Messenger from Hell

One of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, a title that almost everyone can recognize, is his masterpiece known as Hamlet.  It is a story full of revenge, plotting, spying, and murder.  The characters are well thought out, have their own sets of motives and convictions, and are strong enough to carry the story to a climactic finale.  However, there is one character that does not appear very often in the play, yet is the focal point of a major piece of controversy.  The ghost of Hamlet’s murdered father only appears in four out of the twenty scenes in the play, always carrying omens of evildoing, whether translated by tongue or by deed.  But when the ghost’s words and actions are thoroughly examined, questions arise as to its true intentions.  Is the ghost what he claims to be, the spirit of Hamlet’s father seeking revenge for his unjust murder, or could he be a messenger from hell, sent to wreak havoc in the kingdom of Denmark?

One reason given in the play that could provide insight into the origin of the ghost is his own words from Act I, Scene V when he says, “I am thy father's spirit, doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confined to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, thy knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand on end, like quills upon the fretful porpentine: but this eternal blazon must not be to ears of flesh and blood.”  These words can be translated in two different ways.  “Confined to fast in fires” could refer to Purgatory, which is where the Catholics believe the soul of dead Christians go before Heaven to have their evil deeds purged from them before entering into the presence of God.  However, there is another destination in eternity that is believed in by all denominations of Christianity and contains torturous fires.  It is hell.  In Revelation the Bible describes this place as “the fiery lake of burning sulfur… the second death.”  In addition, the ghost says that, “I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, thy knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand on end, like quills upon the fretful porpentine: but this eternal blazon must not be to ears of flesh and blood.”  This seems to align with Matthew 13:50, which says “and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  The terrors of hell are too much for humans to comprehend, just like the glory of God is too great for us to look upon.  So it would seem that even the ghost’s own words reveal him for what he might be.

Another piece of evidence that the ghost might have been a spirit of hell is the actual message that he delivers.  When telling Hamlet its tale in Act I he says, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”  The ghost is telling the young prince to take revenge for his father, murder his uncle in return, and take back the throne.  This might seem like wise counsel until Romans 12:19 is brought into play, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”  Man is not responsible for getting even, since the Lord will handle evildoers in His own time.   When people seek revenge on their own, it creates a cycle of getting even, which will continue until either one of two things happens.  Someone breaks the chain and gives up their claim to revenge, or death takes one or all of the participants.  But the ghost is promoting the practice of seeking recompense alone and without waiting for God to handle it in his might and righteousness.  Supposing he really was a ghost that was waiting in purgatory, why would he be purposefully countering the teachings of God Himself?

Now that these two examples have been evaluated, an explanation must be given.  Some would say that the play could have taken place in Denmark at a time when Christianity had not been introduced into their world.  There are many ways to rebut this argument, but there is only one relevant to the points given.  If Denmark in the play had not been given the Gospel, they would not have known about the passage relating to the Lord taking on the responsibility of vengeance.  However, this would also mean that they would not have the Bible from which to form the theory that there is a purgatory between death and Heaven.  So therefore, if they had not Bible, they would not know about purgatory.  But if they did have the Bible, they would know that vengeance belongs to the Lord.  This means that the ghost can be seen as a messenger from purgatory that was rejecting the teachings of Christianity, or the ghost was a demon from hell, promoting actions that it knew would tear the kingdom down to ruins.

It is fun to think about what would have happened if Hamlet had recognized the “ghost” for what he really was, a servant of the Devil, and had not followed its instructions.  Much might have turned out differently.  Many of the characters that died might have lived, Hamlet might have one day married Ophelia, and the kingdom might have flourished rather than fallen to a foreign nation.  On the other hand, things might have turned out almost as badly.  Claudius would have still ruled from a stolen throne, Hamlet would have been sent away, and any number of other possibilities.  However, one thing is for sure: the “ghost” was not what it claimed to be.  It was an emissary of evil, sent to tempt Hamlet and ensure the destruction of Danish society.  Hamlet was fooled and the messenger from hell succeeded in his mission.

Blog Announcement

You may have probably noticed that I did not post a new chapter of the Chrion Legend yesterday.  I have a good reason.  My exams are coming up Tuesday and I've been trying to focus on studying.  I will make up for it by posting two chapters this coming Saturday.  Thank you for understanding.

Muhammad's Legacy

In America today, many topics dominate the debates that never cease to end on Capitol Hill.  These topics can be anything from the national debt to foreign policy or anything in between.  However, there is one debate that, while not verbalized, is central to many decisions involving acts of terrorism that America’s government is required to deal with.  This debate is whether or not the notorious terrorist group known as ISIS is truly Islamic as they claim.  While President Obama says that “[n]o religion condones the killing of innocents,” Mohammed is recorded as having said otherwise in the book that Islam is based upon, the Quran.  The truth of whether ISIS is truly Islamic and fighting a “holy war” will be found in one of these sources.  It is time for America to know the true nature of Muhammad’s legacy.

With the debate regarding the religious legitimacy of ISIS, it seems like everyone has an opinion, including the president of the United States, Barack Obama.  Here is what he had to say on ISIS in his speech regarding their nature on September 11, 2014, “At this moment, the greatest threats come from the Middle East and North Africa, where radical groups exploit grievances for their own gain. And one of those groups is ISI[S] -- which calls itself the "Islamic State.  Now let's make two things clear: ISI[S] is not "Islamic." No religion condones the killing of innocents.”  Our president believes that Islam is a religion of peace, and that ISIS is merely a radical group that has taken Quran teachings out of context, making Islam appear to be a monster that it really is not.  He went on to say that, “[i]n a region that has known so much bloodshed, these terrorists are unique in their brutality. They execute captured prisoners. They kill children. They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage.”  Much of this is correct.  They eliminate their prisoners.  They kill children.  They degrade women.  What he was wrong about is the idea that these are unique concepts.  As a matter of fact, these are common practices in Islamic communities all across the Middle East.  But it would seem to be logical to assume that President Obama would know that due to the fact that in a speech that was given in Cairo to hundreds of Muslims, he quoted the Quran at least four separate times saying that, “the holy Quran tells us.”  For someone that calls the Muslim book “holy” he seems to understand very few of its teachings.  In fact, it is in the Quran itself that the true religious basis for ISIS can be found.

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, was “inspired by Allah” and penned by Muhammad to direct Muslims in the laws that they must follow in order that they might earn the right to enter paradise.  It also contains instructions on how to deal with “infidels” that will not proclaim themselves as Muslims.  The required response to such people, according to the Quran, is known as Jihad.  While the media tries to explain it as an “internal struggle for piety,” the true definition is much more terrifying.  For those who practice it, it is ongoing warfare.  This may sound familiar.  It should sound like what ISIS is doing.  Sura 4:89 of the Muslim doctrine says “Seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks,” while sura 4:101 says “For the Unbelievers are open enemies to you.” And while the president of our nation thinks that there is something special about the methods of this terrorist group, the Quran would say otherwise.  In response to what Obama said about killing prisoners and children, the “holy” book of Islam makes it very clear whether this is acceptable or not.  Sura 8:13-17 says “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips of them.  It is not you who slew them; it was Allah.”  Obviously the Quran “condones the killing of innocents,” in opposition to what Obama says, as long as they are kafir (infidels).  As for the place of women it says in 2:223 “Your wives are a tilth [a field to be plowed] unto you, so approach your tilth when and how you will.”  This leaves room for all of the actions that our president has accurately identified within ISIS’ behavior as legal in the sight of Allah.  Enslavement, rape, and being forced into marriage are therefore just natural extensions from the teachings of the Quran.  So the next question that needs to be answered is this: who is right about ISIS?

Does ISIS fall into the category of a radical terrorist group that dirties up the name of a respectable religion of peace, or is it a group of true followers that will stop at nothing to ensure the goals of Islam are reached?  Obama says that ISIS is not Islamic because “no religion condones the killing of innocents.”  Unfortunately that is not true, and will never be true in the case of the Muslim faith.  As evidenced by sura 4:102, which says, “For the Unbelievers, Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment,” we can see that ISIS is avidly following the instructions they believe to be given by their god through their prophet Muhammad.  And while the president holds to his statement that the “terrorists are unique in their brutality,” even ISIS knows what the Quran truly says and lives by it with every murder, every rape, and every act of terror that they commit.  They are true believers in the way of Allah, and they will not back down.

While American politicians are debating over whether the most prominent terrorist group currently at large is truly Islamic as they claim and title themselves, basic research can prove that they are telling the truth about what their foundation is.  Just because the man in the highest seat of office in America says something, does not make it true.  ISIS knows what they are.  Muslims know what they are.  The only people that can’t see what kind of monster ISIS is are people that are actively deceiving themselves.  Obama says one thing, while the Quran and its disciples say another.  Which one is true?  It is whichever one that adheres to Muhammed’s legacy.

The Chrion Legend: The Chosen

Metal.  The clinking and clanking of metal links.  Chains.  I was in chains.  My hands were bound by iron manacles, held above my head by a hook about seven feet above the ground.

"Where am I?"

"Some call it a pit, others call it a dungeon," rasped a voice from the darkness,  "Whatever name you give this place, no one will ever hear it."

I peered into the shadows, trying to discern the source of the voice.  As my eyes adjusted, I was able to make out snow white hair, gnarled skin that appeared as frail as paper, and a eyes as dull and lifeless as a corpse.

"Who are you?  Why are we here?"

"Who I am does not matter.  Why we are here..."  He trailed off.  With a strange look in his eye, one that depicted fear, excitement, and a little bit of hope, he whispered, "Are you one of them?  Are you one of the Chosen?"

"The Chosen?"  I asked. "I..."  Thinking back to the introduction to the book, I remembered that it had said I had been chosen for something.  "I think so.  I don't even know what that means though."

The man in the shadows seemed to be pondering the situation.  "Yes... yes... yes," he began to murmur over and over.

"What is it?"

He turned back to look at me again.  "I failed, but maybe you won't.  With the help of someone that has fallen, perhaps you will avoid my mistakes."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about escaping."

Blog Announcement

So a friend of mine introduced me to a website recently called Wattpad, where you can write a book chapter by chapter and other people can read it online.  I'm thinking about using it.  Don't worry I'm not going to abandon this blog.  I'll continue posting on here for the foreseeable future, so that's not an issue.  I'll post about it if I actually start a book on Wattpad.  I just wanted to let you know what might lay ahead.  Thank you again for reading this blog.  If you haven't already, please follow my blog.  Thanks.