My Struggle

Of late my 50+ year discipline of reading scripture is now more troubling than ever. Much of this is behind the recent writing captured in a book soon released, see proof cover above.

I have based my life decisions upon the Word of God...by Word, I mean the "Voice" I hear as I read the text.

Because of those successes and often miraculous moments, my life seems highly favored, at least relative to others born out of the same blue collar heritage, only two generations apart from abject poverty.

Certainly, the text of scripture itself is inspired, given the thread of promise to Isreal, now so well-proven by history, as well as, the mercy and grace of our Great Jehovah, as demonstrated by such a radical shift from Judaism's ancient concept of sacrifice. So far apart in reality that it necessitates the division of Old Testament (Covenant) and New.

The likely reality, same God, just took us thousands of years for us to buy-in!

The first recorded indication of such mercy was the ram provided when rescuing Abraham's first born, at least by way of a barren and initially scoffing Sarah.

Abraham very likely thought that YHWH would eventually require his first born, the influence of ancient idolatry.

That now seems unreasonable as a demand from the God we later saw reflected in Christ, though religion still would prefer an Old and New Covenant to cover the bases from Moses' limited perspective.

Yet, that same God would further encourage our enlightenment by literally becoming a man, Mary's firstborn and in Bethlehem as foretold by the prophets. Still later fulfilling the role as the perfect substitutional Lamb, his eventual slaughter aligned with the Jewish Passover, and not a bone broken!

YHWH had again become flesh. I say again, because the text records numerous epiphanies, from the three men who met with Abraham, assuring Isaac's birth, then later when Joshua met the "commander of the Lord's army."

Each evidence of "I Am's" love not only for Isreal, but for the whole of mankind. As declared by the prophets, a God unimpressed by sacrifice and ritual, yet "not willing that any should perish but that all should have life, and life more abundantly." That God now ever lives among us, available as our Comforter, our "paraclete" companion.

I get all that!

However my struggle began early last year, when "the Voice" seemed to provide further insight into both the Mount of Transfiguration and the Ascension. The former only a prelude to the latter, where the disciples witnessed a complete disaasemblage of the atoms that composed the resurrected body of Jesus, unlike the limited demonstration of a release of light energy from between the atoms of his being at tge Transfiguration...Jesus' face shines like the sun!

The revered Moses and Elijah there perhaps for credibility's sake, given that it occurred early in the ministry of this carpenter's son.

The disciples likely concluded that Jesus had ascended upon a cloud, up into some "Third Heaven". In their minds, He would there take a seat upon a throne...their concept of governance given their history and desire for a King...a history checkered at best.

If one assumes a total and instant disassemblance of a human body, aproximately 7 x 10^27 atoms, which is about 7 billion billion billion, I could see a momentary cloudlike appearance, given their limited awareness of physiological and meteorological science.

So at least in a cloud-like appearance, the Spirit of Christ was released, His Spirit remaining among us, now available for inhabiting our fleshly temples as Jesus assured. The Body of Christ was fully birthed.

Could it be that we became the Christ, at least the collective of believers.

Think of that!

However, from a literal understanding, these assumptions seem in contrast to what Stephen and John the Revelator proclaim. Thus my struggle.

Stephen, saw Christ "standing at the righthand of God", while John like Daniel references later His "coming in a cloud". John quoting Zechariah as well, "every eye will see, even those who pierced him."

John then goes on to describe "One who appeared in a robe reaching to his feet, with a golden sash, white hair like wool, eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze," with a Jesus walking among seven golden lampstands. Perhaps all that an allegory leading to a message only for the seven churches.

Yet, Hebrews 12:2 specifically states that Jesus is now"seated at the right hand on the throne of god."

Did He actually ascend or in fact is still fully among us.

Back to Joshua's moment with the "commander of the Lord's army", has YHWH long been able to take on bodily form when desired, now present and among us, perhaps all along?

Was the Virgin birth, crucifixion and resurrection simply a necessary identity with us, forever laying to rest religion's necessity of appeasement with YHWH?

His capacity for bodily presentation always there when when Emmaus Road moments were needed, as many of my acquaintances across the globe have shared of seeing his very image.

All this far exceeds our comprehension, a throne and crown our best efforts at resolving our theology. In fact, even Paul's Third Heaven falls far short of our now known billions of galaxies.

My "transfiguration thoughts" almost persuade me to now differ with even the Three In One concept, that emerged as means to justify a reality of three Beings: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

I can more easily see three manifestations of One God, able at will to embody flesh, until we fully comprehend "Cousin John's"baptism. Himself prophesying of a day when God would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.

A taste of that day offered 50 days afterthought Passover.

On top all this internal spiritual processing this morning, I continue to absorb what is happening among the nations, specifically the USA & China, both now struggling with a global consumer based economy. China more and more flexing her economic muscle, riding it seems the winning horse, with both openly boasting of their growing war machines.

Such complexity then pulls me back toward a more literal interpretation of the Apocalyptic language used by John the Revelator.

The massive army that crosses the Euphrates, "the Kings of the East", then later in chapter Revelation 18:9:

"the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her."

Such destruction that some speak of the 30 minutes of silence in the heavens.

You can sense how I wasraised to believe. Though none of this any longer out of the question. Even this morning the Pentegon chief predicted that China could sink entire US carrier fleet in 20 minutes.

Not to mention the growing tension over the Panama Canal!

Could this aforementioned weeping and wailing be the aftermath of post modern America's arrogance, and in her last days.

Just say'n...feel free to respond with comments.