The Enemy among us
On August 30, 2015, the world was informed
that it was losing it Cultural Heritage.
Cultural Heritage is defined as “the legacy of physical artefacts and
intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past
generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future
generations”. It sounds like it was a
great travesty. So it peaked
my interest to see what it is about this place that generates such a response
to its loss.
In researching it, I found that the city of in
question was established from trade caravans dating back as far as 4500 BC
(Neolithic Era). It changes hands a
number of times until it becomes a subject of the Roman Empire. So far, it does sound like this city has
important information and history. It
received cultural influences from Greco-Roman culture and as a result
influenced the residents to worship Mesopotamian and Arab gods. By 260 AD, the city was reaching the apex of
its power as a regional center and rebelled against the Roman Empire to its own
empire. In 273, Rome destroyed it, and
it went through a time of rebuilding, at a smaller size, and then going to a
conversion to Christianity and then later Islam. This series of event takes us through to the
1400’s. The next major event was in 1932,
by French decree, all of the inhabitants were moved, and the site was open for
excavations to explore its’ ancient history.
That does seem like it would be bad to lose
that bit of history. But as I dove
deeper into what was lost, I found a couple of interesting items. First, it was not the whole city that was
damaged or destroyed, it was only one specific
building. Second, the building was a
temple. Third, well…. Was
about who it was to.
But before I get to that, let’s talk about
another “Cultural Heritage” site.
The year is 1878. A German engineer has started to excavate on
the acropolis of Pergamum in the Greek city of Pergamum in Asia Minor. This 8
year task was to rescue the friezes of an altar that used to be there and to
expose the foundation of it as well. A
frieze is an architectural term that means a section or part of an entablature
or band. On the frieze was a relief
depicting a battle between the Giants and the Olympian gods.
It was a pre-existing agreement that these
fragments that were excavated would be sent back to Germany and be property of
Berlin museums.
Now Pergamum, like Palmyra, was a cultural
center. Well known for its cotton, gold,
and fine carpets, the city was also know for the many temples that it
contained. It also had a very famous
Altar of Zeus that was a horseshoe shape.
It was composed of four parts and had high reliefs that depicted a war
between the giants and the gods of Olympus.
This Altar of Zeus is what was rescued from
the acropolis and sent to Berlin for reconstruction. The result was displayed in a new museum that
was built specifically to hold the altar.
This museum was completed in 1901, but was soon found to both inadequate
and structurally unsound. So a new
museum was built and this one opened to the public in 1930.
Now here is where things being to get
interesting.
A young German architect, Albert Speer, joined
the Nazi Party in 1931. His skills as an
architect allowed him to rise in the ranks until he was part of Hitler’s inner
circle. He was tasked with designing a
new stadium where Party rallies would be held.
It is said that he got inspiration from the Altar of Zeus on display in
Berlin.
The man had an eye for spectacle. The stadium, called Zeppelinfeld,
was a large complex that was surrounded by search lights. This allowed for a curtain of light to extend
up to the heavens when rallies were held at night.
The centerpiece of the stadium was a
podium. This podium is where Hitler
would stand as he addressed the crowds.
If we were to match up the Altar of Zeus with the stadium, where the
podium was in one, in the other was a place a sacrifice. Where Hitler explained his idea for the
“Final Solution”, in the other, actual human sacrifices were being made.
Should we be surprised by this? Maybe not.
As this city, it is mentioned in the Bible.
Rev 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum
write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
Rev 2:13 "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne
is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days
of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
So maybe it is just coincidence that a
throne/altar to a false god, a place of sacrifice, when excavated and moved,
brings with it a movement that causes Holocaust (wholly burnt sacrifice) to 6
million of God’s chosen people?
But let’s look further into this altar the
events that surround it.
The war in Europe concludes with an invasion
of Germany by Soviet and Polish troops culminating with the capture of Berlin.
IN 1948, the altar moves from Belin to
Russia. The next year, 1949, the Soviet
Union conducts its’ first test of a nuclear device. We quickly move from talking about the Holocaust
of the Jews to living under the fear of Nuclear Holocaust.
1958, the altar, still under Russian control,
moves back to Berlin. Westerners are
ordered to leave Berlin. The start to see the beginning of the Berlin Wall.
1962,
Khrushchev talks to Fidel Castro about moving missiles to Cuba. A huge
game of chess is set. The world watches
wondering if the beginning of the end is unfolding. But there is an agreement that prevents
destruction. October 27, 1962, Kennedy
agrees to secretly remove missiles that he secretly put in place in Italy and
Turkey that were within range of striking Moscow. Where were these missiles placed? Some were placed in Italy and others in
Turkey. Where in Turkey? In a province called Izmir. Why is this important?
Izmir Province is where the altar of Pergamum
was discovered.
So it appears that we have come full
circle. Unearthing an Altar that was
used for sacrifice, moving it around, rebuilding it at each stop, recognizing
that the Bible identifies it as really being a throne of Satan, appears to
allow it to have power to effect world events in a way to pushes them toward
the destruction of others.
But let’s not forget where we started. The temple that was destroyed in Palmyra was
called the Temple of Bel. The word Bel
is a title rather than a name. It means
master or lord. It is also called the
Temple of Baal, and it can further trace linguistic meaning to Belos, Marduk and Malak-bel.
Belos (Belus) in a
Babylonian context refers to god Bel Marduk who is
often identified with the Greek god Zeus.
Marduk is a Mesopotamian god (patron deity) who is
associated with astrological body Jupiter.
Jupiter is the Roman version of Zeus.
So once again, we appear to have come full
circle. A Temple to Zeus in Palmyra,
which was destroyed by ISIS, which is being mourned as a loss of Cultural
Heritage, is going to have a central archway reconstructed in different parts
of the world. And on what day does this
reconstruction occur? April 19th. Does that day have any significance?
It is hard to say what makes a date stand out
from other dates, but April 19th, and the surrounding days have
quite a few interesting events.
The American Revolutionary War started with
the battles of Lexington and Concord and with the start of the siege of Boston.
1943 – The Warsaw Ghetto uprising started.
1985 - ATF and FBI lay siege to the compound
of a White Supremacist survivalist group (The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm
of the Lord)
1993 - 8 years later, the 51- day siege of
Waco ends.
1999 - Oklahoma City Bombing
Close to this date: Boston Marathon bombing,
Virginia Tech shooting, Columbine High School Shooting.
Also of note is that May 1st is
known as Beltane, which is a Gaelic festival of bonfires. 13 days before this event, it when the
archway is to be constructed. 13, in the occult world, in the number of rebellion. Beltane is the name of the Celtic Sun god,
also known as Bel, Bal, or Baal.
There are also several articles and books that
address April 19th as being a day of blood sacrifice in satanic,
pagan, and occult rites and rituals.
And as
we can see with the Altar of Zeus, which is identified by the Bible as being
owned by Satan, carries with it power to corrupt and destroy, is a very real
power to fight with. And the Christian
church of today is too busy trying to make sure that they don’t hurt people
feelings instead of identifying the army of the enemy and working to destroy
it.
In conclusion, I would only say that don’t
underestimate the cunning of the enemy.
He works tirelessly to bring himself power and influence over the world
and God’s creation.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
And even these little things, like an archway,
could be powerful symbols of Satan’s power, if he can only harness them and the
fools that think they are harmless.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the
gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God,
Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that
end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Eph 6:19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly
to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
Eph 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as
I ought to speak.