COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND  [2]   A CHECK ON THE WORD HELL
 
 
[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 391A]
 
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  1 John 5:14, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
 
Yes, he hearth us as shown by 1 John 5:15, [AV] “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”  Almighty God (YHWH) will hear us if per 1 John 3:21 - 22, [AV] “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”  Then, per Hebrews 4:16, [AV] “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Clearly as recorded at John 9:31, [AV] “  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”  
 
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
 
 
[2]   A CHECK ON THE WORD HELL
 
INTRODUCTION:
 
Many have different concepts of what hell is, but let's consider what the original words commonly translated 'hell' meant in the specific ancient languages.
 
MEANINGS OF THE WORD 'HELL' IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGES:
 
First, <<"A word used in the King James Version (as well as in the Catholic Douay Version and most older translations) to translate the Hebrew she´ohl' and the Greek hai'des. In the King James Version the word "hell" is rendered from she´ohl' 31 times and from hai'des 10 times. This version is not consistent, however, since she´ohl' is also translated 31 times "grave" and 3 times "pit." In the Douay Version she´ohl' is rendered "hell" 64 times, "pit" once, and "death" once.
In 1885, with the publication of the complete English Revised Version, the original word she´ohl' was in many places transliterated into the English text of the Hebrew Scriptures, though, in most occurrences, "grave" and "pit" were used, and "hell" is found some 14 times. This was a point on which the American committee disagreed with the British revisers, and so, when producing the American Standard Version (1901) they transliterated she´ohl' in all 65 of its appearances. Both versions transliterated hai'des in the Christian Greek Scriptures in all ten of its occurrences, though the Greek word Ge'en·na (English, "Gehenna") is rendered "hell" throughout, as is true of many other modern translations.
Concerning this use of "hell" to translate these original words from the Hebrew and Greek, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981, Vol. 2, p. 187) says: "HADES . . . It corresponds to 'Sheol' in the O.T. [Old Testament]. In the A.V. of the O.T. [Old Testament] and N.T. [New Testament], it has been unhappily rendered 'Hell.'"[source - , Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words ]>>.
 
Second, <<"Collier's Encyclopedia (1986, Vol. 12, p. 28) says concerning "Hell": "First it stands for the Hebrew Sheol of the Old Testament and the Greek Hades of the Septuagint and New Testament. Since Sheol in Old Testament times referred simply to the abode of the dead and suggested no moral distinctions, the word 'hell,' as understood today, is not a happy translation."
It is, in fact, because of the way that the word "hell" is understood today that it is such an unsatisfactory translation of these original Bible words." [source - Collier's Encyclopedia (1986, Vol. 12, p. 28)>>.
 
Third, <<"Webster's Third New International Dictionary, unabridged, under "Hell" says: "fr[om] . . . helan to conceal." The word "hell" thus originally conveyed no thought of heat or torment but simply of a 'covered over or concealed place.' In the old English dialect the expression "helling potatoes" meant, not to roast them, but simply to place the potatoes in the ground or in a cellar." [source - Webster's Third New International Dictionary]>>.
 
Fourth, <<"The meaning given today to the word "hell" is that portrayed in Dante's Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost, which meaning is completely foreign to the original definition of the word. The idea of a "hell" of fiery torment, however, dates back long before Dante or Milton." [references - Dante's Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost]>>.
 
Fifth, <<"The Grolier Universal Encyclopedia (1971, Vol. 9, p. 205) under "Hell" says: "Hindus and Buddhists regard hell as a place of spiritual cleansing and final restoration." [source - The Grolier Universal Encyclopedia}>>.
 
Sixth, <<"Islamic tradition considers it as a place of everlasting punishment." The idea of suffering after death is found among the pagan religious teachings of ancient peoples in Babylon and Egypt. Babylonian and Assyrian beliefs depicted the "nether world . . . as a place full of horrors, . . . presided over by gods and demons of great strength and fierceness." Although ancient Egyptian religious texts do not teach that the burning of any individual victim would go on forever, they do portray the "Other World" as featuring "pits of fire" for "the damned." [source references -The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria, by Morris Jastrow, Jr., 1898, p. 581; The Book of the Dead, with introduction by E. Wallis Budge, 1960, pp. 135, 144, 149, 151, 153, 161, 200]>>.
 
Seventh, <<""Hellfire" has been a basic teaching in Christendom for many centuries. It is understandable why The Encyclopedia Americana (1956, Vol. XIV, p. 81) said: "Much confusion and misunderstanding has been caused through the early translators of the Bible persistently rendering the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades and Gehenna by the word hell. The simple transliteration of these words by the translators of the revised editions of the Bible has not sufficed to appreciably clear up this confusion and misconception." Nevertheless, such transliteration and consistent rendering does enable the Bible student to make an accurate comparison of the texts in which these original words appear and, with open mind, thereby to arrive at a correct understanding of their true significance." [source - The Encyclopedia Americana (1956, Vol. XIV, p. 81)]>>.
 
NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE WORD 'GEHENNA' OFTEN TRANSLATED AS 'HELL':
 
<<"(Ge·hen'na) [Gr. form of the Heb. Geh Hin·nom', "Valley of Hinnom"].
This name appears 12 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures, and whereas many translators take the liberty to render it by the word "hell," a number of modern translations transliterate the word from the Greek ge'en·na.-Mt 5:22, Ro, Mo, ED, NW, BC (Spanish), NC (Spanish), also the footnotes of Da and RS.
The deep, narrow Valley of Hinnom, later known by this Greek name, lay to the S and SW of ancient Jerusalem and is the modern-day Wadi er-Rababi (Ge Ben Hinnom). (Jos 15:8; 18:16; Jer 19:2, 6; see HINNOM, VALLEY OF.) Judean Kings Ahaz and Manasseh engaged in idolatrous worship there, which included the making of human sacrifices by fire to Baal. (2Ch 28:1, 3; 33:1, 6; Jer 7:31, 32; 32:35) Later, to prevent such activities there in the future, faithful King Josiah had the place of idolatrous worship polluted, particularly the section called Topheth.-2Ki 23:10.
 
No Symbol of Everlasting Torment. Jesus Christ associated fire with Gehenna (Mt 5:22; 18:9; Mr 9:47, 48), as did the disciple James, the only Biblical writer besides Matthew, Mark, and Luke to use the word. (Jas 3:6) Some commentators endeavor to link such fiery characteristic of Gehenna with the burning of human sacrifices that was carried on prior to Josiah's reign and, on this basis, hold that Gehenna was used by Jesus as a symbol of everlasting torment. However, since Jehovah God expressed repugnance for such practice, saying that it was "a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart" (Jer 7:31; 32:35), it seems most unlikely that God's Son, in discussing divine judgment, would make such idolatrous practice the basis for the symbolic meaning of Gehenna. It may be noted that God prophetically decreed that the Valley of Hinnom would serve as a place for mass disposal of dead bodies rather than for the torture of live victims. (Jer 7:32, 33; 19:2, 6, 7, 10, 11) Thus, at Jeremiah 31:40 the reference to "the low plain of the carcasses and of the fatty ashes" is generally accepted as designating the Valley of Hinnom, and a gate known as "the Gate of the Ash-heaps" evidently opened out onto the eastern extremity of the valley at its juncture with the ravine of the Kidron. (Ne 3:13, 14) It seems obvious that such "carcasses" and "fatty ashes" are not related to the human sacrifices made there under Ahaz and Manasseh, since any bodies so offered would doubtless be viewed by the idolaters as "sacred" and would not be left lying in the valley.
 
Therefore, the Biblical evidence concerning Gehenna generally parallels the traditional view presented by rabbinic and other sources. That view is that the Valley of Hinnom was used as a place for the disposal of waste matter from the city of  Jerusalem. (At Mt 5:30 Ph renders ge'en·na as "rubbish heap.") Concerning "Gehinnom," the Jewish commentator David Kimhi (1160-1235?), in his comment on Psalm 27:13, gives the following historical information: "And it is a place in the land adjoining Jerusalem, and it is a loathsome place, and they throw there unclean things and carcasses. Also there was a continual fire there to burn the unclean things and the bones of the carcasses. Hence, the judgment of the wicked ones is called parabolically Gehinnom."
 
Symbolic of Complete Destruction. It is evident that Jesus used Gehenna as representative of utter destruction resulting from adverse judgment by God, hence with no resurrection to life as a soul being possible. (Mt 10:28; Lu 12:4, 5) The scribes and Pharisees as a wicked class were denounced as 'subjects for Gehenna.' (Mt 23:13-15, 33) To avoid such destruction, Jesus' followers were to get rid of anything causing spiritual stumbling, the 'cutting off of a hand or foot' and the 'tearing out of an eye' figuratively representing their deadening of these body members with reference to sin.-Mt 18:9; Mr 9:43-47; Col 3:5; compare Mt 5:27-30.
Jesus also apparently alluded to Isaiah 66:24 in describing Gehenna as a place "where their maggot does not die and the fire is not put out." (Mr 9:47, 48) That the symbolic picture here is not one of torture but, rather, of complete destruction is evident from the fact that the Isaiah text dealt, not with persons who were alive, but with "the carcasses of the men that were transgressing" against God. If, as the available evidence indicates, the Valley of Hinnom was a place for the disposal of garbage and carcasses, fire, perhaps increased in intensity by the addition of sulfur (compare Isa 30:33), would be the only suitable means to eliminate such refuse. Where the fire did not reach, worms, or maggots, would breed, consuming anything not destroyed by the fire. On this basis, Jesus' words would mean that the destructive effect of God's adverse judgment would not cease until complete destruction was attained.
 
Figurative Use. The disciple James' use of the word "Gehenna" shows that an unruly tongue is itself a world of unrighteousness and that one's whole round of living can be affected by fiery words that defile the speaker's body. The tongue of such a one, "full of death-dealing poison" and so giving evidence of a bad heart condition, can cause the user to be sentenced by God to go to the symbolic Gehenna.-Jas 3:6, 8; compare Mt 12:37; Ps 5:9; 140:3; Ro 3:13.
The Biblical use of Gehenna as a symbol corresponds to that of "the lake of fire" in the book of Revelation.-Re 20:14, 15; " [source - Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 1]>>.
 
CONCLUSION:
 
We must consider what the original writer, scribe used by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, to put the thoughts of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, into the words of man intended when considering words found in the Bible.  Why?  Because they, not translations and/or mistranslation, are inspired.  The fact that the Bible is NOT the product of one committee or strongman. It has over 40 individual writers who wrote under divine inspiration/guidance putting the thoughts of God (YHWH) into the words of men much as transcribing secretaries today taking transcription and then later typing it out. In other words one real author, God (YHWH), and many scribes each of whom wrote in his own style over a period of approximately 1,600 years. All of what people call or consider inconsistencies are really not such, but most often just a problem of translation and/or understanding, i.e., lack of understanding of what the original writer writing in his own language and culture meant/said in his original writing. What is remarkable, is the writers over such a period of time all wrote in harmony when even most posters on threads on this forum can not even stay on track or subject over a period of a few days and/or weeks at most with the original subject of the thread. This fact of harmony over a period so great as to almost stagger the imagination shows that it had one guiding force or author who divinely inspired its writers as humans of their own volition can not keep on track over short periods of time.
 
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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]    Discourse on God (YHWH) is Love:
 
[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 393A]
 
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38 – 39,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]
 
Jesus (Yeshua) has returned to heaven to plead our case before his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) as testified to at 1 Peter 3:22, [AV] “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”  He is now per Ephesians 1:21, [AV] “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” 
 
What, now, must we do is spelled out at Ephesians 6:11 - 17, [AV] “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”  But unfortunately many are not heeding this warning as shown by 2 Timothy 3:5, [AV] “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  
 
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
 
[2]       Discourse on God (YHWH) is Love:
 
1 John  4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  (American Standard Version; ASV)
 
All of God's (YHWH's) attributes are outstanding, perfect, and appealing.   But the most endearing quality of God (YHWH) is love.  Nothing else can draw so strongly to God (YHWH) as his love.   Happily, love is also his dominant quality.   Now how do we know that?
 
The Bible says something about love that it never does about his other attributes.   The scriptures never say that God (YHWH) is power or that God (YHWH) is justice or even that God (YHWH) is wisdom; although he possess all these attributes.   He, in fact, is the ultimate source of all three.
 
However, with respect love, something more profound is said at 1 John 4:8, quoted before, "God is love."   Yes, love runs very deeply in God (YHWH).   It is his very essence or nature.
 
We might consider it this way (1) God's (YHWH's) power enables him to act; (2) His justice and wisdom guide the way he acts; but most important, his love is always reflected in the way he uses his other attributes.
 
He is the very personification of love.   Therefore, True Christians want to learn about God (YHWH).   Now let's consider some of the aspects of God's (YHWH's) matchless love.
 
His greatest act of love was sending his only begotten Son, the first of creation per Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."  (Authorized King James Bible; AV), to suffer and die for us.   This can safely be said to be the greatest act of love in all history.   Why is this?
 
The Bible as previously quoted at Colossians 1:15, says, "the firstborn of every creature;" Just think the Creator, God's (YHWH's) Son who was in existence before the physical universe, but not  before God (YHWH) who had no beginning, can you imagine.   How long before the universe was created was Jesus (Yeshua) created, the Bible does not state.   This son had for untold times served as God's (YHWH's) 'master worker' per Proverbs 8:30, "Then I was beside Him, {as} a master workman; And I was daily {His} delight, Rejoicing always before Him, " (ASV); and John 1:3, "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (ASV), thus God (YHWH) and his Son worked together to bring all else into existence.
 
Therefore they had a very strong bond; they are united by the strongest bond of love ever known.   Nevertheless, God (YHWH) sent his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) to earth to be born as a human.   This was a great sacrifice of love on his part, and on one occasion he spoke fro heaven saying, Matthew 3:17, "and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.." (ASV).
 
While on earth, Jesus (Yeshua) faithfully carried out his Father's (YHWH's) directions.   Yet, he let his Son be betrayed, and executed to fulfill prophecy, and be for a period no longer in existence.   Since God (YHWH) has feelings, the pain he must have suffered over the death of his Son is beyond the power of our words to express.   Why did he permit this to happen?   This is revealed as an act of great love for mankind at John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." (ASV).   So God's (YHWH's) motives amounted to pure love.   No greater love has ever been shown.
 
Now, how can we tell who are the faithful footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ?   Easily by their example of love.   As Jesus (Yeshua) testified to at Matthew 5:43-44, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: 44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;" (ASV); And at, Matthew 22:39, "And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV): and at Mark 12:31, "The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (ASV); And at Luke 6:27, "But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you," (ASV).
 
Thus those doing these things are the faithful footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) God's (YHWH's) only begotten Son, second only to God (HYWH) [not coequal] in heaven after his Father (YHWH) resurrected him as affirmed at 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; 5 and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; 6 then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; 7 then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to the [child] untimely born, he appeared to me also." (ASV).
 
Clearly, then, if any group hates, persecutes, and kills others, it is NOT of God (YHWH) since it has been shown, "for God is love"; therefore, it is of God's (YHWH's) arch enemy as shown at 2 Corinthians 4:4, "in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]." (ASV).
 
Now the choice is each persons, do we go to God's (YHWH's) side and take on his chief attribute of love or do we attach ourselves to a group that has hated, persecuted, and killed others without just cause, i.e., a group belonging to the god of this system.   Only you can make that choice for yourself.
 
APPENDIX:
 
(1) "[RATSACH] is a purely Hebrew term. It has no clear cognate in any of the contemporary tongues. The root occurs thirty -eight times in the OT, with fourteen occurrences in Num 35. The initial use of the root appears in the Ten Commandments (Exo 20:13). In that important text it appears in the
simple Qal stem with the negative adverb, "You shall not murder, " being a more precise reading than the too-general KJV "thou shalt not kill." Much has been made of the fact that the root r¹faµ appears in the Mosaic legislation, as though this term bore a special connotation of premeditation, as though the Decalogue only proscribed premeditated crime.
 
This is not the case, The many occurrences in Num 35 deal with the organization of the six cities of refuge to which manslayers who killed a person accidentally could flee. Numbers 35:11 makes completely clear that the refuge was for those guilty of unpremeditated, accidental killings.
This makes clear that [RATSACH] applies equally to both cases of premeditated murder and killings as a result of any other circumstances, what English Common Law has called, "man slaughter." The root also describes killing for revenge (Num 35:27, 30) and assassination (2Kings 6:32). It appears in a few poetic contexts, as an "A" word in a peculiar parallel construction (Job 24:14); as an "A" word parallel to a general term for immorality, zimma (Hos 6:9); as a "B" word parallel to another synonym "to kill, " "to slay" (Psa 94:6). In only one case in the whole OT is the root used of the killing of man by an animal (Prov 22:13). But even in that context it is the enormity and horror of the deed which is primary. In all other cases of the use of [RATSACH], it is man's crime against man and God's censure of it which is uppermost. W.W."
 
* Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Harris. L. R, Archer G.L, Waltke B. K, 1980
 
(2) A comparison of several versions of the Bible gives the following is the result.
 
Ex. 20:13
Murder: CEV ESV TEV GW LITV NASB MSG NWT NIV NKJV NLT NRSV WEB,
Rotherham, YLT, Byington, Goodspeed, ISR, Concordant
 
Kill: Darby, KJ21, KJV, MKJV, NJB, RSV, NET, Brenton, AKJV, RNKJV,
Revised Webster, 
 
Mark 10:19
Murder: CEV HCSB EMTV ESV TEV GW LITV NASB MSG NET NWT NIV NKJV NLT
NRSV WEB Weymouth Montgomery, 21st Century NT, Rotherham, YLT,
Byington, Goodspeed, Christian Bible, Concordant
 
Kill: Darby, Diaglott, KJ21, KJV, MKJV, NJB, RSV, AKJV, Murdoch,
RNKJV, RVIC, Revised Webster, 20th Century NT,
 
It seems the MURDERS have it, and the NET Bible seems to be
inconsistent as it moves from the Exodus (kill) to the NT (murder).
 
(3) In an essay on capitol punishment talk show host and Jewish theologian Dennis Prager highlighted the difference between "murder" and the broader term of "killing". He wrote: "As William F. Buckley Jr. has argued, if capitol punishment is state murder, then imprisonment is state kidnapping.    Many opponents of capitol punishment claim not to grasp the moral distinction between the murder of an innocent person and the execution of a murderer. This reductionist mode of thinking (moral equivalence) has come to dominate opposition to capitol punishment.   thus, the head of Amnesty International-USA has called the United
States "a serial killer" because it executes murderers.    To put it succinctly, this claim that the murder of an innocent and the execution of the murderer are morally equivalent because they both involve taking a life is as morally perverse as a claim that rape and lovemakeing are morally equivalent because both involve sexual intercourse. (That some prominent radical feminists, such as Andrea Dworkin, make such a claim doesn't diminish its moral perversity, it only illustrates the prevalence of moral equivalence and moral illiteracy in our time.)"  While I don't agree with them, I can see how a soldier that is a member of Christendom might seek to justify the killing of Saddam and his thugs.  But how do they justify or rationalize the killing of innocent men women and children who get caught in the crossfire or are mistaken as the enemy? I've asked people before that tried to rationalize military service which army would Jesus or the Apostles join if they were on earth today? Christians are to follow Christ example. As someone wanting to follow his footsteps as close as possable I need to know so I can sign up. I never have received an
answer.
 
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COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES.   With the Scripture of the Day first.
 
[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 395A]
 
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  1 Timothy 1:15 – 16, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
 
Yes, this is a faithful saying all should heed per 1 Timothy 4:9, [AV] “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.”  Yes, Jesus (Yeshua) gave his life as a ransom for all obedient mankind per 1 John 2:2, [AV] “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  As he said as recorded at John 6:40, [AV] “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  And per Jude 21, [AV] “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”  
 
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
 
 
[2]       THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Mate, Ilex paraguariensis A. St-Hil. var. paraguariensis
 
Family: Aquifoliaceae
 
Common names. English: maté, Brazilian tea, Paraguay tea: Guarani: ka'a; Kaingangue: kongóñ: Spanish: yerba maté, té de los jesuitas: Portuguese: congonha, erva mate
 
Maté, with a very restricted distribution outside America, is a tree that produces a raw material for industrialization and consumption as a stimulating infusion. So far, this has been the main use of this somewhat overlooked crop.
Although no archaeological remains have been found that show that it was used in pre-Columbian times. it is assumed that it was the Guarani Indians who taught the Spanish how to use it. However, what seems to be an indirect consequence of the discovery is the fact that the first people to have cultivated this species were the Jesuit missionaries who, around 1670, already had artificial maté plantations. In time, the settlements of Guarani Indians converted to Christianity were to become economically dependent on maté production.
 
The expulsion of the Jesuits from the Spanish dominions (1767) was a step backwards in the history of maté. There was a return to the forest exploitation method which utilized the natural maté plantations exclusively and inadequately. It may be said that this type of laborious and uneconomical forest management extended up to the first decades of the twentieth century, in spite of maté planting having been renewed in Nueva Germania, Paraguay and in Santa Ana, Argentina, in 1897.
 
Although very much reduced, maté production did not disappear with the Jesuit plantations. During the remainder of the colonial period, the use of this herb, which had spread extensively, persisted even in the region of the Viceroyalty of Peru, where there was another methyl xanthine stimulant of the same genus: Ilex guayusa Loes. emend. Shemluck, also marketed by the Jesuits from that region in Quito.
 
It has been established that trade in maté was not interrupted and that it was commonly used in what is now Peru and Ecuador. However, following the independence of the Spanish colonies and the adoption of free trade, English tea began to be introduced into those countries and so maté gradually lost the markets of those Andean countries.
 
The decline and complete disappearance of the maté plantations in the settlements of Christianized Indians (which ended around 1820 after a series of wars waged in the region between the Spanish and Portuguese Crowns, followed by the struggles for independence) and the policy of isolation and control of international trade maintained by the first governor of independent Paraguay meant that, in the 1820s, Brazil began commercial exploitation of its natural maté plantations.
 
The most accessible plantations were situated in the vicinity of Curitiba, Paraná, and as they were slowly exhausted they were gradually replaced by the others located towards the west. The Brazilian product, which then began to spread on the markets as "Paranagua maté", was considered to be of inferior quality to that from Paraguay. However, in the course of time it replaced the Paraguayan product, a development which became more marked after the war of the Triple Alliance ( 1870).
 
At the end of the nineteenth century, the limitations of the exhaustive exploitation of this forestry resource stimulated efforts to produce large plantations of I. paraguariensis once again. Eventually. these efforts were successful, especially in Argentina.
 
At the same time as the increase in Argentinian maté production, the extraordinary expansion of the agricultural frontiers in traditional maté-growing states of southern Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina. Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul) took place. Regrettably, the disappearance of enormous areas of natural forests in those states jeopardized the conservation of maté's genetic richness.
 
The complicated economic history of this crop (barely sketched out here) which is characterized by periods of scarcity alternating with periods of excessive demand, the sporadic but real existence of periods during which it was adulterated with other plants and the most common method of preparation—maté sucked through a small tube—considered by many to be unhygienic, had a bearing on the limited spread of maté outside southern South America.
 
Its main use is in infusions prepared as tea with leaves and dried stems which have been industrially shredded. Generally speaking, it is drunk by tilling small gourds (maté gourds or cuias) with maté. to which boiling water is gradually added, the liquid being sucked up through a metal tube (the bombilla). Infusions of cimarrón, or bitter maté, are usually modified with sugar (sweet maté), milk or aromatic herbs. Other methods of consumption are boiled maté, tereré (maté prepared with cold water, common in Paraguay and northeastern Argentina), liqueurs prepared with maté, ice-creams, desserts, etc. The industry also produces compound maté (which contains aromatic and/or medicinal herbs), soluble maté and maté teabags.
 
The aqueous infusion of maté owes its stimulant properties to the caffeine content (between 1 and 2 percent) so that, 60 minutes after consuming maté, an average of 80 to 120 mg of this pseudoalkaloid is consumed. Its nutritional qualities are due to its content of vitamins A, C and B complex and the existence of minerals (P, Ca and Fe).
 
Argentina, the main producer and consumer, grows around 130000 ha of maté in the northeast of the country (Misiones and Corrientes), which produce about 140000 tonnes per year. Brazil is the world's second producer, followed by Paraguay. For the Argentinan province of Misiones, maté cultivation represents an important part of the country's GDP.
 
Botanical description
The maté is a dioecious evergreen tree which grows up to 18 m in height. The leaves are alternate, coriaceous and obovate with a serrate margin and obtuse apex. The inflorescences are in corymboid fascicles, the male ones in a dichasium with three to 11 flowers, the female ones with one or three flowers. The flowers are small, and simple, number four or five and have a whitish corolla. The fruit is in a nucule; there are four or five single seed pyrenes (propagules).
 
Maté flowers in the spring (from October to November), has entomophilous pollination (diptera, hymenoptera) and fruits from March to June; dissemination is endozoic (birds). There is a rudimentary embryo in many externally ripe seeds which causes a long period of germination From the time of sowing.
 
Ecology and phytogeography
Prominent among the ecological requirements of this subtropical species are climatic conditions, especially mean annual precipitation and an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. This must not be less than 1200 mm annually and, during the driest quarter—which in the region is winter—the minimum must be 250 mm. I. paraguariensis' wild distribution area is always unaffected by water shortages. The mean annual temperature of the area is approximately 21 to 22°C. The absolute minimum temperature that this species is able to tolerate is -6°C, even though winter snows are frequent on the plateaus and mountain regions to the south of Brazil and east of Misiones.
It requires lateritic, acid (pH between 5.8 and 6.8) soils that are of medium to fine texture.
 
Figure 30 shows the natural distribution of I. paraguariensis. The area of economic cultivation of maté coincides approximately with the main dispersion area of the var. paraguariensis.
 
Genetic diversity
There is still no exhaustive modern picture that explains in biological terms the infraspecific variability of this species, which is widely dispersed geographically in South America. Up to the present, taking as a basis the morphological characteristics alone, at least two varieties are recognized: I. paraguariensis A. St-Hill var. paraguariensis (cultivated maté, almost completely glabrous) and I. paraguariensis var. vestita (Reisseck) Loes. (not acceptable for industrialization, of dense pubescence). Both varieties coexist in limited areas of Brazil.
 
The wild species closest to I. paraguariensis belong to the subgenus euilex Loes., subsection repandae Loes. Only I. cognata Reisseck lives in the distribution area of maté. I. cognata is very little known; its vernacular name is chá do mato and it is used to adulterate maté.
 
A number of wild species of Ilex are sympatric with genuine maté and have been, or are, used to manufacture the product although, up to the present and according to the legislation in force, they are to be considered adulterations. Of those most frequently referred to, the following deserve mention: Ilex affinis Gardner (the ca' a chirí or congonha of Goyaz, a species abundant in central Brazil and northeastern Paraguay); I. dumosa Reisseck var. guaranina Loes. (yerba señorita, aperea ka'a, cauna, caá chiri), native to Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, the producer of a bitter-tasting maté and supposedly cultivated in Misiones by the Jesuits to produce their famous "caá miní" maté; I. theezans, C. Martius ex Reisseck (cauna de folhas largas, ca'a na, congonha), a good substitute for I. paraguariensis, found in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. I. brevicuspis Reisseck, known as cauna or voadeira, like the previous species, is a faithful companion of I. paraguariensis in plant communities characteristic of the region—where Araucaria is also prominent—but the product obtained from its experimental industrialization is of low quality.
 
Outside the natural area of distribution and production of maté, in northwestern Argentina and southeastern Bolivia, Ilex argentina Lillo, a related species that is known not to accumulate caffeine but theobromine, has been used to prepare maté. It is a tree characteristic of the area of transition between the forests of Myrtaceae and alder (Alnus spp.) of the phytogeographical province of the yungas.
Known cultivars of I. paraguariensis. The infraspecific classification of I. paraguariensis is still under study. Consequently, the correspondence between the biological varieties and the horticultural varieties of genuine maté is not clear. Following is a list of some of the varieties recognized as such by growers in the three countries: Erva de talo roxo, Erva de talo branco, Erva piriquita (Brazil); Caá verá, Caá manduví, Caá panambi, Caá cuatí, Caá ñú, Caá eté, Caá mi, Caá chacra, Caá-je-he-ni (Paraguay); Yerba colorada, Yerba señorita, Caá miní (Argentina).
 
INTA in Argentina recently began to distribute seeds of clones and selected clonal progeny which, following comparative trials, demonstrated their superiority.
 
In wild South American Ilex species and in the maté-growing region, the risks of genetic erosion are high because the natural forest is gradually giving way to agroforestry and livestock production, a process accentuated by the relatively low germinating capacity of many species (especially that of maté). As no suitable method has yet been discovered for maintaining the germinating capacity of I. paraguariensis for prolonged periods, there are no seed banks of the species. Nevertheless, at the Cerro Azul de Misiones experimental agricultural station in Argentina, a maté clonal garden began to be developed in 1976, complemented by the nursery started in 1986 with I. paraguariensis of various origins and with other species of Ilex.
 
Cultivation practices
In the wide and varied economic production area of maté, the practices for the cultivation or exploitation of natural maté vary considerably in their technical aspects, resulting in different yields per hectare.
Three methods of production can be distinguished which are arranged here in increasing order of importance reflecting the use of techniques and their yields:
 
Extractive exploitation of the natural forest. Here the richness of natural maté plantations is utilized. Harvesting is not mechanized and the pruning system is generally incorrect. This form of production is diffused mainly in Brazil.
Mixed system or system for the enrichment of the natural forest. This consists of increasing the number of natural plantations and reconstituting those that have been lost. In Brazil, where this method is most commonly practiced, it is called densifying the maté plantation. Since, generally speaking, this technique is accompanied by others that increase the yield, such as cultivation care and improved pruning methods, the higher production cost is compensated for.
Cultivated maté plantations. This is undoubtedly the best system, and came into general use in Argentina around 1915. In spite of higher costs, the yield per hectare greatly increases. Complemented by measures such as improvement in the layout of plantations (which have evolved from trees planted in quincunxes, with spaced out plants used by Jesuits, to cultivation following contour lines, with a high density per hectare and use of the corte mesa pruning and plant management system), with well-timed pruning, cultivation work and harvesting, this system enabled Argentinian production to exceed that of Brazil, in spite of the former being carried out in a very reduced area and even outside the environments most suited for maté. For example, rising from a density of 1000 to 1500 plants per hectare (still fairly widespread) to a density of 2500 or 4000 plants per hectare, production can increase from around 1000 to 1800 kg to 2100 to 3300 kg per hectare.
 
The corte mesa system not only increases the yield but is also better suited to mechanical harvesting.
 
Yields are improved by: planting following contours; the use of natural or introduced cover (rape, legumes, etc.); fertilization (NPK); weed control (mechanical and/or using herbicides); suitable phytosanitary treatments; and rational harvesting. The relevant experiments have been going on for some years but, regrettably, their results have not become generalized. The introduction into cultivation of improved cultivars is much less widespread.
 
Conventional propagation techniques. Sexual propagation ("seeds" = pyrenes). This is the most common reproduction technique. In the case of maté, the advantage of sexual propagation lies in the fact that the variability in descendants may give rise to individuals better suited to different environments (which on other occasions may not be desired).
 
The seeds are harvested in the region (from February to April). They must be stratified or sown immediately, otherwise they quickly lose their viability.
Stored at 5°C, they maintain a very reduced germinating capacity (1.7 to 6.6 percent) for a further 11 months. The relatively short period of viability together with the low germination rate (immature embryos, phytosanitary problems) have undoubtedly been the cause of the difficulties in its cultivation spreading to other continents in the past.
 
Agamic reproduction. Grafting, propagation by cuttings and layering are not very widespread. It is relatively difficult to obtain rooted cuttings and this is generally achieved by using young branches from the stools, irrespective of whether plant hormone treatment is used. Additional experiments are necessary if the intention is to increase the rooting percentage.
 
In vitro cultivation of I. paraguariensis is being tried out in Brazil and Argentina by various research groups, with varying results which still do not clearly indicate which are the economically viable techniques for the clonal reproduction of selected individuals.
 
According to the Under-Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock, in Argentina in 1988, the average yield of semi-processed maté was 1220 kg per hectare.
 
Prospects for improvement
The limitations of cultivation are due to the fact that there is no demand for the product on a macroeconomic scale. The recurrent cycles of surplus supply, low prices, disinvestment in plantations, scarcity of raw materials, high prices—very often linked with international trading terms between producer countries, which result in a greater distortion—have historically acted against a stable supply of the product in terms of quality and quantity. Even worse, they have discouraged the continuation of basic and/or applied research, which cultivation and processing require. The partial or total absence of knowledge concerning maté biology, plant chemistry, dietetics, agronomics and industrialization have made it difficult to adopt international standards which would lay down norms for the quality of the product and improve and guarantee it over time, depending on its distribution to the major international markets for the production of methyl xanthine infusions.
 
Potential areas for the introduction of this crop are subtropical regions with acid soils and a water supply similar to those of the species' natural area of dispersal.
 
It has recently been suggested that Ilex verticillata, a North American species, could be a source of biodegradable detergents because of its high saponin content. Since research regarding similar subjects is being continued on I. paraguariensis and, furthermore, since other related species are studied even less than maté from the chemical point of view, it would be advantageous to go into these aspects more deeply.
 
Ilex argentina is also a possible caffeine-free maté and is, moreover, remarkable for its richness in liver-protecting phenolics similar to those in artichokes (Cynara scolymus).
 
There are also reports of a range of non-traditional uses for I. paraguariensis, for instance as a source of edible oils, furfural and cosmetics.
Finally, the importance of the wild Ilex species in genetic improvement of the crop should be mentioned.
 
Lines of research
* Botanical: Infraspecific variability of I. paraguariensis and how it is related to other species of the genus; an updated chorology; crossing systems of I. paraguariensis and other species of Ilex; inheritance of sex.
* Physiology of the seed and micropropagation methods.
* Plant chemistry: Cycle of the xanthines in the species and its relatives; toxic and undesirable compounds of allied species; analytical determination of the infusion's flavour components.
* Updating, from the food point of view and with relation to allied species.
* Architecture of the individual of I. paraguariensis and of allied species; phenology and adaptation of these trees to mechanical harvesting.
* Industrialization: Improvements in the drying and accelerated seasoning systems without organoleptic losses; alternative industries with cultivation by-products.
* New ways of consuming and presenting the product.
Bibliography
* Abbott, T.P. et al. 1990. Major extractable components in Asclepias linaria (Asclepiadaceae) and Ilex verticillata (Aquifoliaceae), two potential hydrocarbon crops. Econ. Bot., 44(2): 278-284.
* Filip, R. et al. 1989. Estudio de compuestos presentes en Ilex argentina Lillo (Aquifoliaceae). Anal. Asoc. Quim. Argent., 77(4): 293-297.
* Fontana, H.P. et al. 1990. Estudios sobre la germinación y conservación de semillas de verba maté (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) . Infor. Técn.. 52: 14. Estación Exper. Agrop. Cerro Azul, INTA.
* Giberti, G.C.1989. Los parientes silvestres de la yerba maté y el problema de su adulteración. Dominguezia, 7(1): 3-21.
* Gomez Vara, M.E. et al. 1980. Investigaciones sobre la tecnología de la yerba maté. Informe, 4:226. APRYMA.
* Grondona, E.M. 1953. Historia de la yerba mate. Rev. Argent. Agron., 20(2): 68-95.
* Grondona, E.M. 1954. Historia de la yerba mate. II. Sinonimia, cariología y distribución geográfica. Rev. Argent. Agron., 21 (1): 9-24.
* Linhares, T.1969. História econômica do mate. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Editôra Livraria José Olympio.
* Loesener, T. 1901. Monographia Aquifoliacearum, l. Nola Acta Acad. Caes. Leop. Carol. German. Nat. Cur., 78: VIII + 600.
* Loesener, T. 1942/60. Aquifoliaceae. In H. Harms & Mattfeld, eds. Nat. Pflanzenfam, 2nd ed., p.36-86. Berlin.
* Martínez-Crovetto, R. 1980. Yerba mate: usos no tradicionales y posibilidades. Participar. 2(12): 58-61.
* Porto, A. 1943. História das Missões orientais do Uruguai, I. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ministry of Education and Health.
* Prat Kricun, S.D. et al. 1986. Yerba mate: informe de investigaciones realizadas. Período 84-85. Misiones, Convenio INTA-CRYM y CRYM-Asoc. Coop. EEA.
* Schultes, R.E. 1979. Discovery of an ancient guayusa plantation in   (source - retrieved from   http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/mate.html  on  3/21/2013)
 
In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to  www.jw.org].
 
For pictures of this plant and more information on it, go to,  http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/yerba_mate.htm
 
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Your Friend in Christ Iris89
 
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to www.jw.org!
 
 
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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]    Discourse on the Subject of Adultery:
 
[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 397A]
 
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.   Ephesians 4:17 – 19, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
 
And 1 Peter 4:3, [AV] “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:” shows we should give up our wrong ways.  Yes, many of those doing what Almighty God (YHWH) does not want knew who He is , but as stated at Romans 1:21, [AV] “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Yes, all need to per Acts 26:18, [AV] “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”  For those not wanting to be obedient to him, He per Romans 1:28, [AV] “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”  So we should per Isaiah 56:11 - 12, [AV] “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.  2  Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”
 
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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study 
 
Your Friend in Christ Iris89 
 
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
 
[2]       Discourse on the Subject of Adultery:
 
INTRODUCTION:
 
Today many do NOT consider adultery a major wrong, but these ones willfully forget that in the covenant, Mosaic Law, that God (YHWH), the party of the first part, concluded with Moses (Mosche) and the Israelite nation, the party of the second part, adultery was prohibited and series penalties were prescribed. This clearly shows that God (YHWH) took very seriously the principle he set forth in Genesis at Genesis 2:23-24, "and the man saith, `This `is' the `proper' step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh. " (Young's Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly showing that from the beginning God (YHWH) intended man to have one wife and stick with her and not go out and have relations with other women and for the wife to do likewise. This was emphasized by the statement, "they have become one flesh." Therefore, adultery would be willful disobedience with respect to God's (YHWH's) original purpose for mankind.
 
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ON ADULTERY:
 
What is Adultery?
 
Adultery, as used in the Bible, generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite gender other than one's mate, or, during the time that the Mosaic Law was in effect, any such intercourse by any man with a married or a betrothed women. Let's consider the ancient Hebrew root meaning of 'commit adultery' which is 'na'sph',' and its Koine Greek counterpart is 'moi-dheu'a' as used at Ezekiel 16:32, "A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!" (American Standard Version; ASV), and Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV).
 
Of course the pagan nations around about the nation of ancient Israel did not subscribe to a high moral code and indulged freely in many cases in promiscuity as shown in the history of adultery as found in the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend (1949, Volume 1, page 15, says, "It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times." This was shown in the Bible with respect the attempted seduction of Joseph by the wife of Potiphar as recorded at Genesis 39:7-10, "And it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, `Lie with me;' 8 and he refuseth, and saith unto his lord's wife, `Lo, my lord hath not known what `is' with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand; 9 none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.' 10 And it cometh to pass at her speaking unto Joseph day `by' day, that he hath not hearkened unto her, to lie near her, to be with her;" (YLT). Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but penalties are seldom imposed.
 
God's (YHWH's) Law Separates Ancient Israel:
 
However God's (YHWH's) law separated Israel from the pagan nations and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher plain than that of the surrounding nations. In fact, the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue stated in clear, unmistakable language at Exodus 20:14, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT); and at Deuteronomy 5:18, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT). This commandment was NOT done away with when Jesus (Yeshua) Christ instituted the new covenant as clearly shown at Luke 18:20, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother." (ASV). Clearly showing that to present from the beginning that adultery was prohibited by God (YHWH) and went against his intended purpose for mankind.
 
Law Covenant:
 
Under the Law Covenant that God (YHWH) made with Moses (Mosche) and the ancient nation of Israel the penalty for adultery was severe; to wit, death for both guilty parties. This is recorded at Deuteronomy 22:22-24, "If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. 23 If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee." (ASV). Under this Law Covenant, if a wife was suspected of adultery she had to stand trial per Numbers 5:11-32, "And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15 then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah: 17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman's head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 19 And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 20 But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband: 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell; 22 and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy body to swell, and thy thigh to fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen. 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: 24 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter. 25 And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar: 26 and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled; 30 or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity." (ASV). This requirement and God's (YHWH's) unique enforcement of it is no longer in force.
 
True Christians are not under the Mosaic Law:
 
While true Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, they are required to refrain from adultery. This is shown at Romans 13:8-:9, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV); and at Romans 2:22, "thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?" (ASV).
 
In teaching Bible principles, Jesus (Yeshua) raised the moral standard still higher for true Christians, his footstep followers. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate, but to wrong desire one may have for another as shown at Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (ASV); and at 2 Peter 2:14, "They want to look at nothing else but immoral women; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!" (The New Testament in Today's English Version; TEV).
 
In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) pointed out that the only scriptural grounds for divorce was fornication, Koine Greek 'por-nei'a', which is adultery and deviant sexual behavior. The remarriage of either mate who divorced on grounds other than fornication would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced women as his wife would be guilty of adultery as testified to at Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Mark 10:11-12, "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: 12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Luke 16:18, "Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Romans 7:2-3, "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man." (ASV).
 
Adultery is a Sin Against God (YHWH):
 
Adultery is actually a sin against God (YHWH) our creator, and this is clearly shown at Genesis 39:9, "none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'" (YLT). This should NOT be taken lightly as God (YHWH) shall judge those guilty of adultery and deviant sex, and none who persist in such a course will per Malachi 3:5, "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner `from his right', and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts." (ASV); and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (ASV); and Hebrews 13:4, "`Let' marriage `be' had in honor among all, and `let' the bed `be' undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (ASV).
 
How true Proverbs 6:32-35, "He who committeth adultery `with' a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it." (YLT). In fact, in a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to God (YHWH) on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural ancient Israel in the Law Covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of deviant sex practices, including fornication/adultery, and false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and the blatant disregard of the Seventh Commandment. This was brought out at Jeremiah 3:8-9, "And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 5:7-8, "How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses. 8 They were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor's wife." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 9:2, "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 13:27, "I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?" (ASV); and at Hosea 7:4, "They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir `the fire', from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened." (ASV).
 
CONCLUSION:
 
For similar reasons to those of the prophets of old, Jesus (Yeshua) denounce as adulterous the generation of the Jews of his day as testified to at Matther 12:39, "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:" (ASV); and at Mark 8:38, "If, then, a man is ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godliness and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (TEV). As James 4:4 states, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." (ASV).
 
Clearly then, since the Nation of Ancient Israel had concluded a covenant with him, Almighty God (YHWH) clearly had every right to expect that they should live up to it, and to impose severe sanctions for its violation. This being especially so since adultery is actually a sin against him.
 
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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]    GOD'S VIEWS ON DEVIANT SEX AND OUTCOMES IN THE PRESENT
 
[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 399A]
 
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;   Ephesians 5:1,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]
 
In ancient Israel, many of the religious leaders sought not Almighty God (YHWH) favor, but enrichment of their own position and stature per Matthew 23:4 – 5, [AV] “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”  And 1 Corinthians 10:14, [AV] shows we should also, “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”  
 
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[2]       GOD'S VIEWS ON DEVIANT SEX AND OUTCOMES IN THE PRESENT
 
Bad moral upbringing results in crime, disrespect for the rights of others, and an ever spiraling down quality of life for all, this must change if society is to survive, good moral role models must be a top priority. This was highlighted in several articles in The Palm Beach Post with respect priests, ministers, rabbis, and bishops who sexually abused children. One article, "Vatican struggles with issue of suspected pedophile priest," Sunday, January 13, 2002, clearly details how many who we look to for moral guidance are themselves morally bankrupt. This is a dysfunctional situation that we should NOT let continue, i.e., organizations and their leaders that should be active in combating or ameliorating this disastrous trend are in many cases contributing to it. The police, charitable organizations, and the churches should be in the forefront with respect to stopping and reversing this downward spiral toward complete moral bankruptcy, but unfortunately in many cases are doing just the opposite
 
This over emphasis on sex in modern society is the root cause behind many of the maladies afflicting our modern world, such as:
 
1. The AIDS/HIV epidemic.
2. The overpopulation serious situation existing in many countries.
3. Street children who have been tossed out and abandoned through the world.
4. Prostitution.
5. Unnatural sex perversion such as pedophiliasm, sex between members of the same sex, sex with animals, etc.
6. Slave trade in women for sexual purposes.
7. Sexually explicit material for minors.
8. Rapes.
9. Love triangle murders.
10. Lack of true neighborly love and fellow felling among many in the modern world.
 
The Greatest Plague Ever on Mankind:
 
First the "high-road" approach: With respect another very serious matter, the world wide plague of AIDS; this plague could quickly be stopped from acquiring new victims by living one's life in harmony with God's requirements. However, many nations and people seem to be looking in all the wrong places for answers such as medical science, when the answer to eliminating this plague is simple. It is, stop deviant and out-of- marriage sexual behavior. Homosexual conduct is condemned by God's word the Holy Bible and should be recognized as an unacceptable life style just as other deviant sex practices such as child sexual molestation are. Also, practices such as adultery and pre-marital sex are condemned.
 
To use a President W. Clinton era cliché, inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching is the cause of Mankind's Greatest Plague Ever, AIDS. If it were not for widespread inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching there would NOT BE ANY PLAGUE OF AIDS. Even those AIDS cases contacted from unclean needles and body fluids are the once or more removed results of inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching as are most other sexually transmitted diseases. It is not a question of "safer sex," the development of vaccines, etc. as these are only the superficial treatment of this plague; whereas, the root cause is as just mentioned, inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching. This plague and others like it will only truly be defeated when the root cause is eradicated; let's face reality/facts.
 
If God's condemnation of all these deviant sexual practices was respected, our society would not be plagued by the greatest disease plague of all times, AIDS, today, nor by all the other sexually transmitted diseases such as Hepatitis 'B,' 'C,' Genital Herpes, etc. Many nations in Africa say they do not know how to control the spread of AIDS, but the answer is simple, stop practicing deviant sex, adultery, and pre-marital sex, i.e., remain chaste.
 
Today many immoral things are practiced by a great number of people, but this widespread committing of wickedness does not make it any less wrong. In fact, this condition, now existing, was foretold long ago in the Holy Bible at 2nd. Timothy 3:1-5 which reads as follows, "Do not forget this: there will be terrible times in the last days...Men will be lovers of self...They will be treacherous, reckless, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than of God as they make a pretense of religion but negate its power..." (NAB). Immorality in its many forms is unlike other sins in that it is a sin against one's own body as shown at I Corinthians 6:18-19, "...Every other sin a man commits is outside his body, but the fornicator sins against his own body...(NAB). In fact, the truth that fornication is a sin against one's body can readily be seen from recent medical reports even without recourse to the Bible, God's written instructions for us. Specifically, reports about many types of diseases transmitted by illicit sexual relationships of various forms such as sodomy and adultery are much in the news. Who has not heard of AIDS, Herpes, Gonorrhea, etc. that plague homosexuals and other promiscuous individuals? Thus, obviously all forms of illicit sexual relationships, homosexual or heterosexual, are indeed sins against one's own body.
 
All forms of illicit sexual relationships are clearly works of the flesh and the Apostle Paul said, "Now the work of the flesh are...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." (Galatians 6:18-19 per KJV). God does not view these unclean "works" of the flesh with pleasure no matter who may endorse them be he/she a high governmental official, a church leader, a community leader, or a common citizen. These works remain condemned by God as shown by the Apostle Paul at I Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye...the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God...be not deceived: neither fornicators,...nor adulteress, nor effeminate,...shall inherit the Kingdom of God." (KJV). In fact is plainly recorded that God will judge all fornicators at Hebrews 13:4 which reads, "...God himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of others or defile the relationship of marriage." (TNTMB). This fact that God will punish those who practice illicit sexual relationships is made very clear by his actions in the past as shown by his destruction of the inhabitants of ancient Sodom for the practice of homosexuality which now is also known as Sodomy due to the well known sinful practice of homosexuality among the inhabitants of ancient Sodom. Their sinful practice of homosexuality was so salient that Moses wrote at Genesis 14:13 under God's inspiration, "...the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord." (NAB). Their evil practice of sodomy was so flagrant they even tried to have homosexual relationships with materialized angles of God as recorded at Genesis 19:1-7, "The two Angles reached Sodom in the evening...Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom,...closed in on the house. They called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.'" (NAB). Because of their wicked action God destroyed the Sodomites as recorded at Genesis 19:24, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom...brimstone and fire...out of heaven;" (KJV).
 
In fact, God so detested the practice of homosexuality (sodomy), including marriages of same gender individuals, he not only destroyed Sodom, but caused several Bible writers to specifically warn his followers against this practice. Moses wrote under inspiration at Leviticus 18:22. "You shall not lie with a male as with a women; such A thing is an abomination." (NAB), and the Apostle Paul wrote at I Timothy 1:9-10, "...for persons lawless and unruly,...fornicators, men who lie with males...and whatever other thing is in opposition to the healthful teaching." (NWT). Also, Hebrews 13:4 plainly shows that all illicit sex practices are condemned by God as follows, "...but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge," (KJV).
 
Therefore let no one deceive you--illicit sexual practices b ring God's disfavor as shown by many passages in God's written work, the Holy Scriptures. This point is made clear at Romans 1:24-25, "In consequence, God delivered them up in their lusts to unclean practices; they engaged in the mutual degradation of their bodies, these men who exchanged the truth of God for a lie....: (NAB). Rightly, as stated in the Bible at Ecclesiastes 7:29, "...God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans." (NWT). These works or plans of the fallen flesh are clearly identified, and I Corinthians 6:13 states, "...God will do away with them in the end--but the body is not for immorality; it is for the lord...." (NAB). In addition, I Corinthians 6:18 warns all wishing to win God's favor to, "Shun lewd conduct." (NAB), since this sin is within the body; whereas, "Every other sin a man commits is outside his body." (NAB). Also, I Corinthians 7:2 warns us to avoid illicit sexual relations in the following words, "But to avoid immorality...." (NAB). The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians warned at Colossians 3:5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence..." (KJV).
 
Since as can be plainly seen from the foregoing we should strive not to be a part of the wrong doing of this sinful generation noted at Mark 8:38, "...this faithless and corrupt age..." (NAB), where all sort of uncleanness exist as noted at Ephesians 4:19 as follows, "Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort...." (NWT). We should take heed to abstain from these things by noting what is God's will as expressed at I Thessalonians 4:3-5, "It is god's will that you grow in holiness: that you abstain from immorality, each of you guarding his members in sanctity and honor, not in passionate desire as do the Gentiles who know not God." (NAB). Not only must we not commit homosexuality (sodomy), adultery, and other illicit forms of sexual relationships; we must not as recorded at Matthew 5:28, "...look at a women lustfully...." (TNTMB). Specifically we must guard against committing any form of illicit sexual act as God wants us as shown at Hebrews 12:16, "that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things...." (NWT) among you; but wishes all to stop these wicked practices and repent as noted at Acts 26:20 as follows, "...they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (KJB)>
 
However, for those who refuse to repent and turn aside from wicked acts of illicit sexual relationships such as homosexuality (sodomy), adultery, fornication, beastality, and all other forms of sex with other than one;s marriage mate of the opposite gender, and as directed at Romans 6:6, "...our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer." (NAB). For those who refuse to repent and stop these things a certain judgment awaits as God will give them up to destruction as shown by what he did to Sodom. Also, as shown by his action at Sodom, he can deliver the righteous as recorded at 2 Peter 3:7, "He did deliver Lot...." (NAB). Thus in closing it is imperative to recall to memory that he destroyed Sodom as an example to the ungodly per 2nd Peter 3:6, "And turning the cities of Sodom...into ashes condemned them...making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." (KJV). To emphasize this he caused to be recorded for our guidance a warning with respect to what will come to pass on those rejecting his teachings and practicing wrong acts such as sodomy at Matthew 10:15 which reads, "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom...in the day of judgment, than for that city." Be of good cheer win God's approval by rejecting wickedness.
 
NAB ----- The New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition (Catholic Book Publishing Company)
KJV ----- King James Version of the Holy Bible
TNTMB --- The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips
NWT ----- The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures by The New World Bible Translation Committee
 
As can be seen, the AIDS plague can be quickly controlled by the elimination of inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching since this is the root cause of its rapid and very destructive spread. In other words, a simple, known modification of our conduct would quickly make this plague "history." Our creator well knew his creation and as can be seen from the forgoing evidence how the plague of AIDS could devastate mankind long in advance of its actually happening. In other words, our society is now reaping its own recompense. We need to turn around.
 
Second, the "low-road" approach: Today AIDS is proving to be the greatest plague ever to hit mankind and at the same time the most preventable. Over a third of the workforce of several African countries are now afflicted with AIDS, i.e., test HIV positive. In several countries mine owners are having extreme difficulty maintaining a workforce as so many workers have contacted this disease. Recently the president of one of these countries appeared on a US television program telling of the devastation AIDS has wrought on his country. His story was truly dramatic. He detailed how many children were being born with aids and how many of the workers of his country were afflicted. Truly a bad scene, yes, but also truly preventable.
 
This president, instead dealing with the root cause, was looking for a medical solution to the effects of aids. He wanted the pharmaceutical companies to cut prices on AIDS drugs to poor African countries as they really should. He was also looking for various cheap devices to permit what he called "safer sex." This president is not alone, the governments of many African and non-African countries are looking for the same things. This approach to this terrible plague is a foolish approach that may stem the tide of the plague a little in the short run, but will ultimately fail in the long term.
 
In California and elsewhere the medical world is now discovering that all of the drugs used to treat AIDS start to lose their effectiveness over the long term. The drugs that were heralded as major breakthroughs when first used because of their short term miraculous results are losing their punch. Long term AIDS patients once more are on a downward spiral. Perhaps some new medical breakthrough will once more slow this inevitable downward spiral, but the victims quality of life will continue to decrease. Eventually all AIDS suffers will end up dying a painful death unless they die of an accident or other unforeseen circumstance first. Therefore, the only sensible course is to take all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of AIDS.
 
To prevent the spread of AIDS or any other infectious medium, its mechanism of spreading must be known. For example, it was discovered that Yellow Fever was spread by mosquitoes and great efforts were undertaken to eradicate the mosquitoes. Also, a vaccine was eventually developed. With respect AIDS, its common mechanisms of spreading, i.e., root causes, are well known. They are by contact with body fluids of an infected individual. Most commonly this occurs during sexual conduct of one type or another, by blood transfusion with contaminated blood, or by sharing unclean medical needles.
 
Since it is well known how AIDS spreads, the control and prevention of AIDS is rather simple. Stop doing the things that spread AIDS. To do this, we should do a Pareto's analysis of these root causes as to which contributes to the greater number of the AIDS cases. When this is done, it is quickly noted/found that over ninety (90) percent of all cases are the result of sexual contact; therefore, it is obvious this is the mechanism of spread to be reduced and/or eliminated just as mosquitoes in the case of Yellow Fever.
 
Now of course not all sexual contact can be eliminated as it is necessary for the reproduction of the human race. However, all none essential sexual contact should be eliminated/stopped immediately; both homosexual, heterosexual, and with animals by humans. Essential sexual contact should be made significantly safer by requiring HIV blood test of all couples applying for marriage certificates and requiring monogamy of them as part of the marriage contract. If these actions are taken, the number of new cases of AIDS will be so small as to be statistically insignificant. In addition, many other problems will go away such as illegitimate children, adultery and the resultant breakdown of marriages, etc. In fact, there are even so called charitable organizations, The United Way of Palm Beach County, who want to stop supporting the Boy Scouts of America just because they took a stand against the low moral tide sweeping the world.
 
Of course, to eliminate unnecessary sexual contact and to make essential sexual contact significantly safer requires drastic action by the governments of the world. This would not be easily acceptable by the populace, but the results would be outstanding, i.e., new AIDS cases would become statistically insignificant and many other problems would just go away. The world would become a healthier and better place to live in.
 
In addition, ceasing to do things that spread AIDS, i.e., inappropriate sexual touching, has other beneficial results. It also eliminates the risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, gonorrhea, and human papillomavirus (HPV), and others. Women are anatomically more vulnerable to STDs than men. When a woman is exposed to infection, the warm, moist, internal environment of the vagina is a perfect place for bacteria and viruses to grow. The actual risks of inappropriate sexual touching are greater than most realize since individuals committing this folly fail to consider the fact that indulging in this wrongful practice actually exposes the individual to a risk from every man/women his/her partner has ever slept with. In fact, almost all cases of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous abnormalities are caused by a STD transmitted disease called human papillomavirus, or HPV according to Mary Jane Minkin, MD a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in New Haven, CT and clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicing. Thus, inappropriate sexual touching is nothing short of playing Russian Roulette with ones health and life.
 
Details On AIDS Plague In Africa:
1. Some 20% of adults are infected in South Africa; and 36% of adults are infected in Botswana.
2. South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria all have more than 2 million people with HIV/AIDS.
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe all have between 1 and 2 million people with HIV/AIDS.
4. Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivorie, Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mali, and Central African Republic all have between 100,000 and 1 million people with HIV/AIDS.
5. Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania all have over 1 million children orphaned by aids.
6. Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa all have between 100,000 and 1 million children orphaned by aids.
7. AIDS has become the leading cause of deaths in South Africa, and young adults are especially hard hit, says The New York Times, commenting on a study of South Africa's Medical Research Council. The researchers estimate that during the next decade, between five and seven million people in South Africa will die from AIDS. Young women in their 20's are dying at a greater rate than women in their 60's. South Africa "has more people known to be infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, than any other country," the article adds. "One in neine South Africans, and one in four adults [ages 30-34], is not believed to be living with H.I.V., government officials say," (Awake! June 8, 2002)
 
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