Shortly before or after this article appears, comments should be opened again after having been closed for about six months. If you want any realistic hope of getting your comment posted you will need to read and abide by the new commenting policy (top bar). There may be some bugs since I can’t find out if all my plug-in software is working as advertised until comments are turned on.
If you are an old regular, take note of two very important changes. All comments will be monitored before posting that means there will be a delay in any comment getting posted. I will also be even more strict about comments staying on the post topic. I would like to notify you if your comment got posted but I have not found a plug-in yet that does that, that actually works.
Keep in mind, that many visitors come from search engines. If they start reading the comments and find the conversation is not adding to the topic they queried on, they will not read further.
Think of the comments section on this blog as a round table discussion on a topic rather than an endless brain storming session that goes in many different direction.
Yes, you can go back and comment on the past posts that were closed. Also, comment policy exceptions are made on these monthly perspectives newsletters because by their nature they are of short interest.
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I guess reciprocal link agreements don’t mean much to Christian website owners anymore. I just noticed that two prominent Bible prophecy websites that had a link agreement with me dropped my link without saying a word. I inquired and found out that one dropped me because of my position on “The Harbinger” book. That reminds me of another prominent prophecy site that dropped me without telling me because I told people he was wrong about his 2011-2018 tribulation dating (based on his interpretation of the fig tree parable).
The second site I mentioned that recently dropped me was because the site was dropping many links that were not doing much contributing. I understand that, and I have no problem with reciprocal link partners dropping me, if they let me know. I want to know because I also have links going to their site. One way link juice giving is bad for my site and not fair to others that continue to give me reciprocal links. (Link juice is that sticky stuff sent through links that when accumulated on your webpage in sufficient amounts puts your webpage above other webpages in a key-worded search engine index like Google)
On the first issue, I think that anyone that thinks there can be total agreement in the Bible prophecy or biblical discernment/apologetics ministries needs to face the reality that it will never happen before the Rapture. There are great differences in interpretation of scripture, or how it should be applied, even among those in the dispensational community. I am firmly a member of the literal, common sense, grammatical-historical method of Bible interpretation. Most say they also are, except when they have a pet exception. Chronicles 2 7:14 is a popular example for Christian Americans. If I had to agree with everything posted on websites listed in my link directory there would be no link directory.
I find that new reciprocal link agreements with other sites are not worth the effort anymore. I just checked, there are over 100,000 external links coming in to all the various articles on my website. Two links that just dropped me is not going to effect my home page ranking at all. Several in the past asked me for a reciprocal link and then when I checked their site a short time later they were not even on the Internet anymore. I have been here for 13 years. Then there are the ones that say they want to exchange links but then put you on some obscure back page or blog roll with hundreds of other links. There are other sites that say they will link to you but then they put up a metadata “nofollow” command or something similar so that they get link juice from you but you get none from them. Google page rank worshipers will do anything if they think it might get them a higher home page rank.
I gave up on page rank on Google a long time ago when it downgraded me from a four to a three even though my traffic quadrupled. I had three active blogs on this website at that time. I was hoping for an upgrade to a five but I got a downgrade to a three. It was not that long ago that most sites with a few hundred unique visitors a day would have a page rank of four. I knew of one site that had 500 unique visitors a day and had a page rank of five. Even with my comments closed I get 1500 unique visitors and 6500 page views a day but I am still a three. That is because page rank is based on the number and the quality of incoming links period.
If you do not have a website or blog you might want to skip the rest of this section, but I think what I am saying needs to be understood for those that do have websites and blogs and that do link with others.
The problem in the Bible prophecy field is that there are few quality incoming links coming from Bible prophecy sites. Even the most well-known Bible prophecy sites will invariably have a links page that has a page rank of three or four at best. Now spread the link juice over all the links they have on their links page and there is not much juice for anyone.
My links page has a page rank of two, but I do not allow robots to follow links that do not link back to me, so only those that link back get my juice. There now are only about a dozen links that do that, so those dozen sites get all my link juice from my links page. Sites that have agreed to link to me probably get as much or more juice from my page rank two links page as they get from the top sites. I will explain because I do not think many website owners understand how Google page rank works.
Link juice for webpage rank is dependent on the page rank of the link page and the number of links that the ranking robots are allowed to follow on that page. An incoming link from a site with a links page rank of three and fifty links on their page is not likely to send you any more link juice than a site with a links page rank of two that has only ten robot followable links.
The page rank of the home page means little if the site gets that page rank by gaming the ranking system and nothing on the site is worth reading. Page rank does not even increase advertising revenue, that is usually based on the number of clicks on advertisements or page views. All page rank is good for is bragging rights. I think Google should take the page rank on their tool bar and stick it where the sun don’t shine because it does more harm than good. It just makes people do strange things, like not linking to your page because your page rank is lower than theirs, rather than linking to you because they like your content or that their visitors will appreciate being referred to sites that have topics that are of interest to them. Also, it makes people put “nofollow” commands on most of their outgoing links.
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Strange things are going on in the Bible prophecy field. It is hard to put a finger on it, but it seems that many Bible prophecy buffs have become obsessed with parsing minute details. They then come up with theories on the obscure that they think all previous Bible prophecy experts missed. Fifty years ago there were only a few that were known as dispensational Bible prophecy experts and they were in agreement on much. Today there are thousands of experts and there is far less agreement.
Did the prophetic scriptures change in the last fifty years? Are we learning what the Bible says about end time things, or are many of the experts reading other sources and then reading conjectures into obscure passages?
There are more people getting their Bible prophecy from pagan sources these days than are getting it from the Bible. It makes great science fiction, but it is of no benefit to the Church. Come on girls, just stick with what scriptures actually says and you won’t be singing the tunes of the Fifth Dimension. I know the root of the problem. Everyone wants to be the next Jack Van Impe. They can’t make a living selling something if they do not come up with something new to tickle itching ears.
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I guess I should say something about the economy, and how Romney will turn it all around like so many now believe because they watched the Republican Convention. Even if he wins it won’t happen. He has no solutions because he will not do what is required, and he won’t do what is required, because Americans want prosperity, not pain. So like all the rest he will just add more national debt and put the big cuts off to the future. Then interest rate and inflation will rear their ugly head and the Democrats will take over the congress again in 2014. After that everything continues to get worse until in 2016 Hillary and her Vice President Pelosi come riding in on their broomsticks to save the nation for the Grateful Dead that will bring up a living hell on earth. Happy Halloween!
Of course economics will not be our only problem. No mater who occupies the White House there will be American military actions and social unrest will also impact America. White House sounds like a racial term to me, it should be called the Rainbow House especially since Obama is the first gay president. Get the paint out. Hillary and the flower people of the 60’s will love it. She can do political rallies using an old rainbow-colored Volkswagen bus and we would be back to the 60’s again. Ain’t that what even Republicans say they want?
Do watch what happens in Germany on September 12. That is when the German Supreme Court comes down with a decision on the legitimacy of the German European bail-outs. They are expected to say that they are constitutional, but if they rule against the bail-outs, Europe will be in a major economic panic.
All the past prosperity in America brought America to where it is right now. So I don’t think it is in God’s plan to keep blessing America even if some true Christians in America make that appeal. I also see that the Dominion Theology heretics have already taken over the forty days to save America agenda and that is never a good sign.
Somebody tell me why God will answer the petitions of those giving up their morning Danish and praying for a blessing on America, while the very same people continue to allow all kinds of perverted people to lead them? Not only that, they confuse God’s desire for people to be saved with saving America.
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I don’t think Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities this month. Israel will probably use this month to put a lot of pressure on Obama to get serious. I believe a meeting is scheduled with Obama around the first of October, so it is not likely that Israel will go it alone before that meeting. On the other hand, I am not so sure Iran won’t try to start something with Israel before that.
The main focal point this month will be on Syria. It also looks like Russia is getting out-of-the-way, so the only thing that will be keeping Assad in control of Syria is Iran. It looks like Assad will have to retreat to his minority tribal area in Northwest Syria pretty soon. At some point in the very near future Iran is going to have to get out of Syria or they will be dealing with a NATO backed Arab Brotherhood. I am not sure Iran would be very happy about being isolated out of Middle East events so they just might try to incite a war with Israel hoping that Obama would stay out. Iraq made a similar mistake when they were given the impression that the United States would do nothing when they took over Kuwait. Appeasing presidents give wrong impressions to our enemies, and then wars become more likely.
If the Sunni brotherhood takes over Syria, Jordan is probably next. Then we have a pretty good line up for the Psalm 83 war as the peace program goes nowhere. I would venture to say the Middle East at the end of this decade will look nothing like what we see today.
Don, I read your comment policy and it looks like we are going to get an even more efficient forum with the new system & policies…I like it.
Don,
What exactly is a “quality incoming link” ? Specifically, how is “quality” defined, quantified and “computed” ? You’re a better man than I to decipher Google’s page rankings, chuckle.
Blessings to fellow brothers/sisters in Christ.
Hi ~David,
I see you still have a canine appearance.
If you checked the comment box let me know if you get an email when people do follow-up comments.
Hi Craig,
A quality link is one that will put significant link juice on your webpage. The amount of Link juice given is page rank divided by the number of robot followable links on that page. So a quality link would vary. For me a quality link might be anyone linking to an article on my site that does not have a “nofollow” command on it. For Fox Mews a quality link would be NBC or ABC linking to their home page. All links that allow ranking robots adds to your juice. Think of it this way. The webpage is a juice glass. One link from a zero or one page rank might add a drop to the glass but one link from a page rank 9 that also does not have hundreds of other links also sucking the juice would overflow my juice glass. For example, if I could get a link from a page rank six that only linked to my home page and nobody else, it would probably kick my home page up to a page rank of 5. Of course in the real world that does not happen.
Hi Don, I just discovered your site because I had a question about the global economy. It seems a huge point, eschatologically speaking, that almost every nation’s economy is sustaining vast amounts of debt which they really have no hope of ever paying off. Is there anywhere in Scripture that points to this sort of international debt-load crisis?
Hi Jennifer,
I guess one can see world shortages and inflation in the time when the third and forth horsemen rides in Revelation. Then there is the possibility that the mark of the Beast buy and sell system is a replacement for a collapsed world economic system.
Other than that, there is nothing in Bible prophecy that indicates specific economic crises before the tribulation. Keep in mind that the world has always had periods of economic crises. We had one in the 1930’s and the world had a couple more economic crises occurring in decades not long before that.
Hello Don, and some of the other familiar names 🙂 I like the new rules, and look forward to great discussion.
regarding your post: Is this \”flood\” of Bible \”experts\” on end times perhaps a fulfillment of the passage about people looking for teachers that will \”tickle\” their ears? There does appear to be a serious increase in people writing books that appeal more to what people want to hear, rather than the truth. I guess my question is whether or not this increase in faux experts a further evidence that we are headed toward the rapture and tribulation?
As for the economy, once again, people are willingly throwing their support behind the “anything but the current guy” in the white house. Romney is a closet liberal who changed his views once he could not beat the incumbent democrat back in the 90\’s. He will certainly not, as far as his past behavior indicates, make the cuts and changes necessary to stop the current path toward economic insolvency.
You also mentioned “the harbinger”. Ok, I admit it… I got sucked in and bought this repetitive, overly long, out of context work designed to make a buck off of the end times folks. Yet again, an example of a book designed to appeal to emotions and fear, using the word of God to make a buck. Live and learn… lol…
Glad to see the comments back, and see you and the others again. 🙂
Rod in Oregon
Don,
It really is amazing to watch how events in the Middle East appear to be unfolding just as was foretold in the Word thousands of years ago. Also, do you ever go to the grocery store or wherever, and see all the people and think to yourself how clueless everyone is? And how they really just have no idea what is coming? Anyway, as for our economy, I have an interesting story. It really made me angry and actually made me think how our economy cannot possibly sustain itself. I was standing in the check out line at Wal-Mart and a Hispanic woman was paying for her groceries with an EBT card. The woman could not speak a lick of English, as was evident when the cashier tried to inform her that she did not have enough money on the card to cover the balance of all of her items. So finally the woman figures it out and just reaches in her purse and produces a large roll of cash to pay for the difference. I was literally astonished at this. Anyway, hope this wasn\’t too long. Thanks for the website and all of your hard work.
I know we should expect no less from a Muslim, America Hating President from Kenya who has already promised Jerusalem Temple Mount to the Arabs…but now Obama has crossed the line.
If Obama does win reelection, I can certainly see disaster for Israel specifically, as prophesied being on her own.
If it looks like Romney has a chance in hell, I wouldn\’t be surprised to see Iran seriously provoke the war.
And what is with Russia suddenly pulling out of Syrian (support) waters…could it be an agreement with the U.S. because of our military downgrade for Israeli support ?
Welcome back Don. What is your take on Joe Kovacs, author of The Divine Secret? Just read about it on World Net Daily and they call him the next CS Lewis?
Hi Robert,
I have not read much about it, but it seems like more WND hype to just sell questionable books that they back. I think the divine secrets is nothing secret and the supposed secrets often come from the point of a view of Armstrongism Church Of God.
Yes it is hard to say what spark will set off a war in the ME but for sure things are getting quite wound up. Just about anything could pit Israel against the Ps 83 coalition. However I would say that I think all the countries are not quite on the same page yet as you say Don not all countries are under the botherhood’s control yet. This of coarse makes one wonder how Iran (rule by Shia muslims) fits but this may be answered by the possibility of only part of Iran being impacted somehow, maybe by Ps 83 and the Persian part surviving to fight with Russia in Ez 38 – 39.
Re: the EU I found this article interesting http://euobserver.com/political/117378 as it speaks more to this ruling unifying the banking system amongst the 17 main countries and to me that is just as significant as what will happen to the future of these debt for debt handouts.
David
Hello Don,
Just caught the morning news and saw that reports indicate the Obama administration notified Iran through diplomatic back channels that the U.S. will not support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuke facilities as long as the Iranians agree to not retaliate against American facilities or interests. So according to Ambassador John Bolton, Israel is \”alone\”. Things are heating up very quickly. Any thoughts on this newest development?
Rod in Oregon
I can see Iran agreeing to that because they think that they are powerful enough to take on Israel if Israel bombs their sites. They are delusional.
Actually, Marshal Davis Jr. telegraphing that the US will not strike Iran if Israel attacks while he is in office either makes it more or less likely that Israel will attack. Israel will be watching the polls and if looks like Romney will win they will put the attack off, but if Obama gets a big jump in the polls somehow I can see them doing the job before the election.
I have appreciated your website for a long time, with or without the “comments” section. Your thoughts have always seemed in harmony with two other websites I enjoy reading–Jack Kelley’s Gracethrufaith and Jack Kinsella’s OmegaLetter. The reason is strictly because on all three websites, comments are soundly and solidly Bible-based.
Israel may have no choice but to go it alone against Iran. Personally, we know it will work out for Israel because they have God on their side–what a Partner compared to the Marxist Obama regime!!
I too think Israel is watching the polls, but I hope they are watching the right polls to make their determination before or after Nov. 6.
To What Steve Said,
I am not only amazed of how clueless people in general are (that I talk to) about the impacts that will effect our daily lives in the very near future, I am really disappointed that most people I talk to “don’t want to know” what is happening…and bringing up the awesome coming day of the Lord Jesus still is not having an impact when I tell them about it.
Don,
To your last comment about Romney/Obama in the polls dictating the probability of an Israeli strike on Iran, that\’s exactly the way I see it.
I am very disappointed, but not surprised, by the U.S. stance towards our once ally Israel…I say once ally because it appears we are ally in name only at this point.
JerryB,
I am of the opinion that Don\’s Blog is one of few bastions of truth that will not conform to political correctness, religious nonsense, or what is popular…as you said, with or without comments.
Don have you considered doing a piece on Matt drudge?
Who is this guy? What is his motivation and Agenda?
Is he JUST a Wall Street Conservative?
His news aggregator site has become a major player in the political and cultural arenas of America…. AND he has become a guiding light (and a subtle manipulator) for so called conservatives (Christians or otherwise) who in great numbers take his lead (or bait) through what story headlines his webpage – stories that stay on the front-burner until a desired effect is achieved…. “out there”. He appears to be a psychological master manipulator.
One of many case and points is the Santorum character assault.
I have looked back at much polling data from RCP for the period that Santorum was running. It is NO COINCIDENCE that after Drudge posted his “Santorum’s Satan” story link ( a story that no OTHER major news source had an inkling of) that Rick’s numbers just PLUNGED. I am not sure if folks are naive when it comes to this guy. I believe he is deceptive and dangerous and not a true conservative. NOT A SOCIAL ONE anyway!
Have I considered an article on Matt Drudge? Actually no. He seems to give us the best information on the news sites. Feel free to research it and educate us, but keep in mind that you have to be able to be able to prove what you say about Drudge or you could have legal problems.
Nobody knows much about him – and I certainly have no contacts with folks in-the-know like you yourself perhaps may have – being a blogger and all.
I have read that OUT considers him gay… and ranks him in the top 50 (#16) of the most powerful gay men in America. http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/power-50/2012/04/26/power-list
Wikipedia states that his parents were democrats and worked in the Government – Not too much info on the private life side. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Drudge
Thats the Point!
As Christians Conservatives is it wise and godly to empower and advocate a source (website or person) that… “seems to give us the best information on the news sites” …when we know so little about the person behind the website?
Well I definitely do not want to mess with M.D; especially when considering that he is ranked as one of the top 50 MOST POWERFUL gay men in America. http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/power-50/2012/04/26/power-list
Al asks,
All world secular news sources that I am aware of have problems, as do many Christian news sites. If you want to know what is going on in the world your going to have to read secular news sources. I find that what is on Drudge has proven to be more reliable than other big sites including Fox. It certainly is more reliable than Rick Wilders, Steve Quayle, Alex Jones or even Farah and ilk.
Its like suggesting that you should not read about what is going on in your town because the town newspaper owner is not a Christian.
Syrian rebels said they planted bombs inside the Syrian army’s General Staff headquarters in central Damascus on Sunday as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces bulldozed buildings to the ground in parts of the capital that have backed the uprising.
I read this on the Rapture Ready website, could Damascus get flattened by Syrians fighting against each other? I have read on some websites that God has done this in the past.
This has not happened to Damascus in the past and passages in the Bible have to be taken in the full context that they are in. How did any of this happen in the past, and how can all this be fulfilled by Syrians fighting against each other?
I know it has not happened to Damascus but God has let people fight against themselves in the old testament to destroy their own nations instead of having nation against nation. Sorry I guess I did not word it right.
I do agree and think any blessing(s) for America will not happen with the lack of morals found in this once great country.
Injustices to almighty God in America…
• Homosexuality is just an “alternative lifestyle”.
• We murder babies that are socially inconvenient.
• We change marriage partners like a fashion statement.
• We have abandoned the sanctity of commitments in all of our relationships.
• We have clearly disconnected Character from Destiny.
• Immorality and deceit have also come to characterize the highest offices of our nation as well.
• Our politics have condoned and covered up more murders than we dare list.
• Our public enterprises have been prostituted for the convenience of the Elite.
• Our entertainments have celebrated adultery, fornication, violence, aberrant sexual practices, and every imaginable form of evil.
• We have become the primary exporters of everything God abhors.
• Index of leading cultural Indicators for last 30 years.
? 560% increase in violent crime
? 400% increase in illegitimate births
? 400% increase in the divorce rate
? 300% increase in single parent homes
? 200% increase in teenage suicides
? 75% drop in SAT scores
• Each day in America there are…
? 2,795 teen pregnancies
? 1,106 teen abortions
? 4,219 teenagers contact a sexually transmitted disease
• Every 64 seconds a baby is born to a teenage mother…
? 5 minutes later, a baby will have been born to a teenager who already has a child.
? 10 Hours later, 560 babies will have been born to teenagers.
• Restrictions on society…
? Creationism cannot be taught because it require a belief in God.
? Morality cannot be taught because it requires reference to the Bible.
? Traditional History cannot be taught because it speaks of the important place of God and our religious values throughout the entire record of human history.
These are unpleasant times for sure, but we need to prepare for far worst…
Don,
Truer words haven’t been spoken: “All the past prosperity in America brought America to where it is right now. So I don’t think it is in God’s plan to keep blessing America even if some true Christians in America make that appeal.”
What has prosperity brought this nation? We are blind, but don’t see it. We are poor (spiritually) but don’t know it. We are wretched and miserable, but continue on like the emperor with no clothes. WHY would a loving God continue to let us go on in the shape we are in?
He won’t.
Great article!
Annette
The answer to your question was no, I don’t think the Syrians themselves will destroy Damascus and the context requires other things to happen besides the non existence of Damascus, so the people on that RR board are wrong.
Greetings Don! Great articles all along. I did notice your link missing on the first web site & assumed it was due to your comments concerning the book you mentioned, too bad…(that’s where I first found your site). I am disappointed that we can’t disagree on issues like this. It’s not the Bible, therefore it doesn’t deserve the same level of defense. I hope you, your wife & your canine’s had a nice summer. 🙂 Hope having the comments on ends up being a good thing. Whether you post this or not…it’s nice to say hello!
To what Mark said,
Mark, I think you laid out some very revealing statistics about our country, the U.S.
I also find it startling that the violent crime escalation that we’ve seen over the recent few years is quite alarming.
We see, almost daily, in the national news of parents killing their children, their spouse, then themselves…teens killing other teens…or the recent rampages.
Is it the media “entertainment”, the video games…or is it quite simply the ramifications of what happens when you take The Lord God Almighty out of society ?
And, the more evil violent deeds that happen, the more the atheist mindset says that God needs to be taken out of society…as if God, himself, and the Christians are the cause of this.
The sale of religion and Christianity as being one in the same seems to be providing an easy sale to the masses to pinpoint Christians as being the problem.
hey don,this might be off topic but im having a debate with my friends about creation and evolution. I’m having difficulties explaining to them that god created us but they also have a lot of evidence about the cro-magnon and neanderthals which lived in caves thousands of years ago, way before 6000 thousand years like it says in the bible. I fully believe that jesus died on the cross for our sins and that god created us but they keep attacking me with the evidence of the cave men found 30,000 thousand years ago. How can you explain this?
Hi Jake,
I allow off topic comments on my monthly perspectives newsletters.
To answer your question, there is no reliable dating before the flood. Carbon 14 dating only works if atmospheric conditions were the same as they are today and they clearly were quite different before the flood. There is evidence that there was much higher atmospheric pressure because of the weight of the water vapor above the earth. There also was a higher percentage of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. Further, there was far less radiation reaching the earth because the atmosphere was so dense, so half-life dating schemes before the flood are meaningless.
As for rock, by nature rock was created the way they are. Just as the first man and all creatures were created as mature adults. So how did bones and fossils get in sedimentary rock layers? It did not happen over millions of years like evolutionists think. It happened as the results of cataclysmic events on earth like the great flood.
The Neanderthals were either a species of ape or they were mutations. What evolutionists call dating really turns out to circular reasoning in the final analysis.
You need to go to a creationist website. They will explain all this to you in great detail. Here are two sites.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
http://www.icr.org/
thnx for the answer and the sites i got good evidence now
Jake and Don,
This is a science topic that has given me grief in debates also.
The truth is, that what man calls “science” today, is STILL man’s best guess…or maybe a guess that is made to fulfill a criteria.
The best mind’s in the world at one time agreed that a human could never go over 100mph or he would disintegrate…he also clearly believed that despite muscular strength, a human could never lift 300 pounds above their head or the skeleton would collapse…and the list goes on.
Man, through the centuries has always thought he was correct and absolute in his “science”…only to be proven a decade later that he was wrong…on his guesstimate. The time we live in now is no different.
Don’s account for carbon dating is accurate to my knowledge…there is also a mathematical equation on the sun & earth’s gravitational pull that excludes it being millions of years old.
There really is no timeline given in the Bible for dinosaurs or other ancient, fossilized species…I believe it is entirely possible that those species did exist (by God’s creation) when the planet earth was a chaotic mass before The Lord God modified the earth for what it is today.
I have read about modern atheist archeologists who went to prove with hard proof that the Biblical accounts are fraudulent and fictitious and came out very hardcore Christians…how awesome is that : )
Hi Jake,
The issue of Neanderthals is one that many atheists think is proof of evolution, when in actual fact it is a demonstration of how untrustworthy accepted science is.
In 1856 a skull and bones were discovered in the Neander valley near Dusseldorf, Germany. The skull was unlike anything seen before, with large eye sockets, a heavy brow ridge, and flattened cranium. Similar specimens have since been found in the UK, France, Italy, Israel and Iraq.
At first there was a lot of controversy over how to interpret these bones. Dr Rudolf Virchow concluded they were from a human with rickets. He thought the flattened head was caused by repeated blows. This conclusion was reached before Darwin published his theory.
After Darwin published, the bones were re-examined. This time by French paleontologist: Marcellin Boule. He concluded they were of a sub-human species that walked stooped forward – the knuckle dragging ape-man we were told was the “missing link”.
A hundred years later in 1957 Boule’s skeleton was re-examined. It was determined that the stooped posture was caused by arthritis. Neanderthals walked upright, just like normal men. (You can bet they didn’t report that in the newspapers!)
More archaeological evidence was later discovered proving Neanderthals used tools and weapons, wore ornaments, had cultural and religious rites, and buried their dead with ceremony. On a darker note. The bones of humans were found at Neanderthal sites. They showed signs of having been broken whilst fresh, and burned. No animal uses fire for food preparation!
More recently the science has moved to a position that Neanderthals were at least as intelligent as normal human beings, and if dressed in normal clothes, we would be unlikely to notice them walking down the street – especially if its Piccadilly on a Saturday night 🙂
The word “dinosaur” was “invented” in the late 1800’s. Before that, they were called Dragons. Dragons have lived along side man and there is plenty of evidence, including in the bible itself.
There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support evolution/global-warming what so ever. Evolution/global-warming is a state sponsored religion, in direct violation of the constitution (what ever is “left” of it).
To add to Mark’s very nice post… Business (or what’s “left” of it) and, in particular, government can only be characterised these days by the term “Kramerica”; I am constantly deluged by “Kramer decision making”; All other evidence aside, including prophecy, there is really no chance for America (or the world) if Kramerica is to be the norm.
Mark, good info and sadly Canada is walking a similar path. Even though we may be generally on the calmer side and fiscally cautious we are definitely sliding down a moral slope. We have our school shootings, parent murder suicide, abortions, etc. oh and just in time for the “drag the country down” party the separatists are back in power in Quebec. Everyone is in it for themselves. As well, I recently got the latest Maclean’s mag and the title is CRISIS ON CAMPUS – The Broekn Generation speaking to the high rates of depression and increase of suicide attempts amongst college students. Well that is what we get when we live outside of God’s direction and laws regarding life. It is like spiritual gravity. Ignore at your own peril.
At least our Prime Minister Stephen Harper has got the guts to fully and completely back Israel as we have just cut ties with Iran and shut down the embassy. http://news.yahoo.com/canada-closes-iran-embassy-expel-remaining-iranian-diplomats-134816841.html?_esi=1
David
Jake — I’ve heard that the Neanderthal’s brain was larger than modern man’s. Do you know anything about this? Have we, in fact, “de-volved”? I suspect man was far more intelligent 6000 years ago than he is today.
Craig — I wrote a short article about dinosaurs/dragons for AiG’s newsletter. It can be accessed here: http://arkencounter.com/blog/2012/08/10/hic-sunt-dracones/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ArkEncounter+%28Ark+Encounter%29
Don — Did I read into the above that you support the vapor canopy theory? Can you point me to some good Biblical passages that indicate this? I’m trying to resolve this issue in my own mind. Thanks!
I have reached a point in my life where I refuse to argue with people regarding the Bible.
To the religious types who claim to believe in Christ simply tell them, “Jesus said it is imperative that you be born again”. It usually shuts them up.
And ask the evolutionist, “What was the first cause, God or mindless chance?” They can fill the room with words but will not admit to either (Mindless chance is too descriptive of the god they have made in their own image).
Doug,
There is not just one verse that suggests this and I cannot research the Bible for you. You probably will find someone that did the foot work for you on one of the creationist websites.
Let me just say that the canopy theory comes from Gen 1:6,7 as well as the flood passages along with the fact that the Bible says that there was no rain on the earth before the great flood. The earth was watered with mist. The rainbow was only given after the great flood and the suggestion was given that no flood like that could ever happen again. It can’t because there is no canopy.
On the archeological front, I believe they have found a higher atmospheric pressure and a different atmospheric composition in prehistoric amber or elsewhere. A higher pressure could only happen if the earth’s atmosphere had more mass. Check the creationist websites they are the experts, you also might buy one of their books.
It is the only theory that makes sense if you believe in a young earth. It also accounts for the size of the dinosaurs and the fact that they could even live given their great size. They could not live in today’s atmosphere.
I buy into the theory for many reasons but I can’t express them all here.
Doug,
I think the evidence supports the view that Neanderthals were in fact a stage in the cross breeding of Nephilim with human beings. Until recently, it was believed that humans wiped them out. I don’t believe that to be likely given that they were much stronger than us as well as having at least the same IQ. Scientists at the Max Plank institute believe there is still between 1 and 4% Neanderthal genes floating around the human gene pool. I think the percentage will be strongest amongst the world’s ruling elite.
Phil — That’s really interesting. If true, what might be the theological implications? If even 1% Neanderthal genes still exist, and Neanderthals were part Nephilim, that would mean those who have the genes would still be part Nephilim. Does this negate their humanness-?, and if so, does it move salvation out of reach for them?
Don — I have researched the vapor canopy theory, which is why I’m always on the alert for some evidence I may have overlooked. Thanks.
Doug
I think we are going from conjecture to conjecture about conjecture about the Neanderthals. The human race came from Adam they are not part neanderthal unless they also were human. And Humans do not have Nephilim genetics either. I supposed the great flood came to prevent that from happening. In any case, we don’t need to make this tread a topic on conjecture about the Neanderthals.
Yes, I to have been very concerned about WND endorsing the books of Joe Kovacs Entry Sept 3) I saw a RED FLAG when I first read an interview he did with an off-shoot of Herbert W. Armstrong. When I looked into this further, I notice almost all the interviews Kovacs has done are with Armstrong off-shoots, all radical deniers of the Holy trinity, and other Biblical teachings. If you know the teachings of Armstrong, then you will know the teachings of these off-shoots like The United Church Of God, The Living Church Of God, The Church Of God International, Ronald l Dart’s radio program Born To Win, and the many other off-shoots that have confused Evangelical Christians. Another RED FLAG for me was when I read the reviews for Kovacs’s new book, many of the reviewers are off-shoots of Armstrong. http://thedivinesecret.com/115-2 You will notice a review by Mr Aust, he is one of the writers who interviewed Kovacs, in the Good News Magazine, the magazine for the United Church of God. Another RED FLAG for me is that Kovacs has no statement of faith, and will not discuss where he fellowships. Is he hiding something? I wonder? You can read some of Kovacs’s unorthodox statements in the following articles, there are many. http://wnd.com/2009/12/118220 http://wnd.com/2009/10/112253 http://wnd.com/2012/09/christian-author-god-is-having-offspring http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue 150/jx072712.pdf Read pgs 1, 4-5. This is another anti-Trinitarian Armstrong off-shoot Just as sad, Joseph Farah is endorsing Michael Rood. It’s interesting that Farah has an article “Wake Up, You So- Called Christian” http://wnd.com/2010/05/160381 Maybe he should heed his own advice.
It Seems Farah lacks biblical discernment on some issues, or it is all about the bottom line of WND. He is also pushing The Harbinger and Joel Richardson’s new eschatology. There seems to be a trend here. It is not just about one or two books anymore.
You are right on target, brother Don. Sad, but true many today do not do any homework, or research to see what Farah and WND are endorsing. It’s the same as many Christian radio/TV stations. Not all, but many seem to care only if the check clears the bank. Many programs are by anti-Trinitarians, and other unorthodox groups. I encourage Christians if you are not sure of a ministry or minister, the following excellent article will be of great help:
http://fredsbibletalk.com/fb018.html
Don, instead of Matt Drudge’ site I have been using “FreeRepublic.Com” to get my news. They are a news aggregator as well, and much much more. Unlike Drudge where he does not allow for comments and only pick stories that push his personal agendas, FREE-REPUBLIC is more interactive and takes a perspective …. well here it is in their own words….” Welcome to Free Republic, America’s exclusive site for God, Family, Country, Life & Liberty conservatives! “
I would suggest you give THEM a try and dump the sketchy Drudge site as your source for the days events.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/*/index
Hi Al,
Actually I already check that news site along with many others, but I am sure others would be glad to know about the Free Republic site.
I am glad to see that Israel has just about had enough of the U.S. “wait until after the election” delay tactics.
PM: Netanyahu: “The world tells Israel ‘wait, there’s still time’. And I say, ‘Wait for what? Wait until when?’
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4279999,00.html
Everyone is calling what they think is the Israeli Prime minister’s bluff. Even his own people are against him talking military action. So in the next two months we will find out what he is made out of.
If he does nothing by next spring, it will take nuclear weapons from Israel or an air attack from America to stop the Iranian nuclear program. If nobody does nothing, Iran will have a Plutonium nuclear bomb by 2015 and will be quite capability of launching an EMP attempt over America from Iranian territory. Maybe the Obama administration will actually go out with a bang.
Don,
Wouldn’t an EMP attack from Israel take care of the whole Iranian problem immediately ?
Except, of course, the counter attack by Iran with their subs etc ?
-David,
Yeah, but if Israel used a nuke to create that EMP the rest of the world would go ballistic. Suddenly the whole world would make Iran the victim and Israel the aggressor, and our country would be no exception under Obama.
The Iranian subs are just toys suitable for bathtubs. They are no threat to Israel.
Don,
Correct me if I’m wrong here…
But regardless of what Israel does, they are going to be the “aggressor” and Iran, Palestine, and the other Arab countries are always going to be the “victims” according to the world stage.
I don’t think Israel is ever going to get approval to defend itself from the world stage and MSM point of view.
Israel using a Nuclear EMP would surely create a stir in the region but, well, at least the “world stage” would take them seriously and, best of all, get rid of the immediate Iranian threat.
~David,
The world is not going to blame Israel for bombing Iran if Israel does not bomb Iran.
The West has no intention of letting Iran get the bomb either, it puts the whole world at risk because every significant nation in the region will then go nuclear. The West still thinks that they can convince Iran to stop their program, and as a last resort they know they have the firepower to take them out. They believe they will know when Iran will reach the threshold, but of course they are probably wrong like usual.
We have a terrible history of predicting when nations have developed a nuclear bomb. I suspect Iran will have a nuclear test like N. Korea had, before the appeasers in the West will acknowledge that Iran has a bomb. Then the appeasers will say it is too late to attack Iran and they will talk about taking defensive measures to contain Iran.
Israel knows that, and they are not going to allow it to go so far that their own nuclear site is at risk. And they are not going to allow Arab nations to get nukes because of fear of Iran. Of course that is assuming that the sane in Israel prevail. Like the US general said Israel and the West are running on two different clocks.
If Israel used a high altitude EMP it would cause a massive humanitarian crises in the Middle East and it would not just be limited to Iran. Like I said the whole world would go ballistic. More likely, if they attack, they will use non nuclear EMP’s against more limited targets.
Even so, as I said in the article, if Obama is losing in the polls, I do not think an American strike in mid October is out of the question in spite of what you are hearing.
Smoke screen?? —
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/11/early-frost-white-house-gives-chilly-response-to-proposed-obama-netanyahu-talk/
Or, just being overblown by the MSM ?
Actually, neither Israel or the US needs smoke screens to carry out an attack on Iran. I think Obama is looking at the polls. Right now he does not need Israel to win. If that changes there will be a meeting.
Don,
I wonder what the U.S. clock would be if some nation was threatening to wipe us off the face of the map…actually, I don’t wonder that, I think we know the answer…and the U.S. wouldn’t care what any nation thought about it either…but this seems to be a case of the U.S. dictating Middle East affairs because we have “bigger guns”.
A humanitarian crisis ?
The threat of wiping Israel off the face of the map is what I would call a humanitarian crises.
Perhaps, strategic pinpoint EMP attacks in Iran would be the answer for Israel to avoid complete condemnation, I like that idea.
Really, it doesn’t matter does it ?
The Arabs/Persians can try all they want to destroy Israel, but it ain’t gonna happen due to the Ultimate Power in The Word That Has Been Written…they (the Israeli’s nor the Arabs/Persians) just don’t know it yet.
~David
Nations have threatened to wipe us out.
The Soviet Union threaten us for decades and we did not bomb their capabilities because they literally could have destroyed us. That is why the Cold War era had Mutual Assured Destruction(MAD)as the defense strategy. We would not even bomb N Vietnam for a long time because we though it would bring in the Chinese. We also would not bomb China that was aiding the N. Vietnamese because we were worried about the Russians. In Korea we would not bomb China even after hundreds of thousands of Chinese came to the defense of N. Korea because we were worried about the Russians. We did not bomb Cuba when they wanted Nuclear weapons for use against us because we were worried about the Russians.
My point is that we just do not attempt to wipe out people that make threats, and we are not dictating to Israel either. They can do what they want. They just may not have our military support if they decide to bomb Iran. There are consequences to everything and once the bombing starts nobody knows how wide the war will spread. I am not saying Obama is correct but this Iranian problem should have been dealt with decades ago.
I do not know why you have a question mark when I said a nuclear EMP would bring a humanitarian crisis? If an EMP happen over the US we could have $330,000,000 million people starving to death. In that area of the Middle East, you are only talking about 100,000,000 or so. But I think that would qualify as a major humanitarian crisis.
Yeah it matters. Ever wonder why gas is now $4 a gallon? Start a war in the Middle East and it will be $10, if you can even get it. That would cause a world depression. There is more involved than just the security of Israel. You also forget that in the end Israel has to flee to the mountains of Jordan for protection and two thirds of the Jews are killed, so its not like God is going to see that this Israel that came back in unbelief has no tribulation in the land.
Those that are quick to want to fight Islam in the Near, Middle and Far East, also better be prepared to fight the next world war and all the police state policies and oppression that it will bring right here.
I think we may be close to the fulfilment of Jeremiah 49:34-39. Ancient Elam was the area where most of Iran’s nuclear sites are today. I take “the four winds from the four quarters of heaven” to mean the allied powers. Israel might not be involved in the attack. I would expect them to be named if they were.
I think all the waffle about red lines is just an attempt to keep them guessing. Everyone in the region knows Mr Dinnerjacket and his Muftis aren’t going to back down. The Saudis want the job done, and they will get what they want.
This entire scenario also has similarities to the wars between the kings of the north and south, recorded in the book of Daniel. Particularly during the time of Antiochus III when Rome was backing the king of the south.
The attack may involve an EMP, but I don’t think it will stop there. The task force that has been assembled is large enough to support a ground invasion, so I think that is what will happen.
Whether Israel takes an active roll or not, I think they will be attacked by their neighbours. This may result in the final battle fulfilling Psalm 83. It may also include the fulfilment of Isaiah 17.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elam_Map.jpg
Gas at $4 a gallon. That was the good old days for us 🙁
Phil,
Jeremiah seems to describe the evacuation of those in Western Iran to nations all over the world. It would seem to me that this part of Iran will become radioactive and uninhabitable. A nuclear attack would not do this but the melt down of a reactor certainly could make this land uninhabitable for decades.
By the way, a new spam software plugin was blocking people since I installed it last evening, so if you got a spambot message when you tried to post a comment, that was the reason. I have since delete this faulty plug-in.
Wow, well, it sure doesn’t seem like it took much to ignite countries in the Middle East in a murderous rampage against Americans in our Embassies.
So, I guess this might beg the question of…should we cower down our free speech rights in making a “Mohammad Film” so as to appease and not risk infuriating a culture in a foreign land ?
On the other hand, it does seem that this film was probably created to anger the Muslim crowd in the first place.
So, what is it that we should do as a nation ?…should we censor to appease evil or not ?
~David
These people can always find something to go into a rage over and its always the fault of Israel or the West. We do not change our Constitutional right of free speech to appease religious control freaks in other nations.
I just started writing a post that addresses the issues. I do not think Islamists are going to like it much, but somebody has to tell Muslims the truth.
Truth ?
I don’t think Islam (or any other apostasy religion) has any desire to know any truths…and the Islamic taskmasters surely don’t want their minions to know any truths.
So Don, make sure anything you say does not have a negative tone or challenging connotation towards Islam and make sure you cower down with your tail between your legs in future articles to show fear and appeasement so Islam will feel sorry for us and be nice to us 😉
Too bad only an Israeli UN Ambassador walked out on this.
Why are we, the U.S., so much into our appeasement sanction nonsense that we won’t walk out on this insane, anti-Semitic, evil tyrant ?
‘Ahmadinejad: Israel has no roots in Middle East’
Iranian president tells reporters in NY that while Islamic Republic is ‘fully ready’ to defend itself, it doesn’t take ‘Zionist threats’ seriously; Israel’s UN ambassador walks out of assembly as Ahmadinejad speaks
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4285579,00.html
don,
First off its nice to see all the regulars who post on your site. I was so excited when you decided to open comments I think it’s important to have real Christians to discuss things with. Ok so I read a comment you posted not too long ago mentioning a supernatural transport of the worlds armies to Israel. I was thinking about that and was wondering what’s your view of new Babylon also being built supernaturally? If you believe 7 years after the rapture the Antichrist comes along posing as God why not have Babylon come down out of the sky to mimic new Jerusalem coming to earth? Yes it’s far fetched, but not more so than anything else supernatural.
Hi Jim,
Good to hear from you.
The idea that Babylon could be rebuilt with supernatural help is a very likely possibility. However, since Satan loses the war in heaven and is cast out onto the earth, I would not think that Satan will have any means of bringing a city with him. I am not sure what his minions can bring up out of the abyss or even what it is. The abyss could be some kind of different dimension.
I would not say that Babylon is a counterfeit of the heavenly Holy City. An actual counterfeit of the heavenly Holy City would be physically impossible on our earth. The real Holy city is much too large to ever settle on our present earth (it is about 1500 miles square). What I would say is that Babylon the Great represents Satan’s attempt at establishing a counterfeit kingdom of God on earth. I think the Antichrist will rule the earth from this rebuilt city until just before God destroys this counterfeit.
I’m just glad we now know why Obama’s performance in the 1st debate was so poor.
Mr.Ozone-Layer himself, explains…
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/04/gore-blames-denver-altitude-for-obama-debate-performance/
Oh yes,
How convenient huh ?
The jobless rate fell below 8% for the 1st time in 4 years just after Obama’s poor performance in Denver and just before the next debate.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/05/jobless-rate-falls-to-78-percent-in-september/
-David
Many have been saying that this is what these liars will claim just before the election. In reality the jobless percentage is much higher than the government has been reporting. You cannot have almost zero growth in the economy and falling unemployment unless people are not being counted. In fact, if you count inflation we have never got out of the recession and wages are still falling. In addition, many experts are saying that the data they watch says that we already entered another recession.
Expect many lies to become news stories between now and the election. Obama has aces up his sleeve but using them is cheating.
Cheating ?
I think politicians only call it cheating if they get caught (cop didn’t see it, I didn’t do it).
Yeah, I know the advertised unemployment rate is skewed as you said above.
You know that and I know that…the question is, is the gullible public going to know that ?