Galatians 1 – 3. The Apostles Split From Paul!

I cheated a little bit to get some geographical background on biblical Galatia on Wikipedia. It is NOT a traditional Israelite locale, so it seems we are dealing with converted Gentiles once again, or Jews in Galatia. The text should address this but after reading the letters to the Corinthians, I think we are dealing with the former: Converted Gentiles who could be of Greek/Turkish/Anatolian origin and ethnicity (did Jesus want them to be preached to?).

Galatians 1

Paul writes a letter to Galatia. In verse 6 Paul marvels at how fast they replaced “him that called you” (1:6) (Paul?) with another gospel (from who?).

1:8 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

So the FIRST gospel that was preached to them is the right one, and any gospel after that, even if it’s from the same people is not right. And what is this about ANGELS preaching gospels?

Paul admits he’s only seen TWO apostles: Peter and James, Jesus’ brother. But it doesn’t/shouldn’t matter because Paul tells them his gospel comes from God himself. He ALSO admits he “was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ” (1:22). WHAT?! So is this why he went off to strange lands to preach, to avoid Judaea knowing he might face wrath for his past in persecuting converted Jews?! VERY INTERESTING!

Galatians 2 – The Apostles SPLIT from Paul!

Paul explains that his own gospel to the uncircumcised (Gentiles) is just as effectual as Peter’s gospel to the circumcised (Jews.) However he goes on to explain that the Apostles initially accepted him and his Gentile gospel, then turned away!

2:11 – But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because *he was to be blamed*. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

JESUS TOLD YOU GUYS NOT TO GO TO THE GENTILES PAUL!

Other Jews separated themselves as well, including Paul’s partner Barnabas, away from the Gentiles. Paul then scolds Peter, Jesus’ ROCK and the rest of the Apostles/Disciples!:

2:14 – But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all…

Peter and the rest were accused of “walking not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel” (2:14) because he and the others expected the Gentiles to live as Jews do. OR, maybe they were following Jesus’ instructions and command in Matthew 10:5 and split from Paul who wasn’t following Jesus’ commandment.

Here’s the doozy verse I hear ALL THE TIME, and now that I know this verse is not Jesus’ own words, but Paul’s, I FIND THE VERSE HIGHLY SUSPECT!

2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.

So Paul is saying it’s not about the law, and the culture/lifestyle of the Jews, which is what turned the others away from the Gentiles, but simply “faith”.

Are these also Jesus’ words and sentiments? Because he is the authority. So, can we assume the “false gospels” the Galatians are receiving are ones from the Disciples that split from Paul? If not, who preached them?

2 Galatians 3

Paul tears into the Galatians for being bewitched and not obeying the truth, again getting into the faith vs. works of the law argument. In verse 7 he says those of “faith” are “the same are the children of Abraham” (3:7). Again, I don’t think this was part of Jesus’ (whose own words were “Salvation isof the Jews”)gospel or his sentiment, and Paul continues his divergence from the philosophy and doctrine of Jesus. In verse 3:8 Paul tries to tie in his gospel with the blessing of Abraham “all nations shall be blessed”, not seeming to understand that from Abraham came multiple nations from his children: Israel, Moab, Edom, etc. THOSE were the nations.

So here is where modern Christianity gets the idea that Christians are of the seed of Abraham: NOT Jesus, but PAUL. Galatians 3:16 which rhymes with John 3:16… coincidence? Two verses taken out of context not only by Paul but by modern church when compared to Jesus’ own words…

Paul continues lecturing on the law of Moses, as if he was an expert on why it was put in place, and why it’s no longer as important as faith. All are under sin (NOT Jesus’ words).

3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I find this verse extremely problematic, especially in regards to Jesus’ own words on who salvation is for, and who he came to preach to. Paul is changing doctrine to include EVERYONE. <— ANOTHER research goal accomplished in my journey. Finding out who turned Christianity from a localized to land and people religion into a global religion: Paul.

I was expecting these verses to be the words of Jesus because how often they are quoted today, but alas, they are not his words. The further I go into the New Testament, the more I see that much of what is quoted today is not the words of Jesus’ but the words of Paul. The same Paul who the original apostles and disciples have decidedly split from. No wonder we have SO MANY denominations today. It started with Paul!

Matthew 25: Separation & Judgement in the Kingdom of Heaven

So Matthew 24 was Jesus describing the impending kingdom of heaven. Once it’s here? He goes on to describe what will happen next:

• A parable about 10 virgins, preparing to meet a bridegroom. Half were prepared with oil for the lamps, half not. They wait so long that they have to light their lamps, so half have to run off and buy oil. In that time the bridegroom appears and only 5 virgins enter (at one time as the verse states, is this some sort of… never mind). Translation: Half present will enter the kingdom of heaven (the Elect?)
• A parable about a man who travels, and gives his servants money to hold. All but one servant makes money off of this money for the man. When the man discovers he didn’t make any money for him by investing it and letting it gain interest, he is angered, takes the servants money and casts him into darkness: Translation: Not everyone part of the plan will enter. The verse seems to imply that only those that “already have (been chosen?)” will be given more, so maybe we are talking about a select, “elect”.
• Since we know he only preached this word to the 12 tribes of Israel, these nations then get split into sheep (righteous) and goats (cursed). The sheep were the ones that fed, gave drink, and sheltered Jesus by treating others so. The goats were the ones that didn’t treat others like that. The sheep go to the kingdom of heaven that was built from them “from the foundation of the world (the world of the 12 tribes, not the planet).” Jesus translates this himself: The righteous receive “everlasting life”, the cursed “everlasting punishment”.

Did Jesus ever say he came to judge the planet and all mankind that existed at that time? If he did, which I do not recall, then he excluded everyone else at that time from his preaching for a reason. The Elect. Doesn’t matter to me however, I think the context is clear: this “world” being discussed is the world of the 12 tribes of Israel at that time, connected to Jesus through a sort of bad connection to David who goes back to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham, who made a covenant with the Lord. The same Lord who admitted he caused his people to burn their children as burnt offerings in Ezekiel 20:25. This is all I need to know in regards to how I feel about this “kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 13 – The Reason for the Parables: So They DON’T Understand and Be Healed

The same day Jesus denied his mother Mary, he goes off to the sea and sits in a ship while his multitude stands by on the shore. He begins a parable about a sower of seeds. He seems to be interrupted by his disciples who ask him WHY he speaks in parables to the masses.

Matthew 13:11 – Because it is given unto YOU to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is NOT given.

Does Jesus intend to lead them astray with parables, so that they remain confused? Why would he do this? Remember, I believe he has very specific goals here, not just mass “saving” of everyone around him. Jesus accuses the people of the multitude of having hearts what “wax gross”, their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes closed. If Jesus spoke clearly and to the point, then:

13:15 … lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Jesus is purposely speaking in parables so that the multitude’s eyes remain closed, their ears hard of hearing, and heart confused, so that he does NOT have to heal them. Why though? I think I know but I’ll wait until the text tells us. The Disciples? They are the fortunate ones who will hear with open heart, open eyes, good hearing and understand and be healed after Jesus explains the parables in private. See what’s happening here? It’s a selective “saving”.

Jesus speaks 4 more parables to the multitude, never speaking regularly, and then sends them away, likely confused and not understanding or trying to figure out the parables. Eventually he explains the first parable of the “Seed Sower” so his disciples only can indeed understand… It has to do with good seeds and bad seeds, the bad seeds being sown by the devil and the tares of the bad seeds get burned in fire. The good seeds, of course, are them. Again, this all relates just to the lost house of Israel that understand the parables and the disciples. No one else.

Jesus finishes his parable and returns home to teach in the synagogue, this is where we learn who his family is: James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. Oh and he has some sisters who are apparently so unimportant they receive no names. Those in the synagogue don’t understand how a man with a family like theirs could do such “mighty works”.

Matthew 11: The Preaching Ensues. Some Don’t Repent.

Now that the context of Jesus’ mission is very precise: preach only to the lost house of Israel, I can run quicker through the gospels for the most part. Why? Because I started this blog journey to discover the context this book has for me. Does it apply to me? Will it answer questions I need answered? Etc. I’ve established that, at this point in Matthew, it does NOT apply to me. I can hear the wail of Christians all around me “Yes it does”. I will be the one to establish if it does based on the text in the bible, not modern religion, and so far it doesn’t. Maybe this will change, and I will look out for it, but right now:

Jesus is the authority. His own words state this is only for the lost house of Israel. Besides, if he really is the son of the Lord who admitted (Ezekiel 20:25) to causing his own people to burn their children in fire because he was mad at them, then I’d want no part of any of it. I’m still going to finish this bible journey however.

The instruction has been set, the 12 go out, and Jesus goes to their cities to preach (since they have left their cities). John the Baptist, in prison, gets word of what is happening, he sends two of his disciples to find Jesus. They do, and Jesus verifies with them what is happening (sick are healed, dead raised, etc.) and they return to John the Baptist. Jesus begins to preach to the multitude around him about events specific to them and them only, as the lost house of Israel. Some verses of note:

11:11 – John the Baptist is the greatest man to ever be born of women, according to Jesus

11:12 – From the days of John the Baptist to the present (Jesus’ time) the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, “the violent take it by force.” Cryptic, I wish he gave details, so I will be looking for context on this as well.

The Cities that Repented Not

So Jesus has completed his preaching in some cities, and apparently they have rejected him and not repented: Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum which “was exalted unto heaven” all being given prophecy of judgement for not repenting.

Jesus then turns and prays to the Father, thanking him that “these things” were hidden from the wise and given to “babes”. In verse 27 we get the famous “no man knows the Father except me, and no one will know him except through me.”

Now, begging the questions again is Jehovah/the Lord the Father? Most Christians would say yes, I’d say there is a possibility he is not. Many men in the Old Testament knew the Lord, Moses, Jacob who wrestled him, Abram who he met at the door of his tent, etc. Yet Jesus says no man has known the Father. Is this another case of the New Author not knowing men had previously met the Lord? Or is Jesus distinguishing the Father from the Lord. If that is the case, then just who is the Father, and was he mentioned in the Old Testament? The Most High who Melchizidek represented when he made offerings of bread and wine? That’d be my guess.

Matthew 8 – Miracles 1 – 6; The Lost Tribe of Gad? Jesus Rejected!

Miracle #1 – Jesus comes down the mountain, with his followers, and meets a leper that asks if Jesus can make him clean. Jesus does, and sends the leper off to a “priest” and make the offering Moses commanded. So Jesus is still enforcing some of the Law of Moses, thus legitimizing it to his time.

Miracle #2 – A centurion seeks Jesus out, asking if he could heal the Centurion’s servant. The Centurion says he isn’t worthy of Jesus entering his house, so he asks that the “speak the word only” (8:8).

“Speak the word” as in a spell?

Apparently this means the Centurion is of great faith, that no one else in Israel seems to have. Jesus’ response is pretty cryptic in the context of what is going on. He states that “many will come” from the “east and the west” (but not the north and the south, is there more context to this?) and sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the “kingdom of heaven.”

8:12 – But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.

Why will the children of the kingdom be cast out? I thought he liked children? And which kingdom is he referring to? the Roman kingdom? the Kingdom of Heaven? So cryptic.

He sends the Centurion off and in that hour his servant was healed.

Miracle #3 – Jesus goes to Peter’s house and finds Peter’s mother in law sick. When she touched his hand she was healed.

Miracle #4 – At night, people brought those possessed by devils, and he cast them out “with his word” and healed the sick, fulfilling another prophecy of Isaiah that was already fulfilled in Isaiah 53 when the “arm of the Lord” who “took our infirmities” already existed. Yet another New Author sign.

Jesus begins to get surrounded by many people, and he asked them to “depart unto the other side”. A “certain” scribe goes to him (can’t come up with a name, author?) who offers to follow Jesus wherever he goes, and Jesus reply seems to imply that he, the “Son of Man”, has no place to lay his head and neither will the scribe. Another follower asks to go and bury his dead father first, and Jesus rudely replies “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” What happened to “Honor they father and mother”?

Miracle #5 – For some unknown reasons (typical New Authors) Jesus and his disciples enter a ship. Where? In what sea? Galilee? Well if it was Galilee it was a fresh water lake that SUDDENLY becomes tempestuous (maybe the Mediterranean?) Jesus, paralleling Jonah, sleeps through the chaos and had to be woken up so tempest could be stopped. Jesus rebuked (with words?) the winds and the sea and it stopped.

8:27 – But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him!

“What manner of man” It’s as if this concept of a human with super powers wasn’t really common in this culture, if not more specifically to the downtrodden/working class that Jesus recruited from. Did these people not know of Elijah and Elisha? Is this another example of the authors not knowing about these 2 past prophets and not including this concept in their writings of Jesus? Hence, the “New” Authors.

Miracle #6 – The ship takes them to “Gergesenes” which is a city on the east side of the Sea of Galilee (answering the question of which sea they were in.) Like a scene in a horror story, and AGAIN, another type of event we did NOT see in the Old Testament, we get a new concept of men possessed with devils who come running out of a tomb. They were so fierce no man passed by. The devils recognize Jesus, asking what “they have to do with him”, and if he’s there to “torment us before the time?” They request to be cast into a nearby herd of pigs, which is done with the word “Go”, and then the pigs violently rush themselves into the sea to drown. The owners of the pigs run back to the city to speak of what happened, and the whole city comes out to meet Jesus, and with no mention of Jesus speaking or any dialogue or discussion, they asked him to leave.

Context: This is an interesting story because it begs the question, why did Jesus go to Gergesenes? I’ve done research on this before, and we will get important context later, but near or part of Gergesenes is a city called Gadara, which SEEMS to imply a city inhabited by people of Gad, one of the 12 northern tribes of Israel. Did Jesus and his followers make their first attempt at reuniting a “lost” tribe back into the fold under a new leader, Jesus? What’s interesting to note is the presence of “pigs” in this story. One source states that, by Moses law, they weren’t supposed to eat or own “unclean” animals like pigs. So the fact that they owned pigs implies they have released themselves from the Mosaic law and become a separate people. Which may also be another reason they asked Jesus to leave: they were done with the Abrahamic god and even his apparent son.

Historically speaking, the day of the Lord should’ve already occurred, his enemies defeated and Israel and Judah returned to Jerusalem. Here we potentially have Gad split from that prophecy. What does this imply? To me, the day of the Lord prophecy never happened, and by whatever machination missing from this story, the Lord and his series of prophecies fizzled away in the biblical story line, only to be revived (uncomfortably I might add) with the NEW CONCEPTS of the Father, Baptism, the kingdom of Heaven, and a modified Mosaic law, etc. A sort of cult revival of the Lord through his son and a new form of the cult of the Lord religion tailored to the new times of the Roman occupation of Jerusalem and Judea.

Matthew 7 – Jesus-isms Part 3

“Judge not let ye be judged”

But don’t forget about the REST of the context: you will be judged by the same measure you judge someone else. Ok, I will stand and judge a murderer, and gladly face judgement, because, guess what. I’M NOT A MURDERER. So it’s less of a mandate and more of a “be careful when you do.” Same with the “mote in your brothers eye” and the “beam in your own”. Just be careful. It almost sounds like don’t haphazardly judge or call people out. Decent lesson, but not an absolute mandate.

Oh, here’s the BIG ONE!

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh is shall be opened.

Sorry, I have to ask, in what universe does this verse ring true? I don’t care if you are the most devout Christian or the most stubborn god despising atheist, it’s weight equally for both: JUST NOT TRUE. Unless there is some hidden layer of meaning here, this verse should not be repeated as fact, and I don’t care how devout the Christian is posting it on Twitter. It does not work like this in reality UNLESS we are missing some context on why Jesus said this as if it was absolute. We are still at the point where he’s sitting in front of a bunch of people that followed him. There is no Holy Spirit clause, no sort of power transfer to the followers. Again, it feels like a trap: “Expect the impossible, and turn the other cheek when a negative result occurs. Until you are limbless and headless dead in the streets.”

It’s as if Jesus is promising a sort of imminent utopia where all this can happen and become true. Unfortunately I don’t think it happens in the context of the New Testament nor at any time between then and 2020, thus these beliefs have left behind mountains of dead faithful who felt, if they really believed hard enough, it’d all come true. Sounding more and more like a death trap.

Verse 18: A hat tip to Job: is every tree that “bringeth not good fruit” cut down and cast in the fire? Plenty of examples of bad trees aka people living long fruitful lives, large families, dying in peace, etc.

Verse 21: Not everyone that calls out to Jesus “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven (what if they are MEEK?) but only those that do the will of the Father (which is?)

Verse 22 and 23: Famous verse: People who do the work of Jesus casting out devils and wonderful works, but Jesus rejects them (Why?)

Some verse that matches the style of the New Authors:

7:28 – And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were *astonished* at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

So Jesus is the “New People” pattern I’ve mentioned before, being raised/exalted over the existing and established power structure, the Pharisees and scribes. Typical New Author theme and writing style. Also should be noted that biblically speaking, “astonished” means “desolate or appalled” in the original Hebrew. I know it was supposedly translated from original Greek, but it could very well mean the same thing.

To be honest, I’m ASTONISHED at his doctrine, and not in the good way. Like I’ve said, it’d be nice if it were all true, and Jesus seems to have good intentions (if my theory that it’s really a trap is false) but it’s just not true and being spread like wildfire, and that’s what astonishes me!

Ezekiel 38 and 39 – Bad Modern Bible Prophecy; Rules for Bible Prophecy

Ezekiel 38 – Gog and Magog

Ok, I hear about the prophecy of Gog and Magog all the time, and supposedly it has yet to play out. Is this the chapter this modern day prophecy is sourced from? If it is, holy crap, talk about a stretch to bring it to the year 2020. It should be obvious to ANYONE that reads Ezekiel that all of these prophecies listed are 1) Babylonian captivity or pre-captivity era 2) pre-day of the Lord and 3) BEFORE the book of Ezra which has already occurred in the timeline and is LONG GONE to modern times. To bring them into 2020 is a travesty and should be called out at every opportunity.

Why? Because it’s these prophecies that allow people to support modern wars because they believe it’s biblical prophecy and the winners have already been chosen. Countless innocents will die for these false biblical wars.

Let’s analyze: Gog is the land aka a nation. Magog is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE OR CITIES EXIST ANYMORE. THEY ARE *NOT* SYMBOLIC OF MODERN NATIONS! They were around at the time Ezekiel was written AND THAT’S WHERE THEY BELONG!

This is the same prophecy of the nations of the “north”, Babylon, coming south to lay siege to Israel PRE-CAPTIVITY, to attain the captivity well established in Ezekiel and in Ezra. It’s pre day of the Lord. It’s not for 2020. Gog isn’t China, or Russia, or whatever modern nation north of the modern state of Israel they argue with. The wars of the captivity and the day of the Lord are being set up in Ezekiel, and like I noted before, this is all part of missing context and history in the bible because Ezra starts the return to Jerusalem, which is POST-day of the Lord. WE ARE MISSING TEXTS AND TIMELINE HISTORY IN THE BIBLE THAT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL PROOF!

Ezekiel 29

More of the same for Magog. Nothing to add. I do believe these are the two chapters being used as modern biblical prophecy about some northern nation invading modern Israel. It’s been 3,000 years and people are still waiting for it. How convenient the bible is missing text that would show it already happened. The simple fact that Ezra – Esther shows a remnant returning from Babylonian captivity PROVES this prophecy is long gone.

It’s like the modern translators and collators did this on purpose: move the books of the prophets AFTER the books they pertain to, then remove evidence of these prophecies being fulfilled (aka the day of the Lord which probably never happened to begin with) and jumped right into Ezra hoping people won’t see the skip. Thus, modern day people think these prophecies are for the future. These translators and collators are just as evil and deceitful as their god, because look at what biblical prophecy has done to this world. Wars in the Middle East because both sides think prophecy is still to come and both sides think they will win.

And guess what? These wars have the potential to be perpetual because they will NEVER fulfill these prophecies as stated in the text, and people will keep forcing the issue hoping they do become fulfilled. Then the next generation is taught these prophecies as being modern and do it all again.

My Rules for Believing Bible Prophecy

Rule #1 for anyone who thinks this or any other prophecy listed in Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel, or any one of the other books of the prophets pertains to modern times: READ THE DAMN CHAPTERS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, CONTEXT AND ALL

Rule #2: Realize these books should be read parallel with Judges, Kings and Chronicles AND that the book of Ezra takes place AFTER these prophecies were too occur.

Rule #3: Stop listening to people who obviously haven’t read these texts in their entirety.

Rule #4: Please stop the wars in the name of “bible prophecy”. If you really want them so bad, GO FIGHT THEM YOUR FUCKING SELF! Leave the rest of the world who want to live in peace, OUT OF IT!

Ezekiel 2 – 4: Bizarre (drug induced?) Rituals from Jehovah; HUMAN DUNG?!

Ezekiel 2 – The Message of the First Vision

Jehovah (or whoever speaks to Ezekiel) calls Ezekiel “the Son of Man”. He tells Ezekiel he is sending them to the rebellious “children of Israel” (even though he is in Babylon with Judah). He instructs Ezekiel to do as he is told, speak to the people, and to not be afraid. He presents a scroll to Ezekiel that is filled with “lamentations, mourning, and woe.”

Ezekiel 3

Ezekiel is then instructed to EAT the roll, which he says was sweet like honey (another drug?) Interestingly, Jehovah tells Ezekiel to go to people like him, of his same language (Israel) because if he went to any other people of a different language, those people would be able to “hearken” to him. Israel, he explains, will not.

The Abduction

Ezekiel is then picked up by the fleet of entities going in “bitterness” and the “heat of his spirit” but he was secure by the “strong hand” of Jehovah. A quick look at the Hebrew Interlinear shows he could also be saying “in rage and in distress” so I don’t think Ezekiel was quite comfortable being carried away into the sky.

He hears the roar of the entities/vehicles as they took him away and apparently they dropped him off at a place called Tel-Abib in Babylon by the river Chebar where the captivity was, and he stayed there “astonished” for 7 days. Was he fatigued? Drained from traveling through the skies/space? Interlinear shows he can be saying he sat there “desolate or appalled” at what has just happened to him. After the 7 days Jehovah appears again, giving him a list of “mandates” and “rules” regarding the different aspects of a man sinning after being warned.

Jehovah (or whatever is appearing to Ezekiel) appears to him “in the plain” and Ezekiel falls on the ground. A spirit enters (possesses) him, making him stand up with more instructions: he is soon to talk to the people and until Jehovah possesses him again to speak through him, he will be unable to talk.

Ezekiel 4

In an extremely bizarre scene reminiscent of the army forts I used to play with as a child, Jehovah instructs Ezekiel to strangely draw Jerusalem on a piece of tile, then “lay siege against it” 4:2, complete with battering rams. He is then to take an iron pan and put the pan between himself and the tile and then lay siege to the pan.

4:3 … “This shall be a sign to the house of Israel“

It gets even more bizarre! Ezekiel is to lay on his left side for 390 days representing the bearing of the iniquity of Israel. Once that is over, he flips over to his right side and lays there for 40 days. To ensure he does this properly, Jehovah is going to put him in “bands” (so he can’t move?)

Wait, it gets EVEN MORE BIZARRE! (this is why I seriously think there is some sort of hallucinogenic activities going on here.) Ezekiel is then instructed to make a “bread” out of various food items. His daily “meat” rations are given while he “lays siege” to a piece of tile and a pan, as well as his daily water ration.

4:12 – And thou shalt it eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of a man, in their sight.

WHAT?! He is going to bake it with human dung? Damage control alert: many people say “Oh no, he’s going to burn the human dung in regular fire to bake it, not eat it.” I believe he was to EAT IT, especially based on Ezekiel’s response:

4:14 – Then said I, Ah, Lord Lord (Yahweh Adonay)! behold, my soul hath not been polluted from my youth up even till now have I not *eaten* of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; *neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

Sorry people, the intention here was that Ezekiel was to eat his barley cake like bread with human dung. Jehovah heeds Ezekiel, and instead gives him ANIMAL DUNG!

Jehovah then explains that he will also provide rations of bread and water in Jerusalem, where they will eat and drink with “astonishment” (“desolate or appalled”) Is it possible this “bread” and “water” is affecting the people physically/mentally? Something is very ODD and wrong about what is being described by the author.

Isaiah 46 47 – Jehovah Acknowledges other Gods? Babylon & I AM

Isaiah 46 – Jehovah Names other Gods He Denies Exist

In Isaiah 45, Jehovah, speaking to Cyrus of Persia, adamantly states his belief that he will be seen as the only god, once he is able to perform the Day of the Lord that will bring his people, and Assyrians and Egypt, into his fold as one. Is he stating there are no other gods? Not necessarily, just that he wants his people to see him as the only one that matters. Here’s why I say that:

Isaiah 46:1 – Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

Who are Bel and Nebo? Other gods (specifically of Babylon). Should be noted that Nebo is similar to Nebu (of Nebuchadnezar). If they didn’t exist, why is Jehovah acknowledging them with names? Sure, he could be speaking figuratively of these gods, but he didn’t say they weren’t real. They are so real that he boasts they are now in captivity as well:

46:2 – They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

One of my theories is that, to this tribal people who were led by the tribal god Yahweh/Jehovah, elevated their god to the name and title of the original supreme singular god of the land: El (who, by the way, we are now learning that he also had a wife.) Thus, now, we have the author self-affirming this elevation of tribal god to supreme god with this verse:

46:9 – Remember the former things of old: for I am El, and there is none else; I am Elohim, and there is none like me.

For all the boasting he does about himself, at this point in the bible it really just appears as hogwash. He couldn’t get his people to worship him only the first time around, his covenant was a failure, yet he elevates himself asthan supreme god of the land El, never admitting to his mistakes and failures… this story line sounds familiar… never mind.

There is no self perception or reflection seen by Jehovah, we were told he never repents of man, but then we are told he repented making Saul king. Surely he recognizes his own mistakes? His people are for sure not going to point it out. Moses got the closest, constantly changing Jehovah’s mind for the reason of “what will people think of you”. Jehovah doesn’t self correct however, he never says “I will change how I set up this second nation to be a better god, a kinder god, so they don’t turn from me”, seemingly gambling on the idea that things will go his way with a remnant of his original people and new Egyptians and Assyrians.

Isaiah 47 – Jehovah speaks to Babylon and the Chaldeans

Jehovah sternly lectures Babylon for not only taking his people captive (at his behest) but treating them cruelly. You know, he could’ve just figured out another method of correcting behavior than constant captivity, but he keeps doing the same things expecting different results. In verse 6, he even somewhat admits fault for what has happened as he tells Babylon he himself has “polluted mine inheritance. (47:6)” Then what was he expecting? What exactly caused Jehovah to really hammer down on Babylon?

47:10 – For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said, in thine heart, *I am, and none else beside me*.

Look at the last part of that verse. Who else is saying such things? Jehovah. Remember when he told Moses to tell the people that he is “I AM”. Is this some sort of title or label, one that Babylon attempted to hold themselves to? When Lucifer (Nebuchadnezar) king of Babylon held himself as high as the gods? Interesting. Either way, the arrogance of “there is none else beside me” makes Babylon and Jehovah very similar.

Isaiah 47 ends with the usual poetic promise of destruction, etc. etc.

Pearls of Proverbs: Part 3 – Miscellaneous Proverbs, Mystery King Lemuel

Let’s look at what wise Solomon says about Jehovah:

Proverbs 16:4 – Jehovah hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Why would he do this?! If not to subject his inheritance and people to wickedness and the day of evil. I can see how this would put the earth “off course” as we were told in Psalms 82.

21:3 – To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

Then why even require sacrifice? Is it because it keeps him physically alive? We know he likes the odor of the burning flesh, but that seems more of a human trait, than an omnipotent god. Maybe the people got tired of the mundane daily routine of sacrifices and offerings while the peoples around them worshiped deities that allowed them freedom and independence.

22:28 – Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

I wonder which landmark this is, or if it’s a reference to general landmarks. And if it/they all still exist or if they were torn down.

23:13 – Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

How many children have been beaten and abused over the 3,000 plus years this mandate was laid down because of this verse. And we have another false verse: “if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” One can easily kill a child by beating them, this is backwards logic! And it’s still being quoted today?! Disgusting!

24:17 – Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.

Psalms 147 answers this verse – (to their enemies) Happy is he who dashes your young ones against the stones. Hypocrisy.

Proverbs 25 – We are introduced to another set of Proverbs that king Hezekiah had copied out.

26:11 – the infamous verse about a dog returning to his own vomit. I hear this one all the time.

Proverbs 30 – Now we get proverbs from a man named Agur the son of Jakeh. Let’s see how they compare to Solomon’s… Ok, his seemed more about the testimony of his generation, scolding them with a handful of proverbs.

Proverbs 31 – Proverbs from an unknown king named Lemu-el (who’s not in my list of kings.) His mother speaks to him the way Solomon speaks to his son, instructing them on being wise AS KINGS. These are words for KINGS, not for the average Joe. So for us average Joe’s, do all these rules work?

This chapter seems to be about king Lemuel finding a proper wife, AND, of course, believers have taken these words and held a belief that, and I quote, “the bible says women should…” act a certain way. What about when we get to the words of Saul/Paul in the New Testament? Is he just continuing to mandate the role of women in this culture, society, and religion the way king Lemuel’s mother did, and modern believers will attempt to follow those words too?

I’ve made my journey through Proverbs quickly, and efficiently. For a believer, Proverbs offers plenty of verses to meditate on, quote, create memes, and share with other believers. HOWEVER, at some point there has to be serious mental gymnastics to quote these verses thinking they are all fact. That all things said in them will come true if acted out. This is why I always hear the same psalm verses quoted over and over, because they are the ones that believers can actually explain away. That leaves the rest of them ignored, and I’m sure the authors didn’t have the intention of their words being partially ignored.

On to Ecclesiastes!