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Revelation has been open since Jerusalem was freed of Gentile control in 1967. But will anyone accept a different way to look at the prophetic books? Of course not, pseudo prophets would rather defend traditions that can no longer be biblically or historically supported and endlessly debate them. There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
Revelation 12:1-6 is just a small example of what we can now understand . . .
Revelation 12:1-6 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman (Israel) clothed with the sun (the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, Mal 4:2), and the moon (the church) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars (the 12 tribes of Israel): And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon (Satan! Another figurative picture of him is the "Scarlet Beast" of Rev 17), having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (world empires) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven (fallen angelic messengers, Rev 1:20), and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child (Jesus), who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne (Jesus ascends into heaven, 32-34AD). And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness (dispersed in the Gentile nations), where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (It was 1260 years from the construction of the Dome of the Rock in 688A.D. , to the establishment new nation of Israel in 1948).
Revelation 12:1-6 is just a small example of what we can now understand . . .
Revelation 12:1-6 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman (Israel) clothed with the sun (the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, Mal 4:2), and the moon (the church) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars (the 12 tribes of Israel): And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon (Satan! Another figurative picture of him is the "Scarlet Beast" of Rev 17), having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (world empires) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven (fallen angelic messengers, Rev 1:20), and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child (Jesus), who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne (Jesus ascends into heaven, 32-34AD). And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness (dispersed in the Gentile nations), where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (It was 1260 years from the construction of the Dome of the Rock in 688A.D. , to the establishment new nation of Israel in 1948).
In inspired prophesies, women at times represent organizations “married” to outstanding personalities. For example: Israel was spoken of as a wife of Jehovah God. (Jeremiah 3:14) The congregation of anointed Christians is spoken of as Christ’s bride.-Revelations 21:9-14.
Paul wrote in Galatians 4:26: “…the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.’ This is clearly not an earthly city or woman. Likewise, the woman that John sees in his vision is not literal; she is a sign or symbol. Being arrayed with 12 stars indicates that she is an organization arrangement as Jehovah’s universal organization of spirit creatures that acts as his symbolic wife.
Considering this, the “male” child” at Revelations 12:5 refers to Jesus as he symbolically represents the birth of God’s kingdom with himself enthroned as King. This is evident by comparing Psalms 2:9; 110:2; Revelations 2:27; 19:15.
Paul wrote in Galatians 4:26: “…the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.’ This is clearly not an earthly city or woman. Likewise, the woman that John sees in his vision is not literal; she is a sign or symbol. Being arrayed with 12 stars indicates that she is an organization arrangement as Jehovah’s universal organization of spirit creatures that acts as his symbolic wife.
Considering this, the “male” child” at Revelations 12:5 refers to Jesus as he symbolically represents the birth of God’s kingdom with himself enthroned as King. This is evident by comparing Psalms 2:9; 110:2; Revelations 2:27; 19:15.
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12 And a great sign (wonder)—[warning of future events of ominous significance] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland (tiara) of twelve stars on her head. [SUP]2 [/SUP]She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery. [SUP]3 [/SUP]Then another ominous sign (wonder) was seen in heaven: Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven kingly crowns (diadems) upon his heads.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years).
The word, "woman" comes from the Greek word, "gune" and means "wife", it is the same word used to describe the Wife of the Lamb in Revelation 21:9 when the angel says to John, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife." In other words, the Lambs "gune", the bride of Christ. The word, "gune" is derived from the Greek word, "ginomai" and means, "the one that came into being; the one that arose fully assembled; the one that was caused to be; the one that was (is) to be taken and married." Then we see that the woman or "wife" brought forth a male child, in other words, the wife that arose and became fully assembled, brought forth the full image of Christ that was within her (Col 1:25-27), the very image that we as Believers are to be transformed into. Therefore, the woman was delivered by delivering the full image of Christ within her as prophesied in Isa. 66:7-9.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years).
The word, "woman" comes from the Greek word, "gune" and means "wife", it is the same word used to describe the Wife of the Lamb in Revelation 21:9 when the angel says to John, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife." In other words, the Lambs "gune", the bride of Christ. The word, "gune" is derived from the Greek word, "ginomai" and means, "the one that came into being; the one that arose fully assembled; the one that was caused to be; the one that was (is) to be taken and married." Then we see that the woman or "wife" brought forth a male child, in other words, the wife that arose and became fully assembled, brought forth the full image of Christ that was within her (Col 1:25-27), the very image that we as Believers are to be transformed into. Therefore, the woman was delivered by delivering the full image of Christ within her as prophesied in Isa. 66:7-9.
12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
This is the nation of Israel back in the day when Christ was born. Remember Joseph's dream, where the sun, moon and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph? The Sun and the Moon are Joseph father and mother and the 11 stars are Joesph's brothers, (Genesis 37:9-10). This was the how Israel became a nation.
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
Jesus Christ was born out of this Nation Israel, Mary being supernaturally conceived of the HS, gave birth to Jesus. I believe God planned it this way so we could be absolutely certain who the messiah would be.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. [SUP]4 [/SUP]His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Satan tried to destroy this Child. Remember Herold killed all the little boys 2 yrs and under upon his knowledge that he received from the wise men? Harold was allowed to rule Jerusalem/Israel by the authority of Rome (7 heads @ 10 horns) which who also was under Satan's influence.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Fast forward here to Christ death and victory over sin and death, by Christ's death and resurrection He defeated Satanand now resides on His throne in heaven next to the Father.Christ's rule is a spiritual rule, not an earthly rule. This "Child was caught up" is a reference to Christ ascension and Him taking His rightful place along side the Father.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
This the bride of Christ who fled, true Israel, 1st century Christians who fled into the wilderness to escape the destruction of Jerusalem 70AD.
The bride of Christ went through a transformation from the earth Israel/Jerusalem (a physical corporation) to the church of today, Christians, true followers of Christ (a spiritual corporation).
This is the nation of Israel back in the day when Christ was born. Remember Joseph's dream, where the sun, moon and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph? The Sun and the Moon are Joseph father and mother and the 11 stars are Joesph's brothers, (Genesis 37:9-10). This was the how Israel became a nation.
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
Jesus Christ was born out of this Nation Israel, Mary being supernaturally conceived of the HS, gave birth to Jesus. I believe God planned it this way so we could be absolutely certain who the messiah would be.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. [SUP]4 [/SUP]His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Satan tried to destroy this Child. Remember Herold killed all the little boys 2 yrs and under upon his knowledge that he received from the wise men? Harold was allowed to rule Jerusalem/Israel by the authority of Rome (7 heads @ 10 horns) which who also was under Satan's influence.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Fast forward here to Christ death and victory over sin and death, by Christ's death and resurrection He defeated Satanand now resides on His throne in heaven next to the Father.Christ's rule is a spiritual rule, not an earthly rule. This "Child was caught up" is a reference to Christ ascension and Him taking His rightful place along side the Father.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
This the bride of Christ who fled, true Israel, 1st century Christians who fled into the wilderness to escape the destruction of Jerusalem 70AD.
The bride of Christ went through a transformation from the earth Israel/Jerusalem (a physical corporation) to the church of today, Christians, true followers of Christ (a spiritual corporation).
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This interpretation is out of context with the entire Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is a prophetic book concerning the apocalypse of Christ and is not mixed with a "historical" account of His birth. Sorry but this "popular" interpretation is way out of context, it's like trying to jam a pink puzzle piece into the picture.
I agree right up to verse six...
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
OK, this gets a little complicated but the first thing we need to determine is the vantage point in time that Revelation is viewing from...
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
First of all, the woman here is a great false religion...
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Notice that the woman sits on a Beast with seven heads (seven resurrections) and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
This woman presides over the persecution and martyrdom of true Christians, you do remember reading about the inquisition, don't you?
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
She is carried by the Beast. She sits on the Beast and guides it.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
This is very important, it reveals the viewpoint of the book. The sixth head or resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
The ten horns are also the ten toes of Dan 2...
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Rome
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The days of the ten toes, the ten kings (the ten horns of revelation) is the time that Christ returns and establishes the Kingdom.
Now who is the sixth head? First of all there, the seven heads (mountain is a symbol for nation or kingdom) are seven revivals or resurrections of the fourth beast, Rome 31BC to 476AD.
1st head - Justinian in 554AD who recognized the supremacy of the Pope.
2nd head - Charlemagne crowned by the Pope in 800AD
3rd head - Otto the Great crowned by the Pope in 962AD
4th head - Charles V crowned by the Pope in 1520AD
5th head - Napolean crowned by the Pope in 1805AD
6th head - (the one that is) Mussolini and Hitler 1939-1945AD
This is the vantage point.
7th head - the one who is not yet come
This is the final revival of the Beast and again will be ridden by the whore.
Now back to Rev 12, notice that verse 6 is past tense? The true church (ekklesia) hid from the great false church for 1260 years of persecution and martyrdom including the inquisition. This is history now, but it was not fulfilled 70AD. Now drop down to verse 14...
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
This is future tense, it has not happened yet. Also, notice the time is not 1260 days but time, times and half a time? 3-1/2 years. The same 3-1/2 years of the tribulation, the same 3-1/2 years of the two witnesses. The sign for this to begin is the AoD.
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
OK, this gets a little complicated but the first thing we need to determine is the vantage point in time that Revelation is viewing from...
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
First of all, the woman here is a great false religion...
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Notice that the woman sits on a Beast with seven heads (seven resurrections) and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
This woman presides over the persecution and martyrdom of true Christians, you do remember reading about the inquisition, don't you?
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
She is carried by the Beast. She sits on the Beast and guides it.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
This is very important, it reveals the viewpoint of the book. The sixth head or resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
The ten horns are also the ten toes of Dan 2...
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Rome
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The days of the ten toes, the ten kings (the ten horns of revelation) is the time that Christ returns and establishes the Kingdom.
Now who is the sixth head? First of all there, the seven heads (mountain is a symbol for nation or kingdom) are seven revivals or resurrections of the fourth beast, Rome 31BC to 476AD.
1st head - Justinian in 554AD who recognized the supremacy of the Pope.
2nd head - Charlemagne crowned by the Pope in 800AD
3rd head - Otto the Great crowned by the Pope in 962AD
4th head - Charles V crowned by the Pope in 1520AD
5th head - Napolean crowned by the Pope in 1805AD
6th head - (the one that is) Mussolini and Hitler 1939-1945AD
This is the vantage point.
7th head - the one who is not yet come
This is the final revival of the Beast and again will be ridden by the whore.
Now back to Rev 12, notice that verse 6 is past tense? The true church (ekklesia) hid from the great false church for 1260 years of persecution and martyrdom including the inquisition. This is history now, but it was not fulfilled 70AD. Now drop down to verse 14...
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
This is future tense, it has not happened yet. Also, notice the time is not 1260 days but time, times and half a time? 3-1/2 years. The same 3-1/2 years of the tribulation, the same 3-1/2 years of the two witnesses. The sign for this to begin is the AoD.
Not that it matters, this is not the popular view, the popular view is dispensationalism, pre-trib/pre-mil. Second, it a biblical account, and as I would expect the historical account has to agree with the biblical account. Revelation is dealing the apocalypse of Christ, which His wrath poured on apostate Israel, for killing the prophets, the saints, and Christ.
Matthew 21
[h=3]The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers[/h][SUP]33 [/SUP]“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. [SUP]34 [/SUP]Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. [SUP]35 [/SUP]And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. [SUP]36 [/SUP]Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. [SUP]37 [/SUP]Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [SUP]38 [/SUP]But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ [SUP]39 [/SUP]So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
[SUP]41 [/SUP]They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
[SUP]42 [/SUP]Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?[SUP][j][/SUP]
[SUP]43 [/SUP]“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. [SUP]44 [/SUP]And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
[SUP]45 [/SUP]Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. [SUP]46 [/SUP]But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
Matthew 22
[h=3]The Parable of the Wedding Feast[/h]22 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: [SUP]2 [/SUP]“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, [SUP]3 [/SUP]and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. [SUP]4 [/SUP]Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ [SUP]5 [/SUP]But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. [SUP]7 [/SUP]But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Both these parables speak of Christ's judgment upon un-believing Israel.
Matthew 21
[h=3]The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers[/h][SUP]33 [/SUP]“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. [SUP]34 [/SUP]Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. [SUP]35 [/SUP]And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. [SUP]36 [/SUP]Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. [SUP]37 [/SUP]Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [SUP]38 [/SUP]But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ [SUP]39 [/SUP]So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
[SUP]41 [/SUP]They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
[SUP]42 [/SUP]Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?[SUP][j][/SUP]
[SUP]43 [/SUP]“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. [SUP]44 [/SUP]And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
[SUP]45 [/SUP]Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. [SUP]46 [/SUP]But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
Matthew 22
[h=3]The Parable of the Wedding Feast[/h]22 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: [SUP]2 [/SUP]“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, [SUP]3 [/SUP]and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. [SUP]4 [/SUP]Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ [SUP]5 [/SUP]But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. [SUP]7 [/SUP]But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Both these parables speak of Christ's judgment upon un-believing Israel.
Revelation is prophetic. This is not Jesus' birth; it is the future. The woman is the church because her children are the saints. The twelve stars are the twelve apostles. The man child is a christian who will be an apostle (which rule over nations with Christ in the millienial reign). The dragon is satan. Satan loses access to Heaven when his time is short. That dates this to be end times.
yah, well I believe this is a past event, the apostles already judged Israel by preaching the gospel to them and those, the majority, rejected Him for @ 40 years after Christ ascension, and it was time for judgment. The same thing that Christ said about Nineveh judging 1st century Israel is going on here:
Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it , because they repented at Jonah's proclamation; and look--something greater than Jonah is here!
Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it , because they repented at Jonah's proclamation; and look--something greater than Jonah is here!