Blessed Is the King of Kings: Are We in the End of Civilizations?

By Cornelius Peter Theophilus

The author inspired by faith and a love for knowledge and prompted by love, has decided to publish this book to open a wide window of ideas on a multitude of issues.

The world has changed and is constantly changing in many ways. But when you look at humanity today, one has to pause and reflect what is really going on in the world. In all aspects of life, you are seeing unprecedented occurrences, whether they are natural and man-made. This book takes a look at those issues in a very objective prism and perspective, analyzing, pointing, correcting issues that have never been touched before, such as religion, science, the use of technology, evolution, architecture, the law and its morality and the judicial system in general, the Bible, God and more.

Whether you are a student or a professional in any field or any branch of study, this book will make you ponder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 4, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450210928

Cornelius Peter Theophilus

The author has published in numerous publications including national publications on various issues. He has also published a book on matters of spirituality that deals with many aspects of the human condition such as anger, marriage, loneliness and despair and many other issues.

Book preview

Foreword

This book is published on the hope that you enjoy reading it whether or not you would agree on the issues presented. This book is loaded with important issues that I believe are important and relevant for today’s world. The book is divided into several chapters. If there is a particular chapter that is most of interest to you, evolution, architecture for instance, please be patient, because the headings of the chapters are not fully indicative of the issues presented that would be of interest to you. The evolution aspect of this book was within the architecture section. The architecture chapter was taken out. This book touches a little bit on matters of evolution and architecture. We hope you take your time and consider these issues, and be hopeful that you will find something that provokes your thoughts. This is fundamentally a story about life. But at the heart of this story is a legal dimension. It is a universal story. It profoundly touches all the dimensions of life that I believe will enlighten many on many issues. And not all that is said in this book, is all that can be said.

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Matter of Religion and Faith

From Composer to Prisoner

The Chronicle of the Story

A New Look at the Judicial System

Absolute Power in the Judicial System

HIV/AIDS The Polemics of Science

Skirmishes in the Publishing Industry

AOL: America Off Line

The Demises of Mighty Nations

Meeting the Press and the Pull

Life in the Desert

The Strong Men: ‘Manuel Noriega

Lawlessness In America

The Great Bible Controversies

The Conclusion of the Matter

Scriptures quoted in this book are from the New International, King James, New Living Translation Version.

Introduction

Since 1998 when I published a magazine to write about some serious thoughts for the coming of the twenty-first Century and when the world was preparing for great scientific and technological innovations, I was talking about these issues as warning posts to the world. The world at the time was so optimistic as it was preparing for the twenty-first Century. But I was very pessimistic about it.

In major ways, I have been correct. For only 10 years into the twenty-first Century: two wars, Wall Street crumbled, 9/11, and a world economic crisis and people killing themselves and their families under financial hardships. And other major occurrences such as, the tsunamis that killed hundreds of thousands in Indonesia, earthquake in Italy, the major earthquake that took place in China. There have been other natural disasters which I can vaguely remember. Also there have been shootings where gunmen are killing people in mass, something in the increase in comparison to past decades. Certainly, when you are examining things in the world today, indeed, you are seeing things that are unparallel in the history of the world. What seems to be the most troubling is the use of technology. In the past, weapons of mass destruction was a major challenge for the world, when you examine the issue of the misuse of technology, especially computer technology, one can collapse a civilization. To this end, if you live in the city, you might want to flee to the mountains when you are contemplating the issues as you yourself shall examine. The great optimism that the world showed at the dawn of the Century has already evaporated. Saying this might seem to be discouraging. No, one cannot really see it like that. If one would see a danger, and think all is fine, that would certainly not be practical in any sense.

The magazine published in 1998 was primarily to honor someone I love deeply for His supposedly coming celebration. And also, even though I knew that people would not think of me as an important individual, it was also to push some new ideas and new direction as we were approaching the coming century. Fundamentally, it was a call to ‘humanize’ the world as I outlined in the first issue; the purpose for publishing it. There was a brain activation section to stimulate people to broad thinking, where individuals would come up with an answer to a question asked. For instance, one question was: Two men were begging together on the street, and a man passed by, and pulled out of his pocket two quarters and gave them to one of the two men. Why didn’t he give to the other one?

This book deals with the most pressing issues of life and of our time, and seeks to resolve some of centuries-old beliefs, myths and convictions. And more importantly, it shows a serious breakdown in the judicial system where the judicial system is being misused ignobly, where lives are being hampered, even destroyed for matters that are ridiculous. This story also shows a breakdown in the administration of justice in United States who supposedly is or should be the model for others in democracy, respect for people’s rights and dignity.

This is fundamentally a story about life that has brought me to some profound reflections. I believe it is a story that is worth telling. I hope it shall bring many to reflections. After everything about the legal dimension of this story seemed to have ended, even though, I did not believe that it was the end of the matter. I had determined to forget all that had happened. I even threw some of the documents that I had received away concerning the case, until one day while I was sitting in front of my computer, I got up and went into my file and I still had some left that I didn’t throw away. I saw some of the things that I had written an official at the time.

After careful considerations, I have decided to publish this book.

Chapter 1

A Matter of Religion and Faith

missing image file

This chapter does not present any legal nor constitutional arguments on the issues involved in this book. This chapter serves as a prelude to what you will discover and also serves as the genesis of the events in question. And furthermore, this chapter becomes one of the foundation for future arguments as it layout the elements without any doubts on the issue of faith and religion and other issues in my case and in general, in respect to the Constitution and matters of law.

All my life I have been a Christian. But as many who were born under the cultural umbrella of Christianity, I had a distant relationship with God, yet I have always loved Him. I wanted my distance from Him. I had great ambitions for myself: ambitions to attain wealth, power, and prestige.

There is something that happened that really started to change my view of life, the world and of God. During that time, I was taking a martial art lesson. While I was meditating at home through yoga, yoga was something I used to do, which I stopped doing a long time ago after a particular experience. A voice spoke to me. The voice said to me, "What would you do if you were to die today?"

I was so angry with that voice that if I could see the person who asked me the question, I would have chased him. I angrily answered, I shall not die. There shall be great scientific and technological advancements in society, and even if I die, doctors will revive me. What I am saying is absolutely true. From hearing that voice to what happened in my life is an amazing journey.

One Sunday I went to church, a Catholic church, to be more specific, St Leo’s Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts. On the wall of the church, there was a poster with a postcard at the bottom. And it was the only postcard that was left on that poster. The headline of the poster was this: "Prophet or Profit?" The poster was from the Order of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in Wisconsin. Even though I basically have left the Catholic Church, I am not like those demonizing the Church. I am very grateful of the Catholic Church for teaching me the basic principles of Christianity since I was born, and for giving me the introductory formation into the Christian life, specifically the use of one’s conscience.

Later you will see what my concerns were for somewhat distancing myself from her teachings, even though I love her. I took the postcard. I filled it out and sent it out. Then I received the information package about the Order explaining the process in becoming a priest. I remember at the time, the director was ‘father’ Westoven. For me this was the beginning of a spiritual journey. It took me approximately 3 years to decide that I would not enter into the priesthood. After careful consideration, I did not think that God was calling me into it. Although, since I was a small kid I thought I had wanted to be a priest.

When I started College, I met a young lady named Martha supposedly from Puerto Rico who also was studying architecture. She then invited me to a Christian group. After the meeting she gave me a Bible. For what happened in my life, this was probably the greatest gift someone ever gave me as a young man at the time, at least I thought. Even though I was a Christian, I don’t remember having a Bible, though I knew of the Holy Scriptures taught in my childhood.

During that time in my life I was going through a lot of difficulties. I was growing, but I was not sure where my life was going and felt somewhat disoriented in the world. I really loved the desire to be wise and knowledgeable. I remember, one day while at the Boston Public Library, while looking at the books, thinking if I could possess all the knowledge written in those books that would be something. Later I realized that not all of those books would really be good for my soul. I had a great thirst to understand the elements of life, deep philosophical things, and the beyond. But the primary book that I was acquainted with at the time was the Bible.

I concentrated on reading the Bible, and sought the help of God with my problems. I read the Bible constantly, not as literature, but as substance; something that I believed could and would help me and have an effect on me. To show God that I truly believed, I consumed the word of God as if it was food and drink, and not trying to draw any theological, intellectual derivatives. I also fasted a lot, but I was not seeing any results. It seemed that the more I prayed, the worse my problems got. I really wondered if God would ever answer me. But I kept praying and fasting. I was a young man who was sick in all his bones. I used to have burning eyes, constant headaches, chest pains, joint pains. I was acutely depressed. And also at the time I stuttered quite a lot which I still do sometimes, but far less than I used to.

For some reasons I had the idea that I was walking along a cliff that if I really submitted my spirit I would fall down that cliff and something would capture my spirit and wouldn’t be able to come out. But one day something happened to me that really caused me great trouble in spirit. I was somewhat tormented about it that I laid flat down on the floor crying out to God. Then I stayed quietly on the floor just releasing it all, trusting God saying whatever happens, happen! It was the first time that I really felt free releasing my spirit. And I think that was a first step into faith by learning to trust God, knowing that He is able.

The next day I felt a great sense of peace in me. What proceeded soon afterwards was amazing. It was as if I was completely translated into the Heavenly Realm, and was completely out of the body. I said to myself, "I must be an angel." I even tried to penetrate through walls, unfortunately I was unable to. Then I realized I was still in the body. I spent three days in that condition.

That experience was a milestone in my life. I had always been a very independent individual, but I became more dependent on God, always seeking the counsel, and knowing the Will of God. I started to live more by faith than by my own wisdom. To really surrender one’s will into the Will of God is a difficult thing, especially for a young person. But I tried. My mind was at peace, I was praying more effectively. The way my prayer life was, before I go to bed, I would simply do the sign of the cross. Then my prayer progressed to asking God for three things: wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. But after that spiritual experience, I was praying better and longer prayers.

I came to develop a deeper love for God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and start seeing how wonderful and humble He is. I was no longer depressed. I wasn’t feeling any chest pains, nor was I feeling any pains in my body at all. And my speech was improving. Intellectually, a wide window was opened up to me. And my life started to have some direction. I also started writing more and reading less. It was during those times I wrote my first poem, "As the river flows time passes, making its mark in the path of life," which is in included in my previously published book.

It seemed that my great thirst for knowledge was filled, and that I no longer felt that emptiness I once had for knowledge. I started to realize how real the word of God in the Bible was and how much substance that it contained. I also became convinced indeed there is another existence beyond our realm something I knew since a child by faith, but this experience deepened it. I became very interested in prophecy and world events as they relate to prophecy. Prior to that experience I had never read the Book of Revelation. I remember the night that I first read the Book of Revelation, I was in deep fear. It was very scary, but fascinating. I felt like a kid afraid of ghosts hiding in the closets that night.

That spiritual experience also started to bring me face to face with the word of God. I came to realize when Jesus says in Mark 9:43-48 is absolutely true, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." I am not saying that people should do that, but it is true that if there could ever be anything in life that causes one to sin, it would be better that they completely cut it and throw it away than to go into hell. I have a good idea and perception of what hell is. And at the time, I truly felt, if there could be any part of me that would make me lose the Way, I would cut it off.

For many, in several ways, I know that it could be the part that Loretta Bobbitt cut off. For those who may not remember the Loretta Bobbitt’s story, it was a woman who cut off her husband’s private, hanging part supposedly he was using it abuse her. For women, it could the part that used to be locked up in chastity belt in the very old days.

The spiritual experience I had to me at the time seemed to be the end of all my troubles.

And was it really? I really thought indeed I had overcome all the troubles of the world. But in reality it was only fuel for a longer journey, and to give me a reason never to turn back no matter the cost. I truly fell in love with the Lord. It truly gave no other option in life that is better than that experience. Could it ever be possible that someday I would turn away from God? Could it be someday that I would even deny the existence of God? I read the warnings of the Scriptures very carefully. One warning is that no one who puts his hand on the plow and then turns back is fit for the kingdom of Heaven. But were these warnings enough to keep me from falling away? Or would I come to find everything about the notion of the existence of God to be nonsense?

In addition to concentrating reading the Bible after that experience at the time, I was reading other books, especially books on philosophy. There was a place at Porter Square Station on the Red Line in Cambridge, Massachusetts where people used to leave unwanted books and magazines. Sometimes, one can find some good interesting books of all kinds there. There I found the Imitation of Christ—a very old edition. I also found other books on philosophy. Unfortunately, the last time I was at the station, the book stand was no longer there.

One of my favorite philosophers at the time was Friedrich Nietzsche. He was my favorite not because I agreed with his thoughts, but because his writings were very interesting and dramatic. His notion of good and evil, morals, his anti-religious views and antics, with his declaration that God was dead were very intriguing to me, even seductive, and addictive at the time. Even though, I had far different convictions than what he expressed, but I can understand where he was coming from.

When I examined his writings, to me, they do not serve the greater good of humanity. To me in declaring that God is dead is in effect does the opposite by basically abandoning all the virtues that indeed makes a man a man or to universally puts it a human being. If holding on the noble values born out of the convictions in God and for some people in a god were in fact a sublime abortion of man; rejecting those virtues were in effect the true sublime abortion of man. Even though I was fascinated about his writings, I was very careful not to be deceived by his thoughts. I believed that many people have turned away from any notion of God because they have been deceived. One man that comes to mind is Paul Sartre, the French existentialist, who indicated that most of the things that he learned in life, he learned from books. For me, I can say that most of the things that I learn in life, I learned them from Book, one book.

I used to feel grieved that this man is in hell, speaking of Nietzsche. And I also must admit that, I don’t know what happened in the last seconds of his life. Maybe he repented like the thief on the cross at the last seconds of his life, and asked God for mercy.

During that period in my life, I was looking for a job. I had a hard time finding the job that I was looking for, or any job.

After sometimes looking, I decided that I would give up architecture. But before I would do that, I prayed and fasted. The day before I would make the decision, I had a vision that I was working at an architectural firm. I concluded that I will indeed find a job at a firm. But it wasn’t soon enough. So I decided once more that I would make the decision to quit architecture for good. Before I had done that, I sent two resumes to two firms. I knew then that I would get a job. But the job that I thought I would get, I did not get, but the job I thought that I would not get, I got.

Now finding this job was the beginning of another journey. I considered that experience to be a social one.

It was Monday morning, three business days after I was hired. A young woman, an architectress who worked for the same firm approached me. She came across to be someone who is very impressionable, and very philosophical and interesting person. I remember well at the time, that’s when I was most philosophical about life.

After that initial conversation she seemed to be interested in me romantically, or maybe sexually. We talked every time we met. Our conversations were usually short. She always seemed delighted to talk with me. I remembered there was a time that she literally chased after me to talk with me telling me with her fine voice to look in her eyes to see that she hadn’t been sleeping. I was flattered! The truth is I liked Ms.Varnik. It seemed that Ms. Varnik is someone that would be difficult for you not to like. She seemed to be a very nice and kind lady. I was interested in her, but I didn’t think it was appropriate, and wise to start a relationship at the place of work.