tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31339592805390401852024-03-13T14:15:44.770-07:00The End TimesChronicling The News And Events Of The End Times As We Await The Second Coming of Jesus ChristShattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-91016064658337357062013-04-02T18:45:00.004-07:002013-04-02T18:46:39.308-07:00You Want To Be Rich?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y01eOuPpJBc/UVuJx29FlQI/AAAAAAAAFac/2E6Utvnj2SI/s1600/5+New+Lies+That+The+Federal+Reserve+Is+Telling+The+American+People.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y01eOuPpJBc/UVuJx29FlQI/AAAAAAAAFac/2E6Utvnj2SI/s320/5+New+Lies+That+The+Federal+Reserve+Is+Telling+The+American+People.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Guest Post by Dave Webb- </div>
<br />
So, you want to be rich? This is what
I
believe concerning riches . . .<br />
<br />
The people that have become rich know
a
little secret that the rest of us have missed. It sound crazy.<br />
<br />
It
is the truth.<br />
<br />
I have no desire to be rich. I would
rather have a life. So I am careful what I ask for. I learned this
the hard way.<br />
<br />
John D. Rockefeller was rich beyond
his
wildest dreams. He and his wife led a rather disciplined existence
concerning money.<br />
<br />
When they had children, they tried to
teach them the secret as well.<br />
<br />
The secret to riches is the double
tithe. God will do the rest. <br />
<br />
One of my best friends has money. His
father earned this money for him. He was a history teacher most of
his life. He remained single all of his life and still is. He is
retired now.<br />
<br />
<br />
But his “Daddy” died in his late
80s worth about 4 million dollars. He had obtained something like
32
patents on industrial safety equipment that prevented people from
loosing limbs to heavy industrial equipment. His secret was he
donated 20% of his money his entire life to God. You simply cannot
out give God. God kept giving it back 20 fold times 10.<br />
<br />
My friend continues the tithe. He
preaches. He has a calling from God. He helps people. More
important
to my friend I think is he has a decent life. He is a totally
born-again Christian with fundamentalist beliefs.<br />
<br />
John D. Rockefeller had a biography on
PBS recently. I was interested because he followed the principle
of
the double tithe. He taught this secret to all his children. He
was a
believer in God.<br />
<br />
The responsibility of wealth was
overwhelming. He turned this responsibility in his old age over to
his son. With riches comes responsibility to use that wealth
correctly. It is not an easy responsibility and I have no desire
to
spend my life on that responsibility. John D Rockefeller looked
relieved when he turned the responsibility over to his son.<br />
<br />
<br />
John D. Rockefeller and family made
big
mistakes in handling people. The son tried to correct those
mistakes.
The family has given us some fine government leaders.<br />
<br />
To be rich is to be desired. People
naturally are drawn to people with money.<br />
<br />
Some have had it end tragically. Like
the kidnapping of a child in the 30s. I don't think the Lindbergh
family ever recovered.<br />
<br />
So with riches comes another
responsibility. The protection of the family from crooks all too
willing to try to obtain the riches you have made. This naturally
restricts your life. To be rich is to be royalty and to be royalty
is
to lose control over your life. There can be a price to pay for
being rich.<br />
<br />
<br />
My friend tries to keep his wealth a
secret. I don't blame him.<br />
<br />
In the 90s I was given responsibility
to be a Union Steward. We called it “chapel chairman” because
originally the Union was a craft union with strong religious
beliefs.
The Chapel Chairman's job was to originally lead prayer to God. It
evolved into representing the entire group. Even the Foreman over
the
group was a member of the Chapel. One of my responsibilities was
to
distribute overtime.<br />
<br />
I put together rules different than
any
other Chapel Chairman in history of that group. I distributed
overtime with credits for overtime asked for. A number went beside
everyone's name. That number was the overtime you were given the
opportunity to work. You could turn it down. But it determined who
was asked next for overtime. A second number was your priority.
The
oldest priority member being the one that had worked the longest
in
the group. If two people had been asked the exact same amount of
overtime then the one with priority was asked first. I also had
skill
levels added to this list.<br />
So you were not asked if it was a job
you
could not do. I had help from a lot of people putting these rules
of fairness together. I didn't do it alone.<br />
<br />
<br />
The people with known Christian
background, for some reason unknown to me, always ended up with
more
asked for overtime than anyone else. You could say it was chance.
I
was very strict in keeping the list honest and fair. But I suspect
God had something to do with the list because the people I know
were
probably tithing had more overtime asked on the list than anyone
else. No list can be completely fair. We made mistakes. But the
nature of the list actually kept it fair as possible.<br />
<br />
I once needed money to survive in the
mid 80s. I was at my church of choice. The preacher was preaching
on
the tithe. If you give it will be given back to you. Okay! Sounds
good to me! I am broke. I had a $20 in my wallet. So I gave the
entire $20 in the offering that Wednesday night. I gave everything
that I had that night left after paying my bills and feeding my
family to God. It was crazy.<br />
It would never work, right? I had
nothing to lose really. So I tried it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Monday, the company I worked for
announced they were going into an entirely new way of marking up
ads
in my job. I was the second person trained in the new way of
computer
markup. The company determined who got trained next. I wasn't
anywhere near the top of priority list. But I did have the skills
they needed.<br />
<br />
For the next six months I had more
overtime than I could handle. I was divorced at the time and
raising
2 of the 3 boys I had. I was on a very strict budget to keep my
head
above water financially and it wasn't working out. So that
overtime
was a pretty big thing in my life. It happened because of that
donation tithe at the church I was going to.<br />
<br />
I started looking at other people that
tithed. They all had similar stories. And that is where I get the
idea that if you want to really be rich, tithe to God as much as
you
can possibly afford. The more you give to God, the more will be
given
back to you. Ask anyone that has done it. They will tell you the
same thing I am saying.<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't know how it works. I just know
it works. Whenever, I need to reverse my fortunes, that is what I
do.
I double tithe. God asks in the Bible for 10%. My friend's father
had
it right. He doubled the tithe and got a lot of money back. You
cannot out give God.<br />
<br />
Please do not get me wrong. God had me
work for every penny I ever earned. So if you want to be rich,
remember, he will make you work for it. But it will be given to
you
in accordance with how much you give in your tithing to God.<br />
<br />
<br />
Wonder if that might work for the
Government . . .Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-62275238084035980072013-01-15T19:46:00.001-08:002013-01-15T19:46:40.139-08:00Submission through Power, or, in the awe of the I AM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp10y-aGjew/UPYijZNcy4I/AAAAAAAAFYU/Svn9nxu8Ncc/s1600/Christian+Persecution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp10y-aGjew/UPYijZNcy4I/AAAAAAAAFYU/Svn9nxu8Ncc/s320/Christian+Persecution.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
The following is a guest post by Archer Garrett... </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I’d like to visit one of my favorite scenes of the Bible, as
told through the eyes of John in chapter 18.<span>
</span>The scene is a famous one:<span> </span>Jesus
prays in the garden, is then betrayed and subsequently arrested.<span> </span> </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Simple enough, right?<span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Hardly.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
First, let’s see how Jesus struggles with the reality of the
cross:</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>Mark 14:36</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>36
“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from
me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>John 18 - Jesus Arrested</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>1
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the
Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples
went into it.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>2
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there
with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of
soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were
carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>4
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them,
“Who is it you want?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>5
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“I
am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>7
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“Jesus
of Nazareth,” they said.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>8
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let
these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be
fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>10
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s
servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>11
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the
Father has given me?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>12
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials
arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one
who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for
the people.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Now, let’s dissect the scriptures a little:</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>Mark 14:36</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>36
<b>“Abba, Father,”</b> he said, “everything
is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you
will.”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Some scholars argue that <b>abba</b> is the Aramaic equivalent of “daddy”, while others argue that
abba, "asserts not childlike relation to God, but the privileged status of
the adult son (not daughter) and heir."<span>
</span>Either way, <b>abba</b> is a term
that was specifically preserved in aramaic for a reason of importance, and is
reinforced by the fact that it is then followed by <b>father</b>; when the Bible repeats itself, <i>pay attention</i>.<span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
What is this cup?<span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
It’s the cup of God’s wrath.<span>
</span>It’s a cup full of all the sins of the entire world that God cannot even
look upon, without being filled with anger.<span>
</span>Jesus was not afraid of dying; he knew that God would turn His back on
His Son, when Jesus drank that cup on the cross.<span> </span>Jesus had walked in constant communion with
the Father for His entire life.<span> </span>The
thought of being without God was, by definition, a living Hell.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
And yet, he knew that God required Jesus to drink from this
cup, so He submitted to the will of the Father.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Total submission to God.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
So, now we’ve got the total submission part, but what about
the power.<span> </span>Jesus was betrayed and
arrested, but where’s the power in that?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<b>Let’s look at John
18:3-9 again:</b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>3
So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some
officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches,
lanterns and weapons.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>4 Jesus, knowing all that was
going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>5
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas
the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they
drew back and fell to the ground.</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>7 Again he asked them, “Who is it
you want?”</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“Jesus
of Nazareth,” they said.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>8 Jesus answered, “I told you
that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This
happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost
one of those you gave me.”</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Let that scene soak in, alright?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Jesus, having just fully submitted himself to the will of
the Father, after pouring out His heart, is settled in His resolve.<span> </span>He’s accepted what must be done.<span> </span>Imagine His face.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
But the disciples don’t get it, they are <i>just</i> <i>like</i>
<i>us</i> – they <i>never</i> get it – until after the fact.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
So in comes Judas with a detachment of soldiers in tow.<span> </span>Imagine how the disciples felt: betrayed,
angry, terrified?<span> </span>Oh yeah.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
But what does Jesus do?<span>
</span>Total control of the situation.<span>
</span>He steps up and <i>confronts</i>
them.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>4
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them,
“Who is it you want?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>5
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas
the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they
drew back and fell to the ground.</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
They drew back and FELL to the GROUND.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
What the heck just happened?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I’ll tell you what happened, Jesus just flexed.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
In John 18, “I am he,” was translated from the Greek, “<i>ego eimi</i>.”</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Ego Eimi.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
The Gospel of John is interesting in that ego eimi is used
multiple times.<span> </span>Through the various
councils, for whatever reason, the divinity that John attributes to Jesus has
been reined in somewhat.<span> </span> </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Why it was done
does not matter to me, all I am concerned with is <i>original intent.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Ego Eimi.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Where else is ego eimi used in the Bible? One striking
example is in Exodus 3.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>11
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the
Israelites out of Egypt?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>12
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is
I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will
worship God on this mountain.”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>13
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of
your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then
what shall I tell them?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>14
God said to Moses, “</i><b>Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh
(Aramaic translation)<i>.</i></b><i> <span> </span>This
is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘<b>ego
eimi (Greek translation)</b> has sent me to you.’”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>15
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your
fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me
to you.’</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Except, that’s not how you see it in the Bible; you see it
like this: </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
14 God said to Moses, “<b>I AM who I AM</b>. This is what you are to
say to the Israelites: ‘<b>I AM</b> has
sent me to you.’”</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I AM.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I AM the Resurrection and the Life.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I AM that I AM.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I.<span> </span>JUST. AM.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
…</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Whoa.<span> </span>I don’t know
about you, but that gives John 18 a whole new meaning.<span> </span>Let’s revisit it:</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>4
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them,
“Who is it you want?”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>5
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“<b>I AM</b>,” Jesus said. (And Judas the
traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “<b>I AM</b>,” they drew back and fell to the ground.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Perhaps I’m the theatrical type, but I can just imagine the
raw energy that filled the air as He uttered those words.<span> </span>I can envision the shockwave that pulsated
outwards as he said, “ego eimi,” and it </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Literally.<span> </span>Knocked.<span>
</span>Them.<span> </span>To.<span> </span>The.<span>
</span>Ground.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<b>I AM!</b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
But Jesus doesn’t stop there, he proceeds to tower over them
in the very finite amount of His glory that he allowed to be revealed to them,
and continued:</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>7 Again he asked them, “Who is it
you want?”</i></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“Jesus
of Nazareth,” they said.</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
They said.<span> </span>PFFT.<span> </span><i>They
muttered.<span> </span>They squeaked.<span> </span>They shielded their eyes and meekly whimpered
in terror.</i><span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>8
Jesus answered, “I told you that <b>I AM</b>.
If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the
words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave
me.”</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
I TOLD YOU THAT I AM.<span>
</span>Wow.<span> </span>Can you feel the power in His
words?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Complete and total control of the situation.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
But what happens next?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
The man that is getting arrested is making demands of this
late night, no-knock warrant, jackboot, Ancient Roman goon squad.<span> </span>And they abide him.<span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Ego eimi.<span> </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>10
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s
servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)</i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>11
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! <b>Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”</b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
In all his glory and power before these mere mortals, he is
still in total submission to the Father.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>12
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials
arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. <b>14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it
would be good if one man died for the people.</b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
If you Caiaphas knew, how true those words actually
were.<span> </span>But not by his power, would one
man die for the people. <span> </span>But by HIS
power.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Ego eimi.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Amen.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>References:</b></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>NIV Bible</i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>James Barr, "Abba isn't 'daddy'", Journal of Theological
Studies, 39:28-47.</i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i><a href="http://aramaicdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/abba-isnt-daddy-traditional-aramaic.html" target="_blank">http://aramaicdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/abba-isnt-daddy-traditional-aramaic.html</a></i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>Mary Rose D'Angelo, "Abba and 'Father': Imperial Theology and
the Jesus Traditions", Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 111, No.
4 (Winter, 1992), pp. 615-616</i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>Tarazi, Fr. Paul. THE NAME OF GOD: ABBA. Word Magazine -
Publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North
America (May 1980) pp. 5-6. <a href="http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/bible/tarazi_name_of_god.htm" target="_blank">http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/bible/tarazi_name_of_god.htm</a></i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal">
<i>Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems From The Greek 365 Greek Word Studies
For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God's Word 2003
page 219</i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>Mary Healy, Gospel of Mark, The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
2008, page 131: "...the episode is in the middle statement: "It
is I" (ego eimi), which can also be translated "I AM," the
divine name ..."</i></li>
<li class="ecxMsoNormal"><i>The I AM sayings: <a href="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rsposse/iamintro.htm" target="_blank">http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rsposse/iamintro.htm</a></i></li>
</ol>
Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-2569216396988725982012-10-02T14:30:00.001-07:002012-10-02T14:32:25.592-07:00Fasting and Regaining Sight of Imperatives<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9BXln88ekVI/UGtc3R4VnMI/AAAAAAAAFWA/WjEjodrIeXk/s1600/10+Reasons+Why+It+Has+Become+So+Soul-Crushingly+Difficult+To+Find+A+Job+In+America+Today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9BXln88ekVI/UGtc3R4VnMI/AAAAAAAAFWA/WjEjodrIeXk/s400/10+Reasons+Why+It+Has+Become+So+Soul-Crushingly+Difficult+To+Find+A+Job+In+America+Today.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(guest article authored by Jimmie Parr) </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have you ever misplaced something, sought all
around for it, and perhaps have even asked someone else to help you to find the
misplaced item? And then you find the
item in your hand. In the case of a pair
of glasses, you find them on your forehead.
When you asked another person to help you to find the wayward item, you
may have opened yourself up to embarrassment, because that person may have
pointed out to you the “lost” spectacles above your brow, or the ink pen in
your hand. Or, as happened to me
recently, I “lost” the keys to my vehicle.
I went to a neighbor’s to borrow a wire coat hanger, so that I could
break into my own vehicle. The neighbor
came with me to watch the show. When we
got back to my vehicle, he saw my keys on the hood of the vehicle. I’d put them there, because I’d “lost”
something else, and was emptying my pockets, to try to find whatever else it
was that had “sprouted legs.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How many solutions to problems are at our
fingertips?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">More and more Americans are seeing that the U.S.
is in deep trouble. Are there solutions
to our problems? Do we need to audit the
Federal Reserve Bank? Do we need to <a href="http://thedebtweowe.com/reflections-of-a-former-wal-mart-employee" target="_blank">cause
Walmart to cease to exist, as it currently is</a>? Do all Americans need to be armed? Do all Americans need to be disarmed?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Long ago, regarding the destruction of Jerusalem
by Roman armies in A.D. 69, historian Flavius Josephus wrote, “Now if any one
consider these things (events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem), he will find
that God takes care of mankind, and by all ways possible foreshows to our race
what is for their preservation; but that men perish by those miseries which
they madly and voluntarily bring upon themselves” (<a href="http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/war-6.htm" target="_blank">Wars of the Jews, Book
VI, Chapter 5, section 4</a>). What
Josephus wrote is parallel to what Amos wrote:
“<span class="ecxtext">Surely the Lord </span><span class="ecxsmall-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span></span><span class="ecxtext"> will do
nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos%203:7&version=KJV" target="_blank">Amos
3:7</a>).</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span class="ecxtext"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Long ago, the Creator
sent one of his servants—Jonah—to the city of Nineveh. The Creator planned to bring Nineveh to
nothing, but He, through Jonah, warned the Ninevites, as Amos declares that the
Creator does, before He acts. The Creator
warns of impending disaster, and tells how to head off that disaster, as
Josephus expressed that he believed that the Creator does (gives warnings
before allowing disaster). Concerning the
story of Nineveh, I have more to convey, because I believe that, in the book of
Jonah, there is a lesson for us, today.
That lesson would lead us toward knowing whether to ban Walmart, whether
to abolish the Federal Reserve System, and into countless other remedies of
problems. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sir Winston Churchill is quoted as having said,
if not in these exact words, “<a href="http://jpetrie.myweb.uga.edu/bulldog.html" target="_blank">Once in a while you will
stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry
along as if nothing had happened</a>.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Can You Let Go of Everything Blocking View of Reality?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I can’t help thinking of a joke. A guy who is standing at the edge of a cliff
slips off the edge. He grabs a branch of
a bush at the edge of the cliff. Hanging
from the branch, he looks up and yells, “Is anyone up there?!? Please help me!!”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Looking up, the guy sees a dark cloud, and hears
a thunderclap. He hears a voice: “I can help you.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“W-who are y-you?” asks the man in peril.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I am God,” replies the voice.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“How can you help me?”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Let go of the branch,” the voice answers.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What???
Let go of the branch?”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Pondering his situation, the man yells, “Is
anyone else up there?”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you ever, in retrospect, wonder whether you
ever stumbled over the truth, but, because it was seemed so foreign or
unpopular, you picked yourself up, brushed yourself off, and hurried along on
your way? Could you ever re-trace your
steps, and find that truth (or that chunk of truth) over which you had stumbled
remains where it was, when it tripped you?
Could you even have truth in your hand, or perched on your forehead, and
not even realize that it's there? You're
frantically seeking truth, and you're holding the key, and you ask someone else
to help you to find the key.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, I wrote about my opinion that <a href="http://thedebtweowe.com/conformity-the-new-clothing-of-the-emperor-and-his-subjects" target="_blank">the
desire to conform</a> can prevent us from seeing or recognizing truth. A desire to keep up with the rushing sheep
surrounding us; to keep one's nose as close as possible to the rumps of the
sheep charging ahead, can block one’s view of the truth that there is a cliff
over which, one-by-one, each member of the entire herd is hurtling. As I wrote in the above-linked article, in a
car dealership, a service writer’s opinion that I could not use knowledge of
chemistry to solve a problem with an automobile helped to block his ability to
see that, without wrenches or sale of new auto parts, I had, with knowledge of
chemistry, already solved that problem with a customer’s vehicle. The fact that the customer was satisfied
didn't matter. He viewed truth as being
in his way of conformity, so, before he stumbled over truth, he turned and ran
in the other direction. In that way, he
kept himself in conformity with the remainder of the herd of “conventional,”
“in-the-box” mechanics.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Miracle (n.)—the Process of Reversing Entropy</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is the truth about so-called
“miracles? Many of us have heard <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011:39-44&version=KJV" target="_blank">a
Bible story of a person, having been dead four days, brought back to life</a>. Have there ever been such miracles? If so, will such miracles ever occur
again? Can life be wrenched from the jaws
of certain, imminent death, or actual death?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I include many occurrences in the category of
miracles. In my opinion, the “mass
transit,” by blood hemoglobin, of oxygen molecules to cells which need oxygen,
and the return, by those same blood cells, of carbon dioxide from individual
cells back to the atmosphere, is a miracle, or a series of miracles. Respiration flies in the face of what I
understand about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy" target="_blank">law of
entropy</a>, which states that everything tends to become increasingly random
and disorderly. (Forgive my possible
omission, due to an attempt to be brief, of key aspects of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics" target="_blank">the second law
of thermodynamics</a>.) A mountain which
has been thrust up from the Earth's crust is slowly hammered by the sun's heat,
by rain dissolving soluble portions, by water in cracks freezing and breaking
one piece in two. Eventually, particles
which once constituted a mountain are spread all along a river bottom and out
to sea; not to mention wind-borne particles from that mountain, which are
spread “everywhere.” Eroded particles do
not coalesce to form mountains. An
explosion at an automobile assembly plant does not result in pieces falling
together as assembled automobiles.
Mountains break and wear into pieces.
Exploded buildings result in disorder—entropy. In my view, the fact that life even exists
screams that Someone is making it happen.
The existence of life is a miracle.
Each living organism is a miracle.
Life and entropy seem to be on opposite sides of the battlefield, in
some ways, although living things depend on entropy, in order to garner
nutrients. Plant roots cannot take up
boulders through their root hairs. <a href="http://www.plantstress.com/articles/min_deficiency_i/root_exudates.pdf" target="_blank">Supposedly,
plant roots secrete substances which dissolve minerals</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza" target="_blank">Plant roots also depend on help
from fungi which live symbiotically on roots</a>. Humans chew food. Chewing food changes the orderly structure of
a chicken wing into the disorder of a chewed-up slurry mixed with saliva—in
order to help our stomachs with the task of chemical breakdown (more entropy)
of that mass, in order that the nutrients in it can be made available for our
individual cells in our bodies. So the
end result of the entropy involving masticating and digesting food is the
transfer of selected minerals from one form of life to another—a building process,
though much of the bulk of food which we eat goes (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2023:12-13&version=NIV" target="_blank">or
should go</a>, <a href="http://howtohelpsavetheenvironment.com/archives/soil-ignored-ill-treated-irreplaceable" target="_blank">if
we didn't flush it down toilets</a>), in a state of relative entropy, back to
the ground.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In short, I do not limit my definition of the
word, miracle, to include only incidents such as walking on water, or the
sudden healing of an incurable disease.
Yes, I believe that miracles (supernatural interventions—interventions
by the Creator) occur, because I believe that a long series of miracles occur
with each living organism, to bring that organism from “lifeless” rock and soil
to its existence as a causative agent, whether with its roots, or with its
earth-moving equipment, of a new type of change of our environment.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If I take soil with a high percentage of clay, mix
that soil with water, and add a source of sodium ions, I make the water murky,
and it remains murky, because sodium disperses the clay particles, many of
which are tiny enough to remain suspended in the water. If I add Epsom salts to that cloudy, muddy
water, the water clarifies. An observing
child may believe that, with Epsom salts, I performed a miracle. Similarly, if I were to see a leper suddenly
healed, I would consider it a miracle.
But the One who is ultimately responsible for that healing may view the
healing of a leper as I would view the use of magnesium sulphate to cause the
clay suspended in water to flocculate and settle out of suspension. The Creator may view the sudden healing of a
leper as most people tend to view respiration, if those people don't think
about what a miracle, as at least a temporary defeat of entropy, respiration in
a life form truly is.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">[In the physical universe, to build a perpetual
motion machine is impossible. Is the
granting of eternal life an individual's ultimate victory against the effects
of the law of entropy—the second law of thermodynamics—(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:54-56&version=KJV" target="_blank">I
Corinthians 15:54-56</a>)?]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When you think of a miracle which the Creator
would perform, do you think of an accompanying light show, and/or an
earthquake, or (thanks to Hollywood) stirring orchestral music? Do you think of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqCTq3EeDcY" target="_blank">a scene from Cecil B.
DeMille’s The Ten Commandments</a>?
Think about this. When the
Israelites saw the Red Sea part, were they more concerned with the “FX”
(“special effects”—the light show, the background orchestra, the shaking
ground), or were they more concerned with “gittin’ outta Dodge”—escaping the
clutches of Pharaoh and his pursuing charioteers? Don’t be so certain about their response, or
your response, in a similar situation.
Think about what happened with <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%205:1&version=KJV" target="_blank">Naaman</a>,
who, centuries ago, was the leader of the army of Syria.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Though Naaman had many accomplishments under his
belt, he was a leper. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%205:1-14&version=KJV" target="_blank">The
first few verses of II Kings 5</a> tell the story of how Naaman found out about
Elisha, who was a prophet of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton#Etymology" target="_blank">YHVH</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton" target="_blank">YHWH</a>—the Creator. Naaman went to Elisha, so that Elisha could
perform a miracle, and rid the former of his leprosy. After Naaman arrived, Elisha did not even go
out to meet Naaman, though Naaman was a “great” and noted man. Elisha sent a messenger out to Naaman. The messenger told Naaman to wash himself
seven times in the Jordan River, in order to be rid of his leprosy. Naaman was furious. He wanted a performance. He wanted a show. He wanted to see “the man” (Elisha); not a
messenger of Elisha’s, and he wanted special effects. Naaman said that he knew of Syrian rivers
which were better than the Jordan River, and, in great fury, he left. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+5:9-14&version=NIV" target="_blank">But
one of Naaman’s servants wisely said</a>, “Hey, pal…if Elisha had told you to
do some huge feat to get rid of the leprosy, wouldn’t you have done it? Did you want to get rid of the leprosy, or
did you just want a light show to post on YouTube? Why don’t you just try to do the simple thing
that he said to do?” (Excuse my
paraphrase.) Naaman decided to listen to
his adviser, and washed himself in the Jordan River. After Naaman did what he was told to do, his
leprosy vanished, and his skin became like that of a young boy. There was no lightning. There was no earthquake. There was not even a hint of violin
music. Neither was there any more
leprosy. It was a “no-frills” miracle.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Elijah the prophet got a visit from the
Creator. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2019:11&version=KJV" target="_blank">Preceding
His visit</a>, there was a whirlwind.
And then there was an earthquake.
After that, there was a fire. But
the Creator was in neither the earthquake, nor the whirlwind, nor the fire,
though He could have chosen to be in the whirlwind, as He was, when he spoke to
Job (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038:1&version=KJV" target="_blank">Job
38:1</a>), who probably needed such, to get his attention. The Creator didn't put on a huge show for
Elijah, and Elijah wisely knew that his Creator was neither in the earthquake
nor in the whirlwind (though lawyers now like to call earthquakes and tornadoes
“acts of God”). To Elijah, the Creator
spoke in a still, soft voice (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2019:12&version=KJV" target="_blank">I
Kings 19:12</a>).</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If a miracle were to be performed for your
benefit, would you “look a gift horse in the mouth,” as did Naaman? Would you seek after the FX? Would you put form over substance, as Naaman
almost did, until he was shaken back into reasoned thinking?</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Naaman had stumbled upon the truth—the truth
that he could be rid of leprosy.
However, because he had a wrong impression of truth (because his
impression of the occurrence of a miracle <a href="http://thedebtweowe.com/conformity-the-new-clothing-of-the-emperor-and-his-subjects" target="_blank">conformed</a>
to what he’d always heard about miracles), he almost brushed himself off, and
hurried back on his way, after his having stumbled upon truth. In his opinion, truth was sparkling, and
glowing, and its arrival is heralded with inspiring orchestral strains. Fortunately, after beginning to hurry back on
his way away from truth over which he'd stumbled, he was able to re-trace his
steps, and find the substance which he had sought. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://theemergencyfoodsupply.com/archives/some-thoughts-on-plant-hybridization-genetic-engineering-and-organic-farming" target="_blank">Concerning
our food supply, we have confounded form with substance</a>, as Naaman
temporarily did. We deem the “show”
(long ears of corn; full bushel baskets) more important than is the nutrient
content of each grain of corn. As a
result, our food does not contain the nutrient content which it once contained. We fill our bellies, but our individual cells
make cries for nutrition, before they begin to fall before the horde of
diseases, which flee in the presence of proper nutrient content. The truth is perched on our brows; not on our
noses, where the truth needs to be, so that we can see. The truth is right there, but we can't find
it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy
mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2030:14&version=KJV" target="_blank">Deuteronomy
30:14</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:8&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans
10:8</a>).</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jonah, Fasting, and Repentance</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Many of us have heard of Jonah, the prophet sent
to Nineveh to warn the people of Nineveh that they, as a society, were about to
be destroyed (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201:1-2&version=NIV" target="_blank">Jonah
1:1, 2</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%203:1-4&version=NIV" target="_blank">3:1-4</a>). Unfortunately, the incident which most people
remember is Jonah having been swallowed by a “whale” (great fish). They know little or nothing about why the
Creator sent a great fish to get Jonah turned around from his own will.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">During Jonah’s day, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineveh" target="_blank">Nineveh was the capital of the
Assyrian Empire</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah" target="_blank">Jonah was an Israelite</a>. Assyria and Israel (“the northern kingdom,”
as opposed to the Kingdom of Judah) were frequently at odds with each
other. According to Isaiah, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2010:5&version=KJV" target="_blank">the
Creator used Assyria as a “rod,” with which to “spank” Israel</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I have some questions concerning whether ancient
civilizations can be traced to modern nations.
Does the Creator, to this day, have “Assyria” ready to “spank” Israel,
again? If so, where is Assyria,
today? <a href="http://www.britam.org/" target="_blank">Where
is Israel?</a> Will the Creator use
Assyria as a rod, once again, to “spank” Israel? If Israel and the Jewish people are one and
the same, why does the Bible make reference to Israel, in alliance with Syria,
being at war with Jerusalem and the Jews (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2016:6-7&version=KJV" target="_blank">II
Kings 16:6, 7</a>), if the only Israelites who have ever existed are Jews? Why does the Bible make reference to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:16-17&version=KJV" target="_blank">a
coming time when Judah (the Jews) and Ephraim will be made one</a>, if they
have always been one and the same? Few
wish to argue whether Jews are Israelites.
(I am aware of the arguments that Ashkenazim are not truly Jews; are not
descendants of Abraham.) But are there
other Israelites? Are (true) Jews merely
from one tribe (Judah) of Israel? Who
were (are?) the “Lost Ten Tribes?”</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Back to Jonah, and his being sent to Nineveh to
warn the Ninevites that their wickedness was so great that they were about to
be destroyed, again, think about the backdrop.
Assyria had been used, again and again, to “paddle” Israel. Why would Jonah have any interest in going to
Nineveh, and warning them that they were about to be destroyed? Try to put yourself back 50 years, during the
“Cold War.” Imagine being sent to warn
Moscow that they were so wicked that they were about to be destroyed. Or, if you happen to be from another country,
imagine being sent to a country which is your enemy, and warning them that they
are about to be destroyed. Realize, as
Jonah did, that the Creator’s mercy “endureth for ever” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20136&version=KJV" target="_blank">136<sup>th</sup>
Psalm</a>). Jonah understood that the
Creator warns in order to save lives (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2018:23&version=KJV" target="_blank">Ezekiel
18:23</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:14-17&version=KJV" target="_blank">John
14:17</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:54-56&version=KJV" target="_blank">Luke
9:54-56</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%203:9&version=KJV" target="_blank">II
Peter 3:9</a>). Jonah knew the reason
that he was sent to Nineveh. That reason
was not to “rub it in their faces;” simply to tell the Ninevites that they were
“finished,” and that they had no chance.
Knowing the merciful nature of the Creator, Jonah knew that there was a
chance that Nineveh would turn from their ways, and that, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2018:21-22&version=KJV" target="_blank">if
they turned from their ways</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Chronicles%207:14&version=KJV" target="_blank">the
Creator would turn from His plan to destroy</a> Nineveh. Jonah loved his country. Carnally, he wanted to see that Assyria was
no longer around to be the “rod” in the hand of the Creator. When the Creator told Jonah to go to Nineveh
to warn them, Jonah went in the opposite direction.</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Many are called; few are chosen” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:14&version=KJV" target="_blank">Matthew
22:14</a>). If I understand this
correctly, Jonah was not merely called to preach to Nineveh. He was <i>chosen</i>
to preach to Nineveh. Perhaps people who
are “called” can run away. People who
are chosen are “drafted.” Jonah started
to bolt; he wasn’t allowed to continue to run.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Did the Ninevites laugh at a “foreigner,” from a
rival nation, as that foreigner told them that their fall was imminent (40 days
from the time that he began preaching)?
Did they drop a net on Jonah, and accuse him of being seditionist? They began fasting.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Can you, as an American, having a Russian come
here, and preach to us that our fall is imminent, and having Americans begin to
fast, because they believed the “Ruskie?”
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Solzhenitsyn#In_the_West" target="_blank">Didn’t
we have a Russian come here and tell us about some of our problems</a>? <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/4809823/Alexander_Solzhenitsyn_denounced_the_West_too_but_we_didnt_want_to_know/" target="_blank">Did
we listen to <span lang="EN">Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn</span></a>? <a href="http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/27-04-2009/107459-american_capitalism-0/" target="_blank">Here’s
some more warning, from another Russian</a>—Stanislav Mishin. How will you react?</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Charlie Daniels cut a record in the early 1980s.
His tune (“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSxSc3ylAkg" target="_blank">In America</a>”) declared
that America “may have stumbled, but she ain’t never fell. And if the Russians don’t believe that, they can
all go straight to hell.” At that time,
I was a student in a university. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis" target="_blank">In Iran, 52 Americans
were being held hostage by Iranian revolutionaries</a>. As it turned out, those hostages were held a
total of 444 days, until the day of the inauguration of Ronald Reagan as
president. I wrote a letter to the
editor of the school newspaper, and said that Charlie Daniels’ song stirred too
much pride, and not enough sorrow. I
stated that pride precedes destruction.
I cited reasons to suspect that the U.S. was beginning to fall. That letter generated some hate mail. In condemnation of my letter, one person
wrote, “Even if the U.S. is in decline, we should do all that we can to enjoy
ourselves, while there is still time to do so.
Charlie Daniels did us a favor.
He gave us a boost.”</span></div>
<div>
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</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Upon hearing, from Jonah, that their city’s
collapse was imminent, the Ninevites did not reply with, “We should have fun
during the next 40 days, while we can.”
They did not seek a phony “boost” from musicians. They didn’t immerse themselves in the NFL and
tailgate parties. As stated, the
Ninevites fasted. The animals
fasted. Even the king of Nineveh fasted. And, perhaps for the only time in history, a
large group of people listened to a prophet sent from the Creator, and the
merciful Creator turned away from His plan to see that Nineveh was overthrown (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%203:5-10&version=KJV" target="_blank">Jonah
3:5-10</a>). Assyria remained as a
power, and, soon after Jonah preached to Nineveh, Assyria conquered Israel, and
its capital, Samaria (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2017:6&version=KJV" target="_blank">I
Kings 17:6</a>).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Again, think about the Bible calling the city of
Samaria the capital of Israel. Wasn’t
Jerusalem the capital of ancient Israel?
Jerusalem was the capital of Israel during the reigns of David and
Solomon, but not after Jeroboam stirred ten of the twelve tribes to break the
alliance with the tribe of Judah. At the
beginning of Rehoboam’s reign, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2012&version=KJV" target="_blank">Israel
pulled away from Rehoboam’s rule, and Rehoboam became the king of Judah</a>. Jeroboam was chosen to be the king of Israel
(“the northern kingdom”).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One reason that I keep hammering the fact that
the Bible refers to a Kingdom of Judah and a Kingdom of Israel is that I
believe that some of us may not grasp our ancestry. If that is so, we may fail to understand our
past, and we also may be oblivious to our immediate future. And perhaps some of that understanding could
come by fasting, as understanding came to the Ninevites as a result of a
collective fast.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Earlier, I mused about whether getting rid of
“The Fed,” or getting rid of Walmart, might help the U.S. But I believe that, before doing anything
else, the neophyte who is just beginning to discover that the U.S. may be “too
far gone” needs to fast, just as the Ninevites fasted.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I should not give up on the U.S. (which, I
believe, contains part of Israel, as you may, by now, have guessed), <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:1&version=KJV" target="_blank">just
as Paul wrote that he longed for the salvation of Israel</a> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:1-5&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans
9:1-5</a>). And, as Paul believed that
“all of Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26), I believe that the U.S. (<a href="http://britam.org/the-Tribes.html" target="_blank">and France, and Ireland, and other
nations of Israel</a>) will come out of what I believe is about to
occur—Jacob’s trouble (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2030:7&version=KJV" target="_blank">Jeremiah
30:7</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:22&version=KJV" target="_blank">Matthew
24:22</a>). But my suspicion is that,
until it is “too late” to save the U.S. as it now is, people in the U.S. will
not react to sanity as did the Ninevites to Jonah’s message. The reasons that I suspect that are 1) my
observation that, in history, societies, with what seems the lone exception of
the example of Nineveh’s reaction to Jonah, do not heed warnings of disaster
due to moral decay, and 2) my observation of our reaction to what Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn told to our people.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When I hear people discussing how to save
the U.S., I often hear that we should “End the Fed.” And I agree that we should end the Federal
Reserve System, as Andrew Jackson mustered all in his power to defeat the
renewal of the charter of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Bank of the United States—<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bank_of_the_United_States" target="_blank">the “Fed”
of his day</a>. But, with a moral
climate in shambles, ending the Fed will create <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:43-45&version=KJV" target="_blank">a
vacuum which some system as bad or worse will fill</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Very soon after the war, General Douglas
MacArthur delivered a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Admiralwaugh&oldid=344559390" target="_blank">speech
in which he said the following</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Men since
the beginning of time have sought peace.... Military alliances, balances of
power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by
way of the crucible of war. We have had our last chance. If we do not now
devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door.
The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and
improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless
advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural development
of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the
flesh.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It must be of the
spirit if we are to save the flesh.
Abolishing the “Fed” will not be enough.
Stopping Walmart will not suffice.
Stopping Walmart without a nationwide spiritual renewal will result in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:43-45&version=KJV" target="_blank">a
vacuum which something as bad or worse will occupy</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I said, I suspect
that the U.S. will not, collectively, fast, as did the inhabitants of
Nineveh. The “land of the free” will
lose what little free press is left, along with the remainder of the Bill of
Rights, including arms, along with the right to bear them. And, if you are in another country, don’t kid
yourself. Know that the fall of the U.S.
will affect you adversely. But you,
individually, can wake up whatever portions of your mind are asleep.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is true that,
when we pray, “(May) <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:10&version=KJV" target="_blank">Thy
Kingdom come</a>,” we are praying for the end of the government of the United
States, as we know that government; as it has ever existed, historically. Further, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2011:15&version=KJV" target="_blank">we
are praying for the end of all human governments</a>, as they exist, or have
ever existed. Though the courageous
Founding Fathers of the united States moved us toward liberty, they did not
bring us liberty. And anyone understanding
the world as it is has at least begun to come to realize that. I am not criticizing the Founding Fathers. They created a government which brought us
closer to how things will be when the Kingdom comes than any other government
since the government which the Creator brought to Israel, which government was
never fully implemented <u>(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%201:21-35&version=KJV" target="_blank">Judges
1:21-35</a></u>). The reason that the
Son of the Creator is returning is because no one else could bring the
“restitution of all things” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:21&version=KJV" target="_blank">Acts
3:21</a>).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jeremiah suffered
greatly, because he told the truth about his nation, Judah. His own people forced him to spent time in a <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2038:6&version=KJV" target="_blank">filthy
dungeon which some scholars say was also a cesspool</a>. But, after the fall of Judah, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2039:11-12&version=KJV" target="_blank">he
was free</a> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2040:4&version=KJV" target="_blank">to
go where he wished</a>. Sadly, Isaiah
did not fare so well. According to
Jewish tradition, King Manasseh saw to it that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:37&version=KJV" target="_blank">Isaiah
was cut in half with a saw</a>. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:13&version=KJV" target="_blank">Both
Jeremiah and Isaiah saw death</a>. But
they will have their places in a “better resurrection” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:35&version=KJV" target="_blank">Hebrews
11:35</a>). That is the ultimate value
of fasting often (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%2011:27&version=KJV" target="_blank">II
Corinthians 11:27</a>). Fasting helps us
to challenge the true worth of the flesh, and adulation of it. Fasting helps to teach us, “The flesh
profiteth nothing” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:63&version=KJV" target="_blank">John
6:63</a>).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you don’t have
the courage to fast, as did the Ninevites, Jacob’s Trouble will push you toward
“<a href="http://thedebtweowe.com/conformity-the-new-clothing-of-the-emperor-and-his-subjects" target="_blank">lying
wonders</a>.” Will you, with your
physical life in the balance, then be able to refrain from believing them?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.%2030:14&version=KJV" target="_blank">The
word is nigh unto thee</a>” (Deut. 30:14).
The key which you seek is in your hand.
Your glasses which you thought that you lost are on your forehead. Though not easy to perform, the solutions to
our problems can be found. “This kind
(of unclean spirit) goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:21&version=KJV" target="_blank">Matthew
17:21</a>).</span></div>
Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-75964929179167899922012-09-18T10:24:00.000-07:002012-09-18T10:25:16.779-07:00The Problem With Enforcement Of Beliefs<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16-ku1_6yfU/UFiuGEe2zcI/AAAAAAAAFVM/3hSE2kstdxs/s1600/Earth+From+Space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16-ku1_6yfU/UFiuGEe2zcI/AAAAAAAAFVM/3hSE2kstdxs/s400/Earth+From+Space.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A good portion of the world is mired
in
ignorance. This ignorance is often defended with violence of the
worst kind. You see a lot of the world believes that the world is
Flat. We are the center of the universe. The Sun revolves around
the
Earth as do all the other planets and stars. The Earth is half way
between Heaven and Hell. Go up or go down. That is the choice. The
problem is it is just not so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
This group wants to burn at the stake
anyone that believes different than themselves. In the 16th
century,
that was the dilemma of the Catholic Church. All of the accepted
beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church of that century were coming
apart.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Columbus was guilty as charged. He was
responsible for the whole thing. Columbus believed the planet was
round. (he was wrong, of course, the world is somewhat pear
shaped,
but that wasn't discovered until this last century, it is not
perfectly round though it is close.) Then there was this fellow
named
Galileo. How dare he upset the parish with his false doctriine.
The
Earth orbits the Sun, ridiculous. Burn him at the stake. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The Spaniards explored South and part
of North America. So did the Portuguese, the French, the English,
the
Germans, etc. The Catholic Church was frantic. They brought
documents
back from the New Continent that disturbed every belief the church
held dear. Burn the documents before anyone knows! And that is
exactly what they did. Then they proceeded to destroy the natives
of
that continent that might hold different beliefs than themselves!
Destroy all historical evidence!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Montizuma's revenge struck. It was of
course syphllis. It had never been known in Europe before they
started raping the women of the Americas. The rape victims had a
partial immunity built up to the disease. Enough that they looked
normal. It just wasn't so. They had Syphillis and shared.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The Catholics of the time had a really
neat system of sin. The system was you do anything that pleases
your
devilish flesh and heart. Come to confession, do a few Hail Mary's
and all is forgiven.<br />
<br />
You can do this any number of times. Don't
forget the tithe on the way out the door to sin some more.<br />
<br />
The
policy
was sin no more. But no one was doing that. The confessional was
full
every week.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
So the Spaniards and other Europeans
went forth and raped and pillaged a continent. The Catholic
response
was confess and do your penalties then go do it again. Many a
priest
in the old world used this excuse of confession. I have no idea
what
sins they were guilty of. I do know many illegitimate families
existed. Many a priest had a family on the side. This is history.
It
is spelled out in any number of books. At the time, history says
most
of Europe was Catholic with the religion being ruled from Rome.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Syphillis changed all that. Your soul
might still be forgiven, but your body sure wasn't. Many a person
died horribly of Syphillis. It was spread by sailors all over
Europe.
It didn't kill right away. So it was possible to go from person to
person.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Then there is the pig. If pig flesh is
not cooked properly, then a parasite survives. It is a tiny worm
and
it settles in the muscle tissue. But we all know according to the
church and St. Peter that it is all right to eat Pig meat, right?
Wrong. 65% of the autoposies done in this country find evidence of
this worm in the flesh! I could go on. Shrimp and Oysters are
nature's pond cleaners. They absorb all the filth of the oceans!
If
you have a load of contaminated shrimp or oysters, haul them out
to
sea to fresh water. Within 24 hours, the shrimp will be clean and
clear to sell!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
My point is that disobeying the rules
of the old testament, specifically Moses diet laws, have penalties
that have nothing to do with religious belief. The Catholics had a
famine. It was bad. They released people to eat pig meat in order
to
survive. That doesn't change natural law. You eat the worms, you
might get worms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
My point is that we are in the midst
of
one of the most incredible revolutions ever to hit this planet.
The
revolution is in the constantly changing knowledge of what is and
what isn't. Every religion on the planet that believes the
physical
universe is the same as it was in the 6th century is doomed. That
is
because no matter what you believe, if it is any where near wrong,
then you personally might end up paying the penalty. Our
perception
of things is changing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Even the scientists are having a
really
hard time with the knowledge that is being discovered. First, you
had
Isaac Newton. Newton physics described a whole bunch of laws that
no
one before had discovered in recent times. And Isaac considered
himself a Christian. With Newton physics an entire new set of
engineering rules came into play. Those rules were the foundation
for
a lot of devices we depend on to this day. Things like
refrigerators,
air conditioning, the diesel and gasoline engines, and much more.
Then there was a man named Maxwell, his electronic and magnetic
discoveries pathed the way to modern electronic devices. This
occurred in the 1870s.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Tesla and Edison put together an
entire
technology based on these laws! A lot of what Tesla was working on
in
1943 is still classified by governments.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
As far as I know, no one person has
influence over the natural laws of the Universe. If you step off a
roof, you are going to fall. If you walk on water, it better be
ice.
Otherwise most of us will drown.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
So it was a real shock to the
scientists when everything wasn't what it should be in the world
of
very small. We are still trying to decifer that. Language is
inadequate to describe what is going on all around us. It can only
be
described with advanced math. Things developed by Newton-like
calculus.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I don't speak calculus. Though I often
see physics people with blackboards full of caculations. They use
chalk because it is easy to erase and start over. It is that
revolutionary and that volitile. Often the rules they set down
have
miscalculated something, and they have to go back and start over.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Into this technical and often
confusing
knowledge comes your nuclear physics people. In 1905,<br />
<br />
Albert
Einstein
blew the entire science community away with his advanced theory on
General Relativity. From that came pioneers that actually started
atomic bombs. These bombs were so powerful that they scared
everyone
and rightfully so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Compare that with people all over the
world with belief systems. The reason they are violent is the
belief
systems do not parallel the physical universe as we are now
beginning
to understand it. I hate to tell these people, the world is not
flat,
we are not the center of creation everywhere. Even that is a big
if.
We simply do not know all the facts to determine what is or is not
so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
As of the 19th century, a lot of
people
still believed very sincerely based on translations of the Bible
that
the entire Universe is only 6,000 years old. They may be right! Or
wrong! But no one here is suggesting that how one believes should
be
violently enforced. The rules they are changing, our knowledge of
the
universe is constantly being updated, and even the scientists are
confused a lot of the time. It is that complex.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
And that was the problem of the
Catholic Church. The Church was going through future shock. The
rules
are not set in stone. And that is a problem, religions all over
the
world are facing. The things we thought we understood, may or may
not
be so. So it really comes down to faith in your beliefs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Charles Darwin between centuries
thought up a theory. (To laymen, that meant an educated guess.)<br />
Evolution is how we all started, right? Maybe . . . Then how do
you
explain evidence of a major genetic manipulation in our own cells?
Every evolutionist on the planet seems to think we came from a
branch
of mammals called apes. (He isn't my Uncle(grin)) Apes have 48
chromosomes. We have 46. Only two of those chromosomes on the end
of
the line are double the size of every other one in humans. That is
how you manipulate genes! So now every evolutionist on the planet
is
carefully ignoring the evidence! Seems familiar to me. Just like
the
Earth is Flat people. It has become a religion instead of a
science!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
No one is immune to being blind to
change.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Right now everything I ever learned is
being called into question. And it should be. For instance, two
atoms
light years apart. You change one atom and the other atom changes
with it. No apparent connection between the two atoms. They are
doing
that right now in Quantum Physics. The only explanation that makes
sense is extra dimensions we cannot see. We do not have the
ability
to observe both atoms. We have found atoms half way around the
world
that exhibit this change. It appears to disobey all the laws of
physics that we know. It does not obey the law of physics that
nothing can travel faster than light.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I guess it depends on how much you
personally have invested in a belief system. Scientists are no
exception. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Just when you thought it was safe to
believe something, evidence contradicts those beliefs. The
scientists
have a problem. If the universe has 11 dimensions, if time goes in
more than one direction, then all the laws of Newton physics are
only half right! The laws only apply to things of our size!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Heaven and Hell may be sets of
dimensions in other Universes! The Bible that science attempted to
disprove might be right! How embarrasing for them! Well, we can
always ignore the evidence and let someone down the road handle it
.
. . and people in charge of all these religions have a similar
dilemma. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I call it the ostrich effect. If the
facts do not agree with how one believes . . . Then by all means
put
your head in the sand and ignore the facts. If someone disturbs
you
kill them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
One of the most revolutionary
technologies coming out of this quantum physics is the possibility
of
a television camera that captures the sound and images of the
past.
That means we could take a camera to a place and actually film
digitally what actually happened. Maybe back to Christ. Maybe back
to
Mohammed. Maybe back to Moses. I think there is no place on the
planet where that camera would be safe from false religions
attacking
and killing everyone involved. It would be interesting to see who
was
in that riot mob. I suspect it would contain high people in all
the
religions on the planet.<br />
<br />
They are all suffering from the
advancement
of knowledge and future shock.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I believe in Jesus Christ as my
personal savior. I believe he can change the rules of the natural
universe. I believe I cannot. Only with his permission can the
rules
be changed. We can pray.<br />
<br />
Sometimes miracles do actually occur.
They
are not explanable by science or man. Where 3 Christians get
together
. . . I believe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
A lot of what the Bible says is true.
I
think all of us should have been following the Moses diet for long
health. Just like most of us should take resting on the seventh
day
seriously for good health. I don't feel it is a hard and fast rule
penalized by death. The test is: anything involving the
supernatural
influence changing the rules is most likely an exception made for
us
by God through Jesus.<br />
<br />
Everything else follows the rules of the
Universe. If you attempt to walk on water, you will most likely
fall
into the water. If you violate the rules of life you may suffer
from
veneral diseases. If you eat the wrong foods you might have health
related problems such as parasites.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
What we have to do is have everyone in
all the religions come to an agreement on the rules of behavior we
are willing to accept from them. Last time I looked the ten
commandments were supposedly followed by a lot of religions. That
means no killing. No violence. It means the religion has to stand
on
its own merits and nothing else. That includes atheist beliefs as
practiced by different government groups world wide. How come they
are not being attacked? Seems a little rotten to me. I mention my
own
belief system only as an example so no one believes I may be
atheist.
I am not. Too many things in my own life lead me to my own belief
system. The point is I have a right to believe what I want and not
what some group wants me to believe or else.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
My belief is that any religion that
enforces its rules with violence is from the Devil. He is a very
convincing liar and many have been herded in with these tactics.
Believe what I believe or die!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I guess the Earth must be flat after
all. I want to live.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
(authored by Dave Webb)</div>
Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-44503361226942180012012-01-26T09:11:00.000-08:002012-01-26T09:12:04.968-08:00Iran And Egypt: The Rooks Are In Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjOcdKKPawo/TyGIuSOO-MI/AAAAAAAAFNI/PIoUu9JGFTA/s1600/During_the_2011_Egyptian_Protests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjOcdKKPawo/TyGIuSOO-MI/AAAAAAAAFNI/PIoUu9JGFTA/s400/During_the_2011_Egyptian_Protests.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Today we have an excellent guest post from Alisha Venetis. Alisha Venetis is co-founder of <a href="http://www.thepreproom.net/" target="_blank">www.thePrepRoom.net</a>; an online store specializing in emergency preparedness supplies. She writes for Smart Girl Nation, as well as other conservative blogs, where she reports on world politics, domestic and global economics and the potentially negative ramifications they may have on America.<br />
<br />
----- <br />
<br />
The recent headlines coming out of the Middle East sound like something torn from the pages of a Brad Thor novel. For those of us watching the drama unfold, it has us sitting at the edge of our seats.<br />
<br />
In Egypt, the recent election win by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), who now, haplessly, call themselves the Freedom and Justice Party, is what many in the US and Israel have feared would happen and what many in the “know” thought would never happen. <br />
<br />
The Freedom and Justice Party recently announced a temporary agreement that would install a MB leader as speaker of the country’s newly elected parliament, with the Islamist party expected to control as many as half the seats.<br />
<br />
The MB was founded in 1928, in Egypt, with the goal of spreading Islamic Sharia law worldwide and uniting all Muslim nations into one Islamic super state. It was eventually banned in Egypt because it was believed to be too radical, even for Egypt’s standards. But for the past several decades the MB has worked behind the scenes in the Middle East. The Brotherhood is believed to have ties to almost every major terrorist organization, with chapters in more than 100 countries including Iran, Libya and the United States.<br />
<br />
It is hard to imagine that Egypt and Israel’s relationship will be strenghtend with this newly elected regime. The 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is now being put under pressure, as there are calls to re-vote on the treaty. If peace is not maintained between Egypt and Israel this will inflame the rest of the Middle East and embolden Israel’s enemies, which are many in the region, including the most dangerous; Iran.<br />
<br />
Iran has been all over the news lately as they are flexing their muscle in the Middle East.<br />
Unfortunately, for the West, it is their nuclear capabilities they are flexing. <br />
<br />
Recent reports have come out that Iran is about a year away from a nuclear bomb, however, many people, including former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, believe that those reports might even be too optimistic. “I worry the publicly available information is giving only a very small picture, and that Iran is actually even much further along,” Bolton said.<br />
<br />
This scenario of Iran having a nuclear bomb has led to an increase in assassinations of many of Iran's top nuclear scientists and missile developers (four in the past two years), in an apparent effort to halt Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.<br />
<br />
The most recent car bomb assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist garnished public news. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that those behind the killing would be punished.<br />
Khamenei, of course, blamed its arch-enemies, Israel and the United States and insisted the incident would not change the country's nuclear course. There has also been a barrage of computer viruses to Iran’s nuclear program and a host of unexplained explosions.<br />
<br />
Iran was one of the first places in history where the game of chess was played, and now Iran is playing their own real life version, in which their strategic moves can have severe consequences on their opponents.<br />
<br />
Iran has threatened to close the Straight of Hormuz, a key oil route that would cripple the world economies (as well as cripple Iran- but a move they are willing to make). The threat of this caused crude oil to go up. Europe and the US then sanctioned Iran and their central bank.<br />
<br />
The European Union and the Obama administration then sanctioned Iran by severing all contacts between American financial institutions and Iran’s Central Bank. The sanctions were designed to force the Iranian regime to halt its nuclear weapons development program. Economic analysts say the sanctions are biting, with the Iranian currency growing ever weaker against the American dollar.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that the real winner in these sanctions is China and Russia; Iran’s allies, as this will only increase the amount of oil dedicated to these countries at lower prices.<br />
<br />
The pawns are being set for a game with real life consequences for the entire world. Who will make the next move and who will say “checkmate” are questions of historical importance.<br />
<br />
----- <br />
<br />
Alisha Venetis is co-founder of <a href="http://www.thepreproom.net/" target="_blank">www.thePrepRoom.net</a>; an online store specializing in emergency preparedness supplies. She writes for Smart Girl Nation, as well as other conservative blogs, where she reports on world politics, domestic and global economics and the potentially negative ramifications they may have on America.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-7958529970908189982012-01-23T12:37:00.000-08:002012-01-24T08:57:29.787-08:00Will There Be A Rapture Before The Tribulation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBkimRJtGgs/Tx3A7mEhO9I/AAAAAAAAFNA/KSF-qO4LKPA/s1600/apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBkimRJtGgs/Tx3A7mEhO9I/AAAAAAAAFNA/KSF-qO4LKPA/s400/apocalypse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>***The following is a brief excerpt from a new novel about the Tribulation period entitled "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HAY9SM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theeconomiccollapse-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HAY9SM">The First Miracle</a>" by Michael Burns. If you enjoy this excerpt, we would encourage you to check out the entire book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HAY9SM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theeconomiccollapse-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HAY9SM">on Amazon.com</a>.***<br />
<br />
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">The home where the Bible study was to take place was in the foothills to the west of </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Denver</span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> on a street named </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eagle Ridge Drive</span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">. It wasn’t hard to find, given that about three dozen cars were parked up and down the street in front of the house. The road up into the foothills had been narrow and winding, and as soon as I saw all the cars, and realizing I probably wouldn’t find a parking spot up ahead, I pulled over and parked behind the last car in line. We would have to walk the rest of the way. We got out of my car, and hustled past all the parked cars.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was the first day of December and the night was chilly, and the hint of the winter to come was in the air. Katy took my arm and as we walked, her hip brushed against mine.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Are you cold?” I asked.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Just a little,” she said. “It feels good, though. This cool weather is a welcome change. I love the seasons. I love the holidays.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">The house was located in a spectacular setting. The rugged Rocky Mountains were to the west and the city of </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Denver</span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> lay below to the east. The view of the city lights glistening and shimmering in the distance was spectacular.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Katy looked up at the house as we walked through the driveway’s open front gate. “Nice place,” she said. “It looks like it must have cost a fortune.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Sure does,” I agreed. “I wonder why these people go all the way to </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aurora</span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> just to go to church. It’s a long way.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“They’re old friends of the Townsends,” Katy explained.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“How do you know?” I asked innocently.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, I’ve been talking to Corinne. She’s told me about some things that are going on at the church. Of course,” she laughed, “she doesn’t know who her new minister really is!”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t respond, but I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t feel like telling her I still had serious doubts about Nathaniel. I had to admit that he was a charismatic individual, though in my mind I stubbornly refused to believe that anyone could live for two thousand years. Katy’s touch, her body brushing against mine, and knowing I was in love with her made everything somehow okay. Being with her seemed so logical, and was evidently meant to be. So, in spite of my doubts, I was looking forward to this Bible study, but more than anything else, I simply wanted to spend time with Katy.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">We walked up the long circular drive and up the steps to the front door. I rang the doorbell and a moment later we were let inside by a young altar boy we recognized from the church. His face was shining and he seemed innocent. For some reason, seeing his face brightened my mood considerably. My doubts suddenly vanished.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Through there and to the right,” he said, smiling at us.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">We followed his directions, finding our way to the living room. As large as the house was, the living room was crowded. People sat on the furniture and all along the floor, but we spotted an open area near the fireplace. We tiptoed through ankles and feet and made our way to the front of the fireplace. A fire burned quietly, but efficiently, throwing lots of heat into the living room. We sat down on the plush carpeted floor as far from the hearth as we could sit.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel was sitting in the center of a large sofa, and he was surrounded by several women from the church. Across from them, the couple who apparently owned the home sat on another large sofa with several people I didn’t recognize. Between the two groups there was a large ornate coffee table. Near these two sofas, I saw Elena Valencia with a group of her friends sitting on the floor. Everyone held open Bibles on their laps. Katy pulled her Bible out of her large duffel purse.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Several lamps were on throughout the room, including ceiling lights and built-in lights below art hanging on the walls, but still the light was relatively dim and reading the fine print of a Bible seemed as if it would be difficult. I noticed one young man holding his Bible right up to his face, studying intently. We were late, but almost everyone there had ignored us as we stepped over them and found a place to sit.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel was speaking, and the entire group was listening intently. He mentioned a passage from the Book of Revelations and then he quoted from the Book of Mark.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And so my friends, please look at Mark 13:19: ‘For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The great tribulation! It will be a time of terrible distress, a time like no other the earth has ever seen. Mankind has witnessed tribulation many times, but this will be the great tribulation. It will be a terrible time on earth. It will be so terrible that most of us will die, I believe. Jesus himself told us this.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“It will also be a time of great fear. Luke 21:25: ‘And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and waves, men fainting with fear and foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ ”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel looked over at Katy and me, arching his eyebrows, as if we should make special notice of his words. It was then that I realized Nathaniel had spoken those same words before, during dinner at his duplex. For a moment the room was quiet, but Mrs. Ashby spoke up, her voice loud and defiant.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“But we won’t have to go through it,” she said. “Jesus promised that his church would be raptured.” She smiled at Nathaniel. “Only the wicked will be forced to go through the tribulation at the end of the age.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">I noticed most of the people in the living room nodding their agreement. Nathaniel, however, began to frown, ever so slightly. “Please turn to the book of Matthew, 24:9,” he said, pausing while everyone opened their Bible to the designated spot.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">After a moment, Nathaniel said, “This is what Jesus himself said, speaking to his apostles: ‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away (or stumble) and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.’ And now, if you’ll turn just a bit farther, to Matthew 24:21: ‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Then if any one says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Matthew 24:21 through 24 is a continuation of the thought given in verse 24:9. The apostle Matthew has quoted Jesus as saying even the elect could be led astray during the great tribulation! Why would anyone consider the elect to be non-believers? Jesus is quite clear about this. He is telling us that his elect, the best Christians of all, will be here on earth during the great tribulation. And because of them, and only them, will the days of the tribulation be shortened.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“My good friends,” and as he said these words Nathaniel smiled sincerely, “this is from the Gospel of Matthew. These verses, I believe, must be given priority over any other scripture when considering whether Christians will suffer through the great tribulation.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Please go back to Luke 21:25. Just after that frightful verse, in Luke 21:27 it says, ‘And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Jesus, in these verses, said that there would be great distress upon the earth, men fainting with fear and with foreboding, and that he will be returning, that as all this begins to take place we should hold up our heads, for our redemption is at hand!</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“He told us that we should hold up our heads during this time of great fear, for we will be redeemed. Our redemption! What else can redemption mean to you? Only those who follow the gospel of Christ will be redeemed, so it is clear to me that he’s talking about his flock on earth, his church; his elect; believers who will be on earth during this time of great trouble.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“No, my dear,” looking directly at the woman sitting across from him, “I’m afraid there will be no rapture of Christians prior to the great tribulation. Our redemption will come only afterward, after this terrible period of distress and great fear.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“But...,” the woman started to say, but Nathaniel held up a hand, stopping her.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Now then,” he went on, “let me tell you the circumstances under which Jesus made these prophecies. For days, he had been teaching in the temple, and then came a series of confrontations with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They tried to draw Jesus out and make him appear to be a fool, but instead he turned the tables on them, and they looked foolish when he was done with them. And when he left the temple, having castigated the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was angry. He called them hypocrites, indeed, even called them serpents! Why, he even called them a ‘brood of vipers!’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I can tell you this; Jesus was so angry that as he left the temple he told all the apostles who were with him that someday the temple would be totally destroyed, not one stone left standing.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“In his righteous anger he made a simple prophecy, but it so aroused the curiosity of his apostles that they insisted on knowing more, and so he took all of them up to the Mount of Olives. Biblical scholars refer to this moment as the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus gave his prophecy about the end times. Now remember, he was speaking only to his apostles for no one else was there.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“He told them about the end of the world as we know it, the time on earth just before he would return. Jesus spoke prophetically, because he was also speaking to future generations of Christians. This was his message to his people. It wasn’t a message meant to fall on deaf ears, in other words upon the sinners and the unbelievers who would never repent of their evil ways. This was his message to his church. Obviously it was also a warning.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel’s voice grew ominous. He turned to the women on either side of him. “It was his warning to you,” he said. “...they will deliver </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">you</span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> up to tribulation!” As Nathaniel said the word ‘you’, emphasizing it, one of the women sitting next to him jumped nervously, startled by his words.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, Mrs. Ashby immediately protested. “But I’ve read so much about this,” she said, her lips pouting. “Christians will not go through the tribulation. We will be raptured. Everyone knows that!”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel smiled briefly at her, then frowned. “I understand it is a common belief these days,” he said, his voice gentle. “But, it is wrong. First, let me tell you something you may find interesting; the word ‘rapture’ appears nowhere in the New Testament. It’s a modern invention.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“If such a rapture prior to the great tribulation is to be believed, then Jesus would have to appear a second time to rapture his church, but then also a third time, his final appearance, to bring judgment upon the world.” Nathaniel held up his Bible for all to see. “Nowhere in this good book does it make mention of three comings. I can show you this easily enough. Please turn to Hebrews chapter eight,” and after a moment’s pause, Nathaniel read aloud the entire chapter.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">His inflection was perfect and he brought alive what the writer of Hebrews was trying to communicate. I thought that even I understood it. Nathaniel, I realized, was making this Bible study interesting.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And so,” he said, “we see the writer of Hebrews talking about the first and second covenants God made, but that the second is so much more important. After all, it is the covenant with Jesus himself. And then, if you’ll go on to Hebrews 9,” and once again, Nathaniel read much of chapter nine, stopping finally after verse 12. “And then if we go on just a bit farther to verse 24: ‘For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.’ ”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel looked up, smiling at the woman who sat across from him. “Hebrews makes no reference to a third appearance by Jesus, but does make a specific reference at the end of verse 28, that Jesus is to ‘save those who are eagerly waiting for him.’ So the question is, who will be eagerly waiting? I will tell you my good friend, only Christians will be eagerly waiting. And it will be only those Christians whose faith sustained them right up to the end, through the entire tribulation. The wicked on the earth at that time, those who hate Jesus and everything he stands for will not be eagerly awaiting him. I can assure you of that.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">I looked around at the faces in the room. Katy stirred beside me. There seemed to suddenly be a high discomfort level among everyone. I didn’t quite understand it all, and I wondered what Nathaniel was saying that could be so disturbing. I elbowed Katy gently.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“What is he saying?” I whispered. “Everyone looks like they’ve just developed a bad case of constipation.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Sssshhhhhh!” Katy shushed me up. “I’ll tell you later,” she whispered.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">I nodded, chagrined, suddenly wishing I knew more about this subject.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“There’s more about this,” Nathaniel continued. “I would like you to turn to the first letter of Peter. Peter in chapter 4, verse 12 gives us a hint of what we can expect. This is what he said: ‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.’ Peter specifically mentions the word ‘fiery’ and so we can expect the tribulation to be a time of fire, or perhaps the use of the term ‘fiery’ might be symbolic, as some think in terms of refining gold and silver, to purify it, though I sometimes wonder if the tribulation might be the era of global warming that so many scientists today speak of. Or, could it be the fire of nuclear weapons? Perhaps, in our lifetime we’ll know the answer to that.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Now mind you, in this letter Peter was writing to Christians, exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappodicia, Asia, and Bithynia. Those were trying times for everyone. Peter was in Rome, unable to escape, persecuted by Nero. The Christians he wrote to were in what is now Turkey, many being persecuted by the local population, and so their faith was foundering. Peter’s faith remained firm, even though he expected to soon die at the hands of Nero.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Peter wrote just two letters, but they are magnificent documents. In his letters, Peter, like Jesus in the Olivet Discourse, was speaking to the Christians of the time, dispersed as they were in exile, but he was also speaking to future generations of Christians. His letters were also warnings. Peter was warning what the end time would be like and what we should expect.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Please turn to 2 Peter, 3:1: ‘This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder; that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Now, listen carefully! Pay attention to what I’m about to tell you. Peter’s letters were written to good Christians of strong faith. He’s telling them that in the end, scoffers will come, scoffing to the people of those end days. And so you must then ask yourself, if the church has already been raptured, as some would argue, why then would there be scoffers? To whom will they be scoffing? To unbelievers and to other sinners? I think not. They will be scoffing because times will be hard. Very hard. And so their scoffing will be directed at the good Christians who are trying to maintain their faith, and I will tell you, in the days of the great tribulation, maintaining strong faith will not come easy.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“As I have said, nowhere in scripture does it say that the church, the final group of Christians alive on earth, will be raptured prior to the great tribulation. In fact, this is what I believe: to say that the church will be raptured in such manner is a false teaching.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Why?” someone asked, somewhat indignantly.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Paul warned us,” Nathaniel said. “In 2 Timothy 4:3: ‘For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering...’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Anyone who believes that they won’t suffer through the great tribulation is guilty of having those itching ears Paul spoke about. Yes, I understand that no one wants to suffer. No one wants to endure suffering. No one will want to go through tribulation. And I know it’s so easy to dream about rapture, to be taken away before all that. But it won’t happen! Christians have always suffered, and as long as they’re on this earth they always will!”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel’s last words were forceful, jolting the room into total silence. No one dared contradict him.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Paul,” he went on, “also warned us to prepare for tribulation. Romans 8:35: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“My good friends, does that sound like rapture to you? Paul goes on to say in verse 36: ‘As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ’ Does that sound like rapture? It certainly doesn’t to me. No, Paul is preparing us. He is warning us. And further in Romans 12:12 he writes: ‘Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And in the Gospel of John, during the last supper Jesus warned again of tribulation. Please look at John 16:33: ‘I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“How important is this verse? I’ll tell you this; those were the very last words of advice Jesus gave to the apostles at the last supper. He then said a prayer to his Father in heaven, and after that prayer departed for Gethsemane, where he was betrayed by Judas.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“So sitting there at the last supper, Jesus told his apostles about tribulation, as he had done over and over before that. If the apostles were to suffer tribulation, how could ordinary Christians who have never seen Jesus, never ate with him, and never walked and talked with him, somehow think they will escape tribulation?</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ladies and gentlemen, Paul, Peter and John are telling us what will happen to us. How can anyone have any doubts about their words? The great tribulation is coming! We must be prepared for it!”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs. Ashby flipped through her Bible, not willing to give up so easily. “But what about this verse?” she asked. “Revelation 3:10? ‘Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.’ Doesn’t that mean that the church will not have to go through the tribulation? That they will be kept out of it?” The woman looked triumphant, as if she had just completely destroyed Nathaniel’s argument.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“No my dear,” he said patiently. “That’s a common misinterpretation, and it’s not what Jesus meant. In the beginning of the Revelation to John, Jesus has a message for each of seven churches. In 3:10, the verse you’re referring to, he is speaking to the church in Philadelphia. Now, I can tell you, literally, the city of Philadelphia is not to be saved. It’s impossible for that to happen because it’s in Western Turkey. I’ve been there on numerous occasions. Today, its name is Alasehir and there are few if any Christians living there.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“But why would it be impossible?” the woman protested, her lips still pouting.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Because now the population of Turkey is almost entirely Muslim. Since, today, most Muslims will not tolerate Christians, and unless there is a miraculous conversion of Muslims in Turkey to Christianity, which I for one do not foresee, then we must assume that God will not keep these people from the hour of trial. Actually, quite the opposite. I’m sure the Turks, and all Muslims, will suffer the wrath of God.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Indeed, all of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation are found in modern day Turkey. So the verse you quoted must not be taken literally. There’s something else at work in these verses at the beginning of the Book of Revelation.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Jesus is speaking about the end of time, so he must be using these churches symbolically, in essence really talking to the future church, the church that will exist just prior to his second coming. Would you agree with that?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes,” Mrs. Ashby said.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Well, then, since Jesus has something different to say to each church, I think we can safely say that he is speaking to the seven faces of Christianity that will exist on earth before he returns. In fact, Jesus says it best himself. Revelation 2:23: ‘I will give to each of you as your works deserve.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Indeed, my dear I’m very glad you brought up the book of the Revelation to John. Please allow me to quote at will from the first three chapters. I memorized them long ago, because I think you should know that just possibly, it might be the most important sermon Jesus ever gave.” Nathaniel put his Bible in his lap and closed it. He began to quote from memory:</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 2:7: ‘To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 2:10: ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 2:26: ‘He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 3:3: ‘Remember then what you received and heard: keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Revelation 3:11: ‘I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 3:15: ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Revelation 3:20: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.’ ”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel looked at everyone sitting around him. “In the first three chapters of the Revelation to John, the word tribulation is used four times. The phrase ‘great tribulation’ is used once, to the church at Thyatira. The word ‘conquers’ is used seven times, once each for each of the seven churches.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“So what is Jesus really saying to the church of Philadelphia? Yes, he tells them he will keep them from the hour of trial, but in the same breath he warns them that they must hold fast, for he is coming soon, and that they must conquer. He does not tell them they will be taken out of the tribulation, only that they will be kept from it.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I can only conclude that this particular group of Christians will go through the great tribulation unscathed. Yes, Jesus will protect them, but they will not be raptured.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Who are they? Where do they live?” someone asked.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I don’t know,” Nathaniel replied. “I have an opinion, but it would only be speculation.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“So speculate!” the person said, and everyone laughed, including Nathaniel who probably laughed the loudest and the longest. He was in good form this evening, apparently having won many of them over. But his next words stunned them.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I think it might be a group of Christians here in America,” he said. “Philadelphia is now Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that it’s in Pennsylvania that the Amish live, good Christians who grow their own food and could probably withstand the great tribulation independently. Of all the groups of Christians throughout the world, none except the Amish can claim such a simple lifestyle. And further, unlike so many others, they are not a cult. They have held to the old ways, and the true beliefs. They are not tempted by the lure of modern society.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“But couldn’t it be the rest of America, too?” the same person asked.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I think not!” Nathaniel said. “How could it? You must take a good look at yourselves. In America, sin is pervasive, even among Christians.” Nathaniel suddenly stopped talking, looking somewhat dismayed. “Perhaps, that could be the subject of another Bible study. ‘Sin in America.’ However, I didn’t want to digress. The topic of tonight’s Bible study is the end times.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“My Bible doesn’t use the word tribulation as yours does,” a young woman said.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Can you give me an example?” Nathaniel asked.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I just don’t see it,” the woman said, “anywhere in the first three chapters of Revelation. My Bible doesn’t specifically mention tribulation.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I see,” Nathaniel said seriously. “Well then, look at Revelation 2:22. There Jesus speaks of great tribulation. ‘Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead.’ Have you found it in your Bible?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes,” she said, “but it doesn’t say that.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“What does it say?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“It reads: ‘ So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead.’ It’s almost the same...”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“No it isn’t!” Nathaniel said vehemently. “It isn’t the same at all! I’m reading from the Revised Standard Version. When it was written, the Greek to English translation of the New Testament was nearly flawless. I know, because I speak Greek. It’s this Bible that most accurately depicts the words of Jesus and all the others.” Nathaniel looked over at Katy and me, and I thought I saw him wink at us. “I’ve spoken and studied Greek for a long, long time. The Bible you’re reading from is undoubtedly the New International Version. Its methodology is seriously flawed. The translations are not accurate.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Look, every one of you. The word of God must be expressed truthfully, even if it means bad news. Definitions and meaning are critical to proper understanding. When Jesus speaks of tribulation, he means just that—tribulation! Not some other word! To put different words in the mouth of Jesus is tantamount to a lie! The word of God cannot be altered by mere men!</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You won’t have a proper understanding of the last days unless you’re reading a Bible that speaks truthfully of the last days! Young lady, please get rid of your Bible. I will gladly get you a new one, one that tells the true story. Words and their meaning are so very important, and I must warn you that some of these new Bibles simply gloss over the truth.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Now understand this! Jesus used the word ‘tribulation’ on numerous occasions while speaking to his apostles, telling them that </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">they </span><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">would have tribulation. Again, I must ask you, if the original apostles won’t be spared tribulation, then how can present day Christians possibly think that they will be spared tribulation? Who are they kidding?</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Go to Acts 14:22: ‘... through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’ Here again, the word tribulation is used. Brother Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, is telling us that only through tribulation can we enter the kingdom of God. If Luke says that, then how can present day Christians somehow think that they will avoid tribulation?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Excuse me, but why isn’t all of America the church at Philadelphia?” someone asked. “I mean, symbolically speaking?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Mark 4:16,” Nathaniel said, sighing audibly. “Let’s turn to that,” and he waited as everyone turned the pages of their Bibles. “Please don’t take this personally, and I sincerely hope that none of you are like this, but let me read to you what I suspect American Christians, or at least many American Christians are like.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I believe their faith is shallow and not deep. When the great tribulation comes, many of them will stumble, just as Jesus predicted. In Mark 4:16 he said, ‘And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“In America, I feel your lifestyle is much too extravagant. When the great tribulation begins, as prophesied, I’m convinced many Christians will bail out, choosing themselves and their lifestyle over Jesus. To me this is the greatest of ironies, because in the end if they would simply hold on until he returns, they would have the best lifestyle anyone could possible ever want—a life in paradise.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">There was a silence in the room that was eerie. No one moved and for a moment no one spoke.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“We care about Jesus and what he said,” someone finally protested. “Lots of Americans have accepted Jesus into their hearts. God knows we help people more than anyone else. Americans are a very generous people.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes, but your faith must be never ending. And when the tribulation comes, it will separate the faithful from the faithless. The tribulation will be the great test. Of this, I have no doubt.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Excuse me, but we’re the richest nation on earth. God gave us this land. Certainly we’ll get through the tribulation. America won’t suffer God’s wrath.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel shrugged. “No?” he wondered. “You must remember the words of Paul. I think he said it best in the first letter of Timothy: ‘There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And here in America, the heart of capitalism, money is the foundation of your capitalistic system. Everyone wants it, and if they have it they want more of it. Americans love money. Most Americans have already chosen money over God. Look around you at this money-hungry society. Look at the men who run Wall Street. Look at your own politicians. Do they love God, or do they love money? Do they love their fellow man, or do they love money? Why has America fallen into the state it is in?</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“How can you possibly think that when the worst time ever on earth arrives, Americans will choose a Spartan lifestyle over their current luxurious one? How many will be satisfied with simple food and clothing?</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“It depends on what is in a person’s heart, but I’m sure most Americans wouldn’t choose such a simple lifestyle. Americans can’t seem to live without their oversized cars, their oversized houses, their widescreen-TVs, their sumptuous meals, their investment portfolios, and everything else that makes up their modern lifestyle. Americans’ desires are hurtful desires. This is not how God intended for people to live. And yes, America will suffer God’s wrath.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Is that in scripture somewhere?” a girl sitting near to us asked.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel quickly spoke from memory. “Colossians 3:5: ‘Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.’ Now,” Nathaniel said, “you must ask yourselves; is America immoral? Is it impure? Do Americans covet and therefore commit idolatry? If these things are true, and I believe they are, then yes, America will suffer the wrath of God.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Is there somewhere else in scripture where it says that?” the same girl asked. “America is a Christian nation. How can you say we will suffer the wrath of God?”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Please don’t misunderstand me,” Nathaniel said. “Of course many Americans are very generous and very giving, but when it rains, it rains on both the wicked and the innocent. But yes, there are many places on earth where the wrath of God will fall much harder upon the people who live there, much worse than here. Still, I fear that in America there is much covetousness and so much sin. How can God ignore that?</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“To answer your other question, please refer to Ephesians 5:5 where our good friend Paul gave us a very stern warning. He wrote, ‘Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.’</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">‘‘These are some of the most serious words I think Paul ever wrote. I think it would behoove Americans to learn this verse by heart. Paul said ‘no immoral or impure man’ will inherit the kingdom of God, and from what I’ve seen of your country immorality and impurity run rampant throughout this country.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I know America and what she has to offer. I know that most Americans don’t follow the will of God, and so they will not escape judgment day. There is too much sin here for God to ignore. I have seen it. And more than any other group of people I’ve ever come across, Americans covet what others have. America is the most materialistic, covetous society ever before seen on earth. To God, covetousness is idolatry, one of the worst sins a person could fall under. Only those in America who follow Jesus will be saved, that is if they hold their faith through the tribulation.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You make it sound as if there is no hope,” Mrs. Ashby said, saying it with a slightly scolding tone, all the while smiling.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nathaniel looked at her with a gentle expression. “There is much hope, but only for those who are strong in Christ. What I am trying to tell all of you is that a time of great peril and trouble lies ahead of us. We must be prepared for it. Don’t fall into sin and temptation, snares of Satan! Be ready for Jesus, for he will come suddenly, at a time when we don’t expect him, like the proverbial thief in the night.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">His last words apparently had great impact on everyone, for the room grew very quiet, as if everyone were thinking about the sudden return of Jesus. Nathaniel’s tone indicated he believed that there was no doubt Jesus would return soon.</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;">He closed his Bible, and then with dramatic swiftness rose to his feet. “Well, I think I’ve talked enough about the tribulation for one evening. I would ask all of you over the coming days to read scripture for yourself concerning this issue. Formulate your own opinion based on scripture, not what you read in some book or heard from someone. The Bible is a book of great teaching. Let it teach you, with guidance from the Holy Spirit, but I caution you to make sure you’re reading this Holy Book in its proper translation.”</span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX75850937" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><div class="Paragraph SCX75850937" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span class="EOP SCX75850937" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-41050876485131432222011-10-21T17:36:00.000-07:002011-10-21T17:38:12.681-07:00The Islamization Of The Western World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI_lmwYCXic/TqIOW4zFthI/AAAAAAAAFKE/1eyVwzz0oHM/s1600/The+Islamization+Of+The+World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI_lmwYCXic/TqIOW4zFthI/AAAAAAAAFKE/1eyVwzz0oHM/s400/The+Islamization+Of+The+World.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The picture above shows what is happening to Christians in some parts of Africa. Islamic radicals literally burned these Christians alive. The persecution of the end times is already here in many parts of the globe, and it is going to get much, much worse.<br />
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Wherever radical Islam encounters another religion anywhere in the world there is violence. When they are a small minority, those that believe in radical Islam will generally seek to promote their brand of religion by peaceful means, but once they get the numbers violence of one sort or another is inevitable.<br />
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Today, Islamic families have a much, much higher birth rate than the rest of the world does. With each passing year, radical Islam will get larger just because of demographics. In many western countries, radical Islam is gaining a ton of ground, and this is only going to continue in the years ahead.<br />
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Posted below is a short video that is packed with statistics and information about the Islamization of the western world. Hopefully what you are about to watch will seriously wake you up to the very serious threat posed by radical Islam.<br />
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<object height="335" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YpM6QKaAgP0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YpM6QKaAgP0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="335" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-36363760455860361582011-10-01T19:59:00.000-07:002011-10-01T19:59:56.428-07:00An Islamic Caliphate- Coming Soon To A City Near You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t94dTxUucvM/TofTnjCYnDI/AAAAAAAAFJM/cII9KJtEwdQ/s1600/The+Islamic+Center+of+America+the+largest+mosque+in+the+United+States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t94dTxUucvM/TofTnjCYnDI/AAAAAAAAFJM/cII9KJtEwdQ/s400/The+Islamic+Center+of+America+the+largest+mosque+in+the+United+States.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>While We Were Sleeping</b><br />
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It's getting harder and harder to keep track of what's going on in the Middle East these days. Life-long dictators are falling, new regimes are being ushered in--who knows what will happen next. For some Americans, unfortunately, the question really is, “who cares?”<br />
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Islamic extremists were grateful for our slumber prior to 9/11, and now that America's economic woes have lulled us back to sleep, they are equally gleeful. These extremist not only appreciate our continued narcolepsy, they are counting on it. It is what will ultimately allow them, and other terrorist organizations, to have what they have always desired in the Middle East and around the world; an Islamic Caliphate.<br />
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An Islamic Caliphate is a world dominated by Muslims and, ultimately, the Islamic law known as Sharia. Sharia law currently guides all aspects of Muslim life including daily routines, familial and religious obligations, and financial dealings. It is taught primarily from the Quran and Sunna--the sayings, practices, and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. <br />
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To many readers, this may sound like conspiratorial jibber jab; maybe even crazy enough to dismiss this whole thing. But then again, that is also what the Islamic extremists are relying on--not only ignorance, but also our complete dismissal of the facts. The more stealth their operation looks, the quicker and easier it will be for them to accomplish their goals.<br />
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Today, there are about 1.3 billion Muslims in the world, making it the second largest religion after Christianity. The number of Muslims who identify with an Islamic Caliphate ranges somewhere between 13 and 130 million, depending on the source. <br />
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Looking at a map, we can see that a Middle East Islamic Caliphate is just a few countries away from being completed. The number of countries which do not recognize Sharia law, as the ultimate authority, is quickly diminishing. Even those who had Dual Law (secularism and Sharia) are succumbing to Sharia. Egypt is believed to be heading towards Sharia (since the removal of Mubarak). Libya has already named Sharia as the law of the land in their draft constitution (since the removal of Gaddafi). Both Turkey and Syria are up in the air, but many believe they are leaning towards Islamism. Additionally, in Pakistan they are dealing an increasing number of deadly terrorist attacks, as the demand for Sharia Law has become more popular and has already been instituted in parts of the country.<br />
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There is only one country standing in the way of a true Middle East Islamic Caliphate. Ironically, this is the same country that many Muslims will not recognize as a legitimate state; the one they pray will be destroyed and in which they continually strategize to make its demise a reality. That sole country is, of course, Israel-- and it is being squeezed hard.<br />
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<b>Faster Than an Adulterer's Stoning</b><br />
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Today, many countries in Europe are learning, a little too late, what tolerance-gone-unchecked can lead to. London has now been called “Londonistan” in the media. Under the banner of tolerance, the British Government has allowed many Islamic groups’ ideology into the London legal system, and now Sharia Law has infiltrated the Courts. <br />
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In France, Islamic mosques are being built more often than Roman Catholic churches. There are now more practicing Muslims in the country of France than practicing Catholics. In order to meet growing demand, the number of mosques is projected to grow to 4,000. Coincidentally, the Roman Catholics have lost forty churches over the past ten years and many have been turned into mosques. <br />
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A few days ago France banned Muslims from praying in the streets. Every Friday thousands of Muslims closed off streets to accommodate overflowing crowds for midday prayers. This would lead to stopped traffic and businesses having to close. Some mosques have also begun broadcasting sermons and chants of "Allah Akbar" (God is the greatest), via loudspeakers in the streets. These were the last words yelled by Islamic terrorists, including the 9/11 hijackers before the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Fort Hood shooter. <br />
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Spain is also having to deal with problems of an Islamic takeover. A town near Barcelona, where Muslim immigrants now make up 40% of the population, has approved a one-year ban on the construction of new mosques. It is the first ban of its kind in Spain, due to public outrage over plans to build a massive Salafi mosque (financed by Saudi Arabia). Salafism is a branch of revivalist Islam where radical imams preach for an Islamic Caliphate across the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe, including Spain. Many other European countires have become vicitims of a similar emergance of radical Islam, including Greece, Italy, and Denmark.<br />
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If you think this is just a European phenomenon, think again. Dearborn, Michigan, otherwise named Dearbornistan, is where many believe the first enclave of Sharia Law is being instituted here in the United States. Once again, this unchecked level of tolerance and political correctness has eradicated Christianity from many parts of this town and replaced it with Islamasism.<br />
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A powerful Muslim leader, once said, "Thanks to your democratic laws, we will invade you. Thanks to your religious laws, we will dominate you." It is becoming clear that those words were not said in jest. <br />
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<b>Caliphate or Death</b><br />
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For those who believe this is all hogwash or paranoia, one needs only to look at the terror attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. The planes got hijacked, crashed into the towers, the towers collapsed, the Pentagon was set ablaze, another plane was downed in Pennsylvania, and the dead were counted. All that and not one demand or request was made by the terrorists. All of us here in America were left with the same question; “why”? <br />
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Many Americans have been led to believe that we have been targeted by Islamic extremist terrorists because they despise our “western way of life”. People may hate Americans because they think we all live like the Desperate Housewives, but no one is willing to strap a bomb to her child’s body in order to blow up hundreds of men, women and children, because of it. And, why are terrorists killing Muslims in their own country, whose lifestyles are similar?<br />
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The tens of millions of people who are hell-bent on destroying America's and other country's ways of life have another motivation. They believe that Allah and the Quran are the ultimate authority; and if there is anyone who does not believe the same (infidels), they need to be eliminated at any cost. This is their sincere belief (albeit sincerely wrong), and they are willing to die for it. It is called Jihad and for them it is a Holy war worth fighting. <br />
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We need to take them at their own words. The Islamists who assassinated Anwar el-Sadat decorated their jail cells with banners proclaiming "caliphate or death." <br />
A biography of one of the most influential Islamic Clerics declares that his life "revolved around a single goal, namely the establishment of Allah's Rule on earth" and restoring the caliphate. Bin Laden spoke of bringing about "the pious caliphate." The current leader and “real brains” of Al-Qaeda, also dreams of re-establishing the caliphate. The President of Iran, whose country is currently very close to having a nuclear bomb, has made it clear that his goal is to establish a global Islamic caliphate. We may choose to disregard what millions claim is their ultimate goal. However, that will not change their intent to kill their enemies. <br />
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The USA was not founded on the principles of the Quran, but on the principles of the Judeo Christian Bible. It can be easy for all of us to hate our enemies, especially those that caused so much pain on 9/11/2001. If we follow the tenants of the Bible we are called to follow the most excellent way; to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us and stand for what is good. However, we can not do that until we wake up and acknowledge that we have millions of enemies who are driven to persecute us. <br />
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Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. <br />
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1 Peter 5:8-10 (The Message)<br />
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The preceding was a guest post for <a href="http://theendtimesblog.blogspot.com/">The End Times</a> by <a href="http://www.thepreproom.net/">Alisha Venetis</a>. Alisha Venetis is co-founder of <a href="http://www.thepreproom.net/" target="_blank">www.thePrepRoom.net</a>; an online store specializing in <a href="http://www.thepreproom.net/">emergency preparedness supplies</a>. She writes for Smart Girl Nation, as well as other conservative blogs, where she reports on world politics, domestic and global economics and the potentially negative ramifications they may have on America.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-57724275863270955042011-09-23T16:14:00.000-07:002011-09-23T16:14:48.078-07:00Fight The Good Fight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qcWZ0jmbTvU/Tn0SZ_9lfzI/AAAAAAAAFJE/EPsUnkeIwEg/s1600/Open+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qcWZ0jmbTvU/Tn0SZ_9lfzI/AAAAAAAAFJE/EPsUnkeIwEg/s400/Open+Bible.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>***The following is a guest article for <a href="http://theendtimesblog.blogspot.com/">The End Times</a> by Jimmie Parr. I think that you are really going to enjoy what he has to say.***<br />
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Two years ago, I got my car stuck in a snowy shoulder of the road. I had stopped because I couldn’t find an item which had fallen under the car seat. I hadn’t realized how soft the shoulder was, because, at that time, driving in snow was “new” to me. I grew up in the Deep South, but had recently moved to Michigan. A policeman pulled over. After a few questions, he asked me whether I had been using drugs. I rolled my eyes in an “Are you kidding?” manner. He said, “Now I know you’ve been using! In our training, we learned that, if, while answering one of our questions, a person looks away from us, that person is hiding something!”<br />
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In the first chapter of the Biblical book of Acts is the account of the disciples of Jesus in the process of seeking the will of the Father concerning finding a replacement for Judas. The disciples are quoted as having called the Father a Being “which knowest the hearts of all” (Acts 1:24, Authorized, or “King James” Version).<br />
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According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the words “which, “knowest,” and “hearts,” are translated from a Greek compound word, kardiognostes, or heart-knower. Dr. Strong assigned the italicized number 2589 (now often written G2589—G for Greek) to that Greek word, kardiognostes. (Strong's numbers for Bible words translated from Hebrew words are not italicized in Strong's Concordance.) The word kardiognostes is composed of the Greek word, kardio (heart—Strong’s #G2588), and ginosko (to know—Strong’s #G1097). <br />
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The disciples called our Creator a heart-knower. Did they think of the word “Heart-knower” as one of the many names of our Creator? Did the disciples acknowledge our Creator as “THE (unique, one-and-only) Heart-knower?”<br />
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Have a look, in Jeremiah 23:6, at a Hebrew name for the Creator—Yahweh Tsidkenu—Yahweh our righteousness. In Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah wrote, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Taken together, Jer. 23:6 and Is. 64:6 state that, without having righteousness given to us by our Creator, humans have no righteousness. The One True God is the Source of righteousness. Self-righteousness is merely another facet of unrighteousness. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10). “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).<br />
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In Acts 15:8, the apostle Peter again uses kardiognostes to describe our Creator.<br />
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With one of the Creator's names demonstrating His being the source of righteousness, and (as I am now theorizing) another of His names being Heart-knower, is it possible that, as no human generates righteousness, so no human generates the ability to know hearts (read thoughts) of others?<br />
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In Jer. 17:9, the prophet Jeremiah quoted his Creator as having asked, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The answer follows immediately. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins” (Jer. 17:10). Could He not have added, “I am the Heart-knower?”<br />
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Adam Clarke's comments about Jer. 17:10, from Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, sheds more light on this subject. “Jer 17:10—I the Lord search the heart - The Lord is called by his apostles, Act 1:24, Καρδιογνωστης, the Knower of the heart. To him alone can this epithet be applied; and it is from him alone that we can derive that instruction by which we can in any measure know ourselves.”<br />
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In order to be able to search human hearts, did our Creator have to receive the same training as did the police officer who “knew,” because of how I reacted to his question, that I had been taking drugs? Or, just as our Creator is a sole Source of righteousness, is our Creator also the sole Holder of the ability to read human thoughts, as Adam Clarke believed and taught? Would the apostles have called our Creator “Heart-knower,” if that ability to discern thoughts and motives also belongs to any policeman who takes the same training as that received by the officer who “knew” that I was smoking dope? If so, with armies of heart-knowing police officers who received mind-reading training, why would anyone call the Creator “Heart-knower? If police officers can be trained to read our minds, wouldn't Jeremiah 17:10 also state that, in addition to the Creator being able to “search the heart” and “try the reins,” trained police officers are also able to search hearts of lowly civilians?<br />
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Jeremiah 17:10 tells me that police officers claiming to be able to watch my reactions and know whether I've committed a crime are, at best, deceived. I don’t doubt that somewhere, a policeman has, simply by watching “body language” of a person, correctly guessed that a person is a criminal. From time to time, a blind hog finds an acorn in the woods.<br />
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In Acts 4 is the recounting of Jesus' disciples selling belongings, and giving the proceeds to the apostles, so that all could receive adequate food and other types of care. In Acts 5 is the account of two people—Ananias and Sapphira—who sold a piece of property, kept part of the proceeds, and offered the rest to the apostles.<br />
However, Ananias and Sapphira claimed that their offering was the full price of the property. Peter knew that they had lied. Peter asked Ananias, “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart. You have not lied unto men, but unto God (Acts 5:4).<br />
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Peter must not have received the same training as many policemen are now receiving. He didn't claim to be able to know the thoughts of Ananias. Though the Creator revealed to Peter that Ananias was lying, Peter did not begin attaching motives concerning why Ananias lied. Peter didn't tell Ananias, “You like to spread your fan as a peacock, and appear, to others, to be some great, self-sacrificing philanthropist, but, all the while, you keep back money for yourself, for a cushion.” Peter didn't accuse Ananias of keeping money back because of lack of faith, or fear that the Church would be short-lived. Peter simply asked Ananias why he lied.<br />
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Peter didn't claim to be able to read the heart—the thoughts and motivations—of Ananias. Could the policeman who “knew” that I'd been doing drugs read my thoughts? No, he happened to be wrong. I steer clear of all of that drug nonsense. (I have no “police record,” or whatever they call it when a person has been convicted of a crime.) When the policeman asked me whether I'd been doing drugs, the main reason that I rolled back my eyes was that the last time that a policeman (in Halstead, Kansas) accused me of being involved with drugs, my car, with all of my belonging in it, were impounded. I didn't have the money to get the car out of impound. As far as I know, my belongings, and my car, are still there, in Halstead. I rolled back my eyes, because I thought to myself, “Here I go, again...another 'protect-and-serve' policeman with all of the ineptitude of Barney Fife, but with none of Barney Fife's mercy, and he’s ready to impound my vehicle for the glory of the war on drugs.”<br />
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Our Creator did not give Peter the ability to read Ananias' mind. How much less chance would there be that the Creator would give policemen the ability to discern thoughts, regardless of how much training they receive?<br />
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I have a video clip delivered, I believe, by Rachel Maddow. The woman on the video clip says, “President Obama today proposed something new—something called prolonged detention...pre-crimes where people who are arrested and incarcerated to prevent crimes that they have not...yet...committed.” So my mind-reading policeman was not alone in his belief that he could read my mind. How else will we be justifying locking up people before they commit crimes, unless officers in our constabulary claim that they know our thoughts?<br />
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The Biblical approach to conviction of a person accused of wrongdoing is as follows: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity...at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; I Timothy 5:19). The Bible doesn't instruct, “Thou shalt take training at the C.I.A.-influenced cop shop, and thou shalt be a heart-knower, and thou shalt have no need of witnesses. Thou canst impound property at will. Thou shalt be as god, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5—more about that, below).<br />
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These people who wished to be “liberated” from the “shackles” of a society influenced by Biblical principles should be able to begin to see what is taking the place of those “shackles.” When you kick the One Who created you out of your life, and your government, and you begin to believe that you were able to evolve, because you were “the fittest,” you get what we're beginning to see. For starters, you get constabulary so steeped in pseudo-science—junk science (I Tim. 6:20)--that they claim to be able to read your thoughts. The next step is, of course, to begin to lock up “usual suspects” before they are able to commit crimes, or because they commit “hate” crimes, or “thought” crimes. When you who wish to be liberated from Biblical precepts take one out-of-the-ordinary step, you're liable to be locked up, for the good of “society.” You fall into the pit which you dug to trap religious people.<br />
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To read of one way that Satan enticed humans in the beginning is interesting. Satan told Eve, “For God doth know that in the day ye (Adam and Eve) eat thereof (tree of the knowledge of good and evil), then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”<br />
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Are policemen who take certain training able to be “as gods,” in that they learn to read hearts, thoughts, and intentions? Are psychologists who study enough able learn to know, “as gods,” what others are thinking? Or are they playing God? Is God the one-and-only Kardiognostes—Heart-knower?<br />
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In an aside, isn't it interesting that, as we have done more and more to attempt to kick the Creator out of our society, we have begun using, in reference to mere humans, the terms, god, and goddess, more frequently?<br />
When I was young, I know that we didn't refer to so-called “beautiful” women as goddesses nearly as often as we now do. I also hear people who talk about certain male sports figures, “He's a god.” I just now saw something written about Eric Clapton, the well-known guitarist/songwriter. An exuberant fan wrote, “Clapton is God!” I seldom, if ever, heard people referred to as gods, when I was younger. When we kick out the true Creator, we then run around desperately seeking replacements—golden calves. And some take police training, and are, in effect, told, by their handlers, that they have become God's replacements, or have become gods.<br />
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Because I believe that no man can discern the thoughts of another, I am saddened when I think of policemen who “go to church” on Sunday, and hear, “Jesus saves,” and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31), but who hear little else from the same collection of books which contain Acts 16:31 and John 3:16, and which, in my opinion, disprove what their trainers taught them about being able to discern thoughts of a person from that person's mannerisms. Let's make a comparison between mainstream church teaching and food, which is an easy comparison, because the Lamb called Himself “the Bread of life” (John 6:35). If, over a period of time, you eat lots of rice and barley, you can feel filled each time after you eat, but, eventually, signs of malnourishment will appear, because humans need nine different types of amino acids, in order to build proteins. (Growing children are said to need an additional three dietary amino acids.) Barley and rice do not contain all nine of those essential amino acids.<br />
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When a policeman (or anyone else) sits in a church which teaches Acts 16:31 and John 3:6 over and over again, but does not teach “every word which proceedeth from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4), that person begins to be malnourished. Acts 16:31 and John 3:16 are important, but there’s much more to truth.<br />
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In an animal nutrition class which I took in college, the professor stated that one of the signs of a malnourished animal is the presence of a depraved appetite. Do humans also develop depraved appetites, when they are malnourished? Do humans develop depraved spiritual appetites, when they are spiritually malnourished? Can they begin to develop nonsensical ideas, such as beginning to believe that humans can read minds, and discern thoughts, of other humans?<br />
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“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11).<br />
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I don't wish to split hairs about the difference between malnourishment and famine. Neither famished people nor malnourished people are sufficiently nourished, though malnourished people may eat large quantities of food.<br />
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Many people who sit in churches, and hear great singing which stirs the emotions, and thrilling stories of new converts (converts to what? Matt. 23:15) do not realize that they are not getting full meals in their churches.<br />
These policemen (and the others in the congregations) who sit in churches, and then go out and, unwittingly, play God, in their beliefs that they can watch body language, and thus discern the thoughts of a suspect, need to hear ALL of the words of their Creator expounded and magnified, and not merely hear repetitive polly-parroting of John 3:16. Many policemen in many church organizations are famished. Many such people are famished by staying in “lip-service” churches (Is. 29:13; Matt. 15:8; Mark 7:6), which, in unrighteousness, keep back huge nuggets of knowledge and truth (Rom. 1:18) found in Scripture. These churches fail to read and heed the words of the Messiah, in Revelation 3:16, to a church group in Laodicea. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Much of that being neither hot nor cold is the result of repetition of “Jesus saves,” and “Jesus loves you,” without lifting of the voice as a trumpet, in instruction about transgression (Isaiah 58:1), including transgressions by governments.<br />
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Also important for any churchgoer to ponder is the next verse: “Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3:17). Some people think that their training gave them the ability to see and read my mind. In believing that they can see my thoughts, they make themselves blind.<br />
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For me, to compare the relationship between the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day and the Roman government with the relationship between our churches of today and the so-called U.S. government is inevitable.<br />
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While Jesus was standing before Pilate, Pilate asked the Jews, “Shall I crucify your king?” The Jews responded, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). The Jewish leaders knew Malachi 1:14: “I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” What a slap in the Creator’s face the Jewish leaders delivered! The Jewish leaders were more concerned with maintaining what measly positions they had, than with having the Creator as their King, and making that admission fearlessly to the Romans. As the Israelites did in Samuel’s day, when they rejected God as King (I Samuel 8:7), so did the Jews, in Jesus’ day. And so do many churches, today.<br />
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Most “churches” are quite cozy with the government. Do some research about Clergy Response Teams. Do some research about what all being a 501 (c) (3) organization means. And why do churches say nothing, for instance, about police training which leads policemen to believe that they can discern thoughts from body language? “They that handle the law knew me not” (Jer. 2:8). That was true in Jeremiah’s day. Isn’t it obviously true in our day? Preachers haul around their Bibles, but fail to read most of the Bible to their congregations. They don’t know the One who inspired the words, and intentions, of Scripture. Again, what a slap in the Creator’s face our pastors deliver, in our day! Malachi has much to say to pastors (Malachi 2).<br />
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Here's a small example of how far downhill things have gone, because of our decision to kick our Creator out of our lives. I have a friend who has lived in Michigan for his entire life. Numerous times, he has crossed over the border into Canada, and returned, without incident or difficulty. Recently, he tried to cross over. He seemed “suspicious” to the border agents (perhaps “trained” to read thoughts). My friend was not allowed to go into Canada. When he tried to return back to the U.S., our border patrol agent detained my friend for hours, and threatened to hold him indefinitely. My friend expressed a desire to contact an attorney. He was told that, in the case of crossing the border, a U.S. citizen is not allowed access to counsel. Finally, perhaps satisfied that they had demonstrated mastery over a U.S. citizen, the U.S. border patrol agent allowed my friend to return to the U.S., and to return to his home, and his children.<br />
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We're becoming the land of the flea, and home of the slave, because 1) we don't stand up to these mini-tyrants, and 2) by far, the more important reason, we “liberated” ourselves from our Creator.<br />
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Back in the '70s, Bob Dylan wrote, and set to music, “You're gonna have to serve somebody. It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody.” When you who wish to be free of religion, you still have to serve somebody. You’re not your own boss.<br />
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When the U.S. began getting rid of the Biblical “two or three witnesses” to establish facts, and stepped into the make-believe world of reading my reactions as a road map into my thoughts, it was one more piece of everything else which was good about our country vanishing. Child Protective Services declares that they are not subject to the 4th Article of the amendments (Bill of Rights) to the Constitution. Policemen declare that they are immune to the same amendment, when it is a question of drug use or distribution. People in the I.R.S. declare themselves immune to the Constitution.<br />
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Some may accuse me of being an anarchist.<br />
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John the Baptist was not an anarchist. He was finely tuned to the rule of law, to the extent that he was able to offer critique concerning King Herod's failures and evil actions. (There were several King Herods in the Bible.<br />
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This Herod is known by current historians as Herod Antipas.) When John began declaring that Someone else was about to come, and that that Someone would separate the wheat from the chaff, Herod locked up John the Baptist. “But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by (John the Baptist) for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison (Luke 3:19, 20). Again, take note of that: “Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by (John the Baptist)...for all the evils which Herod had done....” John the Baptist did not tell himself, and the crowds of people listening to him, “Rex lex...Herod has the Divine Right of Kings, and I'm supposed to submit, which means to keep quiet, and offer no criticism. Romans 13 tells me that everything that Herod does is God's will.” John the Baptist “lifted his voice as a trumpet” (Is. 58:1).<br />
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The verb, to submit, does NOT mean, to keep quiet. It does NOT mean to refrain from criticism. It does NOT mean to agree. In a future article about the apostle Paul’s interactions with government officials, I plan to give some food for thought about what Paul meant, when he wrote, in Romans 13, that followers of the Messiah should submit.<br />
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John the Baptist believed in being ruled by true law (not merely man's Mickey-Mouse declarations posing as law). At the other end of the spectrum, Herod believed in making his own rules (as long as he didn't ruffle feathers of those above him). Though “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy” (Mark 6:20), he allowed a woman with arousing choreography to usurp his authority, when, against his own sentiments, but according to the wish of his dancing step-daughter, he ordered the beheading of John the Baptist (verse 27). Herod knowingly had a man whom he “feared,” and considered “just” and “holy” put to death.<br />
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Whose approach veers more toward anarchy? Is John the Baptist's approach, or is Herod's approach, more similar to anarchy? Put another way, would you prefer to have John the Baptist as your county sheriff, or Herod Antipas?<br />
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Some have said that the collective mindset of the rulers or leaders of a country reflects the mindset of the general populace. And I see evidence of that. A few years ago, supporters of Bill Clinton began chiming, “Clinton lied; no one died,” after people during George W. Bush's presidency told us the misinformation that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which he might suddenly use on us. (I wonder whether people in Belgrade agreed that no one died in 1999, after Clinton lied.) Bill Clinton was, among other reflections, a reflection of how little we, as a nation, cared about marital fidelity. “It's the economy, stupid.”<br />
Put enough money in our pockets, and the president can get away with giving away/selling U.S. military secrets to Red China. He just may be able to get away with selling the entire country to Red China. How else can we explain the U.S. owing China a trillion dollars?<br />
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“The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Why does the Creator set the basest of men over us? Is one reason because citizens would “run over” a group of nice guys in leadership positions? How are U.S. citizens, with respect to keeping laws of the land? Think about how we acted in the 1970s, when citizens' band radios became popular. Did we use them mostly to help others, and in emergencies? My bet is that 75% of the activity on CB radios was a compilation of efforts of speeders to avoid getting caught breaking a law of the land—law regarding speed limits on highways. Smokey and the Bandit was a popular movie which had, as one of its themes, breaking speeding laws and defeating policemen with CB radios. A very popular song about a convoy of drivers with CB radios was also “played to death” on radio stations back in the ‘70s. Wasn't it cute, harmless fun to break man's statutes? No, it's not so cute, because of what we are reaping. As U.S. citizens have become more lawless, and more base, so our leaders have become more base, in order to try to keep us in control. “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” (Is. 59:15). If we elected a truly nice guy as a leader, he would become a prey, because we—average citizens—are not nice guys. Unless the Creator protected a nice guy in a leadership position, we citizens might do to a nice guy in office what citizens did to the Messiah.<br />
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Until average citizens become nice guys, we will continue to have increasingly “base” leaders over us, whether they be constabulary, legislators, or judges. As on November 23, 1797, in an address to Congress, John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” According to John Adams, as we decline from morality, we lose our qualifications to be under the U.S. Constitution, as it is now written. Alexis de Toqueville wrote, “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”<br />
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To anyone who deems me an anarchist, and a hater of policemen, or anyone who would prevent me from doing what I please, I'll tell you that, when I was young, I supported policemen as that “thin blue line” which separates society from chaos and mob rule. But I have seen increases in outrageous behavior of policemen. I don't want to abolish police departments. I want to see policemen “protecting and serving” law-abiding citizens. Formerly, it was “good” guys vs. “bad” guys, with policemen at the tip of the spear of “good” guys.<br />
Now, the handlers of policemen have separated policemen from law-abiding citizens, and, now, policemen are the tip of the spear of some other group. “Good guys” still pay the salaries of policemen, but are becoming increasingly divorced from policemen, and vice-versa.<br />
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Why is it that, when I try to offer constructive criticism of policemen, people respond with, “Well, I guess you don't want policemen.” If I criticize the truck which I drive, my getting rid of the truck is not the only alternative. I could repair the truck, or otherwise alter it. We could (and need to) repair police departments, and policemen. But we need to repair ourselves, as we repair police departments. After all, policemen came from the general populace, and if the general populace is lawless, why should we expect that policemen should be flawless?<br />
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Where are any “mainstream” preachers who have the courage to declare the truth about these policemen who believe that they can watch a “suspect” roll his eyes, and deduce that this guy is using controlled substances? Where are the preachers who have the courage to say that many policemen are deceived, and are enabling their handlers to play God? Where are the preachers who would attempt to steer us toward the Biblical “two or three witnesses” in order to establish guilt or innocence? Why do they continue to bleat, “Romans 13! Submit!” as our government obviously continues to veer toward tyranny?<br />
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Ezekiel 9:4-6 should sober up anyone who wishes to show our people our sins. “Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst (of Jerusalem). And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.”<br />
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“Begin at my sanctuary.” Begin with the churches which tell us to submit, and then tell us that to submit means to go along with everything, because it is God's will, because God is directing world leaders. Begin with the churches which fail to tell policemen, for instance, that they are straying far out of line—out of the blue line.<br />
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“Set a mark upon the foreheads of (those who) sigh and...cry for all the abominnations...done....” Those who receive that mark (or insignia—not to be confused with the mark of Revelation 13:16) receive it because they are sorrowful about the sins in their country, and in Jerusalem. Those who are not aware of the sins are slain.<br />
Those who are aware, but make jokes about it, are slain. Those who are aware, but become cynical in their criticisms, are slain. Only those who are aware of the sins, and are sorrowful about them, are protected. Now I'm criticizing myself, because I often become cynical, and am not sorrowful about things as they are, and the direction in which things are going. For me to be sorrowful about the condition of the U.S. is the only attitude in which I will offer up constructive criticism. My criticisms in any other state of mind are destructive.<br />
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King David wrote, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalms 51:12, 13.<br />
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We must draw close to God, and then we can be in a position to guide people to the right way to go.<br />
However, we must also be prepared to endure what Jeremiah endured, that is, the fall of the country. The Creator gave the Israelites a set of laws written with His finger. Yet He finally allowed the country which He established to fall. We shouldn’t think that He will forever maintain the U.S. But we who know should be prepared to make a stand for what is right, and stand in opposition to wrongdoing. Just as our Creator cared for Jeremiah, after the fall of Jeremiah’s country, our Creator is able to care for us, whether the U.S. continues to exist, or not.<br />
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Fight the good fight. There will be a good country for those who fight the good fight.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-53077026397495353272011-02-12T22:35:00.000-08:002011-02-12T22:35:20.032-08:00Is The Church Going Through The Tribulation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hXoN5Fr7OKw/TVd7YmrPggI/AAAAAAAAFH4/2HWhFfalODo/s1600/Rapture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hXoN5Fr7OKw/TVd7YmrPggI/AAAAAAAAFH4/2HWhFfalODo/s400/Rapture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Is the Church going to go through the Tribulation? The vast majority of evangelical churches today teach that the Church will not have to go through the Tribulation period. They teach that the Church will be caught up to meet Jesus in the sky before the 7 year Tribulation period ever begins.<br />
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But is this what the Bible actually teaches?<br />
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Well, you might be surprised what the Scriptures actually have to say about the matter.<br />
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Posted below is our brand new video about the rapture. If you are open-minded enough to really consider the evidence I think that this video will be extremely eye-opening for you....<br />
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Most Christians are not going to like this video because they are so invested in believing that a pre-Tribulation rapture is actually going to happen.<br />
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But the truth is right there for anyone to see.<br />
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For much more on what the Bible has to say about the rapture, we encourage you to read our previous article entitled "<a href="http://theendtimesblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-there-is-not-going-to-be-pre.html">Why There Is NOT Going To Be A Pre-Tribulation Rapture</a>".<br />
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If you would like to do more research on this topic, we recommend the following book....<br />
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*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592575617?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592575617">The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Last Days</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592575617" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
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In addition, we welcome you to visit some of our other sites about the end times....<br />
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#1 <a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/">Last Days</a><br />
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#2 <a href="http://shofarhorn.com/">Shofar</a><br />
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#3 <a href="http://theantichristisnot.com/">The Antichrist</a><br />
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#4 <a href="http://thisistheendoftheworldasweknowit.com/">End Of The World</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-60286519137271325732011-01-29T18:29:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:31:07.173-08:00Rising Tensions With Iran As Apocalyptic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TUTNFA3fThI/AAAAAAAAFHc/Mu5VZx28vFw/s1600/Iranian+President+Mahmoud+Ahmadinejad+Says+That+The+United+States+Is+Attempting+To+Block+The+Arrival+Of+The+Mahdi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TUTNFA3fThI/AAAAAAAAFHc/Mu5VZx28vFw/s400/Iranian+President+Mahmoud+Ahmadinejad+Says+That+The+United+States+Is+Attempting+To+Block+The+Arrival+Of+The+Mahdi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Today we present a very interesting guest post from a friend of ours named Mary. We think that you are really going to enjoy what she has to say....<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rising Tensions with Iran</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as Apocalyptic</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <div align="center">Mary Grace Miller</div><div align="center">January 22, 2011</div></span> In this writing, it is my aim to explicate some extraordinary parallels between the following apocalyptic Holy Scriptures and rising tensions with Iran against the "Great Satan," the United States. The Scripture passages upon which this writing is based are: Genesis 27:39-40, Isaiah 14, Jeremiah 51, and Revelation 17-18.<br />
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Please read these slowly and carefully, hopefully more than once, before reading further. It will really help to make more sense of what I've written, I think. And then, if you made it to the end of this writing, read them again!<br />
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I am no authority on any subject much less the Apocalypse of the Bible, nor am I a theologian. I don't profess to <i>know</i>, anything, definitively, in terms of understanding the depths of meaning of the Apocalypse. I find little that is more annoying than reading a book that authoritatively presumes to have solved the riddles of the Apocalypse, when it is obvious there are serious holes, gaps, and bridges to nowhere in the answers given.<br />
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On the other hand, it is equally disconcerting when a possible solution to one aspect of one of the riddles is immediately discounted, because one does not possess a Ph.D. in riddle solving or is not a travelling salesman with a microphone and a deep voice selling books titled: <u>The Apocalypse for Dummies</u>. <br />
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I would like to start be encouraging you, if you have not done so, recently, to read the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelation. It is the guide given to us by God to help us live well through the darkest hours the world has ever known...."Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things have taken place."(Matthew 24:32)<br />
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Before going further, I thought it might be useful to briefly address the various interpretations of the Apocalypse. I have found no clearer or more succinct writing on this than Catholic writer, Michael D. O'Brien's, in the introduction to his fiction writing about the Apocalypse: <u>Father Elijah</u>. I will give it here in full, as I think it will help dispel unfounded arguments against my aim:<br />
<i> <br />
As the drama of our century speeds toward some unknown climax, numerous speculations arise and new attention is given to John's Apocalypse, stimulating a plethora of interpretation. One school of thought has it that the book refers solely to John's own time; another asserts that it is exclusively a meditation on the end of things in some indeterminate future; still another believes that the book is a map of the Church's history, unfolded in seven major epochs. A fourth interpretation, one favored by most of the Church Fathers, holds that it is a theological vision of a vast spiritual landscape, containing descriptions of the situation of the Church in John's own time, and also the events that are to unfold at the end of time. For John, the "end times" begin with the Incarnation of Christ into the world, and there remains only a last battle through which the Church must pass.<br />
This, in my view, is the fullest and best interpretation.... </i> <br />
I concur.<br />
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Allow me to refer you to my previous writing: <i>Amazing Parallels Between the Apocalyptic Babylon in Scripture and the United States. </i>For the purpose of this current writing the U.S. is identified as the Babylon of the Apocalypse. The United States is experiencing growing tensions with many countries around the globe not the least of which is China. Yet, in keeping with my particular reflections on the apocalyptic passages of Scripture, I think the leaders of Iran will stand out in history as the West's, and particularly the United States', fiercest enemy. In terms of geopolitics, in time, I think the forces of Islam, led by Iran, will be shown to have the greatest negative impact on the world, and especially the United States, even more so than the spread of communism/Luciferianism around the globe via the Western global power elites. At some point, I think the forces of Islam will co-opt the Western global power elites' infrastructures put in place for their own evil purposes. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a master strategist. But, I am getting ahead of myself. <br />
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How have you fallen from the heavens,<br />
O morning star, son of the dawn!<br />
How you are cut down to the ground,<br />
you who mowed down the nations! (Isaiah14:12-17)<br />
I am stirring up against them [Babylon] the Medes *(Iranians),<br />
who think nothing of silver<br />
and take not delight in gold. (Isaiah 13:17)</i> <br />
Allow me to refer you to one of the earliest apocalyptic verses in Holy Scripture: Esau's attempt to get a blessing from his father, Isaac, after he had foolishly given up his birthright to his brother, Jacob. I quote from the <u>New American Bible</u> and the <u>Douay-Rheims</u>. The <u>Douay-Rheims</u> version of Genesis 27:39-40 reads:<br />
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<i>Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, </i><br />
<i>and in the dew from Heaven from above, shall thy blessing be. </i><br />
<i>Thou shalt live by the sword and shalt serve thy brother: </i><br />
<i>and the time shall come, </i><br />
<i>when thou shalt shake off and loose his yoke from thy neck.</i><br />
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The <u>New American </u>translation of the same verses is:<br />
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<i>Finally, Isaac spoke again and said to him:</i><br />
<i>"Ah, far from the fertile earth</i><br />
<i>shall be your dwelling;</i><br />
<i>far from the dew of the heavens above!</i><br />
<i>"By your sword you shall live,</i><br />
<i>and your brother you shall serve;</i><br />
<i>but when you become restive,</i><br />
<i>you shall throw off his yoke from your</i><br />
<i>neck."</i><br />
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Amazingly, the modern version, in this case, seems to make more sense. Why would Esau want to kill Jacob if he was blessed with fertile lands? Not only did Esau not receive a blessing, he seems to receive what amounted to a curse from his father. The extreme contrast between what Jacob received and what Esau got was too bitter for him to bear. Thus sprung the impetus for his hatred of his brother. Further evidence to support the latter version is Malachias 1:3 - "Was not Esau brother to Jacob, saith the Lord, and I have loved Jacob, but have hated Esau? and I have made his mountains a wilderness, and given his inheritance to the dragons of the desert."<br />
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If Esau's heritage is viewed as predominantly the Muslim Middle East, and Jacob's blessing represents the West, it seems to make sense that what appears to be this earliest of apocalyptic Scripture is currently in progress. According to the Vatican, there are now more Muslims in the world than Catholics ("Muslims More Numerous than Catholics: Vatican", Reuters, March 30, 2008"). Europe is inundated. In his introduction to an article about the life of stigmatist, Teresa Neumann, by the late Father Urban Snyder, Michael Matt shared the following about him:<br />
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<i>I'll always remember something he said while "holding court" one evening in our home in the early 1970's: "It's not Communism that should be our chief concern in the West...not really. It is Islam. Most of us will not live to see the rise of global, militant Islam, but that young man over there [pointing directly to me] certainly will." This was at the height of the "Cold War" - a full thirty years before the so-called "War on Terror."</i><br />
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The Middle East has been a predominant source of oil for the U.S. since the middle of the twentieth century. Apocalypse 17:3 and 7 prophesies:<br />
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<i>Then he carried me away in spirit to a deserted place where I saw a woman <b>seated on </b>a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns....</i><br />
<i>When I saw her I was greatly amazed. The angel said to me, "Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that <b>carries</b> her, the beast with the seven heads and ten horns."</i><br />
[My emphasis]<br />
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Here is implied Babylon's <b>dependence</b> on the beast. Babylon is sitting on the beast and the beast carries her.<br />
It seems plausible that this could mean an economic dependence as Babylon's wealth is frequently referred to.<br />
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Could it mean U.S. dependence on Mideast oil? The masses of Middle Eastern men have seen little of the wealth generated by their country's oil reserves. Their leaders have grown rich from Babylon's "drive for luxury", but little has trickled down to the people. Their standard of living is far below the West. They see the wealth all around them, and they know they receive grossly disproportionate compensation. Again Isaac says to Esau:<br />
<br />
<i>By your sword you shall live, and your brother you shall serve;</i><br />
<i>But when you become restive, you shall throw off his yoke from your neck</i>.<br />
<br />
The first real sign of becoming restive toward the United States began with the overthrow of the U.S. backed Shah of Iran in 1979. This was, in part, a rebellion against an unjust economic system of greedy rulers doing business with mostly the U.S. government and corporations. The Islamic Revolution has been gaining ground ever since. At the same time, the increasingly decadent and godless West has been in decline.<br />
<br />
Isaiah 13:17 prophesies:<br />
<br />
<i>I am stirring up against them the Medes *(Iranians),</i><br />
<i>who think nothing of silver</i><br />
<i>and take no delight in gold.</i><br />
<br />
Interestingly, the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is noted for his frugality and commitment to living as "every man." On his blog dated June 5, 2009, Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal writes:<br />
<i> <br />
Mahmoud swept to power with the backing of Iran's devout poor, especially those in rural areas, who felt neglected by past governments and liked his promise to put oil wealth on the table of every family in a nation of over 70 million people....<br />
<br />
Ahmadinejad is a small man who always wears the same crumpled suit, but wherever he goes he is the centre of media attention, repeatedly stealing the limelight from his heavyweight peers among world leaders. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he is the most influential person in the Muslim world at present. He declined the use of a presidential plane, drives an old car, takes a home-made lunch to the office with him and lives in a humble flat in Tehran. These populist habits and his rural, laboring background - he is from a family of blacksmiths - have endeared him to Iran's working classes whilst his conservatism ensures the support of those with a fundamentalist agenda.<br />
</i> <br />
Here is a Youtube of his home: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQErHieJzpY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQErHieJzpY</a><br />
<br />
A most remarkable parallel between apocalyptic Scripture and the current situation with Iran concerns Ahmadinejad's belief in the return of the Twelfth Imam. Allow me to refer you to an excellent article on the subject by John von Heyking, Ph.D.: <i>Iran's President and the Politis of the Twelfth Imam </i>(November, 2005) on the John M. Ashbrook Center for Pulbic Affairs website. He writes:<br />
<i> <br />
Observers of Iran have been puzzling over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's actions lately....Western obserers have paid less attention to the political and religious ideology behind some of Ahmadinejad's actions, which he has expressed in recent speeches that have had messianic overtones and are deeply troublesome....<br />
<br />
In a speech on November 16, Ahmadinejad spoke of his belief in the return of the Twelfth Imam. One of the differences between Sunni and Shi'te Islam is that the latter, who dominate Iran and form the majority in Iraq, believe that Allah Shielded or hid Muhammad al-Mahdi as the Twelfth Imam until the end of time. Shi'tes expect the Twelfth Imam...to return to save the world when it had descended into chaos....<br />
<br />
Western observers need to be able to understand the ideological and religious overtones of the current situation in Iran. Ahmadinejad's peculiar references to the Twelfth Imam are no mere eccentricity to be taken lightly....Minimally, Ahmadinejad's speeches and actions portend a constitutional crisis for the Iranian regime. Maximally, there are times when one shold take bombastic statements not as double-talk, but for what they are.<br />
</i> <br />
Allow me to refer you to the U.N. speeches of Ahmadinejad. A short synopsis of a speech he gave in 2006 is as follows: The Security Council of the United Nations needs reform. As it is, it is unjust. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Zionist regime are primarily responsible for the injustice and human misery of the world. He then says a prayer for the return of the Twelfth Imam:<br />
<i> <br />
I emphatically declare that today's world, more than ever before, longs for just and righteous people with love for all humanity; and above all longs for the perfect righteous human being and the real savior who has been promised to al peoples and who will establish justice, peace and brotherhood on the planet.<br />
<br />
O, Almighty God, all men and women are Your creatures and You have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause.<br />
</i> <br />
In a more recent U.N. speech in September of 2009, Ahmadinejad prays again for the return of the Twelfth Imam:<br />
<i> <br />
O God, hasten the arrival of the Imam al-Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those who attest to his rightfulness....If the belief in Entezar (A waiting patiently for the Imam to return) will turn into a common and we join hands to achieve prosperity for all, then there will be more real and increasing hopes for reform.<br />
</i> <br />
The Occultation as defined by Wikipedia is as follows:<br />
<i> <br />
The occultation in Shi'a Islam refers to a belief that the messianic figure, al-Mahdi, who in Shi'a thought is an infallible male descendant of the founder of Islam, Muhammad, has been born but has disappeared and will one day return and fill the world with justice....<br />
<br />
In Twelver Shia Islam, the Major Occultation reers to the longer duration of the Occultation of the final and Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, continuing to the present day. Shia believe the last Saf'ir announced on his death-bed in 941 a.d. that the Twelfth Imam had decided not to appoint another Saf'ir and had entered into total occultation. From this p oint to the present is the Twelfth Imam's second occultation, or Major Occultation. According to the last letter of Muhammad al-Mahdi to Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri "from the day of your death [the last deputy] the period of my major occultation (al ghaybatul kubra) will begin. Hence forth, no one will see me, unless and until Allah makes me appear. My reappearance will take place after a very long time when people will have grown tired of waiting and those who are weak in their faith will say: What! Is he still alive?<br />
</i> <br />
It is interesting to compare Chapter 17:8-11 of the Apocalypse with this definition. Chapter 17:8-11 (New American Bible) prophesies:<br />
<br />
<i>The beast that you saw existed once but now exists no longer. It will come up from the abyss and is headed for destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not ben written in the book of life from the foundation of the world shall be amzed when they see the best, because it existed once but exists no longer, and yet it will come again.</i><br />
<br />
Allow me to highlight the remarkable similarity between the description of the return of the Twelfth Imam on the Wikipedia website and the beat of Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse:<br />
<br />
The Twelfth Imam:<br />
<br />
<b>...has been born but has disappeared and will one day return...</b><br />
<br />
The beast of Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse:<br />
<br />
<b><i>...existed once but exists no longer, and yet it will come again...</i></b><br />
<br />
Ahmadinejad sees Western power, i.e. Zionism, the United Kingdom, and the United States as the oppressors of the peoples of the earth. He sees the return of the Twelfth Imam as the savior who will come to save the earth from these oppressors by helping to destroy the infidel, to conquer the oppressive powers who won't obey Allah. Michael S. Milne's e-mail response to the September 2009 U.N. speech by Ahmadinejad is as follows:<br />
<br />
<i>This speech is not about imparting information or views. It is a baout offering Muslim conversion to the greatest mass audience everywhere. It can now be argued that everyone who has listened to the speech or read its text has been offered Allah's slavation. This man doesn't care whether people accept the offer or not, only that they have been offered the chance to do so. In that way, he can justifiably increase the potential destruction he may eventally take part in, with a "clear conscience" that he has been acting in accordance with the will of Allah.</i><br />
<br />
One can hear Ahmadinejad on Youtube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92myDzFgU4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92myDzFgU4</a> leading thousands in chanting "Death to America" during the February 11, 2005 celebration of the birth of the Islamic Revolution thirty years previous. It is disturbing.<br />
<br />
If the Twelfth Imam is the beast of Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse, if he is the antichrist, we have, I fear, quite a fireworks display ahead of us in the not too distant future. This beast will lead ten kings who "are of one mind and will give their power and authority to the beast." (17:13) "The ten horns that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot; they will leave her desolate and naked; they will eat her flesh and consme her with fire." (17:16)<br />
<br />
Ahmadinejad is trying to prepare the way for the return of the Twelfth Imam who will lead the nations in the destruction of the "Great Satan," the United States, or, as I think, Babylon. With a brief perusal of the news over the past couple of years, it is clear he is making alliances with countries and terrorist organizations all over the world, against the U.S. These countries include China, Russia, Venezuela, and North Korea among many others. A good read is NBC Foreign Correspondent, Richard Engel's - <u>War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq</u> (Simon and Schuster, 2008). He shows how Iran has greatly benefitted, politically, in Iraq from the U.S. invasion there. <br />
<br />
The <i>Times Online </i>reported the following on Sunday, March 21, 2010:<br />
<br />
<i>The Taliban has received training inside Iran, Taliban Commanders tell the Time of London. Commanders tell the Times that Iranian officials paid them to attend the three month course on mounting complex ambushes and laying improvised explosive devices (IED's). One Commander says of the Iranians: "Our religion and our histories are different but our target is the same, we both want to kill Americans." Western officials tell that the accounts are credible.</i><br />
<br />
Ahmadinejad is a master strategist. He knows how to use the carrot and the stick, well. Diplomatically, he has accomplished more around the world in the past five years since he became president, than several successive leaders could ever hope to have achieved in other countries. I think this is, in part, because the alliances he is making all have a common enemy, the United States. One of his great advantages is that Western power elites are too arrogant to take him seriously. Ahmadinejad is working towards Osama bin Laden's "American Hiroshima." Again, Jeremiah prophesies (51:11):<br />
<br />
<i>Sharpen the arrows,</i><br />
<i>Fill the quivers;</i><br />
<i>The Lord has stirred up the spirit of</i><br />
<i>Media's *(Iran's) kings;</i><br />
<i>Babylon he is resolved to destroy.</i><br />
<br />
Another good read is the book - <u>Dunces of Doomsday: 10 Blunders That Gave Rise to Radical Islam, Terrorist Regimes, and the Threat of an American Hiroshima</u>, by Paul L. Williams (WND Books/Cumberland House Publishing, 2006).<br />
<br />
We, along with the U.K. and the Zionist regime are Ahmadinejad's "axis of evil." Paul Craig Roberts writes in his article: Is U.S. Financial Collapse a Good Thing for the World? (American Free Press, February 22, 2010):<br />
<br />
<i>American power is on the precipice, about to fall. Perhaps, it is a good thing. The world will be rid of bullying, of invasions of innocent countries based on blatant lies, of torture and murder of women and children, of redistribution of income fro the poor to the rich.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The criminal record accumulated by the United States makes it the least indispensible country on earth.</i><br />
<br />
Isaiah 14:3-8 prophesies:<br />
<br />
<i>On the day the Lord relieves you of sorrow and unrest and the hard service in which you have been enslaved, you will take up this taunt-song against the King of Babylon:</i><br />
<br />
<i>How the oppressor has reached his end!</i><br />
<br />
<i>How the turmoil is stilled!</i><br />
<br />
<i>The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked,</i><br />
<br />
<i>the staff of the tyrants</i><br />
<br />
<i>that struck the peoples in wrath</i><br />
<br />
<i>relentless blows;</i><br />
<br />
<i>that beat down the nations in anger,</i><br />
<br />
<i>with oppression unchecked.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The whole earth rests peacefully,</i><br />
<br />
<i>song breaks forth;</i><br />
<br />
<i>the very cypresses rejoice over you,</i><br />
<br />
<i>and the cedars of lebanon:</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Now that you are laid to rest,</i><br />
<br />
<i>there will be none to cut us down."</i><br />
<br />
Again:<br />
<br />
<i>How have you fallen from the heavens,</i><br />
<i>O morning star, son of the dawn!</i><br />
<i>How you are cut down to the ground,</i><br />
<i>you who mowed down the nations! (Isaiah14:12-17)</i><br />
<br />
Imagine what the world would be like if it stopped striving to have what America has? If it stopped striving to get rich from America? If it stopped striving to come to America and be like America? What if the striving were to end and people were able to be content, once more, with who they are, what they have, and where they are in the world without a desire to have the "American Dream"?<br />
<br />
Jeremiah 51:6 prophesies:<br />
<br />
<i>Flee out of Babylon;</i><br />
<i>let each one save his life,</i><br />
<i>perish not for her guilt;</i><br />
<br />
And verse 45 of the same Chapter:<br />
<br />
<i>Leave her, my people, let each one save himself</i><br />
<i>from the burning wrath of the Lord.</i><br />
<br />
And again, verse 50:<br />
<br />
<i>You who have escaped the sword,</i><br />
<i>go on, stand not still;</i><br />
<i>Remember the Lord from afar,</i><br />
<i>let Jerusalem come to your minds.</i><br />
<br />
Three times in one chapter it warns to leave Babylon. The Apocaypse (18:4) prophesies:<br />
<br />
<i>Depart from her, my people,</i><br />
<i>so as not to take part in her sins</i><br />
<i>and receive a share in her plagues,</i><br />
<i>for her sins are piled up to the sky,</i><br />
<i>and God remembers her crimes.</i><br />
<br />
Most people I talk to interpret this to mean a spiritual, not a physical, departure even though Babylon's punishment is compared to that of Sodom and Gomorrah in Scripture (Isaiah 13:19). Is it not indicative of those of us living in the comfort and convenience of "the richest country on God's green earth" to interpret these Scriptures in this way? That is, in a way that requires no physical sacrifice. No loss of earthly security and comfort. No risk of being hungry, thirsty, cold, or wet like those in poor countries. One has only to watch <i>House Hunters International </i>on HGTV to see the difference in perspective between Americans and others concerning what is needed in a house. A large, perfectly good kitchen needs "upgrading" if it doesn't have granite counters and steel door appliances. A master bedroom in which a king size bed is barely visible with binoculars from the door is "too small" for the average, middle income, American woman on this show. <br />
<br />
<i>To the measure of her boasting and</i><br />
<i>wantonness</i><br />
<i>repay her in torment and grief;</i><br />
<i>for she said to herself</i><br />
<i>'I sit enthroned as queen;</i><br />
<i>I am no widow,</i><br />
<i>and I will never know grief.</i><br />
<i>Therefore, her plagues will come in one</i><br />
<i>day,</i><br />
<i>pestilence, grief, and famine;</i><br />
<i>she will be consumed by fire;</i><br />
<i>For mighty is the Lord God who judges</i><br />
<i>her.</i> (Apocalypse 18:7-8)<br />
<br />
Perhaps people interpret it this way, because the other possibilities seem so impossible. Humanly speaking, today it <i>is</i> impossible for most people to immigrate to another country. But what about faith? Has it not required believers down through the centuries to do what the world sees as contraindicated time and time again? Would faith be faith if it never required one to choose to do something that is not wholly understandable, practical, or reasonable from a merely human perspective in order to do God's Will? Of course, our supreme example of Faith in Abraham's willingness to obey God's command to go to Mt. Moriah and sacrifice his only beloved son, Isaac, must give us courage to take the necessary action when the moment comes no matter how difficult, incomprehensible, and impossible it may seem. We may be asked to begin building an ark, when everyone else around us is eating, drinking, and being merry! And then, Mary and Joseph were warned by an angel to flee to Egypt for a time, in order to escape from King Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). They went to a country where they didn't know the language to live among strangers. <br />
<br />
What would have become of Lot if he had interpreted God's words to mean a spiritual departure, only? Of course, this doesn't make any sense. God warned Lot, <i>because</i> he was a godly man. Likewise, he warns us.<br />
In love for His children, for those who have already separated themselves from the world as best they can, he warns ahead of time to get out of Babylon before He allows it to be destroyed. He says "Perish not for her guilt." (Jeremiah 51:6). He doesn't say, stay put, I will take care of you right where you are, just trust me. No.<br />
He says "Depart from her, my people." "Perish not for her guilt."<br />
<br />
Of course, the big question for those of us still remaining in the U.S. is - How? How to leave? If what I have written makes sense to you - if ever there was a time for Faith and Catholic charity among the remnant all over the world, it is now. Now, more than ever before since the beginning of Christianity, it is time for true believers to support and aid one another, and even lay down our lives for one another. We must have the courage to reject the materialism of our age that has creeped into our psyches to a degree to which most of us are still quite unaware. The difficult times ahead will reveal to us, more than the times of plenty, where our real allegiances lie: Our homes?, our jobs?, our children?, or, our Faith. It may come to this. Are we ready to be His disciples? <br />
<br />
Will we have enough oil for our lamps when the moment comes?Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-3463955373727745162011-01-29T18:02:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:02:23.319-08:00A Guest Post About The Antichrist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TUTGj2nF6MI/AAAAAAAAFHY/K6DKMg7Z0s8/s1600/The+Mark+Of+The+Beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TUTGj2nF6MI/AAAAAAAAFHY/K6DKMg7Z0s8/s400/The+Mark+Of+The+Beast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The following guest post is an article on the Antichrist that one of my readers recently submitted. I think that it contains some very interesting points. It is posted without any editing and hopefully many of you will feel free to leave your thoughts and impressions in the comments section following the article....<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The AntiChrist</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Because of the many misconceptions among Christians about the identity of the Antichrist,I've decided to shed more light on the identity of the Antichrist in order to present a clearer picture of what the Antichrist represents.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">1st of all Let us take a close look at the meaning of the word:"Anti Christ"</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Anti:Against</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Christ:The Messiah</span><br />
From the above we can deduce that the Antichrist is simply someone or something that is against Christ and what he represents.<br />
<br />
The word "Antichrist" can only be found in the 1st and 2nd books of John.Let us examine some of the verses that the word is found to have a clearer picture of what John meant when he wrote about the Antichrist.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">-1 John 2:18-19:</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,even now there are many antichrists;whereby You know it is the last time.They</span>(The antichrists)<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">went out from us but they were not of us,for if they had been of us,they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The Anti Christ is Synonymous with the Anti Christs</span><br />
In the above verse,John stated that "an antichrist"was to come at the last time and that at the time he was writing there were:"many antichrists"and that the fact that there were many antichrists proved it was the last time.We can deduce from this that the Antichrist and the antichrists are synonymous because John specifically stated the fact that an antichrist was to come at the last time and that the fact that there were antichrists in his time was evidence that it was the last time .<br />
<br />
Also, John states that the antichrists went out from them(the true Christians)and that if they were true Christians they would have continued with them but they went out in order for their true state to be manifest to all.That they were never Christians.So who does the anti christ and these antichrists represent?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">For the answer to that question,I would want us to explore more Bible verses:</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
The Anti Christs</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">1 John 2:22:"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?He is antichrist that denieth the father and the son</span>.<br />
<br />
From the verse above we can see that any one who denies God and Jesus is an antichrist.Now the question is how do we deny God and Jesus?We deny God when we do not adhere to his teachings.We deny Jesus when we reject his Cross and emphasize on works(Phil 3:18-19 Gal 2:21).<br />
<br />
There are millions of nominal Christians around the world today who are anything but Christian.They reject the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_0"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;">cross of Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> and instead emphasize works(Romans 4:4-5)They wear religious garbs but inwardly they are are unregenarated(Is 30:1,Matt 23:28).<br />
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They emphasize prosperity of the body instead of prosperity of the soul and glory in the works of the flesh instead of the cross of Christ(Gal 6:12-14,Matt 13:22).From the definition of antichrist above, these people are antichrists because they are against what Christ represents:Righteousness self denial etc and when they act like this they deny the God they profess to serve because they reject his Path to salvation:Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The Anti Christ:</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">-1 John 4:3-4</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">:</span>"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus 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'is it 'in the world'.Ye are of God and have overcome them for greater is he that is in You than he that is in the world".</span><br />
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From the verses above we can see that "every spirit" that confesses not that Jesus is come in the flesh is not of God but is the"spirit of the antichrist"which John claimed was already "in the world" at His time:It also goes on to say that greater is the person that is in the church than the person who is in the world.<br />
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I think the verses are self explanatory but I will still try to explain a bit further to make them clearer.The Bible is clear that the antichrist is a spirit.It says every spirit that doesn't confess Jesus is in the flesh is not of God.In other words,Every <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Spirit</span> that doesn't show that Jesus resides in a person(the flesh),Every spirit that negates What Christ represents is antichrist.It also goes on to say that the antichrist is "in the world":Why do You think the world is lawless and rebellious against God?It is because of the spirit of rebellion(anti christ spirit)that indwells humanity and thus makes them antichrists.But to all those who have put on the image of the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_1"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_1">New man :Jesus Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> by accepting him into their hearts(Col 3:10)John had this to say:"Greater is He who is in You(The Holy spirit)Than he that is in the world"(spirit of rebellion:antichrist)<br />
<br />
The antichrist is the rebellious and sinful image that indwells humanity(remember John specifically said it was already in the world)and pits them against their maker(makes them antichrists).It is the spirit of satan that empowers this cursed image(The same way the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_2"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_2">Spirit of Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> empowers the image of God in His church)<br />
<br />
In the so called 'church' this spirit manifests as false teachings.Doctrines that exalt the self instead of the savior.Teachings that promote self enhancement instead of self denial.It also manifests as false miracles and lying wonders in order to delude people into accepting this antichrist spirit as the real Christ.That is why Jesus said that in the end times,Many would come in my name saying:'I am Christ' and deceive many(Matt 24:5).Notice that these people come as Christians(in Christ's name),but yet they deceive many.How do they accomplish this:By fooling people(twisting scripture to conform to their antichrist desires 2 Pet 2:1,2 Pet 3:16) to accept antichrist tendencies as being Christ's.Also,Jesus said that the deception would be so great that if it were possible the elect would be deceived(Matt 24:24).It goes to show You how strong the deception would be.<br />
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Many people would teach things in Jesus name, Quote the Bible,pray in Jesus names ,perform miracles,Give alms,Pay tithes advocate legalistic 'works' of self-effort and perfectionist performance and piety.But it would negate Christ's Finished work on the Cross and exalt self works.And that is what makes it Antichrist.<br />
<br />
The Bible says that the Antichrists went out of the true Christians(departed from the true faith).'Christianity' in its form today has departed from the true faith and is now a man made institution of works and self centered doctrines.It is founded on man made doctrines.And that is the reason why we have divisions:Anglicans are built on what the Anglicans deem is good,Catholics are built on what Catholics feel is godly,Pentecostals are built on what they feel is of God etc.and that is also the reason why there is an abundance of false teaching in the church today :Because it is built on what the people feel is good not on Christ:<br />
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As a result of all this, We see so called Christians Today condoning things clearly forbidden by God:Homosexuality,Greed,Attachment to mundane things etc.<br />
As <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_3" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_3"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_3">True followers of Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> we should be built on Christ not on man made institutions and doctrines.Jesus didn't come to make You baptist or episcopalian.He came to regenerate You to bear his image and reconcile You to Your maker.<br />
<br />
Also,these days so called Christians are more drawn to their so called pastors and prophets than they are to Jesus.They are like babies that never want to grow up.they do not want to search out scriptures for themselves.They want to remain reliant on the so called clergy.Any problem they have is taken to the '<span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_4"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_4">powerful' man of God</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> instead of Jesus.These practices are not representative of Jesus Christ but are Antichrist.<br />
<br />
It is because of the fact that many of Gods children still think that satan's Antichrist system is of God the Bible says in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Rev 18:4:":...Come out of her(Babylon), my people(Gods people), that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues"</span>.Many of Gods people (Zion)Have been fooled to accept Babylon(system of the antichrist) as ideal.They are fooled by the fact that the prophets of Babylon use Jesus name in all they do.But what many of Gods people are ignorant of is that God cannot be found in the walls of the buildings they go to every Sunday:They are ignorant of the fact that true Christians meet as a church and not in a church:Irrespective of where Christians meet they are collectively the church of Christ on earth.<br />
<br />
The minute people realize that they are Gods church(Body)on earth they would stop paying all the attention they pay to the building they call church and start paying attention to each other:The true Church.As it stands today in so many "churches"Thousands and even millions of dollars are spent on the buildings while the true Church is neglected.People glory more in how many people can be seated in their "churches:" than in how many people are truly serving the Lord.<br />
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Also,The Lord cannot be found by joining the choir,Charitable deeds or paying tithes(works)God can only be found in Christ and the path to <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_5"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_5">Christ is the way</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> of the cross (self denial)That is why the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_6"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_6">angel of God</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cries out for Zion to depart from <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_9"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_7">Babylon</span></span></span></span></span></span>: Choosing to Remain in Babylon (Antichrist system of falsehood) would only lead to deception and subsequently Gods judgment because the truth can only be found in Christ.<br />
<br />
The Antichrist spirit also manifests itself in the rest of the unrepentant world:It is the lawless spirit of sin that rejects the cross and glorifies humanism,and self works.It is the doctrine of self promotion:The doctrine that we come 1st and that we have a right to be ourselves instead of denying ourselves to know our maker better.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">-Divine Government is the fulfillment of the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_7"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_8"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_8">Universal Law</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>: As Above, So Below. It is a governing body of the God Selves of all Humanity: a government OF our Divine Selves, BY our Divine Selves, FOR our Divine Selves. When we truly understand what this means, we will get a glimpse of the colossal affect these activations for Divine Government will have on the Earth and all life evolving here.I AM THE OPEN DOOR FOR DIVINE GOVERNMENT" By Patricia Diane Cota-Robles,found in the Awakening-Healing News" Letter of Light:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">-"Remove God from a throne in the sky and place God where God is -- in everything we call good, in that which we call evil and certainly in that which we call the human mind. It is time we begin to see God not as other but as ourselves." [1] Deborah Turner-Bey, <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_9" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_8" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_8" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_11" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_9" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_9"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_9" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_9" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_9" style="cursor: pointer;">Creation Spirituality</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">-Every man, woman and child on earth has within their being a 'light' to guide them. <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_9"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_9"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_10">White Eagle</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> calls this the Christ spirit,the spirit of divine love.The word ‘Christ’ is meant universally,Rose within a star and should not be linked with any particular religion.Because this 'light' is spiritual in essence,it is not always easy to recognize it in other people,or realise it is there in ourselves.White Eagle Lodge </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d89fe5c62bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_11">Website</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">-You are everything. Everything you want to know is inside of you. You are the Universe. Maybe the tragedy of the human race was that we had forgotten that we were each divine. You must never worship anyone or anything other than self. For you are God. To love self is to love God. I exist- therefore I am. I know that the God Source exists- therefore it is. Since I am part of that Source, then I AM that I AM.' -Shirley MacLaine, Out on a Limb, 1983 Bantam Books, New York</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">-</span><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i>All that you want to be, you already are. All you have to do is move your awareness there and recognize the reality of your own Soul.”<a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a60b8c2bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Rogers</a></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">-You are all you will ever be. You are divine. You are perfection. All you have to do is awaken to that and then know it. </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a6b7e72bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">John Rogers</a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">-Christ-consciousness and Christ-abilities are the natural inheritance of every human being on Earth.Barbara Marx Hubbard,Happy birthday Planet Earth.p.17</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">-If god is everything and everywhere and inside everyone, then I figured He had to be inside me, too… </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a6e96f2bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glenn Beck</a></span><br />
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It is the spirit that promotes the things we can do by relying on our genius instead of relying on God:i.e being a law to ourselves (Gen 3:4-5).It is the spirit that prompts us to do what we like and be ourselves.It is the so called "christ consciousness" that mystics believe the whole of humanity will attain by "by awakening the kundalini(god consciousness,'Serpent nature' )that sleeps(lies dormant) in us.This Spirit Promotes the doctrine that we do not need Jesus and that we can save ourselves by awakening our christ(serpent,sinful)nature within.<br />
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Kundalini represents the image of the fallen Adam that lives in every sinner.The serpent made Eve believe that bearing this image was the only way she could be exalted to godhood and that is the same lie that he is going to use to cajole the unrepentant world to obey him and submit to the cursed image today.<br />
(<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">You can <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_10"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_11">Google</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kundalini</span> if You want to read more about it</span>)<br />
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The Anti Christ is the spirit that prompts us to choose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil instead of the tree of life and this lawless spirit of rebellion (image of sin)has been inside the world since the fall of Adam. That is why John said it was already in the world,why mystics claim it is already in humanity and only needs to be 'Stirred up' and that is what the Bible refers to when it says in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2 Thess 2:6-7:"And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.For the mystery of iniquity doth 'already' work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way".</span><br />
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The mystery of iniquity is already working the above verse says however it was being restrained at the time st Paul was writing.Who do You think restrains the antichrist in christians?Christ of course.His word curtails our lawless behavior.His spirit suppresses the lawlessness in us.The law of His father makes us abandon our self will.But when Christ is taken out of the way,when His words are made irrelevant and are totally abandoned by the church, the antichrist will fully manifest.<br />
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The antichrist is suppressed in the rest of the unrepentant world by their <span style="font-weight: bold;">individuality</span>:The <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_14"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_12"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_12">Consciousness</span></span></span></span></span></span> of their Souls & the ignorance of the potential of and connection to the inner '<a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a71d5e2bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_13">serpent spark'</span></a> that indwells humanity.This is What Hindus refer to as <a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a74e742bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_15">Jiva</span></a> .<br />
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All satanic mystery schools believe that they will eventually succeed in awakening this serpent in themselves and subsequently the rest of humanity & that once this has been accomplished a new world order under the serpents rule would be established:One that is controlled by the inner spark which they have been fooled to think makes them divine.When this happens,The heights of lawlessness and rebellion would be unleashed on the land and that is the last time that John Refers to:The time when man exalts himself over His true maker & disregards His truth & instead embraces reason,occult knowledge and science.It is during this time the sin of man will fully manifest. <br />
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We can see from all this that it is the Antichrist spirit that makes us 'anti'christs.In the same way we become 'Christ'ians when we submit to the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_11"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_14"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_13" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_13">Spirit of Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Spirit of Satan</span><br />
The Antichrist spirit is the spirit of satan that lives in our hearts and deludes us to think that We can only be brought to wholeness by looking inward(Gen 3:4-6).That is why the Bible says thus of the man of sin: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2 Thess 2 :9-10:"Even him, whose coming is after the "working of Satan" with all power and signs and lying wonders</span>,<span style="font-weight: bold;">And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness "in"them that perish because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.</span> ;"The Antichrist spirit is simply satan 'working in' our hearts and producing all sorts of unrighteous and anti-christian tendencies in us .However when we accept Christ the image of God within within and die to the anti christ spirit within us,God will work within our hearts <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Phil 2:3:"For it is "God which worketh in you" both to will and to do of his good pleasure."</span><br />
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It is the spirit of our age that rejects God and <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_14" style="cursor: pointer;">God's Word</span>, and promotes man with all of its power. The <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_15">purpose of education</span> today is man's welfare; the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_16">purpose of science</span> is man's pleasure; the goal of entertainment is the good life for man. Hedonism says it all. Because of this,the world is currently crowded with Antichrists who hate Christ and His truth and live their lives contrary to His will<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" /></span><br />
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This anti christ spirit also makes us feel that we have a right to be who we are(denies the need for repentance).That is why Jesus told the Jews in <span style="font-weight: bold;">John 8:44:You are of Your father the devil and the lusts of Your father You would do....</span>Those that are born of the flesh are naturally sinners(antichrists)those that accept the work of the cross and die to self are naturally righteous.That is why the Bible says in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">1 John 3:7-8:Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_14" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_12" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_12" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_17" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_14" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_15"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_14" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_14" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_17" style="cursor: pointer;">Son of God</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> was manifested, that he might destroy the 'works of the devil.</span>'<br />
<br />
The antichrist is not the beast of revelation 13.The beast of rev 13 is an antichrist but is not the Antichrist,The false prophet is also not the antichrist.However He is an antichrist because he negates Christ.The Antichrist spirit is the 'worlds counterfeit Christ' .The spirit that promotes the self instead of The Savior:Jesus Christ said many would be deluded into accepting the antichrist as Christ because of the oneness and acceptance of everyone it would emphasize.However true Christians will never be deluded because they know that Friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).They know that they have to deny themselves in order to know the true God(John 12:25)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">How to identify the Antichrist and the True Christ in the Church:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1.-</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">1 John 4:5-6:</span>"<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_18"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_15"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_15"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_15"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_18">Spirit of truth</span></span></span></span></span></span> and the spirit of falsehood".</span><br />
<br />
The Bible says in the above verse:They (the Antichrists)are of the world and speak from the worlds viewpoint.One distinguishing mark of the Antichrist system is that it conforms to the principles of the world.It speaks (promotes)the things of the world(things the world respects)It prompts people to seek money not the Holy spirit.It prompts them to live for self(world doctrine of self enhancement) instead of the savior.It prompts them to live for now instead of living for eternity.It bases its standards on worldly principles and that is why the world listens to it.The <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_15"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_13"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_19"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_19">true church of God</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> preaches the cross.Only the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_16"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_14"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_14"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_20"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_18"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_20">true children of God</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> listen to the message of the cross they know they have to deny themselves in order to know God.All devotees of self reject the cross and exalt the self and that is why they will never listen to the message of the church:Because it offends their self pride.That is why there is an enmity between the church and the world.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Col 2: 16-17:"</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_17" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_15" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_15" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_21" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_18" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_19"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_18" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_18" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_21" style="cursor: pointer;">The Antichrist</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> system prefers to identify with symbol than reality.E.G. They make much ado about keeping the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_18" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_16" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_16" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_22" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_19" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_20"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_19" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_19" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_22" style="cursor: pointer;">sabbath day</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> but they are not ready to partake in Gods rest because they advocate their own works(Heb 4).They prefer to put the symbol of the cross on their buildings instead of embracing the cross of Christ.They Prefer to Go to church instead of being the Church.They prefer to celebrate the <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yiv1538479508lw_1290017024_19"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yiv1660770554lw_1291299662_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv1179088056lw_1291652687_17"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_23"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_20"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_21"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_20"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_20"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_23">Birth of Christ</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> than to allow Christ to be born and formed in their hearts(Gal 4:19) etc.Christ's true church is more interested in reality than in symbols.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Matt 7:21-23</span>:" <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity".</span><br />
<br />
The Antichrist system is more concerned with signs,wonders and "outer good works" than in producing fruit.They are more interested in speaking in tongues ,casting out devils,prophesying ,raising the dead and doing outer works rather than in submitting to their maker and letting Him work through them.As You can see in the verse above, The people were so surprised when Christ rejected them because they thought that the fact that they showed signs and did "good works" was an endorsement.But God rejected them.True Christians are more interested in bearing fruit and obeying their father.They are more interested in God renewing them on the inside and working through them.They are well aware that <span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_24" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_21" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_22"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_21" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_21" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_24" style="cursor: pointer;">obedience to God</span></span></span></span></span></span> is better than sacrifice(outer works of piety)That is why Jesus said "by their fruit (not by their signs or their philanthropy)You shall know them"<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Note</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">:Kundalini is referred to by many names by various mystic groups.Gnostics refer to it as the </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a87df02bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206lw_1291737535_20">'divine spark'</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> that resides in all human beings,The ancient egyptians refered to it as </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a967b22bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206lw_1291737535_21">ka</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">.The </span><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206lw_1291737535_22" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011lw_1292512383_21"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648lw_1292512453_25" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992lw_1292513040_22" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; cursor: pointer;"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303lw_1292597514_23"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062lw_1292691271_22"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951lw_1293122074_22"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404lw_1293198793_25">urantia book</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> refers to it as </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a996642bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206lw_1291737535_23">Thought adjuster</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> while eckankar (& many other mystical groups) refers to it as </span><a href="http://www.advmailservice.com/l/d8a9cdbe2bca11e0800ebbcac063af46" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv1563998081yiv1505115729yiv1801207577yiv853176618yiv1537993370yiv1741984289yiv198826366yiv2094340252yiv776455360yiv1283628844yiv657983023yiv458109676yiv1297374114yiv191977044yiv169609404yiv880267951yiv174895062yiv741760303yiv1901996992yiv227708648yiv388288011yiv5375206lw_1291737535_24">God consciousness</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> that we can only realize within.</span>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-89942021564863037302011-01-18T12:09:00.000-08:002011-01-18T12:09:36.536-08:00Does Glenn Beck's New Book Embrace New Age Religion And Universalism As Well As Mormonism?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TTXxNt2NTiI/AAAAAAAAFHE/1bRF9TYn3PI/s1600/Glenn+Beck+Mormon+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TTXxNt2NTiI/AAAAAAAAFHE/1bRF9TYn3PI/s400/Glenn+Beck+Mormon+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Glenn Beck's new book, "The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life", contains some absolutely jaw dropping stuff. In this new book, Glenn Beck writes extensively about religion, and he reaffirms his devotion to Mormonism. However, he also breaks additional ground by clearly embracing New Age religion and Universalism. If you are a hardcore Glenn Beck fan, what you are about to read will probably really upset you and it may just break your heart. But remember, we were told in the Scriptures that the deceptions of the end times would be very appealing. No matter how good someone "sounds", if they don't line up with the Scriptures their teaching about God much be rejected.<br />
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Glenn Beck co-authored "The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life" with psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow. In it Beck goes some places he has never gone before. As I have written about previously in an article entitled "<a href="http://theendtimesblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/glenn-beck-is-mormon-and-therefore.html">Glenn Beck Is A Mormon And Therefore Glenn Beck Is Not A Christian</a>", there is no doubt that Glenn Beck is a very, very devoted Mormon and therefore is not a Christian.<br />
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Beck very much reaffirms his hardcore devotion to Mormonism in his new book....<br />
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<blockquote><i>"I questioned everything I could think to question about the faith. I went over my doubts again and again with the church bishop. I read everything there was to read on their website and every word of Mormon Doctrine…I went to anti-Mormon literature for hints, but I found most of it to be unfair or just plain wrong. I tried every trick I could think of to find a contradiction. The problem was that I couldn't. Mormonism seemed to explain the world and my place in it better than any other faith I had looked at." (Page 149-150) </i></blockquote><br />
However, in his new book Beck doesn't just promote Mormonism as Brannon Howse noted <a href="http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=6809">in his recent article</a> about Beck's new book....<br />
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<blockquote><i>On page 132 Beck and Ablow proclaim, "Pray to whatever higher power you believe in…Praying that God or Nature or the Cosmos or your own internal, immeasurable reservoir of spirit allows you the courage and faith to find and then face the truth…"</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>In several places readers are told it really does not matter what religion or religious leader they follow. On page 157 Beck writes, "Finding what worked for me made all the difference. Finding what works for you will do the same."</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>On page 74 the reader is instructed "Just be sure you visit with a minister or therapist from a religion or healing discipline you actually have affinity for, or suspect you might."</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>On page 236, reincarnation is promoted through the writings of Robert Pirsig's book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, "…the 'spirit' of Chris or the 'ghost' of Chris, then you can say without further translation that the spirit or ghost of Chris is looking for a new body to enter."</i></blockquote><br />
Does any of that sound even remotely "Christian" to you?<br />
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Here are some more "wonderful" quotes by Beck in his new book....<br />
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"Latter-day Saints do not believe that your chances ever cease, even with death. They end only with the full understanding and denial of truth by your own exercise of real free will. And even then there is no 'lake of fire.'" (Page 149)<br />
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"As Keith likes to say, 'There's no original sin left in the world. Everyone's just recycling pain now.' "(Page 154)<br />
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"There is no infant delivered evil, out of the womb. There never has been. Not even one…Charles Manson was not born evil. Ted Bundy wasn't. The BTK killer wasn't. Hitler wasn't." (Page 162)<br />
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"People are inherently good." (Page 165)<br />
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"There is only your truth." (Page 220)<br />
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"You must use courage and faith to empty the hard drive of your soul and then fill it with your truth." (Page 288)<br />
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"You have a polestar inside you. It is connected with all the energy in the universe. When you begin to follow that star you align yourself with immeasurable, inexplicable forces that will actually help you manifest your best intentions." (Page 79)<br />
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"The current energy that flows in your favor when you stop denying what you have lived through and how it has shaped you and how you must change is the immeasurable force that you can tap into to dramatically improve your existence." (Page 113)<br />
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It is time to wake up. Glenn Beck is a deceiver! He has nothing of value to say about God or about religion.<br />
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Christian leaders need to start speaking out about this. If they join in with Glenn Beck in his "religious crusade" then they are knowingly joining themselves to heresy.<br />
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The sad truth is that most of the church does not even know what solid Bible teaching is anymore. For some really great Bible teaching, we encourage you to pick up some materials from the following Bible teachers....<br />
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*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3DChuck%2520Missler%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Chuck Missler</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3DJosh%2520McDowell%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Josh McDowell </a><br />
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*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26rh%3Di%253Aaps%252Ck%253ALee%2520Strobel%26field-keywords%3DLee%2520Strobel%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%26ajr%3D6&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Lee Strobel</a><br />
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In addition, we encourage you to visit some of our other websites for some solid Bible teaching....<br />
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#1 <a href="http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/">What Does The Bible Say?</a><br />
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#2 <a href="http://whygodreallyexists.com/">Why God?</a><br />
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#3 <a href="http://lifeafterdeathheavenandhell.com/">Life After Death</a><br />
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#4 <a href="http://theantichristisnot.com/">The Antichrist</a><br />
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#5 <a href="http://shofarhorn.com/">The Shofar</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-14253340279788924122010-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:002010-12-06T10:44:24.157-08:00The Persecution Of The End Times Has Begun: All Over The World Christians Are Being Killed And Tortured<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TP0r90SgQOI/AAAAAAAAFGE/KNOpIJCyk3Q/s1600/Christian+Persecution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TP0r90SgQOI/AAAAAAAAFGE/KNOpIJCyk3Q/s400/Christian+Persecution.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Has the persecution of the end times begun? All over the globe, Christians are being beaten, intimidated, tortured and even killed. In India, Christianity is being called <a href="http://chalcedon.edu/research/articles/india-leader-calls-christianity-an-aids-virus/">"an AIDS virus"</a>. In Afghanistan, political leaders openly call for the public execution of Christians on the floor of their parliament. In Indonesia, there is one city where Muslims spread dead rats and cow dung all over the area where Christians gather to worship, so the Christians have to clean it all up every week before they are able to gather for service. <br />
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Things are getting very intense out there.<br />
<br />
Now there are increasing reports from around the world of Christians that are being sentenced to death for believing in Jesus. <br />
<br />
In Iran, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani <a href="http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue11365.html">has been convicted of "thought crimes"</a> and he is now scheduled to be hung for the crime of "apostasy". Please pray for him and his family.<br />
<br />
In Pakistan, a 37-year-old mother of two named Asia Bibi has been was convicted of committing "blasphemy" and has been sentenced to death. <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-19940.html">According to Asia News</a>, Bibi was the one that was actually abused and attacked.....<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
<i>Some of the women workers had reportedly been pressuring Bibi to renounce her Christian faith and accept Islam. During one discussion, Bibi responded by speaking of how Jesus had died on the cross for the sins of humanity and asking the Muslim women what Muhammad had done for them.<br />
<br />
<i>The Muslim women took offence and began beating Bibi. Afterwards she was locked in a room. According to Release International, a mob reportedly formed and “violently abused” her and her children.</i></i></blockquote>Unfortunately, it was not the violent Muslims that were charged. Instead, Bibi had to face trial and now her children are going to be deprived of a mother.<br />
<br />
In fact, a radical Islamic cleric in northwest Pakistan <a href="http://www.canada.com/life/Pakistan+cleric+offers+reward+killing+Christian+woman/3924085/story.html" target="_blank">has offered a reward of $6,000</a> to the person who finally does put Asia Bibi to death.<br />
<br />
How sick is that?<br />
<br />
And we are supposed to believe that Islam is a "religion of peace"?<br />
<br />
The truth is that persecution is coming to North America too. You can see the signs popping up everywhere now. For example, an atheist billboard that calls Christmas <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/30/dueling-billboards-face-off-in-christmas-controversy/" target="_blank">"a myth"</a> has been posted in a prominent location near the Lincoln Tunnel - a 1.5-mile-long tunnel that connects New Jersey to New York.<br />
<br />
Back on June 18th, two Christians decided that they would peacefully pass out copies of the gospel of John on a public sidewalk outside a public Arab festival in Dearborn, Michigan and within 3 minutes 8 policemen surrounded them <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/freedom-of-speech-is-dead">and placed them under arrest</a>. Remember, these Christians were on a <b>public </b>sidewalk and were only very quietly handing out literature.<br />
<br />
The entire world is turning against the Christian faith. If you are going to be a Christian in the future, it may just end up costing you everything. Now is the time to decide which side you are going to stand on. <br />
<br />
We have been greatly inspired by reading stories of the Christian martrys of the past. Two resources that we highly recommend for this are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0849917395?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0849917395">Extreme Devotion: The Voice of the Martyrs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0849917395" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="0" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0882703307?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0882703307">Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0882703307" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="0" />.<br />
<br />
For much more news and information about the end times and the Christian faith, we encourage you to visit some of our other websites....<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://thetruthwins.com/">Truth</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/">Last Days</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://topchristianmusicsongs.com/">Christian Music</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://shofarhorn.com/">Shofar</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://theantichristisnot.com/">The Antichrist</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://lifeafterdeathheavenandhell.com/">Life After Death</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://thisistheendoftheworldasweknowit.com/">The End Of The World</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/">What Does The Bible Say?</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-13154562279291925342010-11-23T11:55:00.000-08:002010-11-23T11:55:05.919-08:00The 10 Worst Examples Of TSA Abuse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TOwb39Ii0QI/AAAAAAAAFFw/pmKFH5__Hyg/s1600/TSA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TOwb39Ii0QI/AAAAAAAAFFw/pmKFH5__Hyg/s400/TSA.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>In order to get on an airplane in America today, you either have to allow TSA agents to stare at a movie-quality image of your exposed body or you have to allow TSA agents to grope your entire body including your most private areas. As these new security procedures have been implemented in recent months, millions upon millions of Americans have become incredibly outraged. Many of them are wondering if we are even still living in America anymore. The truth is that any nation that treats its citizens like dehumanized cattle does not deserve to be called a "free nation" anymore. Under the guise of protecting our liberties and freedoms from terrorism, we are being told that we have to give up all of our liberties and freedoms. That does not make a bit of sense at all. But we always knew that these kinds of things would happen in the end times.<br />
<br />
The following are the ten worst examples of TSA abuse that we have found so far....<br />
<br />
<b>#1</b> <a href="http://thetruthwins.com/archives/tsa-horror-stories-that-are-almost-too-shocking-to-believe">Blogger Erin Chase</a> says that it felt like she was being sexually assaulted the first time that she experienced an "enhanced pat down"....<br />
<br />
<i>I stood there, an American citizen, a mom traveling with a baby with special needs formula, sexually assaulted by a government official. I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent. I shook for several hours, and woke up the next day shaking.</i><br />
<br />
<b>#2</b> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40291856/ns/travel-news/">One 61-year-old bladder cancer survivor</a> was left humiliated, crying and soaking in his own urine after his "enhanced pat down"....<br />
<br />
<i>"One agent watched as the other used his flat hand to go slowly down my chest. I tried to warn him that he would hit the bag and break the seal on my bag, but he ignored me. Sure enough, the seal was broken and urine started dribbling down my shirt and my leg and into my pants."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#3</b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wontfly">A flight attendant named Megan</a> did not mince any words when describing what she went through at the hands of the TSA recently....<br />
<br />
<i>The agent went up my right leg first and then met my vagina with full force….the same on the other leg with the same result. She then used both of her hands to feel my breasts and squeezing them. At this point I was in shock.</i><br />
<br />
<b>#4</b> <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/abc-producer-tsa-patdown-worse-gynecologist/">ABC News producer Carolyn Durand</a> claims that a TSA agent actually reached inside her underwear....<br />
<br />
<i>"The woman who checked me reached her hands inside my underwear and felt her way around."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#5</b> <a href="http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=140233&catid=14">Female air traveler Ella Swift</a> says that a TSA agent rammed her hand into her groin so hard that it lifted her up off the ground....<br />
<br />
<i>"The female officer ran her hand up the inside of my leg to my groin and she did it so hard and so rough she lifted me off my heels."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#6</b> <a href="http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534628">Flight attendant Cathy Bossi</a> was shocked when she had to actually show her prosthetic breast to a TSA agent....<br />
<br />
<i>"She put her full hand on my breast and said, 'What is this?'. And I said, 'It's my prosthesis because I've had breast cancer.' And she said, 'Well, you'll need to show me that'."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#7</b> <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/if-you-want-to-board-an-airplane-in-america-you-now-have-two-options-let-airport-security-gawk-at-your-exposed-body-or-let-airport-security-feel-you-up">CNN employee Rosemary Fitzpatrick</a> told CNN that she was in tears throughout the entire process of being patted down....<br />
<br />
<i>"As an experienced traveler for work who was in tears for most of the search process, I have never experienced a more traumatic and invasive travel event!"</i><br />
<br />
<b>#8</b> <a href="http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2010-10-11/lawsuit-airport-search-indecent">A lawsuit filed on behalf of a female college student from Amarillo Texas</a> claims that a TSA agents actually exposed her breasts to the public....<br />
<br />
<i>"As the TSA agent was frisking plaintiff, the agent pulled the plaintiff’s blouse completely down, exposing plaintiffs’ breasts to everyone in the area."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#9</b> A 37-year-old Texas woman was forced to remove her nipple ring <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/27/travel/main3976376.shtml">with a pair of pliers</a> before she was allowed to pass through security:<br />
<br />
<i>"My experience with TSA was a nightmare I had to endure. No one deserves to be treated this way."</i><br />
<br />
<b>#10</b> On November 19th, a 3 year old boy was strip-searched at Salt Lake City International Airport by TSA agents....<br />
<br />
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<br />
Sadly, you know what is going to happen that next time there is any kind of a "terror incident"?<br />
<br />
They are going to blame those of us who complained about all of this as the reason why security is not "tough" enough.<br />
<br />
So what will come next?<br />
<br />
Body cavity searches before we can get on an airplane?<br />
<br />
It is truly getting really ridiculous out there.<br />
<br />
For much more on how the U.S. government is rapidly turning into a Big Brother police state, we encourage you to check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400074428?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400074428">Shadow Government: How the Secret Global Elite Is Using Surveillance Against You</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1400074428" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="0" /> by Grant Jeffrey.<br />
<br />
Also, please check out some of our other websites about the latest news and events of the day....<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://thedebtweowe.com/">The Debt</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://thetruthwins.com/">The Truth</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/">Last Days</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://thisistheendoftheworldasweknowit.com/">The End Of The World</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-14718376311373909642010-10-27T11:41:00.000-07:002010-10-27T11:45:31.514-07:00Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TMhyAszXCgI/AAAAAAAAFFA/MZFN3C63At0/s1600/Samhain+Halloween+Pagan+Wiccan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TMhyAszXCgI/AAAAAAAAFFA/MZFN3C63At0/s400/Samhain+Halloween+Pagan+Wiccan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All across the United States this October, thousands upon thousands of churches will be holding celebrations on Halloween. Some will call them "harvest festivals". Others will call them "alternatives to Halloween". Still other churches will just go ahead and celebrate Halloween without any apology whatsoever. But should Christians celebrate Halloween?<br />
<br />
The answer is no.<br />
<br />
The truth is that Halloween was originally a deeply occultic pagan holiday and it remains so today. It is a holiday that celebrates death and contacting the dead. Nearly all of the "Halloween traditions" that are observed today have their roots in ancient pagan practices. <br />
<br />
In the Middle Ages, the Catholics tried to "Christianize" these practices, but the truth is that when you put a pig in a dress it is still a pig.<br />
<br />
On Halloween night, once again this year there will be Satanic rituals held all over the world, there will be animal sacrifices to various "gods" and there will even be human sacrifices.<br />
<br />
Do you actually want to be celebrating that?<br />
<br />
Halloween has always been one of the biggest days of the year for those involved in Wicca, witchcraft and Satanism.<br />
<br />
Just look at the Wiccan calendar at the top of this article. To them, Halloween is known as "Samhain" and they take it very, very seriously.<br />
<br />
So why do you celebrate it?<br />
<br />
Where in the Bible does it say that Christians should regard that day as special?<br />
<br />
It is time to learn the truth.<br />
<br />
These are the end times, and deception is rampant.<br />
<br />
We urge you to watch the following video we produced which explains the history of Halloween and exactly what goes on during this "holiday".... <br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AxjXxz9GZFQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AxjXxz9GZFQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
In addition, for much more on the wickedness of Halloween, we encourage you to check out the following articles....<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://whygodreallyexists.com/archives/an-ex-satanists-story" target="_blank">Halloween: The Pagan Festival Of Death Celebrated By Occultists, Witches And Satanists</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/10/increasing-number-of-christians-who.html">The Increasing Number Of Christians Who Love Halloween</a> <br />
<br />
*<a href="http://shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-has-become-sexiest-holiday-of.html">Halloween Has Become The Sexiest Holiday Of The Year</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">*<a href="http://thefinalhour.blogspot.com/2009/10/why-nobody-should-celebrate-evil-occult.html">Why Nobody Should Celebrate The Evil Occult Holiday Of Halloween (Samhain)</a></span><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://themoralcollapseofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-does-not-belong-to.html">Halloween Does Not Belong To Christianity</a> <br />
<br />
For an even deeper level of research, we would recommend getting the following books....<br />
<br />
#1 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736922199?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0736922199">The Facts on Halloween (The Facts On Series)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0736922199" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
#2 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1560438231?ie=UTF8&tag=shatteparadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1560438231">Mommy, Why Don't We Celebrate Halloween? (Mommy Why?)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shatteparadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1560438231" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-70989788320423376932010-09-26T14:15:00.000-07:002010-10-26T11:20:49.157-07:00The Whole World Will Observe The Law During The Millennium After The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TMcb84Q58VI/AAAAAAAAFE8/F8Vth3v9B9g/s1600/The+Temple+Institute+In+Jerusalem+Has+Spent+Approximately+27+Million+Dollars+On+The+Rebuilding+Of+The+Jewish+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TMcb84Q58VI/AAAAAAAAFE8/F8Vth3v9B9g/s400/The+Temple+Institute+In+Jerusalem+Has+Spent+Approximately+27+Million+Dollars+On+The+Rebuilding+Of+The+Jewish+Temple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>When most Christians think about the end times, they think about the second coming of Jesus Christ. But most Christians think very little about what is going to happen after the Tribulation is over and Jesus is ruling on earth. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus will rule for 1000 years over the entire earth from the city of Jerusalem. This period of time is known as "The Millennium" and the Bible actually has a ton to say about it. Unfortunately, most churches teach very little about this element of Bible prophecy. Probably because they are scared of what the Scriptures do actually say about what is going to go on during that time period. You see, the Bible is very clear that the whole world will observe the Law during that 1000 years.<br />
<br />
You don't believe this?<br />
<br />
Well, just check out the Scriptures that talk about this. Isaiah 2:2-3 describes the 1000 year reign of Christ and it tells us that in the last days that the Law will go forth from Jerusalem....<br />
<br />
<em>In <strong>the last days</strong> </em><br />
<em>the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established </em><br />
<em>as chief among the mountains; </em><br />
<em>it will be raised above the hills, </em><br />
<em>and all nations will stream to it. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Many peoples will come and say, </em><br />
<em>"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, </em><br />
<em>to the house of the God of Jacob. </em><br />
<em>He will teach us his ways, </em><br />
<em>so that we may walk in his paths." </em><br />
<em><strong>The law</strong> will go out from Zion, </em><br />
<em>the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.</em><br />
<br />
Micah 4:1-2 says almost exactly the same thing....<br />
<br />
<em>In <strong>the last days</strong> </em><br />
<em>the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established </em><br />
<em>as chief among the mountains; </em><br />
<em>it will be raised above the hills, </em><br />
<em>and peoples will stream to it. </em><br />
<em>Many nations will come and say, </em><br />
<em>"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, </em><br />
<em>to the house of the God of Jacob. </em><br />
<em>He will teach us his ways, </em><br />
<em>so that we may walk in his paths." </em><br />
<em><strong>The law</strong> will go out from Zion, </em><br />
<em>the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.</em><br />
<br />
But do you ever hear this in any of our churches?<br />
<br />
Not really.<br />
<br />
But they should be telling us the truth about the end times.<br />
<br />
And did you know that the whole world will be celebrating the Biblical festivals when Jesus is ruling from Jerusalem?<br />
<br />
It's true.<br />
<br />
In Zechariah chapter 14, it describes the second coming of Jesus in the first part of the chapter, and in the second portion of the chapter it describes how Jesus will <strong>require</strong> the entire world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles each and every year when He reigns. Zechariah 14:16-19 says this:<br />
<br />
<em>Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate <strong>the Feast of Tabernacles</strong>. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate <strong>the Feast of Tabernacles</strong>. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate <strong>the Feast of Tabernacles</strong>.</em><br />
<br />
Unfortunately, most churches have never even heard of the Feast of Tabernacles.<br />
<br />
But they should learn about it.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Well, did you know that <a href="http://evidenceforchristianity.blogspot.com/2010/07/jesus-was-born-during-feast-of.html">Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles</a>?<br />
<br />
It's true!<br />
<br />
We will also be celebrating many other Biblical festivals during the 1000 year reign of Christ. In the last part of the book of Ezekiel, it describes what life will be like during the Millennium. In Ezekiel 45 and Ezekiel 46 it tells us of a number of the Biblical festivals that the world will be celebrating.<br />
<br />
In fact, in Isaiah 66:22-23, the Scriptures tell us that we will be celebrating Sabbath and New Moon forever and ever....<br />
<br />
<em>For as the new heavens and the new earth, <strong>which I will make</strong>, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one <strong>new moon</strong> to another, and from <strong>one sabbath</strong> to another, shall <strong>all flesh</strong> come to worship before me, saith the LORD.</em><br />
<br />
So has this happened yet?<br />
<br />
Has the Lord made new heavens and a new earth yet?<br />
<br />
Of course not.<br />
<br />
This is what is going to happen in the future.<br />
<br />
So get ready to observe Sabbaths and New Moons because the Scriptures cannot be broken. We are going to be celebrating them forever.<br />
<br />
So why aren't we celebrating them now?<br />
<br />
That is a very good question.<br />
<br />
The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ told us to celebrate them to to observe the Law. In fact, Jesus said that those who observe the Law and teach others to do so will be considered greatest in the kingdom of heaven. <br />
<br />
You don't believe this?<br />
<br />
Well, Jesus said the following in Matthew 5:17-19....<br />
<br />
<em>"Do not think that I have come to abolish <strong>the Law</strong> or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from <strong>the Law</strong> until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."</em><br />
<br />
Could Jesus have been any clearer?<br />
<br />
But most Christians totally ignore this.<br />
<br />
In fact, most of them do not know how to handle it when you start showing them Scriptures such as this.<br />
<br />
They think that the law has been made void.<br />
<br />
But that is not true at all.<br />
<br />
The Law shows us our sin. <br />
<br />
It shows us we need a Savior.<br />
<br />
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean that now the Law has been invalidated.<br />
<br />
The apostle Paul explains this very clearly in Romans 3:27-31....<br />
<br />
<em>Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.</em><br />
<br />
So you uphold the Law?<br />
<br />
If not, then why not?<br />
<br />
The Scriptures are very clear about what life will be like after Jesus returns to this earth.<br />
<br />
In fact, in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12 it tells us that the remnant of the last days will have both the testimony of Jesus and will be obeying the commandments of God even before Jesus returns.<br />
<br />
Don't you want to be part of the remnant?<br />
<br />
If so, then it is time to return to God's Law.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-64864052998398991862010-08-31T16:20:00.000-07:002010-08-31T16:23:41.916-07:00Glenn Beck Is A Mormon And Therefore Glenn Beck Is Not A Christian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TH2MM1lzarI/AAAAAAAAFDk/j3Pt7w3loaM/s1600/Glenn+Beck+Fox+News.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TH2MM1lzarI/AAAAAAAAFDk/j3Pt7w3loaM/s400/Glenn+Beck+Fox+News.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally made front page news all over the United States and has sparked a massive nationwide debate about religion and politics. Many are hailing the "Restoring Honor" rally as the moment that Glenn Beck became the new leader of the conservative Christian movement in America. In fact, Beck sounded very much like an evangelist when he said things such as "America today begins to turn back to God" at the rally. But is Glenn Beck really a Christian? Should Christians actually be listening to what Glenn Beck has to say about God and about spiritual issues?<br />
<br />
Those are some very important questions. At this point a number of evangelical Christian leaders have indeed fully embraced Glenn Beck. Several weeks before the "Restoring Honor" rally, Glenn Beck sought out some of America's most prominent conservative leaders. He told them that he wanted to shift to more of a spiritual message. Beck said that he thought that is where God was leading him.<br />
<br />
He wanted to know what they thought.<br />
<br />
Instead of chiding Beck for his Mormon theology, most of the Christian leaders that had gathered (including Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson) embraced Beck and encouraged him in his new direction.<br />
<br />
"We walked back to the hotel after and said, 'That was extraordinary,'" Richard Land is quoted <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/30/AR2010083005268_2.html?wprss=rss_print">in the Washington Post</a> as saying about the meeting with Beck. "I've never heard a cultural figure of that popularity talking that overtly about his faith. He sounded like Billy Graham."<br />
<br />
During the "Restoring Honor" rally, Beck was careful to say that people should turn to God (rather than Jesus Christ), but otherwise his message sounded very much like a Sunday morning sermon.<br />
<br />
In fact, Beck is now going out of his way to ally himself with evangelical Christian leaders.<br />
<br />
Richard Land (who is perhaps the most prominent leader in the biggest evangelical denomination in the country) was among 200 members of the clergy who accepted an invitation to be part of what Beck calls his "Black Robed Regiment". The "Black Robed Regiment" is meant to be a historical reference to pastors from the Revolutionary War who stirred up opposition against the rule of the British.<br />
<br />
But now Glenn Beck is enlisting evangelical Christians in his revolution.<br />
<br />
And evangelical Christians have certainly embraced Glenn Beck.<br />
<br />
Beck has appeared with prominent evangelical pastor John Hagee, and Liberty University actually chose Beck to address its graduating class a few months back.<br />
<br />
The truth is that Glenn Beck is now very much part of the "in" crowd in evangelical Christianity. He has been embraced by top Christian leaders from coast to coast.<br />
<br />
In fact, Glenn Beck has been leading the charge in recent days against Barack Obama's Christian faith.<br />
<br />
On his show, Glenn Beck stated that most Americans simply do not recognize Barack Obama's Christianity....<br />
<br />
<em>"It's a Christianity that most Americans just don't recognize."</em><br />
<br />
And you know what?<br />
<br />
Glenn Beck is right about that.<br />
<br />
Barack Obama's Christianity does not bear any resemblance to the Bible.<br />
<br />
But most Americans would not recognize Glenn Beck's "Christianity" either.<br />
<br />
You see, Glenn Beck is a Mormon.<br />
<br />
Mormonism is not just another "denomination" of Christianity. It is a bizarre cult that becomes weirder and stranger the more you look into it.<br />
<br />
The truth is that if you want to be considered a Christian, there are three core areas of belief that you simply must not mess with....<br />
<br />
#1) Who God Is<br />
<br />
#2) The Word Of God<br />
<br />
#3) The Plan Of Salvation<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the Mormons are seriously in error in all three areas. Their doctrine is full of lies that directly contradict the Scriptures. Let's break down each of the three areas one at a time....<br />
<br />
<strong>God</strong><br />
<br />
*According to Mormons, God has a physical body and so does his wife. They believe that God has a "body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s."<br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that God has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but rather that He attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. <br />
<br />
*Mormons reject the Trinity. They believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate "gods". <br />
<br />
*Mormons believe that humans can become gods. In particular, Mormons believe that they will become gods someday.<br />
<br />
*Mormons believe that Jesus was created by sexual union between God and Mary.<br />
<br />
*Mormons believe that Jesus is a "god", but that any good Mormon can also become a god.<br />
<br />
*Although some of their leaders now deny this, Mormons have traditionally taught that God was once just like man and that man can someday become just like God. Fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow declared the following in June 1840: "As man is, God once was; God is, man may become".<br />
<br />
*Mormons also believe that Jesus was married. In fact, some Mormons believe that Jesus had multiple wives.<br />
<br />
*Mormons believe that God the Father is continually having sex and having more kids. Surrounded by a very large number of wives, God the Father is having little spirit babies which will inhabit the people born on the earth according to Mormons.<br />
<br />
<strong>The Bible</strong><br />
<br />
*Mormons read the Bible, but they believe that there are other sources of divine inspiration as well.<br />
<br />
*Mormons accept the Bible as long as it is "translated correctly" and "interpreted correctly" by their leaders.<br />
<br />
*The Mormons also believe that the Book of Mormon is scripture. The Book of Mormon was supposedly "translated" by Joseph Smith and published in 1830. Joseph Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon is the "most correct book" on earth. That would put it above the Bible. The Mormon Articles of Faith say the following: "We believe the Bible to be the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly: we also believe The Book of Mormon to be the Word of God."<br />
<br />
*The Mormons also believe in "The Doctrine and Covenants". These documents contain a collection of modern revelations regarding the "Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored."<br />
<br />
*Lastly, the Mormons also revere "The Pearl of Great Price". The Pearl of Great Price supposedly "clarifies" doctrines and teachings that were "lost" from the Bible and adds additional information about the creation of the earth. The entries in The Pearl of Great Price were produced by Joseph Smith and were published in Mormon periodicals of his day.<br />
<br />
*The other Mormon books seriously contradict the Bible over and over and over. Mormon leaders get around this by claiming that the Bible has been "mistranslated".<br />
<br />
<strong>Salvation</strong><br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that Jesus and Satan were spirit brothers.<br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that Jesus and Satan both presented their plans for the salvation of humanity and that Jesus only became the "savior" because his plan was approved and Satan's was rejected.<br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that the death of Jesus on the cross does not atone for all sin.<br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and "good works" as defined by the Mormon church.<br />
<br />
*Mormons teach that there are "three heavens": "Celestial", "Terrestrial", and "Telestial". Everyone except the worst of the worst sinners will go to one of these when they die according to Mormon doctrine. So who gets to go to the highest level? Only good Mormons who get married in the Temple, keep the "Word of Wisdom" and wear their "secret garments" are able to get into the Celestial kingdom.<br />
<br />
*African descendants were not granted full Mormon privileges until 1978. Prior to that time it was taught that dark skin was a "curse" placed upon certain spirits, presumably for some failure during "pre-existence."<br />
<br />
This is the stuff that Glenn Beck actually believes.<br />
<br />
As you can see, it has <strong>nothing</strong> to do with the God of the Bible.<br />
<br />
Mormons reject the real God of the universe.<br />
<br />
Mormons reject the authority of the Bible.<br />
<br />
Mormons reject <a href="http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/archives/what-does-the-bible-say-about-salvation">the gospel of Jesus Christ</a>.<br />
<br />
Therefore, Mormon teaching must be rejected and no Mormon should ever be listened to as an authority on God or on spiritual matters.<br />
<br />
Glenn Beck should stick to talking about politics.<br />
<br />
When Glenn Beck starts talking about religion, he steps on to very dangerous ground.<br />
<br />
The Bible has a term for someone like Glenn Beck who believes pure heresy and yet sucks people in with his smooth words....<br />
<br />
"False Prophet".<br />
<br />
Glenn Beck is a Mormon.<br />
<br />
Therefore Glenn Beck is not a Christian.<br />
<br />
Glenn Beck has nothing to say about God that is of any value to any of us whatsoever.<br />
<br />
Any questions?Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-91962310962183367072010-07-16T16:45:00.000-07:002010-07-16T16:45:38.838-07:00The Gadsden Flag Banned By Facebook?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TEDunhGB6EI/AAAAAAAAFBM/4PAdDtN6QuQ/s1600/Gadsden+Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TEDunhGB6EI/AAAAAAAAFBM/4PAdDtN6QuQ/s400/Gadsden+Flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Has the Gadsden flag been banned by Facebook? Yes, apparently that is exactly what has happened. In fact, <a href="http://www.prisonplanet.com/facebook-deletes-official-alex-jones-page-over-gadsden-flag.html">there is a report</a> that a Facebook customer service representative has admitted that all material containing images of the Gadsden flag are being deleted by the social network. Apparently this is part of a wider effort to purge Tea Party material from Facebook. Facebook leaves up some of the most offensive material imaginable, but when it comes to those who love liberty and freedom, Facebook is more than happy to brutally censor them. We have always known that there would be tremendous persecution in the end times, but to see it actually happen can really take your breath away sometimes. Some really popular Facebook pages have been deleted and are no longer available. For example, the official Alex Jones Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/realalexjones has been taken down by Facebook officials.<br />
<br />
So what is wrong with the Gadsden flag?<br />
<br />
Nothing.<br />
<br />
In fact, the Gadsen flag was carried very proudly by our founding fathers during the American Revolution.<br />
<br />
A comment on a recent article about this censorship by Facebook did a great job of recounting the history of the Gadsden flag....<br />
<br />
<em>The "Don't Tread On Me" flag was designed by and is named after American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden. The use of the timber rattlesnake on the yellow flag as a symbol of the American colonies can be traced back to the publications of Benjamin Franklin. In 1751, he made the first reference to the rattlesnake in a satirical commentary published in his Pennsylvania Gazette. It had been the policy of Britain to send convicted criminals to America, and Franklin suggested that they thank the British by sending rattlesnakes to England. During the Revolutionary War, the snake image was used as a symbol of the colonies. Since the Revolution, the flag has seen times of reintroduction as both a symbol of American patriotism and as a symbol of disagreement with the government.</em><br />
<br />
But apparently now the Gadsden flag is so offensive that Facebook has to ban it.<br />
<br />
So whatever you do, don't post this article on your Facebook profile or you might get banned.<br />
<br />
Absolutely incredible.<br />
<br />
But this is what our society is turning into.<br />
<br />
Anything that is not "politically correct" is brutally persecuted and repressed.<br />
<br />
Now students cannot even stop and pray on the sidewalk outside the U.S. Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
Maureen Rigo, a teacher at Wickenburg Christian Academy in Arizona, took her class to visit the U.S. Supreme Court on May 5th, and what happened <a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=179585">is making headlines across the United States</a>. <br />
<br />
Some of the students stood off to the side at the bottom steps of the Oval Plaza, bowed their heads and began to pray quietly among themselves.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=179585">According to news reports</a>, what happened next is the police came over and tapped Rigo on the shoulder and said the following....<br />
<br />
<em>"Ma'am, I'm not going to tell you that you can't pray, but you can't do it here. Please go somewhere else."</em><br />
<br />
Yes, that is the America that we live in today - a place where students praying on a sidewalk is a national security threat.<br />
<br />
I hope that you all can see how rapidly the United States is changing. This is not the nation that our forefathers founded.<br />
<br />
Instead, it is becoming a place where "political correctness" rules and where liberty, freedom and the Christian faith are rapidly being pushed aside.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-47387895418087833762010-06-06T09:06:00.000-07:002010-08-31T16:40:24.319-07:00For Religious Jews Turning To Christianity, Life Can Be Really, Really Hard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TAvHRcRmITI/AAAAAAAAE_A/pzsPJIZnNFA/s1600/Messianic+Christians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/TAvHRcRmITI/AAAAAAAAE_A/pzsPJIZnNFA/s400/Messianic+Christians.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The following was emailed to us the other day. It is a story about a young woman in Israel named Ahava that has been disowned by her family for turning to Yahshua (Jesus). The Scriptures tell us that in the end times there will be a great awakening among the Jewish people, but it will not always be easy for them. Please pray for Ahava and other religious Israelis who are turning to the Messiah but who must undergo severe persecution in order to do so....<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Ahava went to her parent’s house on Friday and during the Shabbat dinner she told her parents that she discovered in the Scriptures that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah. <br />
<br />
There was dead silence at the dinner table. . .<br />
<br />
“What do you mean by that?” her father asked. Ahava told him that she had been studying the Messianic prophecies for the past year and that God revealed to her that Yeshua is the Messiah who took away her sins. Her father just stared at her with disbelief.<br />
<br />
Then her father put his face in his hands and wept (not with joy), but with tears of anger and sadness.<br />
<br />
He then took Ahava to the local rabbi to convince her that Yeshua (Jesus) was not the Messiah, and for her to understand that she is now worshiping an idol (a man-god). <br />
<br />
Ahava was strong in her faith, and after she went to the rabbi with her father, that was the last contact she had with him or her mother, who are very religious Jews as her father told her that she is not welcome in the family house until she recants her faith in Yeshua (Jesus). <br />
<br />
Ahava was devastated.<br />
<br />
A few days later a friend of the family called her to find out if this was true, and during the conversation she told Ahava that her father was sitting shiva (when a Jew mourns for 7 days after someone dies), and that the family considers her dead. All of her cousins see her as a traitor to the Jewish faith.<br />
<br />
Ahava who is 24 years old and recently accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as her Messiah after reading the Messianic Prophecies is now very lonely.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
To learn how you can help people like Ahava, <a href="https://messianicbible.com/donate.aspx?">check out this website</a>.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-26876744311778692142010-05-16T13:40:00.000-07:002010-05-16T13:40:19.291-07:00End Times News Update May 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S_BXKp4DnBI/AAAAAAAAE-I/NkbeiJr1t-Y/s1600/jerusalem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S_BXKp4DnBI/AAAAAAAAE-I/NkbeiJr1t-Y/s400/jerusalem.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Here is your end times news update for May 2010....<br />
<br />
*Barack Obama has reportedly decided that if Israel and the Palestinians have not agreed to a peace agreement within the next few months, the Middle East peace process <a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/barack-obama-has-decided-that-if-israel-does-not-agree-to-a-palestinian-state-by-the-end-of-the-year-one-will-be-imposed-on-them">will be handed over to the international community for a resolution</a>.<br />
<br />
*During a recent speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the city of Jerusalem <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=175392">will never be divided</a>.<br />
<br />
*According to one new report, western sources have uncovered <a href="http://newsessentials.blogspot.com/2010/05/war-zero-hour-israels-discovery-of.html">that the "zero hour" for an Israeli attack against Lebanon</a> will start when the Mossad is able to locate the hiding place of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.<br />
<br />
*According to a shocking report from a leading security think tank, Iran will be able to deploy a missile capable of carrying a one ton nuclear warhead <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/7705953/Iran-could-fire-nuclear-missile-within-two-years-says-think-tank.html">within two years</a>.<br />
<br />
*Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100513/ts_nm/us_russia_iran_us_1">has strongly warned the United States and other Western nations</a> against imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.<br />
<br />
*After Russian President Medvedev's recent visit to Damascus, Russia's energy minister announced that his country is <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3888516,00.html">"studying the question"</a> of building a nuclear power plant in Syria.<br />
<br />
*In addition, Medvedev now says that Russia and Turkey <a href="http://en.rian.ru/world/20100510/158954539.html">are becoming strategic partners</a>.<br />
<br />
*Former first lady Laura Bush revealed in a recent interview <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100513/laura-bushgay-marriage-abortion-should-be-legal/index.html">that she supports</a> the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion.<br />
<br />
*Recent polls show that Americans under 30 years of age are rejecting the Christian faith <a href="http://thetruthwins.com/archives/mass-exodus-staggering-numbers-of-americas-young-people-are-rejecting-the-christian-faith">in unprecedented numbers</a>.<br />
<br />
*If Elena Kagan, Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, is confirmed the nation's high court will be, <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/mayweb-only/29-22.0.html">for the first time in its history</a>, devoid of Protestants.<br />
<br />
*In a widely circulated 2003 memo, Harvard Law School dean Elena Kagan blasted the U.S. military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy for gay soldiers as <a href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/05/ap_kagan_military_051110/">"a moral injustice of the first order"</a>.<br />
<br />
*A new bill being pushed by U.S. Senator Chris Dodd wouls set up <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/data-248115-financial-bill.html">two new supersnooping federal agencies</a> to collect data on ordinary Americans.<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/gigantic-statue-of-buddha-has-been-installed-across-the-street-from-the-san-francisco-city-hall">A 26 foot tall Buddha</a> weighing almost fifteen tons has been installed across the street from the city hall of San Francisco and will remain there through 2011.<br />
<br />
*In response to the financial crisis in Greece, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has revealed a set of proposals to fully integrate the economies of the EU member states <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=394682">and centralize power under a federalized union</a>.<br />
<br />
*The World Health Organization says that it is ready <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/10/world-health-organization-moving-ahead-billion-dollar-internet-tax/">to impose global taxes</a> on all of us.<br />
<br />
*One Israeli economist is warning that Israel's massive welfare state could actually cause the entire economy of Israel <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/topstories/la-fg-israel-idle-20100511,0,6313284.story">to collapse</a>.<br />
<br />
*In Louisiana, <a href="http://howtohelpsavetheenvironment.com/archives/dead-fish-are-already-starting-to-come-ashore-in-louisiana-as-a-result-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill">dead fish are already starting to wash ashore</a> due to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.<br />
<br />
*With such a large number of tragedies happening in the U.S. recently (including the Gulf of Mexico oil spill), many are now asking this question: <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/why-are-so-many-horrible-things-happening-to-america-all-of-a-sudden">Why Are So Many Horrible Things Happening To America All Of A Sudden?</a><br />
<br />
*<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100512/pl_mcclatchy/3503055">According to a new poll</a>, a large majority of Americans support Arizona's controversial new immigration law and would back similar laws in their own states.<br />
<br />
*Planned Parenthood has opened <a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2010/May/Abortion-Supercenter-Set-to-Open-in-Houston-/">the largest abortion "supercenter" in the United States</a> in Houston.<br />
<br />
*It has been over a month now, and Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano shows <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/europe-wonders-icelands-unstoppable-volcano-mean-summer-turning-ash/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Flatest+%28Text+-+Latest+Headlines%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">no signs</a> that it will stop belching ash across Europe anytime soon.<br />
<br />
*Nancy Pelosi is now claiming <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/65419">that it is cheaper to treat teens for drug use</a> than it is to interdict drugs being smuggled across the U.S. border.<br />
<br />
*Lastly, a 7th-grade teacher in California recently disciplined a 13 year old student <a href="http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1009010">for writing "God bless America"</a> on her drawing of the American flag.<br />
<br />
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Lastly, we want to ask you a very important question.<br />
<br />
If you died tonight, where would you go?<br />
<br />
Would you go to heaven?<br />
<br />
Are you sure?<br />
<br />
If you are not 100 percent certain of the answer to that question, then we very much urge you to read the following article: <a href="http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/archives/what-does-the-bible-say-about-salvation">What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-70958302315946302712010-04-11T15:02:00.000-07:002010-04-11T15:03:56.856-07:00Is The Easy Gospel Being Preached By So Many Modern Churches That Avoids Talking About Sin, Judgment And Hell Doing A Lot More Harm Than Good?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S8JGjW_MJGI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/Vsb40Ai4Cn8/s1600/Seeker+Friendly+Megachurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S8JGjW_MJGI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/Vsb40Ai4Cn8/s400/Seeker+Friendly+Megachurch.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>Many churches in America today are preaching a "seeker friendly" version of the gospel in order to draw in the crowds. They believe that if they "tone down" the aspects of Christianity that are offensive, then more people are likely to listen to the message. But does this type of "easy gospel" do more harm than good? By avoiding the topics of sin, judgment and hell are these churches doing a great disservice to those who are lost?<br />
<br />
The video posted below has some very strong thoughts about this. The video is entitled "Modern Evangelism" and it features the work of A.W. Tozer. As you watch the following video, please reflect on the nature of the gospel that the church you are attending is currently preaching....<br />
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For even more on this topic, we encourage you to check out this article: <a href="http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/archives/what-does-the-bible-say-about-judgment">What Does The Bible Say About Judgment?</a>Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-69571793300430581052010-03-21T18:55:00.000-07:002010-03-21T18:55:40.207-07:00End Times News Update April 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S6bM_Et6YVI/AAAAAAAAE54/TboJYJc5fUQ/s1600-h/Nuclear+War.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S6bM_Et6YVI/AAAAAAAAE54/TboJYJc5fUQ/s400/Nuclear+War.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>Some of the top end times news stories as we enter April 2010....<br />
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*The German news magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that Saudi Arabia <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136609">is hoping that Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities</a>, and is even prepared to open its airspace to Israeli warplanes to allow such an operation to take place.<br />
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*There are reports that Barack Obama <a href="http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_israel0217_03_18.asp">has personally blocked</a> a delivery of bunker-buster bombs to Israel.<br />
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*Is Barack Obama’s recent pressure on the government of Israel designed to force Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171259">to add Kadima</a> to his coalition?<br />
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*The Middle East "quartet" <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/19/israel-backdown-revives-palestinian-talks">has strongly denounced</a> Israeli moves to construct 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem.<br />
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*Hezbollah is saying that an Israeli military strike on Iran <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1157440.html">could engulf the entire Middle East</a> in war.<br />
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*The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new tax on financial transactions <a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/the-european-parliament-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favor-of-a-new-tax-on-financial-transactions-that-will-go-directly-to-brussels">which will be paid directly to Brussels</a>.<br />
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*The government of India has announced <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/5831929/India-to-issue-all-1.2-billion-citizens-with-biometric-ID-cards.html">that it will issue biometric identity cards</a> to every single one of their 1.2 billion citizens.<br />
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*Two U.S. senators recently met with Barack Obama <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20000758-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20">to push for a national ID card</a> with biometric information such as a fingerprint, hand scan, or iris scan that all employers would be required to verify.<br />
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*Caterpillar Inc. says that the health care bill will increase the company's health-care costs <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/03/caterpillar-health-care-bill-would-cost-it-100m.html">by more than $100 million</a> in the first year alone.<br />
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*According to a survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine, <a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/62812">nearly one-third of all U.S. doctors</a> will likely leave the practice of medicine because of the health care reform bill.<br />
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*Thousands of people took to the streets in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta recently to encourage other radical Muslims <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3865324,00.html">to "defend the al-Aqsa Mosque"</a> against Israel.<br />
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*Chinese researchers at the Institute of Systems Engineering of Dalian University of Technology have published a paper that describes how to attack a small U.S. power grid sub-network in such a way <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/world/asia/21grid.html">that it would cause a cascading failure of the entire U.S. grid</a>.<br />
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*The Russian Navy is saying <a href="http://sify.com/news/russia-says-it-needs-50-n-subs-to-counter-us-british-fleets-news-international-kduukegihdh.html">that it needs at least 50 nuclear-powered submarines</a> to counterbalance the fleets of the U.S., Britain and France.<br />
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*The Russian Navy <a href="http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100319/158249129.html">is planning to conduct at least four test launches</a> of the Bulava ballistic missile by the end of June.<br />
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*It appears that Barack Obama wants to whittle down the U.S. nuclear arsenal <a href="http://thetruthwins.com/archives/obamas-goal-an-america-with-only-a-few-hundred-nuclear-weapons">to almost nothing</a>.<br />
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*Is the current economic crisis <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/15-reasons-why-the-u-s-economic-crisis-is-really-an-economic-consolidation-by-the-elite-banking-powers">actually an economic consolidation</a> by the elite banking powers?<br />
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*The chief economist at Goldman Sachs says that China’s Yuan <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=aD4LDUDg61VU">is destined to become a global reserve currency</a> rivaling the Dollar and the Euro.<br />
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*Barack Obama continues to aggressively push senators to grant the Federal Reserve <a href="http://rawstory.com/2010/03/obama-urges-senate-action-controversial-finance-reforms/">a dramatic expansion</a> of its regulatory powers.<br />
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*Christian debt-elimination programs, which use the Bible as a framework to encourage financial responsibility, <a href="http://thehowtogetoutofdebtplan.com/archives/why-are-so-many-americans-turning-to-bible-based-programs-to-get-out-of-debt">are absolutely surging in popularity</a> across the United States.<br />
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*Lastly, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/17/mississippi.lesbian.prom/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">the ACLU is trying to save a high school prom</a> that was allegedly canceled because two lesbians wanted to attend it together.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-33605073056879859222010-02-27T19:49:00.000-08:002010-02-27T19:49:14.093-08:00End Times News Update March 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S4nnqQJ9cPI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/9lav3YRB1VY/s1600-h/Iran+nuclear+program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S4nnqQJ9cPI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/9lav3YRB1VY/s400/Iran+nuclear+program.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We truly do live in extraordinary times! So much is happening these days that it is VERY hard to keep up with it all. We will try to keep you periodically updated with some of the most important news stories that relate to Bible prophecy. The following are some of the key end times news stories as we enter March 2010....<br />
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*Does Iran <a href="http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/does-iran-actually-want-a-war-with-israel-so-that-the-mahdi-can-return">actually want to start a war with Israel</a> in order to prepare the way for the Mahdi to return?<br />
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*Syria has reportedly <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLDE61N2RM20100224">turned down a planned visit</a> to a research reactor in Damascus by U.N. nuclear inspectors.<br />
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*Some political analysts are warning that the Democrats may be plotting <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/25/politics/main6241211.shtml">a post-summit health care coup</a>.<br />
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*According to one recent poll, <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_performance">only 10% of American voters</a> say that Congress is doing a good or excellent job.<br />
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*Many analysts are now saying that it sure sounds like Sarah Palin <a href="http://thetruthwins.com/archives/sarah-palin-sure-sounds-like-she-has-decided-to-run-for-president-in-2012-2">has decided to run for president in 2012</a>.<br />
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*According to Hillary Clinton, population control will now become a <a href="http://howtohelpsavetheenvironment.com/archives/hillary-clinton-population-control-will-now-become-the-centerpiece-of-u-s-foreign-policy">"centerpiece"</a> of U.S. foreign policy.<br />
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*Executives at firms that received bailouts from the U.S. government <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/executives-at-bailed-out-firms-receive-record-bonuses-as-millions-of-average-americans-suffer">are hauling in massive bonuses</a> as millions of average Americans continue to suffer.<br />
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*General Motors has announced <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100224/AUTO01/2240421/-1/rss">that they will begin shutting down the Hummer brand</a> now that a proposed deal to sell the brand to a Chinese company has collapsed.<br />
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*It has been announced that sales of new homes in the United States plunged in January <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/24/real_estate/new_home_sales_January/index.htm?hpt=T2">to the lowest level on record</a>.<br />
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*24% of all homes with mortgages in the United States <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/real_estate/underwater_rates_rise/index.htm?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss/money_topstories+(Top+Stories)&utm_content=Google+Reader">were underwater as of the end of 2009</a>.<br />
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*Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently warned Congress that the United States could soon face a debt crisis <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/25/bernanke-delivers-warning-on-us-debt/">like the one in Greece</a>.<br />
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*Is the new Percy Jackson movie preparing humanity <a href="http://theufosandaliens.com/archives/is-the-new-percy-jackson-movie-conditioning-humanity-to-accept-the-return-of-the-nephilim">to accept the return of the Nephilim?</a><br />
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*It is already happening - body scans of famous actors <a href="http://thisistheendoftheworldasweknowit.com/archives/its-happening-famous-actor-autographs-a-copy-of-his-own-body-scanner-image">are already being printed out and circulated</a> by airport security personnel.<br />
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*The Canadian government is reportedly on the verge of approving the introduction of extremely bizarre genetically modified pigs <a href="http://unexplainedmysteriesoftheworld.com/archives/canada-on-the-verge-of-approving-enviropigs-millions-of-canadians-will-soon-be-eating-mousepig-hybrids">into the Canadian food supply</a>.<br />
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*Lastly, a new logo for the Missile Defense Agency <a href="http://www.raidersnewsnetwork.com/leadstory81.htm">is strikingly similar</a> to the one that Barack Obama used during his 2008 presidential campaign.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133959280539040185.post-21467563142591973272010-01-19T15:38:00.000-08:002010-01-19T15:38:14.425-08:00Are We Teaching Our Young Men To Be Sex Crazed, Beer Drinking, Television Watching, Video Game Playing Slackers?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S1ZBJpCQczI/AAAAAAAAE2o/oq6TKvtepH4/s1600-h/Women+Better+Than+Men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/S1ZBJpCQczI/AAAAAAAAE2o/oq6TKvtepH4/s640/Women+Better+Than+Men.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>What are we doing to our young men? Everywhere you look there are messages telling them that they are not needed and not valuable so they might as well indulge their basest desires and become sex crazed, beer drinking, television watching, video game playing idiots. <br />
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We don't teach our young men to be leaders anymore. We don't teach them to be disciplined anymore. We don't teach them that they are needed anymore.<br />
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Instead, the constant message to them is that they are the problem.<br />
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For example, British Airways has implemented a policy which bans male passengers <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1243625/Businessman-Mirko-Fischer-sues-British-Airwars-treating-men-like-perverts.html">from sitting next to children that they do not know</a>.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Because apparently all men are evil sex predators that children must be protected from.<br />
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But women are okay because women are safer and more responsible.<br />
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Unfortunately, the reality is that young woman <strong>are</strong> outperforming young men on every level.<br />
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Studies show that women now perform better at virtually every grade level from elementary school all the way through high school.<br />
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59 percent of all college students are now women, and the number of women who graduate from college in the U.S. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2010-01-19-1Amarriage19_ST_N.htm">is now much larger</a> than the number of men who graduate from college.<br />
So why is this?<br />
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The truth is that men and women need each other, but ever since the "women's liberation" movement of the 70s, women have been taught that they do not need men and that they do not need families.<br />
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In fact, now everywhere you turn women are taught that they are actually superior to men.<br />
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If you turn on the television today, you won't have to wait long to see how men are expected to behave in modern America - sex crazed, beer swilling, irresponsible slackers who cower before their more mature, more responsible and more dominant female partners.<br />
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It is in the younger generations where we see this trend really taking hold. It has been reported that women in their 20s in the 10 largest cities in the United States <a href="http://adage.com/bookstore/post?article_id=134592">now earn more money</a> than men of the same age. <br />
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It is women who are viewed as the leaders, it is women who are viewed as the "go getters", and it is women who are viewed as the better hires.<br />
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The young men of today have been stomped on and marginalized for so long that they don't even know how to be strong, disciplined men anymore.<br />
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Many women who are still looking for a traditional "man" complain that all they find are overgrown boys who have given up, who have tuned out, who are slaves to their addictions and who won't take responsibility for anything.<br />
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If you talk to many young men today, you quickly get the feeling that they feel completely lost and confused. It is as if they have lost something that they didn't even know they were missing. All their lives young men have been taught that they are most definitely NOT the leaders of the home, and that it should be expected that women will yell at them and tell them what to do. <br />
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Movies and television constantly reinforce this programming by bombarding our young men with the message that they are irresponsible subservient slackers who need to be corrected by the more responsible females.<br />
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You don't think this is true?<br />
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Just think about all the times you have watched a movie or a television show where a female character yells at a male character and gives him a good verbal chewing out.<br />
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And what do we do when that happens?<br />
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We laugh and we snicker.<br />
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But now take that same scene and flip the characters.<br />
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We would be horrified, wouldn't we?<br />
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And rightfully so.<br />
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So why do we think it is so cute when the female verbally abuses the male?<br />
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The truth is that we have taught a generation of women that they should lead and dominate men. <br />
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<a href="http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=44584">A shocking study done by the respected Pew Research Center</a> confirms that in the United States it is the <strong>women</strong> who predominantly rule the home.<br />
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The study surveyed 1,260 individuals who are either married or who are living together. What the study discovered was that in 43% of all couples, women predominantly make the decisions in the four areas Pew surveyed: planning weekend activities, household finances, major home purchases and television watching.<br />
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26% of the time men make more of the decisions according to the survey, and 31% of the time the decisions are made "equally".<br />
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So should we be surprised by this?<br />
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Is it not obvious that the women wear the pants in most American families at this point?<br />
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For example, one respondent to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2008-09-25-gender-power-main_N.htm">the USAToday article about this survey</a> wrote this:<br />
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"I am a manager at work, and wouldn't have it any other way. But when I get home, I'd much rather chill out and let the wife make the calls."<br />
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The truth is that we have trained a generation of young men to be immature, subservient, submissive wimps who are very hesitant to take responsibility or leadership.<br />
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So increasingly our young men, who have been told by society and by young women that they are not needed, are turning to addictions such as beer drinking, television watching, video game playing and online fantasies in an attempt to find the meaning that is missing in their lives.<br />
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Never before in American history have so many young men been enslaved by addictions. <br />
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For example, <a href="http://addictionrecoveryhope.com/archives/sex-addiction">more than 70% of all young men</a> between the ages of 18 and 34 visit a pornographic website in a typical month.<br />
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In fact, 25% of all search engine requests are related to pornography, and pornography revenue is larger than all of the COMBINED revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises in the United States.<br />
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That is a problem.<br />
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Sure, some women are addicted to online fantasies, but their numbers are much smaller than men.<br />
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But that is not the only area where men are experiencing much more addiction than women.<br />
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Recent statistics show that about <a href="http://addictionrecoveryhope.com/archives/alcohol-addiction">7 percent of men are addicted to alcohol</a>, while only about 2.5 percent of women are.<br />
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That is a huge difference.<br />
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So what is the solution?<br />
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We need to start teaching our young men that they are needed, that they are valuable, and that they need to start acting like men again.<br />
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But with women completely dominating most American homes, and with the entire education system pushing young men to be more like women and with the entire entertainment industry portraying men as weak, subservient idiots and slackers, the reality is that there is not much hope for a significant turnaround any time soon.Shattered Paradigmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108535580841006211noreply@blogger.com1