Ecce signum!: Titus Flavius Josephus and other historical truths:

Titus Flavius Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100)

I recently read this interesting conversation between a believer and a skeptical individual in regards to the existence of Christ. The skeptic said: “On what basis would Christianity be if the bones of Jesus were suddenly found? And going through history books, one notices there is no mention of Jesus except in the Bible...hmm!”

And the response: “This is perhaps one of the most irrational arguments used by those who try to discredit Jesus and the Christian Faith. To believe that even a small group of people (the 12 disciples) would fabricate a ‘mythical’ person and claim him to be God, then promptly lay there own worldly desires aside, remain in poverty the rest of their lives, be continuously punished and tortured for holding on to their claim that this ‘Jesus’ was God, even to the point of death (all of them were either killed or imprisoned until death), takes a far larger leap of faith than simply believing that Jesus existed in the first place. Not to mention the fact that when these disciples went about “preaching the gospel” of Jesus to the people, these people could and would have easily been able to refute their “ridiculous” claims of some man named Jesus going around healing the blind, being put to death on a cross, and even the “far fetched” notion of resurrection.”

Furthermore, “The Jewish historian Josephus, writing for the Roman government in the ‘70's A.D. records some incidental things regarding Christ and the church. He confirms that John the Baptist died at the hand of Herod (this same incident is recorded in the gospels) as well as the death of, “The brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James. . .he delivered them to be stoned” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, ch. V, p. 20; Book XX, ch. IX, p. 140). Again, there are many sources external to the Bible that demonstrate the historical reliability of the text. Josephus, who was probably alive during the time of Christ, is attesting to the reality of his existence. What this also tells us is that within 40 years of Christ’s death, the knowledge of who he was widespread enough that Josephus could reference him and expect his readers to know exactly who he was talking about. Roman records of the time indicate that there not only was a Jesus, but that He was crucified. Many other writings at the time support that Jesus existed as a historical figure — thousands of people saw him. The Jewish opponents during the rise of the Christian faith would have the most to gain by denying Jesus ever lived, but guess what, they DON’T! In fact, in several Jewish writings, His opponents don’t deny Him at all, and they speak of Jesus as a real person, though an opponent to their Jewish beliefs. Both Gemaras of the Jewish Talmud refer to Jesus, although they are quite bitter against Him. They speak of Him as having really existed, but of course to only deny His deity and slander His name. There is just a drop of proof for you out of many of them that Jesus walked this earth.

Also, one of antiquity’s greatest historians affirmed that Jesus had suffered under Pilate. That historian’s name is Cornelius Tacitus. Tacitus was born around 20-25 years after Jesus died and he had seen the spread of Christianity just begin to impact Rome. He wrote negatively of Christ and Christians identifying them in 115 AD as “a race of men...detested for their evil practices.” If compelling claims existed that Jesus was never a real person, Tacitus would have naturally hit Christianity with this claim...not that He really existed.”

And from Return to Biblicism: “One of the more popular accusations brought against Biblical Christianity is that there are no external sources that confirm the Biblical record of Jesus of Nazareth. Most simply deny the accuracy of the New Testament in details of the life of Jesus, but others boldly deny that He existed at all. Either way, the accusation is based on a supposed lack of written historical evidence outside of the Bible referring to the existence of Jesus.

However, there are numerous sources that yield historical confirmation of the Biblical record, such as in the field of archeology. The fact is, whether it is simply the result of misinformation or plain ignorance of the facts, denying that there are extra-biblical sources that confirm the existence of Jesus simply has no credible basis. But, far be it from me to make such a claim without giving any supporting information.

The question is, are there sources outside of the Bible that give historical evidence of the existence of Jesus of Nazareth? The answer is a resounding yes. There are actually twelve known non-Christian sources consisting of historians, government officials and documents that give historical accounts of Jesus. The following is a list of those sources:

1. Cornelius Tacitus
2. Suetonius
3. Flavius Josephus
4. Thallus
5. Pliny the Younger
6. Trajan
7. Hadrian
8. the Babylonian Talmud
9. Toledoth Jesu
10. Lucian
11. Mara Bar-Serapion
12. Phlegon.

I would like to discuss what each of these sources have to say, but for sake of time and attention span I will save that for the next post. For now, suffice it to say that what this non-Christian evidence suggests about the existence of Jesus may be summarized as follows:

* Every witness confirms that a man named Jesus actually existed, most by statement, only two by inference.
* Two witnesses explicitly state that Jesus was considered a virtuous man.
* Six of the witnesses explicitly state that Jesus was worshiped by His followers.
* Seven of the witnesses explicitly state that Jesus had life long disciples that took preeminence as leaders of His other followers (Apostles, perhaps).
* Four of the witnesses explicitly state that Jesus was a renowned teacher.
* Seven of the witnesses refer to the fact that Jesus was crucified. Only one of those seven were by inference.
* Seven of the witnesses refer to the discovery of an empty tomb. Three of those are very specific.
* Two of the witnesses explicitly refer to Jesus’ followers’ belief in His resurrection.
* Six of the witnesses explicitly refer to the rapid spread of Christian belief.
* Seven of the witnesses explicitly refer to the persecution that Jesus’ followers faced because of their belief.

All twelve of these witnesses do nothing but confirm the Biblical record of Jesus and His followers. So why are these twelve so important? To appreciate their importance more fully, three things must be understood about these sources.

The Time Span

First, they are all confirmed to be within 150 years of the ministry of Jesus, some living during same time as Jesus. Though 150 years may seem like a long time for us, we can put things into perspective by comparing how people wrote of other progenitors of various religions after the religion took hold.

Although the Gathas of Zoroaster have been authenticated to date back to 1200 BC, most of the Zoroastrian scriptures were not put into writing until after the third century AD. That’s a span of over 1,500 years. The first biography written about Zoroaster was written in AD 1278. That’s a span of over 2,200 years.

Buddha is believed to have lived in the sixth century BC. However, the Buddhist scriptures were not put into writing until after Christianity took hold as a religion. That’s a span of about 800 years. The first biography of Buddha was written in the first century AD. That’s another span of about 800 years.

We have the sayings of Muhammad in the Koran, but his first biography was not written until a full century later.

By comparison, all of the New Testament was completed in less than 70 years after the life of Jesus. As for these extra-biblical sources, Thallus wrote of Jesus within 20 years of His crucifixion. The very latest of the twelve sources, Mara Bar-Serapion, stretches the time period to within 150 years.

The Number of Sources

Also, we are prone to look at twelve sources as being a small number to confirm someone that has had as much influence as Jesus. Surely, more would have been written outside of the Biblical record, or so it seems. However, we must compare the fact that Tiberius Caesar, the Roman Emperor of Jesus’ day, is only mentioned in nine other places outside of the Bible within 150 years of his lifetime. Those who assume that there is not enough if any historical evidence for the existence of Jesus must also write off the Emperor of Rome to be a myth as well! The truth is, this Jewish Teacher and His followers got more coverage than the Emperor.

The Nature of the Sources

The next thing to understand about the twelve sources is that their record is secular in nature, and that they are all markedly anti-Christian. In the field of law enforcement, a good witness is priceless. There are, however, types of witnesses whose testimony is more telling than others. For example, there are “friendly” witnesses who are likely to be partial to the one on trial. These, of course, are not very valuable. Then, there are “impartial” witnesses. These are strong witnesses because they have no incentive to help out or hurt the one on trial. Finally, there are “hostile witnesses. These are evidently opposed to the defendant. If a hostile witness admits to any good about the accused or testify to the viability of the defendant’s story, this will carry the most weight with any jury.

All of the twelve sources, falling under the “hostile” category, offer a most valuable testimony. The wealth of historical corroboration is undeniable.

I’d like to make a couple of final points in closing. It is obvious from both this evidence and other later writings on the subject that not even Jesus’ enemies thought to challenge His historicity until centuries after His death. The fact is, with these twelve non-Christian sources confirming His existence we cannot make that challenge either.

Obviously, there are no references to the miraculous events spoken of in the New Testament other than the Christians’ belief in them. But, you could not honestly expect that from hostile witnesses. Nevertheless, the fact that these non-Christian sources only confirm the basic outline of the life of Jesus and the acts of His followers as presented by the New Testament gives credible evidence as to the reliability of the Biblical record. It only follows that this evidences gives a sound basis for trusting the One to whom these twelve witnesses point.”

Publius Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 56 – ca. 117)

Philosophy, Non-believers, Prophecy, &c.

Plotinus, the famous Greek philosopher, once stated that “If life and soul exist after death, then death is good, all the more so in that the soul is better able to carry out her proper activities without the body.” — and if one is a Christian, there is no “if” here, because life does indeed exist after death (one’s body dies, but one’s soul lives on), and those that have that “spiritual understanding” (through the love and knowledge of the Word of God) all realize that death is not something one should fear or be concerned about.

2 Corinthians 5: 6-11 states:

6 Now we look forward with confidence to our heavenly bodies, realizing that every moment we spend in these earthly bodies is time spent away from our eternal home in heaven with Jesus. 7 We know all these things are true by believing, not by seeing. 8 And we are not afraid, but quite content to die, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So our aim is to please him always in everything we do, whether we are here in this body and with him in heaven. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged and have our lives laid bare—before him. Each of us will receive whatever he deserves for the good or bad things he has done in his earthly body. 11 It is because of this solemn fear of the Lord, which is ever present in our minds, that we work so hard to win others. God knows our hearts, that they are pure in this matter, and I hope that, deep within, you really know it too.

Plotinus goes on to ask, “If she becomes a part of the universal Soul, what kind of evil could affect her there? — and then: “...In general . . . there is no evil for the soul who has maintained her purity; and if she has maintained it, then it is not death that is an evil for her, but rather life. Even if there are punishments in Hades, then once again, it is life that is an evil for her, for it is not life and nothing but.” — and to answer his question, no evil of any degree can affect anyone whom has become saved and has become “one with Christ,” because all of evil flees and trembles in the name of God, which brings me to something else in which is interconnected with what I have written thus far:

A frequently-typical quote one may hear from a non-believer in God is “What kind of God creates man and then damns them?” In Ezekiel 33:2, this particular scriptures meets this common complaint by enlightening us and showing us that God has absolutely no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires their welfare and that the wicked bring damnation upon themselves by their stubborn refusal to repent. 1 Timothy 2: 3-4 shows that God, 'so far from creating man to damn him, desires that all men be saved.' 2 Peter 3:9 teaches that 'God is not willing that any should perish and is delaying His purposes in order that all may come to repentance.' John 5:40 and Matthew 23:37 shows that the entire cause of man’s damnation is his own willful and persistent refusal to come to Christ. And, of course, then there are those that complain about the bible, labeling it as contradictory and absurd, or perhaps, “The Bible just seems foolish to me.” However, in 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31, the Word of God says:

18 I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them. But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God. 19 For God says, “I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them.” 20 So what about these wise men, the scholars, these brilliant debaters of this world’s great affairs? God has made them all look foolish, and shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. 21 For God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find God through human brilliance, and then he stepped in and saved all those who believed his message, which the world calls foolish and silly. 22 It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles, because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them. 23 So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation. 25 This so-called “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man. 26 Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth. 27 Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame these people considered by the world as wise and great. 28 He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, 29 so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God. 30 For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God’s plan of salvation; he was the one who made acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. 31 As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done.”

And then in 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4, it states:

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden to anyone, it is hidden from the one who is on the road to eternal death. 4 Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him, or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God.

With that said, I am waiting for the Rapture to take place, because when it does eventually occur (and it is on the way!), everything else that was predicted will unfold according to what the Bible has stated would happen. I believe that the first rider of the white horse of the Anti-Christ is already walking the earth, but hasn’t risen to power just yet. The UN, NAU and European Union will all play a major role in fulfilling prophecy. After the leader of this new global government signs a 7-year peace treaty with Israel, the Tribulation Period will begin and prophecy will be fulfilled. I truly believe that we are in the last days, because everything that the Bible stated would occur has already been fulfilled (I can’t stress this enough!), and there is much more to come. The falsitivities of man’s desire to learn about what “science” says about everything is also a part of the deceptions that many people would fall under. What people have to come to understand is that science was originally based off of Biblical terms. It is when people not of faith began “experimenting” with things that went amiss. John 8:31-42 says: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” I truly grieve for those whom speak against or “mock” Christianity. However, it is perfectly-evident and proves another prophecy in the Bible in which clearly says that God’s people would go through much humiliation and persecution.

Something else that I want to quote in regards to Bible prophecy, and it is what the wonderful Joel Rosenberg recently stated last month:

“...the prime minister of Israel, Netanyahu, understands that there is an apocalyptic, genocidal death cult running Iran right now. They are determined to get the nuclear weapons and destroy Israel. (...) [To them] Israel is only the little Satan. The United States is the great Satan. And (...) the president of Iran and top leaders of Iran want to annihilate the United States. And the idea that we will drop this pre-condition and not force Iran to stop enriching uranium before we sit down and talk is a huge mistake. I would describe it as appeasement. The leaders of Iran believe that the end of the world is here. They believe that the Islamic Messiah, the Mahdi, or Thelfth Imam, is coming imminently, and they believe that their mission in life is to hasten, or speed up, the coming of the Islamic Messiah, by destroying Judeo-Christian civilization as we know it. We’ve never had any nation, ever, to have the ‘death cult’ features that Iran has now. The United States Administration does not realize this, and I believe that a train wreck is coming between the United States and Israel over how to handle Iran. This is the worst moment in U.S.-Israeli relations in 61 years. I’m an evangelical Christian and I believe in end times prophecy, but Jesus’s end time prophecy is that we’re supposed to go out and try and share the gospel and try to save tens of millions of people, whereas apocalyptic Shi’a Muslim end times theology says to kill all of the Jews and Christians or convert them to Islam, and that’s the danger, is that the current administration doesn’t understand it. (...) The American Government has to understand who is across the table, and they have to make a choice. The top experts believe that Iran will have nuclear weapons within a year or year and a half tops, so if you’re going to talk to them, you better understand who you’re dealing with, but personally, I believe we’re out of time, and North Korea is the evidence. We’ve been talking to North Korea, in six party talks, for ten years, and where are we? They have their first nuclear weapon tested. They have an intercontinental ballistic missile that they’ve tested. Fifteen Iranian Military advisors were at that launch last weekend, and now they’re starting their nuclear wars program. When you’re talking with two genocidal maniacs, talking won’t work, and unfortunately we are headed into war with Iran, and either the United States will launch it to protect western civilization or Israel will. Unless there’s an act of God, there's a crisis coming of Biblical proportions.”

And this insane maniac, Ahmadinejad, states that by creating an enormous war and killing as many Jews and Christians as possible (and whomever doesn't practice their religion) that that will suddenly spark the return of their "messiah" to come down and "finish the job" and then take the remaining individuals to the "after life." They believe that there has to be a vast array of blood-shed before their 'messiah' returns. So, if there are certain people out there that don't believe that these "genocidal maniacs" won't attempt to try and murder and destroy millions of people, then they have another thing coming. For those that are ready, however, do not have anything to worry about, because God has this all in the palms of his hands (he soothes all worries). The signs are all there. As one source states, "The Global Age is right upon us. It is on the horizon of our lifetime." Also:

"This New World Order" is not some prophetically speculative or futuristic fairy tale, but a real world reality. It is not some "wacko conspiracy theory" advanced by the fringe of society like the powers that be would have us believe. It is not a "conspiracy," rather it's an agenda. Anybody that will end their soma induced "holiday" and unplug from the delusional "matrix" will see the evidence all around them. It has been a long time in the making, its pieces fitting into place from divergent realms and different players. Gears and levers of history have been moved and adjusted, and a large-scale game of Monopoly has been played, with real currency and real assets shifting hands - a game with very real winners and losers. The players in this grand deception understand it is a dangerous and risky undertaking, for they are vastly outnumbered. If average Americans woke up and understood their true agenda, there would be an uprising of revolutionary proportions. Therefore, demonizing the opposition and controlling people through disinformation and fear is critical as they conceal their true agenda. Published government documents characterize patriots as terrorists and a threat to law enforcement. World economic systems are threatened with catastrophic consequences unless the international banksters are allowed to consolidate their power into a global banking system.

"It is well the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." - Henry Ford

Even though the power of a small group of International banksters is colossal today according to Harvard and Princeton professor emeritus, Carroll Quigley, they are finding it increasingly difficult to conceal their true nature. He said of this group:

"Their aim is nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. The system was to be controlled in a feudalistic fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences." (Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1966)

Alas, a New World Order.

While it is nearly impossible to accurately trace the interlocking agendas of these organizations, the supernatural dimension is the one that gives the puzzle meaning. While some may ascribe leadership of the New World Order to elitists's in the Bilderbergers, Trilateral Commission or Council of Foreign Relations, the truth is these people are mere pawns in a much grander agenda of the Antichrist.

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark of his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. [Revelation 13:16-17]

Scripture tells us of the establishment of a New World Order by the Antichrist in the last days. Indeed, the devil must have a dictatorial form of government if he is to rule the world. It is being slowly implemented in our governments through legislation and in our churches with a new spirituality until ultimately it will be in the hands of an elite of intelligent politically-connected religious-minded people in league with the Antichrist.

As mentioned, this is nothing to worry about if you follow Christ, because this is God's work, and he has given us these "warning signs" of prophecy to help us become more eager for his eventual return!

The clock is ticking!

Interventions: Ruth Claxton

Proof That We Were Made By A Creator (God), “A Question of Origins” (Completely Debunking/Destroying the Theory of Evolution):

If one watches this particular video with an open mind, then one will find that the proof is here that Evolution (Darwinism) is completely false. Being a believer of Creationism, one can believe in Creation and Science, because the Bible already provides details into our world (scientifically) before Scientists ever began experimenting with theories, &c.

For example:

Atomic Fission is mentioned in 2 Peter 3:10. Oceanic Currents are mentioned in Psalsm 8:8 and Isaiah 43:16. The Hydrologic Cycle is mentioned in Job 36:27 and Amos 9:6. The Jet Stream is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 1: 6, 7. Dinosaurs are versed in Job 40-41 and Psalms 74:14 and Innumerable Stars are versed in Jeremiah 33:22.

xxrrxnz & interconnections:

“Babe Ruth’s Legs”

When Babe Ruth got to be an older player in the latter years of his illustrious career, the managers would naturally have players pitch-run for The Bambino after he got on base, and the two most “famous” names that would often run for him were Myril Hoag and Sammy Byrd, and their nicknames became “Babe Ruth’s Legs.”

Birgit Jürgenssen

Many More Here.

DREAM

from The Vampyr (1932) by Carl Dreyer

I was at my Grandparents’ house (although it was as if it were a cross between being at my Grandparents’ house and somewhere else [obviously influenced by the subconsciousness of imagination]) and there was a film that being “worked on” in the area, although I wasn’t aware of exactly “where,” I just knew that it was close-by. I was in the living room, sitting on the couch, and the milkman that would often come into the store that I used to work at was standing directly above me, holding a manual-lighting candle (similar to a long-nozzled lighter). I was looking up at him, and suddenly he strikes the lighter and then holds the flame to my mouth, inches away from my lips, and says, “Blow it out.” So, I blow the flame out as he says. It is at this time that I have quite a peculiar feeling that he is the director of the film that is being made somewhere in the area, and then I began wondering if perhaps I am going to be involved in this film somehow.

CUT.

I follow the milkman into the kitchen. As he walks along, I continue to follow his lead until we make our way onto the back porch. As I walk out onto the back porch, I see my Grandmother standing in the kitchen watching me as I leave the vicinity. It is at this time when I think to myself that she is probably thinking to herself where I am going and what the milkman and I are up to. Alas, I continue out of the back door.

CUT.

I’m standing in the backyard with the milkman, facing towards the house. He is still holding the long-nozzled lighter (in his right hand). I continue to stand there silently in awe, watching as he strikes the lighter several times. As I continue to watch, I realize that he is now motioning for me to come closer to where he is (as if I weren’t already beside him). He says, “look over there” while pointing towards the right-side of the house where a hill is obscuring the body of an animal so that I can only see the animal’s tail (which appears to be a cat’s tail). He then blurts, “that’s the tail of a black bear.” Confused, I ponder it for a moment and then realize that it couldn’t be a bear’s tail, in which, at that time, a sudden fear washes over me; a wave of horrific emotions flooding my entire being. I kept thinking about how strange the situation was, considering the fact that black bears wouldn’t ever been seen in “these parts.” I really didn’t know what to do, but I was definitely certain that I had to see if indeed there was a black bear lurking about the front yard. At this time, the milkman had metamorphed into a yellow cat and was acting completely paranoid, his body low to the ground. I watched him as he bolted towards the left-side of the house, disappearing from my viewpoint. I then decided that I also needed to go into that same direction, while thinking that the bear would perhaps be walking towards that direction. With fear and desperation upon me, I began walking around towards the left-side of the house, and began making my way closer to the front yard. I slowed down as soon as I got to the corner of the house, in which I stopped and then peaked around into the front yard. Not to my amazement, there was indeed a large, black bear walking across the front yard and into my direction. At this time, I became even more horrified and I quickly turned around and ran back towards the opposite direction and back into the back yard. I thought to myself that I needed to get inside of the house as quickly as possible. As I entered the back yard, I quickly turned and ran up the stairs. As I made my way up the stairs, I noticed that the door was open and my Grandmother was sitting on the very top step, while a child was standing behind her saying something to her. When I made my way up to the top step where she was located, I told her what was going on, and at first she seemed perplexed by the way that I was acting, but I told her that there was absolutely no time to talk about anything because there was a large black bear in the area and we needed to get inside the house as soon as possible before the bear made its way into the back yard. As I was telling her all of this information, I kept imagining what would happen if the bear eventually got a hold of us, and the many horrible scenarios that would cost us our lives.

American Black Bear

Onésipe Aguado's "Woman Seen From Back"

In regards to the existence of God, atheism, birth pains, prophecy and more:

The Gate of Heaven by Mark Lawrence

One is either a person that claims to have “experienced” God and states that atheism is false because of that particular experience, or one is a person that claims to have had no experience of God, but says that “theism” (which is the belief in God) is ‘false’ because of their lack of experience. Now, one has to really ponder that for a moment, because is the “lack of experience” an excellent way to form a world view? — and in regards to atheism: this is nothing more than ignorance. Atheism/Evolution is something that Satan created to help steer people from God’s word and the reality of God, because Satan knows that God is real and he trembles when he even hears the word “God” or “Jesus” or anything in regards to it. Excellent quote: “Atheists try to make belief in God seem like something just to help people cope, but it is the exact opposite! They deny God to help them cope with the coming judgment. If you reject the supernatural, do not be surprised when the supernatural rejects you.” Basically, atheists believe that “in the beginning there was nothing, and nothing happened to nothing, until nothing exploded, and created everything. Then, the nothing that became everything magically rearranged itself for no reason into self-replicating complex life forms, that became intelligent beings that believed in God” — Makes enormous amounts of sense! (not). Satan believes his own lies (ouch), and is nothing more than a lying, cheating, evil presence in this world. However, the Word of God states that if we resist Satan, then he will flee from us! The bible states that if you seek God with the entirety of your being/existence (with an open mind and ready to learn), you will find him!

The following is a fabulous text that was written beautifully by a wonderful fellow on Youtube by the name of Shawn (a highly-knowledgable Christian), and someone asked him to explain “how” God has always ‘existed’ and this was his amazing response:

“Surely you can appreciate the difference between infinite, and eternal. Time may very well be infinite, but it can not be eternal. I will explain why. Eternal means without beginning, and without end. The implications of something being eternal is; it has always existed, and always will exist. Infinite means with beginning, but without end. The implications of something being infinite is; it began to exist, and then continues for infinity without end. Time can be infinite, but it can not be eternal, because time must have had a beginning, according to all forms of logic. We can go into this in depth if you wish. However, claiming God is infinite, but not eternal, is both heresy and illogical. The God of The Bible claims to be Eternal, without beginning or end. You asked where did God come from? Who created God? To be able to create something, you must exist inside of time. The act of creating itself is an act of time; something doesn’t exist, time passes, then it does. So it is an error placing God within time, because God exists outside of time. Time is a creation of God’s, and He is not restricted by it. In fact, you could say God exists without time, to be more accurate. Time is the measure of change, so that means God can not change, because He exists outside of time. This also means God can not be created, because creation is the result of time. If God exists outside of time, that means He always has existed, and always will exist. He is eternal, because timelessness dictates that no change is possible. However, scientists agree that before this universe, there was nothing. No matter, no time, no space. So the only way for ‘something’ to happen from a changeless, timeless reality, is for something to exist that is an uncaused cause, an unmovable mover, a creationless creator. God, never changing, always existing, created everything. There is no ‘before’ God, for God is the very Creator of the fabric of existence.”

I recently wrote and sent a letter (a message) to many, many people via email (some were family, some were friends, some were people that I had corresponded with years ago [gmail recognizing these things!] and some I do not know) and the letter was in regards to comments by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his proclaiming that Israel must be wiped off of the map and how these events are leading up to Ezekiel 38 (Ezekiel 37 has already been fulfilled) and many other things. Within four hours I received a kind response from Mia Moreno, which read:

Hi Derrick,

I read your message, and I appreciate being included in your mailing...
Also, I forwarded it to a few people who I care about, and included the following:

Hi there!

First of all, I’d like to say that this person Derrick, the fellow who sent me this email, is a fellow I have know through the net for going on about 4 years. He has always been very respectful and articulate, consistently communicating with me and others via visual medium juxtaposed with his words, based not only on his own imagery, but on the imagery and art from many mutual friends and colleagues. I have become familiar enough with him as a person to know that I respect him and his intelligence and have always felt he has important and relevant things to say.

Even if I am not into the Bible and it’s prophecies, something about this message which I just received brings fear into my heart, and suddenly I feel like I must share what I have just read with you.

Even if I have been floating around in the realm of my spirituality, my connection with God has not been severed, and I am still a believer.

One way or another, I think the following will be an interesting read. Feel free to pass it on. Awareness is strength, and can lead to peace.

Love,
Mia

This letter, of course, truly showed me how great the power of God is. I also received another two other emails which also mentioned my letter, which also filled me with joy. This was basically my response:

Now, to speak more in regards to the nucleus of my letter (prophecy), let me initially state that my message was most certainly not to “strike fear” into anyone’s hearts, nor to scare anyone! The reason why I say this is because God has already mapped out what is going to occur during these “last days” (which are truly shaping up precisely as is stated in the Bible!), so we, as Christians, can follow along with what is happening in the world today and see how it perfectly-aligns with the events that will be taking place and – not to make us FEAR or be FRIGHTENED by it – but to make us more EAGER for Christ’s return! God has it all in the palms of his hands, and he says not to worry about it whatsoever. Jesus is on the throne and everything will be alright! As said, the prophecies are there for us to become over-joyed by them (and not afraid of them!), because the quicker these things occur, the more we can see, know and realize that Christ’s return is right around the corner!

It’s interesting because many people will say, “Well, people have been saying that Jesus would be returning for 50+ years now!” or something to this effect (the objections are endless). However, at that time, the signs weren’t as supreme as they are now. At that time, say 50 years ago, there were “signs” (like wars [WWII had just passed if we’re speaking of the year 1949 here] and rumors of wars, which still exist today) and all of those signs were fulfilled. However, if one looks at today’s world, one can just ‘sense’ that there is something about to happen; that there is something that is about to take place! If one is familiar with the Bible speaking about how there will be a “one world government” (“new world order”) taking place in the ‘last days,’ this has already come to fruition, because it wasn’t long ago that Obama and others tossed this into the air (something of which will eventually occur). If you look at the American Military service, it is basically being used as a tool for globalists to force an international world government. This is just one of many signs that point towards the return of Christ, and I’m not afraid whatsoever, because God has it all in the palms of his hands, so why even worry? If one knows that they will be raptured up during that time, then I say, “Bring it on!” – take me away from this chaos, this sin-filled world! Just think, once you get to heaven, you will have a “glorified body” and you will be free of worry, frustration, pains of every dimension, heartache, confusion, loss of all kinds, &c., &c. ... and I say the quicker it happens, the better!

*

Also, in regards to the sudden outbreak of “swine flu,” this is yet another example of the “birth pains” that the world is going through at the moment, and is another “sign” that one cannot ignore, which also fits with bible prophecy. This article speaks brilliantly about swine flu and bible prophecy ... Here.

Notice what it says there at the end:

There is reason to anticipate even more serious pandemics in the future.

God has promised blessings, including protection, for those who love and obey Him. But Bible prophecy predicts eventual punishment for nations that turn their backs on God and His Word—a trend that is becoming all too common in our modern society.

Those divine punishments for not keeping “all the words of this law that are written in this book” will include “extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses” (Deuteronomy 28:58-59).

But the most important thing you can do is to have faith in God and rely on Him to be your Protector and Savior. Consider the reassuring words of Psalm 91 that describe how God is able to protect those who obey Him from the heart in all circumstances:

“Surely He shall deliver you...from the perilous pestilence… You shall not be afraid...of the pestilence... A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you… No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:3-10).

R.A. Torrey

The Obama Deception

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)

If you’re like moi, there are those certain films that are incredibly-strange in an incredibly-absurd way, and then there are those certain films that are incredibly-strange in a darkly-comical way (ie: often referred to as a “dark comedy” per se), and then there are those incredibly-strange films that have a bit of weirdness, absurdity, dark comedy mixed into them, with also a child-like adventure-story intertwined, with also a bit of surrealistic-juice just waiting to be “chugged down” one’s visual and mental esophagus. Chalk up one for the “musical-fantasy,” as well, and you have the incredibly-delightful film, “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.”

Tommy Rettig as Bart

To be wiki’d or not to be wiki’d, but here is the basic ‘elements’: The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. is a 1953 musical fantasy film. It is best known for being the only feature film ever written by Theodor Seuss Geisel (“Dr. Seuss”), who was responsible for the story, screenplay, and lyrics. It was directed by Roy Rowland. The film was re-released in 1958 under the title Crazy Music. And the Wiki’d plot: “(...) revolves around young Bart Collins, who lives with his widowed mother Heloise. The major blight on Bart’s existence is the hated piano lessons he is forced to endure under the tutelage of the autocratic Dr. Terwilliker. Bart feels that his mother has fallen under Terwilliker's sinister influence, and gripes to visiting plumber August Zabladowski, without much result. While grimly hammering away at his lessons, Bart dozes off and enters a fantastical musical dream, in much the same fashion as Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. (This film differs from the The Wizard, however, in that the audience is certain from the outset that the story is a dream.)

Beautifully-designed, Surreal sets

In the dream, Bart is trapped at the surreal Terwilliker Institute, where the piano teacher is now a madman dictator who has locked up all non-piano-playing musicians in a dungeon and constructed a piano so large that it requires Bart and 499 other enslaved boys (the aforementioned 5,000 fingers) in order to play it. Bart's mother has been turned into Terwilliker’s hypnotized assistant and bride-to-be, and Bart must dodge the Institute’s guards (including the dungeon’s singing elevator operator and a pair of roller-skating Siamese twins joined at their beards) as he scrambles to save both his mother and himself. He tries to recruit Mr. Zabladowski, who has been hired to install all of the Institute’s sinks ahead of a vital inspection, but only after much skepticism and foot-dragging is the plumber finally convinced to help. The two of them empty their pockets and construct a noise-sucking contraption which ruins the mega-piano’s opening concert. The enslaved boys cheerfully run riot, and the “VERY atomic” noise-sucker explodes in spectacular fashion, bringing Bart out of his dream.

The movie ends on a hopeful note for Bart, when the real-life Mr. Zabladowski finally notices Heloise, and offers to drive her into town in his jeep. Bart escapes from the piano, and triumphantly runs off to play.”

I recall seeing this film for the first time several years ago and falling in love with it. The surrealism of it is quite fabulous, and the dreamy-settings and peculiarisms are all manifested perfectly within the “plot.” I’ve never particularly been a fan of musicals (although I do adore the wonderful “Umbrellas of Cherbourg” for it’s dynamically-unique scenes and vibrant colorscapes!), but this isn’t a hatching cliche’-egg by any means.

Dr. T

Montage theory: Eisenstein, Vertov, & Hitchcock 1: Eisenstein & montage

from North by Northwest by Hitchcock,
the United Nations sequence

Theories in film has always fascinated me. I recently came across this interesting site which discusses three montage theories. Here is the first:

“Montage--juxtaposing images by editing--is unique to film (and now video). During the 1920s, the pioneering Russian film directors and theorists Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov demonstrated the technical, aesthetic, and ideological potentials of montage. The ‘new media’ theorist Lev Manovich has pointed out how much these experiments of the 1920s underlie the aesthetics of contemporary video.

Eisenstein believed that film montage could create ideas or have an impact beyond the individual images. Two or more images edited together create a “tertium quid” (third thing) that makes the whole greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Eisenstein’s greatest demonstration of the power of montage comes in the “Odessa Steps” sequence of his 1925 film Battleship Potemkin. On the simplest level, montage allows Eisenstein to manipulate the audience’s perception of time by stretching out the crowd’s flight down the steps for seven minutes, several times longer than it would take in real time:”

The rapid progression and alternation of images gives a sensational event even greater visceral impact:

More of this first page Here. The other two pages, Here and Here.

The Kuleshov Effect

“Kuleshov edited a short film in which shots of the face of Ivan Mozzhukhin (a Tsarist matinee idol) are alternated with various other shots (a plate of soup, a girl, an old woman’s coffin). The film was shown to an audience who believed that the expression on Mozzhukhin’s face was different each time he appeared, depending on whether he was “... Read Morelooking at” the plate of soup, the girl, or the coffin, showing an expression of hunger, desire or grief respectively. Actually the footage of Mozzhukhin was identical, and rather expressionless, every time it appeared. Vsevolod Pudovkin (who later claimed to have been the co-creator of the experiment) described in 1929 how the audience “raved about the acting.... the heavy pensiveness of his mood over the forgotten soup, were touched and moved by the deep sorrow with which he looked on the dead woman, and admired the light, happy smile with which he surveyed the girl at play. But we knew that in all three cases the face was exactly the same.””

The afternoon of May 2, 2009 (and others):

Levan Tchogoschvili, Mischtechnik

I love pin-pointing my “living space” on a weather radar map and viewing where rain exists or doesn’t exist during a thunderstorm, and as of this moment, the ground is silver, or the concrete, rather, and clear-sky is hiding behind ominous-cloudscapes, and the stars are shuffling their feet, a “touching tale,” a “particularly memorable” non-cynical season of May (Actionscope!) — and the rain tumbles and mumbles and slips and slides (water parks of nature — I miss swimming) and in the meantime, my glasses slip off of my nose; my head peels with dead skin, sun-burn has ceased, skin browner, tanner, obscure conglomerates, probably slept in a puddle of my own dead skin. I say a prayer of thanksgiving every morning as soon as I wake. Nothing is ever vivid anymore (thunder growls in the distance). Nothing to worry about (thunder moans, as if echoing, in the distance). Coffee has traveled to deepest core (BM already pleasure’d) and Hmm, the hum of a ‘calling’ and my soul, spirit and body has been loosened up, like a tie of a man who has come home from a hard day’s work. Every day is an Eisenstein feature. The animated fruit of my existence sings with joy; an indescribable sensation. Inexplicit film-action, this is. No describing words, nothing. Nothing, no, nothing. Unique segments identified only by the riches of my eagerness. I sing and sing and sing.


Interesting quotes:

“Since our awareness of others is considered our duty, the price we pay when things go wrong is guilt and self-hatred. And things always go wrong. We respond with apologies; we continue to apologize long after the event is forgotten — and even if it had no casual relation to anything we did to begin with.” (Nancy Chodorow)

“I shatter everyone who hates you.” “Train your mind to confess what you see as poetry.” Obsession over one’s body is a dead end. “The Word of God is offensive to the world.” “Integrity has no rules.”

* “Do you see anything outrageous?”
* “I wouldn’t say outrageous. It’s more like ironic.”

Woman on the Moon about to be swept off her feet by a Flying Bald Man
By F. Lennox Campello

Convolvulus sepium is said be poisonous to swine:

Random found images:

Vitto Acconci