Things That Make You Go Hmmmm....

Revelation 13:17
so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Revelation 14:9
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,

Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

Revelation 16:2
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:4
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Futurist Predicts Eternal Life In The Near Future

Futurist Ray Kurzweil is predicting that humans will be able to have eternal life in the next 15 to 20 years. That's right...eternal life. The aging process will be slowed down, then stopped, and maybe even reversed. Why does he believe that this is possible? His predictions are based upon the rate at which nanotechnology, biotechnology, and genetic technologies are advancing. And........ he is not alone! This is not a surprise, as the search for eternal life and "the fountain of youth" are ancient. What is different today is that, while these predictions may sound like the rantings of a lunatic, the science behind them is real. So real, in fact, that Kurzweil suggests that the best thing that a living human can do today is to take radical steps to keep their bodies healthy for the next 15 years or so until the emerging technologies mature.

Here is a link to the transcript of the commencement address that Kurzweil made to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute on May 21, 2005. In his own words he describes what he believes mankind will achieve as machines and humans merge.

The ramifications for mankind would be immense, certainly more than can be entertained here. No more sickness. No more disease. No more idiots. No need for religion to make people feel "at peace" about dying. As you consider the ramifications that the above prediction from a highly respected inventor and futurist may hold for the not-so-distant future of mankind, here are a few scriptures to consider as well.

Genesis 11:1-9 NLT 'At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. "Come," they said, "let's make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies--a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world."

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. "Look!" he said. "If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let's go down and give them different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other."

In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the LORD confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.'

Here is another:

I Samuel 2:6-8 NLT

'The LORD brings both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.

The LORD makes one poor and another rich;
he brings one down and lifts another up.

He lifts the poor from the dust--
yes, from a pile of ashes!
He treats them like princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
"For all the earth is the LORD's,
and he has set the world in order."'

So here are three questions to toss out for your consideration:

First, what are the ramifications of mankinds scientific advances to the second coming of Jesus?

Second, who holds the keys to eternal life and what are the conditions to obtain it?

Third, as a futurist, what would you suggest the best thing for a living human being to do for the next 15 years or so?

The Sanhedrin Re-Established

On October 13th of 2004, the Sanhedrin were re-established in Jerusalem after about 1600 years of non-existence. These 71 secretly selected rabbis reconstituted what historically was the highest Jewish legal-judicial tribunal in the Land of Israel.

Why were they re-established? Initially the purpose of the revival of the Sanhedrin was only vaguely addressed, but it was known from Talmudic tradition that Elijah the Prophet is to present himself before a duly-ordained Sanhedrin when he announces the coming of the Messiah. Indeed, the Sanhedrin have subsequently stated that one of their objectives is to re-institute the Davidic monarchy in Israel. In other words, they are preparing for their messiah's appearance and the crowning of a new king.



The newly established Sanhedrin are also becoming a political presence in Israel, recently being in conflict with the Israeli government's removal of settlers from Gaza. The Sanhedrin issued a statement saying, among other things, that "The Government of Israel and the Knesset, in their present form and power structure, do not constitute institutions that have any authority according to halacha to render decisions that contradict the Torah of Israel".

Recently, the Sanhedrin issued a statement calling for all those that are working on the Temple to begin preparing detailed architectural plans for the construction of the Holy Temple. This statement also called for the plans to be prepared so that prefabricated, disassembled components of the structure could be stored and ready to be rapidly assembled, as in the manner of King David.

The appearance of the Sanhedrin upon the scene in Israel after a long absence is noteworthy. We will be hearing more from them in the near future.

The Alpha and Omega Denied

Disappointing news today from the Catholic Church. Seems as if the bishops in England, Wales, and Scotland are denying the truth of the beginning and the end of the Bible. Specifically they do not believe that the books of Genesis and Revelation are to be taken literally as the truth. Thus they are denying the scriptural truth of the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, Jesus Christ himself.

Perhaps you may think that I am stretching things a bit. Let me explain. Jesus describes himself as the Alpha and the Omega three times in the book of Revelation. He also describes himself as the Beginning and the End, and as the First and the Last. It is a travesty that these bishops are warning and teaching about the book of Revelation that “Such symbolic language must be respected for what it is, and is not to be interpreted literally. We should not expect to discover in this book details about the end of the world, about how many will be saved and about when the end will come.”



Consider This

The book of Revelation (The Revelation Of Jesus Christ) is literally the testimony of Jesus.

Rev 1:1 "This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him concerning the events that will happen soon. An angel was sent to God's servant John so that John could share the revelation with God's other servants. 2 John faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ – everything he saw."

The Catholic church is denying that the book of Revelation, the testimony of Jesus, is true. Who would deny the testimony of Jesus Christ?



Further Consider This

It is by the testimony (of Jesus) and the blood of the Lamb that the Accuser, Satan is defeated.

Rev 12:10 'Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. 11 And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die." '

The Catholic church is denying that the book of Revelation, the testimony of Jesus, is true. Who would benefit from denying the testimony (and blood) of Jesus?



Another Consideration

The Catholic church is specifically denying the fate of the beast and the false prophet as described in Revelation 19:20.

Rev 19:20 "And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur."

Dumb question, but I have to ask it. Who's side is the Catholic church on anyway?



One More Consideration

Rev 1:3 "God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen."

Who would try to cause us to miss a blessing from God? The Holy Spirit? Guess again.



Finally

I do know that some readers may be offended by this post. It is not my desire to offend Catholic Christians. Indeed it is my desire that all Christians will read the book of Revelation and be blessed! I have placed a link below to the article that describes the Catholic church's "new" teaching. If anyone finds this article in error, or can confirm that the Catholic church embraces all of God's Word as the truth, without any of the confusion that is the hallmark of the enemy, please let me know.