What exactly does it mean to have a culture of violence?

There is literally no escape from the inevitable touch of violence, and like death’s merciless and icy grip, there seems to be no way to avoid being touched by it in some way. But before one gives in to the dark clutches of despair and futility, perhaps the thinking about “violence” needs to be reexamined from another perspective that is basic to its intrinsic nature; the propensity to which all living things are imbued with. The first thing to realize is that violence is not a social phenomenon, cultural pathology, or moral transgression. In its basic and primordial essence, it is the natural and instinctual struggle for survival, and as such, human life or any other type could never come into existence. It might be easy to blame the media or entertainment industry for the upsurge in violence but our prehistoric and ancient ancestors seemed to have done a pretty good job of killing and waging war, even making other civilizations and cultures extinct without having the advantage of being exposed to modern technology. Let’s just see what the Bible has to say about the subject of violence.

Isaiah 51: 9b
Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, Who pierced the monster through?

Psalms 74: 13b-14
You broke the heads of the monster in the [cosmic] waters. It was You who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.

NOTE: This is poetic imagery taken from earlier pagan mythology about the Creation and the struggle against monstrous and violent cosmic forces [Rahab] in making the universe.

Genesis 4: 6a, 7b
The LORD said to Cain, “But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it’s desire is to have you, but you must master it.”

NOTE: This is probably the most overlooked, and yet, the most revealing lines of text in the Bible-one of those precious spiritual gems of great value and of which contains invaluable or immensurable truth. According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the word (de)sire is derivative of sidero/sidereal-‘astral’ (Latin astrum [“star”]; Gr. astrom- relating to or coming from the stars. Next, the word (m)aster comes from Latin aster; Gr. aster (“star”). The Biblical narrative tells the story how Cain killed Abel after getting into an argument with him.

Now keeping in mind the root words for ‘desire’ and ‘master’ presented in the dictionary,

Genesis 3: 19b
For dust you are and back into dust will you return.

NOTE: Astrophysicists, Cosmologists, and scientists in related fields of study engaged in researching the origins of the universe and the existence biologic life on earth, have concluded that it originated from n interstellar dust cloud in some far distant galaxy. This seems to greatly support the pronouncement by God that Adam [human race] was created from and will return back to the substance that God created and formed Adam from, namely [star] dust. Metaphysicians claim that the only existence possible consists of energy and consciousness, and I wonder if this is possibly what is meant by Genesis 1: 27, where God [Heb. Elohim] creates Adam [man/mankind] in the image and likeness of Elohim.

Let’s consider a very interesting passage found in the Bible.

Revelation 12: 7, 8, 9b
And there was war [violence] in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. That great dragon was hurled down. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

NOTE: It was a battle of unimaginable proportions and the unleashing of cosmic forces/energy beyond human comprehension. I can also imagine that the crash landing by the dragon [Satan] and his angels after their defeat in the celestial war was none too gentle.

So to wrap it up then, the cause of violence is ingrained and has nothing to do with morality because it is amoral forces or energy but it is a moral choice [based upon societal norms and values] to commit a violent act, either for good or for harm/evil. It is not an unsolvable dilemma and there is hope because Jesus told His disciples in John 16: 6 “In this world you will have trouble but take heart, for I have overcome [mastered the world]. Isn’t this the very word that Cain was told, that he must overcome the desire/urge to do wrong, that we must become the master over our impulses and inclinations? The cause is supernatural and the cure must also be supernatural because human effort, no matter how good it is, doesn’t tame, neither mortify the deeds of the fierce LEO within each of us, but salvation can only by faith in the Lamb [ARIES] of God who gave Himself as a ransom for our sins by shedding His precious blood on the Cross of Crucifixion. The apostle James sums it up nicely: What causes fights and quarrels among you, don’t they come from your desires that battle (wage war) within you [your mind]? You want [desire] something but you don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot [do not] have what you want [desire] (Cp. James 4: 1-2a).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt b11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 11, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Do angels really have wings?

Angels are supernatural beings that help administer the government of God throughout the universe, including earth, and are almost always depicted as having wings; whether in art or based upon the recollection of dreams and visions. Angel is more of a generic term, though, because there are several classes of them, but the question that remains to be answered in this study is whether the angels that are usually associated with appearing to humans, do indeed have wings.

 
1 Kings 8: 7
The cherubim spread their wings over the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.

NOTE: This involves the symbolic representation of the creatures that overshadowed the mercy seat in the Ark of the Covenant.

Isaiah 6: 2
Above the LORD were the seraphs, each with six wings, with two wings they covered their faces, with two wings they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Ezekiel 1: 4b-9a
The center of the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their forms were like that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed [shone] like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, and their wings touched each other.

NOTE: These four living creatures are mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Daniel 4: 17
The decision is announced by the Watchers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men. . .

Zechariah 5: 9
Then I looked up- and before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

Revelation 8: 13a
As I watched, I heard an angel that was flying in mid heaven call out with a loud voice. . .

Revelation 14: 6a
Then I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-


NOTE: It does not say anything about either angel having wings. So, to sum it all up then, in all the instances where an angel appears to humans, no matter how awesome their appearance [like lightning, radiant, and clothing imbued with divine light, etc.] no mention is made of having wings. I would think that such an important detail like that would fail to be omitted if it were true and factual.

Lastly, the angel Gabriel flew very quickly to the prophet Daniel while he was praying around the time of the evening sacrifice (Cp. Daniel 9: 21), but it didn’t describe that the angel had wings. Sometimes “wings” can be used metaphorically, like coming on the ‘wings’ of the wind to mean that the person came in a hurry; which was probably the case with the angel Gabriel’s urgent rush to be sent by God to instruct Daniel. Angelic baby cherubs with wings and golden hair or adult ones with strong and powerful wings like those of Asgardian Valkyries may exist in dreams, fantasy, the imagination and folklore of Northern European and Scandinavian legends, Western European Greek or Roman mythologies, as well as those in Asia and probably Africa, but the Bible is silent on winged angels that any Bible personage tells us about, specifically.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 10, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Jesus Christ and the identity of God

This is a millennia old debate regarding the divinity of Jesus in relation to that of God the Father. The first thing that must be considered is that the word or term ‘God’ is not a personal noun for the name of deity but rather a descriptive title as it pertains to essential nature or attribute. A careful reading of Scripture reveals the recurring use of special cognates or root words associated with God/LORD, the earliest being Elohim/El and then subsequently Yahuwah/Yahushua. Instead the usual starting place in the Book of Genesis or the gospel of John, perhaps a good place to begin this study is Deuteronomy 32: 7-8, which reads as follows: Remember the days of old, consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain it to you. When the Most High [Heb, ‘El’yon] gave the nations their inheritance (Cp. Genesis 10: 1-32), when He divided all mankind [sons of Adam]. He set up boundaries for the people according to the number of the sons of Israel [Heb. translation bene elim (“sons of God”). For the portion of the LORD (Heb. Yahuwah) is His people, Jacob (Israel) is the allotment of His inheritance.

NOTE: The narrative in Genesis chapter 10 lists about seventy nations that the sons of God were to administer over as an inheritance from El-yon (The Most High), and Yahuwah was among them.

Matthew 1: 21b, 23b

You are to give Him the mane Jesus [Heb. Yahushua], because He will save His people (Jacob/Israel) from their sins. And they shall call His name Immanuel (Heb. Imanu ‘El), which is interpreted, [the God] (Heb. ha ‘El) with us.

NOTE: Yahushua (‘Yah’ saves), which is derived from the root word in Hebrew “shua” meaning, to save; protect; or rescue. Also, Jesus is the El/(elohim) with or among us.

Luke 1: 31-32, 35b
And behold, you (Mary) shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name [Jesus] (Heb. Yahushua). He shall be great and be called the Son (Heb. ben) of the Most High (Heb. ‘El‘yon), and God (Heb. Yahuwah ‘Elohim) shall give Him the throne of His father David. The power of the Most High (Heb. ‘El’yon) shall overshadow (come upon) you, and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God (Heb. ha’ Elohim).

NOTE: Just like the divine company mentioned in Deuteronomy 32: 7-8.

John 1: 1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [the] God (Heb. ha Elohim), and the Word was God (Heb. Elohim). He was in the beginning with the Elohim (God). All things came into existence through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into existence that has come into existence.

NOTE: These verses say that, if you include verse 9, that Jesus was not only Elohim but was also with [other] Elohim in the beginning.

1 Corinthians 8: 5-6

For if there are so-called gods/deities (Heb. elohim) whether in heaven or on earth, (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”); yet for us there is but one God (Heb. El) the Father, from whom all things came. . . and there is but one LORD Jesus Christ (Heb. Yashua haMashiyach) through whom all things came. . .

1 Timothy 6: 15b-16

God, who is the blessed and only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and LORD of lords, Who alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light, who no one has seen or can see. To Him be glory (honor) and might forever.

NOTE: This does not apply to Jesus (Cp. John 1: 14, 18)

Jude 25a

To the only God [Heb. ha Elohim/the El or God] our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our LORD (Yahushua haMashiyach). . 

 

Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt B11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 7, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com

 

 

A perspective on the movie “Left Behind”

I recently watched the movie “Left Behind” which is the latest installment of Christian evangelism and eschatological genre about the end of the world. The main point of this cinematic drama is when Christians around the world suddenly disappear after a loud noise is heard, leaving behind their clothes and other personal belongings. Of course, all babies are gone, too. There are reports of pilotless planes, automobiles, and other vehicles crashing all around as well as looting, wide scale panic, and so on. This a basic snapshot that the film centers on as far as what is expected to happen according to the traditional interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17, which most evangelical and charismatic believing Christians subscribe to. Since this passage is the foundation of such a viewpoint it should be reviewed in some detail. Several things are worth noting: 1) The LORD comes down from heaven and issues a loud command/voice of an archangel/trump of God (v. 16); dead believers in Christ will arise from their graves first (v. 16); those who are alive/still living will be caught up together [“raptured”] with them [the formerly dead saints who believed in Christ and are resurrected and transformed] in the clouds to meet the LORD [Jesus Christ] in the sky (v. 17).

Now, with all that information it is time to incorporate other biblical texts into this scenario. In 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 it states that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him, which seems to be different from what is mentioned in verse 16. Also, in Philippians 1: 23 the Apostle Paul wrote about departing (dying) and being with the LORD, or putting it another way, being absent from the body is to be at home with Christ. Jesus, Luke 23: 42-42, tells the believing thief who hung next to Him on a cross that the person would be with Him in paradise today. Another rendering which seems the more plausible is that the thief was told today that he would be with Jesus in paradise (in the future). Either the person who dies believing in Jesus as the Savior/Messiah goes to be with the LORD in death or are still in the grave [ashes to ashes and dust to dust], or they are not; it cannot be both. Perhaps I am digressing a bit but one could ask about the Jewish patriarchs who died before they even heard about Jesus, or believed or understood about the coming Messiah who would redeem them from sin, not from the yoke of a foreign (pagan) nation’s occupation army.

Getting back to the subject at hand, let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12 where the Apostle Paul picks up this point again, but I want to look at a few critical verses here, too: the day [the LORD’s return/ “Rapture”] WILL NOT COME until the rebellion comes, and the Man of lawlessness/rebellion/sin be revealed (v. 3); the Man will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God, or is worshipped [as God] (v. 4); he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (v. 4).

NOTE: Is the temple in existence today? I guess it will be restored again by the time of the end, though. Also, in that same Thessalonian epistle it says that the mystery of iniquity was already at work then, so it has taken over two thousand years before it finally reaches completion? Additionally, for such a person to be a God impersonator requires some kind of seemingly miracle working power, which fits nicely with the rest of the chapter as well as in the book of Revelation chapter 13 or 19.

Another point, just as important, is that there might not be that many Christians raptured to meet Jesus in the air simply because only a small percentage are actually all that faithful anyway, although they may be very religious and zealous in church attendance, tithing, singing in the choir, and doing acts of benevolence or Christian service or ministry. A lot of us may simply be convinced that Jesus is the Savior but we have not been converted nor had a “real” and personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Luke 13: 22-24 mentions about “few” that will be saved. I am not sure how many Christians will be absent from unmanned transportation vehicles or critical systems that will result in some kind of apocalyptic nightmare scenario of death and destruction.

There might not be a whole lot of us viewing the earth in flames from of pristine vantage point in the clouds, with our newly clothed immortal body and presumably invisible to the naked eye of those left behind. Revelation 7: 9, 11, 13-14 says that a number so large it cannot be counted will be those who come out of the “Great Tribulation” and not the expected large number of believers in Jesus who are redeemed from the planet before all hell breaks loose. Oh, as a passing thought, why would God snatch infants from the loving arms of their mothers, leaving to inconsolable grief over the loss? Anyway, to sum it all up it seems that the expectations of the future eagerly Rapture is more imaginative and dramatic Sci-fi based on a literal interpretation of certain Bible verses, which seems to stretch the boundary of rational coherent thought and philosophical as well as intellectual inquiry.

 

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St #B-11

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 21, 2015

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

 

An overwiew of the Psalms

These writings are considered sacred meditations, prayers and songs of praise on the majesty of God and His wondrous works.  Although this book can be subdivided into different sections covering several distinct as well as some overlapping themes or reflections, one area that seems consistent throughout is that of lamentation or distress. There are painful cries of estrangement, alienation, rejection, and abandonment as if God has turned His face away from the petitioner and no longer hears or regards the impassioned pleas of the supplicant; either as an individual or nationally as with the entire tribes of Israel. Perhaps nothing more riveting or poignant can compare to Jesus quoting Psalms 22 while He hung on the Cross of Calvary, which I have included in the following study.

But before reading Psalms 22 it might be a good idea to look at the most often quoted Twenty Third Psalm. The part I want to look at is verse 4a, which says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil [harm], for You are with me. . .” Now read Psalms 22 after that to get some perspective. I think the issue here is one of perseverance in the midst of trial, doubt, uncertainty, and imminent danger or even death. It is whether or not one will continue to trust in God for the long haul, even it seems that God may be far off and unlikely to come to the rescue at the last minute. It is not about, as some will say, just keep on believing anyway, which to me is irrational but rather to learn the value of character development through learning how to be patient without complaining or being anxious. Perhaps that’s the lesson that Job [Jobab??] needed to learn, although he suffered unjustly as a righteous man.



Psalms of David:
Psalms 7: 6
Arise, O LORD, in your anger; Rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God and declare justice.


Psalms 9: 13
O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death.


Psalms 10: 1, 12
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? Arise, LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.


Psalms 13: 1-2
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?


Psalms 22: 1-2a
My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me; so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer.


Psalms 35: 22
O LORD, You have seen this, be not silent. Do not be far from me, O LORD.


Psalms 39: 12a
Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping.


Psalms 42: 3
My tears have been my food day and night, while men [mock me] and say to me all day long, “Where is your God?


Psalms 43: 2
You are my God my stronghold, why have You rejected me? Why must I go about mourning and oppressed by the enemy?


Psalms 44; 23
Awake, O LORD! Why do You sleep? Arouse Yourself. Do not reject us forever. Why do You hide Your face and forget our misery and oppression?


Psalms 55: 1-2
Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.


Psalms 60: 1
You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; You have been angry- now restore us!


Psalms 69: 17
Do not hide Your face from Your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.


A maskil of Asaph:
Psalms 78:59
When God heard them, He was very angry, He rejected Israel completely.


Psalms 79: 5
How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? How long will Your jealousy burn like fire?


Psalms 80: 3-4, 7, 19
Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us that we might be saved (rescued). O LORD, God Almighty, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people? Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us that we may be saved. Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us that we may be saved.


Sons of Korah
Psalms 85: 4-6
Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away Your displeasure toward us. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger through all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?


A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite:
Psalms 89: 46
How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? How long will Your wrath burn like fire?


A prayer of Moses the man of God:
Psalms 90: 13
Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.





Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt B11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 1, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com