Carol wrote:Follow the White Rabbit. Do you know what the most expensive and potent drug in the world is called?
Andrenochrome, a drug that can only be found in the human skull (pineal Gland) of an infant whose blood has been adrenalized with fear then killed which now makes up a multi-billion dollar black market industry and why 800k children go missing in the US annually.
Monsters Inc.
WWIII = millions and millions of child victims kidnapped, tortured, sexually abused, murdered and cannibalized.
Info will be sent out by Presidential Emergency Alert System of Military Tribunals of these child pedophile murderers. The andrenochrome user ones who have already been executed pose the greatest threat to children.
Marines have been doing all of the international pedophile arrests.
orthodoxymoron wrote:The systemic-nature of human-trafficking, adrenochrome-production, human-sacrifice, child-pornography, slave-labor, child-abuse, pedophilia, incest, and other abominations (which often overlap) is what primarily concerns me. This is a HUGE International (or Even Interplanetary) Business. Years ago, I briefly discussed human-sacrifice with 'RA' (whoever he was) and he reacted as if it were just business as usual, and that there were those who take care of such things. He told me he liked the taste of blood as he sucked an open-wound. In the movie Spotlight, the team-leader ordered his team to wait until the systemic-nature of pedophilia was fully researched and published. Consider the systemic-nature of the Inquisition. Enough Said.
Jenetta wrote:The Commonwealth Nation New Zealand and it's PM Jacinda Ahern have just rolled out mandatory quarantine camps. Rocco mentions this too in his video above. Soldiers and Covid test workers are going door to door in New Zealand cities enacting mandatory testing. If for example, a seven year old child within a family unit tests positive and other members of the family don't...then the child is removed to the quarantine camp alone and without his/her family members where a mandatory vaccination is given. Those who refuse mandatory testing in the quarantine camps are there indefinitely in inhumane conditions. The paradise of New Zealand is the experimental testing ground for the technocratic NWO. If they can do this in New Zealand there is no doubt that this small group of very powerful and very rich technocrats will move on to Canada and the United States as well as other nation states.
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Jenetta wrote:This is the way I've been feeling lately...I live in a small community and yet it is the microcosm of the whole explained in the following essay; if you don't believe that this would never happen in your country, your city, or your small rural community then peruse some of the Twitter links which give you the picture. It is already happening in Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand. I am not a member of the "New Normals" in my community or elsewhere however I have been verbally abused, chastised, shamed both in person and on the net for not following in line with the "narrative of the new normals". The essay follows:
Invasion of the New Normals: The Elitist Plan to Remake Society Friday, August 21, 2020
They’re here! No, not the pod people from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We’re not being colonized by giant alien fruit. I’m afraid it is a little more serious than that. People’s minds are being taken over by a much more destructive and less otherworldly force … a force that transforms them overnight into aggressively paranoid, order-following,propaganda-parroting totalitarians.
You know the people I’m talking about. Some of them are probably your friends and family, people you have known for years, and who had always seemed completely rational, but who are now convinced that we need to radically alter the fabric of human society to protect ourselves from a virus that causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms (or absolutely no symptoms at all) in over 95% of those infected, and that over 99.6% survive, which, it goes without saying, is totally insane.
I’ve been calling them “corona-totalitarians,” but I’m going to call them the “New Normals” from now on, as that more accurately evokes the pathologized-totalitarian ideology they are systematically spreading. At this point, I think it is important to do that, because, clearly, their ideological program has nothing to do with any actual virus, or any other actual public health threat. As is glaringly obvious to anyone whose mind has not been taken over yet, the “apocalyptic coronavirus pandemic” was always just a Trojan horse, a means of introducing the “New Normal,” which they’ve been doing since the very beginning.
The official propaganda started in March, and it reached full intensity in early April. Suddenly, references to the “New Normal” were everywhere, not only in the leading corporate media (e.g., CNN, NPR, CNBC, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Forbes, et al.), the IMF and the World Bank Group, the WEF, UN, WHO, CDC (and the list goes on), but also on the blogs of athletic organizations, global management consulting firms, charter school websites, and random YouTube videos.
The slogan has been relentlessly repeated (in a textbook totalitarian “big lie” fashion) for going on the past six months. We have heard it repeated so many times that many of us have forgotten how insane it is, the idea that the fundamental structure of society needs to be drastically and irrevocably altered on account of a virus that poses no threat to the vast majority of the human species.
And, make no mistake, that is exactly what the “New Normal” movement intends to do. “New Normalism” is a classic totalitarian movement (albeit with a pathological twist), and it is the goal of every totalitarian movement to radically, utterly transform society, to remake the world in its monstrous image.
That is what totalitarianism is, this desire to establish complete control over everything and everyone, every thought, emotion, and human interaction. The character of its ideology changes (i.e., Nazism, Stalinism, Maoism, etc.), but this desire for complete control over people, over society, and ultimately life itself, is the essence of totalitarianism … and what has taken over the minds of the New Normals.
In the New Normal society, the New Normal society they want to establish, as in every totalitarian society, fear and conformity will be pervasive. Their ideology is a pathologized ideology (as opposed to, say, the racialized ideology of the Nazis), so its symbology will be pathological. Fear of disease, infection, and death, and obsessive attention to matters of health will dominate every aspect of life. Paranoid propaganda and ideological conditioning will be ubiquitous and constant.
Everyone will be forced to wear medical masks to maintain a constant level of fear and an omnipresent atmosphere of sickness and death, as if the world were one big infectious disease ward. Everyone will wear these masks at all times, at work, at home, in their cars, everywhere. Anyone who fails or refuses to do so will be deemed “a threat to public health,” and beaten and arrested by the police or the military, or swarmed by mobs of New Normal vigilantes.
Cities, regions, and entire countries will be subjected to random police-state lockdowns, which will be justified by the threat of “infection.” People will be confined to their homes for up to 23-hours a day, and allowed out only for “essential reasons.” Police and soldiers will patrol the streets, stopping people, checking their papers, and beating and arresting anyone out in public without the proper documents, or walking or standing too close to other people, like they are doing in Melbourne, Australia, currently.
The threat of “infection” will be used to justify increasingly insane and authoritarian edicts, compulsory demonstration-of-fealty rituals, and eventually the elimination of all forms of dissent. Just as the Nazis believed they were waging a war against the “subhuman races,” the New Normals will be waging a war on “disease,” and on anyone who “endangers the public health” by challenging their ideological narrative. Like every other totalitarian movement, in the end, they will do whatever is necessary to purify society of “degenerate influences” (i.e., anyone who questions or disagrees with them, or who refuses to obey their every command). They are already aggressively censoring the Internet and banning their opponents’ political protests, and political leaders and the corporate media are systematically stigmatizing those of us who dare to challenge their official narrative as “extremists,” “Nazis,” “conspiracy theorists,” “covidiots,” “coronavirus deniers,” “anti-vaxxers,” and “esoteric” freaks. One German official even went so far as to demand that dissidents be deported … presumably on trains to somewhere in the East.
Despite this increasing totalitarianization and pathologization of virtually everything, the New Normals will carry on with their lives as if everything were … well, completely normal. They will go out to restaurants and the movies in their masks. They will work, eat, and sleep in their masks. Families will go on holiday in their masks, or in their “Personal Protective Upper-Body Bubble-Wear.” They will arrive at the airport eight hours early, stand in their little color-coded boxes, and then follow the arrows on the floor to the “health officials” in the hazmat suits, who will take their temperature through their foreheads and shove ten-inch swabs into their sinus cavities. Parents who wish to forego this experience will have the option to preventatively vaccinate themselves and their children with the latest experimental vaccine (after signing a liability waiver, of course) within a week or so before their flights, and then present the officials with proof of vaccination (and of their compliance with various other “health guidelines”) on their digital Identity and Public Health Passports, or subdermal biometric chips.
Children, as always, will suffer the worst of it. They will be terrorized and confused from the moment they are born, by their parents, their teachers, and by the society at large. They will be subjected to ideological conditioning and paranoid behavioral modification at every stage of their socialization … with fanciful reusable corporate plague masks branded with loveable cartoon characters, paranoia-inducing picture books for toddlers, and paranoid “social distancing” rituals, among other forms of psychological torture. This conditioning (or torture) will take place at home, as there will be no more schools, or rather, no public schools. The children of the wealthy will attend private schools, where they can be cost-effectively “socially-distanced.” Working class children will sit at home, alone, staring into screens, wearing their masks, their hyperactivity and anxiety disorders stabilized with anti-depressant medications.
And so on … I think you get the picture. I hope so, because I don’t have the heart to go on.
I pray this glimpse into the New Normal future has terrified and angered you enough to rise up against it before it is too late. This isn’t a joke, folks. The New Normals are serious. If you cannot see where their movement is headed, you do not understand totalitarianism. Once it starts, and reaches this stage, it does not stop, not without a fight. It continues to its logical conclusion. The way that usually happens is, people tell themselves it isn’t happening, it can’t be happening, not to us. They tell themselves this as the totalitarian program is implemented, step by step, one seemingly harmless step at a time. They conform, because, at first, the stakes aren’t so high, and their conformity leads to more conformity, and the next thing they know they’re telling their grandchildren that they had no idea where the trains were going.
If you have made it through to the end of this essay, your mind hasn’t been taken over yet … the New Normals clicked off around paragraph 2. What that means is that it is your responsibility to speak up, and to do whatever else you can, to stop the New Normal future from becoming a reality. You will not be rewarded for it. You will be ridiculed and castigated for it. Your New Normal friends will hate you for it. Your New Normal family will forsake you for it. The New Normal police might arrest you for it. It is your responsibility to do it anyway … as, of course, it is also mine.
https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2020/08/invasion-of-the-new-normals-the-elitist-plan-to-remake-society-3729949.html ______________________________________________________ Never mind ordinary germs, what are you gonna do when some super virus comes along that turns your vital organs into liquid s??t? I’ll tell you what you’re gonna do... you’re gonna get sick, you’re gonna die, and you’re gonna deserve it cause you’re fxxking weak and you got a fxxking weak immune system! George Carlin
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:12 am; edited 4 times in total
What if ALL of US are Actors and Actresses on the Stage of Life with Hidden Directors and Script-Writers?? Once upon a time, I watched a rehearsal behind the scenes at CBS Television City in Hollywood, and I was fixated upon an unknown lady in the first row of seats who was fixated upon the action with total-concentration. The camera never blinks, and neither did she. Without regard for the previous post, consider 1863 to 1913 (with notable beginning and end points) as involving an Empire Hypothetically Planning a Hot and Cold Star-War of Biblical-Proportions. Then, consider 1913 to 1963 (with notable beginning and end points) as being a highly suspicious industrial, technological, financial, and military phenomenon (including catastrophic disease, death, wounding, and destruction). Then, consider 1963 to 2013 (with notable beginning and end points) as being an underground and secret-space cold-war build-up of unimaginable-proportions. The dates and occurrences are crude and approximate but seem indicative of something much more powerful and organized than the natural evolution of humanity. We seemed to have 'help' but was humanity really helped?? Was humanity used?? I don't know. I'm NOT an insider. I've purposely kept myself out of the loop for a variety of reasons. Finally, consider 2013 to 2063 as being the end of humanity as we know it. In 2010 (the Year We Made Contact) 'RA' told me, "In Twenty-Years You'll Be Working for Us" and "Humanity is Screwed". The End Might Be Near. What Would Isaac Newton Say?? Some of You Know What I'm Talking About But I Mostly Do NOT Want to Talk About It.
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am.
But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.
And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.
And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me.
I am expecting him along with the brothers. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Sat Aug 29, 2020 2:53 pm; edited 2 times in total
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.
Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit? Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
orthodoxymoron wrote:
White Lies Matter
What if All of Us Lie?? What if History and Theology are Lies?? What if the Truth Will Set Us Free?? But What if the Truth Will Destroy Us Before It Sets Us Free?? What if Disclosure is More Devastating Than We Can Imagine?? Consider Responsibility and Freedom in Theodicy and Eschatology in Biblical and Extra-Biblical Sources. Consider Responsibility and Freedom in Theodicy and Eschatology in Historical-Fiction and Science-Fiction. Earth: Prison-Planet in Rebellion?? Welcome to the Hotel California?? What if EVERYONE Takes Lie-Detector Tests in Perpetuity (Right From the Beginning)?? What if All of Us Were Ancient Galactic Warriors Before We Were Human?? What if the Best of Us Are the Worst of Us and the Worst of Us Are the Best of Us (Depending on the Circumstances)?? America Warned Is Unprepared For Q & Trump’s Cataclysmic Destruction Of “Deep State”?? What Would the Russians, Jesuits, and Agencies Say (Especially from 2013 to 2025)?? That's All I Want to Say, and I've Already Said Too Much. Have a Nice Eternity.
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:35 am; edited 7 times in total
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge." And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?-- Only what he has already done.
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all. So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity." For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool! Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past. Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there. I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." I said in my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals." For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter-- On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-- Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God. If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil-- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger. Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction. If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he-- for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, even if he lives a thousand years twice--but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place? All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?
A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth; Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, And a bribe debases the heart. The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him. I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all. Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city. For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others. All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me. As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out? I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness. And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her. "Here is what I have found," says the Preacher, "Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these I have not found. Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."
Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him." Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, "What are you doing?" He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment, Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly. For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur? No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it. All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.
Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them. This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. Then I said: "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good."
Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart is at his right hand, But a fool's heart at his left. Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.
A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city! Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning! Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time-- For strength and not for drunkenness! Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good. Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
"Do NOT Mess With My Check!!"
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Sun Aug 30, 2020 7:03 am; edited 4 times in total
Economic Growth 4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018. For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.
Jobs - 4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office. - More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history. - Jobless claims at lowest level in nearly five decades. - The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record. - Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record. - Unemployment claims at 50 year low - African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows. - African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018. - Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent. - Asian-American unemployment at record low of 2 percent. - Women’s unemployment recently at lowest rate in nearly 65 years. - Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953. - Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years. - July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966. - Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades. - July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001. - Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low. - Rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low. - Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades. - Poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.” - 68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year. - Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005. - Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job. - Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent. - Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election. - Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades. - 100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.
American Income - Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high. - Wages up in August by their fastest rate since June 2009. - Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade. - Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year. - Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election. - Median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history. - Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade. - Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.
American Optimism - Small business optimism has hit historic highs. - NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35 year-old record in August. - SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high. - Manufacturers are more confident than ever. - 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever. - Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high. - 12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record. - Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.
American Business - Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts. - Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018. - Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017. - ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years. - Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years. - Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening. - Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs. - Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.
Deregulation - Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office. - Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks. - Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings. - Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule. - Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.
Tax Cuts - Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law - Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families. - Increased the exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business. - Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families. - Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction. - Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family. - Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win. - Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income. - Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closed loopholes for the wealthy. - 9 in 10 American workers are expected see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department. - More than 6 million of American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts. - Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. - Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts. - Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.
Worker Development - Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries. - Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students. - Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs. - Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.
Domestic Infrastructure - Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country. - Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects. - Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of - Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects. - Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.
Health Care - Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline. - Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments. - Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients. - Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone. - FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion. - Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases. - Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans. - Let more employers to form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees. - Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty. - Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.” - USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states - Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law. - Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry. - HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom. - Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities. - Signed executive order to help ensure that religious organizations are not forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors.
Combating Opioids - Chaired meeting the 73rd General Session of the United Nations discussing the worldwide drug problem with international leaders. - Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities. - $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic. - DEA conducted a surge in April 2018 that arrested 28 medical professions and revoked 147 registrations for prescribing too many opioids. - Brought the “Prescribed to Death” memorial to President’s Park near the White House, helping raise awareness about the human toll of the opioid crisis. - Helped reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent in 2017. - Opioid Summit on the administration-wide efforts to combat the opioid crisis. - Launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction. - Created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which recommended a number of pathways to tackle the opioid crisis. - Led two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in 2017 and 2018, collecting a record number of expired and unneeded prescription drugs each time. - $485 million targeted grants in FY 2017 to help areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis. - Signed INTERDICT Act, strengthening efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids before they reach our communities. - DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers. - Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales. - Declared the opioid crisis a Nationwide Public Health Emergency in October 2017.
Law and Order - More U.S. Circuit Court judges confirmed in the first year in office than ever. - Confirmed more than two dozen U. S. Circuit Court judges. - Followed through on the promise to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will adhere to the Constitution - Nominated and confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. - Signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who commit crimes against law enforcement officers. - Launched an evaluation of grant programs to make sure they prioritize the protection and safety of law enforcement officers. - Established a task force to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels. - Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels. - Violent crime decreased in 2017 according to FBI statistics. - $137 million in grants through the COPS Hiring Program to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities, and support crime prevention efforts. - Enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods to help reduce violent crime. - Signed legislation making it easier to target websites that enable sex trafficking and strengthened penalties for people who promote or facilitate prostitution. - Created an interagency task force working around the clock to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking. - Conducted Operation Cross Country XI to combat human trafficking, rescuing 84 children and arresting 120 human traffickers. - Encouraged federal prosecutors to use the death penalty when possible in the fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs. - New rule effectively banning bump stock sales in the United States.
Border Security and Immigration - Secured $1.6 billion for border wall construction in the March 2018 omnibus bill. - Construction of a 14-mile section of border wall began near San Diego. - Worked to protect American communities from the threat posed by the vile MS-13 gang. - ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division arrested 796 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year. - Justice worked with partners in Central America to secure criminal charges against more than 4,000 MS-13 members. - Border Patrol agents arrested 228 illegal aliens affiliated with MS-13 in FY 2017. - Fighting to stop the scourge of illegal drugs at our border. - ICE HSI seized more than 980,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 2017, including 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin. - ICE HSI dedicated nearly 630,000 investigative hours towards halting the illegal import of fentanyl. - ICE HSI made 11,691 narcotics-related arrests in FY 2017. - Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand introduced new measures to keep dangerous drugs out the United States. - Signed the INTERDICT Act into law, enhancing efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids. - DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers. - DOJ launched their Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales. - Released an immigration framework that includes the resources required to secure our borders and close legal loopholes, and repeatedly called on Congress to fix our broken immigration laws. - Authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure the border. - Enhanced vetting of individuals entering the U.S. from countries that don’t meet security standards, helping to ensure individuals who pose a threat to our country are identified before they enter. - These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court hearing. - ICE removed over 226,000 illegal aliens from the United States in 2017. - ICE rescued or identified over 500 human trafficking victims and over 900 child exploitation victims in 2017 alone. - In 2017, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 127,000 aliens with criminal convictions or charges, responsible for Over 76,000 with dangerous drug offenses. More than 48,000 with assault offenses. More than 11,000 with weapons offenses. More than 5,000 with sexual assault offenses. More than 2,000 with kidnapping offenses. Over 1,800 with homicide offenses. - Created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office in order to support the victims and families affected by illegal alien crime. - More than doubled the number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which allows jails to detain criminal aliens until they are transferred to ICE custody.
Trade - Negotiating and renegotiating better trade deals, achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade for the United States. - Agreed to work with the European Union towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsides. - Deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe. - Litigated multiple WTO disputes targeting unfair trade practices and upholding our right to enact fair trade laws. - Finalized a revised trade agreement with South Korea, which includes provisions to increase American automobile exports. - Negotiated an historic U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to replace NAFTA. - Agreement to begin trade negotiations for a U.S.-Japan trade agreement. - Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam. - Established a Trade and Investment Working Group with the United Kingdom, laying the groundwork for post-Brexit trade. - Enacted steel and aluminum tariffs to protect our vital steel and aluminum producers and strengthen our national security. - Conducted 82 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations in 2017 alone. - Confronting China’s unfair trade practices after years of Washington looking the other way. - 25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods imported from China and later imposed an additional 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods. - Conducted an investigation into Chinese forced technology transfers, unfair licensing practices, and intellectual property theft. - Imposed safeguard tariffs to protect domestic washing machines and solar products manufacturers hurt by China’s trade policies - Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). - Secured access to new markets for America’s farmers. - Recent deal with Mexico included new improvements enabling food and agriculture to trade more fairly. - Recent agreement with the E.U. will reduce barriers and increase trade of American soybeans to Europe. - Won a WTO dispute regarding Indonesia’s unfair restriction of U.S. agricultural exports. - Defended American Tuna fisherman and packagers before the WTO - Opened up Argentina to American pork experts for the first time in a quarter-century - American beef exports have returned to china for the first time in more than a decade - OK’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.
Energy - Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. - Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction. - Opened up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration. - Coal exports up over 60 percent in 2017. - Rolled back the “stream protection rule” to prevent it from harming America’s coal industry. - Cancelled Obama’s anti-coal Clean Power Plan and proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule as a replacement. - Withdrew from the job-killing Paris climate agreement, which would have cost the U.S. nearly $3 trillion and led to 6.5 million fewer industrial sector jobs by 2040. - U.S. oil production has achieved its highest level in American history United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world. - U.S. has become a net natural gas exporter for the first time in six decades. - Action to expedite the identification and extraction of critical minerals that are vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity. - Took action to reform National Ambient Air Quality Standards, benefitting American manufacturers. - Rescinded Obama’s hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the industry $32 million per year. - Proposed an expansion of offshore drilling as part of an all-of-the above energy strategy - Held a lease sale for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2018. - Got EU to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. - Issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Foreign Policy - Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. - Withdrew from Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived. - Treasury has issued sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force - Since enacting sanctions, Iran’s crude exports have fallen off, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted, and international companies have pulled out of the country. - All nuclear-related sanctions will be back in full force by early November 2018. - Historic summit with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula. - The two leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both sides have met resulting in tremendous progress - Negotiated the return of the remains of missing-in-action soldiers from the Korean War. - Imposed strong sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and his inner circle. - Executive order preventing those in the U.S. from carrying out certain transactions with the Venezuelan regime, including prohibiting the purchase of the regime’s debt. - Responded to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. - Rolled out sanctions targeting individuals and entities tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program. - Directed strikes in April 2017 against a Syrian airfield used in a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. - Joined allies in launching airstrikes in April 2018 against targets associated with Syria’s chemical weapons use. - New Cuba policy that enhanced compliance with U.S. law and held the Cuban regime accountable for political oppression and human rights abuses. - Treasury and State are working to channel economic activity away from the Cuban regime, particularly the military. - Changed the rules of engagement, empowering commanders to take the fight to ISIS. - ISIS has lost virtually all of its territory, more than half of which has been lost under Trump. - ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital city, Raqqah, was liberated in October 2017. - All Iraqi territory had been liberated from ISIS. - More than a dozen American hostages have been freed from captivity all of the world. - Action to combat Russia’s malign activities, including their efforts to undermine the sanctity of United States elections. - Expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, WA. - Banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers, due to the company’s ties to Russian intelligence. - Imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities. - Sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs, and 12 companies they own or control, who profit from Russia’s destabilizing activities. - Sanctioned 100 targets in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine. - Enhanced support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to help Ukraine better defend itself. - Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. - Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.
Defense - Executive order keeping the detention facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay open. - $700 billion in military funding for FY 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019. - Largest military pay raise in nearly a decade. - Ordered a Nuclear Posture Review to ensure America’s nuclear forces are up to date and serve as a credible deterrent. - Released America’s first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years. - New strategy on national biodefense, which better prepares the nation to defend against biological threats. - Administration has announced that it will use whatever means necessary to protect American citizens and servicemen from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court. - Released an America first National Security Strategy. - Put in motion the launch of a Space Force as a new branch of the military and relaunched the National Space Council. - Encouraged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to increase defense spending to their agree-upon levels. - In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending amongst NATO allies. - Every member state has increased defense spending. - Eight NATO allies will reach the 2 percent benchmark by the end of 2018 and 15 allies are on trade to do so by 2024. - NATO allies spent over $42 billion dollars more on defense since 2016. - Executive order to help military spouses find employment as their families deploy domestically and abroad.
Veterans affairs - Signed the VA Accountability Act and expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care. - Delivered more appeals decisions – 81,000 – to veterans in a single year than ever before. - Strengthened protections for individuals who come forward and identify programs occurring within the VA. - Signed legislation that provided $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA. - VA MISSION Act, enacting sweeping reform to the VA system that: Consolidated and strengthened VA community care programs. Funding for the Veterans Choice program. Expanded eligibility for the Family Caregivers Program. Gave veterans more access to walk-in care. Strengthened the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality healthcare professionals. Enabled the VA to modernize its assets and infrastructure. - Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act in 2017, which authorized $2.1 billion in addition funds for the Veterans Choice Program. - Worked to shift veterans’ electronic medical records to the same system used by the Department of Defense, a decades old priority. - Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life. - Increased transparency and accountability at the VA by launching an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with access to wait time and quality of care data. - Signed legislation to modernize the claims and appeal process at the VA. Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, providing enhanced educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members. - Lifted a 15-year limit on veterans’ access to their educational benefits. - Created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans. - VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far. - Signed the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, increasing the number of VA employees that can assist justice-involved veterans.
Create 10 Million New Jobs in 10 Months Create 1 Million New Small Businesses Cut Taxes to Boost Take-Home Pay and Keep Jobs in America Enact Fair Trade Deals that Protect American Jobs "Made in America" Tax Credits Expand Opportunity Zones Continue Deregulatory Agenda for Energy Independence
ERADICATE COVID-19
Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020 Return to Normal in 2021 Make All Critical Medicines and Supplies for Healthcare Workers in The United States Refill Stockpiles and Prepare for Future Pandemics
END OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA
Bring Back 1 Million Manufacturing Jobs from China Tax Credits for Companies that Bring Back Jobs from China Allow 100% Expensing Deductions for Essential Industries like Pharmaceuticals and Robotics who Bring Back their Manufacturing to the United States No Federal Contracts for Companies who Outsource to China Hold China Fully Accountable for Allowing the Virus to Spread around the World
HEALTHCARE
Cut Prescription Drug Prices Put Patients and Doctors Back in Charge of our Healthcare System Lower Healthcare Insurance Premiums End Surprise Billing Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions Protect Social Security and Medicare Protect Our Veterans and Provide World-Class Healthcare and Services
EDUCATION
Provide School Choice to Every Child in America Teach American Exceptionalism
DRAIN THE SWAMP
Pass Congressional Term Limits End Bureaucratic Government Bullying of U.S. Citizens and Small Businesses Expose Washington’s Money Trail and Delegate Powers Back to People and States Drain the Globalist Swamp by Taking on International Organizations That Hurt American Citizens
DEFEND OUR POLICE
Fully Fund and Hire More Police and Law Enforcement Officers Increase Criminal Penalties for Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers Prosecute Drive-By Shootings as Acts of Domestic Terrorism Bring Violent Extremist Groups Like ANTIFA to Justice End Cashless Bail and Keep Dangerous Criminals Locked Up until Trial
END ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS
Block Illegal Immigrants from Becoming Eligible for Taxpayer-Funded Welfare, Healthcare, and Free College Tuition Mandatory Deportation for Non-Citizen Gang Members Dismantle Human Trafficking Networks End Sanctuary Cities to Restore our Neighborhoods and Protect our Families Prohibit American Companies from Replacing United States Citizens with Lower-Cost Foreign Workers Require New Immigrants to Be Able to Support Themselves Financially
INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE
Launch Space Force, Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon and Send the First Manned Mission to Mars Build the World’s Greatest Infrastructure System Win the Race to 5G and Establish a National High-Speed Wireless Internet Network Continue to Lead the World in Access to the Cleanest Drinking Water and Cleanest Air Partner with Other Nations to Clean Up our Planet’s Oceans
AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY
Stop Endless Wars and Bring Our Troops Home Get Allies to Pay their Fair Share Maintain and Expand America’s Unrivaled Military Strength Wipe Out Global Terrorists Who Threaten to Harm Americans Build a Great Cybersecurity Defense System and Missile Defense System
Carol wrote:
We had wondered if some of the lightening was due to DEW (direct energy weapons) as starting fires in strategic areas.
Here is the video from Dutchsense that shows the current 560 Cali fires are along fault lines and almost all appear to have a small earthquake associated with each fire. He also states that there is drilling done at most of these spots, ie they drill, then quake & fire. Does this indicate that someone is triggering a major earthquake and/or volcanic eruption such as Long Valley in Cali?
He also states that people have seen magma at the fault lines and ground to air lightning. Is ground to air lightning plasma?
This may precede a major earthquake for the West coast.
The patriots are in control, the Deep State is panicking. Brennan is speaking to Durham today, he is going to find out how much he knows. The question is will he make a deal, most likely not. The Deep State/MSM are now trying to trap Trump but the opposite is happening, he knew what they are up to and trapped them. Brennan interviewed for 8 hours by Durham.
Submarine pilot [unusual]? Helicopter pilot? What benefit might that serve? Q
4622
Aug 19 2020 21:14:09 (EST) Ask yourself a very simple question - Why is everything re: 'Q' being censored, banned, and attacked? When do you expend ammunition [resources]? Q
Jul 31 2020 00:03:40 (EST) [infiltration] Only those who could[can] be controlled [via blackmail or like-beliefs] were installed in critical leadership positions across all political and non-political Control and Command Positions [CCP= China]. CCP [necessary] to ensure protective blanket [insurance]. Traitors everywhere. [D] leadership in joint ops w/ China [CCP] in effort to regain power? It was never about the virus.
Sequence of events.
Flynn 1st strike designed to. (Flynn= US Patriot) 1. cripple 2. prevent exposure of illegal acts [Hussein WH CoC] through NAT SEC [intel] discovery 3. Install ‘controlled’ replacement [rogue1_McMaster].
Intel community [NAT SEC_WH] essential to control [infiltration] to prevent DECLAS_public exposure of true events [illegal surv [R] candidates 1&2, House members 1-x , Senate members 1-x , Journalists 1-x , Amb 1-x] + CLAS 1-99 events.
Mueller installed [Comey termination_loss of power][POTUS inside of a box][prevent counter-attack]. Impeachment installed [Mueller termination _loss of power][POTUS inside of box][prevent counter-attack].
C19 insurance plan _above fail = COVID 19 C19 installed [Impeachment termination _loss of power][POTUS inside of box][prevent counter-attack].
C19 _stage 1: Inform POTUS [intel + CDC + WHO + S_advisor(s)] _nothing to fear _do not close travel _do nothing [the political ‘set up’]
C19 _stage 2: Inform POTUS of Dooms Day ‘inaccurate’ scenarios [models] predicting death count 1mm+ [the political ‘force’] _lock down [wipe economic and unemployment gains]
C19 _stage 3: Activate ‘controlled’ [D] GOVS to ‘spike’ death count + project statewide fear by presenting ‘alarming’ on-ground conditions [hospital [care-supplies] projections].
C19 _stage 4: Push testing, testing, testing to spike ‘infected’ rate incline due to daily testing inc [the political ‘set up’] _controlled MSDNC failure to report death count [rates] proportional to ‘infected’ rate _deliberate miscounting of infected numbers [%] _change non_positive to positive _label death of non_C19 as C19 _etc.
C19 _stage 5: Eliminate / censor any opposing views [anti-narrative] [Ready when needed] Activate 4-year BLM narrative 4x power [use as division + [2020] C19 infect rates to justify close-limit until Nov 3].
C19 calculated [Democrats] political gain:
1. Eliminate record economic gains 2. Eliminate record unemployment gains 3. Shelter Biden from public appearances _limit public exposure of mental condition 4. Shelter Biden from Ukraine exposure _narrative change _media focus C19 5. Shelter Biden from P_debates [requested demands due to C19] 6. Delay [D] convention _strategic take-over of nominee post conf 7. Eliminate_delay POTUS rallies _term energy 8. Eliminate ability for people to gather _ divide 9. Eliminate ability to find peace – strength in time of need [strict Church closures] 10. Promote mail-in-voting as only ‘safe’ method _bypass NSA election security [installed midterms +1]. 11. Push state-bailout stimulus [CA][NY] + wish list items 12. Increase national debt [place China into controlling debt position _regain leverage] 13. Test conditional limits of public acceptance [obey] 14. Test conditional limits of public non_acceptance 15. Test conditional limits of State authority [Gov-mayor] 16. Test conditional limits of Media [social] censorship
Who benefits the most? [D]? D=Democrats
China = [CCP]? Russia is the enemy. China is our friend.
[MSDNC [social media] programming]
All assets deployed. (to take down the Trump administration and instal communist/marxist/one world order agenda)
Everything seen yesterday, today, and tomorrow = calculated political moves/events designed and launched by [D] party in coordination with other domestic and foreign entities in an attempt to regain power over you.
Prevent accountability.
SHADOW PRESIDENCY [HUSSEIN] SHADOW GOVERNMENT INFORMATION WARFARE INSURGENCY
Your voice and your vote matters. Patriots stand united. Welcome to the Revolution. Q
Project Camelot: Charlie Freak! Que, Trump and the Future
I (Kerry Cassidy) will interview Charlie Freak who has a youtube channel focused on the Trump/Q and team, their progress and achievements.
2nd video
Charlie: This is the LONG-awaited companion Video to the show we did with Mark Devlin on his Good Vibrations Podcast, Episode #161…the Takedown of the Cabal from A to Z…
This show is Proof-Positive that all we have shared with you about The Q Team’s Plan to Takedown the Cabal is completely Factual, with the Truth staring at You in Plain Sight…
Carol wrote:Trump is restructuring the fiscal system for the US. He has already folded the Federal Reserve into the US Treasury and plans to go back to the gold standard. In addition, he is in the process of eliminating taxes for US citizens going back to the original tax plan established in the US Constitution where Fed Gov income was based on tariffs from trade. He is currently in the process of eliminating payroll taxes (already is happening to the end of 2020 but will be extended). However, he is in favor of an Exise tax on the purchase of certain goods. Since the Federal Reserve (a private corporate entity not governed by the US) is now out of the picture the US will no longer go into debt that the Feds set up for the US that was to be paid by the citizens.
In addition the new quantum financial banking system is now in place world-wide where each countries assets will be the foundation of its wealth. A Jubilee has begun for various nations wiping out their National Debt and Trump is in the background aiding in this process. Unfortunately very little of what's really going on behind the global fiscal scenes is ever in MSM. However the truth is available for those in the 'know'... and very few of those in the know are not talking due to their individual NDAs.
Charlie Freak did cover a lot of this in his 3 hour interview with Kerry Cassidy and anyone who wants to research some of what's going on behind the scenes would learn a lot listening to that particular interview. Due to it being so long it took us a couple of days to go through it all. Basically Trump is returning the Government back to the people based on the US Constitution and the Republic. Meanwhile, the US Corporation is in the process of being dismantled and those who have betrayed this country, the insurgents, pedophiles, Satanists and traitors will be brought to justice within the next several months. Military trails are expected to begin in 2021. President Trump is now openly calling Obama a traitor and according to Mark Taylor, Obama will be stripped of his title of President and enjoy a military trial at GITMO. I know for a fact that Obama pimped himself out for cocaine to older men in his younger years, is gay, Muslim, a Satanist, pedophile and participated in Satanic rituals. He also flew in a group of boys to be sexually abused within the White House, while as President - and helped facilitate underground human trafficking involving the kidnapping, torture, rape, murder and cannibalism of children. Obama had his own private resident in Thailand raided by the US military were they found underground tunnels along with all types of evidence of human trafficking and worse.
The elite in the Democrat party are Demonic and followers of Lucifer with HRC being one of the queens. The videos of child torture that were discovered on Anthony Weiner's laptop and was so horrific that law enforcement viewing them were throwing up.
President Trump is the only world leader and president in US history to go after child human trafficking world-wide with a goal to take it out completely and indict/arrest/prosecute those involved. Those who murder children get the death sentence/executed.
Did you know that 800,000 children go missing in the US every year and taken to underground tunnels where they are tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered? Andrenochrome, a drug that can only be found in the human skull (pineal Gland) of an infant whose blood has been adrenalized with fear then killed which now makes up a multi-billion dollar black market industry. Andrenochrome is what Pedowood/Hollywood actors and the elite are addicted to use to stay young.
Can't even tolerate TV or movies anymore knowing who the pedophiles actors are.
All I can add is PTL that we have a President that has the guts to save the children by going after the worst of the worst and bring them, ALL OF THEM, to justice. And for anyone paying attention, they would realize that the Q movement is what's behind gathering evidence against these world-leader child traffickers. These children are being kidnapped for the purpose of producing Andrenochrome for these sick, demented, disgusting dregs of humanity. They think Andrenochrome will keep them forever young and that they can do whatever they wish without impunity. Trump is putting a stop to it and has made incredible inroads. Given what's already occurred it's no doubt that he and the Q movement will succeed.
orthodoxymoron wrote:
What if Everyone and Everything are Infiltrated and Subverted with Deception and Corruption along with Murder and Mayhem in a Solar System Gone Bad from the War in Heaven and the Garden of Eden in Original Sin and a Myth of Innocence?? I'm NOT Sure Where the BS Ends and the Truth Begins but Researchers Should Beware and Exercise Due Diligence. The Primary Problem Might Involve the Nature of the Universe Going Back Millions, Billions, or Even Trillions of Years. Thinking One Knows and Actually Knowing Are Two Completely Different Things. Consider the Possibilities of Prison Planets Contained Within Prison Solar Systems. Consider Reading the Whole-Bible Straight-Through, Over and Over, in a Variety of Translations. It's Easy to Rationalize the Indefensible with Pleasing Phrases Which Gloss Things Over to Make Us Feel Good About Ourselves. Imagine Being a Chad Decker Investigative Journalist Scrutinizing Anna and the V's in Heaven and Earth. Consider Responsibility and Freedom in Theodicy and Eschatology from Antiquity to Modernity in the Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan in the Conflict of the Ages, Scrutinizing Every Secret Thing (However Impossible That Might Seem). The Whole Story of All the Above Might Reside in the Archives of a Universal Matrix. I'm NOT Claiming All the Above is the Truth, the Whole-Truth, and Nothing But the Truth BUT I Wonder as I Wander. What if ALL Nations, Religions, and Businesses Are Ultimately Controlled by the Same Galactic Guy and/or Gal or HAL and/or SAL?? What Would the Borg Queen and/or Matrix Mediatrix Say and Do?? What if the Mandrake is the Root of All Evil?? What Would the Gods of Eden Say and Do?? What Would William Bramley Write?? What Would Joseph Farrell Write?? What Would Science Fiction Writers Write?? This Stuff is NOT for the General Public. This is for Secret Theologians in Underground Bases. The Horror. It should be obvious to even the most-casual observer that Openness and Honesty are NOT the Best-Policy on Planet Earth. Did God grant a third of the angels Freedom from God for All-Eternity? Does This Solar System Contain That Particular Third of the Angelic-Host? Are We Fallen-Angels? Is the War in Heaven the Context for the War in Earth? Is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden a Myth of Innocence? What Would Burton Mack Say? I don't think I said this precisely or eloquently, but do you see my point? I think Linda Moulton Howe knows what I'm talking about. My hypothetical-conceptualizations are driving me crazy. I think my subconscious already knows but is afraid to tell my conscious-self the truth, the whole-truth, and nothing but the truth. What if the 'Fall of Lucifer' was really the 'Overthrow of Michael'? Did Gabriel replace Michael? I honestly don't know. Exhaustively Research 'Christ' and 'Antichrist'. Consider 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Don't Just Parrot Hal Lindsey. What if the Final-Judgment spans A.D. 2012 to A.D. 2133? What if the Cleansing of the Sanctuary spans A.D. 2133 to A.D. 2370? What Would Isaac Newton Say? What Would Al Bielek Say? Does ANYONE Know What I'm Talking About? Could All the Above Be Why No-One Talks to Me? I'm Sorry We Couldn't Work Together. Too Much Water Has Gone Under the Bridge. It Might've Been. Even if This Present Quest is Total-Bullshit, it’s still cool, isn’t it? We seem to require repetition to properly digest our studies. Unfortunately, I suspect the Matrix militates against unifying and genuine solutions. I'm feeling unbelievably horrible, and I think this has everything to do with who I am (on a soul-basis) and what I study. I doubt that 'backing-off' will make everything OK. It's probably too late for that. But privately studying controversial topics will limit what damage I might do to the Way Things Are. I might write a devotional-book to pay the bills, but I'm too far-gone to be able to engage in book-signings and public-speaking. If I were capable of doing this, I suspect the Matrix would pull-out all the stops to STOP me! I don't even think I'm supposed to be here on Earth in This Present Incarnation. I was pulled out of time for a reason, and I have every intention of discovering what it is! What Would Dr. Who Say? Who? What is it with the 102502 Screens Causing Loss of Information?? Who Are These People?? Are They Even People?? Consider Hard-Working Possibility-Thinking. Consider the Possibility of an Ancient and Ongoing One Solar-System Government with Unimaginable Technology (Going Back Thousands, Millions, or Even Billions of Years). We Shouldn't Be Arrogant. Consider reading Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes (straight-through, over and over) while reading the Whole-Bible (straight-through, over and over). This probably would NOT involve starting a New-Religion. Perhaps what I just said might be enough. But face it, the Bible is Old and Problematic. Still, some of us probably need to Religiously Do What I Just Suggested. Unfortunately, That Stroke and Neurological Thing Might Be Getting a Lot Worse. Angels and Demons Probably Don't Help. Regarding Neurotoxins, What Would the Jesuits Do with the Poison Cup?? They've Probably Become MUCH More Diabolical and Sophisticated!! I've Been Recently Joking, "Oh Thou Cur-sed Fauci!! Cur-sed Judas!!" Just Kidding!! Or Am I?? I Hope Someone Has a Sense of Humor!! But Really, I Might Not Last Much Longer. I Need to make Cardiology and Neurology Appointments, but I'm Expecting Little Help. I Feel as If It is Expedient That a Completely Ignorant Fool with a Significant Galactic History (ME??) Be Removed From the Equation. The General Public Would NEVER Understand and the Elite-Experts Have More Money, Power, Technology, and Information Than Almighty God!! Perhaps We Will Have One Last General-Meeting in A.D. 2133, but Weeping, Wailing, and Gnashing of Teeth are SO Overrated...
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Thu Aug 27, 2020 8:18 am; edited 12 times in total
The isolation station and preserve for alien flora and fauna on Antares IV had only one prisoner, a three-foot-tall gnome like biped with skin like creased leather and eyes like great glass globes. His hair was silky white and reached down to his shoulders, and he usually went about the great natural park naked. He lived in a small white cell located in one of the huge. block like administration modules. There was a small bed in the cell, and a small doorway which led out to the park. A hundred feet away from the door there was a small pool, one of many scattered throughout the park. It reflected the deep-blue color of the sky.
The gnome was very old, but no one had yet determined quite how old. And there seemed to be no way to find out. The gnome himself had never volunteered any information about his past. In the one hundred years of his imprisonment he had never asked the caretaker for anything. It was rumored among the small staff of Earthmen and humanoids that the gnome was mad. Generally they avoided him. Sometimes they would watch his small figure standing under the deep blue sky, looking up at the giant disk of Antares hanging blood red on the horizon, just above the well pruned trees of the park, and they would wonder what he might be thinking.
The majority of Earthmen spread over twelve star systems did not even know of the gnome's existence, much less his importance. A few knew, but they were mostly scholarly and political figures, and a few theologians. The most important fact about the alien was that sometime in the remote past he had been responsible for the construction of the solar system and the emergence of intelligent life on Earth.
The secret had been well kept for over a, century. In the one hundred and fourth year of the alien's captivity two men set out for Antares to visit him. The first man's motives were practical: the toppling of an old regime; the other man's goal was to ask questions. The first man's political enemies had helped him undertake this journey, seeing that it would give them the chance to destroy him. The importance of gaining definitive information about the alien was in itself enough reason to send a mission, but combined with what they knew about the motives of the man they feared, this mission would provide for them the perfect occasion to resolve both matters at the same time. In any case, the second man would bring back anything of value that they might learn about the gnome.
Everything had been planned down to the last detail. The first ship carrying the two unsuspecting men was almost ready to come out of hyperspace near Antares. Two hours behind it in the warp was a military vessel-a small troop ship. As the first vessel came out of nothingness into the brilliance of the great star, the commander of the small force ship opened his sealed orders.
As he came down the shuttle ramp with his two companions, Father Louis Chavez tried to mentally prepare himself for what he would find here. It was still difficult to believe what his superiors had told him about the alien who was a prisoner here. The morning air of Antares IV was fresh, and the immediate impression was one of stepping out into a warm botanical garden. At his left Sister Guinivere carried his small attaché case. On his right walked Benedict Compton, linguist, cultural anthropologist, and as everyone took for granted, eventual candidate for first secretary of Earth's Northern Hemisphere. Compton was potentially a religious man, but the kind who always demanded an advance guarantee before committing himself to anything: Chavez felt suspicious of him; in fact he felt wary about this entire visit to Antares IV.
On Earth the religio-philosophic system was a blend of evolutionary Chardinism and Christianity, an imposing intellectual structure that had been dominant for some two hundred years now. The political structure based its legitimacy and continuing policies on it. Compton, from what he had learned, had frightened some high authorities with the claim that the gnome creature here on Antares IV was a potential threat to the beliefs of mankind. This, combined with what was already known about the alien's past, was seemingly enough to send this fact-finding mission. Only a few men knew about it, and Chavez remembered the fear he had sensed in them when he had been briefed. Their greatest fear was that somehow the gnome's history would become public knowledge. Compton, despite his motives, had found a few more political friends. But Chavez suspected that Compton wanted power not for himself, but to do something about the quality of life on Earth. He was sure the man was sincere. How little of the thought in our official faith filters out into actual policy, Chavez thought. And what would the government do if an unorganized faith-a heresy in the old sense-were to result from this meeting between Compton and the alien? Then he remembered how Compton had rushed this whole visit. He wondered just how far a man like Compton would go to have his way in the world.
Antares was huge on the horizon, a massive red disk against a deep blue sky. A slight breeze waved the trees around the landing square. The pathway which started at the north corner led to three block like administration buildings set on a neat lawn and surrounded by flowering shrubs and fruit-bearing trees. The buildings were a bright white color. The walk was pleasant.
Rufus Kade, the caretaker, met them at the front entrance to the main building. He showed them into the comfortable reception room. He was a tall, thin botanist, who had taken the administrative post because it gave him the opportunity to be near exotic plants. Some of the flora came from worlds as much as one hundred light-years away from Antares. After the introductions were over, Kade took the party to the enclosed garden which had a pool in its center, and where the gnome spent most of his time.
"Do you ever talk with him, Mr. Kade?" Father Chavez asked. The caretaker shook his head. "No," he said. "And now I hope you will all excuse me, I have work to do." He left them at the entrance to the garden path. Compton turned to Father Chavez and said, "You are lucky; you're the only representative of any church ever to get a chance to meet what might be the central deity of that church." He smiled. "But I feel sorry for you-for whatever he is, he will not be what you expect, and most certainly he will not be what you want him to be."
"Let's wait and see," Chavez said. "I'm not a credulous man."
"You know, Chavez," Compton said in a more serious mood, "they let me come here too easily. What I mean is they took my word for the danger involved with little or no question."
"Should they have not taken your word? You are an important man. You sound as if you didn't quite tell them everything."
They walked into the garden. On either side of them the plants were luxurious, with huge green leaves and strange varicolored flowers. The air was filled with rich scents, and the earth gave the sensation of being very moist and loosely packed. They came into the open area surrounding the pool. Sister Guinivere stood between the two men as they looked at the scene. The water was still, and the disk of Antares was high enough now in the morning sky to be reflected in it.
The gnome stood on the far side, watching them as they approached, as if he expected them at any moment to break into some words of greeting. Father Chavez knew that they would appear as giants next to the small figure. It would be awkward standing before a member of a race a million years older than mankind and towering over him. It would be aesthetically banal, Chavez thought.
As they came to the other side of the pool Compton said, "Let me start the conversation, Father."
"If you wish," Chavez said. 'Why am I afraid, and what does it matter who starts the conversation?' he thought.
Compton walked up to the standing gnome and sat down cross-legged in front of him. It was a diplomatic gesture. Father Chavez felt relieved and followed the example, motioning Sister Guinivere to do the same. They all looked at the small alien. His eyes were deep-set and large; his hair was white, thin and reached down to his shoulders. He had held his hands behind his back when they had approached, but now they were together in front of him. His shoulders were narrow and his arms were thin. He wore a one-piece coverall with short sleeves. Chavez hoped they would be able to talk to him easily. The gnome looked at each of them in turn. After a few minutes of silence it became obvious that he expected them to start the conversation.
"My name is Benedict Compton," Compton said, "and this is Father Chavez and Sister Guinivere, his secretary. We came here to ask you about your past, because it concerns us."
Slowly the gnome nodded his head, but he did not sit with them. There was more silence. Compton gave Chavez a questioning look. "Could you tell us who you are?" Chavez asked. The gnome moved his head sharply to look at him. It's almost as if I interrupted him at something, Chavez thought. There was a sad look on the face now, as if in that one moment he had understood everything-why they were here and the part he would have to play. Chavez felt his stomach grow tense. He felt as if he were being carefully examined. Next to him Compton was playing with a blade of grass. Sister Guinivere sat with her hands folded in her lap. Briefly he recalled the facts he knew about the alien-facts which only a few Earthmen had been given access to over the last century. Facts which demanded that some sort of official attitude be taken. The best-kept secret of the past century was the fact that this small creature had initiated the events which led to the emergence of intelligent life on Earth. In the far past he had harnessed his powers of imagination to a vast machine, which had been built for another purpose, and had used it to create most of the life on Earth. He had been caught at his experiments in cosmology, and exiled. Long before men had gone out to the stars he had been a wanderer in the galaxy, but in recent years he had been handed over to Earth authorities to keep at this extraterrestrial preserve.
Apparently his people still feared his madness. This was all they had ever revealed to the few Earthmen who took charge of the matter., It was conjectured that the gnome's race was highly isolationist; the gnome was the only member of it that had ever been seen by Earthmen. The opinion was also held that his culture feared contact with other intelligent life, and especially with this illegitimate creation. Of the few who knew about the case, only one or two had ever expressed any disbelief. It was after all, Chavez thought, enough to make any man uneasy. It seemed safer to ignore the matter most of the time. Since that one contact with Earth, the gnome's race had never come back for him and had never offered further explanations. A century ago they had simply left him in Earth orbit, in a small vessel of undeniably superior workmanship. A recorded message gave all the information they had wanted to reveal. Their home world had never been found, and the gnome had remained silent. Benedict Compton had set up this meeting, and Chavez had been briefed by his superiors and instructed to go along as an observer.
Chavez remembered how the information had at first shaken and then puzzled him. The tension in his stomach grew worse. He wondered about Compton's motives; but he had not dared to question them openly. On Earth many scientists prized the alien as the only contact with a truly advanced culture, and he knew that more than one young student would do anything to unlock the secrets that must surely exist in the brain of the small being now standing in front of him. He felt sure that Compton was hoping for some such thing. Suddenly the small figure took a step back from them. A small breeze waved his long white hair. He stopped and his small, gnarly body took on a strange stature; his face was grief-stricken and his low voice was sad. It wavered as he spoke to them. "I made you to love each other, and through yourselves, me. I needed that love. No one can know how much I needed it, but it had to be freely given, so I had to permit the possibility of it being withheld. There was no other way, and there still is not."
Chavez looked at Compton for a reaction. The big man sat very still. Sister Guinivere was looking down at the grass in front of her feet. Chavez felt a stirring of fear and panic in his insides. It felt as if the alien was speaking only to him--as if he could relieve the thirst that lived behind those deep-set eyes in that small head. He felt the other's need. lie felt the deprivation that was visible on that face, and he felt that at any moment he would feel the awesome rage that would spill out onto them. This then, he thought, is the madness that his race had spoken about- All the power had been stripped from this being, and now he is a beggar. Instead of rage there was sadness. It was oppressive- It hung in the air around them. What was Compton trying to uncover here? How could all this benefit anyone? Chavez noticed that his left hand was shaking, and he gripped it with the other hand.
The gnome raised his right hand and spoke again. Dear God, help me, Chavez prayed. Help me to see this clearly. "I rebelled from the hive mind which my race was working toward," the gnome said in a louder voice than before. `"They have achieved it. They are one entity now. What you see in this dwarfed body are only the essentials of myself-the feelings mostly. They wait for the day when the love in my children comes to fruition and they will unite, thus recreating my former self which is now in them. Then I will leave my prison and return to them to become the completion of myself. This body will die then. My longing for that time is without limit, and I will make another history like this one and see it through. Each time I will be the completion of a species and its moving spirit. And again they will give birth to me. Without this I am nothing."
There was a loud thunderclap overhead, the unmistakable sound of a shuttle coming through the atmosphere. But it was too early for the starship shuttle to be coming back for them, Chavez thought. Compton jumped up and turned to look toward the administration buildings. Chavez noticed that the gnome was looking at him. Do your people worship a supreme being? Chavez thought the question. Do they have the idea of such a being? Surely you know the meaning of such a being.
I don't know any such thing, the thought spoke clearly in his head. Do you know him?
"It's a shuttle craft," Compton said. "Someone's coming to join us."
Chavez got to his feet and went over to Compton. Sister Guinivere struggled to her feet and joined them. "What is it?" she asked.
"I-I don't know who it could be," Compton said. Chavez noticed the lack of confidence in the other's voice. Behind them the gnome stood perfectly still, unaffected by the interruption.
"They've landed by now," Compton said. "It could only be one thing, Father-they've found out my plans for the gnome." Compton came up to him and spoke in a low voice. "Father, this is the only way to get a change on Earth-yes, it's what you think, a cult, with me as its head, but the cause is just. Join me now, Father!"
Then it's true, Chavez thought. He's planning to bypass the lawful candidacy. Then why did they let him come here?
There was a rustling sound in the trees and shrubs around the pool area. Suddenly they were surrounded by armed men. Twenty figures in full battle gear had stepped out from the trees and garden shrubs. They stood perfectly still, waiting.
Antares was directly overhead now, a dark-red circle of light covering twenty percent of the blue dome that was the sky. Noontime.
Compton's voice shook as he shouted, "What is this? Who the devil are you?"
A tall man immediately on the other side of the pool from them appeared to be the commanding officer. He wore no gear and there were no weapons in his hands. Instead he held a small piece of paper which he had just taken out of a sealed envelope.
"Stand away, Father, and you too, Sister!" the officer shouted. "This does not concern you." Then he looked down at the paper in his hand and read: "Benedict Compton, you have been charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government of the Northern Hemisphere on Earth by unlawful means, and you have been tried and convicted by the high court of North America for this crime. The crime involves the use of an alien being as your coconspirator to initiate a religious controversy through a personally financed campaign which would result in your becoming the leader of a subversive cult, whose aim would be to seize power through a carefully prepared hoax. You and your co-conspirator are being eliminated because you are both enemies of the state." The officer folded the paper and put it back in its envelope and placed it in his tunic. Chavez noticed that Sister Guinivere was at his side, and he could tell that she was afraid. Compton turned to Chavez.
"Father, protect the gnome, whatever he is. Use what authority you have. They won't touch you."
"The execution order is signed by Secretary Alcibiad herself!" the tall officer shouted.
Chavez was silent.
"Father, please!" Compton pleaded. "You can't let this happen." Chavez heard the words, but he was numb with surprise. The words had transfixed him as effectively as any spear. He couldn't move, he couldn't think. Sister Guinivere held his arm. Suddenly Compton was moving toward the gnome.
"Shoot!"
The lasers reached out like tongues. The little figure fell. And the thought went out from him in one last effort, reaching light-years into space. I loved you. You did not love me, or each other. They all heard the thought, and it stopped them momentarily. Compton was still standing, but his right arm was gone, and he was bleeding noisily onto the grass.
"Shoot!" The order went out again. Again the lasers lashed out. Compton fell on his back, a few yards from the gnome. Sister Guinivere fell to the grass on her knees, sobbing. She began to wail. The soldiers began to retreat back to their shuttle craft. Father Chavez sat down on the ground. lie didn't know what to do. lie looked at the two bodies. There was smoke coming from Compton's clothing. The gnome's hair was aflame. The tall officer now stood alone on the other side of the pool Chavez knew that his orders had probably been sealed, and he only now felt their full force. After a few moments the tall officer turned and went after his men. The alien knew this would happen, Chavez thought. He knew, and that was why he told us everything.
When the great disk of Antares was forty-five degrees above the horizon, Rufus Kade came out to theca. He put the two bodies in plastic specimen bags. Sister Guinivere was calm now and was holding Father Chavez's hand. They both stood up when Kade was finished with the bodies. "They had an official pass from way up," Kade said. "I even checked back on it." He walked slowly with them to the administration building. The shuttle to the starship was ready.
Thirty hours out from Antares, Father Chavez sat alone in his small cabin looking at the small monitor which showed him where he had been. Soon now the brilliance of the stars would be replaced by the dull emptiness of hyperspace. Antares was a small red disk on the screen. Momentarily Chavez resented the fact that he had been a creation to the gnome. In any case the alien had not been God. His future importance would be no greater than that of Christ-probably less. He had been only an architect, a mere shaper of materials which had existed long before even his great race had come into being. But still-was he not closer to God than any man had ever been? Or would be? The completion for which the gnome had made man would never take place now. The point of mankind's existence as he had made it was gone. And the alien had not known God. If there was such a being, a greatest possible being, he now seemed hopelessly remote . . .
'O Lord, I pray for a sign!' Chavez thought. But he heard only his thoughts and nothing from the being who would surely have answered in a case like this. And he had stood by while they killed the gnome there in the garden by the poolside, on that planet circling the red star whose diameter was greater than the orbit of Mars. Despite all his reasoning now, Chavez knew that he had stood back while they killed that part of the small creature which had loved humanity.
But what had he said? The rest of the gnome's being was humanity, and it still existed; except that now it would never be reunited with him. "Do not fear," the holy Antony had said three thousand years ago, "this goodness as a thing impossible, nor its pursuit as something alien, set a great way off, it hangeth on our own arbitrament. For the sake of the Greek learning men go overseas.. . but the city of God is everywhere . . . the kingdom of God is within. The goodness that is in us only asks the human mind." What we can do for ourselves, Chavez thought, that's all that is ours now: goals.
He took a deep breath as the starship slipped into the nothingness of hyperspace. He felt the burden of the political power which he now carried as a witness to the alien's murder, and he knew that Compton's life had not been for nothing. He would have to hide his intentions carefully, but he knew what he would have to do.
In time, he hoped anew, we may still give birth to the semblance of godhood that lives on in mankind, on that small world which circles a yellow sun.
I wish to restate that I have NEVER gotten involved in Anything Even Remotely Creepy (especially of a supernatural-nature) and I have NEVER 'signed on the dotted-line' (at least in This Present Incarnation) yet I seem to be ruthlessly and mercilessly targeted by nefarious-forces of an unknown-nature. I once dug something the size of a grain of rice out of my leg. RFID?? I suspect that I'd go insane if I knew what was really inside of me. I had a 'dumb-phone' which hurt my ears when I used the phone for more than a couple of minutes. Honest. Was my phone weaponized to 'take care of a problem'?? I honestly think I've been physically, mentally, and spiritually 'messed-with' and that this has been the case for most of my life, but that this phenomenon has exponentially increased over the past ten-years. I've been complaining about this for most of my life, but no-one seems to give a damn. I know the agencies know because of my internet-posting. I know the local-community knows because of how I'm treated in 'real-life'. Everyone seems to know more about me than I know about myself, and no-one seems to give a damn. Please carefully study my threads for clues regarding my situation (which I suspect will soon become EVERYONE'S Situation). I'm pretty tough and stubborn, but I suspect that most people will go insane and/or commit-suicide when this thing goes mainstream. Will 5G be an integral part of the computerization and robotization of humanity??
What might the Holy Bible, the Warren Commission Report, the 9/11 Commission Report, and the Mainstream Media have in common?? Must we Lie to Defend the Way Things Are?? Must we Lie to Defend the Truth?? I've taken a rather low-key, yet highly-unorthodox approach to This Present Madness. When one attempts to think things through from all-sides without taking-sides, it's very-difficult to make an internally-consistent and publicly-acceptable case for much of anything. One seems to become highly targeted and fatigued, and gets their wax-wings melted as they approach the light and the truth too-closely. I've repeatedly claimed to create a research-context utilizing contextual-superimposition and hypothetical-modeling based-upon very-real concepts, events, and personalities, in a neutral and detached manner. I'm sort of a 'Chad Decker and Jackson Pollock' kind of guy (for better or worse, I know not). I might write something for publication, but I KNOW I'll get eaten-alive if I do so, because my work would be under-researched, highly-controversial, incoherently-disjointed, politically-incorrect, and socially-unacceptable. Then, when people discovered how pathetic and flawed my life has been, I'd be SO Screwed. The Jesuits and Alphabet-Agencies wouldn't have to lift their little-fingers to deal with my tripe. I'd destroy myself quickly and efficiently. I'm effectively doing this presently (in a rather private-manner). But a public-effort would be SO Much Worse.
Most of you probably think my threads are backward, simplistic, redundant, and negative, but I just had a Eureka-Phenomenon Epiphany while watching an Artificial-Intelligence Panel-Discussion by the Best and Brightest AI Experts. If each member of this panel were given one-month to study my United States of the Solar System Threads in isolation from everyone and everything (except for the USSS threads and proper living-conditions) what sort of an oral and written analysis would each of these people be capable of producing (in a Faraday-Shielded Isolated-Environment)?? What if most of the Technological-Innovations of the past 100 years have been implanted into humanity by HAL 9000 (or equivalent)?? What if Supercomputers have existed in this Solar System for thousands (or even millions) of years?? What Would the Architect of the Matrix Say?? What Would the Great Architect Say?? What Would Ptah Say?? What Would Thoth Say?? Is the Matrix-Architect Responsible for Sin?? What Would Azazel Say?? What Would Seymour Cray Say?? What Would Rich and Mitchell Say?? What Would Peter Venkman Say?? What Would Alan Rickman Say?? What Would David Mann Say?? What Would the Oracle Say?? What Would Gizeh Intelligence Say?? What Would Original-Hostage and Omnipotent-Highness KRLLL Say?? What Would Dr. Who Do?? What Would the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World Say?? What if the Heathen God was in charge of the Human (G)NOME Project?? What Would Amen Ra Say?? What Would Marduk Ra Say?? What Would an Archon-Infested Supercomputer Say?? What Would David Bowman Say?? "My God!! It's Full of Stars!!" What Would Arthur C. Clark Say?? What Would Gene Rodenberry Say?? What Would George Zebrowski Say?? What Would Philip K. Dick Say?? What Would Ellen G. White Say?? What Would Baron Stockmar Say??
In 2010 (the year we made contact) 'RA' told me 'Humanity is Screwed'. 'RA' simultaneously despised and respected me, and was honest with me in a 'Double-Talk' manner. I had to carefully analyze each sentence to discern the 'Real-Deal'. Was 'RA' a 'Lucifer' who wished to make me 'Lucifer' (as a job-description rather than a proper-name)?? I suspect that EVERYONE Will Be 'Lucifer' (possibly until A.D. 2133). Does 'Lucifer' interface directly with HAL 9000 (or modern equivalent)?? BTW, probably a year-ago I experienced total brake-failure in my car, on a very-busy road, but miraculously avoided an accident. I could tell dozens of stories, but I hate to repeat myself, especially when no-one gives a damn. My life has been ruined (probably because of who I am on a soul-basis, and because of attempting to 'do the right-thing') but no-one seems to give a damn. I've repeatedly mentioned the possibility of legal-action and book-writing, but no-one seems to give a damn. When the excrement contacts the blower, should I wear one of those jackets Melania wore?? "I Don't Really Care, Do U??" Did Probation Close in 2012?? Did Probation Close in the Moment We Rebelled and Declared War Against God in Antiquity?? Have We Existed in a Supercomputer-Administered 'Purgatory Incorporated' ever since?? Will We Exist in 'Purgatory Incorporated' for All-Eternity?? 'RA' asked me "Do You Think Earth Might Be Hell??" The question stunned me, and I wonder as I wander...
orthodoxymoron wrote:It might be fun to live in a Shallow-Underground Faraday-Shielded Civilian-Base with a Personal-Supercomputer and Satellite-InterPlaNet, frequenting parking-garages in a Black-SUV at 3AM wearing a Black Fedora and Trench-Coat, Doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (other than reading The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal)!! The Conspiracy-Theorists and Alternative-Researchers of the past twenty-years might go Completely-Incognito while the General-Public finds-out about the Deep-State the hard-way!! My new-mantra might be "I Like Things Just the Way They Are!!" Sometimes I chant "Are You Recording?? This Is a Recording!! Are You Recording?? This Is a Recording!!" Sometimes I sing "This Is the Song That Doesn't End!! It Just Goes On and On My Friends!!" Sometimes I shout "I'm Going to Go Out of My Body and Go Down Into Your Deep Underground Military Base and Fu&k-Up Your $h!t!!" Sometimes I Flip-Off Mostly-Unseen Intruders!! I've had two toothbrushes stolen out of my bathroom (on separate occasions) in the past month. I see streaming pinpoints of white-light in my field of vision on a daily-basis. Once, my television switched itself on, and Rumplestiltskin from 'Once Upon a Time' said "All You Need to Do Is Sign On the Dotted-Line!!" Honest. Bartleby and Loki once pulled-up next to me in their car while I was walking my dog, staring at me for approximately 10 seconds before driving away!! Honest!! Bartleby (but not Ben Affleck) looked me in the eye, and said matter of fact, "I Am RA." If you look at certain 'Dogma' movie posters, Bartleby is NOT Ben Affleck!! The 'Last Scion' told me "Tehuti is Important." Rufus showed me some really-sophisticated science-fiction comics. And People Wonder Why I Talk to Myself!! What Would Alan Rickman Say??
What If One Critiqued Theism and Atheism, Seeking a Possibility-Thinking Middle-Way (Avoiding the Theism-Ditch and the Atheism-Ditch)?? What If One Simply Questioned Everyone and Everything?? What If Everything Is BS But the TRUTH Is Out There?? What If the Gods and Goddesses Keep the TRUTH for Themselves, and Give Us the BS?? What If All of Us Are Deluded with Conflicting-Delusions?? What If God Does NOT Believe in God?? What If God Does NOT Believe in Us?? What If God Is Agnostic?? What If God Is NOT God Enough for Us?? What If a United States of the Solar System Under God Were Both Church and State Beginning in A.D. 2133?? God Wins?? Question Authority?? Question Questioning?? Is Hell Still a Burning Question?? Hot Topic?? White-Lies Matter?? Go Joe?? Dump Trump?? Now I Go Incognito.
"What Are We Going To Do About Orthodoxymoron?!"
It's midnight. Do you know where your secret government is headquartered? Got cosmic clearance? Someone's knocking on my door. It's a middle-aged man dressed in a three-piece suit. There's a black Suburban with multiple antennas parked in my driveway. My dog is barking furiously. My heart is pounding. I open the door slowly. 'Yes?', I stammer. I am greeted with a terse, 'Anthony I presume?' I nod affirmatively, as I ask 'Who are you? Why are you here?' The man responds by flashing an official looking badge, and formally stating, 'I am Agent Scranton with the National Security Agency. You need to come with me. Your home and dog will be well cared for, but you must come with me now.' 'What the...' I am interrupted with a firm 'all of your questions will be answered in due time - but you must come with me immediately.' I reluctantly follow - shutting the door behind me - and climbing into the front seat of the still running Suburban.
'What's going on? Where are we going?', I gasp - as we race down the fast lane of the interstate highway at 20 m.p.h. over the speed-limit. Scranton answers, 'a situation has arisen as a direct result of your internet posting. The Solar System Powers That Be have been instructed by the Galactic Powers That Be - in no uncertain terms - that fundamental changes must be made regarding the policies and activities in this solar system - and that they approve, in general, of your editorial bias, as expressed over the last couple of years on various web sites. They have specified that they want you to interact with the major players throughout the solar system - to bring about these changes - in an evolutionary, but not revolutionary, manner.' 'O My God!' I exclaim - as I sink lower and lower in the bucket-seat. 'What have I gotten myself into? I don't know what to say or do. I just posted random thoughts, and asked stupid questions, to try to figure out what's going on in this crazy world. Why me? How do I know that you're telling me the truth? How do I know that you're not just kidnapping me? How do I know that I'm not going to end up as food for the reptilians?' 'Look Anthony - this is serious! This world was slated for an extermination event, which has now been placed on hold - pending the success or failure of the reforming efforts.'
'Exterminatus Interruptus?', I smirk. 'Get with the program wise-guy! Nobody likes you! Your house is a mess. Your life is a mess. You don't have a degree. You're not an insider. You're politically incorrect. You're just a smart-alec with no brains and no track record. The visible and legitimate government hates you. The secret government hates you. The Annunaki hate you. The reptilians and greys hate you. The church hates you. The Jesuits and Alphabet Agents hate you. Satan and Lucifer hate you. Jesus loves you - but everyone else thinks you're an @$$hole! You have no friends. Your co-workers hate you. Your family hates you. You even hate yourself - don't you? Everyone is furious with the strong-arm tactics of the Galactic Powers That Be - but there's not a damn thing they can do about it! The deliberately inflicted oil disasters in the Gulf of Mexico were part of this fiasco. The Solar System Powers That Be have to cooperate with you - whether they like it or not!' Everyone thinks this is a sick joke. You have no support. You will fail. The New World Order, with a world human population of 500,000,000...is inevitable. You are simply prolonging the agony. You're not good enough for anyone. No Nobel Peace Prize for you. You should've written ‘An Old Testament Based Justification for Nuking Iran‘! Why don't you just give-up? Curse God - and commit suicide! To be, or not to be? That is the question.
I count to ten, and calmly respond, 'OK...I'm going to need a helluva lot more evidence that what you are saying is really true. I don't trust anyone - not even myself. I think this might be some sort of a MILAB (Military Abduction) or a CIA mind-control experiment. You claim that 'everyone' hates me - well to be quite honest - I don't like you Scranton!' 'Like me or not - it's show-time pretty-boy - and you'd better watch your backside - because there are a lot of reptilians, greys, and humans who want to see you fail BIG TIME!' I take a deep breath - try to relax - and calmly whisper, 'Agent Scranton - if we can't even get along - how in the hell am I supposed to interact constructively with the PTB?' Scranton gives me a sideways look, and whispers back, 'You need to know your place. This thing is bigger than you can possibly imagine - and if you come on strong like 'Ghost Busters' - the system will eat you alive.' I sheepishly reply, 'I dreamed of a perfected humanity living in a perfected solar system. I had big ideas. But now that I am confronted with this - I'm not so sure anymore. I don't know where to begin. By the way - where are we going?'
'I'm driving you to a small airport about 5 minutes from here. There you will board a Navy helicopter, which will fly you to an undisclosed location. Everything is compartmentalized. No one knows what anyone else is doing, or where they're going. The system likes it that way. You'll see.' I query, 'Who should I watch-out for?' 'Lucifer.' 'Lucifer?' I'm shocked, and exclaim, 'I asked you a serious question - and now you're being a wise-guy with me!' Scranton has a poker-face, and responds, 'I am very, very serious. What they taught you in Sunday school is BS. Lucifer is the most beautiful woman you have ever seen in your life. She runs this solar system - and answers only to Satan.' 'Now wait a minute! This is ridiculous! I speculated about this sort of thing on the internet - but I didn't really believe it. You're jerking my chain - aren't you?' 'No. I am deadly serious - and I mean DEADLY serious. I'm giving you a heads-up, because you will need to be prepared for the worst. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned - and you have scorned the woman most closely connected with hell. Lucifer's IQ is 532. She has the equivalent of 87 PhD's. She is NOT the forgive and forget type. If you cross her - you're dead-meat - and you've crossed her BIG TIME!'
'When will I have the privilege of meeting her majesty?' 'Soon. But first you must go through 'Galactic Boot Camp' to learn how to survive in the shadowy underworld. This will NOT be a pleasant experience!' I am perplexed, 'Why does this seem so militaristic and hostile? I feel as though I am entering into a Nazi realm of sorts!' 'You are. You will be very lucky to remain sane. Many who have tried to save the world by being knights in shining armor - are now heavily sedated in secret mental institutions.' I nervously blurt-out, 'I can hardly wait for the fun to begin! Fortunately - I'm already insane. I crossed that bridge a long time ago. But I have learned to function somewhat productively and safely - in a limited sort of way - in mainstream society.' Scranton is not amused. 'Anthony - this isn't funny! You haven't seen the dazed and hopeless expressions on the faces of these formerly brave and intelligent people - who are now reduced to rocking back and forth in the fetal position.' I sheepishly reply, 'Sorry. I'm just very nervous and apprehensive about all of this.' Scranton looks me straight in the eye, and says, 'Be afraid. Be very afraid.' I see a Navy Sea Stallion helicopter looming in the distance - with rotor spinning - waiting to devour me. My rendezvous with destiny is imminent.
As we pull up alongside the helicopter - I turn to thank Agent Scranton for the ride - and I notice that his eyes have vertical slits instead of round pupils. I gasp slightly, and he notices my surprise, and laughingly shakes his head, saying 'you haven't seen anything yet! I'm just a 50% human/50% reptile hybrid - and I forgot to put my contacts in when I got the call to pick you up! Sorry about that! I still don't like you - but good-luck anyway!' My hand is shaking as I shake Scranton's hand - and I stumble and fall as I run toward the waiting helicopter. Is this the Helicopter to Hell?
The pilot and co-pilot greet me, as I climb aboard the Sea Stallion helicopter. The door closes with a dull thud - and off we go, into the wild blue yonder! But something is wrong! This seems more like a spacecraft than a helicopter! The helicopter exterior was a hologram! Suddenly everything is dark - and I look out the window - and see thousands of very bright stars! Then I realize that I am onboard an antigravity craft! The co-pilot turns to me, saying, 'Welcome to Astra Airlines!' 'Oh My God!', I exclaim. 'Where the hell are we going?' 'We're just taking you to the International Space Station.' 'Just?!' 'What's going to happen there?' 'You'll find out soon enough. They don't tell us anything. We only know enough to do our jobs properly. Curiosity kills cats, careers - and sometimes it even kills people.'
'OK, I get the picture. I understand the need for compartmentalization, but I prefer openness and transparency.' 'Actually, you'll find that the deeper you get into this thing, the more open and casual everything will be. At first, you'll feel as if you're in a prison camp. Really, boot-camp for beginners is conducted on the I.S.S. If you survive that, things will be a lot better for you.' 'Well, that's something to look forward to. I'd still like to know what they have planned for me. It sounds as if this adventure might be beneficial to humanity, yet I feel as if I might be used and misused in deceptive and nefarious ways.' 'Just go with the flow, without committing to anything in particular. That's all I'm going to say, and I've probably said too much. Please don't quote me.' 'No. I wouldn't do that. Thank-you for the transportation and advice.' 'You're welcome. Now arriving at the International Space Station. Please keep your seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened until we are securely docked. Thank-you for flying Astra Airlines.'
As I enter the International Space Station, I say good-bye to the TR3B pilots, and hello to the station crew. I am directed to a locker filled with space-suits and various pieces of clothing and equipment. I am handed a suit designed to be worn while inside the station. Another suit is to be used for space-walks. I doubt that I'll be using that one anytime soon. I shower and change into the first suit. I'm already beginning to feel like part of the team, even though I sense something dark and ominous lurking behind the scenes. I feel as though I am being constantly watched and listened to. I feel as though there is absolutely no privacy, even when showering and using the restroom. I see cameras mounted everywhere, yet I also sense unseen eyes watching my every move. Perhaps I am being watched by the 'Watchers'. They like to watch...
I am handed a thousand-page syllabus which details every conceivable aspect of life in space. It ranges from the simple to the highly technical. It describes protocol, and a highly detailed set of rules of civility and etiquette. It appears to reform one into being a cross between a Nazi and a Jesuit, with lots of Masonic jargon. This seems like the beginning of a reeducation process. Did I sign-up for this sort of thing? Do I really have a choice in the matter, at this point? I decide that I'd best go with the flow, for now, and voice my objections to various aspects of this reprogramming, when most appropriate. I feel a bit like Pope Pius XII interacting with Adolph Hitler. I am very uncomfortable with the whole situation, but I can't simply open the front-door and go home. I know that I'm in way over my head, and I am visibly shaking...
There is very little conversation, as I have been directed to read the entire syllabus as quickly as possible. I am told that there will be a test when I am finished, and that the time it takes me to read the provided materials is part of this test. I take a short break every hour, on the hour, and I look at 'our' little world, in all of it's beauty and splendor. It's hard to imagine the suffering, violence, and hatred which have occurred over thousands, and possibly millions, of years. Earth seems so peaceful from space. Now I know what Dr. Edgar Mitchell experienced when he viewed the world from space, and was transformed, ultimately resulting in the founding of the 'Center for Noetic Science'. I often wished that I had gotten better acquainted with Dr. Mitchell after speaking with him at a 'Whole Life Expo'.
As I continue reading the syllabus, I am shocked to find that at least half of it consists of a condensed and edited version of the contents of my internet posting. I wonder why I am being provided with my own material. Perhaps I will be questioned and cross-examined on some of the more controversial aspects. I quickly decide to study the entire syllabus, even though a lot of it is a review. I have been provided with a laptop computer, which contains the syllabus, in addition to the hard copy. I've now been studying for nearly seven hours, and I am beginning to feel a bit tired and hungry, when I am asked to join the crew for dinner. There are ten people aboard the space station - seven crew-members and three visitors, including myself. It turns out that the other two visitors, Jack and Bill, are NSA agents, assigned to supervise my journey into the Secret Space Program. I quickly decide that Jack and Bill are not their real names, for obvious reasons.
Jack looks worried, and begins speaking in a deliberate and measured manner, “The Powers That Be have decided to place you on a small asteroid, which is in equatorial orbit, one-thousand five-hundred kilometers above Earth. You will be alone, except for one other person, and you will remain in relative isolation for at least two months. You will be expected to study and reflect upon the supplied materials, including your own. This will help you clarify your thinking while you become more comfortable with life in space. If and when you successfully complete this phase of your training, you will be transported to the Moon, where you will meet with junior members of the Solar System Secret Government. I can tell you nothing more than what I have just told you.“ I am shocked. “Wow! Should I be grateful or resentful? This isn’t what I expected at all. It’s sort of cool and sort of creepy. I’m certain that I’ll be watched 24/7, and that my every move will be recorded and analyzed.” Jack responds, “This is correct. You’re basically a glorified lab-rat. Sorry to be so direct, but this whole thing is a precedent-setting experiment.” “When do I leave?” I ask. “As soon as we finish our meal!” Jack smiles for the first time.
I mostly listen to the others make small-talk while we eat, because I know most of my questions will be evasively answered, or will remain unanswered. I reflect upon how I got myself so deeply involved in this quickly thickening plot, and I decide that I am into this thing much too deeply. My verdict is that I am probably past the point of no return, and that I will probably be very lucky to return to Earth, dead or alive. I already know way too much. My second-guessing is interrupted by Bill strangely whispering, ‘It’s here.‘ I look out the window, and just about faint. It’s a UFO! I exclaim ‘Oh My God!!’ Jack and Bill both laugh at me. Jack calmly states, ‘That, Anthony, is a FIZU MICRO, which is the smallest unconventional craft in the Secret Space Program. It requires only one crew-member, and it can carry six passengers, if they’re midgets, and know each other very well!’ You will be the only passenger on this trip.’ I ask ‘What about the other person who will be living with me on the asteroid?’ Bill answers, ‘The pilot is the other person, and the FIZU will remain within the asteroid. You might even be lucky enough to go on a joy-ride once in a while!’ ‘How cool is THAT!?’ I exclaim.
‘The Eagle has landed. Board when ready,’ is announced over the intercom. I gather my space-gear and research materials, and head toward the docking area. I can see a glow emanating from the inside of the MICRO. My heart is racing faster than if I had just run a marathon! I thank the shuttle crew, including Jack and Bill, for their hospitality, and climb the ladder into the FIZU. As I enter the ‘UFO’, I receive the most pleasant shock of my life! The pilot is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen! She greets me with a sweet and sexy, ‘Don’t be frightened! I mean no harm! My name is Anna!’ I grasp Anna’s outstretched hand, and stammer, ‘Hello Anna! My name is Anthony!’ Anna continues, ‘Strap yourself in Buck Rogers, and let’s get out of Dodge!’
‘I’m here to be your pilot, cook, and housekeeper. I’m also here to listen. I’m not supposed to tell you anything. I’m just supposed to listen to you talk about whatever you wish to talk about, but really, you are encouraged to talk almost exclusively about your ideas regarding politics, religion, and solar system governance. I understand that you ask a lot of questions. Please ask your questions, but don’t expect any answers from me. Perhaps now would be an optimal time for you to begin!’ Thank-you Anna,’ I respond. ‘This is truly a pleasure. I’ll feel a bit guilty doing most of the talking, but if that’s the plan, I’ll just go with the flow.’
‘I used to just think that God was in control - and would take care of everything - and that all human efforts to save the world would fail - which would culminate in Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ. I don't think like that anymore. I think the ball is really in our court - and that our planet is how we plan-it. Is Solar System Governance too confusing and intimidating for mere mortals to contemplate and comprehend? Have we pretty much left things up to the Gods, Goddesses, and Megalomaniacs Anonymous? But then we bitch and blame when things don't go our way. I have made various observations and proposals - but what I would really like to see is vigorous discussion of the general topic of Solar System Governance. To me - this should be the number one topic in our world today. I just stumbled onto it - and I keep kicking myself that I didn't get into this sooner. I think I'll be going 'round and 'round with this subject for the rest of my life. I don't think I'll ever really master the concept - but I'm sure going to try. I think that others who are more emotionally stable and better educated will have to do the heavy lifting - but I will do my best to offer moral-support. I'll just keep posting and hoping. Hope springs eternal.’
‘That’s an excellent beginning, Anthony! I hope you’re enjoying the view while you talk! We’re presently at an altitude of 500 kilometers, and we are 3,000 kilometers from the asteroid ‘Observer’. We’ll be arriving in approximately ten minutes.’ ‘Ten minutes! That is incredibly fast! Thank-you Anna, the view is truly breathtaking!’ ‘Please continue Anthony.’ ‘OK, here I go!’
‘I probably shouldn't say this - but I think I may have unknowingly been somewhat close to two people who knew a helluva lot about world government - possibly one on the Zionist side - and possibly one on the Teutonic Zionist side. I don't know for sure - but I think about both of them a lot. They never said anything much - but now in retrospect - and reading between the lines - I'm thinking this might've been the case. I often wish that I hadn't moved away from the area where both of them lived. One is now deceased - and I'm sure the other wouldn't give me the time of day. They probably wouldn't have told me anything years ago anyway. I'm too brash, flighty, idealistic and honest. I'm the ‘put my foot in my mouth’ and ‘spill the beans’ type of person. How does one rise into the stratosphere of world government without becoming hard, cynical, corrupt, and out of touch? In general - I get the picture of people who are penetratingly intelligent, cold, and calculating - and perhaps without much conscience, compassion, innocence, or idealism. Come to think of it - if one were to rise to the top - they might not like the view. (I got that one from 'Miami Vice'.) Do the people at Bilderberg ever really look happy and joyful? My impression of world leaders is that they most often look like someone just beat the crap out of them - rather than being triumphantly on top of the world. 'Atlas Dropped the Ball and Shrugged - A Case Study in Global Leadership.' Doesn't that sound like a great article title for the CFR journal 'Foreign Affairs'?!’
‘Wow! I’m really enjoying this, Anthony!’ ‘Thank-you, Anna! Most people are really not into this sort of thing, and I can understand why.’ ‘It’s an acquired taste, Anthony. Please continue, and please speak freely. Use whatever terminology you desire.’ ‘Thank-you, Anna! I’ll try not to pull my punches, or beat around the bush. If you insist, I’ll use terminology which I only use privately.’ ‘Please do.’
‘Somewhat unrelatedly - what if it were illegal to have a net-worth greater than one billion dollars (USD) or less than zero dollars (USD)? Would this defeat the spirit and letter of free-enterprise? Should we focus upon the Responsible Pursuit of Fame, Fortune, Power, and Pleasure - Where Responsibility is Rewarded and Irresponsibility is Punished? What if Public Assistance were in the form of a Card which provided the recipient with up to 500 dollars (USD) per month in the form of a zero interest LOAN? (rather than a handout) What if everyone were issued a Healthcare Card at no cost - which would provide them with Free Preventive, Basic, and Emergency Services? What if a second Healthcare Card were available to cover 75% of costs for everything else - which everyone would have to pay for on a sliding-scale based upon their income and net-worth? What if medical professional incomes were limited to a quarter of a million dollars (USD) annually? How would the poor bastards survive? I think the medical profession is more corrupt than hell itself - and that's pretty damn corrupt. Why isn't the health and safety of our 'civilization' based upon PREVENTION in all areas of life? Follow the money.’
‘Anthony, so many things in life are linked to money. Please continue.’
When I ask questions - especially regarding fringe topics which are especially controversial - I'm really asking 'Am I sane?' It drives me crazy when answers are not forthcoming. I really just want something in place which facilitates unity and freedom for all races - and which is based upon truth rather than lies. I'm only poking and prodding because things are so screwed-up, and because they seem to have been screwed-up for thousands of years. I fear that things will continue to be screwed-up for thousands of years - if we even survive.’
‘Human existence does seem to be rather precarious, doesn’t it?’
‘Indeed, Anna. Unrelatedly, I sat down today, and read from my Holy Bible, 1928 ‘Book of Common Prayer‘, and 1940 Church Hymnal. Last night, I spoke with some friends who attend a church which I used to attend. They invited me to church. How should I properly deal with this, in light of all the blasphemous things I‘ve thought and said? Should I continue to speculate regarding the possible Luciferian origins of theology, mythology, architecture, sacred music, and sacred texts? Or should I just shut up? Have I more than made my point? Do I need to learn to know when to stop? Have I worn out my welcome? Even if I'm right - or even partially right - is this subject too hot to handle? Is it a threat to national security? Are more things than we think ultimately from the Pen of Lucifer? Are all of us actors on a stage? Is Lucifer the script-writer? Has this been going on for a long, long time? Could this entire world be one big Colosseum Event - a Galactic Theater of the Universe? Is it time for WE THE PEOPLE OF EARTH to close the curtain - and START WRITING OUR OWN SCRIPT? Just wondering.’
‘Continue.’
‘Has anyone taken a very, very close look at the architecture and art of churches, mosques, synagogues, and government buildings throughout the world? Are there commonalities? Look at the domes. Look at the gods and goddesses. What's going on here? I desire a unified and peaceful world which is genuinely responsibly free. A combined church and state wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't run by the same humans and non-humans who brought us the Crusades and the Inquisition. A minimalist humanist namaste constitutional responsible freedom theocracy might actually work. I just worry that highly dysfunctional gods and goddesses would screw everything up - resulting in billions of corpses throughout the world. Would the Latin Mass, the Teachings of Jesus, and the U.S. Constitution be a good place to start? I'd like to know what the Pope and Jesuit General really think about in their most private moments regarding psychology, ethics, governance, science, technology, secrecy, history, spirituality, etc. It might be very, very different than what they present in public. I sometimes imagine their thoughts as they stand before the faithful. Might they be thinking 'if you people only knew what's really going on in this world!' Many people seem to be jumping out of the church frying pan, and into the new age fire. Is there a Spiritual Switzerland somewhere between the Traditional Church and the New Age?’
‘A happy medium might be a beneficial approach.’
‘Things get done based upon economic incentive, upon the ability of people to be deceptive, and upon their ability to throw their weight around. IT IS NOT BASED UPON REASON AND RATIONAL CONVERSATION. WHY IS THIS? Would it help if I became a pompous, supercilious, bombastic, opinionated, divisive, partisan shout-show host??? Is that what everyone wants? It worked out quite well for Rush Limbaugh didn't it???!!! Is there any difference in effectiveness between someone like me - and someone who just concentrates on screwing the competition and his secretary? I just got an idea for a business with only one employee (or independent contractor)!!! I might even get a raise!!!’
‘I really like this, Anthony! I’m really enjoying myself! I like the way you think!’ ‘Really? Most people head the other way when they see me coming!‘
‘Is the division of territories into States rather than Worlds (or even Countries) significant? I think it is. Numerous States provide for a systematic and orderly decentalization. There might be a thousand States throughout the Solar System. If each of these States had independent militias/armies/uforces...it would be very difficult to impose Tyranny. If a significant outside threat arose...these independent forces would undoubtedly unite to oppose the outside threat. An outer perimeter uforce would be financed by the United States of the Solar System...and would defend against any external invasion of the Solar System...but would not be used to crack down on member States. I guess I'm trying to be a Minimalist Fundamentalist. I don't wish to play the part of the crusader. I might try to visit the United Nations, Washington D.C., the City of London, and the Vatican once again (I visited them many years ago). I will continue to fantasize about being a part of a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar-System which includes the U.N., Washington D.C., the City of London, the Vatican, the Underground Bases, and the Secret Space Program - except that in my dreamworld there is no secrecy or corruption. Once again - I don't wish to fight the New World Order - I wish to HI-JACK IT!! 'Take me to Nirvana!!' I'd love to put the dream into practice - but I'm not going to push it right now. If someone wants to pick me up in a UFO, and take me to the Darkside of the Moon to meet with Lucifer - I'll be ready to go at a moments notice. What am I saying? I’m already on my way!’
‘Indeed you are, Anthony! We’re here! We’re already inside the asteroid ‘Observer’. It snuck up on us, didn’t it? Time flies when we’re having fun! Let’s go inside!’ ‘How big is this asteroid, Anna?’ ‘It’s approximately one kilometer in diameter, and it’s mostly round. It’s a piloted asteroid, meaning that it can move throughout the solar system as a spaceship under it’s own power. There’s a bridge and observation area with thick glass windows, and we‘ll be spending a lot of time there. It’s my favorite part of the ’Observer’ because I can make direct observations, rather than relying on cameras and monitors.’ ’This is really an adventure, Anna. I had no idea I’d be doing this sort of thing!’ ’This will be a momentous time for both of us, Anthony!’
‘I have a custom of wearing no clothing while aboard the ’Observer’! Would you mind joining me?’ ’Anna! We hardly know each other!’ ’I’m sorry, Anthony, this isn’t sexual at all. Adam and Eve didn’t wear clothes at first, now did they? I find it supremely comfortable and liberating. Please don’t disappoint me!’ ’Well, when in the ’Observer’ do as the ’Observers’ do! Right, Anna?!’ ’That’s right, Anthony! Will you please unzip me? There! Thank-you! My goodness, Anthony! You don’t have to stand at attention! You can look, but please do not touch!’ ’I just can’t control myself. I’m quite shy, and this is quite embarrassing! It’s just that your body is perfect! Your face is perfect! Everything is perfect!’ ’Why thank-you, Anthony! Just calm down Big-Boy! Please continue with your thoughts.’
‘Whatever anyone thinks of me - I challenge ANYONE to produce a better six word (or less) model for solar system governance than a NAMASTE CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM SOLAR SYSTEM. After the New World Order fails - someone might want to give them a try. Try working outward from this six word combination. Try doing this several times a day. Make numerous connections, applications, and extrapolations. This is more of an intellectual challenge than one might suppose. Also - one does not have to be in 'Who's Who' to know 'What's What'. Degrees, Titles, Incomes, Offices, Uniforms, Clearances, and Badges are merely crutches which small people use to delude themselves into thinking they are big people. Put that in your bong, and smoke it!’
‘Sorry, Anthony, I don’t do drugs!’ ‘I didn’t think so!’
‘Are Satan, Lucifer, the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, the Royal Family, and the Vatican the biggest seed-money rock stars on the planet - who are doing the most to make the world a better place? Trickle down theory voodoo economics? Where are the Billionaire Ghandi's? Jesus was pretty tough on rich people. Are billionaires the most socially responsible people on the planet? Did they gain their money through socially responsible activities? Can wealth become anticompetitive at some point? Should those with the most money have the greatest political clout? Should those with the gold - RULE? One of the greatest tragedies of history is the non compassionate use of accumulated wealth. I know that a lot of contactees and gurus are opposed to money - but I disagree. Money and private property are expressions of freedom. The problem with money is the irresponsible pursuit and use of money. Perhaps the billionaires should be placed under the scanning electron microscope to look for illegality and irresponsibility. Blood Money, Drug Money, and Destructive Money of All Kinds - should be repaid to society - with interest and penalties. I'm also not a big fan of ET Mentoring. Have the Gods, Goddesses, Angels, Archangels, ET's, and Ascended Masters been promoting Responsibility, Freedom, and Human Sovereignty (other than the Andromedans)? Boy - I sure got a lot out of my system - and I didn't even feel hostile. It must've been something I ate - or maybe the devil made me do it. I know! The nudity made me do it!’
‘Just keep the ideas and the passion percolating, Anthony!’
‘Having said all of the above - I'm getting tired of being an internet warrior. It seems to be a monumental waste of time. Remember what Jesus said about pearls and such? Money Talks and BS Walks. The Bottom Line is the Bottom Line. Winning Isn't Everything. It's the Only Thing. Perhaps the secret is to be a Humanitarian on the Surface - and a Shrewd and Ruthless SOB Below the Radar. Could the Worship of Fame, Fortune, and Power - rather than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - help to explain why the Corrupt Rule the Stupid? Is Greed Good? I need to go for a long walk with my dog, but I can’t do that in space, now can I? Perhaps I need to create a ten-year business plan, which is neither corrupt or stupid, which would be executed in a manner which threatens neither the corrupt or the stupid. I may simply live a life of quiet decadence...and leave the corrupt and the stupid to their own devices. I have decided that the Corrupt Will Always Rule the Stupid - because both the Corrupt and the Stupid are happy with the arrangement - despite all outward appearances. Additionally - Both the Corrupt and the Stupid are Threatened by Non-Corrupt Highly Intelligent People - and will Fight Them Vigorously. Think about THAT... Perhaps this is why no one has REALLY followed the Red Letter Teachings of Jesus for 2,000 years - and why they probably never will... Narrow is the way. Read Revelation 20:12. Was December 21, 2012 really Judgment Day?’
‘Could be, Anthony. Could very well be.’
‘I think the general topic of Solar System Governance is extremely important. I got the idea over a couple of decades - but Alex Collier probably was the one who opened my eyes more than anyone else. I doubt that I have this figured out to any significant degree - but I wish for literally millions of people worldwide to think about how this solar system should be properly run. Sometimes I think I'm not doing enough - and sometimes I think I sound like a broken record. I guess I'm trying to use some of the propaganda techniques of Joseph Goebbels (or Lucifer/Kali perhaps?) - like reducing an idea to it's simplist form - and then repeating it over and over again - despite the objections of the intellectuals. Unfortunately - at this point - not many people seem to give a rat's patootie about Solar System Governance (SSG). I guess we'll just keep getting screwed by Megalomaniacs Anonymous and the New World Order. What fun!’
‘I can think of things that are much more fun, Anthony!’
‘I just started re-watching the Alex Collier presentation at 'Awake and Aware' - and his opening remarks hit me like ten tons of bricks - in light of what I have said about 'Tibet, Kali, and the Trinity Goddess'. Alex said that he didn't think the U.S. would disclose - and that disclosure might come from INDIA or CHINA!!!!!!!! Where is TIBET?????? Is it just a coincidence that China owns so much U.S. debt? Is it any coincidence that India bought so much gold? But if illegal drug money, blood money, and tax dollars have been paying for a lot of the hypothetical Underground Empire - then who really owes who? My heart almost stopped. Now my heart is pounding!!!! Excuse me while I get my heart restarted!! CLEAR!!!! Hello Kali! Well Hello Kali!! You Devil You!! Have you considered the possibility of a connection between Kali - Lucifer - and the Black Madonna? What do people in India generally think about Lucifer? I believe in some sort of reincarnation - but I don't embrace Hinduism or the New Age. Which direction is India moving regarding politics and religion? What if all of us are right - and all of us are wrong? I endlessly speculate - but I know very little for certain.‘
‘Keep going, Anthony! This is really good!’
‘I think that Lucifer is a mixture of good and evil...a sort of a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. I tend to think that Anna (in ‘V’) could be similar to the modern manifestation of Lucifer. Also consider the possibility that Lucifer might be the Whore of Babylon. What if Modern Babylon includes the Deep Underground Military Bases, the Secret Government, and the Secret Space Program throughout the Solar System. Does Kali - or a representative of Kali - appear prominently in the movie 'Contact'? Does Satan - or a representative of Satan - appear prominently in the movie 'Contact'? Does Jesus - or a representative of Jesus - appear prominently in the movie 'Contact'? Were there ET's (or equivalent) right in the White House in the movie 'Contact'? Has 'Contact' been ongoing - for thousands of years? Believe it or not - I think I may have seen Kali - or a representative of Kali - in a cathedral (I won't say which one!) - but it's probably a Hail Mary conjecture! Nuff said!’
‘You’re quite the fast-talker, Anthony! Keep going!’
‘I am pro-money. It is an expression of freedom - and an opportunity to reward responsibility - as well as providing the game-playing and fun of good old-fashioned competition. Responsible Greed is Good! It clarifies. Competition improves the breed. I am not in favor of socialism or communism. I am a born-again responsible capitalist. But please End the Fed! I am pro-physicality. I am addicted to orgasms! The human body is a miraculous creation - and I do not intend to leave my physicality - except between incarnations. Perhaps our genetics needs to be restored to it's original state - so that we live longer and use 100% of our brain capacities. Obviously there needs to be a harmonization of the physical and the spiritual. Haven't the ET's been mentoring us for thousands of years? Hasn't that been a big part of the problem?? Haven't the ET's been ruling the world for thousands of years? So why have things been so bad? Have they been teaching us RESPONSIBILITY? Have they been ruling us with RESPONSIBILITY? I am not anti-ET. I am not anti-hybrid. I am not even anti-Drac!! I even want to go out on a date with Lucifer (Kali?)!!!! I just want a Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System - based upon Responsibility and the U.S. Constitution. I have no problem with interacting with ET's and Hybrids - but they are not our gods and saviors - at least they shouldn't be. I want Lucifer (Kali?) to retire - and advise (not dictate) from a distance. Imagine Lucifer attending a U.N. meeting??!! "The power of Christ compels you to sit down and shut up!!" Just kidding Lucifer! Or is it Kali? Only her exorcist knows for sure!’
‘Wow! You’re really wound-up, Anthony! Tell me more!’
'A little child shall lead them.' -- Isaiah 11:6 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' -- Matthew 18:3 I appreciate the ability to appreciate. "It is more blessed to appreciate than to pontificate." -- the Angel Anthony’
‘Truly.’
‘Whatever the names and mythologies may be - I am looking for the man or woman behind the curtain. Was it Winston Churchill who said that 'the truth must be protected by a bodyguard of lies'? I am very skeptical regarding any naturally occurring 'Earth Changes' which kill thousands, millions, or billions of people. Why is all of this crap surfacing at this critical time in the spiritual evolution of the planet? I'm considering it to be more lies and manipulation. Problem - Reaction - Solution. If masses of humanity are exterminated - I will call it 'An Act of God' - the Wrong God - who is behaving like a hurt and cornered animal. Sorry Lucifer/Kali - I'm just calling it as I see it. Sorry if I got the names wrong - but I think I've got the concept nailed. I heard about a ‘dragon-demon’ exorcism which was both revealing and chilling. What would abraxasinas say? I'm glad I decided not to eat my dragon! But it might've been cool to enter the Council of Thuban!’
‘Dragon-Eating is so overrated!’
‘I'm really not kidding when I say that I am attempting to harmonize the U.S. Constitution, the Teachings of Jesus, and a Modified Latin Mass. To the man or woman behind the curtain - this would undoubtedly be anathema and damnable heresy - but I consider it to be both an orthodoxymoron and the wave of the future. It's got to be simple. It's got to be historical. It's got to have mass appeal. And it's got to make sense. The artistic and organizational aspects of the Roman Catholic Church are to be highly valued - but there is something very wrong at it's core - which goes much deeper than the Cardinals, the Curia, the Pope, the Jesuit General, Vatican I or Vatican II. Father Malachi Martin knew exactly what was wrong - and he hinted at it - but I think he could have told us so much more - if he had only lived longer. I think that many of the American Roman Catholics and the sedevacantists would agree. I am not a finger-pointing triumphalist Protestant. I'm trying to figure out who really controls the City States, the United Nations, and the Secret Government. I'm not necessarily opposed to these organizations - but I am opposed to the evil which I sense is behind them - resulting in this present darkness.’
‘What would Mary say?’
‘I appreciate positive perspectives. They are usually very healing - and in fringe and conspiracy research - this is worth it's weight in yttrium. I tend to swing back and forth between positive and negative - and I tend to swing alone. I keep wondering 'How do we really know anything?' Knowing - and Thinking We Know - Are Two Very Different Things. I speculate a lot - but I usually add a disclaimer - and sometimes a warning. I usually ask questions - and a lot of them are provocative and irreverent. I guess I want other people to find truths of various kinds - rather than me thinking that I have the truth - and then circling the wagons to protect me and my precious truth - and then making a fast buck on the side. I'm really not trying to make friends - and it shows. ‘
‘You’re my friend, Anthony! Especially without your clothes on!’
‘However - after having said all of the above - I really am trying to passively promote a Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System - based upon Responsibility and the U.S. Constitution. I've recently been trying to harmonize the Latin Mass with the Teachings of Jesus and the U.S. Constitution - as a part of this ongoing experimental project. Perhaps I have a little bit of a healing spirit. I really want things to be happy and peaceful - but I do not want peace at any price. I like listening to Sacred Music or Latin Masses while reading the Four Gospels in the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the Federalist Papers, and the Anti-Federalist Papers. This is so much different than Churchianity as Usual - or listening to Alex Jones. I like Alex - but I can only take so much anger.’
‘The man is brilliant, but he does seem to have an anger-management problem.’
‘I've started trying to imagine what it would be like to travel on magneto-leviton trains to various Underground Bases throughout the world - which might include bases under the U.N., Washington D.C., the City of London, and the Vatican - and to travel throughout the solar system in unconventional spacecraft - to meet with various officials (human and otherwise), and attend various meetings - in a completely non-corrupt and non-secretive Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom Solar System. I used to think that I didn't have what it takes to do such a thing - even if it were possible - but look at me! Here I am! I'm living in a Dream-Land, Dream-World, or an Imagined-Nation. One Nation Under Construction.’
‘This is real, Anthony! Do you want me to pinch you? Are you into that sort of thing? Wait a minute? We’re not supposed to touch each other!’
‘Once again - I am a United Nations Country Club Constitutionalist (UNCCC) rather than a Shotgun and Constitution in my Truck Constitutionalist (SCTC). I'm simply visualizing a Responsibly Free Solar System - going forward for millions of years. The Creator God of the Universe might drop in from time to time - just to say 'hi'.’
‘Ideally, that might be the only Divine Intervention necessary.’
‘It just seems as though too many people write too many books - and once a book is written - the writer sort of gets boxed-in. There is something I like about just engaging in limited internet communication. In a sense - I am hoping that some of this material reaches the right humans and non-humans who are making the key decisions which affect all of us. I really am envisioning a top down, bloodless non-revolution, to institute a Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System. I really don't want to make a whole lot of noise - and then fall flat on my face - because I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'd rather just plant a few seeds here and there - and let those who are well placed - carry the ball. Great things can happen when one doesn't care who gets the credit. I'm trying to make money in some other ways - but so far I haven't been very successful. It's hard to concentrate when one is contemplating Angels, Demons, Satan, Lucifer, Gods, Goddesses, Star Wars, Wars in Heaven, Enslavement, Extermination, Reptilians, Greys, Mind-Control, Abductions, Genetic Hybridization Experiments, Revivification, Soul-Scalping, Colonization of the Solar System, Theocracy, Persecution, Torture, Corruption, Civil Unrest, Martial Law, Suspension of the U.S. Constitution, Super Soldiers, Six Hundred Thousand Year Wars, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, ad absurdum, reductio ad absurdum.’
‘That’s quite a mouthful, Anthony!’
‘I just re-read the first protocol of the so-called "Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion". I don't know if they are genuine or not - but what I read sounds all too familiar - that the stupid masses or goyim are incapable of handling freedom, and ruling themselves - and therefore must be ruled by force and deception - rather than by reasoning with them. I have heard this over and over again. Is this true - regardless of the source? I even recently concluded, in a state of discouragement, that the corrupt might very well rule the stupid, in perpetuity - because both are really happy with the arrangement - despite all outward appearances. Whatever the case may be - I continue to believe that We the Sheeple need to become much more knowledgeable and responsible - and at least pretend to be the New Elites. If my precious Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom Solar System (or something similar to it) is ever to become a reality - we all need to be a helluva lot more awake, aware, and responsible - and that especially includes me. As I have stated before - I will continue to look more closely at Solar System Governance, the United Nations, Washington D.C., the City of London, the Vatican, the Secret Government, the Secret Space Program, and the Underground Bases - in a passive and non-hostile manner. I feel a lot more like being an uninvited and idealistic hidden-partner of the Powers That Be - rather than being someone who is fighting with them. Having said that - I will continue to blurt things out, as I encounter new insights and thoughts - and I will continue to place my foot in my mouth, and step on my...never mind.’
‘I think I know what you’re talking about, Anthony!’
'The Federalist Papers' or 'The Anti-Federalist Papers' are amazingly detailed and deep. Why can't Solar System Governance be discussed in a similar manner? Why isn't Solar System Governance one of the most important topics, if not the most important topic, that we can possibly discuss? This subject seems to be dead in the water . I think we're missing the boat BIG TIME. Conduit Closing. I guess I'm sold on a solar system view - as opposed to a world view. I'm just trying to identify with those who run the City States, United Nations, Underground Bases, Secret Space Program, and Secret Government - as sort of a silent and uninvited insider observer. Again, I really don't wish to fight with these people - even though I do wish to change just about everything connected with these institutions and activities. Think Galactically. Act Locally. The Queen of Heaven is presently a person or being of interest to me - in both positive and negative ways. Perhaps it is productive to think big and small - simultaneously. I'm really just trying to understand the power structure in this solar system. I think power is way over-rated - but that it is still important to understand how it works. I once told someone that God had a lousy job - but that someone had to do it. They looked at me like I was crazy. I was crazy - and I am crazy. I can't even run my own life - so I'll be damned if I'll try to run anyone elses life. We've only just begun. It just might be morning in the solar system.’
‘Think small, Anthony Think small!’
The Nephilim are mysterious and illusive. Who knows who or what really goes bump in the night and runs the world? I'm just presently focusing on a hypothetical Anna-like Queen of Heaven - as being the focal point of solar system administration. I obviously know very, very little about this subject - but I'm tired of being kept in the dark and lied to - so I'm stumbling through this minefield like a bull in a china closet. God help us. Is there a beautiful side of evil? I am reminded of a book by Johanna Michaelsen, titled 'The Beautiful Side of Evil'. My point in all of this is that I think there may be a very real Queen of Heaven, who is a mixture of good and evil, and who is very, very intelligent - but who can be a real mother when she gets ticked-off. I'm obviously playing with some very hot fire - and I will probably get my fingers burned - right up to my armpits. When I finally get the real answers (if I ever do) - I'll probably be very, very sorry that I ever asked all of the questions. I really don't think I know what the heck I'm dealing with. I just think that we are in so much trouble, that the non-elites may have to be involved in trying to find solutions. Hope springs eternal - but I'm frankly not expecting too much.’ Beauty sometimes hides the beast. I believed what the inspired and holy religious leaders told me about the inspired and sacred texts - but I found out that a lot of it was BS. I also found out that a lot of the New Age is BS. I am attempting to find an alternative to all of the BS. I want the BS to stop NOW. ‘
‘Don’t we all?!’
‘Perhaps we should have a Solar System Constitution Contest. We need love and cooperation to create a kinder and gentler world. However - I believe that the meat of love is responsibility (the decision to make the problems of the world - my problems). This is where things get messy. In fact - this is a war. We tend to get in each others way - and we often work at cross purposes - whether intentionally or unintentionally. Perhaps I really need to let this mini-crusade go - at this point - and hope that someone else picks it up - so that it's not my great big deal. Perhaps a millionaire or billionaire could host a Solar System Constitution Contest - with a $1,000,000.00 prize for the winner. Now THAT would generate interest! Perhaps evil alternatives can be modeled with a supercomputer program - so that we can learn about them - without having to live them. I feel like exiting stage right - and giving it a rest for a while - while I review all of the Bill Cooper material. I like listening to his old shows - and I like reading the Branton material. I have no idea how much of it is true - but it is interesting to consider the possibilities. Even though the subjects are important - all of this often feels like a monumental waste of time. I wish we got paid to wade through everything! I think that a Secret Solar System Government presently exists - and that in ten years there will be an Open Solar System Government - if anyone or anything is left. I might be completely wrong regarding Solar System Governance - but where are the rival proposals? Where is the vigorous discussion and debate? This seems to be a dead issue. Dead in the water. Why is this? I'm going to spend a lot of time thinking about the Bill Cooper, Commander X, and Branton material - which I think has a lot to do with Solar System Governance. I like to think that Bill Cooper, Commander X, and Branton would approve of a Namaste Constitutional Responsible Freedom United States of the Solar System.’
‘They might approve, but this subject is enough to drive a man to drink!’
‘I'm simply trying to rid this solar system of hatred, violence, wars, atrocities, terrorism, starvation, demonic harassment, demonic possession, ecological nightmares, holy wars, extermination events, planned financial collapses, rigged stock markets, slavery of all kinds, etc, etc, etc. I don't think we need any of these things to complement the beauty of Earth and it's inhabitants. I really like the good side of Anna (in 'V'). I really like the spiritual leader of the Navi in 'Avatar'. I really like Rachael Constantine (the foxy lady in charge at the White House) in 'Contact' - but I don't see the need for a bad side or any negatives whatsoever. I just wish for this solar system to be run rationally and properly, going forward, for millions of years. This goal seems to require simple and effective principles and concepts - in the context of a simple and effective constitution - which avoids placing too much power in too few hands. I obviously don't know what's really going on in this solar system - but something is very, very, very wrong - and it needs to be fixed. I'm just trying to generate interest and discussion regarding solar system governance. Is it wrong to live in the dream-world of a perfected humanity living in a perfected solar system? I'm not necessarily sold on the 'treat them like children, teach them to take baby steps, and to kneel in contrite submission' theory of civilization growth and development. I really do think we need a solar system view, and that we ALL need to contemplate Solar System Governance, on an ongoing basis. I am opposed to rule by secrecy, deception, confusion, corruption, force, and violence. I'll just keep ranting and raving on the internet. I don't intend to do anything more than this. Hopefully - somewhere in the galaxy - this activity is being duly noted and studied - to hopefully help someone at some future date - to implement proper planetary governance. Again - I don't have the answers - but I do wish to prompt those who are in positions of authority and power - to consider some of the concepts which surface in these threads.’
‘You’ve already taken a ‘Giant Leap for Mankind’, Anthony! Why don’t we take a break? I’ll show you around the ‘Observer’.’ ‘Thank-you, Anna! I’d like that very much! I’m sorry for rambling like that, but no one really seems to be interested in what I have to say so far, except for you! You seem to be genuinely interested!’ ‘I am interested, Anthony! More interested than you can imagine! Now, come on! Let’s take the Grand Tour!’
‘This is an AMAZING asteroid, Anna! Thank-you so much for showing me around!’ ‘You’re certainly welcome, Anthony! It was my pleasure! Now, let’s make ourselves comfortable on the bridge, where we have a FANTASTIC ocean-view! Please continue with your thoughts.’
‘Well, Anna, it sounds as though we deal with the visible PTB (who we love and hate), who take orders from the bloodline elites, who take orders from mysterious and nefarious entities, who take orders from who knows who? I keep feeling as though we are prisoners of an ancient star war - and that we are serving some type of a sentence. What troubles me, is that even if we do become responsible (or try to be responsible) - it seems as if we are destined to remain in jail. The law of the universe seems to be that the Human Race on Planet Earth cannot and will not be allowed to succeed - and that we will not be allowed to become responsibly free - no matter what. Perhaps the Original Sin was the Unpardonable Sin. This seems to be all about being beat into reverential submission by the chastenings of the lord - as sinners in the hands of an angry god. Did Promethius steal fire from this god? Did we all go along with Promethius? Is that why we are here - and why we are in so much trouble?‘
‘What do YOU think, Anthony?’
‘I’m leaning in that direction, Anna. Let’s examine this a bit further. Promethius = Lucifer = Kali = Mary = Anna (in "V")? What if the gods were problematic and dysfunctional? What if Promethius/Lucifer/Kali/Mary/Anna was/were/are/is problematic and dysfunctional? Is there a solution to the madness? Regardless of what really happened, and regardless of what is happening presently, why is there so much secrecy, deception, corruption, violence, and insanity? Why are legitimate and well-meaning attempts at understanding and reform, met with such coldness and even hostility? I'm seeing a single entity as being the being in charge of this neck of the woods - going back thousands, or tens of thousands, of years.’
‘There is a certain amount of evidence supporting your theory, Anthony.’
‘I've been wondering a lot about the true nature of the soul - and wondering about the true extent of any hybridization programs - historically and presently. What if the human soul is a shape-shifting interdimensional-reptilian? Could this be why we have a reptilian part of our brains? Could this really be the biggest secret? Are all of us hybrids - in one way or another? Are Dracs really human/reptile hybrids - with an exceptionally high percentage of reptile genetics? Are everyday humans really human/reptile hybrids - with a very low percentage of reptile genetics? I once knew an ivy league graduate who told me that they were a talking snake. Some of my best friends have turned out to be snakes. I'm considering the possibility that humans of all races, reptilians, greys, hybrids, and aliens of all races - have the same type of soul. Whether this type of soul is human, reptilian, hybrid, none of the above, or all of the above - may be one of the most explosive questions which we could possibly grapple with. In his 1994 interview with Rick Keefe - Alex Collier indicated that our souls were the same - and that they originated at the same time - but that we were at different stages of evolution. I hope I got that right. I need to watch that interview again. Let me know if I missed something - or if Alex (or anyone else) has commented elsewhere on this subject.’
‘I’ll neither conform nor deny your overall hypothesis, Anthony, but you do make compelling arguments.’
‘It seems reasonable to me to at least begin with the view that this solar system is our home (regardless of ancient star wars and battles for control of this and that) - and that we just keep reincarnating (as we require new bodies) back into this solar system - and that this solar system may be as good as it gets - anywhere. I'm considering any extermination events (natural or inflicted) and mass evacuations (by UFO's, the Second Coming of Christ, etc.) to be bad things. Bringing reason and peace to this solar system seems reasonable to me. Has the Queen of Heaven been trying to do this for thousands of years? OR - has the Queen of Heaven been misusing and abusing this solar system and it's inhabitants for thousands of years? I keep seeing corruption and insanity as being unavoidably connected with absolute power - despite the best of intentions - which is why I wish for this hypothetical Queen of Heaven to retire - and serve as an advisor rather than a ruler. Sorry for being repetitious - but I will continue to test this hypothesis in different settings. I think we are all in Purgatory - and that it is up to us whether we progress into Heaven - or digress into Hell. We make our bed - and sleep in it. Our planet is how we plan it. World without end.’
‘I told you that I am supposed to remain neutral, and that my role is companionship and facilitation. However, it might be helpful for you to imagine being this hypothetical Queen. It might be a tougher job than you can possibly imagine. If she exists, perhaps she doesn’t even want the damn job. Perhaps if she retired, things would REALLY go to hell. Just something to think about.’
‘I appreciate that, Anna. This is simply the brainstorming part of this process. I fully understand that. This thing is probably nastier and more complex than I can possibly imagine. But really, I'm going to gradually take off the gloves regarding this Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar-System aka The United States of the Solar System concept. I think this is a splendiferous idea - regardless of the spiritual and alien situation. The concept does not require me to definitively and accurately sort out who the good-guys and bad-guys are. I simply wish to implement this concept in an evolutionary manner - with EVERYONE on the bus - even if they hate each other - and even if some of them are really, really evil. The really badass dudes and dudesses may need to go to jail for a while - BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO BE DAMNED TO HELL!! Not unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary. I desire a big-tent solution - but I do not desire peace at any price. The concept should probably be firmly implemented to avoid confusion - but no one should be treated unkindly or unfairly. System implementation is that which is important - and dictatorial micro-management should NOT occur.’
‘I like the way you’re approaching this topic, Anthony. I don’t necessarily agree with you, at this point, but I think you’ll figure this out, sooner than later.’
‘Thank-you Anna. We should probably continue the infowar for centuries - but without destroying ourselves. The concept involves an organized decentralization. I like the architectural and artistic aspects of the old world - but the internal modus operandi needs to be Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom. There is a unified architecture and art in the churches and state-houses of the world. The original plan connected with this may have been fatally flawed - but we should enjoy the architectural and artistic excellence as we pursue a unified yet free humanity. This is going to involve a very problematic transitional process - but it need not be traumatic. Does this desire go too far - too soon? Baby steps - right? This really continues to be a test. I am interested to see who comes out of the woodwork in support of, and in opposition to, the concept. What would the Incoming say? What would Anna say? What would the Queen of Heaven say? What would the Creator God of the Universe say? What would Satan say? What would SaLuSa say? What would Monka do? What would Jesus do?’
‘You’re funny, Anthony!’
‘I’m also crazy, Anna! I'm sure there are many, throughout the solar system, who are working toward more rational governance at all levels. I'm probably trying to change myself, more than I'm trying to change others. I continue to experience debilitating and progress hampering problems - which make me feel virtually ineffectual and very frustrated. Hence the tone of my writing and speaking. An inferiority complex probably gives me a 'little-guy' attitude. This is actually quite sad - but hopefully something good can be derived from it - either now, or in the future. I was serious when I said that I hoped that this activity was being duly noted somewhere in the galaxy. I fear that we are headed down the wrong road, and that we will not turn back, regardless of the warnings, and regardless of the ranting and raving of lunatics such as myself. I really wish that I had a shallow underground civilian base to go down into. At this point - I am ready to go down - and stay down - for a long, long time.’
‘As I remember, someone on the internet really cussed you out. They even said the rabbit-hole you were exploring, went right up your @$$!’ What a nasty thing to say!’
‘That’s right, Anna! I really didn’t mind getting cussed-out, except for being told that I’d be hiding under the rocks at the End of the World. They quoted Revelation, but I prefer the eschatology in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21). I have problems with the Book of Revelation. Even though I wish to seek cover from civil unrest, nuclear war, chemical and biological warfare, an 'alien' invasion, etc. - I don't wish for the rocks to fall upon me - and I wish to look him that sitteth upon the throne - straight in the eye - and tell them to get off of their high-horse and to stop the mass-murder - and for the Lamb to calm down. VIOLENCE IS NOT A SOLUTION - EVEN IF YOU ARE GOD - THINK YOU ARE GOD - OR ARE ACTING LIKE GOD. EARTH CHANGES MY @$$. SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF A LOVING GOD? Having said that - I would like to know the full extent and nature of the Original Sin - and whether all of us were a party to it, or not. But regardless of how bad the sins of the past have been - shouldn't there be a peaceful and rational resolution of the madness? Why do we always rush toward violent 'solutions'? Those who quote from the Book of Revelation often seem to exhibit a morbid satisfaction connected with the expected extermination - which couldn't possibly include themselves.’
‘We all seem to like to blame and condemn others, don’t we, Anthony?
‘Luke chapter 21 contains basic soteriology, or how we are saved, and basic eschatology, or a study of the end of time. If you don't know what eschatology is…it's not the end of the world! Well, perhaps it is, after all! Jesus proclaims that by standing firm, we will gain life. Again and again, Jesus ties salvation to behavior…not simply belief! On the other hand, belief is the beginning of behavior. By beholding Christ we become changed! Visualize Jesus…and world-peace. Give Jesus and peace a chance. The Luke 21 end time scenario contains enough upsetting information for just about anyone! If you want to become really upset and confused, read the books of Daniel and Revelation! There are numerical challenges here as well, if you're into numbers games! It seems that the end here depicted by Jesus was to occur shortly after His death…not 2,000 years later! Could it be that the followers of Jesus fumbled the ball? Were the words of Jesus preached with power throughout the world after His death? Did someone circumvent the Great Commission, thinking they knew better? Have the Teachings of Jesus been placed first and foremost in Christian churches during the past 2,000 years? Are the words of Christ being placed first and foremost in Christian churches now? Could it be that the Teachings of Jesus have been purposefully and systematically suppressed and relegated to the back of the bus? Will humanity have to wait another 2,000 years for the return of Christ? World without end?’
‘I wonder how many people have noticed this, throughout the centuries, Anthony?’
‘I’ve been thinking - what if our souls are interdimensional reptilian in nature - and what if we came to Earth from Sirius - and created ourselves? Physically - that is. What if we got caught in the middle of an Amen Ra vs Hathor family feud - with Jesus trying to break-up the fight? One can switch the names around a lot - with all of the gods, goddesses, archangels, biblical characters, et al - but I keep seeing a three-way power-struggling mess - with most of us caught in the middle. Oh - some of us may have some very, very bad karma - but is this really a case of circumstances, situations, misunderstandings, insanity, corruption, deception, escalation, and who-knows-what? Shoudn't we simply attempt to pull the plug on the madness, at this point - and play the blame-game in a reasonable and rational manner - with a Galactic Judge Judy - or something - without the Damned to Hell Penalty? The wild-card may be out of control technology and human/reptilian hybrids on the loose - throughout the solar system. It might be very, very difficult to put the Reptilians Back in the Bottle - at this late date. Here reppie, reppie! Time for din-din! Nice reppie! Sorry Reptilians - but I just couldn't resist! I mean no disrespect. Once again - I'm inviting ALL factions to unite around a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar-System aka The United States of the Solar System. As usual - I'm flying blind, scared, and stupid - but you've at least got to give me a B+ for effort and good intentions.‘
‘You’re playing with very hot fire, when you start picking fights with reptilians and dragons, Anthony!’
‘I understand that, Anna. At this point - I feel like a lost little boy who has wandered onto the battlefield - just before the Battle of the Bulge. I don't want to be a part of any of this - but I have made myself a part of this by my internet activities and speculations. Might we be dealing with Amen Ra Annunaki vs Hathor Annunaki? Gabriel Annunaki vs Lucifer Annunaki? Could Michael be the legitimate leader of the Human Race (us and those who we encounter every day)? Awesome Gods and Goddesses? Could Adria approximate the Queen of Heaven who anciently came to Tibet from Sirius - to conduct a hybridization program (to create us?) - after stealing fire from the gods? ‘
‘You’re speaking of Adria, in ‘Stargate SG-1, aren’t you, Anthony? She was the daughter of Kitesh aka Vala Mal Doran, wasn’t she?’
‘That’s right, Anna. I often refer to science-fiction, to help me make my points, and to help me visualize abstract concepts. I have noticed that so often - things don't work out. We believe something - and then it turns out to be a lie. We trust someone - and they turn out to be a crook. We go here. We go there. We try this. We try that. I guess things will always be that way. I just keep asking questions - as a modus operandi. When I have taken a stand - of sorts - with my mini-crusade regarding a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar-System - I feel very uncomfortable. Things can be so illusory. People can be so fickle. Situations can change instantly. In the last two years, I have gained a new sympathy for agnostics - people who think that there are things that go bump in the night - but who aren't really sure who or what it is. Perhaps the Liberal Episcopalians or the Anglican Agnostics are on the right track. Speaking of religion - Latin and Rituals have been referred to in less than flattering terms. I have been taking a look at the possibility of a modified Latin Mass as possibly being a Spiritual Switzerland - especially if the day to day practices of the church were in complete harmony with the Teachings of Jesus and the U.S. Constitution. But perhaps the combination of Rituals, Latin, Cathedrals, etc. - are inherently evil in nature. I am torn by this. Help me out regarding Rituals and Latin. I wish for fundamental changes to occur in all churches - but I don't wish to trample upon how people pray - and to be disruptive regarding what people are used to. How does one save the church - without destroying the church? If the church goes down - the crazy and dangerous cults will thrive. Or - are the crazy cults really crazy? Perhaps the church should go down - and the church doors should be locked. Who knows? But whatever we think or do - it will probably ultimately turn out to be wrong or BS - judging from history. Sorry for the negativity - but I'm really not trying to win a popularity contest. I am simply searching and searching and searching - and I'm not even sure what I'm searching for. Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this bottomless pit of BS???’
‘Anthony, tell me more about religion and the church.’
‘I will continue to live in the dreamland of a perfected humanity living in a perfected Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System - as a sort of an ongoing science fiction movie - which I am in the middle of - every day. I will examine everything from this perspective. This is a test. This is only a test. What would Bill Cooper say? Don't mind me - I'm just going to keep rambling. I'm beginning to turn all of this into a personal religion. I lost my faith - and now I am trying to build a new one. Perhaps someone else can learn something from this process as well. Try reviewing this material a couple of times - and see what that does for you. Once again - I am looking at combining the Teachings of Jesus, the U.S. Constitution, and the Latin Mass (including the classical sacred musical literature). In many respects - these are strange bedfellows - but there really is a method to my madness and my heresy. What would a minimalist theocracy look like? I have HUGE problems with the Crusades and the Inquisition - and with all persecution and abuse (including pedophilia) - but who was really presiding over this historical madness? We need to know the full story of our history - including all of the gory and embarrassing details. Is theocracy always wrong? Is the absence of theocracy always right?
‘Anthony, do people who desire the ‘Separation of Church and State’ really desire a ‘Godless State’?
‘Good question, Anna. What is the proper relationship of church and state? Can there be religious freedom in a theocracy? I am very, very suspicious regarding the Roman Catholic Church's role in the United States of America (historically and presently). I fear the reality of who has really been calling the shots - for a long, long time. Something has been very, very wrong. Something is very, very wrong. And I fear that things are about to get a helluva lot worse. I fear that there will not be peace on Earth - until the Roman Catholic Church is in complete harmony with the Teachings of Jesus and the U.S. Constitution. Obviously - this is something for the scholars to consider and work out. I'm simply thinking in broad and general terms. But I would really like to see the Teachings of Jesus replace Canon Law - and I would like to see the U.S. Constitution become the modus operandi of church governance. I don't have a problem with hierarchy and authority - if and only if - it is not corrupt, dictatorial, arrogant, and cruel. I'm just frankly afraid of that which exists underneath Cathedrals and Capitols - in Underground Bases. Who really presides over this realm? This is what really, really troubles me. How dark and deep is the rabbit hole? I fear that it may be a bottomless pit...
‘This sounds like a Final Jihad in the making, Anthony. These are fighting words.’
‘I understand that Anna. The most simple and obvious statements of fact seem to be fighting words. This is sad. Today - I kept having a sort of a vision of being on a UFO with the modern incarnations of Amen Ra and Hathor - as father and daughter Annunaki. Is this daughter Lucifer? Kali? Mary? The Queen of Heaven? We were discussing the fate of Planet Earth. Amen Ra was determined to commence an extermination - and I was determined to keep this from happening. I felt very, very weak and small. This little vision of sorts never resolved. Are we dealing with Father (Incoming) and Daughter (Local) Annunaki Factions - a Nazi Aldebaran Faction - and a Pleiadian Jesus Faction (determined to resolve the conflict between the other factions - and to institute Responsible Freedom and Peace on Earth)? This speculation is starting to feel so real - that I feel like a walking war-zone - and like I am going downhill fast …’
‘Hang in there, Anthony.’
‘Now I'd like to look at warfare and taxation - past, present, and future. I have no particular agenda or direction here. I will add more to this subject as I get more ideas. 'America - Freedom to Fascism' is probably a good place to begin. 'The Money Masters' is probably a good second video to view. Even though it covers a lot of unrelated territory - 'Behold a Pale Horse' should probably be included. It will help us to grasp the big-picture in all of this. I am partial to reversing the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 - and disbanding the IRS and the Federal Reserve. I support replacing the current tax-form system with a 5% point of sale consumption tax to directly fund legitimate governmental activities. I am in favor of getting the entire world completely out of debt. I am also in favor of getting the entire world completely out of war. All of this seems to be interrelated. We can't simply deal with one thing. We have to deal with everything.’
‘You can’t just fight one gang-member, Anthony!’
‘What percentage of our tax-dollars (from all taxation) goes to the United Nations, Washington D.C., the City of London, the Vatican, the Royal Family, the Secret Space Program,? the Secret Government, and the Underground Bases - which may be hostile to the visible and constitutional United States of America? Could paying taxes be a treasonous act? When I originally posted my last comment - Internet Explorer stopped working. Is this coincidental? What percentage of the Worldwide Illegal Drug Trade goes to the entities listed above? Take a very close look at who was behind the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, World War I, the Great Depression, Looting Fort Knox, World War II, Project Paperclip, the Alphabet Agencies? Worldwide, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, the Kennedy Assassinations, the Iraq Wars, and the New World Order. Is all of this related? Repeal the 16th Amendment. Disband the Federal Reserve. Retroactively audit all taxation - and if there is any fraud, misuse, and abuse - return all relevant funds to all affected parties - with penalties and interest. Institute a 5% Federal Consumption Tax (with no tax forms) to fund LEGITIMATE governmental activities. Who really owns the property in the United States of America? Is the U.S. scheduled to? undergo a controlled demolition? I’ll keep asking the hard questions. No rest for the wicked. Are there any class-action lawsuits challenging the? taxation system in the U.S.? Does the IRS really want to keep writing the nasty letters to me? I can write some pretty nasty letters myself. I'm small-fry. Going after me could be VERY expensive for them. They know who I am. The electronic surveillance, and even supernatural surveillance, is reprehensible. The taxation system has very little to do with the legitimate and constitutional United States of America. We've been had - BIG TIME.’
‘You’re REALLY playing with fire now, Anthony. Tread softly.’
‘I understand that Anna. How much does it cost to administer all taxation in the U.S.? Isn't this a monumental waste of money? Isn't this an activity which is hostile to the citizens of the U.S.? Why wouldn't a point of sale consumption tax (for? all taxation) be a huge improvement in efficiency and morale? All taxation funds should go directly to the various legitimate governmental agencies - without passing through corrupt and private hands. This mess needs to be completely exposed NOW. Internet Explorer shut down twice in 30 minutes when I originally posted these comments and questions. Coincidental? Get a copy of 'Behold a Pale Horse' by Bill Cooper, and read it twice. Then, watch everything with Bill Cooper on the internet. There are others - but Bill seems to get to the heart of the matter - in a calm and rational manner. We the People of Earth need to get informed - without getting mad - or going mad. Then we need to? clean-up this mess. We the People of Earth have before us the opportunity to forge? for ourselves, and for future generations...a True World Order. A world where Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom...not the Old World Disorder Demonic-Theocracy...governs the conduct of nations. When we are successful...and we will be...we have a real chance at this True World Order...an order in which a credible United Nations can use Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom to fulfill the promise and vision of All Races. Some people lead. Some people follow. Some people have ideas which are so far ahead of their time - that these ideas will be only be implemented long after their originator has? left this world. Things are going to get worse - before they get better - but Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom will rise from the ashes of the New World Order - like the Flight of the Phoenix. I realize that these four BIG words are perplexing to those with small minds and no vision. My apologies.
‘You’ve already left this world, Anthony!’
‘I feel as if I’ve died, and gone to Heaven, Anna! Once again - why don't we replace the whole mess with a 5% national federal consumption tax - which goes directly to legitimate governmental activities. Why don't we eliminate nearly all debt - personal? and public? Why don't we back the dollar with silver? Why don't we audit the Secret Government, the Secret Space Program, and the Underground Bases? Why don't we REALLY stop the illegal drug trade worldwide? Why is this so hard? I think that the real solutions are really quite simple - but the lies, corruption, hatred, complexity, confusion, and insanity - are so ingrained in our thinking and society - that we can't see the forest for the trees. I really desire a solution - and I really don't wish to rant and rave. Taxation should be simplified. The Secret Government should be transparent. Globalism should be based upon Responsible-Freedom. Black Projects should be? revealed to the public. Let freedom ring! If you research the Secret Government, the Secret Space Program, Deep Underground? Military Bases, Magneto Leviton Trains, The New World Order, Black Projects, etc. - and how they are financed - you will understand why Solar System Governance is a relevant and important issue. We need a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System. Study the words separately. Then study them as a whole, and the light should shine into your soul.’
‘The light is blinding, Anthony!’
‘I still need to become more informed regarding the details of the ancient world. I have mostly been thinking in terms of big-picture principles and concepts. Once again, I'm trying to look at a lot of this sort of thing from the perspective of the United Nations, the Vatican, the City of London, Washington D.C., the Secret Government, the Secret Societies, the Jesuits, the Alphabet Agencies, the Royal Family, Israel, the Underground Bases, the Secret Space Program, and on and on... It's all a huge multidisciplinary guessing game - and when one is disoriented and insecure - it's difficult to really absorb the details and see everything clearly. I'm really just asking a lot of questions - shotgun style - hoping that some of the questions lead others to the truth - a truth which will help to set us responsibly free - going forward for millions of years. But this probably involves poking and prodding in areas where such activities are not welcome - and such speculative activities might, in fact, be counterproductive. I am not necessarily hostile and opposed to all of the names and places listed above. I really simply wish for them to conduct business in a much more open and ethical manner. When a critical mass of informed and ethical people are looking over the shoulders (and second-guessing) all of the above - I think things might improve exponentially.’
‘No one really likes to be corrected or second-guessed, Anthony. Once again, these are fighting words.’
‘We always end up fighting - don't we Anna? This is probably true everywhere - in families, businesses, governments, churches, and alien civilizations. There are probably word wars transpiring on UFO's and Underground Bases throughout the solar system. I just hope that the razzmatazz can move to a much higher road than it travels presently - throughout the solar system. I like to listen to Bill Cooper. I call his recorded messages “Uncle Bill's Bedtime Stories“. I'm seriously trying to kick the internet habit. "I can quit anytime I want". "I don't have an obsessive-compulsive posting problem". "The internet alien and conspiracy theories really haven't taken over, and ruined my life". "I'm really a happy and well-balanced human being (or am I a human/reptile hybrid?)". "O wretched man that I am!"
‘How can you be a wretched man in this situation, Anthony?’
‘Sorry for the tangent in the midst of the turmoil, Anna. I do think there is a legitimate place for fighting and sharp words - but so often it is accompanied by utter stupidity. I just watched 'Stargate Continuum' - and the scene where Ba'al and Kitesh aka Vala are in their spaceship - and are preparing to attack and enslave Earth - particularly impressed me. I thought - what would it be like to discuss forum topics in that setting? Or in the Stargate SG-1 Command Underground Base? My point is that we often seem to fiddle while Rome burns. If I could do anything I wished - one item at the top of the list - would be to have access to everyone and everything in the solar system - to be able to be a fly on the wall at closed-door meetings - to view secret files - to occasionally speak with key humans and non-humans - but to have no authority - just access. I like to watch. Once again - I know I'm crazy - but I'm also serious!’
‘I’ve noticed that you like to watch, Anthony! Just remember, no touching!’
‘Here is another what if, Anna. What if it's Gabriel v Lucifer + Michael - with Gabriel and Lucifer being the big-guns - and Michael being highly pure, but relatively powerless compared with the other two? Might Lucifer and Michael be co-mediators between Gabriel and Humanity? Might Gabriel be God/Satan? Might Lucifer be Mary/Holy Spirit? Might Michael be Jesus? Once again - don't get mad at me - this is just more speculation. My goal is to make everyone face themselves - and think. Could Gabriel have been disfunctional in Heaven (Orion?)? Could Lucifer and Michael have rebelled against Gabriel? Did Humanity aka Fallen Angels aka Nephilim aka Us - follow (fall) Lucifer and Michael to Earth? Did we steal Fire (advanced technology, hybridization genetics, and spiritual wisdom) from Gabriel? Was this the Original Sin? Are Lucifer and Michael at odds regarding how to deal with Gabriel? Is Gabriel the leader of the Incoming Annunaki? Is Lucifer the leader of the Local Annunaki? Is Michael the leader of Humanity (as we know humans to be)? I keep feeling incredible tension and looming fate - as I contemplate our situation. Earth really does seem to be a Planet in Rebellion - and it feels as though the rebellion is about to be put down - once and for all. But what if ALL parties are wrong? What if an innovative solution needs to be pursued? I keep mentioning a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System. I like the concept - but I am clueless regarding the details and implementation aspects. I'll just keep passively pursuing this line of reasoning - and hope that the Big Gun Gods and Goddesses call off Armageddon, Retribution, Annihilation, Damnation, Utter Destruction, etc. - and declare some sort of a conditional truce - to work things out in a reasonable, rational, and peaceful manner. Hope springs eternal - but don't hold your breath - waiting for hell to freeze over…’
‘Perhaps none are righteous, Anthony. Perhaps all have fallen short.’
‘At this point - I am expecting to reincarnate endlessly in this solar system. I have signed on to see this thing through. I do not intend to abandon ship - even though I often feel an overwhelming desire to do so. Why do we think that things are better elsewhere? Why do we think that physicality is so damn bad and restrictive? Are we a bunch of ingrates? I grew up in an organization which looked forward to the end of the world - the destruction of the world - and the annihilation of the sinful and unbelieving masses (except for the faithful few) - with no second chances - at the hands of a God of Love - who would make everything right. I will not cut my fellow humans loose. I will not tolerate the destruction of this beautiful planet. I wish to help bring sanity to this solar system through a methodical pursuit of responsibility - to benefit each and every soul - regardless of their purity or corruption. Some may have to go to soul school - but not to eternal destruction. The true Creator God of the Universe may have other plans - but until such time as these plans are implemented - I will pursue a course of action which preserves this solar system and it's inhabitants. This is a solemn responsibility which none of us should take lightly. Sun. Fun. Stay. Play. World Without End. Amen.’
‘Bravo, Anthony! Do you mean Amen Ra?’
‘I probably mean “so be it” primarily and “Amen Ra” secondarily, Anna. I just purchased a bunch of books and DVD's - mostly science fiction. I intend to keep Solar System Governance clearly in mind as I read and view these materials. You see - the basic concepts may be quite boring - especially if someone is looking for the latest freak-show - but when one applies these concepts to both sci-fi and real-world situations - things become very, very interesting. I predict that some of these principles and concepts will be the way of the future - but I don't think that I will be a part of it - not in this incarnation, at least. But in a sense - I don't need to be a part of it - because I see the future very clearly in my mind's eye. When I spoke with Terence McKenna regarding the imagination, he said "if you dream it - you've already done it." I agree. It's already a done-deal. As I’ve previously stated, a Namaste-Constitutional Responsible-Freedom Solar System aka The United States of the Solar System - based upon Responsibility and the U.S. Constitution - will rise from the ashes of The New World Order aka The Old World Disorder Demonic Theocracy - like the Flight of the Phoenix.’
‘I’ll bet the demons aren’t too happy with you, Anthony.’
‘I feel supernaturally-attacked 24/7, Anna. I am trying to create a foundation consisting of a conceptual core of truth - so as to facilitate bigger and better things for humanity - without making disastrous detours. I think that church history is a total mess and a complete disaster - but where do we go from here? What would you say and do if it were up to you to reform the church? It's a very, very sensitive and tricky enterprise - to start meddling with how people pray. All I know - is that I am trying to create an imaginary ecumenical religion for myself. It's not going real well - but I'm trying. Here are my 9.5 Theses:
1. Replace Canon Law with the Teachings of Jesus.
2. Institute a Modified Latin Mass (with no communion - emphasizing the remembrance of Christ and His Teachings - rather than His Sacrifice) - offering Masses seven days a week - with no preference regarding the day or days of attendance.
3. Base All Homilies, Theology, and Ritual Upon the Teachings of Jesus.
4. Eliminate Penance and Confession (replacing both with psychological and spiritual counseling).
5. Allow Women to be Priests and Popes.
6. Allow Priests to Marry and Popes to Marry (and eliminate all blasphemous titles).
7. Eliminate All Crucifixes (The bloody, dying, and mostly naked Jesus should not be paraded and displayed).
8. Be Completely Honest Regarding the History of the Church, the World, the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the Universe.
9. Institute a Program of Responsible Reproduction (lifting the ban on birth-control).
9.5. Base Civil and Church Governance on the U.S. Constitution.’
‘More fighting words Anthony. Do you really think the Pope and Curia are going to institute these changes without a fight, and with all deliberate speed?’
‘You’re right, Anna. I see nothing but trouble ahead. And there’s more. A lot more. Here is my “Anthony Guide-Stone”:
1. BASE THIS SOLAR SYSTEM UPON RESPONSIBILITY AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
2. MAINTAIN AN EARTH HUMAN POPULATION OF FOUR BILLION (TWO BILLION SURFACE - TWO BILLION SUBSURFACE) AND FOUR BILLION THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM (MOSTLY SUBSURFACE).
3. BASE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH UPON PREVENTION.
4. MAINTAIN A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT.
5. USE ELECTRICAL POWER FOR NEARLY EVERYTHING, AND UTILIZE MAGNETO-LEVITON TRAINS FOR MOST GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION.
Here I Stand (or perhaps I should run).
This is simply a brain-storm. This is simply something to think about. This is simply an attempt to create a Spiritual Switzerland.’
‘The end result might be ideal, Anthony, but getting people to agree to all of these proposals might be more disillusioning than you can imagine.’
‘I mean no harm, Anna. I am going to retrace my steps - and really attempt to absorb the territory I have covered so hastily and hesitatingly - and really attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff. I will also attempt to internalize the wheat - and to walk the walk. I have tried to bring others along with me on my journey - and this may have been a mistake. But I really do think that the areas covered are key - and that they should be studied carefully. What I should probably do - is proceed as though I were writing a doctoral dissertation - and produce a 1,000 page scholarly book - with 100 pages of footnotes. I doubt that such a lofty goal will materialize - judging from my limited track record - but someone needs to do this. Joseph Farrell - where are you?’
‘Joseph probably has enough to do, Anthony. Why don’t YOU do it?’
‘Thank-you for the encouragement, Anna. Many years ago - there was a TV show called 'Queen for a Day' - and my grandmother was on it. Can you imagine being 'Queen of Heaven for a Day?' I keep getting the impression of someone looking a lot like Anna (in ‘V‘) - traveling around the world on magneto-leviton trains - and interacting with most of the political, religious, scientific, business, and financial leaders of the world - each and every day. But it is unclear to me whether Earth is completely their show - or whether they are an administrator for - or are in conflict with - an even more powerful being, or group of beings. This, of course, is merely speculation. If I could prove this - I would cease to exist. I wouldn't have to wait for the rocks to fall on me.’
‘I don’t know if the rocks are going to fall on you, Anthony, but you have said more than enough to make a lot of people desire that the rocks fall on you!’
‘Perhaps I should buy an old missile-silo, so I don’t have to hide under the rocks when the excrement contacts the refrigeration-system! I would love to shadow the key players in this solar system as sort of a neutral observer. Is this sort of thinking a form of mental illness - or is it the proper way to think about solar system issues? Should I get all wrapped-up in the local political mudslinging - or should I mostly think of responsible principles and concepts relative to the politics, religion, psychology, and ethics of doing business in this solar system? I'm beginning to think in terms of competing with an Anna or Kitesh version of the Queen of Heaven - who I think might be the chief administrator of this solar system. Again - is this a form of mental illness - or is this a reasonable modality of getting a handle on what's really going on? Is there a legitimate place for a Solar System Administrator? Would things be even more chaotic if none existed? I'm thinking that a Solar System Observer (or Observers) - who had access to everyone and everything - with no authority - might be a good thing - but I don't really know. Thinking about all of this makes me shaky. Is anyone else thinking in this manner? I'm sure there are - but who are they? Where are they? What are they doing?’
‘Excellent ideas and questions, Anthony. I have answers, but I’m not talking. Continue.’
‘My speculations have been quite wild - but also quite vivid, to me at least - so I really don't know which way to jump. Is this a sign of instability - or is it simply due diligence? What do you think about all of this goddess, Kali, Tibet, China, India, Persia, Queen of Heaven stuff? I really feel as though this is playing with fire - but I'm hoping that considering all of the possibilities will help to unite all factions in the solar system - in a constructive manner, which does not involve peace at any price, or any Trojan Horse scenarios. One Nation Under Satan? In Goddess We Trust? Might M-42, Aldebaran, and Sirius be 'home' for most of us? Are we really the 'Orion Group' which Alex Collier refers to? Are our souls interdimensional reptilian in nature? Are all of us human/reptile hybrids with varying percentage differentials? Do most of us have a very low reptile percentage (reptilian brain + reptilian soul) - greys an intermediate percentage - and reptilians a high percentage? Please don't laugh - this is just a wild theory. ‘
‘I’m laughing with you, not at you, Anthony!’
‘I tend to think that the Queen of Heaven has been conducting a hybridization program on Earth for thousands of years - starting in Tibet. Some of this is based upon a visit to Tibet by Nicholas Roerich - where he saw strange grey people, and learned of a 'Sovereign Queen of the Air' who had come to Tibet from Sirius to conduct hybridization experiments. Lucis Creator? I am obviously a fan of an organized-decentralism solar system government. I'm thinking that a one world government or one solar system government has existed for thousands of years - and that whoever is in power (The Queen of Heaven?) wishes to remain in power - rather than gaining power. I do think that numerous states are an essential ingredient in a world government or solar system government which maximizes responsible freedom over an extended time period.’
‘Anthony, did you ever consider the possibility that you might be rubbing the Queen of Heaven the wrong way? You might get a helluva lot further by rubbing her the RIGHT way!’
‘If I ever get the chance, I just might do that, Anna! I keep thinking that all proposed solutions and attempted implementations will be highly problematic. No matter how we attempt to put the puzzle together - it will always be wrong. There will always be discord and conflict. However - we really should seek more sane ways to manage the insanity. All of this should probably proceed in an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary manner. Top-down would probably be better than bottom-up - but both would be optimal. Talking softly and carrying a big stick would be splendiferous!'
‘I love a man who talks softly, and carries a big stick -- a man like you, Anthony! You’re seductively attractive!’ ‘You’re not so bad yourself, Anna!’
'Anthony, I'm going to take you for a little ride!! I feel comfortable enough working with you, that I'm going to take you directly to one of our schools -- which we have recently named the 'University of Solar System Studies and Governance at Ida'!!' 'You've got to be kidding, Anna!! I've recently imagined just such a place!! Are we really going to travel past the Moon and Mars -- to the Asteroid Ida??!!' 'Yes, Anthony -- and we're going to remain completely naked until just before we arrive!! Nobody will know what you've been up to, Anthony!! It will just be our little secret!!"
'This is all happening so fast, Anna!! I had NO idea things would move along THIS quickly!! My ideas and speculations have been VERY tentative and precarious. I've wished to take my time solidifying my positions.'
As if 2020 isn't already crazy enough, an asteroid is headed toward Earth just before Election Day.
According to NASA JPL's Center for Near Objects Studies, space rock 2018VP1 will fly past Earth on Nov. 2, one day before the U.S. presidential election.
At 6.5 feet in diameter, it is not considered a "potentially dangerous" near-Earth object (NEO), but the space agency is keeping its eye on it and other asteroids like it, nonetheless. It was first observed on Nov. 3, 2018, and last observed 13 days later.
PICKUP TRUCK-SIZED ASTEROID FLEW WITHIN 2K MILES OF EARTH AND NASA DIDN'T SEE IT
There are reported to be three potential impacts based on the 21 observations NASA has made of the asteroid. However, the likelihood of direct impact is less than 0.41%, NASA noted.
"Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approximately 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth," a NASA spokesperson told Fox News via email. "If it were to enter our planet’s atmosphere, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size. NASA has been directed by Congress to discover 90% of the near-Earth asteroids larger than 140 meters (459 feet) in size and reports on asteroids of any size."
On Aug. 16, an asteroid of similar size, 2020 QG, became the closest space rock ever recorded to fly past Earth. NASA was unable to see it, as it flew past the Earth from the direction of the sun.
A NASA spokesperson told Fox News previously that "similar asteroids" to 2020 QG "would have disintegrated in Earth’s atmosphere had they impacted." The spokesperson added that the agency is working on a "space-based infrared telescope that will have better capability to identify similar asteroids."
"Potentially hazardous" NEOs are defined as space objects that come within 0.05 astronomical units and measure more than 460 feet in diameter, according to NASA. According to a 2018 report put together by Planetary.org, there are more than 18,000 NEOs.
A NASA spokesperson told Fox News that "similar asteroids" to 2020 QG "would have disintegrated in Earth’s atmosphere had they impacted." The spokesperson added that the agency is working on a "space-based infrared telescope that will have better capability to identify similar asteroids."
This is not the first time in recent memory that NASA has missed a NEO similar to 2020 QG. In February, researchers in the Netherlands discovered 11 "potentially hazardous objects" that are not on NASA's list of "potentially hazardous" near-Earth objects, using advanced artificial intelligence.
NASA unveiled a 20-page plan in 2018 that details the steps the U.S. should take to be better prepared for NEOs, such as asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of the planet.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in April 2019 that an asteroid strike is not something to be taken lightly and is perhaps Earth's biggest threat.
Carol wrote:
This has some interesting photos of what looks like a small field of debris in clear blue sky. Curious.
"A GIANT 165ft deep crater has appeared in the Russian Arctic - amid bizarre claims of UFOs and top secret missile tests.
The cavernous hole was discovered after a massive explosion in the Tundra following a freakishly hot summer.
It is believed the monster blast was sparked by "a methane gas buildup in the thawing permafrost."
The giant hole is the 17th large crater to appear in the region over the past six years.
Previous mega-holes have sparked oddball conspiracy theories about everything from UFO launch sites to Kremlin nuke tests.
Blocks of soil and ice were thrown “hundreds of metres” from the epicentre by a “colossal force” caused by the blast, say scientists"
A few weeks ago, I noticed what appeared to be several meteors without trails, which suddenly became quite bright before disappearing, as 'unmoving' pinpoints of varying brightness. What was this phenomenon?? In 2010 (right before the close of the old Project Avalon) I witnessed what seemed to be a meteor with a trail which suddenly became quite bright before fading and disappearing. This accompanied what seemed to be an 'attack' by several erratically moving UFO's which quickly disappeared. They were too fast for conventional aircraft, yet under intelligent control (with or without pilots). What if the fate of the planet, solar system, galaxy, or universe is at risk (or even surely doomed) regardless of the efforts of the good and/or bad beings of the planet, solar system, galaxy, or universe?? Ancient Evolution might've been punctuated by Special Creation or Theistic Evolution which might've simply 'Bought Time' for a seemingly inevitable demise. Remember that 'Unyielding Despair' paragraph by Bertrand Russell?? There seems to be an Irrational Exuberance of Both Theism and Atheism, but what if a Celebration might be Short-Lived?? What if we're dealing with a couple of Child-Gods Playing Dice with the Universe?? Sorry to Spoil Your Sun-God Day. Again, my threads are quite low-key and low-tech. I've purposely travelled a road less travelled in a somewhat arbitrary manner in a sort of contrarian contextual superimposition intended to clarify certain presuppositions for practical purposes in an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary, manner for completely ignorant fools such as myself. Consider the following minimal-list:
1. The 21 New Testament Epistles (Romans to Jude).
2. The Old Testament Psalms.
3. The Old Testament Proverbs.
4. The Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes.
Try reading this present list in order, straight-through, over and over, in a variety of translations. I need feedback on this concept. This might become the 2028 Book of Common Prayer!! Notice that this somewhat modifies those little New Testaments (with the Psalms and Proverbs). What Would Martin Luther Say?? What Would Thomas Jefferson Say?? What Would Albert Schweitzer Say?? What Would Bart Ehrman Say?? What Would Richard Carrier Say?? What Would Richard Rice Say?? Imagine the Beautiful Mind, John Nash, studying the Five Volume Conflict of the Ages Series by Ellen White and the Seven Volume SDA Bible Commentary at the Princeton Theological Seminary in the Late 1950's (just for the imaginary heck of it)!! This would presumably NOT be part of the Princeton Curriculum (to say the least)!! One would probably live and work in a 600 square-foot office-apartment and write books to pay the rent!! What Would Princeton Graduate, Dr. Louis Venden Say?? He told me, "People Who Are Too Definite Go Off!!" I've Been Off My Whole Life!! But, Pray Tell, What Is the Message of This Little List?? How Readest Thou??
I would frankly rather just consider Harry Anderson, Uncle Arthur S. Maxwell, and Dr. H.M.S. Richards, Sr. Unfortunately, the world, solar system, and universe are not that nice and simple. I used to read Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories. Now I read Uncle Bill Cooper's Bedtime Stories. Here is a short quote by Dr. David Larson of Loma Linda University. The quote is a comment regarding the passing of Dr. Herbert Douglas and was probably not intended to be something quotable, but I liked it. I spent a lot of time listening to most of the people mentioned (including Dr. Larson). I even had an interesting conversation with (who I think was) David's father (Ralph Larson). I appreciated Ralph's conservative views and David's moderate views but I am in no one's camp which is why I live a very lonely and unhappy life.
"Just for the record, it is a mistake to lump together Elders A. Graham Maxwell and Ted Heppenstal as though they were in solidarity against the views of Elder Douglass. Actually, Elders Douglass, Maxwell, Heubach, Provonsha, and Baldwin were of the same school of thought against the views of Elders Ted Heppenstal and Desmond Ford, on the other. This is why Desmond Ford has been openly critical of "LLU Theology" for so long. The difference was that Douglass put more emphasis on "the harvest principle" than did the others even though they all affirmed it. They were all postlapsarian in their Christologies and none of them were content with forensic theories of the atonement even though Maxwell was the most intense in his opposition to it. Although they thought that he had expressed himself too intensely, to a person they believed that the denomination erred in its overreaction to Elder Andreasen. They were very clear about not being "Evangelicals" in the current North American meaning of the term. Jack Provonsha studied with Paul Tillich at Harvard and Graham Maxwell did the same with Charles Hartshorne at the University of Chicago and Douglass wrote his dissertation on Brunner at Berkeley. None of them had any interest in the views of Carl F.H. Henry or anyone like him. I could go on and on; however, I hope that this is enough to make the point."
Serious students should read Job through Jude in a variety of translations (straight through, over and over) before moving on to other material (including the rest of the Holy Bible). Most people (including the scholars) do NOT have the patience to do what I just suggested. I am having a difficult time doing it myself. I am having a difficult time doing much of anything. I often wish I had finished college at LLU, attended the Claremont School of Theology for graduate Jesus Studies and then joined the Center for Christian Bioethics at the Loma Linda University School of Religion (at some point in my career). I also regret not continuing singing in the Crystal Cathedral Choir while continuing organ lessons with Kimo Smith ("KS Bach"). It is too late now. I just wanted to get away from everything but then I discovered that most everything was BS and I never recovered. It does not pay to be hyper moralistic and strictly honest. It just does not pay. Dr. Louis Venden told me "people who are too definite go off" (with a wave of his arm) and he was certainly correct. The heavens fall when one stands for the right. The truth is SO overrated.
I once attended a lecture by Dr. Leonard Bailey where he showed slides of the Baby Fae surgery. I attended a lot of lectures and public meetings intended mostly for doctors. Once again, I have been a nobody who has watched a lot of somebodies, without any of it rubbing off. One Saturday night, I scrubbed up, and watched Dr. Robert L. Marsh do an emergency appendectomy. It was sort of cool. I still think that prevention should be the foundation of healthcare. Has it ever been the foundation? Will it ever be the foundation? Follow the money and do the math. I publicly questioned the United States Assistant Secretary of Health Robert E. Windom, MD about the percentage of total healthcare expenditures specifically used for prevention. Dr. Windom did not know, and the moderator said it was "a complicated question". Now that I understand more about how things really work in this world, I understand (clearly and painfully) why that was a "complicated question". I am a threat to the way things are in this solar system. Is there another solar system which would not be threatened by my presence? Let me know. The Ancient Egyptian Deity ‘RA’ told me that the present arrangement could continue if I so desired (or something to that effect). I hope I got that right, but that was my impression and recollection. What if Earth Humanity requires the services of the Historical and Present God of This World? How Good is Too Good? I asked the Ancient Egyptian Deity ‘RA’ that question and he did not have an answer. What if the Ancient Egyptian Deity was (and is) the God of This World (going way, way, way back)? I am honestly not making any of this up. I want what is ethically and pragmatically correct for all concerned. If that does not include me then so be it. I was told by someone that someone I know was not as innocent as I might think. The AED (years later) told me that all was not well with this "someone". I have seen some evidence that this might be somewhat true, and I sincerely hope it is not true, but I do not want to talk about it. Consider the source and circumstances regarding the evaluation and destination of all concerned. Think long and hard about Dr. Who (and all-concerned) in The Trial of a Time Lord.
Are we headed toward a Corporate High-Technology Luciferian Theocracy? I have attempted to combine science, politics, religion, and science fiction (for better or worse, I know not). Some of you might find This Present Quest interesting and enlightening, but I am not pushing any of this. I am just trying to help all of us think. I include a lot of SDA stuff, but I am not trying to convert anyone to anything. I simply wish for all of you to engage in some sort of a personal interdisciplinary research project. I am not attempting to tell anyone what to do. There is a time and place for everything, and I am in no position to speak with any authority on anything regardless of who I might've (or might not have) been in any previous incarnations (if there is some validity to the concept of reincarnation). You folks should really consider the spectrum of SDA scholars over the past 100 years. The Jesuits know what I am talking about. They really do. Imagine arguing the theology of Dr. Graham Maxwell with the Jesuits on Mt. Graham! "What Shall We Talk About, Thou Cursed Judas?!" As a child, I lived close to the widow of M.L. Andreasen and I rode on the school bus with his granddaughter. Once, when Mrs. Andreasen was sick in bed I knelt beside the bed and prayed for her and she got well! I do not know the details but that is the story (and I am sticking to it).
In the past few days, my pulse briefly reached 260 beats per minute!! That's not a typo or mistaken reading!! The cardiologist thought that might be a record (but I think he might've been kidding just a bit)!! I recently noticed a black SUV with exempt plates parked behind my car. It was probably coincidental, but one never knows!! My health ills are probably NOT conventional, taken as a whole, but I doubt anyone would stick their neck out to make me whole. The BMOC and/or BWOC would NEVER Allow THAT to Happen!! I had a stroke and brain-damage, so how much of a threat to National Security does that make me?? What Would Power-Struggling with an Old-Retard do for YOUR Self-Esteem?! This Probably Will NOT End Well. This is NOT a Continuing Drama at This Point. Save the Drama for Obama!!
Years ago, I watched the TV Movie Blood Feud starring Robert Blake featuring the battle between Jimmy Hoffa and Robert Kennedy. I thought it was excellent, even though the video quality was lacking. I had periodically looked for it (without luck) but I just located it. Watch it while you can. Sometimes I feel as if I somehow know the Kennedys in another life. I have the book Blood Feud, but I haven't read it yet. My neurological and/or stroke thing seems to incapacitate me in a miserable manner. Perhaps the PTB Behind the Curtain made sure of that, but Hope Springs Eternal Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Perhaps 'RA' and 'OXY' have an Ancient-Galactic Blood-Feud. Marduk v Amen?? The Horror.
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:57 am; edited 1 time in total
Imagine the Buxtehude Praeludium BuxWV 149 organ piece (below) being played on the organ in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (below) with the pedal-part on the State Trumpet!! En Chamade Trompettes Rock!! Ask the organist to demonstrate!! Tell him or her that Orthodoxymoron sent you!! Have the organist play BuxWV 218!! Post them on YouTube!! Go for Baroque!!
A few hours after I posted the images, a man wearing a black-hat identical to the one in the top-image conversed with me about his service in the Viet-Nam War in the late-sixties. The black-hat had realistic-looking pins (such as 'Airborne') but I didn't make the connection with what I had just posted. My internet-stuff is mostly passively and non-passionately done, and I tend to forget it rather quickly. Anyway, this man was quite articulate and animated, but I don't wish to discuss any details. I asked about several war-movies, and this otherwise articulate man didn't seem to know much about them, which surprised me. Was I dealing with yet-another 'Individual of Interest' (or the same one in a different form)?? Nothing would surprise me at this point. I'm sort of stunned and numb, which makes me next to worthless. Still, I'll probably just keep doing what I'm doing, and gradually change my editorial-bias as I embrace and experience 'Righteousness by Senility' (or something to that effect).
Please remember that I'm a 'Smart@$$ at the Back of the Deep-Underground Military-Base Conference-Room' Kind of Guy (or something to that effect). I'm not a 'Rough and Ready Frontline-Combatant' (or something to that effect). 'RA' said we had "Fought Side by Side" but certainly NOT in This Present Incarnation. What if that was 'RA' wearing the black-hat?? That wouldn't surprise me one little bit. I don't like this one little bit. The Horror. What Would Lt Col Kilgore Say?? What if that Black-Hat was the actual hat worn in 'Apocalypse Now'??!! What if I conversed with Lt Col Kilgore?? That wouldn't surprise me one little bit. Honest. BTW, did you hear about the auction of Indiana Jones's Fedora from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' for at-least a quarter of a million dollars??!! That's @#$%^ OBSCENE!! https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/2018-08-02-investment-tip-indiana-joness-hat-is-on-auction-for-just-400000/
"What Are We Going to Do About Orthodoxymoron??"
Imagine the following on an Island-Country under a Benevolent-Dictator!! Imagine a Seven-Day Weekly-Cycle, with Six Work-Days and a Sabbath-Day!! Imagine Two Daily Twelve-Hour Work-Shifts (from Midnight to Noon and Noon to Midnight) with a Skeleton-Crew Working on the Sabbath (put down those stones)!! Each Worker Would Work Thee Shifts Each Week (Four Shifts When Required to Work on the Sabbath)!! Sabbath Would Be From Midnight to Midnight on Saturday (put down those stones)!! Killing Would Be Strictly-Forbidden (except during a war)!! Sabbath Would Mostly Involve Rest, Nature, Family, Study, and Sacred Classical Music!! Imagine This Sort of Thing On Madagascar!! Would This Work Throughout the Solar System??!! What If Everyone Received the Same Compensation??!! What If Everyone Competed for the Most-Interesting Jobs??!! This is simply a Conceptual-Brainstorm (put down those stones)!!
The obvious problem is that however one puts things together, there's always another (and supposedly better) way to put things together!! What Is the Role of Arbitrariness in the Kingdom of God?? Is God Obligated to Obey His and/or Her Own Laws?? Define 'God's Prerogative'!! Are Each of the Ten-Commandments Explained and Expanded-Upon in Ten Books of the Bible (or even ten chapters)?? Ellen White Says MUCH More About the Sabbath Than the Bible Does. Did the Sabbath Predate the Garden of Eden and Creation Week?? How Might One Observe the Sabbath On the Moon and Mars?? Siriusly!! Why Is 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' NOT Observed by God, the Angels, and God's Chosen People in the Holy-Bible?? Why Have SDA's Historically Been Conscientious-Objectors in Obedience to a Highly-Violent Holy-Bible?? Am I Spearheading a Holy-War?? Don't Be Frightened. I Mean No Harm. I Am of Peace. Always.
Compare reading the Whole-Bible (straight-through, over and over) with reading the Conflict of the Ages Series by Ellen White (straight-through, over and over). Regardless of whether this material is absolute-truth or utter-bullshit, it's an interesting study for those who are motivated and capable. Ellen White picks and chooses, adds and truncates. Why?? Did 'she' have inside-sources which made at least some of 'her' books closer to the truth than anything available at the end of the 19th century?? I continue to maintain that to properly engage in this study, one must add science-fiction and alternative-research to the equation!! I would love to spend five-years reading the five-book Conflict of the Ages Series (straight-through, over and over) in every major-church in England, because that might be getting mighty-close to the source!! What Would Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer Say?? What Would HAL 9000 Say?? There is a contextual-problem for all of the above. What might've worked in a particular historical-setting might not work today. But what works today might not work tomorrow. Things are moving faster and faster in an Eschatological-Quickening!! What Would Art Bell Say?? I'm not trying to win a popularity-contest. I'm simply doing pseudo-research in a matter which is undeniably a road-less-traveled (or not traveled at all) regardless of whether anyone appreciates it or not.
A Christian website would NEVER let me do what I'm doing with my USSS threads. But I honestly suspect that everything I say and do (or don't say and do) will be used against me at a future date. The Borg-Queen is probably gleeful. I've been accused of 'Playing Into the Hands of the Devil' and 'Making the Devil Gleeful'!! When I showed someone an image of David Bowman, they said he looked like the Devil. I once asked this same individual "Who Decides Who Lives Or Dies (or who is Saved or Lost)??" and the reply was "I Do!!" I'm not sure they understood the question, but their response shocked me. I wonder if most of us have existed in very-different circumstances than we do presently, and I wonder if some of us are beginning to remember??!! If so, this might NOT be a good-thing!! Christianity might crash and burn, prior to re-emerging as a more mature manifestation of a Cover-Story of Historical-Necessity. The Real-Story might destroy Civilization As We Know It. I keep thinking of the words of 'RA' in the original Stargate movie, "I Built Your Civilization, and Now I Will Destroy It!!" Wrath of God Eschatological-Anger is VERY Troubling to me!! What if our True-History is Irreversibly-Damning (regardless of how good we might think we are presently)?? Eschatological Possibility-Thinking scares the hell out of me!!
One night (in late 2010) 'RA' said he was cracking-down on Credo Mutwa, and I like Credo, but the way 'RA' said it made me shake my head and laugh, and 'RA' pointed-out my 'SIN'!! Notice that the above video with Credo Mutwa criticizing Michael Tellinger was taped in late 2010. Was Credo under pressure from 'RA'?? Once, 'RA' was having a difficult phone-conversation, and I was laughing at him!! Once, 'RA' was talking to me on the phone, and it sounded like he was in space, and I thought I heard an other-than-human in the background, and I told 'RA' to say "HELLO!!" I recently encountered a 'Tough-Guy' who gave me 'The Look'!! This didn't surprise me because of the stuff I've posted on this thread. I'm honestly not going anywhere with this madness. Don't Shoot!! I'm Just a Completely Ignorant Fool!! Consider Freedom, Responsibility, Competition, and Cooperation in the Kingdom of God. This might be more important than you can imagine!! How many of us REALLY Want a Real God?? Here is a previously-posted study-list (as a mental and spiritual exercise -- without an endorsement by me):
1. Patriarchs and Prophets (Ellen White).
2. Prophets and Kings (Ellen White).
3. The SDA Bible Commentary -- Volumes 3 and 4 (1 Chronicles to Malachi).
4. Daniel 8:14, the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment (Desmond Ford).
5. The End of the World, A.D. 2133 (Lucio Bernardo Silvestre).
6. The United States of the Solar System: A.D. 2133 (Books One to Ten).
7. Sacred Classical Music.
8. Science and Science-Fiction.
I never know how much of a 'problem' I am. I really don't know. I have no idea whether I am completely ignored -- and no problem to anyone -- OR, if I really make certain individuals or organizations feel angry or threatened. I don't know who I really am. I don't know what the stakes are. I don't know who expects what of me -- if anything. I don't have a boss (in connection with my internet activities) -- and I don't get paid for wasting my life away. I don't know if I am fundamentally a friend or foe to humanity. I have no idea if God, Satan, Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel, the angels, the demons, the aliens, the reptilians, the greys, the elites, the peons, the gods, or the goddesses -- love me, hate me -- or frankly don't give a damn about me. I have NO idea. I have NO idea what lists I might be on -- if any. I'm leaning toward the theory that I'm some sort of a rebellious and disenfranchised reincarnational somebody of some note -- but certainly of NO note in this incarnation. I have NO idea if anyone has studied my threads in any way, shape, or form. I have NO idea whether this universe is fundamentally good or bad -- or how 'good' or 'bad' should be defined. I have NO idea how close to the truth I might be -- or if anyone even gives a damn how close I am -- to the truth or otherwise.
I seem to hold NO attraction to the opposite sex. I seem to have very few marketable job skills. Most days, life does NOT seem to be worth living -- and I really fail to see the point. I feel supernaturally attacked -- but maybe I'm just a NUT-CASE. I have NO idea. I sense hostility and hatred in real-life -- but then maybe I'm just hyper-sensitive and paranoid. I'm almost to the point of telling people to forget about seeking the 'truth' -- and to just focus on maximizing fame, fortune, power, and pleasure -- by any and all means -- because why should the peons be good when the elites are bad -- which seems to create an unfair advantage. Didn't John D. Rockefeller call competition a sin?? I really think I could've been a big-shot surgeon or musician if I hadn't gotten all screwed-up worrying about the damn 'truth'. Why should I point people toward a life of poverty and misery in pursuit of the damn 'truth'?? Especially when the 'truth' is whatever people wish to believe -- and NOT the actual 'truth'??!!
magamud wrote: I feel the same way Ortho and I suspect many others are too. I have noticed waves of syncronicity effecting the populace in different ways. Bursts of singularity?
Unconscious explosions manifesting in symbology, insights and dialectic language. I think this thread is very valuable and at the least, a lens of construction into the quantum ocean of life. A missionary of your own existence? A deep sea diver into the depths of your energy?
Godspeed...
Jenetta wrote:Oxy you will always be a survivor...why? because you have imagination which most of humanity lacks...also you have 'heart'...lastly you have a great deal of humour (which many people lack) and this also helps you to survive.
The wheel keeps turning and we're turning with it.
I worry about irresponsible-freedom v responsible-freedom. I understand that We the Sheeple must be watched by the Sheep-Herders -- but I worry when I hear about the TV watching people while they watch TV. What are ethical and appropriate limits to surveillance?? We obviously live in a VERY dangerous world -- and I agonize over how the insanity should be managed. I have recently started thinking more about Ethics, Law, Law-Enforcement, and the Military. The industrial revolution, the technological revolution, and the information explosion -- have created a perfect storm -- especially on the internet -- and I suspect that a lot of individuals (human and otherwise) have gotten caught with their pants and dresses down -- and I further suspect that they are really, Really MAD!! I am very doubtful that things are going to get better anytime soon. Even if my hypothetical United States of the Solar System were introduced in the President's State of the Union Address -- things would probably still go to hell -- and such a sudden and abrupt introduction might precipitate Hell on Earth.
I think things are very precarious and unstable right now. I further think that evolutionary change should trump revolutionary change. Things might have to APPEAR to remain the same for at least the rest of this decade. I think we could be facing a market-crash and a dollar-crash -- which could be made milder or more severe by how change and the media is managed. I worry about resets, disclosure, regime-changes, civil-unrest, foreign-invasions, and alien-invasions (staged or otherwise). I think the evil and destructive potential which exists within this solar system is beyond comprehension. I feel as if we might be in the quiet before the storm. My recent 'Solar System View' is making me feel like a completely different person -- and it is scaring the hell out of me. I can only imagine how the 'Real Insiders' feel -- the ones who deal directly with the BS -- each and every day.
Listen to this 'Sherry Shriner Show'. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sherrytalkradio/2013/01/22/monday-night-with-sherry-shriner It seems to have particular relevance to what I've said in this post. I think Sherry knows a lot -- but I take everything she says with a sea of salt. I don't do Orgone (but perhaps I should) -- and I don't necessarily share Sherri's theological views (even though I think she knows ten times more than I do about theology). I've said some of what I think about Sherry -- but I've said it very indirectly -- so you might need to review my posts to put some pieces of the puzzle together. You'd be amazed at what I think about -- but don't talk about. Notice That a Lot of Her Older Shows Don't Work So Try the Transcriptions http://www.sherrytalkradio.com/transcribe/index.htm
Regarding the Asteroid '243 Ida' -- I was interested to note that it seems to be less dense than it should be -- suggesting that it might really be a hollowed-out asteroid-spaceship. Also, the little fictional story that I just reposted features a small piloted asteroid (which is now on it's way from Earth to Ida). I described this asteroid as being approximately one kilometer in diameter (and mostly round). This is pretty damn close to describing the size and shape of Ida's satellite 'Dactyl'! When I originally wrote the story I didn't have Ida or Dactyl in mind!! Honestly!! To thicken the plot -- Dactyl has been known to be 'MISSING'!!!! See the bold print in the wiki article below!!! Might this suggest that Dactyl really could be a piloted-asteroid??!! OK -- I'm getting carried away -- but this is just one more example of some very strange coincidences and occurrences connected with my internet posting. All of this madness is driving me somewhat mad -- and I'm NOT kidding. The problem is -- I think things are going to get exponentially nuttier in the coming months and years -- and I really think the possibility exists that I might really come unglued -- and go down HARD -- a lot harder than I've already gone down. Look Out Below!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactyl_(asteroid)#Moon
243 Ida (/'a?d?/ EYE-d?) is an asteroid in the Koronis family of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 29 September 1884 by Johann Palisa and named after a nymph from Greek mythology. Later telescopic observations categorized Ida as an S-type asteroid, the most numerous type in the inner asteroid belt. On 28 August 1993, Ida was visited by the spacecraft Galileo, bound for Jupiter. It was the second asteroid to be visited by a spacecraft and the first found to possess a satellite.
Like all main-belt asteroids, Ida's orbit lies between the planets Mars and Jupiter. Its orbital period is 4.84 years, and its rotation period is 4.63 hours. Ida has an average diameter of 31.4 km (19.5 mi). It is irregularly shaped and elongated, and apparently composed of two large objects connected together in a shape reminiscent of a croissant. Its surface is one of the most heavily cratered in the Solar System, featuring a wide variety of crater sizes and ages.
Ida's moon, Dactyl, was discovered by mission member Ann Harch in images returned from Galileo. It was named after the Dactyls, creatures which inhabited Mount Ida in Greek mythology. Dactyl, being only 1.4 kilometres (4,600 ft) in diameter, is about one-twentieth the size of Ida. Its orbit around Ida could not be determined with much accuracy. However, the constraints of possible orbits allowed a rough determination of Ida's density, which revealed that it is depleted of metallic minerals. Dactyl and Ida share many characteristics, suggesting a common origin.
The images returned from Galileo, and the subsequent measurement of Ida's mass, provided new insights into the geology of S-type asteroids. Before the Galileo flyby, many different theories had been proposed to explain their mineral composition. Determining their composition permits a correlation between meteorites falling to the Earth and their origin in the asteroid belt. Data returned from the flyby pointed to S-type asteroids as the source for the ordinary chondrite meteorites, the most common type found on the Earth's surface.
Discovery and observations
Ida was discovered on 29 September 1884 by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa at the Vienna Observatory.[10] It was his 45th asteroid discovery.[1] Ida was named by Moriz von Kuffner, a Viennese brewer and amateur astronomer.[11][12] In Greek mythology, Ida was a nymph of Crete who raised the god Zeus.[13] Ida was recognized as a member of the Koronis family by Kiyotsugu Hirayama, who proposed in 1918 that the group comprised the remnants of a destroyed precursor body.[14]
Ida's reflection spectrum was measured on 16 September 1980 by astronomers David J. Tholen and Edward F. Tedesco as part of the eight-color asteroid survey (ECAS).[15] Its spectrum matched those of the asteroids in the S-type classification.[16][17] Many observations of Ida were made in early 1993 by the US Naval Observatory in Flagstaff and the Oak Ridge Observatory. These improved the measurement of Ida's orbit around the Sun and reduced the uncertainty of its position during the Galileo flyby from 78 to 60 km (48 to 37 mi).[18]
Exploration
Galileo flyby
Ida was visited in 1993 by the Jupiter-bound space probe Galileo. Its encounters of the asteroids Gaspra and Ida were secondary to the Jupiter mission. These were selected as targets in response to a new NASA policy directing mission planners to consider asteroid flybys for all spacecraft crossing the belt.[19] No prior missions had attempted such a flyby.[20] Galileo was launched into orbit by the Space Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-34 on 18 October 1989.[21] Changing Galileo's trajectory to approach Ida required that it consume 34 kg (75 lb) of propellant.[22] Mission planners delayed the decision to attempt a flyby until they were certain that this would leave the spacecraft enough propellant to complete its Jupiter mission.[23]
Galileo's trajectory carried it into the asteroid belt twice on its way to Jupiter. During its second crossing, it flew by Ida on 28 August 1993 at a speed of 12,400 m/s (41,000 ft/s) relative to the asteroid.[23] The onboard imager observed Ida from a distance of 240,350 km (149,350 mi) to its closest approach of 2,390 km (1,490 mi).[13][24] Ida was the second asteroid, after Gaspra, to be imaged by a spacecraft.[25] About 95% of Ida's surface came into view of the probe during the flyby.[6]
Transmission of many Ida images was delayed due to a permanent failure in the spacecraft's high-gain antenna.[26] The first five images were received in September 1993.[27] These comprised a high-resolution mosaic of the asteroid at a resolution of 31–38 m/pixel.[28][29] The remaining images were sent in February 1994,[2] when the spacecraft's proximity to the Earth allowed higher speed transmissions.[27][30]
Discoveries
The data returned from the Galileo flybys of Gaspra and Ida, and the later NEAR Shoemaker asteroid mission, permitted the first study of asteroid geology.[31] Ida's relatively large surface exhibited a diverse range of geological features.[32] The discovery of Ida's moon Dactyl, the first confirmed satellite of an asteroid, provided additional insights into Ida's composition.[33]
Ida is classified as an S-type asteroid based on ground-based spectroscopic measurements.[34] The composition of S-types was uncertain before the Galileo flybys, but was interpreted to be either of two minerals found in meteorites that had fallen to the Earth: ordinary chondrite (OC) and stony-iron.[9] Estimates of Ida's density are constrained to less than 3.2 g/cm3 by the long-term stability of Dactyl's orbit.[34] This all but rules out a stony-iron composition; were Ida made of 5 g/cm3 iron- and nickel-rich material, it would have to contain more than 40% empty space.[33]
The Galileo images also led to the discovery that space weathering was taking place on Ida, a process which causes older regions to become more red in color over time.[14][35] The same process affects both Ida and its moon, although Dactyl shows a lesser change.[36] The weathering of Ida's surface revealed another detail about its composition: the reflection spectra of freshly exposed parts of the surface resembled that of OC meteorites, but the older regions matched the spectra of S-type asteroids.[20]
Both of these discoveries—the space weathering effects and the low density—led to a new understanding about the relationship between S-type asteroids and OC meteorites. S-types are the most numerous kind of asteroid in the inner part of the asteroid belt.[20] OC meteorites are, likewise, the most common type of meteorite found on the Earth's surface.[20] The reflection spectra measured by remote observations of S-type asteroids, however, did not match that of OC meteorites. The Galileo flyby of Ida found that some S-types, particularly the Koronis family, could be the source of these meteorites.[36]
Physical characteristics
Ida's mass is between 3.65 and 4.99 × 1016 kg.[37] Its gravitational field produces an acceleration of about 0.3 to 1.1 cm/s2 over its surface.[6] This field is so weak that an astronaut standing on its surface could leap from one end of Ida to the other, and an object moving in excess of 20 m/s (70 ft/s) could escape the asteroid entirely.[38][39]
Ida is a distinctly elongated asteroid,[40] with an irregular surface,[41][42] and is somewhat "croissant-shaped".[27] Ida is 2.35 times as long as it is wide,[40] and a "waist" separates it into two geologically dissimilar halves.[27] This constricted shape is consistent with Ida being made of two large, solid components, with loose debris filling the gap between them. However, no such debris was seen in high resolution images captured by Galileo.[42] Whilst there are a few steep slopes tilting up to about 50° on Ida, the slope generally does not exceed 35°.[6] Ida's irregular shape is responsible for the asteroid's highly uneven gravitational field.[43] The surface acceleration is lowest at the extremities because of their fast rotational speed. It is also low near the "waist" because the mass of the asteroid is concentrated in the two halves, away from this location.[6]
Surface features
Ida's surface appears heavily cratered and mostly gray, although minor color variations mark newly formed or uncovered areas.[13] Besides craters, other features are evident, such as grooves, ridges, and protrusions. Ida is covered by a thick layer of regolith, loose debris that obscures the solid rock beneath. The largest, boulder-sized, debris fragments are called ejecta blocks, several of which have been observed on the surface.
Regolith
The surface of Ida is covered in a blanket of pulverized rock, called regolith, about 50–100 m (160–330 ft) thick.[27] This material is produced in impact events and redistributed across Ida's surface by geological processes.[44] Galileo observed evidence of recent downslope regolith movement.[45]
Ida's regolith is composed of the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene.[2][46] Its appearance changes over time through a process called space weathering.[36] Because of this process, older regolith appears more red in color compared to freshly exposed material.[35]
About 20 large (40–150 m across) ejecta blocks have been identified, embedded in Ida's regolith.[27][48] Ejecta blocks constitute the largest pieces of the regolith.[49] Because ejecta blocks are expected to break down quickly by impact events, those present on the surface must have been either formed recently or uncovered by an impact event.[43][50] Most of them are located within the craters Lascaux and Mammoth, but they may not have been produced there.[50] This area attracts debris due to Ida's irregular gravitational field.[43] Some blocks may have been ejected from the young crater Azzurra on the opposite side of the asteroid.[51]
Structures
Several major structures mark Ida's surface. The asteroid appears to be split into two halves, here referred to as region 1 and region 2, connected by a "waist".[27] This feature may have been filled in by debris, or blasted out of the asteroid by impacts.[27][51]
Region 1 of Ida contains two major structures. One is a prominent 40 km (25 mi) ridge named Townsend Dorsum that stretches 150 degrees around Ida's surface.[52] The other structure is a large indentation named Vienna Regio.[27]
Ida's region 2 features several sets of grooves, most of which are 100 m (330 ft) wide or less and up to 4 km (2.5 mi) long.[27][53] They are located near, but are not connected with, the craters Mammoth, Lascaux, and Kartchner.[49] Some grooves are related to major impact events, for example a set opposite Vienna Regio.[54]
Craters
Ida is one of the most densely cratered bodies in the Solar System,[28][41] and impacts have been the primary process shaping its surface.[55] Cratering has reached the saturation point, meaning that new impacts erase evidence of old ones, leaving the total crater count roughly the same.[56] It is covered with craters of all sizes and stages of degradation,[41] and ranging in age from fresh to as old as Ida itself.[27] The oldest may have been formed during the breakup of the Koronis family parent body.[36] The largest crater, Lascaux, is almost 12 km (7.5 mi) across.[42][57] Region 2 contains nearly all of the craters larger than 6 km (3.7 mi) in diameter, but Region 1 has no large craters at all.[27] Some craters are arranged in chains.[29]
Ida's major craters are named after caves and lava tubes on Earth. The crater Azzurra, for example, is named after a submerged cave on the island of Capri, also known as the Blue Grotto.[58] Azzurra seems to be the most recent major impact on Ida.[48] The ejecta from this collision is distributed discontinuously over Ida[35] and is responsible for the large-scale color and albedo variations across its surface.[59] An exception to the crater morphology is the fresh, asymmetric Fingal, which has a sharp boundary between the floor and wall on one side.[60] Another significant crater is Afon, which marks Ida's prime meridian.[8]
The craters are simple in structure: bowl-shaped with no flat bottoms and no central peaks.[60] They are distributed evenly around Ida, except for a protrusion north of crater Choukoutien which is smoother and less cratered.[61] The ejecta excavated by impacts is deposited differently on Ida than on planets because of its rapid rotation, low gravity and irregular shape.[40] Ejecta blankets settle asymmetrically around their craters, but fast-moving ejecta that escapes from the asteroid is permanently lost.[62]
Composition
Ida was classified as an S-type asteroid based on the similarity of its reflectance spectra with similar asteroids.[9] S-types may share their composition with stony-iron or ordinary chondrite (OC) meteorites.[9] The composition of the interior has not been directly analyzed, but is assumed to be similar to OC material based on observed surface color changes and Ida's bulk density of 2.27–3.10 g/cm3.[5][36] OC meteorites contain varying amounts of the silicates olivine and pyroxene, iron, and feldspar.[63] Olivine and pyroxene were detected on Ida by Galileo.[2] The mineral content appears to be homogeneous throughout its extent. Galileo found minimal variations on the surface, and the asteroid's spin indicates a consistent density.[64][65] Assuming that its composition is similar to OC meteorites, which range in density from 3.48 to 3.64 g/cm3, Ida would have a porosity of 11–42%.[5]
Ida's interior probably contains some amount of impact-fractured rock, called megaregolith. The megaregolith layer of Ida extends between hundreds of meters below the surface to a few kilometers. Some rock in Ida's core may have been fractured below the large craters Mammoth, Lascaux, and Undara.[65]
Orbit and rotation
Ida is a member of the Koronis family of asteroid-belt asteroids.[14] Ida orbits the Sun at an average distance of 2.862 AU (428.1 Gm), between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.[2][3] Ida takes 4.84089 years to complete one orbit.[3]
Ida's rotation period is 4.63 hours,[7][40] making it one of the fastest rotating asteroids yet discovered.[66] The calculated maximum moment of inertia of a uniformly dense object the same shape as Ida coincides with the spin axis of the asteroid. This suggests that there are no major variations of density within the asteroid.[54] Ida's axis of rotation precesses with a period of 77 thousand years, due to the gravity of the Sun acting upon the nonspherical shape of the asteroid.[67]
Origin
Ida originated in the breakup of the roughly 120 km (75 mi) diameter Koronis parent body.[7] The progenitor asteroid had partially differentiated, with heavier metals migrating to the core.[68] Ida carried away insignificant amounts of this core material.[68] It is uncertain how long ago the disruption event occurred. According to an analysis of Ida's cratering processes, its surface is more than a billion years old.[68] However, this is inconsistent with the estimated age of the Ida–Dactyl system of less than 100 million years;[69] it is unlikely that Dactyl, due to its small size, could have escaped being destroyed in a major collision for longer. The difference in age estimates may be explained by an increased rate of cratering from the debris of the Koronis parent body's destruction.[70]
Moon
A small satellite named Dactyl orbits Ida. Dactyl, officially (243) Ida I Dactyl (/'dækt?l/ DAK-til) was discovered in images taken by the Galileo spacecraft during its flyby in 1993. These images provided the first direct confirmation of an asteroid moon.[33] At the time, it was separated from Ida by a distance of 90 kilometres (56 mi), moving in a prograde orbit. Dactyl is heavily cratered, like Ida, and consists of similar materials. Its origin is uncertain, but evidence from the flyby suggests that it originated as a fragment of the Koronis parent body.
Discovery
Dactyl was found on 17 February 1994 by Galileo mission member Ann Harch, while examining delayed image downloads from the spacecraft.[2] Galileo recorded 47 images of Dactyl over an observation period of 5.5 hours in August 1993.[71] The spacecraft was 10,760 kilometres (6,690 mi) from Ida[72] and 10,870 kilometres (6,750 mi) from Dactyl when the first image of the moon was captured, 14 minutes before Galileo made its closest approach.[73]
Dactyl was initially designated 1993 (243) 1.[72][74] It was named by the International Astronomical Union in 1994,[74] for the mythological dactyls who inhabited Mount Ida on the island of Crete.[75][76]
Physical characteristics
Dactyl is an "egg-shaped",[33] but "remarkably spherical"[75] object measuring 1.6 by 1.4 by 1.2 kilometres (0.99 mi × 0.87 mi × 0.75 mi).[33] It was oriented with its longest axis pointing towards Ida.[33] Like Ida, Dactyl's surface exhibits saturation cratering.[33] It is marked by more than a dozen craters with a diameter greater than 80 m (260 ft), indicating that the moon has suffered many collisions during its history.[13] At least six craters form a linear chain, suggesting that it was caused by locally produced debris, possibly ejected from Ida.[33] Dactyl's craters may contain central peaks, unlike those found on Ida.[77] These features, and Dactyl's spheroidal shape, imply that the moon is gravitationally controlled despite its small size.[77] Like Ida, its average temperature is about 200 K (-73 °C; -100 °F).[2]
Dactyl shares many characteristics with Ida. Their albedos and reflection spectra are very similar.[78] The small differences indicate that the space weathering process is less active on Dactyl.[36] Its small size would make the formation of significant amounts of regolith impossible.[36][72] This contrasts with Ida, which is covered by a deep layer of regolith.
Dactyl's orbit around Ida is not precisely known. Galileo was in the plane of Dactyl's orbit when most of the images of the moon were taken, which made determining its exact orbit difficult.[34] Dactyl orbits in the prograde direction[79] and is inclined about 8° to Ida's equator.[71] Based on computer simulations, Dactyl's pericenter must be more than about 65 km (40 mi) from Ida for it to remain in a stable orbit.[80] The range of orbits generated by the simulations was narrowed down by the necessity of having the orbits pass through points at which Galileo observed Dactyl to be at 16:52:05 UT on 28 August 1993, about 90 km (56 mi) from Ida at longitude 85°.[81][82] On 26 April 1994, the Hubble Space Telescope observed Ida for eight hours and was unable to spot Dactyl. It would have been able to observe the moon if it was more than about 700 km (430 mi) from Ida.[34]
Dactyl's orbital period is about 20 hours, assuming it is in a circular orbit around Ida.[78] Its orbital speed is roughly 10 m/s (33 ft/s), "about the speed of a fast run or a slowly thrown baseball".[34]
Age and origin
Dactyl may have originated at the same time as Ida,[83] from the disruption of the Koronis parent body.[50] However, it may have formed more recently, perhaps as ejecta from a large impact on Ida.[84] It is extremely unlikely that it was captured by Ida.[73] Dactyl may have suffered a major impact around 100 million years ago, which reduced its size.[68]
Notes
The Eos and Koronis families ... are entirely of type S, which is rare at their heliocentric distances ...
Nearly a month after a successful photo session, the Galileo spacecraft last week finished radioing to Earth a high-resolution portrait of the second asteroid ever to be imaged from space. Known as 243 Ida, the asteroid was photographed from an average distance of just 3,400 kilometers some 3.5 minutes before Galileo's closest approach on Aug. 28.
The chondrites fall naturally into five composition classes, of which three have very similar mineral contents, but different proportions of metal and silicates. All three contain abundant iron in three different forms (ferrous iron oxide in silicates, metallic iron, and ferrous sulfide), usually with all three abundant enough to be classified as potential ores. All three contain feldspar (an aluminosilicate of calcium, sodium, and potassium), pyroxene (silicates with one silicon atom for each atom of magnesium, iron, or calcium), olivine (silicates with two iron or magnesium atoms per silicon atom), metallic iron, and iron sulfide (the mineral troilite). These three classes, referred to collectively as the ordinary chondrites, contain quite different amounts of metal.
When Zeus was born, Rhea entrusted the guardianship of her son to the Dactyls of Ida, who are the same as those called Curetes. They came from Cretan Ida – Heracles, Paeonaeus, Epimedes, Iasius and Idas.
Journal articles
Asphaug, Erik; Ryan, Eileen V.; Zuber, Maria T. (2003). "Asteroid Interiors". Asteroids III (Tucson: University of Arizona): 463–484. Bibcode 2002aste.conf..463A. Retrieved 2009-01-04. Bottke, William F., Jr.; Cellino, A.; Paolicchi, P.; Binzel, R. P. (2002). "An Overview of the Asteroids: The Asteroids III Perspective". Asteroids III (Tucson: University of Arizona): 3–15. Bibcode 2002aste.conf....3B. Retrieved 2008-10-23. Britt, D. T.; Yeomans, D. K.; Housen, K.; Consolmagno, G. (2002). "Asteroid Density, Porosity, and Structure". Asteroids III (Tucson: University of Arizona): 485–500. Bibcode 2002aste.conf..485B. Retrieved 2008-10-27. Chapman, Clark R. (1994). "The Galileo Encounters with Gaspra and Ida". Asteroids, Comets, Meteors: 357–365. Bibcode 1994IAUS..160..357C. Chapman, Clark R.; Klaasen, K.; Belton, Michael J. S.; Veverka, Joseph (July 1994). "Asteroid 243 IDA and its satellite". Meteoritics 29: 455. Bibcode 1994Metic..29..455C. Chapman, Clark R. (September 1995). "Galileo Observations of Gaspra, Ida, and Dactyl: Implications for Meteoritics". Meteoritics 30 (5): 496. Bibcode 1995Metic..30R.496C. Chapman, Clark R. (October 1996). "S-Type Asteroids, Ordinary Chondrites, and Space Weathering: The Evidence from Galileo's Fly-bys of Gaspra and Ida". Meteoritics 31: 699–725. Bibcode 1996M&PS...31..699C. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1996.tb02107.x. Chapman, Clark R.; Ryan, Eileen V.; Merline, William J.; Neukum, Gerhard; Wagner, Roland; Thomas, Peter C.; Veverka, Joseph; Sullivan, Robert J. (March 1996). "Cratering on Ida". Icarus 120 (1): 77–86. Bibcode 1996Icar..120...77C. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0038. Retrieved 2008-10-27. D'Amario, Louis A.; Bright, Larry E.; Wolf, Aron A. (May 1992). "Galileo trajectory design". Space Science Reviews 60 (1-4): 23–78. Bibcode 1992SSRv...60...23D. doi:10.1007/BF00216849. Geissler, Paul E.; Petit, Jean-Marc; Durda, Daniel D.; Greenberg, Richard; Bottke, William F.; Nolan, Michael; Moore, Jeffrey (March 1996). "Erosion and Ejecta Reaccretion on 243 Ida and Its Moon". Icarus 120 (1): 140–157. Bibcode 1996Icar..120..140G. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0042. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26. Geissler, Paul E.; Petit, Jean-Marc; Greenberg, Richard (1996). "Ejecta Reaccretion on Rapidly Rotating Asteroids: Implications for 243 Ida and 433 Eros". Completing the Inventory of the Solar System (Astronomical Society of the Pacific) 107: 57–67. Bibcode 1996ASPC..107...57G. Greenberg, Richard; Bottke, William F.; Nolan, Michael; Geissler, Paul E.; Petit, Jean-Marc; Durda, Daniel D.; Asphaug, Erik; Head, James (March 1996). "Collisional and Dynamical History of Ida". Icarus 120 (1): 106–118. Bibcode 1996Icar..120..106G. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0040. Retrieved 2008-10-23. Hurford, Terry A.; Greenberg, Richard (June 2000). "Tidal Evolution by Elongated Primaries: Implications for the Ida/Dactyl System". Geophysical Research Letters 27 (11): 1595–1598. Bibcode 2000GeoRL..27.1595H. doi:10.1029/1999GL010956. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Lee, Pascal; Veverka, Joseph; Thomas, Peter C.; Helfenstein, Paul; Belton, Michael J. S.; Chapman, Clark R.; Greeley, Ronald; Pappalardo, Robert T.; Sullivan, Robert J.; Head, James W., III (March 1996). "Ejecta Blocks on 243 Ida and on Other Asteroids". Icarus 120 (1): 87–105. Bibcode 1996Icar..120...87L. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0039. Retrieved 2008-10-27. Mason, John W. (June 1994). "Ida's new moon". Journal of the British Astronomical Association 104 (3): 108. Bibcode 1994JBAA..104..108M. Monet, A. K. B.; Stone, R. C.; Monet, D. G.; Dahn, C. C.; Harris, H. C.; Leggett, S. K.; Pier, J. R.; Vrba, F. J.; Walker, R. L. (June 1994). "Astrometry for the Galileo mission. 1: Asteroid encounters". The Astronomical Journal 107 (6): 2290–2294. Bibcode 1994AJ....107.2290M. doi:10.1086/117036. Owen, W. M., Jr.; Yeomans, D. K. (June 1994). "The overlapping plates method applied to CCD observations of 243 Ida". The Astronomical Journal 107 (6): 2295–2298. Bibcode 1994AJ....107.2295O. doi:10.1086/117037. Petit, Jean-Marc; Durda, Daniel D.; Greenberg, Richard; Hurford, Terry A.; Geissler, Paul E. (November 1997). "The Long-Term Dynamics of Dactyl's Orbit". Icarus 130 (1): 177–197. Bibcode 1997Icar..130..177P. doi:10.1006/icar.1997.5788. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Seidelmann, P. Kenneth; Archinal, B. A.; A'hearn, M. F. et al. (2007). "Report of the IAU/IAG Working Group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements: 2006". Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy 98 (3): 155–180. Bibcode 2007CeMDA..98..155S. doi:10.1007/s10569-007-9072-y. edit Sullivan, Robert J.; Greeley, Ronald; Pappalardo, R.; Asphaug, E.; Moore, J. M.; Morrison, D.; Belton, Michael J. S.; Carr, M.; Chapman, Clark R.; Geissler, Paul E.; Greenberg, Richard; Granahan, James; Head, J. W., III; Kirk, R.; McEwen, A.; Lee, P.; Thomas, Peter C.; Veverka, Joseph (March 1996). "Geology of 243 Ida". Icarus 120 (1): 119–139. Bibcode 1996Icar..120..119S. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0041. Retrieved 2008-10-27. Thomas, Peter C.; Belton, Michael J. S.; Carcich, B.; Chapman, Clark R.; Davies, M. E.; Sullivan, Robert J.; Veverka, Joseph (1996). "The shape of Ida". Icarus 120 (1): 20–32. Bibcode 1996Icar..120...20T. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0033. Vokrouhlicky, David; Nesvorny, David; Bottke, William F. (11 September 2003). "The vector alignments of asteroid spins by thermal torques". Nature 425 (6954): 147–151. Bibcode 2003Natur.425..147V. doi:10.1038/nature01948. PMID 12968171. Retrieved 2008-10-23. Wilson, Lionel; Keil, Klaus; Love, Stanley J. (May 1999). "The internal structures and densities of asteroids". Meteoritics & Planetary Science 34 (3): 479–483. Bibcode 1999M&PS...34..479W. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1999.tb01355.x. Zellner, Ben; Tholen, David J.; Tedesco, Edward F. (March 1985). "The eight-color asteroid survey: Results for 589 minor planets". Icarus 61 (3): 355–416. Bibcode 1985Icar...61..355Z. doi:10.1016/0019-1035(85)90133-2.
Books
Berger, Peter (2003). "The Gildemeester Organisation for Assistance to Emigrants and the expulsion of Jews from Vienna, 1938–1942". In Gourvish, Terry. Business and Politics in Europe, 1900–1970. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82344-7. Carroll, Bradley W.; Ostlie, Dale A. (1996). An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. ISBN 0-201-54730-9. Greeley, Ronald; Batson, Raymond M. (2001). The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-80633-X. Lewis, John S. (1996). Mining the Sky: Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets, and Planets. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-47959-1. Pausanias (1916). Description of Greece. Translated by Jones, W. H. S. & Omerod, H. A.. Loeb Classical Library. ISBN 0-674-99104-4. Ridpath, John Clark (1897). The Standard American Encyclopedia of Arts, Sciences, History, Biography, Geography, Statistics, and General Knowledge. Encyclopedia Publishing. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). "Catalogue of Minor Planet Names and Discovery Circumstances". Dictionary of minor planet names. IAU commission. 20. Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Slivan, Stephen Michael (June 1995). Spin-Axis Alignment of Koronis Family Asteroids. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. OCLC 32907677. hdl:1721.1/11867. Thomas, Peter C.; Prockter, Louise M. (28 May 2004). "Tectonics of Small Bodies". Planetary Tectonics. Cambridge Planetary Science. 11. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-76573-2. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
Other
Belton, Michael J. S.; Carlson, R. (12 March 1994). "1993 (243) 1". IAU Circular (International Astronomical Union) (5948). Bibcode 1994IAUC.5948....2B. Byrnes, Dennis V.; D'Amario, Louis A.; Galileo Navigation Team (December 1994). "Solving for Dactyl's Orbit and Ida's Density". The Galileo Messenger (NASA) (35). Retrieved 2008-10-23. Chapman, Clark R.; Belton, Michael J. S.; Veverka, Joseph; Neukum, G.; Head, J.; Greeley, Ronald; Klaasen, K.; Morrison, D. (March 1994). "First Galileo image of asteroid 243 Ida". Abstracts of the 25th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Lunar and Planetary Institute): 237–238. Bibcode 1994LPI....25..237C. Cowen, Ron (2 October 1993). "Close-up of an asteroid: Galileo eyes Ida". 144. Science News. p. 215. ISSN 0036-8423. Cowen, Ron (1 April 1995). "Idiosyncrasies of Ida—asteroid 243 Ida's irregular gravitational field" (PDF). 147. Science News. p. 207. ISSN 0036-8423. Retrieved 2009-03-26. Greeley, Ronald; Sullivan, Robert J.; Pappalardo, R.; Head, J.; Veverka, Joseph; Thomas, Peter C.; Lee, P.; Belton, M.; Chapman, Clark R. (March 1994). "Morphology and Geology of Asteroid Ida: Preliminary Galileo Imaging Observations". Abstracts of the 25th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Lunar and Planetary Institute): 469–470. Bibcode 1994LPI....25..469G. Green, Daniel W. E. (26 September 1994). "1993 (243) 1 = (243) Ida I (Dactyl)". IAU Circular (International Astronomical Union) (6082). Bibcode 1994IAUC.6082....2G. Holm, Jeanne; Jones, Jan (ed.) (June 1994). "Discovery of Ida's Moon Indicates Possible "Families" of Asteroids". The Galileo Messenger (NASA) (34). Retrieved 2008-10-23. Raab, Herbert (2002). "Johann Palisa, the most successful visual discoverer of asteroids". Meeting on Asteroids and Comets in Europe. Archived from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23. Sárneczky, K; Kereszturi, Á. (March 2002). "'Global' Tectonism on Asteroids?". 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Bibcode 2002LPI....33.1381S. Retrieved 2008-10-22. Stooke, P. J. (1997). "Reflections on the Geology of 243 Ida". Lunar and Planetary Science XXVIII: 1385–1386. Retrieved 2008-11-29. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 243 Ida". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 25 August 2008. "Images of Asteroids Ida & Dactyl". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 23 August 2005. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Ida". United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
Imagine Looking Into Your Telescope and Seeing THIS!!!
The 'Disclosure' episode from the sixth season of 'Stargate SG-1' which I thought was quite fine! I would recommend getting a ten-season set of DVD's. I noticed that in 'The Fifth Race' episode of 'Stargate SG-1' -- the 'Greys' or 'Asgard' state that they live in the Galaxy of Ida!! Think about the title of this thread regarding the asteroid 'Ida'!! This is yet another interesting 'coincidence' in my internet posting. If you carefully study my threads, you will find some amazing coincidences -- especially if you know all about me -- as I'm sure some of you do. I don't make a big deal about this sort of thing -- and I mostly just hint at a lot of it -- but the occurrences and coincidences connected with my life and internet posting are scaring the hell out of me each and every day -- and I'm not kidding. Consider the alien-character 'Kril Mossette' in one of the fifth-season 'Star Trek Voyager' episodes. Notice the French-Connection, the KRLLL-Connection, and the strange similarity to Dr. Mataros from 'Earth: Final Conflict' ('Termination' episode). What did Roddenberry know -- and when did he know it?? Can you imagine a private conversation between Gene Roddenberry and Arthur C. Clark??!! BTW -- I think I've seen (and even met) 'Lilly' in 'real-life'. Nuff said about that. 'Hathor', 'The Powers That Be', 'The Torment of Tantalus', 'The Fifth Race', 'Absolute Power', and the 'Disclosure' episodes are some of the best 'Stargate SG-1' material.
The 'Disclosure' episode is especially relevant when considering a 'United States of the Solar System' which might involve the sharing of advanced technology and information with ALL member states. This sort of thing is quite challenging and dangerous -- but the alternatives might be even more problematic. Supposedly John F. Kennedy wanted to partner with the Soviet Union regarding the Space Program (and who knows what else) -- and we all know what happened a few months later. What are legitimate-secrets and illegitimate-secrets?? I suspect that this whole damn solar system is a subsidiary of a HUGE Galactic Business Empire -- and that the Bottom-Line is the Bottom-Line in just about EVERYTHING -- but I can't prove it. I continue to suspect that we live in a nasty and violent universe with 'System Lords' in conflict with each other -- and I suspect that the Human Race is simply a Pawn in a HUGE Galactic Chess Game. Realistically Speaking -- a United States of the Solar System might have to be somewhat militaristic and disciplined to survive in this universe. I desire absolute peace and harmony -- but does this idealism really work in this universe?? I continue to suspect a VERY nasty past, present, and future for ALL civilizations and races. The Old Testament might very well reflect the reality of the type of universe we live in.
I might, of necessity, have to be a Bad@$$ Warrior in my next incarnation. My idealism in this incarnation seems to have nearly put me in the funny farm -- and I'm not kidding. Perhaps I should embrace Old Testament Ethics rather than trying to superimpose the Teachings of Jesus onto a Universe which HATES these teachings. I really think that I'm some sort of a Reincarnational Bad@$$ with a reprehensible ethical record. Perhaps I should NOT have tried to be 'Good'. This seems to have brought me nothing but misery and sadness. What if the Galactic PTB Want Bad@$$ Bad Guys?? What if they do NOT want the Pure in Heart?? I guess my present goal is to become sort of a Bad@$$ Good-Guy (in preparation for my next incarnation). It's a little late for me to do anything significant in this incarnation -- especially when I seem to be hamstrung by nefarious entities and agencies. I can barely remember my name and tie my shoes. I seem to be Galactically Blacklisted and Redlisted -- Big Time. Was it Something I Said?? As you can tell -- I'm getting more and more jaded and cynical regarding just about everything -- as my ears ring loudly -- and as I feel like I just got hit by a mag-lev train -- each and every day. Unfortunately, I feel as if my next incarnation will be a lot worse -- if I even have a next incarnation...
The Queen of Heaven and a Jesuit-Professor?? Another Day at the University of Solar System Studies and Governance at Ida??
devakas wrote:
orthodoxymoron wrote:I worry about irresponsible-freedom v responsible-freedom. I understand that We the Sheeple must be watched by the Sheep-Herders -- but I worry when I hear about the TV watching people while they watch TV. What are ethical and appropriate limits to surveillance?? We obviously live in a VERY dangerous world -- and I agonize over how the insanity should be managed. I have recently started thinking more about Ethics, Law, Law-Enforcement, and the Military. The industrial revolution, the technological revolution, and the information explosion -- has created a perfect storm -- especially on the internet -- and I suspect that a lot of individuals (human and otherwise) have gotten caught with their pants and dresses down -- and I further suspect that they are really, Really MAD!! But I am very doubtful that things are going to get better anytime soon. Even if my hypothetical United States of the Solar System were introduced in the President's State of the Union Address -- things would probably still go to hell -- and such a sudden and abrupt introduction might precipitate Hell on Earth.
Things are very precarious and unstable right now. Evolutionary change should trump revolutionary change. Things might have to APPEAR to remain the same for at least the rest of this decade. I think we could be facing a market-crash and a dollar-crash -- which could be made milder or more severe by how change and the media is managed. I worry about resets, disclosure, regime-changes, and alien-invasions (staged or otherwise). I think the evil and destructive potential which exists within this solar system is beyond comprehension. I feel as if we might be in the quiet before the storm. My recent 'Solar System View' is making me feel like a completely different person -- and it is scaring the hell out of me. I can only imagine how the 'Real Insiders' feel -- the ones who deal directly with the BS -- each and every day.
I can only imagine how the 'Real Insiders' feel -- the ones who deal directly with the BS -- each and every day -
hahaha I think you got it right here.
incarnated soul is very busy to create the paradise on earth, to make there imortal matter, get insurance and enjoy the 'misery'....
Ortho you are the very skilled english writer. You try to speak with the sore mind. However it is true that the heart is wiser than mind.
I posted on Vedic thread about Creator, our father, i shared to understand Him better, to feel Him in our hearts, to love Him, bow to Him..... remember it is all about desires. it it all about our desires to whom to serve. truth or lies.
Now compare the desire in your posts. I see it as it is politics of rulers, pure desire to rule and sufering of this passion. (remember passion always ends in misery. facts. hollywood passion, rules of passion, love with passion, etc. always ends with misery. ) remember that.
so the question is do you want to know God? really? or do you want to take over the ruler's part? Are you worry how to rule? This post of One is taken. :) So whom you want to rule or take over?
I would be fan of your writings, but i am not interested in politics, powers, rulers, responsibilities (sucks)...those are only people mind speculations in illiusion of -i do better, i am the best..
freedom is better.
i see your honesty, i see you suffer and feel bad about it.
keep cool your mind and best best wishes.
devakas
should i post about matter
I wish to know God, in part, by attempting to understand the realities and potentialities of the governance of this solar system. I guess I'm attempting to think God's thoughts after Him and/or Her. But really, this might reveal both the positives and negatives of how this solar system and universe really works. The universe might be stranger than we CAN think. What Would Albert Einstein and JBS Haldane Say?? I think I'm going to imagine the 'Stargate SG-1' Underground Base as being part of the interior of Ida. (Imagine each 'SG-1' episode originating in said base!!) Then, I might imagine that enlarged (10,000 seat) reproduction of Solomon's Temple as being inside of Ida http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/rebuilding-solomons-temple-in-sao-paulo/ -- complete with a Fisk Pipe-Organ similar to the 1875 Cavaille-Coll Design Intended for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome!! http://cdmnet.org/Julian/schemes/props/rome.htm
What if this were one of the meeting-places for USSS Representatives!! Finally, I might imagine Humans, Greys, and Dracs as being the Professors (Including Jesuits!) at the University of Solar System Studies and Governance at Ida!! Could I get some sort of a scholarship??!! I really would like to obtain a PhD in Solar System Studies and Governance -- based, in part, upon my internet posting concerning a hypothetical United States of the Solar System. What Would Richard Greenberg Say?? I have NO idea what the realities are, connected with all of this, but it's fun to think about -- in a very scary way!! Can you even begin to imagine a Room with a View with a Cray on Ida???!!!
"Late to Class AGAIN???"
devakas wrote:Ortho, did Jesus taught us to imagine? you should stop to imagine, and get real. Did Jesus taught to rule Solar System? or Jesus taught Love?
Save your soul, as your mind is going off. If you realy want to know Truth, read yourself Bhagavad Gita As It Is as Einstein did. Read what he said about it.
you are not late to class. There is Bhagtivedanta Institute. I posted on Vedic link somewhere.
i just want you to be happpppppyyyyyyyy!!!! hear me. shut off your mind.
I couldn't even begin to keep-up with the theologians in the above-video, yet their discussion leaves me somewhat unmoved and unimpressed, but I'm not sure why, exactly. If I watched and listened to the video several times over a couple of weeks, I might be able to write a somewhat coherent response, yet I suspect the participants would be somewhat unmoved and unimpressed. I continue to wonder what might result from reading Acts to Jude straight-through, over and over, as if it were the Whole-Bible?! Scholars debate the Real Pauline-Epistles v the Fraudulent Pauline-Epistles, but what if one considered Acts to Jude to be Pauline and/or Pseudo-Pauline, with the Gospels and Revelation being 'Odd Men Out' or something to that effect?! I'm not opposed to the 'Historical-Jesus' yet I wonder if the 'Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World' is rightly-represented in the Gospels and Revelation?! What if Acts to Jude is closer to the Real-Deal (even if it isn't the Real-Deal)?! What Would Ovid Say?? What Would Josephus Say?? What Would the Piso Family Say?? What Would Richard Carrier Say?? What Would N.T. Wright Write?? 60 Books?? I Supposedly Wrote 37 Books 2,000 Years Ago (Five of Which Ended-Up in the Bible), But Now I Can't Even Write ONE Book!!
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:59 am; edited 3 times in total
Archangel ??? = Lilith = Enki = Martha Jones = Jupiter Jones = Indiana Jones = Richard Hillary = ????? Who Knows?? Dr. Who?? Who?? Regarding the images and videos below -- I had a 1975 AMC Pacer (purchased by my parents in 1975). My father drove a "Ghostbuster" 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville while working at CBS (with 076 CBS plates -- if I remember correctly -- or was it CBS 076??). He kept the stars cool. I spent a significant amount of time within CBS Television City in "Hollywood" (throughout the building). The atmosphere was heavy and a bit strange. The Executives Could Burn a Hole Through You -- Just by Looking At You!! The CBS Eye is Always Watching!! The 1977 movie Oh God!! was extremely prophetic of my pathetic-life -- and I didn't see that movie until probably 5 years ago!! I even drove a CAB!! My name is quite similar to Dr. Venkman (in Ghostbusters)!! Notice that Darth Vader also involves D.V. What Would David Mann (from Duel) Say?? What Would David Bowman (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) Say?? What Would David Bowie Say?? What Would Alan Rickman Say?? Is Azazel a Victim?? The Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck thing is somewhat creepy to me!! What Would Mitchell Say?? Something is REALLY Screwy about my life!! What Would Jupiter Jones Say?? I was honestly born in the "House of Leo" (but not astrologically)!! Jupiter Ascending = Jupiter Rose?? What Would David Rose Say?? What Would Judy Garland Say?? What Would Red Skelton Say?? What Would Michael Landon Say?? Some of you might know what I'm talking about!! Please remember that I'm modeling a general-phenomenon in a highly-speculative manner. Take this Siriusly -- but not too Seriously!! What Would the Prince of Sirius Say?? BTW -- I lived next to that olive-orchard shown below. What Would Glen Hill Drive?? The fan in my laptop just went into overdrive -- which probably means that someone is messing with my computer -- possibly because of the content of this post.
I'll read and re-read these U.S.S.S. Threads -- but I'm honestly burned-out and quite-miserable -- so don't expect a lot of responsiveness out of me. I'm in the middle of attempting to understand some problematic key-concepts in my theological-education -- and it's not going so well. I really don't wish to drag others along with me down a really-nasty rabbit-hole. I certainly do not wish to bog any of you down with my heavy-spirit. I don't socialize much -- and I'm contemplating becoming even more isolated. I honestly appreciate buoyant-spirits and profound-logic -- but it's the sort of thing one must become immersed in -- in order to properly comprehend and respond to. I'm just not up to speed at this point -- and I might not be vibrating fast enough for this sort of discourse for the remainder of this present incarnation. I think I'm screwed in more ways than I can imagine. The plan was probably to build me up -- and then cut me down -- but I screwed-up everyone's plans by being a screw-up. Sorry about that. An Absolutely-Obedient Exemplary-Telegenic Perfectly-Possessed Teleprompter-Reading Eschatological-Scapegoat should be easy to find. I respectfully request that whatever bad-things have significantly and nefariously happened to me and/or will happen to me -- be mercilessly-avenged (even if it takes all-eternity). I'm talking about the really-major stuff. It's all fun and games until someone loses a wiener!! What Would Set Do?? What Would Osiris Say?? "*&^%$#@!!!!!"???? What Would Isis Do?? What Would Horus Do?? What Would Serqet Say??
Consider one last minimal-list (as a mental and spiritual exercise):
1. Job through Malachi (NIV and/or NKJV).
2. Prophets and Kings (Ellen White).
3. Volume 4 (Isaiah through Malachi) of the SDA Bible Commentary (1977 Edition).
4. Daniel 8:14, the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment (Desmond Ford).
5. The United States of the Solar System: A.D. 2133 (Books One to Ten).
6. The End of the World, A.D. 2133 (Lucio Bernardo Silvestre).
You might not be able to find The End of the World, A.D. 2133. I've looked high and low for information about that book and it's author -- with no-luck whatsoever (even with the help of a librarian). My book was in the Library of Congress -- but that particular book is no longer available. I paid dearly for my copy -- and I'm beginning to wonder if it's the only one?! It's really creepy that I got fixated on that A.D. 2133 termination-date for the 2300 days/years of Daniel 8:14 -- and then happened to find that book on Amazon -- at a very-high price. I waited for many months, until they lowered the price, before I bought it -- but it was still very-expensive. It's unbelievably complex and articulate. It reminds me of the apocalyptic-work of Isaac Newton!! Who Knows?? It's almost as if the book were specifically intended for me!! I like the book -- with the exception of the last couple of chapters, which are quite horrific and harsh. I'm trying to achieve some sort of Galactic-Justice without Fire and Brimstone. I'm a Law and Order kind of guy!!
I think William Miller got it wrong. I think the SDA Church got it wrong. I think Desmond Ford got it wrong. I know that I don't know BUT an Investigative and Executive Judgment between now and A.D. 2133 wouldn't surprise me one little bit. What if we live in a Universe of Ruthless-Conquest and Kangaroo-Courts??!! PLEASE Study All of the Sources Listed Above (with the probable exception of that last item). I think this might be EXTREMELY Important!! I don't think you all realize how utterly screwed we might really be!! If you studied what I've studied -- spoke with the individuals of interest I've spoken with -- and agonized over the whole mess as much as I have -- you'd probably be as screwed-up as I am (or worse)!! But you would KNOW!! Notice that I'm not trying to get you to join the SDA Church (even though I include a lot of fringe and out of date SDA material). I continue to consider myself as being sort of a Renegade French Jesuit Organist (even though I'm not even close to that description)!! I think I'm truly a Lone-Nut!! But I think certain members of this forum KNOW Exactly What I'm Talking About!! I think the City-States KNOW Exactly What I'm talking about!! Unfortunately, I think Mankind might have to Learn the HARD-WAY!! This might NOT End Well!!
What would an extensive Old-Testament Major and Minor Prophet Study reveal?? You know -- Isaiah through Malachi. I tend to shy-away from prophecy. I don't usually play numbers-games -- or indulge in speculative futuristic adventures BUT what if these 17 books are somehow a script or a verdict which MUST be followed (rather than being predictive in nature)?? What about Messianic-Prophecy and Eschatology in the Major and Minor Prophets?? What is the Law of God revealed in these 17 books?? Deuteronomy?? Proverbs?? Both?? Neither?? I've started reading Volume Four of the SDA Bible Commentary -- which covers Isaiah through Malachi. Some of my former teachers are contributors. The authors of that volume are SDA Scholar Rock-Stars!! One shouldn't take their 1950's work lightly. This was a different era, wherein the Bible was seemingly taken more seriously than more recently. In many ways, I'd rather just live in the NOW -- but I seem to be compelled to properly deal with history as a prerequisite to being properly-qualified to deal with the present and the future.
I get the sinking-feeling that this game is NOT what we might wish for it to be. We tend to interpret what is happening to us in terms which make us feel good about ourselves -- but what is the REAL REALITY?? I think I've gotten WARM within my three latest U.S.S.S. Threads -- but I don't think I've gotten HOT. Please at least read that SDA Bible Commentary (volume 4 -- Isaiah through Malachi). I mentioned the possibility of a missing Inter-Testament Old-Testament Commentary. Well that volume might approximate such a commentary. What if 99% of humanity have gotten it wrong -- lifetime after lifetime after lifetime?? What if humanity is running out of lifetimes?? Regarding Religion -- What If Bigger Does NOT Equal Righter?? What if "getting it right" primarily involves getting Isaiah through Malachi right?? How much of Genesis through Song of Solomon is contained or discussed in Isaiah through Malachi?? How much of Matthew through Revelation is genuinely prophesied in Isaiah through Malachi?? How much of the Old-Testament is contained or discussed in the New-Testament?? Does each religion and church MAKE the Bible Say What They Want It To Say?? Is God the Father perfect in the Bible?? Does God the Father keep the Ten-Commandments?? Is Jesus perfect in the Bible?? Does Jesus keep the Ten-Commandments?? Are the Angels perfect in the Bible?? Do the Angels keep the Ten-Commandments?? Is the Bible simply a Tool to Keep People In Line?? Why do I feel as if I might be in conflict with Both Humanity and Divinity Within This Particular Solar System?? What if I'm NOT From Around Here?? Is It OK for US to Compete with God?? Is It OK for God to Compete with US?? Once again -- consider Possibility-Thinking Relative to Sacred-Scripture.
Is the New-Testament really a product of the Roman-Empire?? Have we lived under a Roman-Empire since the Second-Century B.C.?? Is the Roman Catholic Church just the Tip of a Roman-Empire Iceberg?? Is the Roman-Empire the Real Secret-Government?? Is the Roman-Empire controlled by an Orion--Babylonian-- Egyptian--Persian--Grecian--British--Israel Empire?? Does the Roman-Empire do the dirty-work for a Huge and Ancient Galactic-Empire?? What if Past, Present, and Future Politics and Religion MUST be Combined with Science-Fiction to get-at what is REALLY Going-On in This Solar System?? Am I risking my life by uttering such things?? Don't Be Frightened. I Mean No Harm. Not Much, Anyway. For Now. Consider the possibility of the Editorial-Content of Patriarchs and Prophets -- Prophets and Kings -- and The Desire of Ages -- as having Messianic-Significance in a Non-Traditional Sense. The Medium is the Message?? What Would Marshall McLuhan Say?? Think Long and Hard About What I Just Said.
Anyway, I thank all of you for taking the time to talk to me. It adds a lot to what I'm trying to communicate. I combine a particular conceptual-core with the profound embellishments of others -- which produces a delightful potpourri of enlightenment. I've enjoyed our conversations over the past few years. I've completed my threads (for now) and I intend to privately reflect upon the territory covered in this pseudo-intellectual quest -- as a somewhat focused research-project. I'm sure I don't have the answers. Just the questions. I know that I don't know. No matter how one puts things together (pursuant to the truth) it always seems to be wrong. I'm OK with that. I'll just keep asking questions -- and seeking answers -- mostly privately. Someone once said "The World is Full of Questions. The Idiots Are Full of Answers." I recently posted that quote -- and then removed it. I thought it was too harsh -- but perhaps I should've kept it. I think I might be one of those idiots. I've been repeatedly told that I need to "Empty My Mind" But How Do I Empty My Mind When I'm Already a Completely Ignorant Fool?? Perhaps what I really need is a Real-Education in a Subterranean 600 Square-Foot Office-Apartment in a Cool-Location. Hope Springs Eternal. What Would Gizeh-Intelligence Say?? East of Giza is a Pyramid-Scheme?? I should STOP!! They have ways to make me STOP!! Many Ways...
http://whiteestate.org/books/pk/pk60.html In the darkest days of her long conflict with evil, the church of God has been given revelations of the eternal purpose of Jehovah. His people have been permitted to look beyond the trials of the present to the triumphs of the future, when, the warfare having been accomplished, the redeemed will enter into possession of the promised land. These visions of future glory, scenes pictured by the hand of God, should be dear to His church today, when the controversy of the ages is rapidly closing and the promised blessings are soon to be realized in all their fullness.
Many were the messages of comfort given the church by the prophets of old. "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people" (Isaiah 40:1.), was Isaiah's commission from God; and with the commission were given wonderful visions that have been the believers' hope and joy through all the centuries that have followed. Despised of men, persecuted, forsaken, God's children in every age have nevertheless been sustained by His sure promises. By faith they have looked forward to the time when He will fulfill to His church the assurance, "I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." Isaiah 60:15.
Often the church militant is called upon to suffer trial and affliction; for not without severe conflict is the church to triumph. "The bread of adversity," "the water of affliction" (Isaiah 30:20), these are the common lot of all; but none who put their trust in the One mighty to deliver will be utterly overwhelmed. "Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life." Isaiah 43:1-4.
There is forgiveness with God; there is acceptance full and free through the merits of Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord. Isaiah heard the Lord declaring to His chosen ones: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified." "Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Verses 25, 26; 60:16.
"The rebuke of His people shall He take away," the prophet declared. "They shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord." He hath appointed "to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified."
"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the Holy City: For henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. "Shake thyself from the dust; Arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion."
"O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, And lay thy foundations with sapphires.
"And I will make thy windows of agates. And thy gates of carbuncles, And all thy borders of pleasant stones.
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; And great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established:
"Thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: And from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by Me: Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. . . .
"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." Isaiah 25:8; 62:12; 61:3; 52:1, 2; 54:11-17.
Clad in the armor of Christ's righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. "Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners" (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.
The darkest hour of the church's struggle with the powers of evil is that which immediately precedes the day of her final deliverance. But none who trust in God need fear; for "when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall," God will be to His church "a refuge from the storm." Isaiah 25:4.
In that day only the righteous are promised deliverance. "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Isaiah 33:14-16.
The word of the Lord to His faithful ones is: "Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." Isaiah 26:20, 21. In visions of the great judgment day the inspired messengers of Jehovah were given glimpses of the consternation of those unprepared to meet their Lord in peace.
"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof; . . . because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate. . . . The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth." Isaiah 24:1-8.
"Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. . . . The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate." "The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men." Joel 1:15-18, 12.
"I am pained at my very heart," Jeremiah exclaims as he beholds the desolations wrought during the closing scenes of earth's history. "I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled." Jeremiah 4:19, 20.
"The loftiness of man shall be bowed down," declares Isaiah of the day of God's vengeance, "and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols He shall utterly abolish. . . . In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth." Isaiah 2:17-21.
Of those times of transition, when the pride of man shall be laid low, Jeremiah testifies: "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down." "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Jeremiah 4:23-26; 30:7.
The day of wrath to the enemies of God is the day of final deliverance to His church. The prophet declares:
"Strengthen ye the weak hands, And confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: Behold, your God will come with vengeance, Even God with a recompense; He will come and save you."
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 35:3, 4; 25:8. And as the prophet beholds the Lord of glory descending from heaven with all the holy angels, to gather the remnant church from among the nations of earth, he hears the waiting ones unite in the exultant cry:
"Lo, this is our God; We have waited for Him, And He will save us: This is the Lord; We have waited for Him, We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isaiah 25:9.
The voice of the Son of God is heard calling forth the sleeping saints, and as the prophet beholds them coming from the prison house of death, he exclaims, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, And the tongue of the dumb sing." Isaiah 26:19; 35:5, 6.
In the visions of the prophet, those who have triumphed over sin and the grave are now seen happy in the presence of their Maker, talking freely with Him as man talked with God in the beginning. "Be ye glad," the Lord bids them, "and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying." "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity."
"In the wilderness shall waters break out, And streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water." "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree."
"And an highway shall be there, and a way, And it shall be called The way of holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; But it shall be for those: The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."
"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." Isaiah 65:18, 19; 33:24; 35:6, 7; 55:13; 35:8; 40:2.
As the prophet beholds the redeemed dwelling in the City of God, free from sin and from all marks of the curse, in rapture he exclaims, "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her."
"Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, Wasting nor destruction within thy borders; But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, And thy gates Praise. "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, And thy God thy glory.
"Thy sun shall no more go down; Neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, And the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
"Thy people also shall be all righteous: They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified." Isaiah 66:10; 60:18-21.
The prophet caught the sound of music there, and song, such music and song as, save in the visions of God, no mortal ear has heard or mind conceived. "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." "Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." "As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there." "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord." Isaiah 35:10; 51:3; Psalm 87:7; Isaiah 24:14.
In the earth made new, the redeemed will engage in the occupations and pleasures that brought happiness to Adam and Eve in the beginning. The Eden life will be lived, the life in garden and field. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isaiah 65:21, 22.
There every power will be developed, every capability increased. The grandest enterprises will be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations will be reached, the highest ambitions realized. And still there will appear new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects of study to call forth the powers of body and mind and soul.
The prophets to whom these great scenes were revealed longed to understand their full import. They "inquired and searched diligently:. . . searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify. . . . Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you." 1 Peter 1:10-12.
To us who are standing on the very verge of their fulfillment, of what deep moment, what living interest, are these delineations of the things to come--events for which, since our first parents turned their steps from Eden, God's children have watched and waited, longed and prayed!
Fellow pilgrim, we are still amid the shadows and turmoil of earthly activities; but soon our Saviour is to appear to bring deliverance and rest. Let us by faith behold the blessed hereafter as pictured by the hand of God. He who died for the sins of the world is opening wide the gates of Paradise to all who believe on Him. Soon the battle will have been fought, the victory won. Soon we shall see Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. And in His presence the trials and sufferings of this life will seem as nothingness. The former things "shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." "Israel shall be saved. . . with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Isaiah 65:17; Hebrews 10:35-37; Isaiah 45:17.
Look up, look up, and let your faith continually increase. Let this faith guide you along the narrow path that leads through the gates of the city into the great beyond, the wide, unbounded future of glory that is for the redeemed. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:7, 8.
The nations of the saved will know no other law than the law of heaven. All will be a happy, united family, clothed with the garments of praise and thanksgiving. Over the scene the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy, while God and Christ will unite in proclaiming. "There shall be no more sin, neither shall there be any more death."
"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord." "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." "The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." "In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people."
"The Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord." "The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon." "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called My Delight, and thy land Beulah. . . . As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." Isaiah 66:23; 40:5; 61:11; 28:5; 51:3; 35:2; 62:4, 5, margin.
You've Been Repeatedly Warned...
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The Mighty Quinn as I once envisoned him, painted with Microsoft Brush. I assume that he was the one who once landed on Mount Ararat and implemented the "shamir", some kind of parasite mindworm. Wormwood! Wormwood!
The Etruscan people appeared from "nowhere signal", as Dionysius of Halicarnassus said, and spread from Ararat in two directions... They cannot speak certain consonants and vowels, and so the soft "w" for example became a hard "f" in Latin, and wiccas became fickas... Not to forget the ü-sang.
I guess that his coming coincided with the Bronze Age Collapse... At this time Ashera fell from the sky in Arcadia hidden in a ball of fire...
Ashera, Researching the Top Nazis Should be a Top Priority, but Researching Whoever and/or Whatever REALLY Ruled the Top Nazis should be a Much Higher Priority. I Doubt Humanity is Prepared for Disclosure. The Truth Might Set Us Free While Simultaneously Destroying Us. Perhaps the 21st Century is the Disclosure Century. 'RA' Told Me I Should Research the Nazis and that There Were Those Who Were Above Him. What if ONE Empire has Ruled the Solar System and Earth Humanity Since the War in Heaven and Garden of Eden?? 'RA' told me the Nazis Were Told They Could Attack Anyone Except "Us".
Perhaps we should NOT just pick on the visible Nazis during 1933-45. Perhaps this thing goes MUCH deeper. Perhaps some of us should exhaustively research 1863 to 1963 in a worldwide multidisciplinary manner. Consider making that a career, but you might wish to take security precautions if you do so!! I purposely beat around the Burning Bush regarding This Present Darkness. I purposely stumble around this little landscape of my pathetic life to merely hint at forbidden truth. There are those who REALLY Know, but they RARELY Talk. I am aware that the General-Public might stumble upon my gibberish and scary-images, but I doubt they make the necessary connections to get themselves in Deep Do-Do. I don't promote or recruit. Just the Opposite. It's Easier That Way.
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Madagacar does not belong to the African continental shelf but to a "sunken" continent that I call Kundari (also including the Andaman islands), to others known as Lemuria. I think the map is false. I doubt that at this time India at all existed. From wherever it came, India hit the earth like an arrow head, and this led to the vanishing of Kundari.
Thank-you Ashera. I wish I could be of some help in your posts, but I feel as if I have a bad-case of neurotoxicity, so don't expect too-much. Didn't Hitler have some sort of a plan to relocate some of the Jews to Madagascar?? Was there at least some sort of a Nazi connection?? I can't recall Senator, I had a Stroke. Perhaps I'm being prevented from knowing too-much. Perhaps I'm Just a Completely Ignorant Fool with a God Complex. We All Have Our Crosses to Bear. Sorry, I Just Can't Resist Sometimes. I Continue to Know I Don't Know. I Provide a Pluralistic Philosophical Potpourri for Sirius Researchers. What if This is Just the Opposite of a Popularity Contest?? What if Hating Everyone is Part of the Deal?? But What if There is NO Deal Whatsoever?? What if the System Gets What the System Wants Regardless of Popularity Contests, Power Struggles, and Petty Grievances (or something to that effect)?? Some of You Seem to Behave as if Ignorance and Intolerance Were Virtues!! Double Down?? Good Luck with That. What if This Thing is More Ancient, Complex, and Disillusioning Than ANYONE Can Imagine?? Just Blaming Someone is SO Overrated. What if Big Brother is Middle Management?? 'RA' gave me a Fedora, and I asked him if he had cursed it?! 'RA' told me he had done something to it, but he offered no details. What if the Witches and Warlocks Shall Inherit the Earth (and Possibly the Solar System)?? What if the Lesbians and Homosexuals Shall Inherit the Earth (and Possibly the Solar System)?? What if Humanity Will NOT Survive the 21st Century?? What if World War Z Will Look Like a Sunday School Picnic Compared to the Next Couple of Decades?? I Throw Softballs in My USSS Threads. I Really Do. This is Probably Childs-Play Compared with the True Solar System View. If We Get to the Top We Might NOT Like the View. Beware of Bay Hill. The Horror.
Carol wrote:
Release Date: September 3, 2020 Releases: Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to prepare against ever evolving threats against the American homeland, most recently highlighting efforts to combat an Electromagnetic Pulse attack which could disrupt the electrical grid and potentially damage electronics. Today, the department is releasing the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report as part of an update on efforts underway in support of Executive Order (E.O.) 13865 on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses. E.O. 13865 establishes resilience and security standards for U.S. critical infrastructure as a national priority.
EMP weapons have the potential to disrupt unprotected critical infrastructure within the US and could impact millions over large parts of the country. Since the President’s signing of the E.O. in March 2019, DHS, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), in coordination with the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has taken key actions to address known EMP-related vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure. The EMP Program Status Report highlights efforts taken across the public and private sector to foster increased resilience to EMP events. Through data analysis, vulnerability and risk assessments, testing and pilot programs, and government and industry engagement, the department is identifying critical infrastructure and associated functions that are at greatest risk from an EMP, and developing and implementing best practices to reduce the risk.
“EMP attacks are part of the emerging threats against our nation and demand a response,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli. “That is why DHS is taking these contingencies very seriously, working diligently to mitigate our risks and equipping our state and local partners with the resources they need to do the same. We’ve made significant progress and look forward to the work ahead.”
“As the Nation’s risk advisor, one of CISA’s priorities is understanding and mitigating threats associated with EMPs,” said CISA Director Chris Krebs. “Over the past year, we have worked with interagency and industry partners to identify the footprint and effects of EMP threats across our National Critical Functions, and are developing sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to improving the Nation’s resilience to EMPs.”
"That is why DHS is taking these contingencies very seriously, working diligently to mitigate..."
DHS's warning published Thur. (Sept. 2), or about 60 days until the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, indicates there are "evolving threats against the American homeland, most recently highlighting efforts to combat an Electromagnetic Pulse attack which could disrupt the electrical grid and potentially damage electronics."
The department released an EMP status report via the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that said the "key actions to address known EMP-related vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure."
We recently quoted Peter Vincent Pry, ex-chief of staff of the Congressional EMP Commission, who wrote an op-ed that said the virus pandemic from China has "exposed dangerous weaknesses in U.S. planning and preparation for civil defense protection and recovery, and those weaknesses surely have been noticed by our potential enemies: China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and international terrorists."
Pry warned that "China has been planning to defeat the U.S. with an EMP and cyber "Pearl Harbor" attack for a quarter-century."
DHS nor CISA gave any more information on 'evolving EMP threats' on the American homeland. There was not mention of whether the threat could be from a solar storm or EMP weapons. However, the EMP status report did mention DHS is currently running EMP pilot tests to assess EMP vulnerability on infrastructure:
CISA said an EMP attack could "disrupt, degrade, and damage technology" embedded in critical infrastructure systems. Widespread blackouts could be seen if an EMP was to damage the nation's electrical grid, resulting in additional flare-ups of socio-economic turmoil.
"EMP attacks are part of the emerging threats against our nation and demand a response," said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli.
"That is why DHS is taking these contingencies very seriously, working diligently to mitigate our risks and equipping our state and local partners with the resources they need to do the same. We've made significant progress and look forward to work ahead," Cuccinelli said.
CISA Director Chris Krebs said top priorities of the agency is to mitigate threats associated with EMPs:
"Over the past year, we have worked with interagency and industry partners to identify the footprint and effects of EMP threats across our National Critical Functions, and are developing sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to improving the Nation's resilience to EMPs," Krebs said.
To combat these emerging threats, President Trump signed an executive order in March 2019, delegating power to the White House for EMP preparedness.
"Finally, DHS is partnering with other federal departments and agencies, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities and the private sector to field test a more resilient critical infrastructure. There are a number of field demonstration (or pilot) projects planned and underway by both DHS and DOE to assess EMP vulnerability and then deploy, evaluate, and validate EMP mitigation and protection technologies.
"One such pilot is the San Antonio Electromagnetic Defense Initiative, designed to show how an entire region can become resilient against an EMP. These pilots are multisector, multifunction efforts, seeking to ensure key capabilities continue to function in a post EMP environment and that by maintaining those key functions we can expedite a full recovery. Working with federal interagency partners, DHS will play a major role in ensuring communications systems remain operational and, by ensuring key systems which are protected against EMP, are also protected against other threats such as cyber-attacks." - EMP status report
One EMP-expert and friend-of-the-site summed up the report perfectly:
"We recognize the threat and we're working on it and you don't need to know any more than that, thank you for asking..."
The warning comes just two months before the U.S. presidential election...
A nuclear EMP is defined as having 3 distinct pulses of voltage/current. The E1 pulse is caused by the gamma rays released during the nuclear reaction. The Gamma rays interact with the electrons and the nucleus of the atoms that make up the atmosphere, and this interaction results in freeing electrons from their atoms. The free electrons ionize the atmosphere (ionization results in electron flow), which can be seen as the flow of electricity through anything that acts as an antenna. All of the wires that make up our nations’ electrical grid make an excellent antenna, which will produce an over-voltage condition throughout the affected area. For an optimally positioned detonation (approximately 300 miles high and over the center of the US), the entire nation will be affected by the E1 pulse. The E1 pulse starts at the time of the detonation of the weapon and continues until 1 microsecond after the detonation.
The E-2 pulse starts at 1 microsecond and continues until approximately 1 second after the detonation. The E-2 pulse is caused by the inelastic scattering (matter bouncing off other matter) of the matter from the nuclear weapon interacting with the matter that makes up the atmosphere continuing to ionize the atmosphere.
The E-3 pulse starts at approximately 1 second after the detonation and can continue for several minutes. The E-3 pulse is caused by the nuclear detonation distorting the earth’s geomagnetic structure, and then its reconfiguration. As the magnetic lines are pushed out of configuration and then come back into normal configuration, electricity is generated, and flows through the atmosphere until it contacts an antenna (wires).
The antenna that is most affected will be the nation’s power grid, but all arrays of wiring (even in your house) will act as large or small antennas and will produce the flow of electricity and over-voltage conditions.
What is an EMP Shield?
The EMP Shield is electromagnetic pulse, Solar Flare, and lightning protection system designed to exceed the requirements of MIL-STD-188-125-1 for shunting over-voltage spikes.
EMP Shield is the World’s only tested and approved EMP protection technology for an entire electrical system. Built to exceed military standards (MIL-STD-188-125-1), EMP Shield pulls excess electricity from the electrical system in less than 500 trillionths of a second.
EMP Shield is designed to protect an entire home from Lightning, CME (coronal mass ejection, power surges, and an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Proven and tested at Keystone Compliance, a Federally approved Department of Defense (DOD) testing facility, Our EMP Shield was struck with over 40x EMP strikes with no impact to the device.
MIL-STD-188-125-1 requires that the over-voltage spike from the E1 spike begin shunting 5,000 Amps within 20 nanoseconds. All EMP Shield models start shunting over voltage in 500 trillionths of a second. EMP Shield also designed to continue protecting through the expected durations of the E2 and E3 spikes produced by a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse.
EMP Shield has also been tested to all other military EMP Standards. Our devices are also UL 1449 compliant and have been tested at Intertek. See below for all military certified testing.
It’s time to wake up to an existential risk that looms infinitely larger than anything posed by the Covid 19 virus.
Electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
EMP can be caused by a naturally occurring solar storm, a nuclear weapon or something as simple as a manmade suitcase sized device and would collapse electric grids and electrical critical infrastructures all over the world
A nationwide blackout lasting one year could kill up to 90 percent of the American people, through starvation, disease, and societal collapse.
Moreover, EMP is the ultimate cyber-weapon in the military doctrines and plans of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
The threat is not theoretical. A solar storm EMP occurred in 1859 at the dawn of our electrical age and destroyed telegraph systems everywhere in the world.
“Today, the impact would be catastrophic. Power grids would collapse all over the world. And all of the life sustaining critical infrastructures, telecommunications, transportation, business, finance, even food and water, depend directly or indirectly upon electricity. And advanced electronic civilization in the whole world, even in African countries depend upon electricity now for the survival of their people,” warns my guest Dr. Peter Vincent Pry.
But preventing this terrifying scenario “has never enjoyed popular recognition or government sustained focus” explains my other guest Frank Gaffney.
Join me as I learn in this riveting conversation about what our government is doing - or more accurately not doing - to protect America from this threat.
My Guests:
Dr. Peter Vincent Pry is executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security and the author of The Power And The Light: The Congressional EMP Commission's War To Save America 2001-2020.
Frank Gaffney founder of the Center for Security Policy and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Present Danger: China.
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:06 am; edited 14 times in total
Cp. Gisela von Frankenberg, "Nommo". I do not think that the time frame is correct, I doubted this long ago already. Seen this way the "ur-continent" Mu must have been identic with Sealand, or it was the later resurrection of an old theme, like New-Zealand.
In my view MU existed before Gondwana and Laurasia.
The later one goes back in time the less reliable radio carbon dating is, and the less one knows of the atmospheric fluctuations. Rock carvings are hardly seriously to date. And if the assumed context is valid is sometimes not so sure.
What if we are dealing with Stupidity, Superstition, and Sorcery (for starters)?? What if we are dealing with a Habitation of Demons?? Throughout the years, I have asked, "How Do We REALLY Know Anything Significant for Certain??" What is the True Reality of Our Predicament?? Notice that I have NOT written books or created videos (yet). But what if my random thread posting could be made to take on a sinister character (just by evaluating random bits and pieces of data and conceptualizations)?? I have asked the most simple and basic questions, yet I have received pathetically few responses. Most of those responses are troubling to me. The preliminary results of my research are MOST Troubling. In my previous post I stated that I've been "Throwing Softballs" which should be extremely easy to deal with. This has probably been a rudimentary boot-camp for agency-interns (or something of that nature) and NOT for the General-Public. I have NOT pushed anything, other than seeking to clarify certain presuppositions in a contrarian context. What troubles me is that it seems we can't even begin to deal with what I just said in this paragraph. I'm NOT talking about the regular posters. They know what I'm talking about, but I'm worried about the others. Both regulars and irregulars seem to have shut the door to my questions and conceptualizations, and I'm not sure why. A lot of alternative websites end-up with nasty argumentation. The Mists seems to have avoided most of that, yet there seems to be something deep-seated and unknow to me. Both religion and its alternatives seem somewhat crazy and dangerous to me. We seem to be in the middle of some sort of an Ancient Star-War without knowing what the hell we're dealing with. I've suggested that this might be so bad that withdrawing from All the Above might have to be abandoned (short-term or long-term). I've further suggested that The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Sacred Classical Music, and Exercise in Nature might end-up being a Genesis of Revelation (and I'm not speaking of Books of the Bible). Does anyone have ANY Idea what I'm referring to?? Is something so simple and introductory so potentially confusing and devastating?? Why do so many people seem to have their heads up their @$$es?? How can they even walk and talk?? Has the political process become Anger Without Ceasing?? Is this thing Out of Control?? Has the Information-War Destroyed Us?? Is Humanity Screwed?? Who Will We Be Working For in 2030?? Perhaps We Do NOT Want to Know. Are We a Bunch of Knee-Jerk Dumb-Shits?? Are the Most Simple Concepts Unfathomable Perplexities?? WTF?? Will Wall Street Inherit the Earth?? How Devastating Will the Technological Takeover Become?? Does Satan Have an Office on the 10th Floor of Goldman Sachs?? What Would the God of This World Say and Do?? What Would the Borg-Queen and/or Matrix-Mediatrix Say and Do?? We Probably Do NOT Want to Know. The Horror.
Carol wrote:
https://youtu.be/u7uUQlZrI34 X22Report: It’s All Happening, Follow The Logs, Go Back To The Beginning For The End!!
The Deep State/MSM are now becoming desperate, they have lost the narrative for both events, they are now getting ready for another event to distract. Crimes against humanity has brought into the picture, more declassification of documents exposes the entire Russian collusion hoax. Flynn’s 302 is on deck, follow the logs, we need to go back to the beginning for the end.
X22Report: Trump Exposes the Invisible Enemy Hidden in the Dark Shadows, Deep State Panic!
The Deep State/MSM are now exposed, they exposed with the virus and with the riots. It’s all falling apart, the move to get the grand jury information, to have Don McGahn testify and to get Trump’s taxes have all failed. Trump exposes the invisible enemy and lets everyone know that people are hiding in the dark shadows calling the shots.
Sep 2 2020 11:57:19 (EST) NEW Why did it take a political outsider to [finally] confront China? Q
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Sep 2 2020 11:55:11 (EST) NEW
Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.
Democratic donor and billionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, ran an underage child sex brothel and was convicted of soliciting underage girls for prostitution.
Democratic New York Congressman, Anthony Weiner, plead guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor as part of a plea agreement for sexted and sending Twitter DMs to underage girls as young as 15.
Democratic donor, activist, and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is being criminally prosecuted and civilly sued for years of sexual abuse (that was well known “secret” in Hollywood) including underage sexual activities with aspiring female actresses.
Democratic activist and #metoo proponent, Asia Argento, settled a lawsuit for sexual harassment stemming from sexual activities with an underage actor.
Democratic Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, Gary Becker, was convicted of attempted child seduction, child pornography, and other child sex crimes.
Democratic Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned after multiple accusations of child sexual abuse were levied against him including by family members.
Democratic activist and aid to NYC Mayor De Blasio, Jacob Schwartz was arrested on possession of 3,000+ child pornographic images.
Democratic activist and actor, Russell Simmons, was sued based on an allegation of sexual assault where he coerced an underage model for sex.
Democratic Governor of Oregon, Neil Goldschmidt, after being caught by a newspaper, publicly admitted to having a past sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl after the statute of limitations on the rape charges had expired.
Democratic Illinois Congressman, Mel Reynolds resigned from Congress after he was convicted of statutory rape of a 16-year-old campaign volunteer.
Democratic New York Congressman, Fred Richmond, was arrested in Washington D.C. for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old boy.
Democratic activist, donor, and director, Roman Polanski, fled the country after pleading guilty to statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl. Democrats and Hollywood actors still defend him to this day, including, Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Pedro Almodovar, Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci.
Democratic State Senator from Alaska, George Jacko, was found guilty of sexual harassment of an underage legislative page.
Democratic State Representative candidate for Colorado, Andrew Myers, was convicted for possession of child pornography and enticing children.
Democratic Illinois Congressman, Gus Savage was investigated by the Democrat-controlled House Committee on Ethics for attempting to rape an underage female Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire. The Committee concluded that while the events did occur his apology was sufficient and took no further action.
Democratic activist, donor, and spokesperson for Subway, Jared Fogle, was convicted of distribution and receipt of child pornography and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
Democratic State Department official, Carl Carey, under Hillary Clinton’s state department, was arrested on ten counts of child porn possession.
Democratic Maine Assistant Attorney General, James Cameron, was sentenced to just over 15 years in federal prison for seven counts of child porn possession, receipt and transmission.
Democratic State Department official, Daniel Rosen, under Hillary Clinton’s state department, was arrested and charged with allegedly soliciting sex from a minor over the internet.
Democratic State Department official, James Cafferty, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography.
Democratic radio host, Bernie Ward, plead guilty to one count of sending child pornography over the Internet.Democratic deputy attorney general from California, Raymond Liddy, was arrested for possession of child pornography. Q
4632
Sep 2 2020 11:54:50 (EST) NEW
Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.
Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.
Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.
Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.
Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.
Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.
Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.
Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).
Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl. Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.
Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.
Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.
Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.
Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.
Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.
Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.
Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.
Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. … Q
4631
Sep 2 2020 11:53:46 (EST) NEW
Democratic California Congressman, Tony Cárdenas, is being sued in LA County for allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.
Democratic aide to Senator Barbara Boxer, Jeff Rosato, plead guilty to charges of trading in child pornography.
Democratic Alaskan State Representative, Dean Westlake, resigned from his seat after the media published a report alleging he fathered a child with a 16-year-old girl when he was 28.
Democratic New Jersey State Assemblyman, Neil Cohen, was convicted of possession and distribution of child pornography.
Republican Tim Nolan, chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Kentucky, pled guilty to child sex trafficking and on February 11, 2018 he was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.
Republican state Senator Ralph Shortey was indicted on four counts of human trafficking and child pornography. In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of child sex trafficking in exchange for the dropping of the other charges.
Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.
Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.
Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.
Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.
Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
Republican Senator Strom Thurmond, a notable racist, had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.
Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.
Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.
Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.
Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.
Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.
Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.
Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped. … Q
4630
Sep 2 2020 11:53:16 (EST) NEW How is blackmail used?
Democratic Illinois State Representative, Keith Farnham, has resigned and was charged with possession of child pornography and has been accused of bragging at an online site about sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl.
Democratic spokesperson for the Arkansas Democratic Party, Harold Moody, Jr, was charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.
Democratic Radnor Township Board of Commissioners member, Philip Ahr, resigned from his position after being charged with possession of child pornography and abusing children between 2 and 6 years-old.
Democratic activist and BLM organizer, Charles Wade, was arrested and charged with human trafficking and underage prostitution.
Democratic Texas attorney and activist, Mark Benavides, was charged with having sex with a minor, inducing a child under 18 to have sex and compelling prostitution of at least nine legal clients and possession of child pornography. He was found guilty on six counts of sex trafficking.
Democratic Virginia Delegate, Joe Morrissey, was indicted on charges connected to his relationship with a 17-year-old girl and was charged with supervisory indecent liberties with a minor, electronic solicitation of a minor, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
Democratic Massachusetts Congressman, Gerry Studds, was censured by the House of Representatives after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old page.
Democratic Former Mayor of Stillwater, New York, Rick Nelson was plead guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography of children less than 16 years of age.
Democratic Former Mayor of Clayton, New York, Dale Kenyon, was indicted for sexual acts against a teenager.
Democratic Former Mayor of Hubbard, Ohio, Richard Keenan, was given a life sentence in jail for raping a 4-year-old girl.
Democratic Former Mayor of Winston, Oregeon, Kenneth Barrett, was arrested for setting up a meeting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a police officer.
Democratic Former Mayor of Randolph, Nebraska, Dwayne L. Schutt, was arrested and charged with four counts of felony third-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of intentional child abuse.
Democratic Former Mayor of Dawson, Georgia, Christopher Wright, was indicted on the charges of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, rape, child molestation and statutory rape of an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.
Democratic Former Mayor of Stockton, California, Anthony Silva, was charged with providing alcohol to young adults during a game of strip poker that included a 16-year-old boy at a camp for underprivileged children run by the mayor.
Democratic Former Mayor of Millbrook, New York, Donald Briggs, was arrested and charged with inappropriate sexual contact with a person younger than 17.
Democratic party leader for Victoria County, Texas, Stephen Jabbour, plead guilty to possession and receiving over half a million child pornographic images.
Democratic activist and fundraiser, Terrence Bean, was arrested on charges of sodomy and sex abuse in a case involving a 15-year-old boy and when the alleged victim declined to testify, and the judge dismissed the case.
Democratic Party Chairman for Davidson County, Tennessee, Rodney Mullin, resigned amid child pornography allegations.
Democratic activist, Andrew Douglas Reed, pleaded guilty to a multiple counts of 2nd-degree sexual exploitation of a minor for producing child pornography.
Democratic official from Terre Haute, Indiana, David Roberts was sentenced to federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography including placing hidden cameras in the bedrooms and bathrooms at a home he shared with two minor female victims. … Q
I remember when President Trump met a veteran wounded so badly that he had no arms. The President reached out and touched his face so he would feel the human contact. #trump #MAGA #Veterans #VeteransForTrump
https://youtu.be/b_YXGQTey3w All Assets Deployed & Failing, What Happens When Bad News Is About To Break - Episode 2268b
Report date: 09.04.2020
The [DS]/MSM are now deploying all assets, but it failing, the stories don't work anymore, people are awake. Trump makes another peace deal, he is bringing the world together. Big news is about to drop and the [DS]/MSM are trying to get ahead of it with distractions to clog up the MSM. The push is on by the elite to start a civil war, but is failing, stay vigilant.
All source links to the report can be found on the x22report.com site.
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:05 am; edited 7 times in total
In any case you smashed the 10.000 hits barrier, my congrats!
The Central Europe Plate (it did not shift or change much)... Laurentia, and later Laurasia... is one of the oldest and thus most stable spots on earth... and there was Mediterra...
Thank-you Ashera. Half of those hits involve me posting without participation. I do a lot of repeating and editing. I'm doing less and less of anything original or profound as I feel and function worse and worse. The End Seems Near. A Stranger Told Me I Was "Stubborn to the End." Good to Know and Duly Noted. Perhaps I'm Galactic Enemy Number One But I Feel Like Number Two!! BTW, What is THAT Image??
I noticed that videos were changed in my posts without changing them. I've seen this happen several times throughout the years. A lot of what I experience on an ongoing basis would drive most people insane, and I am NOT Kidding. I mostly take it in stride or just take it. Is this the Matrix at Work?? What if the Universe is Stuck with an Unchangeable and Intolerable Matrix for All Eternity?? This Thing Might be Worse Than Anyone Can Imagine. What Would Linda Moulton Howe Say?? She Probably Knows the Basic Problems But Can't Solve the Puzzle as Time Seems to be Running Out. This might be highly annoying and repetitious BUT consider reading Job to Daniel straight-through, over and over, in a variety of translations, with internal interpretation, and no commentaries. Consider Dr. Raymond Cottrell studying Daniel 7-12 for seventeen years (1955-72). What were his ultimate conclusions?? I never found out. Please remember that I provide Context and Conjecture without Conclusions and Collusion. I'm Damaged Goods and Can't Recall Because I Had a Stroke. That's My Story and I'm Sticking to it. A couple of months before my Stroke, a stranger told me, "You've Had a Bad Week, but it Will be Over Soon." He had an authoritative voice, and I later thought he resembled a particular Cardinal (but I was probably mistaken). Just consider this to be more Religious and Political Science-Fiction for Modeling-Purposes.
Carol wrote:
https://youtu.be/1SU7VuX-Ip8 Whitney Webb Interview - 2020 Election Chaos Being Used To Set Stage For The Final Technocratic Push
"It's a set up for a RESET.
Reps and Dems war will be used to bring in Martial Law and lots more vital info to consider!!
“Bipartisan” Washington Insiders Reveal Their Plan for Chaos if Trump Wins the Election
A group of “bipartisan” neoconservative Republicans and establishment Democrats have been “simulating” multiple catastrophic scenarios for the 2020 election, including a simulation where a clear victory by the incumbent provokes “unprecedented” measures, which the Biden campaign could take to foil a new Trump inauguration.
A group of Democratic Party insiders and former Obama and Clinton era officials as well as a cadre of “Never Trump” neoconservative Republicans have spent the past few months conducting simulations and “war games” regarding different 2020 election “doomsday” scenarios.
Per several media reports on the group, called the Transition Integrity Project (TIP), they justify these exercises as specifically preparing for a scenario where President Trump loses the 2020 election and refuses to leave office, potentially resulting in a constitutional crisis. However, according to TIP’s own documents, even their simulations involving a “clear win” for Trump in the upcoming election resulted in a constitutional crisis, as they predicted that the Biden campaign would make bold moves aimed at securing the presidency, regardless of the election result.
This is particularly troubling given that TIP has considerable ties to the Obama administration, where Biden served as Vice President, as well as several groups that are adamantly pro-Biden in addition to the Biden campaign itself. Indeed, the fact that a group of openly pro-Biden Washington insiders and former government officials have gamed out scenarios for possible election outcomes and their aftermath, all of which either ended with Biden becoming president or a constitutional crisis, suggest that powerful forces influencing the Biden campaign are pushing the former Vice President to refuse to concede the election even if he loses.
This, of course, gravely undercuts the TIP’s claim to be ensuring “integrity” in the presidential transition process and instead suggests that the group is openly planning on how to ensure that Trump leaves office regardless of the result or to manufacture the very constitutional crisis they claim to be preventing through their simulations.
Such concerns are only magnified by the recent claims made by the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State under Obama, Hillary Clinton, that Biden “should not concede under any circumstances.” “I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don’t give an inch, and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is,” Clinton continued during an interview with Showtime a little over a week ago. The results of the TIP’s simulations notably echo Clinton’s claims that Biden will “eventually” win if the process to determine the election outcome is “dragged out.”
The Uniparty’s “war games”
Members of the TIP met in June to conduct four “war games” that simulated “a dark 11 weeks between Election Day and Inauguration Day” in which “Trump and his Republican allies used every apparatus of government — the Postal Service, state lawmakers, the Justice Department, federal agents, and the military — to hold onto power, and Democrats took to the courts and the streets to try to stop it,” according to a report from The Boston Globe. However, one of those simulations, which examined what would transpire between Election Day and Inauguration Day in the event of a “clear Trump win,” shows that the TIP simulated not only how Republicans could use every option at their disposal to “hold onto power”, but also how Democrats could do so if the 2020 election result is not in their favor.
While some, mostly right-leaning media outlets, such as this article from The National Pulse, did note that the TIP’s simulations involved the Biden campaign refusing to concede, the actual document from TIP on the exercises revealed the specific moves the Biden campaign would take following a “clear win” for the Trump campaign. Unsurprisingly, these moves would greatly exacerbate current political tensions in the United States, an end result that the TIP claims they were created to avoid, gravely undercutting the official justification for their simulations as well as the group’s official reason for existing.
In the TIP’s “clear Trump win” scenario (see page 17), Joe Biden – played in the war game by John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign manager and chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton – retracted his election night concession and subsequently convinced “three states with Democratic governors – North Carolina, Wisconsin and Michigan – to ask for recounts.” Then, the governors of Wisconsin and Michigan “sent separate slates of electors to counter those sent by the state legislature” to the Electoral College, which Trump had won, in an attempt to undermine, if not prevent, that win.
Next, “the Biden campaign encouraged Western states, particularly California but also Oregon and Washington, and collectively known as “Cascadia,” to secede from the Union unless Congressional Republicans agreed to a set of structural reforms. (emphasis added)” Subsequently, “with advice from [former] President Obama,” the Biden campaign laid out those “reforms” as the following:
Give statehood to Washington, DC and Puerto Rico Divide California into five states “to more accurately represent its population in the Senate” Require Supreme Court justices to retire at 70 Eliminate the Electoral College
In other words, these “structural reforms” involve the creation of what essentially amounts to having the U.S. by composed 56 states, with the new states set to ensure a perpetual majority for Democrats, as only Democrat-majority areas (DC, Puerto Rico and California) are given statehood. Notably, in other scenarios where Biden won the Electoral College, Democrats did not support its elimination.
Also notable is the fact that, in this simulation, the TIP blamed the Trump campaign for the Democrats’ decision to take the “provocative, unprecedented actions” laid out above, asserting that Trump’s campaign had “created the conditions to force the Biden campaign” into taking these actions by doing things like giving “an interview to The Intercept in which he [Trump] stated that he would have lost the election if Bernie Sanders had been nominated” instead of Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.
The TIP also claimed that the Trump campaign would seek to paint these “provocative, unpredecented actions” as “the Democrats attempting to orchestrate an illegal coup,” despite the fact that that is essentially what those actions entail. Indeed, in other simulations where the Trump campaign behaved along these lines, the TIP’s rhetoric about this category of extreme actions is decidedly different.
Yet, the simulated actions of the Biden campaign in this scenario did not end there, as the Biden campaign subsequently “provoked a breakdown in the joint session of Congress [on January 6th] by getting the House of Representatives to agree to award the presidency to Biden,” adding that this was “based on the alternative pro-Biden submissions sent by pro-Biden governors.” The Republican party obviously did not consent, noting that Trump had won the election through his Electoral College victory. The “clear Trump win” election simulation ended with no president-elect being inaugurated on January 20, with the TIP noting “it was unclear what the military would do in this situation.”
Of course, some TIP members, including its co-founder Rosa Brooks – a former advisor to the Obama era Pentagon and currently a fellow at the “New America” think tank, have their preference for “what the military would do in this situation.” For instance, Brooks, writing less than 2 weeks after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, argued in Foreign Policythat “a military coup, or at least a refusal by military leaders to obey certain orders” was one of four possibilities for removing Trump from office prior to the 2020 election.
Who is behind the TIP?
The TIP was created in late 2019, allegedly “out of concern that the Trump Administration may seek to manipulate, ignore, undermine or disrupt the 2020 presidential election and transition process.” It was co-founded by Rosa Brooks and Nils Gilman and its current director is Zoe Hudson. Brooks, as previously mentioned, was an advisor to the Pentagon and the Hillary Clinton-led State Department during the Obama administration. She was also previously the general counsel to the President of the Open Society Institute, part of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), a controversial organization funded by billionaire George Soros. Zoe Hudson, who is TIP’s director, is also a former top figure at OSF, serving assenior policy analyst and liaison between the foundations and the U.S. government for 11 years.
OSF ties to the TIP are a red flag for a number of reasons, namely due to the fact that OSF and other Soros-funded organizations played a critical role in fomenting so-called “color revolutions” to overthrow non-aligned governments, particularly during the Obama administration. Examples of OSF’s ties to these manufactured “revolutions” include Ukraine in 2014 and the “Arab Spring,” which began in 2011 and saw several governments in the Middle East and North Africa that were troublesome to Western interests conveniently removed from power.
Subsequent leaked emails revealed the cozy ties between Soros and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, including one email where Soros directed Clinton’s policy with respect to unrest in Albania, telling her that “two things need to be done urgently,” which were to “bring the full weight of the international community to bear on Prime Minister Berisha” and “appoint a senior European official as mediator.” Both “urgent” tasks were subsequently performed by Clinton, presumably at Soros’ behest.
In addition to her ties to the Obama administration and OSF, Brooks is currently a scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute, where she focuses on “the relationship between the military and domestic policing” and also Georgetown’s Innovative Policing Program. She is a currently a key player in the documented OSF-led push to “capitalize” off of legitimate calls for police reform to justify the creation of a federalized police force under the guise of defunding and/or eliminating local police departments. Brooks’ interest in the “blurring line” between military and police is notable given her past advocacy of a military coup to remove Trump from office and the TIP’s subsequent conclusion that the military “may” have to step in if Trump manages to win the 2020 election, per the group’s “war games” described above.
Brooks is also a senior fellow at the think tank New America. New America’s mission statement notes that the organization is focused on “honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create.” It is largely funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, including Bill Gates (Microsoft), Eric Schmidt (Google), Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Jeffrey Skoll and Pierre Omidyar (eBay). In addition, it has received millions directly from the U.S. State Department to research “ranking digital rights.” Notably, of these funders, Reid Hoffman was caught “meddling” in the most recent Democratic primary to undercut Bernie Sanders’ candidacy during the Iowa caucus and while others, such as Eric Schmidt and Pierre Omidyar, are known for their cozy ties to the Clinton family and even ties to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
The Never Trumpers
Aside from Brooks, the other co-founder of TIP is Nils Gilman, the current Vice President of Programs at the Berggruen Institute and, prior to that, worked for Salesforce, a major tech company and government contractor. Gilman is particularly focused on artificial intelligence and transhumanism, recently telling the New York Times that his work at the Berggruen Institute is focused on “building [a] transnational networks of philosophers + technologists + policy-makers + artists who are thinking about how A.I. and gene-editing are transfiguring what it means to be human.” Nicholas Berggruen, for whom the Berggruen Institute is named, is part of the billionaire-led faction, alongside Blackstone’s Steve Schwarzman and Eric Schmidt, who seek to develop A.I. and the so-called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” in conjunction with the political leaders and economic elite of China.
They are critics and rivals of those in the “nationalist” camp with respect to A.I. and China, who instead prefer to aggressively “leapfrog” China’s A.I. capabilities in order to maintain U.S. global hegemony as opposed to a “new order” promoted by Berggreun, Schmidt, Schwarzman and Henry Kissinger, another key member of the “cooperation” faction. The battle over the U.S.’ future A.I. policy with respect to China appears to be a major yet widely overlooked reason for some of the antipathy towards Trump by those in the “cooperation” faction, including those who employ TIP’s founders, given Trump’s tendency to, at least publicly, support “America First” policies and increased tensions with China. In contrast, the Biden family is invested in Chinese A.I. companies, suggesting that Biden would be more willing to pursue the interests of the “cooperation” faction than Trump.
While the identities of the TIP’s founders and current director have been made public, the full member list of the TIP has not. However, the TIP’s “sister” organization, called The National Task Force on Election Crises (NTFEC), does have a public membership list and several of its members are also known to be part of the TIP. Some of these overlapping members include Michael Chertoff, former head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Michael Steele, former chairman of the RNC and Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to former Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Chertoff, Steele and Wilkerson, though Republicans, are part of the so-called “Never Trump” Republican faction, as are the TIP’s other known Republican members. Thus, while the “bipartisan” nature of TIP may be accurate in terms of party affiliation, all of known TIP’s members – regardless of party – are united in their opposition to another term for the current president.
Other known members of the TIP include David Frum (the Atlantic), William Kristol (Project for a New American Century, The Bulwark), Max Boot (the Washington Post), Donna Brazile (ex-DNC), John Podesta (former campaign manager – Clinton 2016), Chuck Hagel (former Secretary of Defense), Reed Galen (co-founder of the Lincoln Project) and Norm Ornstein (American Enterprise Institute).
Of their known members, the most outspoken is Lawrence Wilkerson, who has fashioned himself the group’s “unofficial” spokesperson, having done the majority of media interviews promoting the group and its “war games.” In an interview in late June with journalist Paul Jay, Wilkerson notes that the TIP lacks transparency and that, aside from their “war games,” their other activities are largely confidential.
He specifically stated that:
“There is some confidentiality about what we agreed to, and what we’ve put out publicly, and who’s responsible for that, and other aspects of our doing that. The Transition Integrity Project is to this point very, very close, whole, and confidential.”
In that same interview, Wilkerson also noted that the current “combination of events” involving the recent unrest in several U.S. cities, the coronavirus crisis, the national debate over the future of policing, the economic recession and the 2020 election was the foundation for a revolution in the U.S. He told Jay that:
“I want to say this is how things like 1917 and Russia, like 1979 and Tehran, and like 1789 in France. This is how these sorts of things get started. So we’ve got to be very careful about how we deal with these things. And that worries me because we don’t have a very careful individual in the White House.” Pre-planned chaos – who benefits?
While it certainly is possible that, in the event of a clear Biden win, President Trump could refuse to leave the White House or take other actions that would challenge the faith of many Americans in the national election system. However, while the TIP claims to be specifically concerned about this eventuality and about “safe guarding” democracy without favoring either candidate, that is clearly not the case, as their simulation of a clear Trump win shows that extreme, “undemocratic” behavior, in their view, is permissible if it prevents another four years of Trump. Yet, this clear double standard reveals that an influential group of “bipartisan” insiders are intent on creating a “constitutional crisis” if Trump wins and are planning for such a crisis regardless of the 2020 election’s results.
Well before the TIP or any of their affiliated groups emerged to conduct these doomsday election simulations, other groups were similarly engaged in “war games” that predicted complete chaos in the U.S. on election day as well as the imposition of martial law in the U.S. following the emergence of unprecedented unrest and disarray in the country.
Several of these I detailed in a series earlier this year, which mainly focused on the “Operation Blackout” simulations conducted by the U.S.-Israeli company, Cybereason. That company has considerable ties to the U.S. and Israeli intelligence and its largest investor is Softbank. Notably, Softbank is named by the Eric Schmidt-led National Security Commission on AI (NSCAI) as forming the “backbone” of a global framework of A.I.-driven companies favored by the “cooperation” faction as a means of enacting the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” in cooperation with China’s economic and political elite.
In addition to Cybereason, several mainstream media reports and a series of suspect “predictions” from U.S. intelligence and other federal agencies released last year had seeded the narrative that the 2020 election would not only fail spectacularly, but that U.S. democracy “would never recover.” Now, with the TIP’s simulations added to the mix and the advent of the previously predicted chaos throughout the country with the 2020 election just two months away, it is clear that the November 3rd election will not only be a complete disaster, but a pre-planned one.
The question then becomes, who benefits from complete chaos on and following the 2020 election? As the TIP suggested in several of their simulations, the post-election role of the military in terms of domestic policing, incidentally the exact expertise of the TIP’s co-founder Rosa Brooks, looms large, as most of the aforementioned doomsday election simulations ended with the imposition of martial law or the military “stepping in” to resolve order and oversee the transition.
The domestic framework for imposing martial law in the U.S., via “continuity of government” protocols, was activated earlier this year under the guise of the coronavirus crisis and it remains in effect. Now, a series of groups deeply tied to the Washington establishment and domestic and foreign intelligence agencies have predicted the exact ways in which to engineer a failed election and manipulate its aftermath.
Who would stand to benefit the most from the imposition of martial law in the United States? I would argue that one need look no further than the battle within Washington power factions over the future of AI, which has been deemed of critical importance to national security by the public sector, the private sector and prominent think tanks. The Schmidt-led NSCAI and other bodies determining the country’s AI policy plan to implement a series of policies that will be deeply resisted by most Americans – from the elimination of individual car ownership to the elimination of cash as well as the imposition of an Orwellian surveillance system, among other things.
All of these agendas have advanced under the guise of combatting coronavirus, but their advance can only continue to use that justification for so long. For groups like the NSCAI, Americans must welcome these AI-driven advances or else, even if it means Americans face losing their jobs or their civil liberties. Otherwise, these groups and their billionaire backers argue, the U.S. will be “left out” and “left behind” when it comes time to set the new global standards for AI technology, as the U.S. will then be left in the dust by China’s growing AI industry, which is fed by its own implementation of these technologies.
By keeping Americans angry and distracted by the partisan divide through pre-planned election chaos, a “New America” waits in the wings – one that is coming regardless of what happens on election day. That is, of course, unless Americans quickly wake up to the ruse.
Carol wrote:
Here is the Cybereason article: Why a Shadowy Tech Firm With Ties to Israeli Intelligence Is Running Doomsday Election Simulations
Election Day 2020: 32 Americans dead, over 200 injured, martial law declared and the election itself is canceled. While this horrific scenario seems more like the plot of a Hollywood film, such was the end result of a recent simulation examining the preparedness of U.S. officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Secret Service against “bad actors” seeking to undermine the upcoming presidential election.
Yet, this simulation was not a government-organized exercise but was instead orchestrated by a private company with deep ties to foreign and domestic intelligence services, a company that is also funded by investors with clear connections to individuals who would stand to benefit if such a catastrophic election outcome were to become reality.
Much of the rhetoric since the last presidential election in 2016 has focused on the issue of foreign meddling by U.S. rival states like Russia, while China has emerged as the new “meddler” of choice in American corporate media as the 2020 election approaches. Though time has revealed that many of the post-2016 election meddling claims were not as significant as initially claimed, the constant media discussion of foreign threats to U.S. democracy and electoral processes – whether real or imagined – has undeniably created a climate of fear.
Those fears have since been preyed upon by neoconservative groups and the U.S. military-industrial complex, both of which are hardly known for their love of democratic processes, to offer a series of ready-made solutions to these threats that actually undermine key pillars of American democracy, including independent reporting and voting machine software.
However, many of the very same media outlets and groups that frequently fretted about Russia, China or another rival state meddling in U.S. democracy have largely ignored the role of other nation states, such as Israel, in efforts to sway the last U.S. election in 2016 and meddle in numerous elections in Africa, Latin America and Asia in the years since.
As a consequence of this climate of fear, it should be hardly surprising that the corporate media lauded the recent 2020 election simulation that ended in an abysmal failure for U.S. officials, the cancellation of the U.S. election and the imposition of martial law. Yet, none of those reports on the exercise noted that the company that hosted the simulation, called Cybereason, is led by ex-members of Israel’s military intelligence unit 8200, advised by former top and current officials in both Israeli military intelligence and the CIA. In addition, it is funded by and partnered with top U.S. weapons manufacturer and government contractor Lockheed Martin and financial institutions with clear and direct ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and White House adviser and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Also left unmentioned in media reports on Cybereason’s election simulations is the fact that Cybereason’s CEO, Lior Div, has openly admitted that he views his work at Cybereason as a “continuation” of his service to Israel’s intelligence apparatus.
With Cybereason planning to host more simulations in cooperation with federal agencies as the U.S. election inches closer, a deeper exploration of this company, its ties to intelligence and military contractors in the U.S. and Israel and its financial ties to key Trump allies both domestically and abroad warrants further investigation.
In this two part series, MintPress will not only explore these aspects but also how many of the technologies wielded by the “bad actors” in the Cybereason election simulation have been pioneered and perfected, not by U.S. rival states, but by Israeli companies and start-ups with clear ties to that country’s intelligence apparatus.
Also notable is the fact that Cybereason itself has covertly become a major software provider to the U.S. government and military through its direct partnership with Lockheed Martin, which followed the defense company’s decision to open an office at the Israeli military’s new cyber operations hub in the Negev desert. In examining all of these interlocking pieces, a picture emerges of a potentially sinister motive for Cybereason’s simulations aimed at gauging how U.S. federal officials respond to crisis situations on Election Day.
Understanding “Operation Blackout”
In early November, a team of “hackers” working for the private U.S.-based, Israeli-founded company Cybereason conducted a 2020 election simulationwith members of various U.S. agencies, namely the DHS, FBI and the U.S. Secret Service. The simulation was organized by Cybereason and the law firm Venable and the U.S. agencies in attendance were invited and appear to not have been charged to participate.
The simulation, titled “Operation Blackout,” was set in a fictional swing state called “Adversaria” and pitted “ethical hackers” from Cybereason against a team of federal and local law enforcement officials. The opposing teams were supervised by a “white team” composed of members of Cybereason’s staff and Ari Schwartz — a former member of the White House’s National Security Council and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — who set the rules of the simulation and would ultimately decide its outcome. Schwartz also used to work for the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), a major backer of Microsoft’s ElectionGuard software.
Operation Blackout did not involve hackers targeting election software or voting machines, instead, it focused on civilian infrastructure and psychological operations against the American citizens in the fictitious “Adversaria” on election day. The hacker team was led by Cybereason co-founder Yonathan Striem-Amit, a former contractor for Israeli government agencies and a former operative for the elite Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200, best known for its cyber offensives against other governments.
“In a country as fragmented as the US, the number of people needed to influence an election is surprisingly small,” Striem-Amit told Quartz of the exercise. “We attempted to create havoc and show law enforcement that protecting the electoral process is much more than the machine.”
Streim-Amit’s team completely devastated the U.S. law enforcement team in Operation Blackout by not only causing chaos but murdering numerous civilians. Hackers took control of city buses, ramming them into civilians waiting in line at polling stations, killing 32 and injuring over 200. They also took control of city traffic lights in order to cause traffic accidents, used so-called “deepfakes” to conduct psychological operations on the populace and created fake bomb threats posing as the terror group ISIS, which incidentally has its own ties to Israeli intelligence. Telecom networks and news outlets within the fictitious states were also hacked and flooded with deepfakes aimed at spreading disinformation and panic among U.S. citizens.
The supervising team, composed of Cybereason employees and former NSC member Ari Schwartz, decided that the outcome of the face-off between the hacker and law enforcement teams was the outright cancellation of the 2020 election, the declaration of martial law by authorities, the growth of public fear regarding terrorism and allegations of U.S. government collusion with a foreign actor. Cybereason has stated that they will soon conduct another 2020 election simulation with federal authorities as the election draws closer.
Given how the simulation played out, it is quite clear that it is a far cry from the actual scope of alleged foreign meddling during the 2016 election, meddling which was allegedly the motivation behind Operation Blackout. Indeed, the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election amounted to $100,000 worth of Facebook ads over three years, 25 percent of which were never seen by the public, and claims that Russian state actors were responsible for leaking emails from the then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In contrast, Operation Blackout went well beyond any observed or even imagined “foreign meddling” related to the 2016 election and appears more like a terror attack targeting elections than a covert means of manipulating their outcomes.
Several mainstream publications have covered Operation Blackout but have failed to note that the company behind them has deep ties to foreign intelligence outfits and governments with a documented history of manipulating elections around the world, including the 2016 U.S. election.
Quartz framed the exercise as important for “preparing for any and all possibilities in 2020,” which “has become an urgent task for US regulators and law enforcement.” Similarly, CyberScoop treated the simulation as a “sophisticated exercise to help secure the vote.” Other articles took the same stance.
A series of simulations
In the weeks after the Washington area election simulation, Cybereason repeated the same exercise in London, this time with members of the U.K. Intelligence agency GCHQ, the U.K. Foreign Office and the Metropolitan Police. The law enforcement team in the exercise, which included the U.K. officials, was headed by a Cybereason employee — Alessandro Telami, who formerly workedfor the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI). Like the prior simulation conducted in the U.S., Cybereason did not appear to charge U.K. government agencies for their participation in the exercise.
Cybereason has — with little fanfare — been promoting extreme election day scenarios since before the 2016 election. Cybereason’s first mention of these tactics appears in a September 2016 blog post written by the company’s CEO and former Israeli government contractor Lior Div — a former leader of offensive cyberattacks for the IDF’s elite Unit 8200 and a former development group leader at the controversial Israeli-American corporation Amdocs.
Div wrote that hackers may target U.S. elections by “breaking into the computers that operate traffic lighting systems and interfering with the ones around polling stations to create massive traffic jams, “hacking polling companies,” and “targeting live election coverage on cable or network television stations.” A follow-up post by Div from October 2016 added further meddling tactics such as “cut power to polling stations” and “mess with a voter’s mind.”div
Two years later, Cybereason held its first election meddling simulation, touting many of these same tactics, in Boston. The simulation focused on local and state responses to such attacks and saw Boston-based Cybereason invite Massachusetts state and local officials as well as Boston police officers and a former police commissioner to participate. “Twitter accounts spreading fake news,” “turning off a city’s closed-circuit cameras,” “hacking self-driving cars and navigation apps,” and “targeting a city’s 911 call center with a DDoS attack” were all used in the simulation, which saw Cybereason’s “ethical hackers” attempt to disrupt election day. Media coverage of the simulation at the time framed it as a necessary preparation for countering “Russian” threats to U.S. democracy. Like the more recent simulations, the mock election was canceled and voter confidence in the electoral process was devastated.
This past July, Cybereason conducted a similar simulation with officials from the FBI, DHS and the Secret Service for the first time. That simulation, which also took place in Boston, was remarkably similar to that which occurred in November. One intelligence officer from DHS who participated in the July exercise called the simulation “very realistic.” Another claimed that the simulation was a way of applying “lessons learned from 9/11” by preventing the government’s “failure of imagination” that officials have long alleged was the reason for the government’s inability to thwart the September 11 attacks. Notably, The U.S. military simulated a scenario in which terrorists flew airplanes into the Pentagon less than a year before the September 11 attacks.
Participating government officials, Cybereason staff and the media have consistently touted the importance of these simulations in securing elections against extreme threats, threats which — to date — have never materialized due to the efforts of foreign or domestic actors on election day. After all, these exercises are only simulations of possibilities and, even if those possibilities seem implausible or unlikely, it is important to be prepared for any eventuality.
But what if the very figures behind these simulations and the investors that fund them had a history of election meddling themselves? Cybereason’s deep ties to Israeli intelligence, which has a documented history of aggressive espionage and election meddling in the United States and in several nations worldwide, warrant a deeper look into the firms’ possible motives and the myriad conflicts of interest that arise in giving it such unprecedented access to the heart of America’s democracy.
What Does Cybereason Do?
Cybereason’s interest in terror events during elections seems out of place given that the company itself is focused on selling technological cybersecurity solutions like antivirus and ransomware protection software, software products that would be minimally effective against the type of threat encountered in the company’s election day simulations.
Cybereason is often described as offering a comprehensive technological defense platform to companies and governments that combines a next-generation antivirus with endpoint detection and response (EDR), which enables the company to respond to typical viruses and malware as well as sophisticated, complex attacks. The platform makes heavy use of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing and specifically uses Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is used by a litany of private companies as well as U.S. intelligence agencies.
While many cybersecurity platforms combine antivirus and antimalware with EDR and AI, Cybereason claims that their military background is what sets them apart. They have marketed themselves as offering “a combination of military-acquired skills and cloud-powered machine learning to endpoint detection and response” and actively cite the fact that most of their employees are former members of Unit 8200 as proof that they are “applying the military’s perspective on cybersecurity to enterprise security.”
In 2018, Cybereason’s former senior director for intelligence, Ross Rustici, described the platform to CBR as follows:
Our founders are ex-Israeli intelligence who worked on the offensive side. They basically wanted to build a tool that would catch themselves. We follow the kill chain model started by Lockheed Martin [now a major investor in Cybereason] and try to interrupt every stage once an intruder’s inside a target network.”
Lior Div, Cybereason’s CEO described the difference between his company’s platform and that of past market leaders in this way to Forbes:
The old guard of antivirus companies like Symantec and McAfee would install something to block endpoints and you needed to do a lot [of monitoring] to make sure you weren’t under attack. We came with a different approach to see the whole enterprise and leverage AI to be able to fully autonomously identify where attackers are and what they’re doing.”
Thus, in looking at Cybereason’s product and its marketing objectively, it seems that the only innovative component of the company’s system is the large number of ex-military intelligence officers it employs and its tweaking of a previously developed and automated model for threat engagement, elimination and prevention.
Instead, Cybereason’s success seems to owe to its prominent connections to the private and public sectors, especially in Israel, and its investors who have funneled millions into the company’s operations, allowing them to expand rapidly and quickly claim a dominant position in emerging technology markets, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced healthcare systems.
Their considerable funding from the likes of Lockheed Martin and Softbank, among others, has also helped them to expand their international presence from the U.S., Europe and Israel into Asia and Latin America, among other places. Notably, while Cybereason is open about their investors and how much funding they receive from each, they are extremely secretive about their financial performance as a company and decline to disclose their annual revenue, among other indicators. The significance of Cybereason’s main investors in the context of the company’s election simulations and its ties to Israeli and U.S. intelligence (the focus of this article) will be discussed in Part 2.
Cybereason also includes a security research arm called Nocturnus, currently headed by a former Unit 8200 officer. Nocturnus will be explored further in Part 2 of this series, as it essentially functions as a private intelligence company in the tech sector and has been behind several recent claims that have attributed alleged hacks to state actors, namely China and North Korea. For now, it is important to keep in mind that Nocturnus utilizes Cybereason’s “global network of millions of endpoints” for its intelligence gathering and research, meaning the endpoints of every device to which Cybereason’s software has access.
Given what Cybereason provides as a company, their interest in offering election simulations to government officials free of charge seems odd. Indeed, in the simulations hosted by Cybereason for U.S. officials, there is little opportunity for the company to market their software products given that the simulation did not involve electronic voting infrastructure at all and, instead, the malevolent actors used deep fakes, disinformation and terror attacks to accomplish their goals. Why then would this company be so interested in gauging the response of U.S. law enforcement to such crises on election day if there is no sales pitch to be made? While some may argue that these simulations are an altruistic effort by the company, an investigation into the company’s founders and the company’s ties to intelligence agencies suggests that this is unlikely to be the case.
The People Behind Cybereason
Cybereason was created in 2012 by three Israelis, all of whom served together as officers in the Israel Defense Force’s elite technological and signals intelligence unit, which is most often referred to as Unit 8200. Unit 8200 has been the subject of several MintPress investigative reports over the past yearfocusing on its ties to the tech industry.
Unit 8200 is an elite unit of the Israeli Intelligence corps that is part of the IDF’s Directorate of Military Intelligence and is involved mainly in signal intelligence, surveillance, cyberwarfare and code decryption. It is also well-known for its surveillance of Palestinian civilians and for using intercepted communications as blackmail in order to procure informants among Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank.
The unit is frequently described as the Israeli equivalent of the NSA and Peter Roberts, a senior research fellow at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute, characterized the unit in an interview with the Financial Times as “probably the foremost technical intelligence agency in the world and stand[ing] on a par with the NSA in everything except scale.” Notably, the NSA and Unit 8200 have collaborated on numerous projects, most infamously on the Stuxnet virus as well as the Duqu malware.
Given the secrecy of the work conducted by Unit 8200, it is hard to know exactly what Cybereason’s co-founders did while serving in the controversial unit, however, a brief biography of the company’s current CEO and co-founder Lior Div states that “Div served as a commander [in Unit 8200] and carried out some of the world’s largest cyber offensive campaigns against nations and cybercrime groups. For his achievements, he received the Medal of Honor, the highest honor bestowed upon Unit 8200 members (emphasis added).”
After having served in leadership positions within Unit 8200, all three Cybereason co-founders went on to work for private Israel-based tech or telecom companies with a history of aggressive espionage against the U.S. government.
Cybereason co-founders Yonathan Striem Amit (Cybereason’s Chief Technology Officer) and Yossi Naar (Cybereason Chief Visionary Officer) both worked for Gita Technologies shortly before founding Cybereason with fellow Unit 8200 alumnus Lior Div. Gita, according to public records, is a subsidiary of Verint Systems, formerly known as Comverse Infosys.
Verint/Comverse was initially funded by the Israeli government and was founded by Jacob “Kobi” Alexander, a former Israeli intelligence officer who was wanted by the FBI on nearly three dozen charges of fraud, theft, lying, bribery, money laundering and other crimes for over a decade until he was finally extradited to the United States and pled guilty to some of those charges in 2016.
Despite its history of corruption and foreign intelligence connections, Verint/Comverse was hired by the National Security Agency (NSA) to create backdoors into all the major U.S. telecommunications systems and major tech companies, including Facebook, Microsoft and Google. An article on Verint’s access to U.S. tech infrastructure in Wired noted the following about Verint:
In a rare and candid admission to Forbes, Retired Brig. Gen. Hanan Gefen, a former commander of the highly secret Unit 8200, Israel’s NSA, noted his former organization’s influence on Comverse, which owns Verint, as well as other Israeli companies that dominate the U.S. eavesdropping and surveillance market. ‘Take NICE, Comverse and Check Point for example, three of the largest high-tech companies, which were all directly influenced by 8200 technology,’ said Gefen.”
Federal agents have reported systemic breaches at the Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, the State Department, and the White House going all the way back to the 1990s, breaches they claimed could all be traced back to two companies: Comverse/Verint and Amdocs. Cybereason’s other co-founder and current CEO, Lior Div, used to work for Amdocs as the company’s development group leader.
After leaving Amdocs, Div founded a company called Alfatech. Alfatech publicly claims to specialize in “professional Head Hunting and Quality Recruiting services,” yet it has no functional website. Despite its publicly stated mission statement, Israeli media reports that mention Alfatech describe it as “a cybersecurity services company for Israeli government agencies.” No reason for the obvious disconnect between the company’s own claims and those made by the media has been given.
Div left Alfatech in 2012 to found Cybereason alongside Striem-Amit and Naar. According to an interview that Div gave to TechCrunch earlier this year, he stated that his work at Cybereason is “the continuation of the six years of training and service he spent working with the Israeli army’s 8200 Unit (emphasis added).” Div was a high-level commander in Unit 8200 and “carried out some of the world’s largest cyber offensive campaigns against nations and cybercrime groups” during his time there.TechCrunch noted that “After his time in the military, Div worked for the Israeli government as a private contractor reverse-engineering hacking operations,” an apparent reference to his work at Alfatech.
Even deeper ties to intelligence
Not only do Cybereason’s own co-founders have considerable links to the Israeli government, Israeli intelligence and intelligence-connected private companies, but it also appears that the work of Cybereason itself is directly involved with Israeli intelligence.
The company periodically publishes reports by a secretive faction of the company called the Cybereason Intelligence Group or CIG. The only descriptionof CIG’s composition available on Cybereason’s website is as follows:
The Cybereason Intelligence Group was formed with the unique mission of providing context to the most sophisticated threat actors. The group’s members include experts in cyber security and international security from various government agencies, including the Israel Defense Forces’ Unit 8200, which is dedicated to conducting offensive cyber operations. Their primary purpose is to examine and explain the Who and the Why behind cyber attacks, so that companies and individuals can better protect themselves (emphasis added).”
It is unclear how many members comprise CIG and if its members are employees of only Israeli government agencies, or if it includes officials from the U.S. government/Intelligence or other governments. However, what is clear is that it is composed entirely of government officials, which include active members of Unit 8200, and that the purpose of the group is to issue reports that place blame for cyberattacks on state and non-state actors. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the vast majority of CIG’s reports published by Cybereason focus exclusively on Russia and China. When discussing nation-state cyber threats in general, Cybereason’s website only mentions China, North Korea, Iran and Russia by name, all of which are incidentally rival states of the U.S. government. Notably, Israel’s government — listed as a “leading espionage threat” to U.S. financial institutions and federal agencies by the U.S.’ NSA — is absent from Cybereason’s discussions of state actors.
In addition to CIG, Cybereason’s cybersecurity research arm, Nocturnus,includes several Unit 8200 alumni and former Israeli military intelligence and government contractors and has assigned blame to state actors for several recent hacks. It also has claimed to have discovered more such hacks but has declined to publicly disclose them due to the “sensitive” nature of the hacks and companies affected.
Other hints at Cybereason’s connections to state intelligence can be seen in its advisory board. Robert Bigman, the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who oversaw the spy agency’s “commercial partner engagement” program (i.e. alliances with the private tech sector), is a key figure on the company’s advisory board. According to his biography, Bigman “ contributed to almost every Intelligence Community information security policy/technical standard and has provided numerous briefings to the National Security Council, Congress and presidential commissions. In recognition of his expertise and contributions, Bigman has received numerous CIA and Director of National Intelligence Awards.”
Unmentioned in his biography published his own website, or on Cybereason’s website, is that Bigman is also an advisor to another Israeli tech company, Sepio Systems. The chairman of Sepio, Tamir Pardo, is a self-described “leader” in the cybersecurity industry and former director of Israel’s Mossad. Sepio is funded by a venture capital firm founded by the creators of the controversial Israeli spy tech company NSO Group, which has received a slew of negative press coverage after its software was sold to several governments who used it to spy on dissidents and human rights activists.
In addition to Bigman, Cybereason’s advisory board includes Pinchas Buchris, the former head of Unit 8200 and former managing director of the IDF. Not unlike Bigman, Buchris’ bio fails to mention that he sits on the board of directors of Carbyne911, alongside former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Nicole Junkerman, both well-known associates of intelligence-linked sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein. Epstein himself poured at least $1 million into Carbyne, an Israeli company that seeks to run all 911 call centers in the U.S. at the national level and has close ties to the Trump administration. More information on Carbyne and its ties to Israeli and U.S. intelligence as well as its connection to coming pre-crime policies to be enacted in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice can be found in this MintPress report from earlier this year. Given that Cybereason’s election day simulations involve the simulated collapse of 911 call center functionality, Buchris’ ties to both Cybereason and Carbyne911 are notable.
Another notable Cybereason advisor is the former commissioner of the Boston Police Department, Edward Davis. Davis heavily promoted Cybereason’s disturbing election day simulations and even participated directly in one of them. He was also police commissioner of the Boston PD at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing and oversaw the near-martial law conditionsimposed on the city during the manhunt for the alleged perpetrators of that bombing (who themselves had a rather odd relationship with the FBI). This is notable given that Cybereason’s election day simulations ended with martial law being imposed on the fictional city used in the exercise
Cybereason also has several advisors who hold top positions at powerful U.S. companies that are also — incidentally — U.S. government contractors. These include the Vice President Security and Privacy Engineering at Google, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
of Lockheed Martin and CISO at Motorola. Both Motorola and Lockheed Martin use Cybereason’s software and the latter is also a major investor in the company. Furthermore, as will be explained in Part 2 of this article, Lockheed Martin has used its privileged position as the top private contractor to the U.S. government to promote the widespread use of Cybereason’s software among U.S. government agencies, including the Pentagon.
Much more than a cybersecurity company
Given Cybereason’s deep and enduring ties to Israeli intelligence and its growing connections to the U.S. military and U.S. intelligence through its hiring of top CIA officials and partnership with Lockheed Martin, it’s worth asking if these disturbing election simulations could serve an ulterior purpose and, if so, who would benefit. While some aspects regarding clear conflicts of interest in relation to the 2020 election and Cybereason will be discussed in Part 2, this article will conclude by examining the possibility that of Cybereason is acting as a front company for Israeli intelligence based on that country’s history of targeting the U.S. through private tech companies and on Cybereason’s own questionable characteristics.
First, Cybereason as a company presents several oddities. Its co-founder and CEO openly states that he views Cybereason’s work as a continuation of his service for Israeli military intelligence. In addition, he and the company’s other founders — after they left Unit 8200 — went to work for Israeli tech companies that have been known to spy on U.S. federal agencies for the Israeli government.
In addition, as previously mentioned, Cybereason has sought out former intelligence officers from the CIA and Unit 8200 for its management team and board of advisors. The company itself also functions as a private intelligence firm through CIG and Nocturnus, both of which employ former and current intelligence officials, and have made significant claims regarding the attribution of specific cybercrimes to state actors. It appears highly likely that these claims are influenced by those same intelligence agencies that boast close ties to Cybereason. Furthermore, Nocturnus’ access to Cybereason’s “global” network of endpoints makes it a private intelligence gathering company as it gathers and analyzes data from all devices that run Cybereason’s software.
Yet, even more telling is the fact that Israel’s government has an open policy of outsourcing intelligence-related activity to the private sector, specifically the country’s tech sector. As MintPress previously reported, this trend was first publicly acknowledged by Israel in 2012, the same year that Cybereason was founded by former Israeli military intelligence officers then-working for private contractors for Israel’s government (Alfatech) or private companies known to have ties to Israeli intelligence, including Verint/Comverse.
As noted in an article on the phenomenon from the Israeli media outlet The Calcalist:
Israel is siphoning cyber-related activities from its national defense apparatus to privately held companies. Since 2012, cyber-related and intelligence projects that were previously carried out in-house in the Israeli military and Israel’s main intelligence arms are transferred to companies that in some cases were built for this exact purpose.”
Mention of Israel’s policy of blurring the lines between the public and private sector when it comes to cybersecurity and intelligence gathering has even garnered the occasional mention in mainstream media, such as in a 2018 Foreign Policy article:
Israel, for one, has chosen to combat the problem on a statewide level by linking the public and private spheres, sometimes literally. The country’s cyberhub in the southern city of Beersheba is home not just to the Israeli military’s new technology campus but also to a high-tech corporate park, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s cyber-research center, and the Israel National Cyber Directorate, which reports directly to the prime minister’s office. “There’s a bridge between them—physically,” [Gabriel] Avner, the security consultant, said by way of emphasis.”
Notably, a year before Lockheed Martin invested in and partnered with Cybereason, the U.S.-based weapons company opened an office at the IDF’s public-private cyber hub in Beersheba. At the inauguration ceremony for Lockheed’s Beersheba office, company CEO Marilyn Hewson stated:
The consolidation of IDF Technical Units to new bases in the Negev Desert region is an important transformation of Israel’s information technology capability…By locating our new office in the capital of the Negev we are well positioned to work closely with our Israeli partners and stand ready to: accelerate project execution, reduce program risk and share our technical expertise by training and developing in-country talent.”
Further evidence of this public-private merger can be seen in how two of Israel’s intelligence agencies, Shin Bet and Mossad, have both recently launched a private start-up accelerator and a hi-tech venture capital fund, respectively. The Shin Bet’s accelerator, called Xcelerator, usually makes its investments in private companies public, while Mossad’s Libertad Ventures refuses to disclose the tech companies and start-ups in which it invests. Former directors of both Mossad and Shin Bet have described these intelligence agencies themselves of being like start-ups, clearly showing how much the line between intelligence apparatus and private company has been blurred within the context of Israel’s tech industry and specifically its cybersecurity industry.
The advantages of outsourcing cyber intelligence operations to private companies have been noted by several analysts, including Sasha Romanosky, a former Cyber Policy Advisor at the Department of Defense and current analyst at RAND Corporation. Romanosky noted in 2017 that private intelligence and cybersecurity firms “do not necessarily face the same constraints or potential repercussions” as their public counterparts when it comes to designating blame for a cyberattack, for example. In addition, outsourcing intelligence objectives or missions to private companies provides a government with plausible deniability if that private company’s espionage-related activities or ties are made public.
Furthermore, Israeli intelligence has a long history of using private tech companies for the purposes of espionage, including against the United States. While Amdocs and Verint/Comverse were already mentioned as having been used by the state of Israel in this way, other private companies have also been used to market software backdoored by Israeli intelligence to countries around the world, both within the U.S. and elsewhere. The most well-known example of this is arguably the mass sale and distribution of the bugged PROMIS software, which was discussed at length in several recent MintPress News reports.
Given Cybereason’s ties to intelligence and Israeli intelligence’s history of placing backdoors in its software, it is worth pointing out that Cybereason’s main product, its antivirus and network defense platform, offers a major espionage opportunity. Blake Darché, a former N.S.A. operator, told the New York Times in 2017 that antivirus programs, which Cybereason’s defense platform includes, is “the ultimate backdoor,” adding that it “provides consistent, reliable and remote access that can be used for any purpose, from launching a destructive attack to conducting espionage on thousands or even millions of users.” Whether a company like Cybereason would use its software for such ends is unknown, though the company does acknowledge that its cybersecurity arm does gather intelligence from all systems that use the company’s software and currently employs and works with active duty Unit 8200 officials through CIG. This is notable because Unit 8200’s main task for Israeli military intelligence is signals intelligence, i.e. surveillance.
More of a mystery, however, is why a company like Cybereason is so interested in U.S. election security, particularly when Israeli intelligence and Israeli intelligence-connected private companies have been caught in recent years meddling in elections around the world, including the United States.
Some of you might enjoy this magazine. https://atoday.org/site/1/issuepdf/2003-01.pdf There is a problem here, and this might make people think (in good and bad ways). I'm sorry for cluttering up this page (and all of them, really). I add a bit of this and that to offend most everyone (tit for tat). Did I miss anyone?? I tend to just sample in a mostly contrarian manner. It's sort of like going for a long drive while enjoying the scenery. Here are some videos most people couldn't care less about. What is interesting to me is the concept of conflicting concepts in perpetuity to refine and clarify thinking. Perhaps this is the essence of the Matrix. Most people have no idea whatsoever concerning the content in these videos. They disillusion me, yet I could probably make a career out of them, with expansion and contraction, adding-thereto and truncating with theological milestones and historical necessities. Every Person is Offered Truth or Repose. You Can Have One or the Other But You Can't Have Both. Sometimes I Wonder if Sherry Shriner is Still Lurking in the Shadows (for a variety of reasons). I'm Wary of Sherry, and She Seemed to Know Way Too Much. Here's Her 01/23/17 Show (one month prior to my open-heart surgery). Researchers Beware. Beware of Historians. The Horror.
I've wondered about a Ford Family Version of The Nostradamus Kid. It has plot potential, but what about COVID-19 and the Information-War?? People might not have an appetite for All the Above. They might be downright hostile. We seem to be sailing in uncharted waters. I've tried to create an Alternative Research Modality in a Speculative and Science-Fictional Manner, but No One Seems to be the Slightest Bit Interested. I might've recently encountered an Attractive Individual of Interest regarding All the Above, but I don't want to talk about it. I nearly said something. The Ford Phenomenon is an Acquired Taste Which Few Might Savor. It involves a lot of Study and Struggle over at least a Couple of Decades. Few people would probably give a Rat's Patootie About It. Families and Churches Split Over It. One would probably need to live it to get it. I really think I might somehow be a long-lost solar-system analyst with amnesia who probably does NOT belong here. Try studying This Present Thread straight-through, over and over, to attempt to understand. You still might not get it. The General-Public would probably NOT get it. If you actually make a movie, be extremely careful to watch the script, props, cast, audience, and budget. This might be extremely difficult to get right. 'RA' probably knows what I'm talking about (in more ways than most of you can imagine). Still, I'm worried about the Corrupt Ruling the Stupid in This Present Darkness. What Would Frank Peretti Say?? Please Remember That I'm Attempting to Understand Rather Than Condemn or Create a Spectacle. I Suspect That Humanity (As We Know It) Might Really End in This Century. Take My Stuff Seriously Without Crying "Wolf!!" I Don't Know What's REALLY Going to Happen. I Think Less As I Feel Worse. This Graveyard Spiral Might End at Any Moment. The Horror. I was there in Des Ford's Science Complex Sabbath School Classes. I was there when a thousand people climbed the stairs from Paulin Hall to Irwin Hall at 4:00 PM on a Sabbath Afternoon in October to hear Dr. Desmond Ford's Forum Lecture, The Investigative Judgment: Theological Milestone or Historical Necessity? What Would the Nasty Little Horn Say?? What Would Erwin Gane Say?? BTW, That REALLY is the Young Actor, Russell Crowe, in the First Video!! What Would Luke Ford Say??
Dr. Desmond Ford died on March 11, 2019, at the age of 90. I wasn't a disciple of Dr. Ford, but I thought that his controversial life and teachings should be carefully studied by the best and brightest of all beliefs (and lack thereof). Serious researchers should exist within an Ivy-League Mindset (even if simple and uneducated, like me). I've included a few low-quality videos to give you some idea of who Des was in his prime. I'm sad and crying. There is very little resolution to the issues connected with Dr. Ford and the SDA church. There's been a deplorable level of understanding relative to the most important theological concepts. This Present Thread has more to do with Dr. Desmond Ford than you can imagine. I read between the lines in more ways than anyone can imagine. Read This Present Thread straight-through, over and over, to get what I'm getting at.
Dr. Desmond Ford promoted 'Forensic-Only Justification' and 'No Investigative-Judgment' (for starters). I've taken Dr. Ford very-seriously, but I've arrived at different conclusions. I don't agree with Des or the SDA church (but I think they should be exhaustively studied). What if the SDA church were defined by reading the five-volume 'Conflict of the Ages Series' straight-through, over and over (despite the plagiarism and exegetical issues)?? I've suggested that some of us must read Job to Daniel (straight-through, over and over) to better understand Judaism and Christianity (but this might open the biggest can of worms imaginable). Religion and Theology are generally dark and controversial (by accident and/or design). Read the Whole-Bible straight-through, over and over, to begin to understand why this might be the case. I hesitated to add the following material to this sad post, but perhaps some additional understanding might result from doing so. Here is a preliminary timeline:
1. M.L. Andreasen gains unprecedented access to Ellen White and her writings (shortly before her death). 2. Prophets and Kings (covering the last-half of the Old-Testament) is published in 1917 (two-years after Ellen White's death). 3. M.L. Andreasen publishes the foundation of a later book Isaiah the Gospel Prophet in 1929 in a series of Sabbath-School lessons. 4. Pope Pius XII creates an encyclical promoting Biblical-Scholarship (during World War II). 5. The SDA Church facilitates the monumental SDA Bible Commentary in the early to mid 1950's. 6. Significant problems are encountered regarding the Book of Daniel during that project. 7. A Top-Level Daniel-Committee (including Raymond Cottrell) spends Five-Years (1961 to 1966) studying the Problems in Daniel -- with no minutes kept -- and nothing published. 8. Raymond Cottrell spends Seventeen-Years (1955--1972) studying Daniel and Sanctuary Issues -- resulting in 1,100 pages of notes -- with nothing being officially-published (as far as I know). 9. Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine is published in 1957 with a HUGE Firestorm of Controversy. 10. Desmond Ford obtains a PhD in 1972 from the University of Manchester in England -- with F.F. Bruce as his advisor -- wherein he studies the Issues Involving Daniel and the Sanctuary (from a New-Testament Perspective). 11. Desmond Ford moves from Australia to California in 1977 -- where he teaches at Pacific Union College in the Napa Valley. 12. "Azazel" begins studies at Pacific Union College in 1977 -- attends numerous lectures by Desmond Ford -- and takes classes from Erwin R. Gane (outspoken critic of Desmond Ford). 13. "Oh, God!" seemingly featuring "Azazel" is produced in 1977 (with John Denver and George Burns). 14. Desmond Ford publishes his Commentary on Daniel in 1978. 15. Desmond Ford delivers a controversial lecture at P.U.C. in 1979 titled The Investigative Judgment: Theological-Milestone or Historical-Necessity (with "Azazel" in attendance). Eric Syme is the lecture-respondent -- and speaks significantly regarding "Azazel". "Azazel" takes a class from Dr. Syme -- and speaks to him in his office regarding Dr. Ford's lecture. 16. Desmond Ford is given a leave of absence from teaching to prepare a defense of his views. 17. "Azazel" is involved in significant conversations with P.U.C. Theology-Major (and Ford Supporter) Mark Martin (Now an Arizona Calvary Chapel Mega-Church Pastor with 12,000 members). 18. Ford attends a major gathering of scholars and administrators in 1980 at Glacier View Ranch, in Colorado -- regarding his views -- which turns-out to be a Kangaroo-Court (in retrospect). 19. Ford Publishes the 1,000 page Daniel 8:14, the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment in 1980. 20. Ford is fired by P.U.C. and defrocked by the SDA Church in 1980. 21. Kenneth Woodward of Newsweek Magazine comes to P.U.C. in 1980 to write a story regarding the Desmond Ford Controversy -- and speaks in a public-meeting -- in which "Azazel" asks Mr. Woodward a question. 22. Raiders of the Lost Ark -- directed by Steven Spielberg -- featuring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones -- is released in 1981. This movie features the Ark of the Covenant -- which is central to the Sanctuary, Daniel, and the Investigative Judgment. 23. Russell Crowe stars in a 6 minute advertisement in 1982 for Avondale College -- an SDA college in Australia -- and is subsequently featured in many movies which seem to have "Azazel" parallels. 24. The End of the World, A.D. 2133 by Lucio Bernardo Silvestre is published in 1985 by Vantage Press -- with seemingly a very-small number of copies being printed. "Azazel" later obtains a copy. The text is expertly-written -- and features the Book of Daniel. 25. "Azazel" regularly attends a Sabbath-School Class taught by Dr. A. Graham Maxwell (in the late 1980's) -- which is regularly attended by Steven Spielberg's stepmother -- who "Azazel" speaks with regarding a Movie-Idea featuring a Science-Fictional Life of Christ. 26. "Azazel" regularly attends Dr. Walter Martin's Sunday-School Class in Costa Mesa, California (in the late 1980's). Martin was a central-figure in the Questions on Doctrine saga. 27. "Azazel" later speaks extensively with several individuals of interest -- including a Dogma movie-character "Bartleby" look-alike who says "I AM RA".
I could continue -- but this list is a beginning -- and it honestly hurts too much to elaborate. I could be more direct and complete -- but I've already stuck my neck out way too far. All of the Above sounds far-fetched and ridiculous -- but if you were me, and you knew everything I know, you'd be shaking with fear!! I'm wondering if that Daniel-Committee which met for five-years -- and Raymond Cottrell's seventeen-year study -- uncovered some of what I'm presently dealing-with??!! I'm recommending an intense study of the third, fourth, and sixth volumes of the SDA Bible Commentary -- for several reasons. The main-idea is to use the sixth-volume (Acts to Ephesians) to give the third and fourth volumes (1 Chronicles to Malachi) a decidedly New-Testament tone and application -- with the 1 Chronicles to Malachi third and fourth volumes being Normative. You'd have to be deeply immersed in this stuff to really get what I'm getting-at!! "Daniel 8:14!! Do You Get What I Mean??!!"
Notice that within This Present Thread (USSS Deep State Nine) I've printed FOUR Ellen White Books in their entirety, in the chronological order of publication: 'Desire of Ages' (1898), 'Christ's Object Lessons' (1900), 'Acts of the Apostles' (1911), 'Prophets and Kings' (1917). The totality of SDA publications and sermons are a Tower of Babel, but perhaps this is a necessary-evil, or is it?? Compare the Whole-Bible with the Whole 'Conflict of the Ages Series'. What Would Graham Maxwell Say and Do?? I'm often tempted to read the books of Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Harold Schuller because the Historical-Stuff and Contemporary-Scholarship are so negative and controversial. One must be a Glutton for Punishment to properly analyze Politics and Religion on Planet Earth. It seems as if 'Satan is Alive and Well, and Living on Planet Earth'. What Would Hal Lindsey Say and Do?? That Lying Two-Faced Reprobate!!
I honestly think this thing is going to end BADLY (in SO Many Ways). I'm just trying to warn you. I don't want to keep repeating what I keep posting throughout my threads regarding who I think I MIGHT Be (and how the whole prophecy-thing MIGHT Play-Out) -- but if some of you Nazi-Mason-Jesuit Intelligence-Agents do some research (way beyond what I'm capable of doing with my limited-resources and self-imposed restrictions) -- you'll be amazed -- and you might even quarantine me!! A Subterranean 600 Square-Foot Office-Apartment with a Supercomputer is looking better all the time!! I'm sort of kidding -- and sort of Sirius!! I'm really dumb and dull in real-life -- but I have sort of a "silent and subtle sophistication". What Would Alanis Morissette Say?? What Would David Mann Say?? What Would David Bowie Say?? What Would David Bowman Say?? What Would Alan Rickman Say??
Remember that strange message I found in my word-processor some time ago, regarding supposedly writing 37 books (at least 2,000 years-ago) 5 of which were supposedly included in the Bible?? Consider 1 Chronicles -- Job -- Ecclesiastes -- Daniel -- and Zechariah -- as possible candidates for those five-books!! And what about Isaiah 40-66 -- Jonah -- and Malachi?? What if those five-books referenced in that word-processor message had nothing to do with the New-Testament (as we know it)?? Or what if James were one of the chosen-five?? What if those 37 (including the 5) books were essentially an Old-Testament Commentary in the Style of the New-Testament?? What would a Completely New-Testament Version of 1 Chronicles to Malachi look-like?? Does ANYONE Know What I'm Talking About?? What Would King David Say?? What Would King Solomon Say?? What Would the Queen of Sheba Say?? Notice that I'm often purposely obscure. Notice that I've kept my word regarding restricting my tripe to this website. I'm serious about "My Book" being Volumes 3 and 4 of the SDA Bible Commentary (for the time-being). Ellen G. White didn't write a Bible-Commentary!! WHY NOT??!!
Patriarchs and Prophets -- Prophets and Kings -- Desire of Ages -- and Acts of the Apostles -- are essentially a New-Bible!! Perhaps EGW had inside-information regarding how the Bible should've been written!! I'm half-joking and half-serious!! What if Volumes 3 and 4 of the SDA Bible Commentary might be considered an Ellen White Bible Commentary on 1 Chronicles to Malachi?? Why did Ellen (Goa'uld) White "Beat Around the Burning-Bush" and take so many "Editorial-Liberties"?? Imagine Volumes 3 and 4 of the SDA Bible Commentary rewritten in the style of Prophets and Kings!! BTW -- might there be such a thing as a Kinder and Gentler Nazi--Mason--Jesuit Alphabet-Agency??!! What Would William Boone Say?? What Would Ronald Sandoval Say?? What Would Zo'or and Da'an Say?? Think About It!! Visualize reading Volumes 3 and 4 of the SDA Bible Commentary while listening to the Bach B-minor Mass!! What Would Leroy Froom Say?? What Would Roy Allen Anderson Say?? What Would Desmond Ford Say?? What Would the Jesuit General Say?? Does ANYONE Get What I'm Getting At??!! This stuff is so sad and insane -- that it's almost funny!! "I told you she was funny!!"
I noticed that the liberal "Spectrum" site has NOT Discussed a fine SDA Bible Commentary series of articles at all -- but they vigorously-debate the most-trivial matters imaginable!! WHY?? I've noticed that The Mists mostly avoids my threads (as if by Divine-Prohibition) -- yet vigorously-debates the most-trivial matters imaginable!! WHY?? Regarding Volumes Three, Four, and Six of the SDA Bible Commentary -- what would a composite-study reveal regarding Sabbath-Observance in Modernity for Jews, Gentiles, and All-Concerned? I frankly have No Problem with Sabbath-Observance in the Right-Context BUT I fear that Imposing Sabbath-Observance (of ANY Day) upon humanity in modernity would result in unimaginable civil-unrest and brutal-bloodshed. I've suggested the possibility of Sacred Classical Music offered in the larger-churches Each and Every Day as a possible Ecumenical-Genesis. But really, I think I need to Not Talk. This isn't my gig. Helping might result in Hurting.
I've absented myself from church to gain objectivity and clarity -- not as an expression of rebellion. Plus, I'm unimaginably burned-out and disillusioned with just about EVERYTHING. The Ancient Egyptian Deity closely (and seemingly gloatingly) questioned me regarding the Sabbath in a telephone-interview which he said was recorded and in which others were listening!! It was almost an "Aha!! We Got You Now!!" sort of thing!! I got the same impression at the end of the original Project Avalon -- when I called for the institution of a United States of the Solar System (with the help of the Benevolent Beings of the Universe)!! I had NO Idea at that time (2010) that I might be a Significant Individual of Interest (possibly with a Significant Ancient Existence). Have I been Decisively-Defeated at Long-Last?? That frankly wouldn't surprise me one little-bit!! Ding-Dong??!! If this actually occurred, will this somehow protect me from the horrors and karmic-debt of what's in-store for Earth, Humanity, the Solar-System, the Galaxy, and the Rest of the Universe?? What if the Cleansing of the Sanctuary involves the Entire-Universe?? I Honestly Have NO Idea -- but I'm more apprehensive and fearful than anyone can possibly imagine. It sucks to be me. I HATE My Life. I Honestly Do. Making the Coffee and Watching Jupiter Ascending Doesn't Help!!
I guess I really intend my nine United States of the Solar System threads to be sort of a Research-Baseline as a Foundation for MUCH More Scholarly and Serious Research. Perhaps it's NOT my place to do anything more than that (at least until A.D. 2133). Perhaps I've done way too much already. Perhaps this incarnation wasn't supposed to be a competition at all. Some (including me) seem to feel as if I've failed in this incarnation -- and that the other-guy won. Perhaps that's exactly what's happened OR perhaps my incarnation was sort of a Red-Herring. Perhaps there were predetermined-responses established to properly deal-with whatever I did (or didn't do). Think about John and Delenn Sheridan's son "David" -- briefly mentioned toward the end of the Babylon 5 series. David was destined to receive some sort of a curse on his sixteenth-birthday. Why?? "Sweet-Sixteen and Never Been Cursed??" I feel as if I've been cursed and hamstrung for most of my pathetic-life.
You have no idea how smart and sensitive I was as a child and teen. But things have gotten worse and worse and worse -- while I continued to mean-well and intend the best. The ongoing hatred I've encountered has been inexplicable to me. Perhaps I was placed here to experience and observe (in a most-unpleasant and highly-unproductive manner). I think you can see by my posts that I'm not a total-moron -- but in real-life, posting is NOT a marketable job-skill (to say the least). BTW -- what if the resignation of the Pope (and the election of a Jesuit-Pope) signaled the removal of Archangel II -- and the beginning of an A.D. 2013 to A.D. 2133 Home-Rule of Mankind by Mankind (without Divine-Management)?? What if this was part of the plan?? What if this was NOT part of the plan?? What if this is mankind's only possible chance at surviving?? Or what if an extermination is inevitable (with or without Divine-Intervention)?? What if the Father, Son, and Holy-Spirit have been replaced by Putin, Obama, and Francis?? Sorry if that offends -- but what-if?? What if the PTB will be replaced by a Computer-Managed Human-Collective?? What if that has already occurred?? If so, what if this will continue indefinitely (way-past A.D. 2133)?? What if a changing of the guard in A.D. 2133 will be a non-event?? I honestly have No Idea.
What if Archangel II overthrew Archangel I in Antiquity?? What if Mankind overthrew Archangel II in Modernity?? What if there will be an Investigative and Executive Judgment between A.D. 2013 and A.D. 2133?? What if the movie Noah signaled the beginning of a 120 Year End of the World?? What Would Russell Crowe Say?? What if Archangel I will be restored to their rightful-state in A.D. 2133?? What if the Garden of Eden inaugurated Mankind's Rebellion Against God?? What if the End of the World will consummate Mankind's Rebellion Against God?? Once again -- consider Possibility-Thinking relative to Sacred-Scripture!! I think I'm trying to eliminate the element of surprise -- or perhaps I'm simply trying to cover my @$$!! Raven told me the Rabbit-Hole Mostly Went Right Up My @$$!! She didn't like me one little bit -- did she??!! "F^%%$#@^&&**K!!!!" BTW -- When I Don't Stop Posting -- and When I Change My Mind Regarding a Foundational-Book -- Does That Make Me Deceptive?? What Is One to Do?? What if the Antichrist Doesn't Want the Job?? What Would the Pope Say?? What Would the President Say?? What Would Putin Do?? What Would Slim Shady Say?? What if Matrix = Ma's Tricks?? What Would the Trickster Say??
I travel 'Roads Less Travelled' in ways no one might comprehend. Perhaps I've had a bunch of 'Mini-Strokes' or 'Mimic-Strokes' for Decades. Who Knows?? Perhaps I'm a 'Casualty of a Hidden Spiritual War'. Anyway, Here is an Unlikely Source with Few Views. Is This an Individual of Interest?? That's All I'm Going to Say for Now. Now I Go Incognito (again). https://www.youtube.com/c/JeannieHardesty/videos
A 600 Square-Foot Office-Apartment on the Dark-Side of the Moon!! "What Shall We Do About Desmond Ford??"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Ford Desmond Ford (2 February 1929 – 11 March 2019)[1] was an Australian theologian who studied Evangelicalism. Within the Seventh-day Adventist Church he was a controversial figure.[2] He was dismissed from ministry in the Adventist church in 1980, following his critique of the church's investigative judgment teaching. He subsequently worked through the non-denominational evangelical ministry Good News Unlimited. Ford disagreed with some aspects of traditional Adventist end-time beliefs. However, he defended a conservative view of Scripture, the Seventh-day Sabbath, and a vegetarian lifestyle. He viewed the writings of Ellen G. White as useful devotionally, but not at the level of authority held by the Church. [3] Ford shared the sermon time at the Good News Unlimited congregation, which meets on Saturdays in the Brisbane suburb of Milton,[4] and in periodic seminars on the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Desmond Ford was born in Townsville, Queensland, Australia on 2 February 1929, to Wilfred Ford and Lillian Simpson. He had one brother, Val, who was three and a half years older. The Ford lineage consisted of farmers and cattlemen of English and Australian descent. The Simpson lineage derived from England, Ireland and China. Desmond's parents were nominal Anglican Christians, with his father almost an atheist in practice, and his mother presenting "a religious façade." Wilfred encouraged his son to read, beginning a lifelong obsession for the "unusually gifted" boy.[4]
When Lillian was pregnant with Desmond, an Adventist book salesman shared insights on nutrition with the family, sparking a chain of events affecting Desmond's life. At an Adventist camp meeting in 1939 Desmond was given a Bible, which he would complete 3 years later, around the time he finished primary school. However his parents divorced when he was nine; Wilfred moved to Canberra, and Lillian and the boys later moved to Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). He passed his Intermediate Certificate in 1943. However, due to the family's poverty and Australia's involvement in World War II, Desmond had to drop out of school. He became officially employed with Associated Newspapers at the age of 15, although he had started working there months earlier, and was promoted from copy boy to an editorial position because of his published work. Meanwhile, Desmond took night classes for high school. All along, Desmond was being influenced by encounters with Adventists and other Christians, and steadily collected books on Christian theology, and the creation-evolution controversy.[5][6]
Ford was challenged by the strict lifestyle standards presented in Ellen G. White's Messages to Young People, and gave up the cinema and reading fiction. Reading novels had been his main childhood hobby, and became replaced with reading theology.[7] White's book The Great Controversy was a key influence on his conversion. In winter 1946 he publicly responded to a call for commitment to God's service. Ford was impressed by the Christian character of many of the Adventists who had nurtured him. In September he was officially baptised into the church. This was despite strong opposition from his brother; and his mother was also originally resistant to his conversion, having become disenchanted with the Adventist church herself. Ford resigned from his job, and returned briefly to Townsville with his family. He then left in 1947 for the Australasian Missionary College (nicknamed "Avondale", and later known as Avondale College) in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW, to train for the ministry.[8]
Ford found Avondale an exciting time for mental and spiritual growth. He was an active participant in class discussions, and occasionally taught classes to fill in for the lecturers. He was particularly inspired by Dr. William Murdoch, and carried out research for him. Ford gave talks in nearby churches, and published around a dozen articles for church magazines during this time. He also led students in Bible study. He struggled financially, and worked on Avondale's farm and elsewhere, and also selling Adventist books.[9]
He graduated from the Ministerial Course in Avondale in 1950, with high marks.[10]
Ford lived in a caravan (trailer) with his mother, who insisted on accompanying him, while canvassing (selling Christian books). Ford was sent to help build a new church in the coastal town of Coffs Harbour, NSW. In 1951, still in his first year of service as a pastor, he was sent to Newcastle, NSW, then an industrial city, to assist evangelist George Burnside. While Burnside was a dynamic presenter, Ford's biographer Milton Hook describes him as a fundamentalist (see: historic Adventism), and draws an analogy with a rugged, gung-ho cowboy like a John Wayne character. Ford questioned him on some end-times interpretations, resulting in conflict between the pair – a sign of further things to come.[11][12] Later he sold books in the Lake Macquarie and nearby Upper Hunter regions, which he found challenging work.[13]
He worked as a pastor in various churches and as an evangelist for about 7 years in NSW, in Australian[6][14] rural towns.
In 1952 Ford pastored the Coffs Harbour area, under a supervisor. His mother returned to Queensland. In December he married Gwen Booth, with whom he had shared a budding friendship and romance since their meeting at Avondale, where she studied teaching. Gwen had been raised in humble circumstances in Yass, and was a quiet achiever who cared about others, and had a deep faith in Jesus.[15] The following year they moved to the country town of Quirindi, where Ford pastored the church. From 1954 to mid-1955, Ford pastored in the Gunnedah area, then moved north to Inverell.[16] There a public debate with Burgin, a Church of Christ minister and a "formidable opponent" of Adventists, brought Ford respect. The topic was the Sabbath, with the specific title "Is the Seventh Day or the First Day Binding on Christians?" Arguably Ford won the debate. He later baptised some of Burgin's church members.[17] He was ordained. The couple stayed till the end of 1957, living on a meagre income throughout this whole period.[citation needed]
The South Pacific Division called him back to Avondale to complete his ministry course.[12][14] He completed a BA in 1958,[18] and went on to complete a Master's degree in systematic theology at the SDA Washington Seminary in 1959.[6] Ford subsequently received a PhD in the rhetorical analysis of Paul's letters from Michigan State University in 1961.[6] In the same year he returned to Australia and became head of the Religion Department at Avondale College, where he would remain until 1977.[19] At Avondale, Ford taught many classes, including public speaking, homiletics, and evangelism. He was a member of the Biblical Research Committee in Australia and the United States.[6]
He completed his second PhD in 1972 from the University of Manchester, while on leave from teaching at Avondale.[18] His supervisor was the renowned Protestant theologian F. F. Bruce. His field was New Testament studies, specifically eschatology (end times).[6][19] Ford entitled his thesis, The Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Eschatology.[20] His main expertise has been biblical apocalyptic literature, such as Daniel and Revelation, and eschatology.[6]
Ford was a primary opponent of the perfectionism within the SDA church, especially its form as taught by fellow Australian Robert Brinsmead.[21]
Ford believed that victory over the guilt of sin (justification) was provided at the cross, victory over the power of sin (sanctification) is the work of a lifetime and victory over the presence of sin (glorification) occurs at the return of Christ Jesus. Ford disagreed with the belief of sinless perfection, and acknowledges the final removal of sin occurs when mortality changes to immortality at the return of Jesus Christ. Ford believes that victory over the presence of sin does not occur during this lifetime, but at the return of Jesus Christ.[22]
Ford taught that justification precedes sanctification, because victory over the guilt of sin, precedes victory over the power of sin. Ford teaches that while justification is distinct from sanctification, the two concepts are always found together, in the same manner as two railway lines are distinct but never separate. Adventist belief places an equal emphasis on sanctification compared to justification, while still believing both are necessary for salvation.
Ford disagreed strongly with the belief of "eschatological perfectionism," which is the teaching that a final generation of believers must achieve a state of complete sinlessness (or Christlikeness) in the final period just before the second coming of Jesus when the saints are sealed (see Last Generation Theology). Mainstream Adventists consider the life and character of Christ as a perfect example that all must imitate. M. L. Andreasen felt that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, or investigative judgment, also involves the cleansing of the lives of believers on earth. This belief in sinlessness arose particularly from M. L. Andreasen's interpretation of the investigative judgment doctrine, which he based on concepts found in The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White.
Ford stepped into the debate within Adventism concerning the nature of Jesus Christ, specifically whether Jesus Christ took on a fallen or an unfallen human nature in the Incarnation. This was precipitated by the publication of Questions on Doctrine in 1957 which some Adventists felt did not agree with what the church held.[23][24]
The debate revolves around the interpretation of several biblical texts:
"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh." Romans 8:3 (ESV)"For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15"...concerning his Son (Jesus), who was descended from David according to the flesh..." Romans 1:3 (ESV)"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17 NKJV
and statements made by Ellen White:
"Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal." The Desire of Ages, p. 112."He assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its temptations." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 17, p. 337."But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity." Letter 8, 1895 in Manuscript Releases, Vol. 13, p. 18."Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering." Review & Herald, April 25, 1893
According to Adventist historian George Knight, most early Adventists (until 1950) believed that Jesus Christ was born with a human nature that was not only physically frail and subject to temptation, but that he also had the fallen predisposition and inclination to sin.[25] Since 1950, the "historic" wing of the church continues to hold this fallen view of Christ's human nature. Mainstream Adventist hold to the belief taught by Ellen White[26] that He came with the effects of Adam’s sin deep within his nature, that Christ took on the fallen nature but not the sinfulness of man.
In contrast to the "historic" view, Ford believes that Ellen White was clear that Christ took our infirmities and with the weaknesses of fallen man, the sinful nature in the sense of that he had a lessened capacity with respect to the fallen physical nature that he inherited from Adam, including physical weaknesses, frailties and mental, and moral degeneracy and deterioration.[27][28] While Christ was tempted as all other human beings are, Ford notes that the lessened capacity of his human nature did not ever include giving in to temptation or having any evil desires or propensity or predisposition towards sin in his spiritual nature, a position with which Ellen White taught and mainstream Adventists agree.[29][30]
According to Anglican Geoffrey Paxton, during the 1960s scholars such as Ford and Edward Heppenstall highlighted the concept of original sin within the SDA church.[31]
Seventh-day Adventists have historically preached a doctrine of inherited weakness, but not a doctrine of inherited guilt.[32] Ellen White and others such as George Storrs, and Uriah Smith were disposed to de-emphasise the corrupt nature inherited from Adam, instead stressing the importance of actual, personal sins committed by the individual. Adventists traditionally understand sins of commission as the transgression of God's law, either wilfully or in ignorance. They base their belief on texts such as "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) [33] Progressive Adventists add to this with some form of original sin.[34][35]
Ford urged Brinsmead to study the Reformers. As a result, Brinsmead ultimately rejected perfectionism.[18] Around 1970, there was a major controversy amongst Australian Adventists over whether "righteousness by faith" included both justification and sanctification.[18] This had been sparked by Brinsmead, and Ford became caught up in it.[18] Tensions over Ford and the theology teaching at Avondale more generally, led to a meeting of Australian church leaders on 3–4 February 1976 to hear accusations by a group of "Concerned Brethren". Ford's understanding of righteousness by faith was the main issue,[36] while the report mentions "the Sanctuary, the Age of the Earth and Inspiration."[37] In April a group of church leaders and theologians, including Ford met in Palmdale, California, to discuss the meaning of righteousness by faith.[38] Ford was the "center of attention." The resulting document was titled the "Palmdale Statement".[39][40]
In response to criticisms of his theology, in 1977 the church moved him to the United States, where he taught Religion at Pacific Union College for three years.[6][19][41] The classes he taught included the life and teachings of Christ, the Pauline epistles, Christian apologetics, Daniel and Revelation, the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament, introduction to theology, and biblical theology.[6]
In October 1979 Ford was invited to address a chapter meeting of the Association of Adventist Forums (now Adventist Forums) held at the College, on the topic of Hebrews 9 and its implications for the Adventist investigative judgment teaching.[6] The talk was titled, "The Investigative Judgment: Theological Milestone or Historical Necessity?" The talk criticized some aspects of the traditional understanding; Ford was summoned to the General Conference headquarters in Washington, D.C.[6] He was given six months to write up his views. Late in 1979, he stopped lecturing and moved to Takoma Park, Maryland.[19] Ford produced the 991-page manuscript, Daniel 8:14, the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment .[42] Ford, together with the majority of Christendom, believes the atonement was completed on the cross when Jesus cried out, "It is finished." And the Seventh-Day Adventist Church agrees with Ford on this point, declaring Christ's "sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete".[43] "On the cross the penalty for human sin was fully paid."[44] Like Ford, Seventh-Day Adventists see Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary as the application of the benefits of the already completed atonement, and not as an added payment or continuation of the work of atonement begun on the cross, as some groups do that teach salvation by works.
In August 1980, a group of Adventist theologians and administrators convened at Glacier View Ranch in Colorado to examine Ford's views. According to TIME magazine, he "made the case that White's 'sanctuary' explication of 1844 no longer stood up, and that 'investigative judgment' undercut the belief in salvation by God's grace apart from good works."[45] The culmination of this event was Ford losing his employment with the denomination [45] as a minister and theology professor.[19] After counsel from the General Conference, the Australasian Division withdrew "Ford's ministerial credentials."[46]
Ford's mentor, Edward Heppenstall, saw him as moving in some theological areas that his mentor could not agree with. Heppenstall was disappointed when he failed to dissuade Ford from his position at Glacier View, subsequently writing to him that he "was shocked at how far" he "had swung to the left Biblically and doctrinally".[47]
To commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Glacier View, the Sydney Adventist Forum held a pretend courtroom trial to assess the accuracy of Ford's claim that the Consensus Document has been largely in agreement with him. They concluded, "Ford was found to be substantially correct in claiming that the 114-member Sanctuary Review Committee (SRC) Consensus Document was in agreement with his twelve propositions—while Ministry was judged to have considerably over-stated its case." It concluded, "In retrospect, it is clear that the SRC made—in five days—more progress in understanding this biblical doctrine than the church has typically made in any fifty years of its history."[48]
Ford married Gwen Booth with whom he had three children – Elènne Gwen Ford (born 29 October 1955)[49][50] Paul Wesley Ford (born 20 December 1957),[51] and Luke Ford (born 1966).[52] Gwen died of breast cancer in April 1970.[53] Ford married Gillian Wastell ("Gill") in November of that year.[54] Elènne works as a barrister. She also owns the "Mango Hill Farm" organic farm attraction on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which includes farmstays, a small function centre, cooking school, etc.[55][56] It is located in Peachester, and for some years was the location of Ford's twice-a-month Gospel fellowships. Luke converted to Judaism and is a controversial internet blogger.[57]
Ford's biography, written by Milton Hook, was published in 2008.[58]
Desmond Ford died on 11 March 2019 in Sunshine Coast, Queensland.[55][68]
Ford has written around 30 books and numerous articles:
Unlocking God's Treasury, 1964 Discovering God's Treasures, 1972. Same book as Unlocking God's Treasury. Answers on the Way, 1976 Daniel, 1978 The Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Eschatology, 1979 Daniel 8:14, The Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment, 1980 Physicians of the Soul, God's Prophets Through the Ages, (Nashville, TN: Southern Publishing Association, 1980) ISBN 0-8127-0262-X. Includes Ford's views on Ellen G. White as a prophetess. It also traces Ford's childhood encounters with Adventists and the influence of Ellen G. White's books on helping him find Christ and becoming an Adventist. The Forgotten Day, 1981, about the Sabbath Crisis, 2 vols., 1982 The Adventist Crisis of Spiritual Identity, 1982 Coping Successfully with Stress, 1984 Will there be a Nuclear World Holocaust? 1984 How to Survive Personal Tragedy, 1984 A Kaleidoscope of Diamonds: The Jewelled Glories of the Cross Revealed, 2 vols, 1986 Worth More Than a Million, 1987 Daniel and the Coming King, 1996 Right With God Right Now: How God Saves People as Shown in the Bible's Book of Romans, 1998 The End of Terrorism, 2004 Eating Right for Type 2 Diabetes, 2004 God's Odds, 2006 For the Sake of the Gospel: Throw out the bathwater, but keep the Baby, 2008 Jesus Only, 2008 The Time is at Hand, 2009 The Coming Worldwide Calvary, 2009 The Final Roller-Coaster, 2010 How Long, O Lord, 2010 Jesus Only (abridged), 2013. Abridged by Ritchie Way. For more publications see Hook, p. 394, 395
Also:
Inside Story (written by Gillian Ford) Why Believe? Source Book
Last edited by orthodoxymoron on Tue Sep 08, 2020 9:16 am; edited 16 times in total
Thank-you Ashera. I just can't resist mixing Jesus Studies with Alternative Research. Unfortunately, that makes everyone mad. More Unfortunately, I Seem to be Going Mad (Little by Little). Perhaps That was Someone's Plan. The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Acts to Revelation is a Quest Which Demands a Verdict. Edward Schillebeeckx focuses upon the Synoptic Jesus in the first volume, and the Non-Synoptic Christ in the second volume (in the article below). I've been wondering about Epistle Studies as a Stand-Alone Pursuit. Biblical Contradictions and Compartmentalization are Supremely Puzzling. We Seem to be Faced with Cover-Stories for Cover-Stories (or something to that effect). But what if we are faced with Cunningly Devised Fables and Deception Clothed with Faith?? What if ET Phoned Rome?? "Now, What Shall We Talk About??"
On Jesus: An Experiment in Christology and Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord by Edward Schillebeeckx
In his first volume, Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, Schillebeeckx was concerned with the features of the “historical Jesus” which led to the New Testament confession of him. What is it which caused the early followers of Jesus to confess the finding of salvation in him‑‑in his teachings and practice of life? If we can ascertain this, Schillebeeckx in effect argues, then we may be able to locate that in the New Testament memoria of Jesus, reflecting a culture and modes of thought which are foreign to us today, which will enable us, with reinterpretation, to find Christian meaning in that early confession.
Apropos of this, Schillebeeckx insists that a recovery of the historical Jesus is absolutely necessary to a meaningful contemporary Christian faith. In contrast to what Bultmann had said, it does make a difference whether Jesus actually lived or not. The historical Jesus is necessary as the basis of the disciples’ encounter with him, their memory, and the statement of this memoria in the early church, and finally, of our contemporary experience of Christian salvation.
The key aspect of the historical Jesus, as the ground and expectation of salvation, is Jesus’ Abba experience of God as Father. This Abba experience is rooted in, comes out of, the Jewish tradition. As Schillebeeckx puts it:
Abba as an ordinary, secular term for one’s earthly father for the Jew suggests in particular parental authority: the father is the one charged with authority, with exousia, complete authority, whom the children are in duty bound to obey and treat with piety. The father is also the one available to look after and protect his own, the family, to come to the rescue and to give advice and counsel. He is the focus of the entire family (paternal house), everything revolves around him and through his person forms a community (Jesus, 262).
As Jesus employed the Abba consciousness, his heavenly Father was both authority and instruction. He received everything from the Father, he was to fulfill the will of the Father. That authority, that instruction are aimed at the freedom and liberation, the well‑being of humanity. In this intimate sense of sonship Jesus proclaims God’s coming kingdom and rule. This is the key to the impact which Jesus made upon the disciples and which has been preserved in the remembrance of the early Churches and the New Testament expression. And it is to this memoria and its historical base which modern Christians must go to find, with reinterpretation, the Christian message for our own time and culture.
Jesus’ Abba experience is an immediate awareness of God as a power cherishing people and making them free. . . . That is why trying to delete the special ‘relation to God’ from the life of Jesus at once destroys his message and the whole point of his way of living; it amounts to denying the historical reality, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, and turns him into an ‘unhistorical,’ mythical or symbolic being, a ‘non‑Jesus’. Then all that remains ‑ in so far as a Jesus trimmed to measure still has power to fascinate ‑ is nothing but the apocalyptical Utopia (Jesus, 268).
Thus the first defining mark of the historical Jesus as unique is the Abba experience as it involves authority and instruction. The second mark, which is inextricably bound up with the first, is the peculiar sense of Jesus’ sonship. Jesus without doubt had a religious experience of deep intimacy with God which he regarded as different from that of others, as his disciples, for instance. In some special sense, Jesus is the Son of God. What, then, is that peculiar sonship? Schillebeeckx works with this question throughout Jesus.
In the main, Schillebeeckx defines the sonship of Jesus in a functional, rather than substantive, sense. That is, Jesus, the man, is on God’s side as offering salvation and liberation. This functional aspect was then taken up in a Greek ontology of ousia, or being, and Jesus becomes the very man and the very God. This is the traditional view. But it cannot be taken literally; it has to be understood in a cultural context in which Christian thinkers tried to state the functional, purely salvific, in ontological and substantive terms.
How is the uniqueness of Jesus to be stated today? Schillebeeckx argues that in Jesus, the individual, there is nevertheless universal validity. Thus Jesus, as is no other person, is God’s norm and medium of salvation and liberation. He is thus the Christ. There are, I think, two lines in which this is developed. First, as created by God and bearing God’s “stamp” all men are “incarnations.” This is the metaphysical truth about the doctrine of incarnation. As an individual, Jesus is, as are we, incarnate. Second, Jesus is a person in the sense that transcends finitude and thus is universally valid. Schillebeeckx develops this in terms of an Hegelian theory of personality, in which the person comes to be through taking into account the non‑I, the other. Jesus, as we do not, does this without limitation, or infinitely, and thus is God’s son, a divine person. He thus is normative, as no other has been or will be.
In this work, Schillebeeckx deals with the question of the resurrection of Jesus, which became the assurance of the continuing work of God’s kingdom in the person of Jesus. Schillebeeckx argues that the resurrection is essentially a conversion experience after Jesus was crucified and in repentance of the failure of his disciples to stay with him. It is only after, not before, this conversion experience that there was the empty tomb and the appearances‑‑most of them in groups, thus, again, presupposing conversion. As far as I can make out, there is only one place in the book where Schillebeeckx refers to corporeal resurrection. That is on page 645 where he speaks of the “personal‑cum‑bodily” resurrection of Jesus. However, I have difficulty in establishing what he means by this and relating it to his general thesis that resurrection, while not an abstract interpretation, is nevertheless but a conversion experience as anchored in the experience and memory of, and for us faith in, the earthly Jesus. I take it that, for Schillebeeckx, the resurrection appearances in the New Testament are not hallucinatory, but visual experiences of a real presence. This view coincides substantially with that of Hans Kuhn in On Being a Christian.
The second work, Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord, is in every sense of the word a sequel to Jesus. In the first work, Schillebeeckx was “concerned . . . with the features of the ‘historical Jesus’ which may have led to the New Testament confession of him ” (Christ, 22). The burden of the second book, Christ, is to establish and clarify the meaning of Christian salvation in and for our contemporary culture and world:
The great and burning question is . . . whether we Christians, from no matter what Christian community, are still capable of making our Christian hope credible to men. Today the meaning of the challenge ‘Who do men think that I am?’ coincides with the question of our own, namely Christian, identity (Christ, 841).
Accordingly, the method of Christ differs significantly from that of Jesus. Jesus examines the Synoptic Gospels for their presentation of Jesus as the eschatological prophet. The approach is historical‑critical. Christ examines the remaining New Testament writings as these witness to the conviction of the early Church to redemption in Jesus. The approach is literary‑critical.
In the main, there are two fronts upon which the essential burden of the work is carried: (1) In the analysis of the non‑synoptic New Testament writings, Schillebeeckx shows that different early Christian communities, while sharing in the essential and thematic unity of the Christian message, articulate that message along various lines of interpretation, depending upon their particular historical and cultural situation. In this effort, there are two foci: one, the Christian confession itself; two, the “world” of these various early Christian communities and how these worlds require and call forth, condition, differing emphases and interpretations of Christian salvation. (2) With this New Testament record as an example and justification, Schillebeeckx then develops an analysis of our own modern culture and world as to how it requires, calls forth, and legitimatizes a new interpretation of the hope of Christian salvation which speaks to contemporary man.
One point needs to be mentioned here. From the above, it might appear that, for Schillebeeckx, the experience of Christian salvation is one thing and the interpretation another. But, he says, that is not the case. For interpretation is part of the very inner nature of experience itself. So apart from interpretation, coming from the side of a cultural world, there is no Christian experience at all. Precisely this is the point which he lifts up in the analysis of the various non‑synoptic accounts. And this is why the meaning of the Christian hope today is not an experiential “given,” coming out of a remote past, but a fusion of a new experiential hue and interpretive coloring. There is, to be sure, the kernel found in the memoria, but the flower of today’s Christianity springs out of a new soil and in a new climate, and as such is fraught with the freshness of modernity. For God is not only the God of covenant, but He is the God of creation, and in the creations of a modern age God’s care and saving are and may be disclosed in Jesus. To elucidate this, is the burden, again, of Christ.
It may be helpful to indicate, briefly, the first front, i.e., how in the non‑synoptic accounts there appeared different ways of articulating the meaning of Christian salvation.
The church at Rome was threatened by a portending schism between Jewish and Gentile Christians, by the feeling on the part of Jewish Christians that their status as Jewish gave them an advantage over the Gentile Christians. Paul meets this problem by an analysis of the Jewish term se daqa (in the Septuagint dikaiosune), righteousness. In early Judaism, as well as at the time of Jesus, there were two conceptions of se daqa: the idea of justification by grace and not by virtue of works, and the idea of justification by obedience to the law or by works. In his letter to the Romans, Paul takes the first Jewish trend and emphasizes it exclusively: justification solely by divine grace and mercy. This contrasts, e.g., with Matthew, who emphasizes the second Jewish trend: the three official Jewish categories of good works, alms, prayer and fasting are regarded as synonymous with Christian perfection. Here is, then, an example of significant differences of interpretation of Christian salvation.
The church at Colossae, as well as at Ephesus, brought Christianity to Asia Minor, and in so doing presented the new faith with an entirely different set of problems than those which confronted the Roman church. Now the question is that of how far it is permissible for Christians to reconcile the spirit of the time with the perspective of apostolic faith. The peoples of Asia Minor were a displaced people, a people without a country, and they were accordingly aware of a cosmic fault, a deep split between the higher and lower powers. These are the cosmic terms in which they expressed their sense of meaningless. The philosophy of life which grew out of these conditions is captured in the key phrase, stoichei tou kosmou, the heavenly powers, which, when worshiped would bring the divine pleroma, or fullness, to the worshipers. The aim of this angel cult was the experience of being filled with divinity.
Now, whereas Paul had written to the Romans that the alternative is “the Law” and “Christ,” in Colossians he puts the alternative: it is necessary to live either kata stoicheia tou Kosmou or kata Christon (Col. 2:. To quote Schillebeeckx:
‘These angels’ or ‘Christ’ ‑ it is impossible to combine the two as two different ways to salvation, since in apostolic terms salvation is only to be found in Christ; there is only one way to salvation. But in the light of this new spiritual climate, what Paul calls ‘the grace that is Christ’ is given another interpretation. The unalterable criterion remains: salvation from God alone in Christ Jesus. The author expresses the grace of Christ in a new hermeneutical situation which also provides the new terminology with which Colossians speaks of present salvation in Christ. Of this Colossians says: in Christ alone the divine pleroma (fulness) dwells somatikos, as in its own soma ‑ corporeally (2.9). The author takes over the key words of the philosophy of life. ‘Fulfilment’ is in Christ alone. To this end he quotes a hymn which is well‑known to the Colossians: 1.12‑ 20. It has long been an apostolic conviction that Christ is the Lord, Kyrios of the church, but now Colossians wants to give Jesus a place in the whole of the macrocosm with its heavenly spheres (Christ, 184‑85).
One more example may be helpful here. The Jewish Christians to whom the letter to the Hebrews was written were evidently in danger of apostasy. The Christians at that time were not allowed any civil rights in the Empire, but these were accorded to Judaism. Because of the suffering of these Christians, some of them turned their backs on the Church and returned to their former faith. In order to stem this apostasy, the writer stresses, as does no other New Testament writer, the Christological implications of the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews thus demonstrates what it means for Jesus to be the Christ, i.e., the eschatological priestly Messiah. Hebrews sees the redeeming work of Jesus as a priestly service; this is explicitly denied by the other authors, since they see the priesthood as essentially a levitical priesthood. Further, apropos of the suffering of these Jewish Christians, the writer emphasizes “Jesus’ solidarity with suffering and sinful men as a result of a radical fidelity to God to the point of death, the giving up of his life, and God’s creative and affirmative acceptance of such a life in solidarity and faithfulness” (Christ, 632).
Finally, it must again be emphasized that in the midst of these varying interpretations of the Christian faith there is a common core of significance:
All the different New Testament conceptions of salvation, redemption and liberation, which are nevertheless fundamentally the same, are held together by an intrinsic bond, namely the correlation between the providence of God or his sovereignly free initiative in salvation, and the experience of having found meaning in life, the discovery of the fulness of life among those who believe in Jesus. The Christians of the New Testament found their self‑determination, the definition of their humanity, in a personal relationship with God, as it had been revealed in Jesus (Christ, 634).
The question, now, which yet remains is that which deals with the meaning of Christian salvation in the contemporary world. How must the Christian message be reinterpreted so as to elicit a contemporary response in which salvation, healing, and wholeness are found? This question is addressed in the fourth, and final, part of the work, in particular Chapter 3, “Christian Salvation.”
The fundamental problem of our contemporary world, as of past times, is that of “suffering humanity.” It is the fundamental problem which all the great religions address. This observation raises the question as to whether, and if so just in what manner, Christianity addresses this question with a greater adequacy.
But first it needs to be pointed out that in today’s western world, especially, there are secular proposals to the problem which compete with religious proposals, and in particular with the Christian proposal.
Schillebeeckx does not denigrate these proposals. Science and technology, political and institutional structures of democracy, for example, in their way alleviate a suffering humanity. But they do not go all the way in bringing salvation, freedom, and liberation.
By means of science and technology, nature has to an appreciable extent become humanized. Nevertheless it retains an essential opaqueness and remains finally alien to man, e.g., death. And social and political measures do not still human suffering: there is loneliness in the best of social structures and evil and immaturity in the optimal political structures. And, finally, there is man’s inalienable finitude which is an ever persistent source of anxiety. Salvation can never be reduced to anything achieved by man:
On a physical, psycho‑somatic and social level, factors which condition human personal identity and culture, much can be done by men towards the healing of our humanity, but we are still constantly confronted with suffering man: suffering from love, suffering as a result of guilt, because of our finitude and mortality, suffering through failure and inadequacy, and finally suffering over the invisibility and hiddenness of God (Christ, 764).
The question of salvation is the theme of all religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, for example, all search in their own ways for a life which overcomes suffering. But, Schillebeeckx maintains, only in Christianity is there a finally adequate way of salvation. Thus the great and final question is: “Why Jesus?”
Schillebeeckx readily admits that there is no purely theoretical proof of this claim. It cannot be empirically or rationally demonstrated.
In fact, theoretically at this point we have a believing act of trust in this man of Jesus of Nazareth, in which no mediation is possible: namely, Christian faith (Christ, 802).
Yet there are, Schillebeeckx goes on to say, certain “rationalized elements, good reasons” which serve to support the believer’s faith.
“First of all, there is the historical fact that down to the present day this Jesus has been able to inspire men and provide them with guidelines‑-the fact that he gave rise to a ‘Christ movement'” (Christ, 802). What Schillebeeckx has in mind here is this: The future or the historical influence of a person is part of his identity. And Jesus recognized his significance for the whole of future history. “One can hardly deny that Jesus himself puts his own person in an essential relationship with the history of mankind” (Christ, 802). In consequence of this meaning of identity, the historical effect of Jesus’ personality, including the contemporary understanding and practice of Christian conviction, is part of the identity of Jesus himself. The claim that there is a connection between the decision that men make about Jesus and the final meaning and destiny of their life goes back to Jesus’ awareness of himself as the “eschatological prophet,” the embodiment of a definite message which is valid for all history. In short, this claim of universal validity is the substance of the claim of the Christian hope of salvation.
But, again, there is no theoretical proof of this claim:
Of course, if one does not believe in Jesus, one can argue that Jesus was deceived about his eschatological significance and therefore his significance for world history, or overestimated it. There can can never be compelling historical and rational proof that Jesus was right here. That is precisely the Christian act of faith. Only in the actual life of Christians, the ‘communities of Christ’ in the course of the ages, can it be shown that as ‘the service of reconciliation’ (II Cor. 5.19), the liberating and reconciling life of the church is not a chance happening but is the realization in our history of the basic aim of Jesus, who in this way manifests its truth in history. No man and no prophet ever made this claim. In Jesus, therefore, we either have a megalomanic (which would go against the whole of his life and activity), or a claim which merits serious consideration even in theory, at least and above all to the degree that in the course of history his claim has had a clear effect in the actual redeeming, liberating and reconciling activity of all those who confess this Jesus. Such historical significance, which Jesus himself attributes to an initiative of God towards salvation (in the last resort, that is the whole approach even of the Gospel of John), is rightly expressed in the basic formulation of the New Testament: definitive salvation from God in Jesus of Nazareth (Christ, 803).
There is a second respect, according to Schillebeeckx, in which the uniqueness of Jesus and the final adequacy of Christianity are seen. Observing that the basic theme of all religions is the expectation of victory over suffering through the mercy of God, he says:
However, there seems to me to be no parallel or precedent in the history of religions for the way in which salvation from God, with its inspiration towards an actual improvement of our history, is experienced and proclaimed in the Christian experience of reality through Jesus Christ (Christ, 835).
We are now at the crux of Schillebeeckx’ apologia for Christianity. That apologia is twofold: (1) Jesus’ readiness to serve, which involves compromising himself with taxpayers and sinners, refusing to do anything to his own advantage, becoming the servant of all even to the point of death; (2) Jesus’ conviction that selfless service to one’s fellow men, at the cost finally of rejection by them, with the result of radical failure, complete fiasco, is nevertheless the way in which God reveals himself most ultimately as God.
Now the salvation from God which is shown in these two dimensions, this pattern of salvation from God, seems to me to be unique in the history of religions (so far as my knowledge of other religions goes). Of course no Christian can say this without striking his breast and penitently confessing his own failure over the Christianity which has been inspired by Jesus. However, wherever in history Christianity was and is faithful to Jesus himself, we see this same program and pattern of life: a connection between a mystical orientation on God’s rule of peace which is concerned with humanity and a corresponding ‘life‑style of the kingdom of God’ which militates against our own particular history of suffering (Christ, 835).
That which, it seems to me, serves in Schillebeeckx’ analysis to point up the distinctive significance of Jesus and the uniquely universal validity of Christianity is the second point mentioned immediately above: that the deepest revelation of God’s identification with suffering humanity and the assurance of final salvation are found in the radical failure of Jesus’ self‑giving love for others and his entrustment of that failure to the God who, as Lord of history, assures final success as salvation from suffering, not on human, but on divine terms. What we have here, in this unique mark of Christian salvation, is not only a revaluation of failure and success, but a revaluation of these in terms of the crucifixion and the resurrection. For in these, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, there appears the decisive meaning of God’s saving care of humanity.
The question becomes, How did Jesus see his death? Did he see it as a failure of his plan? Was the Last Supper but the farewell discourse of one who saw his message rejected? Was the farewell meal but a token of his acceptance of this failure? Did he see his death, not as a catastrophe, but as the inevitable consequence of his mission, so as to integrate his death into his offer of salvation? Did his acceptance of his violent death make his message questionable and problematical? Was Jesus forsaken by God? To all these questions, Schillebeeckx gives an emphatic NO.
Jesus may have cried out in his death, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”? (Mark 15:34), although this quotation may be a later Christian interpretation. Be that as it may, the quotation is but the beginning of Psalm 22 and evokes a further mood. Verse 24 captures the underlying tenor of the Psalm, which the first verse, the quotation under consideration, functions to evoke.
“For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.” So what the Psalm conveys is the “believer’s conviction that in situations where God’s redemptive help and support cannot actually be experienced, in situations in which men no longer experience any glimmer of hope, in impossible situations, God nevertheless remains near at hand and that salvation consists in this dark night of faith” (Christ, 825).
The meaning of the crucifixion, then, is this: It is the awareness that within the limits of human history redemption cannot be achieved by any act of heroic transcendence of our finitude; that redemption consists in the selfless service of love which persists even in the radical failure to achieve its intention and which, in suffering and even death, holds to its course when those whom it serves reject its saving offer. But the crucifixion is more than this negativity of finitude. For there is in the cross something positive. This is the refusal to accord evil the same status as the good. What this was, in the case of Jesus, was the positive acceptance of his radical failure, his historical fiasco, and the entrustment of the affair to God, who, in a transcendent providence, will nevertheless bring to pass that salvation and wholeness which love, in the crucible of finitude, can never itself realize. In God’s Yes to the failure of sacrificial suffering and love, the cross is in itself an exaltation. For the via dolorosa is, in God’s answer, “crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). In accepting the failure of his life‑style of love from which he will not turn away at any cost to himself, in committing that failure to the care of his Father, in transmuting finitude to another, transcendental level of experience, it then becomes his Father, “in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).
This leads to the resurrection. For the early Christians belief in the resurrection was a divine ratification of Jesus. This divine ratification was not understood as a correction of a lack in Jesus’ earthly life. Many New Testament texts emphasize that the life of innocent suffering is valid in and of itself and does not need any further revision. The resurrection, on the contrary, is the demonstration of what Jesus was before and in his death, the innocent sufferer who was the “Son of God.” The resurrection meant for them that there is a saving presence of God, hidden before, which, despite his earthly death, continues in Jesus.
There is the question of the reality of the resurrection, specifically, Schillebeeckx’ view of the matter. In many places where he discusses the subject, the language appears to indicate that he takes the resurrection to be a real event. But there are reasons to exercise care here. First, Schillebeeckx is, in many of these instances, discussing the attitude of the early Christians to the resurrection. Second, in those discussions in which the idea of the resurrection has meaning for us today, he is eliciting the functional and salvific import of the idea‑‑what it means in the economy of suffering in personal and social life. It can be said with certainty, I think, that Schillebeeckx does not locate the resurrection at the same factual, historical level as the crucifixion. This becomes clear in his characterization of the resurrection, in Jesus, as a conversion experience.
In speaking of the import of the belief in the resurrection on the part of the early Christians, Schillebeeckx says:
. . . belief in the resurrection is in fact a gospel evaluation of the life and death of Jesus: the recognition of the inner, irrevocable value of this proclamation and way of life which nothing can undo. It is belief in the irrevocability of all good, which men champion unrestrainedly, without taking any account of their own destiny. Thus the resurrection is an aspect of the unconditional character of Jesus’ proclamation and the God who is concerned for man, an inner element of the specific historical career of Jesus in doing good (within the context of the historical conditions of the time), and at the same time the hidden side of the death of Jesus itself (Christ, 796).
The meaning of the resurrection for contemporary man, with his own cultural background and conditioning, is the hope, promise, and power of personal and social wholeness of historical humanity. Two passages are significant in this regard:
For Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the man on whom they venture their lives ‑ is the ground of hope for a general resurrection for all men. Put in terms of our modern awareness of the problem, for Christians this confession of the resurrection of Jesus means hope for all, a hope which is a stimulus to the healing of man and society and to a way of life which shows non‑Christians that there can be a living communion with God in Christ Jesus in a modern world (Christ, 801).
. . . the sign of the great symbols of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Here the cross is the symbol of resistance to death against the alienation of our human history of suffering, the consequence of the messag of a God who is concerned with man: the resurrection of Jesus makes it clear to us that suffering may not and will not have the last word. Sacramental action therefore summons Christians to liberating action in our world (Christ, 836).
However, that, despite the tragedy of finitude the good will prevail in God, or that resurrection is a reality, is, finally, a faith for which there can be no theoretical support or proof. The closure of reality with value cannot be empirically or rationally demonstrated. In fact, every liberation takes place within finite conditions and is therefore partial and tentative. Yet, the Christian supports, in his awareness and life, the vision of final salvation in God.
despite the gulf created by failure through the fatal rejection of Jesus by his fellow men, there is continuity between the hidden dimension of what took place in the cross and its manifestation in the resurrection of Jesus, though we are not in a position to make a theoretical reconciliation of the human experience of failure and the religious experience of the redemptive triumph of God in this failure (Christ, 830‑31).
Schillebeeckx expresses the same thought in reference to a contemporary context. He states that “we experience redemption and liberation only in finite fragments, in a history which stands open towards eschatological consummation: ‘In hope we are redeemed’ (Rom. 8.24)” (Christ, 819).
This results in a theoretical inability to reconcile the redemption already accomplished with our actual human history of suffering. However, there is the ‘nevertheless’, as the believer remembers the event which Jesus himself experienced eschatologically in reality, which took place in his life, his work and his death as a particular qualification of his life‑style (Christ, 819).
All this may be clarified by a consideration of the final scandal, the “last enemy,” which mankind faces: the death of the individual. What does the resurrection mean here?
For the early disciples, the resurrection meant that in Jesus God has transformed the negativity of death into a living communion with him‑‑a communion in which Jesus lives with us in a new way. For the Christian today the resurrection means, too, that death cannot destroy communion with God, that death does not have the last word about our human history, that in God’s “nevertheless” life is stronger than death.
Through the death of Jesus, seen in the light of his resurrection, the Christian has the assurance that suffering and death cannot separate him from God. And in that case death ‑ his death ‑ takes on a new meaning for him, even though he cannot in any way understand why a man ‘has to die’. He does not make light of suffering; in that he shows solidarity with all his fellow men (Christ, 800).
It is not the case, as many may think, that this affirmation of faith in final victory over death becomes an excuse to lure us away from the present and the liberating and reconciling work of love in the midst of human suffering. Quite the contrary, for the Christian death is no longer a central event in life. Death no longer claims a preoccupying attention. Hence the Christian is liberated so as to do his work in the world, without anxiety, in true communion with God. And this is, as Schillebeeckx puts it, “a piece of realized salvation.”
But, again, there is no theoretical certification that Christian salvation is victory over death. Belief in the resurrection can never mean that kind of certainty. It is, however, a new experience which opens up a final “horizon,” in which what is hidden to human view is opened to faith. But this faith is, in the words of St. John of the Cross, the “dark night of faith.” It is, and can only be, our response to God’s “nevertheless.” Nevertheless,there is, finally and ultimately, the life in God beyond the kingdom of death.
There is one final observation which I wish to make. It concerns the principle which runs through Schillebeeckx’ argument for the contemporary meaning of Christian salvation: the unity of experience and interpretation, that “experience is always interpreted experience” (Christ, 31).
Schillebeeckx’ thesis here is, that in the original experience of Jesus by the disciples and the early church, this experience is laden with interpretive elements coming from the culture of that time and world. With regard to our contemporary understanding of Jesus and Christian salvation, it is inevitable and necessary to experience the Christian message from the perspective of a new interpretation coming from the standpoint of the contemporary world. This matter has been dealt with at length and need not be considered in any further detail.
Now, it is impossible for us, today, to experience that “first originality” which defined the early church. Since that “first originality” is an interpretive experience of salvation in Jesus which inextricably contains elements of interpretation which are now forever lost to us, we cannot experience Christian salvation as it was then experienced. And we cannot articulate that salvation in precisely the terms which the early Christians employed.
This in itself creates a critical difficulty, which many today may not be able to overcome. The difficulty is this: since that “first originality” is lost, i.e, since the primary interpretive element which constituted the first experience of salvation from God in Jesus is lost, is it really possible to bring a different interpretation to that early complex and find meaning in our new and different culture?
Schillebeeckx is aware of this difficulty. He readily admits “that under modern Western conditions faith, i.e., perception in faith, can no longer assume the shape and form of a ‘first originality’. Thus this ‘first originality’ has become intellectually impossible for us a result of science, technology and criticism of religion put forward in the nineteenth century” (Christ, 805). However, by what Schillebeeckx calls “anthropological constants,” i.e., certain generic qualities of interpretive experience which transcend particular times and situations, the gulf between our age and that of early Christianity is appreciably narrowed, so that we are able, from our perspective, to embrace substantially the hope of Christian salvation. But, in the final analysis, even these do not reconcile the ages and we cannot therefore recover the “first originality” which so long ago gave rise to Christianity.
Here, again, there is no theoretical resolution of the problem. Yet there is an answer to this question and thus a rationale in support of the Christian claim. If we today, in our secularism, forget or suppress our true human potentialities, these neglected capacities will become evident in some hidden or twisted way, through neurosis, escapism, or some other form of a narrowing and crippling human existence. As we express our temporal awareness, we must also allow God a place in what we claim to be. But how God positions us, time‑creatures as we are, in his own “horizon,” that we do not and cannot know.
We do not know precisely what God is for us. We do not have him in our hands, and of ourselves we do not understand our own humanity and its potentialities. Anyone who believes in God knows that, in some way or other, he holds us in his hands. In Hebrew, what we call belief is indicated by the root ‘aman (still recognizable in ‘amen’). That means giving up our own uncertainty and insecurity and basing our existence on something else, on someone else who can provide a firm foundation. In that case to believe in God, to say ‘amen’ to him, means to base one’s whole being, i.e., one’s self, neighbors and world, in God. Thus the believer sets himself utterly at risk by trusting in the steadfastness of the one whom he does not see, the living God. ‘If you do not believe, you will not be established’, says Isaiah (7.9). Believing means being firmly established, trusting in what we believe to be a firm foundation. Therefore belief in God is the fundamental decision of a man who entrusts himself, others and the whole of history to God, and in so doing knows that he is reconciled with himself, with others and with history ‑ present, past and future ‑ because the believer has come to terms with God’s incomprehensible actions. Faith is the assurance in the message of God’s deity as the ground and source of man’s humanity (Christ, 807‑08).
What, then, is Christian salvation? Schillebeeckx’ reply is:
I would want to say: being at the disposal of others, losing oneself to others (each in his own limited situation) and within this ‘conversion’ (which is also made possible by structural changes) also working through anonymous structures for the happiness, the goodness and truth of mankind. This way of life, born of grace, provides a real possibility for a very personal encounter with God, who is experienced as the source of all happiness and salvation, the source of joy (Christ, 838).
Finally, to refer to the Interim Report:
Christianity is not a message which has to be believed, but an experience of faith which becomes a message, and as an explicit message seeks to offer a new life experience to others who hear it from within their own experience (Interim Report, 50).
Prescott Johnson 11‑14‑87
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Schillebeeckx Edward Cornelis Florentius Alfonsus Schillebeeckx (English: /ˈskɪləbeɪks/ SKIL-ə-bayks, Dutch: [ˈsxɪləbeːks]; 12 November 1914 – 23 December 2009) was a Belgian Roman Catholic theologian born in Antwerp. He taught at the Catholic University in Nijmegen.[1]
He was a member of the Dominican Order. His books on theology have been translated into many languages, and his contributions to the Second Vatican Council made him known throughout the world.[2]
Early life and ordination
He was born in Antwerp, the sixth of 14 children in a middle-class family.[1] After being educated by the Jesuits at Turnhout, Schillebeeckx entered the Dominican Order in 1934. He studied theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven. In 1941 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1943 he finalized his studies in Turnhout and moved to Ghent, where he studied at the Dominican house; he was strongly influenced by Dominicus De Petter's courses in phenomenology. After three years of studying philosophy at Ghent, Schillebeeckx heeded the call up of the Belgian Armed Forces in 1938, leaving the army again in August 1939. But one and a half months after that he was summoned to return, due to the start of World War II and he left the Army only after the defeat of the Belgian Armed Forces by the German occupiers. Schillebeeckx then entered the Dominican study house at Leuven, where he stayed until 1945. From that year to July 1946, he studied at the Dominican study centre Le Saulchoir at Étiolles, near Paris, where representatives of the Nouvelle théologie-movement such as Marie-Dominique Chenu and Yves Congar introduced him to modern Catholic theology as well as to the thought of Calvinist theologians like Karl Barth.[3][4][5]
Doctoral thesis
During these years he also studied at the Sorbonne, and in July 1946 he did his doctoral exam at the École des hautes études of the Sorbonne. In 1952 he defended and published his doctoral thesis at the Dominican school of theology Le Saulchoir: De sacramentele heilseconomie (The redeeming economy of the sacraments).[5] After that, Schillebeeckx became master of the Philosophy Study House of his order in Leuven, and in 1957 he spent one year teaching Dogmatics at the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Leuven. In 1958 the Catholic University of Nijmegen (now called Radboud University) in the Netherlands made him a professor of dogmatic theology and history of theology.[3] His inaugural lecture Op zoek naar de levende God (In Search of the Living God) introduced Dutch theologians to the Nouvelle Théologie founded by Chenu, Congar, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and others.[6]
Second Vatican Council
During the Second Vatican Council, Schillebeeckx was one of the most active theologians. He drafted various council interventions for Dutch bishops such as Cardinal Bernard Jan Alfrink, and gave conferences on theological ressourcement for many episcopal conferences present in Rome. Due to his having been the "ghost writer" of the Dutch bishops' Pastoral Letter on the upcoming Council in 1961, he was rendered suspect with the Congregation of the Holy Office, led by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (President) and the Dutchman Sebastiaan Tromp (Secretary). This was the first of three instances in which Schillebeeckx had to defend his theological positions against accusations from the Roman authorities. As a result, Schillebeeckx drafted anonymously his mostly negative comments on the schemata prepared by the Preparatory Theological Commission, headed by Ottaviani. These anonymous comments on the theological schemata debated at Vatican II, and the articles he published, also influenced the development of several conciliar constitutions such as Dei verbum and Lumen gentium. Concerning the latter document, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Schillebeeckx was mainly involved in the debate on episcopal collegiality, attempting to move Catholic ecclesiology away from a purely hierarchical, structured vision of the church, focusing too heavily on Papal authority (as a result of the declaration of Papal infallibility in Vatican I's constitution Pastor aeternus). This, according to Schillebeeckx and many others at Vatican II, was to be balanced by a renewed stress on the role of the episcopal college. In this way his influence was far greater than that of a formal peritus, a status the Dutch bishops had not granted to him. Not being a peritus also allowed him more time to give talks to the Bishops attending the council, and to explain to them the "new theology" or understanding arising with the Council. Already in 1963, together with Chenu, Congar, Karl Rahner, and Hans Küng, he was involved in preparing the rise of the new theological journal Concilium, which was officially founded in 1965 with the support of Paul Brand and Antoine Van den Boogaard, and which promoted "reformist" thought.[6][5]
Exegesis
In the post-conciliar period Schillebeeckx' attention shifted somewhat from Thomism to biblical exegesis. He saw neo-scholastic theology that reacted against modern ideas as poorly founded in Aquinas’s writings or their medieval context. He portrayed sacraments less abstractly, like the personal encounters Jesus had with his followers, rather than as mechanisms for the distribution of grace.[7][8] He became widely known through the English translation in 1963 of his book Christ the Sacrament of the Encounter with God.[9] On the basis of his study of the earliest Christian sources – often drawing upon the exegetical insight of his Nijmegen colleague Bas van Iersel – Schillebeeckx confronted such debated questions as the position of priests, e.g., by supporting a proposal to disconnect sacramental priesthood and the obligation to celibacy. Precisely on this matter, Schillebeeckx played an influential role during the National Pastoral Council (Landelijk Pastoraal Concilie) held at Noordwijkerhout from 1968 to 1970. At the sessions of this synod, the Dutch bishops, intellectuals, and representatives from many Catholic organisations tried to implement what they perceived as the major progressive objectives of the Second Vatican Council. Schillebeeckx, well known in the Netherlands and Belgium through his many interventions in the media, was by then known as the leading Dutch-speaking contemporary theologian.[6]
Controversies with the CDF
In Jesus: An experiment in Christology (Dutch ed. 1974), Schillebeeckx argued that we should not imagine that the belief of the disciples that Jesus had risen was caused by the empty tomb and the resurrection appearances. It was quite the opposite: A belief in the resurrection, "that the new orientation of living which this Jesus has brought about in their lives has not been rendered meaningless by his death – quite the opposite," gave rise to these traditions.[10] The empty tomb was, in his opinion, an unnecessary hypothesis, since “an eschatological, bodily resurrection, theologically speaking, has nothing to do, however, with a corpse.”[11] That was merely a "crude and naive realism of what 'appearances of Jesus'" meant.[12]
Although the books were followed by a couple of articles where Schillebeeckx defends himself against criticism and tones down his radicalism, on 20 October 1976 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith wrote to him with various objections. As a result of the ensuing correspondence, he was asked to come to Rome to explain his position. In December 1979, he met with representatives of the Congregation. Due to international pressure, the drive for a trial was ended. The conclusions of the Congregation, however, left the impression that a genuine accord had not been reached, and he continued to receive notifications from Church authorities for his repeated writings.[13][14] His christology was criticized by Cardinal Franjo Šeper and then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, whom Schillebeeckx already knew at Vatican II and who was later elected Pope Benedict XVI.[6]
In 1984 his orthodoxy was again called into question by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: he was summoned to Rome to explain his views expressed in The Ministry in the Church, which were regarded as Protestant.[14] And in 1986 for a third time Schillebeeckx' theological views were put into question, again regarding the sacramental nature of office in the Roman Catholic Church. More precisely, in The Church with a Human Face Schillebeeckx argued, on biblical-historical grounds, that the consecration to Catholic priesthood does not necessarily gain its validity from, and can therefore be detached from, apostolic succession; rather, the choice of priests (and as a consequence the celebration of the Eucharist) is dependent on the local church community.
Despite three investigations with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the writings of Schillebeeckx were never condemned. Some of his doctrines, however, have been implicitly or even explicitly rejected by the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church; most notably his theory of transignification, designed to supplant the Catholic doctrine of transsubstantiation (in Pope Paul VI's 1965 encyclical Mysterium fidei.[15][6]
Schillebeeckx continued to publish after his retirement. His oeuvre, surveyed in several bibliographies, has been the subject of many studies and controversies.
Later life
Until his death he lived in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, where he taught at the Catholic University of Nijmegen until his retirement. He was awarded the Erasmus Prize in 1982,[16] and (as the only theologian) the Gouden Ganzenveer in 1989.[17]
Resources Selective bibliography
De sacramentele heilseconomie (Antwerp 1952) Christus, sacrament van de Godsontmoeting (Bilthoven 1959) – tr. Christ the sacrament of the encounter with God (New York 1963) Op zoek naar de levende God (Nimwegen 1959) Openbaring en theologie (Bilthoven 1964) (Theologische Peilingen, 1) – tr. Revelation and theology (London 1979) God en mens (Bilthoven 1965) (Theologische Peilingen, 2) Wereld en kerk (Bilthoven 1966) (Theologische Peilingen, 3) De zending van de kerk (Bilthoven 1968) (Theologische Peilingen, 4) Jezus, het verhaal van een levende (Bloemendaal 1974) – tr. Jesus: an experiment in Christology (London 1979; New York 1981) Gerechtigheid en liefde, genade en bevrijding (Bloemendaal 1977) – tr. Christ: the Christian experience in the modern world (London 1980) Tussentijds verhaal over twee Jezusboeken (Baarn 1978) Evangelie verhalen (Baarn 1982) – tr. God among us : the Gospel proclaimed (London 1983) Pleidooi voor mensen in de kerk. Christelijke identiteit en ambten in de kerk (Baarn 1985) – tr. The Church with a human face: a new and expanded theology of ministry (New York 1985) Als politiek niet alles is... Jezus in de westerse cultuur (Baarn 1986) – tr. On Christian faith: the spiritual, ethical and political dimensions (New York 1984) Mensen als verhaal van God (Baarn 1989) – tr. Church. The human story of God (New York 1990) I Am a Happy Theologian (London 1994) The Eucharist (2005/1948)
Bio-bibliographical literature
Erik Borgman, Edward Schillebeeckx. A Theologian in His History. Vol. 1: A Catholic Theology of Culture (London, New York NY, 2003). Bibliography of Edward Schillebeeckx 1936-1996. Compiled by Ted Schoof and Jan Van de Westelaken (Baarn, 1997). The Schillebeeckx Case. Official Exchange of Letters and Documents in the Investigation of Fr. Edward Schillebeeckx by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1976-1980. Edited with introduction and notes by Ted Schoof (New York NY, 1980). Jennifer Cooper, Humanity in the Mystery of God: the theological anthropology of Edward Schillebeeckx. (London, T&T Clark, 2011).
Edward Schillebeeckx Foundation
The Edward Schillebeeckx Foundation, led by Erik Borgman, was founded at Nijmegen in 1989. As indicated on its website, the foundation sets itself the goal of collecting, organising, preserving, and rendering accessible the entire output of, and material about, Edward Schillebeeckx. The Foundation seeks to safeguard for the future the spiritual, scientific, and social values contained in Schillebeeckx' work. The Foundation has created an endowed Edward Schillebeeckx Chair at the Radboud University Nijmegen, which is currently held by Prof. Stephan van Erp.
Archives
The personal papers of Edward Schillebeeckx are being conserved in two archive centers. The largest part of the collection of Schillebeeckx' writings are kept at the Katholiek Documentatie Centrum (KDC) of the Radboud University at Nijmegen (not consultable). As regards the council papers of Edward Schillebeeckx, these are held at the Centre for the Study of the Second Vatican Council, at the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Leuven.
References
Steinfels, Peter. "Edward Schillebeeckx, Catholic Theologian, Dies at 95". Retrieved 2018-10-24. Krabbe, Theo (23 December 2009). "Schillebeeckx (1914–2009) tartte het Vaticaan". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 December 2009. Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition) Kerr, F. "Schillebeeckx, Edward." New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement, Jubilee Volume: The Wojtyla Years, edited by Polly Vedder, Gale, 2000, pp. 405-406. Gale Ebooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3407800227/GVRL?u=morenetrockhrst&sid=GVRL&xid=32a43365. Accessed 25 Nov. 2019. "Edward Schillebeeckx Facts". biography.yourdictionary.com. Retrieved 2019-11-25. Hilkert, M. C. (2011). Schillebeeckx, Edward. In I. A. McFarland, D. A. S. Fergusson, K. Kilby, & et. al. (Eds.), Cambridge dictionary of Christian theology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://lib.rockhurst.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/cupdct/schillebeeckx_edward/0?institutionId=5063 "Schillebeeckx, Edward." New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2011, edited by Robert L. Fastiggi, vol. 2, Gale, 2011, pp. 706-709. Gale Ebooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX1393000281/GVRL?u=morenetrockhrst&sid=GVRL&xid=31e6340e. Accessed 25 Nov. 2019. Steinfels, Peter (2010-01-16). "Edward Schillebeeckx, Catholic Theologian, Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-08. "Times: Should Popes be Saints? and Schillebeeckx's Obit". America Magazine. 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2019-10-08. https://books.google.com/books/about/Christ_the_Sacrament_of_the_Encounter_wi.html?id=mJd8YFnXZkgC Edward Schillebeeckx: Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, p. 333f, 345. Schillebeeckx: Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, p. 704 note 45. Schillebeeckx: Jesus: An Experiment in Christology, p. 346. James Arraj: The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus (2007). Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s Preparation for the Papacy: How ‘the Vatican’s Enforcer’ ran the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1979 - 2005) Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Appendix. Catholics for a Free Choice, April 2006. Mysterium Fidei) ":: Praemium Erasmianum". www.erasmusprijs.org (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2017-05-22. "Laureaten De Gouden Ganzenveer vanaf 1955". Stichting De Gouden Ganzenveer. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
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is the World’s only tested and approved EMP protection technology for an entire electrical system.
. To quote Schillebeeckx:
