Thursday, January 22, 2015

What If Every Volcano on Earth Erupted at Once?


The following article was written by Duane and Shelley Muir, from the blog entitled, Bible Prophecy - Signposts of the Times 

Prophecy Sign: Increase in Earthquake and Volcanic activity



It's very interesting when a news headline reads like something straight out of bible prophecy. Case in point is the article headline below which reports on a South Pacific volcanic eruption that has turned the waters red and skies grey. Prophecy tells us that future volcanic eruptions on massive scales will do the same.

By the way, there are growing numbers of reports of mysterious booming sounds emanating all across America. Is the land mass we call North America getting ready to split asunder?

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind." Revelation 6:12-13 NIV

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood. (Revelation 8:8 NIV)

What If Every Volcano on Earth Erupted at Once?

Whether it's glowing lava snaking into the sea or lightning blooming in billowing ash clouds, the sight of an erupting volcano inspires awe and wonder. Now imagine 1,500 of these suckers all shooting off at once. That's how many active volcanoes dot the Earth, plus an unknown number hidden under the ocean. Every day, between 10 and 20 volcanoes are erupting somewhere on Earth, but scientists say the chance of every volcano on the planet erupting at once is so small that it's impossible. But what if it did happen? Would Earth as it we know it survive? Not likely, said Parv Sethi, a geologist at Radford University in Virginia. Even if only the volcanoes on land blasted in sync, the effects would trigger an environmental domino chain many, many times more powerful than a nuclear winter, Sethi said. "Things will become so bad that I wouldn't want to survive on an Earth like this," he told Live Science.
http://www.livescience.com/49305-what-if-all-volcanoes-erupted.html

Fire in the South Pacific: Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano erupts to turn the sea blood red and the sky grey with ash
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2908091/Fire-South-Pacific-Hunga-Ha-apai-underwater-volcano-erupts-turn-sea-blood-red-sky-grey-ash.html

Earthquakes increasing across North America
http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/earthquakes-increasing-across-north-america/

Alaska shook from record number of earthquakes in 2014
http://www.adn.com/article/20150113/alaska-shook-record-number-earthquakes-2014

9th Earthquake Rattles Eastern Connecticut
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Another-Possible-Earthquake-in-Plainfield--288382611.html

Region, (Jamaica), warned to be prepared for massive earthquake
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Region-warned-to-be-prepared-for-massive-earthquake

Scientists Baffled By What Is Causing Mysterious Booms Being Reported Across the Country
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/01/13/scientists-baffled-by-what-is-causing-mysterious-booms-being-reported-across-the-country/

Mysterious booms shake up Elkhart County residents over weekend
http://www.elkharttruth.com/living/2015/01/06/Elkhart-County-residents-report-mysterious-loud-booms-over-weekend.html

MYSTERIOUS BOOMS RATTLE HOMES, SCARE LIVESTOCK IN OKLAHOMA
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MYSTERY_BOOMS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-09-13-51-50




Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Prophet Amos

Amos was one of the twelve minor prophets mentioned in the Tanakh/Old Testament. His story begins during the 6th century B.C. when Jeroboam II was the reigning king of Israel. Other than being from the village of Tekoa [in the Kingdom of Judah] not much else is known about this ancient prophet. It is recorded that he was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees before the spirit of prophecy was bestowed upon him.

The ancient seer's prophecies began around 750 B.C. and were mainly directed towards the Kingdom of Israel. While Amos prophesied during a time of relative peace and prosperity, it was also a time when religion was neglected. He adamantly spoke against the disparity between the wealthy and the poor, as well as preach about the Creator's omnipotence and a divine judgment. Likewise, a promise of future restoration was promised, too.

In ancient Israel, during the reign of Jeroboam II, the social conditions had reached a proportional scale of inequality. There were two (2) classes of people: the rich and the poor. Amos clarified that those who had money and power treated those less fortunate very harshly. While some of the "poor" were not exactly destitute, they still had no standing in society. They were not able to change their situations or better themselves; the rich and powerful even manipulated the government to their advantage. Amos enumerated the crimes of the wealthy, stating:
  1. Abuse of wealth - ignoring the humble; selling the needy and righteous (Amos 2:6)
  2. Abuse of position - ignoring the humble; enjoying the "fruit" of taxes or fines (Amos 2:7; 2:8)
  3. Abuse of family - engaging in sexual perversions and idolatry (Amos 2:7)
Those of wealth forced oppression upon the poor and the Creator opposed such arrogance and abuse of privilege... hence the judgments Amos proclaimed in the name of the God of Israel.    


Amos was very vocal in his admonitions towards the people of Israel. His fearless and outspoken words were like that of thunder and stirred the people. The ancient prophet showed this characteristic with his opening words:
The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” - Amos 1:2
Most scholars interpret this above verse as "the shepherds" being the leaders of Israel [who failed their flock] and "the top of Carmel" referred to those same leaders sitting at the top [who will be stricken down]. 

But, before Amos actually began his formidable preaching to the ancient Jews, he sent out warnings to the surrounding neighbors [of Israel] - Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon and Moab.

Amos warned they would suffer the consequences of their evil actions. While most of Amos' reprimands were directed towards the Kingdom of Israel, he also rebuked the Kingdom of Judah.
“This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.” - Amos 2:4-5 
As noted, verses 1-4 are admonishments to the ancient Israelites, chapter 5 is a call to repentance. Chapters 6-9 are the judgments the Creator guaranteed will fall upon Israel if they did not repent. The following judgments were: nations will rise up against them, Israel would be destroyed, the Kingdom of Israel will fall and those left alive will be taken captive into a foreign land.

However, the end of Chapter 9 promises a glorious restoration for the children of Israel.

Amos taught that the future greatness of Israel was not to be sought through power and wealth, but was to be secured through justice and judgment. And while the "Day of the Lord" prophetically dawned and the Israelites were taken into captivity [as Amos had predicted], they were still given an olive branch of hope to cling to:
“In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be" - Amos 9:11
The ancient prophet reminded the Children of Israel the many kindnesses which Yahweh (God) had shown them since the beginning of their history as His chosen people. Even though the majority of ancient Israelites ignored his exhortation of future glory and the reminders of the Creator's mercy, Amos ended his prophecies on a note of hope. 

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More than almost any other book of Scripture [in the Tanakh/Old Testament], the Book of Amos holds the chosen people of Yahweh accountable for their ill-treatment of others. The Book of Amos, which is attributed to the prophet, contains nine (9) chapters filled with severe admonitions; but, despite his reprimands, the Prophet Amos does finish his prophecies with the eternal hope of salvation for the wayward nation.




Friday, January 2, 2015

The Fight For Jerusalem

The fight for Jerusalem has been ongoing for thousands of years, and one of the most sought after cities in the world. The city's beginning dates back to the B.C. Era and has had its fair share of battles and skirmishes, which often resulted in the downfall and rebirth of the city.  

One of the oldest cities in the world today, Jerusalem  is considered sacred to the three Abrahamic religionsJudaismChristianity, and Islam. To better understand this sacred city's appeal, we need to start from the beginning...  

Name "Jerusalem" Originated From...

The word "Jerusalem" is etymologized to mean "foundation of the god Shalim"; the god Shalim (or Shalem) was the original tutelary deity of the Bronze Age city. In the Canaanite religion of antiquity, from where this polytheistic god originates, Shalim was the name of the god of dusk. His name is based on the same root Å -L-M from which the Hebrew word for "peace" is derived. Many variations of the name includes Salam (Arabic) and Shalom (Hebrew). In Arabic, Jerusalem is most commonly known as al-Quds, meaning "The Holy" or "The Holy Sanctuary".

Ancient History of Jerusalem

According to some scholars, the oldest part of the current city was believed to have been originally inhabited around 4000 B.C. during the time of the antediluvian biblical characters such as Adam, Cain, Enoch, Methuselah and Noah. As early as the 19th century B.C. there was a city called RuÅ¡alim, according to the Execration texts of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, and many scholars identify this with Jerusalem.
   
The Amarna letters of Abdi-Heba (dated 1330s B.C.) classify Jerusalem as UruÅ¡alim and, according to the Bible, this most ancient settlement (founded during the Bronze Age) was named JebusDuring the reign of King David (c/1010-970 B.C.), this holy metropolis became known as the City of David; this was the most common name associated with the city during antiquity.  

After the Assyrian siege and the Babylonian captivity, the city became commonly known as Jerusalem and has since remained its burghal title.

According to biblical tradition, King David conquered the ancient city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established it as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel

Unto The City of David by Ashton Young
By 930 B.C., the united kingdom divided and became known as the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, with Judah retaining Jerusalem as its capital. The oldest part of the modern city was settled around the 4th century B.C.

After Jewish captivity, King David's holy city went through a succession of sovereignty, starting with the Babylonian empire.

Overview of Jerusalem's historical periods

Modern History of Jerusalem
 

Image result for christian era time periodDuring the birth of the Christian Era, in the 1st century A.D., the holy city took on a whole new meaning for the word "beginning". For the Christians, their beginning started with the birth and ministry of Jesus, giving Jerusalem great importance, which was foretold in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible).

According to the Canonical gospels, Jerusalem was the city to which Joseph and Mary brought Jesus as a child, to be presented at the Temple (Luke 2:22) and to attend the festivals (Luke 2:41). The Christian Messiah preached and healed in this sacred city, as well as performed the "mikvaot" (baptismals). The events of Pentecost, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, also took place within the ancient city. According to Mark the Evangelist, Jesus' cleansing of the Temple at the Temple Court and chasing various traders out of the sacred precincts also occurred in Jerusalem (Mark 11:15). At the end of the four Gospels, there are accounts of Jesus' Last Supper in an "upper room" in Jerusalem, his arrest at Gethsemane, his trial and crucifixion [at Golgotha], his burial, as well as his resurrection and accension. The Apostolic Age ushered in one of Jerusalem's most noteworthy periods during her thus long history.

Related imageJerusalem is held sacred in Muslim tradition, as well. According to the Qur'an, the prophet Muhammad was taken by a miraculous steed named Buraq to visit the Farthest Mosque (which many Muslims believe is the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem), and there he prayed, and was then taken to heaven, in a single night in the year 620 A.D.

During this nightly event, Buraq took him to the heavens, where the Islamic prophet toured the seven stages of heaven, and met with Abraham, Moses and Jesus. In Islamic tradition, this event is known as Isra wal Mi'raj, . Many Islamic scholars believe this event took place on the Temple Mount, where the Al Aqsa Mosque is presently located.

During the Crusades in the A.D. era, the city was overtaken by the Christians (between 1095-1291) and controlled for the next 200 years. It was one of Jerusalem's most horrific times during its long history.

Image result for osman i
Osman I
While Jerusalem went through many dominions, the Roman Empire controlled the city the longest until Osman I captured it in 1299 A.D. (This would later become known as the Ottoman Empire).

For over 600 years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the ancient holy city (1299-1918), but never made Jerusalem its capital. This Sunni Islamic state was founded by Oghuz Turks under the reign of Osman I in northwestern Anatolia around 1299 and grew to its height of power under the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent during the 16th century. 

Following a long period of military setbacks against European powers and its gradual decline, the Ottoman Empire collapsed and was dissolved in the aftermath of World War I. From this downfall, the country of Turkey was born and the city of Jerusalem became a territory of Britain. It was during British rule that Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem... the first time in over 2,500 years!

By 1948, the State of Israel was established by a mandate from the United Nations when Britain dissolved its territorial ownership. The influx of Jews so began and by 1958 over two million Jews were living in the State of Israel. [These Jewish immigrants came to Israel for differing reasons - some believed in the Zionist movement, while others moved to escape horrid persecution.] During the first Arab-Israeli War in 1948, West Jerusalem was captured and later annexed by Israel. East Jerusalem, which included the Old City, was captured and annexed by Jordan

Buffalo Soldiers by Johnny Schumate 
The Six-Day War (June 5-June 10, 1967) came about when Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq when those Arab states began to mobilize their forces to invade the small country. The end result was Israel succeeding in capturing the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Jerusalem's boundaries had been enlarged during that time era, as well. It was during the Six Day War, Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan, ending Jordan's short occupation of the sacred city in 1967. 

Today, modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the Old City's boundaries. While Israel has claimed rightful status of Jerusalem's dominion for almost 48 years, Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is not recognized internationally.

From Wikipedia.com:
"Today, the status of Jerusalem remains one of the core issues in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Israel's 1980 Basic Law the Jerusalem Law refers to Jerusalem as the country's undivided capital. The international community rejected the annexation as illegal and treats East Jerusalem as Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. The international community does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and the city hosts no foreign embassies."

For further information, please visit: Timeline of Jerusalem     

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During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least two times (8th century B.C. and 1st century A.D), besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. Today, Israel and Palestine both claim Jerusalem as their capital; Israel maintains its primary governmental institutions there and Palestine ultimately foresees the city as its seat of power. However, neither claim is widely recognized internationally.

In 2017, the United Nations resumed peace talks concerning a Palestinian State, which once more has put the city of Jerusalem in the line of fire and again finds itself in an oppressing conflict that has captured the world’s attention.