"Outside Books." Many of its apocalyptic visions were plagiarized from Zarubable, Daniel and other lesser known mystical works which Jewish scholars have put away. The Christians, when combing through rabbinical literature in search of proof verses to substantiate their claim of the messiahship of Jesus, probably found this old Jewish Midrash¹³ and doctored it up a bit by inserting the name of Jesus here and there Much later the cannon erroneously accredited it to John the Divine¹⁴. The fact is that the Book of Revelation is unintelligible and needs another revelation to explain it. However, an analysis of the interpolations supports the conclusion that it is the work of the anti-Paulinist of the Jerusalem church. This group was zealous in the observance of Jewish law whereas the Paulinist were not.


Revelation 12:5-6 ~ And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days.

Fundies say that the child referred to in this passage is Jesus, and the woman is the Christian church, therefore, it is a prophecy about them. However, this cannot possibly be true because according to the gospels Jesus ascended into heaven not as a child but as an adult about 33 years old. The Greeks, however, tell a story of the birth of Apollo remarkably similar to this one in Revelation except that the Greek story predates Revelation by almost a millennium. The ancient Egyptians also told a similar story of Horace. In fact, this story seems to have been well known throughout the eastern Mediterranean world of the first century. Chapter eighteen of Revelation is borrowed in its entirety from the Hebrew prophets concerning Babylon which was all fulfilled in its day and has nothing at all to do with a prophecy of the end of time.


Revelation 13:16-17 ~ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

To the anti-Paulinist who authored the Book of Revelation, Rome and every- thing it stood for was tyrannical and hateful. As more and more Roman citizens became converted to Roman Catholicism, the church grew in power and influence. The outcome was that the Pope eventually came to reign supremely in place of the Emperor. The mark of the beast symbolized the coming dominance of the church of Rome when all people would be coerced or forced to convert to it, as many eventually were.

The preaching of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was fundamental to the theology of Paul as is seen in I Corinthians 1:18 and Galatians 6:14. Therefore, when Paulinism became Roman Catholicism the cross became the primary symbol of the faith. From its earliest days the church of Rome made the sign of the cross on the foreheads of those whom it baptized. However, this amounts to a flagrant misuse of the true meaning of the sign.

The earliest reference to a "sign" is found in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 9:4. The symbol was Tav (t), the 23rd letter of ancient Hebrew alphabet. This letter was to be placed on the forehead to identify the righteous so that they would be saved from destruction. It bears no relation what so ever to the Christian cross.

Fundies are quick to apply the title "Antichrist" to anyone who dares to cross them. However, this word appears only four times in the entire Bible all of which are in I and II John. One thing all Antichrists have in common is that they will be identified by that mystical number 666 as seen in Revelation 13:18. In that regard, Fundies have always excited themselves by manipulating the numerical equivalents of the letters in the names of certain world leaders so as to equal that feared number. For example in his epic novel War and Piece Tolstoy identified Napoleon Bonaparte as the Antichrist. Since that time Hitler, Stalin, the Pope, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are just a few who have been given that dubious distinction. The fact is that whenever anyone disagrees with the Fundie's interpretation of the Bible, they are immediately dubbed the Antichrist. By one means or another, usually highly convoluted, their names always seem to miraculously add up to 666.

To understand better the apocalypse of John, the central theme of the Book of Revelation, it is necessary to examine the visions briefly in their order. First, John sees God sitting on his throne holding in his hand a book with seven¹⁵ seals (5:1). Then the lamb that has been slain and has risen from the dead (Jesus) is found worthy to open the seals. When the fifth seal is opened John sees the souls of the martyrs of Christ that were slain for the cause of Christianity. But more martyrs must yet to be slain (6:11). Then we learn that humanity does not accept the atonement of Christ for their sins. For that they must experience the wrath of God (14:19-20 and 19:15). When the seventh seal is opened seven angels with seven trumpets appear. Each time one of the angels sounds his trumpet more horrors occur (8). Following the seventh trumpet blast seven more angels come bearing the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God (15:7). Then comes the woman, the great whore, dressed in scarlet, and drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (17:6). In the next verse (7) the woman is seen sitting on a beast with seven heads. The heads represent seven Kings (17:9-10). Five of the kings are fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come (v10). In verse 11 it says that one of the fallen five was wounded but recovered. This one will reign over the earth for three and a half years persecuting the believers and establishing a rule of godlessness. Then comes the great war. The believers in Christ and the resurrected martyrs will in the end destroy the great whore (19:2). Then Satan and all nonbelievers will be banished for one thousand years (the millennium) during which time Jesus and his church will reign. But when the millennium ends Satan is freed and another bloodbath takes place in which he is again defeated (20:7-10). Then there is a second resurrection and all the faithful enter the new Jerusalem which is suspended some where between heaven and earth (21:1).

The emphasis in all of this is on the inevitability of the ultimate victory of Jesus and the believers over Satan and the nonbelievers. Most Fundies are convinced that these visions are prophesying future events. For that reason the Fundies try to twist each and every event so as to make it fit their preconceived expectations. It also permeates their political and social agenda. So to a certain extent they become self-fulfilling. But the fact is that the "Antichrist" has already been and gone.

Revelation speaks strictly of people and events of the writer's own time. In that regard, Engels¹⁶ tells us that the seven kings referred to in 17:10-11 are the Roman emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, and Otho (a.k.a. Otto). Looking back at the prophecy we see that five are fallen and one is. Nero, number five, was followed by Galba. Hence, Nero is fallen and Galba, number six, is. Galba ruled briefly from 6/68 to 1/69 after which he was replaced by Otho, number seven who also ruled briefly from 1/69 to 3/69. So from this we can determine that Revelation was probably written during the reign of Otho. In verse 11, however, it speaks of a number eight, who is in fact one of the seven. But who was the eighth who was and is not? The key to that lies in the mystery number 666. That number, as it turns out, is simply a disguise for Nero, one of the first five Caesars. The number is based on the Hebrew spelling of Neron Kaisar, an inscription found on coins of Nero's time.

The entire Roman empire was throne into confusion in Galba's time. Nero, who fled from Galba, ordered his slave to kill him which he did. But the rumor soon spread, especially in the east, that Nero had not been killed only wounded. Not only had he recovered, but according to the rumor, he was poised to advance on Rome at the head of a huge army. Thus the Christians perceived another reign of terror and persecution pending. They had good cause for concern because it was Nero who had initiated the first government sponsored persecution of them. The Christians were convinced that Nero was none other than the antichrist, the beast. But not to worry, the Christians were told, because this was the prelude to the second coming of Jesus who, with God's help, would be victorious over the antichrist thereby inaugurating the millennium. We read in 22:10 that, "the time is at hand." In verse 12 Jesus says, "Behold, I come quickly." In verse 20 he assures us again, "Surely I come quickly." So the Book of Revelation ends on a note of urgency, Jesus is on his way. Thus many naive Christians went joyfully to their death expecting the imminent return of Jesus.

Fundies naturally reject this explanation because if Nero was the beast (antichrist), then according to the prophecy Jesus should have returned to destroy him which he obviously did not do. So the mysterious Book of Revelation turns out to be just another myth in a book of myths called the New Testament. That which was to happen soon is long overdue. Therefore, the Book of Revelation cannot be taken seriously by thinking people.


OLD TESTAMENT SOURCES OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

We will now examine a few of the passages from the Old Testament some of which do not appear in the New Testament, but have become a part of Christian teachings.


The Scepter of Juda

Gen 49:10 ~ The scepter shall not depart from Juda nor the Lord giveth from between his feet until Shiloh comes and the obedience of the people be his.

Fundies claim that Shiloh is one of the names of the Messiah. Jesus, according to his genealogy, is supposed to be from the tribe of Juda. In the Revelation 5:5 he is characterized as the "Lion of the tribe of Juda." Fundies believe that the scepter, which denotes rulership, belongs only to Jesus. They say that because the Jews rejected Jesus, the throne of David has been vacant since that day and will only be filled when Jesus (Shiloh) retakes it at his second coming. However, that argument carries no weight.

The scepter departed from the tribe of Juda long before Jesus allegedly appeared on the scene. The last king of the tribe of Juda was King Zedekiah. He was taken captive nearly 600 years before Jesus is supposed to have lived. They may argue that the Jews did have kings up to and during the alleged time of Jesus, but it was only when they rejected Jesus that the kingship was taken away. But it should be pointed out that during the Macabbean period there were indeed kings over Israel, but they were of the tribe of Levi not of Juda. The kings mentioned in the New Testament in association with Jesus are Herod and Aggripa, but there again they were not of the tribe of Juda. In fact, they were impostors forced upon the Jewish people by the Romans. What is meant by "The scepter shall not depart from Juda until Shiloh comes" is simply that no matter who is in power, the true right of kingship belongs only to the tribe of Juda. What is more "Shiloh" is not the name of a messiah but of a town in Samaria.


The Jewish Feasts Have Been Replaced.

Isaiah 1:14 ~ Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

As usual the Fundies have taken this verse out of context. They have found one verse that they think supports their cause and they have isolated it from the rest of the chapter. However, back in verse ten it clearly shows that these words were directed to the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because there were Jews how did the same kind of wickedness as was practiced there, the prophet has singled them out for rebuke. It is to them alone that this passage is directed. No attack is being made by the prophet upon those who keep the genuine feasts in a sincere way. This passage is intended for the hypocrites.


Wounded Hands.

Zechariah 13:6 ~ And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Fundies claim that the reference to "wounded hands" in this passage is proof that Zechariah was prophesying about Jesus who allegedly had his hands nailed to the cross. In John 20:25 it refers to this so-called prophecy. But according to Zechariah 13:5, But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. It is clear that the one who has wounds in his hands is considered to be a false prophet. Moreover, the verse reads between thy hands not in thy hands as is incorrectly translated in the KJV.


Psalm 22:16 ~ "They pierced my hands and my feet." Fundies say that Jesus fulfilled this when he was nailed to the cross. However, the original Hebrew says no such thing.

The truth is that the New Testament does not in any way compliment or fulfill the Old Testament. The Old Testament can continue to exist without the New Testament whereas the opposite would be impossible. If it can be shown that Christianity is a fraud, men of honor and integrity should openly admit it without hesitation. But many Fundies are blinded by faith not in God or in Jesus but in feelings and emotions. They refuse to discuss doctrines and ideas which may prove them to be wrong. They will not allow themselves to see the many misinterpretations, misquotations and out-and-out mistakes plaguing the New Testament. Yet nothing, if it be reasonable, can suffer by objective, impartial examination. To accept anything solely on faith while closing one's eye and ears to all critics is to practice a most disingenuous form of intellectual dishonesty.

Some of the Hebrew prophets did speak about Jesus as can be seen from the following citations. Their comments will come as a surprise to most Fundies.

Amos 3:7 ~ Surely God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

From this verse we can only assume that the prophets must have known about Jesus and foretold his coming. Somewhere in their writings there must be, if not an outright mention, at least a hint of him. So, let us see what we can find.


Deuteronomy 13:1-3 ~ If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams.

We can see immediately that the writer is warning of a false prophet. In that regard, many miracles, signs and wonders are recorded in the gospels as being performed by Jesus. These were intended to convince people that he was indeed the Messiah. What is more, in John 10:30 he makes himself out to be God. Surely, Jesus qualifies as a false prophet whose message is to entice the people to worship other gods. But how do we know that this verse is referring to Jesus? Well, look at Deuteronomy 13:6-8 where it says, If thy brother, the son of thy mother, . . . say let us go and serve other gods, . . . Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor harken unto him. Notice it does not say "son of thy father." As was pointed out earlier, Jesus had no earthly father. Therefore, he fulfilled this prophecy.


Daniel 7:25 ~ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The one who came along and changed the times and the laws was Jesus. Therefore, he is the evil one referred to in Daniel's prophecy.


Isaiah 1:14 ~ Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

He certainly was not referring to the feast which God ordained, but to those of Christianity - Christmas, Easter, Sunday, etc.

Daniel 8:14 ~ Unto 2,300 days will the sanctuary be cleansed. In the year 1831 the fundamentalist preacher Rev. William Miller, then living in Low Hampton,New York, took this brief passage to predict the second coming of Jesus. This awesome event would take place, he assured his followers, on the October 22, 1844. Many of his followers, known as "Millerites," took him so seriously that they planted no crops that year and thus preserved no food supplies for the coming winter. As a result many of them, facing sure starvation, were force off their ancestral land.

Daniel 11:32 ~ And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

The person whom Daniel foresaw is a deceiver who will win over by flattery and promises those ready to condemn the covenant. But who is the deceiver and what promises does his new covenant have to offer? For one thing, it offers instant salvation and a much easier code of law. Instead of the old covenant with its rigid laws of Moses the new covenant says you don't have to do anything because it has all been done for you. To be saved, all one has to do is believe in Jesus. But Daniel also says that those who are faithful to their God will hold firm and resist. So, we see from this passage that Jesus is the deceiver, and it is the unfaithful who will fall for the enticing promises of the so-called new covenant.


Isaiah 2:2-3 ~ And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Fundies say that "God's house" refers to them and "the word of the Lord" refers to the testimony of Jesus. But Isaiah 2:11 states that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of man shall be bowed down. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. The prophet here is warning people not to follow a man such as Jesus because his claims carry no substance. This passage refers to someone who appointed himself God as did Jesus. (See John 10:30 and John 14:9.) So, verse 22 undoubtedly refers to him. This is what the prophet said, "Then the lofty looks of man shall be humbled." Jesus, who exalted and raised himself above all men by claiming to be God, will eventually be humbled and forgotten.


Zechariah 14:9 ~ In that day the Lord shall be one and his name one.

Zechariah said this because he foresaw that some would come to believe Jesus to be God. He also foresaw that the concept of three gods in one, the Holy Trinity, would be accepted and believed by many. But the Lord is and always has been one, not three, as the prophet pointed out.


Isaiah 5:20 ~ Woe to them that call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Woe to them that call evil good means that they exchanged the true God of heaven for the false god, Jesus. Although Jesus declared himself to be the light of the world, his gospel has hindered progress and perpetuated darkness and superstition. The period in history known as the Dark Age was the direct result of the rise of Christianity. Jesus substituted his own law for the law of Moses - darkness for light. The law of Moses was austere. It called for man to do the works of the Lord. Whereas the law of Jesus was easy. Jesus says in Matthew 11:30, "My burden is easy, and my yoke is light." He therefore exchanged the bitter for the sweet. What he had really done, however, was to exchange the sweet, i.e. the law of Moses, for the bitter yoke of apostasy.


Isaiah 5:21 ~ Woe unto those who are wise in their own eyes.

If ever you have meet a true fundamentalist Bible believer you couldn't help but notice the arrogant self righteousness they display so pompously. His way, he will tell you, is the only way, his truth is the only truth, his life is the only life worth living. Everyone who does not agree with him is doomed. Isaiah was surely speaking of these people.


Isaiah 65:1-5 ~ I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

This prophecy is clearly referring to Jesus and his followers. "Those who sacrifice in gardens" refers to Christian monasteries. "Those who burn incense on bricks" is a reference to the alters in most Christian churches. "Those who sit among the graves" refers to the Christian custom of surrounding the graves of the saints. "Those who eat swine's flesh," a meat prohibited by God's law but eaten by Jesus' followers.


Isaiah 65:11 ~ But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

The Christian Eucharist (Holy Communion) is the subject of this verse. The cup is filled with blood, allegedly the blood of Jesus. The bread they eat is said to be transformed into his flesh. In John 6:53-58 Jesus openly exalts his followers to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Today the Eucharist is performed in almost all Christian churches. It is done using red wine or grape juice and a wafer or a crust of bread. In the mind of the participants these become the actual flesh and blood of Jesus. This is nothing more than a pagan ritual confirming Isaiah's prophecy.


Job 14:1-2 ~ Man that is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

Here the prophet foresees Jesus. Jesus was born of a woman and was without a father. His ministry lasted only about three years and he was cut down in the prime of his life. He was full of troubles as the gospels clearly show. Job goes on to say that such a men is of no use, and in verse 6 warns not to listen to him.


Psalm 146:3 ~ Put not your trust in princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help.

Jesus is often referred to as a prince as well as the son of man. According to this psalm, he is not to be trusted.

So, the prophets did indeed speak about Jesus and his church. What they had to say was very revealing.
 

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

One of the most often quoted elements of the Old Testament is the Davidic covenant. But what does it actually say? In that regard, the modern Bible reader is understandably confused over a contradiction. In 2 Samuel 7:14-16 the covenant promises that the Davidic kings will rule Israel forever even if they sin. But, in 1 King 8:25 it says just the opposite. Here it clearly says that the Davidic king's continued tenure on the thrown is directly dependant on righteous behavior. So, the question remains, "Was the Davidic covenant unconditional as it clearly states in 2 Samuel or was it conditional as we are told in 1 Kings?

CONCLUSION

In summing up it should be noted that the New Testament and Christianity, the religion founded upon it, can in no way be interpret as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Christianity is a new religion completely different from Judaism, the religion of the Old Testament. It created a new priesthood whose high priest is Jesus. The new religion had to create a new covenant and could only do so by declaring the old covenant null and void. This was accomplished by deliberately misquoting the Jewish scriptures as shown above. Christianity is in reality nothing more than a revival of paganism. A new human sacrifice, Jesus, was concocted for the new religion. It is acknowledged by the symbolic eating of the flesh and drinking of the blood of Jesus, the sacrifice. A new Jerusalem, heaven, was established. In order to perpetuate this new religion threats were made throughout the gospels and the epistles to those who refused to believe it.

Christianity claims to have a monopoly on truth. It considers itself to be the only way to God. Therefore, it is bigoted and intolerant of other religious beliefs. In its eyes all non-Christians are doomed to spend eternity in hell, a place whose existence has never been verified. When closely examined Christianity turns out to be an irrational and irresponsible theology. This theology is centered around a man, Jesus, who allegedly died on a Roman cross two thousand years ago. This theology is in fact nothing more than the sado/masochistic glorification of pain and suffering. To be a Christian is to live a life of uncertainty and fear, fear of eternal damnation. Humanity must turn away from seeking refuge in illusion and superstition. Salvation lies in reason and rational thought. "Have the courage to use your own intellect," says Kant.

All enlightened people are hereby called upon to join together in an effort to expose the false, foolish, and wicked features of the New Testament and to bring about the day when the New Testament will finally take its place not in homes and schools but in the museums where it belongs. Instead of being a book derived from divine inspiration, the New Testament is revealed to be a book of misquotations, contradictions, forgeries, and out right lies.

By one of the most diabolical flimflams in history Christian clergy have succeeded in convincing millions or naive and credulous people that Jesus fulfilled all relevant Old Testament prophecies. This claim is based on nothing more than lying, twisting, distorting and/or perverting key Biblical passages. By taking Old Testament verses out of context the New Testament writers deliberately changed the meaning of the words of the prophets in order to give undue credence to the claim that Jesus was the son of God. It is a classic case of fraud and dishonesty, and many of today's clergy are aware of it. They should have the courage to say so. (McKinsey, page 291)

2 JIBP, P.O.Box 9773, Jerusalem 91091, Israel.

3 Biblical Errancy, 2500 Punderson Dr., Hillard, OH 43026.

4 Skepticism, Inc., P.O.Box 717, Canton, IL 61520.

5 Herod the Great, King of Judea (40 - 4 BCE).

6 Webster's II New Revised University Dictionary, Biographical Entries.

7 Wells, G. A., Who Was Jesus?, Open Court 1990, page 62.

8 The word used in the Hebrew Bible is "master."

9 Golding says this might be referring to the Persian god, Mithra. But the New American Standard Bible translates it as "worthless."

10 Here it should be noted that almost all Bible scholars recognize the last twelve verses of Mark (16:9-20) to be a late Christian interpolation, and for that reason are not be taken seriously.

11 Investigators have determined that Ephesians was not written by the Apostle Paul.

12 Transcribed in part from the audio tape, "The Book of Revelation" by Shmuel Golding of the Jerusalem Institute of Biblical Polemics.

13 An early Jewish interpretation of or commentary on a Biblical text.

14 The Interpreter's Bible, vol. XII, page 356.

15 The repeated use throughout the Book of Revelation of the mystical number seven gives proof of its mythical origin. In Ezekiel 4 we find the same, identical symbols.

16 Engels, Friedrich; History of the Early Church.