What Does Pope Francis Know About the ‘Reptilian’ Devil?

Pope Francis is no stranger to talking about the devil as he is known to speak about him in public speeches and take to Twitter with mention of Satan, the Evil one, Ancient Serpent and the Great Dragon, to name just a few aliases.

Pope Francis has warned people to avoid discouragement and to grab hope with both hands, to have the courage and not become prey to cynicism or negativity. Francis draws on the insight of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. He continually makes reference to the devil, however, he parts ways with any current preaching, which remains silent and doesn’t speak up about the devil and nor the insidious ways to reduce him to only a metaphor.

Following the first months of the pontificate during 2013, Pope Francis talked about the devil most frequently in messages and even in the first big address to those who had him elected, he told them to not give in to the pessimism that the devil offers every day.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE NAIVE

He has also shared homilies on a daily basis in the Vatican guesthouse chapel with congregations that have paid him rapt attention as he went on about the devil. He is always stressing that people should not be naïve and warn that the devil is shrewd and isn’t cast out forever.

The pope has even issued calls to arms saying that the devil exists in the 21st century and people should learn from the gospel about how to fight against him. He gave Christians a warning that they should not be naïve about the ways of the devil and went on to say that he is anything but a relic. Francis has preached in the past about the devil being intelligent.

THE DEVIL IS DISGUISED AS AN ANGEL

When he was newly elected the Pope spoke before a crowd on Palm Sunday and said that Christians are faced with trials. He said that while Jesus is close by, so is the devil, which comes to people disguised as an angel and speaks his words. 

On July 12 Pope Francis prepared a text that he was going to deliver and presented the job description of the devil. He said that the devil is a con artist who makes promises that he cannot keep and never does a thing that he says he will do. He never makes good on the promises he makes. He makes people want things that he cannot give them and makes people put their hopes in things that are not going to make them happy.

THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE DEVIL

Ever since the start of his papacy, Pope Francis has warned that if people want to follow Jesus they must be aware of the devil. He has said that the life of every Christian is always a battle against evil, the same as Jesus had in his lifetime when he struggled to fight against the devil along with all the temptations.

The pope always wants to call people back to reality in all the references he makes to the devil, a devil that he believes is very active in the lives of people and church, drawing people into despair, negativity, sadness, nostalgia and meanness of spirit.

Each of the temptations that Pope Francis speaks openly about is the realistic flip side of the heart of the Argentine Jesuit. His message is about the world that is charged with mercy, presence, grandeur and the fidelity of God, all of which are far greater powers than any antics of the devil.
SOURCE: DiscloseTV

Ancient Sanskrit Reveals the 9 Rules for Being Human

The nine lessons for being human are a series of philosophical stances designed to be used as a basis for mental wellbeing and personal growth.

A translated Ancient Sanskrit explained the 9 rules for being human. These rules for being human date back many thousands of years, but they are still just as absolutely valid today!

The full list of the nine lessons and an interpretation of the meanings of each is as follows:

Some of the lessons offered by the supposedly ancient text are obvious and most are centered around being open to learning new experiences and having no ego. Essentially similar principles to those underpinning Buddhism and various other Eastern religion.

The origin of the lessons is a matter of dispute. It is widely claimed that they are taken from an ancient Sanskrit text, the exact source of which is unknown. Others claim that the list was drawn up by Dr. Chérie Carter-Scott, a corporate trainer, and life coach.

The fact that they have survived as long as they have, however, suggests that they do have some value. Despite the fact that they have been reproduced and altered numerous times and in some cases added to.

SOURCE: DiscloseTV

Beware the Entities of the Dark Realm: Dangers of Opening Your Third Eye

The dangers of opening your third eye.

The third eye is a mystical invisible eye prevalent in many eastern religions that proponents claim offers perception beyond normal vision and is key to spiritual awakening.

For most the opening of the third eye is a powerful spiritual awakening, allowing the inner self to be revealed truly. Delving into this limitless resource, however, is not without dangers.

There is a popular misconception that the eye will make an individual instantly happy and fulfilled. The insight that the third eye offer isn't always necessarily positive. The information that the third eye can offer is honest and truthful but at the same time can reveal things that aren't always ready to be faced or that may do more damage than good in the short term.

Only by learning to work through whatever information the third eye shares can it's potential for aiding personal growth and spiritual progression be fully realized. Without preparation for this undertaking, however, the process can be a painful one.

But there is one section that misses our sight and no one is talking about.

Some people will tend to see facets of themselves, positive and negative. These may manifest themselves as either inner knowledge or as literal manifestations of these facets, what some people may refer to as demons or monsters.

The dark side of this experience can slip you in a chain of unfortunate events if you are not completely aware of the risks.

Before you open your third eye you have to prepare yourself for the unknown.

Since the barriers of time and space are no longer in place when dealing with the insights offered through the opening of the third eye, this experience can be frightening and can seem to last for a much longer time than it does.

Some also find that their spiritual awakening manifests itself in physical symptoms. Some suffer hallucinations, others feel physically unwell and have trouble sleeping.

Only by listening to these forgotten aspects of personality and inner self can they be overcome and can an individual be completely at peace with themselves. This is why most people are forever conflicted and never truly happy on a deeper level than the shallow and superficial outer layer of their personalities that are presented to the world.

SOURCE: DiscloseTV

Dutch Financial Whistleblower Admits He Was Forced to Sacrifice Children at Elite Parties

Whistleblowers and victims have been coming forward for decades trying to expose the elite and their use of occult rituals to gain power, commonly referred to as “black magic.” From sexual abuse by different power circles such as the Vatican to secret men’s clubs like the one held annually at Bohemian Grove in California to Satanic rituals, it’s clear that there must be some truth to these stories.

The latest whistleblower to make headlines is Ronald Bernard, a Dutch entrepreneur whose experience in the financial world and impressive contact list quickly pulled him into the world of the financial elite. In an interview with De Vrije Media, Bernard explains some of the darkest secrets within these societies, which even includes rituals performed with human sacrifices.

Though Bernard’s background in the finance industry is definitely real, it’s important to note that there’s no way to actually verify his story. However, this isn’t the first time the elite has been accused of using occult, Satanic, and sexual rituals, so it certainly merits further investigation. These claims are disheartening and astonishing, and as human beings, we naturally don’t want to believe that any of us would be capable of such dark, violent acts. Nevertheless, it’s for that very reason that stories like these deserve to be explored.

Ronald Bernard Discusses Elite Rituals and Human Sacrifices

“I was warned off when I got into this – don’t do this unless you can put your conscience 100% in the freezer. I heard myself laugh at it back then, but it wasn’t a joke at all,” Bernard explained.

“I was training to become a psychopath and I failed.”

Bernard started by explaining how he and a group of colleagues, or financial terrorists, crashed the Italian economy. The economic downturn ultimately resulted in a number of suicides and so much destruction, which the financial elite actually celebrated with Bernard.

His interview continues:

One of my colleagues said, “Ronald, you remember that case with the Italian lira? Do you remember those deals in which we did massive dumping of the lira, which reduced the value of the currency, which caused a company in Italy to be hit in such a way that they went bankrupt?”
And then you hear at the exchange: “Do you remember that successful deal with the lira?” And then they say: “Do you know that the owner committed suicide and left a family behind?”
And back then we laughed at it. Ha ha ha, altogether, all of us. We looked down on people, mocked them. It was just a product, waste, everything was worthless trash.

Nature, the planet, everything could burn and break. Just useless parasites. As long as we met our goals, as long as we were growing.

Of course, this was only the beginning of the deception involved with the financial elite in Europe, and Bernard hadn’t even come close to experiencing the worst of it. What came next was his introduction to Satanism, a practice that the elite allegedly use through rituals to gain more power:

To put it carefully, most people followed a not very mainstream religion. These people, most of them, were Luciferians. And then you can say, religion is a fairy tale, God doesn’t exist, none of that is real. Well for these people it is truth and reality, and they served something immaterial which they called Lucifer.
And I also was in contact with those circles, only I laughed at it because to me they were just clients. So I went to places called Churches of Satan. So I visited these places and they were doing their Holy Mass with naked women and liquor and stuff. And it just amused me. I didn’t believe in any of this stuff and was far from convinced any of this was real. In my opinion, the darkness and evil is within the people themselves. I didn’t make the connection yet.
So I was a guest in those circles and it amused me greatly to see all those naked women and the other things. It was the good life. But then at some moment, which is why I am telling you this, I was invited to participate in sacrifices abroad.

The next part of the interview deals with who exactly the elite were sacrificing, and unfortunately, Bernard expressed that they used children as the human sacrifices. The concept of sacrifices was explained very well during an Alex Jones interview with Sean Stone, director, screen writer, actor, and son of the infamous Oliver Stone:

If they want to control the Middle East, or the music industry they have to make a sacrifice to these “demons.” Whether it’s children or soldiers at war, they always respond to signs and symbols, for example the pyramid shape, the five sided star, the six sided star, they congregate around these signs. This is why major corporate symbols are full of “Illuminati” symbols. That’s why when you wear those clothes, or buy those products, you are giving power to that entity, you are giving energy to it, you are giving it power over you. (source)

Bernard continued to explain the sacrifices and where he drew the line, stating, “That was the breaking point. Children.”

“You were asked to do that?” asks the interviewer.

“Yes, and I couldn’t do that,” Bernard explains. “And then I started to slowly break down. I lived through quite a lot as a child myself and this really touched me deeply. Everything changed. But that is the world I found myself in. And then I started to refuse assignments within my job. I could no longer do it. Which made me a threat.”

In the interview, Bernard addresses the fact that it’s not just in Europe that these rituals are performed, but rather all over the world and by the highest members of the elite class.

“If you Google this you will find there are enough worldwide witness accounts to prove this is not a Walt Disney fairytale. Unfortunately, the truth is worldwide they have been doing this for thousands of years. I once studied theology and even in the Bible you find references to these practices with Israelites.”

Though the entire interview is very sobering and informative, the ending is perhaps the most eye-opening:

Humanity is a manifestation of light, that is the true creation. As long as you divide them on political parties, skin color, you name it, then you – from a Luciferian point of view – suppress the full capacities of your enemy, their full power. They can’t stand up for themselves because if they did the Luciferians would lose. This monster, this greedy monster would disappear.

Regardless of what you think about the interview and the elite’s relationship to Satanism, this last statement is definitely filled with truth. The very core of our being was manifested from Light. Yes, we live in a dualistic world and we are all trying to find balance between our own darkness and light; however, our inner souls are Light beings.

In addition, the elite have been manipulating the right and left sides of politics for years in order to increase separatism and division within society. If we’re focusing on how much we hate one another, we’ll be too distracted to even understand the gravity of the situation here and how much the elite control us. This started by creating a radical right wing, fuelling racism and the desire for war. But now, the global elite have slowly been planting seeds in the left wing, like billionaire George Soros, who helped create the Black Lives Movement in the U.S. in order to capitalize on separatism and fear.

The left, which used to be defined by more progressive views and staunch equality, has slowly shifted toward imperialism and globalization. The left has slowly become more supportive of military force and “soft” power, allowing the big banks and the elite to gain more control over societies. They’ve convinced society that it’s socially acceptable to literally fight for equality, increasing violence, and separatism. As Bernard expressed, if we focus on our differences rather than on the elite, we’ll never be able to defeat them.

You can watch the full video of Ronald Bernard’s interview here:

SOURCE: Collective-evolution

Leaked: the Secret List of the Illuminati Commandments

An anonymous insider who claims to have spent a staggering forty-seven years at the top levels of the shadowy organization known as the Illuminati has come forward to share with the world some harsh and highly disturbing truths about the elusive group.

The anonymous individual said that his conscience simply would not permit him to keep his silence any more about the ruthless and distressing plans of the organization he once pledged his life to. He said that he quit because he 'couldn't take it any more' and now it was his mission to make sure that the people of Earth were made aware of what sinister plans were bubbling underneath the surface.

One of the most compelling features of the series of confessions issued by this former Illuminati member is the unique code which he claims that all members of the Illuminati have to live by. These commandments confirm what many people have suspected for a long time concerning the spiritual make up of the organization, as in, there are deep Satanic undertones associated with Illuminati membership. Lucifer, whom Illuminati members refer to as 'the light bearer' is believed to have created two forms of people. Illuminati members are taught that they belong to a chosen higher caste fit to control and dominate the rest of the world who are referred to as 'human cattle, good for nothing but to be enslaved, mocked and slaughtered.'

One of the methods the Illuminati apparently used to mock the so-called human cattle is to constantly place the truth about themselves and their plans for the world in plain sight. Then they can sit back and laugh as other people subject those who speak the truth about them to campaigns of ridicule and harassment.

While the Illuminati members clearly find this kind of thing deeply amusing, there is nothing at all comical about their end goal, according to the anonymous insider. Ultimately, the powerful group plan to enslave the human race entirely underneath the banner of the One World Government which they will lead. The only way to stop them is for more people to become aware of their terrible plans and the methods they are using to implement them.

THE 9 ILLUMINATI COMMANDMENTS

1. The light bearer, Lucifer, created only two basic types of people: we, the Illuminati, and the human cattle, good for nothing but to be enslaved, mocked and slaughtered.
2. Achieve the One World Government, alias Global Slavery. “Slaughter the human cattle” of an unprecedented scale is a consequence of the underlying second commandment of Global Genocide.
3. Have the human cattle robotically repeating that “Black is White”.
4. Truth (hidden) in plain sight. Openly tell the truth to the human cattle and still make sure that the cattle don’t get it.
5. Exterminate ALL real Christians and ALL Jews as soon as possible. Note: Jews refers to both race and religion.
6. Obey yourself alone.
7. Make the human cattle believe that there is NO creator.
8. Endless deception, to serve NOTHING but simulated reality at the end of the show.
9. Rewrite History to formally turn defeat into victory.

THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES & THE ILLUMINATI'S COMMANDMENTS

SOURCE: DiscloseTV

Scientists Want to Clone Jesus: the Search for the Messiah’s Dna Has Begun

For the first time in history, a man of faith and a man of science are teaming up to search for Jesus’ DNA. Using the latest advances in DNA technology an Oxford University geneticist and a biblical scholar are investigating the world’s most famous holy relics including the Shroud of Turin, The Sudarium of Oviedo and the newly discovered bones of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. By extracting and analyzing samples of each of these holy relics they hope to retrieve a sample of DNA that possibly belongs to Jesus or a member of his family.

Right now, experts are trying to ‘extract’ the genetic code of the family of Jesus Christ. Numerous strange claims have been made by different individuals who said to have been on the verge of cloning Jesus Christ. However, we still have not managed to clone a human being, let a lone the Son of God.

But what if we could track down the DNA of the Messiah?

Now, a History Channel documentary called ‘The Jesus Strand’, which premieres on April 16 looks into the matter.

History Channel’s “The Jesus Strand” is a journey where, for the first time in history, a man of faith and a man of science are teaming up to search for Jesus’ DNA. Using the latest advances in DNA technology Oxford University geneticist George Busby and biblical scholar Pastor Joe Basile are investigating the world’s most famous holy relics including the Shroud of Turin, The Sudarium of Oviedo and the newly discovered bones of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Their journey takes them to holy sites around the world from Spain and Italy to Israel and the shores of the Black Sea.

Speaking to the Conversation, George Busby of the University of Oxford—who participates in ‘The Jesus Strand’ said:

“In 2010, Kasimir Popkonstantinov discovered what he believes are the bones of one of the most famous of all saints: John the Baptist. I was interested in what DNA analysis could tell us about these bones, and other ones.”

“When Kasimir later opened the reliquary, he found five bone fragments. The epitaph on the smaller box, probably used to carry the bones when travelling, was the key piece of evidence that led him to believe that the bones could perhaps be those of John the Baptist. ‘The finding is hugely important, partly because John the Baptist was both a disciple of Jesus and his cousin – meaning they would share DNA.”

However, Busby indicates that it is still not clear whether or not that DNA is from the REAL John the Baptist. Nevertheless, he has spoken with scientists who participated in the extraction of numoerus DNA samples from the Turin Shroud.

The Shroud of Turin is believed to be by many as the burial cloth of Jesus, and the center of a debate between skeptics, historians, and archeologists. The cloth of approximately 4.5 meters in length was the alleged shroud placed over the body of Jesus Christ at the time of his burial. It has remained as an object of fascination for both the Christian faith and science.  Its origin is controversial, while some place the shroud of Turin more than 2,000 years ago to adjust the story to a supernatural origin, others believe it dates between the 13th and 14th century, based on a radiocarbon dating carried out on the linen in 1988. In addition, despite thorough scientific analysis, so far no one knows for sure how the image of a crucifixion victim is shown on the shroud although many say it is the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Interestingly, researchers are working on extracting the DNA from the so-called James Ossuary—a first century chalk box which supposedly may have help the bones of Jesus’ brother.

Busby added, “Let’s assume for a moment that contamination could be completely ruled out and that DNA analysis demonstrated that DNA from the Shroud was a familial match to DNA from the James Ossuary – and that they are both related to the Bulgarian bones. Could this then have been the DNA of Jesus and his family?”

Featured image Credit: The History Channel

SOURCES: Ancient-code.com
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The Attack on Syria, Predicted in the Bible as a Sign of the End of the World?

(1) The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. (2) The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. (3) The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

A worrisome prophecy has supposedly been identified in the bible in Isaiah 17:1-3, „Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Furthermore, the prophecy notes that “The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. The land of Israel will be without strength and will lose all their riches.

According to some political analysts, the scenario is very likely. “If the Syrian government falls and the Islamists come to power, the security of Israel will be significantly harmed,” argues Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko.

It is noteworthy to mention that there are different views on the verses of the Bible.

Some argue that the prophecy was already fulfilled, at least partially, when the Assyrians defeated the Arameans and occupied their capital, Damascus, in the year 732 BC.

The context makes clear that the city falls into the hands of the Assyrians, today’s Iran, whereas today these two countries are faithful allies, explains Robert Mulholland, retired professor of Asbury Theological Seminary, USA.

However, there are several websites and blogs which speculate that the verse written down in the bible speaks of the future.

Interestingly, at no time during the 5,000 years of its history was Damascus depopulated: it is the oldest city in the world continuously inhabited.

“The situation in Syria described in the verses of Isaiah could be something we are seeing now,” says Pastor Gary Cristofaro of Melbourne, but warns that it is necessary to be very cautious with a literal interpretation of the biblical texts.

The exact cause—or causes—of the ‘destruction’ of Damascus is not explicitly stated in in Isaiah 17:1-3, however, if we take a look at Jeremiah 49:23-27, we find a passage that potentially has doomsday predictions, as it suggests that Damascus may be target of a military invasion.

(23) Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. (24) Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. (25) How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! (26) Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts. (27) And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad. (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

Furthermore, author Joel Rosenberg, who has has pointed to Old Testament scriptures like Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 to potentially assess the current events unfolding inside Syria wrote in a blog post: “The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel wrote 2,500 years ago that in the ‘last days’ of history, Russia and Iran will form a military alliance to attack Israel from the north. Bible scholars refer to this eschatological conflict, described in Ezekiel 38–39, as the ‘War of Gog & Magog.’ Are these sudden and dramatic moves by Moscow and Tehran…simply coincidental, or [do they] have prophetic implications?”


SOURCE: Ewao.com
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The Case for Christ: What's the Evidence for a Resurrection?

In 1998, Lee Strobel, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and a graduate of Yale Law School, published "The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus." Strobel had formerly been an atheist and was compelled by his wife's conversion to evangelical Christianity to refute the key Christian claims about Jesus.

Mosaics from San Vitale's Basilica in Ravenna, Italy. | Credit: futureGalore/Shutterstock

Paramount among these was the historicity of Jesus' resurrection, but other claims included the belief in Jesus as the literal Son of God and the accuracy of the New Testament writings. Strobel, however, was unable to refute these claims to his satisfaction, and he then converted to Christianity as well. His book became one of the bestselling works of Christian apologetic (that is, a defense of the reasonableness and accuracy of Christianity) of all time.

This Friday, April 7, a motion picture adaptation of "The Case for Christ" is being released. The movie attempts to make a compelling case for historicity of Jesus' resurrection. As one character says to Strobel early in the movie, "If the resurrection of Jesus didn't happen, it's [i.e., the Christian faith] a house of cards."

As a religious studies professor specializing in the New Testament and early Christianity, I hold that Strobel's book and the movie adaptation have not proven the historicity of Jesus' resurrection for several reasons.

Are all of Strobel's arguments relevant?

The movie claims that its central focus is on the evidence for the historicity of Jesus' resurrection. Several of its arguments, however, are not directly relevant to this issue.

For instance, Strobel makes much of the fact that there are over 5,000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence, far more than any other ancient writings. He does this in order to argue that we can be quite sure that the original forms of the New Testament writings have been transmitted accurately. While this number of manuscripts sounds very impressive, most of these are relatively late, in many cases from the 10th century or later. Fewer than 10 papyrus manuscripts from the second century exist, and many of these are very fragmentary.

I would certainly agree that these early manuscripts provide us with a fairly good idea of what the original form of the New Testament writings might have looked like. Yet even if these second-century copies are accurate, all we then have are first-century writings that claim Jesus was raised from the dead. That in no way proves the historicity of the resurrection.

What do the New Testament writings prove?

One key argument in the movie comes from the New Testament writing known as First Corinthians, written by the Apostle Paul to a group of Christians in Corinth to address controversies that had arisen in their community. Paul is thought to have written this letter around the year 52, about 20 years after Jesus' death. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul gives a list of people to whom the risen Jesus appeared.

These witnesses to the resurrected Jesus include the Apostle Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and, most intriguingly, a group of more than 500 people at the same time. Many scholars believe that Paul here is quoting from a much earlier Christian creed, which perhaps originated only a few years after Jesus' death.

This passage helps to demonstrate that the belief that Jesus was raised from the dead originated extremely early in the history of Christianity. Indeed, many New Testament scholars would not dispute that some of Jesus' followers believed they had seen him alive only weeks or months after his death. For example, Bart Ehrman, a prominent New Testament scholar who is outspoken about his agnosticism, states:

"What is certain is that the earliest followers of Jesus believed that Jesus had come back to life, in the body, and that this was a body that had real bodily characteristics: It could be seen and touched, and it had a voice that could be heard."

This does not, however, in any way prove that Jesus was resurrected. It is not unusual for people to see loved ones who have died: In a study of nearly 20,000 people, 13 percent reported seeing the dead. There are a range of explanations for this phenomenon, running the gamut from the physical and emotional exhaustion caused by the death of a loved one all the way to the belief that some aspects of human personality are capable of surviving bodily death.

In other words, the sightings of the risen Jesus are not nearly as unique as Strobel would suggest.

A miracle or not?

But what of the 500 people who saw the risen Jesus at the same time?

First of all, biblical scholars have no idea what event Paul is referring to here. Some have suggested that it is a reference to the "day of Pentecost" (Acts 2:1), when the Holy Spirit gave the Christian community in Jerusalem a supernatural ability to speak in languages that were unknown to them. But one leading scholar has suggested that this event was added to the list of resurrection appearances by Paul, and that its origins are uncertain.

Second, even if Paul is reporting accurately, it is no different from large groups of people claiming to see an apparition of the Virgin Mary or a UFO. Although the precise mechanisms for such group hallucinations remain uncertain, I very much doubt that Strobel would regard all such instances as factual.

Strobel also argues that the resurrection is the best explanation for the fact that Jesus' tomb was empty on Easter morning. Some scholars would question how early the empty tomb story is. There is significant evidence that the Romans did not typically remove victims from crosses after death. Therefore, it is possible that a belief in Jesus' resurrection emerged first, and that the empty tomb story originated only when early critics of Christianity doubted the veracity of this claim.

But even if we assume that the tomb really was empty that morning, what is there to prove that it was a miracle and not that Christ's body was moved for uncertain reasons? Miracles are, by definition, extremely improbable events, and I see no reason to assume that one has taken place when other explanations are far more plausible.

Who are the experts?

Apart from all of these other weaknesses in Strobel's presentation, I believe that Strobel has made no real effort to bring in a diversity of scholarly views.

In the movie, Strobel crisscrosses the country, interviewing scholars and other professionals about the historicity of Jesus' resurrection. The movie does not explain how Strobel chose which experts to interview, but in his book he characterizes them as "leading scholars and authorities who have impeccable academic credentials."



Yet the two biblical scholars who feature in the movie, Gary Habermas and William Lane Craig, both teach at institutions (Liberty University and Biola University, respectively) that require their faculty to sign statements affirming that they believe the Bible is inspired by God and is free of any contradictions, historical inaccuracies or moral failings. For example, the Liberty University faculty application requires assent to the following statement:

"We affirm that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, was supernaturally inspired by God so that all its words are written true revelation of God; it is therefore inerrant in the originals and authoritative in all matters."

The overwhelming majority of professional biblical scholars teaching in the United States and elsewhere are not required to sign such statements of faith. Many of the other scholars he interviews in his book have similar affiliations. Strobel has thus drawn from a quite narrow range of scholars that are not representative of the field as a whole. (I estimate there are somewhere around 10,000 professional biblical scholars globally.)

In an email reply to my question about whether most professional biblical scholars would find his arguments for the historicity of Jesus' resurrection to be persuasive, Strobel said,

As you know, there are plenty of credentialed scholars who would agree that the evidence for the resurrection is sufficient to establish its historicity. Moreover, Dr. Gary Habermas has built a persuasive "minimal facts" case for the resurrection that only uses evidence that virtually all scholars would concede. In the end, though, each person must reach his or her own verdict in the case for Christ. Many things influence how someone views the evidence – including, for instance, whether he or she has an anti-supernatural bias."

No compelling evidence

In response to Strobel, I would say that if he had asked scholars teaching at public universities, private colleges and universities (many of which have a religious affiliation) or denominational seminaries, he would get a much different verdict on the historicity of the resurrection.

Christian apologists frequently say that the main reason that secular scholars don't affirm the historicity of the resurrection is because they have an "anti-supernatural bias," just as Strobel does in the quote above. In his characterization, secular scholars simply refuse to believe that miracles can happen, and that stance means that they will never accept the historicity of the resurrection, no matter how much evidence is provided.

Yet apologists like Gary Habermas, I argue, are just as anti-supernaturalist when it comes to miraculous claims outside of the beginnings of Christianity, such as those involving later Catholic saints or miracles from non-Christian religious traditions.

I have very little doubt that some of Jesus' followers believed that they had seen him alive after his death. Yet the world is full of such extraordinary claims, and "The Case for Christ" has provided, in my evaluation, no truly compelling evidence to prove the historicity of Jesus' resurrection.

Brent Landau, Lecturer in Religious Studies, University of Texas at Austin

SOURCE: Livescience.com

Secret Bible Prophecy "Predicts" Monster Tsunami That Will Wipe out Spain!

According to many doomsayers the world is entering it's "last days" as we have clear signs of catastrophic events unfolding right around the corner each passing day.

There's a certain famous book that tells about all these "End of the world" prophecies. The Holy Bible, more specificaly in the 'Book of Revelations', there are several passages that talk about the future of mankind and the countless calamities that are about to strike.

Many religious scholars say we are actually living in the time of the "Apocalypse" where everything that is happening now is going according to the scriptures.

There are claims of secret passages in the Old Testament of the Bible that speak about a massive tidal wave and a comet that will devastate Spain, Portugal, part of the US and South America.

The coded passages tells of how the destructive wave will drown countless victims and the ones who do survive will weep among the ruins.

Watch the following video to know more!

SOURCE: http://www.disclose.tv/news/secret_bible_prophecy_predicts_monster_tsunami_that_will_wipe_out_spain/138486

Researcher Claims to Have Found the First and Only Portrait of Jesus

Biblical researcher and historian Ralph Ellis claims to have found the only real representation of Jesus’ image—a finding that could rewrite the history of the most important figure in Christianity.

The image of ‘Jesus’ is engraved on a tiny bronze coin dating from the first century, and was initially believed to be the face of King Manu, who ruled the Mesopotamian kingdom of Edessa in southeastern Turkey. Nevertheless, according to author and researcher Ralph Ellis, Manu and Jesus Christ are in fact the SAME person which means that the image of the monarch depicts Jesus as well.

The researcher, who claims that the discovery may be the most important in modern history, has spent years studying the Bible and relating people and events from the holy book of Christianity to historical facts.

One of the fruits of his investigations are the “striking similarities” between Jesus Christ and the Mesopotamian king indicates Ellis.

“Though this might not be an issue for those who are satisfied on the basis of faith alone, which I understand and respect, as a historian this is deeply troubling. I have made it my life’s work to reconnect events and people from the Bible with known history.”

“And Jesus – probably the most important figure in western history – deserves to be brought out from the biblical shadows and into the historical sunlight. The coin is the icing on the cake, and at last helps build up a strong case for the true identity and genealogy of the biblical Jesus.”

The tiny bronze coin is dating from the 1st-century AD

Most modern scholars agree that Jesus of Nazareth actually existed and was crucified by Pontius Pilate, who feared that the “king of the Jews” would promote a violent uprising.

Interestingly—as pointed out by Ellis— ancient accounts show that both King Manu and Jesus were Nazarene Jews who lived in Jerusalem in the first century.

Curiously, both were seen as a threat by the Romans because they supported the revolt of the Jewish people during the first Judeo-Roman War (years 66-73).

While experts ae still unsure as to how King Manu died, Ellis believes that just as Jesus, Manu was crucified by the rRomans

Furthermore, Ellis also points out that “the traditional tiara of the Edessan monarchs was, as can be seen on the coins, a plaited crown of thorns”.

Although Jesus Christ is often depicted as a bearded man with long hair, wearing a tunic, there is really no description of him in the Bible. If it turns out that Ellis is right, the coin would be the only real representation of Christ found to this day.

Ellis explains: “The fact that Jesus was the only convict said to have been forced to wear a crown of thorns as he was led to his execution, points to there being a link with this king. Jesus was also made to wear a purple cloak, which was a symbol of power and could only be worn by Roman emperors. To disobey was punishable by death. It is my theory that Jesus was forced to wear this crown in the biblical story because he, or more correctly King Izas Manu, had attempted to overthrow the Romans. Both the crown and cloak were overtly political statements, warning against further uprisings against Rome.”

“The connection between Jesus Emmanuel and King Izas Manu is a controversial one, to say the least, but the similarities are simply too great to be mere coincidence. Jesus is always portrayed as a pauper prince of peace, who was confusingly involved in an unknown revolution in the AD30s. My research shifts him in the historical timeline from the AD30s to the AD60s and makes him a key figure in the Great Jewish-Roman War. It is my theory that he was, in fact, a warrior king who challenged the might of the Roman Empire in AD68 and paid the price. Anything that contradicts the orthodox story of Jesus, which has become central to the church for over 1,500 years, is likely to attract a lot of criticism. But when viewed from a historical perspective the case is very strong for Jesus Emmanuel and Izas Manu being one and the same,” concluded Ellis.
SOURCE: http://www.ewao.com/a/researcher-claims-found-first-portrait-jesus/

Archaeologists Unearthed the First Pope! What They Found May Prove That Jesus Never Existed

The remains of the first Catholic pope have been exhumed by archaeologists and have been remarkably well preserved, as well as turning up some secrets the church would rather have stayed buried.

Unearthing of the First Pope Reveals Catholic Secrets

The man thought to be the first pope is believed to have died around 155AD and was initially buried in the cathedral in the city of Aquileia. The cathedral was knocked down, and the tomb opened in 1789 before being transferred to a chapel for reburial in 1875.

The remarkable preservation is thought to have been due to a combination of the large number of humidity and plants inside the tomb and the fact that he was buried in the winter months, allowing less decomposition to take place in the first few months that the body was buried.

More interestingly alongside the body, the archaeologists found numerous documents also preserved from the time of his death detailing alternate accounts of key events and even some that suggest that the Messiah was, in fact, a fabrication created by the Christians of the time to further their agenda.

If the documents are verified as genuine, it could cast doubt by the entire Catholic faith system which has been damaged greatly already in recent years due to numerous scandals.

Alongside the numerous conflicting accounts of the life of Jesus are also hundreds of other stories relating to other similar prophets throughout the ages, many of whom bear striking similarities fo Jesus.

From the documents found it appears that the life of Jesus as most people know it was largely created from handpicked moments from the stories of other previous messianic figures from history. The true life of Jesus, who science has supported was a real person, may have been very different and not at all as the Bible suggests.

Some of the other messianic figures who predated Jesus but bear striking similarities include Horus and Mithras, both of whom are said to have been the basis of some of the life story of Jesus in the past.

Horus, the Egyptian god of the sky and kingship, was born of a virgin, baptized at the age of 30 and had 12 disciples. He was also crucified and resurrected similarly to Jesus thousands of years later.

Mithras was a Roman cult god and also had a virgin birth, had a festival on December 25th, marked his followers on the forehead, was associated with the lion nd the lamb, sacrificed himself and had a sacred day on Sunday. All centuries before Jesus had been born or Christianity had taken root. More information on Mithras can be found at: http://www.truthbeknown.com/mithra.htm

SOURCE: http://www.disclose.tv/news/archaeologists_unearthed_the_first_pope_what_they_found_may_prove_that_jesus_never_existed/138326

Was Jesus a Real Person?

Jesus Christ may be the most famous man who ever lived. But how do we know he did?

Most theological historians, Christian and non-Christian alike, believe that Jesus really did walk the Earth. They draw that conclusion from textual evidence in the Bible, however, rather than from the odd assortment of relics parading as physical evidence in churches all over Europe.

That's because, from fragments of text written on bits of parchment to overly abundant chips of wood allegedly salvaged from his crucifix, none of the physical evidence of Jesus' life and death hold up to scientific scrutiny.

Holy Hardware

In a documentary called "The Nails of the Cross," set to air April 20 on the History Channel, filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici tells the story of two nails allegedly discovered in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Jerusalem. He presents circumstantial evidence that seems to suggest the rusty relics once nailed Jesus to the cross.

The tomb in which the nails were found is believed by some to be that of the Jewish high priest Caiaphas, who presides over the trial of Jesus in the New Testament.

"If you look at the whole story — historical, textual, archaeological — they all seem to point at these two nails being involved in a crucifixion," Jacobovici says in the film. "And since Caiaphas is only associated with Jesus' crucifixion, you put two and two together and they seem to imply that these are the nails."

In their coverage of the new film, Reuters reported that most experts and scholars they contacted dismissed the filmmaker's case as far-fetched and called it a publicity stunt.

It turns out publicity stunts abound when it comes to holy hardware. In 1911, English liturgical scholar Herbert Thurston counted all the nails that were at that time believed to have been used to crucify Jesus. Though only three or four nails (the exact number is up for debate) were supposed to have pinned Christ to the cross circa A.D. 30, in 1911, 30 holy nails were being venerated in treasuries across Europe.

In an entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia, Thurston, a Jesuit himself, offered this explanation for the surplus in hardware: "Probably the majority began by professing to be facsimiles which had touched or contained filings from some other nail whose claim was more ancient. Without conscious fraud on the part of anyone, it is very easy for imitations in this way to come in a very brief space of time to be reputed originals."

Along similar lines, enough wood chips from the "True Cross" – the cross on which Jesus was crucified – are scattered across Europe to fill a ship, according to this famous remark by the sixteenth-century theologian John Calvin: "There is no abbey so poor as not to have a specimen. In some places, there are large fragments, as at the Holy Chapel in Paris, at Poitiers, and at Rome, where a good-sized crucifix is said to have been made of it. In brief, if all the pieces that could be found were collected together, they would make a big shipload. Yet the Gospel testifies that a single man was able to carry it."

Biblical blankets

Perhaps the most famous religious relic in the world, the Shroud of Turin, is believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus. The 14-by-4-foot linen blanket, which bears the ghostly image of a man's body, has been worshipped by millions of pilgrims in a cathedral in Turin, Italy. But scientifically speaking, the Shroud of Turin is a fake.

Full-length negative photograph of the Shroud of Turin.
Credit: Public domain

Radiocarbon dating of the shroud has revealed that it does not date to the time of Christ but instead to the 14th century; coincidentally, that's when it first appeared in the historical record. In a document written in 1390, Bishop Pierre d'Arcis of France claimed the image of Jesus on the cloth was "cunningly painted," a fact "attested by the artist who painted it."

Today, the Catholic Church does not officially endorse the Shroud of Turin as authentic, though many of the faithful, including Pope Benedict, have indicated that they personally believe in its holiness.

A similar relic is the Sudarium of Oviedo, a blood-stained cloth that was supposedly wrapped around Christ's head when he died and which, since A.D. 718, has taken pride of place in a cathedral in Spain. Blood on the Sudarium is of type AB, common in the Middle East but not in Europe, leading many to believe it's the blood of Christ. However, according to Joe Nickell in his book "Relics of the Christ" (University Press of Kentucky, 2007) the Sudarium has been carbon dated numerous times to circa A.D. 695 – not long before it showed up in Oviedo.

Lead lies

Seventy metal books allegedly discovered in a cave in Jordan were hailed in recent weeks as the earliest Christian documents. Dating them to mere decades after Jesus' death, scholars called the "lead codices" (they're written in code and cast in lead) the most important discovery in archaeological history. Even BBC News stated: "Never has there been a discovery of relics on this scale from the early Christian movement, in its homeland and so early in its history."

Christians took the books to be proof of the real-life existence of Jesus, because one page displayed an image of him. Nearby, a fragment of text reading "I shall walk uprightly" was interpreted by many as a reference to Jesus' resurrection — strong evidence that it actually happened, coming so soon after the fact.

But as Life’s Little Mysteries reported, the lead codices are fakes — a jumble of anachronistic dialects and borrowed images probably forged within the past 50 years. "The image they are saying is Christ is the sun god Helios from a coin that came from the island of Rhodes," Oxford archaeologist Peter Thonemann told the press. "There are also some nonsense inscriptions in Hebrew and Greek." The main scholar who had been backing their authenticity was later revealed to be a fringe thinker with no real credentials.

Fake Christian relics such as the codices are relatively common, said Kimberly Bowes, a Roman and Greek archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania. "Modern people's urge to find material evidence from the first two centuries of Christianity is much stronger than the actual evidence itself," Bowes told Life's Little Mysteries. "This is because the numbers of Christians from this period was incredibly small — probably less than 7,000 by A.D. 100 — and because they didn't distinguish themselves materially from their Jewish brethren."

Sacred scrolls

One of the most important archaeological finds that actually dates to the time of Jesus may or may not provide evidence of his existence, depending on who you ask. The Dead Sea Scrolls, a vast trove of parchment and papyrus documents found in a cave in Israel in the 1940s, were written sometime between 150 B.C. and A.D. 70. In one place, the scrolls refer to a “teacher of righteousness.” Some say that teacher is Jesus. Others argue that he could be anyone.

One of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Torah Precepts scroll, provides religious instructions to members of the Jewish faith, and includes a Hebrew calendar, religious laws (called halakhot) and information about the Temple and its rituals.
Credit: Library of Congress

Christ's crown

Before Jesus was crucified, the Gospels say, Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on his head in a painful mockery of his sovereignty. Many Christians believe the thorny instrument of torture still exists today, albeit in pieces scattered across Europe. One near-complete crown is housed in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The documented history of Notre Dame's Crown of Thorns goes back at least 16 centuries — an impressive provenance — but it doesn't quite trace back to A.D. 30. Furthermore, as Nickell points out, Notre Dame's crown is a circlet of brush, and is completely devoid of thorns.

The Good Book itself

The best argument in favor of Jesus as a once-living person is, of course, the Holy Bible itself. The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are thought by scholars to have been written by four of Christ's disciples in the decades after his crucifixion. There are still other Gospels, never canonized but written by near-contemporaries of Jesus all the same. Many details differ between the various accounts of his life and death, but there's also a great deal of overlap, and through centuries of careful analysis biblical scholars have arrived at a general profile of Jesus, the man.

"We do know some things about the historical Jesus — less than some Christians think, but more than some skeptics think,” said Marcus Borg, a preeminent Biblical scholar, author and retired professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University. “Though a few books have recently argued that Jesus never existed, the evidence that he did is persuasive to the vast majority of scholars, whether Christian or non-Christian.”

The following description, surmised from the Gospels, would be affirmed by most history scholars, Borg told LiveScience:

Jesus was born sometime just before 4 B.C. and grew up in Nazareth, a small village in Galilee, as part of the peasant class. Jesus' father was a carpenter and he became one, too, meaning that they had likely lost their agricultural land at some point. Jesus was raised Jewish and he remained deeply Jewish all of his life; he never intended to create a new religion. Rather, he saw himself as acting within Judaism.

He left Nazareth as an adult and met the prophet John, who baptized him. During his baptism, Jesus likely experienced some sort of divine vision. Shortly afterwards, he began his public preaching with the message that the world could be transformed into a "Kingdom of God." He became a noted teacher and prophet, as well as a healer: More healing stories are told about Jesus than about any other figure in the Jewish tradition.

He was executed by Roman imperial authority, and his followers experienced him after his death. It is clear, Borg said, that they had visions of Jesus as they had known him during his historical life. Only after his death did they declare Jesus to be "lord" or "the son of God."

This article was provided by Life's Little Mysteries. Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover. Contributing reporting by Heather Whipps.

SOURCE: http://www.livescience.com/13711-jesus-christ-man-physical-evidence-hold.html

Was Jesus Really Nailed To The Cross?

Jesus’s crucifixion is probably one of the most familiar images to emerge from Christianity. Good Friday, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marks the event. But what was crucifixion? And why was Jesus killed that way?


Crucifixion was a Roman method of punishment. Suspended from a large cross, a victim would eventually die from asphyxiation or exhaustion – it was long, drawn-out, and painful. It was used to publicly humiliate slaves and criminals (not always to kill them), and as an execution method was usually reserved for individuals of very low status or those whose crime was against the state. This is the reason given in the Gospels for Jesus’s crucifixion: as King of the Jews, Jesus challenged Roman imperial supremacy (Matt 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19–22).

Crucifixion could be carried out in a number of ways. In Christian tradition, nailing the limbs to the wood of the cross is assumed, with debate centering on whether nails would pierce hands or the more structurally sound wrists. But Romans did not always nail crucifixion victims to their crosses, and instead sometimes tied them in place with rope. In fact, the only archaeological evidence for the practice of nailing crucifixion victims is an ankle bone from the tomb of Jehohanan, a man executed in the first century CE.

So was Jesus nailed to the cross?

Gospel Accounts

Some early Gospels, such as the Gospel of Thomas, don’t include the narrative of Jesus’s crucifixion, choosing instead to focus on his teaching. But Jesus’s death by crucifixion is one of the things that all four canonical Gospels agree on. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all include the crucifixion event in their own slightly different ways.

None of the Gospels in the New Testament mentions whether Jesus was nailed or tied to the cross. However, the Gospel of John reports wounds in the risen Jesus’s hands. It is this passage, perhaps, that has led to the overwhelming tradition that Jesus’s hands and feet were nailed to the cross, rather than tied to it.

"The Incredulity of Saint Thomas," by Caravaggio, 1601.
Wikimedia Commons

The Gospel of Peter, a non-canonical gospel from the first or second century CE, specifically describes in verse 21 how after Jesus had died, the nails were removed from his hands. The Gospel of Peter also famously includes the cross itself as an active character in the Passion narrative. In verses 41-42 the cross speaks, responding with its own voice to God: “And they were hearing a voice from the heavens saying, ‘Have you made proclamation to the fallen-asleep?’ And an obeisance was heard from the cross, ‘Yes.’” Tradition is clearly of paramount importance to this text.

Over the past few years, several people have claimed to have found the actual nails with which Jesus was crucified. Each time, biblical scholars and archaeologists have rightly pointed out the assumptions and misinterpretations of evidence behind these claims. Curiously, this fixation on the nails persists, despite the fact that the earliest gospels make no mention of Jesus being nailed to the cross.

Depictions Of The Crucifixion

It isn’t surprising that Christians took a while to embrace the image of Christ on the cross, given that crucifixion was a humiliating way to die. What is surprising is what the earliest image of the crucifixion turns out to be. Rather than the devotional icons with which we are familiar – pictures that glorify Jesus’s death – this earliest image appears to be some late second-century graffiti mocking Christians.

Called the Alexamenos Graffito, the image shows a figure with the head of a donkey on a cross with the words: “Alexamenos worships his God.” This was apparently a common accusation in antiquity, as Minucius Felix(Octavius 9.3; 28.7) and Tertullian (Apology 16.12) both attest. Since the graffito was clearly not made by a Christian, this image suggests that non-Christians were familiar with some core elements of Christian belief as early as the second century.



Gemstones, some used for magical purposes, also provide some of our earliest depictions of the crucified Jesus. This second or third century piece of carved jasper depicts a man on a cross surrounded by magic words.

This second or third century piece of carved jasper depicts a man on a cross surrounded by magic words.
British Museum CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Another very early image of the crucifixion is found carved into the face of a carnelian gemstone made into a ring.

Constanza gemstone with the crucified Christ, surrounded by 12 apostles.
British Musem CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Scholars think that the Constanza gemstone, as it is known, dates from the fourth century CE. In this depiction, Jesus’s hands do not appear to be nailed to the cross, since they fall naturally, as if he is tied at the wrists.

Since the evidence from antiquity doesn’t provide a clear answer as to whether Jesus was nailed or tied to his cross, it’s tradition that dictates this common depiction. Those who have seen the film The Passion of the Christ will recall how much time the director, Mel Gibson, devoted just to the act of nailing Jesus onto the cross —- almost five whole minutes.

Given the relative silence on the act of crucifixion in the Gospels, this stands out as a graphic expansion. One of the only films that does not assume that crucifixion involved nails is Monty Python’s Life of Brian, which shows multiple crucifixion victims, though not Jesus, tied to their crosses.

Eventually, Emperor Constantine put an end to crucifixion as a method of execution, not for ethical reasons, but out of respect for Jesus. But in the end, it is the enduring image of the cross, and not the matter of whether nails or ropes were used, that most firmly evokes the death of Jesus in art and tradition.

Meredith J C Warren, Lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies, University of Sheffield

This article was originally published on The Conversation.

SOURCE: http://www.seeker.com/was-jesus-really-nailed-to-the-cross-1771107612.html