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Overview
We are currently living in an interesting, exciting, wonderful, and ominous time in the history of the world. Technology and the Informational Age make it possible to know instantly about world events—and some of these events appear to be extremely worrisome.
In response to this situation, The Unsolved Mysteries of the Bible gathers topical treatments of the Bible’s key messages, supplementing them with insights from the writings of the world’s varied ancient traditions. Author Yohane has assembled this diverse array of sources into a sequence of thirty-eight chapters addressing questions about the Bible and God, moving through the accounts of creation and salvation, and turning, finally, to the mysteries of God’s planned ending of the world.
If you listen to the news and wonder what sense to make of a confusing world, if you ask yourself whether life has any purpose or worthy end, or if you have always intended to dig into the Bible to find out its witness to God and his design for the whole creation from beginning to end, then The Unsolved Mysteries of the Bible can serve as your guide to asking the hard questions, listening for the truthful answers, equipping yourself to live in this world, and knowing God’s plans for the world to come.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781491709429 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | iUniverse, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 10/13/2013 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 174 |
| File size: | 873 KB |
Read an Excerpt
The Unsolved Mysteries of the Bible
By Yohane
iUniverse LLC
Copyright © 2013 YohaneAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0941-2
CHAPTER 1
What Is the Bible?
The word "bible" is derived from the Greek biblio, which simply means "book." The Bible is indeed a collection of individual books such as the book of Genesis, the book of Psalms, the books of the New Testament, etc.
The Bible may be viewed as the ancient records of man that reveal the existence of a Creator God and a divine realm, how life and the universe came into being, the law by which all life flourishes, the relationship between God and humans, the purpose for the creation of humankind, records of the Earth's history, and information concerning God's divine plan. Such vital information has served as the foundation for all of the world's great civilizations and religions.
The ancient records were accorded various names as the ancient Hebrew, Israelite, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Eastern, and Western civilizations preserved them. "Bible" is the name used in our modern era, and it serves as the holy book for the Christian religion.
The Bible consists of two main divisions referred to as the "old" and "new" testaments. These terms were established by the Christian religion to designate the ancient records covering the period before the appearance of Jesus (the Old Testament) and the records relating to the period after Jesus's appearance (the New Testament). The Old Testament is also known as the Tanach of the Jewish religion. Hence, the Bible encompasses two world religions and is often referred to as being "Judeo-Christian." A key point of difference between Judaism and Christianity is that Christianity professes Jesus to be the promised Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament—therefore, the Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments. Judaism professes that the promised Messiah is yet to come—hence, its holy book does not include the New Testament.
However, the Bible is more than a collection of antiquated books of religion. The information contained within the Bible is universal in scope and is a heritage for all humankind, and if it may be received, the Bible is a record of one's own ancestors dating back hundreds of thousands of years. It truly is a rare gift.
CHAPTER 2
The Origin of the Bible
The Words of God
God bestowed "The Way of the Tree of Life" to humankind.
The Cherubim
God's first representatives on Earth—the cherubim of the Garden of Eden—served as keepers and disseminators of the Words of God (the ancient records).
The Ancient Hebrews
The Hebrews brought forth the ancient records (the Old Testament).
The Egyptians
In the third century BC, the Greek Egyptian king, Ptolemy II, commissioned seventy-two Jewish scholars to translate the ancient records from Hebrew into Greek. Scholars refer to this Greek translation as the Septuagint.
The Greeks
The Greeks translated and propagated the original Hebrew text of the ancient records—today referred to as the Old Testament of the Bible.
The Jews
The Jews created a Jewish version of the ancient records. This version did not include some of the text found in the original Greek Septuagint translation.
The Romans
Circa 325 AD, the Christian religion was formed with the pope serving as titular head in Rome. Catholicism used the original text of the Septuagint (Old Testament) and added the records of Jesus (New Testament) to form the Christian Bible.
The Europeans
In 1517 AD, Martin Luther and others protested against the excesses of Catholicism, resulting in the formation of the Protestant religion. This new religion adopted the Jewish version of the Old Testament and combined it with the New Testament to create a Protestant version of the Bible.
Many versions of the Bible are in use today, the essential difference being in the amount of Old Testament text each version contains. Some of these differing texts have been referred to as apocryphal (not part of doctrine), anagignoskomena (things that are read) and pseudepigrapha (apocryphal writings that do not appear in printed editions of the Bible). Also, new archaeological discoveries of the ancient records of man—such as the Dead Sea scrolls—are not part of the Bible, but they continue to expand man's knowledge of the Bible and ancient history.
The Bible's origin may be one of the true mysteries of the Bible itself. Scholars hold varying opinions concerning this issue. Moses is generally credited with authoring the first five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—of the Old Testament. It is probable that these and the other books of the Old Testament were derived from the ancient records maintained by the Cherubim of the Garden of Eden.
This thumbnail sketch represents an oversimplification of the Bible's complex and involved genesis. However, it serves to provide a sense of chronology and appreciation for the effort of the many civilizations that have made it possible to receive the Bible of today.
CHAPTER 3
Is the Bible the Word of God?
For many, the answer would be yes. For example, the revelation concerning how heaven, earth, and all the forms of life were created is information of which only its creator, or God, would have knowledge.
The Bible is also the work of man, who has diligently recorded God's words and the history of the world since the beginning of time. As a result, the Bible also reflects the imperfect words of man.
Thus, the perfect words of God have been recorded, preserved, translated, and promulgated by man to the best of his ability. However, a problem arises when there are differences of opinion concerning the interpretation of God's words. Such differences have resulted in the formation of divergent religions, denominations, and sects, and history demonstrates that the words of God have also been misused by the unscrupulous for personal gain and the control of others. This has caused doubt and confusion about God and the Bible, making the path to God unduly perilous, resulting in the loss of many lives.
Due to reasons related to God's divine plan, God and the Bible have been cloaked in mystery. However, scripture promises that at a future time—"In the last days, the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and many nations shall flow into it and be taught of the ways of God" (Micah 4:12)—the mystery of God shall end.
The times and seasons indicate the appearance of such a wondrous time. Technology and the informational age have made it possible for science and religion to finally find common ground in which they may each contribute their knowledge to reveal the true living God—the God of science and religion.
CHAPTER 4
Is There Only One God?
The word God is not a name; rather, it is a term signifying the manifestation of divine power and spirit. Just as a man has a formal name, so does God (the Creator) have a formal name. However, God's formal name is not known on earth, nor is it ever spoken in heaven due to its extreme sacredness. Man has been allowed to refer to God by using words that describe various characteristics of God—words such as Yahweh, Jehovah, Father in heaven, Creator, etc. Thus, the word god (written in lowercase) may be considered a general term referring to a power other than man. As such, there are a multitude of gods (deities of divine power and spirit who are servants of God) that the Bible refers to as elders, lords, archangels, angels, etc. In Psalm 138:1, King David of Israel refers to these deities (gods) while singing praise to God: "I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee."
The concept of only "one God," or of worshipping only one God, originated with God's unique relationship with patriarchs Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were instructed to serve and worship only the creator. In Genesis 14:22, Abraham professes his allegiance to God: "And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth." In Mark 5:7, Jesus is referred to as "thou Son of the most high God," and in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, Jesus's disciples expressed their knowledge of the divine hierarchy and their allegiance to God: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many, and lords many). But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things."
It may be understood that God (the Creator) is the power that creates and orchestrates everything in heaven and on earth. The servants of God (elders, lords, angels, etc.) are the deities (gods) who carry out God's will. Revelation 11:3-4 makes reference to two of God's witnesses, described as "two olive trees" and as "two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The "God of the earth" undoubtedly refers to a great god (elder) appointed to oversee the functioning of God's will in the physical realm (earth and the universe). "Standing before the God of the earth" indicates that the two servants (two candlesticks) of God were serving under the protection and jurisdiction of the god of the earth.
Thus, the Bible teaches that there are many "gods" (deities who are worthy to serve God in heaven or on earth) but that there is only one God that should be worshipped—that is, "the most high God," and "the Father of whom are all things" (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). Although the Bible demonstrates that the servants of God were often treated with great respect, the Bible clearly discerns the difference between "respecting" and "worshipping." Jesus was very strict concerning this point. In Matthew 19:17, Jesus admonished a follower by saying, "Why callest me good? There is none good but one, that is, God."
These verses reveal that the servants of God thoroughly understood the divine order of God's kingdom—God being the most high god and the only one that should be praised and worshipped. Even the holy one, Jesus, was very strict in maintaining this order. Likewise, the faithful should follow the example of their master and praise and worship only God—the Father of all things. Doing so would be the important first step on the path that leads to oneness with the true, living God.
CHAPTER 5
Is God a Jealous and Vengeful God?
Verses in scripture characterize God as jealous and vengeful. In the Old Testament's Nahum 1:2, Nahum the Elkoshite records in a vision, "God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."
Similarly, in Exodus 20:5-7: "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." And, in Genesis 6:11-13: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."
These earlier, stern characterizations of God appear in stark contrast with the modern understanding that God is love and that we are all children of God. When viewed over the vast expanse of time that the Bible encompasses, could these characterizations of God be interpreted as God revealing more about himself? That is, God is not only strictness but also love?
It has been said, "An apple does not fall very far from the tree." As children of God, we need not look far from ourselves to have a sense of what God may be like. As an example, we all have a sense of justice and fair play. Most parents would immediately correct unfairness between siblings either verbally, by employing restrictions, or with the use of corporal punishment—and doing so, without much wonder where such wisdom comes from. Could the sense of justice and fairness and holding sway over it be divine characteristics inherited from God? And it goes without saying that the correcting parent would be considered biased and possibly even "vengeful" by the one being corrected—and the same parent would be considered fair and righteous by the one who had been wronged.
It is interesting that "strictness" has often been referred to in modern parlance as "tough love." This may be indicative of just how permissive and uncaring modern culture has become, and it appears to be reflected by today's frivolous youth.
It would be safe to say that God possesses the wisdom not to be a doting or permissive parent that spoils his children. God exercises strictness and mercy commensurate to the needs of the individual. This—the essence of true love—reflects God's nature and close relationship with his children.
CHAPTER 6
What Is God?
The essence of God is "power"—the power to create, materialize, and maintain everything that is in the universe. God is the only power that exists. Everything else borrows from God's power. "Power" transcends religion and science. Power (God) exists whether one believes in it or not, or whether it is perceivable or not.
God's power manifests on earth as, for example, the forces of gravity, magnetism, and electricity. (It is curious that science, not able to fully explain how these forces function, considers them to be largely a mystery; likewise, religion considers God to be equally mysterious.) Each of these forces is fundamental to the existence and functioning of all matter from the microcosm of subatomic particles to the macrocosm of the universe. Without these powers or forces, everything as we know it would revert to the primordial mass before heaven and earth was created. It may be said that "existence," all that is, is the physical and spiritual manifestation of God. Therefore, God is everything and everywhere. This understanding about God has served as an aspect of worship through the veneration of nature and all life-forms by the Hindu and Buddhist religions, as examples.
Interestingly, the study of "power" has been discretely relegated to the realm of scientific inquiry, where God is not acknowledged. In reality, this is an area where science and religion may enlarge mankind's understanding about God. For example, science quantifies "power" as something impersonal and measurable. Religion quantifies "power" as conscious and communicable. Together, both views provide a clearer understanding about the mystery of God (e.g., proof that God exists).
God is also "totality," which encompasses everything: God is both strictness and mercy, both positive and negative, both vertical and horizontal (combined as +), both personal (our Creator) and impersonal (nature), both male (Father in heaven) and female (Mother Nature), both omnipresent (the universe) and present (as God), both omnipotent (the awesome power of the universe) and potent (limited power, bestowing "free will" and allowing man to serve as his magistrate on earth).
Although God manifests as the perfect balance of both positive and negative aspects of creation, the Bible reveals that God places priority on the positive, male, spiritual aspects and ascribes a subordinate role on the negative, female, material aspects of creation. As examples, God manifested as Father in heaven; the scepter of God was passed down through the patriarchs Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Eve served as a subordinate/helpmate to Adam; and humankind is directed to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The principle of separate and equal with priority placed on one helps to more clearly define the functioning of God's will. In practical terms, this principle may be understood as living one's life by combining "the way of the world" with "the way of God," with priority placed on the way of God (following commandments, etc.). Living in such a manner is to live life on earth in the realm where good health, harmony, and prosperity abound.
The concept of power/consciousness has been expanded by various scientific studies. The science of particle physics (e.g., Nobel laureate Dr. Hideki Yukawa, discoverer of the meson) has determined that space is not a "vacuum," but rather is filled with high-energy particles that constantly rain down upon the earth, continually generating and maintaining life. It could be said that this life-giving and life-sustaining power or energy, which permeates the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of the atom, is the manifestation of God's love, wisdom, and will.
In 1939, Russian researcher Semyon Kirlian discovered a photographic technique, called Kirlian photography, that suggested physical evidence for the existence of energy fields. Kirlian images rendered energy fields (aura, life force, spiritual power, etc.) as varying, multicolored electrical emanations that surround all animate and inanimate objects that appear to be influenced by human emotions. This invisible power or energy field may be termed "consciousness." Thus, communication through mental telepathy—such as intention or prayer—is an ever-present reality.
Kirlian photographs also suggest that power/consciousness exists in plants. A March 3, 2005, article, "New Research Opens a Window on the Minds of Plants," by Patrik Jonsson, staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor, confirms that plants have the ability to acquire and apply knowledge, and they have the power of self-recognition. Researchers concede that a big part of intelligence is self-consciousness and that plants do have that.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Unsolved Mysteries of the Bible by Yohane. Copyright © 2013 Yohane. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction.................... ix
Chapter 1: What Is the Bible?.................... 1
Chapter 2: The Origin of the Bible.................... 3
Chapter 3: Is the Bible the Word of God?.................... 6
Chapter 4: Is There Only One God?.................... 8
Chapter 5: Is God a Jealous and Vengeful God?.................... 10
Chapter 6: What Is God?.................... 12
Chapter 7: The Divine Science of Creation.................... 16
Chapter 8: Evolution.................... 23
Chapter 9: God and Nature.................... 25
Chapter 10: Reincarnation.................... 31
Chapter 11: Angels.................... 36
Chapter 12: Demons.................... 38
Chapter 13: Ghosts.................... 41
Chapter 14: Satan.................... 44
Chapter 15: Heaven and Hell.................... 46
Chapter 16: Sex and the Bible.................... 50
Chapter 17: Forgiveness.................... 55
Chapter 18: Thou Shalt Not Judge.................... 58
Chapter 19: The Creation of Adam and Eve.................... 60
Chapter 20: Cain and Abel.................... 65
Chapter 21: The Garden of Eden.................... 67
Chapter 22: The Sons of God and the Daughters of Man.................... 75
Chapter 23: Noah's Flood.................... 79
Chapter 24: God and Religion.................... 85
Chapter 25: The Chosen People.................... 89
Chapter 26: Jesus.................... 92
Chapter 27: The Promised Messiah.................... 96
Chapter 28: The Second Coming.................... 99
Chapter 29: Baptism by Fire and Holy Spirit.................... 105
Chapter 30: The Holy Place.................... 110
Chapter 31: The Holy Spirit.................... 112
Chapter 32: The Beast 666.................... 115
Chapter 33: The Antichrist.................... 118
Chapter 34: The Lost Tribes of Israel.................... 121
Chapter 35: The Fifth World Age.................... 131
Chapter 36: The End of the World.................... 133
Chapter 37: Prophecy.................... 148
Chapter 38: What to Do.................... 150
References.................... 157