Like many in CI I do believe that we are now in a period of tribulation, black on white crime is rampant, non whites are handed the best jobs, regardless of qualifications and we are being pushed into second class citizen status by a corrupt government that cares more about the mud races that are ruining America than it does about the whites who built this country. As bad as this seems things will get much, much worse before we can even hope they will get better, in fact things will get so bad that only the direct intervention of Yashua himself will save us. I refer to this period as the great tribulation, to seperate it from the general tribulation that we are now in. Let us now take a closer look at the scriptures to find the truth.
In Revelations chapter 13 we read, "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered over the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, saying who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of he beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy and sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that have hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
My take on this is that a world wide jew controlled governement (or New World Order) will arise, headed by 7 powerful nations of which America will be one and that among his new world government one man will rise to be it's leader. This government will seek to control the entire world while wiping out God's chosen people, white Israelites in order to allow jews, who will control this unholy government to take the place of whites as the custodians of YHVH's creation. Many whites will die during this period, most of them for refusing to covert to the false Judeo religion and acknowledge jews as their Masters and others will escape into the hills and mountains to set up the resistance, fighting a losing battle until Yashua returns and ends it, throwing the dragon and the beasts and all those that wore the mark of the beast (joined the false church) into the lake of fire.
Now we will look at who will be the heroes of this period, the martyrs or those who were killed resisting the beast, they are the ones who will receive the reward for their sacrifices, In Revelations 20:4-6 we read, "and I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him for a thousand years." That will be the reward of those that die resisting the beast, to reign with Yashua for a thousand years as priests of YHVH and Yashua and this shows us that while we may seem to be losing the war we will actually be the winners in the end.
This was not meant to be a complete examination of the end times, that would take much more room than I have here and is a project that I will be working on at a later date. This is meant only to look at the the great tribulation in general with emphasis on the martyrs, who will be the true heroes.
All scripture references are KJV
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Christ our example
I have heard it said that those of us in CI are hypocrites for claiming to love God but "hating" jews, they say it is not possible because the Bible says so. First I want to point out that the Bible's instructions on how to treat people only applies to the white race. Secondly, how can we be faulted and called hypocrites when we are doing nothing but following the example of Christ himself who clearly had two different ways of dealing with people? With true Israelites he was loving, forgiving and full of mercy but when dealing with jews he was condemning, merciless and filled with emnity. This is what I will be discussing here, providing scriptural evidence that love for Christ and the willingness to follow his example is the source of our emnity against against the jew.
First let us examine Christ's mercy towards Israelites, the Gospels are full of examples of Christ's healings and other miracles , I have chosen one to illustrate his love for his own people. In Matthew 14:14-22 we read, "and Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. and when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, this is a desert place, and the time is now past, send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, they need not depart, give ye them to eat. And they said unto him, we have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children". This is just one of many, many passages that show Yashua's love and compassion for his people but it cleary shows that he would go to any end to provide healing and comfort to Israelites.
Now let us look at Christ's forgiveness towards his people, in John 8:3-11 we read, "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commandeth us tht such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, no man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go, and sin no more."
This passage shows how Yashua is ready to forgive his people when they come up short, his love and patience towards us is unlimited.
Let us now examine what Christ thought of the jews. First I want to show how Christ knew exactly what jews were, the offspring of Satan. In John 8:44 we read, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." This is in stark contrast to the way he treated Israelites whom he treated with patience and understanding, urging them to put their sins behind them and serve YHVH. But we see no such urging directed to the jews, he never instructed them to repent and turn their hearts to YHVH, in fact he always spoke in condemning terms towards them, as though they had no chance at redemption. He knew jews as the lying theives that they are and the only real display of anger by him recorded in the Bible is when the jews used the temple as a place of commerce, much like the fraudulent Judeo TV evangelists do today. Mark 11:15-17 tells us " and they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves?" This tells me that Yashua knew that the jews were of the serpent seed and that there was no changing them, in fact Israelites were instructed to steer clear of them and their doctrine.
In closing I just want to point out that YHVH expects us to resist the jews and their plan to subvert our culture and replace us as the only true children of YHVH through Adam and Eve. They will stop at nothing and were the ones that funded the "civil rights movement". knowing that if they could make non whites "equal" to whites that it would lead to race mixing and the dilution of the Israelite race, this is something that we must resist with every fiber of our beings.
All scripture references are KJV
First let us examine Christ's mercy towards Israelites, the Gospels are full of examples of Christ's healings and other miracles , I have chosen one to illustrate his love for his own people. In Matthew 14:14-22 we read, "and Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. and when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, this is a desert place, and the time is now past, send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, they need not depart, give ye them to eat. And they said unto him, we have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children". This is just one of many, many passages that show Yashua's love and compassion for his people but it cleary shows that he would go to any end to provide healing and comfort to Israelites.
Now let us look at Christ's forgiveness towards his people, in John 8:3-11 we read, "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commandeth us tht such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, no man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go, and sin no more."
This passage shows how Yashua is ready to forgive his people when they come up short, his love and patience towards us is unlimited.
Let us now examine what Christ thought of the jews. First I want to show how Christ knew exactly what jews were, the offspring of Satan. In John 8:44 we read, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." This is in stark contrast to the way he treated Israelites whom he treated with patience and understanding, urging them to put their sins behind them and serve YHVH. But we see no such urging directed to the jews, he never instructed them to repent and turn their hearts to YHVH, in fact he always spoke in condemning terms towards them, as though they had no chance at redemption. He knew jews as the lying theives that they are and the only real display of anger by him recorded in the Bible is when the jews used the temple as a place of commerce, much like the fraudulent Judeo TV evangelists do today. Mark 11:15-17 tells us " and they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves?" This tells me that Yashua knew that the jews were of the serpent seed and that there was no changing them, in fact Israelites were instructed to steer clear of them and their doctrine.
In closing I just want to point out that YHVH expects us to resist the jews and their plan to subvert our culture and replace us as the only true children of YHVH through Adam and Eve. They will stop at nothing and were the ones that funded the "civil rights movement". knowing that if they could make non whites "equal" to whites that it would lead to race mixing and the dilution of the Israelite race, this is something that we must resist with every fiber of our beings.
All scripture references are KJV
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Does Satan exist?
I'd like to take the time to discuss wheter or not Satan actually exists, in doing so I shall present several Scriptures that I feel leave no doubt in the matter. The first time we see Satan is in the Garden of Eden, let us look at the relevant scriptures. Genesis 3:1-6 says "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God hath made. And he said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. and the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know in the day that you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." This alone should prove to most that there is in fact a literal Satan who seeks to subvert YHVH's children in any way that he can.
Our next example comes from the Book of Job where Satan works to subvert another of YHVH's people, the righteous Job. Job 1:-12 says "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he had on every side? thou hast blessed the works of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself
himself put forth not thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord." There is much more to this story but it is not my intention to address the story of Job here, my only intention was so show the presence of Satan. Now I have seen the weak argumant that the Satan refered to was a human man as were all the "sons of God" that were present using the out of context argument that Paul called Christians the "sons of God" I can dispell this weak argumment with a single verse, Exodus 33:20 which says, "And he said, thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live" The context of this verse is that Moses asked to see YHVH's face and that was YHVH's reply. That one verse proves that the Satan and sons of God mentioned could not be human as no man can see God face to face, not even Moses could.
Finally, we will examine the temptation of Christ by Satan, Matthew 4:1-11 says "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterword an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him. get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Not only does this passage also confirm the existence of Satan it shows the difference between YHVH and Satan, it is beyond me how anyone can deny the existence of Satan from this passage alone.
In closing I would like to say that these passages are nowhere near the only scriptures that refer to the existence of Satan, there are many, many more, such as the many incidents where Jesus and his disciples casted out devils. I simply chose to use the incidents where Satan directly interfered with YHVH's people.
All scripture references are KJV
Our next example comes from the Book of Job where Satan works to subvert another of YHVH's people, the righteous Job. Job 1:-12 says "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he had on every side? thou hast blessed the works of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself
himself put forth not thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord." There is much more to this story but it is not my intention to address the story of Job here, my only intention was so show the presence of Satan. Now I have seen the weak argumant that the Satan refered to was a human man as were all the "sons of God" that were present using the out of context argument that Paul called Christians the "sons of God" I can dispell this weak argumment with a single verse, Exodus 33:20 which says, "And he said, thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live" The context of this verse is that Moses asked to see YHVH's face and that was YHVH's reply. That one verse proves that the Satan and sons of God mentioned could not be human as no man can see God face to face, not even Moses could.
Finally, we will examine the temptation of Christ by Satan, Matthew 4:1-11 says "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterword an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him. get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Not only does this passage also confirm the existence of Satan it shows the difference between YHVH and Satan, it is beyond me how anyone can deny the existence of Satan from this passage alone.
In closing I would like to say that these passages are nowhere near the only scriptures that refer to the existence of Satan, there are many, many more, such as the many incidents where Jesus and his disciples casted out devils. I simply chose to use the incidents where Satan directly interfered with YHVH's people.
All scripture references are KJV
Brotherhood, what does it mean?
I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss how YHVH expects White Israelites to behave towards one another. We have the unique position of being YHVH's chosen people, the true descendants of Adam and Eve and our Heavenly Father expects us to conduct ourselves as such, let us examine the relevant scriptures for ourselves. I John 4:7 and 8 says "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
This is a clear command for all White Israelites to love one another, going so far as to say that they who do not obey this command do not know YHVH. John goes on to tell us that one cannot love YHVH if he hates his White Israelite Brothers. I John 4:20-21 says "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." This passage is just as clear as the last one and it says that not only are we required to love our Israelite Brothers and Sisters if we fail to do so and claim to love God that we are liars because YHVH requires us to love one another.
The above paragraph shows that YHVH expects us to love one another as brothers in Yashua Christ, supporting and strengthening our brethren as much as possible but what is expected of those in positions of leadership among YHVH's people? How are they to behave in relation to those under them? This brings to mind the story of when the Sons of Zebedee sought to be seated at the right and left hand of Yashua in his glory, causing their brother Apostles to be unhappy with them causing Christ to sit them down and explain what he required of the leaders of the true Israel. In Matthew 20:25-28 he says this: "But Jesus called unto him, and said, Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them. And that they exercise great dominion over them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (waiter); And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many." This clearly shows us that those of us that desire to be leaders must be ready to take on the responsibilities of looking after our brethen, to be a friend who is there for them when they need us, not just someone that bosses them around. It is not about power but responsibility and this is how Yashua has instructed White Israelite leaders to conduct themselves.
But Christ did more than simply teach this principle, he lived it himself by devoting his life to serving his people, in the end giving his precious life for us. Let us look at one prominent example of how Yashua demonstrated this principle, in John 13:4-17 we read "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself. after that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, what I do you knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore he said, ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things happy are ye if you do them." That passage illustrates my point better than anything that I could say. Christ was our perfect example who not only told us what we needed to do to be saved, he practiced what he preached to showed us how.
In closing I just want to sum up that YHVH expects White Israelites to love each other and to put aside our differences for the common good of our people, and that those who seek to be leaders among us must first learn to serve. We are losing the nation that YHVH set aside for us because we are fragmented, with every faction looking out for it's own interests, only by banding together as one people can we preserve our race, culture and heritage as YHVH's chosen race.
All scripture references are KJV
This is a clear command for all White Israelites to love one another, going so far as to say that they who do not obey this command do not know YHVH. John goes on to tell us that one cannot love YHVH if he hates his White Israelite Brothers. I John 4:20-21 says "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." This passage is just as clear as the last one and it says that not only are we required to love our Israelite Brothers and Sisters if we fail to do so and claim to love God that we are liars because YHVH requires us to love one another.
The above paragraph shows that YHVH expects us to love one another as brothers in Yashua Christ, supporting and strengthening our brethren as much as possible but what is expected of those in positions of leadership among YHVH's people? How are they to behave in relation to those under them? This brings to mind the story of when the Sons of Zebedee sought to be seated at the right and left hand of Yashua in his glory, causing their brother Apostles to be unhappy with them causing Christ to sit them down and explain what he required of the leaders of the true Israel. In Matthew 20:25-28 he says this: "But Jesus called unto him, and said, Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them. And that they exercise great dominion over them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (waiter); And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many." This clearly shows us that those of us that desire to be leaders must be ready to take on the responsibilities of looking after our brethen, to be a friend who is there for them when they need us, not just someone that bosses them around. It is not about power but responsibility and this is how Yashua has instructed White Israelite leaders to conduct themselves.
But Christ did more than simply teach this principle, he lived it himself by devoting his life to serving his people, in the end giving his precious life for us. Let us look at one prominent example of how Yashua demonstrated this principle, in John 13:4-17 we read "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself. after that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, what I do you knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore he said, ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things happy are ye if you do them." That passage illustrates my point better than anything that I could say. Christ was our perfect example who not only told us what we needed to do to be saved, he practiced what he preached to showed us how.
In closing I just want to sum up that YHVH expects White Israelites to love each other and to put aside our differences for the common good of our people, and that those who seek to be leaders among us must first learn to serve. We are losing the nation that YHVH set aside for us because we are fragmented, with every faction looking out for it's own interests, only by banding together as one people can we preserve our race, culture and heritage as YHVH's chosen race.
All scripture references are KJV
Friday, August 28, 2009
FAQs
This section is dedicated to some of the most common and relevant questions regarding Christian Identity Theology.
1. How can jews be the literal offspring of Satan?
The apple in the story of the fall of man is symbolic, Eve's real sin was sexual in nature and Cain was the result of the union of Eve and Satan, it is also the source of the original sin the Bible says that we are all born with as Satan had polluted Eve's future offspring to a certain degree.
2. If what you say about jews is true then why do most mainstream Christians consider them to be the true Israel who simply need to convert to Christianty to return to full communion with God?
Because they have been deceived by the jews and their Satanic father. It is a crucial part of the evil ones end time strategy to deceive white Chrsitians into accepting jews as their brethren in order to insinuate his children so deeply into our society that they are finally able to overthrow our culture and replace it with their own.
3. The Bible says that all people descended from Adam and Eve, how can you claim to not be related to jews, blacks and other non whites?
Actually the Bible says nothing of the kind, the first chapter of Genesis covers the 6 days of creation where it clearly shows God creating people on the sixth day and telling them to be fruitful and multiply and then God rested on the seventh day, end of chapter 1. Then in chapter 2 he forms Adam from the dust of the earth and breaths life into him, as a seperate act, apart from the six days of creation and then the Bible discusses how God searched among what the KJV mistranslates as beasts of the field to find a wife for Adam, are we to believe that God was looking at baboons and polar bears to find a wife for Adam? No, he searched among the different races that were already there and found none worthy of Adam so God then created Eve. Also there is the fact that when Cain was cast out he told God he was afraid of being killed by people that already existed and he ended up finding a wife and actually fathering a race of people. The truth is that God created the Adamic race apart from and meant it to be kept seperate from all others and that Adam and Eve are the parents of only the white or Adamic race.
4. Even if we didn't all start as one race the Bible says that everyone but Noah's family was destroyed in Noah's flood and that the earth was repopulated by Noah's three sons and their wives, surely this is proof that all races are really related?
Noah's flood was not worldwide but regional, destroying only part of the Middle East and Noah's three sons repopulated only the Adamic or white bloodline, that is why God was so adamant that Noah build the ark, so that God's special people would live on.
5. What does the Bible say about race mixing?
God specifically forbade his people from mixing with other peoples, to the point of sometimes ordering the complete genocide of a people (the Amalekites) in order to keep Israel's bloodline pure.
6. Do only white people have souls?
Yes, God created Adam from the dust and breathed life into him, this was not done with any of the other races who predated Adam.
I hope this information helps to answer some of the questions about our beliefs, I will add more questions at a later date.
Chaplain Bill
1. How can jews be the literal offspring of Satan?
The apple in the story of the fall of man is symbolic, Eve's real sin was sexual in nature and Cain was the result of the union of Eve and Satan, it is also the source of the original sin the Bible says that we are all born with as Satan had polluted Eve's future offspring to a certain degree.
2. If what you say about jews is true then why do most mainstream Christians consider them to be the true Israel who simply need to convert to Christianty to return to full communion with God?
Because they have been deceived by the jews and their Satanic father. It is a crucial part of the evil ones end time strategy to deceive white Chrsitians into accepting jews as their brethren in order to insinuate his children so deeply into our society that they are finally able to overthrow our culture and replace it with their own.
3. The Bible says that all people descended from Adam and Eve, how can you claim to not be related to jews, blacks and other non whites?
Actually the Bible says nothing of the kind, the first chapter of Genesis covers the 6 days of creation where it clearly shows God creating people on the sixth day and telling them to be fruitful and multiply and then God rested on the seventh day, end of chapter 1. Then in chapter 2 he forms Adam from the dust of the earth and breaths life into him, as a seperate act, apart from the six days of creation and then the Bible discusses how God searched among what the KJV mistranslates as beasts of the field to find a wife for Adam, are we to believe that God was looking at baboons and polar bears to find a wife for Adam? No, he searched among the different races that were already there and found none worthy of Adam so God then created Eve. Also there is the fact that when Cain was cast out he told God he was afraid of being killed by people that already existed and he ended up finding a wife and actually fathering a race of people. The truth is that God created the Adamic race apart from and meant it to be kept seperate from all others and that Adam and Eve are the parents of only the white or Adamic race.
4. Even if we didn't all start as one race the Bible says that everyone but Noah's family was destroyed in Noah's flood and that the earth was repopulated by Noah's three sons and their wives, surely this is proof that all races are really related?
Noah's flood was not worldwide but regional, destroying only part of the Middle East and Noah's three sons repopulated only the Adamic or white bloodline, that is why God was so adamant that Noah build the ark, so that God's special people would live on.
5. What does the Bible say about race mixing?
God specifically forbade his people from mixing with other peoples, to the point of sometimes ordering the complete genocide of a people (the Amalekites) in order to keep Israel's bloodline pure.
6. Do only white people have souls?
Yes, God created Adam from the dust and breathed life into him, this was not done with any of the other races who predated Adam.
I hope this information helps to answer some of the questions about our beliefs, I will add more questions at a later date.
Chaplain Bill
The Westward Migrations and Christianization of Israel and the Evolution of Jewry.
In this section I will discuss three related topics, 1. How the true Israel was lost and migrated into Europe 2. How God's lost people returned to him through our Lord Jesus Christ and 3. How jews have usurped our birthright by deceiving most of Christendom into believing that they are God's chosen people.
1. The westward migrations of Israel.
This began when the Assyrian empire conquered the Kingdom of Israel around 721 BC. While this conquest was in progress many Israelites fled by ship and ended up in Greece, Italy, Spain and the British Isles where they established the Adamic/Aryan bloodline. Most of the people of the ten tribes where no so lucky, they were carried away by the Assyrians and resettled on the northwestern frontier of their empire. Israel's leaders, temporal and religious, as well as their learned men were not sent with them so as to help them lose their national identity, as was the Assyrian custom.
While the smaller groups of White Israelites who made it to Europe began to establish themselves in Europe the bulk of the deported Israelites began a slow migration from the Assyrian frontier westward toward Europe, this would take several centuries and was caused by a combination of the growing peoples that the Israelites had become needing more land and from being forced west by hostile neighbors. Additionally, as they lost their identities and became seperate peoples some of the Israelites fought each other in their attempts to increase their lands at the expense of their neighbors.
Over a period of several centuries these different groups of lost Israelites established themselves as the many nations of Europe, growing and prospering in their new homes, with no idea as to their true identities, developing into thriving civilizations in their own right, but seemingly lost to God. Until Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem his chosen people and to establish once and for all that the usurpers of the Israelite culture, known now as jews were not the true Israel and no had part in any of God's covenants with his people.
2. The Christianization of the lost tribes of Israel.
By the time of Christ the lost children of Israel were firmly established in Europe, everywhere from Rome to the British Isles, they had completely lost their true identites and established many cultures, such as the Celtic, Germanic and Nordic, each of the peoples believing themselves to be different races, with different religions and philosophies, with no idea who they truly were, seemingly lost to God forever.
When Jesus walked the earth there were still some true Israelites left in Judea and Galilee. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were spared the Assyrian deportations but later the Babylonians deported about half the tribe of Judah, including their leaders and learned men into the heart of their empire so that by the time of Christ some Judeans and all Benjaminites were still of the pure Adamic race. These are the people that made up the core of Christ's true followers, those who would become the early Christians and would lead God's chosen people back to him.
I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to discuss arguably the single most important person in the spread of the message of Christ among the lost tribes of Israel, Saul, later to become the Apostle Paul. It is his persecutions that disperses many early Christians from Palestine into Europe (including Joespeh of Arimathea, who would establish the first Christian Church in the British Isles) and he would later spread that message himself, after his conversion, reaching White Israelites throughout the Roman world. According the the Sonnini manuscript, which contains the lost chapter of the book of Acts, Paul even made it to Spain and the British Isles, where he found small Christian communities already established.
Now to return to the point of this discussion. Once the persecution of Christians under Saul began, many Christians fled Palestine, heading for Europe, out of the reach of the Judean authorities. One of these groups was led by Joseph of Arimathea, who was a wealthy and well connected tin broker, he led a group of Christians to the British Isles, where he had connections. Other groups arrived in Spain, France and other parts of the Roman world and began to build Christian communities that would later be ministered to by the Apostle Paul, who was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore of the Adamic bloodline.
This is how God brought his covenant with Abraham back to the children of Israel. The "gentiles" that the Bible says the word was spread among were in fact the ten lost tribes 0f Israel who were displaced so many centuries before by the Assyrians. This proves that no matter what God always keeps his word to his people, through Christ he brought us, the lost children of Israel back into his fold.
3. The evolution of jewry.
This began when the Assyrians relocated Edomites onto the lands once occupied by the ten tribes of the north. These people would later be coverted by the Judean remnant that returned from the Babylonian captivity. This is the event that would be the cornerstone in the evolution of what we now know as jews.
When the Babylonians carried away about half the tribe of Judah, including their leaders and learned men the Judeans commonly race mixed with the Babylonians and were influenced by Babylonian sorcery and philosophy to the point that they altered their religion so drastically that it was no longer the religion of the Israelites. The most important element of this new religion was the traditions of the elders, which would later evolve into the talmud.
After 70 years the Babylonians allowed a remnant of Judea to return and rebuild Jerusalem. The people that returned were not the same as those that left, most were the half breed children of Judeans and Babylonians. The religion they brought back was also tainted by Babylonian sorcery and nothing close to the religion they left with.
In the course of time these race mixed people would conquer and convert the Edomites that had taken over the land, establishing three seperate administrative regions, Judea, Samaria and Galilee, all of them claiming to be the true descendants of Israel. These are the people that would become known as Sephardic jews and would be found primarily in Spain and the middle east.
In the 8th century AD an Asiatic people known as the Khazars converted to judaism as a nation, becoming what we now know as Ashkenazi jews, who would inhabit Europe. The end result was two seperate races of non Adamic peoples with a religion corrupted by eastern idolatry claiming they are the children of Israel when in reality they had no right to such claims.
I hope this information helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding the true identity of Israel.
Chaplain Bill
1. The westward migrations of Israel.
This began when the Assyrian empire conquered the Kingdom of Israel around 721 BC. While this conquest was in progress many Israelites fled by ship and ended up in Greece, Italy, Spain and the British Isles where they established the Adamic/Aryan bloodline. Most of the people of the ten tribes where no so lucky, they were carried away by the Assyrians and resettled on the northwestern frontier of their empire. Israel's leaders, temporal and religious, as well as their learned men were not sent with them so as to help them lose their national identity, as was the Assyrian custom.
While the smaller groups of White Israelites who made it to Europe began to establish themselves in Europe the bulk of the deported Israelites began a slow migration from the Assyrian frontier westward toward Europe, this would take several centuries and was caused by a combination of the growing peoples that the Israelites had become needing more land and from being forced west by hostile neighbors. Additionally, as they lost their identities and became seperate peoples some of the Israelites fought each other in their attempts to increase their lands at the expense of their neighbors.
Over a period of several centuries these different groups of lost Israelites established themselves as the many nations of Europe, growing and prospering in their new homes, with no idea as to their true identities, developing into thriving civilizations in their own right, but seemingly lost to God. Until Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem his chosen people and to establish once and for all that the usurpers of the Israelite culture, known now as jews were not the true Israel and no had part in any of God's covenants with his people.
2. The Christianization of the lost tribes of Israel.
By the time of Christ the lost children of Israel were firmly established in Europe, everywhere from Rome to the British Isles, they had completely lost their true identites and established many cultures, such as the Celtic, Germanic and Nordic, each of the peoples believing themselves to be different races, with different religions and philosophies, with no idea who they truly were, seemingly lost to God forever.
When Jesus walked the earth there were still some true Israelites left in Judea and Galilee. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were spared the Assyrian deportations but later the Babylonians deported about half the tribe of Judah, including their leaders and learned men into the heart of their empire so that by the time of Christ some Judeans and all Benjaminites were still of the pure Adamic race. These are the people that made up the core of Christ's true followers, those who would become the early Christians and would lead God's chosen people back to him.
I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to discuss arguably the single most important person in the spread of the message of Christ among the lost tribes of Israel, Saul, later to become the Apostle Paul. It is his persecutions that disperses many early Christians from Palestine into Europe (including Joespeh of Arimathea, who would establish the first Christian Church in the British Isles) and he would later spread that message himself, after his conversion, reaching White Israelites throughout the Roman world. According the the Sonnini manuscript, which contains the lost chapter of the book of Acts, Paul even made it to Spain and the British Isles, where he found small Christian communities already established.
Now to return to the point of this discussion. Once the persecution of Christians under Saul began, many Christians fled Palestine, heading for Europe, out of the reach of the Judean authorities. One of these groups was led by Joseph of Arimathea, who was a wealthy and well connected tin broker, he led a group of Christians to the British Isles, where he had connections. Other groups arrived in Spain, France and other parts of the Roman world and began to build Christian communities that would later be ministered to by the Apostle Paul, who was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore of the Adamic bloodline.
This is how God brought his covenant with Abraham back to the children of Israel. The "gentiles" that the Bible says the word was spread among were in fact the ten lost tribes 0f Israel who were displaced so many centuries before by the Assyrians. This proves that no matter what God always keeps his word to his people, through Christ he brought us, the lost children of Israel back into his fold.
3. The evolution of jewry.
This began when the Assyrians relocated Edomites onto the lands once occupied by the ten tribes of the north. These people would later be coverted by the Judean remnant that returned from the Babylonian captivity. This is the event that would be the cornerstone in the evolution of what we now know as jews.
When the Babylonians carried away about half the tribe of Judah, including their leaders and learned men the Judeans commonly race mixed with the Babylonians and were influenced by Babylonian sorcery and philosophy to the point that they altered their religion so drastically that it was no longer the religion of the Israelites. The most important element of this new religion was the traditions of the elders, which would later evolve into the talmud.
After 70 years the Babylonians allowed a remnant of Judea to return and rebuild Jerusalem. The people that returned were not the same as those that left, most were the half breed children of Judeans and Babylonians. The religion they brought back was also tainted by Babylonian sorcery and nothing close to the religion they left with.
In the course of time these race mixed people would conquer and convert the Edomites that had taken over the land, establishing three seperate administrative regions, Judea, Samaria and Galilee, all of them claiming to be the true descendants of Israel. These are the people that would become known as Sephardic jews and would be found primarily in Spain and the middle east.
In the 8th century AD an Asiatic people known as the Khazars converted to judaism as a nation, becoming what we now know as Ashkenazi jews, who would inhabit Europe. The end result was two seperate races of non Adamic peoples with a religion corrupted by eastern idolatry claiming they are the children of Israel when in reality they had no right to such claims.
I hope this information helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding the true identity of Israel.
Chaplain Bill
The Marks of Israel.
The Bible lists several indicators that were to be used to identify the lost children of Israel. In this section I will list several of them, with the appropriate scriptural references. This list is not meant to be all inclusive.
1. Israel will lose all trace of their lineage, Romans 11:25, Isaiah 42:16, Hosea 1:9 and 10.
This happened to White Israel when when we were carried away by the Assyrians around 712 B.C. The Assyrians took great pains to erase the national idenity of counquered peoples to the point of deporting them to the frontiers of the Assyrian Empire, without their leaders and learned men.
2. Israel will become a mighty nation, bringing righteous laws to the heathen. Genesis 12:2, 18:12; Deuteronomy 7:6, 15:6.
This was accomplished through the Eurpeon conquest of much of the world. Even though most of these places are no longer under European control the Aryan system of laws as been firmly implanted into their cultures. Additionally, The United States spread civilization from coast to coast and beyond, it was only after Americans stopped obeying God and allowed non whites to pretend that they are our equals that the great American Nation began to decline, leading us to the situation that we currently face.
3. Israel will have an Island home northwest of Palestine. Isaiah 49:1-3 and 12; Jeremiah 3:18, 31:8.
This is obviously the British Isles, where one of the most prolific Christian Churches was established by Joseph of Arimathea nearly 3 centuries before the Christianization of the Roman Church.
4. Israel will colonize and spread abroad. Genesis 28:14, 49:22; Deuteronomy 32:8, 33:17; Psalms 2:8, Isaiah 26:15, 27:6, 54:2.
This was also accomplished by the European expansion, the US, Canada and Australia being the primary places where large European colonies still exist.
5. Israel will irrigate deserts and build the waste places. Isaiah 35:1, 43:19 and 20, 58:11 and 12.
This was first accomplished by the Romans, who developed vast systems of aqueducts, to be continued by White Europeans who have improved on that technology, even the system now used in Palestine by the false Israel were first invented by whites.
These things show that whites are indeed the true Israel as they cannot be applied to any other race and the people we now know as jews do not even come close to fulfilling even one of them. I hopes this helps white people to understand that we are indeed the true Israel and to help them break the spiritual bondage imposed on them by the deception of Satan's children.
Chaplain Bill
1. Israel will lose all trace of their lineage, Romans 11:25, Isaiah 42:16, Hosea 1:9 and 10.
This happened to White Israel when when we were carried away by the Assyrians around 712 B.C. The Assyrians took great pains to erase the national idenity of counquered peoples to the point of deporting them to the frontiers of the Assyrian Empire, without their leaders and learned men.
2. Israel will become a mighty nation, bringing righteous laws to the heathen. Genesis 12:2, 18:12; Deuteronomy 7:6, 15:6.
This was accomplished through the Eurpeon conquest of much of the world. Even though most of these places are no longer under European control the Aryan system of laws as been firmly implanted into their cultures. Additionally, The United States spread civilization from coast to coast and beyond, it was only after Americans stopped obeying God and allowed non whites to pretend that they are our equals that the great American Nation began to decline, leading us to the situation that we currently face.
3. Israel will have an Island home northwest of Palestine. Isaiah 49:1-3 and 12; Jeremiah 3:18, 31:8.
This is obviously the British Isles, where one of the most prolific Christian Churches was established by Joseph of Arimathea nearly 3 centuries before the Christianization of the Roman Church.
4. Israel will colonize and spread abroad. Genesis 28:14, 49:22; Deuteronomy 32:8, 33:17; Psalms 2:8, Isaiah 26:15, 27:6, 54:2.
This was also accomplished by the European expansion, the US, Canada and Australia being the primary places where large European colonies still exist.
5. Israel will irrigate deserts and build the waste places. Isaiah 35:1, 43:19 and 20, 58:11 and 12.
This was first accomplished by the Romans, who developed vast systems of aqueducts, to be continued by White Europeans who have improved on that technology, even the system now used in Palestine by the false Israel were first invented by whites.
These things show that whites are indeed the true Israel as they cannot be applied to any other race and the people we now know as jews do not even come close to fulfilling even one of them. I hopes this helps white people to understand that we are indeed the true Israel and to help them break the spiritual bondage imposed on them by the deception of Satan's children.
Chaplain Bill
Pilates Letter to Tiberius.
In this section I will be showing an english translation of the letter sent from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar reporting on his dealings with Jesus, it includes a physical description.
TO TIBERIUS CAESAR, EMPEROR OF ROME
Noble Sovereign, Greetings: The events of the last few days in my Province have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I should not be surprised if, in the course of time, they may change the destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitious. I am almost ready to say, cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Flaceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.
On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the Praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour no guests appeared. This I considered an insult offered to my dignity, and the whole government, which I represent. A few days after the high priest deigned to pay me a visit, his deportment was grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeing, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high priests of this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. So turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread of an insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested reinforcement from the Prefect of Syria, who informed me that he had scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole government. I lived secluded from the masses, for I do not know what those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.
I WAS TOLD IT WAS JESUS
Among the various rumors that came to my ears there was one in particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said, had appeared in Galilee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of the God who had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews. One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him. His golden-colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a contrast between him and his hearers, with their black beards and tawny complexions. Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued my walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Eturia waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering the Praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he replied: "Render unto Caesar that things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's."
I EXTENDED TO HIM MY PROTECTION
It was on account of the wisdom of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was in my power to have him arrested, and exiled to Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman Government in all its dealings with men; this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by a Praetorian andate. Should it ever happen (may the gods avert the omen!) should it ever happen, I say that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we call destiny. This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews -- not the poor, but the rich and powerful. It is true Jesus was severe of the latter, and this was a political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees" he would say to them, "you are a race of vipers; you resemble painted sepulchres; you appear well unto men, but you have death within you." At other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, telling them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of God. Complaints were daily made at the Praetorium against the insolence of Jesus. I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination of the Parthian War.
Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquillity of the city without subjecting the Praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with him at the Praetorium. He came. You know that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood as incapable of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance I was walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, though the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. When he came up to me he stopped, and by a signal sign he seemed to say to me, "I am here," though he spoke not a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary type of man -- a type of man unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about him that was repelling in its character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous to approach him.
"Jesus," said I unto him as last -- and my tongue faltered -- "Jesus of Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage -- I know not whether you have read Socrates of Plato, but this I know, there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you this liberty of which you are so worthy. However, I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell a victim to their hatred. Yours are double incensed -- against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct; against me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even accuse me of being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the little civil power, which Rome has left them. My request -- I do not say my order -- is, that you be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of the, lest your arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law." The Nazarene calmly replied: "Prince of the earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the mountain-gorge: it will uproot the trees of the valley. The torrent will answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the Creator. God alone knows whither flows the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you, before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be spilt." "Your blood shall not be spilt," said I, with deep emotion: "You are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all the turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear; impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! They are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of the sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My Praetorium shall be an asylum, sacred both day and night."
"THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED."
Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile: "When the day shall come there will be no asylums for the son of man, neither in the earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is there," pointed to the heavens. "That which is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished." "Young man," I answered mildly, "You will oblige me to convert my requests into an order. The safety of the province which has been confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in your discourses. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness
ttend you. Farewell."
"I COME NOT TO BRING WAR INTO THE WORLD, BUT PEACE, LOVE AND CHARITY."
"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus, "I come not to bring war into the world, but peace, love, and charity. I was born the same day on which Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not from me. I expect it from others, and will meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of expiation." So saying, he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilica -- to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of which I could not relieve myself while in his presence.
JESUS APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THOSE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS THAT GREAT
NATIONS SOMETIMES PRODUCE
To Herod, who then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately be put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be scared by a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the Praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling conversation asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to freedom of speech, which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.
CLAMORING FOR THE DEATH OF THE NAZARENE
The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation, which always manifests itself at the solemnities of the Passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman Centurion had been insulted. I wrote to the Prefect of Syria for a hundred foot soldiers and as many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the Praetorium, believing, as their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition, continued vociferating; "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus. First, the Herodians and Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives; they hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that bore the image of the Roman emperor; and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled in their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Beside these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and to profit by the disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.
CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus was dragged before the High Priest and condemned to death. It was then that the High Priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered his to be sent thither. The wily Tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judo appeared to be pouring into the city.
"BEWARE, BEWARE, AND TOUCH NOT THAT MAN; FOR HE IS HOLY."
I had taken a wife from among the Gaels, who pretended to see into futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me: "Beware, Beware, and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I saw him in a vision. He was walking on the waters; he was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to him. Behold, the torrent of Mount Heron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with lemonade; the columns of the interim have given away and the sun is veiled in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil awaits thee. It thou wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread the frowns of Caesar." By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone what they demanded. "The death of the Nazarene," was the reply. "For what crime?" "He has blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God; the Messiah, the King of the Jews." "Roman justice," said I; "punishes not such offenses with death."
"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations. There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to protect him from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, I adopted a measure, which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save his life. I proposed, as it was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions, to release Jesus and let him go free, that he might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified. I then spoke to them of the inconsistency of their course as being incompatible with their laws, showing that no criminal judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted one whole day; and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and the signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be executed on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on the day of his execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole proceeding; also, according to their law, a man was stationed at the door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback to cry the name of the criminal and his crime, and names of his witnesses and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and the prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times, and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might awe them into subjection; but they still cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
I THEN CALLED FOR A BASIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS
I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted for. Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this occasion. It might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the Praetorium even into Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum. By degrees the day darkened like a winter's twilight, such as had been at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was likewise the Ides of March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilic, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom these fiends of Tartarus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers through the funeral gate that leads of Gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a display of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the gods than that of men. A loud clamour was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and setting over city covered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed: "Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart." Whilst these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.
THE SACRIFICE WAS CONSUMMATED
Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohorts pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief, and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words, which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those, which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of the gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt, then, looking back toward Mount Calvary, would remain motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.
THEY ALL SLUNK OFF LIKE COWARDLY CURS
I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which were still stained with blood of the
Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already overcharged with grief, we though strangers, wept together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who testified against him, those who cried, "Crucify him! We have his blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. As I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation after death, if such be the fact, I am sure it commenced in this vast crowd. "Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings, "who are you, and what is your request?"
PERMISSION TO BURY JESUS OF NAZARETH
"I am Joseph of Arimathaea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon my knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth." "Your prayer is granted," said I to him, and at the same time I ordered Manlius to take some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned. A few days after the sepulchre was found empty. His disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. As to its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for yourself and see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.
Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after he was buried one of the priests came to the Praetorium and said they were apprehensive that his disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that he had risen from the dead, as he had foretold, and of which they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard (Malcus) to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, place as many around the sepulchre as were needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and not the Romans.
When the great excitement arose about the sepulchre being found empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulchre. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred there that morning. I sent for this man Isham, who related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances: he said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch they saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulchre. He at first thought the women had come to enbalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their grave clothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard; and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. He said the earth seemed to swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he knew not what did occur. I asked him in what condition he was when he came to himself. He said he was lying on the ground with his face down. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have come from being wakened up and getting up too suddenly, as it sometimes had that effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but he thought nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of day. I asked him if he went to the sepulchre after he had come to himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief came they all went to their quarters. I asked him if he had been questioned by the priests. He said he had. They wanted him to say it was an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the disciples came and stole Jesus, but he saw no disciples; he did not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the Virgin in Bethlehem; that the same person had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and places.
It seems to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he could calm the seas, still the storms, and call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth. Now, I say, if he could do all these things, which he did, and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that created this enmity against him -- he was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was he charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as well by his foes as by his friends -- I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross: "Truly this was the Son of God." Now noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear that Antipater has said many hard things of me in this matter.
With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble
Sovereign, I am your most obedient servant, Pontius Pilate.
TO TIBERIUS CAESAR, EMPEROR OF ROME
Noble Sovereign, Greetings: The events of the last few days in my Province have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I should not be surprised if, in the course of time, they may change the destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitious. I am almost ready to say, cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Flaceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.
On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the Praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour no guests appeared. This I considered an insult offered to my dignity, and the whole government, which I represent. A few days after the high priest deigned to pay me a visit, his deportment was grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeing, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high priests of this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. So turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread of an insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested reinforcement from the Prefect of Syria, who informed me that he had scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole government. I lived secluded from the masses, for I do not know what those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.
I WAS TOLD IT WAS JESUS
Among the various rumors that came to my ears there was one in particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said, had appeared in Galilee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of the God who had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews. One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him. His golden-colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a contrast between him and his hearers, with their black beards and tawny complexions. Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued my walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Eturia waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering the Praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he replied: "Render unto Caesar that things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's."
I EXTENDED TO HIM MY PROTECTION
It was on account of the wisdom of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was in my power to have him arrested, and exiled to Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman Government in all its dealings with men; this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by a Praetorian andate. Should it ever happen (may the gods avert the omen!) should it ever happen, I say that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we call destiny. This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews -- not the poor, but the rich and powerful. It is true Jesus was severe of the latter, and this was a political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees" he would say to them, "you are a race of vipers; you resemble painted sepulchres; you appear well unto men, but you have death within you." At other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, telling them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of God. Complaints were daily made at the Praetorium against the insolence of Jesus. I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination of the Parthian War.
Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquillity of the city without subjecting the Praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with him at the Praetorium. He came. You know that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood as incapable of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance I was walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, though the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. When he came up to me he stopped, and by a signal sign he seemed to say to me, "I am here," though he spoke not a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary type of man -- a type of man unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about him that was repelling in its character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous to approach him.
"Jesus," said I unto him as last -- and my tongue faltered -- "Jesus of Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage -- I know not whether you have read Socrates of Plato, but this I know, there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you this liberty of which you are so worthy. However, I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell a victim to their hatred. Yours are double incensed -- against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct; against me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even accuse me of being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the little civil power, which Rome has left them. My request -- I do not say my order -- is, that you be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of the, lest your arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law." The Nazarene calmly replied: "Prince of the earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the mountain-gorge: it will uproot the trees of the valley. The torrent will answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the Creator. God alone knows whither flows the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you, before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be spilt." "Your blood shall not be spilt," said I, with deep emotion: "You are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all the turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear; impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! They are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of the sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My Praetorium shall be an asylum, sacred both day and night."
"THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED."
Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile: "When the day shall come there will be no asylums for the son of man, neither in the earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is there," pointed to the heavens. "That which is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished." "Young man," I answered mildly, "You will oblige me to convert my requests into an order. The safety of the province which has been confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in your discourses. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness
ttend you. Farewell."
"I COME NOT TO BRING WAR INTO THE WORLD, BUT PEACE, LOVE AND CHARITY."
"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus, "I come not to bring war into the world, but peace, love, and charity. I was born the same day on which Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not from me. I expect it from others, and will meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of expiation." So saying, he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilica -- to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of which I could not relieve myself while in his presence.
JESUS APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THOSE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS THAT GREAT
NATIONS SOMETIMES PRODUCE
To Herod, who then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately be put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be scared by a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the Praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling conversation asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to freedom of speech, which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.
CLAMORING FOR THE DEATH OF THE NAZARENE
The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation, which always manifests itself at the solemnities of the Passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman Centurion had been insulted. I wrote to the Prefect of Syria for a hundred foot soldiers and as many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the Praetorium, believing, as their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition, continued vociferating; "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus. First, the Herodians and Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives; they hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that bore the image of the Roman emperor; and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled in their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Beside these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and to profit by the disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.
CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus was dragged before the High Priest and condemned to death. It was then that the High Priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered his to be sent thither. The wily Tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judo appeared to be pouring into the city.
"BEWARE, BEWARE, AND TOUCH NOT THAT MAN; FOR HE IS HOLY."
I had taken a wife from among the Gaels, who pretended to see into futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me: "Beware, Beware, and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I saw him in a vision. He was walking on the waters; he was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to him. Behold, the torrent of Mount Heron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with lemonade; the columns of the interim have given away and the sun is veiled in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil awaits thee. It thou wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread the frowns of Caesar." By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone what they demanded. "The death of the Nazarene," was the reply. "For what crime?" "He has blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God; the Messiah, the King of the Jews." "Roman justice," said I; "punishes not such offenses with death."
"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations. There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to protect him from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, I adopted a measure, which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save his life. I proposed, as it was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions, to release Jesus and let him go free, that he might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified. I then spoke to them of the inconsistency of their course as being incompatible with their laws, showing that no criminal judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted one whole day; and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and the signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be executed on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on the day of his execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole proceeding; also, according to their law, a man was stationed at the door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback to cry the name of the criminal and his crime, and names of his witnesses and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and the prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times, and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might awe them into subjection; but they still cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
I THEN CALLED FOR A BASIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS
I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted for. Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this occasion. It might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the Praetorium even into Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum. By degrees the day darkened like a winter's twilight, such as had been at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was likewise the Ides of March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilic, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom these fiends of Tartarus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers through the funeral gate that leads of Gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a display of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the gods than that of men. A loud clamour was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and setting over city covered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed: "Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart." Whilst these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.
THE SACRIFICE WAS CONSUMMATED
Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohorts pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief, and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words, which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those, which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of the gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt, then, looking back toward Mount Calvary, would remain motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.
THEY ALL SLUNK OFF LIKE COWARDLY CURS
I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which were still stained with blood of the
Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already overcharged with grief, we though strangers, wept together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who testified against him, those who cried, "Crucify him! We have his blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. As I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation after death, if such be the fact, I am sure it commenced in this vast crowd. "Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings, "who are you, and what is your request?"
PERMISSION TO BURY JESUS OF NAZARETH
"I am Joseph of Arimathaea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon my knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth." "Your prayer is granted," said I to him, and at the same time I ordered Manlius to take some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned. A few days after the sepulchre was found empty. His disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. As to its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for yourself and see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.
Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after he was buried one of the priests came to the Praetorium and said they were apprehensive that his disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that he had risen from the dead, as he had foretold, and of which they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard (Malcus) to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, place as many around the sepulchre as were needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and not the Romans.
When the great excitement arose about the sepulchre being found empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulchre. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred there that morning. I sent for this man Isham, who related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances: he said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch they saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulchre. He at first thought the women had come to enbalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their grave clothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard; and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. He said the earth seemed to swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he knew not what did occur. I asked him in what condition he was when he came to himself. He said he was lying on the ground with his face down. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have come from being wakened up and getting up too suddenly, as it sometimes had that effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but he thought nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of day. I asked him if he went to the sepulchre after he had come to himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief came they all went to their quarters. I asked him if he had been questioned by the priests. He said he had. They wanted him to say it was an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the disciples came and stole Jesus, but he saw no disciples; he did not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the Virgin in Bethlehem; that the same person had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and places.
It seems to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he could calm the seas, still the storms, and call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth. Now, I say, if he could do all these things, which he did, and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that created this enmity against him -- he was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was he charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as well by his foes as by his friends -- I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross: "Truly this was the Son of God." Now noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear that Antipater has said many hard things of me in this matter.
With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble
Sovereign, I am your most obedient servant, Pontius Pilate.
The Sonnini Manuscript.
The Sonnini manuscript is named after C.S. Sonnini, who discovered it in a library in Constantinople in the late 18th century, where it had escaped the censors of the Church of Rome when they decided on political grounds which books were "insprired". It contains the 29th or lost chapter of the book of Acts, which shows that Paul made a trip to Spain, Britain and France. It was originally written in Koine Greek and I have provided an English Translation below.
Verse 1. And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome and determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain.
Verse 2. For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to "The isles afar off" as spoken by the Prophet Esdra and called by the Romans, Britain.
Verse 3. And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the nations, and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
Verse 4. And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him certain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostrium and having the winds fair; were brought safely into a haven of Spain.
Verse 5. And much people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion of the Apostles, and the many miracles he had wrought.
Verse 6. And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an Apostle sent from God.
Verse 7. And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing unto Britain, they were therein, and passing along the South Coast, they reached a port called Raphinus.
Verse 8. Now when it was voiced abroad that the Apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation.
Verse 1. And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome and determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain.
Verse 2. For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to "The isles afar off" as spoken by the Prophet Esdra and called by the Romans, Britain.
Verse 3. And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the nations, and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
Verse 4. And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him certain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostrium and having the winds fair; were brought safely into a haven of Spain.
Verse 5. And much people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion of the Apostles, and the many miracles he had wrought.
Verse 6. And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an Apostle sent from God.
Verse 7. And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing unto Britain, they were therein, and passing along the South Coast, they reached a port called Raphinus.
Verse 8. Now when it was voiced abroad that the Apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation.
Verse 9. And on the morrow he came and stood upon Mount Lud and the people thronged at the gate, and assembled in the Broadway, and he preached Christ unto them, and they believed the Word and the testimony of Jesus.
Verse 10. And at even the Holy Ghost fell upon Paul, and he prophesied saying, Behold in the last days the God of Peace shall dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof shall be numbered: and in seventh numbering of the people, their eyes shall be opened, and the glory of their inheritance shine forth before them. The nations shall come up to worship on the mound that testifieth of the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord.
Verse 11. And in the latter days new tidings of the Gospel shall issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people shall rejoice, and behold, fountains shall be opened, and there shall be no more plague.
Verse 12. In those days there shall be wars and rumors of war; and a king shall rise up, and his sword, shall be for the healing of the nations, and his peacemaking shall abide, and the glory of his kingdom a wonder among princes.
Verse 13. And it came to pass that certain of the Druids came unto Paul privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies they were descended from the Hebrews which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the Apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace.
Verse 14. And Paul abode in his lodgings three months confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually.
Verse 15. And after these things Paul and his brethen departed from Raphinus and sailed unto Atium in Gaul.
Verse 16. And Paul preached in the Roman garrison and among the people, exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins.
Verse 17. And there came to him certain of the Belgae to enquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; and Paul opened his heart unto them and told them all things that had befallen him, howbeit, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed pondering among themselves the things which they had heard.
Verse 18. And after much preaching and toil, Paul and his fellow laborers passed into Helvetia, and came to Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who had condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished.
Verse 19. And immeadiately a torrent gushed out of the mountains and washed his body, broken into pieces, into a lake.
Verse 20. And Paul strecthed forth his hands upon the water, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, O Lord God, give a sign unto all nations that here Pontius Pilate which condemened thine only begotten Son, plunged down headlong into the pit.
Verse 21. And while Paul was yet speaking, behold, there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like unto the Son of Man hanging in an agony upon the cross.
Verse 22. And a voice came out of heaven saying, even Pilate hath escaped the wrath to come for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood shedding of the Lord Jesus.
Verse 23. When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, and were mightily strengthened in the spirit.
Verse 24. And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius where stood two, pillars, one on the right hand and one of the left hand, erected by Caeser Augustus.
Verse 25. And Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up between the two pillars, saying, Men and bretheren these stones which ye see this day shall testify of my journey hence; and verily I say, they shall remain until the outpouring of the spirit upon all nations, neither shall the way be hindered throughout all generations.
Verse 26. And they went forth and came unto Illtricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the churches, and they prospered and had peace. Amen!
Chaplain Bill
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