** AUTHOR’S DRAFT COPY ** of
The Destruction of Heaven, or
THE BIBLE BACKS
SCIENCE, OVER FAITH;
An Exhaustive Survey of the Bible’s 200 + Points of Advocacy of Science, Over Faith;
The Second Coming/Appearance/“Parousia” of God; in 10 Volumes:
Vol. 3:
God Returns to Earth,
To Physicality, in
The Fuller Science of God
Pt. 1: The Old Testament and St. Paul, Support
Science, Over Faith,
(Pt. 2, The Science of Jesus)
By
“Dr. Woodbridge Goodman, Ph.D.”
Formal Copyright August 2011
[This Draft Copy Re-Edited by author,
to p. 206 Oct. 2, 2011; to END of text p. 212, Sept. 27, 2011. Fair use permitted.]
Amazingly, we can see the first clear outline of
the Second Coming of God -
here and now.
But – as the Bible foretold -
The second “appearance” of Christ on earth
is not entirely what preachers and churches expected.
Today, God destroys our Heaven of “Faith”
in “miracles” and “spirituality.” And advocates
Religious Science, over Faith:
“Listen to me…. The heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.4-6).
“Heaven cannot contain him” (1 Kings 8.27).
“Test everything…” (1 Thess. 5.21),
“… Understanding science” (Dan. 1.4 KJE).
BLURB:
As we re-read our Bibles here, we suddenly see Christ. … supporting a Science of God.
Over Faith and Spirituality.
When you finally see God supporting the Science of God, prophesy is largely fulfilled: you see a second “appearance”/ “parousia”/Second Coming of God; you conceptually see God leaving the old Heaven – and returning to this physical earth.
Yet the return of God to earth, is not an easy event. “No one is good but God” himself (Mark 10.18). And as God returns to earth … he points out longstanding sins in “all” our holiest men, prophets, priests, churches – and even sins in “all” the angels and prophets in Heaven (Mark 10.18; Isa. 34.4; Rom. 3.23; Mal. 2-3-10; Zech. 13.1-14.1; Jer. 5.30-31). Sins even in their most “inspired” doctrines.
In fact? If applying Science to religion, seems to find errors in “all”; and seems to destroy our Heaven itself? Then after all, that fulfills the prophesies of the Day of the Lord and Judgement Day: the “day”s when, amazingly, God exposes sins in “all” holy men – and destroys Heaven itself. In order for God to show us something better (Isa. 34.4, 51.5, 65-6; 2 Peter 3.7-12; Rev. 21). In order for God to show us all, the Science of God; science-based religious study. [Most of this text, US copyrighted early August 2011; re-edited by author to p. 7-25, 9/02/11].
PREFACE
One heaven-shattering “Day,” you are supposed to see
a “second” and fuller “appearance,”
a Second Coming, of God.
And as we re-read our Bibles here, we begin to see that: as we see
God and Jesus supporting not “Faith,” but Science.
“Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21 RSV).
“Understanding science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE).
“Let no one contend… for with you is my contention, O priest” (Hos. 4.4-5.2 RSV).
“Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10).
“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits” (Mat. 7.15-21).
“The fruits of you ground” (Deut. 7.13).
“The fruits of the field” (Lam. 4.9).
“Every tree that does not bear fruit, is cut” ( Mat. 7.19).
A Simple Summary
Traditionally, our priests and ministers and churches presented us with a Christ that told us that our religion, Christianity, is supposed to be based on “faith.” But one “day” or another, you are supposed to see a “second” and better, “fuller” appearance, a Second Coming, of Christ; while we are beginning to see something like that, even here and now. Yet – as foretold – the Christ that we now see, is rather different than what we were taught in church. For centuries we have been taught in churches all over the world that the essence of Christianity, and the essence of religion in general, is “faith.” Faith in God, as God has been presented to us in churches, by preachers. And yet finally, what the whole world has been taught in effect, as the essence of Christianity, isn’t really what the Bible itself really, finally called for. But “faith” isn’t what we now see the Bible’s Christ/God stressing, finally. Finally, actually, we see Christ advocating not faith at all; but telling us to learn a Science of God, instead.
The fact is, amazingly, the Bible itself said that Christianity is not supposed to be based on faith at all; it is supposed to be based on science. Overall, we will find here, 1) the Bible itself actually warned that there have always been sins in our holiest men and angels, and in their most “inspired” doctrines. And 2) therefore? We should never have had much “faith” in them, or in their ideas about God. Because essentially “all” our holiest men and angels, often made serious errors, even in their allegedly most “inspired” moments, instead of trusting and believing them, or following the “Christ” they present to us in church, with strong, nearly “blind” “faith”? Instead of that, the Bible itself finally told us to be aware that each and every holy man and angel, often sins and errs, even in their allegedly most holy moments, and in their descriptions of God. And therefore? We were never supposed to have such strong faith or “belie”f, in hour holy men, or their ideas, their sermons, about Christ, their church services and liturgies; not at all. Instead? 3) The Bible finally told us not to even consider trusting and believing anyone, any alleged holy man. Unless we see them produce real physical, material results; material wonders:
“From prophet to priest, every one deals falsely” (Jer 6.13, 5.31).
“All have sinned” (Rom. 3.23 RSV). “No one is good but God” (Mark 10.18).
“Now this is for you, O priest” (Hos. 4.4?). “He leads priests away stripped” (Job 12.19).
“What is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thess. 3.10).
“Certain persons … made shipwreck … of faith” (1 Tim. 1.19).
“The simple believes anything” (Prov. 14.15).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4.1).
“If I am not doing the works … then do not believe me” (Jesus, in John 10.37).
Amazingly, God did not stress “faith” as strongly as our preachers have stressed it. Indeed, we re-read our Bibles here, we see the Second Coming partially fulfilled; we see an entirely different, “second” and better “appearance” to Christ. And this Second Coming, exactly as foretold, reverses many expectations of preachers. Indeed, as we exhaustively re-read our Bibles here, a “second” time, we will come to see a “second” and rather different view of Christ Jesus. Specifically, our five main, heaven-shattering findings will be these: 1) the Bible, Christ as we now see him a “second” time in the Bible itself, says there have always been huge errors in “all” our holiest men and angels, priests and ministers; sins in they themselves personally. But also errors in their most “inspired” doctrines. And so therefore? 2) because essentially “all” our holy men often failed us, God tells us that Christianity was never supposed to be based on “Faith”; on faith in holy men, or in their vision of, their sermons about, God. Instead, 3) Christ, as we will come to see him here, says that we should base ourselves on a Science of God. Since our holiest men and angels often sinned, far from just trusting and believing in them, or in the “Christ” they present in their sermons? Instead, we are supposed to carefully examine them; and do not allow ourselves to even begin to believe that this or that idea is from Christ or not; until careful examination shows that following that idea, guides us to real physical “wonders,” “fruits,” “prosperity,” and “works.” Since our preachers and their words, are often mere empty words, we are not supposed to even begin to even tentatively believe in them, or give them much credence at all; unless careful scientific examination, shows that following them leads us to physical, material success; here on this physical earth.
This to be sure, is a quite different view of Christ, than what we have in the past. But 4) if this second, scientific view of Christ, seems to offer a “second,” “New” appearance of Christ? Then after all, it fits the Bible perfectly: one day, we are supposed to a “second” and better “appearance” – a Second Coming – of God. One that – exactly as we see here – exposes massive sins in our holiest men, angels, churches, and their doctrines and sayings about God.
And 5) if we now have a second coming that since it exposes sins in all our holiest men and angels, even in Heaven itself? Finally this new picture of Jesus, fulfills the denied/neglected but central prophesy of the End Times: finally, the second appearance of Christ and God, is supposed to … destroy our traditional Heaven itself. As foretold (2 Peter 3.7-12; Isa. 34.4, 51.6, 65-6; Rev. 21; etc.). But all in order to burn away the “chaff” of old religious mistakes; and to foreground, after all, the second and better appearance of Christ; in the Science of God. While Science in general alone finally shows the clearest “signs,” of being able to realize the foretold new heaven, the promised “kingdom” of God, not just in “spirit” or in our “hopes”; but as a concrete physical kingdom, here, on this physical, material earth (Rev. 21).
Those will be our five major general points; to be proven in our many volumes here.
In our present book, more specifically, we will be talking mainly about the Old Testament, and then briefly about Paul. But the whole main idea of our books, is probably best introduced, by way of a very simple example; a simple, short, well-known, and very brief phrase, from the New Testament; from Jesus himself. Indeed, we might as well begin, by presenting Jesus himself. As 1) Jesus himself, warned about sins and errors, even in especially our holy men. Even in allegedly Christian holy men, who quote the name of the “Lord.” Here, Christ warns that even apparent holy men, who come in the “name” of the “Lord,” and “Christ,” will be however, still “false”:
“Beware of false prophets…. Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 7.15-16 ff, RSV: Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible).
“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit…. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father” (Mat. 7.15-18-20; including material fruits, like good deeds RSV).
Jesus here and elsewhere, as it turns out, was trying to warn believers, that that there have always been sins in religious people; religious “scribes and Pharisees”; sins even in priests; sins even in apparent Christians, crying “Lord, Lord.” Jesus in our first example, happened to be warning us specifically about “false prophets.” But this was just part of a massive series of warnings throughout the entire Bible, warning about “false” and bad things, in essentially every single aspect of religion and Christianity; from “anointings” and “angels,” to problems, sins, in apostles like John “Zebedee.” Here Jesus was warnings us specifically about “prophets”; but that becomes just part of a massive theme in the Bible; warnings us about false prophets, false holy men … who, the rest of the Bible made clear, would mislead the whole “world” (Rev. 13). Who would mislead even mislead Christianity; even mislead the elite or elect, if possible. And indeed, we are warned eventually that finally, since even “all” priests and prophets will be found partially false, deceived, then – since the whole world followed preachers, and their religion, their Christ, c. 300 AD-1300, or even to c. 1968, then the whole world could be deceived. Even in their “worship” (Rev. 13). For this reason? Amazingly, finally, though “part”s of the Bible, taken out of context, seemed to support simple “faith” in holy men and their God, we will find that ultimately, overall, the Bible told us not to have so much “faith” in alleged holy men, after all; because many things they say are simply, as the Bible says, “false” or lying.
Since our religious leaders, even the holiest men, are often unreliable, finally the Bible at times explicitly warns against faith, or “belief.” Warning us that the great problem with being too believing, is that it makes us gullible; it makes us prone to believing any liar. Therefore, amazingly, ultimately, our Lord told us not to put too much reliance on faith or belief. Since being too faithful, makes us gullible, leads us to believe false religious ideas, all-too-faithfully, all-too-easily:
“The simple believes anything” (Prov. 14.15).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4.1).
“Faith apart from works is dead” (James 2.26; see also “wreck of faith” q.v. n.s.).
“If I am not doing the works … then do not believe me” (Jesus, in John 10.37).
What we suddenly begin to see here, is shocking: we will begin to see a Jesus who is quite different from the “Jesus” or “Christ” that we were introduced to, in church. But if we now suddenly see Jesus … telling us that our holy men were unreliable? If we now suddenly see Christ … warning us explicitly, not to have too much faith, or belief? If so, then fortunately, we also see Jesus … telling us how to get through all this.
As it turns out? 1) The Bible itself warned us over and over, in dozens of ways, about what we are seeing here and now, today. The Bible itself warned us dozens, hundreds of times, that there our holiest men and angels, were often sinful, and “false,” even in their most “inspired” moments, and sermons. Therefore? 2) amazingly, since “all” our holiest men and angels often sin and make major mistakes, our religion, Christianity, was never supposed to be strongly based on “faith”; especially not faith in holy men and angels, or their ideas, their sermonic “images” of Christ. 3) Christianity in fact, was never supposed be mainly based on “faith.” Since our holy men often sinned, we were never supposed to have such strong “faith” in holy men, and “faith” in them, or in the “Christ” that they present to us in church; instead, we are supposed to be continually examining “everything” in our religion (1 Thess. 5.21), with real, empirical “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE). Far from basing our religion on “faith,” instead, Christianity was always supposed to be based on science. And if this view of God seems to destroy our traditional religion, to attack our Heaven itself? In fact, 4) one “day” or another, the Bible said over and over, our Heaven itself is supposed to be destroyed. 5) In order for God to show us something “new” and better; a Second Coming, a second, “full”er “appearance” of God on earth. While indeed? When we see Christ and God advocating not faith, but science, that is a “second appearance” to God, that exactly matches the predictions, promises, of the Bible itself.
For centuries, our preachers have assured us that God himself said that the core of Christianity, is faith; faith in effect, in preachers, or their image of Christ; Christ as presented to us in church, in sermons. And yet however, what we will be showing here is that what we heard in nearly every church, is not really true. Far from simply believing and having faith in holy men, or their sermons, faith in the picture of “Christ” they offer us in sermons, instead, the Bible told us over and over, that we are supposed to actively try to investigate religion and Christianity; to discover who and what is false, and what is true, in religion. And this we are supposed to do, not by inner dialogue and faith; but by carefully – and as it turns out, scientifically- examining, holy men and their sayings. And looking specifically, scientifically, for their “observe”-able, physical, material results. Or as Jesus himself said, their “fruits.”
As we will see here, the Bible did not stress faith as much as preachers have. There are many, many false things in religion, even in Christianity, the Bible itself constantly warned; therefore we should never have so blindly, faithfully followed our religious leaders. But if our preachers and holy men and their doctrines, are often false, then how can we know which things, which religious ideas and people, are true? Really, truly good people, Jesus finally told us, would produce for us, not just words, or sermons, or promises, or spiritual things; but they would produce many good, physical, material things; “fruits.” We can know who is good, therefore, by looking to see what good material things they produced; what physical, material “fruits” they produced. While, as for all for those, who do not produce such good fruits? Far from continuing to follow them with total faith, instead, we are supposed to simply deduce and declare, that these unproductive branches of Christianity were simply, “false” and bad religious leaders:
“Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name … and they will lead many astray” (Mark 13.5-6).
“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit…. Thus you will know them by their fruit” (Mat. 7.15 ff).
“Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Fathe.” (Mat. 7.15-18-20; including material fruits, like good deeds RSV).
“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Mat. 7.20 KJE).
“The fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground” (Deut. 7.13; see the two voices working typically, in contrast, in Deut. 6.16-22 & 7.13-19).
“The fruit of vineyards and oliveyards” (Jos. 24.13; James 5.7; cf. Prov. 1.31, Isa. 3.10; vs. Hos. 10.13, 14.2, Gal. 5.22 below).
God warned over and over, that there are always many false religious leaders, even those who think they are Christians, invoking the “name” of our “Lord,” “Christ.” So obviously, we should never have had so much faith even in our preachers, who continually say they speak for the Lord. But if so, then how can we begin to find out who is truly from the Lord, and who is not? “By their fruits you shall know them”: that is the central and justly-famous quote, from the King James Bible (Mat. 7.20 KJE). The fact is there are dozens, hundreds of places in the Bible, where we are told in effect, not to have such faith in holy men; that tell us that instead, we should always be carefully, scientifically examining them to see if they are actually producing real, physical, material results: “works,” “signs,” and so forth (see also Deut. 18.21; 1 Kings 18.21-40; etc.). Or as Jesus says above, their “fruits.”
Jesus’ brief statement, in Matthew 7, is an extremely useful simple introduction to in fact, the Science that God really wanted us to have, as the core of our religion; over and above faith. In fact, this single short phrase – “By their fruits you shall know them” – is perhaps the most useful (if admittedly somewhat incomplete), short introduction, to the Science of God. But the implications of Jesus’ remark are ultimately, heaven-shattering; Jesus’ statement finally tells us several things, that are entirely different from what most of us heard, in church. Ultimately, it begins to suggest that 1) all our holiest men and angels – and the preachers who followed them all too faithfully – were often unreliable. Specifically 2) their strong emphasis on “faith” was dangerously wrong, in many applications. Such remarks, to be sure though, are quite threatening to preachers, and their authority. Many preachers have therefore attacked Jesus’ remarks, or tried to “twist” them; many have tried, after parts of the Apostle Paul especially, to suggest that Jesus’ emphasis on “fruits” refers just to say, St. Paul’s “fruits of the spirit.” But as it turns out here, ultimately the Bible itself says, that real ministers, to be proven good, are supposed to produce not just – or even primarily – spiritual things. Not “fruits of the spirit” (Ga. 5.22). Bur real, physical, material goods. As we will be seeing here.
Christ and God, as we now see them here, in quotes from the Bible like “by their fruits you shall know them” – present some startling, heaven-shattering implications. Here – and then in a thousand other parts of the Bible too, as we will see – God himself began to affirm many of what will be our five major points in our many books here. First, 1) Jesus here affirmed, strongly, that many of our holy men, even those who think they are Christians, those who come in the name of God, of the “Lord,” are simply, as Jesus says, “false.” So that therefore? God 2) commands us in effect, not to have so much “faith” in holy men; since many of them are false. Even prophets and saints, priests and prophets. Even those who honestly think and say they are following Christ, the “Lord,” are often wrong, and deceptive. And so therefore? 3) Rather than telling us to follow holy men with strong, blind “faith,” actually Jesus here commands us to carefully, critically examine, evaluate, even our alleged holiest men and angels; or here, specifically, “prophets.” By carefully – and eventually, scientifically – examining the physical material, goods – the “fruits” – that they produce. And as it will become clear in our lengthy examination of this subject, Jesus and God finally insisted that priests and ministers demonstrate not even just “fruits of the spirit,” delivering just words and kind thoughts, spirits; ministers must be expected to produce real, physical, material fruits, works, signs, deeds, and proofs; as verifiable by science. Before they we should even consider following them.
This, you would think, would be clear enough, from just the above plain, simple phrase from Christ. From Christ clearly warning about false prophets even in Christianity; and then telling us how to spot them: “by their fruits you shall know them” – might seem fairly straightforward, and easy. But historically we suggest, many preachers and holy men, immediately sought to obscure and modify this simple science. Because soon enough, the simple statements of Jesus, lead to some rather shattering conclusions. For example? For many centuries, our preachers promised us huge, amazing, physical miracles; even “all” and “whatever” we “ask” (from John 14.12-14, and from narrations of physical wonders, throughout the entire Bible). Indeed, the promises of physical results, “wonders,” from holy men, were so firm, that finally the Bible itself told us that if our alleged holy men, do not produce real, physical, empirically-verifiable fruits, works, signs, deeds? Then, far from continuing to follow such men them faithfully, instead, we are supposed to simply deduce that they have been deceptive, false religious leaders. But? Subsequent experience, experiments, suggested to many people, scientists and ordinary people, that most holy men, were not quite producing all the physical wonders, miracles, that they promised. Preachers continually quoted parts of the Bible, that taken by themselves, seemed to promise us that holy men could walk on water, and make bread appear out of thin air, just like Jesus did: that promised us that preachers would indeed, deliver material goods, wonders, to us. Even “all” and “whatever” we “ask” for. All the wonders that Jesus did, and “greater things than these”:
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will be who, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it…” (John 14.11-14).
Based on these parts of the Bible, historically, countless preachers made huge, gigantic promises of huge physical miracles to us all. And yet however, some say that our preachers were often, not able to deliver on their more extravagant promises; not “all” and “whatever” we “ask”ed for. And for that reason, as we will see, many holy men and apostles, tried to “twist” the meaning of these promises of “fruit” and so forth; to suggest that these were just figures of speech, or metaphors, for spiritual, mental things. That preachers did not really have to deliver real, physical goods and wonders, or actual literal “fruit”; but rather, they only have to give us kind words, sermons, and good ideas, in our mind or “spirit.” They only need to give us “faith,” and “hope” and so forth: not real physical food, and so forth.
For whatever reason, eventually, religion, Christianity, began to partially back away from big promises of wonderful physical miracles and wonders; major elements of the New Testament seemed to suggest that all promises of physical rewards, miracles, can be turned into metaphors, “figures” of speech, for just mental or spiritual wonders. And yet however, we will be showing here that the Bible itself, never fully distanced itself, from the promise of not just spiritual, but also especially, real, physical material things; including literal, actual fruit: more grapes, on your grape “vine” and so forth. Indeed, we will show here that in spite of the implications of some spiritual “part”s of the Bible – especially the New Testament; especially the writings of Paul – overall, the Bible ultimately, retained the insistence, that those who truly find and follow God, will get not just mental or spiritual rewards, but also especially big, physical, material rewards, too. Indeed, ultimately, God’s promise of physical, material rewards, was so firm, that we can determine who is a good preacher, and who is a false one; by scientifically examining, “measur”ing, the physical, material goods that following them produces. And? If a preacher delivers mostly only sermons, and mental or spiritual things? But does not deliver far more, real material goods? Far from continuing to follow such a preacher with total, blind faith and spirituality, instead, the Bible itself told us over and over, that we are supposed to simply deduce, that the preacher who did not produce empirical results, was simply a “false prophet”; a bad, false priest.
How firm is the Bible, in this? In its insistence that Christianity is supposed to be based not on “faith” in holy men or their view of God, but on empirical Science? How firm is the Bible, in its insistence that real preachers must produce real, physical, material goods? That indeed, we are to determine which preachers and good, and which are false, not by their mental or spiritual attainments, but by scientifically measuring the real physical goods that following them produces? How firm in other words, is Science-based Christianity? Ultimately we will be seeing here, this Science of God is affirmed in hundreds, in thousands of passages in the Bible itself. The Bible itself presented this same idea, in thousands of different places; in a dozen different ways. Over and over again – as we will see here in our ten volumes on this subject – God insisted that “all” our holiest men and angels, often sinned and erred; even in many of what they said were their most inspired sermons and doctrines and sayings about God. And so therefore? Finally God and the Bible said, we are not to have much faith in our conventional religious leaders. Knowing that they all sin and err all the time, far from continuing to follow them and/or “Christ” as they present him to us, instead, we are supposed to always seek to actively determine, with science, when they were true, and when they were false. And this we are commanded by God to do, by means of “science”; the “observ”ation of holy men’s physical, material – as the Bible itself aid – “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and empirical “proof”s. (Throughout our writings here, note that many terms are put in quotes: most of our words in quotes, are in quotes – to indicate that they are in the Bible itself. To verify that our arguments here, are firmly, continually tied, to the Bible itself. Readers who want to know more, are invited to look these key words up, in a Bible index, or concordance. And especially in our biblical Bibliographies, that we offer at the end of our books).
For centuries, most of our preachers have often spoken as if, acted as if, all they need to do to be proven good, to be proven to be from God, is to talk, sermonize, or produce good thoughts, or spirits; to produce especially “faith,” and the “hope” it gives us. But the fact is, we will be showing in our many books here, that that the Bible warned continuously, that there are many false prophets – and false priests – out there. Therefore, we should never have had so much “faith” in them, or their sermons, their verbal “image”s, of God, or their (idea of) “Christ.” God warned us over and over, that “all” our holiest men often sin; “all have sinned”; “no one is good, but God.” Therefore, our religion, our search for the truth, was never supposed to be based on faith, and spirituality. Instead, in spite of a lengthy flirtation with faith, the Bible finally, ultimately, not only indicated that religion, Christianity, is supposed to be more based on empirical observation of physical evidence – fruits, works, signs, deeds, prosperity, proofs, etc.. But God even at times seemed to tell us, not to follow preachers, who cannot be proven to produce great physical deeds. In fact finally, amazingly, in one strong reading of John 10.37 for example, Jesus himself even told us incredibly, not to have faith in or “believe,” even in Jesus himself. Unless or until, he or his followers produce real material “works,” as evidence, as material empirical proof, that he is really from God:
“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me” (John 10.37).
Here, incredibly, we see Jesus himself, telling us not to believe or have faith; not even in Jesus himself. Jesus himself declares, “do not believe me.” Unless we see him doing the “works” of his father. Amazingly in effect, the Bible presents over and over, throughout the entire Bible, a reading that allows that we are not supposed to have very strong faith; not even in Jesus. Unless and until we ourselves see, live and in person, some very dramatic physical proofs, of his greatness. We are not supposed to have confidence even in Jesus himself, until we see him and his followers, doing great physical “work”s; works, deeds. To prove that they are from a real, powerful god. To be sure, it may be that by this standard, all preachers simply fail, and are found false. But if so? Then after all, the Bible warned that “all” our holy men would be found inadequate.
Amazingly, therefore? We are beginning here to see a rather different appearance to Christ, than the very spiritual person, the hero of preachers, that preachers introduced to us, in churches all over the world. We begin in fact to see that Christ was actually, very different from the Christ that we were introduced to in countless sermons. Contrary to what our preachers said, Jesus himself did not stress “faith” that strongly for example; not at all. Instead, Christ as we suddenly see him, here, warns us over and over that “all” our holiest men were often unreliable. And therefore? Christ himself tells us that we should never have had such “faith” in them, or their visions; not much “faith” all. We are to have no more “faith than a grain of mustard seed”; and that tiny seed is supposed to be allowed to grow, only if and when we see that it is proven to be fruitful and good, in our actual experience, and scientific examinations.
Christ as we see him now – de-emphasizing “faith,” and stressing proofs – is deeply unsettling; indeed, He is heaven-shattering. Christ as we will be seeing him here and now, in fact, is rather radically different from the false Christ that our preachers accepted and taught us all. Christ as we now see him, rather radically contradicts our holy men and preachers. Far from stressing “faith” and “spirit,” Christ in fact, just as often or more often, warns over and over, about “faith.” Specifically, above, he warned “believ”ing; and about “prophets.” But eventually, God will warn about every aspect of religion, including Christianity. Including say, priests and ministers and churches; and their “anointings” and “baptisms,” and “graces,” and “zeal.” Indeed finally, Christ as we see him here and now, tells us rather firmly, not to believe and “have faith in” ministers, or their vision; unless and until they produce real physical, empirical evidence, of their powers.
Amazingly, Christ as we see him now, tells us not to believe or have faith in Christ himself; unless or until we ourselves see, live and in person, in a timely way, real physical, material evidence, that he has special physical powers.
To be sure, critics of Christianity would claim that few if any preachers can actually produce all the physical wonders they often promised: not “all” and “whatever” we “ask.” And perhaps mindful of these critics, the New Testament for example, finally equivocates on this issue; at times, in one reading, a given passage or quote from the Bible will seem to firmly support preachers, and their faith and spirituality. And preachers will have quoted such passages, over and over again, in support of their own authority and vision. But then again? As we here look more carefully at even our preachers favorite passages, the very passages that were thought to firmly support “faith” and “spirituality,” we will find that, although the New Testament especially, offers many, many statements that seem to very firmly support faith, ultimately, each and every one of these apparently firm statements, turns out to be open to a very different reading; and/or to be modified, by a greater emphasis finally, on evaluating holy men by their “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” and so forth.
Finally in fact? Though the New Testament especially, contains a long and sustained flirtation with priestly faith, even in the New Testament itself, all such statements are phrased in very ambiguous language; and are open to a “second” reading. A reading which sees and hears a second appearance to them; that hears and sees God finally, ultimately allowing and even favoring, a less faithful, spiritual religion. Eventually, we begin to see Christ and God, in a second appearance; an appearance which goes rather against faith. In favor of a more critical, less naively trusting, Science of God. A science which supports many existing Religious Studies writings, science-based theologies. Supporting them, rather more than our all-too-faithful preachers.
Indeed, the Science of God is so firmly indicated in the Bible itself, that every preacher should devote at least 50% of his or her sermons and life to it; or else be found to have been simply, not following the Bible or following God, at all.
The False Christ – of “Faith” and “Spirit”;
Versus the Second and Better Appearance
Seeing Jesus, telling us not to have faith in him, seeing Jesus telling us “do not believe me,” is a very, very disturbing, and disillusioning sight, at first. For this reason in part, most preachers and believers to date, have not found the courage or conviction, to “face” this side of God; they cannot “bear” it. Because, if Jesus didn’t stress faith, or spirituality that much … then generations of believes and even preachers, must be found to have been deceived; to have been following a false Christ.
The Bible itself warned that, in the days of Jesus himself, most believers will not have the courage or humility, to examine or “face” their traditional beliefs, that closely; the Bible told us that they would not have the courage to “bear” the results. And so indeed, since what we now see, here, criticizes preachers and holy men, and even “belief” or faith? Many preachers (including some priestly translators?) have tried to defuse, obscure, deny, the dozens, hundreds, thousands of passages, like the above. The passages in the Bible, that firmly tell us that our religion, Christianity, is not supposed to be based on faith or “believ”ing, but on a critical Science of God. Preachers – who, out of obvious vanity, don’t want anyone to really see or hear the many parts of the Bible that criticize preachers and holy men – have tried to deny, disappear, dematerialize, this side of Christ. This preachers have tried to do, by using hundreds of different sophistical arguments, sermons. Among the many arguments preachers use to try to disprove, disappear Christ as we now see him? Are the many sermons, that support “spirituality.” Here, it is claimed that God, Christ, never really promised real, literal, physical things or wonders at all; but promised only mental or spiritual things.
In fact to be sure, there are parts of the Bible, that seem to have been written, to specifically allow a spiritual reading, of God’s promises. There are countless sermons that insist for example, that Paul and others, would eventually twist or change, metaphoricalize, spiritualize, the meaning of “fruits.” Ultimately, many preachers say that the writings of Paul especially, hinted that good people, to be proven good, do not have to produce real, literal, material, actual physical “fruit,” or agricultural crops, for example; preachers, to be proven good, do not have to produce real, physical “prosperity,” or “works,” or physical “wonders” and “miracles.” Instead, most preachers today imply that, to be proven to be good, to prove they and their words, their ideas, are really from God, people, preaches, only need to deliver, produce, good words, ideas, or spirits. Or as Paul seemed to say at times, to be proven good, preachers do not have to produce material, physical results, and goods; but only the “fruits of the spirit.” That is, they say that Christianity in general – and specifically preachers themselves – do not have to bring us material prosperity. Or deliver physical goods. Or real actual “fruits,” especially: better agricultural crops and actual “fruit” (which indeed seemed to be the meaning of such language, in the Old Testament books, like Deuteronomy, and Numbers). Instead, many preachers claim, they can merely deliver just kind words, thoughts, “spirit”s. And “spirituality”; spiritually pleasant things like “faith,” and “hope.” Which seem pleasant in themselves. And are said to be “fruits,” in the sense of being good mental or spiritual sensations or feelings. Indeed, even if promises of physical miracles, “all” and “whatever” we “ask,” do not seem to come true? Just the mere promises of such miracles, at least seem to make us feel good, or saved, in our spirit. And to give us “hope,” and “consolation.” So that has seemed to possible, to suggest that the Bible, God, never meant to promise real, material, physical things at all; to promise the literal fruit we need, to keep away from starvation, for example. Instead, preachers often speak as if, all that they need to be proven good, all that God ever really promised, to produce the “fruits of the spirit.” To give us mental, spiritual “hope” and so forth. Which have often been called “fruit”s.
And indeed, to be sure, at times, in “parts” of the Bible, some Biblical writers – like the Apostle St. Paul for example – do indeed seem to suggest that to be proven to be good, preachers do not have to produce real, physical material goods, actual fruits, or bigger agricultural crops; Paul and others began to introduce language into the New Testament, that would suggest that the old promises of real, actual, physical goods, “fruit”s from God, can be read as having been largely, merely, metaphors, allegories, symbols, or “figures” of speech, for mental or spiritual attainments; many parts of the writings of the apostles in effect metaphoricalized or spiritualized, the meaning of “fruit.” Indeed, some theologians have asserted that the main achievement of the New Testament and of Christianity, over the Old Testament of the Jews, is getting away from a physical, materialistic reading of God; to begin to value more, intellectual or mental or spiritual sensations or attainments; like “hope.” And yet finally, as it turn out, even the Apostle James, and other seemingly very spiritual persons, were to finally begin to note some problems, with the all-too-common priestly attempt to suggest that all or even most of the promises of the Bible, can be simply regarded as being mere metaphors, for spiritual things. Including especially, “faith.”
Here we will begin to show there are problems with “faith.” And could there be something wrong, with even “spirituality” itself? With the spiritualization of the Old Testament, by elements of the New? The fact is that here we will find that the Bible itself, finally begin to see problems with, sins in, the still very common attempt by priests and other holy men, to suggest that all they need to produce or deliver, to be proven good, are just – or even just primarily – sermons, that give us seemingly good or pleasant, mental or “spiritual” things. Ultimately, even the at-times very spiritual James, and other apostles, began to faintly see, the first signs of some fatal sins, some literally, physically fatal flaws, false and deadly things, in any very strong spirituality. Specifically? The Apostle James noted, in a key passage – in James 2.14-26 – that a religion, a Christianity, that delivered primarily kind words, or spirits – but not say, physical food – turns out to have been an evil, false Christianity. Since it delivers just kind words say, to physically starving people … and then leaves their physical bodies to starve to death, after all (James 2.14 ff.; Isa. 29.8). The priestly Christianity that delivered primarily sermons, words, kind thoughts or “spirit,” to the people, but not the physical things, the literal food they need to keep their bodies alive, turns out, amazingly, to have been a false – and even literally, physically fatal – Christianity. Because, if religion pretends to be central to our lives, to be even “all” we need, and yet it does not supply physical necessities; like physical food? Then it leaves us – or even actively leads us – to physical disaster; to starvation, for lack of the physical things we need. As St. James managed to see, early on, there are problems, sins, even in our priests’ “spiritual”ity itself:
“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has not works, is dead…. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?… Faith apart from works is dead” (James 2.14-20-26).
If man does not live by bread “alone,” he does however live by real, literal, eatable, physical bread, in part. And a religion that only gives us words and spirits, but that does not take care of the physical side of “life,” James noted, is literally a physically deadly, fatal, false religion.
Amazingly therefore, the Bible itself will warn us that there are some evil, and literally, physically fatal sins, in any very strong spirituality, itself. As it turns out therefore, amazingly? The very spiritual religion, that dominates most of our priests and ministers, the ministerial life devoted to furnishing primarily words, sermons, spirits – and only an occasional material handout (or even considerable medical assistance) – was still however, never quite entirely good enough. Or the “spiritual”ity that preachers emphasized over and over, in their sermons, was not the right, properly “balance”d picture of what real Christianity is supposed to be. As it turns out, real Christianity, the Bible itself said, is not as one-sidedly or predominantly “spiritual,” as nearly all our holy men and preachers have been. Real Christianity, is not so “spiritual” after all; it is not supposed to give us primarily mental or “spiritual” things. Really holy men are not supposed to give us just spiritual “fruits,” nice thoughts, in our minds or in our spirits. As the Apostle James began to warn, above, true holy men are not supposed to ignore and denigrate the physical, material side of life, and thus cause us to starve and die, in this material existence; real Christianity is not supposed to deliver or guide us cheerfully, to physical death or starvation, while speaking of “life” only in a wholly spiritual Heaven. Instead – as we will be seeing here – real Christianity is supposed to deliver physical, material, concrete life and food and survival. Here, on this material, physical earth. And furthermore? All those millions of priests and ministers, who historically and to the present day, have not adequately done this? Amazingly, shatteringly, devastatingly …because of their failure to really, full see and deal with the physical side of life, as well as “secular” persons and scientists have, finally essentially “all” our preachers, of each and every era, to the present day, must be found to have been in effect, largely, false. To have been the foretold “false prophets.” That misled themselves, and then mislead the entire “world” (Rev. 13; 1 John 2-4; etc.).
Conclusion?
Finally therefore, the Bible itself actually tells us that we should never have had such “faith”; such faith in our holy men and angels; not at all. The Bible itself constantly warned that essentially “all have sinned” (q.v.); including our holiest men and angels, in Heaven itself (Job 4.18; Isa. 34.4; 2 Peter 3.4; 2 Corin. 11.14; Gal. 1.8; Heb. 1.13, 2.5; see also our entire book on False Priests). All of them often sinned and erred, and were partially “false.” It is precisely for that reason, that finally the Bible itself began to predict the destruction even of Heaven itself. And to explicitly advocate, support, a Christianity based not so completely on strong “faith” in religious leaders, or in Heaven, or in individuals; but to advocate a Christianity based on a sort of discipline, or Science.
All our holiest men and angels, have often sinned; even in their allegedly most holy and inspired moments. The notion that they were ever perfect, is just Vanity and Pride, on the part of preachers and popes. Finally, God himself told us over and over, that 1) essentially all our holiest men and angels, have always been partially sinful and unreliable; even when they claimed to be speaking the words of God himself, they spoke misleading “part”s of the truth (1 Corin. 12.15-13.12 ff.; 2 Corin. 1.14?). Because of that? 2) God told us in effect, not to have so much “faith” in holy men, or their alleged words from God. Instead? 3) God told us to continually examine our holiest men, with science. Since all our holiest men and angels often sin, and fail us even at important moments, “inspired” moments? Christ at times seemed to stress “faith”; but other times he told us that there are always many false holy men, false prophets; in Christianity too. Therefore, we are not to follow any holy man – not even Jesus himself – with such total faith, after all. Rather instead, Christ – and eventually, more clearly, the rest of the Bible – ultimately told us that real holy men produce real, visible, material, physical “fruits,” “works,” “signs.” Not just “spiritual” things or even “fruits of the spirit”; but real, visible, material things. And therefore? We are supposed to actively examine all our holiest men and every one of their sayings, seeking to find out if it is really from God or not (Deut. 18.21 ff; etc.). And as the rest of the Bible makes clear? The way we do this, is to carefully examine their fruits; carefully look to see whether they have produced not just “spiritual,” but also real physical, material results. And finally? We are instructed – even explicitly at last – in other parts of the Bible (especially but not exclusively, in the Old Testament; but also especially in the later works of the New), to use “Science” to evaluate priests and ministers. To evaluate them, by their material results.
God’s support for a Science of God can be found throughout the entire Bible. But after the “by their fruits you shall know them” statement from Jesus himself, probably the most useful quote here, would be from an extended passage on, explicitly, “Science”; in Daniel 1.4-15. There, in the King James translation especially, God himself explicitly describes an early version of the experimental, scientific method. And tells us to apply it to our holiest men and angels and doctrines. While finally? God himself, like Jesus, endorses not blind faith in holy men and their visions, but urges more confidence in the men of Science. Persons …
“… in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and … in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” (Dan. 1.4 King James Edition, KJE).
For many centuries, we have been proudly told in church, by preachers, that the core of Christianity, is following churches, and preachers; with all but total, blind “faith”; faith in say, their promises of “miracles” and “spirituality.” But as we will be showing in our volumes here, the Bible itself did not support preachers and churches – and even “faith” and “spirituality” – that strongly. Instead, the Bible itself continually supported science. Supporting it by 1) name and 2) full description (Dan. 1.4-15, 1 Kings 18.21-40, etc.). Supporting indeed, 3) individually, the main ingredients to science: telling us to evaluate or “test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21), even holy men, by “observ”ing the 4) “visible” empirical, physical goods they produce; their 5) “fruits,” 6) “works,” 7) “signs,” 8) “deeds,” 9) “prosperity,” and 10) “proofs.” Here 11) on this material “earth.” As they are produced, in a timely way: 12) “soon,” 13) “at hand,” 14) “quickly.” As evaluated by 15) Reason and 16) experience, what “comes to pass.” Indeed as we will see, 17) the Bible even – in spite of some objections to this – advocating “test”ing everything in religion (Mal. 3.10; 1 Thess. 5.21; 1 John 4.1 ff.). (For a more complete list of the parts of Science that the Bible supports, see our Bibliographies).
The Bible therefore supported science – even by name (Dan. 1.4 above; KJE). It also supported, individually, the many different constituent elements of science; including “observ”ation of nature, using “reason” and “proofs,” and so forth. In fact, we will show that there are lengthy passages like Dan. 1.4-15, and 1 Kings 18.21-40, where God described in great detail, and firmly advocated for us, an early version of the scientific, experimental method. As the truest and best basis of our religion. While as for Faith? The Bible actually in effect, warned about too much “Faith.” Ultimately therefore? We must come to this Heaven-shattering conclusion: that though the language of the Bible often systematically equivocated on this very issue, over and over, ultimately, the final decision of the Bible, was to tell us to base our religion, our Christianity, not on faith. But to base even our religion on, explicitly, by name: Science.
The False Christ of Faith, Leads to
The Destruction of Heaven
No doubt, this is an extremely painful and fiery, heaven-shattering conclusion, for those of us raised to have total faith in preachers, or their visions, their presentations, of “God.” And yet however? Precisely if this moment is shattering, and painful … then precisely on account of that very quality, this moment ever more perfectly fits – the Bible itself. Specifically? The moment, the “day” that God at last shows you sins in holy men, the day you see and accept all this, the moment you see the sins of holy men, and see the Science of God, in effect, all but completely fulfills the old prophesies of an Apocalypse: of a Heaven-shattering End Time; of the Day of the Lord; or a Day of Judgement. But also of a Second Coming, a Second Appearance (“Parousia”), of God on earth. A moment when, in particular, God exposes sins even in the highest angels in Heaven itself. And when God thereby, begins to … destroy our traditional Heaven itself. In order to show us something better; a “second” and better “appearance” to God; stressing not faith, but science.
A particular moment, a “day” when God more dramatically than usual, unveils the sins of holy men, is foretold over and over, throughout the Bible itself. And note, this is a moment of very, very thoroughgoing exposure. Indeed, finally God is so tired of the sins of holy men, even those in heaven itself, that one “Day,” God firmly says, to clean up religion, he is going to destroy Heaven itself. And “all” in it:
“He leads priests away stripped…. My eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it…. As for you, you whitewash with lies…. Will you speak falsely for God? (Job 12.19, 13.1-4-7).
“Listen to me…. The heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.4 … 6).
“All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgement…. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped” (Isa. 34.4-5-35.5 RSV).
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you…. For the times has come for judgement to begin with the household of God” (1 Peter. 4.12-17).
“God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble” (2 Peter 5.5).
“The heavens … that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement…. All these things are to be dissolved…. Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved” (2 Peter 3.7-12).
“If God did not spare the angels when they sinned…?” (2 Peter 2.4, from Job 5.18?).
“The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire” (Mal. 3.1-2).
Facing, confessing the sins, even of priests and churches, even the highest saints who are alleged to be in Heaven itself, is not an easy thing; especially it is not easy, for preachers, churches, themselves. And? Facing the Destruction of Heaven itself, due to those sins? Will perhaps be hardest of all. But after our present volumes, preachers should be able to at last see and face all this at last. They should be able at last to face countless “signs” of problems in traditional religion, its promises of miracles and even its “lofty” and high spirituality too. Our very proud preachers should at last be able, to face and continually, publicly confess their sins, in very detailed confessions; on finally discovering with us here and now that after all, this moment is allowed – even demanded of them – by the Bible, itself.
Many preachers feel compelled to continually whitewash the signs of sin in their churches, and in their theologies; they feel that they were commanded to ignore all the signs of error, in their promises of miracles and so forth, by the Bible’s command to have “faith” in old traditional beliefs. And yet? The fact is that the Bible itself did not demand such total, blind obedience to old religious promises. And indeed, to see and confess massive errors in holy men, does not go against the Bible itself. Indeed, for preachers to see sins in past theologies, churches, is precisely and totally Biblical, and in complete obedience to God. Indeed, to see and note continuous sins in our holiest men and angels, is to follow the holy books, much better, than any other previous theology. Since God himself continually noted sins in holy men; and told us to therefore, never have too much faith or belief in holy men; without at least first applying scientific examinations of them. Examining their physical fruits.
No doubt to be sure, this revelation of huge sins in holy men, will be extremely painful, for many. But if it is painful? If it seems to shatter our childhood Heaven itself? If it seems to shatter our childhood vision of a Heaven, that seemed to be full of “perfect” holy saints, advocating a strong “Faith”? If the outline of God that we now see here – God advocating Science, over Faith – seems to shatter our traditional Heaven itself … then that after all, is not in denial of the Bible … but in complete obedience to and fulfillment of it. Remember: the Bible warned constantly about sins in “all” holy men. And one day after all, in particular, for that reason, we were told, God is going to destroy heaven itself, and “all” in it. In order to clear the way for a second and better appearance of God.
The Second and Better Appearance/Coming, of Christ
There is to be sure, a moment of dis “illusion”ment and pain; but that again was foretold. And indeed, we will see our first, “child”hood Heaven itself dissolved in our mind’s eye – exactly as foretold. But none of that contradicts the Bible; indeed all of it is complete, exact conformity to it. As we will be showing in our many volumes here; looking at all the various passages that have been said to refute this … and discovering that they are actually in conformity to our views, after all. Specifically, the God or Christ as we now see him here, as the Science of God at last outlines him, better fits the Christ of the entire Bible. But in particular, fits the foretold Christ of God, of the End Times: who brings “judgement” to us; and exposes one sin after another, even in our holiest men and angels and church doctrines and sayings about God. And yet, all this is as foretold, as authorized, as commanded, by the Bible itself; by God, himself. And furthermore, as we will see here, all this is to the good: we are seeing a “second” and better, “full”er appearance to, coming of Christ, after all: Christ advocating not so much faith, but also, even more, science. And as the residual parts of our oldtime religion, die, and are resurrected as a science, great, positive things happen.
Being a science, the Science of God in fact, at last links spirit, spiritual ideas, to material realities. And as it does that? Great things happen. In effect then, as foretold, 1) you are seeing God, Good, Spirit … conceptually returning out of Heaven … to this physical, material earth. Indeed, the Science of God, 2) joining religion, to science, even appears to be – as some have earlier hinted – the realization or fulfillment, of the prophesy of 3) the return of God, and Christ, to “flesh.” And to the physical earth, again. 4) order to found a “kingdom” not just in our spirit or ideals or imagination and “hopes”; but here, on this physical, material earth again. Again, at last. As foretold. In the Bible itself. By God, himself.
Our spiritual Heaven in fact, is supposed to dissolved, the Bible told us over and over. But that is a positive development, finally: the old is being burned away, to make room for the “new” and better. As the Bible itself said:
“The stars of the sky fell to the earth” (Rev. 6.13).
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who at upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Rev. 21.1-5; from Isa. 65.17 ff.; cf. 1 Kings 8.27).
“I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2.17).
“The coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh” (2 John 1.7; 1 John 4.2).
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Gen. 9.1).
“Bring forth food from the earth” (Ps. 104.14).
“Your vine in the field shall not fail to bear” (Mal. 3.11; 2 Kings 18.31; 1 Kings 4.25; cf. metaphoricalization in John 15.1).
Our present re-discovery, and fuller outline, of the fuller biblical Science of God, here and now therefore, is no small thing. Indeed, the “day” that you yourself learn and follow that Science, is no small “day.” Indeed, the day you read and understand and follow this, can be seen as the rather complete fulfillment, of countless Biblical prophesies. First, the prophesied destruction of Heaven. And then? The return of God and spirit, to this physical, material flesh, and this material earth.
Exactly as foretold. In the Bible itself. By God. Himself.
For many centuries, essentially all our priests and ministers, all over the world, have presented us with a view, a disembodied image of “Christ,” and God, that suggested that Christ, God, wanted our religion, our Christianity, to be based strongly, on “faith.” Over and over we were constantly told in churches all over the world, that the essence of religion, is simple “faith” in “Christ,” as Christ is presented to us, in effect, in church sermons and liturgies. If we have total “faith” in that image, faith in especially “spirituality,” then, our preachers constantly assured us, we would get huge wonders in this physical life or world. Or we would get at least good feeling, in our spirit: “hope” of immortality, say in an eternal spiritual “heaven.”
That indeed, was the image of Christ, the Christ that nearly all of us were introduced to in churches all over the world, for centuries: Christ emphasizing “faith”; faith mainly in spiritual sensations, or in “spirit”uality. And yet however? Though the whole world has followed and believed in this Christ of “faith,” for many centuries, there have always been hints that after all, some things were not exactly right, or true, in our churches’ traditional vision of God, and of Christ. And indeed finally? Our aim here, is partially to present here perhaps the first clear outline of Christ, God, as they really are. As we re-read our Bibles carefully here, a “second” time, in fact, we come to see something amazing, and heaven-shattering; we come to see in our mind’s eye in fact, the first clear outline, of a “second” “appearance,” a second “coming,” of Christ. As we come to see, here and now, Christ supporting not “faith.” Or supporting even “spirituality.” Instead, what we will now suddenly see, is God and Christ … promising not just spiritual, but real physical, material things, “fruits” and prosperity, here on this physical earth. As a matter of fact, Christ and God are so involved in this material earth, and physical life, that ultimately, instead of supporting the priestly life of endless “faith” in “spiritual” wonders, they supporting instead – a Christianity based on real empirical results; as “measure”d by Science. Finally therefore, we find that the religion we were taught in churches, by preachers, was never quite right. As we re-read our Bibles more carefully – even exhaustively – here and now? Re-examining hundreds of quotes, on “faith,” and science in the Bible? We will see a second and better, “full”er appearance to Christ, than the familiar Christ of “faith”: seeing Christ here and now, finally telling us that our religion, Christianity, was never supposed to be based so entirely on spiritual things, like “faith”; rather instead, Christianity is supposed (particularly today) to be based on … critical Science.
This to be sure, is a heaven-shattering vision of God; if we find that all our old holy men and angels, were often unreliable? If we now find that we should never have had such total “faith” in them? Then millions, billions of earlier believers, have been partially mislead, partially deceived. Which is a shatteringly disillusioning finding, for traditional believers. But if this is a heaven-shattering experience? Then after all, this experience … begins to fit and fulfill, Biblical prophesy. We will begin to fulfill specifically, Second Coming-, End Times-, Day of the Lord, Apocalyptic prophesy here. As foretold of the End times, as we re-read our Bibles here, we can all, here and now, 1) begin to “see” in our mind’s eye, a second, clearer outline of God and Christ. A Second Coming, a Second Appearance. But – 2) exactly as foretold of the Second Coming, and related days like the Day of the Lord – what we see is at first, not entirely comforting. Indeed, in seeing God properly, the faithful reader, in effect must pass through a sort of spiritual Apocalypse. As foretold; the traditional believer, must pass through the spiritual destruction of his or her traditional Heaven; the Heaven full of figures that asked for “faith” in our leaders. We will be seeing a new appearance to Christ here. But as foretold of the Second Coming, the appearance of Christ here, is not entirely comforting, to traditional believers. As foretold (Rev. 13-21-22; etc.). As foretold, in the End, finally, we see that the “Christ” that the whole world been following, is not quite the right Christ. Christ as we more rightly, “full”y see him here, in our “second” survey of him? Is slightly different that what most of the world, or the priesthood, has been following: he does not stress “faith,” but instead stresses … Science. For many years, the whole world has been lead by preachers, and their own priestly image of Christ: of a Christ, a God, who strongly stresses “faith” in holy men and angels, in preachers and their doctrines. Or faith in their ideas about, their sermonic “images” of, Christ. But the mental image of Jesus that we were given in churches all over the world, by preachers, as it turns out, was essentially, a false image of Christ. Or? In effect, it was merely one of the foretold “false Christs” (1 John 2-4; Mat. 24.24; Mark 13.22; 2 Corin. 11.4; etc.). Just by re-reading our Bibles, and discovering a second appearance to Christ, we in effect, are passing through the foretold Apocalyptic end times; through the foretold moment when we “see” another, second “appearance” or Second Coming of Christ. And as foretold, this appearance to be sure, is disturbing in many ways: it finds that the Christ that the whole “world” has been following, was in part, false. Christ as he really is, did not stress “faith” as single-mindedly as preachers have told us. So that the familiar image of the man of “faith,” that was constantly presented to us by preaches in churches all over the world … was not entirely correct, after all. It was not really Christ, as he really, more fully is.
Discovering the scientific aspect to Christ, will be a shock, to many traditional believers. And yet? The “secret” to the Second Coming, to the meaning of the End Times, the secret of the Second Appearance, the “secret” of the Bible itself, has never really been a “secret” at all: it was always there, deep in the text itself; for anyone who had the ability to read well. As we re-read the Bible here, carefully – paying special attention to the parts of the text that criticize holy men; the parts that preachers find hard to “face” or “bear”; the parts they “twist” or “whitewash” – End Times prophesy is largely fulfilled: one “day” at last, we see a “second appearance,” a Second Coming of Christ. One that – exactly as foretold – exposes sins and errors, even in our holiest men and preachers and churches. But one that after all, delivers to us a second and better appearance of Christ. So that the promise of the Second Coming is at least partially fulfilled … simply by re-reading our Bibles … and discovering a second way of reading it; a second view of God inside of it.
Just re-reading our Bibles therefore, and learning to at last “see” the second and fuller outline of Christ inside of it, begins to fulfill and discharge many ancient prophesies. But to be sure, the second outline of Christ – Christ advocating a Science, over Faith – has in effect, been hidden from many believers, until today. The language or “tongue” of the Bible, often seems quite difficult, tangled, to most readers. And more closely examined, we do indeed find that most passages in the New Testament in particular, are what is called “polysemic” or “poetic”; they seem to be “double” entendres. That is? Most passages in the New Testament especially, looked at more carefully, read like much of poetry reads: most passages seem to have two or more meanings in them. More specifically? Almost each and every extended passage in the New Testament, and often even single phrases and sentences, can be read in two different ways. Most of the text of the Bible, can be read in such a way, as to seem to 1) present the familiar God, a Christ, who stresses “Faith.” But, 2) conversely, the very same passages, read more carefully, finally contain many references to the importance of … critical Science. To learning to evaluate holy men, by empirical evidence; by the physical, material goods they produce. By – in the words of the Bible – their visible, material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “prosperity,” and “proofs.”
At “first” glance, in the typical reading of the sacred texts that we get from priests, in church, the Bible seems to present the familiar “Christ” that most of us heard about in church: a Christ who is absolutely authoritative; a Christ who specifically, stresses “faith” in holy men, or faith in their sermons, their homilies, their religious lectures, about God. And indeed, many fragments of the Bible have been quoted to us over and over in church, to allegedly prove that indeed, that is what the Bible wanted to tell us: that the essence of being good, is that we should faithfully follow our religious leaders; with all but total “Faith.” And we were presented with a Christ that seemed to say that, over and over. And yet however? Suppose we, in our many books here, begin to look more closely at the Bible? What if we begin to take a “second” look at it? As we do that here, we will find that, deep within the Bible itself, there is actually another, finally definitive, “second” view of God and Christ. One that may simply be, in fact, the first good outline of the foretold … Second Coming of Christ. And indeed, the second view of God that we get from our re-reading, seems to fulfill many – and perhaps all – of the prophesies, of the foretold End Times; of the Second Coming and so forth.
As we re-read our Bibles here, we suddenly see a second appearance to Christ. But exactly as the Bible foretold of the Second Appearance/Coming, this appearance of Christ, of God, is not exactly, completely reassuring, from a traditional point of view. What emerges, is an outline of a Christ who … does not stress strong “faith” in holy men, or their sermons or homilies, or faith in their ideas about God. Instead, as we re-read our Bibles here, we will see a Christ who leads us through essentially, three or four main points. First, 1) we see a Christ who … constantly warned us all, that “all” our holiest men and angels often sinned and erred, even in their most allegedly inspired moments. A 2) Christ who therefore tells us in effect that our religion, our Christianity, was never supposed to be “faith-based” at all. 3) Because our holiest men and angels often sinned and erred, even in their allegedly most “inspired” moments, we were certainly never supposed to have very much faith in holy men, in churches, or in their ideas about, their presentation of, God or Christ. Instead? We are today especially, supposed to … re-found our understanding of God and religion, on … a mildly critical, Science. A science that will not simply, passively accept whatever a given preacher or church tells us about God. But that will demand that every person who presents himself as a preacher or holy man, prove that he is good and holy, and from God … by producing real, material, empirical, physical evidence of that: by producing even real, actual, physical wonders. Or more moderately, in the words of Christ himself: real material – not just “spiritual” – “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and “proofs.” Presented in a timely way (“soon,” “at hand,” “quickly,” “presently”); as affirmed by “visible” “obser”vations, experiments. With real, full, classic “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; see these other terms in a Bible concordance. And/or in our various Bibliographies).
Learning to see this scientific side of Christ, has not been easy for the vast bulk of humanity. Because the language of the Bible, is quite difficult. God told us that our languages, our “tongues” in general, were even deliberately “confused” by God himself, at Babylon. It was said that God confused our languages, apparently to hide certain things; in order prevent the great mass of cruder people, from discovering certain things, and becoming too powerful. As it was said in the holy books (Gen. 11.7, etc.). And indeed, to this very day, learning to weave our way through the to-some quite difficult, polysemic language of the Bible – especially the New Testament – and learning thereby to see Christ rightly, is not easy … for many people who are not highly trained in language, in poetry. It in fact, it seems that today, thanks to near-universal education, and many centuries of progress, that by now, the public is now “mature” enough, to at last begin to be “plain”ly shown, the layers of the text, of God, that were perhaps “hidden”; hudden from earlier, simpler, more violent and uncontrolled people. And indeed, as we begin to present here a few hundred of the many parts of the Bible, that preachers neglected, or denied, or “twist”ed, we will begin to hear and see a second and clearly Christ, to “day” speaking rather more “plain”ly to nearly all of us. But what exactly, is that formerly hidden, plain message? It is not quite what many priests might seem to think: the final, plain message of Christ, is not the “spiritual” message of priests. Instead, what we finally see here is Christ, rather plainly telling us not to have too much blind faith in our holy men; but to follow instead, a more critical Science of God.
To be sure, the “tongue” of the Bible, as language in general, is complex, and “confused,” as the Bible itself warned, from the start, in Genesis; if Christ is to speak to us “plain”ly, that is an event not fully completed in ancient times, but is a task waiting for us, today. And yet indeed, it is a task that we can complete reasonably well, here and now. But to get to see and hear that, to see Jesus speaking “plainly,” we will need to cut through centuries of error, and even deliberate deceit, deliberate confusion, obfuscation, in our languages themselves in part; and perhaps even especially in the Biblical language or “tongue.” (For more on this and other topics in quotes, look up the terms in quotes, in our Bibliography). Yet our own estimation here, is that today, after centuries of progress, the people are educated enough, advanced enough, mature enough, to be at last told any formerly obscured and hidden things, rather “plain”ly, at last. To be told a plain truth or two, that seems to have escaped even our self-proclaimed, “wise” priests. To be sure, the language or tongue of even the sacred texts, is not easy to understand: why indeed do millions of people go to church, to essentially hear the Bible explained … if the Bible itself is perfectly transparent and easy to understand? But in our books here, our seven or more volumes on this subject, we will be carefully presenting, hundreds of fairly simple parts of the Bible. So that even a person who cannot really follow our more academic language here, can just skim through our Biblical quotes … and begin to at last, “see” much-neglected – or much- “twist”ed – parts of the Bible. Parts that finally, are missing pieces to the puzzle, the “code,” of the End Times; and to the second, but dominant meaning, of the Bible itself. Simple quotes, that at last show us God, Christ, advocating not blind faith, but telling us to follow a science of God, based on the observation of material “fruits,”” works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and “proofs.” Yielding up an outline of Christ that in a sense, was never a “hidden” or “secret” “mystery” at all; but was always there, hiding in plain sight.
And so indeed, as we here begin to carefully look at hundreds of neglected biblical references to “faith,” and “fruits,” and so forth? We will in fact, be able to see a second appearance to Christ and God; and rather “plain”ly. But to be sure? What we will finally, plainly see – just as foretold of the “Second Coming,” or the “Day of the Lord,” the day of “Judgement” – is not a comfortable experience at first. The Bible constantly warned us, over and over, that “no one is good, but God” himself. And that probably none of us – not even our priests, not even the “household of God,” not even an angel – is entirely good enough, to stand proud and upright, as an equal … when God himself, the Lord himself, appears (Mal. 3.2; Isa. 34.4 ff.). Indeed, as we read these passages, what we see is finally, Heaven-shattering: as we look at some parts of the Bible here, that our “faith”ful preachers neglected – or “twisted” and “whitewash”ed – we see that God himself actually criticized even the highest Apostles and saints and angels, even those that are popularly thought to be in Heaven itself. So that indeed, Christ as we see him now, finally, in the end? Ends up … in effect, “dissolving,” destroying Heaven itself; and essentially, “all” in it. Dissolving Heaven, and all our holiest religious heroes. In order to more present us with a better, fuller, second appearance to Christ and God.
As God himself, begins casting nearly everyone, our highest religious heroes, out of Heaven; even the angels, or the holiest “messengers” of God? As we re-read our Bibles, and at last see this? This is a difficult, “fiery,” painful, disillusioning experience, for the traditional believer, or for a preacher. And yet finally, there is a way for traditional believers to at last, learn to face and bear, the findings of Science, and to face these painfully disillusioning moments. By discovering here that after all, our religion is not completely destroyed: that all of what we will experience here, was foretold, authorized, by the Bible itself, after all. By accepting the Science of God, and even by finding problems even in “faith” and “spirituality,” we are not “debunking” or rejecting the Bible, or God; indeed, we are following them even more exactly, than preachers every have. And if this experiencing this is painful? That too, exactly matches and fulfills Bible prophesy: we will simply be passing through, in effect, the foretold fiery moment, of the Apocalypse itself (1 Peter 4.7-13; etc.).
Indeed, what we are about to see here, seems to rather completely “fulfill” and discharge, End Times, Apocalyptic prophesies; especially the formerly neglected missing core of the Bible and its meaning: what we see here fulfills the awful moment, that God uncovers sins even in the highest holy men in Heaven itself. And when God then … dissolves Heaven itself. And “all” in it.
Ultimately, God is supposed to uncover sins in even the holiest men and angels in Heaven; and related to that, for that reason, God is supposed to … destroy our Heaven itself. And indeed, as we look more carefully at our Bibles, as we re-read the Bible carefully here – paying special attention to some parts, a level of it, that our preachers could not “bear” or “face” – in effect, we will see … the foretold Destruction of Heaven, taking place before our own eyes. As we at last more fully understand the Bible and its message, we indeed at last experience God exposing sins and errors, in the religious ideas and assertions, of essentially “all” our earlier preachers. While indeed, this in turn, many would say, effectively “fulfills” and discharges, the old accounts, prophesies, of an Apocalyptic End Times; or that fulfills especially a particular, neglected moment in the End, the Day of Judgement: as we see our traditional Heaven itself, “dissolve.” The Heaven that was presented to us in nearly every church, all over the world; the Heaven that demanded “faith” in “miracles” and “spirituality” … will in fact, as foretold, “dissolve.” As we re-re-read our Bibles here, and see a second and better, fuller outline or appearance, to God: seeing Christ advocating not the “faith” or Heaven of traditional preachers; but supporting instead, a more earthly Science of God. And finally, though, difficult as all this may be for traditional believers? Finally everyone should at last find the courage to face all this, to face Science and painful Experience. On discovering that after all, all this was foretold and authorized, by the Bible itself; by God, himself.
As we here read about the Science of God, and uncover a second appearance to Christ, we will be seeing many disillusioning, painful things; it is always particularly hard, to face the many “signs” of sin and error, in the very things thought to be absolutely holy or perfect. Indeed, all this is precisely, Heaven-shattering. And yet however? In effect, as we re-read the holy books, and get the fuller, second view of Christ? We will in effect, be perhaps passing through even the foretold Destruction of Heaven itself, safely enough. What we will now see here, to be sure, will not be comfortable at first, for most traditional believers. Indeed, what we will be seeing here, will be not just humbling, but will be precisely Apocalyptic, Heaven-shattering, for traditional believers. One after another of our most revered religious heroes, the saints and apostles and preachers and bishops, will be seen to have long since fallen. Specifically? As we begin re-reading the Bible here, we come to see, that those who followed and taught, the traditional idea of Christ that we nearly all got, in every church around the whole world – the image of a Christ who stresses “faith” in “miracles” or “spirit” – were following, in effect, as foretold, a “false Christ”; they were following “another Jesus” than the correct one. And so they and their “Heaven” are to be “dissolved.” Exactly as foretold.
And yet however? Even as our old errors and sins, are being exposed, and burned off? They are being burned off, after all, to clear the view, of a second and better, truer, fuller appearance of Christ. After all.
Summary: What We Have Found
So what are our five main findings, once again? What we find here, is shattering: the traditional image of Christ that was presented to us by traditional preachers, in churches all over the world – the Christ that in effect demanded “faith” in holy men, or in their ideas, in their sermons about, their presentation of, God – was never exactly, entirely, right. Indeed, the image of “Christ” that essentially the whole world followed, was false; was in effect, a “false Christ.” In contrast to the vision of God that we heard in nearly every church, we here and now will uncover and foreground, five major, Bible-based objections, to the traditional view of Christ, that we were introduced to in church. The Bible itself, objects to our preachers’ idea of God, and Christ, in many ways. Here specifically, we frame five major points, that outline a very different view of God than what we heard in church, or from ordinary believers.
In dramatic contrast to the Christ of many preachers, the Christ that we will here come to see in our Bibles, is different in five major respects: first, 1) far from stressing going to church, and following the preacher very loyally? Actually, the Bible itself warned hundreds of times, about sins and errors, in essentially “all” our holiest men and angels, on earth and in heaven itself (Rom. 3.23; Isa. 34.4). The Bible warned of sins and errors in both our holy men personally, but also about errors in their holiest, most “inspired” doctrines and churches (Rev. 3.1-2). So that 2) we find here that shockingly, amazingly? Since all our holy men are often unreliable? The God of the Bible did not want Christianity to be based on “faith”; faith in holy men, or faith in their picture of God. Instead, 3) the Bible actually, surprisingly, wanted us to base Christianity, on a critical, empirical Science. (Like contemporary Religious Studies. Or Science-Based Theology. Or as we call it here, the Fuller Science of God. To be sure, 4) this is a difficult thing to face; it seems to disprove our old religion. And indeed, it seems to empty, dissolve, our traditional heaven itself. But if so? Then what we see, is in effect authorized, by the Bible itself: God himself warned continuously, that there have always been huge sins in the holiest men and angels in heaven itself. So that one “day” or another, our Heaven itself is supposed to be destroyed. And? Painful as this is, it is best to face it at last; since a greater good comes out of it. Specifically 5) those who at last simply face the sins of holy men, and accept the critical Science of religion will, more than others, be seeing revealed at last, a “second” and “full”er appearance, a Second Coming, of God. And? Seeing the Science of God fulfills these and other Apocalyptic, End-Time prophesies.
When you discover, “see,” the Science of God, that seems to amazingly, fulfill many biblical prophesies; of a heaven-shattering, Second Appearance/ “Parousia,” a Second Coming, of God.
This second appearance, moreover, is incredibly “fruit”ful, here on this material earth; exactly as foretold. There is much to be materially gained, when ordinary men and women, faithful believers, praying for miracles and spirituality, at last learn and honor, a little practical knowledge and science. In contrast to prayer, faith, Science and technology and practical knowledge, have already proven tremendously “fruit”ful, and have produced great works, signs, deeds, and proofs. Over the centuries, practical knowledge and science have taken us from a stone age culture, in which the total human population of the entire earth was about 7,000,000 persons; in which the average person died by the age of 35, of disease, starvation, and warfare, to an era in which there are a thousand times more people on the earth; and the average life span is easily twice what it once was. Indeed, science and technology – properly used – have been so fruitful, that ironically, science and technology, (even in spite of their occasional avowed atheism), must be judged to have been more directly from God himself, than faith and spirituality ever were. So that we can reasonably expect that the Science of God, will be capable of realizing the promised “kingdom” of God on this material earth, as foretold; and not just in the “Heaven” of spirit, and “hope,” and dreams.
It this possible? Is it biblical? What we see here, does not deny God; but honors every aspect, every single word of for example, the Bible itself. Indeed in a sense, what we do is not denying traditional conservative spirit; the Science of God after all, honors both the Bible, and Science. Even as it assists the fulfillment of Second Coming prophesy … as our formerly disembodied religious “spirit,” at last conceptually returns to this physical, material existence, this material earth.
In the Science of God, God, “spirit,” return to earth – as foretold of the Second Coming, the Second Appearance of Christ. When the formerly blindly faithful believer (Isa. 42.19), one Heaven-shattering “day,” suddenly sees Christ advocating not faith, but science, she or he suddenly conceptually sees good, God, in and among the things of this physical earth … as foretold. And? If the reader accepts Science, suddenly the blindly faithful believer, passively waiting in spirituality, or waiting for a miracle – is motivated to learn more productive, scientific and practical knowledge. And get a better, more productive job. To get a better paycheck; some material prosperity; fruits. And see God, good, in the material world.
As foretold.
Chapters 1 & 2
The Old Testament
Supports Science
Over Faith
(Chapter 2: False Things in “All” Holy Men p. 112 ?)
Elaborations
For centuries – and especially in the last few decades – now and then an isolated commentator, would begin to note, what we are now noting here: God’s command for us to follow not so much Faith, as a Science of God. Yet to this very day, most believers and preachers, have resisted this. First, many religious persons have resisted Science and Reason in general. Because they have believed that they were often incompatible with Christianity; its emphasis on “spirituality” and “faith.” But we will carefully present here, hundreds of formerly-neglected or much-“twist”ed Bible quotations, that begin to solidly show God and Christ, advocating Science. Examining hundreds of quotes in our many volumes here, we will eventually delineate, for even our strictest believers, an amazing but solidly-delineated outline of God and Christ. Here in fact – as in many shorter scholarly works, previous – every reader should be able to finally “see” Christ and God as they really, more fully are: advocating a religion based on … empirical science.
To be sure, we will find that the Bible contained essentially two major voices or themes: one – found in the writings of the Apostle Paul particularly – that seemed to support strong “faith.” And yet we will find that finally even Paul – who was by far, the Biblical writer who wrote the most about faith – began to note problems with even a strong faith. So that even Paul even told us that, as for the man “who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1). While the Apostle James would note that “faith without works, is dead” (q.v.). And indeed, Jesus himself told us not to “believe” or have faith in even Jesus himself, unless or until he produced real, physical, material proofs, and works (John 10.32-38). While indeed, the Bible repeats this basic idea, over and over again, hundreds of times. So we find that amazingly, against parts (if not all) of the writings of St. Paul especially, God himself did not want us to have so much strong or blind Faith; instead God himself, wanted us to base our religion, Christianity, on critical Science. On proven empirical, physical results.
For centuries, preachers have claimed that they do not need to produce material goods; they only need to produce sermons, and spiritual or mental sensations, results. But here we will show that God himself at times noted the spiritual things; but he emphasized physical results. Indeed, the Bible even began to explicitly note problems with, specifically, “spirits,” and in effect, spirituality. In the particular, the apostle James warned against an over-spiritual religion. James warning that a religion that gives us primarily just mental or spiritual things … neglects physical necessities, like literal food. And so therefore, an over-spiritual religion, though it presents itself to us as the way to “life,” and salvation, actually finally guides us, to physical disasters, to physical starvation and physical death. Through lack of attention to the physical, material side of life, and of God. (As the Apostle James began to note in James 2.14-26-3.5). Insofar as we should pay any attention at all to apostles, the writings of the Apostle James, in James 2.14-26-3.5, seem particularly useful. And they conform to what we see in real life, as well: over-spiritual ascetics, who denied the importance of literal physical food and so forth, often literally fasted and starved … to death. While a civilization that is based too strongly on spirituality, becomes weakened, and sick. As we will see.
And so therefore? We will be showing here, that by far, it was only the Apostle Paul that for example, mentioned the word “faith” by name, the most; about 174 times, as versus about 7 total mentions in the entire Old Testament. While Jesus himself mentioned faith about 21 times. Overwhelmingly, therefore, it was St. Paul who supported “faith”; and we will find that finally even Paul, began to note problems with “faith”; not just the difficulty in having much faith, but also the necessity of having other virtues. And also finally? Even Paul began to note that since there were many false things offered in the name of God, we need to begin scientifically examining, even “test”ing “everything” in religion (1 Thess. 5.21); to find out which idea of God to have faith or confidence in. While then too finally, even Paul had problems; admitting that he himself was not yet “perfect,” that he was the “worst of sinners”; even as he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament (q.v.). So that even the great or most vociferous advocate of “faith” – Paul – eventually allowed that we might admit into Christianity, even those of “weak faith”:
“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1).
Beyond the im-“perfect” Paul, we will be showing that God himself ultimately didn’t really want anyone to have the priests’ religion of “faith” and “spirituality”; not at all. Instead, God actually wanted us to have a more material, Science of God. God finally wanted us to begin carefully evaluating priests and prophets, not by their mental or “spiritual” results, but by real, physical, empirical data. The Bible constantly calls for us, to begin observing what physical, material good, following a given saying does – or does not – produce. Far from telling us to just faithfully trust and believe and follow our religious leaders, the Bible actually, finally, in the end, commands us to begin trying to actively discover, which sayings attributed to God are true, and which are not. To discover what is really from God – not by just faithfully trusting religious authority; but by looking to see if following any given saying attributed to God, brings real, physical material results. By “observ”ing, as Jesus said, real physical, material – not spiritual – “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” physical “prospserity,” and “proof”s. Religion is full of “false” things, the Bible warned, and “empty promises,” empty” words, lies, and “delusions.” Therefore, we need a method to separate truth from fiction, in religion; to separate the wheat, from the “chaff,” the “sheep,” from the “goats.” And how finally do we do this? By looking to see what provable, physical goods are produced by following this or that saying. Not in “heaven” or in “spirit.” But here, on this “visible” physical “earth.” Looking to see which sayings produce empirically-verifiable results, here on this material earth … and in a timely way: “soon,” “at hand,” “presently,” “quickly.” As evaluated furthermore, by real “science” and experimental method (Dan. 1.4-15; 1 Kings. 18.21-40; Mal. 3.10 ff.. See other quoted terms, in a biblical concordance, and then in our bibliographies). Countless preachers and countless sermons, have attacked Science; and have asserted that we must ignore all such physical data, and just have faith in preachers and their sermons, words, about God. But here and now, we are about to show rather firmly, that “all” our preachers were essentially, often, simply, wrong.
Here therefore, we are about to come to a series of shatteringly-different conclusions, on what the Bible, God, really wanted for us. Here we will show that, first, 1) far from telling us to totally believe and follow preachers, actually God warned constantly, that there have always been huge sins and errors, in essentially “all” our preachers; in essentially “all” our priests and ministers. (“All have sinned”; “No one is good but God”; “We all make many mistakes”; “All the host of heaven will fall”). Basically, there is nothing said by our preachers and churches, that we should entirely trust; God warned that all our holiest apostles and angels, made errors, even in their allegedly holiest moments. Even in their liturgies. And even when they are presenting their most “infallible” and “inspired” “doctrines.” And then? 2) Because our preachers and churches are not entirely reliable, therefore, instead of telling us to base ourselves on “faith” in preachers and churches, and/or faith in the “image” of God they offer us in church, ultimately the Bible itself wanted us to base our lives rather more, on real, critical, physical “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.21-39; Mal. 3; Deut. 18.1-22; 1 Mat. 7.16; Thess. 5.21). Jesus himself for example, warned us that there would be many “false prophets” that would come, even in his “name”; but Jesus affirmed that we would know them, as it turns out, we would be able to identify false things in holy men … by evaluating, “weigh”ing, their material, literal, physical “fruit” (Mat. 7.16). By using, as it turns out, a kind of real science. Evaluating them not by their mere words, or sermons, or thoughts, or spirits, or spiritual results in “heaven.” But evaluating them by the real, physical, material goods that or do not come, from following their words:
“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits” (Mat. 7.15-16 ff, RSV: Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible).
“By their fruits you shall know them” (Mat. 7.20, common KJE paraphrase).
“The fruit of the ground” (Jer. 7.20, 6.19).
“The fruit of his doings” (Jer. 32.19; vs. Lam. 4.9).
“For the LORD … has blessed you in all the work of your hands” (Deut. 2.7, 7.8, 14.29, 16.15).
All this is strictly from the Bible itself. Yet finally to be sure, we are coming here, to a shatteringly different conclusion, a shatteringly different view of “Christ,” than what you heard in church all your life. Which would seem to suggest to some at first, that our findings here cannot be true; that they amount to some “strange new,” illegitimate “doctrine,” that a loyal churchgoer or preacher can safely ignore. And yet however we will show here that our new presentation of Christ and God, is at once “new” – and yet not new; it is still quite conservative. It is “new” and yet also old … in the same sense that Jesus’ “new commandment,” to love one another, was at once seemingly new – and yet also the mere distillation of the essence of what was always said from old. In the Bible itself, for instance.
But finally, what if this finding still does seem, to many readers, churches, to contradict – or even shatter – our traditional Heaven itself? What if what we now see here, seems to attack and shatter our classic vision of an eternal Heaven, advocating faith in miracles and spirituality? Then among our other major, surprising things, we will be showing here that the Bible itself told us firmly, that our holiest men and angels, and their most sacred doctrines, often sinned and erred; and that because of that, 4) one “day,” God is supposed to destroy our Heaven itself (2 Peter 3.4-7-10-13; Isa. 34.4; Rev. 21.1 ff). In order 5) for God to show us – indeed – a “second” and better “appearance” to Christ.
So what are our books here about? Our five main points, are these: 1) shockingly, the Bible itself warned constantly, that there have always been bad and “false” things, in every aspect of our religion; in Christianity itself. Therefore, 2) amazingly, God did not want our religion to be faith-based; based on faithfully following holy men, and their image of God. Instead, 3) Christianity is supposed to be based on Science. And 4) if this seems to shatter our traditional Christianity, our traditional Heaven? Then one Apocalyptic “day” after all, Heaven itself is supposed to be destroyed. In order 5) for God to show us something better; a new and better “parousia” or “appearance” of God. God exposes massive, continuous, longstanding in all our holy men and angels; God dissolves Heaven itself. But all in order to burn off, purge our illusions and false delusions; to leave, clear and plain… the Science of God. As we see, just from a “second” reading of the Bible, itself.
All this we show, almost strictly from … just quoting the Bible itself. Here therefore, for now, Science does not contradict the Bible, or go against it. Indeed? Here we will be finding that the Bible itself is true; every single word. But we will be showing that it is true in a way that our preachers did not understand or want to admit. Exactly as foretold for instance, we can all come to see the second appearance of Christ. But – just as the Bible warned – even very faithful believers can come to see this vision, and stand next to the Lord … only if believers pass through a very, very painful, dis- “illusion”ing, spiritual Apocalypse; through a very painful spiritual Tribulation. A moment when our “child”hood Heaven itself, with all our religious heroes in it, seems to collapse around our ears.
Exactly as foretold, exactly as prophesied in the Bible itself, believers can begin to “see” – first, in their minds’ eyes; and then in concrete reality, on earth – a better, “full”er, “second” appearance or Second Coming, of Jesus. But – also exactly as foretold – to get there to be sure, a believer has to pass through an immensely, spiritually painful Apocalypse. One that includes an extremely painful, disillusioned moment or two; that includes at last facing some critical parts of the Bible, that even most of our priests have not fully passed through or confessed; that indeed, most priests have perhaps not been able to “see,” or “face” or “bear” yet.
It will in fact, be even extremely difficult and painful for many preachers, to learn to understand and publicly face and publicly acknowledge, the painful parts of the Bible, the side of God, that we will be uncovering here. The parts that did not support faith at all. But that warned instead, that 1) there have always been sins and errors, in even “all” our holiest men and angels (“all have sinned”; “all the host of heaven will fall”). The parts that told us that all our holiest men, and many of their holiest and most Holy-Spirit inspired doctrines, were often in error; so that therefore, we must each individually, come to this heaven-shattering conclusion: that 2) Christianity was never supposed to be Faith-based at all. That instead, it was supposed to be science-based. That Christianity was supposed to be based all along, not on simply, faithfully following our holy men, our preachers; but on using a genuine, critical science to critically examine each and every allegedly holy saying from God; to see if it brings real, material “fruits,” real physical results. Or not. And if even the most allegedly sacred saying or writing, attributed to God himself, cannot be shown to result in real, material, physical results? Here, in a timely way (“soon”), on this material earth? Then, far from continuing to “blind”ly, “faith”fully follow those words – as we were constantly told in a million churches – instead, God told us that we are simply supposed to deduce, logically, that those words were not from the Lord at all (Jeremiah 23.23-38, 14.14, 5.2, 5.31, 6.13, 7.4-16, 10.14-15. Deut. 18.21-22; 1 Kings 18.20-39.).
No “Test”ing of Religion?
“Thou Shalt Not Put the Lord Your God to the Test”?
Traditional priests have always been desperate to hide from all this; bad preachers want to hide from being examined closely … and exposed as largely false. Preachers therefore, have generated dozens, hundreds of arguments, sermons, apologetics; to try to deny the Science of God. In particular, preachers love to quote this particular fragment of the Bible that – they claim – forbids all scientific “test”ing of religion and of preachers:
“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah” Deut. 6.16 RSV; cf. “the LORD showed signs and wonders … before our eyes” 6.22, 7.29; Ps. 95.9?).
But we will see dozens of objections to the “not … test” argument. Among others? This command from God, with regards to “test”ing, is 1) about not testing God himself, and not about testing prophets and preachers. Then too, 2) this apparent command, is phrased, translated differently in the New Testament. Where it does not seem to be so much about “test”ing, as testing the patience of God with immoralities; or “test”ing – or as it is better translated, “tempt”ing – God’s patience:
“’You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (Mark 4.7; Luke 4.12).
Deut. 6.16 cannot be a firm command from God not to scientifically “test” him, ever (aside from the way of Massah?) – in part because too 3) that would conflict with dozens of other places where God advocated Science. And 4) where God even tells us explicitly, to scientifically test God. In 1 Kings 18.21-40; Dan. 1.4-15 KJE. And in say, in the following:
“Put me to the test says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10).
“Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).
“Test the spirits” (1 John 4.1).
God not only allows us to “test” him by asking him for “signs” or physical evidence; a man of God is exasperated, even angry, at those who try to say we should not test God (in the story of Ahaz , Isa. 7.10-12-23 ff). While God offers many signs; even offering the sign of a resurrection, even to an “evil generation” that does not seem to deserve signs, proofs.
It will become clear therefore that to be sure, we might not “test” – or better translated, “tempt” – God’s patience like the people following Moses, tempted God in the wilderness, by asking for more than dozens of miracles before our own very eyes. Yet finally? We are allowed – and even commanded by God himself – to ask God for many wonderful signs, huge miracles, before our own “eyes” and so forth (Deut. 6.22, 7.29, etc.). As proof that he exists.
And then too? 5) Whether or not we are to test God himself, we and God are certainly allowed various kinds of “test”ing, of those who claim to follow him. We are commanded to test all those, even the spirits, who claim to follow God. By various tests. To see they are actually following God, or not:
“Test the spirits to see if they are of God” (1 John 4.1).
“Test your servants for ten days” (Dan. 1.12).
“Test them as gold is tested” (Zech. 13.9).
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove [test] you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4.12).
“By this you shall be tested” (Gen. 42.15).
“Let them also be tested first” (1 Tim. 3.10).
“Tested those who call themselves apostles” (Rev. 2.2).
“The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked” (Ps. 11.5).
“Fire will test what sort of work” you have done (1 Corin. 3.13).
“All this I have tested with wisdom” (Ecc. 7.23).
“Let each one test his own work” (Gal. 6.4).
“Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (Heb. 11.17).
God therefore allows – and even demands, as we will see – all kinds of “test”ing of religious, Christian holy men and believers. Ultimately in fact, we will be showing here that God not only allows, but finally even firmly commands us, to “test” all of religion, all of Christianity, with science. As we will be seeing, in hundreds of examples. As gathered in our following ten volumes on this subject. Our ten volumes of biblical evidence, for the Science of God.
Finally, the real, definitive word from God, on “testing,” is best captured say, in these three quotes:
“Put me to the test says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10).
“Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).
“Test the spirits” (1 John 4.1).
(This scientific testing of religion, of Christianity, by the way, is not to be confused with what is called the “test of Faith”; which turns out to be an idea that came literally, from Satan himself, in Job 1).
Eventually it becomes quite clear, that God and the agents of God, are to continually “test” religion, test even the holiest men and angels; to see if what they say is materially fruitful, or not. And if following them is not fruitful? Then far from continuing to follow them faithfully, instead we are supposed to simply deduce that they and their alleged sayings from God, are simply false.
So what will be our major points here, overall? Amazingly, finally: the Bible itself told us that religion, and Christianity, are not supposed to be based on faith in holy men and angels; they are supposed to be based on Science. And if this discovery seems to shatter our traditional religion, to shatter our heaven itself? Then that after all, is allowed: one day or another after all, our Heaven itself is supposed to be dissolved.
Religious Science, Rational Theology, Religious Studies –
As Fulfillment of Biblical
Prophesy
In part what we are doing here, like other related earlier works on this subject, might seem to be a mere academic exercise: a mere academic outline of the Bible, as it is in support of modern/Postmodern rational Theology, Religious Studies, even Biblical Criticism. Our ultimate goal though, is something much, much larger and more important than just an academic exercise; something that can be seen as even, Cosmic. Here 1) we will have begun humbly, simply, duly, following the Bible itself. While helping outline the basis of rational theology. But we are 2) presenting the scientific side of the Bible, in a way that should be compelling not just to a small elite, but to all believers and even preachers themselves, at last. In the past, preachers and believers, have often systematically opposed practical, empirical, and scientific sense; have opposed Science and Reason. Because science and reason at times, seemed to contradict what they heard in church. But to be sure, most believers are trained to have some respect at least, for the Bible itself. And most should listen to our arguments here therefore … since it is advanced almost completely, using quotes from the Bible itself; from the one document believers, preachers, are supposed to revere and listen to. So that? Any preacher who at last sees the light, should be able to accept this, and present it to others in churches; using simple quotes from the Bible itself.
Finally though, 3) what we are doing here, is not just academic, or didactic; what we are about to do here, can easily be read as being an at-least partial fulfillment, of Biblical prophesy. As we begin here – with the help of others, and in the “imitation of Christ” (that Thomas a Kempis called for) – to outline the Science of God, we seem to begin to achieve some the historical prophesies, goals, of classic Christianity. As we progress in our discoveries in our present book, we seem to be fulfilling one ancient prophesy, after another. Especially the Apocalypse, Second Coming, Tribulation prophesies. First a) just as the Bible told us would happen in the End Time, God here begins to show us, to uncover, sins in essentially “all” our holiest men and angels. As foretold of the Day of the Lord, and Judgement Day, and the Second Coming, here and now, we are beginning to see God expose countless sins, not just in everyday day, but in priests and prophets, saints and angels too. Here indeed, God is about to show us for example, that our preachers were in effect, vain; they were not as “humble” as they appeared to be. In that our preachers, first, hid from all the Biblical warnings about sins in holy men. Related to this sin, preachers have always proudly over-stressed their own authority; presenting themselves as the often all-but-“infallible” voicepieces of God, while they ignored the parts of the Bible were apostles warned that “we all make many mistakes.” Related to this, we see a second major false element in our holy men: they in effect, and in their sermons, over-stressed “faith”; stressing in effect faith in themselves, and/or faith in their sermons about, their pictures of, God. Whereas our preachers should have been far more mindful of all the times God warned of sins and flaws in preachers themselves. And they should not have allowed themselves therefore, to have been perceived as such authorities. Mindful of all the times God warned them that they themselves, our holy men, often sin and err.
As foretold of the End, God in fact is uncovering lots of sins in especially, our holiest men; our preachers, ministers, bishops and popes. Most of their sins seeming to come from Pride and Vanity; from imagining they are more authoritative, than they actually are. Essentially, it was pride and vanity, that lead them to stress their own authority; and to demand all-but-blind “faith” and obedience to themselves, and/or their all-too-flawed vision of Christ. It was Vanity, even in our preachers, that lead them to call for all but blind faith in themselves; and to attack anything that seemed to question their own authority. Like, especially, science and reason.
What we are seeing here though, indeed matches what the Bible foretold would happen, one shattering “day” or another: as foretold, we are at last beginning to see the sins of even holy men. Which would seem to be enough Apocalyptic revelations for a while. But next, what God will show us here and now, goes even further, and seems to even more completely fulfill the old End Time prophesies: if what we are now seeing here is true, if all our holiest men and angels were often wrong? And if our holy men essentially dominated the whole earth or “world”? Then in effect, we are seeing another End Times prophesy fulfilled: we are seeing that as foretold, the whole “world” was dominated by false prophets, false priests. (As foretold in Rev. 13).
And indeed? If all our traditional priests and ministers, sinned and erred so greatly, then after all, they sinned and erred, even in their sermons about God, and about Christ. In fact, in effect, this means that our holy men undoubtedly presented to the world … a false idea of God; a False Christ. Indeed, what we will see here that that traditional, historical Christianity, with its vision of “Christ” stressing “faith,” and “spirituality,” was indeed, presenting and following, a false idea of Christ. Or in more confrontational language: as the Bible warned, our alleged holy men were presenting, assisting, a false Christ. And if our preachers and their “Christianity” dominated the West, and then the world? Then yet another End Times prophesy was long ago fulfilled: a false priesthood, and a false Christ, dominated the whole “world” (Rev. 13).
Our investigation here therefore seems to see the fulfillment one Apocalyptic prophesy after another. But if indeed, almost all our holiest men and churches, were historically deceived, by a false image of Christ? If they in effect presented a False Christ to the whole world? Then after all, as foretold … God is at last exposing all that, here and now. And … God is in a sense, in the science of God, conceptually returning to the earth, to material things; to correct all that. As foretold.
The uncovering of the Science of God, therefore, not only at last sees the fuller message of the Bible; it also can be seen as even upholding and even largely fulfilling, prophesy. Indeed, it upholds and justifies Science – as, we see here, a key part of God’s Plan. Even when Science has seemed to attack traditional religion and faith, Science can now be seen to have been working for God, ironically; for God’s larger Plan. More specifically, Science seems to have been fulfilling God’s planned … End Times. As Science and Reason found one apparent error after another, in our traditional religion – in its promises of giant, regular, reliable “miracles” especially? If science and reason seem to find one false promise after another, in our holiest men and angels? Them amazingly, that conclusion is … at last allowed, and biblically justified; as part of God’s Plan. Indeed, it begins to fulfill Biblical, End Time prophesies. Exactly as the Bible itself foretold, we are seeing a “second” and “full”er appearance to Christ: Christ advocating Science. And – also exactly as foretold – this “second” “appearance,” “parousia,” Second Coming of Christ … exposes, precisely, sins and errors in our holiest men and angels, especially.
The Bible itself told us, that our holy men were often unreliable. And that we should have, all along, not had such strong “faith” in them; but should instead have learned and applied a critical “Science” to our holy men. And to their most sacred, “inspired” doctrines (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.20-39; 1 Thess. 5.21; Deut. 18.21-22 RSV). And then too? If the application of Science to traditional religious beliefs, seems to find massive sins and errors in them? If it seems to even shatter our traditional idea of what is holy? If what Science and Reason tell us, seems to attack and dissolve, even the figures were thought were in Heaven, eternally? If indeed, we seem to find sins in all the angels of Heaven itself? Then this finding precisely fits, and is authorized by, the Bible itself. As the Bible itself told us this: that one Apocalyptic “day” or another, the believer is supposed to see another, second, fuller appearance of God on earth. And on that day, God is supposed to reveal and “judge,” sins even in our holiest men. God is supposed to correct, even priests and ministers; even apostles and angels.
To be sure, going through this, will be extremely painful and disillusioning, for traditional believers and preachers. But they should have been prepared for this, long ago. If our traditional believers and preachers, had just read their Bibles a little more closely, a little more honestly, then they would have notice the hundreds of times, when the Bible itself warned that there have always been huge sins in even holy men. And when the Bible itself told us that one “day” or another therefore, God would return to earth … and would be submitting even believers and churches especially, to critical “fire.” If our millions, billions of alleged believers, alleged followers of Christ, had actually read the Bibles they pretended to revere? Then they would have come across one or more, of the countless passages, that warned of such things. Like the passage from Peter, below. That warned that our holiest men and angels, would one day after another, be tested, and submitted even to critical, purgative “fire”:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove [test] you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4.12).
Why would God punish even believers and priests? The reason is that “God alone is good.” While in comparison to God himself, all Christians – and preachers and saints – have countless sins in them; even in spite of all the special graces of the churches (as we will see). And since all human beings are flawed, even the holiest priest or prophet? Finally, no one – not even a priest or ministers – is really fully good enough, to strand proudly before God, in the end.
Indeed finally, even the believer, even the priest or member of the priestly tribe of Levi, must experience some pain, some considerable punishment, in the second coming. And/or in the related Day of the Lord, and Judgement Day. Indeed, it is particularly the religious leaders, the “priest”s and ministers, that need to be corrected:
“Behold I send my messenger…. He is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD…. As in former years…. Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift witness against the sorcerers …. For I the LORD do not change…. Put me to the test” (Mal. 3.1-5-6-10).
“For the time has begun for judgement to begin with the household of God” (1 Peter 4.17).
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” (Jer. 5.21, 6.13).
“The LORD will lay waste…. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest” (Isa. 24.1-2).
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the … spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6.12-17 NIV).
“If God did not spare the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“The LORD has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high” (Isa. 2.12 RSV).
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know” (Prov. 27.1).
“Though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down” (Amos 9.2).
“On that day the lord will punish the host of heaven in heaven” (Isa. 24.21).
“Let no one contend…. For with you is my contention, O priest” (Hos. 4.4).
Even our preachers – our priests and ministers – and their words, their sermons therefore, are not entirely reliable. Indeed, God’s “fiery” criticism and punishment, typically comes especially and first of all, to preachers and other holy men. In large part, for their Pride and Vanity, in presenting themselves as better, more authoritative, than they are. For allowing themselves to perceived as the very reliable spokesmen of God himself. When in point of the fact, to allow this, our preachers have had to ignore and disobey, half of the Bible itself. Ignoring and disobeying, countless warnings from God himself, that “all” have sinned; especially priests and ministers.
Priests and ministers have sinned and erred continually; even in their more allegedly “inspired” moments, as we will see. Even in the moments when they described Christ to us. And so therefore, in particular, they sinned when they stressed “faith” to us; actually, all along, the Bible warned that priests and prophets were often unreliable. And therefore, instead of all-too-faithfully following they – or their ideas, sermons, pictures of God? Instead, the Bible told us, we should have been, all along, critically examining them, and their doctrines and sayings.
As however, we will at last finally, begin to examine them … here and now. As 1) we uncover, one by one, the dozens of ways that the Bible itself, warned against preachers 2) and their “faith.” As we uncover here at last, 3) the dozens of ways that the Bible itself finally told us to so slavishly follow not traditional preachers and churches; but to follow and obey, instead, a critical Science of God.
God’s Science, Point #1
Sins in “All” Our Priests and Ministers –
(And Sins in “All” our Holiest Men and Angels,
On Earth and In Heaven)
Here and now, we will outline a few dozen of the major ways that the Bible either directly and/or in effect, told us to follow not faith, but science. First, the Bible warned us continually about huge, continuous, longstanding sins, in essentially “all” our preachers; in all our priests and ministers and religious leaders. Indeed, ultimately we will find, the Bible warned about sins in “all” our holiest men and angels, prophets and apostles, even in heaven itself (Isa. 34.4). And – as many scholars have previously noted – if God warned us about errors in holy men? Then clearly, God did not want us to trust – or we note here, have much “faith” – in, a) our holy men. Or b) faith in their sermons. Or c) faith finally, in their “Christ”; Christ as they describe and present him in their unreliable sermons.
Is our religion, our Christianity, really supposed to be based on “faith”fully following our religious leaders? Or their words, their sermons, which they allege are about/from God? Or finally, should we follow “Christ” as preachers have described him to us? (Or even as they have guided us to discover him “ourselves”?) As it turns out here, again and again, the Bible itself said that “all” our holiest religious leaders, and even the saints and angels in heaven itself, “have sinned” (Rom. 3.23, etc.). So that we will find that our religion, Christianity, should not be based on “faith” in our holy men. Or faith in the vision, the verbal picture of God and Christ, that we got from them. Because, God warned, the holiest men and angels were often unreliable and bad. Even in their most Holy-Spirit “inspired” moments, as it turns out.
Could this be true? Could even “all” our holy men and preachers, be partially bad? All our lives, our priests and ministers have presented themselves, or the priests and prophets that wrote our Bibles, as being holy and sacred. But as it turns out, the Bible warned over and over, that “all have sinned”; even the holiest men and angels in heaven itself. They were often wrong; even in many of their most “inspired” doctrines.
This seems impossible. But here are a few of the hundreds of warnings about priests and prophets, our holiest men, even within Judeo Christianity itself. From the Old Testament especially, we find that many are found false, particularly, on Judgement Day, and the related “day” of the Second Coming:
“Let no one contend … for with you is my contention, O priest” (Hos. 4.4 RSV; Mal. 2.1).
“The LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high” (Isa. 2.12).
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that…. We all make many mistakes” (James 3.1-2).
“Every prophet will be ashamed of his vision” (Zech. 13.4).
“The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad” (Hos. 9.7).
“I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied” (God, in Jer. 23.21 NIV).
“It is a lie which they are prophesying to you…. They are prophesying falsely in my name” (Jer. 27.10-15 RSV).
“Prophesy against the prophets of Israel” (Ezk. 13.2). “Against the shepherds of Israel” (Ezk. 34.2).
“Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites [the priestly tribe] and refine them like gold and silver…. I the LORD do not change” (Mal. 3.3, 6).
“False witnesses have risen against me” (Ps. 27.12 RSV).
“Images are false, and there is no breath in them” (Jer. 10.14).
“They see for you false visions” (Ezk. 21.29, Lam 2.14).
“The dreamers tell false dreams” (Zech. 10.2).
“From prophet to priest, every one deals falsely” (Jer. 6.13).
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” (Jer. 5.31.30-31 NIV).
“He leads priests away stripped” (Job 12.19 RSV).
Above are just a dozen or so, of hundreds of warnings in the Bible, about many holy men; including eventually, “all” priests, ministers, and holy men. These and hundreds of other warnings about preachers, and holy men, have been denied, semantically “twist”ed, and “whitewashed,” by our preachers; our priests and ministers. And yet finally? The fact remains: the Bible warned over and over, about … priests and ministers. And even about holy prophets and angels and churches. Even Christian holy men, priests and ministers, as it turns out; those crying “Lord, Lord.” Even those who sincerely think they are following “Christ,” turn out to have been following a False Christ, in fact.
For centuries, preachers have largely ignored or misunderstood the parts of the Bible that warned us about such things. Or when they noticed them, preachers tried to make these parts of the Bible disappear, by various false, sophistical arguments. One common argument that preachers have used, to try to make any criticism of themselves disappear, is to suggest that these and other Old Testament warnings about bad, “false” things in our holiest men, a) only apply to other religions, aside from Judaism or Christianity. Or to say that these warnings about preachers and so forth, are about b) some past, or c) some future falling away of good believers, from the truth path. But we will be seeing here, that the Bible actually pictures long-standing and continuous sins, in essentially all our holiest men, right from the very start. In fact, the Bible itself warned of sins, even among the very first “prophets of Israel”; and then? Even in “all” in our own “present” Christian heaven itself (Peter).
Indeed, as we will be seeing in our later section on the New Testament, Jesus himself clearly warned that there would be many false things, even in the days to come after his death. Even in Christians; in those who thought they were following “Christ,” calling “Lord, Lord.” So that there are many warnings finally, of sins specifically in those who think they are Christians, calling after the “Lord” and so forth:
“Many false prophets will arise” (Jesus, of the time after him; in Mat. 24.11 RSV).
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you” (Luke 6.46).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom… but only he who does the will of my Father…. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ did we not prophesy in your name…?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” ( Mat. 7.21-24 NIV).
“Watch out for false prophets…. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Mat. 7.16 NIV).
“Their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8.14 RSV).
“God did not spare even the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“There will be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2.1).
“If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed…. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God” (1 Peter 4.16-17 NIV).
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise” (Mat. 24.24).
“Many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4.1).
We were warned that even the angels were actually often, working for Satan. And warned in particular, that even Christian “ministers” and Judeo-Christian priests, are often bad. Indeed, it was the priests who, more than anyone, killed Jesus:
“Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into [disguising themselves as?] the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers … whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little” (2 Corin. 11.13-16 KJE).
“The chief priests and the scribes were seeking” to kill Jesus (Mark 14.1).
Looking Ahead – to Warnings Not Just About Priests and Ministers, But
Sins in Every Aspect of Religion, Christianity, A to Z:
Sins in the Highest Angels, Apostles, Churches, Prophets, Saints, In Heaven Itself
How many elements of our religion, of Christianity, might be infected with sin? If a) the Bible said that “all” have sinned, that “no one is good but God”? Then logically, not just ordinary priests and ministers, but even our holiest angels and apostles, saints and prophets, have sinned too. And as it turns out, b) since there are many “false spirits” pretending to be the Holy Spirit, thus, our holiest men and angels, could have sinned, even when they thought they were receiving the protection or inspiration of the Holy Spirit itself. Indeed, c) the Bible, including the Apostle/Saint Peter, followed Paul, noting sins not just generally, in “all” … but even sins in the very “household of God” themselves? And? The “household of God” likely includes all priests and ministers … and even higher holy men, and angels too: angels, apostles, prophets, and saints. And indeed, as it turns out, no one is good compared to God. And so “all” are to be judged, and are to experience God’s “fire,” one day or another. Even the “household of God”; even the angels and prophets in Heaven itself, as it turns out:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23).
“Beloved, do not be surprised as the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you…. For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God” (1 Peter 5.12-17 RSV).
“God did not spare the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar” (1 John 1.10).
“No one is good but God” (Mark 10.18; Mat. 19.17; cf. John 1.46).
Many churches have claimed that they have this or that special gift or grace, that takes away the sins of members of that individual church. But it seems clear from the Bible, that “only God is good.” And that therefore, sins are to persist even in those who think they are the best and most sinless Christians. We will find here that the Bible said that sins are to be found in those crying “Lord, Lord,” and even in Christian priests and prophets and ministers and apostles, right to the end of time, and Judgement Day. The only sinless entities are Jesus it seems; and God himself. Only God is perfect; all others are sinners.
Indeed? Even the Apostle Paul for instance, the author of half the New Testament, admitted that even he himself, was not yet “perfect,” even as he was in the act of writing his very large part of the New Testament:
“Not that I … am already perfect” (Paul, in Php. 3.12 RSV).
If our priests and prophets and apostles were often wrong … then how could our churches, that follow priests and prophets, be somehow perfect? When churches follow the writings of these imperfect apostles, all-too-faithfully? And indeed, Revelation reviews the very first Christian churches, and finds sins in nearly all of them; so that John and God tell even the very highest authorities, even the “angel of” the first Christian “church”es, like the one at Sardis, this:
“And to the angel of the church…. I know your works.… I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God” (Rev. 3.1-2)
Finally, a quick look at these words in a concordance, will reveal that there are problems even with the holiest religious “traditions” and “doctrines”; while it seems that even “counselors” like the Holy Spirit can fail. Paul even warns that the people of Moses, in the wilderness, had the “spirit of Jesus,” presumably the Holy Spirit; and yet still, the people still failed, and sinned:
“I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers … ate the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert” (1 Corin. 10.5 NIV).
Over the centuries, preachers and churches have come up with dozens, hundreds, thousands of sermons and homilies, to proudly try to insist that surely this or that special quality or grace or gift – especially the “inspiration” of the Holy Spirit – will have saved our preachers, our church, us, from so many sins and errors in our holiest things. But we will see here that all have sinned – and that even the holiest special graces, often failed to help our holy men; including even “faith.” Even in many of the most crucial moments.
Our priests and ministers today, insist they have arguments to support their own authority. But we will find problems with all their alleged refutations in return. Preachers love to quote a few parts of the Bible that tell us to follow the right idea of religion, and the right “leaders” and so forth (even priests? Where?); but which leaders are the right ones? Especially keep in mind that Jesus warned about priests, and others who use dishonest arguments, “sophistries.” The fact is therefore – as we will be seeing here, at considerable length, later on – though the Bible offered many statements that can be taken, out of context, as supporting the authority of believers and holy men, and their dozens of various gifts like faith, ultimately, the Bible warned rather firmly, hundreds of times, that our holiest men and angels often made many mistakes, in spite of all such saving graces and gifts. “For we all make many mistakes,” said St. James; apparently including even an apostle and saint, like himself (in James 2, 3.1-5):
“Let no many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many mistakes” (James 3.1-2).
Preachers find it hard or impossible to “face” or “bear” or “confess” these constant criticisms, from God, of preachers and holy men. And father than face them? Preachers have generated, over the centuries, literally thousands of arguments; to try to topspin, launder – “whitewash”; “twist”- these countless warnings from God. And to take one more of our preachers’ evasive arguments, sermons, at random: one commonly priestly argument tries to establish that if we really look at the “context” of remarks critical of holy men, we allegedly find that they don’t mean what they seem to mean. So that when Paul calls himself a “fool” for example (q.v), he does not really mean it; what he really means, is that the wisdom of God is foolishness to man; and the Christian “fool” is really wise. And yet however we will find here, that there are plenty of individual arguments against such assertions: in this last example, Paul at time made it clear enough he was departing from Christianity, (Christian humility? The dislike of Christ for “priests”?). When he was so “boast”ing and proud, as to presume to set up churches, and set up himself as a minister, a priest of Christ (II Corin. 10.1-3-8, 11.1-18-14-17-23). Indeed Paul even says in such passages, “I speak it not after the LORD, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence [one meaning of “faith”?!] of boasting” (2 Corin. 11.17 KJE). Here Paul explicitly says he is departing from the commands of God, to speak favorably of his own apostleship, and his “ministry.” While indeed, to set up a Christian priesthood, seems to conflict with many other specific warnings in the Bible; like warnings about “all,” including “priests.” Or then too, if Paul asserts or implies he is “wise,” then he conflicts with parts of the Bible that ordered us not to think of ourselves as “wise in your own eyes.” This is why Paul’s remark are so obscure; it is surprisingly hard to accomplish what he seems to want to do – set up a Christian priesthood and church – without crossing too many very firm Old Testament prohibitions. Therefore, Paul has to result to torturous, extremely obscure and ambiguous and equivocal language and arguments. Speaking at times as if he was really a “fool” for example; then other times hinting he was not a fool at all. In the passages just quoted here. While indeed finally, we find the whole Bible itself, is a massive equivocation between these two themes: a) making statements that would seem to support a Christian priesthood centered on faith in Jesus; vs. b) a subtext that warns that essentially “all” holy men are unreliable.
Preachers will find misleading fragments of the Bible, quotes that, taken by themselves, seem to say that preachers and faith are good. But these fragments, change their meaning in larger contexts; contexts which finally cast doubt on holy men. Indeed, the entire Bible equivocates between these two major, opposite themes, we will find here: a) support for a priesthood, vs. b) criticism of them. But finally and especially, it is clear that God’s warnings about false things in nearly all priests and holy men, and their “wisdom” and other gifts, comprise the major, prevailing, massively-reiterated theme, throughout the entire Bible. As will be evident especially those who can read or perceive, the double meanings in words. Finally in fact, the warning about false things in all ministers, even a self-criticism by the Bible, really is consistent enough, to be the real, larger “context” of all remarks, throughout the entire Bible. Even those remarks which were quoted constantly in church, that seemed out of this context, to support faith in holy men and so forth, turn out to be a) ambiguous in themselves; and/or b) quickly countered in passages immediately before and/or after; or c) in any case, canceled by this larger theme, reiterated throughout the entire rest of the Bible. In hundreds of examples, we will be outlining in very close detail, in our chapters here, and especially later chapters on the many warnings in the Bible, about “False Priests,” and False Holy Men. Here, we will have briefly sketched just a few places where the Bible began to warn of problems with holy men and angels; but later, we will fill entire books with the Bible’s references to sins in holy things, holy men: in our books on “False Priests”; our Bibliography; our narrative bibliography; our chapters on false priests, false prophets, in two or more chapters of the book on Miracles; etc.. Or for that matter? Read our second chapter here: on “false things in our holy men.”
Your preachers have never been entirely honest, the Bible itself says. In particular, they were never honest … in really facing and publicly confessing, two major themes in the Bible: first, the 1) constant warnings from God, about “false” and bad things, in our holiest men and preachers and churches. Especially, 2) your preachers have never honestly, publicly faced, or acted on, warnings from God about even “all” those in Heaven, itself. And especially? 3) Preachers of course, have never really faced or told you enough about … the countless times that God himself told us that our holiest prophets and apostles and the very spirits themselves, were always so sinful, that even their most Holy-Spirit “inspired” doctrines, would often be false. The constant warnings from God himself, that essentially “all” our highest religious leaders, our priests and ministers – and even the holiest saints and prophets in Heaven itself – “have sinned” and erred, even in their holiest moments. Sinned and erred so much? That finally, God comes to finally … destroy Heaven itself. And all in it:
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens … For the Heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6).
“God did not spare the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“All the host of heaven will fall” (Isa. 34.4).
“All have sinned” (Rom. 3.23).
“All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgement…” (Isa. 34.4-5).
“The heavens … that now exist have been stored up for fire…” (said Peter, of his “present,” Christian heaven, in 2 Peter 7.7).
For centuries, preachers have not had enough courage to really face God, fully. They have been too proud and vain, to face it, when the Bible itself warned about … preachers, and churches, and their very Heaven itself. And when God finally said that one day or another, he was going to destroy Heaven itself.
So what is our point here? The Bible itself, God himself, continually warned about huge sins and errors, in essentially “all” our holiest men; even in the apostles and saints and angels, in Heaven itself. And what we have begun to see here, confirms God’s warnings about: preachers in church, never told us enough about these parts of the Bible; preachers have never adequately mentioned God’s warnings about preachers, in church. So that indeed, already – exactly as foretold – we see something dishonest in essentially all our preachers, all our churches: they were never really humble enough; they never really honestly mentioned all the times that God himself warned about … preachers and churches. Your own preacher – priest or minister – probably never really spoke honestly and fully, about the hundreds of times that the Bible warned that our holiest religious leaders, often sinned and erred; even in their holiest sermons, their “doctrines,” their liturgies, their verbal pictures of God, and “Christ.”
And so indeed, as we will be seeing here, whole books can be – and here, will be – filled, with the Bible’s warnings about preachers, about churches. Our ten volumes here, will be filled first of all, with the very substantial parts of the Bible, that priests and ministers suppressed, and denied: filled with God’s warnings about priests; God’s very stern warnings about even “all” in Heaven itself. Here at last, we will clearly foreground the “part” of God that essentially all our preachers and churches have denied, and disobeyed: we will center our books here, on the hundreds, the thousand times that God warned us, over and over, that the very prophets and angels they follow, are not reliable. Indeed, all our churches were so inaccurate, so dishonest, that finally in effect, their sermons pictured or presented a False Christ, to the whole world. Jesus had warned that “false Christs” would come after him (Mat. 24.24, Mark 13.22). And it was confirmed by others that a false Christ was already in the world in the time of Paul and John (2 Corin. 11.4; 1 John 2.18-28, 4.1-3, Rev. 13; etc.). And though the apostles sometimes thought that they had kept the false “image” of the false Christ away from “us,” finally we will show even the apostles often sinned; and they did not keep the image of a false Christ entirely at bay, after all. (See the “hate”ing Christ of Luke 14.26, vs. 1 John 2.7-11, 3.15 for example).
In our books here, we follow the Bible exactly. But we will re-read and focus especially the parts, the “second” layer of the Bible, that all our preachers denied and disobeyed. And when we do that, what we will come to here – is a shocking, Apocalyptic, heaven-shattering, disillusioning revelation. What we will reveal here, is a series of massive, shocking, longstanding sins in our priests and ministers, and their allegedly holiest doctrines; a series of horrible and at times even deliberate deceptions, in the very heart of traditional Christianity. A series of sins and errors so serious, that finally they meant that essentially “all” our churches and preachers, described and propounded in their sermons and homilies, a “false Christ”; a false image of God. So that, exactly as foretold (Rev. 13, 1 John 2.7-11, 2.18-22, 3.14) … the whole world was already taken over long ago, by a False Christ. And indeed the idea of Christ presented to us all in churches all over the world, was largely, false.
But while – exactly as the Bible said – our priests and ministers and churches, have not followed or presented the Bible rightly, while they have even presented to the whole world a false idea of God, a “false Christ”? Our aim here and now, in the following volumes, is to correct 2,000 years of serious sins and errors. And to here present the right, fuller appearance of God and Christ, at last.
But how do we find, the right Christ, after all? Finally, our method here has been quite traditional: our major method, has been to simply look at … the Bible itself. The fact is that the Bible itself, holds up well enough, finally. The Bible itself, turns out to be a rather more complex document, with a more complex and satisfying message, than most preachers taught. The fact is, if we look at our Bibles a little more closely than most preachers have, if we look at the Bible using some of the more recent, highly-developed academic methodologies – the poststructuralist and post-postructuralists’ search for “polysemy” or multiple or “poetic” meanings or “code”s in the Bible’s text, for example? If we use some more sophisticated methods of reading, finally we can make very, very clear, a core theme, a “code” in the Bible, that preachers have not been willing to see, or talk about, or honestly confess. A code that opens up finally … to reveal and second and better appearance to Christ. That amounts to finally? At least the partial fulfillment, of the End Time prophesies: of a Apocalyptic, Day of the Lord, Judgement Day, a Second Coming of God. Indeed, what we see here presents in effect, the first good, plain outline, of the Second Appearance, a better Second Coming, of Christ.
Here we at last see Christ, more accurately, more fully; in a more “mature” theology. But what is Christ really like, as we begin to see him here? Christ as we at last begin to see him more accurately here, makes essentially five major points. Which will be the five major points in our many volumes here. First, 1) Christ and God did not stress confidence in our preachers and prophets; instead, God warned continually, about bad and especially “false” things, in our holiest men and angels. False things even in their allegedly holiest and most inspired doctrines. And 2) therefore? Since God tells us that there have always been gross sins and errors, in all our holiest men and angels, finally … God himself does not stress “faith” as the true heart of our religion. If all our holiest men and angels often sin – even in many of their allegedly most “inspired” moments – then clearly, we should never have had so much “faith” or confidence in them, or in the picture of God that they offered to us in churches, in their sermons and homilies. Instead, 3) we will show here that the Bible itself, God, continually told us that Christianity is supposed to be based, not on faith, but on a kind of crucial, religious “science.” A science that will not believe or trust holy men so “blind”ly any more; but that will ask that all would-be holy men, “prove” themselves to be true; in large part by producing real, physical, provable, material “wonders” and “prosperity”; real physical (not spiritual) “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and “proof”s (q.v. Bible index, or concordance). Since all our preachers and churches were often unreliable, instead of having such strong “faith” in them, or in their vision, their sermons about God, instead God told us to be continually examining would-be holy men, and alleged words said to be from the LORD; examining them with a critical “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.21-40; Mal. 3.10; Thess. 5.21; Mal. 3.10; etc.). That will no longer accept the verbal and written assurances of this or that person that they speak for God; but that will demand that they first present real physical material results; as the sin qua non (“that without which, nothing” else), as the necessary first step, in proving they are from God. And? 4) If one day – even today – we should suddenly find, on the basis of science, that by this standard, all our preachers and ministers and holy men were, once again, by this standard, inadequate, and simply, as foretold, “false”? Then after all, this fulfills the Apocalyptic prophesies: that one “day” or another, a day of “judgement,” a day of a “second appearance” of Christ, God would … reveal that indeed, all our holiest men and angels were often largely false. So that one day in fact? Seeing massive sins and errors in our holiest men and angels, even those in Heaven itself? God himself finally … destroys Heaven itself. In 5) order for God to more clearly foreground after all however, a second and better appearance of God and Christ (Isa. 34.4, 51.6, 65-6; 2 Peter 3.7-13; Rev. 21.1-5). God revealing the better, “full”er, “second appearance,” Second Coming, of Christ and God. God revealing them however, not so much in a church, as in a discipline, a scholarly methodology: Christ appears more fully, for the second time … in the Science of God.
For many centuries, preachers, churches, have all but proudly looked forward to the End Times; since they are confident that they themselves, after all, have followed God and the Bible rightly; and that therefore they themselves, will be rewarded more than anyone, when God comes to earth again, in the Second Coming and so forth. But we will be finding here that what preachers taught, was not what the Bible really, finally, more fully, said. As we here look more closely at the Bible itself – we see that the Bible, God, often warned that our churches and preachers would often sin, and often be “deceived.” And so? In the end, the final revelations of God – the Apocalyptic Second Coming; the Day of the Lord; Judgement Day and so forth – would be unsettling, and shattering, even for those who thought they were believers. In the end, many things turn out to be almost exactly the reverse of what believers thought. For example? People that are thought to be “noble,” like priests, are found to be “fools.” And all things – even like spirituality itself – that were thought to be “high” or “lofty,” are brought down. (NOTE: most of the terms we put in quotes here, are in quotes to indicate that they are from the Bible itself. So that, anyone desiring more information on these terms, should look these words up, in a Bible index or concordance; and then in the Bible itself.)
Biblical accounts of the Second Coming tell us that when God returns to earth a “second” time, he does not simply affirm and reward conventional religion, or traditional Christianity. Instead, the Second Coming of God is painful, heaven-shattering – even especially for the servants of God; for the priesthood; for the very “household of God” itself (1 Peter 4.12-17; Zech. 12.1-14.1; Mal. 2.1-9, 3.1-11; etc.). And indeed, the appearance of God that we now see, here and now, exactly conforms to that shocking model: amazingly, shockingly, shatteringly, we will here come to the firm conclusion that 1) exactly as the Bible warned, all our preachers and angels were often radically, wrong. And that therefore? 2) They were wrong especially, in their contention that Christianity was supposed to be based on “faith”; on faithfully following, our priests and prophets, or faithfully following the image of “Christ” or God that they present. The fact is, the Bible constantly warned about gross sins in our holiest men. And therefore? The Bible itself finally told us that our religion, Christianity, was never supposed to be so firmly based on “faith” at all; instead, Christianity is supposed to be based on Science. Since all our holiest preachers often sinned and erred, clearly we were never supposed to have much faith in them, or in their “image”s of Christ. Instead, we should be questioning our preachers; examining them carefully with real empirical Science. To see if their claims can be verified – or not – with real physical experiments and data.
And if one “day” we should find that essentially “all” our holiest men and angels were largely false? Then one “day,” after all, we are supposed to find … precisely, that.
(As we will be showing in our many volumes, here. For far more material on God’s warnings about bad and “false,” deceitful things even in Christians, see our other, entire volumes: On False Priests; the Destruction of Heaven; the “Day,” When “Judgement” Comes; and so forth. See also our individual examination of dozens of the major aspects of Christianity, A to Z: from “Angels” and “Anointing” and “Apostles” and “Baptism,” to … “Worship,” and “Zeal.” Found partially in our various Bibliographies.)
God’s Science, Point #2
Problems With Faith,
In the Book of Job;
The Test of Faith;
And Elsewhere
If essentially every element of Christianity has often sinned, and failed us? Even “all” our preachers – and even very angels and churches themselves? Then how many of the sayings and doctrines passed down to us from priests and angels, are accurate and good? Especially, how good, how reliable is their insistence that we must have “faith” in our holy men, or their vision of Christ?
For centuries, probably the most common sermon or homily or religious speech of all, has been the sermon that insists that the essence of Christianity, is “faith.” Specifically, the implication is that God told us to follow preachers – and/or their idea of God – with total confidence in them; or with very strong “faith.” But that all-too-common sermon, we now find, runs into hundreds of strong objections. First: the command to have faith, in effect ignores and denies all the warnings in specifically the Old Testament – about problems in our religion. When preachers tell us that we must have “faith” in God – which amounts to faith in their idea of God – our preachers ignore one whole level, one whole major theme, throughout the entire Bible. When they ask us to have “faith” in their vision of God, preachers and churches ignore … the Bible’s countless warnings about false things in priests and prophets. False and bad things, in them – and in essentially all their sermons and most “inspired” doctrines. (As enumerated in our books, chapters on False Priests).
As we will be showing here over and over, the fact is that the Bible itself warned hundreds, thousands of times, about bad, “false” things in essentially “all” our holiest men; even in the angels in heaven itself. Even especially sins and errors, among those who proudly think that they are good Christians. Ultimately, a) the fuller context, the bigger message of the Bible, is to note that “all have sinned”; even our holiest men and angels. And therefore, logically, we should not have too much “faith” in them. While b) furthermore, finally, in part because of problems with faithfully following our flawed holy men, finally, in spite of Paul’s apparently firm support of “faith,” the Bible itself finally began to issue some explicit warnings, about “faith” itself. By name.
Indeed, let’s finally look here at a dozen or so problems the Bible indicates, with “faith.” Preachers normally speak as if the very heart of Christianity, is “faith.” And? Preachers usually speak in such a way as to suggest that they feel that if there is any problem with faith, the only problem there can be, a) is not having enough of it. Not having enough faith; needing to “strengthen our faith,” as they often say. But in fact, there are dozens, hundreds of other, fatal pitfalls in faith. In particular, consider this one: b) if all our holy men often sin and err, even in their allegedly “inspired” moments? Then clearly, if we have too much “faith” in them, or their images, sermons of God, we will often be mislead; we will be all-too-faithfully following bad priests, false prophets.
So for these and other reasons, finally, amazingly, we will be showing that c) the Bible itself at times, began to hint at problems with faith, even in itself. Telling us, among other criticisms, that there is something “lacking” in faith. We might be saved by “faith alone,” some would claim; and yet those who only evidenced faith, but not other things as well, were somehow, lacking the fuller spectrum of things, all the vitamins that we need, to live and be good:
“Faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corin. 13.13).
“Supply what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3.10).
“Supplement your faith with virtue” (2 Peter 1.5).
“Do we … overthrow the law by faith?” (Rom. 3.31).
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2.14-26 RSV).
Indeed, because of many unexpected pitfalls in “faith,” as we will see (see in our books on “Faith”), finally d) the Bible itself began to tell us to have no more faith than a “grain of mustard seed” (Mat. 17.20, Luke 17.6); a grain that is to be allowed to grow, only if we see empirical, scientific evidence to support and water our beliefs. And e) if we were at times seemingly told to “walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corin. 5.7)? Finally the Bible added that those who walk by faith and not by sight, are “far from God.” They walk with faith and not by sight, because they cannot see God in the physical world, as they eventually should (as we will show):
“We are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
And so finally, regarding faith? Because of many problems with faith, f) finally the Bible commanded us all, to welcome a class of people, without very much faith at all:
“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1).
Preachers to be sure, will have found dozens, hundreds of statements from the Bible. Statements that, taken out of this larger context, seem to tell us that “faith” – loyally, blindly following holy men, without asking for full material evidence for their words – is the core of Christianity. But we will be showing here that to just follow holy men and their vision of God, with total “faith” – ignores the hundreds, even thousands of biblical warnings. Warnings in the Bible about bad and false things in our holy men themselves – and in their pronouncements, sermons about God.
And then too? There are problems regarding faith, in the Old Testament specifically. As it turns out for instance, g) the entire Old Testament, mentions “faith” by name, only six times. And h) even in that limited body of references, two or three times, references to “faith,” are not to the faith we should have in God; but to the faithfulness God has, in helping us (Ps. 146.6, Hab. 2.4; NT: in New Testament, see 2 Corin. 1.18, 2 Tim. 2.13). This is true in many references to “faithfulness”: they often refer to God’s faithfulness and constancy in his care for us, not our faithfulness toward him). While i) recent scholarship (N. T. Wright?), suggests that calls to “faith,” did not originally, in the OT (Old Testament) mean having an inner sentiment of loyalty; but meant being true – or “faithful to” – Gods laws, or “covenants.” Being “faith”ful, did not refer just to an inner feeling of obedience and self-contentment; but rather, being faithful to God, just meant faithfully – obediently, exactly – following his rules, his laws. So it was not about inner sentiments; but about real-world obedience to rules.
So if the Old Testament j) where finally, did all the stress on “faith” come from? In large part, overwhelmingly, the person who mentioned “faith” the most times by far, was overwhelmingly, the Apostle Paul. But amazingly, the Bible often warned that our holiest men – and even the apostles – were often sinners. And indeed, Paul himself often admitted that he, himself, was the “greatest” or “worst of sinners” (q.v., concordance & Bible. Who himself admitted that he himself was not yet “perfect,” even as he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament (q.v. Bible).
The great mis-emphasis on “faith,” that was to come to mistakenly define Christianity for hundreds of years … came mostly therefore, not directly from God, but through the self-confessed unreliable intermediary, of the Apostle Paul. Paul mentioned “faith” about 174 times or so in the Bible; while God himself, in the Old Testament, mentioned “faith” by name, only about six times (in most translations). And so we would have to say that the real spokesman for “faith,” was … the Apostle Paul. And yet? Here we will show that Paul confessed that he himself, was “not yet perfect,” even as he was writing the New Testament. While for that matter? We will find that finally, even Paul himself, even in spite of his apparently very firm, initial enthusiasm for faith … began to turn away from a religion of strong faith. Even Paul, to some extent, finally began to turn to … the Science of God. As we will see in our chapters and books on Paul.
But what finally, about Jesus? Our present volume, will be mostly about the Old Testament, and God himself; with a few asides on Paul. We will need another entire volume, to cover the rest of the Bible – the New Testament. And to cover the all-important subject of, specifically, Jesus himself. But in this brief overview here, of the problems that the Bible had with “faith,” we should at least briefly mention k) Jesus. Specifically? Jesus mentions “faith,” only about 21 times. And what we will eventually see, is that Jesus finally meant by “faith,” following, believing, only things reasonably well proven, already, by empirical evidence; by physical “proofs,” “signs,” and so forth. Jesus in fact, perhaps seldom asked those around him for “faith” … until after those around him had already seen lots of alleged physical miracles; as partial physical, empirical proof that he was worthy of our confidence. Indeed, though “parts” of the Bible at times, seemed to suggest – in one reading – that faith means loyally following things without real evidence, finally the Bible itself rejects that. In fact, the New Testament is full of accounts of Jesus working giant, physical wonders, miracles; indeed, few people in Jesus’ surroundings, could ever really come to Jesus … without having heard of what appeared to be physical proofs, of his power. Indeed, if faith means following assertions for which there is no physical evidence offered … then the apostles themselves, who had seen many physical wonders, logically could never have faith; they had already seen too much empirical evidence.
(This will be a hard point for many to understand; so we will need to write much more on the Faith of Jesus and the New Testament, later. But the upshot will be that the Old Testament and even the New, continually asserted that Jesus himself, worked many physical wonders, in part as evidence, “proof,” that he was from God. Indeed, there are so many wonders narrated, that for all practical purposes, no one can really come to Christ … without having already read, many assertions of material proofs of what Christ said; so that logically, no one today can really have such total faith; no one can follow, without evidence.) And finally? This means that if Jesus himself ever supported “faith,” he meant in effect … faith in empirical science. Faith in physical evidence. As we will be seeing here. And as we will make clear, in our several books on Faith, and on Jesus especially.
So where did our preachers’ emphasis on “faith” really, finally come from? Shockingly, it seems to come from some of the more unreliable figures in the Bible: from the self-confessed im-“perfect” Paul, for example (Php. 3.12). (Or, if the apostle Paul is reliable? Then we will note Paul’s own retractions of his emphasis on faith, later on). Or indeed, l) we will eventually note that, surprisingly, perhaps the major advocate for faith, the “test of faith,” in the Old Testament, was not God, but was Satan himself.
Amazingly, it is not God, but Satan, that really emphasizes “faith” in the Old Testament. As we will see, it was literally Satan, not God, who first proposed the major idea relating to faith: the test of faith. As found in Job 1.8-12. In the Book of Job, it is literally the devil himself, who developed the key argument that preachers use today in their support for faith. Satan suggesting, in Job 1, that human beings like Job have life too easy; and that God should therefore send Job and us adversity, trials therefore; in order to try or – as preachers say, test our faith in God:
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that was blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and give hundred she-asses, and very many servants…. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan … ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’ And Satan answered the LORD, ‘Does Job fear God for nought [nothing]? Hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face.’ And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power’” (Job 1.6-12).
Here, Satan questions the whole covenant or contract, that is the basis of most of the Bible: the agreement between God and man, that if you follow the LORD and his rules, then God will give you many good things, and will bless the work of your hands, so that you will be prosperous. Here, Satan decides to question this core principle of the LORD; by suggesting that men should love – and in effect, have faith in God – even if he does not prosper them. And Satan suggests that God should therefore – as they say today – value, and “test” the faith of men; their will to follow their LORD even when the LORD is not giving them material rewards for it. And the wording of the text, seems to have the LORD allowing Satan to … begin to, as preachers came to say (though the phrase is not found here in the Bible itself), apply the “test of faith” to Job: to withdraw all the prosperity and material rewards he had given Job for being good. To test Job’s loyalty, or it seems, his faith.
Preachers for centuries, have used this particular text, as their Old Testament source for the New Testament, Pauline support of “faith.” But as it turns out, our preachers, who thought they were following the Bible in their advocacy of “faith,” were not reading it closely enough. Suppose we take a closer look at Job 1? As it turns out, the first great advocacy of faith, is indeed found in the Old Testament itself to be sure, in the Book of Job. But preachers have failed to notice a subtle but important point: that though there is seemingly an advocacy of faith in the Old Testament, in the Bible – it was not from God himself, but was literally, from Satan himself. Satan himself, in fact, was the major proponent of “faith.” And in the end, this makes sense too: no one likes “faith” better than the devil, himself. Since the more faith you have, the more blindly you follow religious leaders … the more likely you are to “blind”ly, faithfully, follow … the wrong ones.
As it turns out therefore, the whole emphasis on “faith,” was not really from God himself; but was first most strongly presented, advocated, by Satan himself. And indeed, “Faith” had to be presented in the Bible, as an idea first, from Satan. Because, especially, the vast bulk of the Bible, as we will outline it here, was not consistent with strong faith. Actually, remember, the Bible had warned over and over, that there were always false things, in our holiest men and preachers. So that clearly, the Bible clearly implied, first of all, that we should not have so much “faith” in holy men or their ideas about God; not at all. While indeed? Finally we will see m) the Bible ultimately told us to base our religion, our Christianity therefore, not on “faith”; but on continuous questioning – and Science. On Scientific examination of all religious claims.
At times to be sure, n) preachers insist that we cannot “put the Lord your God to the test.” by which – they insist – God must have meant to tell us that we cannot apply scientific “test”ing, specifically, to religion, to Christianity. But here we will find that what preachers claimed, was not what the Bible itself meant. We will showing here later, that that the Bible merely meant here for instance, that we should merely not “test” – or as it is often better translated in many Bibles, not “tempt” – God’s patience, by immortalities. While as for scientific “test”ing of religion? God elsewhere tells us to “test everything” in religion (1 Thess. 5.21), dozens of times. Indeed, finally God even commands us to test God himself; “put me to the test, says the LORD” in Malachi 3.10. While ultimately God himself clearly commanded us to … base ourselves not on “faith” in all-too-sinful holy men and angels; but to base ourselves on Science. Or specifically, on a Science of God. A science which we will be describing here.
Ultimately? From what we will be showing here, it gradually becomes very, very clear that, amazingly, shatteringly … God never wanted us to base Christianity on faith. Instead, God wants us to base Christianity and all religion, on Science. As we will be seeing at length, here and now.
And if we thereby seem to lack some measure of faith? Remember all the times that the Bible itself warned about false preachers … and began to explicitly note some problems with “faith,” by name. While for that matter? Finally, if what we say seems to demonstrate weak faith? Then note that the Bible itself commands churchgoers to accept that.
In the end, the Bible commands us all, to even welcome the man of little or weak faith:
“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1).
(For far more material on faith? See our chapter on Paul’s Faith; then our book-length treatments on Faith vs. Science, in Jesus).
God’s Science, Point #3
In the Book of Daniel:
God Supports Science by Name
God therefore, warned us all that all our holiest men and angels, and their “Faith,” even their “Heaven” itself, often sinned; even in their most allegedly “inspired” moments. But when all our holiest men fail us, then how can we actually, finally, find God? Amazingly, the Bible itself says, there is another, better route to the truth. One beyond priests, and their Faith, their Heaven. After warning us over and over, that there are always horrible problems with preachers, and b) problems therefore with too much “faith”in them, or with having much faith their view of God, finally the Old Testament for example, began to show us a much better way, to finally find God and truth. And that way does not involve just faithfully following preachers and churches. Or their ideas, their sermons, about God. Instead, c) after the Bible had begun to outline all the problems with faith and with blind obedience to authority, soon enough, the Bible itself, even in the days of the Old Testament, began to outline a much, much better way to find God. The Bible began to note three major things: that a) our holiest men often sinned and erred; so that in effect, b) “faith” in holy men, was not entirely good. Since our holiest men and angels often sinned – and since one “day” they and their Heaven itself is supposed to collapse? Rather than relying on preachers and their sermons, rather than having faith in them or their view of God, instead, finally the Old Testament began to describe another, better approach to God. Specifically? The Old Testament itself, began to tell us that instead of being based on “faith,” we are supposed to base our religion, our Christianity, on critical Science.
Amazingly, the Bible itself finally supported science, even over faith. The Bible supported science, even over preachers and faith, in a way that almost no one could quite really see, in past examinations of the holy books. But here and now, today, we can at last begin to point out the science of God far more clearly and completely, than in the past. First, we show that in the biblical Book of Daniel especially, God began to support “science,” even by name. And by full description (Dan. 1.4-15: KJE or KJV; King James Editions).
Today, it is time for believers and preachers alike, to finally, really see what the Old Testament for example, began to finally advocate: and it was not “faith,” but Science.” To begin to see this, readers should specifically consider, from the King James Edition of the Bible, The Book of Daniel, chapter 1. There note, the Lord himself, clearly seems to have a special liking for a young Jewish boy, by the name of Daniel. But what specifically does God like, about Daniel? In part, the lords approve of Daniel … largely because he is “skillful in all wisdom.” But more specifically, Daniel is approved of by the lords, Daniel is admitted into the company of the kings, the lords, God himself calls Daniel a person without “blemish,” and “skillful,” … because Daniel understands “science.”
Here is a first, extremely useful quote from the Old Testament; one that begins to show that God firmly supported Daniel, and young men like him, because they knew and followed Science. God supports Daniel and others like him, who are deemed to be without “blemish,” because they know and follow knowledge and science. Because they are …
“Children [“youths” RSV] … in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom … and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” (Dan. 1.4 KJV: King James Edition, of the Holy Bible).
This passage from the Bible, is a very useful thing to quote first, in our exploration of the Science of God. This passage, in the biblical Book of Daniel, is extremely useful as a first quote on this subject … because here, a popular translation of the Bible a) supports “science” – explicitly and by name.
Not only does the King James Version of the Bible support “science” by name; furthermore, b) this very passage in the Book of Daniel, is extremely positive about it; among other things, the above passage even begins to suggest that only those people with some understanding of science, could be considered to be without “blemish.” Or for that matter, more importantly, c) only those who, like Daniel, know science … are considered to have enough ability or skills or knowledge, to stand before a good “king” or lord, and to be a member of his household. And to be part of the king’s palace and immediate retinue. (And if for a moment, it might seem that Daniel is standing merely before specifically, one “Jehoiakim,” king of Judah, or before Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, note that ultimately, those who are in good standing before good “lords,” are said to stand before “The Lord” our God, himself. Not only do everyday kings and lords approve of Daniel and his science, but it seems clear that the supreme Lord, God himself, approves of Daniel. Since the words of God’s book, the Bible, call Daniel without “blemish,” and “skillful,” in “wisdom.” Indeed, the Bible clearly implies here, and more clearly says elsewhere, that “understanding science,” is the major part of the “wisdom” or “knowledge,” that God here and elsewhere, commands all Christians to have.
This single quote from Daniel 1.4, is extremely important and useful. Possibly just this single quote – from Daniel 1.4, KJE – should, just by itself, be enough final, conclusive evidence, that the Bible and God, firmly supported science. That God supported Science explicitly; and even by name. But of course, to prove even to preachers, that God supported Science even over Faith, is a very hard thing to do: our preachers have often taught that religion and science, are all but mortal enemies. While in any case, preachers have often argued that the Bible ultimately warned about Science, as merely human “knowledge,” and so forth; so that countless sermons and homilies and semi-theological treatises have been presented by preachers; to argue that we should all ignore science, and just follow “faith.” Indeed, there are hundreds of statements in the Bible – in the writings of Paul, especially – that seem to support “faith,” over practical knowledge and so forth. So that, as we present our thesis here – that God supported Science, even over Faith – there are hundreds of traditional preachers’ arguments, sermons, against all this Science of God, from preachers, that we will need to answer. For example? Some might claim that the reference by God, to “science,” above, is from a bad translation of the Bible, that is just false; or some such. Though the above quote is from the King James version or translation; that, true or false, certainly was historically, extremely influential in Christianity; it is from the translation of the Bible that largely determined Christian practice, for 400 years.
Yet indeed, there will have been many objections to what we are about to say here; hundreds, thousands of objections in fact. And these objections, coming from preachers, are taken as holy, by many believers. So that indeed, to make the final, convincing case for the science of God, we will need to go on … and address, one by one, literally hundreds of objections, from often massively-popular and influential sermons. But indeed? Our present volumes are designed to be, ultimately, exhaustive. That is to say? We will attempt to meet most or even all, of the dozens of most common priestly/theological objections, to Science. But really, answering dozens of traditional objections, is no great problem: in part objections will be answered, one by one. Here, our volumes intend to win our argument, in part by sheer bulk, and completeness, in our Biblical review. Countless arguments against Religious Science, will begin to dissolve … as we note here a) first, hundreds of biblical warnings, about preachers and holy men. And then as we b) note ambiguities and equivocation, in ultimately, every single Biblical quote supporting “faith.” And then finally? Objections to our Science should dissolve, as c) in the course of our many volumes here, we will find not just one single Bible quote, supporting science; but we will be revealing here, literally hundreds of Bible quotes, supporting science. Finally, their sheer volume alone, would be enough to convince. But then too, the subtlety and logical force of the many pro-science statements in the Bible, makes a convincing case: that God intends Christianity to be not faith-based, but science-based.
To be sure, preachers have constantly quoted parts of the Bible, that seemed – taken just by themselves, and out of context – to support “faith” over everything else. Indeed, in churches all over the world, for thousands of years, billions of people (cumulatively; 70 billion human beings they say, have lived to date; probably many billions in Christian eras), have heard over and over, to be sure, those parts of the Bible (especially, in the writings attributed to Paul). Billions of people, the whole world, has heard the parts, the fragments of the text, that seemed to say, in themselves, that “faith” is the very heart of truth and of Christianity. But the apostle and saint, Paul, warned that even the best Christians of the past, saw only “part” of the truth of God. Paul himself, the apostles themselves, often warned us, that even the best Christians – and even the apostles themselves – in their time saw God only imperfectly; as if in a dark, clouded mirror (1 Corin. 12-13.12). And especially? Paul admitted that even “we” Christians, like himself, saw only “part” of the truth.
That is the problem in fact: even our holiest men and preachers, have until today, seen and obeyed only “part”s of even the Bible itself. Preachers have constantly noted and emphasized, the parts of the text, that seemed to support preachers, and their “faith,” and our “heaven.” But at their best, apostles like Paul, in an occasional moment of real humility, admitted that after all, they have had only “part” of the “full”er “appearance” of God (cf. Isa. 52.14; his appearance was so marred). And they have looked forward to a “Second Coming,” or second “parousia,” – a second “appearance” – of God. When God will reveal himself more fully. And indeed? The first good outline of that fuller appearance, seems to begin to happen, even here and now. Amazingly here and now, in our “second” look at the Bible here, we will be looking at the hundreds of parts of the Bible – that our preachers could not “see”; or that they could not “face” or bear.” The parts that our preachers denied, or semantically “twisted” or “whitewashed.” The parts, especially, where the Bible warned about … preachers themselves.
What are the many parts of the Bible, of God, that preachers and believers have traditionally, not be able to perceive, or face? In our many volumes here, we are going to foreground the parts of the Bible, that preachers deny, and suppress. And we will do this … to eventually reveal a second and shocking, Apocalyptic – but ultimately, much better, “full”er – view of God. One that is much better than the “Christ” we met in sermons all over the whole world. Eventually, we will show here that – amazingly, shockingly, and contrary to what you always heard in church – the Bible itself ultimately does not support “faith” as strongly as our preachers did. Instead, we will here show Gods’ support for science – repeated and expanded, over and over. In dozens, in a hundred and more, quotes from the Bible. So that in the end, we must come to this amazing, shattering, but momentous and fruitful conclusion: incredibly, God himself did not mean to emphasize “faith,” as much as he meant to emphasize science. As the best way to find God and the truth. (To be sure, for a long time, for millennia, science lagged behind some truths, that were accessible only to intuition, and not to systematic science. But today, in the era of the new Social Sciences – especially Anthropology, but also Psychology and Sociology – science at last, can begin to confirm and purify, ancient religious ideas about the best systems of ethics and social structure.)
Ultimately the Book of Daniel for our first example, advocated Science both by name – and also by full description. In fact, in the Book of Daniel, God presents a reasonably complete description – and advocacy – of classic, scientific, experimental method. About as good as anyone could get, in the time of Daniel.
God’s Science, Point #4
Daniel, Continued:
God Supports Science by
Description; of Scientific Method
The Bible supports science in many, many ways. First informally, God noted problems with faith. But more directly 1) God recommends “science” to us, by name. In Daniel 1.4-17. Beyond that we now add, 2) in the Biblical book of Daniel, we see God offering a brief description of and support for, scientific method; of the experimental or scientific method.
Daniel 1.4-17 is an extremely useful and important text for the science of God. There is no doubt finally, from the example in Daniel, and many other quite detailed examples, that what God was commanding us to have, was real, hard, true, empirical science. God wanted us, clearly, to have a real science. One which employs the full, classic, scientific method; the experimental method. Which, amazingly, is rather fully described in Daniel. In what follows, is outlined a brief sketch of a classic, early version, of a scientific experiment. Here, Daniel is arguing that the food assigned to him by the king, was not good for him. And to support his assertion, Daniel in effect, sets up an ancient version, of a simple, scientific experiment: he suggests that for ten days, his overseer should let Daniel experimentally “test” a new diet out. Specifically, Daniel wants his test group, to try out Daniel’s religious diet for ten days; and then at the end of the ten days, he asks that the appearance of his own group, be compared with others, on another diet.
Here’s the story:
“The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations…. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations…. ‘Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.’ So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s rich food” (Dan. 1.5, 8, 12-15).
Look closely at this example: this is science; as good as science could be, at the time. This is in fact, amazingly, an early description and advocacy, of what is today called the scientific or experimental method. From God himself. Basically, God here shows us how to conduct a basic scientific experiment; in this case, to compare two different diets for human beings; to see which one is better, as according to religion. And note, the way to determine this, is to see how following a religious tenet, a religious diet, makes us visibly, materially, physically healthier in appearance, or not.
This in fact, is amazing; it is exactly contrary to many “spiritual” theories of Christianity; that assert that the physical, material outcomes of religion, are all but irrelevant; that religion is not supposed to get real, visible, material results, in a timely way, here on this earth; that religion can be accounted good, if it merely gives us pleasant ideas, sensations, in our mind or “spirit.” Here though, we see the Bible itself, becoming adamantly materialistic, and focused on learning to see which things in religion are true or false, by using real science, to confirm whether or not, following our religion is bringing us real, physical, timely, visible, material well-being; improving our physical bodies and “appearance.”
God’s Science, Point #5
In Daniel – We are Furthermore,
Ordered By God to
Apply Science Specifically
To Religion,
And to Judeo-Christianity
Here we are beginning to see an entirely different religion within the Bible, than what we learned in churches all over the world. Here, Judeo-Christianity is not based on “faith,” or on spirituality; it is based on applying science to things, to find out what brings real, visible, material good to us. This in itself, is revolutionary, Apocalyptic. But furthermore, there is another very, very significant aspect in just this single story of Daniel, for the whole future of Christianity.
Note that in effect, the diet Daniel wants to eat, is the diet prescribed no doubt, by his Jewish religion. Note that many religions have restrictions of what kinds of food, we are allowed to eat. Specifically, Judaism has “kosher” or “Parve” or parev restrictions. Which do not allow us to a) eat or prepare food dishes that include both meat and milk, in one dish. Or to b) eat shellfish. Or c) to eat pork; or any meat from animals with “cloven hoofs.” Or then too, d) we are not allowed by God to eat meat from which the blood has not been previously drained, during slaughtering. These are major elements of Jewish religion; and in fact, these rules for what food we can eat, were set in the Old Testament itself, too. Though later, in the New Testament, Peter has a “dream,” that seems to allow Christians, if not Jews, to eat almost anything, these rules were until very recently – c. 1950 – still followed by many conservative Jewish families. As part of their religion.
So note that there is something revolutionary, heaven-shattering, going on here in Daniel; something that will turn all of Christianity itself around, finally. Indeed, the truly revolutionary thing in Daniel, is that here, the Bible firmly allows us not just to use science in just certain ,limited cases. That is, a) the Bible does not just allow applying scientific method, experiments, just in traditional scientific disciplines, like physics or technology (as many priests assert today). Rather, and quite specifically, here note, b) we are in effect allowed and eventually even commanded by God himself, to apply science specifically to … religion. To Judaism and Christianity.
The revolutionary import of Daniel, moreover, does not end here: amazingly, we are allowed by God, to apply scientific experiments, to the most traditional religious beliefs, like the laws of what food we should eat, in Jewish culture. And c) furthermore, it almost seems here as if we are not just allowed to apply science to religion; we are expected to apply science to religion, to verify – or even potentially dis-confirm – our religious beliefs. We are to apply science, even to religion. To see if our religion is true or not. We are to d) evaluate even especially, our religion, by looking to see if it materially “prospers” us or not. While if our religion does not great real, empirical, physical results? If it does not make us physically healthier? Then, far from telling us to continue following it with total blind “faith,” instead, we will see that eventually any negative results, should tell us that of even our holiest men have been false. Thus in effect, we are commanded to use science, above traditional beliefs; to find out, judge, which of our most traditional beliefs are true … and which are false. We are to use science, to separate good from false Christianity. To separate the “sheep” from the “goats”; the wheat from the “straw” or chaff; the dead and unfruitful “branches,” from the good ones.
In the passage quoted here, we are being introduced to Daniel; who was essentially a good, traditional Jewish boy, who wanted to follow Jewish – religious – dietary laws (today sometimes known as “kosher” laws). Daniel had recently come into another, pagan king’s household – which offered pagan, alien, forbidden food. But Daniel wanted to remain true to his religion, with its food restrictions. And so, Daniel refused to eat things his tradition told him not to eat. But here is the crucially important element of this story: to defend himself and his religious beliefs, Daniel did not just cite “faith”; instead, amazingly, Daniel undertakes to prove or disprove, with science, that his beliefs are true and good. And this he does … by an early scientific test. One that will demonstrate that following his religious laws, improves the physical (not spiritual) appearance and well-being of those who follow them.
By today’s standards of science, to be sure, we might question the full validity of this very early, primitive science experiment. But in many situations (if not all), even an experiment this simple would be useful enough. And so clearly, here we see in Daniel, an very early, primitive but recognizable attempt at, applying real scientific method. And what is more, the Bible shows us, approvingly, how to apply this science, specifically to our holiest religious beliefs, specifically. We are to use Science to prove – or eventually, even disprove – our religion itself. By looking to see if our religion brings us real, empirically-observable, material, physical results. Or not.
Daniel, incredibly, conducts what is recognizably a simple scientific experiment. A scientific experiment is here carried on, with much the same kind of competence that, say, an agricultural experimenter uses, in determining the usefulness of various kinds of cattle feeds, today. Much like today’s agronomists, Daniel a) controls the diet of two different groups; one group is on the old, king’s food, while another group is on Daniel’s own diet. And b) then, after trying out this new diet for a while, Daniel asks that after “ten days,” the group of the king’s too-rich diet, be compared to, weighed against, Daniel’s group, which is on a different kind of food. Just as an agricultural scientist or farmer, would visually assess different feeds for his cattle, by comparing two separate but otherwise identical groups, on different feeds, at stipulated times. To find out which diet was better; more materially productive.
This episode in Daniel, begins to suggest, that God wanted a totally different kind of Christianity than what we always heard in church. But as we will see, this new vision of Christianity, is verified over and over, not just in the Book of Daniel, but in dozens, hundreds of other examples from the Old Testament, and the New as well. Indeed, after having read Daniel furthermore, it is clear that the translation of Dan. 1.4 that called the knowledge that Daniel learns, as “Science,” was quite correct. There can be no doubt: the book contains not only an advocacy of “science” by name, but it also confirms this word … by a very lengthy description of Daniel applying a simple, early version of scientific, or experimental method.
Here in Daniel therefore, we have the first rather complete outline, of a vision of God that is not “new” to scholars; but will see revolutionary to most ordinary people, and preachers. Here we clearly have God advocating not “faith” in religious rules; but actually advocating the careful application of “science”; by name, and by adequate description (for the times). Here the Bible describes and approves, applying scientific testing to our holiest religious ideas and doctrines; to see if they are true, or false.
And this is revolutionary, heaven-shattering, of course. Here, Daniel and God absolutely contradict the “spiritual, “Christ”ian religion of most priests and ministers. Most priests today assure us or constantly imply, that a) Christianity is supposed to bring us primarily just mental or “spiritual” results. Often their sermons assert that physical things, “possessions,” are crass; and that real religion aims primarily just at mental or spiritual results. Indeed, much of Christianity today is so opposed to material life, that it even makes a virtue of material “suffering” and privation, poverty (in asceticism). Often priests tell us that indeed, the material “sufferings” of “Job” are all that priests have to bring to us, for the time being. (Even though Job himself was often blessed with lots of material wealth). Yet b) we will be finding here, in Daniel and throughout the Bible, that God more often promised us not just “spiritual” things, but real, material, physical rewards. And c) indeed, not only did the Bible constantly promise very, very physical, material things, that can be seen in our visible “appearance”; to those who really, truly know God (in this case, gaining a healthy weight). Furthermore, this promise of not just mental or “spiritual,” but even more very physical rewards, was so firm, that here in Daniel (and in a hundred other places too, we will see) God tells us that we can even quickly determine, who is really from God, and who is not … by looking to see if following their ideas, brings us real, physical, material results.
Amazingly, Christianity here is supposed to be based not so much on “spiritual” things like “faith”; rather religion is supposed to be based on getting real, observable, physical gains. And then furthermore, we are to assess those gains, not by faith, but by using the supreme art of materialism: using science. Explicitly by name and by full description: science.
Amazingly therefore, we are even here and now, just from one example of hundreds, beginning to see, in parts of the Bible that preachers deny or ignore or “twist,” another, entirely different, appearance to God; we are beginning here to see God, Christ, advocating not blind “faith” and “spirituality” in religious rules. Instead, here we see God himself commanding us to use practical physical results, as determined by science, to evaluate religious claims. We are in fact to determine whether a given religious rule is true or not, is really from the LORD or not, not by just looking to see if the Bible promised such things; or not by just having “faith” in that promise. But rather instead, we are to actively confirm whether a given religious idea is good or bad, by looking to see if following it brings real, material results. As determined by evaluating the results, with real empirical science.
And so we begin to come here and now, to a shocking, apocalyptic reappearance of God. One that in some ways confirms what we thought. But which in other ways reverses the ideas of many of what our religion was about. But finally, we will be noting, if this seems to shatter our traditional heaven itself, if it seems to reverse many conventional ideas about God and Christianity, then after all, this matches, fulfills, a series of major prophesies in the Bible; or realizes a series of things that the Bible itself finally authorized. As foretold, we here begin to see that a) there are many sins and errors, in our holiest men and angels; b) specifically with their idea that religion is supposed to be based on “faith.” While c) if in this process, many things priests thought were “first” with God, are here found “last”? Then after all, that matches a result, that the Bible told us we would indeed see, one day.
“If any one would be first, he must be last of all” (Mark 9.35).
“Some are first, who will be last” (Luke 13.30; not as in Mat. 19.30?).
“The fool will no longer be called noble” (Isa. 32.5).
What God really wants us to follow here, is science. Not Faith. And if this even reverses what we were told to expect in the End? Then after all, it was not just that successful secular scientific people, who were “first” in the “world,” are to be exposed by priests; but just as much, even priests, the very “household of God,” who are often also thought “first,” are themselves found to be “last” in many significant ways. Even in the eyes of God himself.
Can the truth about God really be so exactly different, so exactly reversed from, what nearly all our priests and prophets told us? In fact, it can be. The Bible itself warned constantly that not just ordinary secular people – as priests imply – are to be found bad in the End; but also our holiest men and priests on this world, and in heaven too, are to be found to have been themselves largely “false” too. So that even those priests, bishops, and popes, who have seemed “first” to the whole world … are even now coming to seem to be “last” in many respects. As we are beginning to see them even now.
More on Daniel:
Only Those Who Know “Science”
Are Admitted into the Company of the King
Is this “Science” of God, really so important? In fact, it is. To expand into another section of the quote from Daniel above, note for example, that it is not blindly “faith”ful believers, but only those believers who know and follow practical reasoning – those who know specifically and by name, “science” – that will be fully admitted into the “kingdom.” Or in Daniel: into the “house” of the “lord,” or “the king’s palace.” Only those who have “science” are accepted, welcomed by God, to the point that they are allowed to “stand” before the king, personally, one day (Dan. 1.4 above).
God’s Science, Point #6
“Put me to the test, says the LORD” (Mal. 3.10).
Vs.
“Thou Shalt Not Put the LORD your God to the Test” ?;
“You Shall Not Tempt the Lord your God” (Mat. 4.7; Luke 4.12 RSV).
We Should Not “Test” or “Tempt” God With Rash Acts; but
Should Test Religion, With Science
The most common objection, to the idea that Christianity is supposed to be a “science,” is the passage where Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy; to the effect that we should not “temp” – or in some translations it is said, “test” – our god: “thou shalt not put the LORD your God to the test” (Mat. 4.7).
This science is extremely hard for most faith-based preachers, to learn to accept or “face.” Indeed, most preachers never face this part of God at all. Eager to hold on to their traditions, doctrines, eager to remain in their comfort zone of total unthinking obedience, instead of learning to “face” this God, our preachers look for the parts of the Bible, that could be construed as assuring them that all they need in life is unthinking obedience and faith in traditional views. And indeed to be sure, there were many parts of the New Testament especially, that were written to appear, in part, to support blind and total obedience to authority, religion, clerics. But to be sure, the mistake or sin that preachers commit here, is that they only see what they want to see; they only see and obey the parts of the Bible that conform to their traditional prejudices and preconceptions.
To be sure, there are parts of the Bible, that were written to appeal to those children and others, who do not want to learn to think critically. Or who believe they cannot think on their own very well; for people who just want to be told what to do; to follow a leader, obediently, faithfully. Among the parts of the Bible, that cater to this crowd – the blindly faithful – is the following quote. Which has become the mainstay of a very, very common sermon; one which asserts that God hates science; that God specifically forbids us to use science, to examine or “test” anything in religion, especially; as he did in Daniel.
The particular line being used constantly by preachers to attack the finding that we should apply science to Christianity, is especially, this one:
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Mat. 4.7; Luke; Deuteronomy. NRSV?).
Preachers have long been mistrustful of science. Largely because science tells us that key elements of traditional religion – like its promises of big, regular, reliable miracles; “all” and “whatever” we “ask” – are just false. Noting this contradiction or conflict between science and their traditional religion, preachers for centuries have invented countless sermons, to try to assure us that the Bible itself told us that Christianity is not supposed to take science seriously. And that certainly, Christianity should never be a science. And to try to establish this, preachers have of course, found a few tiny parts of the Bible to quote. Especially the parts where it seemed to order not to “test” God:
“Neither let us put Jehovah to the test, as some of them put him to the test, only to perish by the serpents” (1 Corin. 10.9 NWT; ref. Num 21.5-6).
We should “not put the Lord to the test”; this simple phrase has been quoted a billion times in sermons all over the world, to try to establish that a) God himself did not like science; or b) especially, God did not want us to apply science to religion, Christianity; when he told us not to “test” God. But popular as this sermon is among preachers, we need to re-examine this idea after all. Remembering first that a) God warned us that our holiest priests and ministers, and their “tongues” – their sermons no doubt – are often wrong. Paul warned specifically that our holy men – even Paul himself – saw the truth only in “part.” So suppose we try to look beyond the one or two quotes.
To really know what the Bible really, fully meant to say on any given topic, it is useful to look up look up the word used for that topic, in a Bible index, or concordance. So in this case, let’s look up the word “test”; to see all the different times and ways the Bible used the keyword, “test.” As it turns out, it is time for our preachers to look at the many parts of the Bible – and God – they have previously ignored, and disobeyed. Including the parts that told us firmly, to “test” many, many things; to even test things in religion. Against what we always heard in church, we are commanded finally to even test God himself, finally:
a) “Let them also be tested” (regarding priests; 1 Titus 3.10).
b) God often tests us: “For thou, O God, hast tested us, thou hast tried us” (Ps. 66.10).
c) And we test things with wisdom: “Tested by wisdom” (Ecc. 7.23).
(Regarding “wisdom,” note that it is related to science: “… In whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom … and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” Dan. 1.4 KJE).
d) And in the end, “fire will test what sort of work” the churches have done; test even their foundations (1 Corin. 3.13).
e) Indeed, we are even supposed to “test the spirits” (1 John 4.1).
f) Even we are finally commanded to “Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).
g) “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who called themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false…. “; Rev. 2.2 (See also below, #81?).
h) “Put me to the test, says the LORD your God” (Mal. 3.10).
i) Finally, in Daniel especially, we see God explicitly approving Daniel, and therefore his scientific “test”ing: “Test your servants” for ten days; (Dan. 1.12).
The massively popular “thou shalt not test the LORD” sermon, does not square with what the bulk of the Bible said. What the “full” appearance of God says. The fact is, the Bible constantly orders us to “test” things for God. And it becomes clear here, eventually, that that means primarily (if not always?), testing everything in religion, with Science. Just as in Daniel.
Probably all of these statements, advocating “test”ing are consistent with “test”ing things specifically with Science. Especially when we keep in mind that probably the longest – and the most definitive – discussion on “test”ing, was in the book of Daniel. While there, there is no doubt that God used – and advocated – the word in the sense of scientific “test”ing. As is clear from our major example, from Daniel:
“The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations…. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations…. ‘Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.’ So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s rich food (Dan. 1.5, 8, 12-15).
Here God clearly uses the word “test,” to mean scientific testing. Furthermore, j) God earlier had clearly approved of the “knowledge” and character of Daniel – and Daniel’s knowledge and his character, was clearly based, in significant part, on science: Daniel was approved of by God, because he was a good young man, among other things, “understanding … science” and related forms of practical knowledge.
The Bible clearly approves of scientific testing of a) many things therefore. But can we test b) even religion? Test c) even God himself? To be sure, there are many kinds of “test”ing. And it is commonly said in a million churches, that God told us not to “put the Lord your God to the test.” But finally, we find here, that passage must have been better translated as telling us merely, not to “test” – or better translated, not to “temp” – God’s patience, with such silly notions and rash behavior. Since it is clear first in the Book of Daniel, that God allows scientific testing of our religion.
Malachi:
“Put Me to the Test, Says the Lord” (Mal. 3.10)
Amazingly, the command to scientifically “test” even things in religion, even to scientifically “test” even God himself, is finally confirmed, and even expanded, in the long passage from the Book of Malachi. There God clearly not only allows, but even commands us, strongly orders us, to test even God himself:
“Put me to the test, says the LORD your God” (Mal. 3.10).
To be sure, a) there are many kinds of “test”ing; as in “test”ing God’s patience, for example. But b) gradually it becomes clear that God allows and even demands, at least one kind of testing. And in Malachi, it soon becomes clear that whatever might be meant by “test”ing in some passages, often God tells us that we are to specifically test, scientifically examine, everything in religion. Examine even God himself. With scientific tests.
Here is the passage, in the author’s own translation, which mostly follows the standard NRSV:
“Bring the full tax tribute payment [my interpretation] into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10-12; based mostly on NRSV).
Just as in the description in Daniel, this is clearly another extended example of God approving scientific method. Furthermore, c) God is commanding us specifically to apply this scientific testing, to religion. Furthermore, d) God is even commanding us to apply science to even God himself. Finally in fact, e) God himself is not just allowing this testing; but indeed God, himself, is even firmly, unequivocally commanding a believer to do this: “Put me to the test, says the Lord,” commandingly.
Clearly moreover, this is not some kind of “spiritual” test: it is an empirical test. One that proves or disproves the rightness of our idea of the Lord, by looking systematically to verify, with science, his physical, material gifts, not his spiritual ones. Many preachers were later to use parts of the New Testament especially, to claim that God never really promised us real, material, physical things; but only mental or “spiritual” results. And our many spiritual preachers told us that if we did not get all the miracles preachers promised, we should ignore that, and just be “faith”ful and quiet. But we will be finding here, that those sermons, that determined much of Christianity for a very long time, were substantially, overstated, or false. Contrary to what most of us heard in millions of churches, God firmly promised those who really find him, first of all, not just mental or “spiritual” rewards, but real, physical, timely, material results. Here specifically, God promises that if farmers put portions of their crops, into his storehouse or granary, he in turn for these very physical, material contributions, will give us very, very physical results: he will destroy insect pests that plague their crops; and he will ensure that their future food crops will be successful; their vines will bear many grapes and so forth.
And then too, this is science. First it is all phrases in very physical terms; and the results, being material, f) can therefore be read by, science. Then too note that in effect, God orders us to not blindly believe him, but to put him to a “test.” While moreover, notice that it is in effect, another scientific experiment. That is: God tells us to give him material things … and then look to “see if” there is a material result. In this case, we are to give him a portion of our crops in effect, and then look to see whether he gives us a good physical result, in return. That is, we are to try a material event out, to see if it gets a material result. A very simple, empirical experiment.
This is very simple. But it is a reasonable account of science for such an ancient time. And it has great theological importance: later on, God will even give this kind of experiment very, very great “authority”: when he later tells us, in the incident with Ezekiel, that we are to believe that a given command is from God, only if it does get a visible, material, scientifically proven result. In this case, God suggests we simply try him out; put food in his granary, and/or pay a portion of crops as sacrifice, tax, and then look to see whether he gives us something in return … or not. While in later elaboration of this basic experiment, God will even tell us explicitly, to believe the commands are from him, only if we follow them, and get such real, physical results.
Amazingly therefore, after the first rather lengthy and explicit embrace of “science” by name, and/or full description in Daniel 1.4-15, we have here in Mal. 3.10, even very, very firm, clear command to a believer, from God: actually commanding the believer to follow this science. “Test”ing even God himself.
So
So what vision of God, should we now begin to see? In the past, our preachers sinned and erred; they substantially misquoted, misrepresented, the Bible. Against what we always heard from countless churches and priests out there, there was in the Bible, ultimately, no absolutely firm prohibition on scientific “test”ing. God didn’t really tell us not to test him scientifically at all. Quite the contrary. The a) one time God appeared to order us not to test religion, was translated differently, in different Bibles. While b) elsewhere, in the other parts of the holy text, God constantly ordered “test”ing all the time. Moreover, c) God even explicitly, in some revered translations, even orders “scien”tific testing. Furthermore, d) God even finally not only allows, but even commands us to begin, testing. And even e) specifically, to begin the testing of what is called Christianity. Finally, f) even, explicitly, testing God himself. (Indeed, in Paul, “test everything”).
As it will come to be clear, from our examination here, of dozens or a hundred or more such examples from the Bible itself, ultimately, God did not want Christianity to be based solely or even predominantly on “faith” at all. In point of fact, God called constantly, and in great detail, for a kind of very, very empirical, scientific testing, of “everything” in Christianity. And indeed, eventually much of the Bible warns that many priests and holy men, even followers of “Christ,” are “false”; and then it orders us to determine whether priests are true or false, whether their commands are really from God or just from their own “dreams” and “minds” and “false spirits,” by using science. Using science to see preachers they get real material results, or not. If they do not bring real material prosperity, then we might begin to suspect that their commands and sayings attributed to God, are really from God. While if they do not? Then they are to be found simply, false. Barren, “fruit”less “branches.” Mere chaff or straw; not wheat.
Thus we are beginning to see a pattern here: God actually backed scientific method. Even, we will show, over “faith” in authority.
As we begin to show here, that scientific testing – not the call to “faith” – is actually the true, real, dominant pattern in the Bible; the true command from God. God clearly wanted us to base Christianity, not so much on “faith,” but on real science. On the careful observation of the physical, material results, of following a given saying. Ultimately therefore, we are not supposed to be so blindly “faith”ful to preachers, holy men, and their image of, sermons on, God. Instead, the ultimate message of the Bible is very, very different from what we always heard from priests. Indeed, it is often the opposite of what we heard in church. Far from ignoring physical failures in religion, and continuing to have faith, instead, we are to only very tentatively, follow a word or command from God; we are to follow it only for a short time … in order to see if it brings real, material, empirical, observable, concrete results. Physical results here in this material earth. In this example from Malachi, God explicitly tells us to “test” even God himself; to see if it helps us get a very, very physical result: an end to insect pests and “locusts”; and stronger vineyards, better crops, or real, actual, literal, fruit. Real physical food to eat.
While as for “testing,” in Malachi, in fact, God not only allows us to “test” things in religion; he even commands a believer to put he himself, God himself, to the “test.” (As we confirm also, in our writing on the OT theology demanding “signs”).
Indeed, God is extremely angry we will see, with anyone who does not test him (as he is angry with Ahaz, in Isa. 7.10-13, below).
So what was being said in the “thou-shalt-not-test the Lord” statement? Given all the times God orders us to test things in religion, perhaps we should consider the possibility that the word translated “test” here, is translated badly. And in fact, a look at other Bibles, reveals that b) that … many Bibles do not translate this word as “test,” at all.
Why don’t some Bibles use the word “test” here? It is because c) they understand this passage, as telling us merely not to … “test” – or better translated, “tempt” – God’s patience. By asking for too much.
Here in fact is how the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible translated the “thou shalt not test” example. Note that the word “test” does not appear in this Bible, at all:
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Luke 4.12 RSV; the Old Testament; as interpreted by Jesus himself, from the “Septuagint,” the Greek “Seventy” Bible. From, originally, do not “play the harlot” with God?).
So our different Bibles, say different things here. Which one is right? Many preachers like to say they are all good. But preachers normally insist that the Bible is absolutely holy and true, and their word is holy. Yet it would appear that one translation or another, is not holy, here.
Which translation is right? To find that out, we might recall all the other things that the Bible said about “test”ing. And then too, we might d) ask what were the above quotes about? As we will note more fully later, these apparent bans on “test”ing God, all refer back primarily to single incident in the life of Moses, leading his people in the wilderness. Where it was said that, even though the people saw many, many miracles from Moses, they began to doubt that he was a good leader, representing a lord, a God. And so they began to “murmur” against Moses and his God. But here we will note, if God ever required “faith” from his people, the lesson is, he required it only after he had proven himself, by working many material wonders. And in the original incident with Moses and his people, the real lesson is this: the Lord requires us only to have enough faith to believe things tjat we ourselves see proven by material evidence. And the Lord does not get angry at us for our lack of faith, unless we cease to believe even in things well proven by evidence. Or unless we ask for too many things, it seems. So for example, in the wilderness, God does not get angry at his people, until they ask for … more than all the miracles Moses already worked for them, right in front of their own eyes. God does not chastise the people’s lack of faith, really, until they do not even have faith in great masses of material evidence.
So in fact, one of the core, centerpiece quotations of anti-science preachers – the anti-“test”ing statement – does not hold up. The fact is, many Bibles do not have this passage saying anything about any kind of “test”ing at all; instead, many Bibles translate this sentence as telling us rather, not to “tempt” God. Not to “tempt” or test, his patience, we will see, by being bad. Which is in fact, the better translation. More exactly, we are not to “tempt” the patience, by even failing to have faith in things well proven by empirical experience.
Finally, if the Bible advocated “Faith” at all, we will be showing, it meant just precisely that: believing, having faith in things reasonably well proven, by empirical experience and science. So that the faith of God, was not at all, like the rather blind faith of preachers. The real faith that God calls for, is any, amounts to actually, calling us to firmly believe only in things well proven by experience, and science. While indeed, as in Moses, God will punish us only when … we fail to honor science and evidence. It was only after the people still did not believe in Moses and his god, even after Moses worked many material wonders, right in front of their very own eyes, that God became angry at the people.
This is what we will see here, over and over. The fact is, we will be finding here, that those many Bible passages that are so frequently presented to us in church, as prohibiting (adequate; contemporary) scientific “test”ing in and of religion, are first of all, misleading in themselves; they do not reflect the overall message of the book as a whole. And moreover, even those isolated and atypical examples, are probably often mistranslated.
Furthermore, we will see here in countless examples, any apparent bans on scientific “test”ing of Christianity, turning Christianity into a science, are inconsistent with, directly contradict, dozens, a hundred other parts of the Bible; parts which firmly tell us, over and over, to adopt, integrate “science” by name and full description, into Christianity.
Specifically, we have just noted that the countless commands from God to integrate science into Christianity, include first of all, frequent commands from God, to specifically and by name, “test” everything in religion, and in Christianity. To “test” specifically, “priests,” and “churches”; to “test” believers; to test the very “foundations” of our religion. As we saw above.
. . .
[There might be other types of “test”ing in the Bible, to be sure: e) some of these “tests,” to be sure, might be seen as merely putting some of us through various trials, sufferings. To “test our faith,” as they say. But we will note, that the passage which proposed the test of faith idea … has not God, but Satan presenting that idea (in Job 1.8-11). Finally, the best explanation for suffering is that we suffer ... because we are not yet fully following God’s science. We suffer because we are not good yet; and good means, having much science. Or we are “test”ing various behaviors … and finding out that indeed, testing shows they are not fruitful, and not from God. Because they make us suffer.]
Ultimately in any case, God especially advocates science, and scientific testing. And even especially, God command us to begin scientific testing of everything in Judaism and Christianity. On the model that we began to see here, in Daniel 1.4-15 KJE. But then next, particularly, in Malachi 3.10 ff.
Indeed, we will see, if that “put the Lord to the test” quote, really does forbid the scientific “test”ing of religion, or testing God, then it would have directly contradicted much of the rest of the Bible. Like Malachi 3.10; where God himself told us even test even he, himself: “put me to the test, says the LORD. Explicitly. In Mal. 3.10.
#1
God’s Science, Point #7
Deuteronomy:
Another Major Description by God,
Demanding Scientific Testing
Of Judeo-Christianity
Today our preachers tell us that Christianity is supposed to be based on faith. But here we are finding that the Bible not only tells us to use science; it tells us especially to use it, in religion. To tell which priests and ideas in religion are good, and which are not. As an “authority” therefore in effect, even over all religious authority: priests, ministers, bishops, angels, prophets, or any and all persons or beings that are presented as voicepieces of God. (See our remarks on even Jesus himself, refusing to name the source of his authority … except finally citing as the source of his own “authority,” as his ability to work physical wonders; Jesus not telling some specific people, in Luke 20.8; but then telling others, in Mark 2.10. Where he cites as the source of even his own authority, the proof that he is from God, his ability or inability, to work physical wonders. Like making the lame walk).
We have already noted that a) Daniel for example, above, offered an early form of science, by name and by rather full description to try to prove that his religious ideas were good. While this pattern, this advocacy by God of science, continued in b) God commanding us to “test” God himself, in Malachi 3.10 ff. While indeed, the two elements of the science of God we have begun to see here – of a) God demanding scientific study; and b) God demanding that we begin the scientific examination of holy men especially, continues in one passage of the Bible, after another. In dozens, hundreds, thousands of places. But the science of God was particularly well laid out, in 1) Daniel 1.4-15; and 2) Mal. 3.10 ff. And now we add, in a few vivid examples, from 3) Deuteronomy.
Pending the 4) final rather scientific “test”ing by “fire” of the End, of any specific Day of Judgement … there were in the meantime, countless other, extensive sections of the Bible, that in effect, ordered us to in the meantime, apply a science of God. And many extensive sections in the Bible outlined that science, rather well; to make it clear that what we are talking about is really, real, empirical science. Observing physical material things. Employing scientific method; employing the experimental method. In addition to the rather complete, and very useful descriptions of the science of God, in passages already mentioned above – on Daniel, on Malachi – there are also some sections in Deuteronomy, that strongly confirm, for a third time, the outline of God’s required science.
There is a passage in Deuteronomy that firmly outlined our present thesis in fact. The first part of the section we will look at, told us all firmly that a) there were many false things – “false prophets” – in religion; especially some who appear to speak for God, to utter words they say are from him, but who are deceitful (Deut. 18.20; see also Jeremiah, etc.). And so, there being thereby, many false sayings attributed to “God,” or the “Lord” (even in holy books no doubt? ) therefore b) in Deuteronomy we were firmly ordered to not to have too much faith in holy men, or even words attributed to him. But we were ordered instead, to examine all things in religion, with real science. To determine which things in religion, which sayings attributed to God, were true. And which were false. And this we are to do, the Bible told us over and over, not by asking religious authorities what was true; but by c) looking ourselves to see whether following this or that saying alleged to have come from God, got real, provable, timely, physical results. In the case of Deuteronomy, we are told to begin looking to see if the things an alleged prophet predicted or promised, really come true or “come to pass,” in this physical life, or not.
Regarding “a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say”? (Deut. 18.20).
“You many say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a word that the LORD has not spoken?’ If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or prove true [come to pass], it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it” (Deut. 18. 21-22 NRSV).
“If the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken” (RSV).
Deuteronomy is speaking most specifically, about prophets and prophesies uttered in the name of God. And it notes that there are many false prophets out there; even many who presume “to speak in” the “name” of God. Or in other words, there are many false prophets who claim that they heard the “Lord ” or God this or that (Jer. 7.8, 23-40, 25.15-29). Therefore, the wording here calls for us to look to see whether the thing promised by a prophet, does or “does not come to pass.” That is first of all, we are to simply look to see if the things promised by holy men, really come true. And that means in this case, it seems clear, true in a normal, physical way: prophets at the time were forecasting regular physical events, like victories in wars, or famines, and so forth.
In Deuteronomy – as in Daniel, Malachi, 1 Kings 18 (Elijah), and in the story of Ahaz, as we will see – God offers a brief outline of the science of God. Once again, God firmly notes that a) there are many false things – like false “prophets” – even deep in the heart of religion, of all that is thought to be holy. And so b) once more therefore, God begins to tell us out how to spot these false holy men. And once again, c) we are not to follow holy men with total faith; d) instead, we are supposed to use a kind of science; we are supposed examine what they promise, to see if they promise is actually produced in the real material world. To compare the promises of holy men, to what actually happens in real life, in the physical sphere. Or in the worlds of Deuteronomy, what does or “does not come to pass.”
This science is explicitly applied too, to religious subjects; to our holy men, note. So once again, we are ordered to apply science, especially to religion; even especially those holy men who claim to speak for God, or to quote him.
And finally, d) what are believers supposed to do, if and when the very material, physical things promised by say, prophets, do not come to pass in a timely way? At that point, far from ordering us to follow the alleged holy man “faith”fully, actually, God orders us in effect to deduce that the prophet is a false prophet. We are to cease following the prophet. (And then even, in Deuteronomy, we are commanded in fact to execute the prophet; in Deut. 18.20).
Thus once again, the core, constantly repeated message of God, is repeated in significant detail, a third time,, in Deut. 18. And what is that core message? It is not “faith.” The repeated, detailed command from God, repeated in Deuteronomy, is to be aware that there are many false prophets (or by extension holy men) out there. And if we ask how to tell which ones are real? Deuteronomy tells us that we are to simply observe, whether they produce the material things that prophets promised in the name of God; if they do not, then far from continuing to follow them faithfully, instead the prophets/and or holy men, are to be simply declared to be, “false.”
If our alleged holy men do not produce real, material results, in this world, in its events, in what “comes to pass,” then, far from continuing to follow them with total “faith,” on the contrary, we are supposed to simply deduce that the would-be, alleged religious leader/”prophet,” is simply … false.
No matter how holy a man seems to be, be he a prophet or priest, no matter if the person in question, we will see later, stands next to God himself, in Heaven itself, no matter how many there are of these people; no matter if they cover and dominate (and “deceive”) the whole earth … and no matter how “spiritual” and holy they seem, still, rather than following these people “faith”fully, instead, when they fail to produce material results, if the things they promised so “not come to pass,” then we are to deduce, God will tell us, that they are simply, false.
Or here, more specifically, if the things that were prophesied do not come true or come to pass, then the prophet or holy man who uttered those promises, is “presumptuous.” He pretentiously claimed to speak for God … but he was incorrect, or deceitful. The would-be holy man, had spoken incorrectly, falsely, for God. He had all-too-proudly, vainly proclaimed himself as infallible voicepiece of God … whereas in point of fact, he was actually a deceived or deceitful person. And was not really from God at all. But was merely, another of the “false prophet” that God elsewhere, warned about, over and over again, throughout the entire rest of the Bible.
And what happens to false prophets, false priests, etc…? False prophets, in Old Testament days, were “pierced,” or put to death, or expected to die: “That same prophet shall die” (Deut. 18.20; “You shall not live,” Zech. 13.3. Cf. Jesus, pierced.)
Roughly the same thoughts are also outlined in the book of Jeremiah, too.
Curiously then, once again, the Old Testament God here says exactly the opposite of most priests. Those who today support “faith”; who don’t get real material results; who often promised but do not produce many prophesied things; who oppose Science. In Deuteronomy, God opposes them; our priests today. So what then should we now say about most our faithful and spiritual priests? What should happen to them? No doubt the death penalty is not advisable these days. But certainly, no one should follow them, any more.
#2
God’s Science, Point #8
Elijah:
Elijah Advocates the “Fire”
Of Scientific Testing of Religious Claims;
Especially Claims of Miracles,
In 1 Kings 18
Our preachers in church, always told us to follow them, or religious authority, and their picture of God, with great “faith” and “spirituality.” But that isn’t what God himself said. The words said to be spoken in the Bible, by God himself – as opposed to words spoken through Paul or other disciples – very, very strongly command you to learn science. Rather than learn faith and spirituality. In long, detailed passages in both Daniel 1.4-15 KJE, Malachi 3.10, and Deuteronomy 18.20 ff. (and Jeremiah), God very, very firmly, outlines a science that God commands you to learn and use regularly. That he commands you to employ regularly, we will show, to evaluate your own priests and ministers; to see if they are really from God, or not.
So God – as opposed to say Paul – does not stress “Faith” at all; quite the opposite. He commands all of us to learn science, instead. And clearly, he means real, actual, classic, Science. The King James Edition of the book of Daniel, quite properly uses the word “Science” itself. And it is clear from the context of the rest of the passage, this is a good word to use: since the rest of the passage shows Daniel employing classic experimental method, real science. And God does not just say this in one part of the Bible or another: he says it in effect, in dozens, hundreds, thousands of parts. For a more developed outline of God’s Science though, a) Daniel particularly, sets up a rather complete scientific experiment, in Dan. 1.4-15. While then again in b) Malachi 3.10 ff., explicitly God commands a believer to employ this science. While furthermore, all this is c) repeated again briefly in Deuteronomy. Where God once again warns of false things – in this case, false prophets – among our holiest men. And tells us therefore, to apply scientific testing, to find out which things in religion are true, and which are not.
The science God commands you to learn, was outlined by God, particularly well, in the Book of Daniel. But next consider especially too, d) God’s science, as described in an incident involving the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 18. Which contains what is perhaps one of the very most important examples of the Science of God, in the entire Bible.
Here’s the background story: Elijah, the great prophet of Israel, is standing and talking to his people; who are torn between belief in the Jewish “God,” and belief in “Baal” (another “Lord” of another religion). Questioning which God is really best, which is the best idea of the ultimate god, the people ask Elijah which God to follow: “God,” or “Baal.” And here – amazingly, significantly, and against what we always heard in church from preachers – Elijah does not tell us to just follow “God” with total “faith.” Elijah does not stress “faith” at all. He does not tell us to follow a preacher or priests or holy men, without any doubts, faithfully. In fact, Elijah, one of the greatest prophets in the Jewish and Christian and Muslim tradition, explicitly tells the people not to follow even he, himself. Unless or until he shows real material powers.
Very, very far from stressing faith in this passage, Elijah in 1 Kings 18, stresses the precise, exact opposite of faith. Far from telling us to simply, faithfully, trust and believe our preacher, and/or what he tells us about God, or even to follow what a “spirit” tells us, instead, Elijah tells us first, a) that we should only follow the idea of God, or the prophet, that is most materially fruitful. We should only follow a religious man who … produces the best results, here in this material world. And moreover – as we know by know is typical of the true prophet of God – Elijah tells us to set up a (for the day) scientific experiment in effect, to prove that this or that sense of religion, this or that saying attributed to God, is true: God telling us in Elijah, to used science to see if following the holy man, results not in “spiritual” things; but in visible, timely, material, physical wonders.
To a spiritual preachers, no doubt all this seems incredible or impossible (or revolting?). Because here once again, God is exactly the opposite of what we constantly heard in so many churches. But let’s now bypass our preachers and churches, and ask the reader to read the following quote, straight out of the Bible itself:
“Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him…. You call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.’ All the people answered, ‘Well spoken!’…. The prophets of Baal … called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ But there was no voice…. At noon Elijah mocked them…. Then Elijah said …. ‘O LORD … answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, ‘The LORD indeed is God’” (1 Kings 18.21, 24, 26, 30, 36 ff. RSV & NRSV; see also 2 Kings 1.10-11. NOTE: possibly, what was used here, was only metaphorically called “water”; possibly it was a to-some obscure similar-looking, clear flammable substance, like an early prototype of Greek fire, or volatile alcohol, or light burning oil, etc.; many of which were known in very ancient times; and which were in fact, used by “lord”s to pour over enemies, from castles and high places).
This passage in the Bible, is incredible; this passage of the Bible, by one of the greatest prophets of the Jewish and Christian tradition, once again, just like Daniel, says exactly and precisely the exact opposite of what faith-based priests taught us in church. Here, are definitely, adamantly not supposed to simply have faith in even a holy man like Elijah. And we are not supposed to be satisfied with just mental or spiritual results, either. Instead, Elijah himself tells us a) there are many false ideas of the “Lord” or “God” out there. And b) many false prophets and priests too. Therefore, c) we are definitely not commanded here, to have faith in holy men, or d) even in God himself. Not e) unless or until, we set up a scientific experiment; and f) in that experiment, they produce, even on demand, real, visible, timely, material results, wonders.
To be sure, there will be some later refinements on this science; but this seems good enough for now. Once again, for the fourth time, in a fourth major passage in the Bible, God commands us not to have faith, but to test everything in religion with real scientific experiments.
Finding the truth in religion and life is easy enough, it seems. Bit it has little to do with faith or spirituality. Indeed, it’s the opposite that, Elijah says here. Far from following this or that priest, or prophet, or god – or even God himself – with blind faith, instead, Elijah confirms that we should ask your holy man and his God, to prove that there are true and real … by working huge material wonders, miracles, right in front of you. If your god does do that, then “follow him,” as Elijah says. But then, on the other hand, if the God you are praying to does not do that, then far from continuing to follow him “faith”fully, instead, if your idea of God fails such empirical tests, you are supposed to simply declare your god (or the holy man’s idea of God), simply, false:
“If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him…. You call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers … is indeed God.” (1 Kings 18.24 RSV).
In this case, God answers with the miracle of real, actual fire from heaven; though other examples make it clear that any major physical wonder or work or miracles, would be adequate proof, for at least, the first stage of examining holy men.
Early Conclusion
So what are we saying? What is it that God himself – as opposed to say Paul, or the disciples – commanding you to have? In our four major examples so far, it is not faith at all; God is ordering you to learn and apply, the precise, exact, opposite of faith: you are not to believe anything in religion, God says, until you see scientific proof for it. Far from just following religious authority and just believing what they tell you, instead you are supposed to demand proof of real, visible, physical results, even from the holiest men on earth, in the Bible, and in heaven itself; even from Elijah himself. This is what the Bible, God, actually commands in the Old Testament, and ultimately in the New too we will see; not so much faith, but science. Or, if we are to have much faith at all, we will see, we are to have faith only in things reasonably well proven by physical results. If Jesus at times seemed to tell us not to serve two “masters,” spirituality vs. mammon, surely he did not quite mean to say that. Since here Elijah says the opposite to that: “How long will you waver between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18.21): follow only the idea of God that brings visible, material results. As confirmed by real science.
To the many preachers, believers who were raised from infancy to firmly, absolutely, inflexibly believe that Christianity is supposed to be based primarily on “faith,” these sections of the Bible are inexplicable, devastating. A part of the Bible they cannot bear to face or acknowledge. And indeed, rather than face it, the apostles themselves, began to generate phrases in the New Testament itself that could be taken – in only one level, one reading to be sure – to oppose materialism, science. But to be sure, the apostles, the New Testament, never quite firmly, unequivocally, unambiguously said that; the New Testament always had to leave the text open to a reading that would confirm God himself, and his science, instead. Because if the New Testament and the new religion of Christianity did not do that, then it would too obviously have been guilty of what the Jews and Pharisees accused it of after all: of simply, going against God.
God himself, over and over, the words attributed directly to him especially, did not stress faith; he stressed science. While here Elijah himself – one of the greatest prophets in the Bible (if you believe prophets); a prophet sometimes said to be due to return to earth some day (and indeed here and now, he looks more vivid than ever) – is warning us here and now in fact, that we should not any longer base Christianity so firmly on faith. Because, Elijah here confirming – as so many other parts of the Bible had said – a) there are many false things in religion; false gods, false holy men, prophets, priests (of Baal and so forth). So therefore, Elijah knows, many people will wonder how to find out which ideas about the gods are real. Which god is the right one. While, once again affirming the dominant pattern in the Old Testament (and ultimately we will see, even the New), amazingly, shockingly, Elijah does not stress faith at all; instead says precisely and exactly the precise opposite of that. Far from telling us to follow religious leaders like Elijah with total “faith,” instead even Elijah himself, one of the greatest prophets of the Judeo-Christian tradition, shockingly contradicts all our “faith”ful priests. And with the very same surprising answer as in Daniel, and Malachi: do not faithfully follow holy men, or their God either. Instead, test them and their God, with science. Perform scientific or empirical experiments; scientific tests; to see if following this or that alleged God produces real material, empirical results. And finally, follow only those holy men who can actually produce such real, material results. As confirmed by even (for the time rather) scientific conditions.
This means that nearly all our priests for the last few centuries, who stressed faith, were deceived, or deceptive.
Many preachers therefore, will try to make this passage go away. By means of any desperate stratagem or sophistry that can fool the people. Many a preacher will try to “twist” or spin-doctor this, by metaphoricalizing it; by suggesting that this calling for a physical wonder like real actual “fire,” means only to look at our priests, to see if they can call down their own “spiritual” “fire.” Or some such. But we will be finding out here that over and over again, that the descriptions of wonders, and “test”ing in both the Old and New Testaments, are very, very detailed and physical. Not spiritual. So that finally, we will see, the Bible really did call not for spiritual things, but real physical, material results. (While for that matter, concerning “spirits? It condemned “twisting” the old physical promises in metaphors of spiritual things; while also warning about “false spirits” in fact, in John above, for example).
Therefore finally we will find, that the various attempts of preachers to disappear such examples – and especially the whole, massively common attempt to make these “tests” disappear, by meaphoricalizing them, or “spiritualizing” them – is not honest. And is not true, to the Bible itself. (As confirmed by our writings on Over-Spirituality, etc.). The fact is, a) the Bible often pictures what appear to be very, very physical wonders. While b) any religion, we will see, that claims to guide us through “all” of “life,” needs to guide us safely through not only the spiritual side of life, but the physical side as well. Indeed, St. James and others will prove that a religion that claims to be holy, sacred, that demands that we follow it exactly … but that at the same time does not deal effectively with the material side of life … leads us to physical disasters; physical starvation for example (James 2.14 ff). And in any case, c) whatever the Bible said, still many, many priests have promised very, very physical miracles. And if they now abandon or spiritualize these promises, they are … being inconsistent. They are changing the rules. They have contradicted themselves. And have proven themselves unreliable. Fully confirming God’s warnings about preachers, in fact.
Preachers today often try to make these parts of the Bible, go away. By ignoring them. Or by metaphoricalizing them; “twist”ing the old promises around, to seem like mere metaphors for spiritual things. But there are huge problems and sins, we will show, in such spiritualizations. For one, this episode, this “test” for holy men, in Malachi, involving Elijah, seems very, very concrete and physical. And furthermore, God insists on it firmly. While warning us furthermore, specifically, about the dishonesty of priests. Suggesting that after all, we might not listen too reverently to our own priests, when they try to twist this episode – and a hundreds others from the Bible itself – into a mere metaphor.
What did God really say? In 1 Kings, here, in addition to outlining science, d) he warned that there are many false prophets out there; following a false idea of the “Lord.” And given that there are so many false religions, so many false ideas of God, e) we are not told by Elijah just have “faith” in one god or another; rather, we are told instead, …. to actively try find out which claims, which gods, are real, to find out which gods are real …. by looking to see what kind of material fruits following a given god achieves. And to evaluate those material results, f) Elijah advocates science; using a kind of simple – and very physical, material, empirical – scientific experiment. That is: we are to set up one group with their rival god, one the one hand. And then compare that group, to another: to our prophet and his people, with their idea of God. We put one group in one place, and another in another – and then compare them. Specifically, y looking to see how well they do, at performing a wondrous – and eminently material, physical – task.
It does not depend on faith at all. And it’s all very, very striking physical too. In this case, we set up two groups (cf. “control groups” in contemporary science, etc.). Then both groups are told to each, call on their own god, to burn up some very wet logs; a process described in great detail. And Elijah here does not stress continued “faith,” if our God does not get these very, very material results. Instead, Elijah says exactly the opposite of that: he tells the people – and us – that people should set up physical experiments, tests. Where gods are given opportunities to prove their power, not by empty boasts or mere words and empty promises … but by producing real physical feats. Right in front of us and other witnesses. And then, finally, we are told not to follow our own God even when such material results do not happen. Instead, we are told the precise opposite of that: to follow only those ideas, that get real, dramatic, proven, material results. Here; in this world; and even on demand. In this case, we are to follow only the god that brings, in this case, fire down from heaven, to consume even very wet logs. While we will note here later, that given the resolute physicality of much of rest of the Bible, and its frequent condemnation of “spirits,” (and several other reasons) finally, note here, we should not simply take all this as being a spiritual metaphor. (For reasons that we will explain more fully, in our writings on Over-Spirituality, etc.).
Amazingly therefore, once again – to make sure that the reader does not miss this extremely important point – here, as in many places – and against what we always heard from priests – the Bible itself, here and in many other examples we are at last noting here, does not actually stress “faith” at all; in fact, it stresses and tells us to follow, exactly and precisely, the opposite of faith. In effect, we are commanded by Elijah – and by God – explicitly, not to have faith in anything. But to employ science, ask for material results; to find out which alleged holy men represent a real god, and which do not.
And especially and specifically, by the way, in this process, we are told to especially, test Judeo-Christian priests or holy men. Like Elijah himself.
So what should we begin to deduce, about our own priests today? Should we give them yet another opportunity, to try to “twist” all this, and make it go away? Should we listen to another apologetic sermon by them? Stressing “faith”? Certainly not. Mere “words” can be “empty,” the Bible warned; it is all too easy to lie, and deceive people using words, sermons. Therefore, rather than listening any more to our priests, we should begin using a kind of simple scientific experiment on our priests: asking one alleged representative of God, try to perform the wondrous feat that their Bible promised; and then asking another to do the same thing, or better. And then – how many times do we need to repeat this before priests or the people hear it? – we are told finally, not to just be faithful; to follow the old ideas of gods with simple loyalty to what we were always told. Nor are we to follow the most “spiritual” person. Instead, we are to follow whoever brings real, physical, observable, material wonders. In front of we ourselves, and reliable witnesses; even the witness of the whole community.
The great prophet Elijah therefore, now says to you, here – that a priest should not just ask us to follow him just on the basis of “faith”; the fact is, he needs to prove that his idea of god is real. Elijah not only offers (for the time) an attempted scientific proof of his religion; Elijah (and therefore God) even firmly tells people not to follow him, his religion, his God… unless and until, he furnishes such material proofs:
“You call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.”
“If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him….”
Why do so many Christians miss this? How, after what the Bible itself says, can anyone continue in “faith”? Surely, Christians must be under a massive, powerful “illusion” or “delusion” or “lie.”
Elijah presents an incredible moment. And it is incredible that eighty generations of “faith”ful priests, have managed to ignore or spin this part of God. Which seemed clear enough. But they have managed to twist this in many ways. Though amazingly, here in 1 Kings, is at least our third major example; a rather lengthy story narrated in the Bible … which is designed to teach us a lesson that faith-based preachers should now finally, mark very, very clearly: here Elija – and God – are telling us that aa) many holy men and their ideas of God are often false; and therefore, bb) we should not follow them with total “faith,” or cc) just ask “spiritual” things from them; but dd) we should all instead demand real material results from them. Indeed, ee) we should apply fully material, scientific testing to religion. And furthermore, ff) far from following those priests who do not pass this, with total faith, we should simply reject those who fail this test, as being simply, false priests. We should follow only those holy men who do get such real, provable, material results.
And that amazingly, we will find, is actually what the Bible really told us.
As we will see (in our later writings on excuses made for the lack Miracles for example), many priests will try to make this all go away; to semantically “twist” and “whitewash” all this. By dozens of different arguments. But we will show in a later, entire book full of such common sermons … that in fact, none of their excuses or rationalizations for failure here, is true to reason, logic, or the Bible itself (see our writing on Miracles). For example, many priests will try to suggest here, that after all, if the Bible recounts Elijah working these material wonders, then after all, a scientific proof was already performed; and there is no need to perform any more today. But of course, we will show, the Bible calls for “science” – and real science demands that for any past experiment to be fully accepted, we have to be able to repeat or “replicate” the test and its results, in our own time. So that in effect, (for this and other reasons; see “Miracles,”) real science would require that current priests … must be able to produce these results, in our own time, today.
Admittedly, we might question the full scientific validity of Elijah, today; by today’s higher standards for science. Did Elijah really perform perfect, valid scientific experiments? Today to be sure, many might reasonably doubt, by the higher, present-day standards of science, these old, early, proto-scientific accounts of physical wonders, even in scripture, whether they are up to modern standards of real, modern science. Yet to be sure, they are close enough. Indeed, they are remarkably scientific for the times. Their determination to describe and command us to use science, is deliberate and detailed enough. Even if even this very early science at times, made some mistakes, and is not up to the standards of modern rocket science, there is no doubt that God was determined to tell us to begin to use and develop science; surprisingly, even most of the time, over faith. Even at times, over what our holy men, our preachers, told us.
The Conclusion
On Priests and Ministers;
And the Penalty for Making
Promises of Miracles
Here and now, we are coming to an entirely different vision of God, than what we often heard in church, from ordinary preachers. Here we are finding that a) the real, actual, central command from God, does not stress “faith” at all; God normally does not want us to follow our holy men, or their vision of the Lord, with total “faith.” Instead, b) God wanted us to apply scientific “test”ing to each and every aspect of religion, of Christianity. Specifically, c) as we began to see above, particularly in Elijah’s test of “fire,” it seems we are to ask for scientifically verifiable material results, from our holy men. So important is scientific experimentation in fact that, as we would present the more moderate version of this, d) if your priest or minister, stands behind traditional Christianity – without explicitly and repeatedly denouncing say, promises of physical “miracles”? Then we are commanded by God himself, -in Daniel and especially 1 Kings for example – to simply demand, that the preacher produce real physical wonders, miracles, here and now, in front of us and other reliable witnesses. Just as Elijah taught us.
Here we come to a very confrontational and dramatic, seemingly new doctrine; but it is all straight from the Bible itself. Specifically: if any priest or minister today, tells us or even implies, that the core Christian tradition is completely true or holy, then, since that tradition offered physical miracles, we are commanded by God himself, in 1 Kings 18 especially, to demand that the minister produce huge and spectacular miracles. On demand; in front of ourselves, and in front of expert witnesses. And as verified by real science. To prove that he and his tradition, are from God. If a conservative, miracle-promising preacher cannot do that, if our alleged holy man or priest either stands firmly behind Tradition, and especially if he explicitly promises “miracles,” then we are commanded by God to demand that this preacher produce such a miracle, on demand, and in front of us and expert witnesses. And furthermore, finally, e) if the minister fails this test, if he cannot regularly, reliably, produce real material results – even dramatic physical miracles, if he said those were real – and here on this earth … then we are, God says, to regard the preacher, as one of the foretold, false religious leaders. Following no doubt, a false idea of God, following a False, magician-like Christ.
And what should be f) the punishment, for the thousands of preachers worldwide, who will not renounce Tradition, and who will however also fail this test? Who cannot produce the miracles they promise or stand behind? The punishment suggested by the Old Testament, was very severe: the Bible seems to hint ultimately, we might suggest or speculate, that those preachers who asserted that promises of miracles were true, but could produce them, should be simply executed (1 Kings 18.40):
“And Elijah said to them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.’ And they seized them; And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there” (1 Kings 18.40).
Deuteronomy also at times seem to verify that those preachers, holy men who promise miracles but cannot produce them, should be simply killed. Though perhaps in some readings, it moderates that, and tells us merely not to be “afraid” of them:
“’The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak … that same prophet shall die’” (Deut. 18.20; “And if you say in your heard, ‘How may we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ – when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him” (Deut. 18.20-22).
Zechariah seems to entertain these two possibilities regarding the nature of the punishment of those who make false promises of miracles; both death, but also just banishment or ridicule. Here Zechariah is speaking of “prophets”; but in effect, any minister who promises miracles, is a prophet in a sense too; since in effect he is prophesying, predicting, that he can make a miracle appear. So that the following applies to him:
“I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit. And if any one again appears as a prophet, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, “You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD’; and his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision…. And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ He will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends’” (Zech. 12.2-6).
Severe consequences for our false ministers, seems confirmed, by to be sure, admittedly apocryphal or questionable parts of the New Testament. In a sometimes-questioned, optional ending to the Gospel of Mark, we are told that real Christians should exhibit the ability to work some specific, very dangerous miracles reliably; miracles that could have very dangerous consequences for the miracle-worker himself, it not performed reliably. So that in another way, a penalty of death seems to apply to those who promise miracles, but cannot reliably produce them:
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation…. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all” (Mark 16.18).
To be sure, simply executing such preachers today, even false ones, even the ministers of Satan himself, seems a little severe. So we might moderate this in our more modern, moderate era of Grace. Still it would seem that at the very least, we should all “rebuke” the miracle-promiser; adamantly, repeatedly, articulately, in front of his entire congregation. While expelling him from the congregation, from the church. As an evil deceiver.
For a Biblical reading, on such occasions, you might to any such preacher, publicly, the following:
“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart … says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them…. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence” (Mal. 2.1-3).
“Behold, I will send my messenger to prepare the way before me…. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and life fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD” (Mal. 3.1-4).
“The priests, who are Levites” (Deut. 18.1).
“For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven” (Mal. 4.1).
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes” (Mal. 4.5).
“It is the anointed priest who sins” (Lev. 4.3). But …
“He leads priests away stripped” (Job 12.19).
“Both prophet and priest are ungodly” (Jer. 23.11).
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as the angel of light” (2 Corin. 11.14).
“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; who end shall be according to their works” (2 Corin. 11.15 KJE).
“Come near, you nations, and listen…. Let the earth hear, and all that is in it.… All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgement….” (Isa. 34.1, 4-5 NIV).
“With you is my contention, O priest…. I reject you from being a priest to me” (Hos. 4.4-6).
We are commanded by God to demand that those priests who continue to firmly support the tradition that promises physical miracles, to either produce such miracles, reliably, on demand, in front of expert witnesses; as did Ezekiel, in 1 Kings 18. Or we might add, the preacher must explicitly, repeatedly, renounce that tradition, and those promises.
If the preacher does not do this? If the preacher does not meet this test from God? If the preacher cannot produce real material fruits? In ancient times, the preachers is to be punished; and the punishment seems to have often been very, very, very severe indeed. Though more moderately, we might today simply and quickly, expel the preacher from our church; as one of the foretold, false priests, “sorcerers,” “conjurer”ers, purveyor of “lies” and “false promises,” with his “seared conscience” and his false “deceitful” nature, his false “heart” and false love. As one of Satan’s evil angels, that came to us disguised as a “righteous minister”; who indeed, deceived the “worship” of the whole “world” (Rev. 13). But who in the end, is now being exposed by God. And who should be firmly expelled from the city of God (Rev. 22.15).
Or indeed? As it turns out in any case, the “Heaven” that such priests revere and/or occupy, is to be dissolved.
#3
God’s Science, Point #9
Observation of Things in this “Earth”;
Natural Law
In our present volume, we’ve been mainly focusing on the Old Testament; how it began to describe the way God advocated Science over Faith. But later on we’ll need to show that the same pattern still held, in the New Testament of Jesus, as well.
In the entire Old Testament, God mentioned the word “faith” just six or seven times. And there, it was primarily Satan himself that advocated it, the “test of faith” (Job 1).
In contrast, the New Testament mentions the word “faith” far, far more often. But we will note that it was mainly, overwhelmingly, the apostle St. Paul that stressed “faith” the most times; Paul mentioned “faith” by name hundreds of times … versus just a few dozen times from Jesus himself. And in fact, Jesus himself, the chief spokesman in the New Testament, still largely follows God the Old Testament, in the matter of Science vs. Faith. Far from stressing “faith” in our holy men, Jesus, like God, warned that there have been many false sayings attributed to God. And so, to find out which people and preachers and sayings “from God” are true, and which are not? In the New Testament, just like God in the God, Jesus himself told us to use Science. We are to separate the “wheat from the chaff” as they say, the wheat from the weeds, the live wood from the deadwood, by … scientifically examining prophets, to see if following them brings real, material, physical results, fruits:
“Beware of false prophets…. Thus you … know them by their fruits” (Mat. 7.15-20). Then Ps. 139.7; 1 Kings 8.23-9.2; & St. Paul; italics, mine.
Here Jesus follows the Old Testament God, of Deuteronomy for example:
“How may we know a word the LORD has not spoken?’ – when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him” ” Deut. 18.21-22.
This quick Old Testament quote from Deuteronomy, is quite revealing, and useful. It essentially encapsulates the whole Old Testament idea of science: there are many false things in religious men; and so to find out which words they say are really from God, and which are not? We are to observe their predictions, and see if they come true in real life – or not.
Indeed, physical evidence has always been important in the Bible, even from the days of the Old Testament; in much of the Bible, the Argument From Design and related ideas are generated; suggesting that the wonder of the material universe, proves the existence of God. From this in part, comes the idea that we can prove what God is like, what he wants, in part by observing material nature (including human nature!), what it is, and what it wants. And in the book of Job, for example, the various elements of nature, seem to bless God; while Job takes the existence of impressive animals, like “Leviathan,” as evidence that God exists, and is powerful.
And therefore? In part, working out of this argument from design basically, or a variation on it, (as well as from many other sources) comes a small part of the basis of the foundation of the Science of God. Rather as we can know that God exists, from observing the wonders and terrors of Nature, we can more specifically, begin to know his Will, by observing what Nature “wants” in effect. Many say; according to various theories of Natural Law. And to some extent, this idea seems supported in the Old Testament. And in this process? In effect, scientific testing is important; scientific testing tells us what nature “wants,” or what its laws – and the laws of God –are. In theory.
Note that Jesus’ apparent citation of the OT command not to “test” God, is often better translated as telling us not to “tempt” God or tempt fate, with rash behavior. While the command not to “test” God in fact is often translated as better, telling us not to “tempt” something (as in the phrase the “Temptation of Christ.”) In contrast, God not only allows but even COMMANDS us, to “test” religion; to test God with SCIENCE. In not only the Old Testament Malachi, but also the New Testament, in Thessalonians:
”Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).
Here, even the very spiritual, faith-based St. Paul finally begins to allude to the necessity of a scientific testing of even “everything” in religion.
But are these tests, just spiritual tests of some sort? At times St. Paul and others seemed to be very, very spiritual; and to attack attention to “things on this earth” (Col. 3.1-3). But ultimately we will find in our own books here, the Bible, Old and New both, told us of the particular importance of using science, to examine material things, from the “earth,” with empirical science. For positive biblical references, to the great importance of physical, material things, here on this earth, see: Gen. 1.10; Isa. 1.18, 1.21-24, 6.3, 26.9, 29.4, 42.1-5, 65.16; Ps. 37.3, 104.24; Ps. 115.6; Ps. 115.16; Job 28.2-25; Sirach 37.27. In the New Testament see: John 12.25 vs. 12.47 & 3.16; 1 Corin 1.28, 10.26; Col. 1.16-20, Col. 1.19-20; Rom. 1.20; Ps. 37.11; Matt. 8.3-4, 6.33.
Especially, note that finally even the rather faithful and spiritual New Testament, came to rediscover and advocate, a Science of God; even over Faith. Ultimately we will see Jesus himself, finally insisting that in order to discover what is good, in order to discover what is really from God, we must look at a given doctrine or saying attributed to God, and determine if it is really from God or not; according to whether it produces – in Jesus’ own words – real, material, physical “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “proofs.”
For many centuries, Jesus, God, were thought to have rather put down this material life, when they put down the “world” of greedy people, and too much attachment to the pleasures of the “flesh.” And God and Jesus were thought by some (like Paul?), to have effectively left this material existence or world; to become purely spiritual beings, “in heaven.” But this very day, we are finding here and now, that God and Jesus never meant to so entirely abandon or deny the importance, of material, physical things. At least not permanently. Indeed, if Jesus ever left this material earth, for heaven, in death, it was also said that one “day,” in the Second Coming, Christ or God would return to earth:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of haven from God, prepared as a bride…. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.” (Rev. 21.1-3 NWT).
“In him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1.16).
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jer. 23.34).
And when we come to see the Science of God, in our minds already, God returns to the material world again. As at least a preview (and perhaps even part of the substance) of the foretold Second Coming:
More About the Science of God
Here we have begun to present a seemingly revolutionary, seemingly “strange new doctrine” of Christianity, God, and the Second Coming. But actually, God allowed that one day we would see a “new heaven.” While for that matter, as one of the apostles remarked on one allegedly “new” doctrine in the New Testament (the command to “love your neighbor?), our doctrine is at once new, but not really “new” or strange at all; since our vision is found imbedded deeply throughout the entire Bible.
What we are saying here is not so “new” that it does not have deep roots in the very deepest traditions. Here we have offered in fact, dozens or more quotes from the Bible itself. To show that even God himself, wanted Christianity to be based NOT on simple faith; but on a Science of God; on discovering God, through empirical observation of material nature, looking at material things on this physical earth. For more biblical proofs of this, see: Job 28.2-25; Jer. 31.35-7; Prov. 1.22; Prov. 25.2-3; Isa. 7.10-14, Isa. 1.21-24; Mat. 7.20; Mark 2.10-12; Luke 21.24, 21.25, 21.27, 21.29; 1 John 4.1; John 10.17-18 NAB, John 14.10-12; Rom. 14.1, Rom. 8.28 NWT, Ps. 145.17; John 9.3; Rev. 2.2, 11.1; Titus 2.16. (Related to this, to at last here, see God supporting not faith, but science-related things like technology and practical knowledge, in say Catholic Bibles see: Wis. Sol. 1.1-7; 7.16-17; 8.5-17 vs. 13.1-14.7; 16.17; 19.11-21. But also see 1 Kings 4.29-33; Dan. 1.4-15 & 2.60-81. Finally, for a more complete survey, see our entire book on this; chapters on Science, Asceticism, and latter, Matter.)
What is presented in this very book therefore, is, as foretold, a shatteringly “new,” “second” presentation/coming of God. One that demolishes our old (sense of/ “image” of) heaven; of Christianity, of Jesus, as being faith-based. And if this is dis-“illusioning,” then this fulfills the Bible’s Apocalypse/Second Coming/Day of Judgement. God told us that one heaven-shattering “day” of “judgment,” we are SUPPOSED to discover that 1) essentially “all” our holiest men and angels, had deceived themselves, “entranced” themselves and the whole world, with a false vision of Christ, a “false Christ” (Rev. 13.8-14 etc.). But the falseness of earlier religion, is exposed, when God at last more accurately re-presents himself; in a second and better “coming” or “appearance” (“parousia”) on this material earth. While here and now, we are going through precisely that. Here we are suddenly seeing a “second” new vision, coming, of God. Where God as foretold, unveils sins and errors in all we thought was holy. As we suddenly see God note sins in our “faith,” our first vision of Jesus. With the science of God, we at last “see,” shatteringly, the dozens or hundreds of places, where the Bible told us that many things offered in the name of Christ, are false. Where the Bible therefore told us not to base ourselves so much on “faith,” as on critical science.
Our “second” reading of the Bible, here, gives us all a “second,” better “appearance” of God; one telling us that we should not be based so much on faith in religious leaders, or their images of God. The second appearance of the Bible and God, says that “all” our holiest men and even most of their most “inspired” doctrines, sinned; so that we should have been following not blind faith, but a critical science of God.
Our second coming or appearance of God, here, reveals that, as foretold, the whole world was deceived by a false idea of Christ: specifically, the image of Christ stressing “faith,” being “faith-based,” was a false “image” of Christ; an anti-Christ. Our second and better “appearance” of God, reveals that Christ actually tells us that 1) no religious leaders were totally reliable; so that we should not to have too much faith in them or their vision of God. Instead, we are 2) all supposed to begin determining, whether words attributed to God, really are from God; by observing the physical, material good they do, on earth.
This second and better vision of God, is found in countless keywords in the Bible itself: we are to look for the real, material “prosperity” that comes or does not come, from following each saying attributed to God; its real material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “proofs,” here on this material “earth.” As “observ”ed and “test”ed with “science,” and observation of what or what “does not come to pass” (Deut. 18.20 ff), here. We are to judge what is good, what is from God, by looking to see what gets good material results, here on this material earth, and in a timely way; “soon,” “at hand,” “presently,” the “time is near,” “quickly,” in at least a “generation.” (While rejecting St. Peter’s suggestion, that “soon” might mean thousands of years; since Jesus called Peter “Satan” in Mat. 16.23).
The prophesied Second Coming of God, the “Day of Judgement,” therefore begins to appear, when we re-read the Bible, as urging not faith, but urging us to discover and use, over faith, God’s Science. Moving past faith, to the science of God, we find, the first outline of the foretold “second,” better, “full”er outline of God and Truth; of what is Good. As foretold, as we join religion to science, we join heaven to earth, word to world, word to flesh again. And only this holy whole, is at last is complete, “full” enough, to work the wonders that God promised, to those who truly understand, “see,” and follow him, rightly.
As we investigate the material universe with Science, many (if not all) of us, are also, indirectly, discovering God. Even the immaterial spirit is known, God said, by looking the visible, material things invisible things, spirits, effect:
“Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made” (Rom. 1.20 RSV).
Here to be sure, we disagree with many preachers. Can we thus test and even “judge,” even the holiest men and angels and preachers? By the physical material works, the miracles they have done, or have not done? Actually, we can: the Bible, God commands us to do that. The Bible warned constantly that our holiest men are normally deceived, deceptive. And so, rather than follow them or their “image”s of God with total “faith,” God describes at length and in detail, in several passages, how we are commanded by God, to scientifically test even holy men, preachers especially, by their real material fruits, works, signs, deeds. In say, Dan. 1.4-15; 2 Kings 18.20 ff ? (Ezekiel); Malachi 2-3; Deut. etc. (See our OT section).
And if this scientific testing finds sins, inadequacies, in “all” our holiest men and angels on earth? Even all those in heaven itself? Then that very negative finding, precisely fulfills Apocalyptic prophesy: one “day” after all, we were SUPPOSED to see, precisely that result. One “day” God is supposed to uncover sins in “all,” including our priests and prophets and their “Christ.” In that moment, our childhood heaven itself, is supposed to be shattered (Rev. 21; Isa. 34). But this is a positive moment; the old is shattered to make way for the better. As the old heaven is “dissolved,” a “new heaven” is to appear; one that comes down to this material earth again too, after all.
And this begins to fulfill Apocalyptic prophesy therefore: as we at last see the second and better, “full”er, more “mature” vision of God – beyond faith, in the Science of God – we see a “new heaven,” our abstract spiritual religion, God and Christ, begin to come down to this empirical, material earth, again. Even here and now. As foretold, as authorized, by the Bible itself. By God, himself.
#4
God’s Science, Point #10
The Foretold Destruction of Heaven,
For Sins in the Angels and Saints.
And the Revelation of a “New Heaven,”
A Second Coming
Can we really change religion this much? Can we say it is supposed to be based on Science, and not Faith? In fact, there are some key prophesies and themes in the Bible, that allow for massive changes in religion. God himself may not change; but the things he produces and does, change according to what is appropriate in a given situation. To a good man who is thirsty, God might give water; to a good man who is drowning, he might take water away (as in Moses parting the waters).
Can even the holiest men on earth, and their most inspired doctrines, even the very “angel”s of the churches, be wrong? No doubt, this is hard for traditionalist, faithful believers to face. And it seems contrary to what we heard in church. But in fact, all this is all supported in the Bible itself. Closely related to (even identical to?) the moment when we “mature” in our religion, we note here, one Apocalyptic “day,” a “Day of the Lord,” we are supposed to see a “Second,” clearer vision, “appearance,” of the Lord. And on that day, God is supposed to show us that our holiest men on earth, even our preachers and apostles, often sinned. Sinned and erred not just in their personal behavior, but sinned and erred often in formulating their holiest, inspired, “Christian” doctrines. In fact, shatteringly, in this moment, God is supposed to show us longstanding sin and errors even in the holiest men and angels in heaven itself. Sins in them; and their doctrines; in even the “worship” that controls the whole earth; and in the traditional idea of “Christ” (Mat. 24.24 & Mark 13.22, 1 John 2.18-4.3, Rev. 13; 2 John 1.7). While finally and most shockingly, on this “day,” shatteringly, because of long standing sins in our holiest men and angels and Christian leaders, God is supposed to destroy our traditional Heaven itself. (Isa. 2.12, 24.21, 34.4-35.6, 65.17-66.22; Rev. 13; Rev. 21.1-5; 1 Peter 4.5-17; 2 Peter 3.4-16. As we find in our books on the Destruction of Heaven; the “Day” when Judgement Comes; etc.).
At first it seems impossible to believe or face. But in fact, the Bible itself eventually tells us that one “day,” God is going to destroy our “present” or Judeo-Christian heaven itself:
“All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall, like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens” (Isa. 34.4-5).
“For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God” (2 Peter 4.17 NIV).
“God did not spare the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar” (2 Peter 3.10-11 NIV).
“The present heavens … are reserved for fire” (2 Peter 3.7).
“That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire” (2 Peter 3.13).
Amazingly, in the end God himself is supposed to destroy the (vision of?) Heaven, of God and Christ, that you learned as a child in Sunday School and church. The heaven of “faith” and “spirituality,” as it turns out.
The destruction of Heaven of course, is extremely important; but it has been widely neglected, by priests and ministers’ sermons; because indeed no doubt, preachers cannot “face” or “bear,” what this part of the Bible is telling us all. But finally, we will show here that this neglected, shattering moment in particular – the Destruction of Heaven – is the key to real Biblical “matur”ity. But more than that, this moment is actually the until-now missing key to the End Time; to the Second Coming. And indeed, this neglected moment in the Bible, the Destruction of Heaven, is the missing key to the real meaning, of the Bible itself.
For many, many centuries, for two thousand years and more, the whole world has been aware of ancient rumors of an Apocalypse, an End Time, when the “world” is destroyed, as they say. And in fact, in a way, many preachers have even looked forward to the End. Because many priests and ministers believe that the End Time – including the “Day of Judgement” as they call it, or the “day of the LORD,” as the Bible refers to much of it – brings about primarily the destruction of the “world.” Which many spiritual parsons take to mean the destruction of the world of greedy, ordinary, materialistic secular people. Most preachers read this day, as a day when God punishes everyone else, but rewards priests and ministers and their congregations, for their steadfast faith and spirituality. Actually however, we will show that God warned that in the End, many things are quite different than what even believers and the faithful thought. In fact, God comes to point out sins, not even so much in non-believers; but in believers, in the allegedly faithful themselves. In the end, “Fire will test what sort of work” all of us have done (1 Corin. 3.13; Malachi); and “fire” will come even especially, to the very religious, the “household of God” (1 Peter 4.17); even our priests (Mal. 3.2; Job 12.19; Jer. 5.31-6.13, 23.11-34, Lam. 4.13; Hos 4.4-6; Mark 14.1: Rev. 13); even to “all” in heaven itself (Isa. 34.4).
On the “day” that we finally, really see God, it is not just practical “secular” people who are found bad or “last” with God; God examines and finds sins and errors, especially in our holy men; apostles and priests and believers. Indeed, the very holy men who are thought “first” with God, are found “last” (cf. Mark 9.35, 10.31; Luke 13.30; Mat. 20.20 ff; not Mat. 20.8). In the end, on the “day” we really, “full”y see God again, many things are the reverse not just of what worldly people think, but the reverse of what our holier religious leaders thought, too. In the end, many thought to be “noble” are found to be “fools” and “scoundrels” (q.v., in a Bible concordance, then in the Bible itself). But this does not just mean that the “rich” are found bad; ultimately, the end is rather like Mark 9. 33-35; where Jesus rebukes the disciples themselves, when they ask which of them is “first” with God. Finally, one “day” or another, God reveals, uncovers, massive, longstanding evils, deep even in the angels. Even the angels of the first, foundational Christian churches, are found to have been bad and evil, often (Rev. 2.1-4, 2.12-14, 2.18-20, 3.1-2, 3.14-16, 12.7; Isa. 34.4; Gal. 1.6). Following false doctrines and false gospels and so forth (Mat. 15.9, cf. Gal. 1.6).
Most preachers today assume that God, in the End, the very last “day,” comes to simply congratulate and reward their own congregation, on a job well done; for following the preacher and his idea of God so totally, so “faith”fully. God comes to earth, only to congratulate preachers on a job well done … while God is to punish, only everybody else; to punish bad, evil, secular people. But we will show here and elsewhere, that in the end, Christ or God does not come to earth a second time, just to punish everybody else, other than your own church congregation. Or to punish just non-believers. In fact, God comes to note huge, longstanding sins especially, in our allegedly most holy and faithful believers. In the very “family” or “household” of God. In those in Heaven itself. And therefore indeed, sins even in the holiest, “tradition”al ideas about God, that we got from these revered figures.
Thousands of sermons have centered around a few parts of the Bible – especially Paul – that seem to tell us to follow “authority,” and trust and believe our preachers especially. The fact is though, God warned over and over that there have always been huge sins and errors, even in our very holiest men and angels; even from ancient times. Even in nearly all religious traditions. So that the “day” of the end, God does not even so much rebuke and punish, those who were not believers; or those in other churches. And God does not appear so much for the destruction of the earth or “world.” Indeed, in any case, the old “world” was long ago destroyed and remade, twice over; once in the Flood of Noah, and once again “overcome” and “redeemed” by Jesus. So that the key, remaining moment in the End Time, before the completion of the Bible or Bible prophesy, is not the uncovering of sins in everyone else, other than priests and prophets; and it is not the destruction of the “world” or “earth.” In fact, the old “world” of ancient time, is already long since destroyed, and remade.
While in any case, the really key moments in the Bible for our time, are the continuous warnings by God himself, that essentially “all have sinned”; even especially our religious believers; even the saints and apostles that wrote our New Testament (Mat. 16.23). And finally the missing key to it all, is the moment that none of our preachers have had the courage and honesty to “face”: the parts of the Bible where God tells us that because of sins and errors in our holiest men and angels, God is going to destroy … heaven itself. A “day” that we can preview- and perhaps even experience – even here and now. As we review the Bible here.
Many preachers have thought that the old warnings about false things in holy me, etc., refer just to some past day. Or to some future day, when presently faithful priests will slip and fall, from their good old beliefs, “traditions,” which they should guard. But in fact, the Bible warned that there have been huge sins and errors in our holiest men and their tradition, right from the very start. From ancient time. From the moment our “traditions” were founded. So that actually, it doesn’t save you to be totally faithful to tradition; since there were errors in your religious tradition itself. While faith in, loyalty to a flawed tradition, usually means … just loyalty to, faith in, error.
So what is the End, the Apocalypse, really about? Is it really a “day” that God comes to punish everybody else, other than the faithful priests, and members of your own church? We will be showing here that the real key to the End, to the Second Coming – and also to religious “matur”ity – is found first, in 1) the hundreds of warnings from God, that even our holiest priests and ministers, disciples, even essentially “all” the angels in heaven itself, have always sinned, even from ancient times. Even our holiest men have sinned. And not just in their personal behavior and human weaknesses and imperfections, but sinned even in their most inspired doctrines (Mat. 16.23; etc.; or better, see our book on False Priests; also see our footnotes). So actually, the “Day of the Lord,” is not just a time when God comes to earth again, to punish everyone other than priests and churches. Actually, because of longstanding, massive sins even in the angels in heaven itself (Rev. 13; Job 1; Isa. 34.4), God comes to uncover and punish, massive sins in our holiest men and angels. Indeed, 2) because of longstanding sins in our holy men, from the very start, God comes to destroys what until today, has been the core of what we thought was Christianity: God comes to destroy Heaven itself.
At first, all this seems impossible; or to be against God and the Bible. Or it seems to be some “strange new doctrine.” But actually this doctrine is not new or strange; it has been in the Bible from the beginning; and likely indeed, it has always been known to a certain elect or elite. So that this destruction, is not against God or the Bible; indeed, it is the fulfillment of prophesy. It is God making religious good, purifying it, with “fire.”
This vision then should be accepted … as fulfilling the word of God. As being true to the Bible. While then too, we will show here, there is another reason to accept all this; this painful moment has a final, massively positive outcome: all this painful exposure comes after all, to a reward: all this, is in order to reveal to us a “new heaven.” A better, “full”er vision, “appearance,” of God and Good. A Second Coming. A “full”er appearance of God and a new heaven … that come down moreover, to this material earth. To give us heaven on earth (Rev. 21). To give us the “full”er “kingdom” at last. Though to be sure, many churches have claimed to be the promised ideal kingdom of God on earth, no church has ever been quite as fully good, as what the Bible often promised (in say, Isa. 11.6 ff; 65.17-66.22; repeated in Rev. 21.1-5 ff.). No church has ever fully protected its people from all pain and suffering and crying, for example, as promised.
And so, the “day” when see “mature” and see a “second,” “full”er, “appearance” or Second Coming of the Lord, most people rightly feel, was not achieved in the past; but is due and pending, for our own time. Though to be sure, for many of us, the negative aspects of that “day” at least, began long ago. It began when we began to “mature” … and many of us began to notice indeed, just as God warned, there seemed to be great sins, errors, even in the core of our holiest religious traditions. Just as God, the Bible said there would be.
Today of course, many people have noticed the newspapers reporting, that many Roman Catholic Priests have been sexually molesting young boys. And that essentially all the Bishops lied about this, and told us we had a holy church on earth, to cover this up, or “whitewash” it. While we regularly see similar problems, in Protestants and Evangelicals. But as it turns out, these sins are just the tiniest tip of the iceberg; the great mass of heretofore unseen sins, has been under the water, where most people did not see it. In particular, we will find that the greatest sin or error, was not a few hundred or thousand priests molesting children; the sin or err was much closer and deeper than that: the great sin of our holy men, has been a doctrinal error; the first great sin has been the great stress on “faith.” “Faith” especially, in our holy men, or their ideas about God. In particular, the great, formerly hidden sin in our holy men, has been their insisting on blind a) “faith”; especially faith in b) “miracles,” and c) “spirituality.”
But if all our preachers in the past sinned and erred in many ways, particularly in their “faith”? Then one “day” or another, the Bible itself said, that is supposed to be corrected. By the Destruction of Heaven; and the revelation of a Second Coming of God.
#5
God’s Science, Point #11
Relating to the Destruction of Heaven:
God Calls for Us to Be
“Mature,” to be “Wise,”
Not to be “Fools,” “Deceived,” Etc.
What we are outlining here will be hard for believers to face and believe. What we are saying here is so totally – even exactly – different, from what we all heard in churches all over the world. And what we say here, seems like such a dramatic change; so is there anything in our Bibles, that would authorize, predict, even mandate, such a change? Indeed, there is: the “day.” But as part of that, related to that, consider what Paul said about us learning to “mature” in our religion. Preachers used to call this “maturing” or “growing up” … “in your faith.” But this saying was only partially true: to be sure, we are supposed to grow up however, and mature. Actually we will be seeing here, that was a misnomer; more exactly, we are supposed to grow up beyond faith; to learn to see the Science of God.
Many readers no doubt want to hold on, to the childhood vision that they got in church; of a God stressing blind, even “child”like “faith” in holy men, faith in priests and ministers, and their God of “faith” in “miracles” and “spirituality.” And no doubt, a tiny amount of “Faith” has some usefulness; we each enter the kingdom of God, only as or like, young “child”ren (Mat. 18.3); “faith”fully following whatever our elders tell us. But as it turns out, once we have entered the community of adults, thanks to faith and obedience to standard mores, this is not supposed to be the end of the process of learning about God. Even after faithfully accepting much of what was told to us by our elders, still, some changes in how we understand those lessons, how we see God, are supposed to come, later on. In particular, one day or another, you are supposed to “mature” in your religion, in your Christianity (Luke 8.14; Prov. 22.15; Isa. 3.12; 1 Corin. 13.11-14.20; Heb. 6.1 RSV).
References to especially, becoming more “mature” or “wise,” of ceasing to be a “child” (Prov. 22.15) – or in a punning way, to a “day” when “judgement” comes – are found in effect, in the Old Testament. It is easy enough for the reader, to just look up countless references to “wisdom” him- or herself, in the Old Testament; for once we will not bother to list them here, therefore. But just briefly note that becoming “wise” and having “knowledge” would bear some relation to science; indeed, the two are related in passages like Dan. 1.4 ff; where Daniel is called not only a young man of “science,” but also is related to those having understanding, knowledge, and so forth.
The Old Testament’s advocacy of “wisdom” is well established. For that matter, so is its related advocacy of being “mature.” However, there is much misunderstanding as to the exact nature of Christianity “mature”ity; especially as St. Paul would eventually use the term, in the New Testament. So that we might skip ahead to the New Testament for a moment.
So what is “mature” Christianity, exactly? Many preachers suggest that the foretold “day” when you “mature in your faith,” as they say, is the moment that you become less materialistic, and more “spiritual.” They day you turn from Old Testament promises of physical, material wonders, riches, physical miracles; toward the more “spiritual” faith of (much if not all of) the New Testament. For many preachers, the moment of Christian “maturity” comes when you stop seeking huge material miracles, or other material “possessions” any more. And when you instead, begin seeking only spiritual or mental goods; like “love” and “faith” and “hope.” Indeed, most preachers today seem to characterize Christian “mature”ity, as becoming more “spiritual.” Especially, growing up in your mental or spiritual feeling of “faith.” The “day” you become “mature,” is commonly read as the day you learn to have more faith, and be more spiritual.
But as it turns out in our present boo, here and now, the day when we “mature,” does not mean what all our preachers thought: the day we “mature” in Christianity is not the day that you ascetically turn away from the desire for material gain, and get more “faithful,” more spiritual. Amazingly, we might suggest here first of all, that the day you “mature” in your religion, is not the day when you become less interested in material “possessions,” and grow in your interest in mental or spiritual things, only; particularly, maturity is not growing in your spiritual feeling of “faith.” Actually, we here and now offer a significantly different definition of Christianity maturity. Specifically, we suggest that the moment when you mature in your Christianity, is the moment that God shows you a moment of real religious humility; it is the moment that God and life show you sins, not just in ordinary people, but sins in essentially “all” our very holiest men and angels too (Isa. 34.4; Rom. 3.23; John 8.7; 1 John 1.10; Mal. 2.1-4.6; Rev. 12.7-Rev. 13). The day you “mature” in your religion, we will suggest here to start, is not the day you become more “spiritual”; but is actually the day that you discover that even our holiest men and angels sinned. That even our preachers, saints, Popes, sinned. And not only, as many have asserted, a) sinned just in their personal behavior. But even more than that, the Apocalyptic “day” you mature in your religion, is probably the day that you find that b) even our holiest men and angels and apostles in heaven itself, sinned and erred – even when they formulated our most apparently holy and sacred doctrines and dogmas. The day we “mature” in our religion, is the heaven-shattering day that we discover that even St. Peter himself sinned; not only when he was all-too-human, and impulsively failed to follow Jesus. But sinned even when he propounded alleged sacred, inspired doctrines and dogmas, about God.
Traditionally, the Catholic Church for example, has at times admitted that not just ordinary lay people, but even saints and the holiest men, at times sinned 1) in their personal behavior. Sinned in the sense that they wanted to do good … but at times, temporarily fell prey to their animal lusts, and all-too-human weaknesses. So that even the best of us, occasionally lied, or did something wrong or bad, conventionally defined. While our newspapers today, easily confirm this: for the past decade, newspapers have been reporting that thousands of our Roman Catholic priests have been sexually molesting young boys (as Pope Benedict confessed, on his way to visit the US not too long ago?). And worse, we added, it seems that all the bishops covered this up; that essentially all our bishops lied about, denied, the molestations. Essentially every bishop in the world had at least one such case of a sexually abusive priest in his own district, or diocese. And yet each and ever bishop, covered it up. And in biblical language, “whitewash”ed it. (Note: typically, when we put a term like “whitewash” into quotes in our present book, that usually indicates that this very word is found in the Bible itself; in the Revised Standard Edition particularly. We put such key words into quotes – so that anyone can look up this very word in a biblical index, or “concordance.” To see what the Bible says about that specific word, that concept).
Traditionally, our churches have typically confessed such personal sins and shortcomings. But the churches has claimed however, that while now and then a good pastor or holy man, might make some personal error, or mistake, still, our holiest men were infallible, were protected by the Holy Spirit, for at least a moment. When they speak with full, serious authority; or when they wrote the Bible, it is commonly said our holy men were “inspired” or infused with the Holy Spirit; and were protected from sin and error, at least for a moment. Here though, we will go beyond what the churches have confessed of their sins in the past. Here we will note not only did the Bible say that our holiest bishops and holy men and apostles, would occasionally be imperfect, and all-too-human in their simple daily, personal behavior; when they try to be good, but simply fail. But 2) we will also show that the Bible itself warned, that our holiest men and angels will have often sinned and erred … even when they were uttering their most serious, allegedly “inspired” remarks; they even sinned and erred, at times when they wrote sayings attributed to God himself. This will be a hard thing for many believers to “face.” But finally, we will be showing here that the Bible itself prepared us in many, many ways, for a “day” when we see sins and errors, in practically every single aspect of traditional religion, and Christianity.
Specifically, how did the Bible prepare us all for, this shattering, disillusioning discovery? Actually, there are several major ways. Among them, the Bible 1) warned about “false” things in every aspect of religion; even in our idea of the “Christ.” While 2) we were warned that one “day” in particular, in the “Apocalypse,” the “Day” of “Judgement,” God would reveal sins and errors, in all of us; even our holiest men and angels. A moment that 3) seems to collapse, “dissolve,” our heaven itself (Rev. 21; 2 Peter 3). But if so, then after all, God also told us in a more positive vein, to 4) expect a “new” and better vision. Or a “second” Coming of God, to earth. A Second Coming that would indeed, a) reveal to us sins in our holiest men. But that would b) also reveal to us a “new” and better vision, Coming, “appearance” (“parousia”) of God.
These fur or five themes in fact, will be the major subject of nearly all our various books, here and elsewhere. For now though, in our introduction, we have chosen to emphasize that among the several different, major ways that the biblical text prepared us for some heaven-shattering changes and disillusionment in our faith… was 5) the moment when especially the Apostle, St. Paul, began asserting that we are not supposed to remain faithful “child”ren in our religion, forever. Among many major biblical motifs or themes that should have prepared us for, authorized enormous changes (not in God himself; who does not change, but…) in our sense of God? Was the moment that the apostle Paul began asserting, over and over, that one day or another, we are supposed to “mature” in our religion.
The startling insight (or even, “revelation”?) we are about to unveil here therefore, today, can be read as being part of the biblically-authorized, foretold, process of “mature”ing in our religion. Here and now, in the beginning, we suggest that what the Bible meant by the day we “mature,” was not the day, we give up on material possessions, even miracles, and become more “spiritual.” Rather instead, we will show, it is probably the day you … begin to notice and “face,” huge sins, in our holiest men and angels. It is the moment you at last begin to notice and face, sins in our holiest men. And not just in them personally; but also and in particular, it is the moment you personally begin to notice apparent errors, in some of what they call their holiest, most “inspired” sayings.
Or in short, the “day” you “mature” – and in fact, we will suggest the “day” of “judgement” itself; and even the Second Coming, itself – is in large part, the “day,” the moment, when you yourself begin to think more critically. It is the moment when you advance beyond an exaggerated, “blind,” childlike “faith” in religious and other authority; to take a more critical-thinking approach, a more scientific approach, even to religion; even to Christianity itself.
The moment or the Apocalyptic day that you “mature,” therefore, is not just the moment you become more philosophic or “spiritual,” ascetic. Instead, it is far beyond that: it is the moment that you begin at last to notice and “see” real sins, false things, even in our holiest men and angels. And not just in their personal behavior, their personal foibles; but also in their allegedly most holy and infallible and inspired moments. It is the heaven-shattering moment when – just as the Bible warned – you begin to notice a litany of false things deep in our holiest men and their holiest doctrines: when you begin to notice … “deceits,” “illusions,” “delusions,” “false prophesies,” “empty promises,” and other false things, even in our holiest men and angels.
Religious “matur”ity we will show, really occurs when you first 1) notice huge sins and errors in our holiest men and angels and churches and doctrines. And 2) when you therefore decide therefore, not to have such total “faith” in holy men, or in their “vision” or verbal pictures of God. It is the moment when, instead of continuing to “blind”ly follow religious leaders with total, blind “faith,” you begin to look more critically at them, and their religion; with critical science. (In order to find a more defensible idea of religion, of God, at last.)
How do we know the exact nature of Paul’s “maturity”? There have been countless very, very bad religious writers, that have presumed to use Paul’s seemingly vague and open, advocacy of “mature” Christianity, to bolster their own hobbyhorses; in particular, everyday preachers love to assert that “mature” Christianity, meant moving past love of material things, material miracles; to a “higher,” “better,” “spirituality.” Love of mental sensations, instead of material things. And as a matter of fact, it is difficult if not impossible, it would seem, to pin down the exact meaning of Paul’s term, his “mature”ity. Indeed, related to the problematic nature of declaring any point of view at all, as “mature,” the Bible itself warned that no one should congratulate himself too quickly, on his own Christian “wisdom”; the Bible sometimes (if not consistently?) warning that no one should be so foolish, as to proclaim himself “wise”; or call others “fools” either. Warning that the “wisdom” of this or that “age,” like the era of early Christianity, might really be “foolishness” after all.
But finally, we might be justified in using the word “maturity” at least as a rhetorical flourish; to point out at least, that the Bible, Paul, did not think that the first, “child”hood understanding or vision of God and Good, would be the last and best vision. The Bible did not think that the “first” simple view of God, that we got as children, or innocent adults, in Sunday School or church, would be the “second” or “last” or best vision, in the end.
But what then is the “mature” Christian vision? Probably no one can say with absolute firmness, without violating the frequent Biblical prohibitions against “vain”ity and “pride”; the prohibitions against proclaiming ourselves “wise.” But we suggest here, we can find some solid hints about this, in part in other statements in the Bible, about a special “day” when “judgement” comes. And/or, a few statements from Paul himself, about the “mature.” Note that maturity is often mentioned in conjunction not with “faith,” but with hard “thinking.” In many of the following biblical quotes:
“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom.” (1 Corin. 2.6 in Bible, Revised Standard Version).
“Be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature” (1 Corin. 14.20 RSV).
“Solid food is for the mature” (Heb. 5.14).
We should pursue maturity in “thinking” it seems. But what is that? In part, it seems being tough-minded; ready for “solid food” and not “milk” (q.v.). But it also seems it comes with a certain amount of non-dogmatic openness; keeping in mind the uncertain nature of all human knowledge about God. In fact the apostle Paul, the attributed human author of half the New Testament, even reflects on the uncertainty and im-“perfect”tion, of even his own knowledge and maturity. And Paul, like most apostles, spoke of maturity, full knowledge, as being something that would come later; even some time after himself:
“We speak of God’s secret wisdom, wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory… [But] ‘No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’” (1 Corin. 2.7-9 NIV).
“Let those of us who are mature be thus minded” (Php. 3.15). “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on” (Php. 3.12 NIV).
“That we may present every man mature in Christ” (Col. 4.12).
“Go on to maturity” (Heb. 6.1).
So what is the final nature of the Bible’s vision of “mature”ity? Probably it cannot be found to offer a simple, clear definition. But if anything, if anything seems to have embodied a relatively “final” message on this, it might be say, the apostle/saint Paul. When he warned that even our holiest men and saints – even the human authors of our Bible, like Paul himself – were not yet “perfect,” even as they were in the very act of writing the Bible itself. Indeed, Paul issued many warnings about himself:
“Not that I … have already been made perfect” (Paul, in Php. 3.12 NIV).
“I am the least of the apostles” (1 Corin. 15.9; cf.?).
“I have been a fool! You forced me to it! (2 Corin. 12.11. Cf. Hos. 9.7; 1 Corin. 3.18; 2 Corin. 11.16, etc.).
“All have sinned” (Rom. 3.23).
“I am the foremost [worst] of sinners” (Paul, in 1 Tim. 1.15).
At times Paul hints that his “foolishness” is just apparent; only men but not God find him foolish. Other times though, he suggests that he is simply, actually, really, foolish. And he is a sinner.
To be sure, many preachers and churches today, try to 1) admit that our holiest men made personal sins and errors. But 2) many churches claim that at key moments – when they were writing our Bibles say, and/or – the moments they were defining key Christian “doctrines” – they were for that single moment at least, “inspired.” That is, protected from error by the Holy Spirit. And 3) yet we will find out here, that the Bible itself told us, rather self-critically, that even the highest saints and angels made mistakes all the time; both in their personal behavior, but also in major doctrinal decisions. And they made many mistakes, even after receiving the “inspiration” of the Holy Spirit breathed into them by Jesus himself, in John 20.22. Just as we ourselves still make mistakes, even after communion. Indeed, no one knows who is right and good, except God himself; who reveals it only in the End, the Day of Judgement.
Therefore, probably no one whatsoever, should ever presume to be too dogmatic or assertive, about what final “maturity” or “wisdom” might be. Even the human authors of the Bible, the agents of God, at times admitted they themselves were not yet “perfect,” they were even the “worst” of sinners, even as they were in the act of writing the Bible itself. But we will find here however, that if there is any single wisdom message at all that can be even tentatively advanced as the Bible’s ultimate message, it is finally, composed of three major parts. First, we will find 1) God warned constantly, there will always be bad, “false” things in every aspect of religion, of Christianity, even among those who say they are following Christ, and crying “Lord, Lord” (Luke 6.46 etc.). Indeed, our second major point will be that 2) indeed, the Bible will here be found to say that even the very highest saints and angels in heaven itself, “all,” “have sinned.” They have sinned and erred, continuously and from the beginning; even when they wrote our holiest books. And so finally “all those host of heaven” itself, all the authors of our bibles and holiest books – and startlingly, heaven itself – will fall. One apocalyptic “day” of the Lord (Isa. 34.1-8). So that 3) finally, what is the best way to truth? It is not blind or even strong “faith” in the authority of priests and holy men and angels; rather instead, God tells us to use “science” to learn the truth, even about God.
Is this possible? First, 1) we will consider dozens or a hundred or more quotes from the Bible itself; that warned of bad, false things in essentially every aspect of religion; bad things even particularly, in those who honestly, deeply believe that they are following “Christ.” Then we will often 2) look at the real, neglected key to the Bible itself: the many places where the Bible warned that therefore finally, one Apocalyptic “day,” because of longstanding sins even in our holiest men and angels, our Heaven itself, is supposed to be destroyed, by God himself:
“Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!… All the stars of the heaven will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine…. My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgement” (Isa. 34.1-5 NIV).
This is hard to stomach; it is solid food. But if “mature”ity has any determinate meaning in the context of the Bible itself? It seems that part of its core message is urging humility, in our holy men today. Religious leaders should never be too proudly sure of themselves and their tradition – in light of historical, cosmic sins and errs, even among our highest and holiest men and angels. Even “all” those in heaven itself, were not entirely good it seems. According to a huge number of quotations, from the Bible itself. So that 3) finally, we will show, since there have always been sins and errors, even in our holiest men and angels in heaven itself, and even in their allegedly holiest doctrines? Finally, our religion, our Christianity, was never supposed to be based on “faith”; faith in holy men, or their vision, their verbal and written portraits of God. Instead, God told us not to “test” God’s patience with immortality. But to always maintain a critical, scientific approach to all of religion. And to indeed, “test everything” in religion (1 Thess. 5.12); with a real “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.21-39; Deut. 18.21-22; et Alia.). To give us our best idea of what is good and true; what is really from God. And what is not.
This is to be sure, an apocalyptic, heaven-shattering “new” vision of God and Good. But one day after all, the Bible itself said, our heaven itself is supposed to be “dissolved”; and a “new” and better heaven is supposed to appear. While nearly all Christians agree, the “full” “new” kingdom did not fully appear, in the time of Jesus. But has waited, for the future, to be more fully realized. Until in fact, we note here. This very day.
#6
God’s Science, Point #12
Openness to New Knowledge:
Preachers Told Only “Part” of the Bible, of Truth, of God
Can we, should we, be open to new knowledge? Can our knowledge about even God, progress and change? Many preachers have argued that God said that he himself, “does not change”; and therefore, there can be no change in what is said about God, by preachers. But of course, if God himself does not change in some metaphysical sense, still the Bible clearly implies that however, our understanding of God is supposed to grow, mature … and change. God may or may not change; but in any case, the way God looks from our point of view, should change. As we mature, and understand things better. And even priests’ understanding, their mental “image” of God, in fact, will occasionally need considerable revision. While the Old Testament of course, as we noted above, listed many days, when priests, their alleged knowledge and sayings from God, were found wrong by God, and were corrected by him. While the Bible foretold many other heaven-shattering days in particular, when even especially priests’ knowledge or perception of God, would need to be changed. Because, basically? They typically knew only “part” of the truth.
The Old Testament is full of such examples. In the Old Testament, Job for example seems to understand only an inadequate part of what God is like; the text says Job utters things that he himself does not fully understand. Therefore? Job needs to go through a learning process – in which his perception of God changes, progresses. For a moment Job does not really “see” God; not until he observes the wonders and terrors of nature and Leviathan, and Nature, does he begin to progress, and better understand the Nature of God, as we will call it here.
As Job said for example, even Job – who God himself had called “upright” and good – for a while did not quite understand God well enough; he did not have full enough knowledge of him. It is only after Job has learned a little more, has passed through the fire, that Job feels he knows enough at last:
“I uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.… [B]ut now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42.3-6).
And not only the Old Testament, but also of course the “New” implies a sort of “new” vision of God, after all. Even the child Jesus, is said to have, from the days he was a “child,” later “grown” in understanding; implying that even Jesus himself, might progress, or mature, or learn more than the parts of knowledge he earlier knew.
And then too? The whole Protestant Reformation, and dozens of other evolutionary changes even in the Catholic Church, show that the churches accept some kind of change, progress, advancement, in their views of God.
And so? If there can be progress in even priests’ understanding and knowledge of God? If they can be said to have known only “part” of the truth? Then for a while therefore, it must be said, that for some time, their earlier “knowledge” was in some way, partial and inadequate.
And so therefore? Could all our preachers – who constantly asserted that Christianity must be based on “faith” – be so wrong? The fact is, they can be, said the Bible. We were warned by God, that essentially “all have sinned”; while we were warned that specifically, our holiest men and their ideas and institutions, in particular, have sinned and erred. So that finally, it should not really surprise people that much – and in any case it is totally consistent with the Bible itself. If we now begin to see that the religion that God wanted us to have in the end, was quite different from what we learned in church, from priests. When we begin to see here, that Christianity was never supposed to be based so strongly on “faith”; but was instead, supposed to be based significantly more, on real, empirical, Science.
All this may be shocking and surprising; even Apocalyptic. But this is in the Bible itself. And so we ask the reader, in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to very carefully consider the neglected parts of the Bible we will be talking about here. The parts of the Bible, of God, that all too many preachers and others never really, fully read, understood, or obeyed. The parts that advocated not faith, but science. Not even just “Christian Science,” or “Scientology,” or “Creation Science”; but beyond them, real Religious Studies. Science-based theology. Science based churches. Based on real, full, objective, empirical, hard science.
Many millions of preachers have previously said something very, very different than what we are beginning to outline here. Over thousands of years, in millions of churches worldwide, millions of preachers, a billion priests and ministers – have delivered a billion sermons and homilies to insist that the Bible pretty much rejected the material “world”; and physical “riches”; and “possessions”; and told us that religions, including Christianity, was supposed to be based on “faith” and “spirituality. And furthermore, this message from nearly all our priests and ministers, was very, very successful: thanks to the total saturation of the dominant states of the world -Western Europe and the United States – with these faith-based sermons, eventually the whole religious “world” has long since become all but utterly dominated by “faith.” By the belief that faith is all that anyone needs in life. But we will be finding here, that “faith-based” message as some might call it, this vision of Christ as advocating only faith, was never quite exactly right. It was never quite true even to the Bible itself. As we just begin to see with our first quick look at the Book of Daniel, far more than stressing “faith,” the Bible actually stressed “science.” Indeed the Bible in our first example here – in Daniel – even supported “science” by name (in the King James Edition). While then too, ultimately the Bible will be seen here, not just to a) mention science and support it by name; but b) more importantly, it very often described and advocated, an early version of scientific method. While furthermore, c) stressing one quality after another, that pertains to science: like “observ”ation of peoples real material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and “proof”s; and “witness”ing what “comes to pass” in the material sphere of life. While among other things, e) the Bible also d) stressed the material, physical side of life honored by science; e) and even noted problems with excessive “spirituality” and f) “faith.”
The Bible itself therefore, we will see, not only supported “Science” by name in the King James Edition; it also described and supported the main constituent traits of science; and even backed all that, against, or over and above, simple blind faith in holy men and ancient doctrines and churches. It described and backed the key method of science, the Scientific or Experimental Method; and then it stressed one major quality or trait of science, after another too; even describing many times the experimental method, and supporting it. While – as we will find in a later section – God and Jesus themselves often even noted weaknesses, problems, even in “faith” and “spirituality.” So that it finally becomes clear here that, amazingly, God ultimately did not want Christianity to be based on faith; but on science. Or on a science of God. One which we will outline exhaustively in our books here and now. As we look at hundreds of parts of the Bible, that our preachers overlooked, or did not want to tell you about in church. Parts that warned about the sins of holy men and angels; and that did not stress “faith” therefore.
As Paul warned, our holy men and angels – and even Paul himself and the disciples themselves we will find (as Paul says, “we” who prophesy) – only saw “part” of the truth in their time. And they do not see it all, until the End, when the “perfect” comes, “face-to-face,” “full”y:
“We know in part and we prophesy in part…. Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully; 1 Corin. 13.9-12 NIV).
And note by the way that even Paul, who talked the most about “faith” in the Bible, noted here that there were more important things than “faith”:
“Now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corin. 13.13).
Note here too, that even this apparent endorsement of spiritual qualities – faith, hope love – does not really strongly endorse them; but only says they “remain” as remainders (“abide” in RSV; not much stronger in its endorsement). While even the endorsement of “love” is only a relative endorsement; technically speaking, looking at the language closely, God is not here at least, saying that any of these things is all that great; just that between these three choices (and forgetting more important choices?), “love” is greater than faith. While indeed we will find here, ultimately the rest of the Bible found science, often greater than faith, especially.
To be sure, preachers have always ignored these parts of the Bible; in order to stress faith in themselves, or their tradition, or their picture of Christ, they have indulged a particular kind of “deceit” or deception: they typically quote only the parts of the Bible that seem, taken by themselves, to support strong “Faith” in preachers, and their idea of God. And to be sure, the Bible at times and in parts, seemed to stress faith. Particularly in the writings of the apostle – or in the Church; the Roman Catholic Church – “saint” Paul. But finally we will show here that exactly as foretold, essentially “all” our holiest men, preachers, “sinned.” Especially, they sinned in that they presented to us in church, only misrepresentative, atypical, misleading, “part”s of the Bible. The parts that stressed faith in God … but also in effect, in the preachers who claim to have all but exclusive truths about him. As when here, they a) continually stressed the part of the Bible that seemed to tell us that “Faith, hope, and love” “abide”; while they never really correctly emphasized the b) parts where even Paul himself admitted that “we,” the apostles of the time – including Paul himself presumably – saw things only imperfectly, and in part.
Nor for that matter, did c) preachers even look very closely, at the linguistic subtleties that effect the meaning, even within individual parts. In their advocacy of “spiritual” things like “faith” and love,” they did not notice that in this case, as is typical, the endorsement of “love” and “faith” are strictly relative. The Bible here did not even endorse “faith” here that much; and in fact finds it inferior to love. While regards all three things – faith, hope, and love – strictly speaking, the exact language of the Bible here does not support any of them all that firmly, here at least. At most it only said they “remain” or “abide.” Which is a long way from saying they are sacred and holy and absolute. Or, that that override science.
The many preachers’ sermons and homilies that you heard all over the world then, stressing “faith” and so forth, were simply, not reliable. Indeed, they were quite “deceit”ful; as foretold, presenting only “parts” of the truth; presenting only misrepresentative fragments of the whole or “full” message of the Bible, or of God. Preachers particularly, continually, stressed the parts of the texts, that seemed to support priestly authority; the parts that – taken by themselves and out of context – seemed to stress “faith” in holy men, or their vision of God. While preachers systematically left out, or neglected, or “twist”ed the meaning, of the many, many more parts of the Bible, and the layers of the text, ultimately, finally warned – that there have always been huge errors and sins, even in our holiest men, and their most sacred and “inspired” doctrines and sermons, their most holy sayings about God. While now indeed we see what one or two of their their great sins was: they over-stressed “faith”; they ignored and denied the many times that God himself warned that there have always been huge sins in our holy men; and therefore we should not have too much “faith” in them, or even the highest angels in heaven itself; but instead, we should examine them all critically, continuously, with real “science.” To uncover their sins and deceits.
Our priests and ministers often stressed “faith” over science. But here we find they were failing to face a major part of God; our holy men, preachers, were suppressing too many passages in the Bible. The fact is, we will have been revealing here hundreds of parts of the Bible, that our preachers either a) could not themselves “face” or “bear” to see. Or b) a major part of the Bible that for some reason, preachers decided not to present to the rest of us. Parts where God makes it clear that a) our preachers and holy men, were never entirely trustworthy; “all have sinned.” And that b) therefore, Christianity was not supposed to be based primarily on “faith” on holy men – or their vision of God, of Christ – at all. Instead, finally the Bible really told us that c) instead of being based on “faith,” Christianity was ultimately, as we grow older, supposed to develop into a more critical, science of God.
We will find here that eventually, you are supposed to “see” at last, that after a certain “age” (of 4 or 5 or so? Or the age of an elder, about 50, at the very latest) “Faith” is not the leading element in our lives. After a certain age, past “child”hood, we are supposed to become “mature.” Which means specifically, in part, that we are not supposed to have total, blind faith in our mothers, or in authorities. Instead, we are supposed to be gently questioning, and – scientifically; cautiously – asking to see material proofs (in school, etc.) for any and all things that are asserted, even by authorities. Including religious authorities.
Though our preachers always stressed “faith” in preachers, or in their vision of God, ultimately, that was not the final or central message of the Bible at all. Though at times and in part – as we will show in an entire book on this subject – the apostle Paul in particular, suggest that we should have “faith” in and totally obey religious and other “authority,” more times, more parts of the Bible finally warned us, even against Faith. The Bible overall, particularly outside of Paul, warning us that essentially each and every element of traditional religious authority, from the “all” of us, to the most holy stars in heaven, “heave sinned”; and will often fall or fail; even when delivering alleged words for God himself. So that even the holiest words alleged to have been from God himself, have often been bad or “false” in the past; and will be fallible and bad, even until the End of time. (See our footnotes on biblical warnings about false things in religion, including Christianity, in our footnotes here; and in our later book, on False Priests).
But in any case, for those millions of people, the billion who largely trust to the words of the Bible itself? For these, we have noted this: the Bible itself clearly warned, that 1) all have sinned; even our holiest men and angels in heaven itself. Or, we might add now, most of us have only “part”ial, im-“mature” “knowledge,” sight, of God. So that therefore, 2) since “our knowledge is” or was imperfect (as Paul said), even the knowledge of priests, then clearly we should not have too much “faith” in that past knowledge. Indeed, our search for truth, our religion, is not supposed to be based on “faith.” Instead, 3) our search for God, is supposed to be based on Science. A Science of God. And 4) if this seems impossibly disillusioning? If this seems to attack our heaven itself? Then note, the Bible itself told us that one Apocalyptic “day,” our Heaven itself is supposed to be “dissolved.” 5) In order for God to reveal to us, after all, something “full”er. And better. To reveal another, large “part” of God, that we had not seen before.
And as we begin to discover science, the Science of God, moreover, this ancient, Old Testament and New Testament prophesy, begins to be fulfilled. Another major part of God – his Science – is now being revealed to us. The Bible itself told us over and over, in dozens of ways, that even the knowledge of priests was only partial; and needed to grow, to mature, to see a “Second Coming” of God; to and see the “full”er outline of God. While the Science of God fills in some considerable gaps in previously incomplete priestly knowledge, as a matter of fact. Enough to amount to an entire “new,” “second” and better, fuller, appearance of Christ.
END of Chapter 1
Chapter 2
God Warns of
False, Bad Things
In Practically Every Element of
Christianity Itself,
From A to Z:
From “Angels,” to “Zeal”
From “Angels” and “Anointed” Priests and “Baptism,” to “Spirit”s;
The Bible Warns about
Bad, “False” Things,
In Nearly Every Aspect, Every “Gift,” of Judeo-Christianity;
Even in Heaven Itself ;
God Destroys Heaven Itself Therefore
“Watch out for false prophets…. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Mat. 7.16 NIV).
“Their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8.14 RSV).
“I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD” (Jer. 21.14 NIV).
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut” (Mat. 7.19 RSV).
“They shall eat the fruit of their deeds” (Isa. 3.10; Prov. 1.31: Jer. 6.19 RSV).
“The fruit for which thy soul longed is gone” (Rev. 18.14 RSV).
“Put me to the test, says the Lord” (Mal. 3 RSV);
“Understanding science” (Dan. 1.4 KJE)
#7
Bac
INTRODUCTION
Outline of Our Major Point
For centuries our preachers told us that the way to be good, is to have “faith”; faith in the Lord. Faith in God, in effect, as he is presented to us by preachers in church. And if we do that? If we have faith? Then we will get huge physical “miracles.” Or at least, “spirit”uality.
No doubt of course, we should have faith in God himself; but should we entirely trust – and have faith in – our churches and holy men? Are our holy men ever really entirely good enough, that we can be sure that the vision of Christ they have given us, is entirely correct? Historically, countless churches once claimed, with immense Pride, that they were perfect, or “holy” and “sacred.” And their claim was that therefore, they could not sin or err; they were even often “infallible.” Therefore; there was no need or room for change, or progress, in our churches, our Religion. Indeed, we should just have total “faith” in the churches and preachers. And/or in their “eternal” and perfect vision of God. And yet however? As we will have begun to being finding here, what our churches proudly told us, is not quite what even the Bible itself actually told us. Actually, the Bible itself warned over and over, that there have always been huge sins in our holiest men and angels; even in their most “inspired” and allegedly infallible moments. Indeed, the Bible itself told us that there have always been huge sins all our holiest things, from A to Z: from sins in “angels,” to problems with our “worship” and “zeal.” While for this reason even some of our churches now and then, in the fine print of their many doctrines, began to note that indeed, they themselves were not quite as perfect and holy, and many thought; even the current Catechism of the Catholic Church (c. 1997/2000 2nd edition), tells us that the Church will not be perfected, until after the Second Coming, as it seems:
“ ‘The Church on earth is endowed already with a sancity that is real though imperfect.’ In her members perfect holiness is something yet to be acquired” (Catechsim of the Catholic Church, c. 1997-2000, 2nd ed., sect. 825, p. 218; citing the Vatican encyclical, Lumen gentium, 48.3).
‘“The Church … will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven,’ at the time of Chrit’s glorious return. Until that day (CCC: Catechsim of the Catholic Church, 2000 ed., section 769; quoting Lumen gentium 48).
“The Church, and through her the world, will not be perfected in glory without great trials” (CCC 769).
“Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of man believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will reveal the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception” (CCC 675; citing Luke 21.12, John 15.19-20, 2 Thess. 2.4-12, 1 Thess. 5.2-3; 2 John 7; 1 John 2.18, 22).
Even the Roman Catholic Church at times therefore, modestly holds that there might be an ideal kingdom of God or church, in Heaven or somewhere; but as for the Church as know it from day to day, here on earth? It is not “perfect,” or absolutely holy. Indeed we are told, the Church will not be perfected; not until the end of time, or the Second Coming. And only after the revelation of many sins and errors, even in our religion; the mystery of a “religious deception.” While we find that view, to be true to the Bible itself (Rev. 13; 1 John 2-4; etc.). In fact? In our present chapter, we will be showing that the Bible itself warns that there have always been huge sins and deceits, in every single aspect of religion, and even in traditional Christianity; in every single aspect, from A to Z: from our very “angels” and “anoiting”s and “baptism”s, to our “worship,” and “zeal.”
Many preachers, in both the Catholic Church, but also in the other Protestant and Orthodox churches, have assured us that our churches (and preachers), our angels and prophets, are good, and “holy” and “sacred.” But amazingly we will be finding here, that is not what even the angels and prophets themselves finally told us. Finally? The holy men that wrote our Bibles, were rather more modest than our preachers; they often confessed themselves, that they were not entirely good or holy. Even the Apostle Paul, for example, often confessed that he himself was not entirely “perfect,” even as he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament. Even St. Paul – who is often attributed as the author of more than half of the New Testament; 14 of its 23 books – at times confessed that even he was not entirely “perfect.” While at times – if not consistently – Paul even seemed willing to call himself a “fool,” and the “worst of sinners.” And he confessed for himself – and all the apostles that authored our very Bibles? – that “our knowledge” is “imperfect.” And that the “full” and accurate knowledge of God, was yet to come; some day after the Bible was completed; some day when we see God “face-to-face”:
“Not that I am … already perfect; but I press on” (Php. 3.12).
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature…. The evil I do not want is what I do” (Rom. 7.18,19; not hypothetically?).
“For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” ( 1 Corin. 13.8-13 RSV).
“In this self-confident boasting, I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool” (2 Corin. 11.16-17).
“I have been a fool! You have forced me to it” (Paul, in 2 Corin. 12.11, 11.16, 1 Corin. 3.18-4.12).
To be sure, Paul was inconsistent on this: in one voice – the voice the priests told us about in church – Paul tried to assure us, to even “boast,” that he was not a fool at all (2 Corin. 12.6-16, “let no one think me foolish”). But in our books here? We are interested in presenting at last, the “second” voice in the Bible. The long, long series of “second” pronouncements … where even the very holy men and angels, after all, began to confess sins, even in themselves. Even in their most “inspired” moments and doctrines. Finally? We will show here that the Bible itself, our holy men themselves, at first, in small excerpts that preachers quote, appeared very confident about their own leadership; but on reflection, in a second voice, they were somewhat more self-critical. Critical even about their own leadership, and their most sacred doctrines. So that finally? Amazingly, finally … even our holiest men and angels told us, not to have too much “faith” in them, or their vision of God. Instead? They told us to adopt a more critical, questioning, Science of God.
Finally? Amazingly, the Bible itself 1) confessed that there have always been huge sins and errors, even in our holiest men and angels, priests and prophets and apostles, like Paul. And so therefore? In its more self-critical “second” voice, in its more “mature,” second appearance? Our holy men, 2) our prophets and apostle, finally told us themselves, that we should not have too much “faith” or confidence in them personally. Or in their sermons, ideas about God and Christ. Instead? Finally our holiest men told us that we should not entirely trust or have “faith” in them, or their vision of God: we should not entirely have faith in “Christ” as preachers present him to us. Instead? Finally our holiest men became a little more modest and humble. And told us not to trust or have too much “faith” in them, or the “Christ” as they presented him to us. But instead? We should always be aware that “all have sinned,” even our holiest men and their most allegedly perfect doctrines. So that? Our religion, Christianity, should finally not be based very strongly on “faith” at all; instead, it is supposed to be based more, on Science. On continually investigating all religious claims, with real empirical Science.
Earlier, we found many positive remarks in the Bible, on Science. While in our present chapter, we show that indeed, the Bible, more carefully read, did not really stress confidence in holy men and angels, as much as our preachers did. To be sure, 1) preachers have found and have continuously quoted to us, fragmentary “parts” of the Bible, that taken alone, seemed to support angels, anointings, apostles, baptisms, churches and preachers. But finally? Now the public and our preachers are “mature” enough, to learn to see and “face,” the “second” side, the second appearance of the text: to face the hundreds of places, where the Bible itself … criticized “all” our holiest men and angels.” And thus warned us in effect, not to have too much “faith” in them – or their idea of “Christ.” Not at all.
Indeed in fact? Those who do not simply trust and believe what their preachers say about the Bible in church, those who actually read it more fully, themselves? Will discover that the Bible overall, did not quite say what our preachers often claimed. Especially? Far from telling us to simply go to church and believe everything the preacher tells us, instead? Te Bible itself warned over and over, that none of our holy men, preachers, and churches – not even the angels and apostles themselves – were entirely trustworthy. Indeed in fact, in effect, because of their many sins and errors? Finally our preachers and churches presented to the whole world, a false idea of Christ. Or to put it more dramatically? As foretold, the whole world has long been deceived, even in its religion; by a False Christ (Rev. 13; 1 John 2-4).
Specifically? The common idea of Christ stressing “faith,” is incorrect. Finally – as we will show in our present chapter – God warned many times about sins in even “all” our holy men. Finally, the Bible warned us so many times, about sins in holy men and churches, that clearly, God did not want us to follow them, or their ideas about God or Christ, very “faith”fully; not at all.
What the Bible Really,
More Fully, Said
For centuries, our preachers have quoted to us parts of the Bible, that seemed to assure us that the way to be good, is to have “faith”; faith in the Lord. Faith in God, in effect, as he is presented to us by preachers in church. But were our holy men really all that reliable? Is the vision of “Christ” that they offered us all, really Christ, as he really was?
No doubt of course, we should have faith in God himself; but should we entirely trust – and have faith in – our churches and holy men? Are our holy men ever really entirely good enough, that we can be sure that the vision of Christ they have given us, is entirely correct? Historically, countless churches once claimed, with immense Pride, that they were perfect, or “holy” and “sacred.” And their claim was that therefore, they could not sin or err; they were even often “infallible.” Therefore; there was no need or room for change, or progress, in our churches, our Religion. Indeed, we should just have total “faith” in the churches and preachers. And/or in their “eternal” and perfect vision of God. And yet however? As we will have begun to being finding here, what our churches proudly told us, is not quite what even the Bible itself actually told us. Actually, the Bible itself warned over and over, that there have always been huge sins in our holiest men and angels; even in their most “inspired” and allegedly infallible moments.
While God told us to honor experience; what “comes to pass.” As evidence of the truth. (While indeed, not just our own experience and reading of the Bible, but even the current Catechism of the Catholic Church – c. 1997/2000 2nd edition – tells us that the Church will not be perfected, until after the Second Coming, it seems).
So how much “faith” or confidence, should we have had, in our priests and ministers, our churches and their various doctrines? Today, essentially the whole world believes that religion, Christianity, is supposed to be based on, especially, “faith.” But we are about to show here, “Faith” is not quite what the Bible itself really, finally called for. Actually, the Bible itself noted many limitations in, problems with “faith”; especially, “blind” faith. Particularly, the Bible notes problems our holy men and churches. And their vision of God. If then the Bible notes that it is rash therefore, to have much “faith” in them. Or their vision, their sermons about, God or Christ.
The fact is, we will show here that the Bible finally did not embrace “faith” nearly as strongly as our preachers have almost universally thought. In fact, the Bible warned about having too much “faith,” in several different ways. First of all, the Bible in effect warned about too much faith, in that it 1) warned about sins, false things, in nearly every aspect of religion. Even those who say – and even sincerely think – that they are Christians, following Christ, even the holiest preachers and priests, “have sinned,” the Bible said:
“All have sinned” (Rom. 3.23; cf. 1 John 1.8, James 3.1).
“No one is good but God” (q.v.).
Surprisingly, even the apostle Paul, author of half the New Testament, admitted that he himself was not yet “perfect,” and that he was the “worst” or “foremost” of sinners (Php. 3.12, 1 Tim. 1.15, RSV; Revised Standard Edition, of the Bible). But amazingly, Paul was not the only great biblical figure to begin confessing to sin and errors in holy men; even in himself. The fact is that there are literally dozens or 1) a hundred or more places in the Bible, where the Bible warns of sins and errors, even in our holiest men and angels. And, furthermore, against what many preachers claim, these are not just sins in their own personal behavior: as it turns out, our holiest men, made mistakes even in their allegedly most “inspired” doctrines, as it turns out. Indeed, 2) one special “day “or another, we are to discover that the whole “world,” (Rev. 13), including even those who thought they were Christians, who were following “Christ” crying “Lord, Lord,” are to be found to have been “deceived.” To have been following a wrong or false idea of Christ; a “false Christ.” And a false “worship” (Rev. 13, etc.).
The fact is therefore, the Bible itself did not really stress faith. Instead, the Bible constantly warned about great sins, in even our holiest men and angels and churches. So that first of clearly, implicitly, the Bible did not mean to stress total “faith” in religious leaders, or their vision, their verbal and written pictures of God; not at all.
The Bible first of all, implicitly did not stress faith; a critique of faith in religion, is definitely implied, when God and the Bible warned continuously, dozens, hundreds, thousands of times, about bad and “false” and “deceitful” things, etc., in our holiest saints and angels. In some parts of the Bible – overwhelmingly, parts written by Paul – the Bible seemed to urge us to have some faith perhaps. But finally, Paul warned that even he himself was not yet “perfect,” was at times a “fool,” and was even the “worst of sinners”; even as Paul was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament. While in any case, the Bible in literally hundreds of other parts, constantly, repeatedly, overwhelmingly warned us about huge and repeated sins, in essentially “all” our holiest men; even the highest saints and angels in Heaven itself. Even in their personal behavior, and their definition of “inspired” doctrines. Even after having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Peter for example, makes not only personal errors; but even it seems, by his oral words and behavior, defines one or two early critical Christian “doctrines,” wrongly. (Peter insisting to Jesus, that the Crucifixion was unnecessary; in Mat. 16. Peter or “Cephas,” also later being criticized by St. Paul, for “hypocritical”ly pretending to allow non-Jews into table fellowship and communion and Christianity, at times; but then refusing to allow them. As noted by Paul in Galatians (Gal. 2).
The fact is, we will show here that the Bible itself, never stress “faith” in our holy men, as much as preachers, holy men today have. Instead, 1) the Bible warned continuously, of huge sins and errors in nearly every single religious figure in the Bible; in them personally, but also in their most “inspired” doctrines. Indeed, 2) the Bible warned especially that one Apocalyptic “day,” we are supposed to discover longstanding, continuous sins and errors, even in the highest saints and angels, in Heaven itself. So that finally, for this sins, our Heaven itself is supposed to be destroyed. As the Bible itself noted:
“The heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6 RSV).
“Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!…. All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine… .My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgement” (Isa. 34.1-5 NIV).
Some preachers might try to claim, that the “Heaven” that is to be destroyed, is some other heaven, than our Christian Heaven itself. And yet? We will see that Peter and others made it clear enough, that the heaven that is to be demolished, is our own “present,” Christian heaven. Heaven itself, with all the Christians apostles and angels in it:
“‘Where is the promise of his coming?’… The heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement…. The heavens will pass away with a loud noise…. The heavens will be kindled and dissolved” (2 Peter 3.3,7-12).
“All the host of heaven shall rot away” (Isa. 34.4).
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you…. For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God…. ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 4.12-17-5.5-6; from Isa. 34.4, etc.).
“If God did not spare the angels when they sinned … (2 Peter 2.4).
Far from stressing “faith” in a) our religious leaders, and/or b) their sayings about God, instead, we will see here, the Bible warned continuously of huge sins and error sin our holiest men and angels and churches; in them personally, and in their most “inspired” doctrines and sayings from the “Lord.” So that finally in fact, because of these longstanding and grievous errors, even in the holiest men and angels in heaven itself, finally the Bible – God – finally said, God was going to … destroy our Heaven itself (Isa. 34; Rev. 21; 2 Peter 3.10-13). In order to show us a “new,” second, and better heaven. And to show us a “second” and better, “full”er “appearance” to Christ, and God. Christ stressing not Faith, but … Science. Or, a Science of God. A real empirical science; as described in our present books.
Could most of traditional Christianity, have been partially false? This is very hard to stomach; indeed as Paul noted, it is “solid food.” But in fact, far from stressing “faith” as much as St. Paul did, the Bible overall warned continuously against too much faith, in effect. As God warned over and over, of longstanding and continuous sins in our holiest men and angels; even the saints and angels in Heaven itself.
Therefore finally, the Bible told us not to trust saints and angels too much; or in other words, it told us implicitly, not to have too much “faith” in them. Or in their words about, their picture of, God. Instead, finally the Bible, we will see here, told us to always maintain a critical perspective on religion and holy men. Indeed in fact, 3) the Bible did not stress “faith” in yet another way; in that, in light of so many sins and errors in our holiest men, the Bible began commanding us to carefully, critically, scientifically question and examine, even our holiest men, and their holiest sayings. Because our holy men and angels so often failed us – indeed, Satan himself was once an angel, in Heaven (in Job 1 ff). – finally, God told us to develop a kind of critical perspective on our religion, our Christianity; to develop in fact a real, objective, critical “science” of religion (Dan. 1.5-15 KJE). A science of God. To continuously, carefully, scientifically evaluate and examine, even our holiest men and their holiest sayings. To see if ideas that the many sayings, prophesies attributed to God, are really true, or not. As determined by whether the good they promised, really “comes to pass” (Deut. 18.21-22) in real life, here on this material earth. Or not.
And if even some of the allegedly holiest sayings and promises and doctrines of all, do not come true in a real, timely, material, physical (not just spiritual) way, here on this physical earth? Then, far from continuing to follow those sayings religiously, faithfully, actually the Bible itself told us that we were supposed, all along, to simply deduce that those allegedly very, very holy sayings were in effect, simply, “false.” Even if they are found in the Bible itself, it seems. And if this seems to shatter our traditional Heaven itself? Then that is justified, as fulfillment of prophesy: one “day” after all, God is supposed to reveal sins and errors, even in our highest holy men and angels in heaven itself. And in that shattering, Apocalyptic moment, our Heaven itself is … supposed to be shattered. In order for us to see another, second, better Heaven, coming to earth. While we suggest, that the new, fuller Science of God, offers a first glimpse of the foretold, new and better Heaven.
This is a seemingly “new,” shattering, Apocalyptic finding, to be sure. But we will show here, the Bible’s warnings about our holiest men and angels, its advocacy of a critical Science of God, even over and above “faith,” is not really a forbidden, “strange new doctrine” at all. In fact we will show, this (coded?) message, will here be found in the Bible itself; right from the very earliest days of Judaism, of Christianity, and of Islam. In our books here, we will be proving that the Bible itself, at first, seems to present a conventional traditional Christian view: that emphasizes “faith” in holy men, and/or their vision, their idea of “Christ” and God. And yet finally? On “second” glance, the Bible itself … offered a “second,” final vision or “appearance” to Christ and God. Over and over, the Bible began to note sins in holy men and their idea of Christ; so that the Bible itself, finally, on “second” glance, began to back away from the “first” childhood vision of Christ, stressing “faith” in “miracles” and “spirituality.” Finally it presented a second appearance to Christ … freely confessing sins even in holy men; rejecting “blind” or strong “faith” in them and their vision; and stressing instead, a “second” appearance” to Christ: emphasizing Christ stressing a critical science of God, over faith. A second appearance to Christ which – as other scholars have hinted – amounts to, it seems, the foretold “Second Coming” of God.
In order to really see, at least an adequate preview of the foretold fuller, final second coming of Christ, all we need to do is … re-read our Bibles, a little more closely. All we need to do is to begin to at last, “face” the hundreds, thousands of times the Bible itself warned about sins in holy men and angels; in them personally, but also in their most inspired doctrines. In order to begin to see at least the outline, of the Second Coming, all we really need to do is … re-read our Bibles a “second” time. To see that its emphasis was finally, not so much on “Faith” in traditional priestly authority, as we were told at first, in church. But instead? The real emphasis, even in the Bible itself, was finally on a real, empirical Science of God.
Earlier, as our first chapter, we began to 1) note the many times the Bible directly described and supported scientific method, and experiments. But next? 2) Many preachers will continue to insist that they themselves, and their churches, are all but “perfect” and holy, or at least finally authoritative; more authoritative than Science, or the Science of God. And so we will need to note that what preachers claim is after all, not even what the Bible itself really, finally said. In our present chapter, we will show that the Bible itself, God himself, did not stress priestly authority as much as priests have. Indeed, we need everyone to at last finally “see” and take to heart, the many dozens, hundreds, thousands of times the Bible itself warned about huge sins, in nearly every single aspect of religion. Including almost every single aspect of Christianity. Indeed, the Bible warned continuously, about longstanding, continuous sins and pitfalls, in every single major and minor aspect of traditional Christianity. From A to Z: from “angels” and “apostles,” to “worship” and “zeal.”
There are hundreds, thousands of quotes from God, warning about holy men and preachers. But of course? These many warnings about preachers and holy men, from God himself, have been continually “denied”/suppressed, or semantically “twist”ed, by preachers themselves, after all. Clearly preachers and churches do not want to such quotations to be well known. Since if this side of the Bible, this appearance to Christ become known, that undercuts their own authority and prestige; their own very proud, high and lofty status in the community; their high standing before reverent congregations.
And yet however? Perhaps today, after having seen many scandals in their midst, even our churches and preachers, are “mature” enough to at last “face” and freely “confess” the “sins of the Church,” as they were called (in Card. Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI’s c. 1998 “Memory and Reconciliation”?). Perhaps even preachers, are now willing to put aside their pride, their proud contention that their own presentation of Christ is “perfect.” So that even preachers and church, are able to at last, adopt a more systematically self-critical, questioning method of discovering God. As we see the “new nature” of God (Eph. 4.24; Rom. 2.14;1 Corin. 11.14; Col. 3.9;1 John 3.9). Stressing not “faith” in holy men, and their physical “miracles” or even “spirituality”; but stressing instead, the Science of God. A science that will not simply accept the sayings of holy men with blind faith; but that will always seen to confirm, or dis-confirm what they have claimed that God said. By eventually, real scientific experimentation.
Though for now, for the sake of those who believe their Bibles? We begin … simply by examining the Bible itself. And seeing it a second way – at last.
Backgrou
God Calls for A Critical Science of God:
First, Implicitly -
When He Notes …
Sins in “All” Angels And Preachers,
Sins in Heaven Itself
As we will be seeing in our present chapter, God warned over and over about sins in all our holiest men; therefore, clearly, God did not really want us to have much “faith” in holy men themselves. In response to this to be sure, preachers will try to answer, as they frequently do: that, as they constantly say, “God can use an imperfect, sinful person,” like priest, to convey truth. But the quick answer to this will be: that 1) God may use imperfect people, imperfect priests … but Satan uses them as well, too. So that clearly this does not let imperfect priests off the hook; or tell us to follow them blindly.
Priests are full of countless excuses, apologetics though. Priests will claim next for example, that 2) priests and holy men themselves, might make sins or errors in their personal, day-to-day behavior; but a) when they speak or quote the words of God, from the Bible, in sermons, or b) when they present God in various elements of the liturgy, like the Eucharist say, they are temporarily protected from sin or error, and present God perfectly. But here we will show that even in their most allegedly protected, “inspired” moments, they still can quote God wrongly; presenting only misrepresentative fragments or “parts” of him.
Preachers typically want to retain their own authority and prestige, their high status in the community of men; they love to stand in front of congregations and preach and pray publicly, to gather standing in the community. And to help them in their reach for prominence, to be “first” in the community and first with God, preachers have often read to us all, in church, the “part”s of the Bible that seemed, taken by themselves, to stress the authority of preachers and holy men. But here we will now show, that all our preachers actually read misrepresentative parts of the Bible to us (see Paul, on “parts”).
The fact is that there are to be sure, dozens of fragments of writing in the Bible, that seem at first, to support our preachers and their status in the community. But today we are about to show that those seemingly positive parts were taken out of context. And that in the Bible overall, in hundreds of other parts of the Bible, God himself ultimately stressed that there have always been great sins, even in our holiest men and angels in heaven itself. Sins even in essential “all” Christians; sins in Christian leaders especially; and sins in essentially all their allegedly holiest doctrines and dogmas.
Today, we are used to thinking of our preachers and holy men, as absolutely reliable and good. But while parts of the Bible tell us to follow “authorities” and so forth, other parts of the Bible warned that there have always been huge sins and errors, even in our holiest men and angels.
Though this is a section on the God of the Old Testament, we might begin for once, with a quote from the New Testament. Even from the apostle and saint, Paul:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23; 1 John 1.10)
Even the apostle Paul, who often stressed “faith” in holy men, and stressed obeying “authority,” warned that all have sinned. Indeed, Paul admitted that he himself, an apostle, as not “perfect”; was often a “fool,” and did “evil”; as you can seen in a concordance or index to the Bible. Here note some of Paul’s confessions of weakness, even in he himself, the author of more than half the New Testament. And in “our” knowledge and prophesy; in effect, it the knowledge and prophesy even of Christians; even of our holiest apostles, and the human authors of the New Testament. Which are imperfect, until the End it seems. So that total “faith” to our holy men, is not the only, or even the most important, virtue or good quality:
“Not that I am … already perfect; but I press on” (Php. 3.12).
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature…. The evil I do not want is what I do” (Rom. 7.18,19; not hypothetically?).
“For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” ( 1 Corin. 13.8-13 RSV).
“Be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature” (1 Corin. 14.20).
“In this self-confident boasting, I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool” (2 Corin. 11.16-17).
Paul at times tried to both say and not say he was a food; and to make a virtue out of being a “fool” for Christ (1 Corin. 1.27; 2 Corin. 11.16, vs. Rom. 1.22). But finally there are some kinds of foolishness even in religion, that even Paul suggests are not good; perhaps even Paul’s foolishness at times, as well (Gal. 3.10; Eph. 5.17; see also maturing in Tit. 3.3; Peter in 1 Peter 2.15; 1 Corin. 1.25. Especially James 2.20). While of course, the Old Testament suggests constantly, that being any kind of “fool” is not good. (See the word “fool” in a biblical index, or concordance). Finally, we will accept Paul’s confessions as binding and holy, as he himself and “our” early Christian “knowledge” and “prophesy” “is” not “perfect,” even as Paul and others are writing the New Testament. As confirmed no doubt by the apostle James, admitting of himself and early apostles, that “we” all make many mistakes, including those who “boast” like Paul (James 2.20-3.15-3.13).
Even the sometimes proud and boasting Paul at times admitted that there were sins even in our holiest men; even himself. While of course the Old Testament – the subject of this section of our book – was even more adamant. As God warned about one major sin or error after another, not just in ordinary people, but in priests and prophets especially. Including the priests and prophets and angels “of Israel,” and later, of Christianity:
“Both priests and the prophets are ungodly” (Jer. 26.7).
“The prophet also shall stumble with you by night…. The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad” ( Hos. 4.5, 9.7).
“For with you is my contention, O priest. You shall stumble by day, the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hos. 3.4-6 RSV).
“Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel!…. For the judgement pertains to you; for you have been a snare…. Israel is defiled” (Hos. 5.1, 3).
“Prophesy against the prophets of Israel” (Ezk. 34.2).
“Prophets … prophesy lies in my name” (says God; in Jer. 23. 14.14, 23.25).
“Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel” (Ezk. 34.2; Zech. 13).
Preachers typically try to tell us that these and other warnings about holy men, refer only to occasional errors in some other priests, in the past; in the priests of “Baal”; errors in everybody else other than they, themselves, in the Judeo-Christian tradition. But we will find that errors persist in “all,” even in the heritage of Israel; and right through, to the End of Time. Indeed, in the End, in the Second Coming, God comes to chastise not even so much ordinary people, as in particular, holy men, priests. Like the priestly tribe of “Levi,” below. But also even “angels.” And even the “household of God.” For longstanding sins, that are to persist, right to the End Time:
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” (Jer. 5.30-31 NIV).
“I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit. And if any one again appears as a prophet, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD’; and his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; he will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the soil; for the land has been my possession since my youth’… Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 13.2-8 SSV).
“Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites [the priestly tribe] and refine them like gold and silver…. I the LORD do not change” (Mal. 3.3, 6).
“Every prophet will be ashamed of his vision” (Zech. 13.4).
“God did not spare even the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4).
“He leads priests away stripped” (Job 12.19).
“To the angel of the [Christian] church … I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God” (Rev. 3.1-2). (See 1 John typifying this as the end)?
Many priests, holy men, try to tell us that any bad or “false” holy men that God warned about, were in past, ancient religions; or in religions other than Christianity itself. But it Is clear that God warned there would be many false holy men, even among our holiest men and angels, as we will see here.
While eventually the New Testament warns there are sins even in Christians especially (as in Rev. 3.2 above). Shockingly, the New Testament even warns of great sins in our holiest apostles. And even to the saints or “angels” of the early Christian churches:
“There will be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2.1).
“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the thing of God, but the things of men.’” (Mat. 16.23 NIV).
“If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed…. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God” (1 Peter 4.16-17 NIV).
“Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Mat. 15.9; Mark 7.7; Eph. 4.14; Heb. 6.1).
“To the angel of the [Christian] church … I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God” (Rev. 3.1-2).
Many preachers have taught, sermonized, that the hundreds of warnings about false things in churches, priests, prophets, etc., apply only to priests, prophets, churches, of earlier religions, other than Christianity. Or to our Judeo-Christian religion, but strictly in the past. However, we will show here that God says he will find huge sins even especially, in the very End Time; in those who cry “Lord, Lord,’ and in who, as late as today and the End of Time, thought they were following the “Christ”; many such people are to be found to be hypocritical, or to be following a false idea of Christ; a “false Christ.” While furthermore, no one knows for sure which persons, “elect” or otherwise, are in God’s good “books,” and are not found to have been bad in some respect. Indeed, “all have sinned.” And those who think that they were good in the past, and will only fail just before the End? Will find here, that there have been in fact, longstanding, continuous sins and errors, in “all” priests of all eras.
Many priests admit that they themselves, and the apostles, have minor imperfections of personal character; but they assert that though the apostles were flawed human beings just like us, still, God can make use of flawed human beings. And specifically, preachers employ the doctrine of “inspiration.” To suggest that even if even the apostles themselves often did bad things, still, the Holy Spirit was standing next to them, to “inspire” them at critical times. So that when the apostles did important religious tasks – like writing our New Testament say – these normally flawed human beings were for that moment at least, protected from error; by the supernatural protection of “inspiration” from the Holy Spirit. Or the Roman Catholic Church at times suggests that its priests or bishops, Popes, are at times protected from error, and are “infallible” when speaking officially, “from the throne” or “Ex Cathedra.” And yet however, we will have been finding here and elsewhere that the doctrine of “inspiration” is not true.
The fact is, a) though God said that he would send the Holy Spirit or a Counselor to protect us, God in fact sends many things, like Jesus himself, to protect us. Yet at times, those protections fail, and we fall; because we do not listen to their advice, say. While indeed, b) Paul noted that the people of Moses had the “spirit” of God himself, of Christ in them … and yet they still did bad things in the wilderness. And furthermore, c) ) the Bible often warned about “false spirits” among countless other “false” and “deceit”ful things in the heart of religion and Christianity. False things in religion that come to us disguised as holy things. So that indeed, what holy men often thought were holy spirits, could often be false spirits, posing as the Holy Spirit.
Even worse for the doctrine of “inspiration,” the Bible often warned that even those figures who received the genuine, real Holy Spirit, could lose it; or err in spite of its protection. For example,
Paul noted that when Moses and his people wandered in the wilderness for forty years, the spirit of God, Jesus himself was with them; and yet nevertheless, even those accompanied by God, Jesus, the Spirit of God himself … still sinned and erred; and partially perished in the wilderness from their sins in fact:
“All ate the same supernatural [spiritual] food and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things are warnings for us” (1 Corin. 10.5-6 RSV).
In better examples? In his first resurrection, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into his apostles; thus giving them the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
“Then the disciples were glad…. Jesus … breathed on them, and said to them ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20.22-3).
Yet, even though a) Jesus himself had, live and in person, directed the Apostles, and even though b) he specifically “inspired” them – breathed the authentic Holy Spirit into them – still, c) the disciples, the Bible itself says, often made very serious mistakes even after this inspiration. Mistakes not just in their personal behavior, as priests often claim; but serious mistakes, we will see, even in their outline of the most sacred “inspired” “doctrines,” dogmas, and holy sayings. For example, the Apostle St. Paul, noted “hypocrisy” in “Cephas,” or the Apostle Peter himself. Paul noting in effect that Peter, the first Pope, made a major error, in mis-defining, through his practice, a major Church doctrine. Peter failing to see that Gentiles, those not born Jews, could share the Christian table and communion. Here’s the incident, and Peter’s role, outlined:
“’You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1.42).
“But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity” (/ “hypocrisy”; Gal. 1.11-13).
Not only did Peter himself fail in his personal behavior; he also failed in defining, by his actual words and practice (things merely said by the Apostles, but not written, being important in Catholicism), a critical doctrine. But he also failed to save, correctly lead, probably, his own flock. So that St. John in Revelation feels compelled to correct the church say, at Antioch.
So, even well after having received “inspiration,” the Holy Spirit, even major disciples – even Peter, the first Pope – could made very serious mistakes; not just in their personal behavior, but even in their doctrines, as defined by their practice. Here, Peter himself, neglects, refused to admit non-Jews into Christianity, into table communion. Even after receiving the Holy Spirit, in the three-day resurrection of Jesus, still, even the most major apostles could make critical errors not just in their personal behavior, as many priests claim; but even major errors in major doctrines and practices, too.
For these and other reasons therefore, the doctrine of “inspiration,” does not protect even the most major Christians, popes, from very serious errors; even when they were defining, by their practice, major doctrines. As one might guess … seeing all those dozens, hundreds of warnings in the Bible, about somehow, still, in spite of “inspiration” – and in spite of any other alleged saving grace or special saving quality (q.v. footnotes) – there were constantly “false” things in every aspect of religion; “false prophets,” bad “priests,” false “spirits,” bad “gospels,” false “disciples,” and so forth. False things even among Christians, crying “Lord, Lord,” and following a “Christ.”
The fact is therefore, that the Bible itself warned constantly about bad and false things, that would persist, even among the highest and most important Christians, and Popes, and in their holiest, inspired doctrines; persist until the end of time, and the Second Coming. (For a longer list of the dozens of false things God warns about in religion, including Christianity, and how they can triumph, in spite of any alleged special saving quality, see our Footnotes. For even more material, see our book on False Priests. These two sources list hundreds of warnings from God about false, bad things in holy men and angels; even those in heaven itself.)
A VOCABULARY OF FALSE THINGS IN RELIGION:
A Few Dozen Biblical Warnings About
False and Bad Things, in
Many More Aspects of Religion,
Including Christianity
What we are showing here, will be an Apocalyptic shock to many readers; readers who were raised in their faith, by preachers – priests and ministers – who told them that the Bible assured us that our holy men and their doctrines, were fully reliable; sacred and holy, or even perfect. And our preachers quoted parts of the Bible, that seemed to tell us that indeed, St. Peter and his Church for example, were a “rock” of solidity, that will “never fail”; that would prevail against the “gates of Hell” itself. But here and now, we are about to show that our Christian priests and ministers, did not quite read the Bible to us with complete accuracy. There was a major, self-critical theme in the Bible, in religion, that priests and ministers, always denied.
In church, it turns out, holy men have always read to us, just misleading parts of the Bible; especially, when we doubted our holy men, they read to us parts of the Bible, that seemed to tell us that our preachers and holy men, are absolutely reliable and good. But here and now, we are about to show that our preachers left out, or “twisted” or “whitewashed,” dozens or a hundred key elements in the Bible. Elements that warned, specifically, that there would always be bad and “false” things, in all holy things; bad things even in the heart of Christianity.
Here, just to start, is a good bibliography, on how the Bible warned of continuous sins in every aspect of our Judeo-Christian religion, in “all” our holiest men, churches, and doctrines; even from the days of Adam, and then Jesus himself. This list, complements the 10 or so aspects of the Bible already noted, that criticize faith, and support science. And so this list is added to that earlier list.
God’s Science, Point #13
“All” have sinned. First, for scriptural references to false and bad things in “all” of religion, even in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, note that the Bible itself hints there are sins, errors, in effectively “all” holy men in religion. When it says “All have sinned” (Rom. 3.23); when it confirms that “if we say we have no sins, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1.8); “if we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar” (1 John 1.10).
Indeed, as we will see here, even “all” our religions – including Christianity – are full of bad, “false” things; “false prophets” (Jer. 23.23 ff, etc.).
God’s Science, Point #14
There were sins and errors, even in the very angels and saints in our “present” Christian heaven itself are bad (Job 4.18; 13.4; 15.15; Rev. 12.7, etc.). “All” have sinned. So that one Apocalyptic “day,” even “all” in heaven are to fall:
“All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgement…” (Isa. 34.4-5).
“The heavens … that now exist have been stored up for fire…” (said Peter, in 2 Peter 7.7).
When we thus begin to notice biblical references to false things in our holiest men, churches and preachers like to assert that the Bible means sins in everybody ELSE; everyone except our own preacher or church, today. But actually, the Bible says there are sins in “all.” And it becomes clear that means sins even in “all” the saints and angels in Heaven itself.
God’s Science, Point #15
Indeed, after God warned of sins in generally, “all” people, even all in heaven, note specific warnings from God about, say, bad things in angels. Whose name means messengers from heaven. But even our angels, our messengers from heaven, sinned: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Rev. 12.7-8 Revised Standard Version); “Even his angels he charges with error” (Job 4.18); “all the host of heaven will rot away” (Isa. 34.4). And “God did not spare the angels when they sinned” (2 Peter 2.4); “To what angel has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand’?” (Heb. 2.5). “It was not to angels that God subjected the world” (Heb. 2.5). Satan in fact was an angel; and to this day, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corin. 11.14). The Bible therefore advocating “Neither death, nor life, nor angels” (Rom. 8.38). When someone bows down to an angel, this happens: “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades…. Worship God!” (Rev. 19.10 NRSV). This is indeed the great sin in churchgoers: they are following, worshipping the words of priests, who are angels, “messengers” from God … but they forget that most messengers, angels, are unreliable: worship God himself, as he exists apart from all merely human or even angelic messengers, and what they said of him.
And if these messengers allegedly from God, are the foundation of the Church? Note that even the angels of the Churches were often bad: “To the angel of the church … I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God” (Rev. 3.2, also 2.4, 2.13-14-16, 2.18-20; 3.14-19).
God’s Science, Point #16
Among other things, God often warned about false “apostles,” plural; more than a) Judas (John 21.20-24). Shockingly, shatteringly, God warned about bad things in the Twelve Apostles by name. For example: b) St. Peter, the first Pope, the “rock” of the Church, once told Jesus that Jesus was wrong in something, “rebuking” Jesus (Mat. 16.22). And c) then, therefore, Jesus revoked his endorsement of Peter; Jesus calling St. Peter “Satan,” in Mat. 16.23: “He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance [“stumbling block”] to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.’”
In fact, d) the Apostle St. James admitted, of himself and other apostles no doubt: “we all make many mistakes” (James 2.2). Then e) St. Paul admitted he himself, at the time when he wrote his part of the Bible, was “not … perfect” (Php. 3.12). While, regarding “James the son of Zebedee, and f) John his brother” (Mat. 10.2), “the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him and asked … ‘Command that these who dons of mine may sit, one at your right hands and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking … to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant.’” (Mat. 20.20). Confirming Jesus – who called Peter “Satan,” and noted he would “deny” him many times - Paul too noted problems with St. Peter or “‘Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1.42): “When Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he … acted insincerely” (Gal. 2.11, 13).
At times, preachers will try to say that churches and others “test”ed apostles, and found out that SOME were false; so the churches left those, and books attributed to them, out of our Bibles: indeed, Revelations congratulated those who “tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false” (Rev. 2.2). But here we show that probably ALL of even the original twelve disciples were bad; all the disciples for example, fled and abandoned Jesus, when the Romans came to arrest him (Mark 14.50).
God’s Science, Point #17
Indeed therefore, there are many false boasts and claims in religion, in Christian churches, and there is a huge boast in their claims to perfection (Isa. 15.6). But these are boasts after all; they are Vanity and Pride; simple “boasting” only.
God’s Science, Point #18
Is even Christ entirely reliable here? No doubt, following Christ himself, will help us. But the absolutely crucial problem for all Christians, is this: which idea of Christ is the right one?
This indeed is the worst problem in Christianity, of all the many nearly-fatal problems there: the Bible warned that many false christs, false ideas of Christ, would are, and mislead everyone. “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13.22). “If some one comes and preachers another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough” (2 Corin. 11.4).
Even a “Christ” can be bad: see warnings about false or “anti” Christs too (1 John 2.18-4.3). “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13.22). “If some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough” (2 Corin. 11.4).
There are warnings about false christs – and even surprisingly, warnings even of Jesus himself: Gal. 3.13; “Christ redeemed us from the cure of the law, having become a curse for us – or it is written, ‘Cursed be every one who hands on a tree.” At times Jesus even may have warned about, doubted, himself: in Mat. 19.17: “Why callest me good” KJE. But especially, Jesus almost never said he was the Christ, but only asked others “who do you say I am.” While on the cross, Jesus assumed that God had abandoned Jesus; suggesting Jesus himself was not the promised Christ, to some.
In any case, no one today can be absolutely sure he or she is following the right idea of Christ. The Bible itself warned that a “false” Christ was already in the mix, from the very, very earliest days of Christianity: many false or “anti-Christ”s has already come, even in the time of Christ or John: “many antichrists have come…. They went out from us” (1 John 2.18,19). (John thought these followers of a false idea of Christ, were “not of us”; and my churches say that they therefore, escape this apostasy, and followed “us,” the real message from John and others. But actually, it is presently impossible to know which are the true followers of John. While in any case, Jesus himself would not promise any particular status, even to John himself. Regarding “James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother” – Mat. 10.2 – “the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him and asked … ‘Command that these who dons of mine may sit, one at your right hands and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking …. to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant.’” Mat. 20.20).
God’s Science, Point #19
Given all this, probably even most Christians today, are probably false. If nearly all our holiest men were false, and Christians are following them loyally, then after all, they will have merely faithfully, loyally followed, false leaders; into a pit of error.
Following “Christ,” as given to you in church, and sincerely and piously trying to be such a “Christian,” does not save you. Because perhaps a) even MOST of those who think they are following “Christ,” can be following a false idea of him; a False Christ. Or then too, even if you have found the right idea of Christ, still, b) you might fail to follow him out of human weakness (the spirit failing, as noted below). Many c) specifically, who cry and acknowledge the “name” of Christ, “Lord, Lord,” are hypocrites, or are deceived persons. Indeed, Revelations warned that essentially the whole world would be found to have been mislead, even in its best idea of who or what the best religious leader was (Rev. 13.8).
God’s Science, Point #20
Churches. There are false things in every aspect of religions, even “Christianity”; so that even the “Christ” that apostles and others unreliably forwarded to us, will inevitably be partially misleading. Can our churches therefore, that follow often false leaders and so forth, save us? Keep this a) simple deduction in mind first of all: if essentially all the angels and disciples that churches follow, were themselves bad and unreliable – “all have sinned” – then all churches of course – who followed these bad leaders, so religiously – are bad, too.
The churches fail, in first because they follow bad precedents, bad saints, bad angels; bad leaders. While b) even our new leaders are worse; as we know from our era, when priests were discovered sexually molesting little boys; when nearly every single bishop had at least one such case in his diocese, but covered it up, “whitewash”ing it; bishops lying to us, telling us our Church was absolutely holy and sacred and good, lying, “whitewash”ing the sins of the Church.
And the Bible itself in effect told us that c) the very first, “foundational” Christian churches, overseen even by the likes of John and Paul, the original apostles, often sinned and erred, even in major doctrinal issues. In the beginning of the Book of Revelation, John himself reviews seven major early Christian churches, in Asia Minor/Turkey. At least one (Ephesus) probably founded/ministered to, by St. Paul himself. Yet John found sins and errors, in nearly every one of these; in the very first Christian churches; the foundation of all later churches. The early Christian/Catholic/Orthodox church at Ephesus, for example, was commended by God in some ways. But ultimately it, and its leaders, its very (priestly?) angels, was opposed by God, in part. As John and God, noted sins in this and other original Christian churches:
“To the angel of the Church at Ephesus …. I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love that you had at first” (Rev. 2.4 RSV).
In Revelation, most other early Christian churches were also found to be sinning; to not be “perfect” (Rev. 3.2.):
“To the … church in Pergamum…. I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet your remain true to my name…. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you” (Rev. 2.12-14 NIV).
“To the angels of the church in Thyatira…. I have this against you…. I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Rev. 2.18-20).
“To the… church in Sardis… I have not found your works perfect” (Rev. 3.1-2 RSV; “not found your deeds complete,” NIV).
“To the … church in Laodicea…. I know your deeds…. I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3. 14-15-16).
The d) Catholic Church often claims to be good, because it is the direct “success” or of these early churches, and St. Peter. But as it traces its lineage to Peter, then it merely traces its lineage to a person that Jesus himself finally called “Satan.” While as it links itself to the first churches, then it links itself to churches that often sinned, even in major doctrinal matters (like the primacy of “love,” etc.). Note too in Revelation, regarding “angels,” God was also warning that even the very angels of the first Christian, Catholic or Orthodox churches, were not “perfect.”
Today, some preachers secretly abandon their claims to be perfect by – their term – “apostolic succession,” from the earliest churches and apostles. Some priests and churches secretly believe that even if the earliest churches were often bad, they themselves, or their church, have historically weeded out any false things so that even if the church was bad in the past, it is thought to be good now. But what we are seeing here, above and below, is that there have always been too many bad things, right from the start; even in the very first, foundational Christian churches, that were overseen even by the original apostles in person – while modern churches still must to some extent, claim to follow those old churches, and therefore replicate their errors. Even as they make new errors, on their own.
So finally, e) what is the best quote from God, n essentially all churches and “temples”? God simply says this: “do not trust in these deceptive words, ‘This is the temple of the LORD’” (Jer. 7.4). Do not believe it, when a church or temple tells you it is the definitive church of God. All have sinned; all fail.
As part of the Bible’s many criticisms of churches, there f) many biblical criticisms regarding perhaps specifically, the need for physical church buildings: the Bible often questioned the need for such physical facilities. And the doubt over the need for buildings, also questions the need for churches overall, too. So consider it closely when, in the Old Testament, aa) Solomon himself logically asked whether an infinite God himself, who fills all things, will really need to live in a house built with human hands (q.v.). Then bb) note later, as Jesus had to clean out the temple. And then cc) Jesus spoke of tearing a temple down. And rebuilding it not with another structure, but with his own body, in three days. Here we see a hint at the relative unimportance of physical facilities; the greater importance of our selves, our own bodies, as the temple, host, of the spirit of Jesus. This notion seems dd) confirmed by Paul. Who said “Do you now know that you are God’s temple” (1 Corin. 3.16). Paul suggesting that it was not the building, but the people and their own bodies, that are the “body” of Christ. Paul ee) also exemplified the biblical discussion against human-built churches, and creches, as Paul claimed that “God does not live in shrines made by men” (Acts 17.24). Paul here going one step further than Solomon: affirming not only that an infinite God cannot be adequately represented by a finite building or institution; but that the very idea is so wrong, that in effect, God does not live in any such institution at all: God does not live in shrines made by men.
Today of course g) the Catholic Church especially, anxiously presents dozens of alleged biblical defenses of churches. Catholic priests are particularly fond of quoting misrepresentative parts of Mat. 16; where the text has Jesus himself allegedly calling St. Peter his “rock,” and saying that Jesus gave the “keys” to Peter, to his church; a church that would never falter, and that would always prevail against the “gates of Hell.”
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ,’ the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [Hell] will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be found in heaven…. Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ” (Mat. 16.13-29 NIV).
Catholic priests continually quote the above part of the Bible, because it seems by itself, to suggest that Jesus fully approved of Peter, and the church he founded. But here is the problem: priests are not honest; they are deceitful; because they are not telling the whole, “full” story. They are not noting carefully, what happened next; right after the above. When Peter turned on Jesus, and told Jesus he was wrong. And Jesus called Peter “Satan”:
“From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer… Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him…. Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men’” (Mat. 16.21-23 NIV).
God warned that priests, churches, are not fully honest or good. And here we begin to see the key way, that they deceive themselves, and others: they only look at and speak of misleading fragments, parts of the Bible. Overwhelmingly, Catholic priests stress only the misleading part of the Bible; where Jesus seemed to have full confidence in Peter, and the Church. But priests are not honestly noting the next part of the story; where we found that the apostle Peter (that the Catholic “Church of St. Peter” follows), often failed and denied and even opposed Jesus. But beyond the church, in the “full”er story, as we read it here, we now find that right after Jesus placed the “keys” to this “church” in the hands of Peter, Peter began to disagree with Jesus on a major doctrinal matter (Peter denying the necessity of the crucifixion). So that, startlingly, shatteringly, Jesus finally, ultimately, turned on Peter – and Jesus firmly called Peter “Satan.”
Jesus called the founder of Christian churches, the apostle Peter – “Satan.” This would seem to effectively revoke, cancel, any apparent endorsement of Peter – and his church – that Jesus might have made earlier. Here, Jesus firmly “rebuke”s Peter, or tells Peter that Peter is wrong. Thus revoking his commission to him, and his church; in seemingly the strongest language possible: Jesus denouncing Peter, the founder of all Christian churches, as being “Satan” himself.
The Bible warned that our holiest religious leaders were dishonest and deceitful and bad. And here we have h) a present day example, of the major way religious leaders, churches, have been deceitful: they have always dishonestly, deceitfully misrepresented the Bible; by misquoting, misrepresenting it. By especially, quoting only misleading parts of it. In particular of course, our preachers and churches have willfully hidden, twisted, not stressed, the part of the Bible we finally feature here: the part where Jesus himself (so far as we can know him from the text), told us that the first pope, the author of two books of the Bible, the founder of all Christian churches, was often so bad and evil, that finally in effect, the founder of our church was “Satan” himself.
This of course, is a strong statement from Jesus. And our preachers, our priests and ministers and churches, have been especially eager, to make the hundreds of such statements in the Bible, disappear. By “twisting” or top-spinning their meaning, in devilishly sophistical, dishonest argument. Or by simply, never mentioning or stressing these “other” parts of the text. But this finally, begins to confirm what the Bible warned: our priests are dishonest and false. Just as the Bible warned.
And here and now, we begin to see particularly, what form priestly dishonesty commonly takes. Particularly, preachers like to quoting only the parts of the Bible that seem to support, proclaim, the authority and righteousness of preaches and the leaders they follow; while our preachers dishonestly leave out or sophistically “twist,” spin the many other parts of the Bible; that the parts that continually warn of huge sins and deceits in our holy men and preachers. In this case note, preachers have deceitfully, dishonestly stressed only a misleading part of Mat. 16; the part where seemed to call Peter and his church a “rock” for “my church.” But priests never adequately stress the other side of the text that we are now systematically noting in our present book: the critical, “second” but major part of, theme in, the Bible; the parts where the Bible warned of huge sins and deceits, by our religious leaders. In this case, our priests today fulfill this warning. As we indeed see them being dishonest, in the way they represent the Bible and God. Quoting the misleading part of the text, that seems to support preachers. While failing to adequately represent the other, next part of the story: the part where Peter, founder of the Church, the first Pope, turned on Jesus. Where the first Pope said that Jesus was wrong. But especially, priests conceal or “whitewash” the part of the Bible, where Jesus himself therefore, seeing huge sins and betrayals and deceits in his priests, tells us that they are not holy, but are “Satan” himself.
In the end, Jesus thus adamantly revoked his commission to, confidence in, Peter; and the church; and “his” followers and priests and ministers. Jesus noting that even his best followers, the first Christian brothers, often betrayed him. So that finally, Jesus firmly called their predecessor and founder, “Satan.”
Today, priests and ministers continue this tradition of deceit and betrayal, of the real message of Jesus; living up to the portrait Jesus drew of them, particularly we note here, by concealing, denying, the many times the Bible warned of sins in our holiest men and angels. Obviously i) churches are deceitfully suppressing this critical side of the text, in order to increase their own prestige. To flatter their own Pride and Vanity; the love they have of standing in front of congregations, praying publicly, standing in a prominent place in the community, and in the “world.” (See particularly, our sections on the Bible noting bad things in “priests.” The true successors of churches, priests, were Pharisees; Mat. 6.1-8).
Apologists for the churches, have dozens, hundreds of sophistical responses to all our objections; time and spare forbid answering them all. But consider one final common defense for churches: no doubt, as many sophists claim from the holy book, “Christ loved the church” (Eph. 5.25-29). But which if any of the many present Christian churches, denominations, is his church? Surely it cannot be any church based even remotely on the apostles, like say Peter; on the man Jesus himself once called “Satan.” (See Paul: “no church entered into partnership with me” Php. 4.15). Jesus might have given up his life in the ATTEMPT to “cleanse” the church and make the church “spotless” (Eph. 5.22-29); but there is no record that attempt was entirely successful.
In the end, again, there are no churches or temples (Rev. 21.22). Who needs them, when God is everywhere, and “fills all things” (q.v.)? And when the Bible itself records sins in the Christian churches, even after Jesus’ attempted purification of them.
And who needs dishonest priests, “twisting” the words of the Bible to try to tell us anything different? No doubt, they feel they can “refute” a few arguments here; but actually, if even a single argument or two here is true, that is enough to prove problems, a sin, in our holy men. Can they sophistically “answer” every one of the hundreds of charges against them, here?
God’s Science, Point #21
19) Our traditional and even contemporary religious leaders and institutions, our very holiest men and preachers, have often failed us, even deceived themselves and us. So what should we turn to? Some might say that we might place more confidence not in buildings, or even in ancient institutions in general, but the people? In the church “members” (see Paul)? Obviously, our priests and ministers are not reliable; not even according to Jesus himself (and/or according to the preachers’ own traditions). But what about say, the members of the churches; the congregations? Even here we might well ask: a) how reliable are even the congregations? How reliable could even they be … when the very things and people that congregations follow – the angels, the Twelve Apostles themselves, and the very earliest leaders, angels of the churches themselves – were themselves, unreliable? How good can you be, when you follow bad leaders?
While indeed, the Bible tells us that, b) apparently even “Christ”ian believers and congregations, are often “hypocrites.” There are many who claim or even sincerely try to acknowledge God, crying “Lord, Lord” (Mat. 6.5-15-21-23). But the Bible suggests that they often do not really follow Jesus; among other errors, they are often self-important hypocrites (Mat. 6.5-16 etc.). Perhaps they do not really believe in the Lord that much. Perhaps they are merely, like their predecessors the Pharisees, vainly, proudly posing as perfect. Perhaps they are merely being vain; imagining that they themselves are wholly good, looking for false things in others, criticizing others for the “speck” in other’s theological “eye” … while they ignore the “beam” or “log” in their own eye (Mat. 7.1-5).
Many things go wrong with ordinary lay believers, congregations too. The problem, the problem that is endemic throughout religious history, is that c) they follow their bad religious leaders, all-too religiously, all-too faithfully. In fact, given that there are manifestly so many false elements in religion, our allegedly holy things, in our holiest men and preachers, finally this means that the very picture or idea of Jesus that congregations have, from preachers, must inevitably be partially false. So what finally, is the disastrous outcome of all this? It means that even those persons, those congregations, who are very, very sincere in trying to follow Christ, will no doubt inevitably end up following a partially mistaken, false idea of Christ. Or d) in other words, crucially, our congregations, indeed the whole world, have been following a “false Christ.” As fatally, foretold (Rev. 13.3-8; 1 John 4.1-3; etc.).
As we will see therefore, there are problems with even the best congregations; because there are so many false things in religion, Christianity, trying to loyally follow Christ himself, faithfully, does not really work. Many are following a false idea of Christ. So that though they think they are good, many who think they are “first” in the eye of God, are found “last” in the End; and though Christians “judge” themselves to be good followers, they themselves will be judged in the End. Ultimately, only God himself knows who is following the right idea of Christ; who is therefore really good, and who is bad; only God judges in the Last Judgment.
Church congregations (Titus 1.12-13; Gal. 1.2-8; Revelations 1-3), make mistakes. Just as “we all make mistakes,” as the apostle James said. For more references, proofs of this, see also the Bible on false things “among us” in Peter, etc.; not the destruction of the “present” heaven of Christians like Peter; then see also 2 Peter 2.1, Jude 4, false things “among you.”
God’s Science, Point #22
20) Is there any escape from all these problems? Given all these problems with our holiest men and institutions too, could there still be somehow, some particular small group – an elect – that might escape these errors and deceptions? Are there some special believers, churchgoers, specially protected from such errors? By some other special “gift” or virtue or “grace” (q.v.)? Many churches and individuals assert this. But we find below, that no special qualities absolutely protect anyone whatsoever. For example, suppose one is one of the “elect”? “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13.22).
Priests often claim that they themselves, or their own specific congregations or church, or this or that special elect or elite, are protected from error. Particularly if they have this or that specific, alleged special good quality or gift. Indeed, countless churches and pastors, noting general warnings about seemingly every aspect of even Judeo-Christian religion, have tried to comb the entire vocabulary of the Bible; to try find some special quality or grace or gift, that is always good; and that would therefore reliably save us. But our own final review of even these special things – “anointing,” the “blood,” “sanctification,” whatever (see below) – shows that all such allegedly special qualities, as we will see, are only gimmicks or placebos. Some simple believers for example think that if they merely quote or cite Jesus, just say his “name,” they are protected from sin or error (after 1 John 4? Acts. 2.21). But actually, Jesus said many would call “Lord, Lord,” and yet still be bad people (Luke 7.21). Even those who invoke the name of Jesus, often fail to be good; first (Luke 6.46, 13.25) not just because they say the name, but don’t do the deeds. But also because most who thought they were properly invoking God, the Lord, were however actually thinking of, following, a “false Christ.” Or a false idea of God. So it doesn’t matter what they say with their “mouths”; when their hearts or minds are “false,” or even honestly “deceived.”
God’s Science, Point #23
21) As for counselors therefore? Jesus himself, noticed sins in almost all of his own original Twelve Apostles. But if even the apostles themselves often fail, and Jesus himself is no longer physical live and on earth, then who or what, can lead us reliably? Jesus at times, seemed to hint at a “counselor” that would come after him; perhaps the Holy Spirit (John 14.16). But we will find that though Jesus said there would be counselors and spirits to help us, he a) did not guarantee that they would always succeed. Indeed, we can receive the Holy Spirit, and still make mistakes after that (q.v.). And moreover, b) if the Holy Spirit is one good counselor, then note that Jesus and others often warned there would be many “false spirits”; no doubt, many false spirits, present themselves to us deceptively, as the Holy Spirit. Or c) or that matter, the Old Testament told us there are often bad “counselors or counselors (Sirach 37.8).
Parts of the Bible suggested especially, that God would send the “Holy Spirit” as an effective “Counselor” (John 14-16). But finally, see our later comments here, on spirits, the Holy Spirit; there are problems even with spirits too. Specifically, we may think we or someone is receiving the Holy Spirit – but they are really receiving a false spirit, posing as the Holy Spirit.
Therefore the Bible itself warned about counselors; there are often even false counselors: “they were his counselors, to his undoing” (2 Ch. 22.4). Therefore finally, at the least, do not trust in just one Counselor: “in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11.14). While remaining aware that even many counselors can fail you. Trust perhaps finally, the “counsel” of empirical evidence, and “testimony” based on it? (Ps. 119.24). Which is to say, we will show, trust … Scientists.
God’s Science, Point #24
22) The Bible warned of sins in one aspect or element of religion, Christianity, after another; from the apostles, to our holiest shepherds. So what in religion or religious leader, should we trust or have faith in? In much of religion, even in Christianity, we are confronted with a “syncretistic” mixture, of elements from many religions, from Magic and animism, even in our own Christian/Catholic religion too. And we are confronted with many enchanting, captivating but false stories, fantasies. But the Bible warned of problems from many such elements; it warned against being taken in, dominated, by pleasant but “deceitful” “enchantments,” “illusions,” “delusions,” the “lies” of magicians” and “sorcerers” and “false prophets.” The Bible warning too that many such false, hypnotizing, false stories, illusions, will have been issued in the name of God or Christ himself. As the sayings of the “Lord” (Isa. 47.1-12-16; Jeremiah; etc.).
God’s Science, Point #25
23) Is therefore, “faith” the answer, as our churches now constantly assert? Should we, must we just ignore all these “signs” of sins and error in our holiest things? Should we ignore all these signs of sin in our holiest men. And just willfully increase our blind allegiance, our faith; and follow with blind unquestioning loyalty, anyway?
Can we, should we really trust, or have faith in, our churches, our holy men? It is clear from what we are showing here, that God warned that nearly every single element of religion, of Christianity, can be and has been infected, and is often false and bad. And of course, at least some priests have noticed such warnings. So how do priests deal with these countless warnings about each and every aspect of the religion they advocate? Priests have dozens of apologetics arguments to try to deal with them; but we are in effect refuting them systematically here, one by one. But finally, now it is time to look at the main, core argument priests use, to try to tell us to follow them, in spite of all these problems with their institutions: they tell us that the Bible finally ordered us to ignore all these signs of sins and error; that the Bible orders us to simply, have “faith” in them anyway.
Here and now, we are finding countless statements in the Bible, warning of false things in priests and prophets. Enough to suggest that we should simply abandon religion, almost altogether. And of course, a few priests have noticed such statements; yet they have stayed in religion, and urge us to do so as well. But what argument can they use to justify this? Finally, they used the idea of “faith.” An idea which has become in fact, the pillar of conventional Christianity. It was especially Paul, who was responsible for possibly ¾ of all explicit mentions of the need for our “faith,” in the entire Bible. And Paul was extremely influential; his stress on faith was used to simply tell people who noticed signs of bad things in even Christianity, that God commanded us to ignore all “signs” of failure, falsity in our religion; because God commanded us to simply believe … or in other word, have “faith.”
But finally we will ask here: is the traditional call to faith entirely reliable? Especially when we are being commanded to have faith in things that were … warned about in the Bible itself, over and over? Here and now therefore, by happenstance, in coming to it alphabetically, we can begin here to consider problems, ultimately, with perhaps the main pillar of religion: problems with “faith” itself.
As our review has progressed to date, we have found here more and more warnings from God himself, of false things, not just in “bad” people; but also in ostensibly “good” ones too; in nearly every individual aspect of religion. The Bible itself constantly told us there were shortcomings, in every aspect of religion and Christianity; from “anointings,” to our good “will.” And finally, as we begin to see more and more of these warnings from God at last, increasingly, readers will be coming to this more major, logical question: a) if God himself warned us constantly that there are so many false and bad things in seemingly every aspect of even Christian religion, then finally, will “faith” in these things, or in the vision of God that champions these things, actually, really, reliably save us? Or in other words, is “faith” really good? Should we (as we did) have simply ignored all these signs of sin in our holiest institutions, and just continue to follow, anyway? Faithfully, blindly?
As more and more people have historically come to notice problems with different aspects of religion, (lack of miracles; countless instances of the Bible itself warning about such sins), finally our holy men, like Paul, began to advance the theory, the idea, that God wanted us to stress “faith”; to follow our holy men, even when there were countless signs they were false. But now it is time to look askance, even at this demand; which eventually became the core of historical Christianity. Should we indeed, simply ignore all these strong indications of sins within every single major aspect of religion, of Christianity? Certainly, it is time to weigh against the parts of the Bible, of Paul, that seemed to call for “faith,” the dozens, hundreds of other parts that in effect, told us not to have so much faith. The parts that warned constantly, that our holiest men and their holiest religious accouterments, were flawed and unreliable; so that we should not have too much “confidence” or “faith” in them, or the picture of God they outline.
To be sure, it will take many more arguments – at least this entire book full in fact, of hundreds of arguments – to convince strong “believers,” that finally, God did not want “faith” to be the center of our religion. But here we will advance one quick argument against “faith”; it should eventually become clear enough, that the Bible warned that nearly every aspect of traditional religion is flawed, then clearly, the Bible did not want us to have too much faith in such things. If every element of religion, from anointing to our shepherds, can be false, then clearly, God did not want us to have too much confidence or faith in them. That would be to have faith in “false prophets,” bad, false “shepherds.” That would merely lead us into falling into the foretold false “enchantments,” “illusions,” “delusions,” traps, “lies,” false “words,” and so forth.
This therefore, is the first major argument against the massively over-popular idea that religion should be faith-based: dozens, hundreds of parts of the Bible warned that our holiest things were often false, and therefore of course implied, we should not have too much faith in them. But, furthermore, this powerful argument, is not the only reason we should not have stressed “faith”: not only did the Bible constantly note sins in nearly every single possible intermediary and even ultimate object of our faith; but b) also finally the Bible itself began to specifically call attention to specifically “faith,” by name. And to specifically note errors, shortcomings, in it; in faith per se; errors inherent in “faith,” by name.
Finally indeed, the Bible itself began addressing problems within, explicitly and by name, “faith.” Finally God himself said that to find the truth, we were not supposed to “faith”fully follow anyone on earth, or follow any church or holy man, just on faith (James 2.14 ff; 1 Thess. 3.10; 2 Peter 1.5; Rom. 4.14; Rom. 14.1; 1 Corin. 13.3 ff; Gal. 3.12); indeed, we are to have no more faith than a “grain of mustard seed” (Luke 17.6). Finally, ultimately, we will find here (in our chapters on faith especially), God himself began to address the word “faith” by name – and to note that “faith” was not, itself, entirely reliable.
What negative things did God himself say about “faith”? In the main, God himself suggested that at the very least, that there were insufficiencies of various kinds, in Faith itself. That there were false varieties of faith. And more important things than faith. Like “love.” So that those who “walk by faith and not by sight,” are “far from the Lord”:
“Faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest … is love ” (1 Corin. 13.13).
“Your faith is in vain” (1 Corin. 15.14-17).
“We are away [“far”] from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corin. 5.7).
“The law does not rest on faith” (Gal. 2.12).
“Supply what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3.10).
“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2.17, 24, 26).
“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1).
To show that God himself noted problems, insufficiencies even in Faith itself, will be of course a tough case to prove. So that ultimately, this proof will take our longer chapter- and book-length discussions here and elsewhere, to prove this. But for now? We will have suggested two or three major first arguments, to the effect that God himself finally did not stress “faith” in our holiest men and angels, so much; or in their picture of God. First, a) we have noted the hundreds of times the Bible, God, warned of false, bad things in our holiest men; surely, logically, God could not have wanted us to have such faith in them, since that would mean following leaders who were false. Then next, b) we will advance the argument that the Bible itself – even Paul himself, who was overwhelmingly the most profligate, vociferous voice for “faith” in the Bible – began to hint at some insufficiencies in faith; telling us finally we might welcome the man who is “weak in faith” (And for many more reasons than we might expect him to learn faith from us.) Paul among other things, noting that even greater than “faith,” was the virtue of “love.”
While c) we will show too, that even Paul, the most frequent advocate of faith (200 or so mentions; vs. two or three dozen, in the entire rest of the Bible), confessed himself to be unreliable; to be at times a “fool,” a “sinner,” and less than “perfect.” Though finally, d) if Paul himself was ultimately reliable at all, not that Paul himself ultimately … began to advocate not blind faith, but a critical “science” of God; “test”ing “everything.”
Today, an all-too-common sermon insists that God commanded us not to “test” God scientifically. But we will show that any prohibition on “test”ing God really meant merely not to “test” – or better translated, “tempt” – his patience with immoralities, and the refusal of science. For a dozen or so parts of the Bible, allowing and even commanding scientific or religion, note our references, here (1 Thess. 5.21; see also “test”ing allowed, in Ecc. 7.23; Jer. 9.7; Lam. 3.40; Dan. 1.12; Mal. 3.10; Zech. 13; 1 Corin. 3.13; 1 Tim. 3.10; 1 John 4.1; Rev. 2.2);
The subject of the Bible’s alleged advocacy of “faith,” vs. its advocacy of Science, is of course, huge, and central to our outline and advocacy, of a Science of God. Indeed, it is too large to address adequately here; for sake of moving on, in our initial broader survey of problems in religion, we must move on right now to other subjects. But we will returning at length, with several whole chapters on this core issue; of the Bible’s apparent advocacy of “faith.” Versus its advocacy of “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE, etc.).
Faith is an extremely important issue, that we will address even more fully, later. For now though, let’s move on to briefly outline a few dozen other major elements, keywords in traditional Christianity – and the problems the Bible noted with them. But we might note this final quote: where God himself in Malachi, said firmly, this: “Put me to test, says the Lord your God” (Mal. 3.10 paraphrased).
Finally we will find that whatever Paul might have said, words attributed more directly to God himself, did not stress “faith” at all; rather God himself, stressed Science.
As we will see.
God’s Science, Point #26
26?) The Bible in fact told us about problems, sins, in every aspect of religion; including Christianity. Among dozens of other things the Bible itself warned about, of course, were “gods” (Isa. 41.23-4 etc.). Including not only a) non-Judeo-Christian gods; but the Bible also warned about b) false ideas of, false sayings from, our own Judeo-Christian “God,” or the “Lord,” proper.
If all the various agencies through which we thought we knew “God” – if even the angels; even the apostles; even their anointings, even the churches – are often false, then after all, how can we ever even be sure that the idea of “God” that we have, is correct? Since we know “God” only through unreliable intermediaries. It was apostles, churches, after all, that many say largely wrote the Bible that we honor here, and that relayed to us much of the information on God that we thought we knew and honored. But if these our holiest men and institutions themselves were often false – even “Satan”ically deceitful and untrue as Jesus seemed to have warned in Mat. 16.23 – then finally, how can we be absolutely sure, that even the picture of “God” or the “Lord” that we have taken from writings like the Bible, is true? How can we be sure we really know even God himself? That our mental picture of “God” or “Christ,” is correct? (Cf. remarks on “Christ” vs. the “False Christ” here and elsewhere).
Amazingly in fact, the Bible itself, insofar as we can trust even this document (which we do here), seemed determined to warn us of problematic aspects of every single element of religion, and Christianity; including even our conventional ideas of “God” or the “Lord.” Even if such warnings might lead us finally, to the awful suspicion that no words at all attributed to the Lord, even in the Bible itself, could be entirely trusted. (The Bible here becoming self-critical, self deconstructive; as suggested say by Richard Bauman, in “Peter,” in the Oxford Companion to the Bible,” page 587).
Indeed in fact, the Lord of the Bible, amazingly, self-deconstructively, warns that we cannot even trust words that we were told, the “Lord said”:
“Indeed, there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’” (1 Corin. 8.5 RSV).
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” (Jer. 5.10-11 RSV).
“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD” (Jer. 7.4).
“ How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us’? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes had made it into a lie” (Jer. 8.8).
“Can vows and sacrificial flesh avert your doom?” (Jer. 11.14).
“Do I not fill heaven and earth? Says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name…. How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who propesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heard…. If not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, ‘Says the LORD.’ … When I did not send them…. When one of this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you off, says the LORD’” (Jer. 23.24-33).
Here the Bible began to suggest that because there are so many false elements in religion, even Judeo-Christianity or Israel, we cannot even always trust the words attributed to, issued in the name of, God, or “the Lord.” (Some suggest that these criticisms in Jeremiah apply only to those who falsely followed “dreams,” and “Baal,” 23.25; 23.27. But these join warnings elsewhere, of even the “prophets of Israel”; or the main source of the Bible itself; and of essentially “all” those who claim to speak for God, or the ultimate Lord. Indeed we will find here, that we will be warned ultimately, about all “priests” and “prophets” altogether, including Jewish and Christians ones. And about all their proclamations about God and the Lord; about all things that it is claimed that “God” or “the Lord” said.
For more material related to his, readers could look up related warnings of especially, false “word”s, false “scripture”; words falsely attributed God, or the Lord. As it will turns out ultimately, since there are so many individual false elements, false persons in religion, even in the religion and prophets and angels of Israel and Judah, therefore of course, even perhaps Biblical statements about what “God” or “the Lord” said, would seem somewhat unreliable. Though we might say here that conventionally, for the purposes of discussion, we regard the RSV Bible especially, as being reliable, even we might say “infallible,” after two or three thousand years of ecclesiastical and scholarly review and editing. [Regarding a point of Logic here: our position here, regarding the authority of the Bible and its sayings attributed to God or the Lord, might tentatively be either that a) the unreliable prophets and holy men, were in fact, finally edited enough over the centuries, that the final document - say the modern KJE or RSV Bible, etc. - is accurate enough. At b) least it is accurate when it criticizes itself, other parts of itself. And c) particularly it is reliable when called for real science; for the science that after all, other evidence totally outside the Bible, experience outside of the Bible itself, independently verifies was extremely useful and true. The Bible, insofar as we can believe it, notes problems even in the Bible itself it seems. The “Lord” even notes problems with statements offered in his own name. Either d) all statements by God therefore either selfdeconstructively cancel out. Or, if we are to roughly or only tenatively allow some of them, the self-critical ones seem among the more reliable. So that finally, even the mental picture of an assertive or unequivocal “God” (and Christ, q.v.), that we get from our holy men, preachers, apostles, may not quite, really, be God. Indeed the vision of “God” given to us through any intermediary agency, like priests, ministers, and any human product, is always partially false. As we will show in part, here. In any case though, here and in perhaps all our books, mindful of the mindset of so many readers, we regard and present the Bible itself as the authentic and perfect word of God; as the Truth. Though we note that among its many truths, was a determined indeterminacy; a systematic self-questioning. “Who do you say I am?”. Or here in Jeremiah etc.: “I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who … say, ‘Says the Lord.’” Here the Bible, the Lord, seems very nearly authentically selfdeconstructive. And therefore the text seems to invite us to begin to apply an extra-biblical standard – ultimately Science – to the text. And to life in general.]
God’s Science, Point #27
27?) Finding so many warnings from God, about false things in nearly every aspect of religion, even Christianity, can lead many to despair; if so many elements of our religion can be false, even according to the Bible itself, then what if any element in religion can we trust, therefore? Or should we even trust or “have faith”? When the Bible warned of problems even with Faith itself? Here, despairing of traditional authority, and even of the mind, many women especially, think that at least finally, our desires, our “hearts,” can and should therefore lead us. But note that the Bible constantly warned about problems with “hearts”: which are often “deceived” and so forth (Gen. 6.5, 42.238; Ex. 7.13, 9.14; Numb 32.9; 2 Sam. 15.6; Job 15.35; Ps. 10.3, 12.2, 73.7; Prov. 6.14-18, 10.2; Mat. 15.19; Mark 7.21; Rom. 1.21; James 4.8).
No doubt, each of us to some extent, in everyday life, should rely somewhat on our own deep intuitions, and native and trained feelings; our “heart.” But the Bible warned dozens of times, that even our “hearts” can be dishonest, and deceptive, and deceived, and foolish, and so forth. So that we – especially too-sentimental women – should always cross-reference what our hearts tell us, against what science and reason and so forth tell us as well. As we will see here, when we begin to look at the parts of the Bible that began to strongly told us “come, let us Reason together,” and so forth.
God’s Science, Point #28
28) As it turns out, the Bible, God, began to warn about sins and errors in all our holiest men and their institutions and products; so that finally, even sayings attributed to “the Lord” or “God,” might have been to any number of different – and sometimes unreliable – gods; or human land-“lords” even. So what therefore, can we trust? Can even “Heaven” itself save us?
Unsurprisingly, since there are problems with seemingly every other aspect of religion – even with the angels and the apostles and the saints, who are we note, now in Heaven – finally, there are seemingly even bad things in heaven itself. Some parts of the Bible seemed to suggest that nothing imperfect gets into heaven. But on the other hand, other parts of the Bible showed that even some of the angels in heaven itself – like Satan, and his angels – were bad, even before they fell from Heaven:
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back” (Rev. 12.7 NIV; see also Isa. 34).
In Revelation, among other places, bad things, bad angels in Heaven itself, are clearly alluded to (citing mainly Jesus in Mark 13.31-2; then 2 Peter 3.7-14; Isaiah 24.21, 34.1-10 & 24.1-21, 51.6, 64.1-66.22; Rev. 6.12, 9.1, 8.12, 12.4, 21.1; Mat. 24; 1 Kings 8.27. For Muslims: Koran 11.108, 14.48.
As noted earlier? See also the literally hundreds of references in the Bible, and Quran, to a “day” or “fire” and “judgment”; the day when the Lord comes to earth, to judge and destroy evil; the Day of the Lord; Judgment Day; the End Time; the Apocalypse. Including Isa. 2.2; Mal. 3.2; Mat. 24.22; Mark 13.31; Acts 17.31; 2 Peter 3.8? (See also the “household of God”). In fact, evidently, there are bad things in heaven; even to the point that, shatteringly, we will show here that the Bible itself said that Heaven itself is to be destroyed
At first it seems impossible. But are we noted earlier, there are dozens of scriptural references finally, to the final destruction of heaven itself. And to the appearance of a “new heaven”:
“Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!… All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgement…. For the Lord has a day of vengeance” (Isa. 34.1, 4-5, 8 NIV; see also Jesus’ use of this, in Mark 13.31-2).
“They will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised?… But … by God’s word … the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement…. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar.… That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire…. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3. 4, 5,7,10, 11, 13 NIV).
“False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs to deceive the elect – if that were [/ “was” or “is”] possible…. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory…. You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13.22, 26, 33).
Very few if any people have really fully “face”d this crucial motif in the Bible: the Destruction of Heaven. It is perhaps one of the present author’s own more original contributions to scholarship, to note that this neglected Destruction of Heaven, is actually, referred to over and over, in the Bible itself. And that finally, it is perhaps the major, missing “key” to the deep meaning of the Bible, and of Christianity. Essentially, it is the culmination and consequence, of the dozens or a hundred or more warnings in the Bible, by God, of longstanding sins in even our holiest Christian men and angels. Ultimately, since our holy men died, and were presumed by many to have gone to Heaven or thereabouts, finally, to purge with “fire,” sins and dead “wood” from our religion, ultimately, logically, biblically, God has to, shatteringly … destroy heaven itself.
This is to be sure, perhaps the most shattering, hard to “face” Biblical revelation of all. And indeed, most priests to date, never face it. Yet we will show that the destruction of our classic Heaven itself, heaven an “all” in it, is a) found in the Bible itself, over and over. Is b) logically consistent with the hundreds of warnings of false things in our holiest men and angels. And c) this destruction is the very, key, difficult self-critical experience that every religious believer must go through. Before he or she is, as foretold, purged painfully (as if with “fire”) of the foretold key religious “illusions,” “delusions,” “enchantments,” of a “false Christ.” And his attendant bad angels and various evil monsters, evil magicians, and “sorcerers.” Who dominate the whole world, and religion and priests especially; who dominate its “worship” (Rev. 13).
It is extremely, extremely hard for many, to “face” the Destruction of Heaven. Indeed, by far most believers to date, never get out of classic, severe, psychological Denial of this part of the Bible; this part of God is one of the “parts” too terrible for billions to “face.” But to help people face this shattering, literally Apocalyptic moment at last, we will have begun to present this moment, in as gentle a way as possible. Noting especially the finally, more positive aspect of this extremely disillusioning and painful, “fiery” experience. Which destroys the childhood vision of Heaven and God that we learned as children or adults in church; but then after all, shows us something better: a “new heaven,” beyond even the first coming of Jesus himself. For more on this shattering but finally liberating moment, see our other writings on “The Destruction of Heaven” specifically. (Our other writings relying of course, mainly on quotes from the Bible itself. Citing mainly, say, 2 Peter 3.7-14; Isaiah 34.1-10 & 24.1-21; Rev. 6.12, 9.1, 8.12, 12.4, 21.1; Mat. 24. And then, more secondarily, Jesus in Mark 13.31-2. But this idea or motif is found in most religions; Muslims should read the Koran 11.108, 14.48. Most should also see the literally hundreds of references in the Bible, and Quran, to the “day” of “fire” and “judgment”; the day when the Lord comes to earth, to judge and destroy evil; the Day of the Lord; Judgment Day; the End Time; the Apocalypse. Including Isa. 2.2; Mal. 3.2; Mat. 24.22; Mark 13.31; Acts 17.31; 2 Peter 3.8; Rev. 21).
At first it seems impossible. And impossible for a good believer to face. But finally, because there are so many sins and errors even in the highest apostles, saints and angels in heaven itself – in them personally, but also in many of their most Holy-Spirit “inspired” sayings “from the Lord,” even their highest and holiest doctrines, dogmas – finally, the Bible itself said that, shatteringly, our traditional Heaven itself – the heaven full of the apostles that promised us miracles, wonders, faith, spirituality – is actually, supposed to be “dissolved,” destroyed. According to the Bible itself; according to God himself. The shattering and terrible “part” of God, that our priests themselves could not “bear” to “face; and that they did not read to you in church.
But we will show, it’s all real enough: one day, heaven itself is supposed to be destroyed. And as it turns out, for many of us, that “day” is beginning in part, today; this very moment. As we begin to uncover, unveil sins in our holiest men, here and now, this begins to fulfill this prophesy: 1) God begins to reveal to us that our holiest men and angels were partially deceived. And 2) as that happens, our childhood heaven itself, of total “faith” in “miracles” and/or “spiritual” things, begins to indeed, collapse around our ears.
But all according to the Bible itself. And all to begin to see after all, a better, new heaven; in as we will see, the Science of God.
While as for Heaven?
“Heaven will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6).
God’s Science, Point #29
29) Is it possible? Could so many, even all our priests and bishops, have been so wrong, so deceived? Our priests and bishops are very Proud; and do not want to face their own sins, but especially the countless “signs” of error in their own religion. And so for centuries, our churches asserted that though the Bible did warn of personal sins and errors in our holy men, the Bible also promised a “counselor,” a “Holy Spirit.” Who would infuse or “inspire,” and thereby protect our priests, at least temporarily, in key moments – from sin and error. But in fact, the Bible warned that the whole earth would be deceived, even in its “worship” (Rev. 13). While the fact that even our “worship” is to be wrong, suggests that even our priests – who lead worship – will be deceived too. So that somehow, it seems, even “inspiration,” even the Holy Spirit at times, does not fully protect from sin and error, even our holiest men and angels and priests.
But how is that possible? Priests will say, in their own defense, that surely an aspect of God himself, like the Holy Spirit, cannot fail. And we agree that nothing from God himself can fail. But our point here would be that in effect, a) the things priests think are from God, are not really from God at all; but are “false” spirits and so forth; deceitfully presenting themselves as being from God. Indeed, a) even the Holy Spirit can be faked, by a “false spirit,” no doubt. (For corroborating evidence, see our sections on false “spirits”; see also Satan as “light,” a spirit? 2 Corin. 11.14 etc.).
Even average preachers today know that we need to be careful, about what voices, ideas we declare to be from the Holy Spirit. (Cf. also the historical theological discourse, on “Charismatic” churches). Common sense tells us this: if you hear in your mind’s ear, a whisper that you should climb to the highest spire of your local church, and throw yourself down (to see if God will bear you up, and save you by miracle), should you just blindly trust and follow that voice? Should you be sure that it is from the Holy Spirit? How do you know whether the voice you hear in your ear, really is from God or the Holy Spirit; and is not instead merely, one of the often-foretold “false spirits,” presenting themselves falsely, as the Holy Ghost?
Therefore finally, we will show that the Bible ultimately told us that we should not ever entirely trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding us; but as John and others told us, finally we should adopt a kind of critical religious Science. To say, “test the spirit”(s); or better “test everything” (Paul, in 1 Thess. 5.21). Because there are many false things in religion, even offered in the name of “Christ,” finally the Bible commands us not to follow alleged holy men too “faith”fully; but instead, it tells us to begin to apply a series of scientific “test”s, to see if the things they claim, bring real, empirically observable, material good in this world.
So that indeed, when an idea presents itself, even as an idea from God, from the Holy Spirit Himself, still, rather than just “faith”fully, “blindl”y trusting and following it, instead we will show, ultimately the Bible tells us to apply a critical “science” to that voice; to see if it really is the Holy Spirit … or not. To see if it is merely one of the many “false spirits,” whose main method indeed, is to present themselves as Holy.
Thus, even things presented in the name of the “Holy Spirit” are often false; and need to be very, very, very carefully examined. With a kind of Science. To see if they are genuine. As we will increasingly see, here and now.
For that matter too, b) the Bible shows that, surprisingly, anyone can sin and err, even after having received the real, authentic Holy Spirit. In John 20.22, many say, Jesus “breathed” on the disciples, and commanded (/hoped for?) them to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Yet even after having perhaps received the real Holy Spirit, still, Peter later on in Mat. 16.21 ff for example, outlines by his actions and words a couple of doctrinal errors so severe (telling Jesus himself he is wrong; denying the necessity of the crucifixion), that finally Jesus repudiates, condemns the apostle St. Peter, in the strongest possible language; Jesus calling the apostle Peter, “Satan” (Mat. 16.23). Then too, Paul confirmed that the followers of Moses in the wilderness were following the “rock,” the “supernatural spirit” of God; and yet they often sinned nevertheless (q.v.).
Therefore we will be seeing here, even the highest apostles and popes are not protected by “inspiration” of the Holy Spirit; even when they are outlining key doctrines by their “word and deed,” by the things they have said and done (q.v.). While of course, ordinary people can also easily fail too. In spite of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, just the experience of normal people seems to verify this thesis. Many of us go to communion, to some sort of Eucharist; where we feel that as we eat the sacred bread and drink the sacred wine, we take in the “body and blood” – and some would think, the “spirit” too – of Christ. Or perhaps there are some other rituals, or simple lucky moments, when it seems, the real Holy Spirit is genuinely in us. And yet many of us know, that even right after taking in the spirit of Jesus, even in the parking lot of the church, we can suddenly have an evil thought. Or do any evil thing.
Even when we think we have had the Holy Spirit “breathed” into us or “inspiring” us, still, even that does not always assure that right after that, in our very next act or pronouncement, we will not sin. Just when we think we have the holiest spirit in us, often, we have 1) merely been deceived by one of the foretold “false spirits.” Who were posing, as they often do, as the Holy Spirit. Or 2) even after having received the authentic spirit, still, often immediately, some deceitful thought of our own, will throw the Holy Spirit out; and we will immediately err, even in our very first act or pronouncement. Even with the authentic Holy Spirit itself standing beside us, or residing for an instant inside us, still it seems, even the real Holy Spirit itself will at times stand by, or let itself be exhaled. And let us sin. (See the spirit coming in Acts 2.4, John 20.22 – and see even apostles sinning even after that. In 1 Corin. 10.5; John 21.18; see the inspired “Cephas”/Peter as a “hypocrite” in Gal. 2.13, etc.). Many, many people, priests, think they have received the Holy Spirit – and yet they still sin, even after that. (Like the Israelites, following even the “rock” and spirit of Christ, in the desert, 1 Corin. 10.4).
So what should we say? Absolutely confirming the Bible, we find that God did indeed send a Holy Spirit or counselor to “help” us. But often that help is ineffectual. Given in part our own resistance it. (But even here in this case, we will see, it is not just a matter, as many priests claim, of simply being more receptive to a spirit; since that often just fore firmly integrates a false spirit into us.)
The Holy Spirit can help us somewhat… but often that help is ineffectual. So finally we will see, God gave us something even better than the Holy Spirit, as a counselor, to help us. And finally what that was, is not “faith,” or “miracles,” or even priestly asceticism and “spirituality.” Or even the Holy Spirit. Rather instead, God’s greatest gift to us, we will show, was Science. Or specifically here, a Science of God. Which alone was truly fruitful, and thus evidenced most fully, that it was from God. (Even in spite of its own occasional, asserted atheism or agnosticism.) As we will be seeing, here.
God’s Science, Point #30
30) Ultimately we will be proving here, God’s greatest gift to us was not the churches or even our holy men and their doctrines, but was Science; the Science of God, as we are outlining here and now. But for centuries, for thousands of years, for millennia, preachers have asserted that these other, more traditionally religious, elements have been our proudest and most godly possessions. And our priests have been adamant about this: indeed they advanced their opinions as the “word of God” himself. And they have advanced millions of complicated, various emblematic words, alleged special forces and gifts, to sell their opinions to everyone, by offering a hypnotizing, bewildering array of seemingly multitudinous forces. And our false priests have won, not by the virtue of any single argument or “precept,” but by the shotgun method: by advancing hundreds of different ideas. So that, to get past our many false priests, we will need to continue to move, alphabetically, through a rather full list of our priests’ favorite colors and doctrines; though a rather long list of the names of people and things that priests have perennially nominated, against Science, as the top ten gifts from God. But this is a book-length treatment; we have time to systematically present a (rather) complete refutation even against the top 100 of the vast “legion” of false arguments commonly advanced by bad priests.
Suppose we consider in fact, next, even the whole “host of heaven.” Consider collectively in fact, “all” the highest Christian apostles and saints and prophets and angels. Who are presumed by many ordinary people, to be “in Heaven.” But if we ask, a) as who is good in Christianity, on earth? Perhaps no one, as some in the book of Job hinted, should be considered good … next to God himself. While for that matter, finally “all” in heaven are to fall (Isa. 34.4); all the “host of heaven” are to fall. Like leaves from a grape vine. Like shriveled figs from a fig tree (Isa. 24.21; 34):
“Draw near, O nations, to hear, and hearken, O Peoples!… All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree” (Isa. 34.4).
Some say there are no imperfect things in heaven. But a) many religious heroes, the apostles and prophets of the Bible, are commonly considered to be in Heaven. While consider this too: b) Either many of the saints and angels are in heaven already – or they are in “Purgatory,” as the Church might say. But if they are in Purgatory, then they are there, and not Heaven itself, because they are not yet fully good; they indeed, have sins to be exposed, burned away, “purge”ed. Or, if they are in heaven? Then note, they can still be sinful it seems; since Satan himself was once an angel in heaven, at the right hand of God, yet even Satan had the potential in him, the ability and impulse to be, bad. While Satan allies himself with other bad angels, also in Heaven itself (in Revelation). If parts of the Bible said that only perfect things get to “heaven,” that must either be false; or must mean only the word “heaven,” used as an euphemism for God himself; not the “heaven” filled with saints and angels. Who, the Bible suggests elsewhere, could have bad angels in it.
But especially, remember: the Bible clearly and unequivocally and even adamantly insists, that Heaven itself in any case, is to be destroyed. (“Come near, all you nations, and listen; pay attention…! All the stars of the heavens,” NIV, “all the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree”; RSV). Heaven itself and “all” the “host” in it are to be dissolved in fire, God quite clearly said.
Then too remember what we are proving here: the imperfection and therefore perishable quality, of essentially all those sometimes thought to be in heaven, is also confirmed here independently, a hundred times; as we graph dozens, a hundred and more, independent biblical condemnations of dozens, hundreds of the separate, independent elements and persons, in religion. From sins in “the anointed priest who sins”; to finally we will see, even sins even in “word”s and sayings, that were (falsely) attributed to God.
Remember: “all the host of heaven shall rot away” (Isa. 34.4).
God’s Science, Point #31
31) As we here and now, shoot down one alleged holy hero, even “hosts” of them, of course our preachers, seemingly unembarrassed by the demonstrable falsity of one of their allegedly perfect and un-defeatable heroes or talismans, will simply advance yet another one. (Suggesting rightly, that priests have “seared consciences,” and no embarrassment at all in being found out in a lie). But here we are writing at last, a full book on this subject; a systematic and rather complete outline. So we’ve got the time: let’s just keep working our way, alphabetically, though all the biggest priestly examples of holy wonders. Next: are say, our holiest religious kings – like Saul; even David; even Solomon – wholly good leaders? The Bible many already say, noted sins in all of these. And things in religious leaders (Isa. 3.12). Saul of course, is notoriously bad. While even David for example, set up the husband of a woman he liked, for death in battle; so David could get his wife. This is obvious enough that for once, even our priests commonly note sins in these religious kings. (Though probably out of priestly self-interest; kings in general are rivals with religion, with bishops, for power):
“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay [ration?] of bread…. And babes shall rule over them.… In that day he will speak out…. For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen…. My people – children are their oppressors, and women rule over then. O my people, your leaders mislead you” (Isa. 3.1, 4, 7, 8, 12).
Even the holiest kings, leaders, fail and even mislead us. So that the more “faith” we have in them, the more fully the follow them, the more we are just the blind, following the blind. Into a pit. As foretold. So let’s move on; past our religious kings, and leaders.
God’s Science, Point #32
32) What things are there, if any, that are presented to us by priests as eternally good and truly from God, that really, consistently, stand firm? How about next, “laws”? Especially, the laws asserted to be from God himself: Judeo-Christian “law”s and doctrines and so forth (Gal. 3.13; 2 Corin. 3.6-7)? But are even laws said to be from God really, finally, firm examples of eternally good things? At times the Bible to be sure, suggested they were. Yet later on the Bible suggested that even they, and outdated “old covenants or contracts between God and men, can be bad. Or in any case, even laws and covenants from God, can be canceled. Or changed. By various circumstances.
To be sure, at times we thought that “law”s said to be from God, were permanent and good: Jesus at times seemed to say that he himself was not changing them:
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished” (Mat. 5.17-18).
But if “laws” are not to be changed, note the qualifier or caveat or escape clause: “till heaven and earth pass away.” While we now note that the Bible said that one day “heaven will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6). While Jesus and the apostles some say, broke various Old Testament laws; even one of the Ten Commandments by working (healing; gathering corn) on a Sabbath, for example. While Peter and others dropped some Old Testament/Jewish holy laws restricting what foods we can eat. Jews were not allowed to eat pork and shellfish; but Peter has a “dream” that tells him to eat anything set before him.
In the transition from the Old Testament to the New, from Judaism to Christianity, many old religious ideas – laws – had to be subtly changed. Indeed, many Old Testament laws seem to be spoken against. And portions of the New Testament – especially Paul – began explicitly attacking “law”; meaning the “laws of Moses,” or of the Old Testament. Paul referring to “sinful passions aroused by the law” (Rom. 7.5, 3.20); Paul suggesting that we are not made good by merely following laws dutifully. And that the Old Testament rule of “laws” was being replaced by Jesus’ rule of “grace” and so forth: “Christ is the end of the law” (Rom. 10.4); “a man is not justified by works of the law.” In Gal. 2.16, Gal. 3.2-5; Paul suggested that “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.” Gal. 5.23: “the law made nothing perfect” (Heb. 7.19); “the law has but a shadow of the good things” (Heb. 10.1). “The written code kills” (2 Corin. 3.6).
Old Testament laws were severe, and often imposed the death penalty for minor infractions, like stealing a loaf of bread. So that in fact, Paul in the New Testament mounted a major attack on “law.” And then too, the Christianity of the New Testament, was somewhat different than the Old Testament, and Judaism. So that the New Testament sometimes referred to Christianity as being in effect beyond “law”; or being at least, the “new” and better covenant of Jesus; the kinder “grace” of Jesus; the “perfect law, the law of liberty” (James 1.25): “Jesus the surety of a better covenant” (Heb. 7.22); “A new covenant” (Heb. 8.8, 12.24). While as for Old Testament laws? “Even the first covenant was not ratified” (Heb. 9.18).
Paul therefore mounted a major attack on old “law.” As opposed to Christian Grace. While incidentally, at least once, God himself admits that he himself – even deliberately – made bad ordinances and laws at times:
“I the LORD am your God…. But the children rebelled against me…. I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not have life; and I defiled them through their very gifts in making them offer by fire all their first-born, that I might horrify them; I did it that they might know that I am the LORD” Ezk. 20.20-21, 26 RSV).
Many have thought that the Pauline attack on “law,” did however set a “new covenant” that would be firm. Yet if laws said to be from God can be changed once, they can be changed twice. Beyond Paul, because of many sins in even the apostolic authors of the New Testament, it seems likely there could be problems in turn, even with new covenant, Christian, New Testament rules and laws too. (As we see here with regard to “Scripture” especially). If Jesus said he himself had not come to change an “iota” of the law, he said that this would hold, as long as the heavens did; and now we are finding here, that one “day,” the heavens themselves, are supposed to dissolve. Which seems to open religion and its laws, to more changes.
God’s Science, Point #33
33) How many even traditional Christian ideas stand, in the End? Consider the main appeal of Christianity: historically, Christianity has been based on promises that if we are good, we will get amazing physical – not just spiritual – “miracles.” But as it turns out, there some are bad things, or subtle changes, even in promises of miracles.
Though a) at times huge and amazing miracles were promised whenever we “ask” for them, other times the Bible suggested they seldom or never in fact, arrive reliably: “There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD hearkened to the voice of a man” (Josh. 10.14). And at times too, b) it is suggested there are higher, better gifts: “Do all work miracles?… But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way“ (1 Corin. 12.29-31). Then too, c) there were many biblical warnings about false “promises,” false “prophesies”; which might imply false promises of miracles, after all. So that finally, d) there being many “false prophets” and other false religious leaders, who promise false things, including miracles no doubt, God told us finally, we will see here, to ask those who promise miracles, to actually produce them, in front of witnesses. And if they cannot produce the miracles they promise on demand, they are to be called an “abomination,” a hopelessly bad and evil and false religious leader. As we will see in our chapters on “Science,” below. (See also warnings about the prophets and other false religious leaders, who work false “signs” etc..)
The core of traditional Christian belief, its main appeal to the masses, the main reason it was so successful, was that it promised huge amazing miracles to those that believed or followed. It promised that if you were good, you or God would make good things, appear almost magically, out of thin air: in the Bible, food, bread would miraculously appear in empty baskets; like a rabbit appearing magically in a magician’s hat. But finally we will show here, belief in sentient statues, talking pieces of wood and so forth, was really, ultimately, belief in Magic, sorcery, and magicians: something the Bible often warned about. The massively popular core of Christianity, belief in miracles, we will show, was actually belief in magic, infecting religion, Christianity proper. It was in fact, part of the foretold reign of the world, by false, bad magicians, presenting themselves as priests.
In any case, the Bible often condemns Magic. Readers should check the Bible itself, on the various elements of Magic that, God warned, would infect religion, including Christianity. References to magic in the Bible, extend to warnings about the many magical beliefs. And different kinds of magical professions, magician-priests. Who are condemned by the Bible. Including: astrologers (Dan. 2.27); augers (Deut. 18.10); enchanters (Ps. 58.5; Isa. 47.9-12; Dan. 1.20); fortune-tellers; magicians by name (Dan. 2.27; Rev. 13, 22.15; cf. the Three Wise Men or Magi/magicians); necromancers; soothsayers (Deut. 18.10); sorcerers (Deut. 18.10); witches; wizards. Or related false “wise men.” (Dan. 2.27; cf. the three “wise men” the “Magi”; “Magi” being the root word of our “magic,” magicians). The Bible seemed to divert criticisms of Jesus himself, as a magician, promising miracles, by condemning another overt magician, “Bar Jesus.” But especially note too that the “false Christ,” that we were warned would dominate our “worship,” dominate the whole world (Rev. 13, 1 John 4, Rev.), seems intimately associated with magicians; with magic, with illusions and lies or false dreams, enchantments, false images, false hopes, false spirits.
For some time, many practical people complained that our priests were not producing as many physical miracles as they promised; not “all” and “whatever” we “ask”; not all the wonders that Jesus performed, and “greater things than these.” Many have complained that the miracles that priests promise, did not arrive; that it seemed our holy men were false; were making false promises to us. And it seemed that the attempted explanations for this, by holy men, were not valid: no matter how good we were, still, the promised miracles were not arriving as regularly and reliably, and on the same scale, that was promised. This suggests that historical Christianity – based largely on promises of miracles – was not valid. Was a sort of false regime. Some might suggest that the people and the priests, took Jesus’ spiritual miracles too literally, too physically; and that created a false idea of Jesus, a false idea of Christ; a “false prophet.” Even a False Christ. A false Christ who was very much like (the same as?) as magician: making bread appear out of thin air, like a stage magician or conjurer.
Some might say today, that a false understanding of Christ, of Jesus, promising “miracles” especially, created the foretold false image of Christ. Some might say that promises of miracles, were in fact, the forewarned, “false promises,” “empty words,” “empty consolations,” of the false priests, false Christians, the Bible itself warned would come. Some might suggest that traditional Christian “faith” in miracles especially, was actually, merely the foretold false belief, in magicians. And in their magical “illusions,” “delusions” (2 Thess. 2.11; Isa. 41.29, 19.13, 44.20; Jer. 10.15, 51.18; Ezek. 13.8), “lies,” “enchantments,” false “dreams,” false images (Isa. 40.20; Jer. 50.38; Dan. 3.10; Rev. 13.14 ff), “empty consolations.” False prophesies, false spirits. A false image of Christ, that made false promises; that sold us the foretold “illusions,” “delusions.” And “enchanted” all the people with them, for two thousand years.
The Bible, read traditionally – as promising physical miracles; or even also spirits, spiritual things – was in effect, turned into a magic book. The Bible was falsely presented by priests to the masses, as a repository of promises of huge physical wonders; miracles that in fact, experience teaches, few if any priests were really, fully delivering. But today, rather than generate dozens more of the hundreds of existing excuses for the lack of miracles, more apologetics, finally, perhaps it is time to simply call that era, the old rule, of false promises; to call that era the prophesied time, when magicians and associate false priests, a false image of Christ, mislead the whole world. But we add, all these false leaders are about to be expelled. As foretold (Rev. 13; 20.7-10; 22.15; etc.). Indeed, even here and now, God is beginning to expose the many false ideas, false leaders, deep inside traditional Christianity. Who created in effect a false Christ.
But if we now find the whole world was deceived even in its idea of Christ, finally, we will begin to see the new, better vision of Him perhaps; even here and now. Seeing Christ here and now at last. Not stressing endless “faith” in unreliable priests. Or here, not as a magician, offering “miracles”; offering actual physical bread out of thin air (“How is it that you don’t understand that I was not speaking to you about bread?”; Mat. 16.11 NIV). But instead, seeing Christ appearing more properly here; as advocating an early kind of Science of God. As we will see.
God’s Science, Point #34
34) In our present book, we will be showing that Christ, Jesus, was actually quite different than what our churches presented; we will be showing that the Bible, Christ, actually, finally, stressed not “faith” in holy men; but stressed a critical Science of God. Indeed in fact, the Bible and Christ himself constantly warned, that our holiest men and angels were unreliable; that our holy men often made many horrendous mistakes.
Today our holy men – preachers; priests and ministers – assure us over and over, constantly, in church, that the Bible told us that our holy men are totally reliable, sacred, and holy. But here we are showing that while parts of the Bible might have seemed to suggest that, when they were taken out of context, still the Bible overall, constantly warned that there have always been huge sins in essentially “all” our holiest men and angels. And we are proving that in the present chapter; by simply alphabetically going down the list of allegedly perfect and holy things – alphabetically, from “anointing” to holy “word”s. While quoting some of the many times the Bible itself warned about inadequacies, even sins, in that specific element of religion, by name.
Next for example, let’s briefly consider say, the patriarchs; the earliest religious leaders, like Moses. Today, many priests and especially Jewish rabbis, tell us to revere say, Moses. But we began to note that St. Paul, above, in attempting to distinguish Christianity from the Old Testament and Judaism, began to put down the “laws of Moses,” as some call them. St. Paul began to suggest that the new Christian idea of the spirit, of Grace, is alone good; while “the written code,” the law of Moses, actually “kills” (2 Corin. 3.6).
Thus the New Testament says there were bad things, even in the holiest ancient patriarchs like Moses. Who, many add, was allowed to see, but never allowed to actually enter, the promised land. (See the criticism of Moses by Paul; Rom. 10.5; see also “dispensation of death” 2 Corin. 3.6-15; Rom. 7. The era of Old Testament law and Moses, was at times called “The dispensation of death,” by critics). And if the word “patriarch” means “father”? Then note that while the Ten Commandments of Moses/the Jews, told us to “honor your father and mother,” and though Jesus sees to have honored his own father in Heaven at least, other times, Jesus said things that would seem to even command us, to even systematically dis-honor our families, our fathers:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yet, even his own life – cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14.26 NIV; cf. John telling us that whoever “hates” his brother cannot be good, in 1 John 2.9-11,3.13, 4.20. See also Eph. 5.31 v. 6.3).
To be sure, one of our main messages here, will be that the Bible itself seems to go back and forth, on many subjects; it is equivocal, polysemic. And it goes back and forth, on the subject of how good “father”s might be. But we could say that at the very least, it does not fully, unequivocally endorse them; not as being, always, perfect. Jesus told us finally, not to “call any person on earth your father”; since only God in heaven, is that:
“Call no man your father on earth…; you have one Father, who is in heaven” (Mat. 22.9; Mal. 2.10.).
Recent experience with the other “fathers” – our Catholic priests – molesting little children, also proves once again, that our “fathers,” our patriarchs, were never completely reliable.
God’s Science, Point #35
35) Here we will be finding that the Bible presents two major levels of the text of the Bible. The a) first gives preachers who want them, lots of quotes that seem to assure us that our religion is wonderful, even perfect. But b) the second level of the text, warns that even our holiest things can fail us.
Some will object that the Bible told us firmly, unequivocally, for example, many things. That some things in our faith for example, are “perfect.” Yet the Bible eventually warned that there are bad things, even in the things that were proclaimed as “perfect”: “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty….”; but soon note, “The east wind has wrecked you (Ezk. 27.3, 26).
The Bible in fact, goes back and forth on many topics; at times telling us that this or that religious idea is good, but other times and deeper down, noting problems with it. For example, consider the “perfect”ion of the “law”: if at times we hear that “the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps. 19.7), still some “have seen a limit to all perfection” (Ps. 119.96). Then too consider St. Paul’s lengthy critique of “law.”
Some say that our priests are perfect; yet “if perfection had been attainable … what further need would there have been for another priest” (Heb. 7.11). Indeed, it seems unlikely priests are perfect; since St. James said of “all” of us – including even the holiest apostles like himself it seems – “we all make many mistakes.” James went on in fact to propose – and then reject – the idea that if we try to always say the right thing, or perhaps if a priest recites the words of God perfectly, we might be perfect; James noting that “if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man….” “But,” James went on, to deliver the more critical text, in practice always speaking perfectly is impossible: “no one can tame the tongue – a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3.2, 8).
So what should we ultimately say here, to all priests and churches? Who constantly, with great Pride and Vanity, allow themselves to be praised, perceived as perfect or holy? Finally we need to all firmly say to all the Christian churches, precisely what the Bible said to them: “I have not found your works perfect” (Rev. 3.2).
Parts of the Bible suggest that we should work hard so that we might be “made perfect” (Mat. 5.48, James 1.4); but this probably presents perfection as a goal for the future; not as a firmly, already-achieved accomplishment. When Jesus tells a young man he must give up all he has to “be perfect,” the young man walks sadly away, feeling he could not do that – and could not even try for perfection as a goal. While there were many other indications of problems with perfection: “The law made nothing perfect” (Heb. 7.19). The only perfect law is the law of liberty: “The perfect law, the law of liberty” (James 1.25). But when does perfect liberty come? In any case, the Bible seems to say that the perfect does not come, until the end of time, or the Second Coming: “when the perfect comes” (1 Corin. 13.10).
Finally it seems likely, that only God himself, and the perfect “Forms” in Plato’s heaven, are really perfect; whereas almost no one at all or anything on earth, is perfect. Certainly not until the second coming it seems; “when the perfect comes” (1 Corin. 13.10). The fact is, St. Paul admitted he as not yet “perfect,” even as he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament (Php. 3.12). Perhaps Jesus has “perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10.14) – but we will find there are problems in turn, with “sanctification.” So that finally, the best final, summary word on essentially each and every one of the elements of our religion, and its alleged “perfection,” is from Revelation 3.2. Which said simply this:
“To the angel of the church … I have not found your works perfect.”
God’s Science, Point #36
36) Even prayers have problems (Josh. 10.14; see Jesus or Paul on public prayers with “vain repetitions”). Though parts of the Bible suggested that God always answers our prayers, we might well ask when this happens. In other parts of the Bible, the text notes that prayers for things, for God to help us, often fail. Indeed, though Jesus himself promised “whatever” we “ask,” another part of the Bible suggests that God never really does what we ask: “There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD hearkened to the voice of a man” (Josh. 10.14). Often “God pays no attention to their prayer” (Job 24.12).
To try to explain why often we don’t get what we pray for, miracles especially, our holy men eventually tried to suggest that we might have missed some single important nuance; some special virtue. And they suggest to this day, that if we just come up with one more particular virtue, then all the old promises will be made good. But the list of additional virtues is endless; and none of them work. For example, some priests say, the prayer of the “righteous” is effective (James 5.16); therefore they say, if only we become “righteous,” then our prayers will be answered. No doubt indeed, the prayer of the “righteous” is effective (James 5.16); but then, note the biblical caveat: who is righteous? Many times “no one is righteous; no, not one”; “all have sinned” (Rom. 3.10). While we are even told “be not righteous overmuch” (Ecc. 7.16).
Perhaps perfect righteousness is necessary, for all our prayers to be answered, say. But for all practical purposes, we just noted above, “perfect”ion is unattainable for human beings here on earth. It is an ideal goal; but it seems, one we never achieve. So that if prayers are answered, when righteousness is attained? Then prayers are almost never answered.
Many priests are devoted to prayers; especially to “meditative” praying, or thinking about the Bible; which indeed will often generate a biblical quote for them to use, to apparently get themselves out of a scrape. But though the Bible at times, and in parts, seemed to advocate prayer, other times, again and again, the Bible noted problems with prayers. For example, too much attention to praying, neglects the development of another necessary element of our personal development: the development of our minds. 1 Corin. 14.14 complains of this; that “my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. (See also Ps. 80.4; Prov. 28.9; Isa. 1.15; Lam. 3.8; John 16.26-17.9; Jer. 14.11; Mat. 6.6-7, 9.38).
Even prayers have problems, shortcomings, therefore: see Jesus or Paul on public prayers, and prayer with “vain repetitions.” Often God himself asserts our prayers are in vain. And worse, if it is said that just one more virtue added to them – like “righteousness” – might make them more effective? Then, as it turns out, all such other additional virtues, are also problematic as well. They are also hard – or even impossible – to attain, here on earth. (See our writing on sermons as apologetics for the lack of miracles; noting that our preachers always ask for “just one more thing” as they say in effect; one more virtue. But it doesn’t matter how many virtues we acquire; no one at all is getting all the wondrous miracles they are praying for).
God’s Science, Point #37
37) Should we trust our priests, therefore? As it turns out, though the Bible at times seemed to support priests, other times, the Bible itself warned about priests; hundreds of times.
Priests to be sure, like to quote the first layer of Biblical text; which indeed seems designed specifically and especially, to imply a positive view of religion, and priests; and to support churches. So that priests like to find and repeat often, say, the one or two quotes in the Bible that can be read as supporting priests firmly. Like a) this one:
“Be a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2.4 NIV).
But that is a misleading fragment, even of this tiny bit of the Bible. More fully, the quote should say at least, this:
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy (1 Peter 2.4).
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…. Abstain from sinful desires (1 Peter 2.9, 11).
Read more honestly than priests read it to us, this passage may not really even be about priests, properly speaking, at all; it addresses the “elect,” and then a “race,” after all. While in any case, it does not announce that our priests are already holy; but only that the they should try to be. That they are in the process of being “built” into that, perhaps some day. While in the meantime, Peter (who himself is not entirely reliable, above) does not assume that these persons he is addressing will assuredly be perfect; since he assumes in fact that they need to be reminded, not to fall to “sinful desires.”
The fact is, the Bible is full of warnings about priests failing, even in the Judeo-Christian tradition of Israel and so forth:
“It is the anointed priest who fails” ( Lev. 4.3.).
“Priests had not sanctified themselves” (2 Ch. 30.3).
“He leads priests away stripped” (Job 12.19).
“The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” (Jer. 5.31 NIV).
“Priests and prophets alike, all practice deceit” (Jer. 6.13 NIV).
“Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject your as my priests” (Hos. 3.6).
“Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, O royal house! This judgement is against you” (Hos. 5.1 NIV).
“Her priests profane what is sacred” (Zep. 3.4 RSV).
“And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen … I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them.. Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will spread on your faces the offal from your festival sacrifices” (Mal. 2.13-3).
Priests often fail; and not just in their personal behavior, but also in their understanding of doctrines and ritual sacrifices and so forth as well. In particular, they fail just when they think they are being best, being good. The problem is that their understanding or “knowledge” of God is often false; so that just when they follow God as they understanding him, they follow misunderstandings. A false God.
Indeed, the Bible warned of bad things in priests; even in Christian priests and ministers. In the era of Christianity, it warned of false “worship,” (Rev. 13), of a false idea of “Christ.” So that even priests who think they are leading Christian worship, following Christ, may be (and usually are) following a false Christ. (No doubt “we” who follow John have not been deceived; but which of us are “we”? Which church is the right one?). Priests typically seem to think that as long as they have “faith” they will be all right; but we find problems with, sins in even faith.
The Bible – and God – therefore, constantly warned about priests. And then too, b) Logic would warn about them too. It should already be logically evident, that our priests are largely unreliable, in that not only did the Bible begin to warn about them explicitly, and specifically; but also of course, priests tell us over and over to follow … the many, many elements of religion that we are alphabetically finding that the Bible warned about; from “anointing” to following the “word.” Since priests tell us to religiously, faithfully follow unreliable and often evil hings, from churches, to saints, then priests themselves are obviously, unreliable. And often even evil. (As the Church itself liked to say about say, the priest Martin Luther).
In this vein, our readers might look up the word “priest” in a concordance; and review on their own, the dozens of specific warnings from God about bad things in priests. Including – but not limited to – aa) priests without “knowledge,” (Isa 5.13, 28.7, 45.20; Jer. 8.10; Lam. 4.13; Mal. 2.1-8; Heb. 7.11; Hos. 4.1-6; Jer. 14.18, see also 23.25; Ecc. 7.12). These were warnings, too, were NOT just bb) about priests in other religions either; but cc) those in Judeo Christianity too. In effect, the Old Testament is often warning about the prophets and priests of Israel. Even those who were thought to be following the Lord, often fail him.
And for that matter, note that it was the priests as much as anyone, that were responsible for killing Jesus: “The high priest then questioned Jesus” (John 18.10); “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him [Jesus] by stealth, and kill him” (Mark. 14.1). The priests of the day, had asserted that Jesus in effect was a heretic against the God of the Old Testament; and they were in fact the major element in Jerusalem, seeking to have Jesus arrested and executed.
God himself often rebuked and opposed priests, especially because they all-too-religiously, all-too-faithfully follow false prophets. They did not really follow God right; and then they mislead all the people too, in turn:
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” (Jer. 5.31).
This last quote is particularly important; it may imply that not only were there evil things in priests and ministers in the time of the Old Testament; but furthermore, sins and errors in priests, are to persist though our Christian era, to the “end.” The end of time. Indeed, that there are sins even in Christian churches and so forth, was confirmed over and over in the New Testament (see “churches,” above; Rev. 2-3). While as for the priesthood, specifically, St. Peter noted sins even the Christian “household of God” itself, of Peter’s time (1 Peter 4.12-17).
And so those one or two quotes from the Bible, that seemed to support priests, turned out to be rather equivocal even in themselves. While there was literally a dozen warnings from God, about severely bad things in priests. Indeed, it was the priests who more than anyone, were the most active proximate agency, in arresting and killing Jesus.
Finally, therefore, we should not rely much on priests. In fact, finally Jesus himself told us that even a non-believer, a good “Samaritan,” if he does good works and helps others, is often a better than a rabbi, or a priest.
Priests and ministers and bishops and popes therefore finally, are simply not reliable. (See the Bible on “ministers” too). If you want to find God, you need to find him yourself. And with the help of scholars and scientists, as it turns out.
While, regarding “ministers”? Everything said about “priests” applies to Protestant and other ministers. While in addition, especially for ministers, there is this little gem:
“Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades and an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if he servants masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corin. 11.14 NIV).
Or rather, here one Bible – the New International Version – fails us; having been “cleaned up” as they say, a little too much, to favor Protestant “ministers.” A better translation in this case, notes problems with “ministers” too specifically:
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is not great thing if his ministers also be transformed [disguised as] as the ministers of righteousness” (II Corin. 11.14 – KJV; King James Version).
As it turns out, Satan’s favorite disguise, is to come to humanity, and to you, as a priest or “minister.” As the Bible began to suggest here.
Hiding within your own priest or minister, within all you and the world think is absolutely good and holy – is often, the very greatest evil of all time.
God has often spoken against priests in the strongest possible terms; priests have often betrayed the Lord; indeed priests were the major voice seeking to arrest and kill Jesus himself. So that God often warned that often, essentially most of our priests are bad. Though they are immensely Proud and Vain, and find parts of the Bible to assert their own “perfection” and holiness, in the time of Jeremiah, God said that our Judeo-Christian priests followed false prophets; and committed sins so great, that they and all their descendants were cursed by God; to the end of time. While in the time of the New Testament, Paul said that the most apparently “righteous ministers,” could be disguised agents of Satan himself. This was expanded, as the New Testament also told us that in the end, the “worship” of the whole world would be deceived (Rev. 13); probably by following a false idea of Christ, a false Christ. While many people think today that there have always been several deceitful elements in traditional Christianity.
Perhaps even, some say, traditional popular Christianity itself, was the foretold deceit; the foretold false “worship,” following a “False Christ.” Many people today secretly think that especially, the traditional promise by traditional Christianity of huge, spectacular, regular, reliable “miracles,” has been a deceit. Traditional Christianity promised that if we were good, and followed priests, we would get the power the walk on water and make loaves and fishes appear out of thin air; the power to do “all the wonders that Jesus did, and greater things than these”; the power to get “whatever” we “ask.” Yet most of us today have not seen all the wonders we “ask” for; and by the time of Paul, Paul was coyly asking, “do all work miracles” after all. So that many might well feel that indeed, the world was taken over in the time of Jesus himself; by a false image of Jesus as in effect, a “miracle”-working or magician Christ; promising miracles, loaves and fishes out of thin air. (Though Jesus himself technically repudiated this miracle it seems to some: do you “still not understand?”) Others might add that even the attempt to spiritualize, metaphoricalize the old promises of physical miracles, saying they were metaphors for spiritual things, was not honest either. So that many might feel that in fact, traditional Christianity has been the foretold rule of a false Christ; and we are looking therefore for a second, better appearance of God on earth; to give us at last a better truer vision, manifestation, of God and Truth.
While in the meantime, our priests simply perpetuate the old false delusions and enchantments.
We should have known; the Bible warned us about priests, constantly.
God’s Science, Point #38
38) Priests often think they cannot go wrong; because they have “faith,” in the writings of the apostles, and the sayings of say, the prophets; with their vision of God. And priests believe the Bible affirmed that such faith, confidence in old religious leaders – including prophets – would save them. But here we find that our priests were not right; actually the Bible, God, warned often enough, that even our holiest apostles and angels were often not completely reliable. Here to be sure, we ourselves trust what biblical prophets say. But we put the emphasis on the moments that priests cannot “face” or “bear”: the many moments when the prophets were warning about sins and errors, even in priests … and prophets themselves. We regard them as very reliable, only when they are telling us how unreliable they often are.
The Bible warned that priests go wrong, by having too much faith in ancient holy men, including prophets; priests went bad, by following earlier, inevitably flawed religious leaders, all too faithfully, all to religiously. So that today, we need our preachers to finally, learn to read and face, the many parts of the Bible itself that warned constantly about bad things in every aspect of traditional religion and Christianity; including specially prophets. (Jer. 23.15-40 & 27.16; Isa 28.7; Lam. 4.13; Ezek. 13; Zech. 13; Deut. 18.20; Mat. 7.15 & 24.11-24; Mark 13.22; Luke 6.26; 2 Peter 2.1; 1 John 4.1):
“The prophets prophesy falsely” (Jer. 2.8).
“The prophets are prophesying lies in my name” (Jer. 5.31).
“Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity” (Lam. 2.14).
“This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests…. They wandered, blind, through the streets” (Lam. 4.13-14).
As it turns out too, the warning about prophets, holds even for new, “false prophets” that “will” come; even after Jesus. (q.v.; concordance. In general, to research all these figures, look up all the references to them in a concordance; and note the negative references among positive ones).
“Beware of false prophets” (Mat. 7.15).
“Many false prophets will arise” (Mat. 24.11).
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise” (Mat. 24.24).
Finally today, many people feel that no one at all really reliably knows the future; that prophets are almost indistinguishable from “augurs,” or fortune-tellers, and other magicians with crystal balls.
While in fact, in the end of the Old Testament, God seems to have even suggested that finally there should not be any prophets (or “augurs”) at all any more. One “day,” God would finally end all prophets; that God would make sure there were no more prophets at all:
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. On that day, I will banish the names of the idols.… I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother, to whom he was born, will say to him, ‘You must die, because you hare told lies in the LORD’S name.’ When he prophesies, his own parents will stab him. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his prophetic vision. He will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive. He will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.’ If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ he will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me! Declares the LORD almighty. Strike the shepherd” (Zech. 13.1-8 NIV).
Every prophet will be ashamed of his vision” (Zech. 13.2-4).
This is in effect the final word of the Old Testament. Incredibly, it seems like a firm and final repudiation, rejection, of all prophets. And note, it began to condemn “shepherd”s too.
Years after this, the New Testament seemed to have toyed with the idea that we should not “despise prophesying” (1 Thess. 5.21); but it proposed that there might be better, higher gifts. While we were warned that false prophets would persist to the End (Rev. 16.13, 19.20; 20.10). Yet priests simply follow them, faithfully, nevertheless. Priests thus not obeying the Bible, after all. Priests utterly failing to read, understand, and obey, the Bible’s self-critical aspect; the moment it went looking for the “beam” or “log” in its own eye. Priests failed, when they failed to hear Paul telling them for example, that even the “prophesy” and “knowledge” of Paul’s own time, of the Biblical framework, would “pass” (q.v.).
God’s Science, Point #39
39) There have been many false or bad things throughout religion, the Bible itself clearly said to those who can honestly face and see that. Among other things, after warning about priests and prophets, the Bible warned about, say, bad, false religious rabbis or religious “teachers” (James 3.1 etc.; John 1.28-49. The rabbi vs. the Good Samaritan). And of course, warnings about religious teachers would be implied too, in the warnings about, about false churches (Mat. 12.6; 1 Corin. 4 14 ff; Gal. 1.6-3.1; Eph. 4-5); false apostles (including St. Paul himself – Phil. 3.12; 2 Corin. 11.16 – Peter in Mat. 16.23; Mat. 26.34).
God’s Science, Point #40
40) Sacrifices? If we are following sinful religious leaders, then their and our “sacrifices” are not acceptable to God (q.v.).
“Offerings” and “sacrifices” can fail (“The sacrifices of the wicked is an abomination”; Prov. 21.27, Jer. 6.20; etc.; “offerings” Mal. 2.3 on the “altar” can be refused by God, like “dung.” Likewise…
God’s Science, Point #41
41) Saints? Most of the saints, were priests and apostles and prophets; already condemned. While for that matter? In some translations, the “host” in heaven – who are to fall and “dissolve” – are called “saints” (Job 15.15) But if so? Then the saints are fated too.
God’s Science, Point #42
42) In the end, can we even trust scripture? Here to be sure, we honor the Bible. But does the Bible honor itself? It seems that the Bible often warned about false things, in every aspect of religion, Christianity; false things even in those who were most directly involved in writing the Bible, writing scripture.
Here we follow the Bible, scripture, scrupulously. But finally we are noting here especially, that in the end, more closely read, the Bible questions every aspect of religion, and Christianity. And in the end, the Bible may even question itself.
The fact is, the Bible contains many references to false, bad “words,” writings, “scripture,” “false gospels,” and so forth. Which might hint at the possibility of false things even in our own Bibles, it seems to some. A reader with an interest in this, should search a concordance to the Bible, for references to the following key word: references to problems with, changes in, holy “scriptures”; “scribes”; “books”; “ letters.” And especially references to empty “word”s; empty and false promises; false prophesies; the dry and deadly East “wind” (cf. “pneuma” or spirit or wind); things “written” in stone; sayings or things that are said; and problems in language, like the “confusion of tongues.” Readers and scholars should include in such a search, warnings about the New Testament disciples; and we now add, their writings. (Those who want to further research the subject of false writings in Christianity, even falsity in scripture, should consider among other thing, especially the following: John 5.39; Jer. 8.8; 2 Corin. 3.6-8; Gal. 3.22 NRSV; Rom. 7.6; Heb. 7.18-19; Ez. 20.25-26. Then: Gen. 11.9 ff; Job 13.4, 13.1ff; Isa. 6.18, 34.4; Ez. 20.25-22.28; Jer. 8.8, 23.23-31; Lam. 4.13-19; Prov. 1.4-6; Wis. Sol. 19.14-18; Ecc. 3.1-6; Zeph. 3.9; Mat. 3.7, 5.17-18 vs. 2 Pet. 3.10, 7.21 ff, 9.16 ff, 16.19, 13.10, 13.33-35, 13.52, 23.14, 23.23, 23.1; Mark 2.7-20-22; 4.11-20; Luke 16.1-25, 10.1-20, 16.25, 21.25; John 3.39, 10.6, 16.12-25, 21.25; Acts 9.18; Rom. 1.14-15, 2.14, 2.29, 3.20-23, 7.6-10, 12.1-2, 14.4; Heb. 7.18-19, 11.19; 2 Corin. 2.15, 3.3-8, 4.2-4, 10.10, 12.17; Gal. 3.13-22, 4.24; Phil. 2.12-13; 1 Thess. 5.21; 2 Thess. 2.2-15; 1 Peter 2.13-17; 2 Peter, 1.9, 3.15-18; 1 John 4.1-3; Rev. 6.14, 2.2. Vs. John 10.35; Rom. 15.4; 1 Tim. 4.13; 2 Tim. 3.16, 4.16; 2 Pet. 1.16-18; Rev. 22.18-19.)
Specifically, those who want to learn more, should consider references to false or inadequate or suspicious gospels (like Gal. 1.6-8). Also references say to false letters, purporting to be from Paul, (2 Thess. 2.2.). Then there are references to the uncertainty of writing in general; so that things should be written “Not with ink but with the Spirit” (2 Corin. 3.3). Though in general, “the written code kills” (2 Corin. 3.6). Finally the problem is, if “all scripture” is sacred as Paul might have said once, still, which writings qualify as “scripture”?
After considering all the above, very direct warnings specifically about religious writings, false words, false sayings, false gospels, researchers should consider also the indirect evidence: remember that Paul for example admitted that he was not “perfect”… even as he was in the act of writing his half of the Bible. James likewise was an author of part of the Bible, admits that he – “we all” – make “mistakes.” While we also found here, that the “inspiration” of the Holy Spirit that was supposed to protect the authors of the Bible, does not end mistakes, even when the Bible was being written.
There are many warnings about false Christs, churches – and even scripture. Even “all” scripture (Rom. 3.23; John 5.39; John 21.25; Jer. 8.8). Read more closely in this way, the Bible in effect, all but deconstructs, cancels, itself. Though here finally, we will have honored the Bible itself, and followed it. Though we have also noted that finally, honoring the Bible also means noting that after all, the Bible warned of false things in every aspect of religion; including possibly even, the Bible itself.
God’s Science, Point #43
43) “Shepherds”? In the past, we have given great, special credence to “shepherds.” King David, as a youth, had been a humble shepherd boy. But one with special abilities; so that he eventually became king of Israel, after Saul. While the story of Jesus seems to repeat, reference this story, which was taken as prophesy; Jesus coming to be thought of as the humble “shepherd” (“feed my sheep” John 21.17); who likewise the people felt, according to pattern, should become king, Lord, of Israel. But surprisingly at times, the Bible began to turn against, doubt, even shepherds. Even David himself at times did bad things. While Jesus on the cross, felt that God had abandoned him (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15.34). And though many think Jesus was perfect, they also believe that not everything promised in the Bible was completely “fulfilled” by Jesus in his first appearance, or even his first resurrection; and that therefore yet another, “Second Coming” of God, as they say, will be necessary for this “shepherd” to completely, “full”y fulfill all the old prophesies and promises Jesus and God made.
Finally in fact, God seems to have even at times, begun to warn about “shepherds,” in fact. Because he said, they often do not do their work well enough. Here is what the Bible said about shepherds finally:
“The people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders…. Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed!… This is what the LORD my God says: ‘Pasture the flock marked for slaughter. Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished….’ So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter…. Then I took two staffs and called one “Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, “I will not be our shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.’ Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant…. ‘Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the last, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!’
‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones’” (Zech 10.2, 11.2-10, 15-17, 13.7, NIV).
This, one of the final passages in the Old Testament, is strikingly like but also strangely unlike, what Christianity was later to make of all this. Here, God, Zechariah, seem to have no confidence in his “shepherds”; who in any case, simply make the people sheep, to be exploited, even killed, “slaughtered,” in the service of others; of lords. But so finally, God does not seem to like either the shepherds, or the sheep either; since they do not like him either (they “detest” him). And in the end, God does not mind if the shepherds lead everyone to “slaughter.” While he/Zechariah seems to finally, “revoke the covenant” he made (to protect them?).
Much of Christianity is based on the idea of Jesus, God, as the “good shepherd,” as they say. But here finally, in the last two books of the Old Testament, just as Malachi seems to begin to doubt all “prophets,” Zechariah begins to firmly cancel, even shephardic covenants, or protective contracts made between God and man. (In order to kill 2/3; and put the remainder to a refining “fire” 13.9).
God’s Science, Point #44
44) What truly reliable guide is there in religion, in our Christian shepherds, priests, therefore? When the holiest covenants God made with man, can be revoked, canceled? Here we begin to see that even the best things in religion, in Christianity, were ministered to, ad “minister”ed by, after all, all-too fallible human beings. So that nearly each and every element of religion, has flaws deep in it; and often fails us.
So what can we, should we, trust? When all our religious institutions come to be seen as all-too-human, finally many hoped that somewhere, somehow, in spite of our human limitations, mankind might have been given something more than human; something transcendent. Particularly it has been hoped by priests, that God would give us a transcendent “spirit”; the shepherding, “counsel”ing, “Holy Spirit.” Which would manage to guide us through to the truth, even through our frequent human sins and errors. Yet consider the extremely negative opinions Zechariah’s God had, about all “shepherds.” And especially, consider now, all the warnings the Bible made specifically and even, about “spirits.” Especially, consider God warning about false “spirits” (1 John 4.1, etc.).
It is sometimes admitted today, in common sermons and homilies, that even our holiest men, even our priests and bishops, at times are bad. Because, it is said, they suffer the same as everyone, from human weaknesses. And yet in one extremely common sermon or Catholic homily, it is often claimed that even if say, St. Peter himself, the first pope, was often bad, still, at times Peter was supernaturally, transcendentally protected from human error; because a special inhuman spirit, the Holy Spirit, was in him. And protected him. This theory indeed, is the main alleged defense that the average preacher has, against those who finally note all the times God warned of bad things in our preachers and holy men. Here, in this defense or apologetic, preachers admit that they might make human mistakes at times. But they suggest, they have access to a way of transcending, getting beyond, all these human limitations: because the perfect spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, can reside in them at times, “inspire”ing them, and protecting them – at least temporarily – from sin and error. Yet here, we have already noted above, some problems with the theory of the protective Holy Spirit; and the theory that is called “inspiration.”
To be sure, cognizant of the human limitations of our old religious leaders (like the “scribes and Pharisees” and “priests,” complained about by Jesus), ultimately the New Testament borrowed a little from Greek Platonic thought, and Egyptian and other systems of through – and to Old Testament Judaism, Christianity was essentially Hellenized, Platonized Judaism; and to escape complaints about very human weaknesses and errors in our holy things, Jesus, Paul and others, began to suggest that somehow, humans could transcend their usual human limitations, of the “flesh”; and simply taken on, be inspired by, a godlike, supernatural “spirit.”
[The basic change that Christianity made to Judaism, was that Christianity, following Zechariah and Malachi, began to notice and doubt, the all-too-human side of religion. Zechariah and finally Malachi, the last two books of the Old Testament, had begun to note huge sins even in holy shepherds, and prophets; perhaps even all of them, in general. Among other things, they began to long for a special “day” when God himself would show up and fix things; set things aright. While to some extent, the arrival of Jesus, invoked these motifs; and tried to come up with a picture of God, that would note sins in traditional religion, but still revive the idea of idea “shepherds” and “prophets.” In part by suggesting that God himself, a Holy Spirit, could somehow descend on human flesh. And protect at least one of us – Jesus – full-time, from human weaknesses and errors. Though to be sure, in part, this solution also involved suggesting that indeed, religion, spirits, often fail in this material “world.” The rather Buddhist/Eastern answer proposed in Christianity being this: perhaps we should just forget about the physical world; and material “possessions” and material promises of riches and bread. Instead, we should seek only mental or spiritual things. Or psychological satisfaction.
In any case, for whatever reason, Christianity at times continued to promise the old material, physical wonders, miracles, if we followed it. But it also – particularly in the Greco-Roman educated Paul - came to emphasize less physical, material things; and more… spirituality. The emphasis in the new Christian priests, was not in getting material rewards; but developing our minds or “spirits.” Indeed, many new “ascetic” monks, (rather like Buddhist monks before them), began to suggest that material rewards, in the “flesh,” mere “possessions,” even real “bread,” was less important than developing our eternal mind or “spirit”; a spirit which Paul suggested Platonically, was potentially “eternal” and immortal. While all things here on this earth, our “flesh”ly “body,” eventually got old, and died, and “rotted,” it was thought that somehow our mind or spirit, might transcend the limitations of material things, of flesh; especially if we perfected our minds. Then somehow, our “spirit” might expect to join the immortal truths, “forms” or “models” (see Paul and Plato); to somehow live forever, in Platonic/Christian “heaven.”]
And so it was the essential, characteristic contribution of Christianity, to clarify/add to Old Testament physicality, a hope of some kind of new transcendental or supernatural, “spirit.” Who would help us get beyond – transcend – our normal human limitations. In this vein, writers after the death of Jesus, began to assert that Jesus had “breathed” after his death; and even that his breath had conveyed a holy breath or “wind” – a Holy Spirit (“pneuma”?) – on his disciples (and on us?). This entering of a special wind or spirit, the coming-in of the spirit, this in-spiriting, has popularly come to be called, “inspiration.” And if was hoped that this special gift or aspect of religion, would at last, escape the limitations of flesh; help religion and us escape from common material and human limitations and errors. To guide us, with a better covenant, a better sense of the Christians’ God, to immortal truth itself. And yet however, we are about to find out in part in this present book, and then in later books, the theory of “inspiration,” this central sermon repeated continually by most priests and churches, is not itself entirely reliable. Specifically we are about to note this: God himself constantly warned about bad, deceitful, and “false” things, even in “spirits.” (As warned in our discussion specifically on the Holy Spirit, above).
The fact is, God constantly warned about “false spirits.” And then God explicitly told us, not to have too much faith or belief in spirits therefore; but instead, to “test the spirits”; even to “test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21; Gen. 42.15; Ps. 11.5; Ecc. 7.23; especially Dan. 1.4-15; Zech. 13.9; 1 Corin. 3.13; especially 1 Thess. 5.21; 1 Tim. 3.10; 1 John 4.1; see “science”). We are to scientifically test even spirits; even a thought or spirit said to come from/be, the Holy Spirit, we will see. To see if it is a good spirit. Or not.
The Bible often warned about false things, in spirits. Amazingly, God at times even sends false spirits to test us:
“God sent an evil spirit” (Jdg. 9.23).
“An evil spirit from the LORD tormented him” (1 Sam. 16.13; 19.9).
“I … will be a lying spirit in the mouth” (1 Kings 22.22).
“The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth” (2 Ch. 18.22 RSV).
“The unclean spirit” (Mat. 12.43).
“The evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know’” (Acts 19.15).
“If the spirit of jealousy comes upon him” (Num. 5.14).
“He has a different spirit” (Num. 14.24).
“It is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor’” (Rom. 11.8).
“Deceitful spirits” (1 Tim. 4.1).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” (1 John 4.1).
“They are demonic spirits” (Rev. 16.14).
Though God says he will at times “pour my Sprit upon your descendants” (Isa. 44.3, 61.1), and promised a “new spirit” (Ezk. 3.14, 11.19, 36.26), even those who have the best spirit – a good, not evil spirit from God – can apparently loose it. In death, and even in life:
“How did the Sprit of the LORD go from me?” (1 Kings 22.24).
“The breath of our nostrils, the LORD’s anointed, was taken” (Lam. 4.20; cf. breath as spirit, Job 27.3, 32.8).
“The LORD said, ‘My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he his flesh, but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years’” (Gen. 6.3 RSV).
So that finally, one “day,” God himself acts against the “prophets and the unclean spirit”:
“ ‘On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother … will say to him, You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD’s name’” (Zech 13.2-3 NIV).
“Healed of evil spirits” (Luke 8.2).
Should you therefore, just be blindly, faithfully following a “spirit,” or following spirituality? Actually God warned, you should not: because there are many false spirits, demons, bad ideas, in the world. And for that matter, we find here, we should not just trust spirits, even allegedly holy spirits, that we get from preachers, priests; since many of sprits that are presented as the holiest ideas, are evil spirits that priests mistook for good spirits. Remember that in fact, Satan himself, often presents himself as a “righteous minister.” And as it turns out, the things that seem like good, holy spirits to priests, are often evil spirits, that disguised themselves as “light,” as the Holy Spirit.
God might “pour out his spirit,” even his true spirit, on many, in the end. But there will also be many filled with false spirits, even from God, until the end. While we have noted problems even with the Holy Spirit, above.
In the case of “spirits” specifically in fact, we are not supposed to simply trust and have faith in them. But instead, amazingly, we are supposed to carefully, critically, scientifically examine, even “test” them, God says. To find out whether the spirits are good or not:
“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4.1 NIV).
At times it might seem to some that the “test”ing of religion, that we are supposed to do, is not scientific. Or that scientific testing of Christianity is forbidden; since God told us not to “put the Lord your God to the test.” But ultimately, even John emphasized testing in the “flesh” (1 John 4.2). While any prohibition on “test”ing must have meant merely not to “test” – or as it is better translated in some Bibles after all, “tempt” – God, with foolish and rash immoralities. Since indeed, ultimately God not only allows, but commands us, to “test everything” in religion scientifically; even to test God himself:
“Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).
“Put me to the test, says the LORD your God” (Mal. 3.10).
“Understanding … science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE).
Here we begin to find that even the highest and best angels and stars in heaven itself, were often bad. In particular, the core heroes of Christian tradition, erred, when they guided the whole world to the idea that God wanted us to base our lives on simple blind “faith”; faith in our holy men and their sayings. When on the contrary, we are showing here that the Bible, God, actually warned continuously that our holiest men and angels often made huge sins and errors; and therefore, we were never supposed to base ourselves so totally on simple “faith” in holy men; or in their vision, their verbal pictures, of God. Instead, we are supposed to rebuke our holiest men; and learn to base our vision of Good, not on “faith”; instead, on a more fruitful, critical “science” of God.
God’s Science, Point #45
Our Stars Fall
45) When we begin to at last see and believe all this, to be sure, our traditional Heaven of perfect heavenly heroes, perfect and infallible saints and angels and apostles, seems to dissolve; and our holiest heroes, seem to fall. But is this possible? Is this consistent with the Bible itself? Are we crossing, denying, and canceling the Bible, when we find this? In fact, we are not; all this was in the Bible itself, after all.
Specifically say: can even our holiest ideal “models,” for life, even those persons or ideas said to be in Heaven itself – the very “stars” of the heavens themselves – fall, like this? Can this heaven- shattering, Apocalyptic vision, as presented in our present book, be true? Can even priests and prophets and apostles, even the highest and brightest “stars” in Christianity, in heaven itself, have often secretly failed us, and sinned and erred? In fact, we will have begun to show here that the Bible itself warned that this was true. The Bible warned that there were always sinful “angels” of Satan even in heaven itself (Rev. 12.7, etc.). If fact the Bible warned that for that matter, essentially “all” our holiest men and angels in heaven itself, often sinned (“all have sinned”; see also biblical criticisms of “angels”). Sinned not just in their personal behavior, but at times even in their allegedly most Holy Spirit “inspired” doctrines. In fact, finally, God told us that there have always been so many sins in “all” those in heaven itself, that one day, Heaven itself is to be dissolved. And all the “stars” of heaven itself, are to fall:
“Though your nest is set in the stars” (Odb. 1.4).
“The stars of the sky fell to the earth…. I saw a great star falling from heaven, blazing like a torch…. The name of the star is Wormwood…. And a third of the moon, and a third of the stars” (Rev. 6.13, 8.11-12).
“Some of the stars of the sky it cast down” (Dan. 8.10).
“His appearance was like lightning” (Mat. 28.3); “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10.18).
“The stars withdraw their shining” (Jol. 2.10, 3.15).
“The stars are not clean in his sight” (unreliable source? In Job 25.5).
“The stars will fall from heaven” (reliable source, Jesus, in Mat. 24.29).
“The stars will be falling from heaven” (Mark 13.23).
“Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!… All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree” (Isa. 34.1, 4-5, 8 NIV; see also Jesus’ use of this, in Mark 13.31-2).
“They will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised?… But … by God’s word … the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement…. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar…. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire…. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3. 4, 5,7,10, 11, 13 NIV).
“Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain” God (1 Kings 8.27; 2 Ch. 2.6; God is “above all heavens”).
“All the starry host will fall” (Isa. 34).
Remember this critical fact: that the Bible warned constantly, that our holiest men and angels were often bad, in every way. While today, we are seeing one way how our preachers and ministers sinned: our preachers, our priests and ministers, did not really know or tell us honestly, about what the Bible itself really, fully said. There is a massive, general pattern of the Bible, a massively, continuously-repeated theme in it, that our priests do not tell us about. And that theme, is this: after offering positive statements about priests and holy men, the text often qualified or all but withdrew, all those positive statements.
Though at times our Bibles seemed to unequivocally support our religious messengers, the “angels” and their words, the “stars” of our faith, ultimately, there was always a consistent warning at work in the Bible, that even our highest “stars” were always partially bad; and that they have often fallen in the past. Regarding our religious “stars,” at least one was already being seen as having fallen it seems, even in the day of Isaiah (cf. Rev. 22.16, Jesus calls himself the morning star of Dawn):
“How you are fallen from heaven, O day Star, son of Dawn!… You are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. Those who see you will stare at you, and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble’” (Isa. 14.12, 15-16).
For centuries we were taught in church to revere our religious leaders, religious stars. But amazingly, the Bible warned about this. Telling us that one “day,” even “The stars will fall from heaven” (Mat. 24.29). Here we find that the Bible’s Christ is good; but the common idea of Christ, gotten from priestly mischaracterizations of the Bible, is not the true, real Christ; our priests were teaching a “false Christ” in effect.
See also warnings about false leaders from the house of David; “pegs” that give way (Isa. 22.22 ff). False, blind “servants” of God (Job. 4.18, Isa. 42.19 etc.) While finally, we found here, even the saints, apostles, “all” in heaven are bad and fail us (Job 15.15 KJE; “holy ones” RSV). So that ultimately, even the “host” of heaven is to fall (Isa. 34.4; Rev. 20 – 11-21.1).]
A Summary of Our Book(s)
What will be the three or four major points, made in our books here? In our many books, we are coming to this seemingly revolutionary conclusion: God commands us not to have not “faith,” but skepticism. Far from telling us to simply trust spirits, and the many things said to be from God himself, finally, ultimately, our books here will be making these four major points. First: 1) the Bible constantly warned us, that there were many, many false, bad, deceitful things, in almost each and every aspect of religion; from “all” believers, to Zechariah’s “shepherds,” and Holy “spirits” too. So that amazingly, 2) God finally said, that since there are so many false things in religion, even in things offered in the name of Christ, God himself ultimately ordered us all, not to base ourselves, our religion, on “faith.” Instead, 3) because so many things in religion are always false, deceitful, God told us that to find the truth, to really find God and Christ, we must outline and follow, a critical approach to religion; we must follow a Science of God. As described in the Bible itself.
These are shattering, Apocalyptic revelations just in themselves: finding that God himself told us that there have always been huge sins and errors even in our holiest men and angels. And that God himself told us that therefore, Christianity was not supposed to be based on “faith,” but on looking with a critical eye, with critical science, at our holiest men and angels, and their doctrines; demanding that they “prove” their claims. But finally, 4) if this application of science to traditional Judeo-Christianity, seems to attack or disprove our childhood idea of a God of “Faith” in “miracles” and “spirituality,” if it seems to “dissolve” the common, core Christian tradition? If our findings here, seem to attack and even destroy the common, simple, traditional idea of God, and “heaven”? Then after all, this is authorized by the Bible itself, and its prophesies. Because the Bible itself said that one “day,” we are supposed to see a “new,” “second” “parousia” /“appearance” – or commonly, a “Second Coming”, of God. While that Apocalyptic “day,” this second, “new” appearance of God or Christ, is supposed to expose sins not just in everyday secular people, but sins especially in our holiest men; in the “Christ”ianity that ruled even, the whole “world.” While finally, in that moment in fact, God himself, is supposed to destroy our Heaven itself. But all to order to show us a second and better appearance to, idea of, coming of, God and good. A better, second appearance to, understanding of, vision of, God. One that gives us a new and better heaven; a heaven that can get real, empirically-provable, material results. Here on this material earth, again.
While indeed, we will show, science gets, precisely the goods foretold by the Bible: our science of God, shows the best “signs” of getting foretold real “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “proofs”; in a timely way (“soon”); here on this material “earth.” That God promised to those that truly understood him.
And so in fact, what we are unveiling here, is the greatest moment in all of History. The foretold moment when God reveals himself again; in a “second,” better – if Apocalyptic; heaven-shattering – “appearance.”
One day, God is supposed to come to earth, to uncover longstanding, horrible sins in our holiest men and angels, and in their holiest “inspired” doctrines. A moment that is so horrible, that it in effect, destroys the mental image of God, our childhood “heaven,” entirely. Yet as painful, “fiery” as this moment is, it is all to the good. Since even as our childhood heaven is “dissolved” in “fire,” all this after all, does not destroy, but actually begins to “fulfill,” the ancient prophesies of the Bible. And if our traditional, common vision of a Heaven demanding faith in miracles and spirituality begins to dissolve, after all, this is not only fulfillment of Biblical prophesy; it is also all to the good after all, as well. Since all this begins to reveal a “new” and better “heaven”; a better vision of God. One that allows us to get better, real, verifiable, material results, wonders – even a heaven. Here on this material earth, again.
This will seem shattering; disillusioning; even Apocalyptic, to traditional believers. But if so, then all this is exactly what was foretold, exactly what was authorized, by the Bible itself. By God, himself. One day the whole “world” is supposed to discover there was something wrong, in their idea of “Christ” itself; and in that moment, Heaven itself is supposed to be dissolved.
But, furthermore? Those who take the trouble to read and understand what we are showing here and now today, will be rewarded. Rewarded with – as foretold – a second, better understanding, knowledge, of God and Good. One that can guide the merely blindly faithful believer, to a far, far better, far more fruitful vision, understanding, of God. To an understanding of life that can make the average blind believer, far, far more realistic, knowledgeable, and ultimately, “fruitful.”
All as promised, as foretold, in the Bible itself. By God, himself.
Can even the “stars” of the heavens themselves, fall? Just like this? Can all this heaven- shattering, Apocalyptic news, presented in our present book, be true? Can even priests and prophets and apostles, even the highest and brightest “stars” in Christianity, in heaven itself, have often secretly failed us therefore? In fact, the Bible warned that was true. First, typically, the Bible offered positive statements about our holy men:
“I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star” (Rev. 22.16).
But the general pattern of the Bible that our priests do not tell us about, that we are at last pointing out here, is this: typically, after offering positive statements about priests and holy men, the Bible qualified or all but withdrew those positive statements. As for example here, regarding our religious “stars”:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O day Star, son of Dawn!… You are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. Those who see you will stare at you, and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble’” (Isa. 14.12, 15-16).
For centuries we were taught in church to revere our religious leaders, religious stars. But amazingly, the Bible warned about this. Telling us that one “day,” even “The stars will fall from heaven” (Mat. 24.29). Here we find that the Bible’s Christ is good; but the common idea of Christ, gotten from priestly mischaracterizations of the Bible, is not the true, real Christ; our priests were teaching a “false Christ” in effect. (See also remarks about false leaders from the house of David; “pegs” that give way; Isa. 22.22 ff).
God’s Science, Point #46
46) Amazingly, shatteringly, the Bible notes sins in every single aspect of religion, from Adam and anointing and angels, to the stars, and “wise” men. Continuing alphabetically to the end, readers should also check out warnings False, blind “servants” of God (Job. 4.18, Isa. 42.19 etc.) While finally, we found here, even the saints, apostles, “all” in heaven are bad and fail us (Job 15.15 KJE; “holy ones” RSV). So that ultimately, even the “host” of heaven is to fall (Isa. 34.4; Rev. 20 – 11-21.1).
God’s Science, Point #47
47) So that in the end, even many reputed wise men are to be found really “fools”; “honorable” men are really bad “knaves” (Isa. 32.5). Though our priests assert they are the “true” wise men, the Bible warned that no one should think themselves wise.
God’s Science, Point #48
48) Even holy writings, written religious laws, “doctrines,” codes, do not even firmly, unequivocally help us; even they are often wrong and fatal: salvation is writ “Not with ink but with the Spirit” (2 Corin. 3.3); “The written code kills” (2 Corin. 3.6). As we note in our section on Scripture, below.
God’s Science, Point #49
49) And so finally, will “Worship,” worshipping God, save us? Our preachers assured us over and over it would. And yet, while parts of the Bible advocate worship, the other parts that we are examining here warned that after all, just worship in itself, is not good enough; the hard part, is to know that there are many false things that are presented in life, as coming from God; so we must determine which religious doctrines, which idea of God and which “Christ,” to worship. Because in fact, the very worst people in the world often present(ed) themselves to us, as the holiest men, angels, prophets, from God himself. Indeed, one “day” when “judgement” comes, we are supposed to discover that the whole world was deceived in what it worships as God and Christ. Since the whole world has followed a False Christ, a false idea or presentation of God and Christ (Rev. 13.8-14, 28.23, etc.). Indeed finally, in the end, the world is to be found to be deceived – as we find it here – even in its highest Christianity, its very “worship” (Rev. 13).
Can We Trust the Preacher’s “Christ”?
Or is the Christ of Faith in Miracles and Spirit,
The Foretold “False Christ”?
Christ? No doubt, following Christ himself, as he really is, will help us. But the absolutely crucial problem for all “Christians,” is this: which idea of Christ is the right one? This indeed is the worst problem in Christianity, of all the many nearly-fatal problems there: the Bible warned that many false Christs, false ideas of Christ, would are, and mislead everyone. “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13.22). “If some one comes and preachers another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough” (2 Corin. 11.4).
Even a “Christ” can be bad. Jesus warned there would be many False Christs after he himself: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13.22). Furthermore, John and others warned there were already False or “anti” Christs already; in the time of Jesus and John (1 John 2.18-4.3). Paul confirms problems with the idea of “Jesus” even in the time of Paul, too: “If some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough” (2 Corin. 11.4).
There are many warnings about false Christs. And even surprisingly, warnings even of Jesus himself: Gal. 3.13; “Christ redeemed us from the cure of the law, having become a curse for us – or it is written, ‘Cursed be every one who hands on a tree.” At times Jesus even may have warned about, doubted, himself: in Mat. 19.17: “Why callest me good” KJE. But especially, Jesus almost never said he was the Christ, but only asked others “who do you say I am.” While on the cross, Jesus assumed that God had abandoned Jesus; even suggesting Jesus himself was not the promised Christ, to some, etc.).
Most Christians have been told by their preachers that if they just follow the picture of “Christ” taught by preachers, they are following Jesus, and everything will be OK. But the problem is … that no one today can be absolutely sure he or she is following the right idea of Christ, and not a false idea, a False Christ.
Preachers like to assume that there will come a “false Christ” one day in the future; but especially remember that the Bible itself warned that a “false” Christ, was already present and fooling many, even in the very, very earliest days of Christianity: many false or “anti-Christ”s had already come, even in the time of Christ or John: “many antichrists have come…. They went out from us” (1 John 2.18,19). (The Apostle John, or author of Biblical books attributed to John especially, warned that Anti-Christs had already come, c. 90 AD. To be sure, John suggested that these followers of a false idea of Christ, were for the time, successfully kept at bay; they were “not of us.” And many churches, following John, asserted that they therefore, following John, escaped the apostasy of the false Christs; and followed “us,” the real message, the true Christ, from John and others. But actually – a – it is very hard to know, say which are the true followers of John. And – b – related to this, it is hard to know which are the followers of the right Christ. For that matter – c – Jesus himself seems to cast some doubt on the reliability even of John himself: Jesus for example, would not promise any particular status, to John himself. Regarding “James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother” – Mat. 10.2 – “the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him and asked… ‘Command that these who sons of mine may sit, one at your right hands and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking … to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant’” Mat. 20.20).
Here to be sure, we trust the testimony of scripture, of the Bible. And we might give all these various figures in the Bible – like the apostles that wrote our Bibles – some credibility. Yet that credibility is not absolute. Especially when the Bible itself – in as in the case of Paul, even they themselves – began to say, themselves, bad things about their own credibility. As when Paul questions himself, as we will see. Or when Paul noted problems, “insincerity,” in Cephas, or St. Peter.
To be sure, we find the writings of the Apostles to be rather credible. But only in the edited form that we have their writings today, in classic Bibles (like say, the King James, and the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible). And better said, we see the apostles making occasional overstatements … that need to be balanced out by other of their own statements. And/or by other writings, in other parts of the Bible. So that? The Bible, overall, seems true enough, so far as we are concerned here. Though to be sure, at times an apostle like Paul especially, will rather radically over-emphasize one aspect of Christianity; so that their work in itself, is misrepresentative or unbalanced. And needs to be balanced out, against the rest of the Bible, Old and New; and the other apostles.
(For more on False Christ, see our book volumes on Jesus?).
Early, Heaven-Shattering Conclusions
Finally, there are Biblical warnings of bad, especially “false” things, in every single aspect of religion, Christianity; from A to Z; from “angels” to our “worship” and “zeal.” But how can the faithful believer survive or face, the moment of awful realization when we at last see this? Here we suggest that we might face all this, by seeing these heaven-shattering revelations … for what they are: partial fulfillment of End Times prophesy. Here finally, we offer a solution that is biblical: a spiritual reading of the Apocalypse. Which goes this way: the shattering moment when we suddenly see all this, see the many sins of holy men and angels, is the partial fulfillment of Bible prophesy. Specifically, the moment the individual sees all this, is fulfillment of the prophesy that … one Apocalyptic “day,” we are supposed to “mature” or acquire “judgement”; and discover that the whole “world” has already long been already “deceived,” in its best idea of God and Christ. Deceived in effect, by a False Christ. And related to that moment? Our Heaven itself is supposed to collapse, “Dissolve.” In order for us to see a new, “second” Coming, appearance/”parousia,” of God. While indeed, we are perhaps seeing all that here and now; today. When we here and now see God, Christ, as they really are – advocating not blind faith, but a science of God; warning about sins in holy men – we are seeing a second appearance of God and Christ; one uncovers longstanding error in our old holy men and their doctrines; and that dissolves our traditional Heaven itself. But all that after all, is in partial fulfillment of prophesy; and all that is to give us a second and better, fuller undrestanding, appearance, of Christ and God. Our old “child”hood Heaven of “Faith” in miracles and spirit, is being dissolved, burned away; in order to give us a “full”er, more “mature” understanding of Christ and God.
If the Bible warned constantly about sins in holy men, then obviously, we are seeing – as foretold – God exposing sins in holy men. Indeed in fact, as foretold, bad priests and angels, have mislead the whole “world” in its “worship” (Rev. 13); and they did it specifically, by quoting only misleading “parts” of the Bible (1 Corin. 12.15 – 13.12). For centuries, priests deceitfully stressed only the parts of the Bible, of Christ, that seem to tell us our priests and prophets are absolutely reliable, and should be followed with total “faith.” While actually however, now we are suddenly seeing, with heaven-shattering clarity, that our priests and churches all deceived us, with a false picture or image of Christ. The fact is, Jesus himself constantly warned that there are always false things in our holiest men and angels; and therefore, we were never supposed to follow them with such total faith at all. Instead, we will see, we were supposed to “test everything” in religion, with “science” (Dan. 1.4 KJE), to expose the many false things in it.
Indeed, we were warned that one “day” we would notice many false things in our holiest men and angels and priests. And amazingly, here and now, we are discovering it: our priests and ministers misrepresented the Bible to us. They quoted to us only the parts of the Bible that seemed to stress the authority of priests and ministers and holy men; but our preachers deceitfully left out, or “twisted,” the many parts of the Bible that warned that our priests and holy men were often false.
As indeed we find them finally, false, here. (And in our separate volumes on the Destruction of Heaven, etc.).
Other Additional Gifts, Graces, and
Allegedly Sure, Saving Things In Christianity?
All Have Failed, From “Anointing”s to “Zeal”
Preachers in the past could not “face,” could not “bear,” to really see these many warnings in the Bible, about preachers themselves. To try to partially deal with what the Bible really, more fully said, they would now and then, admit that there have been small, personal sins in our holiest men and angels. But they will have then insisted that somehow, those sins were more or less permanantly “washed away,” or fixed. By this or that special grace or gift from God: some “anointing,” or “baptism,” or “grace,” or inspiration, or some such. Indeed, it seems as if every individual Christian denomination, claims some special saving gift, that would protect at least its own priests and ministers and doctrines, from the foretold sins and errors; some special quality like some special “anointing” or “baptism,” or “doctrine” or “grace,” that is peculiar or unique to this or that church, will save it.
But is there really any single special quality at all, that can save any church at all, from the sins and errors that God warned that “all” would have? We have already examined a few dozen major elements of traditional religion, from “angels” to “prophets,” and have found that the Bible itself warned about sins in every one of them; so that clearly none of those things, can definitely, completely, protect us from error. For example? In particular, many priests admit that they themselves might now and then make errors in their personal life; but they say, in key moments, when they present sermons, and present church “doctrines,” when they quote parts of the Bible, they claim, they are at least temporarily, in those important moments, protected from sin and err; by say, the “inspiration” or protection, of the Holy Spirit. And yet however? We will already have begun to note earlier, that even the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, does not necessarily save preachers and churches from error, even in their most allegedly important, even “inspired” moments. While then too? Not only did the Bible warn about problems even with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But here and now, we will go through one or two dozen of the allegedly special, saving gifts … and find that the Bible warned about problems in each of them, as well.
Here we have already looked at a few dozen, of the major elements, of traditional Christianity: from “angels,” and “apostles,” to “priests,” and “worship.” These are the things that are presented to us every day in Church, as being the wholly good things, that will save us. But when we looked at them more closely here, actually we found, that our preachers had read to us only misleading, positive parts of the Bible on these subjects; our priests deceived us, and did not tell us that the Bible itself warned ultimately that none of the elements of Christianity, were entirely good or reliable, at all.
But to be sure, this is a heaven-shattering “revelation” or shock. And many cannot
“face” or “bear” this vision of God and Good. And so, whenever a churchgoer discovers a few of these shortcomings in the major elements of religion, in our preachers and churches, to try to “twist” or “whitewash” this – and themselves – almost every preacher or church, next tries to find some more, other, almost random things from the Bible, some other novelty, that they can allege, IS perfect, or WILL save us.
Over the centuries, churches have scoured the Bible for something truly reliable; or some random element that doesn’t seem criticized by God much; and then one church or another, will fix on one element or another, to try to make it into a special gimmick; some allegedly special gift or grace, that, the church can claim, WILL always help save us, even when the other major elements of Christianity fail.
We do not have the time to cover each here, fully. But, if a reader looks up each of these new alleged special “gifts” and “graces,” up in a concordance, he or she will discover that each even of these allegedly new and special gifts, each has something wrong with it.
So for example, how about …:
God’s Science, Point #50
50) “Anointing”? Will this absolutely save you? If you look up this word in a Bible index, or “concordance,” you will find that … even the “anointed” priest can “sin” (Lev. 4.3).
God’s Science, Point #51
51) Likewise, there are many kinds of “baptism” … and even the best of them is not enough by itself; since you have to be born of “water” and the “spirit.” While spirits, themselves again, can be false. And it seems? That you can still sin, even after being baptized. So that its protection is not final, or absolute.
God’s Science, Point #52
52) Likewise, say, the “blood” of Jesus can fail us; even after taking communion, and receiving the “blood” or wine of Christ, we can still sin and err. While for that matter, the Jewish God, the Old Testament, told us never to consume blood, or meat with blood in it. (Then too, regarding eating Jesus: the Bible abhorred not only consuming anything with blood in it, but also especially cannibalism; Lam. 4.8-10 etc.. Note related sins in perhaps Eucharistic “wine” and drunkenness).
God’s Science, Point #53
53) Are our bodies good enough? Is even the bread, the “body of Christ” in the Eucharist, enough to save us? As it turns out, there are problems in various types of “body” and/or flesh. All these things are spoken of at times as good in the Bible; but then later on, the Bible mentions limitations in them. John 6.63: “the flesh is of no avail.”
God’s Science, Point #54
54) Likewise even sacred “covenant”s come and go. The covenant between God and Abraham, is modified by the “new covenant” of Paul. And so forth. While people bread covenants too; and the covenants are voided by God.
God’s Science, Point #55
55) Even “the cross” in itself, as an object, or when duplicated, becomes a mere piece of “wood” or “idol”; while the sentiment associated with it – self-sacrifice – can at times be bad or unnecessary too (when we seek “prosperity” and fruitfulness). Jesus on the cross, felt that his crucifixion was a sign that God had “abandoned” him.
God’s Science, Point #56
56) Even “discernment” is not enough; since people with this can be “taken,” deceived, even in the “discernment”s and “wisdom” (Prov. 19.12? Isa. 44.18).
God’s Science, Point #57
57) Churches like to claim that even if their priests are bad, their “doctrines” at least are “inspired,” and perfect. But the Bible warned of problems with even inspiration, we noted here; and with “doctrine”s (Job 11.4, Mat. 15.9; etc.); and …
God’s Science, Point #58
58) “Dogmas” “infallible” or otherwise share common problems with doctrines. And …?
God’s Science, Point #59
59) Enchantments? Enchantments are ideas, images, ideas, that captivate our minds; but ultimately they are false. “Enchantments” therefore, is another name for something the Bible talked a great deal about: the “illusion”s and “delusions” and “lies,” and “false dreams,” the “false spirits,” etc. – the false mental “images” and false ideas of God and Christ – that bad priests have historically given us. At times, God seemed to allow and even encourage false religious leaders, to “stand fast in your enchantments.” But ultimately of course, God condemned enchantments (Isa. 47.9-12-14; Ps. 58.5). God finally condemned them; and related to them, God condemned “empty consolations,” false “promises,” “lies,” false dreams, false prophesies, relating to his condemnation too of all things of “sorcerers” and “magicians” and “witches” and “augurs,” “soothsayers,” “necromancers,” fortune-tellers and seers, and even most “prophets,” and so forth. All these are condemned in effect, as working magical illusions and delusions; giving us “enchant”ing but false ideas of God.
God’s Science, Point #60
60) Will we be saved by the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper? Everyday experience tells us that even those of us who take the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, communion, can make mistakes very soon after receiving it. Indeed those disciples who had supper with Jesus himself in person, even with their hand on his table, would sin later, and betray him. Also note the Bible sometimes calling attention to problems with “blood” and “wine,” too. Peter/Cephas is accused by Paul, of getting table fellowship and perhaps the Eucharist, wrong; hypocritically, insincerely accepting, then excluding, Gentiles. The Bible notes problems with “blood” and “wine.”
God’s Science, Point #61
61) Then too, of vague spiritual “gifts” or charisms? Not all have them; “Do all possess gifts of healing?” (1 Corin. 12.30). And there is almost always one gift higher (1 Corin. 12.3). Then too “one who exacts gifts ruins it” (Prov. 29.4). And there can be false things about gifts: “I defiled them through their very gifts” (Ezk. 20.26). Finally, the “gifts” we once had, may well serve only until we attain the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4.8-24). Indeed, our present list shows there are problems with one alleged special “gift” or another. Even with, say, “grace.”
God’s Science, Point #62
62) “Grace.” At times Grace is said to be “sufficient” for our needs (2 Corin. 12.9). But other times, it is said can be lost; you can fall out of grace (Gal. 5.4). And even the apparently firm “staff” of “Grace” is supposed to be “broken” (Zech. 11.10);
God’s Science, Point #63
63) Many suggest that liturgies, Church services, can always save us. But liturgies are full of prayers, and words; while the Bible warned dozens of times, that both prayers and religious “words,” and “oaths,” and “assemblies,” and indeed everything about churches and temples, can go astray. If Jesus “the word” is himself good, still, many have always misunderstand him and his words, after all. (See “scripture,” on false words and so forth).
God’s Science, Point #64
64) Even sacred “mysteries” are, even by definition, things uncertain and vague; and therefore unreliable. Perhaps related to the “confusion of tongues.” While at times Paul seemed to tell us that he had told us the mysteries, after all. Then too …
God’s Science, Point #65
65) Bishops want to be “noble” (1 Tim. 3.1); but the “noble” are “fools” in the end (Isa. 32.5).
God’s Science, Point #66
66) Special teachings communicated “orally,” can be as false as the people, the false prophets, that utter then. While related to the unreliability of spoken words, the Bible warned specifically about the “false” things about the “tongue” (James). Or related to that, “tongues.” “You choose the tongue of the crafty” (Job 15.5); “they flatter with their tongues” (Ps. 5.9); etc..
God’s Science, Point #67
67) “Pillar”s are often spoken against by the Bible: “do not set up a pillar, which the LORD your God hates” ( Deut. 16.22). Even the metaphorical “pillars” of the church, the apostles, sin and err, and be found to be insincere hypocrites (Gal. 2.9).
God’s Science, Point #68
68) Relics, and good luck charms, sacred objects like “cross”es, etc. made of “wood” (q.v.) can fail us too. They can become “idols.” Like the forbidden “pieces of wood” and bone of idols; inanimate objects thought to have magical/miraculous powers; as if a piece of wood could speak. (See the church on “superstition”). Then too,
God’s Science, Point #69
69) Even “righteousness” can “become unrighteousness”; or we can be “righteous overmuch”;
God’s Science, Point #70
70) Even the “rock” of our religion, can fails us. See problems with Peter the “rock,” in Mat. 16.23; even Moses on the rock does not see God’s “face” in Ex. 33.20; after 1 Tim. And there are problems even with Jesus, as the “rock,” still failing us, in the wilderness (1 Corin. 10.4). See also God’s word shattering the “rock” (q.v.).
God’s Science, Point #71
71) The word “sacraments,” comes from “sacred” “oaths.” But Jesus tells us not to make oaths; and just let our “yes be yes,” and our simple “no,” mean no (Mat. 5.34; Hos. 10.4). While sacraments and sacramentals might include “idols,” statues of “wood” and other idols too. They include the “body” and “blood” too; but the Bible noted problems with “blood,” etc..
God’s Science, Point #72
72) Even “sanctification” has problems; and can be spoiled or forgotten (Num. 20.12; 2 Ch. 30.3);
God’s Science, Point #73
73) And regarding religious, church Tradition? Will it always be good? If you look up every reference to this word, in a concordance, a Bible index, you will find there are problem with religious “tradition”;
God’s Science, Point #74
74) There are even problems with virgins (Isa. 47.1-5-15). And specifically, even a virgin Mary who does not understand, but has to ask what things mean. And who defers therefore to men like Jesus.
God’s Science, Point #75
75) The simple will to be good, might seem to some people, to hold up; to be good enough. And good will goes a long way. But even here, often our good will, part of our spirit, often goes wrong. Many of the worst things in history, were done by do-gooders; people who willed to do good … but whose idea of the “good” was wrong. So that precisely when they did “good,” bad things happened.
While in any case, even our “will” is often not strong enough, and can fail. (Against the demands of the body, lusts of the flesh, etc., our will to control them often fails; see Rom. 7.18 etc.).
And furthermore, it is not, as priestly apologists claim, that the various special gifts are good; and only fail if our own “will” fails, moreover. The fact is, even if our will is strong, even if we follow the alleged special gifts, those gifts often fail, just in themselves. Our quick survey here, shows that the Bible warned there are intrinsic flaws, lacks, in each and every one of these alleged special graces. Just in themselves; totally apart from any strength or insufficiency, in our faith in them, or our will to follow them.
.
God’s Science, Point #76
76) “Zeal”? Christ is said to have “zeal” for his church. But how does he express his zeal for the church? He does it by … exposing many sins in the Church. And physically beating the evildoers, in the church, out of the church. With a whip that Christ has made, with his own hands (John 2.17, from Ps. 69.9, 2 Sam. 21.2). So likewise we now express our zeal; but zeal ends up doing something quite different than what preachers thought. Zeal is useful. But zeal does not end up confirming the churches; instead, it ends up exposing them. It is a useful tool; but bad news for many churches.
Seeing All This, As Fulfillment of
The “Apocalypse”
So what might save us? Our major point in our books here, is that the Bible did not stress faith. Or, as we have just seen, it did not really have high confidence in most of the allegedly saving gifts or graces, of various churches either; not in “angels” or “anointing”s, or “baptism”s or “graces”; not in “worship” or in “zeal.” Instead, the Bible itself, insofar as it is reliable, told us over and over, that our holiest men were often false; they and their holiest doctrines and allegedly protective graces, as well.
So what is the solution? Finally, if anything, a experience – and now, a closer look at the Bible itself – has taught us that nothing in religion, even Christianity, is foolproof. Therefore, it now seems clear that we should never have so much “faith” in any of those things, any angels or priests especially, as the Bible said. Rather, instead, we should have trusted far more than many ardent believers and priests have, to science and reason; or to a material Science of God.
And, as we will be seeing, this science of God is not supposed to be too “spiritual”; but is supposed to be focused on physical, material evidence. But for the moment, on the way to a more concrete presentation, we still might offer for those who insist on it, a “spiritual” reading of all this. All this might be explained, by a metaphorical, spiritual reading … as being simply, the Apocalypse. Which would go this way: as we discover sin after sin, in all the things presented to us as holy? This is a mentally, spiritually shattering moment. But if it is shattering? Then after all, perhaps this is … the Apocalypse, the End Time, the eschatological Second Coming. All these things can to some extent be read as metaphors, actually for a mental or “spiritual” moment, in our intellectual/spiritual development. To some extent, the Apocalypse can be read as the “day” or moment we grow up or “mature.” The day we notice sins in our holiest men and authority figures; and move beyond blind faith in holy men and so forth. Note that one Apocalyptic “day,” we are supposed to acquire “judgement.” And in that moment, we are supposed to discover that the whole world has already long been already deceived, in its best, earlier idea of God and Christ. And indeed, we are coming to that intellectual/spiritual moment, even here and now, today.
As we re-read our Bibles here, and discover, painfully, that our Bibles finally deliver a very, very different message from what our preachers told us? In effect, we are passing through a spiritual Apocalypse. Indeed, one aspect of the foretold End Times after another, is realized … when we begin to see all this. Specifically, as we have re-read our Bibles here, we have found that – exactly as the Bible foretold – bad priests have mislead the whole “world” and its “worship” even with a “false Christ.” Specifically? Nearly all our priests in the past, deceived us all, by quoting only misleading “parts” of the Bible (1 Corin. 12.15 – 13.12).
And so indeed, we are coming to see our five, Heaven-shattering, five main points. Specifically, as the Bible forewarned, our priests deceived themselves and then the whole world, when they read and stressed only the parts of the Bible, of Christ, that seem to tell us that 1) our priests and prophets are absolutely reliable, and 2) that they therefore should be followed with total “faith.” While actually, just as the Bible foretold, now we are suddenly seeing, with heaven-shattering clarity, that our priests and churches all deceived us with a false picture or image of Christ. The fact is, Jesus himself constantly warned that there are always false things in our holiest men and angels; and therefore, we were never supposed to follow them with such total faith at all. Instead, we will see, 3) we were supposed to “test everything” in religion, with “science” (Dan. 1.4 KJE), to expose the many false things in it.
Indeed, the fact is moreover 4) we were warned that one “day” in particular, we would notice many false things in our holiest men and angels and priests. While amazingly, here and now, we are discovering it: our priests and ministers misrepresented the Bible to us. They quoted to us only the parts of the Bible that seemed to stress the authority of priests and ministers and holy men; but our preachers deceitfully left out, or “twisted,” the many parts of the Bible that warned that our priests and holy men were often false. As we find them false, here and now.
And so? We will often suggest that if a reader, a believer, feels intense pain and anger and disillusionment, on hearing about all these sins and errors, in nearly every aspect of traditional Christine? Then after all, the believer should be able to at last simply learn to “face” and “bear” all that; on discovering that after all, this moment of doubt and pain and disillusionment, was foretold, authorized, by the Bible itself. The moment we hear of this, is not therefore, ultimately, attacking or desroying the Bible itself; but is fulfilling it. Fulfilling especially, among hundreds of other things, the old prophesies of … a Destruction of Heaven – and a Second Coming. Here indeed, our old Heaven is dissolving – as foretold. But 5) all in order for us to see a second and better appearance to God and Christ, after all.
Conclusion
For now, in our present chapters, we will have begun to look at a few dozen, of the major elements, of traditional Christianity: from “angels” and “apostles,” to “priests,” and “worship.” These are the things, the people, that are presented to us every day in churches all over the world, as being the wholly good things, that will save us. But? As we have here begun to look in the Bible, at what the Bible itself fully said about each of these, the major elements of traditional Christianity? Here we will have begun to show that the Bible itself warned – that none of these things was ever quite as good, as what our preachers told us in church. In fact? St. Paul warned that he and others saw only “part” of the truth. And here we find that horribly, unexpectedly, confirmed: most of our traditional preachers, have read to us only misleading, positive, misleading “parts” of the Bible on these subjects. While thereby? All our priests deceived us all. When they did not adequately tell us that the Bible itself warned continually, that none of the many elements of Christianity, were entirely good or reliable, after all.
To suddenly see this, to be sure, this is a heaven-shattering “revelation” or shock. And just as the Bible itself forewarned, many cannot “face” or “bear” (John 16.12), this awful revelation from God: they cannot bear to face the moment when they begin to see that there were always huge sins and errors, in almost all the very things they were taught were absolutely holy and true. Such things are hard to face or believe. And so indeed, whenever a churchgoer discovers a few of these massive shortcomings in the major elements of our traditional religion, sins in our preachers and churches, rather than face this? Most go into sophistical Denial. Rather than face all this, most preachers for example, try to “twist” or “whitewash” all this. Most preachers will work hard, to find the one reading of the Bible, that is far more complacent and reassuring. Preachers indeed, have long worked very, very hard … however, at what in our own time, is the wrong task. Today, our people are “mature” enough to be told the truth; to begin to be shown the second, more self-critical side of the Bible. Today, the people of the world are sophisticated enough … to be told that the Bible itself assured us that even our holiest men and angels often sinned. So that? Though we might have some very little confidence or faith in them … we should never had had very, very much. The fact is, almost none of our allegedly holiest things, none of even our allegedly special saving graces, is all that perfect, or holy. Though? Fortunately, we can now partially correct for many of those sins. If and when we learn a little science and practical sense.
In the past, now and then a preacher, or a member of his congregation, would notice that practical experience – and even parts of the Bible – would note frequent sins in holy things. To try to explain this away, to “twist” and “whitewash” this, over the centuries, churches have 1) just quoted in sermons and homilies, the more positive aspect of the Bible. Or, among other things 2) over time, legions of preachers have historically scoured the Bible, for something more truly reliable; or for some random or obscure element or special grace, that doesn’t seem criticized by God too much. And then? A particular preacher and church, will try to fix on that one element; to try to make it into the keystone. Nearly every individual Christian denomination, has historically fixed on one or another particular, allegedly special gift or grace. One that, the church can claim, will always help save us, even when the other major elements of Christianity fail. Indeed, most churches, denominations, name themselves after one or another allegedly special gift: like the “Baptists,” for example, naming themselves after the allegedly saving gift or sacrament of baptism. Or the Seventh-Day Adventists, who feel that the spiritual gifts of “Advent” is the important focus. Or the “Presbyterians,” naming themselves after the original Greek term for elders, preachers. Anglicans believe that an English church, Englishness, will sae them. Related Episcopalians, suggest that having their own epi-“pope” or central leader is the path to salvation. “Fundamentalists” look for a few “fundament”al principles. Thus? Each fixing themselves on that concept, this or that fetish or gimmick. As if that would firmly, definitely save them. Even “Catholicism,” which named itself after being “catholic” or universal, all-inclusive … soon attached itself to all too few, all too simple, core principles or fetishes; like communion or the Eucharistic body of Christ, for example. Even Christian “Science” and “Scientology,” unfortunately, focused on just one tiny part of half-science, making that half-concept a fetish; so that they now need to move up to a fuller understanding of full, real Science, finally.
We ourselves, do not have the time to fully cover, each and every one of the alleged special saving gifts here, fully. But a reader can find many elements of traditional religion – including these alleged special “gifts” and “graces” – in a concordance. While if the reader looks them up? The reader will discover that the Bible itself finally warned about shortcomings, in each even of these allegedly new and special gifts; every one of them has something wrong with it. While furthermore? It is not – as countless sermons have claimed – that these are good things, that are often however misused: to be sure, one problem is that they are regularly misused; indeed, they lend themselves to misuse. But better said: we will be finding here, that each and every one of the major elements of traditional institutional religion, is basically too small, to really deal with all of life, and with an infinite God.
Over the centuries, to be sure, church after church, preacher after preacher, has finally begun to notice sins, inadequacies, in almost each and every single aspect, of traditional religion, traditional Christianity. But then? The preacher or church have asserted that however, their own church uniquely had this or that special gift, that would save it. Yet finally, anyone who really read their Bible, should have seen it early on. In addition to problems with, sins in, the dozens of special gifts, elements of Religion, that we have just indicated? For more documentation on this, a reader might see our Bibliographies; which list problems with, sins in, each and every special aspect or grace of traditional religion, Christianity, and religious services; from A to Z; “anointing”s and “baptism,” to “worship” and “zeal.” Even our brief survey just of the Bible itself, here, shows that it warned us that there are problems with, sins in, every single alleged saving grace or asset of the churches. While furthermore? Finally the Bible tells us study not only the Bible itself, but also to study History; the record of what “comes to pass” in real life (Deut. 18.21-2). While History confirms that our holiest churches often conflicted. Or indeed, our personal experience shows it: for example? The Roman Catholic Church often assures us that the Eucharist, taking the body of Christ, will protect you from sins for some time. Yet the History or practical experience of many individual Catholics, for example, confirms the partial failure of most traditional graces. For example? You may find that you can take Communion for example, the Eucharist, in church … and yet then, immediately thereafter, sin – have bad, impure thoughts, say. Even immediately after receiving this allegedly permanent, or infallible, fully saving grace. Right after receiving this special gift … you can then still immediately fall, stumble; even sin mightily. Even right after receiving it. Likewise, even after going to Confession, and receiving Absolution; one is said to be without sin, sins forgiven; but for how long? One can sin, one can have a sinful thought, even immediately after absolution. So that? The allegedly holy and perfect saving gifts, sacraments – of the Eucharist, or Confession, say – are not entirely efficacious, either.
Is this possible? Could all our holy things often fail us? The fact is, the Bible itself clearly warned that this would be the case; that there are false things, in essentially every aspect of Religion, even Christianity itself. Many churches tell us they are the one true church; and that they have some special, unique gift or grace that can save us, when other elements fail. But here at last, we are fore-grounding the parts of the Bible itself that note problems, failures in these and all other allegedly special saving graces. While ultimately, not only the Bible itself, but also practical experience, teaches us that many people who have had one or more of these alleged special gifts still seem, in real life, to fall, sin, and do or experience, bad things. In addition to scriptural warnings about holy things, practical experience confirms that one after another of the alleged special gifts, does not really protect us. So finally? There is almost nothing in traditional Christianity, that is fully good or holy; neither “angels” nor “baptism,” nor our “church,” nor our “worship” or “zeal,” was ever really, fully good or adequate.
Finally? Nothing in religion was ever quite as good as, say, science. Or if we must have religion? Than the Science of Religion, the Science of God.
To be sure, if the Science of God is better than all the many traditional fetishes and gimmicks of traditional churches? It is in part better … because it is at last, humble. The Science of God, like all science, regularly admits that even it can make mistakes. So that? Like all sciences, it is always open to revision, and correction. It has abandoned the proud delusion of religion: that it alone is absolutely good and perfect and holy. In order that it, even better than our priests, can at last acquire one of the great virtues of religion: Humility.
Even as it is far greater than any of the traditional religious virtues and assets – and greater even essentially, then basically, all of these flawed virtues put together – still, the Science of God is at last, humble. Having seen one error after another, in our greatest alleged virtues, the Science of God is always open to correction, as new data presents itself.
Everyday, average Americans today, want simple answers. A few simple rules to live by. But life, God, are never that simple. So that? We must always be open, to new information. And open to … correction of old ideas.
While amazingly? We will find that the Bible made even religion, open. Even to a “new” and better, “full”er, “second” “appearance” of God, himself.
This is not some “strange new doctrine”; this is what was always said. In the Bible itself.
END OF CHAPTER
Appendix:
Looking Ahead to Paul and Jesus?
Mainly Paul Stresses Faith,
And in the New Testament
Because the Bible warned of bad, false things in essentially every aspect of our religion, obviously, God could not have meant to stress specifically, “faith” that much. God clearly did not want us to have too much faith in either our holy men; or implicitly, their words about God. Instead we will see, God wants us to learn to apply critical thinking, a critical science, to all religions. But what do we do therefore, with all those parts of the Bible constantly quotes in sermons? The parts that seemed to stress “faith” explicitly, and by name?
Our present chapter is mainly about the Old Testament. And as it has turned out, 1) the Old Testament strongly indicated sins in holy men; and 2) therefore did not stress faith, but 3) firmly, explicitly supported a science of God. Indeed, a) as for “faith”? The entire Old Testament mentioned the word “faith” only about six or seven times; and b) there, some of the mentions referred not to our faith in God, but his faithfulness to us.
[While others - like N. T. Wright? - have argued persuasively, that in general, any reference to faithfulness in the OT – the Old Testament – in particular, refer to what is called “covenant faithfulness”; that is they merely meant that we are supposed to loyally – that is, “faith”fully – follow God’s rules and laws, our contracts or covenants with God. “Faithfulness” in the Bible ultimately therefore, does not just refer to some inner, spiritual sentiment or feeling; an inner feeling of loyalty, as parts of Paul, especially his attacks on God’s “law” had seemed to suggest in themselves; and as modern preachers take it to mean. Rather instead, it means … just closely, following God’s rules. As it turns out, the inner feeling associated with that - of loyalty, loyalty, fidelity, constancy, hope - is a bonus. However? Though this inner feeling, that most preachers today think of as “faith,” is helpful, and even necessary? Finally just the feeling, in itself, is not sufficient, as a logician would say: we must not only have this inner sensation, but it should prove itself to be sincere, when, after we have faith in God, we then therefore go out and perform the good “deeds,” that God told us to do. If we claim to have faith, but then do not follow God’s commands to do good deeds and so forth? Then clearly, we were not really faithfully following all of God, at all. As the Apostle James began to suggest, in James 2.14-26]
As it turns out, the primary defense of “faith” in the Bible was by far, not in the Old Testament, from God himself. It was in the New. And even there, it was not even from Jesus; but rather by far, the most vociferous advocate of “faith,” was specifically and only, the im “perfect” Apostle, St. Paul (Php. 3.12). The a) entire Old Testament, for its own part, mentioned “faith” by name, six or seven times; b) Jesus himself mentioned it about 21 times; while c) only Paul – and in the New Testament only – mentioned it nearly 180 times; and discussed faith in pages and pages of text. But finally, not only is it only Paul that is the real voice behind “faith” as a mere mental or spiritual sentiment; d) we will be noting that Paul admitted that he himself was not “perfect.” Paul admitted problems, even in himself: Paul confessing that he himself was not “perfect” (Php. 3.12); that he was even the “worst of sinners”; that at times he was really a “fool,” even when he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament itself. (Nor could Paul say anything else; supporting his own “wisdom” say. Not without violating the Biblical injunction, which commanded us to “be not wise in your own eyes.” If Paul does finally toot his own horn, trumpet his own virtues, back his own ideas, then after all, he notes he may be “boasting,” and indeed may even be a “fool” when he does so).
The main or most obvious apparent advocacy of faith, therefore, was not the Old Testament at all, from God himself. Therefore, the Bible’s apparent statements in advocacy of Faith, are not properly found in our first chapters, on the Old Testament. But before our later, lengthy volumes on Science versus Faith, in the New Testament, and specifically Paul? We might briefly here, note some quick responses. To the countless preachers who will quote Paul, as evidence that the Bible supported “Faith.” First we have just noted, that a) the Old Testament did not really support faith, as much as science. While b) it was overwhelmingly, Paul that supported it – while Paul admitted that he himself, like all the apostles, made many mistakes. Even as it turns out, in his most inspired moments. While now we should add, c) finally even Paul, even the loudest, wordiest advocate of faith in the Bible, himself began to note some inherent problems, with faith itself.
To be sure, in the interest of achieving a balanced and fair survey of all the Bible, we need to mention all those hundreds of places, where the Holy Book seemed to adamantly, strongly, support “faith” by name. The Bible – or better said, the apostle Paul – often flirted with basing Christianity and our entire lives, on faith. So that priests have always been able to find many, many quotes from the Bible, that seemed to very strongly support their “faith.” Quotes like the following. But note how many of them are just from Paul, among other things:
“His faith was reckoned as righteousness” (Rom. 4.5). “My righteous one will live by faith” (Heb. 10.38; but here Paul is significantly different, from Hab. 2.4, which cited “his” or God’s faith to us; not ours to him, RSV?).
“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11.6).
“O woman, great is your faith” (Mat. 15.28).
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’” (Mat. 17.20-21 NIV).
“If you have faith and never doubt, (Mat. 21.21 RSV).
“For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” ( Rom. 14.23).
“Be watchful, stand firm in your faith” (1 Corin. 16.13).
“For we walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Corin. 5.7. Though note the larger context: those who do this are “far from God”).
“In later days some will depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4.1; note “the”).
“The prayer of faith will save the sick man” (James 5.15. But save spiritually or physically?).
“A faithful man will abound with blessings” (Pr. 28.20 RSV; Revised Standard Version, of the Holy Bible).
Admittedly, there are many, many seemingly very, very firm statements in the Bible – especially from the Apostle Paul – that have always seemed at first, to absolutely support faith. But we will be showing here that actually d) these “parts” of the Bible that we always heard in church, are only parts of the text, after all. While reading more fully and widely here and now, we will show that the Bible ultimately showed especially in other parts of the Bible, that there were many problems with that; with a religion based too solely on “faith”; without using our “knowledge” and “mind” and so forth. Indeed, e) elsewhere, in other parts of the Bible, mindful of some problems with that idea of Christianity; specifically the Bible began to hint at a better, “second” vision, second appearance, to God and to Jesus. And then specifically to f) outline a more critical science of God, to be used, over faith.
Specifically, the Bible began to sketch out the outline of God and Jesus advocating not “blind” or even “strong “faith”; instead, ultimately the Bible showed God and Christ telling us all to learn and use, over faith, a real, critical, empirical “Science” of God. A science of religion, of life, that at last, guides us to greater Truth (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE, etc.). That guides us it seems even, to the foretold “second” and better “appearance” or Second Coming of God.
But for now, let’s show that especially, g) a more sophisticated form of reading – reading in context; reading for double meanings – begins to find problems, even with the particularly positive quotes, above. For example, remember the case where we found that, regarding the “test of faith,” that when we read it more closely, we found that it was not God who supported or initiated this stress on faith – but was literally, the devil himself.
(In addition to some problems we here notice, in the semantic subtleties of the word, what some are suggesting today – like N. T. Wright? – is that “faithfulness” originally meant merely “loyalty” to God, or as Wright called it, “covenant obedience”; faithful or loyal obedience to his covenants. It did not mean what many take it to mean later on: it was not originally some kind of inner feeling of confidence. Nor did it describe blind obedience in the face of no proven benefits. Rather, it described a cautious, reasoned loyalty to God; expressed by deeds, and based on past provable goods.)
Keeping our own first example of Job and Satan in mind, eventually we will try to go through every single one of the statements in the Bible that appeared to stress faith; and show that a closer reading finds they are all just as ambiguous as the Job and Satan example. Take for example, one of the seemingly positive quotes just cited above: when Paul asserts that God had earlier said “my righteous one shall live by faith,” allegedly referring to the faith of course, of faithful believers. But actually, in the original context of the Old Testament, note here this was one of the cases where “his faith” was referring to the faithfulness that God himself exhibited. This was about God’s faithfulness to us; not of us, to him. Paul was extrapolating excessively, even some would say misrepresenting, “twist”ing, Hab. 2.4.
Let’s look at the Old Testament passage that Paul is citing. First, it is referring in part to a bad, vain, drunk person. Then to be sure, it talked about “the righteous” who will live by “his” faith. But who is the “his” that is being talked about here? Look closely at the original Old Testament passage. Where the righteous many lives not by the faith of the righteous person himself, but finally, can be read as meaning, thanks to the faithfulness God himself has, in working to save us:
“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous will live by his faith” (or faithfulness) Hab. 2.4 NIV. (Note: not “the righteous man”; “righteous” used as a noun, being plural, it would not take “his” as its corresponding pronoun. Not that this could be a reference too, to God’s faith in us, from the OT; not ours, in him.).
The fact is, as we will see, historically, certain parties very much wanted the Old Testament God, to seem to support faith in the sense of belief without material evidence; and yet they could not quite find many such remarks in the Old Testament; which we will show, overwhelmingly supporting science. So that finally, it seems that interested parties, rather misused Old Testament statements; semantically “twist”ed their usage semantically. In ways that ordinary untrained people cannot spot; but that a specialist can often see. Here we will suggest that likely, when the text referred to “his” faith, it did not mean the faith of the righteous person (nor the “puffed up” person); but referred only, merely, to the faithfulness that God himself has in us, in fulfilling his promises.
The fact is, we note here in passing, h) the entire Old Testament only used the word “faith” six times; and of those six times, once it is about the faithfulness of an ox; and twice, it is about God’s faithfulness to us; not ours, to him. Similarly, the word “faithful”:
“The LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – the LORD, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind…” (Ps. 146.6-8 NIV. See also psalms like Ps. 89.1-49. See also Peter speaking of Peter, just before warning of those who “twist” scripture).
So actually, it would not have been accurate for Paul to refer to say, Hab. 2.4, as proof that God wants to stress others having faith in God, as their chief virtue. Because in fact, the original passage was not about that. As further proof, note that grammatically, the relevant words in Hab., are this: “The righteous will live by his faith.” But note that the word “righteous” is normally an adjective; and when it is used as a noun, it is only used as a plural noun. If God wanted to refer to just one righteous person, he would say something like “the righteous person”; whereas to refer to “the righteous,” is always plural. In proper English usage, we do not say for example of one good man, “the righteous went to the refrigerator, and then the righteous got himself a chicken sandwich.” So that the “he” that is faithful, could not be the “righteous.” He is singular; the righteous is plural.
Such things are subtle; and most readers will miss them. Or they will argue that the Bible was mistranslated. But of course, if some claim that the Bible as we have it is mistranslated, then they claim to be smarter than the best translators in history. Moreover, that would mean that the holy text in any case, is functionally inaccurate. And in that case, why continue citing it as authority any more?
Finally, to pursue this single quote i) just one more step: this quote might seem to suggest among other things, that faith is very good; that it is related to “righteousness.” But then note something else here: eventually, we will see, the Bible warns about pitfalls, in almost every single aspect of religion, Christianity – including even “righteousness.” For example, we were warned about times when “no one is righteous.” For that matter, we were warned not to be too righteous; self-righteous or “righteous overmuch.” God warning that many who feel they are righteous, who are “righteous in their own eyes,” etc., are hypocrites, or very vain and proud people:
“Be not righteous overmuch” (Ecc. 7.16).
“All men … are under the power of sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Rom. 3.9-10).
“You blind guides, staining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!…. You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and inequity” (Mat. 23.24, 27, 28).
Not only are self-righteous people often vain and hypocritical; the text of Ecclesiastes even many suggest that being over-scrupulously righteous, can often get you killed. When the Nazis come to your door, and ask if you are harboring a Jew in your basement, should you scrupulously tell the truth? Or not? If you do, it might be that the Nazis will execute both the Jew, and you yourself. So that …
“A … man … perishes in his righteousness” (Ecc. 7.15).
The Bible itself therefore, eventually began to hint at some surprising problems with “faith”; and even “righteousness.” In fact we will be finding here, that the more we look into each and every one of the allegedly perfect saving graces of the churches, from “anointing” to “faith” to “righteousness” and so forth, we will find that the Bible warns about problems, shortfalls, in each and every one of them. The fact is, “all have sinned”; every person. And there are flaws, sins too, in every single one of their allegedly sacred gifts as well. And it is not, as priests often mistakenly claim, that the gifts are perfect, and we human beings are just too flawed to employ these gifts well enough; the problem is that there are inherent flaws, in the gifts themselves; they could not be made to work, even by a perfect person. As we will see.
Eventually too, j) we will especially note some logical, contextual subtleties to “Faith,” in our chapter-length discussion of these examples that seemed superficially to support faith. Among other things, we note that often any given example, that seemed to put apparent stress on “faith,” reveals that the call to faith, is often contingent on an immediately preceding passage of the Bible – where before the Bible calls for faith, the Bible asserts it has just described a reliable report of an actual physical wonder as evidence. So that in fact the usual pattern for asking for “faith” is not asking for faith without corroborating evidence; but only after real material evidence is produced. So that in effect, the Bible was really asking for faith … in material evidence. As we will see finally.
This finally leads indeed to an interesting conclusion: that by “faith,” God meant faith in empirical evidence. Indeed, note what happens, if we suggest the alternative: if “faith” really means believing something without seeing lots and lots of evidence, then note that logically, any person who had seen lots of evidence, like material wonders, could not have faith. Thus it would have been impossible for the apostles – who were said to have seen Jesus work lots of material wonders – to have faith. The apostles had already seen far, far too much material evidence. So any apparent call for “faith” was unnecessary and moot: the apostles, having seen evidence, could not qualify; they logically could never have strong faith. Having already seen far too much material evidence, they could only be based on material evidence; science.
These are logical subtleties that are difficult for many ordinary readers to be sure; and so more often, rather than noting such things, we will for some time, almost just simply pile up easy quotations, that clearly support our main ideas; that support a science of God. Only in our final sections will we begin to look at these more difficult cases. Though we will find that finally, the Bible is full of what are reputed to be reliable accounts of God and Jesus working tons and tons of huge, material wonders; in effect, anyone who has read the Bible, has read tons of what in effect is presented as material evidence for the claims of some holy men. Thus, if the old accounts are accurate, it is forevermore logically impossible for anyone who knows more than a few lines from the Bible, to have strong faith. They have seen evidence: which makes strong faith, believing without evidence, logically impossible.
Thus logically, the Bible could never have been asking for any very strong faith at all; but only for a tiny amount (indeed, a tiny “mustard seed”). In fact, since the Bible purports to offer tons and tons of evidence, in effect, if it called for faith, if must have finally meant by faith, only the tiny amount it takes to believe things well proven, by constant, giant miracles.
These and other fine points of logic will be too obscure for many readers to be sure; and so we will not discuss them until much later volumes and chapters. Though it is worth mentioning them at the beginning.
On Examples of Science
A simpler way to get to our major point here, is not to deal with the difficult (if resolvable) semantic and logical problems of quotes mentioning “faith”; instead, to reach the ordinary churchgoer, we might simply just pile up one simple, positive quote after another from the Bible, stressing science.
Readers who just skim our first few, major biblical examples of religious science – from the Book of Daniel; of Ezekiel in 1 Kings; of Malachi – will begin to see the first, clearer outlines, of a second and better appearance of God. Readers will see that even these relatively simple examples convey “full”er vision of God, that does not stress faith in traditional holy men, and their promises of physical miracles, or better spirits. The fact is, God constantly noted lots and lots of sins and errors, in our holiest men and angels, and institutions. The Bible itself, we will be showing here, shatteringly, noted deep, longstanding sins, even in angels; and churches; and priests; and prophets. So that for this reason alone, clearly the Bible did not really want us to have such total faith in holy men and their doctrines; or their vision of “God.” Instead, the holy book often offered detailed descriptions, of how we are supposed to apply critical science, to our holiest men and angels. To look to see if they are getting real, physical, material results. To confirm – or dis-confirm – that they and their words, are truly from God.
The Bible therefore, we will show, did not stress faith as our primary value; or if it mentioned the subject, it ultimately stressed in effect, faith in empirical evidence; an aspect of Science.
First, we will note here, a) the Bible constantly warned that “all have sinned,” even our holiest men. Which in itself would suggest that faith in holy men, or their words, is not indicated. Therefore, b) in the end, it was only St. Paul especially that stressed “faith” over and over. But c) finally even the apostle/St. Paul himself, admitted that even he himself, was at times a “fool,” the “worst of sinners”; that he was not “perfect.” While, d) if we are to fully believe Paul, then note that even Paul told us, not to have too much faith or credulity; but to “test everything” in religion (1 Thess. 5.21). While eventually, Paul’s command to “test everything,” John’s congratulating the church (at Ephesus; in Revelation?), it becomes clear, meant that Paul and John joined their idea, to what the rest of the Bible made clear: we should never have had so much trust in our holy men, but instead, should always have been testing, examining our religion, with a kind of real “science.” To expose the foretold “false” things. To find out what was true in our holy men – and what was not (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; Ezekiel in 1 Kings 18.21-39; Deut. 18.21-22; etc.).
Can we even “test” holy men? Even “test” God himself? Countless preachers have objected to this, in countless sermons and homilies; insisting that God told us not to put the Lord your God to the “test.” We will find here however, that this passage was better translated in some Bibles, as telling us not to test – or better translated, “tempt” – God with rash actions. Indeed this example is found part, in the passage popularly and rightly known, as the “Temptation of Christ.”
Countless preachers will tell you that we cannot “Test” religion. But the fact is, we will show, God told us to “test” things in religion, constantly; a dozen times. In fact, strikingly, in 1) Malachi, God tells us to test even God himself:
“Put me to the test, says the Lord your God” (Mal. 3.10).
Furthermore, as we will see, the context in Malachi, clearly indicates that it is scientific testing of the sayings of God, that is demanded of us.
To say we cannot scientifically “test” holy men, is an absurd assertion. Finally, 2) even Paul warned of false prophets even in Christianity – and tells us to “test everything.” While then 3) the Book of Revelation for example, congratulated those who “test”ed or critically examined – and in some cases even rejected – even persons that were presented as the holiest apostles (Rev. 2.2). While finally, we will show that 4) there are dozens of other places where the holy book tells us that God and/or his followers, should “test” or examine, every aspect of religion. “Test everything” in religion; to make sure it is not deceitful or false. To make sure that it isn’t the case that “you religion is in vain.”
Not only are we allowed to test things in religion; we will have been showing here that we are actually commanded to test the; “put me to the test,” God himself commands. Indeed, we are commanded often to “test everything,” including therefore “everything” in religion. While furthermore, ultimately this meant testing everything in Christianity, with real, empirical “science.” Which we will show soon, the Bible itself finally made clear. In major sketches of applying science to religion; in a) Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; b) Ezekiel in 1 Kings 18.21-39; c) Mal. 3.10; d) Deut. 18.21-22, etc.. Putting the crowning, conclusive touch on all these detailed examples, God even congratulated Daniel specifically for being a young man of – explicitly and by name – “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 King James Edition).
Billions of people therefore, have been mislead in their religion, their Christianity; by priests without adequate knowledge of the Bible. Actually, we are about to show here that the real, strongest message of the Bible, is very, very different from what our preachers have thought and taught us all, for the last two thousand years. The fact is, far from telling to follow whatever we are told in the name of God, with “faith,” the Bible actually told us that “all” our holiest men were often unreliable; and therefore not to follow them with strong faith, but to follow specifically, real “science.” Which the holy book not only named, but more than that, described and firmly commanded.
Eventually, the Bible advocated science in at least three major ways; a) advocating in even by name, in Daniel (KJE). While if b) noted troubles with “faith.” And then it c) began to describe how to follow a Science of God, in detailed examples. It even described and advocated, the Scientific or Experimental Method; as well as could possibly could have been described c. 2000 BC to 200 AD (in Mal. 3; 1 Kings 18.21-39; Deut. 18.21-22, etc.). Furthermore, not only does the Bible describe and command us to use science by name; and by full description of it and the experimental method; it d) also advocates the various separate major elements of science, independently. In dozens or a hundred separate examples, God tells us not to have too much faith or confidence; but to follow allegedly holy things, only if following their doctrine, brings us real, physical, material 1) “fruits,” 2) “works,” 3) “signs,” 4) “deeds,” and 5) “proofs”; 6) here, on this material “earth”; and 7) in a timely way, or “soon.”
Amazingly therefore, in the end God told us that Christianity was not supposed to be faith-based. God told us not to have any more faith, than a “grain of mustard seed”; and to allow that speck to grow, only if and when experience in the material sphere confirms that following a given doctrine, brings us real material, physical, empirically desirable, confirm-able, results. We are not allowed to even begin to assume that a given doctrine is from God, unless we “observe” that it guides us to the material “prosperity” and better agricultural products, even literal “fruit.”
And amazingly, as we will be finding? Even the apostle Paul, who spoke of “faith” the most, more than any person in the Bible … eventually began to note some problems even with “faith” in miracles and so forth. Paul began to speak of not just weaknesses in “faith,” but also the need for other virtues. Including “love.” And even to some degree, including Science:
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith?” (Rom. 3.31).
“If .. then faith is null and the promise is void” (Rom. 4.14).
“Every one who has faith may be justified” (Rom. 10.4; our emphasis).
“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him” (Rom. 14.1).
“Faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love
(1 Corin. 13.13).
“And your faith is in vain” (1 Corin. 15.14).
“We are away from the Lord, for we walk with faith and not by sight” (2 Corin. 5.7).
“Supply what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3.10).
“Some have missed the mark as regards the faith” (1 Tim. 6.21).
Paul at times stressed faith. But other times, he began to note problems with keeping it alive; and even problems with it, even in itself. It might be that only Faith saves us in some sense; but we must first be sure that we are having faith in the right idea of God, as well. If we have immense faith in the wrong idea of Christ, then that doesn’t help us.
For these and other reasons, not only would even Paul himself begin to note problems in himself, and in his faith; but he would begin to speak of the importance of “work.” And then too finally? Other parts of the Bible, and other apostles, would begin to take on Paul, and faith itself:
“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead…. Faith apart from works is dead” (James 2.17-26).
Today’s Findings, as Fulfillment of
End Time, Apocalypse Prophesies
What we are beginning to see here to be sure, will be extremely disillusioning and even frightening; indeed, literally Apocalyptic. Amazingly – and shatteringly – we must say that, exactly as the Bible foretold of the end, we are finding that a) as God warned we would see in the End, our holiest men, our preachers were often wrong or “false”; they were wrong for example, in their stress on “faith.” Worse, since many followed them, d) our false holy men, exactly as foretold, mislead the whole “world.” With a false “worship” (Rev. 13). Worst of all, d) since they were wrong, false, even in their description of Jesus (as a many of “faith” and so forth), this means in effect that the whole religious world has been mislead by false priests, false prophets, into following a … false idea of Christ. A “False Christ.” Which means in fact, that many of the worst end time conditions, to fulfill the worst prophesies of the End, have already been met: the whole world had already long since been deceived, mislead in its worship, by false prophets and bad holy men, following a False Christ. Though e) with luck, God is even here and now, beginning to expose all that. In part here and now. As foretold. While then too f) also as foretold of the End, God is beginning to reveal a “second” and “fuller,” better “appearance” of Christ as well; the vision we present here, of Christ advocating not faith, but a Science of God is part of that. (Is what we are doing here, in technical terms, a Idealist, Spiritual, or Symbolic Eschatology? Here indeed things are happening symbolically; but finally they have very real, historical effects, we will show).
What we are beginning to see today in modern/postmodern times therefore, may be literally Apocalyptic. But to be sure, if so then after all, there is a way out of this. There is a truer advocate to help us: the appearance of Christ, of God, his spirit advocating, beyond blind faith, a far more advanced Science of God. Who will give us a science, a methodology, to get through all this. To a much, much brighter future.
Read more “full”y at last, reading for a “second” and better vision of God, we will show here that God ultimately, really wanted us to base our Christianity not on faith, but on a kind of real, empirical science. One which has often been mentioned by many scholars; but which we will at last outline here completely enough. The fact is, the Bible itself warned constantly, about false, bad, deceitful things in our holiest men and angels; and in their most “inspired” religious doctrines and sayings. So that therefore, God finally told us that religion and Christianity, were never supposed to be “faith-based”; rather, religion, Christianity, are supposed to be science based (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; Deut. 18.21-22; Mal. 3.10, etc.).
To see this, is to experience at first, a great sense of disillusionment, and even immense spiritual pain. Because after all, many of us were trained since infancy, to regard “faith” as the most holy and sacred ideal in all of life, and beyond. Essentially all the people we were taught as children to revere – from our ordinary priests and ministers, to our bishops, popes, to the saints, the apostles, the prophets, and even the common idea of “Christ” – all proudly told us or implied, that they themselves were the representatives of the most holy sacred truth; and that truth, was that we are supposed to have “faith” in our holy men, and/or the verbal picture of God they presented to us in Church. But here we are finding, that our holy men were nowhere near as good as they themselves often told us; and that they and their holy vision … was often largely, a mistake; even at times a deliberate deceit.
This of course, is extremely hard to “face” or “bear”; many will go into Denial, and not face it at all. But finally, we suggest that one of the great strengths of our present book, is that it frames all this not as a contradiction to, but a realization, “fulfill”ment of, the Bible itself. This means that readers should be able to at last learn to face much recent negative feedback on our historical Christianity; on being shown here and now that even as much of our own past is being shown to have been massively false, still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Learning to see and then publicly “confess” the “sins of the church,” even our own individual Christian church or denomination, seeing problems with their promises of “miracles” especially, is the first step to learning to see, face our own sins; so that we can begin to realistically, next, fix them. With a clearer view at last, of what the problems have been.
While then again, believers, Christians, should be able to face this at last, as they are shown here, that this moment of awful realization, of disillusionment, is amazingly, supported by the Bible itself, God himself as it were, over and over again. So that even the demonstration of huge sins in historical Christianity – and your local church, your local pastor – does not demolish or “disprove” the Bible and Christianity. Rather instead it “refines” it, exactly as foretold. As it even begins to “fulfill” the Bible itself. Albeit, perhaps its most difficult and painful prophesy. Though again, with a fine future in mind, after that.
To be sure, it is hard to face this. When we discover that Christianity and over lives as a whole, were supposed to be based on Science, more than on Faith, when we see this, the old prophesies of a purgatory, “fiery” Apocalypse, are partially fulfilled. As – exactly as foretold – we have 1) seen that our own past worship was largely wrong. Indeed, the whole “world” was deceived, in its “worship,” by a false vision of Christ (Rev. 13; 1 John; etc.). An insight, a 2) revelation so shattering, that it seems to partially fulfill prophesies of an “Apocalypse”; a destruction of “heaven and earth.” While especially shattering, is the unexpected – but biblically supported – destruction not just of the “earth” or world, as many thought; but also the destruction of Heaven itself as well.
No doubt in fact, what we will be outlining here in simple, systematic language, will nevertheless begin for many believers, the most shattering and disillusioning experience a believer can go through; seeing all the things that he or she was taught were absolutely good and holy, found wanting. But if this is incredibly painful, then it is the main goal of the present book, to make this at last easier – or at least possible – for ardent believers. Believers should at last be able to find the confidence and courage to simply face the challenges by Science and Reason, of our traditional beliefs in miracles and spirits, in part due to the efforts of the present book. Since our book will be constantly taking great pains, to show that 3) none of this means the full end of the Bible, or our religion; none of this negates a single word in the Bible at all. Indeed, a) so far as we presently know; so far as is humanly possible, we have here attempted to write an account of things, that is absolutely consistent with, supported by, the Bible itself. Indeed, we have supported everything we say here, with dozens or a hundred or more, key quotations, from the Bible, itself; from God, himself as it were.
While again, b) ultimately, we are suggesting that this painful experience in fact, begins to partially fulfill the Bible. To fulfill prophesy. While not only is this painful experience, in fulfillment of “God’s Plan,” as it is commonly known; but also c) facing this and going through this, is all to the good. Going through this painful re-evaluation of traditional, accepted ideas, is all to make your life considerably better. Because – exactly as foretold – even as your traditional vision of God and Heaven and Truth itself, is found wanting, even as our heaven itself seems to be crashing down around your ears, finally, all this is to the good, and to make you a much better, and far more fruitful person. Since even as our first, childhood heaven of faith in miracles and spirituality, is “dissolving,” this not only begins to fulfill the Bible itself, its prophesy of an Apocalyptic demolition even of heaven itself; but it also begins to introduce us to the first glimmerings of the foretold “second” and “full”er, better vision – the Second Coming – of God. A better, “full”er “appearance” to God; which, by unifying the best elements of religion, with the best elements of Science, at last is complete, “full” enough, to guide the individual believer – and all of humanity – to an even better future; to a heaven on earth.
This work should guide a “simple believer,” a simple “woman” who essentially believes in Magic (or miracles), to an embrace of a wider range of more practical thought; to an understanding of Science and practical thinking. This, in addition to what a believer once knew, at last give the religious follower a “full”er vision, appearance, of God and Good. But this is also part of the foretold “full”er vision … that at last help the half billion blindly faithful and superstitious believers; who are burning candles in church or at home, praying continuously, waiting for miracles … but never working at a practical job. Our present book, though painful, should help such persons accept practical knowledge more … and be motivated to become more “knowledge”able; and thence, more capable of dealing with all of reality, heaven – and earth too, at last. The Science of God, in simplified form, should help the formerly blind believer. The believer who even rejected practical knowledge before, as “secular” or “non-religious” or even unbelieving, will here finally see his or her way clear, to at last embrace practical thinking and science, and an education. On finding that the pursuit of practical knowledge and science was endorsed – even commanded – by the one text they honor: by the Bible itself. And by God himself, after all. And any such a person, as he or she begins to learn more practical skills – like Jesus the fisherman and physician after all – should be far more capable of being more productive at the job, at “work.” So that our formerly more helpless believers, will be more able to help us all assist God, in the creation of better works; and in fact many say, in the creation of the new and better heaven on earth, that was foretold “soon,” so many centuries ago.
In the Old Testament:
A Few Dozen Biblical Subjects,
In Support of Science
What could be wrong with “Faith,” the apparent main “pillar” of historical and contemporary Christianity? Preachers today universally assume that faith is the greatest of all virtues, the very heart of Christianity itself; and they suggest constantly in sermons and homilies, that a) the only possible problem there could be with faith, is that we can’t get enough of it; that it is sometimes hard to have faith. While preachers cite parts of the Bible, that seem to support this: apparently even the apostles felt they did not have enough, and asked for more:
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘increase our faith’” (Luke 17.5 RSV).
But even this begins to suggest problems with faith: it is hard for many people to believe; even the holiest apostles could not quite get enough faith. But even this by far, does not get at the problem. Preachers indeed, often speak as if the only thing that could be wrong with faith, is that we reject it, or that we don’t have enough of it. But that isn’t the major problem, by far. The b) greatest problem with faith, is … having faith in the wrong thing. Not having enough “knowledge” about the Bible and God, say. And therefore believing, having faith in say, the wrong idea of Christ.
To explain this, we might just use common sense, to say that faith is always partially “blind”; it tells us to follow people and things … without asking for real evidence, “proof” that they are really good people to follow. So that if we have too much faith, we will be gullible, and often follow the wrong people or the wrong ideas, all too faithfully, all too gullibly. Suppose for example, you believe and have faith, when a bad preacher tells you that you are Napoleon. Should you really have total faith in that? If you do, ironically, the more faith you have, the worse your life will be. So that in fact, faith can ruin your life.
Likewise, finally even Paul himself, the most frequent advocate of Faith in the Bible, finally warned about this pitfall in Faith. Paul noted that Christians should of course, follow Christianity as the apostles like Paul had preached it, and had written it down in the Bible itself. But Paul spoke in such a way that acknowledged, that warned, that many (indeed finally, “all”) people will often not understand the Bible; or will often for some other reason, get a wrong idea about God. Paul clearly thought in particular, that many Christians would read the wrong “gospels.” Or would stray from Paul’s message especially; and so they would begin to believe and have faith in … the wrong idea of God. So that note this: therefore, since they are having lots and lots of faith, but they are having faith in the wrong thing, therefore, their belief, their faith, is useless, and in vain:
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain” (1 Corin. 15.1-8 NIV).
(Paul here confirming Proverbs 14.15: “A simple man believes anything” RSV).
“Your faith is futile” (1 Corin. 15.1 RSV).
As even Paul began to suggest, the main problem with “faith,” is that it is no good at all, it is even evil -unless you have faith in the right thing. While even Christians should never be sure they are following the right idea of God. Most preachers here, typically suggest that this warning about following the right thing, only means, not to follow other religions, other gods; most take this to mean that as long as you have faith in “God” as in the Bible, then you will be saved. But note here, that this is not what Paul is warning about. Actually, Paul was warning about sins even in those who honestly think they are “Christ”ians. Paul is warning that many, many different things are said about God, in many “gospels,” by people other than Paul. While Paul warns that many statements about God, may be false. And even if you very, very, very “faith”fully follow one of these many false ideas about God, even if you are very, very faithful in following, “believ”ing in other views than Paul’s, it does not help. Indeed, having great faith even makes things a whole lot worse: it just means that you are following a false idea of God, all the more completely. Indeed, we will note, Paul warned that there are bad, false versions of Christianity, that ultimately even present, and follow, “another Jesus” than the right one (2 Corin. 11.4 RSV). So here, even tons and tons of faith in “Jesus, does not help. Because you are following, you are being faithful to, a false idea of Christ. In effect, you are all-too “faith”fully following, a “false Christ” in fact. As we will add here.
Here then is the main problem with, sin in, “faith,” the Bible itself would say: the world of religion, of Christianity, of the “gospels,” and of the Bible, is very, very complex; and many different things are said about it. So how do you know that you, or even your preachers, read the Bible correctly? How do you know that you, or even your preacher and your church, have the right idea of God? How do you know that the view of “Christ” that your preacher taught you, and/or that you follow, that you believe – or have faith in – is the right one? The fact is, Paul and the rest of the Bible, warned continuously, that there have always been many bad, false ideas in our holiest men and angels; and therefore, simple “blind” faith in our holy men, or in their ideas of, their vision of God, even in their “Jesus,” is not wise. Because there are many false ideas of God and Christ out there, as it turns out, if you have too much faith, you will just all-too-faithfully follow preachers preaching the wrong Christ; you are the “blind following the blind,” into the foretold “pit.”
And so in fact, though at first sight the Bible seems to stress faith, eventually even the Bible itself began to warn about some common sins in, bad things about, faith itself. Warning that if we misunderstand some doctrines, like say those of Paul, regarding say the resurrection, or if some of Paul’s doctrines are wrong, or we follow a bad “apostle” or preacher, then…? Then the more faith we have, the worse it will be. Because we are just having more and more faith in, the wrong thing. The more faith we have in that situation, the further we go into sin and error.
That is the main problem with faith that we will be discussing in our books here: having faith in the wrong thing. But historically, it is not the only problems; there are surprisingly many, other even famous problems with, controversies about, faith. Especially for example, c) there was the famous “Faith versus Works” controversy; the fight that split the Church in half; that separated Protestantism, from the Catholic Church. That fight, centered around Paul’s apparent assertion, in parts of his writing, that we are saved not by our own practical work, our “works,” but by “faith alone.” Faith by itself. Yet it was objected, that aa) the Bible itself never used the phrase “faith alone” at all – bb) except when St. James condemned it. James telling us firmly that we are saved only when we have both faith – and works:
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2.14-17 NIV).
In our books here, we hereby explicitly, adamantly, do not get into, or depend on, one side or another of the endlessly divisive “faith vs. works” controversy. This was an immensely destructive verbal war, that spoilt, split Christianity into thirds, after 1515 AD. So, being extremely careful to sidestep this classic and infinitely deadly land mine, in our present books, c) here, we use terms in different ways than the way they were used in the Protestant/Catholic wars. We side-step this tar pit, by simply saying that aa) having “faith” might or might not save you; bb) but in any case, as Paul noted above, faith will only save you, if you have faith in the right idea of God. While as one of our main points, we here add this: cc) how do you know you have the right idea of God?
Especially how do you know your idea of God is the right one if – as we will see, God warned continuously – “all” our holiest men and their sayings about God are unreliable? Then how do you know their and your idea is right? Here we will show that though many parts of the Bible itself – especially, overwhelmingly, the parts written by Paul – seemed to flirt with just telling us to have faith , ultimately, the Bible warned there were very, very serious flaws, shortcomings, in “simple” belief, and faith. So that finally, the Bible itself told us, not to have so much faith; and/or to instead, learn a crucial, critical kind of Science of Religion; a Science of God. A more critical sense of religion, a more critical methodology, that aa) warns that even the highest traditional religious authorities often sinned and erred. So that bb) God therefore ultimately outlined a kind of science to use; to discover whether our holy men and their ideas, are right or wrong. By looking to “see” or “observe,” if following their idea, brings real material, physical “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “proofs.” [Here by the way, we might be said to partially follow a common contemporary compromise, between Protestants and Catholics, on the subject of faith versus works. Here we follow something slightly different, but perhaps related: many ecumenical Protestants today suggest that faith leads to works: if a person really has faith in Jesus, then of course, he will want to do good deeds, works. And so – as our present Science notes in fact – we can know his faith is right, by his good works).
Amazingly therefore, the Bible itself often noted huge problems in faith. Surprisingly in fact, though Paul for instance, at times seemed to suggest that faith by itself is all we need to be saved, other times, c) even Paul explicitly told us that there are more important things than faith; particularly, “love.”
The Apostle/Saint Paul, was the main spokesman, advocate, for faith in the Bible. But in the following passages, Paul appears to imply (in a way that contrasts with his statements elsewhere), that even if we did not need “works” to save us, still we might still also need other things somehow. In particular, Paul and others came to stress the need for “love” in addition to – and even over and above – faith:
“Supply what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3.10).
“Faith, hope, love abide, these three…. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corin. 13.13 RSV).
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (or “nothing,” RSV; 1 Corin. 13.1-2 NIV)
“God is love” (1 John 4.8 RSV).
See also Peter: “So supplement your faith with virtue”; 2 Peter 1.5 RSV.
Amazingly, the Bible seems to tell us that more things than just “faith” are necessary for us, somehow. Even Paul, the most vociferous spokesman of “faith,” tells us that even if “works” are not necessary for our salvation, still somehow aa) “love” is more important, or is more necessary somehow, than faith. While bb) James even adds “works.” And Peter tells us we need cc) “virtue” too. While finally, we are expanding on more recent Protestant ecumenist conciliatory gestures to Catholics; to suggest that to be sure of course, anyone who really believes in God, who has faith, will want to do the good works God ordered us to do. So that indeed, we can know who really has the right faith, who has sincere faith, in the right thing, by finally, looking at their “visible,” material “works.” This is not to say quite, that we are “saved” in the traditional sense by works; but perhaps we would say here that our faith is only “proven” good, proven to be faith in the right thing, if and only if, it gets material results, “works”; results observable, we will show, with Science.
And so we will be coming to an amazing, shattering conclusion in our present book: that amazingly, shockingly, Apocalyptically, d) God never wanted Christianity to be entirely or even primarily, “Faith-Based” (no matter how much Ronald Reagan or Bush I and Bush II like to say that). Far from it. Actually, our present reading of the Bible finds that aa) God constantly warned of huge sins in our holiest men and angels, even those in Heaven itself. Therefore, implicitly, God did not want us to have too much “Faith” in holy men, or in their “word”s and “promises” and “prophesies,” or their statements about what “the LORD” “said” or “thus sayith.” The Bible itself did not stress “faith” in holy men, or their vision of God; not as much faith as our preachers called for. bb) Explicitly, ultimately, God even warned of certain inherent logical flaws, fundamental contradictions, in the very concept of Faith. So that finally, bb) the surprising, ultimate message of the Bible, was that God, the Bible, stresses Science; over faith.
To be sure, seeing this suddenly, is a great, even literally Apocalyptic, heaven-shattering shock. To suddenly one “day” see that practically all our preachers made huge mistakes – that the many advocates of “faith” were literally following Satan, thinking they were following God – is devastating. It in seems to shatter our traditional heaven itself. But if this is unconventional, or even seemingly too painful and disillusioning to believe, readers should keep this in mind: one “day” after all, we are supposed to see precisely what we are beginning to see in this book. One “Day” remember, God is supposed to a) reveal huge, longstanding sins and errors, even in our holiest men and preachers; sins in the “worship” of essentially “all” our preachers and angels all over the earth; even those in heaven itself (Isa. 34.4; Rev. 13). Sins even in the common view of “Christ.” (The world having been ruled by a false idea of Christ, in the “anti-Christ,” the “false Christs” warned about in 1 John 2.18, 4.3; 2 John 1.7; Mat. 24.24; Mark 13.22). The fact is, one “day” especially, you are supposed to see precisely what we are showing in our present book: you are supposed to at last notice huge sins even in our holiest preachers. Sins even in our holiest men and angels in Heaven itself.
It will therefore, be devastating for many, to finally see here, all the parts of the Bible that warned about false, bad, evil things, even in the holiest disciples and preachers. It will be painful to see sins even in the longstanding stress, by preachers, on “faith” itself. Yet readers should keep in mind that this moment of disillusionment after all, this moment when we see huge, awful sins in our holiest preachers, is supposed to happen; according to the Bible itself. So that finding this is not abandoning God or the Bible itself; it is in fact simply discovering, seeing at last, what the Bible really, finally wanted.
While furthermore – as we would expect of a moment that was ordered by God himself – this painful, “fiery” experience, is finally, all to the good. As it turns out, even if our childhood vision of a heaven of “faith” is “dissolved,” that is just in order for God to show us, after all, a “second” and better, “new heaven.” This is just an opportunity to clear away, burn off old dead “wood” and “chaff.” So that God can now show us a “second,” “full”er, better, more accurate “appearance” – the Second Coming – of God or Christ (Isa. 34.4 ff, 65-6; 2 Peter 3; Rev. 21).
So to be sure, our present book painfully challenges some of the most cherished ideas in conventional religion; like the idea of many preachers, that Christianity is supposed to be based on “faith.” And yet, remember that a) all this follows the Bible itself; here, we will constantly support every key idea we have, with dozens of quotes, from the Bible itself. Indeed, b) the Bible itself warned constantly, that there were always huge, devastating sins, even in our holiest men; even in the very apostles, saints, angels, in Heaven itself. And yet c) all this is justified, foretold, asserted, by God himself. While finally, d) all this does not deny, but actually confirms, at last really follows, the Bible itself. And e) passing through this painfully dis”illusion”ing, dis “enchant”ing experience, ultimately delivers us all, to a new and better, vision, coming, of God. Even as the common idea of God advocating “faith,” begins to crumble, even as our “child”hood vision of Heaven itself, filled with perfect angels, begins to collapse, there comes a huge reward. Even as your childhood Heaven collapses, you will also begin to “see” at last; see a “second” and better understanding of, “appearance” to God. Here, the reader will see even the Old Testament God himself, revealing great sins in our holiest men; and therefore stressing not “faith,” as much as a critical Science. But painful as that is, this begins to fix some problems that have persisted in our lives, historically, for over two thousand years. Once we learn to see the Science of God, we can at last clearly, plainly see the longstanding sins in the heart of the holy; and seeing them clearly we can at last effectively address and fix them. While specifically, once believers learn to join their religion, to Science and Reason, amazing things will begin to happen. On a personal, immediate level, once the very devout, pious believer, learns to respect science and reason a little too, learns that God wants us to learn science, the believer can begin to learn these things – and become far, far more effective in life, and on the job; in the workplace.
Just as much as that though, beyond the great benefits of all this for the many pious, religious believers out there -the millions of devout women especially – there are also some key theological and intellectual things that begin to happen here. Once we re-join religion, to science and reason, we can end the rift, the longstanding cultural “war” between religion, and common sense; between religion and science. As we begin to rediscover the missing link between religion and reason, we can at last, begin to put the two warring, schizophrenically-separated halves of our human experience, our human lives, back together again.
In fact, as some scholars have said, in religious/scientific journals like Zygon, when we begin to unveil the missing links, between religion to science, not only is this a great benefit in itself; ending the mind/matter rift; ending mind/world dualism. But this also can be see, as fulfillment of prophesy. As foretold, we begin to see our new spiritual “Heaven,” come down to “earth” again. Exactly as foretold (Rev. 21.1-2: “then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from, God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”).
As we see at last, the pathway between heaven and earth, we begin to see the fulfillment of ancient prophesy. To see heaven coming down earth again; to see the word, returning to the world. To see word, joining “flesh” again. As we learn to conceptually link religion to science, heaven and God himself, in effect, come down to this material earth again. Exactly as foretold.
As we will see in part, even here and now, in this very book (and similar books, from Religious Studies), a dozen ancient prophesies are partially fulfilled.
Painful as this is for traditional believers, the joining of religion and science, is the great moment of all, therefore. So let’s now begin to outline the right pathways; to reveal the first few dozen ways that first, the Old Testament in particular, “advocate”d real Science for us all. (And how it thus became part of the “advocate” or counselor, that was to guide us to all Truth; to the “full”er revelation or coming, the fuller appearance/parousia, of God).
The fact is, the Bible noted hundreds of times, that there have always been great sins is “all” our holiest men and angels, and even many of their most “inspired” doctrines; and therefore, our religion was never supposed to be based on strong “faith” in them, or in their words about God. Instead in fact, our major point here will be that finally God told us to base ourselves on almost continuous critical, empirical examination of holy men; on a kind of critical, Science of God.
Far from just trusting and having “faith” in preachers and holy men, therefore? Instead we are actually supposed to examine “everything” they say, with real Science. To see if what the holy man says is true – or not.
Indeed, finally even Paul noted many false things in apostles like Cephas – or St. Peter. Even Paul began to notice something not quite right in “faith.” And even Paul began to allude – albeit distantly – to the higher, better, Science of God. As we will see in our longer treatment of Paul, finally he alludes to science, and the necessity of even “test”ing everything in our religion:
“Test everything” (Paul, in 1 Thess. 5.221).
The emphasis on science is finally so great – in both the Old Testament, and as we will see, in the New Testament as well – that finally, we must firmly say that any “Christian,” even a Pope, who does not fairly well understand and follow the rational Science of God, in at least 50% of his or her life, is not really, fully, a Christian.
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