A little story from the past: There is an ancient legend about a young man named Damocles who was a court flatterer to the forth century BC tyrant, Dionysius II of Syracuse in Greek Southern Italy. Daily, Damocles would flatter the king by telling him how lucky he was to have such a great position with all its complimentary wealth and sumptuous living. One day Dionysius turned to Damocles and commented, “If you think I’m so lucky, how would you like to try my life?” Damocles immediately accepted the opportunity to take the king’s position and once Dionysius had made all the preparations Damocles took the king’s place. It wasn’t long, however, before Damocles looked up and noticed a polished and sharpened sword dangling precariously over his head by a single long horse hair. Damocles quickly came to the conclusion that the king’s position was not so desirable after all and quickly returned to his former life.
Deaf ears: We have an interesting correlation here between Damocles’ predicament and the one we have here in the United States. Once Damocles had assessed his situation and noticed the peril he was in, he quickly returned to his former existence. Not so with America. Our leaders have failed to assess many things properly in God’s eyes and so our nation remains firmly seated in defiant rebellion against the One who raised us up for a time such as this. For many years God has sent a wide variety of remedial chastisements to our land in the form of hurricanes, tornado outbreaks and severe storms, destructive flood and fire events, terrorism and lately the financial crisis. All this, it seems, has fallen on deaf ears. Like beasts penned up for slaughter, the vast majority of us, both Christian and non-Christian alike, living here in United States have failed to notice the sword that is hanging so precariously over our heads. Our nation has been living in the shadow of the “Damocles Sword” of God’s judgment for a long time and our new presidential administration under the guidance of Barack Hussein Obama is working feverishly to carry us to a much deeper level of rebellion against our Creator.
A nation with a purpose: Not so long ago in the pages of our history, the founding fathers of our nation left the religiously oppressive climate in England to establish a government in a new land that would be free for all who chose to operate on God’s principles and under His direct leadership. We have not been perfect, we’ve certainly proved over time as many sad and deplorable acts against humanity have happened at the hands of our own citizens. But in many good ways we have served as a beacon of hope to countless millions who have sought to find a safer better place to raise their families and follow the desires of their heart. Our nation was built on the foundation of Biblical principles and because of our Christian heritage there has never been a nation in the history of the world that has been blessed with such a degree of prosperity for its citizens. In view of these things, there are some pressing questions that must be asked. Why did God bring forth a nation such as this? Why have we been so greatly blessed? Scripture demonstrates that God has a purpose and plan for all things and our nation has served Him in three basic but very important ways:
Missionary outreach: We have had the largest concentration of Bible believing Christians in the world who have worked hard to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth and help others less fortunate than themselves.
Safe haven for God’s “chosen people” the Jews. Many Jews at times in the past have migrated to America to escape religious and ethnic tyranny and have thrived to become prominent leaders and business people.
Israel’s guardian and watchman: Since 1948 our nation has served as a guardian and protector of the fledgling State of Israel. (ref: Genesis 12: 1-3)
Why does a nation forget God? It seems that when prosperity and material gain increase, dependence on and reverence for God decrease. This is what ancient Israel was guilty of before God. Their leaders loved money and praise and it lead them into all kinds of immorality. As they became prosperous and strong, they became self reliant and began to do their own thing like worshipping the idol gods of the nations that surrounded them. In spite of all the warning He gave to them through the prophets, they failed to give the one true God all the glory and praise deserving of His love and His great name. This of course resulted in God expelling His wrath upon them.
God broke the back of Egypt forcing them to release Israel. After Israel became free they sinned against God and He forced them to wander in the desert for 40 years until that generation was dead. Just prior to them entering the Holy Land, God warned Israel:
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery…. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deut 8: 10-14, 18-18)
So how does this apply to America? Have we been unfaithful to God and worshipped other gods of our own making? I would say so. Our nation worships money and free and unrestricted sex and we have sacrificed millions of our unborn children on the graven alter of immorality. Since the 1973 “Roe v. Wade” legislation, abortionists have murdered one sixth of our population, that’s about 50 Million babies struck down in abortion mills. One of the first things that the Obama administration did after coming into power was to reinstate the “Mexico City Act” which funded overseas abortion clinics with U.S. tax dollars. Then on March 9, 2009, President Obama also signed an order lifting restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. At the Whitehouse website (www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/women) under “Reproductive Choice” it states, “However he (President Obama) has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration.”
Abortion is not the only way we have spurned God. Add to that violent crime, pornography, drug abuse, prostitution, the ever increasing likelihood that gay marriage will be legalized across the nation and it all adds up to great trouble for our nation. It seems that our prosperity has made us fat and lazy. We have allowed the wicked in our midst to turn our hearts far from God and we have been suffering remedial judgments from God for a number of years yet we haven’t learned anything from it. Again, this is what happened to ancient Israel. God gave Ezekiel this warning to pass onto the Children of Israel:
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.
"Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.
"Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, 'Let the sword pass throughout the land,' and I kill its men and their animals, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.
"Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness. (Ezekiel 14: 13-20) This is chilling!!!!
Land for Peace: One of the fastest ways to get on the bad side of God is to place oneself against the nation and people of Israel. God is jealous for His people Israel and He has always had a very close personal relationship with them. This is the central theme of ancient scripture. God made a covenant with Abraham, their founding father, promising to make his descendents into a great nation and God gave them a certain land to dwell in as an eternal possession. Since the re-gathering of the Jews back to the land in 1948, the Land of Israel and the capitol city of Jerusalem have become fiercely coveted by the Muslim nations that surround Israel. They have promised to make the waters of the Mediterranean Sea red with the blood of the Jews as they cleanse the land of the Jewish presence. God promised to bless those who blessed Abraham’s offspring and to curse those who cursed his descendants through Isaac and Jacob. (ref: Genesis 12: 1-3)
Our nation has been engaging in an ongoing campaign with the United Nations, European Union and Russia to force Israel ever closer into accepting a “land for peace” deal with their sworn enemies. This began when the George H.W. Bush administration invited Israel to participate in the Madrid Conference in October 1991. Each successive administration has worked to achieve peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis by forcing Israel to make land concessions but failure is always the predicted outcome because there is only one partner interested in securing a lasting and real peace.
The current Obama administration doesn’t seem to be a strong supporter of the nation of Israel. They strongly support a two state solution which is in violation of God’s Word. What they ultimately do in the future remains to be seen. President Obama has been traveling around the world apologizing to our fascist enemies for actions that our nation has taken in the past to suppress their horrendous civil rights violations so it seems unlikely that he will take positive actions to protect Israel from attack by their aggressive neighbors.
America, the fading star: Our nation, a great leader and superpower of the free world, really doesn’t appear to have a significant role in the “end times” scenario as laid out in Scripture. When or how our fall from prominence will take place is uncertain. Will we see it or will it happen after the Rapture of the church? Will it be a gradual decline or a massive fall? These are all questions to be answered by the passage of time. For those of us who have placed our trust in the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus, we can rest with the assurance of eternal life in His glorious presence.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev. 21: 1-4)
But for the dwellers of this world and those who place their trust in man and swear allegiance to a nation no matter what path it chooses to follow, perhaps this is what awaits.
"Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief. And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every knee become as weak as water.' It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD." The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord says:
" 'A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished - sharpened for the slaughter, polished, and flashing like lightning! " You my son have despised the rod and all advice. " 'The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand, it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer. (Ezekiel 21: 6-10)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Hell Hath Enlarged Herself
Hell is in the center of our Earth, where molten rock and brimstone cast themselves about like a Tsunami out of the deep. This hellish place did not exist when God the eternal Father created a perfect world. The world was a garden paradise, where the loving Father could step out of His Ivory City to walk in fellowship with His earthly family. It appears that He created the Earth for His pleasure and retreat like a great garden in the suburbs of Heavenly Jerusalem. The space or distance between the Heavenly City and the Father’s paradise garden probably did not exist until sin was judged.
Satan was still a beautiful angel and walked about in God’s city and His garden. He was a breathtaking being to behold. Music flowed from Him in its created splendor and blessed the ears of all God’s universe. Ezekiel spoke of this excellent created cherub, “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezekiel 28:13).
Satan had been created as a masterpiece, revealing the uniqueness of God’s creative powers. He was a jewel in the family of angels; however, his pride somehow caused him to see his beauty as his gift to God instead of God’s gift to him. He used his charm to deceive a great company of angels and, together, they rebelled against the Sovereign God. They were cast out of Heaven and left without any permanent dwelling place. This entire company of Satan and his fallen angels has been vagabonds from that day.
Using a beautiful creature as his disguise to sneak into the Garden of Eden revealed his fallen mind as he sought to get even with the Father. In the process He turned that creature into a snake. From the moment Satan was cast out of Heaven, he has had to use trickery in all of his designs. Honesty, beauty, and righteousness do not exist in his world. “. . . For he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). He cannot create, he can only destroy. Remember, he had walked in that garden in the splendor of his created beauty. He had thrilled God’s entire universe with Heavenly music that revealed the highest form of worship. He was one of God’s grandest angels, but now he returned disguised as a snake in his fallen condition.
In every place where men give him room, he produces a wilderness. His powers are still paranormal as are all of God’s angels -- fallen or unfallen -- but not supernatural. God’s holy angels can do supernatural things at God’s command but not in and of themselves.
This worldwide calamity of Satan had to be judged and the Father created a place called Hell in the heart or center of His earth. The earth’s magnetism demanded great heat within its center to make our world cohesive and inhabitable. It was the chosen place to which Jesus commanded the wicked be exiled and locked up forever.
The souls of the wicked are consigned to this horrible place, but it was not created for them. The Bible clearly states it was created for the devil and his angels, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). The souls of men go there because they choose to follow Satan’s kingdom and to reject God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation. Such a multitude has chosen Satan and his world over God and His offer that Hell must be constantly enlarged. The Bible states, “Therefore Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it” (Isaiah 5:14). < /div>
There are literally three Hells that await the wicked persons and even morally good people that reject Jesus Christ. God created us for Himself. To reject His Lordship over our lives is to be lost forever. Hell will be filled with the most despicable of wicked souls, but also the careless souls who live valuable lives but refuse the mastery of Christ.
The first Hell is in this life and is represented by multitudes that hear the Gospel, experience the Spirit’s conviction, but sin away the grace His Spirit offers. Noah’s day was a picture of these blasphemous persons that rejected mercy and died in the flood. A growing spirit of blasphemy is gripping our world. Once the Holy Spirit withdraws Himself from a person, it is Hell on earth for that soul. A great majority of today’s population is on this road to despair. Probably the greatest percentage of today’s world has sinned away grace than at any time since those that rejected Noah’s message and laughed at the ark he was building. There is a growing hatred for the prophecy message because it represents the same truth and escape as Noah’s Ark.
Hell in the center of our earth is the present place of every lost soul that has died since creation. Preachers in our day are preaching a vast number of souls into Heaven that are forever damned in Hell. Nothing could be sadder than the deception about Hell in our pulpits. If anger can make Hell worse, there will certainly be a multitude of ministers that will be cursed by the lost for eternity.
Jesus settled the question of eternal fire in His Biblical story of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus’ exact words were, “And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke16:23-24). Anyone that denies that Hell is a place of eternal fire and torment speaks the language of Biblical confusion and denial.
The third possibility of Hell is called the “Lake of Fire.” The Bible gives the location of this damnable place. The ruins of the City of Babylon have been the very center of satanic activities since early history. John describes the scene, “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation (dwelling place) of devils, and the hold (captive) of every foul spirit, and a cage (locked) of every unclean and hateful bird”(Revelation 18:2).
Isaiah describes the joining of Hell in the heart of the Earth to the ruins of Babylon, where the Lake of Fire will be located. Concerning Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire, he stated, “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations” (Isaiah 14:9).
The multitudes that are dying without the righteousness of Christ are forever lost. Hell may be full, but it is enlarging its border for the next wave of the damned. The name of Jesus Christ alone is God’s escape from eternal judgment in unquenchable fire.
Satan was still a beautiful angel and walked about in God’s city and His garden. He was a breathtaking being to behold. Music flowed from Him in its created splendor and blessed the ears of all God’s universe. Ezekiel spoke of this excellent created cherub, “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezekiel 28:13).
Satan had been created as a masterpiece, revealing the uniqueness of God’s creative powers. He was a jewel in the family of angels; however, his pride somehow caused him to see his beauty as his gift to God instead of God’s gift to him. He used his charm to deceive a great company of angels and, together, they rebelled against the Sovereign God. They were cast out of Heaven and left without any permanent dwelling place. This entire company of Satan and his fallen angels has been vagabonds from that day.
Using a beautiful creature as his disguise to sneak into the Garden of Eden revealed his fallen mind as he sought to get even with the Father. In the process He turned that creature into a snake. From the moment Satan was cast out of Heaven, he has had to use trickery in all of his designs. Honesty, beauty, and righteousness do not exist in his world. “. . . For he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). He cannot create, he can only destroy. Remember, he had walked in that garden in the splendor of his created beauty. He had thrilled God’s entire universe with Heavenly music that revealed the highest form of worship. He was one of God’s grandest angels, but now he returned disguised as a snake in his fallen condition.
In every place where men give him room, he produces a wilderness. His powers are still paranormal as are all of God’s angels -- fallen or unfallen -- but not supernatural. God’s holy angels can do supernatural things at God’s command but not in and of themselves.
This worldwide calamity of Satan had to be judged and the Father created a place called Hell in the heart or center of His earth. The earth’s magnetism demanded great heat within its center to make our world cohesive and inhabitable. It was the chosen place to which Jesus commanded the wicked be exiled and locked up forever.
The souls of the wicked are consigned to this horrible place, but it was not created for them. The Bible clearly states it was created for the devil and his angels, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). The souls of men go there because they choose to follow Satan’s kingdom and to reject God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation. Such a multitude has chosen Satan and his world over God and His offer that Hell must be constantly enlarged. The Bible states, “Therefore Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it” (Isaiah 5:14). < /div>
There are literally three Hells that await the wicked persons and even morally good people that reject Jesus Christ. God created us for Himself. To reject His Lordship over our lives is to be lost forever. Hell will be filled with the most despicable of wicked souls, but also the careless souls who live valuable lives but refuse the mastery of Christ.
The first Hell is in this life and is represented by multitudes that hear the Gospel, experience the Spirit’s conviction, but sin away the grace His Spirit offers. Noah’s day was a picture of these blasphemous persons that rejected mercy and died in the flood. A growing spirit of blasphemy is gripping our world. Once the Holy Spirit withdraws Himself from a person, it is Hell on earth for that soul. A great majority of today’s population is on this road to despair. Probably the greatest percentage of today’s world has sinned away grace than at any time since those that rejected Noah’s message and laughed at the ark he was building. There is a growing hatred for the prophecy message because it represents the same truth and escape as Noah’s Ark.
Hell in the center of our earth is the present place of every lost soul that has died since creation. Preachers in our day are preaching a vast number of souls into Heaven that are forever damned in Hell. Nothing could be sadder than the deception about Hell in our pulpits. If anger can make Hell worse, there will certainly be a multitude of ministers that will be cursed by the lost for eternity.
Jesus settled the question of eternal fire in His Biblical story of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus’ exact words were, “And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke16:23-24). Anyone that denies that Hell is a place of eternal fire and torment speaks the language of Biblical confusion and denial.
The third possibility of Hell is called the “Lake of Fire.” The Bible gives the location of this damnable place. The ruins of the City of Babylon have been the very center of satanic activities since early history. John describes the scene, “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation (dwelling place) of devils, and the hold (captive) of every foul spirit, and a cage (locked) of every unclean and hateful bird”(Revelation 18:2).
Isaiah describes the joining of Hell in the heart of the Earth to the ruins of Babylon, where the Lake of Fire will be located. Concerning Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire, he stated, “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations” (Isaiah 14:9).
The multitudes that are dying without the righteousness of Christ are forever lost. Hell may be full, but it is enlarging its border for the next wave of the damned. The name of Jesus Christ alone is God’s escape from eternal judgment in unquenchable fire.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Silence of the Lambs
As we’re reading and studying our Bibles and hopefully taking God’s word seriously, we become empowered by the Holy Spirit to pass on our knowledge to others. As we learn our purpose in God’s plan we should become bolder with His message. And this new boldness of ours is contagious as we reach out to the lost. We teach others what we really believe about Jesus and we help them to see the truth, the truth about the transforming power of God. But along with our new God given purpose comes a not so pleasant consequence.
Believers, true believers that is, become a target for the enemy. Satan places a huge bull’s eye on those who are actually upholding God’s inerrant word and preaching the Gospel, and then directs his followers to attack and destroy those targets. This satanic attack will not diminish until Jesus removes His Church from planet earth. If you are one of those who actively follow Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel, you are currently wearing that target everywhere you go.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. Many times in the Bible believers are referred to as sheep or lambs. Jesus referred to those who follow Him as His sheep. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. Even though Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd He still sends His flock out among the wolves. “...behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3.
Who are the wolves Jesus speaks about? Satan’s followers, all unbelievers. You may think I’m crass in my assessment of unbelievers, but you must understand what Jesus Himself tells us about unbelievers. In the book of Matthew Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me...” Matthew 12:30. Who is against Jesus? Satan. So if you’re not with Jesus then you’re with Satan. If you have a problem with this Biblical assessment of all unbelievers, your problem is actually with the author and finisher of my faith, not me.
Recently in the news there’s been talk of pro-life adherents and those who are opposed to same sex marriages, as well as prophecy buffs and people who don’t care for the current government administration, as being considered potential rightwing terrorists. Many of the folks in this category are born again believers in Christ. As our government moves even further into a posture of enacting new legislation designed for the eventual elimination of all opposition to the current regime more and more of these kinds of verbal attacks will occur to the ultimate goal of the silencing of the lambs.
This is just one more attempt by Satan to accomplish his agenda. His strategy is to eradicate all opposition to his lies. If Satan can keep believers quiet when it comes to witnessing it cuts down on his loses. By loses I mean when believers witness to someone and the Holy Spirit moves in that person’s life and they become born again, Satan loses one more soul. That fact ultimately results in even more pressure coming to bear on Satan’s followers consequently they will press in even harder on the lambs of Christ.
In all the history of the Church, Satan’s attacks have not stopped. His maligning and horrible attacks on Christ’s church are recorded throughout history. We must remember that even though there have been numerous endeavors to silence the lambs of Christ all those satanic attempts have ended up as dismal failures. That’s because Satan is a dismal failure. He’s not god, he’s not even a god, he’s a fallen angel bent on destroying humankind.
“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:8. We belong to Jesus Christ not Satan, and we don’t listen to Satan or his minions of evil. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14. Believers in Christ are attentive only to our Lords voice and we follow Him and Him alone. Satan has no authority or power over believers; we became the property of Jesus Christ at our conversion. Satan still wields all authority over nonbelievers and they foolishly continue to follow him. That’s a truth that’s quite evident in our society today.
The freedoms we once enjoyed are eroding quickly. Whether it began on President Bush’s watch or President Clinton’s or even prior administrations isn’t really the question. It was bound to happen because this world is under Satan’s watch. Many people email me saying the Republicans are just as responsible for the current situation as Democrats. No argument here. Many believe Bush was the instigator of all we see that has recently changed the world for the worse. Was Bush responsible for all the immorality currently being promoted from within this country and distributed worldwide? Hardly, that is Satan’s accomplishment. I’m not disagreeing with anyone about when it started only by whom it was started. Here’s a clue, it wasn’t a man. Understand, though, that men propagate this supernatural being’s agenda to their own ends – for their own selfish lusts and desires and to their own demise.
Who’s currently pushing for the total collapse of our present way of life here in America ? We know Satan’s agenda is to silence the body of Christ, to force us into submission, and to cause a change in us that will mold us into zombies such as the unbelievers who currently follow him. Without men who are under his control, Satan could not move even one inch forward. Satan places evil thoughts in men’s minds but men act on those evils because men’s hearts are wicked. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
A born again believer, born from God, in Christ, will never go so far as to disparage God’s word, and be so ashamed of his or her salvation that they would have nothing at all to do with the cross of Christ. Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn’t mean they are born again. Many so called Christians don’t even know what it means to be born again. We must look at their fruit, the fruit of their lives in Christ. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. If their fruit points to silencing the lambs of Christ that would be a good indication that that person isn’t concerned with bearing good fruit and the love of God is not in him. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.
The silencing of the lambs of God is currently well underway by our current President. No one can legitimately dispute that claim. Especially, in light of the statements made by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano referring to all those individuals who oppose even one aspect of the current administrations agenda as being possible rightwing terrorist. Can there be any doubt that there is a push on to silence Jesus’ lambs? Believers have the truth but those who are perishing can’t stand to hear the truth so they will stop at nothing to silence the lambs. They will even create laws to force Christ’s lambs into submission. It’s happening even as you’re reading this commentary. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; ...” Psalm 23:4.
Some say I spend too much time lambasting our current government administration and not enough time promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ve written hundreds of commentaries over the past three years with the intent of spreading the Gospel, and yet less than 5% of which have had anything whatsoever to do with confronting the evil behind our current or past government leadership. I believe it is the calling of all those who have the gift of discernment to get the truth out as watchmen on the wall.
Everyone who has the eyes of discernment can see what’s happening in our land. There is a supernatural force at work here moving at seemingly breakneck speed to force the lambs of Christ into silence. If you are one of those with this God given ability you should be shouting this travesty from the rooftops. This is not just a US phenomenon. All of you that email me from outside the US, from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Spain, South America, and Canada, wherever you’re from, this satanic agenda of silencing the lambs of Christ is either coming your way or you’re already well aware of it. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.
Just by writing about the truth of the Gospel has the distinct possibility of positioning Christians on a US government list of rightwing extremism, and therefore a potential threat to the stability of our government. Mark my words it won’t be long before all preaching of the truth will be outlawed because it is currently being perceived as “hate speech”. Thus we see a continual satanic drive on for the silencing of the lambs.
Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9. How much clearer could it be? We are to preach the Gospel as Paul did in his lifetime but there will be consequences associated with that preaching. Paul faced numerous attempts on his life yet persevered until the end. God’s peace shall be with us as we proclaim His message unabashed. This boldness will no doubt infuriate our enemies and cause a great amount of scorn from those who follow Satan. Indeed our well being may be in jeopardy as we continue in God’s will.
My desire is not to come off as arrogant or prideful or even condescending, but to help block the onslaught of determined foes attempting to silence the lambs of Christ. As I read about the various scenarios currently being promoted by the current administration to accomplish their satanic task I must continue to try and build a wall of faith among the believers that won’t be breached by the enemy’s fear mongers. As the new laws in this land are passed to silence the lambs – fear will be the biggest factor.
Lies abound and the enemy has many on his side to help him achieve his desired goals. We believers will continue to be pressed from every side as we remain faithful in our Christian walk. These fear mongers are quite wrong when they say we conspire to overthrow our own government. We do not need to overthrow any of earth’s governments because One is coming who will sit on the throne of David. He shall rule and reign with power and great glory and the entire world will worship Him. There’s nothing this current group of foolish followers of Satan can accomplish which will have any lasting results on silencing the lambs. Jesus Christ will overthrow all this world’s evil governments at His very appearing. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11.
We do preach, though, that a new government is on the way who’s King will not take sides as to who is His favorite but He will be King over all inhabitants of earth and there will be no opposition to His Kingship. Satan knows this as fact and is working feverishly to accomplish his goal before his time is up. Praise be to God, for we know Satan has already been defeated. Defeated at the cross of Christ.
These simple words that I’ve typed here could, without a doubt, get me placed on my governments list of subversives, those of a rightwing terrorist persuasion. If so, so be it. My King is and always will be King and I need not fear those who are perishing. My voice shall not be quenched nor shall that of my true brethren. We will hold fast to the faith and occupy ‘til He comes. My fellow lambs, be ye not silenced.
Believers, true believers that is, become a target for the enemy. Satan places a huge bull’s eye on those who are actually upholding God’s inerrant word and preaching the Gospel, and then directs his followers to attack and destroy those targets. This satanic attack will not diminish until Jesus removes His Church from planet earth. If you are one of those who actively follow Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel, you are currently wearing that target everywhere you go.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. Many times in the Bible believers are referred to as sheep or lambs. Jesus referred to those who follow Him as His sheep. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. Even though Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd He still sends His flock out among the wolves. “...behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3.
Who are the wolves Jesus speaks about? Satan’s followers, all unbelievers. You may think I’m crass in my assessment of unbelievers, but you must understand what Jesus Himself tells us about unbelievers. In the book of Matthew Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me...” Matthew 12:30. Who is against Jesus? Satan. So if you’re not with Jesus then you’re with Satan. If you have a problem with this Biblical assessment of all unbelievers, your problem is actually with the author and finisher of my faith, not me.
Recently in the news there’s been talk of pro-life adherents and those who are opposed to same sex marriages, as well as prophecy buffs and people who don’t care for the current government administration, as being considered potential rightwing terrorists. Many of the folks in this category are born again believers in Christ. As our government moves even further into a posture of enacting new legislation designed for the eventual elimination of all opposition to the current regime more and more of these kinds of verbal attacks will occur to the ultimate goal of the silencing of the lambs.
This is just one more attempt by Satan to accomplish his agenda. His strategy is to eradicate all opposition to his lies. If Satan can keep believers quiet when it comes to witnessing it cuts down on his loses. By loses I mean when believers witness to someone and the Holy Spirit moves in that person’s life and they become born again, Satan loses one more soul. That fact ultimately results in even more pressure coming to bear on Satan’s followers consequently they will press in even harder on the lambs of Christ.
In all the history of the Church, Satan’s attacks have not stopped. His maligning and horrible attacks on Christ’s church are recorded throughout history. We must remember that even though there have been numerous endeavors to silence the lambs of Christ all those satanic attempts have ended up as dismal failures. That’s because Satan is a dismal failure. He’s not god, he’s not even a god, he’s a fallen angel bent on destroying humankind.
“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:8. We belong to Jesus Christ not Satan, and we don’t listen to Satan or his minions of evil. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14. Believers in Christ are attentive only to our Lords voice and we follow Him and Him alone. Satan has no authority or power over believers; we became the property of Jesus Christ at our conversion. Satan still wields all authority over nonbelievers and they foolishly continue to follow him. That’s a truth that’s quite evident in our society today.
The freedoms we once enjoyed are eroding quickly. Whether it began on President Bush’s watch or President Clinton’s or even prior administrations isn’t really the question. It was bound to happen because this world is under Satan’s watch. Many people email me saying the Republicans are just as responsible for the current situation as Democrats. No argument here. Many believe Bush was the instigator of all we see that has recently changed the world for the worse. Was Bush responsible for all the immorality currently being promoted from within this country and distributed worldwide? Hardly, that is Satan’s accomplishment. I’m not disagreeing with anyone about when it started only by whom it was started. Here’s a clue, it wasn’t a man. Understand, though, that men propagate this supernatural being’s agenda to their own ends – for their own selfish lusts and desires and to their own demise.
Who’s currently pushing for the total collapse of our present way of life here in America ? We know Satan’s agenda is to silence the body of Christ, to force us into submission, and to cause a change in us that will mold us into zombies such as the unbelievers who currently follow him. Without men who are under his control, Satan could not move even one inch forward. Satan places evil thoughts in men’s minds but men act on those evils because men’s hearts are wicked. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
A born again believer, born from God, in Christ, will never go so far as to disparage God’s word, and be so ashamed of his or her salvation that they would have nothing at all to do with the cross of Christ. Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn’t mean they are born again. Many so called Christians don’t even know what it means to be born again. We must look at their fruit, the fruit of their lives in Christ. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. If their fruit points to silencing the lambs of Christ that would be a good indication that that person isn’t concerned with bearing good fruit and the love of God is not in him. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.
The silencing of the lambs of God is currently well underway by our current President. No one can legitimately dispute that claim. Especially, in light of the statements made by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano referring to all those individuals who oppose even one aspect of the current administrations agenda as being possible rightwing terrorist. Can there be any doubt that there is a push on to silence Jesus’ lambs? Believers have the truth but those who are perishing can’t stand to hear the truth so they will stop at nothing to silence the lambs. They will even create laws to force Christ’s lambs into submission. It’s happening even as you’re reading this commentary. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; ...” Psalm 23:4.
Some say I spend too much time lambasting our current government administration and not enough time promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ve written hundreds of commentaries over the past three years with the intent of spreading the Gospel, and yet less than 5% of which have had anything whatsoever to do with confronting the evil behind our current or past government leadership. I believe it is the calling of all those who have the gift of discernment to get the truth out as watchmen on the wall.
Everyone who has the eyes of discernment can see what’s happening in our land. There is a supernatural force at work here moving at seemingly breakneck speed to force the lambs of Christ into silence. If you are one of those with this God given ability you should be shouting this travesty from the rooftops. This is not just a US phenomenon. All of you that email me from outside the US, from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Spain, South America, and Canada, wherever you’re from, this satanic agenda of silencing the lambs of Christ is either coming your way or you’re already well aware of it. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.
Just by writing about the truth of the Gospel has the distinct possibility of positioning Christians on a US government list of rightwing extremism, and therefore a potential threat to the stability of our government. Mark my words it won’t be long before all preaching of the truth will be outlawed because it is currently being perceived as “hate speech”. Thus we see a continual satanic drive on for the silencing of the lambs.
Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9. How much clearer could it be? We are to preach the Gospel as Paul did in his lifetime but there will be consequences associated with that preaching. Paul faced numerous attempts on his life yet persevered until the end. God’s peace shall be with us as we proclaim His message unabashed. This boldness will no doubt infuriate our enemies and cause a great amount of scorn from those who follow Satan. Indeed our well being may be in jeopardy as we continue in God’s will.
My desire is not to come off as arrogant or prideful or even condescending, but to help block the onslaught of determined foes attempting to silence the lambs of Christ. As I read about the various scenarios currently being promoted by the current administration to accomplish their satanic task I must continue to try and build a wall of faith among the believers that won’t be breached by the enemy’s fear mongers. As the new laws in this land are passed to silence the lambs – fear will be the biggest factor.
Lies abound and the enemy has many on his side to help him achieve his desired goals. We believers will continue to be pressed from every side as we remain faithful in our Christian walk. These fear mongers are quite wrong when they say we conspire to overthrow our own government. We do not need to overthrow any of earth’s governments because One is coming who will sit on the throne of David. He shall rule and reign with power and great glory and the entire world will worship Him. There’s nothing this current group of foolish followers of Satan can accomplish which will have any lasting results on silencing the lambs. Jesus Christ will overthrow all this world’s evil governments at His very appearing. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11.
We do preach, though, that a new government is on the way who’s King will not take sides as to who is His favorite but He will be King over all inhabitants of earth and there will be no opposition to His Kingship. Satan knows this as fact and is working feverishly to accomplish his goal before his time is up. Praise be to God, for we know Satan has already been defeated. Defeated at the cross of Christ.
These simple words that I’ve typed here could, without a doubt, get me placed on my governments list of subversives, those of a rightwing terrorist persuasion. If so, so be it. My King is and always will be King and I need not fear those who are perishing. My voice shall not be quenched nor shall that of my true brethren. We will hold fast to the faith and occupy ‘til He comes. My fellow lambs, be ye not silenced.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Moving Toward 666
Bible prophecy students who hold to a literal interpretation of prophecy yet future–futurists, as we are sometimes termed—have long speculated how America might figure into the ultimate system of control of the beast regime. That Antichrist economic/worship system is foretold in the following:
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:15-18).
America–but not Al Gore, as he has claimed--was at the heart of developing the internet. The internet is a type of medium that more and more looks to be one a hybrid of which might deliver on the globalist elite’s ambition to intricately link everyone on the planet in a person-to-person system of governance. More than coincidentally, such an internet hybrid will almost certainly produce, through electronic bondage, the Antichrist dictatorship that will enslave everyone on the planet.
We should expect, based upon the many proliferating end-of-days signals now occurring in birth pang-like frequency and intensity, that there should also be found on the prophetic horizon such an enslavement system in the making. Sure enough, there is such a system developing, and, again, the United States of America is at the forefront, just as the nation is at the forefront of the gush toward globalism.
The once mighty U.S. dollar is being systematically rendered the equal of all other of the world’s currencies. This is being done through printing trillions of dollars that have nothing of substance backing them whatever, and by U.S. leadership intentionally melding America’s sovereignty with a swiftly changing global monetary order.
The great tax-and-spend powers that be have been turning up every stone known to the fiscal world to find a way to exact tax revenues from use of the internet. Believe me when I tell you that they will be able to do this at some point in the near future. The voracious tax grab must first, of course, be shown to have a dramatic reason to be done. A crisis must be at hand, you see, in order to justify such invasion into the individual liberty intrinsic within the internet. No doubt, the crisis must involve national security so that we the people will be afraid not to go along.
Try this on for size, my fellow citizens…
“The President has likened threats to the internet to that of a nuclear attack. The White House should take direct control of US cybersecurity, the woman tipped to be President Obama's net security czar has said. Melissa Hathaway told a conference in San Francisco that the net had not been built with safety in mind.
She has just completed a review of cybersecurity for the President.
‘This poses one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. Cyberspace won't be secured overnight on the basis of one good plan,’ she said…
President Obama has made the issue of cybersecurity a top priority and ordered this 60-day review to determine how the government should dramatically restructure how it handles the internet and security… Recent breaches have targeted the US power grid and the Pentagon.
To date, the government has kept its own counsel on the shape of its new cybersecurity establishment. However it has been reported the administration has finalized plans for a new Pentagon cyber command to coordinate the security of military computer networks…” (“US ramps up cybersecurity focus,” Maggie Shiels, BBC News, RSA Conference San Francisco, 4/24/09).
The American administration’s determination to bring the internet–and all involved within the medium--under strict government control proves there are plans for new bureaucracy on the drawing board of ever bigger government. It is only a matter of time–a very brief time, I suggest—until such bureaucracy will be constructed globally. It is just such a construct from which I believe the 666 mark and numbering system of Revelation 13:15-18 will ultimately emerge.
The super internet will have at its core the use of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) monetary units. Such will eliminate, the developers and implementers will claim, theft of money that the hard currencies have presented. The problems that are part of national currencies will also be eliminated, or at least made controllable, they will assure, such as problems involved with the rates of exchange of one national currency against another.
The ultimately evolved super internet system will have at its heart a computer marking and numbering system that will electronically link the individual with a central controlling entity whereby all people can be monitored and instantly dealt with as necessary. Bible prophecy foretells this whole diabolist ball of wax will revolve around worship of the beast–Antichrist. This will take place during the tribulation era, the time of God’s wrath against rebellious earth dwellers (Rev. 6: 17). However, Satan’s scheme to ultimately have all of humanity worship him will not touch saints of the Church Age (Age of Grace).
Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:16). The Apostle Paul said: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thess. 5: 9-11).
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:15-18).
America–but not Al Gore, as he has claimed--was at the heart of developing the internet. The internet is a type of medium that more and more looks to be one a hybrid of which might deliver on the globalist elite’s ambition to intricately link everyone on the planet in a person-to-person system of governance. More than coincidentally, such an internet hybrid will almost certainly produce, through electronic bondage, the Antichrist dictatorship that will enslave everyone on the planet.
We should expect, based upon the many proliferating end-of-days signals now occurring in birth pang-like frequency and intensity, that there should also be found on the prophetic horizon such an enslavement system in the making. Sure enough, there is such a system developing, and, again, the United States of America is at the forefront, just as the nation is at the forefront of the gush toward globalism.
The once mighty U.S. dollar is being systematically rendered the equal of all other of the world’s currencies. This is being done through printing trillions of dollars that have nothing of substance backing them whatever, and by U.S. leadership intentionally melding America’s sovereignty with a swiftly changing global monetary order.
The great tax-and-spend powers that be have been turning up every stone known to the fiscal world to find a way to exact tax revenues from use of the internet. Believe me when I tell you that they will be able to do this at some point in the near future. The voracious tax grab must first, of course, be shown to have a dramatic reason to be done. A crisis must be at hand, you see, in order to justify such invasion into the individual liberty intrinsic within the internet. No doubt, the crisis must involve national security so that we the people will be afraid not to go along.
Try this on for size, my fellow citizens…
“The President has likened threats to the internet to that of a nuclear attack. The White House should take direct control of US cybersecurity, the woman tipped to be President Obama's net security czar has said. Melissa Hathaway told a conference in San Francisco that the net had not been built with safety in mind.
She has just completed a review of cybersecurity for the President.
‘This poses one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. Cyberspace won't be secured overnight on the basis of one good plan,’ she said…
President Obama has made the issue of cybersecurity a top priority and ordered this 60-day review to determine how the government should dramatically restructure how it handles the internet and security… Recent breaches have targeted the US power grid and the Pentagon.
To date, the government has kept its own counsel on the shape of its new cybersecurity establishment. However it has been reported the administration has finalized plans for a new Pentagon cyber command to coordinate the security of military computer networks…” (“US ramps up cybersecurity focus,” Maggie Shiels, BBC News, RSA Conference San Francisco, 4/24/09).
The American administration’s determination to bring the internet–and all involved within the medium--under strict government control proves there are plans for new bureaucracy on the drawing board of ever bigger government. It is only a matter of time–a very brief time, I suggest—until such bureaucracy will be constructed globally. It is just such a construct from which I believe the 666 mark and numbering system of Revelation 13:15-18 will ultimately emerge.
The super internet will have at its core the use of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) monetary units. Such will eliminate, the developers and implementers will claim, theft of money that the hard currencies have presented. The problems that are part of national currencies will also be eliminated, or at least made controllable, they will assure, such as problems involved with the rates of exchange of one national currency against another.
The ultimately evolved super internet system will have at its heart a computer marking and numbering system that will electronically link the individual with a central controlling entity whereby all people can be monitored and instantly dealt with as necessary. Bible prophecy foretells this whole diabolist ball of wax will revolve around worship of the beast–Antichrist. This will take place during the tribulation era, the time of God’s wrath against rebellious earth dwellers (Rev. 6: 17). However, Satan’s scheme to ultimately have all of humanity worship him will not touch saints of the Church Age (Age of Grace).
Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:16). The Apostle Paul said: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thess. 5: 9-11).
Friday, April 24, 2009
The End of Christian America? Not Really
"The percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 points in the past two decades. How that statistic explains who we are now--and what, as a nation, we are about to become." This was a lead-in to a cover story by Newsweek magazine.
The article tries to imply that America is becoming a "post-Christian" nation. Even though 76 percent of the people polled identify themselves as Christians, Newsweek implies that the God of the Bible is on His way out. The only real change in the poll is the number of people who chose not to identify their religious belief--up from 14 million to 34 million.
Christianity is in good demographic shape. The American Religious Identification Survey that Newsweek cited estimated there are now 173.4 million self-identified Christians in America, up from 151.2 million in 1990. The percentage declined, but the actual number increased.
In March, CNN ran a similar story about the downfall of Christianity. The two stories tell me there is a liberal agenda at work.
To have Newsweek and CNN predicting the end of Christian America is like the dinosaurs telling the cockroaches that their days are numbered. In the past two years, Newsweek has lost 52 percent of its readers. The magazine's circulation now stands at 2.6 million. The Wall Street Journal reported that a 21 percent decline in ad pages could soon drop Newsweek circulation by another 500,000 to 1 million readers. In February, the magazine said it would probably drop to 1.9 million by this July and 1.5 million readers by January 2010.
Columnist L. Brent Bozell may have found the reason for Newsweek's plunging sales, "One has to wonder whether Newsweek's financial gurus really think it's a smart business strategy to greet the Easter season with funerals for ‘Christian America,’ and greet the Christmas season by making the ‘religious case for gay marriage?’ (That's not to mention all the reverent Obama worship in between.)"
CNN has seen even larger declines. Its viewership has plunged from 3 million to around 1 million. A lot of those eyeballs have switched over to watching Fox News.
I'm not hearing these two liberal media outlets crying about the death of journalism. I read one report by a head honcho at CNN who said he was happy with the network's numbers, and he described the 66 percent plunge as just a natural cycle of viewership.
The liberal media is trying to foster the idea that Christianity is no longer part of the mainstream. Their aim is to damage the Church's ability to work against the immorality sweeping over the land. They particularly seek to discredit the politically conservative influence that believers exert in matters such as abortion, pornography, and gay rights.
Many Christian leaders are buying the idea that their "antiquated notions" need to adjust to a new reality. Rather than standing up for truth, they often gravitate towards the stance that promises them the most favorable press coverage.
I was stunned to hear Rick Warren back-pedaling big time over his support for Proposition 8 - a California ballot that changed the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. Here is what he said on Larry King's program, "I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay-marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never-never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going." This remark baffled me, "I wrote to all my gay friends--the leaders that I knew--and actually apologized to them."
The new Rick Warren was probably apologizing for a statement made by the old Rick Warren of just a few months ago, "Let me just say this really clearly. We support Proposition 8. And if you believe what the Bible says about marriage, you need to support Proposition 8" (Rick Warren in an Oct. 23 video to church members).
I have some very good news for the folks in the liberal media. The day is soon coming when the percentage of true believing Christians in America (the most troublesome variety) will drop by a tremendous amount. It won't be a decline of 50%, 60%, or even 70%. At the rapture, 100% of believer will turn up missing. And best of all, the decline won't take 19 years to happen, it will occur in a blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, the respite won't last very long. When millions of people realize they missed the rapture and come to faith in Christ, the liberal media will quickly find itself confronted with a group of Christians with a profound level of dedication.
The article tries to imply that America is becoming a "post-Christian" nation. Even though 76 percent of the people polled identify themselves as Christians, Newsweek implies that the God of the Bible is on His way out. The only real change in the poll is the number of people who chose not to identify their religious belief--up from 14 million to 34 million.
Christianity is in good demographic shape. The American Religious Identification Survey that Newsweek cited estimated there are now 173.4 million self-identified Christians in America, up from 151.2 million in 1990. The percentage declined, but the actual number increased.
In March, CNN ran a similar story about the downfall of Christianity. The two stories tell me there is a liberal agenda at work.
To have Newsweek and CNN predicting the end of Christian America is like the dinosaurs telling the cockroaches that their days are numbered. In the past two years, Newsweek has lost 52 percent of its readers. The magazine's circulation now stands at 2.6 million. The Wall Street Journal reported that a 21 percent decline in ad pages could soon drop Newsweek circulation by another 500,000 to 1 million readers. In February, the magazine said it would probably drop to 1.9 million by this July and 1.5 million readers by January 2010.
Columnist L. Brent Bozell may have found the reason for Newsweek's plunging sales, "One has to wonder whether Newsweek's financial gurus really think it's a smart business strategy to greet the Easter season with funerals for ‘Christian America,’ and greet the Christmas season by making the ‘religious case for gay marriage?’ (That's not to mention all the reverent Obama worship in between.)"
CNN has seen even larger declines. Its viewership has plunged from 3 million to around 1 million. A lot of those eyeballs have switched over to watching Fox News.
I'm not hearing these two liberal media outlets crying about the death of journalism. I read one report by a head honcho at CNN who said he was happy with the network's numbers, and he described the 66 percent plunge as just a natural cycle of viewership.
The liberal media is trying to foster the idea that Christianity is no longer part of the mainstream. Their aim is to damage the Church's ability to work against the immorality sweeping over the land. They particularly seek to discredit the politically conservative influence that believers exert in matters such as abortion, pornography, and gay rights.
Many Christian leaders are buying the idea that their "antiquated notions" need to adjust to a new reality. Rather than standing up for truth, they often gravitate towards the stance that promises them the most favorable press coverage.
I was stunned to hear Rick Warren back-pedaling big time over his support for Proposition 8 - a California ballot that changed the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. Here is what he said on Larry King's program, "I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay-marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never-never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going." This remark baffled me, "I wrote to all my gay friends--the leaders that I knew--and actually apologized to them."
The new Rick Warren was probably apologizing for a statement made by the old Rick Warren of just a few months ago, "Let me just say this really clearly. We support Proposition 8. And if you believe what the Bible says about marriage, you need to support Proposition 8" (Rick Warren in an Oct. 23 video to church members).
I have some very good news for the folks in the liberal media. The day is soon coming when the percentage of true believing Christians in America (the most troublesome variety) will drop by a tremendous amount. It won't be a decline of 50%, 60%, or even 70%. At the rapture, 100% of believer will turn up missing. And best of all, the decline won't take 19 years to happen, it will occur in a blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, the respite won't last very long. When millions of people realize they missed the rapture and come to faith in Christ, the liberal media will quickly find itself confronted with a group of Christians with a profound level of dedication.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Beware of Men
Many of the articles I write for the site are intended to fill an information void I find on the net. I'll do a search on a certain subject, and if very little is written about that topic, I'll produce an article to fill that need.
There are 76 million pages that include the phrase, “things to do,” but only 460,000 pages containing the phrase, “beware of men.” Half a million references may seem like a lot, but that is hardly anything when you consider that tens of billions of pages on the net. If you look at the listings, most of the pages are references to a warning given by Jesus:
“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:17)
When I post this article, I'm sure it will eventually rise to the top of the “beware of men” ranking because of the simple fact that it doesn’t have much competition. People love giving advice, but they don't care to dispense words of caution that might include themselves.
Don't Trust Anyone with Clay Feet
I was recently going through the process of digitizing my vast collection of audio tapes. I have hundreds of tapes on about every subject one can imagine. While assessing the worthiness of some of these tapes for reproduction, I found myself listening to an old series in which Jimmy Swaggart addressed the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I have about every tape series his produced in his prime, and one of my goals in life is to someday meet the man.
One segment of the tape especially caught my attention. First, Swaggart made a passing reference to Kathryn Kulman, then he spoke glowingly of Oral Roberts, and finally he said he had just returned from a preaching engagement at the church of his beloved friend Marvin Gorman.
I immediately thought this would be a good example to use in some future editorial on why we shouldn’t put our trust in mankind. Every one of these dear saints Swaggart mentioned, including himself, turned out to have feet of clay. The teaching series was recorded sometime in the early ‘80s, and it wouldn’t take long for Swaggart's words to gain an ironic twist. Here is a brief rundown:
Kathryn Kuhlman is not that well known, but she was the forerunner of many of the questionable faith healers of today. Benny Hinn cited her as a major influence in his life. He has been know to pray at her grave to get her special power.
Oral Roberts made national headlines with a very questionable fund raising ploy. In 1987, he told his audience that he needed to raise $8 million for the medical school that bore his name; otherwise, God was going to kill him.
Marvin Gorman was found to have had an affair with another pastor's wife. Jimmy Swaggart is said to be the one who exposed him.
Jimmy Swaggart himself was caught in a Louisiana motel with a prostitute. As a retaliatory move, Marvin Gorman hired a private detective to follow Swaggart and take pictures of the tryst.
We should never blindly trust men because the behavior of other people has a profoundly negative influence on our actions. You can preach all the good moral values you want, but one of the most primary rules of life is “monkey see, monkey do.” And suddenly you're driving down the highway doing 80 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour speed zone because everyone else is exceeding the speed limit.
On judgment day, God will not allow us to blame other people for our own transgressions. Even if we are the victims of deception, our moral accountability does not change.
We don't have the option of running off and living in a cave to escape the influence of our fellow earthly inhabitants. We are social creatures, and we depend on one another for survival. The only thing we can do is realize that we need to check the biblical truth of everything our fellow citizens of earth tell us.
Don't Blindly Follow the Herd
The Bible tells us that Lucifer became known as Satan when he grew prideful and organized a coup against God. We are told a third of the heavenly host followed him into a rebellion.
I've often wondered how so many angelic beings could be persuaded to join forces with Lucifer. He must have been an incredible salesman to convince them to buy into what would seem to be to a hopeless mission.
We'll never know the details until we get a chance to ask those who witnessed this event. I suspect one of the key factors that aided Lucifer was the kinship he had with his fellow angelic beings. He was in a position of authority, and they blindly put their trust in him.
Humans aren’t any better when it comes to blindly placing their trust in other individuals. There is a good reason Jesus compared us to sheep. We might all have individual personalities, but when it comes to our social cues, we don't stray from the herd.
Some of the worst examples of this “follower” trait have occurred on our message board. The board has been part of NM, I have seen several episodes where a key individual or group of people has left the board for various reasons. The regular occurrence of these schisms is the main reason most major prophecy ministries don't have message boards.
I put up with the hassle because I’m a masochist. Sorry, I don’t have a better answer.
A few years ago, I had to part ways with a person in a position of authority when we discovered a disagreement over a fundamental issue of the faith. We agreed that it would be best for us to have separate operations.
I approached key moderators individually about the situation, and I assumed they would see the logic and remain with Rapture Ready. The reason for the split didn't matter. Every one of the moderators left with the administrator, but this was a small issue in comparison to what happened soon after.
The really confounding stuff occurred when people who had been directed to the new board came to me asking why there were two boards. When I told them the reason, most said they would never go back to the new board. Some were very insistent about their intentions. A few days later, they were back posting on the board they said they would never return to—ultimately, principle didn't matter.
A Beautiful Evil Mind
I love getting emails from people who disagree with Rapture Ready. These folks have proved to be very valuable tools for helping me improve the site's content (not that all negative email is a goldmine of information; most critics have no valid reason for their objections).
One time I received a note from a gentleman who sent me a wonderful outline explaining why there is no God and asserting that religion is a bunch of nonsense. He was obviously wrong, but I marveled at how well written he had made his argument. God had blessed him with a beautiful mind, and it was going to waste.
This gentleman was only disagreeing with me. I wondered about all the men with similar talents, and how they were using their God-given abilities to deceive men.
Some of the most well-known villains of history have been charismatic and gifted with special abilities. Fidel Castro is one such example. He has the gift of gab, and the man could talk for hours about how well the grass is growing.
Castro holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations: 4 hours and 29 minutes, on September 29, 1960. His longest speech on record in Cuba was 7 hours and 10 minutes in 1986 at the III Communist Party Congress in Havana.
Hitler was cruel monster of history, and his name is now synonymous with evil. What is often lost is the fact that he had a natural ability to make people like him. He inspired millions of Germans with the hope of a new national Germany. In the end, his charismatic appeal guided many to their death.
We should never judge the value of a message by how well it is conveyed. Because Satan has a proven track record of using gifted people, we should be suspicious of any person who presents an appealing message. Because truth doesn't need any fancy packaging, God prefers to use people of weaker abilities.
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27)
How Great I Art
Arrogance is the best warning sign that someone is a potential source of erroneous doctrine. People who trust their own opinions on all matters are destined for error. Proverbs 15:32 tells us, “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Here is a popular tale that illustrates this point:
An officer in the navy had dreamed from childhood of commanding a great battleship one day. He finally achieved his dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet.
One stormy night, the captain was on duty on the bridge when he spotted a strange light rapidly closing in on his own vessel. As his ship plowed through the waves, the light rose and fell just above the horizon of the sea. He ordered his signalman to flash a message to the unidentified craft on his port side, "Alter your course ten degrees to the south."
Within seconds a reply came, "Alter your course ten degrees to the north." Determined that his ship would never take a back seat to any other, the captain snapped a second order, "Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!" The response was beamed back, "Alter your course ten degrees? I am Seaman Third Class Smith." By this time, the light was growing ever brighter and larger.
Infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light and personally signaled, "Alter course. I am a battleship." The reply came just as quickly, "Alter your course. I am a lighthouse."
I have found that the more arrogant preachers are, the less productive they are for the Kingdom of God. There are some men in prophecy circles that I can't stand to be around because of their pride, and I've noticed they tend to be the most error-prone group.
I recently came up a quick test for haughtiness that can be applied to the homepage of any Christian leader. I'm not going to say it's 100 percent foolproof, but I have found that an egotism level can roughly be gauged by how many times someone's image appears on their main page. Here is a list I came up with after searching dozens of sites:
Perry Stone - 21
Rev. Sun Myung Moon - 14
Pastor Ron Gibson - 11
T. D. Jakes - 10
Fred Price - 9
Rick Joyner - 9
Morris Cerullo - 8
Benny Hinn - 7
Creflo Dollar - 6
R.W. Shambach - 6
Dr. Ed Young - 5
I don't have my photo on the main page because I realize some folks might be reading the site during their lunch break or dinner hour. I also believe that web space is too valuable to be used for anything that doesn't directly advance the end-time gospel message.
Anyone who thinks he or she is someone special in God’s eyes can rest assured that he or she is not. Because God absolutely hates arrogance, a preacher with an inflated ego will receive only a small reward from the Holy Father.
Jesus Is Your Only True Friend
There is an old song with the title, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Sometimes I wonder if it should have been given a longer title: “What An Only True Friend We Have in Jesus.”
There is not a single person on planet earth whom we should trust, and that includes yours truly. Everything I post on Rapture Ready is modeled after what God has written in the Bible, so why would you trust a middle man?
I can try to be your friend, but I cannot make any guarantees that I will always act in your best interest. Because all men still have a fallen nature, even the best counsel from men is subject to error.
You can do even worse by being your own friend. We naturally believe our own view of reality, so people who hold to their own opinion in all matters are more subject to deception. This is why a lawyer who defends himself in court is commonly said to have a fool for a client.
The only advice with a proven track record is the wisdom that comes from God. People can disagree with His teachings, but they can't offer a better set of moral, social, and spiritual guidelines.
Jesus is the type of friend described in Proverbs 18:24: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He is the friend who has given His life for us.
There are 76 million pages that include the phrase, “things to do,” but only 460,000 pages containing the phrase, “beware of men.” Half a million references may seem like a lot, but that is hardly anything when you consider that tens of billions of pages on the net. If you look at the listings, most of the pages are references to a warning given by Jesus:
“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:17)
When I post this article, I'm sure it will eventually rise to the top of the “beware of men” ranking because of the simple fact that it doesn’t have much competition. People love giving advice, but they don't care to dispense words of caution that might include themselves.
Don't Trust Anyone with Clay Feet
I was recently going through the process of digitizing my vast collection of audio tapes. I have hundreds of tapes on about every subject one can imagine. While assessing the worthiness of some of these tapes for reproduction, I found myself listening to an old series in which Jimmy Swaggart addressed the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I have about every tape series his produced in his prime, and one of my goals in life is to someday meet the man.
One segment of the tape especially caught my attention. First, Swaggart made a passing reference to Kathryn Kulman, then he spoke glowingly of Oral Roberts, and finally he said he had just returned from a preaching engagement at the church of his beloved friend Marvin Gorman.
I immediately thought this would be a good example to use in some future editorial on why we shouldn’t put our trust in mankind. Every one of these dear saints Swaggart mentioned, including himself, turned out to have feet of clay. The teaching series was recorded sometime in the early ‘80s, and it wouldn’t take long for Swaggart's words to gain an ironic twist. Here is a brief rundown:
Kathryn Kuhlman is not that well known, but she was the forerunner of many of the questionable faith healers of today. Benny Hinn cited her as a major influence in his life. He has been know to pray at her grave to get her special power.
Oral Roberts made national headlines with a very questionable fund raising ploy. In 1987, he told his audience that he needed to raise $8 million for the medical school that bore his name; otherwise, God was going to kill him.
Marvin Gorman was found to have had an affair with another pastor's wife. Jimmy Swaggart is said to be the one who exposed him.
Jimmy Swaggart himself was caught in a Louisiana motel with a prostitute. As a retaliatory move, Marvin Gorman hired a private detective to follow Swaggart and take pictures of the tryst.
We should never blindly trust men because the behavior of other people has a profoundly negative influence on our actions. You can preach all the good moral values you want, but one of the most primary rules of life is “monkey see, monkey do.” And suddenly you're driving down the highway doing 80 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour speed zone because everyone else is exceeding the speed limit.
On judgment day, God will not allow us to blame other people for our own transgressions. Even if we are the victims of deception, our moral accountability does not change.
We don't have the option of running off and living in a cave to escape the influence of our fellow earthly inhabitants. We are social creatures, and we depend on one another for survival. The only thing we can do is realize that we need to check the biblical truth of everything our fellow citizens of earth tell us.
Don't Blindly Follow the Herd
The Bible tells us that Lucifer became known as Satan when he grew prideful and organized a coup against God. We are told a third of the heavenly host followed him into a rebellion.
I've often wondered how so many angelic beings could be persuaded to join forces with Lucifer. He must have been an incredible salesman to convince them to buy into what would seem to be to a hopeless mission.
We'll never know the details until we get a chance to ask those who witnessed this event. I suspect one of the key factors that aided Lucifer was the kinship he had with his fellow angelic beings. He was in a position of authority, and they blindly put their trust in him.
Humans aren’t any better when it comes to blindly placing their trust in other individuals. There is a good reason Jesus compared us to sheep. We might all have individual personalities, but when it comes to our social cues, we don't stray from the herd.
Some of the worst examples of this “follower” trait have occurred on our message board. The board has been part of NM, I have seen several episodes where a key individual or group of people has left the board for various reasons. The regular occurrence of these schisms is the main reason most major prophecy ministries don't have message boards.
I put up with the hassle because I’m a masochist. Sorry, I don’t have a better answer.
A few years ago, I had to part ways with a person in a position of authority when we discovered a disagreement over a fundamental issue of the faith. We agreed that it would be best for us to have separate operations.
I approached key moderators individually about the situation, and I assumed they would see the logic and remain with Rapture Ready. The reason for the split didn't matter. Every one of the moderators left with the administrator, but this was a small issue in comparison to what happened soon after.
The really confounding stuff occurred when people who had been directed to the new board came to me asking why there were two boards. When I told them the reason, most said they would never go back to the new board. Some were very insistent about their intentions. A few days later, they were back posting on the board they said they would never return to—ultimately, principle didn't matter.
A Beautiful Evil Mind
I love getting emails from people who disagree with Rapture Ready. These folks have proved to be very valuable tools for helping me improve the site's content (not that all negative email is a goldmine of information; most critics have no valid reason for their objections).
One time I received a note from a gentleman who sent me a wonderful outline explaining why there is no God and asserting that religion is a bunch of nonsense. He was obviously wrong, but I marveled at how well written he had made his argument. God had blessed him with a beautiful mind, and it was going to waste.
This gentleman was only disagreeing with me. I wondered about all the men with similar talents, and how they were using their God-given abilities to deceive men.
Some of the most well-known villains of history have been charismatic and gifted with special abilities. Fidel Castro is one such example. He has the gift of gab, and the man could talk for hours about how well the grass is growing.
Castro holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations: 4 hours and 29 minutes, on September 29, 1960. His longest speech on record in Cuba was 7 hours and 10 minutes in 1986 at the III Communist Party Congress in Havana.
Hitler was cruel monster of history, and his name is now synonymous with evil. What is often lost is the fact that he had a natural ability to make people like him. He inspired millions of Germans with the hope of a new national Germany. In the end, his charismatic appeal guided many to their death.
We should never judge the value of a message by how well it is conveyed. Because Satan has a proven track record of using gifted people, we should be suspicious of any person who presents an appealing message. Because truth doesn't need any fancy packaging, God prefers to use people of weaker abilities.
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27)
How Great I Art
Arrogance is the best warning sign that someone is a potential source of erroneous doctrine. People who trust their own opinions on all matters are destined for error. Proverbs 15:32 tells us, “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Here is a popular tale that illustrates this point:
An officer in the navy had dreamed from childhood of commanding a great battleship one day. He finally achieved his dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet.
One stormy night, the captain was on duty on the bridge when he spotted a strange light rapidly closing in on his own vessel. As his ship plowed through the waves, the light rose and fell just above the horizon of the sea. He ordered his signalman to flash a message to the unidentified craft on his port side, "Alter your course ten degrees to the south."
Within seconds a reply came, "Alter your course ten degrees to the north." Determined that his ship would never take a back seat to any other, the captain snapped a second order, "Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!" The response was beamed back, "Alter your course ten degrees? I am Seaman Third Class Smith." By this time, the light was growing ever brighter and larger.
Infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light and personally signaled, "Alter course. I am a battleship." The reply came just as quickly, "Alter your course. I am a lighthouse."
I have found that the more arrogant preachers are, the less productive they are for the Kingdom of God. There are some men in prophecy circles that I can't stand to be around because of their pride, and I've noticed they tend to be the most error-prone group.
I recently came up a quick test for haughtiness that can be applied to the homepage of any Christian leader. I'm not going to say it's 100 percent foolproof, but I have found that an egotism level can roughly be gauged by how many times someone's image appears on their main page. Here is a list I came up with after searching dozens of sites:
Perry Stone - 21
Rev. Sun Myung Moon - 14
Pastor Ron Gibson - 11
T. D. Jakes - 10
Fred Price - 9
Rick Joyner - 9
Morris Cerullo - 8
Benny Hinn - 7
Creflo Dollar - 6
R.W. Shambach - 6
Dr. Ed Young - 5
I don't have my photo on the main page because I realize some folks might be reading the site during their lunch break or dinner hour. I also believe that web space is too valuable to be used for anything that doesn't directly advance the end-time gospel message.
Anyone who thinks he or she is someone special in God’s eyes can rest assured that he or she is not. Because God absolutely hates arrogance, a preacher with an inflated ego will receive only a small reward from the Holy Father.
Jesus Is Your Only True Friend
There is an old song with the title, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Sometimes I wonder if it should have been given a longer title: “What An Only True Friend We Have in Jesus.”
There is not a single person on planet earth whom we should trust, and that includes yours truly. Everything I post on Rapture Ready is modeled after what God has written in the Bible, so why would you trust a middle man?
I can try to be your friend, but I cannot make any guarantees that I will always act in your best interest. Because all men still have a fallen nature, even the best counsel from men is subject to error.
You can do even worse by being your own friend. We naturally believe our own view of reality, so people who hold to their own opinion in all matters are more subject to deception. This is why a lawyer who defends himself in court is commonly said to have a fool for a client.
The only advice with a proven track record is the wisdom that comes from God. People can disagree with His teachings, but they can't offer a better set of moral, social, and spiritual guidelines.
Jesus is the type of friend described in Proverbs 18:24: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He is the friend who has given His life for us.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
C.S. Lewis warned against A.A. cofounders' spiritualism
…holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:5)
Increasingly, we see a false repentance to a false god. It is like watching the pieces of an unholy puzzle being assembled. The goddess worship of The Shack, Emergence/homosexuality (homospirituality), contemplative practices, and the 12 Steps are all joining together as the rudimentary “roots” of something even bigger. While it may also have Rome, this coming system will have neither the Biblical Christ nor His followers.
Many have difficulty recognizing Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Step spirituality as anti-Biblical, much less as a rudimentary cog in this rising apostasy. Why? Sadly, with time and familiarity, even a wolf can masquerade as the family dog.
The 12 Steps are an integral part of our culture. For years Christians have participated in A.A. and “Christ-centered” 12 Step groups. This participation is increasing, as pastors ignore Scripture and allow A.A. meetings to be conducted in the very House of God.
These pastors hope that A.A. will serve as a tool for evangelism—and so it does. Unfortunately, it is the Christians who are being “evangelized” as they are exposed to A.A.’s inherent universalism. Christians both in A.A. and in groups such as ‘Celebrate Recovery’ are greatly influenced by 12 Step theology.
A.A.’s Christian promoters and defenders are fierce and active. They are convinced—and have convinced others—that A.A. and the 12 Steps are Biblical in origin. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
Before we proceed, remember that A.A. people are mostly unsaved, and in grave need of Christ. They are hurt, desperate, sinful people. In short, they are just as we were. As we wade through the swamp of this deceptive religion, it is important to remember this. Unsaved A.A. people are doing the best they can with what they have been taught—which is that anything and everything can be worshiped as a “higher power.” In A.A., any concept of “god” is valid.
According to the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book (the A.A. “bible”), “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.”[1] (Bold mine)
Well, that sounds very loving and reasonable. Yet Christ Himself warns us against such a thing. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)
The Lord, in fact, specifically warns against the broad way. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is BROAD that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)
It is no coincidence that the A.A. Big Book again makes a direct reference to this spiritual Broad Highway: “If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.”[2] (Bold mine)
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, we are told to separate ourselves. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul says that he who brings another gospel is “accursed.” The Alcoholics Anonymous theology, wherein Christ is seen as one higher power among many, is most certainly another gospel.
If Christians were to base involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous on the Word of God—Sola Scriptura—we would not be at the meetings at all.
Why, then, are so many of us part of it? Most Christians believe A.A. and the 12 Steps have a Biblical beginning. Therefore, the reasoning goes, we can either “take back” the 12 Steps (Celebrate Recovery etc.), or attend A.A with Jesus as our “higher power.”
But there is no “taking back” something that never came from Christ.
When all is said and done, the spread of this false “Christian” origin can be largely credited to Richard Burns, better known as Dick B., author of numerous books on the Biblical “roots” of A.A. and the 12 Steps. Through sheer repetition and volume, Dick B. has conjured up a Christian origin that simply did not happen.[3]
This is neither to attack nor impugn this author’s motives. Yet it is virtually impossible to address this issue without dealing with his well meaning but erroneous scholarship. His books are seemingly everywhere.
The 12 Steps are based on general spiritual principles. When A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson was first given the 12 Steps by a familiar spirit, Jesus Christ was not mentioned. There was only a generic reference to “God,” and even that was changed to “God as we understood Him.” (A.A.’s Step 3)
Nor is there any reference in the 12 Steps to sin or repentance. There are terms that are close, allowing Christians to believe this is what they are dealing with, just as many believe the “God as we understood Him” in Step 3 was originally Christ.
A.A.’s 12 Steps suggest the alcoholic deal with “shortcomings,” “moral inventory,” “defects of character,” “wrongs,” and “making amends.” Millions of unsaved people have come to believe they are right with God and man because of the Steps.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Both the Alcoholics Anonymous cofounders were heavily involved in spiritualism. This means little to people today, saturated as we are with entertainment that celebrates communication with the spirit world. Through rapidly spreading practices such as the meditative states of contemplative prayer, contact with demonic beings is now a daily event for many.
Since fully sixty percent of the Body of Christ no longer believe Satan is real, A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson’s communication with evil spirits is generally laughed off or disbelieved.
C.S. Lewis believed it. When a concerned Tony Guggenheim wrote Lewis a letter informing him of Bill and Lois Wilson’s Biblically forbidden activities, C.S. Lewis wrote back, “This is necromancy. Have nothing to do with it.”[4]
Christians too easily give C.S. Lewis a pass regarding some of his fiction. Either it lines up with the Bible, or it should not be read or viewed as “entertainment.” Still, Lewis was clearly horrified the A.A. cofounder was involved in spiritualism.
Increasingly, we see a false repentance to a false god. It is like watching the pieces of an unholy puzzle being assembled. The goddess worship of The Shack, Emergence/homosexuality (homospirituality), contemplative practices, and the 12 Steps are all joining together as the rudimentary “roots” of something even bigger. While it may also have Rome, this coming system will have neither the Biblical Christ nor His followers.
Many have difficulty recognizing Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Step spirituality as anti-Biblical, much less as a rudimentary cog in this rising apostasy. Why? Sadly, with time and familiarity, even a wolf can masquerade as the family dog.
The 12 Steps are an integral part of our culture. For years Christians have participated in A.A. and “Christ-centered” 12 Step groups. This participation is increasing, as pastors ignore Scripture and allow A.A. meetings to be conducted in the very House of God.
These pastors hope that A.A. will serve as a tool for evangelism—and so it does. Unfortunately, it is the Christians who are being “evangelized” as they are exposed to A.A.’s inherent universalism. Christians both in A.A. and in groups such as ‘Celebrate Recovery’ are greatly influenced by 12 Step theology.
A.A.’s Christian promoters and defenders are fierce and active. They are convinced—and have convinced others—that A.A. and the 12 Steps are Biblical in origin. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
Before we proceed, remember that A.A. people are mostly unsaved, and in grave need of Christ. They are hurt, desperate, sinful people. In short, they are just as we were. As we wade through the swamp of this deceptive religion, it is important to remember this. Unsaved A.A. people are doing the best they can with what they have been taught—which is that anything and everything can be worshiped as a “higher power.” In A.A., any concept of “god” is valid.
According to the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book (the A.A. “bible”), “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.”[1] (Bold mine)
Well, that sounds very loving and reasonable. Yet Christ Himself warns us against such a thing. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)
The Lord, in fact, specifically warns against the broad way. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is BROAD that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)
It is no coincidence that the A.A. Big Book again makes a direct reference to this spiritual Broad Highway: “If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.”[2] (Bold mine)
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, we are told to separate ourselves. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul says that he who brings another gospel is “accursed.” The Alcoholics Anonymous theology, wherein Christ is seen as one higher power among many, is most certainly another gospel.
If Christians were to base involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous on the Word of God—Sola Scriptura—we would not be at the meetings at all.
Why, then, are so many of us part of it? Most Christians believe A.A. and the 12 Steps have a Biblical beginning. Therefore, the reasoning goes, we can either “take back” the 12 Steps (Celebrate Recovery etc.), or attend A.A with Jesus as our “higher power.”
But there is no “taking back” something that never came from Christ.
When all is said and done, the spread of this false “Christian” origin can be largely credited to Richard Burns, better known as Dick B., author of numerous books on the Biblical “roots” of A.A. and the 12 Steps. Through sheer repetition and volume, Dick B. has conjured up a Christian origin that simply did not happen.[3]
This is neither to attack nor impugn this author’s motives. Yet it is virtually impossible to address this issue without dealing with his well meaning but erroneous scholarship. His books are seemingly everywhere.
The 12 Steps are based on general spiritual principles. When A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson was first given the 12 Steps by a familiar spirit, Jesus Christ was not mentioned. There was only a generic reference to “God,” and even that was changed to “God as we understood Him.” (A.A.’s Step 3)
Nor is there any reference in the 12 Steps to sin or repentance. There are terms that are close, allowing Christians to believe this is what they are dealing with, just as many believe the “God as we understood Him” in Step 3 was originally Christ.
A.A.’s 12 Steps suggest the alcoholic deal with “shortcomings,” “moral inventory,” “defects of character,” “wrongs,” and “making amends.” Millions of unsaved people have come to believe they are right with God and man because of the Steps.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Both the Alcoholics Anonymous cofounders were heavily involved in spiritualism. This means little to people today, saturated as we are with entertainment that celebrates communication with the spirit world. Through rapidly spreading practices such as the meditative states of contemplative prayer, contact with demonic beings is now a daily event for many.
Since fully sixty percent of the Body of Christ no longer believe Satan is real, A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson’s communication with evil spirits is generally laughed off or disbelieved.
C.S. Lewis believed it. When a concerned Tony Guggenheim wrote Lewis a letter informing him of Bill and Lois Wilson’s Biblically forbidden activities, C.S. Lewis wrote back, “This is necromancy. Have nothing to do with it.”[4]
Christians too easily give C.S. Lewis a pass regarding some of his fiction. Either it lines up with the Bible, or it should not be read or viewed as “entertainment.” Still, Lewis was clearly horrified the A.A. cofounder was involved in spiritualism.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
America Is Not Babylon
The purity of Holy Scripture is a miracle of miracles. Read any passage in the Bible and then do a little research. You will find clear interpretation for that Scripture. Words that the Spirit used can never be understood properly by pulling a meaning out of the air. The word “water” when used as a type is always the Word of God. When God says “Jerusalem,” He means the chosen of God. It is either His chosen city or His chosen people.
Babylon is used in the Bible over 295 times. When the Bible says “Mystery Babylon,” He speaks of a religion that has become evil and corrupt because “Babylon” is the seat of Satan. When He says “Babylon” without a modifying adjective, He means Babylon the city, which was founded by Nimrod. To try to identify America as Babylon is utterly contrary to Biblical interpretation. Using that kind of method to study the Bible leads to all kinds of misunderstandings. Always let the Bible interpret itself.
Mystery Babylon is clearly the End Time apostasy of false Christianity. The seventeenth chapter of Revelation is the most noted example. A harlot woman is another Biblical type of corrupt Christianity. A pure woman represents the pure faith of our Lord. The harlot woman is the opposite. When you put “Mystery Babylon” with the “harlot woman,” you have a double picture of the utter false religion of the Seven Years of Tribulation. It is religion at its lowest manifestation in human history. This is the church of the Antichrist.
Revelation chapter eighteen is the city of Babylon rebuilt in the Southern part of Iraq. To try to superimpose this chapter into America is contrary to every Biblical principle. There is not one basis for such transliterating of the Holy Bible. The main reason this is often tried is because our nation has a preponderance of sins. I certainly admit that, but it is not God’s method of understanding the Word of God. What if we did that kind of twisting of all Scripture? Think of the mess it would create with our Bible.
America has got a lot of sins for which we are going to pay. This nation will be subject to all the horrid calamities of the Seven Years of Tribulation. These calamities are God’s instruments for cleansing the world of abortions, fornications, sodomy, and every unclean lifestyle. Millions will die and the wicked will learn that sin is always accountable to the Heavenly Father. Before the worst comes, the Saints will be raptured. But, if the Lord tarries, you may think that the worst has already come even before the Rapture occurs.
Babylon is the city of Babylon and it must be rebuilt to be the capital of the Antichrist Kingdom. It is fitting that His One World Religion that gives him their total worship is called Mystery Babylon. The unity of the two entities is part of the mystery of wickedness. For the early years of the Seven Years, the Antichrist and His false church will be bosom partners. They will use each other. So, calling one “Babylon” and the other one “Mystery Babylon” is perfect prophecy.
By the end of the Seven Years, the two Babylons will clash and the Antichrist will pour his fury upon Mystery Babylon and burn her with fire. “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Revelation 17:16). This truth also destroys the idea that both chapters are talking about Rome as Mystery Babylon. How could the Antichrist from literal Babylon burn Mystery Babylon if both are the same Babylon? Again, the Bible leaves little room for misunderstanding if you let Scripture interpret Scripture.
This totally destroys the thought that America is Babylon. The question is an unanswerable one when we try to put America in some cubbyhole of prophecy. Much of the world is unnamed as you study the Bible. Basically, the Bible’s prophecy picture is a Middle Eastern setting. You may call us an “Isle of the Sea” and that would put us in the Gog and Magog event. I personally believe that when the army of Russians and Islamic countries march towards Israel, we will either come to Israel’s defense or suffer great destruction in cities like New York and Washington, DC. That is still uncertain and our defense of Israel should not be done just to save our own necks.
History, not the Bible, proves that the Great Creator puts America in her wealthy position to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the world. He also ordained us to win the Second World War and be a partner in the development of the Nation of Israel. Defending Israel since 1948, providing Israel with a faithful partnership, and being her ally right down to the end is absolutely God’s will for our great nation. Anyone that would undercut that purpose needs to remember that God is still the sole owner and keeper of this Universe. He can pull down an arrogant president just like He allowed Him to be elected. I would suggest that any president or politician should watch his words and actions because God knows all things and Israel is His heartthrob.
America is not Babylon, but America is answerable to God for our grievous sins and for our responsibility to Israel.
Babylon is used in the Bible over 295 times. When the Bible says “Mystery Babylon,” He speaks of a religion that has become evil and corrupt because “Babylon” is the seat of Satan. When He says “Babylon” without a modifying adjective, He means Babylon the city, which was founded by Nimrod. To try to identify America as Babylon is utterly contrary to Biblical interpretation. Using that kind of method to study the Bible leads to all kinds of misunderstandings. Always let the Bible interpret itself.
Mystery Babylon is clearly the End Time apostasy of false Christianity. The seventeenth chapter of Revelation is the most noted example. A harlot woman is another Biblical type of corrupt Christianity. A pure woman represents the pure faith of our Lord. The harlot woman is the opposite. When you put “Mystery Babylon” with the “harlot woman,” you have a double picture of the utter false religion of the Seven Years of Tribulation. It is religion at its lowest manifestation in human history. This is the church of the Antichrist.
Revelation chapter eighteen is the city of Babylon rebuilt in the Southern part of Iraq. To try to superimpose this chapter into America is contrary to every Biblical principle. There is not one basis for such transliterating of the Holy Bible. The main reason this is often tried is because our nation has a preponderance of sins. I certainly admit that, but it is not God’s method of understanding the Word of God. What if we did that kind of twisting of all Scripture? Think of the mess it would create with our Bible.
America has got a lot of sins for which we are going to pay. This nation will be subject to all the horrid calamities of the Seven Years of Tribulation. These calamities are God’s instruments for cleansing the world of abortions, fornications, sodomy, and every unclean lifestyle. Millions will die and the wicked will learn that sin is always accountable to the Heavenly Father. Before the worst comes, the Saints will be raptured. But, if the Lord tarries, you may think that the worst has already come even before the Rapture occurs.
Babylon is the city of Babylon and it must be rebuilt to be the capital of the Antichrist Kingdom. It is fitting that His One World Religion that gives him their total worship is called Mystery Babylon. The unity of the two entities is part of the mystery of wickedness. For the early years of the Seven Years, the Antichrist and His false church will be bosom partners. They will use each other. So, calling one “Babylon” and the other one “Mystery Babylon” is perfect prophecy.
By the end of the Seven Years, the two Babylons will clash and the Antichrist will pour his fury upon Mystery Babylon and burn her with fire. “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Revelation 17:16). This truth also destroys the idea that both chapters are talking about Rome as Mystery Babylon. How could the Antichrist from literal Babylon burn Mystery Babylon if both are the same Babylon? Again, the Bible leaves little room for misunderstanding if you let Scripture interpret Scripture.
This totally destroys the thought that America is Babylon. The question is an unanswerable one when we try to put America in some cubbyhole of prophecy. Much of the world is unnamed as you study the Bible. Basically, the Bible’s prophecy picture is a Middle Eastern setting. You may call us an “Isle of the Sea” and that would put us in the Gog and Magog event. I personally believe that when the army of Russians and Islamic countries march towards Israel, we will either come to Israel’s defense or suffer great destruction in cities like New York and Washington, DC. That is still uncertain and our defense of Israel should not be done just to save our own necks.
History, not the Bible, proves that the Great Creator puts America in her wealthy position to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the world. He also ordained us to win the Second World War and be a partner in the development of the Nation of Israel. Defending Israel since 1948, providing Israel with a faithful partnership, and being her ally right down to the end is absolutely God’s will for our great nation. Anyone that would undercut that purpose needs to remember that God is still the sole owner and keeper of this Universe. He can pull down an arrogant president just like He allowed Him to be elected. I would suggest that any president or politician should watch his words and actions because God knows all things and Israel is His heartthrob.
America is not Babylon, but America is answerable to God for our grievous sins and for our responsibility to Israel.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Christians, Conspiracies, Faith and Love
“...but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.
Conspiracy theories abound and are being thrown at us from every angle. Recently I was provided with a link to a two hour video that if true would probably scare the most hardened atheist. The video begins by proclaiming that all our past presidents had been puppets clear back to, but excluding, John F. Kennedy. This recent conspiracy points to multi-billionaires, the bankers of the world, as the ones holding the puppet strings of our government leaders. It seems, according to this theory, these greedy fiends are the ones behind the push to a one world government. These theorists say there are concentration camps being built all over the US to imprison those who know the truth. They are constructed and will be utilized to keep the nonconformist silent while these evil and maniacal men and women pour out their treachery on the rest of unsuspecting mankind. Is this truth or fiction?
Conspiracy theorists have been around forever it seems, and they always appear when times get tough. Our economy is in the tank and our government leaders seem bent on replacing the US Constitution with some other form of government; no one really seems to be able to put their finger on just what form of government that’s going to be, whether it’s new designation will be that of a socialistic or communistic form of government is yet to be seen. To the theorists, the American republic we once knew and loved is all but washed up.
Certainly we can clearly see there’s a movement afoot to eliminate our US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We see them both being trampled and trashed more and more every day. Worst of all, in my mind, is what’s happening to the Christian Church in America . The signs are so painfully obvious yet biblical. Clearly, the apostasy of the Church is nigh at hand. Yes, absolutely something evil this way comes. Those who have no faith in God have no hope for anything better. But the true born again believer, those who are “in Christ” are justified and thus living in faith, right?
My brethren, do yourselves a huge favor and stop listening to men or women who have their own agendas apart from God’s. Whether they be our government leaders or conspiracy theorists, or even some of our church leaders, stop this lunacy and let’s remember what God told Habakkuk “The Just shall live by his faith”. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and also our trust. Many of these conspiracy theories seem to be in line with Bible prophecy, so where better to turn than to God and His word for the details? I’m not saying that these conspiracies can’t be true, but that we should approach each new theory through the lens of scripture always remembering in whom we’ve placed our faith and trust.
God gave us His word to study, to immerse ourselves in, and to obtain the truth. God is truth and He puts more emphases on the truth of His word than on His very name. That’s why it is so important that we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. “...that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Deuteronomy 8:3. Even when our Lord was being tempted in the wilderness for forty days it was God’s word that He always fell back on as He rebuked the Devil.
Aren’t Christians being tempted each day? Where should we turn if not to the Lord? Will we see the times we live in worsen? Probably. If we are worrying and fretting now while we are still living in abundance, what’s going to happen to our faith and our witness as we see the US crumble around us? The Just shall live by faith. Who are the just? If you are a born again believer you are justified and you now live by faith.
The Bible is a history lesson, and it has taught us plenty about mankind’s past history, and interestingly we are also given a look at the future history of all mankind. We call the future history prophecy. Prophecy is all through the Bible; God uses prophecy to authenticate His word. Whether we are inundated with conspiracy theories or evil ungodly people pushing to realign this planet as a one world government everything has been written down for us before hand so we wouldn’t be surprised. My point is, God will not allow anything to happen in this world that doesn’t conform to His plan, His will for the future of mankind.
Sincerely studying the Bible will probably become the national pastime of most born again believers as we traverse these last of days on planet earth. Staying in fellowship and prayer are basics that should never be neglected. Building strong relationships with our brethren will bring huge blessings and benefits to both us and them. God wants us to come together as His children and unite in our common faith. That faith is in Jesus Christ His Son.
There are going to be many aspects of the end times that we disagree on, this is painfully evident, but those disagreements don’t need to tear us apart. Satan loves to get Christians bickering amongst ourselves. My brethren this should not be so. The just are living by faith in Christ and that fact alone becomes our uniting tie that binds us together. We are going to need that binding more and more as we watch these last days drawing to a close.
When will the Church be raptured? No one knows. The heat of persecution is already upon us though, and most believers are already feeling it. What am I speaking about? Take a look at how the ungodly have infiltrated our government and its programs. These people are now pushing their evil attitudes and agendas to replace what was once a free country with new radical socialism. The left and centrist of this country are the antagonists that will stop at nothing to eradicate Christians and our beliefs from being a part of their new enlightened society.
Our faith and our God given rights to oppose anything that is contrary to God’s laws are being systematically discouraged and even eliminated from the American scene. Oh, and of course our newly elected president has some wonderful new agendas that he’s seeing fit to push down the throats of the spiritually blind populace. Please consider that anyone who is opposed to God’s laws will be the ones ratcheting up the heat of persecution upon the Christian community. Again we turn to the book of Habakkuk for God’s response to all this evil. “The just shall live by his faith”. God makes it easy to understand, we are His and we are justified in His sight. Therefore, we shall live out our lives here on earth by faith.
Will America take her place among the trash heaps of discarded past civilizations that refused to humble themselves or to show any respect or reverence for their Creator God? Time will tell. I’ve heard it said that if God doesn’t judge America , He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah . Wow, God really let Sodom and Gomorrah have it. Just what kind of judgment might He have in store for a country that began so strong in the Christian faith and yet has now done a 180 degree turn and is currently engulfed in unholy, godless, evil, activities, so perverse that even Sodom would blush? Since God knows the future of all events, there’s no doubt His plan for America ’s judgment is already set. Christians need not fear God’s fierce wrath, many other Americans should.
My brethren, we have a wonderful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He came into this world to save us from our sin and to give us life more abundantly. That said, why do we worry so about the future? If we believe that God is in control then whatever happens to America , or the world for that matter, is up to God. All our faithless worries are an abomination since believers are the just who shall live by faith.
First and foremost our focus in these last days, as always, should be on our Lord Jesus and secondly on the lost, not on conspiracy theories. Believers know the final outcome of all this evil that abounds, but what of those who are still living without Jesus? What must be going through their minds as they witness the systematic destruction of our once favored way of life? Some, when they hear the truth, will turn from their wicked ways, but what if no one tells them the truth? When a family member or even a friend dies the last thing any of us will want to hear ourselves saying is, “Why didn’t I tell you, before it was too late”?
Are you one of the just that shall live by his faith? I know there are many road blocks impeding our movements as we try to adhere to our Saviour’s will. By faith we don’t allow Satan to instill fear in us. By faith we won’t allow him to establish a wall of separation between us and the lost. By faith we will allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all our endeavors. Worrying about what kind of evil reaction might follow our presentation of the Gospel will be nonexistent to those who are justified and living by faith. God will take care of the evil things of this world as long as we are presenting the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There’s a song that I really enjoy singing, and the chorus goes like this, “And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. How many lost people have seen your love today Christian?
Conspiracy theories abound and are being thrown at us from every angle. Recently I was provided with a link to a two hour video that if true would probably scare the most hardened atheist. The video begins by proclaiming that all our past presidents had been puppets clear back to, but excluding, John F. Kennedy. This recent conspiracy points to multi-billionaires, the bankers of the world, as the ones holding the puppet strings of our government leaders. It seems, according to this theory, these greedy fiends are the ones behind the push to a one world government. These theorists say there are concentration camps being built all over the US to imprison those who know the truth. They are constructed and will be utilized to keep the nonconformist silent while these evil and maniacal men and women pour out their treachery on the rest of unsuspecting mankind. Is this truth or fiction?
Conspiracy theorists have been around forever it seems, and they always appear when times get tough. Our economy is in the tank and our government leaders seem bent on replacing the US Constitution with some other form of government; no one really seems to be able to put their finger on just what form of government that’s going to be, whether it’s new designation will be that of a socialistic or communistic form of government is yet to be seen. To the theorists, the American republic we once knew and loved is all but washed up.
Certainly we can clearly see there’s a movement afoot to eliminate our US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We see them both being trampled and trashed more and more every day. Worst of all, in my mind, is what’s happening to the Christian Church in America . The signs are so painfully obvious yet biblical. Clearly, the apostasy of the Church is nigh at hand. Yes, absolutely something evil this way comes. Those who have no faith in God have no hope for anything better. But the true born again believer, those who are “in Christ” are justified and thus living in faith, right?
My brethren, do yourselves a huge favor and stop listening to men or women who have their own agendas apart from God’s. Whether they be our government leaders or conspiracy theorists, or even some of our church leaders, stop this lunacy and let’s remember what God told Habakkuk “The Just shall live by his faith”. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and also our trust. Many of these conspiracy theories seem to be in line with Bible prophecy, so where better to turn than to God and His word for the details? I’m not saying that these conspiracies can’t be true, but that we should approach each new theory through the lens of scripture always remembering in whom we’ve placed our faith and trust.
God gave us His word to study, to immerse ourselves in, and to obtain the truth. God is truth and He puts more emphases on the truth of His word than on His very name. That’s why it is so important that we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. “...that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Deuteronomy 8:3. Even when our Lord was being tempted in the wilderness for forty days it was God’s word that He always fell back on as He rebuked the Devil.
Aren’t Christians being tempted each day? Where should we turn if not to the Lord? Will we see the times we live in worsen? Probably. If we are worrying and fretting now while we are still living in abundance, what’s going to happen to our faith and our witness as we see the US crumble around us? The Just shall live by faith. Who are the just? If you are a born again believer you are justified and you now live by faith.
The Bible is a history lesson, and it has taught us plenty about mankind’s past history, and interestingly we are also given a look at the future history of all mankind. We call the future history prophecy. Prophecy is all through the Bible; God uses prophecy to authenticate His word. Whether we are inundated with conspiracy theories or evil ungodly people pushing to realign this planet as a one world government everything has been written down for us before hand so we wouldn’t be surprised. My point is, God will not allow anything to happen in this world that doesn’t conform to His plan, His will for the future of mankind.
Sincerely studying the Bible will probably become the national pastime of most born again believers as we traverse these last of days on planet earth. Staying in fellowship and prayer are basics that should never be neglected. Building strong relationships with our brethren will bring huge blessings and benefits to both us and them. God wants us to come together as His children and unite in our common faith. That faith is in Jesus Christ His Son.
There are going to be many aspects of the end times that we disagree on, this is painfully evident, but those disagreements don’t need to tear us apart. Satan loves to get Christians bickering amongst ourselves. My brethren this should not be so. The just are living by faith in Christ and that fact alone becomes our uniting tie that binds us together. We are going to need that binding more and more as we watch these last days drawing to a close.
When will the Church be raptured? No one knows. The heat of persecution is already upon us though, and most believers are already feeling it. What am I speaking about? Take a look at how the ungodly have infiltrated our government and its programs. These people are now pushing their evil attitudes and agendas to replace what was once a free country with new radical socialism. The left and centrist of this country are the antagonists that will stop at nothing to eradicate Christians and our beliefs from being a part of their new enlightened society.
Our faith and our God given rights to oppose anything that is contrary to God’s laws are being systematically discouraged and even eliminated from the American scene. Oh, and of course our newly elected president has some wonderful new agendas that he’s seeing fit to push down the throats of the spiritually blind populace. Please consider that anyone who is opposed to God’s laws will be the ones ratcheting up the heat of persecution upon the Christian community. Again we turn to the book of Habakkuk for God’s response to all this evil. “The just shall live by his faith”. God makes it easy to understand, we are His and we are justified in His sight. Therefore, we shall live out our lives here on earth by faith.
Will America take her place among the trash heaps of discarded past civilizations that refused to humble themselves or to show any respect or reverence for their Creator God? Time will tell. I’ve heard it said that if God doesn’t judge America , He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah . Wow, God really let Sodom and Gomorrah have it. Just what kind of judgment might He have in store for a country that began so strong in the Christian faith and yet has now done a 180 degree turn and is currently engulfed in unholy, godless, evil, activities, so perverse that even Sodom would blush? Since God knows the future of all events, there’s no doubt His plan for America ’s judgment is already set. Christians need not fear God’s fierce wrath, many other Americans should.
My brethren, we have a wonderful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He came into this world to save us from our sin and to give us life more abundantly. That said, why do we worry so about the future? If we believe that God is in control then whatever happens to America , or the world for that matter, is up to God. All our faithless worries are an abomination since believers are the just who shall live by faith.
First and foremost our focus in these last days, as always, should be on our Lord Jesus and secondly on the lost, not on conspiracy theories. Believers know the final outcome of all this evil that abounds, but what of those who are still living without Jesus? What must be going through their minds as they witness the systematic destruction of our once favored way of life? Some, when they hear the truth, will turn from their wicked ways, but what if no one tells them the truth? When a family member or even a friend dies the last thing any of us will want to hear ourselves saying is, “Why didn’t I tell you, before it was too late”?
Are you one of the just that shall live by his faith? I know there are many road blocks impeding our movements as we try to adhere to our Saviour’s will. By faith we don’t allow Satan to instill fear in us. By faith we won’t allow him to establish a wall of separation between us and the lost. By faith we will allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all our endeavors. Worrying about what kind of evil reaction might follow our presentation of the Gospel will be nonexistent to those who are justified and living by faith. God will take care of the evil things of this world as long as we are presenting the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There’s a song that I really enjoy singing, and the chorus goes like this, “And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. How many lost people have seen your love today Christian?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Zephaniah Speaks Again, Part 1
Zephaniah wrote his three chapter prophecy during the time of King Josiah, who reigned over the Southern Kingdom (Judah) from 640-609 BC. Josiah was only 8 years old when he inherited the throne following the assassination of his father, the evil King Amon. Amon's father King Manasseh had been even worse and between the two of them Judah had suffered through 57 years of apostate leadership. Needless to say, Judah was not in favor with God when Josiah ascended to the throne.
Zephaniah was also very young, probably in his 20's when called to the office of Prophet. And as the great, great grand son of King Hezekiah, he was also of the House of David, a cousin of Josiah's. In fact it might have been Zephaniah's prophecies that inspired Josiah to institute the reforms necessary to bring Judah back into its covenant relationship with God in 621 BC.
But the revival was short lived. After Josiah's death in 609, Judah soon fell into idolatry again. Judgment began soon after with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar in 605, and by the end of his 3rd siege, in 586, Judah had followed the Northern Kingdom into captivity. Zephaniah's prophecies had come true.
As we'll see, his prophecies were of a much broader scope than was fulfilled in the Babylonian captivity. It's clear that he really had the Day of the Lord in mind.
In fact there are so many references to the Day of the Lord that it's almost like he was writing to us. Like is with the world today, the people of Judah had abandoned God in favor of their idols. Like ours have, their leaders had led them astray and were adamant in their denial of a coming judgment.
Zephaniah warned both the people of Judah in his time and the people of the world in ours that judgment is coming and that it will be personal and intrusive, taking them from complacency to chaos. Because like He did in the days of Zephaniah, God will again intervene catastrophically to judge man's acceptance of and indifference toward sin, which are the last stages of rebellion. As it was then, His purpose now will be to restore the world to the conditions of blessing He's always intended for us. But since man never learns from history, it will once again take a period of devastating judgment before God can bring His marvelous restoration.
Zephaniah 1. Warning of Coming Destruction
The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. "I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. (Zeph. 1:1-3)
Zephaniah's opening statement clearly concerns the whole world. The phrase “heaps of rubble” carries a sense of huge obstacles that will prevent the wicked from accomplishing anything. We can see the beginning of this trend as we look at the condition of the world today. Who is naive enough to believe that any man can solve the problems confronting our world today?
Against Judah
"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests- those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him. (Zeph. 1:4-6).
Three groups of non-believers are represented here, and they're all still around today. Those who worship the starry host can be compared to people who study astrology and consult their horoscopes before acting. Molech was a god of fire. He demanded that extreme sacrifices be made to him in times of need. Often a live child was required. Today some associate the practice of abortion with Molech. Unwanted pre-born children are put to death to maintain the lifestyle of the parents. The third group consists of those who act as if God doesn't exist. This is by far the biggest one of the three. They think they are in control and have no need of a higher authority.
Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. On the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the princes and the king's sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. (Zeph 1:7-9)
In this passage, the people are the sacrifice and God's enemies are the invited guests. Rev. 19:17-18 explains it this way.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."
Leaders who have deceived the people, and those who've sought a righteousness of their own will be punished. Foreign clothing stands for a counterfeit righteousness that doesn't come from God. Isaiah 61:10 says, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” All other spiritual covering is counterfeit.
During the time when Antiochus Epiphanes ruled over Israel, many of those who counseled appeasement with the Greeks took to wearing Greek style clothing and shaved their faces. Some even tried to surgically reverse their circumcisions. The adoption of foreign clothing and appearance was a sign that they were rejecting their covenant relationship with God. Today our official rejection of Christian customs and traditions while bending over backwards to avoid offending others sends Him the same message.
We think of stepping over rather than on a threshold as a harmless superstition. But it originated during the time when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. They put it in the temple of their god Dagon. When they came back in the morning they found the statue of Dagon on its face before the ark. They put the idol back in its place, but the next morning it was prostate again and this time its head and arms were broken off and were lying on the threshold of the temple. From that day on they never stepped on the threshold of their temple again, lest they offend their god. (1 Samuel 5:1-5) Other strange and painful things kept happening to them until they finally returned the Ark to Israel.
"On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be ruined. (Zephaniah 1:10-11)
Here's another prophecy that looks as if it's ripped from the headlines. Businesses will fail and banks will close. Almost every Biblical mention of the Fish Gate involves either corruption, or its aftermath. The name stems from the fact that fishermen sold their catches there, often on the Sabbath. More and more it appears that the world's financial problems are the aftermath of corruption in the highest levels of business and government.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.'
Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.(Zeph. 1:12-13)
The complacent, who think that God can't or won't intervene, will be like wine that hasn't been strained and becomes unfit to drink. They'll be of no use to the Lord. And here's another sign we've seen recently. The world's wealth has been plundered. Half of it has disappeared in the last 18 months. Record numbers of people have lost their homes. Many have already been reduced to the status of working solely for the benefit of others, their personal wealth gone. But they're just the first. Millions more will follow.
The Great Day Of The Lord
"The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. (Zeph 1:14-16)
Those who think the Tribulation has already begun don't have a clue. This is something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Men whose wealth is currently envied by all will soon wonder where their next meal is coming from. And according to James, they shouldn't expect any sympathy from the Lord.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. (James 5:1-6)
I spent my last few years of employment managing the sales department of a large domestic auto dealership. Naively I thought I could change the culture of corruption, at least on the local level. I soon learned that the factory stole from the dealer, the dealer stole from his employees and the employees stole from their customers. Everyone lied to everyone else. I'm neither surprised nor saddened by the impending demise of the US auto industry. It's an abomination to the Lord.
I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth." (Zeph. 1:17-18)
Even those who survive the Great Tribulation with out seeking the Lord's forgiveness will find they've gained nothing. They'll be denied entrance into the Kingdom and ushered off the planet to the outer darkness. At that time the very richest among them would gladly agree to change places with the poorest, sickest, believing beggar. But they won't be given the chance. They'll find that the free gift they will have refused cannot be purchased with all the wealth of the world.
I think you can already see that Zephanian doesn't mince words. He's especially harsh on the leadership. Having lived among them he had a clear insight into their corruption and manipulation.
Earlier, the Lord had pronounced the same kind of condemnation on them through Micah.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. In that day men will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: 'We are utterly ruined; my people's possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.' "
Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot. (Micah 2:1-5)
In effect the Lord is saying, “You lie awake at night dreaming up schemes to defraud your fellow man, so I'm lying awake dreaming up ways to punish you. You robbed my people of their inheritance, now I'm going to make sure you don't have anything to leave either.”
You don't have to be a prophet to tell what's ahead for the world, and before Zephaniah is finished any lingering doubt you may have had about the coming judgment will be long gone. But remember, God's purpose for the world is restoration, and Zephaniah will be unmistakably clear about that as well. You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.
Zephaniah was also very young, probably in his 20's when called to the office of Prophet. And as the great, great grand son of King Hezekiah, he was also of the House of David, a cousin of Josiah's. In fact it might have been Zephaniah's prophecies that inspired Josiah to institute the reforms necessary to bring Judah back into its covenant relationship with God in 621 BC.
But the revival was short lived. After Josiah's death in 609, Judah soon fell into idolatry again. Judgment began soon after with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar in 605, and by the end of his 3rd siege, in 586, Judah had followed the Northern Kingdom into captivity. Zephaniah's prophecies had come true.
As we'll see, his prophecies were of a much broader scope than was fulfilled in the Babylonian captivity. It's clear that he really had the Day of the Lord in mind.
In fact there are so many references to the Day of the Lord that it's almost like he was writing to us. Like is with the world today, the people of Judah had abandoned God in favor of their idols. Like ours have, their leaders had led them astray and were adamant in their denial of a coming judgment.
Zephaniah warned both the people of Judah in his time and the people of the world in ours that judgment is coming and that it will be personal and intrusive, taking them from complacency to chaos. Because like He did in the days of Zephaniah, God will again intervene catastrophically to judge man's acceptance of and indifference toward sin, which are the last stages of rebellion. As it was then, His purpose now will be to restore the world to the conditions of blessing He's always intended for us. But since man never learns from history, it will once again take a period of devastating judgment before God can bring His marvelous restoration.
Zephaniah 1. Warning of Coming Destruction
The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. "I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. (Zeph. 1:1-3)
Zephaniah's opening statement clearly concerns the whole world. The phrase “heaps of rubble” carries a sense of huge obstacles that will prevent the wicked from accomplishing anything. We can see the beginning of this trend as we look at the condition of the world today. Who is naive enough to believe that any man can solve the problems confronting our world today?
Against Judah
"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests- those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him. (Zeph. 1:4-6).
Three groups of non-believers are represented here, and they're all still around today. Those who worship the starry host can be compared to people who study astrology and consult their horoscopes before acting. Molech was a god of fire. He demanded that extreme sacrifices be made to him in times of need. Often a live child was required. Today some associate the practice of abortion with Molech. Unwanted pre-born children are put to death to maintain the lifestyle of the parents. The third group consists of those who act as if God doesn't exist. This is by far the biggest one of the three. They think they are in control and have no need of a higher authority.
Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. On the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the princes and the king's sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. (Zeph 1:7-9)
In this passage, the people are the sacrifice and God's enemies are the invited guests. Rev. 19:17-18 explains it this way.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."
Leaders who have deceived the people, and those who've sought a righteousness of their own will be punished. Foreign clothing stands for a counterfeit righteousness that doesn't come from God. Isaiah 61:10 says, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” All other spiritual covering is counterfeit.
During the time when Antiochus Epiphanes ruled over Israel, many of those who counseled appeasement with the Greeks took to wearing Greek style clothing and shaved their faces. Some even tried to surgically reverse their circumcisions. The adoption of foreign clothing and appearance was a sign that they were rejecting their covenant relationship with God. Today our official rejection of Christian customs and traditions while bending over backwards to avoid offending others sends Him the same message.
We think of stepping over rather than on a threshold as a harmless superstition. But it originated during the time when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. They put it in the temple of their god Dagon. When they came back in the morning they found the statue of Dagon on its face before the ark. They put the idol back in its place, but the next morning it was prostate again and this time its head and arms were broken off and were lying on the threshold of the temple. From that day on they never stepped on the threshold of their temple again, lest they offend their god. (1 Samuel 5:1-5) Other strange and painful things kept happening to them until they finally returned the Ark to Israel.
"On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be ruined. (Zephaniah 1:10-11)
Here's another prophecy that looks as if it's ripped from the headlines. Businesses will fail and banks will close. Almost every Biblical mention of the Fish Gate involves either corruption, or its aftermath. The name stems from the fact that fishermen sold their catches there, often on the Sabbath. More and more it appears that the world's financial problems are the aftermath of corruption in the highest levels of business and government.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.'
Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.(Zeph. 1:12-13)
The complacent, who think that God can't or won't intervene, will be like wine that hasn't been strained and becomes unfit to drink. They'll be of no use to the Lord. And here's another sign we've seen recently. The world's wealth has been plundered. Half of it has disappeared in the last 18 months. Record numbers of people have lost their homes. Many have already been reduced to the status of working solely for the benefit of others, their personal wealth gone. But they're just the first. Millions more will follow.
The Great Day Of The Lord
"The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. (Zeph 1:14-16)
Those who think the Tribulation has already begun don't have a clue. This is something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Men whose wealth is currently envied by all will soon wonder where their next meal is coming from. And according to James, they shouldn't expect any sympathy from the Lord.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. (James 5:1-6)
I spent my last few years of employment managing the sales department of a large domestic auto dealership. Naively I thought I could change the culture of corruption, at least on the local level. I soon learned that the factory stole from the dealer, the dealer stole from his employees and the employees stole from their customers. Everyone lied to everyone else. I'm neither surprised nor saddened by the impending demise of the US auto industry. It's an abomination to the Lord.
I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth." (Zeph. 1:17-18)
Even those who survive the Great Tribulation with out seeking the Lord's forgiveness will find they've gained nothing. They'll be denied entrance into the Kingdom and ushered off the planet to the outer darkness. At that time the very richest among them would gladly agree to change places with the poorest, sickest, believing beggar. But they won't be given the chance. They'll find that the free gift they will have refused cannot be purchased with all the wealth of the world.
I think you can already see that Zephanian doesn't mince words. He's especially harsh on the leadership. Having lived among them he had a clear insight into their corruption and manipulation.
Earlier, the Lord had pronounced the same kind of condemnation on them through Micah.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. In that day men will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: 'We are utterly ruined; my people's possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.' "
Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot. (Micah 2:1-5)
In effect the Lord is saying, “You lie awake at night dreaming up schemes to defraud your fellow man, so I'm lying awake dreaming up ways to punish you. You robbed my people of their inheritance, now I'm going to make sure you don't have anything to leave either.”
You don't have to be a prophet to tell what's ahead for the world, and before Zephaniah is finished any lingering doubt you may have had about the coming judgment will be long gone. But remember, God's purpose for the world is restoration, and Zephaniah will be unmistakably clear about that as well. You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Antichrist: Where Is He?
The most frequently asked question at prophecy conferences and in Bible prophecy classes–at least in my experience—is: “Is America in Bible prophecy?” The second most asked is: “Do you think Antichrist is alive on earth today?”
These questions are for the most part posed by people in the audiences or classes in general. However, more and more frequently I find these questions being asked by journalists, both print and broadcast. It is interesting to me that I rarely hear a skeptical or scoffing tone in the voices of the media representatives who interview me. There seems a sense, even among secular journalists, that perhaps there’s something to this Bible prophecy stuff after all.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not sensing a sudden turning to God, or to His Word. However, there is a halting uncertainty there. Like, “Well, maybe I had better be just a bit more serious about the subject, since there is such angst over these strange economic conditions.”
Economic Conditions
There is a sense that strange, unexplainable things are happening, and even secular newshounds seem to viscerally understand that Bible prophecy has something to do with the increasingly troubling issues and events of our time. U.S. leaders–I use that term loosely—have seemingly thrown caution to the wind. It’s like, as I heard one Bible prophecy broadcaster say the other day—those who are supposed to be trying to fix the melting financial structure of America have placed the whole shebang on 17 black, and have given the roulette wheel a hope-filled turn. Actually, it is more like they have written trillions in IOUs and put them on 17 black, and have given the wheel a turn.
If the little ball ends up on any number other than 17 black, what then? That is the crux of the crucial nature of this insanity surrounding the American economy as the end of the age approaches. Craziness rules--like when the Federal Reserve reached in its right pocket and transferred more than a trillion dollars IOU to its left pocket to keep the American financial system afloat.
“Just last Wednesday the Fed said it would flood the teetering financial system with an additional $1.2 trillion. The money will be used, the Fed said, to buy government bonds and mortgage-related securities in hopes of lowering the borrowing costs for home mortgages and other types of loans, thereby stimulating economic activity. In other words, the central bank will print more money to pay for the purchases. What the Fed does not explain publicly is how those kinds of infusions of money out of thin air, with nothing to back it, reduce the purchasing power and assets of all Americans by devaluing the dollar.
The $1.2 trillion is in addition to hundreds of billions already added to the system since the beginning of the year and dwarfs even the biggest government
bailouts to date…” (“Fed's secrecy policy 3 years old,” WorldNetDaily MoneyNetDaily, 3/22/09).
Keep in mind that the Federal Reserve is a non-government agency. Congress designated this monetary governing body to control the nation's money supply. The
Fed’s actions directly impact the value of the dollar. This body, manned by the non-elected financial elite, holds sway over every investment held by Americans.
Actions like those taken by the Federal Reserve in the case of creating out of nothingness the trillion-plus dollars, then putting that massive IOU into the system with a blind faith that that unbacked infusion will beat the odds of failure, will, if nothing else is done, put not only America’s economy, but the economies of the nation-states of the world into the final stages of collapse.
The following excerpt tells of just how surreptitious are the actions against the taxpayers and their offspring, who are expected to shoulder the burden of funding the globalists elite’s grandiose plans to build their new world order.
“WASHINGTON – As America's economy continues in freefall, tomorrow marks an auspicious three-year anniversary – the day the Federal Reserve announced, with little fanfare, its decision to stop reporting to the public the M3 money supply, the broadest measure of three standards of measurement…Since 2006, Americans have seen their investments plummet in value and witnessed the shrinking buying power of their earnings. Why did the Fed make that decision three years ago? What was its rationale? The justification for the secrecy by the organization that prints money was cost. By not producing those numbers for the public, the Fed would save about $1.5 million annually…” (ibid.).
The Craziness Proliferates!
It should be astonishing to think that the media, so obsessed with nefarious financial dealings by civilian monetary elite–e.g., the AIG executive bonuses, would let civilians with the power of the Fed go without being punished for perpetrating such surreptitiousness on American taxpayers. There seems to be, however, not the slightest notice.
The $1.5 million savings by the Fed in not reporting to the public the M3 money supply amounted to 0.00000699 percent of its annual net income of last year. This savings was highlighted as sufficient reason to keep vital information from the public. Just to point out the deceptive nature of this piddling savings being reported in order to justify keeping taxpayers in the dark, remember that the same media went all out in diverting the publics’ attention from the enormous bailouts by focusing on–by contrast to the prodigious bail-out dollar amount— the infinitesimal bonuses paid to AIG executives. Remember, too,
that the bonuses were given to the AIG executives through contractually mandated arrangements.
The sleight of hand by the Fed in transferring the massive IOU from one pocket to the other to keep the country’s economic ship afloat was done under the knowing eyes of the Obama administration and Congress. An uninformed American public was, and is for the most part, kept in ignorance by news media not fully disclosing the scope of the thievery of the economic well-being of this and future generations.
What About Antichrist?
This essay’s title is “Antichrist: Where Is He?” So, where, if anywhere in this present hour, is this future evil Bible character in all of the foregoing? Can he be on the scene today?
Jesus forewarned that false christs will come on the scene in the latter times. The definition of antichrist is most often given as the one who will present himself in place of (imitate) Jesus Christ, and will at the same time oppose Jesus Christ. The “beast” is prophesied to be the world’s worst tyrant of human history. The prophet Daniel was given the following about this person who is called “son of perdition,” “man of sin,” and many other names.
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall
stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy
the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and
by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand “ (Dan. 8:24-25).
We will examine this man who is of legendary proportions, yet who transcends by far any legend. He is not an imaginary monster such as Dracula in the Stoker novel, or Darth Vader as in Lucas' fictional wars among the stars. Antichrist, when he is revealed, will be a real monster, and a most treacherous one, because he will through supernatural deceit appear as a geopolitical and socioeconomic savior of mankind. Be sure, the beast of Revelation 13 is about to step into the spotlight of history’s final act.
The question “Where is Antichrist?” is appropriate for this “time of the signs,” as my friend Chuck Missler has phrased his description of these strange days. So many signals are on today’s prophetic horizon that one must ask, if he or she knows much about Bible prophecy, “Is Antichrist alive today?”
Those who have looked at the world’s issues and events through the prism of God’s prophetic Word throughout preceding decades of America’s history have heard questions about the leaders of the times. Are presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, or non-presidents like Henry Kissinger and others the Antichrist? Now the question is pointed at President Barack Hussein Obama: “Is he the Antichrist?”
This hour is more prolific with end-times signs than any in history. Obama’s watch as president marks one particular characteristic that adds, peripherally, to the more substantial signals pervading the news at present. I refer to conditions like Israel’s being back in its land and the center of world attention, the Roman Empire seeming to revive in the form of the European Union (EU), and the Gog-Magog coalition of Ezekiel 38-39 forming right before our eyes.
The peripheral matter of concern in this case is the deceit with which this administration is trying to steer the American ship of state. Mr. Obama’s campaign claim was that he would have “transparency” in all of his dealing with the business of the American people. Yet his administration, with the continuing ramrod tactics of his political party, has gone against the will of the American public and is in the process of running up trillions of dollars in debt, an action that even the most “progressive” economists have declared to be beyond any semblance of fiscal sanity.
One such expert comes across as almost fearful of Obama’s plan as put forward by his controversial secretary of treasury, Timothy Geithner.
“HONG KONG (Reuters) The U.S. government plan to rid banks of toxic assets will rob American taxpayers by exposing them to too much risk and is unlikely to work as long as the economy remains weak, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said on Tuesday… U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's plan to wipe up to US $1 trillion in bad debt off banks' balance sheets, unveiled on Monday, offered ‘perverse incentives,’ Stiglitz said.
The U.S. government is basically using the taxpayer to guarantee against downside risk on the value of these assets, while giving the upside, or potential profits, to private investors, he said…” (“Geithner plan will rob American taxpayers,” Susan Fenton and Deborah Kan, Reuters, 3/24/09).
The economic expert expressed his concern.
"Quite frankly, this amounts to robbery of the American people. I don't think it's going to work because I think there'll be a lot of anger about putting the losses so much on the shoulder of the American taxpayer" (ibid.).
Time and time again in this fledgling administration, Obama’s regime demonstrates a level of non-transparency that borders on treachery, in my view. To strap an entire nation’s citizenry with debt they don’t want, going against their will, expressed through legitimate polling methods, is beyond taxation without representation. This administration is taking liberty from Americans in a way that does so by deception and force by fiat, not constitutional vote. Such tyranny will enslave citizens and their offspring for generations–possibly into perpetuity—and is among the most despicable forms of deception and deceit.
Does all of this criticism mean I view President Obama as a prime candidate for the one who will be Antichrist? No. In no way do I mean to express that Mr. Obama is the biblically prophesied man of sin. However, the way things are being done in Washington D.C. during these strange times should make the observer of issues and events from a biblically prophetic perspective sit up and take notice. They should know from their observations that this generation is seeing governmental razzle-dazzle not unlike the machinations that will mark the ultimate deceiver’s regime. Antichrist’s most tyrannical dictatorship will be one of ultimate enslavement to the 666 marks and numbers system of Revelation 13:16-18.
There is a peaceful revolution going on, about which most of us have at least heard–the neo-Tea Party to protest the forcing of trillions of dollars of debt on American taxpayers, their offspring, and their progeny yet unborn. People are putting tea bags in envelopes and mailing them to the appropriate address in Washington, D.C. At least, the White House kitchen help should, through all of the submitted tea bags, be able to–through having copious amounts of tea on hand, sent to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. by irate citizens—save a few of the dollars that are coming off the presses like toilet paper off the roll. (Be aware, you Tea Partiers, however. Word is that the envelopes containing the bags--a powdery substance--are being summarily disposed of because of possible harmful substances they might contained. Best, I’m told, just to send the tags with the attached strings.)
Something Rotten in Denmark–And Everywhere Else
The smell permeates almost every corner of America and the world. It is an odor of things to come.
Beyond the political exigencies of this troubling hour is the spiritual atmosphere that has the stench of Antichrist and his father, the devil. The scent was prevalent 2,000 years ago, and the Bible prophet John forewarned about its cankering, corrosive qualities, as well as defined it:
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time… Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 1:18, 4:1-3).
Denial of Jesus Christ and God’s prescription for living godly lives on Planet Earth saturate this generation. The antithesis of Christ’s words is not only carried out in the sinful lives of earth-dwellers; the opposition to the Lord is set in the hardened rebellion of manmade law.
The denial that Christ came to teach God’s standards for living on the planet He created is almost imperceptible. Most–even leaders of every conceivable religious sort--often agree that Jesus was a great teacher of good. But when Jesus is held up as the only Way to God the Father (John 14:6), the shrieks emanating from the spirit of Antichrist come from every dark direction of this fallen sphere.
During the present hour, there are even claims that Jesus taught that it is the mother’s right to choose whether her baby lives or dies. It is held among a growing number of clergy that Jesus himself gave blessing to those who chose homosexuality over heterosexuality. Most worrisome of all, the world is more and more embracing the lie that Jesus only represented the Christ spirit during His time on earth. He didn’t die for the sin of man. He didn’t resurrect from the dead because He didn’t really die at the crucifixion, but feigned death on the cross. He didn’t ascend to on high to sit at the right hand of God. He is, therefore, not coming back to rule and reign.
Jesus, the majority of the world–including many in our government as it is presently constituted, deny that Jesus is God–the second Person of the Godhead, the Trinity.
Just a cursory examination of the earliest phase of the new presidential administration tells the story of this time of the growing Antichrist spirit. The first months following the inauguration have brought changes by presidential edict that are diametrically opposite God’s will as given in His Word, the Bible. For example, the president ordered that money of the American taxpayers now be used to help with abortion practices in foreign nations, reversing former President George W. Bush’s presidential order that no such use of taxpayer money be made. This Obama did, despite the protestation of more than half of the American public.
The United States is being channeled and forced into a mold that looks like the biblically foretold one world order that will be ruled with a deadly iron fist by the one who is called “the beast.” With the stage of history’s last act set, for all practical purposes, it is perhaps not far-fetched to suspect that Antichrist is among us even now. He is here in spirit, for sure.
These questions are for the most part posed by people in the audiences or classes in general. However, more and more frequently I find these questions being asked by journalists, both print and broadcast. It is interesting to me that I rarely hear a skeptical or scoffing tone in the voices of the media representatives who interview me. There seems a sense, even among secular journalists, that perhaps there’s something to this Bible prophecy stuff after all.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not sensing a sudden turning to God, or to His Word. However, there is a halting uncertainty there. Like, “Well, maybe I had better be just a bit more serious about the subject, since there is such angst over these strange economic conditions.”
Economic Conditions
There is a sense that strange, unexplainable things are happening, and even secular newshounds seem to viscerally understand that Bible prophecy has something to do with the increasingly troubling issues and events of our time. U.S. leaders–I use that term loosely—have seemingly thrown caution to the wind. It’s like, as I heard one Bible prophecy broadcaster say the other day—those who are supposed to be trying to fix the melting financial structure of America have placed the whole shebang on 17 black, and have given the roulette wheel a hope-filled turn. Actually, it is more like they have written trillions in IOUs and put them on 17 black, and have given the wheel a turn.
If the little ball ends up on any number other than 17 black, what then? That is the crux of the crucial nature of this insanity surrounding the American economy as the end of the age approaches. Craziness rules--like when the Federal Reserve reached in its right pocket and transferred more than a trillion dollars IOU to its left pocket to keep the American financial system afloat.
“Just last Wednesday the Fed said it would flood the teetering financial system with an additional $1.2 trillion. The money will be used, the Fed said, to buy government bonds and mortgage-related securities in hopes of lowering the borrowing costs for home mortgages and other types of loans, thereby stimulating economic activity. In other words, the central bank will print more money to pay for the purchases. What the Fed does not explain publicly is how those kinds of infusions of money out of thin air, with nothing to back it, reduce the purchasing power and assets of all Americans by devaluing the dollar.
The $1.2 trillion is in addition to hundreds of billions already added to the system since the beginning of the year and dwarfs even the biggest government
bailouts to date…” (“Fed's secrecy policy 3 years old,” WorldNetDaily MoneyNetDaily, 3/22/09).
Keep in mind that the Federal Reserve is a non-government agency. Congress designated this monetary governing body to control the nation's money supply. The
Fed’s actions directly impact the value of the dollar. This body, manned by the non-elected financial elite, holds sway over every investment held by Americans.
Actions like those taken by the Federal Reserve in the case of creating out of nothingness the trillion-plus dollars, then putting that massive IOU into the system with a blind faith that that unbacked infusion will beat the odds of failure, will, if nothing else is done, put not only America’s economy, but the economies of the nation-states of the world into the final stages of collapse.
The following excerpt tells of just how surreptitious are the actions against the taxpayers and their offspring, who are expected to shoulder the burden of funding the globalists elite’s grandiose plans to build their new world order.
“WASHINGTON – As America's economy continues in freefall, tomorrow marks an auspicious three-year anniversary – the day the Federal Reserve announced, with little fanfare, its decision to stop reporting to the public the M3 money supply, the broadest measure of three standards of measurement…Since 2006, Americans have seen their investments plummet in value and witnessed the shrinking buying power of their earnings. Why did the Fed make that decision three years ago? What was its rationale? The justification for the secrecy by the organization that prints money was cost. By not producing those numbers for the public, the Fed would save about $1.5 million annually…” (ibid.).
The Craziness Proliferates!
It should be astonishing to think that the media, so obsessed with nefarious financial dealings by civilian monetary elite–e.g., the AIG executive bonuses, would let civilians with the power of the Fed go without being punished for perpetrating such surreptitiousness on American taxpayers. There seems to be, however, not the slightest notice.
The $1.5 million savings by the Fed in not reporting to the public the M3 money supply amounted to 0.00000699 percent of its annual net income of last year. This savings was highlighted as sufficient reason to keep vital information from the public. Just to point out the deceptive nature of this piddling savings being reported in order to justify keeping taxpayers in the dark, remember that the same media went all out in diverting the publics’ attention from the enormous bailouts by focusing on–by contrast to the prodigious bail-out dollar amount— the infinitesimal bonuses paid to AIG executives. Remember, too,
that the bonuses were given to the AIG executives through contractually mandated arrangements.
The sleight of hand by the Fed in transferring the massive IOU from one pocket to the other to keep the country’s economic ship afloat was done under the knowing eyes of the Obama administration and Congress. An uninformed American public was, and is for the most part, kept in ignorance by news media not fully disclosing the scope of the thievery of the economic well-being of this and future generations.
What About Antichrist?
This essay’s title is “Antichrist: Where Is He?” So, where, if anywhere in this present hour, is this future evil Bible character in all of the foregoing? Can he be on the scene today?
Jesus forewarned that false christs will come on the scene in the latter times. The definition of antichrist is most often given as the one who will present himself in place of (imitate) Jesus Christ, and will at the same time oppose Jesus Christ. The “beast” is prophesied to be the world’s worst tyrant of human history. The prophet Daniel was given the following about this person who is called “son of perdition,” “man of sin,” and many other names.
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall
stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy
the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and
by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand “ (Dan. 8:24-25).
We will examine this man who is of legendary proportions, yet who transcends by far any legend. He is not an imaginary monster such as Dracula in the Stoker novel, or Darth Vader as in Lucas' fictional wars among the stars. Antichrist, when he is revealed, will be a real monster, and a most treacherous one, because he will through supernatural deceit appear as a geopolitical and socioeconomic savior of mankind. Be sure, the beast of Revelation 13 is about to step into the spotlight of history’s final act.
The question “Where is Antichrist?” is appropriate for this “time of the signs,” as my friend Chuck Missler has phrased his description of these strange days. So many signals are on today’s prophetic horizon that one must ask, if he or she knows much about Bible prophecy, “Is Antichrist alive today?”
Those who have looked at the world’s issues and events through the prism of God’s prophetic Word throughout preceding decades of America’s history have heard questions about the leaders of the times. Are presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, or non-presidents like Henry Kissinger and others the Antichrist? Now the question is pointed at President Barack Hussein Obama: “Is he the Antichrist?”
This hour is more prolific with end-times signs than any in history. Obama’s watch as president marks one particular characteristic that adds, peripherally, to the more substantial signals pervading the news at present. I refer to conditions like Israel’s being back in its land and the center of world attention, the Roman Empire seeming to revive in the form of the European Union (EU), and the Gog-Magog coalition of Ezekiel 38-39 forming right before our eyes.
The peripheral matter of concern in this case is the deceit with which this administration is trying to steer the American ship of state. Mr. Obama’s campaign claim was that he would have “transparency” in all of his dealing with the business of the American people. Yet his administration, with the continuing ramrod tactics of his political party, has gone against the will of the American public and is in the process of running up trillions of dollars in debt, an action that even the most “progressive” economists have declared to be beyond any semblance of fiscal sanity.
One such expert comes across as almost fearful of Obama’s plan as put forward by his controversial secretary of treasury, Timothy Geithner.
“HONG KONG (Reuters) The U.S. government plan to rid banks of toxic assets will rob American taxpayers by exposing them to too much risk and is unlikely to work as long as the economy remains weak, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said on Tuesday… U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's plan to wipe up to US $1 trillion in bad debt off banks' balance sheets, unveiled on Monday, offered ‘perverse incentives,’ Stiglitz said.
The U.S. government is basically using the taxpayer to guarantee against downside risk on the value of these assets, while giving the upside, or potential profits, to private investors, he said…” (“Geithner plan will rob American taxpayers,” Susan Fenton and Deborah Kan, Reuters, 3/24/09).
The economic expert expressed his concern.
"Quite frankly, this amounts to robbery of the American people. I don't think it's going to work because I think there'll be a lot of anger about putting the losses so much on the shoulder of the American taxpayer" (ibid.).
Time and time again in this fledgling administration, Obama’s regime demonstrates a level of non-transparency that borders on treachery, in my view. To strap an entire nation’s citizenry with debt they don’t want, going against their will, expressed through legitimate polling methods, is beyond taxation without representation. This administration is taking liberty from Americans in a way that does so by deception and force by fiat, not constitutional vote. Such tyranny will enslave citizens and their offspring for generations–possibly into perpetuity—and is among the most despicable forms of deception and deceit.
Does all of this criticism mean I view President Obama as a prime candidate for the one who will be Antichrist? No. In no way do I mean to express that Mr. Obama is the biblically prophesied man of sin. However, the way things are being done in Washington D.C. during these strange times should make the observer of issues and events from a biblically prophetic perspective sit up and take notice. They should know from their observations that this generation is seeing governmental razzle-dazzle not unlike the machinations that will mark the ultimate deceiver’s regime. Antichrist’s most tyrannical dictatorship will be one of ultimate enslavement to the 666 marks and numbers system of Revelation 13:16-18.
There is a peaceful revolution going on, about which most of us have at least heard–the neo-Tea Party to protest the forcing of trillions of dollars of debt on American taxpayers, their offspring, and their progeny yet unborn. People are putting tea bags in envelopes and mailing them to the appropriate address in Washington, D.C. At least, the White House kitchen help should, through all of the submitted tea bags, be able to–through having copious amounts of tea on hand, sent to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. by irate citizens—save a few of the dollars that are coming off the presses like toilet paper off the roll. (Be aware, you Tea Partiers, however. Word is that the envelopes containing the bags--a powdery substance--are being summarily disposed of because of possible harmful substances they might contained. Best, I’m told, just to send the tags with the attached strings.)
Something Rotten in Denmark–And Everywhere Else
The smell permeates almost every corner of America and the world. It is an odor of things to come.
Beyond the political exigencies of this troubling hour is the spiritual atmosphere that has the stench of Antichrist and his father, the devil. The scent was prevalent 2,000 years ago, and the Bible prophet John forewarned about its cankering, corrosive qualities, as well as defined it:
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time… Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 1:18, 4:1-3).
Denial of Jesus Christ and God’s prescription for living godly lives on Planet Earth saturate this generation. The antithesis of Christ’s words is not only carried out in the sinful lives of earth-dwellers; the opposition to the Lord is set in the hardened rebellion of manmade law.
The denial that Christ came to teach God’s standards for living on the planet He created is almost imperceptible. Most–even leaders of every conceivable religious sort--often agree that Jesus was a great teacher of good. But when Jesus is held up as the only Way to God the Father (John 14:6), the shrieks emanating from the spirit of Antichrist come from every dark direction of this fallen sphere.
During the present hour, there are even claims that Jesus taught that it is the mother’s right to choose whether her baby lives or dies. It is held among a growing number of clergy that Jesus himself gave blessing to those who chose homosexuality over heterosexuality. Most worrisome of all, the world is more and more embracing the lie that Jesus only represented the Christ spirit during His time on earth. He didn’t die for the sin of man. He didn’t resurrect from the dead because He didn’t really die at the crucifixion, but feigned death on the cross. He didn’t ascend to on high to sit at the right hand of God. He is, therefore, not coming back to rule and reign.
Jesus, the majority of the world–including many in our government as it is presently constituted, deny that Jesus is God–the second Person of the Godhead, the Trinity.
Just a cursory examination of the earliest phase of the new presidential administration tells the story of this time of the growing Antichrist spirit. The first months following the inauguration have brought changes by presidential edict that are diametrically opposite God’s will as given in His Word, the Bible. For example, the president ordered that money of the American taxpayers now be used to help with abortion practices in foreign nations, reversing former President George W. Bush’s presidential order that no such use of taxpayer money be made. This Obama did, despite the protestation of more than half of the American public.
The United States is being channeled and forced into a mold that looks like the biblically foretold one world order that will be ruled with a deadly iron fist by the one who is called “the beast.” With the stage of history’s last act set, for all practical purposes, it is perhaps not far-fetched to suspect that Antichrist is among us even now. He is here in spirit, for sure.
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