Screenplay | Kingdom from Heaven

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Scripture Flashbacks

Opening flash scenes, some of these can be interspersed among Josephus' account.

God to Abraham, 'I will bless those who bless you, curse him who curses you'

AUDIO: God to Abraham Gen 12:1-3
Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: God to Abraham:

Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram,
"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
NIV

Moses, 'God will raise up a Prophet like me from among you'

AUDIO: Moses: a Prophet like me
Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: God through Moses to the descendents of Israel:
Deuteronomy 18:15-22
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

17 The Lord said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death."

21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
NIV

27AD: John Baptist, 'Repent, for the Government of the Skies is about to arrive!'

AUDIO: John the Baptist, "The Government of the Skies is about to arrive!"

Matthew 3:7-12; Mark 1:7,8; John 1:24-28

Luke 3:1-17
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!
5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

7 Then John said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,
"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

10 So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"

11 He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."

12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"

So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

Matthew 3:1-3
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" NKJV
"Surrender your lives! For the Empire of the Skies is about to arrive!
Surrender your lives! For the Empire of the Skies is about to arrive!"

27-30AD: Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth, while supervising His Apostles baptizing

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." NKJV
"Surrender your lives! For the Empire of the Skies is about to arrive!
Surrender your lives! For the Empire of the Skies is about to arrive!"

Jesus sending out the Disciples

Matthew 10:5-23
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (that is, 'The Empire of the Skies is about to arrive! The Empire of the Skies is about to arrive!') 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

11 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
NKJV

Jesus, cleansing the Temple

and Matthew 23-24, Mark, Luke merged and condensed

Parable of the vinedressers, "Whoever falls upon this stone shall be broken and upon whom this stone falls will be crushed!"

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees ... !

"All this shall surely come upon this generation, from the righteous blood of Abel to that of Zechariah son of Berechiah"

"Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem .. until you say 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Jesus and Disciples leave Temple, Apostles comment on the bejeweled spectacle of the great city as they exit, Jesus explains

"Not one stone will be left upon another"

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies..."

"This generation shall not pass away before all these things come to pass."

Judah, hanging himself, 'I have betrayed innocent blood'

Jesus before the High Priest, 'You shall see the Son of Man at the right hand of God'

Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Chief Priests inciting the Jews to cry out

Jews - "Give us Barrabbas!"

Pilate - "What shall I do with Jesus your king?"

Jews - "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate, washing his hands - "I am innocent of this man's blood. I find no fault with him."

Jews - "His blood be upon us and out children!"

Solomon, 'There is a generation'

Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: Solomon
Proverbs 30:11-14
There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.
12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13 There is a generation — oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.
NKJV

Jesus, on the Cross, 'Into your hands, Father, I commend my Spirit'

-in total eclipse darkness, dying, giving up the ghost

-earthquake, rocks split, movement within the tombs nearby as holy dead come to life

-Temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom

-Roman centurion shouts, "Surely this was the Son of God!"

David, 'Oh God, to whom vengeance belongs'

Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: David

Psalms 94:1-8
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs — O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.
3 Lord, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?

4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
5 They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, "The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand."

8 Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.

12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law,
13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
15 But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.
18 If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
21 They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The Lord our God shall cut them off.
NKJV

30AD: Peter quoting Moses, 'Whosever does not listen to Him will be cut off'

In these last days, blood and fire and smoke

30-70AD: Apostles persecuted

James the Apostle beheaded by Herod

37AD: Stephen martyred by Sanhedrin by stoning

Accusers - "Stephen preaches that this Temple will be destroyed"

Stephen "(condensed speach) you always resist the Holy Spirit!"

Stephen - being stoned to death outside the Temple by the Sanhedrin, Saul of Tarsus approving

37-40AD: Saul of Tarsus leading the persecution of the Christians

scattering them into hiding, pursuing them & imprisoning them, getting them to blaspheme

Jeremiah, 'My anger and wrath will be poured out on this place'

Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 7:20-29
"'Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground, and it will burn and not be quenched.

21 "'This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers.'

27 "When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. 28 Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. 29 Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath.
NIV

61AD: Paul the Apostle, in Jerusalem, delivering famine relief

-mugged in the streets

-stretched on the rack by Romans

-preaches to the Sanhedrin, condensed, "you white washed wall"

62AD: John the Apostle, recieving the Revelation from the angel

Revelation 22:6-20
Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

7 [From within the angel, a different Voice, the Voice of the Lord Jesus being channeled through the angel] "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." 10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

12 [From within the angel, a different Voice, the Voice of the Lord Jesus being channeled through the angel] "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

16 [From within the angel, a different Voice, the Voice of the Lord Jesus being channeled through the angel] "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, [From within the angel, a different Voice, the Voice of the Lord Jesus being channeled through the angel] "Surely I am coming quickly."
NKJV

62AD: Apostle Peter to his flock, 'The end of all things is at hand'

1 Peter 4:7-8
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers."
NKJV

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Joseph ben Mattathias (Flavius Josephus)

48AD: Roman soldier moons the Jews during Passover feast, pm278, A20.105, W2.224

AUDIO: Roman soldier moons Jews in temple during Passover
"When Cumanus came as sucessor to Tiberius Alexander, an uprising occurred in Jerusalem at the Passover. One of his troops who was standing on the porticoes of the temple for riot control uncovered his genitals and showed them to the multitude. In rage, some of the people started hurling stones at the soldiers, and Cumanus marched reinforcements to the tower-fortress Antonia. This frightened the masses, and in their rush to escape through narrow exits, some 20,000 were trampled to death. So there was mourning instead of feasting."

54AD: Claudius Caesar poisoned by wife Aggripina, rise of Nero to emperor, etc., pm279-280, A20.148, W2.250

-The young High Priest Ananus enrages the Roman authorities by conspiring to have James, the Lord's brother killed.

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Christians, seeing Jerusalem surrounded by armies, recall Jesus' prophecy and flee all Israel and Judea for the hills and caves

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Famine scenes... taking food from the mouths, woman roasting and eating her own baby

Temple turned into a Zealot (gay, Jewish mafia) fort

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Valiant Roman centurion has his own Black Hawk Down death scene

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Comedy scene - Child on the wall (spiteful smart-aleck) tricking the Romans for a glass of water then scurrying back to his perch

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False prophets lead people to the top of the Temple to be raptured, only to die in the flames

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Titus having sex with prostitutes in the Holy of Holies

Demolition of Temple down to the foundation stones

Simon ascending out from hiding in tunnels beneath the Temple foundation floor

Hauling out the fabulous booty and jewels from the tunnels and all of Jerusalem

Demolition of all the city leaving it as though it was never inhabited

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Ending

Borrowed from Revelation 21-22
- the vast heavenly Jerusalem, the ethereal New Jerusalem descends ("like a mother ship from "Independence Day", clouds and all) into the empty place vacated by the destruction of old, physical Jerusalem as the etherieal, heavenly army of ten thousands of His saints receive it, headed by Jesus, Lord of Lords, Kings of Kings, the Word of God. Chrst turns to the camera with wearing His crown of thornes and smiles.

-Narrator: "He takes away the first that He may establish the second" (Hebrews)

-Jesus as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, the Word of God, with sword coming out of His mouth, at the head of an ethereal army of horsemenand chariots of fire, ten thousands of of thousands of His ethereal saints, setting out the conquer the world, quoting Elisha saying, "There are more of us than there are of them." Sword coming out of mouth, looks like Jesus from earlier clip, surrounded by all the patriarchs, prophets, and Christians and saints from earlier in film

-saints have faces like all the patriarchs, prophets, and Christians that already appearred in the film

Old Testament commentary: Flashback in dark, tunnel-dream vision format: David

Psalms 2:1-12
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
NIV