by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"Get thee up into the high mountain." - Isaiah 40:9
Our knowledge of Christ is somewhat like climbing one of our Welsh mountains. When you are at the base you see but little: the mountain itself appears to be but one-half as high as it really is. Confined in a little valley, you discover scarcely anything but the rippling brooks as they descend into the stream at the foot of the mountain.
Climb the first rising knoll, and the valley lengthens and widens beneath your feet. Go higher, and you see the country for four or five miles round, and you are delighted with the widening prospect. Mount still, and the scene enlarges; till at last, when you are on the summit, and look east, west, north, and south, you see almost all England lying before you.
Yonder is a forest in some distant county, perhaps two hundred miles away, and here the sea, and there a shining river and the smoking chimneys of a manufacturing town, or the masts of the ships in a busy port. All these things please and delight you, and you say, "I could not have imagined that so much could be seen at this elevation."
Now, the Christian life is of the same order. When we first believe in Christ we see but little of Him. The higher we climb the more we discover of His beauties. But who has ever gained the summit? Who has known all the heights and depths of the love of Christ which passes knowledge?
Paul, when grown old, sitting grey-haired, shivering in a dungeon in Rome, could say with greater emphasis than we can, "I know whom I have believed," for each experience had been like the climbing of a hill, each trial had been like ascending another summit, and his death seemed like gaining the top of the mountain, from which he could see the whole of the faithfulness and the love of Him to whom he had committed his soul. Get thee up, dear friend, into the high mountain.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 7
7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell.
7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7:7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
7:12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
7:13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
7:17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
7:18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
7:19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
7:26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
7:28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
7:31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
7:33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
7:35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
7:36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
7:40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
7:47 But Solomon built him an house.
7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
7:57 Then they cried with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell.
7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7:7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
7:12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
7:13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
7:17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
7:18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
7:19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
7:26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
7:28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
7:31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
7:33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
7:35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
7:36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
7:40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
7:47 But Solomon built him an house.
7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
7:57 Then they cried with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Work of the Holy Spirit Unto Obedience
by Bob Hoekstra
"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27).
When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we were born again. We were made new in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We received a new spiritual heart, as promised of old. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Now, how does a new creature in Christ grow in a life of obedience? Our natural thinking might assume that a Christian could grow in obedience by simply doing his best to walk in the will of God. The next verse in Ezekiel's prophecy reveals that God has a better plan in mind. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes." The born again follower of Jesus is not designed to operate on his own best efforts. The Holy Spirit is to be the heavenly dynamic in developing a life of obedience.
A disobedient life would include attitudes and actions that our fallen physical bodies naturally crave. These are to be taken to the cross, to be rendered as crucified with Christ. "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5, 6).
The Holy Spirit wants to enable us to respond properly concerning such carnal desires. "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13). These fallen, natural cravings are described as the "lusts of the flesh" in Galatians. They are overcome as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Again, this work of the Holy Spirit is not automatic or "robotic." Rather, it is a relational matter. It is realized in our lives through humble dependence. It is possible to suppress the work of the Holy Spirit in us. "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). It is when we depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in the path of obedience that we will truly live as obedient children of God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are son of God" (Romans 8:14).
"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27).
When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we were born again. We were made new in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We received a new spiritual heart, as promised of old. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Now, how does a new creature in Christ grow in a life of obedience? Our natural thinking might assume that a Christian could grow in obedience by simply doing his best to walk in the will of God. The next verse in Ezekiel's prophecy reveals that God has a better plan in mind. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes." The born again follower of Jesus is not designed to operate on his own best efforts. The Holy Spirit is to be the heavenly dynamic in developing a life of obedience.
A disobedient life would include attitudes and actions that our fallen physical bodies naturally crave. These are to be taken to the cross, to be rendered as crucified with Christ. "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5, 6).
The Holy Spirit wants to enable us to respond properly concerning such carnal desires. "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13). These fallen, natural cravings are described as the "lusts of the flesh" in Galatians. They are overcome as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Again, this work of the Holy Spirit is not automatic or "robotic." Rather, it is a relational matter. It is realized in our lives through humble dependence. It is possible to suppress the work of the Holy Spirit in us. "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). It is when we depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in the path of obedience that we will truly live as obedient children of God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are son of God" (Romans 8:14).
Lord God of my salvation, I desire to walk in obedience to You. I confess that I often rely upon my own resources, attempting to produce obedience. Lord, please work deep in my heart by the power of Your Holy Spirit and lead me in paths of righteousness, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 6
6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake.
6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
6:12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake.
6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
6:12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Who Is Babylon?
By Steve Lumbley
Babylon as described in scripture represents several things. It is a religious system. It is an economic system. It is a military power, and it is a political system. All of these things were true of original Babel under Nimrod. He incorporated a false religious system into his political and military kingdom. This false religious system was spread throughout the earth when God confounded the language and scattered the people at the tower of Babel.
The next incarnation of Babylon was under Nebuchadnezzar. Under him Babylon was the most powerful kingdom on the earth. God used Babylon to take his apostate people captive during the time of Daniel. After 70 years, Babylon was conquered by Cyrus the Great of Persia. Cyrus then allowed a remnant of God's people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and ultimately the city.
There have been many incarnations of Babylon throughout history. Some have been greater types and some lesser. All kingdoms that have ruled or sought to rule the world have been types and shadows of Babylon. Some of these kingdoms would include the ancient Roman Empire and the British Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries. Hitler's short lived Third Reich was a lesser type of Babylon. And there is today a kingdom in the earth that embodies the traits of Babylon in virtually every way.
Jeremiah prophesied that Babylon would be destroyed and would be desolate forever. Many believe this prophecy was fulfilled when the Mede-Persian Empire under Cyrus defeated Babylon but that is not entirely true. Geographic Babylon has never been completely desolate. Even today the land (modern day Iraq) is inhabited and upon the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon the United States is currently building a large military base.
In the broadest sense Babylon is a type of the whole world which lies outside the kingdom of God. It represents the world's system or man's way of doing things. But there is also a lesser type of Babylon in the world today.
Let's go a little further here and see if we can identify the city/nation that is end times Babylon. Let's start with Revelation 18:17 - Babylon has a deep water port.
And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Geographic Babylon (modern day Iraq) has no deep water port, so this Babylon in Revelation must be different from ancient Babylon. Babylon has God's people within it (Isaiah 47:6). But...
God's heritage has been destroyed (Jeremiah 50:11)
God's people have been led astray by false shepherds (Jeremiah 50:6)
God's people are swallowed up in a false religious system (Jeremiah 51:44)
Geographically Babylon sits upon "many waters" and is abundant in natural resources (Jeremiah 51:3)
The people of Babylon are a mingled people (Jeremiah 51:53)
They are a proud people (Jeremiah 50:31, 32)
They feel they are invincible (Isaiah 47:8)
They are a people of seemingly great wisdom & knowledge (Isaiah 47:10)
They are filled with graven images and idols (Jeremiah 50:38)
They have many astrologers, sorcerers, and monthly prognosticators (Isaiah 47:13)
Babylon is described as "the hammer of the whole earth" (Jeremiah 50:23)
Babylon uses the eagle as a national symbol (Daniel 7:4; Ezekiel 17:3, 12)
Babylon's mother was the lion [England] (Jeremiah 51:38)
Babylon is a "destroying mountain" (Jeremiah 51:25)
It is full of "mighty men" & men of war (Jeremiah 51:30, 32)
Babylon even has a "space program" (Jeremiah 51:53)
Babylon is the greatest merchant nation on the earth (Revelation 18:3)
All the nations of the earth do business with her (Revelation 18:11)
Babylon trades in every type of commodity (Revelation 18:12, 13)
At the time of her destruction:
Babylon's people are drunken and asleep (Jeremiah 51:39, 57)
She is filled with traitors (Jeremiah 51:2, 14)
They dwell without care (Isaiah 47:8)
They don't realize they are Babylon (Jeremiah 50:24; Isaiah 47:8)
Babylon has oppressed Israel (Jeremiah 50:33)
Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall (Jeremiah 15:49)
Would anyone like to guess which modern day nation fits this description in every way - politically, economically, geographically, militarily, religiously?
Babylon as described in scripture represents several things. It is a religious system. It is an economic system. It is a military power, and it is a political system. All of these things were true of original Babel under Nimrod. He incorporated a false religious system into his political and military kingdom. This false religious system was spread throughout the earth when God confounded the language and scattered the people at the tower of Babel.
The next incarnation of Babylon was under Nebuchadnezzar. Under him Babylon was the most powerful kingdom on the earth. God used Babylon to take his apostate people captive during the time of Daniel. After 70 years, Babylon was conquered by Cyrus the Great of Persia. Cyrus then allowed a remnant of God's people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and ultimately the city.
There have been many incarnations of Babylon throughout history. Some have been greater types and some lesser. All kingdoms that have ruled or sought to rule the world have been types and shadows of Babylon. Some of these kingdoms would include the ancient Roman Empire and the British Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries. Hitler's short lived Third Reich was a lesser type of Babylon. And there is today a kingdom in the earth that embodies the traits of Babylon in virtually every way.
Jeremiah prophesied that Babylon would be destroyed and would be desolate forever. Many believe this prophecy was fulfilled when the Mede-Persian Empire under Cyrus defeated Babylon but that is not entirely true. Geographic Babylon has never been completely desolate. Even today the land (modern day Iraq) is inhabited and upon the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon the United States is currently building a large military base.
In the broadest sense Babylon is a type of the whole world which lies outside the kingdom of God. It represents the world's system or man's way of doing things. But there is also a lesser type of Babylon in the world today.
Let's go a little further here and see if we can identify the city/nation that is end times Babylon. Let's start with Revelation 18:17 - Babylon has a deep water port.
And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Geographic Babylon (modern day Iraq) has no deep water port, so this Babylon in Revelation must be different from ancient Babylon. Babylon has God's people within it (Isaiah 47:6). But...
God's heritage has been destroyed (Jeremiah 50:11)
God's people have been led astray by false shepherds (Jeremiah 50:6)
God's people are swallowed up in a false religious system (Jeremiah 51:44)
Geographically Babylon sits upon "many waters" and is abundant in natural resources (Jeremiah 51:3)
The people of Babylon are a mingled people (Jeremiah 51:53)
They are a proud people (Jeremiah 50:31, 32)
They feel they are invincible (Isaiah 47:8)
They are a people of seemingly great wisdom & knowledge (Isaiah 47:10)
They are filled with graven images and idols (Jeremiah 50:38)
They have many astrologers, sorcerers, and monthly prognosticators (Isaiah 47:13)
Babylon is described as "the hammer of the whole earth" (Jeremiah 50:23)
Babylon uses the eagle as a national symbol (Daniel 7:4; Ezekiel 17:3, 12)
Babylon's mother was the lion [England] (Jeremiah 51:38)
Babylon is a "destroying mountain" (Jeremiah 51:25)
It is full of "mighty men" & men of war (Jeremiah 51:30, 32)
Babylon even has a "space program" (Jeremiah 51:53)
Babylon is the greatest merchant nation on the earth (Revelation 18:3)
All the nations of the earth do business with her (Revelation 18:11)
Babylon trades in every type of commodity (Revelation 18:12, 13)
At the time of her destruction:
Babylon's people are drunken and asleep (Jeremiah 51:39, 57)
She is filled with traitors (Jeremiah 51:2, 14)
They dwell without care (Isaiah 47:8)
They don't realize they are Babylon (Jeremiah 50:24; Isaiah 47:8)
Babylon has oppressed Israel (Jeremiah 50:33)
Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall (Jeremiah 15:49)
Would anyone like to guess which modern day nation fits this description in every way - politically, economically, geographically, militarily, religiously?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 5
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the prison.
5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and said,
5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut wit all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
5:24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the prison.
5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and said,
5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut wit all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
5:24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Statue of Freedom
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
This statue stands atop the United States Capitol building on top of the dome. This building is of course the location where both houses of Congress meet to conduct the business of the nation and to pass laws. The Statue of Freedom was designed by another Mason, Thomas Crawford. He too designed the statue to be his rendition of the Roman goddess "Libertas."
We have already covered the connection between Libertas and Ishtar, so we won't restate the facts on this issue. Suffice it to say that this statue shows the goddess in the garb of a warrior...another character trait of Ishtar. She was also called the warrior goddess because she would fight for personal freedom liberty.
So, we have the second largest idol made by human hands and it stands atop the location where our lawmakers meet. We again have another occultist symbol over the heads of lawmakers of the USA. Is it any wonder the nation is in the shape it is in?
See the government publication:
"We, the People: The Story of the United States CAPITOL" published by The United States Capitol Historical Society, in cooperation with the National Geographic Society, Washington D.C. The 1964 edition. This references the Statue of Freedom as being the "goddess Freedom" of Rome...i.e., "Libertas."
Other Idols of the US Capitol Building
There are numerous statues and paintings of some of the classical gods of Greece and Rome. One thing government tourism booklets don't tell you is that these deities were borrowed...from Babylon herself.
The god "Mars" which the Babylonians/Sumerians referred to as Mardok/Marduk/and or Baal/Bel. Baal is the infamous name which the Old Testament prophets were constantly battling to keep the Israelites from worshipping after the glory days of Solomon. So, here again is another large idol located where our lawmakers meet.
Keep in mind that the Greeks borrowed their "Mars" from the Babylonian deity "Baal" a.k.a. Bel or Marduk/Mardok/Merodach. Yes, this is the same deity that the Old Testament prophets fought against in the generations after David and Solomon.
There are other lesser known deity statutes and paintings in and on or around the US Capitol building. Search the US Library of Congress website for various statutes of the Capitol building. You'll find statues of "Athena, Minerva" and many more. You'll also see numerous paintings in the earliest years referring to the Capitol as the "Temple of Justice."
Conclusion
There are just too many coincidences when we compare the characteristics in the scriptures relating to the the woman called "Mystery Babylon -- Mother of Harlots" with that of Ishtar of Babylon and the Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom. What we conclude:
The Statue of Liberty is the woman being described in Revelation 17/18 and especially 17:4, 5, 9 and 18:7 along with Isaiah 47:1-15. We say this because we know that the Statue of Liberty is actually the artist's/sculptor's vision of Ishtar, the goddess of Babylon!!! This makes the Statue of Liberty the largest idol ever made by human hands, and the Statue of Freedom being the second largest idol and it stands atop the building where our lawmakers meet.
Is it any wonder that our Congressional lawmakers seem to be so perpetually "screwed up?"
The reference to "Mystery Babylon -- Mother of Harlots" is referencing Ishtar, the Mother of Harlots of Babylon...and her "mystery doctrines" such as salvation by sex for money. There are numerous other statues of other pagan deities in the US Capitol building and around the nation's capitol city. America is indeed the Mystery Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18.
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
This statue stands atop the United States Capitol building on top of the dome. This building is of course the location where both houses of Congress meet to conduct the business of the nation and to pass laws. The Statue of Freedom was designed by another Mason, Thomas Crawford. He too designed the statue to be his rendition of the Roman goddess "Libertas."
We have already covered the connection between Libertas and Ishtar, so we won't restate the facts on this issue. Suffice it to say that this statue shows the goddess in the garb of a warrior...another character trait of Ishtar. She was also called the warrior goddess because she would fight for personal freedom liberty.
So, we have the second largest idol made by human hands and it stands atop the location where our lawmakers meet. We again have another occultist symbol over the heads of lawmakers of the USA. Is it any wonder the nation is in the shape it is in?
See the government publication:
"We, the People: The Story of the United States CAPITOL" published by The United States Capitol Historical Society, in cooperation with the National Geographic Society, Washington D.C. The 1964 edition. This references the Statue of Freedom as being the "goddess Freedom" of Rome...i.e., "Libertas."
Other Idols of the US Capitol Building
There are numerous statues and paintings of some of the classical gods of Greece and Rome. One thing government tourism booklets don't tell you is that these deities were borrowed...from Babylon herself.
The god "Mars" which the Babylonians/Sumerians referred to as Mardok/Marduk/and or Baal/Bel. Baal is the infamous name which the Old Testament prophets were constantly battling to keep the Israelites from worshipping after the glory days of Solomon. So, here again is another large idol located where our lawmakers meet.
Keep in mind that the Greeks borrowed their "Mars" from the Babylonian deity "Baal" a.k.a. Bel or Marduk/Mardok/Merodach. Yes, this is the same deity that the Old Testament prophets fought against in the generations after David and Solomon.
There are other lesser known deity statutes and paintings in and on or around the US Capitol building. Search the US Library of Congress website for various statutes of the Capitol building. You'll find statues of "Athena, Minerva" and many more. You'll also see numerous paintings in the earliest years referring to the Capitol as the "Temple of Justice."
Conclusion
There are just too many coincidences when we compare the characteristics in the scriptures relating to the the woman called "Mystery Babylon -- Mother of Harlots" with that of Ishtar of Babylon and the Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom. What we conclude:
The Statue of Liberty is the woman being described in Revelation 17/18 and especially 17:4, 5, 9 and 18:7 along with Isaiah 47:1-15. We say this because we know that the Statue of Liberty is actually the artist's/sculptor's vision of Ishtar, the goddess of Babylon!!! This makes the Statue of Liberty the largest idol ever made by human hands, and the Statue of Freedom being the second largest idol and it stands atop the building where our lawmakers meet.
Is it any wonder that our Congressional lawmakers seem to be so perpetually "screwed up?"
The reference to "Mystery Babylon -- Mother of Harlots" is referencing Ishtar, the Mother of Harlots of Babylon...and her "mystery doctrines" such as salvation by sex for money. There are numerous other statues of other pagan deities in the US Capitol building and around the nation's capitol city. America is indeed the Mystery Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 4
4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
4:6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
4:9 If ye this day be examined of the good deed done to the important man, by what means he is made whole;
4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
4:16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
4:17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
4:22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
4:29 And now Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
4:6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
4:9 If ye this day be examined of the good deed done to the important man, by what means he is made whole;
4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
4:16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
4:17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
4:22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
4:29 And now Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Statue of Liberty and the Woman of Revelation 17/18 Comparisons
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
Now let's see if we can organize this material into an easy to see chart to compare the scriptural description and put it side by side with what we know about the Statue of Liberty:
Statue of Liberty Traits
Clothing: Originally designed with Purple Robe & Jewels, gold edging by sculptor but due to budget and wear constraints this idea was dropped.
Golden Cup: Modified into natural gas torch.
Cup/Torch Contents: Smelly natural gas, initially.
Name: "Mother of Exiles" a term of reverence linked to immigrants coming to the USA and being saved from a bad future to a future life and hope. Original name was Goddess Libertas, a Roman goddess of 600 to 400 B.C., later Venus. Romans borrowed her from Babylon, initially just for her Liberty doctrine, but later absorbed the other doctrines of Ishtar.
Crown of 7 Spikes: To reflect the light of the sun-god Utu a.k.a Shamesh to each of the 7 continents of the world according to diary of Freemason-sculptor Bartholdi. Bartholdi's Freemason influence comes from Masonic doctrines that match the Mystery Doctrines of Ishtar/Inanna/Aphrodite/Libertas. This is referred to as the "Crown-Enlightenment" doctrine that was such a key part of the Mystery Doctrines of Ishtar Worship.
Goddess of Liberty/Freedom: Goddess Libertas - A Roman goddess of 600 to 400 B.C. later Venus. Borrowed from Babylon, initially, just for her Liberty doctrine but later absorbed the other doctrines of Ishtar and became Venus, Goddess of Love.
Looks east towards Babylon, Long Island and much of the entire NYC metro area.
Overlooks the waterway approach to the UN where the leaders of the world come to meet at least once a year.
Statue of Liberty & the Jews: Gazes out over the location of the largest concentration of Jewish people in the world, even more so than in all of Israel.
Description of the Woman of Revelation 17 & 18:
Clothing: The woman is robed in Revelation 17:4 with a scarlet and purple robe with gold edging and bejeweled.
Golden Cup: With gaseous smell like flatulence.
Cup Contents: "Bdelugma" in Greek as in "breaking wind".
Name: "Mother of Harlots" -- A title of holiness, or sinlessness referring to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar who held that title and who, by her mystery doctrines, did inhabit a priestesses body during ritual sexual relations for the removal of sins and spiritual life. Afterwards a coin-offering is given. Ishtar also called the Goddess of Freedom/Liberty and was matron goddess of slaves and immigrants.
Crown: Revelation 18:7 -- Sits as queen and queens wear crowns. Each of Istar's 7 spikes crown were to reflect the enlightenment of the Sun-god Utu/Shamesh to each of the 7 HORA (continents) of the world. This is the same Greek word found in Revelation 17:9. Hora means large land mass as in continents or mountains or deserts but NOT a hill. The Romans & Greeks never used "hora" for the 7 hills of Rome, they used the term bouno, the correct term for the 7 hills of Rome. Therefore, Revelation 17:9 cannot refer to Rome...that verse refers to the Ishtar/Libertas -- Statue of Liberty "crown-enlightenment" doctrine.
Goddess of Liberty/Freedom: Goddess Ishtar was also called the Goddess of Freedom or Liberty and was matron goddess of slaves and immigrants. Just one of her many "mystery" doctrines. She was also called "goddess of Love" and many other titles.
Woman is the "mega-city" called "Babylon the mega" or Babylon the "super".
Woman/City has "supervening authority around or over (the place or location) where the kings of the earth meet. See Revelation 17:18 and Jeremia 51:44.
The Woman & the Jews: Revelation 17:5 -- The Harlot of Babylon hosts the largest population of Jews just as in ancient Babylon.
Here is the link to the official US government website for the Statue of Liberty.
See also the book: "The Statue of Liberty Revisited -- Essays." This book was edited by Wilton S. Dalton and Neil G. Kotler, Published by Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
The Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
Now let's see if we can organize this material into an easy to see chart to compare the scriptural description and put it side by side with what we know about the Statue of Liberty:
Statue of Liberty Traits
Clothing: Originally designed with Purple Robe & Jewels, gold edging by sculptor but due to budget and wear constraints this idea was dropped.
Golden Cup: Modified into natural gas torch.
Cup/Torch Contents: Smelly natural gas, initially.
Name: "Mother of Exiles" a term of reverence linked to immigrants coming to the USA and being saved from a bad future to a future life and hope. Original name was Goddess Libertas, a Roman goddess of 600 to 400 B.C., later Venus. Romans borrowed her from Babylon, initially just for her Liberty doctrine, but later absorbed the other doctrines of Ishtar.
Crown of 7 Spikes: To reflect the light of the sun-god Utu a.k.a Shamesh to each of the 7 continents of the world according to diary of Freemason-sculptor Bartholdi. Bartholdi's Freemason influence comes from Masonic doctrines that match the Mystery Doctrines of Ishtar/Inanna/Aphrodite/Libertas. This is referred to as the "Crown-Enlightenment" doctrine that was such a key part of the Mystery Doctrines of Ishtar Worship.
Goddess of Liberty/Freedom: Goddess Libertas - A Roman goddess of 600 to 400 B.C. later Venus. Borrowed from Babylon, initially, just for her Liberty doctrine but later absorbed the other doctrines of Ishtar and became Venus, Goddess of Love.
Looks east towards Babylon, Long Island and much of the entire NYC metro area.
Overlooks the waterway approach to the UN where the leaders of the world come to meet at least once a year.
Statue of Liberty & the Jews: Gazes out over the location of the largest concentration of Jewish people in the world, even more so than in all of Israel.
Description of the Woman of Revelation 17 & 18:
Clothing: The woman is robed in Revelation 17:4 with a scarlet and purple robe with gold edging and bejeweled.
Golden Cup: With gaseous smell like flatulence.
Cup Contents: "Bdelugma" in Greek as in "breaking wind".
Name: "Mother of Harlots" -- A title of holiness, or sinlessness referring to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar who held that title and who, by her mystery doctrines, did inhabit a priestesses body during ritual sexual relations for the removal of sins and spiritual life. Afterwards a coin-offering is given. Ishtar also called the Goddess of Freedom/Liberty and was matron goddess of slaves and immigrants.
Crown: Revelation 18:7 -- Sits as queen and queens wear crowns. Each of Istar's 7 spikes crown were to reflect the enlightenment of the Sun-god Utu/Shamesh to each of the 7 HORA (continents) of the world. This is the same Greek word found in Revelation 17:9. Hora means large land mass as in continents or mountains or deserts but NOT a hill. The Romans & Greeks never used "hora" for the 7 hills of Rome, they used the term bouno, the correct term for the 7 hills of Rome. Therefore, Revelation 17:9 cannot refer to Rome...that verse refers to the Ishtar/Libertas -- Statue of Liberty "crown-enlightenment" doctrine.
Goddess of Liberty/Freedom: Goddess Ishtar was also called the Goddess of Freedom or Liberty and was matron goddess of slaves and immigrants. Just one of her many "mystery" doctrines. She was also called "goddess of Love" and many other titles.
Woman is the "mega-city" called "Babylon the mega" or Babylon the "super".
Woman/City has "supervening authority around or over (the place or location) where the kings of the earth meet. See Revelation 17:18 and Jeremia 51:44.
The Woman & the Jews: Revelation 17:5 -- The Harlot of Babylon hosts the largest population of Jews just as in ancient Babylon.
Here is the link to the official US government website for the Statue of Liberty.
See also the book: "The Statue of Liberty Revisited -- Essays." This book was edited by Wilton S. Dalton and Neil G. Kotler, Published by Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 3
3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.
3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
3:14 But ye denied the Holy one and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
3:36 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.
3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
3:14 But ye denied the Holy one and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
3:36 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Statue of Liberty -- The Largest Idol Ever Made By Human Hands
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
In doing the research into the statue, I discovered that no statue has ever been made that was as big as the Statue of Liberty. The previous record holder was the Colossus of Rhodes.
We can recognize the match-up between the Woman of Revelation 17:4, 5 and America when we realize that the Statue of Liberty is actually the goddess Ishtar of Babylon...the mystery goddess of Babylon who was the goddess of personal freedom and liberty.
Ishtar was called the goddess of love and sexual freedom, the Queen of Heaven and the Queen of Babylon. Most importantly, Ishtar was called the Mother of Immigrants, AND she was called THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES...Then of course, if we throw in the facts that we know about the Babylonian symbolism of the Statue and relate it back to Revelation 17:4, 9...we then have the link between the Statue of Liberty and Revelation 17 and 18.
Understanding the phrase "Mother of Harlots"
Let's examine what the term "mother" means. The term refers to the act of giving birth or of bearing to fruition of something in its most generic form. In this case, the reference is obvious in that the woman is bearing forth or starting something.
In regards to apocalyptic symbolism the connotation is that of a "starting point." The term "Harlot" of course means prostitute. The term Koine-Greek is "porneoh" and refers to sexual relations in exchange for money.
Now, those who wish to claim that Revelation 17:1-9 is all-symbolic of a false church fails to understand the basic terms here. They make the mistake of separating Chapter 17 from Chapter 18. Then they fail to understand that the terms are clearly referencing the goddess Ishtar and her doctrine of holy prostitution. Salvation by sexual prostitution is the key doctrine of the mystery religion of Ishtar.
Indeed Ishtar's religion was always called a "mystery." In Revelation the key aspect of the mentioned prostitution is money and power. This is the whole ongoing theme of Chapter 18, especially verses 3, and then 9-19 and 22-23. Then again in Revelation 19:2. So, Revelation 17 has nothing to do with spiritual harlotry as one thinks of the metaphors for Israel.
In Revelation 17 and 18 this Mystery Babylon plays spiritual harlotry primarily in the aspect of money and power. Of all the reasons in scripture given for her divine destruction all the reasons reference back to the abuse of power and money and her rejection of God's sovereignty. See chapter 9 of my book: "America, The Babylon."
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
In doing the research into the statue, I discovered that no statue has ever been made that was as big as the Statue of Liberty. The previous record holder was the Colossus of Rhodes.
We can recognize the match-up between the Woman of Revelation 17:4, 5 and America when we realize that the Statue of Liberty is actually the goddess Ishtar of Babylon...the mystery goddess of Babylon who was the goddess of personal freedom and liberty.
Ishtar was called the goddess of love and sexual freedom, the Queen of Heaven and the Queen of Babylon. Most importantly, Ishtar was called the Mother of Immigrants, AND she was called THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES...Then of course, if we throw in the facts that we know about the Babylonian symbolism of the Statue and relate it back to Revelation 17:4, 9...we then have the link between the Statue of Liberty and Revelation 17 and 18.
Understanding the phrase "Mother of Harlots"
Let's examine what the term "mother" means. The term refers to the act of giving birth or of bearing to fruition of something in its most generic form. In this case, the reference is obvious in that the woman is bearing forth or starting something.
In regards to apocalyptic symbolism the connotation is that of a "starting point." The term "Harlot" of course means prostitute. The term Koine-Greek is "porneoh" and refers to sexual relations in exchange for money.
Now, those who wish to claim that Revelation 17:1-9 is all-symbolic of a false church fails to understand the basic terms here. They make the mistake of separating Chapter 17 from Chapter 18. Then they fail to understand that the terms are clearly referencing the goddess Ishtar and her doctrine of holy prostitution. Salvation by sexual prostitution is the key doctrine of the mystery religion of Ishtar.
Indeed Ishtar's religion was always called a "mystery." In Revelation the key aspect of the mentioned prostitution is money and power. This is the whole ongoing theme of Chapter 18, especially verses 3, and then 9-19 and 22-23. Then again in Revelation 19:2. So, Revelation 17 has nothing to do with spiritual harlotry as one thinks of the metaphors for Israel.
In Revelation 17 and 18 this Mystery Babylon plays spiritual harlotry primarily in the aspect of money and power. Of all the reasons in scripture given for her divine destruction all the reasons reference back to the abuse of power and money and her rejection of God's sovereignty. See chapter 9 of my book: "America, The Babylon."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 2
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking bread, and in prayers.
2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking bread, and in prayers.
2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Scriptural Traits of the Woman of Revelation 17:4
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
The woman is described in Revelation 17:4 as having a golden cup in her hand. This fits in with the Statue of Liberty, who has indeed a golden cup in her outstretched hand. (See the Statue of Liberty Website Link to see a picture of the original golden globe flame, which replaced the original cup when NYC authorities asked to modify the cup to a light source for shipping. The original golden cup was than sold to the Czar of Russian, where it remains today. Here's the link).
This cup is described as having "bdelugma" in the Greek text. You will see it in the KJV word "abominations." Now this word is Strong's Code #946. It means a foul thing, detestable, usually of idols...it comes from the root word bdeoh = "to break wind" or "pass gas"...it is something that is very smelly and extremely offensive.
Now, the Statue of Liberty has inside the torch the fuel for its flame..."natural gas" or bdelugma. Is this a coincidence between scripture and the Statue of Liberty? I suggest strongly that this is no coincidence. The torch is actually being described in Revelation 17:4 as is the woman. The woman in Chapter 17 is the symbol for the super-nation that is code-named "Mystery Babylon." But this is not the only connection between the Statue and the woman of Revelation 17:4.
The crown of 7 spikes is also being described in Revelation 17:9. Here we see the woman referred to as sitting on 7 "horas." This is the same word that the mystical religion of Freemasonry doctrines uses from the Greek mystics who kept the doctrine alive from Ishtar worship. The idea of the enlightenment of the sun god Shamesh-Utu...or Rah in the Egyptian language was that it would be enshrined to all of the 7 "horas" or continents of the world.
These Greek mystics used that Greek term "horas." Marvin Trachtenberg in his book on the Statue of Liberty (Viking Press, 1977) refers to the crown's 7 spikes as doing just that. It was to enlighten the 7 continents with Shamesh's occultist wisdom. Revelation 17:9 uses that same terminology.
Now, the KJV and the NASB English versions translate "horas" as meaning "mountain." Mountain is indeed the normal meaning of the word in Greek. But the Greeks general and overall root word basis was "large land mass" for which mountain usually fit the definition.
Unfortunately some new translations miss this point entirely and have translated the word "horas" as meaning hill. This comes from the erroneous assumption that the verse is referring to the 7 hills of Rome and that the woman is Rome. This is a wrong assumption.
Moulton & Milligan's Greek Vocabulary cites that the correct word for "hill" in Koine-Greek (and in other Greek dialects) was the Roman word "bounos" and this was always the word that was to be used when referring to the 7 hills of Rome.
After all, this was the Greek word that was borrowed from the Romans. Everyone referred to Rome's 7 hills a "bounous"...and not "horas." Therefore, the assumption that Revelation 17:9 refers to the 7 hills of Rome is complete error. The verse then must be referring to the continents where the Woman's enlightenment rays are flashed from her 7 spikes in her crown.
Now some skeptics will point out that no crown is mentioned in Revelation 17:4. However, Revelation 18:7 calls her Queen and what do all Queens wear to prove their position as a Queen? A crown. This is also substantiated by Isaiah 47:1-9...where in the KJV she is referred to as a Lady.
But in the original Hebrew the word designates female royalty as either Queen or Princess. So here again we have a connection between the woman and another scriptural passage that is very subtle in its attempt to signal to us the identity of this woman. It is a signal that couldn't have been known nor comprehended for 1800 years.
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
The woman is described in Revelation 17:4 as having a golden cup in her hand. This fits in with the Statue of Liberty, who has indeed a golden cup in her outstretched hand. (See the Statue of Liberty Website Link to see a picture of the original golden globe flame, which replaced the original cup when NYC authorities asked to modify the cup to a light source for shipping. The original golden cup was than sold to the Czar of Russian, where it remains today. Here's the link).
This cup is described as having "bdelugma" in the Greek text. You will see it in the KJV word "abominations." Now this word is Strong's Code #946. It means a foul thing, detestable, usually of idols...it comes from the root word bdeoh = "to break wind" or "pass gas"...it is something that is very smelly and extremely offensive.
Now, the Statue of Liberty has inside the torch the fuel for its flame..."natural gas" or bdelugma. Is this a coincidence between scripture and the Statue of Liberty? I suggest strongly that this is no coincidence. The torch is actually being described in Revelation 17:4 as is the woman. The woman in Chapter 17 is the symbol for the super-nation that is code-named "Mystery Babylon." But this is not the only connection between the Statue and the woman of Revelation 17:4.
The crown of 7 spikes is also being described in Revelation 17:9. Here we see the woman referred to as sitting on 7 "horas." This is the same word that the mystical religion of Freemasonry doctrines uses from the Greek mystics who kept the doctrine alive from Ishtar worship. The idea of the enlightenment of the sun god Shamesh-Utu...or Rah in the Egyptian language was that it would be enshrined to all of the 7 "horas" or continents of the world.
These Greek mystics used that Greek term "horas." Marvin Trachtenberg in his book on the Statue of Liberty (Viking Press, 1977) refers to the crown's 7 spikes as doing just that. It was to enlighten the 7 continents with Shamesh's occultist wisdom. Revelation 17:9 uses that same terminology.
Now, the KJV and the NASB English versions translate "horas" as meaning "mountain." Mountain is indeed the normal meaning of the word in Greek. But the Greeks general and overall root word basis was "large land mass" for which mountain usually fit the definition.
Unfortunately some new translations miss this point entirely and have translated the word "horas" as meaning hill. This comes from the erroneous assumption that the verse is referring to the 7 hills of Rome and that the woman is Rome. This is a wrong assumption.
Moulton & Milligan's Greek Vocabulary cites that the correct word for "hill" in Koine-Greek (and in other Greek dialects) was the Roman word "bounos" and this was always the word that was to be used when referring to the 7 hills of Rome.
After all, this was the Greek word that was borrowed from the Romans. Everyone referred to Rome's 7 hills a "bounous"...and not "horas." Therefore, the assumption that Revelation 17:9 refers to the 7 hills of Rome is complete error. The verse then must be referring to the continents where the Woman's enlightenment rays are flashed from her 7 spikes in her crown.
Now some skeptics will point out that no crown is mentioned in Revelation 17:4. However, Revelation 18:7 calls her Queen and what do all Queens wear to prove their position as a Queen? A crown. This is also substantiated by Isaiah 47:1-9...where in the KJV she is referred to as a Lady.
But in the original Hebrew the word designates female royalty as either Queen or Princess. So here again we have a connection between the woman and another scriptural passage that is very subtle in its attempt to signal to us the identity of this woman. It is a signal that couldn't have been known nor comprehended for 1800 years.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Acts 1
1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
1:5 For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou has chosen.
1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
1:5 For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou has chosen.
1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Connecting Ishtar to the Statue of Liberty
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
The Statue of Liberty was a Masonic concept conceived from within Freemasonry. The chief promoter and fundraiser for the project was Edward Laboulaye and he collaborated with the sculptor Frederic Bartholdi to develop a statue of Masonic enlightenment. The statue was developed from within the highest doctrines of Freemasonry. This "enlightenment" took its form in various symbols found in the sculpture itself.
#1. The Crown of 7 Spikes: This symbol was to represent the enlightenment of the Babylonian sun god Shamesh/Utu. The idea was that this sun god's occultist illumination could be focused by each of the 7 spikes of the crown. Each spike would flash this occultist enlightenment to each of the 7 "horas" or large landmasses of the world.
In other words, each spike would flash occultist enlightenment to a continent on planet earth. Each of the 7 spikes would then be representative of one of the 7 large landmasses or continents of the world.
#2. The Tablets: A common misconception is that the tablets represent the 10 Commandments that God gave to Moses. This is not true. The tablets are engraved only with the Roman numerals standing for July 4th, 1776. According to the preeminent Statue Historian, Marvin Trachtenberg in his book "The Statue of Liberty" the tablets represented a generic notion of the concept of law. This should not be confused with the Laws of Moses.
Freemasonry gives lip service to Judaism, Christianity and Islam as law-giving religions but Freemasonry tries to synthesize all religions into one central focus...the idea of "law" in general. Hence the tablets being held by the Statue of Liberty carry that general meaning.
#3. The Robe: In the original planning, the Statue of Liberty was designed in the initial stages to be in color. She was to be wearing the royal robes of scarlet and purple. It became obvious that for reasons of monetary purposes the statue must be made from copper. The use of copper precluded the use of any color schemes. Thus the original plans for scarlet and purple robes were abandoned.
#4. The Torch: This item was originally designed to be a golden cup filled with the wine of freedom. This golden cup remained in the planning and was actually made. However, before completion and shipping of the entire statue, the New York Port authorities asked if there could be some sort of modification to allow for an eternal flame or light to be designed into the statue so that ships could use her as a night time navigational aid.
Bartholdi consented to make modifications to the basic cup design to allow for a natural gas flame to be utilized. The torch we see today is actually the same type of cup design used in ancient times for drinking wine. It featured a handle for the cup at the bottom and the handle looked much like a stick. The golden aspect itself was altered again to conform to the needs of the natural gas flame.
The actual, original golden cup was later sold by the project to the Czar of Russia, Czar Nicholas. In 1917 during the Russian revolution the Communist government took possession of it. The cup has remained in Russian hands but in 1997 was reportedly offered for sale by the Russian government to help pay off Russia's foreign debts. This author has not been able to determine whether or not the cup was actually sold or not. It is only known that the cup is still in existence.
#5. "Mother of Exiles" is a key term in the poem by Emma Lazarus. In her famous poem about the statue, (now etched into the base of the statue) Lazarus refers to the woman as "The Mother of Exiles". The poem has forever indelibly linked the statue to immigrants from around the world. The statue is the patron "saint" of immigrants everywhere.
Oddly enough, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar was also the patron goddess of immigrants in Babylon because as a goddess of personal freedom, she brought hope to immigrants seeking to make a better life for themselves in Babylon. So too for this "Mother of Exiles." In fact, if we try to transliterate the English term "Mother of Exiles" into the Greek...
Mother as a word has similar phonetic sounds. Doing the same with "exiles" from English into Koine-Greek, the Koine-Greek listener would link it to a similar Greek word that connoted deep inhalation of air or "heavy breathing." This is tied into the Greek word "epithumia" which in English is normally translated as "lust" but the literal meaning in Koine-Greek meant literally "heavy breathing" and was connoted with desire.
Now this terminology is then linked to the word "Porneoh" from which we get the word Pornograpy. Porneoh = lust fulfillment by sexual relations in exchange for money...which again was the main claim to fame for Ishtar...holy sexual prostitution.
Ishtar worship is the very first instance of prostitution in human history and it was deemed "holy!" Now, this may indeed be just an interesting coincidence but remember Revelation 17:5 where the woman called Mystery Babylon is referred to as the "Mother of Harlots."
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
The Statue of Liberty was a Masonic concept conceived from within Freemasonry. The chief promoter and fundraiser for the project was Edward Laboulaye and he collaborated with the sculptor Frederic Bartholdi to develop a statue of Masonic enlightenment. The statue was developed from within the highest doctrines of Freemasonry. This "enlightenment" took its form in various symbols found in the sculpture itself.
#1. The Crown of 7 Spikes: This symbol was to represent the enlightenment of the Babylonian sun god Shamesh/Utu. The idea was that this sun god's occultist illumination could be focused by each of the 7 spikes of the crown. Each spike would flash this occultist enlightenment to each of the 7 "horas" or large landmasses of the world.
In other words, each spike would flash occultist enlightenment to a continent on planet earth. Each of the 7 spikes would then be representative of one of the 7 large landmasses or continents of the world.
#2. The Tablets: A common misconception is that the tablets represent the 10 Commandments that God gave to Moses. This is not true. The tablets are engraved only with the Roman numerals standing for July 4th, 1776. According to the preeminent Statue Historian, Marvin Trachtenberg in his book "The Statue of Liberty" the tablets represented a generic notion of the concept of law. This should not be confused with the Laws of Moses.
Freemasonry gives lip service to Judaism, Christianity and Islam as law-giving religions but Freemasonry tries to synthesize all religions into one central focus...the idea of "law" in general. Hence the tablets being held by the Statue of Liberty carry that general meaning.
#3. The Robe: In the original planning, the Statue of Liberty was designed in the initial stages to be in color. She was to be wearing the royal robes of scarlet and purple. It became obvious that for reasons of monetary purposes the statue must be made from copper. The use of copper precluded the use of any color schemes. Thus the original plans for scarlet and purple robes were abandoned.
#4. The Torch: This item was originally designed to be a golden cup filled with the wine of freedom. This golden cup remained in the planning and was actually made. However, before completion and shipping of the entire statue, the New York Port authorities asked if there could be some sort of modification to allow for an eternal flame or light to be designed into the statue so that ships could use her as a night time navigational aid.
Bartholdi consented to make modifications to the basic cup design to allow for a natural gas flame to be utilized. The torch we see today is actually the same type of cup design used in ancient times for drinking wine. It featured a handle for the cup at the bottom and the handle looked much like a stick. The golden aspect itself was altered again to conform to the needs of the natural gas flame.
The actual, original golden cup was later sold by the project to the Czar of Russia, Czar Nicholas. In 1917 during the Russian revolution the Communist government took possession of it. The cup has remained in Russian hands but in 1997 was reportedly offered for sale by the Russian government to help pay off Russia's foreign debts. This author has not been able to determine whether or not the cup was actually sold or not. It is only known that the cup is still in existence.
#5. "Mother of Exiles" is a key term in the poem by Emma Lazarus. In her famous poem about the statue, (now etched into the base of the statue) Lazarus refers to the woman as "The Mother of Exiles". The poem has forever indelibly linked the statue to immigrants from around the world. The statue is the patron "saint" of immigrants everywhere.
Oddly enough, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar was also the patron goddess of immigrants in Babylon because as a goddess of personal freedom, she brought hope to immigrants seeking to make a better life for themselves in Babylon. So too for this "Mother of Exiles." In fact, if we try to transliterate the English term "Mother of Exiles" into the Greek...
Mother as a word has similar phonetic sounds. Doing the same with "exiles" from English into Koine-Greek, the Koine-Greek listener would link it to a similar Greek word that connoted deep inhalation of air or "heavy breathing." This is tied into the Greek word "epithumia" which in English is normally translated as "lust" but the literal meaning in Koine-Greek meant literally "heavy breathing" and was connoted with desire.
Now this terminology is then linked to the word "Porneoh" from which we get the word Pornograpy. Porneoh = lust fulfillment by sexual relations in exchange for money...which again was the main claim to fame for Ishtar...holy sexual prostitution.
Ishtar worship is the very first instance of prostitution in human history and it was deemed "holy!" Now, this may indeed be just an interesting coincidence but remember Revelation 17:5 where the woman called Mystery Babylon is referred to as the "Mother of Harlots."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: John 21
21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord and what shall this man do?
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord and what shall this man do?
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
goddess Ishtar
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
goddess of Liberty and Personal Freedom:
Ishtar was introduced to the Greeks as Astarte through the Phoenicians. We can see that through the lineage of the Greek and Roman goddess of the planet Venus goes all the way back to ancient Babylon of around 3,000 BC. Apparently the Greeks (and later the Romans) chose to initially honor only one portion of Ishtar's character and doctrines that appealed to them in those very early years before they established empires.
Ishtar's doctrine of personal freedom was what really impressed both the Greeks and the Romans. They therefore chose to worship just that aspect of her character. As time passed, the succeeding generations of Greeks found the other Ishtar doctrines to be appealing and incorporated her into their pantheon of deities as Astarte or Aphrodite. Later still, the Romans did the same and referred to her as Venus.
It seems that the allure of Ishtar was her doctrine of holy sex or salvation by holy sexual relations with a temple priestess or priest as a means of purification and holiness. Of course, this entailed paying the priestess or priest and thus it was officially sanctioned and therefore "holy" prostitution. Ishtar introduced that whole concept to the human race. This is why she was referred to as the Mother of Harlots.
Harlots had been deemed to be social outcasts so she was also referred to as the Mother of exiles. This was later equated with the idea of immigration. Naturally then Ishtar (a.k.a. -- Libertas) was known as the Mother of Harlots, the Mother of Exiles, and the Mother of immigrants throughout, not only Babylon and Babylonia but also later, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
What was Ishtar's legacy in Babylon? She was the chief goddess of Babylon and all of Babylonia. There was no other goddess more honored than she. She was equated to have nearly the same power as the chief god of Babylon, the sun god Utu, also known as Shamesh. In later years, the chief male deities would flip-flop in popularity.
The most famous and prominent during the times of Israel's nationhood was "Baal" [Baal was also called Marduk/Mardok/Merodach/Bel]. Baal was identified with the planet Mars and was called the god of War. His name meant "Lord of the air" for his superior powers and the supremacy of the air. It was claimed that he as well as Ishtar and all the other deities "flew" among and from the "stars in heaven."
Ishtar was a multi-faceted deity. She was first and foremost endeared to the hearts and minds of Babylonians because of her primary dedication to Freedom and Liberty. She was also considered the Mother of Prostitution or Harlotry...and it was considered "holy." Why? Ishtar introduced the concept of removal of sins by the practice of the sinner engaging in a "holy" rite of sexual relations with a priestess or priest.
This action would involve the payment of money to the priestess or priest as part of the cleansing process. It was an offering of thanksgiving for the purification. This is the very instance of Prostitution in human history.
Ishtar was also known as the goddess of war because she fights for freedom and liberty. She was also known as the goddess of victory because there is not freedom without victory. She was also known as the goddess of love because of her sexuality and her promotion of all types of sexual perversion in the name of freedom.
Her motto was "if it feels good, do it." Didn't we hear that same idea as a theme song during the 1960's? She was also the goddess of the planet Venus. She was a goddess who "flew among the stars" and so therefore was called the Queen of Heaven or Lady of Heaven.
Zecharia Sitchin, in his book "Divine Encounters" describes another significant role for Ishtar in Babylonia/Sumer. [Note: the earliest Babylonians did not call themselves Babylonians nor their land Babylon. They called their land Sumer and they are referred to as Sumerians.]
Now, Sitchin is one of only a handful of scholars who has been able to learn and translate the cuneiform tablet writing of the Sumerians/Babylonians. He has written numerous books detailing various aspects of the culture and writings of Sumer.
In his book "Divine Encounters" he describes a significant role that Ishtar held for the Sumerians. On pages 174 through 176 he describes the annual ritual in which the King of Sumer must come to the special chamber temple of Ishtar to engage in sexual relations with her for one night of passion.
If during the night she is displeased with the King in any way she kills him and a new candidate is selected to undergo another ritual initiation of one night of passion. He must perform satisfactorily. This process was to continue until Ishtar accepted a candidate who met her satisfaction.
If the king or candidate found acceptance he would appear the following morning to the expectant crowds outside the temple palace to show that he had gained the favor of the goddess to rule for one more year. Such acceptance also meant that the nation would have a good year of agricultural harvests.
Sitchin also notes that the Biblical references to "daughter of Babylon" always refers to Ishtar of Babylon. She was a Mother of Harlots and also a daughter of Babylon. This seems like a dichotomy of sorts but Ishtar was a daughter of the original founding god of Babylon known as "Anu" who was the ruler of the planet called "Nibiru." Nibiru was an additional planet in our solar system that circled the earth every 3,600 years, according to the royal records of Babylon.
Sitchin has been roundly ridiculed by scientists for proposing that this notion of Nibiru could actually exist. However, on June 30, 1999 a scientist, David Stevenson from California Institute of Technology, published a paper stating that "interstellar planets" (which is what a "Nibiru" would be called) is certainly a theoretical possibility and should not be dismissed.
In the CNN/Reuters News story the text mentions that Stevenson is not alone and that others have theorized that there may be other planets roaming interstellar space that came from our solar system.
Sitchin is also a noted Dead Sea Scrolls scholar. He served in the original investigative group attempting to repair the damanged scrolls. He is an extraordinarily gifted scholar. [See Divine Encounters, Published by Avon Books, NY, NY., 1995; ISBN: 0-380-78076-3].
Now this ritual between Ishtar and the king or king candidate is what the Biblical prophecies are referring to when it talks about the Harlot having relations with the "kings of the earth." In other words, in the prophecies, it is referring to Ishtar approving the rule of the kings because they have pleased her and did as she commanded. See Revelation 17:1, 2, 4, 5; 18:3, 9; 19:2; Isaiah 47:1-15; Jeremiah 51:7.
It also means that the relationship is a two-way street. Ishtar gives to the kings the necessities to maintain authority and control. In return, the kings of course swear allegiance to Ishtar and provide sacrifices for her. Revelation provides symbolic similarity between the ancient historical aspect and a future relationship between a future Babylon and the rest of the nations.
Super-power Babylon acts just like an Ishtar and engages in prostitution with the rest of the nations. The context is all with regards to money and materialism. See Revelation 18:1-24 and note how the overall theme revolves around money and material things.
For further verification and follow up research, the reader is encouraged to visit the following sources:
Crane, Gregory R. (ed) The Perseus Project May 1999. See also this specific page from the Lewis & Short Latin Dictionary
Encyclopedia Mythica: Roman Mythology
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
goddess of Liberty and Personal Freedom:
Ishtar was introduced to the Greeks as Astarte through the Phoenicians. We can see that through the lineage of the Greek and Roman goddess of the planet Venus goes all the way back to ancient Babylon of around 3,000 BC. Apparently the Greeks (and later the Romans) chose to initially honor only one portion of Ishtar's character and doctrines that appealed to them in those very early years before they established empires.
Ishtar's doctrine of personal freedom was what really impressed both the Greeks and the Romans. They therefore chose to worship just that aspect of her character. As time passed, the succeeding generations of Greeks found the other Ishtar doctrines to be appealing and incorporated her into their pantheon of deities as Astarte or Aphrodite. Later still, the Romans did the same and referred to her as Venus.
It seems that the allure of Ishtar was her doctrine of holy sex or salvation by holy sexual relations with a temple priestess or priest as a means of purification and holiness. Of course, this entailed paying the priestess or priest and thus it was officially sanctioned and therefore "holy" prostitution. Ishtar introduced that whole concept to the human race. This is why she was referred to as the Mother of Harlots.
Harlots had been deemed to be social outcasts so she was also referred to as the Mother of exiles. This was later equated with the idea of immigration. Naturally then Ishtar (a.k.a. -- Libertas) was known as the Mother of Harlots, the Mother of Exiles, and the Mother of immigrants throughout, not only Babylon and Babylonia but also later, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
What was Ishtar's legacy in Babylon? She was the chief goddess of Babylon and all of Babylonia. There was no other goddess more honored than she. She was equated to have nearly the same power as the chief god of Babylon, the sun god Utu, also known as Shamesh. In later years, the chief male deities would flip-flop in popularity.
The most famous and prominent during the times of Israel's nationhood was "Baal" [Baal was also called Marduk/Mardok/Merodach/Bel]. Baal was identified with the planet Mars and was called the god of War. His name meant "Lord of the air" for his superior powers and the supremacy of the air. It was claimed that he as well as Ishtar and all the other deities "flew" among and from the "stars in heaven."
Ishtar was a multi-faceted deity. She was first and foremost endeared to the hearts and minds of Babylonians because of her primary dedication to Freedom and Liberty. She was also considered the Mother of Prostitution or Harlotry...and it was considered "holy." Why? Ishtar introduced the concept of removal of sins by the practice of the sinner engaging in a "holy" rite of sexual relations with a priestess or priest.
This action would involve the payment of money to the priestess or priest as part of the cleansing process. It was an offering of thanksgiving for the purification. This is the very instance of Prostitution in human history.
Ishtar was also known as the goddess of war because she fights for freedom and liberty. She was also known as the goddess of victory because there is not freedom without victory. She was also known as the goddess of love because of her sexuality and her promotion of all types of sexual perversion in the name of freedom.
Her motto was "if it feels good, do it." Didn't we hear that same idea as a theme song during the 1960's? She was also the goddess of the planet Venus. She was a goddess who "flew among the stars" and so therefore was called the Queen of Heaven or Lady of Heaven.
Zecharia Sitchin, in his book "Divine Encounters" describes another significant role for Ishtar in Babylonia/Sumer. [Note: the earliest Babylonians did not call themselves Babylonians nor their land Babylon. They called their land Sumer and they are referred to as Sumerians.]
Now, Sitchin is one of only a handful of scholars who has been able to learn and translate the cuneiform tablet writing of the Sumerians/Babylonians. He has written numerous books detailing various aspects of the culture and writings of Sumer.
In his book "Divine Encounters" he describes a significant role that Ishtar held for the Sumerians. On pages 174 through 176 he describes the annual ritual in which the King of Sumer must come to the special chamber temple of Ishtar to engage in sexual relations with her for one night of passion.
If during the night she is displeased with the King in any way she kills him and a new candidate is selected to undergo another ritual initiation of one night of passion. He must perform satisfactorily. This process was to continue until Ishtar accepted a candidate who met her satisfaction.
If the king or candidate found acceptance he would appear the following morning to the expectant crowds outside the temple palace to show that he had gained the favor of the goddess to rule for one more year. Such acceptance also meant that the nation would have a good year of agricultural harvests.
Sitchin also notes that the Biblical references to "daughter of Babylon" always refers to Ishtar of Babylon. She was a Mother of Harlots and also a daughter of Babylon. This seems like a dichotomy of sorts but Ishtar was a daughter of the original founding god of Babylon known as "Anu" who was the ruler of the planet called "Nibiru." Nibiru was an additional planet in our solar system that circled the earth every 3,600 years, according to the royal records of Babylon.
Sitchin has been roundly ridiculed by scientists for proposing that this notion of Nibiru could actually exist. However, on June 30, 1999 a scientist, David Stevenson from California Institute of Technology, published a paper stating that "interstellar planets" (which is what a "Nibiru" would be called) is certainly a theoretical possibility and should not be dismissed.
In the CNN/Reuters News story the text mentions that Stevenson is not alone and that others have theorized that there may be other planets roaming interstellar space that came from our solar system.
Sitchin is also a noted Dead Sea Scrolls scholar. He served in the original investigative group attempting to repair the damanged scrolls. He is an extraordinarily gifted scholar. [See Divine Encounters, Published by Avon Books, NY, NY., 1995; ISBN: 0-380-78076-3].
Now this ritual between Ishtar and the king or king candidate is what the Biblical prophecies are referring to when it talks about the Harlot having relations with the "kings of the earth." In other words, in the prophecies, it is referring to Ishtar approving the rule of the kings because they have pleased her and did as she commanded. See Revelation 17:1, 2, 4, 5; 18:3, 9; 19:2; Isaiah 47:1-15; Jeremiah 51:7.
It also means that the relationship is a two-way street. Ishtar gives to the kings the necessities to maintain authority and control. In return, the kings of course swear allegiance to Ishtar and provide sacrifices for her. Revelation provides symbolic similarity between the ancient historical aspect and a future relationship between a future Babylon and the rest of the nations.
Super-power Babylon acts just like an Ishtar and engages in prostitution with the rest of the nations. The context is all with regards to money and materialism. See Revelation 18:1-24 and note how the overall theme revolves around money and material things.
For further verification and follow up research, the reader is encouraged to visit the following sources:
Crane, Gregory R. (ed) The Perseus Project May 1999. See also this specific page from the Lewis & Short Latin Dictionary
Encyclopedia Mythica: Roman Mythology
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: John 20
20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain,
20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary, She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the mdst, and said, Peace be unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the Presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain,
20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary, She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the mdst, and said, Peace be unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the Presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Roman goddess Libertas
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
Libertas was the name of an ancient Roman goddess adopted by the Romans perhaps as early as the 5th century BC and certainly by the 4th century BC. She was referred to as the goddess of personal freedom and liberty. In fact Libertas meant freedom. So liberty means freedom. The two names describe the one concept we call freedom. Liberty = Freedom and Freedom = Liberty.
This goddess was the goddess of freedom because she promoted the ideals for the personal freedom to do anything that felt good. She was called the matron goddess of prostitution because she promoted sexual freedom. Indeed, she had invented the concept. Slaves considered her their goddess in the hopes of winning their freedom.
Many women who gained freedom later turned to prostitution to survive and thereby retained Libertas as their goddess, especially if they became priestesses in the Libertas cult. Libertas was also a goddess of war in order to fight for freedom. She was also referred at times as the goddess of victory because freedom must have victory in order to survive.
This goddess was also the goddess of immigrants. The whole idea of immigration connoted the idea of freedom. Her popularity was also unique because of her unique doctrine of hearing personal prayers. This unique doctrine was something that most of the pagan deity doctrines were not disposed towards.
We know that this goddess existed because of the records left behind to us. We have the ancient writings of Cicero who writes of this goddess and her Temple on the Aventine Way in Rome. She was depicted on some Roman coins as wearing a freedom cap and having a wreath along with a spear or sometimes a sword. Such coin images were not the only depictions.
Sometimes she was well robed and at other times seductively unclothed in both sculptures and paintings. We know of Libertas being referred to as the Mother of Harlots by the famous Roman historian (and senator) Cicero from his writings. Cicero indicates that she was also a very early goddess of the Greeks even before early Roman civilization developed.
Upon further investigation, we find that the Greeks had acquired knowledge of this being from previous empires in the Middle East and Egypt. This goddess was called Ashtoreth in Hebrew and in the Old Testament's Greek version (the Septuagint).
Ashtoreth becomes transliterated into the Greek as Astarte, which became the early Greek name for the goddess until it was later changed to Aphrodite. The Hebrew term Ashtoreth was itself a transliteration from the Babylonian dialect (Akkadian) term of Ishtar.
Ishtar, in the most ancient times, was also referred to by the Sumerian dialect as Inanna or Ninanna meaning the Queen of Heaven or Lady of Heaven. In Canaan this deity was called Ashtaroth. The Hittites called her Shaushka. The Phoenicians on Cypress initially referred to her as Astarte. Isis was the name the Egyptians gave to her. This is how the goddess became introduced to the earliest Greeks.
We know this transformation in part due to the written texts found by archaeologists plus from studying the character traits and descriptions. For instance, all these deities were actually just one goddess and she was associated with the planet Venus.
Most had phonetic language roots in the transliterating aspects of the name Ishtar and this remained so until the Greeks changed the name to Aphrodite. Later the Romans referred to her in the Latin, initially as Libertas and later as Venus when they accepted more than just the Liberty doctrines.
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
by R.A. Coombes
Libertas was the name of an ancient Roman goddess adopted by the Romans perhaps as early as the 5th century BC and certainly by the 4th century BC. She was referred to as the goddess of personal freedom and liberty. In fact Libertas meant freedom. So liberty means freedom. The two names describe the one concept we call freedom. Liberty = Freedom and Freedom = Liberty.
This goddess was the goddess of freedom because she promoted the ideals for the personal freedom to do anything that felt good. She was called the matron goddess of prostitution because she promoted sexual freedom. Indeed, she had invented the concept. Slaves considered her their goddess in the hopes of winning their freedom.
Many women who gained freedom later turned to prostitution to survive and thereby retained Libertas as their goddess, especially if they became priestesses in the Libertas cult. Libertas was also a goddess of war in order to fight for freedom. She was also referred at times as the goddess of victory because freedom must have victory in order to survive.
This goddess was also the goddess of immigrants. The whole idea of immigration connoted the idea of freedom. Her popularity was also unique because of her unique doctrine of hearing personal prayers. This unique doctrine was something that most of the pagan deity doctrines were not disposed towards.
We know that this goddess existed because of the records left behind to us. We have the ancient writings of Cicero who writes of this goddess and her Temple on the Aventine Way in Rome. She was depicted on some Roman coins as wearing a freedom cap and having a wreath along with a spear or sometimes a sword. Such coin images were not the only depictions.
Sometimes she was well robed and at other times seductively unclothed in both sculptures and paintings. We know of Libertas being referred to as the Mother of Harlots by the famous Roman historian (and senator) Cicero from his writings. Cicero indicates that she was also a very early goddess of the Greeks even before early Roman civilization developed.
Upon further investigation, we find that the Greeks had acquired knowledge of this being from previous empires in the Middle East and Egypt. This goddess was called Ashtoreth in Hebrew and in the Old Testament's Greek version (the Septuagint).
Ashtoreth becomes transliterated into the Greek as Astarte, which became the early Greek name for the goddess until it was later changed to Aphrodite. The Hebrew term Ashtoreth was itself a transliteration from the Babylonian dialect (Akkadian) term of Ishtar.
Ishtar, in the most ancient times, was also referred to by the Sumerian dialect as Inanna or Ninanna meaning the Queen of Heaven or Lady of Heaven. In Canaan this deity was called Ashtaroth. The Hittites called her Shaushka. The Phoenicians on Cypress initially referred to her as Astarte. Isis was the name the Egyptians gave to her. This is how the goddess became introduced to the earliest Greeks.
We know this transformation in part due to the written texts found by archaeologists plus from studying the character traits and descriptions. For instance, all these deities were actually just one goddess and she was associated with the planet Venus.
Most had phonetic language roots in the transliterating aspects of the name Ishtar and this remained so until the Greeks changed the name to Aphrodite. Later the Romans referred to her in the Latin, initially as Libertas and later as Venus when they accepted more than just the Liberty doctrines.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: John 19
19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.
19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou that I have the power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.
19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
19:37 And again another scripture saith, they shall look on him whom they pierced.
19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.
19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou that I have the power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.
19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
19:37 And again another scripture saith, they shall look on him whom they pierced.
19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Idols of America
The Statue of Liberty and Statue of Freedom
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
By R.A. Coombes
Introduction:
The Statue of Liberty has become the most cherished symbol of the United States of America. What we were NOT taught in school were the truly significant facts regarding the true nature of the Statue. Those pertinent facts that remain largely unknown revolve around the true history of the Statue's inception as well as the meaning and significance behind the statue.
French sculptor, Frederic Bartholdi, designed the Statue of Liberty. Bartholdi did not originate the concept of the statue. The idea for creating a statue of liberty and freedom was first proposed by another Frenchman by the name of Edward Laboulaye. It was Laboulaye's idea and determination during the American Civil War that carried the idea from a simple notion to an actual project.
Laboulaye, a French Freemason proposed the idea of a giant statue replicating a goddess that the Masonic movement idolized. Laboulaye proceeded to raise the financial support and commission Bartholdi to provide the sculpture of this goddess of illumination from ancient times.
What deity was this? It was the goddess known by various names. Laboulaye and his fellow Freemason, sculptor Bartholdi referred to her as "Libertas" but she was also an early adoption by Romans of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. We'll need to follow the research on the goddess connections to fully understand this statue's meaning.
Plus Other Icons that are actually "American Babylonianism"
By R.A. Coombes
Introduction:
The Statue of Liberty has become the most cherished symbol of the United States of America. What we were NOT taught in school were the truly significant facts regarding the true nature of the Statue. Those pertinent facts that remain largely unknown revolve around the true history of the Statue's inception as well as the meaning and significance behind the statue.
French sculptor, Frederic Bartholdi, designed the Statue of Liberty. Bartholdi did not originate the concept of the statue. The idea for creating a statue of liberty and freedom was first proposed by another Frenchman by the name of Edward Laboulaye. It was Laboulaye's idea and determination during the American Civil War that carried the idea from a simple notion to an actual project.
Laboulaye, a French Freemason proposed the idea of a giant statue replicating a goddess that the Masonic movement idolized. Laboulaye proceeded to raise the financial support and commission Bartholdi to provide the sculpture of this goddess of illumination from ancient times.
What deity was this? It was the goddess known by various names. Laboulaye and his fellow Freemason, sculptor Bartholdi referred to her as "Libertas" but she was also an early adoption by Romans of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. We'll need to follow the research on the goddess connections to fully understand this statue's meaning.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: John 18
18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
18:2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
18:16 But Peter stood at the door without, Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
18:25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
18:2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
18:16 But Peter stood at the door without, Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
18:25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
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