REBELLION

When mankind had become so evil and alien from God, God had to start over with Noah and his 3 sons and their families. This was a rebellion that nearly annihilated people.

The Bible says that rebellion is the same as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).  Satan had tried to pollute the DNA of man with corrupted genes from his influence. The Nephilim in Genesis 6:4 were the offspring of a mixture of men possessed with demonic forces and the women of the earth. Some say that the actual fallen angels had sexual relations with the earth women...but, angels do not reproduce, they do not have reproductive organs. The Bible declares Noah was perfect in his generations. In other words pure, and not polluted. When Noah was 500 he had 3 sons; Shem, Ham, and Japeth, apparently triplets, Genesis 5:32. Of the 8 survivors on the Ark was the earth again overspread, Genesis 9:19. We have already had a couple of posts about the great flood.

After the Ark had landed, Noah planted a vineyard. He drank the wine and passed out naked in his tent.

Apparently Noah's grandson, Canaan, the son of Ham had molested Noah in his drunken state. It is not clear what happened, but Canaan was cursed for it to servant hood, Genesis 9:20-27.

Ham also had another son, Cush. From Cush came Nimrod whose name means rebel.

Genesis 10:8-9, "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord."
It is a Jewish myth that Nimrod had the very skins that God clothed Adam and Eve with when they left the garden. That when he wore these animal skins all animals would come to him as they were attracted to the skins from the 1st animals.
It is also part of this legend that Nimrod knew that one was coming that would bring in the Messiah, Abraham. He hunted for him and killed thousands of children to try and stop his birth. So he was a hunter of men.

According to Josephus, Jewish historian from the first century, Nimrod was more than a rebel, he was at war with the Lord. In book 1 chapter IV, Josephus tells of the end of the flood and that God had told the people to spread out and enjoy the fruits of the land. They dwelt in the plain of Shinar and did not obey. Nimrod excited them to such an affront and contempt of God and persuaded them not to ascribe their prosperity to God but their own courage. He changed the government to tyranny and made the people have constant dependence on him and not God. He vowed to be revenged on God and if God were to try and flood the earth again, he would build a tower that would be too high for the flood to reach. Nimrod said he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers.

Now the land of Shinar is in the modern country of Iraq. Among Nimrod's kingdom was Nineveh and Babel. The people followed the great rivers South from the mountains of Ararat in Turkey. Nineveh is where modern Al Mousil is in Iraq along the Tigris River. Further South is Babel or Babylon. Baghdad is on the Euphrates River. All of these are in Iraq.

Nimrod left his mark on the country and was probably the one most responsible for the scattering of the people and confusion of tongues.

Ruins of  Nineveh along the Tigris River.

Nineveh Adad gate.

Nineveh Nigral gate.

Nineveh Mashki gate.

Nineveh ruins and gate.

We see Nimrod here in several places.

Even the "bull man" may have depicted Nimrod.

The Bible is not the only historic document that talks about Nimrod. In the ancient tablets found also in Iraq of the Epic of Gilgamesh, we see the story of the flood and the people going down the river to the plain.

King Gilgamesh was their rebellious leader who challenged God.

According to the website, christiananswers.net, they believe that King Gilgamesh and Nimrod were one and the same person.

Regardless, Nimrod was a very powerful and evil King who led the people away from God. Again he was known for being a great hunter. We see that not only animals, but people, and according to Jewish myth, he hunted God.

Nineveh was a very great city for a long time. In the 8th century BC, God sent Jonah to tell the people there to repent.

Jonah ran from God and ended up inside a fishes belly for 3 days. He then humbled himself and obeyed God and the fish vomited him out on the beach where he went to Nineveh and briefly told them to repent or perish...they listened, repented and God spared them from destruction.
However is was not too long after when Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria that the great city was brought down, Nahum 2. Al Mousil is the modern city in the area of Nineveh in Iraq, but is only a small area compared to the size of ancient Nineveh.


Nimrod also went South along the Tigris River.

Here he built Babylon and started construction of his tower that would reach into heaven and protect him incase God sent another flood.

Josephus says that the tower was so wide, that it did not look as high as it really was.
In the Book of Jubilees (ancient Jewish religious text) the height of the tower was 5433 cubits, which according to the Egyptian cubit of 20.5" would be 9281'.  This would be quite a feat that has not been surpassed by man since.

The Bible says the whole earth was of one language. They being led by Nimrod were to build a tower whose top would reach unto heaven and make a name for themselves so they would not be scattered upon the face of the earth. They had made bricks and used butimen (asphalt) for mortar, Genesis 11:1-4

The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, ehold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: an now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do, Genesis 11:5-6.

The people according to Josephus, had dissobeyed God, who wanted them to spread and not stay in one place.

Once again God had to intervene with the rebellion of man. He said,
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth..., Genesis 11:7-9

 Nimrod bulit an elaborate palace for himself as well as the original hanging gardens.

According to Jewish legend, Esau, son of Issac was the one who hunted and finally killed Nimrod.

Nebuchadnezzar was King of Babylon when Israel and Judah were taken captive. This would be the time of Daniel. His palace and hanging gardens were rebuilds, but no doubt the same places as the ancient ones of Nimrod. They were part of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

These are the ruins of the hanging gardens from the time of Nebuchadnezzar.

Saddam Hussein thought that he was a re-incarnated Nebuchadnezzar. He had a coin made with him on one side and Nebuchadnezzar on the other. He also spent millions of dollars to partially rebuild the ancient palace complex.

Saddam also built a palace in the same area. He built several.

The foundation for the rebuilt Tower of Babel that was done by Nebuchadnezzar is still there. The tower may have been a temple used for astrology. It had a square base and was about 300' high.

There is a lot of evidence in the cradle of our civilization that has not been escavated. What has been, shows us that the Bible is true, and that the history that is described in it is reliable.

Well to finish this post, when rebellion against God and His ways happen, it always brings something that you won't like. It got Adam and Eve thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Rebellion against God brought the Flood. Nimrod's rebellion against God confused the languages and scattered the people. There are other examples in scripture, but I won't go into them now.

In our world today there is a lot of rebellion against God. The human race longs to be at peace with God. The only way for that to happen is to come to Him on His terms. He came to earth and died for you and me, as a man. But, He rose from the dead as the eternal Almighty. His Name is Jesus and there is no other way to the Father, John 14:6. 

All pictures and art were found on the Internet and Google Earth. Artists are on the HTML.



Christmas - God's Promise Fulfilled

We have commercialized Christmas so much, that in the United States the "politically correct" mindset has made it unpopular to focus on the birth of Jesus of Nazareth this season. I want to make Jesus the subject and center of this blog.

The Bible which is a revelation of God to man, clearly centers around the Messiah. In the Old Testament the promise of a redeemer that would come to break down the barriers between God and man. In the New Testament we see Jesus as the Christ (anointed of God) and the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament.

When God created man (male and female), he gave them dominion of the planet earth, Genesis 1:26-27.

Through deception from the evil one, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and lost their home in Eden and their dominion was temporarily stolen by Satan.

God promised that he would send the "seed of the woman" who would bruise the head of the serpent (possessed by Satan). This was the first mention in the Bible of a coming Messiah who also have His heel bruised by Satan, Genesis 3:15.

Because sin brings death, God sacrificed animals and made protective clothes for Adam and Eve when they had to leave the garden. This was a 2 fold purpose: the blood covered their sin so they did not have to die, but now do sacrifice; and the skins of the animals made them a covering to protect them from the fierce elements (6000 years ago was the close of the ice age), Genesis 3:21.

Satan did all he could to kill every one that he thought might be this promised "seed of the woman" starting with Abel and through out the Old Testament the prophets of God and those who lived by faith, Genesis 4, Hebrews 11: ..32-40.

God reaffirmed his promise and spoke through His prophets. In 700 BC through Isaiah 7:14; Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel (God in the flesh).

In God's time, He sent the Archangel Gabriel to deliver His Word to Mary, a Virgin who was espoused to Joseph, Luke 1:26-38

Mary who was devout and loved God greatly, replied, let it be done to me according to Thy Word. So the very seed of the woman was conceived in the womb of the Holy virgin and became the Word of God made flesh, John 1:1.

Needless to say, Joseph was a little put out when Mary began to show. But, God again sent Gabriel to Joseph in a dream to tell Joseph that this was God's son, and to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, Matthew 2:1-15.

God caused world circumstances to put Joseph and very expectant Mary to be in Bethlehem at the time Mary was to deliver, Luke 2:1-20. All the Inn's were full and one innkeeper let them bed down in his stable.

In Micah 5:2 in 730 BC; But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old from everlasting.
So in a humble stable the savior of all mankind was born.

Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. Joseph through the Kingly line of Solomon (Matthew 1) and Mary from David's son Nathan (Luke 3). This fulfilled the Bible prophecies that the Messiah would come from David.

God sent his angels to tell the local shepherds that their Messiah had been born and now there could be peace on earth between God and man, Luke 2:8-14. They went to see the Divine Baby and rejoiced.

God set up signs in the heavens that proclaimed the birth of the Messiah. The Magi from the East had seen these and knew from ancient teachings that the King of the Jews had been born. They assembled their guard and caravan and headed West to bring gifts and to worship the Child, Matthew 2:1-15.

Apparently the innkeeper brought the Holy Family into his house by the time the Magi had arrived. They had been on a long journey and caused an uproar in Jerusalem when they asked Governor Herod where the King of the Jews was born. God led them to the Child and they were able to deliver their gifts and worship Him.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting father, The Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6.

This was fulfilled in the birth and life of Jesus the Christ.

Today people still go to the place Jesus was born to honor and worship him. The Church of the Nativity is the oldest church and is in Bethlehem.

One man, God in the flesh, born 2000 years ago, has impacted the world more than anyone ever has or ever will. He by His life, death, and resurrection, brought us the redemption that God had promised. Under the salvation that only comes through Him we can be victorious over the works of the devil and live life abundantly, John 3:16, 10:10, 14:6.

HISTORY

The first followers of Jesus were persecuted greatly. Although Jesus was a Hebrew and from the tribe of Judah, so Jewish, His own religion rejected Him. But, His church grew under the persecution. The Roman government persecuted the church for they wanted all to worship their Emperor. The worst recorded was under the Roman Emperor Nero. 

The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) converted to Christianity. Before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 he saw a sign of a cross in the sky. He had all his Roman troops put the chi rho (X over P) on their shields which is the first two letters of Christ in Greek. They won the battle. The chi rho is still used in the Catholic Church.

Constantine the Great abolished crucifixion for piety sake (hanging replaced executions). He worked hard in his reign to make Christianity the State Religion. In 313 the Edict of Milan officially stopped religious persecution. It is unsure when he converted to Christianity, but was baptized in his 40's.

The earliest mention of Christmas occurs in a Roman calendar in 336. Constantine the Great probably had a hand in the celebration of Christ's birth as a State event. Some believe that he probably changed the celebration of the Winter Solstice to the Christ Mass or Christmas. Constantine the Great is a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and considered a Christian Monarch.

Regardless of all of the elements that came together in its evolution, the world celebrates Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ and has for many centuries. It is not specifically a Holy day that God says we are to observe, but I have no doubt that His hand was on the celebration of His Son's birth.

GIVING GIFTS

The first Christmas we see the Magi (Wise Men) bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child. Jesus gave His own life at the will of God for the redemption of mankind. This is truly the greatest gift that was ever given. God practiced his own law of sowing and reaping. By giving His son, He received not only Jesus resurrected, but millions of souls for His Kingdom.

We at Christmas exchange gifts in remembrance of the gift of Jesus to us.

One Holy man in the 4th century was the Bishop of Myra (Turkey) who was known for his love of children and generosity. He gave many gifts. He is known as Saint Nicholas.

In Dutch he is known as Sinterklaas from which we get Santa Claus.

He became a symbol of gift giving. In the 16th century in Europe the name was changed to the Christ Child as the gift giver or Christ Kindle. The English word was altered to Kris Kringle. However in the 1880's Santa Claus had evolved to the sleigh driving lovable character we have today.

We need to keep Jesus Christ and His wonderful birth as the heart of Christmas. I do not believe that the actual history of Santa Claus goes against the meaning of Christmas, but is a symbol of giving if so taught to our children.

May the blessings of the miracle of Christmas touch you and yours this season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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