#Drying of the Euphrates

[steviebee77]

The Revelation: Part Twenty-one

THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER OF the Revelation is the shortest, and serves as a quick synopsis of the outpouring of God’s wrath through the seven plagues. Now, in chapter 16, we witness the rapid-fire judgment of God through the seven bowls. Remember, the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15) announces this final period of God’s wrath. John MacArthur reminds us, even at this stage of the…

[sunmoonyandstars]

Euphrates River

Hey, I got a new lesson for you about ancient Mesopotamia

(Eu-) The Euphrates River and the Tigris River formed the cradle of civilization

Akkadians long ago conquered Sumer, took control

Sargon led his armies in chariots they rolled

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Persian Gulf's where they found

Ancient ruins underground

Archaeologists did lots excavation down

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Both the Euphrates River

And the Tigris River used to flood

Bringing lots of fertile mud

But the problem was that water washed away the crops

Dams and levees made it stop

When it was dry they'd irrigate

Fighting over water led to war between the city states

Cuneiform is ancient writing

That tells the Sumer city states were always fighting

They were the first civilization in Mesopotamia

Then came the Akkadians who started empire mania

Akkadians long ago conquered Sumer, took control

Sargon led his armies, in chariots they rolled

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Near the Persian Gulf's where they found

Ancient ruins underground

Archaeologists did lots excavation down

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

King Sargon got real old

Told his sons to take the throne

But the huge Akkadian Empire would fall out of their control

Then came Hammurabi who would take full command

Hammurabi was the king of the Babylonians

Man, Babylonia was the land where they told ya

"You obey Hammurabi's code"

"Praise Hammurabi's code"

Break Hammurabi's code and you'll be saying, "Oh no"

Akkadians long ago conquered Sumer, took control

Sargon led his armies, in chariots they rolled

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Near the Persian Gulf's where they found

Ancient ruins underground

Archaeologists did lots excavation down

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Babylonians built roads

They traded grain for gold

They kept themselves united under Hammurabi's code

Hammurabi's code, Hammurabi's code

Hammurabi's code, Hammurabi's code

Which was a bunch of laws, they believed that had no flaws

They obeyed it just because

They thought Hammurabi was chosen by the gods (woah)

Chosen by the gods (woah)

Akkadians long ago conquered Sumer, took control

Sargon led his armies, in chariots they rolled

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Near the Persian Gulf's where they found

Ancient ruins underground

Archaeologists did lots excavation down

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

By the Euphrates River

Eu-

Mesopotamia

I really don't want to guess what this is and be embarrassingly wrong 😭 hello?

[inspofromancientworld]

Pottery's beginnings

By che(Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B. - che, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2682270 and By http://fotos.noticias.bol.uol.com.br/entretenimento/ - http://fotos.noticias.bol.uol.com.br/entretenimento/2012/06/01/imagens-do-mes-junho2012.htm#fotoNav=60, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73162369

The oldest use of fired clay we've found are figurines like the the Venus of Dolni Věstonice, which is about 31,000-27,000 years old. It was about 20,000 years ago that pottery took on the shape of a vessel in East Asia, from the area of present day China and Japan, which were joined by a land bridge at the time. They were simple objects, purely utilitarian, and some had scorching that indicate they were used for cooking. This was during the Late Glacial Maximum, when people were still living in mobile hunting and gathering groups, before the advent of settled agriculture

By ALFGRN - https://www.flickr.com/photos/156915032@N07/47705525691/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78369343 By Dmharvey - English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4081440

In Western Asia, stone like alabaster and calcite were used until about 9000 years ago (about 7000 BCE), especially around the upper Euphrates, in modern day Syria. Once settled agriculture was adopted, pottery began to be made, starting with coiling ropes of clay that were then smoothed before the vessel was fired. The decorations on pottery were very localized, as were the styles, so much so that archaeologists name pre-writing cultures by their pottery. Early pottery was fired in bonfires, possibly by accident at first, which could reach temperatures of 900 °C (1,650 °F). Because clay was used without any tempering in it at first, the vessels made had rounded bases to prevent cracking. Gradually, with the addition of sand, crushed shell or pottery, or grit, the shrinkage of clay while it was drying was better controlled, allowing for flatter bottoms and more creative shaping methods.

By 三猎 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47581230

In about 4000 BCE (6000 years ago), the potter's wheel was developed in eastern Europe, along with higher temperature kilns that could fire pottery at 1050-1200 °C (1920-2190 °F), making a broader array of pottery shapes possible. Potters began to be a separate occupation, which allowed more artistic freedom such that items like cooking utensils and rat traps were made from pottery. Glazing also became much easier with the higher temperature kilns.

By Altamura Painter - Walters Art Museum: Home page  Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18846300 and By Jastrow - own work, from the Iliade exhibition at the Colosseum, September 2006–February 2007, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1284759

The ancient Greeks developed elaborately painted pottery showing scenes from mythology, life, and heroic exploits, most often with black against the red clay figures. Though glazing was possible, it wasn't often used by them, instead using a slip type clay as decoration. The Romans changed the focus from painted decoration to applied shapes in a newly (about 600 BCE) discovered molding process. Their pottery was typically made in areas like Germany or France in industrial scale, rather than in Rome itself, and was imported. Though pottery was widely and abundantly produced, it wasn't used as tableware by the Greeks and Romans, instead being used for storage and decoration.

By Photograph: Andreas Praefcke - Self-photographed, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16265914

In contrast, Chinese pottery began using glazing around 1500 BCE, though the elite preferred plain colored pottery that was elegantly formed. The elite also used pottery for tableware and for religious purposes. Porcelain began to appear during the Tang dynasty (618-906 CE), but didn't gain its now well-known blue and white decorations until the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368 CE).

By Simon Burchell (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6011244 and By Cullen328 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39136893

Pottery was independently developed in the Americas as it didn't appear until about 9500 years ago (7500 BCE) in Brazil being the earliest known pottery. In Mesoamerica, pottery began to appear in the Archaic Era (from 3500-2000 BCE), which included finely decorated pottery but not glazing, stoneware, or porcelain, but did include terracotta and sculptures as well as vessels. As in the Old World, each civilization developed particular styles and decorations for their pottery.

[rabbitcruiser]

National River Day

These winding natural pathways, carving through the earth, play a vital role in sustaining diverse ecosystems and human life.

Given that rivers have been a vital part of human activity for millennia, it’s about time that these flowing bodies of water got a day where they are given the love and appreciation they deserve. National River Day is here to bring some attention to the benefits that rivers continue to offer humans and also to remind people that rivers are natural resources that need to be taken care of! 

History of National River Day

Bodies of fresh waters, especially rivers, have been foundational in the development of human civilization. With the necessity for people to live very near a water source, the flow of rivers has often been one of the most important factors in determining where a family or larger community could settle. Providing a supply of steady drinking water as well as opportunities for keeping crops watered and even allowing for transportation and trade.

Sometimes quiet and sometimes ferocious, rivers offer not only sustenance for life, but they also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. From fishing and canoeing to white-water rafting and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), rivers can be sources of entertainment, exercise, and just a heap of good old fun! Just be sure to treat the water and the area surrounding the river with respect by protecting it from pollution and misuse.

Today, due to various issues including climate change and human interference, the water sources of the planet, including oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, are becoming compromised. Through pollution or by simply drying up, many of the world’s rivers are less healthy and less bountiful than they were even just a few years ago.

National River Day has been established to raise awareness about and show appreciation for the vital, life-giving source that rivers all over the planet!

National River Day Timeline

350 Million years ago 

Oldest Known River 

The Finke, in Central Australia, is believed to be the oldest river in the world.

10,000 BC

Mississippi River is formed 

A very important river in the US, the Mississippi is formed when glaciers from the last Ice Age recede.

1968

Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) begins 

This effort to understand the ebb and flow of the rivers throughout the US comes about through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

1985

Big River hits Broadway

This 10x Tony award winning musical hits New York’s Broadway to tell the story of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.

2003

Euphrates and Tigris rivers show signs of drying up

Satellite images show some of the lowest levels in human history for these important rivers in the Middle East.

How to Celebrate National River Day

Pay some respect to the rivers of the world on this important day! In celebration of National River Day, show some love and get involved by implementing some of these ideas:

Learn About the World’s Rivers 

Get excited and involved with National River Day by getting educated about some of the most interesting rivers in the world. Raise awareness for this important day by learning and sharing some fun facts in person with friends and family, or on various social media outlets.

Check out some of these fascinating facts about rivers to get started:

Found in North Africa, the Nile river is considered to be the longest river in the world, measuring more than 4,100 miles long, flowing through eleven different countries. The Amazon river comes in a close second, at 3,977 miles.

In 2007, a Slovenian born marathon swimmer, Martin Strel, swam the entire Amazon river – complete with crocodiles, piranhas and more.

Rivers that run over cliffs eventually lead to stunning waterfalls. The highest one in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, measuring 3,212 feet high.

Rivers not only provide sustenance for humans, but thousands of different varieties of animals, plants, and at least 10,000 different species of fish.

Organize a River Clean Up

An excellent way to get involved with National River Day would be to grab a group of friends or some members of a volunteer organization in the community and head on over to a local river to do some cleaning up. Equipped with garbage sacks, trash sticks and rubber gloves, this would be a great time for a group of folks to spend some time picking up trash, debris, and litter. This is particularly important in regards to items made of plastic that will never biodegrade and can even be poisonous to the water source and the animals that depend on it.

Watch a Movie Featuring a River

Show some love to the life-giving rivers of the world by checking out a movie or film that features one. Get started with one of these:

A River Runs Through It (1992). This one features Brad Pitt, playing the son of a rural minister (Tom Skerritt), where they spend time fly fishing on the river.

The River Wild (1994). This thriller starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon takes place almost entirely on a whitewater rafting river adventure.

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021). Kids and adults alike will enjoy this animated film which teaches an appreciation of this dance as a celebration of life.

Green Days in the River (2014). This coming of age tale tells the story of a boy in a 1952 village who struggles with poverty, love and life.

Make Some Sustainable Water Choices

One of the best ways to get involved with National River Day might be to make some choices that will help to reduce the use of water personally and in the local area. Check out some of these important ways that households can live more sustainably and conserve water:

Install Low Flow Shower Heads. Use less water by installing modern shower heads in every bathroom in the house. It’s possible to save up to 3,000 gallons of water or more each year!

Collect Rainwater. Those folks who live in places where they need to water their garden or lawn can save on water by collecting it in a rain barrel and then using it as needed. Folks in Colorado or Utah may want to check with local legislation first to see if this is permitted.

Turn Off Faucets. Instead of letting the faucet run in the bathroom while brushing teeth or in the kitchen while walking over to the refrigerator and back, shut the water off every single time.

Save Water with Flushes. A new dual-flush toilet or a conversion kit for a current toilet allows less water to flow for flushes.

Join a Conservation Group

Many different conservation organizations are working to keep rivers clean or to clean them up after they have been polluted. They advocate with government agencies and companies to change laws that work to protect natural areas, including rivers. In honor of National River Day, join in by volunteering with a local group.

Those who feel like celebrating this unique waterways at another time of the year should look into World Rivers Day, which takes place in late September.  

National River Day FAQs

Where is Virgin River filmed?

Virgin River is a Netflix show filmed mostly in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

Is the Euphrates river drying up?

A vital water source in western Asia, the Euphrates river is drying up due to climate change.

What is the longest river in the world?

At more than 4,100 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world.

Where does the Mississippi River start?

The Mississippi River starts as a trickle from Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows there all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans.

Who is in A River Runs Through It? 

This 1992 film featured Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Joseph-Gordon Levitt and many others.

Source

[granulesofsand]

I was thinking I really want a dry-erase ‘my name is’ pin to enable our outness as a collective. It’s so weird to be more open about alters irl than online, but we kinda are. We’re more careful with our real names online because we’re open about being programmed, and we don’t want people making the connection on how to trigger any of us out. It’s not likely, given our specific programming, but consent is important to us and we like holding some power over ourselves.

We’re pretty discrete as alters, so I know who I am with just a moment of introspection. If anyone cares, you can call me Euphrates, like the river. I’m out most often in hot weather, I prefer to cover all but our face (I’m somewhat allergic to my own skin) and I’m a formal type of femme. I was supposed to be a reserved type matriarch, but I lean younger and more sexual than intended. I’m not a full discard, but I’m a minor subsystem alter. My closest friend is another near-discard called Monsoon.

[morgulscribe]

The Topography of Second Age Arda (Before the World Was Made Round)

Map of Second Age Arda from the Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad.

I believe that Karen Wynn Fonstad was using older illustrations by Tolkien when creating some of the maps of unexplored lands, so I'm not sure if this map is completely accurate to Tolkien's concepts of Arda as a whole at the time of Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, I doubt that we will never know for certain, so this map is probably as "canon" as it gets.

Since Arda is an alternative universe version of our own world, the face of Arda must change multiple times in order to appear as it does today, in the Seventh Age. I consider the landforms of Middle-earth to be somewhat compressed versions of the real world, with analogous landforms that have not yet evolved to their current appearance.

Eriador is analogous to Western Europe; Rhovanion is analogous to Eastern Europe and part of Asia. Middle-earth does not have a Mediterranean Sea, although the Bay of Belfalas does have a similar shape. Near Harad seems to encompass part of the region that the Mediterranean Sea would take up if it was dry land instead of water, as well as part of northern Africa and the Saudi Arabian peninsula. The continent of Far Harad appears to be a narrower prototype of Africa. (The First Age version of Far Harad looked more like modern day Africa, but part of the western region went beneath the waves after the War of Wrath.)

It is interesting to note that Middle-earth does not appear to have a corresponding river to the Nile. Far Harad does have a major river which starts in the Grey Mountains and runs southeast to the eastern coast. The only real world counterpart I could find that looks vaguely similar would be the Niger River.

The Girdle of Arda is the Equator, naturally.

I think that the bay between the words "Hinter" and "Lands" appears to be a proto-version of the Red Sea. The little peninsula which sticks up on the southern mouth of the bay resembles a tiny Horn of Africa.

The two eastern rivers which drain into the Inner Seas bear a slight resemblance to the Tigris and Euphrates.

The Orocarni, the Mountains of the East, might be ancient versions of the Ural Mountains.

I always thought that there should be more land to the east of the Orocarni Mountains, to accommodate the continent of Asia. Perhaps when the world was made round, Eru added more land to Middle-earth, making Rhun much larger than it was in the Second Age.

Possibly the separate continent called Dark Land (South Land) is later broken up, becoming the Indian Subcontient and Australia. A poster on this Reddit post claims that the Dark Land/South Land continent and the Walls of the Sun ceased to exist when the world was made round. Maybe Eru turned Dark Land/South Land into proto-versions of India and Australia, and the Walls of the Sun was added to Rhun, becoming the central and eastern parts of the continent of Asia.

It is my own personal theory that at some point during the Fourth Age, the face of Arda is changed once again, becoming what it looks like in modern days. As for why this great apocalypse occurs?

It's all SAURON'S fault, of course.

[entomo-maniac]

So, the Daevite empire was located in Siberia, approximately in the cities Yekaterinburg, Omsk, and Blagoveshchensk, which register an average of -3.6°C as a minimum temperature and 7.6°C as a maximum during the year (taking into account the temperatures recorded from 1991 to 2020).

For its part, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has temperatures above 32°C in the summer and less than 10°C during the winter, coupled with large temperature variations during the day.

What I'm getting at is that considering the amount of time Able was with the daevas and the fact that his cube is at -180.15°C, I can say with certainty that his Sumerian ass can no longer tolerate 35°C of dry heat.

[helix-rose]

Ayo this is kinda weird but I need to spread the word. In the book of revelation, in the Bible, it says we cannot know the day or the hour that Jesus will return, but I does give us a few things that need to happen first.

The Euphrates river will dry up (has happened)

Evil will increase in the earth (I'd say it is)

The nations of the world will rise up against Israel (this one makes me think we've got a few years left)

And we'll all be under one world government (I think there are more but I don't know them)

If the rapture comes and you're not ready, you're gonna go to a not-so-good place I think you know the name of, and you don't have forever. You can't get to heaven instead by being a good person. Even one sub is too many. The one and only way to get there is through Jesus. He came to Earth as a human and died for our sins on a cross, then rose again three days later and defeated death. The only way for a human to get to heaven is by deciding to trust that that really happened, that Jesus was the son of God, to accept that you're a sinner, and to accept the free gift of life and heaven from God. I know I'm not the best with words, but God is God, so maybe he can use this post. Try a local church. There's a really good Bible app called youversion and a website called gotquestions that can answer any question about the Bible. And there's also something in the Bible called the Romans road:

Romans 3:23 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'

Romans 5:8 'but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'

Romans 6:23 'for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

Romans 8:1 'there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 10:9 'that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.'

Please listen guys I don't want anybody to go to hell

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Israel Set Free

1 In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan, the large snake-like sea animal, with His sharp and great and powerful sword. He will punish Leviathan the turning snake, and kill the big dragon that lives in the sea.

2 In that day it will be said: “Sing about a grape-field of wine! 3 I, the Lord, am its keeper. I water it all the time. I watch over it day and night so no one will hurt it. 4 I am not angry. If someone were to give Me thistles and thorns in battle, I would step on them. I would burn them together. 5 Or let him trust in Me to keep him safe. Let him make peace with Me. Yes, let him make peace with Me.” 6 In the days to come Jacob will take root. Israel will flower and begin to grow, and fill the whole world with fruit.

7 Has the Lord punished Israel as He punished those who went against Israel? Or have as many people of Israel been killed as their killers were killed? 8 You showed Your anger towards them by driving them out of the land. You moved them out with Your strong wind on the day of the east wind. 9 So by this Jacob’s sin will be forgiven. This will be the full price of taking his sin away: When he crushes all the altar stones into fine pieces, so the wooden female goddess Asherah and the altars of special perfume will not stand. 10 The city made strong for battle is empty and alone, a place left alone like the desert. The calves eat there, and they lie down and eat from its branches. 11 When its branches are dry, they are broken off. Women come and make a fire with them. They are not a people of understanding, so their Maker will not have pity on them. The One Who made them will not show kindness to them.

12 In that day the Lord will beat out His grain from the flowing river of the Euphrates to the river of Egypt. And you will be gathered up one by one, O sons of Israel. 13 In that day a great horn will be blown. Those who were dying in the land of Assyria and those who were sent everywhere through the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem. — Isaiah 27 | New Life Version (NLV) New Life Version Holy Bible Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Cross References: Genesis 15:18; Exodus 34:13; Leviticus 26:30; Deuteronomy 30:3-4; Deuteronomy 32:18; Deuteronomy 32:28; 1 Samuel 10:28; Job 3:8; Job 37:12; Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 7:21; Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 17:2; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 54:7; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 24:31; John 10:28; Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 6:8; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 12:3-4

[pppmcnmpgtaatpwm-society]

“He divided the monstrous shape and created marvels (from it) / He sliced her in half like a fish for drying: / Half of her he put up to roof the sky / Drew a bolt across and made a guard hold it / Her waters he arranged so that they could not escape. / … He opened the Euphrates and Tigris from her eyes, / … He piled clear-cut mountains from her udder, / Bored waterholes to drain off the catchwater. / He laid her tail across, tied it fast as the cosmic bond.” -The ‘Death’ of Tiamat, Archetypal Dragon of Chaos

[atwas-meme-ing]

You left some fucked up tags on that post about propaganda. You realize that post was by a jewish person living in Israel, right? If you were really concerned about propaganda, maybe question what you've been told in your church, cause believing that Israel needs to be destroyed for the antichrist to come is fucked up and probably about the most antisemitic thing you can believe besides being a straight up nazi.

Anon's talking about these tags:

If this is "antisemitic," so be it. God will judge me for that, they're HIS people, they belong to Him more than to anyone alive today. But. Revelation clearly states that the entire world WILL gather together against Israel at Armageddon. Why would that happen if the world doesn't hate Israel before then?

I don't know where anon is getting the idea that I said Israel will be destroyed, because, like... it won't? Israel can't be destroyed, God won't allow it, He promised Abraham they will have a heritage forever- in fact, Revelation speaks of 144,000 male Jewish virgins that have been sealed for God's purposes. Just what their role is in Revelation, we don't know yet.

What I did say is that the world will hate Israel. I also said that they will hate God and His people- not JUST Israel, not JUST Jews, but Christians as well, whether Jews or Gentiles.

Contrary to what anon seems to think, I DON'T WANT THIS. But it's gonna happen. Or... I should say, this is what we think is gonna happen. Revelation 16 says the Euphrates river will dry up so that even the "kings of the east" will gather at Armageddon, indicating that Armageddon is just to the west of the Euphrates (which Israel is). As for the location of Armageddon:

Now, then. Having said ALL this, I will also say: we're dealing with prophecy. No matter how much we study it, we don't know all the particulars. No one knows the future unless God divinely reveals it to them. He hasn't divinely revealed it to me, I'm just reading His word and some commentaries on it (eschatology having long been a fascination of mine).

WE COULD BE WRONG. Maybe Megiddo isn't Israel, maybe it's the last stronghold of Christianity, in a completely different part of the world. This is just what most people agree the Bible is saying.

Regardless of the location of Armageddon and whether it is about Israel, it is clear that Satan will gather every single human being that has not given their hearts to Jesus against the remaining few who have. The good news is that Jesus, Himself, will return, wipe out those who hate Him, and lock Satan up for a thousand years while His people reign over the Earth.

And Father, forgive me if I'm speaking ill of your people. You know that's not my intention. I'm simply trying to make sense of the lunacy in the world today. And warn people that your judgment is coming.

[albertfinch]

CROSSING INTO NEW SPIRITUAL FRONTIERS

Many people are crossing spiritual frontiers. People are leaving old seasons of life and entering new ones.

One of the most profound crossings ever made was when the nation of Israel walked across the dry riverbed of the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua. More than one million people camped at the water's edge waiting for the word of the Lord to part the water. First, God would need to speak to Joshua and let him know what this passage would entail.

Joshua 1:1-9 -  After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, "Moses My servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.   Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses -– from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.' No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

"Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

EACH CROSSING WILL BE DIRECTED BY A WORD FROM GOD -- "THE LORD SPOKE TO JOSHUA"

Each area of our lives has a word from God assigned to it. Each of our families has a word. Each financial decision we make has a word assigned to it. Each relationship we enter into has a word from God assigned to it that will direct how that relationship will develop. It is wisdom to discover these words before we begin the journey.

Joshua obeyed the word of the Lord. He didn't deviate to the right or to the left. He stayed true to the word of the Lord and the Lord stayed true to the promise He made to Joshua and the nation of Israel.

EACH CROSSING WILL REDEFINE THE NATURE OF OUR CALLING -- "THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO LEAD THESE PEOPLE"

Obedience to the CALLING transformed Joshua, revealing more of what God saw in him, had planned for him, and wanted to do through him.

Each time we take a step of faith our life manifests more clearly of who we already are in Christ.  Like a chisel in the hand of a master sculptor, God fashions us with each step we take. Under the hand of the Master we begin to resemble the person who we already are in Christ.

EACH CROSSING WILL BRING A REMINDER OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS -- "FOR I WILL BE WITH YOU AS  I WAS WITH MOSES, I WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR ABANDON YOU"

We never do what God calls us to do alone. He is always leading us through His Spirt in each moment of the passage. As Joshua called the people forward to cross the Jordan, that move could appear to be, at the very least, naïve, if not foolish. The decision to cross the Jordan River at this season of the year, would ride on the shoulders of this new leader. It was a fearful and stressful moment. In that moment God assured Joshua that He would not fail or abandon him.

EACH CROSSING WILL TEST OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE -- "BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS."

Three times in the first verses of Joshua 1 the Lord tells Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." Why would God say this to Joshua three times? Because Joshua, the great warrior-leader, would experience both fear and weakness as he faced the prospect of crossing the swollen Jordan River and the enemies beyond.

This fear and discouragement have faced the people of God in the past and it will have to be addressed by each of us now and in our emerging future. A repeated theme in Paul's ministry was his strengthening and encouraging of the churches in their Christ identity. He strengthened and encouraged these churches because they were feeling weak and discouraged when he arrived in their midst.  Likewise we are to exhort, encourage, equip, and DISCIPLE those who God places in our path.

Today, believe that God is taking you into a new future (His PURPOSE for your life) amidst all the pain and obstacles that are now standing between you and what God has promised. God is your passage-maker and He will never leave you alone in the crossing you are about to make.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[mythologyandancienthistory]

Nergal | God of War, Plague, and Death in Mesopotamian Mythology

Nergal

Nergal, A formidable God whose domain spanned the shadows of the underworld and the devastating battles of the mortal realm. He is a deity of both destruction and protection, wielding the dual powers of plague and war with a fearsome might, known also as Erra in some texts. As a God of the underworld and a ruler over the forces that govern the end of life, Nergal's presence is both revered and feared. A deity unmatched in his complex authority and raw power.

Origins

long before the great ziggurats emerged between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The ancient Sumerians grappled with the realities of a world filled with unseen dangers. War, disease, and the finality of death were omnipresent in their lives, shaping their understanding of reality. To navigate this harsh landscape, they envisioned Nergal, a deity whose very essence was intertwined with these formidable forces. The origins and birth of Nergal, like many ancient deities, are somewhat obscure and very slightly. Depending on the source and era of Mesopotamian mythology,

in Sumerian and Akkadian mythology, Nergal is often linked to Enlil and Ninlil, two of the most important gods in early Mesopotamian mythology. Enlil, the God of air, wind, and storm, was one of the supreme deities of the Mesopotamian pantheon. He was considered a king among the gods and was associated with the organization of the universe, including the founding of human cities. Ninlil was the goddess of the air and the wife of Enlil. Her myths often involve themes of purity and her rising to the status of the queen of the gods by marrying Enlil. Enlil, whose breath animated the winds and storms, and Ninlil, whose whispers nurtured the fields, came together in a union of formidable powers. From this union Nergal was born. 

Nergal emerged in the Sumerian pantheon as a God of plague and pestilence, a ghostly presence that loomed over the sick and dying. But as centuries passed and cultures merged under the Akkadian and Babylonian empires, Nergal's character deepened and darkened. He was no longer just a bringer of disease. He evolved into a God of war and the king of the underworld, a God who commanded the vast and shadowy realm where souls wandered after death.

Appearance, Characteristics, Roles 

 his face the fierce form of a lion, eyes burning with the fire of the sun. In his hand, a sword blazes, casting eerie shadows upon the ancient stone walls. This was Nergal, the embodiment of destruction and protection, a deity whose very image inspires both dread and awe.

 As a God of war, Nergal is often shown in warrior's attire. Wearing armor that signify his battlefield prowess, this appearance complements his role as a leader of armies and a deity who presides over conflict. He was sometimes shown with a grim or stern expression, emphasizing his solemn duty as the ruler of the realm of the dead. Nergal often stood in a pose that exuded authority and power, befitting a God of his stature. In some stories, he acts at the command of the higher gods, particularly Enlil or Marduk, to carry out acts of destruction that are deemed necessary for the restoration of balance and order.

 In addition, Nergal was also the God of plague and pestilence, which allowed him to unleash diseases and plagues upon the earth, a power that aligns with his destructive nature. This ability is often seen as a form of divine retribution. Used to punish those who defy the gods or break sacred laws. However, he is also invoked to protect against these very same calamities, highlighting his dual role as both destroyer and protector. Alongside Ereshkigal, the queen of the underworld, Nergal serves as a king of the underworld, a realm where the souls of the deceased reside. Nergal is also associated with the most brutal and burning aspects of the sun, particularly the scorching heat of the midsummer that can wither crops and dry up rivers, his control over this destructive solar power. 

To read the full article

[inspofromancientworld]

Gods of Antiquity: War Deities

Source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamian_Warfare/

With the scarcity of resources often driving the movement of people, conflict between groups is nearly inevitable. As people began to settle, competition for resources became competition for land, minerals, or bragging rights, these conflicts became larger and more drawn out. War deities often became connected to the 'one true god' of monotheistic religions, whether they were originally war gods or became syncretized with them, leading to the idea of a 'holy war'. There are many feminine war deities, several of which are associated with love or sex as well as war. Some deities of war were invoked to hold back war and some to bring victory. War was sometimes viewed as the various gods fighting each other through the avatars of the armies, especially among city-states.

By PHGCOM (2007), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3122874

One of the oldest attested warrior gods we know of is Ninurta 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒅁, also known as Ninĝirsu 𒀭𒎏𒄈𒋢. He was the god of law, agriculture, healing, hunting, scribes, and war in early Sumer, centered in Nippur, and syncretized with gods through the Roman Saturn. He can cause and heal human illness through his control over demons, which were thought to be the cause of illness. He took the position of warrior god as Mesopotamia became more militarized and battles became more common. He might have been the inspiration for Nimrod the 'mighty hunter' in the book of Genesis, though that is a subject of debate, as is the possibility that he might be Nisroch in the Book of Kings.

By The Walters Art Museum - This image has been extracted from another file, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88510374

Ninurta is one of the oldest deities of the Sumerians and was the son of Enlil, the chief god and god of the air, earth, and storms. He was syncretized early with Ninĝirsu, who was worshiped in Girsu, or they might have been the same god with local dialectal variations in his name. His fierce reputation made him especially popular with the Assyrians with many kings having names that incorporate Ninurta's name. He was moved to the Assyrian capital of Kalhu (Nimrud) under the reign if Shalmaneser III (reigned 859-824 BCE).

By Anonymous (Mesopotamia) - Walters Art Museum: Home page  Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18804095

The only god with more myths than Ninurta is Inanna, thus exemplifying his position in the Sumerian pantheon. In one, known as Lugal-e, which means 'O king!', Ninurta confronts a demon, Asag, the personification of winter cold and sickness, who has been poisoning the rivers and making people sick. Asag has an army of stone warriors to protect him and Ninurta. Ninurta destroys Asag's armies and uses the stones to create mountains that cause all the rivers to flow into the Tigris and Euphrates, allowing for irrigation and agriculture. His mother, Ninmah, came down to congratulate him and he dedicates the mountains to her, renaming her Ninhursag, which means 'Lady of the Mountain'. This exemplifies Ninurta's dual role as warrior and agriculture god.

By editor Austen Henry Layard , drawing by L. Gruner - 'Monuments of Nineveh, Second Series' plate 5, London, J. Murray, 1853, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18217886

Another myth that was particularly popular with the Assyrian scholars was that in which Enlil sets Anzû, a half-human storm bird with the ability to breathe fire, as the guardian of his sanctuary. Anzû takes the opportunity to steal the Tablet of Destinies that gave Enlil his authority, while Enlil was getting ready for a bath. As a result of the theft, the rivers dry up and the gods lose their powers. Three gods were sent and defeated before Ninurta was sent. He shoots Anzû with arrows, but because the Tablet of Destinies can reverse time and Anzû causes the arrows to return to their components. Ninurta calls to the south wind and rips Anzû's wings off, resulting in his victory. The messenger god Birdu is sent to request the Tablet of Destinies, and Ninurta initially denied the request, but eventually does return the Tablet to his father, though his full response to the request to return it has been lost to time.

[rabbitcruiser]

National River Day

These winding natural pathways, carving through the earth, play a vital role in sustaining diverse ecosystems and human life.

Given that rivers have been a vital part of human activity for millennia, it’s about time that these flowing bodies of water got a day where they are given the love and appreciation they deserve. National River Day is here to bring some attention to the benefits that rivers continue to offer humans and also to remind people that rivers are natural resources that need to be taken care of! 

History of National River Day

Bodies of fresh waters, especially rivers, have been foundational in the development of human civilization. With the necessity for people to live very near a water source, the flow of rivers has often been one of the most important factors in determining where a family or larger community could settle. Providing a supply of steady drinking water as well as opportunities for keeping crops watered and even allowing for transportation and trade.

Sometimes quiet and sometimes ferocious, rivers offer not only sustenance for life, but they also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. From fishing and canoeing to white-water rafting and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), rivers can be sources of entertainment, exercise, and just a heap of good old fun! Just be sure to treat the water and the area surrounding the river with respect by protecting it from pollution and misuse.

Today, due to various issues including climate change and human interference, the water sources of the planet, including oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, are becoming compromised. Through pollution or by simply drying up, many of the world’s rivers are less healthy and less bountiful than they were even just a few years ago.

National River Day has been established to raise awareness about and show appreciation for the vital, life-giving source that rivers all over the planet!

National River Day Timeline

350 Million years ago 

Oldest Known River 

The Finke, in Central Australia, is believed to be the oldest river in the world.

10,000 BC

Mississippi River is formed 

A very important river in the US, the Mississippi is formed when glaciers from the last Ice Age recede.

1968

Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) begins 

This effort to understand the ebb and flow of the rivers throughout the US comes about through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

1985

Big River hits Broadway

This 10x Tony award winning musical hits New York’s Broadway to tell the story of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.

2003

Euphrates and Tigris rivers show signs of drying up

Satellite images show some of the lowest levels in human history for these important rivers in the Middle East.

How to Celebrate National River Day

Pay some respect to the rivers of the world on this important day! In celebration of National River Day, show some love and get involved by implementing some of these ideas:

Learn About the World’s Rivers 

Get excited and involved with National River Day by getting educated about some of the most interesting rivers in the world. Raise awareness for this important day by learning and sharing some fun facts in person with friends and family, or on various social media outlets.

Check out some of these fascinating facts about rivers to get started:

Found in North Africa, the Nile river is considered to be the longest river in the world, measuring more than 4,100 miles long, flowing through eleven different countries. The Amazon river comes in a close second, at 3,977 miles.

In 2007, a Slovenian born marathon swimmer, Martin Strel, swam the entire Amazon river – complete with crocodiles, piranhas and more.

Rivers that run over cliffs eventually lead to stunning waterfalls. The highest one in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, measuring 3,212 feet high.

Rivers not only provide sustenance for humans, but thousands of different varieties of animals, plants, and at least 10,000 different species of fish.

Organize a River Clean Up

An excellent way to get involved with National River Day would be to grab a group of friends or some members of a volunteer organization in the community and head on over to a local river to do some cleaning up. Equipped with garbage sacks, trash sticks and rubber gloves, this would be a great time for a group of folks to spend some time picking up trash, debris, and litter. This is particularly important in regards to items made of plastic that will never biodegrade and can even be poisonous to the water source and the animals that depend on it.

Watch a Movie Featuring a River

Show some love to the life-giving rivers of the world by checking out a movie or film that features one. Get started with one of these:

A River Runs Through It (1992). This one features Brad Pitt, playing the son of a rural minister (Tom Skerritt), where they spend time fly fishing on the river.

The River Wild (1994). This thriller starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon takes place almost entirely on a whitewater rafting river adventure.

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021). Kids and adults alike will enjoy this animated film which teaches an appreciation of this dance as a celebration of life.

Green Days in the River (2014). This coming of age tale tells the story of a boy in a 1952 village who struggles with poverty, love and life.

Make Some Sustainable Water Choices

One of the best ways to get involved with National River Day might be to make some choices that will help to reduce the use of water personally and in the local area. Check out some of these important ways that households can live more sustainably and conserve water:

Install Low Flow Shower Heads. Use less water by installing modern shower heads in every bathroom in the house. It’s possible to save up to 3,000 gallons of water or more each year!

Collect Rainwater. Those folks who live in places where they need to water their garden or lawn can save on water by collecting it in a rain barrel and then using it as needed. Folks in Colorado or Utah may want to check with local legislation first to see if this is permitted.

Turn Off Faucets. Instead of letting the faucet run in the bathroom while brushing teeth or in the kitchen while walking over to the refrigerator and back, shut the water off every single time.

Save Water with Flushes. A new dual-flush toilet or a conversion kit for a current toilet allows less water to flow for flushes.

Join a Conservation Group

Many different conservation organizations are working to keep rivers clean or to clean them up after they have been polluted. They advocate with government agencies and companies to change laws that work to protect natural areas, including rivers. In honor of National River Day, join in by volunteering with a local group.

Those who feel like celebrating this unique waterways at another time of the year should look into World Rivers Day, which takes place in late September.  

National River Day FAQs

Where is Virgin River filmed?

Virgin River is a Netflix show filmed mostly in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

Is the Euphrates river drying up?

A vital water source in western Asia, the Euphrates river is drying up due to climate change.

What is the longest river in the world?

At more than 4,100 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world.

Where does the Mississippi River start?

The Mississippi River starts as a trickle from Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows there all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans.

Who is in A River Runs Through It? 

This 1992 film featured Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Joseph-Gordon Levitt and many others.

Source

[prayers4allsitu]

A prayer to dispel trouble…

Psalm 93:4 KJV [4] The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Isaiah 11:15 NLT [15] The LORD will make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea. He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River, sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams so it can easily be crossed on foot.