BPR Mailing List Digest: 08/2-8/98

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
August 2-8, 1998

Digest Home | 1998

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: King Hussein last Hashemite king?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 09:30:07 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

                          Sermon on Temple Mount
                             (Al-Aqsa Mosque)
                               July 31, 1998
     I seek refuge with ALLAH from the Satan.
     In the Name of ALLAH the merciful and the compassionate.
     "Now hath come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it
grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to
the Believers is he most kind and merciful.* But if they turn away,
say: "Allah sufficeth me; there is no god but He: on Him is my trust,
- He

the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme!" Al-Tawba (9-128,129).
     O People,
     What happened to the state of Jordan? And what's possible to
     happen
to the Muslims in Jordan?
     The people of Jordan are looking forward to the cure of their
     king
Hussein from his malignant disease. We heard about many greetings and
support for him from different sources.
     What happened to the state of Jordan immediately after the
announcement of the King's disease?
     The first thing happened was the fall of the Jordanian Dinar.
     Shouldn't the Ummah ask herself why this happened? When Rabin
     (Israeli Prime Minister) killed the Israeli Shekel was
not affected. When Clinton fell and broke his leg the US Dollar was
not affected. When Yeltsin had a heart attack this didn't affect the
Russian currency.
     Shouldn't the Ummah ask herself why when something bad happens to
one of her Kings or presidents that incident affects immediately the
exchange rate of the currency of that state?
     Don't you remember what happened to the Iraqi currency?
     Shouldn't we ask these leaders and ourselves about such economic
setbacks?
     The answer is simple. The currency in our states in the Muslim
     land
is not correlated to gold or silver. The currency instead is related
to other factors like the imperialist economy of the US Dollar. It's
also related to the international image of the state, and to the
strength of that king or president in his tyranny. Once the Kings
dies, for example, the Jordanian Dinar falls dramatically. This is a
true manifestation of how the imperialist infidel had correlated your
economy to his economy and to the health of his agents.
     The Muslim should understand that and the Muslim Ummah should
correlate her own currency only to gold and silver which will give her
a true value. So when the king goes, or comes, or falls or dies the
currency will not get affected.
     Secondly; the imperialist infidels (the US and Britain in this
case) are waiting for the king Hussein to fall because they know that
the king will not stay forever. Britain, from one side, had tried to
prepare Laith Shbelat (a known Jordanian Islamist opponent to the
Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty) to take over. The father of Laith
Shbelat was one of the guardians on the young King Hussein. This means
that he was a British employee in a higher position than the king
himself was at that time.
     The king himself declared few years ago when he had fallen ill
     that
he would be the last Hashimite King. This means that after king
Hussein there will be no Hashamite monarchy in Jordan, so Britain
wants to establish in Jordan a so called Islamic republic with a
bearded president who will be applying a secular regime.
     The Americans from the other side are preparing men like Arabiyat
to take over after the death of the king, this is because the prince
Hasan is not popular in Jordan and doesn't have the wisdom and the
experience of his brother the king.
     O Muslims brothers,
     The imperialist infidels are controlling your life and your
expectations.

     Isn't the time had come for you to come forward and bypass the
Infidels and uproot such corrupted kings and presidents from their
positions and throw them in the trash? And to create instead the
Islamic Khilafah as Allah and his messenger commands? And to declare
Jihad to liberate lands and people, to break the cross, to impose
Jizyah, to kill the pig, to liberate Bait Almaqdis (Jerusalem), and
then Rome, and open Mecca for all Muslims to perform pilgrimage.
     May Allah help the people who work to reestablish the Khilafah.
     Ameen.

Israeli & Global News
http://www.cmep.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Computer Warfare Tactics
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 09:30:07 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

                 China Article on Computer Warfare Tactics
               Beijing Jiefangjun Bao in Chinese 7 Jul 98 p 6
     Article by Chen Zhaohai "Computer Warfare Tactics" -- passages
within slantlines published in boldface
     Upon opening a war history book, one might see either close
fighting with dead bodies scattered on a battlefield or fierce
fighting shrouded in gun smoke with abundant areas of destruction.
Nonetheless, since the advent of hi-tech warfare, future wars may
become so "civilized" that a smokeless computer war is likely to
attain combat goals through "soft casualties."
     /Planting of advanced computer viruses./ A belligerent party
     could
plant computer viruses in computer parts bought by a potential enemy
before a war and activate the viruses when war breaks out, thus
paralyzing the enemy's command system; rendering the enemy's
computerized weaponry systems including planes, tanks, submarines, the
enemy's automatic control equipment, and more inoperative; or making
the enemy's missiles deviate from their targets or explode
prematurely. By so doing, it could defeat the enemy by surprise.
     /Timely planting of computer viruses./ Before a war breaks out,
     a
belligerent party could quickly plant a computer virus into the
enemy's command system or computerized weaponry system, thereby
"obstructing" the enemy's combat operations during the war. Shortly
before the Gulf War broke out, Iraq bought a new type of air defense
system computer printer from France. However, US special agents had
secretly installed a whole set of computer chips containing a virus
into the printer before it was delivered to Iraq. Later on, as the
Iraqi military command

center's computer system was infected with the virus, the Iraqi air
defense system was basically paralyzed.
     /Indirect planting of computer virus./ A belligerent party could
plant a computer virus into an enemy's computerized command system or
the auxiliary systems of a weaponry system, such as the power,
propellant, or temperature-control system, when it was hard to plant a
computer virus into a well-guarded target system. As the enemy command
system and weaponry system were infected with the virus, it could
ultimately and secretly paralyze a target system.
     /Planting computer viruses at connecting points./ A belligerent
party could plant a computer virus at the connections of an enemy's
computer network so that the virus would gradually enter the enemy
computer center and ultimately reach a vital terminal, thus paralyzing
an enemy's computer network. In November, 1988, Morris, a doctoral
researcher at the US's Cornell University, planted a type of computer
virus he invented into the US Army Information Network which resulted
in more than 6,000 networked computers being paralyzed. Seeing this,
a senior US commander cried out in alarm "A smokeless computer
network war has become a possible threat to the country's national
security, for it is more lethal than a conventional war."
     /Electromagnetic field probing and planting of computer viruses./

A belligerent party could reconnoiter and probe; plant a computer
virus into; or interfere with the electromagnet field of an enemy's
computer network, thus disrupting or jeopardizing the flow of enemy
information or paralyzing the enemy's computer network. It was
reported that a newly developed electromagnetic wave probing devise
could intercept computer-generated electromagnetic waves in an area of
3,000 square meters by identifying its characteristics; processing it
with a special apparatus; restoring it; or inflicting "soft
casualties" on it.
     We should not regard a future war as a game. While facilitating
social civilization, scientific development and technological progress
have also changed the concept mode of military struggle. As
"information warfare" and the "information superhighway" quietly
develop, computer warfare is expected to enter the global military
stage soon and thereby put Sun Zi's tactical thinking of "winning a
complete victory without fighting" into practice.
     [Description of Source: Beijing Jiefangjun Bao in Chinese --
     daily
newspaper of the General Political Department of the People's
Liberation Army (PLA), reporting on a wide range of military affairs]

Israeli & Global News
http://www.cmep.com

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: 8/2/98 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 09:30:07 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

9:00 PM Eastern

HIST Ancient Inventions. Was the computer conceived of hundreds
of years ago but only realized in the 20th century? Did ancient man
practice primitive brain surgery? Scholars present evidence indicating
that our ancestors imagined innovations such as batteries, steam
power, and flight. We'll look at some of their inventions. [TV G]

TLC - WAR AND CIVILIZATION - "First Blood" - Greek phalanx
warfare; Philip of Macedon; Alexander the
Great.(CC)(TVPG)

10:00

A&E - HOLLYWOODISM: JEWS, MOVIES AND THE AMERICAN
   DREAM ** (Documentary, 1998) -- Filmmaker Simcha
   Jacobovici examines the Jewish impact on filmmaking and U.S.
   values. (120 minutes) (CC) (TVPG)(Ends midnight)

TLC - WAR AND CIVILIZATION - "Empires and Armies" - The
Roman and Chinese empires build cultures on violence and
leave legacies of organization.(CC)(TVPG)

11:00

HIST The First Emperor of China. More than two millennia ago,
one man founded a nation that would become one of history's most
important civilizations. Now, historical drama recreates the glory and
the terror of the Qin dynasty, from the inner sanctum of the royal
palace to the battlefields of feudal kings. [TV PG]

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Walk of Fame leery of Jesus star
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 09:36:53 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

Walk of Fame leery of Jesus star

HOLLYWOOD, July 30 (UPI) -- A Southern California church has drawn
the attention of administrators for Hollywood's celebrated Walk of
Fame because of a star honoring Jesus.

The star, installed this month outside the Oasis Christian Center, is
similar in shape and style to the pink terrazo stars on Hollywood
sidewalk honoring entertainment industry luminaries.

But instead of an industry symbol such as a camera for directors or a
microphone for radio celebrities, the star on Wilshire Boulevard
features a sword and an open book, with the name Jesus Christ
emblazoned over it. The square in which it is set also has the words,
``the Son of God.''

In a statement, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said ``there is
nothing wrong with creating a Walk of Faith or with the church
honoring Jesus. The question is whether they should have created a
star similar to ours without first checking with us.''

In past cases, the Chamber has reached agreements with other groups
wanting to use similar stars, and officials say they are confident an
agreement can be reached in this case, too.

The star is the first in what Oasis leaders hope will become a Walk of
Faith on Wilshire, similar to the Walk of Fame.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: PA Charter and Schoolbooks
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:31:34 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

PA SCHOOLBOOKS AND THE PLO CHARTER

The following material comparing Palestinian Authority school
books and the Palestinian National Covenant was prepared by Itamar
Marcus, Director of Research, Center For Monitoring The Impact Of
Peace:

Article 7: "It is a national duty to bring up individual Palestinians
in an Arab revolutionary manner...He must be prepared for the armed
struggle and ready to sacrifice his wealth and his life..."

Schoolbook: "...there will be a Jihad and our country shall be
freed...You must know, my boy, that Palestine is your holy
responsibility and that of your generation." [Our Arabic Language For
Fifth Grade #542, pp.69-70]

Schoolbook: "Long live the homeland. O my land, my land, my blood
will be sacrificed for you. I have given my life as a sacrifice,
accept it." [Our Arabic Language, Part Two, Fourth Grade p. 131-133]

Article 9: "Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine."

Schoolbook: "Without blood not even one centimeter will be
liberated." [Reader and Literary Texts for Eighth Grade p.131-133]

Article 15: "The liberation of Palestine ...aims at the elimination
of Zionism in Palestine..."

Schoolbook: "Why must we fight the Jews and drive them out of our
land?" [Our Arabic Language for Fifth Grade p.66]

Article 15: "The Arab nation must mobilize all its military, human,
and moral and spiritual capabilities to participate actively with the
Palestinian people in the liberation of Palestine."

Schoolbook: "How are we going to liberate our stolen land? Make use
of the following ideas: Arab unity, genuine faith in Allah, most
modern weapons and ammunition, using oil and other precious natural
resources as weapons in the battle for liberation." [Our Arabic
Language for Seventh Grade Part A, p. 15]

Articles 19-20: "The partition of Palestine in 1947 and the
establishment of the state of Israel are entirely illegal...The
Balfour Declaration...null and void."

Schoolbook: "...the Balfour Declaration is regarded as illegal..."
[Modern Arab History and Contemporary Problems, Part Two, for Tenth
Grade #613 p.51]

Article 20: "Claims of historical or religious ties of Jews with
Palestine are incompatible with the facts of history"

Schoolbook: "The Zionists turn their attention towards Palestine as
the national homeland of the Jews, while relying on false historical
and religious claims." [Modern Arab history and Contemporary Problems,
Part 2, for Tenth Grade, p.50]

Article 21: "The Arab Palestinian people...reject all solutions which
are substitutes for the total liberation of Palestine."

Schoolbook: "My brothers! The oppressors have overstepped the
boundary, therefore Jihad and sacrifice are a duty...are we to let
them steal its Arab nature?...let us gather for war with red blood and
blazing fire...Oh Palestine, the youth will redeem your land..."
[Reader and Literary Texts for Eighth Grade, p. 120-122] (Aaron
Lerner, July 28, 1998)

Bridges for Peace
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Israeli Archaeology
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:34:29 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

WAS MT SINAI IN ISRAEL?
Mount Sinai, where Moses was given the Ten Commandments, is
really in Israel, according to an Italian archaeologist. Emanuel
Anati says the real Mount Sinai is Mount Karkoum in Southern Israel.
He has been excavating there for 19 years and says he has found many
ancient remains, including an 88 pound crescent, a symbol, he says,
of the Mesopotamian god Sin. However, Israeli archaeologists say Mt
Sinai is not Mt Karkoum, but one of a number of possible candidates
in the Sinai peninsula. (MED 23/7)

NEW FINDING DOES NOT SHAKE KING DAVID'S REPUTATION
A new archaeological finding shows that Jerusalem was walled
during the Canaanite period. The Antiquities Authority claims that
"history books will have to be rewritten as a result of this find,"
because it shows that King David did not build Jerusalem, but rather
conquered an already-built city. However, archaeologist Chanan Eshel
of Bar Ilan University disagrees: "The finding is truly very
important, butit has nothing to do with King David. We knew even
before this finding that Jerusalem was an important city during the
Canaanite period, but it deteriorated during the period of Joshua and
the Judges, when it was populated by the Jebusites. King David took
this deteriorating city and turned it again into an important city."
Eshel said that actually, King David's reputation as a builder of
Jerusalem does not suffer from this find because the Bible never
portrayed him as such. (Arutz 7, July 24, 1998)

via http://www.bridgesforpeace.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Immigration Jubilee Celebration
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:41:50 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

IMMIGRATION CELEBRATION
The 2.7 million people who have immigrated to Israel in its 50
years will be cause for celebration next week. The Jewish Agency
will hold a Jubilee year celebration - to be known as Immigration Day
- on August 4 at Ben Gurion International Airport. Some 900 new
immigrants will arrive that day on special flights from 12 different
countries, including Russia and other countries of the former Soviet
Union, the U.S., Mexico, England, France, Holland, South America, and
Hungary. They will be greeted by youngsters of the various youth
movements, public figures, and musicians. The rate of aliyah
(immigration) to Israel over the past nine years has averaged
approximately 100,000a year. (Arutz 7, July 28, 1998)

  [Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them
  from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame,
  the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a
  great company shall return thither.--Jeremiah 31:8]

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Demand for removal of crosses at Auschwitz
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:50:13 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

         YAD VASHEM DEMANDS THAT CROSSES BE REMOVED FROM AUSCHWITZ
                 (Communicated by Yad Vashem Spokeswoman)
     The Yad Vashem Directorate today (Sunday) 3.8.98, that Polish
authorities remove the crosses recently erected at Auschwitz by
extremist groups. After a special discussion on the subject, the Yad
Vashem Directorate issued the following statement
     "This provocative act is a violation of the agreement reached
between the international bodies according to which no religious,
ideological or political symbols would be erected on the site. Over a
million people were murdered at Auschwitz and did not receive a proper
burial. It was agreed that a tombstone would not be erected on the
site and that only a museum for educational purposes would be allowed
to remain there. The placing of the crosses, after special efforts
have been made to reduce tensions, may aggravate the situation and
prevent further dialogue between the sides about the future of the
site." Yad Vashem also emphasizes that there are many places of
worship in the vicinity of Auschwitz where anyone who wishes to do so
may express their religiosity.
     For further details, contact Alisa Lehrer on 02-6751666.

Israel Government Press Office
<gponews@netvision.net.il>

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Genealogy/Number Three
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 18:04:23 +0000

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

Hello,

We have been reading "Number in Scripture--Its Supernatural
Design and Spiritual Significance" by E. W. Bullinger. Here are a few
interesting things from those pages

The Two Genealogies of Jesus Christ

Note, first, in which two of the four Gospels they are found, for
this is also significant.

In Matthew God says to us, "Behold thy King" (Zech 9:9).
In Mark He says, "Behold My Servant" (Isa 40:1).
In Luke He says, "Behold the Man" (Zech 6:12).
In John He says, "Behold your God" (Isa 40:9).

Now a servant need not produce his genealogy; neither can God have
one. It is a King who must have one, and a Man who should have one.
Therefore it is that we have two genealogies, and not more than two.
And that is why we have one in Matthew giving the Royal genealogy of
Jesus as King; and one in Luke giving the Human genealogy of Jesus as
Man. Hence also it is that Matthew's is a descending genealogy, while
Luke's is an ascending one. For kings must trace their descent, all
power in the world being derived from God, who says, "By Me kings
reign": and man must trace his ascent to some particular ancestor.
Matthew's, therefore, begins with Abraham, and comes down to Joseph,
the son of Heli; while Luke's starts from Joseph, and goes up to Adam
and God.

As far as David both the lists agree. But here an important
divergence takes place. In Matthew, after David, we have his son
Solomon; while in Luke we have another son, Solomon's elder brother,
Nathan. From this point, therefore, we have two lines. One (Matthew)
gives the royal and legal line through Solomon; the other (Luke)
gives the natural and lineal line through Nathan. The former is the
line according to legal succession; the latter is the line according
to natural descent. The former was the result of the will of God in
choosing Solomon, a younger son; while the latter was the result of
the will of man, and in the order of human birth. Both lines meet in
Joseph, the son of Jacob by birth, and the son of Heli by marriage
with Mary, Heli's only daughter. Thus the two lines are united and
exhausted in Jesus Christ; for by His death they both became extinct,
and thus He was the King of Israel by right; became, and was declared
to be, the Son of God by resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:4; Psa
2:7; Acts 13:33; Heb 1:5, 5:5).
=================

Chapter on The Number Three (30k):
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/n-007-01.htm

Bye,
Moza

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Re: Genealogy/Number Three
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:01:32 -0500

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: skip007@sprynet.com

Hi there,
I just finished reading this book myself and found that it was so full of
great information I just might have to read it again and again! Glad to
hear you are both enjoying it too!
God Bless,
CL

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Re: Begin New Study
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:04:38 -0500

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: skip007@sprynet.com

> From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
>
> Hi guys....
>
> I believe we will do a short study on the second letter to the
> church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11). We'll probably spend about a
> week on it and then we'll take a look at Daniel 9

Sounds good!,
CL

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Begin New Study
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:25:28 -0500

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Prophecy Research and Study List
Study Subject: Ezekiel 1-3
---------------------------------------------------------------

From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>

Hi guys....

I believe we will do a short study on the second letter to the
church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11). We'll probably spend about a
week on it and then we'll take a look at Daniel 9 (The
"Seventy Weeks") per a list member's suggestion. (Any other
future studies you have in mind, send them to me and I'll add
them to our list of possiblities.)

I have had this rather strong feeling that we need to continue
our look at the letters to the churches in Revelation, so we will
be coming back to them from time to time. Matthew 24 (The
Olivet Discourse), the Letters to the Churches, and the Seven
Seals have many of the same threads running through them. I
have thought about these verses of scripture for some time,
but haven't put anything down on paper. (Perhaps it would
make an interesting project for someone.) For example:

The very first thing in Matthew 24 that Jesus says in response
to the disciples' questions is: "Take heed that no man deceive
you." In the first letter to the church of Ephesus, God
commends them on their testing and "trying" of the apostles to
see if they are lying or not (Rev. 2:2). Then in the first seal, we
have what many commentators say is the anti-Christ and his
false system gaining power through diplomacy. We see the
same thread of falsehood or deceiving spirits in each case.

Many commentators have pointed out that the Olivet
Discourse and the Seven Seals run parallel to each other.
The idea that perhaps the seven letters run parallel as well is
new to me however. I'm not even sure they do actually.

The letters are in the last book of the bible for a reason. They
are instructional and preparatory for dealing with conflict and
tribulation. As I said, it would be interesting to explore it more
thoroughly.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Smyrna 1
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:03:24 +0000

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith
the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know
thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I
know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but
are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou
shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,
that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second
death."--Revelation 2:8-11

"Smyrna...was considered the safest seaport of its time. It had a
thriving economy because it was on the main trade route from Rome to
India and Persia. Alexander the Great personally planned the city, and
it was called 'the ornament of Asia' because of its beauty and
splendor. Many Jews lived there, yet Smyrna was overwhelmingly pagan.

"On one end of the main street, the 'street of gold,' stood the Temple
of Zeus, and at the other end stood the Temple of Cybele, 'the mother
of the gods.' Smyrna was also the center of emperor worship in the
Roman Empire, boasting a temple to Tiberius Caesar."

(There's A New World Coming, Hal Lindsey)

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Arafat expecting war over Jerusalem
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:48:54 +0000

ARAFAT EXPECTING WAR OVER JERUSALEM
(News Report From Jerusalem 8/3/98)

"Israel has already announced its desire to start a war over the
holy city of Jerusalem, and has declared its plans regarding the
Holy Temple," stated Yasser Arafat this week. He was speaking at the
Jerusalem Committee Conference of the Arab states in Morocco.
(Hatzofeh) newspaper reports that Arafat said, "Israel's sole goal
since its conquest of Jerusalem in 1967 has been to 'purify' and
'Judaize' Jerusalem." Arafat added, "Of late, Israel has initiated
the great war to make Jerusalem 'Israeli' in order to kill our master,
Mohammed".

Prophezine Newsbites
August 3, 1998
http://www.prophezine.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: "...be thou faithful unto death..."
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 16:40:07 -0500

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>

"...be thou faithful unto death..."

(Rev 2:10 KJV) "Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that
ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

The Christians in Smyrna did indeed go through severe
persecution. They were getting it from all sides -- hostile Jews,
pagan Gentiles, and suspicious Romans. In many cases,
prison was just a prelude to execution. The _IVP Bible
Background Commentary_ further explains what was going on:

"People were betrayed to provincial officials by "informers,"
and by the early second century it is attested that Christians in
Asia Minor were generally charged only if accused by such
informers. By the early second century, Jews in Smyrna were
reportedly fulfilling this function against Christians (such as
Polycarp). But simply claiming publicly that Christians were no
longer welcome as part of the synagogue community was a
form of betrayal; Christians who were not seen as Jewish had
no protection against civil requirements for participation in the
emperor cult."

(The martyrdom of Polycarp is interesting reading. For a
condensed version of the story, visit:
http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/glimpses/eleven.html)

How comforting this letter must have been to them. Jesus told
them not to be afraid and to be faithful even unto death. He
was their example in that He had died and come back to life
and because of this He could promise them a crown of life for
their faithfulness. But verse 11 tells us that this letter is to all
Christians everywhere that may go through persecution one
day:

(Rev 2:11 KJV) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be
hurt of the second death."

There's a reason this letter appears in the last book of the
Bible.

======================

From Open Doors International
http://www.solcon.nl/odi/
June, 1998

Africa

In Egypt, the authorities eased the restrictive Hamayouni
legislation. Furthermore, a beginning was made with the return
of confiscated church properties. Coptic leaders claimed they
had relative freedom, which is true as long as you refrain from
certain activities (Muslim outreach). Overall, the situation in
Egypt improved a little. In Morocco, the authorities caught
western Christians active in Bible import. The court issued a
disproportionately harsh verdict. In Nigeria, the death of
President Abacha led to a measure of relaxation of the
tensions. Many people are deciding on their position in the new
situation. The new regime has already released some political
prisoners. In Sudan, an agreement was reached between the
Islamic government and the rebels in the south. The regime
even lifted the restrictions on humanitarian aid to the war zones
of the country. A team was able to meet with Christian
prisoners, and found that for them there was little improvement.

Asia

In Bangladesh furious Muslim mobs stormed a Catholic
compound on 28 April. There was wide-scale destruction of
church properties and Christians were threatened. The Bengali
authorities did their best to protect the Christians. In its April
issue, the Southeast Asia Development Brief reported on the
various aspects of persecution of Christians in Bangladesh.
From China came various reports: on the one hand there was
the release of a Catholic bishop from prison, on the other hand
we learned about the arrest of a Catholic priest, and the
demolition of churches. Several church leaders were refused
travel permission. Compass reported that the drive to bring
house churches under the umbrella of the Three Self
movement continued. In all, China retained its bad reputation.
Compass Direct again reported extensively on the difficult
situation of the Church in India. A Catholic priest was murdered
in Calcutta in April. Also in April, a group of Indian Christians
issued a report containing various incidents: the beating of
Catholic priest, Fr. Christudas, and for parading him naked in
the town of Dumka, Bihar; on 13 April Hindu militants beat
Jakhya Digal in Orissa state; and a church was destroyed in
Gujarat on 16 April. Some Christians fear that the new leaders
Habibie and Rais may introduce a more central position for
Islam in Indonesia. The Iraqi regime hosted another
conference to polish up its image. Western Christians found
that Iraqi Christians had received much support from the
government and enjoyed freedoms. In Israel, a draft law
restricting outreach activities was repealed. Within a few days,
however, a much more far-reaching proposal was submitted
which was supported by the entire cabinet of Prime Minister
Netanyahu. In Jordan, the director of Manara Ministries
received another threat. Six more Christians were arrested in
Laos. In Myanmar, the regime waged several campaigns
against ethnic minorities: Chin, Karen. In these campaigns
Christians and Muslims are harder hit than the Buddhist
majority. In Pakistan, the situation remained problematic. Ayub
Masih was sentenced to death. Catholic Bishop John Joseph
committed suicide to protest against the Blasphemy laws.
Tensions between Muslims and Christians increased sharply. In
Saudi Arabia, the regime lashed out against expatriate
Christians active in Christian activities. There were arrests,
reports on medieval torture practices, and some expatriates
fled. In Syria, the regime seemed to relax its grip on society a
little. In June more than 230 political prisoners were released.
In Uzbekistan, new and restrictive legislation was issued on
religion in May. It soon led to the closure of a church. In
Vietnam there were more signs of a relaxation: a Catholic
bishop received permission to travel abroad.

Latin America

In Cuba, the first Protestant church was opened in Havana.
Castro issued another positive sign for Christians: he is willing
to host a ecumenical meeting in his country. In Guatemala, a
Catholic bishop was murdered on 29 April. A few days later,
another bishop received a death threat. In Peru, Wuille Ruiz
was released from prison. The authorities were very successful
in their struggle against rebels. At the same time, Colonel De
Vinatea was arrested and unfairly tried. New taxation laws
seemed to hit Protestants worse than Catholics.

Europe

In Russia, the authorities registered the Pentecostals under the
new legislation. On 4 June, the newly appointed Russian
human rights commissioner said that Russia human rights
record was awful.

-- end --

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Patience
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:26:48 -0500

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: skip007@sprynet.com

Jesus spoke to the church at Smyrna to "be thou faithful unto death and I
will give thee a crown of life."
We see this mention of the crown of life also in the book of James...vs 12
says "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them
that love him."
Romans 5:3 "..but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation
worketh patience.."
James 1:2-4 states "My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing."
The book of Hebrews shows us that it is not only a walk of faith but one of
patience as well.....Heb. 6:11,12...."And we desire that every one of you
do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
patience inherit the promises."

God's ways are certainly above our ways and although our flesh would seek
to avoid tribulations we would do well to hear what the spirit saith to the
churches! Knowing that it is the tribulation that brings the patience that
endures to receive the crown of life!

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Patience
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:02:10 -0500

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: skip007@sprynet.com

Hi,
Just wanted to clarify that in the closing comments of the last post titled
"Patience"....I did not mean to imply that I was speaking of The Great
Tribulation but just of tribulation in general!
CL

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: "I know..." (Rev. 2:9)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:39:19 -0500

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>

"I Know..."

(John 15:20 KJV) "Remember the word that I said unto you,
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept
my saying, they will keep yours also."

(1 Pet 2:21-24 KJV) "For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither
was guile found in his mouth: {23} Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: {24} Who his
own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed."

(Rev 2:9 KJV) "I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty..."

The word "know" (Gr. 'eido,' 1492) means to "perceive with
the outward senses, particularly with physical sight; perceive
with the mind, understand; to experience, such as death,
corruption, grief; be acquainted with, as a person; esteem,
regard; acknowledge, own; to know how, implying both
knowledge and inclination." [1]

Jesus knew -- understood, witnessed, was familiar with, had
experienced -- the Smyrnaeans' persecutions. Kenneth Wuest
writes in reference to I Peter 2:24 --

"'The word 'stripes' in the Greek presents a picture of our
Lord's lacerated back after the scourging He endured at the
hands of the Roman soldiers. The Romans used a scourge of
cords or thongs to which latter were attached pieces of lead or
brass, on small, sharp-pointed bones. Criminals condemned to
crucifixion were ordinarily scourged before being executed.
The victim was stripped to the waist and bound in a stooping
position, with the hands behind the back, to a post or pillar.
The suffering under the lash was intense. The body was
frightfully lacerated. The Christian martyrs at Smyrna about A.D.
155 were so torn by the scourges that their veins were laid
bare, and the inner muscles and sinews and even the
intestines were exposed. Peter remembered the body of our
Lord after the scourging, the flesh so dreadfully mangled that
the disfigured form appeared in his eyes as one single bruise.'
(First Peter in the Greek New Testament, p. 69)" [2]

Jesus knew...

----------

(Mat 5:10 KJV) "Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

(2 Tim 3:12 KJV) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution."

-----------

[1] The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible; p. 1828
[2] Wilmington's Guide to the Bible

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Prophecy by Current Events..
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 22:06:18 -0400

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: Jon Loose <medman@gte.net>

Basing prophecy on current events seems like reading into prophecy.
Let me explain. 1. The description of the beast that stings man, like a
scorpion. Many writers propose that it is some modern weapon like a
helicopter. Ask yourself - If you were standing in an open field and to
your left you saw a attack helicopter coming at you and to your right
some large beast as described. Which would cause more fear? 2. The mark
of the beast- many are looking for some high tech fulfillment. What if
it were something simple, like a tatoo. You wouldn't need and fragil
high tech machines. A visible tatoo would control the population,
because Christians would refuse to be marked. With all the destructive
events during the period high tech equipment wouldn't function anyway.
Only those willing would take a tatoo.

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Re: Prophecy by Current Events..
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 16:49:41 -0500

I agree with this analysis. What most people seem to forget, is that the
mark of the beast, must be something that is applicable to all people in all
countries at the same time. I can't see people in the african jungles (so
to speak) having microchips embedded in their hands, etc. It must be
something low tech and universal. Perhaps something as innocuous as a
mental decision to support the beast (forehead) or to actually work for the
beast (with the "hand" of course).

-----Original Message-----
From: BPR <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 6:15 AM
Subject: Prophecy by Current Events..

>----------------------------------------------
>Current Study Subject:
>Revelation 2:8-11
>Letter to the Church of Smyrna
>-----------------------------------------------
>From: Jon Loose <medman@gte.net>
>
>
>Basing prophecy on current events seems like reading into prophecy.
>Let me explain. 1. The description of the beast that stings man, like a
>scorpion. Many writers propose that it is some modern weapon like a
>helicopter. Ask yourself - If you were standing in an open field and to
>your left you saw a attack helicopter coming at you and to your right
>some large beast as described. Which would cause more fear? 2. The mark
>of the beast- many are looking for some high tech fulfillment. What if
>it were something simple, like a tatoo. You wouldn't need and fragil
>high tech machines. A visible tatoo would control the population,
>because Christians would refuse to be marked. With all the destructive
>events during the period high tech equipment wouldn't function anyway.
>Only those willing would take a tatoo.
>
>--- BPR
>
>BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
>
>

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Re: Prophecy by Current Events..
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 22:16:41 -0500

----------------------------------------------
Current Study Subject:
Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church of Smyrna
-----------------------------------------------
From: skip007@sprynet.com

I am not really sure if I agree totally with these conclusions. Take for
example the scripture in Daniel 12:4, "...and seal the book, even to the
time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased." This sounds like our 'high tech' day and age to me. Also,
about the 'tattoo'....remember that the scripture states "he causeth
all...to receive a mark IN their right hand, or IN their foreheads" (Rev
13:16).
However, I do agree with this in part, for instance, you often hear people
say that this is the first time in history that we could really realize
such a catastrophe because we now have nuclear capabilities etc. But God
didn't need nukes for Sodom and Gomorrah!! An asteroid worked then and
will work again!
CL

----------
> From: BPR <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> Subject: Re: Prophecy by Current Events..
> Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 4:49 PM
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Current Study Subject:
> Revelation 2:8-11
> Letter to the Church of Smyrna
> -----------------------------------------------
> From: "Peter Wenz" <petewen@prodigy.net>
>
> I agree with this analysis. What most people seem to forget, is that the
> mark of the beast, must be something that is applicable to all people in
all
> countries at the same time. I can't see people in the african jungles
(so
> to speak) having microchips embedded in their hands, etc. It must be
> something low tech and universal. Perhaps something as innocuous as a
> mental decision to support the beast (forehead) or to actually work for
the
> beast (with the "hand" of course).
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BPR <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 6:15 AM
> Subject: Prophecy by Current Events..
>
>
> >----------------------------------------------
> >Current Study Subject:
> >Revelation 2:8-11
> >Letter to the Church of Smyrna
> >-----------------------------------------------
> >From: Jon Loose <medman@gte.net>
> >
> >
> >Basing prophecy on current events seems like reading into prophecy.
> >Let me explain. 1. The description of the beast that stings man, like a
> >scorpion. Many writers propose that it is some modern weapon like a
> >helicopter. Ask yourself - If you were standing in an open field and to
> >your left you saw a attack helicopter coming at you and to your right
> >some large beast as described. Which would cause more fear? 2. The mark
> >of the beast- many are looking for some high tech fulfillment. What if
> >it were something simple, like a tatoo. You wouldn't need and fragil
> >high tech machines. A visible tatoo would control the population,
> >because Christians would refuse to be marked. With all the destructive
> >events during the period high tech equipment wouldn't function anyway.
> >Only those willing would take a tatoo.
> >
> >--- BPR
> >
> >BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
> >
> >

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Smyrna 2
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 09:08:03 +0000

"The city was of remarkable beauty. Its claim to be the chief city of
Asia was contested by Ephesus and Pergamum, but in beauty it was
easily first. In addition to its picturesque situation it was
commended by its handsome and excellently paved streets, which were
fringed by the groves in the suburbs...The protecting divinity of the
city was a local variety of Cybele, known as the Sipylene Mother, and
the towers and battlements of her head-dress bore an obvious
resemblance to the appearance of the city. (The Greeks identified her
with Nemesis, who here alone in the Greek world was worshipped, and
not as one but as a pair of goddesses.)...The life of the city was and
is much benefited in the hottest period of the day by a west wind
which blows on it with great regularity, dying down at sunset. This
was counterbalanced by a disadvantage, the difficulty of draining the
lowest parts of the city, a difficulty accentuated by this very wind.
Smyrna boasted that it was the birthplace of Homer, who had been born
and brought up beside the river Meles."

(Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible)

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: 8/4/98 TV Program
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 09:08:03 +0000

8:00 PM Eastern

HIST Riddle of the Zodiac. For over 4,000 years, people have
looked to the heavens for answers about life on earth. Created by the
ancient Babylonians, the Zodiac and astrology are still hotly debated
by scientists and scholars. Join us as we search for the mysteries of
one of mankind's oldest ways of foretelling the future. [TV G]

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Smyrna 3
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 08:51:05 +0000

"The city to which allusion is made in Revelation 2:8-11, was founded,
or at least the design of founding it was entertained, by Alexander
the Great soon after the battle of the Granicus, in consequence of a
dream when he had lain down to sleep after the fatigue of hunting. A
temple in which two goddesses were worshipped under the name of
Nemeses stood on the hill, on the sides of which the new town was
built under the auspices of Antigonus and Lysimachus, who carried out
the design of the conqueror after his death...The rich lands in the
neighborhood were cultivated by the inhabitants, scattered in villages
about the country...Not only was the soil in the neighborhood
eminently productive--so that all vines were even said to have two
crops of grapes--but its position was such as to render it the natural
outlet for the produce of the whole valley of the Hermus. The Pramnean
wine (which Nestor in the Iliad, and Circe in the Odyssey, are
represented as mixing with honey, cheese, and meal, to make a kind of
salad dressing) grew even down to the time of Pliny in the immediate
neighborhood of the temple of the Mother of the gods at Smyrna...

"The inhabitants of New Smyrna appear to have possessed the talent of
successfully divining the course of events in the troublous times
through which it was their destiny to pass, and of habitually securing
for themselves the favor of the victor for the time being. Their
adulation of Seleucus and his son Antiochus was excessive...Yet when
the tide turned, a temple was erected to the city Rome as a divinity
in time to save the credit of the Smyrneans as zealous friends of the
Roman people. Indeed, though history is silent as to the particulars,
the existence of a coin of Smyrna with the head of Mithridates upon
it, indicates that this energetic prince also, for a time at least,
must have included Smyrna within the circle of his dependencies.
However, during the reign of Tiberius, the reputation of the Smyrneans
for an ardent loyalty was so unsullied, that on this account alone
they obtained permission to erect a temple, in behalf of all the
Asiatic cities, to the emperor and senate, the question having been
for some time doubtful as to whether their city or Sardis--the two
selected out of a crowd of competitors--should receive this
distinction.

"It seems not impossible, that just as St. Paul's illustrations in the
Epistle to the Corinthians are derived from the Isthmian games, so the
message to the Church in Smyrna contains allusions to the ritual of
the pagan mysteries which prevailed in that city...[It was] a usual
practice at Smyrna to present a crown to the priest who superintended
the religious ceremonial at the end of his year of office."

(Dr. William Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, 1872)

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Pope & Mother Teresa join music video industry
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 08:54:48 +0000

Pope and Mother Teresa join music video industry

VATICAN CITY, Aug 2 (AFP) - The Vatican is entering the big-money
music video clip industry with its own stars to rival the best the pop
world can offer: the pope and Mother Teresa.

The clips, though, will be kept separate, with one of them a special
homage to Mother Teresa, who died last year in the Indian city of
Calcutta.

Each of the audiovisual offerings, relating the life stories of the
two religious role models, will be set to music, the Vatican said
Sunday.

Pope John Paul II's video will show footage from his childhood in
Poland, playing football with his friends, to his historic meeting
earlier this year with Cuban Preisdent Fidel Castro.

Backing music is by the Italian singer Amedeo Minghi.

The video will be formally presented on October 15, just ahead of the
20th anniversary of the pope's election.

Mother Teresa's clip, featuring a music track by Ivana Spagna entitled
"Mamma Teresa", will be unveiled on September 5, the first anniversary
of her death.

Guido Todeschini, who heads the Vatican's own television station
Telepace, said he hoped the videos would send a religious message
particularly to young people.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Smyrna 4
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 10:16:51 +0000

"Apollonius of Tyana, who traveled far and wide, called it 'the most
beautiful city under the sun.' It was proud of its long, straight
streets, its double-tiered colonnades, its library, and its
university. One of its most famous sons, Aelius Aristides (Ad
117-187), described it in terms that reveal the splendor of these
Roman-Hellenistic cities:

     Go from east to west, and you will pass from temple to temple and
     from hill to hill along a street fairer than its name (the Golden
     Way). Stand on the acropolis: the sea flows beneath you, the
     suburbs lie about you, the city through three lovely views fills
     the goblet of your soul...Everything to the very shore is a
     shining mass of gymnasia, markets, theaters...baths--so many that
     you hardly know where to bathe...fountains and public walks, and
     running water in every home. The abundance of her spectacles,
     contests, and exhibitions is beyond telling, and the variety of
     her handicrafts. Of all the cities this is best suited for those
     who like to live at ease and be philosophers without guile.

"The opposition to the new religion [Christianity] came rather from
the people than from the state. The magistrates were often men of
culture and tolerance; but the mass of the pagan population resented
the aloofness, superiority, and certainity of the Christians, and
called upon the authorities to punish these 'atheists' for insulting
the gods...From the time of Nero Roman law seems to have branded the
profession of Christianity as a capital offense; but under most of the
emperors this ordinance was enforced with deliberate negligence. If
accused, a Christian could usually free himself by offering incense to
a statue of the emperor; thereafter he was apparently allowed to
resume the quiet practice of his faith. Christians who refused this
obeisance might be imprisoned, or flogged, or exiled, or condemned to
the mines, or, rarely, put to death.

"At Smyrna the populace demanded of the 'Asiarch' Philip that he
enforce the law; he complied by having eleven Christians executed in
the amphitheater (155). The bloodthirst of the crowd was aroused
rather than assuaged; it clamored for the death of Bishop Polycarp, a
saintly patriarch of 86 years, who was said in his youth to have known
St. John."

(Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ, Will Durant)

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Perseid Meteor Shower
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 19:16:11 +0000

http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast05aug98_1.htm

On July 27th the Earth, on its year-long trip around the Sun, entered
the debris stream from periodic comet Swift-Tuttle. The result is the
annual meteor shower called "The Perseids," expected to peak on August
12th. While nowhere near as devastating as the popular movies of this
summer, the Perseids often provide an equally spectacular show. Learn
more about how to view the Perseids from your backyard, the hazards
of meteor impacts, and radio meteors.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Smyrna 5
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 18:47:01 +0000

Emperor Decius issued an edict around 250 AD which "appears to have
demanded more than the usual sacrifice which was made on the Emperor's
behalf by his provincial governors at the start of each new
year...Decius ordered a 'sacrifice to the gods,' not a sacrifice to or
for the Emperor...The Jews were exempted, and the only opponents,
therefore, would be Christians.

Some Christians got "certificates" signed by pagan authorities which
"attested the bearer's lifelong pagan observance and his act of
sacrifice in the presence of a local commissioner...Suspects who could
produce a certificate were to be safe from further harassment."

This time of trouble lasted for about two years and is the forerunner
of the "great" persecutions of the early fourth century. One account
of martyrdom from this time period is that of Pionius, a Christian
Elder "purported to be set in the cultured city of Smyrna during the
first February of Decius' edict."

"The story begins...when Pionius and his friends walked onto the city
square through its double gate, the colonnades...were packed with a
holiday crowd.

"In the 250s, Smyrna's agora had been rebuilt after a recent
earthquake...Down the east and west sides of the square ran the
colonnades...Two stories high, their pillared facades extended for
more than 130 yards, the status symbols of a late Hellenistic city. In
the northwest corner stood the double arch of an entry gate...Through
the opposite gate, Pionius entered and walked northwards past the
packed colonnade, leaving behind him a heavy pillared basilica. On an
arch in the west colonnade stood busts of the Emperor Marcus and his
wife, the patrons of rebuilt Smyrna; the building was dedicated to the
'two goddesses Nemesis, all the gods and goddesses and the
Emperors'...They were taken to the temple of these Nemeseis to pay
sacrifice and eat the pagan meats...

"Pionius and his fellow prisoners were arrested by a group of pagans
who were led by Polemon, a temple official in Smyrna. 'You know, of
course, about the Emperor's edict,' said Polemon, 'and how it bids you
sacrifice to the gods.' 'We know the edicts of God,' replied Pionius,
'in which he bids us worship him alone.'

With Pionius was a homeless Christian slave girl named Sabina. She was
harassed "with that frequent threat to Christian heroines, a
compulsory spell in the city brothel."

Some of the speeches Pionius made while in the agora are preserved,
including one on hell and the Dead Sea. "Perhaps the Dead Sea seemed a
little remote from Smyrna's audience, but if so, Pionius went on, they
should consider the black cones of ash in their own Burnt Lydia, which
stretched away on the border's of Smyrna's assize district...The
volcanic landscape of Burnt Lydia was an old and awesome
curiosity...The land, they said, had been scorched by a dragon whom
the god of the heavens had beaten in battle. The story was known to
the old Hittite kings (c. 1200-1000 BC) and had passed to Greek
travellers in the archaic age (c. 750). They equated the dragon with
their monster Typhon, whom Zeus had slain, and located his presence in
this scorched region..."

"In the main square, Pionius had already attacked the Jews for
gloating over Christians who lapsed. Now [while in prison] he attacked
them again because he heard that they were inviting 'some of the
Christians' into their synagogues...Some Christians were scared of
being tested and then lapsing, and in 'despair,' Pionius hinted, they
were amenalbe to the Jews' overtures. The Jews' aim was to win
converts in the crisis, among Christians who would prefer to join a
synagogue rather than eat 'demonic' pagan meat: such a secession was
less fraught and less public...Pionius reviled them as 'rulers of
Sodom and the host of Gomorrah.' He was also convinced that they would
spread a familiar slander: Christ, said the Jews, had died a
criminal's violent death, and like other executed criminals, his
spirit still roamed without rest. Christians, therefore, could conjure
it up and had already brought it back to earth by their magical sign
of the cross. The 'Resurrection' appearances were caused by sorcery,
said the Jews, practised on a criminal's restless soul.

"Why was Pionius' prison speech more concerned to attack the Jews than
his pagan captors?...No synagogue has yet been found in Smyrna, but a
few precious inscriptions suggest a Jewish community of some size and
rank...[These inscriptions]...join the growing evidence for a
prominent Jewish presence in the lives of eastern Greek cities in the
second and third centuries.

Pionius was put to death for not sacrificing to the gods during the
festival of Dionysus at Smyrna in 250 AD. The assize tour of 250 is
remarkable for the persecution of Christians first in Ephesus, then
Smyrna and onward to Pergamum. [In Ephesus that year] "The city is the
scene of the most famous of all legends of Christian persecution, the
Seven Sleepers, seven Christian boys and their dog who were said to
have taken to a cave to escape from Decius' edict." Pionius' sentence
was not given him until early March which is a little later than usual
because of the trouble in Ephesus. Then we hear of three martyrs in
Pergamum in mid-April later that year.

(Pagans and Christians, Robin Lane Fox)

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: Weekend News Today--8/6/98
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 19:19:10 +0000

Anglican bishops want Jerusalem as Israeli and Palestinian capital

Weekend News Today Source: BBC

Thu Aug 6 , 1998 -- Anglican bishops from around the world have voted
in favour of making Jerusalem the capital of both Israel and an
independent Palestinian state. At their ten-yearly gathering in the
English city of Canterbury the Lambeth Conference, the bishops
overwhelmingly backed a resolution saying that Jews, Muslims and
Christians should have free access to Jersualem. Israel annexed Arab
East Jerusalem after capturing it in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and
says the city will remain its eternal and indivisible capital. The
Palestinians want east Jerusalem as capital of a future independent
Palestinian state.

=========================

Israel: Experts at loss to explain oppressive heat; "Current heat
spell is odd"

Weekend News Today Source: Jerusalem Post

Thu Aug 6 , 1998 -- The nation of Israel is experiencing two weeks of
non-stop, above 33=BC temperatures. "Nothing can be done about it," said
Prof. Avraham Zangvil, a meteorological expert at Ben-Gurion
University's Desert Research Institute. "Even here in Sde Boker, the
humidity is high." The BGU expert said it's impossible to explain the
hot spell. "It's not like plucking a violin string and getting an
exact note. There are so many complex factors involved: the
atmosphere, winds, solar system, and the conflicting influences of
global warming [with higher CO2 production] versus air pollution
[which filters out the sun's rays and lowers temperatures.] "The
global climate is getting higher by an average of only one degree per
century, but this is the average, and there are many fluctuations."
One can't even blame the current hot weather - in southern Europe as
well as in the Middle East - on El Nino, which is petering out now, he
said. The current heat spell is odd, in that the westerly wind that
usually cools off Jerusalem and the other hilly areas is absent, so
the nights are hot, too. In addition, the Mediterranean Sea is
registering a temperature above 30=BC. It often doesn't reach that
figure at all, even by the end of August, but it's already there. A
hot sea could cause more rain in the winter, and then again, it could
not do so. "I've studied the weather maps on the Internet, and I can't
tell you when this heat wave will end. I can't offer even a drop of
hope."

==============================

Ohio: Lawyer challenges Christmas as legal holiday

Weekend News Today Source: CWNews.com

Thu Aug 6 , 1998 -- A Cincinnati lawyer filed a federal lawsuit this
week challenging the designation of Christmas as a legal holiday,
saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
Richard Ganulin, an employee of the Cincinnati Solicitor's office,
filed the lawsuit as a private individual. "The lawsuit is almost a
certainty to prevail -- I think it has to unless the United States
Supreme Court concludes Christmas is a secular holiday," he said. The
lawsuit specifically challenges a 1966 federal law making Christmas a
public holiday. "If I'm correct in my view that this statute is an
imperfection and a violation of the Constitution, I consider it a duty
to rectify it (so that) all religious beliefs and practices can stand
on an equal footing." William Donohoe, president of the Catholic
League for Religious and Civil Rights, said the suit is an affront to
all Americans. "Only someone who's mean-spirited would want to strip
us of our cultural heritage. And he's not going to win," he said.

===============================

2 new asteroids heading toward Earth's orbit

Weekend News Today Source: New York Times

Thu Aug 6 , 1998 -- Scientists have discovered two new, mile-wide
asteroids heading toward Earth's orbit, AP reported. Neither asteroid
is expected to come anywhere near this planet for decades at least,
according to NASA scientists. The asteroids, named 1998 OH and 1998
OR2, were detected last month by a NASA tracking system that used a
remote-controlled telescope on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Although
the asteroids' precise paths haven't been determined, preliminary
projections indicate 1998 OH could get no closer than 3 million miles
from Earth -- about 20 times the distance from Earth to the moon. It's
sister asteroid, 1998 OR2, could get no closer than 1.7 million miles
from Earth.

Selected Weekend News Today Items
http://upway.com/cgi-bin/went

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: News: Vatican, Israel lock horns over Palestinian bishop
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 09:23:36 +0000

Vatican, Israel lock horns over Palestinian bishop

            By Steve Pagani
            VATICAN CITY, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Friday
            issued a sharp response to Israeli attempts to hinder the appointment
of a Palestinian bishop to Galilee, stating that the nomination
of senior Catholic clergy was the sole reserve of the Pope.
            Vatican deputy chief spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini
issued a terse statement recalling that an accord between Israel and
the Holy See provided for the autonomy of the church and state within
their own spheres.
            ``The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is the
reserve of the Pope in the exercise of his supreme power,'' the
statement said.
            Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he
was unhappy with the nomination of Bishop Boutros Mouallem, a
Palestinian refugee in Brazil, to become archbishop in the northern
Israeli region of Galilee.
            He alleged that a senior PLO official, Farouk Kaddoumi,
            and exiled Palestinian prelate Hilarion Capucci had applied
political pressure in favour of Mouallem, whom Israel considers
to be a supporter of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.
            ``We think there shouldn't be any politicisation of the
choices of emissaries on the part of the Church,'' Netanyahu told
reporters. He called Kaddoumi and Capucci ``hardliners who oppose
peace between Israel and the Palestinians.''
            Benedettini said there had been no interference in the
nomination of Mouallem by the Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern rite
branch of Catholicism which is loyal to Rome.
            ``In the nomination of His Excellency Mouallem, the Synod
            of the Greek Catholic Church carried out its duties free from any
external pressures,'' Benedettini said.
            ``The fundamental accord existing between the Holy See and
the State of Israel...provides for the autonomy of the Church and
state, each in its own sphere,'' he added.
            Disagreement over the appointment could build into the
            first serious confrontation between the Vatican and the Jewish state
since they established diplomatic relations in 1994 in an
historic step to end 2,000 years of hostility between Catholics
and Jews.
            Any serious dispute could also sink hopes that Pope John
Paul would make a much-awaited visit to the Holy Land either before or
during the year 2000.
            Israeli officials tried to push their own candidate for
            the archbishopric, suggesting the name of Nazareth Catholic priest,
Father Emil Shufani. Netanyahu's office confirmed that the prime
minister had met Shufani at the latter's request.
            ``During the meeting and later, Israel, as a sovereign
            state -- including in the Galilee -- expressed its opinion to Church
officials,'' Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
            The Italian news agency ANSA reported Netanyahu as saying
Mouallem would be prevented from entering Israel when he arrived to
take up his appointment, a prospect likely to plunge relations with
the Holy See into serious difficulties.
            The exchange comes just nine months after the Vatican and
Israel signed an agreement on the legal status of the Roman Catholic
Church in the Jewish state, desribed by diplomats as a ``milestone in
relations.''
            The agreement regularised the status and legal standing of
the Catholic Church and its institutions in Israel after centuries of
undefined legal status under the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate
and Israeli rule.
            Rome's la Repubblica newspaper said Mouallem was among
refugees who fled Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
            ``Netanyahu's unusual intervention does not help create
            the climate of trust needed to deal with the extremely delicate
question of Jerusalem, which Israel has declared as its 'eternal
and indivisible' capital while the Vatican hopes it would become
an international city,'' the paper said.

^REUTERS@

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

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