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Blog for Podcast #32 (The Daniel Dilemma 1/3)

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Intro

Welcome again to another broadcast. This is once again Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. Also, you do not need to download podbean if you wish to listen. You can use Listen Notes, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music or Audible, Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.

Today we begin a look into the book of Daniel. This was originally published on my blog site in 2016, and once again contains references to the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries, which I once again recommend.

Discussion

The main challenge that the book of Daniel encountered. Came from those that believed the book was not first written by Daniel and in turn was not written in 540 to 530 B.C. Many imply the book was written in the 200 B.C. time frame.

Why is this so important? Why must we accept and understand that the Book of Daniel was written by Daniel and was complete before his death which is stated to have occurred in 530 B.C.?

This is the dilemma.

First off you need to understand that this book was not just written for the Jewish people as all the other book of the Old Testament (OT) were originally written for. This book was also written for the Gentiles and signaled the beginning of the rule of the Gentile nations over the world. This is seen in the way Daniel wrote this book. The beginning and the end of the book is written in Hebrew. As all other books of the OT were written, with the exception of Ezra. The middle of the book though is written in Aramaic (2:4 – 7:28). This is the common tongue at the time throughout the Middle East. It also stayed this way well into the time of the Roman Empire. It is still used in some form by many Middle Eastern Christian Churches. This also foreshadows the fact that the entire book, we now call the Bible, would come to be, and designed for all of humanity. That were and are willing to learn and listen to what is within it.

These parts of the Book of Daniel that were written in Aramaic deal specifically with Gentile nations within the Middle East. For the focal point is the nation of Israel, so it deals only with those nations that will have an effect upon it, which included Greece and the Roman Empire. This is something that really needs to be understood. Many in today’s Christian culture reject in some part the Judaism of the OT. They feel that only Christianity is the focal point of the Bible. This is the furthest thing from the truth.

Abraham is the father of the Jewish and as well as the Islamic nations. Jesus, the Son of God, was born to a descendant of David. Both Joseph and Mary have a direct lineage to David, the first king of the united tribes of Israel. Christianity came from Jesus Christ who was raised upon the books of the OT. At the age of twelve His knowledge of these books, which included Daniel. Far exceeded the understanding of the Tanakh by the Pharisees and Sadducees at that time and was noted as such in Luke 2:46-47. So Christianity is the “grandchild” of Abraham. And the Bible teaches that we must honor our fathers and mothers, even to the point of the source of our faith. So any that deny Israel, and the Jewish people, deny God.

This non-focus on Israel as the focal-point has led to many misinterpretations of this book by those that have not taken the time to truly study the Bible and history itself. This is why it is extremely important to study the Bible. Not just read it. As is the case of the book of Daniel, knowing history is extremely important as well. For within the book of Daniel is facts related to not only Israel, but Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the Roman Empire. Without knowledge of this history of these nations, misunderstanding the book of Daniel comes into play and so causes the rise of false teachings and teachers, which is predicted by Jesus Christ in the Olivet discourse.

First we need to understand the four Gentile world dominant kingdoms. As mentioned before these are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The last of these is the most complicated to understand, but when taken in context with the statute of four layers you come to a better understanding, and once again see that Israel is the focal point as well.

Babylon is the first major Empire of any true note that affected the Middle Eastern area. Many times this empire changed hands, but the one that dealt with Israel was the Assyrian rule which began in 911 B.C. and ended during the book of Daniel in 619 B.C. This version of the empire at its apex, which is approximately 671 B.C. reached from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean and down into Egypt itself. The boarder cities were Susa, Ecbatana, Musasir, Tushpa, Kanish, Tarsus, and Dumah and reached down to Jeb in Egypt. To give you a more up to date imagery, the eastern boarder would conform, for the most part, to the border between Iraq and Iran. Its northern border went from Van, Turkey to the Lake Tuz just south, southeast of Ankara. The western border starts at the north at this lake down to between Silifke and Adana, along the entire eastern coast of the Mediterranean. It then extended into Egypt just west of Al Hammam down south to Mut and then met the Red Sea near Halaib. Its southern border extended from the Gulf of Aqaba in a near straight line to the Persian Gulf.

Why have I went into so much detail describing this area? Is due to the fact that this area is all the land mass that the book of Daniel deals with. Even though Greece and Rome are not in this area today. At one point during their conquests they held domain over this area, which is why they are a part of the prophecies within the book of Daniel. The land mass within these prophecies never changes. However the effects to each of these empires especially the last does constitute the overall lands, and cultures they have affected, due to their existence within the Gentile world. So to make this clear. The prophecies within the book of Daniel deal exclusively within the lands of the Middle East, that deal with the original boarders of the Babylonian/Assyrian Empire. In today’s terms that means Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. So when a direction is mentioned within the prophecies it conforms to an area within these boundaries. In the book of Revelation this area also conforms to the boundaries of the city of New Jerusalem.

In the prophecy of the statue. Four nations are given reference to, but not truly identified. The head however, is shown to be Babylon. Yet the others, even though described, are not given identity. This changes in chapter seven. Here the nations are given identification for those that have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.

So let us start to explore this part of the book of Daniel and see if we can start to work our way through the dilemma this book has caused throughout the centuries. So we shall look at the four kingdoms that are first shown in the Statue dream of Daniel chapter two.

Daniel 7:4 – The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.

At the time of this prophecy the royal palace had statues of winged lions at its gate, which was one of the factors in agreement that this is a representation of at the least Nebuchadnezzar and the most an imagery of Babylon itself. To quote the commentary by John F. Walvoord:

“In spite of the power indicated in this symbolism, Daniel saw the beast become man-like. This is most commonly interpreted as the symbolic representation of Nebuchadnezzar’s experience in chapter 4 when he was humbled before God and made to realize that, even though he was a great ruler, he was only a man. His lion-like character, or royal power, was his only at God’s pleasure. The symbolism is accurate and corresponds to the historical facts.”

So in all scholarly studies of this verse. It is agreed that this is an image of Babylon and the first empire of the Gentiles. Then the next verse should describe the next empire in the chain.

Daniel 7:5 – Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”

The imagery suggested by this verse shows a strong yet less refined empire that has one side stronger than the other. The Persian side being stronger than the Median part which the former had taken over from the latter before its move against other kingdoms. This is shown in the imagery of defeating and devouring three kingdoms, thus the three ribs. That being Lydia, Babylon and Egypt. The bear is also known to be a more ferocious animal than other animals in the animal kingdom as seen within biblical times.

Daniel 7:6 – Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.

Starting with the image of a leopard. It is an imagery within the Bible of something not as grand as the lion, but is known for its swiftness. This is amplified by the four wings upon its back. The four heads indicate a division into four parts but of equal power and control. The conquest of Alexander was extremely swift. Upon his death at thirty-two the Greek Empire was given to his four top generals and their power was divided equally.

Daniel 7:7-8 – Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

One of the main tendencies of the Roman Empire was to remove the cultural from those it dominate. This was accomplished through death, destruction and an insistence of following Roman law. In some areas they tried different tactics, but in the end it resulted in their mainstay as mentioned above. This is clearly seen in 70 A.D. when the last temple was destroyed and the Israeli nation scattered throughout the Roman Empire and then the world.

A great debate still continues into the description as to who or what the little horn is that replaces three of the ten horns. Has it happened or will it happen? At this time it is still open for debate. What is made clear is that it is not the little horn of chapter eight.

That little horn has been identified as Antiochus Epiphanes. He is called this due to his representation of the little horn still to come, that being the antichrist. What is known for sure is that Antiochus IV Epiphanes did abolish the worship of God by the Jewish people and he did defile the temple in the 160s B.C. by establishing the worship of Zeus within the Temple and the sacrifice of pigs upon the alter. Antiochus Epiphanes is described by many to be an image of the antichrist that is yet to come during the time of the Tribulation.

In recent times another foreshadowing of the coming antichrist appeared. That being the Obama presidency of the United States. This image of the little horn came to power and brought devastation to this Christian nation, by making it possible to fulfill these words of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 24:10-12 – And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Again a fore image of the true antichrist yet to appear.

As you ponder what you just heard. We will end this week’s study of the Daniel dilemma.

God Bless

Special Note: The John F. Walvoord commentaries are the only commentaries I would recommend for anyone to read.

This said, I would warn those using it that it has one major flaw. The fact that he was Baptist and was of the group that believes in faith alone, grace alone, once saved always saved mentality.

Why recommend it at all then? Because it gives multiple views and is not limited to him being Baptist even though some text within it you can see that influence.

When weeding this out. Those using it get an overall image of prophecy. Prophecy that is now and already has been fulfilled.

Therefore, take it with a grain of salt and seek to discern the Truth that can be seen when using these commentaries as a aid to understanding the Word of God.

Blog for Podcast #169 ( An Outreach to those that are 30 and Younger) Part 3

bible, General, government, Guide, history, Life, politics, , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Today I continue to reach out to those young people that have not been taught nor even heard of certain facts about how political systems work. How people behave and even hear about God.

Why two thousand plus years?

The question could have been asked “Why has humanity lasted as long as it has?”

There are many times throughout the history of mankind when we should have fallen into complete and utter chaos that civilization itself should have ceased to exist. There are those out there that feel their very world ended November 9th, 2016. To those thinking this is all that can be said is this. Several events throughout the last two thousand years have been more destructive to humanity than the presidential election.

Case in point: the Black Death, 1346-1353. As it is truly called: the bubonic plague is estimated to have killed from 75 million to 200 million people. Killing 30 to 60% of the European population as well as one-third of those that were in the Middle East. One of the magnifiers of this death toll was due to poor governmental management of the agricultural lands due to taxation and a desire to control the populus. People sought financial rewards within the urban communities causing a swelling of the populations within the cities throughout Europe. Filth was prevalent. Human waste ran down the middle of the streets and wasted food rotted. It was a perfect breeding ground for rats who were the carriers of the plague. All this death was caused by humans seeking to control and have power over those they saw as lesser than themselves. This is always the result when humans think they are better than other humans.

Now having laid the foundation for this article/poscast. I can now pursue answering the question that is the subtitle of this part of the podcast. Humanity goes through cycles, just as the weather does. The best way to look at this is by looking at the “Strauss-Howe generational theory” of prophets (idealist), nomads (reactive), hero (civic), and artist (adaptive). I recommend studying this on the side for it distracts from today’s message. These cycles in humanity always occur and follow the same pattern. However, when the factors of human domination come into play results vary.

Prime examples, the American Revolution vs. the French Revolution. The former resulting in a strong and peace-oriented government. The latter resulting in death, a dictatorship, and a lust for world domination.

What was the key difference in these two revolutions?

The Bible and a belief in God is the answer.

The American Revolution was steadfastly attached to the teaching of the Bible. Mainly due to most that wished to truly follow the Bible had fled Europe due to persecution by those that felt humans should rule humans. While those in France rejected the Bible and ultimately rebelled against those that sought to rule other humans.

It is due to the teachings of the Torah and the Bible that have caused humanity to have survived. It is the following in the belief that all humanity is equal to one another that has given humanity the ability to overcome tyranny. An oppressiveness that always results when one part of the human race sees themselves as superior, special and blessed.

Those that truly come to study the Bible come to one conclusion. The human race is a sinful mass of egotistical, self-serving, pieces of garbage. All of them. Including themselves and some would say, especially themselves. It is this shattering of our egos that generates compassion, self-sacrifice and the desire to help our fellow humans to become better.

However, due to the cycles of humanity the generation that learns true compassion passed this thought process on without making their children truly understand why it is so important. As a result, they become lost, confused, and seek only to please themselves and the cycle begins to repeat.

In a few years the younger people of this world are going to come to a point where you must decide. Will you become like those of the American Revolution or the French Revolution?

For at this time, it is pointing toward the latter instead of the former.

The afterlife

First off do you belief that in the theory of there being a multiverse to be real.

If the answer to this is yes, then the concept was proven when it was stated that God is in “heaven.” Where God is, is a different reality. It even works under its own time structure. For one day to God is one thousand years to this reality.

2 Peter 3:8 NKJV – But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Where heaven or as it is also called “paradise,” is located not in the same reality as where God is. However, we do know that from heaven you can see hell.

Luke 16:19-31 NKJV – “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ “

Please note this last verse and think upon it. Anyway, onward we go.

This also shows that heaven and hell are temporary. They are just a waystation unto the next phase of existence.

This next phase is something taught by those that even fully deny the existence of God. Yet again it is something promised to all. Not just our descendants that will live hundreds or thousands of years from now. It is promised to everyone that ever was, ever is and ever will be.

The way these people sell their bill of goods allows them to cause those that now and have lived. That their mundane lives will mean something in the end. They try to push sacrificing for the greater good called the “government.” Even if they do not personally “reach” the point of “transition into a higher lifeform.” The fact that they willingly live in poverty and sacrifice their actions will bless the generations that are to follow and will “transcend.”

The kicker is we will all experience this transition into a higher lifeform. This is promised within the Bible.

1 Corinthians 15:53 NKJV – For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

It will not only come to our descendants, but ourselves and our ancestors.

The sad part about this is a price that is requires to have a good eternal existence, as was witnessed above with the parable about Lazarus and the rich man.

This price, though most of you that are of the younger generations says does not exist. However, if you believe there is a multiverse you are accepting that God does exist. In turn as has been shown in the pervious “Outreach” podcasts, that Jesus did walk the earth two thousand years ago. Even those that deny God in no true understanding of history question that Jesus did.

Jesus paid the price that is required by us upon the cross. Which is why Christians turn to Him and ask Him to be their Savior. His blood that was spilt upon that day nearly two thousand years ago was shown to be justified when He rose from the dead on the third day. Remember I asked you to think upon that last verse early. This was Jesus telling of His own death and resurrection in this last verse as He told this parable. However, none truly understood this, even the apostles at that time.

If you do not ask Jesus to be your Savior, the price must be paid by you and only those that lived an honorable life and never in anyway knew of God or His Son can expect to overcome the cost. By knowing there is the possibility of God and to deny Him does not mean those that do this will have this grace. In fact, those that think this can never meet that price, which is why people must turn to Jesus.

Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV – Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Why is knowing history so important?

Even more than ever before it is obvious that if you fail to learn history you are destined to repeat it. I hear almost daily of Socialist attacking, shouting down or berating those that have a view that is not theirs. They scream of equality and tolerance yet have none of their own. I am reminded of other socialists in another era. That of the National Socialist German Workers Party of 1930s Germany. Otherwise known as the Nazi party.

They too beat those that did not agree with them. They too spoke of tolerance yet had none. They too had a pet agenda of a superior race and group. That they knew better than anyone else.

I also remember a certain president singing praises of their leader. A president who had the same views and ideas and even practices, which resulted in magnifying a depression to a Great Depression. He also locked up an entire race of people just as the German socialist did. The only difference being he did not slaughter them. His name was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Within history is documents that speak of a Jew who rose from the dead, and those in power made up excuses for the missing body from the tomb. On these documents is a hearing of this person’s half-brother who saw Him after His resurrection and became an ardent follower unto a horrible death. These are the things we learn from history.

Yet today those that do not know history repeat the actions of the socialist in Germany. Why? Because they do not know history. They do not research for the truth and instead take the words of others as right when in reality what they are being told are lies.

Why are they being lied to? Because they have shown themselves to be selfish and self-serving. This is the very same behavior that was shown by the youth in 1930s Germany. It was their fathers that had messed up and took from them what, as they were told, was rightfully theirs.

Germany was going through its own depression. Caused by their defeat in World War I. A defeat that was only brought about by poverty and starvation due to a poor support system for the very war they fought. Their burdensome conditions that were imposed upon them by the victors of the first war did not help matters and caused bitterness and hatred.

But this hatred needed a focal point, something or someone to take out their anger, but at the same time make it unattainable to truly fix the problems. Thus, the hatred of the Jewish people was begun. They hatred them for not having their nation grow as they say it should. So, they focused all this hatred upon the Jews and those that supported the Jews. That being all other nations. For the Third Reich was formed out of pure humans and all other humans were inferior, but especially the Jews.

In today’s mentality of the left, they are the superior beings. The conservatives are the inferior, especially the Christians and the Jews. Even though most Jewish people lean toward the left. They attack those that are the right for they do not allow those that are superior to live their lives as they see fit and how they wish to live and be treated for they are the new master race, in their own eyes. Because none can equal their intelligence and knowledge, for no others can be as smart as they are, for they are the select that must rule and control all others, which are stupid and inferior to them.

However, by this very mentality, this very thought process they show that in reality they are inferior, and ignorant. For they did not see that this had all been done before. Not just in Germany, but in France, in Ancient Rome; in Ancient Babylon, in Ancient Egypt. All with the same result. Those that saw themselves as superior and special were killed and slaughter for the most part. While those that survived the slaughter become slaves and servants to those that they once called inferior.

This is why it is important to truly seek after knowledge, which is not taught from the auditoriums of speakers called professors, but from books. Not books published in the last forty years, but books printed before this time. A prime example: The Bible. For it is the ultimate history book.

Blog for Podcast #168 ( An Outreach to those that are 30 and Younger) Part 2

General, government, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Last week I brought forth a series of past blog posts that were aimed at those that have not been given all the facts about different elements in how the social structures that govern this world influence and act upon the human populus. As well has trying to inform them of about the possible reality of God and His Son Jesus Christ that they never heard or was presented to them in ways that caused them to not pursue looking further into coming to see if God were real or not.

Today, I wish to continue these messages.

Let’s talk about Jesus.

Now this is not going to be a sermon. This is just a look at who Jesus is.

Here are known factors that come from outside the Bible. Historical governmental officials mentioned in the Bible have been documented in addition there is physical evidence of their existence.

Two Examples: Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. The latter of which the remains of his body were officially unearthed and identified.

Furthermore, we know also of Jesus’ brother: James, a son of Mary as well, who was stoned for professing his brother to be the Messiah.

There is also archaeological evidence which corresponds to areas said to have been visited by Jesus.

Hence, we have several points of evidence that support history and it can be said due to these facts that Jesus lived and was crucified. In fact, there is none that truly study history that question the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, Jesus as a human being is not doubted in any form.

What does come into question is the resurrection that confirms Jesus as the Son of God.

Now what I am about to state is an actuality you must come to accept. A keystone of the Jewish community in the time period of Jesus was the use of the oral tradition to pass on religious information accurately. It is so solid that a Torah written in 600 B.C. matches a Torah from 10 A.D. that in turn corresponds to a Torah of today.

In the first twenty to twenty-five years after the resurrection this was the main component of early Christianity as well. This is due mainly to the fact that most in this time frame were originally Jewish.

One such oral tradition can be traced to within eight years after the resurrection, 38 – 41 A.D. Which in turn is included in 1 Corinthians which is dated to have been written in the mid-50s A.D., so within 20 to 25 years after the resurrection.

One of the myths out there is that it was a hallucination that those who say they saw Jesus after his death. Now why I say myth is the last key element of the tradition I am referring to. Five hundred (500) seeing Jesus post-resurrection at one time. There is no way this is a hallucination. It is physically impossible. On top of which those hearing the tradition or seeing it written to the Corinthians are literally challenged to find those that still live and saw Jesus and ask them. No one could refute it. None. On top of which those calling it a “hallucination” said this after the one hundred fifty-year mark, which shows that those pushing this hypothesis are the ones chasing after myths, per their own understanding when something becomes classified as a myth.

So here is the Jesus that is supported by facts.

He existed 2000 years ago. He died either in 30 A.D. or 33 A.D. On the third day he came to life again with his wounds received upon the cross still visible. He walked several miles the day he came back to live. He then vanishes. He then appears in a locked room with all the living apostles. Thomas touches his wounds, and Jesus eats food. He then disappears again. So, this is Jesus. If you wish to know more. Just ask.

New Testament history

There are elements out there that call the Bible a lie, a myth. Most of those in your age group have heard these inaccuracies. What you are about to listen to and/or read is to help you see facts very few know or even care to know, which I find very unfortunate, but I have come to expect it in the way people are raised and taught in this time.

From the moment the four gospels and the letters of the apostles were written they have been studied, debated, analyzed, and questioned. Commentaries have been written and studied and again debated from early in the second century to today. Men like Chrysostom, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeous, Jerome and Justin Martyr to name the most notable of these early scholars.

All twenty-seven books of the New Testament have been copied into different languages not only by professional scribes but by average and devoted followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Many have been lost, many others have not. In fact, out of all historical documents the Bible has the most surviving copies that date back all the way to the first century when they were originally written, even though an original version has not been found that I am aware of. The number of Greek copies alone are over 5800 copies. While there are only four ancient copies of the Iliad.

The gospels and the letters can be dated to a range of twenty to twenty-five years after the resurrection of Jesus. Now as I have stated before those that say that an item can be called a “myth” is when it is written 150 years after the original event. This, as I have just shown, does not apply to the New Testament. The first I have just shown, which is the date the gospels and letters were written. Well within the range for survivors of the actual events to have never questioned any inaccuracy within them. The second is something the Jewish people have prided themselves for centuries. That being the oral tradition as mentioned earlier. The earliest oral tradition that is known within the letters of the apostles is within 1 Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 15:3-9), which is dated to have been taught within eight years after the resurrection (38-41 A.D.).

Now as I mentioned earlier what we call the books of the New Testament were copied into different languages. Two languages become the dominant ones, Latin and Greek. There are many factors for this, which is an entire history lesson in itself, but the basics is due to the split in the Rome Empire itself when it broke into two. The western empire based in Rome where Latin was the primary language. The eastern empire based in Constantinople where Greek became dominant, which is now known as Istanbul, Turkey.

As Islam spread violently throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East it finally threatened to overrun Constantinople, which in fact fell into their hands in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire. As a result, the Biblical scholars, priest and monks fled this area as the threat become more and more obvious. They carried with them their copies of the New Testament books to the west. Here they fell into the hands of the western scholars, like Martin Luther (1483-1546).

It is due in fact to this Islamic conquest that caused what we now call the Reformation to take place, in addition to the creation of the printing press (1440). For men like Luther saw the difference between the Latin versions from the Greek of the gospels and apostolic letters that led him to question and challenge the Catholic Church. For those within the Catholic Church has changed and perverted these documents for their own glory and riches. Subsequently, Martin Luther called them out for that which was shown to be in the right. This is the main reason that when you seek to learn the original meaning of the words within the New Testament you must look to the Greek not the Latin.

The first fully “approved” English version of the Bible come into being in 1611. There are those that point to this date as the creation of the Bible and say that since it was made at this point that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth. But as I have just shown earlier this is the furthest thing from the truth. As I also have shown that since this idea was made even after 1611 it is those stating this theory who are the ones creating their own myth. A myth that God is not real and that His Son did not exist nor raise from the dead.

So, this is a brief overview of the history of the New Testament. It is now up to you to think and decide for yourself what you wish to think and believe. For that is something that can only come from each person on their own to decide. You cannot depend on what others or even I say. You must look, think, challenge, and learn what is real and what is true on your own. I challenge you as those early scholars did all the way to the point when these books were written in the first place.

“The world owes me!” mentality.

When this post was originally written was the beginning of this selfish, self-serving mentality, thus the wording that will follow.

In the last few months this mentality has become a focal point within many of collage aged people within the United States. This, however, is not a reality.

Look at it this way for a moment. Carla, a woman who is 43 years of age is now head of her department at work. How did she get here? She was a stripper from the age of 19 to 21. She allowed men to look at her naked body and to paw and pet her. She hated it. In the daytime she went to college and just did what was required to guarantee she got her degree. A few of her professors said weird things, but she did her best to ignore them for it was not her goal. At 21 she graduated with no collage bills left to pay. She moved to a different city so she would not encounter any that may have seen her in her life that sickened her. She got a good job and slowly rose through the ranks, becoming married to her work. For even though she likes men she could not get over how sick they made her in those years she was a striper. When she turned 40, she met a man, fell in love, and married. Both were married to their work, but they for the most part was happy.

Now we come to those demanding that all be given to them just become they deserve to have it handed to them because they were told the world must give them whatever they want. Most of them are between the ages of 19 and 21. Professors filled their heads not with knowledge but words of rebellion and demands. Stating that the world handed over to them all it had for they were the select, the special. They had been pampered and spoiled all their lives and so they believed what these people told them.

So these selfish self-serving young people demanded that Carla. Who has suffered degradation at the hands of self-centered self-serving men for three years of her life; a time she can never ever forget. Is being told to surrender her hard-earned salary and turn it over to these youths. Who has done nothing except party and celebrate and wonder why none wishes to reward them. They care or know nothing of the moral and physical sacrifices people like Carla have made.

Is this story real? There is a very strong possibility there really is a “Carla” out there that did live this life. But it is of no doubt there are young people out there that have made no effort to contribute to how the world works. They do not understand that nothing is given, it must be earned. Let’s define the word “earn.”

Per the Oxford Dictionary:

Earn: 1) Obtain (money) in return for labor or services.

2) Gain deservedly in return for one’s behavior or achievements.

Clear and straight forward I would say.

Now let’s look at how the Bible sees how people should behave.

Well, what it boils down to is this. Those that truly seek to honor the Bible place all others before themselves. Does this mean that Carla must surrender her hard-earned money that she had to suffer to get to the point of achieving? No, it does not. How she should handle her money is not something we have time to discuss in this topic, but back on topic. She should not be forced to surrender her earnings to those that have not made any attempt to earn their own way in life. Marching, chanting, and demanding, does not constitute earning, please see the second definition of the word “earn.”

The Bible teaches us to respect our employers. To earn our livings and thus earn a life. If we are fortunate enough to become wealthy, we are not to hoard it and keep it to ourselves, but to share without taxation to our community. Helping those that are in true need and true suffering. Those that are starving, those that have been beaten by their husbands, or as the case may be their wives (it does happen).

If you do contribute to society, society owes you nothing in return. This is seen within the Bible as well and it is something that the founders of the United States saw as well. Two revolutions occurred nearly at the same time. The American Revolution, and the French Revolution. Both had extremely different outcomes. Because both revolutions were at their core based upon two different ideals.

The French Revolution was based upon the concept that the world owed them. As a result, there was widespread violence and murder. The final result of this revolution ended in the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, which resulted in war and death and left France weak.

The American Revolution was based upon freedom to live one’s life as they saw fit and to allow people to earn their own way in life. After their victory against the English, it led to a time of prosperity and growth to the point of becoming one of the great nations in the world.

Both revolutions had more elements to them, but this is the basic formation of these revolts and their outcome, which none can truly dispute, even though many will.

The Bible teaches to work, to earn and to do what is right and honorable. Any that teach otherwise goes against the Bible and thus goes against nature, which is in turn against God. Anything that goes against nature is always against God.

“The world owes me!!” continued.

These are the words many, especially those that attend colleges, shout out constantly. Most became followers of Bernie Sanders. A man until the age of 40 never had a job, and that job was mayor.

When saying the Lord’s Prayer. One part of the prayer requests we be given our daily bread. Two thousand years ago food did not miraculously appear on the dinner table. The events of Harry Potter and the feasts in the great hall are not real. Also, if you actually read the books. House Elves slaved for hours in the kitchen cooking all the food and placed them on matching tables directly below the tables in the hall. Then through a spell the items on the tables would switch to the tables above.

The lesson from this? Nothing is free and if it is promised who is to slave, toil and suffer just so you can have it for free, because it is owed to you.

All must struggle in some form to achieve that which they seek. If any have what they seek just handed to them, it will be at the cost of another’s struggles. Plus, it will not be appreciated once it is given to you.

A prime example – slavery. The slave master lived in luxury and was never satisfied. While their slaves were beaten, starved, raped, and left to live in squalor. This has been a core element of the Democratic Party in the United States. 95% of which were slave-owners in the slave states before the Civil War.

How important voting was made to end slavery and allow blacks to vote:

Vote for the 13th Amendment: For 100% Republican. Against 77% Democrat

Vote for the 14th Amendment: For 94% Republican. Against 100% Democrat

Vote for the 15th Amendment: For 100% Republican. Against 100% Democrat

Any who says the parties flipped forget theses votes.

When you truly seek knowledge, you learn that it only comes through wisdom. That is only achieved through struggles, conflicts, adversity, and humility. These are all things taught within the Bible.

When the Nazarene was rejected by those who knew Him his entire life, He knew adversity.

When Jesus was confronted by those in religious power, He knew conflict.

When Christ was arrested, beaten, whipped, and then hung bloody upon a cross. He experienced true struggle. The struggle to let His Father’s will be fulfilled.

Today’s world is soft compared to events not only two thousand years ago, but seventy to seventy-five years ago. Many today would not survive the simplest of issues or difficulties that those that lived in those times overcame. Sometimes with easy, other times through adversity, conflict, and struggle.

Those that are older and alive today have earned their rewards for the most part. They are not owed them. They purchased them with their sweat, blood, and tears.

How much have you truly sacrificed?

Blog for Podcast # 167 ( An Outreach to those that are 30 and Younger) Part 1

Christian, Conservative, General, government, Guide, Life, politics, Relationship, , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Seven years ago, I wrote several blog posts entitled “Millennial Outreach.” The purpose of which was to reach out to those that have not been given all the facts. I expect many to laugh, scoff and even attack me for presenting this information. Fine do so. As you can see this podcast is already here and somewhere someone may accept or at least consider what is presented. The purpose of this podcast is to talk about several topics. History, Socialism, Capitalism and Christianity. In fact, as to the latter topic it is admittedly influencing how these topics are presented here. This as I said may cause many that listen or read this to ridicule and attack me. That is their choice, but it is now all the same here for all the world to reject or accept.

Give God a chance.

Now I open with this topic because I realize that many within the younger people out there do not think there is a God, or if they do their view of the Creator is not fully informed.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a time this old adage that can easily be applied here. But what is the cover of the book of God? I don’t mean the Bible, but that will come into play later. I mean what is the face of God that you see presented in the world today?

Many will say the buildings called “churches,” which is the correct answer. As you can see throughout the world there are many religions. Christianity is the largest of these and there is a good reason why, but that is not important at the moment. What we are centering on is those buildings called “churches.”
The word “church” appears within the Bible only in the New Testament and is the word “ekklesia” in the Greek, which is defined as: “An assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers”

As you can tell from the wording it is the people that are the “church” not the building itself. However, in the world we now live in that is what today’s definition of the word is: the building. This was one of the first big mistakes that have occurred over the centuries and there have been many. All due to humanity.

People have been replacing God with themselves ever since the beginning of the human race, and it has never stopped. This is why the cover of the book of God is something not pleasing to look at by most. For the cover you are looking at is not God, but humans placing their own personal views of what God is to themselves that you are seeing.

That is one reason there are so many divisions within Christianity itself. You have the Catholics which is the longest surviving image of a type of Christianity, but it is stuffed full of humans imposing their own agendas within it. Then we have the Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, etc. You get the point.
Again, these are not God, these are just humans trying to give themselves some type of order in which they feel comfortable in their attempts to worship the Creator of the Universe.

Now here I will get a lot of snickers and scoffs because I used the statement: “Creator of the Universe.” Many will be saying that the universe is too large for a divine being to have created, but that is just the point, God is that great.

One of problems that those that say there is no God have is they cannot handle the concept of creation itself. Most within the churches hold to Creationism, that everything came into existence in six days.

Now as can be seen with things like fossils and layers of the earth that show a progression back in time, this does not fully hold together. On the other hand, we have those that believe the earth is billions of years old, this view does not hold together as well. So, if neither viewpoint is correct how does that prove there is a God?

One of the main points of true science when it comes to the creation of the universe is the Big Bang, or as it should be stated the “Big Bang Theory.” For no humans were present at the creation of the universe. So, it can never become an absolute, so the word “theory” must remain attached. Anyway, so the theory goes that from nothing or nearly nothing and in less than the blink of an eye an explosion of matter erupts outward causing the creation of the entire universe. Now let that description sink in for a moment.

Could this not be the action of a divine being? The answer is yes, it is. Then this shows that God is a real possibility.

Now it is time to mention the Bible, but I will stick to the Old Testament for the moment. Within these books there are over forty prophecies about the Savior. Where He will come from, when He will arrive and even the fact that He will be rejected and killed, just to point out some of the forty plus. The statistical odds for all the prophecies to come true is 1 in 10 to the 32nd power. In other words:
1:1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Yet, every single one of these prophecies was fulfilled in the being that is known as Jesus of Nazareth.
Only odds like that can be fulfilled by a divine being.

Therefore, if the action of creation shows there is most likely a divine being and the odds that Jesus fulfilled every single prophecy about Him and He is the Son of the divine being we call God. Then there is a God and Jesus Christ died for your sins that you are committing.

Wishing to help all.

This is one of the key elements that those that preach Socialism throw out to those willing to hear and listen. It has been this way since the beginning of the 20th century. This was one of the selling points by Lenin and Marx during the revolution that overthrew the Russian Empire.

Another key element in Socialism is the rejection of religion or more accurately God.

Now here is something that has been done throughout the centuries. Not just the open rejection of God, but the belief that humans can govern and control other humans. This is what Socialism boils down to. A government formed of and by select people dictating through rules and regulations who can have what and how much. This is a key element of most democracies as well as monarchies as well as dictatorships throughout all time. This, however, is not a key element of a republic which was the original governmental makeup of the United States when it was first founded.

Those that believe that Socialism has never been done in the “right state of mind,” is a fallacy from the very beginning. It always starts with honorable ideals and actions, but always ends very badly.

But for now, we will leave this alone and bring in another aspect. That being Christianity. Most of you will not believe this, but the Bible actually does describe how a community of Christians are to interact with each other. Christians are instructed to care for the widows and orphans of their fellows. It clearly states that if God has blessed them with worldly wealth not to horde it but to share it with their fellows that have not been given wealth.

Since I have never seen this done in the correct manner in my entire lifetime then I can understand why so many of the young people seek after Socialism.

Here is the problem. It is not, nor has ever been, the responsibility of the government to provide for the wellbeing of those within their respective communities. It is the responsibility without taxation of those within the communities to address the issues themselves. Whenever a third party known as a government gets involved in the situation it opens the door to corruption, greed, and mismanagement. This is one reason why this nation was founded as a republic and why the federal government had limited powers. This is why the majority of the power was left in the hands of the states. For those closest to the problems could handle them better. The further you get away from the problems the odds of solving them become impossible to achieve.

Now to return to allowing the government to be your caregiver, which is the basic tenants of Socialism. Two countries in the world went to full socialism, which then took the next logical step of becoming communist which is that the government controls every aspect of your life. I lived in the time when these two nations were coming to an end. One the U.S.S.R. which refused to let go of the socialist ideals, even though corruption had been prevalent within ten years of its forming. I watched the news as they showed lines of people waiting to get into their local markets just to pick up what they could to eat. Usually bread and butter. On the other end of the spectrum, you had those in the upper levels of their government living wealthy lives and eating caviar as well as any other food they wished to have. They surrounded themselves with beautiful women who were there mainly just to survive and to steal what little food they could get their hands on to give to their families.

The same was happening in China, but as they saw the soon downfall of the U.S.S.R. They realized they must adapt and change. Therefore, in 1978 they allowed the return of capitalism into their nation once again. However, still the majority of its citizens must struggle to survive while those in power live in luxury. Because they kept the communist governance in place.

I also suggest you listen to how things are for North Korea as well as Venezuela two small communist countries and you will hear the same horror stories and of political purging time and again. This is where Socialism always leads.

A prime example in history of the first true Socialist endeavor was the French Revolution, even though they were not strictly following a known socialist doctrine. The ideals and reasons behind it were nearly the same as those used in the removal of the Russian Emperor at the beginning of the twentieth century. The result was the guillotine and then a power-hungry dictator named Napoleon.

Socialism always ends up worse for the common human being and only a select few live in wealth and luxury while the rest live in poverty and starvation. It is simply a modified dictatorship or monarchy.

You can never get something for nothing. That is why capitalism is the best way to succeed and allows everyone the opportunity to do so. That is until we return to the way things were originally taught and organized in the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus.

It is here that many of you reading or listening will scoff and curse at what I just said. Examples of those living in poverty now within many of the inner cities within the United States will spring to your mind when saying that Capitalism is the better way. Yet what you are actually seeing is Socialism already in practice within the inner cities. Most within these areas already rely upon the government to survive and they are governed by strict regulations not allowing them to gain money without destroying their families in the process.

What is needed is the removal of government. Not the increase in more dependence upon those few in power that feel they are better than anyone else. These are things that are taught within the Bible to look for, and I challenge you to pick one up and read it, just make sure it is not a NIV version for that one has been modified by those that wish to control and govern you.

Religion

As we all know there are by category multiple religions, per Wikipedia twenty of them to be exact. The truly oldest of these that is still active is Judaism, which is a factor that we will get back too. But you need to remember this fact. At this time though we will center on the word “religion” itself.

Per Merriam-Webster one of the definitions is:

“An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.”

Now note that it is an “organized system,” with “rules.”

Here is the thing, there is ideals and principles that are taught within the New Testament of the Bible. Now there were rules and requisites established in the Old Testament or by its other name the Tanakh, some of which the ideals and principles point to in the newer parts of the Bible. However, some of these rules were made of a different time and the need for them to be looked at in a different way changed once Jesus of Nazareth entered the picture. But this point is a distraction at the moment even though it was necessary to mention.

What I wish to key in on though: where do these rules and need to organize come from?

They come from a need by humanity to have structure and control over any given aspect of their lives. For without some sense of stability humanity as a whole loses control. As can be seen if you look at the world today.

Does this desire of humans seeking control of their own existence exclude that there is a God? No, it does not even though there are religions that do dictate this very ideal. In fact, nearly one billion people think this very way, but they themselves constitute being labeled and counted as religious even though they themselves for the most part will deny this. They have their own organized system of beliefs and their own rules, they just choose to exclude the fact that there may actually be a God.

If you have ever entered into these buildings which are called “churches,” you will encounter a community of people which reflect many of the dynamics you most likely encountered during High School. There is a good reason for this. For those dynamics have been transplanted from the non-religious aspects of the halls of academia into this building people attend once or twice a week if that. This is a factor in the need for organization that humans seek to have a feeling there is some type of control in their lives.

This, however, has nothing to do with God, even though there is the pretense of worshiping Him. It is this charade that fills all religions that has turned so many away from God, and it is all due for humanity to have rules and regulations about how they are to act and behave, within the buildings that are called “churches.”

Those that turn away from churches see this hypocrisy and so in turn see the being known as “God” to be lie, a fallacy, a fabrication, a fiction. Not realizing that what they are rejecting is in reality the rules, structure and organizations made by human beings. They are rejecting humanity and the human image of God. They are also rejecting the social system that was transplanted from High School by those attending these social clubs called a “church.”

I cannot attest for most of the other religions in this world, but this I do know. The God of the Bible and the Torah. The God that is the focal point of the longest lasting religion is not nor ever has been what He is shown to be within these social clubs that have stolen the name “church” from.

Many within the religion of Atheism have strived hard to remove any portrayal or images of God from the public environment having already come to the conclusion that the hypocrites within the social clubs mentioned above would drive out people that are truly seeking to know what is real. They in turn give their own religious message on the fact that there is no God. They will spout out their own theories and ideals that have their own organization and rules that must be adhered to, like spreading hate and belittling those that do not agree with their point of view.

One of the methods they do this is to throw out this idea that the Bible and the Torah are myths. Their pretense for this is that anything that is written about any particular person or event in history that is made one hundred and fifty years after the fact is a false narrative since there are none alive to counter this myth that has come into being by the writer.

A prime example, the story of the siege of Troy. The Iliad was written four hundred years after the siege took place and within it are several events that can be said to be mythical. None contest this.

Here is the point though. Those that state there is no God, and that Jesus was not a real person or that he did not rise from the dead made these assertions over one and fifty years after the actual event when it is documented that the New Testament was written within twenty to twenty-five years, with oral traditions traced back to within eight years after the crucifixion and resurrection. This allows people alive at that time to challenge these statements by those that were the enemies of Jesus like the Pharisees, and those that did see Him after His resurrection including five hundred at one time, and since none did. That shows that those creating the myth are those that state Jesus did not rise from the dead and state there is no God.

It is also after the one hundred and fifty years that many of the rules and rituals created by humanity started to take place and overshadow the truth and the facts found within the Bible in the places called “churches.”

So those within all religions associated with Christianity have in many ways created an organized and rule-oriented mythos and applied them within their “churches” thus leading to many either not going to church, denying the very existence of God or denying the resurrection of Jesus.

Accordingly, religions for the most part are at odds with the Bible and with God at this time. It is up to each person to fully study the Bible and come to understand that God is real and that His Son did in fact walk this planet two thousand years ago. It is fact that he never sinned and died upon the cross for our sin. If that is the case, which it is. We must then truly learn the Bible and come to understand that through its teaching we can move on from this life into a higher and eternal existence that is no longer, in most cases, truly found in most religions.

A point that does need to be made. Yes, you can say there are still “rules” within the Bible. There is a difference between man-made rules and those things which come from God through His Son Jesus. The teaching that come from the Bible are something that when you accept salvation are things you seek to keep and to follow. The rules made by humanity are designed to fulfill the wishes and the desires of that religion that has been made not by God.

Example: The Catholic Church and the requirement to go to confession, using a human to tell your sins to when all that is required is to pray to God through Jesus and ask forgiveness. There is a bit more involved but that is a topic for another time.

Blog for Podcast #157 (On Whose Hands is the Blood)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , One comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

I started today’s discussion with these two verses for a reason. These two verses are the core of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. To being a true “Christian.”

There are those that say it is due to Christianity that most of the blood shed that has occurred upon this planet is the fault of those that have this faith. When people say something like this, they show they have no understanding of what is required to be a true follower of Christ.

They throw out past events that they have no true personal understanding of and use them as indicators that these events were crimes condoned by God, and so those that follow God are evil. Christ Himself knew where evil comes from, and He identified it.

Matthew 15:19 NKJV – For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Those that turn to past events say things like it was due to Christianity that the Crusades occurred. It was due to Christianity that the civilizations of the Americas were destroyed. They have even in some form blamed Christianity for the holocaust.

Let us review history. Since it is here that the label of murder has been laid upon the Christian faith. (Please note I said “faith” not “religion.” There is a difference.)

Let us start with the Crusades. First an important statement must be made. There is no text, book or prophecy that says that Jerusalem must be controlled by Christians. There is text, and prophecy that supports that Judaism must and will have control of said city. In fact, there is prophecies that says Israel will cease to exist as a nation and then would be reborn. This has been fulfilled.

But back on track.

First there is a need to understand the significance of this region in general. Throughout the centuries. Especially once Rome came into power. This area became the focal point of major trade. It was known as the “Silk Road.” It is said it was established in the 200 BCs, continuing to the 15th century AD.

Islam became a religion and swept throughout the Middle East starting around 622 AD. This began to cut off Europe from the merchandise and income of the Silk Road.

Under the precept of returning the true faith to Jerusalem Via the command given by Pope Urban II. This command was in answer to an appeal from the Byzantine Empire whose lands were being taken from them by Muslim factions.

Therefore, in actuality it was in response to a loss of money coming into Europe via the Silk Road as well as a loss of territory. The pope used religion as a excuse, which resulted in so many coming to help. Since help just for money alone nor loss of territory for a revival country would have inspired the aid required.

Here is what the Bible teaches:

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

What was truly being sought after in all the Crusades can be seen as an abomination in the sight of God. Therefore, it can be labeled as non-Christian activity. If their actions are not Christian, then they are in fact actions that are a sin against God. Those that ordered the Crusades are more guilty than those that participated. I say this because those that took part in their eyes felt they were following the orders of God. Why? Because only an extreme few knew what was written within the Bible. This was twofold. Most were illiterate and only heard things given to them in Latin. Secondly it was illegal for common folk to read the Bible for themselves. Even many nobles were illiterate and relied upon their priest to inform them of what the Bible stated. Priests who took their orders from the hierarchy within the Catholic Diocese, which at its head was the pope.

Therefore, the Crusades were not done for Christianity, but greed and lust for power. So, Christianity had nothing to do with any of the Crusades.

Let us now look at the Revolutions that took place in the 17 and 1800s. The American and French Revolutions. Total deaths for the American Revolution on both sides is estimated at around 50,000 deaths a quarter of which was due to actual battle. As for the French revolution the best numbers I can find were those that went to the guillotine which were from 30,000 to 40,000. Of those killed it was mostly consistent of aristocracy. Mainly killed just because they were wealthy. Simply put, murder.

The American revolution worked strongly upon a belief in God. The French revolution did not. So, in comparison, approximately 12,500 killed in battle to up to 40,000 just outright killed for being haughty and snobbish.

Again, not Christianity the cause of those sent to the guillotine. Showing more were killed by those that followed evil and not God.

Now let us look at the conquest of the Americas. What began it was the discovery of gold, which caused Spain to seek after it. Therefore, greed sent Hernan Cortes to lead an invasion of the Americas. A greed that allowed him to sink the eleven ships that brought him to the Aztec lands of what is Mexico today. None would destroy eleven ships without sure knowledge that they could be easily replaced with the gold that would be heading to the royal treasury of Spain once they achieved their desired victory.

Then it was the desire to gain new land and territory as shown in spread of the United States. Again, for greed and the want of money.

This leaves one conclusion from a review of history. It was not due to Christianity, but the total opposite. It may have been done in the name of “Christianity,” but all that did was insult God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Now we come to the present. We have people pushing that it is ok to sin. Again, just the opposite of the Bible. They wish to live as they so desire. Not realizing that living in sin is staying in death. Eternal death. They say that because people that use the label “Christian” wish to stop them from sinning. They say that there is blood upon the people’s hands who are Christian. Let’s make a comparison of something.

From 1900 to 1999 the best estimate of deaths due to war or conflict comes to 142,305,538.

Per W.H.O. (World Health Organization) there is 73,000,000 abortions per year. Using that number in mind from 2000 -2022 equates to 1,679,000,000. That means those that deny God have killed well over 11 times the number of humans than those deaths listed earlier from wars in the previous century.

Now there will be those that challenge that a child a few weeks old in a woman’s womb is a human. This is what the Bible says:

Jeremiah 1:4-5 NKJV – Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

This means before the sperm entered the egg God knew you as a human being with a life to live and fulfill. Why? Because He knew who was to be conceived. That goes for all children ever conceived. Their very soul was created before there was a body to place them into. Including those billions that have been ended since 1972. Human sacrifices.

Leviticus 18:21 NKJV – And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

With that in mind. Who really has blood upon their hands? It isn’t those that truly seek to be followers of Jesus Christ.

However, they do not wish to hear these truths. They would rather live in their fantasies that allow them to live their lives as they desire. All the time heading ever deeper into the darkness of eternal death. However, they will still argue that what has been presented here today is not true.

Genesis 38:8-10 NKJV – And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

In the eyes of the Lord our God the actions committed in these verses by Onan was equivalent to murder, and so God killed Onan on the spot.

The seed wasn’t even in the egg, yet God killed for this action.

Yes, I repeated. Because I have to get people to understand. All abortions are murder and can even be considered human sacrifice. Over 3 billion human sacrifices from the time it was legalized until now.

These are just the known. What is shown to the public. Yet, there are things that have been happening in the halls of power. Behind closed doors that very few are aware of. That we can only suspect through whispers from those that cannot endure to keep these evils in the darkness.

I have no tangible evidence, only a feeling deep in my soul that what has just been said is true. There are things that happen that the majority would rise up against if they were made visible. Yet I know they are there. The light must start to shine upon them. People, even those that live in sin must start to see how evil their sins are taking humanity down into darkness.

The thing is. Most would rather accept the lie than the truth. It makes them feel comfortable at ease. Because they do not wish to see the world as evil. They do not wish to see that evil exists in all humanity and can only be removed by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. Even then they can return to evil because all humanity is fickle as well. Again, something most do not wish to hear.

Most of what is happening has fulfilled prophesies that are found within the Bible. Prophecies which show that within one generation Jesus Christ will return. Before this takes place, the tribulation will occur.

On a side note, about prophecies. Let us just look at those that were fulfilled nearly two thousand years ago. For someone to fulfill forty-eight prophecies was one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion. This was shown in “Science Speaks” published in 1969. Yet every one of them was fulfilled.

Like I said there are many prophecies that are now being fulfilled that show we are coming to the soon return of the Jesus Christ who fulfilled forty-eight prophecies two thousand years ago.

It is time to turn from the lies which paint the hands of innocent Christians the color of red. Just because you wish to live in your false superiority that shows all just how deep within the darkness you have descended towards Hell itself.

You can escape this fate. All you need do is to call upon Jesus Christ. He will welcome you with open arms. For only through Him can you have true eternal life.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #39 (Ruins 1/3)

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Intro

Welcome to the first in a three part series. This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. Also, you do not need to download podbean if you wish to listen. You can use Listen Notes, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music or Audible, Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts. As well as Pandora, Spotify and PlayerFM.

Discussion

I have a question for you the listener or reader of this study.

How many Roman Emperors were there and how many can you name?

Myself I can name about ten.

Yet there were over one hundred if you count them all before and after the empire split in two.

Now another question upon the same path.

How many Persian rulers have there been?

Over three hundred and fifty, and I can possibly name three.

What are the names of people not listed in the Bible before the flood?

I hope you are starting to realize where I am going with this.

The further we go back into history. The less we know about the people that lived in ancient history.

Additionally. The further we go back the more ruined buildings are.

I can say the same about the Aztec, Maya, and Pueblo of the Americas.

If you notice my intro and outro. Casting Crowns sings about whose name is important. The answer: “Only Jesus.”

Why is this?

Why is only the name Jesus important?

Or as someone listening or reading this may ask. Why is my name not important?

You hear and see, all the time, people trying to make a name for themselves. They strive to be remembered throughout what will become history. In sports, in acting, in politics, and even wars. Even in the culture we live in today people strive to make their names important.

I actually feel sorry for people that do this.

Why?

First and foremost. As the song says. Only one name is of any import. That being Jesus the Savior of all of humanity. If they so choose to accept Him as their Savior, their Messiah.

Secondly. Those that reject God will have no names except that which is seen as a curse to all. Those that accept the Christ will receive new names.

Isaiah 65:11-15 – “But because the rest of you have forsaken the LORD and have forgotten his Temple, and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny, 12 now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword. All of you will bow down before the executioner. For when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned—before my very eyes—and chose to do what you know I despise.” 13 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “My servants will eat, but you will starve. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be sad and ashamed. 14 My servants will sing for joy, but you will cry in sorrow and despair. 15 Your name will be a curse word among my people, for the Sovereign LORD will destroy you and will call his true servants by another name.

Now as I mentioned before. The older some type of construct made by humans is found. It is broken, withered and decaying. In many cases people have no understanding of what the purpose of the buildings even were. Or even why they were built. God goes one step further in His plans for the buildings made by humanity, which in some cases reached high into the sky like the tower of Babel did. Showing the arrogance of humanity to say they are greater than He who made them. Again, we continue in Isaiah chapter 65:

17 – “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

However, we can go even further in the book of Revelation:

21:1 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

As you can see and hear not only will there be no ruins to show the egos of humanity. The very stars themselves will be different. No longer will people look up into the heavens to look for the formations that were given names and shapes by men. All remnants of humanities vain glories will be erased from existence.

So, why worry about creating a name for yourself? Why worry about gathering unto yourself that which will rot and decay? (Matthew 6:19-21) Which will ultimately no longer even exist at all.

These are concepts even those that profess to being “Christian,” have not thought about. Which is a sad statement. For if they had they would not be seeking to live in luxuries, but a simplistic lifestyle. All are guilty of this, even myself to some degree.

Seeking after the world has infected all. Both those that accept Christ and those that deny Him. They are asleep as Christ Himself said would occur. The call that the Groom is approaching has been shouted out. The awakening has begun. (Matthew 25:6)

As I said earlier there are now ruins about this world, and eventually they will be gone. In the meantime, there will be a time when new ruins come into existence. For this we will look at the eighteen chapter of Revelation. Before we look at these verses. Think upon the description of Babylon. I will also mention a natural earthly element that could be a factor in what will be encountered in this chapter, as we look at this chapter in nearly a verse-by-verse examination.

Note: not all verses will be included. However, I highly recommend reading the full chapter.

Revelation 18:2 – He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.

This chapter is not to be confused with the previous chapter, which reflects the religious version of Babylon. This Babylon is more physical. Now the Babylon of chapter 17 did bring about this declaration form the angel that made his entry in verse one of this chapter.

This “Babylon” has fallen from greatness. So, at one point it was something that could be seen as an example unto to God and so should be called great. Now, however, it is great no more. Now, due to the influence of the Babylon of chapter 17. It is a place, where it is a home for demons and, by using the apostate religion of the previous chapter. Things that are foul and evil hide under the covers of holiness, where these evil things are protected.

Revelation 18:3 – For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.”

This verse shows the spiritual aspect of this Babylon and how the entire world has been affected by it. That through seeking after worldly riches. All have become addicted to their new god. The world and what they see as its riches and comforts. Making money their god and rejecting the true God. Gathering unto themselves physical objects to worship. Cars, expensive homes, filled with luxuries and comforts that they see as greater than their Creator.

Revelation 18:4 – Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.

Here we see two things. First this shows that the events of this chapter transpire when the Holy Spirit is still present upon the earth. Since there are still humans present that are called “my people.” The second is a warning. A warning not to allow luxuries and wealth to become a part of the Christian life. Those that call themselves “Christian,” and seek after wealth and luxury are not listening to this warning and are instead asking to be punished with the corrupted Babylon. The Christians are told outright to turn away from seeking after luxuries and comforts. For that is a part of the fallen Babylon. Apart of that which hides and protects evil, and those that partake of evil deeds.

At times, an entire country is represented as a being. Due to what is about to seen in the coming verses. This could be one of those times. The angel that is giving this message. Says that this Babylon has sinned greatly and thought itself great and in no need of a husband. That husband being God. The implication in verse five through seven show this haughtiness, arrogance and evil. The result is what is to follow:

Revelation 18:8-11 – Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” 9 And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” 11 The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods.

As these words come out. There is a feeling that this is not just spiritual, but of something that is actually physical transpiring here. An event that will include fire and smoke. With the result of causing death, morning as well as famine.

Famine, why famine? Famine is the lack of food. Yet if this is just a city. Can it not just go out and bring some in. That is the catch. This event makes it so food can not even be grown, yet it happens in one day. We will go further into this later but keep this in mind in the meantime.

Also note that leaders who partook of her wealth will watch from a distance, and that the merchants will cry because their greatest source of income is gone to them. Again, we are looking to a focal point that has a physical aspect to it.

Revelation 18:17-18 – In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. 18 They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?”

Again, a physical aspect. It shows that it has access to the sea.

Revelation 18:21 – Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.

Now, we will discuss something that is physical, and can give the results of the plagues promised to Babylon. In the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming sets a super volcano. Its name is Yellowstone. If it were to explode it would make an eruption of around 800,000 megatons. Which would kill everything within 650 miles. It would spue out deadly ash that would cover all the United States and parts of Canada. Killing millions more and making it impossible to grow crops of any type for decades, thus causing death, morning and famine in one moment and day. This would result in this as well:

Revelation 8:12 – Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.

Thus, making new ruins of an entire nation made by humans and thought to be the greatest of all at this time in just one day. Ponder upon this and pray.

God Bless.

Millennial outreach #10

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Why is knowing history so important?
Even more than ever before it is obvious that if you fail to learn history you are destined to repeat it. I hear almost daily of Socialist attacking, shouting down or berating those that have a view that is not theirs. They scream of equality and tolerance yet have none of their own. I am reminded of other socialist in another era. That of the National Socialist German Workers Party of 1930s Germany.
They too beat those that did not agree with them. They too spoke of tolerance yet had none. They too had a pet agenda of a superior race and group. That they knew better than anyone else.
I also remember a certain president singing praises of their leader. A president who had the same views and ideas and even practices, which resulted in magnifying a depression to a Great Depression. He also locked up an entire race of people just as the German socialist did. The only difference being he did not slaughter them.
Within history is documents that speak of a Jew who rose from the dead, and those in power made up excuses for the missing body from the tomb. On these documents is a hearing of this person’s half-brother who saw Him after His resurrection and became an ardent follower unto a horrible death. These are the things we learn from history.
Yet today those that do not know history repeat the actions of the socialist in Germany. Why? Because they do not know history. They do not research for the truth and instead take the words of others as right when in reality what they are being told are lies.
Why are they being lied to? Because they have shown themselves to be selfish and self-serving. This is the very same behavior that was of the youth in the 1930. It was their fathers that had messed up and took from them what, as they were told, was rightfully theirs.
Germany was going through its own depression. Caused by their defeat in World War I. A defeat that was only brought about by poverty and starvation due to a poor support system for the very war they fought. Their burdensome conditions that were imposed upon them by the victors of the first war did not help matters and cause bitterness and hatred.
But this hatred needed a focal point, something or someone to take out their anger, but at the same time make it unattainable to truly fix the problems. Thus the hatred of the Jewish people was begun. They hatred for not having their nation grow as they say it should. So they focused all this hatred upon the Jews and those that supported the Jews. That being all other nations. For the Third Reich was formed out of pure humans and all other humans were inferior, but especially the Jews.
In today’s mentality of the left, they are the superior beings and the conservatives are the inferior, especially the Christians and the Jews. For they do not allow those that are superior to live their lives as they see fit and how they wish to live and be treated for they are the new master race. Through their intellect and knowledge for no others can be as smart as they are for they do not see that these select must rule and control all others, which are stupid and inferior.
However by this very mentality, this very thought process they show that in reality they are the inferior, and ignorant. For they did not see that this has been all done before. Not just in Germany, but in Ancient Rome. In Ancient Babylon, in Ancient Egypt. All with the same result. Those that saw themselves as superior and special were killed and slaughter for the most part. While those that survived become the slaves and servants to those that they once call inferior.
This is why it is important to truly seek after knowledge, which is not taught from the auditoriums of speakers called professors, but from books. Not books published in the last twenty years, but books printed before this time. A prime example: The Bible. For it is the ultimate history book.

Millennial outreach #5

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New Testament history

There are elements out there that call the Bible a lie, a myth. Most of those in your age group have listened to these inaccuracies. What you are about to read is to help you see facts very few know or even care to know, which I find very unfortunate, but I have come to expect it in the way people are raised and taught in this time.
From the moment the four gospels and the letters of the apostles were written they have been studied, debated, analyzed and questioned. Commentaries have been written and studied and again debated from early in the second century to today. Men like Chrysostom, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeous, Jerome and Justin Martyr to name the most notable of these early scholars.
All twenty seven books of the New Testament have been copied into different languages not only by professional scribes but by average and devoted followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Many have been lost, many others have not. In fact out of all historical documents the Bible has the most surviving copies that date back all the way to the first century when they were originally written, even though an original version has not been found that I am aware of.
The gospels and the letters can be dated to a range of twenty to twenty five years after the resurrection of Jesus. If you do not like the word “resurrection” please see last week’s outreach. (Millennial outreach #4) Now as I have stated before those that say that an item can be called a “myth” is when it is written 150 years after the original event. This as I have just shown does not apply to the New Testament. The first I have just shown, which is the date the gospels and letters were written. Well within the range for survivors of the actual events to have questioned any inaccuracy within them. The second is something the Jewish people have prided themselves for centuries. That being the oral tradition. The earliest oral tradition that is known within the letters of the apostles is within 1 Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 15:3-9), which is dated to have been taught within eight years after the resurrection (38-41 A.D.).
Now as I mentioned above what we call the books of the New Testament were copied into different languages. Two languages become the dominant ones, Latin and Greek. There are many factors for this, which is an entire history lesson in itself, but the basics is due to the split in the Rome Empire itself when it broke in two. The western empire based in Rome, the eastern empire based in Constantinople, which is now known as Istanbul, Turkey.
As Islam spread violently throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East it finally threatened to overrun Constantinople, which in fact fell into their hands in 1453. As a result the Biblical scholars, priest and monks fled this area as the threat become more and more obvious. They carried with them their copies of the New Testament books to the west. Here they fell into the hands of the western scholars, like Martin Luther (1483-1546).
It is due in fact to the Islamic conquest that caused what we now call the Reformation to take place, in addition to the creation of the printing press (1440). For men like Luther saw the difference between the Latin versions from the Greek of the gospels and apostolic letters that led him to question and challenge the Catholic Church. For those within the Catholic Church has changed and perverted these documents for their own glory and riches. So Martin Luther called them out for it which was shown to be in the right. This is the main reason that when you seek to learn the original meaning of the words within the New Testament you must look to the Greek not the Latin.
The first fully “approved” English version of the Bible come into being in 1611. There are those that point to this date as the creation of the Bible and say that since it was made at this point that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth. But as I have just shown above this is the furthest thing from the truth. As I also have shown that since this idea was made even after 1611 it is those stating this theory are in actuality the ones creating their own myth. A myth that God is not real and that His Son did not exist nor raise from the dead.
So this is a brief overview of the history of the New Testament. It is now up to you to think and decide for yourself what you wish to think and believe. For that is something that can only come from each person on their own to decide. You cannot depend on what others or even I say. You must look, think, challenge and learn what is real and what is true on your own. I challenge you as those early scholars did all the way to the point these books were written in the first place.

Millennial outreach #4

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Let’s talk about Jesus

Now this is not going to be a sermon. This is just a look at who Jesus is.
Here are known factors that come from outside the Bible. Historical governmental officials mentioned in the Bible have been documented in addition there is physical evidence of their existence.
Two Examples: Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. The latter of which the remains of his body were official unearthed and identified.
Furthermore we know also of Jesus brother James, a son of Mary as well, who was stoned for professing his brother to be the Messiah.
There is also archaeological evidence which corresponds to areas said to have been visited by Jesus.
So we have several points of evidence that support history and it can be said due to these facts that Jesus lived and was crucified. In fact there is none that truly study history that question the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. So Jesus as a human being is not doubted in any form.
What does come into question is the resurrection that confirms Jesus as the Son of God.
Now what I am about to state is an actuality you have to come to accept. A keystone of the Jewish community in the time period of Jesus was the use of the oral tradition to pass on religious information accurately. It is so solid that a Torah written in 600 B.C. matches a Torah from 10 A.D. that in turn corresponds to a Torah of today.
In the first twenty to twenty five years after the resurrection this was the main component of early Christians as well. This is due mainly to the fact that most in this time frame were Jewish.
One such tradition can be traced to within eight years after the resurrection, 38 – 41 A.D. Which in turn is included in 1 Corinthians which is dated to have been written in the mid 50s A.D., so within 20 to 25 years after the resurrection.
One of the myths out there is that it was a hallucination that those who say they saw Jesus after his death. Now why I say myth is the last key element of the tradition I am referring to. Five hundred (500) seeing Jesus post resurrection at one time. There is no way this is a hallucination. It is physically impossible. On top of which those hearing the tradition or seeing it written to the Corinthians are literally challenged to find those that still live and saw Jesus and ask them. No one could refute it. None.
So here is the Jesus that is supported by facts.
He existed 2000 years ago. He died either in 30 A.D. or 33 A.D. Three days later he came to live again with his wounds received upon the cross still visible. He walked several miles the day he came back to live. He then vanishes, He then appears in a locked room with all the living apostles. Thomas touches his wounds and he eats food. He then disappears again. So this is Jesus. If you wish to know more. Just ask.

“Scripture alone”

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This was the battle cry so to speak by those within the Reformation.
Two major factor caused this to happen.
The first was the Muslim conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
Many in the west had for the most part only known of the Latin version of the Bible that was presented and taught by the Catholic Church.
Now due to the fall of this city many scholars and their Greek versions of the Bible came to be seen and known in the west.
Since Greek was the original language of the letters, for the most part, that form the New Testament questions were raised and monks and priests started to learn Greek and Hebrew and a new world was opened unto them.
The second was the printing press, which enabled the spread of not only the Greek by later common language copies of the Bible to be printed and spread to not only the rich but to the commoner.
Why this battle cry was so important is that they found that the doctrines that had risen from Catholicism were inaccurate or even non-existent within the true translation of the Bible.
They knew and came to understand that every person must learn the Bible. In addition that no human can be trusted to pass on the knowledge of the Bible accurately by themselves.
What many do not understand or know is due to the Roman Empire, a large majority of its citizens were literate. When Rome fell literacy diminished as well as other things that would become known as the Dark Ages.
During this time those with power and riches sought more of the same and so many, even those within the Catholic Church did not correctly teach the Bible. Some of which resulted in the Crusades for example.
Due to the Reformation the need and understanding to learn firsthand the Word of God become something that all must do. And so many even though it resulted in their deaths pursued this very ideal.
So to honor those that died so that you can just go down to a store and pick up a copy of the Bible or even just look online and read it there. You owe it to them to learn what was worth dying for.
The truth within the Word of God.