Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
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This is the Gospel reading selection from the Episcopal Lectionary for the first Sunday of Advent, Year C, 2018. It will next be read aloud in an Episcopal church by a priest on Sunday, December 2, 2018. It is important because it takes up the perception of Jesus telling of the end times, of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, and adds the perception of Jesus coming in the clouds [a Revelation theme]. In reality, Jesus foretold of the Holy Spirit descending upon Apostles and the beginning of true Christianity.
Beginning this reading at verse twenty-five creates a vacuum of context, which is important for grasping the meaning. Verse twenty-four consists of four segments of words, all of which at then relative to the “signs” listed in verse twenty-five. Verse twenty-four states:
“and they will fall by edge of sword , and will be led captive into the nations ; all while Jerusalem will be trodden down by gentiles , until when are completed (namely will be) opportunity gentiles .”
That repeated use of “gentiles” (from “ethnōn”) may lead one to see Romans being the ones using swords and taking people from Jerusalem captive, so the Temple will lay in utter ruins. However, the “gentiles” that Jesus was seeing in the future coming were Muslims.
When that is understood, one is able to see through the apparent suggestion that celestial events (such as eclipses and full moons, along with shooting stars and comets) will be the portends of when Jesus is referring. To say, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars” is so celestially generic, no one will know which solar eclipse, which full moon, or what comet will actually be “the signs” to look for. This is where knowing how to read according to segments is important, and how symbolism has to be applied, rather than literal meaning.
Verse twenty-five breaks down into five segments, with each needing to be analyzed according to a Godly “syntax,” not Greek syntax or English paraphrase, based on Greek syntax. For those who read the interpretation of John’s Revelation, read during the Last Sunday after Pentecost, where a short reading had seventeen uses of the Greek word “kai,” the same application of “kai” (ordinarily meaning “and”) as a symbol marking important information.
If you look back at the translation of segments I presented for verse twenty-four, you will see how two “lines” began by the word “and.” The word “and” is nothing more than a conjunction and is meaningless. When redundantly used, especially following comma marks, it becomes a distraction to “normal” language. It becomes like someone often saying, “uh,” in spoken language. It becomes unnecessary and a sign of illiteracy or poor language skills. Changing “kai” to a written word that is to be used as a symbol [like Nostradamus used ampersands], such that the symbol marks a pronounced statement to follow, shows Jesus spoke and Luke wrote in a holy language [speaking in the tongue of God].
Seeing that, a segmented verse twenty-five literally states:
“Kai there will be signs in sun , kai moon , kai stars ; kai upon the earth distress [or anxiety] of gentiles with perplexity [or doubt] , roaring [or rumor; report] of sea kai rolling surge [or swelling agitation; tempest] ,
In the letters and poetry of Nostradamus, he wrote of the sun and moon and stars often. He wrote French words that relate to “sun” in English over forty times. He had several words that relate to “moon” over thirty times. He only wrote “star” (“astre”) twice, but he made references to multiple astrological constellations of stars. As the theme of Nostradamus’ book – Les Propheties – is of a coming holy war, the symbolism of the sun was Christianity and the symbolism of the moon was Islam.
One needs to see how Jesus was also referring to the light of the sun as the religion bearing the name of Jesus Christ; and one needs to see the phases of the moon (especially the crescent moon) as reflected light that is found in darkness, which becomes the false religion of Mohammed.
In the translation that is read aloud in church, verse twenty-five says, “distress among nations.” The word translated as “nations” is the same word repeated twice in verse twenty-four, which translates as “gentiles” – “ethnōn.”
Even the New International Version translates these two verses with “Gentiles” repeated in verse twenty-four, but magically changed into “nations” in verse twenty-five. This lack of continuity keeps one from grasping “gentiles” as being Muslims. Still, that would be who would eventually – as is the state now – of Jerusalem having the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim mosque) on the very site that the Second Temple had once stood.
When one sees how the “signs in Christianity” [“sun”] have evolved of nearly two thousand years, that spread of light has shown signs of roaring brightly, and spreading around the globe, and over the past century dimming. Islam began after Christianity, thus the use of “moon” is listed subsequent to “sun.” It also has reflected the same growth and spread as Christianity. As such, both have had histories that mirror the stars of deep space, which ignite as stellar nebulae, glow at various brightness categories and magnitudes, then fade as red giants, before exploding as supernovas and then pulsing as neutron stars, white dwarfs or black holes.
Since all of that knowledge was unknown to ordinary human beings in Jesus’ time, the use of “stars” can also be an indication of when man would invent telescopes, then visually explore the phenomena of outer space, before learning to propel rockets beyond earth’s gravitational pull. Such a “sign” of the stars could be the entrance of the Age of Aquarius – a constellation of stars on the Vernal Equinox. That would indicate our present times as being when the “earth” would be “distressed,” due to gentiles without religion [the “doubts” of Communism] would become a most viable threat to both Christianity and Islam.
The aspect of water is then found in the word “sea” (from “thalassēs”), which becomes more than Jesus nebulously referring to either the “Sea” of Galilee or the Mediterranean “Sea.” In the theme presented by Nostradamus, a future invasion of Europe, across the Mediterranean from North Africa, is painted. That makes “rolling surge” become a tsunami of migrants that will spend decades filling Italy, France, Greece and other European “nations” [increasingly “gentile” nations], to become like the Trojan Horse within the walls of Europe, once a military invasion begins.
More than warships on a “sea,” the hatred of emotion [the water of a “sea”] will be the motivation for those attacks. The illegal immigration will be placing “perplexity” within a Christian safe-haven, for the purpose of creating “doubt” about how professed Christians should live up to the teachings of Jesus. The “gentiles” pouring in will have no religious heart [Communists] or hearts raging with hatred for Christians [Muslims].
When Jesus then said, “People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken,” that foretells of the suddenness of warfare coming upon people who will have been so accepting of foreigners – at the expense of arguing against their own kind, who see the dangers of mixing religious races. Europe will not have the hatred to go to war and will quickly lower their arms and attempt to negotiate peace. Unfortunately, the “powers” of satellite communications will have been disrupted and the abilities to control one’s skies will be “shaken.”
In verse twenty-seven, Jesus said: “and [“kai”] then they will experience the Son one of man coming in a cloud.” The capitalization of “Huion” shows the importance that “Son” bears. This could be read [as it commonly is in the Gospels] as the “Son” of God [Jesus], who was born of a woman [“of man – not capitalized]. However, “huion” can also translate as a significant “descendant” that is “one of man,” which would then be “experienced” by It coming in a cloud – such as a vapor trail of an I.C.B.M. comes.
Because this is so far into the future, well after Jesus Christ returned to the “earth,” in the form of the Holy Spirit entering his disciples-transformed into-Apostles – all reborn as Jesus Christ, beginning Christianity – Jesus could not be talking to his disciples here about his return. The “Son of Man” is all human beings who are reborn as the “Son,” while in human form [“of man”]. Since that will have long occurred, for nearly two thousand years, then one needs to see how verse twenty-six ending by stating “the powers of the skies will be shaken,” such that shaking will be the alarm that that power is what is coming in the cloud.
When Jesus ended verse twenty-seven by stating, “with power and great glory,” the literal Greek splits that in two parts, separated by the word “kai.” It actually reads, “with power” (from the “dynameōs,” similar as “of powers” in verse 26) “renown often.” The last two words, “doxēs pollēs” are commonly translated as “glory great,” when applied to the “Son” of God; but when seen as a “power” of man, it is “renown” that is “often” proclaimed, and produced “many” times over.
In Nostradamus’ book, he wrote the word “great” [in several forms] over 450 times, with each time an indication of a “great” nation, as defined by nuclear weapons as its fame [“renown”].
Verse twenty-eight is then very important to understand, as Jesus told his disciples [including those souls seeking to be reborn of his Spirit today]:
“beginning then of these things to come to pass , raise yourself up kai lift up the rulers of you , because draws near the redemption of you .”
So many Christians see this as Jesus coming in a cloud and raising up the believers in a “Rapture,” where they will be spared all the pain and suffering the rest of the earth will experience. That perspective is a trap set by the language of God, as to who belief will be placed. False shepherds will preach this coming again in glory, when Jesus Christ has already come again, many times over, in the Saints that set the world on fire for Christianity. However, this twenty-eighth verse says for those who will be living in the Twenty-first century to see the signs of evil about that will be the beginning of the End Times of earth.
Jesus said NOW is the time to “raise yourself up,” in the Spiritual sense. To be “raised up” does not mean to stand up and be counted as a Christian that believes Jesus Christ is sitting on a heavenly throne, twiddling his thumbs as the world grows most heinous. By saying, “raise yourself up,” Jesus said to sacrifice your self-ego and submit fully to God. That will bring about the Christ Mind and the Jesus ego, which will elevate one to Saintly status.
The subset segment that begins with “kai” then says, “lift up the rulers of you,” where “kephalas” is misleading as “heads.” That translation makes it seems that individuals are asked to “lift up your heads,” which would be a sign of self-importance and arrogant pride, as if being raised by Jesus will be payment received for believing in Jesus as the Messiah. Unfortunately, belief falls well short of faith and one needs much better rulers [or “heads” of intellectual authority] than pastor Bob or minister Lemuel, who forgive all the shortcomings of their flocks … as long as those tithes keep going into the church bank account. One needs Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ruling one’s being … most especially when the nukes start falling.
In the last segment, the word “draws near” (from “engizei”) should not be read as if God is coming close to grant one redemption. Instead, the word should be read as “bringing near to you,” where it is the sole responsibility of each soul in a mortal body of flesh to do what God wants one to do, to “bring close the redemption” of one’s soul. That happens by “bringing near to one” God, through one’s love of God, as shown through total commitment to Him [marriage]. From that union, one then “brings near” the Holy Spirit and the Christ Mind. THAT is what causes “the redemption of you.”
The word “redemption” (from “apolytrōsis”) actually means, “release effected by payment of ransom.” One’s soul is held captive on the material plane by sins. The Holy Spirit joining with one’s soul cleanses the soul of all sins past, as true baptism. One cannot enter the heavenly kingdom of God without that cleansing done first. This is why Jesus said, prior to bringing redemption closer, “raise yourself up kai lift up the rulers of you.” One has to pay the price for having sinned, before one can be redeemed.
Realizing that, one can then grasp the parable Jesus told, where “parable” (from “parabolēn”) means a “comparison” to this time when “redemption draws near.” Jesus said, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.” Spring is a time when certain expectations of trees occur, as leaves represent new life coming from the death of winter. New leaves then flower and begin the growth of fruit, which are ready to be picked in summer time. This same natural occurrence in trees is expected in those who say they are disciples of Jesus, as that sprouting of leaves brings the expectation of bearing fruit.
Jesus then told his disciples, “So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” He said that to the men who had been sent into ministry at the great commission [a premonition of the coming of Christianity], as they were instructed to tell those who rejected their presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, “The kingdom of God has come near.” Anyone who has rejected the idea of self-sacrifice for God and Christ will know the signs of the End Times is their “last call” to fall in love with God, repent their sins, offer their soul completely to God, and submit fully to His Will … or their soul will be lost forever.
Jesus then drove home the truth of that statement, by adding: “Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” It is then easy to be confused by the words “this generation” and think that means the generation in which the disciples were born. That would limit the future to within fifty years of future time; but the Greek word “genea” can be intended as more generic, as “race, family, or kind.” Therefore, Jesus went to the End Times of the Age of Pisces, which was when the death of a “family” in the name of Jesus Christ would succumb to the Age of Aquarius [Technology and Intelligence].
Christianity will survive until mankind will destroy the earth. While that destruction will forever change the atmosphere [heaven] and the surface of the world [earth], the words of Jesus will be just as valid then, as they were when he spoke them.
Because those words of Jesus will remain valid, Jesus then warned those in the future, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.” His disciples could likewise follow that advice, as all mortal lives end with death, when the soul is released. A soul then, however, would recycle back to another body of flesh [reincarnation], to begin again the search for redemption; but when the world is on the verge of no longer being able to support physical life, then one will have fallen into the “trap” of thinking, “I still have time to serve self and sin, rather than commit fully to God too soon.”
When Jesus then added, “For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth,” he said that there will no longer be a safe place where the sun will shine. A cloud will encircle the face of the earth. With no sunlight allowed to penetrate the clouds, all surface life will die. Christianity will likewise die at that time. As such, it is important to read the Greek word “prosōpon,” which translates as “face or surface,” as being the “countenance” of the world. Without the light of truth, none left alive will be able to wear the “face” of God, which shines brightly through all who would be reborn in the name of Jesus Christ. The End Times will come for all mortal beings, which means there can be no redemption possible at that time.
It is also important to grasp how Jesus saying “surface of the earth” does not exclude life from existing under the face, within the earth. This is where one should realize that the angels of Lucifer were cast within the earth and told to go where they could never “face” God again. All the talk of “ancient aliens” is truth, in the sense that Satan’s angels have long lived within the core of planet earth, still living there today. They welcome the destruction of the earth and the final fall of mankind. It is not coincidence that propaganda has begun to acclimate human beings to their possibly being supreme creatures, worthy of praise and glory, as their whispers have led to man’s ability to build the weapons of its demise.
Jesus then ended this reading selection by telling all who would serve him as disciples, “Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” It is important to see how Jesus repeated prior elements in the subset segment of words: “kai to stand before the Son the one of man.”
The Greek word “stathēnai” (rooted in “histémi”) translates as “to stand,” but should be read as “to make a stand,” so one resists evil with “steadfast readiness.” This “stance” can only come with the presence of the Holy Spirit giving one strength, not possible by self-will alone. Most importantly, this transformation must take place “before” (from “emprosthen”) the “Descendant of man” falls as a nuclear holocaust, as well as “before” one can be seen by God as His “Son” in a body “of man.”
As the Gospel reading selection for the first Sunday of Advent, where a new church cycle has begun, it is important to grasp how the last Sunday after Pentecost ended a cycle with lessons that speak of the End Time. While this can seem as a continuation of that theme, it is not. The End Times were the focus of the end of a cycle. Now they are the focus of the beginning of a cycle. The start of a new cycle is thus begun with the importance of what the new cycle is for. It is for not reaching a personal End Time having not prepared for personal redemption.
Anyone with a normal brain can see the hatred that is spewing from televisions and Internet “news” articles every day. The world is just like that big R.E.M. hit song, “Losing My Religion.” Everyone has to do what it takes to buy all the trinkets and gadgetry that are the worldly addictions that pull souls towards sin. The problem with sins if they are easy to enjoy and difficult to see the harm, which is the whispers of Satan saying, “What’s the harm of just a little nibble? You know God doesn’t want you to taste this because it will make you His equal … a god.”
Most Christians want to do good. Many are closer to becoming Jesus Christ reborn than they think. It becomes the point between sincere belief and complete faith that caused Peter to step out on water and sink like a rock. Jesus did not coddle Peter, saying, “There, there Simon. I guess that’s why I call you “the Rock.” Ha ha ha. Here, big guy, let me raise you up out of the water.” Nope. Jesus said, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Being near to the kingdom of heaven is headed in the right direction. However, it is not there yet. That is why the commissioned disciples went to the people – to teach them to welcome the Holy Spirit, by seeing the Holy Spirit in men that had been given the power of Jesus Christ. Those who did not want to sacrifice themselves to serve God rejected those who came in the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as close as they were to God’s kingdom [as Jews who believed in God] they were given back the dust of the earth they so dearly loved, as the disciple kicked the dust off their sandals, saying “The kingdom of God has come near.”
The End Times are like the quote from the Ancient Mariner: “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” There are plenty of emotions that one feels in this world of pleasures and pains, but the water of the Holy Spirit is the only drop that will cure one’s thirst for sin. It is the blood of Christ that saves.