Bible Study Seattle

What was the star that brought the magi to Bethlehem? Ernest L. Martin makes a good case that it was the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter June 17th, 2 BC. Many important astronomical signs appeared from May 3 BC to December 2 BC. This fits well with the fact that Jesus was born on the Feast of Trumpets 2 BC. Ernest L. Martin says it was 3 BC, but this may be due to a zero year miscalculation. There is no zero year, only a zero point. His book is titled, “The Star That Astonished the World.”

“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” Revelation 13:11-18

This second beast is the United States. It was in its ascendancy as Papacy was in decline when the Pope was put in jail in 1798-1799. Verse twelve says that the first beast will be revived by the second. Papacy will be revived by the United States. Personally, this seems impossible to me in 2014. But maybe things will change quickly. Maybe in 50 years or so, such a unification, a forced unification will happen. This may coincide with the mark of the beast. 666 carries a monetary element. The Elites of our day (2014) are actively working towards a cashless society. But it will take a little time. Perhaps when all are forced to buy and sell only using one system worldwide, will there also be power to enforce a unitary religious system worldwide. Personally, I would guess this a couple decades out.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-20

In the first century, trees were taxed. If you had a worthless tree that produced only bad fruit, you would cut it down, so you wouldn’t have to pay taxes on a tree that produced nothing. Jesus used this as an illustration for the Judgment. Trees have a certain season to produce fruit. But after a while, that season passes. So it will be at the judgment. The season for us to produce fruits of the spirit will be several centuries long, but not eternal.

Two passages seem to conflict. One states that two crucified with Jesus jeered at him. Another account says that one of the two spoke kind words to Jesus, asking him to remember him in the kingdom. How do we resolve this? The first clue is that one account in the Greek states they were robbers. The other account actually says criminals. The solution is that there were four crucified with Jesus. Two were crucified with Jesus, then two more later, but before Jesus died. Here’s a more detailed explanation: http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/how-many-were-crucified-with-jesus