#the church as the kingdom of God

[theragamuffininitiative]

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[slowready]

For the Blood God

[not-so-superheroine]

Since it's not going in my article due to space constraints, i'll share a bit about Jane Manning James here. It won't be superfleshed out atm bc it got cut. I plan to do more later. As I am *Reorganized*, writing this for a Community of Christ publication, i researched Ld-S shared history to the point of Nauvoo. my article doesn't follow west (technically). the main resource was an LDS one (thank you v much for your freely available archive) asking about her time with the prophet of the Restoration.

Jane Manning James

A significant Black Latter Day Saint from the early church was Jane Manning James. A woman from Connecticut notably made the walk from Buffalo, New York to Nauvoo, Illinois on foot, with most of her family. This was only after being separated from the group of recently converted latter day saints in Buffalo, possibly due to their race. Jane was baptized in 1842 by missionaries in her home state of Connecticut. She recorded these things about her journey and arrival to Nauvoo and her faith when asked to recall her life living with Joseph Smith in 1905.

“When I went there [Nauvoo] I only had two things on me, no shoes nor stockings, wore them all out on the road… They [Joseph and Emma] was looking for us because I wrote them a letter. There was eight of us, my mother and two sisters and a brother and sister-in-law, and we had two children, one they had to carry all the way there, and we traveled a thousand miles.”

She was sure in her belief of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and Modern Prophecy. She says in her recollection, after seeing that Joseph Smith Jr was indeed the man in her vision in Connecticut, that “This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and there will never be any other on earth. It has come to stay.” Sister James would later go west with the saints under the leadership of then Apostle Brigham Young.

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me tumblr posting again:

thank you for the example set Sister James on faith, dedication, and perseverance. She also had spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongue and faith healing. She believed following the gospel, knowing it was a key to a better way of living life (for her.) it wasn't easy for her, and yet, i think the faith community i observe today (and mormonism in general) is better, just for her having lived it.

may she be at peace, and in a manner God, Sister Jane herself, and her family she led that meant so very much to her, see fit.

[sleepy-bear-tm]

Dimitri in Three Hopes watching Edelgard and Claude radically change their countries in Fodlan while his hands are tied with having to protect the church

[christisilluminati]

Part 2: Bridging Spiritual and Mental Realms l The Man of Sin and Modern Afflictions

The Man of Sin:

Mark 5 forms the base of my ministry because it reveals the Man of SIN, exposing him for who he is. In this passage, Jesus encounters a man living among the tombs, who had often been bound in shackles and chains, only to break free from them. This man cried out night and day cutting himself with stones. The passage also describes the man as aggressive by informing us that no one was strong enough to subdue him. (Mark 5:2-5)

Let's break down this story to gain a full understanding:

The man was isolated in the tombs, a situation indicating severe mental distress. He wore shackles and chains, marking him as an inmate by today's standards. Today, he might be seen as someone struggling with addiction. These are characteristics of SIN. His act of breaking free from the chains is akin to that of an escaped prisoner. It takes a brave soul to escape prison these days. He'd likely carry a gun and would possibly murder for his freedom. This too is a characteristic of SIN. Cutting his wrists with stones is an act of self-harm, while his cries for help are symptoms we see in mental illness, both of which further illustrate the depth of his suffering and the manifestation of SIN.

The Legion was the source of all this man's suffering and SIN—a Legion of "many members" housed within the man. Each one of this man's SINFUL thoughts that led him to his SINFUL actions was an effect of LEGION. "Cause and effect."

Spirits are invisible; you cannot see them. With that, it becomes clear that Jesus was in conversation with a formless voice in this story, and it was not His first time. Jesus could hear the audible voice of a spirit without form dwelling inside this man's tabernacle of flesh, those thoughts that led to the man's SINS. Today, we would describe this phenomenon as schizophrenia.

Was Jesus schizophrenic? I'll need you to be patient with me as I explain this, but yes, He was. And I'll show you in the next section, but are you aware that our science today supports the notion that He was? They have analyzed the major prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Paul from a behavioral, neurologic, and neuropsychiatric perspective to determine the nature of their revelations. They are saying that these men had experiences that resemble those now defined as psychotic symptoms, suggesting that their experiences may have been manifestations of primary or mood disorder-associated psychotic disorders. These findings suggest that persons with primary and mood disorder-associated psychotic symptoms have had a monumental influence on the shaping of Western civilization. We already live in a world where we no longer believe God still speaks to His prophets with and AUDIBLE WORD, and now science is aiming towards a world where we will believe they NEVER DID.

Linked With Mental Health:

Schizophrenic patients believe they can hear the thoughts of other people. We call this telepathy, and now have machines that are capable of doing so. Science calls it synthetic telepathy. One must wonder how this is even possible. Such a thing seems like science fiction.

The ability to use telepathy is something the Illuminati are known for by many of those who are suffering. The ones I'm trying to reach with my message. They believe that this telepathy ability is a part of how THEY control their minds. Was this man's mind controlled? YES, IT WAS. By whom? The "many members" of the Legion. And where was this Legion? Inside the man DRIVING him into the tombs. DRIVING him to cut his wrist. Very much the same way that THIS KIND DROVE the boy to FALL into the fire. NIV 2011.

Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. NIV 2011

Luke 8:29 For he commanded the unclean spirit, that he should go out from the man. For he took him oft times, and he was bound with chains, and kept in stocks, and when the bonds were broken, he was led of the devil into desert. WYC 1382

THIS KIND is the Legion. This Legion was this man's SIN. This is the Man of SIN. (2 Thessalonians 2:3) A spirit, the murderer from the beginning. (John 8:44) The offspring of the Viper. (Matthew 12:34) That Viper that eats dust all his days. (Genesis 3:14) Man was made from the dust. (Genesis 2:7) So were the pigs. (Genesis 1:24)

Each action of SIN this man thought of, IN HIS MIND, came from the WISPERS (Matthew 10:27) of the Legion that was capable of speaking audibly to Jesus. This body of "many members" may have been able to speak to the man as well. This is schizophrenia, all of that SIN dwelling inside the man. Who in our world today is teaching this? These "victims" need the TRUTH, not pharmakeia.

When Jesus gave the Legion permission to enter into the tabernacle of those pig's flesh, we see them immediately change their behavior to match that of the mans. They became lunatic. Something had happened to them WITHIN THEIR MINDS, and they immediately turned violent, probably attacking each other all the way down the steep bank into the sea and drowned themselves. They committed suicide. (Mark 5:12-13) They Legion DROVE them to murder themselves. I remind you; MURDER IS SIN. What was these pigs SIN? Legion was, wasn't he? The murderer from the beginning. (John 8:44)

What happened to the man when the Legion left his tabernacle of flesh? That home was swept clean, wasn't it? (Mark 5:15) Where then was this man's SIN? At the bottom of the sea inside a herd of dead pigs. SIN is not a choice; He is a spirit. He has a Kingdom of his own. I want you to think about secular history: a Legion belongs to a Kingdom. (Luke 17:21) He is the THORN that kept Paul from being conceited. That angle of Satan that harassed him, that Christ's grace was sufficient enough to cover. A body of "many members" that belongs to the Man of SIN.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest the greatness of revelations enhance me in pride, the prick of my flesh, an angel of Satan, is given to me, that he buffet me. For which thing thrice I prayed the Lord, that it should go away from me. And he said to me, My grace sufficeth to thee; for virtue is perfectly made in infirmity. Therefore gladly I shall glory in mine infirmities, that the virtue of Christ dwell in me. WYC 1382

Let's link this together:

Was the boy and isolated? No! Was the Man? Yes! Were the pigs? No!

Was the boy an inmate? No! Was the man? Yes! Were the pigs? No!

Was the boy aggressive? No! Was the man? Yes! Were the pigs? Yes!

Was the boy self-harming? Yes! Was the man? Yes! Did the pigs? Yes!

Was the boy a lunatic? Yes! Was the man? Yes! Were the pigs? Yes! - All characteristics of SIN.

Romans 7:15-20 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is SIN living in me that does it. WYC 1382

When Jesus taught the lesson about plucking out ones eye, or cutting off ones hand, what was He teaching? "Many members," individual SIN, demons needing to be CAST OUT, belonging to a body. SIN. I pray my readers can see what has been missing in our doctorines.

Matthew 18:8-9 And if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee to enter to life feeble, either crooked, than having twain hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire. And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, pull it out, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee with one eye to enter into life, than having twain eyes to be sent into the fire of hell. WYC 1382

 

Have you ever wondered how Jesus and Paul taught the same ministry, "many members," when Paul had never met Jesus? - THE SAME SPIRIT!

Jesus and Modern Experiences of Spiritual Affliction:

In Part One I shared a story about a woman named Ashley Baily who believed she was Jesus and Illuminati who slit her boyfriend's throat. I also shared my person story of the time a spirit claiming to be God "came to me and said," "Put a bullet in Chewy's head." Chewy, who was my boyfriend at the time was asleep when the "voice came to me."

Imagine being told to murder by an invisible voice claiming to be God. These are things that Jesus faced in Matthew 4 when He was led into the wilderness by a spirit to isolation, (Matthew 4:1) just like the man in Luke 8 was led into the solitary places by Legion. He held a conversation with an invisible voice in this story too, one that was instructing Him to act out certain odd things, like turning stones into bread. (Matthew 4:3) This is something we see in psychosis patients today, with complaints that demons or other voices are instructing them to act out certain odd things as well. What they need is for someone to show them what they are experiencing is the foundation of Jesus' teachings.

He was SEIZED by Satan and TAKEN to the holy city where Satan SET (CONTROL) Him on the highest point of the Temple. Satan then instructed Him to commit suicide, which is SIN. "Throw yourself down." (Matthew 4:5-6) The boy in Mark 9 too was "SEIZED" so that he was "thrown into the fire." (Mark 9:17-18) Consider what that would have looked like to those who were standing around the Temple at the time. You see, we always say that Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, (Matthew 4:2) but when Satan SET Him on the pinnacle of the Temple, (Matthew 4:5) He was no longer in the wilderness. There would have been many people around the Temple. You can assume that someone saw Him. Imagine a man standing on the edge of a New York skyscraper, ready to jump. What would you think about him? Mental illness, am I right? Jesus also saw visions of all the Kingdoms of the world in a moment's time. (Matthew 4:8) How could that be?

Patients with psychosis often experience vivid and sometimes disturbing images or scenes in their minds that can feel as real as watching a movie, even though their eyes are open. Science suggests this phenomenon occurs because the brain struggles to differentiate between reality and these hallucinations. This symptom is a hallmark of schizophrenia, manifesting as visual, auditory, or other sensory hallucinations. These experiences can be very vivid and lifelike. They are real to the person experiencing them. I have even found a poem expressing the tear between the good and evil auditory voices and the visions of the mind titled, "The Movie in my Mind."

Was Jesus' experience real? Yes, it was. What about those experiencing it today? Yes, their experience is just as real as the boy's in Matthew 17, the man in Mark 5, and Jesus'. They are the same, and science agrees with me. While they are feeding pharmaceuticals to the experience, claiming it's not real and a mental illness. I stand up for the truth that this is what Jesus' ministry was about. Our Christian society is not doing what is required of them to receive salvation by neglecting those with spiritual gifts and experiences.

Revelation 18:23-24 and the light of [the] lantern shall no more shine in thee, and the voice of the husband and of the wife shall no more be heard in thee; for thy merchants were princes of the earth. For in thy witchcrafts all folks erred. And the blood of prophets and of saints is found in it, and of all men that be slain in earth. WYC 1382

Revelation 3:1 And to the angel of the church of Sardis write thou, These things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, for thou hast a name, that thou livest, and thou art dead. WYC 1382

I've had so many Christians try to rebuke my teachings. A prison minister once attempted to disprove to me that the Legion in Mark 5 is not the same spirit Jesus encountered in Matthew 4, stating that God cannot be demon possessed. The fact is, I understand the Christians are only standing up for what they understand the truth to be. I am aware: to them it seems as though I'm changing the entire Bible. What they lack in knowledge is: it has already been changed, and it's not our generation's fault. We are not the ones who altered it, leading to the dissention. (2 Thessalonians 2:3) No one is thinking to look 600 years back. I understand, really. I do.

However, I too am armed with a rebuke. Look at what I have already been able to show you. Also, when tracing the words back through a Strongs concordance, you will find they are synonymous. In my YouTube video, Strong's Comparison for Satan and Demon: An In-Depth Analysis, I detail my study techniques in response to the email I received from the prison minister. In it, I confirm that the words "Satan" and "Demon" are synonymous.

The intention was for us to understand where the BODY OF MANY MEMBERS IS, where the Kingdom is, and to recognize that SATAN ALSO HAS A BODY.

Luke 17:21 neither they shall say, Lo! here, or lo[!] there; for lo! the realm of God is within you. WYC 1382

[boag]

Just talked to some Jehovah’s Witnesses about the occupation of Palestine on my porch

[tmarshconnors]

🎉🇬🇧 Happy United Kingdom Day! 🇬🇧🎉

On this historic day, May 1st, we commemorate the birth of the United Kingdom. It was on this date in 1707 that the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland merged to form Great Britain. This union marked the beginning of a remarkable journey of unity, diversity, and shared identity.

Over the years, the UK has evolved, embracing the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801, followed by the establishment of the Province of Northern Ireland in 1922. As we mark this special occasion, let us reflect on the values of unity, resilience, and inclusivity that define us as a nation. Happy birthday, United Kingdom!

[opens-up-4-nobody]

hypothetical struggle between Christianity and paganism in bbc merlin? 👀 one that's very neurodivergent? 👀 do tell

Okay, so Athurian times take place in the early dark ages. Which was probably a weird time for religion in Britain. Because the Roman occupation had just come to an end, leaving behind the structure of catholicism at least with those in positions of power. But religious beliefs were still in the process of blending together with the local practices and other religions, leading to some odd gnostic beliefs. Obviously, bbc merlin doesn't talk about Christianity within Camelot but I think we can assume the catholic church would have a position at the round table. Presumably, Arthur would grow up instructed in catholic belief, go to mass, and have bishops or whatever advising him. He would rule by Devine right, sanctioned by the pope and magic would be characterized as demonic. And that somehow raises the stakes for me, imaging magical merlin within the walls of a very catholic Camelot.

I just have this image of merlin in the back of a cathedral as Arthur attends mass. Kneeling in this beautiful building, head bowed low as the congregation sings praise to a foreign God in a foreign tongue. A God that would apparently have merlin tied to a stake and burned alive. And merlin choking out his empty prayers, echoing in the verbal praise under the isolation of his nonbelief and magical association. Full of fear and venom.

The hypothetical struggle I imagine is one of catholic enforcement pushed by Arthur's religious advisors and Arthur's morality. Because Arthur is a good person and slaughtering a people on the basis religion is insane. So, what does it mean for Arthur if he stops listening to his advisors and starts accepting magic? He has to contend with a spiritual struggle, not just the secular issues presented in the show. And I would looooooove to watch that. The bending of Arthur's beliefs into something more flexible and less rigidly Christian according to the church of the time

[jeandejard3n]

The Chosen One

[brianbachochin]

1 Corinthians 1:26-31: He Who Glories, Let Him Glory in the Lord

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The task of the church is to make the invisible Kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness-bearing.

J.I. Packer

[ivyithink]

I wish I had a nice monster-related quote or something to put here, but instead I’ll just recommend “for the departed”, “villainous thing” and “godspeed” all by shayfer james, ‘cause they’re a vibe for this AND great songs

this piece is also one for cringetober 2023! (some info here!)

the prompt: day 31 - halloween! honestly though, this was just an excuse to finally do at least something for the idea that’s been living in my head for a looooooong time…

[catholic-saint-tournament]

To read up on the mysteries of the Rosary, click here.

[bluesidedown]

sometimes......there are a few men......who are just. ugh. and they say things......and ur just like why. why would you think that's ok.

[davidhccarter]

Blame it on Jesus?

Hello readers. Back once again with another Friday Bog. With all of the preliminary politics going on in my state and next year’s presidential election looming, I decided to focus on the only politics I’m interested in these days and that being the politics of the Kingdom of Heaven.

A decade ago I talked with some Jehova’s Witnesses about the Bible and what it had to say about a number of topics. One of the Witnesses said that there were “elections being held in Heaven”. Upon hearing this, I became more interested and we challenged each other with hypothetical questions and opinions on what the Bible was talking about.

In Revelations the Bible addresses what is called “The first death” and how everyone will be killed and later resurrected for judgment. Upon this death we are to “pray that the death won’t be long.” Afterwards, those chosen will reign with Christ for 1,000 years as kings and priests.

This may seem far fetched to some but in light of current events it doesn’t look so strange. Thinking back on my youth and days as a non-believing Christian I was a fun loving extrovert that loved to socialize and party. Much of this is touched on in my latest book, The Learning Curve . Although I went to church often, most of my time was spent at clubs, parties, dances, and sporting events. I guess you could say I was pretty cool.

Today, however, along with work, running errands, second jobs, and household chores, you could say i am pretty square lol.

I suppose that is what comes with growing older but in the crevices of life God reminds me of his wonders and infinite blessings and I am humbled by his grace and inspired to live fuller. Looking back at that I guess you could say it’s pretty cool.

Jesus’ two sacrifices: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world,” - Revelation 13.8., and his crucifixion are testimony of his payment for us for life on earth.

Busy trying to make it out of the house this morning I thought if someone pays for your meal and you don’t like it is incumbent upon you to tell the waiter rather than blame the person who paid.

At a temp job last year I mentioned to my supervisor, generally speaking, that “the world doesn’t owe you anything, but you owe it to yourself to get something from the world.” To which she smiled and agreed.

Until next time remember God loves you and so do I.