Heritage is a very important part of our lives, and culture. Who are we? Where do we come from, and where are we going? No one ever said that this journey through life would be easy. Each one of us have had to confront huge challenges along life’s way. And the long awaited ‘son of promise, Isaac,’ born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age becomes the biggest test of their faith ever.
In Genesis 22 we have the narrative of the testing of Abraham our Father:
Abraham’s Faith is Tested
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
So, who do you think you are?
You are a human being?
According to the Scriptures we are created in the image of G_D –– that does not mean his physical likeness, but his moral nature and being, i.e., G–D likeness. However, there is an inherent flaw to our character due to the ‘fall.’ Sin entered the world to the disobedience and rebellion of our common ancestors –– Adam, and Eve.
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Pontius Pilate asked Yeshua, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” That selfsame question echoes down through the ages. So, “What do you think?” Well can anyone still be trusted? Truth appears to be in very short supply. Paul Carrack when he was with Mike and the Mechanics wrote Silent Running and he penned these words: Don’t believe the church and state and everything they tell you…
Take the children and yourself And hide out in the cellar By now the fighting will be close at hand Don’t believe the church and state And everything they tell you Believe in me, I’m with the high command
Can you hear me, can you hear me running? Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you? Can you hear me, can you hear me running? Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?
This phrase: Don’t believe the church and state And everything they tell you is a very serious accusation –– So, why can’t they be trusted?
Let’s begin with ‘church:
What Is Good About Church?
What Is Bad About Church?
Where This Leaves Us?
What Is Good About the State and Its Leadership?
What Is Bad About the State and Its Leadership?
Where This Leaves Us
What can we do, if anything when we have dictatorial church and state leadership?
Wake Up — Don’t Be Deceived
Wake up.
“Peace, Peace”—The Cry of False Prophets
Peace is Not the Absence of Conflict—It Is the Presence of Truth
What Awakening Looks Like
Awakening is not rebellion; it is responsibility.
It is not anger; it is clarity.
It is not cynicism; it is wisdom.
False Peace Never Lasts—True Peace Begins With Truth, and Real peace is often born in the very moment when false peace dies.
To the true story you will need to listen to this Podcast!
Apple of My Eye –– By Roni Mechanic –– Please Note: This Poem is Copyright 2025 and may only be briefly quoted.
For fuller use contact the author: mtmi.teaching@gmail.com
The phrase “apple of my eye” has a long and storied journey, glimmering with layers of meaning. In its earliest English use, it spoke of a person or thing cherished above all else, one held in a place of rare affection. The image often refers to the pupil—the small, dark centre of vision—though it was also employed more broadly to describe what is dearest to the heart.
William Shakespeare used it with this sense in the late 16th century. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the fairy king Oberon, armed with a magical flower struck by Cupid’s arrow, leans over a sleeping youth and says, “Flower of this purple dye—hit with Cupid’s archery—sink in apple of his eye,” thus sealing a love-bound fate. In Love’s Labor’s Lost, the witty courtier Biron rebukes another with the sharp question, “Do not you know my lady’s foot by the square—and laugh upon the apple of her eye?” In both, the phrase carries the intimacy of a treasured focal point—whether in love, beauty, or desire.
The Focus of the Poem –– Apple of the Eye
In the Bible, however, this phrase takes on a deeper, more tender resonance. In the stately English of the 1611 King James Bible, “apple of my eye” glows like a thread of divine intimacy woven through the Scriptures. It sings in Moses’ desert song, where God finds His people in the waste howling wilderness and guards them as one would protect the most delicate part of sight itself. It rises in the psalmist’s prayer— “Keep me as the apple of the eye”—a cry to be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings. Proverbs utter it as the voice of a father’s counsel: to hold God’s commandments as one would shield the pupil from harm. Lamentations weep it in grief, calling for tears to flow without ceasing from the apple of the eye. And Zechariah proclaims it as a fierce warning: whoever touches Israel touches the apple of God’s eye.
In Zechariah, the phrase shifts: bava ‘ayin. Scholars differ here. Some trace bava to a root meaning “to hollow out,” evoking the eye as a hollowed gateway through which light enters. Others believe it simply means “apple,” thus giving us the English rendering. Yet, whether hollowed gate or fruit, the essence remains: the eye is the most sensitive, most fiercely guarded place. To touch it is to wound the seat of perception.
And so, in Scripture, this image is not of a God who loves from afar, but of a God whose care is as personal way as the guarding of His own sight. His gaze is steady, unblinking, protective. In it, we are not lost among the masses, but reflected clearly, held at the very centre of His vision. We are the little figure in His eye—the one He will not let go.
Apple of My Eye
In most of these verses, the ancient tongue speaks ‘iyshon ayin––
אִישׁוֹן עַיִן–– the pupil of the eye.
‘Iyshon
‘Iyshon—darkness, shadow— yet more than shade, it whispers of the little man, the tiny figure mirrored in another’s gaze.
This is no idle flourish— but the portrait of nearness: to be the little man in G_D’s own eye, so close, so beloved, that His gaze holds your image, and His sight cradles your soul.
He Speaks to His Beloved Ones
The “apple of my eye” glows— a thread of divine intimacy woven through the ancient scrolls.
Tales told long past— flowing from the heart of G_D: “You are my beloved ones, now, and throughout eternity.
Sacred, not only to behold, but to tenderly nurture, and to hold.
The light of My gaze rests on you, as the pupil to the eye, guarded from harm, kept in the depth of My sight.
No shadow shall hide you, no hand shall tear you away— for you are the little figure mirrored in My vision,
The treasure of My soul— in all your struggles, past, present, and yet to come, My eyes will ever watch for you.
Foes
Though the foe would tear you away from My tender care, I will stand, shield in hand, warding them off–– with a jealous, protecting strength.
You are My beloved— the apple of My eye. No one shall pluck you from My mighty grasp, nor dim the gaze that holds you close.
Moses’ Song
It sings in Moses’ desert song, where G_D finds His people in the waste howling wilderness, and guards them as one shields the tender centre of sight.
Hunger, thirst, a scorching sun— wild beasts, and those of evil intent, though each in turn seeks to wound or destroy you, I am there with you, now, and always— shadow in the heat, water in the parched land, fortress in the storm.
Guardian
Guardian of your soul, ever watchful, ever near, committed to keep you whole— body, soul, and spirit— now, and always.
Fear not for I am with you,”
the treasure of My soul— in all your struggles, past, present, and yet to come, My eyes will ever watch for thee.
The Psalmist
It rises in the psalmist’s plea: “Keep me as the apple of the eye,” a cry for shelter— beneath the shadow of His wings, where the heat of the day cannot scorch, nor the terrors of the night draw near.
It is the voice of One who knows that the pupil is the most guarded place, the place where sight begins, and that to be there, held within God’s gaze, is to be wrapped in a love of Thee, both fierce and tender.
There, no arrow can pierce, no darkness can blot out the light, for His wings are broad, and His watch unending, and the one kept there is forever safe.
Proverbs
Proverbs speaks it as a Father’s voice, urging the keeping of His commands as one would guard the pupil from the sting of harm.
Sayings of old, spoken and spoken again, for all to hear— a still small voice, a whisper in the listener’s ear, a steady gaze meeting the eye, reassuring, confident, to uphold–– and to guide along life’s way.
Stay in My sight, remain in My regard— apples of golden delight, the apple of My eye.
Lamentations
Lamentations weep––
its tears unending,
flowing like rivers, falling from the apple of the eye. Though weeping may endure for a time, assurance is given, clearly declared:
“I am with you always— in sorrow and in suffering, even in the face of loss and death.
Did I not say, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’?”
“I hate you, despise you, wish to see you slain, and dispossessed!”— is this not the bitter, often-repeated cry of Israel’s foes through the long corridors of time?
5785
Five thousand, seven hundred, and eighty-five years she has endured—[she=Israel] banished from her land, exiled to the ends of the earth, hounded and hunted, slaughtered by tyrants whose names fade like dust. Yet she still stands, her heartbeat steady, her lamp still burning in the night.
What is her secret? What unseen hand has shielded her from the graveyard of nations?
The Prophet
Bava ‘ayin—הָוָה עַיִן— hollowed and formed, a vessel made to receive the light.
And the word of the Lord through Zechariah still thunders across the hills: Touch Israel, and you touch the apple of My eye.
Thus says the Lord— a warning set for all generations, a promise sealed with fire: He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep; the gaze of the Holy One shall not turn away, but shall watch her forever.
The apple of My eye— you are Mine, My beloved, and I am yours.
As a lover whispers, with fierce and tender devotion to the one his soul adores, so does Hashem speak to all who love Him:
“I will never leave you, nor forsake you. Not in the fire, nor in the flood, not in the shadow of death itself.
[It is my intention that through this ending I want the poem to breathe more like a psalm or prophetic reading that closes a liturgical work].
Apple of the Eye:
Refrain: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: Apple of the Eye—kept as the shadow of His wings, Congregation: Hidden in the secret place of the Most High. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: Guarded from the arrow that flies by day, Congregation: Preserved from the terror that walks in darkness. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: He found thee in the waste howling wilderness, Congregation: He led thee about, He instructed thee. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: He kept thee as the apple of His eye, Congregation: As an eagle stirs her nest and spreads her wings, He covers thee. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: Under His feathers thou shalt trust, Congregation: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: Wisdom binds His words upon thy heart, Congregation: As one would guard the pupil from harm. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
Leader: Lament weeps without ceasing, Congregation: Tears falling from the apple of the eye. All: Guard us, O L_RD, as the apple of Your eye.
A Clear Vision
Leader: My gaze will hold you, My hand will keep you,
as the apple of My eye.”
Let every breath bear witness, and every heart resound with the song of the One who will never let go.
Congregation: Amen— and Hallelujah!
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A scene –– featuring candles and Star of David symbols set against a quaint street in Alghero, Italy, symbolizing remembrance and reflection.
While on vacation together with my wife Elisheva we are staying in the beautiful seaside town of Alghero in the island of Sardinia which is part of Italy.
Besides the Italian people, their food, their drink, and especially their rich culture, we made a fascinating discovery on our visit to the city museum – In the Middle Ages it had a rich history of the Jewish community on this island.
Pottery fragments, and other similar domestic have been found and reconstructed and are now being preserved for all to see.
So Where Have All the Jews Gone?
Sardinia during that period was administered by Spain. So far sogood — the truth be told not ‘so good!’ At that time there was no place in their realm for Jews.–– Exile, conversion, or death.’
Have we not been there before? At the present the Spanish Government is taking an anti-Israel stance which we can only pray will be reversed lest history repeats itself.
I firstly wrote this piece of prose from which I then created a poem following a visit to the Alghero Museum, and Catholic Cathedral and reading a description of a side chapel in remembrance of the cities lost Jews.
Alghero Echoes from the Stones
Kaddish Prayer…
English Version…
May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will. May his Kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen. May his great name be blessed, forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored, elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he – above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel; and say Amen.
Originally Posted on and Blogged today 1st May 2025 as the Original audio file had been lost and it has been repaired.
Ruth both discovered, and testifies of God’s love throughout her life:
RUTH NESSIM
During April 2017, while I was visiting Ruth Nessim of Nahariyah, Israel, together with her house guest, Betty (Betina) from Germany, a pastor friend Ralf also visiting from Germany called around and Ruth tells her story of how she came to faith. She relates of how she met Albert “her Jewish husband” and the amazing ministry that they shared in Israel together since the 1970’s.
Following Albert’s death nearly a decade ago, Ruth continues to share her faith, with Jews and Arabs in her beloved Israel. She actively promotes fellowship among the diverse communities in the land and this demonstrates how the dividing wall of hostility can be broken down through the sharing of the Good News. This is surely the basis of how a lasting peace may be achieved in not only Israel, but throughout the world?
Ruth’s example of how as a Jewish believer she heard the call of God, to following him, but also listen to how her life made a difference. She tells of the consequence of yielding to that call, and how many others experience God’s life-giving, life-changing power in their lives through her testimony.
LIKE RUTH AND ALBERT YOU TOO CAN DISCOVER GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU PERSONALLY WHOEVER YOU ARE!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER HELP IN YOUR DESIRE TO DISCOVER G-D’S LOVE, PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.:
email: mtmi.teaching@gmail.com
BRING THEM HOME!
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When we talk about “Times an Seasons.” it can have wide implications – “Times and seasons.” It’s a phrase often spoken with reverence, a simple expression with profound implications. On the surface, it may seem to mark the natural flow of days, months, and years—the shifting from summer’s warmth to winter’s chill, the quiet rhythms of planting and harvest, or the inevitability of sunrise and sunset. But beneath this poetic veneer lies a concept that is far deeper, one that has shaped human understanding, shaped civilizations, and defined personal journeys.
“Times and seasons” speaks not only of the passage of time but of the appointed moments in our lives—those critical junctures where events align, where decisions are made, and where destinies unfold. It calls us to consider the timing of things, not merely as a function of the clock or calendar, but as a divine orchestration, a pattern we often perceive only in hindsight. In the biblical tradition, this phrase is loaded with spiritual significance. The writer of Ecclesiastes declares that “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” These words remind us that life unfolds according to a rhythm and plan that is often beyond our control or comprehension. There are times for sowing and times for reaping, moments of joy and seasons of grief, and each one has its place in the grand narrative of existence.
But “times and seasons” also invites us into reflection on the wider implications—on history, on culture, and on our own personal stories. It challenges us to consider the shifts and turning points in the world around us. What season are we living in, not just individually, but as a community, a nation, or even humanity itself? Is this a time for building or for tearing down? A season of peace or a season of upheaval?
On a personal level, it can help us frame our own experiences. We all go through seasons, times when things fall apart and times when they come together, times of clarity and times of confusion. Recognizing the season we are in helps us respond wisely—whether by waiting patiently in winter’s stillness or by acting boldly in summer’s abundance.
Roni at entrance to Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Roni cooking up a storm
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Happy New Year!
The implications of these ideas ripple out even further. For those who believe in divine sovereignty, the phrase serves as a reminder. We are not the ultimate masters of time. Seasons come and go, often without our consent. Yet, even in the face of this lack of control, there is a hope. This hope is embedded in the idea of seasons. They change. The cold of winter does not last forever; the dryness of drought gives way to the rains. Just as nature cycles through its phases, so too do our lives and the world around us.
In a world that often demands instant results and constant progress, “times and seasons” urges us to embrace the process. It encourages us to trust the unfolding and find meaning in every phase. It is a recognition that the seasons we pass through—individually and collectively—are not random. They are part of a larger story, one in which every moment, every transition, has purpose. T. S. Eliot focuses on despair in poems like The Waste Land and The Hollow Men. This focus reflects his deep engagement with the cultural, spiritual, and existential crises of his time. It also showcases his own personal struggles. Here are several reasons for this focus:1.
Cultural and Historical Context
2. Philosophical Influences
3. Personal Struggles
4. Religious Quest
5. Themes in The Waste Land and The Hollow Men
6. T.S. Eliot’s Ash Wednesday (1930) is a deeply personal and spiritual poem, marking Eliot’s turn towards Christianity after his conversion to Anglicanism in 1927. It reflects his struggles with faith, doubt, and redemption, encapsulating themes of spiritual renewal and the tension between worldly attachments and divine aspirations.
The poem is structured into six sections, weaving fragmented imagery, liturgical language, and a meditative tone. It explores the journey of a soul turning away from despair and secular distractions, yearning for spiritual transformation and divine grace. The “Ash Wednesday” reference ties to the Christian observance of repentance and mortality, emphasising the soul’s need for humility and hope in the face of human frailty.
Eliot’s use of symbolism, paradox, and allusion creates a complex and layered work that invites contemplation on the challenges and rewards of faith.
6. Symbolism of Despair
Eliot’s obsession with despair is not merely a fixation but a tool to explore the human condition. He presents despair in its starkest form. This approach forces readers to confront the emptiness of modern life. It leads them to consider the possibility of renewal, whether through faith, art, or human connection.
Eliot explores despair through several angles. It results from his historical moment, philosophical influences, personal struggles, and spiritual quest. His poetry serves as both a diagnosis of and a response to the crises of his time.
This timeless truth is significant in various ways. It may be seen through a spiritual, philosophical, or practical lens. It reminds us to align ourselves with the rhythms of life and time. We should embrace them rather than resist them. Seasons will come and go, but how we engage with them defines the legacy we leave behind.
What do we make of the expression: “Now is God’s appointed time for me, and You?” The phrase is personal and universal. It invites us into a deeply meaningful narrative. It is a moment pregnant with meaning, poised between divine providence and human response. The speaker identifies God’s eternal plan converging with the present moment’s immediacy. This is a kairos — the sacred intersection where time and purpose meet.
Imagine a traveler on a journey, worn and weary, pausing at the edge of a river. The path they have walked is full of twists and turns. There are triumphs and regrets. Yet they stand now before an unseen bridge. Only faith can reveal this bridge. The traveler senses a voice, still and small yet unmistakably commanding: Now is the time. The words do not thunder from the heavens; rather, they resonate within, like a melody long forgotten but instantly remembered.
In this moment, the traveler realizes the truth. God’s appointed time is not a distant promise. It is not a future hope. It is here, now, demanding a response. It encourages the traveler to step forward. The traveler must trust that the unseen bridge will hold. They must embrace both the uncertainty and the calling.
But this declaration, “Now is God’s appointed time,” is not solitary. It includes “You.” The phrase is a reminder that divine purpose is never lived in isolation. It suggests a shared calling, a communal moment of reckoning. The “You” could be a friend, a stranger, a congregation, or even the collective human family. It acknowledges that God’s timing is relational, inviting others into the story of faith, repentance, renewal, or action.
In this narrative, the phrase becomes both a challenge and a comfort. It challenges us to recognize the urgency of the present. We need to awaken to the reality that God’s timing is not measured by human clocks. It is measured by the alignment of divine intention and earthly opportunity. It comforts us with the assurance that this moment is not random—it is purposed. God has orchestrated this time for transformation, for stepping into a destiny that is uniquely ours yet intertwined with others.
So, what do we make of this expression? We see it as a call to action and trust. It reminds us that God’s purposes unfold not in abstract futures but in the living, breathing now. It invites us to live fully present. We should be aware that this moment, though fleeting, is eternally significant—for me, and for you.
Prophet Phillip Banda
Prophet Philip Banda, founder of Impact for Christ Ministries (IFCM), focuses on faith. He emphasizes healing in his teachings. He also stresses a strong devotion to prayer. He also expresses a particular love for Israel and the Jewish people. Many of his teachings align with Pentecostal and charismatic Christian beliefs. However, several factors could raise questions about their orthodoxy. This depends on specific doctrines he promotes and practices within his ministry.
Factors to Evaluate
Emphasis on Healing and Prophecy: Pentecostal and charismatic movements often emphasize prophecy, miracles, and healing. While these are biblical, excessive focus or deviation from scriptural boundaries (e.g., elevating the prophet above Christ or Scripture) could lead to doctrinal concerns.
Public Teachings: It’s important to examine his public sermons and writings for clarity and alignment with Scripture. Are they Christ-centered, rooted in the Bible, and focused on repentance, grace, and the gospel?
If you have access to specific teachings or doctrinal statements from Prophet Philip Banda, please share them. I can help analyze them for alignment with orthodox Christian theology.
The teachings and ministry of Prophet Philip Banda at Impact for Christ Ministries (IFCM) align with several core aspects. These aspects are part of orthodox Christian doctrine. This conclusion is based on the available information.
Salvation by Grace through Faith:While specific statements on salvation are not detailed in the provided sources, the ministry’s mission to “proclaim the Kingdom of God by preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of The Holy Spirit” implies a focus on evangelism and the message of salvation.
However, without a detailed doctrinal statement, assessing Prophet Banda’s adherence to all aspects of orthodox Christian doctrine is challenging. There are no explicit affirmations of specific creedal formulations like the Nicene Creed.
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The Importance and Significance of Symbols, and Symbolism When we view symbols, such as the three in the painting of Roni & an Orthodox Jewish friend at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, we should note those things that are symbolic – Seven branch candle stick, Star of David, and the box of the phylacteries on Ron’s head. What do each of these symbolise mean, and what do they signify?
We should note that Judaism and Christianity each have multiple symbols that carry powerful religious meaning that lie at the heart of these two Abrahamic faiths. Though some are distinctive to its specific faith, others are significant to both. So, let’s begin by exploring some of these powerful images and explore their importance.
Some synonyms for ‘type’: sign, character, mark, letter, hieroglyph, ideogram, emblem, token, representation, figure, image, type, metaphor, and allegory.
HIGHLIGHTS:
What do you understand from the idea of symbol & symbolism?
With the use of a graphic image such as a Star of David or menorah how does that define Judaism?
Think about the significance of wearing a sign or symbol on your arm, and between your eyes – how do these influence ‘faith,’ and ‘practice?’
Learn to say the Shema in Hebrew – Follow the Link below.
In the New Testament in John’s Gospel Chapter 1 we have several symbols such as “light,” “Lamb of God,” how does these assist our understanding of the Messianic faith?
The symbol of the Menorah, Star of David, with a Cross, and the Fish, what do these images symbolise?
Read John Chapter 1 and identify as many symbols as you can, and think about how they may be applied?
Lies and Truth contrasted – with God’s help I will fix it!
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How in this contemperory world are we to be able to distinguish between truth and error? Lies and falsehood are the order of the day. Just because someone says something to you does not mean that they are being truthful. They could be spilling a pack of lies. Fake news abounds – During the current Israel – Gaza war each time Hamas says something you can be certain they are engaging in deception.
When we fudge the margins between truth and falsehood, the consequence is that trust between people is undermined, and we then lack any certainty as to where we stand. In everyday layperson’s speech someone said to me the other day:
“By telling the truth it feels good! And consequently, by saying how it is, it has a way of clearing the air between people.”
And the converse is also true:
“If you lie to me, then you act like an enemy, and alas as an outcome because of your lies, you become my enemy!”
I bear witness to the certitude of both of these options, when on several occasions that I have experienced a misunderstanding or disagreement with someone, when I have spoken truthfully to them about what had transpired, clarify what happened, and having apologised, the positive outcome has been immediate. Peace, harmony, and concord is always effectively restored between those concerned.
Conspiratorial theories
Conspiratorial theories abound with large sectors of modern western society happily embracing what is all too often a concoction of nonsensical notions put forward as the truth. Some of these theories would be laughable in their ridiculousness if folk weren’t believing them. An example that we have only recently lived through is the global Corona virus – with its COVID variants has caused a global pandemic. Conspiratorial theorists having enjoyed a field day, and in many quarters are still being held as being the truth. The ‘no-jab’ campaigners saying that if you received the jab, you were micro chipped at the same time.
The micro chip allows the sinister ‘one world government leaders’ to track your every movement and action, making you into one of their zombies–robots that they can control at a whim. Some saying that this is the anti-Christ Mark of the Beast – 666: ‘You have been warned!’
Another equally disturbing issue at hand is the Russia – Ukraine war. On the Microsoft Edge news updates, the apparent misinformation, propaganda campaign being waged is equally misleading and confusing:
“Putin has been dead for over a year, and it’s a body double that has replaced him.”
“Russia’s war against the Ukraine is being pursued for the sole purpose of its ‘de-Nazification,’ despite the fact that Ukraine’s President Zelensky is a Jews.”
These types of nonsensical behavior are symptomatic of a much deeper problem taking place in today’s world, where truth is all too often in reduced measure.
A religious perspective
Equally from a religious perspective the end-time prophetic proponents are having a field day. It is important that I elaborate what is involved in any attempt to explain the prophetic.
Firstly, the Hebrew Scriptures (OT) is divided into three categories. The Pentateuch, also known as the Torah, or Five Books of Moses; Prophets or Nevi’im; the Writings or Ketuvim. In terms of the prophetic, the demarcation line is not clear cut, and it is wrong to assume that the Torah and the Ketvuvim don’t contain any prophetic acclimations or predictions. Notwithstanding, the major prophetic scriptures are found in the Prophets. In the New Covenant Scriptures, specifically the Book of Revelation is its major prophetic New Testament source. But similarly, the other books of these scriptures, particularly the Gospels also contain prophetic passages.
Prophecy into two categories, namely, ‘forth telling,’ and ‘foretelling.’ ‘Forth telling’ means to exhort or challenge individuals, and specific groups of people for them to take note, and to prepare to act when required. It is the ‘fore telling’ dimension of the prophetic that is our particular concern, and it is to this aspect of the prophetic that we now focus.
Two theological terms occur in the prophetic, namely, Apocalyptic, and Eschatological, or also referred to as eschatology. Firstly, apocalyptic may best be described as coming judgement and end of the world which culminates with the Battle of Armageddon as described in the Book of Revelation. It is popularized in cinema with films intitled ‘Apocalypse,’ ‘Apocalypse Now!’ According to Letterboxd[1]the 10 Best Apocalyptic Movies of all time are,
‘Interstellar’ (2014)
‘28 Days Later’ (2002)
‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)
‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)
‘Melancholia’ (2011)
‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)
‘This is the end’ (2013)
‘Children of Men’ (2006)
The Book of Eli (2009)
‘I am Mother’ (2019):
I Am Mother: Ending Explained:
I Am Mother is a science-fiction film post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Grant Sputore. The cast includes Hilary Swank, Rose Byrne (the actors from the X-Men and Insidious series), and Clara Rugaard. The plot is set in a dystopian future where an unexplained global extinction event took place that killed most human life on the planet. An android raises a human girl, apparently all alone, claiming to help to repopulate Earth. ‘I Am Mother’ is in the genre of other films like Moon, Ex Machina, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and I Robot. The plot summary and the I Am Mother ending is inconclusive and needs explaining.[2] Currently there over 100 titles of films in this apocalyptic genre. So why this fascination and obsession with coming judgement? There are several plausible explanations for this rising tide of ‘doomsday,’ scenarios being acted out and portrayed in film, music, works of art, and popular books too.
Additionally, the Israel – Gaza war, started of 7 October 2023, in which Israel has come face to face with an existential threat that has raise fears not experienced since WWII, when the Nazi genocide attempted to wipe out the Jews of Europe. This type of threat plays right into a doom and dread that has an apocalyptic sense. Many are asking, is this this the fulfilment of Ezekiel chapter 36 and 37, where the prophet speaks of coming judgment.
Most people take the apocalypse as an article of faith, but what exactly the apocalypse entails are in the eye of their beholder. Questions asked include:
Will the universe dissolve and all matter cease to exist, or will the pillaging be more localized? Perhaps the sun will explode. Or, more specifically (and likely), the oceans might rise and drown large swaths of humanity. generated virtual reality simulation, with our robot overlords overseeing out inert sleeping bodies. But in reality, none of us know how it all will end. AI – Artificial Intelligence will take control of our world, becoming our over–lords, enslaving humanity to do its bidding in a dystopian world.
“A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall” is at-times terrifying in its depiction of the dire aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis, but it also left room for the emergence of a visionary poet who would serve as a sort of bohemian Moses to lead his people out of the wilderness. The track Doomsday provided great grist for the mill when Dylan was a fire-and-brimstone preached in the late-70s and early 80s. This style of music followed Dylan’s profession of faith in Jesus as his Messiah and Lord, and he came under the influence of evangelical, hardcore gospel proclaiming Vineyard Ministry. Part of their message emphasised the Second-Coming of Christ, and the cataclysmic Apocalypse that will precede Jesus Second Advent.
Apocalypse
Firstly, this anticipation of an apocalypse is not a new phenomenon, by any means. And as described in Dylan’s Doomsday music, there numerous possible scenarios that will take place attending the Apocalypse. Since ancient times humanity has been fascinated, fearful, and apprehensive concerning human destiny. This is particularly when there are huge national or international disasters, such as wars, plagues, now called pandemics, cataclysmic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions drought and famine, to mention some of the most familiar tragedies that take place.
Secondly, it is of particular significance that at the turn of the century there is an increase in apocalyptic fervor which is often stimulated by a sense of uncertainty at the end of an epoch. It is as if people’s appreciation about what lies ahead is heightened by an impending feeling of doom. This fear is all too often irrational and may have no specific reason, nevertheless this often has driven individuals to speculate that some impending cataclysm is about to take place.
Thirdly, humanity is progressively sinking to such a low level of moral depravity, particularly in the western world, as the world leaders. It has become largely a-religious, with its having rejected its Judaic-Christian heritage, with ‘truth’ being in critically short supply. Few leaders can be fully trusted, and most are only concerned in their own self-interests. What transpires at the top, alas filters down into the farthest reaches of society, affecting everyone’s life. The biblical imperative, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,” has largely been ignored, and rejected as being an outdated ideal. Nonetheless, the biblical concept of accountability, and judgement is so deeply imbedded into human psyche that an apocalypse is the inevitable outcome for our aberrant godless behavior. Thing cannot continue as they are, with humanity being hellbent with its own destruction. Who, or what, or how the end is triggered is in the realm of pure conjecture with the imagination running wild. Those who take a clear stand for the truth are labeled as being bigoted, fanatical and are viewed as swimming against the tide.
Apocalyptic art
The artist has the unique ability to portray ‘a window of the sole,’ offering an opportunity to give expression to the deep longing of humankind in a visual way. Visual illustrations, paintings, sculptures, glass window art, mosaics, etchings, and wood block printing, photography, and film, are just some of the artistic mediums often is used to represent apocalyptic imagery. Some of the great works of art stand as representations of our fears, our sense of foreboding, and our hopes, and dreams, that have been given expression through diverse media.
We have creation of Albert Durer’s Woodcut of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse of St John, 1497-1498:
‘The Four Horsemen’
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These are described in the Book of Revelation 6:1–8 NIV,
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – by Albert Durer of Germany
The Seals
61I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. 3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. 5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!” 7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
It appears in the Revelation 6:1-8 we are presented with the opening of the first four of the seven seals that bring forth the cataclysmic climax and catastrophe of the long anticipated apocalypse.
The first horseman, depicts a conqueror with a bow and crown, and he rides a white horse.’ Scholars occasionally interpret this to represent Christ or the Antichrist.
The second horseman reeking judgement upon humanity is given a great sword and rides a red horse, symbolizing war and bloodshed.
The third horseman is depicted carrying a balance scale, and he rides a black horse, that symbolizes famine upon the earth.
And the fourth and final horseman rides a pale horse and is identified with Death.
We must be aware that apocalyptic predictions are open to interpretation, and this alas has led to, and at times this subject continues to result in weird, fanciful, and very dubious interpretations. And has even spored suicide cults such as The Jones Town mass suicide of over 900 people in British Giana, and Branch Davidian massacre in Waco, Texas.
The outcome has had some dire consequences for the three Abrahamic faiths, that each in turn having development of a number of sub-Jewish, sub-Christian, and sub-Moslem sects. I have not included in this discussion other major faith groups such as Hindu, Buddhist, etc.
For just as Jews and Christians, so too Moslems have used their Sacred Texts in an attempt to interpret possible end-time apocalyptic scenarios. Some Islamic suicide bombers are a case in point, with those involved in perpetrating these destructive acts as fulfilling the will of Allah. For the non-Moslem it is vital to our understanding the rising cult of the suicide bomber, is not sanctioned by main-stream Islam.
Islamic apocalypticism[5] is a powerful force. According to a half of Muslims, and particularly in Muslim-majority countries, there is a growing conviction that the coming of the Mahdi is “imminent,” and could happen in our lifetime. The Islamic State, Islamic Jihad, El Shabab, and Al Kida just goes further by claiming that it is bringing the prophecies to life. This mentality is particularly one of the most influential factors driving the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and equally other centres such as Afghanistan where Sharia law in enforced. Even aside from jihadist violence, Islamic apocalypticism often continues to have negative consequences. When recent history and current events are seen as best explained by prophecies, it becomes difficult to analyse them. Take, for example, the main quandary of the Muslim world for the past two centuries:
“Why have we moved so far backward compared with the West? The apocalyptic narrative, revived since the 1980s by popular Islamic writers such as the Egyptian Said Ayyub and many of his followers, states that this happened because of the forces of “Dajjal” — Islam’s version of the Antichrist. This type of thinking is used by the more extremist elements within Islam to justify the use of jihad in preparation for the end-of-days and to vanquish the forces of the ‘Dajjal.”
Christian fundamentalist attitudes have had equally damaging consequences when coupled together with political power. Religious wars all too often have been carried out in an attempt to fulfil some perceived divine imperative. Christian Crusaders were encouraged by Emperor Constantine the Great to conquer with their
Eschatology
The terms eschaton and eschatology pertain to ‘things to come.’ It is an inherent characteristic in humankind that we desire to know what shape will coming events take. When will Messiah/Christ return? What will be some of the attendant circumstance surround that event? How should we prepare ourselves? What will be the ‘sign of the times?’ And several other important questions concerning his return. We must not discount a genuine concern about biblical truth connected with eschatology and consign it as belonging only to the lunatic fringe of faith. It is important that we are well informed, and also prepared for the return of Messiah, without getting swept along in some kind of prophetic hysteria. I have included a quotation from my recent book, Encountering This Jewish Jesus[6] :
“This brings us to the consideration of end-time things, severally know as Eschatology, Apocalyptic and the Parousia, which relates directly to the return of Yeshua at the end of time to this earth. The Scriptures have many texts that deal with this subject. In this area of Christian teaching there are many different interpretations about the end of time.
Premillennial, a-millennial, and post-millennial interpretations of the Scriptures have produced whole schools of prophetic interpretation. One thing that is abundantly clear to me is that Yeshua is coming again, as the long-awaited Messiah and the Scripture says in
Revelation 1:7 CJB,
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds![a] Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him. Certainly, my heart’s cry is,
“Even so, come Lord Yeshua, come!”
This is a sin-sick world, that needs redemption, yet no one knows the hour of his return, not even Yeshua during his earthly life knew. We are encouraged to be watchful and alert, looking forward to his return but making the fullest use of being his faithful followers each day and telling others the good news of our Messiah and Lord.”
May our response be threefold, alertness, preparedness, and a keen anticipation expecting the return of Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah and Lord. We are promised in Holy Scripture that his return he will set up his kingdom, and it will be a kingdom characterised by righteousness, justice, and truth. No longer will humankind wage war anymore because universal peace will prevail.
Revelation 1:7 NIV,
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[a] and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[b] So shall it be! Amen.
[6] Encountering This Jewish Jesus, Roni Mechanic, 2023, p 307-308
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