ON THE DA VINCI CODE and THE BROTHERS GRIMM...
Ok, there has been a literal FLOOD of stuff coming out countering the Da Vinci Code book and movie from Christian circles. None of them to this date has countered the central argument of the book, that Christ really extended his kingly line through Mary Magdalene and fostered a line of French kings known as the Merovingians.
This is answered quite simply and succinctly from scripture; In Genesis 49 Jacob tells his sons that the sceptre (read kingly line) will not depart from Judah till Shiloh comes. What he is saying is that after Christ comes there is no more need to keep the extensive records that the Jews did to establish the line of the Messiah. Therefore the argument that Christ was to extend his kingdom (Holy Blood, Holy Grail) is wrongheaded from the start! The Templars never found the records of the lineages of the Jews because in 70 A. D. the temple and all that was destroyed! It just wasn't needed anymore.
*****
Next up to bat; "The Brother's Grimm" starring Heath Ledger and Matt Damon...
I am BIG fan of Terry Gilliam so I was looking forward to this with a lot of anticipation. But it is one of the most thoroughly anti-christian movies I have seen in a long time. It begins with a "pagan myth" that is quite ingrained in our society, that the Christians persecuted and ruined the old ways and religion, therefore the forest rebelled, etc., we all need to return to the "Old Religion" and "earth friendly" ways (where's Al Gore in this movie?) Problem is that the way most of our European ancestors "made friends" with the earth was to sacrifice someone or a child to guarantee a good harvest. Katherine Briggs chronicles this in her book "The Vanishing People", a study of fairy lore.
So when the early missionaries came to pagan Europe, they found people willing and ready to be FREED from enslavement to the "Old Ways". Do the modern Wiccans REALLY want the "Old Religion" back?
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
ON THE SEALS OF THE SCROLL IN HEAVEN... REVELATION 6
Much confusion abounds as to what these seals are, what is the meaning behind them, when are these events to happen, have they already happened, is it ALL metaphor, and so on?
There is the "preterist" approach; all these events have already happened in the first century after Christ. There is the "historicist" approach, that says it all is a picture of Church History through the centuries. There is the "idealist" approach, (symbolic would be a better description), the book shows the cosmic struggle between good and evil. Finally there is the "futurist" approach, that these events are yet to come and the book reveals what is to happen.
The seals are the key to understanding which is true. All the judgments are held within the seals. All of the subsequent judgments, trumpets, and bowls are contained within the seals. So to find the key of the "mystery" you must understand what the seals are.
Most of the intepretive approaches that are taken except for the futurist ignore the context of the seals passage. To understand chapter 6 of Revelation you must understand chapter 5. In chapter 5 we see a gigantic scroll (King Jimmie, "book") that is sealed with 7 seals. Wills in ancient times were sealed with 7 seals as a way of keeping the authority of the document in force. The scroll was written on the inside and summarized on the outside so you knew what was in it.
The context of scripture gives you the meaning behind what the scroll is. It is the title deed to the planet earth. We know this because in the end of the book of Revelation we see all the earth and universe subjected finally to God and the Lamb. We don't see that YET! So the idea that these events and seals have already happened (or are happening now) is wrong.
The book of Revelation is simply the document of what will happen on the earth to bring it into subjection to the King finally. Think of it like the D-Day landing at Normandy, finally the Lord himself will begin the invasion of planet Earth, the Silent Planet will be silent no more. The enemy will be put to flight, you and and I (if you are a Christian) are simply the "Resistance Fighters" left here on planet earth.
So why would God wait to deliver judgment? Well that is explained TOO in 2 Peter;
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Giving everyone a chance to repent is looking at the glass as "half-full". He is also giving the world a chance to be as "wicked as it can be" that is to mature into the full evil of its ways so there will be no doubt when he delivers judgment;
Mt 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Christ gives the parable of the tares and wheat, someone sows "tares" in the field of the world, sons of the wicked one. But the owner of the field says to wait till they all come to maturity, lest they hurt the wheat in taking out the tares.
Deep stuff, eh?
But "let not your heart be troubled", when the end times arrive there will be no doubt as to whether or not we are in it. I really don't think we are in them now (although they may be just over the horizon) and I CERTAINLY don't think we have been in them for the last almost 2000 years (or even since 1850)...
ps. you READY for them when they come? this is the parable of the ten virgins and their oil! (next blog!)
Much confusion abounds as to what these seals are, what is the meaning behind them, when are these events to happen, have they already happened, is it ALL metaphor, and so on?
There is the "preterist" approach; all these events have already happened in the first century after Christ. There is the "historicist" approach, that says it all is a picture of Church History through the centuries. There is the "idealist" approach, (symbolic would be a better description), the book shows the cosmic struggle between good and evil. Finally there is the "futurist" approach, that these events are yet to come and the book reveals what is to happen.
The seals are the key to understanding which is true. All the judgments are held within the seals. All of the subsequent judgments, trumpets, and bowls are contained within the seals. So to find the key of the "mystery" you must understand what the seals are.
Most of the intepretive approaches that are taken except for the futurist ignore the context of the seals passage. To understand chapter 6 of Revelation you must understand chapter 5. In chapter 5 we see a gigantic scroll (King Jimmie, "book") that is sealed with 7 seals. Wills in ancient times were sealed with 7 seals as a way of keeping the authority of the document in force. The scroll was written on the inside and summarized on the outside so you knew what was in it.
The context of scripture gives you the meaning behind what the scroll is. It is the title deed to the planet earth. We know this because in the end of the book of Revelation we see all the earth and universe subjected finally to God and the Lamb. We don't see that YET! So the idea that these events and seals have already happened (or are happening now) is wrong.
The book of Revelation is simply the document of what will happen on the earth to bring it into subjection to the King finally. Think of it like the D-Day landing at Normandy, finally the Lord himself will begin the invasion of planet Earth, the Silent Planet will be silent no more. The enemy will be put to flight, you and and I (if you are a Christian) are simply the "Resistance Fighters" left here on planet earth.
So why would God wait to deliver judgment? Well that is explained TOO in 2 Peter;
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Giving everyone a chance to repent is looking at the glass as "half-full". He is also giving the world a chance to be as "wicked as it can be" that is to mature into the full evil of its ways so there will be no doubt when he delivers judgment;
Mt 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Christ gives the parable of the tares and wheat, someone sows "tares" in the field of the world, sons of the wicked one. But the owner of the field says to wait till they all come to maturity, lest they hurt the wheat in taking out the tares.
Deep stuff, eh?
But "let not your heart be troubled", when the end times arrive there will be no doubt as to whether or not we are in it. I really don't think we are in them now (although they may be just over the horizon) and I CERTAINLY don't think we have been in them for the last almost 2000 years (or even since 1850)...
ps. you READY for them when they come? this is the parable of the ten virgins and their oil! (next blog!)
PALE RIDERS AND OTHER MYSTERIES...
One of the most enduring ideas on the endtimes is that of the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. It would seem that everytime the world goes through a major war, or crisis, people will point and say "See, that's IT, that's one of the four horsemen!" So it is critical to understand the times and timing of the events leading up to the "final conflict" or "The Tribulation".
Paul alludes to this in 2 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were going through similar troubles and some preachers had been going around saying "See, that's IT, we are in the end times..." But here is Paul's response:
2 Thessalonians
1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
So some things can be seen here, first there must be a "falling away first". This is just not any "falling away" or apostasy but it must be a world wide one, where the church goes very, very wrong in her doctrine. Then the man of sin must be revealed, this is THE Antichrist, not just your everyday garden variety would be messiah but the grandaddy of false Christs must be revealed. Next we see that he must be seen to sit in the "temple of God","shewing himself to be God".
Some things we can conclude, we are NOT in the last days, no matter what sort of tribulation you see the world and nature going through. That is not the gauge he gives. First off there has been no great "falling away" of the church from the true faith. There have been a lot of LITTLE falling aways. But even if you maintain that we have "fallen away" there are three more components that must be in place before we can say we are in the last days; 1) no Antichrist on the scene, hasn't made his presence known to the world. He may be OUT there but he's not letting it be known yet. 2) There is no temple for the Jews in Jerusalem, in fact Temple Mount is still under Moslem control! 3) There is no temple so he cannot "shew himself to be God" yet either.
Conclusion: This isn't the end times, its not even the BEGINNING of the end times. But we MAY be able to see the sign from here as the old saying goes. Many, many elements that are involved in Daniel's 70th week are seen in their infancy in the world today. But the "child is not born yet". More on the seals and what it all means NEXT blog...
One of the most enduring ideas on the endtimes is that of the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. It would seem that everytime the world goes through a major war, or crisis, people will point and say "See, that's IT, that's one of the four horsemen!" So it is critical to understand the times and timing of the events leading up to the "final conflict" or "The Tribulation".
Paul alludes to this in 2 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were going through similar troubles and some preachers had been going around saying "See, that's IT, we are in the end times..." But here is Paul's response:
2 Thessalonians
1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
So some things can be seen here, first there must be a "falling away first". This is just not any "falling away" or apostasy but it must be a world wide one, where the church goes very, very wrong in her doctrine. Then the man of sin must be revealed, this is THE Antichrist, not just your everyday garden variety would be messiah but the grandaddy of false Christs must be revealed. Next we see that he must be seen to sit in the "temple of God","shewing himself to be God".
Some things we can conclude, we are NOT in the last days, no matter what sort of tribulation you see the world and nature going through. That is not the gauge he gives. First off there has been no great "falling away" of the church from the true faith. There have been a lot of LITTLE falling aways. But even if you maintain that we have "fallen away" there are three more components that must be in place before we can say we are in the last days; 1) no Antichrist on the scene, hasn't made his presence known to the world. He may be OUT there but he's not letting it be known yet. 2) There is no temple for the Jews in Jerusalem, in fact Temple Mount is still under Moslem control! 3) There is no temple so he cannot "shew himself to be God" yet either.
Conclusion: This isn't the end times, its not even the BEGINNING of the end times. But we MAY be able to see the sign from here as the old saying goes. Many, many elements that are involved in Daniel's 70th week are seen in their infancy in the world today. But the "child is not born yet". More on the seals and what it all means NEXT blog...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
OF CROWNS AND EMPIRE -In doing my research for an upcoming game I came across a most remarkable badge (which I am recreating in a graphics program). It was for the German (Nazi) Submarine corps. It was a U-boat, badge of "empire". Instead of the usual spread eagle with a swastika in its claws, there was this image of the Nuremberg Crown at the top. Then a U-boat in an oval wreath beneath.
This crown was known as the crown of the Holy Roman Empire/Emperor. He was the extension of Christ's kingdom on earth. I know a lot of people have pooh-poohed the link between Hitler and the occult and Hitler and the Antichrist. But this seems to give real credence to the idea that Hitler saw himself not just as "a" messiah but as "THE MESSIAH". For the Antichrist (the first beast) will surely be a Gentile and no doubt seek to wear this crown (a subject never brought up in current prophecy books).
Re 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Whenever you see the word "sea" you can interpret that as meaning the "sea of humanity" or the Gentiles. The second beast will no doubt come up from the nation of Israel, but the first one, the Antichrist will be a European.
Hitler believed that he was the one to come, the Messiah, and for a time the Evil One allowed him to reign and gave him tremendous power. But Satan is a hard task master and the power soon left Hitler to die a suicide in a bunker beneath Berlin.
Now some atheists and others have mentioned that Hitler was a Christian, but what sort of Christian would think and do these things? Sorta messed up in the head there if you ask me! Believing he was the new Messiah.
In fact he was an ANTI-Christ. He sought to not only oppose Christ but REPLACE Christ (that is the other meaning to "anti"). Yes Hitler's goal was to replace the cross with the swastika and the bible with Mein Kampf on every altar in the land. Too late many German pastors figured out what was happening and not more than a few like Detriech Bonhoeffer paid the price!
It is rumored that what brought Hitler his real power was possession of the Helige Lance, or the Spear of Longinus, the spear that pierced the side of Christ. Charlemange held it too, till he dropped it. When it passed from his hands, empire also passed. When Hitler took over Austria, one of his first stops was at the museum that held the lance. He took possession but lost it later in the war. General Patton is rumored to have examined this same spear in the bunker where it was found. Where is it now? (That is a subject for another game...)
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
THE GREAT DISAPPEARANCE -
There is a tradition among some Evangelical Christians of an event to happen in the future called the rapture. This is the catching away of the saints to heaven just before the time of the Great Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now this is foreshadowed in the Old Testament (I'll get to where the UFO conspiracy might be involved) with Enoch, the man who walked with God and was no more, in Genesis 5. Then again it is seen in Elijah, the prophet who was taken to heaven on a whirlwind. That's right! Alive and taken into the Heaven (special deal here). It has another semblance in the happening just after the crucifixion of Christ:
Matthew 27:
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Where did these saints go? Did they live out the rest of their lives on earth? NOPE! When Christ ascended he took them with him! Acts 1! WHOOEE!
Now for the weird part; how do you think they'll explain such thing? UFO's are a GREAT candidate for that idea!
There is a tradition among some Evangelical Christians of an event to happen in the future called the rapture. This is the catching away of the saints to heaven just before the time of the Great Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now this is foreshadowed in the Old Testament (I'll get to where the UFO conspiracy might be involved) with Enoch, the man who walked with God and was no more, in Genesis 5. Then again it is seen in Elijah, the prophet who was taken to heaven on a whirlwind. That's right! Alive and taken into the Heaven (special deal here). It has another semblance in the happening just after the crucifixion of Christ:
Matthew 27:
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Where did these saints go? Did they live out the rest of their lives on earth? NOPE! When Christ ascended he took them with him! Acts 1! WHOOEE!
Now for the weird part; how do you think they'll explain such thing? UFO's are a GREAT candidate for that idea!
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