11.29.07
Posted in Religion at 4:47 pm by hhusted
As you may be aware by now, there is a new children’s movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, who happens to be an atheist and who belongs to secular humanist societies. Phillip is a hater of anything religious and writes anything that present anti-Christian views. He openly stated he hates C. S. Lewis’s Chronical’s of Narnia, and wanted to write a story that depicted violence against God. Basically, the movie was written slyly by Phillip as a way to fool kids and their parents into wanting to buy his trilogy, where children are spoken as killing God, and are told not to listen to their parents but to do as they pleased. This movie will get some appeal with audiences because Nicole Kidman stars in it.
The movie is schedule for a release date of December 7, which happens to be during the Christmas season. It is ironic that the movie is being released at the same time as Christmas, which is an attempt to counteract the idea of Christmas as a Christian holiday. The movie, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, is based on the first of a trilogy of books for children called HIS DARK MATERIALS written by Philip Pullman of England. Phillip Pullman stated that he is an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Phillip also stated that there was no way that there is a God and that he can’t accept spirituality. He stated he wanted to influence children to turn against God and their parents, since he believes God put parents in place to control kids. Because of his devoutness, he wrote a trilogy of books reflecting his views.
As was stated earlier, the first book is HIS DARK MATERIALS, The other books in his trilogy are THE SUBTLE KNIFE and THE AMBER SPYGLASS. Each book mentions Pullman’s hatred of God. If you read his trilogy, you would learn about a young girl who fights against a church known as the Magisterium. Phillip depicts Christianity as a big mistake. The last book has a boy and a girl represent Adam and Eve, and they end up killing God.
The main idea for Phillip is to get the children hooked with the movie and then they will buy the books, with the idea that children will read the books and get convinced to go against God and the kingdom of heaven.Of course the books have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with the first book winning the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature in 1995 and being awarded the ‘Carnegie of Carnegies,’ in 2002, for the best children’s book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, which was the first children’s book to win that prestigious award.
Pullman stated very clearly in an interview in 2003 that his books were about killing God, and in an earlier interview in 2001, he mentioned that he was trying to undermine the Christian religion.
Here is the DaVinci Code all over again. Just as there was controversy surrounding that book and the author Dan Brown, we have another situation involving another attack on Christianity. Hopefully, we will show Phillip for what he truly is, a God hater, and a tool of Satan, and the Christian religion will stand tall as it has for centuries.
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and article writing. His credits include over 1000 articles for various websites and he has authored three books: Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks, How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business, and Insider Secrets to Wealth and Prosperity. He can be reached by sending email to husted@creatingwords.com or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2007 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.
golden compass+Christian+God
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05.01.07
Posted in News & Events at 10:14 am by hhusted
It seems everyone today is in an uproar over global warming. The government thinks this is happening as well as some scientists. But are we really in global warming? Is there any such thing as global warming? let’s examine the facts.
The first point to make regarding our globe is that it is a globe that is not facing global warming. Instead, it is a warming globe. This is a big difference. The Earth has been here for billions of years and through the time span, the Earth has gone through cycles or climate change every so many years. This has been going on from the beginning. The problem is that scientists don’t want to look at it from that perspective. This is because they are only looking at the globe from the surface and are not willing to go deeper into history to understand more how this globe of ours functions.
In the last two to three years we have had many conflicting reports come from organizations such as the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, based at the University of East Anglia, England, who claimed that many areas, especially those in Asia will face rising temperatures while British researchers are claiming that the world is at least 10 degrees colder than it was over 3 million years ago.
According to reports by the Newcastle team, they found through examination of fossils at the molecular level, tell-tale signs that temperatures did indeed fall at certain periods during the last million years. They recognized a pattern of deposition of algae sediments. This pattern revealed many factors including a climate change cycle that had spanned many years. Basically, from the evidence found, the Earth actually has been getting cooler. The ice-age was also evidence of this planet getting cooler.
While these facts prove true in one respect, other scientists are not buying it for they tell about a rising in the Earth’s temperature, claiming the average temperature on Earth was 0.2 °C in the last 20 years or so. They relate this increase in temperature to emissions and greenhouse gases.
Based on the data that was collected, it was apparent that most of the readings were false, because the scientists, who conducted the study, used sea water temperatures instead of air temperatures in their measurements. The difference in temperature of sea water and air are completely different.
This is why the many studies that were done cannot be relied upon. Inaccurate data provides inaccurate results. And according to more recent studies, the older studies were flawed because the outcomes did not match the results expected.
Another study that was published in Nature magazine in 3/11/99, states that the average temperature of the Earth has only increased by 1.5 °F over an 11,000 year time span.
It is because of these studies that scientists are no longer in agreement that we are in global warming. Unfortunately, trying to convince the public and the government’s perspective and policies is another bitter pill to swallow. However, in order to really ascertain the truthfulness of whether global warming is a real problem, better built satellites and better computers would be needed in to collect the correct data that is required to examine this issue properly. The only concern here is money, since it would take quite a few million dollars to accomplish this task. And why spend that kind of money on something that may not even exist at all.
Recently, the NOAA did a study of the Earth and its changes over the last 100 years and found the Earth’s temperatures have undergone two cycles of warming and cooling. There was no apparent extended warming trend.
All the reports that the media have read and reported on were based primarily on ground temperatures and not air. This is very misleading and may be the reason scientists have become concerned with global warming. Yet, when taking data from the satellites, there showed no warming over of the Earth.
If we go back in history, we will find that during the Holocene Maximum, which is between 18 and 2 thousand years ago (just before the ice age), temperatures on the planet rose to certain levels. But these temperatures even fluctuated until finally they went down fast resulting in the ice age. Based on recent findings, the temperature during this time, before the ice age, was about 3 °F higher than it is today.
Greenhouse House Effect
No doubt you may have heard in the news sometime in the last 30 years or so about the greenhouse effect. This is when gases from pollution, car emissions, and industry waste, go into the atmosphere and form an umbrella that causes the Sun’s rays to penetrate it but not allow the ray’s radiation to reflect back into space, thereby causing the temperature of the air to rise.
In reality, what we produce in pollution and other contaminates result in only about 0.3 percent of total greenhouse gases. If you studied astronomy or science in school, the one thing you were taught is that the Sun’s energy enters the atmosphere and some is reflected back into space. What does get through is trapped by the greenhouse gases or the rays are trapped below the gases. When the Earth goes into cool down mode at night, the radiation is supposedly sent back into space, but instead it is reflected back to the surface. This results in a steadily rising temperature.
Experts have studied this for years and even try to convince you this means global warming. They even go to the point of claiming that we need nuclear energy to overcome the problem of global warming.
Well, what really is happening here? Let’s examine some facts. As you may know, water vapor is Earth’s most prevalent gas. About 95% of it exists in the atmosphere. This also contributes to the greenhouse effect. This water vapor is natural while the other 5 percent of elements in the gases make up carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorocarbons.
Every activity that we undertake gives off some amount of greenhouse gas. However, these amounts are so minute that are hardly even noticeable. If you look at the greenhouse effect from this perspective, you will find that 99.7% of greenhouse effect is in fact caused naturally.
Does this mean that pollution has no bearing on global warming? Not really. But this doesn’t give us the go-ahead to pollute our planet. We still have to breathe the air and drink the water.
Carbon Dioxide
If pollution doesn’t affect our planet by causing global warming, why are we so concerned about the emissions for automobiles? Think of it this way. CO2 that is in our atmosphere has been increasing every year since thousands of years ago. In fact, according to studies done by scientists, archeologist, and geologist, CO2 has been rising even before people used fossil fuels as an energy source. This same study showed that the Earth’s temperature and CO2 were exactly similar to what they were 120,000 to 140,000 years ago. Despite these findings, so-called global warming experts panic over a slight increase in CO2, claiming it is the fault of the greenhouse effect.
People may not realize this, but of the 186 billion tons of CO2 entering the Earth’s atmosphere each year, 6 billion tons are actually from humans and from what they do. Another 90 billion tons are from biological activity in the oceans while another 90 billion tons are from land sources including volcanoes and decaying land plants. Plants absorb CO2 and emit oxygen. This is called photosynthesis. Humans and animals breathe in oxygen and release CO2. As you can see, CO2 is a much needed nutrient. Without it, we would cease to exist.
Weather Conditions
If the above is true, what can be causing so many weather disasters on the Earth in so many places? Well according to many physicists and scientists, the results are based on solar energy from the Sun. Basically, as the Earth moves in its orbit; it crosses over asteroids and other debris from broken up stars or stars that imploded. When this radiation hits the Earth’s surface, it disturbs the magnetic flux of the planet, which also causes a shift in win currents, which cause a shift in the jet stream. All this influences weather conditions, because the areas that use to get cold winds were now getting warmer winds.
Also, weather forecaster and astrophysicist Piers Corbyn of Weather Action stated that climate change always happened. The center had been studying weather conditions for years and found this to be true. When the Sun releases solar flares into space, those solar flares reach Earth and cause many disruptions in the atmosphere.
Piers went on to relate that global warming really is just a cover to introduce nuclear power as the way to combat the changes in the Earth’s climate. http://www.weatheraction.com/
Piers showed through extensive study that the Earth’s temperatures and climate are controlled by the particles that are given off by the Sun and enter our atmosphere. When this occurs, the magnetic field of the Earth is shifted. This continued bombardment of the Sun’s particles and the changing Earth climate will continue like this till at least 2040, maybe sooner.
Even the threat of extension of animals like polar bears is invalid. The Arctic was much warmer a few thousand years ago and then it is today. This is one of the reasons Greenland was given its name. Despite these warmer temperatures, polar bears survived.
All these global warming advocates like Al Gore and others, have no claim on what they perceive is evidence. They claim global warming is the fault of rising CO2, which is obvious a lie. They have no hard evidence to prove their theories. They are only going by what they think or perceive to be the truth. And they get their data from people, who are not even scientists, but a bunch of researchers who go after the wrong data.
It is a strong fact; the global warmers can’t provide strong evidence to support their claims, while weather predictors can. Basically, global warmers are nothing but a cult that has risen to secretly promote nuclear power as an alternative energy source.
As for weather conditions – every severe weather attack occurred after a solar flare was released from the Sun or some kind of solar activity had occurred.
Piers, studied weather patterns for the last 50 years and found one correlation. His findings showed that there were actually fewer storms than more of them. He said all the reports of severe weather are mere reports not actual conditions. If a tragedy does occur, it is because of poorly designed buildings.
Some people claim that extreme heat in certain areas of the country is the result of global warming. Not so. The actual reason for this is specific pressure patterns in the area, direction of wind currents, enhanced brightness of the Sun by having cleaner air, and lowering of trees and forest, which provide plenty of oxygen and CO2.
Oil Companies and Scientists
There are many scientists that are not going on the global warming bandwagon because they know there is not enough evidence to support it. But what about the big oil companies? Well they jumped on because they see dollar signs in their eyes. Oil companies are using the hype around global warming to make even larger profits. They will gain considerably from extracting CO2 from the atmosphere and recycle their old oil rigs so they can put solid CO2 into the sea. They will call this Carbon sequestration. And they will do it in the name of saving this planet at our expense. This is also a falsity.
Conclusion
All the evidence that was presented by many scientists, weather forecasters, geologist, archeologist, and even physicist, prove that there is no such thing as global warming. In fact, the weather conditions you see on Earth are in reality based on the Sun’s release of radiation into the Earth’s atmosphere, which causes a shift or change in the magnetic field, which shifts the wind currents, which causes weather to change in many areas. This is why areas that usually see cold see warm temperatures and vice-versa.
Global warming is a fallacy that was started by a group of activist, whose only goal is to convince the higher powers to enact legislation that will enforce the building of nuclear power plants. This way, those who own them will have control and get rich off of us taxpayers.
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and article writing. His credits include over 1000 articles for various websites and he has author two books: Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to husted@creatingwords.com or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2007 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.
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04.27.07
Posted in News & Events at 9:20 pm by hhusted
Ever since the disaster at Virginia Tech, it seems that teachers are scrutinizing their student’s work very carefully. Maybe they are doing it too carefully. For instance, take former Roswell High School student Rachle Boim. She was suspended from school for writing a fictional story about killing her math teacher. Instead of reading her story and grading her accordingly, the teacher went too far and had the child suspended from school. Boim’s attorney couldn’t believe that the judge would look at the work as anything other than fiction. The judge didn’t buy that.
According to the account, Boim’s fictional tale talked about a student going to school with a gun. As the student prepares to shoot the math teacher, the student wakes up to find the incident was only a dream. Boim was later suspended 10 days for violating school rules regarding disrespectful conduct and threat of bodily harm. The judges that ruled against Boim, claimed that they were preventing what could occur at the school like what happened at Virginia Tech.
And what about the situation with Allen Lee. Allen was given an assignment by his English teacher at Cary-Grove High School. The teacher told his students to write whatever comes to their minds. Whatever they do, they are not to censor what they wrote. Well Allen was doing exactly what his teacher told him to do and he ended up getting arrested and charged with two counts of disorderly conduct.
Based on the essay Allen wrote, he spoke about blood, sex, and booze. He spoke about drugs and stabbing someone. He also talked about using two guns to shoot people. According to the teacher, his writing was disturbing and inappropriate. For one thing, what he wrote wasn’t at all related to using foul language. He merely was obeying his teacher’s orders to write freely. Allen’s thoughts may have been stupid and insensitive at the time, considering what happened at Virginia Tech, but he was told to write down what came to his mind without censoring. Allen was a straight-A student and had no history of mental or emotional problems, nor was he ever violent.
The teacher and administrator went overboard in this situation. All the teacher had to do was sit down with the student and the student’s parents and have a talk about the paper. If they had talked to Allen about the paper, maybe he would have explained his reasoning behind the work. What the teacher did was extreme in this case. Actually, the student’s civil rights were violated, if you really think about it. Everyone in this country has the legal right to express him/herself. This is our right under the Constitution. What the teacher and the administrator did was downright objectionable.
I’m not saying what the work Allen wrote should have been ignored. Just don’t go having him arrested over it. Just don’t overreact to a situation until you get all the facts. Interview the student, his parents, fellow students who knew Allen, and even teachers that taught Allen. This is the best and fairest way to find out about Allen’s past and attitude.
Based on these cases, I understand why the school took action against these students. They didn’t want a repeat of Virginia Tech to happen in their schools. But they should realize that many of the kids are immature and don’t know any better. The worst thing to do to a child is to get the law on them for what they do. This will scar the child for life. He/she will think that writing is wrong and will refrain from doing so in the future. This will also force the child to become afraid to express him/herself on paper. Communication is a big part of business and commerce. To withhold a child from freedom of expression and to inhibit the right of children to write, can stunt their growth to a degree, not to mention it violates their civil rights.
On the one hand, if a student were to write something vile and disgusting that featured violence, concern for the child is valid, but not to the point where the child should be arrested for breaking the law.
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and article writing. His credits include over 1000 articles for various websites and he has author two books: Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to husted@creatingwords.com or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2007 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.
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Posted in News & Events at 9:17 pm by hhusted
It is hard to imagine that such a catastrophe could affect one college campus like what happened Monday, April 16, 2007. To learn about 33 students dying by one 23-year-old senior, was just devastating.
So many lives were cut short as a result of such a twisted mind, whose idea of dealing with his problems was to kill. What does this whole event mean for us? Why did it happen? What could have caused a person to blow up like he did, especially against people that did nothing to him?
In order to look at this from one perspective, you have to look in the mind of the killer. This 23-year-old was a loner. He was also a troubled student, based on writings he created a year earlier. Any time he would be around other people, he would stay to himself. He didn’t say much. Even when someone asked him a question, he only replied with one word answers but did not encourage a conversation.
No one knows what his life was growing up, while in Korea and then here in the States. The only assumption we can make is that during his time he would stay quiet and to himself. Although he did stay to himself, he did recognize what was happening around him, for the statements he left behind should a man who was irate over certain types of people and situations. He didn’t like rich kids, people who committed debauchery, or other shameless acts. He basically became their judge, jury, and executioner.
Most kids that committed these acts of killing in the past, had a history of depression, abuse, being picked on, or bullied. The kid, who was abused, figured the only way to get revenge on the people around him would be to go after the person or persons who committed the acts against him. But the killing wouldn’t stop there. Because when the person kills one or two, he continues killing because all sense of reality leaves his mind at that point. Its like he is on a roll, so why stop.
When Cho Seung-Hui did this heinous act yesterday, he did not show any sign of feelings or remorse. He did not say anything or provide any type of expression. He simply went into the classroom, locked it so no one could get out, and opened fire on everyone in the classroom. It was like he was vindicating himself for the wrongful acts that were being perpetrated around him. But, just as with many other killers in the past, he didn’t want to get caught and end up in jail for the rest of his life, nor did he want to continue living in his pain of an existence he lived. So he committed suicide.
In order to prevent this from happening in the future, we have to be alert to signs of students, and children’s behavior. If we even remotely believe that someone around us has a problem, and we either see it through visuals signals or written information, we must take action immediately to reach into that person’s mind. We have to either provide help in the form of counseling, or offer counseling to that person or student. We cannot allow such thoughts or feelings to take root, because if these feelings or thoughts do take root, the end result will be action, and that action could be catastrophic.
For now let us ban together and mourn the loss of our future generation that was so abruptly ended. And let us come together to help console each other and support each other as we try to adjust and try to resume the lives we were living before this event happened. However, do not forget this occasion. We can forgive the shooter, but we cannot forget what happened. We must learn from this and go on to become stronger and more determined to live life and give the best of ourselves.
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. He is also a fomer ordained minister. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and search engine optimization. His credits include 1000+ articles for various magazines and websites. Harry is also an author of two books: Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to husted@creatingwords.com or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2004 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.
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Posted in Religion at 9:15 pm by hhusted
When giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned several prophecies, both for his day and ours. He started out by providing nine ways to get blessed by God. They are “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5: 3-11.
Jesus goes on to warn against hypocritical gifts and prayers. He teaches his disciples to pray for the sanctification of the Father’s name, for His Kingdom to come, and for their daily sustenance. Throughout the sermon Jesus holds the Kingdom to the fore. He cautions those who follow him not to worry about or work merely for material riches, for the Father knows their actual needs. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”- Matthew 6:33.
Jesus goes on to relate about the “signs of his coming”. While on the Mount of Olives, Jesus points forward to a time of wars, “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But also “the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Jesus also warned about a great distress that will come that is unequaled from any time in history, nor be repeated again. During the time of the end, people will come and say “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “There he is!” or, they’ll claim to have talked with Jesus in spirit. When this happens, don’t believe it. Jesus went on to relate how “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect.” Jesus told his apostles and gave this warning for us today that “no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father … therefore keep watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.” Jesus mentioned an appointment of “the faithful and discreet slave … over all his belongings,” and many other features of the composite sign that is to mark “the arrival of the son of man in his glory to sit down on his glorious throne.”‘ (Matthew 24: 1 - 51; 25:31).
Just what do these prophecies mean for us today? Was Jesus just talking about events to occur in his day? To answer these questions we only have to look at what is happening in the world. In the book of Revelation we are told about events that would happen in our time. The Apostle John received a vision while on the island of Patmos concerning ‘the last days’. Jesus was given revelations by his father to give to mankind. As Rev.1:1 states it, “A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending hisangel to his servant John.” In Revelation, everything that is happening to us today is explained in detail using symbols to represent actual people, places, and things. Through these ideas and abstractions, we come to the knowledge of what our time would be like.
But just what do these prophecies mean? And how do we know everything stated in Revelation is meant for our day? Well before we answer that question, let’s backtrack a little and find out just when the book of Revelation was written. According to earliest testimony, John wrote the Revelation about 96 C.E., approximately 26 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The entire book of Revelation, from beginning to end, gives us a coherent picture of things to come, going from one vision to another until the full disclosure of God’s Kingdom purposes is reached at the end of the visions. The book is divided into 16 visions. These visions are followed by a motivating conclusion, in which God, Jesus, the angel, and John all speak, making their final contribution as the principals in the channel of communication.
Getting back to what the prophecies mean, we have to evaluate each vision in succession, so as to uncover the meaning and provide the correct interpretation necessary to understand them. We start with the first vision John had. In Revelation, John addresses those in the seven congregations in the district of Asia, at that time. As the first vision begins, by inspiration John finds himself in the Lord’s day. A strong, trumpet like voice tells him to write in a scroll what he sees and to send it to the seven congregations, in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Turning toward the voice, John sees someone “like a son of man” in the midst of seven golden lampstands, having seven stars in his right hand. This One identifies himself as “the First and the Last … the Living One” who became dead but is now living forever and ever and who has the keys of death and of Hades. He is therefore the resurrected Jesus Christ. He explains: “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are seven churches.” - Revelation 1: 13, 17, 20.
John is told to write to the angel of the congregation of Ephesus, which, despite its labor, endurance, and refusal to put up with bad men, has left its first love and should repent and do the former deeds. The congregation in Smyrna is told that despite tribulation and poverty, it is in fact rich and should not be afraid. The congregation in Pergamum, dwelling “where Satan has his throne,” keeps holding fast to Christ’s name but has apostates in its midst, and these must repent or Christ will war with them with the long sword of his mouth. In Thyatira the congregation has “love and faith … service and perseverance,” yet it tolerates “that woman Jezebel.” However, faithful ones who overcome and does his will to the end will receive “authority over the nations.” - Rev. 2: 10, 13, 19, 20, 26. The congregation in Sardis has the reputation of being alive, but it is dead because its deeds are not fully performed before God. Those who conquer, however, will not have their names blotted out of the book of life. The congregation in Philadelphia has kept Christ’s word, so he promises to keep the congregation “from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” Christ will make the one who conquers to be a pillar in the temple of His God. Christ says: “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem … and my new name.” Referring to himself as “the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation,” Christ tells the Laodicea congregation that it is neither hot nor cold and will be vomited out of his mouth. Though boasting of riches, those in that congregation are actually poor, blind, and naked. They need white outer garments, and they need eye salve in order to see. Christ will come in and dine with anyone who opens the door to him. To the one that conquers, Christ will grant to sit down with him on his throne, even as he has sat down with his Father on His throne. - Rev. 3: 10, 12, 14.
Do you see the parallel to churches today. There is so much hypocrisy today that it is unreal. In the Catholic church, Priest as committing sexual acts against alter boys and young children. In nearly every religion today, members are dropping like flies. In 2002 alone, over 10,000 people dropped and left the Catholic church. Baptist churches saw a 20% drop in attendance and membership. Jehovah’s Witnesses saw nearly 40,000 members become disassociated or disfellowshipped. People are trying to find answers to their burning questions and unfortunately, the very people they turned to, are letting them down.
Going on, we continue with vision number two. This vision takes us before God’s heavenly throne of splendor. The scene is dazzling in its beauty, like precious gems for brilliance. Around the throne sit 24 elders wearing crowns. Four living creatures ascribe holiness to God, and he is worshipped as worthy “to receive glory and honor and power” because of being the Creator of all things. - Rev. 4: 11. “Him who sat on the throne” holds a scroll with seven seals. But who is worthy to open the scroll? It is only “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,” that is worthy! This One, who is also “the Lamb … that had been slain,” takes the scroll from God. - Rev. 5: 1, 5, 12. Right now don’t worry about what the 24 elders represent. That will be explained later. Just know that the number 24 is a representation or symbol of significance.
The third vision now begins. The Lamb proceeds to open the seals. First, a horseman on a white horse goes forth “as a conqueror bent on conquest.” Then the rider of a fiery red horse takes peace away from the earth, and another on a black horse rations out grain. However, the black horse was not allowed to touch the oil and the wine. In Jesus day oil and wine were a luxury that only the rich had. Therefore, in today’s society, that means the poor will face hardship while the very rich are not disturbed. A pale horse is ridden by Death, and Hades follows closely. The fifth seal is opened, and “the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God” are seen calling for the avenging of their blood. - Rev. 6: 2, 9. At the opening of the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake, sun and moon are darkened, and the mighty ones of the earth call upon the mountains to fall over them and hide them from God and the wrath of the Lamb.
I believe the above description is obvious. Let’s break it down this way. The first horse is white with a man conquering evil. If you think about it, this refers to when Satan was ousted from Heaven back around 1914. Since then, we have had wars, pestilence, food shortages, earthquakes, and more. Of course we had those things occur before 1914. But not on a global scale as has been seen since that time. And as time went on, all the above events occurred more frequently than ever before. Now the fourth vision began. Four angels are seen holding back the four winds of the earth until the slaves of God are sealed in their foreheads. Their number is 144,000. This seal by the way, is a symbol of their acceptance of God’s spirit or active force in their lives, and not some actual mark. Afterward John sees an innumerable great crowd out of all nations, standing before God and the Lamb, to whom they attribute salvation, rendering service day and night in God’s temple. The Lamb himself “will lead them to springs of living water.’ - Rev. 7: 17. So there are two classes of people - a heavenly and an earthy one. The heavenly class makes up 144,000. While the earthly class makes up a great crowd which no man was able to number.
There is silence in heaven. Then seven trumpets are handed to the seven angels. The first six trumpet blasts make up the fifth vision. As the first three trumpets are successively blown, calamities rain down upon the earth, the sea, and the rivers as well as the fountains of waters. At the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened. At the sound of the fifth, a star from heaven releases a plague of locusts that attack those “who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” This is “one woe,” and two more are coming. The sixth trumpet heralds the untying of four angels who come forth to kill. “Two hundred million” of horsemen bring further calamity and slaughter, but still men do not repent of their evil deeds. Rev. 9: 4, 12, 16.
As the sixth vision begins, another strong angel descends from heaven and declares that “in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished. Rev. 10: 7. John is given a little scroll to eat. It is “sweet as honey” in his mouth, but it makes his belly bitter. Two witnesses prophesy 1,260 days in sackcloth; then they are killed by “the beast that comes up from the Abyss,” and their corpses are left three and a half days “on the street of the great city.” Those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them, but this turns to fright when God raises them to life. In that hour, there is a great earthquake. “The second woe is past.” Rev. 11: 7, 8, 14.
Now the seventh angel blows his trumpet. Heavenly voices announce: “The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” The “twenty-four elders” worship God and give thanks, but the nations become wrathful. It is God’s appointed time to judge the dead and to reward his holy ones and “destroying those who destroy the earth.” His temple sanctuary is opened, and in it is seen the ark of his covenant. Rev. 11: 15, 16, 18. Following the announcement of the establishment of the Kingdom, the seventh vision immediately shows “a great and wondrous sign appears” in heaven. It is a woman who gives birth to “a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” “A red dragon” stands ready to devour the child, but the child is caught away to God’s throne. A war breaks out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and “the great dragon was hurled down - the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” It is “woe to the earth.” The dragon persecutes the woman and goes off to make war with the remaining ones of her seed. Rev. 12:1, 3, 5, 9, 12; 8: 13. According to other prophecies, just before 1914, God’s Kingdom was established with Jesus as ruler in heaven. Satan did not like this, so he tried to kill Jesus and the kingdom arrangement before it even started. But Jesus would have no part of that so he fought the Devil and threw him down to the vicinity of the earth. Ever since, Satan has been attacking Jesus followers, persecuting and killing them.
This is happening in many countries today. Jesus followers are persecuted for preaching about him and his established kingdom. Some Christians have to go underground in order to carry out Jesus message to ‘preach the good news’. In some areas, Christians are being killed for preaching and teaching the truth. This was foretold many centuries ago by Jesus when he told his apostles that they would be persecuted and even killed for his sake. All because people don’t like to hear the truth. Why? Because the truth scares them. Because they know that if they knew the truth, they would be responsible for changing and confirming to the truth.
The eight vision now shows a wild beast with seven heads and ten horns, ascending out of the sea. It gets its power from the dragon. One of its heads was as though slaughtered to death, but it got healed, and all the earth admired the beast. It utters blasphemies against God and wages war with the holy ones. Right after WWII ended, the League of Nations was disbanded. However, this was short-lived because with Satan’s control of this world, the government decided to establish a new center of force known as the United Nations. This represented the head that got healed. When the United Nations was born everyone admired it. Every nation put their power and allegiance to it. They figured this was the last try for peace in the world. But this is not enough for John sees another wild beast, this one ascending out of the earth. It has two horns like a lamb, but it begins speaking like a dragon. It misleads earth’s inhabitants and tells them to make an image to the first wild beast. All are compelled to worship this image or be killed. Without the mark or number of the wild beast, none can buy or sell. Its number is 666. This sure did happen when Britain and America split and became the dual -world power. In the technology sector, there is talk about Japan having developed a chip that would be embedded in the hand of every person on earth. This chip is suppose to contain every vital stat about the person. If the person did not have this chip, they could not buy or sell. Although this is a long way off, it just proves the validity of this prophecy.
In happy contrast, in the ninth vision, John sees the Lamb on Mount Zion, and with him are 144,000 who have the names of the Lamb and of the Father on their foreheads. “They sang a new song before the throne,” having been “purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Another angel appears in midair, bearing “the eternal gospel to proclaim to those live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people” saying, “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come.” And still another angel announces: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great.” Another, a third, proclaims that those who worship the wild beast and its image will drink of God’s wrath. One “like a son of man” thrusts in his sickle, and another angel too thrusts in his sickle and gathers the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, and threw them into “the great winepress of God’s wrath.” As the winepress is trodden outside the city, blood comes up as high as the bridles of the horses, “for a distance of a thousand six hundred stadia.” (about 184 miles). Rev. 14: 3, 4, 6-8, 14, 19, 20.
This vision has John seeing the end of the last days when God’s Kingdom is fully established in heaven and on earth with Jesus at the helm. Jesus destroys all false religions with just those who worship in spirit and in truth left.
The tenth vision begins with another glimpse of the heavenly court. Those who have gained the victory over the wild beast glorify God, the “King of the ages,” for his great and wonderful works. Seven angels come out of the sanctuary in heaven and are given seven golden bowls full of the anger of God. The first six are poured out into the earth, the sea, and the rivers and fountains of waters, as well as upon the sun, the throne of the wild beast, and the river Euphrates, drying up its water to make way for “the kings from the East.” Demonic spirits go out to “the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty” at Armageddon. The seventh bowl is poured out upon the air, and amid terrifying natural phenomena, the great city splits into three parts, the cities of the nations fall, and Babylon receives “the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.” Rev. 15:3; 16:12,14,19.
The 11th vision begins. Look! It is God’s judgment upon Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes, “with her the kings of the earth committed adultery.” Drunk with the blood of the holy ones, she rides a scarlet beast having seven heads and ten horns. This beast “once was, now is not, and will come up out of the abyss.” Its ten horns battle with the Lamb, but because he is “Lord of lords and King of kings,” he conquers them. The ten horns turn on and devour the harlot, and with the beginning of the 12th vision, another angel, whose glory lights the earth, declares: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” God’s people are commanded to get our of her, lest they share in her plagues. The kings and other mighty ones of the earth weep and mourn over her, saying: “Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!” Her great riches have been devastated. As a great millstone is hurled into the sea, so with a swift pitch has Babylon been hurled down, never to be found again. At last the blood of God’s holy ones has been avenged! Heaven resounds with the call: “Hallelujah!! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God … Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!” Rev. 17:2, 5, 8, 14; 18:2, 10; 19:1, 5.
Won’t this be a glorious time when false religion won’t have its grip on society anymore. Just before God’s war of Armageddon starts, events will occur on earth that will cause the government to turn away from the UN first. Then they will turn against organized religions. Once most religions are brought down, the governments will come after the faithful and true followers of Jesus. It is just before this time that Christians will warn unbelievers and all those in these false religions to leave and follow in Jesus footsteps and get converted to Christianity. If this does not happen, they will perish.
In vision number 13, the “King of kings and Lord of lords” leads heavenly armies in righteous warfare. Kings and strong men become carrion for the birds of heaven, and the wild beast and the false prophet are hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur. This is a figurative place, not literal. This is when Armageddon starts. Look out for the world and the wicked. For your days are up. As the 14th vision begins, an angel is seen “coming down out of heaven, having the key of the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.” “The dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan,” is seized and bound for a thousand years. Those having part in the first resurrection become “priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Thereafter, Satan will be let loose and will be hurled, with those who follow him, into the lake of fire. - Rev. 20:1, 2, 6. During the great day of God the Almighty, Jesus will come to destroy his enemies on earth. He will bound Satan in the abyss for a thousand years. During this time, he will resurrect (the first resurrection), those who will go to heaven with him. These involve all those who died including Jesus apostles, and those who had the heavenly calling in our day. These persons will complete the number of the 144,000. Then he will turn his attention to the earth and once again attach and destroy his enemies. He will preserve his faithful ones. He will finish resurrecting the rest of mankind (the second resurrection), which includes Abraham, Moses, Aaron, up to this day, and make everyone perfect. After this is completed, Satan will be let loose from the Abyss to test mankind. Shortly thereafter, he will be destroyed.
The 15th vision shows the dead, great and small, being judged before God’s great white throne. Those who are judged good, will live. Those who are judged evil will die the everlasting death. Following this, Death and Hades are hurled in the lake of fire, which “means the second death” and with them is hurled anyone not found written in the book of life. The New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven (the 144,000), and God will dwell with mankind, wiping out every tear from their eyes. No more death, mourning, outcry, or pain! Yes, God is “making everything new,” and he confirms his promise, saying: “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Those conquering will inherit these things, but the cowards, those lacking faith, and those who are immoral, or practice idolatry will not. - Rev. 20:14; 21:1, 5.
John is now shown, in the 16th and final vision, “the Lamb’s wife,” the New Jerusalem, with its 12 gates and 12 foundation stones bearing the names of the 12 apostles (again this makes up the 144,000). It is a foursquare, and its majestic splendor is represented by the jasper, gold, and pearl in it. God and Jesus are the temple of the city, and they are also its light. Only those written in Jesus scroll of life may enter into it. A “river of water of life issues from the throne down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. … they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.” - Rev. 22:1-5.
The assurance is given: “These words are faithful and true.” Happy, indeed, are all those who observe the words of the prophecy! Having heard and seen these things, John falls down to worship the angel, who reminds him to worship only God. The words of the prophecy are not to be sealed, “because the time is near.” Happy are those gaining entrance into the city, for outside are the “dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Jesus states that he himself “sent his angel to give this testimony for the churches … “the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. The Spirit and the bride say: ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Rev. 22:6, 8-17.
Just as Genesis 1:1 described God’s creation of the material heavens and earth, so Revelation 21:1-4 describes a new heaven and a new earth and the untold blessings that will be brought to mankind. Note too, how Revelation ties together the prophecies concerning wicked Babylon. Isaiah had foreseen the fall of the literal Babylon long before it happened, and he declared: “She has fallen! Babylon has fallen!” - Isa 21:9. But the Revelation speaks in symbol of “Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.” This Babylon will not be a literal place but an entity, a representation of evil on this earth. Also, one other factor to make note of is the way Revelation depicts God’s Kingdom. By understanding the prophecies, we have come to know that that the number of those who were bought from the earth to enter the Kingdom amounted to 144,000. That this number is sealed out of the 12 symbolic tribes of spiritual Israel, not literal. The literal Israel has nothing to do with any prophecies in Revelation, just Christians. One final though to point out. After Jesus resurrects everyone, destroys Satan and his demons, and makes everyone perfect, his thousand year rule will end at which time he will turn the kingdom over to his father who will rule on earth forever, with Jesus and the 144,000 by his side.
Now that you know more about the prophecies, let’s all worship God together as we wait patiently for his rule on earth to begin. Praise God and bless you all.
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. He is also a fomer ordained minister. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and search engine optimization. His credits include 1000+ articles for various magazines and websites. Harry is also an author of two books: Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to husted@creatingwords.com or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2004 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.
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