Scripture of the Day:

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HERE IS VOL 612B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO EZRA, [2] THE CULMINATION OF THE END TIMES:

ALSO, VIDEO ON WAS THE EARTH CREATED, :CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleTeachings/pub-ebtv_1_VIDEO


[1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: [612B]

John 8:42 Jesus (Yeshua) said to them, " Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

Jesus (Yeshua) said he comes from God. The flesh cannot be speaking for the flesh was created. So Jesus (Yeshua)'s spiritual being came from God. Jesus (Yeshua) did not send himself, he did not come on his own, but before he was on earth, God sent him. Jesus (Yeshua) was sent by God into the world, so Jesus (Yeshua) is before the world with God. He is referred to at Pr. 8:22-31, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO EZRA, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-ezra/


[2] THE CULMINATION OF THE END TIMES:

INTRODUCTION:

Many wonder about the culmination of the end times, when it will come, what part will Christians play in it, how vast the destruction will be, how and why wickedness will be destroyed, does destruction of the wicked violate the principle of 'agape' love, and most of all how to survive. This great destruction that will shortly be upon us is known to many as Armageddon and will do away with all present political systems and replace them with direct rule by God's (YHWH) appointed agent, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ.

However, Just as in times past, such as the days of Noah, the righteous will be delivered while the wicked are being destroyed as shown at Matthew 24:37-39, "And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark." (American Standard Version; ASV); And affirmed at 1 Peter 3:20, "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). So let's learn what will occur.

PRESENT POLITICAL SYSTEM IS UN-RIGHTEOUS AND WILL BE REMOVED:

The present political system is under control of the ruler of this system of things, Satan the Devil, and will be destroyed as revealed at Revelation 16:14 & 16, "for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the gread day of God, the Almighty, 16 And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon. " (ASV); And this is further amplified at Revelation 19:19, "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army." (ASV) here speaking of the army of God (YHWH) under command of his appointed agent, his Son, the Son of God (YHWH), Jesus (Yeshua), who is shown as sitting on the horse when the political powers make war against him.

Now what is meant by referring to Jesus (Yeshua) as his Father's (YHWH's) agent? Clearly it is vital we grasp this concept early in this discourse so we can understand the Biblical facts better; As we will later vividly see, Jesus (Yeshua) was not carrying out his own will, but the will of the superior one who sent him with respect to him leading the armies of God (YHWH) is the destruction of the powers to be of this wicked system now existing. In fact Jesus (Yeshua) said, Matthew 4:10, to Satan when he was being tempted, "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (ASV); and Jesus (Yeshua) said, John 14:28, "Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father; for the Father is greater than I." (ASV); Clearly these both show that Jesus (Yeshua) considered his Father (YHWH) greater than himself, but there are those who mistakenly say they are one and the same, preposterous! In an attempt to prove their error they use Colossians 1:16-19, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). Clearly they overlook that verse 19 says, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" showing two distinct beings or individuals, and the Jewish Law of Agencies or Schaliach Principle or their error would probably be self evident to them.

Some may find this a difficult concept, but is is similar to someone giving another a Limited Power of Attorney making him an agent to carry out an assigned task as did His Father (YHWH) at 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (AV), testifies that God (YHWH) had given his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) over all except himself when the scripture says "it is manifest that he is excepted." Clearly showing they were distinct individuals and that the Father (YHWH) was the superior one; hence they were not CO-EQUAL.

HAR-MAGEDON WILL BE A WAR OF DIVINE EXECUTION:

Some think that true Christians will have a part in this war and the slaying work; however, this is NOT the case as shown at 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds;" (ASV); And reaffirmed that true Christians would play no part at Romans 12:19, "Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengence belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord." (ASV); Actually the fight true Christians NOW have just prior to the climax is detailed at Ephesians 6:12, "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (ASV).

That this war at the climax of the end times will be a war of divine execution by God (YHWH) using his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), as the appointed leader of his armies, in keeping with the Schaliach Principle is made clear at Jeremiah 25:31-32, "A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah. 32 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth." (ASV); And affirmed at Zephaniah 3:8, "Therefore wait ye for me saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." (ASV); And at 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9, "if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, 7 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, 8 rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: 9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (ASV); And this is testified to in Jude 14-15, "And to these also Encoh, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (ASV).

This period of time, although short, will be dramatic unlike any ever known as revealed at Revelation:15-17, "And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand." (ASV).

WHY THIS WAR IS NECESSARY AND DOES NOT VIOLATE GOD'S (YHWH'S) CHIEF ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE:

Many wonder why this war is necessary. It is necessary so as to clear wickedness from the earth, to prove God's (YHWH's) right to rule beyond question, to both magnify and clear God's (YHWH's) name, and to destroy wicked entrenched political opposition to God's (YHWH's) kingdom. FIRST, we will deal with the need to remove wickedness from the earth as shown at Psalms 37:10-11, "10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (ASV); And at Psalms 145:20, "Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy." (ASV); And at Proverbs 2:21-22, "For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it. 22 But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB); And at Isaiah 11:1 & 4, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. 4 But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall slay the wicked." (DRCB), clearly showing the wicked will be done away with.

SECOND, It is necessary to prove, once and for all, God's (YHWH's) sovereignty and his unquestionable right to rule as shown at Psalms 83:17-18, "Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish; (ASV) 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH [(YHWH)], art the most high over all the earth." (AV); And affirmed at Daniel 2:44, "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (ASV). Ans a Isaiah 32:1 states, "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in justice." (ASV); And at Psalms 45:16, "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth." (ASV).

That God (YHWH) will take over the rule of the earth and use his appointed agent, Jesus (Yeshua), the Son of God (YHWH), to run it is made clear at Revelation 11:17-18, "sayhing, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. 18 And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth." (ASV); And at Isaiah 46:8-11, "Yea, thou heardest not; yea thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. 9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. 10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another." (AV).

THIRD, To both magnify and clear God's (YHWH's) name as is vividly shown at Ezekiel 38:23, "And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah." (ASV); And affirmed at Psalms 74:10 & 18, "How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever. 18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Jehovah, And that a foolish people hath blasphemed thy name." (ASV). Clearly then it is required for God (YHWH) to clear his name as further shown at Isaiah 5:16, "but Jehovah of hosts is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness." (ASV); And in fact we actually pray for this outcome when we pray the 'Lords prayer' as shown at Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (ASV); And affirmed at Psalms 145:21, (Psalms 144:21 in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible), "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." (DRCB).

FOURTH, To destroy wicked entrenched political opposition to God's (YHWH's) kingdom as revealed at Revelation 19:11 & 16 & 19, "And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against his that sat upon the horse, and against his army." (ASV); And this all in keeping with Jesus (Yeshua) being his Father's (YHWH's) agent in keeping with 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, ""But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (ASV). It is to be noted that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) has put his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), over all, except himself as pointed out at in 1 Corinthians 15:27 above, and given him all he needs to carry out his commission.

And that he, Jesus (Yeshua) has been given this authority by his Father (YHWH) is clearly shown by Revelation 17:12-14, "And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast. 14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful." (ASV); And re-affirmed at Psalms 2:2 & 5-6 & 9, "The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed saying, 5 Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure: 6 Yet I have set my king, Upon my holy hill of Zion. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (ASV).

DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED DOES NOT VIOLATE GOD'S (YHWH'S) CHIEF ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE, BUT IS REQUIRED BY IT:

This destruction of the wicked is necessary in the interest of showing his chief attribute of love to the righteous ones who have been abused, harassed, and worse by the wicked ones. All righteous ones experience abuse from the wicked and God (YHWH) being a righteous God (YHWH) must bring this to an end, but he takes no delight in having to do so as shown at Ezekiel 18:23, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?" (ASV); And is affirmed at Romans 9:22, "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction." (ASV); And at Psalms 37:28, "For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever; But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off." (ASV).

Of course some feel God (YHWH) has been slow about bringing destruction to the wicked, but in reality he has been patient as shown by 2 Peter 3:8-9, "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." (ASV); And at Luke 18:7-8, shows when justice comes, it will come speedily, "And shall not god avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? 8 I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (ASV).

THE CLIMAX OF THE END TIMES OR ARMAGEDDON WILL COME SUDDENLY:

It will come during the marked generation as shown by Matthew 24:34-36 & 43-44, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. 43-44 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. 44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh. " (ASV) clearly showing all would occur in this marked generation and that in the 1 st. Century even Jesus (Yeshua) did NOT know the exact time, but only his Father (YHWH).

As alluded to in Matthew 24:44 above, the climax of the end times will arrive as testified to at 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, "For yourselves know perfectly that they day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape." (ASV); And affirmed at Revelation 16:15, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (ASV); And at Proverbs 6:12-15, "A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth; 13 That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers; 14 In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord." (ASV); There fore as Luke 21:34-35 says, "But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth." (ASV).

THE CONCLUSION AND HOW TO SURVIVE:

FIRST, one must be a meek and righteous person as shown at Zepheniah 2:2-3, "before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye Jehovah all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger." (ASV);

SECOND, those wishing to be saved on this day need to per Joel 2:32, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call." (ASV).

THIRD, we must be loving our God (YHWH) with all our might as shown by Psalms 145:20, "Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy." (ASV).

FOURTH, we must accept his Son, the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) as our savior as testified to at John 3:16, ""For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." (ASV); And re-affirmed at Romans 5:9-10, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (ASV).

FIFTH, we must seek after wisdom as shown at Ecclesiastes 7:11-12, "Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it." (ASV).

SIXTH, we must let others know about God (YHWH) and his Son, the Son of God (YHWH), Jesus (Yeshua) since Romans 10:10 clearly shows, "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (ASV); And given as an assignment to all true Christians at matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (AV).

SEVENTH, expect to be among the few in number who will be, per Matthew 10:22, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." (ASV).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 613B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH, [2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia mangostana :

ALSO, VIDEO ON WAS THE EARTH CREATED, :CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleTeachings/pub-ebtv_1_VIDEO


[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [613B]

The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. Proverbs 14:35, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

This Biblical truth is re-stated at Matthew 24:45 - 51, [AV] “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” An actual example of this truth is shown at 1 Kings 2:44 - 46, [AV] “The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.”

VIEW THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH, CLICK OR POST IN THE BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-nehemiah/


[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the The purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), colloquially known simply as mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. It grows mainly in Southeast Asia, and also in tropical countries such as Colombia, Sri Lanka, in the state of Kerala in India and in Puerto Rico and Hawaii,[1][2] where the tree has been introduced. The tree grows from 6 to 25 m (19.7 to 82.0 ft) tall.[3] The fruit of the mangosteen is sweet and tangy, juicy, somewhat fibrous, with fluid-filled vesicles (like the flesh of citrus fruits), with an inedible, deep reddish-purple colored rind (exocarp) when ripe.[1] In each fruit, the fragrant edible flesh that surrounds each seed is botanically endocarp, i.e., the inner layer of the ovary.[4][5] Seeds are almond-shaped and sized.
The purple mangosteen belongs to the same genus as the other, less widely known,mangosteens, such as the button mangosteen (G. prainiana) or the charichuelo (G. madruno).
History
Mangosteen is a native plant to Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. Highly valued for its juicy, delicate texture and slightly sweet and sour flavour, the mangosteen has been cultivated in Java, Sumatra, Mainland Southeast Asia, and the southern Philippines since ancient times. The 15th-century Chinese record Yingyai Shenglan described mangosteen asmang-chi-shih (derived from Javanese manggis), a native plant of Java of white flesh with delectable sweet and sour taste.[6]
A description of mangosteen was included in the Species Plantarum by Linnaeus in 1753. The mangosteen was introduced into English greenhouses in 1855.[7] Subsequently its culture was introduced into the Western Hemisphere, where it became established in West Indies islands, especially Jamaica. It was later established on the Americas mainland in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Ecuador. The mangosteen tree generally does not grow well outside the tropics.
Propagation, cultivation and harvest
Mangosteen is usually propagated by seedlings.[3][8] Vegetative propagation is difficult and seedlings are more robust and reach fruiting earlier than vegetative propagated plants.[3][8]
Mangosteen produces a recalcitrant seed which is not a true seed strictly defined, but rather described as a nucellarasexual embryo.[3][8][9] As seed formation involves no sexual fertilization, the seedling is genetically identical to the mother plant.[3][8] If allowed to dry, a seed dies quickly, but if soaked, seed germination takes between 14 and 21 days when the plant can be kept in a nursery for about 2 years growing in a small pot.[8]
When the trees are approximately 25–30 cm (10–12 in), they are transplanted to the field at a distance of 20–40 m (66–131 ft).[3][8] After planting, the field is mulched in order to control weeds.[3][10] Transplanting takes place in the rainy season because young trees are likely to be damaged by drought.[3][8] Because young trees need shade,[3][10] intercropping withbanana, plantain, rambutan, durian or coconut leaves is effective.[3][8] Coconut palms are mainly used in areas with a long dry season, as palms also provide shade for mature mangosteen trees.[3][8] Another advantage of intercropping in mangosteen cultivation is the suppression of weeds.[3][10]
The growth of the trees is retarded if the temperature is below 20 °C. The ideal temperature range for growing and producing fruits is between 25 °C and 35 °C[11] with a relative humidity over 80%.[10] The maximal temperature is between 38 °C and 40 °C, with both leaves and fruit being susceptible to scorching and sunburn,[10][11] while the minimum temperature is between 3 °C and 5 °C.[11] Young seedlings prefer a high level of shade and mature trees are shade-tolerant.[11]
Mangosteen trees have a weak root system and prefer deep, well drained soils with high moisture content, often growing on riverbanks.[10] The mangosteen is not adapted to limestone soils, sandy, alluvial soils or sandy soils with low organic matter content.[11][12] Mangosteen trees need a well distributed rainfall over the year (<40 mm/month) and a 3–5 week dry season.[11]
Mangosteen trees are sensitive to water availability and application of fertilizer input which is increased with the age of trees, regardless of region.[3][10] Maturation of mangosteen fruits takes 5–6 months, with harvest occurring when thepericarps are purple.[3][9]
Breeding
In breeding of perennial mangosteen, selection of rootstock and grafting are significant issues to overcome constraints to production, harvesting or seasonality.[3] Most of the genetic resources for breeding are in germplasm collections, whereas some wild species are cultivated in Malaysia and the Philippines.[3][8] Conservation methods are chosen because storage of seeds under dried and low temperature conditions has not been successful.[3]
Because of the long duration until the trees yield fruits and the long resulting breeding cycles, mangosteen breeding has not proven attractive for transplanting or research.[3][13] Breeding objectives that may enhance mangosteen production include:[13]
* Drought tolerance, especially sensitivity to drought in the first 5 years after germination
* Tree architecture to produce a tree with a crown that is regular and pyramid-shaped
* Fruit quality including i) overcoming bitter taste components caused by changes in pulp, pericarp or aril and ii) pericarp cracking resulting from excessive water uptake
* Rootstock for improved adaptation to drought and robust development in early years of growth
Yield
Mangosteen trees reach fruit-bearing in as little as 5–6 years, but more typically require 8–10 years.[3][9] The yield of the mangosteen is variable, depending on climate and age of the tree.[3] If the young tree is bearing for the first time, 200-300 fruits may be produced, whereas at maturity, 500 fruits per season are average.[3] At age 30 to 45 years in full maturity, each tree may yield as many as 3,000 fruits, with trees as old as 100 years still producing.[3]
Regional production
Major mangosteen production occurs in Southeast Asia, mainly in Thailand as the country with the most acreage planted, estimated at 4,000 ha in 1965[3] and 11,000 ha in 2000, giving a total yield of 46,000 tons.[8] Indonesia, Malaysia and thePhilippines are other major Asian producers.[8] Mangosteen production in Puerto Rico is succeeding,[1][9] but despite decades of attempts, no major production occurs elsewhere in the Caribbean Islands, South America, Florida, California,Hawaii or any continent except Asia.[3]
Diseases and pests
Common diseases and pests
The pathogens which attack purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) are common in other tropical trees. The diseases can be divided into foliar, fruit, stem and soil-borne diseases.[14]
Pestalotiopsis leaf blight (Pestalotiopsis flagisettula (only identified in Thailand)) is one of the diseases which infect especially young leaves.[14] Furthermore, the pathogen causes the fruits to rot before and after the harvest.[14] Additionalstem canker and dieback are caused by the pathogen.[14] Some of the symptoms of stem canker are branch splitting,gummosis and bark blistering.[14] The main areas where the disease was observed are Thailand, Malaysia and North Queensland.[14]
Another common disease is the thread blight or white thread blight disease (Marasmiellus scandens) whereas the name comes from the mycelia which resembles thread.[14] Leaves, twigs and branches may also be damaged by the disease.[14]The spores spread with the help of wind, raindrops and insects, and thrive in shady, humid and wet conditions.[14]
An important post-harvest disease affecting mangosteen especially in Thailand is called Diplodia fruit rot (Diplodia theobromae) which, as a secondary pathogen, enters the host plant through wounds.[14]
Phellinus noxius living on the roots and trunk bases causes brown root disease, a name derived from the appearance of themycelium-binding soil particles.[14] The distribution of the fungus happens through contact with infected wood or thickrhizomorphs on tree stumps.[14]
There are a few pests which feed on mangosteen leaves and fruits including leaf eater (Stictoptera sp.), leaf miner(Phyllocnictis citrella) and fruit borer (Curculio sp.).[8] Especially in nurseries, the larval stage of the leaf eater can cause visible damage on young leaves, but can be managed by biological control agents.[8] The larval stage of fruit borer (Curculio sp.) feeds on different parts of fruit before ripening.[8]
Control measures for diseases and pests
Different management options can be applied to control mangosteen diseases.[8][14]
* Measures to inhibit sun scalding to minimize leaf blight and stem canker.
* Reduction of wounds caused by insects and storm damage to minimize disease incidence.
* Change of the microclimate by tree spacing and pruning.
* Chemicals applied to root collars and tree stumps to control root diseases.
* Fungicides to control fungal pathogens.
* Biological pest control or insecticides to control insects.
Tree and fruit
A tropical tree, the mangosteen must be grown in consistently warm conditions, as exposure to temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) for prolonged periods will usually kill a mature plant. They are known to recover from brief cold spells rather well, often with damage only to young growth. Experienced horticulturists have grown this species outdoors, and brought them to fruit in extreme south Florida.[1]
The juvenile mangosteen fruit, which does not require fertilisation to form (seeagamospermy), first appears as pale green or almost white in the shade of thecanopy. As the fruit enlarges over the next two to three months, the exocarp colour deepens to darker green. During this period, the fruit increases in size until its exocarp is 6–8 centimetres (2.4–3.1 in) in outside diameter, remaining hard until a final, abrupt ripening stage.
The subsurface chemistry of the mangosteen exocarp comprises an array of polyphenols, including xanthones and tannins that assure astringency which discourages infestation by insects, fungi, plant viruses, bacteria and animal predation while the fruit is immature. Colour changes and softening of the exocarp are natural processes of ripening that indicates the fruit can be eaten and the seeds have finished developing.[15]
Once the developing mangosteen fruit has stopped expanding, chlorophyllsynthesis slows as the next colour phase begins. Initially streaked with red, the exocarp pigmentation transitions from green to red to dark purple, indicating a final ripening stage. This entire process takes place over a period of ten days as the edible quality of the fruit peaks.
Over the days following removal from the tree, the exocarp hardens to an extent depending upon post-harvest handling and ambient storage conditions, especially relative humidity levels. If the ambient humidity is high, exocarp hardening may take a week or longer when the flesh quality is peaking and excellent for consumption. However, after several additional days of storage, especially if unrefrigerated, the flesh inside the fruit might spoil without any obvious external indications. Using the hardness of the rind as an indicator of freshness for the first two weeks following harvest is therefore unreliable because the rind does not accurately reveal the interior condition of the flesh. If the exocarp is soft and yielding as it is when ripe and fresh from the tree, the fruit is usually good.[9]
The edible endocarp of the mangosteen has the same shape and size as a tangerine 4–6 centimetres (1.6–2.4 in) in diameter, but is white.[9] The number of fruit segments corresponds exactly with the number of stigma lobes on the exteriorapex;[3][9] accordingly, a higher number of fleshy segments also corresponds with the fewest seeds.[3] The circle of wedge-shaped segments contains 4–8, rarely 9 segments,[9] the larger ones harbouring the apomictic seeds that are unpalatable unless roasted.[3]
Often described as a subtle delicacy, the flesh bears an exceptionally mild aroma, quantitatively having about 1/400th of the chemical constituents of fragrant fruits, explaining its relative mildness.[16] The main volatile components having caramel,grass and butter notes as part of the mangosteen fragrance are hexyl acetate, hexenol and ?-copaene.
Nutritional content

The endocarp is the white part of the fruit containing a mild flavor that makes the fruit popular for eating.[1][9] When analyzed specifically for its content of essential nutrients, however, mangosteen nutrition is modest, as all nutrients analyzed are a low percentage of the Dietary Reference Intake (see right table for canned fruit in syrup, USDA Nutrient Database; note that nutrient values for fresh fruit are likely different, but have not been published by a reputable source).[9][17]
Uses[edit]
Culinary[edit]
Due to restrictions on imports, mangosteen is not readily available in certain countries. Although available in Australia, for example, they are still rare in the produce sections of grocery stores in North America andEurope. Following export from its natural growing regions in Southeast Asia, the fresh fruit may be available seasonally in some local markets like those of Chinatowns.[1]
Mangosteens are available canned and frozen in Western countries. Without fumigation or irradiation (in order to kill the Asian fruit fly) fresh mangosteens were illegal to import into the United States until 2007.[18]Freeze-dried and dehydrated mangosteen flesh can also be found.
Upon arrival in the US in 2007, fresh mangosteens sold at up to $60 per pound in speciality produce stores in New York City, but wider availability and somewhat lower prices have become common in the United States and Canada.[2] Despite efforts described above to grow mangosteen in the Western Hemisphere, nearly the entire supply is imported from Thailand.[19] Canned mangosteens are also available in the United States for a much lower price, but much of the fruit's unique flavor is lost in the canning process.[citation needed]

Young fruit
Before ripening, the mangosteen shell is fibrous and firm, but becomes soft and easy to pry open when the fruit ripens. To open a mangosteen, the shell is usually scored first with a knife; one holds the fruit in both hands, prying gently along the score with the thumbs until the rind cracks. It is then easy to pull the halves apart along the crack and remove the fruit. Occasionally, during peeling of ripe fruits, the purple exocarp juice may stain skin or fabric.
There is a legend about Queen Victoria offering a reward of 100 pounds sterling to anyone who could deliver to her the fresh fruit.[1][9] Although this legend can be traced to a 1930 publication by the fruit explorer, David Fairchild, it is not substantiated by any known historical document, yet is probably responsible for the uncommon designation of mangosteen as the "Queen of Fruit".[9]
In his publication, "Hortus Veitchii", James Herbert Veitch says he visited Java in 1892, "to eat the Mangosteen. It is necessary to eat the Mangosteen grown within three or four degrees of latitude of the equator to realize at all the attractive and curious properties of this fruit."[20]
The journalist and gourmet R. W. Apple, Jr. once said of the fruit, "No other fruit, for me, is so thrillingly, intoxicatingly luscious...I'd rather eat one than a hot fudge sundae, which for a big Ohio boy is saying a lot."[21] Since 2006, private small volume orders for fruits grown in Puerto Rico were sold to American gourmet restaurants who serve the flesh segments as a delicacy dessert.[1]
Traditional medicine and research
Various parts of the plant have a history of use in traditional medicine, mostly in Southeast Asia; it may have been used to treat skin infections, wounds, dysentery, and urinary tract infections.[3][22]
According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable evidence that mangosteen juice, puree, or bark is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans".[23]
Other uses
Mangosteen twigs have been used as chew sticks in Ghana, and the wood has been used to make spears and cabinetry inThailand. The rind of the mangosteen fruit has also been used to tan leather in China.
Peel phytochemicals
Mangosteen peel contains xanthonoids, such as mangostin, and other phytochemicals.[22] Research on the phytochemistry of the plant without human clinical study, however, is inadequate to assure the safety or efficacy of its use as a supplement.[22][24]
Marketing
Fresh mangosteen is marketed for only a short period of six to ten weeks due to its seasonal nature.[2][8] It is mainly grown by smallholders and sold at fruit stalls by roadsides. Its irregular, short supply leads to wide price fluctuations throughout its season. The price of mangosteen has also been subject to great fluctuations over the years.[1][25] Additionally, there is no standard product quality assessment or grading system, making international trade of the fruits difficult.[8] The mangosteen still remains rare in Western markets, though its popularity is increasing, and it is often sold at a high price.[2][26]
References
1. ^  to:a b c d e f g h i Karp, David (9 August 2006). "Forbidden? Not the Mangosteen". The New York Times. Retrieved22 May 2010.
2. ^  to:a b c d Karp, David (8 August 2007). "Mangosteens Arrive, but Be Prepared to Pay". The New York Times. Retrieved22 May 2010.
3. ^  to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Morton, Julia F. (1987). "Mangosteen". Fruits of warm climates. Purdue University. pp. 301–304. Retrieved 4 December2012.
4. ^ Mabberley, D.J. 1997. The plant book: A portable dictionary of the vascular plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
5. ^ "Garcinia mangostana (Clusiaceae)". Montoso Gardens. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
6. ^ Huan Ma, Chengjun Feng, John Vivian Gottlieb Mills.Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' (1433). p. 92. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
7. ^ "Mangosteen". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved2 May 2015.
8. ^  to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r bin Osman, Mohamad (2006). Mangosteen Garcinia mangostana L. Southampton, UK: University of Southampton. ISBN 0854328173.
9. ^  to:a b c d e f g h i j k l Crown I (2014). "Science: Mangosteen information". Mangosteen.com. The mangosteen website.
10. ^  to:a b c d e f g Yaacob, Othman; Tindall, H.D. (1995).Mangosteen cultivation. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 92-5-103459-1.
11. ^  to:a b c d e f Diczbalis, Yan (2011). "Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing for Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)". Elevitch C.R.
12. ^ Paull, R.E.; Duarte, O. (2012). Mangosteen. Crop Production Science in Horticulture.
13. ^  to:a b Te-chato, Sompong; Lim, Mongkol (2005). "7.1 Garcinia mangostana Mangosteen". In Litz, R. E.Biotechnology of Fruit and Nut Crops. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing.
14. ^  to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lim, T.-K.; Sangchote, S. (2003). "16 Diseases on Mangosteen". In Ploetz, R. C. Diseases of Tropical Fruit Crops. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing.
15. ^ Simon PW (26 May 1996). "Plant Pigments for Color and Nutrition". US Department of Agriculture, republished from HortScience 32(1):12-13, 1997.
16. ^ MacLeod AJ, Pieris NM. Volatile flavour components of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana" Phytochemistry 21:117–9, 1982
17. ^ NutritionData.com (2012). "Mangosteen, canned, syrup pack, per 100 g". Conde Nast. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
18. ^ Karp, David (27 June 2007). "Welcome at the Border: Thai Fruits, Once Banned". The New York Times. Retrieved22 May 2010.
19. ^ "Market Potential for Mangosteen and Salaaca" (PDF). Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
20. ^ Veitch, James Herbert (2006). Hortus Veitchii. Caradoc Doy. p. 89. ISBN 0-9553515-0-2.
21. ^ Apple, R. W. (24 Sep 2003). "Forbidden Fruit: Something About A Mangosteen". New York Times. Retrieved13 June 2012.
22. ^  to:a b c Obolskiy, Dmitriy; Pischel, Ivo; Siriwatanametanon, Nisarat; Heinrich, Michael (2009). "Garcinia mangostanaL.: A phytochemical and pharmacological review". Phytotherapy Research 23 (8): 1047–65. doi:10.1002/ptr.2730.PMID 19172667.
23. ^ "Mangosteen Juice". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved August 2013.
24. ^ Gross P, Crown I (2009). "The Mangosteen Controversy". Engredea (May 21, 2009). Retrieved4 January 2010.
25. ^ "Mangosteen price too low: farmers". The Nation. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
26. ^ Temple-West, Patrick (5 March 2008). "Tropical sweetness: harnessing the elusive mangosteen". Medill Reports. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
[sourc - retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_mangosteen on 10/15/2015]

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to http://www.jw.org].

To view this plant, go to, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_mangosteen

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 614B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER, [2] IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN? [PART 1]


ALSO, VIDEO ON WAS IT DESIGNED? PHOTOSYNTHESIS, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/BibleFeatured/docid-502200128_1_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN?

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [614B]

For as regards Christ Jesus neither circumcision is of any value nor is uncircumcision, but faith operating through love is. Galatians 5:6.

Yes, “you were, of course called, called for freedom, brothers, only do not use this freedom as an inducement for the flesh, but through love slave for one another. For the entire law stands fulfilled on one saying, namely , “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:13-14). Here, the Apostle Paul was bringing out how no one was now under the old law covenant, but all were under the new commandment and were required to love their neighbor. He went on to say, “On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no low.” (Gal. 5:22-23).

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/esther-introduction/


[2] IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN? (IN TWO PARTS, VOL 545A AND 546A)

Take a good look at the following teachings from the Suras in the Quaran, by comparison to the Christian Bible. The bottom line is, which of the two, after a thorough evaluation offer love and peace and God's only plan of salvation to everyone, and eternal life with Him.

-1-

Islam teaches: Jesus is not the Son of God, did not die for our sins, was not crucified, was not divine as well as human and is not the Savior of the world. Suras 4:157; 5:19. 75; 9:30. We shall now look at these Suras in three (3) different versions of the Quran in English:

004.157
YUSUFALI: That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
PICKTHAL: And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.
SHAKIR: And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.

005.019
YUSUFALI: O People of the Book! Now hath come unto you, making (things) clear unto you, Our Messenger, after the break in (the series of) our messengers, lest ye should say: "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil)": But now hath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil). And Allah hath power over all things.
PICKTHAL: O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you to make things plain unto you after an interval (of cessation) of the messengers, lest ye should say: There came not unto us a messenger of cheer nor any warner. Now hath a messenger of cheer and a warner come unto you. Allah is Able to do all things.
SHAKIR: O followers of the Book! indeed Our Messenger has come to you explaining to you after a cessation of the (mission of the) messengers, lest you say: There came not to us a giver of good news or a warner, so indeed there has come to you a giver of good news and a warner; and Allah has power over all things.

005.075
YUSUFALI: Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!
PICKTHAL: The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!
SHAKIR: The Messiah, son of Marium is but a messenger; messengers before him have indeed passed away; and his mother was a truthful woman; they both used to eat food. See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away.

009.030
YUSUFALI: The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!
PICKTHAL: And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!
SHAKIR: And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!

In Sura 18:10, Allah told Muhammed: "Say, I am but a man like yourselves."

018.010
YUSUFALI: Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!"
PICKTHAL: When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.
SHAKIR: When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair.

-2-

The Quaran gives four conflicting accounts of how Muhammed was called a prophet. 1. In Suras 53:2-18 and 81:19-24, Allah personally appeared. 2. In Suras 16:102 and 26:192-194 he was called by the "Holy Spirit." 3. In Sura 15:8, the angels announced his prophetic ministry. 4. In Suras 46:29-35; 72:1-28, the angel Gabriel told him of his ministry and gave him the Quaran. Muhammed's first supposed converts were Genies, but no one confirms his priesthood.

[1]

Suras 53:2-18:

053.002
YUSUFALI: Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
PICKTHAL: Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
SHAKIR: Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;

053.003
YUSUFALI: Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
PICKTHAL: Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
SHAKIR: Nor does he speak out of desire.

053.004
YUSUFALI: It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
PICKTHAL: It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
SHAKIR: It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

053.005
YUSUFALI: He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
PICKTHAL: Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
SHAKIR: The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

053.006
YUSUFALI: Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
PICKTHAL: One vigorous; and he grew clear to view
SHAKIR: The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,

053.007
YUSUFALI: While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
PICKTHAL: When he was on the uppermost horizon.
SHAKIR: And he is in the highest part of the horizon.

053.008
YUSUFALI: Then he approached and came closer,
PICKTHAL: Then he drew nigh and came down
SHAKIR: Then he drew near, then he bowed

053.009
YUSUFALI: And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer;
PICKTHAL: Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer,
SHAKIR: So he was the measure of two bows or closer still.

053.010
YUSUFALI: So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
PICKTHAL: And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
SHAKIR: And He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

053.011
YUSUFALI: The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
PICKTHAL: The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
SHAKIR: The heart was not untrue in (making him see) what he saw.

053.012
YUSUFALI: Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
PICKTHAL: Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth?
SHAKIR: What! do you then dispute with him as to what he saw?

053.013
YUSUFALI: For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
PICKTHAL: And verily he saw him yet another time
SHAKIR: And certainly he saw him in another descent,

053.014
YUSUFALI: Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:
PICKTHAL: By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary,
SHAKIR: At the farthest lote-tree;

053.015
YUSUFALI: Near it is the Garden of Abode.
PICKTHAL: Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
SHAKIR: Near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to.

053.016
YUSUFALI: Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
PICKTHAL: When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote-tree,
SHAKIR: When that which covers covered the lote-tree;

053.017
YUSUFALI: (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
PICKTHAL: The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
SHAKIR: The eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit.

053.018
YUSUFALI: For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
PICKTHAL: Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
SHAKIR: Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. 81:19-24

Suras 81:19-24:

081.019
YUSUFALI: Verily this is the word of a most honourable Messenger,
PICKTHAL: That this is in truth the word of an honoured messenger,
SHAKIR: Most surely it is the Word of an honored messenger,

081.020
YUSUFALI: Endued with Power, with rank before the Lord of the Throne,
PICKTHAL: Mighty, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne,
SHAKIR: The processor of strength, having an honorable place with the Lord of the Dominion,

081.021
YUSUFALI: With authority there, (and) faithful to his trust.
PICKTHAL: (One) to be obeyed, and trustworthy;
SHAKIR: One (to be) obeyed, and faithful in trust.

081.022
YUSUFALI: And (O people!) your companion is not one possessed;
PICKTHAL: And your comrade is not mad.
SHAKIR: And your companion is not gone mad.

081.023
YUSUFALI: And without doubt he saw him in the clear horizon.
PICKTHAL: Surely he beheld Him on the clear horizon.
SHAKIR: And of a truth he saw himself on the clear horizon.

081.024
YUSUFALI: Neither doth he withhold grudgingly a knowledge of the Unseen.
PICKTHAL: And he is not avid of the Unseen.
SHAKIR: Nor of the unseen is he a tenacious concealer.

[2]

Sura 16:102:

016.102
YUSUFALI: Say, the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.
PICKTHAL: Say: The holy Spirit hath delivered it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).
SHAKIR: Say: The Holy spirit has revealed it from your Lord with the truth, that it may establish those who believe and as a guidance and good news for those who submit.

Suras 26:192-194:

026.192
YUSUFALI: Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:
PICKTHAL: And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds,
SHAKIR: And most surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
026.193
YUSUFALI: With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth-
PICKTHAL: Which the True Spirit hath brought down
SHAKIR: The Faithful Spirit has descended with it,
026.194
YUSUFALI: To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish.
PICKTHAL: Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners,
SHAKIR: Upon your heart that you may be of the warners

[3]

Sura 15:8:

015.008
YUSUFALI: We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no respite would they have!
PICKTHAL: We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case (the disbelievers) would not be tolerated.
SHAKIR: We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited.

[4]

Suras 46:29-35:

046.029
YUSUFALI: Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur'an: when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, "Listen in silence!" When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins).
PICKTHAL: And when We inclined toward thee (Muhammad) certain of the jinn, who wished to hear the Qur'an and, when they were in its presence, said: Give ear! and, when it was finished, turned back to their people, warning.
SHAKIR: And when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said: Be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them).

046.030
YUSUFALI: They said, "O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming what came before it: it guides (men) to the Truth and to a Straight Path.
PICKTHAL: They said: O our people! Lo! we have heard a scripture which hath been revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it, guiding unto the truth and a right road.
SHAKIR: They said: O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it, guiding to the truth and to a right path:

046.031
YUSUFALI: "O our people, hearken to the one who invites (you) to Allah, and believe in him: He will forgive you your faults, and deliver you from a Penalty Grievous.
PICKTHAL: O our people! respond to Allah's summoner and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom.
SHAKIR: O our people! accept the Divine caller and believe in Him, He will forgive you of your faults and protect you from a painful punishment.

046.032
YUSUFALI: "If any does not hearken to the one who invites (us) to Allah, he cannot frustrate (Allah's Plan) on earth, and no protectors can he have besides Allah: such men (wander) in manifest error."
PICKTHAL: And whoso respondeth not to Allah's summoner he can nowise escape in the earth, and he hath no protecting friends instead of Him. Such are in error manifest.
SHAKIR: And whoever does not accept the-Divine caller, he shall not escape in the earth and he shall not have guardians besides Him, these are in manifest error.

046.033
YUSUFALI: See they not that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and never wearied with their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yea, verily He has power over all things.
PICKTHAL: Have they not seen that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation, is Able to give life to the dead? Aye, He verily is Able to do all things.
SHAKIR: Have they not considered that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and was not tired by their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Aye! He has surely power over all things.

046.034
YUSUFALI: And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire, (they will be asked,) "Is this not the Truth?" they will say, "Yea, by our Lord!" (One will say:) "Then taste ye the Penalty, for that ye were wont to deny (Truth)!"
PICKTHAL: And on the day when those who disbelieve are exposed to the Fire (they will be asked): Is not this real? They will say: Yea, by our Lord. He will say: Then taste the doom for that ye disbelieved.
SHAKIR: And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire: Is it not true? They shall say: Aye! by our Lord! He will say: Then taste the punishment, because you disbelieved.

046.035
YUSUFALI: Therefore patiently persevere, as did (all) messengers of inflexible purpose; and be in no haste about the (Unbelievers). On the Day that they see the (Punishment) promised them, (it will be) as if they had not tarried more than an hour in a single day. (Thine but) to proclaim the Message: but shall any be destroyed except those who transgress?
PICKTHAL: Then have patience (O Muhammad) even as the stout of heart among the messengers (of old) had patience, and seek not to hasten on (the doom) for them. On the day when they see that which they are promised (it will seem to them) as though they had tarried but an hour of daylight. A clear message. Shall any be destroyed save evil-living folk?
SHAKIR: Therefore bear up patiently as did the messengers endowed with constancy bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried save an hour of the day. A sufficient exposition! Shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?

Suras 72:1-28:

072.001
YUSUFALI: Say: It has been revealed to me that a company of Jinns listened (to the Qur'an). They said, 'We have really heard a wonderful Recital!
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad): It is revealed unto me that a company of the Jinn gave ear, and they said: Lo! we have heard a marvellous Qur'an,
SHAKIR: Say: It has been revealed to me that a party of the jinn listened, and they said: Surely we have heard a wonderful Quran,

072.002
YUSUFALI: 'It gives guidance to the Right, and we have believed therein: we shall not join (in worship) any (gods) with our Lord.
PICKTHAL: Which guideth unto righteousness, so we believe in it and we ascribe no partner unto our Lord.
SHAKIR: Guiding to the right way, so we believe in it, and we will not set up any one with our Lord:

072.003
YUSUFALI: 'And Exalted is the Majesty of our Lord: He has taken neither a wife nor a son.
PICKTHAL: And (we believe) that He - exalted be the glory of our Lord! - hath taken neither wife nor son,
SHAKIR: And that He-- exalted be the majesty of our Lord-- has not taken a consort, nor a son:

072.004
YUSUFALI: 'There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah;
PICKTHAL: And that the foolish one among us used to speak concerning Allah an atrocious lie.
SHAKIR: And that the foolish amongst us used to forge extravagant things against Allah:

072.005
YUSUFALI: 'But we do think that no man or spirit should say aught that untrue against Allah.
PICKTHAL: And lo! we had supposed that humankind and jinn would not speak a lie concerning Allah -
SHAKIR: And that we thought that men and jinn did not utter a lie against Allah:

072.006
YUSUFALI: 'True, there were persons among mankind who took shelter with persons among the Jinns, but they increased them in folly.
PICKTHAL: And indeed (O Muhammad) individuals of humankind used to invoke the protection of individuals of the jinn, so that they increased them in revolt against Allah);
SHAKIR: And that persons from among men used to seek refuge with persons from among jinn, so they increased them in wrongdoing:

072.007
YUSUFALI: 'And they (came to) think as ye thought, that Allah would not raise up any one (to Judgment).
PICKTHAL: And indeed they supposed, even as ye suppose, that Allah would not raise anyone (from the dead) -
SHAKIR: And that they thought as you think, that Allah would not raise anyone:

072.008
YUSUFALI: 'And we pried into the secrets of heaven; but we found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires.
PICKTHAL: And (the Jinn who had listened to the Qur'an said): We had sought the heaven but had found it filled with strong warders and meteors.
SHAKIR: And that we sought to reach heaven, but we found it filled with strong guards and flaming stars.

072.009
YUSUFALI: 'We used, indeed, to sit there in (hidden) stations, to (steal) a hearing; but any who listen now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.
PICKTHAL: And we used to sit on places (high) therein to listen. But he who listeneth now findeth a flame in wait for him;
SHAKIR: And that we used to sit in some of the sitting-places thereof to steal a hearing, but he who would (try to) listen now would find a flame lying in wait for him:

072.010
YUSUFALI: 'And we understand not whether ill is intended to those on earth, or whether their Lord (really) intends to guide them to right conduct.
PICKTHAL: And we know not whether harm is boded unto all who are in the earth, or whether their Lord intendeth guidance for them.
SHAKIR: And that we know not whether evil is meant for those who are on earth or whether their Lord means to bring them good:

072.011
YUSUFALI: 'There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary: we follow divergent paths.
PICKTHAL: And among us there are righteous folk and among us there are far from that. We are sects having different rules.
SHAKIR: And that some of us are good and others of us are below that: we are sects following different ways:

072.012
YUSUFALI: 'But we think that we can by no means frustrate Allah throughout the earth, nor can we frustrate Him by flight.
PICKTHAL: And we know that we cannot escape from Allah in the earth, nor can we escape by flight.
SHAKIR: And that we know that we cannot escape Allah in the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight:

072.013
YUSUFALI: 'And as for us, since we have listened to the Guidance, we have accepted it: and any who believes in his Lord has no fear, either of a short (account) or of any injustice.
PICKTHAL: And when we heard the guidance, we believed therein, and whoso believeth in his Lord, he feareth neither loss nor oppression.
SHAKIR: And that when we heard the guidance, we believed in it; so whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken (by disgrace):

072.014
YUSUFALI: 'Amongst us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their wills - they have sought out (the path) of right conduct:
PICKTHAL: And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso hath surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully.
SHAKIR: And that some of us are those who submit, and some of us are the deviators; so whoever submits, these aim at the right way:

072.015
YUSUFALI: 'But those who swerve,- they are (but) fuel for Hell-fire'-
PICKTHAL: And as for those who are unjust, they are firewood for hell.
SHAKIR: And as to the deviators, they are fuel of hell:

072.016
YUSUFALI: (And Allah's Message is): "If they (the Pagans) had (only) remained on the (right) Way, We should certainly have bestowed on them Rain in abundance.
PICKTHAL: If they (the idolaters) tread the right path, We shall give them to drink of water in abundance
SHAKIR: And that if they should keep to the (right) way, We would certainly give them to drink of abundant water,

072.017
YUSUFALI: "That We might try them by that (means). But if any turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will cause him to undergo a severe Penalty.
PICKTHAL: That We may test them thereby, and whoso turneth away from the remembrance of his Lord; He will thrust him into ever-growing torment.
SHAKIR: So that We might try them with respect to it; and whoever turns aside from the reminder of his Lord, He will make him enter into an afflicting chastisement:

072.018
YUSUFALI: "And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;
PICKTHAL: And the places of worship are only for Allah, so pray not unto anyone along with Allah.
SHAKIR: And that the mosques are Allah's, therefore call not upon any one with Allah:

072.019
YUSUFALI: "Yet when the Devotee of Allah stands forth to invoke Him, they just make round him a dense crowd."
PICKTHAL: And when the slave of Allah stood up in prayer to Him, they crowded on him, almost stifling.
SHAKIR: And that when the servant of Allah stood up calling upon Him, they wellnigh crowded him (to death).

072.020
YUSUFALI: Say: "I do no more than invoke my Lord, and I join not with Him any (false god)."
PICKTHAL: Say (unto them, O Muhammad): I pray unto Allah only, and ascribe unto Him no partner.
SHAKIR: Say: I only call upon my Lord, and I do not associate any one with Him.

SEE PART 2 IN VOLUME 615B

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 615B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO JOB, [2] IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN? [PART 2]


ALSO, VIDEO ON WAS IT DESIGNED? PHOTOSYNTHESIS, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/BibleFeatured/docid-502200128_1_VIDEO


[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [615B]

And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. Acts 10:34-35 [American Standard Version; ASV]

Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is no respecter of race or nationality, but accepts all people earnestly following him as clearly shown by James 2:1-4, “My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing; 3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; 4 do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” Clearly showing that we should not draw a distinction between rich or poor or between nationalities and/or races, BUT ONLY JUDGE INDIVIDUALS BY THEIR ACTIONS.

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO JOB, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/job-introduction/


[2] PART 2 OF IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN? (FIRST PART IN VOL 545)

072.021
YUSUFALI: Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to right conduct."
PICKTHAL: Say: Lo! I control not hurt nor benefit for you.
SHAKIR: Say: I do not control for you evil or good.

072.022
YUSUFALI: Say: "No one can deliver me from Allah (If I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him,
PICKTHAL: Say: Lo! none can protect me from Allah, nor can I find any refuge beside Him
SHAKIR: Say: Surely no one can protect me against Allah, nor can I find besides Him any place of refuge:

072.023
YUSUFALI: "Unless I proclaim what I receive from Allah and His Messages: for any that disobey Allah and His Messenger,- for them is Hell: they shall dwell therein for ever."
PICKTHAL: (Mine is) but conveyance (of the Truth) from Allah, and His messages; and whoso disobeyeth Allah and His messenger, lo! his is fire of hell, wherein such dwell for ever.
SHAKIR: (It is) only a delivering (of communications) from Allah and His messages; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger surely he shall have the fire of hell to abide therein for a long time.

072.024
YUSUFALI: At length, when they see (with their own eyes) that which they are promised,- then will they know who it is that is weakest in (his) helper and least important in point of numbers.
PICKTHAL: Till (the day) when they shall behold that which they are promised (they may doubt); but then they will know (for certain) who is weaker in allies and less in multitude.
SHAKIR: Until when they see what they are threatened with, then shall they know who is weaker in helpers and fewer in number.

072.025
YUSUFALI: Say: "I know not whether the (Punishment) which ye are promised is near, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad, unto the disbelievers): I know not whether that which ye are promised is nigh, or if my Lord hath set a distant term for it.
SHAKIR: Say: I do not know whether that with which you are threatened be nigh or whether my Lord will appoint for it a term:

072.026
YUSUFALI: "He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries,-
PICKTHAL: (He is) the Knower of the Unseen, and He revealeth unto none His secret,
SHAKIR: The Knower of the unseen! so He does not reveal His secrets to any,

072.027
YUSUFALI: "Except a messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him,
PICKTHAL: Save unto every messenger whom He hath chosen, and then He maketh a guard to go before him and a guard behind him
SHAKIR: Except to him whom He chooses as a messenger; for surely He makes a guard to march before him and after him,

072.028
YUSUFALI: "That He may know that they have (truly) brought and delivered the Messages of their Lord: and He surrounds (all the mysteries) that are with them, and takes account of every single thing."
PICKTHAL: That He may know that they have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord. He surroundeth all their doings, and He keepeth count of all things.
SHAKIR: So that He may know that they have truly delivered the messages of their Lord, and He encompasses what is with them and He records the number of all things.

-3-

Islam uses Jihad ["Holy war"] to force their religion upon others. In Hadith vol.1, no. 25, [Translation of Sahih Bukhari Hadith by M. Muhsin Khan ],it states that Jihad, or holy war, is the second best thing to believing in Allah and his apostle [Muhammed]. When Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied. "To believe in Allah and his Apostle." The questioner then asked, "What is the next?" He replied, "To participate in Jihad [holy war] in Allah's cause."

In Sura 9:5, the Quaran requires violence, when it states, "Fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every strategem of war."

009.005
YUSUFALI: But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

-4-

Sura 5:33 records what is done to infidels who resist Islam, "Their punishment is...execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from the opposite sides, or exile from the land." Muhammed also burned out eyes with hot irons in Hadith vol.1 no. 234, [Translation of Sahih Bukhari Hadith by M. Muhsin Khan ] and deprived people of water until they died, vol.8 no. 796, [Translation of Sahih Bukhari Hadith by M. Muhsin Khan ].

005.033
YUSUFALI: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;
PICKTHAL: The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;
SHAKIR: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement,



In Sura 4:34, women are treated badly: "Men are the managers of the affairs of women...Those you fear may be rebellious...admonish; banish them to their couches and beat them."

004.034
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).
PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

-5-

Torment to Non-believers:
Sura 4.56: (As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them, S enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.

004.056
YUSUFALI: Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
PICKTHAL: Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.
SHAKIR: (As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.

-6-

Islam Acceptable:
Sura 3.85: And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

003.085
YUSUFALI: If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).
PICKTHAL: And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.
SHAKIR: And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

-7-

No friends from outsiders
Sura 3.118: O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people; they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still; indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will understand.

003.118
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people; they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still; indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will understand.

-8-

Friends with Jews, Christians...
Sura 5.51: O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

005.051
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

-9-

No friends with non believers
Sura 4.144: O you who believe! do not take the unbelievers for friends rather than the believers; do you desire that you should give to Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?

004.144
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Take not for friends unbelievers rather than believers: Do ye wish to offer Allah an open proof against yourselves?
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Choose not disbelievers for (your) friends in place of believers. Would ye give Allah a clear warrant against you?
SHAKIR: O you who believe! do not take the unbelievers for friends rather than the believers; do you desire that you should give to Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?

-10-

No friends with non believers
Sura 3.28: Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.

003.028
YUSUFALI: Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.
PICKTHAL: Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.
SHAKIR: Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.

-11-

No friends with parents/siblings if not believers
Sura 9.23: O you who believe! do not take your fathers and your brothers for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and whoever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the unjust.

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YUSUFALI: Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.
PICKTHAL: Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.
SHAKIR: Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.

-12-

Fight non-believers
Sura 9.123: O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

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YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).
SHAKIR: O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

-13-

Kill non-believers
Sura 4.89 : They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.

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YUSUFALI: They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks;-
PICKTHAL: They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them,
SHAKIR: They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.

-14-

Anti Jewish verses
Sura 5.82: Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe (to be) the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly.

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YUSUFALI: Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.
PICKTHAL: Thou wilt find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who believe (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.
SHAKIR: Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe (to be) the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly.

-15-

God a plotter
Sura 8.30: And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.

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YUSUFALI: Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.
PICKTHAL: And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.
SHAKIR: And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.

-16-

Killing Idolaters
Sura 9.5: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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YUSUFALI: But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

-17-

Idolaters are unclean just because they are idolater
Sura 9.28: O you who believe! the idolaters are nothing but unclean, so they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year; and if you fear poverty then Allah will enrich you out of His grace if He please; surely Allah is Knowing Wise.

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YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! The idolaters only are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! the idolaters are nothing but unclean, so they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year; and if you fear poverty then Allah will enrich you out of His grace if He please; surely Allah is Knowing Wise.

-18-

Forcing non-believers to pay tax
Sura 9.29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

009.029
YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
PICKTHAL: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.
SHAKIR: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

[note: force people to believe by putting them in a state of subjection, no religious freedom here, yet they want it for themselves.]

-19-

And that's only the tip of the iceberg!


The key to the differences between Christianity and that of Islam, is the teachings found in the Bible vs that of the Quran, such as what Jesus taught in the NT:

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB).

John 10:17-30," Therefore doth the Father love me: because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
18 No man taketh it away from me: but I lay it down of myself. And I have power to lay it down: and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 19 ¶ A dissension rose again among the Jews for these words. 20 And many of them said: He hath a devil and is mad. Why hear you him? 21 Others said: These are not the words of one that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 22 ¶ And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. 24 The Jews therefore came round about him and said to him: How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. And I know them: and they follow me. 28 And I give them life everlasting: and they shall not perish for ever. And no man shall pluck them out of my hand. 29 That which my Father hath given me is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father. 30 I and the Father are one." (DRCB).

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets." (DRCB).


John 17:1-5, "And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: 2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. 3 And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him" (DRCB), Jesus' (Yeshua) prayer to his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is.

John 11:25-26, "Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: 26 And every one that liveth and believeth in me shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?" (DRCB).

[Note, John 14:6, "Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me." (DRCB).]

Matthew 19:18-19," He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (DRCB).

John 15:5-8, "I am the vine: you the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. 6 If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither: and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire: and he burneth. 7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will: and it shall be done unto you. 8 In this is my Father glorified: that you bring forth very much fruit and become my disciples." (DRCB).

John 14:1-4, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 ¶ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

John 14:28, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (DRCB).

Quite a contrast between the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, and the distorted Bible knockoff whose emphasis is on hate and violence and the Bible's whose emphasis is on love.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 616B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS, [2] RACISM IS NOT A PRACTICE OF LOVE


ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] RACISM IS NOT A PRACTICE OF LOVE

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [616B]

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32 (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

The Need To Show Love To Neighbor By Exposing False Belief. Now all need to be showing love to their neighbors including Jews and telling them of the first step toward salvation given at John 14:6, [AV] "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Messages of hate assist no one in learning the truth per John 8:32 quoted above.

Take my post for example, they have a worthy objective; to wit, exposing false doctrine so individuals can correct their wrong path. My post are NOT ones of hate, as are many of others, but ones that expose false doctrine and wrong practice. All should read them instead of posting false accusations, as you will find not one word of hate or bashing in my articles, only truth. They are posted to assist all in knowing the truth, per John 8:32, and to assist all in making a change in their lives by getting out of groups and/or religions that practice false doctrine and wrong practices such as teaching hate and a love of violence.

All need to learn about love and that includes warning others with respect false doctrine and wrong practices instead of thinking of hate such as those examples you mentioned,

1 Corinthians 13:1 – 7, [American Standard Version; [American Standard Version: AVS]] “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-psalms/


[2] RACISM IS NOT A PRACTICE OF LOVE, BUT BEFORE WE CONSIDER IT, WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT LOVE IS AS DEFINED BY AN ENCYCLOPEDIA:

LOVE = A FEELING OF WARM PERSONAL ATTACHMENT OR DEEP AFFECTION, AS FOR A FRIEND, FOR A PARENT OR CHILD, AND SO FORTH; WARM FONDNESS OR LIKING FOR ANOTHER; ALSO, THE BENEVOLENT AFFECTION OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES OR THE REVERENT AFFECTION DUE FROM THEM TO GOD; ALSO, THE KINDLY AFFECTION PROPERLY EXPRESSED BY GOD’S CREATURES TOWARD ONE ANOTHER; THAT STRONG OR PASSIONATE AFFECTION FOR A PERSON OF THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT CONSTITUTES THE EMOTIONAL INCENTIVE TO CONJUGAL UNION. ONE OF THE SYNONYMS FOR LOVE IS “DEVOTION.”
ASIDE FROM THOSE MEANINGS, THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK ALSO OF LOVE GUIDED BY PRINCIPLE, AS LOVE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR EVEN LOVE FOR ONE’S ENEMIES, FOR WHOM A PERSON MAY NOT HAVE AFFECTION. THIS FACET OR EXPRESSION OF LOVE IS AN UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND A SINCERE CONCERN FOR THE LASTING WELFARE OF OTHERS, ALONG WITH AN ACTIVE EXPRESSION OF THIS FOR THEIR GOOD. [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM ‘INSIGHT ON THE SCRIPTURE’ ON 6/13/2017]

NOW, LET’S CONSIDER THAT RACISM IS AND ITS CAUSES:
ONE MUSLIM APOLOGIST MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
(QUOTE) Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different.  (QUOTE)
FIRST, ANY EXPERT ON GENE RESEARCH WILL TELL YOU THERE IS NO GENE OR VIRUS OF RACISM. IT IS A LEARNED ITEM, NOT A GENE CAUSED ITEM. USUALLY, IT IS LEARNED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD FROM PARENTS AND ACQUAINTANCES OR BY ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP.
I BELONG TO A MINORITY MYSELF, BUT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY RACISM NOR HAVE MY ZOROASTRIAN AND SIKH FRIENDS. WHY? BECAUSE I AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT TO FIT IN AND BECOME A PART OF REGULAR SOCIETY.

SECOND, I HAVE FOUND MOST RACISM HAS AS ITS BASIS ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP. FOR EXAMPLE, NATIVE UNITED KINGDOM NATIVES WITH MUSLIMS WHO HAVE BLOWN UP TUBE CARRIAGES, BUSES, ETC., BEHEADED UNITED KINGDOM SOLDIERS AND/OR OTHERWISE MURDERED THEM, MURDERED MANY PEOPLE AT A CONCERT IN MANCHESTER, DRIVEN CARS AND TRUCKS INTO THEM TO MURDER THEM, FORMED MUSLIM RAPE GANGS TO RAPE AND IMPREGNANT THEIR YOUNG GIRLS, ETC. NOW, OF COURSE PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE THIS AND TEND TO FORM ADVERSE OPINIONS OF THIS GROUP WHICH OF COURSE NOT ALL ARE WICKED RACIST FULL OF HATE AND A LOVE FOR VIOLENCE, BUT SINCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN NOT TELL THEM APART, THEY TEND TO FORM ADVERSE FEELINGS TOWARDS THIS GROUP. ANY RACISM SHOWN BY NATIVES TO THIS GROUP IS OF THAT GROUPS OWN MAKING.
IN FACT, MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP ARE THE WORST HATERS, LOVERS OF VIOLENCE, AND RACIST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. LET’S LOOK AT JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT PROVES THIS:
(QUOTE) London jihad terror survivor relives moment Muslim slashed her throat: ‘THIS IS FOR ALLAH, stop living this life’
Following the example of Muhammad. “This is for Allah, stop living this life” — words spoken to jihad victim as her throat was cut. She lived to tell the tale; we owe it to her to listen.
‘THIS IS FOR ALLAH, STOP LIVING THIS LIFE’: WHAT LONDON TERROR KNIFEMEN SCREAMED AS THEY SLIT AUSTRALIAN VICTIM’S THROAT IN SCENES ‘LIKE A HORROR MOVIE’ IN PACKED RESTAURANT DURING RAMPAGE THAT KILLED EIGHT
* Woman who survived London attack spoke of the moment she was stabbed
* Candice Hedge had her throat slashed and the jihadist just missed her vocal cord
* The 31-year-old says she was ‘vomiting blood’ and thought she was going to die
* Her partner Luke revealed shocking words terrorists shouted as they attacked
By April Glover and Max Margan For Daily Mail Australia, June 11, 2017:
An Australian woman and her partner who survived the London terror attack have described the moment three jihadi terrorists stormed the restaurant where they worked.
Candice Hedge, 31, from Brisbane, had her throat slashed during the rampage by three men who crashed a car through crowds on London Bridge last Saturday night before attacking innocent bystanders with knives.
Eight people died as the knifemen screaming Islamist slogans entered restaurants and pubs randomly attacking anyone in their path, before they were shot dead by police.
‘They were saying, “This is for our family, this is for Allah. Stop living this life,’ Luke told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program.
Candice Hedge, (pictured) from Brisbane, was working at Borough Market restaurant Elliot’s with her boyfriend Luke when the three men began brutally stabbing people

The 31-year-old (pictured with her father) told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program she looked her attacker in the eye before she was stabbed
Candice Hedge, from Brisbane, was viciously attacked in the city’s centre on Saturday night while having a drink after work
Ms Hedge was working at Elliot’s restaurant at Borough Market near the bridge, along with her boyfriend Luke.
Recalling the ordeal in her first media interview, she described how she looked her attacker in the eye seconds before she was stabbed.
‘He looked at me and I looked at him, it really happened so quickly,’ Ms Hedge said.
Of the moment she was wounded, she said: ‘It was one quick go and that was it. I was vomiting blood.’
The terrorist had slashed Ms Hedge’s throat, leaving a deep cut that almost tore through her vocal cords and main artery.
‘I could feel the amount of blood and it was warm on my hand,’ she said.
‘And I could see how much it was and, you know, you see horror movies – it was like that. I was thinking for a moment that I wasn’t going to make it.’
The area the terrorists had struck was cordoned off and no ambulances were allowed to enter in fear the attacks were still ongoing.
Ms Hedge was forced to head towards medical help on foot while clutching a piece of cloth to her bleeding throat. [sourc - retrieved fromhttp://pamelageller.com/.../london-jihad-terror.../... on 6/11/2017] (QUOTE)
SO NOW WE KNOW WHO THE REAL EVIL RACIST ARE – SOME MEMBERS OF ISLAM.
THIRD, ALL FEELINGS OF HATE AND A LOVE FOR VIOLENCE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH FEELINGS OF LOVE AND A HATE OF VIOLENCE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 617B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS, [2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:


ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [617B]

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Proverbs 11:20, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The Apostle Luke brings out that the end of the ways of the wicked are not good and shows this at Luke 12:20, [AV] “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” And that the ways of the righteous will be good in the end as shown at Proverbs 10:28, [AV] “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-proverbs/


[2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:

INTRODUCTION:

Let's look at Isaiah 44:6 in several Bible transladions:

Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God. (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB)

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Authorized King James Bible; AV)

Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. (American Standard Version; ASV)

Thus, saith Yahweh--King of Israel, Even his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts,--I, am, First, and, I, Last, And, besides me, there is, no God. (Rotherham Bible of 1902; RB)

Thus said Jehovah, king of Israel, And his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: 'I am the first, and I the last, And besides Me there is no God. (Young's Literal Translation; YLT)

As we can readily see they all basically say the same thing, but many have difficulty understanding what the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, meant by "I am the first, and I am the last." Now let's look into this in detail to clear up any misunderstanding.

"THE FIRST AND THE LAST"

First let's look at Revelation 1:17-18, "And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, 18 And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell." (DRCB). Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and says, "Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB). -Special note, In the original Hebrew, Isaiah 44:6, there is no definite article with the words 'first' and 'last.' Whereas in Jesus (Yeshua) description of himself in the original Koine Greek at Revelation 1:17, the definite article is found. So, grammatically, Revelation 1:17 indicates a title, whereas Isaiah 44:6 describes the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, Godship.- Now, when Jesus (Yeshua) presents himself y the title "the First and the Last," he is not claiming equality with the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, his Father, but is using a title bestowed or given to him by his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is.

Whereas, in Isaiah 44:6, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, was making a statement about His unique position as the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. He, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, is God eternal, and besides him there is indeed no God as highlighted by 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (DRCB).

Whereas, in Revelation, Jesus (Yeshua) is speaking about his bestowed title, calling attention to his unique resurrection.

Therefore, Jesus (Yeshua) was indeed 'the first' human to be resurrected to immortal spirit life per Colossians 1:18, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy:" (DRCB). Moreover, he is 'the last' to be resurrected by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. Therefore, he becomes 'the living one...living for ever and ever,' when his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, bestows immortality on him per John 6:57,[6:58 in (DRCB)], "As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me." (DRCB). Jesus (Yeshua) now enjoys immortality since his immortal Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, who is called per Revelation 7:2, "And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea," (DRCB), and Psalm 42:2, "[41:3 in (DRCB)], "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (DRCB). For all others of humanity, Jesus (Yeshua), himself, is per John 11:25, "Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:" (DRCB). Therefore in harmony with this, Jesus (Yeshua) says to the Apostle John, per Revelation 1:18, "And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell." (DRCB), as the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, has given to him the authority to resurrect the dead at judgment day. This is also shown at Matthew 16:17-18, "And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (DRCB).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 616B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS, [2] IS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION PER THE QURAN? [PART 2]


ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] RACISM IS NOT A PRACTICE OF LOVE

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [616B]

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32 (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

The Need To Show Love To Neighbor By Exposing False Belief. Now all need to be showing love to their neighbors including Jews and telling them of the first step toward salvation given at John 14:6, [AV] "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Messages of hate assist no one in learning the truth per John 8:32 quoted above.

Take my post for example, they have a worthy objective; to wit, exposing false doctrine so individuals can correct their wrong path. My post are NOT ones of hate, as are many of others, but ones that expose false doctrine and wrong practice. All should read them instead of posting false accusations, as you will find not one word of hate or bashing in my articles, only truth. They are posted to assist all in knowing the truth, per John 8:32, and to assist all in making a change in their lives by getting out of groups and/or religions that practice false doctrine and wrong practices such as teaching hate and a love of violence.

All need to learn about love and that includes warning others with respect false doctrine and wrong practices instead of thinking of hate such as those examples you mentioned,

1 Corinthians 13:1 – 7, [American Standard Version; [American Standard Version: AVS]] “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
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[2] RACISM IS NOT A PRACTICE OF LOVE, BUT BEFORE WE CONSIDER IT, WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT LOVE IS AS DEFINED BY AN ENCYCLOPEDIA:

LOVE = A FEELING OF WARM PERSONAL ATTACHMENT OR DEEP AFFECTION, AS FOR A FRIEND, FOR A PARENT OR CHILD, AND SO FORTH; WARM FONDNESS OR LIKING FOR ANOTHER; ALSO, THE BENEVOLENT AFFECTION OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES OR THE REVERENT AFFECTION DUE FROM THEM TO GOD; ALSO, THE KINDLY AFFECTION PROPERLY EXPRESSED BY GOD’S CREATURES TOWARD ONE ANOTHER; THAT STRONG OR PASSIONATE AFFECTION FOR A PERSON OF THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT CONSTITUTES THE EMOTIONAL INCENTIVE TO CONJUGAL UNION. ONE OF THE SYNONYMS FOR LOVE IS “DEVOTION.”
ASIDE FROM THOSE MEANINGS, THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK ALSO OF LOVE GUIDED BY PRINCIPLE, AS LOVE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR EVEN LOVE FOR ONE’S ENEMIES, FOR WHOM A PERSON MAY NOT HAVE AFFECTION. THIS FACET OR EXPRESSION OF LOVE IS AN UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND A SINCERE CONCERN FOR THE LASTING WELFARE OF OTHERS, ALONG WITH AN ACTIVE EXPRESSION OF THIS FOR THEIR GOOD. [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM ‘INSIGHT ON THE SCRIPTURE’ ON 6/13/2017]

NOW, LET’S CONSIDER THAT RACISM IS AND ITS CAUSES:
ONE MUSLIM APOLOGIST MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
(QUOTE) Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different.  (QUOTE)
FIRST, ANY EXPERT ON GENE RESEARCH WILL TELL YOU THERE IS NO GENE OR VIRUS OF RACISM. IT IS A LEARNED ITEM, NOT A GENE CAUSED ITEM. USUALLY, IT IS LEARNED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD FROM PARENTS AND ACQUAINTANCES OR BY ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP.
I BELONG TO A MINORITY MYSELF, BUT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY RACISM NOR HAVE MY ZOROASTRIAN AND SIKH FRIENDS. WHY? BECAUSE I AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT TO FIT IN AND BECOME A PART OF REGULAR SOCIETY.

SECOND, I HAVE FOUND MOST RACISM HAS AS ITS BASIS ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP. FOR EXAMPLE, NATIVE UNITED KINGDOM NATIVES WITH MUSLIMS WHO HAVE BLOWN UP TUBE CARRIAGES, BUSES, ETC., BEHEADED UNITED KINGDOM SOLDIERS AND/OR OTHERWISE MURDERED THEM, MURDERED MANY PEOPLE AT A CONCERT IN MANCHESTER, DRIVEN CARS AND TRUCKS INTO THEM TO MURDER THEM, FORMED MUSLIM RAPE GANGS TO RAPE AND IMPREGNANT THEIR YOUNG GIRLS, ETC. NOW, OF COURSE PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE THIS AND TEND TO FORM ADVERSE OPINIONS OF THIS GROUP WHICH OF COURSE NOT ALL ARE WICKED RACIST FULL OF HATE AND A LOVE FOR VIOLENCE, BUT SINCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN NOT TELL THEM APART, THEY TEND TO FORM ADVERSE FEELINGS TOWARDS THIS GROUP. ANY RACISM SHOWN BY NATIVES TO THIS GROUP IS OF THAT GROUPS OWN MAKING.
IN FACT, MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP ARE THE WORST HATERS, LOVERS OF VIOLENCE, AND RACIST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. LET’S LOOK AT JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT PROVES THIS:
(QUOTE) London jihad terror survivor relives moment Muslim slashed her throat: ‘THIS IS FOR ALLAH, stop living this life’
Following the example of Muhammad. “This is for Allah, stop living this life” — words spoken to jihad victim as her throat was cut. She lived to tell the tale; we owe it to her to listen.
‘THIS IS FOR ALLAH, STOP LIVING THIS LIFE’: WHAT LONDON TERROR KNIFEMEN SCREAMED AS THEY SLIT AUSTRALIAN VICTIM’S THROAT IN SCENES ‘LIKE A HORROR MOVIE’ IN PACKED RESTAURANT DURING RAMPAGE THAT KILLED EIGHT
* Woman who survived London attack spoke of the moment she was stabbed
* Candice Hedge had her throat slashed and the jihadist just missed her vocal cord
* The 31-year-old says she was ‘vomiting blood’ and thought she was going to die
* Her partner Luke revealed shocking words terrorists shouted as they attacked
By April Glover and Max Margan For Daily Mail Australia, June 11, 2017:
An Australian woman and her partner who survived the London terror attack have described the moment three jihadi terrorists stormed the restaurant where they worked.
Candice Hedge, 31, from Brisbane, had her throat slashed during the rampage by three men who crashed a car through crowds on London Bridge last Saturday night before attacking innocent bystanders with knives.
Eight people died as the knifemen screaming Islamist slogans entered restaurants and pubs randomly attacking anyone in their path, before they were shot dead by police.
‘They were saying, “This is for our family, this is for Allah. Stop living this life,’ Luke told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program.
Candice Hedge, (pictured) from Brisbane, was working at Borough Market restaurant Elliot’s with her boyfriend Luke when the three men began brutally stabbing people

The 31-year-old (pictured with her father) told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program she looked her attacker in the eye before she was stabbed
Candice Hedge, from Brisbane, was viciously attacked in the city’s centre on Saturday night while having a drink after work
Ms Hedge was working at Elliot’s restaurant at Borough Market near the bridge, along with her boyfriend Luke.
Recalling the ordeal in her first media interview, she described how she looked her attacker in the eye seconds before she was stabbed.
‘He looked at me and I looked at him, it really happened so quickly,’ Ms Hedge said.
Of the moment she was wounded, she said: ‘It was one quick go and that was it. I was vomiting blood.’
The terrorist had slashed Ms Hedge’s throat, leaving a deep cut that almost tore through her vocal cords and main artery.
‘I could feel the amount of blood and it was warm on my hand,’ she said.
‘And I could see how much it was and, you know, you see horror movies – it was like that. I was thinking for a moment that I wasn’t going to make it.’
The area the terrorists had struck was cordoned off and no ambulances were allowed to enter in fear the attacks were still ongoing.
Ms Hedge was forced to head towards medical help on foot while clutching a piece of cloth to her bleeding throat. [sourc - retrieved fromhttp://pamelageller.com/.../london-jihad-terror.../... on 6/11/2017] (QUOTE)
SO NOW WE KNOW WHO THE REAL EVIL RACIST ARE – SOME MEMBERS OF ISLAM.
THIRD, ALL FEELINGS OF HATE AND A LOVE FOR VIOLENCE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH FEELINGS OF LOVE AND A HATE OF VIOLENCE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 617B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS, [2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:


ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [617B]

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Proverbs 11:20, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The Apostle Luke brings out that the end of the ways of the wicked are not good and shows this at Luke 12:20, [AV] “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” And that the ways of the righteous will be good in the end as shown at Proverbs 10:28, [AV] “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-proverbs/


[2] AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISAIAH 44:6:

INTRODUCTION:

Let's look at Isaiah 44:6 in several Bible transladions:

Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God. (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB)

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Authorized King James Bible; AV)

Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. (American Standard Version; ASV)

Thus, saith Yahweh--King of Israel, Even his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts,--I, am, First, and, I, Last, And, besides me, there is, no God. (Rotherham Bible of 1902; RB)

Thus said Jehovah, king of Israel, And his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: 'I am the first, and I the last, And besides Me there is no God. (Young's Literal Translation; YLT)

As we can readily see they all basically say the same thing, but many have difficulty understanding what the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, meant by "I am the first, and I am the last." Now let's look into this in detail to clear up any misunderstanding.

"THE FIRST AND THE LAST"

First let's look at Revelation 1:17-18, "And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, 18 And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell." (DRCB). Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and says, "Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB). -Special note, In the original Hebrew, Isaiah 44:6, there is no definite article with the words 'first' and 'last.' Whereas in Jesus (Yeshua) description of himself in the original Koine Greek at Revelation 1:17, the definite article is found. So, grammatically, Revelation 1:17 indicates a title, whereas Isaiah 44:6 describes the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, Godship.- Now, when Jesus (Yeshua) presents himself y the title "the First and the Last," he is not claiming equality with the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, his Father, but is using a title bestowed or given to him by his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is.

Whereas, in Isaiah 44:6, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, was making a statement about His unique position as the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. He, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, is God eternal, and besides him there is indeed no God as highlighted by 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (DRCB).

Whereas, in Revelation, Jesus (Yeshua) is speaking about his bestowed title, calling attention to his unique resurrection.

Therefore, Jesus (Yeshua) was indeed 'the first' human to be resurrected to immortal spirit life per Colossians 1:18, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy:" (DRCB). Moreover, he is 'the last' to be resurrected by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. Therefore, he becomes 'the living one...living for ever and ever,' when his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, bestows immortality on him per John 6:57,[6:58 in (DRCB)], "As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me." (DRCB). Jesus (Yeshua) now enjoys immortality since his immortal Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, who is called per Revelation 7:2, "And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea," (DRCB), and Psalm 42:2, "[41:3 in (DRCB)], "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (DRCB). For all others of humanity, Jesus (Yeshua), himself, is per John 11:25, "Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:" (DRCB). Therefore in harmony with this, Jesus (Yeshua) says to the Apostle John, per Revelation 1:18, "And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell." (DRCB), as the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, has given to him the authority to resurrect the dead at judgment day. This is also shown at Matthew 16:17-18, "And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (DRCB).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 618B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES, [2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia morella

ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia morella With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [618B]

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The Apostle Paul clearly showed that he wanted all genuine followers, regardless of age, at Philippians 3:12, [AV] “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” And that they were per Colossians 3:12, [AV] “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Why? Because as shown by Jesus’s (Yeshua’s) brother at James 3:17, [AV] “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-ecclesiastes/


[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Garcinia morella is a species of tree in the Clusiaceae family found in India, Sri Lanka and southern Philippines.
Common names
* Assamese: Kujee Thekera (? )[2]
* English: gamboge (Sri Lanka), gamboge (India)
* Tamil: iravasinni (), makki
* Malayalam: iravi, chigiri
* Kannada: ardala, devana huli, jirigehuli, murina huli, ponpuli
* Sinhalese: kokatiya, gokatiya, goraka (??)
* Visayan languages (Philippines): batuan
Description
Trees are up to 12 m tall. Bark is smooth, and dark brown in color; blaze white.
Leaves simple, opposite, decussate; petiole 0.6-1.5 cm long, canaliculate, sheathing at base, glabrous; lamina 6.5-15 x 3.5-8 cm, usually elliptic, sometimes narrow obovate, apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate; coriaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous; secondary_nerves 6-8 pairs; tertiary_nerves obscure.
Flowers show inflorescence and are dioecious; male flowers in fascicles, axillary; female flowers larger than male, solitary, axillary.
Uses
Ripe fruits can be eaten but they are very acidic. Just like other garcinia varieties such as kokum (which is prevalent in the Indian west coast) or garcinia pedunculata, the fruit can be preserved by slicing into thin pieces and then drying under sun. It can be made into pickles. Bodos cook the unripe fruit as vegetable with fish. Achutney can be made by boiling the fruit. In Assam, dried and preserved slices are added to black green pulses to make a popular slightly acidic curry. Dried up fruit slices are valued as a traditional remedy for dysentery.[2] In Ayurveda the fruits are used in the treatment of dysentery, gastritis, etc. and is said to have anti inflammatory properties.[3] When the bark is cut it exudes a yellow resin calledgamboge that is used in food, paints and medicines. It can be used as a rootstock for the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).[4]
Chemistry
The xanthonoids gaudichaudione A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, gaudichaudiic acid A, B, C, D, E, morellic acid and forbesione fromG. gaudichaudii.[5]
References
1. ^ Garcinia morella on www.globinmed.com
2. ^  to:a b "Wild Edible Plants of Assam" (PDF). Director, Forest Communication, Forest Department, Assam, India.
3. ^ Tamala – Garcinia morella Uses, Dose, Research at easyayurveda.com/2015/04/23/tamala-garcinia-morella-uses-dose-research/
4. ^ Useful Tropical Plants: Garcinia morella at tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Garcinia+morella
5. ^ Novel cytotoxic polyprenylated xanthonoids from Garcinia gaudichaudii (Guttiferae). Shu-Geng Cao, Valerie H. L. Sng, Xiao-Hua Wu, a, Keng-Yeow Sim, B. H. K. Tan, J. T. Pereira and S. H. Goh, Tetrahedron, Volume 54, Issue 36, 3 September 1998, Pages 10915-10924, doi:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)00644-9
[sourc - retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_morella on 10/15/2015]

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to http://www.jw.org].

To view this plant, go to, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_morella

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 619B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SONG OF SOLOMEN, [2] DOES THE TRUE GOD (YHWH) OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND ISHMAEL, CREATOR OF ALL THERE IS, REALLY CARE?


ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DOES THE TRUE GOD (YHWH) OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND ISHMAEL, CREATOR OF ALL THERE IS, REALLY CARE?

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [619B]

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Deuteronomy 18:10, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

In the early days of ancient Israel, all the nations around it practiced divination, sorcery, and other detestable acts as recorded at Leviticus 18:21, [AV] “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” And many practiced human sacrifices of mostly children and this fact was recorded by the Prophet Jeremiah at Jeremiah 19:5, [AV] “Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.” These detestable acts were still practiced in the first century as recorded by the Apostle Luke at Acts 16:16, [AV] “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:” But those who became genuine followers of Jesus (Yeshua) got rid of all things associated with these detestable acts when they became his genuine followers as testified to at
Acts 19:19, [AV] “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMEN, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/song-of-solomon/


[2] DOES THE TRUE GOD (YHWH) OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND ISHMAEL, CREATOR OF ALL THERE IS, REALLY CARE?

INTRODUCTION:

We see important members of various religions getting seriously out of line, driven by hate and greed, and a lust for violence against their fellow man. This causes many to question whether the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, really cares about us.

For example, in Northern Ireland we have a Bishop, Dr. Ian Paisley, who constantly strokes hate and violence in North Ireland, and prejudice. He is fiercely anti-Catholicism, and often condemned for using extreme and provocative language against Roman Catholicism. Many feel he is indirectly responsible for much of the violence in Northern Ireland, and does not practice what Jesus (Yeshua) Christ said at John 13:34-35 with respect his genuine (true) followers having, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

But, he is only a minor deviant from John 13:34-35 as compared to Sheik Usama bin Ladin [Osama bin Ladin] who while claiming to be a very devote man has practiced some of the most evil hate, greed, and violence in the name of religion. For example, he and his followers committed many unthinkable wicked acts such as the following:

(1) World Trade Center - 9/11 - unprovoked attack and mass murder by Muslims.[1]
(2) London Subway Bombing by Muslims [2]
(3) Continued mosque bombings in Iraq by Muslims.[3]
(4) Suicide bombings in Israel by Muslims.[4]
(5) Suicide bombing of a wedding reception in Jordan by Muslims.[5]
(6) Daily roadside bombings in Iraq by Muslims.[6]
(7) Train bombings in Spain my Muslims.[7]
(8) Suicide bombings in Iraq by Muslims.[8]
(9) Car and truck bombings in Iraq by Muslims.[9]
(10) Bombing of restaurants and cafes in Bali, Indonesia by Muslims.[10]
(11) And the list could go on and on, get it?
[sources - [1] World Trade Center bombing, by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[2] Explosions Hit Three Tube Stations, One Bus, Thursday, July 21, 2005, Fox News
[3] By Ellen Knickmeyer and K.I. Ibrahim, Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, February 23, 2006; Page A01
[4] Suicide attack, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[5] Zarqawi Calls for Jordan King's Head, Friday, November 18, 2005
[6] The Daily Star, 03/21/2006, Vol. 5 #644
[7] CBS News, WASHINGTON, March 12, 2004
[8] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[9] CNN, Thursday, March 18, 2004 Posted: 4:59 PM EST (2159 GMT)
[10] aljazeera.net, Bali a soft target, experts say, By Marianne Kearney in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday 03 October 2005, 20:20 Makka Time, 17:20 GMT].

Activity like this, sadly makes many individuals feel that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, does not care about us since the live in a world full of hatred, war, and suffering. If the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, really cared, they reason, he surely would do something to prevent these tragic happenings and the activity of false religion in making this world such a bad place to live.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE MADE PEOPLE THINK THAT GOD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US:

Another reason why people think that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, does not care about us is that religious leaders have made them feel that way by their wrong actions. What do clergymen often say when tragedy strikes? Let's look at an example.

When one women lost her two small children in an automobile accident, her clergyman said: "It was God's will. God needed two more angels." When clergymen made such comments, they are actually blaming the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, for the bad things that happen.

Yet, the disciple James wrote at James 1:13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:" (AV), so far be it from the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, to act wickedly as highlighted at Job 34:10, "Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity." (AV).

Then why, is there so much wickedness and suffering? One reason is that mankind in general lhas rejected the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, as ruler, not wanting to submit to his righteous laws and principles. Humans have unwittingly submitted to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, arch enemy, Satan the Devil as shown at 1 John 5:19, "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." (AV). Therefore, it is easy to understand why bad situations exist. Satan is evil, hateful, deceptive, and cruel as are his followers in false religion. So we should expect the world to reflect the personality of its ruler and his unknowing followers-no wonder there is so much wickedness!

HUMAN IMPERFECTION - ANOTHER REASON FOR SUFFERING:

Human imperfection is also another reason for the great suffering we are now experiencing. Sinful humans tend to struggle for dominance due to their hate, greed, and a lust for violence. This struggle often results in wars, oppressions, and much suffering. Ecclesiastes 8:9 aptly says, "All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt." (AV). Also, as brought out at Ecclesiastes 9:11 that unforeseen occurrences cause much suffering, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (AV). Thus, individuals often experience calamity because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

However, it is comforting to learn that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, is not the cause of suffering. But does the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, truly care about what is going on in our lives? The wonderful heartwarming answer is an emphatic YES. We know that he cares because his inspired word, the Bible, tells us why he has allowed humans to pursue a wicked course. The true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, reasons involve two issues, in this article we shall deal with only one:

[1] His sovereignty and the integrity of humans. He was not obligated to tell us whey he permits suffering; however, because he cares about us, he does. Let's consider further evidence that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, indeed does care about us. Let's look at how he felt when badness filled the earth per Genesis 6:5-6, "And GOD 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 the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." (AV).

Now, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, feels no differently today as revealed by Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (AV). He detests injustice and hates to see people suffer. The inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, reveals that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, will soon undo all the harm that has resulted from human misrule and from the influence of Satan the Devil. So as can be seen, this is convincing proof that the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, does indeed care about us.

CONCLUSION:

Religious leaders have been shown to misrepresent the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, when they say that the tragedies we experience are his will. On the contrary, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, longs to end human suffering as shown by 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (AV). But he warns us at 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (AV), to be on guard against his arch-enemy, the deceiver Satan the Devil.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 620B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ISAIAH, [2] SLAVERY IN ISLAM - A LOOK AT THE FACTS:

ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] SLAVERY IN ISLAM - A LOOK AT THE FACTS:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [620B]

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:5 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The Old Law Covenant that covered Hebrews only required par Genesis 17:12, [AV] “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed” The Apostle Paul made it clear to those around him per Romans 11:1, [AV] “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” Yes, he made it quite clear to the crowd that he to was a Hebrew as testified to at 2 Corinthians 11:22, [AV] “Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.” Paul well knew the various divisions among the Jews so one time when the council in Jerusalem was putting him on trial for his teachings, he made use of this knowledge as shown at Acts 23:6, [AV] “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-isaiah/


[2] SLAVERY IN ISLAM - A LOOK AT THE FACTS:

INTRODUCTION:

Islam likes to charge apostate (counterfeit) so called Christianity with condoning and practicing slavery which of course they did, but turns away from the fact that Islam practiced slavery including Muhammad (pbuh) himself and parts of Islam still practice slavery. Of course, this is hypocritical on the part of Islam marking it as a dishonest false religion that is like an Ostrich who hides its head in sand if it does not want to see something.

It is the only major religion who still practices slavery, this taking place in Africa to day in Sudan and elsewhere. In fact, this situation is very bad in the Darfur section of the Sudan where not only is slavery practiced by members of Islam, but rape by those who are Muslims.

Let's look at the facts today:

SLAVERY - THE FACTS WITHIN ISLAM:

Now let's look at the facts as presented in an encyclopedia.

<<<"The major juristic schools of Islam have historically accepted the institution of slavery[1]; however, in modern time this has become a contentious issue Muhammad and those of his companions who could afford it themselves owned slaves, and some of them acquired more by conquest[stealing them.]. However, the Islamic dispensation enormously improved the position of the Arabian slave through the reforms of a humanitarian tendency both at the time of Muhammad and the later early caliphs. In Islamic law, the topic of Islam and slavery is covered at great length. The legal legislations brought two major changes to the practice of slavery inherited from antiquity, from pagan Rome, and from Byzantium, which were to have far-reaching effects. Bernard Lewis considers these reforms to be the cause of the vast improvements in the practice of slavery in Muslim lands. The reforms also seriously limited the supply of new slaves.

The Qur'an considers emancipation of a slave to be a meritorious deed, or as a condition of repentance for certain sins[but does not require their emancipation]. The Qur'an and Hadith contain numerous passages supporting this view. Muslim jurists considered slavery to be an exceptional circumstance, with the basic assumption of freedom until proven otherwise. Furthermore, as opposed to pre-Islamic slavery, enslavement was limited to two scenarios: capture in war[stealing.], or birth to slave parents (birth to parents where one was free and the other not so would render the offspring free)[sounds like typical slavery].

Slavery in Islam does not have racial or color component, although this ideal has not always been put into practice. Nevertheless, historically, black slaves could rise to important positions in Muslim nations. In early Islamic Arabia, Slaves were often African blacks from across the Red Sea, but by expansion of the Islamic empire in later times, slaves could be Berbers from North Africa, Slavs from Europe, Turks from Central Asia, or Circassians from the Caucasus. The majority of slaves throughout the history of Arabia were, however, of African origin. The Arab slave trade was most active in eastern Africa, although by the end of the 19th century such activity had reached a significantly low ebb. The slavery in the Arab World in the 19th century has been documented by Dr. Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje, an Arabist and a scholar of Indonesian affairs, who had visited Mecca during his journey in the Hijaz. He states in his book Mohammedanism that "Slaves in the Arab world are generally not that different from servants and workers in Europe" and that their masters "handled them with a genial humanity that made their lot no worse - perhaps better, as more secure - than that of a factory worker in nineteenth-century Europe."

It was in the early 20th century (post World War I) that slavery gradually became outlawed and suppressed in Muslim lands, largely due to pressure exerted by Western nations such as Britain and France (although the extent to which it died out and/or flared up again is disputed)." [source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]>>>.

Also, researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) said the following:

<<<" WHEN EUROPEANS WERE SLAVES: RESEARCH SUGGESTS WHITE SLAVERY WAS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A new study suggests that a million or more European Christians were enslaved by Muslims in North Africa between 1530 and 1780 - a far greater number than had ever been estimated before.

In a new book, Robert Davis, professor of history at Ohio State University, developed a unique methodology to calculate the number of white Christians who were enslaved along Africa's Barbary Coast, arriving at much higher slave population estimates than any previous studies had found.

Most other accounts of slavery along the Barbary coast didn't try to estimate the number of slaves, or only looked at the number of slaves in particular cities, Davis said. Most previously estimated slave counts have thus tended to be in the thousands, or at most in the tens of thousands. Davis, by contrast, has calculated that between 1 million and 1.25 million European Christians were captured and forced to work in North Africa from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Davis's new estimates appear in the book Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast, and Italy, 1500-1800 (Palgrave Macmillan).

"Much of what has been written gives the impression that there were not many slaves and minimizes the impact that slavery had on Europe," Davis said. "Most accounts only look at slavery in one place, or only for a short period of time. But when you take a broader, longer view, the massive scope of this slavery and its powerful impact become clear."

Davis said it is useful to compare this Mediterranean slavery to the Atlantic slave trade that brought black Africans to the Americas. Over the course of four centuries, the Atlantic slave trade was much larger - about 10 to 12 million black Africans were brought to the Americas. But from 1500 to 1650, when trans-Atlantic slaving was still in its infancy, more white Christian slaves were probably taken to Barbary than black African slaves to the Americas, according to Davis....

"Enslavement was a very real possibility for anyone who traveled in the Mediterranean, or who lived along the shores in places like Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, and even as far north as England and Iceland," he said.
Pirates (called corsairs)[members of Islam] from cities along the Barbary Coast in north Africa - cities such as Tunis and Algiers - would raid ships in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, as well as seaside villages to capture men, women and children. The impact of these attacks were devastating - France, England, and Spain each lost thousands of ships, and long stretches of the Spanish and Italian coasts were almost completely abandoned by their inhabitants. At its peak, the destruction and depopulation of some areas probably exceeded what European slavers would later inflict on the African interior.

Although hundreds of thousands of Christian slaves were taken from Mediterranean countries, Davis noted, the effects of Muslim slave raids was felt much further away: it appears, for example, that through most of the 17th century the English lost at least 400 sailors a year to the slavers.[Islam should return these to England, but has failed to do so or pay England.].

Even Americans were not immune. For example, one American slave reported that 130 other American seamen had been enslaved by the Algerians in the Mediterranean and Atlantic just between 1785 and 1793.

Davis said the vast scope of slavery in North Africa has been ignored and minimized, in large part because it is on no one's agenda to discuss what happened.

The enslavement of Europeans doesn't fit the general theme of European world conquest and colonialism that is central to scholarship on the early modern era, he said. Many of the countries that were victims of slavery, such as France and Spain, would later conquer and colonize the areas of North Africa where their citizens were once held as slaves. Maybe because of this history, Western scholars have thought of the Europeans primarily as "evil colonialists" and not as the victims they sometimes were, Davis said.

Davis said another reason that Mediterranean slavery has been ignored or minimized has been that there have not been good estimates of the total number of people enslaved. People of the time - both Europeans and the Barbary Coast slave owners - did not keep detailed, trustworthy records of the number of slaves. In contrast, there are extensive records that document the number of Africans brought to the Americas as slaves....


"The only way I could come up with hard numbers is to turn the whole problem upside down - figure out how many slaves they would have to capture to maintain a certain level," he said. "It is not the best way to make population estimates, but it is the only way with the limited records available."...

The result is that between 1530 and 1780 there were almost certainly 1 million and quite possibly as many as 1.25 million white, European Christians enslaved by the Muslims of the Barbary Coast. Davis said his research into the treatment of these slaves suggests that, for most of them, their lives were every bit as difficult as that of slaves in America....

Davis said his findings suggest that this invisible slavery of European Christians deserves more attention from scholars. "We have lost the sense of how large enslavement could loom for those who lived around the Mediterranean and the threat they were under," he said. "Slaves were still slaves, whether they are black or white, and whether they suffered in America or North Africa."[source - Research, Ohio State University by Jeff Grabmeier]>>>.

CONCLUSION:

Both apostate (counterfeit) so called Christians and Muslims starting with Muhammad (pbuh) himself were equally guilty with respect the slave trade, yet members point a finger at apostate (counterfeit) Christians without realizing three fingers, maybe four, are pointing back at themselves. This is dishonest hypocrisy on the part of Islam.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 621B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE JEREMIAH, [2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia nitida

ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

*********************************************************************
NOTE: VOLUMES 622B TO 628B WILL NOT BE PRESENTED DUE TO THEIR ADVANCED NATURE, BUT IF ANY WANT TO READ THIS ADVANCED DISCUSSION, LET ME HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND THEM TO YOU.
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COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia nitida With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [621B]

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:11 – 14, [authorized King James Bible; AV]


It is important not only that you confess Jesus (Yeshua), but that you believe in him as testified to at Romans 10:9, [AV] “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And to the natural born Jews, the Apostle Luke, testified to at Acts 2:36, [AV] “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Yes, all should turn to Almighty God per Psalms 22:27, [AV] “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.”

But we must learn to distinguish between good and bad per Romans 16:19, [AV] “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-jeremiah/


[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Garcinia nitida a very rare tree.

ABSTRACT:
The study on enhancing germination of Garcinia kola was conducted using 5 pre-treatments. These included soaking seeds in cold water for 96, 72, and 48 hours for treatments 1, 2, and 3 respectively, cutting seeds at the opposite end to the radicle with kitchen knife (nicking) for treatment 4 and control treatment (untreated seeds for treatment 5). The aim of this study was to determine the best pre-treatment for optimum germination of Garcinia kola “seed”. Germination tests were carried out after pre-treatments for 10 months using one hundred seeds for each treatment in ICRAF nursery established at IITA station in Onne, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The result showed that seed cutting (nicking) was the most suitable pre-sowing treatment to increase seed germination of Garcinia kola. In the first 6 weeks of testing, germination did not occur in all the treatments. From the seventh week, germination commenced in treatments 1 and 4. Whereas treating the seeds with mechanical scarification (nicking) significantly (P<0.05) enhanced germination of Garcinia kola, seed germination was also significantly (P<0.05) improved, at least for up to 33 weeks, by soaking the seeds in cold water for 96 hours. The wide variation in germination percentage, germination rate and germination speed of G. kola depended on dormancy that was overcome by seed treatments prior to sowing.

Garcinia kola Heckel, often called bitter kola, is an indigenous medicinal tree belonging to the family Guttiferae. Morphologically, Garcinia kola resembles Allanblackia floribunda. It is well branched, evergreen, and grown as a medium size tree, reaching 12 m high in 12 years, and found in moist forests throughout West and Central Africa. Garcinia kola has regular fruiting cycle and the tree produces fruits every year. The species is one of the most important trees valued in Nigeria for its medicinal seeds and its exploitation in the natural forests has been very heavy.
The seeds of G. kola have pharmacological uses in treating coughs, throat infections, bronchitis, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), liver disorders (Farombi et al., 2005). According to Adegoke et al., (1998), seeds of G. kola have inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates. The seeds which serve as a bitter stimulant also serve as snake repellent when they are placed round the compound (Nair, 1990; Daily Champion, 2004). Other medicinal uses include: purgative, antiparasitic, antimicrobial. The seeds are used to prevent and relieve colic, cure head or chest colds. The seeds constituents include—biflavonoids, xanthones and benzophenones. The antimicrobial properties of this plant are attributed to the benzophenones, flavanones. This plant has shown bronchodilator effect (Orie and Ekon, 1993), anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral properties (Ebana et al., 1991; Akoachere et al., 2004). In laboratory tests, Garcinia kola was found to halt the deadly disease caused by Ebola virus in its tracks. The virus causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever - an often-fatal condition. Compounds from the plant have also proved effective against some strains of flu, a contagious respiratory disease also commonly known as influenza (Iwu, 1993). Its by-products are also useful: the wood makes excellent fuel wood; its dense rounded crown makes it an ideal tree for shade around homestead; the branches are used as chewing stick because of its bitter taste and antibacterial activities of its extracts (Taiwo et al., 1999).
In Nigeria, low populations of G. kola are found in home gardens and few stands are found in the wild due to rapid deforestation and heavy exploitation in the natural forests. These factors seriously depleted the populations of the species. But demand for G. kola is currently very high in Nigeria and though few seeds are available in the markets, production of the species is limited due to problem of seed dormancy. The seeds need to be treated to enhance germination. During a priority setting exercise, Garcinia kola was one of the useful indigenous trees prioritized by farmers in West and Central Africa. For many farmers who practice agroforestry, medicinal and fruit trees turn out to have higher priority. However, it is unlikely that rural farmers would plant G. kola on a large scale because the untreated seeds are difficult to germinate. Discouragingly, farmers believe that germination of G. kola takes about six to twelve months and that only few seeds germinate. They also believe that the tree takes a longer time of about eight to ten years to reach reproductive phase. According to Anegbeh, et al., (2005) early flowering and fruiting of very useful indigenous fruit trees enhance food security and harness rural livelihoods.

The challenges to development institutions are to help overcome these problems and to respond to priorities of rural communities, especially in the area of conserving highly endangered and valued species. Information on improving the germination of G. kola is not available in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Therefore, the objective of this study was to break dormancy and improve germination of G. kola within a short time and make the information available to farmers. [source - retrieved from www.google.com/search?q=Garcinia+nitida&oq=Garcinia+nitida&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=Garcinia+nitida&start=50 on 12/152013]

A very rare Garcinia from the jungles of Borneo. Bears 1-2", red ripening fruits with acidic white pulp. Fruits are edible and most commonly used for flavoring. Small, evergreen tree to several feet. Cultural information is limited but the tree is probably tropical and not frost hardy. Related to the mangosteen.  [source - retrieved from www.tradewindsfruit.com/garcinia-nitida-brunei-cherry-seeds on 12/15 /2013]

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to http://www.jw.org].

With respect pictures of this fruit, the only ones are on the entire family at www.plantsystematics.org/taxpage/0/genus/Garcinia.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 629B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LAMENTATIONS, [2] MANY ASK, WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM:

ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] MANY ASK, WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [629B]

They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. Isaiah 65:22 – 23, [authorized King James Bible; AV]


Here the conditions that will exist under God’s Kingdom with His son, Jesus (Yeshua) as its king, are being spoken of. And it is made clear at this time the obedient ones will enjoy per Psalms 21:4, [AV] “He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.” But to be counted worthy to be there we must per 1 Corinthians 15:58, [AV] “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Yes all righteous ones that seek righteousness will per Isaiah 55:1, [AV] “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” And at this time, all will be per Isaiah 54:13, [AV] “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Yes, He will provide for His elect per Matthew 24:31, [AV] “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-lamentations/


[2] MANY ASK, WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM:

INTRODUCTION:

The inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, clearly shows that before coming to earth and being born to a Jewish girl that Jesus (Yeshua) lived in heaven with his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. As Micah 5:2 puts it, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Authorized King James Bible; AV). In fact, on many occasions, Jesus (Yeshua), said that he had lived in heaven before being born as a human such as at John 6:38 and 62, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." And "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" (AV); and John 17:4-5, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (AV).

JESUS (YESHUA) IS THE TRUE GOD (YHWH) OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND ISHMAEL, CREATOR OF ALL THERE IS, MOST PRECIOUS SON:

Jesus (Yeshua) is the most precious only begotten Son of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. He is called the first of God's creation at Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (AV). Now what makes this Son so special to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is? Well John 3:16 explains, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (AV) that he was the only begotten or first of God's creation which is also testified to at Revelation 3:14, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" (AV). In other words, Jesus (Yeshua) is the only being directly created by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. The true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, used him in the creation of all other things as testified to by Colossians 1:16, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (AV); and Proverbs 8:21-31, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, 29 When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; 30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (American Standard Version; ASV). Also, Jesus (Yeshua) is referred to as the Word at John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (AV). This shows that he was God's spokesman who delivered the messages and instructions to mankind from his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, to all his Father's other sons, both spirit and human.

IS THE FIRSTBORN OR CREATED EQUAL TO HIS FATHER?

Some mistakenly believe that the firstborn or created Son, Jesus (Yeshua), is equal to his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, but let's see if this is so. As previously noted, the Son, Jesus (Yeshua), was created; whereas, his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, had no beginning or end as testified to at Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (ASV). Therefore, there is no way that the only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) , could ever be equal to his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. In fact, the Bible clearly shows that the Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, is greater than the Son, Jesus (Yeshua), at John 14:28 in Jesus (Yeshua) own words, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (AV); and at 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (AV). Therefore, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, alone is per Genesis 17:1, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." (AV). Thus he is without equal.

SON AND FATHER HAVE HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP FOR EONS:

Of course, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, and his first born only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), have enjoyed a close association for eons - long before the creation of the starry heavens and the earth. So, how they must dearly love each other as testified to at John 3:35, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." (AV); and re-testified to at John 14:31, "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence." (AV). Thus, this beloved Son, Jesus (Yeshua), was just like his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. So the Bible refers to this Son, Jesus (Yeshua), as, per Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB). Yes, even as a human son may closely resemble his father in many ways, Jesus (Yeshua) closely resembles his Father with regard to his qualities and personality.

CONCLUSION:

The true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), obediently left heaven to come down to earth to live as a human being. Now the question many may ask is how would it be possible for a spirit creature to be born as a human. Well, to accomplish this, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, transferred his life into the womb of a Jewish virgin named Mary. No human father was involved as testified to at Luke 1:30-35, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God." (ASV).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 630B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EZEKIEL, [2] ISLAM SEEKS TO PROVOKE DO TO ITS EXTREME HATRED AND LUST FOR VIOLENCE:

ALSO, VIDEO ON IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD, CLICK ON OR POST ON BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/FeaturedLibraryVideos/pub-ebtv_2_VIDEO

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] ISLAM SEEKS TO PROVOKE DO TO ITS EXTREME HATRED AND LUST FOR VIOLENCE:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [630B]

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. Isaiah 65:21, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Indeed, Almighty God (YHWH) purposes for an eventual time under the reign of His son, Jesus (Yeshua) where evil will be eliminated and peaceful conditions will be the order of the day per Jeremiah 31:4, [AV] “Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.” Yes, His people will rebuild a righteous world to replace the evil one that will be destroyed and go out of business at the conclusion of the end times per Amos 9:14, [AV] “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.” At this time per Isaiah 62:8, [AV] “The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/ezekiel-introduction/

[2] ISLAM SEEKS TO PROVOKE DO TO ITS EXTREME HATRED AND LUST FOR VIOLENCE:

Members of Islam have not changed in over 1,000 years. Now let's look at history berifely,

Most of Islam blames the apostate (counterfeit) Christians for the Crusades, but in reality Islam caused the Crusades which were the effect or result or consequences of a malicious wrong act by Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. How so? Well simple, in 1009 this Caliph sacked the pilgrimage hospice in Jerusalem and destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was later rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor, but this event was remembered in Europe and was the spark or cause for the crusades.

And today they are still committing provocations and would probably try and lay the blame on others for the consequences of their own wrong doing just as the blamed the apostate (counterfeit) Roman Catholic Church for the Crusades over 1,000 years ago. However, I believe that Britain will not do what they should, i.e., immediately counter attack. Let's look at the latest provocation:

<<<By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer [23/03/2007]
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Iranian naval vessels on Friday seized 15 British sailors and marines who had boarded a merchant ship in Iraqi waters of the Persian Gulf, British and U.S. officials said. Britain immediately protested the detentions, which come at a time of high tension between the West and

In London, the British government summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Office: "He was left in no doubt that we want them back," Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said after the meeting.
The U.S. Navy, which operates off the Iraqi coast along with British forces, said the British sailors appeared unharmed and that Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval forces were responsible.

Britain's Defense Ministry said the British Navy personnel were "engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters," and had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by the Iranian vessels. The British sailors were assigned to a task force which protects Iraqi oil terminals and maintains security in Iraqi waters under authority of the U.N. Security Council.

"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level," the ministry said.

No one could be immediately reached for comment at either government offices in Iran or at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad. An Iranian official at the U.N. mission in New York said he was not aware of the report and could not immediately comment.

The U.S. Navy said the incident occurred just outside a long-disputed waterway called the Shatt al-Arab dividing

Iraq and Iran. It came as the U.N. Security Council debates further sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program, and amid U.S. allegations that Iran is arming Shiite militias in Iraq.
U.S. officials had expressed concern that with so much military hardware concentrated in the Persian Gulf, just such a small incident could spiral out of control and trigger a major armed confrontation.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the Bush administration was monitoring the situation.

"The British government is demanding the immediate safe return of the people and equipment and we are keeping watch on the situation," Snow said.[[Should they not take stronger action as permitted under international piracy laws?]]

The United States, Britain's chief ally, has built up its naval forces in the Gulf in a show of strength directed at Iran. Two American carriers, including the USS John C. Stennis - backed by a strike group with more than 6,500 sailors and Marines and with additional minesweeping ships - arrived in the region in recent months.
Rhetoric between Western nations and Iran has escalated in recent months.

Earlier this week, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said if Western countries "want to treat us with threats and enforcement of coercion and violence, undoubtedly they must know that the Iranian nation and authorities will use all their capacities to strike enemies that attack."[[Now who is committing the acts of piracy and war - Iran.]]

Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl of the Fifth Fleet said the British crew members were intercepted by several larger patrol boats operated by Iranian sailors belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, a radical force that operates separately from the country's regular navy.
The Iranian boats normally carry bow-mounted machine guns, while the British boarding party carried only sidearms, Aandahl said. No shots were fired and there appeared to be no physical harm done to any personnel involved or their vessels, Aandahl said.>>>

The wrong action speaks for itself with respect who is trying to provoke whom and who is committing wicked acts of false imprisonment and Piracy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

[iris89]

HERE IS VOL 631B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DANIEL, [2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia intermedia

ALSO, VIDEO ON INTODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER: www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/LatestVideos/pub-nwtsv_1_VIDEO


COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Garcinia intermedia With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [631B]

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The above scripture refers to a time when the Hebrews were being obedient to the ways of Almighty God (YHWH), and clearly let it be known that He does not change per Psalms 33:11, [AV] “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” He, worked for His chosen people when they were being obedient as shown at Zephaniah 3:15, [AV] “The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.” And this is also testified to at Jeremiah 31:17, [AV] “And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER:
www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-daniel/


[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Garcinia intermedia is a species of tropical American tree which produces tasty fruit. In English it is known as the lemon drop mangosteen (a name it shares with the closely related and similarly tasting Garcinia madruno). In Spanish it is called mameyito. In Portuguese it is called achachairu. The name achachairu is also applied to Garcinia humilis, another species native to Bolivia with larger, round or egg-shaped fruit(see Achachairu). G. humilis has been commercialized in Australia under the name Achacha.

Growth
The fast growing tree reaches a height of about 5 meters. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils, up to an altitude of around 4000 feet. It can be grown successfully and will fruit in a large pot. It grows best with regular water in full sun in a humid environment. It tolerates high temperatures but is probably not frost hardy. It has small, whitish flowers which are perfect and makes an attractive ornamental tree, especially when in truit, which may be year round. Its leaves are opposite.

The wood is termine resistant and used to make posts and tool handles.

Propagation
The tree is generally propagated from seeds, though it can be grafted. No named cultivars are known. Seeds lose viability if dried, but can retain viability for a period of months if kept moist.

Fruit
The tree may fruit after as little as two years. The fruits are smooth spheres about an inch in diameter with a thin yellow, orange or red rind around a white pulp. They are edible and have an appealing sweet and sour taste. It is usually eaten out of hand, though can be used for drinks, jams and jellies.[2]

Distribution
Native to Central America, it is cultivated sporadically throughout the tropics.[3]

References
1. Jump up^ "Taxon: Garcinia intermedia (Pittier) Hammel". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
2. Jump up^ www.fruitipedia.com/lemon_drop_mangosteen%20Garcinia%20edulis.htm
3. Jump up^ www.montosogardens.com/garcinia_intermedia.htm [SOURCE - RETRIEVED FROM en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_intermedia ON 8/5/2014]

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to http://www.jw.org].

For pictures and more information, go to, davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/188302/

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG