"the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus" - No Spiritual Work Beneficial without Approval of the God

 

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No Spiritual Work Beneficial without Approval of the God

Christ Jesus did not only have His own ability and power to heal the sick and defeat Satan but also the authority and power to give such ability and power to his disciples or Apostles:

10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (Matthew 10)

It is spiritual power that Christ Jesus gave to them.  It means that spiritual power can defeat Satan and heal the sick.  And this power was given to the spirits of His Apostles that were in or above their minds.  Therefore, men have surely spirits in or above their minds.  This power can work on both the spiritual body Satan and the physical illness of men.  It means that spiritual power can work on spiritual entities and physical phenomena. 

So, if you believe in Christ Jesus and the Gospels in addition to the God, you have to admit that human spirits can have such power.  But most people do not see appearance of such power.  The Vatican today recognizes bishops with such power as saints.  Indeed, unless guided by Christ Jesus, it might be impossible for a man, or even a bishop, to obtain such power and execute it effectively.  

However even today, it has been sometimes reported that those who experienced near-death experiences obtained the ability to cure the sick, although it seems to be very rare that they captured the ability to defeat Satan.     

But how do they perform such ability?  In most cases, it seems that they pray for the God with a wish that a sick man will be cured and they feel assured that he will be recovered.  This praying and healing is performed, of course, through one's mind, since spiritual power is in or above the mind.  The near-death experiences seem to have activated their minds or open up the door to their spirts from their minds.  Christ Jesus must have worked on the minds of the Apostles so that their minds could directly connect to their souls.

So, the Gospels should be taken as presenting a spiritual story about Christ Jesus.  And, the spiritual aspect of Christ Jesus is essential.  The Gospels really tell how the spirit of Christ Jesus worked on spiritual phenomena and material phenomena.  So, if you are given this spiritual ability, you can also defeat Satan and cure the sick like those Apostles.

There are some people who claim that they, as mediums, can contact spirits of dead men or as persons with supernatural power, can cause supernatural events.  There is no denying such a case, but performing such ability without approval of Christ Jesus or the God is dangerous, since there is Satan in the spirit world, too.

In this context, it is dubious that every dead man is happily living in the spirit world or in the other world.  Christ Jesus said that evil men should fall down into the hell but poor men could enter into Heaven.  Almost all the persons who experienced the near-death experiences said that they had not seen the judgement by the God.  Or those who were allowed by the God to see the spirt world saw that evil men spontaneously going to the hell without judgment by the God.  Therefore, it is thought that those who had the near-death experiences must have only made a few steps into the spirit world before the judgement by the God for the destiny of Heaven or the hell.        

So, performing spiritual power or supernatural power without approval of Christ Jesus or the God or regardless judgment on good or evil or without minding the issue of good and evil is dangerous, although it might be possible, since Satan or evil spirits can interfere with such spiritual work.

Not all the spiritual work or phenomena are sacred or holy, or otherwise beneficial without approval of the God or Christ Jesus.      

   

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Mark 6, King James Version

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.
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.
27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

"What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" - No Matter How Much You Suffer

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No Matter How Much You Suffer

The Gospels are not a fairy tale.  But without admitting that there are spirits, life after death, Heaven and the hell, none can truly understand the Gospels in addition to the words of Christ Jesus.

Before men developed the modern science, people could simply and easily believe in what the Bible and Christ Jesus told.  Before the religious reform in the 16th century and the start of the modern science in the 17th century, people could simply and easily believe in the exitance of the God, spirits, angels, etc.  However, the more the science develops, the more people come to realize that mysteries in the universe and the spirit world thicken.

If you think that everything can be eventually scientifically explained, or only what can be scientifically explained is real, you have to admit that our science has not yet developed sufficiently, since your minds exist and you have your own spirit worlds in spite that our science cannot yet scientifically explain the exitance or the details of your minds, consciousness, or your own spirit worlds. 

For example, before men definitely or scientifically found that light has no mass but a certain speed of about 300,000 Km/sec in the early 20th century regardless that it is measured by anybody moving at any speed, light existed and was perceived by men.  Life after death seems to have been perceived by many people while living in this world, although it cannot be scientifically explained.

Indeed, according to various surveys, about 25% of people seem to have experienced spiritual phenomena or near-death experiences.  However, except some unique scientists, not all the scientists and other people seem to be sincerely trying to clarify what are the spirit world, consciousness, death, life after death, etc. in addition to near-death-experiences.

But if you, even instinctually, admit the existence of the God or the words of Christ Jesus, the answer can be easily found: The God created this physical/material universe and the men and the human world in addition the spirit world.  However, not all the people can enter into Heaven to be given eternal life but only those allowed by the God or Christ Jesus can be accepted in Heaven, although all the people, good or evil, can enter into the spirt world after their death.

Good people can be accepted in Heaven is truly the good news.  However, evil people cannot be accepted in Heaven, but they are to be condemned to the hell.  And the measure to judge whether a man is good or evil is whether he is poor or rich, since men can be rich only if they sell their souls to Satan who is the source of evil.  So, the words of Christ Jesus are really Good News.

In this context, the spirt world, life after death, Heaven, the hell, angels, evil spirits, devils, demons, Satan, etc. must exist, since the God and Christ Jesus exist.  

However, in order to prove their existence, scientists must have the sound and right sense about the God or Christ Jesus.  And, it is assumed that men can eventually　scientifically prove and judge the existence of the God, the spirt world, life after death, etc.  But the conclusion must be that what Christ Jesus told 2000 years ago is right and correct.

Indeed, the intellectual work of the mankind since Plato is directed to this issue:  the existence of the God, the spirt world, life after death, etc.  Even Dante, Shakespeare, Goethe, etc. in addition to other notable people in other religious domains have focused on this issue. 

One's soul can survive one's physical death, which is indeed good news for everyone, since most people would not be afraid of their own death by believing in this good news.  But, the rich and evil should fall into the hell and they must face complete extinguishment or demise of their souls, which must be the second and final true death.  Only poor and faithful men can be given eternal life in Heaven. 

So, no matter how much you suffer in this world due to poverty or unhappiness, your sorrow, sadness sincerity, etc. are paid off.         

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John 6, King James Version
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

"from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" - Existence of the God and Miracles of Jesus

 

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Existence of the God and Miracles of Jesus

According to a survey in 2007,  about 80% of Americans believe in existence of the God and miracles described in the Gospels.  These percentages in Japan and China should be lower that those of Americans.  Therefore, the God should bless America more than Japan and China.

As for miracles, the following are especially listed:
1.1 Cures
1.1.1 Blind people

1.1.2 Lepers
1.1.3 Paralytics
1.1.4 Women
1.1.5 Other healing
1.1.6 Other
1.2 Exorcisms
1.3 Resurrection of the dead
1.4 Control over nature

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Jesus#Non-religious_views)

This list clearly tells that Christ Jesus had supernatural power as the God has.  Indeed, to believe in Christ Jesus or be Christians means to believe that the God exists and Christ Jesus could perform miracles, which also means that men's souls live after death of their bodies, brains, and minds.

Indeed, the Gospels reads: 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10)

This is one of the core expressions in the teachings of Christ Jesus.  So, it can be confirmed that if a man dies in this world, his soul can survive the physical death in this world, but his soul can live in the spirit world where he can obtain a spiritual body.  However, if a man follows Satan to resist the God in the spirit world as well as in this world, he should be destroyed as the second and final death in the spirit world.

In this context, the matter of death in this world is no more a focus, but the second and final death in the spirit world should be focused on.  It is because just like those who do not believe in Christ Jesus should be afraid of death in this world as if death means complete erasure of their existence, those to be destroyed by the God in the spirit world or the hell should face true and complete erasure of their existence of their souls.  Such men should be turned to nothingness.  But the souls of poor men who are allowed to enter Heaven in the spirit world should be given eternal life.

In this context, it is strange that the Pope and other bishops and priests would not proclaim this truth or try to make it fully understood by the public.

Put simply, in terms of souls, there is no death in this world or this physical world.  But real death is in the spirit world or an afterlife.  And, it is the God who would decide to cause the real or final death to souls of all the people.  And, Satan has no such power; rather, it must be decided from the beginning that Satan should be some day completely destroyed by the God.        

In other words, do not be rich since the souls of rich men cannot enter Heaven, because their souls will be destroyed by the God in the hell.    

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Ephesians 6, King James Version
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

"Jesus walking on the sea" - Death is on Extension of Life

 

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Death is on Extension of Life

It should be commonly known that there is a spirit in everyone.  When a man dies, his mind also dies but his spirit survives death of his body and mind.  And his sprit with memory of his mind goes to the spirit world.  This is basically claimed in the Gospels and was taught by Christ Jesus.

When a man experiences a near-death experience, his spirit sometimes plays a major role in such an experience.  In that case, he might get a glimpse of the spirit world.

However, Christ Jesus said: 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4).  This must mean that a man can activate power of his spirit.  And, a spirit with faith can execute a miracle according to Christ Jesus: 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Luke 17)　

So, there is no wonder that some people who experienced near-death experiences came to have some supernatural power.  One of such experiences is reported by a Japanese female scholar of Japanese Literature who is also a Catholic sister.

She experienced a near-death experience when she accidentally fell from steep stairs in a house of a Japanese Catholic organization in 1977.  While she was lying in a bed after the accident before being brought to a hospital, she saw down below herself standing on a lotus, and that herself was unified with her looking down and she ascended as high as possible in air.  Then, she saw bright celestial light and heard a voice saying that what was important was loving and understanding.  Later, she returned to consciousness after coming back from the hospital.

Subsequently, she found that she obtained supernatural power to heal the sick, find what disease a patient had and when the patient would be healed.  She exercised this power on many people her friend, a Catholic sister, brought to her.  In one occasion, she healed even a sick dog.  She could even know when a good luck would fall on a man.  So, some business men in securities firms came to see her.  But, when she found their professions, she decided not to meet such men.       

She is an elite woman in the Japanese society as scholar of Japanese Literature, so that she does not need such supernatural power to make her famous or rich, although she wrote some books on her experiences to be publicly know as a unique female scholar.  She does not need to publicize her ability, make it a kind of entertainment or business, and get big money.  This is a very trustful case.

According to her, when a patient comes close to death, he looks surrounded by white light or transparent like an angel.  When a patient is healed by her putting her hand over him, she feels as if light and healing power are flowing through het to him from the universe, which should invoke his own natural healing power.  But she admits that some men die despite her effort to heal them.  However, she thinks that death is on extension of life.  And she feels that death of patients shows her glances of their life.

From a point of Biblical view, her report can be trusted, though she has not written that she was saved and guided by Christ Jesus.  It is somewhat sorry that her work seems to be shadowed by some commercial spiritualists or spiritual business.       

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John 6, King James Version
16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

"thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" - A Son of Abraham or a Relative of Christ Jesus

 

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A Son of Abraham or a Relative of Christ Jesus

According to Christ Jesus, if a man gives half of his assets to the poorer and gives back to the other four times what he has illegally taken from him, the man would be admitted as a son of Abraham or a relative of Christ Jesus.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19)

Christ Jesus did not say that a man had to have great faith, which could not be proved or verified objectively, to be admitted as a son of Abraham or a relative of Christ Jesus.  In other words, to prove or verify that a man has great faith enough to be admitted as a son of Abraham or a relative of Christ Jesus, he has to give half of his assets to the poorer and give back to the other four times what he has illegally taken from him.

Indeed, if you say that you have greater faith than that of the Pope or any priest, there are no objective measures to prove it.  Only how you spend your money or how you earn your money can prove it.  That is why Christ Jesus did not earn money or keep or accumulate assets, for example, by becoming the King of Jews or the Emperor of Romans even in order to save the poor and the world.

In this context, rich priests or bishops, etc. are contradictory expressions.  All the followers of Christ Jesus should be poor, or, as poor as Christ Jesus.  And, it can be understood that rich men cannot be accepted in Heaven.

Therefore, you may not trust priests or bishops who live, dress, and eat richer than you.  Satan should be linked to such priests, bishops, etc. through money, assets, or riches.  So, it is no wonder even if Satan comes into the Vatican and other churches.

Put simply, men should pursue love and truth in addition to peace, justice, order, equality, and fairness instead of money, wealth, honor, and pride.  Otherwise, you cannot be admitted by Christ Jesus as a son of Abraham or a relative of Christ Jesus.  

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Matthew 6, King James Version
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

"your bodies are the members of Christ" - Not All the Spirits are from the God but sometimes from Satan

 

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Not All the Spirits are from the God but sometimes from Satan

Why do not Christian churches proclaim that Christ Jesus assured that men after death can be alive as souls in the spirit world?

This truth must be taught to every child in school.

In addition, it must be taught that only poor men can be welcomed in Heaven but rich men fall into the hell to be eradicated completely.

Churches teach, as if it were a religious fairy tale or an unrealistic metaphor, that a dead man can enter into Heaven despite whether he is poor or rich, or even righteous or evil.  As a result, people do not mind what will happen after their death.

The important points of teachings of Christ Jesus are: 

1. Men live as their souls in the spirit world after their death in this world.

2. Eventually, faithful men are accepted in Heaven, but evil men are rejected and fall down to the hell and come to a naught, facing the final death.

3. The key to the poof of one's faithfulness is whether he is poor or rich, sine money is tools of Satan.

4. It is recommended for a man to abandon wealth, give money to the poorer, leave families, friends, social status, and material happiness, and hate his life in this world.

But, many ordinary people influenced or brainwashed by Satan would say that it is ridiculous.  They think that Christianity and other religions should be accepted or overlooked as long as they do not interfere with material happiness or they contribute to stability of society and peace of minds.

Otherwise, they may accept part of the truth that men after death can live in the spirit world, and they may claim that they can communicate with various spiritual entities.  But they ignore other points in the teachings of Christ Jesus, especially the exhortation to be good, since only poor and good men can be accepted in Heaven.

The theory that there is the spirit world but no Heaven and hell, and all the men after death can live happily as souls in the spirit world without being judged as to whether they are poor or rich, namely, faithful or evil is dangerous.  It is so, since there are Satan, devils, evil spirits, etc. in the spirit world.  Not only angels of the God would see souls of dead men in the spirit world, but also evil spirits linked to evil and Satan should be waiting for souls of dead mem.

The Gospels tell that spirits in the spirit world would sometimes interfere with this material world and communicate with living men.  But all the spirits are not from the God or His Angels but are from Satan.

Finally, blessed are poor men even if they die of the corona-virus.  But the targets of the Angel of Death with the viruses sent by the God should be rich men, although the ultimate target must be Satan.       

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1 Corinthians 6, King James Version
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

"your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" - Christianity and Other Religions in Different Phases

 

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Christianity and Other Religions in Different Phases

There is an opinion that what Christ Jesus taught is not a religion that denies other religions: 

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5)

If you are Judaists, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, etc., you would have to admit that the earth goes around the sun, and the moon rotates around the earth.  Understanding those facts does not hinder people from believing in any religion.

Likewise, understanding the truth Christ Jesus taught and presented should not hinder people from believing in any religion.  Even Buddhists could accept the concept of the God held by followers of Christ Jesus: The creator and ruler of everything in this world and the spirit world.   

So, it should be possible for a man believing in any religion to accept and believe in the truth Christ Jesus taught.  A religion is deeply connected to a community or a society where a man was born or is living.  Traditions, modalities, and rituals of religions are part of cultures of such communities.  However, truth can be shared by any men believing in any specific religions.

Therefore, every no-nonsense religion is based on the notions that dead men live in an afterlife; pious men can be accepted in Heaven or the paradise while bad men are condemned to the hell; and there are holy spirits with deity and evil spirits with animosity against holy spirits.

Especially, the content and focus of the teachings of Christ Jesus are simple: After men's death, poor and pious men are welcomed in Heaven while rich and evil men fall down to the hell and are finally eradicated there.

Eventually, this core teaching is also the final end of any religions.  It is because salvation of oneself is the final purpose for a man to believe in any religion.  Even those who do not belong to any religion due to his fate or circumstances can accept this truth if they do not accept the religion of Christianity. 

In addition, Christ Jesus only told to accept openly the truth he taught.  He did not tell to do away with one's culture that includes any religion.  So, it must be tolerated or accepted that a man confesses that he belongs to a certain religion by fate or due to the cultural tradition of his society but also believes in the truth Christ Jesus told like the truth the the sun rises in the east every morning.

In this context, it can be understood that Christ Jesus was a member of the Jewish society and thus a Judaist but also a believer of the truth He Himself proclaimed.  So, any rituals and conditions involved in the religion Christianity might be a source of obstacles for acceptance of the truth just like traditions of the religion Judaism had become an obstacle for some Jewish people to accept the truth Christ Jesus had proclaimed.

Otherwise, we may as well think that the teaching of Christ Jesus was above the domain of religions, so that men of any religions can accept the teaching, since they belong to different phases.      

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Romans 6, King James Version
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

"he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles" - What is the Matter in this World and an Afterlife

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What is the Matter in this World and an Afterlife

The battle against Satan is one of the main themes of the Gospels. It was confirmed by Johann Christoph Blumhardt (1805 – 1880), a German Lutheran theologian, when he healed a girl in two-year-long demonic possession.

It was said that the demonic manifestation ended one night with the demon shouting "Jesus is the victor". Blumhardt was considered by some as a hero on the basis of the incident, but he insisted that Christ was the hero, quoted as saying: "That I don´t know, but this I do know; Jesus is the victor". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Blumhardt)

This incident was then, namely around 1850, thought to have proved that power of Christ Jesus was still alive and effective after 1800 years since the crucifixion of Christ Jesus.  Although exorcism is sometimes performed today mainly by Catholic bishops, this exorcism by Blumhardt gave strong influence on Karl Barth (1886 – 1968), a Swiss Reformed theologian who is most well known for his involvement in the Confessing Church, and authorship of the Barmen Declaration, a document adopted by Christians in Nazi Germany who opposed the Deutsche Christen (German Christian movement). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Barth; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration).

In the era of modernism when people came to neglect spiritual power while heavily relying on modern science and technology, Blumhardt stressed that spiritual power of Christ Jesus was still alive and effective through the exorcism activity.  For example, the late John-Paul II is said to have performed exorcism three times by himself, although he seems to have failed in the third time before his death in 2005.

Although spiritualism, seances, etc. became popular in the Victorian era, involving Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930), Blumhardt's case is the most reliable about spiritual phenomena. 

What is at issue is that fight against Satan has been continuing in these 2000 years.  For example, WWI, WWII, tragedies in Auschwitz, etc. were caused by Satan.  So, WWIII would surely occur in this trend, since even today people and churches have not focused on Satan and demons as their enemies. 

What's more, Satan and demons are also spiritual entities.  Therefore, this battle against Satan must continue even after men die and go into the spirit world till they are accepted in Heaven.  So, spiritual mediums and those with supernatural powers might be under control of Satan, demons, or evil spirits.  Only sincere Christians like Blumhardt could be trusted.

Incidentally, Blumhardt also gave influence on a unique Japanese writer (1925-2000) whose father was a Christian priest.  He wrote some unique books such as "Amen-Father" depicting his father who was a sincere but half-crazy (according to his son) priest following his passion toward Christ Jesus. 

Existence of spirits of dead men in the spirit world is the secondary matter.  The focus should be fight against Satan.  How one fights against Satan in this world while living in this world and in the spirit world while living in the spirit world or an afterworld is the matter. 

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Luke 6, King James Version
13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

"Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples" - Spirit Mediums Should be Guided by Christ Jesus, Angels or Holy Spirits

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Spirit Mediums Should be Guided by Christ Jesus, Angels or Holy Spirits 

Communications with a spirit living in the spirit world were practiced often in many tribes or even recorded in the Old Testament:

1 Samuel 28, King James Version 

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

However, such practices did not seem to be welcomed among Jewish people:

Isaiah 8, King James Version

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Christ Jesus did not even invoke the spirit of John the Baptist, although He had the ability to invoke spirits and talk with them: 

Mark 9, King James Version

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Even followers of Christ Jesus were to receive sprits:

Acts 2, King James Version

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So, it cannot be denied that sprits in the spirit world can communicate with men living in this world especially if allowed by the God.

Besides, Christ Jesus did not even teach how to communicate with spirits of the dead.  Indeed, there are Satan, evil spirits, etc. in the spirit world, too.  It means that if a man could communicate with a dead man's spirit freely, it does not necessarily improve his life as well as his soul or spirit.  Rather, there can be confusion.  And evil men would abuse this ability to cheat people for earning money or other profits.

The emphasis in the good news brought by Christ Jesus is put on the declaration that there is life after death and poor, faithful men can be accepted in Heaven.  For example, Swedenborg could communicate with spirits in the spirit world almost freely, but it was Christ Jesus that had allowed him to exercise this ability.  But, other spirit mediums now and in the past who gained some money or other profits by practicing communications with dead men's spirits have not been supported by Christ Jesus.  So, we cannot trust 100% of their acts.  Therefor, communications with dead men's spirits or seances should be hosted or provided by Christian priests or clergymen.

In this context, we had better think about why the Vatican has not promoted publicly this ability for communications with spirits in the spirt world.  Maybe if each individual starts to communicate with the spirit of Christ Jesus, none might turn to the church any more. 

Not all the spirits of dead men should not live happily and peacefully in the spirit world:

Matthew 13, King James Version

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.   

Evil men also die.  Their spirts in the spirit world should go down to the hell and finally get vanished.  There must be austerity even in the spirit world.  Unless spirit mediums are guided by Christ Jesus, angels or holy spirits, we cannot be sure that they are not influenced by Satan, evil spirits, etc.  

 

It is unlikely that a spirit in the spirit world would tell how to make fortunes and big money to a spirit medium. 

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John 6, King James Version
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

"he liveth unto God" - Pray to the God for Protection from Satan

A Shinto Shrine around Tokyo

Pray to the God for Protection from Satan

According to a Japanese expert of Tibetan Buddhism, there had been a school for study of spiritualism before Buddhism came to Tibet.

From a point of view of Tibetan Buddhism, it is said that the supreme truth is generally called the god, Brahman in the Indian philosophy, and nothingness in Mahayana Buddhism.  Therefore, the Buddha who got enlightenment about the supreme truth was neither another God nor someone opposite to the concept of the God as the creator of the universe and everything in a Jewish or Christian sense.

The Buddha accessed the God who was regarded as nothingness through his own way that was discovered after stopping hard ascetic training over years where he had almost starved to death.  Put simply he found that everything comes from nothingness and nothingness can be found in everything.  Emptiness has no power and potential, but this nothingness has power and potential.  Therefore, we may also regard the God as nothingness or the supreme truth.

The God is the source of existence of everything, including Himself.  But, the God was perceived as nothingness or the supreme truth by the Buddha.  All schools of Buddhism established and learnt in various Asian countries after the Buddha are based on this basic notion of the Buddha.  In this context, Buddhism is not so remote from Judaism and Christianity, although nothingness or the supreme truth seems to lack something akin to humanity or personality.  On the other hand, Christ Jesus called the God as the Father in Heaven. 

According to the modern physics, everything in this universe can be reduced to light or pure fundamental energy.  Even time and space must be generated from this fundamental energy in physical vacuum.  This physical vacuum can be regraded as part of nothingness.  So, for us to see the God, we have to go through this material universe, the origin of material and energy, and nothingness, and finally to the source of existence of everything.  If we reach the close vicinity of the God, we cannot be ourselves anymore but part of nothingness, which seems to be the aim of the Buddha.  So, the Bible tells that a man cannot continue to live after he sees the God.

From the spiritual point of view, above the material universe there is the spirit world; above the spirit world there is Heaven; and above Heave, there is the direct domain of the God.

You may deny all of these theories including the God; so then you will really die to a naught while you cannot understand why and how you came to exist and live in this world.  A soul that cannot accept spirits, truth, or the God might be rejected from going into the spirit world after his death in this world.

So, we can understand how generous the God is as He sent his Son Christ Jesus to this world to make us confirm that there are life after death, Heaven, and the God.

However, there is one big problem.  Satan does not want us to understand the supreme truth and love the God.  Evil, hatred, and darkness in mind are effective weapons for Satan.  In addition, it is thought Satan is a product of insanity against perfect integrity of the God.

It is said that Satan also attacked the Buddha, living 500 years before Christ Jesus, during his ascetic training, although Mahayana Buddhism established in the era when Christ Jesus came to this world told that Satan never appeared to the Buddha after he achieved the enlightenment.   Nonetheless, the original sutra of Buddhism before Mahayana Buddhism told that Satan appeared in the mind of the Buddha even after the Buddha achieved the enlightenment.

Finally, what is sure seems that the God is free from Satan, which implies that any man can be attacked by Satan unless he is perfectly protected by the God.  So, what we should do is to pray to the God for protection from Satan.           

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Romans 6, King James Version
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

"there arose certain of the synagogue" - Do Not Fear Death since There's Life after Death

 

Around a Humble Shinto Shrine in Tokyo

Do Not Fear Death since There's Life after Death

Christ Jesus said, as a matter of fact, that there are the God, life after death, and Heaven and the hell, though faithful poor people could enter into Heaven but evil rich people should go down to the hell to be reduced to a naught finally. 

So, every poor man should be rejoiced while every rich man should be alerted.  Therefore, the Gospels recording these words of Christ Jesus must be called Good News for poor and suffering people in this world in any eras in these 2000 years. 

Although the emphasis of these words is on encouragement and exhortation of doing good and living righteously, it also makes it clear that death in this world is not an end of one's life but one's soul would go on living in the spirit world and eventually enter into Heaven or fall down to the hell.

The assertion that one's soul survives death of one's body in this world is a revolutionary announcement, although some people must have felt so in any culture of any tribe, which led to creation of various myths and religions.  But, it was clearly confirmed by Christ Jesus who claimed that He had come from the God.  The significance of Christianity should lie in this point: You should die in this world but your soul would continue to live in life after death. 

However, if one knows, accepts, and believes in this truth, he does not necessarily come to live according to the words of the God and Christ Jesus.  Satan is also an inhabitant in the spirit world.  Those brainwashed by Satan should still stick to evil ways of life in this world and the spirit world, and thus there should be many evil spirits or souls in the spirit world like many evil men in this world.  Therefore, what is important in this world as well as in the spirit world is faith in the God and Christ Jesus.       

Nonetheless, poor people who have been suffering in this world due to poverty, inequality, helplessness, unkindness, negligence, cruelty, attacks from others, etc. should find light in the words of Christ Jesus, since death would relive them from pains in this world and promise salvation in Heaven. 

So, the slogan of Christian churches should be: Do Not Fear Death; You Continue to Live in the Spirit World and Finally in Heaven if You Believe!"

However, if everybody understands this truth and comes not to fear death, what will happen in the society?  Will suicide increase?  Will daredevil criminals increase?  Will most of people lose motivation to work hard for money and realize happiness in this world?  Maybe other unexpected phenomena occur in the society, causing an unexpected crisis in this world.    

In the worst case, everybody loses will of living in this world and tries to die as early as possible, or suicide terrorists might be drastically increased.  Or even ordinary people start to rush to suicide, leading to collapse of the society.  Indeed, the society must collapse, if everybody thinks that death is a shorter route to happiness.  Even Satan will be embarrassed because nobody wants money for which everybody is expected to do evil things following Satan, but everybody wants early death.

To prevent people from loving early death or committing early suicide, this truth that a man lives in the spirit world after death in this world may have to be covered and hidden from ordinary people.   So, some leaders might think that it should be obscured.  Churches might be stopped, by some leaders, from emphasizing this truth and spreading it in the society.  Consequently, this truth is told by priests, clergymen, etc. in a modest, ambiguous, or fairy-tale like way.  What churches want people to do is not to believe in life after death but to believe in churches whatsoever they preach.  If people realize this truth, they will go to the spirit world leaving churches in this world.  In addition, Satan does not want people to realize this truth and lose interest in money and wealth in this world for which they are expected to do evil things following Satan.

From the point of truth itself, it is desirable that every child should be taught in school that he will continue to live in the spirit world if he happens to die in this world.  But, if a man does not follow the God and Christ Jesus, he should face the second death or the final death in the spirit world or the hell, since the God can kill both souls and bodies of men in the hell.  Only faithful men can live forever in the spirit world or Heaven.

Put simply, faith is more important than death.  How to respond to the truth must be decided based on this belief.  

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Acts 6, King James Version
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

"the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath" - The End of the Millennium Continuing

 

Around Tokyo

The End of the Millennium Continuing

When the 20th century came to an end, some people got worried about whether the end of the world would come.  Indeed, it was 2000 years after the coming of Christ Jesus that had been 2000 years after the appearance of Abraham.  And, it seems that the end of the world or the millennium is still continuing.

In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster occurred as a large-scale nuclear meltdown in Ukrainian, Soviet Union, spreading a large amount of radioactive material across Europe.  In late 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed.  In 1997, Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris and Mother Teresa died in India; in 1999, JFK Jr. was killed in a plane crash in Massachusetts.  And, in 2001, the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out in New York and Washington D.C., triggering the War on Terror.  In late 2004, a tsunami from the Indian Ocean earthquake killed over 230,000 in Indonesia and neighboring countries.  In 2005, Pope John-Paul II died, but his successor Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013.   Meanwhile, the subprime loan crisis occurred in 2008, leading to the international financial crisis.  And, Obama became the first African-American President of the United States in 2009.  However, billionaire Trump was elected as US President after Obama in 2016.  Meanwhile, the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in Japan due to a big earthquake and tsunamis in 2011.  Then, in 2020, the corona-pandemic generated in China attacked the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Indeed, as Christ Jesus predicted, social turmoil, wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, an epidemic, etc. occurred.  Even, Trump may be the one who should not have been elected as US President as Christ Jesus implied.

In these 2000 years after Christ Jesus, people have developed strong material civilization.  Even China and other developing countries have been expanding their economy.  And in the middle of success of the global material civilization, the end of the world seems to be approaching.  The current corona pandemic must be viewed from this historical and religious point of view, since it has killed more than 600,000 Americans and about 4 million people globally.

The richer people have become, the less they become pious and righteous.  Everybody sells his soul to Satan.  Virtue and ethics are neglected.  And, some people openly shout anti-Christian slogans such as LGBT rights.  The gap between the poor and the rich is expanding with about 600,000 homeless Americans.  The poor, faithful, or righteous are suppressed or attacked by the rich and the followers of Satan.

In this context, the God should listen to the poor, faithful, or righteous.  And if they ask the God to get revenge against the rich and those with worldly power, He should respond to their prayers.  Accordingly, movement to the end of the world should not be stopped.  So, it is naturally estimated that a great tragedy should occur on the mankind in the middle of this century as an event symbolizing the end of the world.  At the start of the 22nd century, the world civilization might be broken, say, through WWIII where biological weapons such as the corona-virus will be used.

To avoid such a tragedy and put an end to this movement toward the end of the world, which has been continuing since 1980s, all the people have to become poor and ponder the words of the God and Christ Jesus to act accordingly.   

                     

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Luke 6, King James Version
3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

"he marvelled because of their unbelief" - Death of Evil Man's Soul in the Hell

 

A Park around Tokyo

Death of Evil Man's Soul in the Hell

Christ Jesus taught two significant teachings: One lives in an afterlife after physical death and one must love the God and his neighbors.  But which is more important.

Even if one knows that his soul can survive death of his body and live in an afterlife, he might not love the God and his neighbors.  Such a man would not mind living in the hell.  Therefore, Christ Jesus warned that the God could kill the soul of such a man in the hell.

To know that the one's soul can live in an afterlife after death in this world does not necessarily mean that one loves the God and his neighbors, loving good and hating evil.  Even an evil man would be happy to know that he can live an evil life in an afterlife after death in this world.  It is not only God's angles and holy spirits that would meat souls of men in an afterlife or the spirit world, but Satan and evil spirits also live in the spirit world and the hell.  

So, Christ Jesus declared that the God could even kill evil spirits in the hell.  For an evil man, it would be the second death after his death in this world.  Indeed, it is reasonable that the God would ultimately destroy Satan and all the other evil spirits in the hell.  Finally, Satan and all the other evil spirits should completely go extinct and come to naught.

However, it is great good news for poor people that men can live in an after life and ultimately in Heaven after death in this world.  No mater how poor they are and how much they are suffering in this world, their souls will enter into the spirt world and finally will be accepted in Heaven where there is no poverty and suffering.  This is the core of messages of Christ Jesus.

Both poor men and rich men would enter into an afterlife, but the former go to Heaven to enjoy eternal life while the latter go to the hell to be finally destroyed by the God and come to naught.  So, rich men have to face death twice when they die in this world and when their souls are destroyed to come to naught in the hell.   

This is the core of teachings of Christ Jesus.  Every church, including the Vatican, should make it clear to the public and the world.  There is life after death, and poor men can go into Heaven, but rich men fall down to the hell and finally get destroyed by the God.

The notion that there is the spirit world and there are spirits and ghosts does not necessarily improve men.  The notion that some men, if not saints, could exercise miracles or execute supernatural power in, say, spoon bending does not enhance humanity.  Communications, if possible, between spirits and men do not necessarily upgrade men's quality of life but bring about confusion.  What's worse, Satan and evil spirits would interfere with men's communications with spirits, which is dangerous.  So, it is interesting that Christ Jesus gave to Swedenborg such an ability to make communication with souls in the spirit world in the 18th century when the modern science started to develop and the modern spiritualism started to flourish. 

Nonetheless, it is important for churches to declare that men's souls would survive physical death in this world.  Poor men should be relieved from the fear of death, since they will be greatly consoled with hope of their entering into Heaven after physical death.

So, there is no such a thing as death of one's soul except death of evil man's soul in the hell.        

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Mark 6, King James Version
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.