.
A friend asked me the subject question, but in the context of the nearness of the year -- wondering if it might be in 2011 or 2012? I suspect her question was prompted by all the seemingly negative things going on currently upon the earth. Also, the short discussion we had indicated she was really asking about the nearness of the rapture, where Jesus Christ comes from heaven to take his church (true believers) to heaven before the Tribulation, a period of catastrophe and chaos upon the Earth.
I have addressed the subject of when Christ will return many times before, and I particularly recommend you read this Post#42 before you continue here.
Presuming you have now read the earlier post, first, a word about date setting. Post #42 teaches us that no one can know the day and hour of His coming. Yet in the same context we are told to watch, so that we will not be surprised by His coming. That we should pay attention to the signs and warnings going on around us, that we should be better prepared for that day and hour. And to do that, we gain help by understanding the times and the seasons.
In 1988, Edgar Whisenant, a writer/researcher published a book called "88 Reasons why the Rapture will be in 1988". Here is the link to the Wikipedia entry, which is worth reading.
By almost all accounts, Edgar Whisenant was a honest man, a man greatly desiring for the Lord to come, a student of the Bible -- yet where did he go wrong (besides in trying to set a date)?
One of his primary calculations occurred thus: Israel became a nation on May 13-14th, 1948. The Bible says that a generation will not pass away until all these things (the catastrophic things around His coming) are accomplished. The Bible generally speaks of a generation as being about 40 years, thus 1948 + 40 = 1988. This was one of his 88 reasons, but a major one!!
While I do not hold entirely to this following analyzation, I put it here as a matter of record as to an illustration of the latest thinking:
Many evangelical scholars, pastors, and teachers, think the first part of his argument may be correct, that the prophetic clock started ticking again in 1948. The wrong part was thinking that "a generation" was 40 years long. Instead, it may be 70 years long, the "3 score and 10" (three twenties & ten) that the Bible mentions as a reasonable, normal life of a person.
If you add the 70 years to the 1948, you get 2018. There are a few bible prophecy teachers that teach 2018 as a possible date of the Lord's return. But is this the date of the Rapture, or of the date of the ending of the tribulation where the Lord will come back in splendor and glory? If the latter, then the rapture would be 7 years earlier, in 2011.
There is a great danger to date setting, for (almost) all dates come and go without the predicted events occuring. But, there IS a date, a day and a hour, known only to God where the Lord will come for his church. We are to get ready, and to be ready and watchful! Perhaps it will be soon! Even so, come Lord Jesus.
.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
94. Sorry, still getting organized
.
Retirement: A time to catch up on all the things needed at home.
Yes, that definition seems to be true. Plus, it's Income Tax time, and ours is more difficult than usual. So, without belaboring the issue, I'm still not yet blogging full time.
But soon I will be, and I hope even before that time to post some things and thoughts off and on.
With all the things that are going on in the world and in our nation, it is not time to let our guard down. Do you have a copy of the Declaration of Independence and of the U.S. Constitution? Now would be a good time to read them again if you are unsure about what they say. The U.S. Constitution will become particularly important in the months ahead. If you have an Amazon Kindle, you can download the two documents together for $1.00. I just did.
I started blogging almost exactly 9 months ago, and I know this for certain: The "Things that are coming upon the world" are 9 months nearer than when I began blogging.
If they were 20 years away, they are now only 19 years and 3 months away. If they were 5 years away, they are now only 4 years and 3 months away. And if they were just 18 months away back when I started, they are only 9 months away now. Jesus said, "Be Watchful" and "Be Ready", for "you do not know when the Lord will return".
And next: a friend's question about the nearness of the Lord's return.
.
Retirement: A time to catch up on all the things needed at home.
Yes, that definition seems to be true. Plus, it's Income Tax time, and ours is more difficult than usual. So, without belaboring the issue, I'm still not yet blogging full time.
But soon I will be, and I hope even before that time to post some things and thoughts off and on.
With all the things that are going on in the world and in our nation, it is not time to let our guard down. Do you have a copy of the Declaration of Independence and of the U.S. Constitution? Now would be a good time to read them again if you are unsure about what they say. The U.S. Constitution will become particularly important in the months ahead. If you have an Amazon Kindle, you can download the two documents together for $1.00. I just did.
I started blogging almost exactly 9 months ago, and I know this for certain: The "Things that are coming upon the world" are 9 months nearer than when I began blogging.
If they were 20 years away, they are now only 19 years and 3 months away. If they were 5 years away, they are now only 4 years and 3 months away. And if they were just 18 months away back when I started, they are only 9 months away now. Jesus said, "Be Watchful" and "Be Ready", for "you do not know when the Lord will return".
And next: a friend's question about the nearness of the Lord's return.
.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
93. Link to article in The End Time blog
.
Elizabeth Prata has a great article on her blogsite about the many instances of weird weather. I recommend it highly:
Click here to read it.
You might consider adding Elizabeth's The End Time blog to your favorites -- it's one of mine...
Larry
Elizabeth Prata has a great article on her blogsite about the many instances of weird weather. I recommend it highly:
Click here to read it.
You might consider adding Elizabeth's The End Time blog to your favorites -- it's one of mine...
Larry
Friday, March 5, 2010
92. Near-Earth Flybys of Asteroids, Meteorites
.
As an university Astronomy major in my pre-Christ days, I've continued my interest during my 38 years as a believer. And thanks to the miracles of modern telescopy, more and more we hear about potential "close encounters of the cataclysmic kind", celestial objects nearly colliding with Earth. In truth, most of these objects pass by far outside the orbit of the moon, which is on average about 240,000 miles away from earth -- but a few pass inside the moon's orbit.
There are many and varied attempts to find and catalogue these near-earth objects, most amateur and some professional. By saying 'amateur', I mean it not in any negative way, but only in the unpaid way, for it is true that as many as 90% of these potentially hazardous objects were initially found and catalogued by unpaid amateurs using such instruments as backyard telescopes, visual and radio, large and small.
The most notable professional group is NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's own "Asteroid Watch" initiative, which can be seen at this site: Click here for NASA. I also have them as a twitter favorite, at click for twitterlink.
What does all this have to do with the end-times, you ask?
At the very least, it may have to do with these words of Jesus specifically about the end-times: "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." (Lk 21:11), which may or may not include such physical encounters.
But did you know that the book of Revelation specifically mentions two events that can easily be interpreted as celestial objects striking the earth? I would add parenthetically that not even NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has any way of stopping such visitors from the cosmos.
The first of the two events takes place during the tribulation, sometime after the 3 1/2 year midpoint: "8 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, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed." Rev 8:8-9.
The second takes place soon after the first, or at least as the next event after it on the prophetic calendar: "10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood (which means Bitterness). A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter." Rev 8:10-11
It could be that these verses do not describe asteroids or meteorites crashing into the Earth at all, but some unique catastrophic destruction sent especially as a further warning to rebellious unbelieving mankind before God brings down the curtain upon this world as it exists today.
Think on these things, but even more think about another occurance out of heaven:
He will be coming in great glory and splendor, a display for all the world to see and marvel -- some to eternal blessedness and some to eternal darkness.
.
As an university Astronomy major in my pre-Christ days, I've continued my interest during my 38 years as a believer. And thanks to the miracles of modern telescopy, more and more we hear about potential "close encounters of the cataclysmic kind", celestial objects nearly colliding with Earth. In truth, most of these objects pass by far outside the orbit of the moon, which is on average about 240,000 miles away from earth -- but a few pass inside the moon's orbit.
There are many and varied attempts to find and catalogue these near-earth objects, most amateur and some professional. By saying 'amateur', I mean it not in any negative way, but only in the unpaid way, for it is true that as many as 90% of these potentially hazardous objects were initially found and catalogued by unpaid amateurs using such instruments as backyard telescopes, visual and radio, large and small.
The most notable professional group is NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's own "Asteroid Watch" initiative, which can be seen at this site: Click here for NASA. I also have them as a twitter favorite, at click for twitterlink.
What does all this have to do with the end-times, you ask?
At the very least, it may have to do with these words of Jesus specifically about the end-times: "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." (Lk 21:11), which may or may not include such physical encounters.
But did you know that the book of Revelation specifically mentions two events that can easily be interpreted as celestial objects striking the earth? I would add parenthetically that not even NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has any way of stopping such visitors from the cosmos.
The first of the two events takes place during the tribulation, sometime after the 3 1/2 year midpoint: "8 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, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed." Rev 8:8-9.
The second takes place soon after the first, or at least as the next event after it on the prophetic calendar: "10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood (which means Bitterness). A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter." Rev 8:10-11
It could be that these verses do not describe asteroids or meteorites crashing into the Earth at all, but some unique catastrophic destruction sent especially as a further warning to rebellious unbelieving mankind before God brings down the curtain upon this world as it exists today.
Think on these things, but even more think about another occurance out of heaven:
Matt 24:26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.and also,
1 Thessalonians 4:13 "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep(that is, have died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (that is, die) in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.."
He will be coming in great glory and splendor, a display for all the world to see and marvel -- some to eternal blessedness and some to eternal darkness.
.
91. A political comment -- and a promise
.
First, the promise: This blog is NOT going to turn into a political blog, and is absolutely going to remain an end-times, last-days blog for the purpose of education, instruction, preparation, and warning.
However, I posted this comment today on a friend's blog, and thought it worth repeating here. This friend is a co-laborer in both the political and spiritual arenas.
Posting this here preserves and demonstrates my commitment to "not be so heavenly-minded that I am no earthly good." I thought that this relates much to "Future History", and I welcome your comments.
Sadly, in these days of issues-oriented voting (as opposed to values-oriented voting), there is no perfect candidate. This would include Scott Brown, at first glance a nearly perfect candidate, but with a closer look a very imperfect candidate (except for his perfect jaw-line).
For that reason, due to my commitment to 'values-oriented' voting, I will almost always vote for the better of the candidates, a defensive measure that may "improve" that individual office considerably.
Explaining more fully, if the only option I have is to replace a congressman who votes 1 time out of 10 for my values with a congressman who will vote 5 out of 10 times for my values, I consider that a vote and time well-spent, and I will have improved that office five-fold. And hopefully next time I can replace that person with someone who will vote 9 (or 10!) out of 10 times for my values-oriented positions (which I continually work to align with biblical values).
Always "improve the office" if we can. Never allow a stinker to stay if we have any other option. Besides, if we demand only 'perfect' candidates, it will keep many people with good values from running for office. We need to encourage imperfect people (like ourselves) to bring their values to Washington to better the common good.
This must not be taken as an approval of moderate views, but rather an acceptance of the principle that certain tasks and goals may be handled incrementally, as God indicates in Exodus 23:29-30: "29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 But little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."
I welcome your comments!
.
First, the promise: This blog is NOT going to turn into a political blog, and is absolutely going to remain an end-times, last-days blog for the purpose of education, instruction, preparation, and warning.
However, I posted this comment today on a friend's blog, and thought it worth repeating here. This friend is a co-laborer in both the political and spiritual arenas.
Posting this here preserves and demonstrates my commitment to "not be so heavenly-minded that I am no earthly good." I thought that this relates much to "Future History", and I welcome your comments.
Sadly, in these days of issues-oriented voting (as opposed to values-oriented voting), there is no perfect candidate. This would include Scott Brown, at first glance a nearly perfect candidate, but with a closer look a very imperfect candidate (except for his perfect jaw-line).
For that reason, due to my commitment to 'values-oriented' voting, I will almost always vote for the better of the candidates, a defensive measure that may "improve" that individual office considerably.
Explaining more fully, if the only option I have is to replace a congressman who votes 1 time out of 10 for my values with a congressman who will vote 5 out of 10 times for my values, I consider that a vote and time well-spent, and I will have improved that office five-fold. And hopefully next time I can replace that person with someone who will vote 9 (or 10!) out of 10 times for my values-oriented positions (which I continually work to align with biblical values).
Always "improve the office" if we can. Never allow a stinker to stay if we have any other option. Besides, if we demand only 'perfect' candidates, it will keep many people with good values from running for office. We need to encourage imperfect people (like ourselves) to bring their values to Washington to better the common good.
This must not be taken as an approval of moderate views, but rather an acceptance of the principle that certain tasks and goals may be handled incrementally, as God indicates in Exodus 23:29-30: "29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 But little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."
I welcome your comments!
.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
90. A Tale of Two Earthquakes
.
I could not let today's 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile to go unmentioned, especially since it comes so soon after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti (the 2nd deadliest one in known history). So, this is officially my first post-sabbatical blogpost.
I have posted three previous times on the subject of earthquakes, which is certainly reasonable and proper to do so, since the focus of this "Future History" blog involves end-time events as mentioned in the Bible, and how current events relate to Biblical prophecies.
Before I comment further here, I'd like to direct your attention to those three previous posts where earthquakes were the major topic. (The word earthquake appears in many other posts however):
Post 31. "Earthquakes and the End Times", where the text of all the Bible prophetic passages about earthquakes are listed, plus a comment about current earthquakes in California. Posted July 10, 2009. Click here to read.
Post 32. "And Another Medium Quake in Calif today", where we discuss the Richter Scale, how it works, and the rating of famous (or infamous) earthquakes. Posted July 11, 2009. Click here to read.
Post 76. "Earthquakes: Are they getting your attention?", where I discuss whether quakes are really more prevalent. Posted October 1, 2009. Click here to read.
Since the contents of the above posts relate closely to the two recent earthquake events, please read them and then continue:
First, before we tackle and compare the human misery element of the two earthquakes, lets discuss the relative strength of the two earthquakes:
How much stronger was the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile than the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti? Lets see: If we divide the smaller 7.0 into the larger 8.8, we get 1.257 -- which means that the Chilean earthquake was 1.257 times stronger than the Haitian quake. Right?
Totally and utterly wrong!! Remember what we said in post #32, that to go up "1.0" on the Richter Scale (like from 5.0 up to 6.0, or from 7.5 up to 8.5), means that the "stronger" hurricane is ten (10) times stronger than the "weaker" hurricane. So the Chilean hurricane is AT LEAST 10 times stronger than the Haitian one, and almost 100 times as strong. But thanks to the miracle of Excel Spreadsheets, we can calculate the exact difference. To go from 7.0 up to 8.8 means the Chile hurricane was 63.1 times as strong as the Haiti earthquake. Trust me and Excel. (I'll post the calculations in a comment below. )
Now regarding human suffering, there are at least two mitigating circumstances as to why, when the Haiti quake killed 250,000 people, that the Chile quake did not kill millions.
First, today's Chile quake was much further underground, and the effect was blunted by the time it reached the surface.
Second, Chile had experienced an even larger earthquake on May 22nd, 1960 -- 9.5 magnitude, 1655 killed, and two million homeless. After that 1960 quake they prepared for "the next big one", with much stricter building codes and standards. As bad as things look now on television, it will turn out that years of Chilean preparation saved their country from a similar ruin in 2010.
I have not much more to add here, but just to note that the second decade of the 2000's is just barely starting, and already we have two massive earthquakes, one as measured by loss of life, and one as measured by the Richter Scale strength of the quake.
Finally, as I pointed out in an earlier post, back in July of 2009, California was averaging about 500 quakes a week of all sizes (most 3.0 magnitude or less). But now, just 6 months later, California is averaging nearly 750 quakes a week of all sizes. Here is the link to the current report: Click here.
My guess is that this will not be the last posting in 2010 on major earthquakes.
.
I could not let today's 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile to go unmentioned, especially since it comes so soon after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti (the 2nd deadliest one in known history). So, this is officially my first post-sabbatical blogpost.
I have posted three previous times on the subject of earthquakes, which is certainly reasonable and proper to do so, since the focus of this "Future History" blog involves end-time events as mentioned in the Bible, and how current events relate to Biblical prophecies.
Before I comment further here, I'd like to direct your attention to those three previous posts where earthquakes were the major topic. (The word earthquake appears in many other posts however):
Post 31. "Earthquakes and the End Times", where the text of all the Bible prophetic passages about earthquakes are listed, plus a comment about current earthquakes in California. Posted July 10, 2009. Click here to read.
Post 32. "And Another Medium Quake in Calif today", where we discuss the Richter Scale, how it works, and the rating of famous (or infamous) earthquakes. Posted July 11, 2009. Click here to read.
Post 76. "Earthquakes: Are they getting your attention?", where I discuss whether quakes are really more prevalent. Posted October 1, 2009. Click here to read.
Since the contents of the above posts relate closely to the two recent earthquake events, please read them and then continue:
First, before we tackle and compare the human misery element of the two earthquakes, lets discuss the relative strength of the two earthquakes:
How much stronger was the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile than the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti? Lets see: If we divide the smaller 7.0 into the larger 8.8, we get 1.257 -- which means that the Chilean earthquake was 1.257 times stronger than the Haitian quake. Right?
Totally and utterly wrong!! Remember what we said in post #32, that to go up "1.0" on the Richter Scale (like from 5.0 up to 6.0, or from 7.5 up to 8.5), means that the "stronger" hurricane is ten (10) times stronger than the "weaker" hurricane. So the Chilean hurricane is AT LEAST 10 times stronger than the Haitian one, and almost 100 times as strong. But thanks to the miracle of Excel Spreadsheets, we can calculate the exact difference. To go from 7.0 up to 8.8 means the Chile hurricane was 63.1 times as strong as the Haiti earthquake. Trust me and Excel. (I'll post the calculations in a comment below. )
Now regarding human suffering, there are at least two mitigating circumstances as to why, when the Haiti quake killed 250,000 people, that the Chile quake did not kill millions.
First, today's Chile quake was much further underground, and the effect was blunted by the time it reached the surface.
Second, Chile had experienced an even larger earthquake on May 22nd, 1960 -- 9.5 magnitude, 1655 killed, and two million homeless. After that 1960 quake they prepared for "the next big one", with much stricter building codes and standards. As bad as things look now on television, it will turn out that years of Chilean preparation saved their country from a similar ruin in 2010.
I have not much more to add here, but just to note that the second decade of the 2000's is just barely starting, and already we have two massive earthquakes, one as measured by loss of life, and one as measured by the Richter Scale strength of the quake.
Finally, as I pointed out in an earlier post, back in July of 2009, California was averaging about 500 quakes a week of all sizes (most 3.0 magnitude or less). But now, just 6 months later, California is averaging nearly 750 quakes a week of all sizes. Here is the link to the current report: Click here.
My guess is that this will not be the last posting in 2010 on major earthquakes.
.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
89. Coming into view: The End of my Sabbatical
.
Hello, everyone. It will be helpful for you to read (or reread) post #85 before beginning this post. Click here.
About the same time I posted #85 about my sabbatical, I also gave my notice of retirement to my employer, such retirement planned for the end of February. And so, with great joy, as of today Feb 16th, I have only 7 more days at work, two this week and five next week!
O joy, O praise, Hallelujah! Hurray, o joyous day! But I digress.
It is not all joy, for I have worked with wonderful people with whom I've had a great relationship for almost 8 years! I will miss them -- but I'll come back and visit from time to time.
And what's more, perhaps I'll meet them HERE, when some of them comment. That'll be nice.
But on the first of March, I still won't be up to full speed here (my normal speed: a post every day or two), but maybe by mid-March !!
I hope I'll see you back soon, and we'll take up where we left off.
Give me a shout-out (also called a comment) on this post if you're reading this.
Blessings to you,
Larry
.
Hello, everyone. It will be helpful for you to read (or reread) post #85 before beginning this post. Click here.
About the same time I posted #85 about my sabbatical, I also gave my notice of retirement to my employer, such retirement planned for the end of February. And so, with great joy, as of today Feb 16th, I have only 7 more days at work, two this week and five next week!
O joy, O praise, Hallelujah! Hurray, o joyous day! But I digress.
It is not all joy, for I have worked with wonderful people with whom I've had a great relationship for almost 8 years! I will miss them -- but I'll come back and visit from time to time.
And what's more, perhaps I'll meet them HERE, when some of them comment. That'll be nice.
But on the first of March, I still won't be up to full speed here (my normal speed: a post every day or two), but maybe by mid-March !!
I hope I'll see you back soon, and we'll take up where we left off.
Give me a shout-out (also called a comment) on this post if you're reading this.
Blessings to you,
Larry
.
Friday, January 15, 2010
88. Revisit Post # 87 - Still Relevant !!
.
Note: Scott Brown INDEED won the Massachusetts Senate seat!
The post below this one, Post #87, is dated December 7th, 2009 -- but it is not "so last decade".
Everything I said in it applies today (if not more so), and I'm going to contact the same Senators again, just to make sure they get the message. However, it is not now the Senate version of the bill we are hoping to defeat, but the combined House/Senate bill which will be voted on first by the House, and then by the Senate.
Let's not depend on the possibility (or even the actuality) of Scott Brown winning the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly occupied by Ted Kennedy. Let's not try for 41 votes against Obamacare, but 43 or 44 votes against it. Note that 41 votes against it would imply 59 for it, which would not be the supermajority the Dem's need for a filibuster-proof bill -- and therefore would open the door for endless filibustering by the Republicans (a good thing! in this case...) and would for all practical purposes, be the death of this deeply flawed healthcare bill.
Those of us not living in Massachusetts need to pray first, that Scott Brown would win; second, that if he wins, that the powers that be will seat him promptly; and third, that no nut-case person will assassinate him on the way to the Senate.
Larry
Note: Scott Brown INDEED won the Massachusetts Senate seat!
The post below this one, Post #87, is dated December 7th, 2009 -- but it is not "so last decade".
Everything I said in it applies today (if not more so), and I'm going to contact the same Senators again, just to make sure they get the message. However, it is not now the Senate version of the bill we are hoping to defeat, but the combined House/Senate bill which will be voted on first by the House, and then by the Senate.
Let's not depend on the possibility (or even the actuality) of Scott Brown winning the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly occupied by Ted Kennedy. Let's not try for 41 votes against Obamacare, but 43 or 44 votes against it. Note that 41 votes against it would imply 59 for it, which would not be the supermajority the Dem's need for a filibuster-proof bill -- and therefore would open the door for endless filibustering by the Republicans (a good thing! in this case...) and would for all practical purposes, be the death of this deeply flawed healthcare bill.
Those of us not living in Massachusetts need to pray first, that Scott Brown would win; second, that if he wins, that the powers that be will seat him promptly; and third, that no nut-case person will assassinate him on the way to the Senate.
Larry
Monday, December 7, 2009
87. About the Senate Health Care Bill
An Action Plan!
This blogpost has around 1200 words. In comparison, the Senate version Health Care Bill has around 500,000 words, and if it passes into law, will eventually cost the American taxpayers more than $3,000,000 per word.
Now do I have your attention?
Dear Friends and Family,
This may take you some time. It took George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock some time to do their part also. This will take you less time (and blood, and sweat, and tears) than it took them.
Please consider these things about the Senate version of the Health Care Bill:
After the introduction to the bill, the index of the bill and the bill's title, finally on page 15, we find the first 63 words of the bill itself:
"Part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is amended (1) by striking the part heading and inserting the following: ‘‘PART A—INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MARKET REFORMS’’; (2) by redesignating sections 2704 through 2707 as sections 2725 through 2728, respectively (3) by redesignating sections 2711 through 2713 as sections 2731 through 2733, respectively . . . "
The rest of the bill is not much better, although it does lapse into readable (but not understandable) English for large sections before relapsing into gobbledygook. But here's the thing: It is no more understandable to the Senators than to you, since very few (if any) of them have read all of it, and many of them have read none of it. And furthermore, it will be equally incomprehensible to the government bureaucrats who will have eventual control over our health costs and medical procedures, especially if and when you become a senior (and you all are heading in that direction!).
Link to the Bill text: The Senate version Health Care Bill
(Read a page or two at random and see if you can understand it)
You may have heard that the Senate version of the Health Care Bill is being rushed through the Senate by the Democratic Party leadership and may be voted on before Christmas. You may also wonder why no Republican Senator is planning on voting for the bill. It is not because they do not want to help the needy, it is because they do not want to harm the already-hurting American taxpayer further, and because this Health Care Bill is the largest appropriation of governmental power in the history of the United States.
Here is why the taxpayer should be concerned: The stated cost is $847,000,000,000 (in case you’ve lost track of all those zeros, that is $847 billion dollars). But the true cost over the next 10 years will actually approach $2,500,000,000,000 ($2.5 trillion dollars). The true cost is more than $1 billion dollars per PAGE (the bill contains 2074 pages of legal gobbledygook), and more than $3,000,000 per WORD! !
Many people think this will be funded with “government money”, or, sadly, as some uninformed people have seriously suggested, “with Obama money”. But I have news for you: the U.S. government and the President have no money. And I mean that two different ways:
First, if it could be shown that the U.S. government has money, it is actually our money which has been transferred to the government through a variety of taxation devices. So the government has no money that is not actually our money.
Second, the U.S. government has no money because it is basically bankrupt. If the government were a person, or a corporation, or a state like California, it would have to eventually file for bankruptcy. It owes MUCH MORE than it has the ability to pay.
So the cost of the Government Health Care Bill will be paid by … taxpayers. That is, you and me, our children, and our grandchildren.
Whether you consider yourself a conservative or not, I ask you to thoughtfully consider sending your U.S. Senators, and certain other selected U.S. Senators, an email requesting them to vote NO to this giant bloated takeover of our nation’s health care system.
Here is the email that I sent to 19 special situation U.S. Senators:
Below is a list of these 19 U.S. Senators who fall into three special target catagories:
1. Democrats who sometimes vote for conservative issues like fiscal responsibility and against overspending,
2. Democrats who seem to be in tight races and might possibly lose their current Senate seat if they vote for this bill,
and 3. A few Republicans who every once in a while vote with the liberal tax-and-spend position (we want to discourage these defectors).
The other 81 Senators to which I sent no email are either (a) Republicans who will definitely vote AGAINST the bill, or (b) Democrats who will definitely vote FOR the bill. It’s these 19 in-between Senators that we want to contact and hopefully convince to vote "NO".
All the following senators can be easily contacted via this website:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Click on [Choose a Senator] to bring up each Senator and their email address ("web form"), and then click that to bring up each Senator’s respective email form. Then fill it all out and send it to each one of these 19 Senators.
(D): Democrat (R): Republican (I): Independent
Michael Bennet – D – Colorado
Evan Bayh – D – Indiana
Blanche Lincoln – D – Arkansas
Tim Johnson – D – South Dakota
Diane Feinstein – D – California
Joseph Lieberman – I – Connecticut
Ben Nelson – D – Nebraska
Mary Landrieu – D – Louisiana
Bill Nelson – D – Florida
Olympia Snowe – R – Maine
Susan Collins – R – Maine
Arlen Specter – D – Pennsylvania
Mark Begich – D – Alaska
Lisa Murkowski – R – Alaska
The above 14 are “MUST” contacts.
The following 5 are less likely to vote against the bill,
but yours might be the email that turns the tide!
(currently incoming emails are running 60 to 80% against the bill)
Mark Pryor – D – Arkansas
Kent Conrad – D – North Dakota
Claire McCaskill – D – Missouri
Thomas Carper – D – Delaware
Byron Dorgan – D – North Dakota
Most people do not act because they don't know how to act. Now you have no excuse.
Should you just copy and send my email? Probably not, although you have my okay to reword it. Better that you should touch on the same issues in your own words. Notice I have not explicitly threatened the senators, but have tried to show tough love, because these are senators that sometimes vote conservatively (or else, are dangerously close to losing their seats in 2010). And, note that I have indicated my willingness to be reasonable in insuring certain citizens who at present have no health insurance (note the word "citizens").
Also notice that my Senator email is less than 140 words. Most of the Senator’s email sites allow about 1000 words. But I’m hoping to get mine read. Even mine looks pretty long. If you can reduce the issues down to 75-100 words, GO FOR IT!
Feel free to contact me via our email, or my blog, or by phone 214-823-5688.
May God bless you, and may God bless America!
Larry
This blogpost has around 1200 words. In comparison, the Senate version Health Care Bill has around 500,000 words, and if it passes into law, will eventually cost the American taxpayers more than $3,000,000 per word.
Now do I have your attention?
Dear Friends and Family,
This may take you some time. It took George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock some time to do their part also. This will take you less time (and blood, and sweat, and tears) than it took them.
Please consider these things about the Senate version of the Health Care Bill:
After the introduction to the bill, the index of the bill and the bill's title, finally on page 15, we find the first 63 words of the bill itself:
"Part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is amended (1) by striking the part heading and inserting the following: ‘‘PART A—INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MARKET REFORMS’’; (2) by redesignating sections 2704 through 2707 as sections 2725 through 2728, respectively (3) by redesignating sections 2711 through 2713 as sections 2731 through 2733, respectively . . . "
The rest of the bill is not much better, although it does lapse into readable (but not understandable) English for large sections before relapsing into gobbledygook. But here's the thing: It is no more understandable to the Senators than to you, since very few (if any) of them have read all of it, and many of them have read none of it. And furthermore, it will be equally incomprehensible to the government bureaucrats who will have eventual control over our health costs and medical procedures, especially if and when you become a senior (and you all are heading in that direction!).
Link to the Bill text: The Senate version Health Care Bill
(Read a page or two at random and see if you can understand it)
You may have heard that the Senate version of the Health Care Bill is being rushed through the Senate by the Democratic Party leadership and may be voted on before Christmas. You may also wonder why no Republican Senator is planning on voting for the bill. It is not because they do not want to help the needy, it is because they do not want to harm the already-hurting American taxpayer further, and because this Health Care Bill is the largest appropriation of governmental power in the history of the United States.
Here is why the taxpayer should be concerned: The stated cost is $847,000,000,000 (in case you’ve lost track of all those zeros, that is $847 billion dollars). But the true cost over the next 10 years will actually approach $2,500,000,000,000 ($2.5 trillion dollars). The true cost is more than $1 billion dollars per PAGE (the bill contains 2074 pages of legal gobbledygook), and more than $3,000,000 per WORD! !
Many people think this will be funded with “government money”, or, sadly, as some uninformed people have seriously suggested, “with Obama money”. But I have news for you: the U.S. government and the President have no money. And I mean that two different ways:
First, if it could be shown that the U.S. government has money, it is actually our money which has been transferred to the government through a variety of taxation devices. So the government has no money that is not actually our money.
Second, the U.S. government has no money because it is basically bankrupt. If the government were a person, or a corporation, or a state like California, it would have to eventually file for bankruptcy. It owes MUCH MORE than it has the ability to pay.
So the cost of the Government Health Care Bill will be paid by … taxpayers. That is, you and me, our children, and our grandchildren.
Whether you consider yourself a conservative or not, I ask you to thoughtfully consider sending your U.S. Senators, and certain other selected U.S. Senators, an email requesting them to vote NO to this giant bloated takeover of our nation’s health care system.
NOTE: The news on Weds 12/09 is saying:
"Senate Democrats reach agreement on health plan." This is not so! The vote has not yet happened, and many Senators are still undecided. Please proceed on and act, but the time is getting short!
Here is the email that I sent to 19 special situation U.S. Senators:
Dear Senator (fill in last name)
Please vote NO for the Senate Health Care Bill. This is not the change that 70% of American taxpayers want. It's way too expensive, and causes too much harm to Seniors.
Try again for 250 pages, and $250 billion dollars. This will keep about 90% of things the same (the way we like it now) and will permit health care for the 15-20 million uninsured citizens who both need it and want it.
Millions of us are waiting to see who will stand with us and VOTE NO to this bill, bloated both with words and dollars. You have often voted with those of us who want less spending and less government intervention. Thank you, and we ask that you vote with us again!
Below is a list of these 19 U.S. Senators who fall into three special target catagories:
1. Democrats who sometimes vote for conservative issues like fiscal responsibility and against overspending,
2. Democrats who seem to be in tight races and might possibly lose their current Senate seat if they vote for this bill,
and 3. A few Republicans who every once in a while vote with the liberal tax-and-spend position (we want to discourage these defectors).
The other 81 Senators to which I sent no email are either (a) Republicans who will definitely vote AGAINST the bill, or (b) Democrats who will definitely vote FOR the bill. It’s these 19 in-between Senators that we want to contact and hopefully convince to vote "NO".
All the following senators can be easily contacted via this website:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Click on [Choose a Senator] to bring up each Senator and their email address ("web form"), and then click that to bring up each Senator’s respective email form. Then fill it all out and send it to each one of these 19 Senators.
(D): Democrat (R): Republican (I): Independent
Michael Bennet – D – Colorado
Evan Bayh – D – Indiana
Blanche Lincoln – D – Arkansas
Tim Johnson – D – South Dakota
Diane Feinstein – D – California
Joseph Lieberman – I – Connecticut
Ben Nelson – D – Nebraska
Mary Landrieu – D – Louisiana
Bill Nelson – D – Florida
Olympia Snowe – R – Maine
Susan Collins – R – Maine
Arlen Specter – D – Pennsylvania
Mark Begich – D – Alaska
Lisa Murkowski – R – Alaska
The above 14 are “MUST” contacts.
The following 5 are less likely to vote against the bill,
but yours might be the email that turns the tide!
(currently incoming emails are running 60 to 80% against the bill)
Mark Pryor – D – Arkansas
Kent Conrad – D – North Dakota
Claire McCaskill – D – Missouri
Thomas Carper – D – Delaware
Byron Dorgan – D – North Dakota
Most people do not act because they don't know how to act. Now you have no excuse.
Should you just copy and send my email? Probably not, although you have my okay to reword it. Better that you should touch on the same issues in your own words. Notice I have not explicitly threatened the senators, but have tried to show tough love, because these are senators that sometimes vote conservatively (or else, are dangerously close to losing their seats in 2010). And, note that I have indicated my willingness to be reasonable in insuring certain citizens who at present have no health insurance (note the word "citizens").
Also notice that my Senator email is less than 140 words. Most of the Senator’s email sites allow about 1000 words. But I’m hoping to get mine read. Even mine looks pretty long. If you can reduce the issues down to 75-100 words, GO FOR IT!
Feel free to contact me via our email, or my blog, or by phone 214-823-5688.
May God bless you, and may God bless America!
Larry
Saturday, November 7, 2009
86. Recommended book: "One Second After"
.
Rewritten and expanded on Monday, November 9, 2009.
.
Three nuclear blasts high above America bring life, first, to a standstill; and afterwards to a great decline due to the EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) "frying" effect on computers and electronic products.
Fiction? Yes, William Forstchen’s “One Second After” is a novel, but it is grounded in an all-too-real possibility of an EMP nuclear attack on the USA launched from a cargo container ship in the Atlantic.
I’m listening to the CD audiobook, but I've just bought the hardback as a source of information and ideas about what we as family and individuals need to do to survive such a situation in our country. I'll be making notes as I read the hardback, the notes I wish I had taken during the CD.
The members of Congress have only agreed on one issue during this decade: that All Americans should read this book. The Wall Street Journal warned that this is the weapon that could bring America down to the level of a banana republic.
How will your life need to change? Forstchen has many practical answers (although often with R-rated language). Newt Gingrich writes the Forward.
Do Christians need to be prepared for such things? Yes! Christians, of all people, should be fully prepared in every area of their lives. Read the book, and see if you don't agree -- and then please comment here, and we'll discuss!
Here is the link to Amazon:
http://j.mp/4eoG2h
.
Rewritten and expanded on Monday, November 9, 2009.
.
Three nuclear blasts high above America bring life, first, to a standstill; and afterwards to a great decline due to the EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) "frying" effect on computers and electronic products.
Fiction? Yes, William Forstchen’s “One Second After” is a novel, but it is grounded in an all-too-real possibility of an EMP nuclear attack on the USA launched from a cargo container ship in the Atlantic.
I’m listening to the CD audiobook, but I've just bought the hardback as a source of information and ideas about what we as family and individuals need to do to survive such a situation in our country. I'll be making notes as I read the hardback, the notes I wish I had taken during the CD.
The members of Congress have only agreed on one issue during this decade: that All Americans should read this book. The Wall Street Journal warned that this is the weapon that could bring America down to the level of a banana republic.
How will your life need to change? Forstchen has many practical answers (although often with R-rated language). Newt Gingrich writes the Forward.
Do Christians need to be prepared for such things? Yes! Christians, of all people, should be fully prepared in every area of their lives. Read the book, and see if you don't agree -- and then please comment here, and we'll discuss!
Here is the link to Amazon:
http://j.mp/4eoG2h
.
Monday, October 26, 2009
85. The blogmeister is taking a sabbatical.
'
Sabbatical: any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.
--------------
Yes, I could say Amen! to all of the above definition -- esp the "etc."
The "etc." includes (1) my wife having a much slower recovery from
4-toe surgery and from a recent bronchoscopy procedure than we would have hoped. And then, there are other impending issues, like (2) the holidaze, (3) preparing tax information which I need to file in early January, (4) preparing the house for new construction (adding a couple of rooms), and I'm ready for a sabbatical!
A personal observation: As I saw the things above rushing toward our family, it became less of a joy and more of a chore to study and prepare the posts, and where previously the posts came almost daily (more ideas than time to post them), now it is fewer ideas and almost no time to post them.
It may be that I will post things from time to time during my sabbatical. I cannot tell that from this point. So, if you have this blog as a favorite, please keep it on your list, and check in from time to time. AND, I will definitely answer all comments (since my email notifies me when you do so) during the interim.
And then there is this:
While we are waiting, most of the blog content here does not become less meaningful with age, but rather, more meaningful! If you start again at #1, you'll see new things that have now become more important (and perhaps more understandable) due to the speed of world happenings.
Thanks for your active interest, and continue those comments!
I hope to see you again here early in the new year.
May God grant to you grace, mercy and peace, until we meet here again.
Larry
Sabbatical: any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.
--------------
Yes, I could say Amen! to all of the above definition -- esp the "etc."
The "etc." includes (1) my wife having a much slower recovery from
4-toe surgery and from a recent bronchoscopy procedure than we would have hoped. And then, there are other impending issues, like (2) the holidaze, (3) preparing tax information which I need to file in early January, (4) preparing the house for new construction (adding a couple of rooms), and I'm ready for a sabbatical!
A personal observation: As I saw the things above rushing toward our family, it became less of a joy and more of a chore to study and prepare the posts, and where previously the posts came almost daily (more ideas than time to post them), now it is fewer ideas and almost no time to post them.
It may be that I will post things from time to time during my sabbatical. I cannot tell that from this point. So, if you have this blog as a favorite, please keep it on your list, and check in from time to time. AND, I will definitely answer all comments (since my email notifies me when you do so) during the interim.
And then there is this:
While we are waiting, most of the blog content here does not become less meaningful with age, but rather, more meaningful! If you start again at #1, you'll see new things that have now become more important (and perhaps more understandable) due to the speed of world happenings.
Thanks for your active interest, and continue those comments!
I hope to see you again here early in the new year.
May God grant to you grace, mercy and peace, until we meet here again.
Larry
Sunday, October 18, 2009
84. "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
This is Proverbs 29:18a from the KJV.
This passage is usually taken by the general public to mean that a people or a land must have a visionary person among them, or at least someone with a little imagination -- a person with "vision".
But this is a misapplication, which can be seen when we look at other Bible translations or versions (notice that I am listing these generally from the most word-for-word literal translation to the most free-style):
NASB: Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.
NKJV: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
ESV: Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
NIV: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
NLT: When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild;
NCV: Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled.
But the second half of the verse adds more to the meaning:
NASB: But happy is he who keeps the law.
NKJV: But happy is he who keeps the law.
ESV: but blessed is he who keeps the law.
NIV: but blessed is he who keeps the law.
NLT: But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
NCV: but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
In other words, the word "vision" refers to a prophetic vision, a prophetic revelation. If there is no prophet in the land, there is no prophetic vision. And if there is no prophetic vision, the people "run wild" as the NLT says. But opposed to this attitude of unrestraint are those who are happy, joyful, and blessed, because they keep the law (of God).
Now not only is this true in the biblical sense of this verse, it is also true in the traditional sense of the verse, with which I started out this blog.
Here's what I mean:
What is imagination? Try this definition for imagine: the ability to see or create in the mind that which is not actually there.
So how is this different from vision? When we look at the basic meaning of vision, it is the ability to see that which is actually there. Someone who has 20/20 vision has perfect ability to see what is there -- to see things as they really are.
I would suggest that a person, a leader, a people, or a nation must first have this kind of vision -- to see what is there, before they can exercise imagination properly -- to see in the mind what is not there.
And therefore, we can say, "when the leader or leaders of a people or a nation do not have the ability to see what is actually before their eyes, it may lead to the downfall of that people or nation into anarchy (where total restraint is cast off)."
.
This passage is usually taken by the general public to mean that a people or a land must have a visionary person among them, or at least someone with a little imagination -- a person with "vision".
But this is a misapplication, which can be seen when we look at other Bible translations or versions (notice that I am listing these generally from the most word-for-word literal translation to the most free-style):
NASB: Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.
NKJV: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
ESV: Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
NIV: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
NLT: When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild;
NCV: Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled.
But the second half of the verse adds more to the meaning:
NASB: But happy is he who keeps the law.
NKJV: But happy is he who keeps the law.
ESV: but blessed is he who keeps the law.
NIV: but blessed is he who keeps the law.
NLT: But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
NCV: but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
In other words, the word "vision" refers to a prophetic vision, a prophetic revelation. If there is no prophet in the land, there is no prophetic vision. And if there is no prophetic vision, the people "run wild" as the NLT says. But opposed to this attitude of unrestraint are those who are happy, joyful, and blessed, because they keep the law (of God).
Now not only is this true in the biblical sense of this verse, it is also true in the traditional sense of the verse, with which I started out this blog.
Here's what I mean:
What is imagination? Try this definition for imagine: the ability to see or create in the mind that which is not actually there.
So how is this different from vision? When we look at the basic meaning of vision, it is the ability to see that which is actually there. Someone who has 20/20 vision has perfect ability to see what is there -- to see things as they really are.
I would suggest that a person, a leader, a people, or a nation must first have this kind of vision -- to see what is there, before they can exercise imagination properly -- to see in the mind what is not there.
And therefore, we can say, "when the leader or leaders of a people or a nation do not have the ability to see what is actually before their eyes, it may lead to the downfall of that people or nation into anarchy (where total restraint is cast off)."
.
83. US GOVT AGREES TO AL QUEDA TERMS
Headline of the possible future? .
Doubtful? Questionable? Incredible? Even Unthinkable?
No, not unthinkable, because I think about the possibilities often.
Beyond belief? Perhaps. Beyond possibility? No, not at all.
If that headline in the title were to ever appear in America's newspapers, I suspect it would be followed shortly by the following headline: "US Militia attacks national and overseas targets"
How could this scenario ever take place? And what are the possibilities?
Answering the second question first, I consider the possibility of the scenario I am going to outline to be in the 50-80% range. Perhaps I am too naive not to put it in the 99% range.
Now the first question: How could this scenario ever take place?
When I search Google for "Suitcase Nukes", I get 1,430,000 hits. The information behind the hits ranges from the opposing positions of "Two-hundred suitcase nukes in existence" to "Not a chance that any of them will work" to "None in existence". All three are too extreme, and the reality lies somewhere in the middle (included in this scenario is the existence and use of similar "backpack nukes").
Here are three "reasonable" posts regarding suitcase nukes, the first, a non-sensational "just the facts", from The National Terror Alert website (America's leading source for Homeland Security News): National Terror Alert website
and the second from a myth-busting website that considers the entire spectrum of views, The War of Illusions site (much more down-to-earth, level-headed, than it sounds): War of Illusions website
and a third more "sensational", yet fact-filled article by Jerome Corsi in World News Daily: Jerome Corsi website
As I read these three articles and many more, I have come to the conservative conclusion that there are somewhere between two and twenty suitcase or backpack nukes in various stages of decay, repair, or mobilization in the world today.
And from that conclusion, comes my possible/likely/probable scenario of a twin nuclear attack on New York City in downtown Manhattan, and in Washington DC in the Capital-White House-Supreme Court area, between 10am and 2pm on an undeterminable day. If they were to go off at different times, the Washington DC event would have to be first. With these twin nuclear blasts, the center of business and the seat of our government would be wiped out in a single blow.
Can I take credit for this idea? Not hardly. This scenario has been proposed many times, one of the latest being Joel Rosenberg in his recent best selling novel "Dead Heat". The Amazon website tells a lot about it: Amazon Dead Heat
"Dead Heat" starts out not with two nuclear blasts, but five. And my initial reaction to the book remains the same, that the problems facing America were too easily fixed, and too soon solved. Rather, think Post-WWII Germany in 1945: 15 years to bring to a reasonable state by 1960.
If twin nuclear blasts take out Washington DC and Manhattan, things will be far worse than "Dead Heat" suggests. If the timing of the blasts were particularly 'right' for Al Queda (and I presume they would be), of the 600 top governmental leaders in the USA, there might be only 15-40 of the national leaders left alive -- those away from the city. There would be no central control, and perhaps no communication due to such devices and controls being rendered inoperative by a single or multiple Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP). (See Amazon for "EMP", non-fiction and fiction)
And then the second blow would hit: A warning from Al Queda, that five more nuclear blasts were prepared to go off in five other major cities within 24 hours unless America agrees to Al Queda's terms. These five cities would never be mentioned, but could only be speculated. Surely Houston and Los Angeles would be two of them... but the other three? Perhaps Atlanta, perhaps DFW.
Thus, depending upon who was left running the country, the next day's headline might be: "US GOVT AGREES TO AL QUEDA TERMS". Or the alternative: "HELL NO, WE WON'T AGREE!"
Surely with the latter attitude, and maybe even with the attitude of capitulation, within 24 hours the other five devices would explode (or worse, maybe larger devices would be launched from offshore container ships), and America as we know it today would be no more -- with five to thirty million people dead or dying. Travel, eating, working, and known comforts would be barely possible. Within weeks, possibly 100,000,000 dead.
Is this view even Biblical? I think so, and I'll address that eventually in another post. But as for now, do what Homeland Security suggests: be watchful, be wary, be careful, and be sure to report all suspicious activity. And while you watch and wait, read Revelation 18.
I'll be watching for your comments!
(I would add (a day after the above post) that there has never been a weapon fashioned that has not eventually been used -LG 10/19/09 14:43cdt)
.
Doubtful? Questionable? Incredible? Even Unthinkable?
No, not unthinkable, because I think about the possibilities often.
Beyond belief? Perhaps. Beyond possibility? No, not at all.
If that headline in the title were to ever appear in America's newspapers, I suspect it would be followed shortly by the following headline: "US Militia attacks national and overseas targets"
How could this scenario ever take place? And what are the possibilities?
Answering the second question first, I consider the possibility of the scenario I am going to outline to be in the 50-80% range. Perhaps I am too naive not to put it in the 99% range.
Now the first question: How could this scenario ever take place?
When I search Google for "Suitcase Nukes", I get 1,430,000 hits. The information behind the hits ranges from the opposing positions of "Two-hundred suitcase nukes in existence" to "Not a chance that any of them will work" to "None in existence". All three are too extreme, and the reality lies somewhere in the middle (included in this scenario is the existence and use of similar "backpack nukes").
Here are three "reasonable" posts regarding suitcase nukes, the first, a non-sensational "just the facts", from The National Terror Alert website (America's leading source for Homeland Security News): National Terror Alert website
and the second from a myth-busting website that considers the entire spectrum of views, The War of Illusions site (much more down-to-earth, level-headed, than it sounds): War of Illusions website
A quote from the above post: A former CIA director, George Tenet, is convinced that al-Qaida wants to change history with the mushroom cloud of a nuclear attack. In 1998, Osama bin Laden issued a statement called “The Nuclear Bomb of Islam.”
“It is the duty of Muslims to prepare as much force as possible to terrorize the enemies of God,” he said.
and a third more "sensational", yet fact-filled article by Jerome Corsi in World News Daily: Jerome Corsi website
As I read these three articles and many more, I have come to the conservative conclusion that there are somewhere between two and twenty suitcase or backpack nukes in various stages of decay, repair, or mobilization in the world today.
And from that conclusion, comes my possible/likely/probable scenario of a twin nuclear attack on New York City in downtown Manhattan, and in Washington DC in the Capital-White House-Supreme Court area, between 10am and 2pm on an undeterminable day. If they were to go off at different times, the Washington DC event would have to be first. With these twin nuclear blasts, the center of business and the seat of our government would be wiped out in a single blow.
Can I take credit for this idea? Not hardly. This scenario has been proposed many times, one of the latest being Joel Rosenberg in his recent best selling novel "Dead Heat". The Amazon website tells a lot about it: Amazon Dead Heat
"Dead Heat" starts out not with two nuclear blasts, but five. And my initial reaction to the book remains the same, that the problems facing America were too easily fixed, and too soon solved. Rather, think Post-WWII Germany in 1945: 15 years to bring to a reasonable state by 1960.
If twin nuclear blasts take out Washington DC and Manhattan, things will be far worse than "Dead Heat" suggests. If the timing of the blasts were particularly 'right' for Al Queda (and I presume they would be), of the 600 top governmental leaders in the USA, there might be only 15-40 of the national leaders left alive -- those away from the city. There would be no central control, and perhaps no communication due to such devices and controls being rendered inoperative by a single or multiple Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP). (See Amazon for "EMP", non-fiction and fiction)
And then the second blow would hit: A warning from Al Queda, that five more nuclear blasts were prepared to go off in five other major cities within 24 hours unless America agrees to Al Queda's terms. These five cities would never be mentioned, but could only be speculated. Surely Houston and Los Angeles would be two of them... but the other three? Perhaps Atlanta, perhaps DFW.
Thus, depending upon who was left running the country, the next day's headline might be: "US GOVT AGREES TO AL QUEDA TERMS". Or the alternative: "HELL NO, WE WON'T AGREE!"
Surely with the latter attitude, and maybe even with the attitude of capitulation, within 24 hours the other five devices would explode (or worse, maybe larger devices would be launched from offshore container ships), and America as we know it today would be no more -- with five to thirty million people dead or dying. Travel, eating, working, and known comforts would be barely possible. Within weeks, possibly 100,000,000 dead.
Is this view even Biblical? I think so, and I'll address that eventually in another post. But as for now, do what Homeland Security suggests: be watchful, be wary, be careful, and be sure to report all suspicious activity. And while you watch and wait, read Revelation 18.
I'll be watching for your comments!
(I would add (a day after the above post) that there has never been a weapon fashioned that has not eventually been used -LG 10/19/09 14:43cdt)
And I would also ask you to check out post 86 above here, about a book recommendation "One Second After" -LG 11/13/09 4:00cst.
.
Friday, October 16, 2009
82. A known problem with Blogspot blogs...
...like this "The Future History" blog of mine:
When you (as a visitor/reader) post a comment, sadly, it does not tell me (the writer) WHICH blogpost you are commenting on. It's a known problem which Google has never fixed.
SO, when you comment, please start out with the post number (#31, for example), and I'll be able to find your comment right away -- and you'll get a quicker answer.
(If you have a Google blog that does not have this problem, or you have discovered a different solution, please let me know by commenting below on this post #82.)
God bless you,
and thanks for being a part of The Future History blog.
Larry
P.S. I like comments very much! It adds life to the blog. So do not take this as any negativity toward comments. Just trying to fix an annoying Google problem.
.
When you (as a visitor/reader) post a comment, sadly, it does not tell me (the writer) WHICH blogpost you are commenting on. It's a known problem which Google has never fixed.
SO, when you comment, please start out with the post number (#31, for example), and I'll be able to find your comment right away -- and you'll get a quicker answer.
(If you have a Google blog that does not have this problem, or you have discovered a different solution, please let me know by commenting below on this post #82.)
God bless you,
and thanks for being a part of The Future History blog.
Larry
P.S. I like comments very much! It adds life to the blog. So do not take this as any negativity toward comments. Just trying to fix an annoying Google problem.
.
Friday, October 9, 2009
81. Ahmadinejad stresses Doom to Israel...
...if Israel or USA attacks Iran.
Article:
"Iran to 'Blow Up the Heart of Israel' if Attacked"
Click to link to article
Sounds like Israel is between the devil (Ahmadinejad) and the deep blue sea (the Mediterannean).
.
Article:
"Iran to 'Blow Up the Heart of Israel' if Attacked"
Click to link to article
Sounds like Israel is between the devil (Ahmadinejad) and the deep blue sea (the Mediterannean).
.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
80. Headline from the Near Future
"How Israel Was Disarmed"
(Note: the link to the article was not working, I fixed it 10/9, and now it seems to be working okay)
Thanks to @speli on twitter for posting this article from the near future (Jan 10, 2010) from the Wall Street Journal
Click here for article
Since the prophetic center of the Bible is Israel, and since the prophetic center of Israel is Jerusalem, and since the prophetic center of Jerusalem is the temple mount, I thought that this article was worthy of thoughtful study.
.
(Note: the link to the article was not working, I fixed it 10/9, and now it seems to be working okay)
Thanks to @speli on twitter for posting this article from the near future (Jan 10, 2010) from the Wall Street Journal
Click here for article
Since the prophetic center of the Bible is Israel, and since the prophetic center of Israel is Jerusalem, and since the prophetic center of Jerusalem is the temple mount, I thought that this article was worthy of thoughtful study.
.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
79. David & Jonathan: Homosexual Lovers?
.
If you think so, or at least wonder if it is so, please read Gary Yates' thoughtful post on that subject. This is extremely well written, and carefully reasoned. Gary is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, VA.
The Title is : David & Jonathan: Best Friends Forever or Something More?
Link: Click here
What would this have to do with the endtimes? When homosexuality becomes accepted in a nation, usually the judgment of God is not far behind. And judgment upon America might be a precursor to the final judgment upon the world. Just a thought.
.
If you think so, or at least wonder if it is so, please read Gary Yates' thoughtful post on that subject. This is extremely well written, and carefully reasoned. Gary is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, VA.
The Title is : David & Jonathan: Best Friends Forever or Something More?
Link: Click here
What would this have to do with the endtimes? When homosexuality becomes accepted in a nation, usually the judgment of God is not far behind. And judgment upon America might be a precursor to the final judgment upon the world. Just a thought.
.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
78. Revelation 13 - Bible Study - Part 4B
Rev 13:5-7 : The Antichrist exercises his power
.
A GUIDED BIBLE STUDY OF REVELATION 13
Part 1. Literal vs. Symbolic in Revelation 12 Post #64 Link
Part 2. Rev 13:1-2 : Introduction to the Antichrist Post #66 Link
Part 3. Rev:13:3-4 Satan empowers the Antichrist Post #67 Link
Part 4A. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power Post #71 Link
==>Part 4B. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power
Part 5. Rev 13: 8-10 The Reign of the Antichrist
Part 6. Rev 13:11-13 Another beast: The False Prophet
Part 7. Rev 13:14-15 The Image of the beast
Part 8. Rev 13:16-18 The Mark of the Beast
Overview of Part 4B:
1. The Biblical Text of the Passage
2. An Expanded Version of the Text
3. The Explanation
1. The Biblical Text of the Passage (this lesson in bold)
2. An Expanded Version of the Text (this lesson in bold)
3. The Explanation
At the end of the previous lesson (part 4A), we saw that the last verse (13:7) speaks primarily of the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation, where the antichrist will speak against God and the things of God horribly, and, as it says in verse 13:7, “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to conquer them.”
Saints? Who are these saints? Will I, will you be included among those “saints” that are persecuted and “conquered”? Maybe. Maybe not.
By way of reminder, according to the premillennial, pre-trib position, all the church was taken up (raptured) to be with God sometime before the start of the seven-year tribulation. So, as this viewpoint goes, there are no Christian believers left on the earth immediately after the rapture. But when the rapture occurred, there were likely many who were weeks, and days, and hours (and minutes?!) away from making a decision to believe in Jesus; and now these people are easily and quickly convinced. And so, shortly after the rapture a new set of believers emerge, a growing number, the saints of the tribulation.
Will there be many people that become believers/saints during the tribulation? Will there be any that believe in Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation?
In Revelation 7:9, when John is standing before the throne of God, he writes of that scene: “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb…”
After a time of worship and praise before God and before the Lamb, an elder tells John who these people are: “These are the ones who came out of the Great Tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:14)”
So there you are. The saints that were saved before the tribulation aren't numbered anywhere, but surely must number in the billions since they include every believer throughout history. But the saints saved after the rapture, during the tribulation, cannot be numbered.
This would be the situation according to the premill, pre-trib position, that there would be no purpose for God to take the saints that have already been saved through the tribulation.
(Future posts coming up: Why won’t the saints go through the tribulation, and Just what IS the purpose of the tribulation?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now, lets look at our single verse yet to be considered in this lesson section:
A. The antichrist will be allowed to make war against the saints and to conquer them, and
B. The antichrist will have authority over the whole earth: every tribe, people, language, and nation.
And to them, let’s add a third subject,
C. Eventually the saints will receive the kingdom, and will possess it forever!
Are there any other verses in the Bible that tell us that the antichrist will wage war and conquer the saints besides Rev 13:7? (Note: we do not need any verse other than one. The strength of one verse in the Bible is sufficient to make God’s point!) However, God was pleased to incorporate these points and issues into many verses!
Yes, consider the following verses:
A1. Daniel 7:21 : I was watching (says Daniel); and the same pompous horn (horn: person of power) was making war against
the saints, and prevailing over them.
A2. Daniel 7:25 : [A king will arise], shall speak pompous words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints. […] and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time
(3 ½ years).
A3. Daniel 8:22* : [A king shall arise … his power will be great, but not by his own power] … he shall destroy the mighty men and the people who are the saints.
*Note: Some students and teachers think that the Daniel 8:22 scripture refers to an earlier king around 175BC, before Christ came. But within the context of the verse, it says “the vision is for the time of the end”, “this will happen in the latter time of the indignation”, “for it refers to the time of the end”, “And in the latter time of their kingdom”, and finally “…seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future”
A4. Daniel 12:7b …this shall be for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ years), and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, then all these things will be finished.
A5. Matthew 24:21-22 For then there shall be [a] great tribulation, such has never been until this time, nor shall every be afterwards. And unless those days were shortened, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (the saints, the believers) those days will be shortened.
Do we find any other verses in the Bible that tell us that the antichrist will have power and authority over the whole earth?
Yes, consider these verses:
B1. Daniel 7:23 : The fourth beast (dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong) will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the [other] kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down, and breaking it into pieces.
B2. Daniel 11:36 : Then the king shall do as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods.
B3. Revelation 13:8 : All who dwell on the earth will worship him, those whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.
Can we find verses in the Bible that tell us that the saints ultimately end up being rewarded the kingdom?
Yes, consider these verses:
C1. Daniel 7:18 : But the saints of the most High shall receive the kingdom, and will possess the kingdom forever, for ever and ever.
C2. Daniel 7:22 : [and] the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
C3. Daniel 7:26-27 [But the court will take away his (antichrist’s) dominion] then the kingdom and the dominion and their greatness will be given to the people, the saints of the most high God.
C4. Daniel 12:13 : But go your way until the end. And you shall rest, and shall arise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.
C5. Revelation 11:18 : [The time has come] for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
Look all these verses up in your Bible. In some of them the context will be more obvious than in others. In some passages, it takes a lot of reading to understand the context. But in the case of Daniel, the questionable passages are sometimes explained within the context.
But the only goals I have for this single verse (Rev 13:7) is understanding that:
A. The antichrist will be allowed to make war against the saints and to conquer them, and
B. The antichrist will have authority over the whole earth: every tribe, people, language, and nation, but
C. Eventually the saints will receive the kingdom, and will possess it forever!
Next lesson: Part 5. Rev 13:8-10 The Reign of the Antichrist
.
.
A GUIDED BIBLE STUDY OF REVELATION 13
Part 1. Literal vs. Symbolic in Revelation 12 Post #64 Link
Part 2. Rev 13:1-2 : Introduction to the Antichrist Post #66 Link
Part 3. Rev:13:3-4 Satan empowers the Antichrist Post #67 Link
Part 4A. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power Post #71 Link
==>Part 4B. Rev 13:5-7 The Antichrist exercises his power
Part 5. Rev 13: 8-10 The Reign of the Antichrist
Part 6. Rev 13:11-13 Another beast: The False Prophet
Part 7. Rev 13:14-15 The Image of the beast
Part 8. Rev 13:16-18 The Mark of the Beast
Overview of Part 4B:
1. The Biblical Text of the Passage
2. An Expanded Version of the Text
3. The Explanation
1. The Biblical Text of the Passage (this lesson in bold)
13: 5 And the beast was given a mouth speaking insolent words and blasphemies, and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name, and his dwelling place, and those who dwell in heaven. 7. It was granted to him to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
2. An Expanded Version of the Text (this lesson in bold)
13: 5 And the beast was given a mouth speaking insolent (proud, haughty) words and blasphemies (words against God), and [he was allowed] to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He (or, it {where appropriate}) opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander (blaspheme) his name, and his dwelling place (his tabernacle), and those who dwell in heaven. 7. [Also,]
he was given power (was allowed) to make war against the saints and to conquer (overcome) them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
3. The Explanation
At the end of the previous lesson (part 4A), we saw that the last verse (13:7) speaks primarily of the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation, where the antichrist will speak against God and the things of God horribly, and, as it says in verse 13:7, “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to conquer them.”
Saints? Who are these saints? Will I, will you be included among those “saints” that are persecuted and “conquered”? Maybe. Maybe not.
By way of reminder, according to the premillennial, pre-trib position, all the church was taken up (raptured) to be with God sometime before the start of the seven-year tribulation. So, as this viewpoint goes, there are no Christian believers left on the earth immediately after the rapture. But when the rapture occurred, there were likely many who were weeks, and days, and hours (and minutes?!) away from making a decision to believe in Jesus; and now these people are easily and quickly convinced. And so, shortly after the rapture a new set of believers emerge, a growing number, the saints of the tribulation.
Will there be many people that become believers/saints during the tribulation? Will there be any that believe in Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation?
In Revelation 7:9, when John is standing before the throne of God, he writes of that scene: “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb…”
After a time of worship and praise before God and before the Lamb, an elder tells John who these people are: “These are the ones who came out of the Great Tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:14)”
So there you are. The saints that were saved before the tribulation aren't numbered anywhere, but surely must number in the billions since they include every believer throughout history. But the saints saved after the rapture, during the tribulation, cannot be numbered.
This would be the situation according to the premill, pre-trib position, that there would be no purpose for God to take the saints that have already been saved through the tribulation.
(Future posts coming up: Why won’t the saints go through the tribulation, and Just what IS the purpose of the tribulation?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now, lets look at our single verse yet to be considered in this lesson section:
7. [Also,] he was given power (was allowed) to make war against the saints and to conquer (overcome) them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.There are two main subjects here, as follows:
A. The antichrist will be allowed to make war against the saints and to conquer them, and
B. The antichrist will have authority over the whole earth: every tribe, people, language, and nation.
And to them, let’s add a third subject,
C. Eventually the saints will receive the kingdom, and will possess it forever!
Are there any other verses in the Bible that tell us that the antichrist will wage war and conquer the saints besides Rev 13:7? (Note: we do not need any verse other than one. The strength of one verse in the Bible is sufficient to make God’s point!) However, God was pleased to incorporate these points and issues into many verses!
Yes, consider the following verses:
A1. Daniel 7:21 : I was watching (says Daniel); and the same pompous horn (horn: person of power) was making war against
the saints, and prevailing over them.
A2. Daniel 7:25 : [A king will arise], shall speak pompous words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints. […] and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time
(3 ½ years).
A3. Daniel 8:22* : [A king shall arise … his power will be great, but not by his own power] … he shall destroy the mighty men and the people who are the saints.
*Note: Some students and teachers think that the Daniel 8:22 scripture refers to an earlier king around 175BC, before Christ came. But within the context of the verse, it says “the vision is for the time of the end”, “this will happen in the latter time of the indignation”, “for it refers to the time of the end”, “And in the latter time of their kingdom”, and finally “…seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future”
A4. Daniel 12:7b …this shall be for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ years), and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, then all these things will be finished.
A5. Matthew 24:21-22 For then there shall be [a] great tribulation, such has never been until this time, nor shall every be afterwards. And unless those days were shortened, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (the saints, the believers) those days will be shortened.
Do we find any other verses in the Bible that tell us that the antichrist will have power and authority over the whole earth?
Yes, consider these verses:
B1. Daniel 7:23 : The fourth beast (dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong) will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the [other] kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down, and breaking it into pieces.
B2. Daniel 11:36 : Then the king shall do as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods.
B3. Revelation 13:8 : All who dwell on the earth will worship him, those whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.
Can we find verses in the Bible that tell us that the saints ultimately end up being rewarded the kingdom?
Yes, consider these verses:
C1. Daniel 7:18 : But the saints of the most High shall receive the kingdom, and will possess the kingdom forever, for ever and ever.
C2. Daniel 7:22 : [and] the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
C3. Daniel 7:26-27 [But the court will take away his (antichrist’s) dominion] then the kingdom and the dominion and their greatness will be given to the people, the saints of the most high God.
C4. Daniel 12:13 : But go your way until the end. And you shall rest, and shall arise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.
C5. Revelation 11:18 : [The time has come] for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
Look all these verses up in your Bible. In some of them the context will be more obvious than in others. In some passages, it takes a lot of reading to understand the context. But in the case of Daniel, the questionable passages are sometimes explained within the context.
But the only goals I have for this single verse (Rev 13:7) is understanding that:
A. The antichrist will be allowed to make war against the saints and to conquer them, and
B. The antichrist will have authority over the whole earth: every tribe, people, language, and nation, but
C. Eventually the saints will receive the kingdom, and will possess it forever!
Next lesson: Part 5. Rev 13:8-10 The Reign of the Antichrist
.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
77. New Trailer on "2012" Movie
.
Summary: the surface of the earth is destroyed, messily, bloodily,
but yet man retains his hope in himself and his computer generated graphic effects (graphic would have double meaning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz86TsGx3fc
Can you come up with a better summary in one sentence? Post it in comments.
And a question: Will the Great Tribulation as described in many Bible passages but mostly in Revelation, be much different than this until Christ returns in his glorious, victorious, appearing?
.
Summary: the surface of the earth is destroyed, messily, bloodily,
but yet man retains his hope in himself and his computer generated graphic effects (graphic would have double meaning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz86TsGx3fc
Can you come up with a better summary in one sentence? Post it in comments.
And a question: Will the Great Tribulation as described in many Bible passages but mostly in Revelation, be much different than this until Christ returns in his glorious, victorious, appearing?
.
76. Earthquakes. Are they getting your attention?
.
Incredibly, some will say that "there are not more earthquakes, it's just that global news makes them seen so frequent". While there may be an element of truth in this, in reality, the earthquakes are much more frequent than they were 10 years ago, and 10 years ago they were more frequent than 25 years before that. Many universities have seismic departments that confirm this finding.
Or this one: "We are better able to detect them now, so we are catching more of them." Again, there is a bit of truth here. But we've been able to detect earthquakes for 80 years or so, and particularly in the last 20 years. And the number of earthquakes of measurable size have often doubled per given area, and in some areas, they are also getting worse.
I've addressed the subject of earthquakes before, in post #31, and there I posted all seven of the Bible passages that mention earthquakes in the end times, and discussed them. Break out your Bibles and check them out. Here's the link: Link to post #31.
Any comments? Your opinion about earthquakes and the Bible? Feel free to post them here, I usually get back with you within 12 hours.
.
Incredibly, some will say that "there are not more earthquakes, it's just that global news makes them seen so frequent". While there may be an element of truth in this, in reality, the earthquakes are much more frequent than they were 10 years ago, and 10 years ago they were more frequent than 25 years before that. Many universities have seismic departments that confirm this finding.
Or this one: "We are better able to detect them now, so we are catching more of them." Again, there is a bit of truth here. But we've been able to detect earthquakes for 80 years or so, and particularly in the last 20 years. And the number of earthquakes of measurable size have often doubled per given area, and in some areas, they are also getting worse.
I've addressed the subject of earthquakes before, in post #31, and there I posted all seven of the Bible passages that mention earthquakes in the end times, and discussed them. Break out your Bibles and check them out. Here's the link: Link to post #31.
Any comments? Your opinion about earthquakes and the Bible? Feel free to post them here, I usually get back with you within 12 hours.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)