WATERS OF PURIFICATION IN RELATION TO CHRIST

I THOUGHT PORTIONS OF HIS COMMENTARY WERE VERY INTERESTING. SOME OF IT, FLAT OUT WRONG. I HAVE INCLUDED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BACKGROUND ON RITUAL PURIFICATION PROCESSES OF ANCIENT JUDIAISM AND OUR OWN (POST-LAST GREAT SACRIFICE) MODERN REPENTANCE PROCESS:

Randy Felton
Potter’s Clay Ministries, Inc.
417 NW 42nd St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
shalom2@home.com
www.haydid.org/potter.htm



WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD

BY RANDY FELTON





The lesson is "Washing of Water with the Word", which is a passage that comes from Ephesians. I’m going to do a very unusual thing to get started and that is I’m going to go back to the beginning. This isn’t normally done, but I’m going to go to Numbers 19 and start there, if you’ve got your text and want to turn with me, we’ll read a little bit, then we’ll go on and see how this ties in, If it ties in. I’m going to read the first nine verses and we’ll get kind of an overview of just what is happening, and what is being dealt with.

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, " This is the ordinance of the law, which the Lord hath commanded saying speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring the red heifer without spot wherein is no blemish, and up on which never came yoke. And you shall give it unto Eleazar, the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp and one shall slay her before his face. And Eleazar, the priest, shall take of her blood with his finger and shall sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times. And one shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin and her flesh and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes and he shall bath his flesh with water and afterward he shall come into the camp. The priest shall be unclean until the evening. He that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, bath his flesh in water and shall be unclean until the evening. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel, for a water of separation. It is a purification for sin." That is the King James in the New American Standard.

It says, verse nine, A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity. It is purification from sin.

This ordinance of the red heifer is a sin offering. The red heifer is a type of Christ. The heifer being consumed and the ash, the residue being mingled with water, used for purification of those defiled. In Mark 5:35-43 we read a story about Jesus and a dead girl. Once Jesus had become unclean, and had gone into the girl, in order to be made clean again, He would have to go through the ritual of purification using the ash of the red heifer, bathe himself and wash His clothes and be unclean until evening. That was required. Where did that take place? Up in Galilee.

We’ve talked about the red heifer and the symbolism. Now we’ll look at the New Testament. We’ll move to I John 5:6. This is He who came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood" The red heifer was burned complete. The priest would drip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it towards the tabernacle, but it burned with its blood, complete. Then the ash was mixed with water, so it was with water and blood. Here we have Jesus being said that He came by water and blood. Then in Hebrews 9:19-20 we’re told that Moses took the blood of calves, and goats, mixed it with water, scarlet wood and hyssop. Again, in this passage we’re talking about a sin offering. Jesus is our offering for sin, once for all. It seems we should be looking at the sin offerings to have an understanding of what Jesus did for us. Does that make since that it all ties together, that it is a common thread? For it to be valid, understood in its context, we go through the whole thing.

We come to Ephesians 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that He may sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle. Or any such thing, that it should be holy and without blemish. That He might sanctify it or set it apart. Talking about the church universal, the body of believers, not the Roman Catholic Church, but the church universal, the body of believers. That they might be set apart by the washing of water by the Word. Now we know from John 1:1 that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." You drop down to verse 14 and it says. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." What is the Word? It is Jesus. It is God. So the washing of water by the word is that purification process, that cleansing that we go through by Jesus. So this is where we come in that the red heifer is a type of Messiah. Through it’s sacrifice and it’s water, the priests were cleansed and purified. So through Jesus and His word we go through that same purification process. It’s a more spiritual application than a physical, but it’s the same concept. Remember we’re back to concepts. Verse 26 tells us that Jesus might sanctify and cleanse the church with washing of water of the Word. If we can see this pattern we can begin to better understand what is taking place with the red heifer. We’ll talk in a few minutes a little bit about this. But there’s something else that I want you to consider.

The water of cleansing, the water of purification. We miss so much simply because we don’t know and we haven’t read the Bible as a complete, intact book, Genesis to Revelations. You need to take the whole thing through. See the concepts. See the patterns. You have the water, a purification of the red heifer. You have the fulfillment in Jesus and His word, doing the same washing and cleansing through His fulfillment of the sin sacrifice.

There is a story talked about as Jesus’ first miracle and here’s where I get off into my bit of speculation. I can’t prove this and we’ve done some study back and forth. But again, it makes sense; it fits the pattern for me.

The wedding in Cana of Galilee. It says that at the wedding there were six stone water pots holding twenty to thirty gallons each. Which was for the water of purification, after the manner of the Jews. What does that mean? There were three basic types of cleansing water. There was common water, drawn from the well kept by the Jews for the washing of the hands and the washing of the feet. The Jews went through a ritual where they poured the water, washing before they ate. Also, when the guests came in, it was customary to wash their feet, get rid of the dust from the road, wash their hands, anoint their head with oil, and seat them. This was cleansing water, washing water, kept in clay pots. There was also mikvah water, the ritual immersion baths that were required to have a certain amount of water and here’s where we get into an area of discrepancy, I’ve read a couple of opinions. One says that the mikvah was required to be living water, which means it had to have a flow, the sea, a river, a stream, a lake were considered a ritual mikvah. They were acceptable, a pond, a stagnant pool was not. It had no inlet, no outlet.

There’s some debate over that. There’s one group that says a natural gathering of water was acceptable like a pond or pool in a cave. But manmade, what was dammed up was not. There’s some that say only living water was required for cleansing from leprosy. I may be wrong in this, but going to the mikvot that are at the southern end of the temple mount, down below the steps that they excavated there are whole cities of these ritual immersion baths. They had channels leading in and out so that the water had a flow. So you cleansed yourself there before going upon the Temple Mount. What we call living water. Mikvah water was not allowed to be held, and stored and poured. The water of purification mixed with the ashes of the red heifer was required to be kept in stone jars or stone pots because it was considered to be impervious to contamination. You could cleanse stone, not clay. If you contaminated a clay vessel you had to break it. You couldn’t cleanse it. The water of purification was kept in stone jars. So when I read about the wedding in Cana, it says there were six stone jars, I’m thinking this must be the water made with the ash of the red heifer.

Now we know from Jewish sources that when the red heifer was burned there were several portions of ash taken from the pit. One was immediately mixed with water for the cleansing of the priest. One portion was taken into The Temple and held by the high priest. Then there were other portions taken and scattered throughout Israel to be used for cleansing water for those that came into contact with the dead or ritual impurity so they didn’t make the journey all the way back to Jerusalem to go through cleansing. You make a three day walk through Jerusalem, you go through the day or seven days, depending on your type of uncleanness, of ritual cleanliness and you're okay. You turn around and start home and you encounter a carcass on the road. A guy would never get home. He'd be living in Jerusalem the rest of his life just to stay clean, that was not practical. So they had this ash scattered in different places. We know this from Jewish writings, that they did this. So it's not unfeasible that at the wedding of Cana in Galilee you have these six, stone water pots holding this water of cleansing.

Now Jesus does an interesting thing. His mother says, "You know they're out of wine." He says, "Why trouble me, it's not my time." Then she says, "Do whatever he tells you." and He tells the servants, "Fill the stone jars." Once you have the water mixed with the ash of the red heifer and you take that water out of the jar you cannot add water back to it. You must use it all and then mix a new batch. You cannot add water to it. Jesus tells them fill them up to the brim and they do.

That's the first miracle in the story, He was proclaiming himself the Messiah. I have the authority to take charge over the water that makes clean, that is the most holy . I, and I alone, can command you to fill those jars. That's the miracle. Turning the water into wine, like Dr. Karl Coke, says is not the miracle.

Anyone of us can turn water into wine, it takes a little time. You have a grape vine, you pour water at the base, you tend it, grow grapes, pick them off, crush them and you make wine. Water turns into wine. But it doesn't happen instantly. The miracle in the water and the wine is the time. Jesus transcended the time. Here we have this wedding in Canaan of Galilee and you have six full water pots. All of this thread ties from Numbers through Ephesians with this theme of water.

It's an interesting study. You need to go and look up all the references in scripture to water and see where it takes you.

But the water of cleansing, the water of purification, which was used from the ashes of the red heifer was done for a purpose. This stuff with The Temple and The Tabernacle was not just done because God wanted the Jews to occupy themselves with busy work. These all pointed to one thing. They pointed to the Messiah. So when Jesus came and fulfilled and fit all these patterns it was very, very plain to those who walked in this daily who He was and what He was saying. That's one reason they got so incensed and tried to stone him. They considered it blasphemy cause he fulfilled the pattern and had the audacity to do so publicly and to state so publicly. But He didn't do it the way they had planned on him doing it. He didn't come as Ruler and King first.

So all these things we have the same thread. You have the water of purification, the ash of the red heifer mixed to cleanse from impurity from defilement. So you have a sin offering that cleanses from sin. What did Jesus do in His death, burial and resurrection? He became the sin offering and through that He cleanses from sin all, once for all.

When we read about the ash of the red heifer. The red heifer, being taken to a clean place outside the camp, that refers to a specific location, "A clean place outside the camp". Look up in your Concordance the word miphkad. You'll find it in Nehemiah. Nehemiah is setting about to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, to rebuild the gate and he comes to the gate Miphkad. Miphkad means the appointed gate. The word miphkad, in Hebrew, appears another place in scripture where it is translated "appointed". It is the gate on the Eastern wall of The Temple Mount that the red heifer was lead out of. And it's led across the Kidron Valley to the Altar Miphkad, the appointed altar in the clean place where the red heifer was sacrificed.

Here is the Temple and the Temple Mount, you come down the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. There are cemeteries all along here, and now all along here. We know that the priest that sacrificed the red heifer had to be clean and he came unclean through the sacrifice. We, also, know that going through a cemetery defiles, makes unclean. So there was constructed a bridge, and it was built on arches so that the wind could pass through and they could cross the Kidron Valley without becoming defiled, becoming unclean. Now we know this through some writings in the Mishna, we haven't found archeological evidence. It's believed by some that the bridge was made out of wood. I have a hard time believing that because wood could not be made clean once it became unclean. You had to burn it. I think it was stone that is simply obliterated now. The bridge lead to the Mount of Olives. What does that have to do with anything? You lead this red cow out, to a clean place, that is outside the camp. Which some interpret to be from the center of the temple or from the Holy of Holies, It was just outside a Sabbath days walk. Remember when the Tabernacle was constructed Israel was encamped about the Tabernacle in a circle. The Tabernacle being the center and camped in a circle. So outside the camp would have been outside the circle. It didn't change during the Temple time. You need to take from The Temple and draw a circle in what is believed to be a Sabbath day walk, which is about 2000 meters. That gives you the bearing of the camp of Israel.

The other thing we learn in Numbers is that the red heifer is to be sacrificed in front of the altar, because the priest then turns and sprinkles the blood toward the altar. We're told when the red heifer was sacrificed the high priest could stand in The Temple court and look and see the red heifer being sacrificed. He had a line of sight up to the top of the Mount of Olives. So the Crucifixion. Jesus was taken to the top of the Mount of Olives. Jesus was taken outside the walls and He was sacrificed. He was killed. Yet as we've just seen, Jesus is the sin sacrifice and He had to fulfill the ritual requirements for the sin sacrifice.

If He violated anyone of those requirements, then He's not a valid offering and our faith is in vain. He had to fulfill the same requirements to be the sin sacrifice as the red heifer did, as the goats and the lambs that were offered for sin sacrifice. It had to be a clean place outside the camp, in front of the altar. The only place it could have been that fit those parameters was on the Mount of Olives. Probably very near the altar where the red heifer was sacrificed. Now think about something a little more practical from a Roman viewpoint. If you want to make an impression on

the religious Jews, to sink into their minds that they do not want to revolt against you. So when you put rebels to death, you do it where they are visible. What's going to have a greater impact on the religious community than to be in The Temple plaza, offering up sacrifices and look across the valley, upon the hill and see men hanging on trees? Is there a picture there that says we're in the midst of rite and ritual, but we have a Roman law that is very visible if we transgress it. So I would maintain that Jesus was sacrificed on the Mount of Olives, in view of The Temple. It also explains that when the earth turned black and there was an earthquake. Scripture says the Centurion and those that were with Him, when they saw these things said, "Truly this is the Son of God."

What did they see? They saw the veil of the Temple torn from top to bottom. I've heard stories that an angel came down and ripped it apart and all these things. More than likely during the earthquake the big stone lintel, that held it, cracked and fell and the veil tore from top to bottom. The only light visible would have been the reflection off the Menorah in The Temple. The Temple walls were lined with cedar wood overlaid with pure gold. You've got this big lampstand with light reflecting. From the Mount of Olives looking down, you would have seen the glow of light from the temple. You would not have seen it from, as our tour guide once told us, Antonia Fortress. That is where he placed the Centurion when that happened and you can't see it from there. You can't see it from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. You can't see it from Gordon's Calvary. You can't see it from Mount Zion. You can't see it from anywhere but the Mount of Olives.

The primary thing is looking at the fulfillment of the sin sacrifice. The fact that the pattern fit Jesus' sacrifice, He cleanses from sin.

Now what happened at His death? A Roman soldier came, seeing Him dead, pierced His side and what came out? Blood and water again. Is there any symbolism there? Through His shed blood, through this cleansing water that poured out for us we then can come in and have our sins purged, washed away, once for all.

Now I knew that from the time I was a child. I became a Christian by the time I was fourteen. I had Jesus died for your sins. His blood washed you clean. All the old songs we used to sing. I understand that. I've known that for years.

Nobody ever told me about the red heifer, and the washing and the cleansing and how the pattern fit. Because the Old Testament was only taught to me as Bible stories; Noah and the Ark, Jacob's Ladder, Gideon and the Clay Lanterns of Gideon, David and Goliath, I never understood there was a pattern being developed and laid out and a foundation set that built and culminated with Jesus, showing Him as Messiah and showing His fulfillment of the entire pattern.

I viewed a video a while back. Our children's minister wanted to do a tabernacle presentation for vacation bible school last year. She gave me a video and asked me to review it. I won't tell you who made the video. But he made a statement in this, in going through The Tabernacle, "That The Tabernacle is type of what is going to be in Heaven." I'm sorry, that is not what the Bible says. The Bible tells us that The Tabernacle was given to us as a type and shadow of what is in heaven. God had established His purpose and His pattern. The scripture that we have and all the pieces in it are there to point us towards God and towards this face to face relationship with Him and help us see and understand how to do that. In all likelihood when we really see what is in heaven it will look considerably different from what we have envisioned in our mind, but we will see the pattern and the concept that has been pointing to that. Paul says we see through a glass darkly. We see shadows. We don't see distinct. These are types and shadows that have been given to us to point us towards that. So what do we do?

We don't see clearly. We don't have complete understanding. Where does that leave it? We begin to seek the personal face to face intimate relationship with God and let Him lead us because we can't see where we are going.

We have to follow Him. We need to seek God and not just seek after God's stuff. Whether it's material or spiritual. If we develop the intimate face to face relationship everything else fits into place. One of the problems and I'll wax a little bit graphic. I don't want to offend anyone, but it's the best way I know to explain it. One of the problems we have in our society is men wanting to get women's stuff without having being in relationship with the women. And it's broken down the web, the fabric of our whole society. And it works the other way around, too. We want to have the physical relationship without the commitment. All you have to do is watch a sit-com, to get a real grasp of what that is about. If you develop the relationship and the commitment, then everything else comes along with it. That's the natural progression and the Evil One, (Satan) is trying to get it backwards again. Just like in the Garden of Eden. The same lie. You eat of this tree, you'll not die, you'll become as God. You'll know. And what happened? Man died. It took nine hundred and some years for his body to finally give up, but man began to die from that moment and that's what's happening. So what's our response? What's our hope? It's Jesus, simply Jesus. Fall on His grace and His mercy. Accept His sacrifice and let His water cleanse you and purify you and walk in relationship with Him. That's what this whole day is really about. That's our whole point, To urge you well on a fantastic journey. We have some neat things ahead of us. We've got a lot of stuff to learn. It's fun. But the real goal is this intimate face to face relationship with God and you can only do that through His son. You can't really do it through the ritual. Through doing things. You have to have the relationship. You have to have the cleansing. You can't enter into God's presence and live in an unclean condition.

That was the fear of Yom Kippur, the High Priest, going into the Holy of Holies. If he hadn't done everything right and he encounters the presence of God his physical body couldn't stand it and he would fall dead. We're the same way, we cannot stand before a holy God unless we're clean. What hope do we have? Jesus. Yeshua. That's what makes us clean. That's what washes us. That's the cleansing. The washing of water with the Word. And the Word is the Messiah. (John 1:14)

Let me close with a question. How often did the priests go through the cleansing process? The answer is, as often as they needed it. How often do we need to go through the cleansing process of applying the blood of Jesus to our sins? As often as we need it. Once you have accepted Jesus as Lord, it is no longer a salvation issue, it is a cleanliness issue. Is anyone unclean, let us wash in the Word? Is anyone unsaved? We need to apply the same blood and get in relationship with the Lord. If you have not accepted the sacrifice of Yeshua, then you have not become a son, or daughter of the covenant and none of this applies to you.

OUR BANKING HISTORY - "SET UP TO GET GAIN"

My dear wife sent this to me - and I MUST share. This is some of the most important stuff I have ever seen as it shows the machinations of conspiring men to destroy this country and enslave its people. It also clearly explains how each of the U.S. presidential assassinations have occurred in the last 150 years as attempts have been made to wrest the financial grasp on this nation:

CLICK LINK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt1cayx0hs&feature=player_embedded

This is extremely well researched and I find it beyond disturbing.

Every major government that is being toppled right now (excepting Syria) has made an attempt to break out of the world banking system. This includes Libya and Iran. Don't get me wrong, I despise these governments, but they have effectively given the world banking establishments the finger as they used their oil and gold reserves to spike the FRN-based world monetary system.

Once you comprehend it, you will be horrified to know that the organ that has taken over the USA and co-opted the principles of the Constitution is the great whore talked about in Revelations. Folks - we are in it - go ahead and wake up to the awful state of your situation.....

AMERICA - THE WHORE OF ALL THE EARTH

While I am more prone to look at abortion statistics and out-of-wedlock pregnancies when I cite the whore of all the earth rhetoric, I guess there is nothing more reassuring that we are in the number one spot than the following stats that someone compiled and put on LDSFREEDOMFORUM.COM. Just thought I would share:

More evidence that America is Babylon the great:

Revelation 18:
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

After reading again this chapter of Revelation I wanted to do some research and find out which countries imported the most of each of the goods listed in verses 12-13. The answer probably comes as no surprise; only one nation fits the description - the United States of America. Where I could find multiple sources for each of the items listed in red above I tried to include them.

Top 10 importing countries:
1 United States $ 2,314,000,000,000 2011 est.
— European Union (minus internal trade) $ 2,000,000,000,000 2010 est.
2 China $ 1,743,468,000,000 2011 est.
3 Germany $ 1,339,000,000,000 2011 est.
4 Japan $ 794,700,000,000 2011 est.
5 France $ 684,600,000,000 2011 est.
6 United Kingdom $ 654,900,000,000 2011 est.
7 Italy $ 541,200,000,000 2011 est.
8 South Korea $ 525,200,000,000 2011 est.
9 Netherlands $ 514,100,000,000 2011 est.
- Hong Kong $ 493,200,000,000 2011 est.
10 Canada $ 459,600,000,000 2011 est.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... by_imports

Top 10 Gold importing countries:
The following countries imported the most gold by value in 2005.
1. India $10.9 billion (33.1% of top ten gold importers, up 6% from 2004)
2. United States $4.4 billion (13.5%, up 10.9%)
3. Turkey $3.9 billion (11.8%, up 11.4%)
4. Italy $3.5 billion (10.5%, down 2.8%)
5. Canada $2.3 billion (6.9%, up 60.1%)
6. Australia $2.1 billion (6.5%, up 18.5%)
7. Thailand $2 billion (6%, up 71.4%)
8. Malaysia $1.4 billion (4.1%, up 9.2%)
9. Japan $1.3 billion (4.1%, up 12.1%)
10. Germany $1.2 billion (3.5%, up 17.9%).
Source: http://daniel-workman.suite101.com/top- ... ies-a40840

Top 10 Gold buyers in 2010.
1. India 963.1 tons
2. China 607.1 tons
3. United States 233.3 tons
4. Germany 126.9 tons
5. Turkey 114.6 tons
6. Switzerland 91.7 tons
7. Saudi Arabia 87.5 tons
8. Vietnam 81.4 tons
9. United Arab Emirates 72 tons
10. Russia 67.5 tons
Source: http://www.china.org.cn/top10/2011-08/0 ... 114682.htm

Some thoughts on Gold: India is historically and culturally very big consumers of gold, so it comes as no surprise that they top the list. However, what is interesting is that China, who did not make the top 10 in 2005, suddenly by 2010 is the second largest gold buyer. Another interesting thing to note is who else also suddenly makes the top 10 who hadn't before... Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Russia – All Middle-Eastern and Communist countries. Why the sudden change? Might this be an indicator that they are gearing up and preparing for war? Historically it takes gold - lots of it - to wage war; it costs money to buy weapons, armor, resources, pay troops, and bribe other nations. Just something to think about.

Top 10 Silver importing countries (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States: 3,430,430
2. Japan: 1,863,410
3. Switzerland: 1,851,580
4. Germany: 1,507,080
5. Hong Kong: 1,428,380
6. Italy: 595,983
7. India: 370,304
8. China: 348,281
9. France: 271,528
10. Thailand: 215,780
Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_w ... atinum-etc

Top 10 silver consumers in 2010:
1. United States
2. China
3. Japan
4. India
5. Germany
6. Italy
7. Thailand
8. South Korea
9. UK and Ireland
10. Belgium
Source: http://www.statista.com/statistics/2161 ... tric-tons/

Top 10 importers of pearls, precious stones, metals, coins, etc. (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 52,297,727
2. India 52,193,819
3. Hong Kong, China 33,453,587
4. United Arab Emirates 24,818,222
5. United Kingdom 19,708,006
6. Germany 16,316,930
7. Switzerland 16,258,680
8. Belgium 16,129,709
9. Canada 12,616,375
10. Japan 11,526,829
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 71)

Top 10 importers of pearls in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Japan 355,441
2. Hong Kong, China 307,007
3. United States 274,284
4. Australia 139,285
5. Switzerland 52,824
6. Italy 41,970
7. China 39,248
8. Germany 35,982
9. United Kingdom 19,577
10 France 18,183
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 7101)

Top 10 diamond importers in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. India 22,102,643
2. United States 18,644,171
3. Hong Kong, China 14,688,017
4. Belgium 14,321,012
5. United Arab Emirates 10,553,674
6. Israel 8,392,193
7. United Kingdom 7,479,538
8. China 3,997,716
9. Switzerland 1,714,245
10. Thailand 773,445
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 7102)

Top Silk importing countries in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Italy 329,706
2. India 292,008
3. Hong Kong, China 223,769
4. United States 162,356
5. Japan 149,311
6. Viet Nam 126,275
7. China 124,435
8. Republic of Korea 112,118
9. Germany 93,890
10. France 89,134
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 50)

Top 10 importers of clothing and apparel in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 35,694,143
2. Germany 16,697,380
3. Japan 12,618,824
4. United Kingdom 10,769,634
5. France 10,365,117
6. Italy 7,693,970
7. Spain 7,108,831
8. Hong Kong, China 6,907,138
9. Netherlands 4,250,448
10. Belgium 3,765,379
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 62)

Top 10 importers of wood and wood products in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 12,190,755
2. China 11,234,863
3. Japan 10,432,773
4. Germany 8,075,408
5. Italy 5,255,004
6. United Kingdom 4,977,677
7. France 4,632,612
8. Canada 3,033,489
9. Belgium 2,790,880
10. Netherlands 2,780,522
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 44)

Another Top 10 wood importing countries list, this one from 2004 (in millions of dollars):
1. United States 21,726
2. Japan 10,591
3. China 5,167
4. United Kingdom 4,928
5. Italy 4,317
6. Germany 4,260
7. France 2,831
8. Canada 2,496
9. Spain 2,417
10. The Netherlands 2,123
Source: http://www.sadctrade.org/files/Wood%20a ... oducts.pdf

Top 10 importers of worked ivory and animal carving material in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 24,617
2. Hong Kong, China 11,653
3. Japan 10,925
4. Italy 7,094
5. Germany 6,709
6. Spain 5,698
7. France 5,514
8. French Polynesia 3,647
9. Chinese Taipei 3,129
10. Netherlands 2,947
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 9601)

Another interesting list which may be equally telling…

Top Ten Countries With Most Ivory Seizures (2006?):
Country No. of Ivory Seizuers
1. United States 1,435
2. Namibia 409
3. France 375
4. United Kingdom 367
5. Germany 261
6. Belgium 237
7. Tanzania 210
8. South Africa 155
9. Malawi 132
10. Zambia 104
Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... zuers.html

Top 10 iron and steel importing countries in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Germany 29,386,724
2. China 25,326,244
3. Republic of Korea 24,866,855
4. United States 22,517,939
5. Italy 19,366,021
6. Turkey 16,118,937
7. France 14,462,069
8. Belgium 12,521,775
9. Chinese Taipei 11,225,681
10. Thailand 10,999,403
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 72)

Top 10 countries importing iron and steel products in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 28,263,261
2. Germany 19,787,805
3. France 10,750,938
4. China 9,150,701
5. Canada 9,112,990
6. United Kingdom 7,610,325
7. Republic of Korea 6,698,065
8. Mexico 6,622,701
9. Russia 5,958,004
10. Japan 5,654,327
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 73)

Top 10 importers of copper and copper products in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. China 46,183,467
2. Germany 12,548,728
3. United States 8,941,092
4. Italy 8,190,109
5. Chinese Taipei 6,064,184
6. Republic of Korea 6,020,329
7. France 4,762,752
8. Belgium 4,353,562
9. Thailand 3,583,143
10. Turkey 3,299,333
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 74)

Top 10 marble importers in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. China 1,488,425
2. India 118,914
3. Italy 113,509
4. Chinese Taipei 86,450
5. Libya 66,808
6. United Arab Emirates 34,706
7. Syrian Arab Republic 31,376
8. Singapore 29,080
9. Greece 27,603
10. Algeria 25,048
…
38. United States 3,518
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 2515)
I don't know how accurate this list is - the data for the U.S. seems kinda low for what would be expected. I suspect the U.S. imports more than the data indicates, but can find no other reliable sources to verify or quantify world marble imports.

Top 10 importers of cinnamon in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Mexico 46,301
2. United States 42,232
3. India 13,040
4. United Arab Emirates 9,510
5. Bangladesh 8,409
6. Germany 6,932
7. Japan 6,043
8. United Kingdom 5,365
9. Netherlands 5,131
10. Colombia 4,699
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 0906)

Top 10 importers of coffee, tea, and spices in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 5,943,264
2. Germany 4,190,130
3. France 2,012,468
4. Japan 1,876,922
5. Italy 1,465,451
6. United Kingdom 1,333,472
7. Canada 1,252,041
8. Belgium 1,246,309
9. Russia 959,268
10. Spain 941,313
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 09)

Top 10 importers of gums, resins, balsams, extracts, etc. (used in making incense, perfumes, salves, ointments, etc.) in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. France 70,368
2. India 66,829
3. United States 61,501
4. Germany 36,514
5. United Kingdom 25,889
6. Italy 23,527
7. Netherlands 22,537
8. China 20,049
9. Saudi Arabia 17,354
10. Russia 14,431
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 1301)

Top 5 wine importing countries in 2008 (in metric tonnes):
1. Germany 1,366,340 m/t
2. United Kingdom 1,080,250 m/t
3. United States 831,788 m/t
4. France 570,018 m/t
5. Russian Federation 417,515 m/t
Source: http://www.top5ofanything.com/index.php?h=16e0c4df

Top 10 importers of wine in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United Kingdom 4,518,436
2. United States 4,461,891
3. Germany 2,696,772
4. Canada 1,699,641
5. Japan 1,334,806
6. Belgium 1,147,624
7. Netherlands 1,107,933
8. Switzerland 1,054,075
9. Hong Kong, China 898,484
10. Russian Federation 825,094
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 2204)

Top 10 importers of animal and vegetable fats and oils in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. China 8,884,173
2. India 4,794,979
3. United States 4,548,969
4. Germany 3,996,519
5. Italy 3,784,294
6. Netherlands 3,436,340
7. France 2,403,066
8. Malaysia 2,231,730
9. Pakistan 1,852,323
10. Belgium 1,840,317
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 15)

Top 10 importers of wheat flour in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Iraq 312,011
2. Indonesia 261,254
3. Uzbekistan 230,945
4. Afghanistan 229,567
5. Brazil 217,662
6. Angola 135,781
7. Netherlands 127,007
8. United States 102,385
9. Tajikistan 92,184
10. Hong Kong, China 89,437
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 1101)

Top 10 importers of cereal flours (other than wheat) in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 65,245
2. Spain 45,852
3. Angola 27,827
4. Canada 24,032
5. France 22,334
6. Hong Kong, China 22,118
7. Germany 21,876
8. Guatemala 19,538
9. China 19,170
10. Belgium 16,853
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 1102)

Top 10 importers of wheat in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Egypt 2,181,907
2. Italy 1,874,417
3. Japan 1,667,547
4. Brazil 1,528,252
5. Indonesia 1,424,275
6. Algeria 1,251,588
7. Netherlands 1,076,152
8. Republic of Korea 1,066,839
9. Spain 1,053,287
10. Germany 894,836
…
17. United States 584,382
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 1001)

Top 10 importers of live animals (beasts) in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 2,384,441
2. Italy 2,062,502
3. Germany 1,951,885
4. Venezuela 1,011,462
5. Netherlands 905,532
6. Belgium 737,968
7. United Kingdom 693,280
8. Spain 655,896
9. Saudi Arabia 595,988
10. Hong Kong, China 479,629
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 01)

Top 10 importers of sheep in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. Saudi Arabia 522,340
2. Italy 123,454
3. Kuwait 108,008
4. Bahrain 81,375
5. Oman 76,562
6. France 49,283
7. Qatar 47,158
8. Lebanon 44,921
9. Jordan 43,274
10. Iran (Islamic Republic of) 32,052
…
65. United States 156
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 0104)
I am a bit surprised that according to this data the U.S. ranks so low on sheep imports, however, from other sources I can find the U.S. indeed seems to import very little in the way of sheep. Still, only $156,000 for the entire year seems an unreasonable amount and I wonder if it might not be more.

Top 10 importers of horses, asses, mules, etc. in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United Kingdom 495,016
2. United States 226,823
3. Ireland 205,453
4. Japan 163,260
5. Australia 101,988
6. France 82,920
7. Hong Kong, China 78,600
8. Italy 70,170
9. United Arab Emirates 64,516
10. Canada 57,257
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 0101)

Top 10 importers of vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, etc.) in 2010 (in thousands of dollars):
1. United States 116,768,040
2. Germany 35,208,871
3. France 31,166,550
4. United Kingdom 30,506,846
5. China 28,921,282
6. Italy 28,048,487
7. Belgium 24,619,577
8. Canada 22,321,127
9. Australia 14,300,094
10. Spain 11,608,908
Source: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/Stat_ ... t_country/ (click on product 8703)

Human trafficking and slavery. Due to the nature of this problem there is very little if any information and data available on which countries rank highest in terms of importation of human trafficking and slavery. One thing is for certain though, human trafficking and slavery in the United States is a very real problem, even if no one wants to acknowledge it. According to the Department of Education:

“Contrary to a common assumption, human trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and some U.S. territories. Victims of human trafficking can be children or adults, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female.

According to U.S. government estimates, thousands of men, women, and children are trafficked to the United States for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. An unknown number of U.S. citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country primarily for sexual servitude and, to a lesser extent, forced labor.” Source: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/o ... sheet.html

According to other research, as quoted by the FBI, that number could very well be into the hundreds of thousands. Source: http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publi ... rafficking

As can be seen by the above data, the United States ranks in the top 10 (and more often than not, the top 3) importers of every singly good listed by John in Revelation 18, other than sheep (ranked 65th), wheat (ranked 17th - ranked 8th however on wheat flour) , and marble (ranked 38th). The only other nation that can even come as close to the U.S. as being on as many of those top 10 lists of importers is Germany.

It is no gross understatement to say that America is (by far) the world’s largest consumer of luxury goods.

FORNICATION AND MONEY - A LOOK INTO WHERE THE TWO PILLARS OF OUR MODERN DEPRAVED SOCIETY COME FROM

Well, my friend Darin the Linguist comes through yet one more time in a fascinating little jaunt down the historical lane. He ties where the Romans got the seed money for their empire from and how the (unholy...) Roman empire became the more modern incarnation of the whore of all the earth, Babylon.

I love how this guy puts it all together into a neat little package. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did - and hope that your focus is not on the pursuit of either of these two things as the train the great whore has been riding is about to derail and make an end to quite the long run she has had....:

And, now, for the Main Horrible Crime Against Mankind, that was committed by those who began the City of Rome.

Those Founders of Rome came to understand that they could collect a Multiple of the Gold Coins that they collected in the Forum if, after the Western European Merchants, with their Cargoes, had exited out from the Forum, under the Fornix Exit Gate, they could have a Large Hotel, that they built, on the west side of the Apian Way Road, just after those Merchants had exited out from under the Fornix Exit Gate, where, on the many balconies of that Large Hotel they could have large numbers of women, calling down to those Merchants, that they had the best Hotel Accommodations in Italy, there, with the Finest Food, the Finest Most Comfortable Furniture, the Best Entertainment, etc., etc., in Italy, to get those Merchants to stop, and to rest there, before continuing on for the rest of their long journey to the South End of the Italian Peninsula.

That large “Hotel” was built there. And, since it was there, right next to the Fornix Exit Gate, it too was given the name of it being, “the Fornix.” And, it did become the source of a Multiple of the Gold Coins that the Romans collected in the Forum, which became the Main Source of that Large Volume of Income of the Gold Coins from Babylon that enabled those “Founders of Rome” to establish their “Roman Empire,” that has had the dominating effect that it has had on the Culture of the People of Europe and of the World until this time.

But, now, for the terrible Evil against Mankind, that was done there.

If a person looks up, in most Dictionaries, the origin of the word for the “sin” of “fornication,” most Dictionaries will give the origin of that word from the name, “the Fornix,” of that large Main “Hotel,” that the Ancient Romans built. That is, it might have been the Largest House of Prostitution that had ever been built, in the History of the World, maybe, even, down until the present time.

In The Revelation, Chapters 17 and 18, the word, “fornication,” which word came from those Romans’ Largest House of Prostitution in History, till that time, is used 6 times in those two Chapters.]


However, THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF THE WORLD’S “MONEY,” COMES TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, TODAY, FROM THE WAY THAT THE ANCIENT ROMANS, WHO ESTABLISHED THEIR CITY OF ROME, WERE ALSO THE ESTABLISHERS OF THE WAY THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE WORLD HAS COME TO HAVE ALMOST ALL OF THEIR POLITICS OPERATE, AT THIS TIME.

The question can come up of, “What was it that the Apostle, John the Revelator, meant, when he wrote, in The Revelation 17:5,

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH?”

and in 18:19, where he said:

“for in one hour is she made desolate?”


It has seemed, to Commentators on this, throughout History, that an identification of that “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,” is made, in relation to the City of the Ancient Romans, in The Revelation 17:9, with:

9 And here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

and in 17:18,where it is said:

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.


[One thing that is obvious to everyone in the World, about one “ignorance” that the Founders of Ancient Rome had, is that they thought that there were only 10 “Months” in a year. The word, “Month,” is an expression for how long it takes for the “Moon” to “spin around” the Planet Earth. It does that 12 times a year, each time of which is called a, “Month,” in Modern English, perhaps, a “Moonth,” in our Ancestral Anglo-Saxon.

So, to the Ancient Romans their word, “December,” meant the “10th” Month, “November,” meant the “9th” Month, “October,” meant the “8th” Month, and, “September,” meant the “7th” Month. When the Ancient Roman Emperors realized that they could not operate successfully, militarily, in Italy, against the Superior Military Operations of the North Europeans, and that those Roman Military Dictators needed to move their Military Headquarters out of Italy and over to Byzantium, they copied so many of the things that the North Europeans did, including the utilization among them of the fact that there are 12 Months in a year, by naming two of the Summer Months for those first Roman Emperors, Julius Caesar, and Augustus Caesar, the origin of the names, “July” and “August,” for those two Summer Months.]

The name of the Ancient Romans for the First Month, in the Summer, was for the primary ancient pagan goddess of the Romans, for which they used the name, “Juno,” the origin of the English word for the name of that Month, “June.”

The Ancient Roman Military Dictators operated their Military by the practice that, if a man would risk his life to go out to kill, according to the dictates of that Military Dictator, in exchange for a small “solid” Gold Coin, that man was given the name that he was a “solid-ier” of that Military Dictator, (the origin of the English word, “soldier”).

The Ancient Pagan Romans had ancient pagan Idols that they worshipped, in relation to their ancient pagan god and goddesses. One place where they worshipped an Idol of their pagan goddess Juno was near to the Fortress, on the north side of Rome, where the Solid-iers of Rome were stationed, to protect Rome against attackers.

So many in the populations of the Northern Europeans were so terribly offended at the Filthiness of the Lives of the Romans, that they destroyed the Decency of Life for so many of the male Merchants that were involved in that “Gold-Coin-Source Trade,” between Northern Europe and the South of Italy, that went through Rome, that so many of the People of Northern Europe wished so much that it would be possible, somehow, to destroy Rome. However, Rome was a long way away from Northern Europe; and, if the North Europeans were ever going to be able to get a large enough Military Force to the vicinity of Rome, so that it would be able to destroy Rome’s horrible Large House of Prostitution, it was understood that that attacking Army was going to need to be most clever in order to be able to get near enough to that horrible Large House of Prostitution in order to be able to do that.

However, eventually, one large Attacking Army had been able to secretly sneak up so close to that Fortress, that was there to stop Attacks against Rome, that it was almost ready to attack and destroy that Fortress and the “Army of Guards” that were in it, that they would have, then, been able to go to the south side of Rome and also destroy Rome’s horrible Large House of Prostitution.

However, just as that large attacking Army was sneaking though the last open space, before getting to that Fortress, it happened that that open space was a yard that was next to the place where the ancient pagan Romans worshipped their ancient pagan goddess, for which they used the name, Juno. And, it just happened that in the yard, that was in that final open space, there were a large flock of geese that had been put there. Then it happened that as that large attacking Army was trying so silently to sneak up close enough to that Fortress, so that they could attack it, while its Army of Guards were still mostly asleep, that flock of geese started cackling, at that those who in that Army of those Attackers. When that happened that cackling sound woke up some of those Guards, who, then, woke up all of the rest of that Army of Guards, who, from their Fortress, threw spears and shot down arrows, etc. at those Attackers. in such a way that they were able to stop that Attack.

After that Attack was defeated the talking began that, “That yard where those Geese are is the yard of the place where we worship our pagan goddess Juno. Those are the geese of our pagan goddess, Juno. Therefore, it was our pagan goddess, Juno, who ‘WARNED’ our Guards, through her geeses’ cackling, that woke up our Guards and stopped that Attack on the way that we do things here in Rome. THEREFORE, FROM NOW ON, LET’S CALL OUR PAGAN GODDESS JUNO, ‘JUNO THE WARNER.’”

One sees the basis of the Ancient Latin word for, “warn,” in the English word, “ad-monit-ion.” The, “monit” part of that word is the basis of the Ancient Latin word for, “warn.” Therefore, the Ancient Romans began calling their ancient pagan goddess, Juno, by the longer name, “Juno Moneta,” Ancient Latin for, “Juno the Warner.”

The point of this is that when the Romans began using some of all of that Babylonian Gold that they had, for them to begin “minting” their own Gold Coins, they did a lot of that minting in a place where they had a huge Idol of their pagan goddess, Juno Moneta. So, they began calling that place, that was their, “Mint,” their, “Moneta.” And, then, also, they began calling the Gold Coins that they “minted” there by that same name. And, those two names have continued in the Modern Latin Language of Spanish as, “una moneda,” which is the way that, “a coin,” is said in modern Spanish, and “la moneda,” which is the way that the expression, “the mint,” is said, in modern Spanish.

The French Language was different enough from Ancient Latin that the word, “moneda,” in Latin, came out as, “moneie,” in French. And, that French word, “moneie,” is the origin of our English word, “money.”

“What is a name that could be used for the ancient pagan ‘Culture” of Rome?” As they developed their “Ancient Roman Empire,” based upon the way that they “controlled life,” with the “monetas” (coins) of the Ancient Romans, among the populations of Southwest Europe, which area they made into their “Empire,” they did that with what most of the World would designate as a number of “evils.” One of what most people would call, “evils,” is that, when they so extended that Ancient Empire of theirs, it was estimated that about ½ of the people that made up the population that were the Subjects of those Roman Emperors were, “Slaves.” A “slave woman” has no ability to refuse when the Master who owns her decides that she will be sold to do prostitution services, at the behest of that Roman Master of hers.

And, so, since the “Culture of Money” of the Ancient Pagan Romans, that spread throughout the World, came from the Ancient Pagan Romans, and that Roman name for it continues, from the name of the main Ancient Pagan Goddess of the Ancient Romans, and since so much of the ancient Culture of the Ancient Pagan Romans came from the way that those Ancient Pagan Romans dealt with Mankind, through that which was named for their Ancient Pagan Goddess, Juno Moneta, it seems that the Apostle, John the Revelator, is speaking about that “continuation,” until this time, of that Culture of Rome, the Culture of Rome’s Main Pagan Goddess, Juno Moneta, “Money,” as he speaks about, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,” that, “in one hour is she made desolate.”

It will literally take one hour (not 22 years in Kolob's reckoning) to wipe it all out. CAN'T WAIT..... I would like God's Millennial economy to take over and to finish raising my kids and grand kids in a society not centered on that garbage. There is almost no way to escape it now - EVEN IN THE CHURCH, WE HAVE RUN NEARLY 100% AMOK - but when it all comes crashing down, some of our Lamanite brothers and folks from the 10 Tribes who have lived without the constraints of our greed-centered world will be part of the solution in showing the way. I suspect that the Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon will hold the rest of the key. They did something right to make it last for over 300 years.

OUR FUTURE AS SEEN LOOKING THROUGH SOMEONE'S PAST

You are going to read the following story and you will probably be appalled, sickened and, most of all, have a complete sense of denial when I tell you that we are on the cusp (next 3-10 years) of having many of us in these very conditions as we are asked to go thru the trials that the Saints of all past generations were asked to go thru - but multiplied several times over. We will have foreign troops on our soil - and this will be the result for those who refuse to deny Christ. We need to stand up now and make all of our friends, family and associates aware of what is coming unless we heed the messages of the Book of Mormon immediately:

Originally published Friday, April 13, 2012 at 5:31 AM


Book review
'Escape from Camp 14': Survival and escape from a North Korean hell

"Escape from Camp 14" by Seattle journalist Blaine Harden tells the harrowing story of Shin Dong-hyuk, who grew up in a North Korean labor camp and then escaped from one of the ghastliest places on earth. Harden discusses his book Monday at Town Hall Seattle.

By Craig Welch

Special to The Seattle Times


It's difficult to imagine an existence more devastating than life without hope — until you meet Shin Dong-hyuk.

The central character in Seattle journalist Blaine Harden's extraordinary new book, "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" (Viking, 205 pp., $26.95), reveals more in 200 pages about human darkness in the ghastliest corner of the world's cruelest dictatorship than a thousand textbooks ever could.

The child of a coupling arranged by authorities in a North Korean labor camp, Shin's youth was spent being pummeled — once he was even hung by a hook and tortured over flames — by prison guards, teachers and other children. He lived for years so close to starvation that he picked stray kernels of corn out of cow dung and ran a finger along the floor to get licks of spilled soup. Prison officials worked him so long without breaks during the North's bitter winters, he often ended the day in clothes stiffened by frozen urine. Guards dubbed such child labor "rallies of endeavor."

This part of Shin's story is shared by many. It's just daily life for the hundreds of thousands of citizens who live and die in secret gulags that the North Korean government still tries to deny exist. But it's Shin's personal revelations, the horrifying years without even a hint of human kindness, that give his story its sickening power.

Idle chatter among children is punished with beatings. (Sex among adults, except when arranged by prison guards, is a guaranteed death sentence.) Trained from birth to snitch on anyone violating prison rules, Shin and everyone around him view one another with suspicion. Parents, siblings and other children are merely rivals for food. When he watched his mother and brother executed for attempting to escape, Shin felt only anger (toward them) that authorities would now question his loyalty to the Great Leader, Kim Jong-il.

But it wasn't until Shin was tossed in a cell within his camp as a teen in the 1990s that he met another person who spoke to him as a human being. Only then did Shin get the faintest glimmer that life, for most, also includes love.

"Shin had become conscious of what he could never eat and never see," Harden writes in one of his most crushing passages. For the first time, "the filth, stink, and bleakness of the camp crushed his spirit. As he became marginally self-aware, he discovered loneliness, regret, and longing."

"Escape from Camp 14," the story of Shin's awakening, escape and new beginning, is a riveting, remarkable book that should be required reading in every high-school or college-civics class. Like "The Diary of Anne Frank" or Dith Pran's account of his flight from Pol Pot's genocide in Cambodia, it's impossible to read this excruciatingly personal account of systemic monstrosities without fearing you might just swallow your own heart.

Shin's tale of survival is amazing enough, but Harden's wisdom as a writer shines on every page. A former New York Times reporter and Washington Post foreign correspondent who now works for PBS' Frontline, Harden keeps the story simple and searing. He allows Shin's story to unfold largely chronologically, so we watch the awfulness mount year by year.

We hear Shin's youthful voice as he shrugs off his role in causing others physical pain. We watch Shin come to grips with shame as he faces, publicly, his own capacity for betrayal. And we see the toll his first 23 years have left on a man who is now physically free but still coming to grips with hope.

Craig Welch is The Seattle Times environment reporter.

What will make it harder is having felt love and compassion for an entire lifetime, and then having none shown to you in this most brutal fashion. Death would be a welcome relief for those people who are called to endure that torture.

NAUVOO TEMPLE SYMBOLISM

Just got this from a friend and thought I would share. The Nauvoo Temple is loaded with symbolism and imagery that goes all the way back to Solomon's Temple and beyond. One of my favorite books is called "Symbols in Stone" which discusses some of this.

Hope you enjoy!!

NAUVOO TEMPLE EXTERIOR SYMBOLISM

By Lisle Brown
All rights reserved, March 1999
Joseph Smith purposely included symbolic stones and other symbolic artifices on the exterior of the Nauvoo Temple. These stones were not intended to be mere adornments for beautifying the building - although they did that, but they were designed to enrich the symbolism of the building, thereby providing visual clues for teaching principles of the restored gospel.

THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOUSE
The word, "temple" comes from the Hebrew "beth-el," which means the "house of the Lord." Such a structure was viewed as the mountain of holiness (Jer. 31:23). Indeed, temples were the personification of the Mountain of the Lord, and traditionally temples were built on the highest ground available, such as on the temple mount in Jerusalem. The Nauvoo Temple was no exception. Although there were no mountains on the flat Illinois prairie, Joseph Smith chose the most commanding location within the city limits of Nauvoo - on the prominent bluff overlooking the city and the Mississippi River. Reportedly the Temple's glistening stone walls could be seen from twenty-miles down river.


A CELESTIAL OBSERVATORY

Temples were also meant to be celestial observatories, where men could take their bearings by the heavens. Accordingly it was common for temples to be oriented to the cardinal directions of the compass; the Nauvoo Temple was so situated with an east-west orientation. It was also common for decorations to be placed on the exterior of temples reflecting its cosmic purposes; the Nauvoo Temple retained this tradition, particularly with its unique pilasters.


ASTRONOMIC SYMBOLS: EARTH, MOON, SUN AND STARS

The Nauvoo Temple had thirty pilasters. Each pilaster was designed with a moonstone base, a polished shaft, and a sunstone capital. On the pilaster rested an entablature with starstones and circular windows in its frieze.

Although the revelation called the Vision (D&C 76) uses the sun, moon and stars as symbols of the kingdoms of glory in eternity (vss. 70-71), the arrangement of the stones bearing these symbols on the Nauvoo Temple, did not neatly correspond to the symbolism in the Vision. The Vision presented the symbols in descending order of glory: the sun as the highest for the Celestial Kingdom; the moon as the intermediate for the Terrestrial Kingdom; and the stars as the lowest for the Telestial Kingdom. On the Nauvoo Temple Joseph Smith arranged these symbols in different order from the ground level up: the moon in the base; sun in the capital, and the stars in the frieze. Clearly the arrangement of the symbolic stones did not reflect the Vision's arrangement, but instead an astronomical scheme: first the earth upon which the temple rested, next higher the moonstones representing the moon; third higher the sunstones representing the sun; and highest the numerous starstones representing the starry heavens above.


Joseph Smith may have had this cosmological arrangement in mind when he said, "God has made certain decrees which are fixed and immovable; for instance, God set the sun, the moon and the stars in the heavens, and gave them their laws, conditions and bounds, which they cannot pass, except by his commandments; they all move in perfect harmony in their sphere and order, and are as lights, wonders and signs to us" (TPJS, p. 197-198). Since the Nauvoo Temple was to be a place of order and harmony, the Prophet may have desired the Saints to see God's orderly cosmos whenever they viewed the Nauvoo Temple's exterior symbolic stones. Indeed, the pilasters may reflect the revelation, which reads: "The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and tha stars also shine their light, as they roll upon wings of glory, in the midst of the powr of God...and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in majesty and power" (D&C 88:45,47).

This does not mean that these symbolic stones were only to be interpreted in this manner, because the moonstones and sunstones were personified with faces, suggesting that additional symbolism was incorporated into their design.


THE MOONSTONES

One of the most prominent features of the pilasters were the base-stones. The base-stones included a deeply carved relief crescent moon facing downward. Although William W. Phelps stated that the moonstones were "new moons" (Lundwall, Temples of the Most High, p. 47), they were clearly crescent moons. Each moon also had a carved face in profile. The personification of the moonstones was perhaps meant to also represent those who dwell in the Terrestrial Kingdom, because the moon represents the glory of that kingdom on the Vision (D&C 76:71, 78).


THE SUNSTONES

The capital of each pilaster was a sunstone, composed of five individual stones. Brigham Young left a detailed description: "There are thirty capitals around the temple, each composed of five stones, viz., one base stone, one large stone representing the sun rising above the clouds, the lower part obscured; the third stone represents two hands each holding a trumpet; and the last two stones form a cap over the trumpet stones, and all these form a capital" (History of the Church, 7:323). President Young neglected to mention that the sun had a face carved into its disk.

President Young's descriptions helps in interpreting the symbolism of this stone. First, some persons have felt that the trumpets were "horns of plenty," but President Young's words clearly settle the question. At the Jerusalem Temple a trumpet call heralded the dawn of each day, and special silver trumpets called the people to come and assemble at the temple (Num 10:2-10). So too, it appears that the Nauvoo Temple trumpet stones above the rising sun were symbols reminding the Saints to come the temple for the same purpose, to assemble at the temple for their worship and devotions.

The personification of the sunstones also suggests that they also represented those in the celestial kingdom, whose glory was likened to the sun in the Vision (D&C 76:70).

OF STARS: STONES AND WINDOWS

The Nauvoo Temple had a variety of "stars" on its exterior. There were three types of stars depicted on its exterior walls. One was an inverted five-pointed starstone, which was carved into the frieze above the capitals. The circular windows in the frieze were also designed to have panes of glass worked into an inverted five-pointed star, but it is not certain that this was actually done in the finished building. (The photographic evidence is not clear and there are no descriptions of such windows.) Six-pointed stars on a vertical axis were carved into the panels interspersed along balustrade at the roof line, and into the soffit of the roof. William Weeks' second drawing of the temple's facade also indicates that the round windows between the arched windows were to have panes of twelve-pointed stars. Again, it is not clear if this was done in the completed building.


THE FIVE-POINTED STARS

The five-pointed star is often represented as the morning star. The descending ray of the Nauvoo Temple's inverted five-point starstones (there is only one surviving example and it is damaged) was extended downward. Such an orientation suggests the rising morning star. This "star" is not a star at all, but the planet Venus. Venus' brightness is a reflection of the sun, which invisible below the horizon. The extended ray portrays the source of the morning stars brightness, not the planet itself, but the sun's brilliance.

Through a unique orbital characteristic Venus shares a relationship with the five-pointed star. Carl G. Liungman explains: "If one knows the ecliptic and can pinpoint the present position of the planets in relation to the fixed star of the zodiac, it is possible to mark the exact place in the 360 degrees of the zodiac where the Morning star first appears shortly before sunrise after a period of invisibility. If we do this, waiting for the Morning star to appear again 584 days later (the orbital time of Venus) and mark its position in the zodiac, and then repeat this process until we have five positions of Venus as the Morning star, we will find that exactly eight years plus one day have passed. If we then draw a line from the first point marked to the second point marked, then to the third, and so on, we end up with a pentagram [five-pointed star]" (Dictionary of Symbols, 1991, pp. 333-334). No other celestial object, whether planet or star, has this orbital characteristic; it is wholly unique to Venus (the Morning/Evening Star).

Furthermore, between the starstones in the frieze were circular windows. The architect's drawing of these windows repeated the motif of the starstones with inverted five-pointed stars, unifying the design of this part of the temple.
Jesus Christ is called the "bright and morning star" (Rev 22:16). The starstones on the Nauvoo Temple, some with their unique lengthened ray, are a fitting symbol of Jesus Christ as the morning star. Additionally, the circle is a symbol of eternity and it is wholly fitting that the symbol of Jesus Christ in the circular windows (five-pointed stars) was framed by a circle.

THE SIX-POINTED STARS
The six-pointed stars commonly represented the stars in the heavens, and clearly this was the intended purpose in placing them along the soffit, where only when persons looked upwards were they visible. There placement also on the balustrade, the highest point of the temple's walls, also suggests that they represented the stars in heaven.
Although the six-pointed stars were not personified lke the moon and sun on the Nauvoo Temple, it is likely that they too could be likened to the glory of those in the Telestial Kingdoms, who glory will be as varied as the stars in the heavens (D&C 76:81).


THE TWELVE-POINTED STARS
The intended use of twelve pointed-stars in the circular windows of the main body of the Temple, may suggest the priesthood, as well as the fulness of the priesthood. (See, Draper, Opening the Seven Seals, p. 46,56,83-84). Such symbolism would be fitting for the windows, which illuminated the interior. Those righteous leaders who hold the priesthood in its fulness are the source of power, revelation and light to the Saints, and it is through their teaching and officiating in the temple, that the building and its ordinances are empowered in the lives of those who enter the temple.


THE ALL-SEEING EYE
Apparently the Nauvoo Temple was to include the depiction of the all-seeing eye in the center of the top portion of the large rounded windows. Whether this was done or not cannot be determined from photographic evidence. This symbol is based on the statement that the "eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him" (Ps 33:18). Brigham Young called this symbol "the all-searching eye of the Great Jehovah" (J.D. 2:32).


THE INSCRIPTION PANELS

ALLOW GOD TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLES

I have come up against some formidable enemies in my life (and one of the greatest, at times, can be me....), but I have always asked God to fight them for me and I have had an interesting track record at it. When God is allowed to fight them - and my life is consecrated to serving Him and His purposes - I always come out the victor. Its not one of those faith without works kind of situations where I sit back and do nothing. I have to fight the good fight - mostly in keeping myself worthy of His choicest blessings and so that when I ask Him to weigh me and my "enemy" in the balance, I will come out justified in having my petition heard while the other petition (or justification) does not balance out.

God simply supports those who support Him. Those who are indifferent, He will not justify and support in their times of need. Being perfectly just, he cannot do it.

Here is a scripture that illustrates the point:

10 That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands.

11 And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.

12 For behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them, inasmuch as they are faithful and continue in humility before me.

13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion.

14 For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles.

15 Behold, the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints.

THE INDOLENT AND IDLER SHALL NOT EAT THE BREAD

Maybe its getting a little too close to tax day - and I am fed up with the moral decline of our country where people feel perfectly happy to live off of others' hard work.

Here is something my good wife found - a guy who really knows what is what when it comes to socialism and its ever-creeping tentacles:



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23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.

Can't wait for the Millennium when all the "something for nothing" socialist trash gets taken to the curb.... The idler will not have a place at the table - simple as that. Its not in God's economy - not in the least. You simply work by the sweat of your brow for what you have - or you suffer. Its nature's law - and an eternal principle. The parasitic drag we have on our country's resources - and on those who choose to work for what they have - is stupendous. Right now, those who parasitically rely on others' hard work and get a paycheck while watching Jerry Springer all day, far outnumber those who believe its their God-given mandate to support themselves and their families, if they have them. We are in trouble at the most fundamental level of society's fabric. The only way to fix it is to trash it and start completely over. You cannot put old wine into new bottles - when the earthenware bottles have been dry for too long.... Keep the powder dry - it will be a contest between the idlers who choose by Executive Order and legislative decree to force the rest of the working class into de-facto slavery to live off the fruits of their labors and those who have prepared to say "Enough is enough". The Nephites faced the same problem with the Lamanites of the day who chose to inhabit their cities, raid their crops, rape their women, and otherwise be indolent and lazy towards their own responsibilities of self-sustenance. The thing that makes it worse today is, at least the Lamanites/Gads had to fight and die trying to steal from those who were productive. Today, they just march, rally, coerce, legislate and legally take it by force. And that stinks - if you like to be productive and set your own course and determine your own destiny....

Phew - that was a great rant. Must be a little touchy as April 15th approaches.....

SOLS GUARDISTO VISION REVISITED

This has been on my mind as of late. Sols is just one of several sources of the prophetic utterances talking of massive race rioting on the American continent. I think of Joseph Smith who said the second Civil War would start in Chicago in what (was then) a very small town (smaller than Nauvoo at the time, where the statement was uttered), but would then grow into a large city and would be the source of the beginning of the conflict that would embroil America. I have driven in West Chicago and was appalled at the conditions of the people and the vastness of the ghettos. I was told by a friend that South Chicago down into Gary, Indiana was far worse than West Chicago - and the thought was sobering. People who have nothing to lose due to poverty and the lack of opportunity (whatever the source) will finally have all they can take and just break out at the first provocation. We are seeing a fore-taste of it with the vigilante/self-defense killing of Treyvon Martin in Florida.

We are sitting on a powder keg - and it could blow at any time. And I am not just talking about race relations. I am talking about the Middle East and a whole host of situations, folks. The little Dutch boy is stuffing his finger in the hole in the dike - but the leak appears to be getting bigger and full tide is coming in.....

I would have said the same thing, had I been aware of the situation in 1968 - and here we are 48 years later - but something has got to give.....

Here is a snippet of the Sols vision from the Cardston Temple:

I saw the international world war automatically break down, and national revolutions occur in every country and complete the work of chaos and desolation. I saw geological disturbances occur, which helped in this work as if it were intended to do so. I saw the Cardston Temple preserved from all this geological upheaval. I saw the international boundary line disappear as these two governments broke up and dissolved into chaos. I saw race rioting upon this American continent on a vast scale.

I saw hunger and starvation in this world granary of the American continent sweep off vast numbers of the conflicting elements. I saw disease produced by hunger, strife, and chaos complete the end of this present order or epoch…"

So, how is that food storage coming along??

MY TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

I have not really used this as a forum for my personal testimony of God and His Son, Jesus Christ - and I probably should be a little more overt in my feelings. Sometimes it is what is in the implied where the message is sent - so I am sometimes not direct concerning the things I hold most sacred and dear.

I have a great love for my Savior - not a great enough of a love to say that I have overcome all personal shortcomings, but enough to try and please Him and our Father by doing my best and letting His atoning blood cover my shortcomings where I cannot meet the measure.

I KNOW God lives! I LOVE His plan for his children. Its perfect! I cannot think of a better way to let people sift themselves and allow themselves to establish what they want out of their eternal life. This life is the perfect laboratory. I love the miracle of eternal marriage where two people can work out their salvation together (from eternity to eternity) while bringing children into this world that help refine the couple and the family. I love the uniqueness of woman and my dear companion and thank my God for putting her into my life. We have had a most remarkable journey together so far - and in retrospect, would not change a thing of it. Parts of it, I would not wish on my worst enemy (many of our struggles have been over the top - losing Dallin would be near the top of the list), but we are better for having passed through them together.

I love the knowledge and security the Atonement gives me. One who was so perfect that He could descend below it all, to take upon Him all the pain and suffering of mankind in order that we might overcome the world and rejoice with Him again, clean and pure in the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ is truly the manifestation of God's love for His children. That love will be manifest when Christ returns to rescue those, who choose to attempt to live His laws fully, from the depravity that surrounds them. May we all rejoice this special day in His love for us and resolve to be more Christ-centered in our living.

In Jesus' holy name, Amen.