Beyond Babylon: Hard Labor of Love

Beyond Babylon: Hard Labor of Love

Re: "Doggerel #89: "I'm Going to Show You... In My Book..."

Beyond Babylon decries the idolatry and immorality, physically and spiritually, of the British-Israelites and Jews - and yes, British-Israelites includes Aussies and Kiwis too! - and compares it to a form of spiritual AIDS, our countries' weakened immune system, our defenses down, inviting attack. (As an aside, I have AIDS now)./

Before Publish America published Beyond Babylon, my friend Carl Brown (fellow Bible believer) and I did everything ourselves from my typing and writing, copying the pages at Kinkos, cutting them, ordering nice covers and then putting it all together, time consuming and expensive, a hard labor of love, which, including postage, brought it to around $6-$7 per book to mail (if I remember correctly and more when mailed overseas), which we did freely to many, as funds were available and donations offered (thank you, to those who blessed us with financial and prayerful assistance), making the most of what we had, doing our best to get the Word out, trusting if we're faithful with the little we had, in God's good time He would increasingly bless us with more and helpers, co-workers.

Before that I simply printed out and mailed out the pages of Beyond Babylon, then someone suggested making it available online when I didn't have a clue about the Internet, but found out quickly and spent around $150 a month using AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe and others, always moving forward, expanding my horizons, reaching out in every way possible, slowly but surely, but never giving up.

Publish America was the first to say yes to BB. Of course I would prefer some big name publisher, with great royalties and advance payment, great publicity and such, but God usually doesn't work that way, does He? After all His Son was born in a barn, in a manger, not the Marriott or Hilton or Sheraton, and Herbert W. Armstrong taught that what God does always starts small and seemingly insignificant.

Paul Instructs Vegetarians

Excerpt from Is All Animal Flesh Good Food? by Herbert W. Armstrong:

Paul Instructs Vegetarians
Paul's letter to the saints at Rome is often quoted as supposed proof that any kind of flesh food is good to eat. But is this what Paul really taught?

Turn to the beginning of the 14th chapter of Romans. Notice what the apostle is writing: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye"--don't dispute with him and sit in judgment on him because of his weak understanding of the faith, Paul continues. "For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak, eateth herbs [vegetables only]" (Romans 14:1-2).

Of whom is Paul writing? Of those who were vegetarians, as well as those who believed in eating both flesh foods and vegetables.

Paul was confronted with the same problem that we encounter today in carrying the Gospel to the world. You would be surprised at the number of people who do not eat meat or even any animal products--milk, butter, cheese, eggs. Some have meatless days or days on which they will eat fish only. These are all people who, because they are weak in the faith, abstain from those clean meats which God originally sanctified or set apart in His Word for man's physical nourishment.

The question confronting Paul was not that Christians at Rome contended that all unclean animals had now been cleansed by God--the common false assumption of today--but the real issue, according to verse two, was over the vegetarian belief held by some that no meats whatsoever should be eaten.

Paul was straightening out the brethren on this matter, telling them that none of those clean meats which had been created by God to be received with thanksgiving should be refused. He pointed out to them, however, that it would be wrong for the vegetarians to eat meat if they had doubts about it, thereby defiling their weak consciences. For he wrote, "...Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:22-23).

We must follow what God has revealed to us to be right according to the Word of God. This does not mean that our consciences always tell us what is right--not at all. We have to continually study to learn what is right and wrong. But God thinks more highly of a vegetarian who might sincerely and conscientiously deny himself the clean meats, because he does not know the full truth, than He does a person who would do the right thing according to the letter, but who really believes in his heart that he is doing wrong.

So "to him"--the vegetarian--"that esteemeth anything to be common, to "him"--the vegetarian--"it is common." That is, it seems so to him. But it is not common in fact, nor to us, for we know that all clean meats are good for food. That is why Paul wrote: "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing common of itself" (Rom. 14:14).

Notice that in this verse Paul used, according to the margin of the King James Version, the Greek word for "common," not the Greek word for "unclean." Why?

"Common" Does Not Mean "Unclean"

Many have carelessly assumed that Paul is writing about unclean meats in this 14th chapter of Romans. He is not! He is writing about the difference between vegetarians who regard that clean meats are common, and those who know that clean meats are of themselves not common.

In the Greek there are two different words used which are often carelessly translated "unclean" or "common." Notice that in Acts 10:14 both of these words are used. The Bible does not repeat itself foolishly. Therefore these two words mean entirely different things.

The Greek word for "unclean" is akarthatos. It means "unclean and impure by nature." The Greek word for "common" is koinos, which means "polluted through external misuse." (See any of the Lexicons.)

Paul used the Greek word for "common" throughout Romans 14:14. He did not use the Greek word for "unclean." In other words, Paul knew that no clean foods which God has sanctified are by nature polluted, but vegetarians who were weak in the faith--weak in understanding God's Word--thought meats should not be eaten. To such a vegetarian--"to him," not to others--that meat seemed to be polluted. His conscience defiled the meat for him; he would become upset if he were to eat meat. But that does not make the meat polluted in fact or for everybody else.

Notice Paul's conclusion: "For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure"--that is, all things that God sanctified and gave us to eat are clean --but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth..." (verses 20 and 21).

Paul is not recommending eating unclean meats! Quite the opposite. He is recommending not eating any meat at all in the presence of a vegetarian brother if he is offended!

When Is "Clean" Meat "Common"?

The only circumstance in which clean meats are ever common or polluted is when the clean animals have died of themselves or when the blood has not been properly drained. That is why the apostles and elders who gathered at Jerusalem forbade the use of meat from strangled animals and meat with the blood in it (Acts 15:20). This is New Testament teaching for today!

Such animal flesh was called "common" because it could be given to strangers or aliens in Old Testament times if those people wanted to eat it. They were the common and polluted people--the Gentiles--not the chosen and clean people, Israel (Deut. 14:21).

In New Testament times, clean meat offered to idols was prohibited if it had been polluted by strangulation or if the blood were remaining in it. Otherwise the meat was permitted to be eaten if it did not offend anyone.

Paul devoted the entire 8th and 10th chapters of I Corinthians to instructions on not raising the question of meats offered to idols. "But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake" (I Cor. 10:28). In other words, if clean meats offered to idols were not polluted, you could eat of them unless it offended someone. Under those circumstances the meat became common, not to you, but to the other person who raised the question about idols. Notice:

"Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other" (verse 29).

That is why Paul said in Romans, "But to him that esteemeth any thing to be common [margin], to him it is common" (Rom. 14:14). ..

Click here to read the rest.

Bowling Green, Ohio

I've never lived in Bowling Green

Re: Will Germany Launch a Nuclear Attack on America?
I've never lived in Bowling Green
Submitted by David Ben-Ariel on Sun, 2008-12-21 15:01.

It's amazing how some who set themselves up as "experts on David Ben-Ariel" love to indulge in disinformation. Granted, a few are just careless and confused about their "facts" but others are clearly obsessed (and possibly dangerous) like this disturbed person who has started an internet campaign against me: Steps to Ban "David Ben Ariel"

I was born in Bowling Green, Ohio, and donated a copy of Beyond Babylon to the Bowling Green library, but I have never lived there. BG, to their credit, does look like a rather nice place to live.

My name was David Hoover, but I legally changed it to David Ben-Ariel in 1989, as I testify in God-given Names and From Toledo to Jerusalem.

Facts are racist? I'm a realist. That's why I wrote, in Black Mark on Toledo that you referenced, "Toledo blacks gave Bill White's best sermon." That's the plain truth. Why deny it? Afraid of being called "racist"? (And where in the world did you get any mention of "racial superiority" in that article? You didn't, as any objective reader could easily conclude).

At least you're correct that I was affiliated with the Philadelphia Church of God, which is why I was on both nights of the FOX 25 Special Report in Oklahoma City about the PCG, leading to Gerald Flurry's outrageous attacks against me in full page newspaper ads, misleading folks to believe that I'm a terrorist, misrepresenting the Temple Mount Faithful as a terrorist organization, to deflect criticism of him as a false prophet - even though this star witness (his words) provided him with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, including a State Department letter.

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Danse macabre: lying peace process!

Re: Freedland's folly
From:
Blond Bomber (BeyondBabylo)
To:
StickWoman25

I agree that wicked Hamas plots for Israel to '"rest in peace" - and every one of the other Muslim terrorist groups (and they're all terrorists since they violently oppose any manner, shape or form of Israel) shares their bloody sentiments.

We know this, so why do the Israeli and American and European leaders continue their danse macabre, the lying peace process? BLOOD MONEY and ultimate German-Jesuit occupation of the Holy Land of Israel.

Israel beware.

Lying Visions of Peace

EU to Conquer Anglo-Saxons and Jews

Mean words about Catholics and Protestants?

Mean words about Catholics and Protestants?

Re: The Christian War Against Christmas

Quote from: sntjohnny on December 19, 2008, 01:00:25 AM
Some pretty mean words about Catholics and protestants there.

Are they mean? Was the apostle John being "mean" when he recorded the revelation that made reference to a religious mother and daughters in ugly but true terms?

Paul said, "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"

It would be mean to whitewash the Babylonian Mystery religion, and cruel to call it "Christianity."

Really, trying to malign the holiday (old 'holy day') because it started out as a celebration of the Christ Mass is a reach.

The "mass of Christ," a Roman Catholic invention, is just fuel on the fire. Regardless of how folks want to play games, they lose if they remain in denial that it's a pagan hollow day that has been "baptized" as Christian, and such vain attempts at modification of pagan holidays to worship the true God are condemned in Scripture.

"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord..." Romans 14:5

As far as I'm concerned, any kind of pronouncements like these ones about Christians celebrating particular days are completely out of line.

I encourage you to learn to rightly divide the Word of truth, and then you'll see Paul was referring to FAST DAYS, not pagan holidays pretending to be Christian!

You judge yourself and call the wrath of God upon your own head because in spite of clear passages insisting that how a Christian handles 'special days' is up to the discretion of the Christian, you nonetheless condemn them.

Actually, you've condemned yourself by your rash judgment, your failure to properly apply the Scripture. What you have attempted to twist the Scriptures to say is totally inconsistent with the Word of God and confusion, and Satan is the author of confusion. The God of law and order has graciously given us HIS holy days, pure festivals, to observe. Why not celebrate them like Yeshua, the apostles, the early Church of God, and the faithful flock who continue to do so?

Think and pray about it, if you please.

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

"I'm Spartacus!"

"I'm Spartacus!"

Re: Waves of Memories of Sdot Yam
by David Ben-Ariel » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:17 am

David Ben-Ariel wrote: Here are some of my pictures of Kibbutz Reshafim volunteers on site and on various trips to Timna, Eilat, Bet Shean, Ein Gedi and Jerusalem, as well as some links to letters I wrote to an American friend about it all.

Matthew Ellard wrote: David, Shin Bet deported you from Israel in 1995 for your activities with the Temple Mount group. If you want to show 19year old photographs from 1989 of your friends in Israel go to Facebook. This is a scientific skeptic forum and not a holiday snap venue for fundamentalist looneys. People here simply hate you and do not want to see your snaps...you must be so lonely....

painter wrote: David. I don't hate you and I actually respect you. The only ones who hate you are the one's who haven't been banned because the admins agree with them. Unlike them you are brave enough to post pictures of yourself and your name. All atheists are cowards and these pricks just prove that. Keep up the good work David! p.s. I am not David, but if you watched the movie "Spartacus" consider me one of the ones at the end who says "I'm Spartacus"!

BRAVO! (Although the moderator has called in the dogs when they were barking out of line).

Actually, I knew an atheist in Israel at Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, a fellow volunteer named Dirk from Scotland or England, but he wasn't fanatic about the religion of atheism as some sadly appear to be, their misguided missionary zeal to convert others offering some solace to their dead lives, some meaning and purpose to their hollow shells.

Yes, unlike my cowardly critics, I post with my real name and my real picture, because I'm a real man who stands up for what he believes in and doesn't hide.

I think I'll post this on a couple blogs...

THANKS for your inspiration.

http://www.DavidBenAriel.org

Kibbutz pictures reacquaint friends

Kibbutz pictures reacquaint friends

I'm very happy to have already received a few responses from my fellow kibbutz volunteers, due to pictures I've posted. :-)

So far I've managed to post pictures from:

Kibbutz Shoval, a rose in the Negev desert
Kibbutz Adamit photos
Pictures of Kibbutz Reshafim volunteers!
Kibbutz Regavim
Moshav Kfar Haim
Waves of Memories of Sdot Yam
Ramat Yohanan

From Ramat Yohanan:

This was a wonderful time in my life...in our lives. I remember Ilan. I remember us & that Dutch guy we accidently on purpose walked into Lebanon :D

I also have many lovely photos I'm eager to share & will share as soon as I am able.

Our friendship was/is a gift. I'm so glad to have reconnected w/u. I'm tempted to say next year in Jerusalem or NY.

...Shelia emailed me the next day about the photos u posted. Did she contact u? One of the photos u have of me wearing a shirt w/a balloon on it & I'm not looking directly into the camera is very special would u mind sending it to me. Please I totally love it I may even make it into poster size. Please please send it. Thanks in advance :)

Gwen Anne Strum
Jamaica, NY



From Sdot Yam:

Hello David,

I have been getting nostalgic in the past year and usually google Sdot-Yam. I see your name everywhere and I just smile. I loved seeing the pictures, and just remembering that part of my life does me good. I have been in search of Anja Zerwas for many years now, just seeing her picture on your website has renewed some hope that I may still find her. I miss Donna as well, she was always good to talk with when things were rather dismal, do you hear from her at all?

There is a website called KibbutzReloaded.com, it's for volunteers and ulpan students. I was surprised not to see your name and story on the list. I saw the picture you had of me on top of Masada with the machine gun, I have that picture on my fridge.

... the pictures are fantastic. Thank you David, there is something very comforting about looking at old photos...

I have to say what shocked me most about you was your brilliant writing ability, and here I thought you were just another pretty face. I had no idea you are such a deep thinker. I look forward to getting out to the bookstore and buying it.

Would love to hear from you again,

Veronica Pierce
Boston