Tuesday, May 20, 2025

WHEN CAN WE TRUST WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE PAST IF WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHO WROTE WHAT? How Do We Know Whether The Bible Itself Is Trustworthy Let Alone Any Of The Translations Which May Have Been Mistranslated. Life is a mystery in many respects but the one thing we can be sure is what is true has an indelible imprint that is always provable in the present.

How many mistranslations are in the Bible?

Answers request by Hugo Quinonez

Whenever the question is raised—“How many mistranslations are in the Bible?”—we must begin with an important clarification: Which Bible? Are we referring to the original manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek? Or to the thousands of translations made over the centuries into languages such as Latin, English, German, Chinese, and Swahili?

This distinction is crucial. Just as a legal contract translated from one language to another may introduce small variances in tone or precision, so too have Bible translations encountered the natural challenges of language: idioms, cultural context, grammar, and evolving vocabulary. However, to conflate translation errors with the reliability of the Bible itself is to mistake the messenger for the message.

Yet for some, this question isn’t really about linguistics—it’s about trust. They ask about mistranslations not out of curiosity, but out of a deeper skepticism. They want to know: Can the Bible be trusted at all? And if it’s been “mistranslated,” doesn’t that make it just another flawed book written by flawed men?

Let’s explore that. But first, let’s draw a line in the sand.

Is the Bible Just a Book Written by Men?

If your assumption is that the Bible is merely a collection of ancient texts, written by men to control, entertain, or explain the world, then it sits on the same shelf as your morning newspaper or favorite opinion column. And if that's the case, you should subject it to the same level of skepticism you (hopefully) apply to modern media with its fake news and propaganda narratives crafted by government stooges—often influenced by lobbyists and paid for by industry cartels (e.g. Medical-Pharmaceutical-Complex, Military-Industrial-Complex), if not some Communist/Fascist/New World Order ideology.

Nevertheless when it comes to the Bible, there’s a difference. Unlike the news cycle, which shifts and spins and often contradicts itself daily, the Bible claims to contain the eternal Word of God. Not merely inspired thoughts, but actual words from God—some even said to be written by His own finger.

Take, for instance, the Ten Commandments, which the Bible claims were engraved by God Himself on tablets of stone. These commandments—prohibitions against murder, theft, adultery, false witness, idolatry, and covetousness—are hardly controversial when considered practically. Would you, even as a skeptic, prefer to live in a society where such laws are violated without consequence?

The implication is profound. If God truly spoke—and even wrote—then the question of translation is not merely academic. It’s personal. It's existential. What has He said? And have we heard Him rightly?

Translation vs. Transmission

Skeptics often confuse two separate issues: transmission and translation.

Transmission refers to how the original manuscripts were preserved over time. Translation concerns how those manuscripts are rendered in new languages. On both fronts, the Bible stands remarkably strong.

Consider this: we have over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, more than any other ancient document by several orders of magnitude. These range from complete copies to small fragments, some dated within decades of the original writings. Scholars across centuries have painstakingly compared these texts, verifying consistencies, cataloging variants, and correcting minor scribal errors. The vast majority of textual differences involve spelling or word order—none that change core teachings (doctrines).

Now, translation is admittedly trickier. Languages don’t map one-to-one. A Hebrew word may carry multiple shades of meaning, depending on context. Greek may use one word for “love” where English uses many (affection, loyalty, romance, charity). Some translations aim for word-for-word accuracy (like the ESV or NASB), while others prioritize thought-for-thought readability (like the NLT or NIV).

Do some translations introduce errors? Yes, particularly when translators bring theological bias, cultural assumptions, or political agendas to the task. But these are the exception, not the rule—and even then, they are detectable (e.g. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures).

Historical Evidence Supports the Bible’s Accuracy

Let’s not pretend that the Bible’s reliability rests only on ink and parchment. Archaeology, historical cross-referencing, and even secular scholarship affirm its backbone.

In the early 20th century, prominent archaeologist William F. Albright set out to evaluate whether the Old Testament was a mythologized oral tradition or a reliable historical document. In 1954, he concluded:

“Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details of the Bible as a source of history.” [1]

Similarly, William Ramsay—a once-skeptical scholar—conducted extensive research into the book of Acts, expecting to expose its errors. Instead, he wrote:

“The more I have studied the narrative of the Acts...the more I admire and appreciate its accuracy. Luke is a historian of the first rank.”[2]

These are not men with an agenda to sell you religion. These are historians seeking truth through empirical evidence—and finding the Bible credible.

Luke, the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, claims to have investigated the events surrounding Jesus’ life from eyewitnesses. He didn’t invent stories—he recorded them after careful scrutiny.

Do Mistranslations Undermine the Bible’s Message?

The short answer is no. The Bible’s core message—the nature of God, the fallen state of man, the offer of salvation, and the moral framework for human behavior—remains intact across all legitimate translations.

Let’s put this plainly: Whether you read the King James Version, the New International Version, the English Standard Version, or the New American Standard Bible, the central message does not change.

Do translations vary in style and vocabulary? Yes.

Are there occasional words that could be rendered more accurately? Of course.

Do any of these mistranslations alter the gospel of Jesus Christ? Not in the slightest.

When people focus on “mistranslations” as their chief objection to the Bible, what they often reveal is not a love for truth but a desire to avoid its implications. If the Bible can be dismissed as corrupted, then its moral demands can be conveniently ignored.

But such evasion doesn’t negate truth. Even the most hostile critics know that deep within the text of Scripture are ideas that sting the conscience. And that sting is often the very sign that these words are not of human origin.

The Real Question: What Will You Do With the Message?

The Bible is not a science textbook or a philosophical treatise. It is a story—a testimony—about the relationship between God and humanity. It is not merely meant to be read, but received.

Many treat the Bible like an artifact: something to be dissected, criticized, and placed under glass. But the Bible is more like a mirror. It reflects what is inside of us. That’s why some recoil from it. It isn’t the mistranslations they fear—it’s the accuracy.

And here’s the irony: most people don’t reject the Bible because they believe it’s been mistranslated. They reject it because they understand it all too well.

Conclusion: Trust the Message, Not Just the Mechanics

So, how many mistranslations are in the Bible? Enough to keep scholars busy—but not enough to shake the faith of honest seekers.

If God could inspire the Bible, He could also preserve it. And if He preserved it, it’s not so you could critique it like a film review—it’s so you could respond to it.

The question isn’t whether the Bible has a few mistranslated words. The real question is: Are you willing to hear what it’s saying to you?

Begin Self-Evaluation With The Only Words Written By God Himself

Footnotes:

[1] http://W.F.Albright, The Archaeology of Palestine, 1954 edition, p. 128, quoted in Walter F. Kaiser, "What Good is Biblical Archaeology to Bible Readers?" sourced Wikipedia,

[2] http://Ramsay, W.M. THE BEARING OF RECENT DISCOVERY ON THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT .Hodder & Stoughton: London (1915) pp85-89.

Monday, May 19, 2025

THE BEASTS THAT ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD: Who Are They And Where Can They Be Found? Amazingly this radical interpretation of Daniel's prophecy is like no other.

The Four Beasts and the Rise of the Final Kingdom: A Prophetic Warning for the Church

A summation of Daniel Chapter 8 taken from Jacob's Trouble by Happy Riches.

What if the most widely accepted interpretations of Daniel 7 were not just incomplete—but dangerously misleading?

For generations, Christians have been taught to see the four beasts of Daniel’s vision as a sequence of ancient empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. This view, while historically convenient, ends up reducing the prophetic urgency of Daniel's vision to little more than a timeline of past political powers. But what if Daniel’s vision wasn’t about empires that were—but about spiritual forces that are?

This article offers a radical reexamination of Daniel 7, drawing from Scripture, history, and the current global landscape to unveil the enduring reality of these beasts. What emerges is not a lifeless historical chart, but a living prophetic warning: the beasts are not gone. They are active. And they are converging.

The Winds Stirring the Sea

Daniel begins with a night vision: “Behold, the four winds of the heavens strove upon the great sea.” (Daniel 7:2). The four winds, often interpreted as the universal reach of divine judgment or spiritual forces, churn the sea—the masses of humanity. The beasts that arise from this chaos are not random. They are summoned. They represent global systems and spirits that emerge from the nations to challenge the Kingdom of God.

Scripture confirms the symbolism. Isaiah equates the “uproar of many peoples” with the “roaring of the seas” (Isaiah 17:12). Revelation later tells us that the waters are “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (Revelation 17:15). What Daniel sees is a progression of spiritual dominions that rise from humanity’s turmoil and lawlessness.

First Beast: The Lion with Eagle’s Wings

“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” (Daniel 7:4)

This lion is no ordinary predator. With eagle’s wings, it has spiritual reach, authority, and majesty. Yet it undergoes a transformation—its wings are removed, and it stands like a man, receiving a human heart. Here we witness a spiritual kingdom becoming religiously incarnate in human form.

Who fits this description? The prophetic trail leads unmistakably to Constantine the Great—the Roman emperor who merged Christian faith with Roman state religion. The lion (imperial authority) sprouted wings (a spiritual guise) and then was made to stand like a man—the so-called “Vicar of Christ,” seated on a throne, presuming to represent God on Earth.

The Roman Catholic Church, as shaped by Constantine and further institutionalized through the papacy, fits the imagery perfectly. What was once a roaring lion is now cloaked in the language of peace and piety, yet it functions as a counterfeit kingdom of God. It bears a man’s heart—deceptive, calculating, and religious in appearance, but fallen in essence.

Second Beast: The Bear with Three Ribs

“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” (Daniel 7:5)

The bear is slow, brutish, and relentless. It is not graceful or ideological—it is a blunt instrument of power and violence. And it is devouring. In its mouth are three ribs, the symbolic remnants of what it has consumed.

This beast represents the Knights Templar, a military-religious order that rose to prominence in the 12th century under the guise of Christian crusading. They were savage in battle, but even more dangerous behind the scenes. After being disbanded publicly in 1314, they went underground—and emerged in new forms: secret societies, banking families, occult movements. Their savagery became more covert, but no less real.

The three ribs? Many have speculated they represent conquered kingdoms. But in this prophetic framework, they appear more accurately to signify power centers: the Vatican (religion), Washington D.C. (military), and the City of London (finance)—three autonomous city-states operating with Templar DNA and global reach.

The bear still devours, only now it does so with banking systems, digital currency, and military-industrial alliances.

Third Beast: The Leopard with Four Wings and Four Heads

“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” (Daniel 7:6)

Swift, spotted, and cunning—the leopard does not change its spots. And this one flies.

The leopard represents the Age of Enlightenment—the spiritual ideology birthed through thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and later Bentham and Mill. It is atheistic, rationalistic, and proudly humanist. The four wings represent the rapid spread of these ideas, and the four heads denote its global dominion—north, south, east, and west.

Voltaire is its prophet. He called for the destruction of Christianity and praised the popes who forbade Bible reading. Through his influence, Enlightenment principles spread to the French Revolution, American deism, and ultimately into the secular democracies of today.

Yet the beast’s dominion is deceptive. It claims freedom while promoting moral relativism. It claims light while denying the Light of the World. And it governs not with armies but with thought. It changes laws, redefines morality, and subverts Scripture through ideology, not warfare.

Fourth Beast: The Final System

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly… it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” (Daniel 7:7)

The fourth beast is not like the others—it is worse. No comparison to known animals suffices. It is a composite, rising out of the sea, possessing the swiftness of the leopard, the crushing power of the bear, and the voice of the lion. It is the final form of worldly rebellion—a hybrid of religion, violence, and ideology, unified in global control.

This is the globalist system we now see forming before our eyes. Ten horns represent ten regional authorities (economic blocs), and among them arises a “little horn” who uproots three. This aligns with the idea that the False Prophet will overthrow three city-states—London, Rome, and Washington D.C.—to assume control of the world system.

Daniel and Revelation both describe this final empire as spiritually blasphemous, economically controlling, and globally dominant. It will bring about forced worship, digital identity systems, and persecution of all who refuse to comply. It will look like a solution—but it will be the final trap.

The Son of Man Appears

And yet, the beasts do not win.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven... and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.” (Daniel 7:13–14)

This is the turning point. The Son of Man—Jesus Christ—receives an everlasting kingdom from the Ancient of Days. The saints, long oppressed, now inherit the kingdom. The final judgment falls not on individuals only, but on the systems—the beasts—that corrupted the Earth.

“The kingdom and dominion... shall be given to the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.” (Daniel 7:27)

This is not a future dream. It is the true trajectory of history. The beasts are rising—but they are not in control. The saints will reign with Christ, and every false kingdom will be crushed.

Call to the Church: Where Do You Stand?

This vision is not for idle speculation. It is a wake-up call. The four beasts are not ancient memories. They are spiritual powers still at work—still seeking to devour, deceive, and dominate.

Many today are unknowingly loyal to the beasts. Some give their allegiance to religious systems that deny the power of God. Others are enslaved to economic systems built on usury, secrecy, and control. Still others follow ideologies that elevate man above God and pleasure above truth.

But the Son of Man still reigns—and His Kingdom is advancing. The Church of God began at Pentecost and has not been overcome. The question is not whether the beasts will fall. The only question is whether you will fall with them—or rise with Christ.

“If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” (2 Timothy 2:12)

Final Exhortation:

The beasts appeal to power, intellect, wealth, and fear. But the Kingdom of God calls us to faith, humility, holiness, and truth. There is still time to come out from among them and be separate. There is still time to receive the Spirit of Christ and to begin reigning now—first within, and soon with Him forever.

Let the Church be warned. Let the saints be sober. The beasts are real. But so is the Son of Man.

Lord Jesus Christ is coming!

UNDERSTANDING THE APPARENT FAILURE OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY: A Closer Look at God's Timetable That Requires Action Now If We Are To Ensure Acceptance At The Gate. There are not second chances when we are late, for today is the day of salvation.

A summary of one of the chapters found in Jacob's Trouble by Happy Riches.

For generations, Christians have wrestled with the perceived delay in the return of Jesus Christ. Prophetic expectations have been high at various times in history—yet none have fully materialized. Is biblical prophecy failing? Or are we failing to understand it correctly?

This summary explores the heart of the argument presented in Understanding the Apparent Failure of Biblical Prophecy: that God's plan has not failed, but rather unfolds precisely, even if not always punctually by human standards. The seeming delay is not due to error, but to divine foresight, human free will, and prophetic frameworks that many have misunderstood.

The Tabernacle: A Blueprint for Time

At the center of this interpretation is a bold but compelling insight: the Tabernacle of Moses is not just a physical structure, but a prophetic timeline. The tabernacle was divided into three courts:

The Outer Court: 1500 cubits (Moses to Pentecost)
The Holy Place: 2000 cubits (Pentecost to Christ’s return)
The Holy of Holies: 1000 cubits (Millennial reign of Christ)

If cubits are converted into years, we discover a remarkable prophetic structure:

1500 years from Moses to Christ’s death (approx. AD 31)
2000 years for the Church Age, ending around AD 2031
1000 years for Christ’s earthly reign (Revelation 20)

These calculations are not precise to the day but fall consistently within a prophetic "ballpark." This is crucial: the precision of prophecy lies in its consistent proximity—not minute detail—allowing for the reality of human free will.

Daniel’s Timelines and Prophetic Layers

The Book of Daniel, central to end-time prophecy, is notoriously complex. One misunderstood segment is the 2300 “evenings and mornings” (Daniel 8:14), often interpreted as days. William Miller’s failed prediction of Christ’s return in 1843 was based on this number.

This manuscript highlights the importance of accurate interpretation: these are not 2300 "days" in the ordinary sense, but 1150 days of twice-daily sacrifices. Misinterpretation has led to failed date-setting and disillusionment. But when read correctly, these timelines still offer powerful prophetic insight.

Likewise, the prophecy of the 1290 and 1335 days in Daniel 12 is taken seriously—not as mystical allegory but as an actual countdown triggered by the "abomination of desolation." That abomination, according to both Daniel and Jesus (Matthew 24), refers not to events in AD 70, but a future desecration of a rebuilt temple—likely connected to the Antichrist.

The Return of Israel: Not Just 1948

The reestablishment of Israel in 1948 is a monumental prophetic event—but not necessarily as airtight as many claim. Popular teachings cite Ezekiel’s and Daniel’s prophecies to argue that 2520 years after Israel’s exile, the nation would be reborn. Using manipulated figures and leap-year math, some have crafted precise day-to-day timelines ending on May 14, 1948. The truth is astounding and more revealing than fudging figures.

The chapter rigorously challenges false formats and formulas. The mathematical precision often claimed by prophecy teachers adds extra years or uses selective starting points. Yet even without forced numbers, we find a striking correlation between ancient proclamations (like Cyrus’ decree in the late 530s BC) and the modern rebirth of Israel—suggesting God’s hand in history, not human invention.

The Missing Ingredient: Free Will

Why then has Jesus not yet returned?

The reason is that God’s plan includes human choice. While prophetic patterns reveal the general timing, they are not deterministic clocks. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour—not even Himself in His earthly ministry (Mark 13:32). This isn’t ignorance but intentional flexibility. Prophetic fulfillment depends not only on divine decree but also on:

The fullness of the Gentiles being saved (Romans 11:25)
The conditions in Israel, including the return of ten million Jews (Numbers 10:36)
The rise of the Antichrist, which Paul says must precede the return of Christ (2 Thess. 2:3)

Thus, prophecy may appear delayed, but only because it accounts for billions of free-willed decisions—salvation is not imposed but offered. People are called not pushed. Invitations get rejected instead of accepted.

9/11, Globalism, and Jacob’s Trouble

An analysis of prophecy exploring recent history discovers important markers. The 9/11 attacks, while not identified as specific fulfillment of prophecy, may mark the start of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—a period of great distress preceding the end which is longer than 7 years.

Likewise, developments like Agenda 2030, digital currency, and centralized internet control are seen as precursors to the One World Government, long predicted by biblical prophecy. This writer notes that delays in global control may be due to overreach causing failures and resistance still being encountered, but the trajectory remains unmistakable. The end is near.

The Third Temple and the Final Countdown

Perhaps the most striking indicator of our prophetic hour is the movement to rebuild the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Organizations like the Temple Institute already have vessels and vestments ready for use. Once the temple is built, the prophet Daniel’s timeline restarts: the Antichrist will desecrate it, halt sacrifices, and proclaim himself God—triggering the countdown to Armageddon.

According to Daniel 12, those who wait an extra 45 days beyond the abomination will be blessed—a reference possibly pointing to the resurrection and rapture. Contrary to popular “pre-tribulation” views, the rapture cannot occur until after the Antichrist is revealed. It is the wise who endure, not the presumptuous who expect escape before the tribulation starts.

Prophecy needs to be recognized as a Pattern, Not in being Precise.

Ultimately, biblical prophecy is best understood as patterned, not micro-calibrated. The tabernacle, the feast days, and the historical timelines all converge—not to give us exact dates, but to prepare our hearts.

Those who are pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). The ones who wait, who watch, and who walk in the Spirit—not after the flesh—will be ready. Prophecy is not about trivia, dates, or secret codes. It is about urgency, purity, and obedience. Sorting out where you stand.

Conclusion: Living in the Shadow of Fulfillment

The return of Jesus Christ is not a failed promise, but a soon-to-be-fulfilled event. The time is short. We may not have the hour, but we have the season. And as the world races toward centralization, surveillance, and sacrilege, the prophetic road markers grow clearer.

For believers, this means:

Living by the Spirit, not the flesh
Rejecting false teachings (like easy-grace rapture theology that ignores faith being completed by works)
Watching the signs without succumbing to date-setting
Sharing the gospel, so that the full number of Gentiles may be reached

We may not see the day, but we can hear the trumpet. The shadows of prophecy stretch long across our time. Soon, they will give way to the brightness of the coming King.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

ERASING GEORGE WASHINGTON TO CATER FOR THE FAKE OUTRAGE. The Plaques In Our Sanctuary Make Some In Our Presence Feel Unsafe Or Unwelcome. Some visitors and guests who worship with us choose not to return because they receive an unintended message from the prominent presence of the plaques

A plaque denoting that George Washington attended a church is being removed because he was a slave owner. Is this ridiculous or not?

Happy Riches

Answers

A plaque commemorating George Washington’s attendance at a church has been removed—not because it was fraudulent, but because he was a slave owner. This act joins a growing trend of cultural revisionism wherein historical figures are judged not in the context of their time, but under the moral hysteria of modern ideologues.

Washington, the first U.S. president and the commander of the Continental Army, is being rebranded—not as the father of his country, but as a villain unworthy of public memory. Statues of him have been toppled, graffiti-scrawled, or simply removed in the dead of night. But what lies beneath this rebranding isn’t righteousness. It’s something much darker.

🧨 The Pretext: Slavery and the Moral Inversion

Yes, Washington owned slaves. So did Thomas Jefferson, and countless others born into that tragic era. That slavery is evil is not in dispute. But if owning slaves disqualifies someone from public honor, then we must also erase nearly every global civilization that ever existed, including African, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Indigenous cultures, where slavery was a norm.

This isn’t about justice. It’s about power—specifically, the power to control the public narrative. The mob is not applying historical accountability consistently. Rather, it is being directed to target specific symbols—symbols that represent national unity, Judeo-Christian heritage, and constitutional freedoms.

This targeting of Washington is not a spontaneous act of public conscience. It’s part of a coordinated campaign, potentially funded by individuals or groups who benefit from cultural chaos.

🎭 Who Benefits from the Mob?

Let’s look at the fruits of these actions: division, distrust, and fear. This isn’t about reconciliation. It's about replacing one set of beliefs with another—by force if necessary. These tactics are straight out of the Marxist and Maoist playbook: destroy the past to remake the future.

One can't help but ask: Who is benefiting from this?

Is it the inner-city youth being radicalized by slogans but left jobless?
Is it the victims of past injustice, now used as mascots for ideological movements?

Or is it those who want to destroy the foundations of Western liberty—starting with the family, the church, and the rule of law?

💰 Slavery of a New Kind: The Chains You Can’t See

If slavery is the justification for this cultural purge, then why stop at statues?

The Bible offers a definition of slavery that transcends skin color or historical conditions:

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” — Proverbs 22:7

Let that sink in.

The average American is drowning in debt:

Student loans
Credit cards
Car leases
Mortgages
Medical bills

They are enslaved by compound interest, bureaucratic regulation, and a consumer culture that seduces and traps them simultaneously. Yet the mob does not storm the banks, or the Federal Reserve, or the hedge funds. Instead, they deface churches and burn flags.

Why?

Because those other targets—the real ones—are guarded by power. By money. And by silence.

🧱 Occupy Wall Street: The Revolution That Wasn’t

Remember the Occupy Wall Street movement? It appeared to be the one moment when the left and right might unite against a common enemy: financial enslavement.

But it fizzled. It was infiltrated, redirected, and neutralized. Since then, the focus has shifted—conveniently—from class struggle to identity warfare. Why fight the banks when you can fight each other?

This pivot—from Wall Street to Washington—was not accidental. It was engineered.

Divide and conquer. Distract and disarm.

🔫 The Second Amendment: The Final Barrier

There’s another motive behind these escalating social conflicts: disarmament.

Create enough racial tension, enough fear, enough urban chaos, and the public will beg for government control—including gun control. But the Second Amendment wasn’t written to allow hunting. It was written to ensure that tyranny would never reign unopposed.

Gun ownership is the ultimate insurance policy against a state that loses its mind or sells its soul. The Founders knew this. Which is why removing Washington’s name is not about his flaws—it’s about his legacy.

A legacy that includes self-governance, armed resistance to tyranny, and liberty as a divine right.

🧠 Cultural Amnesia Is Suicidal

If America forgets its origins, it will have no future worth defending. Erasing the founders is not about cleansing history. It’s about replacing it—with narratives that demonize liberty and idolize victimhood.

True justice doesn’t come from tearing down monuments. It comes from building up minds.

Yet far too many are biblically illiterate and historically naïve. They don’t know that slavery is a spiritual issue, not just a social one. They don’t realize that debt, sin, addiction, and ignorance are all forms of bondage. And they certainly don’t see how their protests are serving the very masters they claim to oppose.

⛓️ Slavery Is the Default Setting—Freedom Must Be Fought For

The Bible is clear: humans are always serving something. Either sin or righteousness. Either truth or ideology. Either Christ or the culture.

The current mob, whether knowingly or not, has chosen cultural slavery—to groupthink, media propaganda, and orchestrated outrage.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

But that only applies if people are willing to hear the truth—not silence it with a spray can and a slogan.

🏛️ In Conclusion: This Isn’t Just About a Plaque

Removing a plaque from a church because George Washington once sat in its pews is not just foolish—it is dangerous. It signals that no one is safe from erasure—not even the man who refused to be king so a republic could be born.

This is not the spirit of justice. It is the spirit of resentment, rebellion, and revisionism—all manipulated by forces hoping to fracture a once-free people.

And perhaps that’s the greatest irony of all:

Those who shout the loudest against slavery today are often the most deeply enslaved—and the most eager to make slaves of the rest of us.

The Best Way Is The Only Way That Really Matters

Saturday, May 17, 2025

REASSESSING THE HISTORY OF ISLAM AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WEST. History Is Often Romantically Fictionized For The Masses. Raymond Ibrahim takes the fiction and throws it in the waste paper bin.

In a bold challenge to dominant academic and media narratives, historian and author Raymond Ibrahim offers a radically different portrayal of Islam’s rise and its enduring impact on Western civilization. Drawing on his background as an Arabic-speaking Coptic Christian and a scholar of medieval history, Ibrahim asserts that Islam's early expansion was not a peaceful or enlightened movement, but a violent and deliberate campaign of conquest, suppression, and civilizational erasure—particularly of the Christian world.

A Century of Conquest

According to Ibrahim, a critical and largely forgotten fact about Islamic history is the sheer speed and scale of its military expansion. From the death of Muhammad in 632 AD to the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, Muslim forces had conquered three-quarters of the then-Christian world. Egypt, Syria, North Africa, and much of the Middle East—once the heartland of early Christianity—were overrun, and churches were destroyed by the thousands.

“These weren’t just Christian regions,” Ibrahim says, “they were the most Christian—Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople. And they were violently Islamized.”

This sweeping conquest, he contends, laid the foundation not only for future Muslim empires, but also for centuries of religious persecution and cultural displacement.

The Crusades: A Response, Not an Aggression

Ibrahim argues that the narrative surrounding the Crusades has been dangerously distorted. Contrary to popular belief, the Crusades were not the first blow in a religious conflict—they were a delayed reaction to centuries of unprovoked Islamic aggression.

He cites brutal episodes preceding the First Crusade, including mass killings of Christians by Seljuk Turks, the burning of churches, and the harassment of Christian pilgrims. The destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in 1009 by the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, and the slaughter of 30,000 churches in Egypt and Syria, highlight the scale of religious persecution.

When Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade in 1095, it was in response to these atrocities. “What people forget,” Ibrahim notes, “is that the land the Crusaders sought to liberate was originally Christian. The Holy Land had been seized violently, and Christians there were being killed, enslaved, or forcibly converted.”

The Myth of Andalusian Tolerance

One of the most persistent historical myths Ibrahim targets is the so-called “Golden Age” of Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus), often portrayed as a harmonious multicultural paradise where Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisted peacefully.

In reality, he argues, this “golden age” was punctuated by systematic oppression. He points to the Martyrs of Cordoba—Christians executed for blasphemy during this so-called tolerant era—and highlights that much of the wealth attributed to Andalusian brilliance was the result of plunder and the exploitation of subject populations.

“When people say Andalusia was advanced while Europe was in the Dark Ages,” Ibrahim says, “they forget that Islamic Spain’s prosperity came largely from plundering Europe—through piracy, slavery, and conquest.”

Saladin and the Whitewashing of Jihad

Another figure Ibrahim scrutinizes is Saladin, the Muslim leader often lionized in Western narratives as a paragon of tolerance and magnanimity. While Saladin is credited with allowing Christians to leave Jerusalem peacefully after his 1187 victory, Ibrahim insists the reality was far less noble.

“He threatened to slaughter every last one of them until they agreed to pay ransoms,” Ibrahim notes, citing primary Muslim sources. “Those who couldn’t afford it—mostly women and children—were sold into slavery.”

He connects this to modern jihadist behavior, noting how ISIS mimicked Saladin’s brutal mass executions, down to beheading prisoners in orchestrated displays rooted in medieval Islamic precedent.

Islam and the Formation of Europe

Far from being a background force, Islam played a defining role in shaping Europe’s identity, Ibrahim argues. The disintegration of Christian centers in the East forced Europe to evolve as a martial, isolated, and defensive Christian society.

The Viking slave trade, he notes, was partially driven by Arab demand for white slaves, while the militarization of Christian orders and the rise of Charlemagne’s empire were responses to constant Islamic pressure. “Without Muhammad, there would be no Charlemagne,” he echoes from earlier historians like Henri Pirenne.

Modern Amnesia and Historical Whitewashing

Perhaps Ibrahim’s most urgent concern is how all of this history has been suppressed, misrepresented, or ignored in modern discourse. He criticizes scholars like John Esposito and Karen Armstrong for presenting Islam as a peaceful force and depicting Christians as the primary aggressors.

He blames political correctness, postcolonial guilt, and ideological conformity in academia for this trend. “There’s a strong narrative today,” he says, “that Western Christians are always the villains, and non-Western Muslims are the perpetual victims. But the historical record tells a very different story.”

Ibrahim’s books—Crucified Again, Sword and Scimitar, and Defenders of the West—are his attempts to correct what he calls “fake history,” a distortion with far-reaching implications. He warns that understanding the true history of Christian-Muslim relations is vital, not only for honoring those who suffered in the past, but for recognizing the dynamics still at play today.

Conclusion

Raymond Ibrahim does not claim to present a comprehensive history of Islam. Rather, he seeks to restore balance to a narrative he believes has been tilted by ideology, misinformation, and academic neglect. His work is uncomfortable, controversial, and unapologetically revisionist—but it forces readers to confront the complexities and consequences of a history too often sanitized for modern sensibilities.

For those willing to examine the less-told side of history, Ibrahim’s perspective is as challenging as it is indispensable.

Friday, May 16, 2025

SMASHING ONE OF THE GREATEST MYTHS PROPAGATED BY THE IGNORANT: A Look At The Mechanism That Enables Us To Act Upon What We Know To Produce That Which For Which We Hope. A simple truth explained to enrich your understanding of what you are capable of accomplishing.

What is the meaning of faith?

Happy Riches

Answers request by Kofi Amanfi

Faith is a word often spoken yet seldom understood. For some, it conjures images of religious devotion—of prayers whispered in the dark or creeds recited in sacred spaces. For others, faith is dismissed as irrational belief without evidence. But faith, in its purest form, transcends both caricatures. It is a deeply human faculty that touches every aspect of life, from the most mundane of actions to the highest pursuits of truth, meaning, and love.

At its core, faith is the mechanism by which we act upon what we know, even when we cannot see the outcome in advance. It is the bridge between knowledge and experience, between theory and practice, between the present and the future. It is not blind belief. Rather, it is grounded trust—formed through evidence, experience, and the reliability of both people and principles.

Faith Begins with Reasoned Trust

Faith often begins when we take the knowledge we possess and use it to make projections into the unknown. We consider the information available, propose a course of action, and then test it through experience. Every scientific experiment, every hypothesis tested, and every goal pursued depends on this form of faith—a trust in the predictability of cause and effect, in the coherence of the universe, and in our own reasoning.

Take, for example, the act of answering a question. If I am asked, “What is the meaning of faith?”, I draw upon previous experience, linguistic understanding, conceptual knowledge, and intuitive insight. I trust that the words I choose will convey something meaningful. I have faith—not only in my ability to formulate an answer—but also in the communicative process itself.

Faith Extends to Human Relationships

Faith also operates interpersonally. When I trust that someone will honor their word, I am exercising faith. That trust may begin cautiously—perhaps based on reputation or a small sample of past behavior—but as that person proves reliable, my faith grows deeper. With each fulfilled promise, with each consistent action, my internal sense of confidence increases. I begin to believe that this individual is trustworthy, and I am willing to risk more—emotionally, socially, or practically—on their word.

This progression illustrates that faith is not static. It grows and matures. It develops through evidence and is refined through reflection. True faith is never irrational; it is reasonable and responsive. It emerges from observation, reflection, and, ultimately, personal decision.

Faith Is Motivated by Possibility

Another form of faith emerges when we witness what seems impossible. We see someone accomplish something we previously thought unachievable—a physical feat, an intellectual breakthrough, or a moral triumph. Watching this person do what we had not imagined cultivates a sense of possibility within us. We begin to believe, “Maybe I can do that too.”

This is the faith that inspires growth and change. It is the faith that allows a child to walk, a student to learn, an artist to create, or a broken person to heal. It is the kind of faith that acknowledges limitations, yet refuses to be paralyzed by them. It sees possibility where others see only obstacles. And this kind of faith is contagious—it can be sparked simply by witnessing someone else's success.

Faith in Systems, Patterns, and the Creator

The natural world also teaches us about faith. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west—every day, without fail. This repeated pattern cultivates confidence. We plan our days around it. We build our clocks and calendars upon it. We have faith in the sunrise, not because we see it in advance, but because it has always been so. And if it failed to rise one day, the very foundations of our understanding would shake.

This kind of consistent order in creation points many to the existence of a Creator. For the intricate balance of the universe, the reliability of natural laws, and the beauty of design are not products of chance. Chance breeds uncertainty. Faith requires structure. The regularity of the universe builds a kind of existential confidence—one that suggests purpose and design rather than chaos and accident.

Faith in this sense is the conclusion of reasoned observation, leading to spiritual awe. It is not superstition or wishful thinking. It is the assurance born of consistency and purpose. We believe in the sunrise because it rises. We believe in the moral order because we see cause and consequence. And we believe in God—not because we can see Him, but because everything else makes sense in light of His presence.

Faith vs. Wishful Thinking

It is important to distinguish faith from fantasy. Faith is not hoping against reason. Faith is not believing in something merely because we want it to be true. Rather, faith is the conviction that what we expect will happen because the facts point us there. Faith draws upon past performance to anticipate future reliability.

In this way, faith is akin to credit. A person who has proven trustworthy can be extended credit—faith in their future behavior based on their past. But if that same person defaults on their promises repeatedly, faith will begin to erode. Likewise, beliefs that continually prove empty or false lose credibility. True faith always interacts with reality. It is tested, verified, and adjusted.

Faith Is Personal and Transformative

Ultimately, faith is deeply personal. While it may begin with external observation or communal belief, it must be internalized. It becomes a compass, guiding how we make decisions, how we respond to uncertainty, and how we interact with others. It is what enables us to step forward even when the path is dim. It is what sustains us when we face trials, doubt, or hardship.

Faith does not guarantee the absence of fear, but it offers the courage to act in spite of it. Faith does not eliminate questions, but it provides the framework within which questions can be explored meaningfully. It is the tool by which we engage with reality—not merely passively, but creatively and purposefully.

Conclusion: The Essence of Faith

Faith is not an abstract theological concept reserved for the religious. It is the practical outworking of belief in all realms of life—intellectual, relational, experiential, and spiritual. It is both humble and bold, rational and mysterious. It allows us to grow, to trust, to experiment, to connect, and to worship.

True faith is not belief without evidence, but confidence born of experience. It allows us to move forward without full visibility because we have enough reason to believe the next step will hold.

And in this, faith becomes not just a doctrine or an emotion, but a way of life—a posture of expectation grounded in truth and aimed at a future worth pursuing.

The Ten Commandments Were Designed For You To Enjoy And Possess Life

Thursday, May 15, 2025

THE CONFUSION THAT EXISTS AROUND THE WORLD REGARDING CULTURE AND RELIGION IS NO DIFFERENT AMONG THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE WEST. People Think Religion Is About Performing Certain Rituals and Rites That Contribute To A Particular View Of How To Appear Spiritual. True spirituality transcends the outward appearances evident in portraying a particular religious culture, whether Hinduism, Islam, Shamanism, Druidism, Roman Catholic, Coptic or Orthodox.

Do a lot of American Christians retain the cultural aspects of Christianity (e.g., Christmas gifts, going to church) without actually believing in the supernatural claims of the Bible?

Happy Riches,

Answers request by Sabrina Ali

In modern America, the term “Christian” has become increasingly fluid—so much so that it often says more about cultural affiliation than actual belief in the supernatural claims of the Bible. From Christmas festivities to church attendance, many Americans participate in traditions rooted in Christianity without embracing the core tenets of the faith. But what does it really mean to be a Christian, and how can we tell the difference between cultural Christianity and authentic faith in the risen Son of God?

A Christian Nation?

Surveys often suggest that the majority of Americans identify as Christian. But this identification is often superficial. A person may wear a cross, go to church on Christmas and Easter, and even claim moral values inspired by the Bible—all while denying or ignoring the supernatural essence of the Gospel. The problem is not new. Even infamous figures like David Duke have claimed the label “Christian” while promoting racism and hatred, values completely antithetical to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This confusion arises because “Christianity” in America has long been entangled with nationalism, sentimentality, and holiday traditions rather than centered on the call to “take up your cross and follow Me.” Many embrace Christian customs—such as gift-giving at Christmas or Sunday church attendance—without ever encountering the resurrected Lord or understanding the radical nature of His message.

The Hollow Traditions

Cultural Christianity expresses itself through symbols and rituals devoid of transformative power. Consider Halloween: a celebration steeped in imagery of witches and warlocks, which many self-proclaimed Christians participate in despite the Bible’s clear condemnation of witchcraft and sorcery. Likewise, the tale of Santa Claus climbing down chimneys to reward children’s behavior may entertain young minds, but it has no foundation in Scripture and perpetuates a falsehood that blurs the line between fantasy and faith.

These traditions have become so ingrained in American life that even atheists may participate in them, while genuine followers of Christ are often viewed as fringe or extreme for believing in miracles, the Holy Spirit, or the authority of Scripture.

The Problem with Popular Preachers

The issue is compounded by religious leaders who represent Christianity in name but deny its power. A prominent example is John MacArthur, a respected Calvinist preacher who publicly rejects the present-day operation of the Holy Spirit. Though he professes faith in the Bible, MacArthur dismisses speaking in tongues, healing, and other supernatural gifts as relics of the past. In doing so, he strips Christianity of its spiritual dynamism and replaces it with a rigid theology grounded in the Reformation’s man-made doctrines—especially the teachings of Jehan Cauvin, better known as John Calvin.

Calvin, a controversial figure in church history, is known not only for his theological innovations but also for his role in the execution of dissenters. Yet Calvinists today, including MacArthur, justify this past while preaching doctrines that present God as the author of evil, contrary to Scripture’s testimony that God created all things good.

MacArthur and others like him may read the Bible, but they do not know the living Christ. Their faith is intellectual and doctrinal, not relational or spiritual. By preaching against the supernatural and rejecting the manifest power of the Holy Spirit, they effectively neuter the Gospel and encourage others to become cultural Christians—content with outward observance but lacking inward transformation.

Slavery vs. Sonship

MacArthur often uses the metaphor that Christians are “slaves of Christ.” While Scripture acknowledges that metaphor in places, the overall message of the New Testament is one of liberation and adoption. We are not called to remain in bondage, but to become sons and daughters of God.

“The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.” (John 8:35)
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

True Christianity is not about blind obedience to dogma or tradition, but about walking in the freedom, love, and power of the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes, we were called to freedom—not to indulge the flesh, but to serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13).

Knowledge Without Relationship

One of the great tragedies of cultural Christianity is the assumption that knowing about God is the same as knowing God. But the Bible teaches that even demons believe—and tremble. Intellectual agreement with doctrinal statements is not salvation. Salvation comes through repentance, personal faith in the finished work of Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Cultural Christians may know Bible stories, recite prayers, and even defend Christian ethics, but if they have not encountered the risen Lord Jesus Christ, they remain spiritually dead. They are like the Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked for diligently studying the Scriptures while refusing to come to Him for life (John 5:39–40).

The Hope for Cultural Christians

The good news is that God is merciful. He does not overlook ignorance, and His grace extends even to those caught in cultural Christianity. Many people who participate in Christian traditions without understanding their spiritual meaning may, at some point, encounter a moment of clarity—a crisis, a testimony, or a whisper of conviction—that opens their heart to the truth.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was made for all. His death paid for every sin, and His resurrection guarantees the hope of eternal life for those who repent and believe. Some cultural Christians may find salvation on their deathbed; others may never have the chance. This is why the Bible urges us to seek the Lord while He may be found.

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Conclusion

American Christianity is at a crossroads. As cultural expressions of faith become more hollow and disconnected from the truth of Scripture, the challenge for true believers is to live authentically, powerfully, and faithfully—bearing witness to the supernatural reality of Jesus Christ. Cultural Christianity may offer comfort, nostalgia, and tradition, but it cannot save. Only knowing the living Lord Jesus Christ can do that.

Culture Differs From Decade To Decade But Decadence Cannot Beat Death