"the Holy Ghost descended" - How God is Explained

The Shrine enshrining mythological First Emperor of Japan Jin-Mu, Nara

How God is Explained

How is God explained by human beings?

Definition of god (Entry 1 of 2)
1 capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: such as
a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe
b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind
2 : a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship
specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
Greek gods of love and war
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god)

Definition of God in English:
God
NOUN
1 (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
2 (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.
(https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/god)

Meaning of god in English
god
noun [ C ] (SPIRIT)
​
a spirit or being believed to control some part of the universe or life and often worshipped for doing so, or something that represents this spirit or being:
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/god)

God
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In monotheistic thought, God is conceived of as the supreme being, creator deity, and principal object of faith.[3] The conceptions of God, as described by theologians,[who?] commonly include the attributes of omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), omnipresence (all-present), and as having an eternal and necessary existence.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God)

The most important teaching by Christ Jesus is to love God as much as and more than one can with all of one's might, power, and ability from the bottom of one's heart.

The Bible also tells to know the God, although God is assumed to be inherently known by Jewish people and Muslims.

God is not something like an apple one can see, touch, or imagine.  God is not a mere object or a living thing.  So, the Gospels tell that God is spirit whom men have to revere with their own spirit. 

But more importantly, Christ Jesus called God "our father in Heaven" and also recommended men to call God Father.

Indeed, if there is somebody having super and extreme power and ability somewhere who created everything and is controlling the universe and the human world as well as spiritual world, but if that someone has nothing to do with human beings, what is good for us even if we know Him?

So, the most important teaching of Christ Jesus is that God is Father of the human beings in Heaven and the mankind have to love Him.

From the beginning, the mankind seems not yet to be clever enough to understand God and the whole structure of this world including the universe and the spiritual world.  Conversely, as with the progress and development of our material civilization, the mankind seems to lose more power in terms of spirituality and humanity.

Having said so, we night be allowed to discuss God as part of our efforts to love God with all of our might.



**** **** ****


Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

"which is, The sons of thunder"

Tokyo Haneda Airport

Peace Loving Countries

Peace is the most important next to justice, honor, and love for a nation.
For honor Abraham was expected to deliver, nations should fight against evil countries.
For justice Moses was encouraged to achieve, nations should fight against evil countries.
For love Christ Jesus loves, nations should fight against evil countries.

But peace should be respected more than other factors for nations.

Global Peace Index rankings (2008-2018)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index)

The GPI Expert Panel decided that the Index would include nations and territories, but not micro-states. Countries covered by the GPI must either have a population of more than 1 million or a land area greater than 20,000 square kilometers.

2018 Rank
1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Austria
4. Portugal
5. Denmak
6. Canada
7. Czech
8. Singapore
9. JAPAN
10. Ireland
11. Slovania
12. Swizterland
13. Australia
14. Sweden
15. Finland
16. Norway
17. Hungary; Germany
18. Germany
19. Bhutan
20. Mauritius
21. Begium
22. Slovakia
23. Netherlands
24. Romania
25. Malaysia

38. Italy

49. South Korea

57. UK

61. France

112. China

121. US

129. Saudi Arabia
130. Bahrain
131. Iran

142. Egypt

146. Isreal

149. Turkey
150. North Korea

162. Afgahnistan
163. Syria

**** **** ****

Mar 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Mar 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Mar 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
Mar 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

"but have eternal life" - Christchurch Tragedy

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter aligned in Western Japan in January

Christchurch Tragedy

Early before the dawn of today I had a bad dream.

I woke up to later hear the news of the massacre in New Zealand, although the time lag between Japan and New Zealand is about 2 hours.

It seems that there is nothing I can do to help them concerned.  However, I just like to record the tragedy here.

It seems to be caused first by an influence of Satan, secondly by misunderstanding social, economic, and political situations, thirdly by racial prejudice, and lastly by religious confusion.

Put extremely, this human world is the battle field between God's angels and Satan or devils.  Any man-made disasters can be interpreted as having happened as part of this battle.  So, any incongruous tragedies can occur in this world.

And lastly, the most formidable enemies against humanity are from those who believe in a cult or practice any religion in a cult-like way.

Anyway, it seems that the most drastic battle over religion is the Jewish-Roman Wars around A.D. 100, where Roman troops destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem and drove Jewish people out of Palestine.

And then, through the most erroneous battles caused by the Crusades against Muslims over centuries around 1000, the most bloody battle was unilaterally launched by Nazis against Jewish people in the first half of the 20th century.

This agenda still remains in the 21st century deplorably through the 9/11 terror on the US in 2001 and the subsequent War on Terror by the US.

(In 2011, a big earthquake occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February, and then about a month later a huge earthquake accompanied by great tsunamis occurred in North Pacific coasts of North East Japan, taking out about 20,000 lives and triggering the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.)



**** **** ****

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

"He that hath two coats" - Infinite God

Mt. Fuji (3,776 m), Japan

Infinite God

How this world was created is the natural question men can have.

In ancient days, men tended to think that this world and the universe were created by God or gods.  But who created the God or how was God created?

The Bible reads that God is what exists and the one who exited, exists, and will exist or existence itself:
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This universe is finite, no matter how larges it is.  But we can imagine that the space out of this universe is infinite.

What is finite must be ultimately part of something infinite.  If the God is finite, He must be part of something or somebody that is infinite.  However, God cannot be subject to anything or anybody.  In this context, God must be infinite.

So then, who or what can create anybody or anything infinite.  There night be a world of those who are all infinite, and God might be one member therein.  But then who or what crated the world of those who are all infinite?

Heaven and the spiritual world must be also infinite.  May the hell must be so.  That must be why human beings cannot fully comprehend God, the spiritual world, Heaven, and the hell.

But Christ Jesus encouraged us to call God our father, which gives a sense of safety to us.  If our father is infinite in His size and ability, He can fully and easily save us who are just finite.




**** **** ****

Luk 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Luk 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

"to offer a sacrifice" - The Core of the Teachings by Christ Jesus

Tokyo

The Core of the Teachings by Christ Jesus

The most revolutionary teaching by Christ Jesus is that a man can get eternal life if he or she believes in Christ Jesus and God.

And another revolutionary teaching is that men cannot love both God and money simultaneously.

Accordingly, only poor men who believe in God and Christ Jesus can be saved.

However, millions of teachings, theories and discussions have been made around Christ Jesus and His teaching for 2000 years.

But the most important thing for men is their death.  And the answer to this issue by Christ Jesus is on how men can get eternal life.  And the next important thing for men is how to get money.  And the answer to this issue by Christ Jesus is that they have to love God and hate money.

This is the core of the teachings by Christ Jesus.


**** **** ****

Luk 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

"he went through the corn fields" - Christianity over Death in Europe

Tokyo

Christianity over Deaths in Europe

In the Mediterranean area of the Roman Empire, there lived 60 million people, of which 0.2 million people were rich.  Their average length of life was between 20 and 30.

It means that you could not find one rich man even among 100 Roman citizens, and most of Roman citizens died in their 20s.  In this situation, Christianity was introduced with the promise of acceptance into Heaven only if one believes.

In the Middle Ages of Europe, 20 births and 20 funerals occurred per year in a village with 100 households of residents having the average length of life between 25 and 30.   In this situation, Christianity diffused widely with the promise of acceptance into Heaven only if one believes.

However, the Black Death spread in Europe, killing 20 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1353.  One third of the European population were killed as Black Death victims.  Accordingly,　Vatican's authority was derogated.

So, since the Roman Empire adopted Christianity for its state religion in 392, Christianity had been promoted for 1,000 years in Europe by the Vatican without serious obstacles and challenges.

Poor and unhappy Europeans believed in God of Christianity for 1000 years till they met  the Black Death in the 14th century.  But what they got after 1000-year belief in Christianity was the black plague that killed one third of the Europeans.  So, did they all abandon the faith in God of Christianity?  No, they didn't.  But the authority of the Vatican started to decline, and the religious transformation started in the early 16th century, almost 250 years after the Black Death.

All these incidents show how deeply Christianity came to be rooted in Europe in 1000 years after the Roman Empire adopted Christianity for its state religion.  Poor Europeans came to accept Christianity in these 1000 years.  And when they encountered a further tragedy of the Black Death, they did not abandon the faith although they came to criticize the religious body of the Vatican but not Christianity itself.

Accordingly, it is reasonable to regard Christianity as a true religion proven by the history.  And the Gospel reads:
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

So, the essence of Christianity should be that if one believes in Christ Jesus, he or she will live if he or she is dead.

Christianity spread over many and many deaths in Europe.



**** **** ****

Mar 2:23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

"In Rama was there a voice heard" - Shakespeare's Secret Faith in Catholicism

Rebuilt Ancient Capital in Nara of Japan

Shakespeare's Secret Faith in Catholicism

There are still theories on the true identification about William Shakespeare.

Around 230 years after Shakespeare's death, doubts began to be expressed about the authorship of the works attributed to him. Proposed alternative candidates include Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Several "group theories" have also been proposed. Only a small minority of academics believe there is reason to question the traditional attribution, but interest in the subject, particularly the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship, continues into the 21st century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare#Authorship

A poor young man from a village called Stratford-upon-Avon became a great actor and playwright in London.  He took various topics and subjects related to living of the noble class and overseas.  Where could he get such knowledge?   Somebody else should have written those plays; there are still many people who think so.

As proof, those who support any theory about the existence of true and hidden Shakespeare point at the fact that there were only a few documents or letters left and written by Shakespeare.  The playwright and poet who produced so many works 500 years ago did not write almost any letters and other documents!  Could you believe it?

However, it seems natural to regard William Shakespeare from Stratford-upon-Avon as the true great playwright Shakespeare.  It is because he was such a genius.  Nonetheless, it seems that it has been not yet perfectly found where, when, and how Shakespeare got such skills and knowledge about living of the noble class and overseas.

Shakespeare must have carefully and intentionally avoided writing letters and other documents.  That is why scholars and researchers of today puzzle about the mystery.

Put simply, we have to take note of the religious situations in England 500 years ago.  The conflict between those supported Catholicism and others who supported the Church of England was so severe under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.   And, in circumstances around Shakespeare were many who supported Catholicism.  Especially there must has been a certain Catholic religious figure who could help young Shakespeare go to London and join a theater.  From such a Catholic religious figure Shakespeare must have learnt many necessary things for him to become a major playwright, including living of the noble class and overseas.  But as it is dangerous to reveal his connection with such a Catholic religious figure, Shakespeare must have avoided writing letters and other documents that might give a clue about such relationship.   

Therefore, scholars and researchers of today cannot find letters and documents that should have given more proof about Shakespeare's identity, if any.

Once Charles Chaplin said that he could not sense, in Shakespeare's works, any mean atmosphere that would reveal mean birth or non-noble birth of Shakespeare, and thus Chaplin suggested the works of Shakespeare were actually written by some noble man.   But if Shakespeare had been influenced by  a Catholic religious figure when he was young before becoming playwright, Chaplin's feeling could be understood.

If a historic figure really made great efforts to hide something about himself or herself, that somebody could be a mystery for scholars and researchers in later centuries.

In this context, another example is Christ Jesus.  Mysteries surrounding about Christ Jesus must be a result of His avoiding revealing personal things about Himself.  Christ Jesus even said to Peter and other Disciples not to reveal His identity.  It must be reasonable to think that Christ Jesus forbade His Disciples revealing details of His family and His past.  And this tradition must be reflected in the Gospels.

Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 

So, William Shakespeare might have been really trying hard to conceal his faith in Catholicism.

Some scholars claim that members of Shakespeare's family were Catholics, at a time when practising Catholicism in England was against the law. Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, certainly came from a pious Catholic family. The strongest evidence might be a Catholic statement of faith signed by his father, John Shakespeare, found in 1757 in the rafters of his former house in Henley Street. However, the document is now lost and scholars differ as to its authenticity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare#Authorship

**** **** ****


Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Mat 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

"Jesus sat at meat in his house" - Trump's Bold Checking of Reckless Chinese Ambitions

North of Kyoto under Snow

Trump's Bold Checking of Reckless Chinese Ambitions

In September 11, 2001, the 9.11 terror occurred in the U.S.  With the collapse of the World Trade Center towers in New York, many Americas thought their view of the world changed forever.  And subsequently the War on Terror was launched.  Americans thought they were threaten by Islamic terrorists.  But around 2001, another threat to the US was progressing with China starting ever growing export to the US as the following figure shows.     

This trend did not stop even after the 2008 Financial Crisis.  Or, behind the Financial Crisis, that another threat to the US was further growing.  Chinese exports to the US were US$102.28 billions in 2001, US$337.77 billions in 2008, and US$505.6 billions in 2017.  While the US was fighting Islamic terrorists and fixing the Financial Crisis in these 18 years, China has almost constantly increased its exports to the US.  It is as if the largest beneficiary of the American crises in these 18 years were China but not Islamic terrorists.

The aspect of trade relationship between the US and China since 1985 can be seen in the following figure:

 
Since the Start of the War on Terror in 2001 through the Financial Crisis in 2008, Americans have been importing goods from China in ever increasing scales.

In comparison, Japan's imports from China are shown in the red line and its exports to China are shown in the blue line in the following figure:

Chinese exports to the Japan were the 600 billion yen (about US$6 billion) level in 2001, the 1,400 billion yen (about US$ 140 billion) level immediate before the 2008 Financial Crisis, and over the 1,600 billion yen (about US$ 160 billion) level in 2013.  Japan has been also imported Chinese goods in ever increasing scales although the imports from China drastically dropped in and after the 2008 Financial Crisis period.  In these years, Japan has been in deflation economy, which seems to be mostly ascribed to huge import of cheap Chinese goods.  Deflation is the most significant issue for Japan since 1990s.  But without stopping cheap Chinese goods, it was impossible to change the Japanese economic situation.  However, for Japanese companies to maintain profits, it is inevitable to import cheap Chinese goods and sold them to consumers in Japan to address competition in the Japanese market.

So, both the US and Japan, No.1 and No.2 economies in the world, have imported Chinese goods in the last 20 years in ever growing scales.   So, it is no wonder that Chinese GDP surpassed Japan's GDP in 2010.

But what does the US import from China?

Telephone sets and data processing machines are two major types of Chinese exports to the US.  They are not cheap commodities and sundry goods.  They represent strong needs for them in the US in the period of the Internet or Information Technologies.  But more than that, Chinese economy growth was made possible in the period of the Internet or Information Technologies.  Without use of personal computers, the Internet, mobile phones, and advanced software, China could not achieve such efficiency in developing its industries.

All through the 9/11 Terror in 2001 and the Financial Crisis in 2008, the IT technologies and the Internet have been growing not only in the US but also in China and other countries.  And the most beneficiary in this trend is China.

It is not in the world where industries before the era of the Internet and smart phones played major roles that China could develop and expand its economy.  The world in ever increasing needs for IT technologies, the Internet, smart phones, and advanced software such as AI, through the War on Terror and the Financial Crisis, has made it possible for China to achieve such economic success to the degree that China threatens the US.

However, basically,  IT technologies, the Internet, smart phones, and advanced software such as AI were first invented in the US.  And political, economic, and social situations of the US and Japan allowed to China to exponentially increase its exports.

So, it would cause a fundamental crisis for China, if it deviated from the global order and structure that have been established by the US after WWII, since China has not become a big economic power by its own capacity and unique merits.

The justification of Trump's being US President might only lie in his bold checking of reckless Chinese ambitions to pursue expansion of its influence based on huge trade surplus.


**** **** ****

Mar 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
Mar 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

"the Son of man hath power" - Against Rotten Church Systems and Satan of Materialism

Tokyo

Against Rotten Church Systems and Satan of Materialism

Almost 2000 years ago, Jewish people had the concept of God, no matter how simple it was, to the right direction of cogitation and belief. 

Egyptians, Greeks and Romans had also their concepts on gods, which were however not toward the right path to the true and only God.

And, when some of Jewish people was confident that they had seen, met, walked and talked together with the Son of God, they must have a great shock and wonder as well as joy and pride.  And as the Son of God told them to go and preach the gospel to poor people of the Roman Empire, they would surely gladly go and preach the gospel driven by the shock and wonder.

In this way, Paul and other Disciples of Christ Jesus went out and preached the gospel to poor people, which however was regraded as deviation from orthodox Judaism and an act to be suppressed.   Nonetheless, their conviction that they were following the Son of God and thus God was so strong that they despised religious leaders who were against them.  In this way, early Christianity started with great energy or passion of followers of the spirit of Christ Jesus.

One of the major factors for early Christianity to prevail in the Roman Empire was this passion and energy.

In other words, the extreme strength of the shock and wonder such Jewish people felt when they discovered holy nature or divinity in  Christ Jesus was reflected in the success of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

But today, we cannot clearly and vividly feel this strength of the shock and wonder in Christian churches including the Vatican.  The Pope is reading ambiguous sentences in the Bible, wearing stupidly rich ancient clothes, and being surrounded by similarly stupidly rich cardinals and  bishops, while American Protestant priests were revering false gods or Satan of materialism.

So, God eventually punished and destroyed the Roman Empire.  Will not He do the same thing to the current human world?

Anyway, the only way for us to be forgiven by God is to take a clear stance against rotten church systems and false gods or Satan of materialism. 



**** **** ****


Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

"when Jesus perceived in his spirit" - Against Those in Tropical Regions and Warm Climate

 Around Tokyo

Against Those in Tropical Regions and Warm Climate

No great religion emerged in Africa except Egypt.

No great religions also emerged in tropical areas including the Central and South America, and Pacific Regions.  However, people in those tropical areas must have enjoyed great nature without scarcity of foods.  Those tropical people must have had easier lives than those in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

In India including bases of the Himalayan region, Buddha appeared, but his teaching was concentrated on basic problems even to happy tropical people: birth, sickness, ageing, and death.   In North, Central and South Americas, progress of civilization (introduction of agriculture) was slow, and people must have lived in environments rich in nature.  Their religious sense was overwhelmed by rich nature where human beings looked only part of nature but not as independent entities which could pursue God.

In China suitable for agriculture, religious activities were integrated into ritual of tribes and control of the society.  As a result, Confucianism emerged with focus on quality of humanity including respect for ancestors, which was a core of integrity of each family, each tribe, and each kingdom.  They did not develop the concept of God as the creator of the universe.  Or they did not see God that generated and governed the universe and the human world and could save people even if they admitted that there were gods with super power.

In Egypt also suitable for agriculture, a religion linked with Egyptian imagination about the universe was developed.  Thus pyramids were built as symbols of their imagination.  However, people did not need God that would save them from every pain and trouble in lives.       

Finally, when one tribe left Mesopotamia, suitable for agriculture, and went into deserts, they started to develop the concept of God who created human beings and had power to save people.

Their religion developed in Christianity to be accepted by Europeans living in relatively meager nature.  Their ancestors did not enjoy easy living like that seen in tropical regions or regions surrounded by rich nature.

Material civilization was mostly developed through human efforts to establish human living in severe nature.  Severe natural conditions fostered a tendency of accepting a non-nonsense religion.

Tens of thousands years ago, people living in tropical areas enjoyed easy lives; thousands years ago, people living in regions suitable for agriculture also enjoyed their lives.  However, powerful civilization was developed with a specific religion by people whose ancestor were living in meager natural environments.     

Therefore, since Columbus, the Western civilization and Christianity have made a conquest of the world.  Descendants of people having lived relatively easy lives in tropical regions or in warm climate suitable for primitive agriculture could not cope with the power of Europe.

So, God has saved people living in, otherwise, meager natural environments.  However, they might become too arrogant with power of material civilization and with pride of cultivating spiritual world based on their religion.

If this material civilization should collapse and the religion should get helplessly rotten, modern people in developed countries would envy those living in tropical areas, again.

So, modern people living in developed countries should appreciate God because due to God they could develop material civilization and spiritual culture so that they don't have to envy those living in tropical regions and rich natural environments.   

Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.


**** **** ****

Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

”they uncovered the roof where he was” - Revere God with Spirit but not with Money

Tokyo

Revere God with Spirit but not with Money

The concept of God that cannot be expressed in any material forms but governs the universe and the human world was introduced into the Roman Empire by Christianity supported by Judaism.

And more importantly this God could send his Son or Spirit to the human world to show His love to the poor, the sick, and the suppressed, which was the key to appealing to poor and lower people or slaves, etc. in the Empire.  And the teaching of Christianity that if a man believes God, he can enter the Heaven and get eternal life must be also appealing to poor people in the Empire.

This teaching is still effective today, although Satan has been trying to brainwash people with material power of money and wealth.

Poor people can see how bad one can be if he or she wants to get money and big money to be rich and richer.  Poor people cannot express this truth of the human world, but they understand love of God and Christ Jesus to them as God and Christ Jesus hate money, wealth, and Satan.

Even today, most of people would sell their souls to Satan if Satan makes them rich.  And, poor people who are even neglected by Satan could see this truth about evil, and thus they can understand the teaching of Christ Jesus.

So, the conviction of poor people about truth of Christianity made the religion spread through the Empire.

However, rich scholars and priests, high-ranking leaders of the society, and elite people cannot understand this truth at the bottom of their heart, unless they abandon wealth, money, and their special privilege.  The poorer a man is, the more accurately he can understand truth of the human world and teaching of Christ Jesus and God.

So, some religious people go to monasteries to live poor to understand the truth. 

However, this tradition has nothing to do with Judaism.  Jewish people believe that God would save them to live materially rich lives.  They seem to have no custom to see truth of this world and the teaching of God through poverty.

In Christianity,  money, wealth, and riches belong to Satan.  But in Judaism and even in Islam, money, wealth, and riches are symbols of mercy given to men by God and thus they belong to God.

However, it seems to be true in any human society that the richer a man is, the less sincerely he asks help from God.  Indeed, Christ Jesus said that God was spirit and thus people had to revere God with spirit but not with money.



**** **** ****

Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" - Judaism, Christianity, and What Next (?)

Mt. Fuji (the highest mountain in Japan), 100 km from around Tokyo

Judaism, Christianity, and What Next (?)

Although the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed through the Jewish-Roman wars around A.D. 70, Jewish people did not abandon their religion.  Likewise, although the Western Roman Empire fell before the sixth century, its state religion Christianity was not abandoned and forgotten.

So, if the modern civilization, initially built by Europeans and Americans before the 20th century, should fall due to its excessive materialism sooner or later probably in next 1000 years, the core religion in this modern civilization should survive.  But, what is the core religion?

In my estimate, if science, technology, and market-based or commercialism-based  economy continue to develop in the current trend for next 1,000 years, robots equipped with super AI might take over power of domination from the mankind, since robots don't die or are not afraid of death.

So, can future advanced robots believe in God or be afraid of God?  If so, what religion will they have?

Maybe the great power of God should appear truly in the era of robots that must start 1,000 later, which however may have nothing to do with the mankind of today.  But, it is very difficult to imagine that robots live in the Kingdom of God, which the mankind look like failing in so far as now.

Judaism, Christianity, and what next (?) must be the most important issue for the mankind, including Muslims who are also participating in the modern material civilization based on the traditions of Judaism and Christianity. 



**** **** ****

Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

"when they were come out of the synagogue" - Christianity as a Religion of Miracles

Around Tokyo

Christianity as a Religion of Miracles

It is still a target of study how Christianity spread in the Roman Empire after the death of Christ Jesus and the Jewish-Roman War.

It should be first based on understanding that it was a miracle that Christianity spread in the Empire to be the state religion of the Empire in 300 years.  From the beginning, it is unthinkable that citizens of the Empire would and could understand and accept a religion that had been launched in a remote region that had come under the yoke of the Empire through wars by a nameless person who had been crucified by Roman soldiers.

How could Romans understand the meaning of the end of the world and the one and sole God of the mankind who had been in advance God of Jewish people?  How could citizens of the Roman Empire believe miracles performed by Christ Jesus in Palestine, a very remote place from Rome?  And, how could other tribes and gentiles other than Judaists come to accept traditions of Judaism?

Even the Gospels and other documents of the New Testament depict Paul, Peter, and some few names as the major followers of Christ Jesus who made critical efforts to spread Christianity in the Empire.  So, it was a miracle itself that Christianity conquered the Roman Empire.

So, for non-Western people of even today, this fact or miracle can be a great reason for respecting or believing Christianity as a religion of miracles.   




**** **** ****



Mar 1:29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Mar 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
Mar 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

" the angel of the Lord" - No Prophets in these 2000 Years?

Around Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

No Prophets in these 2000 Years?

One of mysteries of Judaism is that there appeared no prophets like Daniel or Isaiah since the emergence of Christ Jesus and the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem in the Jewish-Roman War.

It seems that Jewish have people accepted this fact in these 2000 years.  But it is strange.

The last nevi'im ("spokespersons", "prophets") mentioned in the Jewish Bible are Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, all of whom lived at the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 11a) states that Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi were the last prophets, and nowadays only the "Bath Kol" (בת קול, lit. daughter of a voice, "voice of God") exists.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophet#Judaism) 

If it is true, it means that Judaism changed decisively or gravely since  the emergence of Christ Jesus and the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem in the Jewish-Roman War.   It might also mean that Christ Jesus and Christianity were from ancient Judaism different from the present Judaism.

At least, Jewish people must feel anxious about why God has stopped sending prophets to them since  the emergence of Christ Jesus and the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem in the Jewish-Roman War or in these 2000 years if they don't even admit Muhammad, the Koran, and Islam.   


**** **** ****

Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

"his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph" - The Poor in the Old and New Testaments

Mt. Fuji (the highest mountain in Japan, 3,776 m) and Tokyo at Dusk

The Poor in the Old and New Testaments

One of the major points Christ Jesus preached was His love to the poor.  How is the word "poor" used in the Gospels?

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  

Matthew 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.  

Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.  

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.  

Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  

Mark 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  

Mark 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.  

Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.  

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  

Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.  

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.  

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:  

Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.  

Luke 19:8 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.  

Luke 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.  

Luke 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:  

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.  

John 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.  

John 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 

There are not so many sentences related to the word "poor" in the four gospels, but they clearly show the essence of teaching of Christ Jesus.

In the Old Testaments, there are also many sentences including the word of poor.  For example, in Psalms:

Psalms 9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Psalms 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Psalms 10:8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
Psalms 10:9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
Psalms 10:10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
Psalms 10:14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Psalms 14:6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalms 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
Psalms 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Psalms 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
Psalms 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psalms 69:29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Psalms 69:33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Psalms 70:5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.
Psalms 72:2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
Psalms 72:4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
Psalms 72:12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
Psalms 72:13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
Psalms 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Psalms 74:21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
Psalms 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psalms 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psalms 86:1 Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Psalms 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
Psalms 109:16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
Psalms 109:22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
Psalms 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
Psalms 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
Psalms 113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Psalms 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Psalms 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

So, Christ Jesus observed the tradition of Judaism practiced in the era of the Old Testament.  The old Judaism was based on ethics and compassion upon the poor.  This feature must be rare to be found in ancient religions most of which simply glorified greatness and praised glory of gods and kings.

In other words, God chose old Judaism for this reason and sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to Jewish people.  Love to the poor must have been a measure of God's judgement when He chose a tribe as His own people.  But when Jewish people lost this love, God sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to the Jewish community to make them restore this love to the poor.
 
Social injustice and evil are concentrated in poor people.  The reason for Christ Jesus to have appeared among Jewish people must have been to restore love to the poor rather than for any other religious reasons.


**** **** ****


Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

"he walked by the sea of Galilee" - Christianity Launched at the End of the 4th Century?

Tokyo

Christianity Launched at the End of the 4th Century?

The ideology of Christianity that Christ Jesus was God and that "God is one God, but three coeternal consubstantial persons or hypostases—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit—as 'one God in three Divine Persons'" was not established immediately after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

By the end of the 4th century, under the leadership of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus (the Cappadocian Fathers), the doctrine had reached substantially its current form.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity#History

So, it took  400 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus that the Christian churches came to conclusion of the Trinity.  But this ideology is not easy to understand and not plain to ordinary people.  However, the Vatican requested people to confess that they believed this theory if they wanted to be Christians or members of the Christian churches.  This tradition has continued to date.  Most of Christians cannot understand the theory of the Trinity but are requested to believe it.

From the beginning, Christ Jesus did not come to this world to make people believe the Trinity.  Christ Jesus came to save poor people who could not even read and write.  He did not come to request them to understand a theory only well learnt people and scholars could consider.

The Vatican and the Christian churches, however, as a matter of fact, have come to accept people who cannot understand the theory in their churches, though, not as Christians but as future Christians.

How may percentages of Christians in the world can pass the test on understanding of the Trinity and related theories?  Maybe one percent!  But, the Vatican and the Christian churches still stick to the Trinity and related theories.  If you believe in God but do not believe that Jesus is God, or are unsure whether Jesus is God, you cannot be regraded as Christians.     

This is absurd.  It is as if Christianity had been launched at the end of the 4th century when the Trinity theory was fixed.  The Vatican and the Christian churches put the highest priority and importance on this ideology.  They should neglect or forget this issue before the teaching of God and Christ Jesus.


**** **** ****

Mar 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mar 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

"for he was before me" - The Battle between God and Satan over Religions

Tokyo

The Battle between God and Satan over Religions

Christianity didn't start by just preaching that there was only one and single God in this world whom we had to revere.

But it started by preaching that God sent His Son or Jesus who was more than His Son to show His love to us, so that we had to believe God and Jesus.

In Christianity, they have respect Christ Jesus as much as they respect God.  But this cannot be accepted by Jewish people and Muslims, because they think that people have to believe God even without the mediator Jesus.

In other word, for Christians, the words and teachings by Christ Jesus are as important as those of God; however, for Jewish people and Muslims, it is impossible for anybody to have such authority as God.  Jewish people and Muslims can say that they have words of God and they don't need words of Christ Jesus; and it is a grave blasphemy for anybody to position Himself as high as God.  Put extremely, for Jewish people and Muslims, Christ Jesus has become a sinner due to Christians who set Christ Jesus as high as God or regard Christ Jesus as God.

From this point of view, the fact that God has not destroyed Judaism and Islam seems to tell the mind of God.  To revere and believe God, people don't need to revere and believe Christ Jesus.  However, yet the fact that the Western civilization based on, or supported or helped by, Christianity has become the main stream of the mankind seems to tell that Christianity has satisfied God to a large extent.

Anyway, whichever a man believes or does not believe the Christian ideology that Christ Jesus is God, the center and core of any religions is God.  The battle between God and Satan must be more critical than battles between Christians, Judaists, and Muslims.     




**** **** ****

Joh 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

"Fear not, Zacharias" - A Saint on the Cross

Tokyo

A Saint on the Cross

It is interesting that Christians have used a special sign, figure, or symbol for more than 1400 years in a period almost similar to that of deployment of Islam.

However, the cross symbol was already associated with Christians in the 2nd century...
The crucifix, a cross upon which an image of Christ is present, is not known to have been used until the 6th century AD. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_cross#Early_Christian_usage

It could be accepted to use the cross sign as a symbol of Christianity as the death of Christ Jesus on the cross was the critical element for the religion.  However, from the common sense, it cannot be accepted as a symbol of a religion to present a suffering saint on the cross.  Use of such a symbol for a religion should raise a doubt whether the religion is supported by sane people.   

As Christian churches started to use the image of Christ Jesus on the cross in the 6th century, God felt discomfort, and thus He gave Islam to Arabs and others, in my view, in the 7th century.


**** **** ****


Luk 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

"the time they were carried away to Babylon" - Not Material Civilization but Mercy of God

Tokyo

Not Material Civilization but Mercy of God

The trend of the human civilization can be first observed from the trend of energy use, because human civilization depends on energy.


https://ourfiniteworld.com/2012/03/12/world-energy-consumption-since-1820-in-charts/

Civilization destroys, changes, and utilizes the nature, although it has not yet ability to modify natural environment according to its will; for example, the mankind cannot change the climate or increase/decrease ambient temperature as it wants.  Destroying power of civilization against the nature can be seen in trend of deforestration.

Longer term, the outlook is even worse. If humanity continues its pattern of endless consumption, their research indicates that less than one-fifth of Asia and Latin America's forest cover may remain by 2200.

https://www.thecoli.com/threads/studies-highlight-deforestation-risk-in-the-21st-century-and-beyond.351057/ 

It is well worried that temperature increase in the global ambient air might cause grave damage on peoples.  However, use of energy in whatever form would discharge used energy into the air, thus increasing temperature.  CO2 emission cannot be the only cause of temperature increase.  However, if forest areas in the world dwindle, a less amount of CO2 is absorbed and a less amount of O2 is discharged into the air.

It is also important how much development of civilization has contributed to increase of global human  population.

Then, what about production of cereal crops in the world?


http://www.jiid.or.jp/ardec/ardec46/ard46_food.html
(The upper dark-green broken line is the total amount (in million tons) of cereal crops produced globally; the lower light-green broken line shows the yield amount per unit area of farm land (tons/ha).)

So, population is rapidly increasing; accordingly energy use and food production are also increasing while the natural environment is globally being destroyed.  Future of the mankind or civilization cannot be rosy.

However, the leading country, the US, still has plenty of lands for agriculture and residence as well as natural resources.  No Americans are afraid that their civilization will face a catastrophic crisis in decades or during this century if outer world should suffer any.

However, this global civilization is based on economy supported by high technology and financial systems.  It cannot be thought that catastrophic change will never occur in or will never be generated by high technology and financial systems even in the US.

  https://ourworldindata.org/technological-progress

The functional chips, that is the microprocessors,  used at the core of high-tech products have been ever increasing its density or complexity.  This trend is not expected to cease soon.  More products, including cars and phones, will be equipped with AI.  And power of computation and communications will go on expanding in various sectors of human lives.  And even financial transactions will be further upgraded along with this technical trend.

 

 In January 1900 the DJIA had a value of 66 points, and in December 2017 (the time of writing) a value of 24,651.
http://stockmarketalmanac.co.uk/2017/12/long-term-trend-of-the-dow-jones-industrial-average/

Generally speaking, as seen in the above figure of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the US is getting richer, over some economic crises, all through the 20th century onward although the gap between the poor and the rich is expanding.

If advanced technologies continue to solve problems related to food production, disaster prevention, human health, social safety and security, expansion of trade and economy and so on, the earth is finite.  And the mankind cannot control the natural environment 100%, for example, such as prevention of dangerous global warming and occurrence of other great natural disasters.  And development of technologies itself is based on commercialism-based economy.  In other words, human desire-driven economy supports development of technologies.  It is not respect or good-will for humanity that is driving civilization but desire of people.  There is no assurance that this civilization will never encounter catastrophic events of any kind to the degree so that existence of the mankind will be at risk.

This material civilization might continue further for a few centuries without decisive catastrophes.  However, it is difficult that the mankind will survive and prosper further for 1000 years in the increasing trends of those various factors of the civilization.  For example, robots with super AI might take over.  And there will be nobody who will remember the mankind.

So it is said that everything goes by but the word of God is forever.

For the mankind to have true civilization that can continue for 2000 years or more, from now on, we have to set our civilization on true religion, specifically true Judaism, true Christianity, true Islam, etc. since salvation of minds and spirits of people should not come from development of material civilization but realized by mercy of God. 



**** **** ****


Mat 1:11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
Mat 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;