Looking for Jesus according to Matthew

[JLG]

Philosophy 1)

Babylonian philosophy, although not as developed as Greek philosophy, had an important influence on the history of Western thought and culture. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia and manifested themselves in forms such as dialogues, epic poetry, folklore, and maxims. Babylonian philosophy was concerned with ethics, the nature of the universe, and reason, with examples such as the "Dialogue of Pessimism," which explores human reasoning and the ability to justify desires.

Babylonian philosophy manifested itself in various forms, including:

Dialogues and Proverbs:

Texts such as the "Dialogue of Pessimism" (approximately 2200 BC) explored ethical and philosophical themes through conversations between a master and a servant. These texts demonstrated the human capacity to justify actions and decisions, even those that seem contradictory. In short, Babylonian philosophy was characterized by its focus on ethics, the nature of the universe, and human reasoning, manifesting itself in various forms of literature and thought, and laying the foundation for the development of Western philosophy.

 

[JLG]

Philosophy 2)

Epic Poetry and Folklore:

Babylonian literature, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, reflected cultural and moral values, as well as reflections on human nature and destiny.

Observation of the Universe:

Babylonian astronomers developed a system of planetary prediction based on logic and observation of the universe, which contributed to the development of the philosophy of science.

Ethics and Reasoning:

The Babylonians were concerned with ethics and reasoning, using logic and empirical observation to understand the world and human decisions.

Thoughts on Theodicy:

The "Dialogue of Pessimism" also explored the idea of divine justice, raising questions about why suffering and chaos existed in the world.

- We can see the presence of gods or demons!

- Thus definitely another demons’ tool!

- Yah.weh gave us free will!

- Demons have always used tools to say men are not responsible for their actions!

- As usual, they keep opposing Yah.weh in everything!

 

[JLG]

Babylonian Dialogue of Pessimism

It is an ancient Mesopotamian literary composition in the form of a dialogue between a master and his slave. Its interpretations have varied, but it is generally considered an unusual text which thematises the futility of human action.

It takes the form of a dialogue between a master and his slave valet. In each of the first ten stanzas the master proposes a course of action, for which the slave provides good reasons. Each time, however, the master changes his mind and the slave provides equally good reasons for not pursuing that course of action.

Some consider the dialogue a statement of life’s absurdity because there are no definitive right and wrong choices or reasons for action. The final stanza is therefore a logical outcome of this quandary, the choice of non-existence over existential futility.

It also presents the universe as enigmatic, even meaningless with some rationale known to the gods who control the destinies which are unknown to us.

- We are told about philosophical pessimism, absurdism and nihilism!

Philosophical pessimism is a philosophical school that is critical of existence, emphasizing the inherent suffering and futility of life and questioning the fundamental value or worth of existence.

Absurdism is the philosophical theory that the universe is irrational and meaningless. It states that trying to find meaning leads people into conflict with a seemingly meaningless world. It claims that existence as a whole is absurd.

Nihilism encompasses various views that reject certain aspects of existence. It claims that life is meaningless, that moral values are baseless, and that knowledge is impossible.

Existential nihilism asserts that life is inherently meaningless and lacks a higher purpose. By suggesting that all individual and societal achievements are ultimately pointless, it can lead to indifference, lack of motivation, and existential crises.

- Philosophy definitely appears as another demons’ tool!

- Demons know Yah.weh will destroy them!

- It explains such propaganda!

- They want to lead as many men as possible to destruction!

- They want men to follow them on their road to destruction!

- They don’t want men to have hope!

- They lost eternal life when they rebelled against Yah.weh!

 

[JLG]

Astronomy 1)

Astronomy in ancient Babylon was a highly developed field of study, considered one of the origins of Western astronomy. Between 3500 and 3000 BC, the Babylonians developed a practical way of observing and documenting celestial bodies, including the study of stars, planets, and phenomena such as eclipses.

Key aspects of Babylonian astronomy:

Observation and recording:

The Babylonians were careful observers of the night sky, documenting the positions and movements of celestial objects.

The Babylonians built ziggurats (stepped temples) that also served as astronomical observatories, and developed techniques for mapping the night sky and creating constellations. Their interest in astronomy was not limited to observation and recording but also extended to predicting celestial events and understanding natural phenomena.

 

[JLG]

Astronomy 2)

Calendar Construction:

They created a complex lunar calendar that included intercalary months to synchronize the moon with the solar year.

Eclipse Prediction:

They developed methods to predict solar and lunar eclipses, using mathematical and astronomical knowledge.

Planetary Motion Prediction:

The Babylonians also strove to predict the motions of the planets, considering them celestial manifestations of their gods.

Sexagesimal System:

They used a number system based on 60, which facilitated astronomical calculations and the measurement of time.

Relationship between Astronomy, Astrology, and Religion:

Astronomy and astrology were closely linked in Babylon, and celestial phenomena were believed to be able to influence earthly events and people's destinies. Cultural Heritage:

Babylonian astronomical knowledge influenced the development of astronomy in other ancient cultures and is considered the origins of Western astronomy.

—Definitely another demonic tool!

- Another tool to show that men are not responsible for their actions!

- Gods / demons play an important part!

- As a consequence, religion is always there!

 

[JLG]

Astrology 1)

Astrology in ancient Babylon, the cradle of civilization, was a complex and sophisticated system used to predict the future, understand events, and guide human life, according to Gandhi. Babylonian society pioneered the study of the heavens, laying the foundations for what would later develop as astrology. In Babylon, it was believed that the positions of celestial bodies influenced earthly affairs.

Here are some key points about astrology in Babylon:

Observation of the Sky:

The Babylonians were excellent observers of the sky and developed a sophisticated system for tracking the movements of the planets, stars, and the sun.

Interpretation of Celestial Signs:

They believed that the positions of celestial bodies revealed information about the future and earthly events, such as wars, harvests, or illnesses.

Predictions:

Babylonian astrologers used the positions of the planets and other celestial bodies to make predictions about the future of individuals, cities, and even the entire empire.

 

[JLG]

Astrology 2)

Guide for Life:

Astrology was not only used to predict the future, but also to guide daily life, make important decisions, and offer advice to rulers.

Complex System:

The Babylonian astral system was complex, with a series of rules, tables, and diagrams to calculate the positions of celestial bodies and predict their effects on Earth.

- Again, it can be repeated:

—Definitely another demonic tool!

—Another tool to show that humans are not responsible for their actions!

—Gods and demons play an important role!

—Consequently, religion is always present!

 

[JLG]

Ruud Groot said: what is now the question?


THE QUESTION WAS:

Who is the woman, who is the man-child, who is the accuser, who are the brethren, what is the word of their testimony, and who are the rest of her seed?


- I told about the man-child, the accuser, the brothers, the testimony and I have been speaking about the evolution of the woman through human history!


- I explained that before the flood, some angels went down to the earth and became demons by rebelling against Yah.weh and how they took control of men!


- I also explained how they kept controlling men after the flood!


- After the flood, one of Ham’s son was Cush and one of Cush’s son was Nimrod who was a mighty warrior or tyrant on the earth!


- He was also a mighty hunter before Yah.weh!


- The first centers of his kingdoms were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar!


- Then he went to Assyria where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah!


- I also explained that the demons’ propaganda could expand after the flood through Noah’s family and / or the demons!

- In one word: RELIGION (first Babylonian religion and the beliefs and practices went everywhere and we can find them in modern religion)!

- I am analyzing different tools used by the demons to develop their propaganda and influence men!

- Among these tools we can mention: Religion (I haven’t finished with religion), Mysticism, Philosophy, Astronomy, Astrology…

 

[JLG]

Numerology 1)

In ancient Babylon, numerology was intrinsically linked to astrology, and numbers were assigned to celestial bodies to interpret cosmic influences on human affairs. Numerology was considered a means to understand the universe and human destiny.

Key Concepts:

Numerology as a Tool of Prediction and Insight:

In Babylon, numbers were considered sacred and were used to predict future events and understand the nature of human beings.

Application Examples:

Dream Interpretation:

The Babylonians used numerology to interpret the meaning of dreams, associating numbers with different symbols.

Weather Forecasting:

Numerology was used to predict the weather, based on the positions of celestial bodies and their associated numbers.

Decision-Making:

The Babylonians used numerology to make important decisions, such as when to begin construction or when to perform a ritual. In short, numerology in ancient Babylon was a holistic practice used to understand the universe, predict the future, and make important decisions.

 

[JLG]

Numerology 2)

Connection with Astrology:

Each number was associated with a celestial body, allowing the Babylonians to interpret cosmic influences in people's lives.

Use in Daily Life:

The Babylonians used numerology for decision-making, planning important events, and building sacred structures.

Numbering System:

The Babylonians developed a positional (sexagesimal) numbering system, where the value of a digit depended on its position in the number.

- Again, it can be repeated:

—Definitely another demonic tool!

—Another tool to show that humans are not responsible for their actions!

—Gods and demons play an important role!

—Consequently, religion is always present!

 

[JLG]

Mathematics 1)

Mathematics in ancient Babylon, also known as Assyro-Babylonian mathematics, developed in Mesopotamia and was based on a sexagesimal (base 60) number system. This number system, used for measuring time (60 seconds, 60 minutes) and angles (360 degrees in a circle), had a lasting impact on modern mathematics. The Babylonians used multiplication tables and other mathematical tools to manage their irrigation systems, agriculture, and architecture.

Sexagesimal Number System:

The sexagesimal system, based on base 60, was used by the Babylonians to represent numbers.

Mathematical Applications:

The Babylonians used mathematics to manage their irrigation systems, agriculture, and architecture.

Legacy of Babylonian Mathematics:

Babylonian mathematics has had a major impact on the development of mathematics in other cultures, especially in Greece.

 

[JLG]

Mathematics 2)

This system is still used today to measure time (60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour) and angles (360 degrees in a circle).

The Babylonians developed positional notation, where the value of a digit depended on its position in the number.

Initially, spaces were used to represent zero, but later a specific symbol was introduced to represent zero within numbers, although not at the end.

Mathematics was also used to solve more sophisticated problems, such as determining the speed and distance of planets.

Tablets with solutions to geometric problems were found, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of geometry.

The influence of Babylonian mathematics can be seen in the adoption of the sexagesimal system by the Greeks and, later, in European mathematics.

Babylonian mathematics has also been studied today, allowing for a better understanding of the foundations of mathematics in ancient times.

 

[JLG]

Mathematics and religion 3)​

Mathematics and religion have a longstanding and intricate relationship that explores how numerical and spatial reasoning intersects with spiritual and religious beliefs. Historically, mathematical knowledge has served not only practical purposes—such as computation and organization—but also played a significant role in cosmological and theological contemplation across various cultures. In many ancient societies, including those in Babylon and Mesoamerica, arithmetic and geometric knowledge were integral to rituals and divination practices, reflecting a worldview where mathematics was embedded in cultural and spiritual customs.

Different traditions, such as Pythagorean number mysticism, Islamic geometric patterns, and Vedic rituals, illustrate how mathematics has been utilized to understand the cosmos and the divine. In Christianity, figures like Saint Augustine and later scholastic theologians linked mathematical concepts to spiritual understanding, seeing numbers and shapes as manifestations of divine wisdom. Furthermore, mathematical reasoning has influenced religious thought from antiquity to modernity, with thinkers like Descartes and Kant exploring its implications for understanding God and morality.

While modern developments in mathematics, including non-Euclidean geometries, have challenged traditional religious views, the interplay between these disciplines continues to provoke theological contemplation and inspire new interpretations of spiritual significance. Thus, the relationship between mathematics and religion remains a rich field for exploration, illustrating the diverse cultural perspectives on the quest for knowledge and meaning.

 

[JLG]

Riche Verbeek said:

Mesopotamia (= Mesopotamia): before the Flood: Sumeria, after the Flood: first the empire of Akkad and Ur, then Babylonia! (Uruk was a -different- city than Ur and was also there before Ur!)(they were close to each other!)

- Here are some additional elements I found on the internet:

 

[JLG]

1)

Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Akkadia, and Babylon are all terms related to the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, but they refer to different aspects of the region and its history. Mesopotamia is the general geographic region, while Sumeria and Akkadia were civilizations within it, and Babylon was a city and later an important empire in Mesopotamian history.

Here is a more detailed difference:

Mesopotamia:

Is the geographic region that lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It is the "name" of the region, not a civilization in itself.

In short, Mesopotamia is the region, Sumeria and Akkadia are ancient civilizations that existed there, and Babylon is a city and empire that developed within the region.

It is important to note that the lines between these civilizations sometimes overlap and that cultures and practices were exchanged between them.

 

[JLG]

2)

Sumer:

Was an early civilization that flourished in southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerians are recognized for inventing cuneiform writing and for their achievements in architecture and engineering.

Akkadian:

Was a civilization that developed in central and northern Mesopotamia. The Akkadians established an empire that spanned the region and adopted many Sumerian traditions, including cuneiform writing.

Babylon:

Was an important city-state within Mesopotamia, which later grew into a powerful empire, with a king and a prominent culture. Babylon was famous for its advances in mathematics, astronomy, and law.

 

[JLG]

3)

Mesopotamians are or were anyone living along or between the two rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates. Which includes but is not only the other two groups mentioned. The Sumerians or people of Sumer are likely the earliest civilization meaning cities bigger than villages, dependent on crops entirely with little or no hunting and actual administration and specialization in religion, government, warriors, over a mass of farmers.

The Sumarians spoke a language isolate. Meaning we know of no other languages like it or associated with it. They also invented cuneiform writing in which to express their thoughts and records. We can only guess at what sounded like or what its grammar was. They lived at the very end of the two rivers where they merge before emptying into the Persian Gulf.

The Akkadians were the next group up the two rivers from Sumer. They borrowed and adapted the Cuneiform Writing system to their Semitic Language. In fact because it is the earliest Semitic language showing the distinctive features of Semitic languages like all words basically coming from three consonant groups producing related words by varying the vowels or adding a distinctive fourth consonant that always produces the same effect across the language and generally writing only the consonants as the vowels are generally easy to insert by context. We in fact guess Sumerian from our knowledge of Akkadian.

 

[JLG]

4)

Over time and conquest Sumerian disappeared into Semitic languages like Babylonian, Assyrian or Syriac or Aramaic, all similar Semitic languages further north along the two rivers or actually following the fertile watered farmable lands of the Fertile Crescent up especially the Euphrates river which makes a wide loop close to the Syrian coastline often called the Syrian Littoral where the mountains catch the rain coming from the Mediterranean making the coastal lands of modern Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine able to grow crops like Mesopotamia and from which we get the earliest civilizations, empires, and the most collection of modern foods. That area produced the largest number of domesticated crops like most of our fruits, many of the cereal crops like wheat, oats, barley, and rye. And where beer was invented which is still a water extraction of various combinations of those grains then fermented creating alcohol that makes the water safe to drink by poisoning any germs that may get into the water from the larger concentration of people.

 

[JLG]

5)

Mesopotamia is a geographical term meaning 'the land between the rivers', referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. Nowadays it's mostly in Iraq. Five thousand years ago, it was the richest and most heavily-populated region of the world.

The other names you list are all nations or empires which ruled in the region of Mesopotamia at one time or another, over a period of nearly 3,000 years.

The Sumerians were people who lived in southern Mesopotamia. They were the first ever urban civilisation, and the first to invent writing in about 3000 BCE. They remained powerful until about 2300 BCE, but their culture and religion influenced later civilisations in the region for many centuries afterwards. The language they spoke, Sumerian, is now dead with no modern relatives.

The Akkadians lived in central Mesopotamia, north of the Sumerians. They spoke Akkadian, which is distantly related to Arabic, Hebrew and Aramaic. In 2334 BCE the Akkadian ruler Sargon conquered the Sumerians, creating the world's first empire. (It lasted about two centuries then collapsed into multiple smaller states.) The Akkadians admired and copied Sumerian culture even as they invaded them.

Babylon was a town in what had been the territory of the empire of Akkad in Sargon's day. In 1792 BCE its king, Hammurabi, conquered most of Mesopotamia and founded an empire, as well as creating a famous code of laws. The Babylonian Empire did not long survive Hammurabi's death, but his lasting legacy was to make Babylon itself into a huge and important city, and a major centre of religion and culture; a status it would keep for over a thousand years.

 

[JLG]

6)

Assyria was the name given to the region of northern Mesopotamia. It had been part of the Akkadian empire, but later established its independence. In the 1300s the Assyrians became expansionistic and warlike, and by 1077 BCE they had conquered all the way to Syria and the Mediterranean, as well as forcing Babylonia into vassalage. After a brief period of decline Assyria had a resurgence (the so-called 'Neo-Assyrian Empire') and between 911 and 612 BCE was the most powerful empire in the Middle East, stretching from Egypt to Persia.

Babylon and Assyria could both be described as successor-states to the Akkadian Empire; their people spoke the Akkadian language and their religions incorporated Akkadian and even Sumerian elements.

The Chaldeans were nomads from the Syria and the Levant, speaking a language related to Aramaic, who migrated into Mesopotamia around 900 BCE and settled in the far south of the region, assimilating into the local customs and learning Akkadian. By 780 they were powerful enough to make the first of several attempts to control Babylon (which at that time was a vassal state under the Assyrian empire, not independent).

In 620 the Chaldean leader Nabopolassar finally managed to conquer Babylon. In alliance with the Medes and Persians he defeated Assyria and won full independence. His son Nebuchadnezzar turned Babylon, under Chaldean rule, into a powerful empire, stretching as far as the border of Egypt. It was Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed Solomon's Temple and deported the Jews to Babylon. The so-called 'Neo-Babylonian' or Chaldean empire fell in 539 BCE when it was conquered by Achaemenid Persia.