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The Seven Hills of Jerusalem
By Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 2000
This does not end the significance of "Seven Hills" for the urban areas that the ancients looked on as being the centers of divine sovereignty on this earth. We are all familiar with Babylon on the Euphrates (which became the capital of the world in the time of Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century BC) as being the "Seven Hilled City." And, it may be surprising for some to learn this, but when Constantine the emperor wanted to build a "new Rome" in the eastern part of the Roman Empire (because most of the economic life of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD was centered in the eastern half of the Empire and he felt he needed a capital city much nearer the economic center of the Empire), he finally selected a spot on the Bosporus called Byzantium. The reason he selected this spot to be the "New Rome" was because it was a small village also located on "Seven Hills." This made "New Rome" as a City of Seven Hills.
What we observe is the fact that the ancients symbolically looked on the various capitals of the world as having "Seven Hills." The significance of this fact even had a meaning for the apostle John who, under the influence of Christ Jesus himself, wrote the Book of Revelation. We find that the last world capital would be "Mystery Babylon" and that it would have "seven mountains" (Revelation 17:9) associated with it. The fact that history has "Seven Hills" (or "Mountains") associated with FOUR world kingdoms: Babylon, Rome, Byzantium, and Jerusalem, there has been some confusion about which of these (or, perhaps, another "New City") was the intention of the apostle John who was writing for Christ Jesus in the Book of Revelation. The truth is, however, when one looks at the subject of the Book of Revelation carefully, there is only one of those "Cities of Seven Hills" that could possibly be the subject of the End-Time revelation. That is the City of Jerusalem. The "Mystery Babylon" of the Book of Revelation is none other than Jerusalem!
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He also admits that that the preemptive nuclear attack on Iran that he favors will lead to the deaths of most Jews in Israel.[44]
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In another sermon, Hagee blamed American economic problems on the fact that the Federal Reserve System is controlled by "a group of Class A stockholders, including the Rothschilds." In the same series, Hagee further asserted that the Rothschilds, who are Jewish, were part of a wide-ranging conspiracy of "international power brokers based in Europe."[52]
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The San Antonio B'nai B'rith Council awarded Hagee with its "Humanitarian of the Year" award. It was the first time this award was given to a gentile.[26] Hagee was presented the Zionist Organization of America's Israel Award by U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick.
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If one starts with the Mount of Olives just to the east of the main City of Jerusalem (but still reckoned to be located within the environs of Jerusalem), there are three summits to that Mount of Olives:
The northern summit (hill) is called Scopus [Hill One],
The middle summit (hill) was called Nob [Hill Two],
The highest point of Olivet itself, and the southern summit (hill) was called in the Holy Scriptures the "Mount of Corruption" or "Mount of Offence" [Hill Three] (II Kings 23:13).
On the middle ridge between the Kedron and the Tyropoeon Valleys there was (formerly) in the south "Mount Zion" [Hill Four] (the original "Mount Zion" and not the later southwest hill that was later called by that name),
The "Ophel Mount" [Hill Five],
To the north of that the "Rock" around which "Fort Antonia" was built [Hill Six],
And finally, there was the southwest hill itself [Hill Seven] that finally became known in the time of Simon the Hasmonean as the new "Mount Zion."
This makes "Seven Hills" in all.
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At the time of the Beast and Secret Babylon, only two types of people will then dwell on the earth: (1) those who worship the Beast, and (2) those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life who will not worship him (Revelation 13:8). There will be no middle ground. Those saints mentioned in the Book of Life will not worship him, but ALL others on earth will believe the great lie (about his being God) and they will worship him. The whole world will be caught up in this great delusion.
There is also to be a false prophet associated with this Beast and Secret Babylon (Revelation 13:11). This false prophet will “cause the earth and them that dwell therein [note: it represents all on the earth] to worship the first beast” (Revelation 13:12). Great satanic miracles will accompany this false prophet which will “deceive them that dwell on earth [note again: all on earth will be deceived]” (Revelation 13:13–14). So extensive will be the deceivableness that it truly will affect all.
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Watch for the breakdown of democratic governments and the establishment of monarchial or hierarchical systems (Revelation 17:10).
[It now appears that kings will arise within democratic structures. DWS]
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Between 1969 and 1973 Ambassador College entered into an alliance with Hebrew University in Israel which had been negotiated by Martin. This undertaking commenced a five years archaeological excavation near the Western Wall of the Temple Mount during which time he supervised 450 participating college students during the summer months. The program gained mention in a TIME magazine article.
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However, after studying the words of Josephus concerning the Temple of Herod the Great, which was reported to be in the same general area of the former Temples, he then read the account of Eleazar who led the final contingent of Jewish resistance to the Romans at Masada which stated that the Roman fortress was the only structure left by 73 C.E. "With this key in mind, I came to the conclusion in 1997 that all the Temples were indeed located on the Ophel mound over the area of the Gihon Spring".[3]
From these conclusions Martin produced his book in which he asserted that the Temples of Jerusalem were located over the Gihon Spring and not over the Dome of the Rock. He wrote: "What has been amazing to me is the vast amount of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian records that remain available from the first to the sixteenth centuries that clearly vindicate the conclusions that I have reached in this book of research."
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Religion
Religion is the topic of both this month’s articles by Dr. Ernest L. Martin, “Religion Is Slavery, Christianity Is Freedom” and “Mystery Babylon the Great.” You will gain much if you read these two articles together in the order presented. Religion is the antithesis of Christianity. The term “religion” (translated from threskeia in Greek) is used 6 times in its noun form. In fact, as Paul told the Colossians, there is even a religion of angels,
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Religion is a great evil. Dr. Martin’s article explains why this is so. Religion binds people to rules, regulations, and to the control and opinions of others. Christianity on the other hand makes people free.
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Religion in its ultimate expression as practiced by humankind and its enemies, all directed against God will be revealed in the rise of Mystery Babylon. Mystery Babylon has nothing to do with true Christianity. Mystery Babylon is the final religious expression of Babylon that currently rules the world as a general economic and governmental system. It will be centered in Jerusalem.
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Religion Is Slavery, Christianity Is Freedom
Religion has been one of the greatest curses ever to afflict mankind. But true Christianity has been and can be the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon man. That is just how different one is from the other. Wars of major proportions have been fought in the name of religion. Need we rehearse them? Those wars are well known throughout history between Christendom and Islam, between Catholics and Protestants in the Protestant Reformation, and even Protestants against Protestants. Even at the present time in Northern Ireland we have conflict going on in the name of religion with one group on one side and another group on the opposing side.
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Indeed, it was the exercise of religion that caused Jesus Christ to be crucified! This is an absolute fact! Christ was not killed because He practiced the fruit of the Holy Spirit. No one thought of executing Him because He showed love to people, for giving them mercy, or bringing healing and comfort. No, not at all. The trouble was, Christ often did those acts of goodness at the wrong times on the calendar of the Jews and without consulting the constituted authorities who sat “in Moses’ seat.” He was not showing deference to the externals of religion which existed among the people at the time. “The Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had broken the sabbath” (John 5:18). To them, it was the outward keeping of the law that was important. “This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day” (John 9:16). And true enough, Christ was not observing the weekly sabbath as Moses had commanded. He defended His disciples when they violated the sabbath rules of Moses (Matthew 12:1–8). He even vindicated David for his disobedience to one of the holiest of ceremonial laws in the Old Testament (Mark 2:25–26) and David did his transgressing on the sabbath day!
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The fact is, Christ already acknowledges us as an extension of divinity, “Ye are gods” (John 10:34). We are already members of the divine family. This means we are as “free” as God Himself is “free” in all matters concerning religious affairs. When the resurrection occurs, we will even be free in all spiritual things, as “free” as God is “free” in all things! It seems proper that Christians begin to accept who they are — freeborn children of God — and start acting like it! Of course, there is no need to be arrogant and egotistical in recognizing one’s position with the Father and Christ.
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The Curse of Church Authority
This can easily be shown. David explained God’s rule very well. David said that God as his shepherd will prepare a table full of good food and drink and God will then dine with him in the presence of David’s enemies (Psalm 23:5). Christ gave the same type of illustration but elaborated on it even more. Christ said that He also will come down from His throne, prepare a table of good food for His people, and then He will serve them. This is precisely what Christ said to His apostles: "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom" (Luke 22:29,30). But who will do the serving of the food and the drink at Christ’s table? Christ said in the same context: "I am among you as one that serveth" (verse 27). Notice that in Christ’s society or in His Kingdom, the King himself will do the serving to those at His table. We will not serve Him. He will serve us. That is how much He loves and cares for each of us.
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Rule From the Top Down is the Rule of the Antichrist
When Constantine the Emperor first established the rule in his church from the top down, he modeled it after the imperial government of Rome. He instituted a church government very unlike that commanded by Christ. Constantine simply followed the ways of the Gentiles that Christ abhorred (Luke 22:25). He believed he was creating a type of Kingdom of God on earth with himself at the head and God’s church alongside ruling the spiritual aspect of that Kingdom. Constantine surmised that Christ was no longer the son of a carpenter and riding on a donkey into Jerusalem, but Christ was to Constantine a great King and Ruler and that Constantine with the help of His church had been selected to rule over Christ’s Kingdom on earth as he imagined Christ now ruled the heavens (with a rod of iron). Constantine forgot Luke 22:24-30. Indeed, Constantine considered himself the "Vicar of Christ." The word "Vicar" meant in Latin to be a "Substitute," to be "in the place of." In a word, it meant to reign in the place of Christ while Christ remained in heaven with God.
Now, what does the word "Antichrist" signify in its usage in the New Testament (I John 2:18; 4:3; II John 7)? Though the prefix "anti" can mean "against" (and the future Antichrist will certainly be "against" the teachings of Christ), the prefix actually denotes one who acts as a Vicar of Christ—in the place of Christ. And in matters of rule, the term can be applied to anyone who rules on the earth as a Substitute for Christ. This is what Constantine imagined he and his church were doing. So, "Church Authority" became the norm in Christendom (not "Scriptural Authority") and it became a great curse to mankind. But I hope that we can release mankind from "The Curse of Church Authority," and return the world to the proper "Scriptural Authority" for all mankind.
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The Dangers of External Religious Actions
Many people today look for outward signs to identify the true Church and the real people of God. This is one of the most dangerous ways to try to determine who real Christians are. Such a procedure can be a clever way to deceive people into believing that an organization or individuals are righteous.
How well I remember using this criterion of identification for about twenty years of my life. I came across many fine Christian people who observed the seventh day Sabbath, the Mosaic holydays, and kept a good number of Old Testament ceremonies, and these outward observances seemed to show who the true people of God were. Surely, one might say, if a person tithes faithfully to his or her church, attends all its religious functions, honors and supports its ecclesiastical leaders, and shows an external decency in personal and family life, this is certain proof of true Christianity in action—especially if the outward ceremonies are biblical.