th Anniversary of Rome’s founding according to Roman Tradition, as well as the 25th Anniversary of Octavian being proclaimed Augustus. On February 5, 2BC, the Senate and the people of Rome awarded him the highest of all decorations: Pater Patriae (Father of the Country). In preparation for this the previous year an “Oath of Obedience” to Augustus was carried out. Such an Oath could have by some fit the basic definition of a Census.
15 months before gives us October of 3 BC, since people would have been given advance warning, it’s easy to see this putting Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem on September 11th 3 BC, the 1st of Tishri that year and thus the day I believe Jesus was born. And on that day Jupiter was in Conjunction in Regulus the brightest Star of the Constellation Leo The Lion, a very rare Astronomical event, that Astrologers would easily have interpreted as making the Birth of a King, since both that Planet and that Constellation are affiliated with Kingship, and in Hebrew terms The Lion is Judah.
*A breviarium of the empire was ordered by Augustus (Tacitus, Annals 1:11), giving a return of its population and resources.
*An inscription with such an oath of obedience has been found in Paphlagonia, and is clearly dated to 3BC [Lewis & Reinhold, Roman Civilization, vol. II, pps. 34 and 35, Harper Torchbooks Edition has these words, “taken by the inhabitants of Paphlagonia and the Roman businessmen dwelling among them”, and importantly, the whole of the population were required to swear it: “The same oath was sworn by all the people in the land at the altars of Augustus in the temples of Augustus in the various districts”].
*Augustus received his most prestigious title, the Pater Patriae, on February 5, 2BC, and wrote of it in his Res Gestae: “While I was administering my thirteenth consulship the senate and the equestrian order and the entire Roman people gave me the title Father of my Country” [VI, 35].
*Official censuses involving taxation took place every 20 years (in 28BC and 8BC), but the next official census was in 14AD, which was 21 years after 8BC and not 20 as one would expect. Could it be that 2BC was dropped out of the yearly taxation in celebration of Augustus’ Silver Jubilee?
*The year 2BC, however, was reckoned so glorious a new beginning for Augustus and Rome that the imperial taxation and evaluation ceased during that year if people would give their oath of allegiance to Augustus as their Pater Patriae and universal lord. This could well be the case and explain the 1-year discrepancy (by the way, every five years there was a registration which updated individual Roman citizenship, and these archives were kept in their own native cities or other important “Roman centers” throughout the Empire [see Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament, pps. 147ff]).
* Orosius, in the fifth century, also said that Roman records of his time revealed that a census was indeed held when Augustus was made "the first of men"--an apt description of his award "Father of the Country"--at a time when all the great nations gave an oath of obedience to Augustus (6:22, 7:2). Orosius dated the census to 3 BC.
*The Armenian historian, Moses of Khorene, said that the native sources he had available showed that in the second year of Abgar, king of Osroene (3BC), the census brought Roman agents “to Armenia, bringing the image of Augustus Caesar, which they set up in every temple” [History of the Armenians, trans. R.W. Thomson, Book II, 26].
The word translated Governor here (Hegemoneuo Strongs#2230) is first NOT whatever his actual Roman title was, but a Greek word, and 2nd it’s not even a Noun hence not even a title, it’s a Verb which means “to rule, command”. A more accurate translation could conceivably be “Was Governing in Syria”. The word is used in Luke and Acts for Pilate (Who was Prefect, never a title Quirinus held) and other latter Roman Procurators.
Josephus mentioned that actually there were “governors” (plural) in Syria during the rule of Saturninus. (Josephus, Antiquities XVI.280, 285, 357, 361.) While during the governorships of Titius and Quintilius Varus, Josephus spoke of a “governor” (singular), (Josephus, Antiquities XVII.89.) but during the administration of Saturninus why does he mention the plural “governors”?
From about 5-3 BC or 12-1 BC Quirinus was leading a military campaign in Galatia and Cilicia against the Homonadenses, we’re not certain what title he held while doing this, but either way he would have qualified as a “Governing in Syria” at this time. Quirinus was rector or adviser to Gaius Caesar when holding Armenia (Tacitus, Ann. 3:48). The nearness of Syria to Armenia was probably a reason for choosing Qurinus, Syria’s governor, to be the young prince’s adviser.
Based on what Josephus says of the History surrounding Herod’s death, the Legate of Syria at the time I date the Nativity was Saturninus (Agreeing with Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, ch.8.) And Varus at the time The Magi came to Jerusalem. Quirinius’ war against the Homonadenses, for which Tacitus singled him out for praise, has been called a “special command.” ( Hugh Last, quoted by Rice Holmes in “Architect of the Roman Empire,” II.89, note 1.) This status is also reflected in an inscription which mentions Quirinius “as holding an honorary municipal office at Antioch-by-Pisidia.” (Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament, 165.) And it was certainly a special command for Quirinius when he became rector of the young Gaius Caesar when Gaius acquired residential authority at Antioch over the eastern provinces in A.D. 1. (Tacitus, Annals, III.48.) Gaius was probably not strictly called the governor of Syria at the time (C.E. 1 to 4) and it may well be that Quirinius was responsible for running the everyday affairs of government.
Tacitus said that Quirinius was one having “considerable talents for business.” This could account for his selection as being “guardian” of Gaius who was the heir to the Empire. Quirinius already had experience in Syria by administering the censuses Tertullian talked about in 3/2 B.C. which took place during the time when Saturninus was governor. All these references indicate special commands for Quirinius throughout his entire governmental career. There are other historical records about Quirinius which show his special assignments.
Luke mentions Herod at this time just like Matthew does, if Luke had the 6 AD Census in mind he’d have also mentioned Coponius who was appointed at that same time and was far more relevant to Judea directly.
Census is another example of a term often used more loosely by some then others, none of the normal Roman Censuses happen in 3 or 2 BC when I date the Nativity, but isn’t the context Luke implies itself Abnormal? Luke implies an Empire wide event, the 6 AD Census was Local only.
2 BC marked the 750th Anniversary of Rome’s founding according to Roman Tradition, as well as the 25th Anniversary of Octavian being proclaimed Augustus. On February 5, 2BC, the Senate and the people of Rome awarded him the highest of all decorations: Pater Patriae (Father of the Country). In preparation for this the previous year an “Oath of Obedience” to Augustus was carried out. Such an Oath could have by some fit the basic definition of a Census.
Josephus mentioned that an oath of allegiance was demanded by Augustus about twelve or fifteen months before the death of Herod [Antiquities, XVII, 41-45 “There was moreover a certain sect of Jews who valued themselves highly for their exact knowledge of the law; and talking much of their contact with God, were greatly in favor with the women {of Herod’s court}. They are called Pharisees. They are men who had it in their power to control kings; extremely subtle, and ready to attempt anything against those whom they did not like. When therefore the whole Jewish nation took an OATH to be faithful to Caesar, and [to] the interests of the king, these men, to the number of above six thousand, refused to swear. The king laid a fine upon them. Pheroras’ wife {Herod’s sister-in-law} paid the money for them. They, in requital for her kindness {for they were supposed, by their great intimacy with God, to have attained to the gift of prophecy}, prophesied that God having decreed to put an end to the government of Herod and his race, the kingdom would be transferred to her and Pheroras and their children. Salome {Herod’s sister}, who was aware of all that was being said, came and told the king of them. She also told him that many of the court {of Herod} were corrupted by them. Then the king put to death the most guilty of the Pharisees, and Bagoas the eunuch, and one Carus, the most beautiful young man about the court, and the great instrument in the king’s unlawful pleasures. He {Herod} likewise slew everyone in his own family, who adhered to those things which were said by the Pharisee. But Bagoas had been elevated by them and was told that he should someday be called father and benefactor of the {new} king, who was to be appointed according to their prediction, for this king would have all things in his power, and that he {the king} would give him {Bogoas} the capacity of marriage, and of having children of his own”].Herod's Death is often miss-dated, I’m not go into that in detail here, but he died in January of 1 BC, not in 4 BC. 4 B.C. is the year his killed his Eldest son and his remaining Sons where appointed their various Tetrachies, causing the confusion since their reigns are dated from then.
15 months before gives us October of 3 BC, since people would have been given advance warning, it’s easy to see this putting Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem on September 11th 3 BC, the 1st of Tishri that year and thus the day I believe Jesus was born. And on that day Jupiter was in Conjunction in Regulus the brightest Star of the Constellation Leo The Lion, a very rare Astronomical event, that Astrologers would easily have interpreted as making the Birth of a King, since both that Planet and that Constellation are affiliated with Kingship, and in Hebrew terms The Lion is Judah.
*A breviarium of the empire was ordered by Augustus (Tacitus, Annals 1:11), giving a return of its population and resources.
*An inscription with such an oath of obedience has been found in Paphlagonia, and is clearly dated to 3BC [Lewis & Reinhold, Roman Civilization, vol. II, pps. 34 and 35, Harper Torchbooks Edition has these words, “taken by the inhabitants of Paphlagonia and the Roman businessmen dwelling among them”, and importantly, the whole of the population were required to swear it: “The same oath was sworn by all the people in the land at the altars of Augustus in the temples of Augustus in the various districts”].
*Augustus received his most prestigious title, the Pater Patriae, on February 5, 2BC, and wrote of it in his Res Gestae: “While I was administering my thirteenth consulship the senate and the equestrian order and the entire Roman people gave me the title Father of my Country” [VI, 35].
*Official censuses involving taxation took place every 20 years (in 28BC and 8BC), but the next official census was in 14AD, which was 21 years after 8BC and not 20 as one would expect. Could it be that 2BC was dropped out of the yearly taxation in celebration of Augustus’ Silver Jubilee?
*The year 2BC, however, was reckoned so glorious a new beginning for Augustus and Rome that the imperial taxation and evaluation ceased during that year if people would give their oath of allegiance to Augustus as their Pater Patriae and universal lord. This could well be the case and explain the 1-year discrepancy (by the way, every five years there was a registration which updated individual Roman citizenship, and these archives were kept in their own native cities or other important “Roman centers” throughout the Empire [see Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament, pps. 147ff]).
* Orosius, in the fifth century, also said that Roman records of his time revealed that a census was indeed held when Augustus was made "the first of men"--an apt description of his award "Father of the Country"--at a time when all the great nations gave an oath of obedience to Augustus (6:22, 7:2). Orosius dated the census to 3 BC.
*The Armenian historian, Moses of Khorene, said that the native sources he had available showed that in the second year of Abgar, king of Osroene (3BC), the census brought Roman agents “to Armenia, bringing the image of Augustus Caesar, which they set up in every temple” [History of the Armenians, trans. R.W. Thomson, Book II, 26].
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
The Gospel Preached unto all Kingdoms, and Revelation 14
Matthew 24:14 at the end of describing the Pre-Abominaiton persecution says.
Both Chuck Missler (Pre-Trib) and Chris White (Pre-Wrath) see a correlation to Revelation 14:6.
Going back to what I argued before, about the Resurrection and The Rapture actually possibly being separated by 10 days (Trumpets to Yom Kippur). I said there I was inclined to see Revelation 14 as during this period.
Remembering that "angel" simply means messenger. It could be the angels here are resurrected Church Believers.
I want to say something about Revelation 14:8 that Post-Tirbbers might use to back up their non-chronological view of Revelation.
The full context and intent here is clearly that this "Angel" is giving a Prophecy of Babylon's coming Fall. Not simply telling everyone what they already know because they just saw it happen.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."On it's own sounds like it's foretelling The Church spreading The Gospel. Completing the Great Commission finally in the End Times.
Both Chuck Missler (Pre-Trib) and Chris White (Pre-Wrath) see a correlation to Revelation 14:6.
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people".It's funny first because it actually doesn't fit either of their Rapture models to have a Pre-Rapture event in Revelation 14.
Going back to what I argued before, about the Resurrection and The Rapture actually possibly being separated by 10 days (Trumpets to Yom Kippur). I said there I was inclined to see Revelation 14 as during this period.
Remembering that "angel" simply means messenger. It could be the angels here are resurrected Church Believers.
I want to say something about Revelation 14:8 that Post-Tirbbers might use to back up their non-chronological view of Revelation.
"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."I could see someone trying to argue this proved Babylon already fell even though it's Fall is described latter. God (and his Prophets) often uses past tense language in reference to future events(commonly known as “prophetic perfect”; example, Isaiah 53; 21:1-10).
The full context and intent here is clearly that this "Angel" is giving a Prophecy of Babylon's coming Fall. Not simply telling everyone what they already know because they just saw it happen.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Daniel 12 on The Ressurection
Daniel 11 seems to end with the death of The Antichrist. Daniel 12 begins with "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people:" Which I feel clearly corresponds to the War in Heaven and Satan's Fall in Revelation 12. Then it says "there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation
even to that same time:" Which is how Jesus describes the time immediately after The Abomination of Desolation.
Then we read "and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." There are a few Heavenly Books. I feel like this probably is not the Lamb's Book of Life. Perry Stone, while Pre-Trib if I recall correctly, has a study on the Book of Remembrance from Malachi and how he feels that backs up connecting The Rapture to the feast of Trumpets.
That verse 2 says "many" rather then "all" of the dead are raised makes me feel like, following what's before, this is a Rapture reference and not a general statement of the entire Resurrection. But the Problem with that theory is some of the Damned are raised here too.
But I think back to my argument that The Beast and False Prophet being cast alive into the Lake of Fire in Revelation 19 means their both early partakers of the Second Resurrection. I believe The Antichrist will have both a Death and Resurrection that the End Times world will witnesses. And The False Prophet will be Judas.
Chris White argues based on the Strong Delusion from 2 Thessalonians 2 that The Anitchrist's resurrection is something God himself makes happen.
Given that Judas is kind of defined as part of The Church even though he wasn't Saved, which is why Matthias had to take his office. With what I argued in my Four Horsemen study, it could work to maybe speculate that the person who turns out to be The Antichrist could be a similar situation.
All that could well mean it'd make sense to see their resurrections as happening at the same time as or very close to The Resurrection of The Church.
All of this strongly backs up that a Mid-Seventieth Week Rapture model is what Daniel 12 points to.
Then we read "and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." There are a few Heavenly Books. I feel like this probably is not the Lamb's Book of Life. Perry Stone, while Pre-Trib if I recall correctly, has a study on the Book of Remembrance from Malachi and how he feels that backs up connecting The Rapture to the feast of Trumpets.
That verse 2 says "many" rather then "all" of the dead are raised makes me feel like, following what's before, this is a Rapture reference and not a general statement of the entire Resurrection. But the Problem with that theory is some of the Damned are raised here too.
But I think back to my argument that The Beast and False Prophet being cast alive into the Lake of Fire in Revelation 19 means their both early partakers of the Second Resurrection. I believe The Antichrist will have both a Death and Resurrection that the End Times world will witnesses. And The False Prophet will be Judas.
Chris White argues based on the Strong Delusion from 2 Thessalonians 2 that The Anitchrist's resurrection is something God himself makes happen.
Given that Judas is kind of defined as part of The Church even though he wasn't Saved, which is why Matthias had to take his office. With what I argued in my Four Horsemen study, it could work to maybe speculate that the person who turns out to be The Antichrist could be a similar situation.
All that could well mean it'd make sense to see their resurrections as happening at the same time as or very close to The Resurrection of The Church.
All of this strongly backs up that a Mid-Seventieth Week Rapture model is what Daniel 12 points to.
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