Post by iris89 on May 13, 2008 16:05:14 GMT -5
Divine Judgment – In The Past and The Near Future Judgment
INTRODUCTION:
Some do not understand that divine judgment is necessary when wickedness becomes all pervasive. Our Creator has used various instrumentality’s in the past for executing divine judgment – some human and some none human such as the great world wide flood of Noah's day.
But why did Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is bring this flood? Let’s turn to the Bible and find out. The account given in Genesis 6:6-22, explains as follows, “And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17 And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (American Standard Version; ASV).
Now the important thing to take note of is verse 6, “ And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart,” and verse 12, “And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” Since they show that most of mankind had gone corrupt and turned the earth into a den of wickedness. Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is had to do something. He choose to wipe the earth clean of wickedness by a world wide flood. Which he did.
But why is this important to mankind today? Well the earth again is being ruined by corrupt men who pollute it, lust for violence – 9/11/2001 is a good example, practice unrighteous business practices that drive up the price of life’s necessities resulting in mass hardships and hunger, etc. But as shown by 1 Peter 3:20, “Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, 20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:” (ASV). Is an example for us today since Almighty God (YHWH) will likewise bring this wicked system of today to an end as clearly shown at 2 Peter 3:3-13, “knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; 6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you–ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (ASV). And this was emphasized
by Jesus (Yeshua) Christ in the model prayer found at Matthew 6:9-10, “After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” (ASV); and Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.” (ASV).
So as can be seen from the first divine judgment and from the prophesied shortly to come divine judgment, they were/are intended to clean the earth of wickedness. The first global divine judgment wiped all the wickedness off the face of the earth, but it later returned necessitating many localized divine judgments against the ungodly by use of natural forces or by using some of mankind to execute the judgment. Often, the ancient nation of Israel was used by Almighty God (YHWH) to carry out his pronouncements of judgment, but when they disobeyed, Almighty God (YHWH), used their enemies to carry out his judgment against them such as in the case of their 70 year captivity in Babylon. Now some may ask why he did not directly have angles carry it out, but that is something only he knows, so all such questions are without merit.
Also, some feel they are better and/or more knowledgeable than their Creator and try to second guess his judgment and/or his chosen method for executing it which is as silly as that pointed out at Isaiah 29:16, “Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?” (ASV). These are nothing but ‘know it alls’ that is negative thinking individuals that consider themselves more knowledgeable than their creator and that ultimate truth does not exist.
ENCYCLOPEDIA DEFINITIONS OF DIVINE JUDGMENT:
Now let’s consider what well known encyclopedias have to say on Divine Judgment.
We shall first consider The Catholic Encyclopedia on Divine Judgment:
<<<” Divine judgment (judicium divinum), as an immanent act of God, denotes the action of God's retributive justice by which the destiny of rational creatures is decided according to their merits and demerits. This includes:
God's knowledge of the moral worth of the acts of free creatures (scientia approbationis et reprobationis), and His decree determining the just consequences of such acts;
the Divine verdict upon a creature amenable to the moral law, and the execution of this sentence by way of reward and punishment.
It is clear, of course, that the judgment, as it is in God, cannot be a process of distinct and successive acts; it is a single eternal act identical with the Divine Essence. But the effects of the judgment, since they take place in creatures, follow the sequence of time. The Divine judgment is manifested and fulfilled at the beginning, during the progress, and at the end of time. In the beginning, God pronounced judgment upon the whole race, as a consequence of the fall of its representatives, the first parents (Genesis 3). Death and the infirmities and miseries of this were the consequences of that original sentence.
Besides this common judgment there have been special judgments on particular individuals and peoples. Such great catastrophes as the flood (Genesis 6:5), the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 28:20), the earthquake that swallowed up Core and his followers (Numbers 16:30), the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 6:6; 12:12), and the evil that came upon other oppressors of Israel (Ezekiel 25:11; 28:22) are represented in the Bible as Divine judgments. The fear of God is such a fundamental idea in the Old Testament that it insists mainly on the punitive aspect of the judgment (cf. Proverbs 11:31; Ezekiel 14:21). An erroneous view of these truths led many of the rabbis to teach that all the evil which befalls man is a special chastisement from on high, a doctrine which was declared false by Christ.
There is also a judgment of God in the world that is subjective. By his acts man adheres to or deviates from the law of God, and thereby places himself within the sphere of approval or condemnation.
In a sense, then, each individual exercises judgment on himself. Hence it is declared that Christ came not to judge but to save (John 3:17; 8:15; 12:47). The internal judgment proceeds according to a man's attitude: towards Christ (John 3:18). Though all the happenings of life cannot be interpreted as the outcome of Divine judgment, whose external manifestation is therefore intermittent, the subjective judgment is coextensive with the life of the individual and of the race.
The judgment at the end of time will complement the previous visitations of Divine retribution and will manifest the final result of the daily secret judgment. By its sentence the eternal destiny of creatures will be decided. As there is a twofold end of time, so there is likewise a twofold eternal judgment: the particular judgment, at the hour of death, which is the end of time for the individual, and the general judgment, at the final epoch of the world's existence, which is the end of time for the human race.” [source – The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
And, now let’s look at what the Jewish Encyclopedia has to say on Divine Judgment,
<<<” The final decision by God, as Judge of the world, concerning the destiny of men and nations according to their merits and demerits. Justice and righteousness are such fundamental ideas with Judaism and are such essential attributes of God (Gen. xviii. 19; Job xxxiv. 12; Jer. ix. 23; Ps. lxxxix. 15 [A. V. 14], xcvii. 2) as to have forced the conviction upon every believer that all the evil which befalls man is the outcome of the divine judgment, and that every evil deed will meet with its due punishment. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do righteous judgment? [A. V. "right"]" (Gen. xviii. 25). "
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on earth: much more the wicked and the sinner" (Prov. xi. 31, Hebr.). All the great catastrophes of past ages, such as the Flood, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, the earthquake that swallowed up Korah and his men, and the destruction that came upon Egypt and upon other oppressors of the Israelites, are, therefore, represented in the Bible as divine judgments (Gen. vi. 5, xviii. 20; Ex. vii. 4; Lev. xviii. 25; Num. xvi. 30, xxxiii. 4; Judges ii. 18 [the original meaning of "shofeṭ." is "vindicator"; that is, executor of the divine judgment upon Israel's foes]; comp. II Sam. xviii. 19; Isa. xi. 4). The end of history, therefore, was conceived to be the execution of the divine judgment upon all the nations (Isa. xi. 15, xxv. 6-xxvi. 9, lxvi. 16; Jer. xxv. 31; and especially Joel iv. [A. V. iii.] 12). This divine judgment is to take place, according to the Biblical view, on earth (Ps. xcvi. 13, xcviii. 9; Joel, l.c.), and is intended to be particularly a vindication of Israel (Deut. xxxii. 41; Isa. xxx. 18; Jer. xxv. 31, xxx. 11; and Ps. cxxxv. 14).” [source – The Jewish Encyclopedia]>>>.
So as can be seen, Divine Judgment is the exclusive domain of Almighty God (YHWH) who is much superior with respect intelligence than created mankind, but not all catastrophes the befell mankind are divine judgments. Almighty God (YHWH) always gives plenty of warning before bringing the execution of divine judgment. For example, the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is, has abundantly warned all of mankind of the coming Divine Judgment to occur at the culmination of the end times and terms such as Armageddon and Har Magedon used to describe it are well known parts of common speech.
NEGATIVE DISPARAGEMENT BY BELIEVERS THAT ULTIMATE TRUTH DOES NOT EXIST:
Today there exist a group of individuals that show adoration for the writings of mere egotistical men, worldly philosophers, that wax in their own perception of their intelligence just like those of ancient Athens recorded at Acts 17:16-21 who just , “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him. 18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)” (ASV). They, the ancient egotistical philosophers of ancient Athens like those of today spent their time coming up with something “new” that made them look intelligent to others, but really was as the Bible said at 2 Corinthians 4:4, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (ASV). It is as the Apostle Luke wrote at 2 Corinthians 4:3, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:” (ASV). Their way of acting is as contrasted by Luke at 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 with how the apostles were carrying on their ministry, “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (ASV).
Now these egotistical crafty philosophers handle the word of God deceitfully and even have the audacity to question the actions of their Creator – how foolish and wicked indeed. But, just a look at the outcome of the world today clearly shows that man is not capable of ruling himself and caring for the earth as they have brought the earth to the brink of destruction with their weapons of mass destruction, pollution – even developing terms like ‘tipping point’ to describe when they have ruined it to a point of no return, etc. But this should come as no surprise as Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (ASV).
Now let’s look at some of their negative disparagement by those negative thinkers who consider themselves crafty in their own mind per 2 Corinthians 4:2 with respect the hidden things rejected by the apostles as previously recorded. A common inclusive term for these self wise ones who do not believe in ultimate truth due to their on negative outlook and their own egotistical elevated belief in their own intellect is Pyrrhonism. Now let’s look at what The Catholic Encyclopedia has to say on Pyrrhonism:
<<<”<<<" Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonism is a system of scepticism, the founder of which was Pyrrho, a Greek philosopher, about whom very little is known except that he died in 270 B. C. The best known of Pyrrho's disciples was Timon of Philius, known as the sillographer. Pyrrho's scepticism was so complete and comprehensive that the word Pyrrhonism is sometimes used as a synonym for scepticism, The scepticism of Pyrrho's school covered three points.
(1) All the dogmatists, that is to say, all the philosophers who believed that truth and certitude can be attained, were mere sophists; they were self-deceived and deceivers of others.
(2) Certitude is impossible of attainment, not only because of the possibility that our faculties deceive us, but also because, in themselves, things are neither one thing nor the other, neither good nor evil, beautiful nor ugly, large nor small. Or, rather, things are both good and evil, beautiful and ugly, large and small, so that there is no reason why we should affirm that they are one thing rather than the other. This conviction was expressed in the famous saying, ouden mallon, nothing is more one thing than another; the paper is not more white than black, the piece of sugar is not more sweet than bitter, and so forth.
(3) The reality of things being inaccessible to the human mind, and certitude being impossible of attainment, the wise man doubts about everything; that is, he recognizes the futility of inquiry into reality and abstains from judging. This abstention is called epoche. It is the foundation of happiness. Because he alone can attain happiness who cultivates imperturbability, ataraxia; and then only is the mind proof against disquietude when we realize that every attempt to attain the truth is doomed to failure.
From this account of the principles of Pyrrhonism, it is evident that Pyrrho's aim was ethical. Like all the philosophers of the period in which he lived, he concerned himself principally with the problem of happiness. The Stoics sought to found happiness on the realization of the reign of law in human nature as well as in nature. The Epicureans grounded happiness on the conviction that transitory feeling is the one important phenomenon in human life. The Eclectics placed the intellectual basis of happiness in the conviction that all systems of philosophy are equally true. The Pyrrhonist, as well as the other skeptics of that period, believed that there is no possibility of attaining happiness unless one first realizes that all systems of philosophy are equally false and that the real truth of things cannot be attained. Pyrrhonism is, therefore, an abdication of all the supposed rights of the mind, and cannot be dealt with by the ordinary rules of logic or by the customary canons of philosophical criticism." [source - The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
But a quick summary of Pyrrhonism is:
<<<”Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth “ [source – Iris the Preacher]>>>.
Now let’s look at some examples of what these unreasonable ones who wax in their own self worth say to try and discredit their own creator:
[1] <<<”You arrogantly believe you have absolute truth and nothing that anyone else says ever matters. So with you there can never be any rational discussion because you egotistically believe you already have all the answers because you believe all you have to do is look up the ready made "answer" that someone else wrote and claimed it came from an invisible deity that you believe is some alleged ultimate authority. You are not allowed to think your own thoughts, that would be sin. You must only believe what the book says, and then you will be safe...
So when the writers of the stories in book you believe in says that the deity you believe in commanded them to kill everyone else and take their things and land and virgin daughters, since it is in the book that you and your cult says is absolute truth, of course you can't question it. Everyone who is forced to believe in the book or else be punished for doubting has to make all the terrible violence done to others a perfect act of divine loving hatred. And what better way for a "heavenly father" to discipline his wayward children than to use other other children to kill the others and take their things and occupy their land and keep their virgin girls alive so they can be used as unwilling slaves and eventually be forced to marry their murdering enemies. Yes, any rational person can see that an infinitely wise and loving "father" would select such brutal ways for one group of humans to punish another rather than "him" acting directly...” [source – an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]>>>.
Now I answered this unreasonable one who ‘waxes in his own self worth’ just as his counterparts that the Apostle Paul encountered in ancient Athens,
<<<”Some have a lack of understanding of the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH) and are negative against it such as Pyrrhonist. Unfortunately one of these likes to play games such as useless debating instead of learning. I do not debate, but discuss and put out truth and reality in accordance with John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV) for all to learn from - a very positive thing.
First, Now this Pyrrhonist apparently does not even feel a workman is worthy of his hire going against what is written at Luke 10:7, "And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house." (American Standard Version; ASV).
Yet this particular Pyrrhonist calls himself an educated person, and I am pretty sure he does not work for nothing. But he claims when others are given the forfeitures of others as their pay that is wrong. I just wonder if he feels a drunk driver that is fined and has to pay a fine for his wrong doing and court cost that it is wrong for the judge and the court attendants to receive their salary out of the court cost? Does he call their getting their salary from the court cost steeling? Yet when Almighty God (YHWH) used his chosen nation, ancient Israel, to exact justice on the ungodly, he refers to their getting their forfeited goods, spoils, as their wages as if they should work for nothing - how anti-workman can an individual get? Yet in his own words that is how he looks at their executed hard work and their receiving the forfeited spoils as their wages.
How is it perfect love or perfect justice for an alleged "creator" and "father" of all human beings to not act directly to deal with supposedly "evil" children and instead command other of "his" children to take up brutal weapons of war to exterminate others in very bloody ways and then only not just kill them, but sometimes display them as trophy kills and not only that but steal all their former belongings once they are dead and then occupy their land that they claim their deity promised to them and not only that but then keep the enemy virgin daughters alive, all to distributed as human property and war "booty".
So as we can see he his both very negative with respect their executed work against the ungodly and their being justly paid for it. As can be seen from his own words, he cast everything in a negative twist to distort reality - THIS IS BEING DISHONEST. Why? Because he is a Pyrrhonist and does NOT believe ultimate truth exist and therefore apparently hates his Creator, Almighty God (YHWH), who is the personification of ultimate truth. This is just downright WRONG and could be called blasphemy.
Second, He incorrectly refers to 'virgins' to try and give what occurred a negative twist, but most translations render Numbers 31:18 as women children or similar, let's look at a few:
18 (ASV) But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (AV) But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (Darby) but all the children among the women that have not known lying with a man, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (ERV) But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (JPS) But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (LXXE) And as for all the captivity of women, who have not known the lying with man, save ye them alive.
18 (rotherham) But, all the young of womankind that have not cohabited with man, preserve alive for yourselves.
18 (RVA89) Pero dejad vivas para vosotros a todas las muchachas de entre las mujeres que no hayan tenido relaciones con varón.
18 (SEV) Pero a todas las niñas entre las mujeres, que no hayan conocido varón, os guardaréis vivas.
So as can be seen, this Pyrrhonist is using the word 'virgin' to distort reality and this is being untruthful.
In reality, in ancient cultures female children were very valuable for performing household chores, but the Pyrrhonist overlook this reality. Remember, in ancient times they did NOT have washing machines to wash the clothing, but this was a manual task usually performed by female children; they did not have canned or frozen vegetables, but only fresh vegetables that had to be manually prepared a task usually performed by female children; and also, there were many other manual tasks usually performed by female children around the ancient Israeli home. But of course one trying to wrongly throw a wrong negative opinion on something twist it into negative terms which is incorrect and in my opinion just plain wrong and wicked.
Third, The last part of what he said clearly shows one twisting a positive act of execution of justice into something negative to serve evil ends. It is a prime example of twisting often used also by dishonest used car salesman and dishonest politicians.
Anyone with their humanity and compassion so twisted by cult beliefs that can claim this is "perfect love" or "perfect justice" just goes to show how religious beliefs such as a deity is on their side and commands such horrible behavior can make it seem not only easy to commit such atrocities, but come to believe it is a holy duty to kill just as the "deity" wants them to...
As can be seen he is implying wrong to his own Creator, Almighty God (YHWH), and as we all know that is terribly wrong and evil.” [source – Iris the Preacher]>>>.
And ,
[2] Then, he said, <<<” Well, I see that Iris is resorting to yet another propagandist tactic of using name calling, yet again. Now the term "communist" is being employed as a negative, diversionary tactic.[source - [source – an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]>>>.
My answer was as follows:
<<<”Now I did NOT call him a name but simply said,
As can be seen, [[this an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]] is using the old Communist trick of distorting reality in such a way as to make it into an untruth - this evil trick is to be rejected.
And he is still distorting reality as shown by this that he posted.
Now, my referring to him as a Pyrrhonist is simply referring to him as what he is. To see the truth, the reality of this statement per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV), let’s look at the definition of a skeptic of the Pyrrhonism type:
Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:”>>>.
As the research product, article, “Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:” says,
<<<” Skepticism is good up to the point where reasonableness is surpassed. Everyone should be skeptical with regard everything that is told to him/her, but skepticism's good qualities can turn into bad qualities when taken to an extreme. In the definition given for skepticism in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, both reasonable and necessary skepticism and un-reasonable or philosophical skepticism (Pyrrhonism) are defined.
Good skepticism is where one seeks ultimate truth and keeps searching for it and continually checking all the time to be sure he/she either has found it and/or is on the correct path leading to it. It requires a very positive attitude and a rejection of most of what one is told in keeping with the principle set fourth by the Apostle Paul at Acts 17:10-11, "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." (American Standard Version; ASV). This type of skepticism is termed pragmatic realism and can only be pursued by those with an open and positive mind such as those in Beroea of whom the Apostle Paul spoke. Today, to be a genuine skeptic pragmatic realist involves the rejection of anything that does not check out as true when checked and a positive outlook that absolute truth is out there and can be uncovered if one is open minded and willing to keep diligently searching for it as one would search for a hid treasure that he/she knew existed. Only open minded and skeptic individuals can be skeptic pragmatic realist.
Now we shall look at the other type of skeptic, the negative skeptic who believes ultimate truth does NOT exist. When carried to an excess, skepticism can result in rejecting the truth, the reality which should be accepted per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). As mentioned previously, skepticism when carried to an excess is called philosophical skepticism or Pyrrhonism which is the rejection and/or avoidance with respect the postulation of final truth. In other words the real truth is rejected and/or avoided as dangerous and/or unreal.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, both reasonable and necessary skepticism and un-reasonable or philosophical skepticism (Pyrrhonism) are defined. Let's look now at the definitions for the two taxonomies of skepticism:
In ordinary usage, skepticism or scepticism (Greek: skeptomai, to look about, to consider; see also spelling differences) refers to
1. an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object,
2. the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain, or
3. the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism that is characteristic of skeptics (Merriam-Webster).
In philosophy, skepticism refers more specifically to any one of several propositions. These include propositions about
1. an inquiry
2. the limitations of knowledge,
3. a method of obtaining knowledge through systematic doubt and continual testing,
4. the arbitrariness, relativity, or subjectivity of moral values,
5. a method of intellectual caution and suspended judgment,
In classical philosophy, skepticism refers to the teachings and the traits of the Skeptikoi, a school of philosophers of whom it was said that they "asserted nothing but only opined" (Liddell and Scott). In this sense, philosophical skepticism, or Pyrrhonism, is the philosophical position that one should avoid the postulation of final truths. Turned on itself, skepticism would question that skepticism is a valid perspective at all.
In religion, skepticism refers to "doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation)" (Merriam-Webster).
The word skepticism can characterize a position on a single claim, but in scholastic circles more frequently describes a lasting mindset and an approach to accepting or rejecting new information. Individuals who proclaim to have a skeptical outlook are frequently called skeptics, often without regard to whether it is philosophical skepticism or empirical skepticism that they profess." [source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia].
So as can be seen skepticism is a method of obtaining knowledge through systematic doubts and continual testing, but unfortunately in some individuals this drive for obtaining knowledge becomes warped and/or distorted. Instead of seeking after ultimate truth, they instead seek out ways to deny that ultimate truth actually exist as we shall later see, but now we shall consider the more exacting definition of the negative form of skepticism, Pyrrhonism….” [source - Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:, by Iris the Preacher, 2008]>>>.
As can readily be seen this type is only interested in being negative and seeking to deny ultimate truth; whereas good skepticism, skeptic pragmatic realist seek after ultimate truth. Therefore, these two types of skeptics are on opposite ends of a continuum.
THE FIRST GLOBAL DIVINE JUDGMENT IN BRIEF:
The flood of Noah’s day mentioned briefly in the introduction was the first Divine Judgment passed and executed. But let’s look at who Noah was and a brief detail of events leading up to the execution of global Divine Judgment in his day as given by a Bible dictionary,
<<<” No'ah).
1. [Heb., No'ach, probably, Rest; Consolation]. Son of Lamech and tenth in line from Adam through Seth; born in 2970 B.C.E., 126 years after Adam’s death. When his father Lamech named Noah, he said: “This one will bring us comfort from our work and from the pain of our hands resulting from the ground which Jehovah has cursed.”—Ge 5:28-31.
Faultless Among His Contemporaries. The world in which Noah lived had become degenerate. During this period angels who left their original position and proper dwelling place had married women and produced offspring, “men of fame,” whipping up the violence filling the earth (Ge 6:1-4; Jude 6), until “every inclination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only bad all the time” and the earth became “ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.” (Ge 6:5, 11, 12) But Noah avoided this corruption and is described by God’s Word as “a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.” (Ge 6:8, 9) Noah could be spoken of as “faultless” because, unlike that ungodly world, he measured up fully to what God required of him.—Compare Ge 6:22; see PERFECTION.
Jehovah Purposes to Destroy That World. Jehovah set a time limit for the existence of that ungodly world, saying: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Ge 6:3) Evidently these words were spoken to Noah. About 20 years after that, Noah’s first son (probably Japheth) was born (2470 B.C.E.), and the record shows that another son, Shem, was born two years later. The time of Ham’s birth is not stated, but these three sons were grown and married when the divine instructions were given to Noah to build an ark. Consequently, it is likely that only 40 or 50 years then remained before the Deluge. (Ge 6:13-18) Now, brought into a covenant with Jehovah (Ge 6:18) and assisted by his family, Noah set to work as a builder and “a preacher of righteousness,” warning that wicked generation of impending destruction.—2Pe 2:5.
Preservation Through the Flood. The people did not believe that God would act to destroy a world of wickedness. So it was because Noah possessed strong faith that he, in implicit obedience, did “according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so.” (Ge 6:22) It was because of his unswerving faith in Jehovah that the Christian writer of the book of Hebrews included him in that “so great a cloud of witnesses.” He wrote: “By faith Noah, after being given divine warning of things not yet beheld, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.”—Heb 11:7; 12:1.
Seven days before the floodwaters began to fall, Jehovah instructed Noah to gather the animals into the ark. On the seventh day of that week, “Noah went in, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark ahead of the waters of the deluge. . . . After that Jehovah shut the door behind him.” On that very day “the flood arrived and destroyed them all.”—Ge 7:1-16; Lu 17:27.
With the ark’s occupants was preserved the thread of human and animal life. Also, true worship survived, and by means of Noah and his family God carried through the history of creation, along with a system of counting time back to man’s creation and the original language (later called Hebrew). Noah kept an accurate log of important [[Later used by Mosses in writing the Book of Genesis]] events during his stay in the ark.—Ge 7:11, 12, 24; 8:2-6, 10, 12-14.” [source – Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II]>>>.
But, by the same ‘token’ today’s wicked world is nearing its end as previously mentioned, and warning is being given just as in the days of Noah. But most are NOT listening – certainly not the negative thinking Pyrrhonist who wax in their own false worth.
CONCLUSION AND WHAT IS A JUDGMENT DAY:
A Judgment Day is defined by a Bible dictionary as,
<<<” JUDGMENT DAY
A specific “day,” or period, when particular groups, nations, or mankind in general are called to account by God. It may be a time when those already judged to be deserving of death are executed, or the judgment may afford opportunity for some to be delivered, even to everlasting life. Jesus Christ and his apostles pointed to a future “Judgment Day” involving not only the living but also those who had died in the past.—Mt 10:15; 11:21-24; 12:41, 42; 2Ti 4:1, 2.
Past Times of Judgment. At various times in the past Jehovah called peoples and nations to account for their actions and executed his judgments by bringing destruction. Such executional judgments were not arbitrary demonstrations of brute force or overwhelming power. In some instances the Hebrew word translated “judgment” (mish·pat') is also rendered “justice” and “what is right.” (Ezr 7:10; Ge 18:25) The Bible emphasizes that Jehovah “is a lover of righteousness and justice,” so his executional judgments involve both of those qualities.—Ps 33:5.
Sometimes the executional judgments came as a result of the wicked conduct of people in their daily lives. Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of this. Jehovah inspected the cities and determined that the sin of the inhabitants was very heavy; he decided to bring the cities to ruin. (Ge 18:20, 21; 19:14) Later Jude wrote that those cities underwent “the judicial punishment [Gr., di'ken; “judgment,” Da; “justice,” Yg; “retributive justice,” ED] of everlasting fire.” (Jude 7) So those cities experienced a “day” of judgment.
Jehovah conducted a legal case against ancient Babylon, the longtime enemy of God and his people. Because of being unnecessarily cruel to the Jews, not intending to release them after the 70-year exile, and crediting Marduk with the victory over God’s people, Babylon was in line for an executional judgment. (Jer 51:36; Isa 14:3-6, 17; Da 5:1-4) That came to Babylon in 539 B.C.E. when it was overthrown by the Medes and Persians. Because the judgment to be executed was Jehovah’s, such a period could be referred to as “the day of Jehovah.”—Isa 13:1, 6, 9.
Similarly, Jeremiah prophesied that God would “put himself in judgment” with Edom, among others. (Jer 25:17-31) Hence the nation that had shown hatred for Jehovah and his people experienced destructive judgment in “the day of Jehovah.”—Ob 1, 15, 16.
When Judah and Jerusalem became unfaithful and merited God’s disapproval, he promised to “execute in the midst of [her] judicial decisions.” (Eze 5:8) In 607 B.C.E. “the day of Jehovah’s fury” came with an execution of his destructive judgment. (Eze 7:19) However, another “day,” or time, of judgment on Jerusalem was foretold. Joel prophesied an outpouring of spirit before “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.” (Joe 2:28-31) Under inspiration Peter, on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., explained that they were then experiencing a fulfillment of that prophecy. (Ac 2:16-20) The destructive “day of Jehovah” came in 70 C.E. when the Roman armies executed divine judgment upon the Jews. As Jesus foretold, those were “days for meting out justice.”—Lu 21:22;
Future Times of Executional Judgment. Aside from Hebrew Scripture prophecies, the Bible definitely mentions a number of future judgment days that are executional. Revelation points to the time when “Babylon the Great” will be completely burned with fire. This judicial punishment is due to her fornication with the nations and her being drunk with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. (Re 17:1-6; 18:8, 20; 19:1, 2) Mentioning another executional judgment, Peter drew upon what occurred in Noah’s day and foretold a “day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2Pe 3:7) Revelation speaks of such a destruction as being executed by “The Word of God,” who will strike the nations with a long sword. (Re 19:11-16; compare Jude 14, 15.) Also, in the first century the Devil already had judgment passed on him, and the demons he leads knew that they would be put into the abyss, as will Satan. (1Ti 3:6; Lu 8:31; Re 20:1-3) Thus it follows that the judgment awaiting them is simply the execution of a judgment that has already been decided upon.—Jude 6; 2Pe 2:4; 1Co 6:3.” [source – Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II]>>>.
And George Morrish in his Concise Bible Dictionary says,
<<<”… All judgment, that is, the act of judging (krisiv), whether of dead or living, has been committed to the Lord Jesus. He is represented as coming from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, when He will tread the people in His anger, and trample them in His fury, and their blood will stain all His raiment. #Isa 63:1-3. His judgment falls on the living nations; also before Israel is restored to blessing, judgment from God will fall upon them. See TRIBULATION. Upon professing Christendom also God will execute judgment. See BABYLON THE GREAT. The eternal punishment of the wicked is called "eternal judgment." #Heb 6:2. The fallen angels are reserved unto judgment, #2Pe 2:4: and everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. #Mt 25:41…” [source – George Morrish’s Concise Bible Dictionary[>>>.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Some do not understand that divine judgment is necessary when wickedness becomes all pervasive. Our Creator has used various instrumentality’s in the past for executing divine judgment – some human and some none human such as the great world wide flood of Noah's day.
But why did Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is bring this flood? Let’s turn to the Bible and find out. The account given in Genesis 6:6-22, explains as follows, “And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17 And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (American Standard Version; ASV).
Now the important thing to take note of is verse 6, “ And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart,” and verse 12, “And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” Since they show that most of mankind had gone corrupt and turned the earth into a den of wickedness. Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is had to do something. He choose to wipe the earth clean of wickedness by a world wide flood. Which he did.
But why is this important to mankind today? Well the earth again is being ruined by corrupt men who pollute it, lust for violence – 9/11/2001 is a good example, practice unrighteous business practices that drive up the price of life’s necessities resulting in mass hardships and hunger, etc. But as shown by 1 Peter 3:20, “Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, 20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:” (ASV). Is an example for us today since Almighty God (YHWH) will likewise bring this wicked system of today to an end as clearly shown at 2 Peter 3:3-13, “knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; 6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you–ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (ASV). And this was emphasized
by Jesus (Yeshua) Christ in the model prayer found at Matthew 6:9-10, “After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” (ASV); and Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.” (ASV).
So as can be seen from the first divine judgment and from the prophesied shortly to come divine judgment, they were/are intended to clean the earth of wickedness. The first global divine judgment wiped all the wickedness off the face of the earth, but it later returned necessitating many localized divine judgments against the ungodly by use of natural forces or by using some of mankind to execute the judgment. Often, the ancient nation of Israel was used by Almighty God (YHWH) to carry out his pronouncements of judgment, but when they disobeyed, Almighty God (YHWH), used their enemies to carry out his judgment against them such as in the case of their 70 year captivity in Babylon. Now some may ask why he did not directly have angles carry it out, but that is something only he knows, so all such questions are without merit.
Also, some feel they are better and/or more knowledgeable than their Creator and try to second guess his judgment and/or his chosen method for executing it which is as silly as that pointed out at Isaiah 29:16, “Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?” (ASV). These are nothing but ‘know it alls’ that is negative thinking individuals that consider themselves more knowledgeable than their creator and that ultimate truth does not exist.
ENCYCLOPEDIA DEFINITIONS OF DIVINE JUDGMENT:
Now let’s consider what well known encyclopedias have to say on Divine Judgment.
We shall first consider The Catholic Encyclopedia on Divine Judgment:
<<<” Divine judgment (judicium divinum), as an immanent act of God, denotes the action of God's retributive justice by which the destiny of rational creatures is decided according to their merits and demerits. This includes:
God's knowledge of the moral worth of the acts of free creatures (scientia approbationis et reprobationis), and His decree determining the just consequences of such acts;
the Divine verdict upon a creature amenable to the moral law, and the execution of this sentence by way of reward and punishment.
It is clear, of course, that the judgment, as it is in God, cannot be a process of distinct and successive acts; it is a single eternal act identical with the Divine Essence. But the effects of the judgment, since they take place in creatures, follow the sequence of time. The Divine judgment is manifested and fulfilled at the beginning, during the progress, and at the end of time. In the beginning, God pronounced judgment upon the whole race, as a consequence of the fall of its representatives, the first parents (Genesis 3). Death and the infirmities and miseries of this were the consequences of that original sentence.
Besides this common judgment there have been special judgments on particular individuals and peoples. Such great catastrophes as the flood (Genesis 6:5), the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 28:20), the earthquake that swallowed up Core and his followers (Numbers 16:30), the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 6:6; 12:12), and the evil that came upon other oppressors of Israel (Ezekiel 25:11; 28:22) are represented in the Bible as Divine judgments. The fear of God is such a fundamental idea in the Old Testament that it insists mainly on the punitive aspect of the judgment (cf. Proverbs 11:31; Ezekiel 14:21). An erroneous view of these truths led many of the rabbis to teach that all the evil which befalls man is a special chastisement from on high, a doctrine which was declared false by Christ.
There is also a judgment of God in the world that is subjective. By his acts man adheres to or deviates from the law of God, and thereby places himself within the sphere of approval or condemnation.
In a sense, then, each individual exercises judgment on himself. Hence it is declared that Christ came not to judge but to save (John 3:17; 8:15; 12:47). The internal judgment proceeds according to a man's attitude: towards Christ (John 3:18). Though all the happenings of life cannot be interpreted as the outcome of Divine judgment, whose external manifestation is therefore intermittent, the subjective judgment is coextensive with the life of the individual and of the race.
The judgment at the end of time will complement the previous visitations of Divine retribution and will manifest the final result of the daily secret judgment. By its sentence the eternal destiny of creatures will be decided. As there is a twofold end of time, so there is likewise a twofold eternal judgment: the particular judgment, at the hour of death, which is the end of time for the individual, and the general judgment, at the final epoch of the world's existence, which is the end of time for the human race.” [source – The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
And, now let’s look at what the Jewish Encyclopedia has to say on Divine Judgment,
<<<” The final decision by God, as Judge of the world, concerning the destiny of men and nations according to their merits and demerits. Justice and righteousness are such fundamental ideas with Judaism and are such essential attributes of God (Gen. xviii. 19; Job xxxiv. 12; Jer. ix. 23; Ps. lxxxix. 15 [A. V. 14], xcvii. 2) as to have forced the conviction upon every believer that all the evil which befalls man is the outcome of the divine judgment, and that every evil deed will meet with its due punishment. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do righteous judgment? [A. V. "right"]" (Gen. xviii. 25). "
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on earth: much more the wicked and the sinner" (Prov. xi. 31, Hebr.). All the great catastrophes of past ages, such as the Flood, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, the earthquake that swallowed up Korah and his men, and the destruction that came upon Egypt and upon other oppressors of the Israelites, are, therefore, represented in the Bible as divine judgments (Gen. vi. 5, xviii. 20; Ex. vii. 4; Lev. xviii. 25; Num. xvi. 30, xxxiii. 4; Judges ii. 18 [the original meaning of "shofeṭ." is "vindicator"; that is, executor of the divine judgment upon Israel's foes]; comp. II Sam. xviii. 19; Isa. xi. 4). The end of history, therefore, was conceived to be the execution of the divine judgment upon all the nations (Isa. xi. 15, xxv. 6-xxvi. 9, lxvi. 16; Jer. xxv. 31; and especially Joel iv. [A. V. iii.] 12). This divine judgment is to take place, according to the Biblical view, on earth (Ps. xcvi. 13, xcviii. 9; Joel, l.c.), and is intended to be particularly a vindication of Israel (Deut. xxxii. 41; Isa. xxx. 18; Jer. xxv. 31, xxx. 11; and Ps. cxxxv. 14).” [source – The Jewish Encyclopedia]>>>.
So as can be seen, Divine Judgment is the exclusive domain of Almighty God (YHWH) who is much superior with respect intelligence than created mankind, but not all catastrophes the befell mankind are divine judgments. Almighty God (YHWH) always gives plenty of warning before bringing the execution of divine judgment. For example, the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is, has abundantly warned all of mankind of the coming Divine Judgment to occur at the culmination of the end times and terms such as Armageddon and Har Magedon used to describe it are well known parts of common speech.
NEGATIVE DISPARAGEMENT BY BELIEVERS THAT ULTIMATE TRUTH DOES NOT EXIST:
Today there exist a group of individuals that show adoration for the writings of mere egotistical men, worldly philosophers, that wax in their own perception of their intelligence just like those of ancient Athens recorded at Acts 17:16-21 who just , “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him. 18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)” (ASV). They, the ancient egotistical philosophers of ancient Athens like those of today spent their time coming up with something “new” that made them look intelligent to others, but really was as the Bible said at 2 Corinthians 4:4, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (ASV). It is as the Apostle Luke wrote at 2 Corinthians 4:3, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:” (ASV). Their way of acting is as contrasted by Luke at 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 with how the apostles were carrying on their ministry, “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (ASV).
Now these egotistical crafty philosophers handle the word of God deceitfully and even have the audacity to question the actions of their Creator – how foolish and wicked indeed. But, just a look at the outcome of the world today clearly shows that man is not capable of ruling himself and caring for the earth as they have brought the earth to the brink of destruction with their weapons of mass destruction, pollution – even developing terms like ‘tipping point’ to describe when they have ruined it to a point of no return, etc. But this should come as no surprise as Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (ASV).
Now let’s look at some of their negative disparagement by those negative thinkers who consider themselves crafty in their own mind per 2 Corinthians 4:2 with respect the hidden things rejected by the apostles as previously recorded. A common inclusive term for these self wise ones who do not believe in ultimate truth due to their on negative outlook and their own egotistical elevated belief in their own intellect is Pyrrhonism. Now let’s look at what The Catholic Encyclopedia has to say on Pyrrhonism:
<<<”<<<" Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonism is a system of scepticism, the founder of which was Pyrrho, a Greek philosopher, about whom very little is known except that he died in 270 B. C. The best known of Pyrrho's disciples was Timon of Philius, known as the sillographer. Pyrrho's scepticism was so complete and comprehensive that the word Pyrrhonism is sometimes used as a synonym for scepticism, The scepticism of Pyrrho's school covered three points.
(1) All the dogmatists, that is to say, all the philosophers who believed that truth and certitude can be attained, were mere sophists; they were self-deceived and deceivers of others.
(2) Certitude is impossible of attainment, not only because of the possibility that our faculties deceive us, but also because, in themselves, things are neither one thing nor the other, neither good nor evil, beautiful nor ugly, large nor small. Or, rather, things are both good and evil, beautiful and ugly, large and small, so that there is no reason why we should affirm that they are one thing rather than the other. This conviction was expressed in the famous saying, ouden mallon, nothing is more one thing than another; the paper is not more white than black, the piece of sugar is not more sweet than bitter, and so forth.
(3) The reality of things being inaccessible to the human mind, and certitude being impossible of attainment, the wise man doubts about everything; that is, he recognizes the futility of inquiry into reality and abstains from judging. This abstention is called epoche. It is the foundation of happiness. Because he alone can attain happiness who cultivates imperturbability, ataraxia; and then only is the mind proof against disquietude when we realize that every attempt to attain the truth is doomed to failure.
From this account of the principles of Pyrrhonism, it is evident that Pyrrho's aim was ethical. Like all the philosophers of the period in which he lived, he concerned himself principally with the problem of happiness. The Stoics sought to found happiness on the realization of the reign of law in human nature as well as in nature. The Epicureans grounded happiness on the conviction that transitory feeling is the one important phenomenon in human life. The Eclectics placed the intellectual basis of happiness in the conviction that all systems of philosophy are equally true. The Pyrrhonist, as well as the other skeptics of that period, believed that there is no possibility of attaining happiness unless one first realizes that all systems of philosophy are equally false and that the real truth of things cannot be attained. Pyrrhonism is, therefore, an abdication of all the supposed rights of the mind, and cannot be dealt with by the ordinary rules of logic or by the customary canons of philosophical criticism." [source - The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
But a quick summary of Pyrrhonism is:
<<<”Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth “ [source – Iris the Preacher]>>>.
Now let’s look at some examples of what these unreasonable ones who wax in their own self worth say to try and discredit their own creator:
[1] <<<”You arrogantly believe you have absolute truth and nothing that anyone else says ever matters. So with you there can never be any rational discussion because you egotistically believe you already have all the answers because you believe all you have to do is look up the ready made "answer" that someone else wrote and claimed it came from an invisible deity that you believe is some alleged ultimate authority. You are not allowed to think your own thoughts, that would be sin. You must only believe what the book says, and then you will be safe...
So when the writers of the stories in book you believe in says that the deity you believe in commanded them to kill everyone else and take their things and land and virgin daughters, since it is in the book that you and your cult says is absolute truth, of course you can't question it. Everyone who is forced to believe in the book or else be punished for doubting has to make all the terrible violence done to others a perfect act of divine loving hatred. And what better way for a "heavenly father" to discipline his wayward children than to use other other children to kill the others and take their things and occupy their land and keep their virgin girls alive so they can be used as unwilling slaves and eventually be forced to marry their murdering enemies. Yes, any rational person can see that an infinitely wise and loving "father" would select such brutal ways for one group of humans to punish another rather than "him" acting directly...” [source – an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]>>>.
Now I answered this unreasonable one who ‘waxes in his own self worth’ just as his counterparts that the Apostle Paul encountered in ancient Athens,
<<<”Some have a lack of understanding of the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH) and are negative against it such as Pyrrhonist. Unfortunately one of these likes to play games such as useless debating instead of learning. I do not debate, but discuss and put out truth and reality in accordance with John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV) for all to learn from - a very positive thing.
First, Now this Pyrrhonist apparently does not even feel a workman is worthy of his hire going against what is written at Luke 10:7, "And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house." (American Standard Version; ASV).
Yet this particular Pyrrhonist calls himself an educated person, and I am pretty sure he does not work for nothing. But he claims when others are given the forfeitures of others as their pay that is wrong. I just wonder if he feels a drunk driver that is fined and has to pay a fine for his wrong doing and court cost that it is wrong for the judge and the court attendants to receive their salary out of the court cost? Does he call their getting their salary from the court cost steeling? Yet when Almighty God (YHWH) used his chosen nation, ancient Israel, to exact justice on the ungodly, he refers to their getting their forfeited goods, spoils, as their wages as if they should work for nothing - how anti-workman can an individual get? Yet in his own words that is how he looks at their executed hard work and their receiving the forfeited spoils as their wages.
How is it perfect love or perfect justice for an alleged "creator" and "father" of all human beings to not act directly to deal with supposedly "evil" children and instead command other of "his" children to take up brutal weapons of war to exterminate others in very bloody ways and then only not just kill them, but sometimes display them as trophy kills and not only that but steal all their former belongings once they are dead and then occupy their land that they claim their deity promised to them and not only that but then keep the enemy virgin daughters alive, all to distributed as human property and war "booty".
So as we can see he his both very negative with respect their executed work against the ungodly and their being justly paid for it. As can be seen from his own words, he cast everything in a negative twist to distort reality - THIS IS BEING DISHONEST. Why? Because he is a Pyrrhonist and does NOT believe ultimate truth exist and therefore apparently hates his Creator, Almighty God (YHWH), who is the personification of ultimate truth. This is just downright WRONG and could be called blasphemy.
Second, He incorrectly refers to 'virgins' to try and give what occurred a negative twist, but most translations render Numbers 31:18 as women children or similar, let's look at a few:
18 (ASV) But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (AV) But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (Darby) but all the children among the women that have not known lying with a man, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (ERV) But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (JPS) But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
18 (LXXE) And as for all the captivity of women, who have not known the lying with man, save ye them alive.
18 (rotherham) But, all the young of womankind that have not cohabited with man, preserve alive for yourselves.
18 (RVA89) Pero dejad vivas para vosotros a todas las muchachas de entre las mujeres que no hayan tenido relaciones con varón.
18 (SEV) Pero a todas las niñas entre las mujeres, que no hayan conocido varón, os guardaréis vivas.
So as can be seen, this Pyrrhonist is using the word 'virgin' to distort reality and this is being untruthful.
In reality, in ancient cultures female children were very valuable for performing household chores, but the Pyrrhonist overlook this reality. Remember, in ancient times they did NOT have washing machines to wash the clothing, but this was a manual task usually performed by female children; they did not have canned or frozen vegetables, but only fresh vegetables that had to be manually prepared a task usually performed by female children; and also, there were many other manual tasks usually performed by female children around the ancient Israeli home. But of course one trying to wrongly throw a wrong negative opinion on something twist it into negative terms which is incorrect and in my opinion just plain wrong and wicked.
Third, The last part of what he said clearly shows one twisting a positive act of execution of justice into something negative to serve evil ends. It is a prime example of twisting often used also by dishonest used car salesman and dishonest politicians.
Anyone with their humanity and compassion so twisted by cult beliefs that can claim this is "perfect love" or "perfect justice" just goes to show how religious beliefs such as a deity is on their side and commands such horrible behavior can make it seem not only easy to commit such atrocities, but come to believe it is a holy duty to kill just as the "deity" wants them to...
As can be seen he is implying wrong to his own Creator, Almighty God (YHWH), and as we all know that is terribly wrong and evil.” [source – Iris the Preacher]>>>.
And ,
[2] Then, he said, <<<” Well, I see that Iris is resorting to yet another propagandist tactic of using name calling, yet again. Now the term "communist" is being employed as a negative, diversionary tactic.[source - [source – an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]>>>.
My answer was as follows:
<<<”Now I did NOT call him a name but simply said,
As can be seen, [[this an unreasonable Pyrrhonist]] is using the old Communist trick of distorting reality in such a way as to make it into an untruth - this evil trick is to be rejected.
And he is still distorting reality as shown by this that he posted.
Now, my referring to him as a Pyrrhonist is simply referring to him as what he is. To see the truth, the reality of this statement per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV), let’s look at the definition of a skeptic of the Pyrrhonism type:
Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:”>>>.
As the research product, article, “Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:” says,
<<<” Skepticism is good up to the point where reasonableness is surpassed. Everyone should be skeptical with regard everything that is told to him/her, but skepticism's good qualities can turn into bad qualities when taken to an extreme. In the definition given for skepticism in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, both reasonable and necessary skepticism and un-reasonable or philosophical skepticism (Pyrrhonism) are defined.
Good skepticism is where one seeks ultimate truth and keeps searching for it and continually checking all the time to be sure he/she either has found it and/or is on the correct path leading to it. It requires a very positive attitude and a rejection of most of what one is told in keeping with the principle set fourth by the Apostle Paul at Acts 17:10-11, "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." (American Standard Version; ASV). This type of skepticism is termed pragmatic realism and can only be pursued by those with an open and positive mind such as those in Beroea of whom the Apostle Paul spoke. Today, to be a genuine skeptic pragmatic realist involves the rejection of anything that does not check out as true when checked and a positive outlook that absolute truth is out there and can be uncovered if one is open minded and willing to keep diligently searching for it as one would search for a hid treasure that he/she knew existed. Only open minded and skeptic individuals can be skeptic pragmatic realist.
Now we shall look at the other type of skeptic, the negative skeptic who believes ultimate truth does NOT exist. When carried to an excess, skepticism can result in rejecting the truth, the reality which should be accepted per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). As mentioned previously, skepticism when carried to an excess is called philosophical skepticism or Pyrrhonism which is the rejection and/or avoidance with respect the postulation of final truth. In other words the real truth is rejected and/or avoided as dangerous and/or unreal.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, both reasonable and necessary skepticism and un-reasonable or philosophical skepticism (Pyrrhonism) are defined. Let's look now at the definitions for the two taxonomies of skepticism:
In ordinary usage, skepticism or scepticism (Greek: skeptomai, to look about, to consider; see also spelling differences) refers to
1. an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object,
2. the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain, or
3. the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism that is characteristic of skeptics (Merriam-Webster).
In philosophy, skepticism refers more specifically to any one of several propositions. These include propositions about
1. an inquiry
2. the limitations of knowledge,
3. a method of obtaining knowledge through systematic doubt and continual testing,
4. the arbitrariness, relativity, or subjectivity of moral values,
5. a method of intellectual caution and suspended judgment,
In classical philosophy, skepticism refers to the teachings and the traits of the Skeptikoi, a school of philosophers of whom it was said that they "asserted nothing but only opined" (Liddell and Scott). In this sense, philosophical skepticism, or Pyrrhonism, is the philosophical position that one should avoid the postulation of final truths. Turned on itself, skepticism would question that skepticism is a valid perspective at all.
In religion, skepticism refers to "doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation)" (Merriam-Webster).
The word skepticism can characterize a position on a single claim, but in scholastic circles more frequently describes a lasting mindset and an approach to accepting or rejecting new information. Individuals who proclaim to have a skeptical outlook are frequently called skeptics, often without regard to whether it is philosophical skepticism or empirical skepticism that they profess." [source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia].
So as can be seen skepticism is a method of obtaining knowledge through systematic doubts and continual testing, but unfortunately in some individuals this drive for obtaining knowledge becomes warped and/or distorted. Instead of seeking after ultimate truth, they instead seek out ways to deny that ultimate truth actually exist as we shall later see, but now we shall consider the more exacting definition of the negative form of skepticism, Pyrrhonism….” [source - Pyrrhonism – A Form of Skepticism Where One Deludes Himself Into Believing There Is No Ultimate Truth:, by Iris the Preacher, 2008]>>>.
As can readily be seen this type is only interested in being negative and seeking to deny ultimate truth; whereas good skepticism, skeptic pragmatic realist seek after ultimate truth. Therefore, these two types of skeptics are on opposite ends of a continuum.
THE FIRST GLOBAL DIVINE JUDGMENT IN BRIEF:
The flood of Noah’s day mentioned briefly in the introduction was the first Divine Judgment passed and executed. But let’s look at who Noah was and a brief detail of events leading up to the execution of global Divine Judgment in his day as given by a Bible dictionary,
<<<” No'ah).
1. [Heb., No'ach, probably, Rest; Consolation]. Son of Lamech and tenth in line from Adam through Seth; born in 2970 B.C.E., 126 years after Adam’s death. When his father Lamech named Noah, he said: “This one will bring us comfort from our work and from the pain of our hands resulting from the ground which Jehovah has cursed.”—Ge 5:28-31.
Faultless Among His Contemporaries. The world in which Noah lived had become degenerate. During this period angels who left their original position and proper dwelling place had married women and produced offspring, “men of fame,” whipping up the violence filling the earth (Ge 6:1-4; Jude 6), until “every inclination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only bad all the time” and the earth became “ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.” (Ge 6:5, 11, 12) But Noah avoided this corruption and is described by God’s Word as “a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.” (Ge 6:8, 9) Noah could be spoken of as “faultless” because, unlike that ungodly world, he measured up fully to what God required of him.—Compare Ge 6:22; see PERFECTION.
Jehovah Purposes to Destroy That World. Jehovah set a time limit for the existence of that ungodly world, saying: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Ge 6:3) Evidently these words were spoken to Noah. About 20 years after that, Noah’s first son (probably Japheth) was born (2470 B.C.E.), and the record shows that another son, Shem, was born two years later. The time of Ham’s birth is not stated, but these three sons were grown and married when the divine instructions were given to Noah to build an ark. Consequently, it is likely that only 40 or 50 years then remained before the Deluge. (Ge 6:13-18) Now, brought into a covenant with Jehovah (Ge 6:18) and assisted by his family, Noah set to work as a builder and “a preacher of righteousness,” warning that wicked generation of impending destruction.—2Pe 2:5.
Preservation Through the Flood. The people did not believe that God would act to destroy a world of wickedness. So it was because Noah possessed strong faith that he, in implicit obedience, did “according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so.” (Ge 6:22) It was because of his unswerving faith in Jehovah that the Christian writer of the book of Hebrews included him in that “so great a cloud of witnesses.” He wrote: “By faith Noah, after being given divine warning of things not yet beheld, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.”—Heb 11:7; 12:1.
Seven days before the floodwaters began to fall, Jehovah instructed Noah to gather the animals into the ark. On the seventh day of that week, “Noah went in, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark ahead of the waters of the deluge. . . . After that Jehovah shut the door behind him.” On that very day “the flood arrived and destroyed them all.”—Ge 7:1-16; Lu 17:27.
With the ark’s occupants was preserved the thread of human and animal life. Also, true worship survived, and by means of Noah and his family God carried through the history of creation, along with a system of counting time back to man’s creation and the original language (later called Hebrew). Noah kept an accurate log of important [[Later used by Mosses in writing the Book of Genesis]] events during his stay in the ark.—Ge 7:11, 12, 24; 8:2-6, 10, 12-14.” [source – Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II]>>>.
But, by the same ‘token’ today’s wicked world is nearing its end as previously mentioned, and warning is being given just as in the days of Noah. But most are NOT listening – certainly not the negative thinking Pyrrhonist who wax in their own false worth.
CONCLUSION AND WHAT IS A JUDGMENT DAY:
A Judgment Day is defined by a Bible dictionary as,
<<<” JUDGMENT DAY
A specific “day,” or period, when particular groups, nations, or mankind in general are called to account by God. It may be a time when those already judged to be deserving of death are executed, or the judgment may afford opportunity for some to be delivered, even to everlasting life. Jesus Christ and his apostles pointed to a future “Judgment Day” involving not only the living but also those who had died in the past.—Mt 10:15; 11:21-24; 12:41, 42; 2Ti 4:1, 2.
Past Times of Judgment. At various times in the past Jehovah called peoples and nations to account for their actions and executed his judgments by bringing destruction. Such executional judgments were not arbitrary demonstrations of brute force or overwhelming power. In some instances the Hebrew word translated “judgment” (mish·pat') is also rendered “justice” and “what is right.” (Ezr 7:10; Ge 18:25) The Bible emphasizes that Jehovah “is a lover of righteousness and justice,” so his executional judgments involve both of those qualities.—Ps 33:5.
Sometimes the executional judgments came as a result of the wicked conduct of people in their daily lives. Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of this. Jehovah inspected the cities and determined that the sin of the inhabitants was very heavy; he decided to bring the cities to ruin. (Ge 18:20, 21; 19:14) Later Jude wrote that those cities underwent “the judicial punishment [Gr., di'ken; “judgment,” Da; “justice,” Yg; “retributive justice,” ED] of everlasting fire.” (Jude 7) So those cities experienced a “day” of judgment.
Jehovah conducted a legal case against ancient Babylon, the longtime enemy of God and his people. Because of being unnecessarily cruel to the Jews, not intending to release them after the 70-year exile, and crediting Marduk with the victory over God’s people, Babylon was in line for an executional judgment. (Jer 51:36; Isa 14:3-6, 17; Da 5:1-4) That came to Babylon in 539 B.C.E. when it was overthrown by the Medes and Persians. Because the judgment to be executed was Jehovah’s, such a period could be referred to as “the day of Jehovah.”—Isa 13:1, 6, 9.
Similarly, Jeremiah prophesied that God would “put himself in judgment” with Edom, among others. (Jer 25:17-31) Hence the nation that had shown hatred for Jehovah and his people experienced destructive judgment in “the day of Jehovah.”—Ob 1, 15, 16.
When Judah and Jerusalem became unfaithful and merited God’s disapproval, he promised to “execute in the midst of [her] judicial decisions.” (Eze 5:8) In 607 B.C.E. “the day of Jehovah’s fury” came with an execution of his destructive judgment. (Eze 7:19) However, another “day,” or time, of judgment on Jerusalem was foretold. Joel prophesied an outpouring of spirit before “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.” (Joe 2:28-31) Under inspiration Peter, on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., explained that they were then experiencing a fulfillment of that prophecy. (Ac 2:16-20) The destructive “day of Jehovah” came in 70 C.E. when the Roman armies executed divine judgment upon the Jews. As Jesus foretold, those were “days for meting out justice.”—Lu 21:22;
Future Times of Executional Judgment. Aside from Hebrew Scripture prophecies, the Bible definitely mentions a number of future judgment days that are executional. Revelation points to the time when “Babylon the Great” will be completely burned with fire. This judicial punishment is due to her fornication with the nations and her being drunk with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. (Re 17:1-6; 18:8, 20; 19:1, 2) Mentioning another executional judgment, Peter drew upon what occurred in Noah’s day and foretold a “day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2Pe 3:7) Revelation speaks of such a destruction as being executed by “The Word of God,” who will strike the nations with a long sword. (Re 19:11-16; compare Jude 14, 15.) Also, in the first century the Devil already had judgment passed on him, and the demons he leads knew that they would be put into the abyss, as will Satan. (1Ti 3:6; Lu 8:31; Re 20:1-3) Thus it follows that the judgment awaiting them is simply the execution of a judgment that has already been decided upon.—Jude 6; 2Pe 2:4; 1Co 6:3.” [source – Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II]>>>.
And George Morrish in his Concise Bible Dictionary says,
<<<”… All judgment, that is, the act of judging (krisiv), whether of dead or living, has been committed to the Lord Jesus. He is represented as coming from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, when He will tread the people in His anger, and trample them in His fury, and their blood will stain all His raiment. #Isa 63:1-3. His judgment falls on the living nations; also before Israel is restored to blessing, judgment from God will fall upon them. See TRIBULATION. Upon professing Christendom also God will execute judgment. See BABYLON THE GREAT. The eternal punishment of the wicked is called "eternal judgment." #Heb 6:2. The fallen angels are reserved unto judgment, #2Pe 2:4: and everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. #Mt 25:41…” [source – George Morrish’s Concise Bible Dictionary[>>>.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89