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Genesis 6: Biology and Genetics - By Mark A. Becker - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/10/25/genesis-6-biology-and-genetics-by-mark-a-becker/
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:1-2, 4). Introduction Genesis 6:1-2, 4, above, is our text for this study. This survey is foundationally derived from my article, Genesis 6 Commentary and Genetics | FaithWriters, with a much deeper look into my initial theory on what may have actually occurred during this pivotal and much-debated time in history. What Genesis 6:1-4 Is Not One thought on this controversial passage is that the “sons of God” are the sons of the “godly” line of Seth and that the “daughters of men” are the daughters of the “ungodly” line of Cain. This interpretation is obviously wrong for the following reasons: The “sons of God” (Hebrew – “bene Elohim“) are clearly angels when compared to the “law of first mention” in what is considered to be the oldest book of the Bible, Job. If the intention of the verse was to convey this interpretation, the Holy Spirit would have inspired Moses to write: “… when the sons of Seth came into the daughters of Cain.” Additionally, “the daughters of men” is all-inclusive and would include the daughters of Seth. Also, how could natural human procreation – made a mandate from God to all humanity – produce the Nephilim/giants/men of renown? Finally, Seth’s descendants were far from godly as all were destroyed in the deluge of the global flood except Noah and his family. What Genesis 6:1-4 Is The correct interpretation is that the “sons of God” were fallen angels. As noted above, we find that the “sons of God” (Hebrew – “bene Elohim“) in Genesis 6:4 are angels when compared with the book of Job. “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them” (Job 1:6). “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD” (Job 2:1). “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7). (emphasis mine) In all three instances, the sons of God refer to angels. The only humans to ever be called sons of God were Adam and Messiah Yeshua. Both were new creations, sinless and perfect. (Eve might be considered in this category, but she was created biologically from Adam himself.) All other human beings have been created biologically in sin and are not unique creations. Angels fall into this category as well, as they were also unique creations and, as such, were referred to as “sons of God.” Note: Christians today who are born again are called sons of God only because they are new creations in Christ. The correct interpretation, therefore, is that the “sons of God” were fallen angels. These sons of God “came into the daughters of men, and they bare children to them,” which resulted in the Nephilim/giants/men of renown. What exactly happened here? Angelic Biology and Sexual Intercourse The other popular interpretation that seems to align with what Genesis 6:4 is conveying is that of sexual relations between the fallen sons of God and human women that produced the Nephilim/giants/men of renown. It has been conjectured – and I agree – that a major issue that Satan and the fallen angels had regarding mankind was that men and women were created in the image of God, and the angels were not. When it comes to procreation, there is nothing in Scripture that even hints that the angels have the ability to reproduce among themselves, and every mention of angels in the Holy Bible refers to them in masculine terms. Jesus, in answering a question from the Sadducees regarding the resurrection (in which they did not believe), “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:29). (emphasis mine) In the above passage, Jesus said we will not marry in, or clearly after, the resurrection – and would obviously not procreate – like the “angels of God in heaven.” Angelic and Human Reproduction? But what about when angels take on human form, as they so often do in Scripture? Would they be provided with reproductive organs that would render the possibility that they could reproduce with human women? Why would this even be possible? Why would God allow angelic beings, who evidently cannot even reproduce between themselves, the ability to have reproductive genitals to procreate with human women when taking human form? If God created different animal “kinds” (Genesis 1:21, 24-25) on the earth that cannot procreate amongst themselves, then why would we ever entertain the idea that spiritual angels who take on human form could ever reproduce with human women? The Apostle Paul hit on this same theme: “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds” (1 Corinthians 15:39). Paul contrasts the different “kinds” with the “flesh” of men, beasts, fishes, and birds, which cannot cross the created kind barrier through reproduction – and it is even more limited than that. If the earthly kinds cannot pass the reproduction barriers, then certainly neither can angels and humans. Sexual intercourse between angels – fallen or not and taking on human form – and women producing hybrid offspring, biologically, would have to be virtually impossible. God is a God of order, not confusion, and this incredibly unrealistic scenario would be the epitome of confusion. The whole concept, to me, seems more than absurd. Angels and Human Biology When it comes to angels taking on human form, I would like to pose a few questions. Do angels, when taking on human form, receive the physiological anatomy that humans do? Would we expect them to acquire a brain, nervous system, lungs, respiratory system, heart, veins, arteries, circulatory system, stomach, liver, kidneys, digestive system, and such? When the Lord and the two angels who came to Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah dined with him, and the two angels later with Lot (Genesis 18:8, 19:3), are we to really expect that the angels experienced the consumption of that food as humans do? Was that food digested in a stomach and intestines, with the waste eventually exiting the body through an anus? Shouldn’t the thought of angels – holy or fallen – having bowel movements cause consternation for us? When the two angels were in Sodom and the men of the city wanted to have sexual relations with them (Genesis 19:5), are we to really believe that if, somehow, the men of the city were to overpower them that the two angels would even have rectums to violate? And, please, spare me any notion that it might be different for fallen angels. When it comes to our topic, angels are angels, and humans are humans. Unfortunately, the very concept of fallen angels having sexual intercourse with women and procreating half angel/half human hybrids seems to have its origin – apart from the text of Genesis 6:1-4 – in The Book of Enoch and other pseudepigraphal books. The Book of Enoch is one of many pseudepigraphal – falsely attributed works and/or texts whose claimed authorship is unfounded – extra-Biblical writings. This mythically unsubstantiated book has numerous difficulties, including fancifully mystical tales that contradict the revealed Word of God. Whether or not there is any truth found in the book of Enoch is irrelevant, as Satan, along with man, will always mix truth with error. As a Scripture-only proponent, I highly advise my brothers and sisters in Christ to shun any religious literature that attempts to masquerade itself as being on an equal footing with the Holy Scriptures other than the 66 books of the Holy Bible. Doing so will keep the student on the straight and narrow road without the very real possibility that these extra-Biblical texts will wreak havoc on their Biblical foundation and understanding and could eventually lead to a corruption of the Word of God within their Scriptural interpretations and views. Please, Saint, avoid all extra-Biblical writings that masquerade as “Scripture.” Addressing Jude 1:6-7 and a Remote Possibility “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:6-7). My interpretation of this passage of Scripture is straight-forward: Just as “the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, [God] hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day,” when they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, and they “are set forth an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire… even as Sodom and Gomorrah” were judged. The phrase “giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh” is attributed specifically to Sodom and Gomorrah as their particular sin which resulted in their judgment, just as the sin of “the angels which kept not their first estate [and] left their habitation,” and subsequent rebellion in Genesis 6, resulted in their awaiting judgment “in everlasting chains under darkness.” But even if one were to interpret Jude 1:6-7 as stating that just as those in Sodom and Gomorrah gave “themselves over to fornication and [went] after strange flesh” as being applicable to “the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation” – and honestly acknowledge that angels and humans are unable to reproduce as different created kinds of God – then the only remote possibility for this to have occurred would be possession; again, if it happened at all. This would be accomplished by the fallen angels possessing human males to have sexual relations with the women, but the progeny would still be human in nature as the seed of the men would be the fertilization method for the eggs of the women. Again, I find this remote possibility highly unlikely, but it does deserve to at least be considered. The fallen angels did observe that the daughters of men were “fair” or “beautiful,” but this could have been nothing more than a reasoning within themselves that the children that they would bare to them (more on this below) would be physically attractive. In addition, Satan undoubtedly informed the fallen angels of what God had told him in the Garden of Eden concerning the seed of the woman and his seed. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed” (Genesis 3:15a). This surely played a role in their thinking of corrupting the seed of the woman! Finally, it should be noted that, regarding the Nephilim/giants/men of renown, there is no hint whatsoever that they had any supernatural qualities to them, which one would expect had angels mated with women – the supernatural with the natural. Though they are most probably the basis for much of the legends of the ancient world, any supernatural characteristics of these “gods” were found within the myths themselves and the imaginations of men; they were not based on reality and what we know of them in the Holy Bible. Consider Goliath and his family, as well as the other families of giants that Israel encountered in the promised land. “… they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4b). (emphasis mine) The Hebrew word for “men” is 582 אֱנוֹשׁ “enosh,” which means man, men, mankind, another, bloodthirsty, certain, divers, fellow, in the flower of their age. (emphasis mine) The Nephilim, or “fallen ones” and/or “giants” are obviously men/mankind, yet were evidently corrupted and therefore ineligible for salvation as the “fallen ones.” So, again, what may have really happened in Genesis 6? The Theory of Genetic Manipulation and Genome Editing My theory is very basic, really, and it involves the genetic manipulation and genome editing to alter the DNA of a fertilized egg or embryo. Whether this would have been accomplished by having the women fertilized naturally by human males (or by human males who were possessed by fallen angels) or by acquiring the spermatozoa of human males to fertilize the eggs in a laboratory-like setting is obviously unknown but seems like a logical and rational possibility considering all the defects in the alternative interpretation of angels mating with women. Angels do excel in strength and wisdom compared to fallen man. And when one considers what men and women are doing today regarding genetics and the easily available technology of CRISPR – let alone what scientists are accomplishing in labs all over the world – the fallen angels would seemingly have no issue whatsoever with accomplishing this feat. With this foundation laid, let us explore the original Hebrew and see what, if anything, the text can offer us in regard to our theory. Genesis 6:1-2 “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2). (emphasis mine) Our main objective with this portion of Genesis 6:1-2 is with the definition and meaning of the word “wives” because this might help us better understand the intention of the fallen angels. The Hebrew for “wives” is 802 אִשָּׁה “ishshah” and is most often translated woman, wife, female. (emphasis mine) As can be seen, the translation of “women” is just as valid as the translation of “wives,” and, as we always note, the proper word translation will always be dependent upon context. In our case, since we have ruled out the idea of sexual procreation between fallen angels and women, let’s see how the passage looks with the alternative translation. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them women of all which they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2). (emphasis mine) Here are just a few of the translations that actually use “women” instead of “wives.” “the Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were beautiful and they took those women to them of all that they chose.” – Aramaic Bible in Plain English “and the sons of God see that they, the daughters of men, [are] beautiful, and they take women for themselves of all whom they have chosen.” – Literal Standard Version “and sons of God see the daughters of men that they are fair, and they take to themselves women of all whom they have chosen.” – Young’s Literal Translation “the Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were beautiful and they took those women to them of all that they chose.” – Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I personally believe that “women,” based upon context and what the fallen angels’ agenda clearly was, is the proper translation. What about Genesis 6:4? Text Analysis of Genesis 6:4 “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4). As we sometimes do, it can be very helpful to the Bible student to investigate the Text Analysis, which shows us the order of the words in the original language (in this case, Hebrew), and we can also scrutinize each individual word’s meanings and definitions to see if we can glean anything interesting from the original text. Here is how the Text Analysis of Genesis 6:4 reads, along with my suggested punctuation: The Nephilim were on the earth in days, those and also after that, when came in the sons of God to the daughters of men and they bore [children] to them. Those [were] the mighty men who [were] of old men of renown. First of note is that the words “children” and “were” are not in the original but have been added for additional helpful clarification in the English. I had two questions that were of interest to me that I sought answers for. Basically, what are the Hebrew definitions for “came in” and “and they bore,” and how can we possibly interpret them apart from the original concept of sexual relations between angels (which are always referred to in the Scriptures as masculine) and women? The Hebrew for “came in” is the Hebrew word structure “yā·ḇō·’ ū” with the Hebrew word 935 בּוֹא “bo” and means to come, go in, go, abide, apply, attain, be, befall, besiege, bring forth, in. A primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) — abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way. (emphasis mine) Note my underlined emphases within these definitions. My theory is not that of sexual intercourse between angels and women that produces a progeny that is no longer fully human, but rather an incubation-type process that renders genetically modified, altered and/or engineered information into a naturally fertilized human embryo. With definitions of “go in, apply, attain, besiege, bring forth, bring in, bring into, bring to pass, carry, certainly cause, cause to enter in, cause to enter into, fetch, get, invade, put, and set,” I do believe we have the ability to conjecture that this was a genetic manipulation that led to offspring that wasn’t fully human as God intended and no longer made in the image of God; not the popular notion of a hybrid offspring acquired from angels and humans mating, which, according to Scripture, biology, logic, and reason shouldn’t even be possible. The Hebrew word structure for “and they bore” is “wə·yā·lə·ḏū” with the Hebrew word 3205 יָלַד “yalad” and means to bear, bring forth, beget, birthday, born, make to bring forth children, young, bring up, calve. A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage — bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). (emphasis mine) We should be able to honestly recognize that these definitions could be equally applied to genetic manipulations and genetic editing from naturally conceived progeny and birthed in the natural way, with the women rendering to the sons of God those “children to them.” Phrases such as “bring forth, make to bring forth children, born, bring up, causatively to beget, make to bring forth children, and declare pedigrees” do have this distinct possibility of genetic alteration for the purposes of thwarting God’s plans for redemption, salvation, and reconciliation by bringing into the world children whose DNA had been corrupted. When we think about how God would have conveyed the actions of the fallen angels to genetically manipulate, modify, and/or engineer the DNA and all that was involved in the process – by using the Hebrew language – I submit that these would be the words to be used. There seems to be no better way of communicating these actions on the part of the fallen angels than using the language and word structures that we see in the text. For centuries these verses have caused confusion and been much debated, as some, for obvious reasons, had concluded that there must have been sexual intercourse between fallen angels and human women that produced offspring, no matter how much this demented concept did not make sense to them. We should all be able to recognize how those in the past came to this conclusion, as confusing as it was to them. But now – when we consider the human body’s biology with that of spiritual angels who take the form of human beings and take note of what is happening with genetics today – we should honestly acknowledge that genetics could very well be the key to what these Scriptures are communicating to the reader. What the fallen angels succeeded in doing in the pre-flood world, mankind is doing today. This information came from somewhere, and it certainly would not be a stretch to believe that fallen angels have been the ultimate entities giving to man this knowledge and technology, whether through deceptive communication with the cosmic “alien” and “Ascended Masters” delusions or Eastern meditation techniques that result in contact with “spirit-guides.” In all of this, fallen angels are the powers behind these deceptions. Regardless of how this is being achieved, we can be certain that unseen dark and evil spirits are behind these genetic endeavors to achieve the elite’s ambitions of transhumanism, longevity, and ultimately, in their deluded minds, eternal life! A Synopsis of Our Theory Here is a brief synopsis of our theory as presented within this study. * There is zero biological or Scriptural evidence that angels and humans are capable of mating and procreating. * The fallen angels devised a plan, left their first estate, came to earth, and took to themselves any of the beautiful women they desired to implement their scheme. * If there were any “sexual relations” between angels and women – highly unlikely, but remotely possible – the only way for this to have been accomplished, if at all, was that fallen angels would have possessed human men, which would have resulted in the fertilization of the eggs of the women with the seed of men. Biologically and Scripturally, there could not have been a mixing of the DNA of angels (whatever that would be) and humans to produce demi-gods of half angel/half human hybrids. * The fallen angels genetically corrupted the DNA by altering, modifying, editing, and/or engineering the embryos. We postulate that the fallen angels were genetically altering, modifying, editing, and/or engineering either with the embryo in the mother’s womb or through a fertilized egg outside the mother’s womb and re-implanting the genetically edited embryo back into the womb in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. Fallen angels, with their superior intelligence, would certainly possess the knowledge needed for such an endeavor. * The women carried to term and birthed the genetically altered, modified, edited, and/or engineered Nephilim and gave the children to the fallen angels to raise in their fallen image. By utilizing the most beautiful women and, necessarily, the spermatozoa from elite candidates of men, the fallen angels helped to produce the most attractive and physically formidable, genetically altered Nephilim possible. * Though no language at the time of Moses, up to the recent past, could ever convey what the fallen angels were accomplishing in their genetic undertakings, the Hebrew used in Genesis 6:1-4 – because of the wide array of definitions within the words themselves – affords the very real plausibility of being applicable to our supposition. These would be the words one should expect to see in such a futuristic narrative written in the ancient past. Post-Flood Reemergence of the Giants Quite interesting to note is that the giants reemerged after the flood. There are two possibilities in this situation. [1] There was another rebellion by fallen angels that went into the daughters of men to corrupt the genome again. [2] One of the eight members on board the ark was already a carrier of the corrupted gene(s). Regarding the latter, many believe that if there was a carrier of the corrupted gene(s), it was probably Ham’s wife, as the descendants of Ham populated ancient Canaan, where the giants were reported before and after Israel conquered the land. Final Thoughts on the Fallen Angels and the Nephilim The genetic corruption of the DNA of the Nephilim by the fallen angels resulted in four important outcomes: 1. The fallen angels showed their disdain for God and His intended creative and redemptive purposes. 2. The fallen angels attempted to thwart the coming seed of the woman – the Messiah. 3. The fallen angels attempted to so corrupt the DNA of men and women through the Nephilim that they would be ineligible for salvation as they would no longer be created in the image of God. 4. The fallen angels acquired – to the best of their ability – a progeny to raise in their own fallen image. When it comes to the spirit/soul complex that inhabited the genetically altered bodies of the Nephilim – and how this trickled down into subsequent populations and played out in regard to salvation – we have no choice but to leave this issue in the more than capable hands of our righteous Creator. The Mark of The Beast Connection Some have offered the possibility that there may be another eruption of fallen angels trying to corrupt the gene pool of humanity once again. For me, I really don’t think so because man has already attained the technology and knowledge needed to corrupt mankind on his own – no doubt with fallen angels working behind the scenes! “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Fast forward approximately 4,500 years from Genesis 6, and indeed there is “nothing new under the sun.” Instead of fallen angels personally corrupting humanity’s gene pool, it seems mankind is to be the conduit for this nefarious scheme today; that of corrupting the genome in an effort to achieve physical prowess, perceived supernatural powers, and immortal life. The ramifications of rejecting The Mark of The Beast will be starvation and death, though some will survive the Tribulation. “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15-17). And the ramification of taking The Mark of The Beast is to “be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb… the smoke of their torment [will] ascend up for ever and ever: and they [will] have no rest day nor night.” “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11). Thanks be to God almighty that the Lord Jesus Christ has saved us, and after the rapture of the church, we shall always be with our Lord! This is why it’s so vitally important, while we still have time, that each and every one of us is Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?” Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha! ➢ Email: [email protected] Artificial Intelligence: Taking The World Towards The Perfection Of Global Tyranny – By Dean Dwyer - https://harbingersdaily.com/artificial-intelligence-taking-the-world-towards-the-perfection-of-global-tyranny/ (Queensland, Australia) — Humans are insatiably curious. We have been asking questions since the dawn of history – especially questions pertaining to our origin and destiny. Most of the public discussions which revolve around the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) generally focus on positive outcomes. This is driven by an agenda which attempts to convince us that advancements in technology will help humanity, not harm it. Some of the so-called advantages relate to transhumanist health modifications, computer implants in our bodies and brains and even nanobots which will one day be so advanced that they will change our very cells. But people who advocate for AI tend to overlook the fact that they are insisting people become less human and more machine. George Orwell introduced ideas of blanket surveillance in a totalitarian state, of thought control and newspeak: ideas that now increasingly come up in connection with developments in AI, particularly the attempt to build computer technology that can do the sorts of things that a human mind can do. In short, some are seeking the production of an imitation mind. Billions of dollars have been invested in the development of AI systems, and there is a great deal of interest in where it’s going to lead. Better quality of life through digital assistance, medical innovation and human enhancement on the one hand, and fear of job losses and Orwellian surveillance on the other hand. One increasing application of AI that initially seems positive is in assisting large corporations with hiring new employees. For instance, a technology venture called HireVue has developed a platform that simplifies the job interviewing process. The most common use of that technology is an interview in which a set of questions is created. Candidates respond on video, after which artificial intelligence algorithms are used to evaluate his/her performance. The system looks at 25,000 different features and the complex relationships between them, and it might see things that a human observer cannot. However, after 86 unsuccessful job applications in two years – including several HireVue screenings – one applicant stated that she became thoroughly disillusioned with automated systems. Without a person across a table there was no real conversation or exchange, and she found it difficult to know exactly what the robot was looking for – this for someone with a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Despite her qualifications, she found herself questioning every movement as she sat at home alone performing for a computer. It made her feel that she was not worthwhile, as the company wouldn’t even assign a person for a few minutes. In other words, she was made to feel less human. One of the major Orwellian aspects of AI is that certain forms of it present a very serious threat to individual and corporate privacy. AI tracker programs are geared to harvesting as much data as possible that you generate about yourself – your lifestyle, habits, where you go, what you buy, people with whom you communicate, books you read, tasks you do, political and social activities, your personal opinions – a list that is being added to all the time. Mark Zuckerberg once boasted that Facebook would know every book, film and song a person had ever consumed and that its predictive models would tell you which bar to go to when you arrive in a strange city. Some of this may be found helpful, but there is more than one side to it. Data that is harvested from us can be used not only to inform us but to control us. We already live in a world where around 2.5 billion of people (voluntarily, be it noted) wear a sophisticated personal tracker in the shape of a smartphone, and a similar number are networked on Facebook. The two big ethical questions are obvious: who controls such projects and who owns the data they generate? Just as one downside of information harvesting is surveillance capitalism, another might reasonably be called surveillance communism. In March 2018 the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford published a report on the development of AI in China where, it is said, $197 billion was spent on security in 2017 and where they expected to install more than 400 million CCTV cameras by 2020. Some of what George Orwell envisaged for 1984 is already with us! What it will be like in a few years’ time is anybody’s guess, although the underlying trend is perfectly clear – China is already using AI in order to achieve social control. They are gradually rolling out a social credit system in order to check on the reliability and trustworthiness of their citizens. Much of this control is exercised by the use of highly advanced AI facial recognition techniques working on a vast database of images channeled into a central computing centre which operates millions of CCTV cameras – many used for the purposes of monitoring Chinese citizens as part of their social credit score. The Chinese government has stated that the social credit system will supposedly improve the city’s business environment by preventing people with low ‘integrity’ from accessing the city’s public services and travel network. People with a low credit score could also find it difficult to start a business or find work. Xinjiang is a region of western China that is home to 10 million Uighur people, who are predominantly Muslim, and an increasing number of Han Chinese, who have been encouraged to settle there. The Chinese can move around without difficulty but the Uighur population is now subject to the most intense surveillance that the world has ever seen – to the extent that the capital city of Urumqi has been described as a digital fortress. There are cameras every few metres down every street and alleyway and small police stations every few hundred metres, where passing Uighurs must hand in their smartphones to have them electronically read and all information contained therein transferred to the central monitoring system to be processed by AI. A recent documentary showed pictures of QR codes pasted on the doors of houses, to be read by police scanners so that they would know who was supposed to be in the house and could then check. It is not hard to see that such actions are taking the world towards the perfection of global tyranny: the setting up of an authoritarian world system under godless leaders whose power is secured by the most comprehensive and powerful state surveillance apparatus in history. Prophecy Update Videos
From The East Coast To The West Coast, The U.S. Continues To Be Hit By An Endless Series Of Disasters - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/from-the-east-coast-to-the-west-coast-the-u-s-continues-to-be-hit-by-an-endless-series-of-disasters/ Over the past several years, it has just been one thing after another. Just when we think that things are starting to settle down a little bit, another disaster suddenly strikes. In all my years, I have never seen anything like this. Month after month, bad things just keep happening from coast to coast, and this endless series of disasters has caused a tremendous amount of long-term damage. Let me give you a few examples. Thanks to citrus greening disease, Florida was already on pace for the worst orange crop since World War II, but then Hurricane Ian made things much worse. As a result, it is now being projected that the upcoming orange crop in Florida will be a whopping 32 percent smaller than the previous one… Orange juice prices are likely headed higher. Hurricane Ian damaged what was already forecast to be the lowest Florida orange crop in decades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said orange production in Florida is down by 32% from last season, marking the scantiest predicted harvest in nearly 80 years. In an October citrus report, the agency said the all-orange forecast for the Sunshine State was 28 million boxes, compared to 41 million boxes the year before. That number includes 11 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges and 17 million boxes of Valencia oranges. Additionally, the forecast of all grapefruit production is two million boxes, 40% less than last season’s utilization of 3.33 million boxes. If you like orange juice, get ready to pay a whole lot more for it at the grocery store. Supplies of orange juice have gotten much tighter, and prices are surging to unprecedented levels… We recently outlined “Orange Juice Prices Could “Increase Substantially” As Hurricane Pummels Florida’s Top Citrus Grow Region.” And that’s precisely what’s happening today. First, let’s begin with US stockpiles of cold-stored orange juice plunged by 43% in September from a year earlier — the lowest level since 1977, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture data. A combination of crop diseases across Florida’s citrus groves and Hurricane Ian that destroyed crops are creating a supply crunch that has catapulted orange juice futures contracts to as high as $2.18 per pound, the highest level ever. Meanwhile, extreme drought conditions have caused the Mississippi River to drop to the lowest levels ever recorded in certain areas… In Chester, Illinois, the river gauge of the Mississippi dropped to around zero last week, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Drone video of the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee also reveals how far the 270-mile long river has contracted in recent months. In Memphis, the river dropped to minus-10.75 feet, a the lowest record ever recorded there, according to data from the National Weather Service. In downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resident Patrick Ford found the shipwrecked remains of the Brookhill, a trading vessel dating back to the early 20th Century. The low-water levels exposed the remains earlier this month. “I immediately texted friends and was like, ‘holy moly, I think I found a ship, a sunken ship!’” Ford told WBRZ, the city’s ABC News affiliate. This is a major crisis, because normally more than 400 million tons of goods move along the Mississippi River each year. But if the barges can’t travel, the goods can’t get to where they need to go. And over the past few weeks, literally thousands of barges have been forced to sit idle because there simply is not enough water… In recent weeks, hundreds of barges have become stalled in the receding Mississippi, caught in the lower depths. In early October, some 2,000 barges reportedly clogged the channels in long pileups along the river south of Memphis. The barges need around a nine-foot depth to navigate. The problem is that the water levels have fallen so low in many places even the tugboats are getting stuck. A tremendous amount of rain is needed in order to fix this problem, but unfortunately there won’t be too much rain for the foreseeable future. Out on the west coast, the San Francisco Bay Area was shaken by a magnitude 5.1 earthquake on Tuesday… A magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday, shaking buildings and marking the strongest quake the region has seen in eight years. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 11:42 a.m. local time about 12 miles east of San Jose at a depth of about 4 miles. The area is about 40 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco. This quake really shook a lot of people up, but the good news is that it appears that no serious damage was done. However, this should definitely be a wake up call for everyone that lives in the region. Scientists assure us that “the Big One” is way overdue, and I have been warning of the potential for cataclysmic seismic events on the west coast for a very long time. The entire west coast of the United States sits along “the Ring of Fire”, and up to this point those that live there have been very fortunate. But the clock is ticking and at some point their luck will run out. Speaking of seismic activity, a very large magnitude 6.4 earthquake just rattled the Philppines… A strong earthquake rocked the northern Philppines late Tuesday, but officials said no serious damage was expected and no tsunami warning was issued. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.4 quake was centered 16.2 kilometers (10 miles) below the surface about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from Dolores on Luzon island. I would encourage everyone to pay attention to the unusual seismic activity that we are witnessing all over the planet, because I believe that it will be a major story in the months ahead. In addition, I expect droughts and flooding to intensify even more all over the planet as global weather patterns continue to go completely nuts. For many decades, we could count on our world to be a relatively stable place. Unfortunately, that is now starting to change in a major way, and that has very serious implications for all of us. Holding Back Iniquity – Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2022/10/24/holding-back-iniquity/ Incessant assaults against all that used to be considered saneness and biblical holiness brings into focus a particular end-times Scripture. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12–13) The word “iniquity” is defined as “lawlessness” in scriptural terms. Jesus Christ was saying in His Olivet Discourse that one of the primary markers of the very end of the age would be an increase in lawlessness. Because of this, He said, the love of many inhabitants of earth would grow cold. But those who will endure to the end will be saved. Now we have some serious dissecting to do to “rightfully divide” this truth, as God’s Word directs us to do. We don’t have to go too much in-depth to understand the kind of lawlessness the Lord was warning about. We see it abounding within activity and actions no matter which direction we look. However, the term “lawlessness” can, I believe, be broken down into both the physical realm and the spiritual. And the two often overlap. I will try to make clear my meaning. A number of my great friends in prophecy ministry and I wrote a book in recent years that had at its heart the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 24:12–13. The book, perhaps you will remember, had the title LAWLESS: The End Times War Against the Spirit of Antichrist. I can do no better than to recount what I wrote about the book effort those few years ago: Today, chaos and turmoil inflame daily life within the fever of uncertainty. Geopolitical, cultural, and societal upheaval rip at the heart of America and the world. Much of humanity is in a state of uncontrollable anger, while an infinitesimally small enemy—visible only under powerful microscopes—holds populations in its fear-paralyzing, pandemic grip. LAWLESS: The End-Times War Against the Spirit of Antichrist is an intensely focused volume that answers questions about what’s really going on in these volatile, inexplicably strange times. What does it all mean? Why such a divide? Why such anger and hatred? People want to know answers, and the answer is spiritual. It’s all there in Bible prophecy. The tumult altogether constitutes a major indicator of how near we are to the end of this age—the Age of Grace. I said above that the term “lawlessness” can be broken down into both the physical realm and the spiritual. And the two often overlap. Again, as promised, I will try to make clear my meaning. The iniquity–the lawlessness—abounding in every direction is physical. By that, I mean our very way of life is more and more affected by the insidious and more overt assaults. For example, within cities governed by leftist officials, Christian groups have, while peacefully and legally protesting in authorized areas outside abortion clinics, been physically attacked by thugs–some paid by anti-God forces bent on changing America to fit their Marxist blueprint. Law enforcement and judicial offices have allowed these attacks in a growing number of cases –without action being taken against the attackers. Additionally, the peaceful Right to Life protesters have themselves been prosecuted by the so-called justice system. This sort of lawlessness is taking place in an increasing number of instances, while violent protests by the likes of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Antifa, as well as other lawless groups, perpetrate anarchic destruction without suffering consequences of their iniquitous actions. On the spiritual side of the lawless equation, school boards in these leftist-run districts, for example, institute rules that go against biblical commands. These declare Christian values to have no place within today’s culture and society. They stack the school board panels with those who champion the LGTBQ+, etc., agenda. They even have managed to get the FBI involved in charging parents who oppose such anti-God activity with being domestic terrorists worthy of fines and even incarceration. And this is where the physical and spiritual iniquity–the lawlessness—overlap. We see this in story after story of how not only older children, but very young ones as well, are affected and infected by the spirit of lawlessness –the Antichrist spirit, as John the apostle said was prevalent even in his time. Iniquity is indeed abounding, and wickedness is bleeding from the governing authority into the religious entities that purport to represent Christianity. The following gives a clue as to what all this has wrought. Pastor Andy OIiver…in a children’s sermon Oct. 2, 2022, with drag queen “Ms. Penny Cost” at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida… “We have a special guest,” Oliver told the children. “Are you always dressed up like this?” the pastor asked. “I wish!” replied the drag queen, Isaac Simmons, who is undergoing the process to become ordained in the United Methodist Church. (Art Moore, “Renewal of our minds: Church features drag queen in kids’ sermon; Pastor applies Romans 12:2 to approval of transvestism,” WND, October 12, 2022) One can only imagine the lawlessness that will abound in the nation and world beginning the second after believers leave the planet when Christ calls (1 Corinthians 15: 51–55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 4:1–2). The Holy Spirit’s restraining influence is the glue holding together any civility and order the Lord is seeing fit to continue in this quickly darkening moment in human history. Can there be any doubt that love is disappearing as these wicked times continue to allow hatred for God and fellow man to intensify? About the prophetic statement within Matthew 24:12–13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”: I believe it might have dual meaning. First, that those alive at the end of the Age of Grace (Church Age) who are believers will be saved (physically) from entering the Tribulation to come. Second, those who accept Christ during the Tribulation and live to the end of that seven years of horror will be brought safely (physically) into the Millennium at Christ’s return. You don’t want to be on this judgment-bound sphere when the Restrainer (the Holy Spirit) –and all Christians He indwells—departs the earth in that spectacular event called the Rapture. Here is how to avoid being left behind. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10) Daily Jot: Stupidocrisy: A peek into America’s future - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com A peek into America’s future: Once the leader of the free world, morally, spiritually, and economically, America has less than a month’s supply of diesel fuel and only three month’s supply of gasoline as its leadership is transitioning the country from petroleum products to solar, wind and electric power. This has weakened the American military because there was no plan to transition the armed forces from gas and diesel power. China, Russia, Iran, and all Islamic nations are now in position to attack America and divide the spoils. Battery powered cars are no longer viable because these countries control battery ingredients and there are rolling blackouts because power plants have no fuel to produce electricity. America’s cities are unsafe because of violent crime and petty theft due to leadership defunding the police. Crime has risen exponentially. City Councils have hired social workers to discuss the feelings of criminals, but have only found that the criminals tell the social workers what they want to hear, and go back to their life of crime. Gun violence has skyrocketed because gun restrictions in these areas are so harsh that only criminals have guns. Islamists and communists have set up protective zones in these cities and are ruling residents by their own laws. They have barricaded streets and have checkpoints. Businesses are robbed on a daily basis by massive gangs. There is no one to stop them. Public schools have been invaded by sexual predators who are using school board-approved after school programs on bullying and diversity and inclusion. They appropriate these programs to groom children beginning in kindergarten, to question their gender and to celebrate same sex, transgender sex, animal sex and bizarre behaviors. Litter boxes are being placed in school restrooms to accommodate children who believe they are cats or other animals. Boys dressed as girls are allowed in the girl’s restrooms. Girls are getting sexually molested and raped. If parents complain, school board officials have them arrested by private “school police forces” for disrupting meetings. No one is allowed to speak openly. America’s southern borders have been overrun because the leaders have invited what normally would be considered illegals to join America without any documentation. Drug cartels and terrorists have acquired a strip of land along the border that is now called “no-man’s land” due to the drug running and murders. Illegals are settling in the bigger cities. The bigger cities are allowing them to vote even though they are not citizens. The country is imploding with division. Ecclesiastes 10:8 proclaims: “He that digs a pit shall fall into it.” And this peek into America’s future could be devastating if the fools are allowed to continue digging their pit. Oh, but wait a minute. This is not the future. It is today. Say it with me…Stupidocrisy. Daily Devotion: Evidence of His Love - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. - Hebrews 12:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/evidence-of-his-love/ - Listen More than once, the Bible compares us to sheep. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NLT). And in Isaiah 53:6, we read, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” (NLT). In Psalm 23, David mentions two primary tools that shepherds use to keep their flocks close to them and out of danger: a rod and a staff. A staff was a long, crooked pole that had a number of uses. For example, a shepherd would use it to return a newborn lamb to its mother. Or he would extend it so that the sheep would know he was nearby. It gave sheep a sense of comfort and security. Of course, the shepherd also used his staff to bring back wayward sheep. But when sheep persisted in their wayward ways, the shepherd pulled out his rod. The rod was like a club, and the shepherd reluctantly used it for the sheep’s own good. A sheep that continued to stray not only risked being killed but could also lead other sheep in the same direction. Thus, sometimes the shepherd would break the sheep’s leg because it’s better to have a broken leg than to become a leg of lamb. God, too, uses His rod and staff in our lives. If we start to go astray and do something we shouldn’t do, the Lord uses His staff. But if we persist, He may use His rod to get our attention. If that has happened in your life recently, it is a great reminder that God loves you. If He has brought some correction, even discipline, into your life, it’s because He loves you. He’s trying to save you from something far worse. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. 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What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. 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