I believe that many (not all) of the social ills of this world are a result of the megatrend towards urbanization - and all that it entails. Living in large metropolitan centers changes the way people think - and vote. You can see the results of that in almost every provincial, state, or federal […]
October 2024 (11)
Tuesday, October 29 2024
Urbanization - is not what the Lord has in mind for us
Tuesday, October 29 2024.
Monday, October 28 2024
The first recorded words...
Monday, October 28 2024.
Wouldn't it be cool if you could have access to some of the first words ever recorded? Moses recorded the first five books of our current canon of Scripture - the Pentateuch. There were about twenty generations from Adam to Abraham. And then another six generations from Abraham to Moses: Isaac -> […]
Friday, October 25 2024
BRICS Enlargement
Friday, October 25 2024.
The BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia ended yesterday. I mentioned earlier this year that in the effort to maintain cohesiveness, there were plans to limit the number of full members. New countries would be added as partner states. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) were the […]
Monday, October 21 2024
the resurrection of the dead
Monday, October 21 2024.
There's this assumption that the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was something new - introduced by Jesus. Yes, He was the firstfruits of those who have been "raised from the dead". see: The Firstfruits, Sheol, and His coming Jesus became the "Lamb of God" that would take […]
Sunday, October 20 2024
Democracy Index
Sunday, October 20 2024.
The Democracy Index published by the Economist Group is an index measuring the quality of democracy across the world. This quantitative and comparative assessment is centrally concerned with democratic rights and democratic institutions. Among other things, the index is an assesment of: […]
Thursday, October 17 2024
The aftermath of the resurrection
Thursday, October 17 2024.
For context, see: "the dead in Christ will be first, then we who are alive" We know from earlier statements given by Paul that at the resurrection event, the dead (asleep) in Christ will rise first and then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the […]
Wednesday, October 16 2024
He will dwell with us - on earth
Wednesday, October 16 2024.
"While angels arguably were designed to spend at least some of their time in the third heaven, humans were not. The first and last chapters of the Bible make it clear that God has come to dwell with us on earth. If your aim has been to spend eternity in heaven, I hope you will give up on that […]
"the dead in Christ will be first, then we who are alive"
Wednesday, October 16 2024.
I have a pretty good idea how beliefs regarding the current state of the dead and the resurrection got so muddled. Greek philosophy and influence permeated the church around the fourth and fifth centuries. If you think the souls of the dead in Christ are currently floating around in some kind of an […]
Sunday, October 13 2024
Aramaic Enoch Scroll
Sunday, October 13 2024.
We may live to see the The Book of Enoch bumped up to a whole new level of credibility. There have been rumors for years now that a truly ancient copy of this book exists as part of a Dead Sea Scrolls private collection. According to the former chief editor of the official Dead Sea Scrolls editorial […]
Friday, October 11 2024
Marching Toward Violence
Friday, October 11 2024.
And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. Rev 6:3-4 In the sixth […]
Tuesday, October 1 2024
Irenaeus - on the state of the dead
Tuesday, October 1 2024.
I believe "progressives" like Augustine (and their Greek influence) had a lot to do with shaping ideas about the current state of the dead and for "spiritualizing" away the nature of the kingdom. The contrast between people like Augustine (4th century) and lets say Irenaeus (2nd […]