Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - Jehovah in His Santuary

 Finally, completing this part of the vison,  John tells us: "And the sanctuary became filled with smoke because of the glory of God and because if his power, and no one was table to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues  of the seven angels were finished." (Revelation 15:8) There were occasions in Israel's history when a cloud covered the literal sanctuary, and this manifestation of Jehovah's glory prevented the priests from entering there. ( 1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:3, 14; compare Isaiah 6:4, 5) These were times  when Jehovah was actively involved with developments on earth.

Jehovah  is also   deeply interested in things happening on earth now.  He wants the seven angels to complete their assignment.  It is a clamtic timee of judgement, as described  at Psalm 11:4-6: "Jehovah is in his holy temple.  Jehovah -in the  heavens in his throne.  His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes as wel as the wicked one examine the sons of men.  Jehovah himself examines the sons of men.  Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as the wicket one, and any oen loving violence His soul hates.  He will raind down upon the wicked one traps, fire and sulphur and a scorching wind, as the portion of their cup."  Until these seven plagues  are poured out  upon the wicked ones, the seven angels will not return to Jehovah's holy presence. 

The awesome command thunders forth:  "And I heard a loud voice out of the sanctuary say to the seven angels:  'Go pour out  the seven bowls of the anger of God into the earth." (Revelations 16:1) Who issues this command?  It must be Jehovah himself, since the radiance  if his glory and power prevented anyones else from entering the sanctuary.  Jehovah came to his spiritual temple for judgment in 1918. (Malachi 3:1-5)  It must, then, have been shortly after that date that he gave the command to pour out the bowls of the anger of God.  In fact, the judgments   contained in the symbolic bowls started to be proclaimed with intensity in 1922.  And their proclammation is increasing  to a crescendo  today.

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls

 It is fitting that we hear the song of these anointe conquerors.  Why? Because they have publicized  ib earth's judgments contained in the bowls that were full of the anger of God.  But the  pouring out of these bowls involves more than mere humandsm as John goes on to show:  "And after these things I sawm abd the sanctuary of the ten of the witness  was opened in heavenm  and the seven angels girded about  their breasts with golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures   gave the angels seven golden bowls that were full of the anger of God, who lives  forever and ever." -REVELATION 15:5-7.

As respects the Israelite temple, which contained representatives of heaven things, only the high priest could enter the most Most Holy, here called "the sanctuary."  (Hebrews 9:3, 7) It represents the place of Jehovah's presence in heaven.  In  heaven itself, however, not only does the High Priest Jesus Christ have the privilege of entering in before  Jehovah but the angels do also. (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 9:24-26) It is not surprising, then, that seven angels should be seen coming out from the sanctuary in heaven.  They have a commission from Jehovah God himself: "Pour out the bowls of the anger of God. - REVELATION 16:1.

These angels are well qualified for this work.  They are clothed with clean bright linen, showing that they are spiritually clean and holy righteousness in Jehovah's sight. Also, they wear golden girdles.  Girdles are usually used when a person girds himself for a task to be accomplished. (Leviticus 8:7, 13; 1 Samuel 2:18; Luke 12:37; John 13:4, 5) So the angels are girding for carryig out an assignment.   Moreover, their girdles are golden.  In the ancient tabernacle, gold was used to represent divine, heavenly things.  (Hebrews 9:4, 11, 12)    That meanss these angels  have a precious, divine commission of service to perform.  Others too are involved in this great task.  One of the four living creatures hand the actual  bowls to them. Doubless, this was the first living creature, which resembled a lion, symnolizing the boldness and indomitable courage needed to proclaim Jehovah's judgments. - REVELATION 4:7. 

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful -The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 Like Moses, Jesus publicly sang God's praises  and prophesied  about his victory  over all enemies. (Matthew 24:21, 22, 26:30; Luke 19:41-44)  Jesus too looked forward to the time when the nations would come in to praise Jehovah, and as the self-sacrificing  "Lamb of God," He laid down his life   to ml ake this possible. (John 1:29; Revelaton 7:9; compare Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah  8:23.)  And just as Moses came to appreciate God's name, Jehovah, and extol that name, so Jesus made God' name manifest. (Exodus 62:3; Psalm 90:1, 17John 17:6)  Since Jehovah is loyal, his glorious promises are certain of fulfillment.  Surely, thenm we are at one with these loyal  singers, with the Lamb, and with Moses, in subscribing to the words of the song:  "Who will not really fear for  you, Jehovah, and glorify your name?" 

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wondful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 In another song, composed as Israel prepared for the conquest of Canaan, the aged Moses told that nation: "I shall declare the name of Jehovah.  Do you attribute greatness to our God!" The last verse of this song also gave encouragement to non-Israelites, and Moses' inspired words reach down to the great crowd today: "Be glad you nations with his people."  And why should they be glad? Because now Jehovah "will advenge the blood of his servants, and he will pay back vengeance to his adversaries."  This execution of righteous  judgment will bring jubiliation to all who hope in Jehovah. - DEUTERONOMY 32:3, 43; ROMANS 15:10-13; REVELATION 7:9.

How Moses himself would have rejoiced to be in the Lord's day now, singing along with the heavenly chorus: "All the nations will come and worship before you"!  That transcendent song continues to have marveleous fulfillment today  as we see,  not just in vison but as a living reality, the millions from "the natios" who are now flockign joyfull to Jehovah's earthy organization. 

Nevertheless, this is the song not only of Moses but also "of the Lamb." How so? Moses was Jehovah's prophet to  Israel, but Moses himself prophesied that Jehovah would raise  up a prophet like him.  This one prove to be the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  Whereas Moses was  "the slave of God," Jesus was God's son, in effect the Greater Moses.  (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22, 23; Hebrews 3:5, 6)  Hence, the singers also sing "the song of the Lamb." 

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb-Continue

 These loyal overcomers have harps of God.  In this, they are like the temple of the Levites of old, who worshipped Jehovh with song to the accompaniment of harps.  Some also prophesied to a harp accompaniment. (1 Chronicles 15:16; 25:1-3)  The beautiful strains of the harp embellished Isaiah's songs of joy and prayers of praise and thanksgiving to Jehovah.  (1 Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 33:2;43:4; 57:7, 8)  In times of depression or captivity, the harp was not heard.  (Psalm 137:2) The presence of harp of God in this vision should whet our anticipation for an exultant, triumphant new new son of praise and thanksgiving to our God.

That is what John reports:  "And they  are singing the son of Moses and of the song of the Lamb, saying:  'Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty.  Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity. Will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?  For all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous decrees have made manifest." - REVELATON 15:3, 4. 

These victors sing "the song of Moses," that is, a song similar to the one that Moses sang in like circumstances.  After the Israelites  had witnessed  the ten plagues in Egypt and the destructon of the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea, Moses led them in such a song of triumphant praise to Jehovah, proclaiming:  "Jehovah will rule as king to time indefinite, even forever." (Exodus 15:1-19)  How fitting that the singers in John's vision, coming victorious  from the wild beast and being involved in proclaiming the seven last plagues, should also sing "to the King of eternity"! - 1 TIMOTHY  1:17.

Next time: Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 A remarkable panorama now comes into John's view:  "And I  saw what seemed to be a glassy sea mingled with fire, and those who came off victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from the number of its name standing by the glassy sea, having harps of God." - REVELATION 15:2. 

The "glassy sea" is the same one that John saw earlier, postitioed before the throne of God.  (Revelaton 4:6) It is similar to "the molten sea" (water container) of Solomon's temple, where the priests  obtain water to cleanse themselves.  (1 Kings 7:23)  It is thus a fine representation of "the bath of water," that is, God's Word, by which Jesus cleanses the priestly congregation of anointed Christians.  (Ephesians 5:25, 26; Hebrews 10:22) This glassy sea is "mingled with fire," indicating  that these anointed  ones are tested and purged as they obey  the high standard set for them.  Further, it reminds us that God's Word also contains expressions of fiery judgments against his enemies.  (Deuteronomy 9:3; Zephaniah 3:8)  Some of these fiery judgments are manifested in the seven last plagues that are about to be poured out.

The fact that the molten sea in Solomon's temple was for the use of the priests indicates that the singers standing before the  heavenly glass sea are a priestly class.  They have " of harps of God," and we therefore associate  them with the 24 elders and the 144,000, since these groups also  sing to a harp accompanieniment.  (Revelation 5:8; 14:2)  The singers that John sees "come off victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from the number of its name."  So  they must be those from among the 144,000m who live on earth during the last days.   As a group, they do indeed come off victorious.  For almost 90 years since 1919, they have refused to accept the mark of the wild beast or look to its image as  a man's only hope  for peace.  Many of them have already endured faithful to the death, and these, now in heaven, doubtless follow with  special delight the singing of their brotehrs who are  still on earth. - REVELATION 14:11-13.

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful -  The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

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Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful

 Vision 10-REVELATION 15:1-16:21

Subject: Jehovah is his sanctuary; the seven bowls of his wrath poured into the earth

Time of fulfillment: 1919 to Armageddon

A WOMAN giving birth to a male child!  A great dragon seeking to devour that child!  Those two heavenly signs, so vividly portrayed in Revelation  chapter 12, brought home  to us that the agelong controversy involving the seed of God's woman and Satan and his demonic seed is reaching its climax.   In highlighting these symbols, John says:  "And a great sign  was seen in heaven . . . And another was sight was seen. (Revelation 12:1, 3, 7:12)  Now John reports a third sign: "And I saw in heaven another sign, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues.  These are the last ones, beause by means of them th anger of God  is brought to a finish." (Revelation 15:1)  This third sign also has vital meaning for Jehovah's servants.  

Notice the important roles that angels again have in accomplishing God's will.  This fact has  long been known by Jehovah's servants.  Why, under inspiration the ancient psalmist even spoke to such angels, urging them:  "Bless Jehovah, O you angels of his, mighty in power, carrying out his word, by listening to the voice  of his word"!  (Psalm 103:20)  Now, in this new scene, angels are assigned to pour out the the seven last plagues. 

What are these plagues?  Like the seven trumpet blastsm they are scathing judgment pronouncements publicizing Jehovah's view of various features of this world and warning of that final outcome of his judicial decisions.  (Revelation 8:1-9:21) The pouring out of them points to the execution of those judgments, when the objects of Jehovah's  wrath are destroyed in the day of his burning anger.  (Isaiah 13:9-13) Thus by means  of them "the anger of God is brought to a finish." But before describing the pouring out of the plagues, John tells  us about some humans who will not be adversely affected by them.  Having refused the mark of the wild beast, these loyal ones sing praises to Jehovah as theyproclaim his day of vengeance. - REVELATION 13:15-17. 

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses  and of the Lamb

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Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring Everlasting Good News

John next writes: "And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tonge and people, saying in a loud voice" 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour  of the judgment by him as arrived, and so worshp the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters." (Revelaton 14:6, 7) The angel  is flying "in midheaven," where the birds fly.  (Compare Revelation 19:17)  Hence, his voice can be heard around the globe. Of how  much greater  range than any news flash is this angel's worldwide proclamation!

Everyon is urged to fear, not the wild beast and its image, but Jehovah, who is incomparably  more powerful than any symbolic wild beast controlled by Satan.  Why, Jehovah created the heaven and earth, and now the time has come for him to judge the earth!  (Compare Genesis  1:1; Revelation 11:18)  When on earth, Jesus prophesied concering our day: "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."  (Matthew 24:14) The congregation of anointed Christians is fulfilling this commission.  (1 Corinthians 9:16; Ephesians 6:15) Revelation here reveals that invisible angels are also involved in this preaching work.  How often angelic guidance has been apparent in bringing one of Jehovah's Witnesses to a home where some distressed soul was yearning, even praying, for spiritual help!

As the angel flying in midheaven has declared, the hour  for judgment has arrived!  What judgment will God now render!  Ears will tingle at the announcements now to be made by a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth angel. - JEREMIAH 19:3.

Next time:  Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful

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Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb

 Continuing  his description of the 144,000m who are "bought,"  John tells us: "These  are the ones that did not defile themselves  with women; in fact they are virgins .  These are the  ones that keep following the Lamb, no matter where he gods.  These were bought from amont mankind as firstfruits to God and the Lamb, and no falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish." (Revelation 14:4, 5)The fact that the 144,000 "are virgins" does not mean that members of this class  are necessarily unmarried in the flesh.  The apostle Paul write to Christians who had a heavenly calling that, whereas there are advantages to Christians singleness, marriage is preferable  under certain circumstances.  (1 Corinthians 7:1, 2,36, 37) What characterizes  this class as spiritual virginity.  They  have avoided spiritual adultery with worldly politics  and with false religion.  (James 4:4; Revelation 17:5)  As the betrothed bride of Christ, they have kept themselves pure,   "without a blemish in among a crooked and twisted generaltion." - PHILIPPIANS 2:15.

Additionally,  "no falsehood was found in their mouths."  In this way, they are like their King, Jesus Christ.   As a perfect human,  "he committed no sin, nor was deception  found in his mouth."  (1 Peter 2:21, 22)  In being simultaneously without blemish ad truthful, the 144,000 are prepared as a chaste bride for Jehovah's great High Priest.  When Jesus was on earth, he invited righthearted ones to follow him. (Mark 8:34; 10:21; John 1:43)  Those who responded imitated his way his way of life and obeyed his teachings.  Thus, during their earthly course, they keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes" as he guides  them through Satan's world.  

The 144,000 are "bought from the earth," bought from amont mankind. They are adopted as sons of God, and after their resurrection, they will no longer be mere flesh-and-blood humans.  As mentioned in verse 4, they became the "firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." True, back in the first century, Jesus was "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep  in death." (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23) But the 144,000  are the "certain firstfruits of imperfect mankind, purchase by means of Jesus' sacrifice. (James 1:18)   Nevertheless, the ingathering of fruitage  from mankind  does not end  with them.  The book of Reveltions  has already pointed  to the harvesting  of an unnumbered great crowd  that cries with a loud voice.  "Salvation we own to our God, who is seated on  the throne, and to the Lamb."  This great crowd wil survive the great tribulation, and as they continue to be refreshed by "fountains of waters of life," they will be raised   to human perfection  on earth.  Sometime after the great tribulation, Hades will be emptied, and countless millons of other humans  will resurrected and have the opportuity to drink from those same waters if life.  With this in mind, it would be correct to call the great crowd a firstfruits of the other sheep-they are the first to 'wash their robes  and make them white  in the blood of the Lamb' with the hope of living forever on earth. - REVELATION 7:9. 

These three firstfruits (Jesus Christ, the 144,000, and the great crowd)  have interesting correspondencies  in the festivals celebrated according to the ancient Mosaic Law.  On Nisan 16, during the Festival of Unfermented Cakes,  a sheaf of firstfruits of the barlely was offered to Jehovah.  (Leviticus 2:6-14)  Nisan  16,  was the day  Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  On the 50th day from Nisan 16, in the third month, the Israelites celebrated the festival of the harvest of the first fruit ripe fruits of the wheat harvest.  (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:15, 16) This festival  came to be called Pentecost (from a  Greek word meaning "fiftieth"), and it was at Pentecost 33 C.E.  that the first  of the 144,000 were anointed with holy spirit.  Finally, in the seventh month when the whole harvest was gathered in, there was the Festival of Booths, a time of joyful thanksgiving whn the Israelites dwell for a week in booths made of, among other things, palm branches. (Leviticus 23:33-43)  Correspondingly, the great crowd, who are part  of the ingathering, give thanks before the throne   with "palm branches in their hands. " - REVELATION 7:9.

Next time: Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring Everlasting Good News 

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Singing the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song -Conclusion

 Nevertheless, others listen and responded to their singing.  Since 1935 a growing great crowd of other sheep has heard her triumphant  song and  been moved to join them in publicizing God's Kingdom. (John 10:16; Revelation 7:9)  True, these newcomers  cannot learn to sing exactly the same new song that the future rulers of God's Kingdom sing.  But they too sound a melodious chorus of praise to  Jehovah that is an anthem lauding Jehovah for  thing  he is accomplishing.  They thus fulfill  the psalmist's exhortation:  "Sing to Jehovah, bless his name.  From day to day tell the good news of salvaton by him.  Declare among the nations his glory, among all the peoples of his wonderful works .  Ascribe to Jehovah you families of the peoples, ascribe to his glory and strength. Say among the  nations,  'Jehovah himself has become king." - PSALM 96:1-3, 7, 10;  98:1-9.

How can the 144,000 sing "before" the elders, since te 24 elders are the 144,000  in their  heavenly glorious heavenly position?  Early in the Lord's day, those "dead in union wiht Christ" were  resurrected as spirit creatures.  Thusm faithful anointed Christians who have conquered  are now in heaven, symbolically fulfilling functions comparable  to those of the 24 divisions  of priestly elders  They are included in the vision of Jehovah's heavenly  organization.  (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16; 1 Chronicles 24:1-8; Revelaton 4:4; 6:11) The remnant  of the 144,000 still on earth are therefore singing the new song before, or in the sight of, their resurrected  brothers in heaven.

At this point we might also ask: Why is it that  these anointed overcomers are referred  to as the symbolic 2 4 elders as well as the 144,000? It is because Revelation views this one group from two different standpoints.  The 24 elders are always shown in their ultimate position around Jehovah's throne, installed as kings and priests in the heavens.  They symbolize the entire group  of 144,000 in their heavenly positionm although  at present a small remnant of these is still on earth.  (Revelation 4:4, 10; 5:-14; 7:11-13; 11:16:16-18) Revelation chapter 7, however, focuses on the 1 44,000 as brought forth from  humankind, and it stressed Jehovah's grand purpose to seal the complete number of individuals Israelites and to grant salvation  to an unnumbered  great crowd.  Revelation chapter 14 provides a  picture cofirming that the complete Kingdom class of 144,000 individual overcomers will be assembed with the  Lamb on Mount Zion.  The qualifications  to be met in order to be numbered with the 144,000  are also made known, as we shall see.

Next time: Singing the Triumphal New Song -  Followers of the Lamb

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Singling the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song

 In harmony with this, John reports:  "And I heard a sound out of heaven as the sound of many waters and as the sound of loud thunder;  and the sound that I heard   was as  as of singers who accompany themselves on the harp playing on their harps.  And they are singin as if a new song before the throne  and before the three living creatures and the elders; and no one   was able to master  that song before the hundred and forty-four  thousand, who have been bought from the earth."  (Revelation 14:2, 3) It is no wonder tha John, upon hearing  144,000 voices  joined in one melodius chorus, is reminded   of roaring waterfalls and pealing thunderclaps.  How pleasant that clear harplike accompaniement! (Psalm 81:2) What choir  on earth could ever attain to the grandeur of that magnificent chorus?

And what is this "new song"?  As we noted discussion Revelation 5:9, 10,  the song  has to do with Jehovah's Kingdom purposes and his wonderful provision, through Christ Jesus,  for making spiritual Israel  "a kingdom and priests to our God." It is a song of praise to Jehovah publicizing  the new things he is accomplishing by means of the Israel of God and in behalf  of it. (Galatians 6:16)   Members  of this spiritual Israel respond to the psalmists invitatio:  "Praise Jah, you people!  Sing to Jehovah a new song, his praise in the congregation of loyal ones.  Let Israel rejoice  in its Grand Maker, the sons of Zion-let them be joyful in their King."  (Psalm 149:1, 2)  True, those words  written centuries agaon, but in our day, they have been sung with new understanding.  In 1914 the Messianc Kingdom was born. (Revelation 12:10) In 1919 Jehovah's people on earth began to announce "the word of the kingdom" with renewed zeal.  (Matthew 13:19)  Stimulated  by the yeartext for 1919 (Isaiah 54:17) and encouraged by their resortaion to a spiritual  paradise, they began in that year to 'sing to Jehovah with music in their hearts.' - EPHESIANS 5:19. 

Why is it, though  that only 144,000 are able to learn the song mentioned at  Revelaton 14:3  Because  it has to do with their experiences as chosen heirs  of God's Kingdom.  They alone are bought from the earth to become part of that heavenly Kingdom, and they alone "will be priests . . . and will rule as kings" with Jesus Christ for a thousand years to bring mankind  to pefection.  They alone are seen to b "singing as if a new song "in the presence   of Jehovah.  These unique experiences and prospects give them a singular appreciation of the Kingdom and enable them in a way that no one else can. - REVELATION  20:6; Colossians 1:13;  1 THESSALONIANS  2:11, 12, 

Next time;  Singing the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song. 

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Singing the Triumphal New Son:

 Vision 9 - REVELATION 14:1-20

Subject: The 144,000  are with the Lamb  on Mount Zion; anbelic  pronouncements sound through the earth; harvests are reaped

Time of fulfillment: 1914 to the great tribulaton

How refreshing it is to turn to John's next vision!  In contrast with the dragon's grotesque beastlike organizations, we now see Jehovah's loyal servants and their activities during the Lord's day.  (Revelation 1:10) Already,  Revelation 7:1, 3 has disclosed to us that the four winds  of destructo are being held back until all 144,000  of these anointed slaves are seaked Revelation 12:17) has  made known that these "remaining ones of [the woman's ] seed" become   the special target of Satan, the dragon, during that time.  And Revelation chapter 13 has vividly depicted the political organizations raised up on earth by Satan to bring intense pressure   and  cruel persecution  on Jehovah's faithful servants. But that archememy cannot thwart God's purpose!  We will  now learn that despite  Satan'  manevolent activity, all the 144,000 are trimuphantly gathered. 

John, and with him the John class today, is given a  preview of that happy outccome:  "And I saw, and look!  the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred  and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Fathther written on their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1)  As we have seen, this Lamb is the same as the Michael who cleansed  the heavens by casting out the Devil  and his demons.  He is the Michael whom Daniel describes   as "standing in behalf of the sons of [God's ] people" as he prepares to "stand up" in executing Jehovah's righteous judgments.  (Daniel  12:1;  Revelation 12:7)  Since 1914 this self-sacrifing Lamb of God has been standing on Mount Zion as the Messianic King.

It is just as Jehovah foretold:  "I, even I have installed my  king upon Mount Zion, my holy mountain."  (ItPsalm 2:6; 110:2)  This no longer refers to the earthly Mount Zion, the geographical location of earthly Jeusalem. in w hich city human kings in the line of David used to reign.  (1 Chronicles 11:4-7; 2 Chronicles 5:2)  No, for Jesus after his death and resurrection in 33 C.E, was installed as a foundation cornerstone on the heavenly Mount Zion,  the celestial location where Jehovah determined  to place the "city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, which is the Kingdom.   (Hebrews 12:22, 28; Ephesians 3:6)  It is the glorious royal situaton to which Jehovah elevates them during the Lord's day.  Over the centuries anointed Christians, as "living stones," have earnestly looked forward to standing  on that heavenly Mount Zion, united with the glorified Lord Jesus  Christ in his majestic Kingdom. - 1 PETER 2:4-6;  LUKE 22:28-30; JOHN 14:2, 3. 

John sees not only Jesus but the compete body of the 144,000 fellow heirs  of the heavenly Kingdom standing upon the Mount Zion.  At the time represented by the vision, many, but not all, of the 144,000 are already in heaven.  Later in the same vision, John learns  that some of the holy ones  still have to endure and die faithful.  (Revelaton 14:12, 13)  Evidently, then, some of the 144,000 are still one earth.  So how is that John sees all of them standing  with Jesus on Mount Zion?  In that, as members of the congregation of anointed Christians, these have now "approached  a Mount Zion ad a city of the city of the living God  heavenly Jerusalem."  (Hebrews 12:22) Like Paul when he was still on earth, they have aleady-in a spiritual sense-been raised  up to be in union with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:5, 6)  Additionally, i 1919 they responded  to the inviataion,  "Come on up here," and in a figuratively way "went up into heaven in the cloud."  (Revelaton 11:12)  In view of these scriptures, we can see that all the 144,000 - spirituall speakig -are located on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ.

The 144,000 have no part with the worshippers of the wild beastm who are marked with the symbolic number 666. (Revelation13:15-18)  In contrast, these loyal ones have the name of God and of the Lamb written on their foreheads.  No doubt John, a Jew, saw God's name in Hebrew lettering of Jesus' Father symbolically written  on their  foreheads, these sealed ones make known  to all that they are Jehovah's Witnesses, His slaves. (Revelation 3:2) Their having Jesus' name also displayed  on their foreheads  indicate that  they acknowledge being owned by him.  He is  their "betrothed "husband," and they are his propestive  "bride," a new creation" serving God with heavenly life in view.  (Ephesians 5:22-24; Revelation 21:2, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:17)  Their intimate relationship with Jehovah and Jesus Christ affects all their thoughts and actions. 

Next time:  Singing  the Triumphal New Song -Singing as if a New Song

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beast - The Mark of the Wild Beast -Conclusion

 What does it mean to be marked on the forehead or  in the right hand with the name of the wild beast?  When Jehovah gave Israel the Law, he told them: "You must apply these words of mine to your heart and your soul and bind them as  a sign upon your hand, and they must  serve as a frontlet band between your eyes."  (Deuteronomy 11:18)  This meant that the Israelites had to keep   that Law constantly before them, so that it influenced all their actions and thoughts.  The 144,000  anointed ones ae said to have the Father's name and that of Jesus written on their foreheads. This identifies them as belonging to Jehovah god and Jesus Christ.  (Revelation 14:1)  In imitation, Satan uses the demon mark of the wild beast.  Anybody  engaged in everyday activities such as buying and selling is pressured to do do things the way the wild beast  does, as for example, in celebrating holidays.  They are expected to worship the wild beast, letting it rule their lives, so as to receive its mark. 

Those who refuse to accept the mark of the wild beast  gave ad constant problems.  Starting in the 1930's, for example, they had to fight many court battles and endure violent  mobbings and other persecutions.  In the totalitarians countries, they were thrown into concentration camps, where many died.  Since the second world war,  countless young men  have suffered lengtht  imprisonments, some even being tortured and killed, because of their refusal to compromise their Christian neutrality.  In other lands Christians are literally  unable to buy or sell; some are unable to own propherty; others are raped, murdered, or chased from their native land.  Why? Because in good conscience they refuse to buy a political party card. - JOHN 17:16.

In some areas of the earth, religion is so ingrained   in community life that anyone who stands for the Bible truth is ostracized by family and former friends.  It takes great faith to endure. (Matthew  10:36-38; 17:22)  In a world where the majority worship material wealth and where dishonesty is rampant, the true Christian often has to trust imlicitly in Jehovah that He will uphold him in pursuing an upright course.  (Psalm 11:7; Hebrews 13:18)  In  a world awash with immorality, it greats great determination to remain clean and pure.  Christians  who fall sick are often pressured  by doctors and nurses to break God's law  on the security of blood;  they even  have resist court orders that conflict with their faith.  (Acts 15:28, 29;  1 Peter 4:3, 4)  Yes, the wor;d is a difficult  place for those who do not have the mark of the wild beast.  It is an outstanding demonstration of Jehovah's power and blessing that the remaining ones of the seed of the woman, as well as more than six million   of the great crowd, are keeping integrity despite all the pressures to break God's laws.  (Revelation 7:9) Unitedly, throughout the earth, may all of us continue  to magnify Jehovah and his righteous ways, as we refuse to receive the mark of the wild beast. - Psalm 34:1-3. 

Next time:  Sining The Triumphal New Song

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Mark of the Wild Beast

 John now sees how Satan maneuvers the political parts of  his visible organization to cause the maximum suffering for the remainign ones of the seed of God's woman.  (Genesis 3:15) He returns to describing "the wild beast" itself:  "And it puts under compulson of all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in the right hand or upon their forehead, and that nobody might be able to buy or sell  except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of the wild beast, for it is a man's number; and its number is six-hundred sixty-six." - REVELATION 13:16-18. 

The wild beast has a name, and his number is 666.  Six as a number, is associated  with Jehovah's enemies.  A Philistine man of the Rephaim was of "extraorindary size," and his fingers and toes  were in sixes." ( 1 Chronicles 20:6)  King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image 6 cubits in breadth and 60 cubits high, to unify his political officials in one worship.   When God's servants refused to worship the image of gold, the king had them thrown inti a fiery furnace.  (Daniel 3:1-23) The number six falls short of seven, which stands for completeness from God's standpoint.  Therefore,  a triple six represents gross imperfection.

A name identifies a person.  So how does this number identify the beast?  John says that it "is a man's number," not that of a spirit person,  so the name helps to confirm that the wild beast is earthly, symbolizing human government.  Just as six fails to measure up to seven, so 666-six to the third degree-a fitting name for the world's gigantic  political system that fails so miserably to measure up to God's standard of perfection.  The world's  political wild beast rules supreme under the name-number 666, while bit politics, big religion, and big business that  keep the wild beast functioning as an oppressor of mankind and a persecutor of God's people.

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Image of the Wild Beast

 Is this two-horned wild beast as innocent as it lamblike horns would indicate?  John  goes on to say: "And it misleads those who dwell on the earth,  because of the signs that were granted to it to perform  in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells  those who dweell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived. And there was granted to it to give breath to the image of the wild beast, so that the image of the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed all of those who would not in any way worship the image of the wild beast." -  REVELATION 13:14, 15. 

What is the "image of the wild beast,"  and what is its purpose?  The purpose is to promote the worship of the seven-headed wild beast of which it is an image and thus, in effect, to perpetuate the existence if the wild beast.  This image is constructed after the seveen-headed  wild beast revives from its sword stroke, that is after the end of the first world war.  It is no lifeless statute such as Nebuchadnezzar erected on the plains of Dura.  (Daniel 3:1) The two-horned wild beast breathes life into this image so that the image can live and play a role in world history.

The outworking of history identifies this image as the organization proposed, promoted  and supported by Britain and the United States and known initially as the League of Nations.  Later, in Revelaton chapter 17, it will appear under a different symbol, that is of a living breathing scarlet-colored wild beast having an independenct extistence.  This interational body 'speaks,'  in that it makes boastful claims to be the onlyone able to bring peace and security to mankin.  But in reality it has become a forum for member nations to exhange verbal tirades and insults.  It has threatened with ostracism, or a living death, any nations or people that does not bow down  to it authority.  The League of Natons that failed to abide by its ideologies. At the onset of the great tribulation, militaristic "horns" of this image of the wild beast will fulfill a devastating role. - REVELATION 7:14; 17:8, 16.

Since World War II, the image of the wild beast-now manifested as the United Nations organization-has already killed in a literal way.  For example, in 1950 a UN force took the field in the way between North Korea and South Korea.  The UN force, along with South Koreans, killed an estimated 1,420,000 North Koreans  and Chinese.  Similarly, from 1960 to 1964, United Natons armies were active  in the Congo (Kinshasa).  Moreover, world leaders  including popes Paul VI and John Paul II, have continued to affirm that this image is man's last and best hope for peace.  If mankind fails to serve it, they insist, the human race  will destroy itself.  They thus figuratively cause to be killed all humans who refuse to go along with the image and worship. - DEUTERONOMY 5:8, 9.

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Two-Hornec Wild Beast

 But now another wild beast comes into the world scene.  John reports:  "And I saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, but it began  speaking as a dragon.  And it exercises all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight. And it makes the earth and those who dwell in it worship the first wild beast, who death-like stroke got healed. And it performs great signs, so that it should even make fire come daon out of heaven to the earth in the sight of mankind." (Revelation 13:1-13.  This wild beast has two horns, indicating a partnership of two political powers.  And it is describe as coming out of the earth, not out of the sea.  Thus, it comes out of Satan's alreadt earthly system of things.  It must be  a world power, already existing, that takes on a significant role during the Lord's day.

What can it be?  The Anglo-American World Power-the same as the seventh head of the first wild beast  but in a special role!  Isolating it in the vision as a separate wild beast helps us to see more clearly how it acts indipendenly on the world stage.  This figurative two-horned  wild beast is made up of two coexisting, independent, bur cooperative polical powers.  Its two horns  "like a lamb" suggest that it makes itself  out to be mild and inoffensive, wth an enlightened form of government to which all the world should turn.  But it speaks  "as a dragon"  in that it uses pressure and threats and even  outright violence wherever its version of rulership is not accepted.  It has not encouraged submission to God's Kiigndom under the rule of the Lamb of God, but, rather. to the interests of Satan the great dragon.  It has promoted nationalistic  divisions and hatreds that add up to worshipping the first wild beast.

This wild beast performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven.  (Compare Matthew 7:21-23.)  This latter sg=ign reminds  us of Elijah. the ancient prophet of God who engaged ina contest with the prophets of Baal.  When he successfully  called down fire from heaven in the name of Jehovah, it proved beyond doubt that he was true prophet.  (Revelation 13:14, 15; 19:20) Why, it claims to have vanquished the forces of evil  in two world wars and was victorious over so-called godless Communism!  Many indeed, view the modern counterpart  of the two-horned wild beast  as a guardian ov liberty and a font of material good things.

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - Waging War Against the Holy Ones - Conclusion

 This seemed like a victory for Satan and his organization.  But it could bring them no  long-term benefits, since no one in Satan's visible organization had his name written in "the scroll of life of the Lamb."  Figuratively, this scroll contains the names of those who will rule with Jesus in heavenly Kingdom.  The first names were written in it at Pentecost 33 C.E.  And in the years since then, more and more names have been added.  Since 1918, the sealing of the remaining ones of the 144,000 Kingdom heirs has been preceeding to completion.  Soon, the names of all of them will be written indelibly in the Lamb's scroll of life. As for the opposers  who worship the wild beast, not one of these will have his name written in that scroll.  So any apparent victory these may have over "the holy ones" is simply and empty one, merely temporary.

John now calls  upon those with discernment to listen very carefully: "If anyone is meant for capivity, he goes away into captivity. If anyone will kill with the sword, he must be killed with the sword.  Here is where it means the endurance and faith of the holy ones." (Revelaton 13:9, 10)  Jeremiah wrote words quite similar to these in the years preceding 607 B.C.E., to show that there was no turning back of Jehoah's judgments for the unfaitful city of Jerusalem.  (Jeremiah 15:2; see also Jeremiah 43:11;  Zechariah 11:9.)  In his time of great trial, Jesus made it plain that his followers must not compromise when he said: "All who take the sword  will perish by the sword."  (Matthew 26:52) Simarily, now in the Lord's day God's people must hold fast to the Bible principles. There will be no final escape for unrepentant ones who worshp the wild beast. All of us will need endurance, along with unshakable faith, in order to survive the persecutions and trials that lay ahead. - HEBREWS 10:36-39; 11:6.

Next time: Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Two-horned  Wild Beast

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Contending WIth Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - Waging War Against the Holy Ones

 Note:  Have had some problems with medicine my doctor gave me. Will try to continue today.

The wily Satan had plans for manipulating the wild beast to his own endes.  John explains this: "And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemes was give it [the seven- headed wild beast], and authority to act forty-months  was given it. And it opened its mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name  and his residence, even those residing in heaven.  And there was granted to it to wage war with the holy ones and conquer them, and authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue  and nation.  And all of those who dwell on the earth will worship it; the name of not one of them stands written in the scroll of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered, from the founding of the world."  -REVELATION 13:5-8. 

The forty-two months mentioned her appear to be the same as the three and half years during which the holy ones are harassed by a horn arising from one of the beasts in Daniel's . (Daniel 7:23-25; see also Revelation 11:1-4.) Thus, from the end of 1914 on into 1918, whild the warring nations were literally tearing at one another like wild beasts, citizens of thsoe nations  were pressured to worship the wild beast, to indulge in the religion  of nationalism, even to be ready to die for their country.  Such pressure led  to intense suffering on the part of many of the anointed ones, who felt that  their higher obedience to Jehovah God and his Son, Christ Jesus. (Acts 5:29)  Their trial  came to a climax in June 1918, when they were 'conquered,' in the United States, prominent officer  and other representatives of the Watch Tower Society were wrongly imprioned, and the organized  preaching by their Christian brothers were greatly hindered.  Having authority "over every tribe and people and tongue and nation," the wild beast clamped down on God's work nationwide. 

Next  time:  Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beast - Waging War Against the Holy Ones

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Death Stroke- Conclusion

 The world after the war was vastly different, Satan's earthly system, although devastated by the death stroke, revived and became more powerful than ever and so won the admiration  of humans because of its recuperative power.

Historian Charles L. Mee, Jr., writes:  "The collapse of the  old order [caused by the first world war]was  a necessary prelude to  the spread of self-rule, the liberation of new nations and classes, the release of new freedom and independence."  Leading in the development of this postwar era was the seventh head of the wild beast, now healed, and with the United State's of American moving into the dominant role.  The dual power took the lead in advocating both the Leage of Nations and the United Nations.   By the year 2005, U.S. political power  had led the more privileged nations in creating a higher standard of living, in fighting disease, and in  advancing technology. It has even placed 12 men on the moon.  It is no wonder, therefore, that mankind in general has "followed  the wild beast with admiration." 

Mankind has even giveen beyond admiring the wild beast, as John states: "And they worshiped the dragon because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words:  'Who is like the wild beast , and who can battle with it."  (Revelaton 13:4)  While Jesus was here on earth, Satan claime to have authority over all the kingdoms of the earth.  Jesus did not dispute this; in fact, he himself referred to Satan as the ruler of the world and refused to participate  in the politics of that day.  John later wrote of true Christians:"We know we originate with God, but the whole world  is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19; Luke 4:5-8; John 6:15; 14:30)  Satan delegates authority to the wild beast, and does this on a nationalistic basis. Thus, instead of being united  in bonds of godly love, mankind has been divided  by pride of tribe, race, and nation.  The great majority of people worshp,  in effect, that part of the wild beast gains admiration and worshp.

Worshp in what sense? In the sense of putting love of country ahead of love of Goed.  Most people have the land of their birth.  As good citizens, true Christians also respect the rulers and the emblems of the country  where they reside, obey the laws, and make a positive contribution to the welfare of their community and their neighbors.  (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17) They cannot,  however, give blind devoltion to one country as against all others.  "Our country, right or wrong" is not a Christian teaching.  So Christians who worshup Jehovah God cannot share in giving prideful  patriotic worship to any part of the wild beast, for this would amount to worshipping the dragon-The source of the authority of the beast.  They cannot ask admiringly: "Who is like the wild beast?"  Rather, they follow the example of Michael-his name meaning "Who Is Like God?"-as they uphold Jehovah's universal sovereignty.  At God's appointed time, this Michael, Christ Jesus, will do battle with the wild beast and conquer it, even as he triumphed in expelling Satan from heaven. - REVELATION 12:7-9; 19:11, 19-21.

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Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts

 The wild beast has ten horns on its seven heads. Perhaps four heads had one horn each and three heads two horns each.  Moreover, it had ten diadems on its horns.  In the book of  Daniel, fearsome  beasts are described, and  the numbering of their horns is to be interpreted literally.  For example, the two horns  on a ram represented a world empire made up of two partners, Media and Persia, while the four horns on a goat represented  the four eoexisting empires that grew out of Alexander the Great's Greek empire.  (Daniel 8:3, 8. 20-22)  On the beast that John saw, however, the numbering of the ten horns appears to be symbolic.  (Compare Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12.)  They represent the completeness of sovereign states making up the entire political organization of Satan.  All these horns are violent and aggressive, but as indicated  by the seven heads, headship resides  in only one world power at a time.  Similary, the ten diadems indicate that all sovereign states  would exercise ruling power simultaneously  with the dominant state, or world power,  of that time.

The wild beast has "upon its heads blasphemous names," making claims for itself that show great disrespect for Jehovah God and Christ Jesus.  It has used the names of God and Christ  as a sham to achieve its political processes.  For example, the house of Lords in England includes the bishops.  Catholic cardinals have played prominent political roles  in France and Italy, and more recently, priest have taken political office in Latin America.  Governments print religious slogans. such as "IN GOD WE DO NOT TRUSt,"  on their  notes, and on their coins they claim divine  approval for their rulers, stating, for example, that these are appointed  "by the grace of God."  All of this is actually blasphemous, for it attempts to involve God in the sullied nationalistic political arena.

The wild beasts comes out of "the sea," which is a fitting symbol of the turulent masses from which human government springs.   (Isaiah 17:12, 13)  This wild beast began to emerge  out of the sea of turbulent humanity away back in the days of Nimrod (about the 21 century B.C.E.), when  a post-Flood system  of things, opposed to Jehovah, first manifested itself.  (Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9)  But only during the Lord's day has the last one of its seven heads fully manifested itself.  Notice, too, it is the dragon that "that gave to the beast its power and it throne and great authority." (Compare Luke 4:6)  The beast  is Satan's politicaly creation among the masses of mankind.  Satan is truly "the ruler of the world." - JOHN 12:31. 

Next time: Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts - The Death Stroke

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Contending With Two Feroious Wild Beasts

 By the end of the first century C.E., however, many in this early congregation had fallen away from the truth, and the true Christian wheat, "the sons of the kingdom," had been largely choked out by weeds, "the sons of the wicked one."  But when the conclusion of the system of thing arrived, anointed Christians  again appeared as an organized group.  During the Lord's day, the righteous ones were due to "shine as brightly as the sun."   Hence, the Christian congregation was organized for work.  (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) By then, the Roman Empire was no more.  The huge British Empire, along with the powerful United States of America held the center of the world stage.  This dual world power proved to be the seventh head of the wild beast.

Is it not shocking to identify the ruling political powers with a wild beast?  That  is what some opposers claimed during World War II, when the status of Jehovah's  Witnesses, as an organization and as individuals, was being challenged in law courts and around the earth.  But stop and think! Do not the nations themselves  adopt beasts or wild creatures as their  national symbols? For example, there are the British lion, the American eagle, and the Chinese dragon.  So why should anyone object if the divine Author of the holy Bible also uses beasts to symbolize world powers? 

Moreover, why should anyone object to the Bible's' saying that is is Satan who gives the wild beast  its great authority?  God is the Source of that statement. and before him 'the nations  are as a drop from a bucket and as film of dust.'  Those nations would better to court God's favor than to take offense at the way his prophetic Word describes them. (Isaiah 40:15, 17; Psalm 2:10-12)  Satan is no mythical  person assigned to tormenting departed souls  in a fiery hell.  No such place exists.  Rather, Satan is described in Scripture as "an angel of light"-master of deception who exercises powerful influencew in general political affairs. - 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3, 14, 15; EPHESIANS 6:11-18.

Next time: Contending With Two Ferocious Wild Beasts -Continue

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Contending WIth Two Ferocious Beasts

 In another vision, Danie sees a two-horned ram that is struck by a goat with a great horn.  The angel Gabriel explains to him what it means:  "The ram . . . stands for the kings of Media and Persia.  And the hairy he-goat stands for the king of Greece." Gabriel goes on to prophecy that the great horn of the he-goat would be broken and be  succeeded by four horns.  This actually happened  more than 200 years later when Alexander the Great died and  his kingdom was split  into four kindoms ruled by the four of his generals. - DANIEL 8:3-8, 20-25. 

It is clear, therefore, that the Author of the inspired Bible regards the polical powers of the earth as beasts.  What kind of beasts?  One commentator   calls the wild beast of Revelation  13:1, 2 "a brute" and adds :  "We accept all the connotations  that onpiov (The ri'on , the Greek word for "beast"] conveys, such of that as that of a cruel, destructive, frightful, ravenous, etc., monster.  How well that describes the bloodstained polical  system by which Satan has dominated mankindE!  The sevenn heads of this wild beast stand for six major world powers featured in Bible history up to John's day-Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome-and a seventh world power prophesied to appear later. - Compare REVELATION 17:9, 10.

True, there have been other world powers in history besides the seven-just as the wild beast John saw was made of a body as well as the seven heads and ten horns.  But the seven heads represent the seven major powers that have, each in its turn, taken the lead  in oppressing God's people.  In 33 C.E., while Rome was acendant, Satan used that head  of  that wild beast to kill the Son of God. At that time, God abandoned the faithless Jewish system of things and later, in 70 C.E., allowed Rome to execute his judgment on the nation.  Happily, the true Israel of God. the congregation of anointed Christian, had been forewarned, and those in Jerusalm and Judea had fled to safety   beyong the Jordan River. - MATTHEW 24"15, 16; Galatians 6:16. 

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