Part C 54 to 75 AD.

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

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

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

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

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

The Christian gospels in Revelation 14:6.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Structure of the cathedral.

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

Figure 10a. The Tower.

Figure 10B. Cathedral sideview with seated ministers.

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

Figure 19. Cathedral with Heavenly Man.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday January 1 55 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The parallel history in Acts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The parallel history in Acts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday June 1, 59 AD In the Ephesus cathedral.

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

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

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

June 1, 60 AD. In the Ephesus cathedral.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The History between 61 and 63 AD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The council of January 1, 63 AD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul's dated letter from Rome to Timothy in Ephesus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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