When did Herod the Great die? It has long been assumed that he died in 4BC, and that Jesus was born in 4 BC. But chronology strongly suggests he was born on the feast of trumpets, 2 BC. This is approximately 1.25 years before 0. Ernest L. Martin suggests that the lunar eclipse Josephus mentions was actually January 10, 1 BC. But the eclipse of December 29, 1 BC has also been proposed. I think this is correct. That would mean Herod died about late January 1 AD. Less than two years after 1.25 BC. Jesus was actually a toddler when they fled to Egypt. In the paper, John Pratt suggests Jesus was born at Passover, which is incorrect. http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/herod/herod.html
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 2, 2014
Herod’s death
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Ernest L. Martin, Herod the Great
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 29, 2014
The earthquake of 1067AD
In 1067 there was a huge earthquake in Jerusalem that killed 25,000! It seems that God was frustrating attempts by the Jews to settle in their land and build the temple. It’s interesting that the two earthquakes of 1033 and 1067 were 1000 years after the crucifixion and the Roman war respectively. I wonder if many were thinking it was the end of the world?
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 27, 2014
The earthquake of 1033AD
On December 5, 1033 there was a massive earthquake in Jerusalem, which destroyed the western wall of the temple according to Ken Klein. This was 1,000 years after the earthquake of 33AD, when Jesus died. Most information says Jesus died on Friday, April 3, 33AD. It is impossible that Jesus died on a Friday, since that would put the resurrection on at least Monday, which is not supported by scripture. Perhaps April 3rd, 33AD was not a Friday? It bears more research.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Ken Klein, massive earthquake
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 25, 2014
Peter’s vision
“On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” So he invited them in and gave them lodging.” Acts 10:9-23
Many assume this vision is lifting the Hebrew prohibitions against pork and shellfish. But it is dealing with Peter’s hypocracy about not entering Gentile homes. It was strategically timed to be three and a half years after the cross, completing the seventieth week of Daniel. Cornelius was the first Gentile convert. I guess that’s trouble for me – I like ham and shellfish!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Peter
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 22, 2014
The woman at the well
“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
The Woman of Samaria
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:1-26
Why does it say he stopped by Jacob’s well near the plot of ground given to Joseph? Joseph was a type of Christ. Also, the sixth hour was noon. Why this detail?
Then, when Jesus asks the woman for a drink, she knows he’s a Jew. How? Was he wearing something unique? Had they already chatted?
She says that Jacob gave them (The Samaritans) this well. We’re these Samaritans direct descendants of Jacob?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: woman of Samaria
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 21, 2014
Sweet truth
The truth is sweet but bitter when it conflicts with what we’ve always ‘known’. Many people are very squeamish to admit they believe something that’s in the minority. An easy example might be the Earth centric universe. When Galileo surmised that the Sun was in the center, it caused quite a stir. The whole issue seems so quaint to us now. Or how about blood-letting? We laugh at such a ridiculous idea. Or how about burning witches at the stake? But let’s travel 500 years into the future. What beliefs do we have that will seem laughable? Even some of our Christian beliefs may prove wildly off.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 17, 2014
Simon the Samaritan
“Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city. Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.” Acts 8:4-25
This Simon was apparently one or the one who started mixing Babylonian idolatry in the Samaritan synagogues.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Samaria, Simon
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 17, 2014
Synagogue of Satan
“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Revelation 2:9
“Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.” Revelation 3:9
These synagogues of Satan are in contrast to:
“When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.” Acts 13:5
“In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.” Acts 14:1
“Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.” Acts 17:1
“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.” Acts 17:10
Evidently these synagogues of the Jews were in distinction to the synagogues of the Samaritans, who mixed Pagan idolatry with Jewish customs. These were those referred to as ‘synagogue of Satan’.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: synagogue of Satan
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 13, 2014
The Bible Outlawed!
In November 1793, France outlawed the bible! It was a disaster for society, so in June 1797, a bill was passed unanimously to restore religious freedom.
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:3-13
One fulfillment of the two witnesses (old and new testaments) being dead is France outlawing them. The great earthquake is the French Revolution. When the bible was again made legal, those evil persons were alarmed.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: biblestudyseattle | August 12, 2014
Peter Waldo
Peter Waldo was born in 1140, and was a rich merchant from
Lyons. He later dedicated his life and fortune to spreading the gospel outside the official confines of the church. He sponsored the first bible translation into the vernacular since Jerome’s translation into Latin around 400 AD. This was quite unsettling to the church, as the bible had been kept out of the people’s native tongue. So much so that church sought to stamp out the Waldenses.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Peter Waldo
Bible Study Seattle 