Dan Brown claims that his Novels are product of extensive research and that he actually spend years in writing them... Either Brown is a poor researcher or a born liar. In fairness, "Da Vinci Code" is a creative literary feats, but most of its historical claims is NOT factual.
That is the very reason why I am attacking a fictional book. I would have let it passed and even give some stars if Brown simply points out that what the book claimed are still unproven. But that was not the case, Brown stress that his book are factual.
The first page of both "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" has the heading "FACT". The following page in Angels and Demons claims that "References to all works of art, tombs, tunnels, and architecture in Rome are entirely factual (as are their exact locations). They can still be seen today. The brotherhood of the Illuminati is also factual."
Now, why would I spend time denouncing a book of "fiction"? Simply because As mentioned above, Dan Brown is a deceiver and therefore should be expose. He had done great damage to History by playing tricks and making fun of his readers. Again, I would have let this pass if it has nothing to do with Christian faith but Brown is destroying Christianity in the name of extensive research and factual claims. He is making dangerous ideas into the minds of people just like Charles Darwin who intentionally put misleading title on his book "Origin of Species..." when its content actually does not contain what it promised but just discussed "Variation of Species..." (This would be another topic)
Now we shall be focusing into another deceptive tool crafted by Satan. Well, liars goes to hell. Just like the devil himself, he mixed a little bit of truth into his lying. Anyway, Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons is an insult to its reader when they make the book best-seller. There are more un-factual listing you can find in the web about this book but I will be focusing on things I have personal knowledge or those things that can easily be verified with little research...
To be fair, I enjoy reading his books on the merit of being imaginative and I would even suggest that you read it for entertainment purpose...but on history and factual claims? Let's see:
1. Kohler said, Copernicus (The Polish Astronomer) was murdered by the church for "revealing scientific truths". This is baseless, even though the Catholic Church is notorious in executing anyone that gets in their way, they have nothing to do with this guy's death. Copernicus died from complication due to a stroke in 1543. If he was murdered the more likely story is that, the King who actually perpetuated it...by putting poison on the pages of the Bible that Copernicus regularly read while he was in prison.
2. The Spiral Staircase was designed by MichaelAngelo. Hey! This would be violation of copyright law. The staircase was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932. That's around 350 years after Michaelangelo's death. (Check here)
3. Michaelangelo (again?) designed the Swiss Guard uniform. There was nothing special about the design of the uniform when they were first introduce in January 1506. Obviously it was a common military uniform at that time, and there was no need to attached the design to a famous artist. In fact, the contemporary design we now see was a Jules Repond design -- which Langdon (Brown) claimed unaltered from the first formation of the army. THE BIG LIES Now the list above are just some minor inaccuracy, and maybe Dan Brown can easily be acquitted for not doing his "home-work". We can forgive his naive research for playful effect and added drama But to continue with the real issue why I should spend a great deal denouncing this book. Maybe even Boycott both the movie and the book.
In The Da Vinci Code, Brown presents the following as fact:
Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene
and her womb was the Holy Grail. Jesus and Mary Magdalene had offspring together. The truth about Christ and Mary Magdalene has been kept alive by a secret society named the Priory of Sion that was led by great minds like Da Vinci.
The gospels are not historically accurate. The Roman Catholic Church instigated a cover-up of some 80 gospel accounts that shed new light on the identity of Jesus.
The early church did not believe that Jesus was divine. Instead, they “voted” for His divinity at the council of Nicea in the fourth century.
The first lie was so easy to counter that even grade school student can answer back. It was not mentioned in the four Gospel that Jesus was married. Plain and simple, Period. Christianities enemy would have used this argument that Jesus had an elicit affair to one of his followers. But Ancient History is quiet on this. No hint whatsoever from non-Christian writers during the time of Jesus nor from the time of John the divine, who is considered the last survivor among the 12 originals.If you want more satisfying answer on this subject read my blog Was Jesus Married?
Historical Record of the Bible Lies two and three are overlapping and therefore I will treat them as one Big lie. If you are followers and readers of my blogsite The Armor of God, perhaps by now you know the Historical claims of the Bible are more accurate than what scientist think. Archaeology for one, are just recently discovering places, people, and event mentioned in the Bible. I hope you browse my blog in your spare time to read factual discoveries not just attested by Christians but even scientist and those outside this faith. Now let us examined the point of argument Brown presents...that there are 80 or so gospels that the Catholics removed to cover up the real identity of Jesus. They selected only 4 Gospel since Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's Gospel are safer. I think Dan Brown is crazy and playing tricks on History. He is claiming that the core beliefs of Christianity was not yet formulated before The Council of Nicea. We must stress the point here that the Roman nor the Vatican was not the first Christians. They were converts from the instigation of Constantine. Nero even accused Christian of perpetuating the fire in Rome. To appeased Christian who distrust the conversion of Constantine and Queen Helen , they have to present a procession claiming that they found Jesus Christ's cross...yes my Filipino folks, that's where you get the "Santacruzan" festival.That is why you see Reyna Elena at the last of the parade carrying a cross. Anyway, some original Christian distrust Rome therefore many factions were formed. Constantine was troubled by these and fear civil war might arise again between Christians and Roman Converts. That is why, the council of Nicea was called to decide the matters. There were many things discussed on this open forum but nothing about what Dan Brown thinks or suggested...they already believe Jesus as son of God...there are no further argument needed on that matter. The Old and New Testament being used are already in circulation more than 300 years ago, so no need to change that collections. Actually, one of the item being affirm on the meeting was the canonization of the Holy Bible. The book of Revelation (placed at the last and written last) by John had this written "No one will add or minus on this book"...or curses will happen to that person on group.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. -- Revelation 22:18
Therefore I think Dan Brown should be advise about this verse just in case he didn't know. Did the early church doubt the divinity of Jesus? 300 years before Roman Catholic Church was form, The New Testament was already in placed. And it was all very clear that Jesus is God. There was no argument during that time whether Jesus is God or man (just a wise teacher or a prophet) at least to those who believed Jesus is God. When Constantine declare Christianity as the official religion of Rome, along side with it is his surrender to Jesus teachings.
What really happen during the council of Nicea can be verify here. .The Council of Nicea (Let us take the word of Catholics for their own actions) If you care enough to investigate what other no non-sense bloggers and critics have posted about Dan Brown's book, please do make your own research. This matter is important since many similar deceptive tactics are being utilized in the name of "educated research" and more often people simply take their words for it.
Exactly two years ago typhoon Ondoy poured in as they said water
equal to a month supply of rainfall. Metro Manila experience flooding like
never before, at least during modern times when we least expect something this
huge could happened. No one was spared, even celebrities and as a matter of
fact, Malacañang Palace was caught too. I have no record how many have lost
their houses or have died but this was one of the worst natural calamity our
archipelago experienced, saved that July 16, 1990 Earthquake where Millions upon
Millions of infrastructure lost and casualties rose by the hundreds.
Too many tragic
stories rose from the aftermath of Ondoy…and the images simply broke my heart. I
could not imagine how a person could bare the lost of his entire belongings and
dead love ones. How he or she could carry the pain of surviving the catastrophe
only to be reminded with images of drowning child or parents.
We know there were
some lapses from the former and current leaders of our land due to irresponsibility
but we also have to remember our part in the fulfillment of these tragedies. We
had not been good steward of mother earth. The rivers are now reclaiming its domain;
the mountains are taking its over due revenge; and skies are in raged from the
toxic we emitted.
Now, once again, we
have to admit our fate was our own creation. Let this day September 25…be a
reminder of how nature pay back the disrespect we bestow on her.
Sadly our country is prone to disaster especially super-typhoon since we are lying directly to tropical storm path forming from the Pacific Ocean. They said, we have to face more or less 30 storms a year. Now if we have not learned yet the lesson of Ondoy and other Natural sisaster, then think again, after reading some of this data...
Worst EarthquakesOn July 16, 1990, an earthquake that registered 7.7 on the Richter scale killed 1,700 people, injured 3,000 individuals and displaced 148,000 more in Luzon. Among the cities that sustained the worst damages were Baguio, Dagupan and Cabanatuan. On August 17, 1976, an earthquake caused a tidal wave or tsunami that killed about 8,000 people in Mindanao, according to the Information Please Almanac. On August 2, 1968, an earthquake caused the collapse of Ruby Tower buildings, leaving hundreds of people trapped underneath the rubble.
Worst Typhoons and FlashfloodsAs a typhoon codenamed Thelma was passing the Philippines on November 5, 1991, a flashflood hit Ormoc City in Leyte province, killing at least 3,000 people and destroying the homes of 50,000 others. In September 1984, a typhoon codenamed Ike killed 1,300 persons while in 1995 typhoon Angela killed 700 people. On August 3, 1999, heavy torrential rains caused a landslide that killed 58 people and buried over 100 houses at Cherry Hills Subsivision in Antipolo City. On November 9, 2001, a typhoon locally named "Nanang" caused a flashflood that buried 350 residents of Mahinog in the island-province of Camiguin.
Coastal Areas Sinking According to the University of the Philippines' National Institute of Geological Sciences, low coastal areas at the Manila Bay, such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and several towns in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan have sunk one meter in the past 30 years or ten times than the rate of the global sea level rise in the last century.
Worst Volcanic EruptionsIn June, 1991, Mount Pinatubo in Zambales province had the century's second largest volcanic eruption, as it unleashed some 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the earth's atmosphere that resulted in slight cooling of the earth's temperature. Thousands of people were believed killed as a result of the eruption and the subsequent lahar flow, which buried several villages in the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. The eruption also forced American troops out of their bases in Clark, Pampanga and Subic, Zambales.
Worst Disaster in HistoryOn July 12, 2000, the Philippines witnessed one of the world's most horrifying images of social tragedy in history. Nearly 500 garbage scavengers who were living literally at the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City were buried alive under tons of garbage when a 50-foot garbage mountain collapsed on their makeshift houses at the height of torrential rains. It was a tragic commentary on poverty in the Philippines, yet the lesson remains to be learned to this day.
Genesis 7:1-24
Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. ...
"Poetic
Intentions" A beacon of hope, a candle that suppose to be
speaking Empty rhetoric of a man with only so little to
give. The shimmering glow has come to exhaustion...
There’s a super typhoon threatening to hit the Philippines.
As if intensifying the memory of typhoon Ondoy
two years ago, this one Pedring already making an early gnashing…although it
was predicted to make landfall by tomorrow. So I wrote a blog and you can hit
this link IN MEMORY OF ONDOY. But before the blog, I was charge by an intense
desire to paint…
The idea was formed
about a day or two ago, and I had made a rough sketch of it yesterday but there
were some art projects that came plus I still have to make Empanada to sell. By
the time all errand was finished, I was too tired to face the said artwork
therefore I indulge myself on the internet, visiting of course Tagged ArtLover
Group…play Iron-Grip Marauders, Edit some of my sites, and browse some article…
So the said work
was re-started this noon. When it’s done I feel satisfied and ready to brag it
on cyberspace that I call “Poetic Intensions” although the intent was not
really met after it didn’t came out nice on photograph. Well, the usual problem
with my camera: the image were blurry and it doesn’t show the beautiful color
mixing I had achieved on this piece; especially the central figure which is the
candle with mouth—a surreal approach that symbolizes an advocacy that I want to
share being the beacon or light for mankind.
It is quite
frustrating after more than a dozen attempts taking shots; twisting, adjusting
lights, white-balance and contrast but to no avail. The only consolation is
looking at it directly on my work. Now, it’s a great deal to me now to acquire
a new camera. That thing wouldn’t be possible at the moment. I’m so broke and
there are some necessary debts to finish.
Sometimes, I was
thinking I should go back working and abandon my quest for self-employment.
This is a tough season for my entrepreneurship and my other sidelines aren’t
that booming too… I must have been wrong in my decisions…
All is accumulating
now after about 3 years since I leave Print Town. It must have been a brave
move but not wise at all.
Now the beacon is
fading…its shimmering glow has come to its exhaustion…
Frequent me with some like Add me some excellent post, Catch me online tonight Even during my morning toast.
Brighten my day One liner or two, Oh excellent way Kindness will do.
Fher is the name Arriving online, Nemesis on game Allied in time; Think before we click Instant comment and blog, Chatting or browsing, my Signal so weak…
Takes Applicants for Nuptial Destiny with ObligatoryCeremony
(That's her full name...)
Guaranteed sweet and speaks Italian, Filipino, English, and Arabic
(knows how to use Google Translate just in case above language fails)
As a Nurse you are insured of being reminded daily to take your medicines and when you get old, you don't have to hire care-takers.
Very Artistic and plays various musical instrument.
Qualification for Applicants
Single of course, or if you plan to get divorce just to marry her it's OK.
Well-traveled, necessary for its her pass-time aside from shopping. If you don't travel, just provide her the budget, she'll promise to buy memorabilia.
Not Necessarily Rich, just a Swiss Account will do.
Good-looking...(can be negotiated as long as above criteria are met)
Interested applicants (are you serious? You still wanna do this?) may contact Tagged ArtLover Dating Sites. http://artlovergroup.blogspot.com/
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA
(Don't Kill Me!!! Seriously you should change that status...Right ArtLover?)
"Do no forget to entertain strangers,for by doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."(Heb 13:2)
There were some argument if Angels do sing, since the Bible seems to be silent on this issue....
Does it matter if they sing or not? It will not lead to ones salvation if angels sing or not. Anyway, for discussion purposes and the lack of topic to say on this blog...you can join the discussion on this link...
Angels are mentioned about three hundred times in the Bible. The first description of an angel appears in Genesis 16:7, the last in Revelation 22:16. The angel is portrayed at the beginning as carrying a message from God, and in the closing chapter of scripture as carrying a message from Christ.
ANGELS CARE ABOUT MILITARY PERSONNEL. The very first Gentile convert was a military officer. "About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in to him, and said to him, ‘Cornelius!’ and fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God’ " (Acts 10:3-4)
PRISON BARS CANNOT KEEP ANGELS FROM US. What glorious things angels have wrought in prison. "But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, ‘Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life’." (Acts 5:19-20)
LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE GUARDIAN ANGELS. Jesus lovingly spoke of children seven times in this, the children’s chapter of the Bible. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." (Matt 18:10, 11)
ANGELS HAVE NOT ALWAYS EXISTED, BUT WERE CREATED PRIOR TO ADAM. Only four angelic beings are mentioned by name in scripture: Michael and Gabriel (Holy): Lucifer and Abbadon (Fallen). "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:15, 16)
ANGELS ARE SUBJECT TO JESUS, THEIR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Angels cannot work the works of the Holy Spirit, nor grant forgiveness for sin."And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him." (I Peter 3:21,22)
BECAUSE NAKEDNESS IS A MARK OF APOSTASY BEFORE GOD, ANGELS IN THEIR NATURAL STATE ARE CLOTHED IN PURE, FINE, WHITE LINEN. So was the High Priest when making access to God. Jesus was wrapped for burial in fine linen prior to His resurrection. "And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men." (Matthew 28: 3,4)
A NUMBERLESS HOST OF ANGELS DESCENDED UPON MT. SINAI. There Moses received the law from God, which the angels themselves had ordained. "Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain which God has desired for His abode? Surely, the Lord will dwell there forever. The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness." (Psalm 68:16,17)
GOD’S ANGELS ARE HOLY (SINLESS) BY CHOICE. Angels are spoken of more in the New Testament than in the Old Testament. "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:37,38)
ANGELS LIVE IN CLOSE AND CONSTANT COMMUNION WITH GOD, CONTINUALLY PRAISING HIM. If man were the only creature giving praise to God, how little glory He would receive from His creation. "And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years,’ And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God: and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring to you this good news." (Luke 1:18,19)
THE ANGELS’ CAPITOL IS IN A HEAVEN FREE FROM SIN, THE BUSIEST PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE. To deny the existence of angels and of heaven is to deny the Deity of Christ, for He spoke of them both quite often. "Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.’ And He said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:50,51)
ANGELS ARE VASTLY NUMEROUS. The Hebrew language had no word for "million", so when speaking of angels, they expressed a million as "a thousand thousands (which is a million) and ten thousand times ten thousand (a hundred million)". "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living god, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect." (Hebrews 12:22,23)
ANGELS DO NOT MARRY OR REPRODUCE. There is no mention in scripture of "baby" angels. "But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven." (Matthew 22:29,30)
ANGELS NEVER DIE, NEITHER IS IT MENTIONED THAT THEY CAN WEEP. There will be no hospitals, graveyards or jails in heaven. "But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; for neither can they die any more, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." (Luke 20:35,36)
ANGELS ARE NOT "ALL KNOWING". "heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." (Matthew 24:35,36)
ANGELS CAMP AROUND THOSE WHO FEAR GOD. "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:7,8)
ANGELS ARE WISE AND HAVE DISCERNMENT. "In order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth. Then the king said to Joab, ‘Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom." (II Samuel 14:20,21)
ANGELS ARE MULTI-LINGUAL. "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13:1,2)
ANGELS CAN VIEW US FROM THEIR ROYAL COURT AND HAVE THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE AS THEIR COLISEUM. "For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor." (I Corinthians 4:9,10)
ANGELS EAT HEAVENLY MANNA. It is possible that Jesus ate angel food (manna from heaven) when angels ministered to Him after His 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. "And He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance." (Psalm 78:24,25)
AROUND THE THRONE OF GOD SERAPHIM STAND ABOVE AND CRY, "HOLY", CHERUBIM STAND BELOW TO GUARD, BUT NO ANGEL IS ALLOWED TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, AS THAT IS RESERVED FOR HIS SON AND OUR SAVIOR. "For to which of the angels did He ever say, ‘Thou art My Son, today I have begotten thee’? And again, ‘I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be a Son to me’? And again He brings the first-born into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him’." (Hebrews 1:5,6)
ANGELS PATROL THE EARTH. The "real" God-squad. "And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, ‘These are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth’. So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet." (Zechariah 1:10,11)
ALTHOUGH HIS DISCIPLES SLEPT, JESUS WAS NOT ALONE IN THE GARDEN OF PRAYER, FOR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN WAS PRESENT AND STRENGTHENED HIM. "Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. and being in agony he was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." (Luke 22:43,44)
ANGELS ARE CURIOUS. "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things into which angels long to look. Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 1:12,13)
ANGELS WILL BE JUDGED BY US. "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life?" (I Corinthians 6:2,3)
ANGELS PROPHESY AND INTERPRET DREAMS. "But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20,21)
OUR LORD HIMSELF APPEARED AS AN ANGEL TO JACOB, GIDEON AND MENOAH...ONLY TO MENTION A FEW. If this had not been the Lord, He would have constrained them when they began to worship and pay tribute to Him, just as the angel did in the revelation when John fell down to worship him. "Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He found Him at Bethel, and there He spoke with us, even the Lord, the God of hosts; the Lord is His name." (Hosea 12:4,5)
THE TOMB OF JESUS WAS NEVER EMPTY, FOR THE ANGELS WERE THERE AND PROCLAIMED THE FIRST RESURRECTION STORY."But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beheld two angels in whit sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying." (John 20:11,12)
SATAN WAS AN ANOINTED CHERUB, BUT HE HAS THE ABILITY TO DISGUISE HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT (THEREFORE AS A MESSENGER). "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds." (II Corinthians 11:14,15)
HELL WAS NOT PREPARED FOR MAN, BUT WAS PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. If you force yourself into Hell by purposely rejecting Christ, you will be going to a place not at all prepared for you...God prepared Heaven for you. "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:40,41)
ANGELS CAN APPEAR AS WINDS AND FLAMES OF FIRE. "And of the angels He says, ‘Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.’ But of the Son He says, ‘Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom." (Hebrews 1:7,8)
ANGELS CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor thing present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38,39)
ANGELS REJOICE OVER REPENTANT SINNERS. "And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15;9,10)
ANGELS ARE NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZABLE. Only seraphim and cherubim are mentioned in scripture as having wings, and never does it mention that angels have halos. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:2,3)
ANGELS ARE SO STRONG THAT IT TOOK ONLY ONE TO KILL 185,000 ASSYRIANS...AND NOW THEY ARE FIGHTING ON YOUR TEAM. Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out, and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh." (II Kings 19:35,36)
ANGELS WERE CHARGED TO GUARD JESUS IN ALL HIS WAYS. This is why they are mentioned more in the Gospels and Revelation...because where Jesus was, the angels were en masse. "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11,12)
AN ANGEL ALMOST DESTROYED JERUSALEM. "So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time; and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, ‘It is enough! Now relax your hand!’ And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite." (II Samuel 24:15,16)
ANGELS ARE IN CONSTANT WARFARE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS AGENTS. Many times they are mentioned as driving chariots of fire pulled by the only earthly animal mentioned that will be in heaven, the horse. "Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia." (Daniel 10:12,13)
ANGELS CAN CAUSE THE EARTH TO QUAKE AND MOUNTAINS TO TREMBLE. "Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it." Matthew 28:1,2)
ANGELS DESIRE TO COMFORT US. "And the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying." (Matthew 28:5,6)
MAN IS CREATED LOWER THAN THE ANGELS. "But one has testified somewhere, saying, ‘What is man, that Thou rememberest him? Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about him? Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels; Thou has crowned him with glory and honor, and has appointed him over the works of Thy hands." (Hebrews 2:6,7)
ANGELS DIFFER IN CLASS, CALLING and RANK. The list is not exhaustive and not necessarily in this order: Seraphim, cherubim, archangel, princes."But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’ But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed." (Jude 9,10)
ANGELS ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED. "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to be head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (Colossians 2:18,19)
ANGELS ARE NOT TO PREACH "ANOTHER GOSPEL". Only fools rush in where angels fear to tread. "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8,9)
ANGELS CAN CAUSE AFFLICTIONS. "And the people kept crying out, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died." (Acts 12:22,23)
ANGELS ARE ALWAYS OF MASCULINE GENDER WHEN MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE AND WHEN REVEALED IN HUMAN FORM."And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment had come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." (Revelation 14:6,7)
ANGELS WILL CAST THE UNSAVED INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE. "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41,42)
ANGELS WILL GATHER TOGETHER THOSE WHO ARE SAVED. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matthew 24:30,31)
IN GREAT GLORY ANGELS WILL RETURN WITH JESUS, LED BY A SHOUT FROM THE ARCHANGEL, MICHAEL."For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:16,17)
ALL ANGELS WILL BE PRESENT AT THE JUDGMENT WHEN JESUS IS UNVEILED IN HIS FATHER’S GLORY. Man has never before seen Jesus in full glory...neither did the friends of the bridegroom (the prophets and disciples). "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31,32)
72,000 ANGELS (TWELVE LEGIONS - 6,000 TO A LEGION) WERE WAITING FOR CHRIST’S COMMAND AT HIS HOUR OF BETRAYAL, AND ANY ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE, AND GLADLY WOULD HAVE, RESCUED HIM...BUT JESUS WILLINGLY LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR YOU. "Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52,53) List from Joe R. Garman
A bit disappointed when Shamcey Supsup, our candidate for Ms. Universe came only as 3rd runner-up. Her answer to the final Q & A was even the best as fa I'm concern:
“If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God who created me and I have my faith and my principles and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too.”
Just for the fact that she's the only candidate among the final 5 that answered in English should be given extra credit.
Well, of course Ms. Angola deserves the crown, she's simply like a brilliant star that night. Here's a link about Filipino celebrities remarks on the recent outcome of Ms. Universe pageant held in Brazil...
Recently I came across the work of Dr Emoto, and his studies on water crystals. He took samples of water, froze them and took photographs of the water crystals. He then wrote words on vials of water taken from the same source. The crystals formed in the vials which had positive words, such as love and gratitude, were beautiful. However the crystals in the vials with negative words such as hate and evil were very different, and the water didn't even form crystals in some instances. Experiments were done using words from different languages, and also by the scientists having no knowledge of what the words meant. The results were similar. More information can be found at http://www.whatthebleep.com/crystals or by watching the movie "What The Bleep Do We Know". Although I find the concepts of quantum physics difficult to grasp, the findings of this study on water crystals has had a profound impact on me. The human body is known to be composed of up to ninety percent water. If words had such a significant impact on water crystals, then what is the impact of positive and negative words to our bodies....
Now really for the first time a poll I can't answer...who's prettier Rhiann Ramos or Sam Pinto? I beg off...
Although we can set the ambience
to be nostalgic, any moment we like; this situation can be prompted by many factors
like; when we overheard an old familiar tune, or during visits to our hometown,
or also when we happen to re-read old books, found that family album while
cleaning the house, or when you get invited to a Blogfest like these.
There’s always that melancholic air when we enter a state of
Nostalgia. We will found our lips
automatically smiling at times when our attention was caught by an almost
fading Class picture; and all you could do is shake your head re-discovering
that you actually wore those unmatched pants and suits during prom night or for
ladies heavy set of hair-do with
bright red lipstick and fake long curly lashes…together with flooding images
from our much younger days. Those
bitter-sweet memories that still linger and sometimes coupled with regrets and
“what if’s”….Sometimes we had wished those days had never ended or that we
could re-live the moment once again.
I had always imagine myself when I grow much older…The dancing glow of
the fireplace with my grandchildren gathered around me; as I tell them stories
of my adventures and mis-adventures. I’ll tell them that I used to have string
of girls on my collections and how their grandmother snatched me in the middle
of these lovely women. Oopps! That’s moving away from the past but going nostalgic
for the future. Hahaha. Of course, we
can always spice up our story-telling for cinematic purposes.
Anyway, so I’m supposed to be re-experiencing the past and make a blog
out of these…
It is said that gratitude is the memory of the heart, and perhaps my
heart is filled with so much to be thankful for…people and places that remain inside the photo album of my mind.
I opted to delete those images that have scarred my heart or marred my
memories…I want to basked into yesteryears where those smiles and laughter’s stayed
immortal. Sometimes, I may have hurt people along the way unknowingly or
intentionally but those were the recklessness of my youth and innocence. That is why, for me, it is easier to forget
and forgive now because of those “nostalgic memories” that allows me the
lessons…that a person’s character are simply the mirror of his good and bad
experiences.
So as I turn old pages from my nostalgic time-travel…I’ve realized the
value of each and every person that God allowed me to meet. They will forever
stay in my heart more than how I have immortalized them in my “visual
manuscript” and diaries…they form part of me and hopefully I had made it too as
a special mark in the gallery of their Nostalgic Museum.
Since a Nostalgic Moment is a compact remembering experiences of
all the senses…I feel that I should include music in the background…and this
song said it all…
