The End of This World
The End of This World
The Bible ends with an apocalypse.
The word “apocalypse” doesn’t literally mean the end of the world. Apocalypse is a style of writing that means “secrets are revealed”. That’s why we translate the Greek word “Apokalypsis” as “Revelation”.
The Bible contains poems, laws, songs, parables, essays, bedtime stories, campfire stories, musicals, lectures, correspondences, genealogies, and … apocalypses. And somehow the Bible does all that while maintaining a cryptographic number key. The Holy Spirit has some serious literary range. ✍️
The book of Revelation is an apocalypse that reveals the future of our world, just like the book of Daniel. The reason most people associate the word “apocalypse” with the end of the world is because both Daniel and Revelation reveal a nightmare-ish, catastrophic end to our world:
One third of the global population is wiped out
Hundreds of millions of soldiers die in war
The rivers turn to blood
All the fish in the sea die
There’s an unprecedented earthquake that flattens mountains, erases islands, and destroys cities.
We aren’t going to cover all of Revelation, so I highly recommend these two summary videos by The Bible Project on YouTube:
Book of Revelation Summary: Chapters 1-11 (12 mins)
Book of Revelation Summary: Chapters 12-22 (12 mins)
The Two Strong Men
I’m not sure anyone’s interpretation of Revelation is 100% correct, including mine, but this is how I would teach my 20-year old self about the last book of the Bible.
Let’s start by reading Revelation 13.
Revelation 13: 1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear’s, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?”
5 A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months. 6 He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling—those who dwell in heaven. 7 And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
9 If anyone has an ear, he should listen:
10 If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed.This demands the perseverance and faith of the saints.
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived. 15 He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
If you are totally confused by Revelation chapter 13, you're not alone, it’s confusing to everyone. At the end of this world, there are two “strong men” who rule the Earth. The first “strong man” dies and comes back to life. For 42 months, he wages war against the saints and conquers them, so that every tribe, nation, and tongue on Earth worships him and is subject to his kingdom.
By the end of this story, I will tell you his name.
The second “strong man” is even scarier. He has supernatural powers to call fire down from the heavens. This strong man will be so invincible, maybe like Superman, that all the people on Earth will see him as a god. He will use his special powers to enforce the laws of the first strong man so that anyone who doesn’t worship the first strong man, and take his mark, will be executed.
Wanna know both their names?
The Beast From The Sea
To fully understand Revelation 13, we also need to understand the book of Daniel, and Matthew 24, because they also contain prophecies about the war at the end of this world. Here are 3 videos from “The Bible Explained” that explain Daniel and Matthew 24 better than me.
Explaining Daniel’s Prophecies (Part 1) - Chapters 2, 7, and 8 (22 mins)
Explaining Daniel’s Prophecies (Part 2) - Chapters 8, 11, and 12 (29 mins)
Explaining Daniel’s Prophecies (Part 3) - Chapter 9 (32 mins)
As you can see, most of the prophecies in Daniel have already been fulfilled by the ancient empires of the world:
the Babylonian Empire was the lion
the Achaemenid/ Persian Empire was the bear
the Macedonian Empire was the leopard
the Roman Empire was the beast with the iron teeth.
So in Revelation 13, when a new beast emerges out of the sea (foreign peoples), the resemblance of a leopard, mouth of a lion, and feet of a bear give us clues about where this “new empire” will come from.
Here is a map of the former Macedonian Empire (the leopard):
Here is a map of the former Babylonian Empire (the lion):
Here is a map of the former Achaemenid/ Persian Empire (the bear):
This “new beast” has 7 heads and 10 horns, so it sounds like some kind of alliance between the modern countries that inhabit the former territories of the leopard, the lion, and the bear. That could mean any country from Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Most of these countries are Muslim countries that hate Israel already, so a future war against Israel isn’t that much of a surprise.
If you watched the Daniel videos, then you know that Daniel 11 provides even more details about the war at the end of this world.
Daniel 11: 40 At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle like a whirlwind, but the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the beautiful land (Israel), and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of the Ammonites. 42 He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43 He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will terrify him, and he will go out with great fury to annihilate and completely destroy many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.”
In the Bible, North and South are always in reference to the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is basically the center of the universe for the Bible. When we combine Daniel 11 with the territories described in Revelation 13, this sounds like some kind of “Muslim civil war” within the confines of the former Ottoman Empire. Why else would the King of the North annihilate Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia, but remain at peace with Jordan (Edom, Moab, and the royal family in Amman)?
In Daniel 11:40, the original Hebrew word translated as “whirlwind” is pretty scary because in a modern context it could easily mean nuclear war. English Bibles say the King of the North retaliates and “sweeps” through the countries of the South “like a flood”, but the original Hebrew words mean he “engulfs” them by “passing over” their heads. So that sounds more like a barrage of missiles or swarms of murder drones. If swarms of murder drones sounds too futuristic, just remember that America has been using “murder drones” in Muslim countries since November 3, 2002. That’s when the CIA killed six suspected al-Qaeda members in the country of Yemen with the first targeted drone strike. 🎯
Then, in Daniel 11:44, we see that there is an international response to the King of the North from the nations in the East and further North. East probably means China or India, and North probably means Europe or Russia (assuming Russia still has an economy after Putin bankrupts them over the Crimean Peninsula).
So When Is The End?
Here’s what happens next in Daniel’s description for the end of this world.
1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”
In the original Hebrew, the verb we translate as “will roam about” means “to search” almost everywhere else in the Old Testament. The word translated as “will increase” actually means “to sexually multiply”. The translators of the King James Bible didn’t have any context to understand The Internet back in 1611, so I think a more interesting translation of Daniel 12:4 would be:
I’m not saying this is the end of time for sure, but knowledge is traveling all around the world doubling faster than bunny rabbits. Nobody knows exactly when the end will come, not even Jesus. Jesus says that himself in Matthew 24, but he also gives us additional signs and warnings to know when the end is near.
Matthew 24: 1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings. 2 Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.
Like we mentioned in “How Not to Run a Church”, the end of this world will be live-streamed on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube. Of course the good news will be proclaimed in all the world for everyone to witness—there will even be comments, retweets, and reaction videos. And then the end will come.
Another important clue to this timing is that Jesus says every stone of the second temple will be thrown down. Most of those stones were thrown down by the Romans in 70 AD and still litter the temple complex today.
These stones have been laying there for two thousand years, but the western “Wailing Wall” still stands.
It is difficult for me to imagine the rest of the stones coming down…unless the temple gets destroyed in a Muslim Civil War by the King of the North. 🤔
The Two Messiahs
Matthew 24 gives us some really important clues about the identity of the “second strong man” in Revelation 13. Remember, the second strong man is not the “beast from the sea”. Revelation 13:11 says he arises from the Earth and has two horns like a lamb, but he speaks like a dragon.
In Matthew 24:5, Jesus says the second strong man will “come in his name” and deceive many by saying, “I am the Messiah”. The reason the second strong man is like a lamb is because he also calls himself “Jesus”. Let’s continue reading the signs from Jesus’s description for the end of this world in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24: 15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house. 18 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!
22 Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect.
23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it! 24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days:
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
So, at the end of this world there are two Jesuses both claiming to be “The Messiah”. One arises from the Earth and the other appears in the sky. All four Gospel writers and Paul mention that you will know which Jesus is the real Jesus because he will return through the clouds. It’s in:
Matthew 26:64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Luke 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.
Revelation 1:7 Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.”
Remember, the “false Jesus” is so amazingly powerful that he can “deceive the elect”. He can perform miracles and call fire down from the heavens, but he is a person who arises from the ground. So, in the future, if there is a guy named Jesus who has magical superpowers, but he doesn’t fly in from the clouds, he’s not the real Jesus. In Matthew 24:25, Jesus says, “Take note: I have told you in advance.” Well, I just reminded you SEVEN more times.
The Abomination That Causes Desolation
In Matthew 24, Jesus mentions the most important sign for predicting the end of this world—the abomination that causes desolation.
The disciples hearing his story in Matthew 24 were already well aware of a previous “abomination that caused desolation” in Jerusalem. In 167 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Jerusalem in one of the many Jewish holocausts in human history. He halted the daily prayer and sacrifices on the temple mount and built a statue of himself inside the temple for all the people to worship him. That was the first “abomination that caused desolation”.
So Jesus is predicting a future abomination that causes desolation that starts the clock for the end of time. Let’s read what he said one more time.
Matthew 24: 15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!
The reason Jesus says to flee from Judea is because there will be a massive earthquake that transforms the geology in Israel. According to Zechariah 14, the Mount of Olives will split into a wide valley with half moving North and half moving South. Revelation 16 says that all the mountains in Israel will be flattened and Ezekiel 47 says that freshwater from the Mediterranean will bring fish into the Dead Sea. So when Jesus says run, he means RUN!
The reason Jesus says the reader needs to understand Daniel is because Daniel chapter 12 gives us a final countdown that begins with the abomination that causes desolation. Let’s start reading in verse 5. This is literally the next sentence after the angel tells Daniel that knowledge will multiply at the end of time. If you get confused, keep reading, because Daniel was confused too.
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other. 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the end of these extraordinary things?” 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised both his hands toward heaven and swore by Him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.
8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
9 He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 The one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed. 13 But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the days.”
So 1,290 days after “the power of the holy people is shattered” is the end of days for some people on Earth. It seems like other people may survive 1,335 days? If you recall from Revelation 13, the first beast will have total control over the Earth for 42 months, which is about 1,260 days. “Time, times, and half a time” could mean 3.5 years, which is 1,277 days.
In Revelation, there are so many scrolls being opened and trumpets being played that create calamities on the Earth, we just don’t really know which judgments are happening on which of these days. It’s safe to say that Jesus and Daniel both believe that the “days of the elect” will be cut short, but we don’t know how short. Some theologians believe in a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” and others believe in a “Mid-Tribulation Rapture”. It’s safe to say that whatever happens in the 42 months after the abomination that causes desolation, it will truly be horrific.
The Anti-Jesus
Now that we understand the abomination that causes desolation, let’s read about the “second strong man” in Revelation 13 again. This is the description for the Jesus from the Earth.
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived.
So the Jesus from the earth tells people to make an “image of the first beast”, which may be the abomination that causes desolation.
15 He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
The original word for spirit means “breath”, so the image of the first beast is animated in some way. The phrase, “to give spirit to the image”, sounds a lot like a caveman trying to describe artificial intelligence. 🤔
16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
@americans: Before I discuss 666, let me state for the record that QAnon is fake news and Caesar Nero is not coming back from the dead. If you think President Trump or President Biden is the antichrist, then you are vastly overestimating the importance of America. As usual. Every prophecy in the Bible is centered on Jerusalem, the everlasting center of this world.
The number 666 isn’t the only important number in Revelation 13:18. Using the Bible Key, we know that the chapter number (13) means “rebellion” and the verse number (18) means “strong man”. What a coincidence.
Revelation 13:18 says that 666 is the number of the beast and the number of a man, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that 666 is also the number of his name. Technically, verse 17 could mean the number of the first beast’s name is 666 or any other number. But we don’t need the first beast’s name to know who he is because 666 being “the number of a man” is just as important.
Whenever numbers are repeated in the Bible Key, they mean that we see the number now, and then we see the same thing later. Let’s use 1-2-3 as an example:
means “beginning”
means “witness”
means “strong”
The number 11 means confusion or the comparison of two things together. There’s a beginning, and then another beginning, which creates confusion as to which way to go. The number 22 means that we witness something now and then witness it later, like “marketing” or “gossip”. The number 33 means “enduring strength”—strength now and strength later.
Number 6 means “sign of man”. There aren’t many 66’s in the Bible for reference, but I think of 66 meaning the “sign of man” now, and then the “sign of man” later—like the sign of Saint Jerome in the 66 books of the Latin Vulgate Bible. So my best guess is 666 means that we will see “the sign of man” past, present, and future.
When the number of a man is 666, that means the man doesn’t die.And the number 666 might apply to more people than just the Anti-Christ and the first beast who came back to life. Check out this verse in Revelation 9 (wisdom) : 6 (sign of man).
Revelation 9: 6 In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
Isn’t that quote amazing? People in the future will long to die. If immortality seems preposterous, realize that geneticists already know how and why our DNA “source code” gets corrupted using the Information Theory of Aging. Our biotechnology is getting closer and closer to solving the aging problem every single day. It’s so ironic—God locked us out of the Garden of Eden to “protect us” from the Tree of Life because he didn’t want us locked inside this evil world forever. But, we are creators made in His image, so we eventually find a way to create our own.
If you want to learn more about the Information Theory of Aging, check out this story from our chapter on Biology:
Now as crazy as all this sounds, there is already a Jesus who is “666”, meaning a Jesus who never died. In “Putting Darwin on Trial”, we discussed the amazing similarities between the origin story of Islam and the origin story of Judaism. Well, the “ending story” of Islam has some amazing similarities to the “ending story” of Christianity. The biggest difference is Muslims believe that Jesus never died on the cross and is still alive in heaven today. So if you’re looking for an Anti-Christ, he is the Christ who didn’t die on the cross. 🤔
Muslims believe the “Jesus who never died on the cross” will return to Earth one day to establish world peace for a man named Imam Mahdi.
@ChatGPT: who is the Mahdi in Islam?
ChatGPT: According to Islamic belief, the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear before the Day of Judgment and establish justice and righteousness on Earth. However, it is important to note that different sects and interpretations within Islam have varying beliefs about the Mahdi's identity and the timing of his appearance. There are differing views among Sunni and Shia Muslims regarding the Mahdi. Sunni Muslims generally believe that the Mahdi has not yet appeared and will emerge in the future, while some Shia Muslims believe that the Mahdi is the twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who went into hiding and will return at the end of time. It's a complex and nuanced topic with diverse perspectives within Islam.
Could these differing views lead to a Muslim Civil War? The Muslim prophecies around Imam Mahdi are absolutely fascinating. You should read some of these prophecies in their words, not mine. Here are a few of my favorite quotes about Jesus and Imam Mahdi from al-Islam.org.
1. “Muslim scholars irrespective of their denominations are quite unanimous that upon the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance) Prophet Jesus will also descend to Earth from the heavens. During that time, Jesus and Imam Mahdi will spread peace and justice on earth and the earth will attain unprecedented peace, justice and welfare. Jesus will be like the minister for Imam Mahdi and his main mission will be to correct the dogma of Trinity and to clarify his humane personality and servitude to God.”
2. “As we learn in chapter 8, the holy Quran in a unique style denotes the false dogma of crucifixion. The holy Quran clearly states that Allah raised Jesus to Himself. Thus, Jesus has not tasted physical death yet. On the other hand, ‘Every creature shall have a taste of death’. (29:57) In conclusion, Jesus must return to earth to live a physical life and die a physical death.”
3. “The Almighty Allah states: ‘And there will be none of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him before his death and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them.’ (4:159) Most interpreters of the Quran agree that the above Ayah is regarding the time of the return of Jesus to earth. During that time, there will be no Jews or Christians but those who believe in Jesus as a Messenger of Allah and a human being.”
4. “Prophet Jesus will not return to earth to bring a new Shari’a Law. Thus, he will pray behind Imam Mahdi. In fact, Imam Mahdi who is the 12th and the last successor of the Prophet of Islam will lead the world. The main purpose of the return of Jesus to earth is for him to prove to the Jews and the Christians the truth about himself.”
So there you go, we have two Jesuses ready for a showdown at the end of this world. One Jesus has already died and will return to live forever, while the other Jesus never died and will return to live 40 years. You’ll have to decide which one is right for yourself, but either way, both accounts of Jesus are a bajillion times more plausible than the “religion” of atheistic evolution. 🙄
The End of The End
In Revelation 19, the “Jesus from the clouds” leads a heavenly army into battle wearing a robe that reads “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. The “Jesus from the Earth” and the false prophet gather together with the armies of men in a final battle against their Creator. The “Jesus from the clouds” throws the beast and the false prophet into the Lake of Fire while they are still alive and the rest of his enemies simply drop dead from his words.
In Revelation 20, we witness order. Satan is chained up and thrown into the abyss. The believers who were beheaded for refusing to worship the beast are resurrected to live 1000 years of peace on Earth with the “Jesus from the clouds”. The Bible says these martyrs are especially blessed and the second death will have no power over them. That’s amazing. When the 1000 years of peace are over Satan is released from his prison abyss and tries to rally the people of Earth for one more final battle against the city of Jerusalem. Fire will come down from heaven and devour them, and Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where the beast and false prophet have been tormented day and night for 1000 years.
After that, Death and Hades give up their dead and God judges everyone according to their faith, and then their works. Anyone whose name isn’t written in the Book of Life is thrown into the Lake of Fire along with Death and Hades.
In Revelation 21, we witness a new beginning.
Revelation 21: 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. 7 The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
The new Jerusalem coming down from the Heavens is a massive cube that is 1500 miles on each side (2400 km). Here is a scale model:
Here’s how it is described:
Revelation 21: 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:
the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.21 The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
In verse 19, we see that the precious stones in the foundation match the precious stones from the breastplate of judgment for the Jewish High Priest. This 1500-mile cube is the center of all knowledge and wisdom in the universe because the Source of all Intelligence lives inside it.
In Revelation 22, the last book of the Bible, we learn that there is a river of living water that flows down main street directly from the throne of God. Trees of Life, plural, grow on both sides of the river and come into season once a month. Their leaves are used to heal the nations. The people who live inside this eternal city will have gained both The Knowledge of Good and Evil and Eternal Life.
We close this chapter, “Artificial Intelligence in the Bible”, with my favorite quote from NT Wright:
How can you cope with the end of a world and the beginning of another one? How can you put an earthquake into a test-tube, or the sea into a bottle? How can you live with the terrifying thought that the hurricane has become human, that the fire has become flesh, that life itself came to life and walked in our midst? Christianity either means that, or it means nothing. It is either the most devastating disclosure of the deepest reality in the world, or it’s a sham, a nonsense, a bit of deceitful play-acting. Most of us, unable to cope with saying either of those things, condemn ourselves to live in the shallow world in between…
In physics, math, and music…the formula that describes the “deepest reality” in the world is known as the Fundamental Frequency.
Continue reading…
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