Determinism's apostle?

 

Yet another defence of free moral agency.

 

Genesis chapter four New International Version.

 Adam a made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. b She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth c a man.” 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” d While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

13Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15But the LORD said to him, “Not so e ; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16So Cain went out from the LORD'S presence and lived in the land of Nod, f east of Eden.

17Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of g bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;

wives of Lamech, hear my words.

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for injuring me.

24If Cain is avenged seven times,

then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

25Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, h saying, “GOD has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.

At that time people began to call on i the name of the LORD.

World atlas on the unChristian cross

  The Christian cross is regarded as the primary symbol of the Christian religion. The cross is a symbol of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In Christianity, a crucifix is a cross with a three-dimensional representation of the body of Christ. The two most common forms of crosses present in the Christian religion are the Greek cross and the Latin cross.

The Pre-Christian Cross

A vast body of evidence shows that the cross was used centuries before the birth of Christianity. The cross is thought to have originated from the ancient Babylonians before its spread to other parts of the world such as Syria, Egypt, Greek, Latin, India, and Mexico. The pre-Christian cross was used as a religious symbol and as an ornament among the Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, Persians, Europeans, and in some parts of Africa. There was, therefore, universal use of the pre-Christian cross. In many cases, its use was usually connected to some form of worship.

The pre-Christian cross existed in two forms; the tau cross and the svastika or fylfot cross. The tau cross resembles the Greek capital letter T. On the other hand, the fylfot cross resembles four Greek capital letter G's placed together. The tau cross was initially used among the pagans. It was later adopted by the Christians in Egypt where its use became common. For this reason, the tau cross is sometimes referred to as the Egyptian cross.

Evidence of the use of the cross centuries before the coming of Christ can be seen in British Museum on the effigy of King Samsi-Vul of Assyria. Besides, goddess Diana of the ancient Greeks is portrayed with a cross in a way that resembles how Virgin Mary is portrayed in statues by artists.

History Of The Christian Cross

The Christian cross as a Christian symbol has its roots in ancient paganism. The use of the Christian cross as a Christian symbol began after the time of the Constantine, which occurred three centuries after the coming of Christ. The crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross conferred a new significance to the use of the cross in Christianity. Before the death of Jesus on the cross, the cross was used privately among Christians. Its purpose was restricted. After the Constantine, the use of the cross was acknowledged as a symbol of Christianity.

Modern Usage Of The Christian Cross

Today, the use of the cross as a Christian symbol in practiced universally. Churches, both Catholic and Protestant have crosses placed, carved, or drawn on the doors, windows, tops, and walls of their church buildings. Many Christians all over the world wear the cross on their necklaces, bracelets, rings, items of clothing, and key chains. Besides, many Christians, especially Catholics, make the sign of the cross during worship. When making the sign, the people touch their forehead, chest, and then each shoulder. Many believe that the sign of the cross is effective in protecting them from harm and driving away evil spirits.

The throne of the beast.

Luke ch.4:5,6NIV"The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. "

Of course if there was no truth to Satan's claims then this offer would be no test of the our Lord's loyalty to his Lord i.e JEHOVAH God.

This why the sincere truthseeker must make a clean break with politics and nationalism if he is serious about attaining an intimate relationship with the one true God.

Revelation ch.13:2-4NIV"The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”"

There is a reason why this visionary beast is an amalgam of the beasts in Daniel's prophecy see Daniel ch.7. It demonstrates that any first century fulfillments of Daniel's prophecy were merely tokens of larger more complete fulfillment to come. And also it alerts JEHOVAH'S People of JEHOVAH'S judgement against the bloodstained global political elite and its enablers and aspirants. Of course JEHOVAH Needs NO human help in dealing with his enemies thus any religiopolitical faction that teaches and behaves as if he does. Whether it claims to be Christian or not makes itself liable to the Judgement upon the "beast".

Revelation ch.13:8-10NKJV"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the [e]patience and the faith of the saints."