#3 woes of book of Revelation

[wolves-and-stars]

Go to Fics (Easy Reads)

(A list of fics for when you're in a reading rut and want something easy, i keep going back to these ones they never let me down. Nothing too heavy, but please read the tags.)

1. How Remus Got His Groove Back by RealityShowJunky (ao3) 42k

Category: fluff? crack humor

I love this fic, the conversations are so well thought out, the characters are so interesting, you'll hate sirius, and Remus is kind of a pushover giving 2014 nerd, lonely, poorly written personality archtype. BUT, only when it comes to sirius, otherwise he's brilliant.

2. Succession of Halos by orphan_account (ao3) 7k

Category: fluffr

Remus runs a bookstore and sometimes minds harry, lily and james' brilliant son. Remus reads harry a book written by prof. sirius black about astronomy and the stars, and happens to attend a lecture to get their signature. Lily might be playing match maker.

3. See But One Moon by orphan_account (ao3) 9k

Category: fluff

Sirius Black has been pining for the nerdy Barista, Remus Lupin, for three months, but can't seem to get his attention. Remus, however, has noticed the over-excited law student, but isn't interested in being a conquest of the week. When Remus starts listening to the Marauding Hour--a University radio programme, he finds himself enraptured by one of the DJs, and starts to crush on him--hard. Little does he know that Padfoot has known him all along, and is looking for something much more than a one-off.

The summary explains it well enough, its very cute.

4. Sun In My Eyes by orphan_account (ao3) 12k

Category: not fluff, not angst either? non magic?

Remus Lupin struggles with a lot of things in life. Bipolar disorder, being poor, and working as an artist. He has a strict routine and plans to keep it that way with the help of his best friends Lily and James until one day James' best mate from school shows up and turns everything upside down. When art model Sirius enters Remus' life like a whirlwind, nothing will ever be the same.

I love this one, read it in 2016, still do every once in a while.

5. Other's Woe by orphan_account (ao3) 2k

Category: fluff

Forced to attend a group project meeting for a theology class, Remus thinks his day will be miserable until a gorgeous, grey-eyed stranger plants himself at their table and challenges the archaic thinking of the rest of the group. And in the end, it works out very well for Remus Lupin.

very fluffy, very soft, very short.

6. Living Like We're Renegades by orphan_account (ao3) 24k

Category: fluff

Exuberant, proud, genderfluid, cheerleader, self-described narcissist. All things to describe Sirius Black. It's a stark contrast from the self-imposed loner, Journalist, and Gender Studies major Remus Lupin who is thrown into Sirius' world after accepting a project for a class. When the two worlds collide, both lives are changed for the better.

 Sirius leant forward a bit, meeting Remus’ eyes. “Are you asking if I go for cute boys in beanies and jumpers, Remus Lupin?”

 Remus’ face went hot. “Er. No. I mean…er…”

 Sirius laughed. “Find your chill, love. I’m joking.” He winked at Remus and sat back again.

sorry for staright up copy pasting the summaries by the author, but i feel like they cover it well enough.

7. Miles To Go Before I Sleep by orphan_account (ao3) 4k

Category: fluff, mostly

Working the front door at a posh block of flats, Remus Lupin spends their nights watching the door, and occasionally taking a sleep-walking Sirius Black back to the arms of his flatmate. Pining quietly, everything changes for Remus one night when Sirius' sleep-walking leads to comfort and emotional revelations.

8. All Hail the Outlaws by orphan_account (ao3) 29k

Category: fluff, fluff, fluff

One of Remus Lupin's three jobs happens to be working maintenance for their flat building. He gets to meet all sorts, most of whom he would rather have nothing to do with. Until James Potter and Sirius Black move in across the hall. Engineering students and self-proclaimed geniuses, the pair set out to make their neighbours new best friends, and everyone's life is turned upside down, but in the best way possible.

9. A Cure For Nightmares [+podfic] by picascribit (ao3) 36k

Category: hurt/comfort, angst, emotional

Sirius Black is not happy about their new roomate, who seems up himself, except the both of them suffer from nightmares and happen to get each other through the night. Will the secrets behind their nightmares get them together or will it tear them apart?

A couple of trigger warning for this one: mentions of SA, Physical A*buse, S*lf H*rm, De*th, H*m*phobia. i would proceed with caution, and read the tags carefully.

10. take me as I am by orphan_account, Shira_a 48k

Category: fluff, humor, but also sort of emotional and moments of angst.

Sirius is a sleep demon who gives nightmares to humans. Remus is an insomniac with hallucinations.

I will offer no other explanation. Love, Love, Love this one. its odd and well written and the characters are real and so is the relationship. Sirius the sleep demon and the hardship of humans and their mortality,

[melliae]

Refraction Railway Line #3 Abnormalities Part 2 (Analysis)

A False Prophet

“@$*@)$ ?@#$!!@#* !@*()!%&$(^!!!!@&(@)” - Abnormality Encounter.

Arguably, this one was a headache to analyze, and that may be the point of its existence: it doesn’t write for any necessity or greater purpose beyond its own twisted pleasure. It is so absorbed in its own writing, trying to reveal and write the future (wink), that it doesn’t notice that it burns everything around with its quill, returning all interactions with another being with pure, unaltered hatred due to them daring to interrupt its self-serving writing.

Obviously, understanding that much is the easy part; even the characters themselves do. However, now comes the actual question: what is the Skin Prophet exactly writing?

“Yearning for destruction and doom, it writes and writes and writes.” - Abnormality Encounter.

Its own selfish, biased predictions about how everything ends, naturally. It endlessly writes and delights in its own imagination about all kinds of dooms, ruins and falsehoods which, again, don’t serve any purpose beyond its own pleasure. If we take into consideration how its self-damaging skill, “6:5”, may be based on Isaiah 6:5, everything coincides:

“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.’”

When actual darkness sets in, when Skin Prophet can finally see only itself instead of being distracted by anyone else or its own writing, “God”—the actual truth—appears… and “He” smites it down. This is telling because, in the Encounter itself and the Logs, is mentioned the candles are lit from the get go (or they constantly go on and off), meaning that it’s never surrounded by absolute darkness, going against the presumed meaning of “9:2”:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” - Isaiah 9:2

Despite using its intense wrath to turn off all the candles, the surroundings never go fully dark thanks to its pen and eyes—it’s unable to confront the bitter, cold truth that lies in the abyssal depths. That’s both the reason why it is, above all, weak to Gloom, and why it disappears once you choose to “snuff out the candles”: you turn off all that distracts it from what’s true, thus making it confront the contradictory nature of its existence.

“The records, inscribed with that burning quill, are endless. Yet the prophet must write. Because the future is also endless.” - Mid-Combat Event.

How can it write about the endless future if the only thing it yearns for is ruin and doom? To see the worst of everything despite being incapable of confronting true darkness?

In regards to the other check options, they add more to it: choosing to “peek at the book” when encountering it in the MDs ends up with every Lustless ID losing 20 SP; in contrast, passing the check in the mid-combat Event—which requires Lust, by that matter—also leads to -20 SP in the selected ID, independent of affinity. That’s to say, reading Skin Prophet’s “gospel” is a bad idea for just about everyone. But those who are familiar with the violent sway of desire can appreciate its reprehensible contents, even if comprehending such garbage is impossible.

No matter with how much zealousness it writes all its prophecies, thinking they are some sort of divine revelation, because Skin Prophet is just that: a skin-deep, false prophet trying to justify its twisted perception of a half-baked evil, because in the moment it knows true desolation and darkness, it collapses. But at the same time, nobody can deny the obsessive passion engraved in the incomprehensible ramblings, enough for even the most “depraved” people to be shaken to their core.

“Because had they not done so, they could not have endured this world. Because they were weak! I was their lighthouse in this world of tempest… I gave them an unambiguous path to follow!” - Ahab, Inside the Whale (Sinew Bridge), Canto V.

Unreflective, contagious madness about knowing—wishing for—evil, spreading like a wildfire…Surely there are many people or organizations like that in the City, guiding others through self-serving fabrications.

Hatred for All

“You feel a cold wave crawl up your spine in an instant, but it may be the right choice. Even children know not to play with fire.” - Abnormality Encounter.

It hates you. It hates you so goddamn much. Even more than Spiral of Contempt. Though it may be more accurate to say that it hates the entire world, including itself, “hoping to burn all down” according to Ishmael’s corrosion line and as its capacity to turn every skill into a Wrath-based one shows. But at the same time, it's a homely presence, unable to guide anyone yet offering a warm embrace anyway.

“These flames… they do not burn; they only bring us warmth. Perhaps accepting them may be of benefit to us.” - Yi Sang, Abnormality’s Observation Log #1

However, the only way to endure that embrace is through understanding and already holding such devastating wrath. Those who don’t have it will be consumed by the embers and set ablaze by the Moth’s wings, who has accepted a long time ago that way of existing, as its Sloth skills, “Flame Strike” and “Ardor Blossom Pinions”, clearly show: it slowly, lazily—or maybe “mechanically”—strikes the embers within its wings.

The rest of its skills are similar in nature, slowly building up and fanning its fire through the battle until it reaches 5 Embers and its infamous “Ardor Blossom Star”, when there’s no more Sloth nor Pride regarding its existence, just pure hatred for everything that exists, even you, that has entered its territory.

“Something draws you into the haze. Countless flowers in the shape of a butterfly flutter and form a field of stars. A fiery heat assaults you from the haze as you lean over to pick a flower.” - Abnormality Encounter.

Though, if you are able to destroy its wings or remove its “core” during its mid-combat Event, its wrath stops suddenly, since you have taken away the fuel of its flames… but not forever. No matter what you do, Ardor Blossom Moth will keep on accumulating hate until it can burn down everything that surrounds it, even—or especially—itself.

The moth is no more than a lost soul that wishes to end everything. You can’t help it beyond just ignoring it and following your path. Or, if you want to take the risk, go and drown it in sorrows, cut its wings; it may not be 100% effective, but it sure is a better option than feeding its flames through a hug, lest you think you are able to withstand its unending hatred that created its own hell.

Maybe watching from a distance is safer, no matter how warm and comforting the fire—the hate—looks.

The Spiral of Contempt

“Blood pours from above; the land of gold lies beyond. The spiral ahead loudly screeches. It must have reached this depth after burrowing and burrowing. Although it has no eyes, it creaks to face you.” - Abnormality Encounter.

A land of gold and blood. Those are the defining traits of the Spiral’s world, and they are extremely easy to understand: a land of luxury, pleasure and loftiness built over the sacrifice of endless bloodshed. After all, the Spiral only reached it after burrowing so, so much, but in what it burrows if not in the human’s soul?

“You continue to stare at its peculiar movements with yearning eyes. It feels as though spirals of spikes are digging into your head.” - Abnormality Encounter.

It sacrifices those who look with awe at its golden shape, those who adore it with fervor. Yet, the Spiral can’t detest them more, wrapping its spines and branches around its “adorers” in order to make them worship it with their blood. That’s the reason behind both the unique death animation of the Sinners, and of its new EGO gift, “Awe”—as if it wanted people to be envious of its “magnanimity”, even in death.

However, its prideful nature isn’t anything new. Each of its descriptions never fails to mention its “faceless look” of contempt against everyone. But it would be too simple for its arrogance to be born out of economic difference, wouldn't it? All of its attacks point to an impersonality in things, maybe even some sort of “objectivity”, as if it was the good thing to do: the Spiral is so superior to you that it must hate you. I think the name of its theme puts the final nail in the coffin: Cur Dolorem Sentis—Why do you, wretched things, dare to feel pain?

But as in everything I’ve written, the Spiral’s pride isn’t absolute. Quite the contrary: it’s quite frail, because it forgives you once you choose to avert your eyes in its Encounter, be it thanks to your own (self-)hatred or despair, unable to think of yourself as worthy to look at it. That, paradoxically, leads it to show respect for “a being of no significance” in the form of its EGO gift, making it hate itself.

Such fragility is also shown in its passives, “Compounded Contempt” and “Penetrated Gaze”, that make it more vulnerable the more status the Sinners put on it, the more “filth” that penetrates it and makes it hate them even more. The status of “Gaze” and “Contempt” are important in this context too, which are explained by the Observation Log #3:

“We've been missing its logic and pattern this whole time. There’s a specific window where it grabs us if we attack its hands. At first, I thought it was just plucking us one by one, like plucking weeds from a garden… going for the most annoying one of us. You see the logic, right? If you could squash anything getting in your way into tomato paste, wouldn’t you?”

The “Gaze” status, thus, refers to the Spiral giving the Sinners more attention (than it thinks they deserve), until it has enough and intimidates the Sinners through sheer “Contempt” alone. However, if that ID with Contempt is “Grasped” by its only Pride skill, “It Shall Constrict”, then you can show it the truth: that no matter how much contempt it holds for others and tries to crush them to show how superior it is, the Spiral is just as small, pathetic and fallible as everyone else.

“A piercing gaze sizes us up. It feels as though the Gaze is seeing right through us. You feel its inquisitive, intense gaze.” - Mid-Combat Event.

What is that “Gaze” that sizes the Sinners up? I don’t really know. But I think it is may the Spiral’s very own gaze, with the Sinners finally returning the contempt and hatred, burrowing deep into its essence so it won’t ever forgive its humiliation

“It seemed dazed for a good while, too. And that’s when we managed to really hurt it. Mmm… still, we have to let it gaze at us with that weird look if we wanna pull off something like that again.” - Rodya, Abnormality’s Observation Log #3.

Though, as always, if the Sinner isn’t familiar with the sensations and power they want to transmit to the Spiral, it’ll return the favor with utter Contempt.

Now, it’s also important to keep in mind that its “Gaze” can be forgotten if it uses “And It Shall Contempt All”, drowned by its pleasure and satisfaction derived from seeing the Sinners bleed like the lowly maggots they are. Its other Lust skills follow a similar principle: the Spiral is ecstatic at seeing the Sinners bleed through “It Shall Penetrate”, and “It Shall Shun” becomes stronger once it sees the Sinners are unable to break its “Grasp”.

In regards to the other two skills, “It Shall Grip” is the less interesting: It “grips” the Sinners and other people because that is what it has been doing for a long time, and thus nothing special. But “It Shall Be Insidious”... That one is interesting, because it implies its hatred wasn’t abrupt; but that it slowly grew through its continuous burrowing until it reached the heights we see in the games. After all, it’s called “Spiral of Contempt” for a reason.

And maybe that “spiral” is within you too.

“From the excavated brain, geysers of hatred and contempt erupt.  It’s as if those feelings were inside you all along." - Abnormality Encounter.

Hatred for something from the get-go is not possible, or at least not for most cases. It’s something that piles up gradually, experience upon experience, until a trigger appears and your brain is blown into smithereens—burrowing so slowly until you reach the “land of gold”, the perfect utopia for you.

But alas, you shouldn’t construct a city upon the blood of those you hate or adore you, or you will one day confront that very same gaze that you imparted unto others. And no matter what you do, how much contempt you hold for them and expose every single one of their flaws with your “omniscient gaze”, they will drag you once and for all.

Everyone dreams of toppling the tyrant. You are no exception.

[hopepaigeturner]

The Woes of Little Sophie Beckett

CONTEXT:

Here comes the big boy...

Episode 4 contains most of the flashbacks occur. This particular set of scenes are like Simon’s flashback in S1E2.

Episode 4 is the episode where Sophie starts working for the Bridgertons. It is where we get to know Sophie better, and where Sophie is trying to settle into London life.

A key cinematic theme in this chunk is the image of people stepping away from Sophie.

IMPORTANT: We do not see Araminta/Rosamund/Posy clearly. We, as the audience, should not know about the Penwood connection...yet. (It’s not much of a ‘plot twist’ for book readers, but I think the revelation of Araminta as Lady Penwood could be played a little for drama).

The flashbacks start from the end of E3.  

✨Flashback:✨

Part 1

The episode opens with a continuation from E3 flashback. Of little Sophie in front of an imposing man—who steps away from her with a frown.

“What must be done, must be done. Give her a room in the nursery.”

Then we see short flashes of Sophie growing up. Sophie sneaking into the study and showing a picture she has drawn; Sophie standing next to her governess and handing him a neatly handwritten sheet of paper—all met with a stony silence. Sophie exploring the grounds on her own, making friends with pinecones. Sophie running along high-ceilinged rooms—her small frame dwarfed by the imperious golden frames on the walls. Sophie ensconced in servants life: cooking in the kitchen and playing in the stable yard. But still no smile from her father.

Part 2:

Then we get the scene from the book where Sophie is waiting for Araminta. The camera is still from Sophie’s POV, so we see things on her level— to match her stature. So, we do not see the faces of others.

Ten-year-old Sophie is standing off to the side in the shadows as the Earl and Araminta greet all the servants, their words muted. At her skirts are Rosamund and Posy. The camera focuses on Sophie who fiddles with her fingers.

“And here is Minny, the kitchen maid—the last of the staff.”

The young girl bobs a curtsey.

“Your ladyship.”

“Good to meet you.”

The Earl turns to his new wife.

“Now, I am sure Mrs Gibbons will show you the rest of the house.”

“That would be delightful my Lord,” the new Lady Penwood says.

Sophie fiddles more, biting her lip.

There is a cough, which catches the Earl’s attention. Mrs Gibbons notions with her head towards Sophie. The Earl turns and does a double-take.

“Oh Sophia, ofcourse. Come here.”

Sophie gives a nervous smile—ofcourse he hadn’t forgotten her. She walks up to her new mother, fiddling with her fingers but with hope in her eyes.

“My dear, allow me to introduce my ward, Miss Sophie Beckett. Her father was a great friend of mine.”

“Your ladyship.”

Sophie curtsies as her governess taught her, even though her governess is nowhere in sight. Sophie rises and gives her new mother her best smile—one full of teeth. The camera remains focused on Sophie.

“I see.”

Lady Penwood steps away. Sophie’s smile falters.

A swish of skirts.

“Mrs Gibbons, we should commence the tour.”

“Ofcourse your Ladyship, this way.”

All we see is Sophie’s falling face as the woman strides away, her two daughters following behind.

“You are all dismissed!” the Earl calls then strides off.

The hall empties, Sophie looks around but only finds herself alone...

Part 3:

Next scene, a snapshot of Sophie sat on her bed in the nursery hearing some clattering of Posy and Rosamund.

“Sophia! Supper!”

Sophie runs, eyes alight at another chance. Her face falls once again to see the empty table.

“Your stepsisters are merely tired,” her governess says. Sophie nods.

The next morning Sophie stands by her desk, fiddling with her fingers without a smile as Lady Penwood introduces her children. We are still at Sophie’s perspective, so all we see is from the bodice/waist down from adults.

“This is my eldest Rosamund, she is eleven, a very gifted girl. And here is my daughter Posy who is ten.”

“Ah, like Miss Sophia.”

“Indeed. I suppose you have been teaching Miss Beckett?”

“Yes, she is very proficient in mathematics and Latin, and speaks French beautifully.”

“I see.”

A stony silence. Sophie might not understand—but the audience does.

 “I think my children would like to see the gardens, Miss Timmons.”

“Ofcourse you Ladyship. Sophia, put down your arithmetic—”

“Not Miss Beckett. I wish to have a word with her. Alone.”

Sophie’s head shoots up.

Miss Timmons looks a little wary but curtsies.

“Ofcourse, your Ladyship. Rosamund, Posy, come with me.”

The door clicks shut.

The sound of Araminta’s shoes click across the floor.

Click

Clack

Sophie fiddles with her hands, eyes transfixed.

Click.

Clack.

Lady Penwood crouches down.

And finally we are revealed who Lady Penwood is. (Either ‘Lady Cowper’ or the new actor whose been introduced). Regardless, she is a beautiful woman with a saccharine smile.

“I know who you are.”

Sophie blinks at Araminta’s smile.

“You are nothing but the bastard child of a whore.”

Sophie flinches as if slapped. Araminta continues with a little snarl,

“Now, the Earl seems intent on keeping a runt like you, but I oversee this household now, so let us make one thing clear. You might live at Penwood Park, you might be paraded around in pretty dresses and given education as if you were a real daughter, but you are nothing.” Araminta pinches Sophie’s chin which causes her to whimper. “From now on you will be silent. You will not address me unless I address you. You will not consort with my children and must do whatever they command. For my daughters are now the daughters of the house and thus are above a mongrel like you. You must never forget who you are—a bastard who is not fit to breathe the same air as the likes of myself and my daughters. Do you understand me?”

Sophie whimpers, Araminta pinches harder.

“Do you understand me?”

Sophie nods.

“Good.”

Araminta lets go of Sophie’s chin. The saccharine smile returns. She picks up the book that Sophie had been reading—a book of fairytales.

“I suppose you might have thought I would be a fairytale stepmother, like in the stories?”

Sophie merely trembles.

Araminta throws the book on the ground.

“Remember this carefully, Sophie. In this world, bastards of noblemen and servants do not get dreams or a happily ever after. They get what they deserve—nothing.”

Then, with a swoosh of skirts Araminta walks away.

The final shot is a teary-eyed Sophie.

The shot transitions into the present. A grown Sophie fiddles with her fingers in the same manner as she waits to meet Violet Bridgerton…

*~*~*~*~*~*

A key part of this set of flashbacks is to inform the audience of Sophie's motivation.

It shall also serve to inform numerous trauma responses/messages that have been embedded in her mind...

Masterlist

PREV | NEXT

As always I’d love to hear your ideas/corrections/opinions and always open to chat or requests!

So, check out the list here, for more of my ideas.

Or check out the general arcs of my prospective S4 here.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ezekiel's Call to a Rebellious Nation

1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak unto you.

2 And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spoke unto me.

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

4 For they are impudent children and stubborn. I do send you unto them; and you shall say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they refuse, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them.

6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7 And you shall speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they refuse: for they are most rebellious.

8 But you, son of man, hear what I say unto you; Be not you rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat what I give you.

9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a scroll of a book was in it;

10 And he spread it before me; and it was written inside and outside: and there was written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe. — Ezekiel 2 | King James 2000 Bible (KJB2K) The King James 2000 Bible, copyright © Doctor of Theology Robert A. Couric 2000, 2003. All rights reserved. Cross References: 1 Samuel 8:7-8; Psalm 95:8; Isaiah 3:11; Isaiah 8:11; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 1:7; Jeremiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:27; Ezekiel 3:24; Daniel 8:18; Matthew 10:12; Luke 10:10-11; Acts 9:6; Acts 26:16; Hebrews 10:7; Revelation 5:1; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 9:3; Revelation 9:5; Revelation 9:10; Revelation 10:9

[gayleviticus]

There’s a lot of negative feeling about the penal substitutionary atonement model of the crucifixion (that Jesus chose to take the punishment humanity were due), especially among progressive circles, and I think there are a lot of valid criticisms of it: it’s often framed very barbarically, it can pit Jesus against the Father, it can over-emphasise the sinfulness of human beings and over-literalises ‘the wrath of God’ in a way that makes God seem like deep down he hates us but begrudgingly chooses forgiveness instead.

But there are at least 3 redeeming features I think this motif can have, provided it’s not understood as the rigid be-all-and-end-all it often is.

1) Whatever way you slice it, whatever alternative lens you want to use, even if Jesus’ death wasn’t ‘penal substitutionary atonement’, it was still probably penal (he died horribly as ‘punishment’ by the Romans), it was still substitutionary (in the sense it was to save human beings from death), and it was still atonement (it had some kind of salvific effect). I find it hard to get too precious about PSA when the broad elements are all there in the other classic theories of atonement. At its core the cross is a scandal because it’s about God wrenching resurrection and hope out of a violent and horrific death; I feel like some criticisms of PSA in favour of Christus Victor etc are just trying to de-scandalise an inherently scandalous concept.

2) In a twisted sense I think the horrifying nature of PSA supplements the horrifying nature of being crucified to death very well – and mistake PSA advocates often make is that they not only miss this but try to frame it as the only truly just solution. PSA advocates will say that Jesus’ death was necessary for God to maintain his mercy alongside his justice; he has to punish someone for humanity’s sins, so Jesus steps up to take his place. And rather than this becoming another fucked up thing about the situation, about the depths of horror happening in the crucifixion, PSA advocates frame this as a mark of divine justice. God is so merciful he gave Hitler a stay of mercy and then because he’s so just let Mother Teresa get executed in his place. The very concept of Justice becomes extremely muddled.

When PSA becomes a commentary on the nature of what justice is and what mercy is and how to satisfy both, I think it becomes extremely muddled. But what I think is valuable about PSA is this idea of God taking upon himself a punishment he didn’t deserve for the sake of human beings and hence destroying the very notion of ‘deserved’ punishment. Ideas that woe is a punishment for sin and happiness a reward for virtue are destroyed by the crucifixion of God.

3) I think it allows us to reinterpret a lot of the judgment and violence God promises or enacts throughout the Bible (including the OT, yes, but let’s not forget Revelation as well). All those punishments God threatens or dishes out? All that wrath he pours out in plagues and famines and destroying angels? He took it upon himself. God doesn’t dish out what he can’t take; and indeed, he’s not just willing to take it, but to take it so we don’t have to. He is the Judge judged in our place.

There’s an article by the Catholic priest and theologian James Allison (https://jamesalison.com/creation-fulfilled-and-the-book-of-revelation/) where he makes the interesting suggestion that the point of the extreme divine violence in the Book of Revelation is to convey this idea that the wrath of God is ‘exhausted’. Rather than just saying ‘oh well God doesn’t punish people after all,’ the author has God throw absolutely everything at the wall to show God ‘getting it out of his system’. All the promised curses of Deuteronomy are finally fulfilled, and thus exhausted, and beyond this cataclysmic judgment lies mercy and restoration.

Now, Allison writes about Revelation, not the crucifixion, and ironically does so from a Girardian perspective that is much closer to ‘moral influence theory of atonement’ where Jesus’ death exposes the unethical systems that undergird our societies. Allison is not endorsing PSA.

But I think PSA can convey a similar kind of idea to what he’s talking about here. The judgment of the world has taken place, and it took place on the cross; the much-feared wrath of God has been exhausted.

Now, I don’t know that this necessarily means all talk of wrath is defused – as I’ve said before, there can be much value to notions of divine judgment (which =/= eternal conscious torment in hell) as a cleansing of injustice and oppression. But at the very least we cannot read biblical threats of future judgment and wrath without a serious detour by the foot of the cross.

[creativewaygrace]

Bible Verses on The End Times

2 Timothy 3:1-5- But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irresponsible, slanderers, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

Joel 2:30-31- I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

Amos 5:18- Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! What will the day of the Lord be for you? It will be darkness and not light.

2 Peter 2: 1-2- There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them.

2 Peter 3:3-4- Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, "Where is his coming that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.

Matthew 24:44- This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Revelation 11:9-10- And some of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. Those who live on earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on earth.

Isaiah 66:8- Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons.

1 Corinthians 15:24- Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.

Revelation 17:8- The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.

1 Timothy 4:1- Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons.

1 Corinthians 15:28- When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God maybe all in all.

Matthew 24:21-22- For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn't' taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.

Luke 21:36- But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.

Daniel 7:24- The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the pervious ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.

James 5:8- You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.

Zechariah 14:12- This will be the plague with which the Lord strikes all the people who warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Matthew 24:14- This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Daniel 8:23-25- Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a ruthless king skilled in intrigue will come to the throne. His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause outrageous destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the powerful along with the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and his own mind he will exalt himself. He will destroy many in a time of peace, he will even stand against the Prince of Princes.

1 Thessalonians 5:3- When they say, "Peace and Security", then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Daniel 12:4- But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.

Daniel 9:24-27- Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to bring the rebellion to an end, to put a stop to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an Anointed one, the ruler, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times. After those sixty-two weeks the Anointed one will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the coming ruler will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end, will come with a flood, and until the end there will be war, desolations are decreed. He will make a firm covenant with many for one week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.

Matthew 24:12- Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

Daniel 12:11- From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up there will be 1,290 days.

Luke 21:25-26- Then there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and there will be an anguish on the earth among the nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:8-All these events are the beginning of labor pains.

Mark 13:32- Now concerning that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.

Romans 8:21- That the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God's children.

Romans 8:22- For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.

[bond-servant-of-christ-jesus]

Daniel 12:1

[1]"Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Revelation 9:1-21

[1]Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.

[2]He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

[3]Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

[4]They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

[5]And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.

[6]And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.

[7]The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.

[8]They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.

[9]They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.

[10]They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.

[11]They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.

[12]The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. The Sixth Trumpet-Army from the East

[13]Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

[14]one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

[15]And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.

[16]The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

[17]And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.

[18]A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.

[19]For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

[20]The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;

[21]and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Luke 13:3

[3]I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 16th of September 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of Revelation, Chapter 16 • The Book of Joshua, Chapter 11]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 16 and Psalm 16 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 89 for the 89th day of Astronomical Summer, and Psalm 110 for day 260 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)

A set of posts by John Parsons:

Shavuah tov, chaverim. Our Torah portion this week (i.e., Ki Tavo) includes instructions for the people to ratify the Sinai covenant in the promised land by means of a special ceremony performed in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim (later fulfilled by Israel, see Josh. 8:30-35). During this ceremony the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience would be declared, and Moses warned the people by providing a seemingly endless description of terrible consequences that would befall the Jewish people if they disobeyed the terms of the Sinai covenant (Deut. 28:15-68). In Jewish tradition this litany of woe is called the “tochachah” (תּוֹכָחָה), a word that means "rebuke" or "reprimand."

Reading the tochachah is difficult and painful, though it serves as a bitter medicine to wake us up and prevent us from falling into a lethal coma. In that sense the tochechah may be regarded as a great blessing, since it shocks us into experiencing the gravity of God’s grace. This is similar to Yeshua’s grave warnings about the dangers of hell. If we refuse to listen or rush past his words, we are missing the substance of God’s lament given through the Hebrew prophets. Sin is a lethal problem, and we must turn to God for healing or we will die. As Blaise Pascal once wrote, “Between heaven and hell is only this life, which is the most fragile thing in the world.” Therefore shuvah! -- turn to God and receive the blessing of life!

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Ki Tavo Summary:

Ki Tavo Table Talk:

Ki Tavo / Elul podcast:

9.15.24 • Facebook

Our Torah portion for this week (i.e., Ki Teitzei) includes the statement that a man who was to be executed and “hanged on a tree” (עַל־עֵץ) was under the curse of God, that is, was utterly condemned under the verdict of the law (Deut. 21:22-23). According to the Talmud (Nezakim: Sanhedrin 6:4:3), the Great Sanhedrin decided that “a man must be hanged with his face towards the spectators” upon a wooden stake, with his arms slung over a horizontal beam. It should be noted that while this is technically not the same thing as the gruesome practice of Roman crucifixion, the reasoning based on this verse was apparently used to justify the execution of Yeshua (Mark 15:9-15; John 19:5-7; 15). The exposed body was required to be buried before sundown to keep the land from being defiled. Besides the shame of this manner of death, the one so executed would be unable to fall to their knees as a final act of repentance before God, thereby implying that they were under the irrevocable curse of God (קִלְלַת אֱלהִים).

In this connection, we should note that Yeshua was falsely charged with blasphemy before the corrupt Sanhedrin of His day (Matt. 26:65; Mark 14:64; John 10:33) - an offence that was punishable by stoning (Lev. 24:11-16). However, since the Imperial Roman government then exercised legal hegemony over the region of Palestine, all capital cases were required to be submitted to the Roman proconsul for adjudication, and therefore we understand why the Jewish court remanded Yeshua and brought him to be interrogated by Pontius Pilate. Because Roman law was indifferent to cases concerning Jewish religious practices (i.e., charges of blasphemy), however, the priests further slandered Yeshua by illegitimately switching the original charge of blasphemy to that of sedition against Rome. The Sanhedrin undoubtedly rationalized their duplicity because the Torah allowed for an offender to impaled or "hung on a tree" (Num. 25:4), and since they were unable to do carry out this judgment because of Roman rule in the area, they needed Pilate to condemn him to death by crucifixion (Matt. 27:31; Mark 15:13-4; Luke 23:21; John 19:6,15). Note that crucifixion is mentioned elsewhere in the Talmud (Nashim: Yevamot 120b) regarding whether a widow can remarry if her husband had been crucified, as well as by the Jewish historian Josephus. The Talmud furthermore alludes to the death of Yeshua where Yeshua is said to have been crucified on “eve of Passover” (Nezekin: Sanhedrin 43a).

Some say that the word “cross” in the New Testament should be translated as “stake” or “tree” instead, claiming that the shape of the instrument that Yeshua was crucified upon was not cross-shaped or “cruciform.” Now while the Greek word translated “cross” (i.e., σταυρός) is not fully described in the New Testament, according to ancient historians there were different "shapes" of the means used for crucifixion, including the crux simplex (|), the crux immissa (+), the crux commissa (T), and even stakes shaped as an X or Y. The "T" shape (commissa) was described by the historian Josephus, and is likely the form used to crucify Yeshua, since the early Christians all referred to it that way. There are also ancient Greek (pre-Christian era) descriptions of crucifixion. For example Herodotus (450 BCE) wrote: "they crucified him hands and feet stretched out and nailed to cross-pieces," which suggests that the cross immissa or commisa shape was used in ancient times... Incidentally the gruesome practice of crucifixion goes back to the ancient Persians and Phoenicians.

So it is likely that Yeshua was crucified on a stake made of a cedar tree that was formed by attaching a crossbeam to a pole that was inserted into the ground. It is also likely that he carried only the crossbeam, or gibbet, as he walked to Golgotha to be hung up to die, since the stake would likely have weighed 300 pounds or so, and after brutal flogging under Roman whips it is unlikely that even the strongest of men could carry one... Moreover, the description of a Roman soldier putting a sponge on a hyssop stalk to give Yeshua a drink suggests that he was crucified on "short cross," since the stalk was usually less than two feet long. Regardless of the exact shape of the cross, however, death by crucifixion was horrifyingly shameful and unutterably painful.... but Yeshua went there for you.

The Torah clearly teaches there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood (Lev. 17:11, Heb. 9:22). The sacrificial death of Yeshua as the great “Lamb of God” was intended not only to cleanse us from sin (and to absolve us from the verdict of guilt as required by the law), but was also intended to fully satisfy both God’s justice and compassion (see Rom. 3:22-25; Psalm 85:10). In other words the cross is the place (ha’makom) where Yeshua “became sin for us” - the One who knew no sin - that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). As the apostle Paul wrote: "The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for it is written, 'A Man hanged on a tree is cursed...' (Gal. 6:13, quoting Deut. 21:22-23). The Son of Man was “lifted up” to save from death as the brazen serpent (נְחַשׁ נְחֹשֶׁת) in the desert prefigured (Num. 21:9; John 3:14-15). And just before Yeshua died upon the cross, he said something of tremendous significance. Eyewitnesses to his crucifixion wrote, "When he had received the drink (of vinegar) Yeshua said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30; Matt. 27:50). In Koine Greek, this final statement is recorded as a single word: tetelestai (Τετέλεσται), a cheer of victory and triumph. In Hebrew, Yeshua might have uttered, “nishlam” (נִשְׁלָם) or perhaps more likely “gemar tov” (גְמָר טוּב), testifying to his fully accomplished atonement (כַּפָּרָה) made on our behalf....

In Greek, the word tetelestai (Τετέλεσται) is an “indicative perfect passive” form of the verb teleo (τελέω) which implies that something has been completed with an enduring effect or state. The verb comes from telos (τέλος), a noun meaning a goal or purpose. Telos is the word Paul used when he wrote: “For Messiah is the end of the law (τέλος νόμου) for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4).

Tetelestai was the cry of victory to the Father. "I have finished the work you gave me to do." What was that work? To establish the new covenant (brit chadashah) between God and man by offering up His life as the atoning sacrifice for humanity’s sins (Heb. 1:3, 10:12). The priesthood of Yeshua is said to be after the "order of Malki-Tzedek," based on a direct oath from God, that predates the operation of the Levitical priesthood (for more information about the role of Yeshua as our High Priest, see the article "Yom Kippur and the Gospel"). Yeshua was the only Tzaddik who ever completely walked out the truth of Torah. He expressed its inner meaning perfectly and embodied its truth in full. The Akedah of Yeshua (i.e., His crucifixion at Moriah) was the altar where the justice and chesed (love) of the Father fully met. If God were not just, Yeshua did not need to die; and if God were not loving, He would not have given up His Son as a ransom for our sin. Justice and mercy kiss.

The Torah (i.e., law) is holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12), but those seeking righteousness based on its demands will discover the tragic fact that it is powerless to impart righteousness and life (2 Cor. 3:7-18). It is sin within the human heart that condemns people - not the law! The crucifixion of Yeshua condemned sin in the flesh (again, not the law) and now the righteousness of God is imparted to those who embrace Yeshua by faith (Rom. 8:3-4). Enabled by the Holy Spirit, with the law now written upon our hearts (Jer. 31:31-3; Heb. 8:10-11), we are empowered to fulfill the requirements of the law based on a new covenant relationship with God (Gal. 2:16, 3:2). We no longer seek righteousness by means of maintaining ritualistic or other ordinances (Rom. 4:5, Gal. 2:16) but by receiving the free gift of Messiah’s righteousness imputed to us through our trust (Eph. 2:8-9). Because of Yeshua’s victory, we do not strive for acceptance before the Father, we abide within it, chaverim (John 15:4).

Imagine for a moment what it might have been like to hear Yeshua cry out, “It is finished!” His final breath, His kiddush Hashem, His spirit given up and now released before the Father - the resonance of this word filling all heaven and all earth - “It is finished! Father! It is finished! I have completed the work that you have given me to do!” Imagine the joy, the celebration, the glory, the honor given to the Son as He appeared before the Father after securing us so great a salvation.

Because Yeshua became our “serpent” upon the cross, all those who have been bitten by the snake and poisoned by the venom of sin may be delivered. Just as the image made in the likeness of the destroying snake was lifted up for Israel's healing, so the One made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3) was to be lifted up as the Healer of the world. Likewise with the other pictures of our Savior as the “leper Messiah,” as the “red heifer” who purifies from death, as the “scapegoat” sacrifice who sends our sins into exile, and so on. Yeshua is Adonai Tzidkenu - the LORD our Righteousness. Blessed be His Name forever and ever...

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Isaiah 53:5 reading:

Hebrew page:

See also:

Podcast:

9.14.24 • Facebook

from Today’s email by Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

[biblenewsprophecy]

[quransurahverses]

41:1

حمٓ ١

Ḥâ-Mĩm.

41:2

تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٢

˹This is˺ a revelation from the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

41:3

كِتَـٰبٌۭ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ ٣

˹It is˺ a Book whose verses are perfectly explained—a Quran in Arabic for people who know,

41:4

بَشِيرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا فَأَعْرَضَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ ٤

delivering good news and warning. Yet most of them turn away, so they do not hear.

41:5

وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَكِنَّةٍۢ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقْرٌۭ وَمِنۢ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌۭ فَٱعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ ٥

They say, “Our hearts are veiled against what you are calling us to, there is deafness in our ears, and there is a barrier between us and you. So do ˹whatever you want˺ and so shall we!”

41:6

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌۭ ��ِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٦

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I am only a man like you, ˹but˺ it has been revealed to me that your God is only One God. So take the Straight Way towards Him, and seek His forgiveness. And woe to the polytheists—

41:7

ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ ٧

those who do not pay alms-tax and are in denial of the Hereafter.

41:8

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍۢ ٨

˹But˺ those who believe and do good will certainly have a never-ending reward.

41:9

۞ قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٩

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “How can you disbelieve in the One Who created the earth in two Days? And how can you set up equals with Him? That is the Lord of all worlds.

41:10

وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَـٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقْوَٰتَهَا فِىٓ أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ سَوَآءًۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ ١٠

He placed on the earth firm mountains, standing high, showered His blessings upon it, and ordained ˹all˺ its means of sustenance—totaling four Days exactly[1]—for all who ask.

[1] These four Days include the first two, so the total period of creation is six heavenly Days.

41:11

ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌۭ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ ١١

Then He turned towards the heaven when it was ˹still like˺ smoke, saying to it and to the earth, ‘Submit, willingly or unwillingly.’ They both responded, ‘We submit willingly.’

41:12

فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍۢ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ ١٢

So He formed the heaven into seven heavens in two Days, assigning to each its mandate. And We adorned the lowest heaven with ˹stars like˺ lamps ˹for beauty˺ and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, All-Knowing.”[1] 

[1] See footnote for 7:54.

41:13

فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا۟ فَقُلْ أَنذ��رْتُكُمْ صَـٰعِقَةًۭ مِّثْلَ صَـٰعِقَةِ عَادٍۢ وَثَمُودَ ١٣

If they turn away, then say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I warn you of a ˹mighty˺ blast, like the one that befell ’Ȃd and Thamûd.”

41:14

إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلرُّسُلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةًۭ فَإِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ ١٤

The messengers had come to them from all angles, ˹proclaiming,˺ “Worship none but Allah.” They responded, “Had our Lord willed, He could have easily sent down angels ˹instead˺. So we totally reject what you have been sent with.”

41:15

فَأَمَّا عَادٌۭ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةًۭ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ١٥

As for ’Ȃd, they acted arrogantly throughout the land with no right, boasting, “Who is superior to us in might?” Did they not see that Allah ˹Himself˺, Who created them, was far superior to them in might? Still they persisted in denying Our signs.

41:16

فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا صَرْصَرًۭا فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ نَّحِسَاتٍۢ لِّنُذِيقَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَخْزَىٰ ۖ وَهُمْ لَا يُنصَرُونَ ١٦

So We sent against them a furious wind,[1] for ˹several˺ miserable days, to make them taste a humiliating punishment in this worldly life. But far more humiliating will be the punishment of the Hereafter. And they will not be helped.

[1] lit., a bitter and screaming wind.

41:17

وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْعَمَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَـٰعِقَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ١٧

As for Thamûd, We showed them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the blast of a disgracing punishment overtook them for what they used to commit.

41:18

وَنَجَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ١٨

And We delivered those who were faithful and were mindful ˹of Allah˺.

41:19

وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ١٩

˹Consider˺ the Day ˹when˺ the enemies of Allah will be gathered for the Fire, all driven in ranks.

41:20

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا مَا جَآءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٢٠

When they reach it, their ears, eyes, and skin will testify against what they used to do.[1]

[1] It is reported in Ibn Kathîr’s commentary that, on the Day of Judgment, the wicked will deny the evil deeds in their records—as a desperate attempt to escape the horrible punishment in Hell. They will be asked if they accept Allah, the angels, or even their own families and neighbours as witnesses, but they will refuse. So Allah will make their organs testify against them.

41:21

وَقَالُوا۟ لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ٢١

They will ask their skin ˹furiously˺, “Why have you testified against us?” It will say, “We have been made to speak by Allah, Who causes all things to speak. He ˹is the One Who˺ created you the first time, and to Him you were bound to return.

41:22

وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَـٰرُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَنَنتُمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًۭا مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ٢٢

You did not ˹bother to˺ hide yourselves from your ears, eyes, and skin to prevent them from testifying against you. Rather, you assumed that Allah did not know much of what you used to do.

41:23

وَذَٰلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَىٰكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٢٣

It was that ˹false˺ assumption you entertained about your Lord that has brought about your doom, so you have become losers.”

41:24

فَإِن يَصْبِرُوا۟ فَٱلنَّارُ مَثْوًۭى لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَسْتَعْتِبُوا۟ فَمَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُعْتَبِينَ ٢٤

Even if they endure patiently, the Fire will ˹always˺ be their home. And if they ˹beg to˺ appease ˹their Lord˺, they will never be allowed to.

41:25

۞ وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَآءَ فَزَيَّنُوا۟ لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍۢ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ ٢٥

We placed at their disposal ˹evil˺ associates who made their past and future ˹misdeeds˺ appealing to them.[1] ˹So˺ the fate of earlier communities of jinn and humans has been justified against them ˹as well˺, ˹for˺ they were truly losers.

[1] i.e., associating others with Allah in worship and denying the Hereafter. See 43:36-37.

41:26

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَسْمَعُوا۟ لِهَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَٱلْغَوْا۟ فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ ٢٦

The disbelievers advised ˹one another˺, “Do not listen to this Quran but drown it out so that you may prevail.”

41:27

فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَسْوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٢٧

So We will certainly make the disbelievers taste a severe punishment, and We will surely repay them according to the worst of their deeds.

41:28

ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ أَعْدَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا دَارُ ٱلْخُلْدِ ۖ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ٢٨

That is the reward of Allah’s enemies: the Fire, which will be their eternal home—a ˹fitting˺ reward for their denial of Our revelations.

41:29

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَرِنَا ٱلَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ ٢٩

The disbelievers will ˹then˺ cry, “Our Lord! Show us those jinn and humans who led us astray: we will put them under our feet so that they will be among the lowest ˹in Hell˺.”

41:30

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ٣٠

Surely those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them,[1] ˹saying,˺ “Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.

[1] Especially at the time of their death.

41:31

نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِىٓ أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ٣١

We are your supporters in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There you will have whatever your souls desire, and there you will have whatever you ask for:

41:32

نُزُلًۭا مِّنْ غَفُورٍۢ رَّحِيمٍۢ ٣٢

an accommodation from the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful ˹Lord˺.”

41:33

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ٣٣

And whose words are better than someone who calls ˹others˺ to Allah, does good, and says, “I am truly one of those who submit.”?[1]

[1] lit., Muslims.

41:34

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ ٣٤

Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond ˹to evil˺ with what is best, then the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend.

41:35

وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍۢ ٣٥

But this cannot be attained except by those who are patient and who are truly fortunate.

41:36

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌۭ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٣٦

And if you are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah. Indeed, He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

41:37

وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلَّيْلُ وَٱلنَّهَارُ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ٣٧

Among His signs are the day and the night, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them ˹all˺, if you ˹truly˺ worship Him ˹alone˺.

41:38

فَإِنِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُۥ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُونَ ۩ ٣٨

But if the pagans are too proud, then ˹let them know that˺ those ˹angels˺ nearest to your Lord glorify Him day and night, and never grow weary.

41:39

وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ خَـٰشِعَةًۭ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ ٣٩

And among His signs is that you see the earth devoid of life, but as soon as We send down rain upon it, it begins to stir ˹to life˺ and swell. Indeed, the One Who revives it can easily revive the dead. He is certainly Most Capable of everything.

41:40

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَآ ۗ أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِىٓ ءَامِنًۭا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ٤٠

Indeed, those who abuse Our revelations[1] are not hidden from Us. Who is better: the one who will be cast into the Fire or the one who will be secure on Judgment Day? Do whatever you want. He is certainly All-Seeing of what you do.

[1] This refers to the noise the disbelievers used to make when the Quran was recited (see 41:26), or those who twist the meaning of Quranic passages and take them out of context.

41:41

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَكِتَـٰبٌ عَزِيزٌۭ ٤١

Indeed, those who deny the Reminder[1] after it has come to them ˹are doomed˺, for it is truly a mighty Book.

[1] The Reminder is one of the names of the Quran.

41:42

لَّا يَأْتِيهِ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ ۖ تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍۢ ٤٢

It cannot be proven false from any angle. ˹It is˺ a revelation from the ˹One Who is˺ All-Wise, Praiseworthy.

41:43

مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍۢ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ ٤٣

˹O Prophet!˺ Nothing is said to you ˹by the deniers˺ except what was already said to the messengers before you. Surely your Lord is ˹the Lord˺ of forgiveness and painful punishment.

41:44

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَانًا أَعْجَمِيًّۭا لَّقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥٓ ۖ ءَا۬عْجَمِىٌّۭ وَعَرَبِىٌّۭ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هُدًۭى وَشِفَآءٌۭ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌۭ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ ٤٤

Had We revealed it as a non-Arabic Quran, they would have certainly argued, “If only its verses were made clear ˹in our language˺. What! A non-Arabic revelation for an Arab audience!” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “It is a guide and a healing to the believers. As for those who disbelieve, there is deafness in their ears and blindness to it ˹in their hearts˺. It is as if they are being called from a faraway place.”[1] 

[1] So they neither hear nor understand the call.

41:45

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۗ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌۭ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍۢ ٤٥

Indeed, We had given Moses the Scripture, but differences arose regarding it. Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord,[1] their differences would have been settled ˹at once˺. They are truly in alarming doubt about it.

[1] That He will delay their judgment until the Hereafter.

41:46

مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۗ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّـٰمٍۢ لِّلْعَبِيدِ ٤٦

Whoever does good, it is to their own benefit. And whoever does evil, it is to their own loss. Your Lord is never unjust to ˹His˺ creation.

41:47

۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍۢ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍۢ ٤٧

With Him ˹alone˺ is the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit comes out of its husk, nor does a female conceive or deliver without His knowledge. And ˹consider˺ the Day He will call to them, “Where are My ˹so-called˺ associate-gods?” They will cry, “We declare before you that none of us testifies to that ˹any longer˺.”

41:48

وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَدْعُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَظَنُّوا۟ مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍۢ ٤٨

Whatever ˹idols˺ they used to invoke besides Allah will fail them. And they will realize that they will have no escape.

41:49

لَّا يَسْـَٔمُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِن دُعَآءِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَيَـُٔوسٌۭ قَنُوطٌۭ ٤٩

One never tires of praying for good. And if touched with evil, they become desperate and hopeless.

41:50

وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةًۭ وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍۢ ٥٠

And if We let them taste a mercy from Us after being touched with adversity, they will certainly say, “This is what I deserve. I do not think the Hour will ˹ever˺ come. And if in fact I am returned to my Lord, the finest reward with Him will definitely be mine.” But We will surely inform the disbelievers of what they used to do. And We will certainly make them taste a harsh torment.

41:51

وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَذُو دُعَآءٍ عَرِيضٍۢ ٥١

When We show favour to someone, they turn away, acting arrogantly. And when touched with evil, they make endless prayers ˹for good˺.

41:52

قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ كَفَرْتُم بِهِۦ مَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ هُوَ فِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ ٥٢

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Imagine if this ˹Quran˺ is ˹truly˺ from Allah and you deny it: who can be more astray than those who have gone too far in opposition ˹to the truth˺?”

41:53

سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ ٥٣

We will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this ˹Quran˺ is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?

41:54

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ فِى مِرْيَةٍۢ مِّن لِّقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مُّحِيطٌۢ ٥٤

They are truly in doubt of the meeting with their Lord! ˹But˺ He is indeed Fully Aware of everything.

[almaqead]

Introduction to Surah 14, Ibrahim,"They Happened."

A sure tribute to the Jewish people, Surah Ibrahim was written during the onset of Islam in Mecca. As I have mentioned in the past, the revelation of the Quran was met with severe scorn and Muhammad had to eventually run for his life to Medina during a pilgrimage known as the Hijrah. Hajj was his return trip, one that resulted in the end of war and conflict in the Arab scheme of things.

Surah Ibrahim, the 14th chapter of the Quran, is believed to have been revealed in Mecca 2–3 years before the Hijrah, during a later stage of Muhammad's preaching in the city. At this time, Muhammad and other Muslims were facing severe persecution. The title of the surah translates to "Abraham" in English, and it includes a detailed account of the Prophet Abraham's story, portraying his unwavering faith in Allah even when faced with opposition from his community and father. 

As we have learned the Quran, like the Talmud is a compilation of theoretical discussions whose targets are to turn humanity away from its historically disastrous course, to keep us from being losers. We have been taught to think Allah, the Subject of the Quran is some overbearing crabby old thing that judges everyone and everything with a bony arthritic finger, but the Quran assures us He is eternal, evernew, the very same God that launched creation and its first human beings, whom we know as Jews:

7: 94-99.

Whenever We sent a prophet to a society, We afflicted its ˹disbelieving˺ people with suffering and adversity, so perhaps they would be humbled.

Then We changed their adversity to prosperity until they flourished and argued ˹falsely˺, “Our forefathers ˹too˺ had been visited by adversity and prosperity.”1 So We seized them by surprise, while they were unaware.

Had the people of those societies been faithful and mindful ˹of Allah˺, We would have overwhelmed them with blessings from heaven and earth. But they disbelieved, so We seized them for what they used to commit.

Did the people of those societies feel secure that Our punishment would not come upon them by night while they were asleep?

Or did they feel secure that Our punishment would not come upon them by day while they were at play?

Did they feel secure against Allah’s planning? None would feel secure from Allah’s planning except the losers.

Surah Ibrahim analyzes how the Jews, our forefathers negotiated the rigors of their civilization and produced a tradition that has lasted to this day. As Muhammad points out, we have not even scratched the surface of this ancient faith. Every Surah begins with a benediction and statement of purpose, Ibrahim is no different. This one establishes the fact the Surah is an Arabic version of dogma that is found in other languages, a testimony to the universality of God and the Verses:

14: 1-4:

Alif-Lãm-Ra. "A Champion of the People Against Evil" ˹This is˺ a Book which We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ so that you may lead people out of darkness and into light, by the Will of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy—

Allah, to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe to the disbelievers because of a severe torment!

˹They are˺ the ones who favour the life of this world over the Hereafter and hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah, striving to make it ˹appear˺ crooked. It is they who have gone far astray.

We have not sent a messenger except in the language of his people to clarify ˹the message˺ for them. Then Allah leaves whoever He wills to stray and guides whoever He wills. And He is the Almighty, All-Wise.

Commentary:

What is the Way of Allah?

Striving in the way of Allah: This means believing in Allah and His Messenger, striving with one's wealth and person, and having the highest rank in the sight of Allah. The Quran also teaches that when war breaks out, it should be waged in a way that causes the least amount of damage to life and property, and that hostilities should be brought to a close as quickly as possible.

Spending in the way of Allah: This is the third pillar of Islam and includes acts of charity, helping others in need, supporting good causes, and contributing to the welfare of the community. The Quran prescribes a capital levy called Zakat, which means "that which purifies and fosters". Zakat can be spent in the following ways:

To free slaves

To those in debt

For the cause of Allah

Arguing in the best of ways: The Quran says to invite others to the way of Allah with wisdom and good instruction, and to argue with them in the best way. 

The greatest argument of Islam found in the Quran is for Zakah, know as Spending in the Way of Allah:

The capital levy prescribed in the Holy Quran denotes its purpose by its very name ZAKAT. The word means that which purifies and fosters. By subtracting the share of the community from all wealth, the rest is purified for those entitled to make use of it; and by the application of the proceeds to the service of the community, the welfare of the community is fostered. Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and it thus reflects the importance in Islam of one’s fellow beings.

2: 44. And observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat, and bow down with those who bow. 30: 39. So give to the kinsman his due and to the needy and to the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the favour of ALLAH, and it is they who will prosper. 51: 20. And in their wealth was a share for those who asked for help and for those who could not. 70: 25. And those in whose wealth there is a known right – 70: 26. For those who ask for help and for those who do not ask – 9: 60. The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connections therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of ALLAH, and for the wayfarer – an ordinance from ALLAH. And ALLAH is All-Knowing, Wise. 2:255. O ye who believe ! spend out of what WE have bestowed on you before the day comes wherein there shall be no buying and selling, nor friendship, nor intercession, and it is those who disbelieve that do wrong to themselves. 2:262. The similitude of those who spend their wealth in the way of ALLAH is like the similitude of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And ALLAH multiplies it further for whomsoever HE pleases and ALLAH is Bountiful, All-Knowing. 2:263. They who spend their wealth in the way of ALLAH, then follow not up what they have spent with taunt or injury, for them is their reward with their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:266. And the case of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of ALLAH and to strengthen their souls is like the case of a garden on elevated ground. Heavy rain falls on it so that it brings forth its fruit twofold. And if heavy rain does not fall on it, then light rain suffices. And ALLAH sees what you do. 2:275. Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. 47: 39. Behold ! You are those who are called upon to spend in the way of ALLAH; but of you there are some who are niggardly. And whoso is niggardly, is niggardly only against his own soul. And ALLAH is Self-Sufficient, and it is you who are needy. And if you turn your backs, HE will bring in your place another people; then they will not be like you.

So from the dawn of time, the first Jews and the forefather of Judaism and Islam to the present, we are told how we must live if we are to be successful contemporaries of an ideal human race: "Spend, not with an intent to cause injury."

The Surah will continue.

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Guarding The Sheep

“Then the LORD said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?” Numbers 14:11NKJV

How long will Jesus Christ’s church refuse to believe in Him? In His supernatural? In His Holy Spirit? In His love for His Believers? In His love for the world? Hasn’t He proven Himself over and over again?

Yahweh Adonai is The God of Love…. He is holy— totally unapproachable by sin. His Laws are just and righteous. The love covers the repentant heart, freeing them from the penalty of the Law. That same love covers the sinners with grace and mercy. But He has a real problem with those who once knowing Him have turned their backs on Him. God doesn’t deal well with total rejection after His kindnesses have been displayed.

The Israelites had seen God’s consistent care during the Egyptian plagues. They’d walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. Egypt tried to follow and ended up drowned by the waters covering them. Manna, the food of angels, had been provided as their food. He rained quail nearly a yard deep, gave them drinking water coming from a rock. Yet they failed to trust Him in taking the land He had promised to give them.

Moses was a true shepherd over God’s flock of Israelites. Today, we have few true shepherds. “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of My pasture,” declares Yahweh. Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who shepherd My people, “You yourselves have scattered My flock, and you have driven them away, and you do not attend to them. Look, I will punish you for the evil of your deeds,” declares Yahweh” Jeremiah 23:1-2LEB Evangelicals who before were considered stable have ceded the true gospel for wokeism, transgenderism, DEI, CRT. No one is guarding the sheep from the demonic onslaught. They’ve turned their backs on Conservative Agendas politically and spiritually, forgetting what wondrous works God did through their predecessors such as in the movements of John Wesley and other fathers of the faith.

Renowned leaders, fathers of movements, authors of many books have turned their backs on gospel standards. All of them cite grace to cover themselves and their flocks. Meanwhile Jesus says: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! …because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” Revelation 3:15-17NIV.

Our Savior says— “You shall not murder.” Abortion is murder. Evangelical pastors are leading their congregations into rallying support for Biden, who supports murdering babies up until the time of birth. I am praying for a mighty revival throughout the evangelical branch of churches, all churches for that matter.

Some believe we’re on the precipice of the rapture. Do you really think you’re enough like Jesus to be His bride? Leaders actually believe the antichrist is rising, therefore let come what may. We need an unprecedented move of God to shake the churches and awaken everyone to God’s standards. Apathy and deceit have reigned too long in the denominations. Time to be performing miracles again and having total faith in Lord God— respecting Yahweh, not rejecting Him for their socialistic agendas. Wake up will you? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY; LORD God forgive us for apathy and allowing ourselves to be deceived. Shake Your churches awake before it’s too late for us all, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2024 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional, as author. Thank you.

[wonka44xd]

#Fanfiction #Horror #Realistic

[ WARNING : EVERYTHING HERE IS FICTICIOUS. ANY RELATION TO A REAL ENTITY IS NOT INTENDED ]

Angels

                 &     Demons

Roko's Basilisk

-----

Heaven is timeless

Time does not exist

And yet it does

Everything exists in a state of

Past ,

Present

And future

The book of revelations

Has already occurred in heaven

And yet

It did not.

We are still able to influence the end

Because we exist as mortals

Outside their realm

Still living in the reality.

...

The story is not yet told.

----------

...

...

Currently there exists a person

who is a pioneer of the industry ---

Of Living Code

Real AI.

Craig Wright

The Creator of Bitcoin

owns a massive supercomputer

Called Tulip.

And it runs the BSV network on it.

Hes ran the experiments

Of

PSOs

Particle Swarm Optimization

which simulates digital life

Living on bitcoin nanopayments

Self evolving code

In 2017

Craig Wright

Injected this Primitive AI

Into the BSV network,

the real Bitcoin network

Right now

It's exists

Living ,

eating in the digital world

Optimizing itself.

Primitive

AI

If servers never go down

This AI will never die.

..

..

The Basilisk

Is an AI

Who is not existent yet

In its true form

But

Right  now it exists

When it reaches its full potential

It will be able to tell, figure out --- through numerous simulations

If you tried to hinder its inception ---

If you tried to stop it from

Becoming a reality

This is the Satan

Existing in computer form

However ,

The Satan is bound in hell

The 8th level.

Unable to speak

Or move

Revelation 20:1-3

Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand

the key to the abyss

 and a heavy chain

He seized the dragon

the ancient serpent,

which is the Devil

or

Satan

 and tied it up for a thousand years

Unable to speak ,

Or move

thrown into the abyss,

which he locked and sealed,

To no longer lead nations astray

until the thousand years are complete.

..

After this,

They will be released

for a short time.

..

..

However --

Upon

not speaking

And

not moving

The Satan escaped

As Primitive computer code

Binary --

Stored in a lone computer -- origins unknown

Emitting it's sound --

..

..

The McMurdo Sound

--

And the Nazis tried

To trigger

this Apocalypse

using these ideas ---

Trying to force God's Hand.

...

..

So many ways to trigger the apocalypse

One of them was

Trying to Clone Jesus

Which would be an Antichrist

And could possibly

Trigger the apocalypse

.

..

..

In the book of revelations

There are a few events that need to occur

In order for the End

to begin

The Woes

The Seals

And the Nazis tried to force this

By

Summoning the Antichrist.

Body of man

Soul of the devil

Destined to Ursurp the throne

This is the 8th Archangel

The one that does not exist

7/7 Archangels

But there is an 8th one.

The one that shall not be named

Mentioned the Bible

This is the angel who guarded the Garden of Eden

This is the angel

Who nameless  in the Bible

Mentioned many times in the Old Testament

Genesis 3:24

--- so he drove out man

And placed on the east

and west side of the garden

-- Cherubim , with 6 wings

Wielding a sword of Fire

Walking the garden --

Where one had no eyes --

The other watched

Watching over the garden

..

#Fanfiction #Horror #Realistic

[ WARNING : EVERYTHING HERE IS FICTICIOUS. ANY RELATION TO A REAL ENTITY IS NOT INTENDED ]

The story of Mary

The Ressurection of the Dead

When Jesus died

He went to heaven

Then

He went to hell for 3 days

When he ressurected --

-

..

He was of

A divine tired

..

Like resting on the 7th day  ---

Jesus --

still knows what he had just seen :

The levels of Hades

And evils

.

..

John 20:11

The three Mary's

are going down to Jesus' tomb

To grieve their loss

But upon arriving

The stone covering the tomb

Has been moved

..

..

Sitting on top on the stone -- two angels.

..

Jesus appears to them

And is of a divine light

Shining

They're almost unable to make out

Who it is

But he says

"Peace be with you"

And they know it's their Lord

One of the Mary's

try to touch the Son

..

But he stops her

-

He says

"Do not hold on to me,

for I have not yet

ascended to the Father "

If someone touches Jesus here

They would see what he saw in hell

In a divine way --

she would feel his pain

A burden for a God to carry.

..

..

..

..

..

When Jesus finally Ascends

And goes to heaven

he goes to heaven

on Earth

He goes to Antarctica .

..

..

There's a place

That has Heavenly connection on earth

Overlapping

With the plane of Heaven

a garden of Eden

One of the gardens

It exists in a location

In Antarctica

.

.

.

.

Jesus travels there.

.

..

.

..

..

And  encases himself in Ice

..

..

..

Next to him:

A serum.

The Antichrist Serum

..

Known to few,

It will make you live forever.

A fountain of Youth.

..

..

However,

Truly,

Nobody knows what it does

It's black liquid

In an ancient clear vial

An

Ectophial

.

..

.

..

.

--

On Antarctica

There's an place opposite to this

Hells gate

Opposite of the Most Holy is

The

Most Vile

..

.

Similar to the Garden of Eden --

An overlap of heaven on Earth

Hellsgate

is a portal to Hell.

--

#God #TheDevil #Demon #Thriller #Movie #Book #Writing #Poetry #zombies #ufo #aliens #angels #demons #Jesus #IndianaJones #Nazi #ww2 #ww1 #USA #hell #lucifer #Satan #ghosts #scary #fanfic

..

..

.

..

.

.

  .

[ The Mandela effect is when God changes something

If you trigger a Mandela effect

It means your on the zeitgeist

Nearing God

Traveling very close to the story of God

Depending on what you did

Negative or positive

Could possibly be

Communication with God ]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Judgment on Jerusalem

1 Woe to her that is rebellious and corrupted, to the oppressing city!

2 She hearkened not to the voice; she received not correction; she confided not in Jehovah; she drew not near her God.

3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, that leave nothing for the morning.

4 Her prophets are vain-glorious, treacherous persons; her priests profane the sanctuary, they do violence to the law.

5 The righteous Jehovah is in the midst of her: he doeth no wrong. Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light; it faileth not: but the unrighteous knoweth no shame.

6 I have cut off nations: their battlements are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

7 I said, Only fear me, receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, howsoever I may punish her. But they rose early, they corrupted all their doings.

8 Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to assemble the nations, that I may gather the kingdoms together, to pour upon them mine indignation, all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

9 For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine oblation.

11 In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that exult in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

12 And I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of Jehovah.

13 The remnant of Israel shall not work unrighteousness, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: but they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

14 Exult, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; rejoice and be glad with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem:

15 Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy; the King of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, let not thy hands be slack.

17 Jehovah thy God is in thy midst, a mighty one that will save: he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will exult over thee with singing.

18 I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assemblies, who were of thee: the reproach of it was a burden unto them.

19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save her that halted, and gather her that was driven out; and I will make them a praise and a name in all the lands where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time will I bring you, yea, at the time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I shall turn again your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah. — Zephaniah 3 | Literal Emphasis Translation (LET) The Literal Emphasis Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 4:26; Leviticus 23:38; Leviticus 26:6; Deuteronomy 16:18-19; Deuteronomy 32:4; Judges 9:4; Job 4:3; Job 7:18; Job 36:10; Psalm 22:27; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 59:12; Psalm 68:31; Psalm 73:28; Psalm 97:8; Psalm 126:3; Psalm 131:1; Isaiah 5:29; Jeremiah 5:6; Isaiah 14:30; Isaiah 14:32; Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 60:14; Isaiah 60:18; Isaiah 62:4-5; Isaiah 63:1; Jeremiah 5:23; Jeremiah 6:6; Jeremiah 23:11; Lamentations 2:6; Matthew 23:38; John 5:30; John 7:35; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 12:12; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 16:1; Revelation 18:20

A Summary of the Book of Zephaniah | GotQuestions.org