Ron And His Stories

That just might be any righteous person’s thoughts about the death penalty, seeing that it’s caused many problems. But we don’t see an explicit reproof against it in the Bible. Yet God said in Ezekiel 18:32 that He has no pleasure on anyone’s death — I think that’s enough to say it shouldn’t be practiced. Unfortunately, though, there are a number of nations that practice the death penalty, most of which are third world nations. I didn’t hear about it happening here in the U.S.A. until I did a short stint of schooling during the summer of 2009. I wanted to avoid it, and thank God it’s pretty hard for anyone to be put under such a harsh sentence in the U.S. But I didn’t know Jesus at the time, so I wasn’t really sure… but I think the polemic in Genesis 9:6 will be for those who kill “lawfully” — I put it in quotation marks because I don’t want to be an executioner. A Christian never wants to be like this; I know I don’t believe in killing. Thank God there are other people in the U.S. that don’t support it. I don’t know what the politicians are thinking, but I did hear that Washington (the state in the Pacific Northwest) eliminated the death penalty. I really hope it’s not in my state, Arizona! I’m frightened for some of my friends’ lives, for injustice can single out anyone and destroy them before they have a chance to escape! But I pray that never happens. I’d love for the death penalty to be removed across the world, but it might take a while before any other state (Washington was the 20th) in the U.S. removes the death penalty. I find each person’s last meals creepy, but I wouldn’t do anything I imagine they did. But some people are imprisoned for the wrong reasons, yet I pray they are free citizens again. I sure do hope they receive Christ’s forgiveness, though.

Honestly, I think hate breeds more ugly stuff, and that shouldn’t happen. A Christian doesn’t even think to hate someone (1 John 3:15), but none of us can love perfectly. Regardless, it’s not as though Jesus is impatient about anyone’s growth, seeing that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), and His patience is endless (1 Timothy 1:16). Anyone who says otherwise is playing with fire, and those words are capable of putting the one who hears them in harm’s way. Also, I’m going to say something I don’t think a lot of people know (you probably won’t find anyone who believes this in most churches or secular communities, but results may vary in that one): calling someone immature is a hardening of the heart of the one accusing them as such. It’s not as though Hebrews 5:11-6:8 is supposed to condemn others. Yet many love to abuse others into obeying them because they believe the love of Jesus is a threat to good behavior. I think they are ignoring Hebrews 3:7-8 when it says for them not to harden their hearts. It is a rejection of the Gospel on their part, and no one should do this. Jesus died to set everyone free, not to force people into obedience like crazy! That’s not His heart. Good behavior is important, but it comes from God’s love, and freedom is the bedrock of good conduct. But offense can stifle everything, yet I do believe forgiveness is strong enough to destroy even the most fortified stronghold of an evil spirit. I pray we can forgive often.

One note of the three I mentioned down (in that last post I wrote six days ago), so I’ll be back with the food vs. conscience thing soon! Stay tuned.

This is my attitude and the theme of this passage. (It is found in page 5 of my NKJV Bible, page 6 of my NASB Bible, page 10 of my VOICE copy, and pages 10-11 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.) Any creature is available to eat (funny-weird in many cases, but fish is delicious 😋) — for some reason, this wasn’t said in chapters 1-3 before the Fall happened. I don’t know why He didn’t say anything about meat, but I think God had intended food to come from the creatures without killing them. Speaking of which, this passage does not address a killing that happens by complete accident; only those who have killed someone on purpose to some degree — it’s not cool how murder still happens in this world. This un-Christian thing is forgivable, but not all who murder will be saved. I know I wouldn’t befriend someone who wants to kill me. Hopefully, no one I know is planning my demise, but I don’t expect each person I see to be free of hateful intent; most people in this world are pretty deep in murderous content. But I think all of us have hated others at one point or another — if you see someone being an opponent to someone, tell them to watch out, for hate makes bitterness happen, and bitterness, especially against God, defiles many people around them (Hebrews 12:15).

Each person is supposed to love even an enemy (Matthew 5:43-48), and I think that’s excellent. Too bad a lot of people see themselves as perfect, though. I know I could never succeed, and I don’t care to be perfect today. Instead, though, I’d rather do Jesus’ works in His love for all mankind. I know I want to make it so that death is avoided every time I do something. But none of us can be perfect, although if a Christian sins for some reason, he/she is never hateful about it, for hate is only intentional, and it is un-Christian (1 John 3:15). From it comes many bad things, such as murder, abuse, scandals, gossip, and worst of all, rape and judgment. I want to rid the world of such evil deeds, but not of any person. EVER. I’m against death because Jesus doesn’t support the death penalty. I know a lot of people of all religions would support it because of their tradition, or if he/she grew up in a particular church, they might support it because of many verses in the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible) recording God’s many instances in which the Israelites were to stone people — I don’t think He wanted anyone dead (Ezekiel 18:32); in fact, we see in Ezekiel 20:25 that God gave over His people who wouldn’t love Him over to laws that were not good and unlivable. I think that’s pretty much everything in the Mosaic Law (or the Law of Moses, see Exodus 21-Deuteronomy 28), although social justice is important. Indeed, James wrote certain parts of his letter by the inspiration of much of Leviticus 19, including to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).

It’s not as though you need to do anything in the Bible to become Christian, though. For instance, in Acts 15, Peter said that his people could never fulfill the law of Moses at any time, neither in his generation or in the generations of those who have gone before him. Noah offered those sacrifices in chapter 8 to remind him of his own sins (verses 20-21, see Hebrews 10:3 for the concept I’m drawing this from), and sacrifices like what he brought to God could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). Instead, Noah looked to Jesus instead to save him; that’s why he was counted righteous before God (Genesis 6:8, see another story in Genesis 15:6).

I still want death to be avoided by each person, though. I don’t expect each person reading this to believe me; what matters is that they believe the words of Christ spoken across the Bible. For all life, especially human lives, is sacred, and an editor of the VOICE made a note after verse 7 in this chapter to explain a thing or two about it. God especially hates it when someone tried to honor Him by killing someone. Jesus warned this would happen (John 16:2) — this happens in Islam, unfortunately. But I pray the Muslims around the world would become Christian 🙏

I’ll write more about what I said across this post in the next two weeks, mainly on the death penalty, the different food consumption choices and convictions people have, and a small bit of reproduction, which is what frames this seven-verse passage (verses one and seven). I don’t know how many posts I’ll make, but I’ll see you soon!

I love what happens in this chapter here… even though everything outside the ark died. I must wonder: what could have been done so that the people that later perished had listened? I think Jesus’ miracles, if they had been performed on the earth, had been seen by each person, more people would’ve repented and followed Him, just as He would later say of Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon (some later Old Testament cities that had been razed by wrath before Jesus’ birth, see Matthew 11:21-24) — I don’t know why Jesus didn’t do any works there, but I guess they knew He was God then — pretty dumb they didn’t believe in Him. (I’ll digress for a short while: how does someone know Jesus is God? Personally, I know and believe He is God because I don’t think I can survive without Him. I’ve tried to survive on my own strength and it didn’t work! We all need Him for both life and love, but all should want Him, too. I know I do.)

Anyway, this chapter is found in pages 4-5 of my NKJV Bible, pages 5-6 of my NASB Bible, and pages 9-10 of my VOICE and Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copies. I find it pretty cool that God promised never to pile-drive the earth like this in verse 21. In that same verse, though, He mentioned some controversial words about sin being in everyone’s hearts from a young age, but I don’t think that is part of what He does — it follows each person from birth, and all of us fall for it, seeing that most of us never know that Jesus is God by the time they’re older than I am, and I’m less than two years before my 30th birthday. For the record, though, I don’t think anyone is born to do evil works, all of us want to do good from the time we were created, for it is God’s design that it should happen. Too bad our parents never believed us growing up, and while many people even in their early 30s want to do good today, most of us are left with the illusion that we should listen to our elders — though they know that evil doesn’t work — and they can’t find any good opportunities to do good or be born again into freedom. Well, I have some good news! Jesus is near, and He doesn’t believe your parents’ godless words about being like them or living under a generational curse that you “should follow.” I’m like, “Please, like that’s ever gonna happen!” (I mean under the iniquity pattern; see Deuteronomy 5:9 in which it says that it follows each person without Christian parents until he/she is born again…)

Indeed, most parents in this world say that everything is your fault, but God doesn’t see it like that; they don’t know anything about you. They have no desire to love you or even their infant grandchildren; they don’t deserve you. It’s not as though you or anyone else is destined for condemnation anyway; it’s not what the Bible teaches. Someone can call this heretical, but I think they’re rejecting this message with such a wicked heart motive. I don’t want anyone else suffering from the whole “family-over-Jesus” thing. I mean, it’s pretty good to love and respect each person, relative or otherwise, but the condemnation you’ve been given is a disgrace to you and even themselves. I think the Holy Spirit says you should spend time apart from them for everyone’s sakes, cut them off forever if you have to. A revival is coming, as prophesied in Joel 2:28-29, and there’s no stopping it. I’m very happy it’s going to arrive! But the naysayers who speaks against it hate the Lord Jesus and only desire to worship the wickedness that God does not forgive. Not saying that He isn’t forgiving, but that these wicked deeds are ways to reject Jesus. If anyone, even your family members, are trying to get you to abandon Christ, you shouldn’t hang out with them. I do pray that my niece would love Jesus, though. She just turned one last Wednesday, and I’m understandably excited for her birthday party in three days. I pray that the weather is tolerable for her, though…

The final verse mentions that the seasons will remain the same each year across the world. While it’s winter here in Arizona, though, it’s summer in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, other parts of the Southern Hemisphere, so they’re sweltering in the heat! But dang, it is freezing cold when you go even ten degrees north of the Tropic of Cancer or further. Don’t get me started on Canada, for while I like everything up there (I’ve never actually been there myself, but I’d like to travel there someday), the weather is way too cold for me most of the year. But even so, the warm spring days here in Arizona will be excellent, and I’m looking forward to them. I’m not looking forward to the summer heat, but because I have a pool in my backyard, I don’t mind being here and cooling off for free with my friends, sometimes going to the waterpark if I can afford a one-day or season pass. I know food is expensive there, but that’s ok, yet I know my student loan payments for each month will soar much higher than it is now once summer begins. Indeed, I don’t have the money to pay those bills with my job (I’m already paying off several other things each month as it is), so if I don’t find a job that pays me quite a bit better than the one I have now, I’m screwed, even with my family and/or friends helping me, for each person has enough money problems of their own. Our generation is struggling to pay off debts, and I fear that most of us will be ruined by them. If that happens, future generations will understand that college is both a blessing and a curse, seeing that the U.S. educational systems are, for the most part, unwilling to help anyone with these, and forgiveness for any loans like these isn’t even possible. God’s curse lies upon the people who have given each former college student a death sentence by promising them success but trying to drive them into ruin in each aspect in the meantime. If anyone survives, that’s awesome, but I want no one else (including myself) to suffer due to the lies our ancestors tricked us into. Indeed, if any person breaks a promise, God will reject them. That’s why I don’t make promises lightly, or even at all. But I pray revival for each people group anyway, regardless of language, tribe, dialect, etc.

I figure you might find my words rather strong here (like I imagine you thought in my previous posts), but whatever. I pray you can seek after Jesus with the help of these words spoken here, and especially from the Scriptures, since I’m getting my opinions from each book here. But anyway, I’ll see you in chapter nine! I’ll probably make a minimum of three posts on that chapter, but it’s up in the air right now; I’ll read that chapter in each of the translations I’m using for this project. I might get into at least one of the other translations I’m not using for this while reading the other four, but I’ll stick to those four and especially the Hebrew for this, if I can find it.

So I didn’t know there was a subterranean ocean beneath the ground in Noah’s time (verse 11, VOICE), but scientists have said the same thing that it exists today, yet it might be lava, so I think they’re wrong about the water still being underground in terms of a global ocean. Still, it’s pretty cool how nine of each creature went into the ark — we make jokes about how unicorns and T-Rexs and other dinosaurs didn’t make it 😂 — also (I didn’t mention this back in chapter one), I found some pictures online about some hilarious explanations of God’s creation starting. The Christian meme page @memesforjesus made a post explaining that in a hilarious way. I similarly believe that the water kind of did the same from below and above ground. Too bad everything perished but what was in Noah’s ark, but again, I don’t think God was the one to kill them. It’s not His heart to wipe out anything, really.

I should’ve mentioned that a hundred years had passed between the time Noah got the first command to build an ark containing many creatures, nine of each species (in one song, a California rapper named E-40 weirdly mentioned he had more animals than Noah’s ark… I don’t know what he was thinking); I think Noah saw that God’s heart was redemption for all creatures, so that’s why he was able to trust Him. And trust, if done correctly, leads to the right deeds — it’s also what Romans 1:5 means. It’s a shame this kind of glory is being turned to shame for many people… I think the unadulterated understandings of God’s love for others are under attack. They have been for many years, but today, it’s worse than usual, for politics is completely despotic and they tell people to hope in them because “that’s what God designed leadership for” — utterly blasphemous, in my opinion. I never hope in any human being rather than Jesus (although it would be nice if any person did a good job with leadership in something), and the U.S. has a long history of being nationalistic like this — it shouldn’t go on. Some nation that calls itself Christian, huh? Yet I believe salvation should come to more people in each tribe and nation and language.

I also read the note of the whole clean vs. unclean thing — they said it would later spell out what the Israelites would be commanded to do about ritual purities, but I don’t think that’s what God wanted them to create for their culture. For although death reigned from Adam to Moses (Romans 5:14), it’s not as though it were any less good after the Flood. Yet the law of Moses was added because of many transgressions (Galatians 3:19), and also, I believe that the people of Israel, in Moses’ time, wanted religion instead of relationship, though relationship was what Moses wanted for his people. Unfortunately, religion was the forefront throughout most of the Old Testament, and I also know that God gave over those people to this because of their gross desires for corruption (Ezekiel 20:25-26) — and I think that’s why cultures like the U.S. preach the severity of God in strange ways too much. In 1 Samuel 8, God was incensed against the people because they wanted politics instead of humble leading by Him. I think it should be the other way around for all nations, but that’s not going to happen on a global scale until Jesus’ thousand-year reign happens (Revelation 20:4-6). Yet it doesn’t change my desire for people to encounter His love regardless of ethnic or religious background. For although politics was never God’s invention, He at least worked through David in the 10th century B.C. to move Israel toward accepting Jesus, his Descendant. I know this can be a maligned word, but don’t be afraid to say any of this. I do understand on keeping a low profile having this conviction, though, for I believe it wholeheartedly, and many people wouldn’t. Plus, offense is a dangerous weapon to the point that God’s hand can be silenced for everyone’s lives for a while. I’m not willing to make that happen.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! (Edit: I forgot to mention that this chapter can be found in page 4 of my NKJV Bible, page 5 of my NASB Bible, and pages 8-9 of my VOICE and Amplified Bible copies.) See you in Genesis 8!

Today is Valentine’s Day, a holiday commonly celebrated for showing love to others. I think that’s a good idea, and it was named after St. Valentine, who lived in the third century A.D. He did get beheaded for his faith in Jesus, doing many good works in his time (you can read more in Shane Claiborne’s post about him on Facebook). I think God wanted Noah to build the ark so people could see that He wanted them to escape the flood. It must’ve been pretty difficult for him to do, but at least there may not have been so many people pretending to be righteous in those days, using Jesus’ Name to promote Pharisism and such (you can read the Gospels, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, about three-fourths of the way into the Bible to find more, and I’ll get to them eventually). I don’t know what Noah’s world looked like in that way, but Jesus did say that as is was then, it’ll be the same when He takes up those who love Him (Matthew 24:37). We don’t need to be prolific about anything, though.

I noticed that verse nine of this chapter was translated to say Noah was blameless, the best man, and perfect, all in those four translations (the passage can be found in pages 3-4 of my NKJV Bible, pages 4-5 of my NASB Bible, and page 8 of both my VOICE and Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copies I bought about three years apart). All three are correct, for the Hebrew makes at least those three meanings (or maybe they make just those three words, I don’t know Hebrew well at all). For Noah had perfect DNA, and by this he was able to have Jesus descend from him about three thousand years later. To him, it didn’t matter that no one else was righteous, he wanted to get anyone in his ark however he could. Only his wife, sons, and their wives heeded him, but Christ’s words through Noah (1 Peter 3:19-20) were not wasted. It’s pretty cool how anyone can receive Him, and I really hope I can get my family saved (I had gotten three other people to become Christian before). But anyone who resists the Holy Spirit will not be included in the heavenly city, New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:6-8). I did hear of something in which Jesus’ death brought many people to life including some who had died in Noah’s time, though. Maybe I read a bad idea, but I know many people came back to earth from Heaven (Matthew 27:52).

In today’s time, about five thousand years after Noah’s ark escapade, we are commanded to preach the Gospel with or without words, as all who have ever received Jesus as Lord and Saviour have been since His death and resurrection. But many people have falsified His Word too much since then. And we live in a time in which Christ is being mocked more than ever due to the White House making an “emergency” to try again to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and also many other unjust things in relation to rejecting refugees and denying people healthcare, especially if it’s affordable. Also, many parts of the world are following this pattern directly, and most of the world’s churches are eating it up and following the U.S. government like sheep. But Jesus’ voice is more convicting than their voices are. Indeed, His people will not follow them at all (John 10:5). People will tell me to get involved in politics or that I don’t know what I’m talking about, but how am I supposed to follow anything like this? No one in Christ can do that in good conscience, for it opposes Him, and so does slavery, sex trafficking, fraud, all of it. But St. Valentine didn’t die in vain; indeed, God will bring him into the heavenly city.

I’ll write more on the Flood and relating some of it to today’s events as I go through the next three chapters. I pray I write good content on this, and that it’s not illegal to think the good we want. See you soon!

I’m reading this passage in the VOICE right now and I’m reminded of how weird the world had gotten (refer to my previous post for an explanation of the Nephilim and the “sons of God”). I don’t think our world is as nuts as it must’ve been in Noah’s day five thousand years ago, but Jesus said, “As in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:37). But we cannot predict this date (Matthew 24:36). Yet, our world is a bit similar to Noah’s time now. Also, I was wondering, “How thick was that layer of water in the Earth’s atmosphere?” That I cannot answer, but I don’t think it should’ve been translated that God regretted creating anybody. As a reminder, the English is translated awkwardly from the Hebrew across the Old Testament, like in Exodus 32:14 — the words are very bizarre in most translations! But now’s not the time to get to that.

Noah, at the age of 600, later saved his family from the flood, and I’m thinking, “Glad that disaster isn’t going to happen again!” (See Genesis 9:11-17.) I also just noticed the “afterward” part of verse 4 here — I think Nephilim were on the earth during that time (like in Moses’ day), but there might be some today, I don’t know if there are any. But to be frank, I do not believe they are actual demons, for demons cannot make more demons since the rebellion in Heaven happened (Isaiah 14:12-14, also Ezekiel 28:12-19, Revelation 12:7-8). It’s not possible that a human being can be hated by God (Job 36:5), for demons are repulsive. By the way, this passage is found in page 3 of my NKJV Bible, page 4 of my NASB Bible, pages 7-8 in my copy of the VOICE Bible (including two notes between some of the verses), and page 7 of my copy of the Amplified Bible (Classic Edition).

What I’m about to say might tick off a number of people, but I’m thoroughly disgusted with the thought that some of the women were probably raped by the demons that pretended to be human beings! It’s one of the worst forms of slavery, if not the worst form! Yeah, I’m thinking it was the absolute worst form of slavery that can happen, for a soul tie is created as a result, and healing is usually very difficult to find, for even though God is everywhere, people can warp others’ viewpoints about Him, and so He is given a bad name and spoken of falsely to the point that truth is taken as unforgivingly offensive. I know some of you may have seen statements like this before, but I find sexual violence more offensive than anything. God’s Name must never be used to promote rape or condemnation of the ones His enemies are oppressing. I can give a further explanation of what I know and believe hostility against Jesus is like, but for now (because Two Rivers Awaken starts in less than an hour), I’ll say that petty issues shouldn’t be exaggerated, and neither should anything else. But for those who have been raped or sexually harassed/assaulted, let me say, it’s not your fault. You don’t deserve these shameful things. If you want me to pray for healing and to move forward, and especially for justice for you (I mean restoration; see Amos 5:24), submit a request on Instagram (username: @ronnie.out1926) because I’m bad at checking my e-mails, and I’m on Instagram almost every day, if not daily, so I’ll definitely be praying for you there. I know that was unrelated to the passage, but I imagine that’s what happened in some parts of the world back then.

I also forgot to mention that the ocean probably wasn’t so deep in those days due to the water in the atmosphere God later released, but it is true that springs shot up in Noah’s lifetime. There’s also a movie called “Noah,” but I don’t agree with some of the parts I heard about. For instance, I heard about a moment when the actor’s character wanted to kill his family, but Jesus never believed in that kind of insanity, and neither do His followers. I know I don’t believe in death. By the way, only two people have avoided death: Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), and though God can have someone avoid death entirely, we shouldn’t expect that to happen, although a resurrection is possible, but only by the Holy Spirit. I do want to make it to the Rapture that is to come before the start of the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), but we shouldn’t expect that to happen in our lifetimes — I’m already 28, but my niece will likely live to over 100, so I think if she becomes Christian, it’ll be easier for her to avoid death like this.

Well, I’m off, I’ve spent enough time on here for now. See you later!

Many have wondered why this has happened. A lot of people have probably never heard of this one, and most who know of it are either happy that so many drowned in the Flood or they mock God for it, seeing that there isn’t much clarity between the English and Hebrew here — lost in translation? 🤣 — Anyway, this controversial story is found in pages 3-5 of my NKJV Bible, pages 4-6 of my NASB Bible, and pages 7-11 of both my VOICE and Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copies. But before I get into this, I want to say that God did not kill anybody with the water. I know many who read this will get very angry and probably hostile to my comments on this, saying, “This was God’s judgment! Of course He killed them!” Well, I don’t think so, so if you don’t like this opinion, too bad.

While everyone but Noah and, what I imagine, his family rejected Jesus (for He was preaching through Noah — I did a study on 1 Peter 3:18-20 and found this answer), it says in 2 Samuel 14:14 that God does not take away life. In my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy of footnote e in chapter 4 (page 5 there), the commentator said God cursed the ground and that Cain could not argue with Him because He loved Abel more — that’s heresy. So is the idea that God takes pleasure in retribution, and those ideas are not right. The commentator’s name? A.W. Pink. He was (and still is) a well-known Calvinist who had died long ago in his sins (I don’t know when it was), and people either love or hate him. I don’t believe it’s right to hate anyone, by the way. Yet I know the commentator on footnote e deserved God’s wrath defeating him in the end. Like I said in chapter three, he’s in Hell paying for his sins, and so have all who preached and believed the same. It doesn’t discriminate between generations, but I’m glad to see this number drop per capita. From what I’ve heard and read in the past, my generation (Millenials) is actually pretty high on authenticity, and I think that’s a good thing. But now’s not the time to comment any further on that…

I’ve also read on a link that chapter 6 has Noah with perfection, but he had perfect DNA, not a perfect life. That’s impossible. The Nephilim (giants of the earth; see verse 4) actually came from women whom demons had seduced, too. God also prophesied that man would live a maximum of 120 years (verse 3)… but it would be a long time before that would happen. I think God was unwilling to limit life too much, but I also believe that the water from the Earth’s atmosphere that it had at the time was part of the Flood that would transpire in chapters 7 and 8. When it landed on the Earth, the UV rays would greatly shorten life, which I find unfortunate, and so would many diseases multiplying across the earth over many centuries up to this point. Thank God for better healthcare than what they had three thousand years ago or even just the previous century! Also, I forgot to mention that the gifts of the Spirit I mentioned last night — 1 Corinthians 12 is the basis of my beliefs concerning these.

The Hebrew is very awkward in translating Genesis 6:6 into English, too, I’m sorry… I believe that a more accurate translation (without deviating from the original meaning) would be, “And God was sorry of what the human race had become, and it pained His heart just thinking about what they were doing” (going off of verse 5) — even though He loved all creation from before the beginning. You know how I said that there are believers in every generation? Well, Isaiah 51:8 is the basis for my beliefs concerning this, too. Also, contrary to popular belief, there were actually nine of each species that Noah took in his ark (Genesis 7:2-3). Now that’s what I call a zoo!

Chapter 9 has a beautiful promise of no worldwide floods after that, with a rainbow God sets in the sky to remember His covenant with the whole human race (verses 11-17), and I’m very glad for it. Many large floods have happened across the world since then, but at least there’s never been a promise broken by God. But I think the floods come from demonic activity. Noah also makes a vineyard and gets drunk from it later on there, but Ham (one of his sons) sees it, his brothers cover his naked body (they didn’t look at him), and very weirdly, Noah pronounces a curse on Canaan, the land which would later be Israel (9:24-27) — he didn’t curse any actual people, I don’t think, but he prophesied that the land would be a slave of slaves to their brothers/sisters nearby. I don’t know what to think on Noah’s strange words — he had sobered up, it says there. I don’t know why he got hammered on his own grapes, where the wine comes from. And yes, I do mean grapes that you eat from the vine, like the green seedless ones you find in the store.

I’ll make more notes on these four chapters over the next few weeks… or months. I don’t know when I’ll get to chapter 10, but I’ll concentrate on these four chapters, so bear with me. Please? 🔜

Ever since I first read this passage and several others like it, I’ve become fascinated with avoiding death entirely and/or several other major complications by means of the Holy Spirit’s blessing. It’s been about nine and a half years since I became Christian, and I can tell you that the Bible has a lot of trippy stuff in it. I’ve always wanted to exalt God in ways people could get excited about (since my conversion in 2009, of course), such as do many miraculous works, heal the sick, raise the dead, and even with some of the most far-out prophetic powers imaginable… all by the Holy Spirit’s power and not my own. Yep, you guess it, though I’m non-denominational by default, I’m pretty huge into the miraculous and to eliminate the ugliness of cessationism. Don’t get me wrong, I think medicine can be good, but there needs to be more of the Holy Spirit’s power transpiring even the best of medical clinics and their good works. Indeed, it is my belief that the gifts of the Spirit (teaching, tongues, prophecy, healings, mercy, words of knowledge, justice (restoration according to what an afflicted one deserves), etc.) are not practiced or preached often enough. Oh, this passage is found in page 3 of my NKJV Bible, page 4 of my NASB Bible, and page 7 of both my VOICE and Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copies.

I’ve also wanted to not deal with the complications of aging, whether I eat organic food or not, and also, the reality of exemplifying kindness that can’t be destroyed, not to mention being in good circumstances at least once in each scenario I’m in. I want to make it to the Rapture — I mean that I want to be a catalyst to get so many people saved that we won’t need to experience death (for the Rapture is Jesus taking up His people to shield them from worldwide disaster according to Revelation 6-19), but I have more confidence that my niece, Bee, can make it, for she was born just last February, and I’ve discovered that she has the genes to live for more than 100 years. My brother and I, though, we men can’t survive that long, especially since our dad passed seven years ago next May at 55. I just turned 28 last month, and I want to be there for her in everything before I leave this world. The women in my mom’s family live a long time (her grandmother is still alive and kickin’ at 103). Enoch’s story inspires me, and so does Ezekiel’s mind-blowing passages (i.e. chapter 14 about Noah, Daniel, and Job). But I have no intention to freak anyone out with whatever I might say, either in this website or outside of it. Still, I’ve heard stories in which people can feel as young as I am in their 90s in this day and age. And that’s pretty cool! Also, Enoch prophesied something that is now in Jude 14-15, and it’s sorta related to Christ’s Second Coming. But it’s going to be a long time before I get there.

Onwards to Noah’s story… dear God…

Many years pass. Ten generations elapse between Adam and Noah. I just looked up some interesting information of the names between the two. Chuck Missler laid it pretty well on his post about these names. But to give you some brief information, I’ll list out the ten names and their English meanings from the Hebrew:

Adam = man
Seth = [has] appointed
Enosh = mortal
Kenan = sorrow
Mahalalel = [but] the blessed God
Jared = shall come down
Enoch = teaching
Methuselah = [and] His death shall bring
Lamech = the despairing
Noah = rest.

Isn’t it cool? Whether intentionally or not, the first ten generations of human history have the Gospel embedded in their names, especially Noah’s! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Oh, I should mention that this chapter is found in page 3 of my NKJV Bible, pages 3-4 of my NASB Bible I bought less than two years ago, page 7 of my VOICE copy, and pages 6-7 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.

I’ll get to explaining my desire to be with Jesus as Enoch probably wanted in his time (5:22-24), but not on this post. See you soon!

I’m sure if you’ve read a Bible for a short time, you’re probably already aware of what unfolds here in this fourth chapter of Genesis. But in 2009, when I first became Christian, I had no idea this story existed. I didn’t know, like, anything that had transpired in Bible times… except for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for all mankind. I had yet to discover it was even for each person! Thank God I never believed otherwise. This chapter is found in pages 2-3 of my NKJV Bible someone had given me two or three years ago, page 3 of my NASB Bible, and pages 5-6 of both my VOICE and Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copies I bought about three years apart. Also, I put two dates on the title for this post because it’s almost midnight as I write this, and I haven’t written anything in nearly two weeks.

Anyway, we see that Cain murders his only brother at the time, and that’s not right, what he did. God later promises that anyone who purposely kills a human being will also meet a violent death by a human being themselves, intentionally or otherwise (Genesis 9:6). But before I say anything else about this, let me first comment about how lovemaking was apparently discovered after banishment from Eden (3:23-4:1). Do you think Adam and Eve would’ve done it if no one had eaten off of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (3:6)? I think they would. It says in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and multiply,” right? But I think it’s pretty cool how Cain was the firstborn meant for glory in his own calling that God had given him. Funny how he didn’t think God and him were on the rocks, but at least Abel (his brother) gave to Him by faith, as we see in Hebrews 11:4.

Cain had a shot to love God by faith, too, thus pleasing Him (for we cannot please Him without faith; see Hebrews 11:6), yet for some reason, he chose a bad road — he was the world’s first murderer, and I really wish he hadn’t done that. Funny enough, murder can be forgiven, for Jesus died to transform even the most wicked hearts to come alive in Him. I find it interesting that the VOICE commentators mentioned that Cain was jealous of Abel’s offering (found on a brief note between verses 7 and 8). I think he had no interest after he believed his offerings could never be accepted. At the end of the dialogue (verses 9-15), God tells Cain anyone who kills him would experience His vengeance (I almost said “suffer” 😫🤐). Yet, his descendant, Lamech, arrogantly boasted that if Cain was avenged seven times, then he was to be avenged 77 times. Also, don’t worry about who Cain’s wife (verse 17) was; it was one of his sisters that Adam and Eve had brought into the world. We don’t know how much time passes between these events across this chapter, but I know they all live for several hundred years each, for there was water in the air blocking the harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays that give us sunburns. This didn’t get disposed until the Flood, but more of that later.

Also, I once read or heard that Lamech’s boast in verse 24, Jesus reversed in Matthew 18:22 with forgiveness. I think forgiveness is a lot better than vengeance and being out for blood. It even says in Hebrews 12:24 that His blood speaks a better world than the blood of Abel. There’s the “Nod” thing in verse 16 that’s worth mentioning: it’s east of Eden, and one time, the Eagles released an album titled “East of Eden.” I’ve never heard anything from that one, as far as I can remember, but I did like their 70’s music. Hopefully, the frontman had accepted Christ before he died in 2016. I pray for the rest of the band members to become Christians, too.

The final two verses tell of a third boy born to Adam and Eve named Seth. It’s a pretty common name nowadays, too, and after many years, Seth fathered a boy named Enosh, and we see that people began to worship God during that time. Hopefully, there were some honest people. I think there always were in each generation since Adam and Eve’s creation. Also, I should say that Adam and Eve were created without belly buttons, but because everyone else (including me, you, your best friend, your brothers/sisters, obviously) was born of a woman, we all have belly buttons. In the U.S. and many other nations of the world, the umbilical cord is cut as soon as each boy or girl is born. But now’s not the time for me to speak of anatomy, for it can get TMI, and I want this blog to be appropriate for those at the age of 12 and under. Of course, there’s some graphic incidents that the Bible records, but I do not wish to get into that. Yet I can’t not get pissed off at the abominations of rape and sexual harassment/assault — thankfully, I won’t need to go there today. I also want to be careful with whom I’m sharing this information to, and I know that the truth can fall into the wrong hands, plus, it’s awhile away from the Sodom and Gomorrah story, so bear with me, now.

Look forward to chapter five with you!