" the twelve were with him" - Travelling through Cities and Villages

 

Tokyo

Travelling through Cities and Villages

Christianity began with Christ Jesus.  But we know how He acted from the Gospels.

Christ Jesus traveled throughout every city and village with the twelve disciples, preaching the word of God and healing people.

It is truly a mystery that Christianity began with such small and simple activities.

But, giving more thought on the situation, have there any other men who traveled throughout every city and village with the twelve disciples, preaching the word of God and healing people in the history except Christ Jesus?

Indeed, if anybody but not the Son of God tried to travel throughout every city and village with twelve followers, preaching the word of God and healing people, he should fail.  Because nobody would give them foods and shelters.

Only the Son of God can make people help Him preaching as a homeless man.

A very small and simple thing but only the Son of God can do is what Christ Jesus performed, from a certain point of view.



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Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

"the counsel of God" - One of 300 Billion Times 300 Billion

Tokyo

One of 300 Billion Times 300 Billion

Our sun has the life duration of abut 10 billion years, though it is about 5 billion years old like the earth.

It means that if any high-intelligent species emerges in any other planet in our galaxy, the Milky Way, which is about 13 billion years old, the planet must be 5 billion years old.

But our sun is the second generation.  The materials, including some heavy metals, constituting the earth were created when the first generation sun was exploded to vanish.  So, other planets where high-intelligent creatures emerge should be also planets around the second or younger generation of fixed stars.

Most of fix stars in the Milky Way have the life duration between 1000 times longer than our sun's and 1000 time shorter than our sun's.  And there are currently 300 billion fixed stars in the Milky Way.  Then, how many among these fixed stars are younger than the second generation and can have planets 5 billion year old or more, which is necessary for the earth to produce the human species?

In addition, if once high-intelligent species could emerge and develop their civilizations after 5 billion years in their planets, they would be probably able to build advanced  signaling systems that would function to send radio signals to the universe on a permanent basis even after their civilizations are terminated or solar systems to which their planets belong have been exploded to vanish.   In this case, artificial radio signals must continue to be sent to the universe even after the builders of the signaling systems have been terminated.  

So, how many fixed stars and planets could have such high-intelligent species as can and could build advanced systems to send their artificial signals on a permanent basis to the universe in our Milky Way that has 300 billion fixed stars?

May be 1/100 of 1/100 of 300 billion, then there are 30 million fixed stars could meat the condition of 5 billion years.  Then, how may among them can have actually planets where life can be generated.  May be 1/100 of 30 million, then there are 300,000.  Actually some scientists estimate that there are some 100,000 planets in our galaxy where life was generated.

But how many among these planets can sustain life and allow continual evolution of living things to the level of anthropoid apes of the earth?

May be 1/100 of 300,000, so there are 3,000 planets that might have living things equivalent to anthropoid apes of the earth.  But how many of them allow further evolution to the level of the mankind on the earth?

May be 1/100 of 3,000, so that there are 30 planets in our galaxy that might have living things equivalent to the mankind on the earth.

Then, there can be 30 radio signaling systems sending signals to all over the Milky Way whose diameter is about 100,000 light years.  Those high-intelligent species in other planets might have started to send signals 1 billion years ago, 1 million years ago, or just 100,000 years ago or 100 year ago.  Probably 70% of them must have started signal sending 100,000 years ago or in older time.  Then we, on the earth, could receive more than 20 different artificial radio signals from somewhere in the Milky Way.

And there are 300 billion galaxies in the whole universe.  Although this universe is more than 13 billion light years wide (or 40 billion light year wide due to acceleration of the expansion of the universe), 1/100 of 1/100 of all the galaxies might be within a range where artificial signals could reach the earth from them as distinct artificial signals.  So then, millions of artificial signals coming from not only our galaxy but also other galaxies must be reaching the earth now.

However, so far as now, we have not received any such artificial radio signals from not only our galaxy but also other galaxies.  

So, we have to review the calculation method.  Although there are 30 planets in our galaxy that might have living things equivalent to the mankind on the earth, the probability that their civilizations develop from the level of ancient Egypt to the level of post-Industrial Revolution of the earth must be less than 1/100.  Even if it is 1/100, none of these 30 planets can have high-intelligent species whose civilizations can develop from the level of ancient Egypt to the level of post-Industrial Revolution of the earth.  If this probability is one part per million, there will be absolutely no high-intelligent specie that can send radio signals on a permanent basis to the universe.  If it is one billionth, no such high-intelligent species in the whole universe.

But we could develop from the level of ancient Egypt to the level of post-Industrial Revolution.  This must be the only case in the whole universe.  We will soon build a radio signaling system sending messages to the whole universe that can function on a permanent basis.  Then, a million years or a billion years later, a high-intelligent species on a planet somewhere in the universe might miraculously catch the signal.

Then, what made the human beings on the earth develop their civilization from the level of ancient Egypt to the level of post-Industrial Revolution?  In other word, what happened between ancient Egypt where great pyramids were built and the post-Industrial Revolution era with advanced science and technologies?

The answer is the emergence of the Son of God on the earth 2000 years ago in addition to various direct interference of God with Judaists, Christians, and Muslims in these 4000 years.

Only God can create and allow high-intelligent species of the level of the mankind to develop their civilization to the post-Industrial Revolution level in this universe.   And the probability of the emergence of the Son of God and direct interference of God must be one of 300 billion times 300 billion, since there are 300 billion fixed stars in one galaxy and there are 300 billion galaxies in the whole universe.







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Luk 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Luk 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Luk 7:31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

"the devil is gone out of thy daughter" - Why No Other Civilizations in the Universe

Tokyo

Why No Other Civilizations in the Universe

In the Milky Way, there are 300 billion  fixed stars or kind of suns.  The diameter of the Milky Way is about 100,000 light years.

So, if the mankind sends radio-wave signals to other fixed stars in the Milky Way, they will be received by other high-intelligent species, if they existed, in planets around these fixed stars within 100,000 years.

It has been 13 billion years since this Milky Way was created.  And it took 5 billion years for the mankind to emerge on the earth.  And the mankind will sooner or later send  radio-wave signals to other fixed stars in the Milky Way on a permanent basis.  The mankind will build a special advanced system that will function for 100 years, 10,000 years, or one million years to automatically send these signals to other species in other planets in this Milky Way.   Then, if another high-intelligent species emerges in another planet in the Milky Way, they will surely receive the radio waves the mankind is sending.

However, on the other hand, although it has been 13 billion years since this Milky Way was created and radio waves can travel across the Milky Way in 100,000 years, we, the mankind on the earth, have not received any such artificial radio signals from any other planets in the Milky Way.   We have not received any such signals from other galaxies outside the Milky Way while this whole universe was created about 14 billion years ago.

It is strange.  High-intelligent species, if they existed, in other planets in the Milky Way or other galaxies must be able to build special advanced systems that function for 100 years, 10,000 years, or one million years to automatically send their radio signals to other species in other planets, including the earth.  But we have not received any such signals from the universe.

It means that the probability that high-intelligent creatures, like the mankind, emerge on any planet is zero not only in this Milky Way but also in any other galaxies in the universe.

There are some factors that have influence on this probability such as the probability of fixed stars to be situated in an appropriate range from a galaxy center, the probability of a fixed star to have appropriate planets for emergence of life, the probability of appropriate conditions of the nature of a planet for development and evolution of living things from their primitive forms to advanced forms, the probability of advanced living things to have higher intelligence like the mankind on the earth, the probability of the high-intelligent species to survive long and build civilization like that of mankind, etc.   And it is thought that the total probability for a high-intelligent species to appear in a planet in the whole universe, not only in the Milky Way, is almost zero.  The mankind on the earth in this solar system of this galaxy, the Milky Way, is extremely exceptional.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation

So, we have to think why the mankind could develop its civilization to this advanced state.  And, the answer is there was direct interference of God with the creatures on the earth.  Due to God of Abraham, Christ Jesus, and Islam, the mankind could build this advanced civilization.  Especially it was almost 1700 years after the appearance of the Son of God on the earth that the Industrial Revolution occurred in the Christian Europe.  And such interference has not occurred in any other planets in the universe in these 14 billion years.  Therefore, there are no other advanced civilizations in this universe except that of the mankind which should be ascribed to interference of God.    

That is why we cannot find any other civilizations in our Milky Way and other galaxies or the whole universe where there are countless fixed starts, whose specific number can be calculated as 300 billion (the number of fixed stars in a galaxy) times 300 billion (the number of galaxies in the whole universe), in addition to more planets.



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Mar 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
Mar 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

"cast forth the devil out of her daughter" - Pascal's Holy Night

Around Tokyo

Pascal's Holy Night

Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662),  a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic theologian, saw God when he was 31 years old from 10.30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on November 23, 1654.

He wrote the incident in a sheet of paper and made a clean copy of it, both of which were stitched into  his clothing.　But they were found by chance by his servant or the like after Pascal's death when he checked the clothing of dead Pascal.

So, Pascal did not intend to show his writing about his encounter with God:

The year of grace 1654,

Monday, 23 November, feast of St. Clement, pope and martyr, and others in the martyrology. Vigil of St. Chrysogonus, martyr, and others. From about half past ten at night until about half past midnight,

FIRE.

GOD of Abraham, GOD of Isaac, GOD of Jacob
not of the philosophers and of the learned.
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
GOD of Jesus Christ.
My God and your God.
Your GOD will be my God.
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except GOD.
He is only found by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Grandeur of the human soul.
Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you.
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.
I have departed from him:
They have forsaken me, the fount of living water.
My God, will you leave me?
Let me not be separated from him forever.
This is eternal life, that they know you, the one true God, and the one that you sent, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
I left him; I fled him, renounced, crucified.
Let me never be separated from him.
He is only kept securely by the ways taught in the Gospel:
Renunciation, total and sweet.
Complete submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.
Eternally in joy for a day’s exercise on the earth.
May I not forget your words. Amen.

https://churchpop.com/2016/04/19/night-fire-blaise-pascals/

One impressive word is "eternal life."

How can one be sure that he sees eternal life?  Pascal saw God in the form of fire.  And he remembered the Gospel as the only guide to God.  Then, he was sure that he was seeing eternal life.

Anyway Pascal lived and died in Europe before the bourgeois revolution and the industrial revolution, although Shakespeare had already completed his life.

So, his words sound remote for us, but they are a rare record of a man seeing God in these centuries.

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Mar 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Mar 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

"for it was founded upon a rock" - Fortune Telling vs. Word of God

Tokyo

Fortune Telling vs. Word of God

Once there was a man who ran a shop to sell little birds in Osaka, Japan.

One day he consulted a psychic for guidance who told the man that he had better become a fortune teller himself.  So, the man changed his business and he was engaged in fortune telling for more than 30 years eventually to became a unique fortune teller.

He developed his own method of fortune-telling based on various skills such as those of  ancient Mesopotamia, etc.  He found that the key to fortune telling is a level of cultural sophistication of a fortune teller.  A fortune teller can gather various data of his client, including the date and place of birth and a state of stars and constellations related to the client, but these data must be interpreted.  And the interpretation depends on a level of cultural sophistication of a fortune teller.

He said that he could tell fortune of his clients, but he did not like to check his own fortune.

Some time after the fortune teller was interviewed by an editor of a magazine and told these things, he died.  

However, early Christians did not trust fortune tellers, since they could not defeat evil spirits.

Act 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Act 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Act 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Act 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Satan can even manipulate fortune telling.  But, no matter what fate men live, their spirits are more important.  

Accordingly, the word of God is more powerful than fortune telling.




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Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

"every whit whole on the sabbath day" - Christianity, Just One of Major Religions?

Tokyo

Christianity, Just One of Major Religions?

Christianity failed to prevail in some areas in the world: the Middle East, India, and most part of East Asia, especially China and Japan.

In other words, Christianity simply prevailed in Europe before Columbus or around 1500 and in some colonized regions by Europeans, namely Africa and America, after Columbus or around 1500.

The areas that did not accept Christianity had other religions deeply rooted (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, etc.) or clearly competitive to Christianity (Islam and Judaism).

In this context, the religion Christianity cannot claim that it is the only right religion for the mankind, since there are so many religions whose followers have not accepted Christianity in these 2000 years.  Indeed, in its process of development Christianity adopted many aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations.  As a result, Christianity became very European to the extent that other peoples in areas with very different cultural backgrounds from European's could not simply accept Christianity.

But it is strange that Christianity has become such a religion while Christ Jesus declared that He is the Son of God and He wished that His teaching would prevail in the world.  So, we have to think that true Christianity is not what we see as Christianity today in the world.  True Christianity must be obtained by subtracting European features from the present Christianity.

Especially the Vatican and other church systems reflect these European features that have been integrated into original Christianity.  However, the Gospels seem to reflect original Christianity, since they were written in the first century.  Later churches and the Vatican leaders made biased interpretation of the Gospels and especially the words of Christ Jesus, which became authentic teaching of Christianity.  However, to find original Christianity, we must check the Gospels by ourselves with reference to our daily lives.
    
Anyway it is impossible that the Son of God came to this world 2000 years ago just to give one of several major religions in the world to the mankind.  Or, we have to know why the religion the Son of God gave to the mankind could not prevail overwhelmingly as He wished.

And, if we could find how true Christianity was modified by Europeans and the Vatican to the extent that the European Christianity became critically different from true Christianity the Son of God intended, we cannot use the fact that Christianity has not overwhelmingly prevailed in the world as a proof that Christ Jesus was not the Son of God.



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Joh 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

"Lord, Lord" - Ability of God

Tokyo Bay

Ability of God

There are billions of people living in this world.  Who knows their minds, hearts, and living situations except God alone?

Even Christ Jesus did not declare that He knew everything about everybody.  But Christ Jesus said that God knew, for example, the number of hairs of everybody.  He implied that God knew what everybody was thinking deep in its mind.

Indeed it is said that there are atoms in the number of about 10 raised to the power of 80, namely 10^80, in this universe.  In theory, God must know every state of these atoms in any moment, since He is almighty.

So, the ultimate end of science and technology of human beings is to have ability to know every state of 10^80 atoms.  And the mankind might have ability to manipulate all these atoms according to their will.  At the moment the mankind can be said to get a little closer to God.  The mankind might be able to crate any situation in the universe, including the fate of them.

But still the universe is what was created by God.  And to create this universe, the mankind must be something beyond this universe, which must be in theory impossible.

In other words, if the mankind can control this universe completely, it cannot be still God.

 



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Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

"whatsoever thing from without entereth" - Separation between Material and Spirit

Tokyo

Separation between Material and Spirit

God Himself, holy spirits, angels, devils, and Satan are real in the Bible.  These spiritual entities are sometimes visible to men.

But there are no scenes depicted in the Gospels that Christ Jesus called upon spirits of dead men from Heaven or the hell.

So, there must be a simple rule in the spiritual domain that men cannot invoke spirits of dead men.  But it does not mean that there are no spiritual entities of dead men.

Especially, the Gospels imply that Christ Jesus that appeared before His followers after His physical death on the cross was not a spiritual entity but a living man.

This universe was created in a manner so that every material and substance in this world follow the certain laws the science has made clear.   There is clear distinction and separation between the material world and the spiritual world.

However, God Himself, holy spirits, angels, devils, and Satan are real in the Bible.  These spiritual entities are sometimes visible to men.

Indeed if God should allow these spiritual entities to appear before men, they can, since God is the creator of the material universe and spiritual universe.

And, Christ Jesus said not to be  deceived by ill spirits, because there is real risk for men to be deceived by ill spirits.



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Mar 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

"let him hear" - Golden Hall in To-ji Temple, Kyoto, since 1491

Shibuya District, Tokyo

Golden Hall in To-ji Temple, Kyoto, since 1491

There is an outstanding temple or a pagoda near the Kyoto Station every sightseer visiting Kyoto can take a look at from a Shinkansen super-express train.


http://88tetu.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-1826.html

Tō-ji (East Temple) is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto, Japan. It once had a partner, Sai-ji (West Temple) and, together, they stood alongside the Rashomon, gate to the Heian capital. It was formally known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji (The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines) which indicates that it previously functioned as a temple providing protection for the nation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8D-ji

It is said that To-ji was first built in 796 when the capital of Japan was moved from Heijyo-kyo (in Yamato, presently Nara Prefecture) to Heian-kyo.   It was soon given to one of the most prominent Buddhist priests in the Japanese history, Kukai.  Since then the temple stood there for more than 1200 years.

The To-ji temple (precincts: 255 m in east to west and 515 m in north to south) has two notable buildings as seen in the above picture: the Five-Story Pagoda and the Kondo or the Golden Hall.

The Five-Story Pagoda had been burnt down four times in the past.  The current one was built in 1644 by then shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.  This Pagoda has now become a central symbol of Kyoto for tourism.

The Golde Hall had been also burnt down once but was rebuilt in 1491 as we see it today.  The building places 21 Buddhist statues built in various periods in the past (15 of them were built when the temple was built around 800).

One interesting point is that this symbol temple of Kyoto has its main building built almost when Columbus set sail on the Atlantic to reach America in 1492.  In other words, the Golden Hall of To-ji, the most outstanding temple of Kyoto, has the same history as America.

So, the year around 1500 seems to be so important that God left something even in Japan to remind people of the importance of the year 1500 or so.  It must be the Golden Hall of the To-ji temple with the impressive Five-Story Pagoda at the entrance of Kyoto.



Wooden Golden Hall of To-ji, Kyoto, since 1491
http://hase-hide.at.webry.info/201202/article_9.html


In my theory, the history of there 2000 years in the world is divided into four periods each of which lasted 500 years:
1 to 500: Start of diffusion of Christianity in the Roman Empire
500 to 1000: Spread of Christianity in post-Roman Empire Europe
1000 to 1500: Development of authority of the Vatican
1500 to 2000: Spread of Christianity in the whole world

As we now live in the last period between 1500 to 2000 or so, the year 1500 or 1492 (1491) is so important and symbolic even for the Japanese, which is attested by existence of the Golden Hall of To-ji, the symbolic Buddhist temple in Kyoto, the most famous historic city in Japan.



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Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

"he that was dead sat up" - God is Perfect

The Tokyo Station

God is Perfect

Scientifically there is no answer as to whether or not this universe was created by God.

However, the most effective and reasonable definition of God is that God is the one who created this universe.  The God is the sole creator of this universe and He controls everything in this universe, including the fate of each individual.

But God has a strong characteristic: the proponent of love and goodness.  God is against every evil and thus He is the opposite to Satan.  Even it can be interpreted that God created this universe for His love to create human beings in the universe.

In terms of the material aspect, God is the creator of the universe.  But in terms of the spiritual aspect, God is the requester of love and goodness.

So, people think God has the superpower and He is almighty.  Accordingly, He can save people if He wishes.  So, people pray to God so that He saves them from any hardships or tragedies.

In this regard, it is interesting and useful to know what Christ Jesus said about God, since Christ Jesus seems to be the very human being who is the closet to God, if we don't simply admit that Christ Jesus is equal to God.

Christ Jesus said that God is perfect and God only is good.

So, any serious discussions about God must be focused on completeness and goodness of God.

But, the mankind seem not to get fully advanced to discuss the matter fully.

For example, can we find completeness and goodness of God in a present state of religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

Anyway if you believe God is perfect, you may be a follower of God.


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Luk 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Luk 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

"I say unto thee, Arise" - Moses about to Have been Killed

Around the National Assembly Bldg., Tokyo

Moses about to Have been Killed

There is one interesting episode about Moses.

One day God or an angel tried to kill Moses but his wife Zipporah saved him:

After all the men in Egypt who had sought his death had died, Moses returned to Egypt. Moses took his wife and sons and started his journey back to Egypt. On the road, they stayed in an inn, where a mysterious and much-debated incident that features Zipporah took place. The Bible describes that God came to kill Moses (Exodus 4:24-27). Zipporah quickly circumcised Gershom with a sharp stone and touched Moses' feet with it, saying "You are a husband of blood!" (Exodus 4:26.) Some scholars explain the reason why God came to kill Moses was because of the covenant he made with Abraham. "'He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.'" (Genesis 17:10-14)

Specifically, Exodus reads:

Exo 4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
Exo 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
Exo 4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
Exo 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
Exo 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

God in Judaism is different from God of Christianity in that the former seems to have acted like a god of an ancient tribe whose survival depended on how its members absolutely followed the word of God.

Such God would not send His Son to this world that would betray and execute Him.

But if such God sent His Son to this cruel world, how terrible the revenge would be which He should take on this world that betrayed and executed His Son.




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Luk 7:14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

"into a city called Nain" - Japan and China in these 2500 Years

A Mountain City North of Tokyo

Japan and China in these 2000 Years

Historically, there is some clear distinction between the Han tribe, a major tribe of Chinese, and Japanese.  Their language systems are also different.  However, in terms of culture and civilization after the era of simple hunting and food gathering about 2500 years ago or more, Japanese owed many things to China (and Korea as an extension of the Chinese civilization).

However, it was till Japanese missions to Sui China dispatched between 600 and 618 that Japanese imperial court and political leaders unconditionally respected Chinese courts.

Between 607 and 838, Japan sent 19 missions to China. Knowledge was the principal objective of each expedition. For example: Priests studied Chinese Buddhism. Officials studied Chinese government. Doctors studied Chinese medicine. Painters studied Chinese painting. Approximately one third of those who embarked from Japan did not survive to return home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_missions_to_Sui_China

Especially in the second mission to the Sui dynasty, the Japanese imperial court took a bold stance by indicating that Japan was not a tributary or a subject kingdom to Sui.

Ono was appointed by Empress Suiko as an official envoy (Kenzuishi) to the Sui court in 607 (Imperial embassies to China), and he delivered the famous letter from Japan's Prince Shōtoku which began "The Son of Heaven where the sun rises [Japan], to the Son of Heaven where the sun sets [China], may good health be with you." Emperor Yang was angered at being addressed in this way, although it is not clear whether he was angered more by the insult of Sui being referred to as the land of the setting sun, or by the use of Son of Heaven to refer both to himself and the emperor of Japan, hinting that they were equals, when China considered the Yamato state of Japan to be nothing more than an insignificant barbarian state. Nevertheless, Emperor Yang was probably more interested in obtaining Japan's support in his campaigns against Goguryeo than in matters of decorum, and despite the insult, he sent his own envoy, Pei Shiqing (Hai-sei-sei in Japanese), back to Japan with Ono.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ono_no_Imoko

Since then, any Japanese emperors, samurai leaders (shoguns), and government kept this stance for more than 1400 years to date so as to make Japan politically and militarily independent from China (except one samurai shogun who wanted wealth in trade with China).

China has had a large land area and a large population with old and rich culture since early centuries of history.  Any nations around China have been cautious in their relationship with China so as not to be absorbed by Chinese power.  (A recent example is Tibet.)

However, how deep Japan was once influenced by Chinese power could be seen in an example of Himiko, one of the most notable and popular figures in the Japanese history.

Himiko or Pimiko ( c. 170–248 AD) was a shaman queen of Yamataikoku in Wa (ancient Japan). Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom (220–265), and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa. Early Japanese histories do not mention Himiko, but historians associate her with legendary figures such as Empress Consort Jingū, who was Regent (c. 200–269) in roughly the same era as Himiko.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himiko 

Hiumiko might be one of ancestors of the current Imperial Family of Japan.  But the theory that Himiko was subject to a Chinese kingdom could not be accepted by later Japanese Imperial family, politicians, leaders of the Japanese society, and scholars especially before the end of WWII where Imperial Japan fought China.

But even before Himiko, there is a historical fact that a unique Chinese arrived at Japan.   It is Xu Fu ("Jyofuku" in Japanese), a kind of sorcerer of a country near the East China Sea.

Xu Fu got permission to meet in person the First Emperor of Qin (259 BC to 210 BC), who happened to be traveling for inspection of vast local territories he had conquered.  Xu Fu said to the Emperor that if he was allowed to sail eastward from the Chinese continent with support of the Emperor, he would reach a "legendary holy land in the east" (which is believed to be Japan of ancient days) and bring back some arcanums that would give immortality to the Emperor.  So, the First Emperor approved Xu Fu's plan.

Xu Fu is believed to have arrived at Japan, but had no intention to return to China and the First Emperor of China with the elixir of life that might be found in Japan, because the Emperor was well known for his cruelty and severe oppression of people.  Xu Fu succeeded in deceiving the Emperor, in this context. 
(http://eereporter.blogspot.jp/2009/08/i-am-not-of-this-world.html)

This is the oldest episode that China had an influence on Japanese culture.   And, even today, there are some Japanese who think that Xu Fu must have some relationship with the origin of the Imperial Family of Japan.

The relationship between Japan and China is no simple in these 2000 years.


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Luk 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

"Go, and he goeth" - Why Christianity Could Establish Itself in ancient Rome

Around Tokyo

Why Christianity Could Establish Itself in ancient Rome

Everybody wants to be rich.  But nobody uses violence, knives, or guns to be rich today, since there is any degree of rule of or control by law in addition to the police force.

In the Roman Empire about 2000 years ago, everyone wanted to be rich, too.  But there were not good police systems in ancient Rome and the Empire.  Even armed soldiers were forbidden in Rome except for some specified mission.  Only a small number of soldiers were stationed in Rome.  And as the assassination of Caesar showed, there were not enough special services for public figures.

 However, there were many slaves in Rome.  They were of curse restrained by not only Roman laws but also physical forces of their masters.  It means that although there were not many soldiers working as policemen in Rome, each free citizen was armed with swords, knives, etc.  Essentially, individuals in the Roman Empire had to protect themselves by themselves.  And, they had to suppress and manage their slaves first by their individual forces, although the Roman authority would send soldiers to suppress slaves who beat their masters and ran away.

In addition, the Roman Empire was not reluctant to give Roman citizenship to members of foreign tribes or ex-slaves taken to Rome after wars.  But, in Rome, order and peace were maintained not only by laws or the police forces but also by armed individual citizens and their will to maintain order and peace.

In other words, criminals could not be so easily arrested or punished by the Roman authority unless they had gathered to form a formidable force to which Roman troops must be mobilized to suppress it.

Originally, Rome was built by members of a tribe.  Order and peace were kept in Rome, because Romans had to fight in unity against other tribes and external forces for survival.  So, nobody in the tribe wanted a state of anarchy through violence and crimes.  No police was needed.  Basically, individuals should protect themselves with their own arms in peace time.

But as Rome became a center of the ancient Europe, many members of other tribes were brought to Rome as slaves, guests, or Roman citizens.  But the social system didn't change much.  Order and peace in peace time must be secured by individuals with their own arms.

This state of the Roman society allowed many criminals to perform crimes without being arrested or punished if they did not challenge the Roman authority.  So, ancient Rome or other cities in the Empire were full of petty crimes.

So, it is very natural for poor or weak Roman citizens and slaves or ex-slaves accepted Christianity, a religion of peace, to save themselves from violence and crimes.  Christian citizens could trust other Christian citizens.  They gathered, communicated, and kept contact with one another to protect themselves from violence and crimes being commonly observed in Rome and other cities in the Empire.

This must be one of reasons why Christianity could establish it in ancient Rome and the Roman Empire.

So, put extremely without fear of misunderstanding, we might be allowed to think if in America today there is only a small number of policemen, and order and peace of the society or communities are depended on armed individuals, Christianity should prevail more in a more serious manner.  




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Luk 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

"If I have rewarded evil" - The Miracle Distances among Global Religions

Around the Tokyo Station 

The Miracle Distances among Global Religions

A Japanese blogger measured the distances among the sacred sites of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism.

Jerusalem to Bodh Gaya: 4904.248231 km
Jerusalem to Mecca:　 1234.738123 km
The Vatican to Jerusalem: 2311.491879 km
The Vatican to Bodh Gaya: 6815.590147 km
Mecca to Bodah Gaya: 4622.295844 km
The Vatican to Mecca:　3421.269605 km


http://equaljapan.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-97.html

The distance ratios are as follows:
Jerusalem to Mecca over Jerusalem to Bodh Gaya is 1:3.972 or about 1:4.
The Vatican to Jerusalem over Mecca to Bodah Gaya is 1:1.9997 or about 1:2.
The Vatican to Mecca over the Vatican to Bodh Gaya is 1:1.992 or about 1:2
The Vatican to Jerusalem over the Vatican to Bodh Gaya is 1:2.949 or about 1:3.
The Vatican to Jerusalem over the the Vatican to Mecca is 2:2.960 or about 2:3.

Watching these ratios, the blogger got astonished to find that the ratios can be expressed only with small integers from 1 to 4.  Indeed, it can be an act of God.

It is remarkable not only in that these ratios are expressed almost by simple integers but also in that they seem to show relative closeness among the three religions.  In addition, within the triangle set on the Vatican, Mecca, and Bodah Gaya, all the origins of the ancient civilizations except ancient Chinese civilization are included.  The ancient Egyptian Civilization, the ancient Mesopotamian Civilization, the ancient Indus Civilization, and the ancient Greek Civilization are all situated within this triangle.

The global civilization, including Europeans', Muslims', and Hindus', to date was originated in this triangle.  However, the ancient Chinese Civilization seems to have only influenced the regions northeast of the Himalaya Mountains, namely East Asia.  And in these regions, Japan is especially unique in that it could catch up with Western Civilization in the early 20th century.

Anyway, this is another global miracle God shows in terms of global religions.


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Psa 7:3 O LORD my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
Psa 7:4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
Psa 7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

"the beam that is in thine own eye?" - Neanderthal-Origin DNA and our Religions

Tokyo

Neanderthal-Origin DNA and our Religions

According to a science survey, native human beings living outside Africa have all a few percentage of Neanderthal-origin DNA in their bodies.

However native Africans have no traits of Neanderthal-origin DNA.  Human beings are believed to have met Neanderthal people in the Middle East.  Indeed in Israel there are some famous remains of Neanderthals.  Even native Australians are believed to have met Neanderthals in the Middle East to carry some Neanderthal-origin DNA.

When our ancestors first migrated out of Africa around 60,000 years ago, they were not alone. At that time, at least two other species of hominid cousins walked the Eurasian landmass—Neanderthals and Denisovans. As our modern human ancestors migrated through Eurasia, they encountered the Neanderthals and interbred. Because of this, a small amount of Neanderthal DNA was introduced into the modern human gene pool.

Everyone living outside of Africa today has a small amount of Neanderthal in them, carried as a living relic of these ancient encounters. A team of scientists comparing the full genomes of the two species concluded that most Europeans and Asians have between 1 to 2 percent Neanderthal DNA. Indigenous sub-Saharan Africans have none, or very little Neanderthal DNA because their ancestors did not migrate through Eurasia.

https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/neanderthal/

It is interesting, since Christianity started in the Middle East but the religion did not prevail in Africa (till colonization by European Christians started in Africa).  And, human beings met Neanderthals in the Middle East but native Africans were not influenced by Neanderthals.

Maybe there might be some linkage between Neanderthal traits and Hebrews or ancestors of Abraham.  Or as Abraham came from an area close to the domain of Sumerians, Sumerians might have more Neanderthal-origin DNA than other tribes.  If Abraham had had some linkage with Sumerians, and Sumerians who established the first urban civilization in the Middle East had had stronger linkage with Neanderthals, Hebrews should have had some linkage to Neanderthals through Abraham and Sumerians.

Then, the major three religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, might be influenced by Neanderthal traits.

In other word, we might owe our major religions to Neanderthal-origin DNA.  It is indeed an act of God!





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Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

"with what measure ye mete" - DNAs of Religions

Tokyo

DNAs of Religions

Muhammad's path for dissemination of his teaching was very different from Jesus Christ's.

Muhammad fought his enemies with his troops, using weapons.  Muhammad also attacked some Judaist communities who did not respect him.  Muhammad believed that God was on his side since he was winning the battles.

This is part of DNA of Islam, whereas peaceful preaching became part of DNA of Christianity.

God also helped Hebrews through various wars establish their nation.  Accordingly, Islam's relationship with God seems rather closer to that of Judaism than that of Christianity.

Indeed the Koran is full of curses against enemies of God, Islam, and Muslims.  In this context, Islam is not a religion of peace.  However, Satan can abuse these curses so that he would make righteous Muslims get attacked due to false accusation.  Yet, if followers of Satan are going to occupy Muslims, it may be reasonable for the Koran to give such strong warning to Muslim readers with such strong curses on these enemies of God, Islam, and Muslims.   Nonetheless, the Koran is not a book for peace in a Christian sense.

And, in any of these religions, it is believed that God will punish people on the last day or in the last judgment.

Of course, it is reasonable that God takes a hard stance against Satan in the showdown.  But does it mean that there are so many followers of Satan among human beings?



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Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

""Judge not" - God of Judaists and Christians and Muhammad

The National Diet Bldg., Tokyo

God of Judaists and Christians and Muhammad

It is said that before Muhammad Arabs were worshiping various gods.

They also knew and worshiped the God of Judaists and the God of Christians.  But they also worshiped other gods.  Then, Muhammad arose, proclaiming that the only true god is the God of Judaists and Christians.  Muhammad requested Arabs to worship only the God of Judaists and Christians.

So, Muhammad must have though that he would be welcomed by Judaists and Christians.  But Judaists and Christians rejected him.

In response, Muhammad launched his own religion, though still worshiping the God of Judaists and Christians.

It may not be too late for Juadaists and Christians to admit Islam, though.


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Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

"shall he not much more clothe you" - Minds and Hearts, Not Products of Material

Tokyo

Minds and Hearts, Not Products of Material

The modern science cannot yet answer some simple questions: Of what is light or an electron made?

For example, we can answer that water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.  So, everything in this universe looks like being made of raw materials.  But of what is light or an electron made?

Scientists may say that light or an electron is a pure entity that  does not consist of nothing but itself.  But isn't there any more basic or subordinate substance that is the component of light or an electron?

Or the core of any atomic element is a proton consisting of three quarks.  But of what a quark is made of?

According to a theory, when this material universe was created, vacuum energy turned to material energy that generated time and space as well as light and other elemental particles such as electrons and quarks.  Then the raw material of everything in this universe is the vacuum energy.  But why and how did the energy change itself to material energy and further to time and space as well as elemental particles are mystery.

Put simply, the material world we live in is essentially made of the vacuum energy that does not belong to this material universe.  So, foundation of our material existence is so obscure and ambiguous.

It might suggest that work of our minds and consciousness are also based on obscure and ambiguous foundation.  However, the essence of our spiritual existence should come from the sphere outside this material universe like every substance in this universe is made of the vacuum energy that belongs to the space that existed before emergence of this material universe.

Accordingly, just like scientists believe the vacuum space out of this material space, we should believe that there is the spiritual space including Heaven and the hell.   Our spirit should come from there.
  
Anyway, believe or not our minds and hearts are not products of material in this universe.  It means we must admit existence of God more than existence of ourselves.



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Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

"when his disciples heard of it" - Black Plague and Faith in God

Tokyo

Black Plague and Faith in God

There is a theory that 70 million Europeans immigrated into America for about a century before WWII.

The main reason is that Europeans had destroyed forests and woods in a large scale.  To promote civilization, they thought it was good and just to destroy woods and forests for centuries even before the start of the Industrial Revolution.  Even those living in woods were sometimes wrongly attacked and accused of being witches.   But for people to live, woods and forests were needed.  So, many Europeans left Europe for America where a great number of woods existed.

In Europe, after woods destroyed, fields of grass were generated.  Wolves and other wild animals were wiped away.  But rats and other small animals remained.   However black rats became the source of black plague.  Plague bacteria were transferred from black rats to fleas.  Fleas bit human beings who then fell in black plague.

With expansion of civilization, European forests were changed to fields of grass, which triggered an epidemic of black plague many times.

In Japan, woods and forests were not so drastically destroyed.  The traditional Japanese agricultural system based on paddy fields needed mountains behind paddy fields as various resources such as farmyard composts.  So, in Japan, black plague has never spread.

In the 14th century, black plague attacked China, killing half of its population.  Then plague bacteria were carried to Italy, leading to a great European black plague tragedy where one third of Europeans were killed by this pestilence.  Till the 18th century, black plague attacked Europe in a large scale several times.  This must be one of reasons for many Europeans immigrated into America.

In Europe, it seems that it was not churches but science that saved people from black plague.  So, faith in God must have been doomed to reduce before faith in science.  But Europeans who fled to American must have thanked to God for they became safe from black plague, so that their faith in God must have been strengthened in America.

Anyway, black plague must have had a grave influence on the Vatican.




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Mar 6:25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Mar 6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Mar 6:28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
Mar 6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Mar 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Mar 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: 

"Bless them that curse you" - Useless 2000 Year Efforts

Tokyo

Useless 2000 Year Efforts

People take out natural resources, manufacture products, sell them to earn money, buy goods, and consume them.

However natural resources are limited.  Ultimately, the end of this cycle of economy will come.  What's more people use a great amount of energy running this economy cycle.  Discharged energy to the environment would contribute to global warning in synergy with CO2 emissions.

To keep development of human life and the level of living, people need excellent control of this economy cycle and effect of discharged energy and CO2.  So, computer and electronic engineering should be further advanced.  In the science and medical field, further advancement would be realized to make people live longer and get rid of various diseases.  But to avoid adverse effects of advanced medical science on human health, more development of medical science would be needed.

However, as long as this economy cycle and development of science and technology are driven by people having no or little respect for God, there must occur inevitable tragedy that is not only global warming but also other effects of abuse of advanced science.

So, what is needed is to judge the limit of material prosperity and power of advanced science and technology and to respect God, the creator of every material in this universe.  It is so, since God must have set some conditions or hidden natural laws that should be activated to destroy the mankind when greed and arrogance of the mankind driven by the advanced science and technology violate some holy conditions.

As the Son of God, Christ Jesus, appeared 2000 years ago, the level of material prosperity needed for the mankind must be the level of 2000 years ago.  In this context, all the efforts and the material advancement the mankind has made in these 2000 years must become useless eventually.




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Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

"Woe unto you that are full!" - Hebrews and Japanese

The Tokyo Station

Hebrews and Japanese

Why from the beginning did God choose Hebrews as a special tribe?  It is important, because for this reason God sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to Hebrews.

Anyway it is interesting that although the mankind appeared about 200,000 years ago in Africa, the history of Hebrews is just 4000 years.

Genetic studies on Jews show that most Jews worldwide bear a common genetic heritage which originates in the Middle East, and that they bear their strongest resemblance to the peoples of the Fertile Crescent. The genetic composition of different Jewish groups shows that Jews share a common genetic pool dating back 4,000 years, as a marker of their common ancestral origin. Despite their long-term separation, Jewish communities maintained commonalities in culture, tradition, and language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews#Origins 

So, why did not God choose any other tribes as special tribes for 166,000 years since the emergence of the mankind?

In Japan, the Later Stone Age is believed to have started 35,000 years ago.  Since then, there seems to be continuation of existence of people.  So, the Japanese include many descendants of ancestors who lived in the Japanese Archipelago more than 30,000 years ago.   And since there were no big waves of immigration to the Japanese Archipelago from the Asian continent and the Southeast Pacific to replace residents though the history, old and unique traits of the original Japanese must be secured even to date.

Specifically, although a little more than 50%  of the Japanese today share some DNA patters with Chinese and Koreans, 30% of the Japanese have unique DNA patterns that cannot be seen in Korea and China where people were mixed and replaced more dynamically than in Japan.

But God chose Hebrews having lived near the center of the world between Asia, Europe and Africa as a special tribe in stead of Japanese having lived in the Far East from Jerusalem.

So, we must think about why were Hebrews chosen by God?



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Luk 6:25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

"and leap for joy" - End of the World and Our Value

Around the National Diet Bldg., Tokyo

End of the World and Our Value

Recently no media, no scholars, no journalists, etc. mention much about the end of the world, since the 21st century already began and is continuing.

But it is true that Christ Jesus mentioned the end of the world.

Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

So, the focus is on behaviors of believers rather than tragic end of the world.

Koran also mentions the end of the world.

Chapter 21:
Al-Anbiya — The Prophets:
Revealed at Makkah: 7 sections; 112 verses
English Translation of the Holy Quran by Maulana Muhammad Ali
21:38 And they say: When will this threat come to pass, if you are truthful?
21:39 If those who disbelieve but knew the time when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and they will not be helped!
21:40 Nay, it will come to them all of a sudden and confound them, so they will not have the power to avert it, nor will they be respited.
21:41 And messengers before thee were indeed mocked, so there befell those of them who scoffed, that whereat they scoffed.
21:42 Say: Who guards you by night and by day from the Beneficent? Nay, they turn away at the mention of their Lord.
21:43 Or, have they gods who can defend them against Us? They cannot help themselves, nor can they be defended from Us.
http://www.aaiil.org/text/hq/trans/ch21.shtml

So, the focus is rather on anger at those who don't believe God and the end of the world.

For any human beings, the end of his/her life is more important than the end of the world in general terms, although if the end of the world should come near, everybody would be influenced.

In the past, our ancestors died without seeing the current state of the world.  But what should matter to them must be just how much they loved and believed what God wanted them to love and believe.

Nonetheless, the concept of the end of the world makes us reflect on what we have done and are doing with what significance to our existence.  We might be just doing everything so stupidly and meaninglessly.  Then, what is the value of our existence on the earth and in the universe.

The future history textbook used by some extraterrestrial intelligence might read that the mankind lived and died out without any contribution to the physical universe and the spiritual space.


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Luk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.