Body or Soul for Resurrection?
Jesus was betrayed by Judas, who then committed suicide. Which means Jesus had 11 disciples left. Besides them, there was no mention at all about any others. But upon Jesus' death, it is recorded:
Matthew 27
50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
So who are these saints and where did they come from? We did not read of any of the disciples of Jesus who had been made saints (even this word seem out of place as Jesus never used such a word) and had died and been buried.
Then, was heaven meant for the physical body or the soul? If the tombs needed to be opened, then the Bible must be talking about the same physical body. Then how about Christians who opt for cremation?
Here it is also stated that the saints came out of the tombs AFTER his resurrection. But Jesus just died!!He had not been resurrected! So were these texts added by some and placed at the wrong place?
Another strange paragraph
I wonder when Matthew (or the author) wrote this gospel. In verse 15, he states that the story perpetuated about Jesus' body being stolen was widely spread and 'is to this day'. This definitely implies that the author wrote the gospel quite some time after it happened.
Matthew 28
11Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'
14"And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble."
15And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
It is also very strange that if the Resurrection of Jesus was such a fantastic event, more details should have been reported by the author to convince his readers of it. But it took only one chapter with very brief description of what Jesus did.
When the elders heard of it, they did not even go to the tomb to check out the miracle for themselves. This is unbelievable! Did they believe it immediately on hearing it? Why didnt they ask how the huge stone was removed? Even the disciples did not go the tomb to verify for themselves. And with such a well-known event, nobody went to check the tomb at all?
Severe Earthquake?
The stone was rolled by some soldiers to cover the tomb of Jesus. But when an angel came and roll it, a severe earthquake occurred! What logic is this? Furthermore, no injuries were reported as a result of the severe earthquake. Even the guards were not harmed.
28:2And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
If Jesus had risen from the dead, why didn't he stay at the tomb and show himself to the women and to all his disciples? Instead the angel told them that Jesus had gone ahead of them to Galilee and asked them to meet Jesus there. If Jesus needed to go ahead, then he was still being governed by physical laws. If not, he could have appeared to all of them at the same time, which would be more convincing. And why didn't Jesus appear to all those who cried for his crucifixion so that they would believe him and repent? Why must the disciples go to Galilee to meet him and meet him alone?
28:7"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
Abrupt Ending
The disciples were not astonished when they met the resurrected Jesus. It implies that there was no difference in Jesus in any way. Even Jesus had only a few sentences to say. This is humanly unusual. Why didnt they check his body for cruxifixion marks? And what happened after that, nobody knows. Why did the author end his records abruptly? I thought this should be the climax of the whole gospel.
Some of the disciples were doubtful even after they saw the resurrected Jesus. That is very very surprising. How can they see a dead person come to life, yet doubt it? Did they see things which were not recorded?
16But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Monday, December 31, 2007
More Questions...
Will of God
Jesus said only those who do the will of his Father can enter the kingdom of heaven. But how many people know what is the will?
Matthew 7
21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matthew's Gospel?
If the gospel was written by Matthew, why did he describe his own calling in the third person? And if he is only called now in the collector's booth, surely he did not witness what happened earlier. So how could he have written the previous texts?
Matthew 9
9(As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
Jesus came for Israel only
Jesus specifically told his 12 disciples to preach only to Israel. So was his kingdom of heaven meant for the Jews only?
5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Soul first mentioned
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus mentioned soul for the first time. He also said that the body and soul can be destroyed in hell. If they can be destroyed, why should the people worry about going to hell?
Matthew 10
28"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Jesus then said he came to bring chaos instead of peace! It surely reads like this was not in the original texts. Then, he talks about carrying the cross. He was not yet crucified, so how did the subject of carrying the cross come in at this point?
34"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35"For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
36and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
37"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
The Bible-god biased?
Matthew 11
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
26"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Jesus was supposed to save the world, yet he said only his disciples were granted to know the mysteries of heaven.
Matthew 12
10And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
11Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
A Cloud Again
The Bible-god again appears in the form of a cloud and a voice. Why must it always be a cloud? Again a spaceship is involved? And it was up in a mountain, just like during the days in the Old Testament. I also wonder what language the Bible-god used, and if it was the same one as in the OT?
Matthew 17
1Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
2And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
The Church?
This is the first time Jesus used the word 'church'. I wonder if someone added these verses? Jesus was against the Pharisees and traditional powers, and suddenly he instructs his disciples to get the church to mediate. Who was the church at that time?
15"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
In Matthew 21, the place of worship was referred to as a temple, definitely not a church.
12And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
Whole World?
Matthew 24:9 says,
14"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Will the gospel ever be preached to the whole world? Even with our technology today, it does not seem possible. And what did Jesus mean by 'the end'?
Disasters Did Not Happen?
In the following verses, he seemed to talk about physical disasters which should happen soon, during the time of the disciples and not something in the future. He gave very specific instructions for survival and even mentioned winter, which should be referring to the place he was in then. It cannot be for the whole world, as some countries like Singapore and Malaysia do not have winter.
15"Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
17"Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
18"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
19"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20"But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
I asked this question about John seeing stars fall from the sky in the Book of Revelations. Jesus said the same thing. Today, we know that it is not possible at all! We also know today that the moon does not give out light.
29"But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Jesus said only those who do the will of his Father can enter the kingdom of heaven. But how many people know what is the will?
Matthew 7
21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matthew's Gospel?
If the gospel was written by Matthew, why did he describe his own calling in the third person? And if he is only called now in the collector's booth, surely he did not witness what happened earlier. So how could he have written the previous texts?
Matthew 9
9(As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
Jesus came for Israel only
Jesus specifically told his 12 disciples to preach only to Israel. So was his kingdom of heaven meant for the Jews only?
5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Soul first mentioned
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus mentioned soul for the first time. He also said that the body and soul can be destroyed in hell. If they can be destroyed, why should the people worry about going to hell?
Matthew 10
28"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Jesus then said he came to bring chaos instead of peace! It surely reads like this was not in the original texts. Then, he talks about carrying the cross. He was not yet crucified, so how did the subject of carrying the cross come in at this point?
34"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35"For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
36and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
37"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
The Bible-god biased?
Matthew 11
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
26"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Jesus was supposed to save the world, yet he said only his disciples were granted to know the mysteries of heaven.
Matthew 12
10And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
11Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
A Cloud Again
The Bible-god again appears in the form of a cloud and a voice. Why must it always be a cloud? Again a spaceship is involved? And it was up in a mountain, just like during the days in the Old Testament. I also wonder what language the Bible-god used, and if it was the same one as in the OT?
Matthew 17
1Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
2And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
The Church?
This is the first time Jesus used the word 'church'. I wonder if someone added these verses? Jesus was against the Pharisees and traditional powers, and suddenly he instructs his disciples to get the church to mediate. Who was the church at that time?
15"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
In Matthew 21, the place of worship was referred to as a temple, definitely not a church.
12And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
Whole World?
Matthew 24:9 says,
14"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Will the gospel ever be preached to the whole world? Even with our technology today, it does not seem possible. And what did Jesus mean by 'the end'?
Disasters Did Not Happen?
In the following verses, he seemed to talk about physical disasters which should happen soon, during the time of the disciples and not something in the future. He gave very specific instructions for survival and even mentioned winter, which should be referring to the place he was in then. It cannot be for the whole world, as some countries like Singapore and Malaysia do not have winter.
15"Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
17"Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
18"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
19"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20"But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Then I wonder how the days will be cut short. Was he talking about the whole duration of the disasters or the length of a day?
22"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but forthe sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
23"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
24"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25"Behold, I have told you in advance.
26"So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them.
Jesus then used lightning to signify his return. A familiar description of the Bible-god.
27"For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28"Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
I asked this question about John seeing stars fall from the sky in the Book of Revelations. Jesus said the same thing. Today, we know that it is not possible at all! We also know today that the moon does not give out light.
29"But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Virgin Birth - Genetics?
When the virgin birth was first mentioned in the New Testament gospels, it read like a miracle. But today with genetics engineering having been discovered, the virgin birth can be explained easily, thus making it suspect that the virgin birth of Jesus was done using technology, by a race of of beings who were advanced enough at that time to do it. If that is true , then Jesus could be a mix of alien and human in origin.
In my earlier post, I also conjectured that Samson could be a product of a genetic experiment by the aliens.
The magi and the star
It stated in the gospel that a star led 3 magi from the east to the place of Jesus' birth. We know today that looking at a star in the sky, there is no way anyone can follow it, as it would be too far away to be used to pinpoint a spot on earth. If a star is too near, it would lead to disasters unimaginable. Then, why was it that only the 3 magi saw it when it should be very obvious in the sky? Any moving object in the sky during that era would surely attract all kind of attention. Then after that incident,nothing was said of the star and of what happened it. When the magi finally found Jesus, there as also no reaction from Joseph and Mary at the star; that is quite surprising, isnt it?
Thus, the object the magi saw must be small and low enough to help pinpoint a hut on earth, must be in the atmosphere of the earth, hardly noticeable by most people (in this case only 3), travel at a suitable low speed so that the 3 magi could keep up with it (on camel?), quiet enough not to attract undue attention, and visible day and night. Today, only a small plane with one blinking light would suit these conditions. So was it a flying vehicle which the magi saw? Most likely.
Then, the magi were warned by the Bible-god in a dream. Today, do we accept dreams as true? If not, then why do believers accept it as recorded in the Bible?
Matthew 1
9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
The Escape
Next, the Bible-god had to ask Joseph to get out of Egpyt to hide from a human ruler. Why couldn't he perform some miracles instead? Then stranger still was, when Herod died, the Bible-god asked Joseph to go back. But when Joseph heard that Herod's son had taken over as ruler, he was afraid. Then the Bible-god had to warn him again in a dream. Why didn't the Bible-god tell Joseph to stay put in the first place?
Matthew 2
19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20"Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."
21So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
A Voice from Heaven
When was the last time in history that we remember any incidents of the heavens opening, and a voice from heaven heard? Never, only in the Bible. Why? Has the Bible-god changed his methods of communication? Anyway would we believe it if such an incident happens today? Also, we assume that for the people to understand the Bible-god, everyone must understand the same language or dialect. Today, how would it happen? Would god need a translator?
Matthew 3
16After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
This point about language also applies to Jesus' preaching. If he had appeared today, there would be chaos as there would be a lot of translation needed for all people to understand him. If the message of repentance and salvation is so important and applies to all man on earth, why was it done so slowly from one part of the world? So while Jesus was preaching, thousands were dying and going to hell all over the world?
Healings Then but not Today
Jesus was said to hell EVERY kind of sickness.How about today? Why don't we see it happening? Could it be that the aliens had some instrument to heal the sickness but today our sicknesses are beyond their ability?
23Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and (proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and (healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
24The news about Him spread (throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.
25Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
Is Anger Wrong?
Jesus condemned anger. Remember how the Bible-god always got angry with Israel as recorded in the Old Testament? Anyway which human can live a lifetime without getting angry? We see a lot of angry Christians today, surely?
Then Jesus mentions hell for the first time. But it read out of place, as the act of saying "You fool" is very common today. But why did Jesus single out this particular act? was this line added by someone to introduce hell?
21"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'
22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
After talking about hell, Jesus switched his attention to warning about imprisonment! That is rather strange right?
25"Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Verse 29 is more interesting. I wonder if Jesus was referring to a hell for the physical body or spiritual body? Some may say he was not talking about literally tearing out your eye, but in verse 25 he was talking about going to prison. We have to interpret all his words in the same way using the same methodology and not pick and choose.
29"If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Impossible Demands
Jesus went on to set rules which cannot be fulfilled by any human being today. By his standards, thousands are committing adultery today. And it also reads like there was a bias towards women. "whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery". How about a divorced man?
It is also here that the word 'Father' is used for the first time in place of God. It surely reads like it is out of place. Would not the people be wondering why suddenly God became their Father? A writer in his normal sense would feel that something is missing.
31"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
32but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'
34"But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
36"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37"But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.
Jesus criticised the Gentiles for using meaningless repetition for their prayers. The he gave a standard prayer for his followers to repeat!! It makes me wonder if this prayer had been added by someone else.
7"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9"Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10'Your kingdom come .Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11'Give us this day our daily bread. 12'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Daily bread is included in this prayer format, but in Matthew 6: 25, Jesus again contradicts himself,
25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
How to Store Treasures in Heaven?
Jesus then exhorted his listeners to store treasures in Heaven, but did not state what these treasures were and how to do it.
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In my earlier post, I also conjectured that Samson could be a product of a genetic experiment by the aliens.
The magi and the star
It stated in the gospel that a star led 3 magi from the east to the place of Jesus' birth. We know today that looking at a star in the sky, there is no way anyone can follow it, as it would be too far away to be used to pinpoint a spot on earth. If a star is too near, it would lead to disasters unimaginable. Then, why was it that only the 3 magi saw it when it should be very obvious in the sky? Any moving object in the sky during that era would surely attract all kind of attention. Then after that incident,nothing was said of the star and of what happened it. When the magi finally found Jesus, there as also no reaction from Joseph and Mary at the star; that is quite surprising, isnt it?
Thus, the object the magi saw must be small and low enough to help pinpoint a hut on earth, must be in the atmosphere of the earth, hardly noticeable by most people (in this case only 3), travel at a suitable low speed so that the 3 magi could keep up with it (on camel?), quiet enough not to attract undue attention, and visible day and night. Today, only a small plane with one blinking light would suit these conditions. So was it a flying vehicle which the magi saw? Most likely.
Then, the magi were warned by the Bible-god in a dream. Today, do we accept dreams as true? If not, then why do believers accept it as recorded in the Bible?
Matthew 1
9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
The Escape
Next, the Bible-god had to ask Joseph to get out of Egpyt to hide from a human ruler. Why couldn't he perform some miracles instead? Then stranger still was, when Herod died, the Bible-god asked Joseph to go back. But when Joseph heard that Herod's son had taken over as ruler, he was afraid. Then the Bible-god had to warn him again in a dream. Why didn't the Bible-god tell Joseph to stay put in the first place?
Matthew 2
19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20"Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."
21So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
A Voice from Heaven
When was the last time in history that we remember any incidents of the heavens opening, and a voice from heaven heard? Never, only in the Bible. Why? Has the Bible-god changed his methods of communication? Anyway would we believe it if such an incident happens today? Also, we assume that for the people to understand the Bible-god, everyone must understand the same language or dialect. Today, how would it happen? Would god need a translator?
Matthew 3
16After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
This point about language also applies to Jesus' preaching. If he had appeared today, there would be chaos as there would be a lot of translation needed for all people to understand him. If the message of repentance and salvation is so important and applies to all man on earth, why was it done so slowly from one part of the world? So while Jesus was preaching, thousands were dying and going to hell all over the world?
Healings Then but not Today
Jesus was said to hell EVERY kind of sickness.How about today? Why don't we see it happening? Could it be that the aliens had some instrument to heal the sickness but today our sicknesses are beyond their ability?
23Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and (proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and (healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
24The news about Him spread (throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.
25Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
Is Anger Wrong?
Jesus condemned anger. Remember how the Bible-god always got angry with Israel as recorded in the Old Testament? Anyway which human can live a lifetime without getting angry? We see a lot of angry Christians today, surely?
Then Jesus mentions hell for the first time. But it read out of place, as the act of saying "You fool" is very common today. But why did Jesus single out this particular act? was this line added by someone to introduce hell?
21"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'
22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
After talking about hell, Jesus switched his attention to warning about imprisonment! That is rather strange right?
25"Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Verse 29 is more interesting. I wonder if Jesus was referring to a hell for the physical body or spiritual body? Some may say he was not talking about literally tearing out your eye, but in verse 25 he was talking about going to prison. We have to interpret all his words in the same way using the same methodology and not pick and choose.
29"If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Impossible Demands
Jesus went on to set rules which cannot be fulfilled by any human being today. By his standards, thousands are committing adultery today. And it also reads like there was a bias towards women. "whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery". How about a divorced man?
It is also here that the word 'Father' is used for the first time in place of God. It surely reads like it is out of place. Would not the people be wondering why suddenly God became their Father? A writer in his normal sense would feel that something is missing.
31"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
32but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'
34"But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
36"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37"But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.
38"(You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'
39"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but (whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'
44"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45so that you may be (sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47"If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Then Jesus expect his followers to be perfect!
48"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus' contradiction?Jesus criticised the Gentiles for using meaningless repetition for their prayers. The he gave a standard prayer for his followers to repeat!! It makes me wonder if this prayer had been added by someone else.
7"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9"Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10'Your kingdom come .Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11'Give us this day our daily bread. 12'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Daily bread is included in this prayer format, but in Matthew 6: 25, Jesus again contradicts himself,
25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
How to Store Treasures in Heaven?
Jesus then exhorted his listeners to store treasures in Heaven, but did not state what these treasures were and how to do it.
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Book of Revelations - Part 3
Can there be war in heaven? Will a god of love allow war on earth and in heaven? I think John was deceived into thinking that the sky is heaven. Here, I interpret it as there was a space war, that's why satan can be thrown down to earth,
Chapter 12
7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war,
8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night
The rest of the book is hardly intelligible. That is why up to today, no one has dared to claim to be able to decipher what it is all about. Many Christians had tried to identify the Beast and 666 but with no success. At the end of it is the warning of the lake of fire which burns forever and ever!!!
What a god!!
Chapter 12
7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war,
8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night
The rest of the book is hardly intelligible. That is why up to today, no one has dared to claim to be able to decipher what it is all about. Many Christians had tried to identify the Beast and 666 but with no success. At the end of it is the warning of the lake of fire which burns forever and ever!!!
What a god!!
Book of Revelations - Part 2
Today, we know that all the stars are much larger in size to the earth. So how could a star fall to the earth? Then the star seemed to become a person, as the angel passed him a key.
Bottomless pit? Where did this pit come from? Did the Bible-god create it, and if so, for what purpose? How did John know it was bottomless? And why was a key needed for a bottomless pit, and where did the smoke come from?
Chapter 9
1Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.
2He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.
Again we see the Bible-god tormenting men.
3Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
5And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.
6And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
The locusts that John talked about is described in detail, and they are more like people from outer space in a flying vehicle. They had faces of men, and wore helmets. The teeth could possibly be a part of the vehicle and not the teeth of the men. The sound of the wings (similar description as those in the Old Testament) should be the sound of the engines. The tail like scorpions could be referring to laser guns? They even had a leader to lead them.
7The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.
10They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.
11They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon
The last part is also interesting. We read here that the angels sent to torture mankind were prepared (or trained) to kill!!
13Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
15And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
16The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
The description of the horsemen surely reads like a military airplane. Fire is always mentioned, and we already concluded that it is the exhaust of a plane or spaceship. Out of the mouth of these vehicles proceed fire and brimstone - a kind gun or missle launcher?
17And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
Read further, and you should see how the Bible-god is at it again, using all kinds of force to gain absolute obedience from mankind, like he did to Israel.
18A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.
19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
21and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts
Bottomless pit? Where did this pit come from? Did the Bible-god create it, and if so, for what purpose? How did John know it was bottomless? And why was a key needed for a bottomless pit, and where did the smoke come from?
Chapter 9
1Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.
2He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.
Again we see the Bible-god tormenting men.
3Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
5And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.
6And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
The locusts that John talked about is described in detail, and they are more like people from outer space in a flying vehicle. They had faces of men, and wore helmets. The teeth could possibly be a part of the vehicle and not the teeth of the men. The sound of the wings (similar description as those in the Old Testament) should be the sound of the engines. The tail like scorpions could be referring to laser guns? They even had a leader to lead them.
7The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.
10They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.
11They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon
The last part is also interesting. We read here that the angels sent to torture mankind were prepared (or trained) to kill!!
13Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
15And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
16The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
The description of the horsemen surely reads like a military airplane. Fire is always mentioned, and we already concluded that it is the exhaust of a plane or spaceship. Out of the mouth of these vehicles proceed fire and brimstone - a kind gun or missle launcher?
17And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
Read further, and you should see how the Bible-god is at it again, using all kinds of force to gain absolute obedience from mankind, like he did to Israel.
18A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.
19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
21and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts
Book of Revelations
The Book of Revelations is the last book in the Bible. It is by far the most puzzling and interesting one as it purports to talk about what is going to happen, albeit in a coded manner. Many Christians had written books to interpret it, but none seem to have done much good to the readers.
So the first question I have is, why did the Bible-god need to encrypt his messages? If so many people are headed for hell to be burned forever, I am sure a human being would sound an alarm and warn as many as possible. But here the Bible-god seems to be playing a game with us, like the reality show Amazing Race.
Secondly, the visions were given to only one person, John, alone on a deserted island Patmos. That means there is no other witness to verify his claims.
Then the first verse says,
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John
Those things John saw was to take place soon, yet up to today, Christian scholars are waiting for them to happen. In another verse, John seemed to imply that all Jesus should be back before those who pierced him die,
7BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
But I am very puzzled when John said every eye will see Jesus. How can that be? Did John know that the earth is round? How can Jesus then appear to all on earth? And why must Jesus come with the clouds? I had in my earlier posts conjectured about the possibility of a spaceship being used, as 3 elements often accompanied the presence of the Bible-god - clouds, fire, thunder. So was John seeing Jesus coming in a spaceship?
Talking about such visions, our scientists are have discovered that images can be projected onto empty space, without the need for a physical screen. Was John watching such a show? (Read about this technology here, or search for 'projection on air' at Googles).
The first 3 chapters then talks about the messages for the 7 churches which were present then. Hence we can assume that they are not relevant today.
Then in chapter 4,
1After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
I wonder why heaven would need a door. For security? Then, how did John know that it was heaven? Was it his own assumption? John was obviously looking up, fo rthe voice told him to 'come up here'. We know that 'up' there is empty space, so I think what John was something in the sky. A spaceship again?
Then John saw a man-like being whom he assume is God. I also wonder why the throne of god must always be accompanied by a rainbow??? There were also 24 others who must have looked like human beings.
Chapter 4
3And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
Again we read the same signs I had been talking about - lightning (or fire) and thunder.
Chapter 4
5Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Now John seemed to be hinting that there are people living inside the earth?
1I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"
3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Then John recorded that he heard (but did not see) the voice of thousands and thousands of angels. It could be a recording of voices and there were no angels at all? It can be done with our technology today.
11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels (AF)around the throne and the (AG)living creatures and the (AH)elders; and the number of them was (AI)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
Christians today preach love and peace. But in this passage, we read about saints asking Jesus to take revenge for them, and the Bible-god ask them to wait. Are we seeing the same revengeful Bible-god from the Old Testament?
Chapter 6
9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O (Lord, (holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
In the next chapter, John wrote that he saw 4 angels at the 4 corners of the earth. Was it meant to be literal? Was John of the idea that the earth was a flat square? And why 4 winds?
Chapter 7
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.
Is there measurement of time in heaven? It cannot be, as time is measured using the movement of the earth. Yet John said there was silence in heaven for half an hour???
Chapter 8
1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The rest of Chapter records how the Bible-god is going to sent all kinds of natural disasters to earth. How can a genuine god be so revengeful and destructive? Can this be a god of love? I also wonder how John could know that it was one-third of this and one-third of that. And why one-third?
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3(D)Another angel came and stood at the (altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
9and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a (AA)third of the rivers and on the (springs of waters.
11The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a (third of the waters became (wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12The fourth angel sounded, and a (third of the (sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a (third of it, and the night in the same way.
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in (midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "(Woe, woe, woe to (those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the (three angels who are about to sound!"
So the first question I have is, why did the Bible-god need to encrypt his messages? If so many people are headed for hell to be burned forever, I am sure a human being would sound an alarm and warn as many as possible. But here the Bible-god seems to be playing a game with us, like the reality show Amazing Race.
Secondly, the visions were given to only one person, John, alone on a deserted island Patmos. That means there is no other witness to verify his claims.
Then the first verse says,
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John
Those things John saw was to take place soon, yet up to today, Christian scholars are waiting for them to happen. In another verse, John seemed to imply that all Jesus should be back before those who pierced him die,
7BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
But I am very puzzled when John said every eye will see Jesus. How can that be? Did John know that the earth is round? How can Jesus then appear to all on earth? And why must Jesus come with the clouds? I had in my earlier posts conjectured about the possibility of a spaceship being used, as 3 elements often accompanied the presence of the Bible-god - clouds, fire, thunder. So was John seeing Jesus coming in a spaceship?
Talking about such visions, our scientists are have discovered that images can be projected onto empty space, without the need for a physical screen. Was John watching such a show? (Read about this technology here, or search for 'projection on air' at Googles).
The first 3 chapters then talks about the messages for the 7 churches which were present then. Hence we can assume that they are not relevant today.
Then in chapter 4,
1After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
I wonder why heaven would need a door. For security? Then, how did John know that it was heaven? Was it his own assumption? John was obviously looking up, fo rthe voice told him to 'come up here'. We know that 'up' there is empty space, so I think what John was something in the sky. A spaceship again?
Then John saw a man-like being whom he assume is God. I also wonder why the throne of god must always be accompanied by a rainbow??? There were also 24 others who must have looked like human beings.
Chapter 4
3And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
Again we read the same signs I had been talking about - lightning (or fire) and thunder.
Chapter 4
5Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Now John seemed to be hinting that there are people living inside the earth?
1I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"
3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Then John recorded that he heard (but did not see) the voice of thousands and thousands of angels. It could be a recording of voices and there were no angels at all? It can be done with our technology today.
11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels (AF)around the throne and the (AG)living creatures and the (AH)elders; and the number of them was (AI)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
Christians today preach love and peace. But in this passage, we read about saints asking Jesus to take revenge for them, and the Bible-god ask them to wait. Are we seeing the same revengeful Bible-god from the Old Testament?
Chapter 6
9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O (Lord, (holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
In the next chapter, John wrote that he saw 4 angels at the 4 corners of the earth. Was it meant to be literal? Was John of the idea that the earth was a flat square? And why 4 winds?
Chapter 7
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.
Is there measurement of time in heaven? It cannot be, as time is measured using the movement of the earth. Yet John said there was silence in heaven for half an hour???
Chapter 8
1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The rest of Chapter records how the Bible-god is going to sent all kinds of natural disasters to earth. How can a genuine god be so revengeful and destructive? Can this be a god of love? I also wonder how John could know that it was one-third of this and one-third of that. And why one-third?
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3(D)Another angel came and stood at the (altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
9and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a (AA)third of the rivers and on the (springs of waters.
11The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a (third of the waters became (wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12The fourth angel sounded, and a (third of the (sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a (third of it, and the night in the same way.
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in (midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "(Woe, woe, woe to (those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the (three angels who are about to sound!"
More Description of the Bible-god
After many books that contained many of the Bible-god's complains about the unfaithfulness of Israel to him, we reach the book of Ezekiel. It begins with his visions. Let's look at his description of the Bible-god.
Ezekeil 1
4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures
Again we see the Bible-god coming in the form of a storm and cloud. Now we get more info - flashing lightning, surrounded by brilliant light. Then, the centre of the fire looked like glowing metal. I think it is a description of our modern day UFO !!!
Ezekiel then goes on to describe in detail the four living creatures. They do not make any sense at all to me. I think they were a kind of vehicle, maybe like out jet planes. They even had wings which could be folded. Maybe our planes have not reached that stage.
verse 24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Then we read that these four creatures seem to be supporting a great metallic body, maybe the body of the UFO. Ezekiel also saw the Bible-god, who looked like a man! Again, he is seen with fire around him. Maybe he was in a metallic astronaut suit, that's why he appeared metallic, and he was sitting in the cockpit that appeared to be a throne to Ezekiel. So I confirm once more that the Bible-god was a physical being and spoke like a human too.
25 Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.
27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
The rest of the book records the endless threats of the Bible-god against Israel. It reads like this god is much more revengeful than a human being!
Then in chapter 40, again Ezekiel seemed to be describing an astronaut,
2 In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.
Then the bronze man began measuring the city. Now I realise that the Bible-god also seems to be very meticulous about measurements. Then Ezekiel was instructed to tell Israel the whole plan, which reads like an architect's building plan.
10 "Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider the plan, 11 and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement, its exits and entrances—its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.
After this, again the Bible-god talks about all the different kinds of burnt offerings he wanted from Israel.
Ezekeil 1
4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures
Again we see the Bible-god coming in the form of a storm and cloud. Now we get more info - flashing lightning, surrounded by brilliant light. Then, the centre of the fire looked like glowing metal. I think it is a description of our modern day UFO !!!
Ezekiel then goes on to describe in detail the four living creatures. They do not make any sense at all to me. I think they were a kind of vehicle, maybe like out jet planes. They even had wings which could be folded. Maybe our planes have not reached that stage.
verse 24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Then we read that these four creatures seem to be supporting a great metallic body, maybe the body of the UFO. Ezekiel also saw the Bible-god, who looked like a man! Again, he is seen with fire around him. Maybe he was in a metallic astronaut suit, that's why he appeared metallic, and he was sitting in the cockpit that appeared to be a throne to Ezekiel. So I confirm once more that the Bible-god was a physical being and spoke like a human too.
25 Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.
27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
The rest of the book records the endless threats of the Bible-god against Israel. It reads like this god is much more revengeful than a human being!
Then in chapter 40, again Ezekiel seemed to be describing an astronaut,
2 In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.
Then the bronze man began measuring the city. Now I realise that the Bible-god also seems to be very meticulous about measurements. Then Ezekiel was instructed to tell Israel the whole plan, which reads like an architect's building plan.
10 "Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider the plan, 11 and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement, its exits and entrances—its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.
After this, again the Bible-god talks about all the different kinds of burnt offerings he wanted from Israel.
Satan First Mentioned
After being referred to as the Serpent in the book of Genesis, he seemed to be the forgotten character until the Book of Jobs. It was also the first time that the name Satan was used. It seems that Satan was one of the angels who had the right to be with the Bible-god. Again, the Bible-god talked like he was not omniscient.
Job 1
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
Then we read how Satan and the Bible-god seem to go into a kind of betting as to whether Job can remain faithful under different conditions. It surely does not look like a holy god talking to an evil devil!! And Job looks like the unfortunate man to be used as a toy for their game.
Job devastated beyond words, and in chapter 38, the Bible-god seemed to mock him by asking him many questions. Now for the first time, the Bible-god is associated with a storm.
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [a] shouted for joy?
8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death ?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
19 "What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!
22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?
28 Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
31 "Can you bind the beautiful [c] Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?
34 "Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?
36 Who endowed the heart [g] with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind ?
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38 when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?
39 "Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions
40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?
41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?
Then the Bible-god argued with Job for a long time. Isn't is strange that a god would argue with a man? At the end, Job was found to be righteous and got rewarded with twice his original assets. But there was no mention of Satan. That makes the book of Job incomplete, so it is possible that the part on Satan was added to the original texts.
Job 1
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
Then we read how Satan and the Bible-god seem to go into a kind of betting as to whether Job can remain faithful under different conditions. It surely does not look like a holy god talking to an evil devil!! And Job looks like the unfortunate man to be used as a toy for their game.
Job devastated beyond words, and in chapter 38, the Bible-god seemed to mock him by asking him many questions. Now for the first time, the Bible-god is associated with a storm.
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [a] shouted for joy?
8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death ?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
19 "What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!
22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?
28 Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
31 "Can you bind the beautiful [c] Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?
34 "Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?
36 Who endowed the heart [g] with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind ?
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38 when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?
39 "Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions
40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?
41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?
Then the Bible-god argued with Job for a long time. Isn't is strange that a god would argue with a man? At the end, Job was found to be righteous and got rewarded with twice his original assets. But there was no mention of Satan. That makes the book of Job incomplete, so it is possible that the part on Satan was added to the original texts.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Bible-god uses fire again
I had mentioned that most of the time when the Bible-god wanted to impress the people, he used fire to achieve his ends. Such acts can be easily duplicated today with technology.
In Ikings 18, in the story about Elijah, again the Bible-god used fire to prove himself. Elijah was challenging the god Baal.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
Chariots of Fire
Later, Elijah was taken heaven-ward by the Bible-god, and again fire is mentioned.
2 Kings 2
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
We can be quite sure that what Elijah was on was a technological vehicle. Why would an almighty god need a chariot? The chariot must have travelled quite a high speed, as it created what looked like a whirlwind. It would have been more convincing if Elijah had been lifted up in thin air, isnt it?
But why horses? Quite likely the author did not recognise it and so used the closest word he could find to describe it. We know today that there is only empty space up there and no heaven. Thus, Elijah must have been brought by some aliens in a spaceship to another planet. Did Elisha see the aliens? He mentioned the horsemen of Israel.
In Ikings 18, in the story about Elijah, again the Bible-god used fire to prove himself. Elijah was challenging the god Baal.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
Chariots of Fire
Later, Elijah was taken heaven-ward by the Bible-god, and again fire is mentioned.
2 Kings 2
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
We can be quite sure that what Elijah was on was a technological vehicle. Why would an almighty god need a chariot? The chariot must have travelled quite a high speed, as it created what looked like a whirlwind. It would have been more convincing if Elijah had been lifted up in thin air, isnt it?
But why horses? Quite likely the author did not recognise it and so used the closest word he could find to describe it. We know today that there is only empty space up there and no heaven. Thus, Elijah must have been brought by some aliens in a spaceship to another planet. Did Elisha see the aliens? He mentioned the horsemen of Israel.
The Temple of Solomon
After King David died, his son Solomon was ordained the next king, and David had asked him to fulfil his duty of building a temple for theBible-god. I had conjectured that the Tabernacle was a place for the Bible-god to eat of the burnt offerings of Israel. So I checked the details concerning the Temple of Solomon, and noticed that it was like a copy of the Tabernacle. The details of the temple is so stunning that it must have been like our present day building blueprint.
Some of the things in the Temple included:
Movable Stands (Dining Tables?)
I Kings 7
27 He also made ten movable stands of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high. 28 This is how the stands were made: They had side panels attached to uprights. 29 On the panels between the uprights were lions, bulls and cherubim—and on the uprights as well. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of hammered work. 30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and each had a basin resting on four supports, cast with wreaths on each side. 31 On the inside of the stand there was an opening that had a circular frame one cubit deep. This opening was round, and with its basework it measured a cubit and a half. Around its opening there was engraving. The panels of the stands were square, not round. 32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. The diameter of each wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels; the axles, rims, spokes and hubs were all of cast metal.
Why ten stands? Were there ten aliens involved? Then why basins? Was it for them to wash their hands?
Baths, Bowls, Shovels
38 He then made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin to go on each of the ten stands. 39 He placed five of the stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north. He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple. 40 He also made the basins and shovels and sprinkling bowls.
Why would a god need basins, shovels, sprinkling bowls? Read on...
48 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the LORD's temple:
the golden altar;
the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence;
49 the lampstands of pure gold (five on the right and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary the gold floral work and lamps and tongs;
50 the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
51 When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the LORD was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the LORD's temple.
All those items were made either of gold or bronze. Why the preference for them?
The Cloud
Later the Bible-god came to the temple, again in the form of a cloud. But no fire or thunder. Maybe their technology had progressed to the point where the spaceship could land without fire and noise? And, why is it that the priests could not perform their duties because of the cloud?
I Kings 8
10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.
So the Bible-god need a place to dwell in, needs bowls, basins, burnt offeirngs, etc.
Some of the things in the Temple included:
Movable Stands (Dining Tables?)
I Kings 7
27 He also made ten movable stands of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high. 28 This is how the stands were made: They had side panels attached to uprights. 29 On the panels between the uprights were lions, bulls and cherubim—and on the uprights as well. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of hammered work. 30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and each had a basin resting on four supports, cast with wreaths on each side. 31 On the inside of the stand there was an opening that had a circular frame one cubit deep. This opening was round, and with its basework it measured a cubit and a half. Around its opening there was engraving. The panels of the stands were square, not round. 32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. The diameter of each wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels; the axles, rims, spokes and hubs were all of cast metal.
Why ten stands? Were there ten aliens involved? Then why basins? Was it for them to wash their hands?
Baths, Bowls, Shovels
38 He then made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin to go on each of the ten stands. 39 He placed five of the stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north. He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple. 40 He also made the basins and shovels and sprinkling bowls.
Why would a god need basins, shovels, sprinkling bowls? Read on...
48 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the LORD's temple:
the golden altar;
the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence;
49 the lampstands of pure gold (five on the right and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary the gold floral work and lamps and tongs;
50 the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
51 When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the LORD was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the LORD's temple.
All those items were made either of gold or bronze. Why the preference for them?
The Cloud
Later the Bible-god came to the temple, again in the form of a cloud. But no fire or thunder. Maybe their technology had progressed to the point where the spaceship could land without fire and noise? And, why is it that the priests could not perform their duties because of the cloud?
I Kings 8
10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.
So the Bible-god need a place to dwell in, needs bowls, basins, burnt offeirngs, etc.
Was Samson a Genetic Experiment ?
If you are not aware, the story of Samson is found in the Bible, in Judges 13 - 16.
In short, it started with a childless couple who implored the Bible-god for a child. It was granted, and the Bible-god told them the child would be a son, and he will have his power in his hair. And he was not supposed to shave his hair so that he will have the power to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
Samson grew up and was strong enough to tear a lion apart. The Philistines became afraid of him. But they used a woman Delilah to find out that Samson's power was in his hair, and got him drunk one night and shaved his hair, and blinded him. In captivity, Samson's hair grew back, and he tore down the temple of the Philistines, killing many of them, including himself.
First Case Ever Heard
This is the only case of a human having power in his hair heard in any book in the world. We humans have discovered genetic engineering today, and the possibilities are frightening. As the couple who implored the Bible-god was childless, this could be a case of genetics, and it could be an experiment of the Bible-god to produce a form of more powerful humans for his desired purpose. If it was not genetics, Samson could have been born to any normal couple. In addition, the power in his hair was already foretold by the Bible-god, implying that he was the designer. But it seems that it did not meet his requirements as it was not repeated.
His hair could have been a kind of conductor for the Bible-god to transmit power to him, for it is stated that when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, then he had superhuman power.
Judges 14:6
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.
Judges 14:19
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle.
Judges 15
14 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
(Later in the New Testament, we are told that Jesus was born of a virgin. Could that be another case of genetic engineering?)
Does this story contain any clue to the power of our hair? Why do we lose our hair as we grow older? Is it in our DNA? Did the Bible-god alter the DNA of Samson to give him more power? Why didn't Samson possess his power regardless of his hair?
I wonder if I will live to see this or similar experiment repeated by humans???
In short, it started with a childless couple who implored the Bible-god for a child. It was granted, and the Bible-god told them the child would be a son, and he will have his power in his hair. And he was not supposed to shave his hair so that he will have the power to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
Samson grew up and was strong enough to tear a lion apart. The Philistines became afraid of him. But they used a woman Delilah to find out that Samson's power was in his hair, and got him drunk one night and shaved his hair, and blinded him. In captivity, Samson's hair grew back, and he tore down the temple of the Philistines, killing many of them, including himself.
First Case Ever Heard
This is the only case of a human having power in his hair heard in any book in the world. We humans have discovered genetic engineering today, and the possibilities are frightening. As the couple who implored the Bible-god was childless, this could be a case of genetics, and it could be an experiment of the Bible-god to produce a form of more powerful humans for his desired purpose. If it was not genetics, Samson could have been born to any normal couple. In addition, the power in his hair was already foretold by the Bible-god, implying that he was the designer. But it seems that it did not meet his requirements as it was not repeated.
His hair could have been a kind of conductor for the Bible-god to transmit power to him, for it is stated that when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, then he had superhuman power.
Judges 14:6
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.
Judges 14:19
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle.
Judges 15
14 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
(Later in the New Testament, we are told that Jesus was born of a virgin. Could that be another case of genetic engineering?)
Does this story contain any clue to the power of our hair? Why do we lose our hair as we grow older? Is it in our DNA? Did the Bible-god alter the DNA of Samson to give him more power? Why didn't Samson possess his power regardless of his hair?
I wonder if I will live to see this or similar experiment repeated by humans???
The Bible-god - A Ruthless Conqueror?
In the Book of Joshua, it was all about the Bible-god using Joshua to conquer and conquer, kill and kill. Why would a god do that? My assummed Supreme God won't do that. And after killing many people and taking over many cities, he divides the land for Israel! Why would a god be interested in doing that? It sounds more human to me.
And when all that had been done, Joshua died. So it is quite clear that the Bible-god chose Joshua for the purpose of warfare, as opposed to the role of Moses. There was no clear leader though the warfare went on. Then came Gideon.
Fire Again
The angel of the Lord used fire to convince Gideon of his power. I am sure it can be done with science today?
Judges 6
19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah [b] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.
21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
After a few more wars, Gideon also died. Again no clear leader emerged, and I noticed also that no miracles were performed, until Samson arrived.
In Judges 13, the birth of Samson is foretold. There are a few interesting points to note here. Again, the angel of the Lord and the Bible-god seem to be the same and one. He appears to be physical, as food was offered to him. But he also seem to prefer burnt offerings. I wonder if there is any reason? Was it an alien race who could only eat burnt food?
"The angel of the Lord ascended in the flame" may be interpreted today as going up in a vehicle which gave out flame or fire, right?
16 The angel of the LORD replied, "Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
18 He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. [a] " 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
22 "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"
Then again, we see how the Spirit of the Lord came to Samson, and he killed without mercy or second thought. And why is it that Samson's strength was found in his hair? Is that something scientific which we will see invented one day? Anyway it seems that he was of not much use to the Bible-god, and died without much credit. After that, Israel had no king, and no miracles were recorded. Also, there had been no mention of the Tabernacle for a long time.
Then out of the blue came the story of Boaz and Ruth. This portion seem to have nothing to do with the development of Israel at all.
Then later came the story of Saul and David. It seems that now the Bible-god was getting less and less focus while we read of the struggle between Saul and David for the throne. Then David was crowned king and had time to settle down and talk to the Lord. Then we get hint again that the Bible-god is physical. He had the Tabernacle during the time of Moses, but nothing until now. He then asked David to build a house for him.
2Samuel 7
4 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
Then suddenly, warfare begins again with David conquering and conquering. This went on until Solomon took over.
And when all that had been done, Joshua died. So it is quite clear that the Bible-god chose Joshua for the purpose of warfare, as opposed to the role of Moses. There was no clear leader though the warfare went on. Then came Gideon.
Fire Again
The angel of the Lord used fire to convince Gideon of his power. I am sure it can be done with science today?
Judges 6
19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah [b] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.
21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
After a few more wars, Gideon also died. Again no clear leader emerged, and I noticed also that no miracles were performed, until Samson arrived.
In Judges 13, the birth of Samson is foretold. There are a few interesting points to note here. Again, the angel of the Lord and the Bible-god seem to be the same and one. He appears to be physical, as food was offered to him. But he also seem to prefer burnt offerings. I wonder if there is any reason? Was it an alien race who could only eat burnt food?
"The angel of the Lord ascended in the flame" may be interpreted today as going up in a vehicle which gave out flame or fire, right?
16 The angel of the LORD replied, "Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
18 He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. [a] " 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
22 "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"
Then again, we see how the Spirit of the Lord came to Samson, and he killed without mercy or second thought. And why is it that Samson's strength was found in his hair? Is that something scientific which we will see invented one day? Anyway it seems that he was of not much use to the Bible-god, and died without much credit. After that, Israel had no king, and no miracles were recorded. Also, there had been no mention of the Tabernacle for a long time.
Then out of the blue came the story of Boaz and Ruth. This portion seem to have nothing to do with the development of Israel at all.
Then later came the story of Saul and David. It seems that now the Bible-god was getting less and less focus while we read of the struggle between Saul and David for the throne. Then David was crowned king and had time to settle down and talk to the Lord. Then we get hint again that the Bible-god is physical. He had the Tabernacle during the time of Moses, but nothing until now. He then asked David to build a house for him.
2Samuel 7
4 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
Then suddenly, warfare begins again with David conquering and conquering. This went on until Solomon took over.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Bible-god's Spaceship?
In Numbers 9, I read with interest how the Bible-god comes and goes as he pleases, in the form of a cloud above the Tabernacle. And the cloud looked like fire. Remember that I mentioned in my earlier posts that the Bible-god is always associated with cloud and fire and thunder - 3 elements closely associated with a rocket or spaceship. Am I right to conclude that the Tabernacle was the dining place of the aliens?
15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.
16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.
18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out.
20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.
22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.
16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.
18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out.
20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.
22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
In Number 11, again the Bible-god used fire to kill. Now this may be a kind of weapon. Could it be a laser gun?
1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the LORD had burned among them.
Again in Number 16, the Bible-god uses fire to kill.
35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
The Bible-god Repeats his rules
In Numbers 5, the Bible-god repeats some of the rules again - looks like the Israelites commited some sins and he had to remind them of the rules.
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease [or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." 4 The Israelites did this; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.
5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way [b] and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty 7 and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.
8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him. 9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. 10 Each man's sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.' "
The Test for an Unfaithful Wife 11 Then the LORD said to Moses, 12 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 by sleeping with another man, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure- 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah [c] of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt.
16 " 'The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the LORD. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the LORD, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse.
19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, "If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband"- 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath-"may the LORD cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. [d] 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away. " " 'Then the woman is to say, "Amen. So be it."
23 " 'The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, [f] and she will become accursed among her people. 28 If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.
29 " 'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.' "
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease [or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." 4 The Israelites did this; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.
5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way [b] and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty 7 and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.
8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him. 9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. 10 Each man's sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.' "
The Test for an Unfaithful Wife 11 Then the LORD said to Moses, 12 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 by sleeping with another man, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure- 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah [c] of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt.
16 " 'The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the LORD. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the LORD, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse.
19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, "If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband"- 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath-"may the LORD cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. [d] 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away. " " 'Then the woman is to say, "Amen. So be it."
23 " 'The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, [f] and she will become accursed among her people. 28 If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.
29 " 'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.' "
The Bible-god - Army Chief?
The second chapter of Numbers reads to me (and reminds me of my army training too) like an army division commander positioning his soldiers around himself. His HQ is the Tabernacle and the Tent of Meeing, which he set in the middle, while all the tribes of Israel camp around it. This is clearly the work of a person who is well versed in warfare. Each tribe even had its own banner for identification - obviously for the Bible-god to command and control.
Numbers 2
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."
3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.
9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.
10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 His division numbers 46,500.
12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 His division numbers 59,300.
14 The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. [a] 15 His division numbers 45,650.
16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.
17 Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard.
18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 His division numbers 40,500.
20 The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His division numbers 32,200.
22 The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 His division numbers 35,400.
24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.
25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 His division numbers 62,700.
27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. 28 His division numbers 41,500.
29 The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400.
31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.
34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.
Numbers 2
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."
3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.
9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.
10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 His division numbers 46,500.
12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 His division numbers 59,300.
14 The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. [a] 15 His division numbers 45,650.
16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.
17 Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard.
18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 His division numbers 40,500.
20 The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His division numbers 32,200.
22 The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 His division numbers 35,400.
24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.
25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 His division numbers 62,700.
27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. 28 His division numbers 41,500.
29 The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400.
31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.
34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.
The Bible-god Conducts a Census
The Bible-god was definitely not omniscient, as he had to order Moses to conduct a census, like what our govts do today, to get data on the people of Israel. It even talks about getting eligible men into the army. The leader of each tribe was even identified by name! The Tabernacle was so important that a tribe, the Levites, was tasked to take down and set up as and when needed.
Anyone who went near it was threatened with death - again!
Numbers chapter 1
1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:
from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;
14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
15 from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."
16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.
17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, 18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, 19 as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:
20 From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
22 From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
24 From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
26 From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
28 From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
30 From the descendants of Zebulun: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
32 From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
34 From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
36 From the descendants of Benjamin: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
38 From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
40 From the descendants of Asher: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
42 From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.
47 The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. 48 The LORD had said to Moses: 49 "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.
51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.
52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony."
54 The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.
Anyone who went near it was threatened with death - again!
Numbers chapter 1
1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:
from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;
14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
15 from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."
16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.
17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, 18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, 19 as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:
20 From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
22 From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
24 From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
26 From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
28 From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
30 From the descendants of Zebulun: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
32 From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
34 From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
36 From the descendants of Benjamin: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
38 From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
40 From the descendants of Asher: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
42 From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.
47 The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. 48 The LORD had said to Moses: 49 "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.
51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.
52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony."
54 The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.
The Bible-god Demands Absolute Obedience
Leviticus 26
1 " 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
6 " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9 " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place [a] among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
1 " 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
6 " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9 " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place [a] among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Disobey at your own peril !!
14 " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
18 " 'If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.
21 " 'If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. 22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.
23 " 'If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. 25 And I will bring the sword upon you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands.
26 When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.
27 " 'If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.
29 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. 31 I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings.
32 I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.
36 " 'As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them. 37 They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you. 39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their fathers' sins they will waste away.
40 " 'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers—their treachery against me and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the LORD.' "
46 These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the LORD established on Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses.
Oh my! What a god!
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