Culture

0
Culture Life Music & Entertainment Politics

The NFL, Disrespecting “The Flag” and The United States

By Royal Awakening — 7 years ago
Ever since The current president of The United States of America made inflammatory statements regarding peaceful protests against systematic oppression, racial injustice, and the senseless Court Justified killings of unarmed black men across the United States; there has been a slew of things that have occurred that has turned a peaceful protest against racial injustice and systematic oppression into acts that are supposed to be representative of “disrespecting the flag” the United States military and its veterans, as well as shown dishonor and disrespect to our country.  Many people have been adversely affected by protesting  against racial injustice and the senseless yet justified killings of unarmed black men: including them losing their jobs, suspensions, losing sponsorships, and even threats of losing their job or suffering suspension, loss of pay, or other penalties if they choose to participate in these protests and “disrespect our flag”

This isn’t about the flag or the military

The origins of this protest began in 2016 football season when the then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States.  He stated “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”  Examples of some of these killings and injustices are: Michael Brown was shot to death by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, it awakened a movement that began with the previous killing of another black teenager, Trayvon Martin, who was shot in 2012 by neighborhood watch volulnteer George Zimmerman.  Brown’s death was not the first of its kind since Martin’s; just a month prior, Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold by NYPD officers. Both deaths sparked protests across the country — protests that were renewed when grand juries declined to charge the officers involved in either case.
Dontre Hamilton, 31, was fatally shot 14 times by a police officer in a Milwaukee park. The officer was responding to a call from employees at a nearby Starbucks alleging that Hamilton, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was disturbing the peace. The officers who arrived first determined that Hamilton wasn’t doing anything illegal. Officer Christopher Manney showed up later and, after trying to pat Hamilton down, engaged in a struggle with him that led to the shooting. Manney was not charged. Eric Garner, 43, was killed after he was put in an illegal chokehold for 15 seconds by a white police officer — allegedly for selling loose cigarettes. Garner said “I can’t breathe” 11 times as he was held down by several officers on a sidewalk.  The officer who put Garner in the chokehold, Daniel Pantaleo, was not charged.  Garner’s death sparked peaceful protests across the nation, with demonstrators adopting the phrase “I Can’t Breathe” as a symbol and slogan of protest.   Unarmed Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.  In November, a grand jury declined to charge Wilson in the fatal shooting. Brown’s death and the lack of charges against Wilson sparked protests, some of them violent, in Ferguson and across the nation.  On March 4, the Department of Justice announced that it too would not charge Wilson for the shooting after an exhaustive investigation. Tanisha Anderson, 37, died after officers in Cleveland allegedly slammed her head on the pavement while taking her into custody.  Anderson’s family said she had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  The investigation into the case remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed against the officers involved.
Tamir Rice, 12, was shot and killed by Cleveland police after officers mistook his toy gun for a real weapon.  The two police officers involved, Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback, have not been charged.  Rice’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuit against the officers and the city of Cleveland.     Freddie Gray, 25, died of a spinal cord injury a week after he was arrested by Baltimore police.  It’s still unclear how Gray sustained the injury. Officials say he was stopped after fleeing “unprovoked upon noticing police presence” and arrested for allegedly possessing a switchblade.  He was put in a police van, which is where police say he suffered a medical emergency. The officers involved in his arrest were placed on leave, and on Friday, the state’s attorney announced that they had been criminally charged in connection with Gray’s homicide.  Gray’s death sparked protests in Baltimore and other cities across the nation. On Monday, protesters and police clashed, prompting hundreds of arrests and Maryland’s governor to declare a state of emergency. And there are countless others that can be referred to.

We Are Not The Terrorists

The senseless killings of these black women, children and men by law enforcement with no subsequent accountability has sparked a cry for change and justice for our people and even a movement called the “Black Lives Matter” movement in which there have been attempts and petitions signed to label this movement as a terrorist group citing “Terrorism is defined as ‘the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims… This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organizations…Black Lives Matter earned this title due to its actions in Ferguson, Baltimore, and even at a Bernie Sander rally, as well as all over the United States and Canada.”   It asked the Pentagon to recognize the group as such “on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety.” (rumor has it they have labeled them as that).  They’ve even had counter protests against the black lives matter movement called “Blue Lives Matter” saying that police lives matter as well as the “All lives Matter” movement saying that not just black lives matter: all lives matter.  These counter protests were engineered to mask the purpose of the Black lives matter movement which was to stop the senseless killing of black people by law enforcement in this country and to shut the Black Lives Matter movement, and to also do it under the guise of “equality” black lives don’t just matter, all lives matter because we are all people but never admitting that we aren’t equally affected by these things.

In a memo obtained by Foreign Policy from early August, the FBI claims that the continued concern over “alleged” police abuse has fueled a rise in violence against police. And that rise in violence has produced a new kind of terrorist. It reads in part: “The FBI assesses it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely.”   So basically, the more people know about police brutality  the bigger the risk to cops.  This was the same scenario that eventually ended the Black Panther movement.

View of a line of Black Panther Party members as they stand outside the New York City courthouse under a portion of an Abraham Lincoln quote which reads ‘The Ultimate Justice of the People,’ New York, New York, April 11, 1969. (Photo by David Fenton/Getty Images)

Their Counter-Protest To Your Protests

Also in response to these protests the current president of the United States has also issued a few statements and opinions on these protests saying ““Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” using his infamous catch phrase from his reality show “The Apprentice”.  He also said “You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it [but] they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”   He also then encouraged people attending NFL games to leave the stadium in counter-protest if they see a player kneeling during the anthem, which is traditionally performed before kickoff saying  “But do you know what’s hurting the game more than that?” he said. “When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they’re playing our great national anthem. The only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it’s one player, leave the stadium.  I guarantee things will stop. Things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave. Not the same game anymore, anyway.”

 

Himself and the Vice President of the Unites States then staged a walkout on the 49ers vs Colts NFL game game in Indianapolis on Sunday after about a dozen San Francisco players kneeled during the playing of the national anthem saying “I left today’s Colts game because POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.”  The President then tweeted “I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country, “I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.”

This has lead to: fans burning NFL gear, items, jerseys  and uniforms, players as well as protest participants being called   “sons of bitches” and “no good niggers” among other things, sponsors have pulled sponsorships and endorsements in response to any players found protesting, players have been threatened with the loss of their jobs or play-time if they are found in protest or “being disrespectful to our flag” and even school student athletes having to sign “no kneeling contracts” or be escorted off the playing field.  These things have been enouraging blind patriotism at the expense of actual civic engagement and action.

It’s not Fun and Games Anymore

So…isn’t the sport of football entertainment?  The president of the United States and well as NFL team owners, sponsors, schools and more are now taking what was supposed to be fun entertainment to participate in as well as watch and turning it into another system of political oppression.  This form of entertainment isn’t even something that is required within our society, nor is the playing of the national anthem during any entertainment or sporting event required.  But it is making its rounds now as mandatory.  However, any statutory suggestions regarding behavior during the national anthem do not have any penalty associated with violations. 36 U.S.C. § 301 because behavioral requirements for the national anthem is subject to the same First Amendment controversies that surround the Pledge of Allegiance.[61] For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not sing the national anthem, though they are taught that standing is an “ethical decision” that individual believers must make based on their “conscience.”  2003 District ruling:  Teachers or any other staff cannot be forced to participate in the pledge, either: “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a teacher, a student, a citizen, an administrator, or anyone else, it is beyond the power of the authority of government to compel the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance,”—U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock [19] 

Why are people being penalized for exercising their first amendment rights? Why are people being penalized for actions of which the U.S. Code has no penalties for? If children in schools aren’t forced to pledge tothe flag, why are grown men treated worse than children?  This goes way deeper than the NFL.

We Fought For Your Freedom BUT Still Fight For Ours

Secondly. and this is no disrespect to ANY of veterans who have fought for the COUNTRY in which we live.  But for some reason whenever I hear people say “they fought and fight for our freedom” I can’t help but to think that  at the times these “patriotic” songs were written were speaking of the fight for freedom from British rule, WHILE BLACKS WERE STILL SLAVES AND NOT FREE!!! In fact many black slaves were recruited or required to join the military and given promises of freedom after the war was over.  They were put on the front lines of these wars and gave their lives to fight for the freedom of the country from British rule only to still have their freedom taken away.  Subsequently during the civil war there was a whole military, army and many militias that fought AGAINST the freedom rights and privileges of slaves, and even during the civil rights era in the 1960’s martial law was declared, rendering the constitution invalid and the country under military control and the military was used to stop any fights for rights, equality and injustice.   So once again no offense to the United States military but they have not shown a consistent track record in fighting for the rights of blacks in this country;  in fact they have shown to serve as  an arm of the government that restricts the rights certain citizens are allowed to exercise or have.

Here is an excerpt from the Declaration of independence that says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ——”  We have no life because our lives are being taken from us senselessly via “law enforcement” as well as other systematic oppressions against us.  We have no liberty because even after being “freed” fro slavery (100 years after these lines were written) there have been pursuits and laws to restrict and detain us and keep us indebted to this country and never getting ahead.  There is definitely no pursuit of happiness for us because even when we silently protest that we stop being killed off and allow us the same treatments and freedoms that are allowed to others under their constitution be afforded to us; we are still oppressed.

When we “Take a Knee”against the systematic oppression, killings, and injustice that we have suffered in this country for hundreds of years our silent  protests are silenced even further with “you are disrespecting the flag”  no matter what your cause or issue is, we don’t care, don’t disrespect our flag and the national anthem.  Typically to diplomatically end a protest you at a minimum hear their concerns and issues in order to begin amicably resolving issues and concerns any parties may have.  But we are silenced.

The Land of the Free, And a Noose for the Slave

Even the poem the “Star Spangled Banner” was taken from not only details and praises the U.S. victory against the British but also speaks of triumph over the slaves who thought they would succeed in helping the British in winning the war.  Here is the full of that poem entitled  “Defense of Fort M’Henry” written during the War of 1812:

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner—O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Putting special  emphasis on the lines

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

 So I ask another question: how respectful is it to us as a people, our history, our heritage and our black soldiers who fought for the freedom of this country to still be enslaved, mocked in song as well as not recognized as a person per their laws and still suffering many of theses things to this day; how respectful is it for us to be forced to honor lyrics and songs that were never meant for our honor and freedom in the first place and were written in praise of our oppression?

If the fight for inequality and injustice is going to continue on our end we have to be able to fight the same ways they are fighting us.  They impose economic sanctions by taking away jobs, sponsorships, and other financial backing; we need to do the same.  This is not the 1940’s 50’s or 60’s anymore, we are far ore educated and have the capabilities, knowledge and abilities to build and have our own.  We can put together our own football league if we wanted to and every last dime that we spend with the NFL we spend it in and on our own leagues.  Every last sponsor that pulls financial backing we stop spending our money with them and start building and financing our own.  We have lawyers, doctors, scientists, biologists, and every other professional we could think of within our communities.

I’ll close with this:

2 Corinthians 6

King James Version (KJV)

6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

 

0
Culture Family Life Religion & Spirituality

What is The Will of God

By Royal Awakening — 8 years ago

What is the Will of God?

Many teach that the will of God is simply what He wants everyone on earth to do and that it is written in the Bible. While this is partially correct, it is not the full picture. When we study the Scriptures, we see that God is described as both the Righteous Judge of the earth and the Father of His children. A judge enforces the law and executes judgment, while a father leaves an inheritance for his heirs. This means that God’s will is not only His commandments and desires for how we should live but also His legally binding testament, which details the inheritance of His children.

God as the Righteous Judge

A judge enforces laws and ensures that legal wills are executed properly. The Bible confirms that God is the Supreme Judge over the earth:

  • Genesis 18:25 – “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
  • Psalm 75:7 – “But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another.”
  • Isaiah 33:22 – “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.”

As the Supreme Judge, God determines who will receive His inheritance and who will be disqualified.

God as a Father – The One Who Leaves a Will and Testament

A loving father does not depart without leaving an inheritance and clear instructions for his children. The Bible confirms that God is our Father:

  • Deuteronomy 32:6 – “Is He not your Father who created you?”
  • 2 Corinthians 6:18 – “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
  • Romans 8:16-17 – “The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”

As our Father, God has written a legally binding will (His covenant) that determines what His children will inherit.

What Is Written in God’s Will?

A. The Inheritance for His Children

God’s testament promises specific blessings to His faithful children:

  • Land – The promised land (Genesis 17:8, Psalm 37:29).
  • Rulership – Authority over the nations (Daniel 7:27, Revelation 5:10).
  • Eternal Life – Immortality in His Kingdom (John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
  • God’s Presence – A restored relationship with Him (Ezekiel 37:27, Revelation 21:3).

This inheritance is only given to those who meet the conditions set in God’s will.

B. The Legal Terms of the Will

Like any legal document, God’s will has conditions:

  1. Obedience to God’s Law
    • Exodus 19:5 – “If you obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession.”
    • Revelation 22:14 – “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life.”
  2. Endurance to the End
    • Matthew 24:13 – “He who endures to the end shall be saved.”
    • Revelation 2:26 – “He who overcomes and keeps My works until the end, I will give power over the nations.”

Not everyone will inherit the promises—only those who obey the terms of the will.

Judah’s Inheritance is Promised and Cannot Be Erased

The tribe of Judah was chosen for leadership and rulership among the twelve tribes of Israel:

  • Genesis 49:8-10 – “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies… The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes.”
  • Psalm 60:7 – “Judah is My lawgiver.”

🔹 Implication: The leadership and rulership aspect of Judah’s inheritance is still intact. Judah is the tribe destined to govern, teach the law, and guide Israel. Despite captivity, oppression, and dispersion, God’s promise has not changed—the rightful inheritance remains.

Judah Must Awaken and Reclaim Their True Identity

One of the greatest attacks on Judah has been identity theft and miseducation. The prophecy in Deuteronomy speaks of Judah and Israel forgetting their heritage:

  • Deuteronomy 28:64 – “And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from one end of the earth to the other…”
  • Jeremiah 17:4 – “And you, even yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you.”

This prophecy describes the loss of identity among the children of Judah, particularly in the lands where they were sold and scattered.

🔹 Implication: The Royal Awakening is essential! The children of Judah must reclaim their identity, history, and culture as God’s chosen people, rather than accept the false narratives imposed upon them. The inheritance belongs to those who know they are heirs!

Judah Must Return to Covenant Obedience

As God’s lawgiver and leaders, Judah is responsible for upholding the covenant. However, the curses in Deuteronomy 28 were the result of breaking the terms of God’s will.

  • Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me.”
  • Isaiah 1:3 – “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.”

🔹 Implication: To restore the inheritance, Judah must return to the covenant—this means keeping the commandments, observing the holy days, and separating from Babylonian customs. This is part of fulfilling the terms of God’s will to receive the promised inheritance.

Judah’s Role in the Kingdom and the Coming Judgment

The will of God includes a future kingdom where Yahusha HaMashiach (Christ) will reign as King, and Judah has a special role in this government.

  • Zechariah 12:7 – “The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first.”
  • Obadiah 1:21 – “And saviors shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.”
  • Revelation 5:5 – “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed.”

🔹 Implication: Judah’s awakening is the beginning of the restoration of Israel. The kingdom will not be established without Judah playing their role. Judah must prepare now—not just spiritually but also mentally, physically, and communally—to govern righteously.

Judah Must Separate from Babylon and Lead in Righteousness

  • Jeremiah 51:6 – “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity.”
  • Micah 5:8 – “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest.”

🔹 Implication: Judah must come out of false doctrines, pagan traditions, and the world’s system to stand as the righteous remnant. The Royal Awakening is about restoring the law, order, and kingdom structure that was lost through centuries of captivity and deception.

How to Prepare to Receive God’s Inheritance

To claim an inheritance, heirs must be prepared. Here’s how we can position ourselves to receive God’s promises:

1. Establish Your Identity as an Heir

  • Study the Scriptures to understand your heritage and divine calling (Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 44:1).

2. Separate from the World’s System

  • 2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”
  • 1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
  • Remove pagan traditions, avoid worldly distractions, and focus on righteous living.

3. Walk in Righteousness and Holiness

  • Leviticus 20:26 – “You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.”
  • Ephesians 4:24 – “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
  • Live a set-apart life, guarding your actions, speech, and thoughts.

4. Store Up Treasures in Heaven (Kingdom Investments)

  • Matthew 6:19-20 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
  • Luke 12:33 – “Sell what you have and give to the poor; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens.”
  • Use your time, resources, and skills to build God’s Kingdom—teach, help others, and grow spiritually.

5. Prepare for the Coming Kingdom

  • Matthew 24:44 – “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
  • Revelation 21:7 – “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
  • Stay watchful, pray, fast, and prepare for the return of the Messiah.

 

2
Culture Family Featured Hidden Knowledge Homosexuality Life Religion & Spirituality

The Great Gay Debate… The Damned Homosexuals

By atlcustoms — 8 years ago

The debate surrounding homosexuality and its perceived condemnation remains a highly contentious issue among churches, religious followers, and even within the government. These discussions often revolve around biblical interpretations, particularly verses such as Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” As a result, many condemn homosexuality, sometimes focusing solely on it as a sin above others.

In response, some churches, camps, and programs have been established with the goal of “praying the gay away,” based on the belief that homosexuality is not innate but rather the result of demonic possession or personal choice. Additionally, some argue that God despises homosexuality, citing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as divine punishment for such behavior. Common phrases like “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” and “Man is meant to be fruitful and multiply” are used to argue that homosexuality contradicts nature, and therefore, defies God’s design.

Now, let us examine these references in their full context to uncover the truth of these matters and discern what God truly says about them.

Before we examine the scriptures, it’s important to clarify a key distinction: there is a significant difference between being gay and being a homosexual.

The term homosexual originated in the English language in the 19th century and is used to describe someone who engages in sexual relations with the same gender. Because the word itself contains “sex,” the emphasis is often placed on the act of sex. However, many people labeled as homosexual may choose not to engage in sexual acts for various reasons, such as personal convictions, lack of desire, concerns about disease, or societal pressures.

In contrast, the word gay refers to a person who experiences romantic or emotional attraction toward the same gender. The term has much older roots, dating back to before the 14th century in archaic French. Interestingly, when translated into Hebrew, gay corresponds to the term homo, meaning “same” or “uniform.” The concept of homogenization refers to making something uniform or blending diverse elements into one. By contrast, reverse homogenization separates a uniform structure into distinct parts.

A biblical example of these concepts can be seen in the creation of Adam and Eve. In the beginning, God created Adam alone—there was no Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve, only Adam and God. Genesis 2:7 states:

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Adam existed as a singular being (homogenized), fulfilling the role God assigned to him. However, God declared that it was not good for man to be alone and decided to create a suitable helper. After forming all the animals, none were found to be an appropriate companion. Then, in Genesis 2:21-22:

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”

Here, God took a part of Adam and made it into a separate being—this is reverse homogenization, where one uniform structure was divided into two distinct parts. Yet, in Genesis 2:24, the two were meant to reunite:

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

This represents re-homogenization, where the two distinct parts come together again as one. If God originally made one and then separated it into two, is He not also capable of placing the balance of two within one, just as it was in the beginning?

By definition, eunuchs were individuals who, for various reasons—biological or social—did not engage in traditional heterosexual relationships. In today’s terms, this could be compared to those who identify as gay or homosexual, as society often labels individuals based on their deviation from expected norms of attraction and procreation.

What Does God Say About Eunuchs?

Rather than condemning eunuchs, God acknowledges and honors them:

Isaiah 56:4-5
“For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”

This passage shows that God values those who are faithful to Him, regardless of their status or ability to procreate. He promises them a place of honor, even greater than that of traditional family lineage.

Acts 8:36-38
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

This account reinforces that eunuchs were fully accepted into the faith. God and The Bible does not condemn eunuchs—instead, God acknowledges their existence, grants them a place of honor, and welcomes them into His covenant.

 

Born That Way

The term gay describes the natural disposition of a person such as a eunuch. In Matthew 19:11-12, Jesus speaks about different types of eunuchs:

Matthew 19:11-12
“But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Understanding Eunuchs

Historically, the term eunuch referred to men who had been castrated, usually at a young age, which affected their hormonal development. However, in ancient texts, the term was also used to describe men who were impotent, celibate, or simply not inclined to marry and have children.

Eunuchs were often employed in royal courts and harems as servants or guards because they were considered trustworthy and had no personal ties to aristocratic families. Many societies believed eunuchs lacked the same desires and ambitions as other men, making them more reliable in certain roles. The Byzantine Emperor Leo VI even banned eunuchs from marrying in the 9th century, reinforcing the idea that they were not meant for traditional male-female relationships.

What About  Sodom and Gomorrah?

Many people believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed solely because of homosexuality, but the Bible provides a much broader explanation of their wickedness.

What Does the Bible Say?

Ezekiel 16:48-50 clearly outlines the sins of Sodom:

Ezekiel 16:48-50
“As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.”

This passage highlights pride, greed, laziness, mistreatment of the poor, arrogance, and abominations as the key reasons for their destruction. There is no mention of homosexuality as the primary sin.

What Does the Book of Jasher Say?

The Book of Jasher (or Sefer haYashar), an ancient text referenced in Joshua and 2 Samuel, gives additional insight into the extreme wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Chapter 19 describes how these cities were brutal, inhumane, and merciless, particularly toward the poor and outsiders.

Examples of Their Wickedness:

  • A poor man was secretly given food. When the people found out, they burned alive the woman who helped him.
  • A traveler was given food and water by a kind young woman. As punishment, the people covered her in honey and let bees sting her to death.

These laws didn’t just permit evil—they punished kindness.

The Truth About “Bedding” in Sodom and Gomorrah

Many people focus on the attempted assault of Lot’s angelic guests as proof that Sodom’s sin was homosexuality. Genesis 19

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

However, the Book of Jasher explains that “bedding” was a cruel form of torture and humiliation used against outsiders, not an act of love or attraction.

Jasher 19:3-7 describes their sadistic practice:

  • The cities had special torture beds in the streets.
  • If a man arrived in town, the people would force him onto a bed.
  • If he was too short, they would stretch him until he nearly died.
  • If he was too tall, they would crush him until he was near death.
  • When victims cried out for help, the people mocked them, saying, “Thus shall it be done to a man that cometh into our land.”

 

  •  

This was not about sexual desire—it was about power, cruelty, and humiliation.

Why Did God Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

The wickedness of these cities went far beyond one sin. They were corrupt, heartless, and completely devoid of mercy. Their actions provoked God’s judgment, as Jasher 19:44 states:

Jasher 19:44
“And the Lord was provoked at this and at all the works of the cities of Sodom, for they had abundance of food, and had tranquility amongst them, and still would not sustain the poor and the needy, and in those days their evil doings and sins became great before the Lord.”

This perfectly aligns with Ezekiel 16:48-50, showing that their destruction was due to their pride, greed, oppression of the poor, and extreme wickedness—not simply because of homosexuality.

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they were a lawless, merciless society that thrived on cruelty and injustice. The idea that their downfall was solely due to homosexuality is an oversimplification that ignores the full biblical and historical context.

The real lesson from Sodom and Gomorrah is that God despises oppression, injustice, and a lack of compassion—and that when a society reaches a certain level of wickedness, divine judgment follows.

Gays Don’t Procreate, You’re Supposed to be Fruitful and Multiply!

Some argue that same-sex relationships go against God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” since they cannot naturally produce children. However, a closer look at the Bible reveals that this command was not universally given to all people at all times.

Was “Be Fruitful and Multiply” Given to Adam and Eve?

Contrary to popular belief, God did not issue the command to be fruitful and multiply to Adam and Eve after they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Instead, He pronounced curses upon them due to their disobedience:

  • The Serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly and live in enmity with humanity (Genesis 3:14-15).
  • Eve was cursed with pain in childbirth and subjugation to her husband (Genesis 3:16).
  • Adam was cursed with toil and hardship in working the land (Genesis 3:17-19).
  • Both were expelled from the Garden and forced to live in a fallen world (Genesis 3:23).

Nowhere in this passage does God command them to multiply.

Who Was Commanded to Multiply?

The command to be fruitful and multiply was later given to Noah and his sons after the flood:

Genesis 9:1
“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

This command was given in a specific context—to repopulate the earth after its destruction. It was not a blanket command for all people in all circumstances.

God Decides When and With Whom to Bring Forth Children

Throughout Scripture, we see that God not only commands people to have children at certain times but also prohibits it in others:

  • God directed Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac from a specific lineage (Genesis 24:7).
  • God commanded Jeremiah not to marry or have children because of the coming judgment upon the land (Jeremiah 16:1-4).

This shows that procreation is not simply a matter of nature—it is directed by God’s wisdom and timing.

God’s Sovereignty Over Creation

God, who created the heavens and the earth, is in full control over life and its continuation. He has the power to give and take away:

  • He made a donkey speak (Numbers 22:28).
  • He commands the stars to shine or fall (Job 38:31-33).
  • He can stop or allow life to be produced according to His will.

If God commands the stars to fall, will they not obey? If He commands mankind to cease producing, will mankind not also obey?

0
Culture Featured Hidden Knowledge Life Politics

400 Years A Slave

By Royal Awakening — 8 years ago

The Land of the Free (except slaves)

The year 1619 was the year in which the first black or ”African” slaves by Dutch ships arrived in the British colonies of North America or what is known today as The United States.  From the year 1619 to 1865 the blacks in America endured the worst kind of slavery and servitude mankind had never known before.  We know about it. We hear it every year during black history month ( even though most accounts are filtered and downplayed to protect the public from all of the horrific atrocities that befell the American slaves ). In the year 1865 the 13th amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation came into place changing the status of “slaves” to “free”. XIII NEITHER SLAVERY NOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, EXCEPT AS A PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME WHEREOF THE PARTY SHALL HAVE BEEN DULY CONVICTED, SHALL EXIST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, OR ANY PLACE SUBJECT TO THEIR JURISDICTION

1619-1865 = 246 Years a Slave

By reading this we can safely deduce that this amendment left open 2 forms of slavery and servitude allowed in the United States.  Number 1: Penal labor when convicted of a crime.  When you are convicted of a crime and go to jail or prison you are then again enslaved and become a source of free labor for the government or state.  We know that there has been a mass incarceration of blacks since this institution on this proclamation; even when it was illegal and a jail-able offense just to look at a person of another race or to even gather together.  Therefore putting them in prisons and reducing them to slavery once again.

Credit System = Debt System

The second kind of slavery or servitude is allowed with the words “nor involuntary servitude” leaving open voluntary servitude.  Well who would volunteer to slavery or servitude?  Well the day you have children you voluntarily give them over to your government to be issued certificates and numbers that place them within their system of ownership.  They become property just like a vehicle or home.  If you skip a tax payment on your home or car even if you hold the title can they still not come take it?  Stop sending your child to school can they not come take it? If it is yours no one should be able to stake claim on whats yours and take it.Once you or your children are entered into this system and assigned a class, they are indoctrinated and then put into a work-field in which many make only enough to pay for housing and food.  Then a system of debt is imposed upon them saying you do not make enough so you have to get credit, extend yourself beyond what you make and pay it back, therefore ensuring your remain within their system of work to continuously pay off the debt you have incurred to live.  And they promote this system as more valuable saying the more we can extend a debt to you the higher your status will be.

1865 – 1965 = 100 Years a Slave

So since 1619 the “African Americans” in America has been subjected to many different forms of slavery, and still subject to rules laws and practices that were enacted before, during and after the times of “voluntary servitude” in the United States. 1865 did not end slavery in the United States at all, it just concealed it under better terms.In the South, there were “slave codes“; the goal was of these codes were to reduce influence of free blacks (particularly after slave rebellions) because of their potential influence on slaves. Restrictions included prohibiting them from voting (although North Carolina allowed this before 1831), bearing arms, gathering in groups for worship and learning to read and write. A major purpose of these laws was to preserve slavery.

Black Codes

Black Codes were laws In the United States passed by Democrat-controlled Southern states in 1865 and 1866, after the Civil War.  Black Codes were also enacted by Northern states such as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and New York prior to the Civil War to ban free blacks from residing in those states.  These codes were modeled after the earlier slave codes and had the intent of restricting the freedom of black people, and of compelling them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt.  States were particularly concerned with controlling movement and labor, as slavery had given way to a free labor system. Although freedmen had been emancipated, their lives were greatly restricted by the Black Codes.Black Codes were part of a larger pattern of Southern whites trying to suppress the new freedom of emancipated black slaves, the freedmen.



The defining feature of the Black Codes was broad vagrancy law.  Homeless unemployed Black Americans were arrested and fined as vagrants or a person, often in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.. Usually, the person could not afford the fine, and so was sent to work in convict leasing camps. In these camps is where they would remain, “paying their debt”, and inevitably be re-enlisted back into slavery by white slave holders.which allowed local authorities to arrest freedpeople for minor infractions and commit them to involuntary labor. Preexisting White American belief of Black inferiority informed post-war attitudes and white racial dominance continued to be culturally embedded; whites believed both that Black people were destined for servitude and that they would not work unless physically compelled.The racial divisions which slavery had created immediately became more obvious.  Blacks also bore the brunt of Southern anger over defeat in the War.  The Black Codes outraged public opinion in the North because it seemed the South was creating a form of quasi-slavery to negate the results of the war.The 1865–1866 Black Codes were an overt manifestation of the system of white supremacy that continued to dominate the American South.

Because legal enforcement depended on so many different local codes, which underwent less scrutiny than statewide legislation, , that even under military rule, local jurisdictions were able to continue a racist pattern of law enforcement, as long as it took place under a legal regime that was superficially race-neutral.  In 1893–1909 every Southern state except Tennessee passed new vagrancy laws.  These laws were more severe than those passed in 1865, and used vague terms that granted wide powers to police officers enforcing the law.  In wartime, Blacks might be disproportionately subjected to “work or fight” laws, which increased vagrancy penalties for those not in the military.

A general system of legitimized anti-Black violence, as exemplified by the Ku Klux Klan, played a major part in enforcing the practical law of white supremacy. The constant threat of violence against Black people (and White people who sympathized with them) maintained a system of extralegal terror.

“Jump Jim Crow”

The origin of the phrase “Jim Crow” has been attributed to “Jump Jim Crow”, a song-and-dance caricature of blacks performed by a white actor in blackface.   As a result of Rice’s fame, “Jim Crow” by 1838 had become a pejorative expression meaning “Negro”. When southern legislatures passed laws of racial segregation directed against blacks at the end of the 19th century, these statutes became known as Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States beginning in the 1890’s.  These laws continued to be enforced until 1965.  They mandated by law racial segregation in all public facilities in the states of the former Confederate States of America, starting in 1896 with a “separate but equal” status for Blacks in railroad cars.  These Jim Crow laws revived principles of the 1865 and 1866 Black Codes, which had previously restricted the civil rights and civil liberties of Blacks in America.

White Southerners encountered problems in learning free labor management after the end of slavery, and they resented black Americans, who represented the Confederacy’s Civil War defeat: With white supremacy being challenged throughout the South; many whites sought to protect their former status by threatening, lynching and killing blacks who exercised their new rights.”  White Democrats used their power to segregate public spaces and facilities in law and reestablish social dominance over blacks in the South.

Separate but Equal: The Law of the Land

Separate but equal was a legal doctrine in United States constitutional law according to which racial segregation did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1868, which guaranteed “equal protection” under the law to all citizens. Under the doctrine, as long as the facilities provided to each race were equal, state and local governments could require that services, facilities, public accommodations, housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation be segregated by race, which was already the case throughout the former Confederacy

Though segregation laws existed before this decision it emboldened segregation states during the Jim Crow era, which had commenced in 1876 and supplanted the Black Codes, which restricted the civil rights and civil liberties of blacks during the Reconstruction Era after the civil war. 18 states had segregation laws.

In practice the separate “but equal” facilities provided to blacks were always separate but rarely equal; usually they were not even close to equal, or they did not exist at all.  The facilities and social services offered to African-Americans were almost always of lower quality than those offered to white Americans; for example, many African American schools received less public funding per student than nearby white schools. In Texas, the state established a state-funded law school for white students without any law school for black students.  The majority of all black schools received old textbooks, used equipment, and poorly prepared or trained teachers.  A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that black students were emotionally impaired when segregated at a young age.  State voting right restrictions, such as literacy tests and poll taxes created an environment that made it almost impossible for blacks to vote.   The finding contributed to at least 58 more years of legalized discrimination and oppression against black and colored people in the United States.

Strange Fruit Hanging From Those Trees

Lynching is an extrajudicial punishment by an informal group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate a group.  The verb comes from the phrase “Lynch Law”, a term for a punishment without trial. Two Americans during this era are generally credited for inventing the phrase: Charles Lynch and William Lynch, who both lived in Virginia in the 1780s.  Charles Lynch was a Virginia planter and American Revolutionary who headed a county court in Virginia which incarcerated Loyalist supporters of the British for up to one year during the war. While he lacked proper jurisdiction, he claimed this right by arguing wartime necessity.  Subsequently, he prevailed upon the Congress of the Confederation to pass a law which specifically exonerated him and his associates from wrongdoing.  This move by the Congress provoked controversy, and it was in connection with this that the term “Lynch law”, meaning the assumption of extrajudicial authority, came into common parlance in the United States leading to many “lynchings” of blacks in the United States.

In the United States, during the decades before the Civil War assertive free-Blacks, Latinos in the South West and runaways were the objects of racial lynching.  But lynching attacks on U.S. blacks, especially in the South, increased dramatically in the aftermath of the Civil War, after slavery had been abolished and recently freed black men gained the right to vote.  More than 3500 were lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968.

Lynching, as a form of punishment for presumed criminal offenses were performed by self-appointed commissions, mobs, or vigilantes without due process of law took place in the United States both before and after the American Civil War, most commonly in Southern states and Western frontier settlements. Racist extremism with an eye to viciousness and public spectacle was frequently evident, as exemplified by the first lynching in St. Louis when in 1835 a black man named McIntosh who killed a deputy sheriff while being taken to jail was captured, chained to a tree, and burned to death on a corner lot downtown in front of a crowd of over 1,000 people.  In the South, members of the abolitionist movement or other people who opposed slavery were usually targets of lynch mob violence before the Civil War. During the war, Southern Home Guard units sometimes lynched white Southerners who they suspected of being Unionists or deserters.

After the war, southern whites struggled to maintain their social dominance. Secret vigilante and insurgent groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) instigated extrajudicial assaults and killings in order to keep whites in power and discourage freedmen from voting, working, gathering together, worshipping  and getting educated. They also sometimes attacked Northerners, teachers, and agents of the Freedmen’s Bureau.  Mobs usually alleged crimes for which they lynched blacks. In the late 19th century, however, journalist Ida B. Wells showed that many presumed crimes were either exaggerated or had not even occurred. Mob violence arose as a means of enforcing white supremacy and it frequently verged on systematic political terrorism. “The Ku Klux Klan, paramilitary groups, and other whites united by frustration and anger ruthlessly defended the interests of white supremacy. The magnitude of the extralegal violence which occurred during election campaigns reached epidemic proportions.  During Reconstruction after the war, the Ku Klux Klan and others used lynching as a means to control blacks, forcing them to work for planters and preventing them from exercising their right to vote.

Emmett Louis Till (July 25, 1941 – August 28, 1955) was a 14-year-old African-American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after a white woman said she was offended by him in her family’s grocery store.  Till’s reported behavior, perhaps unwittingly, violated the strictures of conduct for an African American male interacting with a white woman in the Jim Crow era South.   Several nights after the store incident, a few men went armed to Till’s great-uncle’s house and abducted the boy. They took him away and beat and mutilated him before shooting him in the head and sinking his body in the Tallahatchie River. Three days later, Till’s body was discovered and retrieved from the river.

In September 1955, Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury of Till’s kidnapping and murder. Protected against double jeopardy, the two men publicly admitted in a 1956 interview with Look magazine that they had intentionally killed Till.  In 2017 the woman accuser admitted that “inappropriate action” from Emmett till never occurred.

A lot of these laws, practices and doctrines were overturned and supposedly outawed by a series of Supreme Court decisions, starting with Brown v. Board of Education of 1954. However, the overturning of segregation laws in the United States was a long process that lasted through much of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, involving federal legislation (especially the Civil Rights Act of 1964), and many court cases.

1965 – 2017 =  52 Years a Slave

The Civil Rights Act of 1964  is a landmark civil rights and US labor law in the United States[5] that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.[6] It prohibited unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations.  Its duty is to guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment and its duty to protect voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment. The Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

This law was not without opposition.  When the bill came before the full Senate for debate on March 30, 1964, the “Southern Bloc” of 18 southern Democratic Senators and one Republican Senator led by Richard Russell (D-GA) launched a filibuster to prevent its passage. Said Russell: “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our (Southern) states.

There were white business owners who claimed that Congress did not have the constitutional authority to ban segregation in public accommodations. For example, Moreton Rolleston, the owner of a motel in Atlanta, Georgia, said he should not be forced to serve black travelers, saying, “the fundamental question…is whether or not Congress has the power to take away the liberty of an individual to run his business as he sees fit in the selection and choice of his customers”.  Rolleston claimed that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a breach of the Fourteenth Amendment and also violated the Fifth and Thirteenth Amendments by depriving him of “liberty and property without due process”.

Resistance to the public accommodation clause continued for years on the ground, especially in the South.  When local college students in Orangeburg, South Carolina attempted to desegregate a bowling alley in 1968, they were violently attacked, leading to rioting and what became known as the “Orangeburg massacre.”  Resistance by school boards continued into the next decade, with the most significant declines in black-white school segregation only occurring at the end of the 1960s and the start of the 1970s in the aftermath of the Green v. County School Board of New Kent County (1968) court decision that held that New Kent County‘s freedom of choice plan did not constitute adequate compliance with the school board’s responsibility to determine a system of admission to public schools on a non-racial basis. The Supreme Court mandated that the school board must formulate new plans and steps towards realistically converting to a desegregated system.

Can't We All Just Get Along

Rodney King Riots

2 Videos

Fast Forward to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, also known as the Rodney King riots.  These riots were a series of riots, lootings, arsons, and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California in April and May 1992. The unrest began after a trial jury acquitted four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department of the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King. It then spread throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area as thousands of people rioted over a six-day period following the announcement of the verdict.  Before the release of the Rodney King tape which showed footage of King being beaten by police while lying on the ground, minority community leaders in Los Angeles had repeatedly complained about harassment and excessive use of force by LAPD officers.  An independent commission formed after the release of the tape concluded that a “significant number” of LAPD officers “repetitively use excessive force against the public and persistently ignore the written guidelines of the department regarding force,” and that bias related to race, gender, and sexual orientation were regularly contributing factors in use of excessive force.

Mark Fuhrman and the O.J. Simpson Trial

The Fuhrman tapes are 13 hours of taped interviews given by Los Angeles police officer Mark Fuhrman to writer Laura McKinny between 1985 and 1994. The tapes include many racist slurs and remarks made by Fuhrman, including uses of the word “nigger,” descriptions of police brutality perpetrated on black suspects, misogynist slurs and descriptions of the harassment and intimidation of female Los Angeles police officers by male officers. Portions of the tapes were admitted into evidence during the O. J. Simpson murder case. In the tapes Fuhrman also made many references to the “planting of evidence” and implied that police brutality and evidence planting were common practice in the Los Angeles Police Department.

The 1995 OJ Simpson murder trial was one of the most sensational moments in recent US history. The world watched as the fault-lines of American race relations were laid bare in a Los Angeles courtroom. Simpson, a former American football player and actor, was found not guilty of murder in October 1995. His eight-month trial took place just three years since riots had rocked LA, following the acquittal of four white LAPD officers  filmed viciously beating black motorist Rodney King.  The O.J. Simpson trial as well as the Rodney King Trial highlighted and put on center stage racial tensions and injustices suffered by Blacks in America in the 1990’s.

Black Lives Matter

Fast Forward to 2013  after George Zimmerman was acquitted  of the shooting death of black unarmed 17 year old Trayvon Martin.  This killing as well as its subsequent acquittal was made into a public outcry because of decades of unfair and unequal treatment towards the Black communities and people, especially within the criminal justice system and by the hands of police whose duty was supposed to be to protect and serve them.

The killing of an unarmed 17 year old black male walking home with nothing but an Arizona tea and a bag of skittles and no one was held accountable; served to prove to the black community that no matter what you did or didn’t do as long as you were black you were an open target and the system would not grant fair justice for them, even in death.

In the weeks, months and years since there began to be a public outcry against black lives that were taken senselessly by the criminal justice system; the Black Lives Matter movement began to bring attention and focus to the tragic losses of life that continued to occur within the black communities by the justice system.

Some of the most notable killings were:

Michael Brown

Unarmed Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.  In November, a grand jury declined to charge Wilson in the fatal shooting. Brown’s death and the lack of charges against Wilson sparked protests, some of them violent, in Ferguson and across the nation.  On March 4, the Department of Justice announced that it too would not charge Wilson for the shooting after an exhaustive investigation.

Tamir Rice

Tamir Rice, 12, was shot and killed by Cleveland police after officers mistook his toy gun for a real weapon.  The two police officers involved, Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback, have not been charged.  Rice’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuit against the officers and the city of Cleveland.

 

Eric Garner

Eric Garner, 43, was killed after he was put in an illegal chokehold for 15 seconds by a white police officer — allegedly for selling loose cigarettes. Garner said “I can’t breathe” 11 times as he was held down by several officers on a sidewalk.  The officer who put Garner in the chokehold, Daniel Pantaleo, was not charged.  Garner’s death sparked peaceful protests across the nation, with demonstrators adopting the phrase “I Can’t Breathe” as a symbol and slogan of protest.

Philando Castile

On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a St. Anthony, Minnesota, police officer, after being pulled over in Falcon Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul.  A St. Anthony police officer patrolling Larpenteur Avenue radioed to a nearby squad that he planned to pull over the car and check the IDs of the driver and passenger, saying, “The two occupants just look like people that were involved in a robbery. The driver looks more like one of our suspects, just because of the wide-set nose. I couldn’t get a good look at the passenger.”

According to dashcam video, after Yanez asked for Castile’s driver’s license and proof of insurance, Castile gave him his proof of insurance card, which Yanez appeared to glance at and tuck in his outer pocket. Castile then calmly informed Yanez: “Sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me.”  Before Castile completed the sentence, Yanez interrupted and calmly replied, “OK,” and placed his right hand on the holster of his own holstered weapon. Yanez said, “Okay, don’t reach for it, then … don’t pull it out.” Castile responded, “I’m not pulling it out,” and Reynolds also said, “He’s not pulling it out.” Yanez repeated, raising his voice, “Don’t pull it out!” as he quickly pulled his own gun with his right hand and reached inside the driver’s window with his left hand. Reynolds screamed, “No!” Yanez removed his left arm from the car and fired seven shots in the direction of Castile in rapid succession. Reynolds yelled, “You just killed my boyfriend!” Castile moaned and said, “I wasn’t reaching for it.” Reynolds loudly said, “He wasn’t reaching for it.” Before she completed her sentence, Yanez again screamed, “Don’t pull it out!” Reynolds responded, “He wasn’t.” Yanez yelled, “Don’t move! Fuck!”  Of the seven shots fired by Yanez at point blank range, five hit Castile and two of those hit and pierced his heart.

On June 16, 2017, Officer Yanez was acquitted of all charges. He had been charged with manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm.

Sandra Bland

Sandra Bland was a 28-year-old black woman who was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, on July 13, 2015, three days after being arrested during a traffic stop.  Officer Encinia stopped Bland on the afternoon of July 10, 2015 in Prairie View, Texas, for failure to signal a lane change.  Dashcam footage shows that Encinia initially wrote a routine traffic violation warning for Bland. After he returns to her car and speaks briefly to her again, he asks her to put out her cigarette. She responds, “Why do I have to put out a cigarette when I’m in my own car?” Encinia orders her to “get out of the car”, and, when she repeatedly refuses to exit, he tells her she is under arrest. Bland repeatedly asks why she is under arrest, and Encinia responds, “I am giving you a lawful order.”  She refuses to leave her car, stating she is not under arrest as she is unaware of the reason and not obliged to. Encinia then opens her car door and tells her more than a dozen times to get out of the car before he tries to pull her out. After struggling, he draws his taser and points it at Bland, shouting “I will light you up! Get out! Now!”, at which point she exits her vehicle.  

Once Bland is out of her car, the officer orders her to put down her cell phone and tells her she is going to jail. In response, Bland asks why. In the video, both Bland and the officer move to the passenger side of the vehicle and are no longer visible, while they continue to argue heatedly. Bland can be heard crying and screaming.   Police stated that at 9:00 a.m. July 13,  Bland was found “in a semi-standing position” hanging in her cell.  Her death, which was ruled a suicide, was followed by protests against her arrest, disputing the cause of death, and alleging racial violence against her.

A grand jury declined to indict the county sheriff and jail staff for a felony relating to Bland’s death. In January 2016, Encinia was indicted for perjury for making false statements about the circumstances surrounding Bland’s arrest and he was subsequently fired by the Texas Department of Public Safety In September 2016, Bland’s mother settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the county jail and police department for $1.9 million and some procedural changes. In June 2017, the perjury charge against Encinia was dropped in return for his agreement to end his law enforcement career.

Now They Seek to Label YOU as Terrorists!

Since its inception the Black Lives Matter movement has received stark criticism from its opposers. Some critics accuse the movement of being anti-police.  A Sergeant of the Dallas Police Department filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against Black Lives Matter in September 2016, which accused the group of inciting a “race war.”  Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said that Black Lives Matter is “inherently racist” and called the movement anti-American. According to Giuliani, the Black Lives Matter movement divides people and exacerbates racial tensions.

There have also been attempts and petitions signed to label the Black Lives Matter movement as a terrorist group, citing “Terrorism is defined as ‘the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims… This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organizations…Black Lives Matter earned this title due to its actions in Ferguson, Baltimore, and even at a Bernie Sander rally, as well as all over the United States and Canada.”   It been asked that the Pentagon recognize the group as such “on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety.” (rumor has it they have labeled them as that).

In a memo obtained by Foreign Policy from early August, the FBI claims that the continued concern over “alleged” police abuse has fueled a rise in violence against police. And that rise in violence has produced a new kind of terrorist. It reads in part: “The FBI assesses it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence,.”  “The FBI assesses it is very likely incidents of alleged police abuse against African Americans since then have continued to feed the resurgence in ideologically motivated, violent criminal activity within the Black Identity Extremist movement,” the report states.   So basically, the future likelihood of threats from a group that as far as we know does not exist (yet) is a potential threat that needs to be taken care of.

The National Defense Authorization Act greatly expands the power and scope of the federal government to fight the War on Terror, including codifying into law the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects without trial. Under the new law the US military has the power to carry out domestic anti-terrorism operations on US soil.  Former president Barack Obama when discussing  this law was quoted saying “There may be a number of people who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes, in some cases because evidence may be tainted; but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States.”  There may be = “there is a possibility” just like there was a possibility of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq… He was also quoted saying “If and when we determine that the United States must hold individuals to keep them from carrying out an act of war; we will do so within a system that involves judicial and congressional oversight.” and “Right now in distant training camps and in crowded cities, there are people plotting to take American lives. That will be the case a year from now; five years from now; and in all probability ten years from now.”  In other words if we think, feel or assume you are a threat to the United States in any form you are a terrorist (again with the definition being “the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims”) in order to prevent these things from possibly and probably inevitably occurring we have to detain these people on our assumptions without trial until we determine there is no threat.

Dig That Ditch For Yourselves

For 398 years from 1619 to 2017 blacks in America have been violently targeted for oppression and unfair treatment for political as well as financial gain.  Whether it was via the whip and shotguns by the slave master used to intimidate the slaves and keep them under control, the Ku Klux Klan and their nooses, robes and burning crosses keeping blacks from voting, or even by the police and military force that violently shuts down peaceful protests and marches against unfair treatment and arrest any participants they’d like with threats of more violence and arrests if their protests continue.  After 398 years of this you seek to label blacks as the terrorists?

Just in case no one was keeping track; it was not blacks who hijacked and crashed 2 commercial jets into twin towers of World Trade Center; and hijacked 2 more jets and crashed them  into the Pentagon and a field in rural Pa. leaving Total dead and missing around 2,992.  It wasn’t blacks who placed a car bomb outside a federal office building in Oklahoma City, which exploded collapsing wall and floors killing 168 people, including 19 children and 1 person who died in rescue effort.  It wasn’t blacks who mailedlLetters containing anthrax spores to several news media offices and two Democratic U.S. Senators, killing five people and infecting 17 others.

Kipland Philip Kinkel (born August 30, 1982)

In May 1998 After killing his parents at home, 15-year-old Kip Kinkel, drove to Thurston High School, where he killed two students and wounded 23 others.

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold

In 1999 18-year-old Eric Harris and 17-year-old Dylan Klebold, students at Columbine High School, killed twelve students and one teacher. They injured 21 additional people, and three more were injured while attempting to escape the school. The pair committed suicide at the end of the massacre.

Jeffrey Weise

In 2005 16-year-old student Jeffrey Weise, killed his grandfather and grandfather’s companion at their home. He drove to Red Lake Senior High School. Armed with his grandfather’s police weapons, Weise killed five students, one teacher, and one security guard, wounding seven others, before committing suicide.

Seung-Hui Cho

In 2007 23-year-old student, Seung-Hui Cho, killed thirty-two students and faculty members at Virginia Tech, and wounded another seventeen students and faculty members in two separate attacks before committing suicide.

Adam Lanza

20-year-old Adam Lanza, killed twenty-six people and himself. He first killed his mother at their shared home before taking her guns and driving to the school. Lanza brought four guns with him. He killed twenty first-grade children aged six and seven during the attack at school, along with six adults, including four teachers, the principal, and the school psychologist. Two other persons were injured. Lanza then killed himself as police arrived at the school.

James Holmes

James Eagan Holmes was convicted of the murder of 12 people and the attempted murder of 70 others in the 2012 Aurora shooting at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Holmes surrendered outside the theater and informed officers he had also  booby-trapped his apartment with explosives, which were defused one day later by a bomb squad.

Omar Mateen

Police say 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla. in June 2016. At least 49 people were killed, and more than 50 were wounded and taken to area hospitals. Mateen was killed during a firefight with police.

That’s 140 deaths and 150 injuries just between these 8 people alone.

Strange Fruit in a Strange Land

Acts 7:6

Acts 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.  7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

We know the story of Abraham and his children, and the covenant in which God made with him. Genesis 15:12  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

You is Kind You is Smart You is Important

You are that seed.  This and many other prophecies are about you.  The Bible is the other side of black history; that has not been taught to you.


Jeremiah 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith theLord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

God is calling his children.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I’ll leave off with these New Testament parables which were written about these things:

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

0
Culture Featured Hidden Knowledge Homosexuality Life Religion & Spirituality

You Are Being Sodomized by the Sodomites and it isn’t the Gays

By atlcustoms — 8 years ago

Many have been taught that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed solely because of homosexuality—that these cities were filled with men engaged in same-sex relations, prompting God to burn them down. This belief is reinforced by the English word “sodomy,” which is defined as sexual acts involving anal or oral intercourse. The term originates from medieval Latin sodomia, referencing Genesis 19:5, where the men of Sodom demand to “know” Lot’s guests. This passage has been commonly interpreted as an indication of homosexual rape.

But is this truly the full story? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible and other historical texts actually say about Sodom and Gomorrah.

What Does Scripture Say?

In Genesis 18:20-21, God declares that Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins are “very grievous,” prompting Him to investigate further.

Genesis 18:20-21
“And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

In Genesis 19, the men of Sodom surround Lot’s home and demand that he bring out his guests so that they may “know” them. This phrase has often been interpreted as a request for sexual relations.

Genesis 19:4-5
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”

Lot refuses and even offers his daughters instead, further reinforcing the idea that the men’s intent was violent and immoral.

What Does “Know” Really Mean?

The original Hebrew word for “know” in Genesis 19:5 has often been translated as “to have sexual relations.” However, an alternative reading suggests that the more accurate translation is “to bed“—a reference not to sex, but to an act of torture.

This idea is supported by the Book of Jasher (The book of the Upright), an ancient text referenced in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. This book provides additional details on the practices of Sodom and Gomorrah, revealing that “bedding” was a form of sadistic punishment rather than a sexual act.

Jasher 19:3 And by desire of their four judges the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had beds erected in the streets of the cities, and if a man came to these places they laid hold of him and brought him to one of their beds, and by force made him to lie in them.
4 And as he lay down, three men would stand at his head and three at his feet, and measure him by the length of the bed, and if the man was less than the bed these six men would stretch him at each end, and when he cried out to them they would not answer him.
5 And if he was longer than the bed they would draw together the two sides of the bed at each end, until the man had reached the gates of death.
6 And if he continued to cry out to them, they would answer him, saying, Thus shall it be done to a man that cometh into our land.
7 And when men heard all these things that the people of the cities of Sodom did, they refrained from coming there.

What Was “Bedding” in Sodom and Gomorrah?

The Book of Jasher describes the horrific custom of “bedding” strangers who entered the city:

  1. Special beds were placed in the streets. If a traveler entered Sodom, the people would seize him and force him onto one of these beds.
  2. If the man was shorter than the bed, they would stretch him until his body fit its length.
  3. If he was taller than the bed, they would cut him down to size.
  4. If he cried out, they would ignore his pleas for mercy and declare that this was simply the custom of the land.

This was not an act of sexual desire but one of cruelty, humiliation, and brutality.

Genesis 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn;

Understanding Lot’s Offer and the Corruption of Sodom

In Genesis 19:7-9, Lot attempts to reason with the violent mob outside his home, urging them not to commit wickedness. He then offers his virgin daughters instead, but the crowd refuses and insists on seizing the strangers (the angels).

Many have interpreted this passage to mean that Lot was trying to appease a group of raging homosexuals who wanted to sexually violate the angels. According to this view, the mob rejected his daughters because they were only interested in same-sex relations.

However, the Book of Jasher provides additional context that challenges this interpretation.

The Sin of Sodom: More Than Just Sexual Immorality

According to Jasher 18:13-15, the people of Sodom engaged in public sexual violence and ritualistic abuse during their city-wide festivals. This passage describes how men took their neighbors’ wives and daughters, violating them in plain sight, while their husbands and fathers remained silent. This reveals a deeply corrupt and lawless society where rape and brutality were normalized, not just among men but against women as well.

Thus, when Lot offered his daughters, he was not simply presenting an alternative to an act of homosexuality. Instead, he was making a desperate attempt to protect his guests from a sadistic form of torture that the Sodomites regularly inflicted on strangers.

“And He Will Needs Be a Judge” – The Corrupt Legal System of Sodom

The mob’s response in Genesis 19:9 reveals their hostility toward Lot for attempting to judge their actions:

“And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them.”

The Book of Jasher 19:1-2 expands on this, describing how Sodom had a deeply unjust judicial system run by four corrupt judges. The names of these judges were later translated by Abraham’s servant Eliezer, revealing the nature of their rule:

  • Serak (The Abundant One) → Shakra (The Lustful One)
  • Sharkad (The Free One) → Shakura (The Doubly Lustful One)
  • Zebnac (The Giving One) → Kezobim (The Lost Wanderer, The Confused One)
  • Menon (The Consoling One) → Matzlodin (The One Who Does Not Seek Justice)

These names expose the city’s culture of excess, lust, lawlessness, and injustice. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah did not just engage in immorality—they created a legal system that protected and encouraged wickedness while punishing the righteous.

The Wicked Laws and Customs of Sodom and Gomorrah

The Book of Jasher expands on the deep corruption and brutality that defined Sodom and Gomorrah. Their society was not just immoral but deliberately cruel and unjust, targeting the weak, the poor, and even their own people who showed compassion.

A Corrupt Judicial System

One story from Jasher 19:12-21 illustrates the complete perversion of justice in Sodom:

  • Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, witnessed a man of Sodom attack a stranger, steal his clothes, and leave him naked.
  • When Eliezer intervened to help, the attacker struck Eliezer on the forehead with a stone, causing him to bleed.
  • Shockingly, the attacker demanded payment, claiming that the act of drawing blood was a service, and this was “the custom of the land.”
  • When Eliezer refused, the man took him before Shakra, the judge of Sodom, who ruled in favor of the attacker, ordering Eliezer to pay for his own injury.

This reveals that Sodom’s legal system was not about justice, but about justifying evil.

Systematic Oppression of Strangers and the Poor

The Book of Jasher explains the meaning behind Genesis 18:20, where God declares that the “cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great”—this was the suffering of the innocent at the hands of a wicked people.

1. Robbing Travelers (Jasher 18:16-17)

  • When a traveler came to Sodom, the entire city would gang up on him, stealing his goods little by little.
  • If he protested, each thief would say, “I only took a little,” until he had nothing left.
  • Once the traveler was left penniless, they would chase him out of the city.

2. Starving the Poor to Death (Jasher 19:8-10)

  • If a poor man entered the city, the people would give him gold and silver, but they would refuse to give him food, ensuring he would starve.
  • When he eventually died, they would take back their money and strip his body of clothing.
  • This cruel practice was repeated every time a poor person entered their land.

The Righteousness of Paltith and Her Martyrdom

One of the most tragic stories involves Paltith, Lot’s daughter.

  • A poor man came to Sodom seeking food, but the city’s cruel law forbade anyone from helping him.
  • Paltith secretly fed him by hiding bread in her water pitcher when she went to fetch water.
  • The people became suspicious when the man survived for many days without food and set a trap.
  • They caught Paltith in the act of giving him bread and brought her before the judges.
  • Her punishment? The people of Sodom burned her alive in the street.

A similar fate befell a young woman in Admah, another city in the region:

  • She offered bread and water to a weary traveler who had nowhere to stay.
  • The people accused her of violating their laws against hospitality.
  • Her punishment was horrific—she was covered in honey and left to be stung to death by bees.
  • Her cries of agony reached the heavens.

The Justification for Sodom’s Destruction

These accounts explain why God declared in Genesis 18:20-21 that Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin was “very grievous.” Their evil was not just about sexual immorality—it was an entire culture built on:

  1. Systematic oppression of the poor and vulnerable
  2. Corrupt courts that rewarded wickedness
  3. Torture and public executions of those who showed compassion
  4. A complete rejection of justice, mercy, and righteousness

God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was not just an act of divine wrath—it was divine justice against a people who had made cruelty their law.

The Wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s Judgment

The Book of Jasher gives deeper insight into the extreme wickedness that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sins went beyond immorality—they were a people who delighted in cruelty, especially toward the poor and those passing through their cities.

A City of Cruelty and Injustice

  • The people of Sodom were not just inhospitable; they were intentionally brutal.
  • They tortured and starved the poor and needy, refusing to give them even a morsel of bread until they died.
  • If anyone dared to help a starving person, they too would be tortured and put to death.
  • Once their victims died, the people would rob them of all their possessions, even fighting over their belongings until the strongest person claimed them.
  • This was not an isolated practice—it was their law. Anyone who entered their land was subject to their violence, and they would say:
    “Thus shall it be done to any man that enters our land.”
  • They were like a lawless gang of violent mobsters, committing rape, robbery, pillaging, plundering, and murder without remorse.

Why God’s Judgment Was Inevitable

The Bible records in Genesis 19:13 that God’s angels declared:
“For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”

The Book of Jasher explains why their sins were so great:

  • Jasher 19:44 – Sodom had plenty of food and peace within their land, yet they refused to help the poor and needy.
  • Jasher 19:45 – Their sins became so great that God sent His angels to destroy the city.

Even the Prophet Ezekiel reveals why Sodom was destroyed:

  • Ezekiel 16:49-50 – Their sins were pride, laziness, excess, and cruelty to the poor.
  • Despite having everything they needed, they chose to oppress and mistreat others.
  • Their haughtiness and abominations led God to wipe them out.

God’s Justice and the Perversion of His Law

God is a God of wisdom, justice, and righteousness. He does not only distinguish right from wrong but also just from unjust, fair from unfair. Everything He does has a purpose and reason.

However, there are those who twist God’s laws to fit their own agenda—condemning people based on a part of the law rather than the whole truth.

  • When people spread a distorted version of God’s judgment, they corrupt the understanding of the people.
  • This perversion of God’s law leads to a society that is wicked, unjust, and immoral, just like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sodom was destroyed because of unchecked evil, and its fate serves as a warning to any nation that rejects justice, mercy, and righteousness in favor of oppression and corruption.

The Spirit of Sodom: Oppression, Injustice, and Cruelty

Sodom and Gomorrah were not just cities of immorality—they were places of systematic oppression, cruelty, and injustice, where the strong preyed on the weak without mercy. Their legacy lives on wherever injustice flourishes.

  • If you use your power to exploit the poor and needy while they suffer and perish, you are acting in the spirit of Sodom.
  • If you are trapped in a system designed to keep you poor, sick, and powerless while others profit from your suffering, you are experiencing the same oppression as the victims of Sodom.
  • If the justice system is built to work against the vulnerable, enforcing unfair and biased laws that strip them of their dignity, wealth, and even their lives while benefiting the rich and powerful—you are witnessing the modern-day spirit of Sodom in action.
  • If you are drowning in debt, struggling under a system that keeps you weak while others grow stronger off your hardship, you are being exploited just as the oppressed were in Sodom.
  • If you live in a place where those in power declare, “We do not want you in our land,” and they subject your people to cruel and inhumane treatment—starvation, torture, public executions, lynchings, and other forms of brutal punishment—you are living in a modern-day Sodom.

Sodom was not just a city—it was a system, a mindset, and a way of life that glorified oppression and fed on injustice. Wherever greed, cruelty, and exploitation thrive at the expense of the poor and powerless, the spirit of Sodom is alive—and history shows that God does not leave such evil unpunished.

Listen To The Full Book Of Jasher Here
0
Culture Family Life

Who art thou O’ Son of Man?

By atlcustoms — 8 years ago

Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Now many preach that this is Jesus confirming that everything Peter has said was true and was revealed to him by God.”  But lets look at exactly what Jesus says both before and after this piece:

Romans 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”

He then says in response to Peter  17… “for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”  20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. When Jesus first poses the question he asks “who do people say that I the son of man am?”  He refers to himself as the son of man. Proverbs 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. Ezekiel 2:2 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.  When speaking to certain prophets in the old testament of the Bible God would call them Son of man, and give the sons of men different charges, things to say and things to do.  

People Watching a Movie

After that it says  20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

 

Flirst is a collage artist who assembles disparate pieces to explore how he can change the harmony of the whole. For my poster, a homage to The Revenant, I assembled pieces to create a vast, sinister, and lonely landscape. The poster features a figure with very few people on his side; this represents the film’s main character, Hugh Glass, who was brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead in the winter wilderness.

I wanted to portray the same witty chaotic vibe in my poster

In his Barcelona series, Mario Corea Aiello forms a grungy collage of newspaper and magazine cutouts and heavy paint strokes. I felt this style would parallel the vicious storm that left Mark Watney for dead on Mars in The Martian. For the color scheme, I deferred to Eric White’s cover art from the original novel by Andy Weir to capture the characteristics of an otherworldly storm.

My inspiration for this poster is one part Roy Lichtenstein and one part Stefan Sagmeister. Spotlight is about journalists uncovering a massive scandal in one of Boston’s oldest institutions, and I found that the perfectly contradictory homophone pray/prey encapsulates the shock and horror felt by the community when this scandal was made public.

To illustrate this, I pixelated an image of a priest, then tore off his head and replaced it with an image of a wolf. I looked to Warhol’s subversive dictator portraits to shape this poster of Immortan Joe.Warhol had a remarkable ability to distract from the meaning of his art. On the surface his work simply looks cool!

This shallow analysis misses the irony behind his cultural representations. Mad Max: Fury Road has the same effect: The stylized nature of the film gets more attention than the meaning behind it.

I chose to feature Immortan Joe because he is a terrible person, but his iconic look makes him instantly recognizable. When I first read the plot summary for Room, I envisioned lonely, sterile characters, who had been institutionalized by their secluded environment.

Of course, when I saw the movie that perception quickly changed; the characters are full of life, love, and joy, and the audience instantly empathizes with them on a raw, human level. KAWS statues play on a similar deceit. Initially they have a sterile, robotic feel, but when you view them in their human-scale sizes and see their playful aesthetic, you experience an unexpected sense of connection.

Welcome to the Oscars, Or as some people like to call it, the white people’s choice awards

The Big Short takes a comedic approach to a dark subject, and I wanted to portray the same witty, chaotic vibe in my poster. Keith Haring was my inspiration because his high-contrast, brightly colored political work, which touches on grim subjects like rape, death, and war, hinges on the same contrast as the film. The poster is based on the film’s alligator-in-an-abandoned-pool scene; the alligator represents the main characters in the movie, who took advantage of the 2008 housing bubble and left the world in desperation when it burst.

Backstage Preparations

I chose to focus on the muddy gray areas and loopholes within Bridge of Spies. The Cold War was fueled by each side’s increasingly dire hypotheticals, causing mass paranoia among citizens and governments alike.

A large part of the film’s narrative focuses on the extent of protection under the law, especially for a Soviet spy. I reimagined Lady Justice, mixing her blindfold with the American and Soviet flags to represent how both countries were tied to their individuals principles of justice even while locked in an unending battle for the upper hand. Set in the eponymous 1950s borough, Brooklyn features then-contemporary imagery that now exemplifies the commodification of Brooklyn as a global brand.

Just as the Pop Art movement utilized mass advertising and irony to re-contextualize commercial art, I drew from today’s vintage, artisanal design trends, which are inspired by that era and setting. In that vein, I applied the animated footage and vector elements to illustrate how the contrasting settings of Brooklyn and Ireland re-contextualized the protagonist’s identity through a fluctuating sense of home.

The 88th annual Academy Awards are underway, and viewers are anxiously awaiting the ceremony to find out if their favorite flicks and actors win, which categories will see big upsets, and which speeches and performances will stand out.

Not to mention how host Chris Rock will approach the Oscars So White controversy, and who he will target during the opening monologue. Did Leo finally take home a golden statue? The buzz began during the red carpet events prior to the official event. Jennifer Jason Leigh, nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Hateful Eight, seemed slightly out of it during her interview with Ryan Seacrest on E!’s special. But arguably the biggest surprise was Best Actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant).

If hosts were nominated, I wouldn’t be here; instead, you’d have Neil Patrick Harris.

Rock, who addressed the issues with ease and expected humor, added that he did seriously consider quitting after so many people spoke out and pressured him to do so. But the last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart, he said, as the crowd erupted in laughter (including Hart himself, who was in the audience).

Arguably, the best part of Rock’s monologue was his blatant dig at Jada Pinkett-Smith and her vocal boycott of the Oscars. Isn’t she on a TV show? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties, he said.

Scroll to top