THIS WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS INFORMATION. THE CHURCHES BY AND LARGE ARE TOTALLY CONTROLLED AND HIDING THIS FROM THE MASSES. YOU WILL KNOW A TREE BY ITS FRUIT AND THE FRUITS OF THE MODERN CHURCH ARE TOTALLY ROTTEN BECAUSE OF THE BIBLICAL FRAUDS THAT THEY PURVEY. 

THIS ARTICLE IS MIRRORED FROM https://revelationrevolution.org

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PRETERIST BIBLE COMMENTARY

WANT A PRETERIST ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC END TIME PROPHECY?

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WHAT IS PRETERISM? Preterism, Preterist Theology and the Preterist view of eschatology is the Christian belief that all end time prophecies have been fulfilled.

NEW EVIDENCE ADDED TO EXISTING COMMENTARY AND ARTICLES ALMOST DAILY!

The following may seem unbelievable. However, all information is taken from unbiased historical records and is easily verifiable.

In Mark 14:61 and John 21:22-23 Jesus promised to return within His generation. Then in A.D. 66 Israel faced its most tragic war.

Revelation 19 depicts Jesus coming with an army of angels on the clouds.

First century historians record an army of angels in the clouds in A.D. 66. Was this the second coming?

Critics of preterism expose their ignorance of Roman history by their criticisms. These people claim that such and such a prophecy has not occurred–meanwhile Roman historical records say that it has!

If Jesus returned in His generation as He promised (MARK 14:61-62, JOHN 21:22-23 and MATTHEW 24), then our hope of heaven is secure. If not, then we as Christians “are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor 15:19)

After mentioning this army in the clouds, Tacitus says, “LIGHTNING from the clouds lit up the Temple.” (Hist 5.13.) “As LIGHTNING from the east is seen in the west, so is the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mt 24:27)

Yosippon describes this army in the clouds as soldiers of FIRE: “This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in BLAZING FIRE with his powerful angels.” (2 Thess 1:7)

A few weeks later a vast host of spiritual bodies were reported rising out of the earth AT THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PRETERISM: FULL PRETERISM AND PARTIAL PRETERISM

Full Preterism is the belief that all end time prophecies have been fulfilled.

Partial Preterism is the belief that some end time prophecies have been fulfilled.  Most Biblical scholars are partial preterists to varying degrees.  Though the following commentary will show that all end time prophecies have been fulfilled, this is not evidence against the partial preterist view.  Perhaps the first century events that fulfilled all end time prophecies were types or shadows pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of these predictions again in the distant future?

WHY IS JESUS NOT RULING ON EARTH?

In A.D. 33 day became night, and in A.D. 66 night became day. These two miracles broke the covenant of Jeremiah 33:20-21. Thus the Messiah would not rule physically on an earthly throne. Instead, Christ rules the world at the right hand of God in heaven (Heb 8:1): “[T]he Most High does not live in houses made by men. . . . ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool (Acts 7:48-49).’” The Messianic kingdom is called the kingdom of heaven in the Gospels because it is centered in heaven. It is here that the saints also ultimately rule over heaven and earth with Christ on His heavenly throne (Rev 3:21) while experiencing a blissful, loving existence with Christ after death.

WHAT ABOUT THE NEW JERUSALEM?

The New Jerusalem is the church. Because it is present in both heaven and earth and because the church is destined for heaven, the church is described in the likeness of the Jerusalem that is in heaven mentioned in Hebrews 12:22 and Galatians 4:26. Testimony from near-death experiences suggests that it exists right now! 

There is CERTAINLY no Christian View of Eschatology (End Time Prophecy) that has more Biblical and Historical Evidence than Preterism.

THE FOLLOWING ONLY SCRATCHES THE SURFACEOF THE CUMULATIVE EVIDENCE.

Preterist Background Info

In Revelation “earth” represents Israel and “sea,” the Gentile nations as defined in Rev. 17:15. This same meaning is also explicit all over the Bible (Dan 7; 9:26; 11:10, 40; Ps 65:7; 144:7; Is 8:7-8; 17:12; 60:5; Jer 46:7-8; 47:1-2; 51:55-56; Ez 26:3; Na 1:8).

Thus the beast out of the sea with its 7 heads represents Rome and its Caesars beginning with the 1st, Julius Caesar.

The beast (Rome) out of the earth (Israel) is the Roman army in Israel with its two horns representing its two generals, Vespasian and Titus. (This shall be proven below)

Preterist View of the Beast With the Wounded Head

The Book of Revelation is  Apocalyptic language.  This literary style is ancient poetry that wraps-up real events in poetic symbolism to give these events meaning.  For example, the fact that the beast is said to rise out of the sea (Rev. 13:1) and earth (Rev. 13:11) does not just denote where the beast (Rome) is situated.  Throughout Revelation and much of the rest of the Bible sea and Abyss signify both foreign nations and the Abyss (the realm of the dead) at the same time (see In the Bible “Earth” Signifies the Specific Land Addressed While “Sea” Symbolizes Foreign Nationsand The Poetic Biblical Link Between “Sea” and “Abyss”).  Thus the beast seen rising out of the earth (soil) and Abyss (realm of the dead) is meant as a double entendre also pointing to the resurrection of the beast.  But before addressing how the beast rises from the dead, let us first see how it was wounded.

“One of the heads of the beast had a fatal wound …”  (Rev. 13:3)

“The 7 heads are . . . 7 kings. 5 HAVE FALLEN, 1 IS, the other has not yet come.” (Rev. 17:9-10) Nero was the 6th Caesar. Thus Nero ruled when Revelation was written. Nero’s name is spelled in the 666 cryptogram.

Nero’s evil was legendary and there was no end to his vices. The Sibylline Oracles label Nero a “great beast.” Lactantius calls him a “noxious wild beast.”

“I have seen many beasts of Arabia and India; but this beast, that is a Tyrant, I know not how many heads it has. . . . And of wild beasts you cannot say that they would eat their own mother, but Nero feasted on this diet.” (Apollonius of Tyana)

As shown in the PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON REVELATION at the bottom of this page there appear to be NO BIBLE PROPHECIES YET TO BE FULFILLED.

After setting Rome on fire, Nero blamed Christians and according to Tacitus, “Wrapped in animal hides, they were torn apart by dogs, or hung on crosses and set on fire.” (Annals 15:44)

In A.D. 68 Nero stabbed himself in the NECKtriggering a civil war:  “One of the HEADS of the beast had a FATAL WOUND …” (Rev. 13:3)

Many Romans believed Nero survived his injury and would return: “ . . . but the fatal wound had been healed.” (Rev. 13:3)

Preterist Explanation of the Beast Whose Wound Had Been Healed

“ . . .  but the fatal wound had been healed.” (Rev. 13:3)

After Nero’s death a man appeared resembling Nero IN EVERY WAY. Was the beast’s wound literally healed? This man (or men) is at least a sign that the beast (Rome) would recover.

Because of the civil war after Nero’s death it was believed that Rome would fall.

However, the war in Israel and Rome soon ended when Vespasian became emperor. The Flavian Dynasty (Vespasian, Titus and Domitian) is the beast whose wound had been healed (Rev. 13:3).

Preterism and the Beast Whose Wound Had Been Healed, the Beast out of the Earth, the False Prophet and the Lawless One

Vespasian and Titus are the 2 generals who waged war on Israel for three and a half years from A.D.67 to A.D. 70. In the midst of this war Vespasian became emperor while his son was also given the title “Caesar” at his father’s coronation.  Caesar Titus was then sent back to Israel to finish the war.  Under Titus’ command Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed.  No 2 men had a more active role in the eschaton than Titus and Vespasian thus other than Jesus no one else is mentioned more in end time prophecy.

VESPASIAN

Vespasian helping the goddess Roma back to her feet. This coin implies a popular belief that Rome “fell” or at least “stumbled” prior to Vespasian’s ascension.

Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio record Vespasian MIRACULOUSLY healing a blind man and a cripple just before 1st entering Rome as emperor: “The COMING of the lawless one will be in accordance with counterfeit MIRACLES, signs and wonders.” (2 Thess. 2:9)

Josephus, Suetonius and Tacitus tell us that Vespasian saw himself and was seen by others as the Jewish Messiah. The church historian Eusebius says that Vespasian even tried to wipe out King David’s bloodline.

TITUS (VESPASIAN’S SON)

Josephus says that Titus “went into the [Most] holy place of the temple, with his commanders, and saw it[.]” (Wars 6.4.7.) Josephus says Titus entered the part of the Temple which was shrouded in mystery meaning he entered the Holy of Holies in A.D. 70.  Afterwards, images of Titus and Vespasian were worshipped in the Temple.

“He sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thess. 2:4)

“It set up an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (Rev. 13:14) 

The Romans worshiped the ensigns in the Temple on the 9th of Av of A.D. 70 (Wars 6.6.1). 1 of which (2^nd to the left) was the numina legionum (meaning “gods of the legions”) which was an image of Caesar and his favorites. An image of Caesar Vespasian and Titus was worshiped in the Jewish Temple!

Titus was granted the title “Caesar” in A.D. 69 (Roman History 66.1). Titus’ army was drawn from Rome’s eastern provinces where Caesar worship was officially sanctioned in the Imperial Cult.

As both general and “Caesar” of an army from the EAST, Titus was expected to preside over and receive the same worship given to his image on the numina legionum. Not only were images of Titus worshiped in the Temple on the 9th of Av of A.D. 70, Titus was certainly worshipped at that time!

FULFILLED ESCHATOLOGY AND THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH CONTINUED . . . 

In Wars of the Jews, Titus and Vespasian are almost portrayed as saints not unlike the way Nero was depicted while still alive. Wars of the Jews was published in A.D. 75 (during Vespasian’s reign) and was written by Josephus, an eyewitness of the war and close friend of Vespasian and Titus who even adopted their name “Flavius.” Josephus was commissioned by Vespasian to write this history of the Jewish War as propaganda as Vespasian feared assassination, a fate that befell his 3 predecessors.  Thus Wars celebrates the Flavian victory in Palestine so as to increase public support and solidify their rule.  Therefore any details unpalatable to the Roman mob would, of course, be left out. Though present in other historical accounts, some of the information below is understandably absent from Wars.

TITUS LITERALLY FULFILLED REVELATION 13:15!

“The 2^nd beast was given power to give breath to the image of the 1^st beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.”  (Rev. 13:15)

Given full authority by Vespasian over the Roman army at the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, Titus (the 2nd beast) could thus speak or “give breath” on behalf of Vespasian (the 1st beast) who’s image was depicted at the top of the numina legionum.  And he did when after the worship of the ensigns, Titus ordered his soldiers to kill everyone in the city (Wars 6.6.3): “The 2nd beast was given power to give breath to the image of the 1st beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.” (Rev. 13:15)

Titus’ living presence in the Temple beside the metal idol of himself on the numina legionum would appear to a religious devote as an idol coming to life. This symbolic animation signifies the resurrection of the beast (Rome) under the authority of Caesar Vespasian and Titus at the fall of Jerusalem.

“Give breath to the image” is also a play on words denoting the resurrection of the beast mentioned in Revelation 11:7; 13:3; 17:8. The civil war that threatened to collapse Rome after the death of Nero is symbolized in Revelation as a beast receiving a fatal wound. The reconstitution of the empire under Vespasian and Titus is denoted by the beast rising out of the Abyss. The beast’s wound is healed and thus symbolically comes back to life at the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as this was Rome’s last pocket of resistance.

PRETERISM AND THE ABOMNATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION

The eschatological abomination that causes desolation is the Roman armies with their ensigns that literally caused the desolation of Israel.  Josephus says the ensigns were an ABOMINATION to Jews (Ant. 18.3.1; 18.5.3).

The people of the PRINCE will DESTROY THE CITY AND SANCTUARY.  The end will come like a flood: WAR will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.  He will confirm a covenant for one ‘7.’  In the MIDDLE OF THE ‘7’ HE WILL PUT AN END TO SACRIFICE AND OFFERING.  And on A WING OF THE TEMPLE HE WILL SET UP AN ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION. (Dan 9:26-27)

The Jewish War began in Tishri of A.D. 66 and ended on Passover of A.D. 74 spanning 7.5 yrs.  The 5 mth siege of Jerusalem split this war into 2 nearly equal 3.5 yr periods. Dan 9:26-27 was explicitly fulfilled when “Prince” Titus, Caesar’s successor, “set up” the idolatrous ensigns on the eastern “wing of the temple”before “destroying the city [Jerusalem] and sanctuary[Temple]” forever putting “an end to sacrifice and offering” in the middle of this 7 yr long war. (Wars 6.6.1)

There were roughly 1,290 DAYS from the 6th of Av of A.D. 66 when Eleazar abolished the daily sacrificeto Caesar until Shabat of A.D. 70 when the Roman army (the abomination of desolation) first arrived at Jerusalem to prepare for a siege: “From the time that the DAILY SACRIFICE IS ABOLISHED and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 DAYS.” (Dan 12:11)

EXACTLY 1335 DAYSfrom the 6th of Av ends on Passover of A.D. 70, when the Romans began their siege of Jerusalem in answer to the prayers of the saints for justice. (Rev 6:9-11) There were also EXACTLY 1335 DAYS from the 9th of Av of A.D. 70 (when the Romans worshiped the ensigns in the Temple) to the 1st day of peace after the fall of Masada on the 15th of Nisan of A.D. 74 when the war officially ended: “How blessed is he who waits and attains to the 1,335 days!” (Dan 9:12)

REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY AND THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH CONTINUED . . .

“And it performed great signs, even CAUSING FIRE TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN to the earth in view of men.” (Rev. 13:13)

In 1 Kings 18 Elijah calls down fire from heaven before ordering all who would not worship YHWH to be killed.  Like the prophet Elijah, Titus (the false prophet of Revelation 19:20) also calls down fire from heaven before ordering all who would not worship Caesar to be killed (Wars 6.6.3.) This act qualifies Titus as a false prophet per Dt. 13:1-5. Well illustrating the poetic depth of Rev, this “fire from heaven” symbolizes Rome in at least 3 complimentary ways.

During the siege of Jerusalem, Titus launched firebrands into Jerusalem as was done before to Jotapata (Wars 3.7.9). This is “fire from heaven:”“And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven.” (Rev. 13:13)

This fire from heaven also signifies Legio XII Fulminata (12th Lightning Bolt Legion) who under Titus’ command helped set Jerusalem and its Temple on fire in A.D. 70.

The symbol of Rome and the main ensign carried by Titus’ army was the Aquila, an eagle that carried Zeus’ lightning bolt. Thus the fire from heaven of Revelation 13:13 also denotes ROME ITSELF!

PRETERIST VIEW OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST?

(It’s not JUST a spiritual mark)

The numerical values of the letters of the names of the TRINITY of the beast; Caesar NERO (A.D. 54-68) VESPASIAN (A.D. 69-79) and TITUS (A.D. 79-81); each add up to 666.

“ It FORCED all to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead, 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.  Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” (Rev. 13:16-18)

The mark of the beast is a spiritual mark placed on those guilty of Israel’s ultimate sin (1 Timothy 6:10). This sin has an obvious physical symbol. Thus the mark is both spiritual and physical. All money and deeds of purchase were marked with Caesar’s name and/or image hence no one could buy or sell withoutthe physical mark of the beast.

Graven images like the implicitly defied face of Caesar on Roman coins violates Ex 20:4-6. Sympathetic to Jewish Law, Rome allowed Israel to mint its own money without graven images of Caesar.

After the fall of Jerusalem, Titus and Vespasian “forced”  the entire empire to use Roman money marked with his image and name with no one exempt–not even Israel! Thus “no one could buy or sell without the mark of the beast.” (Rev 13:17) The coin above minted in A.D. 72 reads, “IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII.” The numerical sum of these letters transliterated into Hebrew characters totals 666.

PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7: THE LITTLE HORN IS ALSO CAESAR TITUS

“As for the 10 horns, out of this kingdom 10 kings will arise; and another will arise after them, he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue 3 kings.” (Dan 7:24)

“The 10 horns are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom.” (Rev. 17:12) The 10 horns began to rule after Rev was written. They are the 10 Zealot leaders appointed to rule Israel at the start of the Jewish Revolt (Wars 2.20.3-4).

The little horn that arises “after” the 10 is Titus who arrived in Israel about 4 mths after these 10 were appointed. Titus is “different from the previous” horns because he was a Roman general while the others were Jewish generals.

The “3 kings” who Titus “subdued” are the 3 remaining horns (Simon b. Giora, John of Gischala and Eleazar b. Simon) who fought for control over Jerusalem when Titus arrived to besiege the city. After capturing Jerusalem all 3 were “subdued” and Titus imprisoned John and killed Simon.

PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON THE LITTLE HORN, CAESAR TITUS

“This horn MADE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, and prevailed.” (Dan 7:21)

“He will SPEAK AGAINST THE MOST HIGH.” (Dan 7:25)

“The beast was given authority for 42 MTHS. . . . And he opened his mouth to BLASPHEME GOD AND HIS TABERNACLE.”  (Rev. 13:5-6)

The following is written in the Talmud: “Vespasian sent Titus who said, ‘Where is the God in whom they trusted?’ This was the wicked Titus who blasphemed and insulted Heaven. He took a harlot by the hand and entered the Holy of Holies and spread out a scroll of the Law and committed a sin on it. He then took a sword and slashed the curtain. Miraculously blood spurted out, and he thought that he had slain God himself[.]” (Gittin 56b)

The Talmud also records Titus “speak against the Most High” after the fall of Jerusalem when he said, “If he [Israel’s God] is really mighty, let him come up on the dry land and fight with me.” (Gittin 56b)

“The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time (Dan 7:25).” This is 3 and a half years or 42 mths, the EXACT interval between the arrival of Titus and Vespasian in Israel in March of A.D. 67 to the fall of Jerusalem in September of A.D. 70.

PRETERIST VIEW OF THE LITTLE HORN, CAESAR TITUS

Titus’ war against the saints is mentioned in Chronica 2:30.7: “But others, on the contrary, disagreed–including Titus himself. They argued that the destruction of the Temple was a number 1 priority in order to destroy the religion of the Jews and the Christians[.]”

After Titus destroyed the Temple it became impossible to fully follow the Law of Moses fulfilling Dan 7:25: “He will . . . try to change the set times and the laws[of Moses].”

“Apollyon” is a play on words for “Apollo”  (“Apollon” in Greek) and “destroyer.” Having led Legio XV Apollinaris (the 15th Apollonian Legion) before destroying Jerusalem and its temple in A.D. 70, Titus is ALSO undoubtedly Apollyon.

PRETERIST VIEW OF REVELATION 9: THE LOCUST ARMY UNDER APOLLYON (LIKE THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH) IS THE ROMAN ARMY IN ISRAEL.

As stated above, Rev. is Apocalyptic literature which is ancient poetry full of double and triple entendres.  This fact is well illustrated in Rev. 9.  Each Roman legion carried and was represented by a Zodiac sign. Using this fact as a clue to the Roman identity of this army, Rev. 9 then goes a step further describing Titus’ army using ONLY attributes of the Zodiac visible on Passover when Jerusalem killed Jesus and Titus began his attack on the city.  This Zodiac symbolism not only describes Titus’ soldiers, it also hints at their Roman identity while also pointing to the time of their attack!

Apollyon’s locusts “look like horses” wearing “crowns of gold” with “faces like human faces” (Sagittarius) “Their hair was like women’s hair.” (Virgo) “Their heads were like heads of lions.” (Leo) And their tails were like “scorpions” (Scorpio) and “snakes.”(Ophiuchus)

The auxiliaries in Titus’ army pictured above had many horsemen. Like the legions, they also wore breastplates of iron. Notice how accurately they are descried in Rev. 9: “They had breastplates like BREATPLATES OF IRON, and the sound of their wings was like THE SOUND OF MANY HORSES and chariots rushing into battle.” (Rev. 9:9) “They wore something like CROWNS OF GOLD, and they had HUMAN FACES.” (Rev. 9:7) “Their hair was like WOMEN’S HAIR.” (Rev. 9:8)

Above is a mask worn over the head of many Roman war horses: “The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions.” (Rev. 9:17)

As shown in the PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON REVELATION below there appear to be NO BIBLE PROPHECIES YET TO BE FULFILLED.

The ballista above used in Titus’ siege of Jerusalem was called “the scorpion” by the Romans: “They had tails and stings like SCORPIONS.” (Rev. 9:10).

Titus’ army consisted of 4 legions and 4 auxiliaries. The 4 auxiliary units were furnished by 4 kings. 2 of them ruled kingdoms on opposite banks of the Euphrates: “Release the FOUR ANGELS bound at the EUPHRATES.” (Rev. 9:14)

Josephus says that the Romans besieged Jerusalem for 5 MONTHS (from Passover (Wars 5.13.7) to the 8^th of Elul (Wars 6.8.5) fulfilling Rev. 9:10: “[T]hey had power to torment people for 5 MONTHS.” 

See the Red Links at the BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE for a Much More In-Depth REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY on All Major End Time Prophecies

The number of locusts is often translated “200 million.” However, the Greek literally reads, “twice ten thousand ten thousands.” In Ps 68:17 a similar expression is translated “20,000” in the word-for-word Interlinear. There were exactly 20,000 Roman auxiliary troops during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Josephus says that 3,000,000 Jews were trapped in Jerusalem during Titus’ siege and that 1,100,000 were killed (Wars 6.9.3-4) in PRECISE FULFILLMENT of Rev. 9:18: “A THIRD of mankind was killed.”

History confirms that 2 witnesses preached visibly for 3.5 yrs from A.D. 66 to A.D. 70 before being killed by Caesar Titus: “When they finished their testimony, the beast from the Abyss [Apollyon] will . . . kill them.” (Rev. 11:7)

PRETERIST ESCHATOLOGY:

THE TWO WITNESSES

The miraculous powers the 2 witnesses possess is a natural consequence of their identity which is repeatedly implied throughout Rev 11.

The 2 witnesses were killed by Titus at the start of the siege of Jerusalem. At this time the drought in Jerusalem ended and it rained (Wars 5.9.4, 6.5.3) fulfilling Rev 11:6: “They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying.”

Rev 11:3 says the 2 witnesses will “prophesy.”Josephus records the 2 witnesses prophesying, “A voice from the 4 winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house . . . and against this whole people!” (Wars 6.5.3) The fact that this figure is “a voice from the 4 winds” points to the 2 witnesses as the plagues of Rev came from the 4 winds! (Rev 7:1-3)

Concerning the fall of Babylon, “Woe! Woe to the great city” is written in a threefold manner. (Rev 18:10-19) Josephus says the 2 witnesses issued the same chant, “Woe, woe to Jerusalem [spiritual Babylon]!” in the same threefold manner. (Wars 6.5.3)

PRETERIST VIEW OF THE WHORE OF BABYLON

If “no prophet can die outside of Jerusalem” and the “blood of the prophets” is found in Babylon, then Babylon must be Jerusalem (as echoed in Mt 23:34-37).

But Babylon was the Jews’ nickname for Rome as far back as the 1st century B.C. as stated in 1QpHab of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Babylon is actually both cities that became one flesh from an adulterous affair!

The beast and the whore of Babylon are not the same. The beast is MALE (Rev 13:11) and the whore of Babylon is FEMALE (Rev 17:3). Jerusalem (the whore of Babylon) is depicted having sex with Rome (Babylon) when she sits on the beast in Rev 17. Jerusalem is called the whore “OF” Babylon because she is Babylon’s prostitute.

THE WHORE OF BABYLON EXPLAINED! A PRETERIST COMMENTARY

From this affair, Jerusalem and Rome became one flesh and are both called “Babylon” like a wife taking the name of her husband: “The one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her. The two become one flesh.” (1 Cor 6:16) In Rev 11:8 Jerusalem is called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” because of this affair Jerusalem is also called “Babylon,” Rome’s nickname.

God was Israel’s king and husband (Is 54:5). Jerusalem committed adultery against God with Rome by killing Jesus and declaring Caesar (the beast) her king instead during Christ’s crucifixion: “We have no king but Caesar!” (Jn 19:15)

Rev 17 echoes Ezekiel 23. Here Jerusalem commits adultery against God with Egypt, Assyria and Babylon who later “burn” her and Samaria leaving them “naked.” The same occurs in Rev 17:16: “The beast and the ten horns will hate the prostitute. They will leave her NAKED; and BURN HER with fire.” Rome (the beast) is Jerusalem’s new male lover intruding on her marriage to God.

JERUSALEM HAS THE MARK OF THE BEAST WHICH IS WHY “BABYLON THE GREAT” IS WRITTEN ON HER “FOREHEAD.”

The fact that Jerusalem has the “name of the beast” (Babylon the Great) on her “forehead” in Rev 17:5 means that she has the mark of the beast.  Rev 13:16-17 says that the mark of the beast is on the “forehead” and is “the name of the beast.” This mark is the opposite of that mentioned in Revelation 14:1: “[A]nd before me was the Lamb . . . and with him 144,000 WHO HAD HIS NAME and his Father’s name WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS.” The saints have the “name” of their king on their “forehead” because they are one with Christ (John 17:20-23) which is why they are called the “Body of Christ.” (Eph 5:23)  The saints become one with Christ through the marriage between Christ and the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:2.  The saints are the New Jerusalem as they are also marked with the name of this city on their foreheads: “I will write on them the name of God AND THE NAME OF GOD’S CITY, THE NEW JERUSALEM.”  (Rev 3:12)  Through this marriage, the saints become one with Christ as a wife becomes one with her husband. (Eph 5:31) In the same way that the church becomes one body and one flesh with Christ and is thus called by Christ’s name (the Body of Christ) through marriage (Rev 21:2), apostate Jerusalem also became one with Babylon and is called by this name (Rev 17:5) through adultery (1 Cor 6:16).  And as the saints are marked with the name of their true king (Rev 14:1) and the city of their true citizenship regardless of where they live (Rev 3:12), apostate Jerusalem is also labeled with the name of her true king and his city, “BABYLON THE GREAT,” in Revelation 17:5. Jerusalem’s true king is Caesar according to Jn 19:15: “We have no king but Caesar!”

Caught in adultery with Rome, Jerusalem was stoned by catapults and burned in A.D. 70. Thus Jerusalem suffered from both Biblical punishments for adultery–stoning (Jn 8:4-5) and burning (Lev 21:9).

In Rev 17:5 Babylon is the “mother of prostitutes.” This epithet is not merely symbolic as “Vespasian filled 3 ships with rich men of Jerusalem to place them in Roman brothels.” (Midrash Rabbah Lam 1.45) 

Furthermore, the Zealots of Jerusalem dressed like women and acted like prostitutes during the war with Rome. (Wars 4.9.10)

JERUSALEM (THE WHORE OF BABYLON) IS ALSO LITERALY EMBODIED BY THE FIRSTBORN PRINCESS OF JUDAEA AND SAMARIA: QUEEN BERENICE.

Throughout Revelation each kingdom is embodied by its king or quintessential human representative.  For ex., the beast (Rome) is embodied by the Caesars and the heavenly Jerusalem (Gal 4:26) is embodied by the Virgin Mary in Rev 12:1-4.  Likewise, the whore of Babylon is embodied by the famously beautiful and sexually scandalous Queen Berenice, the firstborn daughter of Agrippa I (king of Judaea and Samaria).  Rev 17-18 were also fulfilled in the life of Berenice, the human embodiment of adulterous Jerusalem.

The spiritual adultery between Jerusalem and Rome is embodied by the adulterous affair between Queen Berenice (firstborn princess of Israel) and Titus (firstborn son of Caesar) during and after the Jewish War.

Prior to her affair, Berenice was rumored to have had an adulterous affair with her brother Agrippa II in addition to marriages to kings of neighboring kingdoms: “With her the kings of the earth [Israel] committed adultery.” (Rev 17:2)

After the death of Agrippa I, the Israelites carried Berenice’s statue into brothels and feigned SEX with it while drinking WINE (Ant. 19.9.1): “and the inhabitants of the earth (Israel) were intoxicated with the WINE of her ADULTERIES.”

SURPRISING EVIDENCE THAT JERUSALEM AND HER PRINCESS ARE THE WHORE OF BABYLON

Babylon conquered Jerusalem in the 6^th century B.C. and astrology, their system of divining the future using the stars, permeated Israel and Rome.  In Rev God uses the constellations of ancient Babylon to convey the fate of spiritual Babylon.  Thus many of the symbols in Rev were visible to John’s audience. In Gn 1:14, “God said, ‘Let there be lights in the sky . . . AND LET THEM SERVE AS SIGNS.’”  Then concerning the end, Jesus says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars (Lk 21:25).”  Though John refers to Babylonian constellations, he does not violate Dt 4:19.  John sees the heavenly bodies as signs, not as deities.

In Rev 17:3 the whore of Babylon sits on the seven-headed beast while sharing a cup of blood.  This is the lady Virgo holding the cup Crater sitting atop the many-headed Hydra.

The Babylonian constellation Erua was moved down by the Greeks becoming Virgo.  In its place became Coma Berenices (the “Hair of Berenice”) in 246 B.C.  Once represented by Erua (a virgin) in Rev 12:1-2, Jerusalem later became Berenice (an adulteress) surprising John: “When I saw her [Jerusalem drunk with blood], I was greatly astonished.” (Rev 17:6)

“I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.” (Rev 18:7) These are empty boasts (v. 8), Queen Berenice was widowed twice; and her name means “victorious,” an ironic name for the embodiment of a defeated city.

PRETERISM AND THE 10 HORNS

The beast of Rev 13:1-10 is the 4^th beast of Dan 7.  This beast is a chimera composed of the other 3 beasts thus it resembles a leopard (Greece), has bear feet (Medo-Persia), and a lion’s mouth (Babylon). (Rev 13:2) This beast also has the horns of Israel: The whore of Babylon (Jerusalem) is seated on seven heads (Rev 17:9) this is also where the 10 horns are (Rev 13:1) implying that the ten horns are Jewish (the 10 Zealot leaders). I believe that the 10 horns are also the 10 toes of the statue of Dan 2 which is a mixture of iron and clay. (Da 2:41) Clay represents Israel. (Is 64:8, Jr 18:6)

The 10 horns “hate the prostitute” and “eat her flesh.”(Rev 17:16) The Zealots continually robbed and killed the people of Jerusalem and burned parts of the city (Wars 6.2.9) due to infighting. Josephus refers to the Zealots’ assault on their own city as a beast “eating its own flesh.” (Wars 5.1.1) Here we see how the 10 horns “hate the prostitute [Jerusalem]” “EAT HER FLESH and BURN her with fire.” (Rev 17:16)

After losing the war, all 10 Zealot leaders in some way forcibly surrendered their authority to Rome. “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving [surrendering] their kingdom to the beast.” (Rev 17:17)

“They will make war against the Lamb.” (Rev 17:14)One of the 10 Zealot leaders was Ananus II (Wars 2.20.3-4) who killed James (leader of the Church of Jerusalem). James was not just a brother to Christ because he was Christian, James was Jesus’ biological brother! (Ant. 20.9.1) “That which you did to one of these BROTHERS OF MINE . . . you did to Me.” (Mt 25:40) Here we see how these horns made war with Christ.

A FULFILLED ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 2:

DANIEL 2:35 PROVES THAT THE SHATTERING OF THE STATUE IS NOT ABOUT THE FALL OF ROME

In the statue of Dan 2 Babylon is the gold head; Medo-Persia, the silver chest; Greece, the bronze belly; and Rome, the iron legs. The feet of the statue are a mixture of iron (Rome) and clay (Israel).  In Dan 2:34 a rock hits the statue on its feet and shatters it.  Jesus says that this rock of Dan 2:34 representing himself would hit Israel (Mt 21:43-45) implying that the clay is Israel as it often is (Is 64:8, Jr 18:6). In A.D. 66 Israel (the clay) revolted against Rome (the iron): “And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. (Dan 2:43)

After the rock hits the statue all 4 parts of the statue shatter “ALL AT THE SAME TIME.” (Dan 2:35)This cannot represent the fall of Rome as the other 3 empires did not fall at this time: Babylon fell in 539 B.C., Medo-Persia fell in the 5th century B.C., and Greece began its decline in 323 B.C.

Thus the total shattering/conquest of the statue was spiritual by a spiritual kingdom, the Church (the new “Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16)/the kingdom of God/Messianic Kingdom): “’The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ Behold, the kingdom of heaven is in your midst.’” (Lk 17:20-21)

The post –resurrection reign of the Church over the earth from Christ’s throne in heaven (Heb 8:1, Rev 3:21) is also reflected in the growth of Christianity into the official religion of Israel and Rome for a 1000 yrs from A.D. 70 to the 1st Crusade: “the rock had grown into a mountain.” (Dan 2:35)

A REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 6:

THE SEVEN SEALS

I believe the 4 horsemen of Rev 6 are heavenly beings with human counterparts.  Could the 4 horsemen be the 4 kings who supplied auxiliary troops–Antiochus, Agrippa II, Sohemus and Malchus? (Wars 3.4.2.) Vespasian was also aided by 4 generals. (Midrash Rabbah Lam 1.31) It is also possible that Vespasian and/or Titus are 1 or 2 of the horsemen as the 1^st rider was “given a crown” (Rev 6:2) and both men became Caesar in the middle of the war.

The 1st horseman is a “conqueror” and the 2^nd, “takes peace from the earth.” (Rev 6:1-4) The 2^nd holds a “machaira,” the Roman short sword.

“A quart of wheat for a day’s wages . . . do not damage the WINE AND OIL!” (Rev 6:6) The 3rd horseman brings famine caused by Titus’ siege of Jerusalem during which the zealots plundered the Temple’s “WINE AND OIL.” (Wars 5:13:6)

The 4th horseman kills “by FAMINE, SWORD, and . . . WILD BEASTS.” (Rev 6:8) Due to the siege of A.D. 70, Jerusalem “was covered by those killed by sedition or FAMINE.” (Wars 6.7.2) And after the siege many captives died in amphitheaters “by SWORD and WILD BEASTS.” (Wars 6.9.2)

A PRETERIST ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON THE SEVEN SEALS

During the 6th seal in A.D. 69 “a comet was seen, and the moon, [suffered] two eclipses [and] people saw two suns at once, one in the west weak and pale, and one in the east brilliant and powerful.” (Roman History 65.8) When the moon is eclipsed it turns red: “The SUN TURNED BLACK [,the] MOON TURNED BLOOD RED, and THE STARS FELL.” (Rev 6:12-13)

“Every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Rev 6:14) Because cities were built on mountains cities are called “mountains” in the Bible. (Ps 2:6) Concerning the destruction of these cities during the war, Josephus says, “There was no sign remaining of those places that had been laid waste.” (Wars 4.9.7)

At the fall of the city the rebels and their leaders hid in CAVES under Jerusalem. (Wars 6.9.4, 7.2.1) The last rebels killed themselves at the MOUNTAIN of Masada: “Then the kings [and all the people] hid in CAVES and in the MOUNTAINS and they said to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from God.’” (Rev 6:15)

A COVENANT ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 8:

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

With Israel in revolt, Rome 1^st responded with the 12^th legion in Tishri, a month beginning with the Feast of Trumpets—also called the Day of Judgment, on this day TRUMPETS are blown.  Thus began the 7 trumpets and Jewish War!

Each trumpet is a battle in the Jewish War, and the Romans sounded each attack with a trumpet. Thus each plague also began at the audible sound of a trumpet!

Rivers and floods represent foreign armies. (Is 8:7-8) Interestingly, Nero began building a canal (a man-made river which was never completed) when he sent Vespasian to crush the Jewish revolt. Here one can see how “the serpent spewed a RIVER, to overtake the woman. BUT THE EARTH SWALLOWED THE RIVER.” (Rev 12:15-16)

Christians fled to Pella at the start of the war and were kept safe like the 144,000 and the woman of Rev 12 who survived the river out of the beast’s mouth. (History of the Church 3.5)

A COVENANT ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON REVELATION:

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

The 7 trumpets and bowls were fulfilled in basically the same events. The 1^st bowl is the 1^st trumpet; the 2^nd bowl, the 2^nd trumpet and so on. As Apocalyptic literature, Rev is ancient poetry. Here real events are poetically depicted as plagues of Exodus fulfilling Dt 28:58-60. The 1^sttrumpet/bowl is the plague of hail and boils; the 2^nd and 3^rd, the plague of blood; the 4^th and 5^th, the plague of locusts, darkness and boils; the 6^th, the plague of frogs; and the 7^th, the plague of hail again.

“The 1^st angel sounded his trumpet, and there came HAIL AND FIRE MIXED WITH BLOOD HURLED DOWN TO THE EARTH. A 3^rd OF THE EARTH, TREES AND ALL THE GREEN GRASS WAS BURNED.” (Rev 8:7)

Blood is hurled on the Jews in Rev 8:7 as punishment for the death of Christ and the saints (Lk 18:7-8, Rev 6:9-11) since during Jesus’ trial they yelled, “His blood be on us and our children” (Mt 27:24-25)

The Roman launched “white” boulders “together with fire.” (Wars 3.7.9; 5.6.3) This “hail and fire mixed with blood” after hitting people on the city walls thus raining hail, fire and blood on those below.

“The earth, trees and all the green grass burned”during the war as part of Rome’s scorched-earth policy. (Wars 3.4.1; 4.8.3; 5.6.2)

A PRETERIST ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON REVELATION: THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS 

“Then there will be distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never equaled again.” (Mt 24:21) What about WW2? Jesus’ spoke to Israelites and this was the worst war they ever faced. Concerning the fall of Jerusalem, Josephus says, “[N]either, did any other city ever suffer such miseries . . . from the beginning of the world.” (Wars 5.10.5) Mt 24:21 is not meant to be interpreted globally or it would contradict what is said about the 10^th plague of Exodus: “There shall be a great cry throughout Egypt, such as was none like it, nor ever shall be.” (Ex 11:6)

“Something like a huge MOUNTAIN WAS THROWN INTO THE SEA.  A 3^rd of the SEA TURNED TO BLOOD, a 3^rd of the creatures in the sea died, and a 3^rd of the SHIPS WERE DESTROYED.” (Rev 8:8-9)

“A GREAT STAR FELL FROM THE SKY on a 3^rd of the rivers and springs—the name of the star is WORMWOOD.”  (Rev 8:10-11)

Mountains are cities in the Bible. The fall of Babylon in the 6th century B.C. is pictured as a burning mountain cast into the sea. (Jer 51:25, 42) Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians and was not literally flooded. “The burning mountain thrown into the sea” of Rev 8:8-9 also symbolizes foreign conquest.

The people of Joppa and Taricheae fled to sea where their ships were destroyed and “the sea was bloody a long way” from the dead. (Wars 3.9-10) Thus the “mountains” of Joppa and Taricheae were also literally “thrown into the sea” and the “sea turned into blood” and “the ships were destroyed.” (Rev 8:8-9)

Josephus mentions a comet that ran across the sky for a whole year. (Wars 6.5.3) Is this Wormwood?

A FULFILLED ESCHATOLOGY COMMENTARY ON REVELATION: THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

“THE RIVERS AND SPRINGS OF WATER BECAME BLOOD.” (Rev 16:4)

“They shed the blood of your saints and YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM BLOOD TO DRINK.”  (Rev 16:6)

“THE SUN SCORCHED PEOPLE. THEY WERE SEARED BY THE INTENSE HEAT.” (Rev 16:8-9)

The Romans killed 15,000 Jews from Gadara at the Jordan River. (Wars 4.7.4-6) Here one can see how “the rivers” “became blood.” (Rev 16:4)

During this massacre, the Romans pushed many Jews into the bloody water where they drowned (swallowed water into their lungs). Here we see how the Jews were given “blood to drink.” (Rev 16:6)

During the siege of Gerizzim, many Samaritans “died that day from the heat” (Wars  3.7.32) fulfilling Rev 16:8-9: “the sun scorched people” and “they were seared by the intense heat.”

PRETERISM AND THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

“I heard an EAGLE call: ‘WOE! WOE! WOE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, because of the trumpets about to be sounded!” (Rev 8:13)

The 5^th angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the BEAST, AND HIS KINGDOM WAS PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS. (Rev 16:10)

The Roman army plead with Jerusalem to surrender (Roman History 65.4). The symbol of Rome was the eagle which the army held on a pole. This is how the “eagle” symbolizing Rome cries, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth!”

Like the “darkness” at the fall of Judah in the 6th century B.C. (Is 5:30), the “darkness” of Rev 16:10 symbolizes the “unparalleled sufferings” during the civil war after Nero’s death. (Histories 1.2-3.)

The fact that “the beast” (Nero) and “his kingdom,”(Rome) are “plunged into darkness” is a metaphor for the casting of the beast into the outer darkness of death. (Jb 10:19-22) Because the beast dies between the Caesar Dynasty and the Flavian Dynasty, the 3 “usurpers” during the civil war in between (Galba, Otho and Vitellius) are not heads of the beast.

PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON REVELATION AND THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

“The 6^th angel poured his bowl on the EUPHRATES, AND IT DRIED UP FOR THE KINGS OF THE EAST.”  (Rev 16:12)

“DEMONS PERFORMED MIRACULOUS SIGNS, and they went to the kings of the world, TO GATHER THEM FOR BATTLE.” (Rev 16:14)

“THEY GATHERED THE KINGS TOGETHER TO THE PLACE that in Hebrew is CALLED ARMAGEDDON.” (Rev 16:16)

Coming from the “Euphrates,” King Sohaemus and Antiochus assisted in the fall of Jerusalem. (Histories 2.81, Wars 5.1.6) John wrote Rev to 7 churches in western Asia Minor. These “kings” were “east” of these churches. The fact that the Romans are the “kings of the east” is also a double entendre signifying Rome as “spiritual Babylon” as Babylon was directly east of Jerusalem.

Before the fall of Jerusalem many “miraculous signs”were recorded (Histories 1.86, Roman History 65.8) fulfilling Rev 16:14: “Demons performed MIRACULOUS SIGNS, and they went to the kings of the world, to gather them for battle.”

Armageddon may be Mt. Megiddo. Titus’ army met in Caesarea, 8 miles east of Mt. Megiddo. Thus the Romans would have traveled through the Valley of Jezreel bordering Mt Megiddo on their way to Jerusalem in A.D. 70: “They GATHERED THE KINGS TOGETHER to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” (Rev 16:16)

PRETERISM AND THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

“Then came LIGHTNING, THUNDER and an EARTHQUAKE.” (Rev 16:18)

THE GREAT CITY SPLIT INTO 3 PARTS AND THE CITIES OF THE NATIONS COLLAPSED. (Rev 16:19)

“And huge HAILSTONES EACH WEIGHING A TALENT [100 lbs] FELL UPON MEN.”  (Rev 16:21)

Prior to the arrival of Titus’ army, there was a “prodigious storm” with “LIGHTNING,” “THUNDER,”and an “EARTHQUAKE” (Wars 4.4.5) fulfilling Rev 16:18: “Then came LIGHTNING, THUNDER and an EARTHQUAKE.”

After the storm of v. 18 a three-way civil war arose in Jerusalem led by John, Simon and Eleazar (Wars 5.1.1): “The great city split into 3 parts.” Meanwhile Rome was also near the end of its own civil war: “and the cities of the nations collapsed.”

Upon the arrival of Titus’ army, Roman catapults hurled “WHITE” STONES (looking like hail) each weighing a “TALENT” (Wars 5.6.3) into Jerusalem: “And huge HAILSTONES each weighing a TALENT [100 lbs] fell upon men.” (Rev 16:21)

PRETERIST EXPLANATION OF THE BLOOD THAT FLOWS UP TO A HORSE’S BRIDLE FOR 1,600 STADIA

Hyperbole like that in Rev 14:20 is common in the Bible and Jewish historical literature: “I will drench the land with your [Pharaoh’s] blood all the way to the mountains, and the ravines.” (Ezk 32:6)  “Manasseh shed much innocent blood until he filled Jerusalem FROM ONE END TO ANOTHER.” (2 Ki 21:16) There are 3 different units of stadia. The one used in Rev is the itinerary stade. 1,600 itinerary stadia is 251.2 km, the exact length of the Jordan River (and Palestine itself). Thus Rev 14:20 echoes 2 Ki 21:16 in which blood fills the land “from one end to another.” Josephus uses similar language concerning the Jewish War: “Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood.”

“BLOOD FLOWED AS HIGH AS THE HORSES’ BRIDLES FOR 1,600 STADIA.” (Rev 14:20)

The hyperbole of Rev 14:20 is identical to how the Jewish massacre at Bethar in the 2nd century A.D. is described: “They [the Romans] slew the people [of Bethar] until the horses waded in blood up to the nostrils, and the blood . . . flowed into the sea [staining it] a distance of 4 miles.” (Midrash Rabbah Lam 2.4)

In Rev 19:11-16 Jesus rides a “horse” with a “robe dipped in blood” as “He treads the winepress of God’s wrath.” This image of blood flowing to a horse’s bridle depicts Jesus coming in judgment on Israel in Rev 19.

The Jordan is EXACTLY 1,600 stadia and was bloodied when Roman archers and “horsemen” killed 1000’s of Jews from Gadara in the Jordan during the Jewish War. (Wars 4.7.5) This v. pictures these horsemen treading this bloody river.

PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 19

“There was A WHITE HORSE, WHOSE RIDER IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE. THE ARMIES OF HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM, RIDING WHITE HORSES.” (Rev 19:11,14)

“An angel called to the BIRDS, “COME, EAT THE FLESH OF ALL PEOPLE.” (Rev 19:17-18)

“The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.” (Rev 19:19)

In Rev 19:11-14 Jesus leads an army of angels in the clouds. This was seen at the start of the Jewish revolt when Josephus says, “soldiers were seen running among the clouds.” (Wars 6.5.3)

The dead were food for the carrion birds of Rev 19:17-18 as the Jews did not bury the dead during Titus’ siege of Jerusalem. (Wars 5.12.3)

“The kings of the earth” of Rev 19:19 are Tiberius Alexander, Agrippa II and Queen Berenice, the former kings of Israel (Acts 4:26) who assisted the Romans during Titus’ siege of Jerusalem. They made “war against the rider on the horse and his army” as both the kings of Israel and Rome killed Jesus and the saints (Mt 25:40, Acts 8:1) and Titus even explicitly declared war on God. (Gittin 56b)

PRETERIST EXPLANATION OF REVELATION 19

Wealthy Jews killed Jesus: “You [the rich] have condemned and murdered the innocent one [Christ], who was not opposing you.” (Jm 5:1-6; Lk 11:39, 16:13-15) It was also the rich who persecuted the saints. (Jm 2:1-7) These Jews used Jesus’ divine claims to legitimize His death (Mt 26:65-66) though they truly wanted Jesus dead to prevent a war with Rome. (Jn 11:47-50; 19:12) The Messiah was expected to rule over a sovereign Israel. Israel was a Roman province so if Israel made Jesus king this would trigger a war. A war would result in pillaging and destruction of property invariably leaving the rich penniless, also the Temple, the source of their income, could be destroyed. This is why the rich did not want Jesus to be king (Mt 2:1-3, Lk 19:27) it is also why, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:24) 1 Ti 6:10 says, “The love of money is the root of all evil” as it was greed that caused the Jews to kill Jesus and His people and it was for this greed that led to murder that the Jews were punished at the end of the age. (Col 3:5-6; Rev 6:10-11; 17:6)

“The REST were killed by the SWORD from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and the birds ate their flesh.” (Rev 19:21)

Roman money often depicted Caesar in divine imagery making it quite literally little idols. Thus it is not surprising that Col 3:5-6 says “greed” “is idolatry.”The rich who killed Jesus and the saints out of greed had both the spiritual (idolatrous greed) and physical (Roman money) MARK OF THE BEAST.

“The sword from the mouth” of Christ is the Word of God. (Eph 6:16) “The rest” who were killed in v. 21 is not the army of the Beast, it is “those who received the mark of the beast” mentioned with the beast in the previous v. These wealthy Jews were killed throughout the war by the Zealots (Wars 5.10.2.) and Romans (Wars 6.6.3).

Jesus came a few times after His ascension and before A.D. 70 (Acts 7:55-56; 9:1-8; Rev 1). He also promised to “come” to churches in Asia Minor seemingly apart from the fall of Jerusalem. (Rev 2:5, 16; 3:3) No candidates for the beast, the lawless one or false prophet are known to have died in the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. However, an event occurred at the death of Vespasian which strikingly resembles the coming of the Lord on Mt. Sanai.

PRETERIST EXPLANATION OF REVELATION 20

The Millennium is NOT an end time prophecy!  The Millennium began in A.D. 70 and is the first 1000 yrs of the Messianic kingdom, the New Covenant, and the New Jerusalem.

A 1000 yrs after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 Israel grew to become almost exclusively Christian. This is the 1000 yr reign.

Biblical scholars have long known that Gog is in Turkey. Interestingly, in A.D. 1071—1000 YRS AFTER THE FALL OF JERUSALEM IN A.D. 70–the TURKS (LITERAL GOG) conquered Palestine and incited the Crusades, the Battle of Gog and Magog (A.D.1095).

An eyewitness of the 1st Crusade, Raymond of Aguilers writes, “A fire in the sky…fell upon the Turkish army [and] scared by the fire [they] fled [from the Crusaders in the city].” Here we see how Gog and Magog “surrounded the camp of God’s people… But fire from heaven and devoured them.” (Rev 20:9)

PRETERIST COMMENTARY ON ZECHARIAH 14

Zc 14 was fulfilled in the Maccabean Wars of the 2^nd century B.C. During this war the Maccabees successfully fought off the Seleucid Empire after Antiochus Epiphanies entered Jerusalem, desecrated its temple and forced the Jews to stop practicing the Law.

 “I will gather ALL NATIONS to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured.” (Zc 14:2)

“Half the city will be exiled, but the rest will not be taken from it.” (Zc 14:2)

“THE MT OF OLIVES WILL BE SPLIT IN 2.” (Zc 14:4)

“All” or “every” does not always mean “all” or “every.”For ex., “all the world” was enrolled in Augustus’ census. (Lk 2:1) Interestingly, the Seleucid army that attacked Judea during the Maccabean Wars consisted of “Gentiles of all the nations.” (2 Macc 8:9) 

“In 3 days 80,000 [people of Jerusalem] were killed, 40,000 in battle, and as many were sold into slavery as were killed” (2 Macc 5:14) fulfilling Zc 14:2: “HALF of the city will go into exile, but the rest will not be taken from it.”

Photo of the Mt. of Olives split in 2 from east to west as predicted in Zc 14:4.

“Then the LORD will come, and all the holy ones with him.” (Zc 14:5)

“The LORD will fight against those nations.” (Zc 14:3)

“When evening comes, there will be light.” (Zc 14:6)

A nearly identical event to the coming of Christ in the presence of an army of angels in the clouds at the start of the war with Rome (Wars 6.5.3) was also recorded at the start of the Maccabean Wars. (2 Macc 5:1-4) “Then the LORD will come, and all the holy ones with him.” (Zc 14:5)

According to 2 Macc 11:13 and 15:8, God fought for the Jews and visions of angels were seen aiding them. (2 Macc 3:24-34; 10:29-31; 11:8) “The LORD will fight against those nations.” (Zc 14:3)

Zc 14:6 seems to be fulfilled in the miracle of Hanukah (the Festival of Lights) when the Maccabees lit the menorah for 8 days off 1 days’ worth of oil: “When evening comes there will be light.” (Zc 14:6)

“But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place.” (Zc 14:10)

“Their flesh will rot while they are still standing.” (Zc 14:12)

“Then all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will worship the LORD and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If the EGYPTIANS do not take part, they will have no rain.” (Zc 14:16-18)

Though Jerusalem had been partially destroyed at the start of the war, the Maccabees and Seleucids fortified the city walls (1 Macc 1:33; 4:60) and repaired the city. (1 Macc 10:10-11) Thus Jerusalem was “raised up.” (Zc 14:10)

The Maccabees burned their enemies alive. (1 Macc 5:43-44) Fire causes fast tissue rot. Also Antiochus Epiphanies died of a disease that caused his flesh to rot (2 Macc 9:8-12) fulfilling v. 12: “Their flesh will rot while they are still standing.”

During the Maccabean Wars a new “Feast of Tabernacles” (later called Hanukah) was instituted. Fulfilling Zc 14:16-18, 2 Macc is written to Egyptiansreminding them to keep this new holiday: “And see that ye [Egypt] keep the feast of tabernacles in Casleu.” (2 Macc 1:1-9)

Apocalyptic prophecies were also fulfilled in Old Testament History much more literally than previously supposed

 “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed (Deuteronomy 18:22).”  Though Bible prophecy is often written in an apocalyptic or poetic style, Deuteronomy 18:22 clearly shows that Biblical prophecy is not empty rhetoric, but rather must have at least a literal core of truth to it so as to be recognizable and verifiable.  If not, then Israel could not be expected to recognize its real and false prophets.  The following Preterist commentary shows that even the most fantastic apocalyptic predictions–though often hyperbolic–were fulfilled in the Jewish War shockingly literally.  This fact implies that apocalyptic predictions fulfilled in Old Testament history were also fulfilled in a similar manner.  The following are the two most frequently cited examples used to interpret apocalyptic language purely symbolically:

How was every mountain lowered and every valley raised?       How were the sun, moon and stars darkened?

All or every does not always mean all or every in the Bible (Mt 2:1-3, 4:8, 10:22 etc). Mountains are cities (Dan 9:16, Ps 2:6 etc). During a siege invading armies often raise the earth around cities to make siege ramps. This is how valleys are raised. Cities are then often burned and leveled. This is how mountains are lowered. Such was the case in Israel in the sixth century B.C. and A.D. 70.

The dark clouds of the Glory Cloud blanket the sky making God invisible while also darkening the heavenly lights: “I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.” (Ezekiel 32:7) As these clouds traverse the sky, they progressively darken the stars like a scroll rolling up. The Glory Cloud is mentioned in A.D. 68 and implied in A.D. 66 and 70.

Preterism also fixes two of Christianity’s biggest problems:

1) Preterism naturally fixes the age of the earth problem.

2) Preterism also harmonizes all Bible verses concerning the resurrection while fixing the modern misconception which is contradicted by Isaiah 65:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:35-50.

CLICK ON THE RED LINKS BELOW FOR TONS MORE EVIDENCE!!

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The links below reveal the PRETERIST VIEW AND INTERPRETATION OF REVELATIONas well as a PRETERIST BIBLE COMMENTARY ON ALL MAJOR END TIME PROPHECIES (and end time Bible verses in disguise) with evidence from Roman history suggesting that ALL BIBLE END TIME PROPHECIES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.

THE MORE UNBELIEVABLE THE PROPHECY, THE MORE MIRACULOUS THE HISTORICAL FULFILLMENT!

PRETERIST BIBLE COMMENTARY ON ALL MAJOR END TIME BIBLE VERSES:

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