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2 years ago
The Two Witnesses Of Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11

Eli Kittim

The Two Witnesses are Anointed with Power

In Rev. 11:4, the two witnesses on earth are said to be “the two olive trees” of the Lord. This verse is based on the Old Testament:

“These are the two anointed ones who stand

by the Lord of the whole earth.”

— Zechariah 4:14

The term “Messiah” (Gk. Christos) is derived from the Hebrew word mashiach, which means “anointed one.” So, Zechariah 4:14 cannot be talking about anyone else except the Messiah. As I will demonstrate, these two anointed witnesses could be none other than Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And these two are one! The Holy Spirit is often called the “Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:19), the “Spirit of Jesus” (Acts 16:7), or “the Spirit of His Son” (Gal. 4:6). We know that the Messiah is the “anointed one” (Dan. 9:26). But the Holy Spirit is “anointed” as well (1 Jn 2:20, 27), and anoints Jesus with power (see Lk 4:18; Acts 10:38). The anointing takes place when Jesus and the Holy Spirit become one (during Jesus’ baptism)! It is Jesus’ rebirth, so to speak, when the Holy Spirit enters him and anoints him with power (Lk 3:22; cf. Acts 2:1-4)!

As for those thinkers who take issue with this view, claiming that the two witnesses are probably Enoch and Elijah who never died, there are three problems with their theory. First, regardless of whether a biblical character died or not, scripture makes it clear that you only live once (Heb. 9:27); there is no reincarnation. A reincarnation of Enoch or Elijah is therefore out of the question. Second, neither Enoch nor Elijah were the anointed Messiah. Third, both of these fictional characters are “types” who represent and foreshadow the Messiah. Notice the specific typology that is presented in Revelation 11 which typifies the two witnesses’ unique relation and connection to Jesus: the two witnesses are said to prophesy in the exact same place where Jesus supposedly lived, and they will die in the exact same city where Jesus allegedly died. I think you can guess the rest of the script: “But after … three … days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet” (Rev. 11:11). Just like Jesus, they’ll be miraculously raised from the dead after 3 days!

Moreover, Rev. 11:6 says that the two witnesses have tremendous authority (ἐξουσίαν) over heaven and earth to do as they please. However, only Jesus has that kind of authority. No one else! Jesus says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt. 28:18):

Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ

τῆς γῆς ·

Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are called Witnesses

What is more, the two witnesses’ assignment is to bear witness to the truth (μαρτυρίαν; Rev. 11:7). The two persons of the Godhead who bear witness (μαρτυρήσει) to the truth on earth are Jesus and the Holy Spirit (see Jn 15:26; 18:37; Rom. 8:16; Heb. 10:15 [Μαρτυρεῖ/bears witness]). Case in point. First John 5:6 mentions the witness of the Spirit——namely, that God comes in the flesh——using the symbols of “water and blood” which represent the divinity and humanity of Jesus, thus indicating that he’s both God and man:

“This man, Jesus the Messiah, is the one

who came by water and blood—not with

water only, but with water and with blood.

The Spirit is the one who verifies this,

because the Spirit is the truth.”

Then, 1 John 5:7-8 goes on to explain that “these three [witnesses] are one”:

“For there are three witnesses

[μαρτυροῦντες] — the Spirit, the water, and

the blood—and these three are one.”

— 1 John 5:7-8

And 1 Jn 5:9 tells us that the content of this prophetic witness (ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ θεοῦ) concerns the coming of the Son of God in human form at some point in human history. The Greek verb ἐλθὼν (came) is not referring to the time of action, but rather to the Christological prophecy which is supposed to take place according to the scriptures (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-4). So the testimony of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 is about the parousia, or the coming of Jesus to this earth! Interestingly enough, Rev. 1:5 calls Jesus “the faithful witness” (ὁ μάρτυς, ὁ πιστός). This is reiterated in Rev. 3:14 where Jesus is “the faithful and true witness.” Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are said to be God’s two witnesses, and these two are one! Since no one else except God can do these extraordinary miracles (e.g. fire-breathing, controlling the weather & the sea [cf. Mk 4:39], causing plagues; Rev. 11:5-6), and given that the language of the Greek New Testament is pointing to the authority, anointing, and witness of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, there can be little doubt as to who these two witnesses are.

First Comes Christ; Then Comes the Antichrist

The sequence of end-time events also reveals New Testament parallels and verbal agreements that are consistent with the notion that the Messiah will come first, followed by the antichrist. Notice the same sequence in Rev. 11:7:

“And when they have finished their witness,

the beast that comes up out of the abyss

will make war with them and overcome

them and kill them.”

This is essentially the same sequence that we find in 2 Thess. 2. The restrainer must first be taken out of the way before the lawless one can be revealed (2 Thess. 2:7-8). In other words, the restrainer must be removed before the antichrist can appear on the world stage. This same motif is repeated in Rev. 12:3-4 (italics mine):

“a great red dragon, with seven heads and

ten horns [representing the Antichrist and

the final world empire] … stood before the

woman who was about to give birth, so that

when she bore her child he might devour it.”

The way Rev. 12:5 is described, it’s as if it gives us Jesus’ birth, resurrection, and ascension, minus his death (which is alluded to in verse 4):

“She gave birth to a male child, one who is to

rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her

child was caught up to God and to his

throne.”

So, in Rev. 12, the male child is born first, and then the red dragon kills it. It’s the exact same sequence in Rev. 6. First comes the peaceful white horseman “holding a bow” (representing the covenant; see Gen. 9:13 LXX) and wearing the Stephanos crown, which is typically worn by victors in Christ (Jas. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10; 4:4), and then comes the red horse which triggers World War III (Rev. 6:3). We find the exact same sequence in Rev. 11:7. First come the two witnesses, and then comes the beast out of the abyss to kill them. This is the antichrist who must come after Christ. It’s the exact same motif in 2 Thess. 2:7-8 in which the restrainer must be killed before the antichrist can appear.

So, there’s a running theme throughout the New Testament which repeats the same end-time sequence in all these narratives, namely, the idea that Christ comes first, followed by the Antichrist! Thus, Christ’s coming is imminent (it can happen at any time)! But how is all this possible if Christ already died two thousand years ago? It’s possible because the gospels are not historical documents that correspond to real historical events. They’re theological narratives that are largely based on the Old Testament. By contrast, the epistles, which are the more explicit and didactic portions of scripture, say that Christ will die “once for all” (Gk. ἅπαξ hapax) “at the end of the age” (Heb. 9:26b), a phrase which consistently refers to the end of the world (cf. Mt. 13:39-40, 49; 24:3; 28:20). Similarly, just as Heb. 1:2 says that the physical Son speaks to humanity in the “last days,” 1 Pet. 1:20 (NJB) demonstrates the eschatological timing of Christ’s *initial* appearance by saying that he will be “revealed at the final point of time.” In other words, Revelation 6:2, 11:3, 12:5, and 19:11 all refer to the first coming of Jesus at the end of days!


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1 year ago
Is The Authority Of Scripture Biblical?

Is the Authority of Scripture Biblical?

Eli Kittim

I have a high view of Scripture. But my authority is a Person, not a Book. My authority is God himself, as he reveals to me his will and purpose through spiritual communications. It’s one thing to say that the Bible is “authoritative,” in the sense that it’s reliable and truthful. But it’s quite another thing to say that it’s our highest authority. I think people mistakenly conflate the authority of Scripture with Cessationism, the Calvinist doctrine that spiritual gifts and prophecy ceased with the Apostolic Age. They often cite Jude 1:3 for support. But all that verse says is that “the faith” was revealed to us at some point in human history. It doesn’t say that the Godhead went out of business, took a Sabbatical, or died and left a will. The phrase—“the faith delivered once for all to God's people”—can be disambiguated by examining the context. The other passage cessationists love to quote is 1 Cor. 13:9-10. But all it says is that “we know in part and prophesy in part” because “when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.” But not before the complete comes. That’s the key! It doesn’t say that prophecy has ceased. That would be a misinterpretation. Besides, Acts 2:17 says that people in the end times will prophesy and see visions.

Many people are confusing Scripture’s inspiration, revelation, truthfulness, and inerrancy with the concept of “authority,” which the Oxford languages dictionary defines as “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.” In short, our highest authority is not the Church, tradition, councils, committees, or even the Bible itself. Our highest authority is Jesus Christ! In Matt. 28:18 (NASB), Christ says:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has

been given to Me”

Where does 2 Tim. 3:14–16 mention the authority of Scripture? It says that “the sacred writings … are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” In other words, Scripture gives us wisdom and leads us to salvation which can only be found in Christ Jesus. The fact that Scripture is “inspired” doesn’t mean it represents the final authority. 2 Tim. 3:14–16 reads:

“continue in the things you have learned

and become convinced of, knowing from

whom you have learned them, and that

from childhood you have known the sacred

writings which are able to give you the

wisdom that leads to salvation through faith

which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is

inspired by God and beneficial for teaching,

for rebuke, for correction, for training in

righteousness.”

The fact that Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) doesn’t mean that the Bible has the final say in all matters. The Spirit that inspired the Bible is the ultimate authority on all matters, not the Bible. Scripture itself does not claim to have all authority. Jesus does.

Moreover, the concept of the Sufficiency of Scripture implies that Scripture itself is all we need to interpret Scripture. But Scripture can be interpreted in 30,000 different ways. Just look at all the Protestant denominations that split due to interpretative differences. Thus, Scripture is neither sufficient to interpret itself, nor is it the final authority. Without the Holy Spirit to illuminate us, we will inevitably misinterpret it (Jn 16:13)!

Where does 2 Pet. 1:20–21 mention the authority of Scripture?

“But know this first of all, that no prophecy

of Scripture becomes a matter of

someone’s own interpretation, for no

prophecy was ever made by an act of

human will, but men moved by the Holy

Spirit spoke from God.”

All it says is that prophecy and its interpretation should be revealed by the Holy Spirit, not interpreted by human beings. If anything, it demonstrates the insufficiency of Scripture!

The fact that the Bible contains the Word of God doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the final authority, or that it’s sufficient in and of itself, so that we don’t need anything else. If the Bible is entirely “sufficient” and adequate for all purposes, we wouldn’t need to be reborn. All we would need to do is read our Bibles. But Scripture cannot save anyone. Jesus does. The Spirit is what we need. We can be saved by the Spirit without the Bible. But we can’t be saved by the Bible without the Spirit.

The Bible does not attest to its own authority. Revelation of the Word does not mean ultimate Authority. The fact that God’s Word is true (Jn 17:17) doesn’t mean that the Bible is the highest authority in our lives. As Christ said, it is the Spirit that perfects us, not the Scriptures (Jn 16:13). Luke 24:49 reads:

“But remain … until you have been clothed

with power from on high”

John 3:5 says categorically and unequivocally:

“unless someone is born of … the

Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Likewise, Romans 8:9 puts it thusly:

“But if anyone does not have the Spirit of

Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

In John 5:39-40, Jesus demonstrates the insufficiency of Scripture by saying the following:

“You examine the Scriptures because you

think that in them you have eternal life; and

it is those very Scriptures that testify about

Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me

so that you may have life.”

When Jesus says that all will be accomplished according to his Word (Matt. 5:18), he’s talking about prophecy, not the authority of Scripture. I’m not suggesting that Scripture errs or is contradictory. Absolutely not! But let’s not confuse the issues. The fact that the Bible contains the Word of God doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s our final authority, or that it’s entirely sufficient. That would be equivalent to Bibliolatry. The Bible is not a paper Pope. Truth and trustworthiness is one thing. Authority is another.


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10 months ago
Modern Christianity Is A Joke

Modern Christianity is a Joke

Eli Kittim

On their podcasts and platforms, Christians are constantly talking about God, Christ, and the Bible, explaining the gospel, debating about theology and prophecy, while assuming to know what scripture teaches, right down to the last detail. And yet none of them know what they’re talking about or what’s really going on (Rom. 3:11). Yet they all have millions of followers flocking to their social media platforms to hear them speak, and they’re deceiving all of them (intentionally or unintentionally) with lies and misinformation. But this has already been prophesied. In fact, Matthew 24 and 1 Timothy 4:1 clearly state that the end-times will be characterized by global deception, as many false prophets and teachers will arise and mislead many. Paul himself knew that after his departure Christianity would eventually decline and become a church of heretics (Acts 20:29). All that has happened. Most teachings today are about the Nephilim, aliens, and ancient civilizations.

All the biblical doctrines that are being taught today——whether at the university, the seminary, or in social media platforms——are false. Why? Because they have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. None of these so-called pundits have received any revelations from God in the manner that Paul describes (see Gal. 1:11-12). To preach things based on personal guesswork or mere speculation is not the same as teaching according to the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says that “the Holy Spirit … will teach you all things.”

It’s gotten so bad that even the Pope is now teaching that it’s a dangerous heresy to have a personal relationship with Jesus outside the church. A Facebook friend of mine——a Christian apologist by the name of Marcia Montenegro——has gone so far as to condemn any attempt to open your mind and spirit to God through the prayer of stillness (which btw is still used in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches), denouncing it as a so-called satanic practice that opens your spirit to demonic influences, even though that is precisely what the Bible requires in order for rebirth and salvation to take place. How else can God transform your carnal nature unless he recreates your identity? (Eph. 4:22-24). How can God live within you and create a new operating system unless the old one is deleted? How else can you receive the Holy Spirit, who changes your personality, turning a sinner to a saint, as it did with Paul? Romans 8:9 says categorically and unequivocally:

“if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,

they do not belong to Christ.”

Then there are the nominal Christians. These are Christians in name only. They pretend to be Christ-like but act like demons. I know a few well-known Christian writers and bible prophecy teachers who have privately sent me viruses because I criticized their views. People would be surprised to know that Richard H. Perry did such a thing when i criticized his view that George Bush represents the white horseman of Revelation. I obviously had to block him. Another famous lawyer turned author by the name of Mark L. Hitchcock took me by surprise when he reported me to YouTube, which resulted in google permanently shutting down my platform. And he did this just because I complained that his YouTube channel was deleting all my comments and articles. As a result, I ended up losing all my videos and all my content that had been running on the web for the past 12 years. I was aghast that someone of his stature would resort to this. That was so mean. It completely took me by surprise. I didn’t see that one coming. This type of spitefulness is uncharacteristic of Christian believers. Their fruits bear no love. I seriously doubt whether such a person is in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, I have lost all respect for him. I obviously blocked him, too. Good riddance!

Christianity has gotten so bad that Christian pastors are preying on crippled children, promising to heal them if they sow a financial seed to the ministry. People like Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, and more recently, Kathryn Krick, all falsely claim to heal people suffering of serious disorders. Then you have YouTubers who are openly deceiving people, claiming that God speaks to them. Troy Black is a case in point. He has half a million victims, I mean subscribers, who are being lied to on a daily basis.

Not to mention the multiple scandals involving priests and pastors who are texting pornographic materials to their congregants and have inappropriate relations with them. Some pastors are even teaching that you don’t even need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved, while others, like Steven Anderson, are claiming that you don’t need to stop sinning, but only to believe in Jesus. Some Christian writers are teaching that you don’t even need God or Jesus, and you certainly don’t need to hear from them or even experience them personally. All you need is to read the Bible. There are some well-known pastors, like Justin Peters, who teach this doctrine. Not to mention those scholars, like David Bentley Hart, who claim that all people will eventually be saved, whether they believe in Jesus or not. But how exactly are we saved? Does anyone know? A well-known pastor, named Ken Raggio, recently posted on Instagram that “God changes us from sinner to saint … by … divine discipline. As we OBEY the Word.” This is totally and completely wrong! We cannot save our selves by ourselves. That’s why we need a savior. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for washing their hands but not cleansing their heart, showing that their legalism and discipline was totally ineffective in changing them from within. That’s why he said to Nicodemus the Pharisee: you must be “born again” (Jn 3:3). Only God can recreate us (2 Cor. 5:17). We are not saved by works or through personal efforts and behaviors.

And the core doctrines of modern Christianity are all wrong. The modern Christian faith centers on certain core beliefs regarding the historical birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But these events haven’t happened yet. According to the Bible, they will take place in the endtimes (see Isa. 2:19; Dan. 12:1-2; Zeph. 1:7; Lk 17:30; Acts 3:19:21; 1 Cor. 15:22-24; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:9-10; Heb. 1:1-2; 9:26b; 1 Pet. 1:10-11; 1:20; Rev 12:5; 19:10d). My chief objection is that the TIMING of these events is totally wrong. This is all based on a misunderstanding of Greek and a misreading of genre.

The internal evidence supports my view. It’s in both the Old and New Testaments! Zephaniah 1:7 declares that the Lord’s sacrifice will occur during “the day of the Lord” (not in antiquity). Isaiah 2:19 says that people will hide in caves when “the Lord … arises to terrify the earth.” Similarly, Daniel 12:1 puts the resurrection of the anointed prince just prior to the great tribulation. I can prove it with detailed exegesis from the Greek text. The LXX (Dan 12:1) says παρελεύσεται, which means to “pass away,” & the Theodotion has ἀναστήσεται, meaning a bodily resurrection in the end-times. In the following verse (12:2), the plural form of the exact same word (ἀναστήσονται) is used to describe the general resurrection of the dead! In other words, if the exact same word means resurrection in Daniel 12:2, then it must also necessarily mean resurrection in Daniel 12:1! Acts 3:20-21 similarly says that Christ will not be sent to earth until the consummation of the ages. First Corinthians 15:22-24 also tells us that Christ will be the first to be resurrected in the end-times! Revelation 12:5 tells us that the messiah is born in the end times, and the next verse talks about the great tribulation. Galatians 4:4 says that Jesus will be born during the consummation of the ages, expressed by the apocalyptic phrase τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, which is defined in Ephesians 1:10 as the end of the world! First Peter 1:20 says that although Christ was foreknown before the creation of the world, he was initially revealed “at the final point of time.” It’s supported by Hebrews 1:2 which says that Jesus speaks to mankind in the “last days,” not in antiquity. And Hebrews 9:26 says EXPLICITLY that Jesus will die for the sins of mankind “once in the end of the world” (ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τῶν αἰώνων)! Revelation 19:10 also informs us that the TESTIMONY to Jesus is prophetic (not historical). Read Acts 10:40-41 where we are told that Jesus’ resurrection was based on visions because it was only visible “to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God.” Similarly, 1 Peter 1:10-11 says that the New Testament prophets “predicted the sufferings of the Messiah” in advance (cf. Isa 46:10).

This short video will clarify everything I’ve said so far:

A Biblical Greek translation of the New Testament that changes everything we thought we knew about Jesus


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1 year ago

The Importance of Trees in Myths (like.. potential 'whys' of the existence of world trees. but uneducated and just guesses)

Trees are basically everywhere, and even otherwise it's been thought of as like a special thing in many places. There are some trees who've been I think, something something planted in space? And then moved back here, probably fact check me on that because I can't remember it exactly. Or I remember in my old school there was this big tree in the playground (back in elementary) and everyone loved to hang out underneath and around it by the shade that people were devastated when they were gonna cut it down to free up space for more classrooms. it doesn't have to actually have an important history or anything, and could literally just be a place that a lot of people like to hang around.

Continuing on, trees are so small at first. And then they grow, and they grow big (you could say its similar to infants and adults), not to mention that they can last a really long time. They can live to hundreds and even thousands of years, and the thing is is that people associate old age with being wise (there's the whole thing about respecting elders. Not that I'm saying you shouldn't, although I know you could probably assume that me mentioning it means that it isn't a good thing).

There's probably a god out there that's a tree, and related reasons might be because of the age difference, or maybe the way a tree grows, because trees can grow into different shapes as well, and I don't know, there might be an instance where it grows to point in a direction, and someone follows it and it saves their life, who knows. Trees can also be seen as rebirth in a way. Or well, to be more accurate, it's like about with fall and winter, 'shedding your leaves'. Actually I don't think anyone says that. Uh. Think about it another way. Phoenixes will turn to ashes, and then later rise up from them whole again. There's a MLP (My Little Pony) variation of where they shed their feathers and look horribly ill until they 'die', burning to ash, before coming back from those ashes whole in their feathery glory.

And then turn it into tree. Where it sheds its leaves and almost kinda look like they're dead, and then later on when those leaves (I almost said feathers, imagine a tree with feathers haha) come back with spring and summer, in its whole basically 'rebirth' cycle. I don't know about trees enough to tell you how it actually works but also maybe, connections? Like with how big they are, and how their roots underneath expand vastly beneath them it could be seen as a whole, like, channel. Words are failing me right now but well, branches of worlds, y'know. Many branches above, and then many roots below and could technically be thought of as heaven and hell in its contrast, y'know?


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11 months ago

Musings on MUSE

Long post below the cut. Overall, I do like the album but this release has definitely been a journey for me, that's for sure.

Musings On MUSE

First, let's check in on the rest of my theories:

Open Locker Meaning: Nope, I don't think there was any meaning to this. It was fun to theorize though!

Sound Effects Interlude: Nope! I'm still kinda bummed about this. I talk more about it in the Showtime section below.

Rooms Going from Dark to Light: Yes, I still think this was intentionally done for the purpose of helping us realize that MUSE was such a departure from FACE

SGMB as an Actual Band: Yes, confirmed. I talk more about this in my Final Thoughts below.

The Emoji Poll from the Insta Chat: Honestly, I now think the company did intend each of these to reference the different songs...which is disappointing to me as a marketing tactic for the reasons I stated in the theory. Oh well.

So, some right, some wrong. It was definitely fun to participate in the theorizing this time. And as Jimin said, he wanted us to come up with all sorts of ideas for the meanings.

Ok, now let's go through some thoughts on each of the tracks:

Rebirth (Intro)

Musings On MUSE

I remember being actually surprised by how much I was liking Rebirth on the first listen...and then it ended. I had to remind myself that it was intro and likely would be not as complete as a full song but even now...I just really can't get over it. This would have been an absolutely lovely song if fully developed. I'm not saying the way it ends is bad, but a big problem I have with it is that it's an intro that doesn't deliver.

The next track is Showtime...an interlude. But an interlude from what? All we've had is an intro. A beautiful intro, don't get me wrong but both of these tracks are used to set up what comes next. And Rebirth just doesn't have anything next. It's just such a shame there wasn't a song in between. I've put other songs (usually Slow Dance) in between these when I listen and it absolutely makes everything better.

Interlude : Showtime

Musings On MUSE

The first time I heard this on the album, I had some choice words for our beloved trickster. Little did we know that we'd already heard a good chunk of this as the intro on SGMB's video (see it IS an intro...anyway, I'll stop bringing it up). Once I got over that, I still couldn't help being a little disappointed that we weren't in fact getting an Interlude like Dive on FACE. Dive was such a great storytelling point and I loved that Jimin recorded many of the sounds himself.

Initially, I didn't think I'd be listening to it much except when doing full album runthroughs but do y'all hear Jimin's absolutely lovely humming in this track?! Oh it absolutely hits my brain in just the right places. This may be one of my absolutely favorite things we got from the MUSE project...definitely top 3 at least.

Smeraldo Garden Marching Band

Musings On MUSE

I don't have much to say that wasn't in my SGMB post. The little tidbits we've gotten of Jimin interacting with Loco were beyond adorable.

Slow Dance

Musings On MUSE

I am so conflicted about Slow Dance. I absolutely love the overall tone of the song, the pacing, Jimin's performance. I think it's a great song with one exception...I really don't care for the featuring artist. I don't know anything about her beyond this track but hearing her on this is easily my least favorite thing from the whole MUSE project. I knew to be wary going into it as women's voices generally don't appeal to me but I wasn't expecting to dislike it this much. It's that much worse on a song that I think would have been my favourite without her. Oh well. She's very talented, absolutely performs her parts well. It's just not to my personal taste.

The live performance video has some of the absolutely worst camera work and cuts as well. I realize they were trying to show off the skyline as the backdrop and intentionally used the band as cut points so they could edit better takes together but it just doesn't come off well. And they have such awkward chemistry live, which I fully blame on the weird obsession people seem to have with seeing members interact with women. Jimin is very specifically measuring his interactions with her to prevent as much drama as possible.

Be Mine

Musings On MUSE

Be Mine is actually pretty forgettable to me. It's not bad but not great. I was expecting to do another english lyric comparison post like I did for Like Crazy but I just can't yet find the motivation to. Maybe that will change in the future but for now, probably not.

Who

Musings On MUSE

There is so much to talk about with Who. I was originally going to make a separate post for it but I'll just include everything here:

The Song: It's a fine pop song. I do actually enjoy listening to it but that's all. There's no depth to dive deeper. Again, it's fine. I don't think pop songs are inherently less because they lack depth. This song accomplished exactly what it needed to. As far as actually listening, I do prefer it over Like Crazy but LC has other things going for it.

The Music Video: I hate it. It's so very amateur and I expect more from this production. The bad CGI. The overt vhs effect with no actual storytelling purpose. If you took all of those out, it'd be a fine performance video. But no, it's the 'official music video', they have to try to make it bigger than that...emphasis on try... Also, I adore our members but I'm so over these mumbling-lip-syncs. I don't know how else to describe it but it's just bad. If you're doing the music video 'sing along', do it right. If not, don't do it at all. This non-commitment just comes across as incomplete.

The Perfomances/Choreo: I think this choreo is absolutely perfect. It accomplishes everything this song needs. They were able to take advantage of the fact that it's not getting performed in front of an audience and the staging is so perfect for camera. The camera director of the dance practice absolutely killed it. The lighting of the Jimmy Fallon performance was stunning as well. I was reminded of how much I loved the lighting in many of the Golden performances. My favorite part of the Who choreo is the little jumping-leg-cross move.

The Remixes: I think I'm in the minority here but I hate all of them. Yes, there is a legitimate industry tactic to releasing these and I don't begrudge them for running a business but I'm so over remixes that are just a reinstrumentization of the original song. I do think these are well produced and some do highlight different aspects of the song that make for great moments...but it honestly comes across to me as not being able to make up their mind about who the target audience is. If they're looking to get rock-lovers, release an actual rock song...not a pop song that's put on a rock costume. I was hopeful for the acoustic remix at least but there is something off about it. I haven't been able to figure out what bothers me about it but it absolutely doesn't speak to the acoustic-loving part of my brain.

Closer Than This

Musings On MUSE

I spent a LOT of time evaluating CTT as potential context for FACE in this post but we've now learned this was written AFTER the FACE promotions so I'm very happy to see I wasn't completely off the mark with saying that it didn't fit into FACE at all.

I still absolutely love this song. Some of that may be the pure nostalgia of when it was released. It was christmas time, we'd just sent the last of the members for their military service, and this song was exactly the kind of comfort I needed at that time of the year.

Final Thoughts

Musings On MUSE

So, like I mentioned in my Theories and SGMB reaction posts, I do see MUSE as Jimin intentionally showing us what he's capable of. Jimin is the ultimate performer. He absolutely loves being an idol. This career allows him to dive into whatever he needs to embody the music and performance. I stand by what I said previously about MUSE being more of a work project than a personal one like FACE was. MUSE was about breadth while FACE focused on depth. Both good but different. (I have a side post I may eventually release about my thoughts on this as a music fan brought up in the west that's now enjoying kpop but that'll have to be another day).

MUSE was a lovely project and a great tool for Jimin to expand his music catalogue whilst knowing that he wouldn't be able to properly promote whatever was released during this time.

One final point: the pronoun debate is beyond asinine. If people find more meaning in certain pronouns than others, let them be. Arguing over original lyrics vs hiding behind public expectations is childish. This is music that was created with a professional purpose, not someone's diary of their deepest thoughts that we stole from a bedside table. Pronouncing the creator's intention like this reminds me of those bad english teachers that were fishing for specific answers on authorial intent and masquerading the lesson as reading comprehension. Those are a scavenger hunt with one hidden 'answer' and not real life.


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4 years ago
Anyone Feeling The Need To Reinvent Themselves Every 5 Minutes? No, Just Me?
Anyone Feeling The Need To Reinvent Themselves Every 5 Minutes? No, Just Me?

Anyone feeling the need to reinvent themselves every 5 minutes? No, just me? 


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6 years ago

These are the children of Ereshkigal, the dark-eyed: Ninazu, by Gugulanna Heaven's-Bull Namtar, by Father Enlil who sits enthroned in state Nungal, by the queen of the dead and the dust of time that keeps her secrets. These are their titles. Ninazu, city-god, Enega and Ešunna, death-and-life through vegetation and the shadow of the never-never in his blood. Pitiless mace of war, dying and rising serpent-friend. He will suck the poison from your wounds. Namtar, inexorable. Right hand of the sinister, mouth of hell's crown, messenger of An and Ereshkigal and Nergal. Commander of demons whose very name breathes a plague, unfaltering fate, dutiful minister of his mother's court, Death who is the issue of the Dead's All-Mother. Nungal, the neck-stock, the dusty threshold bolt, the screaming lock, the fanged river of ordeals. Rebirther, reformer, who dwells in the mountain where Utu rises. Hers is that corner of the underworld man can return from reforged, the house of dust and shadows where a broken man sheds his old skin or wears it as burial shroud. Goddess Prison-Warden, her mother's daughter in the realm of men, radiant hope and beautiful despair, cool water of compassion on fevered brows. Hear their names in the bellow of a bull, in the snarl of a dragon, in the tolling-bell tones of their mother and as soft as crematory ash. They sit on the borderline like ravens on a fence, silent dark eyes and subtle croaked secrets, twilight-and-dawn owls, young-and-old serpents. Poison and healing, life found in death. Fear. Learn. Become braver for it. Ereshkigal, for deserved awe of you and your children, may your names be marked by the black-headed ones.


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3 years ago
Secret Garden

“Secret Garden”

Acrylic on foam board.

1st work in a new art series.

..

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHbvdWLZwL/?utm_medium=tumblr


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2 years ago
Let The Torch-light Lead Your Way

Let the torch-light lead your way

to the crossroads where fresh fruits and flowers lay.

Gently crawling fog, it whispers,

surrounding us, dancing sisters.

The raven of coal feathers flutters

above the heads of my dear brothers.

If you listen, all the living sounds with croon;

the revered forest, hills and the waning moon.

A memory embodied by a candle-flame;

none shall grow forgotten, call them each by name.

In my ebony hair the wreathed yew,

as death entwines with something new.

Emily Yvonne


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Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From
Alexander McQueen Used Skulls Throughout His Work, Starting With His 1992 MA Graduate Collection From

Alexander McQueen used skulls throughout his work, starting with his 1992 MA graduate collection from Central Saint Martins, entitled "Jack The Ripper Stalks His Victims". The skull is a memento mori: a reminder of death. He frequently juxtaposed the glamour of the runway with intimations of our coming doom. The point in McQueen’s work is that the idea of the skull as being emblematic is a statement of merchandising and variation, with the Gothic symbol emblazoned on scarves as a decorative print or affixed onto handbags as ornamental clasps.


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1 year ago

Clean Slate. Hoping the last 6 months of 2024 has it's bright days. 🤞🏻


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11 years ago
Ren's Body Is Amazing Guy Grew Up!!!!
Ren's Body Is Amazing Guy Grew Up!!!!

Ren's body is amazing 😳😳😳 Guy grew up!!!! 짱 짱 짱 ㅋㅋㅋ


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11 months ago

While we are waiting for BE MINE, English version, to drop, I continue to demand JUSTICE for Rebirth.

It's ethereal and entrancing, and Jimin's heavenly voice just soars. He has both writing and producing credits, which explains why Rebirth is very Jimin-coded. It doesn't deserve to be put in the corner of "oh, it's only an intro."

I like to imagine Jimin singing this with a full gospel choir behind him. So inspiring!

Good love...Real love...

Wouldn't this be a phenomenal soundtrack for a big blockbuster romance? Picture the scene...sun rising on a beautiful beach, lovers joyfully running towards each other, meeting with a tangle of arms and legs and lips. Meanwhile, the music swells, and the camera pans up to the beginning of a new day.

And ajimin made it all possible!

tbh (and i apologize in advance) rebirth actually ranked pretty low for muse tracks for me. im sorry, i really am. that said, just because it ranked low in terms of muse tracks, it ranks wayyy above any other release from any other k-act, so let's give rebirth some love, shall we?

sparkly intro. i love love instrumentals that sound "sparkly"

the only thing that knocked it down on my ranking is the autotune on the song. now, im all against the "hating a song for it's autotune" movement that surrounds jimin for some reason (why??), but there is one note in the song that irks me every time because the pitch corrector was a bit intense. i'll get over it tho, its literally 1 second of the song and the rest of the song you can't hear it.

jimin's witty lyrics >>> "Like 태양이 비추는 vibe." That's genuinely hilarious

i think jimin has like having a choir singing behind him. friends, closer than this, rebirth? it's cute and it compliments his voice so nicely

the best part of the song is the with you with you/reason reason reason part. gospel singing is a lot a lot different than pop singing. idk how to describe it, but jimin adapts his voice super nicely to the choir's. he's actually dropping the pretty high tone that he holds with his voice and upping the vibrato in his phrasing and its heavenly

this falsetto sounds amazing in this song. im sad he doesn't use that register more because he sounds so good using falsetto and head voice

the general production on this song is incredible. it's sounds like being wrapped in a big cozy blanket. it just surrounds you

do i even have to mention the lyrics? they're so gorgeously written (nothing but the best from our jimin)

its definitely ost worthy and i think the reason is orchestral ending that swells before it goes quiet. but no really, this would be an amazing movie ending ost


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Soooo….

When is this site gonna collapse in on itself like a star and start from zero?


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3 years ago
More Characters! And More Games Like Twisted Truths, And Rebirth. Also Spoilers For The 3rd One. So Unless
More Characters! And More Games Like Twisted Truths, And Rebirth. Also Spoilers For The 3rd One. So Unless
More Characters! And More Games Like Twisted Truths, And Rebirth. Also Spoilers For The 3rd One. So Unless
More Characters! And More Games Like Twisted Truths, And Rebirth. Also Spoilers For The 3rd One. So Unless

More Characters! And More Games Like Twisted Truths, And Rebirth. Also Spoilers For The 3rd One. So Unless You’ve Seen It, You Won’t Understand.


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1 year ago

Embracing Renewal: Exploring the Significance of the Spring Equinox Shaina Tranquilino April 5, 2024

Embracing Renewal: Exploring The Significance Of The Spring EquinoxShaina TranquilinoApril 5, 2024

As the chill of winter dissipates, nature awakens from its slumber, heralding the arrival of the spring equinox. This celestial event, marked by the sun crossing the celestial equator, brings with it a profound sense of renewal and rebirth. Across cultures and civilizations, the spring equinox has been celebrated as a time of rejuvenation, growth, and new beginnings. Let us delve into the significance of this enchanting moment in the natural world.

A Time of Balance

The spring equinox, occurring around March 20th in the northern hemisphere, holds immense symbolic importance. It marks the point in Earth's orbit around the sun when day and night are of equal length, signifying a delicate balance between light and darkness. This equilibrium embodies a powerful metaphor for harmony and equilibrium in our lives.

Cultural Celebrations

Throughout history, civilizations have revered the spring equinox with various rituals and festivities. In ancient times, the Sumerians honored the goddess Inanna, while the Egyptians celebrated the resurrection of their god Osiris. Similarly, the Mayans observed the equinox with rituals at Chichen Itza, where the sunlight creates a stunning shadow play on the steps of the pyramid.

In modern times, many cultures continue to celebrate the arrival of spring with traditions such as Easter, Nowruz, and Ostara. These celebrations often involve themes of renewal, fertility, and the triumph of light over darkness, echoing the natural rhythms of the earth.

Symbolism of Rebirth

Spring is synonymous with rebirth and renewal. The thawing of frost-covered landscapes gives way to a burst of life as flowers bloom, trees bud, and animals emerge from hibernation. It is a time of immense vitality and growth, symbolizing the cyclical nature of existence.

The spring equinox invites us to shed the heaviness of the past and embrace the opportunity for transformation. It serves as a reminder that, like nature, we too have the capacity for renewal and regeneration. Just as seeds lie dormant in the earth, waiting to sprout, we possess untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.

Embracing Change

As we witness the earth's awakening, the spring equinox beckons us to embrace change in our own lives. It encourages us to release old patterns that no longer serve us and cultivate new beginnings. Just as the seasons transition seamlessly, so too can we navigate the ebb and flow of life with grace and resilience.

This season invites us to reconnect with the natural world and align ourselves with its rhythms. Whether through spending time outdoors, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in creative endeavors, we can attune ourselves to the energy of renewal that permeates the earth.

The spring equinox is a poignant reminder of the inherent cycles of life and the endless potential for growth and transformation. As we bid farewell to winter's embrace and welcome the warmth of spring, let us embrace the spirit of renewal that permeates the world around us. May we emerge from the darkness into the light, ready to embrace the infinite possibilities that await us on this journey of renewal and rediscovery.


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5 years ago
'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 SOLD To #artcollector From #Poland Thank You // This Is Acrylic And Glitter

'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 🔴 SOLD to #artcollector from #Poland thank you 🙏 // This is acrylic and glitter painting on custom made cotton canvas.  Size: 46 H x 47 W x 2 cm , 18.1'' x 18.5'' x 0.8'' 🖼 // More artworks at creativeconstellation.org . . . #abstractexpressionism #universe #prana #textureart #textured #outerspace #chakra #consciousness #astronomy #cosmos #contemporaryart #abstractart #abstractartist #artcollector #touchofart #picoftheday #pamelarys #newhome #interior #interiordesign #green #creativeconstellation #sprituality #rebirth (at Wałbrzych) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3-LbpVH-ok/?igshid=15tt1vj6k9o2i


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5 years ago
'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 SOLD To #artcollector And #galleryowner From #TouchofArt #Poland Thank You //

'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 🔴 SOLD to #artcollector and #galleryowner from #TouchofArt #Poland thank you 🙏 🤩// This is acrylic and glitter painting on custom made cotton canvas.  Size: 46 H x 47 W x 2 cm , 18.1'' x 18.5'' x 0.8'' 🖼 // More artworks at creativeconstellation.org . . . #abstractexpressionism #universe #prana #textureart #textured #outerspace #chakra #consciousness #astronomy #cosmos #contemporaryart #abstractart #abstractartist #artcollector #picoftheday #pamelarys #newhome #interior #interiordesign #green #creativeconstellation #sprituality #rebirth (at Galeria Touch Of Art Wałbrzych) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3-MMSJH99e/?igshid=thwjxeafoyt9


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5 years ago
'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 SOLD To #artcollector From #Poland Thank You // This Is Acrylic And Glitter

'Spiritual Rebirth' 2019 🔴 SOLD to #artcollector from #Poland thank you 🙏 // This is acrylic and glitter painting on custom made cotton canvas.  Size: 46 H x 47 W x 2 cm , 18.1'' x 18.5'' x 0.8'' 🖼 // More artworks at creativeconstellation.org . . . #abstractexpressionism #universe #prana #textureart #textured #outerspace #chakra #consciousness #astronomy #cosmos #contemporaryart #abstractart #abstractartist #artcollector #picoftheday #pamelarys #newhome #interior #interiordesign #green #creativeconstellation #sprituality #rebirth (at Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3-MwuKH6F-/?igshid=1n5k86zx3ttx1


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