Please watch this excellent 5 minute news video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zI9ub9AgF0

JIM JONES AND THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE HISTORY: That tells you much of the story of Jim Jones that started in Indianapolis, moved to California, moved to Guyana, South America, and ended up in a mass suicide of over 900 people (270 of them children) in the agricultural farm called Jonestown. As Jeff Guinn says in the video, “The saddest part is that good, decent people died who were well intentioned”. Jones started with breaking down racial barriers, helping the poor, and had a multi racial congregation. Only God knows if his heart was right to begin with, but over time he changed. “He devolved into a narcissistic, paranoid, drug addicted, and abusive dictator. Jones was a sexual predator who was unfaithful to his wife and had sexual relationships with both men and women in his congregation. He demanded that members turn over all their assets, including homes and Social Security checks, creating complete economic dependency on him. Jim Jones regarded the Bible as a “paper idol” and a tool of oppression used to manipulate people, ultimately rejecting it in favor of his own ideology. While initially utilizing religious themes, he grew to criticize the Bible, eventually promoting atheism and Marxism, claiming to be a divine figure himself. He taught that traditional religion was an “opiate” and used it to manipulate followers, later admitting in 1976 to being an atheist and agnostic. ones preached that the United States was a racist, fascist society (“Babylon”) that was destined to be destroyed. He warned of a coming genocide against black people and racial minorities, telling his followers they would be sent to concentration camps in “gas ovens”. Jim Jones believed a nuclear apocalypse destroying the U.S. was imminent, which he used to justify moving his followers to California and eventually to the Jonestown commune in Guyana. He framed this apocalyptic event as a way to escape US government oppression and to establish a socialist utopia. Jones was heavily influenced by Father M. J. Divine, a charismatic African American preacher who claimed to be God and built a multi-racial, communal, and economically independent society. Jones visited Divine in Philadelphia and adopted the concept of creating a “Promised Land” (eventually Jonestown) that would be a haven for his followers during the end times. He framed the mass suicide/murder in Jonestown as a “revolutionary suicide” against capitalist oppression” (AI)

THE GUYANA TRAGEDY MOVIE: The movie “Guyana Tragedy” is long and graphic, but tells the Jim Jones story completely, even from the time of his childhood. “Much of what is known about Jones’ early life came from his own later recollections. He described being a young hellion in his Indiana hometown: “I was considered the trash of the neighborhood.” He identified with the underdog, fighting off kids who bullied other children, rescuing stray pets, and taking home beggars. He explored every church in town — Quaker, Nazarene, Methodist, Apostolic and the Church of Christ — throwing himself into their particular rituals before becoming disillusioned and moving on to the next. (That interested me since I come from a Church of Christ background. Jim Jones most likely once attended a Church of Christ service!) As a young man, while working as a hospital orderly, Jones met Marceline Baldwin, a nursing student, and they married in 1949. In Indianapolis, he served as a student pastor in the Methodist Church in 1952 but chose to found his own church, Peoples Temple, in 1956. The Temple joined the Disciples of Christ in 1960 and Jones was ordained in 1964. A major source of Jones’ unhappiness with various mainstream churches was segregation. During the 1950s and early 1960s, segregation was widespread across the country, and many religious congregations followed the practice of keeping the races separate. Having grown up an outsider, Jones empathized with the downtrodden, the poor, the non-whites in society. In 1961 he and his wife were the first white couple in Indianapolis to adopt a black child, Peoples Temple participated directly in the social shifts of the emerging civil rights movement. As the head of the Indianapolis Human Rights Commission, Jones desegregated movie theaters, restaurants, the telephone company, hospitals and the city police department. The Temple ran a free restaurant, and homes for the elderly and mentally ill.” (from PBS American Experience article https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/jonestown-bio-jones/?scrlybrkr=f2f8117f

FALSE PROPHETS AND CULT LEADERS: What caused a man who was doing a lot of good for poor people oppressed by racism to become a dangerous, perverted cult leader? Read 2 Peter 2 as Peter talks about false prophets. Some of his description of false prophets: ² Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; ³ and in their greed they will exploit you with false words. 13 “They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children; ¹⁸ For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption.” Power, pride, sex, money, drugs. Back to what Jeff Guinn said, “The saddest part is that good, decent people died who were well intentioned”. They were “exploited with false words. They were promised freedom by a perverse man who was himself “a slave of corruption”.

PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS, NOT MEN: Most false prophets and cult leaders start out with some Biblical concept, like love, and then corrupt that. Often they prey on people looking for love and community. David Berg (Children of God, free love and flirty fishing); Charles Manson (The Manson Family and the LaBiana murders); David Koresh (The Branch Davidians and the 51 day Waco siege; all the women in his cult were his wives, including the married women); Warren Jeffs (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his multiple wives, including young girls); Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s Gate cult, mass suicides). The list goes on, even including very popular Christian church leaders of modern day churches. Good people looking for love and family are hurt and disillusioned. Their faith in God and in the Bible is often destroyed. Bottom line, don’t put your faith in men. Put your faith in Jesus.

I can’t overstate the importance of understand the correct meaning of the Greek word mello in the New Testament. It appears over 100 times and it always, always means some event that is “about to happen” or “about to be at a place”. When used of time, things which were imminent and expected to occur within a short time. Always. I will give a few examples and a site that gives every single usage of the word.

Jesus prophesied his coming crucifixion, he told his disciples that the Son of Man “is about to” [Gk: μέλλει : mellei] suffer at the hands of certain men (Matt 17:12).
Jesus repeated that prophecy, saying that the Son of Man “is about to” [Gk: μέλλει : mellei] be delivered into the hands of men (Matt 17:22).  The same in Luke 9:34. Matt 20:22 – Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am [Gk: μέλλω : mello : I am about to] to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” Luke 9:31 – who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to] accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 10:1 – After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to] go. Here is the site for more examples. https://parousiafulfilled.com/mello-about-to-happen/index.php

Why is this word so important? B/c it helps us understand the New Testament in its original context and its relevance to those it was written to. But here’s the catch. The translators of the New Testament from the Greek have no trouble correctly translating the word mello as “about to” when it is used of an event about to happen or about to be at a place except when the word is used with the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus or the judgement that was “about to come” on that first century generation of Jews. They will usually translate the word as “certainly” going to happen, etc, but not “about to happen”. That totally destroys the context of the verse! They do not translate it correctly as “about to” b/c that would go against traditional church dogma that said that Jesus’ 2nd coming is still in the future (going on 2000 years and counting). Here are some examples. The usual incorrect translations of the word will be crossed out in these verses along with the correct translation. Only translations like Young’s Literal Translation translate mello correctly as “about to”.

Matthew 16:27 – the Son of Man is going to i [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. The imminency of the 2nd coming is obvious when you read the next verse: 16:²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” This is imminent 2nd coming and not the transfiguration that would shortly happen b/c there was no judgment involved in the transfiguration but there was to be a judgement in Matthew 16:27. The only predictions Jesus made of his 2nd coming all say that he was coming back within the lifetime of those he was speaking to: Matthew 10:²³ “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you (i.e. the apostles that he is talking to)will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 24:³⁰ And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. ³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (the Greek word genea in the New Testament always means a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period). Matthew 26:⁶⁴ Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you (at least some of those he was speaking to) will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” There are no other predictions of Jesus coming again at any time after the generation that he was speaking to. None.

Matthew 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to [Gk: μελλούσης : mellouses : which is about to] come? John the Baptist was predicting the judgment on the Jews that was about to come on the nation in 70 AD. The same in Luke 3:7. Acts 17:31 – because he has fixed a day on which he will i [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 2 Timothy 4:1 – I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is [Gk: μέλλοντος : mellontos : is about to] to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom. Luke 21:36 – But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to i [Gk: μέλλοντα : mellonta : are about to] take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” In Luke 21 (also Matthew 24 and Mark 13) Jesus was predicting the destruction of Jerusalem that was “about to happen” in 70 AD.

Revelation 1:19 YLT – Write the things that thou hast seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is (are) about to] iii ) come after these things.” The events predicted in Revelation were about to happen, not things to happen thousands of years later. The same in Revelation 2:10; 3:10,16; 6:11; 8:13; 12:5. The 2nd coming of Jesus was imminent when John wrote this letter, as seen from “I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:7,12,20). Revelation 1:⁷ Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. Revelation begins and ends sayin that the events it is predicting will “shortly take place” for “the time is near” (Revelation 1:1,3; 22:6,10). To make the events predicted in Revelation to be things that haven’t even happened 2,000 years later (and counting) is to say that the predictions in Revelation failed to come to pass and that the book is false prophecy.

Hebrews 6:5 – and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to [Gk: μέλλοντος : mellontos : which is about to] come. That would be the Messianic Age about to come in its fullness in 70 AD when the Mosaic Age would end and the Law was about to “disappear” in 70 AD. Hebrews 8:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear (eggus: Near, close, at hand: a different Greek word than mello but same idea of “about to”. The book of Hebrews is all about the judgement to come on the Jews in 70 AD, trying to keep Jewish Christians from leaving faith in Christ and going back to trusting in the old covenant which would lead to them suffering the same judgment in 70 AD as the evil unbelieving Jews whom the Romans killed in the siege of the city (one million killed).

Romans 8:18,38 YLT ii – 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to [Gk: μέλλουσαν : mellousan : about to] be revealed in us; … 38 for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things about to be [Gk: μέλλοντα : mellonta : about to (be)]. This is an important passage b/c Romans 8:18-24 predicts that the “creation” will be released from its suffering which many interpret to be the earth being re-created to its Garden of Eden form at Jesus’ 2nd coming. But notice that 8:18 says that whatever is about to happen with the creation is “about to” happen in the time frame of those Paul is writing to. Several opinions on whether the creation being released from its slavery is referring to people (which is what I believe) or the physical creation, but either way it had to happen in the first century and not at least 2000 years later (and counting). It makes sense that he is talking about people being glorified in 70 AD when it would be shown that the Chistians, not Jews, were the true people of God. Again, the word mello in 8:18 changes the whole way we look at the fulfillment of this prediction. 1 Peter 5:1 – So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to i [Gk: μελλούσης : mellouses : which is about to] be revealed (at 70 AD) . The same idea as in Romans 8:18. In 70 AD God would show world, once for all time, that Christians are His chosen people, not the Jews. Jesus predicted that he was going to take away the kingdom from the Jews and give it to a people who would produce fruit for him Matthew 21:⁴³ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.” That “people” would be Jew and Gentile Christians. 1 Peter 2:⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 

I’m sure that many readers aren’t very interested in the study of Greek words or eschatology, but I urge you to do a serious study of the word mello. It changes the way you interpret many doctrines concerning the 2nd coming or the judgement. But it also shows you that the predictions of the New Testament came true in the time frame of the people they were made to. Otherwise someone could say that the New Testament made many predictions that were to be fulfilled in the first century that never came true, and thus that the New Testament is full of false prophecies (which is exactly what atheists say). Keep studying

WHO ARE THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES OF CHRIST? Have you ever heard of these churches? “First known as the Crossroads Movement and later the Boston Movement, the ICOC traces its roots to the late 1960s. The movement developed in the campus ministry of Chuck Lucas at the Crossroads Church of Christ in Gainesville, Fla., as that ministry began baptizing many college students. Lucas later converted McKean, who called 30 disciples to be totally committed to Christ. In 1979, McKean’s group planted the fast-growing Boston Church of Christ, which became the center of the discipling movement. In 1988, the Crossroads church disassociated itself from the movement.In the early 1990s, the ICOC formally split from the mainline Churches of Christ. The ICOC’s reported membership hit a high of 135,000 in 2002 — the same year worldwide leader Kip McKean stepped aside. Long-simmering concerns over the movement’s top-down hierarchy (i.e. everyone answering to McKean), aggressive discipling techniques and sectarianism seemed to threaten the ICOC’s future. By 2006, worldwide membership plummeted to less than 89,000 — a 34 percent decline. In the past, discipling partners sometimes exerted too much control and influence over converts. For example, controlling how they spent their time, who they date, pressure to convert others, pressure to attend Bible study groups, pressure to attend all church events, how much to give to the church, prying into your secret moral thoughts and activities, not to help you, but to get their hooks in you to stop you from leaving the church, manipulating you, using your secrets to shame you into obedience; forcing you to live with roommates instead of alone so a church member is usually around to keep an eye on you, being re-baptized b/c you didn’t make Jesus your “Lord” fully when you were first baptized even if you were baptized correctly the first time (I experienced that pressure when I was in college), pressure to cut yourself off from your family and stay around fellow members all the time instead, the music you listen to, the work and career you pursue. Some of its leaders did not consider members of mainline Churches of Christ to be Christians. I thnk one could say that the ICOC was definitely a cult! I have read of several who had to undergo counseling to overcome the stressful time they spent in the ICOC.

THE ICOC TODAY: (The Christian Chronicle, 9/1/2012). As of 2024–2025, the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is a global movement with approximately 112,000 members across roughly 700 congregations in 148 countries. The fellowship is organized into 34–36 regional families of churches and maintains a focus on international evangelism and missions. They have acknowledged a lot of their errors from the past and seem to be doing better in their disciping methods. They are growing.

THE GREAT COMMISSION: MAKE DISCIPLES AND BAPTIZE The Church of Christ put a lot of emphasis on people being baptized by the right method (immersion), being baptized when old enough to believe, and being baptized for the remission of sins (not saved before baptism). This led to a lot of baptisms and re-baptisms of those who were not baptized “correctly”, but perhaps not enough emphasis on “making disciples” Matthew 28:¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” I was in college when the Crossroads Movement began in Gainesville, Fla. At first, it just seemed like an effort to make baptized believers become more committed disciples of Jesus. It spread to the Boston Movement and to other large cities. It spread to international cities. But many churches left the movement for reasons given in the paragraph above. There was a congregation in my city that went fully into the movement but left it many years later.

WHAT DOES MAKING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS MEAN? AI: “To disciple a believer in Jesus means engaging in an intentional, relational process of helping them follow, learn from, and become more like Jesus Christ. It involves mentoring a believer to obey Jesus’s teachings, grow in faith, and fulfill the mission of making other disciples, transforming them into a devoted follower.” The Greek word for “disciple” in Matthew 28:19 is mathéteuó: To make a disciple, to teach, to instruct: to disciple, i.e. helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple (literally, “a learner,” a true Christ-follower); to train (develop) in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required, i.e. helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice.” (Biblehub.com) So in the Crossroads Movement, a discipling partner was assigned to a new baptized believer. That’s good. But the problem arose when the discipling partner began controlling and pressuring the would be disciple. I had a friend who had a mental and physical breakdown b/c of the pressure he was getting from his discipling partner while in college. The movement took a good thing and made it a cultish, control thing.

THE 3 ESSENTIALS OF DISCIPLESHIP IN LUKE’S GOSPEL There are many baptized believers who are not fully committed to following Jesus, being true disciples. Jesus gave 3 requirements for being a true disciple in Luke 14:²⁵ Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ ³¹ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace. ³³ So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” Thus 3 essentials of discipleship in Luke’s gospel: 1) Love Jesus even if it means leaving your family (not literally hating your family). 2) Be willing to suffer for Jesus, to carry your “cross” as Jesus did his. 3) Count the costs of being a disciple and be willing to do whatever it costs you to be a disciple.

THE 3 PROOFS OF DISCIPLESHIP IN JOHN’S GOSPEL In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives 3 tests or proofs of true discipleship. 1) Continue studying and obeying the Words of Jesus. John 8:³¹ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples.” 2) Love one another. John 13:³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” 3) Bear much fruit. John 15:⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” In all 3 verses, the Greek word for “disciple” is mathétés: Disciple, learner, pupil: properly, a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle they require; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through (life-applications). Μαθητής designates a learner who binds himself to a teacher in order to embrace that teacher’s worldview and way of life. (Bibehub.com)

DON’T MAKE DISCIPLING A “LEGAL SYSTEM” OF WORKS It is obvious from these verses that Jesus demands full commitment from his followers. But we must be careful not to make that a legal system. How much fruit must a Christian bear in order to be a true disciple? Jesus said that some produce 30, some 60, some 100 (Matthew 13:23). How much time must a Christian spend in the Word to be a true disciple? How much must a Christian suffer to be a true disciple? We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus’s death. We can’t make the tests and proofs of discipleship a system whereby we demand certain amounts of all these things. We can’t pressure new baptized believers into a strict, authoritarian, controlling system of doing these things. Which is what the Crossroads Movement, the Boston Movement, and the ICOC did.. We should help new believers become more like Christ in their everyday lives, but always assure them that they are saved even if they aren’t perfect disciples.

I think so. Of course that means that I am going to tell you what I think the book is about and when it was written so as to clear up all confusion about the book! I know that means that I think I have the book figured out, but bear with me as I try to condense a summary as briefly as possible. Please look up all the verses that I cite. 4 basic points:

WHEN WOULD THE EVENTS PREDICTED IN THE BOOK HAPPEN? Revelation was the prediction of events that “must soon take place” for “the time is near” (1:1-3; 22:6,10). Many interpreters say that “soon” can be in God’s time frame and could be thousands of years. But notice that the letter was written to the 7 churches in Asia, telling them they needed to “read, heed, and keep” the words in the book (1:3) b/c the predictions applied directly to their imminent future. The Greek word mello (μέλλω), meaning “about to,” “going to,” or “ready to,” appears in Revelation 2:10 and Revelation 3:10. In Rev. 2:10, it signifies the imminent suffering of the church in Smyrna, while in Rev. 3:10, it refers to the “hour of trial” that is “about to” come upon the whole world. The phrase “I am coming quickly” is used several times to stress the need for immediate action by those reading the prophetcy. The phrase is used in 22:7,12,20 right after repeating the warning that the predictions in the book are going to happen “soon” for “the time is near”. These time statements “soon” and “near” obviously are in the time frame of the 1st century Christians in the 7 churches and not in God’s time frame. This same logic applies when Jesus said “the kingdom is at hand” (Mark 1:15). He was talking about the establishment of His spiritual kingdom, the church: “at hand” in the time frame of those he was speaking to and not God’s time frame that could be thousands of years. He did establish that spiritual kingdom, the church, within that generation. If that isn’t clear, Jesus also said, “Matthew 16:²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Jesus predicted 4 times in the synoptic gospels that His 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to (Matthew 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64). If He did not come within that generation as he predicted then he is a false prophet, which is what the atheists and unbelieving Jews say about him. But He did come within that generation in judgment on the Jews in 70 AD, so that just proves that He was “The Prophet”. There are no other predictions of another “coming” in the synoptics that was not to be within that generation. In Matthew 24, Jesus predicted the end of the Jewish Age (Matthew 24:14), the abomination of desolation of the temple as predicted by Daniel 9, 11, and 12 (Matthew 24:15), a tribulation of suffering of the Jewish people such as had never happened before (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1-2), and the coming of the Son of Man “immediately” after the tribulation (Matthew 24:30) with stars falling from the sky. He then said, “³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). The Greek word for generation is genea, which in the New Testament always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period. Of course, that means that the stars falling is figurative language and not literally stars falling from the sky. Such figurative apocalyptic language was used regularly in the Od Testament of judgments of nations like Babylon, and is not meant to be taken literally. Since Matthew 24 and Revelation are both predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, some have said that Matthew 24 is a mini-Revelation.

WHEN WAS THE BOOK WRITTEN? Revelation was written before 70 AD while Nero was emperor (17:9-10). At the time of writing, 5 kings (rulers or emperors of Rome) had “fallen” (were dead). Those 5 were Julius Caesar, then Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, The 1st century Jewish historian Josephus considered Julius Caesar to be the first ruler of Rome b/c he states that Augustus was the 2nd and Tiberius was the 3rd. Modern historians might not want to start with Julius, but it is obvious who was considered the 1st ruler when the book was written. Also the Gentile historian Seutonius in his Lives of the 12 Caesars starts with Julius as the first. So “5 have fallen, one is”. The emperor ruling at the time the book was written was the 6th ruler, Nero (54-68 AD). Thus the book was written before Nero died in 68 AD. Those who date the book as 96 AD rely exclusively on a single comment by the church father Irenaeus in the late 2nd century, saying that either the prophecy of Revelation was seen or even possibly that John was seen in the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD). But Revelation 17:9-10 gives us internal dating of the book that is far more valuable than a comment by an uninspired church father, especially one who said that Jesus died at the age of 50 which is what Irenaeus said. Irenaeus said that John was exiled to the aisle of Patmos by Domitian but other sources say that he was exiled in the reign of Nero. The “Muratorian Fragment,” dating back to 170-190 A.D., states that this work of John was written during the reign of Nero. The “Syriac version” of the New Testament, which dates back to the second century A.D., states that Revelation was written during the reign of Nero making a date of 64-68 A.D. The “Aramaic Peshitta” version has a remark that places its date prior to 70 A.D. The title page of Revelation states this work of John was written right after the reign of Nero.The “Monarchian Prologues,” that dates back to 250-350 A.D., claims that Paul also wrote to seven churches following the pattern of John’s Book writing to the 7 churches of Asia, thus placing the book even before some of the other Pauline epistles. That’s a lot of external evidence that says that the book was written during the reign of Nero, not Domitian.
 Also, some tradition says that John lived to the age of 100 and died a peaceful death, but that contradicts what Jesus predicted in Mark 10:35-40 that the brothers James and John would die a martyr’s death. James was martyred in Acts 12. Papias (60-120 AD) said that John died at the hands of the Jews just as Jesus predicted. Papias doesn’t say when that happened, but it could only have happened before 70 AD. After 70 AD and by the year 100 AD, the Jews would not have had the ability to martyr anyone. The conclusion is that John died before 70 AD, so he must have written Revelation (and his gospel and letters) before 70 AD. That explains why we don’t have any inspired writings from John talking about the fulfillment of the predictions of Revelation as an event that had already happened. That would have been nice, and surely John would have written something discussing the destruction of the temple at some point after 70 AD if he had lived to the year 100 AD. But he couldn’t b/c he died before 70 AD. BTW the temple was still standing when Revelation was written (11:2) so that is another argument that shows that the letter was written before 70 AD.

WHAT IS THE MAIN EVENT PREDICTED IN THE BOOK? Revelation is about the judgment of the harlot Jerusalem (17:1,5,15,16; 19:2) which would happen when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, killing one million Jews. We know this harlot was Jerusalem b/c “this woman (harlot) you (John) saw is the great city” (17:18). The “great city” is identified as the city “where the Lord (Jesus) was crucified (11:8) which of course is Jerusalem. Many interpreters have tried to make Rome to be the “great city” but 11:8 clearly states that the great city is Jerusalem. The harlot has the name “Babylon” written on her forehead (17:5) so the harlot and the great city and Babylon all refer to the same thing, i.e. Jerusalem. The harlot is riding on a beast with 10 horns (17:3). That beast, arising out of the sea, was introduced in 13:1-2) and was like a leopard, bear, and lion. This imagery is the same as in Daniel 7:1-8 where Daniel is predicting the 4 empires to come: Babylon (lion), Medo-Persia (bear), Greece, (leopard), and Rome (the iron beast, Daniel 2:40; 7:7). So the beast in Revelation 13:1-2 and chapter 17 is Rome. The sea beast Rome would “will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. (17:16).” That is clearly a prediction that Rome will destroy the city of Jerusalem soon after the book was written. That happened in 70 AD when Titus sieged the city for 5 months and then destroyed the city and the temple in 70 AD. This was the judgment of the harlot Jerusalem (17:1). Revelation 18 is about the destruction of “Babylon, the great city” (18:10,21) which again is Jerusalem, the harlot. Again, many interpreters have tried to make Babylon to be Rome, but it is clearly identified as Jerusalem. Why was Jerusalem called a “harlot or prostitute” in Revelation? B/c she was the wife or bride of God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 54:5,6; Jeremiah 3:14; Ezekiel 16:8) and she for most of her history had become an “adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!” (Ezekiel 16:32). She had worshipped and served the pagan gods of other nations (Baal, Asherah, Molech, Chemosh, Dagon, Tammuz, the “queen of heaven” Astarte or Ishtar). This is called spiritual adultery or harlotry by the prophets (Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; Ezekiel 16:14-15); Hosea 9:1). Revelation 17:2 calls it “sexual immorality” of the wife of God turned harlot, Jerusalem. God sent the Romans to destroy his harlot wife Jerusalem in 70 AD. It was God who 17:¹⁷ has put it in their hearts (the Romans) to execute His purpose by having a common purpose (i.e. Rome’s purpose to put down the Jewish rebellion called the Wars of the Jews and God’s purpose to destroy his adulterous wife giving God and the Romans a “common purpose”), and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.” The nations (Rome) would trample the holy city Jerusalem for 42 months (11:2) which is the length of the Wars of the Jews (66-70 AD) in killing over one million Jews. Rome was given “authority by God to act (on His behalf) for forty-two months” (13:5) to put down the Jewish rebellion and destroy the city and temple.The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD is the main topic of Revelation.

WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME OF THE BOOK? Revelation is the “avenging of the blood of the “saints, apostles, and prophets” (18:20,24; 19:2) The harlot was “drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus” (17:6). Those were the martyrs under the altar in 6:9-11 who died for their faith and cried out for God to avenge their blood. They were those who “because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (12:11). The history of Jerusalem and Israel was filled with the killing of God’s prophets that he sent to rebuke them for their harlotry. Jesus had said that generation of Jews living when he spoke were the “sons of those who killed the prophets (in the past history of Israel) and that the cup of God’s wrath against the Jews was “full”, i.e. no more time given the nation before destroying it in 70 AD (Matthew 23:29-36). The judgment of Jerusalem would come upon “that generation” living when Jesus spoke. The destruction of the temple would be within that generation (Matthew 24:1-2,34). Over one million Jews were killed by the Romans to avenge the blood of the saints, apostles, and prophets. The unbelieving Jews were the ones who killed the Jewish Christians (the “saints”) right up till the wars of the Jews started in 66 AD. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16) says that the unbelieving Jews had persecuted the Jewish Christians, killed Jesus and the prophets, and drove the apostles out. Paul said that generation of evil Jews would “reach the limit of their sins. But wrath has come upon them fully” (which refers to their judgment in 70 AD). That’s the cup full of God’s wrath against the Jews that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23.

I hope this is all a correct interpretation of the book of Revelation.

I do believe that all 27 New Testament books were written before 70 AD. Here is my analysis.

THE GOSPELS: Many claim that the gospels were: 1) Not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 2) Were written late first century after those 4 men died. This teaching has caused many to leave their faith in the Bible, especially the New Testament. If the gospels were written decades after these 4 inspired men died, then they have no authority on doctrines and teaching for us today. We don’t have the gospels originals or even copies before the year 100 AD. The oldest manuscript of the New Testament has been the John Rylands’ Fragment P52, a small fragment (John 18:31-33, 37-38) from John’s Gospel, dated to the first half of the second century. Manuscript P66 part of the Bodmer Papyri, is a crucial, early 3rd-century (c. 175–225 AD) Greek manuscript containing a significant, nearly complete portion of the Gospel of John. So what is the one main proof that the gospels were written before 70 AD and written by those 4 authors? Here is my take. The synoptic gospels (Mt, Mk, and Lk) all record Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (Mt 24, Mk 13, and Lk 21). None of the 3 state that event had already happened at the time of writing of each gospel. If the gospels were written decades after 70 AD, then surely each gospel would say that the 70 AD predictions of Jesus had already happened, confirming that Jesus was a true prophet. Matthew directly states that prophecies were fulfilled or uses “fulfillment citations” approximately 11 to 13 times in his Gospel to establish Jesus as the Messiah, often using the formula, “This occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken of by the prophet”. Surely Matthew would have done the same with Jesus’ 70 AD predictions if they had already been fulfilled when he wrote his gospel. Why is it so important that we show that the gospels were written before 70 AD? 1) It tells us that the 4 authors were either eyewitnesses (the apostles Matthew and John), or were associated with an eyewitness (according to Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) Mark based his gospel on the recollections of the apostle Peter) or used eyewitness testimony to gather his material (Luke 1:1-4). That gives much more credibility to the gospels than if they were written anonymously in the late 1st century by writers who did not witness Jesus’ miracles and resurrection. 2) If the gospels were written around 50-60 AD, that is only 20-30 years after Jesus’ miracles and resurrection. That would have given opportunity for people to question or reject the anthenticity of these gospels. They would have known if Mt, Mk, Lk, and John really wrote the gospels. The early church fathers (100-325 AD) cite the gospels over 19,300 times. That shows that accepted the 4 gospels as authentic. They never quote or cite the gnostic gospels like the Gospel of Thomas, or Gospel of Judas, or Gospel of Philip, or Gospel of Mary Magdelene. Writing around 185 CE in Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons established that there are exactly four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) — no more, no less — calling them the four pillars of the Church.

PAUL’S WRITINGS (13 LETTERS): Paul died from 64-67 AD, beheaded by the cruel emperor Nero. That obviously means that he wrote all his letters before 70 AD. He also predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16: Paul writes that those who killed Jesus and the prophets are “filling up the measure of their sins” and that “wrath has come upon them at last”. This is interpreted as a reference to the impending judgment of 70 AD. In 2 Thessalonians 2 he predicts that the man of sin would arise and do false miracles before the 2nd coming of Jesus. He said that the man of sin would sit in the temple and claim to be God. He said that “mystery” was “already at work” at the time he wrote. That means that the man of sin had to be living when he wrote 2 Thess. That man of sin would have to be the emperor Titus who did enter the temple, claiming to be god, and who destroyed the temple in 70 AD. Obviously, that means that 2 Thess was written before 70 AD. In 1 Corinthians 15 Pau is predicting the resurrection in which believers, dead or alive, would be given immortality. Paul then stated that some of those he was writing to in Corinth would still be alive when that resurrection occurred: 15:⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” That resurrection was the resurrection predicted in Daniel 12:2 to happen at the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD. It was the one that Paul said was “about to happen” in Acts 24:15. “While the early Church Fathers (Apostolic Fathers and later Ante-Nicene Fathers) did not quote every single verse from Paul’s letters immediately, they collectively quoted or alluded to all 13 epistles attributed to him in the New Testament over the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Major Pauline letters like Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians were quoted frequently, while minor letters were cited less often but still recognized, strengthening the evidence for the Pauline canon.” Bart Ehrman says that Paul only wrote 7 of the letters attributed to him, but I think that I will trust the early church fathers that he wrote all of his letters more than I trust Ehrman’s liberal teaching.

PETER’S WRITINGS (1,2 PETER): Peter, like Paul, also died from 64-67 AD, crucified upside down according to tradition, at the hands of Nero. Obviously that means his writings had to be written before 70 AD. Early church fathers quoted or cited 1 Peter frequently, but 2 Peter was rarely cited and often disputed until the 3rd or 4th century. 1 Peter was accepted early, cited by Polycarp (c. 130) and Irenaeus. 2 Peter is generally absent in early, undisputed writing, with its first clear mentions appearing in Origen (c. 250) and Eusebius (c. 325). It was disputed due to style differences from 1 Peter, repetition of Jude in chapter 2 (did Peter copy Jude or did Jude copy Peter or neither), and questions about who wrote it. But eventually it was accepted. I wonder if 2 Peter 3 predicting the destruction of the old heavens and earth to be replace with a new heavens and earth didn’t cause many to question the authenticity of 2 Peter. If you were a chiliast and expected Jesus to return soon back then to establish an earthly kingdom and it didn’t happen like you thought it would, then even 2nd century church fathers might have been reluctant to cite 2 Peter. Of course, if you believe that 2 Peter 3 is predicting the destruction of the old Jewish system and replacing it with the new Messianic system in 70 AD, then 2 Peter actually proves that it was authentic b/c he is predicting an event that happened in 70 AD just a few years after he wrote 2 Peter. That makes sense also since 1 Peter 4 predicted ⁷ The end of all things is near.” The end of all things had to happen soon or else Peter is a false prophet. 2 Peter 3 is predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which was indeed “near”. The “end of all things” would surely include the end of the old heavens and earth, and that had to be “near” in 2 Peter 3 since the end of “all things” was near. So 2 Peter 3 is not talking about the physical destruction of the earth to be replaced with a newly re-created earth, which is what many teach. 2 Peter 3 had to be predicting something that was going to happen soon, and the destruction of the earth did not happen soon. BTW, the Greek word for the “elements” in 2 Peter 3 that were predicted to be burned never refers to the physical elements of the universe, like hydrogen, oxygen, etc. It is used 7 times and always refer to the basic rudimentary principles of the Law of the Jews or of pagan law. So we do conclude that Peter’s writings, including 2 Peter, were written before 70 AD.

James (the Lord’s brother): We don’t know when James died, but Josephus says he died in 62 AD. If so, his letter was written before 70 AD. But internal evidence shows that it was written before 70 AD. James 5:1 Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. ² Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” That was written to scattered Jewish Christians who were oppressing the poor. That “last days” are the last days of the Jewish Age which ended in 70 AD. The miseries coming upon them would be the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD during which one million evil Jews suffered and died. James 5:⁸ You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” There is only one predicted 2nd coming in the gospels and the letters, and it had to happen within that generation of Jews. It did happen in 70 AD. So this coming of the Lord in James 5:8 would be the 2nd coming in 70 AD. So the letter of James was written before 70 AD.

Jude (the Lord’s brother): the Book of Jude was cited, used, and recognized as canonical by several early Church Fathers despite being considered a “disputed” book by some. Despite that it quoted the book of Enoch and the Assumption of Moses (two apocryphal books not accepted into the NT canon). It was accepted by prominent leaders such as Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen, and included in the early Muratorian Canon. (180-200 AD). It appears in the third-century Bodmer Papyrus (p72) (dated 3rd and 4th centuries) alongside 1 & 2 Peter, indicating it was part of the early “General Epistles” collection. The only indication that it was written before 70 AD is Jude ¹⁷ But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” That has to be synonymous with “the last days” which is 30-70 AD, the last days of the Jewish Age. If so, Jude must also have been written before 70 AD. One tradition says that he died around 65 AD.

John’s gospel, letters, and Revelation: The main reason we know all of John’s writings were written before 70 AD is that John was dead before 70 AD. Tradition says that he lived to the age of 100 in Ephesus and died a peaceful death. But that contradicts Jesus’ predictiong that the brother James and John would die a marty’s death. Mark 10:³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.” The most plausible tradition regarding John’s death states that John was arrested in Ephesus and faced martyrdom when his enemies threw him in a huge basin of boiling oil. That tradition, arguing that he was not martyred but rescued, would contradict Jesus’ prediction. The early church father Papias (60-130 AD) said that John the theologian and James his brother were killed by Jews”. That could have only happened while the Jews had the ability to kill someone, which had to be before 70 AD. They would not have had that ability in the year 100 AD. Some dispute the what Papias said, but the fact remains that Jesus said they would be martyred and that martyrdom would have to be before 70 AD. James had already been martyred in Acts 12. John’s gospel says that the pool of Bethesda was still intact when he wrote his gospel: John 5:² Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes.” The present tense verb “is” is a comment by John that the pool was still intact when he wrote his gospel. That had to be before 70 AD b/c there would be no usable pool after 70 AD. Also John does not mention the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Surely he would have done so if that had already happened at the time he wrote the gospel. So the gospel of John was written before 70 AD. His letters (1,2,3 John): early church fathers recognized and cited 1, 2, and 3 John, though 1 John was cited more frequently than the shorter 2 and 3 John. Key figures such as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius cited these epistles and attributed them to the Apostle John. 1 John 2 says that it was the “last hour” at the time of writing. 1 John 2:¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” The last hour of what? That has to be the last hour of the last days of the Jewish Age which ended in 70 AD. While the phrase may not mean the last 60 minutes before the end of the last days, it surely indicates a time very close to the end of the last days. It definitely indicates that 1 John was written before 70 AD. We assume that he wrote 1,2,3 John b/c he died and he died before 70 AD. Obviously Revelation would have to be written before 70 AD since John died before 70 AD. Many have said that, based on a statement by Irenaeus in 180 AD, Revelation was written in 96 AD in the reign of Domitian. But the internal evidence shows that Revelation was written during the reign of emperor Nero (54-68 AD) so it had to be written before 68 AD. Revelation 17:⁹ Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits, ¹⁰ and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.” These kings are the kings or emperors of the sea beast Rome. Nero was the 6th king or emperor and living at the time John wrote Revelation (5 have fallen, died and one “is”). We start with Julius Caesar as the first of those 6 kings. In Antiquities book xvii second chapter, Josephus states that Augustus was the second Emperor. Two sentences later he states that Tiberius was the third.  Josephus (37-100 AD) lived in the first century and surely would have known who everyone considered to be the first ruler of Rome. The Gentile historian Seutonius, in his book The Twelve Caesars in 121 AD, started his list of caesars with Julius, not Augustus. Also Revelation predicts the 2nd coming as a future yet to be fulfilled event at the time of writing (Revelation 22:7,12,20 Jesus says “I am coming quickly”. That had to be coming of Jesus that was soon after the time of writing of Revelation b/c Revelation 1 and 22 state that the predictions given in Revelation would “soon take place”, be “near”. So that coming had to be soon or near, and that could only fit Jesus’ coming in 70 AD to judge the Jews. That means Revelation was written before 70 AD. Also Revelation predicts the destruction of the “great city” in Revelation 17:15-18. That great city was “where our Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8) which means it is Jerusalem. So the book of Revelation makes a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem as a future event at the time of writing, so the book had to be written before 70 AD. So all of John’s writings, including Revelation, were written before 70 AD.

Hebrews: If Paul wrote the letter, then Hebrews would have to be written before 68 AD when Paul was beheaded by Nero. The early church in the East thought Paul wrote it but the church in the West did not think he wrote it and disputed the authenticity of the book. I don’t believe that Paul wrote it. Paul never would have said that the salvation first spoken through the Lord “was confirmed to us by those who heard.” (Hebrews 2:3) In Galations 1 he argues that he got his gospel directly from Jesus and not from any humans or even the apostles. So if Paul wasn’t the author, how can we know that Hebrews was written before 70 AD. There are severa proofs that it was written before 70 AD. 1) The temple was still standing and priest ministering in the temple at the time of writing: Hebrews 9:⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing.” These are present tense verbs: “priests are continually entering the tabernacle” and “the outer tabernacle is still standing”. Unfortunately the NIV translates those verbs as past tense, “was”. The priests are still ministering in the temple at the time of writing: Hebrews 10:¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (again, a present tense verb “stands”). The temple was destroyed in 70 AD, so this means that the letter was written before 70 AD. 2) Hebrews predicts a coming of Jesus that will be soon with no delay. Hebrews 10:37 For yet in a very little while; He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” That coming had to be Jesus coming soon in the judgment of the Jews in 70 AD. 3) Hebrews predicts an imminent judgment of the evil Jews. Hebrews 10:²⁶ For we — willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth — no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice, ²⁷ but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers”. (Young’s Literal Translation). I cite YLT b/c it accurately translates the word “mello” as “about to” The word mello in the NT always means “about to”. So there was a judgment of the Jews that was “about to happen” at the time of writing, and that could only be the judgment of the Jews in 70 AD and the letter had to be written before that. For these 3 reasons we conclude that Hebrews was written before 70 AD regardless of whole wrote the letter. Whoever wrote it was inspired or he/she could not have made such accurate predictions.

My prayer is that someone who has questioned the authenticity of the NT books will read this article closely. This is a critical study b/c the implications are serious. I hope this helps.

AI: “The Shakers, or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, are a 18th-century Christian sect founded in England and known for communal, celibate, and pacifist lifestyles, along with ecstatic, trembling worship. Founded by Mother Ann Lee, they aimed to create heaven on earth through gender equality, communal ownership, and simple, industrious living. Founded in 1747 in Manchester, England, as a branch of Quakers, they moved to America in 1774. They believed that God is both male and female and that Mother Ann Lee was the female embodiment of Jesus’ 2nd appearing. They believed the Second Coming was not a physical, apocalyptic return of Jesus, but a spiritual rebirth that already occurred in the person of Mother Ann Lee. Practiced strict celibacy, requiring members to be unmarried and adopt children or gain converts, and held all property in common. Known as “Shaking Quakers” for their emotional, chaotic, and physical worship services involving dancing, whirling, and trembling to “shake off” sin. Emphasized gender and racial equality, with men and women sharing leadership roles. Famous for their simple, functional furniture design, architecture, and agricultural success. At their peak in 1840, they had over 6,000 members in 19 communal villages across the United States. Today, the faith has nearly disappeared, but their legacy lives on through their furniture, music, and simple design philosophy.As of late 2025, there are three active Shakers remaining in the world, all living at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine, the last active Shaker community. This small community relies heavily on volunteers and visitors to maintain its historic site museum, which draws thousands annually.”

Shakers believed Jesus was the male manifestation of the “Christ spirit,” representing the first Christian Church, but not divine in the traditional Trinity sense. They viewed him as a celibate example, whose incarnation marked the beginning of a new spiritual, non-carnal life, with the Second Coming fulfilled in their leader, Mother Ann Lee. Shakers did not believe Jesus was God, but rather a human infused with the divine Christ spirit. Jesus established the first Christian church, which Shakers believed apostatized (fell away) shortly after his death. Shakers taught that Jesus lived a life of absolute purity and celibacy, establishing a model for overcoming the “original sin” of sexual intercourse. Shakers viewed themselves as the “Second Church” or the “Millennial Church” that continued the work begun by Jesus. The Shakers (United Society of Believers) generally did not subscribe to the traditional Christian doctrine that Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for the sins of mankind. Instead, they emphasized that salvation was achieved through personal, daily effort, confession of sins, and following the celibate, sinless example of Jesus. Shakers believed in working out their own salvation through confession, confession, celibacy, and rigorous, holy, daily living. They focused on the idea that each individual must walk the same path of self-denial and perfection that Jesus did. Shakers believed that the original sin was sexual, and therefore, overcoming “lust” through absolute celibacy was a key part of the path to salvation. Therefore, while they revered Jesus, their theology focused more on spiritual resurrection and behavioral transformation than on the substitutionary atonement of his death.”

In. other words, they don’t believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross It is basically a salvation by works system. That and their belief that Mother Ann was an embodiment of Jesus definitely makes them a cult. Cults like the Shakers are fascinating. Their synchronized line type dancing in their worship assemblies is just he opposite of the Quakers sitting silently meditation, waiting for the Spirit to move someone to give a word or sing a song. They split off the Quakers and wer basically “Shaking Quakers”. I guess they wanted more emotion in their assembies!

Which could bring up another discussion: the role of emotion in worship assemblies today. The 16 day Asbury Revival in Wilmore, Ky in February, 2023 at Asbury University is estimated to have drawn 50,000–70,000 visitors to a town of 6,000 people, with over 200 other institutions represented. There have been studies about the lasting effects of the revival, some very good that led to transformed lived and service, and some emotion that died out quickly even leaving many disillusioned. Megachurches rely on emotional, band led singing but they follow up with conversions and community service. Some churches practice tongue speaking, which would surely stir up emotion but are they really speaking in the same tongues as found in the early church? I personally do not think so. Those tongues were actual human languages and tongue speaking today is not languages. It is also interesting that often many are speaking in tongues at the same time even though 1 Corinthians 14 gave instructions to only have 2 or 3 tongue speakers at the most in an assembly, and those only speaking one at a time.

I thought this was great from AI (from some articles somewhere!). “Emotions in worship assemblies serve as a natural, authentic response to encountering God, engaging the heart, mind, and spirit rather than just the intellect. While encouraging sincere expression of joy, gratitude, and contrition, they should not be manufactured or manipulated to “create an atmosphere”, serving instead as a means of deepening understanding of divine truth. Music plays a significant role in drawing out emotional responses on a visceral level, often making singing a high point of emotional engagement. While emotions are important, they must not become the primary goal (emotionalism) or replace the need for theological understanding. Emotions in worship are meant to follow facts and be rooted in God’s character and actions, rather than being fickle or self-focused. In essence, emotions are a vital, God-designed component of worship that, when authentic, enhance a person’s engagement with the divine, making them a necessary, but not the ultimate, part of the worship experience.”

I hope you don’t mind me pulling so much from AI but why re-invent the wheel. AI scans many great articles and seems to usually come up with great material, so I use it and add my own thoughts.

Does your worship assembly stir up your emotions?

Matthew 24 is key to all eschatology:  Here is the equence of events in Matthew 24 : 

1 The gospel would be preached to the whole world and then “the end would come”. 24:¹⁴ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Colossians 1:23 Paul said that had been fulfilled by the time he wrote Colossians in 60 AD. That would be the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD, not the end of the world. The old covenant was valid for the Jews till 70 AD. Hebrews 8:13, written about 60 AD, said, 8:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant (i.e. the new covenant promised in Jeremiahs 31:31-34),” He has made the first obsolete (the old covenant). But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” It did officially disappear in 70 AD. The temple was destroyed, no more animal sacrifices since then, no more priests. No one could even try to keep the Law of Moses after that.

2 The abomination of desolation predicted by Daniel would be fulfilled within the generation that Jesus was speaking to. Matthew 24¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet.” The “abomination of desolation” is mentioned 3 times in Daniel 9,11,12. 1) Daniel 9:²⁴ “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵ So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. ²⁶ Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.” Notice this abomination of desolation would be at the same time as the destruction of the city (Jerusalem) and sanctuary (the temple) by the peole of some prince. That prince will be Titus who led the Romans armies in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Notice that the Messiah (Jesus) would be cut off (die) at the end of the 69th week, which would be 30 AD. That leaves a 70th week, but the 70th week ends with the abomination of desolation of the temple. When would that be? Jesus said that all the events predicted in Matthew 24 would be fulfilled in that generation. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Genea always in the NT refers to a 40 year period. So the abomination of desolation had to be fulfilled with 40 years after Jesus’ prediction. So it had to be the desolation of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD. The Roman army brought their military standards, which featured images of the Emperor (worshipped as idols by soldiers), into the Temple area, marking it as a “desolation”. Maybe the soldiers even offered sacrifices to their standards (Josephus). Even if we are unsure about the 7 weeks and 62 weeks part, we can be sure that the 70th week ended at 70 AD. That destroys all the false predictions of the 70th week being in our future! The 70th week would be the last 7 years beore 70 AD which woud be 63-70 AD. That leaves a gap between the 69th and 70th week, but that is to be expected. After Jesus’ death at the end of the 69th week in 30 AD, there was an indefinite period until the 70th week would begin which would end in 70 AD. That would force people to be ready at all times during that gap between the 69th and 70th week. Notice that the end of the 70th week (70 AD) would “seal up vision and prophecy” (Daniel 9:24). There would be no more prophetic visions or predictions to be fulfilled after 70 AD. All the New Testament books were written before 70 AD. All the writers of the New Testament died before 70 AD. EvenJohn the apostle died before 70 AD. Papias (60-130 AD) said that John died at the hands of the Jews just as his brother James died (Acts 12), just as Jesus had predicted that the two brothers would die a martyr’s death just as Jesus would (Mark 10:35-40). That could only be before 70 AD since the Jews would not have the power to kill him in the year 100 AD, which is what tradition says that he lived to (and that he died a peacefu death). If he died a peaceful death, then Jesus’ prophecy would fail to come true. 2) Daniel 11:³¹ Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. Again, fulfilled in 70 AD. 3) Daniel 12: ¹¹ And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Again, fulfilled in 70 AD. All of Daniel 12 is predicting “the end time or the end of the age” (12:4, 9, 13). Matthew 24:14 Jesus said that the end would come within that generation (24:30) so “the end” is the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD, not the end of the world.

3 An unparalleled (in the history of the Jews at least) tribulation on the Jews within that generation. Matthew 24:²¹ For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” This was a tribulation of the Jews, not Christians as many try to apply it to today. Daniel 12 predicted this tribulation of the Jews to occur at the end of the age (70 AD). Daniel 12:And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Daniel 12:7 it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” (the holy people would be the Jews who would be smashed). But wasn’t the Holocaust (7 million Jews killed) worse than AD 70 (one million Jews killed)? The Jews as a nation were no longer God’s holy people or nation when the Holocaust occurred. Again, this tribulation in Matthew 24:21 had to happen within that generation (24:34). So the tribulation happened from 66-70 AD, happened to the Jews in all Palestine and Jerusalem, and there are no prophecies predicting some tribulation in our future as many preach today.

4 The Son of Man would come and the stars would fall. Matthew 24:²⁹ “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Again, this coming of Jesus (the 2nd coming) had to be fulfilled in that generation (24:30), so it must be his coming in judgment on the Jews in 70 AD. This is consistent with all of Jesus’ other 3 predictions that his 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to. 1) Matthew 10:²³ “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.” 2) Matthew 16:²⁷ For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds. ²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Young’s Literal Translation). The Greek word translated “about to” is mello and in the New Testament always mean “about to happen”. Young’s Literal Translation translates it correctly though most translations translate it incorrectly as “is going to come”. Some try to say this was fulfilled in the transfiguration (Matthew 17) but 16:27 involves judgment and that didn’t happen at the transfiguration but it did happen in 70 AD with the judgment of the Jews. This clearly shows that some of those listening to Jesus would still be alive at his 2nd coming. If not, then Jesus is a false prophet just as the atheists and unbelieving Jews claim. 3) Matthew 26:⁶⁴ Jesus saith to him (Caiaphas), `Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.’ Caiaphas might not have lived to 70 AD (tradition says he died long before 70 AD but perhaps Jesus was speaking to those with Caiaphas, some of whom would live till 70 AD and his 2nd coming). I always challenge people to show me any verse in the gospels where Jesus predicts a coming back that is not within the generation of those he was speaking to. The apostles also taught an imminent 2nd coming. The early Christians expected the 2nd coming to be in their lifetime. Why wouldn’t they since that is what Jesus and the apostles taught them?
The stars also had to fall within that generation (24:30) and they did not literally fall to the earth. This is typical apocalyptic language as used of judgments in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 19:1 describes God coming in the clouds which is very similar wording to what is found in Matthew 24 but in Isaiah it has reference to the destruction of Egypt.” Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light (fulfilled with the fall of Babylon in 536 BC).” Isaiah 34:4 And all the heavenly lights will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; all its lights will also wither away (fulfilled in the judgment of nations in Isaiah’s time).” So the stars did fall figuratively within that generation at 70 AD. Notice the timing: Jesus would come “immediately after the tribulation”. If the tribulation was the horrors the Jews faced in the wars of the Jews from 66-70 AD, and it was, then Jesus’ coming had to be immediately after that and not 2,000 years later. That fits 24:30 that this had to happen within that generation. Notice “they will see Him coming in the clouds”. Similar to Revelation 1:⁷ Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.” Acts 1:11 This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 1) Whatever this means, it happened within that generation (24:30) so we must figure out what it meant in 70 AD at his 2nd coming. Many have a preconceived idea of everyone on earth seeing the literal body of Jesus coming down at His 2nd coming, but that is not what the passage means. 2) It simply means that all who were responsible for piercing (crucifying) Jesus (i.e. the Jews) of the tribes of the earth (i.e. the Jewish 12 tribes) would see Jesus coming (figuratively) in judgment using the Romans. They would mourn when that happened. In that sense, every eye of the Jews in the city did see His 2nd coming in 70 AD. Someone might say, “That sounds like the supposed invisible coming of Jesus in 1914 that the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.” Not really, b/c nothing at happened on earth in 1914 as evidence of a 2nd coming. But in 70 AD, the proof of his 2nd coming was obvious in the destruction of the temple and the city, and the killing of one million Jews.

5 All these predicted events in Matthew 24 had to be fulfilled within that generation. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Greek work is genea and in the New Testament it always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period. Period! No exceptions to that. Matthew 1 lists 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus, which is about 2,000 years. Hebrews 3:9 Where your fathers put Me to the test, and saw My works for forty years.¹⁰ Therefore I was angry with this generation”. In Matthew 23, just before the left the temple and made the predictions in Matthew 24, Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes. His final word was that they would be punished for the sins of the nation for the last 1500 years, for the murers of the prophets from Abel to Zechariah. He said, Matthew 23:³⁶ Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Isn’t it obvious that he is talking about that specific generation of evil Jews that he would punish in 70 AD? Matthew 24:34 uses that same word genea in the very next chapter. Would that not also be that specific generation of Jews in that next 40 years? Jesus often called the Jews of that generation an adulterous and evil generation. I am amazed when I hear preachers on TV say that Jesus’ 2nd coming is imminent today. They use Matthew 24 to try to prove that. They will quote Matthew 24:34 to say that Jesus is predicting the 2nd coming to be within the generation of those listening to the preacher’s prediction of imminency. So they are saying that the word genea means 40 years. But if it means 40 years today, why did it not mean 40 years back then when Jesus predicted that? If it means a specific “last generation” (i.e. last generation before the 2nd coming) today, why did it not mean that back when Jesus spoke it?

6 The rest of the chapter (vs 36-51) is still talking about that same 2nd coming of vs 1-35. Still a coming within that generation and not some “3rd coming” at least 2,000 years later (as of today). Matthew 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” Why would vs 37 and vs 39 be introducing a 3rd coming at least 2,000 years later. He is discussing the coming that he has just predicted to happen within that generation, is he not? Some say that vs 1-35 indeed predict AD 70, but that vs 36-61 predict another coming that is still in our future, but that is not true Notice the 2nd coming will be like the days of Noah in which the wicked were taken (killed, i.e. the evil people before the flood) and the righteous will be left (i.e. Noah and his family). The evil Jews would be taken (killed by the Romans) and the righteous will be left (i.e. surive the destruction of Jerusalem: according to Eusebius all the Christians in Jerusalem escaped the city, heeding the warnings given them in Matthew 24, when they had the chance and fled to Pella). Those who teach a rapture at the 2nd coming teach it totally backwards. They say the righteous will be taken (raptured) and the wicked will be left on earth, which would not fit the 2nd coming that Jesus is talking about. So is the doctrine of the rapture of Christians before the 2nd coming even valid? It is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, 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.” 1) f the 2nd coming was in 70 AD, then this passage occurred in 70 AD regardless of how it happened. It was fulfilled at 70 AD and is not something to happen at some future coming of Jesus. 2) This passage can’t be introducing a future coming of Jesus past 70 AD since nowhere else in the New Testament predicts such a coming. This passage must be referring to the same 2nd coming in 70 AD that all the NT predicts. 3) What does it mean if it happened in 70 AD (and it did happen in 70 AD)? A common practice was that a king or nobleman would visit a city. The people in the city would go out to meet him and then the king would accompany them back into the city to spend time with them. That is what this passage is talking about. Jesus would come in the clouds in 70 AD. Christians alive at that time would meet him (figuratively) and then Jesus would go with them to where they lived on earth and make his presence with them. It is not talking about Jesus meeting them and taking them up to heaven. So there is no rapture before 70 AD as many teach (Tim LaHaye Left Behind).

Luke 21 is a parallel chapter to Matthew 24, but it does add a few things. Luke 21:²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. ²¹ Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; ²² because these are days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled. ²³ Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people; ²⁴ and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Notice that this says that the desolation of Jerusalem will be when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies. That had to happen within that generation. Luke 21:³² Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.” (just as in Matthew 24). So this can only be the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem in the 5 month seige in 70 AD before they broke through the walls, destroyed the city and temple, and killed one million Jews. Notice that Jesus says that all things that have been written (which would be Old Testament predictions) would be fulfilled by 70 AD. The Old Testament predicted the destruction of Jerusalem several times: Daniel 9,11,12; Zechariah 14; Isaiah 26-29; Ezekiel 38,39. So those AD 70 predictions had to come true by AD 70. Of course, all the Messianic predictiions would also be fulfilled by 70 AD. If whoever the Messiah will be does not come by 70 AD, then he can’t come! That is a real dilemma for the Jews who don’t believe that Jesus is the real Messiah. They are left with no temple and no hope of a real Messiah coming some day in our future. Many Jews have abandoned the very idea of some Messiah person coming some day. Revelation 10:7 says that when the events predicted in Revelation (i.e. the predictions about 70 AD) that the mystery of God as spoken through the old testament prophets would be finished. Notice that Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. That would have to be the Romans. Revelation, which is about predictions of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, predicts this same thing. Revelation 11: ² Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.” That verse also shows that the temple was still standing when the book of Revelation was written, which was probably about 63 AD. Notice that Jerusalem would be trampled until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The meaning of that is debated. A similar phrase is used in Romans 9:²⁵ For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved.” This is a very controversial verse. I think it means when the Gentiles have been brought into the church fully in 70 AD. During the transition period from 30-70 AD they were brought in gradually by the preaching of the apostles and that process was completed fully by 70 AD.

If you have any interest in eschatology at all, I hope this helps. If what you hear from preachers is confusing to you, I hope this helps. If you are not interested at all in eschatology, that is fine. But someone needs to correct all the false teaching about eschatology that leaves people confused.

Also, understanding the fulfilled predictions of Matthew 24 to be 70 AD helps bolster my faith in Jesus as the Prophet and faith in the Bible that records all these predictions to know that they were all fulfilled in 70 AD. That in turn helps bolster my faith in the main message in the Bible, which is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross. I have a friend who says that understanding all this basically saved his faith since he was having so many questions about Bible predictions. It has to bother you as a Christian when an atheist says that Jesus is a false prophet b/c his predictions of his imminent 2nd coming did not come to pass. The atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell argued that Jesus could not be considered the “best and wisest of men” partly because he believed Jesus predicted his second coming would occur within the lifetime of his followers, a prediction that did not come true. Russell argued that Jesus clearly believed his second coming would happen “in clouds of glory” before all the people then living had passed away, citing Matthew 16:28 (“There are some standing here which shall not taste death till the Son of Man comes into His kingdom”) as a primary example.” (AI) Even the Christian C.S. Lewis famously addressed Matthew 10:23 (along with similar verses) as “the most embarrassing verse in the Bible,” acknowledging the apparent, mistaken prediction of an immediate return by Jesus. He argued this honesty suggests the Gospels are reliable, as creators of a forgery would likely have removed such a difficult, time-sensitive prediction.” That is really twisted logic! Lewis is saying that Jesus was mistaken in his prediction. But instead of saying that makes Jesus a false prophet (which it would), he says it just shows the integrity of the gospel that they would record a false prediction by Jesus but ignoring that he is admitting that Jesus was a false prophet!!! What do you think an atheist like Russell would say about that logic??????

WHO WAS WILIAM MILLER AND WHAT WAS THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT? A Baptist preacher William Miller (1782-1849 AD) predicted the 2nd coming to be sometime between 1843 and 1844, but it didn’t happen. That came to be called “The Great Disapppointment”. Many lost their faith in the Bible since they thought Miller had accurately predicted the Daniel 8 prediction of 2300 days and nights until the sanctuary that would be overthrown by the “little horn” (who would claim to be equal to God) would be restored. Now Miller used the day=year principle (which isn’t always proper to use but is at other times) to start with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC and going forward 2,300 years to get a date for the 2nd coming around 1843-1844. He convinced several hundred thousand Christians in different denominations along the East coast that his interpretation of Daniel 8 was correct. Many sold their possessions prior to 1843 and waited on their rooftops for Jesus to return in 1843, but it didn’t happen even up to 1844. My last blog article “The Great Disappointment of 1843 and Daniel 8” gives my interpretation of the 2300 days if you care to read it.

But this article deals with the 7th Day Adventists religion. AI: “After the 1844 “Great Disappointment,” a group of Adventists, including Ellen G. White, James White, and Joseph Bates, continued studying prophecy, focusing on the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) and Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, eventually organizing formally in 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan. A remnant of these Adventists concluded the date was correct but the event was the beginning of Christ’s final judgment in heaven, not His earthly return. Key figures like Joseph Bates and Ellen G. White emphasized the biblical seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as part of this “present truth,” alongside the soon-coming “advent” (return) of Jesus. Believers in these distinct doctrines officially organized as the “Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863.”

ELLEN G. WHITE AND THE GREAT CONTROVERSY. “Ellen G. White was a foundational prophet and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, providing visionary guidance, shaping core doctrines, and inspiring global mission through prolific writings and counsel that unified early believers and established the church’s identity, particularly in areas like health, education, and lifestyle, influencing its growth into a worldwide movement. She wrote extensively about the imminent Second Coming of Jesus, encouraging believers to prepare, but she never set a specific date after the failed 1844 Millerite predictions. Her book The Great Controversy details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (the The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (covering the The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (covering the Reformation, Protestantism, Wycliffe, Huss, and Luther), prophecies to be fulfilled toward the end of the earth’s history, and Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, serving as a key text in Adventist theology about sin, redemption, and the final conflict. Perhaps you found a copy of The Great Controversy placed in your mailbox by the SDAs.

SABBATH KEEPING. The book highlights the Sabbath (Saturday) as a central point of controversy, with the enforcement of Sunday observance leading to the final conflict. Keeping the Sabbath became a core doctrine of the SDA movement, and still is. Seventh-day Adventists strictly observe the Sabbath, keeping it on Saturday (the seventh day) from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, as a holy day of rest, worship, and fellowship, based on the Fourth Commandment and the example of Jesus, distinguishing it from Sunday worship. They rest from secular work, focus on spiritual activities like church services, nature, family, and Bible study, and see it as a memorial of creation and a sign of God’s covenant.”

INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT AND UNCLEAN MEATS: “Another key doctrine is Investigative Judgment, or Sanctuary Doctrine, which states that since 1844, Christ has been examining the lives of professed believers in the heavenly sanctuary to determine who is worthy of eternal life. Ellen G. White taught that in 1844, while Jesus did not return to earth for his 2nd coming as William Miller predicted, Jesus in 1844 moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin an “Investigative Judgment” of believers’ lives. Investigative judgment would end just before Jesus’ future 2nd coming. Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) do not eat pork, along with other “unclean” meats like shellfish, based on biblical dietary laws in Leviticus 11, viewing these prohibitions as health principles to glorify God and prepare for Jesus’ return, though vegetarianism is also strongly encouraged.

I think that covers the history and main doctrines of the SDA movement. Let’s examine the doctrines.

1 Sabbath keeping. Yes the Jews were commanded to “observe the Sabbath and keep it holy” (the 4th of the 10 commandments of Exodus 20). But Gentiles were never commanded to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a special sign between God and Israel. Exodus 31: ¹⁶ So the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.’ ¹⁷ It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” SDAs teach that the Sabbath was kept from the beginning in b/c of this verse in Genesis: “Genesis 2:² By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” But Nehemiah 9 says that God made known the Sabbath to the Jews on Mt Sinai. Nehemiah 9:13 Then You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven; you gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments.¹⁴ So You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and gave them commandments, statutes, and law, through Your servant Moses.” In Genesis 2:2-3 Moses is simply telling why God chose the Sabbath as a special day for the Jews but he is not saying that Sabbath keeping began in the Garden for all people. We don’t read of any of the patriarchs keeping the Sabbath in the book of Genesis. Yes, Jesus was a Jew still living under the Law so He kept the Sabbath. The Law of Moses was in effect for the Jews up to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Paul, even as a Jewish Christian, kept the Law and the Sabbath. But Gentile Christians were never required to keep the Law of Moses or the Sabbath. Nor are we Gentile Christians required to keep the Sabbath today. It is fine if Christians decide to keep the Sabbath today, but they should not bind Sabbath keeping on Gentile Christians or condemn them for worshipping on Sunday. Paul told Christians not to judge each other over observance of days. Romans 14:⁵ One person values one day over another, another values every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.” Many Gentile Christians see a great benefit in keeping the Sabbath today.

DID CONSTANTINE START SUNDAY WORSHIP? SDAs believe that the Roman Catholic Church and Constantine (4th century) changed the Sabbath worship to Sunday associating that with the mark of the beast in Revelation, linking it to Satan and sun worship. Christians began worshipping together on Sunday, as 2nd century church history confirms, b/c Sunday was the day Jesus arose from the dead. early Church Fathers like Justin Martyr 160 AD)and Ignatius (early 2nd century) in the 2nd century explicitly documented that Christians regularly met for worship on Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, shifting from Jewish Sabbath practices for most believers. Paul was specifically speaking of the weekly collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem to be collected every Sunday (the first day of the week) in 1 Corinthians 16:Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come.”  That does confirm that the Corinthian Christians were assembling on Sundays every week to take the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11)and edify one another. So Constantine did not start Sunday worship in the 4th century as SDAs claiim.

2 Not eating unclean meats like pork (Leviticus 11). The law of not eating unclean meats was a law given to Jews, not Gentiles. It was not a law given to Gentiile Christians under the new covenant which replaced the old covenant. Paul said that Christians can eat anthing God created as long as they give thanks for it. 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” Paul specifically condemned those who bind food restrictions on new covenant Christians. If any Christians choose to not eat unclean meats, that is fine; they just should not condemn others who do eat unclean meats like pork. SDAS should be commended for their emphasis on healthy eating, but not on the false reason they use (Leviticus 11) as a basis for their teaching.

3 Investigative judgment. Hebrews 9 refutes this doctrine. Hebrews presents Jesus as our High Priest. The writer says that Jesus, at the time of writing, had already entered the Holy of Holies in heaven to offer his blood to the Father as the sacrifice for out sins. That would have occurrred after he was riased and ascended to the Father. Hebrews 9:¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; ¹² and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place (i.e. the Most Holy Place where the Father dwells) once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Holy Place (again, the Most Holy Place where the Father dwells) year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The Levitical, Aaronic High Priest entered the Most Holy Place into the presence of God, the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant, to offer blood to cleanse the sins of the nation on the Day of Atonement each year. Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven once for all time after he arose and ascended to the Father. That had already happened by the time Hebrews was written in about 60 AD and not in 1843. The whole doctrine of investigative judgement was simply an attempt to reinterpret the failed prophecy of the Great Disappointment instead of just calling it what it was, i.e. a prediction by a false prophet William Miller. The date 1843 has nothing to do with the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy or of Jesus entering the Holy of Holies in heaven in 1843.

IS THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS MOVEMENT A CULT: There are about 24 million SDAs worldwide in 210 countries and territories. AI: ” Seventh-day Adventists teach that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that it’s a free gift received by believing in His atoning sacrifice, not earned by works, though obedience to God’s law is seen as the natural fruit and evidence of this saving faith, not its cause. They believe Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection provide the only means for forgiveness, justification, and eternal life, vindicating God’s law while offering mercy.” Is the SDA movement a cult? That is a debated topic. Having a latter day prophetess Ellen G. White is a sign of a cult, but their belief in salvation by grace through faith makes them more mainstream Protestantism. There laws on Sabbath keeping, not eating unclean meats, and even investigative judgment would not necessarily make them a cult unless they made those laws a source of division and condemning all other Christian denominations.

WHO WAS WILIAM MILLER AND WHAT WAS THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT? A Baptist preacher William Miller (1782-1849 AD) predicted the 2nd coming to be sometime between 1843 and 1844, but it didn’t happen Many lost their faith in the Bible since they thought Miller had accurately predicted the Daniel 8 prediction of 2300 days and nights until the sanctuary (i.e. the temple which would be overthrown by the “little horn” who would claim to be equal to God) would be restored. Now Milller used the day=year principle (which isn’t always proper to use but is at other times) to start with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC and going forward 2,300 years to get a date for the 2nd coming around 1843-1844. He convinced several hundred thousand Christians in different denominations along the East coast that his interpretation of Daniel 8 was correct. Many sold their possessions prior to 1843 and waited on their rooftops for Jesus to return in 1843, but it didn’t happen even up to 1844. Where did Miller go wrong in his interpretation of Daniel 8?

THE DANIEL 8 PREDICTIONS WOULD BE FUFILLED AT THE END TIME? If I may, here is what I think Daniel 8 was really predicting. One clue is the phrase “the end” and the “final period of the indignation at the appointed time of the end”. Gabriel told Daniel when this would all be fulfiled: 8:17 “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” 8:¹⁹ And he said, “Behold, I am going to inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” When was this appointed time of the end? In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple. He also predicted “the end”: 24:¹⁴ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” That end, along with all the events predicted in the chapter, would have to happen within the generation of those he was speaking to at that time. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Greek word for “generation” is genea and it always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period when used in the New Testament. So “the end” that Jesus predicted had to come about within the next 40 years after he made the predictions in Matthew 24. So he is not talking about the end of the world. He is talking about the end of the Jewish Age, the end of the old covenant (Hebrews 8:13, written about 60 AD, predicted that the old covenant was “about to disappear” and it did when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD), the end of the old heavens and earth (i.e. the Jewish system of God ruling the earth; Peter predicted the destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e the Jewish system, that would occur in 70 AD even though many wrongly think Peter is predicting the literal burning up of the earth). All those things would indeed occur 40 years after Jesus predicted them when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. The gospel was indeed preached to the whole world by 70 AD as confirmed by Paul in Colossians 1:23 “the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” The apostle Peter, in. about 60 AD, said in 1 Peter 4:⁷ The end of all things is near.”, so he is also by inspiration predicting the end of the Jewish Age and old covenant. Peter wrote this about 60 AD and “the end” happened in 70 AD.

DANIEL 7,8 THE LITTLE HORN: Daniel predicts the coming of the “little horn”. Daniel 8:⁹ And out of one of them came a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. ¹⁰ It grew up to the heavenly lights, and some of the lights, that is, some of the stars it threw down to the earth, and it trampled them. ¹¹ It even exalted itself to be equal with the Commander of the army; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown.” This little horn would be a Roman emperor who would overthrow the sanctuary (i.e. the temple) and claim to be equal to God. The “little horn” of Daniel 7 and 8 is the Roman Emperor Titus who did indeed allow himself to be worshipped as god. He is the one who led the Romans in the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. Titus is the one Daniel predicted to overthrow the sanctuary (i.e. the temple) in Daniel 8:¹¹ It (the little horn) even exalted itself to be equal with the Commander of the army; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown.” Titus was also the “man of sin” in “2 Thessalonians 2:³ No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Paul added: 2:⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work”, proving that this man of sin was someone living at the time of writing of 2 Thessalonians in 52 AD. Only Titus fits this description of the man of sin.

WHEN WAS THE 2300 DAYS PROPHECY FULFILLED? So what about the 2300 evenings and mornings for the santuary to be restored in Daniel 8:14 For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored”? Miller said that was the 2300 years from 457 BC to 1843 AD. I think this refers to an actual 2300 days, not 2300 years. I believe that it refers to the 7 years of the final period before 70 AD, i.e. 63 AD to 70 AD (7 years x 360 days/year is about 2300 days).

DANIEL 9:24-27 THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION AND THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY: Daniel had predicted in Daniel 9:24-27 that a prince would destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary (the temple) at the end of the famous 70 weeks prophecy. He called that event the “abomination of desolation”. Jesus, again in Matthew 24, told us when that prediction was fulfilled. Matthew 24: ¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.” That had to happen within that generation, within the next 40 years (Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”) If not, then Jesus is a false prophet just as the Muslims, uneblieving Jews, and atheists claim. But it was fulfilled in 70 AD. Back to Daniel 9. Daniel broke down the 70 weeks into 3 periods: the first 7 weeks, the next 62 weeks, and then the final 70th week. At the end of the 70th week the abomination of desolation would occur, which Jesus said was fulfilled in 70 AD. Even if we aren’t sure about the meaning of the timing in the breakdown into 7 weeks and 62 weeks, we can be sure when the 70th week ended. It ended with the abomination of desolation in 70 AD That means that all those who predict that the 70th week is still to be fulfilled in our future are wrong.

THE 70TH WEEK BROKEN INTO TWO PARTS: I believe that the day=year principle can be properly applied to the 70th week which means the 70th week was 7 years. It would be the 7 years from 63-70 AD. Daniel even predicted that something would happen in the middle of the 70th week. Daniel 9:²⁷ And he (the prince to come who would destroy the city and sanctuary) will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.” I believe this prince is Titus who did the “abomination of desolation” of the temple in 70 AD The period between 63-70 AD was broken down into 2 parts. The first 3 1/2 years from 63-66 AD was a period when the Jews and Romans were still “getting along”. The Jews even had a daily offering for the emperor in the temple up to 66 AD. AI: “the Jews stopped daily sacrifices for the Roman Emperor in Jerusalem in 66 AD, an act seen as open rebellion and a primary trigger for the First Jewish-Roman War, initiated by Zealots led by priest Eleazar, signifying defiance against Roman rule despite Rome’s official tolerance for Jewish religious practices like these imperial offerings.” That stopping of the offering in 66 AD would be in the middle of thet last 7 year period before 70 AD, just like Daniel predicted.  Then the Jewish-Roman War begin in 66 AD and lasted 3 1/2 years leading up to the final abomination of desolation in 70 AD. The book of Revelation, which was written before 70 AD, predicted that last 3 1/2 year war leading up to the final destruction of the city and temple. Revelation 11:1 Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. ² Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations (i.e. the Romans); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months”  42 months is 3 1/2 years. Daniel 12 also spoke of this same 3 1/2 years from 66-70 AD. Daniel 12:⁴ And thou, O Daniel, hide the things, and seal the book till the time of the end (i.e. the same “end” of the Jewish Age in 70 AD that Jesus predicted)” (Young’s Literal Tsl). 12:7 After a time, times, and a half, and at the completion of the scattering of the power of the holy people (i.e. the Jews who were killed by the Romans, about one million according to Josephus) by Titus and the Romans in 70 AD).” This “time, times, and half of a time” matches the 3 1/2 years from 66-70 AD during which this scattering of the power of the holy people, the Jews, was fulfilled.

DANIEL 12: THE END OR TIME OF THE END, THE UNPARALLELED TRIBULATION OF THE JEWS, AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD IN 70 AD: Daniel 12:⁹ And he saith, `Go, Daniel; for hidden and sealed [are] the things till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:¹¹ and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice], and to the giving out of the desolating abomination, [are] days a thousand, two hundred, and ninety.” This “desolating abomination” in vs 11 can only be the same “abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15, which was the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. That was also the “end time” predicted by Daniel and by Jesus (Matthew 24:15). Daniel was told, Daniel 12:¹³ But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” If this end of the age was in 70 AD, how did Daniel “rise at the end of the age”? The answer is found in Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time (i.e. the “end time just discussed in Daniel 11:35, 40 at which time the abomination of desolation would occur, 11:31) Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Jesus predicted that same unparalleled destress on the Jewish people in Matthew 24:²¹ For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” That tribulation had to occur within the next 40 years (24:34 within that generation) and did indeed occur with horrible suffering by the Jews at the hands of the Romans from 63-70 AD. AI: “Flavius Josephus extensively documented the severe suffering, internal strife, famine, and massacres among Jews leading up to and during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, portraying widespread moral decay and lawlessness as divine punishment, with atrocities committed by Jewish factions (Zealots) against each other, creating conditions for the horrific famine and violence described in The Jewish War.” But what about the holocaust in WWII? 7 millions Jews were killed by Hitler. Was that not worse than the one million killed by the Romans in 70 AD? I believe that Jesus is specifically predicting the tribulation on the Jewish nation while the nation was still God’s holy nation and kingdom. That ended in 70 AD as God took the kingdom from the Jews and gave it to a spiritual kingdom, the church. Matthew 21:⁴³ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit (i.e. to the church).” Peter told the scattered Jewish Christians, ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). The holocaust was not a tribulation sent by God. to punish the Jews as His old covenant theocratic nation. The holocaust was a horrible suffering of the Jews but not one predicted by the prophets or by Jesus.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE OLD COVENANT DEAD IN 70 AD: Back to Daniel 12:² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” This predicted resurrection of the righteous and the wicked was also to occur at the end time in 70 AD. All the dead of the old covenant were kept in the hadean world, waiting for their resurrection in 70 AD to receive their final sentencing of eternal life or eternal damnation. That is the place probably that Jesus referred to in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 12 with a place of temporary safety in “Abraham’s arms” for the beggar Lazarus and torment for the rich man in Hades. Daniel 12:2 predicted a resurrection of the old covenant dead to occur at the end of the age in 70 AD. Did that happen? Yes it did. This is the resurrection Paul spoke of in Acts 24: ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous.” The Greek translated by Young’s Literal Tsl as “about to be” is the Greek word mello, which always in the new testament refers to something about to happen or a place someone is about to come to. So Paul is saying that the resurrection of the dead was about to happen as he spoke. Was he a false prophet or just mistaken? Of course not. He is talking about the Daniel 12:2 predicted resurrection of the old covenant dead that would occur in 70 AD. Paul is saying that predicted resurrection was about to happen when he spoke. He said that in about 60 AD and the resurrection of Daniel 12:2 occurred in 70 AD, so that fits the “about to happen” prediction of Paul. Daniel would be raised in 70 AD to receive his reward of eternal life. 12:¹³ But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

I know this is long and tedious reading. You might not even be interested in William Miller’s failed prediction. You might not even be interested in where he went wrong in his interpretation of Daniel 8. You might not believe that my interpretation of Daniel 8 is correct. But I do hope that this article has spurred some to do a deeper study of Daniel8, Matthew 24, and Revelation.

In the next blog, I will discuss the main religious group that came out of the Great Disappointment of 1843, i.e. the 7th Day Adventists. They put an interesting twist on that event and added some things that shoud be discussed. Until next time