The Descendants of Jesus Revelation Part C

Chapters 14:6 -19:21 (54 to 75 AD).

© 2008 Dr. Barbara Thiering

Part C begins in the year 54 AD, that of the accession of Nero as emperor. The book ends in 114 AD, giving 60 years for this part of the history. The division would be deliberate, for the reign of Nero began a tumultuous change for Christians. They themselves had separated from Judaism and adopted the name Christian in 44 AD, as is shown in Acts 11:26. There were thus 70 years from their founding to the end, a fact of which their number theorists would have been conscious. They also saw a neat 20 years from the accession of Nero to the fall of Masada, 54 to 74 AD, and it is this period that is covered in part C.

The dates of years in Part C are expressed symbolically through characteristic sets of 7: 7 angels,7 plagues, 7 bowls. They are not mechanically joined end to end, but more gracefully, one beginning during the course of another, in order to reflect actual political changes which they had not anticipated but which they could fit into their theory. The 7 angels, for example, are concurrent with the first 7 years of the reign of Nero, 54 to 61 AD. (He actually reigned for 14 years, 54 to 68 AD, helping to confirm their system). At first he was seen as no danger to Jews, following the benign reign of Claudius. But by 56 AD his tyranny had become known, and a new set of 7 plagues began, a "plague" being an attack on Nero. The plagues, derived from the Egyptian plagues of Exodus, were patterned according to an elaborate system that combined 7 with the equally sacred number 4. They gave sets of 7 years for campaigns against Rome, from 56 to 63, than another from 63 to 70. The second one, from 63 to 70, was characterized by 7 bowls, which referred to the system of funding the campaigns financially.

Other events are woven in by the systems, such as the consequences of the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The period from 71 to 74 AD included the retirement and death of Jesus and the wedding of Jesus Justus the son of Jesus, all conveyed through the pesher meaning of terms such as Word of God to refer to the David dynasty.

SEVEN ANGELS    54-61 AD
Revelation 14:6-20

54 AD

JANUARY 54 AD

FIRST ANGEL

Tuesday January 1, 54 AD, noon to 5pm. In the Ephesus cathedral, the house of Agrippa II

Revelation 14:6 On New Year's day, 54 AD, a new set of 7 years began, corresponding with the first 7 years of Nero. At the noon meal, at the times for reading books of the Old Testament, Christian books were read, Revelation and the four canonical gospels.

Revelation 14:6

14:6. Kai eidon allon angelon petomenon en mesouranēmati, echonta euangelion aiōnion euangelisai epi tous kathēmenous epi tēs gēs kai epi pan ethnos kai phylēn kai glōssan kai laon.

14:6. And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} (past tense, west) other angel flying in mid-Heaven, having an aeon gospel to evangelize upon (+accusative) the ones sitting upon (+ genitive, west) of the Earth. And upon (+ accusative) All Gentile. And a tribe. And a tongue. And a people.

14:6. Part B of Revelation had set events in Ephesus the capital of the Roman province of Asia, with its 7 churches. Ephesus continued to be the base for the western Diaspora mission until a later change to Rome. The wealthy Herods owned houses in the main capitals, and in Ephesus there were houses for Agrippa II the reigning Herod, as well as for his sister Bernice who acted as his queen. The house of Agrippa II had the structure that developed as a cathedral.

The method of supplying dates through events in sets of 7 now was applied to the years 54 to 61 AD, the first 7 years of Nero's reign. In each year "another angel": appeared. An "angel" was an abbot, wearing long flowing white robes with loose sleeves like wings, so "flying". "Another angel" was an assistant abbot, coming from a lesser abbey to the main abbey for further instruction and a council every year. Each one therefore indicated a year. The assistant abbot came from lesser districts related to the capital. The area is identified by the number: an odd number meant an area related to Ephesus, an even number an area related to Rome. These were the western capitals where abbeys had developed on the model of the outer hall for pilgrims at Qumran, loc 77.


The Christian gospels in Revelation 14:6.

At the noon meal each day in Agrippa's court the Law of Moses was normally read for an hour , and readings from other Old Testament books were given at subsequent hours. On New Year's Day of 54 AD , in the Ephesus house of Agrippa, Christian writings were added.

Just before the beginning of Nero's s reign in October 54, Roman Jews led by Antipas Herod had assumed that they would get on well with him, as Antipas had previously got on well with Tiberius. They treated Nero's first year as the first of an anticipated 7 years, and in fact Nero did reign for two sets, 14 years, 54 to 68 AD To count a king's reign in sets of 7 years came from the jubilee chronology, and the jubilees of 49 years were associated with "good news" as they were years of release of slaves and captives. In Greek, euangelion, translated "gospel" meant "good news". It was therefore considered fitting to prepare for Nero's reign with an "eternal gospel". meaning a book for a 7th year that would give religious salvation.

The "eternal (aeon aiōn) gospel" on this occasion consisted of Parts A and B of the Book of Revelation, recently completed. They recorded Christian history from 1 AD, and brought it up to 51 AD. This book was now declared in the court of Agrippa II in Ephesus to contain liberating truth, and was read at noon at the outset of a new 7 years, so as to show that it corresponded to the Law of Moses, which was normally read at noon.

That was the opinion in Ephesus, but the four canonical gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had already been dedicated by Jesus in 49 AD at the coronation of Agrippa II (Revelation 6:1-8 ). It had been the custom to read them as an alternative scripture on New Year's Day, and they were now read, following Revelation, at 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm, in a differing order.

A disagreement on their status determined their current order. After the 5 books of the Laws of Moses read at noon, the Old Testament had further divisions, the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, I-II Samuel, I-II Kings); the Latter Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi); and the Writings (Psalms and the remaining books). The gospel of Luke, completed about 46 AD, spoke for the mission to Gentiles of the Diaspora, and was a favorite with Agrippa II. As Cornelius, Luke had helped him gain the monarchy from Claudius (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 10-14). It was for the ethnē, Gentiles recruited through the Noah Sea mission, and the term refers to an Agrippa as the Noah or to a head of Japheth, Luke at this time. It was referred to as "All-Gentile", the word "All" always meaning a Herod, and was read first of the four at 1 pm.

The next division was the Latter Prophets, the major ones Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 Minor Prophets. There were 12 tribes of Israel, and Matthew's gospel spoke for their interests as Diaspora Jews. "Tribes" in the list always means Matthew. It was now read at 2 pm, but later in fully Christian usage would be placed first.

The Writings were characterized by the Psalms, which were normally read at 3 pm. These books were favorites with Diaspora members who spoke their own languages and did not have to confine themselves to Hebrew. The gospel of Mark spoke for their interests and was referred to as "tongues".

There was yet another set of Writings, altogether new books that were added to this group as the Writings were such a loose category. The gospel of John had been newly composed by Jesus in 37 AD, with some influence from Simon Magus, who was a hated enemy in the court of Agrippa II, the Beast 666. Although it had been taken over by James Niceta of Agrippa's court, when he "ate the little book" (Revelation 10:10), it was still not trusted, being a radical departure from Old Testament Judaism. It was called the "people", laos, as a non-sacred book of the laity, and read last, at 4 pm.


Structure of the cathedral.

Agrippa's house, which gave the model of a cathedral, reproduced the plan of Ain Feshkha in the Judean wilderness.It had two storeys, with the upper floor the place for the throne. The lower storey held a middle floor reached by steps from the front, and a ground floor which corresponded to the dais in the Qumran vestry. See Figure 10a & 10b, below for the sideways view:

Figure 10a

Figure 10a. The Tower.

Figure 10B

Figure 10B. Cathedral sideview with seated ministers.


and Figure 19 below for the view from the front. The middle floor could be called doma, the "roof", because it corresponded to the prayer platform in the Qumran vestry (loc 101), which was indeed a roof, open to the sky.

Figure 19

Figure 19. Cathedral with Heavenly Man.

The higher priests were to be found on the upper floor, called "Heaven", while the ground floor dais step was called "Earth". In between, the middle floor was called "Mid-Heaven".On it stood the table for the sacred meal, the only table now being used. It was the highest level for men from abbeys, which were more open institutions, not demanding a lifelong commitment to celibacy as the holy monasteries did.

The table was 6 cubits (3 yards, 9 feet) long and 2 cubits (1 yard, 3 feet) wide. It seated 12 men, 6 on each side, each occupying 1 cubit (18 inches) on a bench. On the higher side the superiors occupied a double space in the center, the main superior in the central eastern space, his subordinate in the central western. On great occasions such as feasts there were 3 superiors, two on row 6 (counting the cubit wide rows from the north end of the room), and one in the center of row 7. The triarchy were given different designations according to their function: sometimes Father and Son on row 6 and (Holy) Spirit in row7; at other times Kingdom and Power on row 6 and Glory on row 7.

On row 7, on each side of the double center sat lesser ministers, a bishop beside the east and a presbyter beside the west. In the remaining outer places for guests, equal partners of the bishop and presbyter were to be found, there because each pair divided one of the sacred loaves between them. On the opposite side of the table sat men in the status of servants, observing the rule that there must be an arm's length, 2 cubits, between master and servant, consequently the table was 2 cubits wide, on rows 8 and 9, with the servants on its south side on row 10.

At noon each day "the Heavens were opened". The upper floor for Heaven extended forward to row 7 as a platform above, while the middle floor extended further out, to row 10 at the top of the front steps.The custom had developed of opening a 2 cubit glass skylight in the center of row 7 above, to let down the noon light. The opening was called a window in Acts 20:9. The light shone directly down on the Spirit in the double center of row7, giving his position the name the Glory. While the skylight was open, men on row 10 of the middle floor could look up diagonally to row 7 on the upper floor, to see priests behind the opening. The men on row 7 directly below it could not see the priests. This fact is drawn on in the detail of the Last Supper, and in other episodes (Acts 9:3-8; Acts 10:9-16).

The lectern from which the readings were given stood in the presbyter's place on row 7. It was above the position of a man on the ground floor on the west of row 13 at the foot of the steps. Row 13 was called "the Earth" in relation to "Heaven" at the opposite extreme on the upper floor."Upon of the Earth" meant the position of a man on the west beside the center of row 13. For the man in that position, learning from the readings at the lectern came directly down. He was at this time Antipas Herod II, who had followed the first Antipas in having an agreeable nature, and it was assumed that he would get on well with the new emperor as Antipas I had got on with Tiberius. Antipas II was spoken of as "my witness, my faithful one" in a letter from Jesus to his house in Pergamum north of Ephesus (Revelation 2:13).

Tuesday January 1, 54 AD, 6 pm. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:7 At the evening meal Matthew Annas was upheld as Chief Priest in Agrippa's court. The septennial tribute to Rome was paid through him.

Revelation 14:7

14:7. legōn en phonē megalē, phobēthēte ton theon kai dote autō doxan , hoti ēlthen hē hōra tēs kriseōs autou, kai proskynēsate tō poiēsanti ton ouranon kai tēn gēn kai thalassan kai pēgas hydatōn.

14:7 He (RLR to other angel v. 6)) saying (nom. masc. present participle with last participle v. 6) in a great voice, " Fear" (2nd person plural ) God. And give (2nd person plural) to him (God) Glory, that came{erchomai} (past tense west) the hour of the judgment of him (God). And worship{proskyneō} to the one making the Heaven. And the Earth. And a Sea. And wells of waters.

14:7. At the meal the Annas priest addressed as "God", Matthew Annas, presided at the east center of the table on row 7. Ten years previously, at his dismissal by Agrippa I, Matthew Annas had been denied the "Glory", the position of high priest in the temple (Acts 12:23). The title "God" was still used for him as Chief Priest to the ascetics. He was now confirmed in it in the court of Agrippa II. For the evening meal he had a lamp over his seat, representing the Glory, the light of the sun that shone down on this spot at noon.

The visiting abbot had moved to the lectern, from where he spoke to Antipas II below, saying, " Give Matthew Annas the position of Chief Priest in Agrippa's court. At 6 pm judgments about status according to the rules of the Therapeuts are given from the judge-presbyter's position at the lectern. It is the time also to pay the septennial Roman tribute through Matthew as the pro-Roman Sadducee coming from the upper floor, "Heaven". It is the 7th year for the Annas priests, in the series 5 AD through 33-40-47-54 AD. The tribute money comes from the married leaders in the center of row13. Also from those at the two sides of Row 13, the Sea on the west and River on the east, the former the Antipas from Tiber Island the base for the Noah mission, the latter the Chief Pilgrim who is given a drink of water from the well on arrival at the abbey."

The Annas priests had held the position of both king and priest since Ananus the Elder had been appointed high priest by the Romans in 5-6 AD, replacing the Herods. The payment of the tribute now, in the Annas series, meant that there was some tension with Agrippa II, at whose coronation in 49 AD the tribute had been paid on his behalf as king. (Revelation 5:14). The fact that it was still demanded meant that Rome defined Christians as Jews, whose country Rome had occupied. Christians accepted the definition because they wanted continuity with Jewish Christians, who were led by Antipas II.

55 AD

JANUARY 55 AD

SECOND ANGEL

Wednesday January 1 55 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral

Revelation 14:8 Nero became emperor October 13, 54 AD. Anticipating his accession, Bernice had brought her brother Agrippa II to Rome to do obeisance to him. She arranged for Nero to be invited to dine at Agrippa's Rome house the Vineyard, as had been the custom with previous emperors

Revelation 14:8

14:8. Kai allos angelos deuteros ēkolouthēsen legōn, Epesen, epesen Babylōn hē megalē, hē ek tou oinou tou thymou tēs porneias autēs pepotiken panta ta ethnē,

14:8 And other angel second followed (past tense west) saying. "She fell, she fell (past tense west) , Babylon the Great, she who out of the wine of the Wrath of the fornication of her (Babylon the Great) caused to drink{potizō} (past tense west) All the Gentiles."

14:8. Nero became emperor at the death of Claudius October 13, 54 AD, at the age of 17. There was not yet time for the effect of his tyrannical personality to be felt.

Anticipating the change of emperor, Agrippa II and Bernice had gone from Ephesus to visit Rome, for it was necessary for the Jewish king to meet the new emperor in order to form good relations and approval for his continuing in office. Agrippa stayed in his own house, the Vineyard, just inside the south wall of Rome.

Bernice, always in conflict with her twin brother, at first took over the house on Tiber Island that belonged to Antipas II. The married class with their wives, as well as pilgrims, were permitted to stay there. Following the theory of the Qumran pesharim that all Old Testament references to Babylon were a pesher for Rome, and needing to preserve secrecy about their mission to convert Rome, pilgrims called the Tiber Island house "Babylon". When Peter, a pilgrim, was staying there in 45 AD, he wrote of it in 1 Peter 5:13 as "Babylon", and he also referred to a woman authority there as "she who is in Babylon". Babylon the Great consequently became a code name for Bernice.

Bernice made her submissive brother invite the new emperor Nero to dine in his house, as had been done by Agrippa I in the time of both Caligula and Claudius. The fermented wine that the emperor drank in the Vineyard was called the "wine of the Wrath", as the Wrath had been a name for the Roman emperor since the occupation of 6 AD, the Period of Wrath (CD 1:5). Both of them knelt in homage on the west of the emperor, then Agrippa II as host sat west center beside Nero. Bernice, now aged 27, would in later years use feminine wiles with the imperial family to try to gain power in Rome.

Nero had a mistress, Poppea Sabina, another man's wife, whom he would subsequently marry after he had murdered his first wife and his mother. She was called "Fornication" by the ascetics. Poppea was later given one of the functions of Antonia the mother of Claudius, who had the minor role of supervising Jewish affairs for the government. Poppea favored Jewish orthodoxy, and at the time the priests of the Jerusalem temple brought a dispute to her, she decided for them and against Agrippa II (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 195). As is shown in the letters of Seneca, (See Paul and Seneca in Section 4, The Other Gospels and The Career of Paul in Section 8, From Qumran to Rome) she had been informed that the Christians were a Jewish heresy, and were to be suppressed. Seneca later blamed her for Nero's decision to accuse the Christians at the time of the great fire in 64 AD. Revelation 14:8 shows that Nero was already under Poppea's domination. The verse also shows that Bernice as the Jewish queen claimed social superiority to Poppea, who was not yet the emperor's wife.

In January 55 AD the abbot from a lesser district of Rome the " second other angel", as shown by the even number, arrived in Ephesus for the council. He was in a position to know what would have happened in Rome. The lesser district was Greece, with its capital in Athens. He reported from the lectern the meeting of Agrippa and Bernice with Nero, and that it was dangerous for Christians because of the attitudes of Poppea.


The parallel history in Acts

January 1 55 AD covered in Acts 19:1-7 was the date of Paul's appointment to Ephesus, where he replaced Apollos who had become too militant under Nero. (Acts 18:24-28). Paul was a tutor to the 18 year old Timothy Herod, adopted heir of Agrippa II, and his brothers Tychicus and Trophimus in the royal court.

Acts 19:8-9 deals with March 55 AD, not covered in Revelation. On Saturday March 1 55 AD (as the day of the week for March 1 in that year confirms) Paul taught in the synagogue. A distinction had now appeared between circumcised proselytes led by Thomas Herod and uncircumcised Gentiles led by James Niceta, who had adopted the name Christian. Both had belonged to the Way, a name for converted Gentiles. Thomas had an alliance with Simon Magus, which meant militarism. Paul supported James Niceta leading a peace party of Christians within the court of Agrippa II. A further stage of the separation of Christians was thus developing.

56 AD

JANUARY 56 AD

THIRD ANGEL

Midnight beginning Thursday January 1, 56 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:9 By January 1, 56 AD Nero's tyranny had become known in Ephesus. Agrippa considered joining Bernice in anti-Roman militarism, diverting the Herodian money to a war fund.

Revelation 14:9

14:9. Kai allos angelos tritos ēkolouthēsen autois legōn en phōnē megalē, Ei tis proskynei to thērion kai tēn eikona autou, kai lambanei charagma epi tou metopou autou ē epi tēn cheira autou

14:9. And other angel third followed (past tense west to them (RLR to Agrippa II panta ta ethnē v. 8) saying in a Great Voice, " If{ei} a Certain One worships{proskyneō} the Beast. And the icon of it (the Beast) And it (icon ) receives (present tense center) the Mark upon of the forehead of it (neut., the Beast), or upon (with accus.) the hand of it (neut., the Beast).

14:9. 56 AD was a decisive year for the mission. In Ephesus they learned from the third visiting abbot at the lectern the extent of Nero's tyranny. Agrippa II was vacillating about becoming more aggressive, considering an alliance with Eleazar the Beast who would later become the despot of Masada (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2,447; Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7,253). He was a grandson of Judas the Galilean who had led the revolt of 4-6 AD, so now held the position of head of East Manasseh, the Beast. Bernice, claiming to be a priestess, received him in her Ephesus house, which was committed to anti-Roman militarism on behalf of the Jewish nation.

Agrippa II at his coronation in 49 AD had begun a new series of septennial tribute payments. In 56 AD it was his 7th year when another one would be due. But it had already been paid to Nero by the pro-Roman Annas priest in 54 AD (Revelation 14:7). Agrippa II was considering paying his collected money to Eleazar as a war fund, and sharing his Herodian money with Bernice.

Bernice now adopted the X sign, the Mark of the Beast, which had been the emblem of the militants of the order of Manasseh. It was derived from the archaic Taw that had been used for protection of initiates since the 6th century BC (Ezekiel 9:4, CD 19:12). Eleazar wore it beside a phylactery on his forehead, and it was also engraved on the paten used in Magian communions.

The subsequent details of the "plagues" in Revelation 15:1 show that a 7 year campaign against Nero was launched at this time, from 56 to 63 AD.


March 56 AD

Monday March 1, 56 AD. In the Rome house the Vineyard. At Masada at the Dead Sea.

Revelation 14:10 Thomas Herod, a homosexual proselyte, took the three months' journey from Ephesus to Rome to take charge of the Vineyard, the house of the royal Herods where the emperor sometimes came to dine. Thomas had been influenced by Jonathan Annas in Bernice's Ephesus house to try to give poisoned wine to Nero. He was discovered and sent into exile for a year to Masada at the Dead Sea. With him went his long time associate John Mark, a close friend of Jesus the Lamb. Jesus in Ephesus was on both sides of the political crisis.

Revelation 14:10

14:10. kai autos pietai ek tou oinou tou thymou tou theou tou kekerasmenou akratou en tō potēriō tēs orgēs autou, kai basanisthēsetai en pyri kai theiō enōpion angelōn hagiōn kai enopiōn tou arniou.

14:10 And He (Thomas Herod) will drink{potizō} (future tense east ) out of the wine of the Wrath of God the one(God) mixed unmixed out of the cup of the Fury of him (He). And He (Thomas Herod) will be tormented (future tense east)in fire. And sulphur Before{enōpion} holy angels, And Before{enōpion} of the Lamb

14:10. At the political division between the houses of Agrippa and Bernice in Ephesus, another member of the Annas family remained with Bernice's house, as the opponent of Matthew Annas of Agrippa's house. He was Matthew's brother Jonathan Annas, dismissed as high priest in 37 AD, who had joined the house of Bernice as an expression of hostility to the Agrippas and to Rome. He was a Hellenist, of the liberal Sadducee tradition, the Many, against Matthew of the strict tradition, the Few. Thus there were two men of the Annas family who were both addressed as "God".

Jonathan Annas could at times practice the discipline of a Herodian Nazirite, drinking wine mixed with water as a less stringent rule than that of a full Nazirite who drank no wine. At other times when he was not under a vow he drank the fermented wine of an abbey.

At this stage Jonathan was allied with Thomas Herod, a homosexual head of proselytes. Thomas was the Seven of Mark 12:23 and of Acts 6:3, where he was allied with Jonathan who was using the name Stephen the Crown, head of a pro-Magian Gentile abbey. In March after a three months' journey Thomas arrived in Rome to take charge of Agrippa's house the Vineyard, where the emperor sometimes came to dine. Jonathan Annas had plotted with Thomas to invite Nero to dine there and serve him poisoned wine. Jonathan in Ephesus supplied the wine, as he had given poisoned wine to Jesus at the crucifixion. Thomas was found out and sentenced to a year's exile in the homeland, at the Herodian property at Masada beside the Dead Sea. With him went John Mark-Eutychus , the monastic Gentile who had been a frequent companion of Thomas in the gospel period, and who as a servant of Simon Magus was an enemy of the Agrippas and Rome. He now had the status and dress of an abbot serving wine. John Mark as the Beloved Disciple was also a close friend of Jesus, the Lamb, who was on both sides in the present political crisis.

From Romans 16:13 it is seen that a year later, in June 57 AD, on his return to Rome, Thomas renounced homosexual practice and became Rufus the Elect in the Vineyard house in Rome. Paul, knowing that he would be there, sent greetings to him in a letter from Ephesus written March 57 AD (Romans 16:13). Rufus means "red", and was a Latin version of the name Esau, meaning "red" in Hebrew (Genesis 25:25). Thomas Didymus the Twin was called Esau as the Twin of Jacob, the one who had lost his birthright when he was disinherited as a baby by his father Herod the Great (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 1,599-600; Genesis 27). Thomas Rufus the Elect now changed to ally with Matthew Annas of the Strict Few.

JUNE 56 AD.

Midnight beginning Tuesday June 1, 56 AD, and following 3 am and 3 pm. In the Ephesus cathedral and the house of Bernice in Ephesus.

Revelation 14:11 The fear of Nero had driven Agrippa II and Bernice together, and their sin of incest was repeated. Agrippa was punished for it by being excluded from the cathedral at 3 am. At 3 pm he went over to Bernice's house, where at the 6 pm meal he paid his septennial tribute money to Eleazar and Bernice for a militant campaign against Nero. James the brother of Jesus was a member of Bernice's house, upholding Jewish nationalism.

Revelation 14:11

14:11. kai ho kapnos tou basanismou autōn ex aiōnas aiōnōn anabainei, kai ouk echousin anapausin hēmeras kai nyktos, hoi proskynountes to thērion kai tēn eikona autou, kai ei tis lambanei to charagma tou onomatos autou.

14:11 And the smoke of the torment of them (RLR to Agrippa II panta ethnē in v. 8, 9.) at aeons of aeons goes up. And they (Agrippa II panta ethnē) do not have pause of day, And of of night, the ones worshipping{proskyneō} the Beast. And the icon (fem.) of it (Beast). And if{ei} a Certain One receives the mark of the Name of it (Beast).

14:11. June 1, 56 AD was the "aeons of the aeons", of the sets of 7 years, after the previous set at the coronation of Agrippa II in June 49 AD (Revelation 4:10). The double use of the term referred to a double beginning of the year, June 1 before the following January 1.

Agrippa's sin of incest was so serious that his midnight prayer would not be accepted by heaven, so the incense accompanying the prayer was merely "smoke". He was punished by being sent down to row 12 on the dais, at the foot of the steps. At 3 am, the hour when workers in good standing said the superior prayer when the calendar was in the Day position, he was not permitted to preside over them in the cathedral. At 3 pm, when workers who were not in good standing said their prayers when the calendar was in the Day position, Agrippa went to Bernice's house in Ephesus. He stayed there for the evening meal at 6 pm.

6 pm was the time for the septennial payment of the Roman tribute by the king. Agrippa as king should pay it in 56 AD, his 7th year after his coronation in June 49 AD (Revelation 4:10). But Matthew Annas had followed the Annas sequence and had paid it in 54 AD. Agrippa in Bernice's house was persuaded to pay it, but to Eleazar the Beast and to Bernice, for use in a militant campaign against Rome. Agrippa considered receiving the X mark, which would mean renouncing being a Christian.

James the brother of Jesus was a member of Bernice's house, acting as the Name, the David who gave the new name at baptism.

The expression Dan and Night was used in Ephesus because that city followed aspects of the eastern calendar, which used a post-position at the opposite day. (See discussion of Calendar in Chronology in Section 3). As the calendar was now in the Day position Day preceded Night, but if it was in the Night position the expression Night and Day would be used. Thus it was one of the many indications of calendar.


The parallel history in Acts

56 AD, was year 2 of Nero, etē dyo (Acts 19:10). In that year Agrippa II in Ephesus "heard the Word of the Lord". Jesus, who had been living in southern Greece since his expulsion from Rome in 49 AD, came across to Ephesus when the outbreak of trouble began. In association with Matthew Annas, he strengthened the Christian peace party. He also taught "Jews and Greeks". The "Jews" meant Aristobulus Herod the actual father of Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus. Aristobulus and his wife Salome joined the Agrippa side of the quarrelling Herods against Bernice. The "Greeks" means his son Timothy, whom Agrippa II had adopted as his heir, as shown in the pesher of Acts 14. The three brothers, under the influence of Paul renounced their Herodian identity when they became Christians, adopting Greek names instead of their given names Herod, Agrippa and Aristobulus (Josephus, Antiquities 18. 137).Such steps were taken by other Herods (Josephus, Antiquities 18, 141)

57 AD

JANUARY 57 AD

NO ANGEL BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CHANGES

Midnight beginning Saturday January 1, 57 AD in the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:12 The Christians in the Ephesus cathedral included Jesus, Timothy, Ananus the Younger, and Paul.

Revelation 14:12

14:12. Hōde hē hypomonē tōn hagiōn estin, hoi tērountes tas entolas tou theous kai tē pistin Iēsou.

14:12. Here the endurance of the saints is (present tense center). The ones keeping the commandments of God. And the faith of Jesus.

14:12. On January 1, 57 AD, major changes in the hierarchy took place because of the political threat from Nero. Those in the cathedral were Christians. While Agrippa was still vacillating, his adopted son Timothy, aged 20, presided at the cathedral table at the midnight vigil. He was being taught by the Gentile Christian monastic of Ephesus, to whom Paul subsequently wrote his Epistle to Ephesians.

Paul himself was present as a deputy of Jesus, as is fully shown in Acts 19 which has a greater interest in him than does Revelation. In Acts 19:11-12 his promotion in Ephesus is described, at the beginning of the year in which he would turn 40 (born September 17 AD). The name "the Faith of Jesus" was used for him, because he taught justification by faith, not works, like Abraham (Galatians 3:6-9).

Present also was Ananus the Younger, the Merari, also called Demas as representing the people (dēmos) in the court of the Agrippas (Acts 12:22). As an Annas he was a Sadducee, stated to be so in Josephus, Antiquities 20, 199, but he had militant tendencies, so was in some sympathy with Jonathan Annas the alternative "God" in the house of Bernice, especially when his master Agrippa II visited it. He kept the commandments of "God", Jonathan Annas, which included permission for killings. When he subsequently became high priest in Jerusalem in 62 AD, he would order the death of James the brother of Jesus, the anti-monarchist name in Bernice's house (v.11 above). (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 200-203).


12:05 am beginning Saturday January 1, 57 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral and the Ephesus house of Bernice.

Revelation 14:13 James the brother of Jesus, who upheld Jewish traditions against Christian re-interpretations, was excommunicated from the cathedral on the orders of Matthew Annas, but he was accepted in Bernice's house by Jonathan Annas. His brother Jude was also accepted there. A schism was in the making.

Revelation 14:13

14:13. kai ēkousa phonēs ek tōu ouranou legouses , Grapson. Makarioi hoi nekroi hoi en kyriō apothnēskontes ap arti. nai, legei to pneuma, hina anapaēsontai ek tōn kopōn autōn. ta gar erga autōn akolouthei met autōn.

14:13 And I (Tychicus) heard a voice out of the Heaven saying, Write. Blessed Ones the lifeless the ones in a Lord dying from now{arti}. Yes, says (present tense center) the Spirit in order that they (lifeless ones) may ( subjunctive) pause out of the toils of them (James ) For the works of them (James) follow (present tense center) with (meta + genitive ) them (lifeless ones.

14:13. At 12:05 am Tychicus was present as recorder in the the west guest seat of row 7.The levite of Matthew Annas on the upper floor ordered Tychicus to make a record of a legal fact, that James the brother of Jesus was excommunicated from the cathedral. As a member of Bernice's militant house, he upheld Jewish nationalist traditions, and was opposed to the Christian innovations. The tension between himself and Paul on these questions is reflected in Galatians 2:11-21.

James was still acceptable in Bernice's house. Jonathan Annas acting in his Sariel role as the Spirit said "Yes" to him, admitting him to their membership in the status of a Nazirite worker who took a pause for prayer at 3 am and 3 pm. James' brother Jude was also accepted. His epistle in the New Testament shows that he was very much opposed to Pauline doctrine.

The fact that a Jew such as James could be excommunicated from one house but welcomed in another was the sign of what the political crisis under Nero was causing, an imminent schism.

JUNE 57 AD

Midnight beginning Wednesday June 1, 57 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:14 As the schism between the two houses widened, Jesus in the cathedral was appointed by Matthew Annas to be a cardinal replacing Cardinal Cloud, Jonathan Annas. Jesus now had authority to admit or exclude Christians in preparation for the coming Eschaton in 60 AD. He made June 1 the beginning of the year, and further "angels" would come in June.

Revelation 14:14

14:14. Kai eidon, kai idou nephelē leukē, kai epi tēn nephelēn kathēmenon homoion hyion anthrōpou, echōm epi tēs kephalēs autou stephanon chrysoun kai en tē cheiri autou drepanon oxy.

14:14. And I saw{eidon}. And see{eidon} a white Cloud. And upon (+ accus) the Cloud sitting one like a Son of Man{anthrōpos}, having upon of the head of him (Son) a gold crown. And in the hand of him (Son) a sharp sickle.

14:14. In June of 57 AD Jesus in the Ephesus cathedral was preparing for the 20th birthday of his son Jesus Justus. As is made clearer in the Acts parallel (Acts 19:13-17), the houses of Bernice and Agrippa II in Ephesus were still in conflict, and Agrippa, suffering from the charge of incest, was under pressure from both sides. Jonathan Annas used the name "Sceva, a Jewish high priest" in the house of Bernice. He and Simon Magus , the "exorcist" were the alternating cardinals in her house.

As a cardinal, Jonathan Annas had been called the Cloud , the Cloud by Day of the Exodus imagery. leading village prayers at 3 am. He had worn a crown (stephanos) as a priest-king, giving him the name Stephen (Acts 6:5). As the schism grew worse, Jesus the Son of Man in the cathedral was given the position of the cardinal Cloud wearing the crown. Since it was June, when white for summer was the priest's color, he appeared on the upper floor of the cathedral, in "Heaven" as a white Cloud. His place was on row 4 above, the footstool of the throne where Matthew Annas sat. When he came forward to row 7, the row called "Heaven", he was given the gold crown of a king-priest.

At noon he came down to row 13, the position of the "hand" of the Heavenly Man, where at the end of the sacred meal he served the fragments of leftover bread on a paten, to be given to the Poor. At the same time he was given the authority of a cardinal to exercise discipline over the "wheat" the image of uncircumcised men of Asher such as James Niceta. With his "sharp sickle" he could "cut them off" for breaches of the rules. It was now getting close to the expected Eschaton of 60 AD, and he was ensuring that worthy ones would survive the climax, while unworthy ones would not.

The replacement of Jonathan Annas as Cardinal Cloud by Jesus was the first step towards the death of Jonathan Annas the following December- January in Jerusalem. As Josephus records (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 162-163) it was brought about by the Sicarii. They were led by Apollos, who had become militant because of the political crisis, although he still belonged to the court of Agrippa II. He and Ananus the Younger the Merari were both guards, appearing together in Acts 16:25-34. In Jerusalem Felix the Roman governor as a family member in the houses of Agrippa had ordered the Sicarii to kill Jonathan, who was interfering in government, criticizing Felix. The murder of Jonathan Annas is omitted in Revelation

Jesus as a cardinal was the equivalent of a 4th visiting angel in Rome, using the even number, although he was not called an "angel", meaning an abbot. The reason was that he claimed to be higher, not the deputy of Michael the Zadokite but Michael himself (Hebrews 7).

58 AD

JUNE 58 AD

FIFTH ANGEL

Midnight beginning Thursday June 1, 58 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:15 Jesus with Paul and their party went to Jerusalem for June 58 AD - a significant date for their chronology. John Mark acted on behalf of Jesus as cardinal in Ephesus. He had authority over married Gentiles of Asher, and his work was to cull the unworthy ones before the Eschaton of 60 AD.

Revelation 14:15

14:15. kai allos angelos exēlthen ek tou naou, krazōn en phonē megalē tō kathēmenō epi tēs nephelēs, Pempson to drepanon sou kai therison, hoti ēlthen hē hōra therisai, hoti exēranthē ho therismos tēs gēs.

14:15 And other angel came-out{erchomai} (past tense west) out of the sanctuary, crying out in a great voice to the one sitting upon of the Cloud, " Send{pempō} the sickle of you. And harvest, that came{erchomai} (past tense west) the hour to harvest, that the harvest of the Earth is ripe.

14:15. June 1, 58 AD, was the revised date for the arrival of the 5th angel, a visiting abbot, to Ephesus. Jesus and Paul and their party had now left Ephesus for Jerusalem, in order to be there at Pentecost in June 58 AD (Acts 21). In Ephesus the Gentile Chief Abbot was John Mark, the "holy angel" of v.10. He and Thomas had returned from their year's exile to the Dead Sea.

John Mark now acted for Jesus as the Christian Cardinal Cloud in Ephesus. He had authority over the married Gentile Christians of Asher, likened to "wheat", led by James Niceta. June was the season of the wheat harvest. The visiting abbot warned John Mark, from Deuteronomy 2:14, that a significant year had come, 58 AD being year 38, the year for "crossing Jordan" before the end of a 40 year Exodus concluding at the Eschaton of 60 AD. It was for that reason that Jesus, Paul and their party had gone to Jerusalem for the date. John Mark the "sickle" had to judge whether members were worthy to be saved at the Eschaton, or whether they should be culled now.

Thursday June 1, 58 AD, 6 pm. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:16 At the evening meal John Mark exercised his authority over Gentiles of Asher, married Gentiles on row 13.

Revelation 14:16

14:16. kai ebalen ho kathēmenos epi tēs nephelēs to drepanon autou epi tēn gēn, kai etheristhē hē gē.

14:16 And the one sitting upon of the Cloud threw (past tense west) the sickle of him (one sitting) upon (with accus.) the Earth. And the Earth was harvested.

14:16. At 6 pm John Mark applied his discipline to the village leaders, the laity on row 13. They were the married Gentiles of Asher, who could also include homosexual proselytes.

59 AD

JUNE 59 AD

SIXTH ANGEL

Friday June 1, 59 AD In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:17 Ananus the Younger, the visiting teacher from Athens , also called Dionysius the god of wine, came to the council of June 1, 59 AD. Thomas Herod who had now adopted the strict discipline applied his rules against homosexual proselytes. Thomas, Ananus and John Mark joined together in another plot to poison Nero.

Revelation 14:17

14:17. Kai allos angelos exēlthen ek tou naou tou en tō ouranō, echōn kai autos drepanon oxy.

14:17 And other angel came-out{erchomai} (past tense west) out of the sanctuary the one in the Heaven, having. And He a sharp sickle,

14:17. The following year, 59 AD, Jesus and Paul with Agrippa II and their party remained in Caesarea, dealing with the problem of Felix. In the Ephesus cathedral the 6th visiting abbot from the Rome area, Ananus the Younger, preached from the high pulpit on the upper floor. He allied with Thomas, who now acted according to the strict rules against homosexual proselytes. The three men came together in another plot to poison Nero: Thomas and John Mark, who had tried and failed before, with Ananus the Younger from the Athens abbey on the Areopagus. He was an expert on wine, being called Dionysius after the Greek god of wine (Acts 17:34).

60 AD

JUNE 60 AD

SEVENTH ANGEL

June 1, 60 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 14:18 At the June council in Ephesus a year later Thomas Herod was ordered by John Mark to set out for Rome. They left together for the 3 months' journey.

Revelation 14:18

14:18. kai allos angelos ek tou thysiastēriou, echōn exousian epi tou pyros, kai ephōnēsen phōnē megalē tō echonti to drepanon to oxy legōn, Pempson sou to drepanon to oxy kai trygēson tous botryas tēs ampelou tē s gēs, hoti ēkmasan hai staphylai autēs.

14:18 And other angel out of the altar of incense, having authority upon of the fire. And he (other angel) voiced in a great voice to the one having the sharp sickle saying, " Send{pempō} of you the sharp sickle. And gather the clusters of the vine of the Earth, that the grapes of it (fem. Earth) are ripe.

14:18. The visiting abbot from the Ephesus area, the 7th and highest in status, was on the upper floor of the cathedral at the council of June 1, 60 AD, with power to give orders to Thomas Herod at the lectern below. He was John Mark, the highest of the visiting "angels", from Troas in north-west Asia, where as Eutychus he had been with Paul in March 58 AD (Acts 20:7-12). From March 58 he had come to act as a cardinal in the Ephesus cathedral on behalf of Jesus when Jesus left for Jerusalem, and he remained attached to the cathedral

From the high pulpit on the upper floor of the cathedral he ordered Thomas Herod at the lectern on the middle floor to set out for Rome. He would arrive in September, the season of the grape harvest. He was to go to the Vineyard, the house of Agrippa II just inside the south wall of Rome, where Thomas as a Herod deputy could take charge while Agrippa was away. Thomas with his "sharp sickle" would "reap" members likened to grapes at the September grape harvest. He would initiate some and reject others.

John Mark accompanied him, prepared to take over as abbot at the Rome abbey.

SEPTEMBER 60 AD

Monday September 1, 60 AD. In the Rome house, the Vineyard.

Revelation 14:19 14:19 In September after the 3 months' journey Thomas and John Mark arrived in Rome.Working on an earlier calculation, they expected the Eschaton to come on September 1 60 AD. It would be a catastrophe bringing the end of the present world order, with the destruction of Rome and the survival of the initiated.

Revelation 14:19

14:19. kai ebalen ho angelos to drepanon autou eis tēn gēn, kai etrygēsen tēn ampelon tēs gēs kai ebalen eis tēn lēnon tou thymou tou theou ton megan.

14:19 And the angel threw (past tense west) the sickle of him (angel) at the Earth. And it (RLR to Earth) gathered the vine of the Earth (genitive). And it (Earth ) threw at the winepress (fem) of the Wrath of God the great one (masc, noun object of threw)

14:19. September 60 AD was the season for the Eschaton, the year 4000 from creation, when calculated from 21 BC as the corrected year 3920. See Chronology. In Matthew's parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16, another way of dividing the last 480 years was employed, the first 420 years being treated as 7 "days" each of 60 years for mission to Jews, followed by an 8th "day" of 60 years for mission to Gentiles, total ling 480 years. Each "day" of 60 years was divided into 12 "hours" of 5 years each. The end of the present order was to occur in September 60 AD, and it would destroy Rome. It would begin in the Rome house of the royal Herods, the Vineyard, and would give its first signs there. In the Acts account of the ship journey to Rome by the party of Paul, Jesus, Agrippa II and others, between June and December 60 AD, the detail shows that they expected it during the voyage (Acts 27). Those who were initiated need have no fear of the catastrophe , for they would survive victoriously, while the Sons of Darkness, the Romans, would be eliminated.

Thomas and John Mark went to Rome in order to witness this event in the Vineyard house on September 1, 60 AD. When their hopes were not fulfilled, they turned to their alternative method, of poisoning Nero. They had tried and failed before, but they now had with them an expert on wine, called Dionysius after the Greek god of wine. He was Ananus the Younger, from the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:34).

61 AD

JANUARY 61 AD

Thursday January 1, 61 AD. Rome, the Vineyard house and the church of Domine Quo Vadis.

Figure 17

Figure 17 Map of Rome showing position of the church of Domine Quo Vadis from the wall of the city


Revelation 14:20 14:20 When there was no Eschaton, Thomas and John Mark, with Ananus the Younger, turned to their plan of poisoning Nero.The plot was found out. The conspirators fled to the Domine Quo Vadis church a kilometer down from the south wall of Rome, which gave access to the catacombs where they could hide.

Revelation 14:20

14:20. kai epatēthē hē lēnos exōthen tēs poleōs, kai exēlthen haima ek tēs lēnou achri tōn chalinōn tōn hippōn apo stadiōn chiliōn hexakosiōn

14:20 And the winepress was trampled outside of the city, And blood came-out{erchomai} out of the winepress the bridles of the horses from stadia a thousand six hundred.

14:20. Having turned to their alternative method of destroying Rome by poisoning Nero, Thomas again invited Nero to dine in the Vineyard house on January 1. The plot was discovered. Nero ordered the abbey building to be destroyed, and the conspirators fled.

They went to the building a kilometer down from the south wall of Rome, now called Domine Quo Vadis. It was a latrine for monastics, at the required distance of 2000 cubits away. Its advantage was that it contained an entry down to the catacombs, where persecuted men could hide among the burial niches. It would later be used by Jesus for the same purpose a few years later.

The building was defined as "at 1600 stadia" It was a way of indicating its exact position to visitors from Judea who were familiar with the monastic system. In Judea, there were 16 stadia for pilgrims walking from the Mount of Olives to Mird -Hyrcania via the Kidron. (12 + 4). The Mount of Olives, a kilometer east of Mount Zion, was used as a latrine by celibates. Celibates lived in monasteries for 100 men, graduates, whose discipline required them to follow the latrine rule, so the building for them was called a 1600.

Figure 7a
Figure 7b
Distances in hours from the settlements in the Wilderness of Judea
2000 cubits = 5 stadia = 1 kilometer = 1 hour's walk

FIGURE 7. Map of the Wilderness of Judea and Diagram of the Scribe's Pen.

Visitors to Rome came on horseback up from the south along the Appian Way, so the building, some distance from the main one, was like the bridle on the neck of the "horse", the visiting Diaspora priest.

On the same date, January 1, 61 AD, the party of Jesus and Paul had arrived on Malta after their sea journey (Acts 28:1). They knew nothing of the poison plot, but the prejudice against the ascetics left by it did not help them in subsequent legal hearings in Rome.

63 AD

JANUARY 63 AD

Midnight beginning Saturday January 1, 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:1 In the two years between 61 and 63 AD, which are not treated in Revelation, Nero's tyranny brought about major crises in the mission. Early in 62 AD all the Christian leaders fled Rome. Paul went to Gibraltar, and Jesus was brought to John Mark's monastery on the island of Patmos. Agrippa and his adopted heir Timothy came to Agrippa's house, the cathedral in Ephesus. Timothy proposed a new 7 year campaign of harassment against Nero.

Revelation 15:1

15:1. kai eidon allo sēmeion en tō ouranō mega kai thaumaston, angelous hepta echontas plēgas hepta tas eschatas , hoti en autais etelesth ē ho thymos tou theou.

15:1. And I saw{eidon} (past tense west) other sign in the Heaven , great (sign). And marvellous{thaumazō}, angel 7 having plague 7 last, that in them (fem, plagues) the Wrath of God was ended (past tense west).

The History between 61 and 63 AD

The two year gap in the Revelation record between 61 and 63 AD was that of the worst period in the mission's history. Both sides, the house of Agrippa II and the house of Bernice, had established the usual relationship with the new emperor at the beginning of his reign in 54 AD, making him a token member of Judaism. By 56 AD his tyranny had become known, and they began a 7 year campaign of seasonal public demonstrations against him, the "plagues". Attempts had been made to poison him, but they had failed.

In 61 AD the shipboard leaders including Paul and Jesus had arrived in Rome for the trial of Felix for his mismanagement as Roman governor of Judea. He had married a member of the Herod family, Drusilla the younger sister of Agrippa II , so was not impartial in his decisions. He was replaced in 60 AD by Festus, who arrested him and sent him to Rome for trial. That was the real reason for the ship journey of 60 AD. Felix was at that time the only prisoner, and Paul's party went as witnesses.

They arrived in Malta in January 61 AD, and reached Rome itself in March 61. Paul's party, which included Agrippa II, lived in the Vineyard house. Before the trial Paul was at first kept in custody as being possibly complicit with Felix, with Agrippa guaranteeing him. During this period Paul wrote letters to Christians in Asia, to Philemon, to the churches in Colosse and the celibates in Ephesus, as well as to Philippi in Macedonia. Timothy the adopted heir of Agrippa II had come with them on the ship, and lent his name as co-writer of some of the letters. in order to give them Herodian authority. Tychicus the next brother of Timothy was sent with the letter to Colosse (Colossians 4:7) and the letter to Ephesus (Ephesians 6:21).

Felix was at first acquitted through the influence of his brother Pallas, one of the richest men in Rome. Paul was given a less significant trial, deserted by some of his associates, but "at my first de fence...the Lord stood by me and gave me strength... so I was rescued from the lion's mouth" (2 Timothy 4:17).

Early in 62 AD - a year not dealt with in Revelation - Nero had turned ferociously against Pallas, and so against all who had supported Felix. The Christians fled back to Ephesus, Agrippa and Bernice to their respective houses, while Timothy acted as abbot in the abbey attached to the cathedral. John Mark went to his monastery on the island of Patmos. He had previously acted on behalf of Jesus, restored to the role of Beloved Disciple that he had held during the gospel period. After years of separation while he remained with the eastern Magians, he had been forgiven and restored by Jesus in the ceremony at Troas described in Acts 20:7-12. He now took Jesus, aged 68, into his care on the island of Patmos, off the coast near Ephesus.

Paul, now freed, decided to fulfill a long held intention of doing missionary work in Spain, from a base on the island of Gibraltar (Romans 15:24). He had been appointed to the Kittim, who by definition belonged on islands. His departure is described in the apocryphal Acts of Peter II , 1-3. He would not have had time to go on to Britain, another of the western islands, as he was back in Rome the following year.

The year 62 AD had been marked by a tragic event in the homeland. Ananus the Younger had returned to the homeland and was appointed high priest of the Jerusalem temple. As a Sadducee he was expected to be co-operative with Rome. In 61 in Rome he had been in close contact with Paul, who called him Demas (Colossians 4:14). He was also the Publius, (the Latin equivalent of dēmos) who had met the ship party on Malta in January 61 AD (Acts 28:7). Paul had warned him of the growing gap between Christians with Jesus and Jewish Christians with James the brother of Jesus on the question of Jewish observances. Ananus as high priest in Jerusalem took his opportunity to put James to death by stoning, as is described in Josephus, Antiquities 20, 200-203.


The council of January 1, 63 AD

15:1 Timothy Herod in Ephesus, next in grade below his adoptive father Agrippa, acted as the abbot to the Ephesus cathedral. He was likened to an angel, wearing long white robes with wide sleeves. He was "angel 7" as head of the abbey in Asia, province 7. The abbey was attached to the cathedral as a separate building on its east, but the abbot attended councils in the cathedral, regularly held on January1 and June 1, the divisions of the year according to the Julian calendar,

Tychicus, who had been sent to Asia by Paul in 61 AD, had remained there, and now acted as the recorder "I" on the west guest seat on the upper floor, keeping a legal record. The person he saw, using the verb "to see", meaning there were 2 cubits between, was always the occupant of the east central seat.

On New Year's Day 63 AD, beginning midnight, a council was held in the cathedral to determine what to do about Nero. All agreed that his token membership should be revoked - he was "finished". Abbot Timothy was in favor of the renewal of a 7 year campaign of "plagues", acts of harassment against Nero, following the one that had just finished from 56 to 63 AD. The new one would be from 63 to 70 AD. It is seen from Hebrews 13:23-24 that Timothy was politically involved and subject to arrest.

Timothy gave the assent, and the new campaign began. It should lead to the "end" - in either sense of the word - of Nero the Wrath.

The Plagues

A "plague" was a seasonal attack on the Romans by the Therapeuts of Egypt, acting like the "Moses" who brought the plagues on Pharaoh in Exodus chapters 7 to 12. The original plagues had been agricultural blights affecting the seasons, so the plan was to.start with an attack at each of the four seasons of the solar calendar, at the equinoxes and solstices.Of the 10 plagues of Egypt, they selected 7 for repetition. The number 7 was the one most highly revered by Therapeuts, as is stated by Philo. "Nature takes delight in the number 7" (Allegorical Interpretation I, 8), "The properties of the number 7 are beyond all words" (On the Creation, 90). As Pythagoreans they could believe that all events were determined by arithmetic - until their expectations failed. Of the total of 10 plagues, the first 7 were said to form an initial unit, for persistent harassment against Rome, until the final 3 which would bring an onslaught and the desired victory. The first 7 plagues according to Exodus were: rivers of blood , frogs, gnats, flies, cattle disease, boils, hail. The final three were locusts, darkness and death of the firstborn.

A series of 7 year campaigns based on the first 7 plagues would be undertaken before the final onslaught based on the final 3 plagues. The 7 year campaigns began against Agrippa I (Revelation 9:18) , and were developed when the tyranny of Nero became known, in 56 AD. They were repeated when further provocation from Rome was felt. The first two campaigns were 56 to 63 AD and 63 to 70 AD, resulting not in victory but catastrophe, the fall of Jerusalem. Then when hope was renewed under Simon Bar Kokhba who claimed kingship in 99 AD, a new set began, from 99 to 106 AD, 106 to 113, 113 to 120 , 120 to 127 , 127 to 134. His new Jewish state was founded in 132 AD and collapsed in 135 AD.

In 7 years there were 28 seasons, 4 per year. The number 4 was equally revered, as the first square. The unit of 7 plagues permitted combining 4 and 7 in a set of 28 by planning for 4 successive series of 7 plagues extending over 7 years. The first set started March 1, the Jewish beginning of the year, and ended January 1, the Julian beginning of a year.

In the first 7 year campaign against Nero, 56 to 63 AD, the dates were:

1)Mar 56Jun 56Sep 56Jan 57Mar 57Jun 57Sep 57
2)Jan 58Mar 58Jun 58Sep 58Jan 59Mar 59Jun 59
3)Sep 59Jan 60Mar 60June 60Sep 60 Jan 61Mar 61
4)Jun 61Sep 61Jan 62Mar 62June 62Sep 62Jan 63
bloodfrogsgnatsfliescattleboilshail


The sets of " plagues" for the second campaign 63 to 70 AD were:

1)Mar 63Jun 63Sep 63Jan 64Mar 64June 64Sep 64
2)Jan 65Mar 65Jun 65Sep 65Jan 66Mar 66Jun 66 War
3)Sep 66Jan 67Mar 67Jun 67Sep 67Jan 68Mar 68
4)Jun 68Sep 68Jan 69Mar 69Jun 69Sep 69Jan 70
blood frogsgnatsfliescattleboils hail

Terms such as "frogs" and "hail" gave a means of dating for those familiar with the complex system. When a "frog" appeared, as in Revelation 16:13, it was the season of the 2nd plague in a set of 7 years that was 7 years later than the previous "frogs", that is it was September 68 AD, in the second campaign. When "hail" appeared, as in Revelation 16:21, it was January 70 AD, 7 years later than the "hail" of January 63 AD.

The "plague" , lasted a day, from midnight beginning the 1st of the Julian month to midnight ending it. It was highly organized according to the biblical and numerical system. The order was sent to members in other parts of the world to stage a demonstration or some act of harassment on that day that would show the extent of their hostility to Rome and gain sympathy. In Parts C and D, the word appears in Revelation 15:1, 6, 8; Revelation 16:9, 21; Revelation 18:4, 8; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 22:18.

MARCH 1, 63 AD

Midnight and 3 am beginning Tuesday March 1, 63 AD. In the house of Bernice in Ephesus.

Revelation 15:2 On March 1 a feast for Jewish nationalists was held in Bernice's one story house near the seashore in Ephesus. The liturgy of the Therapeuts was observed. Jesus Justus the son of Jesus was present, having militant sympathies. Present also was Ananus the Younger from Agrippa's house.

Revelation 15:2

15:2. Kai eidon hōs thalassan hyalinen memigmenen pyri, kai tous nikōntas ek tou thēriou kai ek tēs eikonos autou kai ek tou arithmou tou onomatos autou hestōtas epi tēn thalassan tēn hyalilnēn , echontas kitharas tou theou

15:2. And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} as a Sea glassy mixed with Fire. And the Conquering Ones out of the Beast. And out of the icon of him (RLR to Fire). And out of the Number of the Name of him (Fire), ones (Conquering Ones) standing upon (with accus.) the Sea, glassy ,they (Conquering Ones) having harps of God.

15:2. The scene moves to the house of Bernice near the seashore at Ephesus. It was a single story building. Above the seat of Bernice a glass panel let in moonlight, in an imitation of the Glory in the cathedral. Bernice herself acted as the Moon.

Her party was dedicated to Jewish nationalism, keeping traditional Jewish ways such as the beginning of the year in March, the first month for solarists and lunisolarists. Allowing some compromise with the Julian calendar of the Diaspora, their New Year was celebrated on two 1sts, the Julian one on March 1, and the lunisolar one on its 1st, which fell later in the month closer to the equinox.

On this occasion Bernice shared the central seat on row 7 with Eleazar the Beast, the successor of Judas the Galilean, who would subsequently become the despot of Masada. Apollos the Chief Therapeut, now in a militant mode, occupied the bishop's seat at the east of center.

The liturgy of the Therapeuts was being conducted on the occasion of the New Year. At 3 am at the end of the night's vigil Apollos as Moses, leading the choir of men, came to the central west seat of row 10. With him in the central east seat was the Aaron, who was Ananus the Younger visiting Bernice's house. Bernice moved out to the presbyter's seat as the Miriam leading the choir of women. Moses and Miriam led the singing, while Aaron conducted the orchestral music that characterized the meetings of the Therapeuts.

On row 13 for the village leaders a novice sat west of center as the Number (grade 8). In the central east seat sat the proselyte who could attend Bernice's house as a member of the order of Asher. He was called "Fire" as the one who lit the cooking fire, a task assigned to a Sinner because the fire was a symbol of judgment.

In the west central seat sat the Name. The term was used for the David acting as a subordinate to the priest in the village class because he gave the new name at the baptism for initiation. In the gospel period the term had applied to Jesus, but Jesus was now 69 years old and would never attend the militant house of Bernice. The Name was now his son, Jesus Justus.

Jesus Justus, born June 37 AD (Acts 6:7), named in Colossians 4:11, had not followed his father's political opinions. Doubtless influenced by his mother Mary Magdalene, he turned to the nationalism of the Jewish ascetics. At the time when Nero was provoking aggression from all sides, he visited the house of Bernice to show solidarity with the militants.

The man referred to as "God" in this verse, acting as the Aaron, was Ananus the Younger, the fifth son of the Ananus who had been made high priest by the occupying Romans in 6 AD because of his co-operation with them. Ananus the Younger had acted as the guard Merari in the gospel period. His older brother Jonathan Annas had joined the house of Bernice in Ephesus, having turned against the Agrippas. After Jonathan was assassinated in late 57 AD his place in Bernice's house was taken by Ananus the Younger, even though he was a member of the house of Agrippa. He did, however, have sympathy with militarism and would play a heroic part in the coming war. The threat of Nero was now bringing all together in preparedness for hostilities. Ananus the Younger as an Annas was prepared to be addressed as "God", and he accepted the title. Matthew Annas was still the "God" in the court of Agrippa, but with the Christians he was firmly in favor of peace with Rome. Thus there now two "Gods", distinguished by the presence or absence of a further title.

JUNE 63 AD

Midnight beginning Wednesday June 1, 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:3 The threat of Nero helped to bring the two houses together, and on June 1 63 AD, they all met in the cathedral. They performed the Exodus choral liturgy for Pentecost. Jesus as the Lamb was present, aged 69.

Revelation 15:3

15:3. kai adousin tēn ōdēn Mōyseōs tou doulou tou theou kai tēn hōdēn tou arniou legontes, Megala kai thaumasta ta erga sou, kyrie ho theos ho pantokratōr. dikaiai kai alēthinai hai hodoi sou, ho basileus tōn ethnōn.

15:3. And they (RLR to Conquering Ones v. 2, sing the Song of Moses the slave of God. And the Song of the Lamb, they (Conquering Ones saying, " Great things. And marvellous things{thaumazō} the Works of you, Lord the God the All-seizing Righteous (adj fem., plu). And True the Ways of you, the king of the Gentiles.",

15:3. Wednesday June 1, 63 AD, was both the 1st of the Julian month and a day of Pentecost, 1b/15a the day after an unintercalated Tuesday 31st on May 31. It was the 14th year of the reign of Agrippa II, who had been crowned on Sunday June 1 in 49 AD, a day that was also a 1b/15a Pentecost. (Revelation 4). On this auspicious day the feast of Pentecost was celebrated in the Ephesus cathedral of Agrippa, performing the Exodus liturgy of the Therapeuts for the pentecontad , with singing by choirs and orchestral music. It was an occasion when both houses were brought together, their differences overcome by their common fear of Nero.

Apollos the Chief Therapeut came to play his traditional role of "Moses", leading the choir of men. The Song of Miriam, for a choir of women, was on this occasion performed by a choir of Gentiles who were the legal equals of women. Their song was led by Jesus, the Lamb, as head of Gentile Christians. From the island of Patmos he attended the Ephesus cathedral on the occasions of feasts and councils.

Apollos was prepared to acknowledge the authority of Matthew Annas, the strict Sadducee in Agrippa's house who had done so much to establish the Christian Church. Matthew Annas was distinguished from Ananus the Younger by the additional term pantokratōr, showing that he was the religious authority in Agrippa's court. Apollos praised Agrippa II as head of the house, particularly for his role in preserving the Noah mission to Gentiles.

Wednesday June 1, 63 AD, noon. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:4 At noon Agrippa II, about to turn 36, made a permanent commitment to celibacy. Jesus aged 69 was of the same status. As it was also a 7th year of Agrippa's reign, he paid the Roman tribute through Matthew Annas, outside at the north base.

Revelation 15:4

15:4. tis ou mē phobēthē , kyrie, kai doxasei to onoma sou; hoti monos hosios , hoti panta ta ethnē ēxousin. Kai proskynēsousin enōpion sou, hoti ta dikaiōmata sou ephanerōthēsan.

15:4. A Certain One not-not fears, Lord. And he (a Certain One), will glorify the Name of you (Lord); that an alone pious , that All the Gentiles will come{erchomai} (future tense east outside). And they (All the Gentiles) will worship{proskyneō} (future tense east) Before{enōpion} you (Lord), that the righteousnesses of you (Lord) became manifest (past tense west).

15:4. The auspicious date was not only the 14th year of Agrippa II, but fell in the year when he would turn 36 (born September 27 AD). At that age a dynast of the ascetics should marry in order to continue his family line. Agrippa II was aware of it, but felt incapable of fulfilling his sexual obligations. He had already adopted Timothy Herod the son of a relative as his temporary heir, but he now determined not to have a son of his own.

Matthew Annas, holding strict views on sexual morality, was prepared to accept him as a permanent celibate under abbey rules. At the same time Matthew endorsed Jesus, aged 69, as a permanent celibate on the grounds of age. Jesus was now defined as an Essene ( hosios) dynast (alone, monos) outside the monastery. Matthew was given a role equal to that of the Baptist in the Way of Righteousness (Matthew 21:32), a Melchizedek King of Righteousness (Hebrew), priest in charge of celibates.

As it was a 7th year for Agrippa to pay the Roman tribute, he paid it at noon, as it should be paid at the time of a communal meal. Because it was a sacred meal for celibates, he paid the money through Matthew outside at the north base before coming in for the meal. He paid the tribute in order not to provoke aggression against Nero, as the Christians preferred more subtle methods of dealing with him.

Noon, Wednesday June 1, 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:5 The skylight over the meal table was opened at noon, as was the usual practice.

Revelation 15:5

15:5. Kai meta tauta eidon, kai ēnoigē ho naos tēs skēnēs tou martyriou en tō ouranō .

15:5. And after (meta with accus) These Things I (Tychicus) saw{eidon}. And opened (past tense west) the sanctuary of the tabernacle of the witness in the Heaven .

15:5. Simultaneously the "Heaven opened". The 2 cubit wide skylight called a "window" in the center of row 7 on the upper floor was opened at noon, in order to allow the sun to shine down, so that those on the middle and lower floors could see the priests praying on the upper floor. The custom accounts for several important episodes in the gospels and Acts, when Jesus appeared to speak from "heaven" but was actually on the upper floor of a cathedral. It was witnessed by Tychicus in the west guest seat.

Wednesday June 1, 63 AD, noon In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:6 Timothy the abbot of Ephesus was confirmed as the adopted heir of Agrippa II, as he would not have a son of his own. Timothy added garments of royalty.

Revelation 15:6

15:6. kai exēlthon hoi hepta angeloi echontes tas hepta plēgas ek tou naou, endedymenoi linon katharon lampron kai periezōmenoi peri ta stēthē zōnas chrysas.

15:6. And came-out{erchomai} (past tense west) the 7 angels having the 7 plagues out of the sanctuary, clothed in linen pure bright. And girded around the chest (plu rep) with golden girdles.

15:6. Once it was certain that Agrippa II would not have a son of his own, his adopted son the abbot Timothy became his legal crown prince and would remain in that status., In the position of the Gabriel deputy on the upper floor, he added a purple royal robe. The belt that missionaries wore when in the outside world was a gold one for him. He confirmed his plan for another 7 year campaign of harassment against Nero, its beginning now in June, deferred from January 63 AD.

Wednesday June 1, 63 AD, noon. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:7 Donations of money in large bowls had been given every year on June 1 during the previous 7 year campaign. Timothy was given the last bowl of the previous set, and a new collection began for the next 7 years.

Revelation 15:7

15:7. kai hen ek tōn tessarōn zōōn edōken tois hepta angelois hepta phialas chrysas gemousas tou thymou tou theou tou zōntos eis tous aiōnas ton aiōnōn.

15:7. And a 1 out of the 4 Living Creatures gave (past tense west) to the 7 angels 7 bowls golden full of the Wrath of the God the Living Creature at the aeons of aeons.

15:7 At the meal of June 1, 63 AD, it became apparent that donations of money for the next campaign against Nero would have to begin again. They were freewill donations, as practiced by Christians, not a tax. The money was collected in a large bowl placed on row 12 on June 1 each year. The deputy of Apollos ensured that Timothy was given the last bowl from the previous campaign. The money represented the means of dealing with Nero, the Wrath. Nero as an expelled member was under the authority of Matthew Annas.

Midnight ending Wednesday June 1, 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 15:8 At the end of the day Ananus the Younger proposed trying the poisoning plan again, and was rejected by the Christians on the upper floor.

Revelation 15:8

15:8. kai egemisthē ho naos kapnou ek tēs doxēs tou theou kai ek tēs dynameōs autou, kai oudeis edynato eiselthein eis ton naon achri telesthōsin hai hepta plēgai tōn hepta angelōn

15:8. And was filled (past tense west) the sanctuary with smoke out of the Glory of God. And out of the Power of him (One,v. 7). And No One had power (past tense west) to come at{erchomai} at the sanctuary until{achri} are ended the 7 plagues of the 7 angels.

15:8. At 12:05 am Ananus the Younger as the other "God" proposed trying the poisoning plan again. He was rejected by Matthew Annas and classed as a Sinner, his prayers not acceptable to heaven but merely "smoke". Agrippa sat as the Power on the throne and approved the rejection. Jesus Justus was present on the upper floor as an acolyte, with Timothy in the Gabriel position east beside the center.

The proposal of Ananus the Younger was rejected, so that the incense accompanying his prayer to Heaven was defined as mere smoke.


Paul's dated letter from Rome to Timothy in Ephesus

It was at this season, June 63 AD, that Paul, back in Rome from Gibraltar and under arrest, wrote to Timothy in Ephesus and asked both him and John Mark to come to Rome, meaning - without saying so - that John Mark should bring Jesus with him. Paul said of Jesus "the Word of God is not fettered". Jesus was at that time hidden on the island of Patmos, a monastery of Dan Gentiles, protected by John Mark, so was not imprisoned. He came for feasts to Ephesus, where he was cared for by the abbot Timothy (2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:9,11).

The letter is, in fact, dated, at June 63 AD, once the pesher of 2 Timothy 4:18 is recognized. Near the end the words appear "to him (the Lord) be glory forever and ever Amen". The Greek for " forever and ever" is eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn. As will be seen from "aeon" in the Lexicon, this means June 1, 63 AD, a 7th year in the reign of Agrippa II, who was crowned 14 years previously, June 1, 49 AD. Paul is closing with the date in coded form. The next few verses are a postscript, sending greetings to individuals.

The arrangements in the letter are in accord with this date. Paul asks Timothy in Ephesus to come to him in Rome by winter (2 Timothy 4:21). The journey took 3 months. Paul wrote in June, the letter would be received by Timothy in September, and he would arrive in Rome in December.

From Hebrews 13:23 it is seen that Timothy was soon arrested for action against Nero, then was released, but he would suffer the fate of Christians in July 64 AD.


SEVEN BOWLS    63-70
Revelation 16:1-21

JUNE 63 AD

12:05 am ending Wednesday June 1 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 16:1 At 12:05 am Matthew Annas instructed Timothy to spend the last of the previous set of donations in action against Nero.

Revelation 16:1

16:1. Kai ēkousa megalēs phonēs ek tou naou legousēs tois hepta angelois, Hypagete kai engcheete tas hepta phialas tou thymou tou theou eis tēn gēn

16:1. And I (Tychicus) heard (past tense west) a great Voice out of the sanctuary saying to the 7 angels, "Lead under. And pour out the 7 bowls of the Wrath of God at the Earth.

16:1. At 12:05 am Matthew Annas, east of the 1x1 cubit altar of incense on row 6 of the upper floor, said to Timothy as the Gabriel in the east guest seat, "Go down to row 12 where the bowls for the war fund stand, and authorize the spending of the contents of the last one for the new campaign of harassment against Nero. He is subject to the authority of Ananus the Younger."

JUNE 2, 63 AD

FIRST BOWL

1 am Thursday June 2, 63 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

Revelation 16:2 The moderates began their new system of donations according to their established pattern for the previous 7 years. But Simon Magus blackmailed Agrippa into giving him more of the Herodian money to buy arms.

Revelation 16:2

16:2. Kai apēlthen ho prōtos kai execheen tēn phialēn autou eis tēn gēn. kai egeneto elkos kakon kai ponēron epi tous anthrōpous tous echontas to charagma tou thēriou kai tous proskynountas tē eikoni autou.

16:2. And came-from{erchomai} (past tense west) the First. And he (the First) poured out (past tense west) the bowl of him at the Earth. And came about (past tense west) a sore, bad. And evil one upon (+ accus) the Men{anthrōpos} the ones having the Mark of the Beast. And the ones worshipping{proskyneō} the icon of him (RLR to evil one).

16:2. Between midnight and 1 am the argument raged on the expenditure of the money. A new series was commenced by the moderates, adopting the pattern of spending the money once a year at the end of June 1 by the laity , at successive hours of the night to distinguish the year.

But Simon Magus who was also present in Ephesus and attended the council wanted money for direct military action. Agrippa II was still in conflict between the moderates and the extremists. Simon Magus who belonged to Bernice's house knew of Agrippa's incest with his sister and blackmailed him into joining the militants, adopting the X sign. The Beast Eleazar was an associate of Simon Magus, the former as head of East Manasseh, the latter as head of West Manasseh.

As it was a 7th year for him, Agrippa diverted tribute money to Bernice in addition to the Roman tribute that he had legally paid at noon (15:4).

64 AD

JUNE 64 AD

SECOND BOWL

2 am June 2, 64 AD. In Rome.

Revelation 16:3 The deaths of Antipas II, Timothy and Simon Magus occurred at the time of Nero's persecution in 64 AD.

Revelation 16:3

16:3. Kai ho deuteros execheen tēn phialēn autou eis tēn thalassan. kai egeneto haima hōs nekrou, kai pasa psychē zōēs apethanen, ta en tē thalassē .

16:3. And the Second poured out (past tense west) the bowl of him at the Sea. And came about (past tense west) blood as of a lifeless one . And All Soul of Life died (past tense west), the things in the Sea.

16:3. Bernice had previously established her own house, "the Sea" on the west bank of the Tiber, and Simon Magus visited the house. He was stirring up popular excitement with the spectacular performances described in the Acts of Peter 31 (2), 32 (3). The moderates continued their pattern of giving, on June 2, 64 AD at 2 am, but they gave the money to the house of Bernice. Bernice and Agrippa themselves stayed in Ephesus, for Rome was much too dangerous for them.

On July 19 , 64 AD Nero's persecution of Christians broke out (see below, Parallel Accounts in Other Sources). This verse records the arrest and death of nekros, Antipas II on Tiber Island; of Timothy, "All Soul of Life"; and of "Those in the Sea", Simon Magus, found in Bernice's house. Thus the leaders of all three Herodian houses in Rome were attacked.

The deaths of Roman Christians Peter and Paul are recorded in other sources, see below. Luke, who had remained close to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11) probably died with Paul, for the book of Acts ends unfinished at this time.

Jesus was present in Rome at Paul's request, but did not succeed in controlling Simon Magus' rabble-rousing. When Peter tried to escape from Rome, Jesus met him secretly in the church of Domine Quo Vadis, and persuaded him to go back to face death by martyrdom. Jesus, whose death would have finished the cause of Christians, went down underground to hide in the catacombs (Acts of Peter 35(6) ).

The date of the fire, in summer of 64 AD , suggests part of the reason why the Christians had made themselves vulnerable to such punishment. June 64 was 3 1/2 years after December 60, when the Eschaton of 4000 had been finally expected. The permissible intercalation of 3 1/2 years was made. Disappointed in December 60, some Christians hoped that heaven would send their Eschaton in June 64. They had assembled as they had previously done, "rioting in the name of Chrestus", and had been rounded up and placed in prison.

Parallel accounts in other sources.

The hideous end of large numbers of ordinary Christians in Nero's fire is recorded by Tacitus:

'To scotch the rumour (that he had ordered the fire ), Nero substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices, whom the crowd styled Christians. Christus, the founder of the name, had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate, and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judea, the home of the disease, but in the capital itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a vogue. First, then, the confessed members of the sect were arrested; next, on their disclosures, vast numbers were convicted, not so much on the count of arson as for hatred of the human race. And derision accompanied their end: they were covered with wild beasts' skins and torn to death by dogs; or they were fastened on crosses, and, when daylight failed were burned to serve as lamps by night. Nero had offered his gardens for the spectacle, and gave an exhibition in his circus, mixing with the crowd in the habit of a charioteer, or mounted on his car. Hence, in spite of a guilt which had earned the most exemplary punishment, there arose a sentiment of pity, due to the impression that they were being sacrificed not for the welfare of the state but to the ferocity of a single man'. (Annals 15,44)

The great Stoic philosopher Seneca, who had once been a tutor of Nero but had now fallen out of favor with him, had been exchanging letters with Paul for some years. (See Paul and Seneca correspondence in Section 4, The Other Gospels.) At the time of the fire he wrote to Paul

"Greetings, my dearest Paul! Can you possibly think that I am not distressed and grieved that capital punishment is still visited upon you innocent persons? As also that all the people are convinced of your cruelty and criminal malignity, believing that all evil in the city is owing to you? (A moral exhortation follows). As regards fire, it is clear as the day at whose hands the Roman capital has to suffer it so often.This rowdy, whoever he is that finds pleasure in murder and uses lies as a disguise, is destined for his own time.132 palaces, 4000 apartment houses were burned down in six days; the seventh brought a pause. I wish you good health, brother."

There is a discrepancy between the date of this letter, March 28, 64 AD and the date that Tacitus gives for the fire, July 19, 64 AD. But Seneca's details agrees with Tacitus, that the fire burned for six days and then died down, and that numerous houses were lost. Seneca gives the exact numbers of dwellings lost. It would appear that he began the letter in March, but did not send it, then in July added the detail of the fire, leaving the original note of date unchanged.

Peter and Paul, the acknowledged leaders, were put to death separately from the masses, but on the same occasion. Eusebius records that they met their end in the reign of Nero. "In his (Nero's) day Paul was beheaded at Rome itself, and Peter likewise was crucified".Ecclesiastical History II, xxv, 5. According to the Peter literature, Peter asked to be crucified head downwards (Acts of Peter 37 (8). Eusebius notes that their names remained associated with cemeteries in Rome. Their "sacred tabernacles" (communion vessels) were laid up at what became the Vatican, and at the Ostian Way.

On the evidence of Seneca's letter, Paul's death must have been after July 64 AD. Seneca himself met his death in 65 AD.

Clement of Rome also speaks of the deaths of Peter and Paul, grouping them together, without an exact date. 'Peter, who because of unrighteous jealousy suffered not one or two but many trials, went to the glorious place which was his due. Through jealousy and strife Paul showed the way to the prize of endurance, he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world and was taken up into the holy place.' (1 Clement v, 4-7)

65 AD

JUNE 65 AD

THIRD BOWL

Sunday June 2, 65 AD, 3 am. In Jerusalem and Qumran.

Revelation 16:4 Subsequent events take place in Judea, to which the king and queen Agrippa II and Bernice had been forced to move in anticipation of war. The system of financing through the bowls of money annually in June was preserved, giving the series of dates. This one would finance campaigns in the East.

Revelation 16:4

16:4. Kai ho tritos execheen tēn phialēn autou eis tous potamous kai tas pēgas tōn hydatōn. kai egeneto haima.

16:4. And the Third poured out (past tense, west) the bowl of him (the Third) at the Rivers. And the Wells of the Waters. And came about blood.

16:4. Agrippa II and Bernice as king and queen were forced to go back to Jerusalem, as war was imminent. The cathedral-abbey structure was preserved in his palace in Jerusalem overlooking the temple. The collection of money in bowls for the war effort continued there, the plan for the next one being made at 3 am on June 2, 65 AD. All the money was now to be spent in the East for the coming year. It would finance rebellion against Rome in the whole area from the river Euphrates, through Petra in Arabia, to Qumran, where pilgrims arriving were given a drink of holy water from the well. At the evening meal the ceremony of drinking from a wine cup smeared with blood was preserved, symbolic of readiness for martyrdom.

66 AD

JANUARY 66 AD

Midnight beginning Wednesday January 1, 66 AD. In Judea.

Revelation 16:5 Three new leaders were appointed, from the east , center and west of Judea.

Revelation 16:5

16:5. kai ēkousa tou angelou tōn hydatōn legontos, Dikaios ei, ho ōn kai ho ēn, ho hosios, hoti tauta ekrinas

16:5. And I (Tychicus) heard (past tense west)the angel of the waters saying, " Righteous you(sing.) are (present tense center), the Being One. And the Was. (In apposition)The pious one , that you (pious one) judged (past tense west) These Things.

16:5. In Jerusalem three new leaders were endorsed for the three parts of the country. They were a new Chief Abbot "angel" replacing Timothy, one who received pilgrims at Qumran and gave them their drink of water. He addressed a new Chief Priest for the central position, the Being One, in Jerusalem. He was Matthias Annas II, who would be appointed high priest in the temple. The Being One was one of the titles of this family of priests, the full list given in Revelation 1:8.

The third, a lay leader, was John the Essene, from the west coast. Monastic Essenes who had separated in 6 AD as being against warfare and had gone to a new monastery on the coast were now forced to take part in the defence of the temple. Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 567, (concerning the selection of generals at the outbreak of war). "John the Essene to the province of Thamna, with Lydda, Joppa and Emmaus also under his charge." and Josephus, Wars of the Jews 3,11, the three leaders of an expedition were Niger of Perea, Silas the Babylonian, and John the Essene.

Tychicus the recorder had come to Jerusalem with Agrippa's court.

Wednesday January 1, 66 AD, 9 pm. At Qumran.

Revelation 16:6 At Qumran pilgrims were promoted to drinking the wine symbolizing martyrdom.

Revelation 16:6

16:6. hoti haima hagiōn kai prophētōn exechean, kai haima autois piein. axioi eisin

16:6. that blood of saints. And of prophets they (RLR to v. 4 Wells of Waters) poured out. (past tense west, no object), And blood to them ( Wells of Waters) to drink{potizō}. Suitable Ones they (Wells of Waters) are (present tense center).

16:6. A new head of monastic Gentiles, the Saints, came to Jerusalem to help in the war, to the outer hall at Qumran, the abbey where fermented wine was the sacred drink. The Chief Pilgrim normally drinking water was promoted to drink the wine of martyrdom, and treated as a Worthy One, a lay levite acting as bishop.

Sunday June 1, 66 AD. In the Jerusalem temple.

Revelation 16:7 Agrippa II installed Matthias Annas II as high priest for the Jerusalem temple, and as the religious authority in his court in the place of Matthew Annas.

Revelation 16:7

16:7. kai ēkousa tou thysiastēriou legontos, Nai, kyrie ho theos ho pantokratōr, alēthinai kai dikaiai hai kriseis sou.

16:7. And I (Tychicus) heard the altar of incense saying, " Yes, Lord the God the All-seizing , true ones (adj fem. plu.). And adj righteous ones (fem plu) the judgments of you."

16:7. "(Agrippa II) deprived Jesus the son of Gamaliel of the high priesthood and gave it to Matthias the son of Theophilus, under whom the war of the Jews with the Romans began" (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 223). This Matthias , as Matthias Annas II, was thus a nephew of Matthew Annas.

Agrippa II as the Herodian highest priest, one who could stand in the place of the communal altar of incense, now installed Mathias Annas II as high priest in the Jerusalem temple. Agrippa said "Yes" the word used at initiation ceremonies to show acceptance. Matthias Annas II was appointed chief religious adviser in Agrippa's court, as the one who "seized" (embraced) the All, the Herod king. He was in sympathy with Christians, as a True One.

Ananus the Younger, another uncle of Matthias II , was installed as the necessary deputy of the high priest in preparation for the war. He would play a heroic part.

JUNE 2, 66 AD

FOURTH BOWL

Monday June 2, 66 AD, 4 am. In Jerusalem and Qumran.

Revelation 16:8 John the Essene as Chief Monastic held the strict views of homeland Essenes. He was given the remaining money in the bowl for his campaign. He exercised discipline over Agrippa, condemning him for his sin, saying he was as bad as the homosexual proselyte.

Revelation 16:8

16:8. Kai ho tetartos execheen tēn phialēn autou epi ton hēlion, kai edothē autō kaumatisai tous anthrōpous en pyri.

16:8. And the Fourth poured out the bowl of him upon (+ accusative.) the Sun. And it was given to him (the Sun) to scorch the Men{anthrōpos} in fire.

16:8. By June of 66 AD there could be no doubt that the war with the Romans was coming. It was actually declared in November 66. In June the usual decision was made about the money that was left in the bowl. It was agreed to give it to John the Essene, the Essene monastic, to help his struggle at the coast. As an Essene he controlled the solar calendar as the Sun. Agrippa II was acting as the Men, the Herod taking over the role of Adam to Gentiles.John the Essene following the strict celibate rule condemned Agrippa's sin with Bernice and punished him by making him stand close to the furnace at 4 am, which was lit by the proselyte. Agrippa was defined as being in the same class of Sinners as the homosexual proselyte.

Monday June 2, 66 AD, 4 am and noon. In Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:9 Agrippa II acceded to the request of Annaus the Younger to fight in the war on the side of moderates. Jesus Justus had come to Jerusalem, and he joined Ananus in the attempt at moderation.

Revelation 16:9

16:9. kai ekaumatisthēsan hoi anthrōpoi kauma mega, kai eblasphēmēsan to onoma tou theou tou echontos tēn exousian epi tas pl ēgas tautas, kai ou metenoēsan dounai autō doxan.

16:9. And the Men{anthrōpos} were scorched (past tense west) with a great scorching. And they (the Men) blasphemed the Name of the God having the authority upon These Plagues. And they (the Men) did not repent, to give to him (the Name) the Glory.

16:9. In Jerusalem Ananus the Younger accepted a fighting role. As Josephus records for the end of 66 AD in Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 562, "The Jews who had pursued Cestius, on their return to Jerusalem, partly by force, partly by persuasion, brought over to their side such pro-Romans as still remained; and, assembling in the Temple, appointed additional generals to conduct the war, Joseph son of Gorion and Ananus the high priest" For a priest to fight was "blasphemy", as shown in the injunction against blaspheming the Holy Spirit (to pneuma to hagion), who at the time of the saying was Jonathan Annas (Mark 3:29). Ananus was still a moderate, preferring the method of "plagues", seasonal protests against Nero.

The son of Jesus, Jesus Justus, aged 29, who had chosen nationalism with Bernice's court, had come with her to throw himself into the campaign for the de fence of Jerusalem. He acted as the Name , the David, in association with Ananus the Younger.

Agrippa II did not follow the Baptist doctrine of leaving it all to the intervention of heaven. He appointed a moderate triarchy at the table for the meal, with himself and Ananus on row 6, and Jesus Justus at the Glory in the center of row 7.


THE WAR BROKE OUT IN NOVEMBER 66 AD.

"From Antipatris Cestius (Roman governor of Syria) advanced to Lydda and found the city deserted, for the whole population had gone up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.... The Jews, seeing the war now approaching the capital, abandoned the feast and rushed to arms." Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 515, 516 (Loeb Classical Library, Havard))

NOVEMBER 66. "After this catastrophe of Cestius (November 25, 66 AD, the exact date given Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 555) many distinguished Jews abandoned the city as swimmers desert a sinking ship. Thus the brothers Costobar and Saul, with Philip son of Jacimus...fled from Jerusalem and joined Cestius. We shall tell later how Antipas, who had been besieged by them in the royal palace and disdained to fly, was killed by the rebels. Cestius dispatched Saul and his companions, at their request, to Nero in Achaia, to inform him of the straits to which they were reduced, and to lay upon Florus the responsibility for the war; for he hoped, by exciting Nero's resentment against Florus, to diminish the risk to himself." Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2,556 (Loeb Classical Library, Havard))

War 2, 562, same period. "The Jews who had pursued Cestius, on their return to Jerusalem, partly by force, partly by persuasion, brought over to their side such pro-Romans as still remained; and, assembling in the Temple, appointed additional generals to conduct the war, Joseph son of Gorion and Ananus the high priest.... As for Eleazar son of Simon....(he was not appointed because of his despotic nature, but later gained control). Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2,562 (Loeb Classical Library, Havard))

67 AD

JUNE 67 AD

FIFTH BOWL

June 2, 67 AD, 5 am. In Jerusalem

Revelation 16:10 The fifth bowl, held by Antipas Herod III the treasurer of Jerusalem, was allocated to Masada, which Eleazar the Beast with the extreme militants had now made his headquarters. Two other Herods, Costobar-Gaius and Saul-Erastus, went over to Nero in Achaia. Agrippa re-affirmed that he was a Christian.

Revelation 16:10

16:10. Kai ho pemptos execheen tēn phialēn autou epi ton thronon tou thēriou. kai egeneto hē basileia autou eskotōmenē, kai emasōnto tas glōssas autōn ek tou ponou

16:10. And the Fifth poured out (past tense west)the bowl of him(the Fifth) upon the throne of the Beast. And it came about the kingdom of him (the Fifth) was darkened. And they (RLR to the Men v. 9) gnawed (past tense west)the tongues of them (the Men) out of the toil.

16:10. Fighting in Judea was now going on in earnest. At the appointed time a year later, at 5 am, the money for 67 to 68 AD was allocated for Masada, the Herodian summer palace down the west coast of the Dead Sea. Eleazar the Beast leader of extreme militants had made it his headquarters, for on its heights it was an impregnable fortress.

Three other Herod relatives were named by Josephus for this period (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 418, 556; Josephus, Antiquities 20, 214): Antipas the treasurer of Jerusalem , as well as Costobar and Saul. Antipas stood fast, but Costobar and Saul went over to Nero in Achaia, which meant that they had pro-Roman attitudes like anti-nationalist Christians. It may be seen from details in the New Testament that Costobar was the same as the Gaius to whom the third epistle of John (John Mark - 3 John 1:1) was addressed. He had appeared in Romans 16:23 with Paul in Ephesus in March 57 AD, as a "host". He was a celibate like John Mark. He also appeared with Aristarchus (Peter) in Acts 19:29. Erastus (Saul) had appeared with Paul in Romans 16:23 as the treasurer of the "city", and in 2 Timothy 4:20 he was said by Paul to have remained in Corinth in Achaia.

It may be seen that Antipas III the treasurer of Jerusalem was the Fifth of this verse, a presbyter of grade 5 holding a bowl of money. He remained in the homeland, stayed in the royal palace, and was subsequently killed by the rebels. His "kingdom" meant the ministry under him, Costobar-Gaius and Saul-Erastus. They were "darkened" because they went over to Nero, who was head of the Sons of Darkness, the Romans.

At 3 pm Agrippa at the lectern in his Jerusalem palace was asked by the Christians to read from Mark's gospel, the "tongues". It was for the bishops who went to the Diaspora as Christian missionaries, speaking other languages. Agrippa"gnawed" it, making it his own , just as a gospel was "eaten" in Revelation 10:10. He thereby declared that he was a Christian on the side of the Diaspora, meaning that he was pro-Rome. Josephus records that in the course of the war he addressed the crowds from his palace roof, saying that God was on the side of Rome (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 391). He was "out of the toil", meaning next to Ananus the Younger, because he relied on Ananus to conduct the fighting.

68 AD

JANUARY 68 AD

Friday January 1, 68 AD. In the Jerusalem palace of Agrippa.

Revelation 16:11 Agrippa with Ananus the Younger made the new high priest arm the temple. The new Magus became a deputy to Agrippa, in order to obtain Herodian money from him. Another deputy was Antipas the treasurer of Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:11

16:11. kai eblasphēmēsan ton theon tou ouranou ek tōn ponōn autōn kai ek tōn helkōn autōn, kai ou metenoēsan ek tōn ergōn autōn

16:11. And they (RLR to the Men, vv 10, 9) blasphemed (past tense west) the God of the Heaven out of the toils of them (the Men). And out of the sores of them (Men). And they (the Men) did not repent out of the works of them (Men).

16:11. Agrippa in his Jerusalem palace was now torn between the militants and moderates, with Matthias Annas II in the temple claiming to be above war. Ananus the Younger was acting as his deputy. At the council on January 1 Agrippa required Matthias Annas II to take part in fighting by fortifying the temple. The new Magus who had succeeded Simon Magus claimed the position of a deputy to Agrippa in order to get Herodian money from him. Antipas the treasurer of Jerusalem, a married man living in the Nazirite state, also became a deputy to Agrippa,who would not adopt the Baptist view that it all could be left to heaven.

Revelation does not record the deaths of Ananus the Younger and Joshua the Pharisee high priest at this time.


THE DEATH OF ANANUS THE YOUNGER

Josephus gives full account of the death of Ananus in Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4. In Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4:163-192 he attributes to him a long speech to stir up the populace against the violent zealots. The speech mentioned his old age - he had been a young man in the gospel period as Zacchaeus and as the Merari , the guard at Jesus' cave. In Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4, 314-318, Josephus records Ananus' death at the hands of the Idumeans, the violent zealots from Masada.

" The Idumeans...went in search of the chief priests (Ananus and Joshua son of Gamaliel who had made a similar speech)... and they were soon captured and slain. Then, standing over their dead bodies, they scoffed at Ananus for his patronage of the people and at Jesus (Joshua) for the address which he had delivered from the wall. They actually went so far in their impiety as to cast out the corpses without burial, although the Jews are so careful about funeral rites that even malefactors who have been sentenced to crucifixion are taken down and buried before sunset. I should not be wrong in saying that the capture of the city began with the death of Ananus, and that the overthrow of the walls and the downfall of the Jewish state dated from the day on which the Jews beheld their high priest, the captain of their salvation, butchered in the heart of Jerusalem."

JUNE 68 AD

SIXTH BOWL

Thursday June 2, 68 AD, 6 am. Plan to go to Babylon

Revelation 16:12 The moderates saw that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed, and some of them decided to transfer themselves and their property to Babylon. It was from there that celibate proselytes and Diaspora Essenes, the Magians, had come

Revelation 16:12

16:12. Kai ho hektos execheen tēn phialēn autou epi ton potamon ton megan ton Euphratēn. kai exēranthē to hydōr autou, hina hetoimasthē hē hodos tōn basileōn tōn apo anatolēs hēliou

16:12. And the Sixth poured out the bowl of him upon (+ accusative) the River the great the Euphrates. And was dried up the water of it (Euphrates), in order that should be prepared the Way of the kings the ones from the East of the Sun.

16:12. Following the death of Ananus, some leaders of the moderates saw that Jerusalem would inevitably be destroyed, and it would be better to remove themselves and their property to Babylon on the Euphrates. This was where Hillel the Great had begun his program of proselytizing Gentiles, making circumcised celibate proselytes members of the Way. The Magians of Diaspora Essenes had also come from there. Married pilgrims did not attend there, only celibates. Babylon was the direction to which 6 am sunrise pointed

SEPTEMBER 68 AD

Thursday September 1 68 AD. In Judea.

Revelation 16:13 By September only the extremists were left, determined to defend Jerusalem to the last. They formed a new triarchy reproducing the Dragon, the Calf and the Beast of 6 AD. The Calf was Bernicianus son of Bernice, associated with Simon Gioras.

Revelation 16:13

16:13. Kai eidon ek tou stomatos tou drakontos kai ek tou stom atos tou thēriou kai ek tou stomatos tou pseudoprophētou pneumata tria akatharta hōs batrachoi

16:13 And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} out of the mouth of the Dragon. And out of the mouth of the Beast. And out of the mouth of the false prophet spirits 3 unclean as frogs.

16:13. The date of September 1, 68 AD, is given by the appearance of "frogs". They were the 2nd plague in the final set of 7 "plagues" for the 7 year campaign 63 to 70 AD, appearing in September 68 AD of the final set. See Plague in the Lexicon. The "frogs" may be seen to mean Simon Gioras from Gerasa, a married man and militant Therapeut, who after the death of Ananus the Younger became the leader of the war and was held responsible for it by the Romans. After the final victory of Titus he was taken to Rome as the main figure in his triumph (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4, 503; Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7, 154).

On Thursday evening, September 1, the regular evening meal of ascetics was held in Agrippa's palace. The leaders on row 7 at the table were observed by Tychicus from his west guest seat. A new extremist triarchy had been formed , reproducing that of 6 AD: a Dragon, a Calf and a Beast. The Dragon was now a Pharisee high priest; the Calf was Benicianus the son of Bernice, whom she claimed to be the Herod successor; and the Beast was Eleazar of Masada. Simon Gioras was associated with Bernicianus. He was an "unclean Spirit of grade 3" because he officiated at services like a celibate, although he was a married man.


DEATH OF NERO

In 68 AD Nero was forced into suicide by a plot against him led by Galba. During the following year, 68 to 69, there were three successive emperors, Galba, Otho and Vitellius. Stability was restored by Vespasian, who became emperor for the east in 69 AD, came to Rome in 70, and reigned until 79 AD , to be succeeded by his son Titus. Vespasian, a solid personality, was obliged to finish the war, leaving it to Titus when he had to go to Rome to become emperor. But when in Rome he set out to make up to the Jews resident there for Nero's injustice to them.

The Day of Atonement, September 19, 68 AD. In the Jerusalem temple.

Revelation 16:14 Eleazar with the extremists claimed more and more power. Through Bernicianus he gained full control of Masada and its stored wealth, disregarding Agrippa. Matthias Annas II observed the Day of Atonement as high priest in the temple. Political debate broke out on this sacred occasion.

Revelation 16:14

16:14. eisin gar pneumata daimoniōn poiounta sēmeia, ha ekporeuetai epi tous basileis tēs oikoumenēs holēs, synagagein autous eis ton polemon tēs hēmeras tēs megalēs tou theou tou pantokratoros.

16:14. For spirits of demons (plu rep) making signs are (present tense center) which (signs) travel out (singular verb with neuter plural, present tense center) upon (with accus.) the kings (plu rep)of the whole household¸to lead-with them (kings) at the war of the Day the Great of God the All-seizing.

16:14. With Ananus the Younger out of the way, Eleazar as "Spirits of demons"claimed more and more power,giving promotions independently of Agrippa, using the Hebrew letters. He promoted Bernicianus the son of Bernice, whom she claimed to be the rightful heir of the Herods. Bernicianus gave him access to Masada, with its stores of food and money. On the sacred Day of Atonement at which Matthias Annas II officiated as high priest in the temple, political argument broke out between Eleazar and the archbishop deputy of the high priest.

69 AD

JANUARY 69 AD

Midnight and 4 am beginning Sunday January 1, 69 AD. At Qumran.

Revelation 16:15 At Qumran on New Year's Day the Essene monastic rules were kept, with a vigil at midnight and a teacher and a guard at the pillar bases in loc 100.

Revelation 16:15

16:15. Idou erchomai hōs kleptēs. makarios ho grēgorōn kai tērōn ta himatia autou, hina mē gymnos peripatē kai blepōsin tēn aschēmosynēn autou.

16:15. see{eidon} I (Tychicus) come{erchomai} as a thief, A Blessed One watching. And keeing the garments{himatia} of him (Blessed One), in order that not- naked he (one keeping) may walk. And they (RLR to kings in v. 14) see{blepō} the shame{aschēmosynē} of him (not- naked one).

16:15. At midnight Tychicus stood on the north base outside the Qumran vestry, with Eleazar as a zealot "thief" in front of him. Within the vestry the Chief Therapeut was conducting the midnight vigil at the center of row 6, wearing a surplice. At 12:05 am a celibate replaced Tychicus on the north base, to give teaching.

At 4 am it was time for use of the latrine at Qumran according to the monastic rule.

Sunday, January 1, 69 AD. 6 am Qumran.

Revelation 16:16 The celibate teacher led the archbishop to the Qumran esplanade, to dedicate it as a battleground.

Revelation 16:16

16:16. kai synēgagen autous eis ton topon ton kaloumenon Hebaisti Harmagedōn

16:16 And he (RLR to the celibate "not naked"v. 15) led-with them (RLR to kings, vv. 14 and 15) at the place called in Hebrew Armagedon.

16:16 Following the death of Nero and the short reigns of the 3 emperors the more reliable Vespasian was chosen as the next emperor. He was finishing the Jewish war, and a few years earlier had come down to Qumran for the episode recorded by Josephus, to see for himself the properties of the Dead Sea, on which it was possible to float but not sink (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4, 476).

The celibates of Qumran anticipated that there might be a battle with him on the southern esplanade. The archbishop wearing black, who could go near unclean places, was taken to see it and dedicate it, using its Hebrew name But Vespasian was concerned only with finishing the destruction of Jerusalem. He left for Rome, arriving to be crowned in June 69 AD. His son Titus was left to finish the war.

JUNE 69 AD

SEVENTH BOWL

Friday June 2, 69 AD, 7 am. In Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:17 Vespasian, undoing the damage done by Nero, had shown a reasonable attitude to Agrippa. The donations from the 7th bowl were given at the set time to Agrippa and Bernice to finance their journey to Rome to pay homage. It meant the end of the royal presence in the homeland.

Revelation 16:17

16:17. Kai ho hebdomos execheen tēn phialēn autou epi ton aera, kai exēlthen phonē megalē ek tou naou apo tou thronou legousa, Gegonen.

16:17. And the Seventh poured out the bowl of him (the Seventh) upon (+ accusative) the air. And came-out{erchomai} a Great Voice out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying, "It has come about".

16:17. At 7 am on Friday June 2, 69 AD, the decision was made to give the donations for 69 to 70 AD to Agrippa II and Bernice, to enable them to return to Rome to meet Vespasian the new emperor. It was known that he intended to undo the damage done by Nero, and would receive them personally. From the upper floor of his Jerusalem palace Agrippa announced the departure of the king as a new stage in the history of the country.

SEPTEMBER 69 AD

Friday September 1 , 69 AD, in Ephesus, both houses.

Revelation 16:18 Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Ephesus September 69 AD on their way to Rome. They stayed in their own houses in Ephesus, with rival ministries.

Revelation 16:18

16:18. kai egenonto astrapai kai phōnai kai brontai, kai seismos egento megas hoios ouk egeneto aph hou anthrōpos egeneto epi tēs gēs tēlikoutos seismos houtō megas.

16:18. And came about Lightnings. And Voices. And Thunders. And Earthquake came about great, such as not came about from which a Man{anthrōpos} came about upon (+ genitive) the Earth , an end Earthquake thus great.

16:18. After a 3 months journey, the royal party reached Ephesus on their way to Rome. The king and queen stayed in their own Ephesus houses. There were two cardinals for the different houses, called Thunder and Lightning. Thunder was Matthias Annas II, who had come with Agrippa, leaving the Jerusalem temple to the Dragon, a Pharisee. On Friday September 1, 69 AD he observed Agrippa's birthday, as his predecessor under the same title Thunder had done in Revelation 10:4. Lightning was the Magian cardinal in Bernice's house, the successor of Simon Magus. Voices meant Agrippa as head of the voting council.

Jesus Justus had come with Bernice, and performed the role of the New Adam at observances for proselytes in her house near the seashore. The Chief Therapeut had come from Qumran, leaving it deserted. In Bernice's house he gave initiations to married men and proselytes at 3 am.

70 AD

JANUARY 70 AD

Midnight beginning Monday January 1, 70 AD. In the three different Herodian houses in Rome.

Revelation 16:19 Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Rome January 1, 70 AD. There were now three houses of Herods in Rome. Agrippa invited Vespasian to dine in his Vineyard house, as was the custom. Bernice was invited.

Revelation 16:19

16:19. kai egeneto hē polis hē megalē eis tria merē, kai hai poleis tōn ethnōn epesan. kai Babylōn hē megalē emnēsthē enōpion tou theou dounai autē to pōtērion tou oinou tou thymou tēs orgēs autou.

16:19. And came about the great city at part 3. And the cities of the Gentiles fell. And Babylon the Great was remembered Before{enōpion} God to give to her (Babylon the Great) the cup of the wine of the Wrath of the Fury of him (the Man J Justus v. 18).

16:19. The royal party arrived in Rome in time for the council of January 1, 70 AD. There were now 3 Herodian houses in Rome, from which the history would continue: the Vineyard house of Agrippa just inside the south wall of Rome on the east of the Tiber; Tiber Island for a new Antipas Herod with Jewish Christians; and the house of Bernice to which she had transferred on the west bank of the Tiber.

The house of Bernice may be identified as in the vicinity of the present St Cecilia's church, which lies on the west bank of the Tiber approximately opposite the west bridge from the Tiber Island. See Figure 21 below. The Vatican site is about 3 kilometers north-west of it. It may be understood as originally the Magian monastery, from which the Magus came down to the house of Bernice, in a relationship of the two buildings corresponding to Qumran 3 kilometers north of Ain Feshkha.

Figure 21

Figure 21. map of upper Rome.


Photo UU

Photo UU. Tiber Island.


Christian celibate Gentiles were called a "city" and sat on the south side of the meal table on row 10. Their leader knelt when given food from the table. Bernice, called Babylon the Great from the original name for the women of Tiber Island, was invited to a meal to be attended by Vespasian and Titus. She now had in her house a Hellenist Annas who accepted being called "God". She brought him to the north base outside the cathedral and arranged for her name to be recorded by the Hellenist as a member of the cathedral. She would be one of the leaders at the meal with Vespasian, sharing the cup of fermented wine.

Monday January 1, 70 AD, 3 am. In Agrippa's Vineyard house in Rome.

Revelation 16:20 At the banquet Vespasian became aware of the affair of Bernice and his son Titus and her hope of marrying him. He refused to dine with her again.

Revelation 16:20

16:20. kai pasa nēsos ephygen, kai orē ouch heurethēsan.

16:20. And All Island fled. And Mountains were not found.

16:20. When Vespasian at the banquet heard about Bernice' affair with his son Titus, and her ambition to marry him and become queen in Rome, he refused to dine with her again.


Bernice's affair with Titus

The story of Bernice's affair with Titus the son of Vespasian is tactfully omitted by Josephus, but was told by Roman historians. She had become sexually involved with him even while he was conducting the last stages of the siege of Jerusalem. At that time she was acting as the heroic queen, much more courageous than her brother Agrippa in de fence of Jerusalem. She aroused Titus, and in true Herodian fashion was prepared to use sex to gain power.


According to Dio Cassius (Epitomes, Books 65,66), in 75 AD "Bernice was at the very height of her power and consequently came to Rome along with her brother Agrippa ...she dwelt in the palace, cohabiting with Titus. She expected to marry him and was already behaving in every respect as if she were his wife; but when he perceived that the Romans were displeased with the situation, he sent her away. For, in addition to all the other talk there was, certain sophists of the Cynic school managed somehow to slip into the city ... and first Diogenes, entering the theatre when it was full, denounced the pair in a long, abusive speech, for which he was flogged; and after him Heras, expecting no harsher punishment, gave vent to many useless yelpings in true Cynic fashion, and for this was beheaded." (65, 15, 4-5). When Titus succeeded his father as emperor, Bernice came to Rome again, but he sent her away (66, 8, 1).

January 1, 70 AD, noon. In the Rome house of Agrippa

Revelation 16:21 When the emperor left Agrippa's house on account of Bernice, her party attempted to take it over, confident of the support of Titus when he returned. But Agrippa used his personal influence with the emperor to have them removed.

Revelation 16:21

16:21. kai chalaza megalē hōs talantiaia katabainei ek tou ouranou epi tous anthrōpous. kai eblasphēmēsan hoi anthrōpoi ton theon ek tēs plēgēs tēs chalazēs, hoti megalē estin hē plēgē autēs sphodra.

16:21 And Hail great as talents goes down (present tense center) out of the Heaven upon (+accusative) the Men{anthrōpos}. And they (the Men) blasphemed (past tense west) the God out of the plague of Hail, that great is (present tense center) the plague of it (Hail) exceedingly.

16:21 When Vespasian left Agrippa's house as a sign of disapproval, Bernice thought she saw her opportunity of taking over the house, confident that Titus would marry her as soon as he returned from Jerusalem. In accordance with the decision to store the vast Herodian property in distant places, Babylon and Rome, the Rome share was brought by Bernicianus son of Bernice, here called "talents". He had joined Eleazar who would become the despot of Masada. Masada overlooking the Dead Sea was the Herodian summer palace where much of the wealth was stored.

In the system of Plagues for the 7 years 63 to 70 AD, Hail was due to appear as the last on January 1, 70 AD. See Plague in the Lexicon. Eleazar now claimed the name Great Hail for himself. Taking advantage of the embarrassment of Agrippa when the emperor left his house, Eleazar came to its upper floor, Heaven, and announced that he was now in charge and that Bernicianus was the rightful Herod crown prince. At he sent Bernicianus down to the middle floor to Agrippa's place at the center. The Hellenist Annas from Bernice's house took the place of the levite. Then Eleazar as leader, Plague of Hail, and Bernicianus as his deputy, Great Plague, sat side by side in the center of row 7 on the middle floor for the noon meal.

Agrippa, knowing that he had personal influence with Vespasian, went to the lectern on the middle floor and denounced the invaders, and especially the new Hellenist priest from Bernice's house, saying that he was an anti-Roman zealot. They knew he could prove it, and the threat was enough to have them removed. They left and went back to Bernice's house, where she waited until the arrival of Titus the following year.

Revelation 17

JUNE 70 AD

Midnight beginning Friday June 1, 70 AD. In the Rome cathedral, the house of Agrippa.

Revelation 17:1 A council was held in Agrippa's house, now the center of organization. Bernice was to be condemned for having offended the emperor.

Revelation 17:1

17:1. Kai ēlthen heis ek tōn hepta angelōn tōn echontōn tas hepta phialas, kai elalēsen met emou legōn, Deuro, deixō soi to krima tēs pornēs tēs megalēs tēs kathēmenēs epi hydatōn pollōn.

17:1 And came{erchomai} (past tense west) a number 1 out of the 7 angels having the 7 bowls. And he (number 1) spoke (past tense west) with (+ genitive) me ( Tychicus) saying, " Come{deute}, I will show (future tense east) to you the judgment of the harlot the great one sitting upon (+ genitive) many waters

17:1 With Agrippa's court now in Rome under Vespasian, it became the center of organization and mission. The abbey was rebuilt east of the cathedral. A successor to Timothy was appointed as the abbot of Rome, which was now called province 7 replacing Ephesus. "Bowl 7" using the cardinal number instead of the ordinal "seventh" means that it was the end of the 7th year, June 70 AD not June 69 as in 16:17. The bowl was placed on row 12 as usual.

Tychicus had come with the royal court and was present for the cathedral council of June 1. The deputy of the abbot told him that Bernice, whose house was west of Tiber Island, was to be judged by the council, as she had offended the emperor.

Friday, June 1, 70 AD, 1 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:2 At 1 am there was revelry in the house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:2

17:2. meth' hēs eporneusan hoi basileis tēs gēs. kai emethysthēsan hoi katoikountes tēn gēn ek tou oinou tēs porneias autēs.

17:2. With (+ genitive) whom (fem, Plague 16:21) the kings of the Earth fornicated. And became drunk{potizō} the dwellers on the Earth (accus) out of the wine of the fornication of it (fem, Earth, )

17:2. Agrippa himself was being punished for his incest with Bernice, and was not present at the council but was at Bernice's house. A proselyte was present , a practicing homosexual, equal to Bernicianus the son of Bernice. The Chief Therapeut Apollos was also present there, drinking Bernice's fermented wine without restraint

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 3 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:3 Bernice was joined by the Magus , successor of Simon Magus, wearing the scarlet of a cardinal. Her two sons were present.

Revelation 17:3

17:3. kai apēnengken me eis erēmon en pneumati. kai eidon gynaika kathēmenēn epi thērion kokkinon,onomata blasphēmias, echōn kephalas hepta kai kerata deka.

17:3. And he (RLR to Earth v. 2 ) brought-from me (Tychicus) at a wilderness in a Spirit. And I saw{eidon} a Woman sitting upon (with accusative) a Scarlet Beast, Names of blasphemy, he having (masculine present participle,used with neuter Beast) head 7. And horn 10.

17:3. By 2 am the council in the cathedral was finished, and Tychicus went to Bernice;s house, a hermitage, to report the decision, reaching it at 3 am via the bridges of Tiber Island. He joined Agrippa, and sat as west guest on row 7, in the same row as the Hellenist Annas , who at first sat center 7 as the Spirit.

The Magus successor of Simon Magus, a cardinal, lived normally in his monastery school on the site of the Vatican, about 3 kilometers north of Bernice's house. on the west bank of the Tiber, Following the example of Simon Magus, he often came to her house, where the mistress of the Magus lived. He wore scarlet when outside his monastery, according to the rule of 1QM 7:11-13, so was called the Scarlet Beast. He was head of West Manasseh, forming a pair with Eleazar the Beast head of East Manasseh.

At 3:05 am Bernice came to sit at the center east of row 7, beside the Magus center west. She was showing her superiority as queen. On the south side of the table on row 10 sat her two sons, the elder Bernicianus born January 44 AD, the younger Hyrcanus born 47 AD, born of her marriage with her uncle Herod of Chalcis. They were "Head 7 and Horn 10". Hyrcanus at age 23 had just become an initiate at grade 7, so wore the number 7 on his headband. Bernicianus approaching age 27 would soon graduate, becoming an archbishop, a Calf with horns. He was called Calf 10 because the nationalists still treated Rome as province 10, the limit of the world, whereas the Christians in the cathedral had renamed Rome as province 7 and looked further west for their mission field.

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 3 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:4 At 3 am Bernice acted as a queen, dressed in the finery and jeweler bought with her Herodian money. She claimed to be a priestess, wearing the purple of a queen and the scarlet of a cardinal.

Revelation 17:4

17:4. kai hē gynē en peribeblēmenē porphyroun kai kokkinon, kai kechrysōmenē chrysiō kai lithō timiō kai margaritais, echousa potērion chrysoun en tē cheiri autēs gemon bdelygmatōn kai ta akatharta tēs porneias autēs

17:4. And the Woman was (past tense, west) around-thrown purple. And scarlet. And gilded with gold. And to a stone price. And to pearls, she having a cup gold in the hand of her, full of abominations.And the unclean things of the fornication of her (the Woman).

17:4. 3 am was the hour for the promotion ceremonies of Gentiles and women, being the hour for "Earthquake" in the Exodus imagery of the capture of Jericho. Bernice acted as queen in ceremonial garments and jewels, bought from her Herodian wealth.

She claimed to be both an archbishop and a cardinal, wearing a purple vestment for royalty, and a scarlet one because as a priestess she was equal to a cardinal. Both the colors, originally those of levitical priests (Exodus 26:1) were worn by priests when in the outside world (1QM 7:11-13). She wore gold that was the metal for priests (gold for priests, silver for levites), She also wore the precious stone, the jewel of a congregation member who paid a fee, a sapphire of the third levitical color, blue, giving her the name Sapphira used for Helena in Acts 5:1. She also wore the pearl for Wisdom, the female teacher. As a priestess she gave communion in a gold chalice for sacred wine, as well as a bread paten for the sacred bread.

Two men excluded by the cathedral were given communion in her house: a pagan who was against Rome, and a married man exercising forms of ministry reserved for celibates.

Friday June 1, 70 AD 3 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:5 Bernice's titles were written on the document in her phylactery. They had a pesher, meaning that she was to be queen of Rome. She was the Sarah to an order of women who used sex to gain initiates.

Revelation 17:5

17:5. kai epi to metōpon autēs onoma gegrammenon, mystērion, Babylōn hē megalē , hē mētēr tōn pornōn kai tōn bdelygmatōn tēs gēs.

17:5. And upon (+ accusative) the forehead of her a Name written, mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of the harlots. And of the abominations of the Earth.

17:5. On a phylactery at the center of Bernice's forehead an initiate's new name was written, a term having a pesher. "Babylon the Great" meant that she would be queen of Rome. The Mother meant that she was the Sarah to the order of Asher including proselytes. "Of harlots" meant that the females of her order of Asher used sex to gain initiates (Revelation 2:20-22). The anti-Rome pagan in her house was a subordinate of Agrippa.

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 4 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:6 Bernice demanded gifts of fermented wine as payment from Christian monastics from the cathedral, who kept the Essene rule of visiting a latrine an hour away at 4 am. Tychicus from his west guest seat saw her still drinking wine at 4 am and turned decisively against her.

Revelation 17:6

17:6 kai eidon tēn gynaika methuousin ek tou haimatos tōn hagiōn kai ek tou haimatos tōn martyrōn Iēsou. kai ethaumasa idōn autēn thauma mega.

17:6 And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} the Woman drunk{potizō} out of the blood of the Saints, And out of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I marvelled things{thaumazō} seeing{eidon} her (the Woman) a great marvel{thaumazō}.

17:6. The house of Bernice, an hour's walk from the cathedral, was used as a latrine by Christian monastics according to the Essene rule. They reached it at 4 am. They included the head of the monastic order of Dan and Linus the successor of Peter, both of whom drank fermented wine as a symbol of willingness for martyrdom. Bernice demanded from them a gift of fermented wine as payment for their visits. Tychicus observed the wine containers beside Bernice, who was still drinking at 4 am, He turned decisively against her.

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 4 am. Outside and inside the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:7 The abbot had come with the two celibates in order to supervise.On their way back to the cathedral he gave Tychicus the pesher of the emblems used by Bernice's house.

Revelation 17:7

17:7. kai eipen moi ho angelos, Dia ti ethaumasas; egō erō soi to mystērion tēs gynaikos kai tou thēriou tou bastazontos autēn. tou echontos tas hepta kephalas kai ta deka kerata

17:7. And said (past tense west) to me (Tychicus)the angel, "On account of T you have marvelled{thaumazō}. I will say (future tense east) to you the mystery of the Woman. And of the Beast carrying her, the one (Beast) having the 7 heads. And the 10 horns.

17:7. The abbot had come with the two Christian celibates in order to supervise, as in 16:15. The building they were using corresponded to a shed at the SW corner as at Ain Feshkha, Figure 8 below.

Figure 8

Figure 8. The ruins of Ain Feshkha


It had become the custom to solve a pesher on these private occasions, as in Luke 24: 32. The abbot said to Tychicus, "You have changed your views so as to be fully Christian, using the lay Christian's T sign of the cross. On our way back to the cathedral I will give you the pesher of the emblems used by Bernice and Eleazar. Hyrcanus of grade 7 is also a servant of Eleazar. Bernicianus is the Calf, the archbishop of Rome, still called province 10 as the western limit of the world."

At the same time, 4 am , Eleazar the Beast had replaced the Magus who had been there at 3 am as the deputy of Bernice at the west center of row 7. Eleazar "carried" her, implying a similarity to a beast of burden.

Friday June 1, 70 AD. 4 am and 7 am. Outside and inside the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:8 The varying rules of uncleanness applicable in Bernice's house were put into practice at 4 am, followed by breakfast at 7:05 am. Eleazar and Apollos allied in a plan to go back to Judea and continue fighting for national liberation,

Revelation 17:8

17:8. to thērion ho eides ēn kai ouk estin, kai mellei anabainein ek tēs abyssou, kai eis apōleian hypagei. kai thaumasthēsontai hoi katoikountes ountes epi tēs gēs, hōn ou gegraptai to onoma epi to biblion tēs zōēs apo katabolēs kosmou, blepontōn to thērion hoti ēn kai ouk estin kai parestai.

17:8. The Beast which you (Tychicus) saw{eidon} was (past tense west,). And he (the Beast) not-is (present tense negated, so future, to the levite's seat). And he (the Beast) is about to (present tense center) go up out of the abyss. And at Destruction{apōleia} he leads-under. And will marvel{thaumazō} (future tense east) the dwellers upon (with genitive) the Earth, of whom (masculine plural to dwellers) was not written the Name upon (with accusative) the book of the Life from the down-throwing of a world, they (dwellers) seeing{blepō} the Beast that he (the Beast) was (past tense west). And he (the Beast) not-is (present tense negated, so future,). And he (the Beast) will be (future tense east) beside.

17:8 The image of Eleazar the Beast as a an animal was carried through to the extent of his having different latrine arrangements at 4 am. The visiting Christian celibates used an enclosed shed at the SW corner of the house. But Eleazar the Beast did what an animal would do. On each side of the Tiber Island the river was used in two different ways, the east side for fresh running water, the west side for sewerage. Eleazar went to the west side, taking only 5 minutes, unlike the lengthy process of monastic celibates.

Rows 12 and 13 of Bernice's 1 story house were used for men at the village level, and it was to these rows that Eleazar came back at 4:05 am. He relaxed, lying across all 4 cubits at the center and sides of row 13. The hour was now 3 hours before 7:05 am, when his non-monastic village class took breakfast. The Therapeuts as workers took breakfast and an evening meal, while Essene monastics made the meal the first of their day. Tychicus came to the west guest seat of row 13 to record his movements and report them to the cathedral.

At 4:05 am Eleazar on row 13 was "out of the abyss", that is to the east of something west. He was just finishing at the edge of the unclean water. To his west was the spot called both the Sea and the Abyss. These names were now used for the house of Bernice, its south boundary on row 13. She had transferred from Tiber Island, previously called the Sea, and that name was now used for her house. It was also called the Abyss, because in an underground cavity under her house was the place for storage of her wealth, It was equivalent to the reserve vault at Qumran. Money could be buried underground in Rome, as shown in the parable of the pounds (Matthew 25:18). A further detail shows that female money was buried, the term taphos used for the corresponding place in Cave 8 at Qumran (Matthew 28:1).

Eleazar remained on row 13 of her house until 7:05 am, time for breakfast. While he was on row 13 he had "gone up", a term used absolutely, not relatively, for row 13, as the row to which villagers attained when they became leaders. The row was also called Destruction, as being at the level of a latrine. Then at 7:05 am he stepped up to row 12, a clean row for having breakfast. The word "lead under", hyagei, always refers to row 12. He was there "at (eis) Destruction", being on the row above the unclean row.

The first part of 17:8 presents this conundrum for unraveling by drawing on the special meanings of terms. The next part, from kai thaumasthēsontai onwards, gives another set of facts by the same method , that Apollos the Chief Therapeut - still alive after his betrayal of Jesus on Malta in January 61 (Acts 28:3-5) had allied with Eleazar in a plan to go back to Judea to fight again for the liberation of the homeland.

The Chief Therapeut was the Downdwellers, being non-monastic. Apollos "marvelled", that is made a change of doctrine, adopted some monastic practices for the sake of a soldier's discipline. At a time when food was not being taken he stood on row 9 in Bernice's house, so that there were 3 cubits between him and Eleazar on row 13, requiring the verb blepō.

Yet another person was present in Bernice's house, Jesus Justus the Name, a title for the Davids. Having been born June 37 AD, he turned 33 on this day. With Apollos, he also adopted a more monastic discipline, so that his name was struck out of the list of members of the Therapeuts, who represented the "world",kosmos. He now resumed the status of a dynast attached to a monastery. He would not go back to the homeland with Eleazar and Apollos, but would stay in Rome for his wedding at the age of 36.

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 3 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 17:9 On Friday at 3 pm Bernice and her son Hyrcanus were invited to a Christian service at the cathedral.

Revelation 17:9

17:9. hōde ho nous ho echōn sophian. hai hepta kephalai hepta orē eisin, hopou hē gynē kathētai ep' autōn. kai basileis hepta eisin.

17:9. Here the intelligence having Wisdom. The 7 heads 7 Mountains are (present tense center), the where the Woman sits (present tense center) upon (with genitive)them (Mountains). And kings 7 are (present tense center)

17:9. At 3 pm on Friday the sabbath began for traditional Jews. although Christians did not observe it. It was their aim, however, to keep Jewish Christians and women in fellowship. Hyrcanus the younger son of Bernice, who was Head 7 in her house, was less hard line than his brother Bernicianus, and he brought his mother Bernice to a 3 pm observance in the cathedral. She was invited as an educated woman, a teacher of Wisdom. She and Hyrcanus were seated on row 10 south of the table on the middle floor, he in the superior role of an Adam,she west center beside him as an Eve. Since row 10 was at the top of cathedral steps and likened to a mountain, he accepted being called Mountain 7, using the revised numbering of Rome as a Province 7 to allow for further mission west.

The archbishop attached to the cathedral, using the number 7, presided as Intelligence at the center of row 7.A female teacher could act as his servant. The position was that of Linus the successor of Peter.

Friday June 1, 70 AD 3 pm. In the house of Antipas IV on Tiber Island.

Revelation 17:10 The sabbath on Friday at 3 pm was observed in some form in all three Herodian houses in in Rome. On Tiber Island Jewish Christians observed it.

Revelation 17:10

17:10. hoi pente epesan, ho heis estin, ho allos oupō ēlthen, kai hotan elthē oligon auton dei meinai.

17:10 The Five fell (past tense west), the One is (present tense center), the Other Not Yet came{erchomai} (past tense west). And when{hotan} he (Other) comes, a Few he (Other) must remain.

17:10 In the house of Antipas IV on Tiber Island, the sabbath of Jewish Christians was observed at the same time, at 3 pm. Antipas a married man, a presbyter, knelt at the lectern. A bishop presided at the center of row 7. A Gentile in the tradition of James Niceta took the west guest seat. Taught by the strict Sadducee Matthew Annas, he observed the sabbath at 3 pm in a Jewish Christian form,

James Niceta had been the "Wheat thrown into the Sea" in Acts 27: 38. In 61AD at the arrival of the ship's company in Rome, he went to live on Tiber Island, then called the Sea. He was in the married class of the order of Asher, but chose a strict rule of marriage like that of Nazirites. With Peter his Jewish teacher he was the first Gentile to use the name Christian (Acts 11:26). Under Vespasian he had reasonable security and influence, as he was a relative of the imperial family, although an illegitimate one.

Friday, June 1, 70 AD, 4 pm. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:11 In Bernice's house the 4 pm sabbath rule was observed. Jesus Justus formed a pair with the proselyte in Bernice's house.

Revelation 17:11

17:11. kai to thērion ho ēn kai ouk estin, kai autos ogdoos estin kai ek tōn hepta estin, kai eis apōleian hypagei.

17:11. And the Beast which was (past tense west). And he (Beast) not-is (present tense negated, so future, to the bishops' seat). And He an eighth is (present tense center). And out of the Seven he (eighth) is (present tense center). And at Destruction{apōleia} he leads-under.

17:11 In Bernice's house at 4 pm the latrine rule was observed by the Beast Eleazar, who lay across row 13 on his return (17:8). In the center of row 10 Jesus Justus with the proselyte formed an Adam and Eve. Jesus Justus was the 8th as the David over the second week of the fortnightly courses, see the Lexicon. On his return from the facility under Bernice's house (where her money as "filthy lucre" was buried), Jesus Justus went to the "clean" row 12.

Friday June 1, 70 AD, 6 pm and 7 pm. In the Rome cathedral and the house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:12 In the evening, when different sabbath rules were observed in the two buildings, the celibate proselyte transferred from Bernice's house to the Christian cathedral. Apollos remained in Bernice's house.He was ordained to their ministry at their 6 pm council, and at 7 pm given the right to promote proselytes, making him equal to Eleazar.

Revelation 17:12

17:12. kai ta deka kerata ha eides deka basileis eisin, hoitines b asileian oupō elabon, alla exousian hōs basileis mian hōran lambanousin meta tou thēriou.

17:12. And the 10 horns which you (Tychicus) saw{eidon} 10 kings are (present tense west), the Certain Ones a kingdom not yet received (past tense west), nevertheless authority as kings 1 hour receive (present tense center) with (with genitive) the Beast.

17:12 At 6 pm at Bernice's house the three chief militants were holding a council instead of the evening meal, as was usual in Jewish practice. They were her son Bernicianus, Apollos and Eleazar the Beast. Bernicianus as the Calf, Horn 10, continued to call Rome Province 10 as previously done under the Herodian system of taxation for Diaspora Jews. It was treated as the last taxable province, the extreme of the world, whereas Christians in the cathedral had adjusted the numbering of Rome to mean that there were further places beyond it.

At 7 pm, hour 1 of the night, Apollos the Chief Therapeut gave promotions to his ministers, who included proselytes, He treated the year, 70 AD, as a Not Yet, being 40 years later than 30 AD, when the original end of an Exodus of 40 years had been expected. The calculation of 40 years from 30 AD is made in CD 20:15.


The Fall of Jerusalem, August-September 70 AD

The fall of Jerusalem is not dealt with in Revelation, both because they now treated Rome as the center of mission, and because it had been a disastrous defeat, whereas their numerical calculations had led them to expect victory. The catastrophe is fully described by Josephus in Wars of the Jews 6 & 7. Its final stages were conducted by Titus the son of the new emperor Vespasian. He left Jerusalem in September and would arrive back in Rome for his triumph in March 71 AD.

71 AD

JANUARY 71 AD

Midnight beginning Tuesday January 1 , 71 AD. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:13 It was known that Titus would be in Ephesus on his way back to Rome. In Bernice's house the plan was made by the Magian faction to take over his instruction for becoming a proselyte.

Revelation 17:13

17:13. houtoi mian gnōmen echousin, kai tēn dynamin kai exousian autōn tō thēriō didoasin.

17:13. These Ones have (present tense center) knowledge{ginoskō}. And the power. And authority of them (These Ones) they (These Ones) give (present tense center) to the Beast.

17:13. The celibate Gentiles of the order of Dan had divided on political grounds. Those remaining military elements that they had learned from the gnostic Magians were now called These Ones, a name used for all of them in the gospel period. Those who were for peace and Rome retained the monastic structure under the name Holy Ones, or Saints. These Ones had admitted proselytes of Asher, and in the house of Bernice they handed over to Eleazar the Beast the right to initiate them. They accepted the new Magus as the Power, the Zadokite

It was known from news sent in June that Titus would have left Jerusalem in September, so he would now be in Ephesus on his way back to Rome. During his affair with Bernice in Jerusalem he had begun instruction as a proselyte to Judaism. In the Rome house of Bernice it was planned to hand over his instruction to Eleazar, so that when she became queen of Rome they would achieve social status and their political goal.

Tuesday January 1, 71 AD, noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 17:14 At the noon council in the cathedral Jesus made his last public appearance. He debated with the militant Gentile monastic the question of support for Rome under Vespasian, or continued hostility, and Jesus won the debate.

Revelation 17:14

17:14. houtoi meta tou arniou polemēsousin, kai to arnion nikēsei autous, hoti kyrios kyriōn estin kai baslieus basileōn, kai hoi met' autou klētoi kai eklektoi kai pistoi

17:14. These Ones with (+ genitive) the Lamb will war (future tense east). And the Lamb will conquer (future tense east) them(These Ones) that a Lord of Lords is (present tense center). And a king of kings. And the ones with (+ genitive) him (RLR to king) Called Ones. And Chosen Ones. And faithful ones.

17:14. At the council of all members in Agrippa's house the cathedral, the urgent political question was debated, whether to continue military action against Rome or whether to support Agrippa II in allegiance to Rome under the more peaceful Vespasian. Jesus, aged nearly 77, made his last public appearance at the council. He and the militant Gentile monastic These Ones sat side by side in the eastern seats. Jesus won the debate, in favor of peace. As he was at the same time announcing his retirement, he was confirmed in his permanent title the Lord, a grade 3 and 2 like Sariel. He had stepped down from being a cardinal to the more lay role of archbishop, a "king" grades 4 and 3. He was not grade 1 , that of the Gabriel, a deputy and executive of Agrippa.

Jesus also confirmed the promotions of the 3 laymen who had become the successors of Peter, James Niceta and John Aquila, closest to him in western Gentile mission in the gospel period. The successor of Peter was Linus, appointed lay Pope under the Priest-Pope. As head of the ekklēsia, the called-out pilgrims, he was a "called one".

James Niceta, the first Gentile to use the name Christian (Acts 11:26) had been taught by the strict Sadducee Matthew Annas, of the Few Elect, holding their strict views on moral questions. John Aquila his twin brother was married to Priscilla, and shared the anti-monastic views of the former Pharisee Paul on the value of marriage, including salvation by faith not Nazirite works.

Tuesday January 1, 71 AD, 1 pm to 4 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 17:15 Bernice and her younger son Hyrcanus were invited to the cathedral on this day. From 1 pm to 4 pm the four canonical gospels were read, one at each hour, in the order John, Matthew, Luke and Mark.

Revelation 17:15

17:15. Kai legei moi, ta hydata ha eides hou hē pornē kathētai, laoi kai ochloi eisin kai ethnē kai glōssai.

17:15 And he (RLR to basileus v. 14 Jesus ) says (present tense center seat) to me (Tychicus), " The waters which you (Tychicus) saw{eidon}, of whom (masculine singular relative pronoun RLR to Beast v. 13), the Harlot sits (present tense center), Laymen. And crowds are (present tense center). And Gentiles. And tongues.

17:15. Bernice and her younger son Hyrcanus were again invited to the cathedral for the council on this day, sitting on row 10 where Tychicus sat to observe them. At 1 pm Jesus at the center of row 7 said to Tychicus , "Bernice at the center west of row 10 is the Eve for women , and Hyrcanus at center east is an Adam and also head of eastern pilgrims, as Linus belongs in the west."

On this New Year's Day, as was the Christian custom, readings from the four canonical gospels were given at the successive hours from 1 pm to 4 pm, in the order John, Matthew, Luke and Mark, as this was the order that Jesus preferred.

Tuesday January 1, 71 AD, 6 pm. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:16 At the evening meal in Bernice's house Bernicianus and Eleazar supported her ambition to marry Titus and become queen of Rome, but the Magian Gentile monastic strongly opposed it.

Revelation 17:16

17:16. kai ta deka kerata ha eides kai to thērion, houtoi misēsousin tēn pornēn, kai ēremōmenēn ēn poiēsousin autēn kai gymnēn, kai tas sarkas auēs phagontai, kai autēn katakausousin en pyri.

17:16. And the 10 horns that you (Tychicus) see{eidon}. And the Beast, These Ones will hate (future tense east) the Harlot. And they (These Ones) will make her a hermit. And naked. And the flesh of her they (These Ones) will eat. And her they (These Ones) will scorch in fire.

17.16. At the evening meal in Bernice's house, to which Tychicus had come to observe, she spoke of her intention to marry Titus on his return. Bernicianus and Eleazar approved. But the Magian Gentile of Dan turned decisively against her, rejecting her as a leader. He said she was only a hermit, like other women of Asher. She was not celibate like the women of Dan. At the time for the communal bread blessed by her the Gentile treated it as common, "flesh". She was sent with the proselyte to stand close to the cooking fire, symbolizing the fire of judgment for punishment.

MARCH 71 AD

Midnight beginning Friday March 1, 71 AD. In the Rome house of Bernice,

Revelation 17:17In the light of the imminent arrival of Titus, the quarrel about Bernice's ambitions continued. Jesus Justus severed his membership of the house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:17

17:17. ho gar theos edōken eis tas kardias autōn poiēsai tēn gnōmēn autou, kai poiēsai mian gnōmēn kai dounai tēn basileian autōn tō thēriō, achri telesthēsontai hoi logoi tou theou.

17:17 For God gave (past tense west) at the hearts of them (RLR to These Ones, v.16) to make the know{oida} of him (God). And to make knowing{gnōstos}. And to give the Kingdom of them (These Ones) to the Beast, until{achri} will be ended (future tense east) the Words of God.

17:17. In the light of the imminent arrival of Titus in Bernice's house, the argument about who was to instruct him became intense. The Hellenist Annas in Bernice's house supported the Magian Gentile against Bernicianus and Eleazar, saying that the Gentile should teach Magian doctrine. Samaritan Magians and Hellenists were allied on many issues. But some ministers of the Gentile agreed to let Eleazar make proselytes. At midnight Jesus Justus, now the successor of his father's ministry, ended his membership of Bernice's house, which would lead to a Herodian royalty opposed to the Davids. He was supported by the Hellenist Annas.

Friday March 1, 71 AD, 3 am. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 17:18 When Titus arrived in Bernice's house at 3 am, she arranged the seating so that she sat as the Herodian queen and he was in the place of a servant, ready to be further instructed as a proselyte and move up to be equal to her.

Revelation 17:18

17:18. kai hē gynē hēn eides estin hē polis hē megalē hē echousa basileian epi tōn basileōn tēs gēs.

17:18. And the Woman whom you (Tychicus) saw{eidon} (past tense west) is (present tense center) the great city the one (fem) having a kingdom upon(+ genitive) the kings of the Earth.

17:18 Titus arrived in Bernice's house at 3 am. As a proselyte he was called a "king (graduate) of the Earth". She remained seated center east as the Herodian queen, observed by Tychicus. But she ceased to call herself Babylon the Great as it meant hostility to Rome, calling herself instead the Great City as the head of mission in Rome. Her chief proselyte sat on row 10 west center beside Titus on the east center, from where he would be promoted upwards to be equal to her.

Revelation 18

Friday March 1, 71 AD , noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:1 The cathedral countered Bernice by promoting a Christian who was a relative of the imperial family, John II.

Revelation 18:1

18:1. Meta tauta eidon allon angelon katabainonta ek tou ouranou echonta exousian megalēn, kai hē gē ephōtisthē ek tēs doxēs autou.

18:1. After ( + accusative) These Things I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} (past tense west) an other angel going down out of the Heaven, having authority great. And the Earth was light{phōs} (past tense west) out of the Glory of him (angel).

18:1. The threat posed by Bernice was countered in the cathedral by the appointment of a man qualified to instruct uncircumcised proselytes. He was John II, a relative of the imperial family, a Christian of the order of Asher, who would have a different kind of influence in Rome if he instructed Titus. At noon Tychicus saw him at the center of row 7 on the middle floor, in the place of a visiting abbot, "another angel", who had been invited to preside at the table. At the noon opening of the skylight he sat at the Glory in the center.

At the same hour Agrippa II as the Earth read from the Law of Moses at the lectern, illuminated by the light coming down. Then he went to east of center, to a lesser pulpit, to expound what had been read.

John II was now beginning his progress to become the Christian abbot of Rome in the succession of Timothy, who had died under Nero's persecution. John II was the son of Aquila-John I and Priscilla, close associates of Paul, who had houses in both Ephesus and Rome (Acts 18:26, Romans 16:3. His father John I was an illegitimate relative of the Roman imperial family, his romantic story and that of his twin brother James Niceta told in the Clementine literature. The twins had been brought into the court of Agrippa I to help him gain influence with Caligula, and had become acceptable in Rome because of his continuing as the Jewish king.

Born June 40 AD the year after his father married at the age of 36 (born 3 AD as the Clementines show. (See Clementine Books in Section 4, The Other Gospels) John II was 30 in June 70 AD, the age for obtaining office, but was not yet sufficiently mature to become a ruling abbot. Details of his dates and those of John III show that 18 months more were expected, in two sets of 9 months. John II completed his first 9 months in March 71 as in this verse, and would be fully in charge as the abbot of Rome in January 72, as shown in Revelation 18:21.

His appointment on this day would be a strong counterweight to Bernice. For both of the houses, the control of the mind of Titus a future emperor would be a massive victory.

Friday March 1, 71 AD. 3 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:2 Bernice ,trying to show she was suitable to become queen of Rome ,brought into her house the Herod relatives who had gone over to Rome during the war. Agrippa denounced her for hypocrisy from the cathedral pulpit.

Revelation 18:2

18:2. kai ekrazen en ischyra phōnē legōn, Epesen, epesen Babylōn hē megalē, kai egeneto katoikētērion daimoniōn kai phylakē pantos pneumatos akathartou kai phylakē pantos orneou akathartou kai memisēmenou

18:2. And he (RLR to Earth Agrippa) cried (past tense west) in a strong Voice., "She (RLR to great city fem. Bernice 17:18) fell, Babylon the Great fell.(past tense west). And became (past tense west) a dwelling of demons. And a prison of All Spirit unclean. And a prison of All bird unclean. And of a hated one (masc)

18:2 Bernice, however, fought back, producing some cards up her sleeve by 3 pm. She welcomed at her house the Herod relatives who had gone over to Nero during the war, Saul-Erastus ("demons"), Antipas III (All unclean Spirit) and Costobar-Gaius (All unclean Bird, an "Eagle").

Agrippa II having been told this denounced his sister from the high pulpit on the upper floor of the cathedral, saying, "She is an anti-Rome militant, who has been called Babylon the Great out of hostility to Rome. Yet she has now knelt in homage to Vespasian, and she has brought into her house the renegade Herod relatives who went over to Nero. Titus is rejected by Gentiles as her husband."

Friday March 1, 71 AD, evening. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:3 On the Friday evening after Titus' triumphal procession Vespasian again dined in Agrippa's house to conciliate Jews, bringing Titus with him. Titus confessed that he had had sex with Bernice during the night. Bernice had thus trapped him, because Vespasian was a moralist and would say they should marry. The treasurer of Herodian money gave Bernice large sums of money to array herself as a queen.

Revelation 18:3

18:3. hoti ek tou oinou tou thymou tēs porneias autēs pepōkan panta ta ethnē , kai hoi basileis tēs gēs met' autēs eporneusan, kai hoi emporoi tēs gēs ek tēs dynameōs tou strēnous autēs eploutēsan.

18:3. "that out of the wine of the Wrath of the fornication of her (RLR to Bernice v. 2) All the Gentiles fell(not drunk)(Sinaiticus fell pepokan fall from pipto not potizo). And the kings of the Earth with (+ genitive) her(Bernice) fornicated (past tense west. And the salesmen of the Earth out of the Power of the luxury of her were enriched.

18:3 March 1 being a significant Roman date, Titus held his triumphal march through the streets of Rome, displaying and humiliating Jewish captives such as Simon Gioras (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7, 154). Vespasian was still trying to conciliate Roman Jews, and in the evening he accepted an invitation to dine in Agrippa's house the Vineyard. He brought with him his son Titus, who had now become the"fornication" of Bernice since having sex with her the night before. Agrippa as host knelt to pay homage to the emperor at the west lectern. Then Titus as the proselyte now of equal rank to Bernice confessed his sin at the lectern and was forgiven. Bernice now had him under her control, as Vespasian was a moralist. He would have to marry her. There would be an attempt at the ceremony at midnight.

The collector of Herodian fees belonging to Agrippa's house was appointed treasurer on the upper floor, and would give Herodian money to her to spend on luxury to deck herself out as queen.

Friday March 1, 71 AD, evening. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:4 On the day of Jesus' final retirement at the age of 77, authority over his son Jesus Justus was transferred to the abbot John II. During the banquet he ordered Jesus Justus to have no further contact with Bernice because of her immorality.

Revelation 18:4

18:4. Kai ēkousa allēn phōnēn ek tou ouranou legousan, Exelthate, ho laosmou, ex autēs, hina mē syngkoinōnēsēte tais hamartiais autēs, kai ek tōn plēgōn autēs hina mē labēte

18:4. And I Tychicus heard (past tense west guest seat) an other voice out of Heaven saying, " come out{erchomai}, the people of me, out of her (RLR to Bernice v. 2), in order that you should nor be common-with the sins of her (Bernice). And out of the plagues of her (Bernice), in order that you should not receive.

18:4. At the end of the day of his birthday on which Jesus I fully retired, the abbot John II took on authority over his son Jesus Justus, who would be 34 in June. It was essential to continue the David dynasty through him. His betrothal had to begin, preparing for his wedding at the age of 36. He had already resigned from Bernice's house, but at the display at the banquet he was directed to have no further contact with Bernice because of her immorality.

The Hellenist Annas from her house had made a calendar adjustment, intercalating the year 70 to 71, to declare a new 7 year campaign against Rome from 71 AD, with a new set.of "plagues". The first of them was in March, in accordance with the previous sets.

Midnight ending Friday March 1, 71 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:5 The planned wedding of Bernice and Titus in the cathedral was stopped by the Hellenist Annas on the grounds of her immoral sexual history.

Revelation 18:5

18:5. hoti ekollēthēsan autēs hai hamartiai achri tou ouranou, kai emnēmoneusen ho theos ta adikēmata autēs

18:5. that the sins of her (Bernice v. 2) have stuck (past tense west) until{achri} the Heaven. And God remembered (past tense west) the unrighteousnesses of her (Bernice)."

18:5 John II told Jesus Justus that Bernice had arranged for her wedding with Titus to be celebrated at midnight on the upper floor of the cathedral, to be conducted by the Hellenist Annas from her house. But the Hellenist Annas, knowing the attitudes of Vespasian, read out the record of her marital history from the high pulpit, and refused to perform the wedding.


Marital history of Bernice

Bernice from the age of 14 had a lurid marital history. At 14 she had been given in marriage by her father Agrippa I to the son of the alabarch of Egypt. A year later he died and she became a widow at the age of 15.Then her father gave her in marriage to his brother Herod of Chalcis, her uncle. With him she had two sons, Bernicianus and Hyrcanus. When he died in 48 AD she did not remarry for some time, but during those years she committed incest with her twin brother Agrippa II. When the scandal became known, she married Polemo, the pagan king of Cilicia, who was interested only in her Herodian wealth. He became Jewish in order to marry her, but the marriage did not last long and they were divorced. During the Jewish War, from 66 AD, she figured as a heroine, called queen as her brother was unmarried, far more courageous than he was.Her public taunting of Rome attracted the passion of Titus the son of Vespasian, who finished the siege of Jerusalem when his father was called away to become emperor. She began an affair with Titus, which continued after both had come to Rome, to the great scandal of Roman citizens. See at 16:20 above for the account of their affair.

Midnight ending Friday March 1, 71 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:6 John II advised Jesus Justus to put Bernice under a Nazirite vow of 120 days, requiring abstention from wine and sex.

Revelation 18:6

18:6. apodote autē hōs kai autē apedōken, kai diplōsate ta dipla kata ta erga autēs. en tō potēriō hō ekerasen kerasate autē diploun.

18:6. Give-from to her (Bernice) as. And she gave from (past tense west). And double the doubles according to the works of her in the cup to which she mixed (past tense west), mix to her doubling

18:6. John II advised: " Treat Bernice like an uncircumcised Gentile, as she in her lay role teaches uncircumcised Gentiles without charging a fee. You, Jesus Justus, as now the acting superior of women and Gentiles, place her under a Nazirite vow of 120 days until June 30, beginning March 3. As a Nazirite does not drink wine, order that when she wants a chalice of fermented wine at midnight beginning Sunday March 3 you are to give her water instead, with a taste of wine from the chalice which is not washed. She is also to abstain from sex during the period of the vow."

The word "double" refers to the Nazirite period. Bernice kept Nazirite vows, as shown in Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 313. Ordinary Jews kept a Nazirite period requiring abstention from wine for 30 days, but ascetics, much stricter, doubled it to 60 days, and added the requirement of abstention from sex. To "double the doubling" meant to make it 120 days, that is 4 solar months of 30 days each.

She would have to start the vow at midnight beginning Sunday March 3, the day given in v. 8, because it was now Friday midnight beginning Saturday, and she would not be having a meal on Friday evening. The 120 days in terms of the Julian calendar were: March, 29 remaining days inclusive; April 30 days; May 31 days; June 30 days, total 120. June 30 marked the Roman half- year.

Midnight ending Friday March 1, 71 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:7 John II continued to advise Jesus Justus, saying that Bernice in her own house acted like a queen, and only pretended to be a Nazirite when she came to the cathedral.

Revelation 18:7

18:7. hosa edoxasen autēn kai estrēniasen, tosouton dote autē basanismon kai penthos. hoti en tē kardia autēs legei hoti, Kathēmai basilissa, kai chēra ouk eimi, kai penthos ou mē idō

18:7. As many things he (RLR to God , Hellenist Annas v5) glorified (past tense west) her (Bernice). And she (RLR to Bernice) commits folly. Such give to her torment. And Mourner, that in the heart of her she says (present tense center) that "I sit a queen. And a widow not-I am (not present but future, so outside on the east ). And a Mourner not-not see{eidon}."

18:7 John II continued, "The Hellenist Annas in her house allows her to act as a bishop, like Moses teaching the law at noon. In her house she lives in luxury. But you, Jesus Justus, make her adopt the self-mortification of a female Nazirite, likened to the pains of childbirth. A woman Nazirite dresses in black, like a mourning widow. But bishop Bernice says, "In my own house I dress as a queen, and only when I am at the cathedral do I dress in black like a Nazirite. I then stand on the north base as a teacher in the role of a mourning widow acting in ministry to teach proselytes."

Sunday March 3 and Friday March 8, 71 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:8 Bernice began her Nazirite vow the following Sunday,declaring a new 7 year campaign against Rome. The north solar intercalation would begin the following Friday.

Revelation 18:8

18:8. dia touto en mia hēmera ēxousin hai plēgai autēs, thanatos kai penthos kai limos, kai en pyri katakauthēsetai, hoti ischyros kyrios ho theos ho krinas autēn.

18:8. On account of This Thing, in 1 day,(Sunday)will come{erchomai} (future tense east outside) the plagues of her (RLR to Bernice v. 7), Death. And Mourning. And famine. And in a fire she (RLR to Mourning, Bernice as Widow) will be scorched. That strong Lord God the one judging her (Bernice).

18:8. At midnight beginning Sunday March 3, 71 AD, when Bernice's Nazirite vow began, the new set of seasonal "plagues" for her new 7 year campaign began. For the Magus, it was a postponement from September 70 AD which had been anticipated as that of the 10th plague, that of Death, in the form of the destruction of Jerusalem. For her, however, it began a new first plague, that of water turned to blood, beginning her new 7 years. At the north base outside the cathedral she played her role of a Nazirite widow teaching proselytes.

On the following Friday March 8 the north solar quartodecimal intercalation was due to begin at 6 pm, changing the Night position , Friday 31st, to the Day position, Tuesday 31st, for the next 14 years. It commemorated the "famine" of 168 BC, when there were no feasts in the defiled temple for 3 1/2 years.For workers, the day began at 3 am. At 4 am Bernice was made to stand close to the furnace at the north end of the cathedral, as a reminder of the punishment for sin. It was the strict Sadducee Matthias Annas II who acted as her judge, imposing the punishment, purifying the ministry before the intercalation.

Friday March 8, 71 AD, 3 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:9 At 3 pm on the day of the north solar intercalation a prayer service for penitent sinners began in the cathedral, attended by Bernice and Titus. Titus had not yet learned the law against lifting up on the sabbath.

Revelation 18:9

18:9. Kai klausousin kai kopsontai ep autēn hoi basileis tēs gēs hoi met' autēs porneusantes kai strēniasantes, hotan blepōsin ton kapnon tēs pyrōseōs autēs .

18:9. And they (RLR to Plagues v.8) will weep (future tense east outside). And the kings of the Earth will lament upon (+ accusative) her, the ones fornicating with (+ genitive) her. And they (kings) committing folly, when (hotan) they (kings) see{blepō} the smoke of the burning of her.

18:9. Continuing the process of purification before the intercalation, a three hour service for penitent sinners was held at the north end of the cathedral near the fire. Bernice acted there as a Widow. At 3 pm Titus attended and confessed his sin of fornication with her, and of supplying her with money for luxury. He was in the place of the west guest, with 3 cubits east-west between him and the furnace behind the place of the levite. He used incense to accompany his prayer, lifting up his censer, but it was only smoke because it would not be accepted by heaven when he was breaking the law against lifting up on the sabbath. (Mishnah, Shabbath I, 1, 3)

The same service was being held on the day of the crucifixion, Friday March 20, 33 AD, a day that was the beginning of an intercalation to the post-position (Matthew 27:62 epaurion). Because it was held in the first two rows near the furnace at the north end of the Qumran vestry, Pilate the Gentile attending it was hidden away during the two hours when the friends of the unconscious Jesus were carrying him down the southern esplanade, so Pilate did not discover that he was still alive.

Friday March 8 , 71 AD, 6 pm and 7 pm. At the north base outside the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:10 At 6 pm the announcement of the north solar quartodecimal intercalation, the March version, was made. It was repeated at 7 pm. Titus at the north base accepted the solar calendar, but showed that he was beginning to give up his attachment to Bernice.

Revelation 18:10

18:10. apo makrothen hestēkotes dia ton phobon tou basanismou autēs, legontes, ouai ouai, hē polis hē megalē, Babylōn hē polis hē ischyra, hoti mia hōra ēlthen hē krisis sou.

18:10. From afar they (RLR to kings of Earth, Titus) standing, because of the Fear of the torment of her (Bernice) saying, Woe, Woe, the city the great, (in apposition) Babylon the strong city, that at 1 hour came{erchomai} (past tense west) the judgment of you.

18:10 At 6 pm on Friday March 8, the unintercalated 31st, the announcement of the quartodecimal intercalation was made. It would change the Night position using the Friday 31st to the Day position 17 1/2 days later, to the Tuesday 31st. The Day position would be in force for 14 years, so the word "Woe" was used twice, as a "Woe" meant 7 years. The announcement was repeated at 7 pm for those who began the night at that hour. It would be made again at the corresponding dates in June and September, as these seasons were preferred by different parties.

At 7 pm Titus was forgiven by the Therapeuts, who did not observe the strict rule about lifting up on the sabbath. He repeated the announcement of the time on behalf of the Chief Therapeut at the north base outside the cathedral. He referred twice to Bernice, omitting her anti-Roman title Babylon the first time, then admitting it the second time, saying that she had been judged.

Tuesday March 26, 71 AD. In the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 18:11 At the end of the intercalation the collector of Herodian fees replaced her in her house. Bernicianus received the money, paid in exchange for promotions.

Revelation 18:11

18:11. Kai hoi emporoi tēs gēs klaiousin kai penthousin ep' autēn, hoti ton gomon autōn oudeis agorazei ouketi

18:11. And the salesmen of the Earth weep (present tense center). And they (salesmen) mourn (present tense center) upon (+ accusative) her (RLR to Bernice v. 10), that the cargo of them (salesmen) No One buys (present tense center) No Longer.

18:11 In Bernice's house on Tuesday morning March 26, at the end of the intercalation, the collector of Herodian fees replaced her, as she was still under her Nazirite vow. He was dressed in black to reproduce her in the Nazirite state. Bernicianus claiming to be the Herod crown prince took possession of the money, which was paid to receive promotion in the Herodian system (4Q159)

Tuesday March 26, 71 AD. In Bernice's Rome house.

Revelation 18:12 The full system of taxation instituted by Herod the Great is given through the emblems of the different kinds of ministers and initiates who paid for membership and promotion. The money was originally brought to Herod in Jerusalem in the mission ships plying the Mediterranean, so was a "cargo".

Revelation 18:12

18:12. gomon chrysou kai argyrou kai lithou timiou kai margaritōn kai byssinou kai porphyras kai sirikou kai kokkinou, kai pan xylon thyinon kai pan skeuos elephantinon kai pan skeuos ek xylou timōtatou kai chalkou kai sidērou kai marmarou .

18:12. A cargo of gold. And of silver. And of a stone of price. And of pearls. And of fine linen. And of purple. And of silk. And of scarlet. And All wood citron. And All vessel ivory. And All vessel out of price. And of copper. And of iron. And of marble.

18:12. The text now goes on to list 29 substances and some animals. All are the emblems of different grades in the Herodian system, in descending order of status.The number 29 comes from the days of the lunar month, observed together with the solar month in the Mishmarot calendar. (See Chronology, Mishmarot calendar) The Herodian system used the full solar calendar for celibates, and the derived lunisolar calendar for workers.

The method of identifying ministry in this way was preserved by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:12, as "gold, silver, precious stones" for the higher grades, and "wood, hay, straw" for the lower ones. Other emblems are drawn on in parables and narratives.

It is possible to identify the grades and forms of ministry that are listed in Revelation. In this verse concerning the higher 14, they were:

gold, silver, precious stones. Priest, levite, king (lay leader). The tithes for priests and levites were paid to them in gold and silver, and the laity who paid an initiation fee, the "price", formed a third class.

pearls and fine linen. The celibate female teacher of Wisdom, the "pearl of great price". As the queen next after the king, she wore fine linen as a Virgin bride.

purple, silk, scarlet. Purple and scarlet were the colors for a bishop and cardinal, being the levitical colors of Exodus, but worn only when in the outside world by Essenes, who wore white in the sanctuary (1QM 7:11-12). A levitical bishop above an ordinary bishop wore silk in his role of a judge, a tradition preserved in the Church. A female could be a judge, wearing silk.

three Herods, "All". Citron, wood, the crown prince head of proselytes and monastic Gentiles in an "Eden" a the Tree of Knowledge, standing on the north base outside the cathedral. On its west side a third Herod for ivory collecting money from Diaspora Jews.in such places as the island of Elephantine in the Nile. On its east side a third Herod collecting the Price, fees from Diaspora Jews in the east.

copper, iron, marble. Now down to non-precious metals, three metals used as emblems by the Therapeuts of Egypt. They paid their fees in cheap copper coins only, as they were poor, making their head a "coppersmith" (2 Timothy 4:14; Mark 12:42). They represented the "iron furnace":of Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20). They had an abbey in the city of Alexandria, which had pillars of marble.

Tuesday March 26, 71 AD. In Bernice's Rome house.

Revelation 18:13 The remaining 15 items in the list are given, all referring to ministers of lower status in the Diaspora.

Revelation 18:13

18:13. kai kinnamōmon. kai amōmon. kai thymiamata. kai myron, kai libanon. kai oinon. kai elaion. kai semidalin. kai siton. kai ktēnē. kai probata. kai hippōn. kai rhedōn. kai sōmatōn. kai psychas anthrōpōn

18:13. And cinnamon. And spice. And incense. And myrrh. And frankincense. And wine. And oil. And fine flour. And wheat. And donkeys. And sheep. And horses. And chariots. And bodies, And souls of Men{anthrōpos}.

18:13. The next 15 items in the list of emblems in descending order of status all referred to Diaspora members. They were:

cinnamon, spice, incense. Substances used by Gentiles, the spices added to their more luxurious bread, the incense for the censer they used when offering prayers.

myrrh, frankincense. Used for the scenting and whitening of robes by Magians, Diaspora Essene monastics. CD 11:4. With gold for a priest, they characterized Magians accepting Jesus as legitimate (Matthew 2:12). Psalms 45:8 myrrh makes the king's robes fragrant.

wine, oil, fine flour, wheat. The food tithes brought by Essene pilgrims to the monastery were classed as "corn, wine and oil" (Hosea 2:8). Of these, the grain for making the sacred loaves was of two kinds, one making fine flour for the loaves of celibates, the other making coarser flour for the loaves for pilgrims.

donkeys, sheep, horses, chariots. Missionaries to the Diaspora needed transport, paid for from the Herodian funds. A local missionary of low status used a donkey, common in Judea. Village pilgrims traveling on foot wearing sandals were likened to sheep following their bishop as a shepherd (John 21:15-17, Mark 6: 9). High status priests making long journeys to the Diaspora used horses, their association with the seasons given through the system of 4 colors in Revelation 6. The priest of highest status used a chariot, the vehicle in which a king traveled on the battlefield. Ezekiel's chariot vision was drawn on in the missionary system of abbeys.

bodies, souls of Men. Monastic Gentiles from the Magian Eden schools could rise as high as row 10 in the cathedral, in the central west seat of "Eve" - bodies; and the central east seat of "Adam" souls (Genesis 2:7). When they were outside at the north base of the cathedral, Adam stood on the base as the Tree of Knowledge, which could also become the Tree of Life for Eve, whose name meant "life". The king acted as the Adam, the Man (anthrōpos).

JUNE 71 AD

Saturday June 1, 71 AD, noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:14 The young woman of Davidic descent who was to marry Jesus Justus now began her betrothal process. Bernice as superior of all Virgins had authority over her.

Revelation 18:14

18:14. kai hē opōra sou tēs eithymias tēs psychēs apēlthen apo sou. kai panta ta lipara. kai ta lampra apōleto apo sou. kai ouketi ou mē auta heurēsousin.

18:14. And the ripening of you of the desire of the soul came-from{erchomai} (past tense west) from you. And All the costly things. And the bright things were destroyed from you. And no longer not-not them (RLR to bright things) they (RLR to Souls v. 13) will find ( future tense east).

18:14. On the 34th birthday of Jesus Justus, June 1, 71 AD the young woman who was to marry him left Bernice, who as the Chief Woman was l the superior of all Virgins. She is addressed as "you"(sing.). Bernice retained Herodian jewelry, but the young woman having Davidic descent took royal status away from her, giving it to the Davids rather than the Herods.At the 40 year mark for the new Exodus from 31 to 71 AD, Jesus Justus brought her in to the cathedral.

Saturday June 1, 71 AD, noon. At the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:15 The collector of Herodian fees who had replaced Bernice in her house came to replace her at the north base , as she was to join in the ceremony in the cathedral.

Revelation 18:15

18:15. hoi emporoi toutōn, hoi ploutēsantes ap' autēs, apo makrothen stēsontai dia ton phobon tou basanismou autēs, klaiontes kai penthountes, .

18:15. The salesmen of These Ones, the ones (salesmen) becoming rich from her (RLR to Bernice v. 11), from afar will stand (future tense east) because of the Fear of the torment of her, they (rich) weeping. And they (rich ) mourning.

18:15. On Saturday June 1 the strict sabbath was over.The Salesman, the collector of Herodian fees, dressed in Nazirite black, replaced Bernice on the north base while she took part in the betrothal ceremony.

At the ceremony Bernice enacted "torment" as a "Mother" giving birth to her "Daughter". In Mark 7:25 Helena and Mary Magdalene are presented in the same relationship.

Friday June 7, 71 AD, 6 pm. At the Rome cathedral and in Bernice's house.

Revelation 18:16 On the evening for the announcement of the June intercalation, it was announced at the north base by the collector of Herodian fees, and by Bernice dressed as a queen in her house.

Revelation 18:16

18:16. legontes, Ouai ouai, hē polis hē megalē, hē peribeblēmenē byssinon kai porphyron kai kokkinon, kai kechrysōmenē chrysiō kai lithō timiō kai margaritē

18:16. They (RLR to Salesmen v. 15,) saying, " Woe, Woe, the city the great one, the one (fem) clothed in fine linen. And purple.And scarlet. And gilded with gold. And a stone price. And a pearl.

18:16. Friday June 7 71 AD was the unintercalated 31st in June, when the 17 1/2 days should begin at 6 pm. The March version had been announced by Titus from the north base as a proselyte endorsing the solar calendar (v. 10), and the June version was announced from the north base by the collector of Herodian fees who represented Bernice. She had temporarily broken her vow to make the announcement at her house dressed as the queen.

As queen she was dressed in a white linen surplice over her purple and scarlet cassocks. She wore a gold necklace, with a blue sapphire and a pearl, the emblems of her role as Wisdom.

Friday June 7, 71 AD, 7 pm. In Bernice's house and the Rome cathedral, north base.

Revelation 18:17 At 7 pm Bernice resumed a hermit status in her house. At the cathedral Agrippa II too over, placing on the north base the missionaries from his Sea mission at successive hours.

Revelation 18:17

18:17. hoti mia hōra ērēmōthē ho tosoutos ploutos. Kai pas kybernētēs kai pas ho epi topon pleōn kai nautai kai hosoi tēn thalassan ergazontai apo makrothen estēsan.

18:17. That 1 hour became a wilderness the such Rich Man. And All steersman. And All who sail upon (with accus) a place. And sailors. And as many as work (present tense center) the Sea from afar stood (past tense west, north base ).

18:17. An hour later, at the 7 pm repetition, Bernice returned to the status and dress of a hermit equal to a Nazirite in her house. At the cathedral Agrippa II placed on the north base the missionaries from his Sea mission to the Diaspora, attached to the Therapeuts who used the + 1 hour. Agrippa himself stood there at 7 pm, with Antipas III from the Tiber Island at 8 pm, the deacon "rower" at 9 pm, and a Jewish Christian Nazirite at 10 pm. The succession of hours were those at which the different grades began their fasting for the intercalation.

SEPTEMBER 71 AD

Friday September 6, 71 AD. 4 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:18 At the corresponding September date for the intercalation, a Christian monastic warned on the Friday at 4 pm that Agrippa II was again in sympathy with Bernice.

Revelation 18:18

18:18. kai ekrazon blepontes ton kapnon tēs pyrōseōs autēs legontes, Tis homoia tē polei tē megalē.

18:18 And they (RLR to As Many As v. 17) cried out , (past tense west) seeing{blepō} the smoke of the burning of her (Bernice v. 16) saying, "A Certain One is like the city the great."

18:18. On the afternoon of the Friday that would begin the September intercalation, at the service for Sinners , Bernice was again placed near the furnace as a warning of the consequences of sin. A Christian monastic was in the west guest place. He warned, "Agrippa is now allying again with Bernice."

Friday September 6, 71 AD, 4 pm , 6pm and 7pm. In the cathedral and at the Rome house of Bernice.

Revelation 18:19 On the Friday of the September intercalation, the Christian monastic at 4 pm followed the Jewish rule. At 6 pm he announced the intercalation from the north base. Agrippa had given way to Bernice, sharing the Jewish income from the sea mission with her.

Revelation 18:19

18:19. kai ebalon choun epi tas kephales autōn kai ekrazon klaiontes kai penthountes, legontes, Ouai, ouai hē polis hē megalē, en hē eploutēsan pantes hoi echontes ta ploia en tē thalassē ek tēs timiotētos autēs, hoti mia hōra ērēmōthē.

18:19. And they (RLR to As Many As vv. 17, 18,) threw (past tense west) dust upon (with accus) the heads of them ( As Many As ). And they (As Many As) cried out (past tense west) weeping. And mourning, saying, " Woe, Woe, the city the great, in which (fem) became rich (past tense west) All the ones having the boats in the Sea out of the pricing of it (fem,Sea). that in 1 hour it (Sea) became a wilderness (past tense west).

18:19. At the September intercalation day, at 4 pm the Christian monastic obscured the letter on his headband, preparing for a visit to a nearby latrine according to the sabbath rule. The same custom was observed in Acts 22:23. At 6 pm , dressed in black, he went to the north base and made the announcement of the change of 31st for the next 14 years.

Agrippa had given way to Bernice and was sharing the Jewish income from his sea mission with her. At 7 pm she announced the intercalation in her house dressed as a hermit.

DECEMBER 71 AD

Tuesday December 24, 71 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:20 A feast of rejoicing combining the houses of Agrippa and Bernice was held on Christmas Eve, 71 AD.

Revelation 18:20

18:20. Euphrainou ep' autē , ourane, kai hoi hagioi kai hoi apostoloi kai hoi prophētai, hoti ekrinen ho theos to krima hymōn ex autēs.

18:20. Rejoice upon to it (fem sing, Sea in v.19) , Heaven. And the Saints. And the Apostles. And the Prophets , that God judged (past tense west) the judgment of you (plu, prophets) out of it (fem sing Sea).

18:20. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24, which was now the 31st after the intercalation of that year, a feast of rejoicing was held in the Rome cathedral. December 24 had been made the Christmas feast at the separation of Christians in December 43AD, being the intercalated 31st in that year also (Acts 11:26). The date of December 24 was established first among the ascetics using the solar calendar, then combined with an existing Roman festival on December 25. It was called the feast of Stephen because in 43 AD the Hellenist Sadducee priest Jonathan Annas, called Stephen the Crown, had encouraged a celebration according to liberal Sadducee attitudes, not the strict ones. (Acts 11:19). The Hellenist Annas who was now in the succession of Jonathan Annas arranged for the festivities in the cathedral.

Members of both the houses, now closer, joined in the feast. Christians present included the alternative Gentile monastic called Saints from Agrippa's court, his presence indicating that Jesus, now retired, was attending in a lay capacity. His deputy who acted as a missionary outside, an Apostle, was also present. Jesus Justus acted as a bishop, and his younger brother , born March 44 AD (Acts 12:24) acted as presbyter to him.

72 AD

JANUARY 72 AD

Midnight beginning Wednesday January 1, 72 AD. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:21 John II, now with full authority as the abbot of Rome, abolished the circumcision requirement.

Revelation 18:21

18:21. Kai ēren heis angelos ischyros lithon hōs mylinon megan kai ebalen eis tēn thalassan legōn, Houtōs hormēmati blēthēsetai Babylōn hē megalē polis, kai ou mē heurethē eti.

18:21. And 1 angel strong lifted-up (past tense west) a stone as a millstone great. And he (angel) threw (past tense west) at the Sea saying, " Thus in a rush will be thrown (future tense east) Babylon the great city . And not-not it (great city) is found still.

18:21. On New Year's Day a week later John II had reached his final stage of preparation for becoming the abbot of Rome. He had begun as an "angel" at the age of 30 in June 70 AD, then gone through two further periods of 9 months, first at March 71 AD, completing in January 72 AD. He was thus a "strong angel", confirmed in his position.

The removal of the circumcision requirement for Gentiles had been central to Jesus' policy. He was now in retirement, but influential behind the scenes. John II used his new authority immediately, abolishing the requirement , and with it any necessity for Gentiles to adopt Jewish identity. The requirement was spoken of by Christians as the "stone of stumbling" (Romans 9:33), referring to the north base. Circumcision had had to be proved at the north base before admission , and they stumbled over it literally and also metaphorically when they were denied entry to the sacred meal.

The north base had the shape of a millstone, one of a pair of circular millstones used for grinding flour for the sacred bread, but now functioning only as a symbol of monastic discipline. The requirement was called a "millstone" in Mark 9:42, where a traditional Jew was said to have a millstone round his "neck", the place of bread on row 8 of the holy table. He would be "thrown into the Sea", meaning the house of Bernice where Jewish ritual was still observed.

John II, by his own authority, now overturned the north base outside the cathedral in a symbolic action and "threw it at the Sea" - sent it to Bernice's house. It was added that Bernice would still be able to come to the cathedral, but only in the 13th position of a woman, not in the ministry of 12.

Wednesday January 1, 72 AD, 3, 4 and 5 am. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:22 During the night successive men on row 10, the top step of the cathedral, played orchestral music for the congregation or addressed it at successive hours.

Revelation 18:22

18:22. kai phonē kitharōdōn kai mousikōn kai auletōn kai salpistōn ou mē akousthē en soi eti, kai pas technitēs pasēs technēs ou mē heurethē en soi eti. kai phonē mylou ou mē akousthē en soi eti.

18:22. And a Voice of lyre-players. And of musicians, And of flautists. And of trumpeters not-not it (Voice) is heard (subjunctive) in you (sing, Bernice addressed ) still. And All craftsman of All craft not-not is found (subjunctive) in you (sing). And a Voice of a millstone not-not is heard (subjunctive) in you (sing.) still.

18:22. New Year's Day was ushered in with orchestral music in the cathedral, following the style of Therapeuts for their joyous meetings. Row 10 at the top of the steps in the cathedral was s suitable place for an orchestra heard by the congregation below. At 3 am the conductor stood in the place of the female 13th at the double center of row 10, with the four kinds of instrument players in the other 4 seats along the row. At 4 am, the "'unclean" time, the brothers from Bernice's house stood there, Bernicianus and his younger brother Hyrcanus, who profited by making statuettes of Bernice (Acts 19:24). At 5 am a proselyte stood there, still bound by the circumcision requirement.

JUNE 72 AD

Monday June 1, 72 AD, noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 18:23 The next betrothal ceremony of Jesus Justus and his bride was held a year after the previous one and a year before the wedding.

Revelation 18:23

18:23. kai phōs lychnou ou mē phanē en soi eti, kai phonē nymphiou kai nymphēs ou mē akousthē en soi eti. hoti hoi emporoi sou ēsan hoi megistanes tēs gēs, hoti en tē pharmakeia sou eplanēthēsan panta ta ethnē.

18:23. And a light{phōs} of a lamp not-not appears (subjunctive) in you still. And a Voice of a bridegroom. And of a bride not-not it (Voice) is heard (subjunctive) in you still. That the salesmen of you were (past tense west) the Magus-Standers of the Earth, that in the pharmacy of you All the Gentiles were (past tense west) deceived.

18:23. A year after their first betrothal in June 71AD (18:14) and a year before their wedding in June 73 AD, Jesus Justus and his future bride underwent another betrothal ceremony. The young woman was called a "bride" because this betrothal was binding. The pair stood side by side on row 10, which was that for the female 13th, with the lamp above them that represented noon. Jesus Justus spoke as one having a vote in the council. The collector of Herodian fees which were stored by the Magus was present. Agrippa had been deceived by Apollos the Chief Therapeut into sharing the money.

Wednesday June 24, Pentecost, 72 AD. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 18:24 This verse gives an indirect indication of the death of Jesus on Tiber Island, in late June 72 AD.

Revelation 18:24

18:24. kai en autē haima prophētōn kai hagiōn heurethē kai pantōn tōn esphagmenōn epi tēs gēs.

18:24. And in it (fem sing, RLR to pharmacy v. 23) blood of prophets. And of saints it (blood) was found. ( past tense west) And of All the slain ones upon of the Earth.

18:24. At the following feast, Pentecost 1b/15a, Wednesday evening June 24, Jesus Justus and the Christian monastic drank fermented wine as a symbol of martyrdom, joining Apollos in the abbey building east of the cathedral. Antipas III from Tiber Island, head of Jewish Christians, was "slain", removed from his position because he was no longer needed.

This verse gives the closest possible indication of the death of Jesus on Tiber Island, where he had been living in the house of Antipas III since he came to Rome. He died in late June, 72 AD. The fact had to be obscured as much as possible, because it was publicly believed that he had died in March 33 AD. The concept of resurrection dramatized by his rescue had so taken hold that it had become central to Christian belief.

73 AD

JANUARY 73 AD

Friday January 1, 73 AD, noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:1 In January 73 AD the place of Jesus as Priest-Pope was taken by Matthias Annas II in the court of Agrippa II.

Revelation 19:1

19:1. Meta tauta ēkousa hōs phōnēn megalēn ochlou pollou en tō ouranō legontōn, Allēluia. hē sōtēria kai hē doxa kai hē dynamis tou theou hēmōn

19:1 After these things I (Tychicus) heard, as a great Voice of a Much Crowd in the Heaven , they saying (Plural participle RLR to panta ta ethne Agrippa 18:23), "(H) allelujah. The Salvation (fem word). And the Glory (fem word). And the Power (fem. word) of the God of us".

19:1 Six months after the death of Jesus, January 73 AD, at the second half of the year's mourning for Jesus, Matthias Annas II was hailed as the Priest-Pope, with a succession of Hallelujahs (19:1-6). Jesus had acted as both Messiah of Israel and Messiah of Aaron, combining the two positions. Matthias Annas II was the strict Annas Sadducee religious authority in the court of Agrippa. A son of Theophilus Annas, he had been appointed high priest of the Jerusalem temple at the outbreak of the war in 66 AD, and had come to Rome with Agrippa II when he left the country.

Matthias Annas II became the successor of his uncle Matthew Annas who had taken the major steps in the establishment of Christianity. The successor had accepted Jesus as the most exalted one, revered by all. He now replaced him, in a hereditary office as Messiah of Aaron, but interpreting it in Christian terms.

He was installed by a series of acclamations throughout the Friday afternoon of January 1, made at the stages of the sacred meal, between noon and midnight. They took the form of a shout of "Hallelujah!" The Hebrew word meaning "Praise to Yahweh"was a play on the name of Hillel, the first Pope, and it meant that the new Priest-Pope was entering his succession. The shout was raised at the stages of the noon sacred meal, at noon at its opening, at 2 pm at its usual conclusion, at 3 pm at its voluntary extension, and finally at midnight. The word used was Hebrew to show continuity with the Jewish stage, but at 4 pm, the time that was "unclean" and especially on Friday afternoons, a Greek equivalent was used.

Agrippa II had now returned from the house of Bernice, disillusioned with her prospects of becoming queen of Rome. He pronounced the first two Hallelujahs, welcoming Matthias Annas II as the religious authority in his court.

The new Pope, of priestly birth, had an accumulated series of titles belonging to the Annas priests, who had acted as both priest and king during the period from 6 AD when there were no Herods. He functioned at grades 3, 2 and 1, and he now took over grade 0, that of the supreme priest in the person of a Herod. Agrippa, aged 45, had lost respect and was readily persuaded to accept an inferior role as a nominal king on the upper floor.

Matthias continued the Annas tradition of having a David as a subordinate in mission, but without power in government. Jesus Justus as heir of Jesus, called Salvation from the name Joshua ("Yahweh will save"), took this role, but he was seen as deputy to Matthias only on the middle floor, where at the noon meal he sat west center to Matthias at east center, at the Glory.

Tychicus at his usual west guest seat on row 7 on the middle floor heard Agrippa's announcements from the upper floor when the skylight was opened at noon.

Friday January 1, 73 AD, 1 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:2 During the meal Matthias Annas II announced from the high pulpit a condemnation of Bernice, who had destroyed the Herod monarchy by her immorality.

Revelation 19:2

19:2. hoti alēthinai kai dikaiai hai kriseis autou. hoti ekrinen tēn pornēn tēn megalēn hētis ephtheiren tēn gēn en tē porneia autēs, kai exedikēsen to haima tōn doulōn autou ek cheiros autēs

19:2 "That true (fem plu with judgments). And righteous (fem plu with judgments) the judgments of him (RLR to Heaven v. 1), that he (Heaven v. 1) judged (past tense west at pulpit )the harlot the great, the female Certain One who corrupted (past tense west at lectern )the Earth (fem word) in the fornication of it (fem, Earth. And it (fornication, fem. word) out-justified (past tense west) the blood of the slaves of him (Heaven) out of the hand of it (fem, fornication)."

19:2. At 1 pm in the course of the meal Agrippa spoke further about Matthias, one of whose titles was "Heaven" because he belonged on the upper floor. He said Matthias was a Christian, and from the high pulpit at 1 pm he had denounced Bernice, who had brought about the termination of the Herodian kingship by her immorality. He also said that Matthias was not rigorous about celibacy, but allowed married ministers who were prepared for martyrdom.

Friday January 1, 73 AD, 2 pm and 3 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:3 At 2 pm at the end of the celibates' meal Agrippa repeated his acclamation. At 3 pm Bernice attended the service for penitent Sinners.

Revelation 19:3

19:3. kai deuteron eirēkan, Allēlouia. kai ho kapnos autēs anabainei eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn

19:3. And a second they ( RLR to panta ta ethne Agrippa 18:23 ) said (past tense west) , "(H) allelujah". And the smoke of her (fem sing to porneia v.2, ) goes up (present tense, center) at the aeons of aeons

19:3. The meal that celibates were required to attend lasted from noon to 2 pm. At the end of the compulsory part Agrippa made his second acclamation, then left the room.

At 3 pm on a Friday it was time for the service for Sinners at the north end of the building. Bernice attended, but her sin was so serious that her prayer was unacceptable to heaven and was mere "smoke".

This was a 7th year in the kingly part of the reign of Matthias Annas II, who had been appointed high priest of the Jerusalem temple in 66 AD. The payment of tribute was determined by the septennial date. It would have been due at the meal at 6 pm, but on Friday was brought forward to 3 pm as the beginning of their sabbath. The term "aeons of the aeons" was used at 3pm to show the year and day.

Friday January 1, 73 AD, 3 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:4 The optional part of the noon meal ended at 3 pm, with another acclamation of Pope Matthias Annas II from the Hellenist Annas. Apollos the Chief Therapeut paid the septennial tribute, to go to Rome through Matthias.

Revelation 19:4

19:4. kai epesan hoi presbyteroi hoi eikosi tessares kai ta tessara zōa, kai prosekynēsan tō theō to kathēmenō epi tō thronō, legontes, Amēn, Allēlouia

19:4. And the elders 24 fell. And the Living Things 4. And they (Elder 24, as participle legontes is masculine not neuter) worshipped{proskyneō} to God the one sitting upon to the throne, saying (masc plu, Elder 24), " Amen (H) alleluia"

19:4. After the compulsory 2 hours of the meal there was an optional extension until 3 pm for those who wanted to stay. Matthias Annas II went to sit on the east side of the double throne on the upper floor, and another acclamation of Hallelujah was made for him, together with Amen meaning that it was the end of the session (1QS 1:20).

The 3 pm acclamation was made by Elder 24, who as the keeper of the time circle marked 3 am and 3 pm as the divisions of the day and night. He was the Hellenist Sadducee from Bernice;s house, who now co-operated with the cathedral at her fall from grace. He reverted to the role of Cloud by Day in the Exodus imagery that had been held by the liberal Sadducee Jonathan Annas. At the same time Livng Creature 4, the Lion of the south, the Chief Therapeut Apollos, paid the septennial tribute through Matthias at 3 pm.

Friday January 1, 73 AD, 4 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:5 At the hour that had been the "unclean" one for Jews, some leaders in the cathedral who preferred Greek to Hebrew were told to give the acclamation in Greek.

Revelation 19:5

19:5. Kai phōnē apo tou thronou exēlthen legousa, Aineite tō theō hēmōn, pantes hoi douloi autou, hoi phoboumenoi auton, hoi mikroi kai hoi megaloi

19:5. And a Voice from the throne came-out{erchomai} (past tense west) saying, " Praise to the God of us, All the slaves of him (God); (in apposition) the ones fearing him (God); (in apposition) the little ones{mikron}. And the great ones."

19:5. The hour of 4 pm had been the "unclean" time when Gentiles were taught, and especially on the sabbath. Some cathedral leaders spoke no Hebrew or preferred Greek, and they were bidden by the Hellenist Annas to give an acclamation in Greek. The Greek verb aineō was used, meaning "praise", with the same sense as Hallelujah, the Hebrew for "praising". They were Antipas III, Apollos, Jesus Justus and his younger brother.

Midnight ending Friday January 1, 73 AD. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:6 The final Hallelujah was given at midnight in the abbey building east of the cathedral, on behalf of lay pilgrims.

Revelation 19:6

19:6. Kai ēkousa hōs phōnēn ochlou pollou kai hōs phōnēn hydatōn pollōn kai hōs phōnēn brontōn ischyrōn legontōn, Allēluia, hoti ebasileusen kyrios ho theos ho pantokratōr

19:6. And I (Tychicus) heard as a Voice of a much crowd. And as a Voice of Many waters. And as a Voice of strong Thunders , they (Thunders) saying, "(H) allelouia, that reigned (past tense west) a Lord, the God, the All-seizing

19:6. The day of the Pope's installation ended in the abbey building east of the cathedral, the equivalent of the Qumran outer hall loc 77. All went there to relax and to give the final acclamation in Hebrew to complete the ceremony.

The Hellenist Annas was there as a deputy. As the timekeeper he was called Cloud by Day, dressed in white, but at night he was dressed in black and treated as a Thunder Cloud. As a Diaspora priest he guided pilgrims, who were called Many Waters because of the drink of water they were given when they arrived at the abbey. Thunder gave the final Hallelujah on behalf of pilgrims. Gentile pilgrims had been called Sons of Thunder, Boanerges, in the gospel period (Mark 3:17). Agrippa in lay dress was present for the conclusion.

JUNE 73 AD

Midnight beginning Tuesday June 1, 73 AD. In the Rome cathedral

Revelation 19:7 The wedding ceremony of Jesus Justus, aged 36, with his young bride, was conducted at midnight, the celebrant being the Priest-Pope.

Revelation 19:7

19:7. chairōmen kai agalliōmen, kai dōsōmen tēn doxan autō , hoti ēlthen ho gamos tou arniou, kai hē gynē autou ētoimasen heautēn

19:7. Let us rejoice. And let us exult. And let us give the Glory to him (RLR to Lord God v. 6), that the wedding of the Lamb came{erchomai} (past tense west). And the Woman of him (RLR to Lord God v. 6) prepared (past tense west) Herself.

19:7. Jesus Justus the son of Jesus was now aged 36, having been born June 37 AD. His birthday was observed both on the Julian 1st of the month and the solstice later in June. He must therefore marry, as a dynast did at the age of 36. The wedding ceremony was held at midnight, as was customary for the celibate community, and at later that day the coronation of Jesus Justus as the next David after his father's death would be held.

The ceremony was held on the middle floor. The celebrant Matthias Annas II stood at the Glory at the center east of row 7, on behalf of the bridegroom, and the Hellenist Annas stood at the center west as his deputy on behalf of the bride. The couple stood at the top of the steps on row 10, with the orchestra that played on such occasions in the outer east and west positions on row 10. The couple stood with 1 cubit between them, each occupying the 1 1/2 cubits on each side, across a width of 4 cubits.

Bernice was in charge of all Virgins, and when the ceremony had begun she replaced the Hellenist Annas in order to address the bride, preparing her. The bride was called Herself as she was a virgin, equal to the priestly Virgin of Ezekiel 44:22.

Tuesday June 1, 73 AD, 1 am. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:8 At 1 am the bride was given the vestments of a David queen,with the same white that was worn by Christian monastics of the order of Dan.

Revelation 19:8

19:8. kai edothē autē hina peribalētai byssinon lampron katharon, to gar byssinon ta dikaiōmata tōn hagiōn estin.

19:8 It was given (passive past tense west) to her (RLR to Herself v. 7) in order that she (Herself) be around-thrown in fine linen bright pure, for the fine linen the righteousness of the saints are (singular verb with neuter plural; present tense center).

19:8 At 1 am the bride was given the vestments of royalty, the purple cassock of a bishop over which she wore a white surplice. This was the dress of Christian Gentile monastics of the order of Dan, wearing white as Essenes always did (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 123), but acting as bishops in a purple cassock when they were in the outside world. The David queen could act as a bishop, and one who could make other women bishops. She was thus a "seller of purple", following Jewish Christian rules for promotion fees. This was the description of Lydia, the second wife of Jesus, in Acts 16:14. Female bishops were active in Asia Minor in the 2nd century AD (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History V, xvi, 7; Hippolytus, Refutation viii 19)

Tuesday June 1, 73 AD, 1 to 3 am In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:9 A banquet in the abbey followed the wedding. Tychicus as the recorder was asked by the bride to write the marriage certificate. The younger brother of Jesus Justus was present as his crown prince until he had a son of his own.

Revelation 19:9

19:9. Kai legei moi, Grapson. Makarioi hoi eis to deipnon tou gamou tou arniou keklēmenoi. kai legei moi, Houtoi hoi logoi alēthinoi tou theou eisin

19:9 And she (RLR to Herself , the bride, in vv. 7, 8, , (present tense center). (RSV adds "the angel said", as there is no apparent male subject of legei) says (present tense, center) to me (Tychicus at west guest), " Write". Blessed Ones the ones called at the supper of the wedding of the Lamb". And she (Herself, ) says (present tense, center) to me, " These Words true of God are.(present tense, center) "

19:9. At the wedding banquet in the abbey following the ceremony, on row 7, the couple sat in the center as husband and wife, with Tychicus the recorder in the west guest seat. The bride said to Tychicus, "Write the wedding certificate as proof of the marriage. The Chief Therapeut is behind us on row 6 to give the blessing".

The bride added at 3 am, "The younger brother of Jesus Justus has been appointed as his crown prince and levitate until he has a son of his own. He is a Christian, under the authority of the Hellenist Annas". The younger brother, whose name is not given, was born March 44 AD (Acts 12: 24)

Tuesday June 1, 73 AD, 6 am. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:10 At the payment of the second instalment of the Roman tribute, Matthias Annas II directed that it should not be paid through him as he was a Roman citizen, but should be paid through the Hellenist Annas who represented Jews under the governance of Rome.

Revelation 19:10

19:10. kai epesa emprosthen tōn podōn autou proskynēsai autō. kai legei moi, Hora mē. syndoulos sou eimi kai tōn adelphōn sou tōn echontōn tēn martyrian Iēsou. tō the ō proskynēson, hē gar martyria Iēsou estin to pneuma tēs prophēteias .

19:10. And I (Tychicus) fell (past tense west) Before{emprosthen} the feet of him (RLR to Lord God in vv. 6 and 7) to worship{proskyneō} to him (Lord God). And he (Lord God) says (present tense center) to me," see{eidon} not. A with-slave of you I am (present tense center). And of the brothers of you the ones having the witness of Jesus. worship{proskyneō} to God. For the witness of Jesus is (present tense center) the Spirit of prophecy.

19:10. The septennial Roman tribute was payable both January 1 and June 1, in two instalments. In June the second instalment was paid by Tychicus to Matthias Annas II, at 6 am as it was a weekday.

The jar for collecting taxes was called the "feet", both because it was placed beside the feet of a man standing and also as a euphemism for "filthy lucre" at the level of the buttocks. It was placed at the west center of row 13 in the congregation annexe in the west panel of the abbey. The person putting money in came first to the novice position on its west side, where he knelt, then he reached to the east center. These positions were taken at the "washing of the feet" at the Last Supper, when the jar for monthly village taxes was emptied and washed by Simon Magus as the bishop (John 13:5-10).

Matthias at the podium on row 9 said to Tychicus on row 10, "Do not look down to row 13 in the congregation annexe where Jewish money is found. Give the money to the Hellenist Annas, to be paid to Rome through him. He represents Jews governed by Rome, whereas I am a Roman citizen like you , representing Christians who are not Jewish citizens. The younger brother of Jesus Justus is a layman served by Linus the successor of Peter in Rome. The younger brother is under the authority of the Hellenist Annas, so is Jewish, not having dual citizenship. Linus who now has some priestly functions can act as the Spirit at a lay table , a grade 2 deputy of Jesus Justus at grade 1, so he is preparing to become independent of Judaism".

Tuesday, June 1, 73 AD, noon. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:11 The coronation of Jesus Justus as the heir of Jesus was performed at noon. He sat on the throne on the upper floor as a priest-king. He professed Christian doctrines. As a dynast he would go outside in the role of a presbyter and bishop.

Revelation 19:11

19:11. Kai eidon ton ouranon ēneōgmenon, kai idou hippos leukos, kai ho kathēmenos ep' auton pistos kai alēthinos, kai en dikaiosynē krinei kai polemei .

19:11. And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} the Heaven opened. And see{eidon} a white horse And the one sitting upon (+accus.)him (horse) faithful, And true. And in righteousness he (the one sitting) judges (present tense center). And he makes war (present tense center).

19:11. The coronation of Jesus Justus as the heir of Jesus was performed on the upper floor of the cathedral. The skylight was opened at noon as usual every day. Tychicus was recording at the west guest seat on row 7 on the middle floor.

At the position of the throne on row 3 of the upper floor there first appeared a Diaspora priest, a "horse", the Hellenist Annas ,wearing the white color for the season of summer. After 5 minutes he was replaced by Jesus Justus, who was thus being given the authority of both a king and a priest. He was in the succession of Paul, teaching justification by faith, and was a Christian holding Truth. He was a dynast who was normally celibate, When he was livng outside he acted as both a presbyter-judge and a bishop presiding at debates.

Together with the Hellenist Annas his mentor, Jesus Justus had come over to the cathedral following the disgrace of Bernice. As now the David he adopted the titles of his father Jesus as a Christian. But he is never called Christ in the Book of Revelation.

Tuesday June 1, 73 AD, 1 pm. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:12 At 1 pm Jesus Justus came down to the table on the middle floor and was given his duties, including representing proselytes.

Revelation 19:12

19:12. hoi de ophthamoi autou phlox pyros, kai epi tēn kephalēn autou diadēmata polla, echōn onoma gegrammenon ho oudeis oiden ei mē autos

19:12. But the eyes of him (RLR to Sitting One v. 11 ) a flame of fire. And upon (+ accus) the head of him (Jesus Justus) many diadems, he having a Name written, which No one knowledge{oida}. if not He.

19:12. At 1 pm Jesus Justus came down to the center of row 7 at the table on the middle floor, where the lamp, the "eyes", was placed for reading. He was appointed to the position of Fire, holding the oil lamp, as the representative of proselytes, for this was originally the duty of the David before Jesus rejected it. On his head above his headband he wore, not a stephanos, the crown of a priest-king, but a smaller diadem. He could go down to row 10 to give a baptismal name to new initiates. When he was not on row 10, a deacon acolyte replaced him.

Tuesday June 1, 73 AD, 9 pm and midnight. In the Rome cathedral and abbey

Revelation 19:13 In the evening Jesus Justus was given the right to preside at the meal of martyr missionaries, wearing the more lay vestment, a surplice with red markings. He was given the title the Word of God, used by the David when he was in the outside world.

Revelation 19:13

19:13. kai peribeblēmenos himation bebammenon haimati, kai keklētai to onoma autou ho logos tou theou.

19:13. And he (RLR to He v. 12 ) around-thrown with a garment{himatia} (better text sprinkled not dipped ) in blood. And the Name of him ( He) was called the Word of God.

19:13. In the evening Jesus Justus presided at the meal on the middle floor of the cathedral, attended by missionaries drinking fermented wine as a symbol of martyrdom. He wore the more lay vestment, a surplice with red markings. The word translated "dipped" is better read as "sprinkled", from perirrainō. This custom may be understood as the origin of the Knights Templar, whose name linked them with the temple, and who wore red crosses on their white garments. It would be the case that their ascetic order originated much earlier than has been thought.

At midnight in the abbey Jesus Justus was given the title the Word of God, the name used by the David as a lay levite in the outside world. It was a name used at midnight of the Julian calendar, as shown in John 1:1.

Wednesday June 23, 73 AD, Pentecost. In the Rome cathedral.

Revelation 19:14 At the Pentecost repetition of his birthday Jesus Justus sat on the east side of the double throne with the Hellenist Annas. Jesus Justus was appointed the head of armies, with his younger brother the Chief Soldier.

Revelation 19:14

19:14. kai ta strateumata en tō ouranō ēkolouthei autō eph' hippois leukois, endedymenoi byssinon leukon katharon.

19:14. And the soldiery in the Heaven followed to him (RLR to Word of God v. 13). upon (+dat) to white horses, they (masc plu to horses), vested in fine linen, white, pure

19:14. At Pentecost, the solstice celebration of his birthday , Jesus Justus returned to the upper floor, where he was appointed head of the army, with his younger brother as Chief Soldier, the active head. The younger brother stood at the pulpit on the upper floor. Jesus Justus sat on the east side of the throne beside the Hellenist Annas, a Diaspora missionary priest wearing white for summer, and a white linen robe as the representative of the Virgin, the bride.

In accordance with Essene tradition, there would be no sexual consummation of the marriage for another three months. From the information on the age of Jesus III in Revelation Part D, it becomes apparent that he was conceived in September 76 AD and born June 77 AD. There was no time for the previous birth of a daughter, which would be followed by a three years' delay. It appears that a conception was delayed, as had happened for Jesus I in the gospel period.

SEPTEMBER 73 AD

Wednesday September 1, 73 AD. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:15 In September Jesus Justus exercised discipline against a weakening of Jewish identity in the mission in the far west, which included Britain. He favored Jews, acting as the David Shepherd to Jewish pilgrims to Rome. His younger brother was even more fervent, saying that the abbey was too pro-Roman. Militarism was on the rise in the East, and would lead to the fall of Masada the following year.

Revelation 19:15

19:15. kai ek tou stomatos autou ekporeuetai rhomphaia oxeia, hina en autē pataxē ta ethnē, kai autos poimanei autous en rhabdō sidēra. kai autos patei tēn lēnon tou oinou tou thymou tēs orgēs tou theou tou pantokratoros. .

19:15. And out of the mouth of him (RLR to Word of God, in vv. 13 and 14) travels out (present tense center) a sharp sword{rhomphaia}, in order that in it (fem, sword) he (Jesus Justus) should smite the Gentiles.(neut plu) And He shepherds (present tense, center) them (RLR to ones vested v. 14) in a rod of iron. And He (a different He) tramples (present tense, center) the winepress of the wine of the Wrath of the Fury of God the All-seizing.

19:15. At the September council following his coronation Jesus Justus exercised the power of the Davids to discipline.He was in the abbey, where agricultural imagery was used. It was likened to an Eden in which he was the authority on row 7 at the "mouth". Swords turned at the entrance to Eden (Genesis 3:24) and the eastern one acted as his weapon.

The head of Japheth working for Agrippa as "Noah" in the far west was being too independent, and the weapon was applied to him for being out of accord with the Jewish east. The far west included Britain, in which Agrippa had expressed an interest during the war (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2, 363). It had been invaded by Claudius with the help of Vespasian in 43 AD (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 3, 5), so this was its 30th year. It is shown in Revelation Part D that it became fully Christian 40 years later in 113 AD, 70 years after Claudius. (Revelation 21:24-27)

At the same time Jesus Justus in sympathy with Jews acted as David the Shepherd to Jewish pilgrims to Rome, while applying to them the discipline of the Therapeuts of Egypt, the "iron furnace" (Deuteronomy 4:20). The entrance door into the abbey building was made of iron, and the pilgrims were not permitted into the monastic area.

In September Vespasian, still trying to placate Jews, accepted another invitation to dine at Agrippa's house, drinking fermented wine. Vespasian was the Wrath, and his son Titus was now the Fury. Having separated from Bernice he retained his interest in becoming a proselyte, instructed by Matthias Annas II.

The militant younger brother of Jesus Justus "trampled" the abbey, saying it was too pro-Roman. Militarism was on the rise and would lead to the fall of Masada the following year.

Wednesday September 1, 73 AD. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:16 The younger brother of Jesus Justus began preparations to act as head of armies in Judea, in anticipation of war.

Revelation 19:16

19:16. kai echei epi to himation kai epi ton mēron autou onoma gegrammenon Basileus basileōn kai kyrios kyriōn.

19:16 And he (RLR to second He v. 15) has (present tense center) upon (+ accus) the garment{himatia}. And upon (+ accus) the thigh of him (He) a Name written, King of Kings. And Lord of Lords.

19:16. The younger brother of Jesus Justus, aged 29, took up his role as head of armies.He carried at his thigh an inscribed sword, on the principle of the weapons described in the War Scroll columns 3 and 4. The inscription was meant to show that he was a David, using the titles of the David which had also been those of Jesus in his final days (Revelation 17:14). War in Judea was anticipated, and preparation was being made for it.

74 AD

JANUARY 74 AD

Midnight beginning Saturday January 1, 74 AD. In the Rome cathedral, middle floor.

Revelation 19:17 In the light of threatened war in Judea, the Magus and the Rome abbot united to gain the co-operation of Antipas III of the intermediate party.

Revelation 19:17

19:17. Kai eidon hena angelon hestōta en tō hēliō, kai ekraxen phonē megalē legōn pasin tois orneois tois petomenois en mesourananēmati, Deute synachthēte eis to deipnon to mega tou theou.

19:17. And I (Tychicus) saw{eidon} 1 angel) standing in the Sun . And he (RLR to Sun) cried out (past tense west) with a Voice great, saying to All the Birds the ones flying in mid-heaven " Come{deute}, lead-with at the supper the great of God.

19:17. On New Year's Day the threatened war in Judea dominated the meetings of ascetics in Rome. Would they support the homeland in its need, or would they cut themselves off from the East, focussing on Rome and the mission to the Far West?

Of the three houses, that of Antipas III on Tiber Island for Jewish Christians was the intermediate one. As a Herod he was called All, and as a Jew who preferred Rome he was called the Eagle in plu. rep. He is referred to under that name in Luke 17:37. It is Antipas who is called All-Birds. As a married man not a celibate, he could go no higher than the middle floor when he came to the cathedral.

The Magus based at the Vatican was a militant, although as a Samaritan he would not go to the defense of Judea himself. In the past the Magians had allied with the Antipas Herods, as they had done at the crucifixion to rescue Simon Magus. John II the abbot of Rome now went to the Magus as the Sun, director of the solar calendar. The Magus appealed to Antipas, "Come to a meeting in the abbey, with a meal at 1 am, at which the Hellenist Annas will preside and lead the debate".

Saturday January 1, 74 AD, 1 am. In the Rome abbey

Revelation 19:18 The meal financed by Antipas III was to be a common one for Jewish married men.

Revelation 19:18

19:18. hina phagēte sarkas basileōn kai sarkas chiliarchōn kai sarkas ischyrōn kai sarkas hippōn kai ton kathēmenōn ep' autōn kai sarkas pantōn eleutherōn te kai doulōn kai mikrōn kai megalōn

19:18. In order that you (plu, All the birds v.17 ) may eat the flesh of kings. And flesh of heads of a Thousand. And flesh of Strong Ones. And flesh of horses. And of the ones sitting upon (+ genitive) of them (RLR to All the birds v.17). And flesh of All freedmen. And of slaves. And of little ones{mikron} and of great ones.

19:18. At 1 am in the abbey a meal of married men was held, in the manner of the Feedings of the Multitude in the gospel period. Five loaves were shared among the initiates present, treated as common, not the sacred loaves of celibates. They were counted as "flesh", simply to satisfy hunger, at the same time strengthening married men who were prepared to fight. As a meal of the Egyptian Therapeuts, they were called by opponents the "fleshpots of Egypt" (Exodus 16:3).

The common loaves, F3, F4 etc, were shared by pairs of ministers on both sides of the abbey table. The lowest was F7 for grade 7 initiates. Present also were pre-initiates of grades 8-9 (G 8-9), married men called "slaves". The lowest of all were grades 10 and 11-12. The sub-initiates were not given "flesh", the full loaves, but leftover fragments.

Row 6





Row 7 F5 All free Presbyters Sitter F3 Horses F4 Bishops
Row 8 TABLE
Row 9 TABLE
Row 10 R10 Married (slaves) G8-9 F6 Kings, proselytes F7 Strong ones initiates
Row 11
Row 12
Row 13 Little G11-12
great G10

The Hellenist Annas as the Diaspora visiting priest took the place of Horses, with Jesus Justus as the one sitting with him, their status now reversed.

Figure 15c

Figure 15C. Chariot showing table with loaves.

Saturday January1, 74 AD, 3 am. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:19 Eleazar the Beast had come to Rome to ask for financial assistance for the insurgents on Masada. A debate was held in the abbey at the end of the meal. The vote went 4:2 against the militants.

Revelation 19:19

19:19. Kai eidon to thērion kai tous basileis tēs gēs kai ta strateumata autōn synēgmena poiēsai ton polemon meta tou kathēmenou epi tou hippou kai meta tou strateumatos autou

19:19. And I, (Tychicus) saw{eidon} the Beast (Eleazar). And the kings of the Earth. And the soldiery of them (kings of Earth) gathered to make the war with (+ genitive) the one sitting upon of the horse . And with (+ genitive) the soldiery of him (RLR to Beast)

19:19. In January 74 AD Eleazar the Beast had arrived in Rome to try to gain money and support for his renewed attack on the Roman occupation, to be conducted from his base on Masada on the west coast of the Dead Sea. Following the common meal, a council was held in the abbey to make the crucial decision on action. The Hellenist Annas as the "horse" for Diaspora mission presided on row 6. Jesus Justus now sat west center beside him. Tychicus as west guest on row 7 recorded but did not have a vote.

Titus, still being instructed as a proselyte and on the side of the cathedral, had been invited to advise on the military issues involved in using Masada as a base, for he knew it well after conducting the last stages of the war in Judea. The younger brother of Jesus Justus respected Titus's opinion. Apollos was the military deputy of the Beast Eleazar.

R6 Jesus JustusNoHellenist AnnasNo
R7Tychicus ApollosYesEleazar BeastYes
R10BrotherNoTitusNo

The vote went 4:2, the 2 being Eleazar and Apollos. No help would be given by Rome Christians at this time of their friendship with Vespasian. Bernicianus, who formed a third with the militants, was either not invited or was at Masada. The militants set out for Masada, determined to be national heroes on their own.

JUNE 74 AD

June 1, 74 AD. At Masada on the west coast of the Dead Sea.

Revelation 19:20 Masada at the Dead Sea had fallen in May, 74 AD, with the death by suicide of Eleazar and 960 zealots. Bernicianus survived at Qumran further north, and became the sole leader of remaining eastern ascetics. Apollos survived at Ain Feshkha, but as a Jewish Christian was rejected.

Revelation 19:20

19:20. kai epiasthē to thērion kai met' autou ho pseudoprophētēs ho poiēsas ta semeia enōpion autou, en hois eplanēsen tous labontas to charagma tou thēriou kai tous proskynountas tē eikoni autou. zōntes eblēthēsan hoi dyo eis tēn limnēn tou pyros tēs kaiomenēs en theiō.

19:20. And the Beast was trapped (past tense west). And with (+ genitive) the false prophet, (in apposition) the One having made the signs Before{enōpion} of him (the Beast), in whom (masc plu, RLR to kings of Earth v. 19) he (RLR to the One having made Signs) deceived (past tense west) the ones receiving the mark of the Beast. And the ones worshipping{proskyneō} to the icon of him (One having made signs). They living, the Two, were thrown (past tense west) at the lake of fire burning in sulphur.

19:20 The date of the fall of Masada is now known to be 74 AD, not 73 AD as previously thought (Schűrer, History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, Vol 1, p. 512, note 139). It was in the month of May (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7, 401). The fall of Masada itself is not recorded in Revelation. Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7, 304-406 describes how Eleazar, seeing the Romans advancing up the cliff, persuaded the 960 insurgents to commit mass suicide, on Eleazar'assurance of a bodily resurrection.

Revelation records that by June 1, 74 AD, the "Beast was trapped" - Eleazar the despot of Masada had died. Bernicianus son of Bernice had not been there, and he remained as leader at Qumran, giving promotions in Hebrew to those who turned to him. He gave Magian teaching to the zealots wearing their X emblem. On June 1 when the Roman tribute was due it was the 7th year of Bernice, who had claimed rule in 67 AD during the war. Bernicianus directed that the money should be sent to Bernice in Rome to be spent on the continuing nationalist cause in the East. It looked to her as their priestess.

Josephus couples Eleazar and the Sicarii together as the leaders at Masada (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 7, 275). Apollos was the head of the Sicarii. This verse places him at (eis) Masada, the lake of fire and sulphur, that is at the next position to its north. He had remained based at Ain Feshkha, with which the Chief Therapeut Theudas had been closely associated in the gospel period (Mark 5:1-20). But he claimed to be a Jewish Christian, "living", so was rejected by the Jewish militants under Bernicianus.

75 AD

JANUARY 75 AD

Midnight beginning Sunday January 1,75 AD. In the Rome abbey.

Revelation 19:21 When Bernicianus brought the news of the fall of Masada to Rome, Jesus Justus punished the house of Bernice. He excommunicated his former friend the Chief Proselyte, a militant who advised Bernice. Antipas III on Tiber Island remained head of Jewish Christians.

Revelation 19:21

19:21. kai hoi loipoi apektanthēsan en tē rhomphaia tou kathēmenou epi tou hippou tē exelthousē ek tou stomatos autou, kai panta ta ornea echortasthēsan ek tōn sarkōn autōn

19:21. And the Remnant were put to death in the sword{rhomphaia} of the one sitting upon of the horse, (the sword, fem, ) coming-out{erchomai} (fem participle) out of the mouth of him (RLR to false prophet v.20). And All the birds were satiated with the flesh (plu) of them ( the Remnant)

19:21. Bernicianus brought the news of the fall of Masada and the money to his mother in Rome, reaching it January 75 AD. Jesus Justus, who was now committed to the cause of peace, used his disciplinary power to punish militarism. He excommunicated his former friend the Chief Proselyte from Bernice's house. Antipas III remained head of the Jewish Christians on Tiber Island, holding the common meal for married men.

Revelation Section 2

"I, John (III)" (76 to 114 AD)
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