The Lord's Day

'The Lord's Day' - page 2

5th and 6th Visions

5 ch.14-ch.15v4 Jerusalem – Earth's New Capital City

The Russian/Catholic/European confederacy

invasion has now been crushed, the surrounding nations sub-

dued, and the time has come to extend the judgments of God

throughout the earth. The expansion of the Kingdom of God

( the kingdom of Israel, 1 Chronicles 28v5;29v23 etc.) is pro-

ceeding, Daniel 2v34,35,44,45 cp Amos 9v11,12- this time un-

der the control of immortal rulers. Jerusalem is the capital

city. The Jewish people have now recognized and accepted

Jesus of Nazareth (Whom they had long rejected) as the Son

of God and their Messiah, Zechariah 12;13v6; Psalm 24v7-10.

Israel is now God's "battle axe", Jer.51v19,20. The building

of the great Temple foretold by Ezekiel (ch.40-48) is about to

begin. Jesus referred to this future "house of prayer" -Matt.21

v13 cp Isaiah 56v7. Also link to the promises to David - page 3

'promises'. The time has come for the prophetic fulfilment in

Zion of the feasts of Israel. This is why in this vision we see so

much based upon them. For further details link to 'feasts'.

During 10 years ultimatums are issued to submit to Christ;re-

jection brings judgments- ch.14v6-20; Isa.18v3-6..40 years

in all- cp 4th Vision-page 1- rebels are crushed…..the Catholic

"church-state" ("that great city") and beyond ("without the

city")- Rome the great city-state* and beyond (i.e. the whole

world) are commanded to submit to Christ or perish. It is

significant that apostate Rome, which has never recognized

Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, has put footnotes

in her Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible re 2nd Thessalonians 2

- which predicts the uprise of the apostacy, the "man of sin".

V4 footnote states- "In the temple"….."that of Jerusalem

which some think he will rebuild". This Roman "tradition"

will be misused when convenient to try to "prove" that He

(Who will in reality be Jesus Christ) is the "man of sin"!

*Caracella proclaimed Rome as co-extensive with the empire-

see 'Elpis Israel' ch.13 by John Thomas.

This is "the lie" (verse 11, original ) by which the nations

will be deceived.. & the Jesuits have long tried to disprove

that Rome is the apostacy– link to 'apocalypse'.

The "man of sin" (an order of apostates) has long been sitt-

ing in Rome, claiming equality with God,as prophesied in

2nd Thessalonians 2v3, 4- link to 'departure'.

Daniel prophesied that "he shall speak great words against

the most High",Daniel 7v25,8,11,20 in assuming the title of

"God", & (in spite of his above perverse mis-application as

shown) in his claim he "as God sitteth in the temple of God".

God has chosen Jerusalem ("Zion") Psalm 132v13,14-

"..he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever:

here will I dwell: for I have desired it". However, many have

placed their affections upon Rome, and her apostate religion,

"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,

and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the

wine of her fornication"- ch.17v1,2.

We read in ch.14v12- "Here is the patience of the saints: here

are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith

of Jesus". The "here" is "the mount Sion" ch.14v1. So it is to

Jerusalem that people will need to look for salvation. Link - p.3

'promises'. The age-long conflict between Jerusalem and Rome

is to be resolved once and for all. "The hope of Israel" for

which Paul was bound- Acts 28v20- will at last be realized.

This is the essential meaning of the 5th Vision. The number 5

in Scripture represents, from God, grace and mercy, which are

complementary to a walk of faith by faithful disciples. Link to

'structure' for more discussion of the meaning of the number 5.

This grace and mercy is now extended

to those who "have ears to hear".

Historical ch.15v5 to 17v18: the period covered is AD1789 to the

return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It prophesies of the time from the

French Revolution to "the battle of.. Armageddon", ch.16v14,16.

The significance of this period cannot be over-stated. It takes us

to beyond the final period of 1260 years. In 1870 the Catholic apos-

tacy was stripped of its temporal (political) power, which had all-

owed it to persecute any who would not submit to its teaching-

including the cruel and evil 'inquisition'. The determination still

of this abominable system to withstand Christ is set out in ch.18,

where the European Catholic nations, still "drunk with the (spiri-

tual) wine of her fornication", ch.17v2, oppose Christ during an

"hour" (30 years-see below). This will result in their destruction.

Those who "keep (their) garments" in purity- thus gaining "the vic-

tory over"all forms of apostacy-will be saved-ch.16v15;15v2- the ut-

most sacrifice may be needed- "Blessed are the dead which die in

the Lord from henceforth..their works do follow them"- ch.14v13.

Concerning our "testimony"cp 7th Vision-page 3 & 'apocalypse'.

6 ch. 18 Judgment upon Rome

History has by now caught up with prophecy, and all of

the events take place after the return of Christ. The number 6

reminds us that on the 6th day man was created, and was given

dominion over the earth - whilst he had harmony with God. But

the creation was marred through sin. Since that time 6 has rep-

resented sinful man, and our struggle in the strength of God to

overcome sin. Link to 'structure'. And the 6th 'sign' of John also

demonstrates that spiritual enlightenment can bring the victory.

Link to 'signs'-the 6th. In this 6th Vision we see the final verdict

in the age-long struggle between Jerusalem and Rome. This is

the final chapter in the history of the two "seeds" -link to 'devil'

and 'promises'.The so-called 'eternal city' with her "man of sin"

(whose "number" is "666" - link to 'departure') are destroyed -

ch.18v21. The seven-hilled city and false religion with all of the

attendant spiritual harlotry - ch.17v1-9 - together with all of

her adherents - are justly consigned to oblivion.

Before the judgments are meted out, a call goes forth to leave

the iniquitous city or perish with her - ch.18v4-

"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her

sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues". This call echoes

Genesis 19v12-17;Isaiah 52v11;2nd Corinthians 6v14-18;& link

to 2nd Timothy 2. We should heed the same call today.

The end of Rome is also a disaster for those who depend upon

the evil spiritual wares which she has peddled -

"the merchants..shall weep and mourn over her; for no man

buyeth their merchandise any more…….The merchants of these

things..made rich by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her

torment, weeping and wailing" - ch.18v11,15.

Recently, seismologists have carefully mapped fault-lines which

circle Jerusalem, and also a connecting fault-line which passes

directly beneath Rome.It has been calculated that a very strong

earthquake can at the same time elevate Zion & destroy Rome.

We read in ch.16v18 of "a great earthquake, such as was not

since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and

so great". This symbolizes a total change in the present order

of things. It is a far greater and more permanent change than

the political "earthquake(s)" of Constantine and Napoleon-

cp ch.6v12 and 11v13. And also the literal counterpart to this

has clearly been foretold: concerning Rome see above; further

re the earthquake- Isa. 2v10-22;24v16-23;re Zion-Zech.14v4-11.

And in Psalm 48v1,2 RV we read the following words:

"Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,

In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,

In mount Zion, on the sides of the north,

The city of the great King".

Jesus Christ endorsed this future fulfilment, see Matt.5v34,35.

Psalm 2v6 and context prophesies of this time soon to dawn.

In harmony with the above, Ezekiel was given visions, during

the description of which he records - "In the visions of God

brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very

high mountain, whereon (RV) was as the frame of a city on the

south"-Ezekiel 40v2.In chapters 40-48 the great Temple which

will be built is described in minute detail. An architect named

Henry Sulley, who was also a believer in "the hope of Israel",

wrote a book(1887)entitled 'The Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy'

which we believe sets out the full scope of this great building -

link to 'jubilee'.

In spite of the destruction of the city of Rome, the Roman

apostacy is allowed to continue a little longer. The harlotrous

evil system retreats into central Europe, defiantly resisting the

will of God through His Son in Jerusalem. The period of this

resistance may be 30 years. A Jewish day was considered as

12 hours. Therefore the "one hour" of judgment upon Rome

(ch.18v10,17,19) represents 1/12th of one day. One day in pro-

phecy represents one year (Numbers 14v33,34;Ezekiel 4v4-6).

A Jewish year was 360 days, and 1/12th of this = 30 days. This

therefore represents in prophetical terms 30 years. The reason

that "thirty days" is not used for this symbology is no doubt to

show the suddenness of the city's downfall ("one hour") yet at

the same time allow the second application to the apostacy in

the following 30 years.This type of "telescopic" representation

where fitness requires it is used also elsewhere(e.g.ch.11v7-11)

and in fact is a feature of the whole construction of the Apoc-

alypse, where seven seals encompass seven trumpets, which

encompass seven vials.

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