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MercyMe – Hands Up (Official Live Video)
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The largest building on the Temple Mount in Jesus’ day wasn’t the Temple.
Herod’s Royal Stoa won that designation.
A stoa in classical Greek architecture is a covered portico or walkway. It was usually walled at the back, open at the entrance, and supported by columns.
During his reign, Herod built a large, three-story stoa and basilica spanning the whole length of the southern wall of the Temple Mount. It was supported by 162 massive Corinthian columns. Each column soared to 50 feet and spanned 16 feet in diameter.
Its open concept served multiple functions, such as hosting political meetings and commerce.
Beginning in AD 30, the Sanhedrin held its meetings in the Royal Stoa. In fact, it may have been the site of the money changers whose tables Jesus overturned (as recorded in Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-46; and John 2:13-16)
The Court of the Gentiles
A three-foot-high balustrade separated The Court of the Gentiles was separated from the temple area. A balustrade is a row of small, decorative columns topped with a rail, creating a beautiful and solid barricade.
Archaeologists have discovered stone signs etched in Greek and once posted at the balustrade on the Temple Mount, warning the ritually impure (both Jew and Gentile) not to proceed:
No foreigner may enter within the balustrade around the sanctuary and the enclosure. Whoever is caught, on himself shall he put blame for the death which will ensue.
The warning indicates Gentiles were at least allowed on the Temple Mount itself. It is unknown whether offenders of this ban were really executed by Jewish officials or left for God’s judgment.
Ancient reports paint a picture of non-Jews ascending onto the Temple Mount and bringing animals for sacrificial offerings. As with the ritually impure Jews, they could only stay within the outer court and give their offerings to the priests for sacrifice.
Who was Herod the Great?
The king who renovated the Second Temple and created the Royal Stoa was the progeny of intermarriage between Jews and Edomites. Herod identified himself as Jewish but didn’t follow Jewish rites. He was named governor of Galilee in 41 BC and ruled in the footsteps of his Hasmonean father before him.
When he supported Rome in opposition to the Hasmonean dynasty, however, Rome rewarded him the title King of the Jews and ordered him to conquer and rule Judea under its authority.
He accomplished this with a fervor earning him a reputation for both his benevolence and barbarism. After his conquest of Judea, he enlarged and renovated Jerusalem’s Second Temple in a bid to gain the favor of the Jews. Temple construction began in 19 BC and took 46 years to complete. It wasn’t truly finished, however, until the rule of procurator Albinus (AD 62-64), just seven years before its destruction at the hands of Rome. For a brief time, Herod’s Temple, as it was called, reportedly outshined even Solomon’s Temple.
Herod did not live to see his grand structure in its final glory.
This so-called “King of the Jews” built a splendid temple in his own name, slaughtered Jewish children in a vain bid to eradicate the competitor for his throne, and died an agonizing death in AD 4.
Researchers believe he died of kidney disease and Fournier’s gangrene in his groin. The cause may have been either an abscess, gonorrhea, or from scratching the intense itch he reportedly suffered. Maggots infested the infected area.
Herod’s body returned to the earth and his soul now awaits judgment. The Roman general Titus reduced his splendid temple to rubble in AD 70. His jealous bid for the title of King of the Jews never threatened the kingdom of God.
Jesus of Nazareth grew to manhood, conducted a three-year ministry, and surrendered His life to pay the debt owed by humanity. His body lay in a tomb for only three days. Shortly after His resurrection, He ascended to heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father.
The pretender to the throne is dead. The real King of the Jews lives forever.
Temple Mount Photo ID 20310445 © Rkckwwjd | Dreamstime.com
Coming next week: The Third Temple: Will it be built?
This weekly series follows the story line of the Christian thriller Blood Falls. Each episode occurs in chronological order, giving context, perspective, and Biblical foundation for the novel. Discover the true stories and incredible facts behind the book! See the entire series here: https://cmaddict.com/tag/behind-blood-falls/
King Herod and the Temple Mount – Behind Blood Falls
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Desert at the Bottom of the World
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and the South Pole
The southernmost point on the globe features a moving center, altitude sickness, and the largest desert on the planet.
A desert is a region receiving less than 250 millimeters (ten inches) of precipitation per year and can be either a hot or cold desert. The largest desert in the world is the Antarctic Desert, covering 5.5 million square miles of the continent. Upon this icy desert sits the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
The first station at the South Pole was completed in February of 1957. It was rebuilt in 1975. An upgrade was initiated in 1997 and the new station dedicated in 2008. It is well equipped for research, housing the Atmospheric Research Observatory, the Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory, the IceCube Observatory used to observe neutrinos, the Dark Sector Laboratory housing the South Pole Telescope and the Keck Array, and computer systems for research.
The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was named in honor of two explorers: the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Royal Navy officer Robert Falcon Scott, who reached the South Pole in 1911 and 1912.
The station sits at an elevation of 2,835 meters (9,306 feet) on Antarctica’s ice sheet, 850 nautical miles south of McMurdo Station. The ice sheet—two miles of vertical ice—drifts about 10 meters (33 feet) each year. A striped pole topped with a reflective globe marks the ceremonial South Pole. The actual geographical South Pole shifts with the ice.
Visitors to the South Pole are prone to develop altitude sickness from the relatively quick ascent from McMurdo Station and the dry air. Some are affected immediately and must take the snowmobile ride from the plane to the station. Others are affected later. It catches up to everyone there eventually.
Without a Sound: Creation’s Silent Worship
The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.– Psalm 19:2-3 NASB
Polar lights (aurora polaris) are found in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Most people have seen, or at least heard of, the Northern lights (aurora borealis). The southern polar skies are the canvas for a grand – if lesser known – display.
Timestorm Films has produced a breathtakingly beautiful video of the aurora australis, or southern lights, at the South Pole. They are seen here with the Milky Way, a phenomenon only experienced in Antarctica.
South Pole Photo 12519138 © Darryn Schneider | Dreamstime.com
Coming next week: King Herod and the Temple Mount
This weekly series follows the story line of the Christian thriller Blood Falls. Each episode occurs in chronological order, giving context, perspective, and Biblical foundation for the novel. Discover the true stories and incredible facts behind the book! See the entire series here: https://cmaddict.com/tag/behind-blood-falls/
Icy Desert – Behind Blood Falls
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My pregnancy was pretty uneventful. All the check ups were good. My water broke in my home at 10 pm, it was around four weeks before Luisa’s due date. As I endured thirteen hours of labor, all I could think about was how when it was all over, I was going to have a baby of my own. I couldn’t wait to meet her and have a little family. I was so excited to see my baby. When she finally arrived and I laid my eyes on her I felt so much love, like I had never felt before.
I was in a new kind of love.
The doctor wasn’t handing her to me though. Things were not going the way I was told they would in my birthing class. No skin to skin. I could tell something was wrong. The neonatologist was apprehensive about handing her over for a picture with me and my husband. They wrapped my baby up tight in a blanket and he quickly sat her down on me for a photo. Then he took her back right away, and my husband was asked to go to the NICU with her.
“‘This can’t be real, everything will be fine in a few hours,’ I told myself.”
People showed up to see my baby, but we all just sat in my hospital room staring at each other. No baby in the room. I felt like everyone was disappointed. I gave birth at 11 am, and for the rest of that day my loved ones hung around waiting to see the baby. At the end of the day, I finally was able to stand and walk over to the NICU and see her. I was not allowed to hold her because she was too unstable. I was uneasy but I still felt like we would have her home in a few hours. Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, and weeks would turn into months. No answers, just scary strange rhetoric from what felt like a very insensitive hospital staff.
After a few days of visiting our local NICU, where Luisa was, we were told about a genetic disease called central congenital hypoventilation syndrome. One lonely night sitting by my daughter’s bedside, a nurse decided to tell me the tale of Ondine’s Curse. Ondine’s Curse is another name for central congenital hypoventilation syndrome.
As I sat there, listening to him tell the mythical story of a mermaid who cursed her cheating husband to stop breathing each time he fell asleep, I felt like I was in the twilight zone. A numbness was growing in me. It was becoming very clear to me that bringing my baby home was not going to be easy. I wasn’t just going to wake up to the good news that she had gotten better overnight.
I began questioning, asking God to show me what my role was in this.
How can I still be her mom?
How can I still show her love?
How can I take care of her?
The birthing class had not taught me any of this.
The genetic test was ordered. We were told that it could take up to six weeks for results. Luisa was stabilized on noninvasive ventilation for about a week, and while things were a little less scary, she was not getting any better. There was no hope of weaning her off of life support.
We decided, after a few unpleasant encounters with the neonatologist in our local NICU, to transfer Luisa to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The Kangaroo Crew picked us up in a private jet. They were so kind. I felt like it was the first time I had been treated with respect since my daughter had been born. They treated me like I was a mom, not a defective woman who gave birth to a defective little human.
It was at Texas Children’s and the Ronald McDonald House that I began to learn my role as Luisa’s mom. We received the results of the genetic test, and they were positive. The staff at Texas Children’s treated my baby like she was something really special. They taught me how to care for a baby with a tracheostomy. I felt like I was getting some of my control back.
At Ronald McDonald House I met other families with sick kids. I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore. I also met another mom whose baby had a tracheostomy, and it was a magical moment I will never forget. The narrative in my mind was changing, and God was showing me what I had asked him for. After close to three months in the hospital, we finally brought Luisa home.
Luisa turned four a couple of weeks ago. She is a happy, healthy child who loves music and dancing. She takes jazz and ballet. Luisa’s favorite show is spider man and she loves to go to the beach.
My experience as Luisa’s mom is always changing, and God is always showing me how to navigate my role. I am so proud to say that throughout her life I have never gotten angry at God for this path we are on. I trust God more than ever now. I know what it feels like to be carried by him in love.
– Marilyn Bailey marilynbailey2935
“‘This can’t be real, everything will be fine in a few hours,’ I told myself” – Marilyn’s Story
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The Beasts of Revelation 13
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
– Daniel 9:26
As was prophesied in Daniel 9:26 and discussed in the previous episode, Jesus the Messiah, was “cut off” by his death on the cross. The people who destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 A.D. were the soldiers of the army of Titus of Rome. The “prince who is to come,” known in popular culture as the Anti-Christ, clearly emerges from the Roman Empire.
The European Union: A revived Roman Empire
And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea…
– Revelation 13:1
On May 5, 1949, five years after the end of World War II, ten European countries created the Council of Europe. This was followed a year later by the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, a merger of economic interests ultimately growing into the European Union of today. Two treaties were signed in Rome on March 25, 1957, establishing the European Economic Community.
At its completion in 1995, the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels became the seat of the Council of the European Union. In 2017, an addition known as the Europa Building was completed. The new building houses the European Council and the Council of the European Union. The office of the President of Europe is one of the 250 offices in the Europa Building.
The addition is framed in a giant twelve-story patchwork of reclaimed oak windows from the member states. Though a reinforced behemoth, its haphazard-appearing façade resembles an oversized matchstick house. The structure creates an atrium housing a massive glass lantern containing the meeting rooms and offices of the new building.
Its atrium and lantern are illuminated with thousands of LED lights. When the sun is down and from a distance, the lantern resembles a large, glowing egg behind the patchwork of wood and glass. Public relations have billed the Europa Building the “beating heart of Europe.”
The media’s nickname: Space EGG.
In a later episode of Behind Blood Falls, we will examine what the Bible tells us about the beast of Revelation. For now, we can glean the following from the Scriptures:
- He will be a male, possibly homosexual.
- He will rule nations for seven years.
- He will be arrogant, blaspheming God and demanding the worship of every person alive.
- His power and authority come from Satan.
- He will persecute and kill the saints who have turned to Christ during the Tribulation.
- He or one of his satellite nations will suffer a deadly blow and be thought dead, only to rise again in a satanic resurrection.
- He will work in league with another “beast,” this one arising from the earth.
The second beast
Is the Anti-Christ the false messiah?
Though people mix the offices of the two beasts of the seven-year Tribulation, their roles are very different. While the leader of the revived Roman Empire will be hailed as the world’s savior, the title of messiah will likely go to the second beast, the false prophet who rules beside the Anti-Christ.
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
– Revelation 13:11-13
It is believed by some scholars that the false prophet described in Revelation is of Jewish heritage. He springs from the earth, or the land, as opposed to the the first beast, who comes from the sea. Israel has long been associated with its land, the nations with water.
But the wicked are like the tossing sea….
– Isaiah 57:20
The false prophet will mimic the Old Testament prophets, but he will be a fraud and blasphemer. He is described in the Revelation as having the image of a lamb, an obvious reference to the Lamb of God. But he speaks as a dragon, described in Revelation as being Satan. He will appear to perform signs and wonders like the prophets of old. His job is to inspire humanity to worship the first beast, the Anti-Christ.
The appearance of the Anti-Christ, false prophet, and Satan provide the world with a counterfeit representation of the Trinity: Anti-Christ as the father, the false prophet as the son, and Satan as the spirit who indwells and empowers the other two.
A mahdi and a messiah
The concept of the Mahdi, though not mentioned in the Quran, is accepted in Islam among the Sunni and Shia. It has been included in the Muslim creed for 1400 years. The term means “guided one” in Arabic—a divinely guided person who will restore Islam to a place of power and religious purity in the world.
It is believed this messianic deliverer will bring in peace and prosperity for the last seven to nine years before the end of the world, will convert all nations to Islam, and will prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Messiah or usurper?
As those in the Muslim faith long for their Mahdi, the Jewish nation yearns for its Messiah.
The hope of a leader to deliver Israel from her enemies and reign over a period of peace and prosperity has long been in Jewish hearts. This leader is described as Melech HaMoshiach, or the King Messiah, in Talmudic literature.
The Hebrew word for Messiah is Moshiach and means “anointed.” Talmudic literature reserves this title and the title Melech HaMoshiach (King Messiah) for the leader anointed to bring in the Messianic era at the end of days.
And now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.
– Numbers 24:14 (DARBY)
While Westerners tend to interpret the phrase “end of days” to mean “end of the world,” it is connected in Jewish religious thought to the coming Messianic era. The prolific author Rabbi Moishe ben Maimon (1135-1204) taught the eventual rise of a Jewish leader from the lineage of David who would rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and regather the Jewish people from their exile around the world.
This Messiah is believed to usher in an era of worldwide peace and a time when all nations will worship the one God.
Though scholarly views within the Jewish community differ on the genesis and development of the Messianic theme, the Tanakh clearly promised a king from the line of David to Israel. There is evidence of the longing for a Messianic kingdom in the Second Temple Period, although these expectations varied. Apocryphal works are not considered inspired text but still attest to the traditional Jewish understanding of a single Messianic figure.
The New Testament bears witness of this hope, as expressed in this exchange between John the Baptist and the religious leaders at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry:
This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
– John 1:19-23
Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, They said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
– John 6:14
Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.”
– John 7:40-41
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.
– John 9:22
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.
– Luke 24:21
Rejected by His own people
When the long-awaited Deliverer and king arrived, He was rejected by most of His own nation. Speaking of this rejection, Jesus prophesied of a coming usurper who would take the name of Prophet and Messiah for himself.
I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
– John 5:43
Jesus was likely speaking of the false prophet, or false messiah, described in Revelation.
A crown for a king.
You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban.
– Exodus 28:36-37
In 2018, the rabbi of King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion and direct descendant of King David launched a project to gather the funds to craft a golden crown for the coming Messiah. Rabbi Yosef Berger believes we are now living in the time of the beginning of the messianic period and anticipates the soon arrival of the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.
A golden crown specifically crafted for the high priest has already been completed, however.
The Temple Institute, a Jewish organization dedicated to the rebuilding of the temple and the establishment of the temple priesthood and service, displays a golden crown made especially for the high priest of the temple in its museum. At its unveiling, its value was estimated to be around $30,000.
The true Messiah wore a crown of thorns.
Photo 49369537 © Ig0rzh| Dreamstime.com
Photo 178797282 © Olrat | Dreamstime.com
Coming next week: Icy Desert
This weekly series follows the story line of the Christian thriller Blood Falls. Each episode occurs in chronological order, giving context, perspective, and Biblical foundation for the novel. Discover the true stories and incredible facts behind the book! See the entire series here: https://cmaddict.com/tag/behind-blood-falls/
In His Own Name – Behind Blood Falls
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Tiffany Hudson – Tears (NYC Sessions)
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This is my pick for Most Addictive Song……….for now. Until the next one, listen below and on our Most Addictive Song (for now) playlist HERE.
Most Addictive Song (for now) – Angie Rose “Set Apart (My Mind Different)”
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This is my pick for Most Addictive Song……….for now. Until the next one, listen below and on our Most Addictive Song (for now) playlist HERE.
Most Addictive Song (for now) – Riley Clemmons “Loved By You”
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Sarah Reeves – Billboards On Sunset (Official Music Video)
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![Lacey Sturm – Breathe With Me (Featuring Lindsey Stirling) [Official Visualizer]](https://cmaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Breathe-With-Me-Cover-150x150.png)
Lacey Sturm – Breathe With Me (Featuring Lindsey Stirling) [Official Visualizer]
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![for KING + COUNTRY – WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? [the single] Official Music Video](https://cmaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screenshot-2023-08-11-073236-150x150.jpg)
for KING + COUNTRY – WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? [the single] Official Music Video
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![NEEDTOBREATHE – “Hideaway” [Official Audio]](https://cmaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screenshot-2023-08-11-072624-150x150.jpg)
NEEDTOBREATHE – “Hideaway” [Official Audio]
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Who Are the People of the Prince to Come?
Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
– Daniel 9:26
The context of the prophecy in Daniel 9 refers to a prince, or ruler, who emerges from the “people” who destroy Jerusalem and the Temple after the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is “cut off” from the people (his death. resurrection, and return to heaven). This leader will make a seven-year covenant with “many.”
Daniel 9:26 must refer to the ravishing of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount by the Roman general Titus in AD 70. The people who destroyed the city and the sanctuary came from the old Roman Empire.
The Prince to Come must rise from the old Roman Empire
The King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, was known as Padre della Patria, the Father of the Fatherland. Built in his honor, the Vittoriano is called the Temple of the Fatherland, or Altare della Patria (literally, the Altar to the Fatherlands). Construction began in 1885, and it was officially inaugurated in 1911. Above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands a statue called the Statue of Goddess Roma.
The temple crowns one of the seven hills of Rome upon which the ancient city was built: Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine. The Vittoriano sits upon the Palatine.
Some scholars believe these hills infer Rome’s involvement in Tribulation politics and point to a passage of Scripture in Revelation to validate this theory:
Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.
– Revelation 17:9-10
There may be some connection with Rome at the tribulation, but the “mountains” or hills of Revelation 17 refer to seven kingdoms. At the time of John’s vision, five great kingdoms had risen and fallen: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. Rome existed at the time, and the kingdom of the Anti-Christ had not yet come.
Greek coin bearing the image of Europa Europa: Symbol of a Continent
Outside the Council Building in Brussels, a metal statue depicts a girl named Europa riding a bull.
In Greek mythology, Europa was a Phoenician maiden (princess) who caught the eye of the Olympian god Zeus. Zeus decided he would have the young woman for himself and hatched a plan to capture her, while keeping his intentions hidden from his jealous wife. The details of the myth vary slightly from storyteller to storyteller, but the general gist of the plot is that he metamorphosed into a white bull and found Europa as she picked flowers while shepherding her father’s flock in a field (or whiling away the hours with her attendants).
Captivated by his gentleness, she approached him and climbed upon his back. Then he kidnapped her, took her to Crete, and ravished her.
The image of Europe riding the bull is an informal symbol of Europe. The Greeks likely gave the region her name, even producing a coin stamped with the image of Europa and the bull. When the Euro was introducing in 2002, an image of Europe and Zeus was again used. Throughout Europe, the myth—and particularly the image—is interlinked with the culture and people. Statues depicting the pair adorn statues placed at governmental buildings. Scholars argue over the importance of the myth to Europe’s development as a society, lending some credence by the very necessity of its exploration.
Some students of Bible prophecy believe it’s possible Europa and the bull have a symbolic association, as well, with the harlot of the Revelation.
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.’
And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, ‘BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.’
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. And the angel said to me, ‘Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.’
– Revelation 17:1-7
Who is the Harlot?
Revelation 17 describes the beast she rides as the one who will come to deceive the people of the earth, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. He is the hill (kingdom) yet to come arising from the Roman Empire. John MacArthur notes it was common for Roman prostitutes to wear headbands bearing their names.
This woman of scarlet is commonly thought to represent the false religions of the world who wield power over their worshipers. This is mystery Babylon, whose roots lie in Babel and the world’s efforts to reach heaven without God.
The Anti-Christ, or beast, will carry her with him into power. Eventually, however, he will turn on her, demanding all worship for himself.
Some believe the harlot to be the Vatican. But she more likely represents the entirety of religious systems existing outside the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
A Melding of Religions
Representatives of the three major religions—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity—have conceived the vision for one house of worship in which members of all three religions can meet. Rabbi Andreas Nachama, Imam Kadir Sanci, and Father Gregor Hohberg began the discussion over a decade ago and now have begun work on the center. The charter for House of One was signed October 11, 2011. Plans call for a multi-level archeological center and will house a synagogue, mosque, and church under one roof.
Construction will be at the site of the foundation of the ancient 13th century Petrikirche at Pletiplatz in Berlin-Colln, Germany. The Petrikirche had the highest tower in Berlin before it was torn down by the East German communist government in 1964. Archaeological digs there have also discovered the burials of 3,000 people and the ruins of other churches.
The cornerstone for the House of One was set on May 27, 2021.
Abrahamic Family House
Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is the site of a complex housing the St. Francis Church, Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. Touted as a pioneering interfaith project in the Arab world, the complex opened March 1, 2023.
Abrahamic Family House Greek Coin: 83381757 © Andrej Safaric | Dreamstime.com
Abrahamic Family House: 274733805 | Abrahamic Family House © Wirestock| Dreamstime.com
Coming next week: In His Own Name
This weekly series follows the story line of the Christian thriller Blood Falls. Each episode occurs in chronological order, giving context, perspective, and Biblical foundation for the novel. Discover the true stories and incredible facts behind the book! See the entire series here: https://cmaddict.com/tag/behind-blood-falls/
The Prince to Come and the Harlot – Behind Blood Falls
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![Switchfoot – Meant To Live (Jon Bellion Version) [Official Music Video]](https://cmaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screenshot-2023-08-07-122458-150x150.jpg)
Switchfoot – Meant To Live (Jon Bellion Version) [Official Music Video]
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Brandon Lake – Count ‘Em (Official Music Video)
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Victory in Pensacola, FL – Sidewalk Advocates for Life
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Exiled Iranian Christian Woman Tells Inspiring Story of Faith, Courage under Persecution
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Trampolines has released their latest song and video with “Rise,” a track featuring 1k Phew and cowritten with new artist Zaq Monroe. You can watch the video at https://rockon.ink/3rX7JWl. The song also marks the introduction of Trampolines’ mission-focused label, Radial Music Group.
“We are excited to raise up musicianaries under our new label Radial Music Group, and we will be touring with Zaq Monroe in the new year,” Trampolines’ Lane Terzieff says. “It was fun to co-produce this song with Zaq and break into the trap-meets-tribal beats space!”
Fittingly, “Rise” is an anthem for anyone on the edge of the unknown, eager to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
“In prayer, I asked Jesus to use all of my talents for Him, because life outside of ministry felt empty. I didn’t want to live that way, I wanted my life to be something I could be proud of,” Zaq Monroe adds. “‘Rise’ is for people who have lived in the will of God, and for those who don’t even know who He is but feel the urgency to do something beyond their comfort zone. To stand up and step into a world they could never have imagined. When I met Trampolines, they fit that ideology perfectly. With their focus on missions and putting God first, I knew that they would make the song something special. And I have been a big fan of 1k Phew since I was a teenager.”
Trampolines is an act full of energetic eclecticism who donates 100% of their proceeds to missions work around the world. “Rise” is the latest song that raises funds for evangelism and anti-human trafficking efforts. “Rise” is streaming everywhere now, with the music video premiering exclusively on Rapzilla.
You can learn more about Trampolines’ mission work at laneandcary.com, and book them for an event at faabooking.com/trampolines2023. Find Trampolines on social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify, and Zaq Monroe on Instagram, YouTube and Soundcloud.
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Trampolines debut video for “Rise,” collaborating with 1k Phew and introducing Zaq Monroe
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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13 NIV
#bibleverse #verseoftheday #verse #scripture #bible #hope #joy #peace #trust #jesuschrist
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace…
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The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurred on April 10, 1815.
After centuries of dormancy, Indonesia’s Mount Tambora erupted with a roar in 1815, belching millions of tons of sulfur into the air. Steam and lesser eruptions occurred for the next six months to three years. The ash and pollution spread across the globe, causing a drop in temperature averaging five degrees. Crops failed around the world. The next year, 1816, was dubbed the Year Without a Summer.
The Year Without a Summer gave us an important new way to travel.
An unforeseen benefit was the development of the bicycle, as feed for horses became too expensive.
This first practical bike was invented by the German baron Karl von Drais in 1817, who patented it in 1818. The so-called Draisine was made of wood, brass, and iron. It had no pedals and was powered by foot, making it hard to steer and control. Due to the resulting accidents, the Draisine was prohibited in some cities.
The concept grew, however, and advances in development and promotion soon propelled the bicycle to new popularity.
Drais’s biographer discovered that the baron’s interest in the bicycle was driven by the necessity to find an alternative mode of transportation following the starvation and death of horses from lack of feed in 1816.
The Doomsday Vault: Preparing for Future Catastrophes
Deep inside a mountain on the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault safeguards millions of seeds to help feed the nations in the wake of a disaster. Dubbed “Noah’s Ark,” the vault holds over a million seed varieties, with a capacity to store up to 4.5 billion seeds.
The seeds don’t belong to Norway, however. They remain the property of the donor entities and can be withdrawn as necessary. Not just a resource awaiting an apocalypse, the seed vault has been accessed by donors to help restore communities impacted by local catastrophes. The vault in the Norwegian archipelago opened February 26, 2008. The germ of this idea sprouted in 1984 with the storage of seed germplasm in an abandoned coal mine near the city of Longyearbyen, Norway.
By 2004, the concept had blossomed into an international dream of creating a secure facility for the cooperative use by the nations.
The storage of genetically modified seeds at the vault is prohibited by Norwegian law.
Coming next week: The People of the Prince to Come
This weekly series follows the story line of the Christian thriller Blood Falls. Each episode occurs in chronological order, giving context, perspective, and Biblical foundation for the novel. Discover the true stories and incredible facts behind the book! See the entire series here: https://cmaddict.com/tag/behind-blood-falls/
The Year Without a Summer – Behind Blood Falls
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