HELL PART 1 - THE REALITY OF HELL

In this "Bible Note" on "HELL" I am trekking into what has become a "controversial" topic in these "post-modern and post-Chistian times". It is also a very emotional subject for many. For others it is a topic that creates many theological difficulties in their minds. The Ancient Church's teaching on the topic of hell is clearly established in the "doctrine of the Church". It is to this "Orthodox Faith" I will appeal for understanding of the "Truth" concerning "hell" and the questions that arise when "hell" is discussed: such as, "Is hell literal?"; "Is hell a place or a condition?"; and "Is hell eternal?".  There was a time when the general Christian consciousness was that there was "a hell to be shunned and a heaven to gain". Now, even Evangelicals question whether a Good and Loving God could send people to hell??? And punish them??? Forever??? Of course the Roman Catholics have a way around the eternal realities of hell through their doctrine of purgatory. They can suffer in the afterlife for their sins and eventually make heaven their home. It should be noted that they also believe in gehenna/hell fire for those who are lost.

This blog is dedicated to "Bible Notes", so I will appeal to the Holy Scriptures as the primary source for this post on the subject of "hell", particularly to the words of Jesus on the subject since He spoke of hell more than anyone else. Though it is perfectly fine to include other aspects of Holy Tradition to establish a doctrine, ie. liturgical texts, writings of the Church Fathers and Teachers, Lives of the Saints, I think on this subject it is especially important to appeal to Holy Scripture, especially the 12 times Jesus teaches about hell.  But I will say that my research has discovered that even among some modern Orthodox scholars there seems to be a lack of reliance on the Holy Scriptures as the primary source of "Truth" and "doctrine". Remember that the Orthodox have an understanding within "the world of doing theology" where theologians and Christians are allowed "theological opinions". But these opinions are permissable as long as they do not stray outside the boundaries of the Orthodox Faith. There is room for opinions but if the Church is clear on a matter of doctrine than beware, lest you stray beyond the gray areas of opinion and into the black of heresy.

This long introduction is necessary because of the controversy heaped upon this subject by atheistic scoffers, and those within the Christian Church-world who have developed an aversion to the idea of hell, eternal punishment, and eternal fire. Post-modern people and post-Christian western civilization is uncomfortable with absolutes, moral absolutes, religious absolutes. "No one knows anything for sure", they say. I will have to be the contrarian here and proclaim that there is "Truth"(John 8:32). Jesus is the Truth and the true Way to God(John 14:6). His Holy Spirit inspired Words are Truth(John 14:17). His Holy Orthodox Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth(1 Tim. 3:15). And what Jesus Himself teaches about "hell" and eternal punishment is the Truth on the subject, forever settled in heaven. An infamous teacher of the the 3rd century, Origen, dared to proceed beyond the limits of Holy Scripture, fell into heretical ideas, teaching that hell was not eternal and that ultimately everyone and everything would be reconciled to God. His followers spread this heresy which created a problem in the church large enough that it had to be dealt with at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople(553 A.D.) where Origen's teachings on various topics were condemned as heresy and Origen himself was deemed a heretic. 1000 years later, at the Council of Florence(1439 A.D.), the Roman Catholic teachings on purgatory were refuted by the Orthodox Church in the person of St Mark of Ephesus who demonstrated that the notion of purgatory and all the falsehoods that accompany it are to be rejected by the True Church.

HELL - A PLACE PREPARED BY GOD
The existence of "hell" was made clear by the Master Himself. Jesus, creator of all things, visible and invisble(Col. 1:14-18), proclaims to the goats on His left hand at the judgment which happens at the coming of the Son of Man, "...Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels"(Mt. 25:41). Hell/Gehenna was/is a place/space prepared by God to incarcerate the devil and the angels that fell with him.

WHAT IS HELL?
Hell is a place as well as a condition, a state of being. Upon being judged unworthy of being welcome into heaven, the sinner will be consigned to a place of torment known by Jesus as Hell/Gehenna, the "Lake of Fire", "Everlasting Torment",

UNDERSTANDING THE GREEK WORDS FOR HELL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
There are three Greek words translated as "hell" in the KJV of the New Testament.The first Greek word is "tartarus" and is translated "hell" in 2 Peter 2:4 and  is understood to be a compartment in the nether world where fallen angels are bound awaiting the final judgment. The second Greek word is "hades" and is translated as "hell" in Mt. 11:23; Mt. 16:18; Lk. 10:15; Lk. 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Revelation 1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14. Hades is understood to be the "place of the departed/the dead" in the heart of the earth where Old Testament saints and sinners (Lk. 16:19-31) awaited the coming of the Messiah and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, either in Paradise/Abraham's Bosom or far across a great chasm in flaming torment. Upon the Passion of Christ, His Crucifixion and death upon the Cross, Christ descended into "hades" where He destroyed him who had the power of death that is the devil (Heb. 2:14). Then Christ preached to the spirits in prison there (1 Pet. 3:18-20; 2:6-8). Jesus, being God, could not remain in "hades", nor could His body see corruption in the grave. He was raised from the dead, leading all the captive saints who were being held in "captivity" and they were lead by him from there. Some of the saints who arose with Him appeared to many in Jerusalem after His resurrection (Mt. 27:55; Eph. 4:9,10; Acts 2:27,31; Acts 13:31) The third Greek word translated "hell" in the New Testament is "gehenna" (Mt. 5:22,29,30; Mt. 10:28; Mt. 18:9; Mt.23:15,33; Mk. 9:43,45,47; Lk. 12:5; Jms. 3:6) which is the eternal "lake of fire" which Jesus warned of, and into which "death and hades" will be cast into on the great day of judgment(Rev. 20:14). "Gehenna is the Hebrew ge - hinnom - the valley of the son of Hennom. It was located southeast of Jerusalem. During the time of idolatry there was an idol of the god Maloch in the form of a bull, and when fires were burning beneath it, children or even adults were thrown into the fire as human sacrifices. This is why the valley was called the valley of mourning. King Josiah (7th century B.C.) declared that place unclean and ordered all the unclean things to be thrown there - the refuse of the city, the carcasses of animals, the corpses of people who had been condemned to death and unburied dead. The destruction of all these was done by fire, whose purpose was also to disinfect the area. During the day clouds of smoke, rising from there, covered the surrounding area, while at night the huge flames could be seen from a considerable distance. Because of this the place was called - gehenna of fire - and it became a symbol of hell, since people would say: "The hell of sinners must be something like this!". This is why the Lord used this image, which was familiar to his contemporaries in order to describe the weight of the punishment and the severity of eternal hell."(The Mystery of Death by Nikolaos P. Vassiliadis, p. 518)


It is important to note that "hell" should not be confused with "hades". Hell/Gehenna is described as eternal, where "hades" is described as being "temporal". Jesus says of Himself, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death"(Rev. 1:18). Then in Revelation 20:14 we see written, "And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death". At the general resurrection those in hades will be resurrected to stand before the Great Judgment Seat. Hades will be cast into the "lake of fire" which is Gehenna or hell. "and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire"(Rev. 20:15). Only a few verses earlier do we read of the destiny of the devil and his cohorts, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever(Rev. 20:10). So we see that "hades" and it's occupants upon the resurrection of the dead, after being judged and found not to be in the book of life, are cast into the "lake of fire" which is "hell", and which is the second death, the eternal death. This is the "resurrection of damnation"(John 5:29,30).

HELL PART 2 - THE HORRORS OF HELL

The first horror is that the sinner, banished to hell fire, will not partake in the glory of heaven, nor experience the light of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:1-22:5 reveals to us the vast contrast of those who "overcome" and "those not found in the book of life". For ages and infinite ages will those counted worthy, be a part of God's light and beauty, love and wisdom, mystery and infinity, drinking from the waters of life freely, living eternally in the very presence of God who has made His home among mankind. But those who resisted the love of God and the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ will have knowledge, torturous knowledge of what they can not have. One may ask, "Do you think hell is seperation from God?" The answer is "Yes and No". "Yes", because the sinner in hell is seperated from the benefits, the blessings of heaven. But, "No", because God is in hell as He is everywhere, always. Listen to the Psalmist, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I go from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there"(Ps. 139:7,8). It has been speculated that the sinner in hell will find the presence of God in hell an unwelcome torment. For God is love and Our God is a consuming fire. To the saint God's love is purifying and healing fire, to the sinner God's love is torment. Jesus speaks of the unprofitable servant being cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Outer darkness is Old Testament imagery for the curse that comes upon the disobedient, you are outside the camp. And here, seperated from the blessedness of heaven, and hating God, the sinner is found weeping, not in mourning, or because of pain, but he weeps in anger gnashing his teeth against God(Matthew 25:14-30).

Shame, unrelenting shame, will be the eternal lot of sinners. In the resurrection of the dead, those who are lost in their sins will "awake...to shame and everlasting contempt"(Dan. 12:2). St Paul warned Christians to be careful who they followed, saying, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)(Phil. 3:17-19).

Hell will be "the moonless place", a place of utter darkness, the deepest darkness, in the outer darkness. A darkness without escape, a darkness that presses in on you, suffocates you. You will be in a fire that has no brightness. You will for all eternity be found in a deep abyss, falling forever, never to land, never free of fright. Oh the horror of falling in utter darkness, with fire that has no light burning you, a darkness that shatters the soul. Poisonous flesh-eating worms that feast gluttonously on your flesh, never satisfied. Forever you will be in the company of your enemies, the demons. How horrific to be chained together with unseen murderers in a joyless place, filled with inconsolable grief. This deathless death that the sinner will endure is much more unbearable and bitter than the seperation of body and soul. This is the second death, which is eternal death.

To some this sounds like exaggeration, but it is absolutely consistent with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus teaches in his "Sermon on the Mount" that "broad is the way that leads to destruction...every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire...then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of iniquity"(Mt. 7:13,19,23). Jesus warned that "it is better for you to enter into life maimed, then having two hands to go into hell/gehenna, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where there worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched". Jesus repeats this warning three times in a row(Mk. 9:42-47; Mt. 18:7-9). Jesus reveals what happens at the end of the world, at His second coming: He will send His angels to gather together all those who do iniquity, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth"(Mt. 13:37-43). Jesus warns of the "danger of hell fire" in Mt. 5:22 and again in Mt. 5:29 and 30. In Matthew 10 Jesus is teaching about the requirements for discipleship and says, "...fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell/gehenna"(Mt. 10:28; Lk. 12:1-9). And once more, pronouncing the seven "Woes" upon the Scribes and Pharisees Jesus says, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell/gehenna"(Mt. 23:15,33). And yet once more, Jesus ends his parable of the talents saying, "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(Mt. 25:30).  

St Paul describes what will come upon the unrepentant sinner at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe..."(2 Th. 1:7-9). St Paul explains how the sinner who resists the goodness of God that leads to repentance hardens his impenitent heart storing up for himself wrath which will be revealed against him on "the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God"(Rom. 2:4,5). The life of the sinner beyond the grave is called "destruction" by the God-inspired Apostles. "The enemies of the Cross of Christ: whose end is destruction"(Phil. 3:18,19). There end is "the lake that burns with fire and sulphur"(Rev. 21:8). They have only to look forward to a certain fearful judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour them(Heb. 10:27). And "the mist of darkness" and "the blackness of darkness" is forever reserved for the unrepentant sinner(2 Pet. 2:17; Jude 13).

UNDERSTANDING THE FUNCTION OF A SYMBOL
All the various images, given by Jesus and the Apostles for the indescribable experience that hell will forever be, are symbols. There are those who object to a literal interpretation of these scriptural passages describing hell. And the Church Fathers and the doctrine of the Church concurs. We know that these images of hell are not to be understood in a literal, material way. As John of Damascus says, "Fires of hell are a mystical fire far more real than the material fires of earth...". The fire of hell is different than familiar fire. Actually the earthly fires symbolize a far more horrific mystical fires. Symbols are used as metaphors and as figurative speech. The function of a symbol is to be a likeness of a reality. A symbol points beyond itself to something even more real and intense than that pictured by a symbol. Take no comfort that these are symbols used by Jesus and the Apostles. For they point us to a far greater reality of horror. St Gregory of Nyssa observes, "When you hear about the fire of hell, you must understand something different from familiar fire, because that fire has other characteristics than those held by this fire on earth. That fire(hell fire) cannot go out; while many methods have been found to put out this one(earthly material fire). There is, therefore, a great difference between the fire that goes out and that which is never quenched. Consequently, the fire of hell is something different and unlike our familiar fire. Again when you hear about "the worm" of the future hell, let not your mind race, on account of the synonym, to the familiar "worm" of the earth. For the characterization of that worm as something that "does not die"(Mk. 9:48) leads us to believe basically that this is something different from the familiar worm we know".(The Great Catechetical Homily 40 p. 45 Gregory of Nyssa)

The above being true, we may also add that the torment of hell may include a physical component seeing that the sinners receive a resurrection body suited to the punishment of soul and body(John 5:28,29). The torment of soul is definite, but we will forever be body and soul creatures for eternity, so the body may be a part of the torment.

HELL PART 3 - HELL IS ETERNAL

Jesus must be our ultimate authority on this subject of "Hell". Does Jesus teach clearly on the reality of hell? Yes. In His compassion and mercy for mankind, on numerous occasions, He made known the perils of living wickedly. He forewarned of the horrors of eternal damnation, eternal punishment, eternal separation, eternal torments, of eternal hell fire. His revelation of this sober reality was not an idle threat by which to scare sinners into following Him, but a revelation of what was created for the devil and his angels, and to where those who are Satan-ized will also be consigned on the great day of judgment.

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus gives us His most complete picture of Hell and its eternal reality. We see that at the Glorious Second Coming of the Son of Man that there will be a universal judgment; That this judgment will be open and solemn; That this judgment will be strict and terrible; That this judgment will be a "Day of wrath and a revelation of the righteous judgment(Romans 2:5); That this judgment will be final and definitive, for all eternity the fate of each one judged is determined.
In verse 41 we are told that the King will say to those on his left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels". Prior to this, in verse 34, we are told that the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world". Notice that Jesus reveals that both, "the kingdom" and "the everlasting fire" were "prepared" for this moment in time. The kingdom of God and all its glory is opened to all those on his right hand. Those on his left hand witness this great inheritance being opened to those who have done the will of God. Then those who have refused to do the will of God are sent to the place not made for humans, but to the place made for the eternally doomed devil and his angels. In Verse 46, Jesus says, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal". Let us settle the question of the eternality of hell! For if hell be temporal, why not the kingdom of God. Theologians fight within themselves about the very things their finite minds cannot fathom. Yet they boldly espouse ideas and doctrines that contradict the very revelations of Jesus Christ Himself on the matters of eternal destiny. Let us not be deceived, let us not be swayed by vain questions and speculations about the afterlife. But let the words of Jesus speak the simple and profound realities that should cause us with fear and trembling to work out our salvation(Phil. 2:12).

St Cyril of Jerusalem instructs us that the sinners, at the general resurrection of the dead, will receive an eternal body suffering the punishment of sins, so that while burning eternally in fire they will never be consumed. WOE!!! St Basil the Great also teaches the same things, when he criticizes that "most people" have been misled by the machinations of the devil and forget the very clear words of the Lord. Some of these people dare to insist that hell will end, that they may sin all the more with audacity...If eternal torment ever ends, then eternal life must also end. If we refuse to imagine this about eternal life, under what logic can we terminate eternal torment? For it is clear that the designation "eternal" is applied equally to the righteous and to the sinners".(Cyril of Jerusalem, Catecheses, 18,19; Basil the Great, Short Rules, Question 267, pg 31,1265A)

In Mark 9:38-48 Jesus uses a question from John the Apostle to teach on the reality and the horrors and the eternality of gehenna/hell fire. Three times in a very short message Jesus repeats the warning that there will be those "who are cast into hell fire/gehenna: where there worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched".

Reading Matthew 3:5-12 John the Baptist reveals that Jesus will gather the wheat and burn the chaff. St Gregory Palamas comments on the words of the Forerunner, "And He will clean thoroughly His threshing floor, that is, the whole world, and the wheat, those who are fertile for righteousness, He will gather in his granary(the heavenly chambers), but the chaff, as something worthless in the efforts for virtue, He will burn with unquenchable fire. If that fire is unquenchable, then it must also have an inconsumable fuel; this then represents the eternity of hell"(Gregory Palamas Homilies XXII, Homily 59). 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9: St Paul makes it clear, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with EVERLASTING destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power". St John further clarifies the answer to the question, "Is hell forever?" in his Revelation(20:10,14,15) when he reveals that the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all those not found in the book of life will be tormented in the lake of fire day and night for ever and ever.

In Mark 3:22-30 Jesus warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit puts a person in danger of "eternal damnation".

It appears that there will be degrees of torment for those consigned to hell just as there are degrees of glory for those who enter the kingdom of heaven. Read Luke 12:41-48 and Matthew 10:15 and Matthew 11:21-24. Hell will be a personal experience for the wicked just as heaven will be a personal experience for the saved. Each of us will receive according to what we have done.
(2 Cor. 5:8-10; Mt. 16:27; Romans 2:5-7; John 5:28,29; Mt. 25:31-46)

Suggested Reading:
"The Mystery Of Death" by Nikolaos P. Vassiliadis; 1993 by The Orthodox Brotherhood www.bostonmonks.com
"Orthodox Dogmatic Theology" by Michael Pomazansky; 1983,2009 by the St Herman Of Alaska Brotherhood www.sainthermanpress.com
"A Ray Of Light" by Archimandrite Panteleimon; 1946,1991 Holy Trinity Monastery www.jordanville.org

HELL PART 4 - THE CHURCH FATHERS ON HELL

To the question "where is the place of torments?" St John Chrysostom responds: "Why are you concerned  about the place? What is important is the fact that it is and not where it is." "I think that it is somewhere outside of this world...hell is outside of this created universe." "Do not, therefore, ask where it is, but how to avoid it". (John Chrysostom, On Romans, Homily 31,4-5 pg. 60,673-674)

"Let us not disbelieve that there is a hell, that we may not fall in it. For he who disbelieves in hell becomes more slothful and indolent toward virtue: he who is slothful and indolent toward virtue will develop a spirit of unrepentance and will surely end up in hell. As for us, let us believe in the existence of hell without reservation, and let us hold frequent conversation about it and thus we will not fall into sin readily and quickly. For the memory of hell acts as a bitter medicine and restrains and cures every evil."(John Chrysostom, On The Future Judgment, PG 63,744

"It is just(the judgment of God) because while accepting the call of God, I was not obedient; while being taught, I was not paying attention; while they were reassuring me, I was jeering them; while I studied the divine word and knew it without disbelief, nevertheless, I spent the years of my life in negligence, laziness, and carelessness, in distractions and sinful confusion and guilty thrills. My months and days were filled by the labors, efforts and struggles for the temporal, the corruptible and the earthly."(Cyril Of Alexandria, On The Exodos Of The Soul,PG 77,1073A)

"If you have faith in the Lord you will fear punishment, and this fear will lead you to control the passions."(Maximos The Confessor, Four Hundred Texts On Love, Philokalia Vol 2, pg.53)

"Put evil to death so that you will not rise up dead (at the future judgment) and thus pass from a minor to a major death."(Thalassios The Libyan, On Love, Self Control and Life, Philokalia Vol. 2, pg 328)

"If someone asks, "how can the soul endure such a great multitude of punishments and be punished for an endless duration of ages?". Let him keep this in mind: When the soul received a body that is incorruptible and inconsumable, there is nothing that will obstruct the extension of hell into the infinite. The body will remain together with the soul eternally to be tormented, and there will be no other end at all".(John Chrysostom, To The Fallen Theodore I 9,10 PG 47,289,290)

St Cyril of Alexandria in his shocking homily, "The Exodus of the Soul and the Second Parousia" confesses as follows, "I am afraid of the gehenna because it endures forever...I am afraid of the hell that has no end...I am afraid of the unbreakable bonds...For the temporal pleasure of sin I am forever tormented. There in hell there is eternal pain, endless grief, ceaseless weeping and gnashing of teeth and sleepless sighing: there in hell there is always woe! woe! woe! There in hell they shout for help and there is no one to help."(Cyril Of Alexandria, On The Exodus Of The Soul PG 77,1072BC; 1073A; 1076D)

"Eternal means that which is forever, that which never has an end, never...The miserable sinners are condemned to remain eternaly in the fire being tormented...And above all remember, my sinner brother, the violence and ferociousness that the fire of gehenna will exercise over you, and which St Paul, wishing to describe it, said: A fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries(Heb. 10:27). Interpreting this verse, the saintly Theophylactos says: As a wild beast, when disturbed by someone, becomes angry and violent, so also that fire, becoming in a sense jealous and wrathful, is destined to be consuming eternally the enemies of God, that is, the sinners."(Nikodimos Of The Holy Mountain, New Ladder, Constantinople 1844, pp. 188;191)

"Christ the Lord of all calls out and says, As long as you have the light, run to the light that the darkness may not overtake you. Run by way of repentance, run in the way of the commandments of Christ. But, if we do not choose to obey Christ our Lord and do not attempt, as long as we are found in this present life, to receive from Him the kingdom of God within us, when we go there we will hear Christ justly saying these things to us: Why are you asking now for what you did not want when I was giving it to you? Was I not often pleading with you to struggle for a while that I may give you the kingdom of heaven, and you did not want it, but rejected it preferring rather the earthly, the corruptible; now what is it you want? With what deeds or what words do you expect to be able to find the Kingdom from now on? For now is not the time for work, but for retribution."(Symeon The New Theologian, Complete Extant Works, Part I, Homily 25,2 p. 136)

"Do you see how the devil succeeded in making us enemies of ourselves? Let us come to our senses, let us look carefully. Let us keep vigil, let us reach for the eternal life, and let us hold on to it tightly. Let us put away from us the abundant sleep of sin. There is a judgment; there is hell. The Lord is coming in the clouds. A river of fire is flowing before Him, the ceaseless worm, the unquenchable fire, the outer darkness, the gnashing of teeth. Even if you are troubled a myriad of times over these things, I will not cease speaking them. There is eternal hell and it is inconsolable; there is no one to help us."(John Chrysostom, On 1 Thessalonians, Homily 9,5 PG 62,454)

THE SONS OF GOD AND THE DAUGHTERS OF MEN

In Genesis 6 we are instructed that "God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth..."(6:5,6). And God grieved in His heart and repented that He had made man on the earth. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"(6:8). What we have here is insight into a battle for a pure blood line to be preserved through which the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 would be born and thereby crush the serpent, destroying the power of sin, the curse, and the power of death. This "Seed of the woman" is the promised Messiah, who will be born of a pure virgin(Mary).

We see here in Genesis 6:1-4 "Satan's Plan To Corrupt All Flesh". If Satan can corrupt all the bloodlines through a mixture of fallen angels(the sons of God) and the daughters of man he can thwart the plan of God to destroy Satan and the power of sin, the curse, and death. Thankfully there was a man(Noah) and his family that was kept from this corruption. The reason for the worldwide flood and the destruction of all living flesh on the earth was to destroy all the unnatural offspring of the marriage of fallen angels with the daughters of men. Note that until this time mankind lived for hundreds of years, Methusaleh living the longest at 969 years. In verse 3 we are told that God would no longer tolerate man to live so long that they could generate such corruption again, so he decides to limit man's lifespan to a maximum of 120 years.

We are further instructed that this marriage of fallen angels with women also took place after the flood(verse 4). The hybrid offspring of the fallen angels are here called giants, and later are called nephilim and rephaim. These are the giants that were in the land of Canaan that Israel was commanded to destroy, every last one of them, because they were not humans, but hybrid offspring of the fallen angels.

Angels have the capacity to change dimensions, to leave their habitation as it were and transfer over to our dimension. Good angels can do this with God's permission as in the story of Lot in Genesis 18 where two angels are sent to Lot to destroy the sinful cities. We are told in Hebrews 13:2 that "we are not to forget to entertain strangers, because some have entertained angels unaware". Thus angels appear as humans when they cross over into our realm.

Note that the so-called "spiritual world" is not an unreal world, but another very real world, or maybe it is better to say, the same world but a different dimension. The invisible world(which God created just as much as the visible world - Col 1:16-18) is by definition simply "the unseen world". Invisible means "beyond eyesight". It does not mean "an unreal world".

The fallen angels that sinned with the daughters of men at the time of Noah were cast into tartarus(Hades) and are chained until the day of judgment(2 Peter 2:4,5). Jude reveals to us in His epistle, verses 6-8, that these fallen angels did not maintain their principality, but left their own habitation and committed fornication, going after strange(other) flesh. Church Father Justin Martyr(110-165 A.D.) is quoted, "But the angels transgressed...were captivated by love of women, and begat children".(Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 1, P. 190); and Church Father Methodius(260-312 A.D.) is quoted, "The devil was insolent...as also those angels who were enamored of fleshly charms, and had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men."(Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 6, p. 370). The fallen angels that did not sin in this fashion are still loose.

We know, from the Scriptures, more about the offspring(giants) of the fallen angels after the flood of Noah's day, than the the offspring(giants) that were on earth before the flood. Though it appears that there is evidence of civilizations all over the earth built by super strong and intelligent creatures that may pre-date the flood of Noah. Stonehenge, Easter Island, The Pyramids, etc.(More listed here soon).

We are instructed in Genesis 9:20 - 10:20 that it was through some perverse sin that Ham, the father of Canaan, committed against Noah that Satan gains entry into the bloodlines once again. For we see that Ham, who was cursed by Noah, has offspring that produces a "mighty one", Nimrod, who begins a kingdom that creates all the people groups that are later identified as giants and nephilim and rephaim. These are the descendants that Joshua and Caleb find occupying Canaan when Israel is sent to possess the promised land. The reason Isreal is told to kill "all" the people was because they were hybrids, giants, fallen ones(nephilim), and not just fellow humans.

In Numbers 13 we are instructed concerning the reality of "giants". The Lord tells Moses to send twelve men "to spy out the land of Canaan"(13:17). Upon their return they give their report, the land "surely flows with milk and honey...nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land...moreover we saw the children of the Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell, in the mountains: and the Canaanites by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan"(27-33). Caleb speaks up and says, "we are well able to overcome it". But the men who went with Joshua and Caleb say, "We are not able...". They said, "it is a land that eats up its inhabitants, and all the people are men of great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants".

We read more of Israel's dealings with the giants: The Emims...a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims: which were also accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims...the Horims(v. 12)...the children of Ammon...(That also was accounted a land of giants; giants dwell therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims, A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them...he destroyed the Horims...and the Avims...were destroyed by the Caphtorims(Cretans)(19-23).

We continue to learn of the giants: "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was...of iron...13 1/2 feet long and 6 feet wide. And this land...which was called the land of giants"(Deut. 3:11-13). In Deut. 7:1-5 we read of God's command to destroy all the inhabitants of the land He was sending them into to possess it; and to destroy their altars, break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.(verse 5) All these things were used in Satanic worship and human sacrifices. Read more of the Anakims in Deut. 9:1-6.

In Joshua we read of "the remnant of the giants(Josh. 12:4; 13:12) and, of "the valley of the giants"(Josh. 15:8; 18:16), which interpreted is "the valley of the Rephaim"(2 Sam. 5:18,22; 1 Chron. 11:15; 14:9).

We learn of David slaying the giant Goliath, whose armour weighed 196 pounds and who was 9' 9" tall. (1 Sam. 17)

In 2 Samuel 21(1 Chron. 20:1-8/parallel) we learn of further wars that David and his mighty men had with the Philistines(giants) and in particular with the four sons of "The giant/Rapha"(verses 15-22). One giant son had a spear that the spearhead weighed 11 pounds. Another son of Rapha, had a staff like a weaver's beam. And yet another had 6 fingers on each hand, and 6 toes on each foot. These four sons were the brothers of Goliath of Gath.

In Judges 1:21-36; 2:1-5; 3:1-8 we read of Israel's disobedience in following God's command to kill all the inhabitants. Instead they chose to make money off the inhabitants with taxation(a tribute)(verse 28). But Judah obeyed the Lord, and the Lord was with Judah. And Caleb expelled the three sons of Anak(giants)(16-20). But Israel, once Joshua died(2:8-10), would serve Baalim and the groves(2:11; 3:7).

Why should we want to know about these events, and about the giants, and how they were introduced into the earth. For one, it is important to know our history as humans, and secondly, it is important to know our future, for Jesus said, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."(Matthew 24:37-39) Is it possible that the same kind of evil perpetrated by fallen angels in the days of Noah's flood will be repeated in the days shortly before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

THE PRAYERS OF SAINT PAUL - SPIRIT INSPIRED INTERCESSION

St Paul's letters to the churches are not only filled with the teaching of sound doctrine, challenging exhortations, and stern reproof, but they reveal St Paul at prayer. As St Paul teaches the inspired Word of God, he will break into prayer for those he is teaching. These prayers are Inspired by the Holy Spirit the same as the doctrines, exhortations, and reproofs are. And just like we follow St Paul's doctrine, we can follow St Paul in prayer.

Ephesians 1:15-23 > In verses 3-14 of Ephesians chapter 1 St Paul lays out God's amazing plan for us with all kinds of mystical complexities and divine revelation > Then he prays for those who believe, that "God...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (verses 3-14): the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his (Christ) calling...." And on it goes. > This is Paul's inspired intercessory prayer that we too can and should pray for our fellow believers.

Ephesians 3:14-21 > Again we see St Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired prayers for the Ephesian believers > "That you may be strengthened with all might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you would be rooted and grounded in love...that you might be filled with all the fullness of God"

NOTE: Have you ever wanted to know how to pray? Ever wanted to know what to pray? When to pray? I hope to share with you truth from the Bible about prayer, and truth from the ancient Church about prayer, and truth taught by the Church fathers on prayer from over the centuries. The important thing is that it is Truth, truth about prayer.

Colossians 1:9-11 > You can mirror St Paul's prayers or tailor them for your prayers that you pray for yourself and your brothers and sisters in Christ or anyone on your prayer list. > Paul does not cease to pray for the Colossians these prayers. He prays them repetitiously, daily, morning, noon, and night; sometimes all night. Not vain repetitions, but faith repetitions!!! > "that you might be filled with knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord...being fruitful in every good work...strengthened with all might..." >

NOTE: The Psalms are the "Song Book" or "Prayer book" of the Church. Each and every Psalm applies to some part of our life's experience, even to different parts of each and every day. Learn the Psalms, memorize the Psalms, learn to pray the Psalms.

Philippians 1:9-11 > St Paul prays "that your love may abound yet more and more...that you may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness." >

***Here's a prayer that I wrote based on these inspired prayers of St Paul that I tailored for my own "prayer rule". To pray all of St Paul's prayers each and every time you "stand to pray" or "someone comes to your mind" would not be practical. So I created a prayer that I can say that is succinct and powerful and true. I mention each person by name (first name will do) and I pray "Father, that you would grant to each one the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah, that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened to know what is the hope of Christ's calling; That you would direct their hearts into the love of God, strengthening them with all might by your Spirit in the inner man, filling them with fruits of righteousness, and filling them with the exact knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; establish their hearts in grace and truth, and may Christ Jesus dwell in their hearts by faith".

1 Thessalonians 3:8-13 > Pray for abounding love. Pray for established hearts in holiness. Pray for believers to be ready for the Second Coming of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; 3:1-5 > Pray for believers to be worthy of their calling. Pray that God's power will work through faith in  those you pray for. Pray that Jesus Christ be glorified. Pray that God will direct their hearts into the love of God. Pray that the Word of God have free course. Pray that Preachers and believers have open doors of utterance. Pray that we be delivered from absurd and wicked men. Pray that we be kept from evil. > Romans 15:30-33

THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS BY KING HEROD - RACHEL WEEPS FOR HER CHILDREN

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not”. (Mt. 2:16-18)

There are Bible critics who make the claim that Herod could not have massacred the baby boys of Bethlehem because the Jewish Historian Josephus failed to make reference to King Herod committing this particular evil. But Josephus is not the only first century historian, or source of what happened in first century Judah. Matthew, the author of the gospel by his name, gives us a historical account of the slaughter of the innocents by King Herod. The Holy Spirit inspired Evangelist Matthew is much more trustworthy than a Jewish historian writing 100 years after the said event. There was, by the way, a Roman historian, Macrobius (c.a. 400 A.D.), that writes about Herod’s slaughter of the Innocents.

THE SCOPE OF THE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS

Some historians, even Christian historians, say that only a few children were slain by King Herod because Bethlehem probably only had a population of about 1000 people, and therefore would have only had 10 to 30 two year old and under children that could have been slain. But the scope of the slaughter appears from the text of Matthew that it was not just the children in the little town of Bethlehem that were in danger of King Herod’s edict. The text states that the slaughter was not limited to the “little town of Bethlehem”, because it bluntly reads that Herod “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, AND in all the coasts thereof” (KJV, 1599 Geneva, Wycliffe). In other translations we read, “and the borders” (Young’s, Douay-Rheims, ASV, Aramaic Bible in Plain English, Jubilee 2000, Darby, Webster’s); “and in the environs” (NASB, NAS 1977, ); “and in the region” (RSV, ISV ); “and in the vicinity” (NIV); “and in all the districts” (NKJV, Phillips). We can see from these translations that the massacre was not limited to the town of Bethlehem, but included a far greater territory, as far as the coasts and/or borders of Judah.

“There appears to be a hint in verse 18 as to what is being spoken of when we read, “AND in all the coasts thereof”, or “AND in all the borders thereof”. Ramah, the city of Jeremiah’s prophecy is located 5 miles north of Jerusalem (10 Miles north of Bethlehem). Ramah is the city where Rachel lamented from. She was buried in Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19). Ramah is a border town situated on the northern border of the kingdom of Judah, and the southern border of the kingdom of Israel. Judah’s borders ran from the east along the shores of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea to the west at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, some 30 miles; in the south in the desert, and borders in the north, Samaria, some 55 miles. We also have a hint from the prophecy of Micah as to the scope of Herod’s slaughter; “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah…” (Micah 5:2). Let us take note that the prophecy that Herod was made aware of by the chief priests (Mt. 2:4-8) references Judah as the greater territory in which the Messiah-King would be born. Micah, of course, names the very birthplace of the Messiah, the little town of Bethlehem, and its 1000’s of villages (hyperbolic or not). So it appears from the textual evidence that the slaughter was not limited to “the little town of Bethlehem”, but spread all the way north to Ramah on the border with the kingdom of Israel and quite possibly to the remaining borders; west, south, and east.

An interesting note is that Ramah was the city where Jewish captives were gathered for deportation to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1). Rachel, the wife of Jacob-Israel, was the mother of Benjamin, whose tribe became part of the southern kingdom, Judah. The city of Ramah was given to Benjamin by lots. So Rachel’s descendants, her beloved children, after much suffering as captives, are now suffering the slaughtering of Herod’s soldiers. Rachel weeps for her children.

So, exactly how many children were slaughtered? According to the Tradition of the Ancient Church, 14,000 children were slain. They are commemorated every year on December 29. For me, this number is far more likely than the 6 or 10 children as the modern scholars seem to prefer.

PUT THE TREE IN THE SEA - COMMENTARY ON LUKE 17:1-10

Luke 17:1-4 “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!² It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.³ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.⁴ And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
 

Faith, according to the scriptures, is for overcoming! “..and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) In the text we are studying now (Luke 17:1-10) faith is for overcoming a number of things; love of money, offences or obstacles put in our paths to thwart ministry, and the “sycamine tree” of bitterness and unforgiveness. The backdrop for Jesus’s teaching here to his apostles is what you find in the previous chapter, Luke 16. In Luke 16:1-13 the Pharisees are listening to Jesus teaching his disciples about the significance of non-possession, that is, being free from the love of money. In Luke 16:14 we see the Pharisees, who were covetous (lovers of money), mocking Jesus about his teaching  where He instructs the servants to be good stewards over the wealth they have been given and to be careful not to hoard it, but to distribute it to the poor while they had the opportunity while still alive. Then when they depart this life they will be received into everlasting habitations by the very poor they ministered to while alive on earth. Jesus responds to the Pharisees mockery with the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” in Luke 16:19-31. In this story Jesus warns the Pharisees of the eternal torment awaiting them for choosing to love mammon (money/things) over loving God and having pity upon the poor. This brings us to Luke 17 where Jesus begins with a warning to his disciples that there will be offences put in their pathway of ministry by the religious elite because of their love of money and hatred of the truth. The Greek word here for offences is “skandalon” which is defined as stumbling block or obstacle. Woe to those who cause the offences and would hinder someone from hearing the truth. It would be better that they were cast into the sea with a millstone around their neck. This is speaking metaphorically of being cast into the sea or abyss of fiery torment. Then Jesus warns the apostles that they are to take heed among their own ranks to be watchful concerning trespasses and how they respond to them. For as sure as offences will come from those without the church, trespasses will come from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus commands us that we are to forgive the repentant brother as often as he repents, even endlessly (Matthew 18:22). 

Luke 17:5-10 ⁵ And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.⁷ But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?⁸ And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?⁹ Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.¹⁰So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This brings us to the apostles famous request, “Lord, Increase our faith”. The apostles were feeling the gravity of all they were being called to do, and the many spiritual battles that were about to ensue. They sense their need for one particular spiritual quality that will enable them to overcome, faith. Jesus responds by letting them know that they can overcome with the smallest amount of faith, a faith as a grain of mustard seed. A mustard seed is that smallest of grains. Jesus is saying that each and every believer has within them the ability, the faith, to overcome the un-forgiveness and bitterness that can follow the offences and the trespasses. Jesus gives us a metaphor of how we can pluck up by the roots the bitterness and un-forgiveness that has planted itself deep in the soil of our hearts (Hebrews 12:15). And how we can cast out this devilish wisdom (James 3:14-16) from our hearts, and cast them into the sea which is the abyss. Take note that Jesus guides us on how to express this faith to overcome the rooted bitterness in us. We must “say unto the sycamine tree. Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” (Luke 17:6) Faith speaks to the tree of bitterness, “Bitterness, I pluck you out of my heart, and I cast you into the sea to drown and never to be replanted in my heart.” I would like to introduce a little ditty to encourage one another with when we are battling bitterness and un-forgiveness, Let us say to one another, “Put the Tree in the Sea”. The sycamine tree is a kind of Mulberry tree, possibly a Black Mulberry, common in the Middle East and prominent in lower Galilee. The sycamine tree has an enormous and very deep root system and is nearly impossible to dig out of the ground. You can cut the tree down to ground level, but the tree can live on because of its deep root system accessing water. This imagery was not lost on the apostles, nor should it be lost on us. The sycamine tree of un-forgiveness must be plucked up by the roots and destroyed in the sea/abyss. Another feature of the sycamine tree is that the silk worms would feed on the leaves and form nests in the branches. This shows us that when we are embittered there are worms that eat at us constantly. I say, “Put the Tree in the Sea”. 

Jesus finishes his lesson on plucking up the un-forgiveness by faith by instructing them that this “life of forgiveness” is their duty as servants. They are to say (referencing the parable of Luke 16:1-13), “We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which is our duty to do.” We are not to live for mammon as the Pharisees (the religious elite) do, we are to live a life of sacrifice and self-denial, spending all including ourselves (2 Corinthians 12:15), caring for the poor.

A NOTE ON BIBLE STUDY:

Faith is often a very misunderstood bible subject. It is important to study each reference in the bible according to its immediate context first, then its context within the particular book of the bible the passage is in, then study the reference in light of the entire bible. Let us be “a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL, TRANSFIGURE OUR PASSIONS, AND OVERCOME THE WORLD

1 Peter 5:8,9 > Recognize You Have An Adversary Who Wants To Destroy You > You Must Choose To Not Let This Happen > The Devil "May Not" Devour You Unless You Give Him "Place" In Your Life - Note Ephesians 4:27 (King James) - "Give No Place To The Devil". >  Peter's Advice, "Be Sober" - Sober Means To Be Serious - Like A Soldier Going To Battle > Each Morning You Awake You Should Prepare For Battle As A Good Soldier -
2 Timothy 2:1-4 > Peter's Second Tip, "Be Vigilant" (Check The NOTE Below)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 > The Battle Is In The Mind/Heart > Take Every Thought Captive To The Obedience Of Christ > If You Entertain Sinful Thoughts They Develop Into Images ie. Imaginations - These Imaginations Lead To Actions That Establish The Original Temptation As A Stronghold > Thanks Be To Jesus Christ That Even Strongholds Can Be Torn Down - But How Much Easier To Take Thoughts Captive > But The Spiritual Life Is Not Easy - The Scriptures Liken The Spiritual Life to These Three - A Champion Athlete - A Faithful Farmer - A Good Soldier > All Three Exact From Themselves Sobriety And Vigilance. > Control Your Thoughts - Set Your Affections On Things Above - "You Can't Keep A Bird From Flying Over Your Head, But You Can Keep It From Building A Nest In Your Hair" >

NOTE: Vigilance = 1. Wakefulness 2. A Being Alert And Vigilant; Watchfulness; Caution. Alert Implies Wide-Awake And Active Watchfulness Or Attention. Vigilant Implies Keen, Often Wary, Watchfulness. > Vigil = A Devotional Watching, Morning Or Evening Prayers; Wakefulness; Sleeplessness. A Watching, To Hold Vigil. (Websters Dictionary 1938) > Luke 21:36 - Jesus Says, "Watch...And Pray Always" - Matthew 26:41 Jesus Says,"Watch And Pray That You Enter Not Into Temptation" > Temptation Is Coming, Whether You Enter Into It Will Be Determined In Direct Proportion To How Much "Watching And Praying" You Have Been Vigilant To Attend To > Jesus Says, "...Men Ought Always To Pray, And Not To Faint" - Mark 13:32-37 Jesus Says "WATCH" (To The One "Not" Watching Jesus Will Come As A Thief. To The One "Watching" Jesus Comes As The Bridegroom) > Proverbs 4:20 - Keep Your Heart/Watch Over Your Heart With All Diligence - Psalm 141:3, "Set A Watch, O Lord,  Over My Mouth; Keep The Doors Of My Lips" - Song Of Solomon 5:2 "Though I Sleep, My Heart Keeps Awake" > Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus Says, "What, Could You Not WATCH With Me One Hour" - Praying And Watching Are Two Sides To The Same Coin > Jesus Says, "The Spirit Is Willing, But The Flesh Is Weak" > We Watch By Standing In Prayer At Set Times Preferably - The Apostles Fell Asleep Because They "Laid And Prayed" - Psalm 134:1-3, "Behold, Bless Ye The Lord, All Ye Servants Of The Lord, Which  By Night Stand In The House Of The Lord"

Matthew 4:1-11 > Jesus Shows Us 'The Way" To Resist The Devil > "It Is Written" - Every Temptation Is Resisted With The Sharp  Sword Of Scripture - Jesus Speaks The Word/Quotes Scripture To Resist The Devil's Twisted Lies Of Deception > This Is Known In The Church Fathers As "Counter-Speaking" > The Church Fathers Speak Of The Use Of "Arrow Prayers", Short And Fervent Invocations Frequently Repeated. This Practice Came To Be Known As "Monologic Prayer", Prayer Of A Single Logos, A Single Word Or Phrase > This Is Why It Is Of The Utmost Importance To Know The Word Of God, To Be Able To Quote The Word Against The Temptations, To Pull An Arrow Out Of Your Quiver And Shoot The Enemy Through His Dark Heart > Psalm 119:11

James 4:4-10 > We Resist Temptation, The Passions, By Speaking The Word As Jesus Did, Then We Hate The Evil Desire, Then We Practice The Particular Virtue That Is Opposed To The Passion > Resist Depression/Apathy With Good Deeds/Go Care For Someone In Need > Resist Sadness With Songs Of Joy - Isaiah 61:1-3 - Put On The Garment Of Praise For The Spirit Of Heaviness > Resist Pride By Humbling Yourself > Resist Greed With Generosity - And So On

NOTE: The Passions Are The Sinful Predispositions of Our Fallen Human Nature > The Passions Are The "Lusts/Desires Of The Flesh" - Galatians 5:19-21 > The Flesh Is Not Our Physical Bodies But The Fallen Nature, The Adamic Nature We Inherited At Birth From Our Progenitors > "Now The Works Of The Flesh Are These; Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness (Lewdness), Idolatry, Witchcraft (Greek = Pharmakeia), Hatred, Variance (Contentions), Emulations (Jealousies), Outbursts Of Wrath, Strife (Selfish Ambitions), Seditions (Disensions), Heresies, Envy, Murders, Drunkenness, Revelries, And The Like" > This List From Galatians 5 Is A Good Start, If You Can Call It A "Good" Start? > There Are More "Lists" Of Passions Elsewhere In Scripture Which Name, Greed, Love Of Money, Gluttony Vainglory, Laziness/Sloth, etc, etc > The Passions Are Qualities We Inherit From Our Animal Nature - We, In Our Sinful State, Reflect More Of An Animal Instinct Than A Human Instinct - It's As If The Instincts/Qualities Of Self-Preservation In Animals Has Been Transferred Into Human Life And Become Our Passions > There Is A Zoo Within Us - Like Many Animals Running Through Us Just Under The Ribcage - We Have A New Nature Through The New Birth Baptism (John 3:1-7) But The Old Nature Still Lurks Within And Must Be Brought Into Subjection To The Law Of Christ (Romans 6) - Our Fleshly Actions Are Frequently Classified As Animals Living On Mere Instincts Rather Than The Good And Holy Feelings Of Human Nature, ie Love - For Example, We Say, "He Eats Like A Pig" - "He's Stubborn As A Mule" - "He's Proud As A Peacock" - A Womanizer Is Called "A Wolf" - A Treacherous Person Is A "Snake In The Grass" - A Grouchy Person Is "A Bear" - A Coward Is Called "Chicken" - A Dull Person Is Called An "Ox". > Another Way Of Dealing With The Passions Is To Cover The Windows Of Your Soul/Your Senses With Fine Nets/Screens Which Will Keep Out Impure Insects, This Is Done By Meditating On The Sober Realities Of Eternal Judgment > And Let Us Not Forget The Powerful "Name Of Jesus" - Always Call Upon The Name Of Jesus, All That You Do, Do In The Name Of Jesus (Colossians 3:17) - Recite "The Jesus Prayer" Whenever A Weak Moment Arises, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me, A Sinner" - St John Of The Ladder Said, "Flog The Foes With The Name Of Our Lord Jesus". Transfiguring The Passions Should Be Our Goal, Not Destroying Them - Of Course Their Evil Bent Is Destroyed Once The Passion Is Deified By God's Holy Spirit ( 2 Peter 1:2-12 ) - But Our Passions Are Given To Us By God, But Have Been Hi-jacked, Re-directed, By Sin - We Must Direct The Passions Toward God - Physical Eros/Erotic Love Must Be Concentrated On God - St Maximos The Confessor Said, "Every Passion Is Curable Through Abstinence And Love" - "Uncontrolled Anger Is To Be Re-directed Into Righteous Indignation - Sexual Lust Transformed Into Into An Eros Love For God, Whom We Are To Love With An Agape Love And Eros Love. Thus The Passions Are To Be Purified, Not Eradicated; Transfigured, Not Eliminated" (Philokalia, Anthony Conairis, p. 162) -

Ephesians 6:10-18 > A Good Soldier Must Have On His Armour Completely And Have His Sword In Hand/Mouth When He/She Begins The Day > From This Passage We Are Informed That We Can Be Strong, In The Lord > Exodus 14:14 - "The Lord Shall Fight For You" > We Are Informed About Our Enemies > Then We Are Informed Of Our Defensive Weaponry > Truth - Righteousness - Gospel Of Peace - Faith - Salvation > Once Clothed In Our Armour Then We Are To Take Up "...The Sword Of The Spirit, Which Is The Word Of God: PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER And Supplication In The Spirit, And WATCHING Thereunto With All Perserverance And Supplication For The Saints". > It Is In Prayer, "All Kinds Of Prayer" That The Battle Is Fought And Won > We Are To "Pray Without Ceasing" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ) > Prayer Takes On Several Forms, The Most Basic Is Our "Daily Rule Of Prayer"

NOTE: The Daily Rule Of Prayer Is "Our Set Prayers" Or "Our Written Prayers" > This Is A Written Prescription Of God's Truth That We Are To Faithfully Recite Morning, Noon ,And Night > At Least Morning And Night > Psalm 119:164 - David Mentions Praising God Seven Times A Day - Orthodox Christian Monks Have Daily Prayer Up To Seven Times > Some Monasteries Develop Their Own "Life Of Prayer" Establishing Three "Hours", Five "Hours", Or Even The Strict Seven "Hours" Of Prayer. - Hours Of Prayer Are Mentioned In Acts 3:1-6 (9th Hour) And Acts 10:9 (6th Hour) - It Appears That The Apostles Kept The Hours Of Prayer That Were Part Of Their Jewish Tradition Since Jesus Is The Fulfillment Of Jewish Promise As Recorded In The Law, The Prophets, And The Psalms > As Time Went On The Church And The New Covenant In Christ Became Revealed And Changes Were Made In The Calendar To Reflect The True Faith Of Christ - Sunday Became The Christian Sabbath - Days Of Fasting Went From The Jewish Model, Tuesday And Thursday, To The Christian Model Of Wednesday And Friday - Everything Was Christified > To Begin Your "Rule Of Prayer" Start Simple - Get Some Ideas - Send Me An Email @ Cyclingsimmons@gmail.com - Maybe I could Help You Get Started > The Important Thing Is To Get Started Practicing A Rule Of Prayer Because The Rule Will Inform Your Heart And Mind For When You Are "Out There" In The World In The Thick Of The Battle - What You Prayed While At Home Will Strengthen You "In The Moment" You Are Tested. > Once Memorized, The Rule Of Prayer Can Be Recited Anytime, Even On The Move - The Rule Of Prayer Is Comprised Of Scripture And Scriptural Truth.