Pentecost by Jean II Restout (1692-1768)

Many modern Western Europeans have huge difficulties with Christianity. As an ex-Atheist, I'm intimately familiar with that feeling of dealing with wishful illusions of a near to stone age culture. Having gradually come to faith, I found it with a hopeful heart, but a skeptic mind. One of the unexpected truth-bombs which have gradually sprung on me, is the consistency between the sketches of God's plan sprinkled around the old testament, and how Jesus and the Church fulfills it. The beta phase user group of Israel, with the MVP protocol of the ten commandments, reached a global launch and viral expansion with Jesus Christ.

This article is written primarily for people familiar with ICOs, but unfamiliar with the depths of Christianity. Few of those have probably given serious consideration to Christianity. To rationalize the step-wise implementation of God's plan, the ICO concept has substantial explanatory utility.

The uncreated world of Genesis

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:2

From the big bang, the universe was gradually articulated according to the physical laws. Earth became. Then, life became.

In the world of currency, the parallel is the world before currencies. Initial there was only a primitive world of bartering. No system for representation of value had been created.

Adam in the Garden of Eden

And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:7-8

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:26

On life's evolutionary path of articulation into humanity, at some point we became humans. We became, and through our intelligence we were given the seed to dominion over other earthly beings.

The parallel is the creation of currencies. An image or token representing and quantifying the value of each and every good was created. This image eventually achieved dominance over all bartering. In its primitive simplistic origin it seemed sufficient, and people trusted its value fully.

The 1/6 stater, is more than 2,700 years old, making it one of the very earliest coins

The fall

Pieter Bruegel, Fall of the rebel Angels

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:1-8

With true intelligence and consciousness, we became aware of others' suffering, and the power we had to inflict it, as pointed out by Jordan Peterson. Thus, intentional evil arose.

Somewhat similarly, the proto currency system was eventually questioned and collapsed, as knowledge of its shortcoming took dominance. The trust in it fell, and all kinds of manipulation, swindling and schemes ensued. The initial order and harmony was lost.

The Law of Moses and centralized currency

The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

Exodus 19:20-23

And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Exodus 20:1

From the suffering, chaos and trauma of the Jewish people in exile and slavery, and trapped in their chaotic evil ways, God proposed for them a new and strict covenant with clearly designated priests/servants to maintain and enforce it. It would discipline the people and keep manipulation, transgressions and evil in check, at least periodically, with the continuous ebb and flow of perversion and prophecy.

1280px-Oxhide_ingots_at_the_Numismatic_Museum,_Athens.jpg
Copper ingots from Crete and Mycenae, displayed at the Numismatic Museum of Athens.

In the world of currency, this corresponds to centrally emitted currencies from solid states. The currency were both enabled by and enabling the state. They were no longer informal primitive currencies like Oxhide ingots. Strict institutions were created to enforce legality, honesty, as well as consistent operation and usage.

A new Covenant promised

Michelangelo,_profeti,_Isaiah_01.jpg
The prophet Isaiah, Fresco from the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo

All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy,
for merchants from around the world will come to you.
They will bring you the wealth of many lands.

Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah.

Isaiah 60:3, 60:5-6

The initial preparation period of God's plan is coming to a close. Out of the disciplined tribe of God's people a new phase is about to burst. But it will not be worldly domination like the previous empires. This will be something different, it will be an everlasting and wonderful kingdom of peace, justice and righteousness:

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

As the national currencies grew in strength and impact, the idea and promise of a new global currency arose. The Bretton-Woods system carries a lot of this idea. It was thought that it would create a new and different kind of stability, but even more is expected from a unified world currency controlled. However, like the Jews expected the Messiah to a be conqueror king of this world (despite the prophecies that might suggest otherwise), so the powerful governments have been planning for a dominant currency with which they could subdue the financial markets of the world.

However, a few clairvoyant prophets could discern the truth, and started preparing the launch of something different.

Milton Friedman

I think the internet is going to be one of the major forces for reducing the role of government. The one thing that’s missing but that will soon be developed, is a reliable e-cash.”

Professor Milton Friedman

This new order would not be a stricter and more perfect order, but rather something completely different.

Shortcomings yet usefulness of the old Covenant

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. 3 So obey everything they teach you, but don’t do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels[a] for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.

Matthew 23:1-7

The power abuses and legalistic short sight of the scribes and pharisees represented a petrifying and often corrupt law, having outlived its purpose. Jesus came to bring something new, but depended on the monotheistic, faithful relationship of the Jews with God. The core aspects of the ten commands, and of mercy and justice and truth, all of it was necessary to prepare the conceptual ground for God's kingdom.

Likewise, the monetary concepts developed and internalized through millenia of coinage prepared the ground for crypto currencies, as did mathematics, cryptography and computing.

The prototype phase of the new Covenant

The Visitation, Mariotto Alberti, 1503

Now, at the advent of the new Covenant, Jesus is born. An early precursor to the new covenant is initiated by Saint John the Baptist. His origin is closely related by blood and grace to his cousin Jesus, and the love between them is evident from early on:

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:41-45

Eventually, as John comes of age he initiates people through a baptism of water.

...the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight,

the rough ways smooth.

And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

...

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

Luke 3:1-18

In our currency parallel, this is is reminiscent of Satoshi and Bitcoin. The initial coinage, bringing together mature conceptual fruits and launching a magnificent yet primitive crypto currency, it also pointing to massively more radical coins in the future. Bitcoin confronted the massive arbitrage, tyranny and abuses exercised by the central banks and private banking. A concrete promise of crypto currency is that every currency, bank or financial function that does not serve the interests of its customers will ultimately be cut down and thrown into the fire.

In parallel to the growth of John's ministry, the Ethereum ICO is being being elaborated in young Vitalik Buterin's mind, reminiscent of teenage Jesus in the temple:

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished.

Luke 2:46-48

The development phase of the new Covenant

Now ready to begin his ministry, Jesus goes straight to John to be baptized, and sets off the preparation of the launching of his new Covenant.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

Luke 3:21-23

In the coming three years he will prepare the launching of God's kingdom. In secret, the initial community is prepared and the mystical sacrifice opening the kingdom to whoever believes. Jesus only gives certain hints at what it will be like.

This kingdom will be something way more radical, deep, transformative and far reaching:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

...

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:21-48

The constellation of the world, including the configuration and state of the greek, roman and neighbouring civilizations are ripe social and conceptual structures to conduce the viral spread.

Jesus throws a number of parables at his disciples, to enable them to eventually mature into a better understanding of the project, after his ultimate sacrifice.

Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches."

Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Luke 13:18-21

In parallel, Ethereum promised to be something radically different than Bitcoin, enabling massively diverse and transformative communities and technologies.

Securing The Divinely Infinite Investment needed for the New Covenant

The new Covenant depends crucially on the pledge and execution of Jesus' divine yet human sacrifice. Why? Because the accumulated sins and disorder of the human race and the world needs Divine redemption. This in itself is a massive mystery, insufficiently approached in my previous article Sacrifice, Redemption, Immutability of Evil, and the Primordial ICO. It does not fit into the current allegory.

In fact, none of Jesus' disciples are up to the occasion to help him out with the sacrifice, and even St. Peter, the appointed future head of the new foundation the Church, betrays him in the crucial moments.

Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

John 18:25-27

The signing in blood of the New Covenant through Jesus' offering

Christ of St John of the Cross, Dalí

Yet, he presses on and endures and makes the ultimate investment, and the signing of the new Covenant with his own blood.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30

Resurrection and final preparation of the public launch of the Congregation

The church in its original meaning of assembly/community/congregation is almost ready to be launched. First, Jesus resurrects to his core disciples and thousands more, to let them see what impossibly could be believed: as God he beats death itself after his massive sacrifice, and opens heaven for all who, in freedom, readies themselves for it. Between the resurrection and the ascension day, God has prepared his motley disciples for the Pentecostal ICO of his Mystical Body and Kingdom of Love and Justice.

The invitation is opened up to be an owner of Kingdom Coin, giving right to property in the Kingdom of God on Earth and in the heavenly, non-time-constrained dimension. The Holy Spirit helps this implementation of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men and transforms them to mine and disseminate the crypto currency of conversion that the disciples go around offering, giving both astonishing gifts and fruits in our earthly life, and eventually participation in the lovely heavenly existence.

The ascension day according to the Acts of the Apostles 1.3-11:

He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is', he had said, 'what you have heard me speak about:

John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.'

Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?'

He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.'

As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, 'Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.'

The Initial Congregation Offering launches

Pentecost by Tiziano Vecelli

Some blockchain veterans talks about ICO as somehow also signifying Initial Community Offering, since the community is such a crucial aspect of a coin or token. Indeed we could call it a Congregation or Assembly, the original meaning of the word Church (Ecclesia).

Thus, on Pentecost, the biggest ICO ever is launched with fire and fury (Acts 2.2-3):

...suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them.

Acts 2.2-3

For the rest of the Pentecost account, see Acts.

The utter transformation of the world through Christianity cannot be overstated, including the universal dignity of the individual, the creation of Science and University, universal monogamy and the ending of slavery. Jürgen Habermas, the previously anti-Christian Frankfurt school heavy weight champion stated:

Universalistic egalitarianism, from which sprang the ideals of freedom and a collective life in solidarity, the autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, the individual morality of conscience, human rights and democracy, is the direct legacy of the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. This legacy, substantially unchanged, has been the object of continual critical appropriation and reinterpretation. To this day, there is no alternative to it. And in light of the current challenges of a postnational constellation, we continue to draw on the substance of this heritage. Everything else is just idle postmodern talk.

Jürgen Habermas - "Time of Transitions", Polity Press, 2006, pp. 150-151

Avoiding blasphemy

Blasphemy in the literal sense is well understood, but also ridiculed by many. However, fundamentally it means giving primacy in your heart to something else than love, and that will definitely not serve you nor please your Father in heaven. Here are some precautionary words explaining that the comparison of ICOs and the Church is not to equate them, only to rationalize God's plan with an allegory.

It is not a purpose of this article to diminish the warnings about the possibly dangerous impacts of new transformative technologies like blockchain. Whatever path the technology takes, massive dangers can already be discerned, both social and spiritual. Likewise, the diabolical symbolism used in a number of blockchain projects, as well as the promises of unearned wealth, should not be taken lightly:

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:25

The earthly riches and success does not absolutely prevent you from approaching God's kingdom, but it easily confuses your heart.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

A person’s life does not consist in the possessions that he has.

Luke 12:15

Give amply to the poor and trust God's providence both in this life and the next. His time is perfect, even when it doesn't feel that way at all. He draws straight in crooked lines, as Francis-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận said.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Sell your possessions and give alms; provide yourselves with purses in heaven.

Luke 12:33

Much less do, I want to raise Satoshi, Buterin, Bitcoin, or Ethereum to the level of Moses, Jesus, Christianity or the church. After all, winning an eternal presence in the loving and living heavenly existence is beyond any earthly pleasure and gain, as many mystics have explained.

Sor Faustina writes in her Diary (entry 777):

I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God.

I saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will never comprehend or fathom.

This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures.

Now I understand Saint Paul, who said, “Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, not has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him.”

And God has given me to understand that there is but one thing that is of infinite value in His eyes, and that is love of God; love, love and once again, love; and nothing can compare with a single act of pure love of God.

Oh, with what inconceivable favors God gifts a soul that loves Him sincerely! Oh, how happy is the soul who already here on earth enjoys His special favors! And of such are the little and humble souls.

The sight of this great majesty of God, which I came to understand more profoundly and which is worshipped by the heavenly spirits according to their degree of grace and the hierarchies into which they are divided, did not cause my soul to be stricken with terror or fear; no, no, not at all!

My soul was filled with peace and love, and the more I come to know the greatness of God, the more joyful I become that He is as He is.

And I rejoice immensely in His greatness and am delighted that I am so little because, since I am little, He carries me in His arms and holds me close to His Heart.

O my God, how I pity those people who do not believe in eternal life; how I pray for them that a ray of mercy would envelop them too, and that God would clasp them to His fatherly bosom... "

However, the procedural understanding of the spreading of crypto currency techonologies can be of great help to understand why God's plan cannot be contemplated, simplistically, from a single point in time, or judging the old testament as perfectly moral or eternally applicable. Just as crypto currencies and ICOs depend on acting in a sequence of phases, so does God's plan. Thus, the contrast between the Old Testament and the New can be compared to the contrast between different phases of the idea of currency itself, as I have described in this article.

We don't know when the heavenly mining stops and apocalypse kicks in, whatever that means, take your precautions. It will come like a thief in the night. The strong advice from this ex-atheist, having often felt the finger of God nudge his life, is to use your absolute freedom (and responsibility) to start mining now, especially as master node, or at least get some of that kingdom coin.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21