A Catholic bishop granting plenary indulgences for the public during times of calamity. Note the almsgiving in the background. Wall Fresco by Italian Artist Lorenzo Lotto, Suardi, Italy, circa 1524.
The Pope not pleased with those lay preachers who could undermine his establishment got enough clergy interested to battle those who had other thoughts than they. He established the “Holy Inquisition Against Depraved Heresy” to deal with breakaway ‘Christian sects’. At first it was a judicial procedure set to be able to judge all sorts of people who did not want to go with the Roman Catholic Church. But later an institution was established by the papacy and, sometimes, by secular governments to combat heresy and to act like we now see Al Qaeda, ISIS/ISIL or Daesh, Boko Haram and other fundamentalistIslamic groups to press what they believe would be the only true faith everybody had to have.
First being relatively powerless, as secular rulers, suspicious of Papal meddling in their own internal affairs, did not allow it access to their countries, in a period of more than 200 years, very few heretics were burned at the stake. In 1481, at the peak of the Ottoman power, however, after extracting a promise from the Pope that the Inquisition would remain under the Crown’s control, thus ensuring that confiscated assets of heretics would revert to the throne, Ferdinand and Isabella established the Inquisition in Seville (Reconquista). While it is commonly assumed that the Inquisition was brought to Spain out of a concern that Jews were trying to influence conversos to leave the Christian fold, one prominent historian is of the opinion that by 1481 Jewish consciousness was virtually nonexistent among the conversos, and that Jews did not attempt any such outreach. Rather, he believes, the Inquisition was an outgrowth of the attitudes of Spain’s Old Christian population. In the words of one Spanish historian,
“The Inquisition was a genuine expression of the soul of the Spanish people.”
When we hear about the Inquisition we most often do not think of the Jews, with good reason, because most damage was done to sincere godly people who had taken Jesus as the son of God and their saviour and not as their god. Though the horrible action taken by the Roman Catholics, undertaken in the twelfth century and following centuries to find “Christian heretics” who would be punished or killed, had her eyes also set on the Jewish community. Eventually, Jews too were open to such charges of heresy, simply for being Jewish; and torture was routinely used to extract “confessions.”
These coming weeks we also remember how this coming up time to Pesach was a very dangerous time for Jews, because they could be caught cleaning their houses and linen and buying vegetables before Pesach, blessing children without making the sign of the cross, fasting on Yom Kippur, and refraining from work on the Sabbath.
Interestingly enough, Jews who never converted to Christianity were not under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition, and could practice their religion freely and openly. It was only conversos who were considered heretics for forsaking the Christian creed and practising Judaism. Worse for the Catholic Church was that some of those converts did not become a Catholic but accepted rabbi Jeshua as the Messiah, the son of God but not a god son, like the Roman Catholics did. Those having gone in the water to become a Baptist, became with that group a target for prosecution, according to the Roman Catholics being a dangerous ‘cult’ and with other protestants to be removed from this earth.
Marranos: Secret Seder in Spain during the times of inquisition, an 1892 painting by Moshe Maimon
Mainly because of persecution, Muslims and Jews in Spain at that time found it socially, politically, and economically expedient to convert to Catholicism, but where not really practising that faith and at home kept their ow practice of faith. In 1481 the Inquisition began to function in Spain to expose the secret Jews, known as the Anusim (who were forced to abandon Judaism against their will) or Marranos, who converted to the Christian faith to escape persecution but who continued to practice Judaism secretly, but over the years spread to many countries. The Spanish Inquisition was anti-Jewish more than in any previous countries. The first public sentencing and burning alive of six marrano men and one woman by the Spanish Inquisition was held on this date in Sevilla in Southern Spain.
All sorts of torture where good for the unsparing cruel fanatics, of which many also set their eyes on the Jews and certain Christian groups or monasteries their assets.
Differently with the present day inquisition groups of Islam the Roman Catholic Church did not want to spill blood, but only “save souls”. For not having their clergy to become accused for having blood on their hands they made use of civilians and secular authorities for the many executions, whereby they found it was best to use bloodless deaths, such as strangling and burning alive.
For ISIS the colour today is orange, but at that time the condemned people wore yellow sanbenitos, cloaks, with red crosses and the letter X painted on them. Those given the death penalty wore tunics with paintings of flames and devils. The procession marched through the town to the burning area where the judges sat. The cases involving lesser penalties were judged first, then those receiving strangulation before burning, and finally those condemned to be burned alive.
The first auto-de-fe was held in 1481, and the last in 1731, an old woman who was accused of
“being influenced by the Devil, after which she laid eggs with prophecies written on them.”
Tomás de Torquemada (Thomas of Torquemada) Castilian Dominican friar, and the first Grand Inquisitor in Spain’s movement to homogenize religious practices with those of the Catholic Church in the late 15th century, otherwise known as “The Spanish Inquisition.” (Wikipedia)
In 1483, Queen Isabella’s personal confessor, the Dominican priest Tomas de Torquemada, was appointed head of the Inquisition. Of converso origin, Torquemada was a fanatic Jew-hater who was wholly incorruptible. He was convinced that only the total expulsion of the Jews from Spain could end Jewish influence in the national life.
Torquemada did not cut the grass from under the Jews’ feet and quickly began taking steps to weaken the unconverted Jewish community and eventually expel it from Spain. In 1485, he forced all rabbis, under pain of death, to report conversos who were practising Judaism, and to pronounce a rabbinic curse on any Jew who failed to notify the Inquisition of such behaviour. This cruel edict badly split the Jews of Spain. Alarmed by the greatly increasing power of the Inquisition, that year a group of conversos plotted to kill the inquisitor of Saragossa, Pedro de Arbues, hoping to begin a popular uprising against the Inquisition. However, the assassination had the opposite effect. The townspeople were enraged, rampaging through the streets, killing many conversos. All the conspirators were caught and executed, and the Inquisition grew even stronger.
Purity of faith became the national policy of the Catholic sovereigns, and thus came about the final tragedy, the edict of expulsion of all the Jews from Spain on March 31, 1492. Portugal promulgated an edict of expulsion in 1497 and Navarre in 1498. It was under de Torquemada his guidance that the Inquisition became such a terrifying institution, amassing enormous assets confiscated from its victims, much of it used to finance the war to conquer the last Muslim stronghold of Granada.
In 1680, the most spectacular of all autos-de-fe was held to celebrate the wedding of King Carlos and his bride. At that time, the Inquisition spread to Spanish and Portuguese colonies in the New and Old Worlds, with victims burned in Havana, Cuba; Mexico City, Mexico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Goa, India. After 350 years, the Inquisition was finally abolished in 1834, the year the Liberal Wars ended in Portugal and pro-republic uprising fails in Piedmont. In all, more than 400,000 people were accused of heresy, with 30,000 of those put to death.
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity three core values of the democratic country France where remembered on the Day of the Bastille, the 14th of July, the national holiday of France.
Though the French values of liberty, equality and fraternity may be swiftly being trumped by a larger emphasis on laïcité, or the separation of church and state. In the last decade, the government has passed laws banning religious symbols — namely the hijab — in public schools and buildings and as such got some members of the Muslim community against them. It also got France looking at a series of riots in 2005 in the suburbs of Paris where many youngsters of North African origin feel disadvantaged and discriminated. The measure of the government giving in to the employers, making done with lots of received rights for work arrangements, created lots of protests which at times became very violently. Unemployment coupled with growing religious tensions across the country is an ideal seed-bed for anti government actions but also for trying to rib the nation apart and bring fear over it by a growing religious tension in the country.
The South of France has cities, like Marseille, which have different cultures. This can be well seen in Marseille which is more defined by the cultures of its Arab and Italian immigrants than by its French nationality. In the streets of Marseille, you’ll hear French, Arabic and Italian. In many of the city’s most popular restaurants, you’ll find Italian and Arab dishes rather than the French classics like escargot and frog’s legs. In Nice or NiçardOccitan you may the Niçois speaking Occitan or Niçard like the Nizzardo or Italian inhabitants of Nice and those who do are bilingual in French. Nicknamed Nice la Belle (Nissa La Bella in Niçard), which means Nice the Beautiful, in the town you may also find people from North African origin and several Muslims.
French, Belgians, English and lots of people from other countries where having leisure time enjoying the day of work or on holiday. On the morning of 14 July 2016 the French President François Hollande reaffirmed that the state of emergency put in place after the November 2015 Paris attacks would end after the Tour de France finishes on 26 July 2016. he could be pleased nothing had happened at the target European football championship. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, this year strong measurements of security were taken in France as well as in Belgium, this with the knowledge the ISISJihadists were aiming this event as an easy target. This year France was beaten by 1–0 at the final in Saint-Denis after extra time. The French got a blow by this, but were already hurt much harder by several terrorist acts the last few months. Several communities had their share of it, but the coastal reasort of posh and glamour with Cannes and Nice, the capital of the Alpes Maritimesdépartement, as attractive poles were blessed with sunshine and good news. Soon the Jazz music would sound in the third busiest airport in France, bringing occasional extra swing.
The driver reportedly zig-zagged his way through the crowds along the promenade Credit: matrixpictures.co.uk
To watch the Bastille Dayfireworks large crowds of people had gathered along the foreshore of Nice.
At approximately 22:40 local time (20:40 UTC), a Renault Midlum19 ton cargo truck was driven at at high speed along the famed Promenade des Anglais towards the crowd of people, who had been watching a Bastille Day firework display; the truck travelled at least 100 m (330 ft) before it hit the crowd and then continued to drive two kilometres (1.25 miles) into the crowd. After being stopped by armed police, who fired bullets into the lorry’s windscreen, the so far unnamed man exchanged fire with officers using a 7.65 pistol, before being shot dead.
Though it was a French-Tunisian criminal well known to the police for armed attacks this man seemed not to be followed up and nobody of the intelligence force was able to foresee he could be doing this horrid killing.
Once again France was hit this year by a “cowardly and barbaric” atrocity making victims along the streets where people would think they could walk freely and peacefully. 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel on his track of evil killed at least 10 children and got 50 children treated in hospital with sever wounds, among the 84 or 86 dead and several fighting between life and death, in the Riviera city. Officials fear the death toll will rise.
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As hundreds remained in hospital – including 18 fighting for their lives in intensive care – anti-terrorist judges opened an investigation into “mass murder” and investigators searched the home of the driver in the Abattoirs area of Nice.
The killer his identity card was found in the truck. He had French and Tunisian nationality. The fact that the killer was known to the authorities will be of grave concern to those trying to prevent terrorist attacks in France.
French President Francois Hollande said in an address to the nation in the early hours of Friday.
“France as a whole is under the threat of Islamist terrorism, and so under these circumstances we have to demonstrate absolute vigilance and show determination that is unfailing.”
“There’s no denying the terrorist nature of this attack of yet again the most extreme form of violence.”
For many heads of state it is clear Europe shall not bow down to those acts of terror, contrary all those attack will ad more oil on the fir and give them reason to continue their attacks on Syria and Iraq.
“Nothing will make us yield in our will to fight terrorism. We will further strengthen our actions in Iraq and in Syria. We will continue striking those who attack us on our own soil,”
Francois Hollande said, in reference to France’s involvement in a coalition of nations carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.
It seems clear that the driver wanted to mow down the maximum number of people. Nice Matin journalist Damien Allemand said
“I saw bodies flying like bowling pins along its route. Heard noises, cries that I will never forget.”
Photo Gaillard/Reuters
At the extra news screening last night, at 23.45 h, we already coverage of witness, declaring how they fled from the ‘unknown’ and how the crowd got in panic. Many bodies, blood and body parts could be seen all along the road. After ramming into the crowd with his lorry, the driver started shooting and created what looked like a battlefield. Several messages on social media by people present at the scene, described a sense of helplessness faced with the carnage.
Al Jazeera reporter David Coady was also at the scene.
“I was enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks just like thousands of other people at the promenade in Nice,” he said.
“I was just walking back after the fireworks had finished. I looked towards the truck and I thought it was a bit odd, because the roads were shut down and there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people walking along. But then, from the direction of the truck, I started hearing screaming and then people started running. And so I joined all those people in running away from there.”
European Council President Donald Tusk said it was a “tragic paradox” that the victims of the attack in Nice were celebrating “liberty, equality and fraternity” – France’s motto – on the country’s national day.
Last night very soon French people offered a place to stay for those who could not return to their apartment or hotel, and a hashtag soon went viral. Leaders around the world responded to the attack, and Twitter users were using the hashtag #PrayForNice. President Barack Obama, standing in solidarity and partnership with France, also issued a statement offering
“any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice.”
He also said
“On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.”
Tusk tweeted a photograph of himself and other European and Asian leaders standing in tribute to the Nice victims at an Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia.
France has had its share last year with the January 2015 attack on the Paris offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, linked to al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, and the multiple attacks in the same city in November claimed by ISIS. People wonder when it is going to stop.
We are afraid we can not offer good news on that part. Followers of the Creator Redeemer God have received His Words of warning where we are told of what is going to happen after the Great War. Most people then thought it would not ever happen again, but only a few years later a second World War brought sorrow over the whole world. Today we can see many things happening which are foretold in the Holy Scriptures. As Brothers in Christ we are not surprised what happened after the start of the war between Iraq,Afghanistan and Iran. The internal conflict (1978–92) between anticommunist Muslim guerrillas and the Afghan communist government (aided in 1979–89 by Soviet troops) was a start for many battles between Muslim extremists and different states. The September 11 attacks triggered a harsher reaction from Western countries, bringing it into a international conflict in Afghanistan. In 2001 that war got in a first phase toppling the Taliban (the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, perpetrators of the September 11 attacks). [The joint U.S. and British invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 was preceded by over two decades of war in Afghanistan.]
From then onwards it only seemed to escalate and certain groups America first helped and provided with ammunition, turned their back on to them and the West. More and more nations got involved and religious groups started getting creating amok between different groups. Religion stood up against religion like it is foretold in the Bible. Many many signs foretold in the Holy Scriptures have become a reality.
So, for those who ask
“When would it end?”
We can only say that it all shall come to an end when World War III shall come to an end. No matter what people may try to keep or to bring peace we shall have to go to face a terrible war, which shall be even greater or more horrible than the previous two world wars. We do not want to be doom preachers, but lets face it, of all the prophesies in the Bible there are only a few which did not come true. all other prophesies, even told more than 2500 years before have come into being. They happened and the world continued like it was foretold.
Much too often people do forget that the ancient writers provided the world with the torch of civilization and liberty, a guide for life, for the believers but also for non-believers. All sorts of people can make use of the wise words which are provided in the 66 books which make up the Bible. Throughout the ages it influenced people for good. In society it has been recognized by the greatest statesmen to be a book of books that made a big change in their life and often helped them to come to decisions. We also do have to admit that certain holy scriptures have been looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting creeds and sometimes might unintentionally but woefully be misrepresented. Though now we have come in a time where intentionally people want to give false interpretation as the core of their business. different groups made it a sport to falsely interpret the Bible and the Quran. Today we have certain groups which claim to fight for the cause of justice and to bring a war in the name of Allah/God. Others cannot put them on their place, because they themselves also do not know the true content of those holy books. they too live by many long-revered misconceptions of the truth of those books, received through the traditions of their fathers. Instead of putting the enemies to confusion by disarming them of their weapons, both groups become more agitated and call to the battle.
Man may look at himself and see or speak about an evil world. H should know that this “present evil world” in which man is permitted to try governing himself soon shall come to an end.
After a Jewish Age, or the period following the death of Jacob, during which all of his posterity were treated by God as his special charge — “his people” we can see that often that chosen people forgot Who was with them and Who had liberated them. For centuries the Most High Maker showed special favours, and declared,
“You only have I known (recognized with favour) of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2)
But the stubborn people had to come to see that God was willing to provide an opening for those who are willing to come to Him. Also goyim or non-Jews found a wayto God by the send one from God, the Messiahrabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ). The promises made to the original People of God were typical of the “better promises” made to us. Having come in the Gospel Age, those who believe in God should know that they have the “better sacrifices,” which do make atonement for the sins of the whole world. They know that the promised one shall return and not only take up his role or seat in the “royal priesthood,” composed of all those who offer themselves to God “living sacrifices,” holy and acceptable, through Jesus Christ, but to be the King of the coming Kingdom here on earth.
But before it comes so far that Jesus shall become the Chief or “High Priest of our profession.” (Hebrews 3:1) this world shall have to withstand the terrible times which were prophesied long before. Too all who are willing to take Jesus as their master is demanded to go out in the world and to warn it. Not only should they notify the peoples of what shall be coming, so that they can prepared themselves for those horrible times, they should look for the signs God has given mankind, to be alert and prepared. In that time of people warning and bringing Good News of the coming Kingdom, therefore called the Gospel age, we find the realities of which the Jewish age and its services and ordinances were shadows. (Hebrews 10:1)
The Gospel age, is the period during which the body of Christ is called out of the world, and shown by faith the crown of life, and the exceeding great and precious promises whereby (by obedience to the call and its requirements) they may become partakers of the divine nature. (Pet. 1:4) Evil is still permitted to reign over or rule the world, in order that by contact with it these may be tried to see whether they are willing to give up the human nature with its privileges and blessings, a living sacrifice, being made conformable to Jesus’ death, that they may be accounted worthy to be in his likeness in the resurrection. (Psalms 17:15)
Coming closer to the times of more disasters Jews, Christians, Muslims, other believers and non-believers shall have to think how they want to cope with the turbulence and shall have to find solutions to live themselves in a more protected environment. Their choices may not always bring the hoped for reactions, because those against God (the adversary or satan) are going to play more for devil.
Before Christ, with royal title and power, will be present as Jehovah’s representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this day of trouble, taking up his seat in the city of Jerusalem, many shall fight to get the power in Jerusalem and to be able to conquer the people all over the world. This battle for the power has already started. All those terrorist acts are not as such a matter of bringing people to Allah/God but to show the power of which everybody should be afraid and has to submit to.
The world shall have to endure that strive for power of false people. Meantime, as false and imperfect views and systems fall, the standard of the new King will rise, and eventually he shall be recognized and owned by all as King of kings. Thus it is presented by the prophets as Jehovah’s work to set up Christ’s dominion:
“I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalms 2:8)
“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” (Daniel 2:44)
The present evil times shall frighten us, but when we do not mind to take up the bible and use it as our indispensable guide we may have the hope in getting stronger, though more than once we shall also have to suffer and be taken by sorrow. But by looking at these times we can see that the “Ancient of days” shall come to sit on his throne. We can look at the bad things which are past, we may see lots of things happening around us and in front of us. All that may have en influence on our life is simply there for preparing us all for that grand family reunion hosted by “our Father,” the “Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6), “of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15).
Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
In the mean time we do have to build up patience, and should try to bring others also to see what time we are heading to and get them to unite under Christ.
The Divine Maker of all things is giving the world time. He requests from man that they come to see what man made of this world and how He is a better “Gardener” for this world. Having received all this time from God we should come to realise that mankind is incapable of solving the world’s problems. This permission of evil has the very purpose of educating and preparing mankind for the promised times of restitution. At that time, they will begin to seek for God’s righteous kingdom under the rule of the great Messiah, who shall come at God’s time. They will be blessed with a full knowledge of God and a full opportunity for attaining everlasting life through their redeemer — the great restorer and life-giver.
Every sincere student of the Bible can see what is coming and should warn others.
In these times when honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity, and humanity is losing faith in God, faithful lovers of God should reach out their hand to the community.
These days the west came to understand how seriously Islamic State group wants to launch “enormous and spectacular attacks,” as jihadis broaden their focus to target Western lifestyles.
The heart of Europe was severely hurt on the 22nd of March with up to 35 deaths and 396 wounded (as registered on the 31st of March).
The Paris and Brussels attacks have rightly caused outrage across the globe. However, while millions in the West took to social media to share their grief, there are numerous attacks across the world that go largely unreported in the mainstream media are which are forgotten or not remembered by lots of Westerners.
The “black flag of jihad” as used by jihadist militants since around the late 1990s
On 21 March, the Kurds celebrated the biggest cultural event of their year, Newroz or New Year, but once again they too were under attack by Turkey but also by groups of their own, namely the PKK.
Pro-Assad media hails recapture of ancient city as ‘strategic victory’ but others allege collusion between Damascus and retreating militants
A Syrian soldier looks at graffiti in Palmyra reading: “The Islamic State is staying’ (AFP)
The ruins of Palmyra in 2010
The dramatic recapture of the ancient city of Palmyra by the Syrian army and its allies on Sunday prompted some commentators in the Arabic-language media to declare the beginning of the end for the Islamic State (IS) group, while others predicted a long and drawn out battle to come with regional and global consequences. {- See more at: Middle East eye}
Four days after the Brussels attacks the terrorists showed they were not at all only focussing on fakir Christians. At least 41 people were killed and 105 wounded when a teenage ISISsuicide bomber blew himself up at a small soccer stadium in the Iraqi city of Iskanderiyah, less than 30 miles south of Baghdad. The attack targeted the crowd watching an amateur soccer match on Friday evening in the mixed Sunni and Shiite town, and the city’s mayor, who was presenting awards to the soccer players at the time of the bombing, was among those killed. The BBC also reports that 17 of the dead were boys between the ages of 10 and 16. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack using its social media channels, according to the Site extremist monitoring group.
On Sunday the 27th of March Pakistan got its share also with a bombing that killed 72 people and injured more than 350 at a crowded park on Easter Sunday. Though the violent Pakistani Taliban offshoot known as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar — which boasted that it targeted Christians in a crowded park in Lahore — once publicly declared support for ISIS, but has hit more Muslims and Hindy people than Christians.
Now it’s the subject of an intensive crackdown in the world’s second-most populous and only nuclear-armed Muslim nation. On dealing with the threat of Islamic State, Obama said he had invited participating nations to work on improving intelligence-sharing to prevent terrorist attacks.
“At our session on ISIL this afternoon there was widespread agreement that defeating terrorist groups like ISIL requires more information sharing,”
Obama said on Friday April 1, using an acronym for the militant group.
Pakistan, a country long considered an al Qaeda stronghold, feels more and more also the negative pressure of that group and similar related groups which want to govern lots of people, telling them what they can or not can do.
Those “cowardly” suicide attacks shall continue. And with them we can see the Biblical prophesies of having the religions coming up against religions, after the period when the people living in the land of Euphrates and Tigris would have fought against each other (Iran & Iraq).
Whilst US President Barack Obama called for a world without nuclear weapons yesterday after arriving in France for a Nato summit, where he won French endorsement of his new Afghanistan strategy, we should be fully aware that the war on terror continues and shall bring forth some other serious attacks form underground people or different cells which sprout up like ulcers.
It are those rebels who misuse the name of God and try to get religious people against each other. Believers in God should be very careful not to fall in the trap and going to one or another religious group. In Belgium, Holland, France and some other Western countries we can see movements from right as wall as extreme left wing organisations defiling the Muslim community.
Flag of Taliban (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For sure the Western states do have to get a grip on rising violence by al Qaeda and Taliban militants driven from power in 2001 but never completely defeated. But Christians should be careful not to be carried away by hatred and should abstain from any violent action. They also should show their love for those who are different than them and who have an other faith than them, but who also sincerely believe in the Divine Creator.
We always should remember that those who rape and sell children, kill innocent people, burn Koran‘s, mosques and bring terror on so many places are all doing things which are against Koran teaching and as such against real Muslim faith.
They are not only misusing and defiling the Name of God, but they are bringing discredit to all those believers who belong to the Islam.
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Attacks targeting civilians linked to or inspired by ISIS Since January 2015, outside Iraq and Syria.
Circles represent number of deaths of confirmed ISIS-related attacks.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for several explosions causing many deaths and severely wounded, creating lots of horror and pain
November en december waren twee maanden waarin men de inwoners van dit land er nog eens wenste aan te herinneren dat wij gewoon alweer eens een oorlog tegen gewoon alweer een vijand konden voeren, die men gewoon alweer als ongewoon en uitzonderlijk voorstelt. {Als één blok tegen de terreur. Ook de oppositie…}
Edward James door René Magritte – La réproduction interdite (Reproductie verboden), 1937
Na de aanslagen in Parijs kon Belgiëland nog eens tonen aan de wereld wat een “apenland” dit wel kan zijn. Dat dit het land van Kafkiaanse toestanden is moet toch nu en dan eens bewezen worden aan de buitenwereld. Dat wij ook allen aanverwanten zijn van Magritte moet ook voor iedereen zichtbaar zijn.
De vraag is hoe velen er wel mee willen gaan met dat denken van de regering. Hun pensée unique waarvan men uit angst voor de volgende peilingen zelfs de uitgangspunten niet durft te bevragen.
Voor velen was al het vroegere terreur gebeuren een “ver weg van mijn bed show”, maar nu leek het plotseling oh zo nabij. Voor velen is terreur minder erg naarmate die verder van huis toeslaat,
maar het teneergeslagen gevoel dat het je geeft, is toch onmiskenbaar sterker wanneer het gevaar dichterbij komt. Dichter in de buurt van je geliefden. Het roept dan persoonlijke vragen op, in plaats van alleen wereldverbeteringsvraagstukken. {La Douleur}
De politici en de media hielpen elkaar gretig om de mensen met angst op te zadelen en zelfs buitenlanders te doen geloven dat men maar beter niet onze contreien kwam bezoeken wegens véél te gevaarlijk.
Het diplomatiek en materieel isoleren en uitputten van IS door een boycot van Saudi-Arabië en Israël, lijkt vast en zeker te moeilijk daar koning Boudewijn vroeger de Saudi’s nog die mooie Brusselse moskee voor de radicalisering in België had geschonken en er zojuist nog een delegatie naar dat land was gegaan om onze economische betrekkingen te verbeteren. Want rond geld draait het uiteindelijk toch. Met de wapenleveringen aan de jihadisten gecompenseerd met de nieuwe geldinbreng voor de Antwerpse haven en enkele plaatsingen van Belgische bedrijven in Saudi Arabië moet alles toch gecompenseerd kunnen worden, of niet?
Men kan toch niet eisen dat men alle Europese wapentrafiek naar de hele regio zou stilleggen (volgens de lui met geld). Maar wat met
het sluiten van bondgenootschappen met de zovele Moslimlanden die zich volkomen hebben gedistantieerd van IS en die hun steun aan de strijd daartegen al hebben uitgesproken (?). Het zou de regio eindelijk “opkuisen” zoals het nu heet. En het is een methode die historisch haar nut al uitgebreid heeft bewezen.
Verspreiding van oemma (1995) – Al-oemma al-islamiyya of kortweg: Al-oemma = wereldwijde islamitische gemeenschap
Ga je zweepslagen uitdelen omdat je laveert tussen twee culturen? Vrouwen verkrachten omdat je in een schotelwijk woont? Dan zouden er beduidend meer moslims geradicaliseerd zijn. {Waarom jihadi’s niet onze eigen schuld zijn}
Zoals in Nederlands zijn er hier in België heel wat opiniestukken neergepend en televisiedebatten gevoerd over de bekeerde Belgen en Nederlanders die als ‘geradicaliseerde’* moslims afreisden naar het kalifaat. Al maanden kun je geen krant openslaan, geen opiniesite bezoeken, televisie noch radio aanzetten of het gaat erover. *(voor duiding zie Migratie en veiligheid even geherformuleerd)
Anno Bunnik schreef ruim drie jaar geleden samen met Peter Knoope, de toenmalig directeur van een internationaal terrorisme instituut “Al Qaida is geschiedenis”.
De gedachte was dat de Arabische opstanden aantoonden dat alleen vreedzame protesten de machthebbers in het Midden-Oosten omver konden werpen, iets wat Osama Bin Laden jarenlang tevergeefs probeerde te bereiken. Na de dood van Bin Laden enkele maanden later werd onze stelling definitief overgenomen door vele politici en journalisten. Al Qaida was dood en begraven. {Al Qaida is nu echt dood}
Nu kunnen zij met ons er niet naast zien dat ruim drie jaar later Jihadistische milities vaker het nieuws beheersen dan ooit te voren.
In Mali wisten de lokale Jihadisten een stuk land ter grootte van Frankrijk te veroveren. Al Shabaab haalde de voorpagina’s met een grote aanslag op een winkelcentrum in Kenia. In Nigeria doet Boko Haram steeds vaker van zich spreken. En Syrië veranderde in het epicentrum van de internationale Jihad door de introductie van ruim 12.000 buitenlandse strijders aan de zijde van de oppositie, waaronder ook ruim 100 Nederlandse jongeren. {Al Qaida is nu echt dood}
De Jihad is in Syrië, Irak, Mali, Somalië, Nigeria en vele andere landen springlevend. Het succes van ISIS bewijst dit meer dan ooit. Maar in plaats van dat we het over al Qaida hebben, heeft niemand het meer over het centrale gezag van de organisatie. De vervanger van Bin Laden, de Egyptenaar Ayman al-Zawahiri, wie kent hem nog? In plaats van ellenlange discussies over al Qaida hebben we het nu over ISIS, Jabhat al Nusra, Boko Haram en al Shabaab. Deze namen zijn inmiddels gemeengoed voor Jan met de Pet. Alleen in Jemen hebben we het nog over “al Qaida op het Arabisch Schiereiland”. {Al Qaida is nu echt dood}
Velen mogen dan wel vinden dat de Jihad dus meer lokaal is dan ooit, nochtans kan men zien dat zij over het zuidelijk halfrond zeer actief zijn. Maar wij moeten beseffen dat het neit zozeer om het Westen te doen is, zoals sommige media willen doen uitschijnen.
De huidige Jihad heeft vooral oog voor de lokale en regionale vijanden, zoals de Syrische en Iraakse autoriteiten en de Sjiieten. {Al Qaida is nu echt dood}
De vele buitenlandse strijders hebben tot nog toe hebben slechts tot enkele geweldfeiten in België en Frankrijk terwijl er in het Midden-Oosten bijna dagelijks terreuraanslagen plaats, vooral gericht tegen Sjiitische burgers.
De Sjiitische versie van Jan met de Pet heeft veel meer te vrezen van de Jihad dan wij. Alle buitenlandse strijders in Syrië die zover zijn geradicaliseerd dat zij bereid waren een zelfmoordaanslag uit te voeren deden dit ter plekke, niet in Londen, Parijs of Amsterdam. Ten minste twee Nederlandse jongeren brachten tot dusver het ultieme offer. {Al Qaida is nu echt dood}
*
Te onthouden
Enige vorm van terreurbestrijding = die echt terreur doet ophouden = conflict dat aan basis ligt aanpakken + vrede stichten, schrijven Jan Blommaert en Christophe Callewaert.
15 jaar war on terror > militarisering => meer bloedvergieten + globale veiligheid = op achteruitgegaan
Na verschrikkelijke aanslagen in Parijs => overheerst de oorlogsretoriek =>aanpak terreur voorgesteld als oorlog die gewonnen kan worden door gemeenten waar de daders van afkomstig zijn ‘op te kuisen’ en hun ideologische basis in Syrië uit te roeien.
Frankrijk voert bombardementen in Syrië op.
reacties emotioneel + brutaal = weinig plaats voor de rede
geopolitieke strategie, die afstapt van de roep om meer oorlog.
Internationale conflictenneiging te delokaliseren
niet afsluiten van wereld > worden afgerekend op wat we elders in die wereld uitrichten
in straten van Europese steden zwaarbewapende politiemensen zij aan zij met militairen in oorlogsuitrusting = repressief + agressief apparaat
Algerijnse onafhankelijkheidsstrijd > golf aanslagen in Frankrijk hield op zodra Algerije onafhankelijk werd
IRA stopte bommencampagne > eerbaar compromis in Noord-Ierland
India reeks aanslagen tegen hotels, een treinstation en een ziekenhuis in Mumbai = provoceren > Indiase regering hield hoofd koel
geschiedenis leert > Terreurbestrijding > één deugdelijk recept: conflict aanpakken door vrede te stichten
pacificering + einde militarisering = enige realistische + haalbare oplossing.
Het geweld dat ons zo schokt, is precies hetzelfde is als datgene wat miljoenen heeft doen vluchten
De enige vorm van terreurbestrijding die echt terreur doet ophouden, is het conflict dat aan de basis ligt aanpakken en vrede stichten, schrijven JAN BLOMMAERT en CHRISTOPHE CALLEWAERT. Hebben vijftien jaar war on terror nu nog niet aangetoond dat militarisering alleen maar naar meer bloedvergieten leidt?
Na de verschrikkelijke aanslagen in Parijs overheerst de oorlogsretoriek. De aanpak van terreur wordt voorgesteld als een oorlog die gewonnen kan worden door gemeenten waar de daders van afkomstig zijn ‘op te kuisen’ en hun ideologische basis in Syrië uit te roeien.
De Franse president François Hollande heeft de noodtoestand afgekondigd en nog meer militairen zullen worden ontplooid ‘om terreur te bestrijden’. Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy stelt voor om de 11.000 mensen, die in de gaten worden gehouden door de staatsveiligheid, preventief huisarrest te geven. Ondertussen voert Frankrijk de bombardementen in Syrië op.
It is not because some lunatics or some power horny people want to get their lust for power fulfilled and therefore use terror to achieve their goal, that a full community has to be penalised with the idea that all Muslims would agree with what ISIS or Al Qaeda is doing.
Many Muslims are moderate believers who honour Allah, trying to live according to His Laws and who do know that lovers of Allah have to respect the creatures He allows to live on this earth. They also know that sharing the love is a much mightier weapon than the man-made weapons which literally kill, but never can kill the connection with the Most Highdivine Creator, when a person has an intimate relation with the God of gods.
often heard Muslim greeting “As-Salaam Aliakum” = Peace Be Unto You! > in a world that doesn’t understand the language of peace
Wa-Aliakum Salaam = shared in response
barber Mo = devoted Muslim + highly intelligent + deeply peace giving spiritual man
online activities of typed out words, posted banners, shared videos profess a great divide between our brother and us… our sister… according to way we dress, worship, or seek meaning and purpose
language of a person of peace = not to have a linguistic barrier restricting from culture, religion, our nationality
language of peace = built upon power + significance of our relationships to the other = language of communal embrace!
As-Salaam Aliakum. So often I think we hear these words today and the hairs on the back of our necks rise as images from Paris, Syria, and Iraq flash in our minds. Is this not a Muslim greeting?!
Wa-Aliakum Salaam. I hear it shared in response while I sit in the barber’s chair at my local neighborhood men’s barber shop. Mo has cut my hair for the last 6 years and we have developed an amazing relationship. We’ve spoke about his family, his kids and there schooling, his 5-year-old son (now 8 years old) who is dealing with Leukemia. I passed along comfort and gave financially to his family while I told him of my prayers for him when he went through a massive heart attack a little over a year ago. And yes, we have deep discussions about faith, Jesus, and the stories of scripture both in the Bible…
Many Christians do want the world to believe that the war ISIS is preaching is a war against the Christians. Their war is not just a war against unbelievers in God or against believers in a wrong God (for them Christians believe Jesus is God, though not all Christians do believe that). The issue of the ISISterror is to create fear fro their agenda of an Islamic State where all the power has to go to them and nobody else. It is a matter of “Power” and not so much about religion.
In case ISIS was really concerned about the faith of the followers of the prophet Muhammad then they would not kill other Muslims, certainly would not burn any Quoran, because that is considered to be a holy book and also would not destroy mosques, all horrible things they do.
Today having Terror Alarm 4, for the Region Brussels, Belgium becomes more a country at the beginning of war, having the shopping centres closed and all big events cancelled. Last night again four places found where terrorists prepared several attacks to be executed at around the same time all over Belgium. Lots or armoury was found.
Yesterday again two Belgians were killed by Al Qaeda terrorists, this time in Mali‘s major city Bamako.
There might being lots of people who call for revenge and would love to see our forces to go into combat and to have a stronger force in the warfare against ISIS.
It is not only the Bible that in many instances condones the act of war and the use of deadly force for protection. Torah, Kethubim Aleph, Kethubim Bet or Messianic Scriptures (the New Testament) and the Quran demand that we respect the creations of the MostDivineAllah, the God of gods, Master of heavens and earth, the ElohimHashemJehovah.
Real lovers of Allah will respect His Words given to us in the Holy Scriptures and shall know that our force must be in a spiritual battle, taking on such an attitude which is so much in-breath of love that it destroys the hate of others.
The adversary of God (Satan) is calling to go into the battle. The adversaries of Allah, ISIS, al-Qaeda and many other networks of Islamic fundamentalist groups, would love to see the world going into the battle and providing more reasons why to attack others.
We do have to be very vigilant not to fall into the trap.
The Bible has warned us about the signs of the end times and we should be more concerned about these: having a war starting at the land of Euphrates and Tigris (Iran & Iraq), having children revolting against their parents, having more earthquakes and tsunamis, having religions fighting against other religions, all signs which we could notice to happen the last few years. This should worry us more. This should have us to prepare for the coming times of agony and make us so that our spirits (our minds) shall be strong enough to withstand.
We always should be very attentional to take on the right attitude and not to fall-into the booby-trap of the satan (adversary).
That there might be a time for everything, should not mean we do have to be partakers in such a killing act. Let others fight their war and let us try to spread peace. We should know that joining hand to force the peace by peaceful actions is much more worth than spreading hatred.
*
To remember
1st sight when reading the Bible= appear Christian should never contemplate killing of another fellow human being > no matter what the circumstances.
Jesus tells people around him + turn other cheek == biggest problem that seems to plague people and specifically Christians
human tendency to partially remember verses taken out of context + turned into doctrines
2nd problem = ability to efficiently and accurately study the Word of God in 1st place.
focus on concept of Christians at war or protecting themselves even with deadly force
social, religious, & political issues at the time the book was written + What was intended purpose of the book + does each book line up with the whole spirit of the bible itself?
look around at this time in global history = realize potential for war + violence toward Christians on a global scale
topic of war + taking life of another human even outside of a war = repugnant to teachings of Christ and his apostles
New Testament = Christ focuses attention in primary sense on principle of love and respect = govern the actions of men + expressing love toward one’s enemies
Jesus’ life on this earth was to fulfill the Law of Moses, draw all sin to himself, + die on the cross for our spiritual salvation = purpose on earth = not to engage in a physical fight
not mean to stay physically weak + disengaged
He actively encourages His servants to fight when the time arrives (John 18:36). Certainly, Christ Jesus = no pacifist in any of his teachings.
Jesus did not want his Disciples to interfere with his capture = result in his taking stripes for our healing and dying on the cross for our sins.
Jesus to go peacefully + without blemish > lamb led to slaughter
Matthew 26:52 = referencing those who chose to live a violent way of life =/= Christians to stand still + be killed in the name of Jesus => work to do here on earth + dead people cannot do their work
Luke 22:35 = we are to go out into the world + teach that the kingdom of heaven is here => to take gospel of Jesus Christ to all people who will listen + dead Christians cannot talk.
meek =/= similar to being timid + non-violent
meek =/= being weak
great spiritual power
no killing out of anger, or aggression such as murder
allowance to execute criminals for capital crimes = shown by apostle Paul when he stated that even Gentile governments had divine authority to use the sword against evil doers (Romans 13:1-4).
sword = instrument of authority
Jesus told disciples = time had come to sell a garment + buy a sword (most proficient weapon to carry for self-defense)
self-defense = Jesus referencing
to follow the laws of the land providing the laws are not turned against us
no authority except from God + to resist authority is to resist God
ruler who chooses to do evil against Christians cannot be from God
meek Christian = you do not have to prove yourself not force your beliefs on another person
to protect oneself, family, + close friends from someone who tries to do evil, falls well within the approval of God even to the point of taking a life
for a Christian to go on the offence is to stand on the side of evil + against God’s will
At first sight when reading the bible it would appear that a Christian should never contemplate the killing of another fellow human being no matter what the circumstances. Most Christians and even many non-Christians can partially quote the scripture where Jesus tells the people around Him to turn the other cheek when your enemy strikes you, Matthew 5:39 & Luke 6:29.
Here in lies the biggest problem that seems to plague people and specifically Christians and has for centuries; the human tendency to partially remember verses which are taken out of context and then turned into doctrines. Whether the scriptures were taught in their fullness or taken out of context makes a huge difference. Not to mention the limited time people spend studying the Word of God for themselves. Which brings us to the second problem which is the ability to efficiently and accurately study the Word of God in…
Lifestyle and Readers Digest Magazine founded by Marcus Ampe on the 26th of March 2014
Welcome
New to this site. You may like to read this first
If this is your first time you visit us, you might like to know about our aims and intentions.
This site does not want to be a specific religious site, though now and then religious articles may be presented. The main interest on this site is about worldly matters, social affairs and the behaviour of human beings in this universe.
Our aim is to bring first articles about our responsibility in the progress of human relations and peace involvement.
Please find to read about our aims and aspirations:
Messengers of Peace and Positivism – Boodschappers van Vrede en Positivisme
We belong to the Bloggers for Peace and you can join them too. (Click on the picture to know more and to connect.)
Club members their own blog-writings – Clubleden hun eigen persoonlijke blogs
Articles by Guestwriters members – Artikelen bij Gastschrijvers leden
Most club members "From guestwriters" do not have their own blog, but shall write under their own name as "Guestspeaker" on the Lifestyle magazine Stepping Toes.
Those who do have their own website can be looked at underneath:
Please do find those independent authors their recent postings on their own website:
Van de schrijvers die een eigen blog hebben kan u op hun site als laatste artikels vinden:
Recent Posts on the other Lifestyle Magazine: Stepping Toes
“Many in the church have turned their back on serious study, and have embraced an anti-intellectualism which refuses to learn anything from scholarship at all lest it corrupt their pure faith. It is time to end this stand-off, and to re-establish a hermeneutic of trust (itself a sign of the gospel!) in place of the […]
Many who call themselves Christian do like to follow Augustine, even more than Christ. they do agree with him that reading the Bible is no longer necessary once God had fully cultivated faith, hope, and love in us (On Christian Doctrine, 1.39). In other words, according to them, once we are mature in Christ, the […]
Pew Research Center asked thousands of Americans where they find meaning in life. Their responses were rich, thoughtful and varied. Here are just a few examples of what they told us… “That’s a gosh darn big question for a survey like this, I’m used to the check boxes. I find meaning in career, family, spiritual […]
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Already months we can find youngsters coming on the streets to wake up politicians, opening their eyes for the miserable predicament for our climate and conservation of plants and animals. This week, leaders from some of the most heavily polluting industries on the planet – shipping, aviation, iron and steel to name a few – […]
The European Union is only e very tiny part of the world surface. In that Union loads of languages are spoken and it is very important to come to a harmonious co-existence of 24 official languages. It is one of the most distinctive features of the European project. Multilingualism is not only an expression of […]
Great-Britain has its own Trump, who likes to put the whole country at his hands and the European Union at his feet. Boris Johnson is fully aware that he does not have the backing of the House of Commons. Like with so many other matters, he tried to ignore it. Because he felt it would […]
Seventy-six years have passed, but few people have ever heard of Mann, even though she could easily have become a hero and a symbol. Perhaps her story sounds too far-fetched; perhaps it was simply shunted aside by the many other stories of heroism and horror in the Holocaust. But on September 1, the 80th anniversary […]
“Without a single change in the law by Congress, the Trump public charge rules mean many more U.S. citizens are being and will be denied the opportunity to live together in the U.S. with their spouses, children, and parents,” said Ur Jaddou, a former Citizenship and Immigration Services chief counsel and now director of the […]
Originally posted on Croatia, the War, and the Future: Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, President of Croatia (L)Ivan Penava, Mayor of Vukovar (R)Photo: uredpredsjednice.hr When the Constitutional Court of Croatia (of any country) evidently and blatantly misses the beat of its own country’s heart (and reason for existence – in the case of Croatia that reason is victory…
For quite a number of years, the Edinburgh ecclesia had been concerned about the use, or rather the non-use, of their ecclesial premises. They are in a prime position, very near the centre of Edinburgh, with train and bus stations just up the road, and many buses stopping virtually at their door. Yet for most […]
The storyline is so simple yet the message is extremely powerful. The comments by Jesus are as follows; “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, which, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45&46). We can imagine the […]
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Ancient tradition has it that, as Irenaeus wrote in the 2nd century, ‘Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him’. Despite the scepticism of many during the past 150 years, there are good reasons for thinking that it was indeed so. How could one who had shared with […]
Treasure … New and Old is an Anthology of writings by Sister Ray Walker which were published in The Bible Student and New Bible Student between 1970 – 96. The material is, generally, grouped to address specific topics. The first five chapters highlight how Abraham’s instruction left a legacy which can be seen even in […]
Recent Posts by the Brethren in Christ: Broeders in Christus
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In de 17de en 18de eeuw, in het Zuiden van Frankrijk, vonden verscheidene jongeren van vervolgde ouders dat ze de geestelijke gedachte en de lezing van de Bijbel moesten verdedigen.
Religieuze en politieke uitdaging voor rooms-katholieke kerk en pauselijke autoriteit. Binnen het westerse christendom in het zestiende-eeuwse Europa kwam er een religieuze en politieke uitdaging voor de rooms-katholieke kerk en pauselijke autoriteit. Hoewel de Reformatie meestal wordt beschouwd als begonnen met de publicatie van de vijfennegentig stellingen door Maarten Luther in 1517, was er geen […]
De mens wil altijd meedoen, erbij horen, als die anderen zijn. Maar God heeft Zich een volk gekozen waarvan Hij verwacht dat zij anders zijn en zich als voorbeeld gedragen.
Maar al te graag maakten de mensen voor zich zelf uit wat zij deden en hoe zij hun bedoelingen konden veruiterlijken. Maar wij moeten beseffen dat het God uitmaakt wat goed genoeg is.
In Scripture, all things are directed towards a man who was a servant of servants, in whom people should come to have faith. First we saw the connection with Eve and her seed, and in this article you may see the connection with Abraham.
Already in the Old Testament we find the focus on a son of man who is called the son of God, who shall be the most pure set apart (holy) servant of God who was been told about in the Garden of Eden, to be the one bruised.
Many Old Testament writers wrote about the prophet to come, about whom is spoke in the book of Moses and who shall be the special “Seed of a woman” given by God and who will bruise Satan’s head whilst his heel would be bruised with nails on the wooden stake.
Jewish and Christian literature since the time of Yeshua or Jeshua have pointed to Genesis 3:15 as the first reference to the Messiah in the Torah. Genesis 3:15 NHEBJE I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his […]
The first human beings had chosen to go their own path. As any good father would do when his children had done something wrong, God punished them. But as a loving Father He in His great mercy promised for a solution and preserved David’s bloodline and the Messianic promise. Mankind had chosen Yet, we each […]
Recent Posts: Belgian Biblestudents - Belgische Bijbelstudenten
The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible created by Jews seeking a place of legitimacy for diaspora Jewishness and faith among the traditions of Hellenistic culture, was a monumental religious and cultural achievement. This Greek Old Testament, in its original form and revised versions, provided the scriptural basis for Judaism in the Greek-speaking diaspora, enabled the emergence and […]
Several times Jesus got tested. The Pharisees loved to tempt him to give the wrong answers or to give them something to show that he was not a real rebbe or master rabbi, not having enough knowledge of Scriptures. Jesus answered the Pharisees and Sadducees by going on with his ministry as it happened more, […]
II —The Ordeal of questions. {#Mt 22:15-46 } The open challenge has failed; but more subtle weapons may succeed. The Pharisees have found it of no avail to confront their enemy; but they may still be able to entangle Him. They will at all events try. They will spring upon Him some hard questions, of such […]
The Marriage Feast. {#Mt 22:1-14 } The manner in which this third parable is introduced leaves room for doubt whether it was spoken in immediate connection with the two preceding. The use of the word “answered” (ver. 1) would rather suggest the idea that some conversation not reported had intervened. But though it does not form […]
“41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Christ? {Or Messiah } Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The […]
Recent Posts by bible Scholars: Bijbelvorser = Bible Researcher
DOES THE “I AM” STATEMENT OF JESUS IN JOHN 8:58 PROVE THAT HE IS GOD? IS HE THE GOD WHO SPOKE IN EXODUS 3:14? — Bro. Joe Ventilacion 🇮🇹 Defenders of Christ-is-God theology cite John 8:58 as one of their biblical bases in proving their belief that Jesus Christ is God. Let’s take a look […]
IS CHRIST GOD BECAUSE HE SAID THAT “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE” IN JOHN 10:30? — Bro. Joe Ventilacion 🇮🇹 There are some people who believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God because he said in John 10:30 that “I and the Father are one.” Although the verse does not say that Jesus […]
In the time of Paul, Corinth was a busy Roman trading city on the narrow strip of land between the Ionian Sea and the Aegian Sea.
During his eighteen months in Corinth (in 51-52 C.E.), Paul Had got a fair impression of the attitude of the Corinthians.
After the fall of Jerusalem Emperor Titus returned to Rome and received a triumphant welcome. At the same time, the Romans began to restore order in Judaea by putting down any final resistance and regaining control of the last few strongholds held by Zealots. The last and longest of these final encounters was the Siege […]
La paix de Dieu, qui surpasse toute pensée, gardera vos cœurs (Phil. 4:7). Priez, et vous recevrez la paix de Dieu qui « surpasse toute pensée ». Que signifie cette expression ? D’autres traducteurs de la Bible écrivent ici : « dépasse tout ce que l’on peut imaginer » (Bible en français courant), ou : « dépasse tout ce que l’on peut comprendre » […]
First of all to come to a good relationship with some one, one has to talk with that person and has to listen to what that person has to tell. God talks to the people by the way of His Word, presented to mankind by the many Bible translations, so that most people can read […]
The One Who created everything and Who gave His Word, did all He did with a purpose and out of love. The Bible teaches us that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Everything God does is motivated by love. Out of love created man in His image also with the intention to have a good relationship […]
In the previous writings we saw that the Divine Creator gave His Word to the world so that people could come to know Him. The Bible is a gift from God. It gives us information that we can’t find anywhere else. For example, it tells us that God created the heavens, the earth, and the […]
Elul, the month to reflect and to prepare oneself to perfect oneself plus preparing oneself to enter a new phase in facing the Elohim, coming closer into the Divine presence.
The surest way of ensuring our happiness and success in life is by devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to learning what God expects of us (by studying His Torah), by addressing our prayers directly to Him, and by fulfilling His will.
De beweging voor een onafhankelijk Biafra blijkt de positie van het judaïsme te versterken. De vervolging van de Joden de eeuwen door is bovendien herkenbaar voor de Igbo’s.
When positively reacting to the wedding invitation, we should be willing to step in the sent one from God his footsteps and should help to spread the Good News
Joden indien zij hun oude Geschriften diepgaand onderzoeken kunnen tot de ontdekking komen wie de lang beloofde Messiach is en kunnen daarbij ook voldoende redenen vinden om die Messias of Christus te volgen en deelgenoten te worden van ‘zijn lichaam’ en alzo als Jood voor Christus door het leven te gaan.
In het Joodse geloof zijn er de apart geplaatste boeken maar ook legendes welke vertellen over de man Abraham welke wij als onze aartsvader aanschouwen, omdat de elohim hem heeft uitverkoren om de vader van velen te zijn.
De Bijbelse naam Abraham betekent ‘verheven vader’. Dit was de Chaldese naam van Abraham. Toen Abram door God werd gekozen om de stamvader te worden van Gods volk, werd hij Abraham genoemd, wat ‘vader van vele volken’ betekent.
Adam mag dan wel de eerste man zijn die de wereld kent, maar voor ons geloof is de nomade wiens naam van Abram naar Abraham verandert is door God veel belangrijker.
In voorgaand en volgend bericht gaan wij dieper op die Bijbelse figuur in.
In ons geloof kijken wij gerust ook naar het begin aller tijden maar betreft ons geloof nemen wij anderen dan Adam en Eva als onze grote voorouders. Hij die voor ons de eer krijgt om onze aartsvader te zijn is Abraham.
When having many questions an interesting blog to look at: their old and more recent Posts: Questiontime - Vragenuurtje
The intention of this site was to be able to find answers to some serious questions and to know what others thought about it. But there were no answers from others and silence continued to form the fog.
Bedoeling van deze site was op enkele ernstige vragen antwoorden te kunnen vinden en te weten hoe anderen er over dachten. Maar antwoorden van anderen bleven uit en stilte bleef de mist vormen.
In this world we shall become even more confronted by people, be them politicians or church-leaders who would love to tell us than matters or different than we see it. Many of them will give the lie to make sure they would be more popular and receive more power. We must know that we shall […]
For most people life is just a big question-mark. Living this small life, earn and die is just not satisfying for them and it does not seems like the purpose of life.
In the capitalist countries money often receives the first place of importance and many forget that love for each other is so much more a valuable asset for having a better life.
Several churches want to be popular and promise their followers excellent health with a lot of wealth, as long as they contribute richly to the church.
Abundance is on the inside. It’s a feeling first, an amount second.
Recent Posts: Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people
An invitation to Jehovah’s Witnesses who want or did leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation. for them there are many other non-trinitarian groups willing to welcome them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
It is striking that there are a lot of people in the world who are opposed to those who worship Jehovah as their only true God.
The vast majority of those anti-Jehovah people come from extreme right-wing groups and fundamentalist or very conservative Christian groups.
When we look in the Bible at the infallible Words of God, Who does not tell lies, we can find that the God of Christ Who should be also our God, is One Singular Spirit Being Who is greater than Jesus and any other human being, also having lots of attributes which surpass those of man.
We continue to look in the Word that is Pure, Flawless and Tested giving us a picture about the character of God. The Bible shows us that Only God can be our safest Refuge and Fortress during the storms of life. He is the Eternal One Who is willing to be there for us, to guide us, being our Compass and our Anchor.
The bible lets us know that the Only One True God is One of love, lovingkindness, offering us a High Tower and Fortress for each person who wants to use Him as their Shield and Safeguard.
it is such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother that’s why the world calls her a grandmother jou pa en ma het my lankal laat weeten ek moes jou snoesigweligin my hart laat groeiek het die dae getelwat later wekeen nou maande geword hethoe kan my hart jou langer omsluit? jy […]
ek onthou eendag lank gelede toe ek my eie gastehuis bedryf het was die kamers vol en ek was alleen op die werf in my haas het my voet aan die plaveisel vasgehaak en toe ek neerslaan nerf af het ek net so bly lê toe ek opkyk toe sien ek die mooi tuin en […]
Now that we are juststarting our love,What do you promise me?Do you promiseTo love meUntil the end of time?Until death do us part?That is the promiseI make to you;That is my solemn promise;I promise to love youWith all my heart,And my soul,Not part of my heartAnd soul;I also promiseTo be faithful to youFor as long [...]
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On Sunday the 27th of March Pakistan got its share also with a bombing that killed 
In 
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Jan Blommaert en Christophe Callewaert
As-Salaam Aliakum. So often I think we hear these words today and the hairs on the back of our necks rise as images from Paris, Syria, and Iraq flash in our minds. Is this not a Muslim greeting?!
alsowritten
Belgian Biblestudents - Belgische Bijbelstudenten
Bijbelvorsers
Christadelphians
Guestspeaker
Immanuel Verbondskind
jeshuaist
Vragensteller - Inquirer
lizaborstlap
Marcus Ampe
Success Inspirers' World
Relating to God
