Interesting info that I read notes that in the scriptures, anytime there was (or will be) a resurrection into an immortal body, there was an earthquake there. This is seen in Jesus' resurrection as well as those of the people of God who were resurrected that same day (after Jesus) as recorded in Matthew 27:53. Also, the two witnesses' resurrection in Revelation 11:11-13 precedes an earthquake. It is thought that a nuclear reaction/explosion occurs in the dead body, but this does not cause a catastrophic event for the surrounding area as a nuclear bomb would because a body is made of more inert elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, rather than unstable elements like uranium and plutonium as used in bombs. Nevertheless, the more intert explosion does shake the earth.
In conjunction, it is thought that the "tribulation" period in Revelation (as we think of it) does not start until the opening of the Sixth Seal -- that with the great earthquake across the world. The prior five seals are seen as having been occuring over the earth since Jesus ascended to rule at the Father's "right hand." It pictures Christ's rule and control over things for the past 2000 years in spite of all the bad things in the world of oppressive rulers, war, death, plague, and economic oppression. So, according to this theory, what kicks off the great earthquake of the Sixth Seal of Revelation? You guessed it! The resurrection of all of the dead in Christ from Adam to the present day, and the transformation of the alive in Christ at that time -- all into immortal bodies! Can you imagine the severity of earthquakes that would cause all across the globe? Would probably also kick off other quakes at natural fault lines and eruptions from natural weak places in the earth's crust such as volcanoes and etc.
Also noted was that the scriptures say that it is the resurrection and transformation into immortal bodies that occurs in the "twinkling of an eye" (instantaneously) not the rapture. The rapture, being caught up into the air to meet Jesus at his return, occurs less rapidly. So, there could be a small period of time between a beliver's transformation into an immortal body and his being caught up into the air to meet the Lord. During that time, apparently all hell will be breaking loose on the earth, but that won't hurt a transformed believer who can no longer die or be injured! Until Jesus comes to get him, he can hang out and watch. If he's from around here, he'll probably say: "Ain't Skeert!"

[information from Earthquake Resurrection by David W. Lowe]

I've been intrigued by info I've read about the Israelites. The Jews are the descendants of the Tribe of Judah (for the most part), but there were 11 other tribes (really, 12 other tribes). Most of these tribes made up the nation of Israel, the northern kingdom, that was opposed to Judah, the southern kingdom, after the death of King Solomon. This northern kingdom left the worship of Yaweh, God of their forefathers, and thus eventually were exiled to Assyria in the 700's B.C., and they never returned to the Holy Land. This area to which they were exiled in Assyria, around present day Iran and Iraq, became the Parthian Empire, and these exiles became fully assimilated citizens of it. Later, the Sassanid Persians overthrew the Parthian Empire in 224 A.D., and many of the Parthians were exiled from there. The Sassanids came from the east; the Roman Empire, Parthia's arch-enemy lay to the west; and vast deserts lay to the south. Thus, the majority of exiles moved north through the Caucasus Mountains (noted similarity to the Caucasian race) and into Europe. Note that also around this time, the Roman histories note the influx to their empire of "barbarians" from their north and east, the Goths, who eventually assimilated into the Roman Empire and peopled post-Roman Europe.
The historical summary noted is sweeping and generalized in nature, and there were certainly exceptions, but there seems to be good indication that large segments of people of Israelite descent finally settled in Europe! This is not to say that all of the Goths who migrated into Europe were pure Israelites, nor that all people of Europe since that time are of pure Israelite descent. But it is to say that there is and probably has been a good portion of Israelite "stock" (or genes, if you will) in the European population for the past two millennia.

The idea that man is made in the image of God is one that has been debated for centuries regarding its specific meaning. I might suggest that one meaning (and there may well be several) may be that man (Adam) was made in the image of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Man is the way he is (with two arms, two legs, a torso, and a head, for example) because that is the way the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ was in eternity "past." So, when Jesus became a man at his incarnation, taking on this flesh and human nature, he was remaining in his own form and pattern, not copying Adam's (Man's) pattern. It is man who is the copy of Christ, not Christ as the copy of man.

I've continued to be intrigued with the theory of a pre-Biblical history on earth. This idea says that Lucifer was in charge of the planet and over saw the advanced civilizations of that time. Eventually, he lead the inhabitants of the earth (whose spirits are now demons) and some of the angels (who are now fallen angels) in rebellion against God. Universal and cataclysmic destruction was the result on the earth, leaving it "formless and empty" and in darkness (Genesis 1:2). The Genesis account, then, would really be a re-creation of that on the earth. Geology does give testimony to several cataclysms in the history of the earth. This might explain why Lucifer has such a beef against Man. God made man to replace him as regent of the earth! It also doesn't help that man is made in the image of God and that God loves man so immensely. Lucifer does not like God very much, so to attack man is to attack God's image and the love of God's heart.

Elfdawg wrote a lengthy treatise last nite after the intro piece that got lost into cyber space before it was published, as also was the first edition of this here paragraph here itself...... I am reminded that blogging is not necessarily so easy. You do all this work and the @#&+ cyber-bast comes and eats it up! I'd love to kick his beehinee! Nonetheless, the thoughts must go on! The ole'dawg has sat and mused a while and licked his wounds and hopefully has learned a new trick.....shorter treatises so's to lessen the risk of loss against the cyber-bast! Hopefully, that'll do the trick!

Well, ole Elfdawg was resurrected in said 2007 A.D. only to take a RipVanWinkle-type nap for a couple a'years. I takes a while ta git th' cobwebs outta the ole head, ya'know.... Hey, it's not like I can spin straw into gold like olde Rumpelstilskin, ya'know. I guess ya get what'cha pay for.....and in this little enterprise, you haven't invested a whole lot! Nuff sed about that! But, I guess one could consider this a warm-up lap for future blogging (possibly), but that is only an intent, not a promise. It's kinda like the box of chocolates thing with our hero Forrest.