All Activity

Of course not in the Garden. This isn't about animals, but humans. What would make one think that Paul was writing about death of animals in Romans 5? Only speculation that Eden was created on day 4. In fact, "tohu wabohu" very clearly indicates that the earth became a wasteland. Eden was there BEFORE earth became a wasteland. This isn't what YEC says. This is Ezek 28.

Thanks for your response! Please consider the following comments I would like to make: 1) It seems clear that you are looking at these verses in a “historical / secular / political way. (If you disagree please let me know). To be candid, I believe most commentators interpret Daniel in a historical manner, where the “kingdoms” and the actors within those kingdoms become or are the focus of Daniel. They become the story, rather than looking for the Messiah WITHIN AND THROUGH THESE KINGDOMS. And this is why I came to reject “today’s accepted interpretations.” God is using these 4 and only 4 kingdoms to present His prophecies for His people and His first coming. They are symbols that allow us to place His prophecies at the right time in history and in relation to His people as they move through these 4 kingdoms. Certainly, there are many studies that have compared the different characteristics of the 4 metals, whether by their relative strength, value, density, etc., and the different way each kingdom is ruled. But they are not the story. God will tell His story as His people are returning from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem DURING these coming 1100 years (606 BC to ~ 500 AD when the little horn comes to power). But MOST of Daniel is designed to cover / speak to the 70 weeks of years prophecy WITHIN these 1100 years. This prophecy begins in 457 BC to 33 / 34’AD- 3.5 years after the Cross . The overall theme is quite clear- It is written about the Jews being taken captive, the length of their punishment and His plan to restore His people, His city, all of the Levitical ceremonies and practices, the Sabbatical cycles, their way of life as it was prior to Babylon WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPOSE IN MAN’S history- the arrival of the Messiah and His ministry on earth DURING THE LAST WEEK OF THE. Daniel is not a history lesson or study. It does not have to (and does not) follow and stay in line with our history books. God will and has used / selected those historical actors, events and kingdoms AS HE CHOOSES to present His plan of restoration and salvation for His people and mankind. Thus, He can include and exclude whatever has or will take place that is relevant to His plan. 2) And this brings me to the second critical error in determining “today’s accepted interpretations.” They have failed to look for the Messiah in Daniel. This is His story not a history lesson about the 4 kingdoms, etc. So, these verses in 2:41-43 as well as those in the coming chapters of 7,8 9 and 11 MUST all speak to one theme, have one focus, be consistent in the prophecies without any conflict among them, stay within their boundaries and borders a established in chapter 2, and understand they are ALL ABOUT THE COMING MESSIAH AND HIS PLAN OF RESTORATION AND SALVATION. Verses 2:41 -43 are some of the most difficult to interpret (they were for me) but only until 2:34 was found to represent His first coming as the Stone that broke apart, not the image, but only the iron and clay elements in the feet. So although you and EVERYONE agree that 2:34 and 2:35 are not the same end time event, then 2:41 will not support 2;34 and it too is thrown into the future. But it can be interpreted and not treated as a “general” interpretation thrown in the future without any real meaning behind it. God is very with His prophecies and has a purpose for each he term, phrase and word in 2:41 and, of course, every verse. Verse 2:41 speaks directly to the results of the elements (iron and clay) AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN INTO PIECES or SYMBOLICALLY SEPARATED FROM THE IRON KINGDOM OF ROME. And this ACTION that caused this is 2:34 -the Cross (the Stone striking the feet). So, if you would like to help me break down 2:41 with you that might be interesting: 1) .. you saw the feet and toes… Again, this is being discussed because it does NOT represent an end time event, but one that occurred AFTER THE CROSS symbolically separated the 2 elements in the feet. 2) … the feet were composed of “partly of “potters clay” and partly of clay… Here is the composition of the FEET NOT THE KINGDOM. The 4th kingdom is Rome of iron. The clay element is WITHIN THIS 4th kingdom- it is symbolically held captive within Rome (Jews are captive within Rome— and again, the storyline is about their (Jews) restoration from Babylon. It is almost complete with ONLY the Ark of the Covenant in the form of the Messiah to be fulfilled at the first day of the 70th week) a) who are the iron in the feet? b) who are the clay within the feet? c) where did the “pottery clay” come from? d) did you notice that the “pottery clay” is now found / shown in a “superior” position to that of the iron? e) in the “Dream Sequence” of verse 2:33 (where God established the 4 kingdoms AND its structure AND its borders and boundaries), He revealed the 4th kingdom was made of “legs of iron and feet “partly IRON AND PARTLY CLAY.” There was no mention of the type of clay in the “Dream Sequence” (image BEFORE THE STONE STRUCK THE FEET), and the order of the iron was in a superior position to that of the clay- the iron was dominant to that of the clay in this 4th kingdom (BEFORE THE STONE). 3) Here in 2:41, which is the first verse in the “Interpretation Sequence” verses (details of events that would take place WITHIN the “Dream Sequence” verse above, it now reveals the specific type of clay and a change in the position of the two different elements. Why? What has caused this and what is the significance of these changes? What is God revealing to us about this 4th kingdom? 4) …. The kingdom shall be divided… This is very interesting! Why is this 4th kingdom being “SYMBOLICALLY” divided? When did this occur? Why did God divide this kingdom? 5) … yet the strength of the IRON shall be in it, JUST AS YOU SAW THE IRON MIXED WITH CERAMIC CLAY… Wow, there is a lot going on here! What does all of this mean? a) Whst is meant by this “strength”? b) Why is God telling us this “divided” kingdom will continue to have this “strength” within it? c) Here God is telling us the “kingdom that you saw” (Nebuchadnezzar saw IN THE DREAM SEQUENCE BEFORE THE STONE STRUCK THE FEET), was composed of IRON MIXED WITH CERAMIC CLAY. Where and who is this “ceramic clay”? d) What has changed in this 4th kingdom- gone from “ceramic clay” to “pottery clay” and why? With all due respect, these verses have not been addressed or properly interpreted by any of the scholars, academics, or theologians that have produced THEIR ACCEPTED INTERPRETATIONS OF 2:41. They have been “generally” treated as “must be end time events when the Messiah will return.” Please consider the above and you can easily understand just how difficult and complicated this verse is to unpack. And it can not be done UNLESS one treats 2:34 as the Stone (Messiah) breaks the iron and the clay (only) into pieces at His first coming. Look forward to your or anyone else’s thoughts and opinions. It is one thing to make a very general interpretation of these verses and throw them into the future, it is another thing to break them down in the time they occurred and their spiritual interpretation found within.

https://halakhaoftheday.org/2019/11/05/genesis-12-on-darkness-and-abysses/ And earth was lifeless, with darkness over the surface of the ocean DARKNESS After explaining that at the time of its creation planet earth did not possess any kind of life, the text goes on to describe Earth’s atmosphere. Our current atmosphere is clear and bright, composed of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. But the primitive atmosphere with which planet earth was created was different. The Torah describes it with one word “hoshekh” ”, which is usually translated by “darkness”. The vast majority of classical biblical commentators agree that here “darkness” does not mean “absence of light”, since as in the story of Plato’s cave, one can only speak of the absence of light once light is created. Nahmanides (Ramban) and Eben Ezra proposed that here darkness should be understood as something tangible. Nahmanides compares it with the ninth plague of Egypt, a kind of gas that prevents any kind of light. For Eben Ezra, “that tangible darkness is like a “fog”, toxic and with less oxygen. Based on these and other opinions we could assert that for the Tora early Earth’s atmosphere was like the present day atmosphere of Venus: formed of three thick layers of dark clouds, are composed of sulfuric acid and carbon dioxide, which do not allow sunlight to reach the surface. This indication about the primitive Earth’s atmosphere may redefine the previous words tohu vabohu “uninhabited”, a little better. The Tora asserted that there was no life on Earth, and now is saying that the conditions for life are not yet there. In other words, Earth is not only “uninhabited” but at this initial point, because of hoshekh it is also “uninhabitable”. Once we translate the Hebrew words according to their original meaning we can see some incredible coincidences between what this verse describes in 2 or 3 words and what modern science speculates that occurred at the beginning of our planet. According to modern science √ The primitive atmosphere did not allow life. It was dark, lacked free oxygen, and contained ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide. √ In the beginning early Earth was covered by a huge ocean called Panthalassa. The continents as we know them today, emerged at a later stage. √ And water? The Tora explains clearly that water was part of the initial inventory of our planet. Modern science, speculations aside, at present time has no demonstrable or convincing explanation of how our planet has so much water….

I can't find any fault worth mentioning with many Eastern churches, though the same can be insufferably hidebound with regard to hierarchical traditions. As far as their theological doctrines are concerned I share much in common with prevailing Eastern conventions. This is not to say that I feel the need to join myself to a particular Eastern church. I don't. The "standing up, sitting down" routine in evangelical churches is nothing compared to Eastern rites. No thanks.

Not exactly; People defend what they have. Like all of us. There are various groups in that community and some of them aknowledging their beliefs they gather in their own Christian gathering and their own churches which you cannot judge. Because we are to encourage and not to forbid anyone to acknowlege what they believe. Even to acknowledge their faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:14 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Since every human sinned is that referring to animals? Cause they were always innocent and their blood could cover sin in the O.T.

If you eat a pig you have to kill it first so it dies. The Genesis diet: herbs and fruit because there was no death. But if he was perfect in Eden, Eden was created on day 4 or something, then there could not have been destruction and darkness because then lucifer fell after God created trees etc like YEC says: You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created

Could you provide the verse/text you are asking about? Thanks. All humans are sinners. Babies are sinners on account of Adam's imputed sin.

Seems you are conflicted. You quoted a source that explained the DIFFERENCE between shape and form, shape being 2 dimensional and form being 3. So why do you now equate "without form" with "shapeless"?? You should know better. And "tohu" doesn't mean shapeless or formless. It DOES mean "chaotic", which means v.2 cannot be describing the state of the earth at creation. Once again, there is no theory. There are the words "tohu wabohu" which describes a state of being. And we know from both Jer 4 and Isa 34 that they describe GREAT destruction of land. Because God was restoring what had been ruined. They means of which we don't know. No, they roamed the earth BEFORE it was ruined.

What is 'even over those who had not sinned'? Who are those who had not sinned? All humans sinned so animals? Biblehub says babies. But: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.3.23.NKJV

I am unable to get to the text. Kinda like going in circles. Is there a key to accessing the info other than clicking on it? Clicking didn't help. Thanks.

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Anti-Israel protesters in the US caused major disruption across the country when they blocked major highways as well as the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Monday, the Telegraph reports. The protesters claimed to be acting as part of a global “economic blockade” to “free Palestine.” Israel and the Jewish people worldwide have experienced an outpouring of hostility and antisemitism following the Hamas’ massacre of Oct. 7 which triggered Israel’s ongoing war against the Palestinian jihadist terror group in Gaza. Mass demonstrations against Israel have been held in major cities around the globe since the massacre which left 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis dead and around 240 kidnapped in addition to many wounded. On Monday, protesters in the San Francisco Bay Area held up all traffic, including pedestrian and bicycle movement when they chained themselves to 55-gallon drums filled with cement across Interstate 880 in Oakland for some five hours, the Telegraph reports. The Golden Gate Bridge was shut down in both directions. California Highway Patrol arrested 28 people. Across the country in New York City, protesters marched into Brooklyn and blocked Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Telegraph reports. The bridge remained blocked until 5pm. Numerous people were arrested. The bridge was fully reopened by 5 pm. In another instance, protesters in Chicago blocked lanes on Interstate 190 leading into O’Hare International Airport at 7 am, the Telegraph said. The post USA: Anti-Israel Protesters Block Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge For Hours appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

This comment seems rather bizarre. The issue is about death, not who eats who. ? Does the Bible explain a different Eden? No. Has to be the same one. What you cannot skip is how "tohu wabohu" is used. We know from jer 4 and Isa 34 that the words mean "an uninhabitable wasteland". How can that be used for original creation. There's another glitch for the YEC as well. KJV Gen 1:1,2 "In the beginning, God created (bara) the heavens and earth, v.2 and the earth was tohu" Isa 45:18 - "...God did NOT create (bara) the earth tohu..." I guess all the YEC get to choose which verse they like and discard the one that contradicts the verse they like. No one knows what all was in that garden before God created Adam. This refers to "in THAT DAY" when Adam and the woman ate of the tree, because Satan deceived Eve and she ate first and then gave some to Adam. They died spiritually that day and their physical bodies began to age. No one knows the state of being with earth when created. The darkness refers to a wasted earth.

That's how I take Ezek 28. Exactly. Just the human race was being referred to. I don't understand your question. Of course everyone needs the Savior.

This subject came up in a Sunday School class one day last month. Our pastor just happened to be attending our class and when I said I thought that receiving the Spirit would have a person not break his commandments, indwelling would result in not wanting to. The pastor energetically agreed.

I'll have a look. (Edited to add - I see the heading, but I don't see an article) I don't accept Gap as a literal historical narrative of the early earth. I think there is some potential value when viewing the Genesis narrative as an early cosmology held by the Hebrews. @FreeGrace, while I don't embrace his view, brought up some interesting textural use of the "formless and void" which further convinces me we are dealing with story-telling and worldview building first and foremost, rather than a treatise on the how and when of these things - theology before all else.

This is not an either/or proposition. There are alternative interpretations that honour the text, while not conflicting with the general revelation. Creationists create ad hoc solutions to problems, but rarely take the next step of ensuring their solution does not conflict or contradict their other solutions to other problems. Right now, biological evolution is the best explanatory framework for the diversity of life on earth. That does not mean it is right, but that it's the best current one. There are creationists scientists working on potential models (ICR is into something called continuous environmental tracking). AiG and CMI both accept natural selection and mutation as mechanisms for adaptation and speciation, both part of the suite of known evolutionary mechanisms. I assume they also accept the other mechanisms as well since they are well evidenced and observed.

If your view that Creation and the Flood were wholly supernatural events then I don't have much argument with you. But here you are making testable claims of ark capacity to hold all of the created kinds (which are rather arbitrarily designed, likely to get the conclusion needed - to fit on the ark), that then somehow speciated into the orders of magnitude more species, while also having even more species going extinct in the last 4400 years. So it's not just about populating, but also extinction.

I always enjoy old posters and billboards because you can almost see the mindset behind them.

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Pascal Sleiman, a well-known senior figure in Lebanon’s Christian Lebanese Forces (CLF) party was abducted and shot dead in the country’s Byblos area last week. The news has caused outrage in Lebanon’s Christian community. An IT expert who worked for Byblos Bank, Sleiman was an outspoken opponent of the Hezbollah Shia Islamic terror organization which controls much of Lebanon. Sleiman went missing after being ambushed by several assailants while driving from a condolence visit in Byblos on April 7. His body was found in Syria by Syrian soldiers on April 9. While four Syrian nationals were arrested for killing Sleiman, a number of experts believe Hezbollah ordered the killing as an example to Lebanon’s Christian community to cease resisting them and to join them in their war against Israel. Soon after news broke of Sleiman’s death, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah attacked Lebanese Christians in a broadcast statement, saying: “[The Christians] are not people of truth, nor are they people of truth, nor are they people of justice and they do not care about the national interest, civil peace, or anything. They are people of strife and seek civil war.” In a statement to CBN News, Sarit Zehavi of the Alma Research and Education Center said: “The basic goal of Hezbollah is to distribute the Islamic revolution and to take over Lebanon and to establish an Islamic state in Lebanon. War in Israel serves this goal.” However, amid rising tensions between Syrian refugees and local Lebanese, Lebanon’s security forces claimed a gang of Syrian refugees had killed Sleiman during an effort to steal his car. Soon after the killing, Lebanon’s Interior Minister called for an end to the presence of Syrians in the country. The post Lebanon: Senior Christian Politician Murdered appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Worthy News) – Australian police say Monday’s stabbing attack at a Sydney church in which a bishop, priest, and churchgoers were injured during mass was a “terrorist act.” A 16-year-old boy was detained following the violence at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, in which Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Priest Isaac Royel were wounded. Both were expected to survive. In addition, at least four people suffered “non-life-threatening” injuries, police said, adding that the alleged attacker was also hurt in the clash at the Assyrian Church congregation. Australian media reported that the teen who allegedly stabbed the church leaders and individual believers had his fingers cut off. Chris Minns, the prime minister of Australia’s New South Wales state, confirmed the information but did not clarify whether the teen severed his fingers or if it was done to him. “The information we have is that it happened in the commission of the crime, not to him,” he added. The troubles began during a mass that was broadcast live online. It showed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel giving a service when he was approached by an attacker at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley. MULTIPLE TIMES STABBED He was approached and allegedly stabbed multiple times just after 7 pm on Monday. The 16-year-old also attacked the priest and others. The attack at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church sparked massive outrage, witnesses said. By the time police arrived, they were forced to bunker inside the building to protect the arrested teenager. In audio obtained by Australia’s 9News television program, a responding paramedic could be heard calling for more backup to contain the crowd. “I currently need more police to attend,” the paramedic told the operator. “The roads are blocked with hundreds of people.” Officials later said that the crowd – hundreds of people reportedly seeking revenge – violently clashed with police, who were guarding the church where the attacker was being treated. Two officers were reportedly injured, one with a broken jaw after he was hit with a brick and fence palings, and 10 police cars destroyed. The violence left paramedics fearing for their safety and “holed up” inside the church for more than three hours, witnesses said. ‘DISTURBING ATTACK’ Soon after the stabbing, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of national security agencies, calling the attack “disturbing.” “We’re a peace-loving nation… There’s no place for violent extremism.” Trying to quell further violence, he urged that people “not take the law into their own hands.” Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the bishop and priest were undergoing surgery and were “lucky to be alive.” Authorities, who declined to release the religion of the alleged attacker, admitted later that he was known to police. He had been released “on a good behavior bond” after being caught with a knife at a train station last November, Worthy News learned. Minns also confirmed reports the teenager had been found with a knife at school as early as 2020. Police said they believe staging the attack during a live-streamed service was intended to be “intimidating not only [to] the parishioners in attendance, but those parishioners who were watching online.” FACING PERSECUTION Monday’s attack likely reminded many believers in the area of the difficulties they had faced for their faith in Christ, Worthy News established. The Wakeley neighborhood where the attack occurred is a hub for Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian community, many of whom fled persecution and war in Iraq and Syria. Monday’s violence followed turbulence within the Assyrian Church. The injured bishop was suspended for disobeying canons and forming a breakaway church. In 2021, he became a vocal opponent of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, describing lockdowns in Australia as “slavery” and arguing that vaccines were futile. However, Bishop Emmanuel is one of the “kindest, [most] authentic, genuine human beings,” local legislator Dai Le said in published remarks. The violence came as Sydney was still reeling from Saturday’s deadly stabbings at a shopping mall. A man stabbed six people to death at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction in the city’s eastern suburbs before he was fatally shot, police said. Eight people, including a 9-month-old baby, were injured in the attack in Australia’s most populous city, officials confirmed. The 40-year-old suspect was known to police but not believed to have held terrorist views, police said. Six of the victims — five women and a man — and the suspect died. The post ‘Australia Church Attack Was Terrorism’; Bishop, Priest Among Injured appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – On the 10th anniversary of the abduction by Boko Haram Islamic terrorists of 276 mostly Christian school girls in Chibok village, in northeastern Nigeria, 91 of the abductees remain missing, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Sparking nationwide and global outrage, on April 14, 2014, Boko Haram jihadists stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in the village of Chibok, Borno state, and kidnapped the school girls who were teenagers at the time. Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape soon after the abduction, and negotiations led to the gradual release of 128 girls by 2022, ICC reports. However, with 91 of the “ Chibok girls” still missing, the viral hashtag #BringBackOurGirls remains pertinent. “Official updates on the government’s efforts to free the remaining women have all but stopped,” ICC noted in its report. “Many of these women were forced to marry their abductors and have children of their own while living in Boko Haram’s camps in the Sambisa Forest.” In the years since the Boko Haram attack on the Chibok school, Nigeria has come to lead the world for the number of abductions and murders of Christians at the hands of Islamic terrorists. “Though news of the Chibok kidnappings galvanized support for the Christian girls on social media, similar mass kidnappings occurring today in Nigeria barely make a blip,” ICC noted. Nigeria ranks six on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. “Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants…Violence by Islamic extremist groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State in West African Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church,” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy reports in a current website statement. The post Nigeria: 91 “Chibok Girls” Still Missing After 2014 Abduction by Boko Haram, #BringBackOurGirls appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

I believe receiving the Holy Spirit and receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are the same. Having said that I would add that receiving the Spirit need not be thought of as a once for all matter. You can initially receive the Holy Spirit. Then throughout your Christians life open up more parts of your life to receive Him into more chambers of your psychological heart. We can open previsouly closed off areas of out soul to receive the Lord into those parts by faith. Oh, "Now the Lord is the Spirit" (2 Cor, 3:17). In this way the "indwelling" expands, deepens, and occupies more and more of our inner being. He makes His home in our hearts through faith. That is as we initially received Him by faith we subsequently receive Him the same way into more parts of our heart - "through faith". That is faith that the Lord "That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith" (Eph. 3:19) This is how the Christian initially receive Him and should continue to walk in Him. "As therefore you have received Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him" (Col. 2:6)

Perhaps, but not to all. I have my framed copy of the Pensacola News front page within five feet of me right now; titled "War Ends Japs Surrender Accepted By Allied Heads." I grew up with it in the house, that and images of corsairs, my father having been a fighter pilot instructor during WWII and myself a war baby tossed around by Naval Aviation cadets as I wore my leather helmet and aviation goggles. Fast forward the generations, go to a military airshow today, look at who is there today, go see what some of our USA youth are into today in the CAP. Some, if not many do know, some are led to know evidently.

Much easier to just quietly die in my sleep.