(11/15/2017) Coincidence or Answered Prayer?

Today, reply is on discernment and recognizing chance occurrences as different from divine responses and answered prayer.  The frameworks of time and space promote the concepts of goals, random order, and the independent existence of operations that use numbers to describe secular reality (e.g., amount, dimension, sequence, statistical predictability).  However, these are often useless where sacred knowledge and spirit truth are to be shared.  Similarly, as tools to establish belief and conviction, conjuring and magic fail when used to establish the actuality of GOD (thus, the prophetic demonstration performed by Moses before Pharaoh, casting down his staff that became a snake, is followed by calamity and plague, divine displays of judgment and wrath against sin).  The immutable and unchanging aspects of divinity serve as fixed points of reference for created beings and living creatures that can not be altered or manipulated, and are “anchors” during times of confusion, tribulation, and turbulence that include sudden occurrences and unpleasant surprises.  Redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ are not a matter of “luck”, or being chosen out of a hat at random like a raffle ticket.  Multiple acts of self-will are required from sinners such as acknowledging divine judgment, making deliberate choices, heartfelt commitment, continuous communication and exchange in prayer, discovery, painstaking effort, focus, forbearance, forgiveness, rebirth, repentance, unselfish service, sacred studies as well as suffering, waiting and careful work.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Jay” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since November 14, 2017) posted the following:


God s work or just a coincidence?

My family and I were at a Premium outlet yesterday. We arranged a time to regroup back then departed out ways in the mall. When it was time to regroup back, eveyone but my mom arrived. We waited for a while then started to search. I walked around the outlet for around 15 minutes and did not manage to find her. I bumped into my other brother searching but my mom was nowhere to be found. I decided to pray (I m not a strong Christian but my mom tells me to pray in times of trouble) that my mom will appear so that we can go home. Immediately, she popped up leaving me speachelss... I told her to wait in the car while I search for my brother who is somewhere in the mall still searching. Again I decided to pray (I was thinking if he showed up, this would be scary) and he popped out of nowhere. Is this God s work or a coincidence? I know this is a silly question but I am truly amazed and wonder if there really is a God.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:   Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.  For man also knoweth not his time:  as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.  (Ecclesiastes 9:  10-12, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Standing On The ABCs? (11/09/2017); Leadings of the Spirit (11/05/2017); GOD Is Imparting Truth (10/30/2017); Christ Our High Priest (10/25/2017); Miracles Are Not Everlasting (07/18/2017); Miracles Are From GOD (03/14/2014); Giving Forgiveness? (03/15/2014); Magick and Prayer? (10/29/2012); The Fear of GOD (10/30/2012)


“Jay”, the process GOD is using in our lives is one of revelation and making divinity known, not one of creating mysteries and puzzles, or hiding the truth.  During a person’s lifetime they will have many experiences where the cause or source is hidden and obscured, and that will be difficult to explain.  Often, random, strange, and unfamiliar events trigger behavior, fear, and reactions that are no less than idol worship (attributing divine power to man-made things, things in nature, and other persons), superstition (belief that one may influence outcomes of events by charms, spells, etc.), and fascination with the occult (such things as banshees, Egyptian mummies, and ghosts).  Consider again how Moses was on his way home from the day’s work as a shepherd when, out of curiosity, he stopped to get a closer look at a strange sight.  In fact, he allowed the sheep to continue on without him in order to see what appeared to be a bush that had caught fire.  When he turned aside, Moses did not intend to pray or have a religious “time-out” so much as to see why there was no smoke or ashes from a burning bush.

In agreement with the holy writings, Christian believers expect sacred events (we say, miracles) intended to make known the active presence, character, and purposing of divinity (1) will repeat earlier and recorded divine works (what God has done God can do); (2) will promote such responses as expressing gratitude, obedience, reverence, and thanksgiving; (3) will restore peace of mind by resolving conflicts and settling disputes; (4) will expose error and sin that seem natural and normal, yet, are contrary to human and divine nature; and (5) will be “marked” and have a divine “signature” that declares the author’s name (i.e., proclaim it is an act of GOD).

Born-again believers are to practice discernment wherein their own endowment of imparted spirit from the makeup of GOD is used as a standard to recognize and respond to deposits of divine spirit that reside within events, other people, prophecy, the holy writings, etc.  Water baptism depicts the death, burial, and resurrection of ones inborn spirit.  Thereby, a sinner becomes a vessel containing divine spirit, and is accounted an offspring of GOD, a joint-heir with Christ, and one who bears holy seed that must become ripe for harvest (the return of Jesus Christ).

Many mistakenly turn to Christ because they are seeking material benefits, good fortune, and selfish gain.  Just as there are divine gifts that operate in ones consciousness (e.g., a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom) there are operations of human mind that include instinct, intuition and premonition.  Also, there are such things as “chance”, “likelihood”, “possibilities”, and “probabilities”.  Even so, divine acts will carry out the divine will; will be in harmony with natural and divine law; and will fulfill divine proclamations, promises, and prophecy.  Thus, Christian belief does not endorse psychic powers, sorcery, wishing, witchcraft, and those who claim they have “luck” (a presence that influences the outcomes of events according to their own desire).  Here are some points using language from the Bible:

(1.)  1st Samuel 15:  22-24, King James Version (KJV):  22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned:  for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words:  because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

(2.)  Romans 8:  13-17, KJV:  13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(3.)  Romans 8:  27-29, KJV:  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and made a part of our own spirit makeup.  (For example, (4.)  1st Corinthians 14:  26-33, KJV:  26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(08/21/2017) The Place of Torment?

A Depiction of the “Harrowing of Hell”

Today, a reply is shared on Christ having gone to the place of torment after dying on the cross.  Relying upon the tools important for life in the flesh, even Christian believers may not completely and correctly apprehend the state of the dead, and the many divine operations that occur focused on and that thereby involve the dead.  The intellect and the mind must employ the frameworks of time and space.  However, this may introduce flawed concepts and notions of “a material place” that has boundaries, partitions, and walls to contain disembodied spirit matter once deposited within the created from the makeup of divinity to their  existence and life.  Where we argue an “abyss”, a “bottomless pit,” “limbo” or “purgatory” we often appeal to extra-biblical sources that may further introduce inconsistency and what appear as departures from the Gospel.  It is not an error to focus upon a “more sure word of prophecy,” rather than upon extrapolations from doctrine, orthodoxy, or tradition.  By focusing on the higher issues of Advent and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, many of the questions concerning punishment, salvation, hell, and the dead are superseded, and put to rest.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:


Why did Jesus go to Hell when he died? Did he do something bad?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:  and after that he must be loosed a little season.  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:  and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:  on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle:  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city:  and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  (Revelation 20:  1-10, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Forgiveness, Grace and Merit (06/22/2017); Hell and The Cross? (04/10/2016); Is Hitler Now in Hell? (07/02/2015); The Harrowing of Hell? (02/10/2015); How To Accept Bible Truth? (04/17/2013); About Preaching the Gospel (04/18/2013); Understanding Hell (01/09/2013); The Golden Age? (01/10/2013)


“Anonymous”, some of the most difficult teaching from the holy writings are those points that speak to the death of Jesus on the cross, and what the Savior then accomplished that is often called “the harrowing of hell.”  The divine process for imparting sacred knowledge, here, is one that employs contemplation, discernment, discovery, and growth.  Even so, believers are not to rely upon the finite tools of intellect, secular knowledge, logic, and carnal reason.  Here are some points to help developing Christian believers avoid spiritual confusion:

(1.)  Revelation of divinity to created beings and living creatures began with their creation, and has continued ever since.

(2.)  The Incarnation (i.e., divinity appearing on the earth using the form of a man) required that Jesus respond to multiple streams of authority and law.  As well as parental, civil, and other social standards, the Son of GOD had to respond to the natural law and operations for life upon the earth that included completing mortality; the laws for covenant relationship with divinity; the demands of promise and prophecy; and the unseen, yet, active divine laws of eternal existence.

(3.)  Hell as the grave and a repository for the dead is distinct from hell as the place of torment.  We accept that Jesus was buried, and went to the grave.  However, the Savior did not undergo the usual corruption, decay and rot of death.  Representations of this appear throughout the Bible that may only be correctly recognized and responded to by using ones own spirit content from the makeup of GOD to discern the spirit that is present within such features as events, other persons, prophecy, and the holy writings.  An example is seen in the separation by a pillar of fire (judgment) during the night between Moses and the pursuing army of Pharaoh.  Another is in the parable of the rich man in torment, and the beggar in the bosom of Abraham.

(4.)  Where the place of torment is spoken of as a realm or region where the dead have awareness and self-will for eternity, believers are to be very cautious.  Again, the serpent’s lie to Eve comes into view:  Ye shall not surely die.  Acknowledgement and embrace of the serpent’s truth also requires embracing the Lake of Fire, and the annihilation of the wicked in the second death.  Because all will be judged according to the record of their own deeds out of the book of life, final judgment will have no accuser.  Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire before the resurrection and final tribunal of the wicked.

(5.)  The understanding that Jesus Christ appeared to Adam and the other Patriarch’s, those from the time of the Judges, and those from the times of Covenant through Moses is understood in two ways:  First, that Jesus appeared using angelic and other material forms to be knowable, known, and capable of affiliation and exchange with mankind (Before Abraham was I AM.).  Secondly, Jesus visited the place of rest and safekeeping for those who died in hope of eventual restoration to GOD and salvation.  Here, the separation of spirit from flesh at death is accounted as a parting of the divine and eternal substance imparted to the living from the person of GOD away from the carnal, instable elements from the earth that were established by the Holy Spirit (from dust thou art, unto dust thou shalt return).

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (6.)  Believers are to be judicious, and to carefully consider the agreement and consistency among their own beliefs.  What sinners and developing believers have been given as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sufficiently challenging that mature believers tend to forgo questionable studies on death and hell.  As with considering exorcism and encounters with Satan such as that experienced by Jesus following his baptism, many become “puffed up,” from exaggerated pride, others become “swallowed up” by conjecture, speculation, errors regarding the occult, and superstition.  Avoiding commitment to whatever generates ungodly conflict and division, the sacred doctrines and practices acknowledged and shared within ones congregation are usually a safe path that has been approved by GOD.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(02/26/2015) Divinely Sent Dreams?

Today, Scriptures are shared to clarify the difference between discernment and prophetic dreams as opposed to nightmares with occult or psychiatric interpretation of dreams.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Criss” (Level 1 with 93 points, a member since February 26, 2015) appeared to be entangled with the following:


Spiritual Dream/Warfare?

This is a question for those who believe in spiritual warfare etc. I'm Non-Denominational. Anyways to begin my story.. I get spiritual dreams.. where I can actually see/sense things that shouldn't be there.. usually I can get through it and sleep through the night..

However tonight was different.

I had a dream and I could sense something at my doorway (I could see it shifting around in my dream too)) and I guess it spooked me so much that I woke up.

I woke up at 2:00 am, its's now 3:00.. I don't sense it anymore that much.. I've had Elijah Streams playing for the past hour.

Has anyone else experienced this? What do you do to deal with it? Thanks.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.  (1st Corinthians 14:  26-33, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Prayer, Dreams and Messages? (01/27/2015); A Visit from an Angel? (10/20/2013); The Head Not The Tail? (10/21/2013)


“Criss”, prophetic dreams and visions sent from GOD all provide guidance and instruction.  Believers in Jesus Christ examine and decide upon the meaning of their dreams by applying the lessons and principles recorded in Scripture such as the following from the King James Version of the Bible:

(1.)   Acts 2:  16-18 (KJV):  16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

(2.)  Jeremiah 23:  28 (KJV):   The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

(3.)  Jeremiah 23:  32 (KJV):  Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them:  therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

(4.)  1st Corinthians 14:  1-3 (KJV):  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.  2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:  for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Of course, there is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Ecclesiastes 5:  2-3 (KJV):  2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God:  for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth:  therefore let thy words be few.  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/09/2014) The Meaning of Worship?

Discernment, idolatry, reverence, and genuine Christian worship are topics, today.  Again, no BATTLE AXE appears.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Political Onlooker” (Level 1 with zero points, a member since May 12, 2014) posted the following:


What does it mean to worship the Beast in Revelation 13:8?


Revelation 13:8 - All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

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Does it mean that humans are inclined to value worldly success, such as money, power, and sex etc, which are false gods; but by doing so, they tend to deny God, Jesus and the Bible?
So unless people turn to God they will be destroyed by fire at the last judgement. (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8).

And is it true that some people are preordained to be destroyed on the great day of judgement?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:  a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  (Hebrews 1:  1-8, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Mary (06/13/2014); The Estate of His Handmaiden (06/14/2014); The Ruler Of the Earth? (05/01/2014); Parables About the Kingdom? (05/02/2014); What is Worship? (10/18/2010); No Free Will (10/19/2010)


“Political Onlooker”, here are a few points on worship among Christian believers that have been useful for avoiding spiritual confusion and error:

(1.)   Genuine worship is to correctly acknowledge, admire, be in awe of, and show reverence to divinity.

(2.)  Many engage in false or idolatrous worship, because they seek to detect and manipulate the active presence of divinity after being drawn or seduced through features that are counterfeits of consecrated authority, sacred events (we say, miracles), and eternal purpose. 

(3.)  Evil is correctly taken to be the result of divine operations; however, evil should not be confused with the effects and operations of wickedness or sin.  When any respond to evil that appears as calamity, catastrophe, chaos, upheaval or arbitrary, sudden and widespread change with submission and surrender to unseen causes and forces, their attitude, behavior and conduct may be driven by occult beliefs, emotion such as fear, or by deep seated beliefs about magical effects of their own actions (we say, superstition).

(4.)  For Christian believers worship results from interactions and shifts among the discrete aspects of spirit content received during baptism (death of ones inborn spirit, rebirth from divine DNA, so to speak).  Included are inseparable aspects (where one appears, all may be found) from the makeup of GOD such as faith, forgiveness, holiness, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  While faith consists only of faith, and holiness is made up from only holiness, etc., there is unchanging (we say, immutable) eternal direction, order, and unity.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (5.)  Through the imparted, indwelling spirit (we say, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth), believers acquire discernment (ability to use ones own spirit content to correctly detect, examine and respond to the spirit content in such life experiences as events, messages, objects, other persons, praise, prayer, prophecy, and the holy writings.  Proper worship is guided and shaped through discernment.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to the operations of your faith from GOD.


Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.   (Ephesians 3:  20-21, KJV)



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(09/10/2012) Nostradamus

     The predictions of Nostradamus, false prophets, prophecy, and added thoughts on false witness are shared, today.   The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “WZ” (Level 2 with 504 points, a member since November 21, 2011) posted the following:

Are Nostradamus prophecies worthy predictions of the future or merely vague observations to match now?

THE BATTLE AXE:  About False Witness (09/09/2012)—Those who are Christians “in name only” are called “nominal believers.”  Their declarations of commitment and faith may be characterized by expressions of concern, emotion and passion, however, theirs is only a false witness of Christ in their lives.  True, the work of salvation is begun, continued and completed by GOD, and is not the result of human actions, or the good works of the men and women that call for change and renewal.  Even so, there must be an active, not passive, response to the Gospel that should be visible “across the board” in ones conduct, goals, practice, prayer life, relationships, study and worship.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Fear ye not me? saith the LORD:  will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it:  and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?  But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.  Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season:  he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.  Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.  For among my people are found wicked men:  they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.  As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit:  therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.  They are waxen fat, they shine:  yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked:  they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.  Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD:  shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so:  and what will ye do in the end thereof?  (Jeremiah 5:  22-31, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Rules for Sharing Christ (03/15/2012); Signs of a Prophet (03/14/2012); Bad Luck (02/25/2012); The Prophets (02/24/2012); The Wise Men? (12/21/2010); Known by GOD? (10/16/2010)

     To the glory and praise of GOD, here are some thoughts shared among the more mature sons and daughters of GOD through Christ. See with new eyes, and be encouraged as you consider the following:

     As a boy, I was very excited about the claims that Nostradamus (born 1503, died 1566) had accurately described and predicted many contemporary events, including the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  When I investigated these claims using the standards for prophecy that are provided through the holy writings, I immediately saw that Nostradamus did not speak for the Holy One of Israel!

     For Christian believers, the work of sacred prophesy is the revealing of divinity in the person of Jesus; and primary focus is upon the intent, process and purpose of the supreme spirit-person (we say “GOD”).  Nostradamus does not speak for GOD.   The entire existence of humankind is understood as framed by the truth that proceeds from GOD.  What men call “the future” is central to prophecy only because human understanding is progressive, and must shift through various levels.   Eternity is not a set period of time having a beginning and end such as months, years, generations.  Sacred prophecy emerges from eternal, unchanging being, is not temporal, and, therefore, provides certainty.

     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, men typically seek foreknowledge of events to have added advantage and control over others.  Given their motives are selfish, they do not turn to GOD for information.  Rather, they seek occult solutions (e.g., astrologers, psychics, witches, etc.).  Sacred law provides a peculiar “foreknowledge” of events to mankind:   Outcomes for disobedience and transgression are fixed, and published prior to the commission of any offense.  Also, the natural law declares flatly, you may only reap what you sow.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(08/29/2012) On Religious Items

      I respond to a question on the benefits of wearing crosses and religious items; and there’s more on sin without wrongdoing. For new readers: The feature below (The Battle Axe) shares addenda, afterthoughts and corrections to the previous day’s posting. Also, The Double Dagger (as below) identifies articles among the total of 432 earlier posts that complement the day’s post, and that continue to be available archived at both WordPress.com and thoughts.com. The focus of today’s presentation was selected from “Yahoo! Answers” where a writer using ID “conundrum” (Level 7 with 28,340 points, a member since June 23, 2007) posted the following:



Of what benefit is it to wear crosses and other religious items on the body,does it give protection?

Iam still to read where the followers if Christ donned such attire in the first century ..



THE BATTLE AXE: Sin Without Wrongdoing? (08/28/2012)—Despite the many demonstrations that sin results in death, destruction, loss and shame, even educated and mature men and women continue to indulge this noxious influence upon human will as a legitimate aspect of their own personal makeup, their own private feelings, and their own hidden person. “Common sense”, human logic, philosophy, religion and science have not been sufficient to eliminate sin. Sin is no thing of matter or spirit, contains neither thought or feeling, and must be understood as indiscriminate and mindless. Sin was first apprehended by GOD among the holy angels, who are neither mortal nor immortal. For mortals, the sting of death is sin (i.e., the barb or hook that stops death from being withdrawn; the feature that introduces poison). Speaking to Israel, GOD makes a divine appeal against sin that is directed to all mankind: GOD takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; men are to repent and live (see Ezekiel 33: 11-20).



THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. (2 Kings 18: 1-6, King James Version)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Work of Jesus (03/13/2012); Idols of Flesh (03/12/2012); The Accursed Thing (02/05/2012); Meal Time Grace (11/14/2010); Things? (11/13/2010)



      Mature Christian believers generally regard crosses, crescents, stars of David, and similar objects as tokens to trigger thoughts of a person’s faith. As mere prompts and reminders to direct a person’s feelings and thoughts, symbols are regarded as harmless. To regard any object as having power within itself to repel demons, to guarantee prosperity and success, or to protect from bodily harm and death would be to hold that object as an idol—a vessel containing a god, and an object possessing “person” that is to be appeased and worshiped.

      Simple objects may be used to signal a person’s participation within a sacred relationship or worship community (such as the fish sign or the wedding ring); and may even be used to concentrate awareness, and trigger the operation of a person’s faith resulting in a miracle (for example, a handkerchief or another person’s shadow—see Acts 19: 11-12 and Acts 5: 14-16, KJV). Some use of symbols may be discouraged among believers. For example, the use of scars and tattoos are forbidden among Christians along with piercing a servant’s ear to indicate that, out of love, they have committed themselves to lifelong servitude as another person’s slave.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, occult practices, superstition and unbelief are often characterized as attacking Christianity by using religious symbols. Given that an object has been cleansed, prayed over, prepared and set apart (we say “blessed” or “sanctified”) for exclusive use in service and worship to GOD, the dedicated or devoted thing may become defiled, and profaned through abuse, desecration and vandalism. Believers may react with anger, embarrassment, fear, and indignation. Yet, it remains that the spirit content of a believer is determined by GOD, not by human objects and events.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC