da Vinci code?
Selections from The Holy Bible and personal essays and commentary
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A Tale of Two Movies - "The da Vinci Code" and "The Passion of the Christ."
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of shalom; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the holy ones . . .
1 Peter 5:8-11 Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
According to the author, "The da Vinci Code" is a novel. That is clearly stated on the cover of the book. But the first word of the novel is "fact." From that point on, new-age philosophy, ancient pagan philosophy, feminist philosophy, heretical and historically-inaccurate writings from the Gnostic gospels, faulty scholarship, folklore, twisted mistatements of fact, hear-say and, to many, untruths are employed to weave a novel that attempts to undermine the truth about the divinity of Jesus Christ and to erode the credibility of being or of becoming a follower of and believer in Jesus.
This is clearly by design. Perhaps, besides making a lot of money, the purpose of the novel, and the films based on them, is to confuse and deceive those who will not or cannot make the effort to do the research concerning the facts - those who will believe the media progaganda that they read or see and hear in the movie theatre, on TV, DVD, CD or radio and elsewhere - those who are willing to believe what they are told even though it is not the truth.
The whole novel is supposedly about the bloodline of Jesus Christ but it is actually about the bloodline of the anti-Christ. In almost everything that God has done and has made, the devil has attempted to counterfeit it - to come up with a fake, a substitute, an illusion or delusion intended to deceive and destroy. The ancient mystery religions were ancient devil worship and all pointed to the same goal - that the fallen angel who had rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven, wanted to sit on the throne of God. In the pagan goddess worship and fertility cults, the mode of this devil worship is the merging of the opposites - the male with the female. This is blasphemy against God, totally rejected by Holy scripture as an abomination and totally in opposition to the private, intimate marriage relationship sanctioned by God. The symbols and teachings of the mystery religions, the illuminati, the templar knights, freemasonry and related groups are being used to indoctrinate the world for the coming of the anti-Christ. Royal families throughout Europe been rumored to be of the blood line of Jesus including the Hapsburgs who ruled the Austrian and Hungarian empires, the French St. Clair, King Juan Carlos of Spain who bears the title "The King of Jerusalem" and even King Arthur with the associated Holy Grail legends thus adding the British royal families to the list. Others say that King Arthur is another legend from the Welsh, made famous by a Frenchman and that the 12 Knights of the Round Table actually represent the twelve months of the year from an ancient calendar.
Obviously, this novel targets the Roman Catholic religion which, in its lengthy history, has been guilty of anti-Christian and anti-semitic acts and beliefs. Extra-biblical doctrines, secret societies and clandestine acts and decisions made by the high leaders of the religion have confirmed the accusations that the "church" is a false religion. Wait! There are those who have chosen the catholic religion who are good and worthy servants of Jesus Christ. Immediately come to mind the sacrificial service done by some in the monastic orders. Notwithstanding, throughout history some of the high leadership of Roman Catholicism has been at odds with God and in apostasy. Naturally, some of the faithful followers, being true to their leaders, trusted them and committed blasphemous sins in the name of Jesus. There are said to be those within the religion who are loyal to the old knights templar, freemasonry, the Jesuits and even the illuminati - working to destroy those who love, glorify and serve the One True God and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.
At its beginnings, the Roman Catholic religion was founded by sun worshippers and pagans - specifically, the Roman Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena. As a result, the religion was a fusion of pagan idolatry, rituals, beliefs and practices from sun worship, goddess worship and fertility cults. The Jewish roots of Christianity - the law of Moses, the feast days, the Sabbath and other practices - were quickly separated from the teachings and miracles of Jesus. This was due to the anti-semitism of the founders of Roman Catholicism.
The first novel in the series, and the second movie, Angels and Demons, takes a deeper look inside the Roman Catholic religion. Perhaps, it is closer to the truth, as it explores fanatical and heretical leadership working to destroy the religion from within. But, the heretical character, who is ultimately defeated, insists that the illuminati - an ancient group of devil worshippers and their allies who are seeking to control the world through international banks, global corporations, world governments and world religions - is still active in the present day. By the defeat of this "fanatic," the book and film suggest that the illuminati and, therefore, all secret and sinister organizations, are the creations of the imagination of madmen. Is that true or are the sinister individuals, organizations and conspiracies the true reality? And, if that is so, they would certainly possess the wealth and power to control the media that cranks out books and films that cast them as comic-book characters in the minds of those labeled as religious fanatics or as mentally-imbalanced conspiracy theorists.
The folklore, hear-say evidence and alleged fabrication on which some of the da Vinci code book is based has been confirmed by numerous scholars worthy of their title. Numerous DVDs and websites address the facts involved including the John Ankerberg web site. Other titles for accurate history and research include breaking the da Vinci code and the da Vinci Deception. In network tv specials on the subject, both ABC and NBC concluded that no historical evidence exists to back up the claims made in the novel.
The Bible clearly refutes all the hearsay, pagan teachings and discredited writings. Leonardo, as the majority of recognized scholars refer to him, was not a Christian by many historical accounts, although he was well paid by the Roman Catholic religion to produce works of art for them. It has been written that he asked for a Christian burial in his will where he mentioned his dedication to God and the mother Mary - some would say he was refering to Mary Magdalene instead of Mary, the mother of Jesus. But, there must be room left that Leonardo made his peace with God and returned to the faith.
There is evidence from history that Leonardo Da Vinci was a goddess worshipper in the sense that he promoted the philosophy of the divine feminine in his art work. There is a line of research claiming that Leonardo was a follower of the mystery religions - believing that John the Baptist picked Jesus of Nazareth as his disciple to pass on the mysteries and that Jesus passed that knowledge to Mary Magdelene instead of Peter, as the Catholic religion claims.
The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the four gospels which gives the full details about when Jesus asked Simon Peter or Petros (Greek, meaning rock) "whom say ye that I am?" The Roman Catholics have always taken this passage to indicate that Jesus would build his church on Peter or Petros, the rock, so Peter was considered the first Pope. Other, more accurate, Biblical scholars say that "the rock" refers to the foundational principle that Peter stated - that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:13 Now when Yeshua came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his talmidim (disciples,) saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" They said, "Some say Yochanan (John) the immerser, some, Eliyah (Elijah,) and others, Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah,) or one of the prophets." He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Shim`on Rock (Simon Peter or Petros) answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Yeshua answered him, "Blessed are you, Shim`on Bar-Yonah (Simon, son of Jonah,) for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Rock (Petros,) and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of She'ol will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on eretz (earth) will be bound in heaven; and whatever you release on eretz will be released in heaven." Then he charged the talmidim that they should tell no one that he is Yeshua the Messiah.
The reason for the last statement is that Jesus wanted men and women to come to their own conclusions about who He was. He came first as the suffering Messiah to die on the cross as the lamb of God - a sacrifice for all the sins of those who would accept Him and put their trust and faith in Him. His second coming is as the victorious King who will destroy all those who persecute His elect, both Jew and Gentile.
According to the novel, in "The Last Supper," Leonardo encodes the blade and the chalice - the ancient pagan symbols for male and female - by seating Jesus next to Mary Magdalene. The "^" shape of the blade surrounds the figure of Jesus and the "v" shape of the chalice separates Jesus from Mary - both are looking away from one another. Peter, with a threatening look, is shown touching or reaching towards Mary's neck or shoulder and a close look reveals a knife in his other hand. This is clearly not the fully accurate portrayal of the Last Supper described in the four, original, early gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - where the most detailed description is found. In John's account, he himself is the one laying his head on the breast of Jesus and Peter is asking John who Jesus is talking about - who is the betrayer. John 13:13 You call me, ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”" When Yeshua had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "“Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”" The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Yeshua loved (John), was at the table, leaning against Yeshua’s breast. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” He, leaning back, as he was, on Yeshua’s breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Yeshua therefore answered, "“It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.”" So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judah, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Yeshua said to him, "“What you do, do quickly.”" Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. For some thought, because Judah had the money box, that Yeshua said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.
Leonardo's fresco could be an encoded record that shows his hatred for God, Jesus, Roman Catholicism and for the truth. Count the number of figures in the painting - 13. This number has associations with the occult, the knights templar, freemasonry, the illuminati and the list goes on. God associates meanings with numbers throughout the Bible. Those associations are perverted and counterfeited by the devil and those who serve him. Besides, the actual account of the last supper reveals that Judas Iscariot left before the supper to betray Jesus - reducing the number of those present to 12 - the number of the tribes of Israel or the 12 Apostles (Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, replaced Judas Iscariot.)
Biblically, twelve is a perfect number, signifying perfection of government, or of governmental perfection. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which "rules" the day, and the moon and stars which "govern" the night, do so by their passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year. Twelve is the product of 3 (the perfectly Divine and heavenly number) and 4 (the earthly, the number of what is material and organic).
Some say that the "priory of sion" was the fraudulent invention of a 20th century French con man; others say that the group existed for the same purpose as the knights templar - to overthrow European monarchies in preparation for a one-world kingdom. According to this line of research, certain high ranking members of both groups came to a secret agreement to work together - as the illuminati. The templar knights, starting out as a small group of nine, became very wealthy and were among the world's first international bankers after discovering what some say was King Solomon's treasure in the hidden passages under the Temple Mount on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. The original templar knights decided to do "a work for God" and make a living by protecting and preserving Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Christian presence there during another time in history when Moslem terrorism was active in the world. There was considerable sin and misdeed done in the name of Christ during the Crusades and is a dark period on the history of the Christian church. The knights templar is one of many European secret societies. When they became so powerful that they could control everything including the Pope, some historians have written that their destruction was ordered by the vatican. Those who escaped joined with freemasonry in Scotland and others joined with members of the priory of sion to form the illuminati - a group working for a new world order under the guidance and rulership of the devil himself.
Now, a defense of the trust-worthiness of the Bible.
The Old Testament is known as the Tanakh by those who practice Judaism and some Messianic Christians. Those same believers may call the New Testament, the B'rit Chadashah.
The Bible, the Word of God, the Holy Scripture was written down by men under the direction, guidance and inspiration of God through the Holy Spirit. The original manuscripts are multi-sourced. The New Testament of the Bible is perhaps the best supported ancient writing in terms of the existence of multiple, confirming manuscripts numbering over 5000. Moses, credited with writing down the first five books of theOld Testament, the Pentateuch, was spoken to directly by God, as were many of the prophets who wrote down many of theOld Testament books. OtherOld Testament books such as the Psalms, Proverbs, Kings, Chronicles and others are songs, wisdom writings and historical records of the Hebrew peoples. The New Testament gospels are narratives told by those who lived with and learned from Jesus. Being told by four different writers, each one has a slightly different point of view. Paul, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin who was appointed to persecute members of the Christian sect, became the apostle to the Gentiles after an encounter with God on the road to Damascus. Biblical historians say that Paul, who was known as Saul of Tarsus, was chosen by Jesus from Heaven to become the 12th apostle to replace Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. In the book of Acts, the remaining 11 apostles voted to select a replacement for Judas - some say hurriedly without waiting for the confirmation of God. The apostle John, who refers to himself in the gospel of John as the disciple who Jesus loved, was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ while in exile on the isle of Patmos. The Apocryphal books or the Gnostic gospels are part of the Catholic Bible but were left out of the canonized King James Bible and other editions because the evidence for their accuracy, authorship and scholarship were questionable. It is an interesting contradiction that these books were included in the Catholic Bible. The gnostic gospels were written at the time of the founding of the Roman Catholic religion and were intended to undermine or confuse the spiritual and historical validity of Jesus and the early church. Why would the founders of Roman Catholicm include these books unless they too wished to undermine the foundation of truth concerning Jesus as the Christ? The very fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is deified in Roman Catholicism proves that "goddess worship" has found a place in this false religion.
There is no credible evidence supporting the novel's claim that the early church was struggling with or trying to suppress a number of competing gospels in the first century. Only 4 gospels existed in the first century, those actually written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the disciples and apostles that knew and followed Jesus. The pseudo gospels or Gnostic gospels (gospel of Philip, gospel of Thomas, gospel of Mary Magdalene, gospel of Judas, etc.) according to credible scholars and historians, were written in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries by heretical authors and their content and intent was spurious and fraudulent. They were not written by the authors who are named in their titles because they were not written during the lifetime of the apostles. Some have suggested that they were written by the Essenes or other early Christian groups who disagreed with the mainstream of the new faith. Passages in the original four gospels are omitted or altered in the pseudo or Gnostic gospels. The argument has also been made that they were written by their named authors but suppressed by the ecumenical councils because of the secret knowledge they contained. Biblical history and scholarship simply refutes this. The original four gospels were written around 75-90 A.D. and written by the apostles who walked with, learned from and saw the works and miracles of Jesus Christ.
The early church fathers and early, first-century writings attest to the deity of Jesus and to the fact that the early church, as a whole, supported and believed that. At the first council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. representatives of the early church voted 316 to 2 to support the belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ. One of the chief concerns of the early Ecumenical Councils was to define dogmatically the orthodox Christology of the Church. That first meeting was convened for the specific purpose of stamping out the Arian heresy. The Arian heresy taught that Christ was not indeed divine, but rather was the highest and most perfect of all of God the Father's creatures. This heresy, however, which had become prominent even among bishops by the early 320's, contradicted the constant Christological teachings of the Church up to that point.
No serious and credible Biblical scholar or historian has ever affirmed or confirmed that Jesus was married. There is ample evidence that he was not. Supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit of God, born of a virgin, Jesus or Yeshua was celibate so that he might be untouched by sin - dedicated to going about His Father's business - the business of becoming the sacrificial lamb who was slain on the cross as an atonement for the sins of all the world. Numerous books and films have insinuated that Jesus was homosexual. This is a lie from the evil one - the very spirit of anti-Christ.
Some see celibacy as an impossible or undesirable condition - it may be difficult, but it is not impossible. Many women are successfully enslaving men with their seductive powers and both men and women are taking advantage of weakness and lack of sexual discipline in others. With the help of God, through prayer and with the power of the Holy Spirit, men and women can resist the wiles of the devil and stand strong against their baser instincts. God created the institution of marriage for a man and a woman to bond together and become as one flesh - a supernatural event that only truly happy married couples know.
New age religion postulates that human beings are divine and that this is some sort of secret wisdom available only to the enlightened - this is an egotistical delusion that has its origin in the work of the evil one. If Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, why did He not give an instruction from the cross as to her care as He did concerning His mother Mary? Other of the apostles and disciples were married according to the scripture but nothing is said ever that Jesus was anything but a celibate, single man who certainly loved women in a pure and holy manner and they loved Him as well.
Another heresy of the novel is to assert that the Holy Grail is not what it is. The grail is historically the cup from which Jesus and the twelve disciples drank from at the last supper. The wine-filled cup was passed around the table, signifying the partaking of the blood of Jesus, which was to be shed for the sins of all the world.
In a blatant attempt to propagandize feminist and pagan philosophy, the novel wishes you to believe folklore and heretical writings saying that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had a child with her and that He wished to pass the headship of the church on to her. The story contends that she was rejected by the apostles and the male hierarchy of the church who prevented it and suppressed the documents which would support the claim. This is on course with all the messages we get from the media, public schools and society in general that women and girls are the competent leaders and men and boys their inferior servants. This is in direct opposition to the Word of God.
Additionally, the heretics wish to corrupt Jewish temple worship and the relationship between God and his people through temple worship by tainting it with accusations of immoral sexual activity being part of the ritual. This is blasphemy.
The Old Testament is full of passages where God strictly forbade the Hebrews to engage in the immoral worship practices and lifestyles of the heathen, pagan races which they were to encounter as they made their way into the promised land. Numerous cases of direct punishment by God are written about those who desecrated and otherwise defiled the religious and other practices of the Jewish people, clearly written down in the books of the law. Sexual immorality was not to be permitted and often quickly judged and punished.
The reference is made in the novel to "Shekinah" as a female counterpart to the male Jehovah. This interpretation may have been drawn from the kaballah, the book of ancient Jewish mysticism, where the word is said to represent the feminine side of the divine nature. In Biblical Hebrew the word means to settle, inhabit, or dwell. In the Tanakh (Hebrew bible,) references are made to the presence of God as the fire that did not consume the burning bush where God first spoke to Moses, a fiery cloud or pillar of fire that covered the top of Mount Sinai or an extremely bright light emanating from the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant where the presence of God dwelt when the Ark was in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. In the New Testament (B'rit Chadashah,) the indwelling presence of God is referred to as the Holy Spirit.
The ancient blasphemy of "goddess worship," found in more than a few ancient pagan cultures, is at the heart of the novel. The false teaching that sex is the ultimate expression of spiritual elation and "enlightenment" is rubbish. The belief or practice stating that men can only be fulfilled and enlightened through intimate relationships with women is purely of the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and from the devil. Unfortunately, this ancient pagan blasphemy has been revived and is greatly contributing to the moral decline of our world. Fertility goddess worship was left behind a long time ago by wise and truly Godly people who are aware of the difference between truth and lies, morality and immorality and of the difference between divinity and paganism. Many ancient fertility cults were based on an idolized worship of the mother-child relationship and when Roman Catholicism became the official religion of Rome, some of the pagan practices and idols found in the Pantheon (house of many gods) in Rome crept into the Roman Catholic religion.
Some historians believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit around the time of the Jewish celebration of Hannukah or Chanukah and born during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets - late September, early October. Hannukah celebrations occur just before the traditional Christmas celebration on December 25th or 26th. The celebration of the birth of Christ was switched from the time of the Feast of Trumpets - a time associated with the coming of and the presence of the Lord recognized and observed by the mostly Jewish early church. The date was switched by those who started the Roman Catholic religion to coincide with pagan celebrations around the time of the winter solstice - a practice that came from ancient pagan sun-worshippers. The founders of Roman Catholicism also switched the Sabbath from the seventh day, Saturday, to Sunday - the first day of the week and also the holy day for sun worshippers.
The Bible makes a strong case for the role of women as Mary Magdalene was a consistent follower and servant of Christ along with the male Apostles.
Matthew 27:55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came.This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again.' Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
Matthew 28:1 - Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me." Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry." So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day. But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
The Bible does not deify women, as does Roman Catholicism. In its pagan, fertility goddess-worship of mother and child imagery, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is deified above the already high status among women where God placed her.
Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.' He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his kingdom." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?" The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For everything spoken by God is possible." Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins." Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, And shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel; Which is, being interpreted, "God with us." Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; and didn't know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
God the Father is clearly identified as male. (Genesis1:26-27 God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle, and over all the eretz (earth,) and over every creeping thing that creeps on the eretz." 27 God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.) In the New Testament, the Scripture states that in Christ Jesus there is no male or female. (Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Yehudi (Jew) nor Yevanit (Greek or Gentile,) there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.)
Research reveals that Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. You can study the proofs for the resurrection on the page at this site titled, The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You will find a list of scriptures where Jesus was foretold and confirmed as the Messiah on the Messianic prophecies page.
During the 1980s, a group claimed that Leonardo da Vinci was homosexual, referring to hidden symbols in his paintings, sketches and other works to prove their point. They stated that the Mona Lisa was actually a self-portrait of Leonardo as he saw himself according to the pagan philosophy of the divine feminine - a merging of male and female. This is the same kind of evidence that supports the da Vinci code - historically doubtful, perhaps even manufactured evidence that supports a point of view or philosophy. The apostle John, shown with his head leaning toward Jesus, is feminized in the fresco of the Last Supper. If da Vinci was homosexual, as some historians or and others have written, all the more reason that he would be anti-God, seeking to discredit the Bible because we find the following passages in the Holy Scriptures, in both the Old and New Testaments.
Leviticus 18:22-23 You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestible. You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it; neither shall any woman give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.
Leviticus 20:13 - If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Deuteronomy 22:5 - A woman shall not wear men's clothing, neither shall a man put on women's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.
Romans 1:24 - Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amein. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
The Renaissance was a time when atheist, humanist free-thinkers sought to be freed from what they perceived as the "bondage" of traditional morality.
The quest for the Holy Grail is found in ancient Germanic literature - the stuff of Wagnerian opera - German folk lore upon which Hitler based his Aryan master race, Nazi regime and Third Reich - a "reich" or reign that was supposed to last 1000 years - the same length of time as the millenial reign of Jesus Christ spoken of the in The Revelation of Jesus Christ - the last book of the New Testament. Did you know that Hitler had his minions searching the world for the spear that pierced the side of Jesus, while He was on the cross? Adolf believed that owning such relics would bring him supernatural power. Did you also know that when he campaigned for high office he employed rhetoric that appealed to Christians but when elected he had the SS replace all the crosses in the cemetery with the man rune - an ancient German pagan symbol? The Nazi reich was based on the occult and that was clearly shown by his hatred for the Jewish people. If he had not been anti-God, he would not have set as one of the Reich's major goals the extermination of the Jewish race. You can read more about fascism and, more interestingly, how conditions and events in 1930's Germany, not unlike those happening in the United States today, led to the election of an evil, violent, inhuman dictator at the essay on fascism.
One of the DVD documentaries on the "da Vinci code" is distributed by a company called "The Disinformation Company" with a devil's head symbol as an iconic trademark. Do you need any more proof as to the origin and purpose of this onslaught against the Christian faith?
This short essay is about another film and an incident that followed that may have been staged for a particular effect on society - or not. Many people are fond of Mel Gibson as he was presented in many films and in interviews. His public persona is largely a sympathetic character and one that many want to like. He came under attack because of his personal demons and difficulties but also because he dared to stand up to the Hollywood establishment and to confront the evil world system in the film Conspiracy Theory. The media can be very wicked. When a high profile man is in trouble that involves a woman, the media can be unrelenting in it's desire to bring them down. Who is to blame? First of all, the people who watch such gossip and trash. Mostly women and feminized men watch gossip shows and many so-called news broadcasts that are produced by female producers. There is a large, secular Jewish ownership of media and it reflects badly on them when it appears that they are going after someone because of supposed anti-semitic tendencies. A lot of people have been persecuted and discriminated against but they don't all have the power of the media at their disposal. Jews and Christians are called to forgive, forget and help to heal those who are in trouble or who have fallen along the way. If we say that we are of God and that we believe and trust in God, we can't separate our religious life from our work and from the rest of our lives. If we walk with God, it is all day and throughout the night - every day. Sure we all stray, but it's up to us to get back on track.
Now, the comments on Gibson's films resumes - as it was originally written. There is a common denominator in the films that Gibson has acted and directed - excessive violence. Watching violent acts and, especially, extreme and repeated acts of violence, has the effect of numbing our natural reaction against it and our horror and aversion to it. Scientific studies have shown that violence in the media - TV, films, books, etc. - has made our society more violent. Many people tend to copycat what they see on TV, in movies or read in books. So-called news broadcasts focus almost completely on negative reporting which portrays society as a violent, dark, evil, scary place which encourages many to believe that our world is a more violent and evil place than it is.
The targets of violence in Gibson's films have included corrupt ex-military and ex-CIA personnel, members of the shadow government, criminals of various types, racists, an arrogant and obnoxious Jewish film director (in one of the Lethal Weapon films) and, in The Passion of the Christ, Jesus Christ Himself.
This is one of the few films I've seen where the violence was shown in the way it was described in the original story - the Bible.
Jesus was subjected to brutal punishment by the Roman soldiers - so much so that he was almost drained of life before he began to carry a very heavy wooden cross through the city streets and up a steep hill where he would suffer the additional brutality of being nailed to it.
Gibson's narrative of the Passover week and the ultimate persecution, degradation, resurrection and glorification of Christ includes dramatic touches that may have come from other sources. But the film is very true to the Bible narrative and with the addition of the dialogue being spoken in Aramaic, deeply moving and the viewer is immediately caught up in the story.
Interestingly, the film was made in the ancient capital of the Roman empire - an empire that persecuted Jews and Christians and was complicit in the crucifixion of Christ only after being strongly encouraged by some of the Jewish religious leaders and some of the general public of the time. According to the New Testament accounts, Pontius Pilate was goaded into the crucifixion of Jesus by some high-ranking Jewish religious and political leaders along with the shouts of crucify him coming from the anti-Christian mob. The Jewish zealots wanted a warrior Messiah/King that would liberate them from Rome. Other Jews were loyal and faithful to the current, ruling religious order - many of whom believed that Jesus was a blasphemer who was possessed by devils. Jesus, who was casting demons out of troubled souls, answered them by saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand - that the devil would not cast out his own servants - the demonic spirits.
The film was not marketed in the usual Hollywood manner - Gibson and his associates promoted the film on the web, by previewing the film in churches and by a grass roots campaign that enlisted the help of many Protestant and Catholic congregations to get the word out. It was enormously successful at the box office.
In a publicity interview, Mel was asked about his father's anti-semitism but he repeatedly said - don't go there and would not get into those personal details. Some months after the film's release, Gibson allegedly made anti-semitic comments to a Jewish polish officer. After the incident, he apologized and actively sought a dialogue with members of the Jewish community to address the problem of anti-semitism. It's troubling that Gibson came under such scrutiny after making a film about Jesus or Yeshua - born a Hebrew to grow in the Jewish traditions, to study in the synagogue and to die for the sins of mankind - the Messiah, rejected by his own, who brought salvation to all the world and who will return again to reclaim the remnant of His people and establish His Kingdom on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
His next film was Apocalypto, another violent film about the Mayan culture and their long calendar, which abruptly ends on December 21, 2012. The words spoken in the film are supposedly in an ancient Mayan dialect.
The gift of eternal life is freely given to those who trust in Jesus as their savior. Those who believe, pray, read the Bible and allow themselves to grow in spirit and truth by trusting in Jesus and in the guidance of the Holy Spirit are brought into the family of God and will spend eternity with Him. You can read more about Jesus in the Gospel of John.
Topics.
The Good News - the Gospel of John.
The Sermon on the Mount
The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paley's Evidences of Christianity
Sherlock's The Trial of the Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Words of wisdom and warning.
The Authority of the Holy Scriptures - the Bible.
The Sign of Jonah.
The Two Babylons.
Thoughts.
Thoughts for today and every day.
...a refiner and purifier of silver.
Prophecies confirming Jesus as the Messiah.
To the Jew first and to the Gentile - Come let us reason together.
The Way.
Spirit.
Atheism.
Belief in God or science?
Old fossils?
Evolution or devolution?
The Shroud and The Sudarium.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Blood and Flesh.
Christmas.
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
How should followers of Jesus live?
A praise and worship leader gone astray?
St. Valentine's Day.
The influence of feminism, new-age and pagan philosophy in the church.
God, the Father.
Marriage is for one man and one woman.
Touchy subjects.
The apostate church.
The last days.
Ancient conflict - Isaac vs. Ishmael.
A Tale of Two Films - The da Vinci code and The Passion of The Christ.
Current events and topics.
Fascism.
To veterans and to those who serve in the armed forces.
The world.
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