"and unleavened bread" - Alexander the Great and Christianity

Tokyo and Tokyo Bay

Alexander the Great and Christianity

One interesting argument about Alexander the Great and his influence on Christianity is as follows:

In conclusion, the influence of the mighty Macedonian monarch, Alexander the Great, upon the Christianity that came about nearly three hundred years after his death is extremely palpable. By conquering more territory than any one person had before, utilizing the concept of Hellenization and spreading his Greek heritage to those conquered territories, introducing the concept of a divine savior king, and by contributing to the advancement of many of the Greek philosophies which found their way into the New Testament, he did much to shape the foundation of a religion that he would not live long enough to practice. Though Eugene Borza gives him the appellation of "world figure", somehow this does not seem enough (Borza 2). Given that this great military ruler, conqueror and killer of millions can be attributed with much of the basis for a religion whose core message is steeped in peace, perhaps a better sobriquet for Alexander would be "an icon of irony". 

http://voices.yahoo.com/alexander-great-his-life-influence-christianity-5832200.html

So, 300 years before Christ Jesus was born, Alexander traveled literally from Greece to Asia Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran, Afghanistan, and as far as the border to India.

So, we may think that Christ Jesus also traveled from Nazareth to Greece and Rome, or to Egypt or otherwise to Babylon if not as far as to India.

Anyway, it is very mysterious that until He started His holy mission, He had not performed any great miracles in His home town where He is supposed to have been living as a young carpenter.

Christ Jesus must have worked great wonders somewhere in those areas without witnesses of Israelites before He started His holy mission when He is believed to have grown up to be about 35 years old, provided that He was born in 4 BC and died in AD 33.

Finally, Christ Jesus never mentioned Alexander the Great even in His parable.


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Exo 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exo 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof

"And there was war in heaven" - Review of Japanese Earthquakes

Government Office Quarter, Tokyo

Review of Japanese Earthquakes

Today an M7.3 earthquake occurred in Japan.

Specifically it was set off at a location in the North Pacific Ocean about 100 km east of the epicenter of the M9.0 Earthquake of  March 11, 2011.  No casualties and big damage have been reported.

So, let's review how big earthquakes with a magnitude of M5.0 or more which occurred between March 9 and March 20, 2011 and two M7.0 class earthquakes that were set off on April 7 and 11.

Today's M7.3 earthquake happened around the epicenter of the M7.5 earthquake having been set off at 15:25 on March 11, 2011.

The zone full of earthquakes off Honsyu Island, where Tokyo City and Tokyo Bay are situated, is along the border of two continental plates:

To make sure, the plate Tokyo is on is called the North American Plate.

So, there are four big continental plates converge around Tokyo and Mt. Fuji, facing Sagami Trench.  Hence, Tokyo and Mt. Fuji are so unique and special.

Note that the distance between Mt. Fuji and Tokyo is about 100 km or 62 miles.

So, finally, let's confirm where an M7.3 earthquake occurred today , specifically, at 17:18 on December 7 (Japan Time).

Note that Japan is almost as large as California.


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Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

"when Herod would have brought him forth" - Syria and the World

Tokyo, Japan

Syria and the World

Something terrible would surely happen in the world in near future.

It is mostly because people have enjoyed their lives too much while Syrians are being killed.

While many people in Syria were feeling their lives were in danger, most of citizens in the world were enjoying the 2012 London Olympics.

For example, while the War on Terror was going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, some Muslims were enjoying economic success in Dubai.  And then the 2008 Financial Crisis was set off in New York to eventually hit Dubai.

In 2000, the White House exhibited some deplorable obscene incident to the world.  It symbolized the recent trend of degraded public morals in the US.   And then the 2001 9/11 Terror was set off in New York and Washington DC.

From Libya and Egypt to Syria turmoil in the Islamic society has expanded with some hope of improvement of the Islamic world, but it looks like coming into a dead end.

Behind the Assad regime in  Syria, there are dangerous supportive powers of Iran, Russia, and China.  It might imply that a future decisive war might occur between NATO and those military-dependent countries.  

We had better take precautions against possible expansion of the situation in Syria where Abraham once traveled 4000 years ago.



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Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Act 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Act 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Act 12:9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

"And again he sent another" - The Holy Stars

A Central District in Tokyo Metropolis, Tokyo

The Holy Stars

Probably 4 BC must be the year very important for the birth of Christ Jesus, though He must have been born on December 25, 5 BC.

The search for the Stars of the Magi as nonperiodic astronomical occurrences such as comets and nova, has turned many to the extensive ancient records of the Chinese astronomers. In the Ho Pen Yoke catalogue is found a hui star that was sighted in the lunar month falling in March/April of 5 BCE, and it was visible for seventy days.5 Also recorded during this period is Haley's comet in 12 BCE, a comet in 10 BCE, and a comet or nova on April 24 of 4 BCE; the following entry is a comet in 13 CE.6 Of interest in this search are the appearances in 5 and 4 BCE.
The "star" of 5 BCE appeared sometime during the Chinese lunar month from March 10 to April 7. The middle of that month was about March 25. This is a prime candidate for the first Star of the Magi, which coincided with the conception of Jesus.

This "star" was described as a hui-hsing or "sweeping star" or "broom star." This comet or nova was visible for seventy days and was reported in the constellation Aquila. It arose about four to five hours before the sun and was visible in the late night sky toward the east. Bright, long lasting comets tend to be close to the sun and earth, which makes them appear to move rapidly against the background of stars. This was not reported in the Chinese annals, suggesting the "star" was not a comet. A nova rapidly comes to maximum brightness and then falls off over a time to invisibility; it may reappear some years later. Although not certain, the "star" was probably a nova. This nova is suggested as the first observation of the Magi who, "saw His star in the east." (Matt. 2:2)

The "star" of 4 BCE was reported only for April 24. It was described as a po-hsing or "sparkling star." This was a nova, or possibly a supernova, which appeared in the constellation Capricornus. This constellation is next to Aquila and would have appeared very close to the same location as the nova of 5 BCE. It also arose about four to five hours before the sun. If a supernova, it would have continued to be visible into the daylight. A supernova will leave a pulsar remnant. The binary pulsar PSR1913+16b has been identified as this pulsar, although with a low probability because of the density of pulsars in that area.7

The supernova of April 24, 4 BCE is suggested as the Star of Bethlehem. It has been calculated that if an observer looked from the Old South Gate leading from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which is 20o west of south, that just before sunrise on that day, this star would have appeared 70o above the horizon, directly over Bethlehem. This would be a very possible time of departure from Jerusalem for the Magi. As a supernova in approximately the same location, which is unexpected, it might have seemed to the Magi to be a reappearance of the nova of 5 BCE. The timing of just over a year between the novas might account for Herod's selection of two years for the age of the children to be killed.

It is not known how any Magi would make an astrological interpretation of the first seventy-day nova. The interpretation may have been found according to their established astrological procedures, or given in a dream by God, just as He later warned them not to return to Herod. The April 24, 4 BCE nova would then be the Star over Bethlehem. Here may be a bona fide contender for the Star of Bethlehem.

A possible objection to this interpretation is that by the time the Magi arrived in Bethlehem the nova or supernova would have moved out of position and may have been washed out by daylight. However, when the Magi "saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." (Matt. 2:10) The initial sighting from the Old South Gate may have become frozen in their minds, standing still, leading them rapidly by their highly charged emotions. An open inquiry in Bethlehem would have then located the child, especially since God brought them there.

The two novas of 5 BCE and 4 BCE fit the two departures to Nazareth. The first nova began in March of 5 BCE, and lasted for seventy days. The middle of that lunar month, about March 25, coincides with the traditional date for the Annunciation, or the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. This would be more than a coincidence. This would then place the birth of Jesus in December of 5 BCE, possibly on the traditional date of December 25. Jesus was then presented at the Temple forty-one days later, or February 2, 4 BCE. Joseph, Mary and Jesus departed for Nazareth at that time. After Jesus was born, "his parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover." (Luke 2:41) If "every year" is to be interpreted literally, then Joseph and Mary must have gone to the following Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, April 11 to April 18, 4 BCE. They apparently then spent time in nearby Bethlehem, probably with friends made a few months earlier when Jesus was born. On April 24 there appeared the supernova, the Star of Bethlehem. The Magi presented their gifts to Jesus that day. Then followed the flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents. Their stay in Egypt ended about six months later with the death of Herod on November 27, 4 BCE. On the way home they bypassed Jerusalem on this second return to Nazareth.

It should be noted that there was no "Christmas Star" associated with the birth of Jesus. The first Star was at His conception, and the second Star when He was about four months old. 

http://doig.net/NTC08.htm

So, finally the answer was given by the ancient Chinese cultural heritage which was then imported by Japan later.


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Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Mar 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mar 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
Mar 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

"Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him" - Holy Eclipse

Prime Minister Office, Tokyo, Japan

Holy Eclipse

It looks like very true that Christ Jesus faced the last time of His human life on the earth in AD 33.

Isaac Newton was one of the first astronomers to estimate the date of the crucifixion and suggested Friday, April 23, 34 AD/CE.[68][105] In 1990 astronomer Bradley E. Schaefer computed the date as Friday, April 3, 33 AD/CE.[106] In 1991, John Pratt stated that Newton's method was sound, but included a minor error at the end. Pratt suggested the year 33 AD/CE as the answer.[68] Using the completely different approach of a lunar eclipse model, Humphreys and Waddington arrived at the conclusion that Friday, April 3, 33 AD/CE was the date of the crucifixion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Jesus

So, one thing sure is that the process of His Coming Again to this world must be completed in 2033.



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Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

"shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" - The Crown

Tokyo Sky-Tree Tower, Tokyo

The Crown

The imminent possible reason that Christ Jesus must have been born about 2000 years ago is that He had to succeed  the crown from the dying king of Israel at the time.

Herod (Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס‎, Hordos, Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs), also known as Herod the Great (born 73 or 74 BCE, died 4 BCE in Jericho[1]), was a Roman client king ofJudea.[2][3][4] His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis."
...

39–37 BCE– War against Antigonus. After the conquest of Jerusalem and victory over Antigonus, Mark Antony executes Antigonus. 

36 BCE– Herod makes his 17-year-old brother-in-law, Aristobulus III, high priest, fearing that the Jews would appoint Aristobulus III "King of the Jews" in his place. 

35 BCE– Aristobulus III is drowned at a party, on Herod's orders. 

31 BCE– Israel suffers a devastating earthquake. Octavian defeats Mark Antony, so Herod switches allegiance to Octavian, later known as Augustus. 

4 BCE– Young disciples smashed the golden eagle over the main entrance of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Pharisee teachers claimed it was an idolatrous Roman symbol. Herod arrested them, brought them to court, and sentenced them. Augustus approved the death penalty for Antipater. Herod then executed his son, and again changed his will: Archelaus (from the marriage with Malthace) would rule as ethnarch over the tetrachy of Judea, while Antipas (by Malthace) and Philip (from the fifth marriage with Cleopatra of Jerusalem) would rule as tetrarchs over Galilee and Peraea (Transjordan), also over Gaulanitis (Golan),Trachonitis (Hebrew: Argob), Batanaea (now Ard-el-Bathanyeh) and Panias. Salome I was also given a small toparchy in the Gaza region. As Augustus did not confirm his will, no one received the title of King; however, the three sons were granted rule of the stated territories.
...
Some of Herod's other achievements include the development of water supplies for Jerusalem, building fortresses such as Masada andHerodium, and founding new cities such as Caesarea Maritima and the enclosures of Cave of the Patriarchs and Mamre in Hebron. He andCleopatra owned a monopoly over the extraction of asphalt from the Dead Sea, which was used in ship building. He leased copper mines on Cyprus from the Roman emperor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great

In its Nativity account, the Gospel of Matthew associates the birth of Jesus with the reign of Herod the Great, who is generally believed to have died around 4 BC/BCE.[28][74] Matthew 2:1 states that: "Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king" and Luke 1:5 mentions the reign of Herod shortly before the birth of Jesus.[28] Luke's gospel also describes the birth as taking place during the first census, which is generally believed to have occurred in 6 AD/CE.[75] Most scholars generally assume a date of birth between 6 and 4 BC/BCE.[76] Other scholars assume that Jesus was born sometime between 7 and 2 BC/BCE.[77]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Jesus

So, immediately after  the death of king of Israel Herod, new King Jesus was borne, which tells that there was no interruption in the royal succession.

And, probably it must be because that it must have been Christ Jesus who put an end to this royal succession of Judaists or Israelites.  Or otherwise, Christ Jesus must still keep the tile of the king of Israel.

The acronym INRI (Iēsus Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum) represents the Latin inscription which in English reads as "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" and John 19:20 states that this was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin and Greek during the crucifixion of Jesus. The Greek version reads ΙΝΒΙ, representing Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων.[4] 

In the New testament, the "King of the Jews” title is used only by the gentiles, namely by the Magi, Pontius Pilate and the Roman soldiers. In contrast, the Jewish leaders use the designation "King of Israel".[2] The phrase has also been translated King of the Judeans (see Ioudaioi).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INRI

But why must he still keep the tile of the king of Israel?

It is because He is going to come back to this world and Israel, again, as the Second Coming.



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Luk 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.