Podcasts about Roman Empire

Tonight we are going to tell you a tale. A superb tale. A tale as old as time that takes us from the beginnings of civilization until today. This tale will thrill you and chill you. It may elicit feelings of dread and sadness. It may make you angry.  At times it may make you uneasily laugh like the friend at school that was kicked in the balls but couldn't show his weakness. It's a subject that people continually argue about and debate with savage ferocity. Tonight we are talking about executions! We'll talk about the methods and the reasons behind executions throughout the years. Then we'll talk about some famous executions, as well as some of the more fucked up ones. And by fucked up, we mean botched. Bad stuff. This episode isn't meant to be a debate for or against executions but merely to discuss them and the crazy shit surrounding them. So with all that being said, Let's rock and roll!           Capital punishment has been practiced in the history of virtually all known societies and places. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes.  The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes and was proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Hammurabi expanded the city-state of Babylon along the Euphrates River to unite all of southern Mesopotamia. The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi's Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and finally rediscovered in 1901. The text, compiled at the end of Hammurabi's reign, is less a proclamation of principles than a collection of legal precedents, set between prose celebrating Hammurabi's just and pious rule. Hammurabi's Code provides some of the earliest examples of the doctrine of “lex talionis,” or the laws of retribution, sometimes better known as “an eye for an eye the greatest soulfly song ever!   The Code of Hammurabi includes many harsh punishments, sometimes demanding the removal of the guilty party's tongue, hands, breasts, eye, or ear. But the code is also one of the earliest examples of an accused person being considered innocent until proven guilty. The 282 laws are all written in an “if-then form.” For example, if a man steals an ox, he must pay back 30 times its value. The laws range from family law to professional contracts and administrative law, often outlining different standards of justice for the three classes of Babylonian society—the propertied class, freedmen, and slaves.   A doctor's fee for curing a severe wound would be ten silver shekels for a gentleman, five shekels for a freedman, and two shekels for a slave. So, it was less expensive when you were a lower-class citizen. Penalties for malpractice followed the same scheme: a doctor who killed a wealthy patient would have his hands cut off, while only financial restitution was required if the victim was a slave. Crazy!   Some examples of the death penalty laws at this time are as follows:         If a man accuses another man and charges him with homicide but cannot bring proof against him, his accuser shall be killed. Holy shit.         If a man breaks into a house, they shall kill him and hang him in front of that same house.          The death penalty was also part of the Hittite Code in the 14th century B.C., but only partially. The most severe offenses typically were punished through enslavement, although crimes of a sexual nature often were punishable by death. The Hittite laws, also known as the Code of the Nesilim, constitute an ancient legal code dating from c. 1650 – 1500 BCE. The Hittite laws were kept in use for roughly 500 years, and many copies show that other than changes in grammar, what might be called the 'original edition' with its apparent disorder, was copied slavishly; no attempt was made to 'tidy up' by placing even apparent afterthoughts in a more appropriate position.    The Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code enforced by Draco near the end of the 7th century BC; its composition started around 621BC. It was written in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats. Aristotle, the chief source for knowledge of Draco, claims that he was the first to write Athenian laws and that Draco established a constitution enfranchising hoplites, the lower class soldiers. The Draconian laws were most noteworthy for their harshness; they were written in blood rather than ink. Death was prescribed for almost all criminal offenses. Solon, who was the magistrate in 594 BCE, later repealed Draco's code and published new laws, retaining only Draco's homicide statutes.   In the 5th century B.C., the Roman Law of the Twelve Tables also contained the death penalty. Death sentences were carried out by such means as beheading, boiling in oil, burying alive, burning, crucifixion, disembowelment, drowning, flaying alive, hanging, impalement, stoning, strangling, being thrown to wild animals, and quartering. We'll talk more about that later. The earliest attempt by the Romans to create a code of law was the Laws of the Twelve Tables. A commission of ten men (Decemviri) was appointed (c. 455 B.C.) to draw up a code of law binding on patrician and plebeian and which consuls would have to enforce. The commission produced enough statutes to fill ten bronze tablets.    Mosaic Law codified many capital crimes. There is evidence that Jews used many different techniques, including stoning, hanging, beheading, crucifixion (copied from the Romans), throwing the criminal from a rock, and sawing asunder. The most infamous execution of history occurred approximately 29 AD with the crucifixion of that one guy, Jesus Christ, outside Jerusalem. About 300 years later, Emperor Constantine, after converting to Christianity, abolished crucifixion and other cruel death penalties in the Roman Empire. In 438, the Code of Theodosius made more than 80 crimes punishable by death.    Britain influenced the colonies more than any other country and has a long history of punishment by death. About 450 BC, the death penalty was often enforced by throwing the condemned into a quagmire, which is not only the character from Family Guy, and another word for dilemma but in this case is a soft boggy area of land. By the 10th Century, hanging from the gallows was the most frequent execution method. William the Conqueror opposed taking life except in war and ordered no person to be hanged or executed for any offense. Nice guy, right? However, he allowed criminals to be mutilated for their crimes.    During the middle ages, capital punishment was accompanied by torture. Most barons had a drowning pit as well as gallows, and they were used for major as well as minor crimes. For example, in 1279, two hundred and eighty-nine Jews were hanged for clipping coins. What the fuck is that you may be wondering. Well, Clipping was taking a small amount of metal off the edge of hand-struck coins. Over time, the precious metal clippings could be saved up and melted into bullion (a lump of precious metal) to be sold or used to make new coins. Under Edward I, two gatekeepers were killed because the city gate had not been closed in time to prevent the escape of an accused murderer. Burning was the punishment for women's high treason, and men were hanged, drawn, and quartered. Beheading was generally accepted for the upper classes. One could be burned to death for marrying a Jew. Pressing became the penalty for those who would not confess to their crimes—the executioner placed heavy weights on the victim's chest until death. On the first day, he gave the victim a small quantity of bread, on the second day a small drink of bad water, and so on until he confessed or died. Under the reign of Henry VIII, the number of those put to death is estimated as high as 72,000. Boiling to death was another penalty approved in 1531, and there are records to show some people cooked for up to two hours before death took them. When a woman was burned, the executioner tied a rope around her neck when she was connected to the stake. When the flames reached her, she could be strangled from outside the ring of fire. However, this often failed, and many were burnt alive.   In Britain, the number of capital offenses continually increased until the 1700's when two hundred and twenty-two crimes were punishable by death. These included stealing from a house for forty shillings, stealing from a shop the value of five shillings, robbing a rabbit warren, cutting down a tree, and counterfeiting tax stamps. However, juries tended not to convict when the penalty was significant, and the crime was not. Reforms began to take place. In 1823, five laws were passed, removing about a hundred crimes from the death penalty. Between 1832 and 1837, many capital offenses were swept away. In 1840, there was a failed attempt to abolish all capital punishment. Through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, more and more capital punishments were abolished, not only in Britain but also all across Europe; until today, only a few European countries retain the death penalty.   The first recorded execution in the English American colonies was in 1608 when officials executed George Kendall of Virginia for supposedly plotting to betray the British to the Spanish. In 1612, Virginia's governor, Sir Thomas Dale, implemented the Divine, Moral, and Martial Laws that made death the penalty for even minor offenses such as stealing grapes, killing chickens, killing dogs or horses without permission, or trading with Indians. Seven years later, these laws were softened because Virginia feared that no one would settle there. Well, no shit.   In 1622, the first legal execution of a criminal, Daniel Frank, occurred in, of course, Virginia for the crime of theft. Some colonies were very strict in using the death penalty, while others were less so. In Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first execution was in 1630, but the earliest capital statutes did not occur until later. Under the Capital Laws of New England that went into effect between 1636-1647, the death penalty was set forth for pre-meditated murder, sodomy, witchcraft, adultery, idolatry, blasphemy, assault in anger, rape, statutory rape, manstealing, perjury in a capital trial, rebellion, manslaughter, poisoning, and bestiality. A scripture from the Old Testament accompanied early laws. By 1780, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only recognized seven capital crimes: murder, sodomy, burglary, buggery, arson, rape, and treason. And for those wondering, The Buggery Act of 1533, formally An Act for the punishment of the vice of Buggerie, was an Act of the Parliament of England that was passed during the reign of Henry VIII. It was the country's first civil sodomy law.   The Act defined buggery as an unnatural sexual act against the will of God and Man. This term was later determined by the courts to include only anal penetration and bestiality.   The New York colony instituted the so-called Duke's Laws of 1665. This list of laws directed the death penalty for denial of the true God, pre-meditated murder, killing someone who had no weapon of defense, killing by lying in wait or by poisoning, sodomy, buggery, kidnapping, perjury in a capital trial, traitorous denial of the king's rights or raising arms to resist his authority, conspiracy to invade towns or forts in the colony and striking one's mother or father (upon complaint of both). The two colonies that were more lenient concerning capital punishment were South Jersey and Pennsylvania. In South Jersey, there was no death penalty for any crime, and there were only two crimes, murder, and treason, punishable by death. Way to go, Jersey Raccoons!   Some states were more severe. For example, by 1837, North Carolina required death for the crimes of murder, rape, statutory rape, slave-stealing, stealing banknotes, highway robbery, burglary, arson, castration, buggery, sodomy, bestiality, dueling where death occurs, (and this insidious shit), hiding a slave with intent to free him, taking a free Negro out of state to sell him, bigamy, inciting slaves to rebel, circulating seditious literature among slaves, accessory to murder, robbery, burglary, arson, or mayhem and others. However, North Carolina did not have a state prison and, many said, no suitable alternative to capital punishment. So, instead of building a fucking prison to hold criminals, they just made the penalty for less severe crimes punishable by death. What the shit, North Carolina?!?   The first reforms of the death penalty occurred between 1776-1800. Thomas Jefferson and four others, authorized to undertake a complete revision of Virginia's laws, proposed a law that recommended the death penalty for only treason and murder. After a stormy debate, the legislature defeated the bill by one vote. The writing of European theorists such as Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Bentham had a significant effect on American intellectuals, as did English Quaker prison reformers John Bellers and John Howard.   Organizations were formed in different colonies for the abolition of the death penalty and to relieve poor prison conditions. Dr. Benjamin Rush, a renowned Philadelphia citizen, proposed abolishing capital punishment. William Bradford, Attorney General of Pennsylvania, was ordered to investigate capital punishment. In 1793 he published “An Enquiry How Far the Punishment of Death is Necessary” in Pennsylvania. Bradford strongly insisted that the death penalty be retained but admitted it was useless in preventing certain crimes. He said the death penalty made convictions harder to obtain because in Pennsylvania, and indeed in all states, the death penalty was mandatory. Juries would often not return a guilty verdict because of this fact, which makes sense. In response, in 1794, the Pennsylvania legislature abolished capital punishment for all crimes except murder “in the first degree,” the first time murder had been broken down into “degrees.” In New York, in 1796, the legislature authorized construction of the state's first prison, abolished whipping, and reduced the number of capital offenses from thirteen to two. Virginia and Kentucky passed similar reform bills. Four more states reduced their capital crimes: Vermont in 1797 to three; Maryland in 1810, to four; New Hampshire in 1812, to two and Ohio in 1815 to two. Each of these states built state penitentiaries. A few states went in the opposite direction. Rhode Island restored the death penalty for rape and arson; Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut raised death crimes from six to ten, including sodomy, maiming, robbery, and forgery. Many southern states made more crimes capital, especially for slaves. Assholes.   The first profound reform era occurred between 1833-1853. Public executions were attacked as cruel. Sometimes tens of thousands of eager viewers would show up to view hangings; local merchants would sell souvenirs and alcohol. Which, I'm not sure if I hate or absolutely love. Fighting and pushing would often break out as people jockeyed for the best view of the hanging or the corpse! Onlookers often cursed the widow or the victim and would try to tear down the scaffold or the rope for keepsakes. Violence and drunkenness often ruled towns far into the night after “justice had been served.” People are fucking weird, dude. Many states enacted laws providing private hangings. Rhode Island (1833), Pennsylvania (1834), New York (1835), Massachusetts (1835), and New Jersey (1835) all abolished public hangings. By 1849, fifteen states were holding private hangings. This move was opposed by many death penalty abolitionists who thought public executions would eventually cause people to cry out against execution itself. For example, in 1835, Maine enacted what was in effect a moratorium on capital punishment after over ten thousand people who watched a hanging had to be restrained by police after they became unruly and began fighting. All felons sentenced to death would have to remain in prison at hard labor and could not be executed until one year had elapsed and then only on the governor's order. No governor ordered an execution under the “Maine Law” for twenty-seven years. Though many states argued the merits of the death penalty, no state went as far as Maine. The most influential reformers were the clergy, of course. Ironically, the small but influential group that opposed the abolitionists was the clergy.    Ok, let's talk about electrocution. Want to know how the electric chair came to be? Well, Electrocution as a method of execution came onto the scene in an implausible manner. Edison Company, with its DC (direct current) electrical systems, began attacking Westinghouse Company and its AC (alternating current) electrical systems as they were pressing for nationwide electrification with alternating current. To show how dangerous AC could be, Edison Company began public demonstrations by electrocuting animals. People reasoned that if electricity could kill animals, it could kill people. In 1888, New York approved the dismantling of its gallows and the building of the nation's first electric chair. It held its first victim, William Kemmler, in 1890, and even though the first electrocution was clumsy at best, other states soon followed the lead.   Between 1917 and 1955, the death penalty abolition movement again slowed. Washington, Arizona, and Oregon in 1919-20 reinstated the death penalty. In 1924, the first execution by cyanide gas took place in Nevada, when Tong war gang murderer Gee Jon became its first victim. Get this shit. The frigging state wanted to secretly pump cyanide gas into Jon's cell at night while he was asleep as a more humanitarian way of carrying out the penalty. Still, technical difficulties prohibited this, and a special “gas chamber” was hastily built. Other concerns developed when less “civilized” methods of execution failed. In 1930, Mrs. Eva Dugan became the first female to be executed by Arizona. The execution was botched when the hangman misjudged the drop, and Mrs. Dugan's head was ripped from her body. More states converted to electric chairs and gas chambers. During this time, abolitionist organizations sprang up all across the country, but they had little effect. Several stormy protests were held against the execution of certain convicted felons, like Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union. The couple was convicted of providing top-secret information about radar, sonar, jet propulsion engines, and valuable nuclear weapon designs. At that time, the United States was supposedly the only country with nuclear weapons. Convicted of espionage in 1951, they were executed by the United States federal government in 1953 in the Sing Sing correctional facility in Ossining, New York, becoming the first American civilians to be executed for such charges and the first to receive that penalty during peacetime. However, these protests held little opposition against the death penalty itself. In fact, during the anti-Communist period, with all its fears and hysteria, Texas Governor Allan Shivers seriously suggested that capital punishment be the penalty for membership in the Communist Party.   The movement against capital punishment revived again between 1955 and 1972.   England and Canada completed exhaustive studies which were largely critical of the death penalty, and these were widely circulated in the U.S.  Death row criminals gave their moving accounts of capital punishment in books and films. Convicted robber, kidnapper, and rapist Caryl Chessman, published “Cell 2455 Death Row” and “Trial by Ordeal.” Barbara Graham's story was utilized in the book and movie “I Want to Live!” after her execution. She was executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin Prison on the same day as two convicted accomplices, Jack Santo and Emmett Perkins. All of them were involved in a robbery that led to the murder of an elderly widow.  Television shows were broadcast on the death penalty. Hawaii and Alaska ended capital punishment in 1957, and Delaware did so the following year. Controversy over the death penalty gripped the nation, forcing politicians to take sides. Delaware restored the death penalty in 1961. Michigan abolished capital punishment for treason in 1963. Voters in 1964 abolished the death penalty in Oregon. In 1965 Iowa, New York, West Virginia, and Vermont ended the death penalty. New Mexico abolished the death penalty in 1969.   The controversy over the death penalty continues today. There is a strong movement against lawlessness propelled by citizens' fears of security. Politicians at the national and state levels are taking the floor of legislatures and calling for more frequent death penalties, death penalties for more crimes, and longer prison sentences. Those opposing these moves counter by arguing that harsher sentences do not slow crime and that crime is slightly or the same as in the past. FBI statistics show murders are now up. (For example, 9.3 persons per 100,000 were murdered in 1973, and 9.4 persons per 100,000 were murdered in 1992, and as of today, it's upwards of 14.4 people per 100,000. This upswing might be because of more advanced crime technology, as well as more prominent news and media.   Capital punishment has been completely abolished in all European countries except for Belarus and Russia, which has a moratorium and has not conducted an execution since September 1996. The complete ban on capital punishment is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU). Two widely adopted protocols of the European Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe are thus considered a central value. Of all modern European countries, San Marino, Portugal, and the Netherlands were the first to abolish capital punishment, whereas only Belarus still practices capital punishment in some form or another. In 2012, Latvia became the last EU member state to abolish capital punishment in wartime.   Ok, so now let's switch gears from the history of capital punishment and executions in general and get into what we know you beautiful bastards come here for. Let's talk about some methods used throughout the years, and then we'll talk about some famous executions and some fucked and messed up ones.   Methods:   We've discussed a few of these before, but some are so fucked up we're going to discuss them again.   Boiling To Death:   A slow and agonizing punishment, this method traditionally saw the victim gradually lowered — feet-first — into boiling oil, water, or wax (although uses of boiling wine and molten lead have also been recorded).   If the shock of the pain did not render them immediately unconscious, the person would experience the excruciating sensation of their outer layers of skin, utterly destroyed by immersion burns, dissolving right off their body, followed by the complete breakdown of the fatty tissue, boiling away beneath.   Emperor Nero is said to have dispatched thousands of Christians in this manner. At the same time, in the Middle Ages, the primary recipients of the punishment were not killers or rapists but coin forgers, particularly in Germany and the Holy Roman Empire. In Britain, meanwhile, King Henry VIII introduced the practice for executing those who used poison to commit murder.   Shockingly, the practice is believed to have been carried out as recently as 2002, when the government of Uzbekistan, led by Islam Karimov, was alleged to have tortured several suspected terrorists to death by boiling.   The Blood Eagle:   A technique ascribed to ancient Norse warriors, the blood eagle, mixed brutality and poetic imagery that only the Vikings could. First, the victim's back would be hacked open, and the skin ripped apart, exposing the spinal column.   The ribs would then be snapped from the spine and forcibly bent backward until they faced outwards from the body, forming a pair of bloody, shattered eagle's wings. As a horrifying finale, the lungs would then be pulled from the body cavity and coated with stinging salt, causing eventual death by suffocation.   There is some question whether this technique was ever actually used as the only accounts come from Norse literature. Odin did this shit, you know it.   Several scholars claim that the act we know of today is simply a result of poor translating and misunderstands the strong association of the eagle with blood and death in Norse imagery. That said, every account is consistent in that in each case, the victim is a nobleman being punished for murdering his father.   The good news for any poor soul who might have suffered this brutal death? The agony and blood loss from the initial wounds would probably have caused them to pass out long before the lungs were removed from their bodies.    Impalement:   Most famously used by Vlad the Impaler, 15th-century ruler of Wallachia (in present-day Romania) and inspiration for Count Dracula, the act of impalement has a long, grim history. While images tend to depict people skewered through the midsection and then held aloft — in a manner that would almost certainly bring about a rapid death — the actual process was a much longer, horrifically drawn-out ordeal.   Traditionally, the stake would be partially sharpened and planted, point up, in the ground. The victim would then be placed over the spike as it was inserted partway into the rectum or vagina.   As their body weight dragged them further onto the pole, the semi-greased wooden stake would force its way up through their body, piercing organs with agonizing slowness as it eventually penetrated the entire torso, finally tearing an exit wound through the skin of the shoulder, neck or throat. Holy shishkabob. Or bill. Or Karen.   The earliest records of the torture come from 1772 B.C. in Babylon, where the aforementioned King Hammurabi ordered a woman be executed in this way for killing her husband. But its use continued until as recently as the 20th century when the Ottoman government employed the technique during the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. Which is super fucked up.   According to some accounts, it could take the victim — exposed, bleeding, and writhing in tormented agony — as long as eight whole days to die. Oh my hell!   Keelhauling:   Walking the plank might not be the most pleasant of deaths, but it seems moderately more humane than the other favored maritime punishment of keelhauling.   A punishment that often ended in death due to the severity of the wounds sustained (or was simply carried out until the point of death), it saw the victim, legs weighted and suspended from a rope, dropped from the bow of the ship, and then rapidly pulled underwater along the length of the hull — and over the keel (the beam that runs longitudinally down the center of the underside to the stern.   In the age of old, old wooden sailing ships, the hull of a vessel would generally be coated in a thick layer of barnacles, whose shells could be rock hard and razor-sharp.   As the drowning sailor was yanked relentlessly through the saltwater, these barnacles would strip the skin from his body, gouging out raw chunks of flesh and even, by some accounts, tearing off whole limbs or severing the head.   If the sailor was still alive, they might be hung from the mast for 15 minutes before going in again. In some cases, the victim would have an oil-soaked sponge — containing a breath of air — stuffed into their mouth to prevent a “merciful” drowning.   Employed mainly by the Dutch and the French from the 1500s until it was abolished in 1853, accounts of its use date back to Greece in 800 B.C.   The Roman Candle:   Many of the worst execution methods ever devised involve fire — from burning witches at stake in medieval Britain to roasting criminals alive in the hot metal insides of the brazen bull in Ancient Greece — but few match the sheer lack of humanity as the Roman Candle.   A rumored favorite of the mad Roman Emperor Nero, this method saw the subject tied to a stake and smeared with flammable pitch (tree or plant resin), then set ablaze, slowly burning to death from the feet up.   What sets this above the many other similar methods is that the victims were sometimes lined up outside to provide the lighting for one of Nero's evening parties.   Being Hanged, Drawn, And Quartered:   First recorded in England during the 13th century, this unusually extreme — even for the time — mode of execution was made the statutory punishment for treason in 1351. Though it was intended to be an act of such barbarous severity that no one would ever risk committing a treasonous act, there were nevertheless plenty of recipients over the next 500 years.   The process of being hanged, drawn, and quartered began with the victim being dragged to the site of execution while strapped to a wooden panel, which was in turn tied to a horse.   They would then experience a slow hanging, in which, rather than being dropped to the traditional quick death of a broken neck, they would instead be left to choke horribly as the rope tore up the skin of their throat, their body weight dragging them downwards.   Some had the good fortune to die at this stage, including the infamous Gunpowder Plot conspirator Guy Fawkes, who ensured a faster death by leaping from the gallows.   Once half-strangled, the drawing would begin. The victim would be strapped down and then slowly disemboweled, their stomachs sliced open, and their intestines and other significant organs hacked apart and pulled — “drawn” — from the body.   The genitals would often be mutilated and ripped from between their legs. Those unlucky enough to still be alive at this point might witness their organs burned in front of them before they were finally decapitated.   Once death had finally claimed them, the recipient's body would be carved into four pieces — or “quartered” — and the parts sent to prominent areas of the country as a warning to others.   The head would often be taken to the infamous Tower of London, where it would be impaled on a spike and placed on the walls “for the mockery of London.”   Rat Torture:   As recently depicted in that horrible show, Game Of Thrones, rat torture is ingenious in its disgusting simplicity. In its most basic form, a bucket containing live rats is placed on the exposed torso of the victim, and heat is applied to the base of the bucket.   The rats, crazy with fear from the heat, tear and gnaw their way into the abdomen of the victim, clawing and ripping through skin, flesh, organs, and intestines in their quest to escape.   Possessing the most powerful biting and chewing motion of any rodent, rats can make short work of a human stomach. Along with the unimaginable pain, the victim would also suffer the sick horror of feeling the large, filthy creatures writhing around inside their guts as they died.   While associated with Elizabethan England — where the Tower of London was said to have housed a “Dungeon of Rats,” a pitch-black room below high watermark that would draw in rats from the River Thames to torment the room's inhabitants — the practice has been used far more recently.   General Pinochet is said to have employed the technique during his dictatorship of Chile (1973-1990), while reports from Argentina during the National Reorganization Process in the late 1970s and early '80s claimed victims were subjected to a version in which live rats — or sometimes spiders — were inserted into the subject's body via a tube in the rectum or vagina….yep.   Bamboo Torture   Forcing thin shards of bamboo under the fingernails has long been cited as an interrogation method, but bamboo has been used to creatively — and slowly — execute a person, too. Allegedly used by the Japanese on American prisoners of war, it saw the victim tied down to a frame over a patch of newly sprouting bamboo plants.   One of the fastest-growing plants in the world, capable of up to three feet of growth in 24 hours, the sharp-tipped plants would slowly pierce the victim's skin — and then continue to grow. The result was death by gradual, continuous, multiple impalements, the equivalent of being dropped on a bed of sharpened stakes in terrible slow motion.   Despite the practice having roots in the former areas of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Siam (now Thailand) in the 19th century, there are no proven instances of it being used during WWII.   It's certainly possible, however, and it has been shown that the technique, among the worst execution methods ever, works: A 2008 episode of MythBusters found that bamboo was capable of penetrating a human-sized lump of ballistic gelatin over three days.   https://m.imdb.com/list/ls059738828/

January 16th is the anniversary of one of the most important historical events - the birth of the Roman Empire. This day, in 27 BC marks the day that Octavian was appointed the title Augustus, and became the first Emperor of Rome. Augustus ordered the gates of Janus to be closed, marking an end to the period of Civil War that had characterised Rome for decades before. Entering into a new era of peace, how did Augustus monopolise peace as a concept, and allow Rome to hold onto this new era and way of life across it's Empire? This week Tristan is joined by Hannah Cornwell, author of Pax and the Politics of Peace, to talk about this transitional period, it's reflections in art and monumental architecture, and ultimately, how the Roman Empire came to be.If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hithttps://access.historyhit.com/?utm_source=audio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast+Campaign&utm_id=PodcastTo download, go to Android or Apple store:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=UShttps://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247If you're enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating The Ancients content then subscribe to our Ancients newsletter. Follow the link here:https://www.historyhit.com/sign-up-to-history-hit/?utm_source=timelinenewsletter&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Timeline+Podcast+Campaign See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Roman fort functioned as a base of operations for the army, a defensive and functional structure that could protect both the frontier of the Roman Empire and the supply lines. Guest: Dr Adrian Goldsworthy (historian and author, whose most recent work of fiction is titled 'The Fort').

Subscribe to the podcast!  https://podfollow.com/everythingeverywhere/ When you hear about ancient battles and wars, the stories are often dominated by famous generals whose names have come down to us through history.  However, military success often relied on more mundane things. In the year 107 BC, a Roman general and statesman by the name of Gaius Marius did exactly such a thing when he overhauled the Roman military.  Learn more about the Marian Reforms and how they set the stage for the Roman Empire, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. -------------------------------- Associate Producers: Peter Bennett & Thor Thomsen   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/EEDailyPodcast/ Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode: 3052 Frankincense and Myrrh: The True Value of a Famous Gift.  Today, the true value of a famous gift.

What would the Roman Empire look like if it was around today? Would it still be a place of science, culture and discovery, or would it fall prey to the bureaucracy of empires? Harry Turtledove decides to answer just that in his first book in the Crosstime Traffic series. The question now, is how did he do? Rating: "Pouring out a little wine on the cobblestones out of 10." - James "Timeline travel out of 10." - Sam Follow the Author: Twitter: https://twitter.com/hnturtledove Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29479.Harry_Turtledove 00:00 Intro 00:59 Age Level & Content Warning 01:26 Judge a Book By It's Cover 06:52 Discussion 53:28 General Thoughts 54:01 One Question for the Author 1:00:02 Rating 1:01:42 Outro Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ewm_bookclub TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ewm-bookclub/support

They've both been described as the greatest military commanders in the ancient world, but who really takes the title? Alexander, the undefeated conqueror of the largest empire in the world, or Caesar, a leader who was critical in expanding and creating what later became the Roman Empire?For this episode, Tristan is joined by Dr Simon Elliott, author of Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar: Who was the Greatest Commander in the Ancient World? Together, they analyse their leadership styles, victories, and their tactical and strategic genius, to finally answer who really was the greatest military leader.While you're here, don't forget to leave us a rating and review - let us know who you think was the greatest leader.For more ancient content, subscribe to our Ancient History Thursday newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to the Android or Apple storeMusic:Phoenix Rising - Edgar Hopp See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fr. Mike draws a parallel between the symbols in the book of Revelation and the persecution by the Roman empire of the first Christians and encourages us to hold firm in our faith. Additionally, Fr. Mike reveals the beauty of the new covenant priesthood established by Jesus and explained in Hebrews. Today's readings are Revelation 15-17, Hebrews 5-8, and Proverbs 31:23-25. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Download John 20-21 Today we complete the Christ Stream reading from the Tree of Life Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis And with this we triumph. As Christ has risen from the dead, so shall we as we embrace Him fully.  Hallelujah and Amen.   20 -  Mary (Miriam) goes to the tomb for ritualistic reasons - to tend to the body. She isn't prancing down there and thinking, "oh boy oh goodie, I wonder if He's up yet...!" No, she arrives and is surprised to find the stone rolled back, the tomb empty, Jesus not there - not anywhere.  And you do realize that the stone rolled away is for our purposes.  If it wasn't it would lead to eternal ghost stories that skeptics would embrace more than they would Jesus Himself. But back to the original point, we know Jesus doesn't need the stone rolled away to get out.  And He isn't Yosemite Sam in there, alive and trapped and screaming, "let me out! Let me out of here!" When Miriam goes and finds the Disciples, Peter and John bolt for the tomb. Again Peter is bold and stomps into the tomb - reckless as usual. Though John did get there first because he runs faster (and is determined that you know that!)  You gotta love that 'boys will be boys' factor.  When we read that the face cloth was rolled up and in place there's a Jewish culture issue here that westerners don't see right off.  When a Jewish man departs from a dining setting, if he is done and not returning, he throws his personal cloth (napkin) onto the table and you are free to clear his place setting.  However if he is returning, he rolls up his cloth neatly and lays it beside his setting. In the tomb, Jesus' face cloth is set by the stone where He was laid to rest because ... you guessed it, He Is Returning! John saw that and immediately knew Jesus was alive. But notice that the other disciples went home for they did not understand...  And Jesus told them ?how many times? about his death and resurrection in this last three years?! The disciples are like over-grown elementary kids in this regard; they can listen all day and, in certain ways, not hear a thing. It will hit them all eventually. It is rather touching that Jesus appears to Miriam first. She is going to be the most evangelistic about it so may as well tell her first. Does it strike you that she didn't know the angels were angels AND she didn't know Jesus was Jesus? Everyone was so resigned to his death being final. It was that gruesome a few days ago - we would have been the same way too.         Mary realizes that Jesus is Jesus when He calls her name.  btw, When did it hit you? When did you realize that Jesus is Jesus Christ the Savior? When did He call your name? Do you remember?       John records Jesus in two more appearances in this chapter. The Disciples are in a locked room still afraid because of the Judean leaders that would troll, find, and crucify (also!) the followers of the false Messiah that was just crucified the prior Friday. [This is one of the reasons Jesus had to appear to the women first - there was no death threat on them and they were far more free to spread the Resurrection news.   So Jesus appears to most of the Disciples -- they are in a locked room and He did not use a door!  And they are happy as kids at a candy store to see Him. They later found and told Thomas who was resolute in his need for proof. We know what happened and we know what Thomas' reaction was once he saw and touched Jesus' scars. Careful about accusing Thomas as "the doubter". His journey to faith came a little tougher than the others. But he never doubted again. And because he once doubted, and wanted confirmation, we never have to.  Thomas went as far as India in his journeys with the Holy Spirit; evangelizing for Jesus. His spirit and joy and soulish resolve to evangelize to the end had him raise up an army of feverish disciples that completed the task of taking the gospel all the way across Asia to where Shanghai is today! And Jesus did so many more miracles. None who met Him ever doubted anything again. Their faith was bolstered enough to invade and infiltrate and transform the Roman Empire - which they did in time. You can visit Thomas' tomb where he was martyred with spears in Chennai, on the east coast of India. 21 - Later Jesus is found in Galilee.  John mentions seven of the 11 Disciples are up in Galilee (not 12; Judas Iscariot is gone).  They are fishing through the night, catching nothing then get advised to throw nets on the "right side".  Have they heard this before? Have we? They pull in a record haul and this time the nets don't tear.  Three years ago, they tore.  They couldn't handle all the blessing - now they are ready for all the blessing the Lord is going to heap on them.  Keep that in mind: we need to be ready for more blessing before receiving more blessing. God doesn't pour out so that it is simply wasted because we don't know what to do with it.     Then Jesus has a necessary conversation that can be condensed to "Peter, you can't trust yourself - but you can trust me.  You've been committed - you need to be surrendered now."  Jesus tells him, 1] feed my lambs. 2] take care of my sheep. 3] feed my sheep.  Jesus is calling him to comprehensive care of the growing Church.  [1] When young lambs are fed they grow to sheep. [2] When they are full grown they still need to be sheered, taken to pasture/water and kept from wolves. [3] When they are secure in all this and full grown sheep -->they still need to be fed.  Peter is being called to life-long ministry ... which he fulfills wonderfully.  And as John finishes his gospel he tells that Jesus did so much more that would fill the whole world were it all to be told.  However, we now know enough to believe with all our hearts and lives.  We also have His Word, this Word to take to the whole world.  Let's do so.

The stories about Jesus Christ as narrated by many denominations, organizations, and groups have little or no resemblance to the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The reason: The extinct Roman Empire and the then church in Rome had adulterated the story with Roman paganism. Then, after the fall of the Roman Empire, emerging European nations added their own paganistic cultures to the already adulterated story. Knowing all the above, it behooves whoever desires to inherit eternal life to know, embody and tell the true story of Jesus Christ, one shorn of cultural influences and paganistic customs. ——— Are you aware that you can watch more than 100 videos (videos you can share, use in Sunday schools, teach others, and evangelize) in high definition on our YouTube channel? Please click on the link below to subscribe. Subscription is free. https://www.youtube.com/channel/WorldEvangel?sub_confirmation=1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/worldevangel/message

HEADLINES: Icardashians, FIFA rankings and Pepi to Wolfsburg(?) rumors. PREMIER LEAGUE [19:40]: Tommy Tuchs the Anti-Christ(ian), City/Lester reax, Power Rankings [43:30] and weekly preview ft Arsenal vs City and Chelsea vs Liverpool. REST OF WORLD: yawn. HYPOTHETICALS [1:06:00]: Roman Empire, Icardashians and Bielsa to USMNT. BEST BETS [1:25:40] and GOAWs. Next up [1:34:40] James Sands and Keaton Parks discuss NYCFC's playoff run, bouncing back from Portland's soul-crushing equalizer to win MLS Cup and postgame celebrations, Ronny Deila's nudist tendencies, how close Keaton came to losing a leg and James' thoughts on moving to Europe in January.

The December 26th, 2021 Morning Worship Service at Plainfield Christian Church in Comstock Park, MI Preacher: Bruce Wilson Youth Minister: Brady Jester Children's Minister: Wade Harrier Worship Leader: Katie Winstanley Learn more at https://www.pccmi.org/ Songs: CCLI #2228009 Sermon: Christmas Sermon Series – Songs of Christmas Away In A Manger Scripture: Luke 2:1-7; Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2 Notes: I. In The Census We See A Controlling Providence Caesar Augustus was in control of the Roman Empire, but God was in control of Caesar Augustus. The president has political power, the millionaire has financial power, the general has martial power, the scholar has intellectual power, but God has universal power! II. In The City We See A Completed Prophecy With God, prophecy is not a guess about what might happen, it is a declaration of what will happen. III. In The Cradle We See A Confirmed Promise “There was no room in Bethlehem, for Him who left His throne to seek the lost at countless cost, and make their griefs His own: but there was room at Calvary, upon a cross of shame for Him to die, uplifted high, and bear the sinner's blame. There was no room in Bethlehem, and in the world today man will not give Him room to live, but bids Him turn away; but there is room at Calvary, and there He stands to give a home to all who heed His call, and look to Him and live. There was no room in Bethlehem, for Christ, the Prince of heaven come down to earth in human birth, that man might be forgiven: but there is room at Calvary, for sinners to abide, and all who come will find a home, in Jesus crucified.” 1 1 by Margaret Clarkson - Words © 1960 Hope Publishing Company

This passage contains the last of seven letters the Lord Jesus sent to the seven churches of Asia Minor. This letter is harsher than all the others. The Lord Jesus comes to this church with no words of blessing and no words of commendation. He examines this church and sees nothing in it that is worthy of praise.   This letter is 2,000 years old, yet it is still very important today. We may wonder what a 2,000 year old letter could possibly teach us in 2012. The reason this letter still speaks is because the modern church is very much like the ancient church in Laodicea. While individual churches might not perfectly fit the mold of the church in Laodicea, elements of the problems that existed in Laodicea can be found in many churches. Those same problems can be found here, if we are not careful. They might even be found here, if we were honest!   Before we begin to look into these verses, let me give you a little background on the city of Laodicea. •      This city was founded by Antiochus II sometime before 253 BC. It was named after his wife Laodice. •      The city was located on a high plateau and it was very secure from enemy attack. •      One problem in Laodicea was the fact that there was no ready source of water in the city.   The Lycus River was nearby, but the waters were too muddy to drink. Water had to be piped in through aqueducts. Water from the hot springs in Hierapolis six miles to the north was brought into the city. Water was also piped in from Colossae, which was located 10 miles to the east. •      Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in 61 AD. The city was so wealthy and so self-sufficient that they rebuilt their city with their own resources, refusing an offer of aid from Caesar and the Roman government. •      Laodicea was famous for three things: 1.  Laodicea was famous as a center of Finance - Laodicea was a center of banking and finance. The city renowned throughout the Roman Empire for its wealth and financial power.  2.  Laodicea was famous as a center of Fashion - Laodicea was renowned for the soft, black wool produced there. This wool was considered a luxury item and was sought after for clothing and rugs. Laodicea was the center of fashion in its day. The newest styles appeared here first. It was like modern Paris, Milan, or New York in that regard. 3.  Laodicea was famous as a center of Medicine  - There was a large medical school in Laodicea which produced a tablet that was sold all over the Roman Empire. This tablet was crushed, mixed with water to form a paste. This paste was rubbed into the eyes and was reported to cure a variety of eye problems.   Laodicea was a very important city. The church that existed in Laodicea was important as well. It was very important to God. This church was the human representation of the invisible God. How the church was perceived, was how God would be perceived. That is why the spiritual condition of every local church is important to God.   The Lord's words to this church are particularly relevant in our day. Churches like Laodicea, dominate the landscape in our world. We need to our church and place it alongside the church of Laodicea. We need to compare this church to that church, and see if there are any similarities between us and them. If there are, then we need to deal with those areas and bring them into line with God's Word and His will.   It's easy to tell if a church has inherited a Laodicean mindset. The characteristics of that kind of church are revealed here. 

Have you put on the New Man yet? Or does the Old Man still cause you problems? Gary dives deep into the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 and examines God's plan for the Church, His masterpiece. We're all far from perfection, but God does have a plan. There's a resurrection trumpet coming and a new sinless body awaits. As America follows the destructive path of the ancient Roman Empire and heads towards a complete path of moral collapse and lawlessness, we need to remember that we are the building materials of God's masterpiece. Gary shows us how we can experience a renewing of our minds and make a difference for Christ.

For the first 4 centuries AD/CE, the ancient Greek novel was the most popular literary form in the Roman Empire and at the heart of these popular texts is discussion over race and identity. Could a Phoenician living within the Empire also identify as Roman? Could they be both X and Y? And can we use these novels as a lens through which to see how people in the ancient Mediterranean viewed prominent powers beyond Rome's borders, for instance the Kingdom of Axum in modern day Ethiopia. To explain this and more, with a particular focus on Heliodorus' Aethiopica, Tristan spoke to Dr Mai Musié, Public Engagement Manager at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford. Wishing you all a very happy Boxing Day from the Ancients team! If you're enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Ancient content, then subscribe to our Ancient History Thursday newsletter here.If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit.To download, go to Android or Apple store See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The frail, poor child born in a lowly manger in a backwater of the Roman Empire is also the Mighty God who has changed everything forever. This Christmas morning Pastor Michael explains the second name of Christ in Isaiah 9.

Welcome to the Shadows of the Moon's Podcast, Thank you so much for listening! Today is Friday and you know what that means..... we discuss the #Odd and #Weird News of the week As Always I would like to say a huge Thank you to my Supporters you all are the best All your Donations go back into the show to buy Materials, Books and so on to bring you the best show that I can!! and If you would like to support the show you can do it a couple of different ways, First off Sharing, Liking and telling your friends is a HUge way to help out the show! or you can head over too https://www.tipeeestream.com/shadows-... or https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/s... or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shadows all the links are in the Show notes or at Shadowsofthemoons.com Today we are talking about........................... Ufo Stories The Roswell “UFO” Case: Looking at Ways to Get Real Answers…Hopefully https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... When, Why and How did U.S. Government Agencies Take Notice of Cattle Mutilations? https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... US Navy destroyers were harassed by drone swarms https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Paranormal Stories Woman believes that she has been cursed by 'goblin' trinket https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Cryptid Stories Hairy Humanoids That Aren't Bigfoot, the Yeti, or Sumatra's Orang-Pendek https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Gigantic Extinct Millipede Fossil Found in England Was the Size of a Car https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Georgia 'Bigfoot' footage emerges online https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Cops encountered 'werewolf' near the River Thames https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Hiker is stalked for several days by 'Bigfoot' in Oregon https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Bizarre Stories Weird conspiracy claims the Internet is 'fake' https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Scientist Claims She Helped End the Cold War By Giving Russians Psychedelics https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Color-Hearing Cyborg is Now Working on an Implant to Bend Time https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Absurd conspiracy theory claims that the Roman Empire is a hoax https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Elon Musk to start testing chips in human brains next year https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Firm will pay you $280,000 to use your face on a robot https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... The Zone of Silence – The Bizarre Bermuda Triangle of Northern Mexico https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexp... That Concludes todays Show, I hope you enjoyed The Stories and Encounters, If you would like to tell your story no matter how big or small,you can do so at https://www.shadowsofthemoons.net/pod... where you can either write to me or Leave a voicemail or Head over to our Forum Boards also at https://www.shadowsofthemoons.net/forum Mondays show is Monday Musings Thats all about , Paranormal Talk ,I hope you will tune in! again Thank you so much for listening and remember find something today that makes you smile with your eyes!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/support

Welcome to the Shadows of the Moon's Podcast, Thank you so much for listening! Today is Friday and you know what that means..... we discuss the #Odd and #Weird News of the week As Always I would like to say a huge Thank you to my Supporters you all are the best All your Donations go back into the show to buy Materials, Books and so on to bring you the best show that I can!! and If you would like to support the show you can do it a couple of different ways, First off Sharing, Liking and telling your friends is a HUge way to help out the show! or you can head over too https://www.tipeeestream.com/shadows-... or https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/s... or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shadows all the links are in the Show notes or at Shadowsofthemoons.com Today we are talking about........................... Ufo Stories The Roswell “UFO” Case: Looking at Ways to Get Real Answers…Hopefully https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... When, Why and How did U.S. Government Agencies Take Notice of Cattle Mutilations? https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... US Navy destroyers were harassed by drone swarms https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Paranormal Stories Woman believes that she has been cursed by 'goblin' trinket https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Cryptid Stories Hairy Humanoids That Aren't Bigfoot, the Yeti, or Sumatra's Orang-Pendek https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Gigantic Extinct Millipede Fossil Found in England Was the Size of a Car https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Georgia 'Bigfoot' footage emerges online https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Cops encountered 'werewolf' near the River Thames https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Hiker is stalked for several days by 'Bigfoot' in Oregon https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Bizarre Stories Weird conspiracy claims the Internet is 'fake' https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Scientist Claims She Helped End the Cold War By Giving Russians Psychedelics https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Color-Hearing Cyborg is Now Working on an Implant to Bend Time https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/1... Absurd conspiracy theory claims that the Roman Empire is a hoax https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Elon Musk to start testing chips in human brains next year https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... Firm will pay you $280,000 to use your face on a robot https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com... The Zone of Silence – The Bizarre Bermuda Triangle of Northern Mexico https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexp... That Concludes todays Show, I hope you enjoyed The Stories and Encounters, If you would like to tell your story no matter how big or small,you can do so at https://www.shadowsofthemoons.net/pod... where you can either write to me or Leave a voicemail or Head over to our Forum Boards also at https://www.shadowsofthemoons.net/forum Mondays show is Monday Musings Thats all about , Paranormal Talk ,I hope you will tune in! again Thank you so much for listening and remember find something today that makes you smile with your eyes!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shadowsofthemoon1/support

The Triumvirate of Tuneage returns to share their forbidden love of music genres other than neo-dissonant-cavernous-black-ultra-tech-grind-gaze. So we may be riff-raff but we're multi-dimensional trash people. And though we all listen to an unhealthy amount of metal, we are occasionally taken by music from the lesser genres. Actually when Hans and I (Eenzy) rebooted Riff-Raff we already agreed to do this episode, because we're just totally degenerate music nerds at heart who love sharing tunes. But, much like the Roman Empire, two just wasn't enough to bring this ship down—we needed our trusty nocturnal wanderer Roldy to steel this deal. So come and explore some music where vocalists don't burn out after 5 years, a keyboard doesn't mean you're listening to some basement-dwelling dungeon synth, and people have found a way to decouple angst from pure nihilism and misanthropy. And occasionally are even happy. Poseurs. New Music Features This Week IDM Block Wisp - The Shaper (Roldy) Squarepusher - Ultravisitor (Eenzy) Terminal 11 - Counter Clockwise Chant Pattern (Hans) Ed Harrison - Imbrium (Roldy) Hip Hop Block King Geedorah - Fazers (Eenzy) Food For Animals - Shhhy (Hans) Odds and Ends (where we get real weird with it) Black Moth Super Rainbow - Born on a Day the Sun Didn't Rise (Eenzy) Karma - Get It On (Hans) Steely Dan - The Caves of Altamira (Roldy... of course)

The Big Idea: The Christmas narrative is in danger of being relegated to a sweet story that is just read once a year. Some of us have heard it so much that we're no longer moved by the magnitude of the Majesty becoming a man. We must never forget that this is holy history that should be approached with awe and astonishment. Main Points:1. As we prepare for Christmas, sometimes I wonder if we have allowed the Savior to be stolen from our celebrations.2. Let's take time to focus on the implications of this timeless story. Let's turn our hearts to the reality of a savior who was born so we could have a relationship with God.3. Have you made room in your heart and life for Jesus? He is the best Christmas gift you could ever experience.Today's Scripture Verses:Luke 2:1-7 - “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.  And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them.”Quick Links:Subscribe to The 5 Minute Discipleship NewsletterDonate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group5 Minute Discipleship on InstagramLoren Hicks on InstagramRecent Episodes:#493 - Emmanuel, God with us#492 - The definition of a neighbor#491 - The God of wonder

Did you know that “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” is secretly a song about stealing from the rich? Did you know the “Lord of Misrule” was the original holiday party animal? Did you know solidarity and justice are the real reason for the season? “Bread Santa” is a holiday special, a people's history of Christmas. Liz, of Rebel Steps, joins us to discuss the pagan origins of Christmas in Yule and Winter Solstice, the Roman Empire's hegemonic institution of Christianity, the Puritans' reactionary conservatism, Fox News' war on Christmas, and so much more. So, pour yourself some eggnog and enjoy! Notes: Check out Rebel Steps wherever you get your favorite podcasts! Follow them on Twitter and TikTok and support their work on Patreon. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store.  Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. References: Focus on the Family's reactionary dipshittery  From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus: the surprising origins of Kris Kringle  Christmas in 19th century America  Christmas Trees: A Forgotten History  The Christmas Truce  What's the real history of Black Friday? How the “War on Christmas” controversy was created  An anarchist guide to Christmas  Why do we have Christmas trees? The surprising history behind this holiday tradition. Mother Jones: Santa Gets Busted in Copenhagen The Danish Anarchists Who Inspired SantaCon Could Not Have Imagined Its Bro-Hell Future Julemandshæren 1974 video Rebel Steps' Cancel Rent Gingerbread House

A conversation with Hartmut Leppin (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main) about how one could be a Roman in Syriac, focusing on the sixth-century author John of Ephesos, otherwise known as Yuhannan from Amida. If one could be Roman in Greek (which is what we call "Byzantium"), why not also in Syriac? The discussion is based on Hartmut's study of "The Roman Empire in John of Ephesus' Church History: Being Roman, Writing Syriac," in P. Van Nuffelen, ed., Historiography and Space in Late Antiquity(Cambridge University Press 2019) 113-135.

My broken baby Jesus gave me valuable takeaways this Christmas season.May these thoughts and inspiration give you hope as you move forward into the New Year.

The Story Behind the Story about the First Christmas. Galatians 4:4 (Luke, Matthew and various other Scriptures) Most Christians believe that all we know about the story is what we read in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and a few other scattered verses. If that is what you also believe, you are missing out as the rest of the story is just as fascinating. In “The Characters of Christmas,” Pastor Gilmer will give you all the Biblical and historical details about six different people or groups of people, as well as customs of that day. They are the following: (1) Zacharias & Gabriel – Did you know that the Bible actually begins the Christmas story with 25 verses in Luke 1 that most people barely notice. That's where God begins…and so will we. (2) Caesar Augustus – the great builder and greatest leader the Roman Empire ever had. He put out one particular decree…that changed the world! (3) King Herod the Great – a close friend of the Caesar, and a great builder in his own right. But old and lacking his sanity when we meet him. He fancied himself as the true King of the Jews. Watch the presentation on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMOfoeeDZT8

Join Jamie and Maggie Clark with their guest, April Layton, as they talk about the lesser-known history of the date December 25. In this episode, she provides information on the gods and prophets who are also born on the same day as Jesus. April is a researcher for Mindsight Entertainment.   For Reunification It is a widespread tradition that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the savior Jesus Christ, and the holiday is December 25. Yet, the history around why it was decided to put it on that date was not because of the Messiah's actual birthday. In fact, it was the birthday of other gods, and even science proved that Jesus was not born in winter. April explains that the reason for this can be traced back to Constantine's rule during the Holy Roman Empire. At that time, pagan cults fighting each other had been a severe problem, and Constantine was losing taxpayers. So, to unite the empire, he took details from prominent gods and gave them to Jesus. Constantine did this to make the festivities uniform to his constituents regardless of belief, therefore lowering the incidence of internal conflicts. The actual date was traced back to the Persian god, Mithra; the cave where Jesus was born was taken from the Sumerian god, Tammuz; virgin human women impregnated by divine beings are common themes among gods Dionysus, Horus, Krishna, and Attis. Therefore, it is not a surprise that every detail of Jesus was not his own. The holiday that is well-celebrated across the world today was only a ploy for civic and political gain. Knowing the history of traditions gives a better understanding of why it is what it is now.   Glorified Paganism It is not just the story, the place, and the date of the birth of Jesus that is attributed to pagan cultures – practices count, too. For starters, April says the tradition of putting up Christmas trees is believed to be of Celtic origin as it is a nature-based religion. Likewise, the burning of the Yule log is a Nordic tradition celebrating the return of the sun during the winter solstice. Additionally, most churches in Europe were built over pagan temples to encourage followers to convert to Christianity. Yet despite these painting Christianity a negative picture for using traditions they supposedly demonized, it is also common among these beliefs the message of moving towards the light. It sets aside the dispute on what is the one true religion that would give all of humanity salvation because no matter the religion, there is one common goal. Embrace good, follow the light, and then one can live an immortal life.    About April Layton: April Layton is a researcher at Mindsight Entertainment.   Outline of the Episode: [02:04] The debate on Jesus' birthday and how it became December 25 [07:25] Significance of the cave to the nativity story [08:37] Common details between Jesus' birth, life, and death to other gods [14:15] How the transition to Christianity was enforced across the Roman Empire [16:16] Why December 25 out of all the days of the year? [21:25] Associations of Christmas traditions to other beliefs [24:42] Typical celebration of the holiday after Constantine took over [26:40] Potential of gods being extraterrestrials from other worlds or dimensions [29:37] Some element of truth present in these stories   Connect with Jamie and Maggie! Website: www.psychicevolution.net JOIN THE EVOLUTION in the Psychic Evolution FREE Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/PsychicEvolution Become an Inner Eye Member: https://psychicevolution.supercast.tech/

Please be aware the stories, theories, re-enactments and language in this podcast are of an adult nature and can be considered disturbing, frightening and in some cases even offensive.  Listener Discretion is therefore advised.  Welcome heathens welcome to the world of the weird and unexplained.  I'm your host, Nicole Delacroix and together, we will be investigating stories about the things that go bump in the night, monsters lurking under your bed or deep in the forest, that unknown creature lurking just out of sight and frighteningly imagined creatures, ghosts, supernatural beings and even some unsolved mysteries.  So, sit back, grab your favorite drink, and prepare to be transported to today's dark Enigma....  And on today's Dark enigma well, we have a special Christmas episode!  So, with that said, we will still be playing our drinking game and as you know, the drinking game is only for those of us that are at home and have nowhere else to go tonight.  The choice of libation, as always my darlings, is yours, so choose your poison accordingly… Alright, now for the game part how about every time I say Holiday that will be a single shot and every time I say Jesus, that will be a double shot.  Now that the business end is out of the way we can jump headfirst into today's dark enigma… so don that bulky Santa suit, your very best ugly sweater as we jump into the Real Story of Christmas and the History Behind Some Dark Traditions… History doesn't record when the first Christmas was celebrated, but it was probably sometime in the fourth century CE, in the Roman Empire. What's sure is that the first historic record of the holiday is a calendar dating from 354 CE, belonging to a rich Roman Christian named Philocalus. That calendar tells us that on the same date - December 25 - another holiday was celebrated, marking the birth of Sol Invictus, “the Unconquered Sun.” That was a new pagan cult, worshiping a new sun deity.  Both these holidays coincided with the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which had been celebrated from December 17 to December 24th. That was a festival celebrating the god Saturn, which – as we will see - contributed heavily to latter-day Christmas traditions. 

It's a holiday special episode! Lesley tells Madeline about the history of Christmas Carols from the Roman Empire to the early 20th century!  Enjoy with some mulled wine and feel free to do some cartwheels next time you sing carols.  This episode is free from swearing, if you feel comfortable sharing it with some of the youngers.

“I am less interested in showing that the Medieval world was modern, than in showing how Medieval, in many ways, the modern world is.” That's Roland Betancourt, my guest today and a truly fascinating scholar of history, art, theology, sex and gender, liturgy and much more. We discuss his book Byzantine Intersectionality: Sexuality, Gender, and Race in the Middle Ages, including the history of the later Roman Empire, the “slut shaming” of Empress Theodora, the importance, today as much as 1,500 year ago of the Hagia Sophia, the fascinating lives and deaths of trans monks, the significance of Mary's consent to be the Mother of Christ, the messiness and ambiguity of human life, frailty and identity. (Note that there's inevitably some pretty adult content in this episode). Dialogues will be back on Jan 10th, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, Happy Holidays to all.  Roland Betancourt  Roland Betancourt is Professor of Art History at the University of California, Irvine. In the 2016-2017 academic year, he was the Elizabeth and J. Richardson Dilworth Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. See his faculty page here. We mostly discuss his book Byzantine Intersectionality: Sexuality, Gender, and Race in the Middle Ages) (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2020)  More Betancourt Performing the Gospels in Byzantium: Sight, Sound, and Space in the Divine Liturgy (Cambridge University Press, 2021) See his edited volume Byzantium/Modernism: The Byzantine as Method in Modernity (Leiden: Brill, 2015). Also Sight, Touch, and Imagination in Byzantium (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018) "Why Sight Is Not Touch: Reconsidering the Tactility of Vision in Byzantium," Dumbarton Oaks Papers 70 (December 2016): 1-23. "Faltering Images: Failure and Error in Byzantine Lectionaries," Word & Image 32:1 (2016): 1-20. The Dialogues Team  Creator: Richard Reeves Artwork: George Vaughan Thomas Tech Support: Cameron Hauver-Reeves Music: "Remember" by Bencoolen (thanks for the permission, guys!)

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Caesar Augustus had brought the Roman Republic so much under his _____________, that finally he had transformed it into the Roman Empire.  […]

First-centuries Jews expected the arrival of a messiah. Scripture had recorded God's promise to provide them with a Savior. They believed that this messiah would be a political and military leader. He would save their culture by driving out the Roman Empire and making Israel a feared military power in the region once again. But when God orchestrated Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, he was up to something much bigger . . . and much more personal.

This book narrates the history of the Byzantine Empire, which grew and prospered despite turmoil for a thousand years. The first three centuries AD were a time of great prosperity for the Roman Empire. Roman architects, engineers and soldiers could be found all over the continent, establishing order wherever they went. Roads were well connected to the marketplaces, and cities were bustling with facilities such as arenas and public baths connected by roads. By the third century, rebels and mobs sprung up in various locations to overthrow the emperor's rule. The roads that were supposed to symbolize the prosperity of the Roman Empire were utilized by the insurgents as a tool for the empires downfall, contributing to 28 changes in the imperial power in just 80 years. Unfortunately, none of the 28 emperors were wise. Instead of bringing peace for which the people longed, each monarch sought personal gain, looking for reasons to levy taxes. Increasingly, stringent fiscal policies brought the Roman Empire's economy to its complete collapse, and society was in turmoil due to never-ending conflicts. The hopeless populace began to look for spiritual support by seeking refuge in religion.

In AD122 following the orders of the Emperor Hadrian, work began to protect the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. Hadrian's Wall was more than just a barricade. Stretching almost 80 miles from coast to coast and featuring mile castles, barracks, forts, ramparts and settlements it is testimony to the vision and skill of the Roman Empire. As the wall approaches its 1900 Anniversary in 2022, Open Country heads to Northumberland to explore our relationship with walls and their importance with an archaeologist, artist, naturalist and drystone waller. Produced by Sarah Blunt for BBC Audio in Bristol. For more information about Hadrians Wall 1900 Anniversary https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/hadrianswall1900

Study Notes David Anderson Hebrews Jesus' Rest is Better (Hebrews 4:1-11) “For the one who enters God's rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.” (Heb 4:10) We are first introduced to this concept of “rest” in Genesis 2:2, By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. Right after the golden calf judgment, Yahweh tells Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses' emphatic response, "If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here.” (Exodus 33:14-15). In Deuteronomy 5:14-15 describes what this Sabbath rest will look like on the seventh day and how it is an important time to remember God's strength, power, and deliverance from Egypt.  In Deuteronomy 5, Yahweh explains the Sabbath principle and explains that as His people celebrate the Sabbath they need to recall the redemption from slavery from Egypt by Yahweh's strength and power. Later in Deuteronomy (28:65), Moses predicts the dispersion of the tribes and explains there will be no rest among the nations and no peaceful rest for your feet. To these dispersed tribes, Jeremiah says, “You are standing at the crossroads...” choose wisely. One ancient, reliable path will bless you with rest for your soul (Jer. 6:16).  As Ed talked about last Sunday, the wilderness generation spent 40 years in the desert, exhausted, defeated and longing for spiritual, emotional, and physical rest. As we study their history it was a painful cycle of unbelief, disobedience, and hardened hearts. Almost at every turn, the Israelites choose to trust their own resources and sensibility than what God was offering them. “Rest” was their final destination in the Land that God had promised and symbolized the ultimate trust in Him as provider. This was the Land that flowed with milk and honey and where God was offering them peace from their enemies.  In Numbers 13, the Israelites get to the border of the promised rest and they send 12 spies, one from each tribe. They quickly discover that the land was all that was promised (flowing with milk and honey) but there was a huge problem. What was the problem? The 10 spies said, “There are giants in the land and large fortified cities…They are stronger than us!...We are like grasshoppers compared to them!” But Caleb silenced the people and said, “Let us go up and occupy it, for we are well able to conquer it.” Israelites fearfully disagreed with Caleb and refused to enter into God's rest.  As a result, this rebellious generation (20 years and up) were not permitted to experience the land, only Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:22-24, 29-35; There were 603,550 men of war. Of these men of war, 603,548 died in the wilderness). It should have been an 11 day journey from Sinai to Canaan, instead it was 38 more years of wandering in the wilderness. We come to the Book of Hebrews and Yahweh continues to offer Rest. He offers another generation of wilderness wanderers the same type of Rest. The message to them: Make every effort to enter Jesus' rest; Exchange your yoke for His! Just as the writer of Hebrews did in 3:7-19, he preaches from Psalm 95 and also includes the famous Genesis 2:2 verse. As we look at this passage, here are some observations: Just as the “rest” was available to the Wilderness Israelites of the 1400's and the Israelites during the Davidic reign in Psalm 95 (1000's), it is also available to this house church of Jewish Christian in the Roman Empire. The promise of entering His rest remains open to us as well (4:1, 6-11). The “rest” comes through faith and obedience. The Wilderness generation failed to enter the rest because of unbelief, disobedience, and hardened hearts. The writer of Hebrews, “doesn't want anyone to come short of it….thus we must make every effort to enter the rest” (4:1,11).  It is a “rest” that somehow involves the cessation of works. Somehow or someway the rest involved is a resting from work/labor or a certain kind of work/labor (4:9-10).   Scripture Old Testament (Numbers 13-14) Psalm 95 3 views of what “entering that Rest”  in Hebrews 3:7-4:11 may mean:   What is the “Rest”? Inheritance of Canaan Spiritual and physical rest in the Lord & His coming kingdom 1)Justification   2) Future inheritance & reigning with Christ in the Millennium.  3) Resting in the full experience of eternal life with Christ. Both here and in the future (Heb. 1-3).   1) Christ's sacrifice (2:9, etc.) 2) Christ's power over our sin (2:14-15, etc). 3) Our reign with Christ (1:8-13, 2:9-10). Who is the warning to? Heb. 3:7-19  regenerate Israel wilderness generation BC 1400s Psalm 95  regenerate Israel Davidic reign BC 1000s Heb. 3:12-14, 4:1,11 for  non-Christians AD 60's Heb. 3:12-14, 4:1,11  for Christians who are tempted to return to Judaism & their former life AD 60's What prevents the Rest? Hardened, disobedient, unbelieving heart  Hebrews 3:7-12, 15-18, 4:2-3, 6, 11; Psalm 95:7-11     What is the rest we must not come short of? What is the rest that we need to make every effort to enter?  Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that “rest” isn't: the 8000 square miles of Canaan, favorable circumstances or the absence of enemies, it isn't the Mosaic Law or the blood of bulls and goats.   The great revelation for every Jewish Christian is that rest is found in a Person now! Hebrews is not calling us to the Law or sacrificial system. Hebrews isn't calling us angels or to Moses. Hebrews is calling us to the Superior and Sufficient Lord Jesus Christ!   Rest is the full experience of eternal life with Him! It involves reigning with Christ as Hebrews 1:8-13 describes and the full restoration of our glory and inheritance (Heb. 2-3) but it also involves our experience with Him today and the ceasing from fruitless and faithless fear and effort.    Jesus describes the “rest” as an exchange of yokes: In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry. Our missionary Becca McDougall wrote recently: Apparently when a farmer (in Tanzania) wants to train a younger animal, he hitches the plow to one that is older and more experienced.  If the novice simply follows the lead of the experienced animal, he also becomes good at plowing.  The older ox does the hard part of the job…he carries the heavy end of the yoke, the responsibility of deciding where to go, the tension of the younger ox pulling this way and that before he gets used to the pace and direction.  The more quickly the trainee adjusts to the leader, the easier it is for him.  No longer does he have to guide himself, nor carry the load by himself.  He simply has to keep in step, and this brings him rest, even if at the end of the day he is weary.  In time, they become a matched team. Why is Jesus' yoke easier? Why will we find rest? Our weary, burdensome, and exhausting yoke we have been attempting to carry around is too much. We simply do not have God's power, strength and omniscient wisdom to try to carry that yoke anymore. Jesus is gentle and humble and you will find rest for your souls. His yoke is easy to bear and not hard to carry. Why is His yoke easier? Why will we find rest? Because we are yoked with Him!  “Resting” isn't ceasing all of our work and labor, but depending completely on God in our labor. Rest demonstrates what God and His resources can accomplish in the life of a Believer. We experience rest, peace, & security when we cease to look to anything else for strength and life. 

When the Roman Empire was conquering and spreading throughout the known world, they sought to spread what they called the “Pax Romana” or the Peace of Rome. Everywhere they were victorious they brought their own culture and ideas of peace to the region with the aim that Rome would extend throughout the whole world. I…… Continue reading Advent: Matthew 2:1-12 – The Visit of the Wise Men

We love that you've joined us this morning for our live Sunday experience with pastor, Kenton Beshore. CONNECTCARD: https://ranchchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/160169 GIVING: https://ranchchurch.churchcenter.com/giving OUTREACH: https://ranch.church/outreach CHRISTMAS EVE: https://ranch.church/christmas-eve Message notes by Kenton Beshore, December 12 2021 'THE WONDERFUL LIFE OF LOVE' CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS THE FIRST ADVENT…”THE ARRIVAL” 456 PROMISES MADE AND FULFILLED …the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). Isaiah 7:14 LIVING WHILE WAITING Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'…A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'..." Matthew 22:37,39 THE FIRST ARRIVAL The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:11 THE SECOND ADVENT 316 PROMISES MADE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me…I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-3 LIVING WHILE WAITING Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations… Matthew 28:19 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 THE SECOND ARRIVAL…HOPE …"Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!"… Revelation 21:3-5 LESSONS FROM THE FIRST ADVENT At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 MESSY TIME, PEOPLE AND PLACE GOD SHOWS UP IN THE MESS FEAR NOT But the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said… Luke 2:10 …perfect love expels all fear... 1 John 4:18 GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY …"I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Luke 2:10 A SAVIOR…A BABY The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Luke 2:11-12 SHOW AND TELL They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. Luke 2:16-17 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Did you know Santa Claus was originally a butt-kickin' Northman who served as a mercenary in the Roman Empire 2000 years ago? In this episode, we analyze "Roads," a novella by Seabury Quinn published in Weird Tales Magazine. Here's a link to the January 1938 issue of Weird Tales: https://archive.org/details/Weird_Tales_v31n01_1938-01_sas/mode/2up email us at: edgarsmailbag@gmail.com Please visit our store at: https://www.cafepress.com/erbpodcast

Well, you have your Bible, please open up with me to Isaiah. We're going to be in Isaiah 9:1-7. Over the last couple of weeks or so leading up to Christmas, Pastor Jacob has been working through the story of Christ's birth in the Gospel of Matthew, one of the most popular text. I think we would all agree in the Bible and yet the events that we read about in that passage and Mark or in Matthew Chapters one and two and in the corresponding infancy narrative in Luke's Gospel are stories and events that didn't arise out of the blue. In other words, the event of Christ's birth were events that were planned before the foundation of the world and events that were anticipated in the Old Testament. Today we're going to look at just one of those prophecies that looks forward to Christ's birth. It looks forward to Christ's incarnation some seven hundred years before it actually took place. So hear now the word of the Lord from Isaiah 9:1-7, I will be reading out of the English Standard Version. "But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:1-7, ESV This is the word of the Lord. In the year sixty-nine A.D., about two thousand years ago or so, a year that's been called the so-called "Long Year" by historians. The Roman Empire went through something of a tense period of conflict and civil war. It actually all started the previous year back in sixty-eight A.D., when one of the most deranged emperors to ever govern Rome died. His name was Nero, and in 68 A.D., Nero killed himself. His successor, a guy named Galba, Emperor Galba, became emperor. Now, when word of this event, this transition of power, reached the eastern boundaries of the empire, where two generals named Vespasian and his son, Titus, were busy leveling Jerusalem and the surrounding area because of a large scale Jewish revolt that was underway. The younger of the two generals, whose name was General Titus dropped everything to go back to Rome and congratulate the new emperor who had ascended to the throne. You see, if you were among the first to greet the new guy and to make sure that he likes you, well, in the end, that would work out on your behalf. So that was Titus' plan, get the new guy to like me. So he began his long journey back to Rome to greet Emperor Galba. On his long, way back, a few things happened. First, long before Titus even got to Rome, Emperor Galba was assassinated a few months after he took control in January of 69 A.D. A new emperor named Otho took power of the empire in Rome. Right when that happened, something else happened. Another general and another area of the empire whose name was Vitellius decided that now was his opportunity to become emperor, and so he declared himself emperor and decided to march upon Rome and against Otho and his supporters. A few months later, Vitellius successfully overthrew the second guy named Otho as emperor. Given all of this upheaval that was going on in Rome, what was Titus, the first general who was going back to Rome to congratulate the first guy who had now died, what was he going to do? In the midst of all of this upheaval, he was kind of stuck in the middle and wondering, who should he get behind? You see, if you tied yourself to the wrong guy. That wasn't good because their downfall would eventually be your downfall. Well, in the end, here's what Titus did. He decided that with all of this turmoil unfolding, he'd go back and make sure that his dad Vespasian became emperor, and a few months later, Vespasian and marched on Rome, and he became emperor, too. Now, if you found that whole historical synopsis to be somewhat dizzying and confusing, that's because it is. Un the history of the Roman Empire sixty-nine A.D. was a dark and tumultuous year of political upheaval. It saw, if you were counting four different emperors in the course of a year, it was a year of backbiting and civil war. If, like General Titus, you were caught in the middle of all that, well, your next move would seal your own fate as well. You see, your future was bound up in who you supported. Support the wrong guy and you're not going to have much of a future. When you think about it, even if you support the winner and this is the kind of environment you call home, how long do you think you really have until somebody comes for you next? Now, on the one hand, the events of that story of sixty-nine A.D. and the tumultuous time of the Roman Empire are far removed in a variety of ways from our own context. On the other hand, you and I are always faced, we're always faced with decisions in life like Titus about who or what to support who or what to hitch our future ambitions to. Whether we're talking about the world of politics or our own future ambitions, or even something that's inconsequential as the world of sports. We're always trying to navigate this world and hopefully come out on top by supporting the right causes and the right people. Be that as it may, the Bible tells us that whatever we decide to get behind in this world, whatever alliances we gravitate towards and however shrewd we are in navigating this environment of competing forces, no amount of skillful maneuvering in the present can give us the kind of triumph that we look for or the satisfaction that we long for. You see, the Bible tells us that there are many good things and right things to get behind in this world, spiritually speaking, we live in a world of sin and unbelief and darkness. This world could never and will never yield a solution to its own problems. Our only hope then, while we live in this world, is to get behind somebody who is not of this world, but who nevertheless came into this world some two thousand years ago to triumph over the present darkness. So our big idea this morning is this walk in the light of the Son. Now we'll talk about the historical setting of our passage, Isaiah chapter nine, in just a moment. For now, keep in mind that when Isaiah writes what he writes here in Isaiah nine, some seven hundred years before Christ's birth and incarnation, Isaiah is speaking into a bleak and dark situation that's unfolding in his own day. He sees God's people descending into a time of darkness and gloom. Yet, in the context of that, he also looks forward to a future day where he sees a dramatic reversal on the horizon, a reversal that subverts expectations. So as we look at our passage, we'll see first how Isaiah describes this reversal as glory that overcomes gloom and then how he explains this reversal as deliverance that overcomes bondage. First, a description of how glory overcomes gloom and versus one through three and then an explanation deliverance, overcoming bondage and verses four through seven. Most commentators break this passage down and those two parts, and so I'm following accordingly. 1. How Glory Overcomes Gloom 2. Deliverance that Overcomes Bondage How Glory Overcomes Gloom So let's begin with seeing how glory overcomes gloom. Now throughout this passage, again, keep in mind that Isaiah is looking forward. He's looking forward to a future day. He's standing in about the seven hundred B.C., and yet he's looking to a future day on the horizon. To appreciate the descriptions that Isaiah provides of that coming day, we have to first appreciate when he says what he says. In other words, we have to appreciate something about the historical context in which Isaiah is prophesying. As we'll see, it's a context of doom and gloom and darkness. Understand that in the lead up to what Isaiah tells us here in Isaiah chapter nine, the prophet has been speaking from Isaiah seven through Isaiah eight, and now into Isaiah, nine, into a particular situation that was transpiring in Judah during the reign of King Ahaz around seven hundred thirty-four B.C. You see at that time, King Ahaz and the kingdom he led, known as Judah, were faced with a kind of international turmoil of their own. You see immediately to their north and alliance was forming. Actually, an alliance had already formed between two nations between Syria and the 10 northern tribes of Israel. This new alliance that had formed just north of Ahaz decided to put Ahaz and the Kingdom of Judah in their crosshairs. In fact, they were intent with overthrowing Ahaz and the Kingdom of Judah. As Isaiah is writing what he's writing, those armies from the North are already on the move. They're already pressing down southward, taking over city after city in Judah intent on overthrowing Ahaz and his kingdom. So Ahaz is faced with the potential loss of the kingdom he governs. He has a choice to make. Would he get behind the Israel-Syria alliance so that they would stop attacking him? Perhaps he could surrender to them while he still has time left and promised to pay them tribute so that they wouldn't attack him any longer? Kind of like paying the mafia for protection. Or on the other hand, maybe Ahaz would rather than align himself with that alliance to turn to the real superpower of the day a nation known as Assyria and get behind them so that they would offer him protection from this alliance forming in the north. In short, Ahaz is faced with a decision about what alliances to form, about who to get behind so that perhaps his kingdom that was under attack would be spared. Before he makes that decision, the prophet Isaiah comes to him in Isaiah chapter seven, and he pleads with Ahaz not to get behind anyone. Rather, he tells him to forsake all of these worldly alliances and the geopolitical wheeling and dealing that's going on in the day and instead look to the Lord. To trust that the Lord is going to deliver Judah from international threats near and far, just like he's always done throughout their history. Does Ahaz listen to Isaiah's advice? Well, no, he doesn't. Instead, and we would find this out if we were looking at Isaiah seven, he proceeds with forming an alliance with Assyria and though it saves Judah in the short term, ultimately, it's the decision that would lead to the devastation of his kingdom. First, after he makes that decision, Syria and the 10 northern tribes of Israel would be devastated by Assyria, the superpower of the day. That might have been good news for someone like Ahaz, who was only living in the short term by what he could see. After Ahaz is gone later, in history after he dies, Judah would suffer at the hands of that superpower too. Throughout Isaiah chapter seven and eight in the lead up to Isaiah nine, the prophet Isaiah looks forward to the future, and he outlines the consequences for rejecting the way of faith that he held out for Ahaz. Isaiah announces that because many in Judah, including the king himself, have rejected the way of faith and have chosen instead to live in the short term by what their eyes could see, the nation as a whole would be plunged into deep darkness and gloom. Even in that darkness, here's the good news. God would preserve a faithful remnant, a portion of his people who still trusted in him. Who were marked not merely by their national identity as Israelite or Judahites, but by their spiritual identity as a people who hunger and thirst for the Lord and for his promises. For people like that, here's where we come to the burst of light in Isaiah 9:1, the day of salvation would eventually dawn. Look again at verse one where we read, "But there will be no gloom for her, who was in anguish." There will be gloom after Ahaz, gloom will set in for the nation of Judah. Isaiah is looking beyond that at this point, and he says, "But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations." Back in the early 1990s, and some of you might remember this, one of the most dangerous cities in the world was Medellin, Colombia. In fact, at the time, I think it was labeled the most dangerous city in the world. During the heights of Pablo Escobar's drug cartel, which was based in Medellin. The city had something like a murder rate of nearly 400 murders per 100,000 people. It was by far the highest in the world. To give you a comparison, the highest murder rate in the United States today is St. Louis, which is about 64 murders per 100,000 people. So that was, you know, doing the math something like eight fold what St. Louis is today. Moreover, the poverty rate in Medellin in the early 1990s was something like 50 percent. The infrastructure of the city left much to be desired. After Escobar's death that the city underwent this incredible transformation, the homicide rate plummeted, the poverty rate fell too. Over the course of the next few decades, Medellin has been transformed into what one publication calls it one of the smartest cities in the world. Now, of course, all cities have issues Medellin included, but the transformation that city has undergone in three decades is truly remarkable. Well, when our text opens in verse one, we hear Isaiah announce an even more remarkable transformation than that. He tells us that the lands to the north of Judah and Jerusalem, the lands of Zebulon and Neftali would be transformed. Now this was land that was originally settled by God's people all the way back in the book of Joshua. The people of God who lived there, the Israelites who lived there under King David and under King Solomon, they flourished in that place. After Solomon died, well, that land quickly became a land of idolatry. False worship sprang up on the mountains of Zebulon and Neftali and the surrounding regions, and the land became a setting for international conflict. It was eventually land that was devastated by Assyria, in Ahaz's own day. We learn in the Bible that after a Syria devastated the land of Zebulon and Neftali, the carried away the Jewish population that lived there and then repopulated it again with pagan gentiles who didn't worship the Lord instead. In God's providence Assyria turned this land into a place of deep darkness and gloom in more ways than one. Yet, Isaiah looks forward to a day when that depleted and dark territory would be the first to be transformed. Of course, the kind of transformation that Isaiah envisions and Isaiah 9:1 has nothing to do with the implementation of any social or technological program. It has nothing to do with any kind of earthly glory whatsoever. Rather, Isaiah sees transformation of this territory because God himself is on the move. Understand that whenever we hear about light breaking into darkness in the Bible, it's nearly always associated with the presence of the glory of God. For example, the psalmist proclaims in Psalm 104:1-2, "You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light, as with a garment." The advent of light into the world, then, is nothing more and nothing less than the emergence of God's presence into the world, to dwell with his people. And to deal with the dominance of spiritual darkness that had overtaken not only the land but also the world. As Isaiah looks forward to this day, the advent of God's glorious presence, well, he tells us in verse three that this really has nothing to do at all with a geographical plot of land. Rather, it has everything to do with what this will mean for God's people. Look at verse three, where the prophet Isaiah proclaims quote, "You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you, as with joy at the harvest as they are glad when they divide the spoil." Again, Isaiah is peering forward to a future day just like he was in versus one through two. As an aside, what's interesting is that throughout these verses, these first three verses in Isaiah, he sees these events of the future as so certain that he actually speaks about them in the past tense. He did that when he spoke of God's presence back in the land, and now he does that again when he talks about the effects that this has on God's people. So what is the effect that God's presence has on God's people? Well, first he talks about the multiplication of God's people. Remember, in Isaiah's own day as he's writing this prophecy, those who were actually looking to God by faith were few. It was maybe a small remnant among the people of Judah and Israel who actually believed in the Lord and love the Lord. In the future, Isaiah tells us when light breaks through the darkness, he sees a dramatic increase in numbers. Not only Jews, but also pagans from the nations would soak in the light of God's presence. Remember, because of Assyria, those northern regions became a mixture of gentiles and Jews, which is why Isaiah calls them here Galilee of the Nations. When light arrives, when God's presence breaks into human history, he paints this picture where even a remnant of the Gentiles will be transformed from a people of unbelief to a people of faith. God's people, then we learn when God's presence arrives would swell numerically. They would spread out geographically, and we only need to read through the book of Acts to see how that takes shape and in their growth. We also learn that their joy would increase, too. If you're looking at the imagery of verse three Isaiah likens the joy of God's people when God's presence arrives to that of a farmer after a bountiful harvest. Much of you farmers are joyful right now, that's the kind of joy that's envisioned here. Then he pictures that likewise as joy of a victorious army dividing up plunder after a battle that they won. But that leads to the question why? Why are they so joyful? Why are they filled with such joy? Well, very simply, the joy of God's people is conditioned by nothing other than the fact that with the advent of this light, they now dwell secure in the presence of God. When I was a kid, my parents were kind enough. Year in and year out to take my sister and I on a number of great vacations. Often one of the places we would go to was the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World. Now, as a kid who was spoiled and got to go to Walt Disney World fairly often, you would think that I would appreciate the thoughtfulness of my parents and the sacrifice that it was to take me there year in and year out and that as a kid, I would have simply just appreciated being at Walt Disney World, but that that would have been enough for me. But if that's what you're assuming, then you've never vacationed with kids. You see, without fail, every time we went on one of these extravagant vacations as a kid, even to Disney, it was never enough just to be on vacation. I always wanted something more. I remember one year in particular as a kid, that there was this toy Davy Crockett rifle that I saw in one of the gift shops, the gift shop that Disney strategically locates just to drive every parent crazy. I had to have it. For days in the so-called Happiest Place on Earth, all I thought about was this toy rifle asking my parents for every five minutes and unable to find any semblance of joy in the so-called Happiest Place on Earth until I held this overpriced faux wooden rifle in my hands. Talk about needing to shift my priorities. If we're all honest with ourselves, I think this also captures how we too often live in God's world, too. You see, when we become Christians, I think many of us can attest to the fact that God was enough. To be in his presence, to be in his church and to study his word might have felt like drinking water from a fire hose. It was a lot, but it was also a satisfying place to be. At some point we settle in and we often begin to obsess over comparatively insignificant things. Remember, in verse three of our passage, God's people are rejoicing with exceedingly exceeding joy simply because they're in God's presence. Their joy isn't conditioned by anything else other than God is in their midst. Friends, that's a game changer for God's people. That's everything in dictating our joy in the Christian life, too. But is that enough for you? Does that reality by itself produce joy in your life, or is your joy conditioned by a host of far more insignificant factors? If you profess Christ, let me ask you this, do people know you by your joy? You see, one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and we're called to be known as God's people for our joy. So do people know you as someone who professes steadfast joy in Christ? Or are you on the flip side, known more is a critical curmudgeon, as a bitter killjoy, always upset about something and always with an axe to grind. Now, of course, that's not to say we need to fake it when we walk through real suffering in life and when the world feels like a two ton elephant on our back. But even in suffering, the Bible tells us that there is a profound, not superficial, but substantive joy in knowing God and being in his presence. Joy in trusting that our identity as Sons of God is rooted and secured through the work of Christ. Friends, it's true that we live in an angry and scared and delusional world, but we're a people who don't belong to this world. We don't think like this world. We don't relate with each other in the back biting and exhausting way that citizens of this world relate with each other. Our joy is not and cannot be conditioned by anything in this world because if it is, it's understandable why we would be a miserable kind of people. We have what the world does not. So let me exhort you with this don't so obsess over the scraps of life that you fail to appreciate the feast that's laid before us in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Find your joy, real joy, substantive joy in Jesus Christ. So Isaiah describes this future day when God's glorious presence would powerfully break into the world and his people would flourish in quantity and quality as a result. When we turn to verses four through seven, Isaiah puts meat on the bones, as it were, by describing for us more about the character of God's presence in the world and more reason that we have to be a joyful people as we pilgrim in this world. Deliverance that Overcomes Bondage So this leads to the second point deliverance that overcomes bondage. Now, when we turn to verses four through seven, if you're looking at your Bible, you may notice that in verses four or five and six, Isaiah begins at least in the English translation. With this word for the idea here is that in each of these verses, Isaiah is explaining both the nature of God's advent and the reasons we have to be a people of joy. In doing this, he gives us three what we call vignettes, three pictures to explain God's advent as our deliverance out of bondage, the bondage of darkness. So let's take a look at these three vignettes. First look at verse four, where Isaiah tells us that through the advent of God's glorious presence, God's people are delivered from bondage. They're pictured here as a people who were once pressed down with a wooden bar on their necks. That's this idea of a yoke with a rod in the hands of a taskmaster used against them. This symbolism pictures God's people living under an oppressive burden, a burden that that clearly goes beyond merely physical things. When the light arrives, what happens? Well, this burden is dramatically broken. Notice that the relief they experience is also likened in our passage to the relief that was brought about by Gideon in the book of Judges. That's what this reference at the final line of verse for when we hear about Midian, that's what that calls to mind. If you don't know the story in the book of judges. When God's people, particularly in the north of Israel, the land of Zebulon and Naftali were oppressed by the Midianites, God raised up Gideon to deliver them. If you were to look at the book of Judges and read about that deliverance, you would find that Gideon's triumph over the Midianites was, by all accounts, unexpected. It subverted expectations because the Lord called Gideon to go up against Midian with only 300 men. Yet, through that unexpected band of men led by Gideon, God saved his people. In the same way, I say, tells us that the deliverance that God's advent brings will come about in an equally, actually an even more unexpected way. A way that subverts expectations. We'll have to wait until verse six to hear more about that. In verse five Isaiah tells us that through the advent of God's presence, it's as if a war has also been won. The imagery is that of a military equipment being burned by fire. What's important in this imagery is that at no point in Isaiah's forward looking future picture that he gives; do we hear anything about God's people actually fighting a battle or winning a battle. In fact, the only picture we have is that of God's people enjoying the end of a battle that's already been won. As Alec Motera puts it, "They have entered the battlefield only after the fighting is done." They win a victory without actually fighting a war on their own. Now these two vignettes the one in verse four and the one in verse five are both helpful for us in explaining God's advent. They explain the character of God's presence and what it means, what he breaks into human history. They explain the reasons that we have to be a people of joy. When we come to verses six and seven, the final two verses in our passage, we also come to the vignette, the picture that holds everything else together, this is the one in verses six through seven that explains the victory. This is the one that explains the nature of the burdens lifted, and this is the one that puts flesh and blood to the coming of God's presence into the world. Unexpectedly, at least for those hearing and reading this and Isaiah's own day, the climax of deliverance is a child. Talk about deliverance through unexpected means. Yet in this child, we find that God himself has come. Notice in verse six that there are four names that are ascribed to this child. This is a famous passage; it was read for us earlier. Most of us probably all know what these titles are, we read Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Now, each of these four names, when you really get down to it, would simply be inappropriate to give to any ordinary child, even a child who's born into royalty because each one of these titles are packed with notions of divinity. Let's just look at two of these. First, the title wonderful counselor may seem tame on the surface of things. It may seem as if this is simply somebody who doles out pious and positive advice, and that's about it. Kind of like a motivational speaker of sorts. That's not at all with this title suggests. In fact, one commentator named Paul House opts for a translation "wonderful planner", because this title points to one who plans supernatural things and then carries them out. It has nothing to do with somebody who just sits on high and doles out positive advice that you can take or leave. In short, the language here suggests that this child is vested with the knowledge to plan redemption and then the authority to carry it out. The next title, Mighty God, suggests even more clearly that than the first the divinity of this child. This is a child who embodies the power of God in his person. Who defeats the enemies of God, and then, like God himself, is the rightful object of worship for the people of God. Understand, then, that the descriptions and the titles that are given to this son point to a ruler that the world could never produce on its own. This is one who represents perfectly God's people before God and who in turn perfectly rules over God's people as God's true king. It's no surprise, then, that Isaiah nine, this passage that we've been reading and studying and preaching on is cited in Matthew chapter four at the outset of Jesus's public ministry in Galilee of the Gentiles and applied to Jesus. It's no surprise that Jesus, in his incarnation, is described in John one as light that had broken into the world. John 1:09 tells us of Jesus, the true light which gives light to everyone, has come. The future hope that Isaiah declares then for the small and faithful remnant in his own day, living in darkness, living in gloom has nothing to do with political deliverance from an international enemy. It has nothing to do with anything earthly whatsoever. It has nothing to do with getting behind the right earthly power or the right earthly king or the right earthly kingdom. Rather, the ultimate hope that Isaiah holds out to them and us is Jesus Christ. The one who has dealt with our greatest enemies of sin and death and the devil and the only one through whom, to paraphrase the Apostle Paul in Colossians one, transfers us his people from the domain of darkness to his own glorious kingdom of light. Application Friends, the gospel tells us that the things this world values, things that may have a veneer of wisdom and power, of things that we might be really tempted in our own lives to invest all of our capital into are ultimately things that are powerless to do what we really need from them. So often the world pulls us into thinking that our ultimate hope depends on what we get behind in this world. You see these metaphors of light and darkness, metaphors that we find all over the scriptures, are also commonplace elsewhere in life. Typically, when the world wants to baptize something as good, even if it's not good, it's associated with light. Any time the world wants to identify something as evil, it cloaks it in the metaphor of darkness. For example, the Philadelphia Eagles are a team of light, and the Dallas Cowboys are a team of deep, deep darkness. That's true. Yet the Bible tells us that the true light, the true light that has come into this world has nothing to do with this world. The true light is not found in what looks powerful in this world. Rather, it's found in what the world considers lowly and despised. It found in the one who is born to a teenage girl from a backwater town in Galilee of the nations, on the fringes of the most powerful empire in the first century A.D. By all accounts, the light that dawns in the first century A.D. in Jesus Christ subverts expectations in a plethora of ways. Yet in this child lies the power of God. Friends like General Titus and Ahaz before him, we're often driven by angst about being on the winning team. After all, nobody wants to be on the "wrong side of history". The Bible pleads with us to vest our hope not in anything that this world values, but in this child, Jesus Chris. The one who stands at the center of human history and the one who stands at the end of human history. So if you're not a Christian this morning, let me ask you this. What alliances in this world are you banking on right now? How's that working out for you? You see, the Bible pleads with us, as do I, to ally yourself above everything else with God's king, Jesus Christ through faith alone. That is our only hope in this ruthless and dark, dark world. At the same time, this passage calls all of us, whether you're a Christian or not, to check our allegiances and to align ourselves or realign ourselves with the true light and the true king. This is what I want to leave us with. That is just as we do not seek salvation from anything that this world offers, so too do not despair, the apparent dominance of darkness in this world. You see, there's much in this world that could distress us if we let it. I don't think I need to say that, but I'll say it when we look out into our neighborhoods and into our worlds, we see that the darkness of sin and unbelief hangs over everything. Then we turn inward and then we examine our own hearts and we see our own sin. When we do that, how many of us have cried out with the Apostle Paul, "wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?" While there will always, always be much to pray for, and there's always much that could drive us to despair, understand the light of the glory of God's presence has already broken into this world. The church has already spread abroad all across the world and continues to do so to this very day, even in places that we would identify as places of deep darkness and persecution for the church. The Spirit, we know is also actively at work in the church, actively at work, even in our own local church, in our ministries, at work in our members. All of us are learning day by day what it means to walk in the light of the glory of God. The Bible tells us that the light has already dawned and far from disappearing or fading into the night sky, the Bible looks forward to the day when Jesus Christ will come again in a second advent and the light of the glory of God will be so bright that sun and moon will no longer have a purpose in the new heavens and the new Earth. Revelation 21 has something to say about that. Again, there's much we could despair over in this world, but brothers and sisters, the first advent that we celebrate has already come. The second, I promise you, is on its way. In the meantime, the Lord, our God, through his Spirit, is in our midst. What alliance could be any more consequential than that one? Pray with me. Father, we thank you for what Isaiah looked forward to, that we look back upon. That is the advent and appearing of your glory and your Son. Lord, we thank you for Jesus Christ. We thank you that Jesus Christ was and did everything that Isaiah looked forward to in his own day. Lord, I pray that as we walk, as sojourners and exiles in this often dark world that you would help us remember who we are and whose we are. That you would help us correct any battle allegiances that we have with this world. That you would instead realign us day by day with what is true and what is right and what is good. What we ask this in Christ name. Amen.

Matthew 14.17 NLT “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” the disciples answered. Jesus had just ordered his disciples to feed the vast crowd. They were understandably overwhelmed by the challenge. How on earth were they going to do it? They pointed out the absurdity of the situation by informing Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish. It was a complete joke! Anyone could see that they couldn't possibly feed the thousands of hungry people with such meagre resources. The problem with the disciples was they hadn't counted on Jesus. They looked at the little packed lunch that they had available to them and had concluded that the situation was completely hopeless. We all know the end of the story. Jesus blessed the loaves and fishes and there was not only enough food to feed the crowd, but plenty left over. What the disciples had to learn was that however little their resources they needed to put them into Jesus' hands for him to bless. I am quite sure that, in later life, they often reflected on that amazing day. The disciples faced massive challenges as the mission of the church opened up in the coming years. Their tiny resources seemed trivial in the face of the might of the Roman Empire and the violent opposition that they were going to confront. But as they placed their lives in God's hands and sought his blessing, amazing miracles were going to take place, well beyond anything that was humanly possible. When you look at your community I wouldn't be surprised if you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the challenge. You have been commissioned to make disciples and to baptise the people amongst whom you live. But if you are serious about Jesus' commission and are taking the Good News out to people you will often face rejection and ridicule. Your church's resources might seem totally inadequate. So remember that your mission belongs to Jesus and not to you, and that he is able to take whatever you place in his hands, however small, and bring about a miracle. QUESTION: What are you going to do when you next feel overwhelmed by the challenges that your church is facing? PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, I commit what I am and have into your hands and ask you to do a miracle with them. Amen

On the 29th May, 1453, the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. It was the final end of Byzantium. It was also the final end of the Crusades. Indeed, many historians regard it as the end of the Middle Ages. I regret to say that this episode is also the end of this podcast. But I am delighted to say that I have a new podcast called "The Fall of the Roman Empire"! And I would be thrilled if you would like to tune into that. See you there!

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:13-14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 Just after the angel's birth announcement to shepherds in a Bethlehem field at night, “suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace. . . .'” The song “Ere Zij God/Glory to God” celebrates this stunning announcement. For many churches with a Dutch-heritage background, this hymn has become a favorite to sing on Christmas Day. The angels of heaven burst into spontaneous praise, giving “glory to God” and announcing peace on earth. During the time of Jesus' birth, the Roman Empire offered the pax Romana (“Peace of Rome”). They offered peace to all the citizens within its borders. But that was not the kind of peace the angels sang about on that glorious night. They were sing­ing of the true and lasting peace that comes because of the birth of Jesus, the Savior. The peace that this baby came to offer was not dependent on any government but is the true peace of God for all who come to believe in him. Later in Jesus' life, as he prepared to lay down his life for us all, he said to his followers, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27). With the peace of God in our minds and hearts, we know that Jesus restores our relationship with the Father. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Together with the angels, we sing your praise, O God. Amen.

This episode we take a trip into the great Roman Empire to learn a little about one of the worst emperors of that time. Nero was a brutal, greedy dictator that might have been responsible for the great Roman fire that destroyed a good part of the empire. Tune in and enjoy the show.    Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/user?u=57302900&fan_landing=true Radio Link- https://www.radioking.com/play/graveyard-grumbler-radio

This episode is by the request of Nancy from Carson City Nevada, asking me to explain why "I am not a Christian" even though I use the text. Listen in as I explain how I've taken the advice of a previous Christian guest on the show to, "Throw out the bathwater, just not the Baby." As well as my research into why and how the message of Christ was distorted when the Roman Empire took it over in 381 AD.

It's our special anniversary episode! We decided it was high time we figured out if we were doing this whole friendship thing right, so we checked in with the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero. Rachel refuses to relitigate the major theme of The Odyssey. Jackie gets TWO more cats, seriously! Theo reveals what he values above all else. Topics include: limericks yet again, two wolves, the fall of the Roman Empire, Caesar himself, Facebook vs. Meta, chickpeas, gorgeous beans, senex amators, chickpea money, Dr. Decenex, the freaking human centipede, street smarts, shameful sexual rendezvous, Golden Corral nepotism, elephants, Lord of the Rings (as usual), shufflating, Beethoven's Third Symphony, the transitive property, Over the Garden Wall, Jacques Tati, the First Triumvirate, the first appearance of Theo's Jimmy Stewart impression, our rival Obama, and the final fun-tier. Content warning: cannibalism, cancer, death

Highlights - Mere Christianity: The Gift of TomorrowWhat happens when we die? Only a fool ignores this question. “Think of yourself just as a seed patiently waiting in the earth; waiting to come up a flower in the Gardener's good time, up into the real world, the real waking. I suppose our whole present life, looked back on from there, will seem only a drowsy half-waking. We are here in the land of dreams. But…cock-crow is coming.” Our present world is a shadow-land compared to the next…it's a faint echo…a pale, insipid, transitory life that only hints at the glory to come. “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who were set on the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It's since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.” Practical effects of hope: More joy…more motivation for service…more endurance in hardship…more courage…and more incentive to live in a way that pleases God. But there's a problem in all this. How can the expectation of heaven become vivid enough for us, so that we look forward to it? “Most of us find it very difficult to want “heaven” at all.” We love this life. We love this world. We love food, sex, nature, sports, pets, vacations, work, hobbies, etc. We are taught that heaven doesn't have many of the things we've grown to love in this world. Our concept of heaven is less than robust, to say the least. Our understanding of heaven needs rehabilitated. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want…acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. “Heaven” or more properly, the Age to Come will not be less than we now have but more! All that is golden in this life…All that is satisfying, valuable, beautiful, exhilarating, pleasurable, wonderful will not just be included in the Age to Come but it will be exceedingly surpassed! This world with all its pleasures, all its intensity, all its beauty, all its physical wonders…is merely a “shadowland” as Lewis called it. Quote: Never mistake them for something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death. End Quote The unicorn summed up what everyone was feeling. Quote: I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this. “LIve for the line.” (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle and Heaven) The Weight of Glory, Essay: “Transposition” (Lewis) The Narnia Chronicles (Vol. 7) The Last Battle 

Mussolini attempts to recreate the Roman Empire, killing thousands of his own soldiers in the mountains. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys Sources: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2017/07/20/the-greco-italian-war-one-of-benito-mussolinis-biggest-failures/ https://www.historynet.com/greek-tragedy-invading-greece-wwii.htm Cervi, Mario (1971). The Hollow Legions. Mussolini's Blunder in Greece, 1940–1941

Photo:  The angel of death striking a door during the plague of Rome @Batchelorshow #Londinium90AD: Gaius and Germanicus observe that the 21st Century Covid-19 tragedy begins to resemble the plague years in the Roman Empire.  Michael Vlahos. #FriendsofHistoryDebatingSociety http://news.arta-persada.com/host-http-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Plague ..  .  .. Permissions: This file comes from Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom. Refer to Wellcome blog post (archive). Library reference: ICV No 10849 Photo number: L0004061 Full Bibliographic Record: http://catalogue.wellcomelibrary.org/record=b1169919 This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. | You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work; to remix – to adapt the workUnder the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

What do the founder of the Roman Empire & our very own Boba Fett have in common? A lot more than you think!

I John 5 - Revelation 1 We are covering I John 5, II John, III John, Jude and Revelation 1 in The Message. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Jesus, thank you for your care for us that comes through in comforting letters of encouragement, instruction, warnings and pastoral inspiration. May we rise to the calling, the blessing, the deeds, and 'the rest' that you have planned for us. Amen. I John 5 - The issue in this chapter is that you know for certain.  The word "know" doesn't surface in today's translation but it is a chapter of confidence from what you know about our God and Savior, our relationships, our destiny, future and eternity.  The core is that we know we have eternal life. We know that our prayers are heard by God. We know that God has us for we are His children and chosen ones; we are His own.  And we can believe our God who never lies. And in typical fashion with the rest of John's writing we need to love others and keep God's commands. Part of loving others, btw! is to exhort them to get away from/out of/and refrain from sin.  E.g. we are each others' business, and helping fellow believers along in this way is part of our Christian experience. 2 John - is written to a beloved congregation. The "dear lady" doesn't show up in the translation we read today, but that has been fhis familiar greeting through history. Was she a "school marm" type that all were endeared to? Was John referring to them as another thread of precious affection in the wedding gown of the church that was spreading across the continent? Memo: We, His followers, are the Briiiide of Christ...  The alternate suggestions may be inconsequential. The paramount reminder is certainly a theme of John's - that they love each other.  This is John's "chorus" since leaning on Jesus during the Last Supper. The people in this congregation (it may well have been a house church in Ephesus) they love in truth, know the truth, live in it, have God's traits because of truth, and they walk in truth.  John also warned them, in their loving nature, to be alert to roving false teachers who are spreading lies that Jesus was never really here as a human-God-incarnate. These "anti-Christers" are to be labeled as such and 'blocked at the door'! Don't let them in or let them teach. They are "cancer" and should be dealt with like cancer.  John said as much in I John 2 - for 12 verses of that chapter. 3 John - John's welcome to Gaius sounds like the meeting up of old friends who, upon arrival, come bearing hugs, and gifts, and well wishes. Paul had trained a number of good men to be pastors and they had launched into ministry. Their hospitality ministry was thriving and a golden testimony in the Holy Spirit.  John continued the oversight of these ministries and leaders. And it's quite apparent that a certain man;  "Diotrephes" (another Pastor in Gaius' region-but a malcontent) was a man who needed to feel he was  "top Dachsund at the wiener-dog race." John gives him a talking to and advises others how to handle it.  Hey, pastoral care is not all cheery. John will tell them more in person when he arrives. And note that when John refers to himself as "the Elder", it's quite the label.  By this time, he is the only surviving member of the original 12 Apostles. It's a well-deserved term. Jude - this is another of Jesus' brothers who was Joseph's blood son and born to Mary. He was one of the 12 Apostles.  His original intent was to write a nice treatise about salvation. But that was abruptly eclipsed by the urgent need to address the issue of roving trouble makers who were scuttling around the Roman Empire and doing their devilish best to lead people of Church into pagan living.  Their insidious method was to teach cultic behavior and encourage people to do so AND remain in the church that they are in. Leviticus talks fo mixing things that shouldn't be mixed.  Remember rat poison is 99.99% good food. Only 1/10,000th of it is poison. It is the mixing them together that ushers in the danger.  These trolling gremlins are trying to illicitly sexualize the congregations. History teaches that doing this systematically blurs the drive and focus of any cultural movement and vulnerably steers them into darkened aimlessness. These tramps that Jude is exposing want this for the churches.  They are truly groomed for this task by the devil himself. They won't follow God, they deny Christ, they are moral "hyenas" (how's that!?), pigs who have snuck in, selfish, fruitless men. They complain, scoff, criticize, brag and are only in church to tear it apart. They work for the Devil. And darkest judgment awaits these people who probably won't even realize how bad they are and how bad their treatment is going to be.          But YOU, saints in the fold, keep to your doctrine and fellowship, for God is with you. Amen. Revelation is God revealing what is to come. Just as God told us how our world began in Genesis, He tells us where things are headed in Revelation. He doesn't leave us groping in the dark, wondering, sifting through pagan mysteries and man-made ideas which fill the heads of lost people. Revelation is the finale~, the triumph of Christ, the new heaven and new earth.  Know that Christ Jesus is the center of things in this book. It is prophecy as well as practicality. It calls for discussion, listening, searching, and prayer. !John didn't write Revelation to split all the churches! He wrote it to assure them that evil will be vanquished, that paradise lost will be returned, and God's children will be gathered once and for all in glorious manner. Remember to wait until you understand the book better before getting entrenched in opinions. It is interesting that commentaries on Revelation are very few. Biblical scholars (whose vocation is deducing and giving definitive answers) realize that doing this with Revelation is an extremely sketchy task. So most avoid it. We'll touch on this more in the weeks to come; the views, the categories, and the schools of thought that arise from Revelation.   Today, chapter one, is John talking to the church about the things they had seen; what had already taken place. Ch.'s 2-3 was what they were experiencing now. Ch's 4-22 is what will take place from then onward. Revelation is Holy Spirit driven. The number seven appears 16 times. There are seven beatitudes, 27 angel references, spiritual battles, smoke and fire, dragons, demons, signs and wonders.  Our prayer is that you are blessed beyond measure by Revelation this time through it - not confused or frightened - but inspired to press on to know that God that has such great plans for you. Rev. 1 - It is stated that this is a testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessing is promised to those who read this revelation. The book closes with the same promise of blessing for its readers [22:7].  John greets the seven churches and lists them. Their sites can still be visited today east of the Aegean Sea in Western Turkey. John in his visions and in his concern for these congregations is not a railing senile old man "losing it" on his way to hospice. He deeply cares for them in a pastoral way as if they were his own children. The grand memo is summed up in three words: CHRIST IS EVERYTHING.  There is so much that people do not know about Jesus. His wonders, His miracles, His infinite wisdom. What we read of His deeds in the four gospels is a miniscule introduction to what we will know when we all meet Him face to face! John is writing this in 95 A.D. from Patmos, an island where prisoners were sent. Emperor Domitian had just finished torturing and executing 40,000 Christians in Rome for sport and a spectacle. Emperor Trajan would soon assume the same disposition in 98 A.D. John is fortunate to be exiled and free to write this marvelous book. And His vision of Christ is dazzling; overwhelming. This vision is a memo to the churches to put their full trust in Jesus who is all things marvelous. He's been gentle and yet is a battle-suited and ready warrior set to conquer His frantic enemy.  This is all the more reason for the churches to make themselves ready for Christ; abandon all corruption, lukewarm living, disloyalty and such. The Thread Through the Streams The issue that kept coming up was that love is more than just feeling good and roses and such. Love also requires "house-keeping", cleansing, vigilance and removal of things that don't mix with God. Nov. 26 - Deut. 16-20   There were to be judges and officers, fairness and honesty must be adhered to. No sex cults in my country! No witchcraft, nor sorcery. And have cities of refuge so that the land isn't controlled by murderous rage and endless paybacks. Moses also explained very practical issues of management that are sensible and keen to people's needs.  I.e. Israel was not to be a crazy country filled with lunatic citizens. Nov. 27 - Ezra 9 - Neh. 04   Back in Israel, some of the men had taken foreign wives and ... painful as it all was, the wives (raised as pagans) had to go.  Israel couldn't press on as a nation under God until this is dealt with. And Nehemiah had a vision for seeing Jerusalem rebuilt ... but he had to get out of Persia. I.e. As with all of us, if we are going to grow, there are things that need to go. Nov. 28 - Prov. 30-31  .The beginning of Prov. 30 makes it clear that doubt needs to go so you can get anywhere spiritually. Agur also asks that there be no lies, no destitution, no squalid excess for him. King Lemuel's [mother] says, don't waste your life on women (plural) The wisdom is to "stay with your one". And for leaders especially, avoid the booze life.  Also don't become callous to the suffering. ALL those attitudes/tendencies need removing. Nov. 29 - Ezek. 36-38   Dry Bones: that was what's left of Israel's morale. And they best get ready to desert the hopeless, desolation, "whoa is me" mentality.  God is going to put it all back together. And there's no room in this plan for an Eeyore mindset (remember his gloom?!). And the enemies of Israel are going to be ever-decimated. They have to go and Israel has to thrive in order to be a blessing to the whole world. Nov. 30 - Zech 9:1-11:3  The neighbors of Jerusalem, harassing the Hebrews eternally, are going to be put down in a big way when Greece marches through. [Yet they left Jerusalem in tact!] Not only the pesky neighbors needed removal, the illicit leaders within the Hebrew culture; these "shepherds" who were virtually wolves at heart - they needed to be swept out! They were blocking people from understanding the love of God. Dec. 01 - John 13:31 - 16:4   It was Last Supper time, and after the foot-washing, it was time to tell some wonderful things that applied to all of them except Judas. Judas needed to vacate before Jesus could move forward with His faithful Disciples. Now as for you 11 disciples, the jousting for position is done with. Love each other!.As for the Way to God - tell the world to abandon all other spiritual pursuits except Jesus. And as for pruning the excess, counter-productive things in your own lives... just let the Holy Spirit do that in you - that is if you want to remain on "my team".  As for being accepted by the world --> let that go too Dec. 02 - I John 5 - Rev. 1   The Church Stream this week exhorted the people over and again to block/shun/expel all false teachers.  It was intense house cleaning that needed to take place and they [WE!] must remain vigilant about.  You could even call it "steam-cleaning", better yet "power-washing"!  It was a desperately vital task that needed to be executed immediately.  And vigilance against false teachers required eternal safeguards.    

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? 4. What does it mean for me? 1. What do the verses say? (We'll be looking at two verses in particular) Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? Before we get to our own authorities, we've got to ask what it would have first meant to the first hearers of Paul's letter. The civil rulers were most likely all pagan. Christians might have been tempted to ignore their civil leaders because of the corruption that influenced their government. The Christians of that day would have been looking for guidance on how to live as oppressed people under a morally bankrupt government. There is no doubt that the morality of the Roman Empire was darker than the morality of today. 3. How do we wrestle through principles together? (Remember the principle test: principles are timeless, transcend culture, and are harmonious throughout scripture). 4. What does it mean for me? Rather than a heart of violence or a critical spirit, what does it look like for me to say “love does no harm to my neighbor?” Think about the fact that Jesus deliberately came into the world during a morally dark time but did not come to overthrow the authorities of the day. What might that teach you about how to live today? ***** Resources: Help! My Bible Is Alive Follow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | Instagram Episode Image Credit: GettyAleksei Morozov

Situated roughly one mile south of Hadrian's Wall is one of the great jewels of Roman and early medieval archaeology: Vindolanda. Over the past 50 years, annual excavations at this site have revealed incredible amounts of new information. Information that has not only shone more light on the site's history, but also on the minutiae of everyday life for those people who lived on this north western frontier of the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years. A plethora of stunning artefacts have been unearthed over the last half decade from Vindolanda: from the only Roman boxing gloves found from anywhere in the Roman Empire to early medieval Christian graffiti. What's most exciting of all, however, is that there are still so many more exciting finds to be uncovered in the years ahead. In this episode we return to Northumberland to speak to Dr Andrew Birley and Marta Alberti who, alongside their team of archaeologists and volunteers, are constantly discovering more about the people who lived and passed through the site. They describe their findings from 2021, including more information about the other animals at Vindolanda and the post-Roman uses of the fortifications. We also get a glimpse of what we can expect from next year's work.If you're enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Ancients content then subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.