On Tongues

and the Simonized Christian

post 227

Recently a friend asked if I knew of a sound online resource that spoke to the topic of tongues (reference; I Corinthians 14). With regret, I know of none though I am sure they are out there, So I thought I would present a post with the important basics as I understand it. Now while this post may seem to be a departure from my regular topic, it really does fit nicely in achieving my intended point. This section will discuss basic Christianity and our present state of confusion that bastardizes it, which is leading us into the next age.

* * *

Tongues in the early Church was first made famous by the Apostles in

Acts 2:4;

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

This was not the first time the Holy Ghost came on men resulting in extra natural manifestation (conduct) but what is unique is the presentation of that manifestation. Throughout the Old Testament when the Spirit of God came on men they prophesied;

“And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee (Saul), and thou shalt prophesy with them (the company of prophets), and shalt be turned into another man” I Samuel 10:6.

(see also Numbers 11:25-29 an event that resulted in the prophecy of the last days fulfillment of Joel 2:28 which we are now discussing).

Stand alone verses can be very dangerous as any wrong context whatever can be added to them and alter the meaning, therefore verses must be read, understood, and interpreted not only within the context of the scripture in which it is found but in the spirit of the whole message of scripture. We discover that context by asking questions of scripture:

“Why did Saul prophesy?”

Because the spirit of the LORD came upon him and turned him into another man.

“What was the reason he prophesied?”

The very next line in Samuel’s prophecy tells us;

“And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee” I Samuel 10:7.

“What signs does he mean?”

In the previous five verses Saul was given several events that would soon take place in his day’s activities and the sixth event would be his prophesying after the spirit of the LORD came upon him. The reason for all the signs is explained in verse 1;

“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain (designated leader) over his inheritance?”

I Samuel 10:1.

And this last verse (7) then gives him the confidence to be king;

“Do whatever seems right to you at the time, God is with you, as you will know by the signs and the power confirmed to you by your prophesying” I Samuel 10:7 my paraphrase.

Therefore all the outward signs, ending in his inward sign being overshadowed by the Spirit of the LORD causing him to prophecy as a last sign, were to convince him and others that he indeed was anointed; He was changed into another man capable of being the king God would use to lead His people. Now that is some really powerful convincing, as well as evidence that he was not just some guy sitting in the office of king while God looked on from above as an uninvolved observer. This also validates the scriptural concept that the leaders of nations are indeed placed there under the power and design and purposes of God himself as is declared in passages such as Isaiah 45:1-7,

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whithersoever he will” Proverbs 21:1.

This special influence of the Holy Spirit is not just exclusive to special kings though such a public proof was a rare Old Testament event, and this one was to give Saul and the people a great confidence that they were indeed in the personal care of God through the king.

* * *

Back to Acts:

Now we see in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, that the Holy Ghost came over the apostles and they spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1-11), but it should be noted that these were the tongues of the many nations so that everyone there was hearing the message in their own native language.

“What was the message they were hearing?”

As Peter points out, it was the fulfillment of Joel 2:28, an Old Testament prophecy showing the Holy Spirit of God moving on  men, confirming that the last days had come.

“So why did Peter use this Old Testament scripture about prophesying to validate them speaking in tongues?”

Because the tongues were simply the supernatural vehicle used to get the prophecy out to the listener. The tongues were not the point of the event but rather a confirmation of the prophecy they spoke, as Peter continues to explain; “Ye men of Israel, hear these words;…” (Acts 2:22-36).

Acts 1-2 is the amazing narrative of the apostle’s preaching and prophesying in tongues right after the Holy Ghost came on them. Acts 2:1-21 is an incredible prophecy and fulfillment of “the new world” after salvation was given to the Jews through the Christ, and as an additional marvel; to the Gentile too! This new world, previously prophesied in Joel, and referenced here in Acts 2:16, and declared now in the events of Acts 2 as having finally arrived, is a world in which God can now be reached through the promised Christ who turned out to be Jesus of Nazareth, proven by many public miracles and fulfillment of prophecy and his resurrection from the dead.

Here is what that new world looks like:

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Acts 2:21.

This was a new thing. It was seen by the religious rulers as a departure from the long standing Jewish faith of Jews only, and from exclusively accessing God only through the sacrifices offered by the Priests. And who better than the learned; the long devoted to the faith; the priests and rulers of that faith, should know what representation was true to the faith?

Of course there was confusion!

The common listeners of the apostle’s preaching were moved by the Spirit of God, and witnesses to the miracle of diverse tongues, and the reasoning of that preaching which actually fulfilled the prophecy of the longstanding Jewish faith, but they were still a bit skeptical in confliction;

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?” Acts 2:12.

This of course opened the door for the naysayers to jump in and attempt to sway the crowed; “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine” Acts 2:13.

Swiftly passing by the concept that no amount of wine or intoxication will result in uneducated men speaking the native tongues of many various listeners, Peter simply uses the reasoning of the longstanding established scripture of the Jewish faith to support what was being witnessed (Acts 2:14-36). This explanation of the known scripture is what gave the listeners the needed authority to accept this new “departure offering” of the Christ and respond with; “…Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37.

But did Peter lay into the long list of Jewish laws that they had been violating in principle while perhaps practicing in duty? No. Rather Peter preached the gospel of the New “departure” from an old faith, which was not really a departure at all (Matthew 5:17);

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” Acts 2:38.

What an incredible fool-proof offer. This is better than the money back guarantee of advertising today; “Try it and see” is the claim. Turn to Jesus Christ in belief that he is indeed the prophesied messiah, repent and be baptized into the faith (which they understood to mean a full practical and public immersion into the new way) and the result would be a personal experience of receiving the Holy Ghost of God as a validation of their salvation. No Holy Ghost = no confirmation that this was the real deal. They had just seen the reality of the Holy Ghost acting miraculously on common fishermen prophesying in many foreign tongues for the listeners, so obviously they should expect some similar very real extra-natural power as evidence of

the gift. This is what Peter promised; Confirmation.

At this point in their listening to the message and the recognition of what it meant, they were not looking for some great supernatural power to run around showing off, it was the salvation they sought and the Holy Ghost was the confirmation of success.

 * * *

The Error of Simon:

Does possessing the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost to heal and speak other languages intrigue you as being personally desirable? The narrative of Simon shows that to be a dangerously flawed comprehension (Acts 8:9-24).

Simon was recently a wicked man claiming to have supernatural powers through sorcery and succeeded in convincing the masses that he was supernaturally powerful to the point that they revered him as “the great power of God” (Acts 8:10). But the scripture states clearly that eventually Simon himself also believed and was baptized and continued with Philip as he went about preaching (Acts 8:13). “Awesome; Another convert!”  But wait; can you identify the problem in this verse?

“Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued (4342) with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done” Acts 8:13.

We just saw in Acts 2:38 that Peter promised the confirmation of the Holy Ghost in salvation, so why then did Simon not receive the power himself but only observe it and wondered? Think about that as we continue with the narrative to learn about this man’s corrupt perception of the faith.

“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” Acts 8:18-19.

What’s wrong with that request? Isn’t it good that the Holy Ghost should be given to people? And isn’t it good that someone would want others to receive the Holy Ghost?

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” Acts 8:20.

But is that the source of Simon’s problem? No;

“Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God” Acts 8:21.

The narrative continues on to define the root of his problem and here is the issue I wish to address; Simon never received the Holy Ghost though he believed and was baptized and followed in the ministry. Why?

Because he missed the critical element of Salvation (remission of sins), which Peter lined out previously in Acts 2:38, lets review;

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Repentance is required; Not just belief:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” James 2:19.

It’s repentance that leads to salvation, beyond belief and exclusive of religious conduct, And this is exactly what Peter told him;

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” Acts 8:22.

Simon didn’t need to be convinced who God was; he believed. Now he needed to repent; something entirely different.

So was Simon’s root of the sin and lack of repentance that he wanted to purchase the Holy Ghost with money? No;

“For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” Acts 8:23.

Simon actually believed what he saw and heard, and in belief he was baptized and continued in the practice of the faith as he went in ministry with the Apostles, but he never repented of his wickedness, which was rooted in his heart as iniquity because of bitterness. This bondage to iniquity kept him from partaking in the Holy Ghost and excluded him from a “part or lot” with the faith of the Apostles though he participated (continued) in their ministry.

Continued 4342 proskartereo; from 4314 and 2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) or persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):- attend (give self) continually (upon)…

This is the lot of many Christians today, who understand the wisdom and logic and faith and benefits of the gospel of Christ, and commit to the faith, are baptized in the faith, and continue diligently in the work of the faith, all the while unable/unwilling to break the bondage of iniquity through repentance and so miss out on the confirming power of the Holy Ghost which is the evidence and power of salvation.

These are the failing Christians first in the Church of Pergamos in Revelation 2:14-16, and next in the Church of Thyatira’s Revelation 2:19-24, who walk in the doctrines of the faith but miss the whole point of repentance because they allow those things which create the bondage to iniquity.

“So what went wrong in their faith?”

Acts 2:40 tells us that Peter used “many other words” to explain the whole point which is summed up with; “Save yourselves from this untoward (4646) generation.” This clearly reveals that there is something complex about this generation that needs to be escaped from, and that “something” being the untoward part;

Untoward 4646 skolios; from the base of 4628; warped, i.e. winding; figuratively perverse:- crooked, froward, untoward.

(This is the root of our modern word scoliosis; crookedness, medical; a lateral curvature of the spine.)

The unacceptable condition of Simon as a believer is our warning; It was not his conduct but his spirit; the motive of his heart, that was the problem. This too is revealed in the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira. Therefore the values of this present warped religious generation is what we must be saved from, and Peter declared we must save ourselves from this; This is repentance.

“…Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Matthew 3:2.

Repent 3340 metanoeo; from 3326 and 3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally feel compunction).

Now here is the part that is easily missed: If repentance is achieved by a change of mind; an altered perspective; a new and different course toward God, then the success of repentance will be witnessed or validated by the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:42-48 and Acts 3:26).  This is NOT random or only for the “extra holy”; If you aint got it, you aint in the faith.

But how can you possibly explain such power to someone who does not believe? Or worse; to someone who does believe but doesn’t have it? To them you have simply picked one of a plethora of religions, but they have no idea the Power which has changed you. We have not “picked a religion” we have met God the Creator himself!

Now while the unconverted who do not experience the Holy Ghost power may very well conclude that your changed state is due to alcohol or brain washing or insanity, the reality is that the powerful change within you will be an amazement even to yourself! Such as was the promise to Saul. The power of God is not an illusion of mind anymore than common fisherman could suddenly speak many languages because they “picked a religion”.

But like Simon, there are those who genuinely attempt to participate in the faith while clinging to the familiar sins of iniquity. This is a failure to repent (think differently).

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” II Timothy 3:5.

These spots (blemishes) in the Church not only blaspheme the powerful name of God before the unbelievers, they infect the Church with their iniquity from which we are to save ourselves. This is why we must turn away from them, not participating in the fruit of their corruption, saving ourselves from this twisted generation of religious people who will not repent.

* * *

So how does this relate to the gift of tongues?

Today there are large sections of quote “Christians” who participate in a flamboyant display of “tongues” though their private lives remain unchanged. In these groups there is a strong focus on the gift itself and not on the purpose of the gift. I have personally witnessed the pretense of tongues as the practitioner fabricates gibberish, and there is also a genuine supernatural gibberish that has no characteristic of the Holy God. My criticism of them both is not the tongue but the unrepentant individual speaking it. When the Holy Ghost of God comes on an individual the person is changed into a new man, It cannot be otherwise.

There are several biblical manifestations of the Holy Ghost on men as gifts of the spirit, Tongues being only one. And there are specific instructions to the

proper use of tongues in public; They are never to remain un-interpreted

(I Corinthians 14:27-28).

Why?

Because the tongue is not the point but only a validation of the message spoken. If there is no interpreter, the message is lost and the Spirit un-validated (I Corinthians 14:7-11).

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church…for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying”…

I Corinthians 14:3-5+(6-26).

Now regarding a prayer language, of course God understands the tongue which he gives and so the tongue is a gift to the one praying, as an intimacy with his God. This is a private thing that is not performed for public display. But again, if the praying individual is not supernaturally drawn more intimately into holiness you can be sure the tongue was not of the Holy Ghost  (Galatians 5:16, 22, 6:8,  I John 1:6 etc.) but is actually of another spirit  (Ephesians 2:2 + II Corinthians 11:4+ I John 4:1-3).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” I John 1:1.

 * * *

Conclusion?

Do not deny tongues. Paul himself wished that everyone had the gift

(I Corinthians 14:5a) but be wise and put it to the test to see if it conforms to the scriptural use and edification, or to confusion, silliness, foolishness and shame which belongs in the category of rolling on the floor and barking like a dog or convulsing as with seizure. These manifestations are the nature of Satan and not God.  

* * * * * * *

The Door To Slavery

Post 226

It would take a whole book to describe the subversive socialism of the system behind the fence where I work. I will need to periodically provide examples to attempt an explanation of what I mean but I fear the actual point will not successfully be understood until it is personally experienced.

I have no desire to point at this organization and cry “Enemy” because that is to miss the point of all I am trying to show. Please remember my focus is to show what will soon become of America and the rest of the world in general, but far more important than that, it is important to expose the confusion that supports it’s success; the brainwashing of complex propaganda.

* * *

Hanoi Hannah:

“Trịnh Thị Ngọ (born in 1931), also known as Hanoi Hannah, is a Vietnamese radio personality best known for her work during the Vietnam War, when she made English-language propaganda broadcasts for North Vietnam directed at US troops.”
- Hanoi Hannah

I grew up in an era where we children were familiar with the recent propaganda efforts of the enemy with which our previous generation had been at war. To us children it was hard to imagine anyone falling for such obvious propaganda efforts, “What fool would fall for such stuff?” but apparently the North Vietnamese thought it worth the effort and I suppose it had at least some degree of success.

What was her intent? To break down the resolve of their enemy; the US troops, by using good American music and useful true news in an otherwise foreign environment to draw in the listener while with a pleasant English speaking voice to constantly challenge the American reasoning. It was a perpetual one-sided argument that the good music and desired news of outside events would not allow you to just turn off.

* * *

American Propaganda:

Today, not many years later, our own media is doing the same thing to our citizens, no longer sharpened to resistance by war. Our pleasant slothful lifestyle is strongly attracted to mindless entertainment and easy news, and so most Americans sit for hours a day in front that box drawn in by that which they crave but fed the propaganda that comes with it.

And while most Christians today also find the time and justification to “relax” in front of that box each day, they somehow can’t seem to find the time to open their Bibles but for 20 minutes a week at church, and that is in the churches that even open it at all.

Now, Today, in the recent darkening of the familiar darkness, many are wakening up to realize much of the media is full of deception and misdirection and propaganda, and so turn to more conservative Fox News, and the safe History Channel, and Science shows, and go back to sleep as the propaganda continues to flow still unreduced in volume, but in a more silent stream than the other more obvious channels. And still the Bibles are not being opened because we just can’t find the time.

* * *

“Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة‎ al-ǧazīrah, literally "The Island", abbreviating “The [Arabian] Peninsula”) (also Aljazeera or JSC [Jazeera Satellite Channel]) is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar. Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel, Al Jazeera has since expanded into a network with several outlets, including the Internet and specialty TV channels in multiple languages. Al Jazeera is accessible in several world regions.

The original Al Jazeera channel's willingness to broadcast dissenting views, for example on call-in shows, created controversies in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The station gained worldwide attention following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when it was the only channel to cover the war in Afghanistan live from its office there. It has also recently been acclaimed for its in-depth coverage of the Arab Spring protests and revolutions.” - wikipedia on Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera is a new form of propaganda, more complex than any before it. With the now obvious utter lies and misdirection of American media, Al Jazeera offers the much desired and needed real news alternative that our own country will not produce even on FOX. But as all propaganda; with it comes a great complex problem.

Al Jazeera is showing America our own wickedness and iniquity in a light that makes us turn against ourselves. It is the spirit that creates the Occupy Wallstreet mentality that succeeds in nothing but the overthrow of America, just as Egypt was so recently overthrown to be replaced by a much greater evil.

Please watch this Al Jazeera documentary as it is enlightening and has more than one point necessary to understand: China internment Factories

* * *

China is a communist country, which stands against everything America used to value, individual freedom being high on the list. Of course slave labor is still abhorrent to us in principle and we can fully agree with the Al Jazeera’s exposure of it. It is criminal that America media is not exposing this from our own land, but even more criminal that our people so casually accept our guilt as we ignore the truth that might affect our purchase price of goods!

But what are the values of those countries from where we get this truth? What moral value is the foundation of Qatar?

Qatar “Legal System: mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic law (in family and personal matters)” factbook Qatar

But I digress into another topic which space and train of thought will not allow me, so for now lets just stop at the knowledge that we are getting this truth from a worldview that is contrary to that of Christianity.

In otherwords, we must recognize the foundational purpose of those presenting the truth before we can grasp the actual context of what they are actually presenting with the truth. Does Islam really abhor slavery? Hardly. So why does an Islamic legal system allow the exposure of slave labor in China? What is the message of this example documentary? That slave factories are created to supply America’s craving for cheap goods at any other price.

This is indeed a horrible truth that honesty cannot let us deny. What is not easily perceived is that the honest and truthful exposure of our iniquity tends to automatically validate the one who makes the exposure.

Does anyone remember Hanoi Hannah?

Her mission was to use the truth against us for the purpose of breaking the resolve of our troops.

Al Jazeera is doing the same thing but with the artful skills of a surgeon rather than the comparative hacking of Hanoi Hannah.

* * *

Our own sins stand to judge us:

It is not a new tactic of God to bring the judgment of captivity upon his own people for their iniquity at the hands of the Godless (Jeremiah 20:4-5, II Kings 24:15 etc.). If we will not conduct ourselves as we should (Luke 16:10-15, II Corinthians 13:5-7) God will send those who will help us repent through suffering (Leviticus 26:27-42).

Today the skills used to this end are incredible, and our smart children can see our national hypocrisy so easily exposed by those who hate us, and so our children believing they are rising to a just cause are being played by the skilful fingers of a master with a bigger plan of global dominance.

While Al Jazeera subconsciously justifies Islam to us by the exposure of our iniquity, my blog justifies our own God by exposing our own iniquity.

America has fallen because God said we would fall if we departed from him (Leviticus 26, Revelation 2:4). As a whole, Christians across America have departed from God by falling in love with what the world has to offer (I John 2:15-17) The exposure of our sin is not to beat us with it, but to move us to repentance and a turn back to the LORD before he destroys us utterly.

While we play our life like a video game with no real consequence, God takes it very seriously and is now preparing the vehicles of our punishment.

* * *

The Small Steps:

The man eventually elected to be president of the United States did not stand up out of a righteous nation to suddenly declare; “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation…”

Rather it took us a long process of small steps over many years to get to this point. And because of the many small steps of familiarity, the landmark statement came and went without a shred of resistance because we were already comfortable with the idea, just as we are already comfortable with the idea of slave labor to produce goods inexpensively to compete in a global market.

We mentally justify our demand for cheap goods by willing to believing that “prisoners” must deserve to be there, and putting them to good use is not a crime, it is just economically smart.

In fact our grandfathers of our own nation used our “convicts” in chain-gangs to do community projects, so how can we now criticize China for doing the same?

The growing confusion becomes so complex the correct answer nearly slips away entirely.

There is a question that must be asked first; “Is the convicting government righteous?”

The second question that must be asked is; “How can an unrighteous government judge the righteousness of another government?”

The fact that Al Jazeera of Islamic Qatar is the one exposing the unrighteousness of both China and America her sponsor in crime, is proof that America is now far too unrighteous to condemn China, but it is not necessarily proof that Qatar is righteous, any more than Hanoi Hanna proved that North Vietnam was righteous… UNLESS we are grading righteousness on the curve.

But Christianity does not grade on the curve, and therefore true Christianity confesses and abhors participation in captivity… unless justified.

Oh brother!

As an upright legal system designed to punish evil for the well being of society, the system of American government of yester-year imprisoned those convicted of doing evil. Those imprisoned were used something like slaves to produce community services in repayment of their internment provided by the community. This form of “slavery” is only slightly different that Indentured service that our righteous Christian forefathers used, and far from other evil forms of unjust slavery.

Confused yet?

How could God sell his own people into slavery as he does, if slavery itself was actually wicked?

From God’s Biblical perspective, slavery is a punishment for evil and so he sent other nations to enslave his own rebellious people to pay for their sins no different that sending convicts to hard labor prisons to work off the “payment” of their crimes.

From its very first colonies America has always accepted the concept of imprisonment for crimes as being just. So why did the colonies arrest the captain of the first slave ship to sail into Massachusetts and imprison the imprisoner as it were?

This is a very interesting question!

The answer lies in the justification of the imprisonment/slavery.

God provided no indication to the righteous colonies of his intent or reason to enslave the poor blacks that were shipped to the Americas, and so the colonists who lived according to the Christian faith rejected the enslavement of them in America as unjust. At the colonies own expense the slaves of that ship were returned to their homeland while the captain was imprisoned for his crime of unjust slavery *1.

These are the same Christians who knew the Old Testament scriptures well and understood that the Jews did have slaves.

Scripture examples of captives taken in the Old Testament:

Genesis 34:27-29 resulting in displeasure of their leader for taking slaves v:30

Numbers 31:9-12 resulting in Moses’ anger for it v:14-16

Leviticus 25:44-46 does indeed seem clear to permit slavery of non-Jews, but by exploring the whole work of the scripture on the matter it seems more of a permission resulting from a condition that existed in the earth anyway, much as divorce is also permitted though clearly not what God desires (Matthew 19:6-8). In otherwords these slaves would be better off under one submitted to God’s laws of kindness rather than sold to another of wicked mind. It is my belief that this is exactly the situation which found George Washington as a slave owner. There were strict scriptural laws regulating the proper care of those in your power, thus eliminating the idea that Israel's slaves (and Washington's) were such as we understand it today. Wallbuilders on slavery is a worthy read if you are interested, but we must move on.

There are far far more scriptures about God’s people taken as captives for their sins than there are of God’s people taking captives, but the indication is that captivity does go both ways.

So the validity or justification of slavery is really not the Christian argument but the righteousness of the nation that does the enslaving or the unrighteousness of the people enslaved. (Christians are specifically instructed that in Christ all men are equal as the children of One Creator, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11, Philemon, but the laws of others might not see it that way and so we are to conduct ourselves accordingly as we find ourselves involved; Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22, Titus 2:9)

Now that America is willing to encourage China, an evil Communist nation, to use slaves/convicts to provide us with inexpensive goods without questioning the justification for their imprisonment or questioning the righteousness of the government that convicted them, America’s own righteousness must be seriously questioned.

America has shown with many unarguable proofs that she is no longer capable of making a righteous judgment of our own conduct let alone China, the Islamic nations, or anyone else, because we have abandon the righteousness of the Creator’s standards of right and wrong, the most obvious example is our willingness to legalize the capitol punishment of our unborn innocent for the sake of convenience to the mother. Therefore using questionable convicts as slaves to make inexpensive goods for us? Not a hard sell!

* * *

A Bigger Step:

This week America completely missed another pretty big step in our own path to enslavement in the passing of Senate bill S 1867 titled; “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012”. With a few clicks you quickly realize this is another huge bill with literally months of reading required to even understand it, and so like Congress you let someone tell you the gist of it and accept or reject it accordingly;

“The most dangerous aspect of S. 1867 is not only that it could subject American citizens to military tribunals and detention, but also that individuals could be imprisoned indefinitely without charge or trial.” - S1867 review

But does the American media, even the self declared conservative FOX NEWS, tell us such a bill has passed the Senate with a 93-7 landslide vote? No. They are too occupied covering the all-important Republican presidential race that has been filling the news minute by minute, day after day, month after month for well over a year. Apparently there is just nothing more pressing going on in the world, Ain’t we lucky the world is in such peace.

* * *

Name That Step:

So what is the difference between a hard job and slavery? How about the smaller steps between them such as poor wages or indentured servitude? As a people now willing to trade freedom for security do we even know slavery when we see it?

“Give me a bed, a meal, and a TV for a few hours and I will work 12 hours a day for you.”

Just what are you trading your life for;

The chance to pay the government 30%?

The funds to pay a biannual rent on the property you spent your life paying off?

A shinny new car you can drive to work to make the money to pay off your shiny new car?

As I write this today I do not fear being arrested for what I write… so long as I don’t cross the ever shrinking ring around my freedom.

And as our society becomes more and more out of control with our school children shooting a class room full of fellow students, or the drug trade filling our streets, or the sex trafficking trade consuming our land, we obviously need more laws; more control; more restrictions because we can no longer manage ourselves.

But instead of voting in righteous leaders to direct us back to our lawful and moral foundations of obedience to God himself where we don’t need external restraints, we chose to vote in greedy, immoral, corrupt rulers who simply drive us further into bondage such as our current Congress, Judicial system, and Executive branches are doing today.

Is this growing bondage outside of God’s will for us?

Hardly.

It is God who is directing our slavery for our crimes against him (Jeremiah 24:9-10).

Each step is supposed to wake us up and cause a reformation, but instead we get angry at “the man” who we see as oppressing us, and feel we are being mistreated.

We demand our rights, and mass into powerful bands of “democracy” to force others to do our will, as we see in the Occupy Wallstreet type movements which are simply better organized riots. We emulate Egypt as they tore down a regime they did not like to receive a regime they do not know.

“Change you can believe in” was Obama’s campaign slogan, but nobody stops to question what that is.

If today I can write this in freedom, not fearing the government beating down my door to haul me away for my words,

Do I want that to change?

Today if I don’t like my job I am free to quit and look for something else I would rather do.

Do I want that to change?

Tell me a single betterment for this nation that Obama has brought with his Godless change?

Open borders with the lawless of Mexico?

Government run private corporations such as the airlines, the auto industry, and the banks?

Fewer jobs?

Lower pay?

Lower quality products made overseas?

A good groping at the airport?

A more unstable dollar?

Bands of hoodlums organizing only destruction?

A more violent globe?

You think China is the only nation that can have internment camps of “convicts” that produce cheap goods on the global market?

Be patient, his plan is actually working…

Its just not the plan you had in mind.

* * * * * * *

*1 W.E. Burghardt DuBois, The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America (New York: Social Science Press, 1954), p. 30; see also Thomas R.R. Cobb, An Inquiry into the Law of Negro Slavery (Philadelphia: T. & J. W. Johnson & Co., 1858), Vol. I, pp. cxlvii-cxlviii; and W. O. Blake, The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade (Columbus: J. & H. Miller, 1858), pp. 370-371.
*

America Has Fallen

Post 225

Please forgive the harder to read altered format, the new blog system is still giving me fits, I can't seem to change the provided font and editing has become much harder.

Also I simply don't have the time to give to posting that I used to and I am unable to organize my material into a regular post.

And further, this is my third attempt to write this post; the complexity of what is taking place is turning out to be very hard to explain on paper. So I attempt to break it down into bite sized pieces.

* * *

In previous posts I revealed that I spent the last several years exclusive with God, “bulking up” my faith and relationship with God while time and circumstances allowed, knowing that times would change and I would not be able to continue in the unrestricted freedom to do so.

And so it passed that I am now removed from that unrestricted freedom to spend my entire day basking in the instruction of God in my home, and now my time is consumed with other obligations representing a form of captivity as I have a job to do away from home in an environment completely foreign to me and the nation in which I was raised (my meaning I hope to detail in future posts).

It is this form of captivity that is the focus of my message at this point as it represents what is now growing in America. The America of the past is no more. It is not something that we are waiting to happen, it has happened already. Now we simply are watching it mature as an infant is simply an adult not yet grown.

In post 149 America In Prophecy 1/11, I showed my interpretation that the fall of America was prophesied in the fall of Belshazzar just as the fall and return of Israel was prophesied in the fall and return of Nebuchadnezzar. Although the king and kingdom in the narrative are different entities, they are inseparably untied and so I suggest in representation the kingdom is the nation as an entity and the king is the ruling spirit/authority of the nation. As Nebuchadnezzar went insane and was cast out of this kingdom, so the people of Israel were stripped of their independence and removed from their homeland for a represented period of 7 just as Nebuchadnezzar was before being restored.

I presented the idea that by investigating the details in the parallel example of Nebuchadnezzar with that of Israel, we can transfer that parallel example pattern and discover the amazing parallel of America and Belshazzar who’s duration was short and ended swiftly, and how the end of his kingdom came only slightly less swiftly. The parallel is startling and the meaning profound. I suggested that America is represented there rather than some other nation, because America has a special and unique place in God’s plan. She is not simply one of a number of equal nations across the globe that has risen and fallen through time, America is the sister representation with Israel as the example of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth still to come.

Therefore, whether America was or was not founded as a Christian nation is not simply a matter of history, it is a matter of purpose. The answer is significant to the interpretation of God’s all encompassing design of history past and future.

I have declared by interpretation then that America need not fear the fall of nuclear bombs as a sudden complete destruction we now understand as possible with North Korea and Iraq possessing nukes along with several other dark nations, nor should we fear even being destroyed by fire falling from heaven or other such “natural” disaster such as destroyed Sodom. America’s fall will come easily and quietly unnoticed as it did for Belshazzar’s Babylon, which I showed by interpretation.

* * *

Sodom and Gomorrah:

Now lets step back for a moment and review the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah to understand a spiritual principle that we can apply to our current situation confirming why America must fall as Babylon did under Belshazzar and not in a flaming fire such as the fall of Sodom.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with all but one (Genesis 19:21-22) in the entire plain (Genesis 19:17) were consumed early one morning (Genesis 19:23) in the wrath of God by fire, most probably as a volcanic eruption (Genesis 19:24-25, 28). The destruction was so sudden that it began at dawn and as Abram rose from his sleep that morning (Genesis 19:27) he saw the smoke of it. (Luke 17:29)

In the narrative of discussion between God and Abraham concerning the pending destruction of Sodom, we learn that God would not destroy that hub city if 50 righteous were found within it.

It is important to note that Abraham pleaded not for the righteous people but for God’s justice;

“…Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?...” Genesis 18:23

“That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25

And God allowed that he would not destroy Sodom if there were 50 righteous (Genesis 18:23-26).

But what is easily missed is the declaration of justice Abraham exposed as a principle here; Would God be any more Just if he treated just one righteous as if he were wicked?

This is what God allowed Abraham to draw out by his “negotiations” with God. God did not alter his plan, he simply allowed Abraham to figure out God’s justice; thinking outloud as it were (Genesis 18:27-33) but what we see is that Abraham still didn’t figure it out completely and ended his plea with 10, and God ended the long drawn out discussion (Genesis 18:32-33).

We, like Abraham, can assume God would destroy Sodom along with nine righteous but not ten, But as we read the narrative we discover that God would not destroy ANY righteous; Lot, the only righteous in the entire plain, had to be dragged out against his will by angels BEFORE they could destroy it!

“Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither….” Genesis 19:22

and further we learn that Lot alone saved a city called Zoar because he wanted to live there rather than flee to the mountains as directed (Genesis 19:21).

So now begs the question, why then did God drag Lot away from Sodom (Genesis 19:16) to destroy it, if Lot could save a city by wanting to live there?

The answer is found in the reason for the destruction; (Genesis 18:20-21 + 19:13).

And now we see the principle that even 10 righteous can save an entire city from the destroying wrath of God even after God sets his heart to destroy it because of its wickedness.

Likewise, a lesser wicked city such as Zoar, though slated for destruction because there were no righteous to redeem its wickedness as it were, was spared by Lot alone because its wickedness was not as great as Sodom and so one was all that was needed to stay God’s wrath of destruction.

Without Lot it would have been destroyed.

So when God destroyed the entire earth with a flood, ONLY Noah was found righteous.

Not much chance of one guy standing up for an entire planet and so God put him in a protective boat and drowned the earth.

That had to have been a bad place!

* * *

Remember Elijah?

He was a prophet in a wicked land where idol worship was everywhere (I Kings 16:29,33)

“…and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him (combined).” I Kings 16:33

That had to be a pretty wicked place after such a long line of wicked kings (see previous chapter 15) Surely God had finally determined to destroy Israel NOW, right?

Weeeelll, It seems that God had already made that determination even further back;

“For the LORD shall smite Israel… and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” I Kings 14:15-16

and yet the kingdom endured until Ahab who did even greater evil than Jeroboam as we saw in the previous verse.

Why did God delay destruction?

We learn why as we read the story of the prophet Elijah.

In I Kings 19:9 we find Elijah hiding in a cave thoroughly exhausted and emotionally unstable, where he finds himself in a discussion with the LORD.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” The lord asks.

And in his reply we learn that he is quite sure that the evil of a long reign of wicked kings, ending with Ahab the worst of the worst, has succeeded in killing off all the righteous and he alone remains as the last target for elimination.

“…for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine alters, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” I Kings 19:10

Things are really not looking good in Israel. So why has God not yet destroyed Israel like he destroyed Sodom?

But instead of sudden destruction, God shows Elijah another plan.

Not a fast and dramatic cataclysmic destruction, but a slow and painful process.

“…Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazarel to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.” I Kings 19:16.

Instead of the smoke and fire from heaven to destroy the wicked people, God layes out a plan that will continue even after Elijah.

“And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.” I Kings 19:17.

And Elijah should have known immediate destruction was not God’s plan, by his own prophetic prayer back at the dueling offering challenge; “Hear me, O LORD, her me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back again.” I Kings 18:37

As bad as things were in the day of Jeroboam, they were now worse in the day of Ahab; worse than ever before. Worse than all the bad before combined. Things were really, really bad.

And Elijah, God’s prophet, was sure he was the last of the faithful of God. Maybe he even saw himself as a second Noah, we don’t know. But if he was the last, then sudden and complete destruction was sure to fall as in Sodom.

But God had a surprising answer;

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” I Kings 19:18

It seems Israel was still awhile from inhalation because of the righteous that dwelt in Israel though quietly and unaffecting the political landscape due to ruling wickedness. The prophet of God did not even know they existed, yet their power with God kept Israel from the full wrath of God.

But by no means was Israel spared trouble as we read further in chapter 20. The king of Syria, anointed by Elijah came to do his divine work, and the Israelites were helpless to react in any way other than to bring his wrath, which was God’s plan. Please read I Kings 20:1-12 because it is important to understand the impossible straights Israel found themselves in.

Ok, I have to stop somewhere and get to the finish of my point, which is not the duration of the fall; we already know by the representation of the two kings of Babylon why one was drawn out while the other was swift, My point is why America's swift fall will transpire NOT in the wrath of God but easily by our own hand through subversion.

* * *

As much as America has already politically rejected God as our high King, and the righteous have no more political voice to affect alteration of national decline into wickedness by the new motto “Separation of Church and State”, Christians can still flourish in their faith while being politically stifled and even soon imprisoned to block their voice.

And as much as America has already established her own doom by the innocent blood of abortion we have shed on our own land that must be paid; (Deuteronomy 19:10, I Kings 2:31, II Kings 21:16, Proverbs 6:17, Isaiah 59:7, Jeremiah 7:6, 22:3,)

“And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.” II Kings 24:4

“And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters… and the land was polluted with blood.” Psalm 106:38 (+:39-42)

"Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these" (done lawful) Jeremiah 2:34,

America is already slated for destruction.

But there is the little problem of the righteous.

And so, like Israel, God has ordained “rulers” to torment, and tear down, to take, and to oppress, to kill little by little and consume our land from under us while we remain immune to sudden destruction.

What does that look like in the prophetic example of Belshazzar’s Babylon?

The enemy sneaks under our protective walls completely unnoticed and we are taken by subversion until our own people become America’s enemies by a change of heart and mind, and then we ourselves fling open our gates to the new king of a different empire, we are conquered without a battle by our own acts.

I hope to show in the next few posts what the subversion looks like; the short period of time before we open our gates of law. Belshazzar is dead, but Persia has not yet come in officially as the new empire ruler.

The time between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of hell on earth is now.

* * * * * * *

Between the Lines

Post 224

If you have not forgotten, we spent quite a few posts going through scripture identifying the Global Dominate Empires (GDEs) that affected Israel’s sovereignty. Then we recently touched on the final GDE on the earth as we know it; the kingdom of heaven as the ninth and last Global Dominate Empire.

So let's take a moment and review:

Revelation 17:10 show the first five GDE kings that fell before John wrote the Revelation, and also includes the next two kings, now fallen as well. We now know these to be: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. Then Rome, and the Islamic Caliphate under the first 11 Caliphs: = SEVEN GDE KINGS (though each Empire had several successive lesser kings).

Revelation 17:11 describes the eighth; we now understand to be the twelfth Imam of the Caliphate now rising in the precursor return of Islam itself. This Caliph will have 10 lesser kingdoms under his eigth GDE (Revelation 17:12) yet according to Daniel 7:25 his kingdom will last only 3-1/2 years. But don’t be confused; Islam will last far longer than the short domination of the Caliphate at its end and much will happen in that Islamic period.

Revelation 17:14 and Daniel 7:21 describes this eighth king, in the power of his GDE, will make war first against the saints and then Jesus Christ himself, but Jesus will overcome the eighth (Daniel 7:26), and the ninth GDE will be given to “the people of the saints of the most High” meaning a republic of the faithful under God (Daniel 7:27).

This is the overall general layout of all world history in simple form, written in the “midpoint” of the timeline so that all readers of all remaining ages from its writing can know that it is true by its revelation and interpretation of yet earlier prophecies (Daniel 2:28+, Zechariah 1:6,+, and 4:6+ to 6:15 etc, etc.).

* * *

A Pause:

But now at verse 14, before Revelation 17 simply goes right to the nineth GDE (which is an entirely “new word” to describe at length), we get a long deep look at the Great Whore city and her destruction, which is after all what the angel told John he would show him in this narrative (Revelation 17:1-2) and is the preparatory reason for the world history review we find here in this section of Revelation; "all these things come to pass setting up the stage for the destruction of the Great Whore I wish to show you" (paraphrased).

Modern Christians are focused on the appearance of the Antichrist (we now know to be the twelfth Imam) and the great tribulation he will bring on the earth against more than just God’s people, rather than learning about this Mystery Babylon of which the scripture has far more to say.

Just off the cuff, I believe the reason for this biblical focus is because although the Antichrist rules with an iron fist to very great damage, it is only a period of 3-1/2 years. Yes general Islam will dominate for a longer period but the whole Islamic period is clearly identified as basic dark evil by any rational mind, It is simply something that must be spiritually resisted and physically endured even unto death (Matthew 10:28-33+) without any complexity.

But Mystery Babylon, Now THAT is a topic that needs discussion!

There is a far greater portion of scripture dedicated to this city, and the complexity of her existence and power needs pre-explaining to the saints. This suggests that many people, and even believers, will be very confused and conflicted in knowing how to relate and interact with this city, so God is kind enough to provide that needful information before hand for those who want to search it out.

But although the scriptures are indeed God’s words, the Spirit is God’s voice; If we mine the scripture for data we will get information, but God wants us to fellowship with him as we read it allowing Him to explain what he wrote so that we can understand it.

I am freshly struck with the great gap between the point I am trying to make with others through the sharing of information, and the understanding that is intended but not received.

Let me explain by a simple unrelated analogy:

* * *

A bigger pause:

If I want to share an experience in telling of my exciting day with a friend, I begin by giving a narration of events;

I start off by saying something like; “Yesterday was a perfect day to ride, so me and about a dozen guys headed up the pass to ride snowmachines. Steven was climbing through this ravine and was making very high marks near the tops of the edges in very light powder snow when…”

But my listener wants to know “information” and so cuts me off to ask; “What kind of sled was he riding? Who is Steven? Where was this exactly? Who were all the riders that went? What day was that?” etc. etc.

Of course the more detail the listener gets, he assumes the better he can picture the story as I tell it, but by craving excessive or detailed information beyond what I provide in my telling, it shows his attention is stuck on his own interests and not in the point of my story which is my interest. If the listener is modifying his own sled in his garage, his heart is knit with what Steven was riding as if that is the point of the story when that has nothing really to do with my point even though it is factual information that can be shared I guess.

This is the problem with perception.

We hear only that which has meaning or connection to where our heart or mind is at the time:

The mechanic hears about a sled that performs well (so evaluates my story by comparison of performance to other sleds he knows),

The socialite hears about 12 individuals that went on a ride (and will be offended if it turns out there were only 11 that went),

The ride enthusiast hears about some great powder and technical moves (and then compares it to his own experience to personally evaluate the merits of Steven’s ride)

And the meteorologist hears about a great day to ride (but focuses on perhaps “a better day” he remembers),

When my point was really not about any of these specifically but about the end result of an unforgettable adventure I want to share in the hopes the listener will want to go next time, nor does the deep exploration of specifics aid reaching that end but is actually a distraction as the topic shifts wildly from the story to spark plugs, belts, and best jet sizes at altitude, or who should go on rides, or what activities and conditions make a good day.

As I politely stop my story mid sentence and listen to their story about a ride they had in Colorado some years back, I realize going on a ride with me yet this winter is not what they had in mind as I told my story and so they missed my point.

Similarly, as I share what I am learning about God’s point in scripture, my listeners tend to hear nothing but disconnected information. What they hear tends to agree with what they are already focused on and so they nod their head in interested agreement, but what they hear is not what I intended to say.

This was made freshly clear to me just this week on more than one event;

In one example I shared with an individual what scripture says is coming on the earth as I have done with posts here on my blog. And in excited agreement with the discussion, a Christian friend shared with me some History Channel shows on DVD regarding “the coming prophesied disaster of 2012” and the “Seven signs of the Apocalypse” of scripture that he feels shows solidarity with my topic of discussion. Another individual in a separate discussion agreed with my biblical view and so shared some Islamic tradition that he felt supports what I was saying as true.

From their perspective we were on the same page of communication, but to believe my discussion had anything to do with the Mayan calendar, or the prophecies of a witch in Rome, or the customs of Islamic burial rites, means they only saw a similarity in “information” and missed the point I was trying to make about God’s sovereignty and our need to see things from his perspective as we prepare for what he has planned.

The History Channel provided a Pagan religious perspective of coming world events by collecting similar information from many diverse sources. Without realizing it, this approach makes the Creator God nothing more than one of many equals in our evaluating the future of mankind. This prostitutes the word of God as just another whore to be spiritually slept with among the many we frequent, and not as the covenanted love letter by our monogamous spouse the Creator.

This error of well meaning Christians is because information without understanding is what is received. Understanding comes through the Spirit of God as it teaches us what the information means in context of the message. Therefore scattered information is meaningless and even perhaps dangerous because of how it will be wrongly used (II Thessalonians 2:11-12, I John 5:10).

A few posts back I got carried away and declared that God had made me a prophet ( abused by proxy). I did not mean in the sense of divine inspiration in my writing, or infallible conclusions of knowledge as the very title and subtext of my blog makes clear.

I am a simple man learning of God by the Spirit of his word how to be the best servant I can be (Romans 6:16-18) through the knowledge of God (II Peter 1:1-2) according to the gifts of instruction by his divine power he has provided to me (II Peter 1:3-4).

The huge difference between me today and the powerless struggling Christian I was for many years, is the abandonment of the enticing lusts of the word, and the wholesale commitment to God’s will alone. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification 38, that ye should abstain from fornication 4202” I Thessalonians 4:3 *1

My one and huge regret is the wasted years I lived in the torment of duplicity, confused in thinking my “innocent” attachments to the wicked age in which I live was meaningless to God.
Sanctification 38 hagiasmos: from 37; properly purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebrew) a purifier. 
37 hagiazo; from 40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate.

* * *

Between the Lines:

I really desire to expound on the kingdom of heaven, which we are eagerly looking for in the scope of eternity, I also feel the need to expound on the nearness of Islam as it will consume the world in great horrors. I crave to write of the rapture we Christians look for in genuine hope, or to jump right into what the scripture has to say regarding the global importance of the coming city identified as “Mystery Babylon”. All these are quickly arriving on mankind and we need to know how to prepare and to pass on that knowledge to our children (I Thessalonians 5:4-9).

But none of those are actually the next event in history and so we have a greater need to look into our own day-to-day existence NOW as we fit into the big picture of God’s design.

I suggest we are now between the verses of Revelation 17:10 and 17:11 and I feel compelled to focus on my message for America and what it means to the world even before all this other stuff becomes dominate, but frankly, it is hardly future now; it is so close.

God willing, I will take the next several posts to cover what I believe to be the immediate future of America as the end of the most recent image of the kingdom of heaven, and what its loss might mean to the rest of the word. And in my life right now I am given the preview of it, perhaps in the image of Daniel as he went first into captivity of Babylon (Daniel 1:1, II Kings 20:18, 24:1) before the rest of the nation followed (II Kings 24:14), and I hope to share with you the continuation of my prophetic life example.

* * * * * * *

*1a - Fornication 4202 porneia; from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry.

How easily we focus on a meaning that protects us from guilt; “I am a good Christian, I don’t sleep around” and so we blow by this passage as unrelated to me; “I’m good, thanks.”

But although this passage and meaning clearly identifies this physical corruption of what God designed, the deeper context of the scripture is spiritual. Why simply assume this passage is now singularly speaking only of the flesh?

The meaning of the Greek word used is general to cover all aspects, and figuratively means idolatry. This concept is prolific through the scripture as turning from God to other interests is an idolatry God describes as spiritual adultery and God used his prophet Hosea to give us His very pointed perspective of our conduct, both spiritual and physical.

Idolatry is to replace God’s healing with some other form, in any degree; “God designed THIS but I need THAT, God won’t mind, he understands.”

REALLY? and you get that in which passage?

Idolatry 1495 eidololatreia; (Greek) from 1497 and 2999; image-worship (literally or figuratively).

Idolatry 8655 teraphiym (Hebrew) plural, perhaps from 7495; a healer; Teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol.

7495 rapha; a primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure.

Clearly the Greek fornication means to interact in a way with something that is forbidden to interact in that way. To turn toward something as a god other than God, to prostitute oneself to something outside of the exclusive divine intent, to make an idol through idolatry.

But the Hebrew word idolatry has a very curious meaning that at first seems to make no sense; a healer? How is this related to an idol? How is an idol seen to mend or cure what needs fixing? Why is finding a fix for something wrong?

Does the Hebrew word and meaning for Idolatry ring any bells? Teraphiym; a healer.

Today our science and science fiction use the word Terre-form or Terraform to describe healing a dead planet.

How is this idolatry?

Please bear with me though this:

“Terraforming (literally, "Earth-shaping") of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.

The term is sometimes used more generally as a synonym for planetary engineering, although some consider this more general usage an error. The concept of terraforming developed from both science fiction and actual science. The term was coined by Jack Williamson in a science-fiction story ("Collision Orbit") published during 1942 in Astounding Science Fiction, but the concept may pre-date this work.” - Terraforming

“The terraforming of Mars is the hypothetical process by which the climate, surface, and known properties of Mars would be deliberately changed with the goal of making it habitable by humans and other terrestrial life, thus providing the possibility of safe and sustainable colonization of large areas of the planet. The concept is reliant on the assumption that the environment of a planet can be altered through artificial means; the feasibility of creating an unconstrained planetary biosphere is undetermined. There are several proposed methods, some of which present prohibitive economic and natural resource costs, and others which may be currently technologically achievable.” - terraforming mars

“Why would we ever want to go to Mars? As pictures beamed back from planetary probes and rovers since 1964 have shown, Mars is a desolate, lifeless planet with seemingly little to offer humans. It has a very thin atmosphere and no signs of existing life -- but Mars does hold some promise for the continuation of the human race. There are more than six billion people on Earth, and that number continues to grow unabated. This overcrowding, or the possibility of planetary disaster, will force us to eventually consider new homes in our solar system, and Mars may have more to offer us than the photos of its barren landscape now show.” - why terraform mars

I do not wish to belabor this point to distraction, as I really don’t believe God has a problem with mankind desiring to inhabit other bodies in the heavens through curiosity and exploration of his Creation. But I do believe the reason why and the approach intended by declarations such as is above through the meaning of the word terraforming, is a great offense to God.

To live on mars may not be iniquity though mankind was only specifically given the Earth (Genesis 1:28-30, 9:1-2 [notice the number of times Earth is specified]), but to go so far as to remold it to our heart’s desire is iniquity *2;

Mars is God’s planet created as he intended, to cultivate it in its natural form may be allowable by the example of command regarding earth; “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over…” Genesis 1:28 (and 2:15), but to implement the means to “heal a damaged planet” by utterly altering its nature is to suppose God failed in its design which needs mankind’s efforts to correct the flaw. In otherwords terraforming a planet to be something it was never intended to be is the idolatry of mankind by elevating his will above God's over the very nature of an entire planet. Of course this is controversial and I am not dogmatic in my view other than the intent behind the word terraforming as it directly relates to the Hebrew word and meaning.
Now although Mars has little to do with my topic, the intent of mankind has everything to do with it.

*2 - from the Fabian Socialist Window. I intend to speak much to this philosophy in posts to come as it is directly relevant to my intended topic.

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