ILLUMINATI COVER-UP -
PROOF: BIBLE IS FACT!
(Part 3)

[Cont. from Part 2]

BEYOND
BRUTALITY

        From all historical accounts, a normal mortal could never have survived even the beating and torture inflicted on Jesus - let alone the ensuing crucifixion! (But, then again, remember Jesus was only HALF mortal!) Mattingly cites John Peter Lange:

        "It has been conjectured that [His] scourging even surpassed the severity of the normal one. Although the normal scourging was administered by lictors,* Lange concluded that since there were no lictors at Pilate's disposal, he used the SOLDIERS. Thus, from the very character of these low, vile soldiers, it may be supposed that they EXCEEDED the brutality meted out by the lictors," adding, "Even the preparation for the journey must have been a source of acute agony. Matthew 27:31 reads: 'And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him and put His own rainment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.' The RUDE STRIPPING of the mock royal garments and the replacing of His own garments, undoubtedly ON CONTACT WITH THE CUT AND BRUISED SKIN from the scourging, resulted in great pain."

        [NOTE: *Although I was unable to discover an exact definition of a "lictor," from its usage I would assume this would be someone comparable in position to our modern-day executioner. This may be from where our present-day expression to "give someone a licking" originated. - OL]

AN EXTREMELY CRUEL &
UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT

        "When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people* took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor." - Matthew 27:1-2

        [NOTE: *I wouldn't be surprised if these were the ancestors of the ILLUMINATI. - OL]

        Josh McDowell, author of 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict,' paints a slightly different picture than we usually have of the "NAILS driven into His hands and feet." According to McDowell: "Jesus was crucified in the usual Roman manner; the hands and feet were pierced by LARGE DULL SPIKES, which attached the body to the wooden cross or stake." Quoting author Michael Green, McDowell reminds us: "After a sleepless night, in which He was given no food, endured the mockery of two trials, and had His back lacerated with the cruel Roman cat-o'-nine-tails, He was led out to execution by crucifixion. THIS WAS AN EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL DEATH, IN WHICH EVERY NERVE IN THE BODY CRIED ALOUD IN ANGUISH."

PORTRAIT
OF A
CRUCIFIXION

        According to Chuck Missler, "The most common device used for crucifixion was a wooden cross, which consisted of an upright pole permanently fixed in the ground with a removable crossbar, usually weighing between 75-100 LBS. Victims of crucifixion were typically stripped naked and their clothing divided by the Roman guards...The victim was then placed on his back, arms stretched out and nailed to the cross bar. The nails, which were generally about 7-9 INCHES LONG, were placed between the bones of the FOREARM (the radius and ulna)* and the small bones of the HANDS (the carpal bones).

        "The placement of the nail at this point had several effects. First it ensured that the victim would indeed hang there until dead. Secondly, a nail placed at this point would sever the largest nerve in the hand called the median nerve. The severing of this nerve is a medical catastrophe. In addition to SEVERE BURNING PAIN the destruction of this nerve causes permanent PARALYSIS of the hand.W Furthermore, by nailing the victim at this point in the wrist, there would be minimal bleeding and there would be NO BONES BROKEN!

        [NOTE: *The "forearm" - NOT the hollow of the hand. Remember this the next time you watch a story on TV of someone suffering from "stigmata." Notice, they always present as evidence, bloody "nail prints" ONLY in the supposed victim's hands - never the arms or wrists!
       W Judging by how much they love to torture their victims, these monsters must be the HEROES of the CIA and today's INTERNATIONAL MAFIA! - OL]

POSITION
IMPOSSIBLE

        "...The positioning of the feet is probably the most critical part of the mechanics of crucifixion. First the knees were flexed about 45 degrees and the feet were flexed (bent downward) an additional 45 degrees until they paralleled the verticle pole. An IRON NAIL about 7-9 INCHES LONG was driven through the feet between [the] 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. In this position the nail would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot, but the resultant bleeding would be insufficient to cause death. The resulting position on the cross sets up a horrific sequence of events which results in a slow, painful death. Having been pinned to the cross, the victim now has an impossible position to maintain.

        "With the knees flexed at about 45 degrees, the victim must bear his weight with the muscles of the thigh. However, this is an almost impossible task - try to stand with your knees flexed at 45 degrees for 5 minutes. As the strength of the legs gives out, the weight of the body must now be borne by the arms and shoulders. The result is that within a few minutes of being placed on the cross, the SHOULDERS will become DISLOCATED. Minutes later the ELBOWS and WRISTS become DISLOCATED. The result of these dislocations is that the ARMS are as much as 6-9 INCHES LONGER THAN NORMAL.

A SLOW AND
AGONIZING DEATH

        "With the arms dislocated, considerable body weight is transferred to the chest, causing the rib cages to be elevated in a state of PERPETUAL INHALATION. Consequently, in order to exhale the victim must push down on his feet to allow the rib muscles to relax. The problem is that the victim cannot push very long because the legs are extremely fatigued. As time goes on, the victim is less and less able to bear weight on the legs, causing FURTHER DISLOCATION of the arms and further raising of the chest wall, making BREATHING more and more DIFFICULT...rising CO2 (carbon dioxide) level
stimulates the heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen and the removal of CO2. However, due to the pinning of the victim and the limitations of oxygen delivery, the victim cannot deliver more oxygen and the rising heart rate only increases oxygen demand.

        "...Over a period of several hours the combination of COLLAPSING LUNGS, a FAILING HEART, DEHYDRATION, and the inability to get adequate oxygen supplies to the tissues cause the eventual death of the victim. The victim, in effect, cannot breathe properly and SLOWLY SUFFOCATES TO DEATH. In cases of severe cardiac stress, such as crucifixion, a victims heart can even burst. This process is called 'CARDIAC RUPTURE.' Therefore it could be said that Jesus died of a 'BROKEN HEART'!"*

       [NOTE: One would think - considering how bloodthirsty our movie-makers are - they would be thrilled to make a movie of these inhuman events, wouldn't you? Why haven't they? - OL]

THE HORRIFYING
PRICE JESUS PAID

        What price WAS demanded of Jesus for Mankind's salvation? Frederick Farrar describes a death BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION: "...DIZZINESS, CRAMP, THIRST, STARVATION, SLEEPLESSNESS, TRAUMATIC FEVER, TETANUS, SHAME, publicity of shame, long continuance of TORMENT, HORROR OF ANTICIPATION, mortification of UNTENDED WOUNDS - all intensified just up to the point at which they could be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness.

        "The UNNATURAL POSITION made every movement painful; the LACERATED VEINS and CRUSHED TENDONS throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually GANGRENED; the ARTERIES - especially at the head and stomach - became SWOLLEN and oppressed with surcharged blood; and while each variety of misery...gradually increased, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a BURNING and RAGING THIRST; and all these physical complications caused an internal excitement and anxiety, which made the prospect of death itself - of death, the unknown enemy, at whose approach man usually shudders most - bear the aspect of a delicious and exquisite release."*

        [NOTE: *For those of you unfamiliar with this story, perhaps the most amazing part was when Jesus - in the middle of His indescribable agony - took time out to forgive a criminal, hanging beside Him, telling him: "Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Be assured, there is nothing you have done that cannot be forgiven and washed clean in Jesus' blood!  - Luke 23:43 - OL]

PROPHECY
FULFILLED

        "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, THEY BRAKE NOT HIS LEGS. But one of the soldiers with a spear PIERCED HIS SIDE, and forwith came there out BLOOD AND WATER..." - John 19:31-34
        "For these things were done, that THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE FULFILLED, a BONE OF HIM SHALL NOT BE BROKEN. And again another scripture saith, THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED." - John 19:36-37

AN AWESOME AND
EARTH-SHAKING EVENT

        "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the VEIL of the temple was RENT IN TWAIN from the top to the bottom; and the earth did QUAKE, and the ROCKS RENT; And the graves were opened; and many BODIES OF THE SAINTS which slept arose, And came out of the graves AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the CENTURION, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, TRULY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD."
- Matthew 27:50-54

        Now, this isn't exactly the way we were led to believe it happened in the "Ten Commandments" or "The Robe," is it? Or even the more recent TV movies, "Mary, the Mother of Jesus," and "Jesus!" And let's not forget: HE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE ANY OF THIS. They didn't take Jesus' life. He GAVE it - for You and me, and all those who will accept it. He went through all of this WILLINGLY to save US from ETERNAL DAMNATION! Would YOU? Would our Presidents?? Ironic, isn't it? The motivation of the Calvary Conspirators - to kill Jesus and his followers - is the same motivation of those who founded the United Nations and created the famous Declaration of Human Rights. And, of course, they are also the ones behind the massacres in China, Russia, Rawanda, etc., etc., ad nauseum. THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO KILL JESUS TODAY! And, lest we forget, these are also the first ones screaming about "cruel and unusual punishment" if a prisoner doesn't get the right kind of PEANUT BUTTER for lunch! Dr. Samuel Houghton, a physiologist from the University of Dublin examined the death of Jesus from a scientific point:

AUTOPSY

        "...Repeated observations and experiments made upon men and animals have led me to the following results - When the left side is freely pierced after death by a large knife, comparable in size with a Roman spear, three distinct cases may be noted:

                                1st: No flow of any kind follows the wound, except a
                                      slight trickling of blood.

                               2nd: A copious flow of blood only follows the wound.

                               3rd: A copious flow of water only, succeeded by a few
                                      drops of blood, follows the wound.

        "Of these three cases," Dr. Houghton explains, "the FIRST is that which USUALLY occurs; the SECOND is found in cases of death by DROWNING and by STRYCHNIA...and it can be proved to be the natural case of a crucified person; and the THIRD is found in cases of death from pleurisy, pericarditis, and RUPTURE OF THE HEART." Dr. Houghton then goes on to examine two other possibilities:

        "...The two following cases, although readily explicable on physiological principles, are not recorded in the books (except by St. John). Nor have I been fortunate enough to meet with them:

                               4th: A copious flow of water, succeeded by a copious
                                      flow of blood, follows the wound.

                               5th: A copious flow of blood, succeeded by a copious
                                      flow of water, follows the wound.

        "...The FOURTH would occur in a crucified person who had previously to crucifixion suffered from pleuritic effusion; and the FIFTH case would occur in a crucified person, who had died upon the cross from RUPTURE OF THE HEART." Dr. Houghton then comes to a startling scientific conclusion. Sure enough:

JESUS DIED
OF A
BROKEN HEART!

        "There remains...no supposition possible to explain the recorded phenomenon EXCEPT the combination of the crucifixion and rupture of the heart..." Dr. Houghton determines: "...It [shows] that the narrative in St. John COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN INVENTED; that the facts recorded must have been seen by an EYE-WITNESS; and that the eye-witness was so astonished that he apparently thought the phenomenon miraculous."

        Referring to the book 'The Physical Cause of the Death of Christ,' Professor E.H. Day says that its author James Thompson: "...demonstrates that the death of Christ was due, not to physical exhaustion, or to the pains of crucifixion, but to AGONY OF MIND producing rupture of the heart. "His energy of mind and body in the act of dissolution proves beyond contradiction that His death was not the result of exhaustion; the soldier's spear was the means to exhibiting to the world that HIS DEATH WAS DUE TO CARDIAC RUPTURE." Certainly, after taking on the sins of every man, woman and child from Adam
and Eve to the end of the world, Jesus would have had more reason to die of a broken heart than any other man in history!

HOW DEAD
IS DEAD?

        " Various sources have questioned the Bible's record of Jesus' death, putting forth the theory that Jesus wasn't actually dead when He was buried, and his disciples "spirited His body away during the night." How do we KNOW that this didn't happen, and His resurrection WASN'T just a hoax? First we have to address the question of whether Jesus was really dead when Joseph buried Him: Michael Green is convinced because,

        "...Had Jesus been alive when the spear pierced His side, strong spouts of blood would have emerged with every heart beat," Green reasons. "Instead, the observer noticed semi-solid dark red clot seeping out, distinct and separate from the accompanying watery serum. This is evidence of MASSIVE CLOTTING of the blood in the main arteries, and is exceptionally strong medical proof of DEATH. It is all the more impressive because the evangelist could not possibly have realized its significance to a
pathologist..." And Green also points out that Pilate required CERTIFICATION of Christ's death: "Four executioners came to examine Him, before a friend, Joseph of Arimathea, was allowed to take away the body for burial."

NO SHROUD
FOR JESUS

        In 'The Reality of the Resurrection,' Merrill Tenney showed that the bodies being prepared for burial were actually sealed into the burial clothes: "In preparing a body for burial according to Jewish custom, it was usually WASHED and straightened, and then bandaged tightly from the armpits to the ankles in STRIPS OF LINEN about a foot wide. Aromatic spices, often of a gummy consistency, were placed between the wrappings or folds. They served partially as a preservative and partially as a cement to GLUE the cloth wrappings into a solid covering..."

        Now, many Christians have been confused by the "SHROUD OF TURIN" (a one-piece blood- stained cloth), as was I in the beginning. I know now that it CANNOT be the shroud of Jesus: Having been told by Mary that Jesus' body was missing, "...Simon Peter...went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen CLOTHES lie. And the NAPKIN, THAT WAS ABOUT HIS HEAD, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place BY ITSELF." - John 20:7. Note "clothes" is PLURAL (as in "strips" - not one cloth.)

THE
LETTER

        "About 1900, a letter was found in a collection of documents owned by Ulysse Chevalier. The letter was written in 1389 by the Bishop of Troyes to the Anti-Pope of Avignon, Clement the VII. The letter explained that an investigation had exposed the artist who had painted the Shroud and he had confessed. Many were disturbed that the cloth was being used for financial gain. The letter further pointed out:

        'For many theologians and other wise persons declared that this could not be the real Shroud of our Lord, having the Savior's likeness thus imprinted upon it, since the Holy Gospel made no mention of any such imprint; while, if it had been true, it was quite unlikely that the holy evangelist would have omitted to record it, or that the fact should have remained hidden until the present time.' The letter added that the forger had been exposed and referred to 'the truth being attested by the artist who had painted it, to wit, that it was a work of human skill and not miraculously wrought or bestowed."

RECREATING
THE PAST

        Those who argued that the Shroud was authentic because there were (1) no brush marks; (2) the image did not penetrate below the top fibers; (3) traces of a powder alleged to be aloes; and (4) "pollen fossils" found on the cloth encountered a big problem recently. The November 1978 issue of "The Humanist" and the November 1979 issue of "Popular Photography" both carried pictures of a bas-relief image created by Joe Nickell: a recreation of the Shroud of Turin. What makes this particularly unique is the WAY that Nickell accomplished all this. The February 1980 issue of "Christian Life" reveals that:

        "Nickells employed a technique USING ONLY 14TH CENTURY MATERIAL AND METHODS to recreate or duplicate a negative imagery as found on the Shroud. This technique produces a negative. He did not paint his image, but used a bas-relief and applied a wet cloth to it, and when it had dried he used a dauber to rub on powdered 'pigment.' Nickell used a mixture of myrrh and aloes. IT DID NOT LEAVE BRUSH MARKS. Nickell writes: 'My rubbings, even on close inspection, appear to have been created without 'pigment.' I used a mixture of the burial spices - myrrh and aloes - which duplicates the 'scorch-like' color and numerous characteristics...The Report (by the secret - and later exposed - official Shroud commission) did mention the discovery of various yellow-red to orange 'crystals' (or 'granules') and certain 'globules' which tally with the appearance of myrrh and aloes. These spices probably contained the 'pollenfossils' from the Middle East that are alleged to be on the cloth."

"EVIDENCE"
UNSUPPORTED

        McDowell points out that "Many people are not cognizant of the fact that after the Crusades, many different Shrouds circulated throughout medieval Europe at the same time as the cloth of Turin. It is estimated there are MORE THAN 40 'TRUE SHROUDS' that were circulated. MANY ARE STILL BEING DISPLAYED TODAY...

        "It is totally unthinkable that the apostles and Christians of the first years of Christianity would not mention a cloth that had an image scorched on it of the crucified and resurrected Christ. In the face of death they proclaimed Jesus Christ alive. They constantly gave personal testimony of Christs's resurrection appearances in the most adverse situations. Is it conceivable that no one, especially the New Testament writers and church fathers, would ever mention the Shroud in relationship to Christ and his resurrection? The evidence so far in no way supports the Shroud's authenticity as the burial cloth of Christ."

SEALING THE
SACRED BODY

        Edersheim compared Jesus' burial to traditional Jewish burials: "The Cross was lowered and laid on the ground; the cruel nails drawn out, and the ropes unloosed. Joseph [of Arimathea], with those who attended him, 'wrapped' the Sacred Body 'in a clean cloth,' and rapidly carried It to the rock-hewn tomb in the garden close-by. Such a rock-hewn tomb or cave (Meartha) had niches (Kukhin), where the dead were laid..."

        Michael Green picks up the story at this point and shows us how Jesus' body was prepared for burial: "The body was placed on a stone ledge, wound tightly in STRIPS of cloth and covered with spices. St. John's Gospel tells us that some SEVENTY POUNDS were used, and that is likely enough. Joseph was a rich man, and no doubt wanted to make up for his cowardliness during the lifetime of Jesus by giving Him a splendid funeral." John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople during the fourth century, recorded his observations on the futility of the security measures taken to prevent
JESUS' PREDICTIONS ABOUT HIS OWN DEATH AND RESURRECTION from ever coming to pass:

PROTECTING
JESUS' BODY

        "Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, AFTER THREE DAYS I WILL RISE AGAIN. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse that the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, SEALING THE STONE and SETTING A WATCH." - Matthew 27:62-66

        Although historical evidence confirms a man named "Jesus" physically lived and died during the time described in the Bible, many refuse to accept the RESURRECTION (because it would confirm His DEITY) - preferring to believe the explanation that His body was stolen by His disciples or members of His family. Yet no one has been able to show how they got past the stone. In his description of the stone, called a "golel," Professor T.J. Thorburn explained that: "...It usually required SEVERAL MEN to remove it."

THE
SEALED TOMB

        "Since the one rolled to the entrance to Jesus' tomb was intended to prevent an expected theft," Josh McDowell points out, "it was probably even LARGER than what would normally have been used!" Of course, the more spices they used, the stronger the seal of the wrappings would become, since they were like an ADHESIVE between each layer of cloth. The wrappings of the dead were something like papier mache` - only much, much stronger.

        "Neither Jesus' disciples, nor a family member could have moved the stone and stolen the body - even if the stone had not been heavy or IN A RUT," McDowell reminds us: "They would have had to get past the ROMAN GUARDS - a highly-trained and rough bunch! And if they could find a way to do that, they still couldn't have gotten past the stone in front of the sepulchre without breaking the seal. It rquired something SUPERNATURAL" - like, for instance, an ANGEL or JESUS Himself!

AN EXTREMELY
UNMOVEABLE STONE

        Just how big was that stone? A gloss in Cod. Bez. [a phrase written in parenthesis, within the text of Mark 16:4 as found in a [fourth] century manuscript (Codex Bezae in the Cambridge Library)] adds, "And when he was laid there, he (Joseph) put against the tomb A STONE WHICH TWENTY MEN COULD NOT ROLL AWAY." McDowell explains: "It was the custom that if a copier was emphasizing his own interpretation, he would write his thought in the margin and not include it within the text. One might conclude, therefore, that the insert in the text was copied from a text even closer to the time of Christ, perhaps a FIRST CENTURY manuscript. The phrase, then, could have been recorded by an EYE-WITNESS, who was impressed with the enormity of the stone which was rolled against Jesus' sepulchre."

        Professor Edersheim points out that custom demanded more than just "a great stone" to protect the sanctity of the tomb: "...As they went out, they rolled, as was the custom, a 'great stone' - the Golel - to close the entrance to the tomb, probably leaning against it for support, as was the practice, a smaller stone - the so-called Dopheg. It would be where the ONE STONE WAS LAID AGAINST THE OTHER...the Jewish authorities would have affixed the SEAL, so that the slightest disturbance might become apparent." IT WAS A SEALED FORTRESS THAT ONLY SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL
COULD HAVE PENETRATED!

ACTA PILATI

        The following is a POLICE REPORT by one of the principals in the murder of Jesus: PONTIUS PILATE. It was found among the papers I mentioned earlier. Reporting to TIBERIUS CAESAR on the events surrounding the death of Jesus, Pilate observed:

        "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 occured, as I should not be surprised if, in the course of time, THEY MAY CHANGE THE DESTINY OF OUR NATION (not to mention the WORLD!), for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitious...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 GOD THAT 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 friend of the Romans than of the Jews..."

A VERY DIFFERENT
PICTURE OF JESUS

        The following is nothing like the way JESUS has traditionally been depicted in the many paintings of Him. A picture - based on Pilate's description - can be found on our homepage. The shawl Jesus is wearing is the Jewish Prayer Shawl, designed by God Himself. It is basically a portable House of Prayer and all of God's people have been commanded to wear it. Jesus kept all of the Mosaic Laws and wore this Shawl every day during his ministry - until the day of His death. Prepare to be shocked! Pilate continued his amazing report (remember, he is writing about his ENEMY The "King of the JEWS!") to Tiberius:

        "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...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 complexion. 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 THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO CAESAR, AND UNTO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S'."

        [NOTE: *I guess we hear only what we WANT to hear: Jesus was a Jew, remember? And the Jews are God's Chosen People. But, Jesus was also A-POLITICAL. He came to earth to save ALL the sinners, not just the Jews. This report is not as surprising as it seems at first blush. Jesus was swarthy from constant exposure to the sun - but he was also a MAN OF LIGHT. He is, after all, the SON of GOD. Remember, Pilate described Jesus as having a "celestial (i.e., heavenly or Godly) aspect."
PILATE HAD NO REASON TO LIE in this police report. It could be so easily dispproved by the thousands of people who had seen Jesus IN PERSON! In the Bible, our Creator and Jesus' Heavenly Father [JEHOVA] is described as "...one LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN (Jesus), clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (the chest) with a golden girdle (band). HIS HEAD AND HIS HAIRS WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;" Revelation 1:13-14 - OL]

THE
MEETING

        The Son of God was obviously neither impressed, nor intimidated by wealth or politics: "It Was on Account of the wisdom of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene...This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews - not the poor, but the rich and powerful...'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...' " (Today's "scribes" are our lawyers and judges. "pharisees" appear to be hypocritical Humanists - more intent on preserving the outward show of piety, i.e., rituals, etc., than actually submitting to their Creator.)

        Pilate's curiosity was aroused, and he arranged to meet Jesus. In his report, he described the meeting: "...When the Nazarene made his appearance, I was walking in my basilic, 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."

PILATE OFFERS
HIS PROTECTION

        Pilate stood in awe for a few minutes, admiring Jesus. At last he spoke: " 'Jesus,' said I unto Him at last...for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech...However, I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies...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 them, lest you 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 FLOW THE WATERS OF THE TORRENT. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, BEFORE THE ROSE OF SHARON BLOSSOMS THE BLOOD OF THE JUST SHALL BE SPILT'."

NO ASYLUMS
FOR SON OF MAN

        Once again Pilate tried to offer Him refuge and protection, but Jesus REFUSED IT, explaining that He must obey the will of God. '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...I will protect you against them. My praetorium shall be an asylum, sacred both day and night.' Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile:

        'WHEN THE DAY SHALL HAVE 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,' pointing to the heavens. 'THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED'." At this point, Pilate changed his mind and turned his request into an order, citing the safety of his province as the reason."

OBEYING THE
WILL OF THE FATHER

        Today we have thousands of so-called "PEACEKEEPERS" scattered throughout the world, but THERE IS NO PEACE ANYWHERE for them to "keep." Since the days of Jesus, thousands of "peace treaties" have been signed by virtually every country on Earth, but, as yet, NONE OF THEM HAVE WORKED. Jesus, however, is the original and ONLY EFFECTIVE "Prince of Peace." As such, He answered Pilot:

        " 'PRINCE OF THE EARTH,' replied Jesus, '...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 (atonement; sacrifice).' So saying, he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilic - to my great relief, for I felt A HEAVY BURDEN on me, of which I could not relieve myself while in his presence."

AN ILLEGAL
CRUCIFIXTION

        Was Pilate ignorant of the CALVARY CONSPIRATORS' true identity? He tried his best to persuade the "Jews" not to kill Jesus: "I...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 SANHEDRIM, 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 Sanhedrim was required to REVIEW the whole proceeding...but they still cried, 'CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!'

THE AUTHOR
OF NATURE

        "I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury." Finally, Pilate called for a basin, and washed his hands in it, "...thus testifying that in my judgment JESUS OF NAZARETH HAD DONE NOTHING DESERVING OF DEATH..." But, nothing would calm them: "...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 unto Mount Zion, with HOWLING SCREAMS, SHRIEKS, and VOCIFERATIONS..." Pilate was struck with awe at the SUPERNATURAL events following Jesus' death: "By degrees THE DAY DARKENED like a winter's twilight..."

        Although Pilate remained behind and wasn't there to bear witness, there was no missing the moment of Jesus' death. Pilate described it in extremely graphic terms: "A LOUD CLAMOR 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 set over the city, covering it as with a VEIL...Dionysius the Aeropagite was reported to have exclaimed, 'Either the AUTHOR OF NATURE is suffering or the universe is falling apart'." Later, Pilate went down towards the
gates of Golgotha. "...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.."

JESUS LIVES!

        JUST AS PROPHECIED BY JESUS AND MANY PROPHETS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
i.e., Psalm 16:10, three days after His death, JESUS CAME BACK TO LIFE! This was amazing enough, but He was not alone: "...When the great excitement arose about the sepulchre being EMPTY...I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with ONE HUNDRED SOLDIERS, around the sepulchre...this man Isham...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...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...He said he...had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was DEATH for him to sleep on duty...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..."

TRULY THIS WAS
THE SON OF GOD!

        Did Pilate CONVERT after the resurrection of Jesus? Judging by the following, if he didn't, he must have come awfully close:

        "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 the SAME PERSONS had been on the earth BEFORE 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 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, call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth...I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross, 'Truly this
WAS the SON OF GOD'."

IN DEFENSE
OF PILATE

        JUSTIN MARTYR, a philosopher, martyr, "an eager seeker for the truth" addressed EMPEROR ANTONINUS PIUS of Rome. In his 'Defence of Christianity,' he referred to Pilate's report: " 'They pierced my hands and my feet'," he told Pius, "are a description of the nails that were fixed in His hands and His feet on the cross; and after He was crucified, those who crucified Him CAST LOTS FOR HIS GARMENTS, and DIVIDED them among themselves; and that these things were so, you may learn from the 'ACTS' which were recorded under PONTIUS PILATE." Later, in discussing Jesus miracles, he again referred to Pilate: "That He performed these miracles you may be easily satisfied from the 'Acts' of Pontius Pilate'." A zealous Platonist, Martyr converted to Christianity after encountering an old Christian, during a walk along the seashore. After this chance meeting, Martyr said, "I found THIS philosophy ALONE to be safe and profitable."

        It is important to remember that when Pilate originally wrote the 'Acts' he NEVER INTENDED for them to be used as CONFIRMATION of the BIBLE STORY of JESUS' DEATH AND RESURRECTION. He was simply filing a police report, JUSTIFYING his own actions. But, because of who he was and the fact that he had NOTHING TO GAIN and EVERYTHING TO LOSE by filing a FALSE report, it has done just that!

JESUS' KILLERS
WERE NOT JEWS!

        Getting back to KING HEROD, world-reknowned evangelist and Biblical scholar John Hagee tells us that: "After rising to power, HEROD THE GREAT promptly ordered forty-five members of the Jewish Sanhedrin [Jewish judiaciary and administrative council] MURDERED in order to gain absolute dictatorial control and to silence the Jewish voice in government...Herod also appointed the high priest, CAIAPHAS, LEADER OF THE CALVARY CONSPIRACY, to carry out Rome's will. Caiaphas was an
ILLEGITIMATE priest, not selected by the Jewish people."

        I found this backed up in 'The Oxford Companion To The Bible': "...The Pharisees, who disliked Herod because he was an IDUMEAN, a HALF-Jew (as were JUDAS - and JESUS, Himself!), and a FRIEND OF THE ROMANS, had great influence over the majority of the people. Herod punished both the Pharisees and their followers who opposed him..."

BIBLICAL
PROOF

        Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in Austin, Texas presents an even more compelling argument against the Jewish people being "Christ-Killers." Citing the Scriptures, he points out that the Crucifixion conspirators were afraid of causing a JEWISH uprising: "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the
feast day, LEST THERE BE AN UPROAR AMONG THE PEOPLE." Matthew 26:3-5

        "If the JEWS were behind the crucifixtion plot," Hagee demands, "WHY would they fear a riot?" He offers the only reasonable explanation: "[Because] the high priest knew that the MAJORITY of the Jewish people SUPPORTED Jesus and would spontaneously erupt in anger if He were arrested. News of a riot would travel to Rome. Herod would be politically embarrassed, and the high priest would be instantly displaced from his lucrative and powerful position.

        "This is a perfect description of a LYNCH MOB - which is always INSTIGATED THROUGH AN APPEAL TO PRIMITIVE EMOTIONS by some ALIEN faction - whose agenda is invariably AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE they USE to accomplish their evil ends. 'But when they sought to lay hands on Him, THEY FEARED THE MULTITUDES, because they took Him for a prophet' - Matthew 21: 46. The crowd that called for Jesus' death was made up of Romans (Gentiles - NON-Jews!). How do we know? Because Jewish law allowed execution by STONING only. Had the JEWS killed Jesus, He would have been STONED, not crucified - Roman-style."

[Cont. in Part 4]

SOURCES

    'Ancient Secrets of The Bible' by Charles E. Sellier & Brian Russell - Dell Publishing 1994
    'Answers to Tough Questions (skeptics ask about the Christian faith)' by Josh McDowell
     and Don Stewart - Here's Life Publishers 1980
    'The Archko Volume or, The Archeological Writings of the Sanhedrim and Talmuds of the
     Jews' Translated by Drs. McIntosh and Twyman of the Antiquarian Lodge, Genoa, Italy
     from Manuscripts in Constantinople and the Records of the Senatorial Docket taken from
     the Vatican at Rome - Keats Publishing, Inc. - Entered according to Act of Congress, in
     the year 1887 (and again in 1896) by Rev. W. D. Mahan, in the Office of the Librarian of
     Congress, at Washington, D.C.
    'Beyond and Back' by Ralph Wilkerson - Bantam Publishing - 6/77
    "The End Times & Victorious Living" Edited by Joseph R. Chambers, D.D., D.S.L. 5-6/01
    'Final Dawn Over Jerusalem (The World's Future Hangs in the Balance with the Battle for
     the Holy City)' by John Hagee - Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers 1998
    'Final Warning: Economic Collapse and the Coming World Government' by Grant R.
     Jeffrey - Harvest House Publishers 1996
    Holy Bible, King James Version
"Personal Update" Edited by Chuck Missler - Koinonia House 12/97; 4/01; 6/01

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