Further to "The Days of Noah" post

Shortly after posting the, “Days of Noah” blog post, I was challenged on the topic of fallen angels and their illegitimate activity with humans. Specifically the concern was the assertion that the Nephilim were the offspring of angels or divine beings having sexual relations with humans. In the post I mentioned 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Numbers 13:30-33 and Genesis 6:1-4. These were cited as examples of passages that make reference to the activity of these fallen beings as well as the resulting consequences and outcomes. Perhaps now would be a good time to look at these passages as well as any supporting texts in more detail.

Starting with Numbers 13:30-33 which reads:

“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

The backstory to this passage, is the story of the twelve spies sent by Moses to check out the land of Canaan. It is found in Numbers 13:17-29 and reads as follows:

“Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.

At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.””

These passages give rise to several questions and comments with respect to the topic of the Nephilim?:

1. All twelve spies agreed the land was good, produced abundant food and crops. It was a land flowing with milk and honey. So what was the “bad” report?

2. Verse 22 clearly states, “the descendants of Anak, were there.” This is stated as a matter of fact and is noted even before any reports were given. Later in verse 33 these descendants of Anak are mentioned again as part of the negative report, “there we saw the Nephilim the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim.” These are terms and tribes that seem to be already known about. They are not made up words to describe very tall people. So, who was Anak?

3. Who were the Anakim?

With respect to the first question about the “bad report,” I am referencing the following article “What did the spies do wrong?” https://images.shulcloud.com/618/uploads/PDFs/Divrei_Torah/170617-What-did-the-spies-do-wrong-Shlach-Lecha.pdf

1. “It’s not that they lied, rather their report was given with the intent to scare and demoralized the people.

‘39 years later, Moses himself said the same to their children, as they were about to enter the Promised Land:

You will be coming to conquer nations that are greater and more powerful than you, with great cities, fortified to the skies. They are a great nation, as tall as giants… [Deut. 9:1-2]”

2. “They doubted God’s power. Their very mission implied doubt about the value of God’s gift and God's ability to deliver it. God said "Send for yourself," meaning "I am not commanding you, but if you wish, you may send." Indeed, the people had come to Moses asking for that. [Deut. 1:22]

-Talmud: God told Moses, "I told them that the land is good. By their lives! Now I will give them the opportunity to fall into error through the words of the spies, so that they will not inherit it.” [Sotah 34b, Midrash Tanchuma, Shlach 5]

-But spying for military preparations is OK. The Torah does not tell us to rely on miracles. It's the spies’ presentation that was not OK. [Ramban]”

3. Their lie was the twisting of facts and how they presented their opinion as a part of those facts. “…They did not report (or did not try to find out) what the inhabitants thought of them. Forty years later, Rahav in Jericho tells the spies sent by Joshua that the inhabitants feared the Jews:

I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that a great fear of you has fallen upon us. All the inhabitants of the land faint because of you... As soon as we heard [of the miracles God performed for you] our hearts melted, no courage remained in any man, because of you. [Joshua 2:9-11].

-And the Jews themselves knew that. Earlier, in their Song at the Sea, they had said:

The people of Canaan will melt away. Terror and dread will fall on them. [Ex. 15:15-16]

-The spies made unwarranted assumptions. They said: “In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers, and so were we in their eyes.” In Talmud, Rabbi Mesharsheya asks:

The spies were liars. As regards “In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers,” very well; but how could they know that “so were we in their eyes”? [Sotah 35a]

How did the spies know how the inhabitants saw the Jews?

Now to address questions #2 & 3 concerning Anak and Anakim. This page from Bible Hub.com is all about the Anakim complete with definitions descriptions and bible references: https://biblehub.com/topical/a/anakim.htm

In addition, https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1453-anakim, gives a description as well as references to both Rabbinical and Hellenistic Literature: “According to rabbinical tradition (Gen. R. xxvi.), the Anakim are of the same Titanic race as the Rephaim, Nefilim, Gibborim, Zamzummim, and Emim.” Often these terms and descriptions are used in close relationship to each other or sometimes even interchangeably.

The link: https://www.compellingtruth.org/Rephaim.html, provides a fairly full description of the Rephaim and where it is believed they came from. Quoting from this article:

“...The Rephaim were similar to the Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:20–21). The Rephaim are mentioned again in Exodus when the Israelites were trying to enter the Promised Land. The Rephaim were living in Canaan, and the Israelites were terrified of them—the Israelites didn't want to go into the Promised Land because it was inhabited with "giants" (Numbers 13:33), the sons of Anak. The spies came back to Israel and told the people that "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:32–33). The Promised Land, though beautiful (Numbers 13:27) was inhabited with giants—men so big that the Israelites felt like grasshoppers next to them. The Rephaim were of the same type.

Can this be taken literally? Who are the Nephilim? The Bible says that Og, king of Bashan (one of the last Rephaim) had a bed that was thirteen feet long (Deuteronomy 3:11). Was this just the grandiosity of a king, or did Og really need a bed that large? We know the ancient Jews believed them to be giants because the Greek word titanes, from which English derives the word titan, is used to translate the Hebrew word rephaim. Ancient folklore from many cultures features stories of giants. And there is biblical basis for their existence. The Nephilim (the word used synonymously with the Anakites) were the offspring of fallen angels and women (Genesis 6:1–4). How this is biologically possible we don't know, but the story is presented literally. The phrase used in the passage is "sons of God" who took "daughters of man" as their wives and bore children through them. The phrase "sons of God" is used exclusively elsewhere in Scripture to describe angelic beings.”

Looking now at 2 Peter 2:4 it says: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell[a] and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” Keeping this passage in mind, lets look at Jude 1:6 which says: “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—” Both these passages refer to angels bound in gloomy darkness for their sin. These passages also beg the question, what was their sin(s)?

I think in this instance the passage from Jude helps make the reference in Peter much more clear. Looking at the passage in Jude a bit more carefully, verse 6 does not end as a complete sentence or thought but rather it ends with a dash and continues on into verse 7. Thus the thought conveyed here (in speaking of those angles reads, “...left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire...” In other words he is comparing the activity of those angles to the immorality and depravity that occurred in Sodom and Gomorrah.

In speaking of this verse, https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/jude-1-6, I found this supporting quote:

“The angels in this verse, "who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode," is speaking of those who rebelled with Satan and also sinned in Genesis 6, "when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them." Although all angels who chose to rebel with Satan lost their position in the holy, heavenly angelic realm... this group also abandoned their angelic form by taking on a human form in order to have sex with human women, which resulted in a hybrid offspring, described in Genesis as giants or Nephilim. However, the message to us from Jude is a warning to all who have a common faith with the apostle, against falling into apostasy.”

In my original post I made reference to several extra-Biblical texts including the book of Enoch. The passages noted referenced in 2 Peter and Jude, are both quotes from Enoch. There are no other scriptural references to these angels being committed to chains and bound in gloomy darkness… when these two writers wrote, they were quoting from a know source. They would have presumed those to whom they were writing would also have known and understood the reference.

Finally, I want to include excerpts from Catholic scholar, Dr Taylor Marshall. In an article titled, “Angels having Relations with Humans within Jude and 2 Peter and 1 Enoch” he writes:

“Genesis 6 has a confusing reference to “when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them” and how this occurrence led to Yahweh flooding the earth. What does this mean?

Sometime around the 200s BC a Jewish document called “Book of Enoch” or 1 Enoch was produced. It gives all the details on how angelic beings copulated with human women and created a cosmic mess before the Flood. And here’s the interesting problem we have:

Saint Jude (Jude 1:14-15) directly quotes this non-biblical document known as “Book of Enoch” or 1 Enoch:

Jude 14–15

It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying:“Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Compare with:

1 Enoch 1:9 Behold, he comes with ten thousand saints to execute judgment upon all, and he will destroy all the ungodly and convict all flesh of all the deeds of their ungodliness that they have ungodly committed in an ungodly way, and of all the arrogant and hard words which sinners have spoken against him.

It’s not only this direct quotation of 1 Enoch by Jude, but Jude (and 2 Peter) allude to the fantastical events of 1 Enoch, namely the sexual encounters of fallen angels with human women, which gives birth to the nephilim or “giants.” The birth of the giants, according to 1 Enoch, is the reason for the Noah’s Flood.

And this belief is also found in the non-canonical book of Wisdom:

“And from the beginning also when the proud giants (γιγάντων) perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.” (Wisdom 14:6)

The author of Wisdom clearly associates the flood to a divine genocide of the race of the giants (γιγάντων) to leave the world a “seed of generation.” (Saint Paul quotes from Wisdom about 7 times – so Saint Paul also likely hold this belief.)

In 1 Enoch, Yahweh sends 200 angels to guide and instruct humanity. These 200 angels are called “Irin” in Aramaic and “Egregoroi” in Greek. Both words mean “Watchers.” These Watchers corrupt humanity by teaching them evil arts such as cosmetology (sorry ladies), sorcery, astrology, and the arts of war.

These angels also seduce human women and copulate with them. The women give birth to nephilim or giants. God causes these giants to fight and die. Then the souls of the giants turn into demons that haunt and tempt humans for the rest of time.

So Yahweh binds these 200 evil angelic Watchers into “Tartarus.”

What is Tartarus? In the Homer’s Iliad, Zeus teaches that Tartarus is “as far beneath Hades as heaven is above earth.” Tartarus is the deepest part of the underworld, far below Hades.

It’s noteworthy that the term “tartarus” is used by Enoch and 2 Peter. This signals the blending of Hebrew history with Greek mythology since Greek myth depict Zeus (after 10 years of battle or titanomachy) sending the older primordial deities called Titans into the deep dungeon abyss of “tartarus.”

Notably 2 Peter explicitly uses Enoch’s word “Tartarus” for the condemnation of fallen “angels.” Jude and 2 Peter use almost the same words, but 2 Peter uses “Tartarus”:

Jude 6 - “And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day.”

Compare with 2 Peter 2:4a: “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartaros and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment;”

Compare this with what it says in 1 Enoch 7:2: “And when the angels, the sons of heaven, beheld them, they became enamored of them, saying to each other, Come, let us select for ourselves wives from the progeny of men, and let us beget children.” (1 Enoch 7:2)

The resulting children are called nephilim in Hebrew or gigantes (giants) in Latin and Greek. In 1 Enoch, the historical Enoch goes to God and seeks to make intercession for the forgiveness of the giants. God refuses and the giants are condemned. This part of the story is referred to in Sirach:

“He was not propitiated for the ancient giants who revolted in their might.” (Sirach 16:7)

The Dead Sea Scrolls contain 10 copies (!) of the Book of Giants – a work that describes in detail the conception of giants in Genesis 6 from the union of women and angelic watchers. The giants were warriors and cannibals. This theology was an important part of the theology of Second Temple Judaism.”

I just want to make it clear as I close; the book of Enoch is not part of the scripture nor do I think it needs to be. I see it as a part of a body of literature containing stories from the past that perhaps were passed down orally before being written out sometime during the second temple period. These were the accounts of history which most of the Jewish historians, scholars, and religious people of the day were aware of. These stories and accounts were known broadly enough that references to them were often made without any need for further explanation.

It is not necessary to accept the ideas here presented, I have only put this together to facilitate further understanding of some of the things I wrote in my earlier essay.

As in the Days of Noah

Lately, in discussing current events and the circumstances in which we find ourselves, I hear many references to “the days of Noah.” Of course this is a term used to express an apocalyptic viewpoint of the times, events and the nature of what we’re experiencing these days. It is a sign first mentioned by Jesus as he responded to a question from his disciples. So, does this phrase fit the events we see all around us these days; are we indeed in the days of Noah?

Part of a discussion between Jesus and His disciples went as follows:

“Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” (Matthew 24:1-3 NASB)

The answer Jesus gave and His teaching on the subject takes up the balance of the chapter. The passage is well worth reading carefully. The reference to “days of Noah” comes in that teaching as quoted here in the following passage:

“But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:36-39, NASB)

Given the subject matter of the discussion (both then and now), I think we would do well to pay close attention to this reference to Noah. What was going on prior to his entry into the ark? We are, after all, discussing what was happening just before a global calamity. Nearly all creation was destroyed; and here Jesus is saying times would be very similar just before the “end of the age.”

***Please note: In this discussion we will not be getting into when exactly the reference “end of the age” is in reference to, or if it might be a harbinger of yet another future event.***

Jesus used the comparison to an earlier known event in order to answer and help the disciples understand the coming “end of the age.” This being the case, I’m quite sure that the disciples understood the reference and what Jesus meant as He used it to answer their question. However, I am not at all certain that we, in our day, understand what was meant by the answer Jesus gave or all that the reference to “the days of Noah” might mean.

In the past, when my attention had been drawn to this passage, the idea most often connected to the comparison of times was, “they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” As a lad growing up, the interpretation of this passage (as I understood it) is best represented in Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. The quote from this link reads in part:

“… they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage: not that these civil actions of life were criminal in themselves, had care been taken that they were not abused. It is lawful to eat and drink, provided it be in moderation, and not to excess; and to marry, and give in marriage, when the laws, rules, and ends thereof, are observed: and therefore this must be understood, either of their wholly giving themselves up to the pleasures of life, and lusts of the flesh….”

In my opinion, this interpretation alone does not answer the question adequately. I’m not at all certain this is how the disciples understood what Jesus said. There is no doubt that there was much evil in the minds and life-styles of those people; the Bible says as much. One could probably quite easily draw a parallel between much of the morality we see around us today and that of the population of Noah’s day i.e. giving themselves up wholly to the pleasures and lusts of the flesh. But still, based on the text itself, you must wonder how this description is anything other than normal human behaviour? We have always been eating, drinking and marrying.

In reference to the flood, and in speaking about the people of that day, Jesus said: “They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” This begs the question, “Could they have known what was coming and if so, why didn’t they?” We know that Noah spent about 120 years constructing the ark which would have been a well-known and observable fact. We know that Noah was a righteous preacher that was trying to reach the hearts and minds of the people in order to get them to repent. There is evidence from extra-Biblical, second temple literature suggesting that Noah was trying to warn the people of what would be coming. Yet despite the opportunity to know, and ample time to change their ways, it seems the people were unprepared for what was coming. Apparently they were unaware of what was going on all around them, as their time wound down.

I do not think the quote, “…For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away,” was meant to be a statement of what the people were doing wrong. Rather, it seems to me that Jesus was merely pointing how the people were not paying attention to what was going on around them. As far as they were concerned, life was going on as usual right up to the last minute. The people were totally and completely unaware despite the warnings, urgings to repent and the deadly, destructive behaviour evident all around them. There had been plenty of time and ample opportunity for them to change their fate – and yet they were taken unawares.

At other times, in reference to the days of Noah, we are reminded that the wickedness of the human race had become great on the earth. The Bible says, “and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) There is likely little doubt this statement can be applied today more than much of past history. However this description of human behaviour and the condition of the human heart could be applied to almost any point in human history – and it would probably fit. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” But this is indeed another of several factors to be included in studying Noah’s days.

What is recorded in Genesis and that which was referenced by Jesus in his response to the disciples seems to address a lot more than what has already been noted. Something more was definitely going on that resulted in God’s pronouncement, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7) A little further in the account Genesis 6:12 says, “And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”

It seems to me that key to understanding “the days of Noah,” is to abandon our rather narrow, birds-eye view of the flood as a single event. Instead, try to see it in a much broader context both in terms of time-frame as well as what all was going on.

Firstly, Genesis 7:6 tells us Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark and the flood began. I mention this because 600 years is (to us) a very long time. I think many read the phrase “days of Noah” without grasping the enormity of possibilities for such a time span. Today, if we looked back to the early 1400s, we would realize a great many events happened during that time. A single phrase like, “during that time,” would not be adequate to convey all that occurred.

While the Bible contains history, and makes reference to different historical events, it is not (nor has it ever claimed to be) a complete historical work. Therefore, I think just reading the thirty verses from Genesis 6:8 – Genesis 7:16 is simply a glimpse of the history leading up to the flood. It is not intended to offer complete content or detail of all events leading up to the Flood. There were and are other, extra-Biblical sources describing events of that period of time. I also have good reason to believe the disciples had knowledge of many of these details and a much more comprehensive understanding of the Flood. They knew much better than most people today of the events leading up to this major catastrophic event.

Secondly the coming disaster was not kept a secret and yet all but Noah and his family were caught by surprise. Genesis 6:3 is a prophecy of the coming flood in 120 years time - a warning that God will not tolerate man’s sin forever. Many Biblical scholars support this view of the 120 year pronouncement as does the book of Jasher (a non-biblical text). Jasher 5:6 says Noah was 480 years old when God spoke to he and Methuselah of the coming doom if mankind did not turn from their wicked ways. Jasher 5:6-11 reads:

“6. And after the lapse of many years, in the four hundred and eightieth year of the life of Noah, when all those men, who followed the Lord had died away from amongst the sons of men, and only Methuselah was then left, God said unto Noah and Methuselah, saying,

7. Speak ye, and proclaim to the sons of men, saying, Thus saith the Lord, return from your evil ways and forsake your works, and the Lord will repent of the evil that he declared to do to you, so that it shall not come to pass.

8. For thus saith the Lord, Behold I give you a period of one hundred and twenty years; if you will turn to me and forsake your evil ways, then will I also turn away from the evil which I told you, and it shall not exist, saith the Lord.

9. And Noah and Methuselah spoke all the words of the Lord to the sons of men, day after day, constantly speaking to them.

10. But the sons of men would not hearken to them, nor incline their ears to their words, and they were stiffnecked.

11. And the Lord granted them a period of one hundred and twenty years, saying, If they will return, then will God repent of the evil, so as not to destroy the earth.”

However you look at it, despite the period of grace and warning - despite the call to repentance – despite all that was going on around them (and there was plenty of strange and evil things going on) the world was caught by surprise when the flood waters came. Jesus said of his second coming that no-one knows the day or hour… whereas the coming flood was given a definite time frame… yet knowing the time frame for the disaster made no difference. The book of Jasher states that not only did they ignore the warnings and appeals to repent, but in chapter 6:11-12 it says:

“And on that day, the Lord caused the whole earth to shake, and the sun darkened, and the foundations of the world raged, and the whole earth was moved violently, and the lightning flashed, and the thunder roared, and all the fountains in the earth were broken up, such as was not known to the inhabitants before; and God did this mighty act, in order to terrify the sons of men, that there might be no more evil upon earth.

And still the sons of men would not return from their evil ways, and they increased the anger of the Lord at that time, and did not even direct their hearts to all this.”

Something of great importance, which cannot be overlooked, was going on in addition to the points spoken of already. A very specific kind of evil and corruption was spreading throughout all creation and threatening all flesh. I’m speaking here of the Nephilim and the evil that saw their entry into human history. Far too often this factor gets skipped, misunderstood or simply ignored. Several scriptural passages make either direct or indirect reference to both these creatures and the times/events in which they were produced.

When you look at passages such as 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Numbers 13:30-33 and Genesis 6:1-4, you will notice they point to an event or events that are not clearly stated. Such references are made largely as one would make a comment – stated in passing – where the subject seems to be already broadly understood and therefore attention to specific detail is not needed. As an example of what I’m trying to say here; if I speak of the events of 9/11 in the USA, it would be understood well enough. I would not then need to go into a detailed description of the terrorists, how they boarded the planes, were they came from etc. I could simply include a 9/11 reference into conversation on numerous other topics such as security, terrorism, foreign policy etc and the reference would be understood.

Getting back to the Nephilim; I’m especially interested in Genesis 6:1-4 and how they figure into the Noah reference. This passage speaks of the “sons of God” (fallen divine beings or “angels”… in the book of Enoch they are called “Watchers”). The Watchers had sexual relations with human women and produced these offspring called Nephilim. This forbidden activity was causing the corruption (literally) of human flesh and genetics (blood-lines). Indeed, all creation was being threatened by this illicit activity. Not only that but these fallen Watchers were also teaching humanity all manner of evil, forbidden knowledge, and ways to destroy themselves. This activity is spoken of in more detail in some of the extra-biblical, second-temple writings (such as the book of Enoch). Such accounts were known of and referenced by the disciples and various other people at the time of Jesus.

As a lead-up to the flood narrative, Genesis 6:11-12 it reads:

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.”

In Matthew, where Jesus mentions the days of Noah, he had just finished saying:

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9-14)

So now let’s look at what the book of Enoch says about the period of time Genesis 6 is referring to. Enoch chapter 3:7-14 says (speaking here of the “Watchers”):

“7 And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them.

8 And they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants.

9 And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind.

10 And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood. Then the earth laid accusation against the lawless ones.

11 And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures.

12 And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways.

13 Semjaza taught enchantments and root−cuttings, Armaros the resolving of enchantments, Baraqijal taught astrology, Kokabel the constellations, Ezeqeel the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun, and Sariel the course of the moon.

14 And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven.”

In studying this material, I came across this passage from: https://beginningandend.com/bloodlines-of-the-nephilim-a-biblical-study/ which I think adds to this discussion and so I quote it here:

“…Much more than the “over-reaction by an angry God” as skeptics like to paint it, the flood was God’s way of preserving the human race and its bloodline, before it became completely corrupted by the Nephilim giants. This is an important point: many people today point to the flood as “proof” that God is cruel and angry with humanity all the time, and willing to just kill millions of people in genocide on a whim. However the Biblical truth was that God sent the flood to preserve humanity and to make sure we could still receive the promised Redeemer who could save our souls. Without Jesus Christ, there is no hope. There is no future. There is no forgiveness. Meaning every person would spend eternity in hell. The flood was God’s way to keep that hope for all people.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Noah was chosen to carry on and re-start humanity after the flood because he was a believer in God. Additionally he was “perfect in his generations” which meant that his genetic bloodline and ancestry was 100% human. Noah had not been a part of the Nephilim hybridization that was plaguing humanity. The Hebrew word for “perfect” in that verse is tamiym, which means “complete, whole” with reference to health and physical condition. This is the same word used to describe the condition of animal sacrifices to the Lord…”

At this point, I think a valid question to ask is, “Will the “end of the age” that Jesus describes as like “the days of Noah,” see something similar? Have there been and will there be efforts of this sort that would corrupt all life/creation/flesh?”

In my opinion, we have seen and will continue to see such efforts and the evidence of such works. Ever since the discovery of DNA, which is the code of every living cell, we have seen attempts to modify and change it. These attempts are born out of the arrogant assumption that mere human determination, ingenuity and speculation can be successfully used to manipulate the DNA coding so as to make it do what we desire. Such efforts and experiments have been done – often without any inkling of the disastrous outcomes. That it can be done has been demonstrated, that it should be done has never been treated with the caution and reverence the question deserves. With every effort, there have been unintended consequences and collateral damage of one form or another.

Examples of such efforts include efforts such as meddling in our health and with our food supply through gene-splicing, cloning and GMO products. At first glance the case for them seems good – but what about the unintended side effects? First of all are they even safe? Do they end up causing illnesses and deficiencies (as we’re starting to see)? Are they failing to meet the agricultural needs of hungry nations and instead increasing famine, crop failure and starvation? Aside from the questions based on the DNA manipulation, another fact to consider is the attempt to own and control the global food supply as is happening with more and more seeds becoming patented property that must be purchased annually. Check the following paragraph for the kinds of concerns that should have been answered even before these products were ever produced:

“As genetically modified (GM) foods are starting to intrude in our diet, concerns have been expressed regarding GM food safety. These concerns as well as the limitations of the procedures followed in the evaluation of their safety are presented. Animal toxicity studies with certain GM foods have shown that they may toxically affect several organs and systems. The review of these studies should not be conducted separately for each GM food, but according to the effects exerted on certain organs it may help us create a better picture of the possible health effects on human beings. The results of most studies with GM foods indicate that they may cause some common toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal, or reproductive effects and may alter the hematological, biochemical, and immunologic parameters. However, many years of research with animals and clinical trials are required for this assessment. The use of recombinant GH or its expression in animals should be re-examined since it has been shown that it increases IGF-1 which may promote cancer.” - from the National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18989835/

Finally, I think it is important to look at the movement, plans and attempts at manipulating and changing humanity itself. Perhaps you’ve heard of “transhumanism” – if not, https://whatistranshumanism.org/ defines it as:

“Transhumanism is a way of thinking about the future that is based on the premise that the human species in its current form does not represent the end of our development but rather a comparatively early phase…

…Transhumanism is a class of philosophies of life that seek the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its currently human form and human limitations by means of science and technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values. – Max More (1990)”

Max More’s original definition continues as follows:

“1. The intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally improving the human condition through applied reason, especially by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.

2. The study of the ramifications, promises, and potential dangers of technologies that will enable us to overcome fundamental human limitations, and the related study of the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies.”

That same article goes on to say the following:

“The World Transhumanist Association (WTA) has since changed its name to Humanity+, but its focus as an organization dedicated to developing transhumanist ideas and policies remains unchanged.

At its core, the organization promotes the development of the next step in humanity's evolutionary process:

"Transhumanists view human nature as a work-in-progress, a half-baked beginning that we can learn to remold in desirable ways. Current humanity need not be the endpoint of evolution. Transhumanists hope that by responsible use of science, technology, and other rational means we shall eventually manage to become posthuman, beings with vastly greater capacities than present human beings have." Transhumanist Values (Humanity+)

So what fuels this desire to transition to "posthuman" status? Is it really idealistic, utopian goals, or is it really just an inherent desire to overcome the "biological chains" of humanity?”

At this point I would like to recommend the reading of this article by Britt Gillette: End Times Bible Prophecy - Understanding God’s Prophetic Word – Transhumanism – particularly with regard to what it has to say about Transhumanism – and can it possibly be found in Bible Prophecy.

In the meantime, if you think all this sounds a little far fetched, you may be surprised to know this topic is getting attention from our own Canadian Government – except there it is called “Biodigital Convergence” (see https://horizons.gc.ca/en/2020/02/11/exploring-biodigital-convergence/) This offering on the Government of Canada website offers the following definition:
“Biodigital convergence is the interactive combination, sometimes to the point of merging, of digital and biological technologies and systems. Policy Horizons is examining three ways in which this convergence is happening.”

Also quoting from this website we read: “Biodigital convergence is opening up striking new ways to:

• Change human beings – our bodies, minds, and behaviours

• Change or create other organisms

• Alter ecosystems

• Sense, store, process, and transmit information

• Manage biological innovation

• Structure and manage production and supply chains

Under the heading “New ways to change human beings – our bodies, minds, and behaviours” we see the following list is a small sampling of the points in the article:

“...Altering the human genome – our core biological attributes and characteristics

...Machine learning helps scientists predict which genes to target for editing

...Monitoring, altering and manipulating human thoughts and behaviours

...Neurotechnologies read brain signals to monitor attention and manage fatigue

...Digital apps can help enhance brain health

...New ways to monitor, manage, and influence bodily functions, as well as predict, diagnose, and treat disease

...Gene sequencing entire samples helps us understand complex environments such as the human microbiome

...Digital devices can be worn or embedded in the body to treat and monitor functionality

...Amazon patent will allow Alexa to detect a cough or a cold20

...Creating new organs and enhancing human functionality

...Biohacking with implanted digital devices to enhance bodily functions

...Nanobots and nanomaterials can operate and precisely deliver drugs within living creatures”

The final question for consideration, in this essay, concerns Covid-19 and the so called vaccinations people are being pressured to accept. Is there any way at all that it should be considered as one of the signs about which Jesus spoke? In my opinion there is no doubt that among all the events of today, and all the signs spoken of, this issue does seem to fit like a custom made glove.

At great risk to themselves, many experts have testified, and it can now be shown with a reasonable degree of certainty that the “SARS-CoV-2 virus” was manufactured in the laboratory. In addition, it was subject to “gain of function” study and modification. With the release of this pathogen into the general public, the so called pandemic was born. So here we have man playing around with genetic material and creating a bio-weapon.

How it got around the globe from the lab in Wuhan China can be debated but it was either by deliberate intent and design, or else by gross incompetence on the part of a great many world leaders. Quickly the story was crafted and managed through the media once it became apparent that the illness was not nearly as devastating as early modelling had predicted. Instead of serious illnesses and fatalities, “case numbers” became the subject of almost minute-by-minute reporting. We were repeatedly told, right from the start, the only hope for a “return to normal” would be a vaccine – and almost literally within hours such a vaccine was developed. Of course, a lesser known fact was that a patent had already been applied for and approved even before the “outbreak.” Even though several treatments and already available medications were found to provide effective treatment, all such measures were all but forbidden. Those advocating for such measures were ostracized or “cancelled.” Nothing was to be allowed to interfere with the emerging “vaccine.” The watchword for this period of time – this whole bit of theatre – would have to be “deception.”

So what of these injections that are being arm-twisted into as many folks as can be frightened or bullied into taking it “voluntarily?” Almost nothing of what is being said to “promote” these injections is true. In fact these shots meet none of the long standing criteria for calling something a vaccine. They do not offer immunity nor do they prevent the spread of the infectious agent. The skyrocketing volume of adverse effects and deaths flies in the face of the claim they are safe. The claim they have been fully tested is completely laughable. None of the testing normally required to prove safety and effectiveness have been fully completed. We don’t know exactly what is in the mix that people are allowing to be injected into their bodies. Independent analysis however, has identified some very toxic substances in the mix. Some studies have reported finding substances such as “Graphene Oxide” – a substance that enhances electrical conductivity but is toxic to humans.

We know the mRNA concept is one technology that is supposed to have the capability to “hack” into instructions issued by your DNA to produce certain protein strands. In essence, it has hijacked your system to produce the “spike protein” of the “pathogen.” This is supposed to stimulate your body’s immune system into producing anti-bodies. However, in the process, it appears that hacking the immune system in this manner has rendered the immune system less efficient at fighting other infectious processes. Might the giant pharmaceutical companies be aiming for the day when we are no longer capable of fighting off infection at all and all our immune response will have to be delivered via Biodigital technological means? Remember, one of the stated objectives as noted is, “Biohacking with implanted digital devices to enhance bodily functions.”

So are we seeing the corruption of our flesh that perhaps resembles the corruption in the days of Noah? I believe the intent is certainly there but the results may or may not be evident yet… each person will have to decide that question for them-self. And the vaccine? Well, that also must be your decision… as for me, my decision is, “No Way!”

Open Letter to Canadian Christian Church Leaders

Dear Canadian Christian Church Leaders,

As part of the preparation for writing this letter, I first collected my thoughts, made numerous notes, studied and consulted many sources. I pondered long and hard about how to express, as clearly as I possibly could, exactly what I am struggling with. It is very difficult for me to look at this past fifteen plus months without feeling very disappointed and somewhat annoyed with the church in Canada. In my opinion the Canadian church largely failed to provide the leadership and direction to the larger Christian community. As I write this, I humbly acknowledge I might be totally wrong in both my thinking and speaking on these subjects and I am open to hear other thoughts and further clarification.

From March 2020, we all have been subjected to conditions unlike anything we have ever seen before. Since we all lived through these unusual circumstances there is no need to repeat the history of events here. However, based on my own prior experience and education, I was very suspicious of what government authorities and the media were promoting as factual on a 24/7 basis. Somewhat reluctantly, I did concede that the initial lock-down, to flatten the curve, could be seen as a reasonable measure.

Of course that “lock-down” went on far longer than the originally promised 2 weeks. All during that time the world did not stop and new information about the “virus” and the risk it posed was being discovered on a daily basis. As it became more and more obvious that the risk was nowhere near as dire as first predicted, many became increasingly suspicious about what dark motives were at play in maintaining the false narrative. As therapeutics for safe, effective treatment were discovered, my own suspicion grew rapidly and especially so as such good news was actively suppressed or simply labelled as quackery and conspiracy. Government sources along with the mainstream media continually refused to report any of this hopeful, positive information and findings. Instead, they kept playing up the message that our only hope was coming in the form of vaccines and NOTHING ELSE!

Early treatment was never offered to those newly diagnosed – they were simply sent home, told to isolate and either get better or get admitted once sick enough to need hospitalization. No effort whatsoever was ever made to reduce the panic being generated in the public, instead it was weaponized and used to further drive punitive public policy. At the time I began to wonder why there seemed to be no effort, that I was ever aware of, on the part of the Christian church community in Canada, to explore and expose this deceit. Why was there no effort to at least explore any other agenda that might be driving this obvious deception? I still have to wonder why.

Once the first restrictions were eased, but before churches were allowed to open with a severely restricted capacity; mandatory masking was put into place. Remember, the “first curve/wave” was completely flattened without mandatory masking. So why now… beside the obvious power and public control factor, would such a policy be imposed? Masking has been conclusively demonstrated in study after study to be totally ineffective for situations such as this, and in many cases poses an even greater health risk. Anyway, by the time the churches were finally permitted to open, many congregations had already decided to remain closed, to omit the fellowship factor, and continue on-line instead. Those who did decide to open were directed to abide by a lengthy list of ridiculous, damaging and unnecessary restrictions.

Why was/is it OK to place such tight restrictions on church gatherings but not on the “big box stores,” liquor stores or cannabis shops? Once the churches were allowed to open, why were numbers so severely restricted as well as length of meeting times? Are church goers simply not as bright and require greater supervision and protection than say, liquor stores or cannabis shoppers? Fellowship and socializing were strongly discouraged… why?

I finally got some idea or at least one possible answer… not from a church source but from a Nova Scotia government appointed health official. Dr. Robert Strang stated on the record that one reason for the restrictions on such gatherings or meetings is to prevent the spread of “false information” about the pandemic. Basically he is saying it is dangerous to allow groups to assemble freely and discuss what is going on in the world around them; they might spread information that runs contrary to the official government narrative.

You see, the fact is large crowds of people shopping in Costco are unlikely to meet very many people they know… and certainly won’t “plan” or discuss at length any matters of substance. On the other hand, when groups gather where they know each other (such as clubs, meetings and churches) they are much more likely to discuss, plan and support each other. When such groups meet together, that sense of isolation will be broken. The authorities are depending on isolation to help break down all personal resistance and that sense of being part of a larger and greater body. The actual comment made by Dr Strang is here: https://rumble.com/vj68up-nova-scotia-official-admits-ban-on-in-person-gatherings-is-to-prevent-sprea.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=4

I was never able to determine why the broader Christian community left these restrictions largely unquestioned and unchallenged. Of course some individual churches and groups did question and challenge as they continued to meet to worship our God and Creator. They did so without adherence or strict enforcement of the government imposed restrictions and mandates. These places of worship, these gatherings proved NOT to be the “super-spreaders” the government claimed; yet they were harassed, bullied and persecuted for their efforts. Rather than show broad support for their Christian brethren however, a number of church leaders and fellow Christian believers, condemned their actions and celebrated their punishments… Why?

At this point, I believe many Christians were helping to perpetuate the deception and the panic. Panic was and is as evident in the church as outside the church… Why?

By the early part of 2021, the so called vaccine (which had been hyped as our only hope) became all the rage. People that had been kept largely isolated for close to a year were now at the point where they were sufficiently panicked. Not only panicked, but also desperate enough to do anything in order to, “return to normal.” When developing vaccines was first spoken of, late in the spring of 2020, I also was very hopeful and eagerly followed their development and testing. I not only heard the promises in the mainstream media, but also followed the reports of other experts in their field i.e. virologists, epidemiologists and immunologists. By the late summer of 2020, I was beginning to hear some very troubling reports (results from early lab testing) as well as speculation of what this might mean. Nevertheless I remained hopeful, even as the reports remained very doubtful and increasingly alarming. I gradually arrived at the point where I decided I wanted no part of this vaccine gambit… at least not until long term studies were completed and the shots were proven safe.

So where does the church come into this part of the discussion?
Well, I am certain I’m not the only one with questions and concerns about these experimental, medically-injected-biological-agents. Since we had been very effectively isolated for so long, our gatherings (where concerns and any information might normally have been shared) were largely non-existent. One of the most trustworthy (and safe?) places where people might discuss and question such weighty matters, is one’s church – and here it was being tightly controlled. I do know many questions were asked but I don’t know how much discussion ever took place or how many fears were allayed. People were largely left to fend for themselves on so many Covid related matters.

While I clearly believe the “vaccines” are unproven, insufficiently tested, and very dangerous in both the short and long term, it is not my place to tell others what they should do. I am left wondering how anyone, contemplating getting the shots, comes to grips with the numerous manipulations and strong deception being used to get “needles in everybody’s arms.” Tactics used to aggressively push the vaccination program have included offering million dollar lottery tickets, targeting children with free ice-cream & other gifts, offering free dope and reduced jail sentences for prisoners. All the while we have witnessed the hiding and/or suppressing of actual death toll numbers and serious adverse reactions.

Children as young as 12 who are legally too young to go on a school outing without a parents permission are being permitted to get the experimental shots without parental consent. Governments are returning civil rights to those getting the shots but withholding the rights of those who are resisting AND there are indications only those who cooperate will be allowed to work and participate in society. All this for a virus that has been shown to be no more lethal than some of the bad seasonal flues we have endured in past years!

As to the experimental injection itself, it has not yet been approved or proven safe but made available as an experimental medical treatment on an emergency basis only. I believe therefore, that it is the responsibility of every adult looking to participate in this experiment to fully inform themselves of all possible outcomes and consequences.

For the record, I do not believe this is the so called “mark of the beast” spoken of in Revelation 13:15–18. I do however believe this vaccine (and the pressure to have everyone accept it) is the product of dishonesty and strong deception. There can be very little doubt that there are other agendas in play here and which I believe to be very evil. There can be no other explanation for the overwhelming efforts to shut down ALL effective treatments and silence ALL health care professionals. Remember many of those experts risked both their careers and reputations because they dared speak out against the official narrative. One must at least wonder about the dishonest and deceitful tactics used to portray the “vaccine” as safe, effective and approved. According to the medical experts that I’ve just noted and the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have had severe adverse reactions (at the time of this writing). Already there have been more deaths attributed to this experimental vaccine than to all other vaccine reports combined since VAERS records began to be kept! With this kind of record, any other medication trial would have been permanently shut-down and abandoned already.

Of course what is actually being suppressed is the fact that the vaccine is experimental, is not approved at all and is only being given on an “Emergency Use Authorization” basis. And of course, this explains why the emergency was declared (where none actually existed) and why effective treatments were actively suppressed and lied about. Big pharma could never have gotten their EUA waiver if there had been no declared emergency or if other effective treatments were already available. Also most people do not even realize they personally assume all risk and responsibility when they sign their consent to participate in this experiment and take the injections. The pharmaceutical companies (making billions of dollars off these “vaccines”) have zero liability. They have total immunity from being sued. Employers saying you must have the shots as a condition of employment may not be willing to accept liability for any death or disability caused by these shots. You are largely on your own as many unfortunate folks are already finding out.

The other day a very good friend told me she feared for her livelihood and is facing a pending choice between taking the shots and keeping her job or declining the injections and losing her job. Such choices are becoming more and more the fate folks must face. Look at the following article titled, “Unvaccinated employees could face masks, segregation upon return to office: Experts” (https://www.cp24.com/news/unvaccinated-employees-could-face-masks-segregation-upon-return-to-office-experts-1.5490223) It allows for the possibility some face of declining the shots at the expense of being treated as a second class citizen (should the employer choose to be so generous).

How about those who, having lost their jobs, were seeking employment as restrictions begin to get lifted. Here is an example of one Canadian government (provincial in this case) using the private sector to discriminate. See this link: https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=51489&posted=2021-06-24. To give you an idea, this article states in part, “Under the Healthy Hire Manitoba Program, local employers can apply for up to $50,000 in provincial support to help cover the wages of new employees who can attest they have been vaccinated or will be vaccinated.” This is being done in a way very reminiscent of the issue in 2018 where churches were denied youth summer job grants when ever Ottawa felt they were trying to weaken or limit access to abortion.

So far as I had been aware, the Canadian Christian church has had nothing to say or offer as it relates to the C-19 vaccines though they are clearly a major issue for a great many people. That in itself I find disturbing. As I did some online searching for thoughts & direction on these topics, I specifically looked for Canadian church, denominational or creed sources. Looking at the Evangelical Association of Canada I found very little useful information or suggestion on this particular topic. I did find one reference directing me to articles on cardus.ca and when I went there, what I found was extremely disappointing and annoying. Allow me to express my concerns by first quoting from a couple of their articles:

1) Vaccination Incentives for the Common Good “We’re almost there! The pandemic’s terrible toll on people’s lives and our country as a whole is coming close to an end. Notwithstanding the talk of a few doomsayers, Canadians are getting out to local clinics, pharmacies, hockey arenas, and other venues in order to roll up their sleeves for the one thing that will ultimately crush COVID-19’s deadly threat: vaccines...

...The key at this stage of the game is to keep our eye on turning that final ball into the sweet, soothing blue of pandemic freedom that comes with herd immunity.”

2) Canada Needs A COVID Vaccination Incentive Program Now “OTTAWA, ON – Canadian think tank Cardus is calling on the federal government to introduce vaccine incentives aimed at encouraging vaccine uptake.”

Under the proposal, each fully vaccinated Canadian would receive a cash incentive of up to $90 to be spent at local businesses and charities. More details are available in a newly released Cardus policy brief by Brian Dijkema, Vice President of External Affairs at Cardus, and Sean Speer, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.”

The only thought that comes to mind as I read these articles is, “such utter rubbish!” I note that in writing such position papers and policy proposals, the authors claim no medical basis for their opinions nor do they have any medical background. Their expertise seems to be only in public policy and labour relations. In this instance, the authors are using the platform of Cardus to help sell the government strategy without regard to the science. Cardus is described as “an independent think tank” and seen by many as having a Judeo-Christian background and values and is a registered charity as well. Indeed, in the article “Vaccination Incentives for the Common Good,” the authors refer to those with concerns (such as I have shared) as “doomsayers” and seems to hand wave us all away with that one pejorative term. I know many Christians utilize this organization as a source of authoritative information – but based on reading this, I find that very sad indeed and I would hope their research went much deeper than these articles appear to have gone.

All the information I’ve been privy to; the data, the testimony of countless experts, the personal experiences of those victims who’s lives have been forever changed and ruined... ALL has been available and freely shared by both myself and others. Multiple credible sources of information and evidence are available to everyone. As adults, faced with making the decision about the experimental shots, each person is responsible to inform them-self as they make up their mind. I believe the most recent moves to give this to children however, is not just ill-conceived but outright criminal and I stand firmly against that.

The last link I want to share is this video: Justice Centre's John Carpay delivers powerful speech at rally for Pastor Tim Stephens This is perhaps one of the most important considerations to ponder as it concerns our very freedom in this country. Here Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms president John Carpay delivers a powerful speech (at a rally outside of the Calgary Remand Centre) held in support of Tim Stephens, the jailed pastor of Fairview Baptist Church.

As this country again prepares to “reopen” and people eagerly look forward to resuming their “normal” daily activities, there are several important factors I am hoping to see direction and leadership on. First, only a small portion of our constitutional rights are actually being returned – and that conditionally so. Secondly, the government has retained new power for itself that it never had before. It has given itself, through this so called emergency, the ability to immediately reimpose all restrictions for any reason it decides is a “crisis” or “emergency,” apparently with no criteria necessary. Severe limits on gathering continue to exist in some jurisdictions and new inhibitions are being placed on our ability to speak freely and openly. I believe the church cannot help but be involved in the discussion – either freely and openly or grudgingly and by default.

It seems to me that one of the main reasons for a declining interest in the Christian church these days is a perceived lack of relevance to everyday life. Canadians today see matters such as those outlined above as having a huge impact on their lives as well as their families, friends and communities. These issues are clearly serious and are regarded as both urgent and pressing. Christians are obviously part of these communities and of course experienced the same things; they have many of the same questions. Many within the Christian community are living through the very same events as those of their friends and neighbours and are no doubt left wondering about the silence of the church. This silence almost seems to be coupled with the near complete capitulation to governmental overreach and take-over. The few churches that refused to completely comply with government dictates, and spoke truth to power, were persecuted by governmental authority and actions. Even through all this government over-reach, the broad church community was largely silent or even worse, critical of those who resisted.

During this period of time, people were left wondering if all that they were experiencing somehow fits with Bible prophecy, and if so, how? If not, does the Bible have anything at all to say about times such as these? Many congregants within the churches were seeking direction about what they should be doing, what they might expect or what would be a good and reasonable way to respond. Unfortunately, the best they got in a great many instances was isolation as they “did church” from their living room coach watching YouTube.

Alright, that was just one extraordinary event… well, maybe. That event however has lasted the better part of 1.5 years and some of the effects linger on with no end in sight. With the governing authorities now well rehearsed use of “emergency powers” to gain nearly unrestrained power, what about the next “crisis” that is sure to come? Is the church going to be willing or able to address that when it happens? What about other current events we’re experiencing right now? As morals continue to rapidly decay and children are the primary targets, does the church wish to address any of those issues in a plain, truthful and forceful manner?

All these are questions are relevant to us today as we wonder if, how, or where this all fits into Bible prophecy. Canadians are seeking truthful answers to the problems we are faced with. I believe Jesus gave us signs and prophecies to help us understand the times we live in and also to help us realize that He has always known what is coming. He is totally in charge and always has been. So then, how do the signs and prophecies written in the Bible relate to the events today? John 16 would seem to be as good a starting point as any to begin to show relevance. Verses 1-4 say :

“I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.”

The chapter concludes at verse 33 with, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

My final thought and conclusion concerns the relevance of large segments of “the church” as we’ve seen it largely capitulate to societal demands and deception. If it is silent on the issues, such as outlined in this essay – and if it is unable to see, appreciate, or in any way address any of these concerns – if individuals feel like they are on their own with no idea of where to turn – then I am afraid the relevance of the church may not be apparent.