God’s Science vol. 1.4 The Dest. Of Heaven; The 2nd Appearance of Christ

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

The Second Appearance of Christ –

Giving

The Science of God

Authority Over Preachers, Faith, Churches

 

(Edited 10/27/11; problems with left margin;

shifted, then doubled?)

 

 

 

PREFACE

 

 

 

For many centuries, priests, holy men, prophets, and churches, have given us a “Christ” who is rather one-sidedly spiritual. But as it turns out? The priestly, spiritual vision of Christ in effect, presented the whole world, with a False Christ.

 

Priests, holy men, prophets, and churches, are not reliable; indeed, Jesus himself called even Peter “Satan” (Mat. 16.23). So how can we find the truth in religion? How can we find God? The Bible says that one day or another, God is supposed to show us sins in holy men. And as part of that, we are supposed to see a second and better “appearance” (/Parousia) of God. While, as we re-read our Bibles more carefully here? We do indeed, begin to see a second and better appearance to Christ. We begin to see Christ a little more fully. And, as we are about to show here, that second and fuller appearance to Christ, proclaims a higher authority; above all priests and prophets, angels and churches. In? The Science of God.

 

What indeed, does Christ really look like? Say, in the end? What does his second appearance look like? Here we begin to see Christ anew. And in many ways – as foretold – he is quite different from the Christ that dominated the whole world for so long. First, 1) Christ is nowhere near as confident or sanguine, about the abilities of priests and holy men, as we were told by self-serving priests, in church. Therefore? As we will see, this 2) implies, and then explicitly states, that our religion was never supposed to be based so strongly, on “faith” priests or churches. Or in their sermons, their image, of God and Christ. Instead? Actually, finally 3) God himself was not as spiritual as our holy men; God ultimately stressed real, physical, material accomplishments. And indeed? God 4) demanded that we critically examine all things in religion, with a real, empirical, physical “Science.” That we evaluate even “everything” in religion, according to not its mental or “spiritual” results; but according to the real, timely, physical, material good it produces, here on this physical, material “earth.” As “observe”d and verified, with real, empirical science (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.21-39; Deut. 18.21-22; Mal. 3; 1 Thess. 5.21; etc.). This is rather exactly and precisely against what we hear from most of our preachers, most of the time. Yet the Bible itself told us that one heaven-shattering day after all, related to the Second Coming of Christ, God was going to show us massive sins and errors, in essentially “all” our holiest men and angels. And here we begin to see exactly what were, the sins of all our priests: their 1) radical over-emphasis on their own authority; their 2) exaggerated emphasis on all-but-blind faith; their 3) over-stress on spiritual things, vs. God’s materialism, his physical promises. And then finally? Our priests totally missed, or denied … 4) God’s constant advocacy, of the Science of God.

 

Most preachers are superficially humble; but it is a deceptive, superficial humility. Because deeper down? They believe themselves to be the very Voicepieces of God Himself. Yet to be sure, there are a very few of our better preachers, that are more truly humble. Who are more properly hesitant, properly less “boast”ful than Paul say, about their own authority. And, importantly, they are also rather more modest, about pontificating, pronouncing authoritatively, on the exact nature of God or Christ. A very, very few preachers, are truly humble; a few know that they themselves are imperfect, and may err; so that likely, they can err, even in their very best sermons on God; they can err, even in the verbal picture of Christ that they paint, week after week, Sunday after Sunday, in their church. Many priests know this intuitively; while were showing here that the Bible itself, confirms that priests especially, all “make many mistakes” (as James said even of apostles and religious “teachers”). While the Bible ultimately suggested that the whole religious world and its “worship,” would be exposed one day. As having been mislead; as having made mistakes, even in its best idea of Christ. So that in effect, the whole world is to be found to have followed a false “worship”; and in effect, to have followed a “False Christ” (Rev. 13; 1 John 4.1; etc.). While indeed, deep down, though many Christians are rather overconfident and proud of themselves today, most know that however, “all have sinned”; that anyone and everyone can make mistakes in his or her idea about Christ. So that? Today much of the religious world is waiting … for a Day of the Lord, or a Second Coming. Hoping that that things will be cleared up, at least at the end of time; or the Second Coming. Or Judgement Day.

 

Perhaps it is impossible to know Christ fully until then, some say; until the End of Time. But for centuries, everyone has at least wondered: what will Christ or God really, finally look like? In their “second” appearance? In the Day of the Lord? On the Day of Judgement, when at last we see God, “face-to-face,” as some say? In part, one of the main tasks of our books here, will be to more fully reconstruct, just from the Bible itself, the best, fuller picture of God and Christ as they are, throughout the Bible; but also in part at the Second Coming, in their second “appearance.” Or indeed to reconstruct, to bring to life, a second and fuller appearance especially, to Christ himself. By using especially, hundreds of parts of the Bible, that preachers seem not to have been able to publicly face or “bear” (John 16.12). Especially, we are beginning here to reconstruct the “Second” and “fuller” appearance of Christ, by amending or adding to, the misleading fragments of the Bible quoted in churches; with the countless quotes … where God say, warned about longstanding, massive sins in “all” preachers and churches.

 

What does God look like, in the End therefore? In the first coming as depicted by most priests, the Christ of much of the New Testament, presents a kinder, gentler face of God. Jesus it seemed, said he does not come to “judge” people; Jesus even forgives even his “enemies,” and so forth. But in much of the Old Testament, the Old Testament God is rather more physical, and far more severe that the priestly Jesus; the old God has many rules – and he often enforces them severely; often the penalty for stealing a loaf of bread, say, or for working on a Sabbath, is … death. Death often, by stoning. And furthermore? If for a while, Jesus intervenes in a kind and gentle manner, between us and this more severe, judgmental God? Still, finally, in the very last book of the Bible, in Revelation? In Revelation, we seem to see in effect, a partial return of the rather more severe Old Testament god; we see God the Father, seemingly back on earth again. And being slightly less forgiving, slightly more “judge”mental, than Jesus had been, in the New Testament. Indeed, when God – or Jesus? – returns in roughly the time of the Second Coming, or the “Day of the Lord,” or “Judgement Day”? God indeed, “judges” people, even priests, rather severely; and even submits them to “fire.”

 

The return of God to earth therefore, is not quite as gentle as many would have thought. And in fact, when God returns, he reverses many of our expectations, our preconceptions, of what God is like, and what God wants; and who he approves. When God returns, first 1) he is not always entirely gentle; but he is rather critical. Furthermore, he is not just or even primarily critical of just everyday “lay” people and non-believers; but 2) God is especially critical, of, surprisingly, our churches and holy men (Rev. 2-3, Rev. 21.1-22.). When God returns, his judgments are often very, very severe. And often, very unexpected. In effect especially, 3) the Second Coming reverses many things religious people thought: a) many things everyone thought were “first” with God, will turn out “last.” Many b) people thought “noble” or c) “high” and “lofty” and d) even “spiritual,” and even e) “Christ” like, are found to be “fool”s and “false.” In fact, God comes to f) expose longstanding sins, even especially in the very people many thought to be our highest and best: in essentially “all” our holy men or preachers and bishops and popes, on earth. And then God exposes g) sins in even the highest and holiest saints and angels, in heaven itself (Isa. 34.4; etc.). So that there is to come in effect, a great reversal of many religious values, in the end: essentially “all” the things we thought were high and lofty and holy? Are brought down.

 

This to be sure, is extremely hard to believe – or “face.” But to be sure, this is as foretold: the Bible itself often told us that it was always been extremely hard – or in fact, for believers, all impossible – to really “face” God. To see him as he really is. In much of the Bible, believers often do not see God’s “face”; and they are not allowed to. In part because it is often thought, to be all but impossible for anyone to see God face-to-face – without being utterly shattered, by the revelation of what God is really, more fully like. Which surely must shatter, many of our preconceptions. And which may even shatter in fact, our very Heaven itself; exactly as foretold.

 

So that one of the main features of the God, in the End? Is that God comes to shatter our preconceptions, our too-simple classic “image”s of who God is, and what God is like. In fact, among the things that are hardest to face? Is the fact that in the end, God comes to … reverse many of our religious conceptions and dogmas; to expose massive, longstanding sins, in the very things we thought were absolutely holy and sacred. To show us that God and Christ were not really what most people thought, at all. To show us that the whole earth after all, followed a false idea of Christ and God; and a false “worship” (Rev. 13).

 

No doubt in fact, all this seems indeed, impossible to believe, or “face.” Yet here, we have found one pathway through the Bible itself … that begins to make all this, the Apocalyptic or Heaven-shattering Revelation … slightly easier. As we have begun to sit down with a few neglected passages in the Bible; reading them, and using them to explain, how after all? All this is exactly as foretold by the Bible itself. While then too? Those who begin to re-read their Bibles with us here and now, can come to at least a better preview – and perhaps in fact, the full substance – of that foretold, second appearance. To make it all a little easier. And to give sinners, time to correct their misconceptions, and misdeeds.

 

To be sure, there is some pain and disillusionment to face here. From our childhood, priests have constantly assured us that they and their “heaven,” are “holy” and sacred, and “eternal.” But that isn’t what we have been seeing historically. Or seeing today in particular. As we simply re-read our Bibles, we have begun here to note many parts of the Bible that our preachers did not tell us about in church. In particular, our priests never adequately mentioned or foregrounded … the seventy or a hundreds of parts of the Bible, that warned about … priests and ministers and churches. Obviously, all our preachers sinned, in the interest of their own power and vanity and pride.

 

Therefore, it is clear that we should never have been following our preachers so loyally, so blindly, so faithfully. Instead in fact, we are about to show here, the Bible actually told us to pass through the collapse of the old Heaven; and learn to see a second and better appearance to God. To learn to see God supporting a Science of God. A vision of Christ advocating … Science. A science that, amazingly, is given authority finally, over priests and angels, prophets, bishops, popes, and church doctrines too.

 

When and how long, have holy men sinned? Priests have long said that they have always been good in the past; and that only eventually, sometime, preachers and good angels are to “fall.” But the fact is that much of the Bible shows our highest apostles, falling already, 2,000 years ago. The great “fall,” or “falling away,” actually happened a very, very long time ago; in the days of the very beginning, that established what has become known as Christianity. So that the “fall” of our priests, was from the beginning; long, long ago. And now it is the time and task, for us to expose that fall, and the longstanding errors that resulted from those huge errors, made so long ago. Using a second and better understanding of Christ; using in fact, his Science. As will be described in part, here and now. From the Bible itself.

 

The first voice from God that most of us heard, in church? The single voice of the Bible that most heard in church, was the voice from the pulpit; the voice of the preacher, and whatever the preacher chose to tell us. The voice that seemed to support preachers, and their “eternal” Heaven. But now we note that preachers, who have often pinned their hopes on “Heaven,” typically noticed and quoted only parts of the Bible; they noticed and obeyed, only one of its two voices.

 

Our preachers in fact, were extremely deceived/deceptive; they presented and followed only tiny parts of the Bible. While they radically, culpably, criminally mislead themselves and everyone else, by their misleading fragments of the truth. As for example? Their emphasis on “Heaven.” In the 1950’s, a thousand corner church marquis, proclaimed the following, extremely strong but eminently misrepresentative line, from Isaiah:

 

 

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens” (Isa. 51.6).

 

 

This single line was, for a while one of the most frequently-quoted lines from all the Bible. Baptist ministers especially, loved to put this single line on the marquees in front of their churches. Yet let’s look at this isolated line, and its larger context, more fully, for once. Here we see a good example, of how the religion of all our preachers, spoke falsely of God. By specifically, reading only tiny parts of it out of context; reading only part of it, and leaving out the larger picture. By quoting just this single line, preachers gave everyone the impression that we should always look to “heaven”; and indeed, based on that, a thousand religious icons for 2,000 years, contained figures with their eyes, looking upwards, to Heaven. But here at last, we have come to look at some parts of the Bible that preachers ignored; to fill in the rest of the fuller picture. To restore the truer, “full”er outline of God. In this case, we might begin here and now by noting at long last, not just the single line that preachers followed; but by beginning to note the fuller text of Isaiah 51.6 for example. Here for once, let’s include not just the single theme – the love of “Heaven” – that priests loved to quote. But also, let’s at last learn to see and hear – and obey – the next, more critical voice. Which we begin to present, here and now. Indeed, let us all now look at last, at a fuller quotation of Isa. 51.6. Let us take a “second” look at what God and the Bible, more fully say:

 

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens … for the heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6).

 

God’s “salvation will be forever” (Isa. 51.6). But ironically, it is not by way of Heaven in the sky. Indeed? As for the “Heaven” that millions of priests and ministers followed:

 

“For the heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6).

 

Clearly, almost none of our preachers ever honestly and fully presented what the Bible really, finally, fully said. Plainly therefore: all our preachers were dishonest; even evil. Jesus himself would call St. Peter himself, “Satan” in Matthew 16.23.

 

Seeing and facing at last enormous, evil errors, in the very things that were presented to us as the very holiest things of all – evils even in Heaven itself – is extremely hard. Yet one “day,” we are supposed to see this. And in that in the heaven-shattering, Apocalyptic moment, when we at last see it? Painful and negative as that Apocalyptic moment is, here there is something incredibly positive: we are supposed to at last begin see the Bible, and God, as they really, more “full”y are. While here and now in fact, after passing through the intellectual/spiritual demolition of our traditional “Heaven,” we will indeed begin to see a second and better appearance to God and Jesus. An appearance that is at first, apocalyptic; that is extremely painful. An appearance that shatters our Heaven itself. But passing through all that, facing our really deepest sins is necessary. To burn off some of our deepest historical and personal illusions and delusions. To “purge” our illusions with a “fire” that burns them off. In order to make “plain” and clear, the true, lay of the land; the real outline of God.

 

Clearly priests have been deceived. And their picture of God and Christ, their “eternal” Heaven, was not accurate, or honest. And indeed therefore, their Heaven itself is fated to crumble.

 

But if so, then what are God, Christ, really like? How do we begin to see him finally, in the end? As we read our Bibles more carefully here, we begin to uncover and represent God himself more fully here. This appearance, the fuller revelation of God, as prophesied, as promised, to be sure, is shattering. Or as foretold, Apocalyptic. Since we see here that God in the end, is supposed to especially … reveal huge, grievous sins and errors, in essentially “all” our holiest men and angels. Sins in them personally – but also sin in their holiest “doctrines”; sins even in the mental, sermonic picture or “image” of “Christ” that they gave the whole world (as foretold; Rev. 13).

 

If all our holy men were unreliable, then of course, ultimately, the verbal pictures they painted of Christ and God, what they looked like, would likely be errors, too.

 

So now we need to finally know; what does God or Christ, really, finally look like? As we reconstruct or re-present Him, here and now? Exactly as foretold in the Book of Revelation, and other Apocalyptic prophesies, here we see a God who is in many ways very different from the god presented to us by all our preachers and churches for thousands of years. As we begin to at last see God here? We begin to see that indeed, exactly as foretold, many things that we thought were “noble” and holy, were “false.”

 

So what does Christ really look like, in the end? Ultimately even the rather spiritual John, finally has Jesus not hating, but loving the “world.” And in the endings of the Bible, we will see our first, spiritual Heaven itself dissolving … and the “New Heaven” coming down to this physical earth (Rev. 21).

 

For many centuries, preachers over-emphasized only one part, one voice in, the Bible: the first, priestly voice that seemed to stress just spiritual things. And especially, they loved to support this with the following quote. Where Jesus himself seemed to insist that physical things, even literally food or bread, were unimportant:

 

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’” (Mat. 4.4).

 

But let our rather dense priests at last learn to parse this: if we do not live by bread “alone,” that implies that we live by bread at least, in part.

 

In the ending of the Gospel of Luke, in fact, we saw Christ resurrected … and insisting very strongly, that he was not a “spirit,” but had “flesh and bones.” And that he himself was in need of food; bread and fish to eat:

 

“Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled…: See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a spirit has not
flesh and bones as you see that I have…. Have you anything here to eat?'” (Luke 24.36-41; Prov. 28.19 vs. 20, 12.11 vs. 14, Mat. 4.4 – resolved here).

 

 

Christ began to return, with a seemingly quite physical body; one which Christ himself was to note, needed real, literal food or bread; that needed a literal, actual, physical breakfast.

 

While for that matter? The ending of the final book of the Bible, Revelation, the last words in the Bible? Have our spiritual Heaven dissolving. And the “new heaven”? Coming down, to form a real “kingdom,” here on this physical earth:

 

“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 not 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 … and God himself will be with them.… Behold, I make all things new'” (Rev. 21.1-5).

 

This God in earth, among physical things, moreover, is not a “strange new doctrine”; this is the “new,” the second and better coming, that is allowed, and foretold, and demanded by God himself. It is our God, insisting on a return to physical being; and a definition of God that deals infinitely more responsibly and effectively, with the material side of life, than our priests have done. Finally in fact? The only thing around that has dealt as well as God wanted with the physical side of life was never even remotely, priests. Its was instead, the very practical people, the tradesmen. And especially, the scientists and technicians. Who, being directed at the material “fruits” promised by God, must, ironically, be accounted now, closer to God than the priests ever were. Though the priests thought they and their spirituality were “first” with God, we must now find them last of all, in point of fact. While the very people that priests despised and “hate”d – “worldly” folks, and scientists – turn out to have been far closer to what God really wanted.

 

Surely our priests should have suspected as much? That the “despised” ones … would turn out to be first with God, in the end?

 

 

 

God Advocates a Science of Physical Things

 

 

Given massive problems with priests, and their spirituality specifically, and their false/rhetorical vision, dream, “image” of God? Then what does God now really look like? What does Christ look like, in light of our fuller knowledge? Finally, after so many problems with spirituality, and simple faith, Christ becomes more concerned with being slightly more critical; and more concerned with physical, material things. Indeed, Christ eventually become so concerned with false things in spirits, and the need to take care of physical reality, that to the point that God and Christ firmly say that our religion, Christianity, is supposed to become a critical science; based on real, physical, empirical evidence. Based on getting real, physical, empirical results, here, on this physical earth. In the “flesh,” and not just in some fated spiritual “Heaven,” or in the arena just of our mind or spirit.

 

The five or so major features of God that we will note in our books here, are these. First: God and Jesus are not as supportive of the authority of priests and ministers and churches, as our priests and churches had insisted. In fact? 1) God warns over and over, through the entire Bible, that most preachers have never been entirely reliable; that there have always been huge sins and errors in “all” our holiest men and angels. Errors in them personally. And errors in most of their allegedly most Holy Spirit “inspired” doctrines. So that? Amazingly, 2) God and Jesus, on second glance, are not really stressing “faith”; faith in preachers or in their sermons about, their picture of, God. Actually, God and Jesus are finally actually telling us that, because of longstanding sins in all our holy men, we should never have had too much “faith” at all.. Finally, 3) rather than following our often-bad priests all-too-faithfully, instead, the Bible itself, God himself ultimately told us that we should learn a more critical, scientific way of looking at preachers and holy men and religion. In fact, since “all have sinned,” even our holiest preachers? Christianity was never supposed to be based on strong “faith” at all; instead, we were supposed to develop a critical religious science. One that would continually examine our allegedly holiest men and their “doctrines”; by their “fruits.” Looking to see if following their ideas about God, produces real, material, physical – not spiritual – “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “prosperity.” As “observe”d in part with our physical “eye”s; and as confirmed by real “Science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE). To uncover which things said to be from God are true; and which are false.

 

And 4) if applying this Science of God, to our holy men, with their promises of miracles and their spirituality, reveals that essentially “all” of them were often largely “false”? Then after all, this result was predicted, and authorized, by the Bible itself. All this is exactly as foretold by the Bible itself. When it told us that one “Day,” we were supposed to see … precisely that. When it told us that one “day,” when “judgement” comes, God is supposed to expose longstanding sins, even in the holiest religious people on earth; and even in the highest apostles, saints, popes, preachers, in Heaven itself. Indeed, on this “day,” God is supposed to … destroy Heaven itself. But all 5) in order to better reveal to us, after all, the better, “fuller” “second” “appearance” – the Second Coming – of God and Christ, to earth. While what does the second appearance look like? In part, of course, we see Christ … supporting not Faith, but Science, first of all. As we have already begun to see him doing, in the Bible itself.

 

 

 

The Science of God:

 

The Second and Better Vision of Christ:

 

“Testing Everything” in Religion

 

 

As we re-read our Bibles here, what do we now hear Christ saying to us? Remember our five major points. Overall, God is warning us all in effect – that Christianity was not supposed to be so strongly based on “faith” at all. Warning us that 1) our holiest men have always been … partially “false” and bad. Warning us too therefore, that 2) our religion was never supposed to be as strongly “faith-based,” as many thought. Warning us too, not to have too much trust or faith, in holy men. Or in the verbal picture of “God” and “Christ” that they gave us in their sermons, homilies, and church services and liturgies. Instead? We are 3) supposed to base our religion, not on blind or strong faith … but on Science. A critical Science of God. And 4) if this seems to dissolve our traditional view of God, our Heaven itself? Then after all, this is consistent with the Bible itself. Which told us that one “day” or another, we are supposed to see God expose sins in holy men … and dissolve Heaven itself. In order for God to better reveal a second and better coming of Christ.

 

As it turns out, just from re-reading our Bibles, we are already in effect, “see”ing Christ, in a second and new way. And as foretold of the end, this second appearance is quite different from what many might expect; here and now we are beginning to see Jesus supporting not so much faith, as a Science. God, as we are beginning to perceived him, on second glance, tells us not only that there are always sins in holy men. But soon, he also gives us a method, showing how to uncover still more sins. So that we can perhaps preview or anticipate “Judgement” or “discernment”; we ourselves, assisting God, can begin to anticipate or even assist the moment when God, as foretold on Judgement Day, begins to examine his alleged followers … and to separate the “sheep” from the “goats”; the “wheat” from the “chaff” or straw. Learning to distinguish and separate, the true and righteous followers, from the deceived or deceptive “Christ”ians.

 

On various days in the past, and on one particular day in the future, the holy books told us constantly in a dozen ways, God begin to expose sins in holy men; and he would separate the true things, from the false things in them: the a) “wheat” from the straw or “chaff”; the b) viable “branches” from the dead-“wood” or “branches”; the c) “sheep” from the “goats”; the d) true believes, from the false; the e) true prophets from the false; the e) false Christ, from the true one (it seems); the f) right “worship” from the false. We were told especially that one day, “judgement” would come; and on that day, God would especially separate the true things in religion, from the false things. Yet to be sure, until today, it has never been entirely clear or plain to everyone, just exactly how we ourselves might also learn to anticipate or participate in this moment of judgement; how we ourselves can learn to “discern” (or “judge”?) these differences, ourselves. But here and now, we are about to begin to see, how we ourselves can get real discernment, and perhaps anticipate (or even precipitate) the foretold “days” of Judgement; learning ourselves how to partially see indeed, some surprising sins and errors, even in holy men. By a particular method, that the second biblical appearance of Christ, begins to teach us. Christ as we now see him? Teaching us how to learn and then employ … a critical Science of God. Amazingly, God on second sight, does not stress blind faith any more; but gives us a science of Religion. A science which can clearly help us uncover which ideas even in holy men, are false. And which are true. By examining our holy men, and each and every saying of theirs, very closely, with science. Looking to see whether following any given saying, produces real, material, physical results. Or not. Or, as the Bible told us, far from following our holy men with total blind “faith”? Instead, we are supposed to be aware that they “all” often “make many mistakes.” While God tells us to find out what those mistakes are? Look at each and every one of their sayings, that they have claimed that “the LORD said” (Jer.); and look to see if what it foretold, actually “came to pass” in real life (Deut. 18.21-22); or whether following a given saying, produces real, material “fruits,” “works, “signs,” “deeds,” and “proofs”; as “observe”d, in a timely way (“soon”; “at hand”; in “little more than a year or two”); with our physical “eyes.” As confirmed by even careful “test”ing, with real empirical “science.” (As these terms in quotes, being used in the Bible itself; see our Biblical Bibliography for exact references).

 

Elements of the science of God we are about to outline here, have been known to a small percentage of people, for centuries. Yet most preachers – undoubtedly eager to escape, themselves, from being very closely examined and criticized (and punished?) – have historically, tried to deny that we can as they say, “put religion in a test tube.” Many millions of preachers especially, have insisted that God told us very strongly, not to scientifically “test” our God, or our religion.

 

In particular, to try to halt any critical examination of themselves and their claims, countless preachers have tried to assert, that the Bible itself told us that we cannot, specifically, “test” religion, or test God. And here our preachers have – as usual – found one or two passages in the holy books that, taken by themselves, and out of context, seem to support blind faith in preachers; or in this case, seem to absolutely forbid ever, scientifically “test”ing religion, and priests. But here as usual, our preachers have used a dishonest rhetorical trick, to try to make their point. Specifically, here our preachers have cited a mere, misleading part of the Bible. Specifically, the line that is cited and quoted by preachers over and over, to try to stop any Science of God, is this one:

 

“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments” (Deut. 6.16-17).

 

“They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved” (Ps. 78.18-41-56).

 

These two particular, related lines, have continually been quoted over and over by preachers; it is perhaps the mainspring, the centerpiece, of most attempts to tell us that we cannot, should not ever, apply science to our faith, our religion. Yet? As we look at these particular quotes – and then at the rest of their context, and the rest of the Bible overall? We find that as usual, preachers have quoted a mere, misleading fragment of the Bible. One that, even taken by itself, turns to be more ambivalent about scientific testing that our preachers thought. Or that turns out not to actually address “test”ing in anything like a scientific sense at all.

 

Above is the translation of the line we heard in church, over and over. The quote that we heard over and over, a billion times, in a million churches. The quote that preachers have always used, to assert that God forbids us to apply science to Religion. And yet however? Note that this line, as represented in the New Testament, of most good, current Bible translations? Never mentions the word “test” at all! As we see in these presentations. Rather, most translations see God intending here to tell us merely, not to “tempt” God, or test his patience with immoralities, or failing to obey his commandments:

 

“You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Luke 4.12 RSV).

 

Jesus himself, used the word “tempt,” not “test.”

 

To be sure, the Bible is a very, very complex document. One written in very, very difficult language. Often even a single line in it, will consider, simultaneously present, even debate, two or more rather different, even apparently conflicting ideas; a single line or word, can suggest two or more conflicting theologies. Yet finally? To find out which meaning was favored, we need to look the broader, immediate context of the quote; and then also at the overall message of the entire, overall Bible. And in this case? We find that most of our better Bibles – and then Jesus himself – were fully justified, in not translating the old Hebrew as forbidding scientific “test”ing of religion; but as merely telling us not to “test” – or better translated, “tempt” – God’s patience, with immoralities.

 

To be sure, the Bible is written in very, very complex – some scholars say “poetic” – language. And often a single line is open to two or more readings. In fact, we will have been finding here that the Bible seems to have been written in such a way, to simultaneously consider two major theologies; one which 1) seems to stress “faith” in preachers etc., or their spiritual ideas about faith in God (and which therefore might seem to forbid critical scientific examination of them). But the Bible is found to have been rather clearly written, translated, and edited or “redact’ed, in such a way as to simultaneously entertain 2) the a far more critical or Scientific approach to all of religion. So that that there are two rather different, competing voices in the holy books. Yet though there is a “double” message in them, some would say, ultimately we will see? The prevailing message … was not to trust our holy men too much. But to indeed, apply a scientific method to examine them. To see if they are being “fruit”ful, or not.

 

Or, as Jesus himself warned? There are always many “false Christ”s and “false prophets” out there. So that therefore, we are not supposed to blindly trust or follow holy men as they have always insisted; instead, we are supposed to critically examine them, and look to see if they are producing real, physical – not just spiritual – “fruits.” As Jesus began to say, in this line:

 

“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits” (Mat. 6.15 para).

 

See also: “Man is commended according to his good sense, but one of perverse mind is despised. Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread…. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense” (Prov. 12.8-11). “He who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty” (28.19).

 

There are many different theologies, voices, entertained throughout the Bible. And even this quote above, has at times been taken to imply only that to be proven good, holy men must produce not real physical fruits, but what Paul called “fruits of the spirit.” Yet finally, we will see that the prevailing theology of the Bible, insists that real religion, Real Christianity, Scientific Christianity? As all forms of genuine religion? Are supposed to prove themselves continually, but demonstrating not just mental or spiritual effects, fruits; but real, actual, physical, material, physical benefits, and “wonders.” As we will be showing here.

 

Specifically? To find out which religious things bring real physical benefits, and which do not? The Bible itself began to tell us to apply specifically, adamantly and repeatedly, “test”ing to religion. To apply “test”ing, even to God himself. As the Holy books finally tell us, a dozen times or more.

 

The fact is, we will be showing that the Bible itself, was written in such a way as to be somewhat open, to two rather different readings: one that seemed to favor 1) priests and churches, and “faith” in them. While it was particularly this reading, that preachers loved to quote. Now however, it is time for everyone – preachers especially – to note particularly, the “second” voice in the Bible. The one that was far more critical of priests and so forth. The voice from God, that constantly warned of huge sins in holy men. And that told us over and over, in a hundred ways … to therefore, “test” everything in religion. An allegedly “second” voice from God, that told us over and over that Christianity itself was never supposed to be so entirely faith-based at all; but that it was supposed to be based on critical thinking – and real Science. And even on scientific “testing.” A voice from God that finally, firmly commanded us to “put me to the test, says the LORD,” in Malachi 3.10. Against our preachers’ no-test, all-faith policy, there are dozens, even hundreds of parts of the Bible that support “test”ing everything in religion, in Christianity. Many of these are clearly related to scientific testing. Here are a dozen or so related quotes allowing – even commanding – “test”ing of ever “everything” in religion. Even testing God himself, specifically and by name:

 

“Put me to the test, says the LORD” (Mal. 3.10 RSV).

 

“All this I have tested by wisdom” (Ecc. 7.23).

 

“Let us test and examine our ways” (Lam. 3.40).

 

“Test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5.21).

 

“Behold, I will refine them and test them as gold is tested” (Zech. 13.9).

 

“To test him they asked him to show a sign” (Mat. 16.1).

 

“Fire will test what sort of work” you have done (1 Corin. 3.13).

 

“Let each one test his own work” (Gal. 6.4).

 

“Let them also be tested first” (1 Tim. 3.10; regarding priests?).

 

“Test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (1 Jon 4.1).

 

“Tested those who call themselves apostles” (Rev. 2.2).

 

Some of these or other “tests” might seem to be a 1) mere “test of faith.” God, it is sometimes said, temporarily withholds his promised benefits, to test our loyalty; to see if we continue to follow him, to see if we continue to have faith in him, even when he does not give us the physical rewards he promised. Or indeed, 2) some of these tests, might be say, formal examinations of priests to see if they know everything they should know. But as it turns out? Among the things they should have known, is real science first and foremost. Since indeed, finally, 3) it becomes clear that God wants scientific testing of everything in religion. This becomes clear particularly, in light of following: in light of the Bible’s warnings about priests, and about 2) “faith.” In light of its 3) overall support of the major elements scientific empiricism; of evaluating things by their real, physical “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “prosperity,” and “proofs.” In light of 4) its explicit endorsement of “science” by name and 5) full description (Dan. 1.4-15). And 6) in light of its explicit command to “test” even God himself, with Science. Telling us to follow God, to continue to give him tithes or taxes, sacrifices … only if that proves to bring us real physical, material benefits. As God himself firmly says in Malachi 3.10:

 

“Put me to the test, says the LORD” (Mal. 3.10).

 

This could not be clearer: God not only allows, but demands that we test him. And furthermore? Read more completely and “full”y, read in context, it is clear that this testing in Malachi and in many other places, is clearly, a kind of very, very scientific testing of God. In countless such quotations, it becomes clear that we are to serve this or that priestly or any other idea of God, at first only experimentally; and that we are to continue to follow him, only if that experiment brings real material, physical results. We are to follow prophets and priests, and this or that alleged saying from “the LORD,” only if following it is proven to bring real, even literal “fruits.” Often even literal “fruits”; better agricultural crops. As we see in the book of Malachi for example:

 

“Bring … into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer for you; so that it will not destroy the fruits of your field; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10-11).

 

Preachers continually tell us that God firmly ordered us never to “test” him with science. But that is not what we are seeing here. In fact, in Malachi and then Isaiah, God not only allowed us to test him empirically; God actually ordered us to do so. In Isaiah in fact, God is actually “weary” – and eventually, extremely angry – at believers. Who assert that they are not supposed to test God, by asking for visible, material “signs” from God:

 

“Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.’ And he [Isaiah?] said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?” (Isa. 7.12).

 

God not only allows us to “test” him, to prove his existence, by asking him for empirical wonders; but he is even “weary” – and it even seems in Isaiah himself, exasperated and angry, with an exclamation point – at those who quote the no-test statement. At those who refuse to begin scientific testing of all of religion.

 

For centuries, spiritual preachers have attempted to deny and shut down, any expression of the Science of God; any science that would test preachers themselves, to see if they were good or not. To present this, our priests quoted one or two individual lines from the Bible. Lines that, when presented in isolated form, just by themselves, gave the impression that God did not want us to ask for visible, material evidence or “signs” from God any more. Quotes that seemed to say that we are not supposed to ask preachers for material evidence, empirical proofs, that they are from God. Yet while our over-spiritual preachers found many lines that – taken out of context – would seem to forbid “test”ing things in religion? That seemed to tell us not to ask for visible material evidence – or “signs”? Though preachers found a few lines that, taken out of context, seemed to support their attack on not only empirical testing, but also on paying any attention to the material “World” at all? Though our preachers found quotes to reject all the physical world altogether; and to support their secret hate – their “hate” for the material “world”? Though they did all this? Still, we will have begun to demonstrate here and now, some of the many lines of the Bible they tried to hide from. So that everyone at last can see. The sins of preachers.

 

In particular? Our preachers hid from us the many, many countless times God told us to test everything in religion with Science.

 

 

 

God Supports “Science” by Name

And Full Description –

In The Book of Daniel, 1.4-15

 

 

At first, all this seems utterly impossible; it seems revolutionary; it seems like precisely, one of the foretold, forbidden “strange new doctrine“s. But we will be showing here and elsewhere, that this is not really some “strange new doctrine” at all. First, 1) many people have said something like this before. While 2) furthermore, we will be seeing here that this is what the Bible itself said, all along; this is the real, ultimate, prevailing message of the holy books. As it warned after all, that a) there have always been huge sins and errors in our holy men; so that b) therefore, we should not have much “faith” in them, or in their ideas about God. Instead, we will find here, the God finally told us that c) we should … learn to take a critical, scientific look at all allegedly holy things. To see if they are actually good, material productive … or false. While finally, the method of trying to evaluate holy men? Was to … look to see if they can produce real, physical, empirical results. The fact is, we are supposed to base our religion, Christianity, not on spirituality, as much as on … “observ”ing, as Christ himself said, what things bring us real, physical, material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” and “proofs.” As confirmed finally, as the Book of Daniel explains, by real “science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE). God favoring those …

 

 

“… In whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1.4 KJE; see 1.4-15).

 

 

In fact, in Daniel we find God describing and advocating, scientific, experimental method, in religion. Daniel eventually seeks to use a scientific experiment, to prove that his Jewish, religious food diet, was physically healthier (Dan. 1.4-15). And as it turns out? The advocacy of scientific method in religion, happens over and over, throughout the Bible (in 1 Kings 18.20-39; Mal. 3.10; etc.):

 

“Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s rich food, or with the wine…. Daniel said to the steward … ‘Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see, deal with your servants.’ So her hearkened to them in this matter, 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. So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom” (Dan. 1.8-18).

 

 

Today of course, we have a more advanced and exact sense of science, and scientific method, experimentation. Yet this passage in Daniel, indicates an very early, rudimentary understanding of some of the basic principles of science; about as good as could possibly be expected, for 2,000 – 3,000 years ago. And surprisingly, we will see, with this and dozens, hundreds of other passages, the Bible eventually makes it clear that science, not blind faith, was always supposed to be the basis of Christian religion.

 

 

 

 

Of the Two, Double Voices – Science Wins; Or Both Win;

In the

Science of God

 

 

This same command from God can be found throughout the Bible: to apply a kind of rudimentary, empirical, scientific testing, to religious beliefs, to find out if they make us physically healthier, and so forth. It is found again in 1 Kings 18.20 ff, for example. Where God even insists that we should not follow priests, who cannot get real, physical, material results, as provable by (at the time, simple) scientific experiments. While then too, specifically, the Bible says that if we are presented with two different voices, two different opinions about God? Then we are to go with the voice, the tradition in religion … that gets empirically provable, physical results. As we see again, in 1 Kings 18:

 

” ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.…’ Then Elijah said to the people, … ‘You call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers with fire, he is God“.… And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order.…. And at the time of the offering … Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be know this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy work. Answer me, O LORD…. That this people may know that thou, O LORD, art God….” Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust…. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The LORD, he is God.” (1 Kings 18.21-29).

 

In this example from 1 Kings – just as in Daniel – we are not asked to follow preachers blindly or just on faith in them; but to follow them only after they set up an early sort of proto-scientific experiment. In which the prophet proves he is from God, by getting real physical, material wonders.
This is the actual pattern over and over in the Old Testament. While even in the New Testament, Jesus, like Moses, does not ask for “faith” usually, until he has already worked large physical wonders, as proof of his status.

 

So that? As our many books progress, we will demonstrate this shattering conclusion: if the Bible asked for “faith,” we will show it meant in effect, no more faith than a tiny grain of “mustard seed.” Asking only for the specific faith it takes to believe things … well-proven by empirical experiments. If Jesus really asked us to have faith at all, he was really asking us to have faith … in science.

 

This is a startling conclusion. But it is what we will finally demonstrate, conclusively, in our many books. Indeed, a rather extensive description of an early version of scientific method, is found in many places in the Bible; not just in Dan. 1.4-15, and 1 Kings 18, but it is also confirmed in Deut. 18.21-22. Where we are again told to follow and accept as from God, only those prophets, who predict things that really “come to pass” in real life. There are many “false prophets,” God warned. And we are to follow only those with a proven, empirical record. Of successfully predicting actual events in real life, that provably come to pass, in our own lifetime:

 

“And if you say in your heart, ‘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. 18.21-22; also in Jeremiah?).

 

The same general pattern, of insisting on active physical proofs, is verified a fourth time, for example, in Mal. 3.10. Where we are told that the essence of the covenant with God, is that we are to follow the Lord, and give him tribute, sacrifice, a tax, a portion, a tenth of our crops for example, in exchange for his physical protection and benefits. And furthermore, we are to follow him, only if following him produces such real, physical results, here in this physical world, in a timely way:

 

“Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer [pestilences] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits o your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10-12).

 

 

We are to follow God, and give him a portion of our crops, taxes and sacrifices – as long as he gives us real material benefits. [And this therefore, is the real definition even of “faith”: following those who deliver real, proven physical benefits (Mal. 2.11, 3.13).

 

Is it possible, necessary, to have faith, even in science? Preachers themselves, over recent years, have said that after all, even Science itself is not absolutely certain; even to believe that a light switch that has worked a thousand times before, will work again … takes a small amount of faith. Even to believe in empirical evidence, takes faith. And if it is not a lot? Then indeed, it takes precisely the amount that Jesus recommended: no more than a “grain” of mustard seed.]

 

 

The Science of God – Given

Authority Over Priests

 

 

For centuries, preachers have assured as that the very core of our religion, was a truly giant “faith.” Faith in physical “miracles.” Or failing that, faith in “spirit”s. And our preachers asked for our faith, as they prayed for miracles; and as they waved their arms in the air, and promised us huge physical miracles and so forth. Or, if not many of us could get miracles, if not many of us could walk on water or make bread appear in empty baskets, as if by magic, then, suddenly, some preachers began quietly putting aside promising physical miracles; instead they subtly switched to twisting those old promises o physical things, into metaphors; promising us many “spiritual” things. And our preachers were very adamant about this: those who did not accept either miracles or spirituality or both, could be convicted of heresy, of going against God. (And many of those who did not follow our preachers, we convicted of this – and executed; even by torture. While many hundreds of thousands of people, perhaps millions, were labeled heretics or non-Christians, and were attacked and many killed, by Christian armies. Indeed, from about 1532 or so, different Christian churches were even often in literal wars with even each other. Especially Protestants vs. Catholics. When the Spanish Armada sailed against England in 1588, it was partially with the idea that Catholic Spain would conquer Protestant England; and return it to Catholicism. While the Thirty Years War, 1618-48, was largely on religious grounds. So that in 1776, the founders of America were at pains to avoid allowing any single official religion to dominate our government – and thus precipitate wars with rival Christian churches.)

 

But in a religious environment in which – as even God warns – anything and everything in religion can be – and normally is – partially false, then how do we find out which things are truly, really good or from God? Should we just trust prophets and priests? Actually, finally, the right method to find out who is good and who is not in religion, the Bible finally says, is to … use Science. As God warned that “all have sinned,” even priests and prophets and apostles, where every priest and prophet can lie or deceive himself and others, God knew that we need a method, a source to find the truth, over and above the priests and prophets. God knew we needed a method, an authority even over churches and priests and prophets; which can tell us which sayings and visions alleged to have come from God, are actually from God – and which are not. (The book of Jeremiah is useful here: Jer. 5.30-31, 6.21, 7.4, 8.8, 11.19, 23.1-40, 28.9, 31.35-37). Backing up Deuteronomy, Jeremiah says among other things, there are many false prophets who come in the name of the LORD. And therefore, we should carefully examine them, to see if the things they promise “come to pass” in a timely way (“soon,” “at hand,” “quickly,” as it says in another similar context), here on this material earth:

 

“From prophet to priest, every one deals falsely” (Jer. 6.13).

 

“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD'” (Jer. 7.4).

 

“I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter” (Jer. 11.19).

 

“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied” (Jer. 23.21, 32).

 

“Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off?… Do I not fill heaven and earth? Says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'” (Jer. 23.23-25).

 

“I am against the prophets … who use their tongues and say, ‘Says the LORD.’ … when I did not send them or charge them…. When one of this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden [what are the demands, laws] of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you off'” (Jer. 23.30-33).

 

“When the word of that prophets comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet” (Jer. 28.9).

 

Jeremiah especially, dealt with false things, especially false preachers, prophets, deep in the religion; even in and among Jews, and Jerusalem. Many religious leaders, preachers today, trying to escape exposure, criticism, may try to say that these parts of the Bible are only about some particular lost time. Normally however, in the Bible, what happened in the past, is presented to us, because it is warning about what kind of things will happen in later times, like ours, as well. Indeed, Jesus probably read these passages in Jeremiah … and then warned that false prophets, false religious leaders, even a false Christ, “will come,” even after the time of Jesus himself. Even in the name of Christ. And how did Jeremiah begin to find out which things in religion were true, therefore? In part, by looking more closely at the old holy books. But then too, checking everything, against material reality, the real world. Regarding prophets and holy men, who claim to speak what the “Lord said,” Jeremiah warned that often they were false. And if any at all, are really from the Lord? The way we found out, is to do what Deuteronomy and 1 Kings 18 and Dan. 1.4-15 told us to do. That is, we are to compare what they claim, to what we actually see “come to pass” in real life. As Deuteronomy noted in Deut. 18.21-22. And as Jeremiah in effect partially confirmed:

 

“When the word of that prophets comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet” (Jer. 28.9).

 

It is normally that case in fact, we suggest here, that essentially “all” our holiest men and angels are often sinners. And furthermore, even when they are allegedly protected by “spirit”s, even the Holy Spirit itself, they still make huge mistakes; even in their most allegedly “inspired” “doctrines” and key ideas. So therefore, how are we to find out at last, which visions, “dreams,” things they said are from the LORD – are really from him? Finally – as we are going to show more fully elsewhere – the Bible outlined the way to find out what is true in religion, in Christianity: to find out which things are really from God, rather than listening to preachers and prophets religiously, with strong or nearly blind faith, instead, we are commanded by God, to apply real science to our religious leaders, and their promises, their performance. In the words of the Bible itself, we are to experimentally discover which sayings attributed to God are actually from him, and which are not – by looking to see if following any given saying, produces not “spiritual” “fruits,” but produces real, “observ”able (Dan. 1.13, Acts 11.6, Luke 12.24), visible, physical results.

 

The world has always been full of bad priests, following false prophets and angels. So how do we find out what the LORD really said, what God and his Nature really wanted us to do? To distinguish what God really wanted, from sayings falsely attributed to him? Insofar as we can trust the Bible itself (as we do here), then the Bible itself told us that we are supposed to follow only words, that prove physically, materially fruitful. We are to believe a saying is really from the Lord, only if following it, produces real, timely, physical, material results, here, on this material “earth.”

 

Today, we might as well begin to see the second and better appearance of Jesus; seeing Jesus here at last. Advocating not the all-but-blind faith of preachers; but advocating, commanding us to learn in fact, a far more critical and exact, Science of God. We might as well begin to introduce the second and better, fuller appearance of Jesus here. By presenting the words of Jesus himself – as he finally advocates not so much faith, but faith or confidence only in things reasonably well supported by empirical, physical evidence. We might as well begin to see Jesus again, here and now … as Jesus repeats more dramatically his own words, from the First Coming, from the New Testament … stressing Science. As Jesus now tells us that are to only believe and follow, only words, sayings, that produce not even “spiritual,” but real, physical, “fruits” (Mat. 7.16, Luke 3.9); “works” (John 10.25-38, 14.10ff; Isa. 66.18); “signs” (Isa. 7.11, Mat. 12.39; John 4.48; Isa. 7.10 ff). It is time to at last “see” God judging people not by their thoughts or spirit as much as “deeds” and what we have “done” (Mat. 11.19; Jer. 50.29; 1 Sam. 8.8; Rev. 20.13). As verified by material “proofs,” “prosperity.” In a timely way: “soon,” and “at hand,” and “quickly.” And as “test”able, and “observ“able, confirm-able. With real empirical “Science” (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE).* Many might try to say all these things are metaphors for spiritual things; Paul began to speak of “fruits of the spirit”; but finally we will begin to show here problems with Paul himself, and with spirit.

 

In some places, Jesus can even be read as telling us not to have faith, or not to “believe,” too much. But to believe only things that are scientifically, empirically proven, by observable material results. Or as Jesus says here for example in one reading, we are not even supposed to “believe” in Jesus; but to believe in “works.” Or to believe in Jesus, only if he and his followers, get visible, material “works”:

 

“If I am not doing the works of my father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10.37-8).

 

Today, we should not uncritically accept old stories; we would need to re-examine all biblical accounts of physical powers, proofs, miracles, with more modern science, to see if they hold up as true today, by modern scientific standards. But in any case, Jesus was at least asserted to have worked not just mental or “spiritual” deeds, exorcism of false spirits, but also to have worked dozens of huge, physical wonders, miracles, or “works.” And Jesus even appears above, to discourage us from having faith or “belief,” even in Jesus himself; telling us in John 10.37, not to believe even Jesus himself. Unless following him gets real, physical results; proven works.

 

Ultimately, the Bible, read more fully, as we are reading it here, actually stressed not spiritual things like faith – but finally stressed more, our material deeds. In the End especially, on Judgement Day, we are judged not just or primarily, by our faith or spirit or thoughts. But by our “deeds.” By our actual physical acts, and good works:

 

“For I know their works and their thoughts, and I am coming” (Isa. 66.18).

 

“And all were judged by what they had done” (Rev. 20.13).

 

This, the final, second appearance of Jesus Christ to be sure – Christ stressing not faith even in himself, but stressing physical evidence, physical work – is shocking, amazing … and even literally, precisely, heaven-shattering. But if so? Then finally, all this precisely conforms to what the Bible itself actually said. While finally, seeing this, begins to fulfill Biblical, Apocalyptic and other prophesy – as we will be showing here and in our seven or more books on related subjects. Indeed, even here and now, the reader should begin to see a second, “new” appearance or “parousia” of God and Christ; one that, exactly as foretold of Judgement Day, chastises, exposes, even priests and prophets. Exactly as foretold. Even here and one, the reader should see the Bible “opened,” as never before; and “see” Christ, God, more fully, at last. As we see God note massive problems with, massive sins in, traditional religious authority: huge errors in priests and prophets and churches. Huge errors even in the very “pillars” of the churches; sins in even our ministers’ spirituality, and their “false spirits”- like excessive “faith” – especially. As Christ in effect, comes to us, to this physical earth, again, (at least in part and in preview, and perhaps in real substance). To firmly tell us something, that most people have never heard before. But that they need to hear, because the Bible itself told us this over and over again. Though no one heard it or saw it. The Bible, Christ ultimately telling us that Religion, Christianity, are no longer supposed to be faith-based at all; they are supposed to be Science-based. (Just as many religious scholars have long said; just as even the current Pope supports Reason, for example).

 

And if we do not get such physical results from priests? Then we should conclude either that a) God himself does not really exist; b) and/or that the preachers who claimed to follow him, are simply, false; an “abomination”:

 

“Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen…. Declare to us the things to come…that we may know that you are gods; do good or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. Behold, you are nothing, and your work is naught; an abomination is he who chooses you” (Isa 41.21-22).

 

To be sure, it may be that there are some material results from even current priests; results that however, they cannot firmly prove are from them. To find out, we will need to apply science. Though it seems obvious, that our priests have already failed, sinned massively, in their more excessive promises of miracles; “all” the miracles that Jesus worked, and “Greater things than these”; and “whatever” we “ask.” Clearly, if we can get “all” and “whatever” we “ask”? Then we should be able to ask God for a miracle, right now, on demand. And get it. Yet? Try it: pray for exactly the very miracles that we were so often promised: ask for bread to appear out of thin air, like Jesus. Or ask for the power to walk on water. And see what you get.

 

What you will find out of course, is that … most our preachers’ promises of miracles, were exaggerated, and false. So that no one should ever have so very much trust and faith in holy men, and their promises; never again. Though we might listen to their speculations, with mild interest, no one should ever again firmly believe in them.

 

Indeed? Most of they themselves should renounce, denounce, their own former priestly profession. And learn the Science of God; learn to relate the truth of religion, to normal, physical reality; farming and getting fruits. Or being a good technologist, or scientist, or practical person: aiming at real material results, not in “heaven” or in “spirit,” but here, on this physical earth.

 

As God told us that “every prophet” would, some day (Zech. 13).

 

“On that day
every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; he will not put on a hairy mantle 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.’ And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on you back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

 

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd … that the sheep may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones…. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested” (Zech. 13.4-7-9).

 

“And the heavens will vanish like smoke” (Isa. 51.6).

 

 

 

Faith?

 

We Are to “Walk By Faith, and Not by Sight”? (2 Corin. 5.7)

 

Paul’s Bad “Eye”s

 

 

For two thousand years, we have been told that the core of Christianity, is “faith.” For two thousand years, preachers and their followers, the “faith”ful, have constantly attacked every aspect of science, and even of the Science of God in effect. They have often said, for example, that we are instructed by God to ignore what our physical “eyes” tell us; to concentrate on invisible spirits. We are constantly quoted the misleading “part” of the Bible, that, taken out of context, suggested that we should “walk by faith and not by sight”; (and to find an “eternal” life in the “heaven”s). But here as always, this quote from preachers, is already highly edited, in that it presents only a sentence or two, from a book of more than a thousand pages. While even then, a look even at this misprepresentative passage, offered in a misleading way, just by itself? Will show some hesitations, qualifications, and another voice from God, even deep inside it:

 

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corin. 5.1-7; cf. Ecc. 2.14, 10.3-7; John 12.35, Eph. 5.14, Es. 4.24, 2 Es. 3.8).

 

At times, the apostle Paul especially, but also others, at times flirted with dualistically, Gnostically putting down this entire material existence, or “world,” and even our physical “bodies” in favor of an “eternal” heaven. Yet finally, those parts of the Bible, need to 1) be re-read more carefully now; and specially they 2) should be compared to, balanced against, contextualized, by our second, fuller look, at the rest of the Bible. The thousand other parts of the holy book; that finally delivered a very, very different, overall message, from the priestly, ascetic vision that we were normally taught by priests, in church. For that matter, regarding Paul’s quote above, we might recall first a) that Paul called himself im “perfect,” even as he was in the act of writing his half of the New Testament, and the many statements that appeared at first reading, to support “faith.”:

 

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on,” Php. 3.12; Rev. 3.2; Ezk. 27.3).

 

“Our knowledge is imperfect” (1 Corin. 13.9).

 

“Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?… But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (1 Corin. 2.29-30).

 

Paul knew that even he and “our” holy men and the first Christians, were imperfect; they and their “knowledge” of God too. Many would try to “teach” and work “miracles” … but Paul (and say James, in James 3.1), doubted their ability. He knew we would all – Paul included it seems – see “dimly,” they saw only “part” of the truth. Until the final day, when they saw God “face-to-face.” So that while some spiritual qualities like “faith” are marginally useful, simple “faith” in our holy men is not the greatest virtue. At best, we might have a forgiving “love” for all our flawed friends and religious leaders:

 

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully…. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corin. 13.9-12).

 

To be sure, we will need later to look very, very closely at the parts of the Bible, that were from Paul especially, that seemed at times, in part, to stress spirituality, especially “faith.” We will need to look at the parts of the Bible – mostly from Paul – that seemed to give preachers much authority, and to order us to follow them uncritically, unscientifically; blindly. But we will be examining all apparently pro-“faith” passages, in great detail, in our subsequent books. Especially in our fuller books on the science of God, and the science of Jesus. And we will be finding that it was not God himself, but Paul, who was by far the Biblical figure that mentions “faith” the most. While finally, even Paul himself included some warnings about it. Even Paul above, for example, 1) noting that Paul himself and his “knowledge” were not entirely reliable; were im – “perfect.” Then Paul telling us that 2)”faith, hope, love,” merely “abide”; while “faith” was not even best of spiritual qualities. “Faith” was not as great as “love” for example.

 

Most of the New Testament and even Paul in fact, almost each and every single passage, is a continuous debate, between a faction that favored 1) a priesthood, of Platonistic, blind faith in spirituality and a spiritual Heaven, vs. 2) those who favored a more practical, empirical approach to even religion: hard “work” with our “hands,” doing practical things, and using practical knowledge and “science,” to get us the material things we need. Consider briefly for now though, the particular passage above. At first, it seemed to 1) be quite spiritual: to tell us all to “walk by faith, and not by” physical sight; not by our physical eyes and the material things they see. But 2) then? Note the other part, found hinted at even in the very spiritual Paul; where Paul mentions that those who walk by faith, are “far from God.”

 

Whenever you hear priests in church, quote parts of the Bible that seem to favor priests and their spirituality, their faith? That seem to put down our physical “eyes” and all physical things, the whole physical “world”? When you hear preachers sermonizing on these continually, a churchgoer need to 3) counterbalance those extreme sermons, by remembering first of all, God’s continuous warnings about holy men, like preachers and the prophets they follow. Then? Remember 4) the other parts of, the other voice in, the Bible – where it constantly tells us to physically “observe” things with our “eyes.” As Jesus did (“observe the lilies,” etc.). Preachers love to quote the parts of the Bible that seem to suggest that our physical eyes, and their “lust” or desire to see physical luxuries, are intrinsically evil; therefore we might even “pluck out your eyes.” But those parts of the Bible, taken by themselves, are hopelessly extreme; and they need to be continuously balanced out, with other “part”s of the Bible. Indeed, Jesus himself was pictured constantly, as healing literally blind people; for all the world as if our physical eyesight, seeing the physical wealth of the world, was extremely good, and important (Luke 7.22).

 

It is unfortunate that those many Christians who “walk by faith and not by sight,” gave up on their physical sight, and the physical world, so soon; otherwise, they might have looked at their physical Bibles a little more closely. Why would Jesus heal physically blind people … if he did not want them to walk at least in part, by what their eyes told them? If walking by literal, physical eyesight was bad, then logically, if Jesus wanted to help us, he would have gouged out the eyes of everyone he met. Yet somehow, Jesus did not do that. Jesus more often acting for all the world as if, after all, physical eyesight, seeing the physical world, was important.

 

Many preachers love to tell us how good it is to be blind to the physical side of life; to be physically blind. But indeed, the Bible warned that no one is as blind, as God’s “servants” (q.v.). Indeed, the whole New Testament is essentially a rabbi-like debate, between people (ascetic priests), who support a spiritual faith that deplores the physical world, vs. those who remember the God who made the physical universe, and said it is “good.” But finally that debate between “two” dualistic halves of life, is resolved … in favor of, if anything, a spirit that returns, to this physical existence. Though “part”s of the Bible, one voice, one “calling” in the Bible, seemed for a moment to support the pure spirituality that is typical of preachers, finally, in the end, we will see, the often over-spiritual, Platonistic New Testament, began to return, partly, to the Old Testament physicality of God himself. So that? If Jesus at times seemed to want to “gouge” out our physical eyes? Like an ascetic monk castrating himself, to avoid bestial animal lusts for physical pleasures? Other times – most of the time – Jesus himself obviously deplored physical blindness. The fact is, not only the Bible itself overall, Jesus himself, but also 5) practical experience, tells us that our literal, physical eyesight, seeing the physical world, is extremely important. While 6) for that matter, we will be showing here and elsewhere that God himself was not a spiritual “Christ”ian; not a hierarchial spiritual Platonistic dualist like Paul was in part. The fact is that the Bible itself favored our learning about the physical, material world, far more than our preachers taught. God himself “fills all things,” both spiritual Heaven, but also “the earth.” From the “Beginning,” God himself made the whole physical universe, and said it was “good,” not evil. the Bible. And even if spirits exist and were important? Then note that the theological “Argument from Design,” told us finally, that even invisible spirits, are known to us, by the visible things they effect, and that we can visibly see. We know about the invisible wind, by the visible leaves it blows, in part; and likewise, any other invisible things, are verified to us, only by visible material evidence. Through – as even Paul himself belatedly admitted – the physical “things that are made.” Christ himself, for that matter, was said to be the visible manifestation of an invisible God; God “made flesh.” So is “flesh” all evil, and unimportant?

 

So when our preachers want to become over-spiritual, over-faithful? And when they begin to tell us to ignore the whole material universe that God himself made, and said was “good”? When they begin telling us to “walk by faith, and not by sight”? What should we do inside out minds, to correct for their radical imbalances, their over-statements? Their blindness? What we should do, is keep in mind all the constant warnings that our (by the way, visible and physical) Bible issued, about preachers and holy men. And in particular, keep in mind the fact that the Bible was essentially a debate between spiritual/ascetic priests, and more practical people, who honored the God who made all physical things. Churchgoers need to keep in mind that while many “parts” of the Bible were written by or for priests, and were very spiritual and faithful, those who wrote those parts, seem to have been partially aware, of their extreme, misrepresentative, “part”ial, and even physically deadly limitations. Even a very spiritual/priestly writer like John or Paul, therefore, would now and them be wracked by guilt, after an orgy of world-hating spirituality; and would include a few grace notes, a few parts of text, that would allow us to have a certain physicality, after all. While the last parts of the Old Testament – in Malachi and Zechariah say – began to say very negative things about our very religious, spiritual “prophets” and even “shepherds.” And the last part of the New Testament – parts of the letters of Peter, then the last part of Revelation – seemed to want to end the Bible, with a picture of our former, spiritual Heaven being “dissolved”; and a “new heaven” that returned God, the kingdom, to this physical earth (Rev. 21). As its last part, as its conclusion.

 

So when our preachers read to us the fragments of the Bible that seem to stress spiriutality? When they quote Paul especially? Then we need to mentally correct for, balance out, our preachers’ professional prejudices and biases; for their exaggerated rhetoric. We might remember all the times God himself made physical things, and promised them to us, as rewards for being good. For that matter? We need to remember that even the very, very priestly/spiritual Paul himself … finally, now and then, made concessions to this physical life. Though Paul was often extremely ascetic; at times Paul hinted that to physically die, was good; since it freed up our spirit, freed it from this physical body and existence, to go up to a spiritual heaven. But then Paul himself backed away from that extreme spirituality, finally, belatedly. Paul deciding that it was “better,” to live as a physical being, here on this physical earth (Php. 1.18-27). Indeed, Paul as much as anyone, began to see the dualistic split (that after all he and his Platonist dualism had done so much to create), and to see the “two” different voices, the spirituality and the earthly – and the two different life styles or callings; the priestly vs. the layperson – that were thereby being created. And Paul was finally so good as to …picture the spiritual/ascetic life as an optional, personal choice “for me.” While if anything, Paul favored continuing to live a physical life, as long as possible. Working at physical “labor” in the “flesh” to be “fruitful”:

 

“Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [But] If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all” (Philippians 1.21-25).

 

Paul was in part, spiritual and priestly; above, he was even priestly and spiritual even to suggest, in one severely spiritual reading, that for him – “for me” as he says – it is good to physically die. Since physically dying frees up the spirit, from this awful material existence and world; freeing it to float up into heaven (see also the ostensible 1 Corin. 15.53-16.16 ff rapture.) But what was the final position of Paul and of the Bible? For that matter, what was Paul really talking about, above, in the “walk by faith” and “to die is gain” speeches? 7) It is important to remember that the Bible outlined not one, but “two” different lifestyles, callings. And the Bible suggested often, that those who went with the “first” one, will often be “last” with God. While a) at “first” reading? In the first reading we learn – the radically over-spiritual reading, given to us by spiritual preachers in churches? There to be sure, Paul seemed to suggest what a millions preachers have claimed to see in the holy books: God telling us that our physical, material lives, and the physical things we see, are unimportant; that only the invisible spirits are good. Indeed, the physical life at “first,” seems so unimportant, that we might gouge out our physical eyes, to avoid being distracted by them. Or indeed? We might even look forward to mentally killing off – dying to – our physical needs. Or even? Physically, literally dying. In order to see, free up, our inner spirit, over and above physical distractions. But b) we need to remember the literally fatal side to this extreme point of view. And then learn to look for and partially embrace, the physicalistic voice, after all.

 

For centuries, preachers have presented just one side or voice or part or theme in the Bible, as if it was the one true calling from God: the spiritual voice. But in our books here, we will have been finding that our preachers were wrong; they did not really follow their Bibles closely enough. They were all-too-blind or eyeless; and did not look at their Bibles closely enough, or with enough understanding. If they had? They would have discovered the hundreds, thousands of times that God himself … mentioned, but then backed away from, the extreme, over- spirituality that is typical of all preachers. If our preachers had kept their physical eyes open, as God commanded, they would have at last seen, the many warnings from God, about bad things in spirituality; about “false spirit”s, even in their own right. And then, our preachers might have noticed and remembering, the many times God promised not spiritual, but physical things to us. Or maybe? Our preachers would have noticed James … warning us that spirituality was often literally, physically, fatal (James 2.14-26); James warning us too, about too much “faith,” and not enough practical “work.” Or then too? If they had actually obeyed God, and kept their physical eyes open? Then our countless over-spiritual preachers, would have noticed God actually make the entire physical universe – and said it was “good.”

 

Indeed, if they had not been blind? Some of our preachers might have finally noticed that God valued the material universe so heavily, that finally, God told supported an empirical science of God; one focused in large part on physically visible evidence. God finally valued physical things so much, that God told us that we can even initially evaluate priests and prophets, as provisionally good or bad; according to whether or not, they issued mere empty words … or real physical, material goods. Note that bringing real, material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “prosperity,” “proofs,” are absolutely necessary, if not entirely sufficient just by themselves, to be considered to be good. [Material wonders, more exactly, are, in the words of scientists, the more scientific monks like Bacon and his successors, “necessary” if not “sufficient.” That is: every person that is to be deemed good, of God, must show material fruits. And those who do not? Can be found evil, right away. But to be sure? Since some evil people can do “signs” and produce material good, short term? Therefore, against these short-term-prophets/profits, God noted in effect, that producing material goods is necessary before being considered; but we will also need to look at long-term results, to finalize our evaluation or judgement]. Those who cannot prove themselves, by producing evidence of real material physical fruits, can be ruled out, as not good. Even very mental/spiritual Mathematicians, are found good or bad, according to whether their abstract mental math, gets good results in Physics, etc..

 

God himself therefore, finally, does not favor preachers or priests; those who mostly think, pray, and talk for a living. Instead, God favors those who can think, but who are also far more involved with the physical, material universe; with the Nature that God made, and said was “good.” Only those, see both parts of God; in 1) spirit, and in 2) even “flesh.” God therefore, repudiates, “rebukes,” our allegedly holy men and angels.

 

And as for Paul? Paul only partially confessed his own sins; his own im “perfect”ion; the imperfection of his “knowledge.” Therefore, one might almost forgive him for his over-spirituality, his “blind” faithfulness. But note by the way, that exactly in the very moment when Paul gained alleged spiritual insight, on the Road to Damascus, he became literally, physically blind, for a while. While the Bible warned that no one is as blind, as the very servants of God. And, since as James and we now note, Paul’s prevailing overspirituality was literally, physically fatal? Finally, the judgement, may well go rather against Paul. Though his spirituality has had a temporary usefulness, as an antidote or balance to the radical, crude materialism and Greed of many, on the other hand, finally … we must turn from his over-spiritual, over-faithful passages; to begin to follow far more than in the past, his more practical, physicalistic parts. We must begin to note that after all, those who walked by faith, walked that way because they could not see God, good, in the material world around them. Because they were, after all, made physical blind, blind to physial things outside themselves, by their too-spiritual, too self-admiring in”sight.”

 

What was the whole dialoge about “faith” about? In common sense terms? When we are literally “child”ren, and did not understand the reason for many rules, perhaps we should have partially follow adults, partially just on their say-so; on faith in their rules. When we are children, some would say, we should follow the laws, what our mother and father told us, even at times without understanding the reason for them. But the Bible tells us if we cannot enter the Kingdom of God except by becoming like “children,” still finally, once there, we are supposed to “mature,” or grow up. And even Paul or the apostles tried to outline rational reasons, for what they asserted; they told us to be prepared to “give a reason for your faith.” While today, the “voice” of “judgement” and reason? Tells us that most of our spiritual preachers, did not really fully “see” or comprehend, even the Bible itself; much less the fuller reality of God as he exists, not merely in a book, but in the material universe, all around us. If our preachers had actually read – and actually believed – their Bible and their God? They would have noted that it often suggested that being physically blind – or even being merely very insensitive to visual evidence – is ultimately, not a good thing. Even the Bible itself, even Jesus himself, often told us to use our literal, physical eyes. Indeed, Jesus constantly healed the physically blind. For all the world, as if being able to physically see was important, and good.

 

Do preachers think that Jesus healed the literal, physical eyesight of many – to curse them with eyesight?

 

So what should we now say, about preachers? About all those preachers whose sermons and homilies, all too often seemed to love, putting out our eyes, and leaving us in physical blindness? Or walking not by literal sight? What reward do preachers deserve?

 

Leaving the punishment phase aside for a moment, let us for the time being simply look at the countless parts of the Bible, the countless commands from God, that essentially all our priests and ministers ignored, denied, and disobeyed. (Excepting only practical missionaries and so forth). To the preachers’ countless if prevailing bad, false sermons, to their thousands of decontextualized and de-natured passages, to their countless vanities and deceits? We will here and elsewhere, begun to counterpoise a few hundred other, quite different quotes. Quotes from the Bible, parts of the Bible that essentially “all” preachers (every single one; no exceptions) ignored, and disobeyed. Parts where God himself told us, over and over, that say 1) God made the entire physical universe. Where 2) furthermore, God himself said the universe of physical things, that he made, was “good,” and not evil (Gen. 1.1-1.12, 1.18, 1.25, 1.31.) That told us that 3) if God ever “cursed” the earth, then he cleansed it, once in the Flood; and then “redeemed” the world, with Jesus. So that the earth is once again, intrinsically, good. Now it is time to open the blind eyes of preachers, to the parts of God they missed and flagrantly, fatally disobeyed. The parts where way, 4) God promised us not spiritual, but physical things. And where 5) God told us specifically, that learning to use our physical eyes, to see this world of physical things, is extremely important:

 

“Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life…” (Deut. 4.9).

 

“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, of the word of life” (1 John 1.1; note at least, equivocation).

 

“The blind receive their sight” (Luke 7.22).

 

Will our blind preachers now suddenly see? The texts to be sure, equivocate on all this at times. The Bible itself, for a long time, itself, spoke with two voices. But 1) it was at worst, equivocal – and balanced. Balanced between the a) material promises of the God of the Old Testament, and b) the Platonistic/spiritual/Egyptian, ANE imaginings of Paul. While 2) finally? The Bible itself, as we will see, if anything finally favored not spirituality, but physical Science. In the end.

 

Indeed, even if there are important invisible things, invisible spirits? Still, the Science in the Bible finally told us – even Paul told us – that even the often-invisible things – spirits or energies, microscopic things, the human mind or spirit – are known to us, in large part, by observing the physical material effects these formerly invisible things have. We know the invisible wind exists – in part by the visible leaves it blows. So that finally, even the all-too-spiritual, all-too-faithful Paul admitted this:

 

 

“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).

 

 

No doubt, as some writings of Solomon suggested, some people have not correctly seen or read the meaning, of what they see with their eyes. But others have. So that, in countless parts of the Bible (more than those which might seem to suggest otherwise), God told us that our actual physical eyes are important; to see the world, the Nature, of God. And to this basic idea of the importance of using our real eyes, can now be added the many other ways, that the Bible emphasized physical nature. And the study of it. So that this dialogue on the importance of using our physical eyes, can now be added to the parts that outlined a Science. Since looking at things, with our eyes, is a major part of science. And God ordered us to learn and use science, even in our religion.

 

Will preachers ever really listen to Jesus? Jesus himself often told us to look at the things of Nature (Mat. 6.26-8, Luke 12.27: “observe intently the birds,” the lilies of the field, NWT). Looking at the physical things of Nature, and assessing them with Science, we will ultimately show, discovering which things physically help humanity, is the best way to know the true will of God. To what out what is true; what “comes to pass” (Deut. 18.22), in real life.

 

While in contrast? Our former religion – our “preachers” religion, of mere sermons, mere “Words,” “promises,” “dreams” – was in part simply, false. The fact is, that mere spiritual or mental musings, were never good enough; our ideas must be tested out, against empirical reality. As science – and God – told us over and over. Against what “comes to pass” in real, physical life (Deut. 18.20-22, 14.25-6, etc.).

 

While? Finally? As for our priests and ministers? Those who continually put down eyes, and/or who do not know how to use own literal eyes? Those preachers, are all blind. They should at last, open their literal, actual, physical eyes. And now at last, literally, see.

 

All preachers have been mostly blind to the physical world; and to the physical side of God and Good. But to be sure, a few manage to see at least, their physical Bibles. And so? To appear within the tiny limited sphere they actually see? We have written a book … that continually quotes the Bible; the one thing they see. Perhaps therefore? Perhaps a useful text, that even preachers may come to see, would be the following:

 

“Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. Give us today our bread for this day; and forgive us…. Stop judging that you may not be judged…. And with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU. Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye…. Hypocrite…” (Mat. 6.9-23-7.5-11-15-20).

 

Contrast this materialism, with the spirituality, Gnosticism of much of the rest of passage. Determining finally the prevailing message though, in the overall biblical emphasis on materiality. Even this often very spiritual sermon concluding “by their fruits YOU will recognize those” Mat. 7.20; and warning that those “hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who build his house upon the sand” Mat. 7.26).

 

Or simply? Remember Jesus healing the literally, physically blind. For all the world as if? Having physical eyes, and seeing with them, is important. To God himself. Are these just spiritual metaphors, figures of speech? Consider James, describing the literally, physically fatal conclusion, to spirituality. Among other objections.

 

Unfortunately, whether the “foundation” “rock” was solid or not, the churches, the “houses” and “households” of God, that we have seen on every corner, for so many years, were never built well. Essentially all our churches (even Scientology; even Christian Science), ignored or misrepresented, the real, firm foundation of … the Science of God. Essentially all our preachers and all our churches, denied too many parts of the Bible, too many commands from God. Ignoring and disobeying God’s warnings, essentially all our churches were actually built, not on God, but on the shifting sands of … mere words, opinions, empty promises, spiritual speculations .. and delusions. Many words lie, God warned. And since it is all too easy, to make empty promises, to issue empty words, hot air, or empty “wind”? Is delivering sermons, air, spirits, what finally what a Real Religion, should be based on? The fact is, the Bible is just words in a sense; but it is filled with words that warn us that … 1) mere words in themselves after all, are never entirely trustworthy. So that therefore, 2) everything that mere words claim, must continually verified or refuted, confirmed or dis-confirmed, read against, empirical experience. Because indeed, if mere words are no good, if it is all too easy for people to lie, and issue false, empty words, or mere hot air? Then how are we to find out what is really true? How are we to find out what God and his Nature really want? Fortunately, insofar as any mere words are reliable, the Bible used words to told us to value, to cross-check mere verbal and written assertions … against empirical observation. God ultimately told us value what produces real material goods. We are not to trust mere words, just “windy words.” We are not to even assume that a given word, from a preacher or church, is the true Word of God. We are never to just accept raw verbal assurances, or just spiritual things, or “windy words.” Or blindly trust the mental sensations or spirits or “images” they cause to rise up in our mind or spirit. Such things, are often false, mere imaginary illusions and delusions; things that exist in our imagination or minds or “false dreams,” but not in actuality. Finally therefore? What we should trust the most, is what produces real, verifiable, physical, material results. Including real “fruits,” and physical good “deeds.”

 

As the Bible itself, told us often enough:

 

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes” (Eph. 5.6; Isa. 59.4; Hos. 10.4; Col. 2.8).

 

“The LORD was not in the wind” (1 Kings 19.11; cf. Wis. 2.3. “Wind” referring to spirits, talk).

 

“Should a wise man fill himself with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good?” (Job 15.2-3).

 

“Shall windy words have an end?” (Job 16.3).

 

“Fill himself with the east wind?” (Job 15.2).

 

“All is vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecc. 1.14, paraphrased, passim).

 

“When dreams increase, empty words grow many” (Ecc. 5.7).

 

“With empty oaths they make covenants” (Hos. 10.4).

 

“Tell false dreams, and give empty consolation” (Zech. 10.2).

 

“The prophets will become wind; the word [the real word of God] is not in them” (Jer. 5.13).

 

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets” (Jer. 27.14).

 

“How may we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?” (Deut. 18.21).

 

“Beware of false prophets…. You will know them by their fruits (Mat. 7.15).

 

“The fruit of your ground” (Deut. 7.13)l

 

“The fruit of vineyards” (Jos. 24.13).

 

“The fruit of your doings” (Jer. 21.14, 32.19).

 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1.14).

 

“Let us not love in word or speech but in deed’ (1 John 3.18; James 2.14-26).

 

Talk is cheap; the proof is in the pudding. It is all too easy for people to make false promises, false assurances. It is all too easy to issue comforting, false words, “empty consolations,” hot air; and hope that such mere words, empty promises, will mollify everyone. But it is another, far better thing, to issue only words, that actually produce real material goods. And real physical help. As the apostle James knew (James 2.14-26). As God repeatedly affirmed.

 

Though many have been read only the level of the text intended for “child”ren – the level that stresses blind faith and obedience to clerics and the Lords – the Bible however, noted that one “day” or another, many of us are to see a second and better level to the text. One that offers us a degree of freedom, from the bondage of clerics (Isa. 28.5-13-20, 29.4-30.1, 32.1-6). And in that moment? We see that, as blind children, simply trusting authority, faithfully? We/they were all too blind, after all:

 

“Set forth you case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen… Do good…. Behold, you are nothing, and your work is nought; an abomination is he who chooses you (Isa. 41.24-29-34; 42.7-16-19).

 

“And new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them… Hear, your deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The LORD was pleased, for this righteousness; sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. But this is a people robbed and plundered, they are all of them trapped in holes…. Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes” (Isa. 42.9 – 18-22, 43.8).

 

Many centuries ago, we were warned about “wolves in sheeps’ clothing”; false shepherds, bad priests. And therefore? We were told not to have too much faith in them, or their image of God; but to keep our eyes open around alleged holy men. And the original meaning was not keeping our metaphorical, spiritual “eyes” open; it will become clear here that meant keeping our literal eyes open; to evaluate self-proclaimed holy men by their real, visible, physical, “fruits.”

 

 

The Two Voices Again:

 

“Do Not Put the Lord your God to the Test”?:

 

Versus

 

“Put Me to the Test, says the LORD” (Mal. 3.10).

 

 

 

For centuries, preachers, priests and ministers, have overwhelming listened only to the “spiritual” voice in the Bible; they have spoken mostly as if only “spirit” was good and real. While they have seen as their role in effect, a rhetorical opposition to the endemic over-materialism of many everyday people and greedy persons. Yet in their typically, characteristically extreme hyper-spirituality, essentially all our preachers were always usually far, far too extreme, and unbalanced. Their sermons expressed only one side of life, and of God himself: the spiritual side. While preachers denied and even continually opposed, the physical side or “part” of life … and of the Bible, and of God himself. In this way? All our preachers became at best, extreme, unbalanced rhetoricians, not balanced truth-tellers. They presented the foretold evil, false (Platonistic) philosophy, a typical “false balance,” to us all. Our religious persons were essentially all, unbalanced extremists.

 

There are many people who have been what we have here called preachers: that is, there are many people who mostly preach – or talk or sermonize – for a living. These people make their living, note, by issuing mere words, ideas, moods, spirits, dreams – instead of material goods. Not actual physical “bread.” But finally the Bible itself confirmed a popular saying: talk is cheap. Anyone can all-too-easily use their “mouth” or “tongue,” the Bible itself often noted, to utter false promises and excuses, and what is popularly called hot air; but it is another, far more difficult thing, to actually deliver real physical goods. It is very easy, to verbally promise that tomorrow you will make a million loaves of bread appear out of thin air; but it is much harder to actually accomplish this, in physical reality; to make this physically come true. This problem – with people who promise, “boast” of huge things with their “mouth”s and “tongues,” but who do not come up with the physical things that God promised – is known to ordinary, commonsense, everyday people; as the problem of “hot air”; “cheap talk.” But also indeed, the Bible itself also knew about it. God himself in fact, often warned of “false promises,” “false proph”ets, “empty consolations,” “empty” or “windy” “words,” and so forth. In the end, talk is cheap. The tongue is a small member that boasts of great things, that it cannot deliver, as the book of James noted. And therefore? Finally, we are showing here, God himself commanded – that we are therefore, not supposed to accept mere verbal speeches, promises, sermons, from preachers: instead, we are to ask for real, empirically provable works, proofs, from them. We are supposed to put them to the “test”: if they promise “miracles,” then ask them to produce physical wonders, in front of us right now; and then regularly, reliably, and in a timely way, here on this physical “earth.” And if they cannot? Then far from continuing to follow them with total “faith,” instead, we are supposed to simply deduce that our boastful preachers … are merely the foretold bad priests, following false prophets and false angels.

 

The many bad priests to be sure, do not want this testing of them: they have long fought any such scientific, empirical “test”ing of priests by God. Because? Our preachers know they will fail this test – and will be publicly exposed as false. Yet this is finally what God demanded. Support for Science, for the demand for physical fruits, asking holy men for physical proofs and not still more “words,” sermons, apologetics, is written all over the Bible. Written so many times, and with such explanatory detail, that it cannot all be metaphoricalized, or spirited away. Written in such detail, that it finally outlined, and ordered us all to follow, only a materialistic religious “science,” that bases Religion, Christianity, not on dreams and empty words or sermons: but on real, visible, proven, physical, material results.

 

To be sure, science itself until recently, was at times, too crude to deal fairly with complex social phenomena like religion; science often rejected religion entirely. It was partially for that reason, preachers and churches have tried to find parts of the Bible, that they could used to assert that God himself opposed science. And among the parts of the Bible they have used, were the parts that seemed to stress “faith.” But we will have begun to note above, that the passages that seemed to call for “faith,” often were not quite what they seemed to be, at first sight. While we will offer several book-length discussions elsewhere, showing that the many dozens of apparent calls for “faith,” in the Bible, were, each and every one of them, not quite what they appear; that ultimately the Bible really meant to call only faith or confidence, in things that are empirically proven; faith in science, in effect. (As we show in our lengthy discussions on “faith” in Paul, and then “faith” vs. the Science of Jesus). We will be showing first of all, that the whole stress on “faith,” the “test of faith” as they say, was found in the Bible to be sure; but there it is presented as an idea literally, from the devil himself (in Job 1). The fact is, God never wanted us to follow anyone, without physical evidence, proofs, that they can lead us to prosperity.

 

Preachers do not want to face this; and they do not want you to know about it. They want you to follow them blindly, and uncritically. And to try to prove to you that the Bible itself supports this blind “faith”? They will quote the many misleading fragments of the Bible on “Faith.” Or again, they will cite the line in the Bible, that seemed to tell us not to “test” anything in religion:

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Mat. 4.7 – Revised Standard Version).

 

This quote is constantly interpreted to us by preachers, as God telling, us not to “test” religion, or God, with Science. But in light of what we have just discovered above, clearly this could not be its meaning.

 

First of all, 1) this quote is often translated differently, on other Bibles:

 

“Jesus said to him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God” (Mat. 4.7 – King James Edition).

 

2) Secondly? The Bible could not be telling us to not scientifically “test” Christianity – because if it did, as we are about to see here, then this passage would be in flat and direct conflict with the hundred other parts of the Bible, that stressed and even commanded, that we learn science. Where God commanded us to begin observing the real material, physical results produced by following this or that saying attributed to God: observing with, by name, “science,” the real material “fruits,” “works,” “signs,” “deeds,” “proofs,” “prosperity,” here on this material “earth,” as verified by “science.”

 

Many biblical translators no doubt realized this; that is why this alleged “no test”ing passage, is translated differently in many Bibles. In many Bibles, the above phrase was read as telling us merely not to “test” – or better translated, not to “tempt” – God’s patience. The meaning of the above quotation, did not mean to tell us not to scientifically “test” God or religion; it was simply that should not “test” or tempt, God’s patience, with any immoralities. So that in point of fact, the King James Edition translated this sentence without using the word “test” at all.

 

This famous “not test” quote therefore, definitely does not do what preachers claim; it does not prohibit us from applying science to religion and Christianity. Furthermore, just to make it ever more clear, that there is no prohibition on scientifically “test”ing religion, and even God? Finally 3) in many other parts of the Bible, God even specifically approves “test”ing, by name. In fact, 4) we are told over and over in the Bible, to submit specifically, major elements of religion, of Christianity, even God himself, to “test”ing:

 

“Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3.10; see also “Ahaz”).

 

“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).

 

“Test everything” (1 Thess. 5.21).

 

“Testing” is used several different ways in the Bible. And can refer to one of many things; like a) like scientific testing. Or b) like “test”ing or “trying” or teasing someone’s patience. Or b) God trying us, with examinations (or hardship?) to see how we hold up, as it seems. The 5) specific background of Mat. 4.7 was specifically, an incident in the Old Testament. Where the people of Moses, “test”ed God’s patience, by asking for too many giant miracles for they themselves (Deut. 6.16). For asking for one more giant miracle … on top of the dozens of other giant physical wonders that God has already shown they themselves, live and in person. In the story of Moses, Moses and God had already, in their own lifetimes, in front of the eyes of the people, made many material wonders happen. Moses had already: turned a rod into a snake (Ex. 4.1-9, 7.8-9); turned the water of the Nile red like blood (Ex. 4.9 vs. 7.20) caused plagues of frogs to fall on Egypt (Ex. 8.2); and then gnats (Ex. 8.16); then Moses parted the seas; and caused water to appear out of rock; and so on.

 

Indeed, 7) God explicitly tells Moses and all holy men, that the would-be holy man, must “prove” that he is from God. By working large material wonders:

 

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall” (Ex. 7.8-9).

 

Far from telling us not to ask for material proofs from God and holy men, Exodus insists that all would-be holy men present real material evidence, wonders, to prove they are from God; on demand. And 8) indeed, by the time of the “tempt” example, Moses and God had already offered lots of proofs, that Moses and God were materially powerful; according to many of the conditions of our science: offering giant material wonders, presented not just in old books as hearsay, but offering real visible wonders, in their own lifetime, before their very own eyes. (Deut. 6.16). So that all that was being said in the “don’t test”/don’t tempt quote, was to confirm that we should ask for physical wonders, from those who claim to be from God; and not forget that material evidence.

 

In fact finally, if anything, 9) the people in the Wilderness, are condemned for forgetting material evidence; forgetting the science of God. The people are finally condemned, for forgetting the many material wonders they have already seen, live and in person. They are condemned for forgetting the empirical evidence that they had not just heard about or read, but that had met some of the conditions of science: the empirical evidence that they themselves personally, had seen. The physical evidence that they had not read about, or heard about: but that they had seen personally, with their own eyes, earlier. Indeed, other parts of the Bible confirm the real message. Which was to mostly honor physical, material evidence of greatness. And not forget the empirical evidence you have already seen. If you forget material evidence? Then even your spiritual “soul” will go bad:

 

“Take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen…. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice….” (Deut. 4.9-12. See other miracles for the people in the Wilderness.)

 

“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD” (Deut. 6.16-17).

 

“Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath” (Deut. 4.39).

 

Sometimes 10) some preachers will finally agree to this standard: that we are indeed supposed to ask for material wonders, before even thinking about accepting anyone as a priest or prophet. (Note that even physical evidence is not enough in itself; it is necessary, but not sufficient; since even false prophets can work signs. But if a would-be prophet can produce no signs at all? Then he can be eliminated right away). But then preachers will try this final “twist,” to get out of having to produce such wonders, themselves: they claim that since the Bible narrated many apparent physical wonders, in effect, we have already been presented with real physical evidence; and that is all we need. However, we note here that real science, requires that we do not trust any written accounts entirely; but that were periodically demand real empirical evidence, works and wonders, in our own time; in front of our own eyes. Which furthermore, the people of Moses – but not we ourselves – actually had. The people of Moses had themselves often witnessed, live and in person, Moses parting the seas and so forth. They were not reading about wonders in old books; the LORD had created huge physical wonders, in their own lifetimes, right in front of their eyes. So that this is the standard; and even narratives of ancient miracles, even in a book like the Bible, do not count finally as real empirical evidence. We need to see wonders ourselves, on demand, live. Just as God commanded. And if a preacher stands behind promises of miracles, but cannot produce them? Then that preacher is simply to be declared false.

 

Indeed, the story in Exodus, affirms again and again, that holy men, to prove they are from a powerful god, must work real, physical wonders; not just in ancient times, but in front of our own eyes, here and now. And indeed, the people of the time of Moses, it is written, had been given empirical evidence – for themselves; live, in front of their own eyes. Though to be sure, what they did wrong, was to become greedy, and ask for too much; ask for more than the dozen or so huge, gigantic physical miracles, that God had already performed, in person, before their very eyes. In effect then, the real moral of being told not to “tempt” God’s patience? Was that we should not test his patience, by … forgetting empirical evidence. God punishes those who forget empirical evidence that was offered to them, live and in person; those who forget God’s Science. While 11) in the story of Ahaz, God not only allows us to “test” God himself, but even commands us to do so in Mal. 3.10. Indeed, God and his representatives, even seem angry at those who do not submit his promises to the test, by asking in this case for physical “sign”s:

 

“The LORD spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask a sign of the LORD your God; be it as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.’ And he said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little that you weary men, that you weary my God also?'”(Isa. 7.12).

 

Here in Isa. 7.12, God once again, not only allows us to ask for material proofs; once again, as in Ex. 7.8-9, Mal. 3.10, he commands that we do so. Furthermore? Far from disapproving of “test”ing God in this way, here God even seems “weary,” exasperated – God even seems angry – at those who do not test him this way. At those who do not ask for real, physical, material proofs; or here, “sign”s.

 

 

 

Have Faith –

After Seeing Physical Evidence

 

 

So what therefore, was perhaps the greatest sin of our preachers? What is it, that makes God angry at them? It was their spiritual faith. Their refusal to “ask a sign,” and then evaluate themselves, on that basis; on the basis of their physical, not spiritual, results. Many very spiritual preachers in the past, have asserted that they don’t need to concentrate on, or get, physical results; they only need to tend to mental or “spiritual” things. But that is not true.

 

Many preachers in particular, have thought that it is “spiritual” knowledge that is the higher, better, final kind of real “wisdom” and “knowledge” that God wanted us to have. And yet however? As it turns out here, the Bible actually promised very physical, material things. From the beginning, God made the whole physical “world” and said it was “good,” not evil. And God promised many material things – fruits, works, signs, proofs – to those who really understood and followed him.

 

Indeed, it was said that Jesus himself was God “made flesh,” come to this “world.” Proving that God had an important investment not just in spiritual heaven, but his physical earth.. While indeed, the coming of Jesus, to this physical existence, is a first model or prototype (or in theological terms, a “foreshadowing”), of a day when the Heaven/Earth, Priests/Lay Persons, antagonism, dualism, is supposed to end. While Jesus in his First Coming, often very, very firmly emphasized specifically, his very concrete, physicality. Making it abundantly clear, that Jesus was specifically not a “spirit,” but a real physical manifestation, here on this material earth, in the “flesh”:

 

“Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled…: See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a spirit has not
flesh and bones as you see that I have…. Have you anything here to eat?'” (Luke 24.36-41).

 

Today again, Jesus himself stands before us all. But will preachers see him? See that he is “flesh and bones,” and not a spirit?

 

The question of all those Biblical references to “faith” is extremely important. And so we will need to address it in several, book-length passages, later; examining almost each and every major biblical reference to “faith,” to see what they are really talking about. But briefly, what we will be finding out about “faith,” is that if the Bible told us to have “faith”? Then we will be showing in later works that this is the kind of faith we are finally told us have: confidence or faith in material evidence.

 

Amazingly, ultimately we will be showing that when God asked for faith, he meant faith in things well evidenced by physical evidence, wonders. Ultimately the message on “faith” is that we should only have faith or confidence that someone is from God… only after seeing real, physical, material results:

 

“He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing’” (John 20.27).

 

“Prove yourself by working a miracle” (Exd. 7.9).

 

“When Pharaoh says to you, “prove yourself by working a miracle,’ then you shall” (Exd. 7.9).

 

Follow only those who get real, visible, timely, physical results, here in this physical world. Says God.

 

No doubt, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20.29); but to be “blessed,” does not mean to be approved of by Jesus; the Bible after all tells us to bless your enemies (Rom. 12.14; 1 Corin. 4.12.) So that in the Bible, when people are “blessed,” it is often not in the sense of approving of them; but in the sense of hoping to give them … better blessings, better abilities, than they presently have.

 

Amazingly, we will find here that finally God tells us to believe or have faith in, only in things for which there is reasonably solid physical evidence. Indeed, finally, amazingly, God did not stress the blind “faith” of preachers at all. Instead it told us to “believe” and have faith only in things for which there is good material evidence. As verified by science and even medical probing. Indeed:

 

“Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples; but these are written that you may believe” (John 20. 30).

 

In fact, if “faith” means believing in things for which we have not seen any physical evidence? Then logically, it probably would have been impossible for any of the Apostles to have faith. The Bible is full of accounts of holy men working real, physical wonders. And many people like the Apostles, were said to have seen many physical wonders from Jesus. Therefore? If “Faith” is – as Paul seemed to be saying for a moment – believing without any assertion of physical evidence? (Heb. 11.1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for” but not yet seen). Then logically almost no one in the Bible could have had faith; since the Bible is full of asserted accounts of physical evidence. There would have been little or no opportunity for the disciples to have faith; since at least rumors of real physical wonders worked by Jesus were there, before they were asked to believe. If we are saved only by blind faith in things for which there is no asserted physical evidence? Then none of us can ever be saved; since all of us have already heard many accounts of at least alleged physical, material wonders, worked by holy men.

 

Ultimately, far from asking us to “believe” or have faith, only things in religion just on preachers’ say-so, on the basis of blind faith, finally as it turns out, the Bible tells us there are many false things in our holiest men; and therefore we should “believe” or have faith in, only things well-attested to by real physical evidence. Things affirmed by visible “signs.” And signs moreover, as confirmed by real science; and the Science of God.

 

As we will be seeing, here and elsewhere.

 

Some preachers in fact assert that they and their religion, have already passed all such tests; since the Bible recounts lots of physical miracles, as evidence, happening in the past. To be sure though, that is not right. Real science requires that any past assertions of physical evidence, must be confirm-able, repeatable, in our own time. Any good religion, would not just rely on such past assertions of evidence; it would demand that all those who claim to have physical powers, replicate and verify those deeds, before reliable witnesses in controlled experiments, here and now, today.

 

It may be that few if any preachers can pass such a test. But if so? Then one “day” after all, we are supposed to find out that essentially “all” our holiest men and angels were sinners, and at least partially false.

 

[If Science tells us there are no miracles say? In the form that preachers once promised them? Then? Then indeed, there is an Apocalyptic moment that is supposed to come; a “day” when our childhood heaven of miracles and spirits, seems to “dissolve” in front of our eyes. But all in order, after all, to see a second and better appearance, understanding, vision, of God. A vision of God as being beyond physical “miracles” … and beyond even priestly “spirituality.” As we see God advocating not miracles or spirituality either, ultimately. But advocating a far more powerful, Science of God. A science that is given enough authority, to say that the old promises of supernatural miracles, are better read as being more natural or technological “wonders”; rather than things appearing out of thin air. (As we will see).]

 

At times to be sure, even Jesus himself seemed to be very spiritual, and to speak against trying to serve both voices of God; “God and mammon.” But if there are “two” voices in the Bible, and even in words attributed to Christ himself? A priestly spiritual one and a practical/material one? Two different ideas of God or Good? Then how do we know which one is right? Ultimately God told us to only consider following the voice that gets real, physical, material results. God tells us over and over, that many people find it all too easy to issue false verbal hot air. Therefore? Instead of believing mere “word”s, sentiments, spirits? God commands us to apply scientific testing, to religious beliefs; to find out if they make us physically healthier, and so forth.

 

God himself knew there were “two” opinions about God. So which one should we follow? The finally command from God, we will be showing here and elsewhere, was to follow the voice of those who support a critical science of God. And indeed, we are to not follow those who do not produce real empirical results – was found again in 1 Kings 18.20 ff, for example. Results that can be verified scientific experiments. As we see, especially in 1 Kings 18:

 

” ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.…’ Then Elijah said to the people, … ‘You call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers with fire, he is God“.… And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order.…. And at the time of the offering … Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be know this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy work. Answer me, O LORD …. That this people may know that thou, O LORD, art God….” Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust…. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The LORD, he is God.” (1 Kings 18.21-29).

 

If we are torn between two possible ideas of God, how do we decide which to follow? Here we are told to conduct empirical experiments; and to follow the God that gets real empirical results.

 

Most preachers today, are infinitely sly; and they will deny or misrepresent the above. Among other things, some will pretend to agree, that we should following things scientifically proven – but then they will claim that such passages as the above, in themselves, adequately prove that they have already proved themselves, with science, in the past. But of course? Real science demands that past narrations of such alleged proof, be replicated in our own time; or else rejected. We are to ask the preachers of today, to do similar great works … here and now, in our own time. And if they cannot? Then they must be rejected; as not being up to firm standards set in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

END OF CHAPTER 4