The Beast and His Empire

Those readers who have been keeping up with the links and "signs" posted on our Signs of the Times page - and who are familiar with Biblical prophecy - are undoubtedly aware that we are in a period of what seems to be definite and obvious "fulfillment of prophecy." Even if we might wish to hold some "biblical prophecy" as suspect, it is clear that the fundamentalist beliefs of George Bush and the Zionists are following that plan, so it behooves us to know what the prophecies actually say (you might want to read my series on Who Wrote the Bible).

World events, most especially the activities of the present Bush Administration, demonstrate a clear agenda to implement Draconian Controls precisely as described in the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. What baffles me is the almost complete silence of the Fundamentalist Christian groups who spent so many years preaching and warning everyone about the coming "New World Order" and "Mark of the Beast", and now that it is here - it's real - they don't even seem to see it. That is, of course, because they are PART of it. (Read the Most Dangerous Cult in the World).

Machiavelli observed that religion and its teachings of faith, hope, charity, love, humility and patience under suffering were factors that render men weak and cause them to care less about worldly and political things, and thus they will turn political power over to wicked men who are not influenced by such ideals. Of course, the real trick is to convince people that the "afterlife" is the only thing worth thinking about, and it is to this end that Christianity has been formulated. What we know now is that the original followers of Jesus - the "Jesus People" - were not followers of a dying and resurrected god, but were rather people trying to solve social problems similar to those of our day (Read my article on the Lost Gospel)

Another consideration I would like to bring to the reader's attention is the matter of the Stargate Conspiracy and its COINTELPRO operation in the New Age community, among whom we find followers and proponents of the theories of Zecharia Sitchin. Not only have the Fundamentalist Christians been diverted, most of the so-called New Age, including many who have easily seen the element of "conspiracy" in the human agenda have also been co-opted. For some reason, they fail to observe the principle of "as above, so below," from which they might derive the idea that what happens here in our reality is being driven by such manipulations in the many ways described by Machiavelli.

Still another matter that we need to seriously consider is that of Time Loops. The reader may wish to read Ark's article on this subject - Physics and the Mysterious - in order to realize that this is not just some off-the-wall channeled idea of the Cassiopaeans, but is a real live possibility - even probability. In order to understand what is written in this article, it is necessary to understand the hyperdimensional perspective and how negative forces can be and have been "stunningly" accurate on many occasions in the terms described by Machiavelli. That is why it is useful to study THEIR propaganda - their "prophecies/plans" and what we may derive therefrom.

There are many other indications in literature that our reality is one that "plays in a loop," but I don't want to get off into lengthy assembling of these texts here. Those who have read The Wave and The Adventures Series know what I am talking about.

We have several things to consider here: the first is the hypothesis that we DO exist in a time loop with major loops and sub-loops.

The second is the speculation that the events of our major Time Loop extend from the time of the destruction of Atlantis to the present. We may very well be re-living the decay and destruction of that ancient semi-legendary empire. And if so, it behooves us to know who is on first, so to say.

And finally, we need to consider that the sub-loop we are presently involved in very possibly is a replay of a more recent series of events - a 65 year sub-cycle.

In this sense, we need to consider the idea that WW II was a "trial run" for the "End Time Scenario."

Many of these issues are covered in detail in my book: The Secret History of the World . But this matter is so important that we feel it ought to be posted on the web.

Getting to our subject, what occurred to me the other day was that it might be interesting to look at a former interpretation of the prophecies of Revelation - identifying the United States as the Beast Empire - more carefully in order to see if any of the principles extracted then might possibly apply now according to a sub-cycle. If so, then we might be able to identify a projection of our immediate future, assuming that the archetype "holds true." In other words, can we use the Beast Model of WW II to make some predictions about the present emergence of the Beast System in terms of not only Time, but possible OUTCOME?

Now, lest any of our regular readers think I'm going Biblical/Bible Thumper on you here, think again.

To understand our perspective on the Old Testament,  please read my series "Who Wrote the Bible." That ought to disabuse you of the notion that I am taking the Bible literally in a Fundamentalist Christian way. Yet, I certainly do consider that there are things in the Bible that ought to be taken literally in a hyperdimensional way!

Regarding the New Testament, other than hints and clues about what we have  learned, I haven't written too much.  But it is an important subject that I  hope to cover in its entirety at some point.  For the present, please consider the allusions  I have made about "Christianity" in a separate article.

Next, regarding the Book of Revelation itself, please read: Pathway to the Light Pole Shift.  

And finally, consider carefully the idea that a great deal of "accurate prophecy" could very well be a ruse to "drive the herd into the corral." After all, if you make a prediction that you intend to fulfill yourself, when it begins to be fulfilled, it is so easy to claim  not only credit for having made the prediction, but to declare oneself to be the "source of salvation."

Think Machiavelli.

With all of these considerations in mind, let me present here excerpts from Revelation that I commented on in 1985/86, with additional comments about our present predicament inserted where appropriate. And, the reader ought to brace themselves because some of it is decidedly unpleasant to contemplate.

Revelation 13, the chapter which describes the "Beast" begins:

"I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns and blasphemous titles on his heads."

This first sentence tells us of a landing on a foreign shore; the beast is to be found at a distance from the area of the previous chapter which describes the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and its persecutions of True Christianity. To understand what John means by sea, we can look at chapter 16, verse 8:

"The waters that you observed are races and multitudes..."

Examining all other references to beasts in the Bible, it is immediately apparent that, other than references to actual animals, this designation belongs to world empires.

Daniel's prophecies foreshadowed Revelation, and Daniel was told by an angel that a beast symbolized an empire. There is some interchangeability between "king" and "empire," just as there is interchangeability between "city" and "nation". This is also traditional since any king is considered diplomatically to be his country. I think that we can safely assume that John is not referring to a fantastic animal, so the only other supported interpretation we can give to this beast is that it is an empire.

John is most specific in describing the numbers of heads and horns and the placing of the crowns on the horns and not the heads! So, we must think this is to be of some import in describing the nature of this empire. Daniel, Chapter 7, describes his fourth beast as having ten horns and, it has been determined that Daniel's fourth beast was the Roman Empire. The beast in Chapter 12 of Revelation can also be identified, by its role, as the Roman Empire. The comparison can then be made that the crowns, in the case of the descriptions of the beast representing the Roman Empire, are upon the heads and not on the horns.

The number "7" is a sacred number indicating perfection or completion. It was used very often in a symbolic manner for the "whole" of a thing. Thus, seven heads would indicate an autonomous nation -- not under the rule of any other empire. The placement of the crowns on the horns rather than on the heads indicates that this is not a totalitarian, monarchical or dictatorial regime. The horns symbolize strength and the assembly of the people, for the horn was used to call the people to pray and to hear the words of the prophets. We can see that on this beast they represent the strength of an empire in the diversity of its people.

Ten is symbolic of testing, an earthly foreshadowing of divine principle: "For since the law has merely a rude outline of the good things to come, instead of fully expressing those things, it can never perfect..."(Hebrews 10:1) So, we can conclude that the ten horns represents the assembling of a large number of people who express an almost divine concept in government -- since the rulership of the empire, symbolized by the crowns, is placed on the horns and not on the heads -- government of the people, by the people, for the people.

The heads, on the other hand, the decision making part of the beast, the administrative or titular head of an empire, are represented as having blasphemous titles on their foreheads. The definition of blasphemy is "profane usage of God's name". Profane simply means that which is not connected with religion. The blasphemous titles on the heads inform us that the government of this nation will use the name of God and purported spiritual principles to induce people to submit to its controls and its policies.

"And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion."

Here we find that this new empire has many of the characteristics of former world empires as described by Daniel. The multiplicity of types also indicates the greater supremacy of this world empire. Possessing the military might of the Media-Persian empire as exemplified by the bear; the speed and cunning of Alexander's empire, the leopard. That the mouth is described as being like a lion denotes loud and boastful speech as well -- self-aggrandizement and self-indulgence, and another meaning, as we shall see.

"And to him the dragon gave his might and power and his throne and great dominion."

The dragon is, classically, and in scripture, Satan. This sentence denotes the emerging character of this beast as well as establishes its position in the world. John says that the dragon gives his throne to the beast. This means that this empire becomes the number one nation on the earth in all things material: industry, commerce, political influence, economic living standards, arts, science, technology, material goods of all sorts and fleshly pleasures; all things pertaining to the "things of the world." That is not to say that any of these things are evil in themselves -- it is the attitude and ideal which is important.

John has informed us that the social structure of this end-time empire is controlled by a pervading principle of life that is antithetical to spirituality. The Dragon exalts this empire far above all the other societies of the world in all the things which pertain to materiality. This society is one which has set itself up as arbiter of what is right and wrong as well as being excessively preoccupied with physical appearance and material wealth and goods.

"And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed, and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration."

This verse tells us that one branch, or department of the administrative body suffers an attack. This attack is clarified in verse 14 which describes the wound as being inflicted by a sword -- a military action. Note that the verse says "seems" to have a deadly wound. This tells us that this event leads many to think that it is a death stroke and will finish the beast. Yet, the empire/beast recovers quickly and goes on to lead, and be adored by, an admiring world.

"They fell down and did homage to the dragon, because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion and authority; they also praised and worshipped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and who can make war against him?"

To do homage means to serve or venerate, and this verse tells us that the benefits of Satan, materiality, as promulgated by the beast, become the standard of the other societies of the world. In addition, this verse identifies the ascendancy of materialism as occurring through military actions.

"And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months."

Jesus has been described as "slaying nations" with the "breath of his mouth." We now have a clue as to the meaning of this remark.

Here we have the beast making war. "Speaking," in this context, clearly means war. And, having the mouth of a lion, we can be sure that this "speech" will be proud, haughty, and declaiming noble ideals. But, that this war/speech is blasphemous tells us that there is something hidden here that we must find, and we will a bit further on. The authority during 42 months is identified in verses three and four as military. Thus, claiming to act in the will or name of God, this nation will lead the peoples of the earth in a war for 42 months. [Keep this 42 months in mind.]

"He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation."

This verse describes the extension of authority after the military action has ceased. Once again this nation is described as having the top position, and to a greater extent than before, in all material aspects. The results of the military action have served to place the beast in a position to "wage war against God's holy people."

Contrary to popular theological opinion, I do not see these "Holy People" as members of any given religion, "born again" or otherwise.

"God's people" must be understood to be those who manifest spiritual values over and above materialism. It might also be noted that Christ said, referring to little children, "of such is the kingdom of heaven"; so we may include the criteria of "becoming as a child" in order to be one of "God's Holy People." Children are born curious, adventurous, courageous and most especially, not hung up on "belief systems." Simple faith in the "rightness" of things, with no desire to "save" or change anything is one of the chief features of the "childlike" attitude.

The use of the word "overcome" in this context, informs us that an actual military action is not involved -- rather that the beast uses some means of inducement to cause innocent and unsuspecting individuals to fall into the ways of materialism. This is a war of forces - - materialism versus spirituality -- a severe attack on spirituality, leading many astray. It also indicates that those who place spiritual values above material considerations will have a difficult time dealing with life in general due to the fact that only those who know how to "play the game" will be able to maneuver well in the society of the Beast.

"And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, every one whose name has not been recorded from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world."

This verse tells us that this empire will be victorious in propagating materialism over vast areas of the globe and that the ideals of Service to Self and reliance on human materialistic knowledge and capabilities will come to be seen as the prevailing aspirations of the world. This does not mean that the entire world will attain these ideals, but that the economic, industrial, artistic, scientific achievements and living standards of this empire will be admired and emulated -- idolized, in fact.

However, we must also see that there will be some who do not fall into the trap set by the beast -- those who retain their ideals of spiritual perfection and achievement - - and that these people are foreordained to occupy this role.

"Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Herein is the patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints."

This caveat is inserted at this point for several reasons; The first is to reassure those who have been "foreordained" as well as those who have suffered actual death or loss, that what is sown is reaped.

The beast is warned that nations invoke karma also!

"Then I saw another beast rising up out of the land; he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke like a dragon. He exerts all the power and right of control of the former beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell upon it to exalt and deify the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and worship him. He performs great signs -- startling miracles -- even making fire fall from the sky to the earth in men's sight. And because of the signs which he is allowed to perform in the presence of the first beast, he deceives those who inhabit the earth, commanding them to erect an image in the likeness of the beast which was wounded by the sword and still lived."

This second beast, must, once again, be an empire. However, it differs from the first beast in several ways which John describes in great detail. The first detail is the number of horns. Two is a number which has several meanings. First, it represents a minority, for two is the smallest number by which testimony may be accepted. Also, we may look to Genesis for some esoteric clarification:

"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters; and let it separate the waters below from the waters above .. and there was evening and morning, a second day." (Genesis 1:6,8, excerpts)

Here we see that the number two is related to a separating element which divides waters below from waters above. Throughout the Bible, water represents spirit and humanity.

In applying this principle to two horns, we see that the horns represent a powerful minority which acts in such a way as to separate mankind from his own spiritual heritage. This action comes about through things which appear harmless -- "appeared as a lamb" -- but are in actuality, propagating lies -- "speaks as a dragon"-- lies and corruption. And, once again, speech refers to force, or violence so we may assume that this second beast has some relationship to making war or using force to dominate.

"He asserts all power and right of control of the former beast in his presence;"

tells us that this powerful minority acts through and is supported by, the established empire of the first beast -- an empire within an empire. A minority which takes control by force and deception.

"Causes the earth and those who dwell upon it to exalt and deify the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and worship him"

This indicates that this second beast was behind the initiation of the military action described as a deadly wound and that this event was planned to bring the first beast into position to establish military supremacy and commercial world domination. This establishment of military supremacy is emphasized in the lines:

"He performs great signs -- startling miracles -- even making fire fall from the sky to the earth in mens' sight"

This describes the use of atomic weapons in this military action which lasts 42 months. This display of power is so awesome to the peoples of the world that they submit to the political and commercial domination of the first beast.

"And because of the signs which he is allowed to perform in the presence of the first beast, he deceives those who inhabit the earth, commanding them to erect an image in the likeness of the beast which was wounded by the sword and still lived."

The "image" of the beast has caused many a theologian to lose sleep. Understood in the context of this passage, we can perceive that this refers to the establishment of the principles of worldliness and materialism throughout the world.

What is the image of the beast? Military might, speed and cunning, exalted position in worldly possessions and technology -- as described by John.

That this ideal is extended around the earth through the lies, deception and force of the second beast, subverting other cultural ideals to materialism and using other nations politically, is what is being expressed by this verse -- and that it is the end result of the war in which the beast was wounded.

At the present moment in time, there is a lot more data upon which to evaluate the identity of the Second Beast - the minority that controls the world. In order to better understand this, let's take a quick look at a series of clues that will lead us, inevitably, to the correct understanding of this entity of Revelation:

At the turn of the century bankers, merchants, industrialists, artists, and intellectuals thronged the broad boulevards that ring [Budapest] or rode beneath them in Europe's first subway. Between 1890 and 1900 the population of Budapest had increased by more than 40 percent to over three-quarters of a million souls, making it the sixth largest city in Europe. Because of Budapest's lively cafes, boulevards, parks, and financial exchange, visitors called it the "Little Paris on the Danube." What would not become apparent for years was that while the cares were doing a booming business, the maternity wards of Budapest were churning out [Jewish] geniuses like a Ford assembly line.

Hungary's economic and intellectual flowering began with the Ausgleich of 1867, which established the dual monarchy with Austria. Under that agreement Hungary achieved something approaching independence from Austria; the Austrian Empire became the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With astonishing rapidity the engines of the industrial age and capitalism would transform Hungary. "The operators of those mechanisms," writes historian Richard Rhodes, "by virtue of their superior ambition and energy, but also by default, were Jews."

Shortly after the establishment of the dual monarchy, discriminatory laws against Jews were repealed, opening to them all civic and political functions. The surge of Jewish immigration followed, paralleling the contemporaneous flood of Jewish immigrants from Russia to New York City.

Political power remained in the hands of the nobility, whose indifference to the gentile non-Hungarian minorities - nearly half the population - would keep a third of the gentiles illiterate as late as 1918, and most of them tied to the land. The Hungarian nobility, unwilling to dirty its hands on commerce, found allies in the Jews. By 1904 Hungarian Jews, who comprised about 5 percent of the population, accounted for about half of Hungary's lawyers and commercial businessmen, 60 percent of its doctors, and 80 percent of its financiers. Budapest Jews were also a dominant presence in the artistic, literary, musical, and scientific life of the country, which caused the growing anti-Semitic community to coin the derogatory label "Judapest."

The growing anti-Semitism would in later years cause many of the brightest members of the Hungarian Jewish community to flee their country. Some of the leading scientists and mathematicians, whose ideas and inventions would help form this century, were part of this tide of immigration. Among the better known were Leo Szilard, who was the first person to understand how chain reactions can unleash the power of the atom; John von Neumann, inventor of the electronic computer and game theory; and Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb. Less well known outside the world of science but equally influential were Theodor von Karman, the father of supersonic flight; George de Hevesy who received a Nobel Prize for his invention of the technique of using radioactive tracers that has had a revolutionary impact on virtually every field of science; and Eugene Wigner, whose exploration of the foundations of quantum mechanics earned him a Nobel Prize.

The list of the great Hungarian scientists could be extended almost indefinitely, but even outside the sciences the prominence of Hungarians is extraordinary. In music it would include the conductors Georg Solti, George Szell, Fritz Reiner, Antal Dorati, and Eugene Ormandy, and the composers Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly. Hungarian visual arts in this century were dominated by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, who founded the Chicago Institute of Design. Holly wood was even more influenced by the Magyar emigration. Movie moguls William Fox and Adolph Zukor were Budapest-born, as were Alexander Korda and his brothers, Vincent and Theodor, the director George Cukor, and the producer of Casablanca, Michael Curtisz. And of course, Zsa Zsa Gabor and her sisters were Hungarian, as were Paul Lukas and Erich Weiss, better known as Harry Houdini.

Trying to account for what the physicist Otto Frisch called the "galaxy of brilliant Hungarian expatriates," is a favorite activity in scientific circles. The leading theory, attributed to the theoretical physicist Fritz Houtermans, is that "these people are really from Mars." Andrew Vazxonyi offers a particularly charming version of the extraterrestrial theory. "Well, at the beginning of the century," he says quite seriously, but with a twinkle in his eye, "some people from outer space landed on earth. They thought that the Hungarian women were the best-looking of all, and they took on the form of humans, and after a few years, they decided the Earth was not worth colonizing, so they left. Soon afterward this bunch of geniuses was born. That's the true story."

The actual explanation for Hungary's outpouring of genius is hard to find. Chance certainly played a role. But the strong intellectual values of the Jewish bourgeoisie, combined with the excellent Hungarian educational system, were the fertile field in which the random seeds of genetic chance could flourish. [My Brain is Open, Bruce Schecter, 1998, Touchstone, New York]

There is a tendency of some anti-Semites to develop grand conspiracy theories in which all historical events of major or imagined importance, from the French Revolution to the Tri-lateral Commission are linked together in one grand plot and blamed on the Jews. We aren't going there. However, we MUST understand, based on what we know about the psychology of ethnic conflict, that all people are NOT created equal, and there are definitely real conflicts of interest that are at the heart of all of the important historical examples of anti-Semitism. There is a vast amount of research on this subject and the only way to come to full understanding of the depth of the problem is to read When Victims Rule.

Kevin MacDonald writes in The Culture of Critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century Intellectual and Political Movements

Jews have indeed made positive contributions to Western culture in the last 200 years. But whatever one might think are the unique and irreplaceable Jewish contributions to the post-Enlightenment world, it is naïve to suppose they were intended for the purpose of benefiting humanity solely or even primarily.

I would like to point out that the list of Jewish scientific achievements from the quote above include atomic bombs and Game Theory. Jewish led Science has indeed exploded - no pun intended - and it has brought mankind to the edge of self-destruction. Advances in mathematical, physical  and computer sciences have brought about "applied game theory", where "wars" are called "games", and to "win the game" is to kill as many  people as possible with as little cost as possible. It does seem that the description of the Second Beast above is being filled out. But let's look further:

In general, positive impacts of Jews have been quantitative rather than qualitative. They have accelerated some developments, for example in finance and some areas of science, rather than made them possible.

On the other hand, I am persuaded that Jews have also had some important negative influences.

I am morally certain that Jewish involvement in the radical left in the early to middle part of the last century was a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for many of the horrific events in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. (About this, of course, one can disagree. I am simply saying that I find the evidence compelling.)

But the main point is that I came to see Jewish groups as [...] powerful facilitators of the enormous changes that have been unleashed in this country [...]

There need to be legitimate ways of talking about people who oppose policies recommended by the various Jewish establishments without simply being tarred as "anti-Semites". [...]

As I write this (November, 2001), we are bogged down in a war with no realizable endgame largely because of influence of the Jewish community over one area of our foreign policy and because of how effectively any mention of the role of Israel in creating friction between the U.S. and the Arab world-indeed the entire Muslim world-is muzzled simply by the cry of anti-Semitism.

And at home we have entered into an incalculably dangerous experiment in creating a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society in which the intellectual elite has developed the idea that the formerly dominant European majority has a moral obligation to allow itself to be eclipsed demographically and culturally [...]

A major theme of the CofC is that Jewish scientists with a strong Jewish identity have seen their work as advancing Jewish interests.

It is always amazing to me that media figures like the Kristols and Podhoretzes and foreign policy experts like Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle do not feel an obligation to precede their remarks on issues affected by their solicitude for Israel by saying, "you should be wary of what I say because I have a vested ethnic interest in advancing the interests of Israel."

But the same thing goes for vast areas of anthropology (the Boasian school and racial differences research), history (e.g., obviously apologetic accounts of the history and causes of anti-Semitism or the role of Jews in the establishment of Bolshevism), psychology (the Frankfurt School, psychoanalysis), and contemporary issues (immigration, church-state relations).

The point of CofC that really galls people is the idea that we should simply acknowledge this bias in (some) Jewish researchers as we do in others.

There are a great many books on how Darwin and Galton were influenced by the general atmosphere of Victorian England, but writing of a Jewish bias immediately results in charges of "anti-Semitism." [...]

The rise of Jewish power and the disestablishment of the specifically European nature of the U.S. are the real topics of CofC. The war to disestablish the specifically European nature of the U.S. was fought on several fronts. The main thrusts of Jewish activism against European ethnic and cultural hegemony have focused on three critical power centers in the United States: The academic world of information in the social sciences and humanities, the political world where public policy on immigration and other ethnic issues is decided, and the mass media where "ways of seeing" are presented to the public. [...]

Things are very different now. Since the 1960s a hostile, adversary elite has emerged to dominate intellectual and political debate. It is an elite that almost instinctively loathes the traditional institutions of European-American culture: its religion, its customs, its manners, and its sexual attitudes. In the words of one commentator, "today's elite loathes the nation it rules" (Gerlernter 1997). [...]

This "hostile elite" is fundamentally a Jewish-dominated elite whose origins and main lines of influence are described in CofC. The emergence of this hostile elite is an aspect of ethnic competition between Jews and non-Jews and its effect will be a long-term decline in the hegemony of European peoples in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. [...]

The fact that the Jewish intellectuals and political operatives described in CofC did not lose their national/ethnic loyalties shows that there was no general trend to de-ethnicization. The broad trends toward de-ethnicization somehow occurred among the Europeans but spared the Jews who by all accounts continue to strongly support their ethnic homeland, Israel, and continue to have a strong sense of peoplehood-propped up now by high-profile programs encouraging Jews to marry other Jews. [...]

How to account for the acceptance of Jews and Judaism by the WASP establishment after W.W.II? Cuddihy's (1978) book, No Offense: Civil Religion and Protestant Taste, focuses on the elevation of Judaism to the status of one of the "big three" U.S. religions, to the point that a rabbi officiates at the presidential inauguration even though Jews constitute approximately 2-3% of the population. [...]

The Jews' posturing as a religion left them open to large-scale defection via intermarriage to the extent that they took seriously the idea that Judaism was akin to Protestantism, and to some extent this did occur. But recently, Jews have been mending the fences. There is an upsurge in more traditional forms of Judaism and an open rejection of intermarriage even among the most liberal wings of Judaism. Recent guidelines for Reform Judaism emphasize traditional practices of conversion, such as circumcision, that are likely to minimize converts, and proselytism is explicitly rejected. [...]

Judaism became unconditionally accepted as a modern religion even while retaining a commitment to its ethnic core. It conformed outwardly to the religious norms of the U.S., but it also continued to energetically pursue its ethnic interests, especially with regard to issues where there is a substantial consensus among Jews: support for Israel and the welfare of other foreign Jewries, immigration and refugee policy, church-state separation, abortion rights, and civil liberties (Goldberg 1996, 5). What is remarkable is that a wealthy, powerful, and highly talented ethnic group was able to pursue its interests without those interests ever being the subject of open political discussion by mainstream political figures, for at least the last 60 years. [...]

For example, during the immigration debates of the 1940s-1960s Jews were described by themselves and others as "people of the Jewish faith."

They were simply another religion in an officially pluralistic religious society, and part of Jewish posturing was a claim to a unique universalistic moral-religious vision that could only be achieved by enacting legislation that in fact furthered their particularist ethnic aims.

The universalistic moral-religious vision promoted by Jewish activists really amounted to taking the Protestants at their own word-by insisting that every last shred of ethnic identity among Protestants be given up while Jews were implicitly allowed to keep theirs if they only promised to behave civilly. [...]

[In] Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel (Shahak & Mezvinsky 1999), Shahak and Mezvinsky argue that present-day fundamentalists attempt to recreate the life of Jewish communities before the Enlightenment (i.e., prior to about 1750). During this period the great majority of Jews believed in Cabbala-Jewish mysticism. Influential Jewish scholars like Gershom Scholem ignored the obvious racialist, exclusivist material in the Cabbala by using words like "men", "human beings", and "cosmic" to suggest the Cabbala has a universalist message.

The actual text says salvation is only for Jews, while non-Jews have "Satanic souls" (p. 58).

The ethnocentrism apparent in such statements was not only the norm in traditional Jewish society. It remains a powerful current of contemporary Jewish fundamentalism, with important implications for Israeli politics. For example, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, describing the difference between Jews and non-Jews:

We do not have a case of profound change in which a person is merely on a superior level. Rather we have a case of ...a totally different species.... The body of a Jewish person is of a totally different quality from the body of [members] of all nations of the world [...]

The difference of the inner quality [of the body] [...] is so great that the bodies would be considered as completely different species.

This is the reason why the Talmud states that there is an halachic difference in attitude about the bodies of non-Jews [as opposed to the bodies of Jews] 'their bodies are in vain'.[...]

An even greater difference exists in regard to the soul. Two contrary types of soul exist, a non-Jewish soul comes from three satanic spheres, while the Jewish soul stems from holiness. (In Shahak & Mezvinsky 1999, 59-60)

This claim of Jewish uniqueness echoes Holocaust activist Elie Wiesel's (1985, 153) claim that "everything about us is different." Jews are "ontologically" exceptional.

The Gush Emunim and other Jewish fundamentalist sects described by Shahak and Mezvinsky are thus part of a long mainstream Jewish tradition that considers Jews and non-Jews as completely different species, with Jews absolutely superior to non-Jews and subject to a radically different moral code. Moral universalism is thus antithetical to the Jewish tradition. [...]

Within Israel, these Jewish fundamentalist groups are not tiny fringe groups, mere relics of traditional Jewish culture. They are widely respected by the Israeli public and by many Jews in the Diaspora. They have a great deal of influence on the government, especially the Likud governments and the recent government of national unity headed by Ariel Sharon. The members of Gush Emunim constitute a significant percentage of the elite units of the Israeli army, and, as expected on the hypothesis that they are extremely ethnocentric, they are much more willing to treat the Palestinians in a savage and brutal manner than are other Israeli soldiers. [...]

Given that ethnocentrism continues to pervade all segments of the Jewish community, the advocacy of the de-ethnicization of Europeans... is best seen as a strategic move against peoples regarded as historical enemies. [...]

This suggests the fascinating possibility that the key for a group intending to turn Europeans against themselves is to trigger their strong tendency toward altruistic punishment by convincing them of the evil of their own people.

Because Europeans are individualists at heart, they readily rise up in moral anger against their own people...[...]

Once Europeans were convinced that their own people were morally bankrupt, [via the Holocaust] any and all means of punishment should be used against their own people. Rather than see other Europeans as part of an encompassing ethnic and tribal community, fellow Europeans were seen as morally blameworthy and the appropriate target of altruistic punishment. [...]

CofC calls attention to a long list of ... double standards, especially with regard to the policies pursued by Israel versus the policies Jewish organizations have pursued in the U.S.

Jewish advocates addressing Western audiences have promoted policies that satisfy Jewish (particularist) interests in terms of the morally universalist language that is a central feature of Western moral and intellectual discourse. [...]

Jewish organizations played a decisive role in opposing the idea that the United States ought to be a European nation. Nevertheless, these organizations have been strong supporters of Israel as a nation of the Jewish people.

Consider, for example, a press release of May 28, 1999 by the ADL:

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today lauded the passage of sweeping changes in Germany's immigration law, saying the easing of the nation's once rigorous naturalization requirements "will provide a climate for diversity and acceptance. It is encouraging to see pluralism taking root in a society that, despite its strong democracy, had for decades maintained an unyielding policy of citizenship by blood or descent only," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The easing of immigration requirements is especially significant in light of Germany's history of the Holocaust and persecution of Jews and other minority groups. The new law will provide a climate for diversity and acceptance in a nation with an onerous legacy of xenophobia, where the concept of 'us versus them' will be replaced by a principle of citizenship for all."

There is no mention of analogous laws in place in Israel restricting immigration to Jews and the long-standing policy of rejecting the possibility of repatriation for Palestinian refugees wishing to return to Israel or the occupied territories. The prospective change in the "us versus them" attitude alleged to be characteristic of Germany is applauded, while the "us versus them" attitude characteristic of Israel and Jewish culture throughout history is unmentioned.

Recently, the Israeli Ministry of Interior ruled that new immigrants who have converted to Judaism will no longer be able to bring non-Jewish family members into the country. [...] Nevertheless, Jewish organizations continue to be strong proponents of multi-ethnic immigration to the United States.

This pervasive double standard was noticed by writer Vincent Sheean in his observations of Zionists in Palestine in 1930: "how idealism goes hand in hand with the most terrific cynicism; . . . how they are Fascists in their own affairs, with regard to Palestine, and internationalists in everything else." [...]

The best strategy for a collectivist group like the Jews for destroying Europeans therefore is to convince the Europeans of their own moral bankruptcy.

A major theme of CofC is that this is exactly what Jewish intellectual movements have done.

They have presented Judaism as morally superior to European civilization and European civilization as morally bankrupt and the proper target of altruistic punishment. The consequence is that once Europeans are convinced of their own moral depravity, they will destroy their own people in a fit of altruistic punishment.

The general dismantling of the culture of the West and eventually its demise as anything resembling an ethnic entity will occur as a result of a moral onslaught triggering a paroxysm of altruistic punishment. And thus the intense effort among Jewish intellectuals to continue the ideology of the moral superiority of Judaism and its role as undeserving historical victim while at the same time continuing the onslaught on the moral legitimacy of the West.

The Judaization of the West is nowhere more obvious than in the veneration of the Holocaust as the central moral icon of the entire civilization. These developments constitute a profound transformation from the tradition of critical and scientific individualism that had formed the Western tradition since the Enlightenment. More importantly, because of the deep-seated Jewish hostility toward traditional Western culture, the Judaization of the West means that the peoples who created the culture and traditions of the West have been made to feel deeply ashamed of their own history-surely the prelude to their demise as a culture and as a people.

The present Judaized cultural imperium in the West is maintained by a pervasive thought control propagated by the mass media and extending to self-censorship by academics, politicians, and others well aware of the dire personal and professional consequences of crossing the boundaries of acceptable thought and speech about Jews and Jewish issues. It is maintained by zealously promulgated, self-serving, and essentially false theories of the nature and history of Judaism and the nature and causes of anti-Semitism. [...]

None of this should be surprising. Jewish populations have always had enormous effects on the societies where they reside because of two qualities that are central to Judaism as a group evolutionary strategy: High intelligence (including the usefulness of intelligence in attaining wealth) and the ability to cooperate in highly organized, cohesive groups (MacDonald 1994). This has led repeatedly to Jews becoming an elite and powerful group in societies where they reside in sufficient numbers-as much in the 20th-century United States and the Soviet Union as in 15th-century Spain or Alexandria in the ancient world. History often repeats itself after all.

Indeed, recent data indicate that Jewish per capita income in the United States is almost double that of non-Jews, a bigger difference than the black-white income gap.

Although Jews make up less than 3 percent of the population, they constitute more than a quarter of the people on the Forbes magazine list of the richest four hundred Americans.

A remarkable 87 percent of college-age Jews are currently enrolled in institutions of higher education, as compared with 40 percent for the population as a whole (Thernstrom & Thernstrom 1997). Jews are indeed an elite group in American society. [...]

By all accounts, ethnic Jews have a powerful influence in the American media-far larger than any other identifiable group. The extent of Jewish ownership and influence on the popular media in the United States is remarkable given the relatively small proportion of the population that is Jewish. [...]

At the present time, "ways of seeing" that are presented to the public include - to a greater and greater extent - the Internet. The largest media company in the world was recently formed by the merger of America On Line and Time Warner. Gerald M. Levin, formerly the head of Time Warner, is the Chief Executive Officer of the new corporation. AOL-Time Warner has holdings in television (e.g., Home Box Office, CNN, Turner Broadcasting), music (Warner Music), movies (Warner Brothers Studio, Castle Rock Entertainment, and New Line Cinema), and publishing (Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Fortune).

The second largest media company is the Walt Disney Company, headed by Michael Eisner. Disney has holdings in movies (Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, under Walt Disney Studios, includes Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, Miramax Films); television (Capital Cities/ABC [owner of the ABC television network], Walt Disney Television, Touchstone Television, Buena Vista Television, ESPN, Lifetime, A&E Television networks) and cable networks with more than 100 million subscribers; radio (ABC Radio Network with over 3,400 affiliates and ownership of 26 stations in major cities); publishing (seven daily newspapers, Fairchild Publications [Women's Wear Daily], and the Diversified Publishing Group).

The third largest media company is Viacom, Inc., headed by Sumner Redstone, who is also Jewish. Viacom has holdings in movies (Paramount Pictures); broadcasting (the CBS TV network; MTV [a particular focus of criticism by cultural conservatives], VH-1, Nickelodeon, Showtime, the National Network, Black Entertainment Television, 13 television stations; programming for the three television networks); publishing (Simon & Schuster, Scribner, The Free Press, and Pocket Books), video rentals (Blockbuster); it is also involved in satellite broadcasting, theme parks, and video games.

In the world of print media, the Newhouse media empire owns 26 daily newspapers, including several large and important ones, such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Newark Star-Ledger, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune; Newhouse Broadcasting, consisting of 12 television broadcasting stations and 87 cable-TV systems, including some of the country's largest cable networks; the Sunday supplement Parade, with a circulation of more than 22 million copies per week; some two dozen major magazines, including the New Yorker, Vogue, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Bride's, Gentlemen's Quarterly, Self, House & Garden, and all the other magazines of the wholly owned Conde Nast group.

The newsmagazine, U.S. News & World Report, with a weekly circulation of 2.3 million, is owned and published by Mortimer B. Zuckerman. Zuckerman also owns New York's tabloid newspaper, the Daily News, the sixth-largest paper in the country, and is the former owner of the Atlantic Monthly. Zuckerman is a Jewish ethnic activist. Recently he was named head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, an umbrella organization for major Jewish organizations in the U.S.30 Zuckerman's column in U.S. News and World Report regularly defends Israel and has helped to rejuvenate the America-Israeli Friendship League, of which he is president.

The Wall Street Journal is the largest-circulation daily newspaper in the U.S. It is owned by Dow Jones & Company, Inc., a New York corporation that also publishes 24 other daily newspapers and the weekly financial paper Barron's. The chairman and CEO of Dow Jones is Peter R. Kann. Kann also holds the posts of chairman and publisher of the Wall Street Journal. The Sulzberger family owns the New York Times Co., which owns 33 other newspapers, including the Boston Globe. It also owns twelve magazines (including McCall's and Family Circle, each with a circulation of more than 5 million), seven radio and TV broadcasting stations; a cable-TV system; and three book publishing companies. The New York Times News Service transmits news stories, features, and photographs from the New York Times by wire to 506 other newspapers, news agencies, and magazines.

Even granting the exceptions, it is clear that Jews enjoy a very powerful position in U.S. media, a position that is far more powerful than any other racial/ethnic group. The phenomenal concentration of media power in Jewish hands becomes all the more extraordinary when one notes that Jews constitute approximately 2.5% of the U.S. population. If the Jewish percentage of the American media elite is estimated at 59% (Lichter et al. 1983, 55)-probably an underestimate at the present time, the degree of disproportionate representation may be calculated as greater than 2000%. The likelihood that such an extraordinary disparity could arise by chance is virtually nil. [The Culture of Critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century Intellectual and Political Movements]

Now that we have a rather good idea of the identity of the Second Beast, let's continue with the prophetic exegesis of Revelation just to see what it says about the plans and intentions of the Beast Empire and it's Controllers:

"And he was permitted to impart the breath of life into the beast's image so that the image of the beast could actually talk, and to cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast. Also, he compels all, both small and great, both rich and the poor, both free and slave, to be marked with an inscription on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that no one will have power to buy or sell unless he bears the stamp, the name of the beast or the number of his name."

The dreaded "Mark of the Beast." The horror of totalitarian world government -- tattoos, laser marks, implanted computer tapes -- a host of interpretations! Yet, we cannot look upon this lightly for it contains the implications of the most horrific prophetic curse ever delivered in the pages of scripture!

Before delving into the "Mark", let's look at the first portions of this section. The "breath of life" imparted to the image, or ideals of the beast, coupled with "speech" and "putting to death", express a repetition of the coupling of blasphemous speech and military action in the earlier verses. Thus we see that the beast will initiate "war" (active, cold, or covert) with those nations which do not adhere to its image, or domination in military and commercial respects. This is further amplified by the implications of buying and selling -- join the beast or die!

The first mention of a mark in the Bible occurs in Genesis 4:15:

"And the Lord set a mark or sign upon Cain..."

It must be remembered that Cain was the first individual who was a liar and a murderer.

Job lamented,

"If I have sinned, what have I done you, O You watcher and keeper of men? Why have You set me as a mark for You so that I am a burden to myself?" (7:20)

Jeremiah cries:

"I am Jeremiah, the man who has seen affliction under the rod of His wrath. He has led me, and brought me into darkness, and not light. Surely He has turned away from me; His hand is against me all the day. My flesh and my skin has He worn out and made old; He has shattered my bones. He has built up against me, and surrounded me with bitterness, tribulation and anguish. He has caused me to dwell in dark places, as those long dead. He walled me about, so that I cannot get out; He has weighted down my chain. Also when I cry and shout for help, He shut out my prayer. He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked. He is to me like a bear lying in wait, and like a lion hiding in secret places. He has turned me off my ways, and pulled me in pieces; He has made me desolate. He has bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow..." (Lamentations 3:1-12)

Ezekiel 9:4-6 says:

"And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it. And to the others He said in my hearing, Follow through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have any pity. Slay outright the elderly, the young man and the virgin, the infant and the women; but do not touch or go near any one on whom is the mark..."

And, Revelation says:

"Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a mighty voice, Whoever pays homage to the beast and his image and permits the stamp (mark) to be put on his forehead or on his hand, He too shall drink the wine of God's indignation and wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of His anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb." (Revelation 14: 9-10)

"And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles, (the second beast -- that which gives false testimony), by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp of the beast, and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his image. Both of the two were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone." (Revelation 19:20)

"Then I saw a second angel ... saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads." (Revelation 7:2,3)

So, now we have a much clearer idea of what John means by the use of the word "mark" or "stamp," It is an ideological affiliation! A spiritual position! An attitude of mind, heart and action! Soul Frequency Resonance Vibration! Nothing more -- nothing less! What is more, we come to a most interesting description of those who are MARKED BY THE BEAST on the forehead and hands:

"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord -- the only Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with your entire being, and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you this day, shall be in your own mind and heart; you shall whet and sharpen them, so as to make them penetrate and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes, And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

We should note, however, that John divides the Mark of the beast into two categories: those who bear the "stamp" -- the name of the beast or those who bear the number of his name. And here we come to the final solution: the identity of the beast. For it is clear that the geographical area of this beast/empire is under sentence of doom as well as those who are marked by the esoteric significance of the number of the beast who are located elsewhere, geographically.

"Here is discernment -- a call for the wisdom; let anyone who has intelligence (penetration, insight) enough, CALCULATE the number of the beast; for it is a human number, the number of a certain man; his number is 666."

1. CALCULATE -- a mathematical operation.

2. Calculate what? -- The number of the beast.

3. Calculate how? --

a. it is a human number;

b. the number of a certain man.

4. The unfinished numerical form of the name of the beast, the numbers which will give the mathematical result identical with the name number of the beast, thereby affirming identity, is 666.

In order to understand what is meant here, we have to consider the mind-set and world-view of the individual who wrote the book of Revelation. He was undoubtely familiar with the ancient Wisdom Literature which included many occult and esoteric teachings, one of which is a system of numerology. In the ancient tradition, a name number is very significant. The ancients understood, as physicists do today, that numbers represent the closest we can ever come to writing and understanding the laws of the universe. In the past, a man's name number was so important that his name was often changed, signifying some important accomplishment or change of life, thereby changing the numerical value as well as the intrinsic meaning.

Clue 3a is clarified by 3b which indicates that we are not to interpret the former in literal terms -- the number of humanity being 6, according to numerology; but that we are to deal with a specific name just as if we were determining the name number of a certain, (any given) man. In presenting these clues, John is telling us that we are to use numerology to find the name number of the beast just as if it were a man. We may make this determination by matching our result with the result of the numerological application to the number 666. This will affirm our identification of the last great world empire --the Beast.

The symbology of these numbers is important in another way. The result of the rules of numerology applied to the number 666 is 9: 6+6+6=18; 1+8=9. Nine is not only the name number of the beast, it is the product of 3 squared, or divine completion. We can also see in these numbers man's attempt to usurp the position of God -- 6 repeated 3 times -- or the number of man arranged as the divine trinity. Symbolically nine signifies finality, completion, fulfillment. There are the nine beatitudes, nine gifts of the spirit, nine fruits of the spirit, and the words of Christ at the ninth hour: "It is finished!" This is echoed in Revelation:

"Then the seventh angel emptied out his bowl into the air, and a mighty voice came out of the sanctuary of heaven from the throne, saying, It is done!" (16:17)

We must also consider the significance of this number in terms of the Stargate Conspiracy and the "Nine Principles" or the Nine Neters of the Egyptians as being representative of the system of the Beast.

Those who are interested in a deeper study of the number nine, please order my book "The Occult Significance of 9-11".

For the moment, we may also observe that 9 is an inverted 6 and, expressing the idea of the law of God - the Triad - being co-opted by Usurpation and inverted to negative purposes.

When we consider the ACTION of the Triad on the Triple sixes that equal nine, or what we might think of as the MULTIPLYING effect of Cosmic Law -- or 3 x 666 -- we get a most interesting product: 1998.

The Mark of the Beast - the imposition of totalitarian controls has been traditionally related to the so-called End of the World based on a passage from the book of Matthew:

24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains [...]

24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

This passage about the "abomination of desolation" seems to relate directly to the Mark of the Beast - both of them big "End Times" signs. So what, exactly, does Daniel say about this "abomination?"

"Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, For how long is the vision concerning the continual offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot? And he said to him and to me, For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed and restored."

According to traditional interpretations, this Abomination was the pollution and destruction of the Jewish Temple either in 168 BC by Antiochus Epiphanes, or the destruction in 70 AD of the temple built by Herod. My thought is that this might certainly be a clue to the archetype of what is to come, but maybe not quite in the way most Christians might think. As it happens, Daniel had another time table in his prophecy that is closely linked to the above:

9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Since Jesus made reference to Daniel's "abomination of desolations" as the identifying sign of the "great tribulation" the problem is to determine the exact point of reference. Most theologians agree that Daniel refers to the altar or idol of Zeus that Antiochus Ephiphanes placed in the holy of holies of the Jerusalem temple in June, 168 B.C. However, it is clear that Jesus' reference to Daniel's idol was future (to Him), so this can't be the solution. In His Olivet discourse, Jesus makes specific reference to Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks. A comparison of the details of Daniel's seventieth week with 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13 demonstrates dependence on these passages. They have in common, among other things, the idol, the blasphemy in the temple, and a three and one half year reign.

This "Seventy Weeks" is generally interpreted to mean "Weeks of Years," or each day representing a year. Most Christian Interpreters agree that Daniel's famous prophecy of "seventy weeks" finds its fulfillment in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but exactly how the time-frame is to work out is a matter of considerable debate. The problems are:

1) chronological methods and,
2) the terminus a quo and the terminus ad quem of the specific years in question.

There is also a great deal of disagreement regarding the eschatological significance of the prophecy. If we take the seventy weeks as representative of years, in other words, 490 years, absolutely nothing makes sense. For example, if we take the "rebuilding of the temple" in 516 BC - after the Babylonian exile which is allegedly when Daniel was writing - as the starting date, we come to the year 1006 AD as the time of the "end." If we take the temple that Herod rebuilt, in 63 AD, which was then destroyed in 70 AD, there is no satisfactory fit either.

So what to do? Maybe Daniel meant 70 literal weeks relative to some still-in-the-future event? That's just a little over 16 months. Again, we have the issues of an idol, the blasphemy in the temple, and a three and one half year reign. Let's have a look at one of the assumed related passages to see if we can't find a bit of clarification.

As noted, the timing and interpretation of these elements is based upon the assumed rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of the daily burnt offering. II Thessalonians speaks of the antichrist taking his seat in the temple and this is where the idea of the necessity of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem had its genesis. The logic goes: How can the antichrist take his seat in the Temple if it has not been rebuilt? Also, how can a seat be taken in a temple if it is not done by a single man?

In II Thessalonians, someone claiming to be Paul, (and this is doubted by some theologians), speaks of the temple of God. Many have been taught that this refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. However, Paul is addressing Christians about falling away from Christian teachings. If Paul is addressing Christians about Christian concepts, the word "temple" may have a different meaning. For example: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?" (I Corinthians 6:19); "For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people." (II Corinthians 6:16); "In whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:21-22)

The fact is, the Greek word used for temple (Naos) in the scriptures cited which refer to man as the temple of God is the same Greek word used in II Thessalonians 2:4 for temple.

However, a completely different word is usually used when referring to the Temple in Jerusalem, (Hieron). Whether it was Paul or a later writer attempting to imitate Paul's style, he was not speaking of the Temple in Jerusalem in II Thessalonians, he was talking about mankind -- the temple of God's spirit. And, though a man may claim to be following the standards of Christianity, he may, in reality, have set himself up as his own god because he exalts himself -- his own interpretations and preconceived notions -- against every so-called god or object of worship.

If, in the present time, the Temple is the body of mankind (naos vs. hieron) -- even the body of an individual we begin to understand even better the "anti-christ spirit" as well as the "Mark of the Beast" as a glorification of material values over spirit. Our spiritual frequencies are being polluted by materialistic attitudes and this could be the key to the "Mark of the Beast."

Getting back to our numbers, dividing 2300 by 365, we obtain the figure 6.3 years from the date of the "abomination" to the end, including in there a subcycle of about 16 months. If we take the number we have found by "calculating" with the "Number of the Beast," that is 1998, things begin to make a bit more sense. If we try subtracting 6.3 years from 1998 we end up with 1991. If we add 6.3 years to 1998, we end up with 2004.

A minor recession occurred in 1991 concurrent with the Persian Gulf conflict begun by George Bush Senior. But we want to look at 1998 specifically for signs that it was the beginning of something if our hypothesis is to be proven. Let's just look at a short timeline for 1998 to discover if there are any clues to be had that this is the "starting year" of the "Abomination of Desolation." I'm going to bold text a few items that deserve special attention:

·   January: A massive ice storm, caused by El Niño, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting in widespread power failures, severe damage to forests, and a number of deaths.

·   January 1 - Smoking is banned in all California bars and restaurants

·   January 2 - Russia begins to circulate new rubless to stem inflation and promote confidence.

·   January 8 - Ramzi Yousef is sentenced to life in prison for planning the World Trade Center bombing.

·   January 8 - Cosmologists announce that the expansion rate of the universe is increasing.

·   January 17 - Paula Jones accuses President Bill Clinton of sexual harassment

·   January 22 - Suspected "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski pleads guilty and accepts a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

·   January 26 - Lewinsky scandal: On American television, Bill Clinton denies he had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

·   January 26 - Compaq buys Digital Equipment Corporation

·   January 27 - American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appears on the Today show calling the attacks against her husband were part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

·   January 28 - Ford Motor Company announces the buyout of Volvo for $6.45 billion.

·   January 28 - Gunmen hold at least 400 children and teachers hostage for several hours at an elementary school in Manila, Philippines.

·   January 29 - In Birmingham, Alabama a bomb explodes at an abortion clinic killing one and severely wounding another. Serial bomber Eric Rudolph is suspected as the culprit.

·   February - Iraq disarmament crisis: The United States Senate passes resolution 71, which urged President Bill Clinton to "take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq [ Al Arabia Arabian portal / Al Hajj Tips ] 's refusal to end it's weapons of mass destruction programs."

·   February 3 - A United States Military pilot causes the death of 20 skiers in Italy [ Italiano / Italia portal ] riding on a lift suspended by a cable snapped by the low-flying plane.

·   February 3 - Karla Faye Tucker is executed in Texas where George W. Bush is governor, becoming the first woman executed in the United States since 1984.

·   February 4 - An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale in northeast Afghanistan kills more than 5,000.

·   February 6 - Crown Prince Abdullah becomes the ruler of Jordan [ Al Arabia Arabian portal / Jordan Hotels & Travel Guide ] by decree of his father, King Hussein.

·   February 10 - Voters in Maine repeal a gay rights law passed in 1997 becoming the first U.S. state to abandon such a law.

·   February 12 - The presidential line-item veto is declared unconstitutional by a United States federal judge.

·   February 14 - Authorities in the United States announce that Eric Rudolph is a suspect in an Alabama abortion clinic bombing.

·   February 18 - Two white separatists were arrested in Nevada and accused of plotting a biological attack on New York City subways.

·   February 20 - Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein negotiates a deal with U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan, allowing weapons inspectors to return to Baghdad, preventing military action by the U.S. and Britain.

·   February 23 - Tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42.

·   February 28 - Serbian police begin to wipe out so-called "terrorist gangs" in Kosovo.

·   March 10 - American troops stationed in the Persian Gulf begin to receive the first vaccinations against anthrax.

·   March 14 - An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hits southeastern Iran.

·  March 24 - In Jonesboro, Arkansas, two young boys (aged 11 and 13 years) fire upon students at Westside Middle School while hidden in woodlands near the school. Four students and one teacher are killed and 10 injured.

·   March 27 - The FDA approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, becoming the first pill to be approved to treat this condition in the United States.

·   April 6 - Pakistan tests medium-range missiles capable of hitting India [ Hindi & Tamil portal / India Travel Gui