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DESCRIPTION: Jack discusses the text of Hebrews 11, pointing out that these people “embraced the promises” of God regarding the afterlife for the faithful/righteous, and thus, lived a different life from those in the world around them who did not embrace those promises. He also discusses the concept of “when faith was rational”. All this is set against the backdrop of current political events in the USA.
SHOW NOTES
Introduction to Reality-Based Thinking: https://youtu.be/v3qkk2jA1Jw This is Jack’s video podcast, which only has three episodes, which together comprise a thorough introduction to the concept of Reality-Based Thinking.
The Extraordinary Visit of Benjamin True: The State of the Union as No One Else Would Tell It. This is Jack’s novel that introduces the basics of Reality-Based Thinking as it explores what an angel might say (from his heavenly perspective) about the American government and the political thinking of the American citizen.
SCRIPTURES USED IN THIS EPISODE
Hebrews 11 in NIV and ESV. The primary Bible passage used in this episode can be found here. Since Jack covers a full chapter, we won’t list the passages separately on this page as we normally do.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Matthew 23:35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
1 Enoch Chapter 22. (Laurence Translation). This is the chapter that details the four (not two) places in Sheol/Hades that were for the spirits of dead humans. NOTE: The first two columns show variants from the Ethiopic and Greek versions of this text. Meanwhile, the easiest reading is in the far right column with the heading “22”.
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[a] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ….10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Hebrews 9:27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
(CEB) 2 Esdras 7:49 He replied to me: “Listen to me, and I will instruct you and will advise you yet again. 50 Because of this the Most High made not one world but two. 51 Regarding what you said about the just being not many but few and the wicked being numerous, think about this: 52 If you have very few choice stones, will you add lead and clay to their number?”[e]
53 I said, “Lord, who would do such a thing?”
54 He said to me, “Not only this, but ask the earth and it will inform you; flatter it and it will tell you. 55 Say to it: You create gold, silver, bronze, iron, and also lead and clay. 56 But silver is more numerous than gold, and bronze than silver, and iron than bronze, lead than iron, and clay than lead. 57 Decide yourself then which things are precious and desirable, what is abundant or what is rare.”
58 I said, “Supreme Lord, that which is abundant is cheaper, because what is more rare is valuable.”
59 He replied to me: “Reflect on what you have thought. One who has what is scarce rejoices more than one who has what is abundant. 60 So also will be the judgment[f] I have promised. I will rejoice over the few who will be saved, because they are the ones who made my honor to prevail now and through whom my reputation is celebrated. 61 I will have no regrets over the multitude who perish, for they are even now like vapor, the equivalent of flame or smoke; they burn and flare up and are quenched.”