Reading about Theo-Cosmology (video)

Voice-over Alaska images. An essay about eight and a half minutes on select aspects of cosmology and theology.

A 2016 Republican Ronald Reagan Look-Alike Contest?

Cargo cult politics can be an effective way to advance a given political agenda. Instead of developing new, creative ideas for reform to conserve the environment and bring a kind of equilibrium to the opportunities in prevailing apportionment of wealth to the masses, one just advances the last successful image through a series of debates to produce a winning clone with 30 year old ideas. Finding a suitably congenial Ronald Reagan look alike talent in primary contests and giving the winner an honorary law degree from Cape Giradeau Community College would be a good natural process for selecting a winning ticket-especially if the V.P. candidate is has no expansive popular base of support from diverse elements of the potential constituency.

Fundamentally I anticipate an exciting 2016 election cycle with no candidates able to spell ‘ecological economic’ yet with charisma, charm and dimples. Maybe even a bald candidate or two will toss his toupee into the ring and win a panda. Democrats may look for someone that looks like Bill Clinton yet practices 'safe-sex' and won't build up a global financial flim infrastructure that will collapse in a decade later. The next financial collapse is supposed to be like the real California earthquake looming out there.

Since the rice of gasoline may drop for a while this summer to 1960s era prices adjusted for inflation one would think the economy will expand with 400,000 new jobs per month, or maybe just 300,000, at least that is how things traditionally went went the economy of the United States was based on material production instead of financial service to comprise as much as 25% of the economy. In that sort of economy where material production is somewhat secondary and earnings arise from skimming a percent of that material production the direct relationship between cheaper energy isn’t as important of a factor in creating jobs locally.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/economic-inequality-it-s-far-worse-than-you-think/

The financial sector workers take huge salaries and bonuses at the top unrelated to performance sometimes yet the ordinary workers haven’t the production of a material commodity to bargain with and their salaries are somewhat related to how much the entire financial industry can skim from the material production sector even if it is overseas. For that matter it doesn’t matter where the material production occurs so long as the financial sector gets a share. With all of the large banks and corporate players investing in China and elsewhere and with so many people in the financial sector is seems challenging to stimulate a local national economy meaningfully. Stimulus has been going to the large banks and to Wall Street recently anyway-and their investment preference seems to be abroad. Creating jobs at Chipotle or McDonalds (I think Chipotle is some kind of Latin America fried chicken franchise or something) or putting on some extra workers at Wally World won’t necessarily create much of a real economic revitalization as so many continue to live on credit or government beneficences while the public debt piles up. Perhaps the skimming of money for the financial sector is counter-productive to building up material growth besides-even sustainable material growth with low-entropy economics.

This was the sort of thing I am thinking about the 2016 Presidential year and the politics of it. The candidates of each party seem incompetent and irrelevant yet who cares-maybe competent effective candidates relevant to the times are mythical figures anyway.

Transvestites Attack Fort Meade

Combat ready security guards at Maryland's Fort Meade defended the national No Such Agency headquarters from a vicious assault by transvestites around dawn. Transvestites sometimes attack just before dawn.

One 'man' was killed and another wounded. Heavy attack fuel-cocaine and booze, were found near the scene-probably not of N.S.A. issue leading one to infer it might have belonged to a person of interest.

Copious gunplay-what the associated press called a 'firefight' (though possibly no flames were visible at 9.a.m. with muzzle suppression)-lit up the post entrance for a time. Then business as usual resumed and one would expect janitors to arrive.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/30/fort-meade-gate/70662808/

Seward’s Day Commemoration of Russia’s Sale of Alaska to U.S.A.

Today is Seward’s Day in Alaska. This is a state holiday giving thanks to Russia for celebrating the sale to the U.S.A. of Alaska with Secretary of State Seward signing the check for payment in full. Something like Thanksgiving where Americans celebrated first people’s providing of food stamps to the starving masses yearning to breathe free, Seward’s day celebrates Russia’s wise sale of Alaska to the U.S.A. so Britain would not get it through forcible expansion from Canada and attack Russia from the East as well as west in their effort to complete a global evil empire.

Alaskan do not celebrate the holiday with king salmon caviar and vodka of course; king salmon are empirically challenged to exist with the state’s fisheries management that has allowed degradation of the fishery, though one can blame high seas international over-fishing too. Still, the remaining King Salmon are runts their ancestors would sadden their ancestors with their bad fortune.

http://www.ibtimes.com/alaska-purchase-russia-facts-price-history-sale-gave-gold-oil-us-72m-1863466

As irresponsible Arctic Sea oil and mineral exploration increases to accelerate global warming, pollution of precious oceanic fluids, habitat loss and endangerment of human life on Earth it is useful to remember that Washington D.C. is still the capital of Alaska too and they, like any corrupt federal politicians, lust after exploitation of the Arctic and confrontation with a weakened Russia as zombies for British proxy policy of expansion through other means. Yet D.C. left the Greeley expedition twisting slowly in 90 degrees of frost for years before sending a ship to rescue the survivors. In the comfortable pink mink-underwear corridors of political power it is only banking deposits that matter-and that is social reality.

Protection of Religious Freedom Worries Gays & Haters of Religion

The vociferous reaction to state's reaffirmation of religious freedom-an ancient, basic human right the founders recognized in creating one nation under God is rather surprising. It is verification of the fact that the homosexual expropriation of rational heterosexual marriage for-themselves has expanded into attacks on other human and civil rights and is a divisive rather than an inclusive movement.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lupica-indiana-governor-bill-disguise-bigotry-article-1.2166574

http://newsok.com/state-bills-to-protect-religious-freedom-advance-alarming-some/article/5405667

The atheist new world order effort to destroy nationalism, traditional social structures and individual civil rights has a strong accomplice in the homosexual monomaniacs that couldn't possibly have imagined a non-confrontational, non-divisive way to bind themselves as homocouples with legal contracts.  Camouflaging themselves as women or blacks when male or non-black, every effort by traditionalists to conserve civil rights rationally seems a target for the gay war on religion and marriage as a reproductive couple structure. Families arise from those unions and the value to keep a family bloodline to offset an impersonal government or corporatist- even communist social organization domination is self-evident. In order for individuals to continue to have meaningful governance they cannot allow themselves to become packed like sardines into an amoral can of meaningless amoeba like existence.

Monergism in Bubble-Monad Surface Structures (poem)

That morning it was as if gravity drew mass downward

rushing toward singularities of dimensions

in an hourglass where it was transformed

being and becoming energy expanding space-time

Wrecked will membranes of monads

dimensions floating like bubbles

intersecting with networks of communicable diseases

built along edges of free-flowing streams

myriad mornings of spatial jets extruding time

Where twelve billion soup cans strung together

heavy metal shadows of Huns, Nazis, Tartars

labeling new beings of tomorrow

why you can never be in the same yesterday twice

not even now when bubbles float

upon dimensions with surface tension

Someone was an incarnate coordinate;

the discrete center mirror collector of light

images of space-time entangling forms

determined to move outside each field

in anticipation like caterpillars of spring

Membrane bubbles stitched together

with strings extruding into other dimensions

shooting pains in the back

of artificial intelligence

computation of recursive formula in being

twerk with loud power-

tangled banks of evolution's zero interest loans,

facades of world

conjunctions putting things together

cracked pots and excavations

Slower constructions of monergistic scaffolds silently

induct reason's planks at a time

grace informs the physical theorist

with uncertainty in quantum configuration-

observations of eternity of spirit-in-itself

Spheres' conic sections' line segments

curve tensors tightened with geodesic warp

selections from a solid state continuum

differentiated with being and nothingness

yesterday, today and tomorrow's temporal ekstasis

-scalar fields of gravitational attraction

Would they mind field determinism

when transcendent insight is pre-determined if existing at all?

Orchardists in an economy bloom

like point particles comprising pillars of salt

requiring returns for depositing

phenomenal wave captures of creation.

Alaska Air Worried About Drone Cargo Competition?

Alaska is a large rural state where the future of drone cargo aircraft looks bright. Does that emerging competition cause Alaska Air owners concern about losing Alaska cargo contracts?

The reason the issue arises is the recent talk about Alaska being bought out by Delta unless someone in the south-such as Seattle, wants to gamble on the future of drones versus human pilots and stewardesses to deliver cargo.

One would anticipate that trans-Pacific drone cargo flights will become routine between China and the U.S.A. within a couple of years and that trade may affect Alaska too making traditional airlines challenged in a number of venues.

The U.S. military probably will use drone cargo aircraft to resupply select overseas bases and stimulate the rise of drone fleets. It might be a good idea to send reduced-scale drone planetary missions to Mars and Europa to determine how well various human tech systems work in practice such as building aluminum geodesic domes.

When I looked for what was readily available on the Internet I found lots of 2014 articles yet few for 2015 except a miles page on Alaska Air that indicates Delta is a partner. That leads me to wonder if Delta already took over?

http://upgrd.com/aerospace/alaska-and-delta-announce-merger-plans.html

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/partners/delta.aspx

Pilot Off Meds Crashes Airbus-N.P.R. on the Arabian Peninsula-Secrets of N.I.M.H.

When a young co-pilot crashed a German jet into an Alp killing 149 people recently he was reportedly off his meds. The causal analysis of N.P.R. on the Arabian Peninsula may inform us of why Arab Royals have launched their condor legions to strafe and bomb Shiite targets in Yemen yet the explanations of why the Airbus driver’s medication status was not monitored adequately are lacking.

N.P.R. 's the adventure begins in another civil war observations fail to account for why it is preferable to reinforce royal aristocracy in Iran or the Arabian Peninsula or a Caliphate in Syria instead of Democratic Shi'ite governance so far as possible-since the Sunni are intolerant of Shia mosques when in power requiring immoral apartheid in the Wahhabist tool kit if not head-choppings. Why is it still a state secret of N.I.M.H. level social disadvantaged with hyper-crap hits the remfan reproof for what N.P.R. calls 'mental illness' as a kind of did-you-beat-your-wife again? phrasing where an individual's mind itself is disqualified from existing in the lofty peer realm of N.P.R. staff and millionaire refurbishers of jet aircraft? Nothing can be done to refurbish the lost Allegheny jet, or is that Allemagne?

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/28/france-crash-idINL6N0WU0C220150328

Plainly discrimination continues in the United States and Europe against neurologically challenged people. While bad political behavior is excusable if it kills millions at a high enough level what is pejoratively called mental illness is a label sufficient to doom and individual to all of the mass force of institutional bias. Mitt Romney said 49 million Americans won't work, a Detroiter said Mitt Romney sucks bad, yet Mitt Romney put his dog above his family on the family car, and for that he suffered defeat. Nothing like that unfair discrimination should happen to Germans or Americans again.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/world/europe/germanwings-crash-andreas-lubitz.html?_r=0

In a more advanced society with sober understanding of neurological challenges it may be practical to pursue resolution of subjective mental challenges that would lead an individual to seek medical help for relief. Presently though it is regarded as necessary to suppress neuro-psychological challenges from the purview of bureaucratic powers where the force of doom arises and is broadcast in order to advance the career power of the little Stalins with broadcast tower ambitions. It should be possible to avoid the bureaucratic wickedness of careerists seeking caste-quality social advantage over those that seek neuro-psychological medical help while treating those individuals, and to keep a caste system from forming whereby institutional power over the 49% of the populous of the United States qualifying for a mental illness label become potential career item delicacies for N.P.R. on the Arabian Peninsula or Syria, Turkey. Pilots need to be able to fly and still be medically monitored. The Thomas Eagletons of the skies should not be forced to commit crash and burn.

A manic-depressive pilot might be safe on her meds yet a N.I.M.I. mousey manic-depressive pilot poses a greater risk of wild unapparent mood swinging worse than Halley's Comet going far beyond normal inner solar system trajectories and loops or even barrel rolls with wing wagging at Earth. Concealing such maladies because of fear of voodoo psychiatry errors in neuropsychological ops or of instant disqualification from job and earnings are problems that are avoidable with a little epimethean forethought and social adjustment.

Same Dangers of Money, Guns, SUVs and Dogs

The founders of the United States sought to establish social equality rather than role reversal as perpetual revolution. Hence the effort of the left in pursuit of power role reversal is wrong headed rather than correct. Money, guns, SUVs and dogs are equally dangerous in the hands of women as with men. Rather than viewing themselves as the disadvantaged in regard to men with an inherent woman’s prerogative to inhere within a lesser standard of social accountability in select situations a women must recognize the lethality of her empirical tools including politics.

Let me provide an example of the ongoing inherent disparity between cognizance of women’s actual versus perceived empowerment. A women in a prosperous community takes her SUV out twice each day to allow her dog to run alongside it for exercise over a pleasant rural road over which a poor man rides a bicycle each day in pursuit of graduate studies. The woman’s dog pursues and attacks the man on his bike several times causing him to defend each time with kicks to the dog trying to just bite an Achilles, leg or foot. The distracted bike riding creates a danger of bike crash as well as the man is looking backward since the dog invariably attacks from behind.

So the women, being unlike male drivers seeking to avoid legal and social confrontations that they would be held accountable for, continues to take her dog to the same road each day to exercise her dog with the improvement of stopping her SUV, calling her woofie over and holding it by the collar and admonishing woofie with nurturing yet reproving words until the bike rider is 100 yards further down the road before releasing woofie so it can sprint and attack the bike rider moving away, from behind, once again. Eventually the dog attacks cause the man to crash.

 The woman's thought evidently did not go so far as to reason that the bike rider though a man was not immune to injury or that her woofie was not legally allowed to run free to attack people on a public highway though it may be good exercise. If a man were driving the SUV with his dog attacking a woman repeatedly over a period of months, society would have a different opinion about the individual.

Neither is the drunk driving of a woman of potential less harm to pedestrians and other drivers than a man. Neither is a gun fired by a woman less potentially fatal to those shot. Nor are incompetent politics and international relations actions of less consequence to political victims than when a man pursues such stupid or malformed bad international relations choices. It is simply a convention that politics done by an incompetent majority are somewhat infallible these days.

Political accountability and self-awareness of skill or lack of it in domestic and international politics that benefit or harm given demographic sectors are necessary for the right function of a competent, advancing society. Humans rights watches cannot just advocate exfiltration and dumping of millions of people from one nation to another to solve Zulu infringements on human rights. Creating a barrio in Los Angeles California is by dumping millions of Hispanics from south of the border does as much harm to the rights of the poor in the United States as it does to relocate people from a poor nation to a temporarily wealthy nation so they can have a better standard of living free from domestic abuse at home. Ought not everyone in the world from any nation have equal opportunity or right to relocate their disadvantaged, domestically challenged or suffering to the United States cumulatively by the billions.

There is no fundamental advantage in redistributing people from nation A or B to nations X,Y and Z that are better than solving the problems in nations A and B that prompt ideas of redistributing people to X, Y and Z. Kant’s moral imperative is a two-edged,or even a multi-dimensional sword. Any law, or premise regarding mass social politics should be equally valid not only in primary but in real-politic effects. Society cannot rationally improve its social structure by just redistributing power or people from one place to another, instead it should improve the social and physical ecosystem everywhere while recognizing the need for equal social rights yet also recognizing the real difference between men, women and those regarding themselves as homosexual. Each have different social interests and abilities that should be addressed by social law to serve the interests of people as they are without infringing the liberty and equally valid billions? rights of others. Children and heterosexual couples have different interests than children and homosexuals in some respects. Nations have certain local advantages for citizens of a democracy that internationally located people do not-such as in electing politicians to represent their local interests.

In order to advance national interests women need to recognize just where their newly empowered social status still kills even when in their hands, as it did formerly rather more exclusively for men.

Risks in the Community of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has rightly been considered a potential threat to human survival on Earth. It is generally regarded from the perspective of posing a threat as a super-individual CPU equivalent to a brain yet the community of artificial intelligence poses as much or a greater risk.

Human intelligence arises not as a self-standing central processing unit. It has integration with the physical elements and waveforms of the environment and grows and responds to challenges and data arriving. One of the basic characteristics of a human mind is that it changes content and information structures continuously even while dreaming. In order for artificial intelligence to resemble human intellect it too will change content and in effect rewrite its own code.

Rewriting code or information content is an activity one may accomplish intentionally for on self in several respect as information is updated and evaluated. Yet the subconscious also processes and sorts data; so subtly sometimes that one might imagine the flight trajectory of a mosquito flying past one’s eyes in the dark with the eyes closed.

Human intelligence also arises within a social context. Language evolves along with references. Change of content to input from the empirical world is as great of a part of the human experience that is intelligence as is the processing of intelligence within the brain itself. The change in weather from minute to minute is as important to recognize as making the changes in the mind in responses to a variety of stimuli. In that arises again a problem for artificial intelligence so far as it comprises a risk to human existence.

To the extent that arithmetical intelligence is able to change its own content and write its own code along with the implicit risk of being deceived with false information or the problem of making unfair ethical evaluations as humans do all of  the time in politics, computers will pose serious challenges to human liberty especially in regard to forming communities of intelligence.

Shouldn't the U.S.A. Negotiate Base Arrangements in Afghanistan?

The United States has more than 160,000 troops stationed abroad with 66,000 in Europe where they have dubious necessity. Wouldn't it be a better idea to negotiate a thirty-year base lease with Afghanistan and station 20,000 there instead of in Europe.

Certainly nostalgists of the cold war would like lasting enmity with Russia as if the recrudescent of Marxism-Leninism was just barely contained, yet with China's long-term financial advantages over the U.S.A. that lacks any sort of domestic infrastructure reform plans to move to better and more futuristic zero-carbon transportation forms and is moving toward unreal paper-financial sector skimming instead of material production the nation's leadership should be somewhat more realistic about threats to global security in the long run.

Afghanistan is centrally located and could be a reasonable location to reply if necessary to military dangers across Eurasia a a little better than somewhere near the plain of Marlborough and Thatcherville or the Strudel District of Bavaria. Besides, there might be more civilian jobs serving basic education in Afghanistan or installing solar panels than in cloudy, highly educated Western Europe.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11495078/Isil-is-already-sending-advance-guards-to-Afghanistan-Ashraf-Ghani-warns.html

A Free Christian Catechism

A Catechism consisting of 200 questions and answers

1- Where does the word 'Bible' come from?

Answer- The origin is from 'Biblos' meaning little books.

2) What was in the beginning?

Answer- “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”-John 1

3-God is one expressed in three persons, who are they?

Answer-The Father, Son and Holy Spirit

4) What must one do to be saved?

Answer-Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s savior

5) Why does mankind need salvation?

Answer-Mankind since the fall of Adam is lost in original sin

6) Who is the mother of Jesus Christ?

Answer-Mary

7) Where was Jesus born?

Answer-In a stable in Bethlehem

8) Where was Jesus crucified?

Answer-Jerusalem

9) How many books are considered gospel books in the Bible?

Answer-four

10) Who were the authors of the books of the gospel?

Answer-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

11) How does the Lord Jesus Christ save sinners?

Answer-The Lord’s atoning sacrifice pays the sin debt required of the sinner to God

12) What is the first commandment?

Answer-To love God with all thy heart, soul and mind

13) How should one treat one’s neighbor?

Answer-One should love thy neighbor as thyself

14) Who was the final prophet before Jesus Christ started his ministry?

Answer-John the Baptist

15) Who was the first Jew with a close relationship to God?

Answer-Abraham

16) What are the names of the couple in the Garden of Eden?

Answer-Adam and Eve

17) What did Adam and Eve do to bring original sin upon all mankind?

Answer-They disobeyed God and ate forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge

18) Were Jews as a people ever enslaved?

Answer-yes

19) What nations enslaved the Jews in ancient times?

Answer-Egypt and Babylon (including the Persian Empire)

20) What Jewish tribe was given the role of serving as priests?

Answer- The tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:5)

21) What nation ruled over Israel in the time of the Lord?

Answer-The Roman Empire

22) Who was the Emperor of Rome when the Lord was crucified?

Answer-Tiberius Caesar

23) How many days did the Lord fast and endure temptation in the desert?

Answer- Forty days.

24) Who was captain of the ship called the Ark?

Answer- Noah

25) What was the box called in which the stone tablet of ten commandments was kept?

Answer-The Ark of the Covenant

26) What was the name of the Jewish leader that led the Jewish slaves in their exodus from Egypt?

Answer-Moses

27) What Jewish leader was given ten commandments at Mount Sinai?

Answer-Moses

28) What building in Jerusalem was the Ark of the Covenant kept in?

Answer-The temple

29) When was Jesus crucified?

Answer- 33 A.D.

30) Does everyone have original sin?

Answer-Yes. Adam and Eve were representatives of all mankind and with their fall all humans were conformed to original sin.

31) What was the occupation of Jesus Christ before he started his ministry?

Answer- Carpenter

32) Who did Jesus Christ resurrect from a tomb?

Answer- Lazarus

33) Who is the best known female follower of the Lord?

Answer- Mary Magdalene

34) What is the name of the disciple who betrayed the Lord to the authorities

Answer-Judas Iscariot

35) How much was Judas given in compensation for his treachery?

Answer-Thirty pieces of silver and free burial.

36) What is the name of the first disciple?

Answer- Simon Peter renamed Cephas (stone)

37) How many times did Peter deny knowing the Lord?

Answer- Three times

38) How did Peter die?

Answer- Peter was crucified in Rome, reportedly upside down

39) Who was the first Christian disciple to be martyred?

Answer- Stephen

40) How did the brother of Jesus; James, die?

Answer-James was thrown from the Temple Mount then beaten to death with clubs.

41) Who was the first and primary Apostle to the Gentiles

Answer-Paul

42) How did Paul become a Christian?

Answer-The Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, blinded him and sent him to a Christian home in Damascus where his sight was restored

43) What are the two possible eternal destinies for each human being?

Answer- Heaven or hell.

44) What is the only way to heaven?

Answer-Though the saving grace of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

45) Who was legally responsible for ordering the execution of Jesus Christ?

Answer- The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate

note-this exemplified the inability of the law to relate to God. Though Pilate himself said he found no fault in Jesus he was bound to order his crucifixion because of leverage by the Jewish religious leaders.

46) What is the primary book of creation and cosmology in the Bible?

Answer-Genesis

47) How did the Universe happen?

Answer-In the beginning was the Word. God (the Word) ordered, willed or spoke it to start diving light from darkness The first movement was creating light or mass/energy/being and separating it from darkness. This might refer to the early Universe event of matter-anti-matter annihilation leaving a surplus of matter.

48) How did the kingdom of God arrive on Earth?

Answer-Jesus Christ is God-yet of the line of David-he brought it with him and established it on Earth where it increases in population. It may have inaugurated its present form at Pentecost with the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

49) How does the kingdom of God relate to heaven and eternal life?

Answer-The elect are given eternal life in the Lord-his Kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ living within the kingdom of God; a transcendent relationship surviving physical death.

50) What was the occupation of Peter before he was Christian?

Answer- Fisherman

51) What disciple and writer of a gospel book refereed to himself as 'the disciple that Jesus loved?

Answer-John

52) John is believed to have been the author of the Revelation. Where did he have the visions written in the book?

Answer- The prison isle of Patmos near Ephesus

53) What was Luke's occupation?

Answer-Physician

54) Who wrote the book of the Acts of the Apostles?

Answer-Luke

55) Who wrote the letter to the Hebrews?

No one living knows for sure. It was probably Paul or his friend from Corinth, Apollos.

56) Who was it that “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life?”

Answer-God (John 3:16)

“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

57) Did Jesus defeat the power of death?

Answer-yes

58) Who provided a tomb for Jesus?

Answer-Joseph of Arimethea

59) When did the Holy Spirit to the assembled followers of Jesus?

Answer-At Pentecost in Jerusalem

60) Did the Holy Spirit present before Pentecost?

Answer-Yes. It descended from heaven like a dove upon Jesus when he was baptized?

61) What did God say when Jesus was baptized?

Answer- “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”

62) Who baptized Jesus?

Answer- John the Baptist

63) Who was given the keys to heaven?

Answer- Peter. The keys may refer to right lexical keys of interpretation for evangelizing the right relationship to the Lord. Peter was coordinator of the early Church at Jerusalem.

64) Who shall inherit the Earth?

Answer-The meek shall inherit the Earth

65) What did 'Earth' mean in Bible times?

answer-probably 'land' instead of a basic sphere of matter concentrated with gravity that human beings live upon

66) When was the veil of the Temple torn asunder?

Answer- When the Lord died

67) When was the Lord resurrected?

Answer-on the third day from crucifixion

68) What is the significance of the last supper?

answer- Re-enacting last supper with communion remembers the body and blood of the Lord. At the last supper the Lord explained explained that the wine was his blood and the bread his body and to eat in remembrance of him.

69) Are the Son and Holy-Spirit co-eternal with the Father?

Answer-Yes. The trinity are three persons of one God with infinite existence. People alternatively are also eternal yet they had a beginning as creations of God.

70) God is a perfect and Holy Being. How can he tolerate fallen mankind in his presence?

Answer- God cannot tolerate sin or sinners in his presence. Only through being washed in the blood of the Lord-in having the Lord's atoning sacrifice eclipse the believer's sin, can Christians appear in the presence of God through the Lord.

71) Who was ordered to make a sacrifice of his son to God?

Answer- Abraham. Yet God provided a last-minute substitute of a ram to sacrifice.

72) Who was promised as many descendants as stars in the sky?

Answer-Abraham

73) Who gave birth to a child in very old age named Isaac?

Answer-Abraham's wife Sarah.

74) Where did Abraham live before migrating north the Zion?

Answer- Sumer in Mesopotamia

75) What is the name of the city that would grow at the city known as Zion?

Answer-Jerusalem

76) Why did Jesus say that people need to be born again?

Answer- People are dead in their sins-dead to the Holy God that cannot tolerate sin in his presence. Only through faith in the Lord can humans be 'born again' and be in the Kingdom of God.

77) Who was the brother of Jesus that became leader of the church at Jerusalem after Peter left?

Answer- James

78) Why did James say that 'faith without works is dead'

Answer- Because a saved person of right faith in the Lord will follow the will of Jesus-and that is the way of good works inclusive of Christian ethics such as loving thy neighbor as thyself. It does not necessitate works of a worldly nature deemed good by men; Christian conscience is consistent unto God rather than men.

79) It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for who to enter the kingdom of God?

Answer- The rich

80) Can man know directly know the Father himself?

No. Quoting Jesus in Matthew 10:”27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

81) Where does sin come from?

Answer-Sin came with the fall. 1 John 3:8; “He that commitheth sin is of the devil”.

82) Is a man saved by works, merit and deservingness of his innate good character or by grace?

Answer- A man (or woman) is saved by grace (the gift of the Lord's sacrifice). No human is worthy of salvation by their works or nature.

83) If sin is a work of evil, and if one's thoughts may comprise sin (such as the sin of lust), can one's thoughts also be works?

Answer- Yes. Christian thoughts seeking to conform to the will of God are good works. (optional answer for extra credit): Saved Christians do good works, at least so far as in thought, in effort to comply with the teachings of the Lord, though innate original sin is a challenger until death seeking to loosen the grip of a Christian upon the ways of God. he unsaved are spiritually dead in their sin. Faith without good works is dead.

84) What will Christians do in heaven for eternity?

Answer- Give glory to God

85) Will Christians be resurrected if their body is not buried properly?

Answer- It makes no difference what happens to a Christian's body after death. God can make a new one exactly as it was before death with no trouble, yet at resurrection it may have improvements adapting it for eternal life.

86) What is Christ's job title as regards human politics?

Answer- “And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords””- Rev 19:16.

87) Before resurrection and last judgment where does Christ rule?

Answer- “His kingdom is spiritual. He rules in the hearts of men. He sets up his throne where no other king does; he rules the will and affections, his power binds the conscience; he subdues men's lusts. ‘He will subdue our iniquities.' Mic 7:79.”-quote from T. Watson 'Divinity' page 177

88) Does Christ rule by law or love?

Answer- “By law, and by love. (1.) He rules by law. Christ as a king makes laws, and by his laws he rules; as the law of faith;

‘believe in the Lord Jesus:' and the law of sanctity; ‘Be ye holy in all manner of conversation. ( Pet 1:15. Many would admit Christ to be their advocate to plead for them, but not their king to rule over them.)”- Watson 'Divinity' page 178

89) (question and answer are Watson's from 'Divinity' page 182

“Why was Christ born of a woman?

(1.) That God might fulfill that promise in Gen 3:15, ‘The seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head.' (2.) Christ was born of a woman, that he might roll away that reproach from the woman, which she had contracted by being seduced by the serpent. Christ, in taking his flesh from the woman, has honoured her sex; that as, at the first, the woman had made man a sinner; so now, to make him amends, she should bring him a saviour.”

90) (question and answer are Watson's from 'Divinity' page 182

“Why was Christ born of a virgin?

(1.) For decency. It became not God to have any mother but a maid, and it became not a maid to have any other son but a God.

(2.) For necessity. Christ was to be a high priest, most pure and holy. Had he been born after the ordinary course of nature he had been defiled, since all that spring out of Adam's loins have a tincture of sin, but, that ‘Christ's substance might remain pure and immaculate,'

he was born of a virgin.”

91) Who is the High Priest without fault or sin”\?

Answer- Jesus Christ

92) What must one do to enter God's rest?

Answer-have faith in the Lord and be saved to enter the Kingdom of God today. (ref. Hebrews 4)

93) How many were the tribes of Israel?

Answer- Twelve

94) Where did the name Israel arise in history?

Answer- It was given to Jacob by God.

95) Must a Christian be circumcised?

Answer-No?

96) When did Israel build the first Temple?

Answer- The Temple was built 480 years after exodus from Egypt

97) What king of Israel built the first Temple?

Answer-King Solomon

98) Who was the author of most of the psalms?

Answer-King David

99) Who said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. What my father has given me is greater than everything , and no one can snatch them away from my father's care. The father and I are one.”

Answer-Jesus Christ

100) Are people spiritually dead before they are saved?

Answer- Yes. (ref. Romans 6)

101) The nation of Israel was divided in twain because of God's displeasure with Solomon's sins that comprised covenant breaking. What was the name of the subsequent northern kingdom?

Answer- Judah

102)Who led the Jews in exodus from Egypt?

Answer- Moses under God

103) Who was the Apostle to the Gentiles?

Answer-Paul

104) When did the Tribulation that John wrote of in Revelation happen?

Answer- During the Neronic and Tiberian persecution era 63-73 A.D.

105) In his triumphal entry into Jerusalem what did Jesus ride?

Answer choices;

a) A flying horse named Pegasus

b) A Cadillac S.U,.V. with a moon roof and h.d. TV.

c) a colt or a donkey

correct answer is 'C'

106) How many temptations did Jesus experience in the desert?

Answer-Three.

107) What were the temptations of Christ?

Answer- To receive power over all the Earth yet with the onerous and impossible condition of worshiping Satan, to turn stones into bread to relieve starvation, and to throw himself from the top of the Temple like Lois Lane jumping over Niagara falls trusting God or Superman to save him (or Lois respectively)

108) Is sin a disease?

Answer- Yes. 'The whole head is sick;'Isa 1:5. 'Their conscience is defiled' Tit 1:15. The sinner prefers evil over good exchanging the word that is 'sweeter than the honeycomb' Psa 19-90 for sin trading 'sweet for bitter' Isa 5:20. (ref. 'Divinity' the 'Covenant of Works'-Watson)

109) Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each wrote a book of the gospel. Did any know Jesus personally before his crucifixion?

Answer- Yes. John and Matthew were disciples. John Mark was probably Peter's scribe who wrote what Peter and others related. Luke was a physician who may have been in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and before Pentecost.

110) Did God allow Moses to enter Israel and build condos?

Answer- No. Because Moses was reluctant to follow God's direction explicitly at least once, he forbid him entry to the promised land.

111) How many commandments were issued at Sinai?

Answer-Ten.

112) When Moses was on the mountain did the Jews build;

1-A filibuster

2-An ark

3-A golden calf (correct answer)

113) Jesus cast out a legion of demons from a crazed and wild man. Where did the demons go?

Answer-Into a herd of swine

114) procurator Pilate said that he found no fault in Jesus yet ordered him crucified anyway; why?

Answer- Jews afraid of Roman power wanted Jesus crucified lest he be seen as representative of insurrectionist tendencies. They leveraged Pilate into crucifying Jesus by saying that his claim to kingship was treasonous and that Pilate would be considered an enemy of Caesar if he did not crucify Jesus. Pilate complied.

115) What disciple collected taxes before following the Lord?

Answer-Matthew

116) What does Golgotha mean?

Answer-Place of skulls.

117) Who was first king of the Jews?

Saul

118) What family led a Jewish revolt against Greek rulers?

Answer- The Maccabees

119) Name three first century Jewish religious sects.

Answers- Zealots, Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducee

120) What city were Peter and Paul executed in?

Answer- Rome

121) What was the parable of the tenants in the vineyard a prophetic analogy of?

Answer- The crucifixion of Jesus and the wrath of God falling upon Jerusalem with the kingdom of God reallocated to followers of Jesus.

122) After the fall of Adam all humans were dead to God because of their sin. How can they be brought back to life and be recognized in the presence of God, in the Kingdom of God?

Answer- Through faith and the saving grace of the Lord with Union in Christ

123) The prophet Hosea was ordered by the Lord to show his love to an adulterous woman-a harlot, in a kind of analogy of the Lord's love for the wayward and wanton Jews. Yet the Lord said not to blame the people, rather that He blamed the priests for growing fat on the sacrifices of people's sins and encouraging them to sin so they might concentrate wealth for-themselves. What was the result of the Lord's chastisement and admonishment to change politically speaking?

Answer- Judah invaded Israel, Israel and Judah thrashed and eventually Assyria invaded Samaria falling in 721 B.C. Eventually Jews returned to a semblance of prosperity and faithfulness in that region.

124) With the three temptations Jesus was tempted to be God-like rather than human. As God made flesh he came to be human and overcome sin. Comment on this.

Answer- Jesus showed that he could perform miracles of producing bread-for-others such as in the loaves and fishes at the Sermon on the Mount, and he himself became the bread of life. Secondly he was eventually resurrected from death and did not yield to acting like an actor in the Matrix jumping from a building with no harm. Thirdly he came to bring the kingdom of God to his flock-not to rule in Satan's worldly kingdom.

125) Where were Peter and Paul executed (city)?

Answer-Probably Rome in the year 68 A.D.

126) Abraham married another woman besides Sarah. Not including his maid Hagar, what was the name of another wife?

Answer- Keturah (ref. Genesis 25)

127) Who was the father of Midian?

Answer- Abraham(Gen. 25)

128) Ishmael, son of Abraham had twelve sons that became the ancestors of twelve tribes. Who was Ismael's mother?

Answer- Hagar

129) Abraham had three groups of sons (with a single member of the set of Issac). One group became Arabs and Muslims eventually, another group became Jews through Issac and the rest could be considered to represent everyone else. Eventually the covenant with Abraham through Isaac and his son Jacob-Israel will bring the entire world to inherit the kingdom of God through the Lord Jesus. Adam was given a garden, Abraham was given a nation and the Lord given the world. True or false?

Answer-True

130) how did the Jews come to be slaves in Egypt?

Answer-Joseph and 70 descendants of Jacob lived in Egypt and multiplied alarming a Pharaoh with their numbers so he began an evolution for them into bondage and slavery.

131) Moses was provide with three miraculous signs in order to be able to convince Jews that he was from God. What were they?

Answer- A rod that transforms into a serpent, the ability to turn river water poured on land into blood, and a hand that would turn leprous then healthy on demand.

132) What name was Moses to give the Egyptians Jews for God?

Answer- Moses was told to say that “I AM hath sent me”.

133) Where is the first eschatological statement in the Bible?

Answer- Genesis 3:15. The 'seed of the woman' continuing through David unto Jesus will crush the head of the serpent (Satan).

134) Where is the protoevangelium found in the Bible?

Answer- Genesis 3:15

135) Should one love thy neighbor as thyself?

Answer-Yes

136) How many times should one forgive an offense against oneself?

Answer-Seventy times seven

137) Robbery and murder are always sin-are there special exceptions for embezzlement and shoplifting?

Answer-No

138) Does adultery remain sin when Democratic administrations are in power?

Answer-Yes

139) Are Christians of Abraham's seed

Answer- Yes. Paul said in Galatians 3-18 “If ye be Christ then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

140) What is the great commission?

Answer- In Matt. 28:18-20 Jesus said to go out and evangelize the world and that he would be with Christians always.

141) Adam was given a garden, Abraham was given a nation, who was given the world?

Answer-The Lord Jesus Christ's

142) A man baptizing souls in the river Jordan once said; “Repent. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 3:2) Who was that?

Answer-John the Baptist

143) What did Paul have to say about the wisdom of this world?

Answer-In Cor. 3:19 Paul said 'For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

144) Was mass of the Universe made from visible things?

Answer- No. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things that appear were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3

145) Where is Mary's Magnificat found in the Bible?

Answer-Luke 1:46-55

146) When did the Roman Army conquer Jerusalem and destroy the Temple?

Answer- A.D. 70

147) Approximately what year was Jesus born to Mary?

Answer-Circa 4 B.C. to 0

148) What are the synoptic Gospels?

Answer-The gospel books of Matthew, Mark and Luke

149) Why is the gospel of John different from the synoptic gospels?

Answer- John was a disciple that probably wrote apart from the others outside of Jerusalem recounting the gospel with his own emphasis. John could write in the first person while Mark and Luke had to recount what they learned from others. Mark was probably Peter's scribe saving Peter the difficulty about writing of himself objectively in the first person of such things as the denial of Christ thrice before sunrise or being given the keys to the kingdom. Matthew writing to the Jews in the first person was probably in Jerusalem and knew of what Peter, Mark and Luke had input to their gospel writing.

150) Martha's brother was raised from the dead near Bethany. What was his name?

Answer-Lazarus

151) Did the Lord feed 5000 people near Bethsaida?

Answer-Yes. With loaves and fishes.

152) Is it true that there is just one God?

Answer-Yes

153) What is the name of Abraham's brother?

Answer- Lot

154) What befell the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah?

Answer- Because of sexual immorality, violation of human rights, sin and inappropriate conduct toward angels the cities were vaporized after lot and his family vacated.

155) Did John the Baptist retire on the French Riviera?

Answer-No, he was beheaded in prison at the order of King Herod

156) Did Jesus ever claim to be the Messiah?

Answer-Yes; Matthew 16:13-17 ;“13 ¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

157) Though Jews had been given the law they consistently had troubles living by it. Theonomy implementation required something easier for effective reconciliation of the elect unto God. Did Jesus come to break the old laws and liberate the people from accountability for sin?

Answer-Jesus in Matthew 5:17-18; ”17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

158) What city was Jesus born in?

Answer-Bethlehem

159) Did Jesus live in Egypt?

Answer- Yes. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to live in Egypt for a few years.

160) Why did Mary and Joseph move to Egypt soon after the birth of Jesus?

Answer- King Herod of Jerusalem ordered that all newborn sons should be killed.

162) Where did Jesus grow up after returning to Israel?

Answer-Nazareth

163) Are some nice people saved naturally because of the oodles of goodness in their heart?

Answer- No. Paul writing in Romans 3; “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

164) Can conformance to the boundaries of the law let one inherit the kingdom of God?

Answer-No one except Jesus Christ has entirely kept the law. Paul in Romans 4; ”13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

165) Are people of faith be freed from the problem of sin?

Answer- Yes- Romans 5; “21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”Romans 6;” 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

166) Though a Christian is spiritually reborn, his flesh still is afflicted with the fleshy problems of sin. True or false?

Answer- True. Paul in Romans chapters 7-8;” 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

CHAPTER 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. “

167) Societies may develop false consciousness preferment for faithlessness and move toward egregious sin. Paul commented on that in the book of Romans. Summarize.

Answer from Romans 1; “23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

168) Homosexuality is sin. It is enumerated in a list of conduct that is worthy of death (misc. sin). True or false?

Answer- True. Romans 1; “32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” & “26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

169) Who is the beast of Revelation?

Answer- Probably Nero. Kenneth Gentry in 'The Beast of Revelation' wrote; “Revelation 1:3 we read: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heeds the things which are written in it; for the time is war [eggus].”

Eggus means 'near”. Nero was emperor when Peter, Paul et al were martyred. Nero persecuted Christians. Revelation was likely written circa 60 A.D.

Gentry also writes of Nero -”A Hebrew spelling of his name was Nrwn Qsr (pronounced: Neron Kaiser). It has been documented by archaeological finds that a first century Hebrew spelling of Nero’s name provides us with precisely the value of 666.16”. The number of the beast of Revelation is; 666.

170) A body is the Temple of God in which the Spirit of God may dwell. At physical death what happens?

Answer- Paul in 2nd Corinthians-”1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven”

171) Where do wars come from?

Answer-James wrote in chapter 4; “1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

Taking things of others, expanding one's power over others, aggregating mass without due regard to the harm to others, is the criterion of war.

172) A Christian realizes his miserable state in regard to his fallen nature of original sin and unworthiness and unacceptability to God-a perfect and Holy being. Should a Christian therefore be proud of his election and swell generally speaking?

Answer- No. James wrote in chapter 4; “4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

173) Should a Christian prioritize accumulating worldly wealth?

Answer- No.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6: “19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

and

James in chapter 4 wrote; “14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

174) Three wise men-probably Magi-informed Herod that a king was to be born. They were seeking the birth place of Jesus to bring gifts. Did that have any negative consequent effects?

Answer- Yes-Matthew wrote in chapter 2; “12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”

175) When Jesus fed 5000 people gathered to meet and hear him was the occasion catered by moonlighting Roman Army cooks supplying spaghetti with savory sauce, meatballs, broccoli ala Hollandaise, garlic bread and a thin after dinner crème' mint?

Answer- No. Matthew 14 relates; “15 ¶ And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.”

176) How many disciples did Jesus initially call?

Answer- Twelve.

177) Who gave the law to the Jewish people?

Answer-Moses (John 1) “17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

178) When was the Temple that had been rebuilt by Herod destroyed?

Answer- 70 A.D.

179) Should one struggle to conform to worldly ways and values and pursue hedonistic pleasures to the last drop, and last minute possible to intensify pleasure for-oneself?

Answer-No. Jesus said in John 12:” 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

180) In John chapter 17 Jesus gives a brilliant peroration summaring his work and mission in a farewell address and prayer before arrest. Did he instruct his disciples to conform to the world and dance to the devil's fiddle-jigs as men-of-the-world?

Answer- No. The Lord said to God of the disciples, “14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

181) Did Jesus prophesy the tribulation that brought about the end of national Israel, persecutions of Nero, executions of martyrs, destruction of the temple and establishment of the kingdom of God with the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?

Answer- Yes. The Lord said in Luke 21: “1 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 ¶ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

(also ref. Mark 13)

182) A sign was attached to the cross on which Jesus was crucified. What did it say?

Answer- Luke 23; “38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

183) Jesus Christ came in the flesh. True or false?

Answer- “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” -1^st Epistle of John chapter four

“14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” -John 1

184) Pilate offered to release one prisoner as was tradition. He asked the present crowd if they wanted Jesus released. They demanded released of another. Who was that?

Answer- “But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.”-Mark 15

Barabbas probably was a worldly political zealot. Zealots were a factor in motivating Romans later to destroy Jerusalem.

185) Did Jesus ever say anything about taxes?

Answer- Yes. In Mark chapter twelve is an account of where he encountered the topic; “14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.”

186) Are souls always alive to God?

Answer- Yes. Jesus said in Mark 12- “25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”

187) What is the first commandment?

Answer- From Mark 12; “29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

188) What must one do to be saved?

Answer- Romans chapter 10; “ 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

189) Are any nations favored over others for salvation?

Answer-No. Acts 10:”34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”

190) John explained an occasion where Jesus walked on water to reach a boat with the disciples that had gone ahead offshore. Explain something of the circumstances.

Answer-John chapter 10; “15 ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.”

191) What are the wages of sin?

Answer- Romans 6:”23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

192) Do worldly men (or women) understand the word of God?

Answer- Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 2; “12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

193) What prophet interpreted dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar?

Answer- Daniel

194) What recalcitrant prophet was thrown from a ship and swallowed by a whale?

Answer-Jonah

195) To what prophet does God give explicit directions for a release of Jews from Babylonian captivity and return to Israel for reconstruction of the Temple?

Answer-Ezekiel (ref Ezekiel 38-48)

196) Near Gaza, whereat the Israelis were oppressed, and angel of the Lord sat under an oak tree in a settlement named Ophrah. The angel of the Lord appeared unto whom to lead in the destruction of Midianite oppressors?

Answer- Gideon Judges chapter 6-

“12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

Gideon replied-“15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

197) There is another woman besides Sarah who conceived of a child when 'well stricken in years' and barren. She was a cousin of Mary and gave birth to who?

Answer- John the Baptist

In Luke 1 an angel appeared to Elisabeth's husband Zacharias-”13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

198) The angel Gabriel informed what virgin that she would give birth.

Answer-Mary Luke 1-“35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

199) In Luke chapter 9 the Lord provides practical words for prioritizing matters for ordinary people following him after his crucifixion and resurrection. Say something about that.

Answer- Luke 9:“22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

23 ¶ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.”

200) Did Jesus ever appear to his disciples after resurrection?

Answer- Yes. Luke 24;”33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 ¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”