The Problem with Dominionist Theology

[Raggedy Anne]

The Dominionists
Radical Religion vs. The Environment


         Dominion Theology is a generic term for a set of biblical beliefs, with the common dogmatic teaching that society must be controlled by biblical law, as they believe the Bible demands, and not by secular laws or mores. We are using this specific term to separate a particular movement associated with the concept that Christ will not return to earth until the environment is almost completely destroyed and must actively participate in that destruction. This concept is associated with a secular movement called "Wise Use", promoted by the work of Ron Arnold, an advocate of the right to own property and use the planet's resources for the benefit of mankind; the most important benefit being corporate profit. The darkest aspect of the Dominionist agenda is that they not only ignore environmental degradation, but actively promote it, and strongly condemn the environmental movement as being an impediment to the plan of God. Considering that there are groups which believe the actual destruction of the environment is a prerequisite for the return of Jesus, this group of beliefs is particularly dangerous. Predictions of the rapid decline of the environment is shocking and troubling to society as a whole, yet, to certain radical elements in fundamentalist Christianity, it is joyous news.

         Increasing numbers of "progressive" Christians are now beginning to view environmental degradation as an issue all people of faith need to address. But, the radical Christian Right has chosen to limit their attention to social moral issues such as homosexuality and abortion, as well as, theocratic domination of society. Part of that theocratic domination is a concept that the sole purpose of nature and its resources are for the use of mankind only. God put man in charge of the resources of Earth, and mankind has the divine right to use it as it pleases. And, added to this, they hold the mistaken belief that God created the Earth with enough resources to last until he destroys it again, and after he "raptures" his "chosen ones". This combines a destructive belief with a complete ignorance of its impact.

         Unrestrained use of environment, no matter how destructive, is not thought to be a problem, because Dominionists believe that when it finally runs out, or collapses completely, it will signal the imminent return of Jesus. Any opposing that concept are labeled as New Age followers of Satan, tree-huggers, nature-worshipping pagans, or godless socialists. These neo-conservatives have completely ignored the undeniable facts about environmental destruction, and have instead chosen the path of supporting the corporate view, which is shared by the Bush administration and the corporate mentality that human progress is the highest priority of human existence. Human progress, especially, when it causes environmental destruction, is considered by many to be a glorious goal, heralding the quick return of the Savior of faithful Christians. Destroying the planet to force Jesus to save mankind may seem like convoluted reasoning, but to the Dominionists, it makes perfect sense.

         The Christian Right holds the environmental movement in utter contempt and many Christians, who claim to love the Creator of all things, choose to express hatred for those who try to preserve the very Earth their God created. And, many in the Christian Right believe encouraging sustainable lifestyle is no less than satanically inspired. The reason for these bizarre beliefs is simple; power and money, and, although the powerful opposition to the environmental movement has nothing to do with Christian values, it has everything to do with the conservative and wealthy Christian ministries. The lay members in these movements are completely sincere, although obviously lacking a sense of logic and concern for the environment they are blessed to inhabit. They are only accepting the rhetoric of the pulpit that they honestly believe is the truth. After all, questioning your church leaders, no matter how insensitive their concepts, is considered heresy, and often, proof of demonic possession. Even though the Bible clearly says to prove all things, (I Thess. 5:21), attempting to do so will label you a blasphemer and earn you quick condemnation to Hell. Also, adding to this anomaly is the prosperity doctrine; a belief that God blessed his faithful with wealth and power, exactly the thing Jesus preached against. Reaping the wealth God placed in the environment is just thought to be reaping your just reward for your good works.

The Foundations
         Here are the main points that guide the Dominionist view of why the environment should be destroyed:
●  Scripture defines God as the source of private property: "For every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them" (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
●  Dominionists take their core beliefs from the Puritans, who were early settlers in America, that believed they were given a divine mandate to build the 'city on a hill' in the new America. The Puritans perceived themselves as God's special people who inherited the covenants God made to Israel.
●  Dominionists are both "Preterist" and "Post-millennialist". Pretarism is the belief that the prophesies of Revelation are already happening. Postmillennialism is the belief that Christ cannot make an appearance until a certain amount of achievements have been made by the church.
●  The Kingdom on Earth described in scripture is represented by the Church in its current form, based on their interpretation of Revelation. The Dominionists are the new chosen people, and they should have dominion now.
●  Dominion is a divine mandate issued at creation for Adam to subdue the Earth on behalf of God. Since Adam failed, it now falls on the shoulders of present day man to play this mandate out.
●  Since Dominionists have been given divine orders to subdue the Earth, then nothing is sacred, and given Adam and Eve's failure, the Earth is cursed, hence, there is no reason to protect the environment.
●  Dominionists hold that there is nothing wrong with destroying the environment because the right to private property is more important.
●  It is now the responsibility of Dominionists to destroy the cursed Earth, in order to provide means to reconstruct society into a theocracy, which will ensure the return of Jesus.

Wealth is the Catalyst
         The pulpits espousing these beliefs are controlled by ministries, which are often generously funded by people whose business activities are the most damaging to the planet and its inhabitants. Many of the leaders of these ministries are wealthy from ownership of stock in major corporations, and the portfolios of the major Christian fundamentalist churches are awash in corporate investments. They actually believe that God is blessing them through investments in corporations whose very existence and profitability revolve around environmental destruction. Pat Robertson, the head of the Christian Coalition, is a classic example. Robertson is owner of CENCO Refining, and the Pat Robertson Charitable Remainder Trust is owner of the mining company Freedom Gold created in the Cayman Islands to mine gold in Liberia, with the infamous Charles Taylor as his partner. He is only one example of many whose wealth is gained at the cost of Earth's sensitive environment. By demonizing the environmental movement, the Christian neo-cons are only fighting for their business interests, not their Christian values.
Some quotes from conservatives on environmental protection:

●  "I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time. (Jerry Falwell)
●  "I can tell you, our grandchildren will laugh at those who predicted global warming. We'll be in global cooling by then, if the Lord hasn't returned. I don't believe a moment of it. The whole thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our economic stability." (Jerry Falwell)
●  "The radical environmental movement is destroying America. It is turning our society, once based on individual freedom and responsibility, into little more than mindless followers of regulations established at the whim of unelected special-interest groups." (John Meredith)
●  "While the Soviet Union has collapsed, communism is not dead. It has [been] repackaged under a new name: environmentalism. Communism is about extensive government regulation and control by elites, and so is environmentalism." (Walter Williams)
●  "Global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people." (Senator James Inhofe)

Manifest Destiny
         John O'Sullivan, a famous New York journalist, editorialized in 1845 that "it was the nation's manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given." O'Sullivan's mantra "Manifest Destiny," spurred the belief, during the 19th Century, that Americans had an obligation to settle the Western territories. Indeed, the phrase "Manifest Destiny" implied that America's expansion was predetermined and, most importantly, inspired by God. Manifest Destiny was taken up by those in government who determined that the entirety of the North American continent must be settled. Using this as a religious rationale to facilitate this goal, was a convenient way to encourage settlers to "Go West", and provided the spiritual rationale for westward expansion.

         Fast forward to the present and we find the same rationale being programmed into the religious right, with a new twist. Large, well-organized, and powerful groups of anti-environmental activists are using similar tactics. The anti-environmental philosophy, known as "Wise Use", has now replaced "Manifest Destiny" as the mantra. And, these activists hold a powerful and destructive influence over government, to the point of even ignoring the warnings of their own experts, and going so far as to silence them and alter their reports, to support unfettered growth. The close ties between anti-environmentalists, who subscribe to the ideas of Wise Use, and members of fundamentalist Christian churches and organizations is alarming. This also mirrors the traditional relationship between religious and political conservatives. In so doing, they have gained a literal army of God to promote their own agenda.

Wise Use - Greed Masked as Wisdom
         Right-wing activist and timber industry consultant, Ron Arnold, the current leader of the corporate-sponsored, anti-environmentalist movement, has been credited with coining the term "Wise Use". The phrase was actually originated by Gifford Pinchot, the man appointed head of the U.S. Forest Service by Theodore Roosevelt, a century ago. Pinchot used the term in a book he wrote titled "A Primer of Forestry" in 1903. Railroad companies were exerting intense pressure on the Roosevelt administration to use Forest Service lands. Pinchot used this concept in an effort to strike a balance between preserving the nation's forests and the interests of corporations.

         Ron Arnold is employing the same concept to enhance the bank accounts of corporate stockholders at the expense of the entire world's environment. It is the same strategy, but with a much broader and damaging agenda. Gifford Pinchot used the "Wise Use" concept in response to the views of naturalist John Muir, who strongly advocated that public lands remain pristine. Roosevelt considered the ongoing expansion of the population into the Western territories as the agenda of what he called the "land grabbers." Pinchot was trying to change this view, thus allowing the Western territories to prosper, while preserving many forests and other natural environments for future generations. Arnold cares little for preserving anything, save his image as corporate darling.

         Although Ron Arnold did not invent the term Wise Use, he has coined other terms such as "ecoterrorist" and "rural cleansing", a great difference, when compared to the way it was initially used by Gifford Pinchot. He has, through a series of writings and public appearances, created a combative style of demonizing the environmental movement that is dangerous and alarming. Arnold is executive vice president of the appropriately titled "Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise", a think tank, which claims it monitors and acts against "threats to free markets, property rights, and limited government", and, falsely claims to be "an educational foundation for individual liberty." It is, in truth, a center for anti-environmental activism. Arnold espouses the concept that the environmental movement has a radical political agenda with a goal to "hamper property rights", and "dislodge the market system with public ownership of all resources and production." He believes that the only solutions to the world's environmental problems will be found by the leaders in technology, industry, and trade. He actively promotes the convoluted and corporate-prompted belief that "Our limitless imaginations can break through natural limits to make earthly goods and carrying capacity virtually infinite."

         Lobbying by the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, and associated interests, has led directly to timber industry exploitation of public forests, the development of resorts in our national parks, and the opening up of the highly destructive use of off-road vehicles in our National Park system. In a series of articles, he wrote: "Citizen activist groups, allied to the forest industry, are vital to our future survival. They can speak for us in the public interest where we ourselves cannot. They are not limited by liability, contract law or ethical codes. Industry must come to support citizen activist groups, providing funds, materials, transportation, and most of all, hard facts."

[Raggedy Anne]

Continued....

Dominionists and the Wise Use Movement
          The connection between the environment and dominion theology can be found in Genesis: "God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:22) Although there are many interpretations of what this passage means, many Christians believe it means we must take care of the environment. The Evangelical Environmental Network, for instance, states: "Most major environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, and the threat of global warming hurt people. These problems fight against Christ's reconciliation of all of creation. In many instances they hit the poor, the children, and the elderly the hardest."

          Unfortunately, the Dominionists, who are strongly allied with "Wise Use" movement, believe Genesis 1:22 means that mankind has the right to rule over the natural world and use it as he sees fit. Combined with their belief that the End Times are near, this leads millions to believe that, not only is there is no need to care for the environment, but, unbelievably, destroying the environment will hasten the Second Coming. Since Jesus predicted there would come a time, when, unless he intervened, all living things could be destroyed, (Matt. 24:22), Dominionists take this to mean that the faster they destroy the planet, the sooner he will return.

The Champion Dominionist
          When we look back and wonder how the planet came to the precipice of destruction, which it certainly will, George Bush will stand out clearly as the champion of that destruction. Although he does not publicly confess a Dominionist belief, he certainly qualifies as the poster boy for the movement. His administration has completely reversed the gains made to protect the environment over the last half-century, and may just have single-handedly pushed the planet over the edge. Every action the White House has taken has dramatically increased the damage to the environment and richly rewarded the corporations doing the damage. When he was running for office, he stated "I'm going to give you clear skies, clean air, and clean water,". When he became president, he gutted the environmental controls that were designed to provide clean air and water. He has blocked every effort nationally and internationally to curb global warming, and done everything to nullify any efforts made by other nations.

          He undermined the Montreal Protocol to Protect the Ozone Layer and weakened the G-8 Climate Plan, gutted wetlands protection, repealed the Clean Water Act, de-funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and has persistently tried to drill for oil in sensitive wilderness areas. His anti-environmental agenda is clearly evidenced in his judicial nominations, his witch-hunts against climate change scientists, and consistently ignoring the science on clean air. He has also tried to soften greenhouse gas links to global warming, and allowed power plants, refineries, and other industrial sites to spew seveal more millions of tons of unhealthy pollutants into the air, than were being released before he took office. He may not be a Dominionist, but they would have a hard time finding anyone that does more to advance their dark agenda.

Dominionists in Presidential Politics
          In response to a journalist's inquiry into Republican presidential hopeful, Mike Huckabee's past as minister for 12 years, before entering politics, his campaign refused to release the text of any of his sermons. A similar response was received from the two churches he pastored, and, probably for good reason. In a book titled "Kids Killing Kids", which he wrote in 1998, Huckabee described the things that he believes are fracturing our society, and lumps together AIDS, drug abuse, pornography, homosexual activism, and environmentalism in the same category. One wonders what environmentalists have to do with purveyors of pornography, or anything else he listed, but classifying environmentalism with sin is a clear calling card of the anti-environment agenda of many Dominionists. And, his sudden surge in the polls, just before the Republican Convention, has been attributed to a rapid growth in support from Christian Evangelicals. Even though many of those Evangelicals may not agree with his connection of environmentalism to sin, they certainly don't seem to believe that is of enough importance to deny him their support. This indicates that, though many Evangelical ministries have taken a pro-environmental stand, it is of a lower priority in their judgment about who leads the country than their theocratic views.

The Godly Must Be Crazy
          Again, unbelievably, Dominionists beleive that the Bible teaches that the faster they destroy the planet, the sooner Jesus will return to take them to Heaven and they consider this a divine mandate. But, isn't this like thinking that if you set your house on fire, it's ok; the Fire Department will put it out? Of course it is, but there's a bizarre twist to this way of thinking. What if that person believed that, as soon as their house burned to the ground, some mythical benefactor would move them into a huge mansion in a gated community, give them a magic elixir that would make them live forever, and provide them with unlimited resources for eternity? And, what about your neighbors, who may lose their houses, and lives, by the threat you cause? No problem, your benefactor has firmly convinced you that they are all evil automatons, and that he will kill them by burning them alive in their houses, anyway. Only you, and a few "chosen ones", have been selected to receive his blessing. The others will have no need for a place to live.

          That may sound strange, but that is exactly what the majority of Christians, not just Domionists, believe. They have been programmed to believe that Jesus only loves them, and hates the billions of others that don't believe the way they do. He will take them, (the Rapture), to "Heaven", (the gated community complete with a guard named Peter), give them eternal life, (the magic elixir), kill all the rest of humanity, (your neighbors, the evil automatons), by burning them alive, (the destruction of Earth by fire and the false concept of Hell). So, the sooner you burn your house down, the sooner you get your mansion.

          If you think that is a radical concept, just spend a few Sundays in the pew of a fundamentalist Christian church. Not only will you be told all of the above, but you will be told that if you don't accept this terrorist doctrine, your absolute destiny is to suffer an unimaginable torture for the same eternity that the rest of your pew mates will be spending in unimaginable bliss. Fear and incentive are the tools of ruthless dictatorial rulers throughout the entire existence of mankind. And, if you don't think most church leaders are ruthless dictators, just try questioning their authority.

          Put the Ron Arnold's and Pat Robertson's of the world on the same path, with the same agenda, and you have a recipe for certain disaster, such as we are now experiencing in its early beginnings in the world's environment. They are literally marching the world into a manmade Hell for what they perceive to be a heavenly cause. But, can they be stopped? Not without denying them freedom of religion and speech, in other words, a "Catch 22". So, if the predictions of Jesus are true, that he will intervene just when the Earth is in its death throes, the Dominionists are actually fulfilling their own sick agenda. But, how will they justify destroying the environment they claim "their" God created? They might be in for a shocking experience when the real God points out that they have completely ignored his prime edict on the environment, when he said "Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit." (Numbers 35:34)

          When it all comes to a head, and the Dominionists think they have accomplished their destructive agenda, they will, hopefully, have the time to reflect on the true results of a failure to "wisely use" the planet they inhabit. "After the last tree has been cut down; after the last river has been poisoned; after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." A Cree Prophecy 

Article from: http://www.bibleufo.com/dominion.htm

[rosered]

 

  Hi Anne , they remind me of the Nicolaitans = "destruction of people"

  a Thing  that Jesus hates them ''deeds'' and  doctrines / teaching 


Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come untoyou quickly, and will remove your  candlestick out of his place, except you repent. 


Rev 2:6   But this you have , that  you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 


Rev 2:7   He that has  an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says  unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God
Rev 2:15   Sohave you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 

  scarry stuff that man cannot learn from past mistakes    sis ,  :mblush:

  God help  :HeartThrob:

[Raggedy Anne]

Thanks, Rose -

I had not thought about the Nicolaitans in a good while. 
I remember from previous studies that we concluded that their 'deeds' were
of a nature of wanting to 'Lord it' over others. 

Jesus really turned the tables on the former way of doing things, giving
everyone equal access to the throne of God which is still hard for some
to eat and swallow.

Anne

[Gab]

I think the examination of that word in Genesis 1:26 is rather elucidating on this matter.  First, the verse:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" (Genesis 1:26, critical word bolded)

There are a number of Hebrew words in the Old Testament that refer to dominion in the sense of one subjugating another under their rule.  For example, there is mimshal:

"Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule (mimshal) with great power and do as he pleases." (Daniel 11:3)

This is a word that refers to great power, such that one with mimshal may do whatever he or she pleases.  But this is not the word in Genesis 1:26.

There is also memshalah:

"He built up Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses — whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled (memshalah)." (1 Kings 9:17-19)

This is a word that refers to the expanse over which one has power - it can be thought of as the region in which a person has mimshal.  But this is not the word in Genesis 1:26 either.

No, the word in Genesis 1:26 is radah, and if we want to understand what it means, we need only look at the way in which it is used elsewhere:

"For (Solomon) ruled (radah) over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree." (1 Kings 4:24-25)

"Endow the king with your justice, O God,
       the royal son with your righteousness.

"He will judge your people in righteousness,
       your afflicted ones with justice.

"The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
       the hills the fruit of righteousness.

"He will defend the afflicted among the people
       and save the children of the needy;
       he will crush the oppressor.

"He will endure as long as the sun,
       as long as the moon, through all generations.

"He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
       like showers watering the earth.

"In his days the righteous will flourish;
       prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

"He will rule (radah) from sea to sea
       and from the River to the ends of the earth.

"The desert tribes will bow before him
       and his enemies will lick the dust.

"The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
       will bring tribute to him;
       the kings of Sheba and Seba
       will present him gifts.

"All kings will bow down to him
       and all nations will serve him.

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
       the afflicted who have no one to help.

"He will take pity on the weak and the needy
       and save the needy from death.

He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
       for precious is their blood in his sight.

"Long may he live!
       May gold from Sheba be given him.
       May people ever pray for him
       and bless him all day long.

"Let grain abound throughout the land;
       on the tops of the hills may it sway.
       Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
       let it thrive like the grass of the field.

"May his name endure forever;
       may it continue as long as the sun.
       All nations will be blessed through him,
       and they will call him blessed." (Psalm 72:1-17)

And perhaps the most elucidating of all:

"If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over (radah) them ruthlessly, but fear your God." (Leviticus 25:39-43)

Every single time this word is used in a positive sense in the Bible, it accompanies with it a sense of justice and righteousness: one who radahs properly is one who cares for and tends to those over whom he is given power in the same way a shepherd tends to his flock - not one who uses those over which he has power purely for his own gain as though they were nothing more than an expendable resource.  The idea that God's plan as described in Genesis 1:26 was that he intended for humanity to enslave the world and use it as his plaything is just totally, utterly wrong.

[Raggedy Anne]

Gab,

How can I thank you enough for taking the time to post this here?   It is beautiful.  And I am not scholarly with looking up greek meanings and studying concordances.   I really appreciate those who take the time to do such work. 

Anne

[Gab]

Don't thank me - I'm just doing the best I have with what I have available to be faithful to what God said.  God's the one who actually said it. :grin:

I do find it exceptionally strange, though, that people take a verse in which we are commanded to take good care of the fish, the birds, the livestock, and the earth, and somehow manage to conclude from it that God wants us to plunder and pillage the planet and the species living on it to our hearts content...

[sparrow]

I do find it exceptionally strange, though, that people take a verse in which we are commanded to take good care of the fish, the birds, the livestock, and the earth, and somehow manage to conclude from it that God wants us to plunder and pillage the planet and the species living on it to our hearts content...

Amen Gab.

[martincisneros]

●  Scripture defines God as the source of private property: "For every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them" (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

I have no idea how that verse is TWISTED into that. Earth, sun, moon, and stars belonged to mankind as way back as ancient Israel as Psalm 8, Psalm 119, and many other passages of Scripture indicate in the Old Testament. Judaism was always a celestial Kingdom in the minds of the prophets and psalmists. The Law was viewed as pragmatism as well as prophetic foundation, whereas the prophets and psalmists were always trying to be another Enoch, or Messiah figures. The only thing that a Biblical prophet is, is an interpreter of Torah with the mind of God on how His principles will give God's people absolutely everything.  I should outline all of the ministry offices, Biblically, sometime, but don't want to hijack this thread.

●  Dominionists take their core beliefs from the Puritans, who were early settlers in America, that believed they were given a divine mandate to build the 'city on a hill' in the new America. The Puritans perceived themselves as God's special people who inherited the covenants God made to Israel.

I CAN see this as a divine mandate that's commanded in Scripture of the Church.

●  Postmillennialism is the belief that Christ cannot make an appearance until a certain amount of achievements have been made by the church.

This quote is the only reason I wanted to comment on this thread at this time. I love that definition. :Sparkletooth: Only problem is, with that incomplete view: the Church IS Christ Jesus. Each of us is called to experience fulfilled Bible prophecy as a regular feature of our personal lifestyles as we're walking as His image in the earth. Colossians 3:17, 1John 2:6, Philippians 2:5, et. al. Your diary and a Bible should read no differently. :Sparkletooth:

●  The Kingdom on Earth described in scripture is represented by the Church in its current form, based on their interpretation of Revelation. The Dominionists are the new chosen people, and they should have dominion now.

It's the inherent consequence of absolutely each and every single detail of every Biblical principle that I hold to and live by and teach. So, I guess I have that in common with them, but with me it's the Word of Faith meets Postmillenialism aspects of my theology.

●  Dominion is a divine mandate issued at creation for Adam to subdue the Earth on behalf of God. Since Adam failed, it now falls on the shoulders of present day man to play this mandate out.

It's ALREADY totally under the feet of the New Man in Christ Jesus that walks by the Scriptures day and night as their fulfillment :Sparkletooth:

●  Since Dominionists have been given divine orders to subdue the Earth, then nothing is sacred, and given Adam and Eve's failure, the Earth is cursed, hence, there is no reason to protect the environment.

Here's where I jump off of the train as a teacher of the Hosea 2:18; Jeremiah 31:27-28 Covenant and many other things that are heresies even around this bunch :Sparkletooth:

●  Dominionists hold that there is nothing wrong with destroying the environment because the right to private property is more important.

The right to own property belongs to fathers of the faith in 1John 2, Galatians 4, etc.  But it is not a blank check on crusades against people or the environment.  I'm the Buddhist monk on this one that won't step on an insect lest I murder one of God's children, although I'm not a Buddhist.  Fun to find the dead ones and to raise them from the dead though :Sparkletooth:

●  It is now the responsibility of Dominionists to destroy the cursed Earth, in order to provide means to reconstruct society into a theocracy, which will ensure the return of Jesus.

As far as I'm concerned, I'll personally destroy those that are destroying the earth :Sparkletooth:  Not just me, but including me on that prophetic mandate to allow the wicked to heap up so that they can give it over to those of us that'll pitty the poor, i.e. the creation, because of the fear of us that'll be on them.

[Raggedy Anne]

:gangel: ●  Dominionists hold that there is nothing wrong with destroying the environment because the right to private property is more important.The right to own property belongs to fathers of the faith in 1John 2, Galatians 4, etc.  But it is not a blank check on crusades against people or the environment.  

I'm the Buddhist monk on this one that won't step on an insect lest I murder one of God's children, although I'm not a Buddhist.  Fun to find the dead ones and to raise them from the dead though :Sparkletooth:

:gangel:●  It is now the responsibility of Dominionists to destroy the cursed Earth, in order to provide means to reconstruct society into a theocracy, which will ensure the return of Jesus.

As far as I'm concerned, I'll personally destroy those that are destroying the earth :Sparkletooth:  Not just me, but including me on that prophetic mandate to allow the wicked to heap up so that they can give it over to those of us that'll pitty the poor, i.e. the creation, because of the fear of us that'll be on them.

I don't think I get what you mean, Martin.  You will DESTROY those who destroy the earth, but you will not step on a bug?   And you want who to fear you?    Perhaps you will expound on this.    

Anne

[Redlettervoice]

I didn't know til recently that there are actually people that "think" that
GOD "follows" "them" .......that he acts, according to "their" agenda,
what they do affects what He does........

Whoa..........

Isn't He the leader?

All this stuff is caused by whether or not a person is seeking the Kingdom that is "within" or seeing a Kingdom on this earth???

Do not forget that the Kingdom of God is "within" you.  Like a pearl
buried in the field of the world, the "wise" will find it.

For behold, it is your Father's good pleasure to "give" you the Kingdom.

And the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and JOY in the HOLY
Ghost. 

Didn't say the "church" was that, but the Kingdom is.

[sheila]

Reading this thread brought to mind when I was in Babylon

bondage.  I heard some Jehovah wittness 'elders' talking one

day.

  They SOOO look to the day when God destroys most of

mankind and the 1000 year 'reign' begins.COZ   they can't wait

to Lord it over people without the restraining interference of

the Government now in place[they won't allow them to actually

put to death those that don't line up and do what they say they

should.]


  Cold fear gripped my heart at that moment. They aren't the

  only ones. This 'Lord it over others' mentality is of the DEVIL

and the Prince of this world.

   So many are just 'drooling' over the thought of this power and

  authority. Look who offers it...look who offered it to Jesus in

  the wilderness. The Muslim's can't wait to rule the world

  either . Thank God Father has declared that the 10 kings

   [Rev 17;16] will bring her to ruin and leave her naked.


  For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose.

  Note they do not overcome the Lamb, but the Lamb will

  overcome them.



Jesus told us we would "serve"

  Jesus 'served' the purposes of His Father..and we shall,too.

   Now, there will be a point reached where no one will

   say..."know God'  They way I see it, Christ begins reigning in

the midst of His enemies. The Holy spirit of Christ in us reign

over the enemies [that are in our household/bodies]


   I think we'll all being doing extremely well, if by the Holy

spirit we manage to conduct our own 'earth' in honour[of the

Father].Being granted that,by Him, maybe we will be of some

  'use' of Him,to serve for the benefit of others.

   Father warned Israel, when they wanted a 'king' over them

like the nations around them.That such a 'king' would take and

  take and take. Praise Him who gave a faithful servant,who

gave and gave and gave.

   Now, we've been blessed to see the LIGHT at the end of the

  tunnel. Let us 'press on' amidst the darkness that surrounds

us,and may the Light of Jesus Christ shine on you,and in you

and through you.

[Molly]

They SOOO look to the day when God destroys most of

mankind and the 1000 year 'reign' begins.COZ   they can't wait

to Lord it over people without the restraining interference of

the Government now in place[they won't allow them to actually

put to death those that don't line up and do what they say they

should.]

Those people were so sweet [I studied with them for a time].  How is this possible? :mshock:

Can you explain this statement to me--

[they won't allow them to actually

put to death those that don't line up and do what they say they

should.]

What do you mean by that?  people are being protected by the govt?  or people have to be complicit in their own death?

[Seth]

I think the examination of that word in Genesis 1:26 is rather elucidating on this matter.  First, the verse:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" (Genesis 1:26, critical word bolded)

There are a number of Hebrew words in the Old Testament that refer to dominion in the sense of one subjugating another under their rule.  For example, there is mimshal:

"Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule (mimshal) with great power and do as he pleases." (Daniel 11:3)

This is a word that refers to great power, such that one with mimshal may do whatever he or she pleases.  But this is not the word in Genesis 1:26.

There is also memshalah:

"He built up Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses — whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled (memshalah)." (1 Kings 9:17-19)

This is a word that refers to the expanse over which one has power - it can be thought of as the region in which a person has mimshal.  But this is not the word in Genesis 1:26 either.

No, the word in Genesis 1:26 is radah, and if we want to understand what it means, we need only look at the way in which it is used elsewhere:

"For (Solomon) ruled (radah) over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree." (1 Kings 4:24-25)

"Endow the king with your justice, O God,
       the royal son with your righteousness.

"He will judge your people in righteousness,
       your afflicted ones with justice.

"The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
       the hills the fruit of righteousness.

"He will defend the afflicted among the people
       and save the children of the needy;
       he will crush the oppressor.

"He will endure as long as the sun,
       as long as the moon, through all generations.

"He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
       like showers watering the earth.

"In his days the righteous will flourish;
       prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

"He will rule (radah) from sea to sea
       and from the River to the ends of the earth.

"The desert tribes will bow before him
       and his enemies will lick the dust.

"The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
       will bring tribute to him;
       the kings of Sheba and Seba
       will present him gifts.

"All kings will bow down to him
       and all nations will serve him.

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
       the afflicted who have no one to help.

"He will take pity on the weak and the needy
       and save the needy from death.

He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
       for precious is their blood in his sight.

"Long may he live!
       May gold from Sheba be given him.
       May people ever pray for him
       and bless him all day long.

"Let grain abound throughout the land;
       on the tops of the hills may it sway.
       Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
       let it thrive like the grass of the field.

"May his name endure forever;
       may it continue as long as the sun.
       All nations will be blessed through him,
       and they will call him blessed." (Psalm 72:1-17)

And perhaps the most elucidating of all:

"If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over (radah) them ruthlessly, but fear your God." (Leviticus 25:39-43)

Every single time this word is used in a positive sense in the Bible, it accompanies with it a sense of justice and righteousness: one who radahs properly is one who cares for and tends to those over whom he is given power in the same way a shepherd tends to his flock - not one who uses those over which he has power purely for his own gain as though they were nothing more than an expendable resource.  The idea that God's plan as described in Genesis 1:26 was that he intended for humanity to enslave the world and use it as his plaything is just totally, utterly wrong.

Great post. God is manifested among us when we rule in the manner that He rules, not according to the lusts of our flesh.

[Seth]

2 Corinthians 6
4 but in everything we are commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in blows, in jails, in turbulences, in toil, in vigils, in fasts,
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in holy spirit, in love unfeigned,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the implements of righteousness of the right hand and of the left,
8 through glory and dishonor, through defamation and renown, as deceivers and true,
9 as unknown and recognized, as dying, and lo! we are living, as disciplined and not put to death,
10 as sorrowing, yet ever rejoicing, as poor, yet enriching many, as having nothing, and retaining all.

[sparrow]

:gangel: ●  Dominionists hold that there is nothing wrong with destroying the environment because the right to private property is more important.The right to own property belongs to fathers of the faith in 1John 2, Galatians 4, etc.  But it is not a blank check on crusades against people or the environment.  

I'm the Buddhist monk on this one that won't step on an insect lest I murder one of God's children, although I'm not a Buddhist.  Fun to find the dead ones and to raise them from the dead though :Sparkletooth:

:gangel:●  It is now the responsibility of Dominionists to destroy the cursed Earth, in order to provide means to reconstruct society into a theocracy, which will ensure the return of Jesus.

As far as I'm concerned, I'll personally destroy those that are destroying the earth :Sparkletooth:  Not just me, but including me on that prophetic mandate to allow the wicked to heap up so that they can give it over to those of us that'll pitty the poor, i.e. the creation, because of the fear of us that'll be on them.

I don't think I get what you mean, Martin.  You will DESTROY those who destroy the earth, but you will not step on a bug?   And you want who to fear you?    Perhaps you will expound on this.    

Anne

bump.