Category: life. truth, meaning,

The Devil Don’t Knock Twice

Posted on by Ray Joseph Cormier

The Title comes from an email I received this morning from Michael Brenner. He doesn’t have a Blog or an account on X. He is a prominent American scholar specializing in International Relations, American foreign policy, and transatlantic affairs. He is best known for his critical analyses of U.S. geopolitical strategies, European security, and global power dynamics.

This is what he wrote: BRETHREN

There is an old blues ballad called: “The Devil Don’t Knock Twice.”* Assuming that he knocks at all — or just sidles up to you at a Delta crossroads with a proposition that you can’t refuse. The specter of Satan requesting entry – into your home, into your soul – suggests that you have a choice whether or not to let him in. That evidently is true for even the most downtrodden, the most desperate, the most vulnerable.

We Americans – individually and collectively – have been privileged with three knocks, each seeking entry.

The first time, we took a deliberate look through the peephole, sized him up as off-beat, hyper, a little weird but quelled our doubts in opening the door. After much strained and acrid palaver, we agreed to a 4-year lease on the premises.

At its end, he aggressively demanded an extension of the same duration – the 2nd knock. With decidedly mixed feelings we turned him down. An inspection of the property had revealed widespread damage. The house was desecrated with Satanic graffiti and reeked of foul sulfuric fumes. Worse, the Evil One had turned it into a refuge for a coven of unisex demons from the nether world. 

Furious at the rejection, he incited them to ransack the place and to seize it in his name. We managed to repel them – just barely. That wasn’t the end of it, though. Hardly. The diabolical schemer launched a massive all-out campaign to overturn the eviction. Spurious lawsuits, incessant protest rallies, random acts of vandalism – even blatant intimidation of judges and prosecutors. 

Satan himself raging everywhere – fuming, breathing fire and brimstone – vowing revenge against all who had played a part in his eviction, who had thwarted him in any way – or else! This went on for years.

Then, he knocked on the door a 3rd time – declaring loudly that he would make the house a great mansion again – if we let him in – or else. We opened the door wide.

Searching Google for the original ‘The Devil Don’t knock Twice’ found this: Unearthed from the depths of the American South, [LOST TAPE #013 — “The Devil Don’t Knock Twice” by Jeremiah “Dust Bowl” Reed (1934)] captures the haunted soul of early Delta Blues. Recorded on fragile acetate in a dusty roadside chapel during the Great Depression, this lost field recording reveals the raw emotion, pain, and faith of a man who sang not for fame—but for survival. The cracked voice of Jeremiah “Dust Bowl” Reed echoes through time, blending gospel roots, delta slide guitar, and an atmosphere so authentic you can almost smell the rain on dry soil.

Woke up on a Monday, sun behind the ground Look out on the future, couldn’t tell a place of time Been chasing that dollar, brother, in a field of wooden yield Now the dust is my blanket and the highway is my field

[Chorus] Cuz the devil don’t knock twice, son You just walk right through your door Leave you standing in the ruin Wonder what you suffered for He don’t send no letter, don’t whistle no sweet tune The devil don’t knock twice He just come and take the moon

I had a good woman, pretty as a newborn day She stood by the fence post ’til the wind blowed away Had a house made of timber, a roof to keep me dry Then the bank man came calling with the death note in his eye

[Chorus] Cuz the devil don’t knock twice, son He just walk right through your door Leave you standing in a ruin Wondering what you suffer for He don’t send no letter, don’t whistle no sweet tune The devil don’t knock twice He just come and take the moon

I walked a thousand miles, man, just to keep my spirit whole Try to run from the bad luck that will stamp upon my soul But whether it’s the drought or the poor man’s power line The darkness is a shadow and it follows close behind I’m standing by this doorway, listening for a sound Just a grid on the wind, brother, blowing across the ground

I learned my lesson early, the hard way, cold and fast When the devil wants your life, he don’t need a second pass

[Chorus] Cuz the devil don’t knock twice He just walk right through your door Leave you standing in the ruins Wondering what you suffer for He don’t send no letter, don’t whistle no sweet tune The devil don’t knock twice He just come and take the moon…

For those who prefer a Rock & Roll cover of the original Country Music:

While the World Watches Gaza: The Unreported Israeli War for the Annexation of the ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED West Bank

Posted on by Ray Joseph Cormier

This article, published in The Guardian is the logical followup to my last post The Apostolic Manifesto: The Major’s Seal—From a Canadian Jail to Gaza’s Cry

While the eyes of the world are on Gaza, Israeli settlers in the West Bank still behave with impunity

As the harvest season begins, attacks on Palestinian farmers and their land are spiralling. The words of peace following the Gaza ceasefire ring hollow.

Last Monday, when the US president, Donald Trump, addressed the Knesset alongside the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, my compatriot lawmaker Ayman Odeh and I raised a banner calling them to “Recognise Palestine”. We were brutally expelled by force from the parliament’s plenum, revealing the fragile state of the supposed “only democracy in the Middle East”. How can Trump and Netanyahu speak of peace in the Middle East without recognition of the people deprived for decades of their basic liberties and rights under vicious occupation?

Nowhere is the deceit more clear than in the occupied West Bank. There, the words of peace are but a weak and distant voice, but the horrifying sounds of settler violence and terror still echo loudly. More than 30 occurrences of settler violence against Palestinians have been documented since the announcement of Trump’s 20-point plan at the end of September, including physical assaults, theft of agricultural produce and torching of vehicles and property.

The rise of settler terrorism is not coincidental. This period marks the start of the harvest seasons. More than a vital economic event, it is an important social and national moment that exhibits endurance under occupation. Precisely for these reasons, year after year settlers target Palestinians during this precious time. During the 2024 harvest period, Yesh Din (an Israeli human rights group that collects and disseminates information regarding violations of Palestinians’ human rights in the West Bank) documented 113 separate incidents of violence, harassment, harvest-thwarting or damage to olive trees and crops involving Israeli civilians and soldiers, which took place on lands belonging to 51 Palestinian villages, towns and communities.

Yesh Din also found that “Israeli security forces appeared to have played a greater role in obstructing the olive harvest”. In about 70% of forceful prevention of access to lands, soldiers, border police officers and settlement civilian security coordinators (CSCs) were actually present. They either personally prevented Palestinians from accessing and harvesting in their own lands, or failed to stop settlers who harassed or assaulted them.

This comes as no surprise, as the leader of the settlers’ political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was appointed as an additional minister in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). In Umm al-Khair, for example, a special COGAT unit uprooted private olive trees of Palestinians, citing lack of permits, but ignored violations of an illegal nearby settler outpost. Last week, the Jerusalem district court ruled to halt all building work in the outpost, which was built on lands seized by Israel and unlawfully transferred to settlers.

In the occupied West Bank, settler terrorism is nothing but a tool by the government to pursue de-facto annexation. Earlier this month, Smotrich led a march of thousands of settlers in support of annexation of the West Bank. He was quoted as saying, “We are continuing to take hold with our feet of the Land of Israel with many pioneers, many heroes, and hundreds of thousands of settlers who live in this part of the land … we need to normalise it and make it eternal.”

The settlers and their supporters in the Knesset are clear on their motives and intentions. Why, then, do political leaders in the west refrain from meaningful sanctions and diplomatic measures? Smotrich was sanctioned by the UK in June, but the effect of the sanction has been minimal. He may not be able to travel to the UK and tour the West End, but he still enjoys the ministerial power to grab lands in the West Bank. Even in the announcement of sanctions, the UK highlighted they take place “in his personal capacity” solely.

If the UK government acknowledges the reality of settler violence and its grave implications on Palestinian life, why does it still allow settlement produce to be sold in markets and shops in Britain? If Starmer is serious about recognition of Palestine as a state, how come it allows the Israeli government to violate its sovereignty with such violent means? Or was the recognition an empty ploy to shut down dissenting voices in the UK, a hollow act only to be realised in the rebranding of some maps?

A just peace must respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people for self-recognition, sovereignty and liberty from military occupation and siege. Only when every human being’s dignity between the river and sea is respected can we truly say peace has been achieved.

True peace requires an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel: this is the sole formula that enjoys consensus among the international community, the Palestinian national movement and the Israeli peace camp.

Trump may have inflicted pressure on Netanyahu to halt the genocide, but he probably only did so because the burden of his relationship with the pariah regime of Netanyahu had become too great. The mass protests across the globe for the liberation of Palestine, and the unwavering anti-government demonstrations inside Israel, are the real forces behind this pressure.

It is thanks to this enormous civil movement that a ceasefire has been signed, the hostages released and the people of Gaza can enjoy safeguard from annihilation. After the ceasefire agreement has been signed, it is vital to keep applying this pressure. The world has turned a blind eye to the atrocities in Gaza for too long; it must not repeat the same mistake in the West Bank.

  • Dr Ofer Cassif is a member of the Knesset, representing the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) since 2019

Israel kills 11 Palestinian family members in Gaza’s deadliest truce breach

US DOLLAR – IMAGE OF THE BEAST

Posted on by Ray Joseph Cormier

An American Oligarchy is taking over the US Democratic Republic.

American Politicians and the Public are beginning to notice Federal Debt Is UP 236% since 2009. Federal Spending Is UP 121% with Unfunded Liabilities at $221 TRILLION (promises) that Congress had made to get elected. That is unsustainable and the Biblical TRIBULATION is on it’s way. The BEAST in the Revelation of Jesus Christ may be part of our near term Future we must face.

Trump has more $Billionaires in his Cabinet than any other Cabinet in US History. $Billionaires Musk & $Ramaswamy cut $Billions in assistance to the Poor and Middle Class in the US and the World. Christ Jesus doesn’t ban the rich from entering the kingdom of heaven but as it’s written, a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. They love their vanity and money giving them power too much and will not give it up. Jesus’ parable of the rich man and impoverished Lazarus in Luke 16 tells us that. 

“And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain” tells us the BEAST is a Nation on Earth. Revelation 16:10.

Is it co-incidence or a telltale SIGN, the Limousine of the US President is called “THE BEAST? It goes with him wherever he travels in THIS World, Domestic and Foreign. I doubt anyone in the White House was thinking of the prophecies in the Revelation of Jesus Christ naming it THE BEAST.

What leads to ARMAGEDDON, aka the great day of the Battle of Almighty God, and shaping up between Theocratic Israel and Theocratic Iran in the Middle East TODAY with Christian US complicity, where Bible History started is described in Revelation 16:13-16: And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of THE BEAST, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(false beliefs about God) For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth (Billionaires, Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs and other Idols of the people) and of the whole world, (the passive powerless) to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief.(when you least expect it) Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGEDDON.

The Image of the Beast and the US Dollar

Trump’s threat to place 100% tariffs on the BRICK Nations over the US Dollar brings into view other descriptions of “THE BEAST” And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to THE BEAST: and they worshipped THE BEAST, saying, Who is like THE BEAST? who is able to make war with him?

It’s increasingly evident Russia, Iran, North Korea and China is able to make WAR against THE BEAST

And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. The US is the only Nation to actually use Nukes in WAR. WE know from History if it happened once, it can happen again. In his 1st term Trump threatened “FIRE and FURY” like this World has never seen before!”

For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest, His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE.

I don’t know if Trump’s Christian Nationalist supporters put those words in his mouth, but what Trump said in 2017 could be the WARNING to the World, since North Korea is Russia’s ally in the US WAR against Russia, using Ukrainians as cannon fodder and the sacrificial lambs in the long planned US WAR with Russia over Ukraine. started this prophecy in the Jewish Old Testament: For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest, His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE. For with FIRE, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.

Could the wildfires, mostly affecting the nominally Christian rich Nations, be a wake up call all these years after Trump’s threat? Only the FIRE of NUKES would fulfill this part of the major Jewish Prophet Isaiah: those slain by the Lord shall be many.

And he had power to give life unto the image of THE BEAST, that the image of the beast should both speak, (MONEY TALKS), and cause that as many as would not worship the image of THE BEAST (US DOLLAR) should be killed. The US has waged more WARS in this World since it dropped NUKES on Hiroshima & Nagasaki 80 years ago this month, than Russia, Iran, North Korea and China did combined.

And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (MONEY is NEEDED to buy or sell anything) Up to now the US DOLLAR is this World’s Reserve Currency so all buying and selling between Nations has to use the US Dollar.

The BEAST is mentioned in different chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, but in Chapter 19 it’s written: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. […] And I saw the BEAST, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the BEAST was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the BEAST, and them that worshipped his image.

In 1981, I hitchhiked from Ottawa to WhiteHorse in the Yukon and back, a 5600 km voyage to draw attention to that rider on the White Horse.

The Consumer Society erected over us, is consuming us alive! In a money driven World, the existence of $Billionaires is a crime against Humanity when collectively they could eliminate Hunger and Homelessness, Sickness and Disease and many other ills of Society. The Vision of Christ is “call no man on Earth your Father for we have one Father in heaven.

I actually wrote to Pope Francis a few years ago, politely suggesting because of those recorded words of the Christ, he should renounce being referred to as THE HOLY FATHER like Pope John Paul I renounced the 1000 year old Catholic Ritual and Tradition Popes were Crowned and Enthroned like the World saw for King Charles.

Considering Popes had the Power in Europe, and that Papal Power through European Christian Colonialism extended government structures modelled on the governing structure of the Vatican Curia. The Pope’s attitude was, The pope is only a simple priest. No Crown and no Throne for the pope.’ He renounced all the exterior symbols of Power. The pope’s action was so Revolutionary being young with a great natural smile. By that action his Vision for the Future was a major challenge to the STATUS QUO. His boldness signified a major shake up of the Powers of this World.

It’s the World’s loss this young and energetic Pope was dead in only 33 Days. There were 3 Popes in 1978.

It is only with the benefit of 49 years hindsight we see the Powers of this World are being shaken and tested like never before in OUR TIMES.

Observing the trends in the exclusively Jewish Society some 2600 years ago, the great major Jewish Prophet Isaiah, saw the People were already going down the Path where TRUTH is PERISHED in the street and EQUITY CANNOT ENTER.

From then to now it’s no wonder the People TODAY don’t know what to believe?

The instrument of US dominance of this World has been the US Dollar and those days are rapidly coming to an END.

The Kansas City Times, quoting me as a totally unknown Canadian, published this brief excerpt from a much longer article September 13, 1976: “He came to town for the Republican National Convention and will stay until the election in November TO DO GOD’S BIDDING: To tell the World, from Kansas City, this country has been found wanting and its days are numbered […] He gestured toward a gleaming church dome. “The gold dome is the symbol of BABYLON,” he said.” […] He wanted to bring to the Public’s attention an “idea being put out subtly and deceptively” by the government that we have to get prepared for a War with Russia.”

That 1976 FUTURE is NOW with the Revelation of the details GENERALLY unfolding in the spirit of the letter.
The World is waking up to see Americans may hasten “its days are numbered” part of the 1976 Vision, and waits with bated breath.

“The Dollar is THE BEAST’S mark. Its fall is the warning. And the choice is now: Worship the system—or seek the Kingdom.”