ALLEGORICAL
This is a method of interpreting God’s Word, where a symbolic or deeper meaning is sought. Though found in the Bible, it is rare (the word “allegory” is used only one time in the Bible—see Galatians 4:24). Some might say that the crossing of the Red Sea by Israel is a type of salvation, or make some spiritual application, but “all these things happened” (I Corinthians 10:1–6, 11), and the events themselves—the miracles of the Bible—are historical. Much care is needed when the allegorical method is used, for once we leave the normal meaning of words, there is no end to the possible number of interpretations, depending solely on the imagination of the one doing the interpreting. It also becomes increasingly harder to verify the accuracy of the interpretation (see INTERPRETATION).
ALLELUIA
Strong’s gives for “Alleluia” = “praise ye the Lord.” Strong’s also said that it originally came from two Hebrew words: “halal,” meaning “praise,” and “Yahh,” meaning “Jehovah in the shortened form” (see Revelation 19:1–4). “Alleluia” = “Praise Jehovah.”
ANGELS
The word “angel” in the Bible means “messenger” (Strong’s Concordance) and they are mentioned about 300 times* in the Bible, more than the great patriarch Abraham. My point is they are well attested to in the Bible and not something rare. *(Not counting the term “Angel of the Lord,” “cherubims,” “watchers,” “seraphims,” or “archangel.”) They are spirit beings sent to minister to believers (see Hebrew 1:7, 14). Angels observe what is happening on the earth (1 Corinthians 4:9). They can take on a bodily form and be seen (Hebrews 13:2). Certain ranks of angels have wings (1 Kings 8:6–7 and Isaiah 6:2). They can also appear without wings and look like humans (Hebrews 13:2). Believers have angels watching over them (Hebrews 1:13–14 and Matthew 18:10). Their numbers are more than one could count (Hebrews 12:22). They have power and can exert physical strength (Acts 5:19 and Acts 12:7, 23), and they can “touch” (1 Kings 19:5–7), “smite” (Acts 12:7), and “kill” (Isaiah 37:36; Acts 12:23). We are not to pray to or worship them (Colossians 2:18 and Revelation 22:8–9).
There is a spiritual realm (Colossians 1:16), and if it were possible for man to have a “spiritual antenna,” he could see things in the spirit realm, just as a radio or TV antenna gives us sights and sound from radio waves (2 Kings 6:14–17). Christ Himself is in the midst of every group of believers (Matthew 18:20). Every believer is “sealed” by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and though we cannot see this, those in the spirit realm do. And besides the holy or elect angels, there are also evil angels, or devils (Acts 16:18; Acts 19:13–17; see DEVILS; see ALIENS). And there is a spiritual warfare (Daniel 10:3, 12–13; Ephesians 6:10–18): “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5). (see ALIENS
ANIMISM
Animism is the belief that all things have a soul or a spirit, including animals, plants, and nonliving things such as the moon, wind, rivers, mountains, etc. But Jesus Christ did not die for trees, rocks, grass, or horses. There are different variations, but basically animists believe all these things are alive, with little or no distinction between the physical and spiritual world, and that these beings can help or hurt you, which can cause one to be afraid, as people with this belief are concerned that they do not offend one of these spirits.
But all spirits are subject unto Jesus Christ. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17). In Mark 5:7–13 a “legion” of evil spirits (for “legion,” Strong’s Concordance gives “numbering about 6,000”) who possessed a man were afraid of Jesus, and He cast them all out. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9–10). But animists will try to appease these many spirits so as to obtain their favor or help against others, by spells, curses, “sacred” words or actions, dances, prayers, sacrifices, and so on. “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (I Corinthians 10:19–20). “With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them” (2 Kings 17:35, 37).
Unfortunately, in certain places, animism has been mixed in, or coexists with, Christianity. Animism is sometimes confused with pantheism (see PANTHEISM). Though animists believe everything to be spiritual in nature, they do not see everything united, as in pantheism. Animists usually believe in a supreme god, but he cannot be known personally, so they seek many lesser gods for help, and they will also seek the spirits of their dead parents or relatives. But the only one between us and God is His “only begotten Son” (John 3:16), Jesus Christ: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). In Luke 16:19–31, the man in hell wanted to communicate with his five brothers to warn them about hell, but he was not able to, nor could those on earth communicate with him. Deuteronomy 18:10–11 commands, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” There is only one God. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour” (Isaiah 43:11). “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6).
Man is God’s crowning creation, and He is personally interested in you. God is everywhere present and is right now next to you. “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me” (Psalm 139:1–5). Why not ask Jesus now to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your soul.
This is a method of interpreting God’s Word, where a symbolic or deeper meaning is sought. Though found in the Bible, it is rare (the word “allegory” is used only one time in the Bible—see Galatians 4:24). Some might say that the crossing of the Red Sea by Israel is a type of salvation, or make some spiritual application, but “all these things happened” (I Corinthians 10:1–6, 11), and the events themselves—the miracles of the Bible—are historical. Much care is needed when the allegorical method is used, for once we leave the normal meaning of words, there is no end to the possible number of interpretations, depending solely on the imagination of the one doing the interpreting. It also becomes increasingly harder to verify the accuracy of the interpretation (see INTERPRETATION).
ALLELUIA
Strong’s gives for “Alleluia” = “praise ye the Lord.” Strong’s also said that it originally came from two Hebrew words: “halal,” meaning “praise,” and “Yahh,” meaning “Jehovah in the shortened form” (see Revelation 19:1–4). “Alleluia” = “Praise Jehovah.”
ANGELS
The word “angel” in the Bible means “messenger” (Strong’s Concordance) and they are mentioned about 300 times* in the Bible, more than the great patriarch Abraham. My point is they are well attested to in the Bible and not something rare. *(Not counting the term “Angel of the Lord,” “cherubims,” “watchers,” “seraphims,” or “archangel.”) They are spirit beings sent to minister to believers (see Hebrew 1:7, 14). Angels observe what is happening on the earth (1 Corinthians 4:9). They can take on a bodily form and be seen (Hebrews 13:2). Certain ranks of angels have wings (1 Kings 8:6–7 and Isaiah 6:2). They can also appear without wings and look like humans (Hebrews 13:2). Believers have angels watching over them (Hebrews 1:13–14 and Matthew 18:10). Their numbers are more than one could count (Hebrews 12:22). They have power and can exert physical strength (Acts 5:19 and Acts 12:7, 23), and they can “touch” (1 Kings 19:5–7), “smite” (Acts 12:7), and “kill” (Isaiah 37:36; Acts 12:23). We are not to pray to or worship them (Colossians 2:18 and Revelation 22:8–9).
There is a spiritual realm (Colossians 1:16), and if it were possible for man to have a “spiritual antenna,” he could see things in the spirit realm, just as a radio or TV antenna gives us sights and sound from radio waves (2 Kings 6:14–17). Christ Himself is in the midst of every group of believers (Matthew 18:20). Every believer is “sealed” by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and though we cannot see this, those in the spirit realm do. And besides the holy or elect angels, there are also evil angels, or devils (Acts 16:18; Acts 19:13–17; see DEVILS; see ALIENS). And there is a spiritual warfare (Daniel 10:3, 12–13; Ephesians 6:10–18): “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5). (see ALIENS
ANIMISM
Animism is the belief that all things have a soul or a spirit, including animals, plants, and nonliving things such as the moon, wind, rivers, mountains, etc. But Jesus Christ did not die for trees, rocks, grass, or horses. There are different variations, but basically animists believe all these things are alive, with little or no distinction between the physical and spiritual world, and that these beings can help or hurt you, which can cause one to be afraid, as people with this belief are concerned that they do not offend one of these spirits.
But all spirits are subject unto Jesus Christ. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17). In Mark 5:7–13 a “legion” of evil spirits (for “legion,” Strong’s Concordance gives “numbering about 6,000”) who possessed a man were afraid of Jesus, and He cast them all out. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9–10). But animists will try to appease these many spirits so as to obtain their favor or help against others, by spells, curses, “sacred” words or actions, dances, prayers, sacrifices, and so on. “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (I Corinthians 10:19–20). “With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them” (2 Kings 17:35, 37).
Unfortunately, in certain places, animism has been mixed in, or coexists with, Christianity. Animism is sometimes confused with pantheism (see PANTHEISM). Though animists believe everything to be spiritual in nature, they do not see everything united, as in pantheism. Animists usually believe in a supreme god, but he cannot be known personally, so they seek many lesser gods for help, and they will also seek the spirits of their dead parents or relatives. But the only one between us and God is His “only begotten Son” (John 3:16), Jesus Christ: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). In Luke 16:19–31, the man in hell wanted to communicate with his five brothers to warn them about hell, but he was not able to, nor could those on earth communicate with him. Deuteronomy 18:10–11 commands, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” There is only one God. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour” (Isaiah 43:11). “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6).
Man is God’s crowning creation, and He is personally interested in you. God is everywhere present and is right now next to you. “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me” (Psalm 139:1–5). Why not ask Jesus now to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your soul.

GOD & SPIES
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
GM Matheny was a US Navy saturation diver on the nuclear submarine USS Halibut. Involved in "Operation Ivy Bells". America’s most important (and most dangerous of the Cold War) clandestine operations. If you like good old fashioned American bravado, espionage and American history, you will enjoy this book.
The Mount Everest of Spy Missions
Firsthand Account of History's Greatest Intelligence Coup. Operation Ivy Bells was not a onetime intercept of foreign intelligence but an ongoing operation of multiple Soviet military channels, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, which lasted for years! Another reason for the high interest in our operation was the audacious nature in which it was done—with not one person risking his neck but a whole crew of a nuclear submarine.
How did I end up as a navy diver, four hundred feet down in a frigid Russian sea? After making my dad totally disgusted with me, I set out to make him happy. “Honour thy father” - I struggled with a decision to serve God. “Lord, I will give my life to you and serve you if you let me make this dive.” But I had the impression He only wanted to know one thing: “What if I do not let you? Will you serve me anyway?”
KINDLE, PAPERBACK AND AUDIO, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TCSLFWR