I’m currently reading the Book of Revelation, written by John of Patmos. In Chapter 1, John recounts that
On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” (NIV)
Seven churches? Seven Churches is the debut album by death metal band Possessed. It is regarded by many as the first album in the genre. Indeed, it was Possessed’s bassist/vocalist Jeff Becerra who originally coined the term “death metal” in 1983 for a high school English class assignment. I didn’t know that the album was named after the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Until now …
The Book of Revelation belongs to a genre of literature known as the apocalypse, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. As such, its meaning is open to interpretation.
The Zondervan NIV Study Bible tells us that
Interpreters of Revelation normally fall into four groups:
1. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.
2. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.
3. Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
4. Idealists view it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.
On an historicist interpretation, we are now living in the era of Laodicea, and approaching the end of history. And spelled out in John’s letter to the church in Laodicea, which Jesus dictates, is the big problem of Christianity and Christians today.
We are lukewarm. We are indifferent. This is especially the case in the affluent West. We feel that we are spiritually rich and need nothing when, in fact, we are spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
We desperately need to be shaken out of our complacency. And what better way to shake ourselves out of our complacency than to listen to some brutal death metal?
Death metal is seen by many Christians as Satanic. Certainly, there’s no denying that it sometimes seems that way! (Death metal should not be confused with black metal, which *is* Satanic.) Personally, I regard death metal as simply another musical genre. But I would like to lay on the table a theory for your consideration, the theory being that God has had a hand in the development of the genre since its inception. Make of this theory what you will, but I, for one, find it curious that the first track on the very first death metal album, a song about an exorcism, includes the following lyrics.
Possessed by evil hell
Satan’s wrath will kill
He will take your soul
Cast you to hell …
I can see the light
I don’t want to burn
Help me save my soul
Let me live
Your curse is not my fear
Demons within me hear
I will escape your wrath …
Demons in my body gone
Sicken thoughts left beyond
Haunted by evil memories
Nightmares and sin …
Exorcism takes control
Beneath my body help my soul
Save my soul from evil hell
Your spell is lost
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (NIV)
Richard Feynman (May 11, 1918 – February 15, 1988)
Scientist, genius, agnostic and freedom-lover.
A very fundamental part of my soul is to doubt and to ask. And when you doubt and ask it gets a little harder to believe.
You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things but I’m not absolutely sure of anything and in many things I don’t know anything about such as whether it means anything to ask, why are we here? And what the question might mean. I might think about it a little bit if I can’t figure it out then I go to something else.
But I don’t have to know an answer. I don’t have to. I don’t feel frightened by not knowing things. By being lost in a mysterious universe without having any purpose which is the way it really is as far as I can tell.
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, and rather than emulate its Fate China has un-officially abandoned Communism.
Today Western Social Democracies teeter on the brink of financial collapse, being brought to ruin by essentially the same insane Socialist statism as their Communist cousins, their slower demise being prolonged only by the lesser degree of their socialist zeal.
These are monumental events in history which have given many Libertarian Capitalists the hope better days are on the horizon, assuming a Global community of Free societies must rise in consequence of the inexorable march of Human progress, yet it has occurred to me that History portents a far more grim possibility… The Rise of the Anti Christ.
Who, you may ask but a lunatic could believe such a wild and terrible fate awaits us?
I am no Mad man. I am a realist.
To make my point I direct your attention to the chaos of Post world war 1 Germany and the rise of Adolf Hitler, A man whom may be said to be an almost perfect Pattern for Satans Man of Sin.
When you examine the circumstances which brought Hitler to power, you see that he took advantage of a time of great upheaval and Chaos and that The Foolish masses looked to his leadership as to a Messiah. Post WW1 Germany was in ruin. They suffered defeat, and the burden of War reparations imposed upon them by their conquerors. On top of this Germany was delt a second blow… The great financial collapse of the Late 1920s called the Great Depression. Germany was in Dire straits, and this was the perfect opportunity for Hitler to Lie his way into power. Weakened by Poverty and bleak prospects, the gullible Germans swallowed The lies Hitler peddled, promising them He would drag Germany out of the gutter and make them rulers of the world, if they will only give him the Power and authority to achieve it.
Hitler blamed the Jews as the chief cause of Germanys woes.
According to Hitler the Jews were trying to take over the World. This was a popular delusion of the era. He blamed the Jews for the defeat of Germany, for the rise of Communism, and for engineering the great depression.
The AntiChrist too will revive a fanatical Anti Semitism.
It was Hitler who had ambitions to rule the world!
In my view there are many ominous parallels to be drawn from the Germany that elected Adolf Hitler, to the present state of things in the world.
In my view The Stage is set for the Rise of the Antichrist.
Islamic terrorism has spread paranoia against religious liberty.
Though the Global financial collapse is the fruit of Socialist regulations, and meddling, the vast percentage of the human race have been deceived into thinking the collapse is to be blamed upon too much freedom, and upon rabid capitalism.
These are Perfect lies upon which The Antichrist may appear as a savior…riding his white horse, and take command of the entire global economy and put an end to all religious liberty.
The Book of Revelation tells us a Hitler-like Politician shall arise and shall rule the world. He shall command that no man will be allowed to buy or sell except they receive ‘the mark of the Beast,’ and that all whom refuse to worship his image…shall be killed.
Everything is falling into place for this Anti Freedom, Totalitarianism to occur.
Untold Millions will die!
Billions will recieve the mark…and be Damned!
Events such as the ‘Arab Spring’ in the Middle East are making the idea of a world government more plausible, and as unlikely as the mark of the beast may at first appear other strange/ frightening things are afoot that ought to send chills down ours spines eg. India is instituting a program to scan the retinas of every Indian citizen to put it into a Database. The justification is that this program will help the poor, prevent crime, cut down upon welfare fraud, and prevent government corruption ( That’s a classic! They are selling the greatest Government encroachment and violation of personal privacy… as an act of anti corruption!) Gullible fools will swallow these pretexts, and willingly submit themselves to this monstrous program, and when enough have subjected themselves voluntarily, it will be an easy thing to compel the rest under the pretext that those whom refuse are criminals and public enemies.
This is happening right now!
Yes Folks we are witnessing the fulfillment of Biblical prophesy before our very eyes.
Let me tell ya some good news… you can stop worrying about the Mayan calendar and the 2012 end of the world, I can assure you The world will still be here in 2013, unfortunately the bad news is this does not get us off the hook! The Bible tells us the most terrible period in human history lies ahead of us. Jesus warned that this period is going to be so terrible that unless God intervenes, no life will remain. (This Dispensation called The great tribulation is 7 years long)
When 2013 dawns Mockers will take this as a sign the all religion is BS. They will harden their hearts and say to themselves that the Bible is no better than these Mayan myths..
St Peter says…
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” 2 Pete 1vs 19.
As a Christian saved by the grace of God I have no fear of going through this terrible age of tribulation. The Bible says that before this terrible time begins a very special day must first take place. It is the day that the current Christian Dispensation of grace ends, and God removes ‘the saved’ so that this terrible time of wickedness and judgment may fall upon all whom rejected the Gospel of grace. This special day is called The Day Of Redemption, and the event whereby the saved are taken up to meet Christ their savior is called the Rapture. After this day Salvation will not be a free gift, but will require strict obedience to righteousness, It will require enduring unto the end…refusing the Mark of the Beast, etc This Terrible time of Satanic rule and Divine judgment will only be brought to an end by the return Of Jesus Christ as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
You can avoid this terrible time, and to be saved from Judgment for your sins, by simply calling upon the name of Jesus Christ, accepting The gospel message that when he went to the cross that he paid the penalty for your sins, and trust in the scriptures testimony that he rose from the dead in victory over sin and death.
Humbug you say?
That’s what many fools would have thought when Noah warned them that God was going to destroy the world by Flood!
I know many people who read this will say in their hearts that the Bible is just a big fat man made lie. They will tell themselves the Bible is beyond belief.
To that the scriptures speak for themselves… “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God” (Psalm 14vs1) . And again “Professing themselves to be wise; they became fools” (Rom1vs22). And again “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Cor2vs14).
Many reading this will think I am a complete fool to believe the Bible is truly the Word of God. I feel sorry for you, and yet though I must bare your reproach, I trust in Christ. I have faith that one day He will have the glory on Earth he deserves, and my zealous testimony for Christ shall in that day be vindicated.
Today you still have a chance to be saved! No man knows the Day or the hour that these Biblical events shall take place. Christians have been waiting 2000 years.
God is staying his hand, yet the hour of the rapture is drawing closer and closer… so too cometh the end of all the Human manufactured Madness and misery. We shall see christ in all his Glory… He will come as a thief in the Night. As it was in the days of Noah. People were eating and drinking. Marrying and giving in marriage, until Noah entered the Ark and the flood came…
Are you ready?
Tim Wikiriwhi
Wikipedia is blacked out globally for 24 hours to protest SOPA and PIPA. Wikipedia says
The originally proposed bill would allow the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as copyright holders, to seek court orders against websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.
A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him. He had a vision in his head of God’s hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. The water started to rise in his house. His neighbour urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.” The neighbour drove off in his pick-up truck.
The man continued to pray and hold on to his vision. As the water began rising in his house, he had to climb up to the roof. A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.
The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The flood waters continued to rise. A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left. The flooding water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.
When he reached heaven and asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?” God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?”
Suppose you board a bus with a suicide bomber. At the appointed stop, the suicide bomber pulls the cord to detonate the belt of explosives around her waist, hidden under her jacket … and nothing happens. She lives to die another day. No one on the bus, including you, is any the wiser. There are no victims that day. But a crime has been committed. Attempted murder is a serious crime. A victimless crime, but a serious crime, nonetheless.
If you drive home blind drunk at 150 kph, with your children unseatbelted in the back and passenger seats, and you’re fortunate enough that there is no oncoming traffic on the several occasions when you veer into the other lane … and you and your children arrive home safely … it’s a victimless crime. But a crime has been committed. Driving while drunk is a crime. A victimless crime, but a crime, nonetheless.
There are obvious differences between the two cases. The suicide bomber intends to initiate lethal force against others, and the odds of success are relatively high. Whereas the drunk driver does not have murderous intent, and the odds of killing anyone are relatively low.
There are laws against attempted murder and laws against drunk driving. As there should be. But why?
Some libertarians get themselves into a tangle trying to justify a prohibition on drunk driving. At first glance, the non-initiation of force (NIOF) principle seems insufficient to justify a law against drunk driving. The drunk driver who arrives home safely does not, and does not intend to, initiate force against other road users. A common libertarian perspective is one where drunk driving is seen as a breach of contract between the road user and the road owner. In a libertarian utopia, roads are privately owned, and the road owner sets the terms of road use. When it’s in the commercial interests of road owners to offer safe passage to road users (as, almost invariably, it will be), sobriety will be a contractual obligation. Take this perspective, and you get the right answer … but for the wrong reason.
Drunk driving is wrong, not because it is a breach of contract (implicit in the case of our state-operated roads), but because it endangers the lives of others. It’s really quite simple. There ought to be a law against drunk driving because there ought to be a law against endangering the lives of others.
Please note carefully. In cases where it is other adults only whose lives are endangered, and those adults have consented to having their lives endangered, no laws should apply.
Roads are dangerous places. When I go for a drive, I’m endangering my own life and that of others, simply by being behind the wheel, sober or otherwise. But there ought to be no law against driving per se, even though such a law would dramatically lower the road toll. But why not?
It’s really quite simple. It’s a matter of degree. The question is, where to draw the line? And the answer is, at 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
The above figure is arbitrary, and blood alcohol level is only a proxy for driver impairment, but this approach to endangerment is right in principle. Importantly, we can quantify the risk that a driver who has been drinking poses to other road users. We can multiply the chances of a fatal collision by the number of lives lost in the collision and come up with a number. And we can set a threshold. If the number is over the threshold, you’re too drunk to legally drive. If the number is below the threshold, it’s legal to risk getting behind the wheel.
We can apply the principle of an endangerment threshold to other issues, including the issue of parents endangering the lives of their children: allowing their children to climb trees, be vaccinated, be unvaccinated, ride bikes without helmets, travel to dangerous countries, sail, eat food cooked on an unlicensed Komodo Kamado or have their children live with them in Lyttelton houses in danger of being flattened by falling boulders.
In all cases, the same endangerment threshold should apply. Is the risk of staying with your children in your Lyttelton house more or less than driving them to safety after you’ve had one drink too many?
