Subdue the Earth? . . . or the Universe?

Subdue the Earth? . . . or the Universe?

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“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28, KJV.

The earth is the domain of humans,

“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:” Psalm 8:5-6, KJV.

The warfare between Satan and God moved to earth, for Satan lost quite readily in that earlier war in the heavens. Satan must war by proxy now. Being envious of God’s position as ruler of all, Satan thinks that if he can imitate God, he can win. Not being a creature of earth, Satan must recruit or deceive followers, which is what he did with Adam and Eve. “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:13b, KJV. Continue reading “Subdue the Earth? . . . or the Universe?”

Acts – Stephen, Herod, & II Thessalonians

Stephen, Herod, & II Thessalonians

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” II Thessalonians 1:3-10.

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Last Means Last Except . . .

Double Meaning & Continual Ending Tricks

Let’s get one thing out of the way. When you encounter a scripture passage with clearly literal elements mixed with symbolic or allegorical elements, you interpret the literal parts literally and the allegorical parts allegorically, not the other way around. Second, everyone recognizes symbols in scripture, including those who shout the loudest about not interpreting the scripture symbolically. Third, you interpret the bible’s symbols using the bible’s symbols, not your modern spin on those symbols. These three points will take you a long way toward interpreting the bible, not only correctly, but also much more intelligibly.

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Donnie Darko – 3rd Movie Post

Donnie Darko = Christ Figure?

Donnie, knowing all things, preparing to change time

It took me awhile to figure this one out. Normally one viewing is enough for me to get the Christian view of a movie. I find it in just about every movie I watch. It doesn’t matter whether the writer or directors intended a Christian view or not; I normally see it. It’s as if Christ is impossible to avoid in writing stories about humanity. Perhaps it was the complexity of Donnie Darko that kept me from seeing it until I’d watched it four times. Or better yet, it was the fact that the movie is full of so much that remind you of something thoughtful, something from your youth, something realistically or surrealistically engaging. The details of the movie are so good that you don’t readily see the theme that runs throughout.

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Matthew 24 – Correct Interpretation

Jesus Did Not Try to Trick Us

Let’s get one thing out of the way. When you encounter a scripture passage with clearly literal elements mixed with symbolic or allegorical elements, you interpret the literal parts literally and the allegorical parts allegorically, not the other way around. Second, everyone recognizes symbols in scripture, including those who shout the loudest about not interpreting the scripture symbolically. Third, you interpret the bible’s symbols using the bible’s symbols, not your modern spin on those symbols. These three points will take you a long way toward interpreting the bible, not only correctly, but also much more intelligibly.

Continue reading “Matthew 24 – Correct Interpretation”