ANSWERING THE BIBLE:
Q. Does the Heaven made by the God of the Bible contain frightening looking beasts?
Ans: yes.
To understand this let us look a the following verses from the Bible:
21st Century King James Version (KJ21 Bible):
(i) 6and before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living beings full of eyes in front and behind.
7And the first being was like a lion, and the second being like a calf, and the third being had the face of a man, and the fourth being was like a flying eagle.
8And each of the four living beings had six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and they rested not day and night, saying,"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" [Revelation 4: 6-8]
(ii) 6And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and the four living beings, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.
7And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.[Revelation 5: 6-7]
New Century Version:
(i) 6 Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living creatures with eyes all over them, in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like a calf. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was covered all over with eyes, inside and out.
Day and night they never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
He was, he is, and he is coming." [Revelation 4: 6-8]
(ii) 6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if he had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent into all the world.7 The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. [Revelation 5: 6-7]
English Standard Version:
(i) 6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!" [Revelation 4: 6-8].
(ii) 9 These living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever
6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [Revelation 5:6].
New Century Version:
(i) 6 Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living creatures with eyes all over them, in front and in back.7 The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like a calf. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle.8 Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
He was, he is, and he is coming." [Revelation 4: 6-8].
(ii) 6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if he had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent into all the world.7 The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne.[Revelation 5:6].
Holman Christian Standard Bible:
(ii) 6 Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle [e] and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, [f] saying:
Holy, holy, holy, [g]
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is coming. [Revelation 4:6-8]
e.Revelation:4;6: Lit In the middle of the throne
f.Revelation: 4:8 Or they never rest
g.Revelation 4:8 Other mss read holy 9 times
(ii) 6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between [c] the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He came and took [the scroll] [d] out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne. [Revelation 5:6].
c. Revelation 5:6 Or standing in the middle of
d. Revelation 5:7 Other mss include the scroll.
St.John's spirit goes to the Heaven where he sees creatures with terrible descriptions. Here, the description of the Heaven, looks like as if it is from the Hell, with such queer creatures dotting the surroundings. The slaughtered lamb taking the scroll.....Wow!! One cannot but get stumpted by the imagination of the Biblical Writers.
Q. Does the God of the Bible asks Saul to kill all of the Amalekites: men, women, infants, sucklings, ox, sheep, camels, and donkeys? Why?
Ans: Yes. Because, when the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. So the God of the Bible wants to punish them in one of the most pathetic ways.
To understand this let us consider the following verses from the Bible:
21st Century King James Version:
Samuel also said unto Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel.
Now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he lay in wait for him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
3Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. [1 Samuel 15:1-3]
New Century Version:
1 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to appoint you king over Israel. Now listen to his message.2 This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: 'When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. So I will punish them.3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and destroy everything they own as an offering to the Lord. Don't let anything live. Put to death men and women, children and small babies, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' " [1 Samuel 15:1-3]
Holman Christian Standard Bible:
1 Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I witnessed [a] what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt. 3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys. ' [1 Samuel 15:1-3]
a. 1 Samuel 15:2 LXX reads I will avenge
New Living Translation (NLT Bible):
1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy[a] the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”[1 Samuel 15:1-3]
a.1 Samuel 15:3 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in 15:8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21.
God does not even spare the little babies....Huh!! What to comment on the contents of a book, which devout christians consider, "Holy"!!
