Looking for Jesus according to Matthew

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (1)

The separation of land from sea also appears in myths of other cultures: Egyptian and Greek, so it was likely an atmospheric phenomenon observable from several locations near a single body of water. Steam rising from the earth indicates that the earth was heated relative to the air, or it may be the observation of artesian or hydrothermal springs, from which warm or hot, evaporating water flowed. There are two possible causes: one is the inflow of polar or cold, moist air over the heated earth, the second is the intense evaporation from the bottom of a drained large body of water, and the third is the artesian springs. This indicates an earlier separation of land from the sea.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (2)

In Greek mythology, the beginning of the world is also defined as the separation of land from sea. For example, Ariadne's creation from the "sea foam" and the arrival of other "gods" at a similar time. These myths from different cultures could have described the same phenomenon from different geographical and even, to some extent, climatic perspectives. In both cases, such phenomena would have generated very strong and prolonged storms and sea tornadoes, saturating the air with water and steam. Considering the culture that recorded these events, the proto-Phoenicians, and the location of Eden as a place that no longer exists, as well as the rivers connected to the geographical regions, which are partially known, Eden could have been located on the shallow seabed of the southeastern Mediterranean, specifically in the depressed Nile Delta, which may have actually divided into four rivers running south.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (3)

One could have flowed westward near Libya, where Africans were more likely to have lived, while the others separated as described. The order in which they were described could have been disrupted or stemmed from multiple oral narratives, of which this description could have been a synthesis. In such a situation, the last, eastward-flowing river, would have initially flowed toward Babylon and Assyria. The very limited cartographic capabilities of early cultures must also be taken into account. Any mapping based on oral traditions could have resulted in rivers located near each other, even those running opposite courses and from different drainage basins, being combined into one in the narrative. For example, the ancient Greeks (who already had ships at their disposal) similarly connected the unrelated rivers Niger and Nile based on similar oral traditions. The oldest human tribes had only slow travel on foot, or perhaps with the aid of animals.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (4)

Therefore, the river that branches east of Eden and flows from the Nile Delta could have been confused with the Euphrates in these accounts, as some travelers from the East claimed it flowed from Eden, while others who traveled further east, where other human tribes lived, might have believed that the Euphrates, so called by the natives, was a continuation of the same river. Alternatively, this assumption was made by someone listening to various stories from travelers or those returning from the East. It must be assumed that in every culture and at every time, there were people traveling for subsistence reasons, seeking conquest, or trade.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (5)

It's worth realizing the limitations of the oldest oral traditions from various sources. They couldn't maintain chronological order. Some tribes remembered as long as the oldest people lived, while in others, elders passed their stories down to their descendants, sometimes distorting them. In still others, the greatest treasure was the elders who passed on their knowledge through specially selected individuals with photographic memories. Therefore, some stories dated back about a hundred years, others several hundred, and still others could convey quite precise information spanning tens of generations, even thousands of years. Anyone trying to systematize this knowledge back then (in ancient times) would have had considerable difficulty dating individual events and individuals. Yet such people likely existed in pre-literate times. Suffice it to say that the lifespans of prehistoric people were estimated at over a thousand years, which were likely errors in synthesizing stories from different sources about people with the same names.

- This is particularly interesting!

- Once again it reminds me of dreams and visions in the Bible!

- I’m not speaking about our personal dreams which are imprecise!

- I am speaking about Yah.weh communicating with humans through dreams and visions!

- We know them because we are told about some of them in the Bible!

- And as we read, we can only visualize Yah.weh’s precision!

- For me, it is something incredible and astonishing!

- It is just crazy to think that Yah.weh can transmit information with such precision!

- Think about Pharaoh’s dreams and Joseph visualizing the same dreams and giving their interpretations!

- Think about Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and Daniel visualizing the same dreams and giving their interpretations!

- Then it was transcribed by someone else or the same person in the Bible!

- Think about the dimensions of the ark mentioned in the Bible!

- And it is only a small part!

- You just have to compare human dreams and divine dreams or visions!

- Then if we have a bit of intelligence, we just shut our mouths!

- I remember so many commentaries that don’t show such respect to Yah.weh and the usual human lack of intelligence!

- But we are nothing and we should always remember that!

- It is incredibly useful!

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (6)

Descriptions of rivers existing but no rain are also plausible and could describe times of very dry ice ages, when their water came exclusively from mountain glaciers and ice sheets. In the case of southern rivers such as the Nile and the Libyan rivers (which have long since disappeared), the source of water was the tropics and subtropics, while in the case of northern rivers, the Eurasian ice sheet. This information therefore dates the oldest accounts to at least 13,000–20,000 years ago, when the last ice age prevailed, or even to the previous ice age over 110,000 years ago (although this is less likely). Various circumstantial evidence suggests that the Mediterranean Sea may have dried out significantly during this period. In turn, calculations of the time needed to wash out and dissolve the sediments so that they are undetectable in drill cores indicate about several thousand years, which means that the period of time that falls in the Holocene since the last glaciation, the Younger Dryas, would be sufficient for this.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (7)

Water gushing from the ground is a phenomenon known, for example, in Australia, where the formation of impermeable underground rock layers allows for the construction of artesian wells. In the case of the Mediterranean basin, the source of such water gushing from depressions could have been the Nile Delta itself, where a 2,400-meter difference in elevation in permeable layers would have been sufficient to allow groundwater to emerge with pressures greater than atmospheric pressure.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (8)

Thus, the biblical Eden's location north of Egypt and west of the coast of Israel would be a hypothesis supported by several independent physical, climatic, and geological sources, as well as oral sources from a culture whose descendants must have remembered their ancestors being expelled from there. And the sole reason for expulsion from a fertile land that provided sustenance effortlessly could not have been a sudden cataclysm like the Flood; it could have been a slow flooding, forcing emigration without panic—lasting at least months or years. This is the length of time and manner in which the eastern Mediterranean basin could have been flooded.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (9)


The main problem with proving the location of Eden would be the probable lack of artifacts that could confirm human habitation on today's seabed. Although this is not impossible, it's possible that fishing vessels trawling the seabed for decades have repeatedly uncovered the oldest traces of human habitation, but these could have been discarded as waste sludge and undated garbage. Even recovered human skulls might not have attracted much attention due to the period of slavery, where people were captured in Africa and transported to Greece or Rome as labor in ancient times.

 

[JLG]

Nin Jahouse said (10)


There is actually two to three times more water on Earth than there is measurable water in the oceans. But this water is bound in minerals, so it doesn't circulate directly.

 

[JLG]

- It’s time for me to speak about a new video!

- I watched it at night!

- It lasts 2 hours!

- Don’t do it like me!

- Do it during the day, not at night!

- It is a lecture done by a geologist!

- It is a creationist scientist!

- It is really interesting!

- I watched the whole video!

- I usually listen to videos and I write at the same time!

- This time I couldn't do it!

- I had to watch it because the geologist shows a lot of documents!

- And there is a lot of information!

- In fact, I will have to watch it again and again!

- We are given a flood model!

- It takes into account that the origin of the flood is a mega-earthquake or a monster-earthquake!

- Probably the biggest one in the history of the earth!

- A group of scientists went together to develop this model!

- They would use a super computer to get a simulation!

- It deals with plate tectonics, subductions, and modifications of magnetic fields!

- But at the difference of the conventional models, the mega-earthquake introduces an acceleration of all phenomena!

- When the conventional models speak about slow motion of plate tectonics, this model speaks about a very fast motion!

- Then millions of years turn into nothing!

- And he explains that when Genesis 7:11 speaks about the fountains of the great deep corresponds to material coming very fast from beneath and turning into huge “geysers”!

- The title of the video is “In-depth Explanation of What Caused Noah's Flood - Dr. Kurt Wise”!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s have a look at the word in Genesis 7:11 translated by fountains!

- Meaning of ma‘·yə·nōṯ in ancient hebrew:

In ancient Hebrew, ma'·yə·nōṯ (מַעְיָנֹת) means "fountains" or "springs" and refers to sources of flowing water that rise from underground. The word is a feminine plural form derived from the singular noun maʿyān, and it is used literally to denote water sources essential for life and water for military strategy, as well as metaphorically to represent sources of joy, satisfaction, provision, and hope.
Literal Meanings and Usage

• Natural Water Sources: The primary meaning is a natural spring or fountain.
• Examples in Scripture:
  • In 1 Kings 18:5, it refers to the life-giving springs that were sought after during a drought.
  • In 2 Chronicles 32:4, Hezekiah's engineers stopped the springs and brook to deprive the Assyrian army of water, showing their strategic importance.
  • The Song of Solomon 4:15 uses it for a "spring of gardens".

Figurative Meanings and Themes

• Sources of Provision: Like a spring providing water, the term can symbolize a source of spiritual or emotional sustenance.

Grammatical Context

• Feminine Plural: As a feminine plural noun, ma'·yə·nōṯ refers to multiple fountains or springs.
• Occurrences: The word appears in the Old Testament, notably in Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, where it describes the "fountains of the deep" during the Great Flood.

Purity and Cleansing: Water sources are associated with purity, and this word can carry those connotations.
Joy and Hope: A flowing spring can be a metaphor for unending joy or eschatological hope, such as in Psalm 114:8, which speaks of a spring and God's power to bring forth water.

- Once again, it shows the importance of seeing further than a translation!

- Then we may understand what Dr. Kurt Wise says in the video!

- Please never forget that!

- Don’t listen to those who just stay by a basic translation!

- The original word is always more meaningful than a basic translation!

 

[JLG]

Fonne Deleeuw said:


Eden was located in Mesopotamia south of Eridu, and likely in an area now flooded by the Persian Gulf. It's entirely possible that four rivers converged at that time: the Tigris, Euphrates, Pishon, and Gihon.

The Tigris and Euphrates flow northward, the Pishon westward to Arabia (Havilah), and perhaps the Gihon as well.

It's a bit like how the English Channel used to be just one river, with the Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt, and Thames as tributaries.

 

[JLG]

Writing (1)

Was writing essential to the development of human civilizations?

Yes, writing was essential to the development of human civilizations because it allowed for the preservation of knowledge, the development of complex social structures and governance through record-keeping and law, the facilitation of trade and commerce, and the transmission of culture, science, and ideas across generations and vast distances. Without writing, the sustained accumulation of knowledge and the complex organization necessary for a sophisticated civilization would not have been possible.
Key Functions of Writing in Civilizational Development

• Knowledge Preservation and Transmission: Writing provides a way to store and share vast amounts of information, preventing the loss of crucial knowledge and allowing future generations to build upon past achievements.

Origins and Connection to Agriculture

• The earliest forms of writing, such as cuneiform in Mesopotamia, often served practical purposes, like keeping accounts of agricultural resources.

In essence, writing served as a cognitive and social technology that expanded human memory and communication capabilities, enabling the complexity and scale that define human civilization.

Governance and Organization: Writing enabled the creation of laws, record-keeping for taxation, and the administration of large populations, which are foundational to organized governments and complex societies.
Economic and Commercial Growth: The ability to record contracts, transactions, and inventories was vital for the expansion of trade and complex economies.
Cultural and Social Advancement: Writing facilitated the dissemination of literature, religious texts, scientific ideas, and philosophical thought, fostering cultural evolution and shared identity.
Historical Record-Keeping: Writing created the first historical records, moving beyond a purely oral tradition to create a cumulative understanding of the past, which is a defining characteristic of civilization.

The rise of settled, agricultural communities required new ways to manage resources, labor, and surplus, which writing provided.

- Preservation of knowledge!

- Development of complex social structures and governance through record-keeping and law!

- The facilitation of trade and commerce!

- The transmission of culture, science, and ideas across generations and vast distances!

- A cognitive and social technology that expanded human memory and communication capabilities!

 

[JLG]

Writing (2)

What is the literacy rate in the world today?

The world's adult literacy rate is over 87%, with the most recent data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) (2025) showing that more than 86% of the global population can read and write. Despite this progress, at least 739 million adults and 250 million children and teenagers still lack basic literacy skills.
Key Facts on Global Literacy

• Adult Literacy: As of 2023, the global adult literacy rate was 87.36%, according to Trading Economics and the World Bank.

Sources for Data

• UNESCO: The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is a primary source for global literacy data.
  

Historical Growth: The global literacy rate has seen remarkable growth, increasing from 68% in 1979 to over 86% in recent years.
Gender Disparity: A significant portion of the world's illiterate population, and at least 739 million people, are women.
Regional Differences: Literacy rates vary significantly by region and country, with some countries having much lower rates than the global average.
Youth Literacy: Progress has also been made in youth literacy, with fewer children and teenagers failing to acquire basic reading skills compared to decades ago.
World Bank: The World Bank compiles data on adult literacy rates and other key development indicators.
Statista & Our World in Data: These platforms provide analysis and visualizations of global literacy trends using data from various organizations.

 

[JLG]

Writing (3)

What is the literary rate by continent?

Literacy rates vary significantly by continent, with Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and Northern America having near 100% literacy rates in the early 2020s, while Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia had rates between 70% and 80% in the mid-2010s. Europe and Central Asia also have very high literacy rates, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noting adult literacy rates at or near 100% in those regions.
Here's a general breakdown of literacy by continent or region:

• Eastern and South-Eastern Asia: Adult literacy rates are very high, reaching 96% in the early 2020s.

Key Considerations

• Data Variation: Literacy data can vary by year and source.
  

Northern America: Literacy rates are at or near 100%.

Europe and Central Asia: Literacy rates are also at or near 100%.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Adult literacy rates reached 94% by 2017.

Northern Africa and Western Asia: Adult literacy rates rose from 64% to 81% from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

South and West Asia: This region had a literacy rate of approximately 70.2% around 2015.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rates were lower, at around 64% in 2015, and were still below 70% in some areas in the mid-2010s.

Gender Disparities: Significant gender gaps in literacy persist, particularly in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

Definition of Literacy: Literacy typically refers to the ability to read, write, and understand basic arithmetic.

 

[JLG]

Writing (4)

What is the school dropout rate in the world today?

The world's school dropout rate varies by age and region, but according to a 2024 UNESCO report, there are an estimated 251 million children and youth out of school globally. This figure represents a significant portion of the population that is not attending primary or secondary education, with progress in reducing these numbers slowing in recent years.
Key Statistics and Facts

• Out-of-School Population: Approximately 251 million children and youth are not attending school, as of a 2024 UNESCO report.

Why These Numbers Matter

• Undermining Goals: The increasing number of out-of-school children undermines the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030.
  

Slow Progress: The global out-of-school population has seen a reduction of only 1% over the past decade.
Regional Disparities: There are vast regional differences in out-of-school rates. In low-income countries, for example, a stark 33% of school-aged children and youth are out of school.
Impact of the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly worsened the situation, leading to increased school closures and further exacerbating educational disparities.
Gender Disparities: Globally, girls and young women face significant barriers to education, with nearly half of the total out-of-school population being girls in some estimations.
Age Groups: The out-of-school population includes children of primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school ages.
Vulnerable Populations: The issue disproportionately affects marginalized communities and those in developing countries, highlighting the urgent need for more effective educational policies and increased investment.

 

[JLG]

Writing (5)

What is the school dropout rate in developed countries today?

The overall school dropout rate in developed countries varies, but recent data shows the EU's "early leavers from education and training" rate was 10% in 2023, while the US had a 5.3% "status dropout rate" for 16- to 24-year-olds in 2022. Rates differ significantly by country and demographic, with Spain and Portugal having notably higher rates than the EU average and disparities in the US based on race and ethnicity.
European Union (EU)

• 10% in 2023: The early leavers from education and training (ELET) rate in the EU was 10% in 2023.

United States

• 5.3% in 2022: The status dropout rate for 16- to 24-year-olds in the US decreased to 5.3% in 2022.
• Demographic Differences: Significant disparities exist, with American Indian/Alaska Native individuals having the highest rate (9.9% in 2022), followed by Black (5.7%) and Hispanic (7.9%) youth. White (4.3%) and Asian (1.9%) students had lower rates.
• Definition: The status dropout rate measures the percentage of young people not enrolled in school and without a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Global Context

• High-Income vs. Low-Income Countries: A UNESCO report indicates that while high-income countries have a low out-of-school rate (around 3%), low-income countries face a much higher rate (33%).

Key Factors

• Economic and Social Consequences: High dropout rates are concerning due to their potential negative impacts on individuals' labor market prospects and overall societal participation.
  

High in Some Countries: Countries like Spain and Portugal have higher rates than the EU average.

Definition: ELET refers to the percentage of young adults (18–24 years old) who have at most a lower secondary education degree and are not currently in further education or training.
Disparities: Stark regional and demographic disparities remain, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Trends: Developed countries have generally seen a downward trend in dropout rates, although rates vary considerably by region and demographic group.

 

[JLG]

Writing (6)

Do people still read?

Yes, people still read, though reading habits and preferences have shifted, with digital formats like ebooks and audiobooks gaining popularity alongside traditional print books. While some data suggests a decline in daily reading for pleasure, reading remains a fundamental human activity, with platforms like Goodreads and library use indicating widespread engagement.
Evidence of ongoing reading:

• Online communities: Websites like Goodreads and LibraryThing host millions of users who catalog and discuss books, demonstrating ongoing reading activity.

Changes in reading habits:

• Shift in format: Reading has moved beyond traditional print books to include digital books, audiobooks, and even web content like articles and newsletters.
• Fragmented reading: The nature of reading has changed, with more people engaging in "hyper-literacy" through smartphones, which serve as libraries in their pockets.
• Competition from other media: The availability of online content and other media like streaming services and video games can make it difficult to sustain focused reading sessions.
• Decline in focused reading: For some, the intense, extended, beginning-to-end reading of a carefully crafted text has become less common, replaced by more fragmented reading habits.

Digital consumption: Ebooks and audiobooks are popular formats, with a significant portion of the population preferring them over print for accessibility and convenience.
Library use: Public libraries continue to be used by many people, providing access to books in various formats.
Demographic trends: While overall reading rates have seen some decline, particularly among young adults, older demographics still show strong reading habits.

 

[JLG]

Writing (7)

Did all the first ancient civilizations have the same interest in writing?

No, not all ancient civilizations had the same level of interest or a developed writing system; some, like the Inca, used a different system called quipu for record-keeping, while others, such as some societies in precolonial Mesoamerica, achieved complexity without a writing system at all. The interest in writing was driven by practical needs like economic and agricultural record-keeping, religious purposes, and later, the preservation and transmission of culture, history, and laws.
Civilizations with Writing

• Sumerians in Mesopotamia: Developed the first known writing system, cuneiform, primarily for economic reasons, documenting grain and animal stores to track transactions and manage property.

Civilizations Without Traditional Writing Systems

• Inca Civilization: Used quipu, a complex system of knotted strings, to record information, demonstrating that a non-written system can serve civilizational needs.

Why Interest in Writing Varied

• Practical Needs: The need to keep records for agriculture, trade, taxes, and property was a primary driver for developing writing in some civilizations.
  

Egyptians: Created hieroglyphs, a complex system initially used for sacred carvings and religious purposes, which also served for economic and administrative record-keeping.
Chinese: Developed their writing system, possibly linked to divination, which later expanded to include historical and cultural records.
Mesoamerican Societies: Certain complex precolonial societies in Mesoamerica, despite large populations and advanced governments, did not develop a writing system, highlighting that writing isn't a universal requirement for civilization.
Cultural Context: The specific cultural, political, and religious concerns of a society determined their approach to written language.
Technological Alternatives: The existence of alternative methods, such as the Inca's quipu, meant that some civilizations could fulfill record-keeping needs without developing a traditional writing system.