Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The two witnesses of Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses - These are the two olive tr...
The Two Witnesses - These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. Revelation 11:4 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Recently I sat through a “teaching” on Revelation 11, and everything pastor spoke about was a type or symbol of something else, primarily the Church. He even defined the two witnesses as the church and told us how their death for three and one half days represents our completeness and migration into eternity. My grandpa taught me a southern phrase I think appropriately describes this sermon, Hog Wash.
That being said, let's tear it apart and see what we get.
Revelation 11:3-12 ESV And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." (4) These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (5) And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. (6) They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (7) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, (8) and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. (9) For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, (10) and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. (11) But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. (12) Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
I work on the principle that the bible is essentially a Jewish book, therefore I have to apply a Jewish understanding to grasp what is going on. It is not that difficult, it is just that we either do not teach people that, or we function under the false premise that God has replaced Israel.
Matthew records Jesus as saying:
Matthew 5:17 ESV "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
If anything, the Mosaic law was fulfilled, therefore complete. Sin was paid for in the cross and death of Jesus Christ. Life burst forth anew as Jesus rose from the dead. With the Mosaic law out of the picture, what is left? The Abrahamic covenant, God's promise to Israel; the promise made to Abraham and his seed after him. We have been made heirs to that promise through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:13-16 MKJV For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is made of no effect; (15) because the Law works out wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith so that it might be according to grace; for the promise to be made sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
I do not know exactly where the idea came from, but something inspired me to consider that these two witnesses (prophets) show up at the beginning of the time of judgment; the seven-year period known as the time of Jacob's troubles. Why do I feel that way? The KJV gives me a clue in that they added a clarifying word, which we find in italics.
Revelation 11:3 KJV And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
There it is, the word power, however the Greek does not give us that word. What then does it give us? The Greek word didōmi which also means to grant or bestow.
Now you have to ask, what is God bestowing on these two guys, and why? We see the things that God bestows in terms of power and effect, but I do not want go into that now.
As to the identity of the two witnesses:
I strongly suspect that we are talking about Elijah and Enoch for they are the only two that we understand to not have died while upon the earth. Some try to make a claim for Moses, but we have scripture indicating that Satan was contending for the body of Moses. You don't contend for something that does not exist, therefore I firmly believe that Moses died.
Jude 1:9 KJV Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
As to the arrival time of these two witnesses:
Things we know for certain:
  • They prophecy 1260 days; that is 3 and 1/2 years.
    The time of judgment lasts 7 years, so there is a half way point.
  • They slay those that would try to hurt them with fire that comes out of their mouths, and they have power over the earth in many ways; a predominant aspect is the control over the rain. This is hugely significant as the Muslim Jesus (Isa) does the same thing, but apparently not until these two are dead and gone. (This is a get real moment here. Do you believe that God will tolerate mimicry at this point in time? While it is possible, it is not probable. Therefore I do not think that a false prophet with the impact this guy has, will be doing his magic show while the two witnesses are alive on earth.)
Revelation 11:5-6 KJV And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. (6) These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Their power and abilities take on a different dimension when you contrast them against the Islamic Jesus – the false prophet. He will be calling down fire as well, and the other hugely significant thing will be that he will cause it to rain. Why is that important? Because God's witnesses, have stopped the rain, at their will.
Take note also of the term “witnesses.” Are we not witnesses? As witnesses, what are we witnesses to? The life and power that is in Jesus Christ. So, these two witnesses will be doing the same thing. You should have begun to grasp something by this point, and that is that Satan has paralleled God with his deceptive imagery and personalities; this Islamic Jesus is no different.
As witnesses, these two are a demonstration of the power of God available to the believer in Christ Jesus. Yes, you understood me correctly. How do I know this? Look at what the prophet Joel had to say about the “believer” in the last days.
Joel 2:28-29 ESV "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (29) Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
If you consider yourself an astute student of the bible, then you would have read the context of this verse. Having done that, you now understand that Joel is prophesying about the last days of earth - the time during the seven-year period. And yet, Peter, stood addressing the crowd on the day of Pentecost, saying:
Acts 2:16-21 LITV But this is that which has been spoken by the prophet Joel, (17) "And it shall be" in the last days, God says, "I will pour from My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy;" "and your young men shall see visions," "and your old men shall dream dreams;" (18) "and also I will pour out My Spirit on My slaves and slave women in those days," and they shall prophesy. (19) "And I will give wonders in the heaven above," and miraculous signs "on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. (20) The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the" "coming of the great and glorious" "day of the Lord." (21) "And it shall be that everyone who shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Verses 19 and 20 do not really apply to us, except that these are indicators that we are in the time period being focused upon. If you have paid attention, those signs are here and have been for a while. As a side note: The last blood moon, that we will see in this lifetime, will come on the same day as the Jewish New Year, on September 14, 2015.
Since the Apostle Peter declared through the Holy Spirit, that the prophecy of Joel is fulfilled, doesn't that mean that we should be living in the authority of that prophecy? Absolutely. Do we? No. But we were talking about the two witnesses weren't we. At least, these two witnesses, are doing what Joel spoke of.
In several of my posts I have indicated, as though speaking to those left behind, that they should pay attention to the two witnesses. Why would that make any sense? Because with the church gone from the earth, the only ones left on earth would be those that were previously led astray, deceived, or were false teachers. They may not be best person to look to as you try to find a mentor. Barring EMP blasts, it seems that there will 24 hour coverage of the two witnesses. This is especially significant, as Islamic extremists will be trying to kill them. It has, as of this date 05/25/15 become clear that every major network is quickly turning their hearts in sympathy toward Islam and against believers in Jesus Christ.
Daniel 11:32 KJV ... but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
What do exploits look like? Consider some of the events of Daniel writings. Thrown to the lions they did not touch Daniel. And yet, having been pulled out and his accusers thrown in, the accusers were eaten before they hit the ground. Daniel's Hebrew brethren refused to bow to the idol statue of Nebuchadnezzar. The entire thing was a set up to kill them off. The fire was so hot that it killed the men throwing them in, and yet the flames only burned the ropes and did not as much as leave the smell of smoke on their clothes. A fourth man joined them in the fire, and it is generally understood that this was Jesus. Since these two witnesses are prophets, it should be known that Elijah called fire down from heaven. You have power because of the Holy Spirit, and you still have the name of Jesus. There is much power in that name. Those who work on behalf of the enemy will be trying to kill, but those that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Find a bible and learn of Samson, Jeptha, Gideon, Deborah, and the prophets. Open your mouth boldly; what is the worst that can happen?
  • when they shall have finished their testimony,” they will be killed by the beast (This is probably one of the points of confusion for this is another beast, also known as the false prophet)
Revelation 11:7 KJV And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
God has finished with them, they have done their job. Jesus walked this earth for about the same length of time, and he was dead about that length too. Rather symbolic isn't it?
If they have the power to burn up anyone that tries to them, then it might be appropriate to have them also function as a defense system while the temple is being built (I am just speculating.) And with their time on earth accomplished this could easily coordinate with the false prophet desecrating the temple.
  • After lying in the streets three and one half days they arise and God calls them home.
Revelation 11:11 KJV And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Because scripture tells us that the Saints of this time period rise up and do amazing things in the name of the Lord it seems to imply a freedom, but considering all that is obviously coming, the only freedom would be the freedom you express fearlessly.
Joel 2:28-32 KJV And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (29) And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (30) And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. (31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. (32) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Then the logical assumption is that there is something or someone who demonstrates what this power looks like. Look around you, can you find this level of belief in God’s power flowing through a human, anywhere. Not likely. Therefore I think it is safe to think that the two witnesses show up immediately.
A second motivation for believing that their arrival is immediate. The beast that comes up fights against them and overtakes them, killing them. The common usage of the term beast poses problems for those not paying attention. This is clearly a second beast personification, and carries multiple names; the false prophet being one of the them, the Antichrist is another.
If the first beast, a Muslim, is busy declaring peace then several other things have to be happening:
The temple gets rebuilt. There is no way that every Muslim will stand idly by while that happens. This may have a role in the fire that comes out of the mouths of the two witnesses. At the moment the Muslims have control of the temple mount area and actively persist in preventing Jews to go there. Clearly that would have to change, but not without some protest.
The second beast, the Muslim Jesus, takes a dominant policing role in Islam. The Islamic prophecies show him fighting against a person they call the Dijal, (their version of a false prophet.) Of course anyone outside of Islam, speaking authoritatively, would or could have that title. Because of the timing of Antichrist's unveiling and that he desecrates the newly built temple, indicates that the two witnesses are no longer here on earth, because he killed them at the half-way point.
One can make the assumptions about whether the prophets show up at the beginning, the middle, or somewhere between. Let's try to avoid that and look at what we know. Let's also try avoid statements that convey a difficulty in understanding because I am here to tell you that God meant for this book to be understood.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Jerusalem under the power of the Antichrist. Revelation 11:1-2

English: Jerusalem, Dome of the rock, in the background the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Deutsch: Jerusalem, Felsendom, im Hintergrund die Grabeskirche (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Jerusalem, Dome of the rock, in the b...
This was originally written in 2012, but suddenly it has become so relevant again. If you have followed me @ omharris.com, then you can find this post under the same name. I have edited it somewhat. God Bless.
I do not even know where to begin. This is like someone handing you a rope that was tied in knots and used to pull a car out of a ditch, and you are supposed to take the knots out. This fiasco started weeks ago and has only become worse.
Pastor Jeff's message started in Revelation 11 this particular night, and initiated with a question. I suppose the question is an effort to quell the tensions that people may generally be feeling considering how things are developing in the world, but it could also be an attempt at explaining why he fell off his bicycle.
The question was, “why do these things happen?” I assume that an aspect of the question has to do with life. That would make sense considering the horrors that Middle Eastern Christians are going through. Pastor is tossing out speculative options, one of which includes the option: that it is just our stupidity that causes things to happen. That opinion seems to be running rampant at church for the last couple of weeks. The problem with that assessment is that it excludes the possibility that God really is in control of everything. I realize that makes many of you unhappy, but here is why I believe God is in control:
Joshua 8:26 ESV But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.
The Hebrew word for devoted here is consecrated.
Joshua did not set the ground rules for this engagement, God did, and God consecrated Ai for destruction. In the Hebrew, the word charam is repeated twice and therefore indicates a complete and utter destruction. Even those in the village that had not come out to fight were killed. The idea you should pick up on is that God ordained this, just as he ordains everything, whether you like it or not. This includes Judas, Pharaoh, the Apostle Paul's imprisonment, and the events we find in the Revelation.

Revelation 11: 1-2

Jerusalem under the power of the Antichrist.

The last thing John hears that distinguishes the end of chapter 10 is: "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
In essence, this is another indicator that the church is gone from the earth as there is no mention of the church.
Thus we begin chapter 11.
Revelation 11:1-2 GW Then I was given a stick like a measuring stick (A reed). I was told, "Stand up and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count those who worship there. (2) But do not measure the temple courtyard. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
Given a reed – a measuring device, with instructions to measure all but the court of the gentiles.
Why?
As I began to write I had an image of a real-estate person come into my head. He walked through the building taking measurements for the owner. In Ezekiel's case, he watched as the owner did the measuring.
Why would “God's” temple be so quickly given away, especially since they just built it? We are given the answer, but do we understand it? It is given to the gentiles.

Why would He give it over to the gentiles?

This is God's temple, but is it?
King David was not allowed to build God a temple but his son Solomon was. The temple had been robbed by Israel's kings and turned into a corrupt commercial enterprise by the time Jesus walked its courts. In 1Samuel 4:21 God declared that the glory had departed from Israel because the ark was taken. It does not really matter because the glory was no longer in the ark, it was in the man Jesus Christ, and on the day he died the temple veil was ripped in two, exposing, in a sense, the emptiness of the holy place to the world and freeing God to be in those who chose to be his people.
As of this writing there is no temple, so yes, your assumption that the temple must be rebuilt is correct. For the Jews to rebuild it and hand it over to the gentiles seems preposterous. This is one of those moments when, as I was writing, the light came on. The Jews, and by extension the nation of Israel, will have a fresh sense of pride and security, but in what? God has always been trying to get them to look to him as their source. Having regained the land to rebuild, their pride will be looking inward once again. Can you imagine that.
Islam has had control of the temple mount long enough to believe it is theirs. Read some of the literature about the volatility surrounding the mount and you will find comments indicating that Muslims are willing to state that there was no temple there. Will Islam give up anything without a fight? Not for a moment, but they will for three and half years.
At this very moment the gentiles are struggling to gain control of Jerusalem. Here is a wild ride for you. November 2012 and the United Nations general assembly, by majority vote, granted the Palestinians statehood. From what I understand it is more a symbolic gesture at this point, but I can guarantee you that the can of worms has been opened and Israel is not voluntarily giving up Jerusalem as it's capital to any terrorist organizations. They (Israel), have openly challenged this “statehood” by moving forward with the building of more homes for Jews, and the Muslims have since posted no trespassing signs, indicating that the “UN decreed land” is Palestinian and that by illegally standing upon it, actions will be taken against you. So the obvious factor here is an increase in strife, contention, and a Muslim populace that has control of the temple mount. Muslims will not allow the Jews to even walk on the temple mount as it is considered holy ground for their mosque. It is now July of 2015 and Israel does have a legal right to the temple mount to pray, but look it up on the internet and you will find they need police protection if they choose to go there.
The third temple, and the Holy City, Jerusalem, are to be trampled by these Gentiles for forty-two months. That is three-and a half years. For 42 months Israel will hardly be recognizable. Therefore the only real purpose that we can attribute to such unusual action is that it fulfills God's plan. I suppose that I could also say that this is part of God's judgment against Israel. I can totally see this, but that does not mean I have to like it. I know how I react to things and it will be a slap in the face.

What do we know about those that trample and pollute the temple in the future?

Our natural assumptions, especially if you are religious, is to assume that the gentiles are primarily the Greeks or Romans. The Jews saw them as anyone outside of the covenant, or non-Jewish peoples. Essentially we are using the term Gentiles to describe the nations. Color and ethnicity have little to do with it.
Daniel chapter 9 gives us a little insight. After an extended prayer of repentance over himself, his people, and their lack of faith an angel comes and gives Daniel a look into the future.
I am going to give you two versions. The first translation baffled me, and was a part of why I could not understand end times events for the longest time.
Daniel 9:26 YLT And after the sixty and two weeks, cut off is Messiah, and the city and the holy place are not his, the Leader who hath come doth destroy the people; and its end is with a flood, and till the end is war, determined are desolations.
Although it did not clear things up for me I heard many speakers try to explain “these sixty-two weeks are weeks of years.” Sorry, but it only hurt my head more. Even my MacArthur's commentary adds, “these are weeks of years.” The following verse tends to say it clearest for me; “After the sixty-two sets of seven time periods...”. Now if I substitute the concept of time periods for years then I am talking about sixty-two sets of seven-year periods (62x7). In this case 434 years.
Daniel 9:26 ERV After the “sixty-two sets of seven time periods, the chosen one will be killed. He will be gone. Then the people of the future leader will destroy the city and the holy place. That end will come like a flood. War will continue until the end. God has ordered that place to be completely destroyed.
Analyze the passage slowly and it will make sense. Daniel 9:26 KJV “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off”. Compare that with the words that others used in ascertaining the consensus and you will discover that we are talking about Jesus Christ. The NIV called him: “the Anointed One. Scripture lays out Jesus death on the cross very clearly for us, and history backs it up. So we can say with a confidence that the first sentence is without a doubt talking about Jesus.
Many get caught up in anger, argument, and confusion as they scream out, “but the Roman Emperor Titus destroyed the temple in 70 A.D., so this passage, in reference to a far-flung, future event, is bogus and nonsense!” Not quite so. Josephus recorded the events of the day and makes another choice more viable. The legions in Jerusalem, according to Josephus, were composed of a few Italian troops while the majority were conscripts from locally conquered nations such as Syria and Arabia. Both of which despised the Jews that they were among.
It was the Assyrian troops, under the banner of Rome, that took it upon themselves to sack the temple. Hearing of this Titus ran among them and seeing as the fire they had set was one that could be stopped ordered them to stop their destructive actions and put the fire out. They ignored his order, escalated their actions, and brutally slaughtered Jews in hopes or obtaining any gold they might have swallowed.
Popular religious theory likes to hang their hat on the prince that is to come as being Italian, and therefore the pope himself. The problem with that thinking is that it was not Titus, the Roman general, that destroyed the temple, but the Assyrians. If we follow the path back to the destroyers, then we are talking about a leader that comes out of the middle-east, and is with little doubt Islamic. Are you paying attention to what is going in the Middle-east, and Islam's impact on the world around you. It is not good and it is coming to your neighborhood.
If you wish to pursue some in-depth scriptural backing for all this then look into: Mideast Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist, by Joel Richardson (Author)
Sixty-nine sets of seven time periods have come and gone, and yet there is no future leader as yet, so it is safe to say that this continues to speak of a future time. I suspect that time is just around the corner and not another 2200 years.
Daniel tells us that the people of the prince to come will destroy the city. That is a fairly blunt way of putting it. Revelation 11:2 in the King James version states that they will trample the city and overtake the temple, again.
Seventy weeks (490 years) have been fixed for your people and your holy town, to let wrongdoing be complete and sin come to its full limit, and for the clearing away of evil-doing and the coming in of eternal righteousness: so that the vision and the word of the prophet may be stamped as true, and to put the holy oil on a most holy place. Daniel 9:24 (BBE)
As I read Daniel 9:24 it sounds like God is fully intending to bring everything to an end.
What do we understand as the end? Christ's triumphant and deadly return to the earth, after which the millennial reign is set up, and the Holy Temple and city are re-established.
Again we are back to scratching our heads as what to do with this mystery time period. Problem is no one really knows, but we can speculate with reason because there are now so many other aspects falling into place.
Revelation calls the this prince/leader that is to come not only the beast (one of many) but also an Antichrist. Paul told us that anything that sets itself up against God, denying his power and life is an Antichrist, so the title fits.
1 John 2:22 NIV Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the Antichrist--denying the Father and the Son.

Who is John writing to?

  • Jews that will listen to what he has to say.
  • The church or the body of Christ depending upon your understanding.
  • The Gentiles or nations.
Why would John write to these groups?
  1. To increase knowledge.
    The world deems it self-defeating to give the enemy your game plan? Not when God is in control.
  2. As a warning.
    Every group is being warned. Look at the first four chapters of the Revelation and you clearly see the church body receiving warnings, but there is also an opportunity to change.
  3. To establish prophecy.
    What does that mean? Revelation 19:10 KJV “...worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” So it makes sense for us to give the testimony of Jesus as an aspect of our speaking to others about our life in Christ. The Jewish reader (the largest majority during this time was Jewish) understands that prophecy is demonstrated and established in patterns. Pattern = Validation, believability, and consistency.
So for chapter 11 to open with the measuring of the temple is hugely significant, especially to the Jewish community. Reading and learning the Law and the prophets was expected and a source of a father's pride. They knew the relationship to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 40:1-3 KJV In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. (2) In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. (3) And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
If time is to be no more, then the measuring of the New Jerusalem and the temple mark the immediacy of their integration here on earth.

after eating the scroll

John was told, after eating the scroll, that he was to tell many others. I believe that this is further evidence that the church is already gone, because it is not mentioned.
Revelation 10:11 KJV And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
The word before is Epi and carries meanings of “on, at, and before.” To speak “at” someone can be interpreted as an aggressive posture, but we certainly saw the apostle Paul do that at times. It seems that it is often the only way to break through some dense thinking.
In the case of Ezekiel he too is instructed to declare. How does this fit into the “pattern”?
Ezekiel 40:3-4 KJV And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. (4) And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
The Jews who read the Revelation were well aware of what Ezekiel had written about a city that was to come. Unfortunately, they did not recognize that it was the Messiah himself who did the measuring the first time. Even the idea that the Gentiles would trample on the Holy City was an understood concept. Jesus himself spoke of this.
Luke 21:24 KJV And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Isaiah 5:5 NIV Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.
In Isaiah, the example of the vineyard is Israel, and God himself told Israel that it will be trampled.
Let me reiterate something I said earlier. John's largest audience at the time of writing was Jewish Christians. They did not give up their Jewish understanding, and their training would have had them memorize the prophets I referenced. If you walk away with anything, remember this. This is a very Jewish book and God has not decided to give up on this people. Their understanding and culture is integral to our interpretation. The second thing I wish people could comprehend, this book was meant to be read and understood. Pursue knowledge and understanding. God will open the windows of heaven to those who wish to understand. Proverbs 9:10 tells us: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I suggest that you accept him as the Lord of your life. I am not very good at this evangelism stuff but try something like this. Jesus, I receive you into my life, and I accept this life that paid so dearly for me to receive. Thank you for bringing me into this family of God and that I get to spend eternity with you. Thank you for life and the peace that you bring into my life. Fill my life with your Holy Spirit as you have promised.


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