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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Prophetic Earthquakes

Image result for earthquake crackEarthquakes have been occurring for thousands of years, with one of the earliest recorded quake occurring in 373 B.C. when the Greek city of Helike was destroyed by a major earthquake. Historians during that era recorded that rats, snakes and weasels had abandoned this ancient Greek city just days before the quake struck. (NH, 10/02, p.78)(WSJ, 5/16/08, p.A6)

Over many centuries large major earthquakes, some accompanied by tsunamis and landslides, have been recorded by historians [such as Herodotus] and later by early scientists [such as Aristotle] yet those quakes were few and far between in comparison to today's quake activity. 

By the A.D. era, earthquakes seem to come more frequently than the ancient civilization had experienced, but hundreds of years passed between major quakes. The early Abrahamic prophet, Isaiah, predicted that earthquake activity would be guaranteed...
"Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise,;  with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." Isaiah 29:6    

By the mid-1600s, the Earth's Teutonic Plates, which had laid quietly dormant for centuries, began to wake up. Earthquake activity around the globe began to increase.

By the late 1900's, hundreds of quakes around the world are now occurring on a yearly basis. The increase in quake activity is incredibly overwhelming by the end of the 20th century. In our 21st century there is seismic activity - with a magnitude of at least 5.0 or greater - occurring on a monthly basis somewhere on the planet. 

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke it states, "... and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." (Matt. 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11). According to Book of Revelation, earthquakes are mentioned five times (6:12; 8:5; 11:13; 11:19; 16:18). In the Qur'an, there are many aayahs (verses) regarding prophetic earthquakes, but they clearly imply [the earthquake] will start at the Day of Judgment.
"O mankind, save yourselves from the Wrath of your Lord. The fact is that the earthquake of the Resurrection is a terrible thing. The Day you behold it, you will see that every suckling woman will forsake her suckling; and every pregnant female will cast her burden; and the people will appear to you in a drunken state, though they will not be drunk! But the torment of Allah will be so dreadful." Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 1-2
The earthquakes we are experiencing in our modern world is just a pre-cursor to the "Great Earthquakes" that will strike at the End of Times. According to various scientists, there are three huge quakes that are destined to hit America, Chile and Japan in the near future.


Mega quake to change Pacific Northwest  2-6-2016

Many followers of the Abrahamic religions believe these earthquakes that are occurring around the world are prophetic promises from the Great Creator and only He has absolute control over it. Even with all the technology in the world today, the geologists are not able to pinpoint exactly where and when the next earthquake is going to strike, but signs [of seismic activity] are pointing to certain locations.   

There were 97 major quakes around the world [with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater] recorded between 2011-2015, an astronomical figure in comparison to the ancient era. As 2016 gets underway, there have been 129 earthquakes [with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater] recorded so far (as of 1-23-2016).
"And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." ~ Revelation 16:18

 Related Material: http://earthquaketrack.com/

January 23, 2016:

There have been: (M1.5 or greater)

  • 82 earthquakes today
  • 707 earthquakes in the past 7 days
  • 3,407 earthquakes in the past month
  • 39,244 earthquakes in the past year

The biggest earthquakes:


Thursday, January 14, 2016

Connecting With The Divine

Image result for islam christianity new age hinduism buddhismThe following article, written by Marilyn Adamson, covers some of the major world religions and their beliefs about God. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and New Age... Marilyn Adamson is a staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ. She directs print media campaigns and is the founder of StartingWithGod.com


Connecting With The Divine   By Marilyn Adamson   

We all want to make it through life with success, some sense that we did it right. So what about the major world religions? Is there anything in them that might give our lives greater depth and direction? The following looks at the major world religions... Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.* There is a brief description of each, their view of God, and what a person can gain from that religion. The ending explains how Jesus' teaching differs from the major religions.

*Each of these religions has sects with differing beliefs. The description given here focuses on the core beliefs of each religion. Other major religions, such as Judaism, could be discussed, but for brevity, we have chosen these.

Hinduism and its beliefs

Most Hindus worship one Being of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through infinite representations of gods and goddesses. These various manifestations of gods and goddesses become incarnate within idols, temples, gurus, rivers, animals, etc. Hindus believe their position in this present life was determined by their actions in a previous life. Hinduism therefore provides a possible explanation for suffering and evil in this life. If a person’s behavior before was evil, they might justifiably experience tremendous hardships in this life. Pain, disease, poverty or a disaster like a flood is deserved by that person because of their own evil actions, usually from a previous lifetime. A Hindu's goal is to become free from the law of karma...to be free from continuous reincarnations. Only the soul matters which will one day be free of the cycle of rebirths and be at rest. Hinduism gives a person freedom to choose how to work toward spiritual perfection. There are three possible ways to end this cycle of karma: 1. Be lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses; 2. Grow in knowledge through meditation of Brahman (oneness)...to realize that circumstances in life are not real, that selfhood is an illusion and only Brahman is real; 3. Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies and rites.

New Age and its beliefs

New Age promotes the development of the person's own power or divinity. When referring to God, a follower of New Age is not talking about a transcendent, personal God who created the universe, but is referring to a higher consciousness within themselves. A person in New Age would see themselves as God, the cosmos, the universe. In fact, everything that the person sees, hears, feels or imagines is to be considered divine. Highly eclectic, New Age presents itself as a collection of ancient spiritual traditions. It acknowledges many gods and goddesses, as in Hinduism. The Earth is viewed as the source of all spirituality, and has its own intelligence, emotions and deity. But superseding all is self. Self is the originator, controller and God of all. There is no reality outside of what the person determines. New Age teaches a wide array of eastern mysticism and spiritual, metaphysical and psychic techniques, such as breathing exercises, chanting, drumming, meditating...to develop an altered consciousness and one's own divinity. Anything negative a person experiences (failures, sadness, anger, selfishness, hurt) is considered an illusion. Believing themselves to be completely sovereign over their life, nothing about their life is wrong, negative or painful. Eventually a person develops spiritually to the degree that there is no objective, external reality. A person, becoming a god, creates their own reality.

Buddhism and its beliefs

Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People outside of Buddhism often think that Buddhists worship the Buddha. However, the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) never claimed to be divine, but rather he is viewed by Buddhists as having attained what they are also striving to attain, which is spiritual enlightenment and, with it, freedom from the continuous cycle of life and death. Most Buddhists believe a person has countless rebirths, which inevitably include suffering. A Buddhist seeks to end these rebirths. Buddhists believe it is a person's cravings, aversion and delusion that cause these rebirths. Therefore, the goal of a Buddhist is to purify one's heart and to let go of all yearnings toward sensual desires and the attachment to oneself. Buddhists follow a list of religious principles and very dedicated meditation. When a Buddhist meditates it is not the same as praying or focusing on a god, it is more of a self-discipline. Through practiced meditation a person may reach Nirvana -- "the blowing out" of the flame of desire. Buddhism provides something that is true of most major religions: disciplines, values and directives that a person may want to live by.

Islam and its beliefs

Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah, who is infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind. Allah is viewed as the creator of the universe and the source of all good and all evil. Everything that happens is Allah's will. He is a powerful and strict judge, who will be merciful toward followers depending on the sufficiency of their life's good works and religious devotion. A follower's relationship with Allah is as a servant to Allah. Though a Muslim honors several prophets, Muhammad is considered the last prophet and his words and lifestyle are that person's authority. To be a Muslim, one has to follow five religious duties: 1. Repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad; 2. Recite certain prayers in Arabic five times a day; 3. Give to the needy; 4. One month each year, fast from food, drink, sex and smoking from sunrise to sunset; 5. Pilgrimage once in one's lifetime to worship at a shrine in Mecca. At death -- based on one's faithfulness to these duties -- a Muslim hopes to enter Paradise. If not, they will be eternally punished in hell. For many people, Islam matches their expectations about religion and deity. Islam teaches that there is one supreme God, who is worshiped through good deeds and disciplined religious rituals. After death a person is rewarded or punished according to their religious devotion. Muslims believe that giving up one’s life for Allah is a sure way of entering Paradise. 

Christianity and its beliefs

Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be known in a personal way, in this life. With Jesus Christ, the person's focus is not on religious rituals or performing good works, but on enjoying a relationship with God and growing to know him better. Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is how the Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life. In his life on Earth, Jesus did not identify himself as a prophet pointing to God or as a teacher of enlightenment. Rather, Jesus claimed to be God in human form. He performed miracles, forgave people of their sin and said that anyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He made statements like, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Christians regard the Bible as God's written message to humankind. In addition to being an historical record of Jesus' life and miracles, the Bible reveals God's personality, his love and truth, and how one can have a relationship with him. Whatever circumstances a Christian is dealing with in their life, the Bible teaches that they can confidently turn to a wise and powerful God who genuinely loves them. They believe that God answers prayer and that life takes on meaning as they live to honor him.

How distinct are these major religions?

In looking at these major belief systems and their views of God, we find tremendous diversity:
  • Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses.
  • Buddhists say there is no deity.
  • New Age followers believe they are God.
  • Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.
  • Christians believe in a God who is loving and approachable.
Are all religions worshiping the same God? Let's consider that. New Age teaches that everyone should come to center on a cosmic consciousness, but it would require Islam to give up their one God, Hinduism to give up their numerous gods, and Buddhism to establish that there is a God.

The world's major religions (Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam, following Jesus Christ) are each quite unique. And of these one affirms that there is a personal, loving God who can be known, now in this life. Jesus Christ spoke of a God who welcomes us into a relationship with him and comes along side us as a comforter, counselor and powerful God who loves us.

In Hinduism a person is on their own trying to gain release from karma. In New Age a person is working at their own divinity. In Buddhism it is an individual quest at being free from desire. And in Islam, the individual follows religious laws for the sake of paradise after death. In Jesus' teaching, you see a personal relationship with a personal God -- a relationship that carries over into the next life.



Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Archangels


Image result for seven archangelsThe term "archangel" is considered an angel of high rank in the heavenly realm and is commonly associated with the Abrahamic religions. The word itself is derived from Greek ἀρχάγγελος (arch+angel, literally, chief angel). The earliest reference to a system of seven archangels as a group appears in Enoch I (the Book of Enoch) which is not part of the Jewish Canon but is prevalent in the Judaic tradition, where they are named as:      
 
  • Michael....His name means - "Who is like unto God?"
  • Gabriel.....His name means - "God Conquers" 
  • Raphael....His name means - "God Heals" 
  • Uriel.........His name means - "God is my Light" 
  • Raguel......His name means - "Friend of God" 
  • Ramiel......His name means - "Thunder of God" 
  • Sariel........His name means - "Command of God"
While the Book of Enoch is considered non-canonical in most Christian Churches, it was explicitly quoted in the New Testament (Jude 1:14-15) and by many of the early Church Fathers. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church to this day regards it to be canonical.

Michael and Gabriel are recognized as the most high-ranking of angels in Judaism, Islam and mainstream Christianity, as they are the only angels specifically named in the Holy Bibles of these religions, with Michael being the only one to be referred to as an "archangel". The Book of Tobit, which is identified in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, but considered apocryphal by Protestants, mentions Raphael as an archangel.

Various Abrahamic faiths have identified a group of seven Archangels, but the actual angels vary, depending on the source. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are always mentioned; the angel Uriel, who is mentioned in the Book of Enoch (2 Esdras), is commonly included in most religious accounts of the archangels. 

The earliest Christian mention of the archangels is by Pope Gregory I who lists them as Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Simiel/Samael ("Poison of God"), Oriphiel/Phanuel ("The Face of God") and Raguel. 

The archangels named in Islam are: 
  • Cebrail/Jibril (Gabriel) ..... He is said to be the angel that revealed the Quran to Muhammad; known as the angel who communicates with the prophets. Various hadiths (traditions) acknowledge his role in delivering divine messages from the Almighty (God) to the prophets. 
  • Mikhail (Michael) .... He is often depicted as the archangel of mercy and responsible for bringing rain and thunder to the Earth.
  • Israfil (Raphael) ..... He is the angel responsible for signaling the coming of Judgment Day by sounding a trumpet. 
  • Azrael (Uriel) His name means"One Whom God Helps"..... He is portrayed as the "Archangel of Death" in Muslim tradition. 
Note: The name, Azrael, is mentioned in a few Muslim books, although some Islamic scholars argue that it has no basis of reference.

In Chapter 21 of the Book of Enoch it also mentions Jerahmeel ("God pities" or "May God have compassion"), while other apocryphal sources list the names such as Izidkiel ("righteousness of God"), Haniel/Hanael ("Glory of God"), and Kepharel ("Beauty of God"). 

Metatron is also considered an archangel in some branches of Judaism. His name means, "Recording Angel" or "Chancellor of Heaven". The name Metatron is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, nor is it mentioned in the early Enoch texts. The origin of this archangel is debated, although he is mentioned in a few passages in the Talmud. Metatron is primarily mentioned in the mystical Kabbalistic texts within the Rabbinic literature. He is called the "highest of the angels", though the acceptance of this angel is not canonical in all branches of the Judaic faith.

According to the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, it alludes to the six great Amesha Spenta (literally "Bounteous/Holy Immortals") of Ahura Mazda. The six divine beings were created by Ahura Mazdā, the Wise Lord, to help govern creation. Three are commonly believed to be male and three are female. They are considered the ministers of his power against the evil spirit, Ahriman, and are depicted clustered about Ahura Mazdā on golden thrones attended by angels. They are the everlasting bestowers of good. They are worshipped separately and are said to descend to service on paths of light. In later Zoroastrianism each is opposed by a specific archfiend.

Chapter 20 of the Book of Enoch mentions seven holy angels who watch, that often are considered the seven archangels. The Life of Adam and Eve lists the archangels as well: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and Joel. Even the medieval Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, made a Jewish angelic hierarchy.

Eastern Orthodox tradition mentions "thousands of archangels; however, only seven archangels are venerated by name. Besides Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Uriel is included in this list, and the other three are most often named Selaphiel ("Intercessor of God" or "Prayer of God"), Jegudiel ("Glorifier of God"), and Barachiel ("Blessed by God").

According to Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish of Tiberias (230–270 A.D.), specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon. While angels were referred to in the stories of Abraham (an angel intervened to save Isaac), Lot (angels warned of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah) and Jacob (who wrestled with an angel), the Prophet Daniel was the first biblical figure to refer to individual angels by name (such as Gabriel and Michael). It is therefore widely accepted that Jewish interest in angels developed during the years of Babylonian captivity.

According to Rudolf Steiner, four (4) important archangels also display periodic spiritual activity over the seasons: Spring is Raphael, Summer is Uriel, Autumn is Michael, and Winter is Gabriel. Likewise, seven archangels are related to the seven days of the week: Michael (Sunday), Gabriel (Monday), Raphael (Tuesday), Uriel (Wednesday), Selaphiel (Thursday), Raguel (Friday), and Barachiel (Saturday).

While there are various archangels named by various religious sects, there are only two commanding angels that are widely accepted by all religions:
  • Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander and leader, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks Lucifer/Satan, and in his left hand a green palm branch. At the top of the spear there is a linen ribbon with a red cross. The Archangel Michael is especially considered to be the Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a fighter against heresies. 
  • Gabriel is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as follows: In his right hand, he holds a lantern with a lighted taper inside, and in his left hand, a mirror of green jasper. The mirror signifies the wisdom of God as a hidden mystery. 
In closing, it is interesting to note that Lucifer (Satan) was once an archangel as well. His name means "The Morning Star" or the "Bringing of Dawn". In ancient Canaanite mythology, the morning star is pictured as a god (Attar) who attempted to occupy the throne of Ba'al and, finding he was unable to do so, descended and ruled the underworld. The original myth may have been about a lesser god Helel trying to dethrone the Canaanite high god El who lived on a mountain to the north. 

In Islam, Satan is known as Iblīs and sometimes referred to as Shaytān. He is associated with the "morning star" which is known as Dajaal, but the accounts of him resemble the earlier fallen-angel accounts in the Books of Enoch and the Christian canon of Revelation (12:7-9). Iblis was banished from Heaven for refusing to abject himself before Adam, which is similar to the earlier 3 Enoch (chapter 4) in which all of the angels prostrate themselves before Enoch, an early descendant of Adam. Thus, he sins after the creation of man. He asks God for a respite until judgment day rather than being consigned to the fire of Hell immediately. God grants this request, and Iblis then swears revenge by tempting human beings and turning them away from God. The Creator tells him that any humans who follow him will join him in the fire of Hell at judgment day. But Iblis will not have power over all mankind, but only those who choose to follow him. This story is cited multiple times in the Qur'an for different reasons.

In Abrahamic tradition, Lucifer is generally referred to as the leader of the "fallen angels" who tried to overthrow God's heavenly kingdom.
"How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: 'Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?'" ~ Isaiah 14:12

For further information, please visit:

http://supernatural.wikia.com/wiki/Archangels