Rev 8:8, 9 this is the second of the seven trumpets this angel is sounding during the time of God's great wrath being poured out into the earth before the time of Christ returns. This great mountain burning with fire could be another meteor or even a series of meteors sent down from heaven at one time, but on an extremely larger scale as the third part of the sea is destroyed along with sea life and the third part of the ships that sit in it. The third part of the sea turned to blood by reason of all the ocean life that is killed and those men, women and children who are on these ships that are destroyed. Take into consideration the disease that would spread from all the rotted sea life that is rotting away washing up on the shore and the flesh of those who were burned along with the ships.
According to Josephus, a meteor like as a sword was seen over 1st century Jerusalem.
Now this would be an awesome sight to see today!
This is 2 of 7 events:
Our Lord proceeded, "And fearful sights and great
signs shall there be from
heaven." [6] - Josephus has collected the chief of these portents together, and introduces his account by a reflection on the strangeness of that infatuation, which could induce his countrymen to give credit to impostors, and unfounded reports, whilst they disregarded the divine admonitions, confirmed, as he asserts they Were, by the following extraordinary
signs :
1. "
A meteor, resembling a sword,
[7] hung over Jerusalem during one whole year." This could not be a comet, for it was stationary, and was visible for twelve successive months. A sword too, though a fit emblem for destruction, but ill represents a
comet.
5. "Soon after the feast of the Passover, in various parts of the country, before the Setting of the sun,
chariots and armed men were seen in the air, passing round about Jerusalem. " Neither could this portentous spectacle be occasioned by the
aurora borealis, for it occurred
before the
setting of the sun ; or merely the fancy of a few villagers, gazing at the heavens, for it was seen in
various parts of the country.
Such are the prodigies related by Josephus, and which, excepting the first, he places in the Year
immediately preceding the Jewish war. Several of them are recorded also by Tacitus. Nevertheless, it ought to be observed, -that they are received by Christian writers cautiously, and with various degrees of credit.
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This passage in Matt 21 is similar to Reve 8:
Which mountain is Jesus referring to?
Matthew 21:21 [Mark 11:23]
Yet Jesus answering said to them, "amen I am saying to ye, if ever ye may be having faith, and no ye may be doubting<1252>, not only the of the fig-tree<4808> ye shall be doing,
but even-ever to
this Mountain ye may saying, 'Be being lifted up!<142> and be being cast!<906> into the Sea', it shall be becoming"; [Hebrew 12:18-19 Revelation 8:8]
Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities.
You will
cast all our[fn] sins Into the depths of the sea.
Zephaniah1:
16 A
day of trumpet and alarm/shouting on
the fortified cities and the
lofty towers,
17 "And I bring distress to man and they go as blind-ones, that against Yahweh they sin, and blood of them shall be poured out as soil and intestine of them as dung.
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The lofty towers of the walls around 1st century Jerusalem and Herod's Temple as described by Josephus.
This is the sight that greeted Titus when arriving at Jerusalem, 70ad.
Jerusalem was built on
two mountains.
Three celebrated walls surrounded the city on every side, except that which was deemed inaccessible, and there it was defended by one wall only. The most ancient of these walls was remarkable for its great strength, and was, moreover, erected on a hanging rock, and
fortified by sixty towers. on the middle wall there were
fourteen towers only ; but on the third, which was also distinguished by the extraordinary merit of its architecture, there were
no less than ninety.
The celebrated tower of Psephinos, before which Titus at first encamped, was erected on this latter wall, and even excelled it in the superior style of its architecture : it was seventy cubits high and had eight angles, each of which commanded most extensive and beautiful prospects. In clear weather, the spectator had from them a view of the Mediterranean sea, of Arabia, and of the whole extent of the Jewish dominions. Besides this there were three other towers of great magnitude......., named Hippocos, Phasael, and Mariamne.............................
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