Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Vasili Arkhipov
On this day on October 27, 1962, the Soviet Vasili Arkhipov saved the world from a nuclear war! ! The Cuban missile crisis began when the Soviet Union started installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. The US government started a naval blockade around the island. The Soviet submarine B 59 with nuclear weapons with Vasili Arkhipov second-in-command had the mission to break the American blockade. The captain Valentin Savitsky opted to launch a nuclear torpedo against a USS warship. Arkhipov refused and managed to convince the captain to emerge and wait for orders from Moscow. During those times of crisis, the Soviet officers, having lost radio contact with Moscow, wrongly concluded that World War 3 had begun. Only 15 minutes later, news arrived that the USSR and the United States had decided to end the Cuban missile crisis.
How we came to worship on Sunday
HOW THE SABBATH WAS CHANGED FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY
From a historical point of view, the change from Saturday to Sunday was a process, it wasn't something to happen overnight. Before we take a look at that process I want to express that Sunday worships started not because of a biblical command. It started because of prosecution of the early church by Pagan Imperial Rome, and you can take a look at this for yourself. This process was in three parts,
(1) The early church kept Sunday because of prosecution,
(2) Constantine Passes Sunday laws to Christianize his pagan empire because Christianity was growing stronger and taking over his land.
(3) And the Catholic Church pass another Sunday law to strengthen Constantine Sunday laws because afterward, the early church was still keeping the Sabbath.
But let's take a look at the process, detail.
WHEN DID SUNDAY WORSHIP START. We have the process starting in 150 A.D. Why, because Justin Martyr records in the (Clark's Ante-Nicene Library, Chapter LXVII, p. 185, 1953 edition) the only authentic source where was the START OF THE CHANGE. The other sources like the Didache, or the Epistle of Barnabas, proven none authentic. Since Justin martyr has the only authentic source which is placed at 150 AD this means, it is the start of the process. Also, that proves the apostles and the early church kept the Sabbath not Sunday.
So from 150 and on the church started to keep Sunday, but they didn't only keep Sunday they kept Saturday Holy also, this is recorded in (—Church History, Apostolic Age to A.D. 70, Section 29.). There were three groups of Christians at that time. (1) You had the Romans Christians who kept Sunday. (2) You had the Gentile Christians who kept both days. (3) And you had the Jewish Christians who kept Sabbath. So from 150 to 321 AD many wars between the Jews the Christians in the Roman empire.
ENTER CONSTANTINE. Constantine saw this as a problem because he wanted to paganize his Roman Empire. Christianity was growing in his empire and it was starting to overthrow it, no matter how many prosecutions they did to it. So he passed into law in 321 AD for the first time, that they had to keep Sunday as a LAW or they will go to jail. Here is the law,❝On the venerable Day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.❞
(—ii. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church Volume 3 (Edinburgh: 1884): 380, note.) The early church, before this law didn't keep Sunday because it was a law or a command from the Bible, they kept it because of prosecution. The Jews and the Roman empire were at war a lot, and the early church since they kept the Sabbath, the Roman empire confuse them Jews and they were killing off the Christians thinking thus was Jews. So the EARLY CHURCH decided to keep Sunday, because of prosecution and wars, but from no a biblical command.
There were Christians who kept Sunday but also they were Christians who were true to the word of God and they kept Sabbath, this is the remnant that was alive at that time. Papal Rome saw this as a problem so they passed into law or once again to strengthen Constantine's laws, that the early church had to stop keeping Sabbath and start keeping Sunday, we see this here; ❝Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday (Sabbath), but shall work on that Day: but the Lord’s Day, they shall especially honor; and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ❞
(—Rev. Charles Joseph Hefele, Henry N. Oxenham (trans.), A History of the Church Councils from 326 to 429 Volume 2 (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1896): 316.)
And this is how the change came it was a process that happens gradually over time. And this was so effective that now we see practically the whole Christian world keeping Sunday and Sabbath.
From a historical point of view, the change from Saturday to Sunday was a process, it wasn't something to happen overnight. Before we take a look at that process I want to express that Sunday worships started not because of a biblical command. It started because of prosecution of the early church by Pagan Imperial Rome, and you can take a look at this for yourself. This process was in three parts,
(1) The early church kept Sunday because of prosecution,
(2) Constantine Passes Sunday laws to Christianize his pagan empire because Christianity was growing stronger and taking over his land.
(3) And the Catholic Church pass another Sunday law to strengthen Constantine Sunday laws because afterward, the early church was still keeping the Sabbath.
But let's take a look at the process, detail.
WHEN DID SUNDAY WORSHIP START. We have the process starting in 150 A.D. Why, because Justin Martyr records in the (Clark's Ante-Nicene Library, Chapter LXVII, p. 185, 1953 edition) the only authentic source where was the START OF THE CHANGE. The other sources like the Didache, or the Epistle of Barnabas, proven none authentic. Since Justin martyr has the only authentic source which is placed at 150 AD this means, it is the start of the process. Also, that proves the apostles and the early church kept the Sabbath not Sunday.
So from 150 and on the church started to keep Sunday, but they didn't only keep Sunday they kept Saturday Holy also, this is recorded in (—Church History, Apostolic Age to A.D. 70, Section 29.). There were three groups of Christians at that time. (1) You had the Romans Christians who kept Sunday. (2) You had the Gentile Christians who kept both days. (3) And you had the Jewish Christians who kept Sabbath. So from 150 to 321 AD many wars between the Jews the Christians in the Roman empire.
ENTER CONSTANTINE. Constantine saw this as a problem because he wanted to paganize his Roman Empire. Christianity was growing in his empire and it was starting to overthrow it, no matter how many prosecutions they did to it. So he passed into law in 321 AD for the first time, that they had to keep Sunday as a LAW or they will go to jail. Here is the law,❝On the venerable Day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.❞
(—ii. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church Volume 3 (Edinburgh: 1884): 380, note.) The early church, before this law didn't keep Sunday because it was a law or a command from the Bible, they kept it because of prosecution. The Jews and the Roman empire were at war a lot, and the early church since they kept the Sabbath, the Roman empire confuse them Jews and they were killing off the Christians thinking thus was Jews. So the EARLY CHURCH decided to keep Sunday, because of prosecution and wars, but from no a biblical command.
There were Christians who kept Sunday but also they were Christians who were true to the word of God and they kept Sabbath, this is the remnant that was alive at that time. Papal Rome saw this as a problem so they passed into law or once again to strengthen Constantine's laws, that the early church had to stop keeping Sabbath and start keeping Sunday, we see this here; ❝Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday (Sabbath), but shall work on that Day: but the Lord’s Day, they shall especially honor; and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ❞
(—Rev. Charles Joseph Hefele, Henry N. Oxenham (trans.), A History of the Church Councils from 326 to 429 Volume 2 (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1896): 316.)
And this is how the change came it was a process that happens gradually over time. And this was so effective that now we see practically the whole Christian world keeping Sunday and Sabbath.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Oaths
Oaths
are not evil. God made an oath to Abraham (Hebrews 6:13-14). Since the
Lord is perfect, we must conclude that an oath is not sinful.
Jesus testified at His trial with an oath (Matthew 26:64).
Paul made an oath (2 Corinthians 1:23; Romans 1:9). He wrote these words by inspiration from God. Scripture warns against false swearers (1 Timothy 1:10). If all oaths were wrong then this verse would not be in the Bible.
I believe you are referring to James 5:12 and Matthew 5:33-37. They tell us not to swear by heaven or earth or any other oath. This does not mean sincere legal oaths. These verses are talking about the frivolous and profane use of Gods name.
Jesus testified at His trial with an oath (Matthew 26:64).
Paul made an oath (2 Corinthians 1:23; Romans 1:9). He wrote these words by inspiration from God. Scripture warns against false swearers (1 Timothy 1:10). If all oaths were wrong then this verse would not be in the Bible.
I believe you are referring to James 5:12 and Matthew 5:33-37. They tell us not to swear by heaven or earth or any other oath. This does not mean sincere legal oaths. These verses are talking about the frivolous and profane use of Gods name.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Satan
Satan
tried to kill and defeat Jesus everywhere He went from the manger to the
cross.
Jesus was in a constant battle with Satan from the time He was born
(Matthew 2:16). Satan could not kill Jesus when He was a child so, when He
became a man Satan tried to ruin Him.
After being baptized (Matthew 4: 1-11) Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stone into bread, a jump of 100 meters, off the top of the temple and, bow down and worship him (Satan). Satan used Jesus' brothers to tempt Him. John 7:5 tells us His brothers did not believe in Him. Satan also used Jesus disciples to tempt Him. Jesus' disciples had tried to drive an evil Spirit from a child, but they could not do it. Jesus was cross with His disciples. He said, "how much longer must I be patient with you Matthew (17:17)." Another time Jesus told His disciples He had to die on the cross so, Satan took this opportunity to use Peter to make Jesus angry. Jesus told Peter to get away from Him and called him Satan (Matthew 6:23). Of course, Jesus knew that Satan had caused Peter to say that.
After the Lord's supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. In the garden, He went through a very difficult temptation. He was thinking of how they would take Him to court, beat and kill Him. Jesus was so full of pain His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). God chose Jesus to die (Romans 3:25). If Jesus had disobeyed God nobody could be saved.
Satan tried his best to hurt and tempt Jesus, but Jesus went all the way to the cross. Satan knew while Jesus was on this earth and felt hunger, pain, and joy that this was the best time to try and destroy the work God was doing.
After being baptized (Matthew 4: 1-11) Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stone into bread, a jump of 100 meters, off the top of the temple and, bow down and worship him (Satan). Satan used Jesus' brothers to tempt Him. John 7:5 tells us His brothers did not believe in Him. Satan also used Jesus disciples to tempt Him. Jesus' disciples had tried to drive an evil Spirit from a child, but they could not do it. Jesus was cross with His disciples. He said, "how much longer must I be patient with you Matthew (17:17)." Another time Jesus told His disciples He had to die on the cross so, Satan took this opportunity to use Peter to make Jesus angry. Jesus told Peter to get away from Him and called him Satan (Matthew 6:23). Of course, Jesus knew that Satan had caused Peter to say that.
After the Lord's supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. In the garden, He went through a very difficult temptation. He was thinking of how they would take Him to court, beat and kill Him. Jesus was so full of pain His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). God chose Jesus to die (Romans 3:25). If Jesus had disobeyed God nobody could be saved.
Satan tried his best to hurt and tempt Jesus, but Jesus went all the way to the cross. Satan knew while Jesus was on this earth and felt hunger, pain, and joy that this was the best time to try and destroy the work God was doing.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Roman Empire
Two centuries after Jesus' crucifixion and one century after the end of the macabre Jewish-Roman wars (that caused at least 2 million fatalities from both sides), the Roman Empire nearly collapsed during the Imperial Crisis (235-284 AD), under the combined pressures of invasions (Germanic raids in the north, Goths, Vandals, Alamanni from the Danube frontier, Sassanid attacks from the east), civil wars (numerous usurpers, the Empire split into competing states, Roman generals were fighting each other while neglecting their duties of defending the frontiers), the Plague of Cyprian (250-262, probably smallpox, 5,000 people a day were said to be dying in Rome) and economic depression (hyperinflation, agricultural crisis, barbaric migrations, disruption of Rome's internal trade network).
At the same time, Christianism, with its redemptive oratory and promises of afterlife salvation, was strengthening its numbers of followers massively. Due to this generally ominous situation, the Classical studies were under constant and reevaluation by the remaining scholars of the ancient world.
In these twilight years of the Classical antiquity, Neoplatonism was born in Alexandria by Ammonius Saccas and developed greatly by his student, Plotinus (ca 205-270 AD). Plotinus reinterpreted Platonism and Pythagoreanism in a monistic and pantheistic way, offering to the world a renewed, complete teaching that was harmonized and combined with the rest of the Greek philosophy, the Greco-Roman cultural traditions, Zoroastrianism, Egyptian theology, Eastern mysticism, and Hinduism.
According to Neoplatonism, the supreme cause of reality is "the One" (EN), which is both the creative source and the teleological end of all existing things. The second principle is the Mind (ΝΟΥΣ), which is corresponding to Plato's world of ideas and is a part of the One. The third and final principle is the Soul (ΨΥΧΗ), a part of which exists in every living being.
The purpose of human, according to Neoplatonists, is his individual part of the Soul to return to the primary source, the One. This can only be achieved, however, through virtuous life (ΚΑΘΑΡΣΙΣ).
Neoplatonism was the last great spark of the ancient philosophy. It became widely accepted in Alexandria, Pergamos, Athens, Antiocheia and Rome. The last Neoplatonic faculty was the Academy of Athens, which was closed arbitrary by Justinian in 529, and its scholars migrated to the Sassanid Persia. However, the Neoplatonic teachings never vanished from the eastern Roman Empire. Some of the most notable Neoplatonists were Iamblichus, Porfyrios, emperor Julian, Hypatia, Damaskios, Syrianos, Proklos, Asclepiodotos, Gemistos Plethon, Meister Eckhart and Marsilio Ficino.
At the same time, Christianism, with its redemptive oratory and promises of afterlife salvation, was strengthening its numbers of followers massively. Due to this generally ominous situation, the Classical studies were under constant and reevaluation by the remaining scholars of the ancient world.
In these twilight years of the Classical antiquity, Neoplatonism was born in Alexandria by Ammonius Saccas and developed greatly by his student, Plotinus (ca 205-270 AD). Plotinus reinterpreted Platonism and Pythagoreanism in a monistic and pantheistic way, offering to the world a renewed, complete teaching that was harmonized and combined with the rest of the Greek philosophy, the Greco-Roman cultural traditions, Zoroastrianism, Egyptian theology, Eastern mysticism, and Hinduism.
According to Neoplatonism, the supreme cause of reality is "the One" (EN), which is both the creative source and the teleological end of all existing things. The second principle is the Mind (ΝΟΥΣ), which is corresponding to Plato's world of ideas and is a part of the One. The third and final principle is the Soul (ΨΥΧΗ), a part of which exists in every living being.
The purpose of human, according to Neoplatonists, is his individual part of the Soul to return to the primary source, the One. This can only be achieved, however, through virtuous life (ΚΑΘΑΡΣΙΣ).
Neoplatonism was the last great spark of the ancient philosophy. It became widely accepted in Alexandria, Pergamos, Athens, Antiocheia and Rome. The last Neoplatonic faculty was the Academy of Athens, which was closed arbitrary by Justinian in 529, and its scholars migrated to the Sassanid Persia. However, the Neoplatonic teachings never vanished from the eastern Roman Empire. Some of the most notable Neoplatonists were Iamblichus, Porfyrios, emperor Julian, Hypatia, Damaskios, Syrianos, Proklos, Asclepiodotos, Gemistos Plethon, Meister Eckhart and Marsilio Ficino.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Monday, October 8, 2018
Saturday, October 6, 2018
What does Genesis 1:28 mean?
What does Genesis 1:28 mean?: God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' - What is the meaning of Genesis 1:28?
Friday, October 5, 2018
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)