1. On that day, Ezekiel was confronted by the men of Israel. 

2. And the LORD Spoke to Ezekiel. 

3. He asks those who come to him why do they enquire of the LORD? 

4. He then asks Ezekiel whether he will judge them. 

5. In the day which the LORD lifted Israel and called to them, saying, "I am your God."

 6. In the day He lifted his hand to them, to bring them from Egypt into a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey. 

7. The LORD told them to cast away all of their abominations. For us, those would be our tablets and cell phones, and computers and televisions, or strange wives and children, or whatever else causes us to stumble. 

8. But Israel rebelled, and would not listen to God, by throwing away their abominations. So the LORD said He would pour out His fury upon them, in the midst of Egypt. 

9. He made known to them their sin, and the LORD wrought their calamity. 

10. He brought them into the wilderness, where the generation would perish.

 11. The LORD gave them His statutes and His judgments (The Ten Commandments). 

12. He gave them the Sabbath (Jesus Christ) as a sign between Him and us, that we should know that He is the LORD. 

13. But the house of Israel rebelled, and would not walk in the LORD's statutes. They despised His judgments WHICH IF A MAN DO, HE SHALL EVEN LIVE BY THEM. This phrase recurs throughout the entirety of the chapter, therefore let a Christian be warned not to do them, but rather to follow the statutes given by the Apostles and Jesus. 

14. The LORD wrought it for His name's sake, so He would not be polluted before the Heathen. 

15. He lifted His hand to them in the Wilderness, and swore they would not enter into Zion, God's rest. 

16. Because they despised the LORD's judgments. This is why, and they would not walk in His statutes, and polluted their rest in Christ Jesus. Their hearts went after their idols.

17. But the LORD spared us, and did not make an end to Israel in the Wildernesses. 

18. They were not to walk in the statutes of their fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile themselves with their idols (A clear indication that the Law had changed---what was the statute, and the judgments of the fathers of Israel, but the Mosaic Covenant? They are at this point broken in their covenant with God, therefore, perished in His wrath. Therefore, the idols of Israel become the ordinances of Moses, and also the sacrificial offering of their children to Sin.  

19. The LORD said "I am the LORD Your God, Walk in my Statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them." The words of Jesus, the Law prophesied in Jeremiah, the New Lump of Clay. 

20. We Hallow the Sabbath by keeping faith in Christ, and that shall be a sign between we and the LORD to know that He is our God. 

21. But even in this, the children rebelled against the LORD. They walked not in Christ's statutes, to abstain from the Old Covenant, and they did not keep the judgments of Christ, but they polluted the Sabbath. And the LORD said He would pour out His fury upon them. 

22. But, the LORD had mercy on His children for His name's sake alone. 

23. He then scattered the nation of Israel to all the nations, due to their lack of faith. 

24. Because they rejected his statutes, and had polluted their faith in Jesus, and their eyes were on their father's idols (the Mosaic Covenant; and the Altars of Sin); 

25. the LORD gave them over to the statutes which were not good. He gave them over to Law and not grace. They should not live by those laws, but the LORD gave them over to it. He gave His people over to the curse. 

26. And He polluted our gifts, because we caused our children to pass through the fire, and the LORD sought to make us desolate. 

27. Therefore, Ezekiel is telling Israel that their fathers have blasphemed and committed trespass against God. 

28. Because when He gave us rest, and the land which He had promised to us, we saw every high hill, and all the trees, and offered our sacrifices there; by doing the things of the Mosaic Covenant, by Sacrificing on the Altar of Sin, we had provoked God to anger. 

29. The LORD asked "What is the high place where you go? And what is the name called Bamah which is here unto this day?" Bamah means high place, let the reader understand, that by worshipping God through the ordinance of Moses' law, we are offering a sacrifice that is unpleasing to the LORD. He desired Mercy, and not Sacrifice. 

30. The LORD asks if we are polluted after the manner of our fathers? Do we worship their idols, and sacrifice to their calves? Do we trust in their ordinances, which the LORD decreed are not good? 

31. When our sons are offered through the fire, when we offer our gifts---our Sons are the sacrifices we offer to God in obedience to Legalism, let the reader now understand---should the LORD be enquired of us? If we offer a lamb, or offer a goat, it is like we broke a Dog's neck. The Mosaic Covenant is not pleasing to the LORD, for Israel broke it.

 32. Our hopes shall not come to pass, because we had rejected the LORD's rest. We will be as the heathen, who serve wood and stone---the wood pulp of pages and ink---

33. Surely the LORD shall stretch out a mighty hand, and pour forth fury upon us, for disobeying the Sabbaths' rest. 

34. And we will be scattered among the heathen, and God's mighty hand and stretched out arm shall pure fury upon us. 

35. And the LORD shall bring us into the wilderness, and there the LORD will plead with us, face to face. 

36. Just like the LORD pled with us at Sinai, so shall He plead with us at Mount Zion. 

37. And he will cause us to pass under the rod, and will bring us under the bond of the Covenant. 

38. And He will purge from among us the rebels that transgress in this way, and will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the Land of Israel. REPENT OF LEGALISM BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! 

39. AS for the house of Israel, serve every one his idols, if he will not hearken unto the LORD, and blaspheme him by dishonoring His rest. He who offers an ox, is like he who murders a man.  

40. Serve the LORD, and He will accept your Firstfruits, and your oblations, and your Almsgiving, and your Praise. 

41. And if you repent of the Law, and honor the Sabbath's rest, it will be like a sweet savor, and he will bring you out from the people, and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and he will be sanctified among the Heathen. 

42. And I shall know that the LORD is God, when He brings me into the land of Israel, into the country for which he lifted His hand to give my fathers. 

43. There we'll remember our ways and our doings, and what we have defiled ourselves with, and we will loath ourselves for the evils we have committed.

44. And we shall know that He is the LORD when He has wrought with us for His name's sake, not according to our wicked ways (For we have obtained mercy through Grace, and not Judgment by the Ordinance of Sinai). He will not do with us, according to our wicked ways, nor our corrupt doings, o we house of Israel. 

45. Moreover the LORD spoke unto us, saying, 

46. "Set my face toward the south, and drop my word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field: 

47 "To the Forrest of the South "Hear the Word of the LORD "Thus Saith the LORD God, Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree; the flaming flames shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. 

48. "All flesh will see that the LORD had kindled it, and it shall not be quenched." 

49. And Ezekiel said they said of he "Ah, Lord, they ask me if I speak in parables?" Yet Jesus spoke in Parables. Those who are the trees of the forest of the south, are those who yoke themselves to the Old Covenant in this age of Grace.





48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

A perverted experiment was brought to my attention. A scientist, a psychologist, took rats, and placed them into jars of water. And he began to let the rats drown. At the moment of their soon to be drowning, he would pluck them out of the water, and save them.

Then, he'd repeat the experiment. To see if the rats would drown faster, slower. What he found, was that the rats, after having given up after fifteen minutes, would the next time they were in water, swim all the harder. Sometimes up to sixty hours. The reason being that these rats had hope of being saved.

As cruel of an experiment this is, God's grace is a similar hope. We, swimming in the deeps of life, could not go but for ten or fifteen minutes without hope. But, with hope, we will persist even against all odds.

So it is with faith. Those who have been plucked out of the fire, by God's grace, will be the ones who keep on swimming. They will be the ones who endure, and do not succumb to drowning in the sea of forgetfulness.

Why is this? Those of us who have been saved, have been like the Virgins who trimmed our lamps. We endure to the final coming, and the LORD comes, and takes away His bride. He prepares the wedding feast for us, and we are clothed and decked in our bridal ornaments. We hope in the Daughter of Zion--the Holy City of Jerusalem--and though we are besieged, though the Daughter is under assault, though our walls are broken in, and though our city has crumbled and we seem to have lost her... though we are in captivity and chains for seventy years, the hope of retuning is what keeps us from perishing. The hope of Zion, the hope of Heaven, the hope of Christ, our Groom, keeps us going.

ff we are the wise virgins, we keep our lamps trimmed. That is, we keep our lamps lit by the holy fire of God's Spirit, the holy fire of God's love, the holy fire of God's word and wisdom, so our imaginations are pure and undefiled. And we do not perish in His wrath.

We endure, we wait, we do not wake from our sleep, and are without fire or passion. We are awakened, and filled with zeal and hope, and through that we endure. And then we receive the delicate things of our mansions, and we receive the soft raiments, and we receive our blessed hope.

Why? Because God actually saved us from the flood. He did not let us drown. We swam, and He plucked us out of the water. He did not let us sink our heads underneath, but rather plucked us up, and set our feet onto dry ground. Again and again, which leaves us with hope while we swim. And not in anger, or bitterness, or malice, or fury, do we swim, but with hope that the hand of providence will pluck us up out of the mire before we fully tire and drown.

So, to begin, the Bible is the only surviving document of any great length from before 1000bc. It was first written—and we know this—at about 1300bc. Which is when the Exodus took place, if you study the Genealogical records of the kings dating back from Persian restoration.

And that’s important because if the Bible were written at 1300bc—it was started then—it’s pretty much what the Bible claims. And the religion was formed by Moses, when they were out in the desert. And there’s actually several pieces of evidence that suggest this happened.

The first, is a temple in Soleb, which has the name of Yahweh inscribed on it, and also a depiction of bound slaves. That’s actually in an Egyptian ruin, and I’ve seen it on a video. Which, is important because on that pillar, it says the Jews were a wandering people. Which is also what the Bible says. And when the slavery was initiated, it doesn’t say that. Only that the Jews were indeed enslaved, and they worshiped Yahweh.

So, another piece of evidence was found off the coast of Nuweiba  beach. They found thousands of scattered Chariot spokes and wheels and other such things. And they recovered one, which dated exactly to the 18th Egyptian Dynasty. Which, was again, around 1300bc.

So, you’d think if this happened, there’d have to be some great revival in Egypt. The overwhelming evidence that God showed Himself to Pharaoh would have to have some impact on society. And it did. Akhenaten, a famous pharaoh, commissioned his state to be Monotheistic, and worship Aten. And, this is exactly dated at the Exodus. So, around 1340 is when Akhenaten lived. Forty years in the wilderness, there’s then going to be the conquest of Canaan. Which, you’d think there’d be historical evidence, and there is. Every siege the Bible mentions, there’s archaeological evidence supporting it. The conquests of the Jews is supported in the Late Bronze Age Collapse. There were diseases proceeding forth from God to help the Israelites win. And there’s a sharp reduction of populations during the thirteenth century. So, all of that lines up with the Biblical record.

But, you’d think if the Jews existed, they would have left evidence. Well, they did. There’s a structure that is patterned off of the biblical pattern of an altar. It was found on Mt. Ebal. There was Kosher animal ashes discovered at the site. The best records of the site date to about 1250bc. They found the lead tablet talked about in Joshua. They found the Tetragrammaton on that tablet. They found references to Jeremiah and Hezekiah—who visited the altar. And so, this is evidence yet again of the Jews right after the Exodus.

Then, there’s more evidence. Can you believe it? There’s a stele called the Merneptah stele, dated to around 1210bc, which names Israel, and Pharaoh boasts of having destroyed the Seed of Israel. Which, means he likely went through and burned all the records pertaining to them. As, Pharaoh and ancient civilizations were very keen on the records they kept. But, it mentions Israel by name. Obviously Israel wasn’t destroyed, as it’s still a people today. So, likely, this is just a fabrication of Pharaoh’s who would prefer them not to be in the Canaan strip, where they ensconced themselves, and also practiced their worship of God through the Law.

“But wait! The Bible wasn’t written until 400BC!” Nope. The Bible, because of something called Loan Words, was written in the thirteenth century. It was written in the Late Bronze age, due to Egyptian Words being used that didn’t exist at any other time. So, for that transference of data, the Bible would have had to be written around 1300bc and continued until, well, today actually. There’s still a record kept of the Jewish people, dating from this time of Moses to now.

And, you might say, “Well the Bible plagiarized Ancient Near East Myths.” Nope. Those myths are found in Assyrian libraries. The Bible does predate that. And, not to mention, there’s indirect references in the story of Abraham to a law found in Mesopotamian culture around 1950bc. It was on a law called the “Lipit-Ishtar”. And this was a law with regard to a prostitute—a concubine—and the person had to keep them like a wife. But, Abraham was told not to do this. Which shows, for that detail to exist into modern day, a continual transference of information dating back to at least 1950bc, but I would argue earlier.

So, there’s two different accounts in Genesis, and two different traditions being outlined. One of El (God) and the other of Yahweh. I believe these were both the same tradition, the one of El coming from Abraham, and the one of Yahweh coming from Jacob. And these two traditions, and the Law of God, came from the first instances of Monotheism in the world. So, the stories in Genesis were originated by the Jews, that’s what this evidence shows. And not only that, there’s two separate traditions—that’s why the Bible repeats itself sometimes, which I’ll get to later—and these two separate traditions were likely composed by witnesses of the events themselves. The slight differences are what we’d expect from witness testimony. It’s just a matter of fact, that this is what witness testimony looks like.

Which gets us to the prophets and the chroniclers of the Kings of Judah and Israel, that they were written down by witnesses, and transferred, as I’ve proven, at the time those events were taking place. So, the Old Testament, the entirety of it, were written by eye witness, and that I’ve just proven.

“Ah, but what about the New!” Here we actually have even more evidence to support. For one thing, Jesus actually existed. There’s about half a dozen references outside of the Bible to Jesus, some by famous historians. There’s internal evidence in the scripture saying Jesus lived, being that He sweat blood, a condition called hematohidrosis which the writers couldn’t have forged. And also He died, because the water flowing from His wound is consistent with a Heart Attack.  This heart attack, what happens is a pustule sac develops beneath the rib cage, in pre cardiac arrest, and when it ruptures, it creates what looks like water. And when the centurion punctured Jesus, that pus flowed from His wound. Which could only be consistent with an actual death. Jesus could not have survived that.

So, also, how do we know the Gospels are true? Well, again, people as early as 90ad, were quoting copious amounts of information from the Gospels, Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, and it was already established at least then. What we do have is Papais saying who wrote two gospels. Matthew and Mark. Matthew was composed in Hebrew and later translated into Greek by Matthew. And Mark was given by Peter, who spoke it to him, and he wrote it down. Luke accompanied Paul, and therefore Paul, we know, met with James and Peter, being given the first creed of the faith, “He is God who died and raised”, and not only this, Luke would have known witnesses of the Gospel, too. So Acts and Luke were written through the testimony of first hand witnesses, so was Mark and Matthew.

The only one really difficult to believe based on evidence is John’s gospel. But, it was written at about 100ad to 120ad. Which if John were even 30 years old at Christ’s death, he could conceivably live to 120. That’s not out of the realm of possibility. Especially since Rome was a pretty hearty civilization. So, the Gospels were being written about 60ad, about thirty years after Christ’s death. Because they were copiously quoted by the Church Fathers at 90ad. I just showed that their origins are documented. And John could have lived to be 120, and if he were even an eleven year old when Christ died—who knows, right?—he could have been even younger when that Gospel was written. Which, we’re not talking about a lifespan outside of the reach of a human life. We’re talking thirty to seventy years after Christ died, that’s when the Gospels were written. Within the span of a human life.

Not to mention, Papais' source for who wrote Matthew and Mark was St. John, proving he was indeed alive at 90ad, only a decade before the Gospel of John was written at the earliest.

And again, it’s important to understand that historians documented some of these disciple’s deaths. Some of these men knew Jesus, or were related to Jesus, and they died on the testimony that Christ raised, and ate and broke bread with them. They were willing to sometimes die unspeakable deaths just for this testimony. Which, is important because a person doesn’t die willingly for what they know isn’t true. It’s one thing if the faith is far removed, and it’s a story. But these people lived it… and they would be the first to know if it were faked. And, Josephus documents that James, the LORD’s brother, died by stoning for this testimony.

So… both Old and New Testament are sufficed in the evidence. And they are witness accounts from the time periods. So, I firmly believe in them.

To conclude, there’s clear evidence of Judaism existing prior to Babylonian Captivity. And  the evidence puts it at right when Judaism claims to have been founded. So, it’s actually older than most of the sources we have from the ANE.
It’s neat, actually. El (God) and Yahweh are probably the original monotheistic faiths. The evidence points to this, too, and I think Genesis was meant to combine the traditions of El and Yahweh into one master tradition. That being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And as for Jesus, there's clear reason to believe the Gospels are eyewitness accounts, and not fabrications.

Upon reading Isaiah and the 51st Psalm, I came to an amazing realization. They were speaking of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Old Jewish Men came to mind, telling me that Isaiah was first composed during Hezekiah, and was continued during the restoration of captivity by Cyrus. I almost fell for it, too, until I realized something quite odd. Isaiah 53 was in our scripture. And that's most certainly about Christ.

I then realized something very powerful. These prophecies had been in the scripture for some 200 years, before Cyrus ever lived. Just like Zechariah naming Jesus (Joshua) and Isaiah naming Cyrus. And so, it became clear to me that a doctrinal error was on the part of the Jewish Polemicists, who wished to proselytize their lack of faith. The fact is, this was already in the book of Isaiah, as well as in the book of Psalms.

This fundamental doctrine, that wouldn't be expressed until Nehemiah and Ezra, was there prophesied in the scripture for all to see. And it's likely why Cyrus left Israel back to Zion, was this prophetic utterance of his name. 

Even more relevant, is what this means under the New Covenant. The rebuilding of Zion's walls are a testimony to the Christian, of rebuilding the life, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to a life of perfection lived in Christ Jesus. The walls are a fundamental symbol for the restoration of Israel, and its captivity, through Jesus Christ.

Let it be known, under Isaiah, the Israelites were taken captive. There was war in the land, and the destiny of Judah was uncertain. The walls were besieged by armies, and this calling card, the rebuilding of Zion's walls, was likely a Jewish call to arms, as we can see in the Jewish Combat Strategies when fighting at the siege of Jerusalem in 70ad. Rebuilding Zion's walls is a huge part of the Jewish tradition, but even more fundamentally, is the symbolism of the Walls of Jerusalem, and how they apply to the Holy Spirit.

Even more miraculous, is the Jewish Rabbinical Teaching of the Messiah coming in two stages. First, to bind and seal Satan. To, in a sense, rebuild the walls and bind the strong man who is plundering our houses---if we keep watch over our mouths and actions. And this tradition taught the Messiah would win His victory in two stages, and hasn't the first stage already begun? The Holy Spirit binds Satan, and casts him out of us, and our lives. The Holy Spirit is the binding of the Devil upon the Earth, and the first assault against the forces of darkness. It is the transformation of men, to give them power over evil and demonic entities, and allow them the Spirit of the Kingdom. It is the rebuilding of our walls, and the overthrow of our captivity. It is the restoration of our Captivity through Jesus Christ.

And with that, the foundation is set. Christ came first, to bind the Devil, and to get him into a pin. And then, to fill our hearts with good, and peace, and joy, and love, and to build our walls to be a defense against Satan. And this moment we attain salvation, our walls are beginning to be built, until we enter into heaven. Our captivity is restored the moment we confess Jesus, and give our lives to him. Our walls are built, and the Devil has no stronghold in our heart any longer. For, first, did not Christ have to restrain Satan? And this He did, by giving us the seal of His Holy Spirit.

Having just watched a full length documentary on the sack of Jerusalem by Rome, it came to bear what Jesus meant when he said not one stone of the temple would stand. Why people in Jerusalem should flee when the "Abomination of Desolation" Surrounded Jerusalem. 

A wall was built around Jerusalem to shut the people in, so they could not escape. And, people were there to celebrate Passover. The Passover was Christ, and that dispensation was over. They were trapped in their false religion.

Just like now, with Jerusalem bringing Red Heifers into its city---such a silly thing is only evidence of their folly---we must not be trapped in a false religion. If Jerusalem builds its Temple---and it might soon, but hopefully it doesn't for our peace and prosperity's sake; do not resist Babylon---we are not to go there as Christians. The Temple is in heaven. Not on Earth. The Temple is our body. Not a building.

Of course, it will be just like the siege of Jerusalem on that day. The Abomination of Desolation---Antichrist and his armies---will surround the city. And in that moment, you must flee. When the trumpets sound, eat with shivering, and then flee into the wilderness and hope it is not winter or a Sabbath. Why not the Sabbath? Because the city will be packed with travelers, to bow homage to a false religion and there can be no escape. There are too many people. Why not the winter? Because you will have to survive the harshness of the winter's cold.

And that army---not Gog or Magog---will surround Jerusalem just like it did on the day the Temple fell, and they will build siege works against it, and barricades, and checkpoints, and not let people leave the city without the Mark. And then Antichrist will come in, and seat himself at the temple, and he will rule there as if he himself were Jehovah. And those of my brethren going to Jerusalem to make sacrifice do so foolishly. The sacrifice is already made, in Christ's blood. There need be no other lamb. The Red Heifer is already consecrated in Christ's blood, and only Eleazar was to do the ritual. Once, and never again.

Do not go to the Temple when this time comes, for it is a trap. And on Passover, when you go to sacrifice the lamb, you will already be boxed in and unable to proceed out of the grounds. You'll be trapped by the Abomination of Desolation. For, the wall surrounding Jerusalem was the deadly work. Rome built it in three days. Only three days. And Jesus' words were fulfilled to the letter. When Rome finally won its victory---for those fleeing the city were crucified when trying to escape after the wall was built---it ravaged through the city until the remaining forces of Jews stood on Herod's mount, and there they were killed and captured. And in the city, men, women, children and elderly were killed, captured and made into slaves.

I've come to the Apocrypha, and certainly don't think it ought to be in the Bible. But, like Pilgrim's Progress, or the number of other appendixes we use, such as Bible Commentaries, Works of Religious Poetry, Works of Religious Fiction, Essay Books, etc. Sirach is extremely edifying for the church body.

One of the most important themes in the book, which struck me, is the theme of Self Respect. It's something the Bible does not speak of---as Sirach gives a lot of Worldly Wise sayings which do not appear in the Bible---and I find that silence very revealing. It's one of the reasons I don't canonize Sirach as a work of Biblical exegesis. It's definitely not scripture, but it is a very, very wise compilation of important concepts one needs for success in life.

Sirach is a worldly book. It's a worldly wise book, meant to teach us how to navigate this world, and thereby gain success. Therefore, when it talks of "Self Respect", and appraising oneself correctly, it's speaking on a matter that the Bible speaks nothing of. But, it is giving a deep revelation about concepts natural to the human mind. It is a natural thought humans have to underlay self respect, and concentrate heavily on it. The whole society of America is infatuated with the idea of Self Love, and I think the context of Self Love is deceptive. The wording of it implies one ought to be loving toward themselves. However, Sirach talks of Self Respect, which is to accurately appraise oneself and one's own abilities. Not to be so humble, that you undervalue yourself. And that's wisdom for the world, and it's very important to understand it in that context. But, it's also very much a good indicator of what maybe American Society is lacking. In our constant obsession with Self Love, we forget the point of Self Respect. We esteem ourselves too highly when we "Self Love", but with "Self Respect" we appropriately navigate life, with the right amount of confidence and with hope.

As, Sirach talks a lot about losing hope, and how it is a sin. A lot of the concepts are not scripture, but teach a Christian an Anti-Value system, opposite of that which we normally associate with Christ's teachings. Which, are in no way conflicting with Christ, but it seems to put a check to the selflessness we often ascribe to Christianity and its teachings. Rather, it says not to be selfish, but on another hand, it tells us to enjoy our money. It tells us not to be lazy, but on the other hand to work slow and consistent. It tells us on the one hand not to be prideful, but also not to be so humble that we forget to appraise our gifts and talents rightly. It tells us common sense wisdom with regard to how to act around judges, rich men, rulers...

It is perhaps one of the wisest books I'd ever encountered. But, not scripture. Wise, edifying for a Christian who will gain success... But not canon. There's subtle points that go a little too far, and are not nuanced enough to give the balance of scripture. They don't strike that balance of a Biblical Proverb, but do have the axiomatic and perfected wisdom of sagacity.

Therefore, one could read Sirach the same way they'd read Confucius or Aristotle. Or, more precisely, C. S. Lewis or G. K. Chesterton; Augustine or Aquinas. In that the philosopher is rooted in God's word, but has error which the attuned reader needs to sift out. But, every verse is highly wise and good information to hold close to your heart, as it is wisdom.

There is a curious little fact I learned, which gets even more curious every day. Ancient civilizations had no word for "Blue." The Bible called the sky "Amethyst", probably relating it to a "Sapphire", yet in this we get the prime distinction I'm trying to make. A blue Sapphire and a Blue Quartz would have no difference to the ancient eye, and neither would a Purple Amethyst and a Blue Sapphire. There'd be no distinguishing between the two. Not like today, where every single thing is categorized, color, gems, flora and fauna. 

We live in a unique age, where we can see the variegated differences better than any other. We can know the difference between two species of flowers; we can see and accurately describe all species, all differences. Yet, even we are blind. There are tribes in Africa which can distinguish between two sets of greens---so minutely different that my eye has to strain to tell---and yet cannot distinguish between a blue square and a green square.

This is so odd, yet I come to this that many of us endowed with knowledge of the Bible, and are rooted in its word, have a separate categorization for things, equally as objective, which perhaps the Atheist cannot see. He's not physically incapable of seeing it, but nonetheless, he doesn't see it, though the two things are as different as Blue and Violet, or Blue and Green. Or as other distinguishes go, some cultures cannot tell the difference between Green and Yellow.

Therefore, we must minister to atheists in a way in which we describe the things of God, "Good and Evil", "Love and Peace", "Justice and Mercy", for they are as estranged to these concepts as the tribesmen of Africa, who cannot distinguish between an obvious Blue and an obvious Green. But, much like those primitive peoples, the atheists have niche and often useful only to them categorizations which we cannot see. Such minutia of differences, which allows them to see the difference between two very similar shades of green. Yet, how does something so obvious, like an apparent Blue, go unnoticed by them? More so, the Bible doesn't mention Blue, it mentions "Amethyst", and an Atheist might criticize what I'm saying that God is blind to different colors, and is as primitive as the peoples I'm describing. It is not so. 

For, the Bible teaches us Words different than color, flora or fauna. In fact, "Amethyst" in that instance was also a blue color, as the tzitzits would be colored after the color of a sunny day, that with a pure blue and a pure white. Yet, I infer this because the Jews came from Egypt, where blue was understood, and secondly, that the dye the Jews used must be blue, as the pattern of the tzitzits would be that of the sky and clouds. I infer that because God reigns above the Jews, over the vault. Yet, the same word for "Blue" was the same word for "Purple", but it didn't stop them from distinguishing, still. Yet, it still doesn't change the fact that certain concepts are lost on different cultures.

Your average person will not know the difference between two birds, yet a bird watcher will know the minute differences and various sub-species. Just so, a Christian is given words which describe a certain thing which to the Atheist, they cannot see. Because the atheist refuses to see it. And some atheists find it, and walk away from it. And some atheists find it, and worship it, without knowing what it is. It is this that the Christian is educated on. The nature of Peace, of Plenty, of Love, of Joy, of Truth. We understand the better natured pleasures, the laws which conform men to be patterned after finding those pleasures in abundance. And where does it come from? Well, it comes from ordering oneself according to God's law. And also the mercy by which God forgives us when we do not accomplish it.

For, to the atheist, their sins are accepted by society. Homosexuality. Transgenderism. Adultery. Fornication. Bitterness. Envy. Greed. Covetousness. Lust. Anger. Backbiting. Malice. Revenge. To them, these are perfectly natural, and are in fact good. They understand the feeling it gives them, and this is the only good feeling they perceive. They only know this, and therefore, when they feel love or joy, it is like looking at green and yellow, and determining that both are indeed the same color. They cannot distinguish between the wholesome feeling of true love, and the slough that is infatuation. To them, it is the same shade, of the same color, and like the tribesman, they look at the two, and will only after much deliberation distinguish between them.

The good thing is, that it can be taught. And that is why one need be educated on the Word of God. For, through His word, one can begin to distinguish between the obvious colors. Blue becomes blue, and Sadness is not the same shade as Jealousy. Anger is not the same shade as Indignation. Bitterness is not the same shade as a broken spirit. Love is not the same shade as lust. Marriage is not the same shade as a close relationship. Heterosexual is not the same as Homosexual. Men are men. Women are women. And by that, men can be given to the greater pleasures of life, and be fulfilled and have their fill of life, for others will not be tempted to steal it from them. For when we understand Good and Evil, Good is not the same shade as Evil, and Evil is not the same Shade as good. And one does not call Love, Infatuation. And one does not make equal fornication with nuptial embrace.

Of course, the fact is these people could see blue, so perhaps also good; the only blindness is the modern age's desire to obscure clearly established truth.

An Analysis of Isaiah 14

1. The LORD will have mercy on his yet, unrepentant people. Jacob is the name of Israel, before being bestowed the blessing. Before he had to wrestle with Christ, and therefore, receive the inheritance. The nations will cleave to Jacob, and Israel will be set in their own land.
2. Those who enslaved Israel will be taken captive. Those who have made Israel a prey, and have made them slaves, will be taken as house servants and slaves to the House of Israel. A fitting end for them.
3. In the day when the LORD gives Israel rest from his fear and sorrow, and restore him from his slavery,
4. Israel will take up this "Proverb" against the king of Babylon. He will say, "How the Oppressor ceased!"
5. The LORD will break the scepter of Wickedness, and the staff of rebuke.
6. The man, King of Babylon, who smote the whole earth with continual rebuke, and ruled the nations in anger, will be persecuted, and none will hinder his descent into destruction. They will be glad that this man falls.
7. When the King of Babylon is fallen, the whole Earth will be quiet, and at rest. It will break into singing.
8. The trees and firs of Lebanon will rejoice that the King is defeated, the one who oppressed the world with his evil decrees. They will sing that there is no ax which is lifted up against them.
9. Hell moves up to meet him. Hell will swallow him whole, the one who oppressed the Earth, and would not leave men be at rest and quiet at their work. It is speaking of Satan, drawing its archetype from the King of Babylon who would rule over the Earth. A physical domain.
10. Those in hell will speak to the King of Babylon, "Have you become like us", is what they will say. Even the proud destroyer who has subdued all nations will be in hell, like one of the fallen and those who suffer torments.
11. The King's pomp, his splendor, has brought him down to the grave. The worm is spread under him. The worm a type of death.
12. Lucifer is a name given to Satan in the King James Translation---the Son of the Morning Star. This epithet was given at first to Egyptian Pharaohs and is now, here, being related to the Babylonian King, who likely would call himself the "Son of the Morning Star." It was a common epithet kings would call themselves, those kings who were known as "Baalim", kings who wished to be worshipped as gods. The tradition is ubiquitous around the ancient world, and did not originate in Greece. It originated in Egypt, and likely carried over to all kings who wanted to be worshipped as gods. It is also foreshadowing the captivity of God's people, their oppression under the yoke of Babylon---some seventy years before Babylon took Israel captive; interestingly, this seems to be written after Hezekiah showed the treasures to Babylonian Princes, but the prophecy was written under King Ahaz, therefore, it is literally prophesying when Hezekiah would meet with the Babylonian Princes and showed them the kingdom's treasure. God prophesied from that moment, that Babylon would take Judah captive since the Babylonian Princes had seen the treasures of Israel in their full sum. Lucifer is fallen, likely a demonic entity which inhabits kings, and causes them to oppress their people and have themselves be worshipped as gods.
13-14. Here it's detailing the pomp of the Babylonian Kings. They wish to ascend into heaven, and be seated at God's throne. They believe themselves to be the rightful heir to God's throne.
15. And it says that this entity and the kings shall be thrown into hell. I have some recollection of Nebuchadnezzar making the people worship the bronze statue. Making himself a god, for the people to worship. And again with Daniel, being thrown into the lion's den for not worshiping Nebuchadnezzar. Both times were God's people protected, yet also, both times God's people chose death rather than life, if it meant following after an idol. The reference to the "Morning Star" is likely a harkening back to Egyptian captivity, relating Nebuchadnezzar to Pharaoh, which Ezekiel will actually do. And Ezekiel will also liken this same entity to the King of Tyre.
16- 17. The same entity, Satan, which caused the whole earth to tremble---foreshadowing the great tribulation---will be cast into hell. He will be sucked down into hell, and the beings within hell will all say to themselves, "Is this the man who caused all the nations to rue? Who caused all men to suffer? Is this the man who lopped the bough, and destroyed like none other before he? He who had no mercy, and would not let the prisoners be free?" And here's a definite reference to Pharaoh. Pharaoh famously would not let the Jews go to their homeland, and the "Morning Star" is referring to Pharaoh. Babylon and Egypt are being typed together, as the Bible will do often with the nations. It links Moab, Tyre, Ziddon, Ammon and Philistia as principalities directly ruled by Satan; often making Satan the literal head of those states, as well.
18-19. All the kings lie in glory at their house. But, he is slain as one of the uncircumcised. His carcass is "Trodden under feet". He is killed ingloriously. He does not die in the full comfort of his kingdom. He dies, rather, the death of a worthless man. Many kings were killed this way in history. Alexander was embalmed alive, they say. Jezebel was thrown out of a window, and eaten by dogs. Absalom was hung on a tree, and gutted. Agamemnon, who I think is Nebuchadnezzar, was said to be avenged by his wife, for the slaying of Iphigenia. We have historical, Biblical, and mythological deaths of kings who acted unjustly.
20. The King of Babylon would not be set with the kings in burial. He will, rather, be slaughtered ungracefully, and be a corpse trodden down in the mire.
21. Even his children will be destroyed. They will not inhabit the land.
22. The LORD will cut off the remnant of Babylon, son and nephew. Even the nephew. There will be none in Babylon who survive, of the dynastic family. They will be all slain, which was fulfilled by Cyrus when he gained possession of the city. Cyrus won Babylon with his good will, and this verse here proclaims that the regency was killed off to the sum, down to the nephew and son.
23. The LORD will sweep it with the Besom of Destruction. My name means "Broom" which is another word for "Besom." I'm particularly happy about this verse, that it's one of the few verses in the Bible which relates to my name. That, and Elijah slept underneath a Broom Tree. But, the LORD will sweep away Babylon with a broom of destruction. Probably a pronged one, with metal thongs.
24. And as the LORD proposed it, it will pass. The LORD brought Jesus, prophesying Him in Genesis. In perfectly clear and unambiguous terms. Prophesied him in Exodus, by causing Israel to roam the desert in the pattern of a cross. Prophesied Him in the Law, by saying one set apart from the people must surely die---many other such prophecies, both in the Torah, the Prophets, and the histories.
25 - 27. Now the work calls Assyria the same as Babylon. In truth, they both had the same effect. They both were called upon God's people, to destroy them for their wickedness, and when the destruction was over, they were to be destroyed themselves. It isn't at all faulty to view Assyria and Babylon the same, nor Assyria and Syria. They were all agents of Satan, used to confront Israel and Judah in their time of sin, to cause them repentance. The LORD has purposed victory for those who believe in Him. That's the sum of it. He was faithful to bring Jesus. He'll be faithful to sweep Babylon away with the Besom of Destruction.
28. Confirming that this is indeed a prophecy. One of the nuances of scripture, that a bunch of scribes rushing to compile together couldn't fake. Ahaz was the king before Hezekiah, and the prophecy relating to Babylonian Captivity was before Hezekiah, who would famously show the treasures of the whole Kingdom to Babylon, and thus give them the notion to attack Judah some seventy years later. Dating this segment at Ahaz is something that a rushed compiling of scripture by a dozen or so Persian scribes couldn't recreate. It's too nuanced, and would certainly be more literary, and therefore more probable, to date the prophecy during Hezekiah. A rushed compiling of scripture to suzerain a satellite Persian State couldn't manufacture such nuance. Also, if it were true, why would Nehemiah have servants of Persia defying the king's orders? If the Jews were created on the spot by Persia to be suzerained, would the other nations attack a Persian dominion, after just being released from Persian rule? It would seem to foment another war, if such were the case that Persia was building a Satellite state in Jerusalem. And why, if it wished to create a myth of a Messiah, would it not do so for the Arabs, too, who were belligerents in this conflict? And, if the Bible were plagiarized, how could such contemporary details exist, such current politics, to place Arabian belligerents against Jerusalem? It seems, rather, the Bible is authentically the Jewish religion.
29. I believe this refers to today. Palestina is the realm of the Philistines, therefore, it is prophecying of the current conflict we have today. The rod which smote them will be broken. But, they are not to rejoice, because God will have judgment against them, too, in the latter days.
30. At the end of this conflict, when Satan's dominion is brought down, the poor will live in comfort, and they will lay down in safety. Their roots will not dry up in famine.
31. The city of Palestina---the seat of the Palestinian Government---will be dissolved. I only need let the reader imagine what this is referring to.
32. The LORD founded Zion. It shall survive. Jerusalem shall survive, and the city of destruction shall be destroyed, which oppresses Zion's borders.

The extent of magic's effect on someone is purely psychological. Shrunken heads are shook, the heads contain no power. Rather, it is the mind which ascribes to the symbol power. It looks frightening. It creates trauma. Same thing with a woman throwing gemstones. It isn't the power of the gemstones. It is the psychological effect of the gemstones. I, seeing the gemstones, gave them power. It frightened me, sent me into a frail mental state---later, I would learn about conspiracy theories. I got frightened because my mind was primed for the fear, incepted by the woman throwing gemstones. Hypnotism is real, yet is only neuroticism. Power through suggestion.

Demons are very real. Yet, magic does not affect one, to bring upon an innocent person demons. As the proverb goes, "As a bird does not alight without a cause, so does a curse not alight without a cause." The bird being related to a demon. Magic has no power over the one who lives righteously. And should magic be exerted---hypnotism---the individual will have that part of them shaved off, and it will become a folkstem. Like it had never existed. The sin will be removed as far as the east is from the west.

Magic also deludes. If one believes the levitating statue is real---it's done by magnets---then one is inculcated into the cult, believing their own will power moved the statue. If one sees the cup move by the water underneath it, and is told a ghost had moved the cup... unless the magic trick is revealed, the person has witnessed the cup move, and thereby believes in ghosts. Not to say there are not real poltergeists. Yet, such a thing is a demonic entity and thereby a curse on a sinful dwelling. It is a demon implanted in a place from a crime committed long ago. Yet, it can be spiritually cleansed by one's own repentance. For the belief in ghosts is delusional. But the belief in demons is not. Consorting with ghosts is witchcraft. Consorting with idols is witchcraft. Yet, the idols are dumb and cannot perform any work. The witchcraft is dumb and cannot cause any harm. For, Satan is under God's command to do what is evil and thereby destroy the wicked, while chastening the righteous. Satan is a rebellious prince, wishing to commit regicide and patricide, yet, for fear of his own life, he still performs the King's duties. His armies go to war on the King's authority, not the Prince's. As the King decrees, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Thereby, the prince's war machine cannot siege, without God's command. He says of Assyria, " Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood." The smiting of the LORD is in the LORD's authority, and when the Enemy overreaches his bounds, he shall be rebuked for our sake.

Therefore, Magic is not real. Kabbalah and fortune telling with numbered cards implants into the brain fear. And that fear is used by evil forces to malign one, and cause one to shrink back. Same thing with anger, rage, hate, bitterness---these are the true witchcraft. For by these things, one shrinks back, feels frightened, is caused to seek vengeance, is caused to seek evil for evil. And when this incepts in the mind, it produces sinful thoughts, which bring upon the soul guilt. Even lust has this effect. To which, namely, Magic is simply psychological, by manipulating this grief to cause one to fear, hate, lust or be enraged. And by these faults, the Magician can turn one toward even worse sins. Save that the LORD cleanse the heart of its unrighteousness, and circumcise the folkstem from the soul. For to stop magic, it takes love, kindness, forgiveness, joy, peace, gentleness, self control, forgiveness, to never let anger last until the night.