Miracles

"No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that it's falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it Endeavors to establish... When anyone tells me that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other; and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous than the event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion." David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

"We have never seen, in our time, nature go out of her course; but we have good reason to believe that millions of lies have been told in the same time; it is therefore, at least millions to one, that the reporter of a miracle tells a lie. The story of the whale swallowing Jonah, though a whale is large enough to do it, borders greatly on the marvelous; but it would have approached nearer to the idea of a miracle, if Jonah had swallowed the whale." - Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason

Response to Arnobius re miracles

"Were [Jesus' miracles] the freaks of demons, and the tricks of magical arts? Can you specify and point out to me any one of all those magicians who have ever existed in past ages, that did anything similar, in the thousandth degree, to Christ?" - Arnobius 1:43, ANF vol. 6

Yes, we can.

Asclepius raised Hippolytus from the dead, was killed by Zeus, then became a god.

Circe turned men into pigs and pigs into men.

Jannes & Jambres turned sticks into serpents.

Romulus rose from the dead, ascended to heaven & became a god.

Simon Magus could fly, turn people into goats, bore through mountains, cause his consort Helen to appear in many places at once, and created a boy out of thin air just to prove that he is a god.

Emperor Vespasian healed a withered arm & used his saliva to bring sight to a blind man. The large crowd that witnessed this proclaimed Vespasian to be a god.

Eleazar exorcised a demon in the court of Vespasian.

Menander the Simonian claimed he would never die. 1,900 years later, no one has produced his grave or his corpse to disprove this claim.

Apollonius of Tyana could raise the dead & appear in two places simultaneously.

Alexander of Abonoteichus cured diseases & rose the dead, according to his disciples.

Magicians in Rome regularly drove out demons, cured diseases and displayed animals & banquets through magic, according to Celsus.

Magic

“Magic...the most deceptive of all known arts...has exercised the greatest influence in every country and in nearly every age. And [has] thoroughly amalgamated with itself the three other sciences [medicine, religion, astrology] which hold the greatest sway upon the mind of man. That it first originated in medicine, no one entertains a doubt; or that, under the plausible guise of promoting health, it insinuated itself among mankind, as a higher and more holy branch of the medical art. Then, in the next place, to promises the most seductive and the most flattering, it has added all the resources of religion, a subject upon which, at the present day [70's CE], man is still entirely in the dark. Last of all, to complete its universal sway, it has incorporated with itself the astrological art; there being no man who is not desirous to know his future destiny, or who is not ready to believe that this knowledge may with the greatest certainty be obtained, by observing the face of the heavens. The senses of men being thus enthralled by a three-fold bond, the art of magic has attained an influence so mighty, that at the present day even, it holds sway throughout a great part of the world.” - Pliny the Elder, Natural History, 30.1

Does this apply to Christianity? Let's survey some of the various types of magicians:

Astrologer – tells the future by the stars

“We have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” Mt2:2

Augur – tells the future by the flight of birds

“I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.” Jn1:32

Bibliomancer – tells the future by reading passages from books

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Lk4:21

Conjurer – communicates with demons and spirits

“Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Mt4:1

Exorcist – banishes demons and spirits

“He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” Mt9:34

Faith Healer – heals by the faith of the patient

“Your faith has made you well.” Mt9:22

Juggler – performs sleight-of-hand tricks

“Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.” Mt17:27

Necromancer – communicates with the dead

“Christ is speaking in me.” 2Cor13:3

Among the very first Christian converts were Simon the Sorcerer & many of his worshipers, converted by Philip in Samaria (Acts 9:13), and several unnamed magicians converted by Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:18).

What does the Bible say about magic?

"You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft." Leviticus 19:26

"Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them." Leviticus 19:31

"If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams--and he give thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee--saying: 'Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them'; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God putteth you to proof, to know whether ye do love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 13:2-4

"When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an auger, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord; and because of these abominable practices the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, give heed to soothsayers and to diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you so to do." Deuteronomy 18:9-14

"The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ - when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him." Deuteronomy 18:20-22

"Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you. I have not sent them, says the Lord, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.” Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,’ for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you." Jeremiah 27:14-16 [Note: the false prophets, in this case, are, like Christians, "preachers of the Good News."]

"Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions." Lamentations 2:14

"The diviners have seen a lie, and the dreamers speak falsely, they comfort in vain; therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd." Zechariah 10:2

"[When the temple is cleansed] I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirits. And if any one again appears as a prophet, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord’; and his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; he will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the soil; for the land has been my possession since my youth.’ And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’” Zechariah 13:2-6

"I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers." Micah 5:12

"I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers." Malachi 3:5

MIRACLES IN MILAN

Reliquary box believed to contain the hand of St. Stephen.The following accounts of early-5th century miracles are provided by Augustine in book 22 of The City of God. Most of these wonders are facilitated, one way or another, by the relics of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. According to Augustine, the location of his remains were revealed in a dream to Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Similar accounts are not related by second- or third- century church fathers, nor any from the fourth century prior to Eusebius of Caesarea a few decades before Augustine. It appears that miracles disappeared from the church for three hundred years, only to return when the church gained political status. The miracles returned, but the nature of the miracles changed. While Jesus practiced Jewish magic – driving out demons and disease by evoking the name of God – the Gentile Christians clearly practice a modified form of pagan magic, an important characteristic of which is the use of special objects imbued with supernatural power. In this case, the special objects are the remains of saints or anything which has come in physical contact with Jesus or one of the holy martyrs.

“A blind man was restored to sight...by virtue of [Stephen's] remains...”

Demons were driven away and a paralytic healed by “some holy earth brought from Jerusalem, where Christ, having been buried, rose again the third day...”

A blind woman..."entreated that she might be led to the bishop who was carrying the relics [of Stephen]. He gave her the flowers he was carrying. She took them, applied them to her eyes, and immediately saw...”

A boy, crushed by a wagon wheel “seemed at his last gasp. His mother snatched him up, and laid him at the shrine [of Stephen], and not only did he revive, but also appeared uninjured...”

A "religious female"..."so ill as to be despaired of, had her dress brought [to the shrine of Stephen], but before it was brought back she had gone... her parents wrapped her corpse in the dress, and, her breath returning, she became quite well...”

A man...“was praying at the relics of [Stephen] for his daughter, who was dangerously ill. He too had brought her dress with him to the shrine. But as he prayed, behold, his servants ran from the house to tell him she was dead... [when he] had thrown on his daughter's body the dress he was carrying, she was restored to life...”

The son of a man..."took ill and died...One of the friends who were consoling the father suggested that the body should be anointed with the oil of [Stephen]. It was done, and he revived...”

A father..."laid his infant son, who had died, on the shrine of [Stephen]... and, after prayer...he took up his child alive...”

A young woman..."was immediately dispossessed of a devil, on anointing herself with oil, mixed with the tears of the presbyter who had been praying for her.”

"He has a demon"

To believe in Jesus, one must believe in the Devil, lest Jesus & his disciples be reckoned liars. This prompts the prudent Bible reader to ask: if there is a Devil, how can we know for certain that Jesus wasn't the Devil or possessed by a demon, as his critics claimed (Matthew 9:34, John 10:20)?

In John 8:44, Jesus accuses the Jews of being children of the Devil. If he can malign an entire race of people - and call it "God's word" - it's fair to speculate about his own infernal origins. In fact, it's imperative. Here we will attempt to examine the available evidence. To do so, we must accept certain assumptions for the sake of argument. 

First, we'll accept the following Christian claims about the Devil:

1. The Devil is a fallen angel

2. The Devil is called Satan

3. The Devil was the serpent of Eden

4. The Devil is clever and deceptive

5. The Devil wants to be worshiped as a god

Second, we'll accept these Gospel assertions about Jesus:

1. Jesus performed miracles

2. Jesus existed before Abraham (Jn8:58)

3. Jesus conversed with demons and the Devil

4. Jesus appeared to Paul as a bright light (Acts9:3)

5. Jesus intended his worship to spread to “every creature” on earth (Mk16:15)

Finally, we must accept what the Torah says about false prophets:

God allows false prophets to perform signs and wonders in order to test the Jewish people to see if they will adhere to the commandments or abandon them to follow the false prophet (Deut13:1-5).

With the ground rules established, we now proceed to the evidence.

Satan

What do we know about Satan? According to the Bible, Satan walks the earth (Job1:7, 2:2), dwells among the “sons of God” (Job1:6), appears as an “angel of light” (2Cor11:14) and rules as “prince of the power of the air” (Eph2:2). Compare that to Jesus: in the Gospels, Jesus walks the earth, calls himself “son of God,” appears as an angel of light (Acts9:9), levitates (Mt14:25, Lk24:51, Jn6:19, Acts1:9) and is anointed by the Holy Spirit which assumes the form of a bird (Mt3:16, Mk1:10, Lk3:22, Jn1:32).

Satan is, by all accounts, as old as the universe itself. Compare that to Jesus: The Gospels tell us that Jesus existed “before Abraham” (Jn8:58) and was with God since “the beginning” (Jn1:1). Meanwhile, Jesus confesses that he is not “good” and admits that he is not God (Mk10:18, Lk18:19).

Jesus begins his ministry by meeting with Satan (Mt4:1-11, Mk1:12-13, Lk4:1-13), and only after his meeting with Satan is Jesus able to perform miracles (Mt4:23-24, Mk1:25-26, Lk4:35).

Temptation

Satan's temptation of Jesus was threefold:

1. If you're the son of God, prove it by performing a miracle (Mt4:3, Lk4:3).

2. If you're the son of God, put your life in danger and see if God rescues you (Mt4:6, Lk4:9).

3. If you follow me, I will make you a king (Mt4:9, Lk4:6).

In the isolation of the wilderness Jesus effortlessly resists these temptations. However, he succumbs to them one by one the moment he returns to the company of human beings:

• First, he performs miracles to prove that he's the son of God.

• Second, he gets arrested for the capital crime of declaring himself emperor of the “kingdom of God.”

• Third, he exhibits, on the cross, his profound disappointment at being disgraced and forsaken by the Almighty who sent neither angels nor prophets to his rescue.

We have here an important moral lesson. Jesus resists temptation in a face-to-face meeting with Satan, but cannot resist the more prosaic temptations of personal adulation and self-importance: the very same temptations which cause Satan's celestial demotion according to Christian lore, and, arguably, contribute to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.

Magic

According to the Gospels, immediately after his meeting with Satan, Jesus' relatives report that Jesus is insane; that he's “beside himself” (Mk3:21). Other eye-witnesses say Jesus is “out of his mind” (Jn10:20) and that he “has a demon” (Jn7:20, 8:48, 10:20). John, who baptized Jesus, also “had a demon” according to popular belief (Mt11:18, Lk7:33), while Jesus is said, by some, to drive out demons “by the Prince of Demons” (Mt9:34, Mk3:22, Lk11:15).

In pagan magic, the familiar spirit or “supernatural assistant” appears as a bird, endows its master with the ability to perform miracles and, in death, escorts the soul of its deceased master to the heavens. We know this from the section of the ancient Papyri Graecae Magicae titled “On Acquiring A Supernatural Assistant.” Lutheran theologian Rudolf Bultmann calls the Holy Spirit “a personal power which like a demon can fall upon a man and take possession of him, enabling him or compelling him to perform manifestations of power.” So even some Christians admit that Jesus and his disciples were possessed of a spirit “like a demon” which played the role of a “supernatural assistant” or a witch's familiar.

The Gospels tell us that demons recognize Jesus (Mt8:29, Mk1:24, Lk4:34) and Jesus grants the request of the Gerasene demons to possess and destroy a herd of swine (Mt8:28-34, Mk5:12-13, Lk8:26-37). Jesus could have commanded the demons to flee elsewhere, but in this instance he capitulates to the demons without hesitation and, in so doing, bears greater responsibility for the death of the swineherd than the demons themselves. 

Self-Destruction

To evil spirits, destruction of the possessed host is the ultimate objective. Demons afflict people with various maladies, including blindness (Mt12:22), and cause demoniacs to harm themselves (Mk5:5). In the New Testament, Paul is blinded by Jesus (Acts9:9), Elymas is blinded by Paul (Acts13:11), Judas hangs himself (Mt27:5), Paul desires death (Philippians1:21-23) and Jesus commands his followers to handle serpents, drink poison (Mk16:18) and welcome physical abuse (Mt5:39). Beginning with the account of the voluntary execution of Ignatius, the early hagiographies are filled with tales of Christians who, in their zeal to receive the “crown of martyrdom,” submit themselves to every available means of corporal and capital punishment. In the Apocalypse of John, the celestial Christ instructs the Smyrnaeans to “be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev2:10). In the middle ages, some Christians performed self-flagellation. Others locked themselves away from life's pleasures by living in remote caves and monasteries.

Violence

Christian violence begins with its founder. Jesus assaults the moneychangers at the Temple (Mt21:13, Mk11:17, Lk19:46, Jn2:15) and ensures his men are armed before his arrest (Lk22:38) where Peter, drawing his sword, attempts a fatal blow to the head of Malchus, servant of high priest Ciaphas (Jn18:10). As a result, the servant's ear is severed. Later, Ananias and Sapphira are slain by the Holy Spirit itself (Acts5). Regarding an adulterous church member, Paul instructs the Corinthians to "deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved" (1Cor5:5).

Paul wishes for his "Judaizing" enemies to mutilate and castrate themselves during circumcision (Gal5:12).

Christians were suspected of setting fire to the city of Rome in 64 C.E. (Annals of Tacitus 15:44).

Justin Martyr spends 15 chapters of his First Apologia pleading with Emperor Antoninus Pius to end the persecution of Christians, only to make an exception in the 16th chapter: "as to those who are not living pursuant to [Jesus'] teachings, and are Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you" (Apologia 1:16, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. I).

The Apostles

Jesus knowingly picks Judas - “a devil” (Jn6:70) - as one of his twelve disciples (Jn6:70) and addresses Peter as “Satan” (Mt16:23, Mk8:33). Mary Magdalene, prior to her exorcism by Jesus, had been, for some unknown duration, the host of no fewer than seven demons (Mk16:9, Lk8:2). Satan “entered” Judas (Lk22:3, Jn13:27) and “filled the heart” of Ananias (Acts5:3). Demons not only know Jesus by name (Mt8:29, Mk1:24, Lk4:34), but Paul as well (Acts19:15). While preaching in Philippi, Paul and Silas are publicly endorsed by a demon-possessed soothsayer (Acts16:16-17) and Paul suffers from a "thorn in the flesh" which he calls a "messenger [or angel] of Satan." (2Cor12:7)

In The City of God, Augustine tells us that demons are capable of sending visions (as to the bovine mother of the divine Apis calf in Egypt); Peter is said to go into “trances” and have “visions” (Mt17:9, Acts10:3, 12:9). Paul has visions throughout the book of Acts. John has visions throughout the book of Revelation. See the Bible's warnings against false prophets and “dreamers of dreams” (Deut13:1-5, Zech10:2).

From the available evidence, it's not unreasonable to suspect that the apostles were riddled with demons. But it doesn't end there: among the first Christians was Simon the Sorcerer (Acts8:13) who is called the “angel of Satan” in the Acts of Peter. Several magicians were among the first Christian converts in Ephesus (Acts19:19). Some early Christians – gnostics and proto-gnostics - openly practiced magic, including Menander, Saturninus, Valentinus & Marcus (see Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book I).

Mockery

Is it possible that the Devil uses Christianity to mock God? The Holy Trinity is a mockery of the first commandment (Ex20:3, Deut5:7), which forbids polytheism. The Christian symbols of the Fish, the Dove and the Crucified Man are a blatant and very specific mockery of the second commandment (Ex20:4, Deut5:8), which forbids idolatry in the form of anything that walks, swims or flies. Peter takes God's name in vain when he swears under oath not to know the Nazarene (Mt26:72-74). Jesus mocks the sabbath (Mt12:10, Mk3:2, Jn9:14-16), and the commandment to honor mothers & fathers (Mk3:31-35, Mt8:21-22, 23:9) while Paul is not only a liar (1Cor9:20-23) who celebrates dishonesty in others (Philippians1:18) but is covetous as well (1Cor9:5), and the whole of Christianity is covetous of Israel, Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God. In addition, the Eucharist mocks the Bible's prohibition against consuming blood (Lev17:17) and the delayed Second Advent mocks the Bible's imminent prophecy standard for the identification of true prophets (Deut18.22). According to the Bible, Jesus is cursed as both a descendent of Jeconiah (Jer22:30, Mt1:12) and a criminal hanged from a tree (Deut21:23). Finally, the religion of Paul is preoccupied with the notion that evil people should be allowed into heaven right alongside good people, and he endeavors to find a way to sneak them in through the back door.

The Church Fathers

In his 4th century Life of Paul the First Hermit, St. Jerome informs us that St. Antony once met a satyr in the Egyptian desert. The creature introduced itself as one of the beasts the Egyptians erroneously worship as gods (universally regarded as demons in Christianity) then offered an unsolicited declaration that Jesus was its Lord. We learn from the same author that Antony was led to the home of the ancient recluse, Paul of Thebes, by the assistance of a centaur, which may or may not have been the Devil.

According to legend, Satan is credited with helping St. Wolfgang build a church, c. 990, and, per another legend, Satan became a Christian monk in Abyssinia for 40 days following his conversion by St. Tekle Haymanot in the 13th century. Also in the 13th century, Satan is said to have provided daily offerings to the monastery at Mount La Verna, Italy.

Conclusion

Was Jesus, in fact, the son of Satan? Was he possessed by a demon? Was he the Devil incarnate?

Probably not. We say this only because there is no evidence of the existence of the Devil. If the Devil exists, that's another story and we leave the reader to draw their own conclusions. The point of this exercise is to demonstrate how easily one might use the Bible to prove someone is something they're not, as when the prophets are cited to prove that Jesus is the Messiah or the son of God.

Sources:

Anonymous, Papyri Graecae Magicae

Augustine, City of God

Irenaeus, Against Heresies

Jerome, Life of Paul the First Hermit

Justin, First Apologia

Tacitus, The Annals

Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy

Job, Jeremiah, Zechariah

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Ephesians, Revelation

Acts of Peter

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The Empty Tomb

The Entombment by Peter Paul Rubens (1612)

Was Jesus' tomb empty? If so, what happened to the body? The evangelists tell us it walked away and, later, appeared "in another form" (Mk16:12). Occam's Razor suggests that the body was either stolen or relocated.

So, if Jesus' body was missing, who moved it?

1) The primary suspect would be Peter and/or one of the other 10 disciples. We only have their word for any of this, after all.

2) Mary Magdelene. She and the women are first on the scene. We really know nothing about Mary or her companions except that they seem quite comfortable creeping around tombs and embalming corpses, in secret, at 4 in the morning when most people are asleep. “Who will move the stone?” is not something someone asks when their business is conducted in broad daylight, where a group of women might easily request the assistance of a passerby.

3) Judas. Judas disappears from the story after Jesus' arrest and what eventually became of him remains a mystery. Legends attribute a variety of deaths to Judas: he either hanged himself (Matthew), fell in a field (Acts), was crushed by a chariot (Papias, 2^nd century), was stoned by the eleven disciples (Gospel of Judas, 2^nd century) or was crucified (the medieval Gospel of Barnabas). If, as some suppose, Judas was a radical religious zealot of the Sicari sect, then perhaps he was the only one of the Twelve disciples who truly embraced the idea that the expected Messiah was a military leader who would vanquish the enemies of God. This may have led him to take drastic measures: forcing a confrontation between Jesus and the Roman authorities, then stealing the body in the hopes of striking fear and repentance into the hearts of the Romans, thus preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah.

4) The Gardener. This theory is mentioned by Tertullian in the late 2^nd century. The Gardener was believed to have moved Jesus' body to prevent pilgrims from trampling his lettuce.

5) The Family of Jesus. They may have taken the body to Galilee, to the tomb of his father, perhaps traveling with a post-Passover caravan heading north. There wouldn't have been time to locate Jesus' disciples, even if they were inclined to do so. For one, the disciples were in hiding. Secondly, when approached by strangers, Peter denied having ever met Jesus. So if Jesus' family sought out the leader of the Christians to inform him that Jesus' body was about to be relocated, it would have been next to impossible to accomplish.

6) Enemies of Jesus. His enemies could have dragged his body to the wilderness so as not to curse the holy city.

7) The Family of Joseph of Arimathea. Perhaps one or more relatives objected to the family tomb housing the body of a cursed magician.

8) Joseph of Arimathea himself. He might have changed his mind over the weekend or been otherwise forced to remove the body by the authority of the Romans, perhaps upon the complaint of the gardener or his own family, as previously stated.

9) Secret Disciples. John tells us that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were secret disciples. So if there were two secret disciples who are named, couldn't there be dozens, if not hundreds, who are not named? If people were spreading rumors that John the Baptist had risen from the dead (Mk6:14, Mt16:14, Lk9:19), perhaps some of the same or similar characters could have stolen Jesus' body and started another resurrection rumor. The gospels tell us nothing of the burial of John the Baptist. For all we know, his body was also missing from its grave. At any rate, if there were “secret disciples” there is no reason to believe they were in communication with Peter, James or the others. Perhaps they were rivals. Perhaps they were unaware of one another. Maybe they had no deception in mind but merely relocated the body to a more secure location to prevent desecration from Jesus' enemies. This could have been somewhere in Galilee, and these disciples might not have concerned themselves with any Jerusalem-based empty-tomb controversy thereafter, as the end was at hand and the messiah was to appear at any moment. Perhaps they eventually heard resurrection stories coming from the Twelve and, like the initial reaction of the Twelve, dismissed them as “wives tales.” On the other hand, they may have heard the stories and believed them, spiritually, in spite of their knowledge of the body's whereabouts, viewing the spiritual resurrection as an integral part of the mystery, not unlike the Eucharist: physically, it's bread and wine; spiritually, it's the body of Christ.

10) Aside from this, there is another equally probable option: no one knew where Jesus' body ended up after the crucifixion, leading the Gospel writers to invent the story of Joseph of Arimathea.

# # #

Apostolic Healing

"These signs will accompany those who believe...they will lay their hands on the sick & they will recover." - Mk16:17-18

"Handkerchiefs were carried away from [Paul] to the sick, & diseases left them." - Acts19:12

Paul informs us (1Cor2:9) that some Christians are endowed with "gifts of healing by the one Spirit," yet elsewhere in Paul's letters we learn that Paul himself had a "bodily ailment" (Gal4:13) & a prayer-resistant "infirmity" (2Cor12:7-8), leaving Trophimus in Melitus due to his "illness" (2Tim4:20) while Timothy suffered from "frequent ailments" (1Tim5:23).

So, believers can heal the sick (Mk16:17-18, Acts19:12, 1Cor2:9) except when they can't:(2Cor12:7-8, Gal4:13, 1Tim5:23, 2Tim4:20).

# # #

Appendix

Is Christian theocracy supported by Christian scripture? No. It isn't.

• If my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, but my kingship is not from the world. Jn18.36

• What have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 1Cor5:12

• Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, & those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, & those who resist will incur judgment. Rom13:1-2

• Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Mt22:21

• Pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Rom13:6-7

• Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 1Peter2:13-14

• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Mt5:44

• Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Rom12:20 / Deut32:35

• Let the evildoer still do evil, & the filthy still be filthy, & the righteous still do right, & the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. Rev22:11-12

Does Life Begin At Conception?

1) The Bible is very clear that life begins the moment we start breathing:

• The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen2:7

• I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host. Ezek37:7-10

2) A fetus is the property of its parents:

• When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Ex21:22-25

Some interpret verse 22 as referring to a premature birth, which means the potential "harm" refers to the living premature baby (as reflected in the NIV and other post-Roe-v-Wade Bible translations). If they're right, how could this account for the words "tooth for tooth?" Does a premature baby have teeth? And where would the baby have acquired burns? Also, if the baby emerges alive after the fight, how can a Bronze Age couple prove that their baby wasn't at its due date already? For all anyone knows, that day could be the baby's actual birthday and the parents could be lying for financial gain. Any expectant family in need of cash could hang out in the public square, instigating fights while waiting for the water to break. No, the premature birthers are wrong. The verse refers to miscarriage. Or, as it's rendered in the 4th century Latin Vulgate: "abortivum."

Abbreviations

1Chron - 1st Chronicles

2Chron - 2nd Chronicles

1Cor - 1st Corinthians

2Cor - 2nd Corinthians

1Jn - 1st John

1Thess - 1st Thessalonians

2Thess - 2nd Thessalonians

1Tim - 1st Timothy

2Tim - 2nd Timothy

ANF - Ante-Nicene Fathers
Col - Colossians

Dan - Daniel

Deut - Deuteronomy

Ex - Exodus

Ezek - Ezekiel
Gal - Galatians
Gen - Genesis

Hos - Hosea

Is - Isaiah

Jer - Jeremiah

Jn - John

KJV - King James Version

Lev - Leviticus

Lk - Luke

Mt - Matthew

Mk - Mark

NIV - New International Version

NPNF - Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

Num - Numbers

JPS - Jewish Publication Society

Ps - Psalms

Pr - Proverbs

Rev - Revelation
Rom - Romans

RSV - Revised Standard Version

Tr. - Tractate

Zech - Zechariah

List of Dead Messiahs

Dying doesn't legitimize Christhood. Death comes to false Messiahs 100% of the time. Notable examples:

4BCE - Counterfeit son of Herod jailed, co-conspirator killed by Romans.

6CE - Judas of Galilee killed by Romans.

33 - John beheaded by Herod.

33 - Jesus crucified by Romans.

40s - Theudas killed by Romans.

67 - Paul beheaded by Romans.

69 - Galba & Vitellius slain for their imperial pretensions.

70 - Simon & John killed by Romans.

75 - Jonathan of Cyrene tortured & burned alive by Romans.

81 - Terentius Maximus (Pseudo-Nero) killed by Romans.

135 - Bar Kochba killed by Romans.

# # #

Verses Referred To On This Blog

Genesis 1 in our image

Genesis 2:7 breath of life

Genesis 3 the serpent

Genesis 6-8 Noah

Genesis 6:9 Noah was blameless

Genesis 7:4 flood will last 40 days

Genesis 15:13 Israel will be captive 400 years

Genesis 17:19 Sarah (90) will bare a son in 1 year

Genesis 41:30 seven year Egypt famine (in 7 years)

Exodus 1:22 Moses escapes infanticide

Exodus 3:8 Israel will dwell in Canaan

Exodus 4:22 Israel is my first-born son

Exodus 11:5/12:12 firstborn sons of Egypt will die

Exodus 20 ten commandments

Exodus 21:22-23 [fetus isn't a person]

Leviticus 19:26 blood eating/augury/witchcraft forbidden

Numbers 14:30 only Joshua & Caleb will see Canaan

Numbers 14:33 Israel will dwell in wilderness 40 years

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man

Numbers 24:17 star out of Jacob

Deuteronomy 5 ten commandments

Deuteronomy 6:4 hear o Israel, our god is one.

Deuteronomy 6:8 law on hands & forehead

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 ignore false prophets

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 prophet like Moses

Deuteronomy 18:20 false prophets shall die

Deuteronomy 34:9 Joshua

Joshua 3:7 God is w/Joshua “as I was w/Moses”

Joshua 3:16-17 Joshua parts the Jordan river

Joshua 4:14 Israel in awe of Joshua as w/Moses

Joshua 6:3-5 Jericho will fall in 6 days

1 Sam 15:29 God "will not lie/change his mind"

1 Samuel 15:29 God is not a man

1 Samuel 28:3-25 witch of Endor

1 Kings 17:1 drought will end in Elijah's lifetime

1 Kings 18:26-29 priests of Ba'al await their god

2 Kings 4:42-43 Elisha feeds multitude

2 Kings 18:4 Hezekiah destroys the bronze serpent (Nehushtan)

2 Kings 18:5 no king as righteous as Hezekiah

2 Kings 20:5, 8 raised 3rd day

2 Kings 20:6 Hezekiah will live 15 more years

2 Kings 22 Josiah finds books of the law

2 Kings 23:25 no king as righteous as Josiah

2 Kings 24:2 the Lord sent bands of Chaldeans…

2 Kings 24:3 ...for the sins of Manasseh

1 Chr. 28:6 I have chosen [Solomon] to be my son

2 Chr. 15:17 Asa was blameless

2 Chr. 21:8-29 Jehoram's entrails spill out

Psalm 2:12 nashku-bar

Psalm 22:16 pierced/like a lion

Psalm 22:18 my garments...they cast lots

Psalm 38:18 I confess iniquity/sorry for my sin

Psalm 40:6-8 mine ears thou hast opened

misquoted in Hebrews.

Cited by Irenaeus: "ears thou hast perfected" (Cont.Heres.4:17)

Psalm 40:12 my iniquities have overtaken me

Psalm 41:4 I have sinned against thee

Psalm 44:11 made us sheep for slaughter

Psalm 44:22 we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter

Psalm 51:1-12 I've sinned/blot out my iniquities

Psalm 69:4 hated without cause

Psalm 74: crushed head(s) of Leviathan

Psalm 97:6 heavens proclaim his righteousness

Psalm 97:7 all gods bow down before him

Psalm 109:8 “may his office be given to another”

Psalm 110:1 Lord said to my Lord

Psalm 110:4 priest of the order of Melchizedek

Psalm 118:8-9 take refuge in God, not princes

Psalm 119:44 I will keep thy law forever and ever

Psalm 146:3 don't put trust in a son of man

Proverbs 30:6 add to God's word, be rebuked as a liar

Proverbs 30:10 do not slander the servant lest master curse you

Proverbs 30:11 those who curse fathers & don't bless mothers

Proverbs 30:12 pure in their own eyes not cleansed of filth

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 Nothing new under the sun

Ecclesiastes 9:5 dead know nothing, have no reward

Ecclesiastes 12:7 body returns to earth who gave it, soul returns to God who gave it

Job 1 Job was blameless

Isaiah 1:2 sons have I reared & brought up

Isaiah 1:4 a seed of evil-doers

Isaiah 1:20 sword shall devour you

Isaiah 2:4 swords to ploughshares

Isaiah 5:7 vineyard of the Lord is house of Israel,

men of Judah are his pleasant planting

Isaiah 6:9 hear, not understand

Isaiah 7:14 Emmanuel & the virgin

Isaiah 8:3 the prophetess bore me a child

Isaiah 8:14 stumbling stone

Isaiah 8:18 my sons are signs for Israel

Isaiah 9:1-2 light

Isaiah 9:6 unto us a son is given/prince of peace

Isaiah 10 judgment of Assyria

Isaiah 10:5-6 the Assyrian

Isaiah 11:1 Branch from root/stump of Jesse

Isaiah 11:6 a child shall lead them

Isaiah 11:15 (Mountain perforated)

Isaiah 14:12 Lucifer

Isaiah 14:16 "Lucifer" is a man

Isaiah 28:16 stone in Zion

Isaiah 39 Hezekiah's recovery

Isaiah 39:7 your sons shall be taken away/eunuchs in Babylon

Isaiah 40:2 Jerusalem's sin is pardoned; she has received double

Isaiah 40:3 prepare highway

Isaiah 41, 43, 44 (desert/water miracles)

Isaiah 41:8 Israel my servant

Isaiah 42:9 My glory will I not give to another

Isaiah 43:11 No god/savior b4/after/beside God

Isaiah 44:1-2 Jacob my servant

Isaiah 44:3 I'll pour my blessing on your offspring

Isaiah 44:6 I am first/last, no god beside me

Isaiah 44:19 shall I fall down before a block of wood?

Isaiah 44:20 a deluded mind has led him astray…

Isaiah 44:20 he cannot deliver himself

Isaiah 44:21 Jacob my servant

Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away Israel's transgressions

Isaiah 44:23 sing o heavens earth mtns forests

Isaiah 44:28 Cyrus

Isaiah 45:1 Cyrus “my anointed”

Isaiah 45:7 God creates all things good & evil

Isaiah 45:17 Israel saved w/everlasting salvation

Isaiah 45:19 I did not speak in secret,

I did not say to Jacob “seek me in chaos”

Isaiah 45:20 wooden idols cannot save

Isaiah 45:21 No god/savior beside me

Isaiah 45:25 offspring of Israel shall triumph in glory

Isaiah 46:9 No other god...there is none like me

Isaiah 48:20 Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob

Isaiah 49:3 Jacob my servant

Isaiah 49:7 kings/princes will prostrate themselves

Isaiah 49:13 sing o heaven, earth, mountains

Isaiah 49:22 nations will carry your children

Isaiah 49:23 kings/queens will town down to you

Isaiah 50:6 gave my back to smiters/those who pulled my beard

Isaiah 52:1 No more uncircumcised in Jerusalem

Isaiah 52:4-5 Egypt, Assyria, now this [Babylon]

Isaiah 52:5 my people are taken away

Isaiah 52:8 Jerusalem's watchmen sing

Isaiah 52:9 sing waste places of Jerusalem

Isaiah 52:10 Lord has bared his holy arm before the nations

Isaiah 52:11 you who bear the vessels of the Lord

Isaiah 52:13 servant prospers, exalted, lifted high

Isaiah 52:15-53:12 suffering servant

Isaiah 53:1 arm of YHVH

Isaiah 53:4 griefs, sorrows, stricken, afflicted

Isaiah 53:4 smitten by God

Isaiah 53:5 “wounded” v “pierced”

Isaiah 53:5 - ...for our transgressions

Isaiah 53:5 by his stripes we are healed

Isaiah 53:10 he'll see offspring/prolong his days

Isaiah 53:12 He'll divide spoil w/the strong

Isaiah 54:1 sing o barren one

Isaiah 57:1 devout men are taken away

Isaiah 57:16-18 because of sin I smote him…but I will heal him

Isaiah 59:20 he will come to Zion as redeemer...

Isaiah 59:20 to those in Jacob who turn from transgression

Isaiah 60:5 the wealth of the nations shall come to you

Isaiah 60:9 ships bring your sons from far…he has glorified you

Isaiah 60:11 men/kings bring to you wealth of the nations

Isaiah 60:14 sons of oppressors come bending low

Isaiah 60:15 I will make you majestic forever

Isaiah 61:1 anointed me to preach good tidings

Isaiah 61:6-7 you shall eat the wealth of the nations

Isaiah 66:3 chosen their own ways

Isaiah 66:12 I will extend prosperity to her like a river

Jeremiah 2:21 I planted you...

Jeremiah 11:16 Lord called you a green olive tree

Jeremiah 11:17 the Lord, who planted you

Jeremiah 11:19 I was like a lamb led to slaughter

Jeremiah 11:19 "let us cut him off from land of living"

Jeremiah 13:18 your beautiful crown has come down

Jeremiah 14:17 daughter of my people smitten w/wound

Jeremiah 14:19 prophesy lies in my name

Jeremiah 16:16 (fishers of men)

Jeremiah 23:5 righteous branch

Jeremiah 23:24-29 prophets/dreamers who prophesy lies

Jeremiah 25:11 Israel will be in Babylon 70years

Jeremiah 25:12 Babylon will be destroyed in 70 years

Jeremiah 25:15 take this cup from me

Jeremiah 27:22 they shall be carried to Babylon

Jeremiah 29:10 seventy years in Babylon

Jeremiah 30:9 David whom I'll raise

Jeremiah 30:10 Jacob my serant

Jeremiah 30:17-18 your wounds I will heal…

Jeremiah 31:10-12 will gather Israel/has ransomed Jacob

Jeremiah 31:16 Rachel weeping

Jeremiah 32:37-38 I will gather them...

Jeremiah 33:9 nations shall fear & tremble

Jeremiah 46:27-28 my servant Israel

Jeremiah 50:6 my people have been lost sheep

their shepherds have led them astray

Lamentations 1:5 her children have gone away, captives…

Lamentations 3:32 though he cause grief, Lord will have compassion

Lamentations 5:7 our fathers sinned, we bear their iniquities

Ezekiel 1:16 chariot wheels

Ezekiel 4:1-6 Ezekiel will bear Israel's punishment

Ezekiel 6:9 you who escape/blinded

Ezekiel 12:6 Ezekiel is a sign for Israel

Ezekiel 12:13 Zedekiah will be blinded/die in Babylon

Ezekiel 14:9 I will destroy the deceived prophet

Ezekiel 16:49-50 guilt of Sodom: they didn't help the poor

Ezekiel 28:6-10 ...will you still say "I am a god"? …

Ezekiel 28:25 my servant Jacob

Ezekiel 37:10 dead raised

Ezekiel 37:25 my servant Jacob

Ezekiel 38-39 Gog/Magog

Ezekiel 45-48 the prince

Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar's dream

Daniel 3 trial by fire

Daniel 3:25 one like a son of the gods

Daniel 6 lion's den

Daniel 6:22 I was blameless

Daniel 7:4-12 vision of beasts

Daniel 7:4 lion

Daniel 7:5 bear

Daniel 7:6 leopard

Daniel 7:7 horned beast

Daniel 7:8 little horn

Daniel 7:13 the son of man

Daniel 7:25 temple desolate 3.5 years

Daniel 8 ram and goat

Daniel 9:26 70 weeks / anointed cut off

Daniel 11 kings of N. & S. / little horn

Daniel 11:2 three kings

Daniel 11:3 mighty king

Daniel 11:4 (Diodochi)

Daniel 11:5 P.I/SI

Daniel 11:6 PII/AI/AII

Daniel 11:7-9 PIII/SII/SIII

Daniel 11:10-14 PIV/AIII

Daniel 11:15-17 PV, AIII

Daniel 11:17 Cleopatra 1

Daniel 11:18-19 PV/AIII

Daniel 11:20 PVI/SIV/exactor of tribute

Daniel 11:21 AIV

Daniel 11:22 PVI/AIV/prince of the covenant

Daniel 11:23-24 AIV

Daniel 11:27 PVI/AIV

Daniel 11:30 PVI/AIV

Daniel 11:30 Kittim

Daniel 11:30 war

Daniel 11:31 abomination

Daniel 11:32 violators/action

Daniel 11:33 wise

Daniel 11:35 time appointed

Daniel 11:36-39 AIV

Daniel 11:40-44 (Egypt invasion, told out of sequence)

Daniel 11:45 his tents / his end

Daniel 12:1 Michael shall arise

Daniel 12:2 some shall awake

Daniel 12:7 temple desolate 3.5 years

Daniel 12:11 temple desolation will last 1,290 days

Hosea 6:1 he has torn, that he may heal us

Hosea 6:2 rise 3rd day

Hosea 11:1 out of Egypt I called my son

Hosea 11:9 I am God and not man

Hosea 13:4 no god/savior beside me

Joel 3:12 ploughshares to swords

Micah 4:3 swords to ploughsharesi

Micah 5:2 out of Bethlehem

Micah 5:5-6 the Assyrian

Micah 7:6 (mother against daughter, etc.)

Micah 7:16 nations shall see & be ashamed/hands on mouths

Zephaniah 3:12-13 those left in Israel...no deceitful tongue

Zephaniah 3:20 I will make you renowned & praised

Haggai 2:9 in this place I will give prosperity

Haggai 2:23 Zerubbabel...servant...I have chosen

Zechariah 1:2-3 return to me and I will return to you

Zechariah 3:1 Satan and Joshua

Zechariah 3:3 remove the filthy garments from Joshua

Zechariah 3:4 I have taken your iniquity away

Zechariah 3:8 my servant the Branch

Zechariah 4:9 temple will be completed by Zerubbabel

Zechariah 4:10 seven eyes of the Lord

Zechariah 4:12 two branches

Zechariah 6:11 crown on Joshua

Zechariah 6:12 the Branch

Zechariah 8:23 ten from every nation

Zechariah 9:5 Gaza shall writhe in anguish

Zechariah 9:9 riding an ass

Zechariah 11:4, 5, 7 shepherds

Zechariah 11:7 those who trafficked

Zechariah 11:12 thirty shekels

Zechariah 11:17 worthless shepherd

Zechariah 12:10 the one they have pierced

Zechariah 13:2 I will cut off the names of idols from the land

Zechariah 13:5 "I am no prophet"

Zechariah 13:6 wounds I received

Zechariah 13:7 strike the shepherd

Zechariah 14:2 God will gather all nations against Jerusalem

Zechariah 14:4 river perforated

Zechariah 14:9 God will be one and his name one

Zechariah 14:12 their flesh/tongues/eyes shall rot

Zechariah 14:21 there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord

Malachi 1:3 I have laid waste to the country of Esau

Malachi 1:14 blemished sacrifice

Malachi 2:11 Judah has profaned sanctuary

…married daughter of a foreign god

Malachi 3:1 I send my messenger...

Malachi 3:7 return to me and I will return to you

Malachi 4:5-6 Elijah

Sirah 46:1 Joshua successor to Moses in prophesying

Matthew 1:23 virgin

Matthew 2:6 "O Bethlehem"

Matthew 2:15 out of Egypt

Matthew 2:16-18 Rachel weeping

Matthew 2:23 “he shall be called a Nazarene”

Matthew 3:3 voice in the wilderness

Matthew 3:16 spirit descends as a bird

Matthew 4:1-11 temptation

Matthew 5:9 peacemakers called sons of God

Matthew 5:16 let your light shine, glorify God

Matthew 5:19 whoever relaxes law or teaches so

Matthew 5:39 turn the other cheek

Matthew 5:44 love enemies, pray for persecutors

Matthew 6:12 forgive debts

Matthew 6:14 forgive trespasses

Matthew 6:31 don't be anxious about the future

Matthew 7:1 judge not

Matthew 7:12 do unto others...

Matthew 7:13 narrow gate

Matthew 7:15 wolf

Matthew 7:16-20 fruit

Matthew 7:23 I never knew you

Matthew 8:4 say nothing

Matthew 8:17 “he bore our diseases”

Matthew 8:22 let the dead bury their own dead

Matthew 8:29 demons recognize Jesus

Matthew 9:29-30 see that no one knows it

Matthew 9:34 he heals by the power of demons

Matthew 10:34 I bring not peace, but a sword

Matthew 10:35-37 "I come to divide families"

Matthew 11:18 John has a demon

Matthew 11:19 a glutton & a drunkard

Matthew 12:24 heals by power of demons

Matthew 13:10-11 parables hide truth from outsiders

Matthew 13:13 “they shall hear but not understand”

Matthew 13:24-30 parable of the sower

Matthew 14:10 John is beheaded

Matthew 15:28 "numbered with transgressors"

Matthew 16:14 some say you're John/Elijah/a risen prophet

Matthew 16:20 tell no one

Matthew 16:23 Peter is Satan/not on side of God

Matthew 17:4 Peter unsure if transfiguration real or vision

Matthew 17:9 tell no one

Matthew 19:17 "keep the commandments"

Matthew 19:21 sell possessions/give to the poor

Matthew 19:26 with God, all things are possible [cf 26:39]

Matthew 21:17 neither will I tell you

Matthew 22:21 give Caesar what is Caesar's

Matthew 22:44 "Lord said to my lord"

Matthew 23:9 call no man father on earth

Matthew 24:6 wars & rumors of wars

Matthew 24:7 famines & earthquakes in various places

Matthew 24:15 false christs shall deceive

Matthew 24:25 “desolation spoken of by Daniel”

Matthew 24:24 false prophets

Matthew 24:28 carcass/eagles

Matthew 24:30 son of man

Matthew 24:34 this gen won't pass til all is fulfilled

Matthew 24:36 no one knows the day, not even angels

Matthew 24:44 son is coming at an unexpected hour

Matthew 26:11 the poor you will always have...

Matthew 26:31 "strike the shepherd/sheep scatter"

Matthew 26:39 Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me [cf 19:26]

Matthew 26:52 put your sword away

Matthew 26:52 live by sword/die by sword

Matthew 26:63 tell us if you're the Christ, the son of God…(thou sayest)

Matthew 26:64 son of man

Matthew 26:72-74 “I do not know the man”

Matthew 27:5 Judas hangs himself

Matthew 27:9 "thirty pieces of silver"

Matthew 27:35 lots cast/garments divided

Matthew 27:46 why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:52-53 saints rise, appear in the city [cf Ezek37:12]

Matthew 27:63 that imposter


Matthew 28:11-13 tomb guard conspiracy

Mark 1:2 "I send my messenger"


Mark 1:3 voice in the wilderness

Mark 1:10 spirit descends as a bird

Mark 1:12-13 temptation

Mark 1:24 demons recognize Jesus

Mark 1:44 say nothing

Mark 3:22 *by the prince of demons*


Mark 3:31 he is beside himself


Mark 4:10-12 *secrets concealed from outsiders*

Mark 5:34 your faith has made you well

Mark 5:43 no one should know of this

Mark 6:16 John, whom I beheaded, has been raised

Mark 6:49 they thought they were seeing a ghost

Mark 7:36 tell no one

Mark 8:28 some say you're John/Elijah/a risen prophet

Mark 8:33 Peter is Satan/not on side of God

Mark 9:2-8 transfiguration

Mark 9:9 tell no one

Mark 9:13 Elijah has come

Mark 9:32 disciples did not understand (arrest)

Mark 10:18 *Me good? None good but God*

Mark 10:40 to sit at right hand not mine to grant

Mark 10:52 your faith has made you well

Mark 11:26 forgive, or you won't be forgiven

Mark 11:33 neither will I tell you

Mark 12:17 submit to Caesar/pay your taxes

Mark 12:22 blindness caused by demons

Mark 12:32 God is one...no other but he

Mark 12:36 *Lord said to my Lord*

Mark 13:26 *they'll see SOM in clouds w/power*

Mark 13:32 *no one knows day or hour*

Mark 14:7 the poor you always have…

Mark 14:17 I do not know the man

Mark 14:27 "strike shepherd/sheep scatter"

Mark 14:56 witnesses did not agree

Mark 14:62 *you'll see SOM in clouds w/power*

Mark 16:9 Mary M. had seven demons

Mark 16:12 J appeared "in another form"

Mark 16:13 *disciples don't believe the women*

Mark 16:17 believers will lay hands on the sick

Mark 16:18 poison won't harm believers

Luke 3:4 voice in the wilderness

Luke 3:22 spirit descends as a bird

Luke 3:38 Adam, the son of God

Luke 4:1-13 temptation

Luke 4:16-21 "spirit is upon me" [Is61:1]

Luke 4:34 demons recognize Jesus

[contrast: Jews don't recognize him in the same chapter]

Luke 5:14 tell no one

Luke 6:25 love enemies/pray for persecutors

Luke 6:29 turn the other cheek

Luke 6:35 love enemies/lend without return

Luke 6:37 don't judge; forgive

Luke 7:3 John has a demon

Luke 7:22 John sends messengers to J: "shall we wait for another?"

Luke 7:34 a glutton & a drunkard

Luke 8:2 Mary M. had seven demons

Luke 8:10 *parables conceal truth from outsiders*

Luke 8:56 no one should know this

Luke 9:9 (changes Mk6:16 to "J I beheaded, but who is this…?")

Luke 9:19 some say you're John/Elijah/a risen prophet

Luke 9:21 tell no one

Luke 9:27 some standing here won't taste death...

Luke 9:36 they told no one

Luke 9:45 disciples did not understand (arrest)

Luke 9:46 which disciple is greatest?

Luke 11:15 *by the prince of demons*

Luke 11:19 *glutton, drunkard, friend of sinners*

Luke 12:40 son is coming at an unexpected hour

Luke 14:26 hate your family

Luke 18:19 *me good? None good but God*

Luke 20:25 submit to caesar/pay taxes

Luke 20:42 *Lord said to my Lord*

Luke 21:27 they will see SOM in clouds w/power

Luke 22:3 devil entered Judas

Luke 22:24 which disciple is greatest?

Luke 22:36 sell your cloak, buy a sword

Luke 22:37 "numbered w/transgressors" (Is53:12)

Luke 22:44 sweating blood

Luke 22:67 If you're Christ, tell us plainly…If I tell you you won't believe

Luke 24:11 disciples don't believe Mary

Luke 24:16 disciples don't recognize Jesus

Luke 24:25 prophets wrote of me

Luke 24:26 messiah must suffer/rise

Luke 24:41 disciples don't believe risen Jesus

Luke 24:44 Moses/prophets wrote of me

Luke 24:46 messiah must suffer/rise

John 1:1 Logos was with God/was God

John 1:23 voice in the wilderness

John 1:32 spirit descends as a bird

John 2:12 Jesus assaults the temple

John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself my witness isn't true

John 5:46 Moses wrote about me

John 6:70 one of the disciples is a devil

John 7:5 even his brothers did not believe in him

John 7:10 J secretly attends feast to eavesdrop

John 7:12 he is leading people astray

John 7:13 no one spoke openly of him

John 7:20 he has a demon

John 8:44 the Devil's children

John 8:48 he has a demon

John 8:52 he has a demon

John 8:58 before Abraham was, I am

John 9:45 disciples did not understand (arrest)

John 10:20 Jesus is out of his mind/has a demon

John 10:30 I and the father are one

John 12:8 the poor you always have...

John 12:16 disciples did not understand (ass)

John 12:38 who believed report/arm revealed

John 13:27 devil entered Judas

John 18:10 Peter assaults Malchus

John 18:20 I've taught nothing in secret

John 18:36 my kingship not from the world

John 19:37 pierced (Zechariah 12:10)

John 20:15 Mary doesn't recognize Jesus

John 20:17 my father/your father; my gd/your gd

John 20:25 Thomas won't believe unless he sees

John 21:4 disciples don't recognize Jesus on the beach

Acts 1:3 by many proofs...appearing to them for 40 days

Acts 1:4 he charged them not to leave Jerusalem

Acts 1:6 will you restore the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 1:7 it is not for you to know times & seasons

Acts 1:9 ascension

Acts 2:13 they are filled w/new wine

Acts 2:35 *Lord said to my Lord*

Acts 3:18 messiah must suffer

Acts 3:22 prophet like Moses

Acts 4 common property

Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 7:37 prophet like Moses

Acts 7:54-60 stoning of Stephen

Acts 8:19-24 Simon Magus

Acts 8:26-40 Ethiopian & Philip read Isaiah 53

Acts 8:32 dumb sheep lead to slaughter

Acts 9:3 Saul's vision; JC appears as a bright light

Acts 9:9 Saul blinded

Acts 9:40 Peter raises Tabitha

Acts 12:9 Peter isn't sure what's real

Acts 12:20-23 death of Herod Agrippa

Acts 13:11 Elymas blinded

Acts 14:11-13 pagans worship Paul & Barnabas

Acts 16:6-10 vision of Macedonian

Acts 19:12 Paul's handkerchiefs

Acts 19:19 magicians convert & burn their books

Acts 19:28 great is Diana of the Ephesians!

Acts 20:7-12 Paul raises Eutychus

Acts 26 Saul's vision

Acts 26:24 Festus: Paul is mad

Acts 28 Paul's snakebite on Malta

Romans 7:6 we are discharged from the law

Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth; I am not lying

Romans 9:33 stone in Zion

Romans 11:26 will come from Zion…banish ungodliness [cf Is59]

Romans 12:2 be not conformed to this world

Romans 12:20 never avenge yourselves

Romans 13 submit to worldly authority

Romans 13:6-7 pay your taxes

Romans 16:26 revelation of the mystery

1 Corinthians 5:5 deliver this man to Satan

1 Corinthians 5:12 judge believers, not outsiders

1 Corinthians 7:18-20 circumcision unimportant

1 Corinthians 9:1 am I not an apostle?

1 Corinthians 9:9 “do not muzzle the ox”

1 Corinthians 9:11 I should reap material benefits

1 Corinthians 9:23 all things to all men

2 Corinthians 1:16 you say I'm crafty & I beguiled you

2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus "knew no sin"

2 Corinthians 7:14 everything we said to you was true

2 Corinthians 8:13-14 communism

2 Corinthians 9:6 reap/sow sparingly/bountifully

2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver

2 Corinthians 9:8 God provides abundance to givers

2 Corinthians 10 I know a man…3rd heaven…in/out of body I know not

2 Corinthians 11:31 I do not lie

2 Corinthians 11:14 Satan appears as angel of light

2 Corinthians 12:7-8 prayer-resistant "infirmity"

2 Corinthians 12:12 signs of true apostle/wonders

2 Cor. 13:4 you desire proof christ speaks in me

2 Cor. 13:5 JC is in you...unless you fail the test

1 Thess. 4:17 we who are alive caught up in the clouds

1 Thess. 5:2 Lord will come like thief in the night

Galatians 1:20 I do not lie

Galatians 3:10 law observers under a curse

Galatians 3:13 cursed man who hangs on tree

Galatians 3:16 “seed” not “seeds” of Abraham

Galatians 3:10 law observers are under a curse

Galatians 3:23 we were confined under the law

Galatians 4:13 Paul's bodily ailment

Galatians 5:12 I wish they'd castrate themselves

Galatians 5:18 we, led by spirit, not under the law

Philippians 1:18 insincere preaching fine w/Paul

Philippians 1:21-23 Paul desires death

Phil. 4:15-19 you supply me, God supplies you

Ephesians 2:2 devil is "prince of powers of the air"

Ephesians 3:3 mystery revealed to me

Ephesians 3:4-5 mystery revealed [to me] by the spirit

Ephesians 3:9 mystery hidden by God

Ephesians 6:19 mystery of the gospel

Colossians 1:26 mystery hidden from angels

1 Timothy 1:9 law is for ungodly unholy sinners

1 Timothy 2:7 I'm telling truth / I'm not lying

1 Timothy 2:12 women: don't teach / be silent

1 Timothy 3:16 mystery of our religion

1 Timothy 5:23 Timothy has "frequent ailments"

1 Timothy 5:18 do not muzzle the ox

2 Tim. 4:20 Trophimus in Melitus due to illness

Hebrews 1:2 these [are the] last days

Hebr. 10:15 "ear" changed to "a body" (Ps40:7)

1 Peter 2:6 stone in Zion

1 Peter 2:13-14 do not resist authority

1 Peter 2:22 no guile on his lips

1 Peter 2:24 he bore our sins

1 Peter 2:24 by his wounds we are healed

1 Peter 2:25 you've strayed like sheep

1 Peter 4:7 end of all things is at hand

2 Peter 3:15 “our beloved brother Paul”

2 Peter 3:16 scripture twisted by lawless men

James 2 faith without works is dead

James 3:1 teachers judged w/greater strictness

James 5:8 coming of the Lord is at hand

1 John 2:4 he who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar

1 John 2:18 it is the last hour

1 John 4:1 test the spirits

1 John 4:3 antichrist...is in the world already

1 John 5:7-8 there's 3 that testify; these 3 are one

Revelation 1:1 [The time is] soon

Revelation 1:3 [The time is] soon

Revelation 1:6 the church is the new Jerusalem

Revelation 1:7 those who pierced him mourn [Zech12:10-14]

Revelation 1:8 I am the first & last [Is44:6]

Revelation 1:13 son of man [Dan7:13]

Revelation 1:14 hair like wool [Dan7:9]

Revelation 1:15 voice like sound of many waters [Ezek43:2]

Revelation 1:17 I am first & last [44:6]

Revelation 2:2 false apostles

Revelation 2:9 Synagogue

Revelation 2:20 Jezebel

Revelation 2:23 I will strike her children dead

Revelation 3:9 Synagogue

Revelation 3:11 [The time is] soon

Revelation 4:6 four beasts at throne [Ezek1:5]

Revelation 4:7 faces of man, calf, lion, eagle [Ezek1:10]

Revelation 4:8 six-winged beasts / holy holy holy [Is6:3]

Revelation 5:6 seven eyes of God wander earth [Zech4:10]

Revelation 5:11 ten thousand x 10,000 [Dan7:10]

Revelation 6:4 red horse [Zech1:8]

Revelation 6:8 four horsemen/judgments [Ezek14:21]

Revelation 6:14 heavens roll up like a scroll [Is34:4]

Revelation 6:16 mountains fall on us! [Hosea10:8]

Revelation 7:16 no more hunger, thirst, heat, sunlight [Is49:10]

Revelation 7:17 God wipes away their tears [Is25:8]

Revelation 8:7 hail, fire, blood [Joel2:30]

Revelation 8:12 sky darkened, sea poisoned

Revelation 9:8 teeth like lions [Joel1:6]

Revelation 9:8 locusts/hair like women

Revelation 9:10 locusts/scorpion tails/5 months

Revelation 9:11 Abaddon the Destroyer

Revelation 11:1 reed to measure the temple [Ezek40:3]

Revelation 11:2 forty-two months [Dan7:25/12:7]

Revelation 11:4 lamp stand / 2 olive trees [Zech4:2-3]

Revelation 12:4 beast casts stars to the earth [Dan8:10]

Revelation 12:6 woman in travail delivers man child [Is66:7]

Revelation 12:7 Michael battles the dragon

Revelation 12:17 those who keep commandments

Revelation 13:1 seven crowns

Revelation 13:1 ten horns [Dan7:7]

Revelation 13:2 leopard, bear, lion beast [Dan7:5-6]

Revelation 13:5 forty-two months [Dan7:25/12:7]

Revelation 13:11 lamb-horned beast

Revelation 13:18 six-six-six
Revelation 14 whore of Babylon

Revelation 14:12 those who keep commandments

Revelation 14:14 son of man [Dan7:14]

Revelation 17:10 five fallen kings

Revelation 17:10 one king is

Revelation 17:10 now will remain a short time

Revelation 17:11 eighth king

Revelation 17:12 ten kings
Revelation 17:16 harlot burned

Revelation 20:8 Gog/Magog
Revelation 22:6 [The time is] soon

Revelation 22:7 [The time is] soon

Revelation 22:10 The time is near
Revelation 22:11 let sinners be sinners

Revelation 22:20 [The time is] soon

1 Clement 25-26 the phoenix is proof of the end-times Resurrection

Barnabas 12:11 quote of Is45:1 omits Cyrus

Archaic view of Rabbits and Hyenas

HISTORIANS

Hippocrates

Sacred Disease - on epilepsy, prophecy and faith healing

Herodotus

The Histories - Cyrus diverts rivers, captures Babylon

1Maccabees

2Maccabees

2Mac2: libraries of Nehemiah & Judas

2Mac.3: Heliodorus

Appian

The Syrian Wars

Polybius

Fragments

Pliny the Elder

Natural History - on magic

Josephus 75 CE (JW) 94 CE (JA)

JW.4:5 Messianic prophecies apply to Vespasian, not the Zealots

Pre-war omens

Magician named Simon

An exorcism

Masada

JA. Temple of Onias built to fulfill Isaiah

Daniel predicted the Maccabees

Testimonium Flavianum

Anubis in Rome

Tacitus c. 109/110

A... phoenix seen in Rome

H... Vespasian healing blind/withered

H.5:13 messiah prophecies from Josephus

Pliny the Younger

Letter to Trajan re Christians

Plutarch c.119 CE

Prophecies of Romulus

Virgin birth of Romulus

Pursuit of Romulus

Birds choose Romulus

Death of Romulus, darkness

Proculus meets Romulus in another form

Plutarch mentions other supposed resurrections

Suetonius 121 CE

Vespasian heals blind/withered

10:4 messiah prophecies from Josephus

Martyrdom of Ignatius

Disciples see him in dreams the night of his death

Martyrdom of Polycarp

15:2 fire won't burn him

16:1 dove flies out; fire extinguished by blood

16:2 Polycarp was a prophet; all he uttered was, & will be, fulfilled

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations 11:15 candor affected is a dagger concealed; good should be apparent in one's behavior

Justin

we who formerly used magical arts dedicate ourself to God

we who valued wealth now bring all into a common stock & distribute per need

heretics should be punished by Rome

argues against absolute fate: but there is absolute reward & punishment

says “sword shall devour you” (Is1:20) isn't literal: claims the sword is hellfire

cites Isaiah out of context re Jerusalem's destruction (Is7:1, 64:10-12)

1Apol.50-51 quotes all of Is53

1Apol.51:4 quotes son of man "& his angels" (misattr. to Jeremiah)

1Apol.54 demons plagiarized gospels through ancient poets

Moses set up a brazen cross (doesn't mention serpent)

Simon & Menander; S worshipped in Rome under Claudius; Helen; Semo statue

JC spoke in short phrases; he was no sophist

Justin says David speaks of future events as if they were past

Martyrdom of Justin

Lucian

Prophecy of Glycon

Speaking in tongues

Dionysius of Corinth

On textual manipulation

Celsus

Magicians in the forum exhibit banquets that don't exist

Irenaeus

Four gospels only, as there are four corners of the earth, etc

Daniel predicted antichrist; horned beast is Rome

Discusses textual variants (666 vs 616)

Acts of Peters

2:4 Paul called a sorcerer & a deceiver

Galen

On the Prime Mover - mentions Xtns accept "everything" on faith

Caius

Rejects Johannine books due to Cerinthian authorship of Revelation

Bardesanes

Tertullian

De Spectaculis ch.30 "fast approaching advent"

Argues for trinitarianism

Pseudo-Ignatius

Hippolytus

Against Heresies - on Apsethus the Libyan

Origen

Defends mysteries revealed to initiates

Why would a cult of magicians preach against magic?

Why would a followers of Moses' laws practice magic?

Rebuttal (me): Paul & his followers discarded the law

There were Jewish magicians & exorcists (see Josephus)

Says Xtnty appeals to poor because there are more poor than rich, as with any large group

Mentions use of alma; cites one example from Deut.; ignores others

Challenges the reader to answer: to whom in Isaiah's time could Is7:14 possibly apply?

Some Xtns convert after visions and "dreams in the night" & are willing to die for Christ

Mentions Josephus ("not believing in Jesus as the Christ") discussing James & the Baptist

Birth cave in Bethlehem is revered by Xtians and even spoken of by local non-Xtians

Brings up Is53, says some Jews told him it was about Israel

Mentions Theudas, Judas of Galilee, Dositheos,

Mentions Simon (can't find more than 30 in 3rd century). (Or. doesn't seem know know of Gosp.Peter)

"I know not why [Celsus] quotes ___ but doesn't mention ___"

Maybe Origen's early 3rd century gospel is more complete than Celsus' mid-2nd century copy?

Quotes Numbers re star out of Jacob

Says Magi divine future events through the power of evil spirits

J…denying he was a king as the multitudes expected

Says Cel. doesn't seem to have read the gospels

Says Jesus chose unlearned disciple because sophisticated disciples would discredit him/seem a ruse

How does he explain the learned Paul, Justin or Origen himself? Or magician converts in Acts?

Angels bring prophecies in dreams; it's just a thing (re Matthew ch. 2)

He snuck away from the slaughter rather than have an angel smite the soldiers with blindness (e.g.)

…because he didn't want to make a public display (but what about the star and Luke's angels???)

Casually mentions that some people "feign themselves to be christians for the sake of subsistence"

Mentions a Celsus who wrote books against magic; isn't sure if it's the same Celsus

Birth by Panthera is mentioned more than once

JC ate fish after his resurrection

Mentions Ebionites; Peter's animal vision

Book 2:

Celsus only knows of Mary Mag. & one other witness to resurrection

Book 3:

To counter Cel., Or. quotes Paul: “bishops should be teachers;”

But Celsus is talking about uneducated church laity, not bishops

Cel. says magicians target the ignorant; compares xtians to these magicians

Origen asks “What disreputable tricks do we perform? Or what is there in our conduct that resembles theirs?”

When initiates are holy & pure...we speak wisdom among them that are perfect

Philostratus

Life of Apollonius 1:5 meteor fireball seen at birth

Lactantius

Antipodes ridiculed

Phoenix is sign of resurrection

Hierocles

Peter/Paul uneducated liars & wizards [Eusebius Against Hierocles]

Porphyry

On the gods

On Christians

Eusebius

Believes Abgar correspondence to be genuine

First to quote Testamonium Flavianum

Constantine killed priests of Venus, etc.

Against Philostratus - says Damis & Philostratus – biographers of Apollonius – are “convicted by their inconsistencies of being downright liars, men devoid of education and charlatans.”

Julian the Apostate

Against the Galileans

Letters

Libanius

Oration for the Temples, addressed to Theodosius

Jerome

Centaur, satyr appear to Antony

Lions dig Paulus' grave

Augustine

Antipodes ridiculed

Apis bulls are the product of demonic influence on pregnant heifers

Bones of Stephen raise the dead, etc., late-4th century Italy (Milan)

Cyril of Alexandria

Contra Julianum

Socrates Scolasticus

Eccles. History 7:15 death of Hypatia

The Koran

Nachmanides

On Is53

Reimarus

Fragments

Strauss, David

Life of Jesus

Kalisch, Isidor

Guide For the Rational Enquiry Into the Biblical Writings (1857)

Brewer, Ebenezer

A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic (1884)

AGAINST SORCERY

Exodus 22:18 (kjv) suffer not a witch to live

Leviticus 19:13 do not turn to mediums or wizards

Leviticus 19:26 augury/witchcraft forbidden

Leviticus 20:27 mediums/wizards shall be put to death

Deut 13:5 false prophets/dreamers shall be put to death

Deut 18:10 diviners, soothsayers, augurs, sorcerers forbidden

Deut 18:11 charmers, mediums, wizards, necromancers forbidden

Deut 18:14 giving heed to soothsayers and diviners forbidden

Deut 18:20 false prophets shall die

Isaiah 8:9 mediums/wizards chirp & mutter

…should people consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Matthew: abridged by the Nazarenes; long version rejected by Ebionites

Mark: acknowledged by Cerinthians

Luke: abridged by Marcion

John: acknowledged by Valentinians; rejected by Algoi

Historicity of Jesus parallels

St. Nicholas

Vlad Dracula

Roswell

Betty Hill

Xtian History

30-33 JC preaches / dies

34-36 Paul's seizure

40-50 Paul preaching

44 death of Herod Agrippa

50s-60s Paul's letters

62 death of James

64 fire in Rome

c. 65 death of Peter, Paul

70 ostensible date of John's visions

70 failed messiahs: Simon, Jonathan

70 successful messiah: Vespasian

70 Mark/Q written to keep hope in Jesus alive

73 Onias temple destroyed

74 Masada

75 Josephus writes Wars of the Jews

76 Matthew written

79 Vesuvius

79 Death of Vespasian

80 Luke written

81 Death of Titus

96 Death of Domitian

97 Apocalypse written (early date)

98 First Clement written

110 John written

116 Apocalypse written (late date)

150 shepherd of Hermas written

155 death of Polycarp

160 Justin Martyr First Apology

165 death of Justin

NO MENTION IN EPISTLES OR EARLY CHURCH FATHERS:

Lazarus, Tabitha, etc.

Mary Magdelene

The empty tomb

SUBJECT INDEX

Belief

Mark 16:13 they didn't believe the women

Luke 24:11 disciples don't believe Mary

Luke 24:41 disciples don't believe risen Jesus

John 7:5 even his brothers did not believe in him

John 20:25 Thomas won't believe unless he sees

Character: Jesus

Matthew 8:22 “let the dead bury their own dead”

Matthew 10:34 “I bring not peace, but a sword”

Matthew 10:35-37 “I've come to divide families”

Matthew 23:9 “call no man father on earth”

Matthew 26:11 “the poor you always have”

Mark 10:18 “me good? None good but God”

Mark 14:7 “the poor you always have with you”

Luke 14:26 “me good? None good but God”

Luke 22:36 “sell your cloak, buy a sword”

John 2:15 he made a whip/assaulted the temple

John 7:10 secretly attends feast to eavesdrop

John 8:44 “your father is the devil”

John 12:8 “the poor you always have with you”

John 18:20 “I taught nothing in secret”

Revelation 2:23 “I will strike her children dead”

Character: Disciples

Matthew 26:72-74 “I do not know the man”

Mark 14:17 “I do not know the man”

Luke 9:46 argument: which disciple is greatest?

Luke 22:24 argument: which disciple is greatest?

John 18:10 Peter assaults Malchus

Acts 5 Ananias & Sapphira

Character: Paul

Acts 13:11 Paul blinds Elymas

1 Cor 9:20 Paul uses deception to win converts

2 Cor 1:16 “you say I'm crafty & I beguiled you”

Galatians 5:12 I wish they'd castrate themselves

Philippians 1:18 insincere preaching fine w/Paul

The End Is Near

Hebrews 1:2 these [are the] last days

1 Peter 4:7 end of all things is at hand

James 5:8 coming of the Lord is at hand

1 John 2:18 it is the last hour

1 John 4:3 antichrist...is in the world already

Revelation 1:1 [the time is] soon

Revelation 1:3 [the time is] soon

Revelation 3:11 [the time is] soon

Revelation 22:6 [the time is] soon

Revelation 22:7 [the time is] soon

Revelation 22:10 the time is near

Revelation 22:20 [the time is] soon

Messianic Secret

Matthew 8:4 “say nothing”

Matthew 9:29-30 “see that no one knows it”

Matt. 13:10-11 parables hide truth from outsiders

Matthew 16:20 “tell no one”

Matthew 17:9 “tell no one”

Matthew 21:27 “neither will I tell you”

Mark 1:44 “say nothing”

Mark 4:10-12 parables hide truth from outsiders

Mark 5:43 “no one should know this”

Mark 7:36 “tell no one”

Mark 8:30 “tell no one”

Mark 9:9 “tell no one”

Mark 11:33 “neither will I tell you”

Luke 5:14 "tell no one"

Luke 8:10 parables hide truth from outsiders

Luke 8:56 “no one should know this”

Luke 9:21 “tell no one”

Luke 9:36 they told no one

John 7:13 no one spoke openly of him

Mystery

Matthew 13:10 secrets revealed to disciples

Mark 4:11 secrets revealed to disciples

Luke 8:10 secrets revealed to disciples

Romans 16:26 revelation of the mystery

Ephesians 3:3 mystery revealed to me

Ephesians 3:4-5 mystery revealed by the spirit

Ephesians 3:9 mystery hidden by God

Ephesians 6:19 mystery of the gospel

Colossians 1:26 mystery hidden from angels

1 Timothy 3:16 mystery of our religion

Not God

Mark 10:18 “me good? None good but God”

Mark 10:40 to sit at right hand not mine to grant

Luke 14:26 “me good? None good but God”

Pantheism

Exodus 7:1 I have made you like a god to Pharaoh

Psalm 97:6 heavens proclaim his righteousness

Psalm 97:7 all gods bow down before him

Plagiarized Visions in Revelation

1:7 those who pierced him mourn [Zech12:10-14]

1:8 I am the first and last [Is44:6]

1:12 seven golden candlesticks [Zech4:2]

1:13 lampstand [Zech4:2]

1:13 one like a son of man [Dan7:14]

1:14 hair like wool [Dan7:9]

1:15 voice like sound of many waters [Ezek43:2]

1:17 I am the first and last [Is44:6]

4:6 four beasts at the throne of God [Ezek1:5]

4:6 four beasts full of eyes [Ezek10:12]

4:7 faces of man, calf, lion, eagle [Ezek1:10]

4:8 six-winged beasts / holy holy holy [Is6:3]

5:6 seven eyes of God wander the earth [Zech4:10]

5:11 ten thousand times ten thousand [Dan7:10]

6:4 red horse [Zech1:8]

6:8 four horsemen/judgments [Ezek14:21]

6:14 heavens roll up like a scroll [Is34:4]

6:16 mountains fall on us! [Hosea10:8]

7:16 no more hunger, thirst, heat, sunlight [Is49:10]

7:17 God wipes away their tears [Is25:8]

8:7 hail, fire, blood [Joel2:30]

9:8 teeth like lions [Joel1:6]

11:1 reed to measure the temple [Ezek40:3]

11:2 forty-two months [Dan7:25/12:7]

11:4 lampstand / 2 olive trees [Zech4:2-3]

12:4 beast casts stars to the earth [Dan8:10]

12:6 woman in travail delivers man-child [Is66:7]

12:14 a time, 2 times & half a time [Dan7:25/12:7]

13:1 ten-horned beast [Dan7:7]

13:2 leopard, bear, lion beast [Dan7:5-6]

13:5 forty-two months [Dan7:25/12:7]

14:14 one like a son of man [Dan7:14]

Prophecy (Specific)

Genesis 7:4 flood will last 40 days

Genesis 15:13 Israel will be captive 400 years

Genesis 17:19 Sarah (90) will bare a son in 1 year

Genesis 41:30 seven year Egypt famine (in 7 years)

Exodus 3:8 Israel will dwell in Canaan

Exodus 11:5/12:12 first-born sons of Egypt will die

Num14:30 only Joshua & Caleb will see Canaan

Num14:33 Israel will dwell in wilderness 40 years

Joshua 6:3-5 Jericho will fall in 6 days

1Kings17:1 drought will end in Elijah's lifetime

2Kings20:6 Hezekiah will live 15 more years

Is7:14 Assyrian siege will end in about 3 years

Is44:28, 45:1 Cyrus will free Israel from captivity

Jer25:11 Israel will be in Babylon 70 years

Jer 25:12 Babylon will be destroyed in 70 years

Ezek12:13 Zedekiah will be blinded/die in Babylon

Zech4:9 temple will be completed by Zerubbabel

Dan7:25/12:7 temple will be desolate 3 1/2 years

Dan9:26 Maccabean war will begin in 434 years

Dan12:11 temple desolation will last 1,290 days

Prophecy (Vague)

Mt24:6 you will hear of wars and rumors of wars

Mt24:7 famines & earthquakes in various places

Mt24:36 no one knows the day, not even the angels

Mt24:44 son is coming at an unexpected hour

Mk13:32 no one knows the day, not even the angels

Lk12:40 son is coming at an unexpected hour

Acts1:7 it is not for you to know the times & seasons

1Thess5:2 Lord will come like a thief in the night

Note: Jesus' specific prophecies are addressed to people with the power to fulfill them: Judas, Peter & the disciples. “You will betray me.” “You will deny me.” “You will see me rise after three days.”

As for Peter predicting the holy spirit would take the lives of Ananias & Sapphira, it's entirely possible that the spirit was “working through” Peter & his disciples to accomplish this divine judgment. “You're about to die” might have been not so much a prophecy as a casual observation.

Recognition

Mt17:4 Peter unsure if transfiguration real or vision

Mark 16:12 Jesus appeared "in another form"

Luke 24:16 disciples don't recognize Jesus

John 20:15 Mary doesn't recognize Jesus

John 21:4 disciples don't recognize Jesus

Acts 12:9 Peter unsure if angel is real or a vision

Sons of God

Genesis 6:2, 4, sons of god came in to the daughters of men

Exodus 4:22 Israel is my first-born son

Deuteronomy 32:8 number of the sons of God

1 Chronicles 28:6 Solomon chosen to be my son

Isaiah 1:2 sons have I reared & brought up

Hosea 11:1 out of Egypt I called [Israel] my son

Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7

Daniel 3: one is like a son of the gods

Matthew 5:9 peacemakers called sons of God

Luke 3:38 Adam, the son of God

Luke 20:36 they are equal to angels and are sons of God

John 1:12 power to become children of God

John 11:52 gather children of God scattered abroad

Romans 8:16, 21, 9:8 we are children of God

Romans 9:26 called sons of the living God

Galatians 3:26 in Christ, you are sons of God

Philippians 2:15 you may be children of God

1 John 3:1 we should be called children of God

1 John 5:1 every believer is a child of God

1 John 5:2 we love the children of God

Testimonies: Jesus

Matthew 9:34 he heals by the power of demons

Matthew 11:19 a glutton & a drunkard

Matthew 12:24 he heals by the power of demons

Matthew 27:63 that imposter

Mark 3:22 he heals by the power of demons

Mark 3:31 he is beside himself

Luke 7:34 a glutton & a drunkard

Luke 11:15 he heals by the power of demons

John 7:12 he is leading people astray

John 7:20 he has a demon

John 8:48 he has a demon

John 8:52 he has a demon

John 10:20 he is out of his mind

John 10:20-21 he has a demon

Testimonies: John & the disciples

Matthew 11:18 John has a demon

Matthew 16:23 Peter is Satan/not on side of God

Luke 7:3 John has a demon

Acts 2:13 they are filled with new wine

Mark 8:33 Peter is Satan/not on the side of God

Mark 16:9 Mary Magdalene had seven demons

Luke 8:2 Mary Magdalene had seven demons

John 6:70 one of the disciples is a devil

Textual Corruption

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son

Psalm 22:16 pierced

Isaiah 14:12 Lucifer

1 John 5:8 three witnesses

Textual Corruption (N.T. Quotes)

Isaiah 7:14 maiden } Matthew 1:23 virgin

Isaiah 28:16 believe } Rom9:33/1Peter2:6 ...in him

Psalm 40:6-8 ear open } Hebrews 10:5 body given

Understanding

Mark 9:32 disciples did not understand (arrest)

Luke 9:45 disciples did not understand (arrest)

John 12:16 disciples did not understand (ass)

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