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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.

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 winded 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

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.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: It just amazes me.

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I have been expanding my knowledge and insight in the history of the Bible, and I am just amazed how people for the last two or three hundred years have been seeking to dismiss or diminish the Word of God.
What is even more interesting is that sometimes their own systems of denial actually ends up allowing the confirmation of the very thing they are seeking to destroy.
Case in point: that it is mythological.
A key factor in myths per these folks own words is that a myth will arise after a history has been around for one hundred and fifty years. A prime example of this is the Iliad by Homer. It is his telling of the actual siege of Troy, but he writes about it four hundred years after the fact. Within it we end up with for example Achilles who cannot be harmed save for one spot upon his heel. This is a true mythological story, mainly due to that fact that none were alive from the siege to challenge his view or embellishment of the event like the heel issue.
Here is where things start to fall apart for those that insist Jesus and His resurrection is a myth as well.
The most important fact is the twenty seven documents that later were brought together to form the New Testament were written as early, if not even earlier, as fifteen years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they were just the writing down of the well-established oral traditions of the Jewish people in the first place.
This means not only were those that followed Jesus, but also those that killed and persecuted Jesus were still alive and could affirm or counter the letters, and the oral tradition, respectively.
Those that would affirm did and those that could challenge the letters, or teachings, could not.
So per the methodology of those that insist the Bible is a myth are shown to being living in myths of their own creation, called denial, since the major pursuit to deny the facts within the Bible began nearly nineteen hundred years after the fact.
As to the resurrection itself, the Creed, which was an oral tradition is said to be first written down within eight years of the resurrection. In other words around 38 to 41 A.D. It states that five hundred saw the risen Christ at one time and many were still alive to be directly questioned of this account and people were encouraged to do just that, question them.
So there is no way the Bible is a myth. The events are real, that facts are real, Jesus is real and alive.
Additionally, you would think that after two thousand years the arguments to deny that there is only one God would have changed, but it hasn’t. The excuses and opinions to not accept Him as their Creator have not altered at all yet they think they have discovered something new and different, yet it isn’t.

Those who ignore history also ignore God

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It has been proven time and again that humans cannot count on other humans or themselves to achieve a new level of enlightenment or evolutionary advancement. Yet still, time and again, humans come to a point that some come to an apex of power and control and feel that they will be different, that they will succeed where others failed. And so the cycle repeats itself. Each time costing many within the human race their lives.
In the end the truth does come out. Those that craved and were given power showed themselves to live up to the old adage.
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
This is the flawed nature of humanity due to its fall from grace with their Creator God. Yet still many deny this. Yet still many think they are different, that they are better than those that have failed in the past. Even with an ongoing and continual prove that is seen by all.
Point in case.
Abortion.
This is physical prove that those that now seek and are achieving power have already matched and even exceeded the horrors committed by the Third Reich. During their reign of terror they murdered over thirteen million people in various ways, the most none is the death camps which resulted in six million Jews killed, as well as three million homosexuals, two million gypsies. The other two million various other groups including a majority of this group that were true Christians.
However today, due to progressives and those within the Democratic Party we are quickly approaching sixty million murders of the innocent unborn. A crime so heinous that the Bible states it would be better to tie a weight about your neck and cast yourself into the depths than to face the punishment that will befall those that not only kill the unborn but cut them up and sell their bodies for profit. This is the ultimate act of inhumanity.
However, still the progressives of both political parties see themselves as great, smart and better than any that have come before them. Yet their crimes have surpassed any that have come before them.
This is why they have not only forgotten history, but of the reality of God Himself.
It is truly sad for them that they are so engrossed in their own delusions of grandeur that they have become so blind to how inhumane they have truly become and that they are even more lowly than an animal that simply kills to survive.

When those that think they are doing right when in reality, they are not

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Here is one of the greatest challenges to any within humanity. Truly understanding if their actions are or ever would be considered “right.”
To have an understanding of this we must come to an agreement on what is “right.” Well for thousands of years there was such a document that did establish what is “right.”
For nearly fifteen hundred years those that were rich or had power knew the truth of what can be called “right.” Yet due to the infallibility of all humanity most fell prey to those sins and lusts that usually effect those that are rich and powerful. They desire more of both. Is this then what is “right?” in their minds they justified it to being so, yet in reality their actions for the majority were not right nor were they even close to being right.
Then this document came into mass circulation for even the most common of humanity to be able to read it.
They saw the corruption and sought, many times in vain to correct what was wrong with what was truly right.
Now we come to today’s society. Here we see those that protest the mistreatment of this group or that group. They take offence to how words are spoken. They take offence to how one group is treated differently in their eyes from another group. Is this the true pursuit of what is “right?” The answer to that is no. Yet if you say this you have automatically offended them and you are labeled the one who hates, when this is the furthest thing from the truth.
What is truly “right” can still be found within this document. This document is the Bible. This is where you can find what is “right.”
Then what is “right?”
It is the act of placing God at the center of all your actions and all your words. It is following the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is accepting Christ as your Savior and submitting ourselves to seeking after it till we are called to heaven that is what is truly “right.”
Yet there are many that will deny this and call people like myself, lunatic, mad man, and idiot.
Why? For this is not want they have been taught is “right.” They will strive to diminish and abolish what is “right,” for to them what is truly right is their freedom to live their lives as they see fit, no matter if it is acceptable to the “right” and the “norm” that has been established for thousands of years. For they have grown where those in the past of not grown, per them.
Yet if you read the Bible it is shown how many in the past that are considered to be sinners desired the exact some type of “right,” as they are seeking.
This in itself shows that they are not seeking after what is “right,” because it, in their eyes, is not the same unrighteousness as was born by those in the past.
Yet that is exactly what it truly is unrighteous.
You show them the truth, and they deny it, they reject it, why?
For to acknowledge it would mean they have hurt people in their selfish lusts and desires, they have hurt themselves. They fear that if what is truly “right” is righteous then they are doomed.
For they see no way out of being in the wrong.
Yet this is not what Jesus Christ promised us all. He have given us a way to seek after “right” and “righteousness” and it all lies through Him. All they need do is acknowledge Him and turn their backs upon unrighteousness, no matter its form. From living in sin to seeking after the destruction of others.
They must place God first in every action and every aspect of their lives for a failure to do so ends only in misery and agony that will last for all eternity.

Goal in this temporal life

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re-post
What is it you are seeking? What are your goals?
Are they to seek out wealth? Are you trying to seek fame? Do you seek to have your name go down through history?
If any of these are your goals then I have bad news for you: They are of this world and anything of this world is really not worth pursuing.
You want to know a couple of my goals.
1) To find someone to share all that I encounter. All the good and the bad. All the wonders and horrors. All the happy times and sad. (goal met and accomplished)
2) To see all the wonders of the universe. (heading in the right direction for this [I think])
“How it is possible to see all the wonders of the universe?” you ask.
Simple. Turn to God and serve Him. Follow the teaching of the Bible and turn from that which is called evil within it.
“You didn’t answer my question!” you state.
Actually yes I did. For God has promised all that server Him an eternal life. Are we going to spend it on this speck of a planet when God created the entire universe? No we are not. We will server God throughout His entire creation. What will we do there only time will tell, and since a few billion years is a long time. I have a feeling I my just get a chance to see all the wonders of the universe. Leaving events in this temporal life behind.

100 years verses 1000000000000000000000000000 years, which is greater?