There wasn't a lot of money in preaching a new religion on 33-98 AD
I don't know about that...
One of the first things that took place in the new church was everyone selling their property and handing over the deeds to the Apostles.
Later, Paul talked about laying aside "tithes" to be distributed among the various churches.
Not that being a fisherman wasn't a good trade in those days. Lot of commerce going through the cities.
And they lived right on the port basically.
Paul was a tent maker. Lots of people would come to town for the Feast of tabernacles and other Holy days.
He also had a very good education. Very well learned.
But there was a great falling away from the Jews and being converted to Christianity, by the hundreds.
Adding numbers "daily" to the church.
But if you know your going to die, be tortured, and possibly crucified... would the money be worth it?
Maybe it's more about leaving an inheritance to the future generations.
Not monetary, but hope itself.
I look around the world today and it's getting pretty dark out there.
But that doesn't stop us from still spreading the good news, giving hope when it looks like all hope is lost.
I don't believe we do this for ourselves, but rather that our children and grandchildren will carry on the hope.
I can't imagine a world with no hope.
And you can't put a price on that.
But there are some that do hustle people for money so they can pass down that physical inheritance to their children.
Empty it is, and fruitless. Nevertheless, even they take some flack for monetary gain.
But I think if push came to shove they wouldn't die for their belief.
When you compare Moses and Paul there isn't much difference in their beginning a "new foundation" or religion.
Both of them came from high positions. Both of them had committed murder.
Both of them accumulated wealth by taking the "bounty" from the last "slave" owner. (Pharoah and Caesar) .
Both of them claimed to have a special relationship with the Lord, whom no one had ever seen except what is written about them.
Somebody, somewhere is writing the new New Testament. Because it doesn't end here.
There is a new heaven and a new earth coming. And a new Genesis will have to be written.
Although it won't be new, just a newer version of the original.
And the one who writes that will be whoever survives this cycle.
And a new new foundation will begin again. Only this time it will be about us.
The Encyclopedia if it manages to be saved will be our history.
And the people that will rule that world will be people who have the knowledge of this one.
And they will create cures and diseases and teach people how to farm and create recipes.
And they will know how to predict the weather so when a storm comes they can appear as prophets and seers.
Yeah, I think we been round this merry-go-round a few times.
Because history always repeats itself.
We will be the nephilim who come among the common people teaching them "not so new things" that they aught not to learn.
Space travel even.
After the nuclear radiation and dust settles and the rains wash it all clean, then we'll create a new petri dish.
Plant humans on the planet and become their "Watchers" , their "angels" .
I believe the Apostles were given a mission to right the wrongs, and correct the direction of destruction we were headed in.
We've had 2000 years and we still haven't gotten it right.
And the inevitable of an Omega is upon us. And the inevitable of an Alpha is upon us.
Because there is a time for everything under the sun.
When there is no more sun...
We'll begin again in another part of the galaxy and call that home.
Life itself is eternal. Until all the stars go out and there is no more universe to travel.
No more air to breath or rain to fall.
No more darkness and no more light.
And God rolls up the heavens and says he's done.
I don't think that will ever happen.
And maybe that's where hope ultimately lies.
That there never truly ever be an end of all things.
And so we carry on and write new beginnings.
Hoping one day we get it right.
just rambling..
hugs
