SECTION THREE

Fulfilled Prophecy, Jesus Christ, Modern Israel, Armaggedon, The Papacy & Vatican, Early Christians, Hell

1.a. More Fulfilled Prophecy: The discovery of a recently fulfilled prophecy by Grant Jeffrey and Guy Cramer is based on the rebirth of the nation of Israel and Ezekial 4:3-6, Jeremiah 25:11, and Leviticus 26:18. Jeffrey basically says that the 430 years punishment on Israel started when the Babylonian army conquered Israel around 606 B.C. and took them back to Babylon as slaves for 70 years. But when they were released around 538-536 B.C. 95% of them stayed near Babylon with only 5% returning to Israel. So with no real repentence Levitcus 26:18 kicked in which declares a seven-fold increase in punishment. And so the 430 years minus the 70 years of Babylonian captivity and repentence left 360 years multiplied by seven or 2,520 years (these are Biblical prophecy years, 360 days in a year, therefore 2,520 times 360 equals 907,200 days). Using 537 B.C. as their date of release from Babylonian captivity and adding 907,200 days you get 1948 A.D. Israel was recognized as a nation May 14, 1948! Note: it is easier to use "Julian day number" calendar to figure this up, this is what astronomers use to come up with accurate dates for historical events like eclipses, also there was no year zero. If that wasn't enough, Israel captured Jerusalem 19 years later in 1967. The time from 606 B.C. to the loss of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. was also 19 years. (Guy Cramer, www.direct.ca/trinity/exile.html ) 2009 UPDATE

b. Around 700 B.C. the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel's Messiah (Micah 5:2). The fulfillment of this prophecy (Luke 2:15) is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history.

c. In the fifth century B.C. a prophet named Zechariah declared that the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave--30 pieces of silver, according to Jewish law-- and also that this money would be used to buy a burial ground for Jersalem's poor foreigners (Zechariah 11:12-13). Bible writers and secular historians both record 30 pieces of silver as the sum paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and they indicate that the money went to purchase a "potter's field", used-- just as predicted-- for the burial of poor aliens (Matthew 27:3-10).

d. Some 400 years before crucifixion was invented, both Israel's King David and the prophet Zechariah described the Messiah's death in words that perfectly depict that mode of execution. Further, they said that the body would be pierced and that none of the bones would be broken, contrary to customary procedure in cases of crucifixion (Psalm 22 and 34:20; Zech 12:10). Again, historians and New Testament writers confirm the fulfillment: Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross, and his extraordinarily quick death eliminated the need for the usual breaking of bones. A spear was thrust into his side to verify that he was dead.

e.. Some time before 500 B.C. the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel's long awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be "cut off", killed and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia's King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 B.C., 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee.
(It means weeks of years, 69 weeks times 7= 483, remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ's ministry is set by most historians at about 26 A.D. Also note that from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is just one year.) Jesus's crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and in 70 A.D. came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

f. Many other prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ: He was a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 22:18; Galations 3:16) and Isaac (Genesis 21:12; Luke 3:23-24) and Jacob (Numbers 24:17) and Judah
(Genesis 49:10) and Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) and David (Jeremiah 23:5). He will be preceded by a messenger who will prepare the way and announce His advent (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-2). He will begin His ministry in Galilee (Isaiah
9:1; Matthew 4:12-17) and will teach in parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34-35, performing many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35). He will ride into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:2; Luke 19:35-37) and will appear suddenly and forcefully at the temple courts and zealously clean house (Psalm 69:9; Malichi 3:1; John 2:15-16). He will be forsaken and deserted by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50).
He will be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60). He will be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12). He will be wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26). He will be hated without cause (Psalm 69:4; John 15:25). He will be struck and spit on (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67). He will be mocked, ridiculed, and rejected (Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:27-31 and John 7:5,48). He will collapse from weakness (Psalm 109:24-25; Luke 23:26). He will be taunted with specific words (Psalm 22:6-8; Matthew 27:39-43). People will shake their heads at Him (Psalm 109:25; Matthew 27:39). People will stare at Him (Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35).
He will be executed among sinners (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38). His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33). He will pray for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34). His friends and family will stand afar off and watch (Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49). His garments will be divided and won by the casting of lots (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24). He will thirst (Psalm 69:21; John 19:28). He will be given gall and vinegar (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34). He will commit Himself to God (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46). His bones will be left unbroken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33). His heart will rupture (Psalm 22:14; John19:34). His side will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34). Darkness will come over the land at midday (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45). He will be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60). On the third day after His death, He will be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31) and ascend to heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9). Source: Beyond Belief to Convictions, chapter
four, by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. B.D.- According to my calculations, Section One 3+5c+6 plus
Section Three 1b,c,d,e,f,k = Jesus was the Christ! Josh McDowell's Website

g. Mighty Babylon, 196 miles square, was enclosed not only by a moat, but also by a double wall 330 feet high, each part 90 feet thick. It was said by unanimous popular opinion to be indestuctible, yet two Bible prophets declared its doom. These prophets further claimed that the ruins would be avoided by travellers, that the city would never again be inhabited, and that its stones would not even be moved for use as building material (Isaiah 13:17-22 and Jeremiah 51:26,43). Their description is, in fact the well documented history of the famous citadel.

h. The prophet Moses foretold (with some additions by Jeremiah and Jesus) that the ancient Jewish nation would be conquered twice and that the people would be carried off as slaves each time, first by the Babylonians (for a period of 70 years), and then by a fourth world kingdom (which we know as Rome). The second conqueror, Moses said, would take the Jews captive to Egypt in ships, selling them or giving them away as slaves to all parts of the world. Both of these predictions were fulfilled to the letter, the first in 607 B.C. and the second in 70 A.D.
God's spokesmen said, further, that the Jews would remain scattered throughout the entire world for many generations, but without becoming assimilated by the peoples or of other nations, and that the Jews would one day return to the land of Palestein to re-establish for a second time their nation (Deut 30:3; Isaiah 11:11-13; Jere 25:11; Hosea 3:4-5 and Luke 21:23-24). This prophetic statement sweeps across 3500 years of history to its fulfillment in our lifetime. Ralph Muncaster's Website

i. The exact location and construction sequence of Jerusalem's suburbs was predicted by Jeremiah about 2600 years ago. He referred to the time of this building project as "the last days", that is, the time period of Israel's second rebirth as a nation in the land of Palestine (Jeremiah 31:38-40). This rebirth became history in 1948, and the construction of the suburbs has gone forward precisely in the locations and in the sequence predicted. (See
also on-line articles:"Prophetic Fulfillments That Are Irrepufable" by Arthur Custance and "Problems For Bible Critics" by David Hilsley)

j. The prophet Isaiah foretold that a conqueror named Cyrus would destroy seemingly impregnable Babylon and subdue Egypt along with most of the rest of the known world. This same man, said Isaiah, would decide to let the Jewish exiles in his territory go free without any payment of ransom (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1; and 45:13) Isaiah made this prophecy 150 years before Cyrus was born, 180 years before Cyrus performed any of these feats (and he did, eventually, perform them all), and 80 years before the Jews were taken into exile.

k. Ezekial 44:1-2-"Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut." This gate
was called the Golden Gate and it is thought to be the gate through which Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.This gate still exists today, but it is filled up solid with cut stones. All along the wall at this section is a graveyard.

EZEKIEL 26:4-"And they will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; and I will scrape her
debris from her and make her a bare rock...you will be a place for the spreading of nets."
TYRE: The Phoenicians of Tyre knew an attack was coming and moved everything of value to an island a half mile away. Nebuchadnezzar laid seige in 586 B.C. to 573 B.C. and took Tyre but was unable to reach the island. It was attacked again in 332 B.C. by Alexander the Great who built a causeway out to the island using all the building materials of old Tyre. Even the soil was scraped up in and around the old city leaving bare rock. It is now used as a port for fishing boats and a place for speading their nets. The modern city of Tyre is not the original city, it's down the coast from the original Tyre. Original Tyre would be an excellant place for a city, it has abundant fresh water from springs. Tyre was last destroyed in 1291 A.D. and has never been rebuilt. Dr. J.R. Bloom

MICAH 1:6- "For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, planting places for a vineyard.
I will pour her stones down into the valley, and will lay bare her foundations."
SAMARIA: Was attacked in 722 B.C., again in 331 B.C., and again in 120 B.C. Writer Floyd Hamilton described
the Samaria of 1927 A.D. this way- "Today the top of the hill where Samaria stood is a cultivated field with the foundations of the columns marking the place where the palaces and mansions stood. At the foot of the hill, in the valley, lie the foundation stones of the city..."

ZEPHANIAH 2:4-7-"For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon a desolation...And the coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah, they will pasture on it."
AMOS 1:8-"...And the remnant of the Philistines will perish, says the Lord God."
THE PHILISTINES, GAZA, and ASHKELON: Ashkelon was desroyed in 1270 A.D. and it's harbour was filled with stones. Then it became a desolate wasteland except for some grazing sheep. Today it has become a garden city inhabited once again by the Jews, its on the coast of Israel.
Present day Gaza is two miles away from the original Gaza, which is now buried under sand dunes.
The Philistines have been destroyed so completely that there is not a single Philistine living in the world today.

EZEKIAL 25:13-"Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste..."
JEREMIAH 49:17-"And Edom will become an object of horror; everyone who passes by it will be horrified..."
EDOM and PETRA Edom and it's capital Petra were first attacked around 500 B.C. Petra became prosperous again around 10 A.D., then was in decline by the 7th century. It was pretty well deserted by 1800 A.D. Petra was
one of the wonders of the ancient world, it was built out of a mountain of rock. It had a 4,000 seat theater. Today it is occupied by screaming eagles, hawks, owls and by a variety of lizards, vipers and swarms of scorpions. Lions and leopards are often seen, along with wild goats.
Edom was about 60 by 110 miles in land area. All the magnificeint cities of Edom are in ruins and deserted.

NAHUM 1:1-3:19-"The oracle of Ninevah...But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site...And like those who are drunken with their drink...The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies; Fire consumes your gate bars...Your wound is incurable..."
Ninevah: Largest of the ancient cities with walls 100 feet high and 50 feet thick, with a 150 foot wide moat. It is believed that due to their over-confidence in their defences and their drunkeness, they were unprepared for the flooding of a nearby river which caused a collapse of a section of the walls that let the Medes in. So complete
was Ninevah's destruction that it was thought to be a myth until archaeologists discovered it in the 19th century.
They found intense fire damage.

MATTHEW 11:21-24-"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!...It shall be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon in the day of judgement, than for you...And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?..."
Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum: Today, nothing but ruins. Believed to have been destroyed by earthquakes
around 400 A.D.

Micah 3:12- "Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest." Zion is the name by which ancient Jerusalem was often known as in Old Testament times, also called Mount Zion. In order to improve defence of the temple site to the north, it was decided by the high priest Simon Maccabee from 141 to 135 B.C. that the ancient citadel of David should be removed and Mount Zion upon which it stood should be cut down until it stood below the level of the temple site. Working day and night for three years the hill top of Mount Zion was leveled and lowered. It later became a plowed field.

Ezekiel 30:13-15-"Thus says the Lord God, "I will also destroy the idols and make the images cease from Memphis. And there will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt, and I will put fear in the land of Egypt. And I will make Pathros desolate, Set a fire in Zoan, and execute judgements on Thebes. And I will pour out My wrath on Sin (or Pelusium), the stronghold of Egypt; I will also cut off the multitudes of Thebes." Memphis was in decline by the 7th century A.D., a 13th century traveler said it still had a collection of
wonderful works. By 1900 A.D. hardly anything was left. In her book A Thousand Miles up the Nile, Amelia Edwards wrote-"One can hardly believe that a great city ever flourished on this spot." Thebes was attacked in 89 B.C. and the seige lasted three years, it was virtually leveled although there are still statues and images on walls to this day. Whereas in Memphis, no idols or images remain. Since 350 B.C. when Ochus crushed Egypt, foreigners have controlled the government. For over 2500 years there has been no Egyptian pharaoh. Barfield-"Only one titular ruler, King Farouk, has led the nation since the Persian invasion better than 2,500 years ago. Farouk's nationality is Ethiopian, not Egyptian. With Farouk's overthrow in the 1950s, Egypt's leaders spurned royalty. Nasser found the
title offensive, as did Sadat and Mubarik." p.49-50 of The Prophet Motive

Criticism of Bible Prophecy: As explained in Barfield's 1995 book, THE PROPHET MOTIVE scholars today refuse to consider the possibility that the prophets accurately descibed future events. These anti-supernatural scholars assume that a web of forgery, deceit, and manipulation entwine all fulfilled predictions. They think people added in the prophecies after their fulfillment. Isn't that stupid? Like nobody would have noticed that? Please just read Barfield's book for a detailed summary of the criticism and refutation. I will quote Barfield concerning the Book Of Daniel, p.269-"A second argument for a late origin involves the use of certain Aramaic words. Earlier scholars alledged these words could only have come from Aramaic spoken in western Syria and Palestine after 300 B.C. That argument no longer holds. Daniel's Aramaic style appears in wide use as early as the sixth century B.C. and in limited use centuries earlier...Robert Dick Wilson, an accomplished linguist who could communicate in 45 languages, drove a stake through the heart of the critics' assertion: ..the comosite Aramaic of Daniel agrees in most every particular of orthography, etymology and syntax, with the Aramaic of the North Semitic inscriptions of the 9th, 8th and 7th centuries B.C. and of the Egyptian papyri of the 5th century B.C. p.272-As to the widely held three-stage development theory, no physical evidence has ever supported it...Josephus plainly states that the Old Testement Scriptures were completed in approximately 424 B.C. with Malachi's prophecy. No evidence older than Josephus contradicts that view. Also, no evidence for nearly 300 years after Josephus contradicts his statement. p.273-All the direct evidence, then, that precedes the year 200 A.D. supports the view that Daniel was in the earliest times among the Prophets. p.277-Caves at Qumran yielded many materials relating to the book of Daniel. These materials show the book existed, in almost its present form, by the middle of the second century B.C...Antisupernaturalism must bring the prophecy down to a time after the events described (especially after Antichus's sacrilege of 168 B.C.); or if the latest possible date has been reached, it must reinterpret the predictions
to apply to other already accomplished events. Consequently, since Daniel was extensively quoted (and misunderstood) as early as 140 B.C. (Sibylline Oracles 3:381-400), rationalists have no alternative but to apply the supposed coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of the seventy weeks to Maccabean times, rather than Christ's, even though this requires surmising a chronological miscalculation on the part of the writer."
In summary concerning Daniel, my favorite fulfilled prophecy from 9:25-26 was fulfilled by Jesus Christ around 30 A.D. Not even the dumbest critics think Daniel was written after that.

2. Whats next in Bible Prophecy? There is much disagreement on how to interpret many Bible verses.
a. Most of the disagreement centers around what role the modern day nation of Israel has to play in prophecy and what is meant by the 1000 year millenial of Revelation Chapter 20 and about what has already happened in prophecy. The major differing views are Historicism, Historic Premillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism, Post- millenialism, Amillennialism, Preterist and Partial-Preterist.

b. see Section Four

c. Whats next in our future? Assuming F.P. Miller and the Historicist method is correct we are currently in Revelation Chapter 16 and Ezekial Chapters 38 and 39. The seventh bowl or vial was recently poured out but the results of it are mostly in the future. Armaggedon has already started. The Papacy, the Vatican and its hierarchy will be taken out, one way or another. Islam will be overthrown. Other false religions and teachings will be eliminated.There probably will be a nuclear war. True Christianity will spread throughout the whole world. The return of Jesus Christ could be a long way off, maby hundreds of years away. Miller on Armaggedon

3. On May15,1948 five Arab nations with superior military hardware, attacked the new state of Israel.This was 50,000,000 Arab Muslims against only 675,000 Jews. The Muslims promised a quick victory, but after eight months they gave up and a cease fire was declared. On June 5,1967 Israeli radar picked up Egyption jets heading for Israel. Egyption dictator Nasser, confident with new Soviet jets, tanks, and artillery, said Israel would be annihilated. Three hours later, most of Egypt's air force was wiped out. The next day, Israel was attacked by Jordan, Syria, and Iraq's air forces. Troops began moving into Israel along with their tanks and artillery. After only
six days the war was over, Israel increased in size from 8,000 to 26,000 square miles. It's now 2004, isn't it alittle suspicious that the Muslims still haven't been able to organize a successful war against tiny Israel?
   Here is a story from the 1948 war: Three divisions of Egyptian troops came to attack a point that was held by only about twenty Israeli's. "We had hardly begun to fire at the enemy when two divisions of them turned and fled, and the third division held up their hands and surrendered. After the Egyption troops had surrendered they were greatly surprised to find there were so few of us. The Egyptions said to us: "Where are the others?....we saw others with you. Where are they?"(p.39 of Israel Returns Home According to Prophecy by George T.B. Davis).
     A similiar report from the 1948 war: Hundreds of Jordanian Arabs attacked a platoon of Israeli soldiers defending Mt Zion. The Israeli's ran out of bullets. The Arabs suddenly looked up in fear shouting "Abraham" and they ran away.
     From the 1973 war: A group of Israeli soldiers got stuck in a Syrian mine field in the Golan Heights. Suddenly a very strong wind came, blowing the sand off the land mines, exposing them completly. The wind then suddenly quit. It wasn't windy that day, this kind of strong wind never happened before or after according to the soldiers. (From the television series, "Against All Odds" on the TBN network)

                                                     Just a Coincidence?
On October 30, 1991 President George Bush opened talks between the Israeli's and Palestinians to meet and discuss a land for peace agreement. On October 31st, "The Perfect Storm" (so rare that it only happens about every 100 years) smashed into New England. Ocean waves were the highest ever recorded, over 100 feet high. President Bush's home in Kennebunkport, Maine was heavily damaged.

August 23, 1992 Middle East peace talks resume in Washinton, D.C. This same day, hurricane Andrew devastates southern Florida with the worst natural disaster in American history, 32 billion dollars worth.

January 16, 1994 President Clinton met with Syrian President Assad in Geneva. Clinton said, "Israel must make
concessions that will be politically unpopular with many Israeli's." The next day, a powerful earthquake centered
in Northridge rocked southern California. This was the second most destuctive natural disaster to hit the U.S.

March 1, 1997 Yasser Arafat arrived in Washington to begin a six week speaking tour of the U.S. Powerful
tornadoes began the same day and devastated large areas and then terrible flooding occurred, also the stock
market lost about 700 points between March 13 to April 13. Entire towns were destroyed including Arkadelphia,
Arkansas; Falmouth,Kentucky; and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

January 21, 1998 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington meeting with Clinton. The peace talks had stalled and Clinton was pressuring Israel to give land away. Netanyahu wouldn't agree. Clinton wasn't
very happy with Netanyahu. Shortly after their meeting ended, the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke.

December 12, 1998 President Clinton was in Palestinian ruled territory talking about a new Palestinian state with
it's capital being East Jerusalem. This same day, four Articles of Impeachment were approved against Clinton.

May 3, 1999 The most powerful tornado storms ever recorded in the U.S hit Oklahoma and Kansas.One tornado
measured 316 m.p.h. On May 4th, Yasser Arafat was scheduled to declare a new Palestinian state. President Clinton got Arafat to postpone.

June 6, 2001 President G.W. Bush gets involved with Middle East peace for the first time by sending George Tenet to Israel to try and stop Israel from building new settlements. Meanwhile, Bush was on vacation in Crawford, Texas. On June 8th and 9th Houston had 28 inches of rain from tropical storm Allison. Meteorologists
claim Allison was the worst tropical storm in history. Twenty five thousand homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged. Former President Bush's home was also devastated.

September 11, 2001 The greatest attack on American soil occurred. Major news sources reported on October 2nd
that at the time of the attack on 9/11, the U.S. government was in the process of recognizing a Palestinian state.
The plan was going to be presented to the ambassador of Saudi Arabia on September 13th and then announced before the U.N. general assembly on the 23rd. Bad terrorist attacks have also occurred in Israel as Israel was heavily involved in peace talks and was about ready to give some land back.

November 11, 2001 Arafat speaks at the U.N. and later meets with Secretary of State Colin Powell. The next day
a plane crashes in New York City killing 265 people, 15 miles from the U.N.

William Koenig has a new book out, April 2004, titled Eye to Eye, which covers up to 2004. It's not impressive.
                                Koenig's Website

4. There are two final states. There is the new creation called "The New Jerusalem" and then there is "The
Lake of Fire" (i.e. Hell). There is debate about whether or not Hell lasts forever.
IS HELL REAL?
Yes, Revelation 20:15, "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Mark 9:47, "And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell,".
Luke 12:4, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!". Matthew 25:46, "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

                            excerpt from "One Minute After You Die" by Erwin W. Lutzer, p.109
"In Psalm 2 we read that God sits in the heavens and laughs at those who think they can defy Him. Like the mouse who thinks it can stand against the farmer's plow or the rowboat poised to thwart the path of an aircraft carrier, it is insanity for man to think that he can oppose the living God, who is angry with sinners and is bent on taking vengeance on those who oppose Him.
    Even as we look at the world today, we should not be surprised that God allows multitudes to live in eternal misery. Think of the vast amount of suffering (preventable suffering, if you please) that God has allowed on this earth. An earthquake in Mexico kills twenty thousand, a tidal wave in Bangladesh kills fifty thousand, and famines in the world cause twenty thousand deaths every single day! Who can begin to calculate the amount of emotional pain experienced by babies, children, and adults? Yet we know that strengthening the earth's crust, sending rain, and withholding floods could all be accomplished by a word from the Almighty."
     On a more positive note, a new glorious-fantastic universe awaits the believer in Jesus Christ as Lord. No
longer any mourning, crying or pain. Streets of gold. Walls of jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz. Gates made of pearl. No darkness, no disease. No evil, no Satan to ruin it all. Angels, archangels, and the Throne of God.
     1 Corinthians 2:9- "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him."

                                excerpt from "Beyond The Cosmos" by Hugh Ross, p. 218-219
"Two statements at the beginning of Revelation 21 affirm that the new creation exists in dimensions (or their equivalent) entirely independent of the ones we now experience:

        I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away...The old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

    God's brand-new creation will be completely different, according to these verses, from our familiar universe...
"Physical" will have a new meaning. All the forces and laws of physics will be changed...
    We cannot assume, however, that the new creation will be devoid of any kind of physicality. If the place were non-physical in every way the use of "measuring rods" would make no sense. It is hard to conceive, too, of non-
physical gates, streets, walls, and mountains. More significantly, when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, He affirmed both verbally and tangibly that His resurrection body had certain physical, though obviously different, characeristics and capacities. Other Scriptures indicate that we who go with Christ into the new creation will receive new bodies, very different from our present ones, but bodies nonetheless."

5. More on the Apostles and Early Christians
a. According to church historian Schumacher: Gospel writer Mark was dragged through the streets by horses until he was dead. John was boiled in oil, but was miraculously delivered from death. It was said that after John was thrown in the boiling oil he would leap out of it like a dolphin and they couldn't keep him in it long enough to kill him. He was then sentenced to Patmos. Peter was crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross. James was thrown down a 100 foot cliff which he survived, so they beat him to death with a fuller's club. James the son of Zebedee was beheaded. The Roman officer who guarded him became a Christian and also was beheaded. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was flayed to death by a whip. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross for 2 days until he died. Matthias was stoned and then beheaded. Paul was tortured and then beheaded.
b. At the Coliseum in Rome: The Roman general Placidus became a Christian, also known as Eustachius. Emperor Adrian didn't want to lose a great general and tried promises and threats to get him to change back to the Roman way. Along with his wife and sons, Placidus was led into the Coliseum in chains.Two lions and four bears were let out to kill them, but they just romped around them. Other animals were released, but they just played around too and some animals licked their intended victums feet. Emperor Adrian became enraged and commanded Placidus and his wife and son be placed in the bronze bull, which was hollowed out and a fire burned underneath.
This oven gave a slow excruciating torture and they eventually all died.

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