I finished last Saturday night actually, but I was too tired to post here.
It took me 253 days to complete all 66 books, if my calculations are correct.
All Glory to God for helping me persevere til the end. Now I have a much better understanding of the entire history of the creation and the people and church of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. My faith and trust in Him is definitely much stronger now than it was last August when I started the challenge.
Thank you, Lord!
So, what now?
Go back to Genesis 1:1 and do it all again, of course:)
I read the Almeida Revista e Atualizada (ARA) which is a good and trustful pt-BR translation. For this next run I think I'll choose a translation in English, probably the ESV. I'll beging reading it on my tablet but I'm considering buying a physical copy of the Reformation Study Bible ESV.
I'll probably keep posting my readings here on SN because I think it helps holding me accountable to my two or three faithful zappers like @NEEDcreations and some anonymous ones 😄. I'll try weekly summaries instead of daily posts. If I feel like I'm getting lazy and skipping too many reading days, I'll go back to daily posts.
I liked this "accountability SN posts" so much that I think Ill start doing this for other kind of activities like my guitar playing and music studies, some cool projects I'm working on, and other things. Let's see
Thank you for taking the time to read this! :)
Until next time!
@felipe
Does the Bible justify war?
Is Gods word as represented in the Bible sometimes misused?
Todays most downzapped 'Greater Israel Project' post.
#1483584
What Netanyahu and the Israeli right mean when they invoke ‘Greater Israel’
'The concept is about much more than acquiring territory, it is also about Netanyahu’s desire for Israel to become a regional superpower.
In the past two-and-a-half years, Israel has flattened and reconquered Gaza, killing tens of thousands of people and laying waste its civilian infrastructure, squeezing its population, according to one estimate from last year, into just 12% of an already tiny strip of land. In the West Bank, Israel continues a campaign of destruction and displacement towards Palestinian people and property that is unparalleled since the six-day war in 1967, expanding its matrix of control and settlement.
After the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israel seized territory in Syria (beyond the illegally annexed Golan Heights) and is in the process of reconstituting a zone of occupation in southern Lebanon. Government ministers from the Religious Zionism and Jewish Power factions, and Likud parliamentarians, openly agitate for Israeli sovereignty and settlement in that country. The finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has called for Israel to “expand to Damascus”, and Netanyahu himself claimed to feel “very much connected” to this territorial vision of Greater Israel...
In the days preceding the Iran war, two influential former Israeli security figures writing for the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security observed that, from the point of view of key regional Sunni states, overthrowing the Iranian regime or weakening it significantly would establish Israel’s status as the “dominant regional power”.'
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/13/benjamin-netanyahu-middle-east-greater-israel
I'm a reformed Christian and I hold to Covenant Theology so I don't think that the State of Israel is the Israel of God. The Church is.
So does the Bible justify war?
War is explained as a tragic consequence of human rebellion against God in Genesis 3, and is (unfortunately) a reality we must deal with this side of Eden and until the return of Jesus.
However, Psalm 46 says God makes an end to war, and the promised Messiah of Isaiah 9 is called the prince of peace, and his will be an everlasting government.
The New Testament sees those messianic prophesies fulfilled in Jesus. However, the surprising thing for those with Old Testament hopes, perhaps, is that Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world, otherwise his servants would take up arms. Even in Revelation 19 where Jesus is pictured as a conquering warrior-King ruling the nations with a rod of iron (evoking andbfulfilling Psalm 2), the striking thing is the sword comes out of his mouth. This is poetic imagery emphasizing Christ rules not by military might by by his Word.
And the conclusion of history, foretold through the Bible but quite clear in the last two chapters if Revelation, is the destruction of death and the city gates that never close: in other words war is no more.
So, the Bible accounts for war as a sad, tragic, though sometimes necessary (just war theory for defensive warfare), but never condones military aggression. And, Jesus work will have the result of the eventual end of war.
So US support for the Zionist genocide and Greater Israel Project is not justified as it is a war of aggression.
Why are so many Christians silent as the US government aids war crimes, land grabbing and genocide?
I don't know.
But when I see the destruction that results from the dispensational lobbyists, it just proves to me that folks who would dismiss theology as unimportant get it wrong. Theology is a matter of life and death. Bad theology allows people to argue for evil policies.
The apostle Paul took three chapters in Romans 9 -- 11 to argue that in Jesus there has been a redefinition of Israel. Its no longer ethnic Israel who are true Israel, but only the spiritual seed of Abraham---all who trust in Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Messiah. Luke similarly structures chapters 3 -- 7 of Acts to show that the temple and its leadership are no longer the leaders of the people of God, because Jesus name healed the lame man (chapter 3), was preached with authority that the temple rulers couldn't stop (chapters 4 & 5) and its Jesus to whom both Moses and the temple pointed (Stephen's speech in chapters 6 & 7).
The New Testament doesn't justify a special place for Israel as a political entity. They may have rights as a nation, but must act justly, not unjustly.
Governments bear the sword to punish evildoers, not to commit genocide against peaceful civilians, or discriminate against 2nd-class (i.e. non-Jewish) Israelis.
I'll just also add that being dispensationalist doesn't automatically mean supporting the modern state of israel uncritically
What is a dispensationalist?
Yes!
God is often described as the LORD of hosts (sometimes translated as LORD of armies) in the Bible.
Sometimes war is necessary (as a last resort) . There are commandments about protecting our family, property, the oppressed, strangers, etc. If we do not protect the vulnerable, we are sinning.
Now, defending and protecting is different from committing deliberate violence. Violence is explicitly condemned in the Bible.
UPDATE:
I forgot the most important war we should make everyday of our lives: The war against our sinful nature:
Ok so you give equal weight to the old testament and the Israelite prophet Isaiah.
Anything Jesus said or did later does not reverse the words of The Old Testament?
So you would also support the Greater Israel Project which aims to restore Jewish control over all the lands from the Nile to the Euphrates river as they were granted by God, as recorded in the Old Testament?
With all due respect, you are not very knowledgeable of the things you are trying to discuss. If you were, you wouldn't have asked me that because I told you a few messages above that I'm a reformed Christian and I hold to Covenant Theology. By telling you this, you should know that I don't support that... I don't even know what you are talking about, to be honest.
And this question shows you don't know much about Biblical Christianity either.
I'm sorry but, if you want to debate on a theme (which is clearly what you are trying to do), you should learn a little bit more of your opponent's beliefs.
I am asking because I do not know a lot about your beliefs and thought you would be happy to share your knowledge. It seems I may be mistaken.
You say you don't support The Greater Israel Project but also admit you don't know what it is. Many Christians do support it as it is seen as fulfilling Biblical prophesy. Having read the entire bible I thought you might know this.
Let me explain for you- The Greater Israel Project is the contemporary ambition for Jews to regain the territory promised to them by God in the Old Testament.
Can you explain what you mean by Covenant Theology as it is not something I am familiar with.
I apologize for being rude.
The comment I posted a few days ago should answer your question: "I don't think that the State of Israel is the Israel of God. The Church is."
This is a good starting point:
If you watch this, you will have a better understanding of what I mean by Israel of God and reformed theology in general
No, it commands Christians to accept their deaths like lambs to slaughter if the government demands it.
That may be your interpretation but am interested to know @felipes interpretation, since he has read and studied the bible from cover to cover.
Congratulations! What an inspiration. I've always wanted to read the whole Bible myself, but the strongholds are serious. May God bless you in everyway .. Amen.
Thanks man!
I don't know what are holding you back but I'm praying for you at this very moment, man. Just grab your Bible, pray and start reading it as soon as possible. Always pray before you start reading, asking God for clarity, peace of mind and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
God bless you in Jesus name!
How can I earn on this website pls
Do you have a favorite book or parts?
Underrated topic.
Curious which book hit hardest on the second pass versus the first.
Congratulations, @felipe!! I'm so proud of you! You showed tremendous consistency and determination. I'm sure you feel amazing, as you should, because all of God's Word is amazing!
Thanks again for your dedication to posting to ~Christianity. I look forward to your new posts here, as well as any music posts and your other projects!
Now, it's time for me to finish the Bible as well!
Glory to God and God bless!
Thank you my brother!
And thanks again for bringing the ~Christianity territory back :)
Me too :) . I'll try posting something different here this week
Amem!
How about instead of just reading and repeating it, you try to interpret it and what it might mean in the context of the period as well as today's context. You might find that more challenging...
I do this. I do study the Bible on my own and at church in Bible studies, Sunday School and sermons.
Yes, it's challenging because it challenges ourselves
Congratulations! I am very impressed and inspired by your diligence.
What are some of your favorite new insights you discovered, having read it front to back?
Thanks man!
The answer that comes to my mind when someone asks me this question is that now I have a much clearer picture and understanding of the Creation, the Fall, the Redemption in Christ and the Consummation of Ages
time flies when you're having
funfaithCongratulations, my friend @felipe It's amazing! I've always wanted to read God's word and reflect on it. Please tell me what it feels like to enjoy the book that changed the world. 🌎
Thanks man!
😄
👏 👏
Nice