Endtimes
Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
Trust, Faith and Prayer
Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
Soon in the time of the created universe people got to understand they had to call upon God. Men began to call upon the name of the Most High Elohim יהוה Jehovah. More than once things went wrong and more than once men opposed to their Creator, but every time He was willing to come to them and to help them. At the early times they knew the importance of calling the Creator God by His Name, who was Holy.
“And to Shĕth, to him also a son was born. And he called his name Enosh. Then it was begun to call on the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}{1}. {Footnote: 1The first record of “calling on the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}” (Genesis 4:26 The Scriptures 1998+)
English: The Geneva Bible (1560): God’s name Iehouah (in older Latin transcription form), that is Jehovah. Greek/Ελληνικά: Η μεταγραφή Ιεχουά (Ιεχωβά) στο εδάφιο Ψαλμός 83:18, από την Βίβλο της Γενεύης (Geneva Bible) του 1560. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“So Aḇram left, as יהוה had commanded him, and Lot went with him. And Aḇram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Ḥaran.” (Genesis 12:4 The Scriptures 1998+)
“ 7 And יהוה {Jehovah} appeared to Aḇram and said, “To your seed I give this land.” And he built there an altar to יהוה{Jehovah}, who had appeared to him. 8 And from there he moved to the mountain east of Bĕyth Ěl, and he pitched his tent, with Bĕyth Ěl on the west and Ai on the east. And he built there an altar to יהוה{Jehovah}, and called on the Name of יהוה{Jehovah}.” (Genesis 12: 7-8: The Scriptures 1998+)
Many times people were wrestling with many problems, often caused by themselves because they did not keep to the Commandments of God or did not listen to His Voice. Multitudes of commands and myriads of promises were given to God His people. Many blessings came over them, but oh so often they forgot quickly what He had done for them.
But every time God was there again to come close to them and several times God appeared to His chosen people to tell them what to do and to tell them about future happenings.
“23 And from there he went up to Be’ĕrsheḇa. 24 And יהוה {Jehovah}appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the Elohim of your father Aḇraham. Do not fear, for I am with you, and shall bless you and increase your seed for My servant Aḇraham’s sake.”
25 And he built an altar there, and called on the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}, and he pitched his tent there, and the servants of Yitsḥaq dug a well there. “ (Genesis 26: 23-25: The Scriptures 1998+)
The Creator told His chosen people how He was to be called and that His Name should be known all over the world.
And He said, “I am the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ.” And Mosheh hid his face, for he was afraid to look at Elohim” (Exodus 3:6 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And now, see, the cry of the children of Yisra’ĕl has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Mitsrites oppress them.” (Exodus 3:9 The Scriptures 1998+)
“14 And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”{1 } And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” {Footnote: 1The Heḇrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that leads up to the revelation of His Name in v. 15, namely: יהוה (Jehovah). } 15 And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘יהוה {Jehovah } Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.’ ” (Exodus 3:14-15 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Jehovah” at Exodus 6:3 (1611 King James Version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“2 And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am יהוה {Jehovah}.” 3 “And I appeared to Aḇraham {Abraham}, to Yitsḥaq {Isaac}, and to Ya’aqoḇ {Jakob}, as Ěl Shaddai {The One Most High; The Almighty}. And by My Name, יהוה {Jehovah }, was I not known to them? 4 “And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Kena’an, the land of their sojournings, in which they have sojourned. 5 “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Yisra’ĕl whom the Mitsrites are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 “Say, therefore, to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am יהוה {Jehovah}, and I shall bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites, and shall deliver you from their enslaving, and shall redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments, 7 and shall take you as My people, and I shall be your Elohim. And you shall know that I am יהוה {Jehovah} your Elohim who is bringing you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites. 8 ‘And I shall bring you into the land which I swore to give to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya’aqoḇ {Jakob}, to give it to you as an inheritance. I am יהוה {Jehovah}.’ ” (Exodus 6:2-8 The Scriptures 1998+) (Exodus 6:2-7 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Go, and you shall gather the elders of Yisra’ĕl together, and say to them, ‘יהוה {Jehovah} Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, of Yitsḥaq, and of Ya’aqoḇ, appeared to me, saying, “I have indeed visited you and seen what is done to you in Mitsrayim; (Exodus 3:16 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And in that day you shall say, “Praise יהוה {Jehovah}, call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His Name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:4 The Scriptures 1998+)
“13 For “everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה {Jehovah} shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without one proclaiming? 15 And how shall they proclaim if they are not sent? As it has been written, “How pleasant are the feet of those who bring the Good News of peace, who bring the Good News of the good!” 16 However, not all obeyed the Good News. For Yeshayahu {Isaiah} says, {Jehovah } “יהוה, who has believed our report?” 17 So then belief comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Elohim.” (Romans 10:13-17 The Scriptures 1998+)
Whatever God has made prominent in his Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives. He wanted us to get to know Him properly and to choose out of our own free will, to go for Him and to call upon His Name.
God insisted that people followed His Words and that they would call upon Him and not on other gods. More than ones He showed others how useless it was to call upon the gods of the earth. In the many stories of the Old Testament we can see how even great people, being ‘gods’ in their time did not manage to compete against the God of gods in heaven.
““And you shall call on the name of your mighty one, and I, I call on the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}. And the Elohim who answers by fire, He is Elohim.” So all the people answered and said, “The word is good.” (1 Kings 18:24 The Scriptures 1998+)
Moabite Stone or Mesha Stele: YHWH, the god of Israelites as mentioned in the Moabite inscription in line 18 (context: and I took from there t[he ves]sels (or [altar he]arths) of YHWH and I dragged them before the face of Kemosh). Transliteration (modern Hebrew characters): יהוה
“16 O יהוה {Jehovha}, I am truly Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your female servant; You have loosed my bonds. 17 I bring You a slaughtering of thanksgiving, And call upon the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}. 18 I pay my vows to יהוה {Jehovha} In the presence of all His people, 19 In the courts of the House of יהוה {Jehovah}, In your midst, O Yerushalayim. Praise Yah! “(Psalms 116:16-19 The Scriptures 1998+).
Excerpt of the book of Exodus from the The Great Bible (entitled The Byble in Englyshe), publ. 1540. The English form Iehovah (Jehovah as the “J” stands for both I and the later J) is used for the Tetragrammaton at Exodus 6:3. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Jesus also learned the people around him to pray to his Father and to tell that His Name is Holy and should be honoured as the Holy Name.
““This, then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart,” (Matthew 6:9 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven..” (Luke 11:2 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Then Mosheh said to Aharon, “This is what יהוה {Jehovah} spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me let Me be set-apart! And before all the people let Me be esteemed!’ ” And Aharon was silent.” (Leviticus 10:3 The Scriptures 1998+)
“26 “And let Your Name be made great forever, saying, ‘יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts is the Elohim over Yisra’ĕl.’ And let the house of Your servant Dawid be established before You. 27 “For You, O יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has taken heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 “And now, O Master {Jehovah} יהוה, You are Elohim, and Your words are true, and You have spoken this goodness to Your servant. ” (2 Samuel 7:26 The Scriptures 1998+)
“24 So let it stand fast, and Your Name be great forever, saying, ‘יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts, Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, is Elohim to Yisra’ĕl. And let the house of Your servant Dawid be established before You.’ 25 “For You, O my Elohim, have revealed to Your servant to build a house for him. Therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 26 “And now, {Jehovah} יהוה, You are Elohim, and have promised this goodness to Your servant. 27 “And now, You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant to be before You forever. For You have blessed it, O יהוה {Jehovah}, and it is blessed forever.”.” (1 Chronicles 17:24-27 The Scriptures 1998+)
“4 Then Yĕshua and Bani, Qadmi’ĕl, Shebanyah, Bunni, Shĕrĕbyah, Bani, Kenani stood on the stairs of the Lĕwites and cried out with a loud voice to יהוה their Elohim. 5 Then the Lĕwites, Yĕshua and Qadmi’ĕl, Bani, Ḥashabneyah, Shĕrĕbyah, Hodiyah, Shebanyah, Pethaḥyah, said, “Rise, bless יהוה {Jehovah}, your Elohim forever and ever! And let them bless Your esteemed Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! 6 “You are יהוה {Jehovah}, You alone. You have made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that are on it, the seas and all that are in them, and You give life to them all. And the host of the heavens are bowing themselves to You.
7 “You are יהוה {Jehovah}, the Elohim who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham, 8 and found his heart trustworthy before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Kena’anites, the Ḥittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Yebusites, and the Girgashites – to give it to his seed. And You have established Your words, for You are righteous,” (Nehemiah 9:4-8 The Scriptures 1998+)“17 Let His Name be forever, His Name continue before the sun; And let them bless themselves in Him; Let all nations call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be יהוה {Jehovah} Elohim, Elohim {The Most High} of Yisra’ĕl, He alone is doing wonders! 19 And blessed be His esteemed Name forever! And let all the earth Be filled with His esteem. Amĕn and Amĕn. .” (Psalms 72:18 The Scriptures 1998+)
God provided His only son so that a ransom could be paid for His people, so that none of His children would perish. There is no greater sacrifice than giving up your only son for the sake of our salvation. That is truly the greatest provision that our Heavenly Father has given us. He ordered His Covenant kept forever. He’s so personal and holy, that we too should call upon Him and call back and forth one to the other, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Most High God, Jehovah-of-the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth.
“9 He sent redemption to His people, He has commanded His covenant forever. Set-apart and awesome is His Name. 10 The fear of יהוה {Jehovah} is the beginning of wisdom, All those doing them have a good understanding. His praise is standing forever. ” (Psalms 111:9-10 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And one cried to another and said, “Set-apart, set-apart, set-apart is יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts; all the earth is filled with His esteem!”” (Isaiah 6:3 The Scriptures 1998+)
We also should put His great and holy Name that has been ruined in so many countries, the name that so many blackened wherever they went, on display. Today it is more than high time that the nations will realize who the God of gods is. The whole world should get to know the Only One Almighty God. Who He really is, that He, Jehovah is God. When He shall show His holiness through us, we shall be pleased that they can see it with their own eyes.
Perhaps it will not take long any more that God will show the world how great He is, how holy He is, because He, the Adonai will make Himself known all over the world. Then they’ll realize that He is GOD. Jehovah God will be king over all the earth, one GOD and only one. What a Day that will be! He shall be honoured all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship Him all over the world, who honour Him by bringing their best to Him. They’re saying it everywhere: “God is greater, this GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.” “Jehovah His Name shall be The One, Great under all nations”.
“And I shall set apart My great Name, which has been profaned among the gentiles, which you have profaned in their midst. And the gentiles shall know that I am יהוה {Jehovah},” declares the Master יהוה {Jehovah}, “when I am set-apart in you before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:23 The Scriptures 1998+)
“for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the esteem of יהוה {Jehovah}, as the waters cover the sea {1}! {Footnote: 1Isa. 11:9.}” (Habakkuk 2:14 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And יהוה {Jehovah} shall be Sovereign over all the earth {1}. In that day there shall be one יהוה {Jehovah}, and His Name one. {Footnote: 1 Isa. 24:23, Dan. 2:44, Rev. 11:15.} .” (Zechariah 14:9 The Scriptures 1998+)
“For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name is great among nations. And in every place incense is presented to My Name, and a clean offering. For My Name is great among nations,” said יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts..” (Malachi 1:11 The Scriptures 1998+)
“28 “And after this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams, your young men see visions. 29 “And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke, 31 the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה.
32 “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be delivered {1}. For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape {2} as יהוה has said, and among the survivors whom יהוה {Jehovah} calls. {Footnotes: 1 Acts 2:21, Rom. 10:13. 2 Isa. 4:2-3, Obad. v. 17, Rev. 14:1.} ” (Joel 2:28-32 The Scriptures 1998+)
Coming closer to those End-times it is begetting more important that people call upon Jehovah. For the Time is near. But you don’t have to be unprepared for the tests and trials when they come.
In these times we have to look forward to the Jehovah Jireh, God the provider, the One who provides in all things pertaining to life, the Rock which we stand upon. But we do have to show to Him that we are willing to stand on Him. If we are prepared to give ourselves to Him He is willing to accept our being with all its faults and deficiencies. So, we do better ask God and trust that He, as a loving Father, will listen to us. In prayer we can build up our life and prepare ourselves for times coming. By prayer we are preparing our heart and our mind for the battle ahead. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now.
en: The Holy Bible in Modern Greek by Neofitos Vamvas. At Exodus 6:3 the divine name of God, the sacred Tetragrammaton, is rendered “Ιεχωβά” (Ieová/Jehovah). La Cle publications, 1979. el: Το όνομα Ιεοβά (Ιεχωβά) στην Παλαιά Διαθήκη. Νεοελληνική Μετάφραση (Βάμβα), έκδοση La Cle, 1979. Απόσπασμα από το βιβλίο της Εξόδου. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We must give to God the necessary appropriate glory which He deserves and is worthy off. We must follow His wishes. Under those wishes it has been confessed to make God His name be known. Concerning His Name God wishes that His name be known all over the earth. We can work for it and must help with that. We do have to love Gods name and give it all honour. We should consecrate His name above all names, declaring it to be holy, set apart, sanctified. Above all names we must esteem This One highly. This totally different god than the many gods worshipped at the moment, all over the earth, is the Elohim, Most High over all, the אהיה אשר אהיה “I AM WHO I AM” the very Source of life and of all good that is made up in this world.
We should want to give God this glory, in our speech and foremost in our prayer, especially because this stipulates the tone for the rest of our prayer. It requires of us to shrink back in apprehension for the omnipotent God. It does make us tremble our for this big and most important God, who we all have to give honour and to whom we are conversing with by His grace. He is the only person to whom we should pray and must take our refuge. He is the One to whom we can confide everything and commit everything to His charge. If we know His value and Greatness and Power and realise what He has already done and still can do for us, we will not doubt make work of it to address Him regularly in love. We then will not recoil with Him to step in conversation. Also we will not recoil to converse by His grace. To him we all must bring praise for no other reason then that He exists in independence and holiness, contains Power and Love, which we cannot quite comprehend. It is not that we must pray from apprehension, fearing God, but of respect and with faith that He wants to be as the most perfect Father, who is prepared to listen to His children and to give them what they need.
“And I say to you: ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. (Luke 11:9 The Scriptures 1998+)
+
Preceding: Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #1 Kings Faith
Next: Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God
++
Find more on the Name of the Most High God:
- The Bible and names in it
- Creator of heaven and earth and everything aroundיהוה The Only One Elohim who creates and gives all
- Does He exists?
- The wrong hero
- A god between many gods
- God of gods
- Only one God
- Attributes to God
- Jehovah Yahweh Gods Name
- God about His name “יהוה“
- יהוה , YHWH and Love: Four-letter words
- Titles of God beginning with the Aleph in Hebrew
- Archeological Findings the name of God YHWH
- I am that I am Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh אהיה אשר אהיה
- Hashem השם, Hebrew for “the Name”
- The Divine name of the Creator
- I Will Cause Your Name To Be Remembered
- Some one or something to fear #1 Many sorts of fear
- Some one or something to fear #2 Attitude and Reactions
- Some one or something to fear #3 Cases, folks and outing
- Some one or something to fear #4 Families and Competition
- Some one or something to fear #5 Not afraid
- Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
- Some one or something to fear #7 Not afraid for Gods Name
- For Jehovah is greatly to be praised
- Praise the God with His Name
- Lord or Yahuwah, Yeshua or Yahushua
- Prophets making excuses
- Another way looking at a language #5 Aramic, Hebrew and Greek
- The NIV and the Name of God
- Use of /Gebruik van Jehovah or/of Yahweh in Bible Translations/Bijbel vertalingen
- Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope
- Developing new energy
- Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest
- For Jehovah is greatly to be praised
- Listening and Praying to the Father
+++
Related articles
- What’s in a name? (quest4light.net)
- Names Of God (mychristiancoffeeshop.wordpress.com)
- A Few Names of Jesus (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
- Song of Praise for the Elohim Set-Apart (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- True Peacemakers of Elohim (daileytalks.wordpress.com)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 12 so far )
Contents of the Book of Revelation
I. Prolog (1:1-8)
A. Preface (1:1-3)
B. Greeting to churches in Asia (1:4-6)
C. Prophetic sayings (1:7-8)
II. Call vision (1:9-20)
III. Letters to the seven churches in Asia (2:1-3:22)
IV. Seven seals (4:1-8:5)
A. Vision of God’s throne (4:1-11)
B. Vision of the enthroned Lamb with the scroll (5:1-14)
C. Seals #1-4: Four horsemen (6:1-8)
D. Seals #5: Martyrs crying out for judgment (6:9-11)
E. Seal #6: Earthquake, proleptic judgment (6:12-17)
F. Sealing of servants from the twelve tribes (7:1-17)
G. Seal #7: Silence and preparation of the trumpets (8:1-5)
V. Seven trumpets (8:2, 6-11:19)
A. Trumpets #1-4: Plagues fall from the heavens (8:6-13)
B. Trumpet #5: Falling star opens abyss, locust plague led by angel of the abyss (9:1-11)
C. Trumpet #6: Deadly cavalry from Euphrates released(9:13-21)
D. Seer eats the little scroll from the hand of angel: commissioning to prophecy again (10:1-11)
E. Seer measures the temple and the altar (11:1-3)
F. Testimony of the two witnesses in Jerusalem; martyred by the beast; taken to heaven; deadly earthquake in the city (11:4-13) [End of second woe, third to come, v. 14]
G. Trumpet #7: Heavenly acclamation of Christ who rules for ever; vision of the ark with lightening, voices, thunder, earthquake, hail (11:15-19)
VI. Unnumbered visions: Followers of Lamb vs. the beast (12:1-15:4)
A. Woman and her offspring vs. the dragon (12:1-17)
B. Beast from the sea (13:1-10)
C. Beast from the earth (13:11-18)
D. On Mount Zion: song of the 144,000 (14:1-7; cf. 7:1-17)
E. Angelic heralds: warning and the promise to the saints (14:8-13)
F. Son of Man and angels harvest the earth (14:14-20)
G. Sea of glass: those who have conquered the beast (15:2-4)
VII. Seven bowls of wrath (15:1, 5-16:21)
A. Introduction: bowls are end of wrath of God (15:1)
B. Angels given the seven bowls by throne creature (15:5-8)
C. Bowl #1: poured on earth: sores on those worship the beast (16:1-2)
D. Bowl #2: in sea: becomes like blood, everything in it dies (16:3)
E. Bowl #3: rivers and fountains: become blood, just judgment for blood of martyrs acclaimed (16:4-7)
F. Bowl #4: on sun: it scorches humans, who blaspheme god and do not repent (16:8-9)
G. Bowl #5: on throne beast: kingdom darkened; humans curse God for sores, do not repent (16:10-11)
H. Bowl #6: on Euphrates: demonic spirits from mouths of dragon, beast and false prophet assemble armies at Armageddon (16:12-16; c.f. 9:13-21)
I. Bowl #7: in air: voice sounds from temple, thunder, quakes, cities split, island and mountains vanish, hail (16;17-21)
VIII. Babylon and her destruction (17:1-19:10)
A. “Babylon the Great,” harlot to the kings of the earth, drunk with the blood of the saints (17:1-6)
B. Angelic interpretation of the vision: Rome, her rulers, client kings and wars (17:1-6)
C. Heavenly announcement: the hour of judgment on Babylon has come (18:1-8)
D. Laments for the fate of Babylon by kings of the earth, merchants, captains and sailors (18:9-20)
E. Angelic announcement: Babylon and all who dwell in her to be thrown down (18:21-24)
F. Heavenly praise to God for judgment against Babylon (19:`1-4)
G. Praise to Lamb: Celebration of divine marriage feast (19:5-10)
IX. Unnumbered visions: Judgment of the earth (19:11-21:8)
A. Rider on the white horse (19:11-16)
B. Victory feast on bodies of the slain (19:17-21)
C. Angel binds Satan for a thousand years (20:1-3)
D. Victorious martyrs reign with Christ a thousand years (20:4-6)
E. Fire from heaven consumes the Satanic hosts (20:7-10)
F. Judgment of all humanity: Book of life (20:11-15)
G. New heaven and earth: Righteous to dwell with God (21:1-8)
X. Bride of the Lamb: The heavenly Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)
A. Jewels which adorn the bride (21:2, 9-21)
B. God’s presence in the heavenly city (21:22-27)
C. River of water, tree of life and God as its light (22:1-5)
XI. Epilogue: Transmission of the prophecy and beatitudes (22:6-21)
Content of The Book of The Revelation, by Dennis Bratcher
The Beast from the sea with seven heads (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
+
Preceding articles:
- The Song of The Lamb #1 Visions, symbols and suggested meanings
- The Song of The Lamb #2 Sevens
- Kingdom Visions of a Man, Throne and Great crowd
- Kingdom Visions of Rainbowed angel, Lamb in Mount Zion
- Kingdom Visions of God’s judgements and Marriage of the Lamb
- The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
- Seals, a flying scroll, a statue and blessings
- The Song of The Lamb #4 Methods of Interpretation
Next: The Song of The Lamb #5 Revelation 5
+++
Related articles
- An Overview of the Book of Revelation (godsbreath.wordpress.com)
- The Three Angels (ghettoscorner.wordpress.com)
- The Anti-Church – Great Falling Away (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
At center stage of the coming global crisis will be a demonized world leader called the Antichrist (1 Jn. 2:18) who develops and then rules over a worldwide system including government, finances and religion. There is much information on this in the scripture. - Revelation 9-13 (westminsterreads.org)
+ Revelation, Introduction and Outline
Apocalyptic literature uses a standard set of symbols that include numerology, catastrophes of cosmic proportions and odd and amazing animals. The purpose of apocalyptic literature was to encourage the faithful to hold firm in their beliefs, to endure, to assure the reader that faithfulness would be rewarded and that ultimately justice would be done.
+
Even though it looks as if evil is in control, this is somehow part of God’s plan. The faithful, who persevere thorough suffering and trials, will receive eternal life with God. God is in control.
+
Between the seventh trumpet and the six bowls will be three distinct visionary “digressions” - “Baruch Habah Bashem Adonai” (dailymannablog.wordpress.com)
- The Antichrist and the Second Coming
The Song of The Lamb #4 Methods of Interpretation
Methods of Interpretation
The book of Revelation has also fascinated Bible students, and there have many attempts have been made to understand its message.
FUTURISTIC: Sees the book as a description of events immediately surrounding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, probably all occurring during a period of intense activity lasting three-and-half years.
PRETERIST: much of the material as referring to the events occurring around the lifetime of the Apostle John (from Latin, praetor, past).
HISTORIC: see Revelation filling in the details of significant events that affect believers, starting in John’s day and continuing until Jesus returns. This is the traditional Christadelphian view.
English: Illustration to Book of Revelation Русский: Иллюстрация к Откровению Иоанна Богослова (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Steven Robinson
Preceding articles:
Next:
- Contents of the Book of Revelation
- The Song of The Lamb #5 Revelation 5
Find also other views:
- Four Views of Revelation by Patrick Zukeran
- The Idealist View:
This view uses the allegorical method to interpret the Book of Revelation. The allegorical approach to Revelation was introduced by ancient church father Origen (AD 185-254) and made prominent by Augustine (AD 354-420).
The symbols in Revelation are not tied to specific events but point to themes throughout church history. The battles in Revelation are viewed as spiritual warfare manifested in the persecution of Christians or wars in general that have occurred in history. The beast from the sea may be identified as the satanically-inspired political opposition to the church in any age. The beast from the land represents pagan, or corrupt, religion to Christianity.
Icon Apocalypse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
- The Preterist View:
Preter, which means “past,” is derived from the Latin. There are two major views among preterists: full preterism and partial preterism. Both views believe that the prophecies of the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24 and Revelation were fulfilled in the first century with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Chapters 1-3 describe the conditions in the seven churches of Asia Minor prior to the Jewish war (AD 66-70). The remaining chapters of Revelation and Jesus’ Olivet Discourse describe the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans.
Since it is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, preterists hold to a pre-AD 70 date of writing. According to this view, John was writing specifically to the church of his day and had only its situation in mind. - The Historicist View:
This view teaches that Revelation is a symbolic representation that presents the course of history from the apostle’s life through the end of the age. The symbols in the apocalypse correspond to events in the history of Western Europe, including various popes, the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, and rulers such as Charlemagne. Most interpreters place the events of their day in the later chapters of Revelation. - The Futurist View:
This view teaches that the events of the Olivet Discourse and Revelation chapters 4-22 will occur in the future.
- Revelation of Christ according Truthnet
- Symbolic or allegorical approach:
anti-millennium view which taught a literal millennium reign of Christ on earth. - Preterist (Past) Interpretation:
views the Church as the “New Israel” and thereby fulfilling verses applied to Israel in scripture. - Historic Interpretation:
References to Babylon and the Beast are associated with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. Other symbols are viewed as referring to Islamic and Napoleonic wars. The historical approach, like the Preterists, substitute the church for Israel in verses referring to national Israel. - Futurist Interpretation:
Words mean what they say unless otherwise defined within the context of scripture.
Since the futurist view looks to a future Millennium, the view is Pre-millennial.
The futurist view holds to a dispensational understanding of scripture, allowing for the distinction of Israel and the church in God’s end time program.
Find also:
1. Interpreting The Book of Revelation
While there is only one OT apocalyptic book (Daniel) and one NT book that demonstrates some features of this type (Revelation), it was a common form of writing in the two centuries before and after the birth of Christ.
+
Because the Book of Revelation is written in John’s own name, it is related to OT prophecy, perhaps more closely than it is to apocalyptic.
2. Views of the Time Frame of the Book of Revelation by Dennis Bratcher:
- Futurist: A Blueprint of the End Times
- Historicist: The Road Map of World History + Church Historical: The History of the Church
+
Some hold that the book deals more with the period prior to the present, some see it as unfolding in the present, and some emphasize the future more. All of the book is a symbolic account of the whole scope of world history, with the “beast” identified with various historical figures or peoples, from the Saracens, to Mohammed, to the Pope, to Adolph Hitler. This view arose in the Middle Ages, and was adopted by most of the Reformers in the 16th century, including Martin Luther who popularized the idea that the “beast” was the Roman Catholic Pope. In turn, Catholic theologians were convinced that Luther was the “beast.” - Preterist: The First Century Church
- Idealist: Eternal Principles + Theological: An Incarnated Message
3. By which method should we interpret the Book of Revelation? Mike F Blume
“I propose interpretations should be made by comparing scripture with scripture. And that John knew perfectly well what the visions meant. John was not given unknown sights if God did not seal the book from his understanding. He gave John visions that John would immediately recognize as being similar to many, many Old Testament stories and events. And John was directed to recall those similarities and apply the main point of those stories to the visions and figure how they relate to the Church and to Christ crucified for our salvation, and then new Kingdom of a spiritual temple and so on.”
4. Methods of Interpreting Revelation
Determinism was a prominent feature of such literature, which is the idea that any event is determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. In the case of apocalyptic literature, this meant that God has already determined the future by his own counsels, for which reason it was likely viewed as fixed and unalterable.
+
events predicted can be lined up with real matching events evident in history. The matched events will show a movement of time and events from John’s time to some future time, usually the Second Coming of Jesus, but some may also extend to the end of the coming millennium.
+
The ultimate purpose of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation is to build faith in God and explain, through the events of history, that God will ultimately triumph over evil and sin will be destroyed someday, along with death, disease, and war.
5. ApproAching hoofbeAts – The Book of RevelaTion
The historical method of interpreting the prophecies of the New Testament is based on the belief that these prophecies are concerning the unfolding of events in the whole of the Church age.
According to this method, the seals of Revelation 6 are events in history. The reformation is symbolised by the discovery of the little book in Revelation chapter 10 and by the death and resurrection of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11.
This method of interpretation is fascinating and its proponents are convincing. But this method requires a vast knowledge of history which has only been available to few of the generations of Bible readers since the Bible was written! The breadth of information needed to develop this interpretation is not available to most readers in developing nations and so is irrelevant to such readers.
This method of Bible interpretation has fewer proponents in the 20th and 21st centuries, but was quite popular in the 19th century. Whether or not the symbols of Revelation can be tied to specific events in world history, there is no doubt that the Book of Revelation teaches the ways of God in history. Hence, we know that there are changes in the course of history, not merely because men have made a political decision, but rather because Christ opened a seal in heaven.
6. Five Ways to Interpret Revelation by Steve Adler:
1. Preterist;
2. Futurist;
3. Historicist;
4. Idealist: Reluctant to identify anything in Revelation with particular events or people, this approach is perhaps the most different. To the Idealist, John’s visions are symbolic of the all the struggles the church faces between Christ’s first and second comings;
5. Eclectic – This last method is an incorporation of the strengths of the other four approaches. Acknowledging Revelation may be written about specific past and future events, but allowing that the interpretation of some events may apply to the church in all circumstances, this approach seems the easiest and most logical to take – however, the interpreter ends up being able to ascribe many different meanings to the same vision.
Ceiling painting, Book of Revelation,”Worthy is the Lamb”, showing the Lamb, Godfather, an angel, the four Evangelists as symbolic animals, a row af angels with harps, ca. 1670 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
+++
Related articles
- Idealists, Preterists, And Futurists (lynleahz.com)
When you boil it all down there are only three schools of thought for interpreting prophecy. There are idealists, who interpret prophecy symbolically and don’t expect any of it to be fulfilled in the literal sense. Then there are preterists, who see the complete fulfillment of prophecy in past events culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. And there are futurists who see the fulfillment of prophecy in events still to come. All the major views fit under one of these headings.
+
Futurists who adhere to a literal interpretation of Scripture accuse preterists of spiritualizing some prophecies in order to give them a historical fulfillment. For example, most preterists cling to the opinion that God is finished with Israel. They say prophecies that futurists see as pertaining to Israel’s future have been inherited by and fulfilled in the Church. In this they are like others who embrace replacement theology. - Revelation: The Way it Happened (A Review) (davehershey.wordpress.com)
Studying Revelation with Dr. Lowery opened my eyes to a different way of understanding Revelation, a way that was much more historically grounded, recognizing the book had to mean something to those who first read it, as well as much more challenging, in that it has a message for us today, right now, and not just about the future. - A Readable Commentary on Revelation (reformedreader.wordpress.com)
Poythress keeps the main point the main point: “God rules history and will bring it to its consummation in Christ. If you read it with that main point in mind, you will be able to understand it. You will not necessarily understand every detail – neither do I. But it is not necessary to understand every detail in order to profit spiritually from it” - An Overview of the Book of Revelation (godsbreath.wordpress.com)
- The Anti-Church – Great Falling Away (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
At center stage of the coming global crisis will be a demonized world leader called the Antichrist (1 Jn. 2:18) who develops and then rules over a worldwide system including government, finances and religion. There is much information on this in the scripture. - LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE (Sunday, 25/11/2012) (sionnunukan.wordpress.com)
Revelation is shown in the presence of various forms of vision. The vision presented especially concerning the time of the last days terakhir.Pada this, the powers of evil will oppress the faithful to the teachings of religion, but in the end evil will be destroyed and the believers would be saved through Christ which liberates all human persons. - Revelation 5: Worthy is the Lamb! (kingdomnewtestament.wordpress.com)
We can tell from the seven seals that the writer of this scroll wants to keep its contents well guarded. John was told at the beginning of chapter 4 that he would be shown what would be coming in the future (4:1), so we assume this scroll contains the future destiny of someone or even the whole world. - Why the Modern View of the Book of Revelation may be Flawed. (adw.org)
the common modern and majority view is that the context of this book is the persecution against Christians by Domitian (Emperor from 81-96 AD) and the Roman Empire which he headed. John has been arrested and exiled to the Island of Patmos. Thus, the chief context for the majority view is the antagonism of the Roman Empire seeking to force Christians to emperor worship and apostasy from the Christian faith in the one true God. Further, the harlot city is defined in this point of view as Rome. - Revelation – Historical and Prophetic (Part 4) (revpodcast.org)
Revelation is actually written as much as a study of church history as it is about the end times. As with the entire Bible, each book was written for the benefit of the original recipients, and for each age of the church thereafter.
+
There are different schools of thought on Revelation and all share some good points about both the end times and our own personal journeys of faith throughout Church history. I believe we just have to be discerning and weed out the good from the bad. Some people believe that all the events in Revelation occurred in the past and I think that is heresy as well. We are still waiting on the ultimate culmination of God’s plan of redemption with His faithful believers. - Revelation 12: Victory by Faithfulness (kingdomnewtestament.wordpress.com)
Behind the persecutions of the Roman government, the economic embargoes on Christians and their businesses, the ways in which people are making their Christian neighbors feel ostracized and unwanted, behind all of this is the fury of Satan who has been cast out of heaven and is on his way down to the pit of fire. In this cryptic book, this may be the clearest John gets as to why this is happening. For that reason, some commentators have called it the center of the book, which it pretty much is chronologically too.
English: Illustration to Book of Revelation Русский: Иллюстрация к Откровению Иоанна Богослова (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Seals, a flying scroll, a statue and blessings
In the third year of Koresh sovereign of Persia a word was revealed to Dani’ĕl, whose name was called Bĕlteshatstsar. And the word was true, and the conflict great. And he understood the word, and had understanding of the vision. (Daniel 10:1 The Scriptures 1998+)
And he said to me, “O Dani’ĕl, man greatly appreciated, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. (Daniel 10:11 The Scriptures 1998+)
So she ran and came to Shimʽon Kĕpha, and to the other taught one whom יהושע {Jeshua) loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they laid Him.”
(John 20:2 The Scriptures 1998+)
“But you, Dani’ĕl, hide the words, and seal the book until the time of the end1. Many shall diligently search and knowledge shall increase.” {Footnote: 1See v. 9. }
(Daniel 12:4 The Scriptures 1998+)
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, having been sealed with seven seals.
(Revelation 5:1 The Scriptures 1998+)
“You, O sovereign, were looking on, and saw a great image! This great image, and its brightness excellent, was standing before you, and its form was awesome. “This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. “You were looking on, until a stone was cut out without hands, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing-floors. And the wind took them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled all the earth. “This is the dream, and its interpretation we declare before the sovereign. “You, O sovereign, are a sovereign of sovereigns. For the Elah of the heavens has given you a reign, power, and strength, and preciousness, and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold. “And after you rises up another reign lower than yours, and another third reign of bronze that rules over all the earth. “And the fourth reign is as strong as iron, because iron crushes and shatters all. So, like iron that breaks in pieces, it crushes and breaks all these. “Yet, as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the reign is to be divided. But some of the strength of the iron is to be in it, because you saw the iron mixed with muddy clay. “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the reign is partly strong and partly brittle. “And as you saw iron mixed with muddy clay, they are mixing themselves with the seed of men, but they are not clinging to each other, even as iron does not mix with clay. “And in the days of these sovereigns the Elah of the heavens shall set up a reign which shall never be destroyed, nor the reign pass on to other people – it crushes and puts to an end all these reigns, and it shall stand forever1. Footnote: 1Dan. 7, Ps. 22:28, Jer. 30:11, Joel 3:16, Obad. 15-17, Hab. 3:12-13, Zeph. 3:8, Hag. 2:22, Rev. 11:15. “Because you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great Elah has made known to the sovereign what shall be after this. And the dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
(Daniel 2:31-45 The Scriptures 1998+)
And I looked and saw a hand stretched out to me. And see, a scroll of a book was in it, and He spread it before me, and it was written on the inside and on the outside. And written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
(Ezekiel 2:9-10 The Scriptures 1998+)
And I lifted up my eyes again, and looked and saw a flying scroll. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.” And he said to me, “This is the curse that goes forth over the face of all the earth: ‘everyone who is stealing shall go unpunished,’ on the one side, according to it, and, ‘everyone who has sworn falsely shall go unpunished,’ on the other side, according to it.”
(Zechariah 5:1-3 The Scriptures 1998+)
and shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה {Jehovah} of hosts, saying, “See, the Man whose name is the Branch1! And from His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the Hof יהוה . Footnote 1See 3:8.
(Zechariah 6:12 The Scriptures 1998+)
And the messenger who was speaking with me came out and said to me, “Lift up your eyes now, and see what this is that is going forth.” And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “It is an ĕphah that is going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance throughout the earth: “And see, a lead cover lifted up, and this: a woman sitting inside theĕphah-measure!” And he said, “This is Wrongness!” And he threw her down into the ĕphah-measure, and threw the lead weight over its mouth. And I lifted up my eyes, and looked and saw two women, coming with the wind in their wings. And they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the between earth and the heavens. Then I said to the messenger who was speaking to me, “Where are they taking the ĕphah-measure?” And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinʽar. And it shall be established and set there on its own base.”
(Zechariah 5:5-11 The Scriptures 1998+)
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and guard what is written in it, for the time is near.
(Revelation 1:3 The Scriptures 1998+)
And I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Master from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “in order that they rest from their labours, and their works follow with them.”
(Revelation 14:13 The Scriptures 1998+)
“See, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who is staying awake and guarding his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
(Revelation 16:15 The Scriptures 1998+)
And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.”
(Revelation 19:9 The Scriptures 1998+)
Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests of Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:6 The Scriptures 1998+)
“See, I am coming speedily! Blessed is he who guards the words of the prophecy of this book.”
(Revelation 22:7 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according to his work.1 Footnote: 1See Mt. 16:27, John 5:29. “I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. “Blessed are those1 doing His commands,2 so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. Footnotes: 1See Mt. 19:17. 2Long before the books were compiled to form “The New Testament,” Rev. 22:14 was quoted, as it is here given, by Tertullian (CE 208), and by Cyprian (CE 251) – see the well-known Antenicene Fathers. “But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood.1 Footnote: 1See 21:27, 2 Thess. 2:11.
(Revelation 22:12-15 The Scriptures 1998+)
*
+
Preceding: The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
Next: The Song of The Lamb #4 Methods of Interpretation
The Angel Appears to John. The book of Revelation. 13th century manuscript. British Library, London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
+++
Related articles
- Eric: Elaine Pagels on the Book of Revelation : The New Yorker (newyorker.com)
The Bible, as every Sunday-school student learns, has a Hollywood ending. Not a happy ending, certainly, but one where all the dramatic plot points left open earlier, to the whispered uncertainty of the audience - Glorious Return (dailymannablog.wordpress.com)
Jesus is coming to introduce the Davidic Reign or Covenant. - Will God’s wrath relent? (wordsofgrace.wordpress.com)
Reading a book like Revelation can leave one overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught of God’s wrath. Chapter after chapter devastating destruction pours from God’s throne. It is grievous and wearying. - Revelation Six – the Opening of the Seals! (lynleahz.com)
I would like to make everyone aware that there is much speculation amongst scholars as to whether the opening of the seals are God’s judgment, or not. Many believe that they are not the judgments of God, rather, the opening to reveal the judgments. The last one, the earthquake, however, would be the first of God’s judgments in these, as earthquakes are always symbolic of God’s judgment. - Zechariah Vision and Prophecies (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
Being earnestly asked by honoured friends and readers of The Scattered Nation, the Quarterly Record of the Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel, to write connected expository “Notes on Zechariah,” I undertook to do so, without sufficiently realising—as I must now confess—how formidable the task of a continuous exposition of this particular prophetic book would prove, especially to one whose life is subject to much strain and distraction on account of many other claims and responsibilities in connection with the work of God among scattered Israel. - Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the Great Image (ptl2010.com)
The book of Daniel points out how Israel preserved its Messianic lineage during Gentile captivities through the pages of history. In Daniel Chapter 2 Christ is described as the stone that smote the image and broke them into pieces. This prophecy directly relates to Divine Judgment and shows how Christ will subdue all nations, before He establishes His earthly Kingdom in Israel.
The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
Daniel and Revelation
- An angel helped Daniel understand the information he was given.
- Daniel was told that “the message was true but the appointed time was long (10;1). The information given to John explained events that started in his own day and continued through to the return of Christ and the establishment of the kingdom.
- Daniel was a man greatly beloved (Daniel 10:11) and John was a disciple whom Jesus loved (John 20:2)
- At the end of the prophecy Daniel was told to shut the words and seal the book until the time of the end (Daniel 12:4). At the beginning or Revelation, John was shown “in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (Rev 5:1),
- Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metallic image representing the kingdoms of men (Dan 2)
- Daniel’s visions:
The four beasts (chapter 7)
Of the Ram and the He-Goat (chapter 8)
Of the One Man (chapter 10)
Of the kings of North and South (chapter 11)
The sealed scroll of the Lamb
The Sealed Book of Daniel Revealed: The Linear Bible Code
Daniel is the not the own prophesy about a scroll written on both sides: Ezekiel 2:10
Zechariah 5: 2,3 – he also saw four coloured horses: red, black, white and dappled, like the horses John saw unleashed in Rev 6.
Zechariah prophesied to the captives returning from exile in Babylon. He spoke of the restoration of true worship after the idolatry they experienced in Babylon and he looked forward to the coming of the “the man whose name is the BRANCH! From his place he shall branch out, and he shall build the temple of the LORD” Zechariah 6:12. This is a prophecy about that Jesus that is still to be fulfilled.
Zechariah also saw a vision of a woman called “wickedness” being carried from Jerusalem to a house built for in her in the land of Shinar (5:5-11) – Shinar was the site of ancient Babylon (Genesis 10;10), and Zechariah’s prophecy explained how a false religious system would develop with a Babylonian-like character. Since earliest times, Babylon has always resisted the truth of God’s word and so the symbol of rebellion of man against God.
Cherubim are mentioned in Genesis 3:24 and appeared in a vision seen by the prophet Ezekiel, who was concerned that God’s glory had departed from Jerusalem and the temple. He was concerned lest the true worship should be overcome by false worship.
Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah naturally asked about the outcome of the revelations they received. Daniel said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Dan 12:8. He received the answer that leads us back to Revelation – “Blessed is he who waits” (verse 12).
Seven blessings
| 1 | The Blessing of the Message | 1:3 |
| 2 | The Blessing of the Hope | 14:13 |
| 3 | The Blessing of Watching | 16:15 |
| 4 | The Blessing of the Call | 19:9 |
| 5 | The Blessing of Immortality | 20:6 |
| 6 | The Blessing of Obedience | 22:7 |
| 7 | The Blessing of the Kingdom | 22:14 |
The last blessing in Revelation mentions God’s faithful people entering into “the city”. The book deals with two cities: one is the city of God; the other is the city of man. Because of the connection with Daniel and other OT passages, the city of man called Babylon. God’s city is called New Jerusalem!
Rev 22; 12-15
Behold, I come soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Blessed are those who wash their robes. So that they have the right to the tree of life and they enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, sorcerers, and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Steven Robinson
***
++
***
+
Preceding articles:
- The Song of The Lamb #2 Sevens
- Kingdom Visions of a Man, Throne and Great crowd
- Kingdom Visions of Rainbowed angel, Lamb in Mount Zion
- Kingdom Visions of God’s judgements and Marriage of the Lamb
Next:
- Seals, a flying scroll, a statue and blessings
- The Song of The Lamb #4 Methods of Interpretation
Editorial notes:
Shinar (
) was the Hebrew name of a land which included both Babylon and Erech, i.e., both northern and southern Babylonia.
Cherub, cherubim: Hebrew masculine plural for a word borrowed from the Assyrian kirubu, from karâbu, “to be near”, hence it means near ones, familiars, personal servants, bodyguards, courtiers. It was commonly used of those heavenly spirits, who closely surrounded the Majesty of God and paid Him intimate service.
++
- Revelation: Last Book of the Bible: Chapters 1-11
- Sealed Biblical Books: In pictures: Biblical bounty
- The Revelation Revealed
- Heavenly creatures do they exist
+++
Page 302v: The Fall of Babylon, Revelation 18:9-24, 19:11-21 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Related articles
- Zechariah 9,10; Revelation 1 (66books.wordpress.com)
Not only do prophesies help build our faith in the truth of the Bible, but they give us vital information to read and heed
+
Zechariah 11,12; Revelation 2 + Zechariah 13, 14; Revelation 3, 4 - Eric: Elaine Pagels on the Book of Revelation : The New Yorker (newyorker.com)
In a new book on those end pages, “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation” (Viking), Elaine Pagels sets out gently to bring their portents back to earth.+This all leads to the millennium—not the end of all things but the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth—which, in turn, finally leads to Satan’s end in a lake of fire and the true climax. The Heaven and Earth we know are destroyed, and replaced by better ones.
+
Pagels shows persuasively that the Jew/non-Jew argument over the future of the Jesus movement, the real subject of Revelation, was much fiercer than later Christianity wanted to admit.+
Pagels turns away from the canonic texts to look at the alternative, long-lost “Gnostic” texts of the period that have turned up over the past sixty years or so, most notably in the buried Coptic library of Nag Hammadi. As in her earlier books (“The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis”; “The Gnostic Paul: Gnostic Exegesis of the Pauline Letters”; “The Gnostic Gospels”), she shows us that revelations in the period were not limited to John’s militant, vengeful-minded one, and that mystic visions more provocative and many-sided were widespread in the early Jesus movement. - ‘Pre-trib Rapture a Solid Teaching’ (jpfinn7.wordpress.com)
Scripture clearly teaches there is coming a time when God will pour out His wrath against those on this earth. Both the Old Testament prophets and much writing in the New Testament cover the subject. In the time since Jesus left this earth, it was not talked about or preached much until the 1800′s. - Israel: Delivered, Blessed, and Regathered (Zech. 9-10) (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
After the visions in Zechariah 1-6, the question arises, what about the Gentile nations who oppressed Israel?
+
Judgment and salvation will come to the nations surrounding Israel (9:1-8). Zechariah specifies three cities in Syria (Hadrach, Damascus, and Hamath; 9:1-2a), two in Phoenicia (Tyre and Sidon; 9:2b-4) and four cities in Philistia (Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod; 9:5-8). The order of the cities mentioned is from north to south.
+
When Jesus returns He will liberate, empower, defend, and save Israel (9:11-17). He will destroy the Antichrist armies surrounding Jerusalem and liberate Jewish prisoners (12:2-3; 14:2; Joel 3:2, 12). He will empower the Israeli army as His agents for this before He returns (10:3-7; 12:5-8). - Alchemy Geometry in the New World (wed-gie.com)
In the book of Ezekiel, the Prophecy of New Jerusalem (or City (where) God (is) there (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה, Jehovah-shammah), also titled.
+Many traditions based on biblical scripture and other writings in the Jewish and Christian religions, such as Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, and Orthodox Judaism, expect the literal renewal of Jerusalem to some day take place at the Temple Mount in accordance with various prophecies. Dispensationalists believe in a literal New Jerusalem that will come down out of Heaven, which will be an entirely new city of incredible dimensions. Other sects, such as various Protestant denominations, modernist branches of Christianity, Mormonism and Reform Judaism, view the New Jerusalem as figurative, or believe that such a renewal may have already taken place, or that it will take place at some other location besides the Temple Mount.
+The surviving New Jerusalem texts in Qumran literature focus specifically on the twelve city gates, and on the dimensions of the entire new city. - Gog As Antichrist: A Historical Survey (midnightwatcher.wordpress.com)
The primary purpose of this article is to catalogue a partial list of historians, Bible scholars, commentators and teachers, both Jewish, Christian, and secular, whose interpretations of ‘Gog of Magog’ of Ezekiel 38-39 support the view that Gog is one and the same with the Antichrist / Beast of the New Testament. - Zechariah Chapter 1: Introduction and the Prophet’s Introductory Address (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
Luther calls Zechariah Ausbund der Propheten—the quintessence of Old Testament prophecy—and this is especially true in reference to Messianic prophecy. Indeed it seems to be the special aim and mission of Zechariah to condense and concentrate in small compass, and in his own peculiar terse style, almost all that has been revealed to the “former prophets” about the person and mission of Messiah—about His Divine and yet truly human character, and of His sufferings and of the glory that should follow.
+
Zechariah (Zekharyah, “he whom Jehovah remembers”) is the central figure in the group of the three post-exilic prophets, and his voice was the last but one of that unique and wonderful succession of men who were, indeed, the oracles of God, and through whom “in divers portions and in different ways” He Himself “spake unto the fathers,” revealing His eternal counsels to men.
How to Interpret the Lord’s Mount Olivet Prophecy
Christ warned about earthquakes in various places in Matthew 24:7, and great earthquakes in Luke 21:11.
Increased earthquakes are only one sign of the end times within nature. An additional interesting anomaly that suggests another end time’s prophecy is stage-setting is the birds of prey phenomena occurring in Israel. Griffon Vultures and many other types of birds that normally migrated through Israel have begun to nest and settle in the Jewish state as of recent.
Do you sometimes wonder about four Gentile Empires being: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome?
Daniel 7:23-24 predicted that a global government would form out of the fourth Gentile Empire, and that it would ultimately morph into a ten-division state. There exists differing views as to the composition of the ten-division state. Some believe Europe is ultimately divided into ten nations, while others believe the world is split into ten regions.
*
In case you would like to know more about the Mount Olivet Prophesy we would like to recommend you to book onto the planned School of the Prophets UK.
The idea of the School of the Prophets is taken from the books of Samuel and Kings. In the dark years of the wicked kings faithful believers gathered together to gain strength and learn more about God’s ways. They were normally accompanied by a prophet (such as Samuel or Elisha) who would teach them the things of God.
In the current dispensation we, of course, do not have prophets who possessed the Holy Spirit as it they did in the days of the Kings. However we have the words of those prophets as recorded in the scriptures which are “able to make us wise unto salvation“. It is the study of these scriptures which is the focus of the School of the Prophets.
The weekend promises to be an exciting and deep study of the Olivet Prophecy – if anyone did want to come we would not want them to miss out.
The details are as follows:
- What: x7 studies on “How to Interpret the Lord’s Mount Olivet Prophecy” aimed at Brothers & Sisters who wish to become better Bible students.
- Study 1: How our early brethren understood the Mt Olivet Prophecy
- Study 2: Why was the Mt Olivet Prophecy given?
- Study 3: These things are the beginning of sorrows
- Study 4: The Abomination of Desolation
- Study 5: Signs in the sun, moon and stars
- Memorial meeting – Study 6: The parable of the fig tree
- Study 7: What relevance does the Mt Olivet Prophecy have for us?
- Aim:
- To help make attendees better Bible Students by learning methods of Bible study
- To help generate good Bible study material by examining a specific topic of scripture in detail
- To gain encouragement from meeting with Brothers and Sisters in similar circumstances
- To assist in a greater understanding of family and ecclesial responsibilities and roles.
- When: 17th – 19th of August (God Willing)
- Where: Castleton Youth Hostel, Debryshire
- Who: The School of the Prophets 2012 has been organised by Brother Matt Davies, Nottingham Forest Road. + Studies led by Bro Mark Allfree, Nottingham Forest Road
- How: Visit http://www.christadelphianschooloftheprophets.info to book
- Accommodation:
the new YHA at Castleton Losehill Hall offers simple bunk-bed dormitories.
If anyone has any questions about booking they can contact me directly: matt@the-gospel-truth.info or see full details and programme on the website: http://www.christadelphianschooloftheprophets.info/
Booking: http://www.christadelphianschooloftheprophets.info/booking/
All plans according to the will of the Lord.
+++
Related articles
-
Prophets making excuses
The Christian, as a disciple of the Lord, as a pupil in the school of Christ, is being fitted for a place in the Millennial kingdom — for a share in its glory, honour and immortality….Hence, we see the necessity for the frequent admonitions of the Scriptures, that the Lord’s people shall be awake;–not of those who slumber; not of those who are idle; not of those who are overcharged with the cares of this life; but that they be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Their service toward the Lord is primarily the bringing of themselves into as close harmony with the Lord’s will, and into as close likeness to the divine pattern as possible; and secondly, it is that by precept and example they may help others of the called ones in the same narrow way. - “What happened on the Mount of Olives?” (brakeman1.com)
Jesus made two visits to the Mount of Olives that are recorded in the Bible, both in the last week of His life. The first visit was to deliver what has come to be known as the Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew 24:1–25:46. Parallel passages are found in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-36. The second visit was on the night He was betrayed. That evening began with the Last Supper and ended in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.
The content of the Olivet Discourse is Jesus’ response to His disciples’ question “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). The content of what Jesus taught in Matthew 24–25 primarily refers to the future tribulation period and the second coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Fear and protection
Massacres allowed to happen
The Aurora, Colorado massacre, brought many debates about believes and about carrying weapons. It is unbelievable that many people do really want to believe it would not be so bad in case more people would have weapons on them. Often with such massacres, we mostly can find in the United States of America, and when they occasional happen in other countries, the shooters found their example in the American shooting. In many other countries such atrocious things can not happen because ordinary people are not able to get arms so easy.
But at such occasions also many people wonder how a God can allow such things to happen. They often are not accustomed to know the history of mankind from the early beginnings in the Garden of Eden, where the first man and woman doubted the right of the position their Creator took. It is because they could not agree with His right to decide what would be best or how people had to handle, though God had given a lot which they could decide themselves. They were already allowed to name things and to take care of everything on earth. But they wanted more. For that reason God gave them more. He allowed them to take care of much more. So from the time Adam and Eve committed their first sin, they had to find out everything for themselves. All their children and their children their children had to find their own way to live. They all had received form God to make their own choices.
Masaccio, Brancacci Chapel, Adam and Eve, detail. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So still today, we all do have the opportunity to make our own choices. But we should be aware we can not blame God for the choices we made ourselves.
Choice to listen
Though, those who are wiling to listen to God, He surely shall want to help them and be with them. God protects his children from harm sometimes, but not at other times. God uses circumstances to refine the characters of his children. In case God would go into all the questions of His followers that would be not always righteous to the others, and at such time other people could say they are only following God because than they get what they want.
People should also understand that not everything is done at once. But when they do love God He shall be willing to set his love also upon them, therefore He the Most High shall be offering refuge and be as a fortress for those who trust Him. Whatever may happen to us in the world, Jehovah Yahuwah God will deliver those who are for God and honour Him. They may trust that there shall come a moment that they shall be taken away, saved from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover them with his pinions, and under his wings shall they be able to take refuge. His truth is a shield and a buckler, and they will feel it. For that reason we do not have to be afraid for the terror by night or day, nor for the bullets that flies by day or night. Even for the diseases, for the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
The Words of God may be tried and mocked at, but they shall keep stand. God shall proof to the others that He is a bucler, who has been for ever and shall stay for ever. God can not be killed, but had to face that His son was killed and so many of his followers. He shall take into account why those followers had to die.
Trusting God
Humankind has been warned that it can be that a thousand shall fall at the side of many others, but when it happens near to us we should trust God. We better have the fear of God instead of the fear of humans, who only can bring us, in the worst instance, to a physical death. But they too shall have to die at one moment. No matter what happens everybody dies one day, and then their live shall be finished. For those living in the Lord, their shall be hope for the time when the promised Messiah shall return to the earth, to judge the living and the dead. That day shall be an important day. After we die it will be to late to prepare for it, or to change anything to become accepted. Now, when we are living beings on this planet, we have to prepare ourselves and to make sure we shall be ready and acceptable to come clean for the eyes of the judge Jesus.
We do not have to be afraid anybody would be able to escape the punishment he or she deserves. Everybody shall get their share one moment in time. Not perhaps the moment we would love to see it happen, but somewhere in future they shall get their share as well. At the mean time we shall have to be content, with the blessings we already can have today. We better count those blessings, instead of looking to those of others.
No matter what happens, at a certain time we shall behold with our eyes, and see the reward of the wicked. There shall no evil befall Gods people, nor shall any plague come near them or God shall take notice of it and He will give his [heavenly] agents charge over those who keep His ways.
“Because he cleaves to Me in love, Therefore I deliver him; I set him on high, Because he has known My Name. “When he calls on Me, I answer him; I am with him in distress; I deliver him and esteem him. “With long life I satisfy him, And show him My deliverance.”
(Psalms 91:14-16 The Scriptures 1998+)
Following
In our live we should consider the difficulties Jesus, the most beloved son of God, had to encounter; and the problems this son of men his followers had by willing to follow the Nazarene and by preaching like he had told them to do.
Jesus knew exactly his position on earth and knew who he had to follow and obey. But even when he or others knew the commandments, this would not make them good or certainly not better than somebody else. Though many Americans do want to believe the so called Christians that they are the most particular smartest group of people because they follow Christ. Instead of recognising that also other people, who do not believe or even did not hear about God or about Jesus Christ, could do good things. But doing good things does not make you a good person. The son of God never thought of himself to being a good one because for him it was clear that none is good except One, God.
Instinct
Murder in Rio
Jesus also told the people that it could be that they knew the commandments, like “You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not testify falsely. You shall not defraud. You shall honour y our father and mother.” but that does not mean yet they would go and keep to them better than others who did not hear those commandments as being the Law of God. All people are namely created in the image of God, and therefore do have certain elements of God in them. All have, like animals, an instinct, by which they are able to know what can be good or bad for them.
The big problem with this current world is that many people do not listen to their inner voice. Lots of people do perhaps know what is best for them, but prefer to go other ways and want to take short-cuts. Often they are not so interested in the things or people around them, and want to gain as much as possible for themselves. This has become the main problem of this world, and not so much that the world is going away from Judeo-Christian Values. The Jew and Christians received the same values and Laws like everybody else in the world.
God loved so much His Creation He wanted the best for it, but it were and are still the stubborn human being who often think they can do better without Him. No matter how many think they can clear it without their Creator, God, in His love for humankind, gave His most beloved only begotten son, so that those who accept his position could have more chances to go through the small gate, to enter the Kingdom of God. But they also should know that it shall not be because they are baptised that they shall be saved for ever and be going to heaven or wherever they want to go to.
Jesus, God’s son, loved the whole world and was willing to die for all, but he was also aware that his death would not bring everybody into the Kingdom of his Father. Many would lack the requirements. He also warned the people that it is not because they would accept to follow him (Jeshua/Jesus) that everything would go smooth. No everybody had to face their problems and was still going to encounter difficulties and therefore had to take up their cross.
We may never forget that our baptism or our becoming Christian is not the freeway to be able to do whatever we want or to be higher placed than other people in this world.
We should consider in what we want to place our trust and what we do want to love from this world. We should be conscious how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the hole of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. But today many have gone for the richness of the world, and even think, it is only possible to come to a successful world, when Judeo-Christian values are taken care off, and when people are provided with arms so that they can defend themselves.
Arming and being safe
Jesus was against arms, so that is certainly already something against the teachings of Christ, who preached love and peace, while arms shall cause more division and pain.
Instead of accepting that we can not be saved by weapons, nor by people, the majority of the humans think the solution is in their hands and their political system. Though also Jesus knew we can not be without the political system as long as the Kingdom of God is not yet fully established, but in the mean time we should listen to those who are in power. As long as they do not bring laws against the Law of God, everybody should follow those laws, and give the caesar, governor, president or king that what belongs to that ruler.
Jesus said that with men it shall be impossible to be safe, but not with God. For with God all things are possible. But as long as we are in this worldly system even the saviour Jesus could not escape from agony. Also the son of man was delivered to the chief priests and the scholars. And they condemned him to death, and delivered him to the Gentiles. And they mocked him, and scourged, and spit upon him, and killed him.
“And יהושע {Jeshua} said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One – Elohim. “You know the commands, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not rob,’ ‘Respect your father and your mother.’ ” And he answering, said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have watched over from my youth.” And יהושע {Jeshua}, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One matter you lack: Go, sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me, taking up the stake.” But he, being sad at this word, went away grieved, for he had many possessions. And יהושע {Jeshua}, looking around, said to His taught ones, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the reign of Elohim!” And the taught ones were astonished at His words. And יהושע {Jeshua} responding, said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the reign of Elohim! “It is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the reign of Elohim.” And they were immeasurably astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then is able to be saved?” And looking at them, יהושע {Jeshua} said, “With men it is impossible, but not with Elohim, for with Elohim all is possible.” And Kbegan to say to Him, “See, we have left all and we have followed You.” יהושע {Jeshua} said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life. “But many who are first shall be last, and the last first.” And they were on the way, going up to Yerushalayim, and יהושע {Jeshua} was going before them. And they were astonished, and those who followed were afraid. And again He took the twelve aside and began to say to them what was about to befall Him: “See, we are going up to Yerushalayim, and the Son of Adshall be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death and shall deliver Him to the gentiles, and they shall mock Him, and flog Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He shall rise again.”
(Mark 10:18-34 The Scriptures 1998+)
End according to works
Plan of Mount Purgatory as described by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy
Jesus who was Wounded for our transgressions and died for all sinners was directed by humans to go into hell. The day Jesus died his soul was delivered in the hands of God, though an innocent man, who did not do any sin, he was placed in hell. What did the Holy man do when he was considered by many the Messiah Jesus three days in hell? Did he not succeed to save the people who were supposed to be there to be tortured for their sins? Was his dying on the stake to pay for all sins of humankind a measure for nothing? Because when Jesus as the Lamb of God sprinkled his blood on this world for forgiveness of all sins, it looks like God not accepting this offer when He ask the sinners first to go to purgatory or to send them to hell even before Jesus can judge them at the end times, when the Messiah would return to judge the living and the death. But when hell is the place of eternal damnation, why was Jesus placed in it and how did he escape from it?
“It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness,{1} whose end shall be according to their works!{2} {Footnotes: 1Mt. 7:15-23, 2 Peter 2:1-22. 2Mt. 13:41-42}. Again I say, let no one think me to be a fool. And if otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, for me to also boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Master, but as in foolishness, in this boldness of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too shall boast. For you, being wise, put up with fools gladly! For you put up with it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if one hits you in the face. To my shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold – I say it in foolishness – I am bold also. Are they HebSo am I. Are they Yisra’So am I. Are they the seed of AbSo am I. Are they servants of Messiah? – I speak as beside myself – I am more, in labours much more, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times. Five times I received from the Yehudforty stripes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep, in many travels, in dangers of waters, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the matters from outside, what comes upon me daily: the anxiety for all the assemblies. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn inwardly? If I have to boast, I shall boast of matters that show up my weakness. The Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע {Jeshua} Messiah, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ” (2 Corinthians 11:15-31 The Scriptures 1998+)
The apostle Paul was not the only who had to suffer, though he followed Christ and lived according to the Law of God. But he was not afraid for those humans who mad his life less easy and less pleasant. He at that time knew why he was being troubled. But he knew also the country had to encounter many problems, not because they got lesser Christian beliefs followed. He also knew that it was not because they ordered God out of their schools, because in many regions school and religion were separated. Theological teachings were considered a matter of the religious teachers like the rabbi. They had to take care of the right teaching for their community in the temples. The religions had their own temples were worship was done and were people learned more about that religion. Though there were many gods praised and many more temples we do have today in the communities, there were also the military and public conversations at many places, the hell did not break loose.
Reaping
In a column in One News Now, the conservative evangelical spokesperson Jerry Newcombe wrote that the shooting in Aurora was evidence that “we’re reaping what we’ve been sowing as a society,” explaining, “Lawsuit after lawsuit, often by misguided ‘civil libertarians,’ have chased away any fear of God in the land.”
Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) attributed the shooting to atheism and attacks on Christians. But today we are not more attacked than in previous centuries. And for sure the psychological ill person did not attack Christianity. It is wrong to always say everything is the fault because Christianity is under attack and it is not willing to defend itself.
Going through or in Hell
It is also strange that those American evangelicals often would not find it bad that people who did something against them would go to a place of torture. You can find a lot who love that idea of hell and even say that it is because so many do not believe in heel that we do have so many problems. For them it is not so bad that a Christian dies early, if a Christian dies young, it seems tragic they agree, but really it is not tragic because they are going to a wonderful place they say. But they also say that, on the other hand, if a person doesn’t know Jesus Christ… “if they knowingly rejected Jesus Christ, then, basically, they are going to a terrible place.” They would like to have everybody getting the fear for that place, so that the world can be saved.
Chart of Hell ca. 1480–1495, pen and ink on parchment, after Dante’s Divine Comedy. – Sandro Botticelli (1445-1515)
First of all, the word used for that place of which they are so afraid, is “sheol” or “hades” which means the “grave“, the place were everybody gets into when he dies. By certain people the dead are burned, by others they are cremated, in other cultures they are put in holes or in caves or mausoleums. Being put in the grave, is only been done when a person did pass away. After Jesus died, he also was put in the grave and was for three days in sheol or the hell, the place of which he warned to be aware of because there the fire would not be quenched. That fire which could be considered to be a literal fire, because at that time the people who died were brought out of the town to be burned on that hill ‘sheol’. But in Mark 9:48 the same verse says it is “where their worm does not die”. It is most unlikely that this means everlasting fires and immortal worms, and much more likely that it is a figurative expression describing the destruction that occurs in a rubbish tip.
In the Holy Scriptures is clearly written that Death is the penalty for our sins, we when we die we have paid for our sins, and God is not giving us an extra charge, having us place in a purgatory or in a hell for eternal torture. Having a feeling after death would also be against other writings in the Old Testament were is clearly indicated that the living can feel certain things but that those who died can not take anything with them or can not feel anything.
“For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know naught, nor do they have any more reward, for their remembrance is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy have now perished; and they no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. ” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Do not put your trust in princes, In a son of man, in whom is no deliverance. His spirit goes out, he returns to his earth; In that day his plans perish. Blessed is he who has the of Yafor his help, Whose expectancy is in יהוה {Jehovah} his Elohim, Maker of the heavens and earth, The sea and all that is in them, Who is guarding truth forever, ” (Psalms 146:3-6 The Scriptures 1998+)
““See, all beings are Mine, the being of the father as well as the being of the son is Mine. The being that is sinning shall die. “But if a man is righteous and shall do right-ruling and righteousness, if he has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Yisra’nor defiled his neighbour’s wife, nor comes near a woman during her uncleanness, if he does not oppress anyone, does return to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, does give his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, if he does not lend on interest or take increase, turns back his hand from unrighteousness, executes right-ruling in truth between man and man, if he walks in My laws, and he has guarded My right-rulings in truth – he is righteous, he shall certainly live!” declares the Master יהוה {Jehovah}. ” (Ezekiel 18:4-9 The Scriptures 1998+)
Which commandments following or ending up in hell
In the modern world it is already for ages that people, like the Americans lend money and ask or pay interest, often oppress others, come close and go in bed with women in their period. Are all those, because they do not follow those saying of God, are going to end up in hell and being tortured for ever?
For sure they all will die, like we shall die and be cremated or put in a grave to be in sheol, which is translated by many Bible-versions as ‘hell’, but is the same place where Abraham, Jacob and other holy many were placed.
“And Yatore his garments, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “Now let me go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” So his father wept for him. ” (Genesis 37:34-35 The Scriptures 1998+)
““And it came to be that the beggar died, and was carried by the messengers to the bosom of AbAnd the rich man also died and was buried. “And while suffering tortures in the grave, having lifted up his eyes, he saw Abfar away, and Elin his bosom. “And crying out he said, ‘Father Abhave compassion on me, and send Elto dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame.’ ” (Luke 16:22-24 The Scriptures 1998+) (Please do compare this translation with your version. In many versions sheol and hades are translated as hell, as the word for the ‘underwold’ “Tartarus”. Often, not to clash with certain teachings, different words are used, or they place the original Hebrew and Greek words untranslated to give the impression it is a proper name of a place and not a substantive.)
We can find the word γεννα (gehenna) 11 times in the Gospels, and the word αδης (hades) 10 times. By comparison, the word ουρανος (heaven) appears 141 times in the Gospels as “heaven” (the word actually shows up 153 times; 7 times translated “air,” 3 times translated “sky,” 1 time “side,” and 1 time “other”, NRSV). We should be aware that in the days of Jesus they did have an other concept of the ‘burning place’ then the Christian world has taken over form the Dante understandings of the concept of “hell.”
In case there could be a real fire also this could be the fire bringing “the second death”, spoken of in the Bible, where the wicked will be destroyed after facing judgement. That is then consistent teaching of scripture.
Sinners or opponents, fire and the lake
Lake of fire of Kilauea at night (1910) – Popular Science Monthly Volume 77
Sinners are opponents of God. They shall receive their punishment. The lake of fire, spoken of in Revelation 20:10 could be a real fire, but we notice that in verse 14 of the same chapter Death and Hades are also to be thrown into that lake of fire. It is clear in this case that the fire symbolizes destruction.
“And they came up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the set-apart ones and the beloved city. And fire came down from Elohim out of the heaven and consumed them. And the devil, who led them astray, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet are. And they shall be tortured day and night forever and ever. ” (Revelation 20:9-10 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And I saw a great white throne and Him who was sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. And the death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death.{1} {Footnote: 1See 2:11, 20:6, 21:8}. And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. ” (Revelation 20:11-15 The Scriptures 1998+)
Although fire is often used symbolically in this way, it is possible that God will literally use fire to destroy the wicked. For example, 2 Peter 3 contrasts destruction by water in the Flood with destruction by fire when Jesus returns:
“For they choose to have this hidden from them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by the Word of Elohim,{1}{Footnote: 1Heb. 11:3}. through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. And the present heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a day of judgment and destruction of wicked men. ” (2 Peter 3:5-7 The Scriptures 1998+)
God’s judgement will be executed on those who rebel against him. It is not “souls” that are described as being tortured, but “dead bodies” as being burnt. In Old Testament times worshippers of foreign gods such as Baal and Moloch sacrificed their children in the Valley Of Hinnom just outside Jerusalem. The “hell” in Mar 9:47 is translated from the Greek word for the Valley of Hinnom. This refers to the fire which was continuously burning there in the first century, and was used to destroy rubbish and the bodies of executed criminals. The name of the Valley of Hinnom came to be despised.
This fire is not literal. Nor are the worms literal; even those people who believe in the doctrine of the immortal soul do not believe in the doctrine of the immortal worm.
Loving and fearing
We should not have hell being a reason to fear God nor to keep His commandments. We should be loving all the people around us, believers and non believers, and wishing the best for them all. Because we know that God is the best teacher and Guide to give us all the tools to make the best of our lives, we should recognise His Gracious Love and for to this end we should labour and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.
Lets us remind Samuel, fearing God, not fearing human people:
““יהוה {Jehovah} rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He repaid me. “For I have guarded the ways of יהוה , And have not acted wrongly against my Elohim. “For all His right-rulings are before me; As for His laws, I do not turn from them. “And I am perfect before Him, And I guard myself from my crookedness. “And יהוה repays me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes. “With the kind You show Yourself kind, With the perfect one You show Yourself perfect, “With the clean You show Yourself clean, And with the crooked You show Yourself twisted. “For You save the humble people, But Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. “For You are my lamp, O יהוה , And יהוה makes my darkness light. “For with You I run against a band, With my Elohim I leap over a wall. “The – His way is perfect; The Word of יהוה is proven; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. “For who is besides יהוה ? And who is a rock, besides our Elohim? “is my mighty stronghold, And He makes my way perfect, “Making my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places, “Teaching my hands for battle, So that my arms bend a bow of bronze. “And You give me the shield of Your deliverance, And Your lowliness makes me great. “You enlarge my step under me, So that my feet shall not slip. “I pursue my enemies and destroy them, And I do not turn back till they are destroyed. “And I destroy them and crush them, So that they do not rise, And fall under my feet. “And You gird me with strength for battle, You cause my adversaries to bow under me. “And You make my enemies turn their backs, Those hating me, and I cut them off. “They look but there is no saviour, Unto יהוה , but He shall not answer them. “And I beat them as dust of the earth, I beat them small as dirt in the streets – I spread them out. “And You deliver me from the strivings of my people, You safeguard me as the head of the nations; A people I have not known serve me. ” (2 Samuel 22:21-44 The Scriptures 1998+)
“For You are not an taking delight in wrong, Nor does evil dwell with You. The boasters do not stand before Your eyes; You hate all workers of wickedness. You destroy those speaking falsehood; יהוה {Jehovah} loathes a man of blood and deceit. But I, I enter Your house In the greatness of Your kindness; I bow myself toward Your set-apart Hin Your fear. O יהוה {Jehovah}, lead me in Your righteousness because of those watching me; Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no stability in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. Declare them guilty, O Elohim! Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them away for their many transgressions, Because they have rebelled against You. But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; Let them ever shout for joy, because You shelter them; And let those who love Your Name exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O יהוה {Jehovah}; You surround him with favour as with a shield. ” (Psalms 5:4-12 The Scriptures 1998+)
Loosing
UN Peace keepers collecting bodies from Ahmići, Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1993 – ICTY April 1993
The American Family Association’s Fred Jackson said concerning the Aurora shooting: “Whether it’s the Hollywood movies, whether it’s what we see on the Internet, whether it’s liberal bias in the media, whether it’s our politicians changing public policy, I think all of those somehow have fit together—and I have to say also churches who are leaving the authority of Scripture and losing their fear of God” are what “give us these kinds of incidents.” How does it come that in countries who are less evangelical or less Christian as their country there does not come up one incident were people do have to question the values of their population?
Fear and the matter of protection has been in every community. In the U.S.A. some choose to debate about gun control or the state of healthcare for the mentally ill, other stalwart truthseekers have made it their mission to get to the bottom of James Holmes’ massacre at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, willing to come to the core of the wrong goings in their living community. Conspiracy theories are made up for the cause to get their priorities. “Inconsistencies” easily attributed to psychosis or misreported facts, several authors find it a more reasonable explanation that this was all government coercion.
People should question in which way a person can be brainwashed or can made to act in a certain way. They should know that you have the parents, the teachers, the religious teachers or atheist teachers, the playground caretakers, sports educators, and all the friends and acquaintances a person has contact with which shall form him or her. The background a person gets shall be part of his formation.
Many times in history there have been people who wanted to take the law in their own hands. Several times in history we saw individuals or groups taking justice into their own hands.
There have been sound and well balanced people but also not level-headed persons or lunatics who either wanted to change the world, who more often wanted to make their point clear to the community.
Protecting the community
The community shall only be able to protect itself, when it has a proper eye on what is happening in her community and sees how everything is evolving. They also should know that examples in a community and social pressure are important matters which can influence a lot of persons and have their repercussions on the whole group.
We shall not deny that when more people would live according to the Law of God we shall have lesser problems. But we always shall have to be realistic, knowing that not all people shall think the same way or believe in the same things.
In the fear of God we can and should try to get others believe in the Natural Laws and natural ethics and show them or prove to them that following the Law of God can give better results in live for all. To get credibility by others, we in the first place have to show that we are trustworthy. Acting from religious conviction has to proof that the right values are chosen for and that for a Christian the love for every one is shown.
Living according rules of Freedom
When one demands freedom that shall have to include freedom of religious belief and practice as well. By many Christians we can only see that there is a lot of hatred between the denominations and many of them accuse one or the other of things which they do not want to see by them. When they who say to be followers of Christ do want to arm themselves, and do not trust God in protecting them, how can others believe in their God, when his people do not show this love they should have according to the son of that God.
As real Christians we should go for the Love and should be careful in our choices, whom we want to elect and want to allow to present certain civil laws. When we can avoid that certain civil laws, which would not be in accordance with God Laws, be voted, we can contribute ourselves to this worldly system. As long as Jesus did not return we shall have to make do.
By living according the Law of God and educating our beloved in this Law we shall be able to form a generation and group of people who shall be able to protect themselves by living according to these divine rules and by giving good examples.
+
Previous:
- Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures
- A world in denial
- Childish or reasonable ways
- Judeo-Christian values and liberty
To be continued:
Condemnation of the World and Illustration of Justification
+
- Facing disaster fatigue
- Christian values and voting not just a game
- Mormons, just an other faith
- Uncertainty, shame and no time for vacillation
- Economics and Degradation
- Depression Economics and Paul Krugman
- Democratic downfall
- Capitalism downfall
- Men as God
- “solutions” to our problems
- The LORD protects those of childlike faith
- The great and holy God will not be unfaithful
- People don’t hunt out “loopholes” when they are seeking to love God and neighbours
- God demonstrates his own love
- Trust God to shelter, safety and security
- God my fence, my hope for the future
- God is my refuge and my fortress in Him I will trust
- Gaining Christ, trusting Jehovah + Gain Christ, trusting Jehovah
- It is not try but trust
- Hell = Sheol = Grave, tomb, sepulchre – graf, begraafplaats, rustplaats, sepulcrum
- What happens when we die?
- Jesus three days in hell
- Jesus and the fallen angels in hell
- Fallen Angels, Messengers of God gone astray
- dead and after
- hellfire
- Satan or the devil
- Sheol or the grave
- soul
- Gain Christ, trusting Jehovah
++
Background:
- Here Are the Most Insane Aurora Shooting Conspiracy Theories
- The 6 Most Offensive Things Said in the Wake of the Aurora Shooting
- Evangelical Leaders Blame Liberals, Media For Aurora Shootings, Say Only Christian Victims Will Go To Heaven
+++
Related articles
- All trust, no fear (layeredhearts.wordpress.com)
this is how God loves us. He sees the big waves coming, and sometimes they do crash over us and that’s when He holds us tightly so we don’t drown. But then there are times when He lifts us up so we are above the circumstance. I want to learn to trust in God’s love and protection, so I have no fear, like my son trusts me. - Use Godly Power or Die Forever Broke! (muponisi.wordpress.com)
With godly power, for example, we can choose to become rich, and it would happen. The godly power is for us to do any positive thing, while we are still on earth to make our living better. We must claim all things, which God has granted us through His power.
+
Fear connotes inability to do something about a situation because one is afraid of repercussions from either the known or unknown. Yet, cautiousness denotes the notion that one is aware of shortcomings, and is avoiding possible dangers surrounding a given situation. There is a very thin line between fear and cautiousness. It is very possible to glide from cautiousness into fear without knowing. - Living the Surrendered Life (Day 20) (christlikeministriesnwa.wordpress.com)
I make mistakes on a daily basis. I have times where I doubt God. I have times where I disobey God. I am always making mistakes. I’m always missing God…and I have a lot of me that still gets in God’s way. So…if that disappoints you…I am sorry…but I’m not perfect…and never will claim to be. - August 5 (newstrength.wordpress.com)
Do you feel like you’re a target sometimes, too? It’s mentally and physically exhausting to be a target. Do you sometimes feel like you’re running out of strength? Does it sometimes seem like the enemy is closing in on you and there’s no where to turn?When it’s clear that someone is out to get you—you need strength, and you need a shield.When you trust in the Lord with all your heart, He will become your strength and shield in every area of your life. But having complete support and protection comes from truly making God Lord of your life.
+
We all need to get better at trusting and praising instead of fussing and fearing. When we trust and praise—God’s power is magnified in our behalf. When you step on the accelerator of a gasoline powered car—it goes faster. When we choose to trust and praise, it’s like ‘stepping on the gas’. When we are all caught up with fussing and fearing—it’s like sitting still, or going in reverse. Fussing and fearing turns off the power of God. - Home Invasion…….divine Protection…….attacked by Fear……peace (unwalled.wordpress.com)
daring stealthy home invasion
failed attempt at burglary
+attacked by tormenting fear
active focus on God and His Word
relaxing and sleeping again in delightful peace
+
I thank you for your promise that no weapon formed against us shall prosper and I trust you to continue to keep us safe and in perfect peace. I present the person(s) who invaded our home to you. - Massacres in Aleppo, Syria (EndtheLie.com)
“Responsibility to Protect” crumbles as Western-armed terror front slaughters civilians while foreign sponsors attempt to tie hands of Syrian security forces.+
With the Western press freely admitting that their “freedom fighting” FSA is lining up “suspected government supporters” and machine gunning them en mass, it seems the massacre the West feared would unfold in Aleppohas come to pass – only it wasn’t perpetrated by the Syrian government or its security forces, but rather by NATO and the Gulf State’s very own armed and coddled FSA terrorists. - Hang Ten (hodgepodge4thesoul.wordpress.com)
Sometimes it seems that the waves are crashing all around, and you keep getting pulled under. And just when you raise your head above water, here comes another set knocking you around. It’s at those moments I’ve learnded to be still, relax, grab my board, and just ride it. - Fear (alifegivingmoment.wordpress.com)
I’m afraid of — snakes, spiders, some loud noises — but do I tell her the real things I’m afraid of? Things like …–almost every time I see a funny place on my skin I’m certain I have skin cancer that will surely end in death or …
+I couldn’t look this little girl in the eyes and say, “It’ll be okay, honey! When you grow up you won’t be afraid of things anymore. ” I didn’t have any pat answer to give her to take all of those fears away but I could tell her that I’m afraid sometimes too and at least let her know she wasn’t alone in that battle.
- Le’Andria Johnson: Sooner or Later (rhachellenicol.com)
it was easier for me to run from God and hide my face than to ask for forgiveness and continue to move forward with the plans that God had for my life. Just like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, it is easier to run and hide than it is to stand. I ran from the very protection and covering that I had in my life.
+
We have to be careful of the judgement that we put off on people. We do not know the relationship that she has with the Lord. The enemy will use the very aspect of your life that causes you to live in shame and fear to keep you from fulfilling the purpose that God has for your life. - Paradise, the First Sin, the Fiery Sword, and the Path to Rectification (alaskawildgirl.wordpress.com)
Fear of punishment is how the minion mind is controlled.
Anger is punishment itself, and minions live in a world of suffering which arises from their own uncontrolled, violent anger, passions, and poisons of the mind.
+
We must walk past the burning sword to reenter the garden they say. That sword is the Word, holy books, dharma, or even the fire of torment and punishment, i.e. those things which remove attachments. We must allow wisdom or karma to cut away all remnants of wanting so that we can experience true happiness. It’s not about acting upon things or living beings and expecting results, rather acting upon the self, removing judgment and fear of punishment and all other forms of fear in order to know ourselves as not just things of clay that are born and die, but beings of love that go beyond time and space. - To Tell the Truth (stefanicarmichael.wordpress.com)
perpetual lack of honesty tells something seriously askew with your child’s relationship to God. It shows your child is not truly trusting God enough to obey His commands. It could be that he fears the consequences of telling the truth more than he fears God.
+
Was the child afraid of what you would do rather than fearing the Lord? You might need to point him to God’s goodness and faithfulness to encourage him to trust God more deeply. Was the child lying to make himself look better to someone else? Maybe you need to help him understand that God’s perfect design in creating your child that is marred only by sin (and lying is a sin). He needs to see himself through the eyes of God and not his peers.
+
Whatever the situation is, you need to fight your child’s lies with God’s truth. Help them see clearly. - Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge (theharvestprinciple.wordpress.com)
What really happened in the Garden of Eden? Was it simply a sin, or a horrendous mistake? Adam and Eve lived in the Garden in a spiritual relationship with God. In order to live in the spirit a person’s own will had to choose to deactivate and to live through God’s will or spirit. - Julian Assange is right to fear US prosecution (guardian.co.uk)
As the drama unfolds over Julian Assange’s bid for political asylum in Ecuador, a troubling irony has emerged: the besieged founder of WikiLeaks is seeking refuge in this small Andean nation because he fears persecution from the United States, a nation whose laws famously grant asylum to people in precisely Assange’s situation.
+
The US claims to lead the world in freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the role these play as the foundations of democratic government. These freedoms do not die when governments feel threatened or are embarrassed by the publication of information. As Justices Stewart and White famously said, “the only effective restraint upon executive policy and power in the areas of national defence and international affairs may lie in an enlightened citizenry – in an informed and critical public opinion which alone can here protect the values of democratic government”.Indeed, it is precisely those who challenge the powerful, including government, who most require the protection afforded by fundamental free speech rights. If our current administration chooses to abandon them, it may fall to Ecuador to uphold the best of American principles.
Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures
Elections or a Voice
In Belgium there shall be the elections for the communities, bringing new mayors, but this year probably also with a vote over the political situation in the whole country. In the United States of America they are not going to look for a new mayor or governor, it is the presidential candidate who shall be on the lips of everybody.
In the Old World as well as in the New World we see similar conditions, people taken for a ride by the banks, taken in by the money-market. Many people being sold not just to pull the wool over their eyes.
In many so called civilised countries, we see not only that capitalism has blinded many people but brought them so far that they are not afraid to fool the others or to bring out a lot of lies enabling them to make more money and to enjoy life themselves at the costs of others.
Muslim Newspaper
Several inhabitants of those industrialised Western countries or States are proud of their birthplace and take pride that they can live in a Judeo Christian culture. But they have really become afraid for their Judeo Christian values. Lots on the inhabitants want to blame the rising Islam and point their finger to the many Muslim who seem to grow like fungi.
Friends and values
In Judeo-Christian values and liberty we mentioned already the problem of people being confronted with the loss of values which were a few years ago of high esteem. Many generations were brought up with values which were nourished as the most important in the family. People cherished their children and loved those who took care that their family could live in a good environment. Many also had high hopes and had the intention of making something good of the family and of the world.
It was found to be a pleasure to bask in some ones love. And friendship was considered as something special.
Today ‘friends’ has become a word that does not seem to mean much. On the social network-sites, like Facebook, people look like they have many ‘friends’, but often it are even less than real acquaintances. Worse is it about the relation in the family itself. Many children can not tell their friends they have one father and one mother. Often they even do not consider it normal that their friends are still living in a happy first married family. Kids, after a few years, go home from school to ask their parents when they are going to behave like normal parents and are going to divorce. Divorcing has become the normal norm is this society. And that has nothing to do with Muslim traditions taking over the world. In such families they do still know the bond of the family.
About telling a lie, we notice that has become come grounds for all sorts of people, of all sorts of religions or secular groups. Lots of people do not mind to lie in his teeth till they are black. To be a fibber has become ‘cool’ and the way to get a place in the community. Many people have come in power by using their words in an other way than the words at first would imply. Many also do like it to hang with their ears at the moth of those storytellers. Rather to be ‘befriended’ than to be considered as a looser or ‘unbeliever’ of those fairytale-masters. Best to be the directors pet or the blue-eyed boy, than the one who is considered as the milksop. No one wants to look as the spoilsport, but several people who want to keep on to certain values are considered as the chickens. though their blanket may stay clean it is being considered the wet blanket, while others who wet their blanket literally do not mind to use the women as usable objects. For this we, yesterday could once more see, like a few weeks ago, that it were North African people living in Belgium who clearly found it not a problem that they went after the girls on the street, because women are just a lust object. Many of the white European men population have been eager to take over this idea, but also many Caucasian women do not mind to take men as their play toy.
We shall not dispute that a lot has also come this way because, while previously generations were brought up by the Word of God, being told about good and bad, heaven and hell, being told to go to mass and worship, while honouring father and mother. Those teaching of the catechism or the teachings of the Sunday school do not exist any more, or when they are still present or available at a denomination, not many are interested in it.
Learning and teaching
A few decennia ago the Christian teachings perhaps could be a huge success, today that’s a different kettle of fish. The horse of a different colour is that everybody finds it balderdash or twaddle to spend time in Old Books or spending time talking about spiritual things and about uncertainties. Nobody wants to stand for fool by outing himself to believe in something which many have long time ago swept it under the carpet.
Many find it pathetic people still want to believe in things which were said so many millennia ago. The death a a man twenty centuries ago is something not to be spoken any more, when there are now so much funnier things to talk off.
Years ago some people could still think they could come off by being a good Christian, but today most of the citizens think they are only able to manage when they can join the successful world by becoming totally part of it, integrated in the world of fashion and stuffed shirts.
English: Map of the Muslim Population by Percentage in the World (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Lots of people do want to blame others for their problems of for the things going wrong in the world. The Muslim world has become the group to blame now while a few decennia ago many Christians blamed the Jews, and did not find it bad to get rid of them for ever by burning their bodies literally.
More than two centuries ago many people noticed the Old World already getting no good place to bring up their children. They learned from the Bible, the Word of God, that in case it became so bad and people did not want to listen to them, it was better to put on the shoes and go to other places. Many oppressed people did not want to wait until it became worse. They thought a lot and spoke with many friends before they decided to go and look for their luck in other unknown countries. They risked their lives to escape the country were power of certain Christian denomination forced such laws and believes on them they could not agree with.
Those people where familiar with the writings of the apostle Paul who wrote: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” And some of them knew the book of Jasher in which was spoken about the fear we do had to have for God. In such Holy books they had learn that in such places were there was no fear for God it could be not nice to stay and not the right place to live. so why would they sojourn in places were nobody was interested in what they had to tell about what they had learned from the Holy Scriptures?
Jasher 4:3 And Methuselah acted uprightly in the sight of God, as his father Enoch had taught him, and he likewise during the whole of his life taught the sons of men wisdom, knowledge and the fear of God, and he did not turn from the good way either to the right or to the left.
Jasher 15:4 And Abram said to his wife Sarai, Since God has created thee with such a beautiful countenance, I am afraid of the Egyptians lest they should slay me and take thee away, for the fear of God is not in these places.
Living with Fear, every day
Jasher 32:57 And God put fear and kindness toward Jacob in the hearts of the men that came with Esau, and they also kissed Jacob and embraced him.
Jasher 34:59 And Judah said unto Simeon and Levi, and unto all his brothers, Strengthen yourselves and be sons of valour, for the Lord our God is with us, do not fear them.
Jasher 43:41 And Jacob took the beast from the hands of his sons, and he cried out with a loud and weeping voice, holding the beast in his hand, and he spoke with a bitter heart unto the beast, Why didst thou devour my son Joseph, and how didst thou have no fear of the God of the earth, or of my trouble for my son Joseph?
Jasher 47:8 Now therefore my son, teach thy children and thy children’s children to fear the Lord, and to go in the good way which will please the Lord thy God, for if you keep the ways of the Lord and his statutes the Lord will also keep unto you his covenant with Abraham, and will do well with you and your seed all the days.
Jasher 55:3 And Jacob said within himself, I will go and see my son whether the fear of his God is yet in his heart amidst all the inhabitants of Egypt.
Jasher 63:8 And in order to know the signs and mighty wonders which the Lord would do in Egypt on account of his people Israel, in order that the children of Israel might fear the Lord God of their ancestors, and walk in all his ways, they and their seed after them all the days.
In early times of this era it was noticed in Protevangelion 8:3 “and when she was twelve years of age, the priests met in a council, and said, behold, Mary is twelve years of age; what shall we do with her, for fear lest the holy place of the lord our God should be defiled?” Protevangelion 8:14 “then the high-priest replied, Joseph, fear the lord thy God, and remember how God dealt with Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, how the earth opened and swallowed them up, because of their contradiction.
Protevangelion 8:15 now therefore, Joseph, fear God, lest the like things should happen in your family.
Fear, hope, liberty and love
It is because many people do not fear God, who can bring hope, liberty and love, any more that many things do come over their family. It is not because God loving people do warn them that they went astray and have to return to God that they and their country are falling to pieces.
Paul and Thecla warned (4:7) on this account, God sent his son Jesus Christ, whom I preach, and in whom I instruct men to place their hopes, as that person who only had such compassion on the deluded world, that it might not, O governor, be condemned, but have faith, the fear of God, the knowledge of religion, and the love of truth.
In case the men in the several countries where capitalism got the ruling position, would remember that the real value of life would be to go for the gold of the Words of God, and giving themselves in the hand of the only mediator between God and men (Jesus/Jeshua), they surely would find it easier to find the real treasures of life.
To continue with Paul who did find his colleagues believers who were kind to one to another without grudging; being ready to every good work, and being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous and religious, because they did all things in the fear of God; whose commandments were written upon the tables of their heart. (1 Corinthians 1:15)
Today we do not find many who have the Words of God written onto their hearts, or even in their mind to think about them.
The same as in the early centuries after the death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, righteousness and peace are departed from many people, because every one of them has forsaken the fear of God; and is grown blind in his faith; nor walked by the rule of God’s commandments nor lived as is fitting in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:4)
We all should remember that we are tenants of this world, which God has given to all his creation. Because of man having doubted the right of His Power, He has given the power in the hands of men. Paul knew as we should know that God has given the cities into the hands of those who think they can manage the world; for the fear of them is fallen upon all that dwell therein. (1 Corinthians 6:8)
For those who know God and do like God, they have had all the time to share their ideas with others, and they also had and still have time to let their charity be with respect of persons, alike towards all such as religiously fear God. They can let them learn how great a power humility has with God; how much a pure and holy charity avails with him; how excellent and great his fear is; and how it will save all such as turn to him with holiness in a pure mind. (1 Corinthians 10:11-13)
Double talk and Being Afraid for the right person
Who are Christians following? Who are the real Christians?
They, who believe in God, do know that He knows everything which goes on in the heart, but they are also aware that the actions of believers as well as of non-believers are seen and heard by God; therefore we better fear Him instead of being afraid of ordinary humans, who live now but who shall face the death at a certain moment in their life. At that moment they shall not be able to do anything any more against us. Therefore let us not fear men: but rather God. Wherefore, if we should do such wicked things as many around do and think are the way modern people should do, we shall have to face the judge after life and though we could have considered ourselves Christian and being part of Christ, joined unto the Lord, but not keeping Gods commandments, He would cast this person off, and say unto him: “depart from me; I know not whence you are, ye workers of iniquity.” (1 Corinthians 10:13; 13:1; 2 Corinthians 2:15)
Barnabas wrote to the community to become spiritual, “a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies let us meditate upon the fear of God: and strive to the utmost of our power to keep his commandments; that we may rejoice in his righteous judgments.” (3:12) and he warned them ” thou shalt not be double-minded, or double tongued; for a double tongue is the snare of death. Thou shalt be subject unto the lord and to inferior masters as to the representatives of God, in fear and reverence.” (Barnabas 14:14 )
It is this double talk that is killing more our general community. It is the dishonesty in talking and handling which brings so many people in difficulties, and not the Muslims who came into our countries and saw how people had gone far from God, so they could not do anything else than to detest their way of life.
Those foreigners and people from other cultures should not have to be bitter in the commands towards any of their servants and co-habitants that trust in God. Still many Muslim fear God, though also a lot went there in a wrong direction and started more to fear people who misuse the name of God, or falsely say that they speak in the Name of God. those Muslims fearing certain Muslim organisations should know better, like Christians should do. They should chance not to fear Him, Allah, God the Only One Elohim Hashem, who is over both.
In case there are some organisations or people who say they can speak in the name of God, all who would like to follow them should investigate if they really live and act according the Laws of God, and follow the Words of God. They should check if those people could really be prepared by the Holy Spirit (= the Power of God). Whomsoever the Spirit had prepared would and should be a person who does not commit idolatry, does not show confidence in the wrong way to his own benefit, puts away pride of power, hypocrisy, double-mindedness, adultery, murder, rapine, pride, transgression, deceit, malice, arrogance, witchcraft, covetousness, and the want of the fear of God. Not having fear of God, does not agree with knowing the Full Power of the Almighty God.
In Commands Hermas we do find «command VII.» “fear God, says he, and keep his commandments. for if thou keepest his commandments thou shalt be powerful in every work, and all thy works shall be excellent. for by fearing God, thou shalt do every thing well.” (Commands Hermas 8:1)
When people got to know that when they fear God they shall be able to live when they do keep His commandments.
“wherefore, fear God and thou shalt live: and whosoever shall fear him, and keep his commandments, their life is with the lord. but they who keep them not, neither is life in them.” (Commands Hermas 8:6 )
“but they that have the fear of the lord, and search out the truth concerning God, having all their thoughts towards the lord; apprehend whatsoever is said to them, and forthwith understand it, because they have the fear of the lord in them.” (Commands Hermas 11:13 )
Reading the right Books
The only way to get to know Gods Commandments is by reading the Holy Scriptures. In case you notice that there are many wrong goings in this world, you probably have already some idea of what would be right or wrong. Without knowledge of good and bad there can not be any judgement over evil and goodness. It is possible that people do notice and even know from the inside that something is not as it should, but do not mind to continue to handle or live that way or to let it happen, because it suits them or they do find it very convenient.
It is that way of feeling at ease with certain situations that brought us down. It is the allowance of so many wrong things that brought the decline of our society. Not Muslims or other believers entering our domain, which in our greediness we prefer to keep to our self, instead of sharing it in love with others. Often it are the evil desires that are the food of our thoughts to go in a certain way in this world.
Pleasures of Life
Instead of so loving the Lord God with all our passion and prayer and intelligence and energy, many of us became loving the pleasures of life and the pleasures of wealth. Many tell others they are such and such person, or believe this or that, but they takes pleasure in foolish gabble. Several call themselves Christian and say that God is their Father, but hey really do not honour Him. Many of them have forgotten that Gods want their full attention as well as their full devotion. they also forget that Jehovah God wants actions by words. When you tell God you’ll do something, do it — now. So if YHWH, Jehovah or Yahweh is their Father, where’s the honour? If The Almighty Creator of heaven and earth is their Master, where’s the respect? (Mark 12:30; Proverbs 23:26 ; Ecclesiastes 5:4 ; Ecclesiastes 5:5; Malachi 1:6)
Which God?
Jehovah = the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but also of Jesus
Jews, Christians and Muslims have the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, as their God, often also as the God of their father and mother. They both claim that Allah, Yahuwah, whose name is Jehovah shall be judge between them as He was in the time of Jacob and by by the fear of his father Isaac. They both also know Joseph who said that he feared God. (Genesis 42:18; 50:19)
Three prophets
An other problem in this world, which was foretold by the prophets, is that a lot of people do not fear their parents and teachers any more. Several Jews and Muslims try to get this patriarchal rule going and demand that there is also taken one day a week especially to honour God. But when you look into the world were they say they have the best civilisation because they are Christians and do keep to the commandments of God, where can you find them keeping Gods sabbaths. In those communities we notice that here is also not much respect or honour for the old man. Also do we find governments who want to rule over others with rigor and where it is allowed to oppress one another, and people can be excused to do certain crimes (working and handling on the black market is often justified because the governments are demanding to much they say; petty crimes and small lies are allowed for the good of ‘the’ cause, etc.)
“3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and ye shall keep my sabbaths: I am Jehovah your God. 4 Turn ye not unto {1} idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am Jehovah your God. {1) Heb [things of nought]} 5 And when ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah, ye shall offer it that ye may be accepted. 6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt with fire. 7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination; it shall not be accepted: 8 but every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the holy thing of Jehovah: and that soul shall be cut off from his people. 9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God. 11 Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah. 13 Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind; but thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah. 15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. 16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah. 19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed: neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together. 20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to a husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; {1} they shall be punished; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. {1) Heb [there shall be inquisition]} 21 And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, unto the door of the tent of meeting, even a ram for a trespass-offering. 22 And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering before Jehovah for his sin which he hath sinned: and the sin which he hath sinned shall be forgiven him. 23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as their uncircumcision: three years shall they be as uncircumcised unto you; it shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto Jehovah. 25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am Jehovah your God. 26 Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Jehovah. 29 Profane not thy daughter, to make her a harlot; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of {1} wickedness. {1) Or [enormity]}” (Leviticus 19:3-29 ASV)
Idols and things to love
How many persons have not turned to idols, either form the music, television, film, entertainment or sports world? How many persons do not find it most important to get as much possible out of a piece of land, and to use all the upbringing to sell wherever they can to most high price, other-while it can be thrown away better than to give it to the poor?
How many do not find it so wrong to take something home from work, or do not find it so bad to steal something when they have the opportunity, defending themselves that the other person should not be so stupid to let it happen or to give the opportunity to become tempted. Has it not come to a sport for many to deal falsely and not to tell the full truth to others, even to lie one to another, or misusing them and others. Though God wants us to stay honest to our partner, how many do not have other lovers at work or at the sports field?
II (The Presidents of the United States of America album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
How many do not find it al right that their children experiment with drugs and sex, though they should know that God does not like it that daughters would be used as a prostitute or that there could be something to cause her to be a whore. Dancings have become places to make a sport of conquering a new target, once more an other person to have some good sex with, and leave him or her behind for whatever he or she may be, just as an object to have communal enjoyment.
Instead of looking for the problems in that sort of life, many do want to put the blame on those strangers sojourning with them in their land, though god clearly demanded not to vex such people. But the stranger that dwells with us should be to us as one born among us, and we should love him or her as ourself; for our ancestors were also strangers in the land of Egypt. We do have to be careful to do no unrighteousness in judgement, in length, in weight, or in measure. (Leviticus 19:33-35)
It is so easy to blame other for the wrong going of our civilisation.
One of the Sates which is so proud and in which many think they are the only superstate with the right way of living and the best way of life, brought forth a Catholic president (John F. Kennedy), a Baptist president (Jimmy Carter), a “born-again” president (George W. Bush) and this year, Mormons got all excited that they can go out and elect a Mormon president. For decades, they have been trading Democrats for Republicans, Republicans for Democrats, liberals for conservatives, and conservatives for liberals, and nothing has changed–except the problems kept getting worse, while many did not even notice it until 9/11, when they suddenly got to blame all the Muslim world for their ‘shit’ they were in (to use their own words.)!
Democracy, dignity and achievements
Ian de Silva may think he is living in the only state which was able to come to superhuman achievements, but that is doing violence against historic facts. He is wrongly convinced that there is not a single non-Western culture that indigenously produced a great democracy which continues to attract people from all over the world, because none of those cultures has ever produced a human-rights instrument as powerful as the Declaration or the Constitution.
Marcus Ampe in Christian values and voting not just a game let some rays of light shine on the misconception and the danger of the proud white population their supremacy. Though we as Christians recognise the ability of a lot of courageous people to leave the Old World to try to make a totally New World in the concept of a ‘for God worthy’ country. In that New World many of them got confronted with a sort of people they did not understand, nor their language, nor their habits, and because of the different cultures clashing a lot of blood was shed.
Tamuz, Nimrod and Semiramis or the Holy Trinity
Today lots of Americans do believe the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, because it was written by white men from a Judeo-Christian ethos, the country they founded has become the most egalitarian nation in the world, a refuge for men and women of all races and religions. Though you can wonder how far they would like to go in their acceptance of other thinkers and other religions. Often we notice that it is much easier for them to accept persons who totally have some other believes than those who have similar, but still some important different believes, when they call themselves Christian. For example is it for many Americans impossible to live together with such people who call themselves Christian, because they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (the Nazarene Jew Jeshua), but only believe in One God and not in the Holy Trinity. For a lot of Americans it is even impossible to accept that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was a Jew, because they consider him to be a Christian being killed by the Jews. Some even would say ‘horrible ‘ Jews, showing still their hate for that race, which according to the Bible is and shall be for ever, the People of God. (They seem to forget.)
Many Western people think it was the Judeo-Christian view of the human being, that gave the West its hospitals, charities and the language of the ”rights” of the weak. For them there does not seem as yet, an alternative narrative that can guarantee the inherent dignity of all, regardless of capacities. They argue that Ancient Greece and Rome, the cultures against which Christianity first competed, had little by way of philosophical reasoning that could guarantee the inherent worth of those lacking rational capacity or social utility. So infanticide was common and social welfare for the aged and dying was virtually non-existent, but that is totally incorrect to the facts of human history. In many non-believing communities there was already the dignity to take care of the elder and the sick, so much more than we can find today in those so called Christian countries, were many put the sick and elderly away in foster homes. In many industrialist states, those who are not found useful, for the society, are put away so that the population does not want to be confronted by them (mentally and physically handicapped.).
Yale’s great philosopher-theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff in his book “Justice: Rights and Wrongs” argues that a rational justification for treating humans as ”inestimably precious”, regardless of capacities, can only be found in a theistic framework. Only if the abandoned infant on the hills of ancient Rome or the estranged resident in a Sydney dementia unit is created in the image of God, can we secure an intellectual basis for treating both individuals with the same dignity we afford society’s most able.
In case that would be the truth, those Christians should better react swiftly accordingly. But also when this is not the truth, the Christians would better think about what Jesus had to tell the world. Jesus was a man who had the right to speak in the name of his Father, God, and who knew what it was not to be liked and to be scourged and spit at. Torture was not strange to him, and before it came so far he was aware of what was going to wait for him. But even in case he would not have known he told others not to oppress one another; but to fear his Father, which should be also our God:, as it was and is his God, the Most High.
Proud and downfall
The son of god knew very well his Scriptures and has probably also knew other theological writings, like Sirach 28:22 were is written: ” It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.” In the many parables or stories Jesus told the people in the Middle East, he let them know how God was a loving Father, but one who demanded honesty and fidelity. As other believers in God had written, like Sirach, Jesus warned the onlookers not to exalt themselves, because this could bring the downfall. When we look at the United States this is perhaps which might be happening like in so many countries of the Capitalist world is happening. In many countries of the so called civilised world, who thought they had the best juridical and most democratic system we notice that many people do bring dishonour upon their soul, and so God discovers their secrets, and shall cast them down in the midst of the congregation, because they came not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but because of their heart is full of deceit. ( Sirach 1:30)
Even Jeshua or Jesus does not know when the Time of the End shall come
Those who know their Scriptures shall remember how God more than once changed the spirit of the king or ruler into mildness or made him more angry because the people had not listened to the advice of God, given by his prophets. One way or the other, until the Time of the End, people shall have to find systems to be able to live together. Until the return of Jesus God allows them to look for a good system to live with each other and to make the best of the world. But at the end all nations shall turn, and fear the Lord God truly, and shall bury their idols. (Tobit 14:6 ) and every one shall get to know that they had to fear the Lord of Lord of lords, the Elohim Hashem, Jehovah, the One and Only One God, who shall deliver all His followers out of the hand of all their enemies. (2 Kings 17:39 )
Wherefore now we should, as Christians, let the fear of the Lord be upon us; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah, the Lord of Lord of Lords, our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts or bribes. (2 Chronicles 19:7 ) As many people in ancient times have been in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous, we should find enough reasons in that to be willing to learn to know what exactly this Lord of Lord of the lords wants from His flock. To be able to become in Christ we also should listen to his words and should recognise that he wanted that we got to know his Father. To get to know the father of Jesus we do have His letters or words brought to us by His chosen and appointed special writers and prophets. By getting to know what God told us we shall be able to find better ways of living. We shall be able to transform under the guidance God gives us in His Word, notated in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. By reading more in those words we shall be able to come closer to God and by willing to praise His word, in God we shall be able to put our trust; not having to fear what flesh can do to us.
“In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?” (Psalms 56:4 ASV)
Those reading the Gospel shall get to know Christ Jesus and how he loved his Father. As such they shall learn to become eager to know even more about this special Father, who is willing to be our Father as well. This interest shall make it that not only the New Testament shall be looked at, but that ther shall come a sincere interest in the Old Testament, so that the words of God can enter the soul more.
In the end, when we follow Jesus we shall get to understand that getting to know the Almighty God is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Worldly books have become the bible of the people – 1931 Cover of Bezbozhnik, 1920s-1930s Soviet atheist magazine Bezbozhnik u stanka – 35 million unemployed in the capitalistic world
As in Roman times there is no fear of God before the eyes of many people living in the capitalist world. Lots having forgotten the promises which were brought by many prophets, like Abraham, Isaiah and Jesus. So many are not interested any more to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Most of the humans in the capitalist world their concern is to gather as much money as possible. They are not interested in what happens to nature or other created species after them. For those around them they do often not find so much interest. Surely submitting themselves one to another, in the fear of God, sounds as something ridiculous, something very absurd. And today many find it much more interesting to get more power by making others afraid of other people. The problem there is that so many have forgotten that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, to use to help each other, even when it would be our enemy. (2 Corinthians 7:1 ; Ephesians 5:21; 2 Timothy 1:7)
By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7 )
Today we notice that not many a son honours his father and a worker his master, and you could blame it because not many listen to their father, teachers and are not interested to read in the Bible to learn the lessons from those old times. It is to the people themselves to decide “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes”, as for us Christians, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard, and should let others know what we do think. (Acts 4:19; Acts 4:20)
We ourselves should be careful, when we watch the world going its own way and should not even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life we had before we came a real Christian. (Romans 6:13 ) We should take our everyday, ordinary life — our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Not blaming others for what is gone wrong in our own life, but trying to adjust our life in the ways of God. Not preferring to be popular and loving their way of living, but embracing what God wants for us and what He does for us, knowing that that is the only best thing we can do for Him, but also for ourselves and our beloved ones. (Romans 12:1)
When we face the world we should know that we do have our own responsibilities. It are we ourselves who are responsible for how our own children act or behave, as well for how those we brought up, our pupils, behave or act in the world we placed them. Or do we not realize that we had to learn from the Holy Scriptures and had to behave accordingly, giving a good example to those around us. We should have been working at our body and soul to make it such that our body could be as a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit. Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Our world is going the wrong way because many of us have not kept to the human instincts of normal behaviour. Having not allowed Gods Word to come over others by our way of living, acting and teaching, we excluded the Creator of all things in the works we wanted to do. God owns the whole works, but to let God shine in our works we do have to allow Him to enter us. So we do have to take care that people can see God in and through our body. Our firm decision should be to work from this focused centre: “One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat”. Us not loving those who are around us because they do not believe the same things as we do is not having Christ Jesus his love. He loved believers, non-believers and sinners. Christ’s love has to move us to such extremes, that we should be better doing than all those atheists and other believers doing good in this world. Thinking that a non-believer can not do any good work is wrong-thinking. We should know historical facts and also see that ages before Christ was born, also in places were there was not spoken of God, there were people who tried to do good for each other. Therefore we better put our arrogance at the doorstep and look at Christ, who was open for everybody. His love should have the first and last word in everything we do. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. (1 Corinthians 6:20;2 Corinthians 5:14 ; 2 Corinthians 5:15)
Living according prescribed rules
We should not look with anger to others. We better should be filled with fear when faced with others sharing their faith. While we blame those Muslims who talk about God and the fear we should have, we better show them that we also are aware of the Wrath of God, and that we are also aware of the way we should live. But that we not only let them think that we ‘know’ what God wants. That we also let the other persons in our environment see that we are prepared to live according the teachings of Christ and according the Law of God.
The Seventh Angel of the Apocalypse Proclaiming the Reign of the Lord – Unknown Miniaturist, Spanish (active around 1180)
We should show others that we want to suit the action to the word. We do have to proceed from Gods Words to deeds, having a word and a blow over many generations. Looking at the wrong goings of the world, moaning about it and not doing anything against it is not going to solve the problem. Jesus has given his followers the task of proclaiming the Good News, but how many Christians do we see walking around and going from door to door proclaiming the Word of God? How many Christians profess, promulgate, publish, or let others hear their voice to ventilate their believes in God?
Instead of having the heart race when talking about Jesus, they are more afraid than those followers of Christ who several hundreds of years ago, were tortured for their believes. They were not afraid to die because they believe in the resurrection of Christ. They were not afraid to die because they had a certainty in their believe. Today when asked about their greatest fears you can find death and the fear to fail or ‘Fear of Falling’. In certain countries this fear of falling, is also transposed into a fear in falling into a fire of destruction or in a fire of damnation and torture. Instead of going for God because He loves us, they are going for God because they are afraid of getting into a hell which is for them a place of torture for ever. While the Biblical hell is just the grave, the end of everything, because by death the penalty is paid for our sins, and we do not have to pay once more.
The Self
One of the problems of this world is that the fear of God, which is part of the Natural Law of God written in men’s hearts, has made place for the fear of the own self. The problem is that far too many people’s hearts have grown callused and hard to the “inner voice” of moral consciousness. Most of the people are most concerned that everything would go all right with them, while they live here on earth, and that they would not fail in front of others. Their fear of death is not because of the wrath of God, but because they would not accept that when they die their life would come to an end, and that all those things they did on this earth, then would be worthless. That is their main concern.
While the natural fear of God is a predicate for a person’s respect for their mother and father. (Leviticus 19:3) and the fear of God is a predicate for a person’s respect for others, especially those who are disadvantaged. (Leviticus 19:14), people have put away their interest in others, surely when it are just plants or animals for them. Because the loss of the creation of God, so many things went wrong in nature. All the things our ancestors did return to us. Also their way of educating others, and their way of teaching and preaching about God, the Father, and about Jesus, the son and Saviour.
Getting or hiding loud noise?
Many have become afraid of ‘Loud Noises’ which make them think, but not of ‘Loud Noises’ which seem to entertain them, as the heavy music sounds. Public Speaking about God is the worst they could think of. They would rather die than speak publicly!They do not mind getting deaf because of the loud popular music, but they are afraid as death, for the noise of people talking about God.
Departing pleasures
They do not want to abandon certain pleasures they got to know from the new media. They love all the desires which can be gratified, by all the new tools. Lots of so called Christians prefer to think they shall be able to live for ever, because they had been baptised, and as such would never ever have to fear for not going to heaven. They are so much mistaken. Bible tells totally different things, but those they do not want to know because that would distort their picture of heaven and hell which makes them not to worry. And they do not want to worry about the future, they want to live today. It is this attitude of not wanting to know what would or what can happen in the future, which has brought also a lot of problems onto this world.
Many do not want to know that the evil lusting is going to bring them down, and not people coming from over their borders. In case everybody would do good in society, new ones would quickly been taken into that society and would not dare to do any thing wrong. The Evil (Satan in Hebrew) shall be as a thorn in the eye, and those wishing it to do such a thing would know they shall have to face a righteous penalty. But the example we have given to other the last few years is that we just all could do as we wanted and that many, also Christians, made it a sport to lure others, so that they could have the best of the world and gain as much money as possible.
The threatening of governments have come to nothing, many words of persons do not have any value any more, because so many people do not keep to their word. The ease of playing with words and actions made that our world has derailed.
Priorities
Those who would like it put in order again, should first make work to get to know the Word of God, fearing Him, instead of the people around them.
The Bible warns there will be no peace in our lives until we make peace with God through His Son, Jesus (Yeshua), the promised Messiah.
Jesus warned his pupils they could have to face persecution because he was sending them out like sheep surrounded by wolves. Being tenants in this world having to sojourn with other religions we should be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
For us today we may see those things happening about what Christ talked, when he spoke of followers of Christ being handed over to councils, being brought before governors and kings, because of faith in Jesus, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. We have to accept that we shall come to live in a time when brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And we will be hated by everyone because of Jesus’ name.
Knowing that, we should find confidence in the words of the Gospel, and compare the evangils with what was written many years before and promised by Bod speaking through the prophets. When we take notice of what is written in the Holy Scriptures, we should not be afraid, because the one who endures to the end will be saved.
But we should take up the tasks given by Jesus because it is expected that the Good News Tellers will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household! Fear God, Not Man.”
Of whom do you want to be afraid?
We should not be afraid of men of this world, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. We should not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, we have to fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We should let others get to know Christ Jesus and should never deny him before people, because he will than also deny that person also before his Father in heaven.
Yes religions may have set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. But in this all it is important that the right choice is made and that we dare to take up our own cross to follow Jesus. (Matthew 10:16-38)
Commands Hermas 13:6 whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil desires, shall live unto God; but they that are subject unto them shall die for ever. for this evil lusting is deadly. do thou therefore put on the desire of righteousness, and being armed with the fear of the lord, resist all wicked lusting.
Commands Hermas 13:10 and I said, sir, I would know how to serve that desire which is good? hearken, said he, fear God and put thy trust in him, and love truth, and righteousness, and do that which is good.
Commands Hermas 13:22 and turn yourselves to the lord your God, and forsake the devil and his pleasures, because they are evil, and bitter, and impure. and fear not the devil, because he has no power over you.
Commands Hermas 13:27 for if ye resist him, he will flee away with confusion from you. but they that are not full in the faith, fear the devil, as if he had some great power. for the devil tries the servants of God and if he finds them empty, he destroys them.
Commands Hermas 13:33 be not then afraid in the least of his threatenings, for they are without force, as the nerves of a dead man. but hearken unto me, and fear the lord almighty, who is able to save and to destroy you; and keep his commands, that ye may live unto God.
Similitudes Hermas 1:9 but what ye shall do for the name of the lord, ye shall find in your city, and shall have joy without sadness or fear. wherefore covet not the riches of the heathen; for they are destructive to the servants of God.
Similitudes Hermas 6:28 I said unto him; sir, I intreat you still to show me now one thing. what, said he, dost thou ask? I said unto him; are they who depart from the fear of God, tormented for the same time that they enjoyed their false delight and pleasures? he answered me: they are tormented for the same time.
and let us lay aside our wicked works which proceed from ill desires; that through his mercy we may be delivered from the condemnation to come.
now more resembles the oppressed nations that those people fled.
(Nehemiah 5:15 The Scriptures 1998+): “But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty sheqels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of Elohim. “
+
Previously:
To be continued:
- A world in denial
- Fear and protectionl
- Condemnation of the World and Illustration of Justification
++
- Judeo-Christian values and liberty
- Christian values and voting not just a game
- Uncertainty, shame and no time for vacillation
- Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America at war
- Justififiable anger or just anarchism
- Ability for a community to come back from a crisis
- Sense or nonsense of “Human Fragility”
- Which back voters in the US wants to see
- Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
- Some one or something to fear
- Some one or something to fear #2 Attitude and Reactions
- Some one or something to fear #3 Cases, folks and outing
- Some one or something to fear #4 Families and Competition
- Some one or something to fear #5 Not Afraid
- Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
- Some one or something to fear #7 Not afraid for Gods Name
- The “Vengeful God” of the Old Testament - (OR) – The “ALL Forgiving” God of the New Testament
- Jehovah’s Mighty Acts of Healing – through Jesus Christ
- The Spirit of God imparts love,inspires hope, and gives liberty
- The Spirit of God brings love, hope and freedom
- I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! . –Psalm 119:127
- Abhor evil. Adhere to goodness
++
Fear:
- Anxiety is the gap between the now and the later
- Fear knocked at the door
- Whom should I fear
- Fearing the right person
- God become master of our passions
- God is Positive
- Be strong and take courage
- Do not be afraid. Good news because a Saviour has been born
- No fear in love
Additional Dutch articles:
- Angst is de grote boosdoener in ons streven naar een beter mens te worden.
- Omgaan met angst
- Bedenkingen Zorgen maken
- Faalangst en draagkracht van God
- Als deelgenoten komt Jehovah ons ten goede
- Verdriet
- Neil Anderson en het juk van angst en depressie
- Jan De Volder bundelt gesprekken tussen imam, rabbijn en priester
- Karikatuur of vooringenomen reactie-instelling
- Denkt niet vanuit angst, denk vanuit geloof
- Ondankbaarheid opzij schuiven
- Verontrustheid van Jezus
+++
Related articles
- Multicultural apocalypse: Stealth jihad has taken root in Europe and is coming to America (worldnewstribune.com)
Geert Wilders spoke at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Colorado on July 1. The following is the complete transcript of his speech.
+
However, if you really love freedom, you have to speak the truth. If not, we will fall victim to Islam, like earlier the people in the Middle East, North Africa, Persia, India and Indonesia fell victim to it.
+
As the Muslim population is concentrated in urban areas, many European cities have very large Islamic concentrations. We are confronted with headscarves and burkas, polygamy, female genital mutilation, honor-killings.
+
The rise of Islam also means the rise of sharia law in our judicial systems. In Europe we have sharia wills, sharia schools, sharia banks. The introduction of elements of sharia law in our societies creates a system of legal apartheid. Sharia law systematically discriminates groups of people. … - It’s out with the old as Christian values fall away (smh.com.au)
Given the Judeo-Christian origins of our long-held tradition of caring for the frail, census data indicating the demise of Christianity and the ageing of Australia’s population could herald a perfect social storm. - Takedown: Divided We Stand (persephonemagazine.com)
“The essential difference between liberals and conservatives” is not that conservatives are independent and liberals are leeches. The essential difference between liberals and conservatives is in their political beliefs.
+
liberals and regressives and Marxists are all the same, which is a tired joke.
+
Nobody owns history. Nobody. And if you want to “keep” it, you should probably keep what came before, with the Native American culture. As far as symbols go? I mean, they’re just symbols. The flag is important, but not because of the colors or the shape — it is important because of what it stands for. Symbols really aren’t important in and of themselves.
+ Takedown: American-Americans - The 6 Most Offensive Things Said in the Wake of the Aurora Shooting (alternet.org)
After reeling in shock from the horrifying details of the Aurora, Colorado massacre, many of us were soon reeling from the callous, exploitative reactions.
+
There is a race to come up with the most farfetched things to blame–anything, essentially, besides the ease of purchasing firearms and a system that doesn’t provide for the mentally ill.
+
During a radio interview on the Heritage Foundation’s “Istook Live!” show, Gohmert was asked why he believes such senseless acts of violence take place. Gohmert responded by talking about the weakening of Christian values in the country. “You know what really gets me, as a Christian, is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and then some senseless crazy act of terror like this takes place,” Gohmert said.
+
Mike Huckabee blames sin.
+
Extremist evangelicals Jerry Newcombe and Fred Jackson blame the liberal media, say victims who aren’t Christian are in hell.
+
Internet conspiracy theorists blame government, Obama, Illuminati. - Rep. Louie Gohmert apologizes for earlier comments linking Colorado shootings to attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs (trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com)
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, issued a statement over the weekend apologizing for comments he made on Friday linking the shootings at a Colorado theater to “ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs.” - Humanists denounce Rep. Gohmert’s comments linking Colorado shootings to “attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs” (secularnewsdaily.com)
“Rep. Louis Gohmert truly tortures logic when he concludes that this violence had something to do with perceived attacks on majority faith in America,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “At a time when families are mourning in the wake of this tragedy, Gohmert used it as an opportunity to push a religious agenda.”Gohmert suggested the shootings could have been avoided if the country placed a higher value on God when he stated, “We’ve threatened high school graduation participations, if they use God’s name, they’re going to be jailed … I mean that kind of stuff. Where was God? What have we done with God? We don’t want him around. I kind of like his protective hand being present.” - ‘Judeo-Christianity’ – More Jewish mocking and hatred of Jesus Christ (theuglytruth.wordpress.com)
Amy Aremia: Judeo-Christianity are in direct opposition and do not belong together….Christianity brought man out of the darkness of slavery and gave him human dignity and the freedom to make his own way in life. - The Right Wing’s Psychotic Version of God (planetpov.com)
“Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important. Whether it’s John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people … Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters … We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country.
+
Welcome to the Dominionist Christianity of the Religious Right. It is a travesty of Christianity and the message of peace, love and compassion that was central to the teachings of Jesus.This cult version of Christianity instead obsesses about dominance, hatred and the triviality of the lives of any who aren’t directly supporting or promoting their goals. It is a form of Christianity that packages up all of the traits of their alleged adversary, The Devil, and coats them with a sweet veneer of victimhood, self-righteousness and superiority that makes it easy for them to swallow all that nastiness and keep it inside of them in the name of “faith”. - The antidote for public-school indoctrination (wnd.com)
If you want to see what’s wrong and right with our country, watch Bradlee Dean’s ‘My War’ DVD series. It’s full of surprises. - Are You Full Of Yourself? (highlyfavored74.wordpress.com)
Am I an empty vessel for God to use or am I full of myself ? This means am I worthy to stand before God, and if so will I be able to say to my Father who art in Heaven – Lord, I did it with your help! When you are full of yourself you are selfish! Always thinking of self and less of others. - Self Denial and Evangelical Parenting (thechristianpundit.org)
On the weekend I was talking with a mother of teenaged girls about the statistic that 80% of evangelical, college age kids have premarital sex. Obviously, there’s a problem, and this mother was concerned for the future of the church.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 19 so far )
Mormons again gaining some attention
“There is a good chance that the main way a lot of leaders of the church will respond to the election of a Mormon to the presidency will be to stay as quiet and uninvolved in politics as possible and put as much daylight as possible between that president and the institutional church,” said Russell Arben Fox, a political scientist at Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and a Mormon writer. “They’re a global church and have responsibilities all around the world. For them to appear to be lining up behind a Mormon president and endorsing his policies would just be bad for the church.”
Despite their fears, Mormons acknowledge that Romney’s nomination will be a milestone like none before for the church.
With the American presidential election ahead the Mormons get some more attention because of Mitt Romney, the leading GOP candidate, and Jon Huntsman the second Republican candidate in the 2012 race who happens to be Mormon.
Some think it is Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president and a man who overcame several religious controversies — rumours that he’s a Muslim, concerns about his U.S.-bashing pastor in Chicago — who helped pave the way for nominees of other faiths.
“The American public is more sophisticated regarding religion than the prejudices witnessed from generations long past,” said conservative political commentator Kevin Patrick.
Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney
For Huntsman and Romney, their campaigns come at a significant time in public awareness of Mormonism.
On the entertainment front, Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon” and cable TV’s “Big Love” — however distorted their portrayal of the faith — have helped usher Mormonism into the mainstream, observers said.
On the political front, there are 14 Mormon members of Congress, making Washington’s climate hospitable to the idea of a Mormon president — or at least a Mormon GOP nominee.
“Being Mormon is only going to hurt them in a Southern evangelical base vote,” said Republican consultant Mike Edelman, who argued, however, that evangelicals would support Romney or Huntsman over Obama.
One major difference between the two is that Romney this year has shied away from discussing his faith, and Huntsman has insisted it’s just one of several religions that influence his life, fueling speculation that he could be distancing himself from the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
“Huntsman is reflective of contemporary trends in Mormonism,” said Matthew Bowman, associate editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
Mitt Romney’s emergence as the front-runner for the Republican nomination has been a mixed blessing for Mormons. It has led to unprecedented interest in the Church of Latter-Day Saints or LDS Church and its members, but the dominant image of Romney—too wooden, too rich, too secretive about his faith, too white—has reinforced existing stereotypes about members of the faith.
But they are not the first Mormon candidates for president, because the father of the movement himself presented himself as a candidate. Joseph Smith who claimed to have been visited by an angel of God who led him to the discovery of sacred gold-plated texts that became The “Book of Mormon,” ran an unorthodox campaign for president back in 1844, promoting a platform that went roughly this way: Make America a one-party state. Reduce Congress in size by two-thirds, allowing two senators per state, but just one House member per million people. Reduce Congressional salaries to two dollars plus room and board. (After all, he wrote, “that is more than the farmer gets and he lives honestly.”) Turn the jails into “seminaries of learning.” Re-establish the national bank. Make prisoners work on building roads or on any project “where the culprit can be taught more wisdom and more virtue; and become more enlightened…”
The reason why the golden plates or copies of the text on them are not available for examination is explained by saying that the angel had forbidden Joseph Smith to show them to anyone except those designated by the angel. After the translating work was done the angel is said to have taken them away. On those plates would have been the revelation of God. And Joseph Smith acted according to these words of God and as the angel directed him.
Jesus also would have appeared in the United States of America. As such he would also probably have spoken to many people over there, and they could have followed him.
The Book of Mormon English Missionary Edition Soft Cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon like an Authorised Bible version and got interested people around him. But his strange ideas brought controversions and agitations.
Long before he decided to run for president, the Mormon prophet had established a political life. Violently expelled from Missouri where the governor had issued an executive order authorizing the “extermination” or forced removal of the Mormon community, Smith and his followers settled in the rural town of Commerce, Illinois, and renamed it Nauvoo (Hebrew for “beautiful spot”). There, despite professed admiration for the Constitution as having been “divinely inspired,” he established himself as something of a supreme ruler. Indeed, Nauvoo was more like an independent theocracy than a republic, with Smith himself serving as mayor, chief judge, and major general of a private town militia.
Smith’s inspiration for seeking the presidency was the experience in Missouri. He had resented his community’s treatment there and petitioned President Martin Van Buren to intercede on the Mormons’ behalf. Van Buren declined. But the Mormon leader did have strong opinions on national issues as well and he published them under the title, “General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.”
Smith had hoped to keep the polygamy in his church secret.
It was an 1878 Supreme Court decision that ultimately forced the church to abandon the practice of polygamy. In Reynolds v. United States, the justices unanimously asserted a distinction between belief and practice, between opinion and conduct, when it ruled that the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, which prohibited the practice of “plural marriage” in any U.S. territory (Abraham Lincoln signed the act into law in 1862), withstood the standards of the First Amendment, even though the plaintiff, George Reynolds, had argued that it was his religious “duty” as a Mormon to marry more than one woman. Following that, the Mormon Church leadership declared in 1890 that its followers should “refrain from contracting any marriages forbidden by the law of the land.”
By the mid-twentieth century, the Mormon faith had settled into a more traditional profile. Still, the church’s fantastic origins and racist history have dogged any Mormon looking to occupy national office, and if Gov. Romney’s popularity grows making him a the Republican answer against Barack Obama, we can expect that his Mormon roots will continue to be debated.
During a town meeting, supporter Betty Treen took the microphone to ask the former Massachusetts Governor point blank about his faith.
“I am for you, but I need to ask you a personal question: Do you believe in the divine saving grace of Jesus Christ?” A murmur could be heard in the crowd in the few seconds it took Romney to get the microphone back.
“Yes, I do,” Romney began, as the crowd erupted into applause led by home state governor Nikki Haley, who was on stage with the candidate she has endorsed.
“I would note there are people in our nation that have different beliefs; there are people of the Jewish faith, and people of the Islamic faith, and other faiths who believe other things, and our President will be President of the people of all faiths,” Romney said, again interrupted by applause.
A president for all faiths is not a bad thing. But Christians should be aware of certain beliefs in the Mormon faith, which could give enough signs to the believer how to react rightly. Now that the Mormons are receiving again some attention so they shall be eager enough to come back on the streets more openly again to proclaim what they say is the word of God.
But can the book of Mormon be a book given by God to His people? Is it for us an important book to be read?
To find out you are best to compare the Book of Mormon with the Bible.
The number one truth, listed in the LDS’ A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, revealed “through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith” is “The true personality of God.” – p. 407, 1979 ed.
Or, as Joseph Smith himself wrote in his Lectures on Faith, p. 36,
“three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a CORRECT [Smith’s emphasis] idea of his character, perfection and attributes.”
Joseph Smith, his followers, and the Mormons who come along the houses give the impression that it is important that we know who the God is whom we must worship in truth (John 4:24) and what he expects of us. We are even given the warning that otherwise we may not receive eternal life! (See 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9 – KJV and Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version.) Ignorance will not be an excuse in the last day. How could anyone refuse to expend every effort in discovering all that can be known about the True God? (Proverbs 2:4, 5.)
When questions of historicity come up in Mormonism, the conversation often changes direction, from focusing on the historicity of the textual accounts to focusing on the historicity of the provenance of the text.
A very striking thing about The Book of Mormon is the frequent quotes or near quotes it makes from the Authorized or King James Version of the Bible, which was popular during the days of Joseph Smith.
The Book of Mormon has men who are supposed to have lived several hundred years before Christ using expressions that are found in the Greek Scriptures of the Bible, which Scriptures were written after the time of Christ. Paul’s expression at Hebrews 13:8 is used at least five times. He said: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (AV) Its first appearance in The Book of Mormon is at 1 Nephi 10:18, which was supposedly written more than 600 years before the days of the apostle Paul. It says: “For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.”
The Book of Mormon has Jesus Christ not only appearing in the flesh to the people of North America after his resurrection and ascension. About 124 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, The Book of Mormon has people crying out: “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.” (Mosiah 4:2) How can a people cry for forgiveness of sins by the atoning blood of Christ long before that blood was shed and at a time when God’s people were required to rely upon the animal sacrifices of the Law for atonement of sins?
A number of books in The Book of Mormon are dated before the coming of Christ, but they repeatedly talk about Jesus Christ, his sin-atoning sacrifice, his resurrection, his baptism in water, the baptism by the holy spirit, the salvation of man through Christ and the need of exercising faith in him in order to be saved. These things are mentioned with the great frequency that marks literary works produced after Jesus was killed and resurrected. Such statements about him become anachronisms in the time setting given them by The Book of Mormon. Being out of time-order, they conflict with the Bible, which places similar statements after Christ, not before his coming.
The Book of Mormon boldly asserts that God and Christ are one God. Alma 11:38, 39 says: “Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.” Mormon 7:7 speaks about singing praises “unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.” The Book of Mormon has Jesus Christ flatly saying, at 3 Nephi 11:14, “I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.”
But are you able to find such trinitarian sayings somewhere in the canon of the Bible? You may take any Roman Catholic Bible and even there you would not find any reference to a tri-une God in the Bible text itself?
Jesus Christ never claimed to be the “God of the whole earth” or the “God of Israel” or to be the “Creator of all things”. He always was very clear when he did miracles, that it was not he who did it whit his power, but His Father who authorised to do these actions in His name. Jesus was also clear in letting to know the people that they did not have to honour him, but that they should only give honour to the Only One God, his Father who is in heaven.
On this point The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible. Instead of saying that the Father and the Son are one God, the Bible reveals the son as the person given by the force of God, placed in the womb of a young virgin. This man was to be the one who still had to come in the time of Moses and Jacob. It was a man who was going to die while God can not die. Though for Joseph Smith God is also a man, while the Bible clearly tells us God is a spirit.
“God is a glorified and perfected man, a personage of flesh and bones. Inside his tangible body is an eternal Spirit (see D&C 130:22).” – p. 6, Gospel Principles, published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979 ed.
“The exact nature of the Holy Ghost – how He can be a personage of spirit dwelling in a spirit body – is not fully comprehended by mortal men. But we can understand that the Father and the Son are glorified men in whose image Adam was made. We can understand that they are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, and, by considering certain statements found in the Bible, we can understand that both God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ have glorified resurrected bodies of flesh and bones. We read in Holy Writ: ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’ (John 17:3).” – p. 92, Why I Believe, G. E. Clark, 1952, Foreword by Mormon Apostle John A. Widtsoe.
“god [is] a spirit, and they who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 MKJV)
Joseph Smith also used the name “Jehovah” more frequently than most members of “traditional” Christendom today. He also puts a lot of importance on the name of a person. It would appear, then, that he recognized the importance of that personal name of the Creator of the universe as welll. And, although he often publicly acknowledged the personal name “Jehovah” (e.g. D&C 109:34, 42, 56, 68), he did not present “Elohim” as being a name, but being a title. (What it is.) He properly translated that Hebrew word or title (but not personal name) as “God” or “god”!
IF, as present day Prophets of the LDS Church teach, “elohim” really is the personal name of God, the Father, then Joseph Smith’s virtually ignoring it would have been a terrible error!
Jesus did find an end to his life on the wooden stake. Jesus had also been clear that when he would return to the earth it would be at a moment he did not know yet, because only his Father knew. And that return would mean the End of Times.
So when Jesus would also have been in the United States, that would have meant the beginning of the End Times, though we are still in that time of tribulation.
Jesus is according the Bible also less than his Father and subject to the Father, who is the Only One God, even after his ascension to heaven. This is shown at 1 Corinthians 15:28, “But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.”
Jewish liturgy was fulfilled in Jesus. The apostles wrote their accounts to show Jesus as the fulfilment of the Jewish faith, so that stories of Jesus would parallel the Old Testament accounts already used in the synagogues.
Rather than claiming to be God in the flesh, Jesus Christ pointed out his dependence upon the Father and his inferiority to him by saying: “I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative; just as I hear, I judge; and the judgement that I render is righteous, because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 5:30).
There have been thousands of changes over the years in all of the LDS “Scriptures.” The Book of Mormon (BOM), for example, has suffered about 4000 changes since it was first published in 1830. Some of these changes that we will examine were major changes. The vast majority, however, were spelling/grammar/punctuation corrections.
Even these “minor” errors are significant. One of the special “Three Witnesses” for the BOM, Martin Harris, testified that the words which appeared on the “seer stone,” which Joseph Smith claimed to use to translate the golden plates into the BOM, wouldn’t even “erase” from that stone until they had been correctly written down on paper! {2}
It can be tempting to take the Book of Mormon just as an other Bible translation (as it is sometimes presented). People can find a lot of lengthy quotations from the Authorized Version in it. But several of the words, according to Smith would have been said in North America. For example, 3 Nephi 12:3-18, 21-28 and 31-45 are practically identical, verse for verse, with Matthew 5:3-18, 21-28 and 31-45 in the Authorized Version. This will also be found true when comparing 3 Nephi 13 with Matthew 6 as well as 3 Nephi 14 with Matthew 7. The type of similarities that comparison of these passages reveals would not have existed if Jesus had truly repeated these things to another people and they were written by different writers in a different language.
Many of Jesus’ statements recorded in the Bible can be found liberally sprinkled throughout The Book of Mormon, from those parts dated nearly 600 years before his birth to those dated over 400 years after his birth. What Jesus said about his sheep at John 10:9, 14, 16 is found, in part, at 1 Nephi 22:25, dated 588 years before Christ. Alma 31:37 uses Jesus’ words at Luke 12:22, although this book is dated 74 years before his birth. Jesus’ well-known expression at Matthew 16:19, where he tells Peter: “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” is found at Helaman 10:7, which says: “Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” This is dated twenty-three years before the birth of Jesus. It should be of interest to mention here that what Peter said about Jesus at Acts 3:22-25 appears, with the exception of a few alterations, at 3 Nephi 20:23-25, as words that Jesus was supposed to have said A.D. 34 to people in North America, but its close resemblance to the Authorized Version of the Bible identifies its source.
Joseph Smith’s teachings indicate the so-called “lost” 10 tribes (which include the tribe of Ephraim) are still off in some unknown, isolated location in the far north (see Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, pp. 843, 844) – Therefore, modern Europeans and Americans are not their descendants.
The Church also establishes a connection for the Deaf between Nephites and Lamanites and American Indians. If limited geography theories of the Book of Mormon are correct, this connection may be unfortunate, particularly as it comes from a more official source than the hand motions that go along with “Book of Mormon Stories.”
Trent Stephens explains the difficulties with recent DNA-based criticisms (PDF). Ralph Olsen proposes a Malay setting for the Book of Mormon (PDF). (But in that case, what are we to make of the prophesied Columbus figure, etc.?)
Worth to compare:
| Inclusive | Exclusive |
|---|---|
|
|
The Garden of Eden and the places where Adam offered sacrifices were placed in Missouri by Joseph Smith’s teaching which is also not according the Old writings to be found in the Middle East. ( Adam will return to Missouri,at and near Adam-Ondi-Ahman according to Doctrine & Covenants 116 .)
However global the Church may be today, it certainly started out very America-centered, and retains much of that America-centeredness.
The American people may find in George Romney the “real American” though polygamy is the reason he was born in Mexico.
+
“Let Us Reason” went deeper into the bible versus Mormon Book, but because it is not available any more, we would like to recommend the reading of this article on Fromthesunrising’s Blog The Book Of Mormons . also find some more writings in Reasoning From Scripture on the LDS.
++
Please do read:
- LDS’ God (“Elohim” & “Jehovah”)
- LDS’ change: Changing God’s Inspired Word
- Stick of Judah and Stick of Ephraim (or Joseph) – Ezekiel 37
- The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon
Why I Believe, by Mormon writer George Edward Clark, pp. 122-123 states:“Now, if Joseph Smith were a false prophet, an impostor, and wrote the Book of Mormon himself, quoting verbatim whole chapters from the Bible, he would have been inconsistent with his teachings, for in his eighth Article of Faith he said, ‘We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.’ Therefore, since he implied that our present King James version of the Bible is not all translated correctly, it is evident he would not copy what he professed was a mistranslation and embody that copy in a book which he purported to be a true record. The wording of those chapters, particularly the second chapter of Isaiah, differs greatly in the two books – one passage from each will suffice to illustrate:“‘And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.’ (Isaiah 2:9)“‘And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore forgive him not.’ (Book of Mormon – 2 Nephi 12:9)“It will at once be apparent that the latter translation has more clarity, is more consistent with itself, and bears witness of the fact that Joseph Smith did not copy the passage from the Bible, but suggests he translated it from God-inspired ancient records” – Bookcraft, Inc., Salt Lake City, 1952.
+++
Related articles
- Being Human (dougsdeepthoughts.wordpress.com)
I am a Mormon. By that, I mean that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That’s the church that has drawn a whole heckuva lot of attention lately thanks to prominent members like Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, Jr., Harry Reid, and Bryce Harper. A lot of misconceptions are being cleared up thanks to all of this attention…people are finding out that we don’t have five wives, worship Joseph Smith, sacrifice animals in our temples, etc. People are finding out that Mormons are, in many ways, just average people who believe that God is still speaking to His children.
+
So as you continue to see more about Mormonism in the news, please remember that we are proud of our most faithful members…but at the same time, remember that we are human too. - The Brain Eating Cult of Mormonism (theageofblasphemy.wordpress.com)
“The precipitous mountain pass that led the [Mormon] pioneers down into the Salt Lake Valley and still is the route of access from the east on Interstate 80, was first explored by my great-grandfather, Parley P. Pratt,” Mitt Romney cheerfully writes in “Turnaround,” the airport bookstore leadership manual he wrote in 2004 while governor of Massachusetts.
+
some Mormons have a tendency to compare themselves to the Jews — members of the church even refer to non-Mormons as “Gentiles.” (“I understood a little better what my Jewish friends encounter,” Romney writes in “Turnaround,” after receiving anti-Mormon hate mail.)
+
The Mormonism of the 19th century bears little resemblance to Mitt Romney’s Mormonism. Mitt Romney’s Mormonism is the impossibly cheery “Donny and Marie” variety, not the armed apocalyptic homesteading cult member variety. Tolstoy — referring to the scrappy/crazy 19th century version — called Mormonism “the American religion,” and he decidedly did not mean that as a compliment. But the modern church still deserves the title. It’s the Coca-Cola religion, with a brand that denotes a sort of upbeat corporate Americanness, considered cheesy by elites but undeniably popular in pockets of the heartland and abroad. - Richard Mouw, Evangelical Leader, Says Engaging Mormons Isn’t Just About Being Nice (huffingtonpost.com)
Richard Mouw never intended to start a riot within the evangelical community by saying his fellow believers had “sinned against Mormonism.” But that’s exactly what happened.
+
Today, evangelicals have been forced to confront their views of Mormonism even more directly and publicly because of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.In October, Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist, called Mormonism a cult and said he therefore would never vote for a Latter-day Saint. Since Romney presumably secured the Republican nomination, Jeffress reluctantly admitted he would vote for Romney over Obama, because of the Mormon candidate’s stance on abortion. - Now that Romney is invoking Mormonism to woo voters, isn’t it time we had a frank discussion about Mormonism? (americablog.com)
Why is discussing Mitt Romney’s Mormonism off limits when Mitt Romney is using his Mormonism to woo evangelical voters? Either his being a Mormon is relevant or it’s not; it’s off limits, or it’s not. It’s clearly not off limits to Mitt Romney. - ‘Sister Wives’ Speak On Romney, Hanukkah And Practice Of Polygamy (huffingtonpost.com)
With Gov. Romney the clear favorite to win the Republican nomination, the question of a Mormon president in the White House will be a hot topic this election season. One of the most prominent displays of Mormonism is TLC’s popular reality show “Sister Wives,” in which an openly polygamist, Fundamentalist Mormon family shares their life and faith with the world.While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has officially rejected polygamy, the Brown family openly continues with the practice. - Mormons gird for campaign (staradvertiser.com)
As 20,000 Mormons streamed from the church conference center, a ragtag group of protesters stood across the street shouting that the Latter-day Saints were going to hell. Mormon families, who had gathered here for two days of speeches and spiritual guidance called General Conference, ignored the hecklers or laughed and kept walking.
+
The Latter-day Saints have been running a multimillion-dollar series of ads, called “I’m a Mormon,” since 2010, to dispel stereotypes by telling the stories of individual Mormons. To avoid any appearance that the ads were meant to help Romney, the church didn’t buy ad time in Iowa and some other markets with early primaries, said Michael Purdy, an LDS national spokesman. At the General Conference last month, led by the highest authorities of the church, there was no mention of the election across the pulpit. - Romney, Mormons brace for mean campaign (kshb.com)
Organized in 1830, Latter-day Saints were persecuted from their earliest days for their doctrine and support for polygamy, which Mormons renounced in 1890. A mob assassinated founder Joseph Smith in 1844, sending Mormons fleeing into the unsettled Mountain West. Theological differences with other faith groups — about scriptures, the nature of God and heaven — provided fodder for anti-Mormon bias over the years. Christian groups challenged the Mormon assertion that the church is part of traditional Christianity. One such group, the Utah Lighthouse Ministry, operates just a few miles from Temple Square, the Salt Lake City complex at the heart of the faith. - Romney, Mormons brace for a mean political season (hosted.ap.org)
even with a resilience built over nearly two centuries as outsiders, church members are anxious about what’s ahead. Republican Mitt Romney is about to become the first Mormon nominee for U.S. president on a major party ticket. That will give them a chance like no other to explain their tradition to the public, but the church’s many critics will have a bigger platform, too. And the vetting will take place amid the emotion of what may well be a nasty general election.
+“People who have opposed Mormonism forever will use this as an opportunity,” said Robert Millet, a religion scholar at Brigham Young University who co-founded a pioneering evangelical-Mormon dialogue. “I don’t know if we’re ready for this kind of deluge.”
+
Steve Shaw, a political scientist at Northwest Nazarene University and co-author of “The Presidents and Their Faith,” compares this election to the 1960 campaign of John F. Kennedy, who confronted religious bias to become the first Roman Catholic president. Kennedy’s election marked a move for Catholics more firmly into the American mainstream, a potential shift for Mormons as well in 2012. When Romney became the presumptive nominee last month, the liberal-leaning Mormon blog, “By Common Consent,” posted an article titled, “Excited about Romney, Despite Myself.”“If Mr. Romney is elected, when he is sworn into office in January 2013, the history of Mormonism in this country clearly would enter a new chapter,” Shaw said.
- Romney, Mormons brace for a mean political season (boston.com)
Christian groups with a competing emphasis on evangelizing worry about a flood of Mormon converts if Romney prevails over President Barack Obama. With 14.4 million members, the church is among the fastest-growing in the world, supported by a full-time missionary force of about 55,000 young people. - Romney, Mormons brace for a mean political season (kansascity.com)
“I honestly look forward to having the public see an LDS member live life in full public view,” said Alison Moore Smith, a Mormon Republican from Lindon, Utah, and founder of the blog MormonMomma.com. “While many (Mormons) are worried about the heightened scrutiny, most seem to have a ‘finally they will see what we’re really like’ attitude.” - Mitt Romney Already Trying To Convert Christians To Mormonism? (truelogic.wordpress.com)
Mitt Romney stated about Paul Ryan’s budget that it was ” A Marvelous Work of Wonder”. Mormons love the word “marvelous.” It was one of Joseph Smith’s favorite words.The bible used the word Marvelous 24 times while the book of mormon used it 50 times, yet the bible is almost 5 times larger than the book of mormon. -
Mormons who fear Mitt – Mormon Church – Salon.com (mbcalyn.com)
“I would not vote for him just because he is Mormon. I want to know what he is going to do for the people. I want to see the compassion.”
Gladys Knight is not voting for Mitt Romney. In a recent interview with BET the famed singer, herself a Mormon, said she wants to see the GOP front-runner “talk about something else besides the money.” Knight’s ambivalence about Romney is shared by at least a handful of her fellow Latter-day Saints.
+
Mormonism’s political monoculture may well be shrinking the gene pool of potential converts who will remain comfortable in LDS pews. To be relevant — that is, likable — in the 21st century, Mormons will need to find a way to appeal to a broader segment of American society: women, gays and even Democrats.Mitt Romney could make that effort more difficult.
- Can A Cult Member Be President Without Cult Influence?(currentopinionsofnews.wordpress.com)Yes, it is my belief, as it is with many others, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult. I have had friends who were Mormons, and they (all Mormons) are as strange as Scientologists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and any other cult you can think of.
The question is–can Romney be President and lead without interference from the Mormon church and/or his religious beliefs? I fear not. As a cult member, Romney is heavily brainwashed, just like all cult members, and I fear their loyalties lie more with their cults than with our nation.
+
The new season of “Sister Wives” premiers on Sunday, May 13 at 9 p.m. EST. - LDSWatch.org Issues First “Dangerous” Rating for Novel, Declares Potential to Negatively Affect Mormon Candidates (prweb.com)
LDSWatch.org tracks and assesses appearances of Mormons in popular fiction. Our “dangerous” rating means that the fictional content is both believable and provocative enough to alter people’s perceptions of Mormons. The novel End of Grace seems to instill or confirm suspicions that the Mormon Church is controlled by power hungry men who regularly resort to violent actions to advance church position. Readers could easily have their opinions of the Mormon Church and its people lowered. This in turn may well affect how they view and cast votes for Mormon political candidates.
The day is near studyweekend
We can look back on an interesting study weekend.
On Saturday Brother Rudolf Rijkeboer in the first study wondered if it was really so that we could be facing the end times. He brought some hypothetical posings and compared the different theorem. He also questioned how we could know if the return of Christ was in front of us and how the beginning of or Jesus getting at the door would not have to mean the end is here.
““And you shall begin to hear of fightings and reports of fightings. See that you are not troubled, for these have to take place, but the end is not yet. “For nation shall rise against nation, and reign against reign. And there shall be scarcities of food, and deadly diseases, and earthquakes in places. “And all these are the beginning of birth pains. ” (Matthew 24:6-8 The Scriptures 1998+)
““And learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that the summer is near. “So you also, when you see all these, know that He is near, at the doors. ” (Matthew 24:32-33 The Scriptures 1998+)
Mount of Olives, from Sherover-Hass-Goldman promenade in East Talpiot - Photo: David Lisbona
Today we can see that Israel is getting more and more isolated. More people are showing their resistance against Jerusalem and are acting against Israelites.
In the third study of the Saturday brother Rudolf placed all the fights of Israel in the picture. On Sunday, in Belgium we went on looking at Antiochius IV Epiphanes, how he considered the Jews a strange element in his Empire. On Sunday Steve Robinson and Marcus Ampe talked about those days of Epiphanes and the dates given by Daniel.
We saw that also in his and other times the matter of ‘end-times’ was more than ones on the tongue of people. Also when people got to see certain happenings or signs, they wondered: “how long will these wonders last?” In Daniels time a man swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times and a half, and that it will be when the the power of the holy people is no longer being shattered that all these things will end. and several could hear this, but couldn’t understand what it meant. Also Daniel wondered what it meant and asked God, what the outcome of all this would be ?
But at that time these words were to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. And even at the time of the send Messiah that prophet, being called the son of god, did not know when the end times would be coming. Though Jesus also warned people to be prepared and to be always ready, because as it was declared to Daniel, many will purify, cleanse and refine themselves; but the wicked will keep on acting wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. But those with discernment will understand. from the time the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days from Daniels time we were told that something serious was going to happen. How blessed will be anyone who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But you, go your way until the end comes. Then you will rest and rise for your reward, at the end of days.
When Daniel was in his late 80’s or over 90 he understood that Jeremiah’s 70 years had come to an end. The time for the return of the Jews had come and he pleaded with Jehovah God to forgive Israel for their sins and to look with favour on the sanctuary now desolate. God’s response was to tell Daniel of the seventy sevens the 490 years when atonement for transgression will be made by the Messiah. The sin offering will end and righteousness will come to pass. Daniel was being shown that Messiah (The Christ or Anointed One) would take away iniquity. Daniel became filled with visions and time periods of the latter days but is told “As for you Daniel go your way till the end. You will rest and then at the end of the days will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12:13)
The hand-writing upon the wall / Js. Gillray invt. & ft. Napoleon, Josephine, French soldiers and women seated at feast with dishes "Bank of England," "St. James," "Tower of London," and "Roast Beef of old England." Napoleon looks in horror at hand of Jehovah pointing to words in sky: "Mene mene, tekel upharsin." - James Gillray (1757–1815)
(Daniel 12:1-13 The Scriptures 1998+)
Jesus who knew his Father is greater than him, was content by not knowing the day the end would come. “But concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers of the heavens, but My Father only. {Footnote:Mk. 13:32}. ” (Matthew 24:36 The Scriptures 1998+)
““Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Master is coming. “And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. “Because of this, be ready too, for the Son of Ad?am is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. ” (Matthew 24:42-44 The Scriptures 1998+)
Mark Hale looked at the many years that passed, at the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah and the descendants of Abraham, Mesopotamia and Egypt and how we saw in history the political story nicely fitting in Gods Plan. While brother Mark Hale asked us if we should be full of fright or be comforted, brother Rijkeboer showed us how we could learn from the past.
Mark Hale in the 4th study showed us what we have to do and how we could look at the signs we should see in this world. But also how we do have to be aware how history has proven that everything has to go according the Plan of God and people should be careful not to work against this Plan, delaying in such instance the return of Christ.
We should learn from what is written in the Scriptures and what has happened in the history of times.
“For whatever was written before was written for our instruction,1 that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have the expectation. Footnote: 11 Cor. 10:11, 2 Tim. 3:16-17. ” (Romans 15:4 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Take heed not to refuse the One speaking. For if those did not escape who refused the warning on earth, much less we who turn away from Him from heaven, “
(Hebrews 12:25 The Scriptures 1998+)
““So you also, when you see these matters take place, know that the reign of Elohim is near. ” (Luke 21:31 The Scriptures 1998+)
“So when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Master, would You at this time restore the reign to Yisra’ĕl?”1 Footnote: 1Lk. 1:33. And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ” (Acts 1:6-7 The Scriptures 1998+)
““Now I say to you, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you shall believe that I am.” (John 13:19 The Scriptures 1998+)
““Peace I leave with you – My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. “You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you did love Me, you would have rejoiced that I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. “And now I have told you before it takes place, that when it does take place, you shall believe. “I shall no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming,1 and he possesses none at all in Me, Footnote: 1See Lk. 4:6. but, in order for the world to know that I love the Father, and that as the Father commanded Me, so I am doing. Rise up, let us go from here. ” (John 14:27-31 The Scriptures 1998+)
When we do all the signs around us we can clearly notice we are really coming to the predicted time of the return of Christ. But having to face the change in times, with people acting as it was prophesied we should understand that during the last days, scoffers will come, following their own desires and asking, “where is this promised ‘coming’ of his? for our fathers have died, and everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation.” We do know people will laugh with us and lots of them would not believe us. Others also do everything to bring us in discredit.
Everyday we should have the Word of God accompanying us and bringing us assurance. We may not overlook the fact that it was by God’s word that long ago there were heavens, and there was land which arose out of water and existed between the waters, and that by means of these things the world of that time was flooded with water and destroyed. It is by that same Word that the present heavens and earth, having been preserved, are being kept for fire until the day of judgement, when ungodly people will be destroyed. Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord Elohim the One who has everything in His hands, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day {Psalms 90:4}. For us it may seem to be a very long time, sometimes even too long. But we may be happy that Jehovah is not slow in keeping His promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, He is patient with us; for it is not His purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins.
“knowing this first: that mockers shall come in the last days with mocking, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues as from the beginning of creation.” For they choose to have this hidden from them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by the Word of Elohim,1Footnote: 1Heb. 11:3. through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. And the present heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a day of judgment and destruction of wicked men. But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4. “(2 Peter 3:3-9 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And when these matters begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28 The Scriptures 1998+)
“And I heard a loud voice from the heaven saying, “See, the Booth of Elohim is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim. ” (Revelation 21:3 The Scriptures 1998+)
+++
Dutch readers please do find about the study weekend the articles in Dutch:
De Dag is nabij #1 Voortdurende moeilijkheden
De Dag is nabij #2 Bruikbare informatie
De Dag is nabij #3 Niet laten verrassen
De Dag is nabij #5 Terugkijken naar verleden
De Dag is nabij #7 Thema van de dag
Related articles
- Delving into the Scriptures and Discovering the Answers (prweb.com)
Author Ron Braley explains what the Bible, history and prophecy say about the end of our world without pushing an end-times agenda or any particular view. Braley believes that a poor foundation leads to weak or little faith which can open the door for the end-times deception. - Jesus begotten Son of God #7 A matter of the Future (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- The dark side of our earthly existence (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
The previous years we heard many times that this world was going to go under. The end was near said more than one prophet. - Rugby Prophecy Day (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Called Out by Name (antwrites.com)
Matthew 24:37-44 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be when the Son of man comes. he people then carried on unsuspectingly until the flood came and killed them all. This is how it will be when I come next, at a time when you least expect. Then there will be two people working; one will be taken, the other left. Therefore, be ready and keep watch of the Day your Lord comes. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
[It has always been thought that this passage in Matthew refers to the Return of Jesus in His glory, but even a quick look at Revelation shows that this event cannot be at the Return, as that will not be unexpected, because it is exactly 1260 days after the Anti Christ desecrates the Temple. The next thing prophesied, that will come ‘ like a thief’, is the punishment of the nations instigated by Jesus and graphically described in over 100 prophesies, as a coronal mass ejection, that will clear and cleanse the Land of Israel in preparation for ‘ the homecoming of His people’. Ezekiel 36:8, Isaiah 65:9, Isaiah 49:22, Ezekiel 37:21, Jeremiah 16:14-16, Zechariah 10:8-12]
- I’ve Been Where Jesus WILL Return… (pastorron7.wordpress.com)
But of all the places in Israel… there was ONE I wanted to visit most… The Mount of Olives. Why? Because 1) That was where Jesus ascended to heaven (CLICK HERE and HERE), and 2) That is where Jesus will return… LITERALLY (CLICK). - A Skeleton Comes Alive (guapotg.wordpress.com)
there has been the return of Jews from Babylon to Israel after the 70-year exile in the 5th century before Messiah. But this was only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which were involved in this particular instance.
+
YHVH has already started moving the Jews back to Israel since the beginning of the 20th century. The city of Jerusalem has also been re-established as the capital of Israel under loud protest of most of the nations.
+
Who would have dreamt in 1945, with the discovery of the death camps for Jews in Germany, that this same badly marred Jewish nation would declare the independent State of Israel in 1948, only three years later?
+
YHVH does not misdirect – chopping and changing all the time. He repeatedly emphasises the fact that He will not change nor erase His Word, His Law or the Covenant. - Israel Prayer Watch: Daniel, Persia & Greece by Asher Intrater (pastorjuan.com)
The process of spiritual warfare started with Daniel humbling himself and studying the Scriptures to find out God’s plan for Israel and the end times. This combination of humility, Scripture study, and God’s plan for Israel and the end times is the foundation for spiritual warfare in our generation as well.
+
It is more than a coincidence that these two powers: Islamic extremism and the United Nations have concentrated their efforts in condemning Israel.We are facing the same spiritual battle that Daniel faced. In fact the Angel of the Lord explicitly told him that the fullness of this battle would take place in the end times.
- Israel abandoning Har HaZeitim (Mount of Olives)? (ifaynsh.wordpress.com)
- Mountains and the promises of the gospel (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
the meaning of mountains in prophecy is connected with the promises of the gospel. -
- Interpreting the mountains of prophecy (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
- The desolation prophecies (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
- Is the promised land visible, or invisible? (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
- The heavenly mount Zion, a better country (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
The dark side of our earthly existence
DaanSpeak writes about the dark side of our earthly existence all the time.
The previous years we heard many times that this world was going to go under. The end was near said more than one prophet.
The British futuristic action thriller Doomsday, written and directed by Neil Marshall, saw the light in 2008. In it the Reaper virus infects Scotland, so the country is walled off by the British government. After a quarantine they think everything is gone back to normal, with the remaining Scottish populationand the virus apparently dying off. Decades later, though, the virus reappears in London. A team of people work to prevent a disaster threatening the future of the human race.
"Doomsday on the Brain" panel discussion. (Photo credit: 92YTribeca)
At the turn of the century many doom preachers came again to the forefront and tried to make people frightened for the coming near future. According to some ministers in some protestant denominations people had to be aware of the last days of the world which entered our world. They warned us that the many abominations which came over them were a punishment of God. If people were not to convert and change their way of living they would encounter even more troubles and would be doomed for ever.
By “malheur”, men heard the name of God brought in front of them referring to all the disasters which came over the world: earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy storms with disastrous floods but also droughts. Confronted with all the bad news lots of people thought it was Gods penalty for the way people were living today. They did not see any reason to look for the cause by men himself. God got the honour to be the cause of it all. He was the easy scapegoat.
Harold Egbert Camping a lifelong members of the Christian Reformed Church, served there as an Elder and Bible teacher for many years, until the year 1988. This Open Forum program on Family Radio continued to the present time and is broadcast on the more than 140 stations owned by Family Radio in the U.S. The man authored about 30 books and booklets.
Harold Camping speaks during a taping of his show "Open Forum" in Oakland, Calif., May 23, 2011 - two days after the 89-year-old had said the Earth would end. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Camping, 90, has made predictions about Judgment Day, Christ’s return and the end of the world for the past few decades – with the May 21, 2011, forecast receiving the most media attention. Each time the date passed, he did not admit to mistaking the timing but instead reasoned that the events happened “spiritually” rather than physically.
On Family Radio they teach that all mankind are sinners and, therefore, are subject to God’s righteous wrath. For them man by nature is spiritually dead and therefore he will not and cannot come to God on God’s terms. Today, according to them, we are heading for the end of this world’s existence, we should not be a part of a local church though God is still adding to His eternal Church consists of people all over the world whom God has planned to save as they come under the hearing of the true Gospel.
Family Radio 50th anniversary banquet (Photo credit: Newbirth35)
The radio predicted the end of the world last year time and says now that there has come a time of confusion and turmoil, and agree that events within the last year have proven that no man can be fully trusted. “Even the most sincere and zealous of us can be mistaken.”
They humbly acknowledge they were wrong about the timing; yet though they were wrong God is still using the May 21 warning in a very mighty way. In the months following May 21 the Bible has, in some ways, come out from under the shadows and is now being discussed by all kinds of people who never before paid any attention to the Bible.
Today they say: “We were even so bold as to insist that the Bible guaranteed that Christ would return on May 21 and that the true believers would be raptured. Yet this incorrect and sinful statement allowed God to get the attention of a great many people who otherwise would not have paid attention. Even as God used sinful Balaam to accomplish His purposes, so He used our sin to accomplish His purpose of making the whole world acquainted with the Bible. However, even so, that does not excuse us. We tremble before God as we humbly ask Him for forgiveness for making that sinful statement. We are so thankful that God is so loving that He will forgive even this sin.”
The same year many looked to 2012, the year the Mayan Indians predicted many centuries ago that the world was going to come to an end, according some.
All kinds of holy scriptures through the ages have heard the gong for the last round. The year 2012 is mentioned with striking frequency, like by the Pueblo-Indians, the Zulus and the Maya. the Maya made their predictions about the moment when the gong would sound on the basis of calculations that still hold nowadays. At the centre of these are their calendars by which they calculated in periods of 26.000 years and larger. These periods evolved from their own calculation of time which seems to be superior in accuracy, also to our own calendar.
AHAU (logogram); named day 20 of the Tzolkin cycle of the Mayan Calendar
When we look at the calendar system the Maya used we may find it very accurate in their calculations and as a consequence we may imagine that they could make very accurate predictions. They marked the end of the large calendar as December 21, 2012. This date and of the cycle of thirteen so-called baktuns after which the earth starts the ‘period of the fifth sun’ has been taken by many to be the end of the world. Though that is not exactly what the Mayans said. An end of one calendar period does not have to mean the end of the world. According to their calculations, which still are astronomically correct, our solar system will be in one line with Hunab K’u, the center of the Milky Way, the place the Maya call the mother womb. Technically you can then get a sort of zero situation in the revolutions of the electromagnetic fields of our solar system. According to the traditions of the Hopi Indians, this will take three days; three days of emptiness and darkness. After that the magnetic poles can reverse. Who knows?’ Whatever happens, the Maya calendar then will start over with the year zero. the Maya do not have a linear time calculation, but see time as overlapping circles.
December 21, 2012 should as such not be the end of it all but could be the beginning of a large new period again of 26.000 years and a smaller period of 5200 years. The Guatemalan ‘Mayan Elders of the Eagle Clan’ write: “This is a cycle of wisdom, harmony, peace, love, of consciousness and the return of the natural order. It is not the end of the world as many from outside of the Mayan tradition have misinterpreted it to be. “
In January 2012, the Doomsday Clock read five minutes to midnight (11:55pm).
Since 1947 the board of directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago presented a symbolic clock face The Doomsday Clock . Originally, the clock analogy, during the Cold War, represented the threat of global nuclear war; however, since 2007 it has also reflected climate-changing technologies and “new developments in the life sciences that could inflict irrevocable harm.
The idea is that various existential risks, as supervolcanos and asteroids, but also catastrophic global warming, nuclear war, or bioterrorism, have the potential to destroy, or drastically restrict, human civilization and could cause human extinction; or even cause the end of Earth. some people even think that an extraterrestrial life could invade Earth.
Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas, headed by Fred Phelps
This group does not see that the Jews are the chosen people by God but consider them the murderers of Christ Jesus and that God has smitten Jews with a certain unique madness. for them “America Is Doomed”, “Israel Is Doomed”, and “ADL Jew Bullies”.
Phelps concluded by stating, in an apparent reference to the Book of Revelation, that all the nations of the world would soon march on Israel, and that they would be led by President Barack Obama, whom she called the “Antichrist“.
According to them over 1 billion Catholics in the world will split Hell wide open when they die and as such this would mean every day hell is brought closer to this world.
The protestant churches do not escape criticism because “their preachers have shirked their responsibility to tell people the truth about sin, and instead lie to them about what the Lord their God doth require of them.”
But what does ‘the Lord our God’ require from men? What has God foreseen for humankind and how would he treat men and women?
Is it reasonable to think December 21, 2012 would be the last day of this universe?
It it time to stop planning your careers, bothering buying a house or is it just the opposite and have we to work harder to make sure everything is done what we wanted to do?
Is it time to make sure to spend the last years of our life doing something we always wanted to do but never had the time.
We may tell you that you have the time now lying in front of you. Every day you live is one more day that you could make the best out of your life. But every day that passes is also a day we should have to be ready to expect the end of times coming around the corner and greeting the return of Jesus Christ our Messiah.
WATCHMEN: Metro newspaper as The New Frontiersman
What does it mean that we should be “awake” and that the night is nearing its end or that the Day is close-by?
Do you want to belong to those who are called out of darkness into His marvellous light and be something or nothing in God’s estimation?
Life is compact of little things and it passes very quickly. We as inhabitants of this world and tenants of this space should be aware how we treat others and nature around us. We also should listen to what men of God told the people, who wanted to hear, about the future and look forward to the return of the promised one.
From the time we waken till we go to rest, we are engaged in a thousand trifling tasks. And this is as true of the greatest of mankind, who lead humanity in thought and action, as of the rest of us who are but common clay. Great hours come to us but rarely; common hours are with us all the time. Great hours reveal our possibilities; common hours reveal our consecration. And for our Lord the usual was the big thing, because the usual is nine-tenths of life, and sets the field for triumph or defeat.
We should be aware what the real world is but also what is going to happen really to the world. Being part of this world we should also know we can be part of an other ‘world’ and remember the Divine Call.
The Bible stands unequalled in all Literature. Yes, there are many volumes of sacred writings held in high esteem by many peoples; works of history, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, humanity, philanthropy and mystery. They each have their place, and have undoubtedly contributed in some way or another to either the maintenance, or advancement of their respective cultures. But, still, none of them equal the Bible in its depth of inspiration, or its sweep of influence.
Therefore we can better take the Bestseller of all times and look in it for the wisdom, because it is a real treasure which can reveal a lot. It is also a book which can disclose matters of the things still going to happen. Lots shall come manifest by reading and understanding the Holy Scriptures.
Even Jesus did not know when he was going to return or when the end times would come. How should we know then?
While there are still doomsday dates currently circulating, Camping and Family Radio said they have “no new evidence pointing to another date” and have “no interest in even considering another date.”
“God has humbled us through the events of May 21, to continue to even more fervently search the Scriptures (the Bible), not to find dates, but to be more faithful in our understanding,” they highlighted.
“[W]e must be satisfied to humbly wait upon God, and trust He will guide His people to safety. At Family Radio, we continue to look to God for guidance. If it is His good pleasure for us to continue on with our original mission, the proclamation of the Gospel, God’s Word, then we must continue to look to Him.”
Come and find out this coming Saturday March 10 in Amersfoort, Holland at the ecclesia of our Dutch brethren: ‘t Nieuwe Kerkehuis, hoek Daltonstraat/Leusderweg in Amersfoort for the Studyday in Dutch and on Sunday the 11 th of March in Heverlee at Texaco, E40 Motorway, Ecclesia Brussel-Leuven for an English update.
We shall show you there is no way to panic, only to be aware of what we should know and what we should do, ‘staying awake’ and ‘being prepared’, trusting God, not fearing man or heathen predictions.
Invitation: > Uitnodiging voor studiedag 2012
+
Please do find:
DaanSpeak, the News behind the news:
- In English: Maya predicted a long time ago: The year 2012 will be a turning point
- In Dutch: Maya’s voorspelden al lang geleden:
Het jaar 2012 wordt een omslagpunt
++
You can find more literature on the subject of this study weekend:
In English:
- Preparing for the return of Christ and the Kingdom of God on earth.
- Life and Prophecies of Nostradamus
- 2012 Doomsday Predictions
- The real Doomsday in 2012
- No Doomsday in 2012
- The great Day of their wrath
- The hands of God’s wrath
- Radio talk: May 23rd 2011 Family Radio Full Broadcast: Harold Camping’s New Doomsday
- Video: MAY 21ST DISASTER UPDATE: 6PM in New Zealand! (Dino Run, lol!)
- Harold Camping Employee Estimates $100M Spent on Judgment Day Advertising
- Could Harold Camping Be Sued?
- Antichrist and The Most Hated Family in America in crisis
- End Times
- The days are coming
- 1. Rapture what does it mean?2. The Rapture or admittance with Christ.
- Increase Earthquakes
- Newsweek asks: How ignorant are you?
- Rugby Prophecy Day
- Called ones escape
- Why does God “loosen Satan for a time” at the end of the age?
- Armageddon and other global disasters that could spell the end of the world.
In Dutch:
Vind meer gegevens over deze en een zelfde onderwerp behandelende studie dag:
In het Nederlands:
- De Dag is nabij #1 Voortdurende moeilijkheden
- De Dag is nabij #2 Bruikbare informatie
- De Dag is nabij #3 Niet laten verrassen
- De Dag is nabij #4 Begrijpen
- De Dag is nabij #5 Terugkijken naar verleden
- De Dag is nabij #6 Uitzien
- De Dag is nabij #7 Thema van de dag
- Eindtijd / Eindtijd
- Is er een komende Eindtijd
- Wereld waarheen? #2 Gebed om de komst van de koning
- Wereld waarheen? #3 De Wortelscheut van David
- Wereld waarheen? #4 Het Lied van de Serafs
- De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #1 Dit geslacht zal geenszins voorbijgaan
- De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #2 Blik op de nabije toekomst
- De wederkomst en de eindtijd #3 Let op de Vijgeboom
- De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #4 De komende toorn
- De Wederkomst en de Eindtijd #5 De Verlosser uit de hemel
- De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #6 De Dagen van Noach en Lot
- De Rapture of Wegvoering blootgelegd:1. Hoofdstuk 1: Wat betekent”Rapture” of “vervoering”?
2. De vervoering of de toegang met Christus.
- Is er een komende Eindtijd
- Een Naam voor een God #8 Vergeten of weigeren
- Het begin van Jezus #6 Beloften van innerlijke zegeningen
- De Bijbel onze Gids #15 Het Heerlijke einde
- Visie op Jezus’ wederkomst van invloed op vraag hoe met deze aarde omgaan
- Harold Camping komt met nieuwe dag op de proppen zonder verontschuldiging
- Doemdagscenarios
- Laatste dagen omroepers
- Newsweek vraagt zich af of wij nog onwetend willen houden
- Hoe de Satan vandaag rond toert
- Messiaanse tijd
- Toename van aardbevingen
- Lucas 21, 25-36 toegelicht door Augustinus
- Blijf waakzaam nu einde nabij komt
- De Knecht des Heren #5 De Gezalfde gezant
- Welke dag van de komst
- Fragiliteit en actie #7 Gebeurtenissen en Prioriteiten
- Jesaja profeet en boodschapper van God
- Draagbare Tempel
- Door verkondiging ook geruster
- Zo maar gerechtvaardigd?
- God meester van goed en kwaad
- Vandaag 22 September en vooruitzicht op Vrede
+++
Related articles
- Harold Camping Admits Sin, Announces End to Doomsday Predictions (revivalandreformation.wordpress.com)
After numerous failed doomsday predictions, Family Radio founder Harold Camping announced this month that he has no plans to predict ever again the day of God’s Judgment. He also issued an apology to listeners, admitting that he was wrong. + Harold Camping Admits Sin, Announces End to Doomsday Predictions - What a Liberating Hope We Have As Christians (verticalviewer.wordpress.com)
The Bible claims to contain all the truth (John 16:13), and everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). From 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it is apparent that since the Scriptures are profitable for correction, that whatever corrections one will need to make in their life, the Bible will be useful in each of those areas.
+
Those who fear the Lord are encouraged to trust God and to rely upon Him. Others, who insist on making their own fires, torches or flashlights, are those who are attempting to find the way out of the darkness without following the Scriptures. What will the end result be? - Wyoming Bill Prepares for Doomsday (newser.com)
Wyoming lawmakers are ready for anything—even the apocalypse. House legislators advanced a bill Friday to prepare for a possible nationwide economic or political meltdown, the Casper Star-Tribune reports. - The Maya Calendar Explained at Chaa Creek Website (prweb.com)
The Lodge at Chaa Creek, located in Belize’s heartland of the Maya, has added a functioning, interactive Maya Calendar to their website to help people understand and appreciate the Maya concept of time in the lead up to 2012. - December 21st 2012 – END of THE World as According to The Mayan Calender (socyberty.com)
considering the predictions and considering the prophecies catastrophes past of the end of the world, the earth should have finished on time that it is! Since the earth always is here, it would be just to say then that, to date, all the prophecies and the predictions catastrophes of the end of the world (before that 2012) failed! May 21 2011 the Prediction of Camping of Harold of the rapture and final judgement failed.+
The cycle Tzolkin , 260 days long, was a calendar religion based on two shorter cycles, a 13-day and another of 20. The combination of these two cycles forming a cycle of 260 days (13 × 20 = 260), the Tzolkin cycle precisely. - Doomsday Dashed: Why the End of the World Will Not Happen on December 21, 2012 (ibtimes.com)
Many believe that the end of the calendar, which happens to fall on the same day as the Winter Solstice, marks the end of the world. Doomsday prophets are banking on the end of humankind.(Photo: Reuters)
A general view shows the exterior of the tomb of a Mayan ruler at the ruins of the Mayan city of Palenque in the hills of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas in this undated handout photo by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) released June 23, 2011.
+However, a new hypothesis has begun to float around the Internet that poses a contradicting opinion. This new theory might very well silence all those doomsayers once and for all. It has appeared on Tumblrs and forum threads as well as on Twitter and Facebook pages.
-
- Circling a fate on the calendar (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
There are years that are remembered for changing the course of human history: 1492. 1776. 1945.Then there are years that were predicted to change the course of history. 1844, when Judgment Day didn’t materialize. 1910, when Halley’s comet didn’t wipe out humanity. And remember Y2K?But rarely does a year arrive with such a mixture of anticipation and dread as 2012.We speak not of the presidential campaign but of the Maya calendar, and the projection that it — or, more accurately, a cycle within it — will end on Dec. 21, 2012. That date has kicked up a swirl of anticipation, based on science, pseudoscience, hucksterism and spiritual belief. The idea is that 2012 will be a game-changer, the last year of civilization as we know it.
+
There is dispute among Maya scholars about the date, however. While some believe it is accurate, Aldana contends the calculations used to align the Maya calendar with the Gregorian calendar (the one widely used today) were based on a misunderstanding and could be as much as 50 to 100 years off. - December 21 2012 End of the World Mayan Countdown Begins Today (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)
Amid all the various predictions of Armageddon, the Mayan prophecy of December 21, 2012 seems to carry the most weight with the general population.
+
Of course, the blogosphere erupted with excitement when Mexico’s archaeology institute acknowledged on November 24 that a secondreference to December 21, 2012 had been found on a brick discovered at other ruins.“Human beings seem to be attracted by apocalyptic ideas and always assume the worst,” Gronemeyer said. - Mayan Connection(tracewhitley.wordpress.com)Carlos Barrios: “Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It’s just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed.”
+
“Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy.”
+
“We are disturbed — we can’t play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history.”
- ‘Doomsday’ minister mum on 2012 forecast (droneratti.org)
Well the year 2011 has flown by without a hitch … or, at least, without Earth bursting into flames. Radio evangelist Harold Camping’s famous pair of prophecies — his prediction that true Christians would be safely evacuated to heaven on May 21, and that a series of global cataclysms would then climax in a grand, Earth-shattering finale on Oct. 21 — seem to have flopped.Yes, it looks as if we’ll make it to 2012 after all. But what then? - 2012 Mayan Calendar (socialmediasnews.wordpress.com)
New Age (New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a social collective phenomenon and a spiritual nature/cosmology movement that seeks universal truth through the Oneness of Humanity. It combines aspects of spirituality, esotericism, complementary and alternative medicine, various religious practices and environmentalism. It is characterized by an eclectic and individual approach to spirituality with a general rejection of mainstream dogma and religion. - Cycles of Time – Playing with Numbers (theabysmal.wordpress.com)
We have the luxury of being able to harmonize what works from various systems with what works in others. - Hunab Ku |by Donna Hilton FaceBook OnLine| (vedernikov.wordpress.com)
Hunab Ku was, to the Mayas, the supreme God and ultimate Creator. It represented… the gateway to other Galaxies beyond our Sun as well as all of the Consciousness that has ever existed in this Galaxy.
+
New Age beliefs about Hunab Ku derive from the work of Mexican anthropologist Domingo Martínez Parédez ( 1904–1984 ), who first presented his interpretation of the concept in 1953 and expanded upon his ideas in a subsequent book, Hunab Kú: Síntesis del pensamiento filosófico maya (1964). - Maya kind of Mexico (firstchoice.co.uk)
To appease their gods, Mayan priests would pin victims down over stone altars, plunge flint blades into their chests, and then tear out their still-beating hearts. But it’s not all about grisly history lessons and Indiana Jones-style adventure. Head off on a Mayan trail and you’ll also come across the real Mexico – rainbow-painted haciendas, tropical rainforests, cactus-studded deserts – the lot. - What the Mayan Elders Are Saying About 2012, A Guest Post Contributed by Michael Brine (notesalongthepath.com)
We are no longer in the world of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the world of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing earth changes. - Experts Answer Mayan Calendar Doomsday Issues (socyberty.com)
Leonzo Barreno, Maya experts from Saskatchewan, Canada said, the concept of ‘Resurrection’ is a wrong interpretation of the long count calendar (long count).+
Many descendants of the Maya who also dismissed the doomsday predictions, and call it a ‘Western idea’. - Calendar 2012 Mayan (socyberty.com)
Like our Gregorian calendar ends on December 31st of each year and begin a new year. December 21, 2012 calendar year does not end the Maya, of course. 21.12.2012 Winter Solstice and is our sun will align with the center of the Milky Way or the “Tree of Life” as the Maya call it. The importance of the day would be “the end of a big” no “to the world.” Instead, bring a new sense of awareness, or understanding. ”
+
Maya was a time to move and they were interested in a new beginning at the ends. The world is changing rapidly and we must all learn about ourselves in order to cope with future changes. Not a moment of fear. There is a time for hope. There is a time to develop their skills. The choice is yours. - Mayan Calendar Predicts Doomsday in 2012. or Not (socyberty.com)
Ian O’Neill, a physicist by training, has written a piece that says, “there’s no evidence to suggest the Mayans believed the end of their Long Count calendar would spell doomsday.”+
O’Neill blames the viral marketing campaign in 2009 that promoted the Roland Emmerich disaster movie “2012.” The film got mediocre reviews but sold a lot of DVDs. And social scientists say the mythology of a doomsday prophecy fits an old pattern: When times are tough, it’s almost comforting for people to blame higher unseen powers.“It’s almost like you’re out there looking for evidence of a looming apocalypse,” said anthropologist Wade Davis, an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, “and I think it also ties into a lot of uncertainty that exists in our world today.” - Mayan Calendar Predicts Doomsday in 2012. or Not (maboulette.wordpress.com)
At Yahoo News, writer Lisa Hix quoted Bruce Love of the Archaeological Institute of America: “Whatever the significance of the date is, it is significance we are putting on it; it’s not the significance the Maya are putting on it. It’s not coming from anywhere in the literature or in the Mayan hieroglyphic writing.” - *** New Artifacts proves alien contact with Mayas *** (disclose.tv)
“I can just say that the Mexican government is preparing to tell humanity and the world things that are critical for us, for the way we live, for the way we’ve been handling the planet.” - Maya cosmology and 2012 (theskythismonth.wordpress.com)
The night sky has inspired cultures throughout history to come up with many versions of creation. - Rapture Insurance – act now… you have less than 24 hours to go!!! (pinnaclelife.co.nz)
If we in the ‘life industry’ were thinking on our feet, we’d have designed Rapture Insurance; insurance that takes care of your family after you’re raptured away to heaven.From the insurance industry’s perspective, rapture insurance would be the ultimate insurance gamble. (Dare I say it… it’s like earthquake insurance). - Editorial: The Truth About the Doomsday Virus? (nytimes.com)
Two months ago we warned that a new bird flu virus – modified in a laboratory to make it transmissible through the air among mammals – could kill millions of people if it escaped confinement or was stolen by terrorists. Now Ron Fouchier, the Dutch scientist who led the key research team, is saying that his findings, which remain… - Does Harold Camping Foresee the World Ending in 2012? (livescience.com)
- ‘Doomsday’ minister mum on 2012 forecast (msnbc.msn.com)
- Failed doomsday predictions (antiworldnews.wordpress.com)
Rugby Prophecy Day
Online Broadcast – Rugby Prophecy Day
Saturday 25 February
RUGBY PROPHECY DAY – SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2012 DV – ONLINE BROADCAST
If you are unable to attend the prophecy day in person for whatever reason, you are very welcome to join us online. You will be able to listen to the talks via audio link and to see the powerpoint slides via the internet. During the breaks, you are all very welcome to chat to each other and discuss the talks if you wish.
If there are a few of you in one location who would like to listen, why not get together? You could listen from your own meeting room with other brothers and sisters (as I am doing) or from the comfort of your lounge. In this case, I recommend using two computers – one so that you can see the audio screen (which we post information updates to) and a second to display the powerpoint slides which you would sit around and watch – or plug it into your big screen TV for added viewing pleasure!
TALKS
11:30 Why is Israel so despised? Bro Nicholas White (Pershore)
14:15 Arab Spring or Arab Winter? Bro Jonathan Bowen (Brantford, Canada)
15:55 Milestones Update Bro Don Pearce (Rugby)
If you have listened before, the login information remains the same, so you should be able to get online as before. Try it now and if you have any problems just send me an email.
If you haven’t listened before, you will need to do the following:
1. Get a free account at http://www.authorstream.com
On the day, you log into your Authorstream account.
Before the start of each talk, you will be given a link to copy (CTL+C) and paste (CTRL+V) into your browser (if you have no idea what that all means, just ask – it’s really easy!) The link will take you straight to the powerpoint. You don’t need to work out when to change slides – that will be controlled automatically via Rugby.
2. Go to the CVC website: http://www.cvc.christadelphianmeetingroom.co.uk
Click the REGISTER button to register (You’ll be send the login details as soon as I can get to your request – it gets VERY busy around prophecy days!)
If your browser won’t let you complete the form, just email me.
3. Once you have the login information, go to the CVC website to download and run the software. It’s really easy and you will only have to do this once. I recommend installing an icon to your desktop so that the program is easy to find. Just follow the instructions.
4. On the day, go into the CVC website and keep checking for updates.
(Unfortunately, this software will not work with macs – sorry).
As usual, I will be doing help and soundchecks on Friday evening (24 February). I will also help as much as I can on Saturday. However, as I will also be broadcasting at my ecclesial hall, I won’t be able to help during talks so I strongly recommend you join us on Friday evening. If you can’t be there on Friday but would still like assistance, send me an email and I’ll see if I can arrange a different time.
My email addy is: themeetingroom@hotmail.com
With love in our Lord
Rachael
(Rachael Wadsworth, Southport)
++
In our ecclesia we tackle the same theme in March and have our Annual Bible Study Day about this subject: “The Day is near” on Saturday March the 10° at ‘t Nieuwe Kerkehuis, Daltonstraat, Amersfoort, Nederland
Look out for the coming postings about this event.
++
Perhaps some reading you can do in advance:
Newsweek asks: How ignorant are you?
Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation
The Conclusion of the System of Things
Self inflicted misery #1 The root by man
Self inflicted misery #2 Weakness of human race
Self inflicted misery #6 Paying by death
Self inflicted misery #7 Good news to our suffering
Self inflicted misery #9 Subject to worldly things
Isaiah prophet and messenger of God
Isaiah’s Book of the Messenger of Glad Tidings
Jesus begotten Son of God #7 A matter of the Future
Cool Person of the year 2011 +
The Protester named Person of the Year 2011 by Time Magazine
Violence or an other way to win
Justififiable anger or just anarchism
Bad things no punishment from God
Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
The Ecclesia in the churchsystem
++
In Dutch:
Een Naam voor een God #8 Vergeten of weigeren
Het begin van Jezus #6 Beloften van innerlijke zegeningen
Fragiliteit en actie #7 Gebeurtenissen en Prioriteiten
Manifest tot protestantse kerk
Toffe persoon van het jaar 2011
Geschiedvervalsing of onwil in Midden-Oosten conflict
De Protesteerder door Time verkozen tot Persoon van het jaar
Voorstel van Obama omtrent oplossing voor Israël
Jesaja profeet en boodschapper van God
Door verkondiging ook geruster
Vandaag 22 September en vooruitzicht op Vrede
Virussen van onze maatschappij
Wereld waarheen? #2 Gebed om de komst van de koning
Wereld waarheen? #3 De Wortelscheut van David
Wereld waarheen? #4 Het Lied van de Serafs
De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #1 Dit geslacht zal geenszins voorbijgaan
De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #2 Blik op de nabije toekomst
De wederkomst en de eindtijd #3 Let op de Vijgeboom
De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #4 De komende toorn
De Wederkomst en de Eindtijd #5 De Verlosser uit de hemel
De Wederkomst en de eindtijd #6 De Dagen van Noach en Lot
De Bijbel onze Gids #15 Het Heerlijke einde
Visie op Jezus’ wederkomst van invloed op vraag hoe met deze aarde omgaan
Harold Camping komt met nieuwe dag op de proppen zonder verontschuldiging
Newsweek vraagt zich af of wij nog onwetend willen houden
Hoe de Satan vandaag rond toert
Lucas 21, 25-36 toegelicht door Augustinus
Blijf waakzaam nu einde nabij komt
De Knecht des Heren #5 De Gezalfde gezant
+++
To think about and notice good and false teachings plus recognising directions how to go.
Related articles
- Prophecy: 4 antichrists (part 1) (mackquigley.wordpress.com)
All mankind will be forced to worship a world-dictator during the tribulation - Of Prophets and Prophecies (boobsetal.wordpress.com)
he son of David, in Proverbs, continually warns against scoffing; Thomas Didim’s doubt is made an example of. - TB Joshua’s Prophecies; Confessions of Patrick Kabwela – a die-hard Skeptic (watchtbjoshua.wordpress.com)
Rumours are very, very powerful. They spread like wild fire and are often lapped up quickly, just as a very hungry man would eat any food that comes his way without bothering to find out where it comes from. It is the easiest thing in the world to hear a rumour and begin to spread it around adding and subtracting from it according to what people want to hear, especially if it is tasty. It is a harder thing however to seek to find out the truth about something and respect that, neither adding to it nor subtracting from it. Right from time, man has loved to gossip; we all have itching ears, eager to hear the latest, especially if it is defaming someone’s persona. - Bible prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ birth (brakeman1.wordpress.com)
Below is a selection of prophecies in the Bible that found fulfillment in the birth of Jesus the Messiah about 2,000 years ago. - Mayan Prophecy: End or Change | Socyberty (mrdprince.wordpress.com)
At last we have arrived in the year 2012, and the well advertised year of “the end of the world” according to some and perhaps even the ancient Mayan Indians. - Revelation Road: Are Christians Living in the Last Days? By Stoyan Zaimov(trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)
Among the plethora of end times views that have emerged, there are many different beliefs on when the Rapture will happen, when Jesus will return, and how the prophecies written in the Book of Revelation might unfold.
The Rapture, the event that some claim is prophesied in the Book of Revelation, is a belief that believers will be taken into heaven, leaving unrepentant sinners behind on Earth to experience His judgment.
+
Prophecy is invaluable predictive information given to us by a loving God, with 100 percent accuracy. In addition to equipping us for the days in which we live, prophecy authenticates God’s sovereignty, spares human lives, and ultimately saves lost souls. The primary goal of prophecy is to inform us, rather than impress us. God is not someone with too much time on His hands; He is the one who holds all time in His hands. This enables Him to share and declare the end from the beginning. His plan is to pronounce hope, rather than announce harm.+
Salus: Prophecies associated with the Mayan Calendar are extra-biblical, and the Rapture timing predictions of Harold Camping are unbiblical. There are over 2,300 references to Israel in the Bible, but I have yet to find even one concerning the Mayans. Therefore, prophecies concerning Israel attract my attention; whereas, Mayan predictions I consider biblically unfounded. - Clearly Prophetic (tammy4christ.wordpress.com)
The news from the Middle East these days are clearly prophetic. In view of the Bible. I’ve been alive 53 years and can say I don’t remember the times being what they are today. Iran, Syria, and definately are in Biblical Prophecy. - Sea Shepherd Prophecy (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
They shall turn upon their families first: their parents, siblings, aunts and uncles. “Why didn’t you tell me?” they will shout in desperation. “How could you not know this?”Those of us who know will be in much danger. They will take hold of us, shake us and demand, “Why didn’t you make me listen?” - The desolation prophecies (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
In the table below, various prophecies about desolation are listed. Among the things that are described as becoming desolate in prophecy are the city of Jerusalem, the temple, mount Zion, other mountains of Israel, the land of Israel, and the church. Even heaven is listed in the table below. - RUSSIA WARNS ISRAEL NOT TO ATTACK IRAN: Prophetic implications? (flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com)
Make no mistake: the Russian-Iranian strategic alliance that I’ve been writing about for the last several years has deepened to the point where Moscow is now unequivocally and quite openly backing the mullahs in Iran.
+
Is Putin “Gog,” the evil leader described in the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39? It came up during my recent speaking tour in Florida, and in a talk I gave to a group on Capitol Hill last week? Thus far, my answer remains the same — Putin is certainly “Gog-esque,” but it is too early to speculate on whether he is actually the biblical figure that will rise to power in Russia (known in Ezekiel’s prophecy as “Magog”) in the last days and build an alliance with Iran (“Persia”), Sudan (“Cush”), Turkey (“Gomer”), Libya and Algeria (“Put”), the countries of Central Asia (“Beth Togarmah”) to attack the State of Israel from “the north” (probably via Lebanon and Syria). - Two Keys to Biblical Prophecy (antwrites.com)
An Ipsos poll in 2006 found that 25% of adults believed it was at least “somewhat likely” that “Jesus Christ will return to Earth” in the coming year. Among white evangelical Christian adults, a whopping 46% believed this. Yet years later Jesus has still not returned. Want to know why Jesus did not come in 2007 or any year since then and still won’t come in 2012? - K. A. Auberlen on Daniel 10-12 (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
In the following, K. A. Auberlen discusses the prophecy contained in Daniel chapters 10-12.
+
Daniel’s prophecy indicates the antichrist would exert his influence in “the glorious holy mountain,” which as Young tentatively suggested, refers to the Christian church. Daniel identified the holy mountain of God with Jerusalem, and he prayed that God’s anger would be turned away from Jerusalem. [Daniel 9:16] Daniel’s prayer could just as well apply to the church today, as to Jerusalem in Daniel’s time. - Old Testament prophecy fulfilled before our eyes?(gunnyg.wordpress.com)What do sycamore and cedar trees have to do with biblical prophecy, the tragic events of 9/11 and the imminent future of the United States?
- The Isaiah 9:10 Prophecy: Is U.S. Under God’s Judgment? (gunnyg.wordpress.com)
A messianic rabbi from New Jersey is stunning audiences nationwide by revealing the striking parallels between the fall of ancient Israel and what he suggests are God’s early judgments of America. - Were there witnesses other than the New Testament that Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies concerning Christ (wiki.answers.com)
Though the actual number of prophecies fulfilled by Christ can be argued and if any sources external to the Scripture make any indirect statements, the fact that the Scripture consistently proves they were fulfilled quite easily is there for the reader to discern as a source of historical perspective.It is not uncommon for biblical prophecy to have one level of fulfillment in the immediate future, and a final fulfillment many years later in the person and work of the Savior, Jesus. This is sometimes referred to as duality of prophecy. - Prophecy or Promise? (shinecycle.wordpress.com)
Not everything that Jesus fulfilled was a prophecy. We need to understand the differences between prophecies, promises, and “the words of the prophets.”
+
when we consider a prophecy, and find in history events less than half a century afterward that fit a literal interpretation of the prophecy uncannily well, it’s at best folly to insist that the prophecy will be fulfilled “any day now!” - The Purpose(s) of Prophecy (shinecycle.wordpress.com)
Very few Scriptural prophecies were given so that the remote descendants would know that the events of their later day had been foretold; in fact, every example of that kind that I know of says so more or less explicitly (by saying something like “Seal up the words of this prophecy until such-and-such”). Instead, most were given so that the people might be encouraged by impending deliverance (or chastened by impending judgment), either immediate or very soon. - Sharia Rules in Egypt (lamarzulli.wordpress.com)
When the Arab Spring began months ago, and our talking heads on the networks assured us that the Egyptian people were fighting for democracy, I went on the record and declared that there would be no democracy, instead we would see Sharia or Islamic law, rule the day. This “prognostication” seems to have been fulfilled according to the article that I linked to above. There is a renewed hopelessness in many of the Egyptian people, as their hope of freedom and democracy seem to have been side-railed, perhaps forever.Update March 2, 2012:
- Prophecy: 4 antichrists (part 8) (mackquigley.wordpress.com)
Every Old Testament prophetic item that was to accompany the literal rule and reign of Jesus Christ as King of the Jews had a meaning that was contingent to the 1st advent. These initial meanings would have become the final meanings had the Jews accepted Christ in 30 AD. - The Book of Revelation in 5 easy minutes (4simpsons.wordpress.com)
the prophecies will always be right, but some of them aren’t that simple to understand. - Mountains made low (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
Isaiah’s prophecy about making a highway in the desert is coupled with a prophecy about mountains being made low, and in many interpretations of his prophecy, the mountains are reduced to mere bumps in the road! - Mountains and the promises of the gospel (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
much variety in the interpretations proposed for mountains is evident. In this post, I endeavour to show that the meaning of mountains in prophecy is connected with the promises of the gospel.
+
Matthew 24-25 The Olivet Discourse. the mount of Olives represents the prophecy that Jesus gave there - The Trouble With Prophecies (fangirlingthroughfiction.wordpress.com)
musings about fiction
+
Prophecies are like the get out of jail free cards of fantasy fiction and I hate them.
Manifests for believers #1 Sex abuse setting fire to the powder
In the 50s and 60s of the previous century many acolytes and young boys became confronted with not such a nice site of human nature and his urge to have physical contact. Growing older and not having been able to cope with the old trauma some got up from their quit seat and started to tell tales out of school.
Telling their secret the Roman Catholic Church became once more confronted with the problem of celibacy and sexuality.
These people left disillusioned those churches in which they had faith at first, but those whom they trusted misused their power. They went out from the closed community where their parents at that time had no ears for their unbelievable stories. Though they had already to fight their shame to talk about it with somebody else they did not find an ear at that time to be sympathetic. Many of them a lack of self esteem and also got mental disorders, or after many years having it put away it came up when they got older and started to bother them more. Some dramatic and well-publicized cases involving allegations of childhood sexual abuse have raised very controversial issues, such as the right of children’s testimony and recovered memories of sexual abuse.
As in many other countries it looked as if the church used remote villages to dump their child-molesting priests. Several youngsters took at that time or later in life their own life. In several countries the abusers were specifically sent to certain isolated places “to get them off the grid, where they could do the least amount of damage” to the church’s public image, but in Belgium they still received high places and even got to do important work with youngsters.
At the time of the many boarding schools boys found themselves in the “internaat” its boys dormitory an easy prey, but several were also raped during their private catechism class.
The history of child molestation in the Catholic Church goes back centuries. The first official decree on the subject was written at the Council of Elvira, held around A.D. 305 near Granada, Spain. The precise history is complicated, but the council is traditionally believed to have set down 81 rules for behaviour, the 71st of which is: “Those who sexually abuse boys may not commune even when death approaches.” It was the harshest one-strike policy: If you’re caught abusing a child, you are not only laicized, but permanently excommunicated—damned for all time.*
The problem with sex in the church can be seen by many pops in history who got many wives or many mistresses, until the church found it high time to put some order in the pigsty.
In the history of clerical celibacy conciliar legislation marks the second period during which the law took definite shape both in the East and in the West. The earliest enactment on the subject is that of the Spanish Council of Elvira (between 295 and 302) in canon xxxiii. It imposes celibacy upon the three higher orders of the clergy, bishops, priests, and deacons. If they continue to live with their wives and beget children after their ordination they are to be deposed. This would seem to have been the beginning of the divergence in this matter between East and West.
“As a rule”, remarks Bishop Wordsworth from his anti-celibate standpoint, “the great writers of the fourth and fifth century pressed celibacy as the more excellent way with an unfair and misleading emphasis which led to the gravest and moral mischief and loss of power in the Church.” (The Ministry of Grace, 1902, p. 223).
The Council of Agde in Gaul, in 506, forbade subdeacons to marry, and such synods as those of Orléans in 538 and Tours in 567 prohibited even those already married from continuing to live with their wives.
The synods of the sixth and seventh centuries, while fully recognizing the position of these former wives and according them even the formal designation of female bishops, priestess, deaconess, and subdeaconess (episcopissa, presbytera, diaconissa, subdiaconissa), laid down some very strict rules to guide their relations with their former husbands. The bishopess, as a rule, did not live in the same house with the bishop (see the Council of Tours in 567, can. xiv). For the lower grades actual separation does not seem to have been required, although the Council of Orléans in 541, can. xvii, ordained: “ut sacerdotes sive diacom cum conjugibus suis non habeant commune lectum et cellulam”; while curious regulations were enforced requiring the presence of subordinate clergy in the sleeping apartment of the bishop, archpriest, etc., to prevent all suspicion of scandal (see, e.g., the Council of Tours, in 567), canons xiii and xx).
St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury from 960 to 988, a period during which the papacy was subjected to oppression and disorder of the worst kind, more than any other character in early English history can be identified with the cause of a celibate clergy . But the seventeenth century, seemingly was not inconsistent with at least ordinary fidelity to their vows of continence.
Before the middle ages it was allowable for Catholic priests to have multiple wives and mistresses (concubines). During the Middle Ages clergy were known to solicit sexual favours from their female penitents and some priests kept concubines. It was also known that Pope Alexander VI had several illegitimate children and that the nuns of Godstow were the ones who spread syphilis to the husbands of the families who lived around their convent (Durant, 1980; Mee, 1972). This type of abuse has continued down through the centuries.
But with concerns for protecting Church property from inheritance Pope Pelagius I made new priests agree offspring could not inherit Church property. Pope Gregory then declared all sons of priests illegitimate (only sons since lowly daughters could not inherit anyway in society).
>> Is this a joke or serious? > “Webster’s dictionary defines catamite as “the youthful lover of an older man derived from the Latin name Catamus.” Catamus was the first Catholic priest, who didn’t even wait until the rock of Lord Jesus‘ tomb was rolled back to get a young boy spread eagle on a altar (a practice that resulted in the early church adopting the name “altar boy.”) The first Pope was so impressed with Catamus’ ability to bugger young altar boys while never losing his place in scripture during service, that he coined the name for the new church “Catholic,” using Catamus’ name and the activity for which Catamus had become notorious. The traditions establish by Catamus have become sacred rites of passage for all Catholic priests, often taking 40-50 years to perfect and master. What once was ostensibly a Christian Church has become little more than a excuse for grown men to wear dresses and bugger young boys – with the so-called “church” offering the vocational perk to its priests of often relocating pedophiles to new parishes so that they may “sample some new flavors.” “(The Landover Baptist Catamite Hotline) <
The other major condemnation of clerical sex abuse was The Book of Gomorrah, completed by radical church reformer Father Peter Damian (a Benedictine monk, as it happens, who became a cardinal) in 1051. He appealed directly to the pope about the abuse of children, as well as consensual sex among clergy—in howling language: “O unheard of crime! O outrage to be mourned with a whole fountain of tears!… What fruitfulness can still be found in the flocks when the shepherd is so deeply sunk in the belly of the devil!”*
In the 15th century there are still 50% of priests married, but at the 1545-63-Council of Trent it was stated that celibacy and virginity are superior to marriage.
Philip Melanchthon - c. 1535 by Hans Holbein the Younger
Jean Calvin or John Calvin, the influential French theologian and pastor, was likewise free from the obligation of vows, but the severest and most abstemious among the Reformers. He had the air of being so hostile to celibacy but his first engagement did not turn into a marriage. He knew a good reason why it would not be bad to marry: “If I take a wife it will be because, being better freed from numerous worries, I can devote myself to the Lord.”
He married Idelette de Bure, a widow who had two children from her first marriage of an Anabaptist minister John Storder from Liège. whom he had converted to the Paedobaptist faith or Anabaptism. Calvin’s fellow labourer Martin Bucer had known Idelette and recommended her to Calvin in confidence that she would be the woman who was “chaste, obliging, not fastidious, economical, patient, and careful for (his) health”. Idelette busied herself attending to Calvin in his many illnesses, faithfully visiting the sick and afflicted, and making her home a refuge for those who fled for their lives and their faith. Though she survived the plague when it ravaged Geneva, Idelette died after a lengthy illness in 1549. Calvin had lived with her for nearly nine years, had three children who died in infancy, and remained a widower after her death.
In the 1930s, a priest-psychiatrist—and also a Benedictine—named Reverend Thomas Verner Moore researched the higher-than-usual rates of insanity and alcoholism among Catholic clergy. He suggested the church build an asylum for priests. The U.S. Catholic Bishops turned down his request in 1936. Father Moore became a Carthusian hermit.*
In 1947, Father Gerald Fitzgerald founded the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez, New Mexico—the same institution Father Poole was to visit almost 50 years later.*
In a 1957 letter to the Bishop of Manchester, Father Fitzgerald wrote that predatory priests (who he euphemistically refers to as “schizophrenic”) cannot be effectively treated and should not be allowed to continue in the ministry:
Their repentance and amendment is superficial and, if not formally at least subconsciously, is motivated by a desire to be again in a position where they can continue their wonted activity. A new diocese means only green pastures… We are amazed to find how often a man who would be behind bars if he were not a priest is entrusted with the cura animarum [the cure, or care, of souls].*
By the early 1960s, Father Fitzgerald had seen enough chronic paedophiles that he did not want to treat them and have them re-released into the ministry, but, as he proposed in a letter to Archbishop Davis, to build an “island retreat… but even an island is too good for these vipers.”*
Cardinal Ratzinger in 2001 issued a secret Vatican edict to Catholic bishops all over the world, instructing them to put the Church’s interests ahead of child safety. The document recommended that rather than reporting sexual abuse to the relevant legal authorities, bishops should encourage the victim, witnesses and perpetrator not to talk about it. And, to keep victims quiet, it threatened that if they repeat the allegations they would be excommunicated. Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became Pope Benedict XVI. It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witnesses.
Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.
This culture of secrecy and fear of scandal that led bishops to place the interests of the Catholic Church ahead of the safety of children was a time bomb ticking and last year in Belgium the alarm shook Belgium awake. The Adriaenssens commission published a 200-page report on 10 September 2010. According to the report, the commission heard testimony from 488 complainants, concerning incidents that took place between 1950 and 1990. The report contained testimony from 124 people. Two-thirds of the complainants were men, now aged in their 50s and 60s. {Caroline Caldier, “Belgique : un rapport analyse les conséquences de la pédophilie dans l’Eglise”, France Info, 10 September 2010.+ Radio Canada, “Rapport accablant de l’Église belge”, 10 September 2010, accessed 22 September 2010.}
In 1998 it was reported that a catechism textbook for Belgian children called Roeach 3, edited by Prof. Jef Bulckens of the Catholic University of Leuven and Prof. Frans Lefevre of the Seminary of Bruges, showed comic-book-style pictures of toddlers asking sexual questions and engaging in sexual play, for example: a drawing which showed a naked baby girl saying: “Stroking my pussy makes me feel groovy,” “I like to take my knickers off with friends,” “I want to be in the room when mum and dad have sex.” The drawing also shows a naked little boy and girl that are “playing doctor” and the little boy says: “Look, my willy is big.”
"I like it to fondle my little chink" or "I like to caress my little pussy"
The drawing also showed three pairs of parents. Those with the “correct” attitude reply: “Yes, feeling and stroking those little places is good fun.” In Belgium religion is a compulsory subject and this “catechism textbook” was used in the catechism lessons in the catholic schools, until one day the Irish-Belgian Alexandra Colen, member of Parliament for the Flemish-secessionist party Vlaams Blok (now Vlaams Belang), discovered it among the schoolbooks of her eldest daughter, then 13 years old. On 3 September 1997 she wrote a letter to Cardinal Danneels, saying: “When I see this drawing and its message, I get the distinct impression that this catechism textbook is designed intentionally to make 13 and 14 year olds believe that toddlers enjoy genital stimulation. In this way one breeds pedophiles that sincerely believe that children actually think that what they are doing to them is ‘groovy’, while the opposite is the case.”
After the wife of Paul Belien, the editor of the conservative-libertarian blog The Brussels Journal, started her campaign against the Roeach textbook, many parents contacted her to voice their concerns. Stories of other practices in the Catholic education system poured in. There were schools where children were taught to put condoms over artificial penises and where they had to watch videos showing techniques of masturbation and copulation.
The Belgian Catholic hierarchy stated that the textbook was intended for adolescents, and that the pictures were meant to convey the idea that young children experience lust, a prevalent theory in contemporary psychology. Nevertheless the textbook was withdrawn after public protests by Catholics, which elicited media coverage as well as support from Church officials around the world.
Flemish are considered to be as Lions (The Flemish Combat Flag) - Vlaamse (stijd)vlag, 13de Eeuw
In 2010 Peter Adriaenssens said cases of abuse, mostly involving minors, had been found in nearly every diocese, and 13 alleged victims had committed suicide.
The child psychiatrist, who has worked with trauma victims for 23 years, said nothing had prepared him for the stories of abuse, which multiplied as former abusers gave testimony.
“We saw how priests, called up by the commission and asked to help seek the truth, were willing to set up the list of 10, 15, 20 victims they abused during boarding school while the commission knew only of one,” he said.
Many alleged victims came forward to testify to the commission after the Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned in 2010, admitting to having sexually abused a boy before and after becoming a bishop.
The commission also stressed that sexual abuse happened within all religions and organisations, but sufficient evidence is provided to suggest that crimes have been consistently covered up. Repeated denial by the church is hardly credible in the face of evidence provided by independent investigations.
Ostrich policy
Unfortunately, however, the Roman Catholic Church tried to minimise the happenings deny all charges at first but when more and more documents could proof the charges they came up with all different stories to defend their clergymen.
Other situations where clerics have sexually acted out with adult women and men, nuns and seminarians, have not been looked at; nor the effect on any offspring they may have sired in the process. For that matter, the personal cost to victims and their families remains uncounted. How many lives destroyed through alcohol, drugs, unsafe sex or violence have there been? How much abuse has been repeated by its victims? How many suicides and ruined families? How can the total cost ever be calculated?
In any case the Roman Catholic Church lost all her credibility with the many scandals and her trying to cover it up.
The whole story made it that the already very empty churches became even more empty, but also started the debate about celibacy. More voices, even from priests and bishops called to have the possibility for a priest to get married and to have a ‘normal sexual life’.
With the call to end celibacy also came the call to give married people, lay men and women.
Child-molestation kept silent by Vatican. - Oh nooo, you are joking! Terrible! The income of the church is dropping by 2%
Statistically 75% of Belgians are called inscribed by the Roman Catholic Church, because the people let their child be baptised. By doing so they are taken into account to have their clergymen being paid by the Belgian government. As elsewhere in Europe, secularization has hit hard in Belgium and the scandals did not help to stop the decline. Sunday church attendance has dropped well below 5% .
In the year 2010, the number ‘ontdopingen’ or the ‘ending of baptism in the Roman Catholic Church’ (a ‘disposal of the baptism’) became multiplied nearly 10 times in Flanders compared to 2009; the total number was in 2010 , 5115 (2009: ca. 626), but that could be even more1because the dioceses Ghent and Mechelen/Malines-Brussels did not yet have all figures. For sure that went up even more in 2011 were people got every day some more surprising facts on radio and television and people openly declaring they were leaving the catholic Church. The most important reason they gave up, was that they could not find themselves no longer in the Catholic Church through the abuse scandals or in the manner on which the church leadership went around with these ‘paedophile crisis’ .
But, the declining number of new priests was the only thing the cardinal and bishops were concerned of. As of 2010, there are about 1,900 priests in the archdiocese of Malines-Brussels, but most of them are either retired or on the verge of retirement. Only two were ordained in 2007. {Robert Mickens, “Where have all the thinkers gone?” (interview), in The Tablet, May 31, 2008: 6-7.}
Though sexual abuse is the most shaming of all abuse and a misuse of power the church had seemed it to happen and thumbed her nose about it. As long as it happened with priests at odd moments and not publicly it did not seem to matter and the world would not have to know about it.
But honestly believing priest who had the urge to have a sex live but did not want to do wrong against Gods Will got no answers to their questions to find a solution and to break with the celibacy. Now that many priest are put in the corner and others became to old to serve properly, the Catholic Church has a real problem in shortage of priests.
Celibacy for the clergy of the Catholic Church is “the renunciation of marriage implicitly or explicitly made, for the more perfect observance of chastity, by all those who receive the Sacrament of Orders in any of the higher grades”. The character of this renunciation is differently understood in the Eastern and in the Western Church.
This law of celibacy often has repeatedly been made the object of attack, but now it got to the apogee. Those preferring that they could marry found now enough reasons to bring it forth. For them denouncing this unscriptural rule would also take away a lot of prejudices thus created. according the Catholic Church the conviction that virginity possesses a higher sanctity and clearer spiritual intuitions, seems to be an instinct planted deep in the heart of man. But common sense breaks with that. “The more holy and exalted we represent the state of marriage to be, the more we justify the married priest in giving the first place in his thoughts to his wife and family and only the second to his work” according to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopaedia.
With Pope St. Leo IX, St. Gregory VII (Hildebrand), and their successors, a determined and successful stand was made against the further spread of corruption, but today we can see that a hidden form of corruption came into existence which was more delicate, more dangerous, and more damaging.
According to Hans Küng the time has come to challenge that celibacy requirement. Celibacy is not solely responsible for these crimes of child abuse but it is the most important structural expression of the Catholic hierarchy’s inhibitions with regard to sexuality, evident also in its attitude toward birth control and other questions that caused a lot of harm. He writes: “Although there is no question that abuse also occurs in families, schools, and youth organizations, as well as in churches that do not have the rule of celibacy, why are there such an extraordinary number of cases specifically in the Catholic church, whose leaders are celibate?
The rule of celibacy is the main reason for the catastrophic shortage of priests, the serious neglect of the Eucharist, and the widespread breakdown of pastoral care—a problem that has been papered over by merging parishes into “pastoral units” ministered to by badly overworked priests.
In previous times the problem for the church was mainly the financial matter. The clergymen or monks in sacred orders who went through the marriage ceremony with any woman, or in which children were born after his ordination claimed to inherit his property upon his death. The church wanted not only a dowry when the person came to be a servant in the church. After the ‘marriage portion’ everything earned while serving had to come back to the church. Having heirs would bring the treasury of the church in danger as well as the position of certain persons, because before the celibacy people inherited also the degree of their father (bishop, cardinal, etc.)
In 1970, the decline in priesthood vocations persuaded nine leading theologians to sign a memorandum declaring that the Catholic leadership “quite simply has a responsibility to take up certain modifications” to the celibacy rule. Extracts from the document were reprinted in January 2011. Not least because one of the signatories was the then Joseph Ratzinger, now pope Benedict.
With modernization and having to be more open, the time has come that the Roman Catholic Church goes back to the first Christians and to what is written in the Holy Scriptures do find also many Belgian catholic priests and even some bishops.
For them the opposition to the law of celibacy, which frequently took the form of open agitation, both in the earlier Middle Ages and again at the Reformation period, not only calls for notice in modern times of such movements, today time is ripe to turn back to first years of Christianity and to accept priest and people who work in the church-community for the congregation, to be married.
Official report on Child abse in the Roman Catholic Church - Eindrapport van de commissie-Deetman
For the Belgian priests in charge today it is clear that ethic is driven by a moral, an idea of what is right and wrong, what should and shouldn’t be, no matter believer or non believer. but for them and for us it is clear that those who want to work for God and proclaim the Good News of the Coming Kingdom, they should even take more care to live according to the Laws of God. In those laws it is not forbidden for men of God to marry, most of the apostles and disciples who worked in the community were married. But it is totally wrong to indulge in sexual acts which or against the normal human condition and which or against the Will of God. Sexual plays with children or people of the own sex or disgusted by the Most High god of gods, who also does not like sluttish attitude.
For the priests the men are normal human beings with their needs. That the Belgian Catholic Church will ask trainee priests to take psychological tests, as it moves to tackle scandals over clerical child abuse, shall not help much.
Belgian commission for treatment of the complaints about sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church - Rapport Adriaenssens
The church may have here internal laws but they should adapt to the times. Today people have a total different attitude then some centuries ago when there had to be called a halt to the sordid sexual life clergy had. Ethic rules are different today, as well as the attitude about relationships. though on that point we notice the ordinary people gone wild and not so much sticking to healthy regimen. The pattern of living of a lot of young people is not exactly a nice pattern of living to be an example.
But the Belgian clergy do have their point to call for change.
+
To be continued: Manifests for believers #2 Changing celibacy requirement
+
Related stories:
Child-molesting priests:
- Pedophile priests scandal and Roman Catholicism in Belgium + Belgische katholieke kerkprovincie
- A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States
- The Nuns’ Stories
- * The “Pedophile’s Paradise” of which the part of the history of child-molestation is taken. (with thanks to the writer and The Stranger company)
Watch Sex Crimes and the Vatican - Catholic Pedophile Priests: The Effect on US Society + A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States (PDF format)
- Child Abuse in the Catholic Church
- Child abuse report Adriaensens
- Open wounds of the Catholic Church
- The Fall of the Belgian Church byAlexandra Colen member of Parliament for the Flemish-secessionist party Vlaams Blok
- Paedophile Priests Scandal Rocks The Church of Rome
- The World-Wide Scandal of Christian Child Abuse Which The Child Welfare Charities Kept Hidden From Your Gaze
One of the Much spoken about pictures in a religious schoolbook for teenagers
- No congregation escaped Belgian sex abuse. “It’s the Church’s Dutroux,” referring to mid-1990s trauma in Belgium + arrest of serial rapist / child killer Marc Dutroux, serving life for six rapes and four murders. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/11/3009013.htm YouTube Video: Catholic Church Pedophilia Horrors in Belgium more about father Marciel
Vangheluwe’s nephew secretly recorded Danneels pressing him to keep quiet about his uncle at least until he retired next year. “I don’t think you’d do yourself or him a favour by shouting this from the rooftops,” the cardinal warned the victim, who replied angrily that his uncle had abused him for 13 years from the age of five. The recordings were made in April; the bishop resigned 2 weeks later, the most senior clergyman in the Catholic church to have quit after being exposed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/10/belgium-child-abuse-catholic-church - In Dutch with English fragments > Deel 4 De RK Kerk en de ‘Bedrijfsongevallen’.
- Bewijs dat paus Benedictus loog over kindermisbruik priester
- Meer dan honderd slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik in de jeugdzorg
- Uitkomsten eindrapport schokkend
- Getuigenissen uit het rapport Adriaenssens
On Clerical celibacy:
- Reflections on Clerical Family Life.
- A Brief History of Celibacy in the Catholic Church
- Celibacy and the Priesthood
- Tracing the Glorious Origins of Priestly Celibacy
- Why Celibacy Should Be Abolished
- Celibacy in church- local ministers speak out
Adding to / Aanvullend aan:
- Een Manifest voor Gelovigen
- Manifest Gelovigen nemen het woord
- The Dutch Pdf Gelovigen nemen het woord
Manifest van Vlaamse gelovigen Najaar 2011
+++
Related articles
- The Ladies Room: The Bible and Child Sexual Abuse by Ressurection Graves (thelifechangeministry.wordpress.com)
How many more religious cases of abuse will happen before we start including sexual abuse and molestation conversation in the church? As a victor of child sexual abuse, and a Christian I just wanted to know if there was any mention at all of sexual abuse as a sin in the bible. We hear so much from the Catholic Church, and from situations in the Baptist, and Non-Denominational Churches. Regardless of sect, we are self identified Christians. Did you know that 93% of predators are religious? - Bill Donahue: PHILLY JUDGE SHOULD STEP DOWN (gloucestercitynews.net)
Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said, “Anybody that doesn’t think there is widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is living on another planet.”
+
Almost all the problem with priestly sexual abuse occurred between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s. In other words, the scandal ended a quarter century ago! Are there news stories of a more recent vintage? Yes, but they are not recent cases. The John Jay College of Criminal Justice report last year said, “The most common time period for allegations reported in 2010 was 1970-1974.” Moreover, as Penn State professor Philip Jenkins said in 2010, “Out of 100,000 priests active in the U.S. in this half-century, a cadre of just 149 individuals—one priest out of every 750—accounted for over a quarter of all the allegations of clergy abuse.” In short, there is no widespread problem today. - Sex abuse ‘widespread’ in Catholic Church, Philadelphia judge says (philly.com)
The 124-page document outlines years of allegations against at least 37 clergymen and condemns the church hierarchy for failing to report the claims to police and shuffling the accused between parishes for years. - Child Sexual Abuse within the Dutch Catholic Church (patheos.com)
An independent Commission of Inquirywas conducted recently, investigating historical child sexual abuse within the Dutch Roman Catholic Church.They found tens of thousands of victims and (wait for it) about 800 possible perpetrators over the span of around 60 years. It’s incredible how much “sin” took place in a place that’s supposed to be holy.
+
The Dutch Church set up a fund for financial compensations to the victims, scaled based on the nature and severity of the abuse and are making some other attempts at reparation. While I suppose that something is better than nothing, it’s not nearly enough. Acknowledgement and change needs to happen on a much larger scale. - Should Catholics return to an abusive home? (haphazardgirl.wordpress.com)
If you ask a devout Catholic today about the violence that was blessed by the Catholic Church during the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition, they shrug it off and tell you that the current church doesn’t condone such things. They shouldn’t be persecuted for things that happened so long ago. Okay, that’s fair. We shouldn’t blame the current Catholic Church for things that happened many centuries ago. No one alive today is responsible for what went on back then.What about the current abuse in the Catholic Church? Should someone be held responsible for that? According to Catholics Come Home, the church shouldn’t be blamed for that either. All the good they do should cancel out all the bad.
+
Can you blame Catholics for leaving the faith when these types of attitudes run rampant in the church? Why should people return to the Catholic Church when it seems that nothing is being done to prevent abuse from happening? It certainly doesn’t seem that the church has a screening process that will eliminate pedophiles and child molesters. - Retired U.S. cardinal dies amid abuse testimony controversy (vancouversun.com)
Child sexual abuse controversies have rocked the Catholic Church in the United States in the past decade, and the church has paid out some $2 billion in settlements to victims, bankrupting a handful of dioceses. The Catholic Church has faced similar controversies over allegations of sexual abuse by priests elsewhere around the world. - Austrian priest publishes names of ex-Catholics (thegreatone22.wordpress.com)
Isn’t it amazing that priests can sodomize boys and girls (mostly boys) and be protected by the corrupt Catholic Church as well as the State? In other words, a child molester can become a priest, sexually abuse kids until caught (if ever) then leave the Church and go about his merry way without a worry in the world! What’s even more amazing is that parents keep paying to send their children to Catholic schools and churches so they can become prey for sexually abusive priests! TGO - Seducing Spirits – Can they live in the church? Pt. 2 (endtimeebookreviews.wordpress.com)
- Seducing Spirits – Can they live in the church? Pt. 2 (pamsheppard.wordpress.com)
Church abuse from pastors and members is the DIRECT result of seducing spirits. Seducing spirits, in the form of religious demons, have taken up office in the organized church.Another manifestation of a seducing spirit is the presence of abuse within a church system, whether it be physical, sexual, emotional, mental, financial or spiritual in nature.
+
Creepy, repulsive church abuse is widespread, and has become an epidemic in the organized church. Let me rephrase that. Creepy abominable organized church abuse, has been going on since the days of Christ. Case in point, the crucifixion. We know ALL was God’s plan, but abusive, caustic, abominable, hurtful, lying, thieving Christian leaders were easy to find then, just as they are now. The religious have a seducing spirit. The religious and their comical religiosity, have been taken over by religious demons. They feel quite at home in the organized church. - Seducing Spirits – Can they live in the church? Pt. 2 (endtimeebooklibrary.com)
The ULTIMATE seduction is the seducing-or deceiving-of one into believing a LIE.Then once someone believes the lie, that person is capable of almost committing ANY crime, ANY act…no matter how reprehensible or horrendous!This is how sexual and physical abuse has seemingly been on the increase in the organized church. (It really is just more people are coming out and telling their horror stories of how they have been abused by the church system) - Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood: A Bishop’s Provocative Inquisition (prweb.com)
Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood is a pastoral review of the research, sexual activity, and celibacy among Roman Catholic priests. It features heart-wrenching, anonymous, and candid self-disclosures about the sexual behaviors of heterosexual, gay, and bisexual priests. It explores the meaning of celibacy in accordance with Roman Catholic Church teachings, doctrine, and canon law. It is an honest, raw, and frank study of current perspectives on celibacy in light of priestly sexual behaviors. This new book allows for Roman Catholic priests to speak out in their own voices about their struggles and conflicts between celibacy and their sexual activities.
+
“Mandatorycelibacy creates a host of problems. This study begins to address them by letting those who live the problems speak for themselves. It is a first step toward shifting the focus from sexuality to duplicity, from hierarchically imposed restrictions to personally embraced commitments. A sobering but useful read for all who want a healthier, holier Catholic community.”Mary Hunt, Catholic feminist theologian; co-founded the Women’s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER) - Thousands abused by Dutch priests, says report (windsorstar.com)
About 20,000 children have been sexually abused by 800 Roman Catholic priests or lay workers in Holland since 1945, an independent inquiry has estimated.The investigation received 1,800 reports of sexual abuse by clergy or volunteers within Dutch Catholic dioceses, congregations and religious orders.
At least 105 of the alleged abusers are still alive.
Children involved in Church organisations were twice as likely as non-Catholics to be exposed to abuse and the “mild, severe or very severe sexual behaviour” was covered up by senior clergy.
Archbishop Wim Eijk (L) and Dutch Religious Conference KNR chairman Cees van Dam hold a press conference in Zeist on December 16, 2011, after an independent Dutch inquiry into child sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests said today it found "tens of thousands" of victims since 1945, identifying 800 alleged perpetrators. Dutch bishops said they were filled with "shame and sorrow" over the Deetman Commission's findings, the latest allegations of abuse which have rocked the Catholic Church in several countries in recent years. Photograph by: Koen van Weel, AFP/Getty Images
Self inflicted misery #1 The root by man
Self inflicted misery to bear
1. The root by man
For some the Book of Job offers no simple answer to the problem of suffering. But it should shed a light on how nobody can escape the problems of this world and shall be able to find himself confronted with misery at one or another time.
Suffering and loss are common to man, and often he is at the root of it himself.
As we have seen from the Study about Job is that man lives in a universe of cause and effect and the consequences of certain causes are inescapable and have nothing to do with what God brings unto earth but more with what God allows happening on this earth.
God has given men a freedom to act. He has given them the responsibility over Gods Creation. But there is a burden of ‘natural law’ which straightens out the wrongdoings of certain people. Humankind is not inescapable to what men do. In this universe we do have to bear the consequences of what we or others do.
As you can come to the conclusion from the series on the Poverty in Flanders lots of handling by people and situations interfere with each other and can bring people in serious problems. They do not have to be the cause of it. It can be brought over them by the stupidity of others or by uncontrollable health situations.
In Eigendomsrecht, welvaarttaks en waardigheidsrecht is written that each cultured society must have a certain form of solidarity its members or inhabitants. No community can stand on its own. Everybody living in the close environment has to take his or her responsibility. Each worthy society must work there at it to form a social acceptable and fully social life and to offer a safety net for all those who fall from the boat. The law of the strongest is the strongest injustice. It is the duty of the strongest to see for the weakest to.
Every worthy community should take care of a good education for everybody, which can directly provide the skills, knowledge and qualifications that are important in social and labour market participation, so that nobody should have to become a burden on another. As Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #7 Education shows it is everybody’s responsibility when a community gets impoverished because the people cannot cope to do the proper work to keep that community going. Also by not knowing what to do right, people are going to make faults, interfering the wrong way with nature or with nature elements and so causing problems in God’s creation and bringing natural disasters over them.
Image via Wikipedia
We can also determine that often it are the lower educated people who are not really taking care of their environment. Rotzooi van de mens & zwerfprobleem shows what a mess man creates with its litter. Lots of people suffer because they live in dirty neighbourhoods but they forget how often many people around them are the cause of it. They should be more aware of the impact that litter has on our communities and local areas and what it costs to the community or every taxpayer. Litter and clean and green spaces are important to people and their everyday lives. Areas blighted by litter, dog fouling, fly-tipping, graffiti and fly-posting can make residents ashamed of where they live and stop people from going to visit a place. Therefore those who would like to have everything clean should let hear their voice more and react more to others who show an anti-social behaviour.
Educated people can also look for new materials, handy tools and for renewable ways to produce our energy and many of these resources we need; wind, water, sunshine, agricultural waste. But they have to find also ways to get rid of all the waste they create and have to keep living in respect for the countryside. As Royals, mini busses and environment shows that there are high placed persons on this earth, who are aware of our role in the whole universe. We all should be aware of the rural areas which should be set to contribute considerably to renewable energy targets and the fight against climate change. Industries should be willing to invest and to produce possible assets to reach the right goals. Industry may not have the idea it can do everything to achieve her goals to make gains as much as possible. The inconsideration about how to handle the products nature gives us brings often so many people in danger. We should be aware that there is a big difference between inability to know and unwillingness to know as well as unwillingness to change or to do something. We also should shame ourselves when we do not want to learn from history and cases as Chernobyl, Fukushima and so many others.
People just cannot muddle with mother nature. They have to conserve the delicate natural ecology. When they do master it wrongly and go about it brashly they shall have to bear the consequences of their deeds. Every action a person does shall bring something forth. A heedless action shall have its outcome probably not to the good. Than it shall not God to blame for giving a persecution. No it is the fault of the perhaps thoughtless step, but in any case of the wrong step that brings forth a counter reaction.
+
Continues: Self inflicted misery #2 Weakness of human race
+++
Perhaps interesting to read to have more insight in suffering brought to people in this modern civilised world:
Related articles
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #10 Health (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #2 First two decennia of 21st century (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #3 Right to Human dignity (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #4 The Family pact (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #5 Housing (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #6 Transport factor of immobilising financial growth (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #7 Education (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #8 Work (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #9 Consumption (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
-
Facing disaster fatigue shows how now we are becoming closer to the Endtimes the problems are going to expand. One natural disaster after another coming over the people of this world who seem to have lost control of a lot of things, living more and more without any ethics.
+
Please do find also the following articles on our main website:
Related please do read:
- About suffering
- Disappointed with God
- Gods design in the creation of the world
- Gods instruction about joy and suffering
- Gods promises
- Gods measure not our measure
- Gods non answer
- Gods promises to us in our suffering
- Gods hope and our hope
- Gods salvation
- Hope for the future
- Importuning for suffering hearts
- Looking for blessed hope
- Miracles in our time of suffering
- Our relationship with God, Jesus and each other
- Promise of comforter
- Seems no future in suffering
- Suffering
- Suffering – through the apparent silence of God
- Suffering continues
- Suffering leading to joy
- Surprised by time in joys & sufferings
- Words from God about suffering
- Working of the hope
Fragments from the Book of Job #7 Epilogue
As Kevin Miller writes in his blog article about Job “Job is a book of tragedy, foolish counsel, mourning, but also great strength.” For us it can be counted as such a real romantic film: Job begins and ends happy and cheery, but in-between we get drama of high calibre. By the end of the very first chapter, all of Job’s kids were dead, his animals had been killed and/or stolen, almost of of his servants were dead, and he had completely crushed. Than his health was taken away and by the end of Job 2, we found this (once) wealthy, healthy, man of integrity sitting on a pile of ashes scraping his gaping wounds with broken pieces of pottery. As so often happens by humans is that his friends also started to accuse him of all sorts of bad things. People love it to find the evil by an other, but do not want to see “the beam” in their own eyes. “In Job 8:4, Job’s good old buddy, Bildad, even has the audacity to accuse Job of hidden sin! As if Job were to blame for his suffering! That’s a sad misconception that is sometimes even taught from pulpits today: hidden sin is causing your suffering. ” writes Miller rightly. We have to be careful not to fall in that trap or pitfall.
We also may not accept the latest theologies: Poverty theology and prosperity theology. The first considering those who are poor to be more righteous than those who are rich. It considers a matter of greed to become more wealthy than others and it honours those who choose to live in poverty as particularly devoted to God. Conversely, prosperity theology considers those who are rich to be more righteous than those who are poor; it honours those who are affluent as being rewarded by God because of their faith. In fact, both poverty and prosperity theology can be half-truths but are not depicting the full picture of Gods handling people.
Job and his family restored - Blake
Instead of clinging our hears to false teachers we do better to take Gods Words to our heart. As Arlin Sorensen says: “God has spoken to us clearly through His Word – the Bible is His first communication to us. But more than that – God continues to speak to us as well. The Holy Spirit lives in us to communicate God’s Truth to our hearts. God may speak to us through a dream or a vision. There is no shortage of God speaking to us and giving us direction for life. ” (About Job 33) Even without any book we could and should hear the words from God, because God is talking to us continually through creation, His Word, and the Spirit that lives in us. In the Book of Job as in many other Books of the Bible God lifts up a veil and is shown up as the Most Almighty, Omnipotent, Most Wise and Creator of all things and of all beings. The problem is that most of us do not want to read the Bible and as such hear the Words of God. They prefer to listen to the most popular speakers. But they are not always the wise speakers. On the other hand we also often fail as listeners because we have certain ideas to which we want to keep fast. Most listeners are already preparing their response before the ones to whom they listen ever finish what they have to say. We saw a glimpse of how we want to win the argument, like Elihu who thought he had all the answers. A lot of persons also think the Bible is just an old book and they forget that this Book of Books, the Best-seller of all times can change their life.
Because we want things our way, we prefer the answers who go in our direction of thinking and we dare to feel unjustified when something does happen not like we want it. Often it is our pride which hinders us to think straight and worse, makes it impossible to hear the answers from God. I do hope that in Arlin Sorensen’s Thoughts on Scripture the writer means not with ” It does keep us from hearing God’s response – because there isn’t one. ” that there is no answer for us, because even if we have haughtiness or arrogance God has everybody given the chance to put his or her pride aside and to take up His Word of Wisdom in their hands to learn from it. He is right to say that God opposes the proud. Scripture tells us that over and over. But that God doesn’t hear well – if at all – when pride is our defining character we cannot find right, because God listens to everything what happens and to what people say. He knows and sees everything. Nothing can escape His eye or ear. He doesn’t despise any. Jehovah is not going to look down upon with contempt just because a person can have some bad characteristics as pride. Yes He detest excessive self-esteem but He does see through our eyes and heart and knows were our attitude comes from. If we are honestly willing to hear God He shall come close to us. God shows no partiality to mankind (Job 34:19) and He has always His answer ready for everybody, who wants to hear it. Though it may not always come at the time we would think appropriate. It is up to God to decide to whom He gives answer when. God is always in control of everything. God is powerful and mighty because His righteous judgement and wisdom. Elihu showed us in chapter 36 how God gives some answers to the world, though they may not be like they would like to hear them. (Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37) Nothing can be “thwarted” from God (NIV) no purpose of Him can be restrained. (Job 42:2) Nothing is to difficult for God (Genesis 18:14; Isaiah 43:13; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26) When we are in agony, like Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, we can pray to Him and ask Him for things which seem impossible, because He can do everything (Mark 14:36) which shall always be more than any human being (Luke 18:27). God wants to be heard (Job 33:16) and use also people to let His voice been heard (2 Kings 17:13). By showing the people the results of their doings, the crimes caused by their pride, God gives answers to them (Job 36:9). To hear God we sometimes have to be willing to stand still and to be prepared to listen (Job 37:14). To stop or “stand still”: “Stand still and see the salvation of God” (Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:17). “Stand still and hear God’s commandments” (Numbers 9:8). “Stand still that I may show you the word of God” (1 Samuel 9:27). “Stand still that I may reason with you” (1 Samuel 12:7).
One of the beauties of Gods creation where Jesus prayed to His Father, his and our God
“Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor. He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yes, he does establish them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction; Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.” You can read here how God answers them and which advice He give those people who got a higher position but could not keep it right. ” If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.” (Job 36:5-14 KJBPNV)
“He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no narrow place; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.” (Job 36:15-16 KJBPNV)
“Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?” (Job 36:22 KJBPNV)
“He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.” (Job 37:7 KJBPNV)
“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.” (Job 37:23-24 KJBPNV)
“Gird up your loins now like a man: I will demand of you, and declare you unto me.” (Job 40:7 KJBPNV)
“Then will I also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.” (Job 40:14 KJBPNV)
“I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from you. Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.” (Job 42:2-3 KJBPNV)
Also people who do not believe in God shall at certain times, decided by God, be able to hear God saying things to them. Because God’s desire is that we move away from sin and move to righteousness. He opens our ears to know His commands Job 36:10).
In Job 37:19 Elihu seems to have taunted Job asking him to teach them (Elihu and the three friends) how they should understand how to speak with God. Our brother Robert Prins wrote: “Elihu began by looking up. Maybe we should do the same as we gaze at the vastness of the heavens, the ethereal blue of the sky, the beauty of the sunrise and the sunset – new pictures painted by God for us to marvel at every day. We can see the expanse of his power as we look up into space and see the millions of stars he has created in glorious beauty, shining in the blackness on the night sky. And when we see clouds we can be impressed by the sheer volume and weight of water that God suspends above the earth. Who has not failed to be impressed by the thunder and lightening of a storm – thunder that can be heard all over the land, and lightening that lights up the whole earth with one almighty flash. And what about the rain, the snow or the hot sun and the way that God can disrupt the whole of man’s affairs by floods, snowstorm, earthquake or heatwave…
May our hearts also pound and leap from their places as we stop to consider God’s wonders.”
We have to reflect on what happens in the world and how God works on it. we have to try to understand God’s involvement in the way that things work in the natural world. Looking around us we can “see” and “hear” a lot of answers to our questions. Other people can sensitise others, like us, to get to know more about the Creator deity. They also can let us see that trials we often go through are not only for us, but for those around us as well and for people far away, who often have nothing to do with what caused their problem either.
As God broke His silence to Job (Job 38:1-) (Fragments from the Book of Job #6: chapters 38-42) He employed a series of more than 70 questions to show Job and humankind, his ignorance and God’s greatness. As long as everything goes all right nobody seems to worry about God, but as soon as something terrible happens ‘everybody’ wants to blame God for it. Suddenly everybody has than criticism on the Creator. Speaking with great irony and personifying His other creations God want putting men right in front of it, and having them to face the facts. did not God confront Job with mysteries of the animal kingdom in order to make him more aware of his ignorance and thus of his inability to be a competent judge of the works of God?
We get to see the other point about what the Book of Job is about. When people criticizes the way things happen in the world and blame God for it, they are trying to usurp God’s position as Master or Governor of this world (Job 40:6-14).
Normally God has not to justify Himself before us, but God addressed the issue of His own justice and Job his futile attempt at self-justification (Job 40:8-14). God questions man if he would condemn the Creator or discredit His justice to justify man himself (Job 40:8 )
gods of the babyboom generation
In this world many want to have modern gods, people to whom they can look up. Some of those men and women would not mind taking on the appearance of deity. God challenges those people (Job 40:10) King David knew his place and wanted to honour God, but hoped that the adversaries and accusers would be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak (Psalm 109:29).
As we came to chapter 42 of the Book of Job the contest with the satan, i.e. the accuser is now over and Job became restored. Job repented for the presumptuous words he spoke to the Most High, his Creator(Job 42:6). We got to see that Jehovah does not want people to suffer for no reason. God could not be impressed with the words of Jobs friends. He found it time that the friends of Job were put on their place and that Job could enjoy again happiness. This last one put away his pride and rebellion and finds contentment in the knowledge that he has God’s fellowship. We also should already be pleased that God wants to be with us, though we do not understand all His ways with us and with the world around us.
Knowing that God is in control of everything but that He has given men the right to clear all things themselves, it is up to take our own responsibility. After the fall Adam and Eve and all their next generations could prove they could manage the creation. So lets tackle it according to our best means, knowing that we all received everything around us in loan from the Creator Jehovah our God, the Most High and omnipotent.
As a Christian, we should lovingly and sincerely have concern for many people and their many circumstances. We should see what happens in the world and should look for the underlying causes. First of all should we always remember that God has given men a free will. The Creator has given men the possibility to choose and to have many choices. So we should be aware which way several people wanted to go, what they did and what consequences they and not God, brought to other human beings and to the rest of the creation of God. As children of God our hearts should ache for the pain and trouble that other creatures experience in life. This concern should compel us to react wisely and to come unto their help. To people we should speak truth into their life, which can include everything from pointing out sin to giving wise counsel, and intercede for them before God in prayer. We also have to stay aware of our limitations. We never can “play for God”. As finite beings, there is only so much we can do and we must discern whom God has called us to help and how God has called us to help them. We have to make choices how and how much we can help and have to put priorities first. Whatever happens we should carry first whatever load God has allowed to come over us, but not blaming Him for it. Than we should see how God still stays with us and helps us to carry that load or burden. As brothers and sisters in Christ we can help each other to make the burden lighter. Out of love we should try to do everything to make the problems less.
“Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of the Messiah. For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 6:2-5 KJBPNV)
Let us be humble enough to accept that the Creator of all things has a good Plan which He is going to bring to a good end in due time. Although we cannot fully understand or appreciate Him, we can love, trust, respect Him and acknowledge that God alone can save us. Jehovah is our strength and He is the only underived and self-sustaining existence in the universe. All other forms of life are but incorporations of the life which is in Him — so many subdivisions of the stream which issues from the great fountainhead. God, as the antecedent, eternal power of the universe, has elaborated all things out of Himself. The testimony before us is, that the God of gods did not hide from the wilderness Israelites, for in the startling familiarity they had every proof that He was with them in the shining face of Moses and the tables of stone. There were rules in abundance on how to worship, but even that did not make obedient children. God’s life instruction and every provision of over reaching care, made little difference to the Israelites. Having the opportunity to read all the stories what happened to the people of God we should know better and take care not “to follow the world”. We should choose to follow the man God had sent to the earth to save the world. And we should follow the teachings of that son of God, called Yeshua or Jesus, the Nazarene, also called the Messiah.
In case we are not so happy with our life, let us look how we can make it better and easier to bear. Our disappointment is in itself a sign that we hunger for something better, and whatever our suffering situation and disappointment with the outcome, that we will regain a better outlook. All sufferers can have Hope. God especially cares and provides for all men — He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16,17). The disappointment, with God’s answer, can be overwhelming, but God’s disappointment with us and God’s rejection of us are worse. We may never know the purpose of our suffering, but we need to rest assured that God has one. None of His should ever risk rejection.
If God leaves room for doubts and doubters, and we know He does, He also leaves room for the faithless, and in our disappointment, even for us. So God wants to give everybody His answer and His Help. The God who is positive has not only measures and rules for us but also promises.That we always have our ears and eyes open to see God ways and hear His answers and follow His instructions. That we have our eyes fixed on Gods Hope and that we hope in Him and in His son.
***
“The final chapters of this remarkable book, one of the first on record, brings the drama to a wonderful conclusion. The questions with which it opened by the quest of the Satan, are now answered, and Job finds his experiences have developed his character and understanding. As a wonderful type of the Lord Jesus, Job is vindicated by Yahweh, and becomes a mediator for his friends. He is again commended as Yahweh’s ‘righteous servant’ and is restored and honoured sevenfold. The last speech of the Deity is in Job 41, in which is revealed the power of the flesh in the great leviathan, and the way in which the Almighty Creator permits His creation to display greater spiritual principles. So the record continues as the mighty leviathan is presented as the final picture of Yahweh’s omnipotence. [1] Its untamable ferocity: Job 41: 1-9. [2] Its terrifying appearance: Job 41: 10-24. [3] Its power in attack: Job 41: 25-32. [4] Its incontestable supremacy: Job 41: 33,34″ (GEM).
Job 42: “The picture moves to the exaltation of Job: [1] Job humbles himself before Yahweh: Job 42 1-6. [6] Divine rebuke of Job’s accusers: Job 42 7-9. [7] Job restored and honoured: Job 42 10-17. The type is before us in the record of Job; the antitype will shortly be revealed in the return of Yahshua the Anointed, and the elevation of his true family. Then great blessing will come to the whole world, in fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant” (GEM).
“Trouble (so far from being evidence of desertion) is a means employed in His hands to lay the foundation of future joy and blessedness. Let His children then be comforted and strengthened to endure even the deepest and most inexplicable affliction. Let them learn to see God in the darkness and to feel His hand in the tempest. Let them beware of the folly of Job’s three friends rebuked of God. Let them know that this time of our pilgrimage is the night, and that though weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning and that joy a joy prepared by the weeping. Let them apply the consolation Christ has given them: ‘Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall be comforted’ [Matthew 5:4]” (WP 83).
***
Epilogue of the Book of Job
The Deliverance of Job
Job 42 (New Century Version)
7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not said what is right about me, as my servant Job did. 8 Now take seven bulls and seven male sheep, and go to my servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will listen to his prayer. Then I will not punish you for being foolish. You have not said what is right about me, as my servant Job did.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord said, and the Lord listened to Job’s prayer. 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord gave him success again. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had owned before. 11 Job’s brothers and sisters came to his house, along with everyone who had known him before, and they all ate with him there. They comforted him and made him feel better about the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. Job had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand teams of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. 13 Job also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named the first daughter Jemimah, the second daughter Keziah, and the third daughter Keren-Happuch. 15 There were no other women in all the land as beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father Job gave them land to own along with their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived one hundred forty years. He lived to see his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. 17 Then Job died; he was old and had lived many years.
Job 42:17
The LXX adds, as footnote: “And it is written that he shall rise up again, with those whom the LORD shall raise up.”
+
Next: Let us recognise how great God is
+++
Please do find more about Suffering on our main website:
Related please do read:
- About suffering
- Disappointed with God
- Gods design in the creation of the world
- Gods instruction about joy and suffering
- Gods promises
- Gods measure not our measure
- Gods non answer
- Gods promises to us in our suffering
- Gods hope and our hope
- Gods salvation
- Hope for the future
- Importuning for suffering hearts
- Looking for blessed hope
- Miracles in our time of suffering
- Our relationship with God, Jesus and each other
- Promise of comforter
- Seems no future in suffering
- Suffering
- Suffering – through the apparent silence of God
- Suffering continues
- Suffering leading to joy
- Surprised by time in joys & sufferings
- Words from God about suffering
- Working of the hope
+++
Related articles
- Self inflicted misery #1 The root by man (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- According to some Job (davidscommonplacebook.wordpress.com) receives from God a response more than a little unsatisfying. According to those writers God does not tell Job why he has suffered. God puts Job in his place by showing him how little Job actually knows and when you read the story good you can find a lot of answers in the discussions that went on.
- Surviving and Learning from the Book of Job (richardburkey.wordpress.com) let us rightly know that God’s plans are bigger than our plans. God’s view of the world is bigger then our view. The book of Job challenges our reading as God “corrects” the 3 friends and their theology. In many ways, they sum up what most believe about God. They state what the obvious should be, how most situations work, or in most case “rules of thumb” when it comes to understanding how the world works. One problem, they are proven wrong. Put God in a box, and the lid shuts tight usually either snapping at a finger or leaving you on the outside.
Job throughout the book has pleaded for a hearing before God. Job wants to know why (don’t we all?). Yet God simply, powerfully, eloquently declares who He is. He is God, beyond Job in his day, and beyond us in our day. - Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20 (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Fragments from the Book of Job #3: chapters 21-26 (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31 (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37 (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Fragments from the Book of Job #6: chapters 38-42 (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Fragments from the Book of Job #7 Epilogue (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37
We can imagine that people get scared when they hear certain preachers talking as the three friends of Job. As the wife of a Southern Baptist pastor writes in her blog that one pastor saying that all the troubles which befell Job were his fault because he spoke forth fear into his life. That alleviated some of her fears somewhat. Though we would recommend starting to read the full Book of Job it is true that you don’t hear much in church or otherwise about the book of Job other than a passing comment or reference here or there. Studying Job brings forward that there is much more than that character of a righteous man blamed to be unrighteous and being rightly penalised by God.
Last chapter we saw that Job succumbed to the same self pity we all succumb to at times.
Job - Blake
When things are going good in their lives, rarely do people give God the credit for it, but as soon as trouble comes along, the first one to get the blame is God. Even worse, there are ministers out there telling people its O.K. to get angry with God. (Stop Blaming God) There are also a lot of preachers trying to convince people that it is God who brings punishment to the wicked today. Many have to come out that came out of that false system of thinking. Job’s friends did not see that it was the accuser and adversary of God (satan) was trying to drive a wedge between God and His beloved. If Job proved to be righteous only because “it pays” then Satan (any adversary) wins his bet with God. As the friends certain pastors say rightly God is almighty and just. They also preach that because no human is entirely innocent in God’s eyes and therefore have to suffer as suffering, according to them, must be a retribution for some sin. It has come so bad that today we even find pastors who say certain violent action and bringing pain to others is justified because the others deserve it. (Antichrist and The Most Hated Family in America in crisis) These doom preachers are right when they say that the Holy God shows us, that He completely is in state to bring the destruction over this whole world because of the sin. The Bible tells us of this tremendous fact in Genesis 6:12-13 when God, looking on the earth, saw that it was evil: for the way of all flesh had become evil on the earth. And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come; the earth is full of their violent doings, and now I will put an end to them with the earth. “And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:12-13 ASV) God brought the deluge over the earth, but that was the first and last turn that God would do that. Lots of doom thinkers make people frightened. Often they try to get the people of their congregation in their ban with cursings to the outer world and with “If you had more faith”. We should recognise the false teachers at the words and actions they take. Teachers or preachers their sayings we always do have to compare them with the Words of God which we can find in the Book of Books, the Bible. Compare where the Holy Scriptures disagrees. In a time when so many people are striving for an explanation of why their lives turn out a certain way, or why things (good or bad) happen to them, the expressions “it’s all part of God’s plan,” “everything happens for the best,” or “it just wasn’t meant to be,” and so on, have became a little tiresome. In “When Bad Things Happen to Good People,” perhaps Rabbi Harold S. Kushner can offer you a refreshing point of view that differs from those who think everything occurs on earth because God wants it that way, and at the same time provides a surprising comfort in the fact that events actually can, and do, take place for no reason at all. Rabbi Kushner tries to reconcile a common Judeo-Christian view of God and causality with a perspective of life that holds a place for randomness and happenstance. He tries to proof that things happen in life that God has nothing to do with, and there is a way to find peace in accepting this. Also for him as for us not everything that takes place in the world has a purpose or comes from God. God, in Kushner’s view, created the world and provides the foundation of moral principle. But according some thoughts God would not quite be in control of the world He created. He hopes for our good and He sympathizes, as it were, with us in our pain, but He is powerless to do anything about it according this Jewish writer. But the One who created is in control but allows people a lot of freedom. Aish.com, a division of Aish HaTorah, an apolitical network of Jewish educational centres in 35 branches on five continents remarks: “As to why a God Who had the power to create the entire universe in the first place would create one that He is powerless to control, Kushner basically shrugs his shoulders and contents himself with noting that the world is relatively good for most people most of the time. We might designate this theory as “randomness plus God.”" (Why Harold Kushner is wrong) Fro them Harold Kushner’s approach to suffering is profoundly un-Jewish and provides no solace to those in pain. Unable to understand why a good God would allow individuals to suffer, Kushner ends by neatly defining the question away. He cannot even conceive of the possibility of any understanding, and so concludes that we have no answers because there are no answers. But God has provided those who want to listen and who want to find insight and wisdom, the possibilities to find the answers in the Holy Scriptures. “By arguing that much of what happens is beyond God’s control, Kushner effectively severs the connection between God and the world and thereby empties physical existence of all meaning.” dixit Aish.
When bad things happen to good people who do you blame? What, if anything, keeps you from accepting painful situations or losses in your life?
A lot of people do not see that the Book of Job also gives a picture of who God is and of what He wants from us. They also quote a lot from the friends their words but forget how in Job and Elihu’s replies we get a rectification and the solution to the whole problem in the answer of the Elohim, Jehovah God.
In chapters 29-31 of the Book of Job (Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31) Job also present us a picture of some of the commandments to which we better keep to live in conformity with the Will of God or Gods Law. Those Commandments of God or Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצוה “commandment”, [mitsˈva], Biblical: Miṣwah; plural mitzvot [mitsˈvot]; Biblical: Miṣwoth from צוה ṣiwwah “command”) were brought to humankind through the ages that God ministered His People. In Judaism they refer to the 613 Mitzvot (Hebrew: תרי”ג מצוות: Taryag Mitzvot, “613 commandments”; Biblical Hebrew: Miṣwoth) or 613 commandments given in the Torah. Job brought some statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses forwards to proof that he tried honestly to fullfill Gods wishes.
When the friendship of God was with Job, he argued, (Job 29:4) that the Almighty was yet with him. He had the idea that God had deserted him, like Jesus also asked God why He had abandoned him. Strangely Job does not see that God was all the time with him. No matter what happens, when we stay with God, He shall always stay around us. Though we do not hear Him, He shall keep an eye onto us. God is often seemingly hidden, but His silence, His deafness, His blindness is all part of His plan to strengthen our relationship with Him. It can be hard when God does not reveal Himself in visible proofs. But it makes stronger faith. We have to be careful that we do not project our human limitation upon God so that we could better understand our problems. We have limits, but the Only One God has no limits as a spirit. “The God is Pneuma, and those worshipping Him must of necessity worship spiritually and in harmony with Truth.”” (John 4:24 MHM)
Sometimes we are too busy to attend to all the details in our life, but Jehovah God never loses track of the details.
Also the friendship in the community is being questioned. You can compare the situation of Job and his friends as to what you expect of your “brethren”. How do we react when something goes wrong with somebody of the ecclesia? And when one of the brothers or sisters is taken in any wrongdoing, how do you want to put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested. Are you also willing to take on yourselves one another’s troubles, and so keep the law of Christ. “Brothers, if anyone is overcome by some mistake those who are spiritual should gently and meekly readjust such a person. However, watch yourselves so you are never tempted. Continue to carry the heavy burdens of one another and in this manner fulfil Christ’s Law.” (Galatians 6:1-2 MHM)
Job had moments of doubt and we also can feel that we are standing alone in the turbulent storm. All the thorns from the problems can hurt us deep and cause anger against the others and worse, against God for His seeming abandonment in His hiddenness. But from the next chapters and other Books from the Old and New Testament we shall see that God does not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye. God does see and hear in the camps of the evil ones, and not only that, but He assures us that He is there in the middle of the evil. He does not forsake those sons and daughters of His as it seems, for He sets the joy before them, and will send an accompanying angel to bear them up in the extreme. He wants us to “Look up”, but if we are so deep in the pit in the evil camp with our eyes permanently cast down, alas we find, miraculously, and mercifully that He is there with us. He is not hidden, and He whispers, “Look up, look up for I am here with you”. When Job refused to give up on God, despite the pleadings of all his accusers, he won the contest with them, and was privileged to see what he would have missed had he succumbed to their suggestions. How do you look up to God. Can you keep trusting God and have a positive perspective? What might you think in a similar situation? Where do you place God in your life and where was God for you when it hurt the most?
Job demanded an audience with God in which he was sure he would be vindicated. Enter Elihu on the scene who sets Job straight before the entrance of God himself. When Job finally gets his audience with God it doesn’t go like he planned at all. He comes away humbled and repentant for his selfish behaviour. He is accepted by God still however, which speaks to eternal security of the believer. His three friends are a different matter however. It says God’s anger burned toward them. (see Jot’s writing on Job)
Job, who consciously lived his life as if it were open before and in service to the God of heaven and earth and kept to the regulation of community, (one of the Laws or Deuteronomic code) brought forwards all the good deeds he had done. We also have to do such good things. Delivering or taking care of the poor and the fatherless (Job 31:16–23); giving widows heart to sing for joy; no stealing or coveting; putting on righteousness; helping the blind, the lame and the needy; even helping animals, providing them with food (Job 31:31) searching out causes; putting the unrighteous on their place; giving counsel or advice; not having looked at the elements of the earth to worship them (Job 31:24-28) because we have to abstain from any pagan worship and our worship of God must remain pure. Not erecting sacred stones or adoring the richness of the earth (gold, silver, money, wealth), not making for yourself an idol. Keeping to purity and respecting rules which regulate marriage.
We should try to get to know the regulations of the Most High, but just keeping to them because we are afraid He might harm us is not the good reason to hold vast to the commandments. God wants from us that we do come out of our own free will, and that we love Him for what He really is. It is not by the disasters in the world or the many problems on earth that the greatness of the Creator is shown.
Does not God and His son gave to those who came with a request? We all can use this earth in loan from the Creator but so we want to share of it with others? do some of us not keep their property from him who would for a time make use of it. You have knowledge that it was said, “Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you”. But Jesus said to us: “Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner. For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same? And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?” (Matthew 5:42-47 BBE). “Instead, all of you continue to show loving concern for your enemies. And continue doing good-continue lending money without expecting anything to be paid back. If you do your reward will be considerable, for you will become the Most High’s offspring, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35 MHM)
We should know that “Jehovah is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.” (Psalms 145:9 ASV)
We can also notice that Job recited a blessing for each enjoyment, but also blessings and curses for those who keep and break the law (Deuteronomic code in Deuteronomy Chapters 12-26).
Job preferred to curse the day he was born rather than God.
If we read in between the lines we can see that it is with profound courage and compassion that sufferers survive the inhuman dignities placed upon them by captors, and torturers and they need to remember that it is easier to receive the pain and moan with it, than it is to be the source of the inhuman behaviour, for there is no escaping the human consciousness that makes inhumanity possible. So, in that sense, human captors or persecutors and torturers are always worse off than their prisoners, or those who they torment. In a way we can’t escape that not such liked events intrude with such force that we are compelled to deal with our faith in the context of what is taking place in our lives. Suffering is one such event. It challenges us to confront the ultimate questions of who we are and what is the significance of our lives. Suffering is a painful invitation to deepen our faith and make it a real part of our lives.
We also get the question of “what makes “happy“, “healthy”, “wealthy” and “wise“.
Now we have heard the speeches of Jobs friends and his replies. Does the hair-rising, mystical spiritual experience of Eliphaz sound reliable to you? (Job 4:12-16) Can we be righteous as against God and be blameless against our Maker?
When we hear what happens in some churches and see how preachers rage on television do you not question if “correct” theology (all the right words) and/or quoting just some phrases out of context can ever be “bad” theology?
Elihu said i am young and ye are very old
Today we listen to Elius or Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite who was young in years. He had kept silent all the time because the others were older and therefore he did not dare to speak up against them. He was fearful, not daring to tell them what he knew. (Job 32:6). There is a great lesson for us all here. It is not necessarily the case that old age brings wisdom. Wisdom is a result of experience. We should not keep to our pride and think because we have a certain age we also would have the wisdom. If we want to listen to advice or hear wisdom we should look for a trustworthy man person, who has had many testings in his or her life and stuck to his or her faith throughout, rather than one who has reached a great age or got a lot of wealth. It is clear from this book that old age does not always bring wisdom and understanding, but in this latter part of the book we are brought to our senses by this younger man who has the answers and who is able to help Job see his life in perspective. Let us not ignore the potential for wisdom to come from our younger members. And the wisdom does not always come from the most popular nor from the most liked one. The wisdom does not always flatter. We must recognise that there are certain preachers who want to be popular and even get huge churches full of people, because they know how to present their “show”. they know exactly what the people want to hear and give it to them in such a way that the people are pleased to hear such talking. But Elihu made it clear that what he had to say would not be emotional, or spoken with prejudice. He would not flatter, nor would he show respect to persons. He knew that God would condemn those who did. Though he also could find his thoughts “darkened”, and that is also what we all have to be aware of, certain things we can know for sure, others not, in certain things we can have wisdom, in others not. At certain point we even can find some haughtiness in his speaking. With a certain arrogance he boast that he has so much to say he can’t keep him straight. (Job 32: 18-22) Do we notice a taste of a braggart? In case we know something more then an other we should be pleased that we can be blessed as such. Let us therefore always be humble enough and listen in first instance to the One and Only God Almighty.
Brenton Translation
1851 by Lancelot Brenton
Job Chapter 32
Job 32:1 And his three friends also ceased any longer to answer Job: for Job was righteous before them.
Job 32:2 Then Elius the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, of the country of Ausis, was angered: and he was very angry with Job, because he justified himself before the Lord.
Job 32:3 And he was also very angry with [his] three friends, because they were not able to return answers to Job, yet set him down for an ungodly man.
Job 32:4 But Elius had forborne to give an answer to Job, because they were older than he.
Job 32:5 And Elius saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men; and he was angered in his wrath.
Job 32:6 And Elius the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said, I am younger in age, and ye are elder, wherefore I kept silence, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge.
Job 32:7 And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years [men] know wisdom:
Job 32:8 but there is a spirit in mortals; and the inspiration of the Almighty is that which teaches.
Job 32:9 The long-lived are not wise [as such]; neither do the aged know judgment.
Job 32:10 Wherefore I said, Hear me, and I will tell you what I know.
Job 32:11 Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried [the matter] with words:
Job 32:12 and I shall understand as far as you; and, behold, there was no one of you that answered Job his words in argument,
Job 32:13 lest ye should say, We have found that we have added wisdom to the Lord.
Job 32:14 And ye have commissioned a man to speak such words.
Job 32:15 They were afraid, they answered no longer; they gave up their speaking.
Job 32:16 I waited, (for I had not spoken,) because they stood still, they answered not.
Job 32:17 And Elius continued, and said, I will again speak,
Job 32:18 for I am full of words, for the spirit of my belly destroys me.
Job 32:19 And my belly is as a skin of sweet wine, bound up [and] ready to burst; or as a brazier’s labouring bellows.
Job 32:20 I will speak, that I may open my lips and relieve myself.
Job 32:21 For truly I will not be awed because of man, nor indeed will I be confounded before a mortal.
Job 32:22 For I know not how to respect persons: and if otherwise, even the moths would eat me.
+
Job 33:1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech.
Job 33:2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Job 33:3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
Job 33:4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
Job 33:5 If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against thee.
Job 33:6 Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Job 33:7 My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
Job 33:8 But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;
Job 33:9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
Job 33:10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Job 33:11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
Job 33:12 For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
Job 33:13 But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Job 33:14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
Job 33:15 [sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:)
Job 33:16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Job 33:17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
Job 33:18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
Job 33:19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
Job 33:20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
Job 33:21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare.
Job 33:22 His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades (the grave).
Job 33:23 Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly;
Job 33:24 he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
Job 33:25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
Job 33:26 And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
Job 33:27 Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
Job 33:28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
Job 33:29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Job 33:30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
Job 33:31 Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Job 33:32 If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified.
Job 33:33 If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.
+
Job 34:1 And Elius continued, and said,
Job 34:2 Hear me, ye wise men; hearken, ye that have knowledge.
Job 34:3 For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
Job 34:4 Let us choose judgment to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
Job 34:5 For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment.
Job 34:6 And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
Job 34:7 What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
Job 34:8 [saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
Job 34:9 For thou shouldest not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
Job 34:10 Wherefore hear me, ye that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.
Job 34:11 Yea, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man’s path he will find him.
Job 34:12 And thinkest thou that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment?
Job 34:13 And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
Job 34:14 For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
Job 34:15 all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
Job 34:16 Take heed lest he rebuke [thee]: hear this, hearken to the voice of words.
Job 34:17 Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
Job 34:18 [He is] ungodly that says to a king, Thou art a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
Job 34:19 [Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
Job 34:20 But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right].
Job 34:21 For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
Job 34:22 Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
Job 34:23 For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
Job 34:24 For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
Job 34:25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
Job 34:26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
Job 34:27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
Job 34:28 so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
Job 34:29 And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also:
Job 34:30 causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
Job 34:31 For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
Job 34:32 I will see apart from myself: do thou shew me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
Job 34:33 Will he take vengeance for it on thee, whereas thou wilt put [it] far [from thee]? for thou shalt choose, and not I; and what thou knowest, speak thou.
Job 34:34 Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
Job 34:35 But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
Job 34:36 Howbeit do thou learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
Job 34:37 that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
+
Job 35:1 And Elius resumed and said,
Job 35:2 What is this that thou thinkest to be according to right? who art thou that thou hast said, I am righteous before the Lord?
Job 35:3 I will answer thee, and thy three friends.
Job 35:4 Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high [they are] above thee.
Job 35:5 If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou do?
Job 35:6 and if too thou hast transgressed much, what canst thou perform?
Job 35:7 And suppose thou art righteous, what wilt thou give him? or what shall he receive of thy hand?
Job 35:8 Thy ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to thee; or thy righteousness a son of man.
Job 35:9 They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many.
Job 35:10 But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches;
Job 35:11 who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky?
Job 35:12 There they shall cry, and none shall hearken, even because of the insolence of wicked men.
Job 35:13 For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One.
+
Job 36:1 And Elius further continued, and said,
Job 36:2 Wait form me yet a little while, that I may teach thee: for there is yet speech in me.
Job 36:3 Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
Job 36:4 I will speak just things truly, and thou shalt not unjustly receive unjust words.
Job 36:5 But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
Job 36:6 he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor.
Job 36:7 He will not turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.
Job 36:8 But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
Job 36:9 And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
Job 36:10 But he will hearken to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
Job 36:11 If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour.
Job 36:12 But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.
Job 36:13 And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
Job 36:14 Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
Job 36:15 Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.
Job 36:16 And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:
Job 36:17 [there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and thy table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;
Job 36:18 but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
Job 36:19 Let not [thy] mind willingly turn thee aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
Job 36:20 And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
Job 36:21 But take heed lest thou do that which is wrong: for of this thou has made choice because of poverty.
Job 36:22 Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
Job 36:23 And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
Job 36:24 Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
Job 36:25 Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
Job 36:26 Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
Job 36:27 And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
Job 36:28 The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: (36:28A) he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. (36:28B) [Yet] by all these things thy understanding is not astonished, neither is thy mind disturbed in [thy] body.
Job 36:29 And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
Job 36:30 behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
Job 36:31 For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
Job 36:32 He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
Job 36:33 The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
+
Job 37:1 At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.
Job 37:2 Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord’s wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.
Job 37:3 His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.
Job 37:4 After him shall be a cry with a [loud] voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice.
Job 37:5 The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;
Job 37:6 commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.
Job 37:7 He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.
Job 37:8 And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in [their] lair.
Job 37:9 Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.
Job 37:10 And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.
Job 37:11 And [if] a cloud obscures [what is] precious [to him], his light will disperse the cloud.
Job 37:12 And he will carry round the encircling [clouds] by his governance, to [perform] their works: whatsoever he shall command them,
Job 37:13 this has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, [or] for his land, or if he shall find him [an object] for mercy.
Job 37:14 Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.
Job 37:15 We know that god has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.
Job 37:16 And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.
Job 37:17 But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.
Job 37:18 Wilt thou establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror.
Job 37:19 Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.
Job 37:20 Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence?
Job 37:21 But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.
Job 37:22 From the [north] come the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;
Job 37:23 and we do not find another his equal in strength: [as for] him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?
Job 37:24 Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.
+
Continues: Fragments from the Book of Job #6: chapters 38-42
+++
- The Role And Character Of Elihu In The Book Of Job
Perhaps no other biblical character has been characterized by scholars in such radically different ways as Elihu. Concerning wisdom, Elihu is described as either an “exceeding wise” man or a “buffoon”; concerning his motivation, he is seen as anything from a divinely-inspired “man of God” to the “person assumed or adopted by Satan” to attack Job; concerning his contribution to the Book of Job, he is considered to be “irrelevant” or “integral.
… many scholars believe that the Elihu speeches as we have them now were not part of the original Book of Job.
reasons for rejecting the authenticity:- Elihu is mentioned nowhere in the Book of Job outside of his speeches in Job 32-37
- the style of the Elihu speeches is different from the style used in the other parts of the book.
- Job’s challenge in chapter 31 calls for God, not Elihu, to make an appearance.
- Elihu’s speeches supposedly contribute nothing to the Book of Job. (but as you can read Elihu does have something significant to add)
… many scholars reject these arguments as unconvincing and strongly believe the Elihu speeches to be an original part of Job.
Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31
In the previous chapters the rampant evil in the world was described by Job (Job 24:2-24) and we have heard the speeches of Job’s friends who got to accuse him of gaining his now lost wealth by robbing the poor, withholding sustenance from the hungry and even abusing the weaker ones like widows and orphans. (Eliphaz, the most sympathetic and likely the oldest who appeals to experience for authority, in Job 22:6-9). Eliphaz urged Job to submit to obvious discipline from God, who would bless him if he would repent (Job 5:8-27). For the less sensitive Bildad it was clear that Job and his children were suffering because of his sin (Job 8:1-7). As Bildad argued from tradition, the third friend, Zophar rested on orthodox dogma and argued also that there must have been something in Job’s live that had caused all those problems.
Since neither Job nor his wife knew what had transpired between God and His adversaries, they did not know that those adversaries predicted that Job would curse God (Job 1:11; 2:5). Job at certain moments thought that there was a problem with him and God. His wife even concluded that her husband and she were suffering because God was unfair and that the presupposition that God always blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked has proven faulty. Job called her views foolishness and did not want to curse God (Job 2:9-10) but after some time also wrongly accused God of mauling him as would a beast (Job 16:9) turning him over to wicked or perverse men, evil people (Job 16:11) using him as would an archer for target practice (Job 16:12-13) and attacking him as would a warrior or like a soldier gone mad with hate (Job 16:14). Job was sad he did not receive an answer from God who had seemed to have wronged him (Job 19:6) because he had kept to God’s Law (contrary to Eliphaz’s charge Job 22:22). He also complained that God did not pay attention and does not have fixed times for the punishment of evildoers, so that people could see that the Almighty Elohim punishes evildoers (Job 24:1,12). But he recognises the sovereignty of Jehovah over the various aspects of the universe. (Job 26:5-13) Gods knowledge goes beyond what we can see and hear (Job 26:14).
Many blame God, but for an other reason than Job did (Job 24:1) for the troubles on this earth, and has Job friends they do not seem to see the underlying factors of men’s free will. Also Job gets the feeling that his sufferings are in the Will of God, though the thought troubles him. (Job 23:14-16) He has also difficulties with ancient teachings or traditions, which or not our best sources of knowledge, according to Job. (Job 9:1-10:22) Those who brought us some sources to think about are just as mortal as we are and we always should remember that they grasped perhaps only a part of reality.Who can discover the depth of God? (Job 11:7) Job recognises that he is not inferior to others who have more luck, and that with the others their wisdom shall die as well. (Job 12:2-3, 12-22, 2425; 13:2,4, 8-11; 14:10; 15:9-11, 18-22,31-32)
For Job as for us it seems that at certain moments of trouble, wherever we go we do not seem to find God and therefore could not present our case before the Almighty. (Job 23:8-9) In Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20 a light is already shed on the fact that God knows the way we take. (Job 23:10) We would love to see the evil of the evil-doer come to an end, and find an end to our misery. Sometimes we may think God does not care for us and does not watches us. But God keeps an eye on the world and follows it. In the Old Testament we do find enough examples how He at certain moments came in action and reacted to situation of which He did not agree with. We can also notice how He also gave strength to the upright. At any time men’s minds and hearts are tested by the God of righteousness. Jehovah puts the upright and the sinner to the test, but He has hate in his soul for the lover of violent acts. (Psalms 7:9; 11:5) “For you, O God, have proven us: you have tried us, as silver is tried.” (Psalms 66:10 KJBPNV) Remember: “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9 ASV)
Job’s innocence cries for vindication and asks God not to hide the wrongs done to him. (Job 16:18-21) Like Job we can long for a divine helper (cf 1 John 2:1-2) today we have an advocate with the Father. This comforter is Gods son given to us to help see our ways. this is a better friend than those of Job and a real upright helper. He can plead our case by his Father. In chapter 19 of the Book Job, Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20, we could notice that Job believed in a living god who would vindicate his case even after his death. In the future on the earth. The dust, sand or earth mentioned is referring to the dust of the earth or to the dust of Job’s grave. (Job 19:25-27)
“For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27 KJBPNV) We may look forward to Jesus who shall return to the earth and shall look onto what people have done to each other and how they kept to the commandments of God. He shall judge the people before he hands over the Kingdomto his Father.
The 10 commandments of God - A popular image of the Tablets as rounded-off
Though Job looks at Jehovah or Yahweh Yahweh as the redeemer (Heb “goel”) of His people, the Almighty is that one who took care that somebody could speak in the name of men. He first did that with his people in Egypt. “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:” (Exodus 6:6 ASV)
There is much speculation as to whether Job believed in the resurrection. However we note that Jesus, quoting Job’s words (Matthew 5:8) says that the meek will see God and clearly Jesus is speaking of the blessedness of those who are to be raised from the dead. (Read also: Zechariah 14:1-4,9,16; Isaiah 9:6-7;2:2-4; Matthew 24:3,36,37,44).
Looking for a kinsman-redeemer, ransom, avenge, vindicator, a “daysman” or a mediator Job looked like so many of us a means to obtain justice. That is the theme in these verses of Job 19:25-27, not resurrection, as we gather when we first read them. True justice would demand his bodily presence. Resurrection is thus implied rather than expressed. Job felt that at the resurrection he would be justified. The word flesh Hebrew basar (1320) means flesh, body, person, body, self, etc. while Job 31:14 suggests being called to account at an implied judgement .
“Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:1-4 ASV)
“And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9 ASV)
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16 ASV)
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting {1} contempt. {1) Or abhorrence}” (Daniel 12:2 ASV)
“Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of {1} herbs, and the earth shall cast forth {2} the dead. {1) Or light 2) Or the shades; Heb Rephaim}” (Isaiah 26:19 ASV)
“For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:21 ASV)
Job sees death as certain “worms destroy this body” (Job 16:22;17:1,14,15,16), “yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 14:13-15 - resurrection Gen 13:15) indicates flesh is regenerated; Job’s redeemer is Jehovah (Isaiah 43:14-15;49:7;54:5) Some people take it from there that Jehovah would be the same person as that redeemer Jesus, but Job spoke about the Spirit who was alive in his time. Thus Job was correct when he said his redeemer “liveth” because has always been alive and people forget that Jehovah has redeemed through his servant, the Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 49:6-7; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Timothy 1:10). Unfortunately, Job does not expound upon this ‘matter of the future’, and so we are left with an incomplete understanding of what he meant. However, Job is accounted righteous, and an example to follow (Ezekiel 14:14,26; James 5:11) and from that we can imagine that he is going to be one of the persons who shall also be in the coming Kingdom of God.
The sarcastic part of Job comes forward now. In Job 27: 7-23 we get Job’s summary of the erroneous arguments of his 3 friends — who urged his guilt. Job talks here as though his three ‘friends’ are trying to persuade him to fall from grace and to fulfil their words as if they were some sort of prophecy against him. Should we not recognise that it in fact not always the wicked ultimately prosper, though they may for a time. Whatever happens and how long it takes we can be sure that they will be condemned (Job 27:8). They shall not have to count on the help of God (Job 237:9-10). We nor they can be assured of passing on their prosperity to their children (Job 27:14-18). Who knows, destruction can come suddenly over the evil man (Job 27:19).
Brenton Translation
1851 by Lancelot Brenton
Job Chapter 27
Job 27:1 And Job further continued and said in his parable,
Job 27:2 [As] God lives, who has thus judge me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;
Job 27:3 verily, while my breath is yet in [me], and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,
Job 27:4 my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.
Job 27:5 Far be it from me that I should justify you till I die; for I will not let go my innocence,
Job 27:6 but keeping fast to [my] righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss.
Job 27:7 Nay rather, but let mine enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me, as the destruction of transgressors.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? will he indeed trust in the Lord [and] be saved?
Job 27:9 Will God hear his prayer? or, when distress has come upon him,
Job 27:10 has he any confidence before him? or will [God] hear him as he calls upon him?
Job 27:11 Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.
Job 27:12 Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.
Job 27:13 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.
Job 27:14 And if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.
Job 27:15 And they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows.
Job 27:16 Even if he should gather silver as earth, and prepare gold as clay;
Job 27:17 All these things shall the righteous gain, and the truehearted shall possess his wealth.
Job 27:18 And his house is gone like moths, and like a spider’s web.
Job 27:19 The rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is not.
Job 27:20 Pains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night.
Job 27:21 And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.
Job 27:22 And [God] shall cast [trouble] upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Job 27:23 He shall cause [men] to clap their hands against them, and shall hiss him out of his place.
+
Job 28:1 For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
Job 28:2 For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
Job 28:3 He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone [is] darkness, and the shadow of death.
Job 28:4 There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from [among] men.
Job 28:5 [As for] the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
Job 28:6 Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and [her] dust [supplies] man with gold.
Job 28:7 [There is] a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
Job 28:8 neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
Job 28:9 He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp [rock], and turned up mountains by the roots:
Job 28:10 and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
Job 28:11 And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
Job 28:12 But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
Job 28:13 A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.
Job 28:14 The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
Job 28:15 One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
Job 28:16 Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
Job 28:17 Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
Job 28:18 Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
Job 28:19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
Job 28:20 Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21 It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
Job 28:22 Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
Job 28:23 God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
Job 28:24 For he surveys the whole [earth] under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
Job 28:25 all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
Job 28:26 When he made [them], thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
Job 28:27 Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it [and] traced it out.
Job 28:28 And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
+
Job 29:1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
Job 29:3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
Job 29:4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Job 29:5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
Job 29:6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
Job 29:7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
Job 29:8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
Job 29:9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
Job 29:10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
Job 29:11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Job 29:12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
Job 29:13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Job 29:14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
Job 29:15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Job 29:16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Job 29:17 And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Job 29:18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
Job 29:19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Job 29:21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
Job 29:22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Job 29:23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Job 29:24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
+
Job 30:1 But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
Job 30:2 Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
Job 30:3 [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
Job 30:4 Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
Job 30:5 Thieves have risen up against me,
Job 30:6 whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
Job 30:7 They will cry out among the rustling [bushes].
Job 30:8 [They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
Job 30:9 But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.
Job 30:10 And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
Job 30:11 For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
Job 30:12 They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
Job 30:13 My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
Job 30:14 And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
Job 30:15 My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
Job 30:16 Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
Job 30:17 And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
Job 30:18 With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
Job 30:19 And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
Job 30:20 And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
Job 30:21 They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.
Job 30:22 And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.
Job 30:23 For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
Job 30:24 Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
Job 30:25 Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
Job 30:26 But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
Job 30:27 My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
Job 30:28 I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
Job 30:29 I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
Job 30:30 And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.
Job 30:31 My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
+
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.
Job 31:2 Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?
Job 31:3 Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.
Job 31:4 Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?
Job 31:5 But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:
Job 31:6 (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:
Job 31:7 if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands;
Job 31:8 then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.
Job 31:9 If my heart has gone forth after another man’s wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;
Job 31:10 then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.
Job 31:11 For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [in the case] of defiling [another] man’s wife.
Job 31:12 For it is a fire burning on every side, and whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
Job 31:13 And if too I despised the judgment of my servant or [my] handmaid, when they pleaded with me;
Job 31:14 what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
Job 31:15 Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.
Job 31:16 But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
Job 31:17 And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;
Job 31:18 (for I nourished [them] as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother’s womb.)
Job 31:19 And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
Job 31:20 and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
Job 31:21 if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
Job 31:22 let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
Job 31:23 For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.
Job 31:24 If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;
Job 31:25 and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:
Job 31:26 (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]:)
Job 31:27 and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
Job 31:28 let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
Job 31:29 And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!
Job 31:30 let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
Job 31:31 And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:
Job 31:32 for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came:
Job 31:33 or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;
Job 31:34 (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them: ) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom:
Job 31:35 (Oh that I had a hearer,) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and [as to] the written charge which I had against any one,
Job 31:36 I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
Job 31:37 And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
Job 31:38 If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;
Job 31:39 and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking [aught] from [him]:
Job 31:40 then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
+
Continues: Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 6 so far )Facing disaster fatigue
“The Might Niush!” says that recessions, bombardment in the news about people actually being bombarded in other parts of the world, he is feeling totally exhausted and having existential angst, with no reprieve in sight. Add to this troubled cauldron, one natural disaster after another and we have yet another a new term for our millennial malaise: disaster fatigue. He agrees that these destructive events are often followed by equally destructive man-made disasters, as has been in Japan with the high-level radiation leaks from its nuclear reactors and teetering on the precipice of a possible meltdown.
We remember our Christadelphian brothers and sisters who had to face the problems of the 2001: Gujarat earthquake, India-19,700 deaths. The number of deaths, injuries and displaced people, not to mention economic and structural damage seems vastly disproportionate in developing countries.
Diagram demonstrating the nuclear fuel cycle
Humans are a special breed. They want to have an oar in everyman’s boat, but they cut a lot dead and do nt look beyond their own nose. Fukushima, Mon Amour is about the love to be the superior race. Hominum mankind having the idea that he is the strongest, the smartest and untouchable. they often do not want to see that the casualty and damages sustained could have been minimized had appropriate infrastructures (i.e. roads, digs, damns, river banks, bridges) been maintained and upgraded regularly, and had emergency supplies and relief management been effectively delegated.
Lots of disasters are also quickly muffled away in the non-remember storeroom of the brains. Yes they have a amnesia prone collective memory and are not liking to be reminded to previous disasters of their own fault, like in 1287, December 14, The Zuider Zee seawall collapsing with the loss of 50,000 lives. In 1190 we could find already a disaster in the history of human attitude. On March 17, crusaders completed the massacre of Jews of York, England. What was the hand of the people themselve not listening to hygienic rules in 1630 causing 16,000 inhabitants of Venice died of plague. sometimes even one person stood at the cause of the disaster, an in 1648 when on July 22, some 10,000 Jews of Polannoe were murdered in a massacre led by Cossack Bogdan Chmielnicki (55). At other times it was just because people want to play with fire. 1769 Aug 18, Gunpowder in Brescia, Italy, church exploded and some 3,000 were killed. and they did not want to learn from previous disasters, 1881-1919 Some 59 laborers, mostly Chinese immigrants, were killed in explosions at the California Powder Works in Hercules. 1917, February 20, Ammunitions ship exploded in Archangel harbor, Russia, and about 1,500 died. The Imo, a Norwegian freighter ship, had collided on December the 6th, 1917, in Nova Scotia with the French munitions ship Mont Blanc and a fire soon caused a massive explosion. Some 2000 people were killed and thousands wounded following an explosion in Halifax harbor. 1918, May 18, a TNT explosion in chemical factory in Oakdale, PA, killed 200. 1956, July 7, seven Army trucks loaded with dynamite exploded in middle of Cali, Columbia, killing 1,100-1,200. 2000 buildings were destroyed.
Other disasters came over other human because men wanted to conquer and rule over others, like in 1804 in Haiti when on March 29, thousands of whites were massacred. In 1972 the Tutsi-led government in Burundi killed some 100,000 Hutus.
Even when people thought they could make something un-destroyable they had to face the consequences of their pretensions. The “New Era”, an emigrant ship of 1328 tons, built in Bath, Maine, on her first voyage. She sailed on September 28 1854 and was nearly two months on the way. There were 425 on board, nearly all German. 40 were lost on the trip from cholera. There were 385 passengers and crew when the ship struck. 163 were saved. In the 19° Century masses of ship sank. The luxury liner RMS Titanic, the largest passenger ship at that time being its Dimensions: Length (L) 839 Feet Beam (width) 85 feet, Draught (b / water) 46 Ft, which never could sink, sank 1912, April 15, in the North Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland with the loss of about 1,522 lives. Some claim there was wealth discrimination as the lifeboats were loaded, which shows again the human nature of selfishness and causing extra suffering. (In Denver, the anarchist Emma Goldman wrote “Suffrage Dealt a Blow by Women of the Titanic”. If women wanted to be treated as equals they must, she argued, take their chances like men.)
1915 May 7, In the 2nd year of WWI, the British Cunard ocean liner Lusitania, on a voyage from New York to Liverpool, sank off the coast of Ireland in only 18-21 minutes after being struck by a torpedo fired by the German U-boat U-20. Of 1,959 [1,978] passengers and crew, 1,195 died.
Often people also forget the casual accidents which bring suffering to many. The 20,000 children who died in the 1920s in auto accidents are nothing to the amount which find their death today, or are injured for life.
People could also not bare to have respect for the animals, which they considered inferior. 1872-1874 More than 4 million buffalo were killed by white hunters. And for the profit gaining industry they are not concerned about neither people having to do the dirty work, nor about the the outcome os their productioproces. 1984 December 3, more than 4,000 people died and 200,000 were injured after a gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by a Union Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India. 40 tons of vaporous methyl isocyanate, hydrogen cyanide, monomethyl amine, carbon monoxide and possibly 20 other chemicals were released after an explosion. Over the years, according to the Indian government, some 15,000 people have died from effects of the gas.
Thorah scroll and Bible
It is not only the Islam that says as Earth Day and Islam(socyberty.com) that the the safe keeping of nature has long been the duty of human. Several holy books of many religions admonish their people to take proper care of their environment. That we read in the Holy Quran ” Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]” (30:41) lets us remind of several situations of the Old Testament where disasters like the one which came over Moab. The people of Moab had enjoyed prosperity and security. Their land was fertile and they received more rain. They were at ease. Nebo got ruined, Kiriathaim, the stronghold, disgraced and captured. (Jeremiah 48)
The Scriptures portray suffering as a consequence of sin: not necessarily the sin of the individual who suffers, but sin in the history of man and in human society. It are we who have been destroying every natural resources that God created. Problem with man is that he is so cocksure that he can do whatever he wants and that he is stronger then nature. They assume that they are allowed to use all the resources but they forget that the Creator allowed it to be used with good management and never to enrich our greed. In Islam, as in Judaism and in Christianity, the destruction of natural resources is a sin. The problem has always been that man thought he could pleases and was never afraid of sins. Therefore for the destruction we have caused, we are now receiving the consequence which we call natural disaster or in the worst case several believers call an act of God. But it is not God who interferes with the ‘besognes’ or affairs of men. The Bible teaching is that men are left to their own ways and the working of natural law, though there may be times when natural disaster is divinely directed as a judgement upon man and for the cleansing of the earth. The outstanding example is the flood in the days of Noah.
In many verse of Holy Scriptures (Torah, Bible, Quran) we can find that humans are allowed to use the resources that Allah has created. But human never can save himself from greed and because of this human destroyed every creation that God created on earth. “And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favour of Allah , you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.” (14:34) In this verse it shows Allah as the All Knowing proclaim that human are most unjust and ungrateful of what he has been given.
As people who honour God we have to make sure that also the other inhabitants of the world shal get to see the importance of protecting the Earth. As humans and creations of God we should be thankful and should proceed with caution, proving that we love not for a day but for as long as there’s sun and moon and that we can keep our duty as caretaker of God’s creation. Though we know that often warnings are to no avail we have to keep continuing to give signs and reminders. “Climate change advocates have long warned us of the acceleration of natural disasters on our planet. Sadly this has, by and large, been ignored. They have been dismissed by a slew of political, religious and special interest groups with “megaphonic” media ties to convince the general public otherwise. As per usual, profit, facilitated by the ignorance of the masses, is the root of it. Oil, nuclear, arms and unscrupulous development investors have too much at stake to loose out to floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis. But it’s kind of hard to ignore Mother Nature; even harder in an era of instant communication.” says “The Might Niush!”
As bad as it may sound, all those disasters can also bring something good. The working of God with man must in its nature be individual: only the man who suffers can gain this as a personal experience. By facing the many problems he can become stronger by conquering them and defeat his fear.
Disasters are devastating to the natural and man-made environment
Sometimes the world has to be shaken awake so that it can think about the way it is going. The Japan nuclear disaster, with Chernobyl in the remembrance brought hope for those who warned the world already for years to look for a safe provision of energy. The ‘environmental’ issue can be tackled now. Ergo, nuclear power is bad for ‘the environment’ and should be replaced with ‘clean, renewable power’ like windmills and solar panels. but strangely enough, nature being stronger than men, the sum effect for the flora and fauna in the highly radioactive, restricted zone of Chernobyl has been overwhelmingly positive in favor of biodiversity and abundance of individuals.
Of course, this is not to say that radiation in and of itself somehow benefits wildlife. What brings the big boon to biodiversity is the removal of humans from the equation. Baker and Chesser reported frequent sightings of moose, deer, foxes, wild boar and river otters inside the 30-kilometre Chernobyl exclusion zone – whereas in the still-cultivated area outside the zone, the only wildlife they saw was a single rabbit. The researchers concluded: “the benefit of excluding humans from this highly contaminated ecosystem appears to outweigh significantly any negative cost associated with Chornobyl radiation” and that “… typical human activity (industrialization, farming, cattle raising, collection of firewood, hunting, etc.) is more devastating to biodiversity and abundance of local flora and fauna than is the worst nuclear power plant disaster.” (How a nuclear disaster can be good for ecology) The zones humans consider dead are often not as dead as they think. Gods creation is wonderful and goes above our imagination. We even do not yet know all the animals, plants and stars that exist today. But we may not make the mistake that those animals going in those regions would not have any problems. The radiation continues and destroys. The new habitants cannot escape the problem, several animals would die earlier than their normal lifespan.
After a disaster people can find themselves united. Often they grow closer and they feel the bond much more. Several people can also do a lot of good work and give others a revived spirit to continue living. After a near-death experience a lot of those people start living their ‘new’ life in a total different way.
Even economist look bright when the see how when a stricken country as Japan begins the long, arduous process of rebuilding homes, factories and shops, demand for construction goods such as lumber could soar. This shall give some countries the possibility to export more goods to Japan and bring the import of it into balance. Also Tourism operators could take a big hit in the short term, because you’ll find always the disaster-tourists, and people who sincerely found more interest in this for them otherwise not known country.
Certain disasters make it that new products are created, like for example the HTI HydroPack. (It is like an empty Capri Sun pouch with powdered nutrients inside. But it’s really a filter you can drop in any water source—a swimming pool, a mud puddle, a contaminated aquifer—and eight to twelve hours later the pack has filled itself with potable, fortified water.) It can give reason to people to think harder and to find other solutions. In case of Japan e.g. looking for other alternatives then nuclear power.
*
Having looked at the recent natural disasters around the world we can say that those who ponder whether these occurrences could be judgements from God that we may reassure that it is no punishment from God coming down upon them. God shall judge humanity in a later phase because of its increasing immorality. we may calm them down and ensure them that God is not sending these calamities as punishment for our rebellion against Him.
Because men choose to go his own way and God allowed him to, because He the Creator, to whom full authority belongs, did not want to be a dictator. The standard, for living a complete life, God has given us is also not liked by many men. Lots of people refuse to keep to those simple standard rules which would make life much more easier.
The Satan prowling the earth is the evil around us, which we can encounter every day.
We should be stronger then all the temptations around us. As Job who shunned evil and even was blameless we should fear God not for what happens today, but for what is going to come at the End Times and at Judgement Day. We should try to find out what our knows our weaknesses and our strengths are and should work on it so that we can become like Christ Jesus.
We also should point out to the world that Planet Earth has to face attacks from Civilisations who do not want to recognise Jehovah God as their creator. In case we can convince others also to live according to the Law of God a lot of problems who have been dismissed.
There does not exist some creatures who would be Fallen Angels and can be called responsible for the problems of this earth. We ourselves are the ones to blame.
+++
Related articles
- Thanks to Timeline of Disasters and Tragedies for the ease of presenting the historical events on handy timetables.
- The Bible answer on terrorist attacks, wars, political unrest and instability, famine, social discontent and ecological chaos
- Can Belfast’s Titanic Celebrations Ease the City’s Shame? (time.com) Though the ship made be build by the highest standards of safety it was the human pride who lost the battle. Often with disasters is that at first they attract a lot of attention and later the subject becomes avoided. The fact that the Titanic was a feat of engineering is often overshadowed by the ship’s terrible end. For many years after the sinking, the fate of the Titanicwas a taboo subject in the city where she was built. (See new images of the Titanic‘s wreckage.) The centenary of the launch of this incredible ship is an opportunity to place it in the history but also to recognise the tremendous realizations. To say it was that one simple oversight, having 2,201 people on board, the Titanic had only enough lifeboat capacity for 1,178, that ultimately turned the Titanicfrom the greatest ship in the world to a byword for disaster is over simplifying it.
- Japan/Disasters : Over 90,000 people remain displaced as a result of the twin disasters in March. (theboldcorsicanflame.wordpress.com) as in Haiti and with the Indonesian tsunami of 2004 we can see that after some time not much was solved and a lot of people let in the cold. Though many countries in the Indian Ocean like India, Thailand and Sri Lanka were affected the consequence of tsunami on Indonesia was incredibly high. Certain groups were happy then that the only silver lining of this event was that the oil and gas sector was not damaged severely which is the main base of Indonesian economy. This shows were the heart of many people is.
All the debris that needs to be cleared in the disaster-hit areas can stay there for many years, as we see in the hit areas.
Not only the Fukushima disaster should be forcing a lot more people in Japan and the rest of the world to think a lot more deeply about the way their society operates. - Facing disaster fatigue (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Answers in Times of Great Disaster (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
- Facing disaster fatigue (christadelphians.wordpress.com)
- Answers in Times of Great Disaster (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
A look at the the biblical truths we do know with absolute certainty which allow us to trust the Lord even in times of great suffering. -
Self inflicted misery #1 The root by man starts a series in which we look how man causes a lot of pain to himself and others, but how God has offered a solution to the problem.
