Some Dare Call It ‘Christian’ from Bud Press

April 17, 2009 in apostasy, Church, discernment, religion | Tags: , | 29 comments

Some Dare Call It ‘Christian’ 

John Crowder and the ‘Mystical Communion Festival’

by Bud Press, Director,

Christian Research Service

www.christianresearchservice.com

April 17, 2009

 

Parents, do you know what your children were doing during April 8-11, 2009? If they attended John Crowder’s “The New Ecstatics Mystical Communion Festival” in Santa Cruz, California, they may have been “Rolling in the Butter” or caught up in a “Butter Trance.”

 

And what does “Rolling in the Butter” and “Butter Trance” mean? Take a few minutes and watch these two YouTube videos:

#1   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5hYi6AHrAg

 

 

 #2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweZGg0Rz_0

 

 

Pause video #1 at 12 seconds, and notice the bodies laying next to and on top of each other. Pause the video again at 16 seconds, and notice the young girl in the tye-dyed T-shirt reaching for the umbrella.

 

Pause video #2 at 56 seconds, and notice the young boy trying to walk through the bodies on the floor. Pause the video again at 1:03. The man in the blue helmet is Stacy Denboer, blasphemer and dedicated follower of John Crowder (for example, watch this video of Crowder leading Denboer around by his head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8QZG2ngxp4 ).

 

For the past year, Stacy Denboer has worked hard to make a name for himself within the hyper-Charismatic camp, and has finally attained celebrity status.

 

Stacy Denboer, whose discerment IQ is 3 digits higher than a house plant, recently founded “Drooling Ministires,” which he so eloquently introduces in this video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr37W7N7-os ).

This is the same Stacy Denboer who believes “God” put it on his heart to “give birth to a global revival,” who enjoys nursing on the “breast of Jesus,” and who is the inventor of the “Piggy Anointing” (among other animalistic anointings):  

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AmjGUghuKo&feature=channel_page 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDg9FL8HZ0s&feature=channel_page

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AmjGUghuKo&feature=channel_page

 

And some dare call it “Christian.”

 

If anyone doubts the cult-like influence John Crowder has over his followers, show them the above videos, as well as the following quote from none other than Stacy Denboer:   

 

“You know, I just got my disco-mystica from John Crowder. I’m gettin’ really, really sautéed. And, you know what I was thinking about? I just really think that if Jesus were here in the flesh, that He’d probably be, like, part of John Crowder’s ministry team. That’s what I think.” (Stacy Denboer, “The Church Needs to Bring Heaven to Earth,” YouTube video, March 18, 2009,
 
There is nothing “Christian” about the above videos. To the solid, Bible-based Christian, the videos demonstrate an intensified level of deception that has slithered its way into the minds of gullible, innocent, and unwary.  

 

After all, is there a better way to ensure the future of demonically-inspired teachings and behavior than to condition and deceive impressionable children and young adults? 

 

It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble (Luke 17:1-2).

 

Parents, do you know what your children will be doing on April 17-19? For John Crowder’s next appearance is scheduled at Glorybound Ministries in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Crowder is among those the Bible warns as “evil men and impostors” who “will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). 

 

Be delayed and wait, blind yourselves and be blind; they become drunk, but not with wine, they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers (Isaiah 29:9-10). 

 

Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are going mad (Jeremiah 51:7).

 

Related reading and viewing:

 

BLASPHEMY INCORPORATED

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Blasphemy_Incorporated.htm

 

Videos by LocalPastor

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/VideosbyLocalPastor.htm

 

Videos by VinnieActs2030

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/VideosbyVinnieActs2030.htm 

A Dead Church by Mike Ratliff

April 9, 2009 in apostasy, Christians, Church, discernment | Tags: , , , , , | 1 comment

From – Possessing the Treasure

A Dead Church

April 7, 2009 — Mike Ratliff

by Mike Ratliff

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1 ESV)

As part of my research for this piece, I did some Google searches on the Internet using the word phrase, “A Dead Church.” It was very interesting reading what “some” people considered the markers of a “dead church.” One fellow was adamant that the two markers which revealed that a church was dead was that its leaders used a Bible other than the King James Version and/or its denomination practiced infant baptism. Other markers I saw were things like the sort of music was used in worship or if there was an over abundance of ceremony or ritual in the order of worship. Are these the markers of a “dead church?”

I received the following commentary by John Piper today in an email from a dear friend.

My Annual Visit to a Mainline Protestant Church

April 6, 2009

by: John Piper

Category: Commentary

I made my annual visit to a Sunday morning service in a “mainline Protestant church” a couple weeks ago. It is an eerie experience. Heart-wrenchingly eerie.

  •       A magnificent building.
  •       A magnificent choir singing, “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of he world, have mercy on us” (in Latin).
  •       A closing hymn, “Lord, I want to be a Christian.”
  •       Three women pastors on the platform and two men.
  •       Pews filled with well-to-do looking folks.

The reason I say it was eerie is that much of this religious language means something totally different in their minds from what I mean by it. There is a keeping of the language and a demythologizing of the original meaning.

On one of our earlier visits Noël recalls the pastor saying that when he was a child he used to read stories like the one about Jesus walking on the water as if they were literally true.

What made my visit heart-wrenching was that the children’s choir sang these words-trust me, I am copying them from the bulletin-”Birds and trees, people and plants, dolphin and whale all lives are equal. . . . Sister Rain, Brother Stone bring us back to our true home.”

So when I stand at my study window that looks out over the downtown cityscape of Minneapolis, I pray: “O God, have mercy on us. Send a shocking revival to the churches-and a great awakening to this city. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”

This mainline Protestant Church is dead. It is spiritually dead because its leaders are people without faith. No one can be spirit-filled, spirit-led, Christian without the faith given to him or her at regeneration. This faith believes God and when the Word of God is read, it is believed because it is true. The markers of dead church are given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:1-6.

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:1-6 ESV) 

In Matthew 5:48 our Lord Jesus said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” He stated in Revelation 3:1-6 to the church in Sardis, “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead…” Why was it dead? It had become contaminated by the world just like the church John Piper visited above. It had taken on the world’s values and integrated them into how church was done there. It had disintegrated and was now dead. What is more, they did not realize it. They continued going through the motions of worship and activity, but it was just like the dead religiosity of the Jews in Jesus’ day. In other words, the church as Sardis was very much like the liberal church today; i.e. Dead!

The people in the church at Sardis were physically alive, but they were spiritually dead. Unbelievers were operating the church. Some may scoff at that and disbelieve that churches and whole denominations can be taken over by unbelievers, but this very thing is happening today. Dead men are in the pulpits. Dead men are in the pews. Dead men are running the church and dead men are in control of the denomination. Churches die when those who truly alive in Christ are replaced by dead people. What causes this?

A church becomes dead when unbelievers are allowed to take over ministries in the church. It happens when a church becomes more concerned with form and liturgy than it is with life on a spiritual level. It also occurs when a church becomes more concerned with welfare and social ills than it is about the Gospel. Death occurs when a church loves its religiosity more than it loves Jesus Christ. It may very well love another Jesus and another gospel, but this is the same thing as elevating religiosity over the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Death occurs when a church’s focus is moved away from God’s Truth to Man’s so-called truth. Focus moves away from obedience of Gods’ commands and devotion to Him to material things or any temporal focus. A Church dies because of sin.

Sin in any form that a church tolerates is the root cause of a church dying. It does not matter if the sin is tolerated in the leadership or in the members. This tolerance begins the cycle of death. This opens the door to tolerance of unbelievers in the church. Soon, no one cares who is a believer or an unbeliever. When the man who runs the church is not a believer, and this is inevitable once the cycle starts, then the end comes and the church dies spiritually. The cycle of death begins with tolerance of sin. These sins of commission and omission kill the church bit by bit. Over time, the professing Christians in the church become carnal. The carnal do tolerate unbelievers being part of the local body. This is followed by total tolerance for sin. As the church begins its death throes, God will draw out of it the people in it who really love the Lord Jesus. As they leave, unbelievers replace them. I hear from several believers every month who cannot find a local church in their area that has not become compromised like this. I left a church that was beginning the process of inviting unbelievers in. It was putting one foot in the world while trying to keep one foot in the Church. That was nearly 3 years ago and the pain from that separation is still with my wife and I.

The church at Sardis was only going through the spiritual motions. It may have indeed had a name that it was alive, but God condemns every single religious activity that is not directed by the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers were not persecuting it. Why? The church at Sardis was just a religious form of the world and this is exactly what any church in our day is that is not controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord Jesus Christ according to God’s will. We were discussing markers of a dead church earlier. We have actually been looking at this over the last few days. Dead churches and disingenuous believers hold to a man-friendly, man-centered, easy-believism from of the gospel. This non-gospel is cross-less, therefore, it also is Christ-less. The genuine Church holds to the genuine Gospel, which is cross-centered, and does not flinch from the reproach and shame of the Cross of Christ. The natural man hates the Gospel. It is hated by the world. Only the regenerate loves it, grasps it, and preaches it. This will bring persecution from the world.

Never forget my brethren that God is in the business of preserving a remnant within that which is dead, “Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” God always has His remnant. Even in this dead church at Sardis there were still some who were not contaminated by the world. These would be suffering mightily as they were spiritual, but surrounded by carnal and fleshly. They were devout and sincere amongst hypocrites. They were humble among the proud. They were separate from the world, but the rest in that church were of the world. These would be equivalent to those I regularly hear from who remain in their dead church because there is no where else to go. Never forget my brethren, a church is not a building, but a body of believers. The church at Sardis was speaking of every professing Christian in that city. These genuine believers were God’s remnant at Sardis. The emphasis on their garments not being soiled is speaking of their righteousness, which is spotless so it is God’s righteousness. These are genuine believers who are promised that they will receive a new “white” garment and will walk with Christ in glory.

Our Lord gives five key commands to the church at Sardis. These commands are: wake up, strengthen, remember, keep it, and repent. These commands are given to all three different types of members of the church in Sardis. These three types of members are the dead (unbelievers), the sleeping or fleshly professing Christians, and the few who have not defiled their garments.

The first command is “wake up!” (vv 2,3). This can also be translated as “be watchful” or “watch!”. The command is a warning that if they do not watch then He will come upon them as a thief in the night. This is obviously spoken to the unbelievers in the church at Sardis.

The second command is “Strengthen!” This is a command to the genuine believers at Sardis to work to wake up the sleeping professing believers on the fringes. These fleshly Christians are spiritually blind. They are next to dead. This command is to those who see God’s light, reflect it to all, and hear His voice to preach repentance to those who are just hanging on.

The third command is “remember!” This is spoken to the genuine believers at Sardis to remember their salvation. This is a command to continue growing in Grace in their daily walk devoted to Christ. This remembering is keeping the mind occupied with the person of Christ and the miracle and reality of their salvation.

The fourth command is “keep it!” This can also be translated as “Hold Fast!” This is another command to the genuine believers at Sardis. They commanded to hold fast or keep to sound doctrine. This is vital. We are constantly under attacks that are designed to distract us with the things of this world away from God’s perfect doctrines of His truth. These distractions include false doctrines as well. The command to these Christians and to us in our time is to hang on and not let the world distract them from sound doctrine.

The fifth and final command is “repent!” This is given to the unbelievers and the fleshly believers at Sardis. These need to repent. The unbelievers need to believe the Gospel and repent. The fleshly believers need to seek for God to grant them repentance as they turn from the flesh and its debilitating blindness to have their hard hearts smashed by the grace of God.

Sardis was a dead church, but so are countless churches in our time who have become compromised. These five commands are for them as well. Examine yourselves by brethren. If you are in a doctrinally sound and spiritually alive church then rejoice and do not take that for granted. If you are in a dying church and there is nowhere else to go then ask the Lord for the grace to stand firm as His remnant where He has you. On the other hand, if you are dead then the command from our Lord is to believe and repent. If you are a professing Christian who is enslaved to your flesh then now is the time for you to come to the throne of grace for some serious confession and repentance.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Source:

http://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/a-dead-church/

[reprinted by permission.]

Todd Bentley: Claimed but Not Ordained – By Bud Press

April 9, 2009 in Christians, discernment, Life, religion | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 comments

 

Todd Bentley: Claimed but Not Ordained

by Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

April 7, 2009

  

According to his January 2008 book, Journey Into The Miraculous, Todd Bentley claims to have been “ordained” through the Canadian-based Christian Ministers Association, and recognized as a “minister” through the World Ministry Fellowship here in the United States.

 

With its original roots in the Pentecostal movement, the Christian Ministers Association (CMA) is a “licensing body” that “provides a covering for those in need of meeting the requirements of Canadian Law concerning ordination of clergy,” and a “Canadian charter society registered with the Federal Government” ( http://www.canadacma.org/home/index.php?id=4 ).

 

But according to a top official from the Christian Ministers Association (CMA), Bentley is not ordained through the CMA, and has never been a member of that association.

 

Further, Christian Research Service has learned that while Todd Bentley was recognized as a minister through the World Ministry Fellowship (WMF), his membership “papers” have been removed, according to a top official.

 

Founded in 1963, the WMF is an outreach and fellowship of ministers worldwide that “functions under the oversight of a 12 member Executive Board, a 21 member Advisory Board, and a 12 member Credentialing Committee” ( http://www.worldministry.com/aboutwmf.html ). 

 

Once the WMF board learned the circumstances surrounding Bentley’s leaving the Lakeland revival and resignation from Fresh Fire Ministries, the WMF wasted no time and “moved-in quickly to take action,” a top official said.

 

Christian Research Service’s contact with the CMA and the WMF was due to the claims made by Todd Bentley in Journey Into The Miraculous: 

I thank God for my friendship with Patricia [King], and for how God used her as an instrument to ordain me into the ministry–but I always will know that the call came from God. I’ve since been ordained in Canada by my local church, and through the Christian Minister’s Association. In the U.S., I’m recognized as a minister of the Gospel through World Ministry Fellowship in Texas. [Todd Bentley, Journey Into The Miraculous, Destiny Image Publishers, January 2008, p. 162]   

According to Bentley, “God” led him to write Journey Into The Miraculous (p. 22).

 

Currently, Todd Bentley is undergoing another “restoration,” this time under the auspices of Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, and Jack Deere. Unfortunately, Joyner, Johnson, and Deere are part of the problem, not the solution.

 

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13). 

 

Truth to the core

 

In 2008, Todd Bentley left the Lakeland revival in controversy, disgrace, and sin. Since then, Christian Research Service has maintained that he needs to repent and be born again, and surround himself with solid, Bible-based Christians for council.
CRS has also maintained that if Bentley is groomed, mentored, and “restored” by those who groomed and mentored him in the first place, he will end up in worst shape than ever before.

Solid, Bible-based men and women strive to lead holy lives and teach sound, Bible-based doctrine. They set good examples for others to follow–including the younger generation. They do not suddenly disappear in controversy, disgrace, and sin, then suddenly return months later in more controversy, disgrace, and sin. They are accountable first to God, then to their fellow Christians. To them, truth is paramount, and a false prophet is a false prophet; a false teacher is a false teacher, and sin is sin.

 

 

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them

on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3). 

 

Closing comments…

 

This current fiasco is just the tip of the iceberg, and a natural consequence to a hyper-Charismatic movement gone wild and out of control. In many cases, false prophecies, false teachings, and sin are just mere “mistakes” that can be handled by playing the Wiser than God game, then filtered down though the Department of Compromise and Excuses. Eventually, after all the dust has settled, sin in the camp ends up in a mound of paperwork on the desk of Mr. I. Could Care Less. From there, it ends up in “File 13” (trash can), never to be discussed again.


And they get away with it because they have spent years conditioning and deceiving and intimidating their followers into believing in their self-appointed apostles, prophets, and teachers over-and-above God’s written word, the Bible.

 

But their fine-tuned deception hasn’t gone unnoticed. God’s righteous judgement is already at work, for He does not bless, honor, or excuse false prophets and false teachers. And they, like others before them, will fall:

 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

There is an old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Todd Bentley made choices. His actions will return to haunt him and those surrounding him. In the meantime, God warns those who continue to be fooled by the Todd Bentley’s of this world:

 

 

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD (Proverbs 17:15).

 

 

 

Time is an enemy to all false teachers. Time has revealed that Todd Bentley’s claims are not ordained.

 

Eight Reasons Why We Need Apologetics – from CARM

March 25, 2009 in apologetics, apostasy | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 comment

        searchthescriptures

I was rather surprised by a comment stating that apologetics do more harm than good  to the Christian faith. My first thought was, yes, those who do not want their views and positions analyzed against scripture dislike apologetics. False teachers say things like …..”Touch not God’s anointed,” or “Judge not”. While we cannot judge anyones salvation, we can judge what they are teaching against the Word of God. To not do so, is very dangerous indeed.

 

Here is a thought from CARM in the introduction of their site.

 

As the Christian faith is attacked more and more in schools, the media, movies, print, etc., it is vital that Christians learn why their faith is defensible, logical, and evidential.  CARM stands on the truth of God’s word and God’s truth can easily be defended just as false secular system can easily be refuted.

 

Here is the beginning of an article:

There are several reasons why we need apologetics.

The first and most obvious is because we are commanded to defend the faith:  1 Peter 3:15 says, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Second, we need apologetics because it helps Christians know their faith. This is something that is sadly lacking among believers.  Most don’t know much about their faith, let alone be able to describe the Trinity, the two natures of Christ, His physical resurrection, or even to tell the difference between justification and sanctification.  Apologetics helps to define and defend what the truth of the gospel is.

Read Entire Article HERE for all eight reasons.

I have a great deal of respect for godly leaders, teachers, and preachers who say things like , “Compare what I am saying against the Word of God. Check to see if what I claim is true. I am not infallible, but God’s Word is always truth. Interpret a verse  in context to it’s passage or chapter.”

 Acts 17:11. The Bereans listened to what Paul and Silas were preaching and they “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Knowing God’s Word takes prayer, commitment and study on your part. These are the times when Satan knows his time is short and is he is burning the candle at both ends to deceive all of mankind, even believers. He is convincing the unbelieving world that God and sin do not even exist. Confessing Christians weak in their faith will fall away because they do not even know what their Bible  says. They do not read it!  Worse… they think that they are above being deceived.

Put on the armor of Ephesians 6. The armor is God’s truth in His Word. Do you know His Word? Do you know how to deflect the flaming arrows of the evil one? Are you prepared for battle?

There is power in God’s Word but first you must read it.  Let God speak to you through it and then actually apply the principles to your life and walk in obedient faith that God will help you conform through the Holy Spirit. This is not something that we can accomplish on our own. If you do not rely on the Holy Spirit you will not be clothed in Christ and you will fall.

There was a flyer on my door yesterday left by a Jehovah’s Witness. It contained a  statement, “Each year, Jehovah’s Witnessses mark the simple anniversary of Jesus’ death with a simple ceremony.”

JW’s deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the trinity, the deity of Jesus, and his bodily return. Are not all of these the basic biblical teachings of the Christian faith?  If you actually talked with a JW how would you fare handling scripture? Could you explain your faith and then find corresponding scripture to verify your Christian position?

Can you defend your faith to others?  If not..why not?

A Weapon of Mass Instruction – from Steve Camp

March 21, 2009 in apologetics, Christians, Church, discernment | Tags: , , , , | 38 comments

My mother told me one day that she had truly enjoyed listening to a preacher on TV. So much had she enjoyed this speaker she was going to order some his DVD”s….

“Okay mom,” I asked, “who is this preacher?”

She replied, ” Charles Stanley from TBN.”

My heart sank. TBN. But I watched one of his broadcasts and it was very good indeed. The problem…the vehicle, the sponsor, the network. It is replete with false teachings.

Later, I ran into a similar situation. A brother blogger sent out a blanket email that a well-known prophecy scholar was selling one his DVD’s on GodTV……GodTV!!!…on an end-time special…..which encluded two (tagged) well-known  false prophetic teachers. This email was sent out to many of us because of concern that a leading speaker was lending credence to the other false teachings.

I contacted the prophecy scholar with my concerns about this affliation with GodTV  and this was the response from his ministy team.

Thank you for your email. *****  is proclaiming the truth where it would otherwise not be heard. There are two ways to look at this situation. What better way to expose false teaching then (sic) to teach the truth. 
Thank you for your email. ***** has not changed his faith in Jesus.
****
But here is truth:
Yet, God’s written word commands,
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but expose them (Ephesians
5:11).
****
The statement, “What better way to expose false teaching than to teach the truth,”  is not biblical when ones teaches right alongside the false. It is the same as endorsement. How does the new or baby Christian know that one teacher on the same show is correct and other incorrect?
*
Reading the following article has helped me deal with the aspect of blending false and true teachings.
*
Here are some excerpts from Steve Camp’s blog  Audience One, ” A Weapon of Mass Instruction.”
*
The church’s responsibility before God as the “pillar and support of the truth” is to guard and proclaim the truths of Scripture. Consequently, the most severe crime against God is to mishandle His revelation, thus portraying a false, idolatrous image of Him to the world.
We see this in our own day. For example, the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) carries on its programming schedule some orthodox teachers (i.e. Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, James Kennedy, etc.), and features also those who are unorthodox: the word/faith movement (Kenneth Copeland, Crefflo Dollar, etc.); or those who deny the Godhead–the Trinity (T.D. Jakes; Phillips, Craig and Dean); and/or those who “huckster the Word of God for profit” in order to generate more money for themselves (most everyone else on their programming schedule). The danger is, when you constantly publicize a mix of the genuine with the counterfeit it blurs the lines of sound doctrine and tends to anaesthetise the listener of discernment. Even those orthodox teachers, as mentioned above, end up unwittingly supporting the very thing they all oppose biblically. The listener enjoying the program most likely sends the lion-share of their support money not to the Bible teacher of the individual program, but to TBN.A And if they have been “ministered to” by that program, they may even call TBN (per their toll free number) for spiritual counsel, prayer and direction. You forfeit on both counts: pragmatically–most of the “love gift” goes to the network; and spiritually–you have placed the members of your listening audience under the spiritual counsel of a phone operator. What would brother Spurgeon be saying about now?

The honest question has to be asked: can a unsound biblical vehicle like that one be spiritually profitable at all even if some of the time they get it right? Don’t be fooled; it’s not just another televsion network you can buy time on to promote your program. It is a well crafted “philosophy of ministry” with a very specific agenda that does not measure up with the Word of God. I agree with Dr. MacArthur when he has said on many occasions, “TBN has done more harm to the gospel than Jerry Springer. For a false representation of God is more damaging than a true display of sin.” I fully agree with his insigthful words. Methodology matters; and just as important, the “who” you partner with in the work of the gospel as well.

The motives, the methods, the messengers, the money and the message. That is why Scripture must be treated with reverence and care because it is the self-revelation of God. It is from Scripture alone that we know who our Lord is and the fullness of His worth and works. We study God’s Word to know our Lord. It is not so that we may have sermons to preach, songs to sing, testimonies to tell, but it is chiefly to know Him. And out of the depth of that knowing to make Him known.

I myself  have come to the point that I will not endure any false teachings or anyone who turns a blind eye to it. We are told in scripture that  in the last days the church will not hold to sound teachings. How sadly evident this is today.
*****
Also of interest …this about Rick Joyner

The Economy – Has God Gotten Your Attention Yet?

March 12, 2009 in Christians, Church, Life, prophecy, religion | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 comment

moneygod

 

America used to be a country founded on Christian principles. But as time passes, we have become a nation obsessed with material goods, amassed wealth and unpayable debt. Lately, questions have arisen in my mind. How can a godly nation be a superpower? Are not the characteristics of a Christian humility and meekness? Are not we to be poor in spirit, merciful, and peacemakers? Are not we to be the persecuted? Does this sound like the United States? No, I think not. Are we truly a blessed nation, under God? Where is the Lord Jesus Christ in all of this? He isn’t.

The average American’s first inclination in the morning is to open the newspaper or website to check the stock report or to see which store has the best price on cell phones. Who opens their Bible first thing in the morning? Who starts their day with a prayer of repentance from yesterday’s sins, cleansed from the power of God’s forgiveness and grace?

These are not times to relish as the sound of despair rise up in families, businesses and communities. However, these are times to reflect on what our values truly are and how we can start living for Christ instead of ourselves.

If you know Jesus Christ, are others seeing your faith today or are they seeing your unbelief? If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior, He may be calling out to you. God knows our weaknesses and strengths. He knows all. He knows your breaking point and what it takes to make you turn to Him. The times I have felt the closest to the Lord, is when I am despairing, crying out to Him and on my knees in prayer. What does it take to drive you to your knees?

Those who have perpetrated evil and stolen from the unsuspecting populace may be used by God to force you to make a decision about what rules your life. Money or holiness? The world in is control by “the evil one” according to 1 John 5:19. When we are unregenerate and not filled with the Holy Spirit we are easily seduced by the world and all it has to offer. The world system influences all our thoughts and deeds and infiltrates our walk with the Lord. The remedy is to walk in faith knowing that we will be tempted but that God will always be faithful to us by not giving us more than we can bear. [1 Corinthians 10:13]. If we resist the evil one God promises that the devil will flee from us. [James 4:7]

If you do know Jesus Christ, have you been a Bible reading, praying Christian, or have you been a wandering complaining Israelite, more concerned about the variety of food in your diet, unhappy with daily sustenance provided by God? Are you more concerned about blessings instead of obedience to God’s Word? The reason I ask this, is because the Israelites were indeed blessed by deliverance from captivity and daily bread, but this did not create faith. In fact they rejected the blessings God gave them by saying, “Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt.”

Studying the Bible has shown me that my priorities were all out-of-whack, and any financial problems I currently have are of my own making. God never promised to make life easy for any of us. He did say He would supply all our needs. I guess this is where man likes to deviate. Man wants more than food, shelter and clothing. These are blessings we can count on when we truly walk in faith.

*****
OPPRESSION PREDICTED IN SEALS

I have read two books “Earthquake Resurrection” and “Then His Voice Shook The Earth”, by David W. Lowe who interprets the meaning and timing of the seals differently than the majority of the Bible prophecy scholars.

According to his biblical research, the seals one through five have already been opened. This makes so much more sense to me than other interpretations. But I want to focus on the third seal for this article.

The object being held in the riders hand has been translated as a scale because of the reference to food in the next verse. But the word zugon can also be translated as a yoke. This is what changes the whole interpretation.

Read this from “Then His Voice Shook The Earth”:
“A clue about what type of bondage this seal represents is found within Revelation 6:6. The voice heard speaking about the rider and balance scale in its hand mentions the cost of the staples of life: wheat, barley, olive oil and wine. Thus it can be concluded that the meaning of the symbolism of the third seal is a spirit of financial bondage and oppression that was sent out into the earth. Some possibilities of the kind of financial oppression that this horse and rider represent, based on the message that emerged from among the four living creatures, include:”

1. Price controls on the necessities of life, such as food.
2. Inflation and hyperinflation in the price of goods.
3. Scarcity of the necessities of life due to controls on production.
4. Efforts by governing authorities to exercise control over the value of currencies.
5. Efforts by governing authorities to expand or contract the supply of money.” {1}

Looking at our current world financial situation, through this biblical interpretation of the third seal, opens our eyes to the truth. This has been a long time coming.

Evil against mankind is allowed by God. The brothers of Joseph plotted and devised his demise by selling him into slavery. David was exiled. Jesus was betrayed and rejected by his own people, and crucified. And in Revelation, the first four seals reveal that the riders were given power to unleash the judgments, to kill, cause famine, and oppress.

Even though Joseph was a slave, oppressed and treated unjustly, he never lost faith or complained. Ever. Even in the worst of situations he glorified God. Joseph did not yet know that his deliverance was near. His suffering was training for his leadership under the pharaoh.

Are you suffering and cannot understand the circumstances that you may find yourself in today? Will you use this opportunity to trust God to supply your needs? Is your suffering a form of training so that you will be able to help others somehow in the future?

We find the same uncomplaining humility in Moses. When the people were enslaved by the Egyptians, they cried out to God. God heard them, so He sent them Moses. They were delivered from slavery and given manna to eat while they were traveling.

This heavenly bread was dispersed one day at a time. Why? To increase the faith of the people. They were not allowed to store it. It spoiled if they tried . They had to trust God on a daily basis to feed them. We need to read the Word of God on a daily basis to feed ourselves. We need to ingest the word and live it. Believe it. Obey it. Share it with others.

So are you are looking at your circumstances through the eyes of the grumbling Israelites, full of ingratitude? How about looking at our current situation through the eyes of Joshua and Caleb. They were not afraid of the giants in Canaan. Why was their perspective so different from the others? Easy. They believed in God’s promises.

Are you going to raise your fist toward God because of hard times? Are you going to wonder how God can treat you this way? Are you going to grumble against God because of your circumstances? Have you been praying all along or have you just started praying as a last resort?

Today Jesus Christ is our deliverer. In fact, when we believe in Him, we are already delivered. Yet we struggle with unbelief. So how should we act? We should not complain as we wait for our deliverer and trust in His promises.

I see many people, Christians included, blaming society, political parties, anyone or anything for what is happening to our economy today. But isn’t it easy to blame our leaders? If we were to turn to God instead of turning against others, would our world be different today? Our greatest enemy is the same enemy of the Israelites. Unbelief and lack of trust in God. We can only know His promises by careful study of His Word.

What promises should we be clinging to in this time of need, financial bondage and oppression?

Isaiah 41: 10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Matthew 6:30-33

“…O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
******

Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances (G2218) in his hand.

Strong’s G2218 – zygos

1) a yoke
a) a yoke that is put on draught cattle
b) metaph., used of any burden or bondage
1) as that of slavery
2) of troublesome laws imposed on one, esp. of the Mosaic law, hence the name is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable ‘yoke’; yet even Christ’s commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept
2) a balance, pair of scales

“From the first century until the present, a spirit has been at work to wreak havoc on the economies of the world. Injustice, oppression, and inequity are the goals, and the tools have been governments who have implemented unsound economic controls and unjust taxation through their laws.The underlying reason? Greed. The love of money and the desire to accumulate wealth no matter the cost. That is the spirit symbolized by the black horse and rider, holding a yoke in his hand to represent bondage and oppression of the people.”

David W. Lowe {2}

*******

 
Then His Voice Shook The Earth… by David W. Lowe
{1} pgs. 106 – 107
{2} pg. 109

http://Earthquakeresurrection.com

STRANGE FIRE BEFORE THE LORD – Fire Tunnels

March 5, 2009 in Christians, Church, discernment, Life, new age | Tags: , , , , | 49 comments

From LocalPaster

STRANGE FIRE BEFORE THE LORD – The Toronto Blessing’s Fire Tunnel is at a church near you.

 

Please pray for these young people. They are being demonized.

The Major Prophetic Signs – They are being Fulfilled.

February 24, 2009 in Christians, Church, prophecy, religion | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 7 comments

 

Seven Major Prophetic Signs Of The Second Coming

Written by Jack  Kelley

taken from Rapture Readyhttp://www.raptureready.com/featured/kelley/jack51.html

8th Annual Update January 2009

There are seven major prophetic signs of the Second Coming, and for the first time in history all seven are in some stage of fulfillment. As in years past, I’ll list the seven with their primary biblical references and offer commentary from current events.

1. Israel Will Be In The Land… Ezekiel 36:24, 37:21

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land .

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.

In 1948, when Israel took its place among the nations of the world again for the first time in nearly 2000 years, students of prophecy recognized the fulfillment of the primary sign that the end of the age was upon us.  Both Isaiah 11:11-12 and Amos 9:14-15 had also clearly foretold this.  Jesus said that some from the generation being born when this happened would still be alive when He returned (Matt. 24:34).

The fulfillment of this prophecy caused another reaction as well. Satan reads prophecy too, and began exerting his influence on world leaders in his continuing effort to thwart the plan of God. As a result, Israel has fought six major wars in the last 60 years, each of them an attempt to erase the Jewish Homeland from the face of the Earth. And it’s clear that this effort will continue, with the biggest battle of all looming on the horizon, foretold by Ezekiel in chapters 38-39. Israel’s enemies, both physical and spiritual, won’t let up until they’ve either succeeded (their view) or been destroyed (God’s view).

For try as these nations might to destroy Israel, God sees a different outcome.

In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12)

“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)

2. Jerusalem Will Be In Jewish Hands… Luke 21:24

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Lord prophesied that the reunification of Jerusalem as a Jewish City would be a sign that foreign (gentile) influence over His land, and indeed the world, was about to end. Fulfillment of this prophecy began in 1967, and prophecy experts saw it as another major sign that the End of the Age had begun.  The almost world wide effort to take the city apart again is in essence a battle of wills; the Will of God vs. the will of man. Until recently every Israeli politician has stood firmly on a pledge to keep Jerusalem united forever as Israel’s capital.

But then former Prime Minister Sharon said that if re-elected he’d consider abandoning parts of the suburbs to achieve peace. A stroke-induced coma from which he has never recovered ended his political career, but his hand picked successor, Ehud Olmert, hinted at following through on Sharon’s proposals. Olmert’s poor performance in the war against Hezbollah in 2006 and the corruption charges against him have driven him from office and robbed him of the political strength to follow through.

I’ve come to believe that Jerusalem won’t really be free of Gentile “trampling” until the Lord returns.  Daniel’s prophecy that Gentile Dominion would not end until the Lord establishes His kingdom (Daniel 2:36-45), Zechariahs’ prophecy of the city being captured just before the Lord’s return (Zech. 14:2), and John’s observations in Rev. 11:1-2 of the gentiles trampling the outer court of the Temple during the Great Tribulation all confirm this.

The ongoing fulfillment of these major prophecies concerning Israel has caused confusion in the minds of some commentators. It centers around an incorrect interpretation of Matt. 24:34, that all end times prophecies would be fulfilled within a generation, nominally 40 years, of Israel’s re-gathering in 1948. That error made 1988 seem like the likely time for the End. But when 1988 came and went scholars focused on the Jerusalem date, 1967, and began adding 40 years to that, advancing their predictions to 2007. The rationale for this is that the timing of the First Coming prophecies in Daniel 9:24-27 keyed off the rebuilt city, not off the return to the Land. but that date proved wrong as well.

Problem is, the Lord didn’t promise that all end times prophecies would be fulfilled within a generation of their beginning, only that the generation being born at the time of the first of the signs would still be alive to see their completion. According to Psalm 90:10 an average Biblical life span is 70 years, so predicting the approximate time of the End requires the addition of 70 years to 1948, not 40.

As it draws nearer, the approximate timing of the 2nd Coming will become more and more obvious. Those people around when a treaty is enforced permitting the Jews to build their Temple in Israel will know that it’s about seven years away. (Daniel 9:27) Those who witness the anti Christ standing in that Temple proclaiming himself to be God will know there are only 1260 days left until the end of the Great Tribulation, and the 2nd Coming happens shortly after that. (Matt. 24:15,21 & 2 Thes. 2:4)  But even so, the Lord did state quite clearly that those alive on Earth at the end of the Great Tribulation would not know the exact day or hour of His coming until He actually appeared.  (Matt. 24:42 & 44, 25:13)

3. A Moslem Coalition Armed And Led By Russia Will Attack The Holy Land… Ezek. 38:2-6

“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army–your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops–the many nations with you.”

(For a more detailed explanation of the modern equivalents to these biblical names, read “An In Depth Look At The Modern Equivalent To Biblical Names in Ezek.38)

Over 130 historical references make it plain that Magog stands for modern Russia, and the other countries named here form a coalition based on their common religion, Islam. (Today Russia is 30% Moslem and growing.)  Among them are Iran, several North African countries, Eastern European countries along the Danube, and the Turkic nations of Asia Minor.  A quick look at a world map will reveal that these areas are home to some of the most radical Islamic groups.

The Russians are already a major supplier of arms for the Moslem coalition, just as Ezekiel prophesied, and will be drawn into joining in this battle by God Himself. Russia’s barely disguised policy of becoming the major outside force in the Middle East is playing right into the Lord’s hands. Iran and Russia are well into the implementation of a $50 billion deal to provide Iran with nuclear power. The 10 reactors called for in the deal are supposedly for electrical power generation, but most western leaders suspect they’ll be used to build bombs, too. Some experts claim that Iran will become a nuclear power this year, but others think a bomb is still a ways off.  Israel has again vowed to prevent that ever happening, but don’t be surprised if the US continues to back away from its similar promise.

Russia has also formed commercial and military alliances with Turkey and Syria, and has become Turkey’s 2nd largest trading partner after Germany.  Russia has also sold Damascus a state of the art anti-air defense system along with their latest generation missiles and anti-tank rockets and plan to construct a major military seaport in northern Syria, moving components of their Black Sea fleet there.  In Lebanon, Russian Military Intelligence has just about taken over the town of Sidon, spying on Israel for Iran and Syria.   Iran has taken delivery of a Russian air defense system too, to protect its Bushier reactor site, first it the series Russia has promised to build.

Iran seems to be preparing its people for war with Israel, making the most outlandish claims in an effort to whip their people into a frenzy not seen since the days of the US embassy kidnapping of the 70’s. This inflammatory ranting has included a Holocaust denial seminar attended by 30 countries, and a promise to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Former and likely future Israeli PM Netanyahu has said that for the Jews it’s like 1938 all over again.

The major obstacle to an early fulfillment of this prophecy is the reference to its occurrence at a time when Israel is “a peaceful and unsuspecting people” (Ezekiel 38:11).  This certainly is not the case today, but In Psalm 83 there’s a yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy that appears to involve all of Israel’s next door neighbors in another unsuccessful attempt to wipe the Jewish nation off the map. The psalmist pleads with the Lord to intervene and defeat Israel’s attackers. If this happens, it explains why none of them are named in Ezekiel’s list of antagonists, and how Israel could be living in a perceived state of safety as Ezekiel 38:11 requires.  Many of us have been watching to see if the recent Gaza incursion would escalate into a fulfillment of that prophecy, and though it hasn’t yet, it still could.

Two other pre-requisites for Ezekiel’s battle are also in the process of fulfillment.  The Gaza war may have strained Israel’s relationship with Turkey to the breaking point, and as I’ve shown Turkey will be on the Moslem side in Ezekiel’s battle.  Public support in Turkey for membership in the EU is also declining, another sign that attitudes toward the West are changing.  It won’t take much more for Turkey to switch sides.  And Israel’s recent natural gas discovery, said to be of  “historic” proportions, could create the wealth necessary to make Israel an attractive target for Russian conquest, fulfilling the prophecy of  Ezekiel 38:13 that Israel’s enemies will have attacked partly for plunder.  Till now Israel really hasn’t had any substantial wealth, but the natural gas discovery is worth billions.

I believe that the removal of the US as Israel’s powerful ally is also necessary to pave the way for Ezekiel’s battle, because I don’t think the Moslem coalition will attack until they’re sure the US won’t retaliate.  Any one of several scenarios currently being played out could accomplish this.  Our national policy could change.  A deepening recession could force us to turn inward and render us unwilling to keep our promise to support Israel.  Likewise, the threat or actual occurrence of a major terrorist attack could cause us to stand down.   And the Rapture of the Church could deprive the US of both the leadership and manpower to respond.  It’s no where near as difficult to see the US abandoning its commitment to Israel as it was just a few years ago.

When the time is right, having recently taken His church to Heaven, the Lord will use this battle to orchestrate His reconciliation with Israel, and on its heels the anti Christ will emerge with a peace plan that includes a Jewish Temple. So once this battle takes place, end times prophecy will go on fast forward.

4. The Ancient Roman Empire Will Re-Emerge As A Political Force… Rev 17:9-10

“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.” (This one is a little obscure if you don’t know your history. When John was writing this, about 95AD, there had been five great world powers; Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. All were conquered and absorbed. The current power was Rome, which was never really conquered and will re-emerge at the end of the age, according to Daniel 9:26.)

Daniel 2:36-45 describes Gentile Dominion from Daniel’s time forward (Egypt and Assyria had already fallen) in the form of a giant statue representing the four remaining Kingdoms, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and the two appearances of Rome. Read it carefully and you’ll find some interesting things in the description of the two feet upon which the statue stands.  They’re made of iron mixed with clay.  In the first place the two don’t mix. We can imagine sticky clay serving as glue sticking pieces of iron together, but the language describes a clay that’s made of dust and already baked … hard and brittle like shards of pottery. You can’t make random pieces of iron and pottery adhere.

These two feet describe the two divisions of the Roman Empire, Western and Eastern. Today the territory of the Western division is occupied by Europe, while the Eastern territoty holds the Islamic countries of the Middle East.   Some experts insist that the combined defeats spoken of in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 will render the Eastern leg, or Moslem world, incapable of becoming part of the World Empire of the End Times, but Daniel had both feet in view in chapter 2 so both divisions of the Roman Empire have to be present at the End of the Age.  His use of iron and pottery in their makeup speaks to the difficulty the Western and Eastern cultures will have in remaining united.  And the fact that Daniel only identified four empires means the last one can only be some form of ancient Rome.

5. The World Will Embrace A Single Religion… Rev 13:8

 

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Make no mistake about it. Islam is the major religious force in the world today and their goal is nothing less than world domination, by any means necessary. It’s the world’s fastest growing religion and is second only to Christianity in number of adherents. Already nearly one out of every five inhabitants of the world is Moslem, and like most Christians and Jews they don’t really know what they believe or why.  I’m no prophet, but as I look into the future, it’s much easier for me to see Islam riding its current wave of momentum to fill the void left by the departure of the Church than it is to imagine some watered  down mix of Christianity and New Age Mysticism doing so.

Much has been written recently about al Mahdi, a figure out of Moslem prophecies that are strikingly similar to Christian prophecies of the anti-Christ. Both show a leader coming on the scene during a time of great turmoil on Earth.  Both depict him as man of peace who will have a seven year reign, head up a one world religion and one world government, and claim supernatural origins.  Both prophecies culminate in a battle between good and evil that brings about Earth’s final judgment.  It’s as they’re pointing to the same person. The difference is that in Islam he’s a good guy, but the Bible calls him evil.

Take this charismatic political and religious leader with his supernatural power, add the widely held but incorrect belief that God and Allah are the same, and that Islam is a religion of peace, and then subtract the spirit of discernment found in the Church and you can see how he could be the straw that a world on the brink of disaster grasps for survival.

6. The World Will Accept A Single Government… Rev 13:3

The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

Recent events in the US have shown how quickly a fearful and disillusioned people will get behind someone who promises to change things.  When you look at the shape of the world it doesn’t take much to imagine circumstances getting to a point where the whole world will agree to follow a leader who will promise to bring order out of chaos.  With all the things that already threaten world stability getting worse by the day, how much more frantic will people be after millions of their neighbors suddenly disappear without warning or explanation, and there’s been a nuclear exchange that brings destruction from Europe through the Middle East and into Russia?

7. Babylon Will Re-Emerge As A Prominent City In World Affairs… Rev 18:2-3

With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

Babylon is still a ways away from accepting its destiny as a city of power in the end times. It’s just a ceremonial city right now, but 20 years ago nobody even knew it existed at all. One of the shocks of Gulf War 1 was the discovery of Babylon standing there on the banks of the Euphrates again.

You may think that being little more than a giant museum is a far cry from being a center of world power, but not too long ago, some of Iraq’s new political leaders were calling for their nation’s capital to be moved to Babylon. The logic behind this is that Baghdad was Saddam’s capital, and the new Iraq needs a new capital, more consistent with its heritage. Babylon fills the bill, and becoming the capital of Iraq would be a giant first step toward achieving its transformation into a center of power.  Onenewsnow.com recently reported that the US has pledged $700K to help rebuild the ancient city.

Because of Babylon’s current lack of importance in the world, some students of prophecy search for an allegorical fulfillment of its destruction in Rev. 18, and of course many see the USA or some city therein as a logical candidate.

But remember, even though in Revelation 17:9 John describes “mystery Babylon” as seated on seven hills (meaning Rome), a prophecy in Zechariah 5:5-11 shows it being moved “to the plains of Shinar” a reference to ancient Mesopotamia called Iraq today. We can’t switch from literal to allegorical interpretations of Scripture without clear direction, and where Babylon is concerned no such direction exists. In fact the opposite is true.

Other Signs

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:6-14)

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:10-11)

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS … According to intelligence reports that include all our wars as well as conflicts where a cease fire exists but are still unresolved, 41 wars are currently being fought around the world, with a substantial number of additional disputes threatening to erupt into war at any time.

THE INCREASE OF NATURAL DISASTERS … More frequent and more severe hurricanes, more frequent and more intense earthquakes. Killer storms and quakes continue to dot the news.

 

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS … The Magnetic Polar Reversal, predicted by computer model for 2012 is gaining more attention since its likelihood was first announced.  While the effects of a Magnetic Polar Reversal have never been observed by mankind, it has apparently happened in the distant past.  What’s unique this time is that the Sun is due for a polar reversal at the same time. What this means is that while the Sun will be experiencing its most intense radioactive storms, Earth’s magnetic field (that protect us from these Sun storms) will be at its weakest and may even be non-existent in some parts of the world.   I’ve speculated that the effects of the polar reversal could fulfill the 6th Seal judgment of Revelation 6 and if the projected time of 2012 is correct, it fits into the early stages of Daniel’s 70th Week that I believe will begin sometime in 2011.

PESTILENCE… Not only new diseases like HIV and SARS, but also the return of old ones like Whooping cough. But the big news is still the likely spread of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). A few cases among humans have lead to fears that the virus has mutated to thrive in a human host. Dire predictions are placing possible deaths from this pandemic in the millions

THE LOVE OF MOST WILL GROW COLD … 3500 people die every day in defense of the Christian faith. Run away crime, children being abused and murdered by their parents, children killing children. Murder trials as public entertainment soon to be followed by televised executions. Ethnic cleansing, rape and forced pregnancy, pedophilia, random shootings, the incidence of disrespect is enough to make you sick.

THIS GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL NATIONS … Looking at the state of the world, it’s hard to be encouraged. But as world news gets worse and worse, more people are turning to the Lord for solace. According to some reports as many as 175,000 new believers are born again every day, mostly in Africa, China, and India. Reports of these conversions are accompanied by accounts of miracles, people receiving supernatural healings and even being raised from the dead. Just as He did at the beginning of the church Age the Holy Spirit is moving mightily at its End. I believe the Lord is issuing a giant “last call” before He suddenly takes the church out of here to begin the End Times judgments.

The above are given as indicators in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) and we’ll continue to bring you periodic information on these as well.

As you know most of the signs in the Olivet Discourse are progressive and all are described as happening well before the end. Their main interest to us is found in the phrase “beginning of birth pangs.” Natural disasters, the tendency toward war as a tool of diplomacy, famine amidst plenty (35,000 children die each day of starvation and related diseases) and pestilence are described as being common to the era but increasing in frequency and intensity as the end approaches.

It’s true that for over 100 years folks have been saying, “how much worse can it get?” Sadly, the answer now as it was then is, “Much!” It seems man’s depravity knows no limits. But take heart. Though we are in the world, we are not of the world. We don’t belong here, being citizens of heaven. And one day soon our long awaited King will return to take us there. Maranatha!

The Rapture vs. Witnessing – from Rapture Ready

February 23, 2009 in Christians, Church, faith, prophecy | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

        witnessing
 
The Rapture vs. Witnessing

   

By Ron Graham

source: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/g58.html

The end times are approaching and the signs spoken of by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 are spilling out continually onto the scene today and are pointing dramatically to Christ’s soon return. Believers can see the signs if they are alert and watching. As Dr. Chuck Missler* puts it “We must be well versed in the scriptures to accurately ascertain the time of the signs”. There is a preordained time that the signs are going to appear, and what we see happening all around us are the birth pangs that are so aptly spoken of in the scriptures.

 

I for one can’t imagine this world going on the way it has in the past. Signs that point to the end time when Jesus will return aren’t just subtlety appearing on the scene, they are exploding with a fierceness that’s unparalleled in mans history. We can watch this explosion on our television sets, radios, internet, newspapers, and from every other direction one can imagine. This was not the case even ten years ago; the birth pangs have arrived. 

 

 So just what are our options as believers now that we are beginning to witness a plethora of recurring signs which we are assured will occur just before Jesus return? We have many options. They include such things as witnessing fervently to our family and friends. Being in constant prayer is an admonishment from the Apostle Paul, maintaining a close relationship with our Church family. Create and maintain an atmosphere of love and support for those who are shut-ins and especially provide for those who lack provisions. 

 In these last days all Christians should be intent on always keeping abreast of whatever intrusions the enemy might devise against the brethren. In these last days Satan is going to hit hard against anyone who promotes the name of Jesus and diligently proclaims His message. The last thing any Christian will want is to be caught alone and off guard when the evil comes down, and it is coming. Solitude creates evil bedfellows. Continue in fellowship, the breaking of bread together, encouraging one another.

None of us know when Jesus is going to remove His Church from the wickedness this world offers. It could be within the next few days, weeks, or even years. I know what you’re going to say, “Well, if we are seeing the time of the signs as you’ve suggested could the Rapture of the Church still be years away”? Yes, but everything is lining up perfectly (prophetically speaking that is) and this gives us tremendous optimism that our remaining days here on earth are indeed few.

 Here’s the rub. Believing the truth of the Rapture view and believing that the time for the Rapture is near has led some to become complacent in their duty to Christ. Believers should not ease up on witnessing. Complacency is of the devil, he would love it if those who are born again would all just sit back and relax and wait on the Rapture. In the meantime Satan will be hard at work convincing the lost that they are in good shape and not to worry or take seriously what those wacky Christians are promoting.

 Satan knows the Rapture will occur at some point in time, but similarly to believers he hasn’t any idea of exact moment when this will happen. God has kept it a mystery. More intense persecution of Christians on his part will become commonplace in the near future, which will attest to very fact that the Rapture is close at hand.

 As believers we must combat the lies put forth by Satan and those who follow him. Jesus, at one point, speaking directly to the Apostle Peter said, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”. Matthew 16:23. Whenever we hear someone spouting off against believers, and most importantly against our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we can know without a doubt that we are hearing Satan speak. I can tell you this, the Holy Spirit has a louder voice and can drown out Satan at every turn if Christians will only speak up.

Faithfulness is adhering to Jesus’ strict set of commandments in every aspect of our lives. As believers we all have our own miniature world to evangelize. You are a Christian and that means that no matter where you go you are to spread the Gospel of Christ. If you are out on a business trip to another state that doesn’t mean you leave your Christianity at home. When you’re on vacation or you’re just out watering the lawn, remember your Christianity. Our lives should reflect our faith in Christ. We never know when God’s going to ask us to step out in faith and talk to someone about their salvation.

 You may feel you’re without sufficient resources or knowledge to speak to others about your faith. If this is the case, you’ve probably been neglecting a regular Bible study routine. Our boldness to witness is provided by the Holy Spirit through prayer and study. You receive more boldness as you become more familiar with God’s word. If you’re willing, know this, the Holy Spirit will move you into position to confront the next person that you encounter with the Gospel of Christ. If you’re not willing then you’re not following Christ’s commandments. “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. John 14:15. Do you love Him or are you just play acting?

 The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was the most important event in history, and now we are rapidly approaching the second most important event in history, in the believer’s life, and that is the Rapture. Christians must step out in faith to follow Jesus’ commandment to spread His Gospel to the entire world. There is no doubt of the many extreme measures which will be coming against His Church. I believe some huge obstacles will be thrust directly into the lives of those Christians who are faithfully following through with Christ’s commandments. Satan isn’t just going to sit idly by whilst we take away his followers. Not at all, and you can take stock in the fact that you will be battered and bruised by his minions of evil. Like Paul, as he was being pummeled by the enemy over and over again, you too will feel the heat of battle.

 Witnessing can be one of the most daunting tasks for believers especially now days when it seems people are so repulsed by and demonstrate such violent tendencies toward our Christian faith. Nevertheless we aren’t to shirk from our duty and keep silent. Paul was persecuted by a “thorn in the flesh” but still continued evangelizing. He prayed for relief, but didn’t let this “thorn” stop him. As you face the barriers that Satan has in store for you, you too can be comforted by Jesus’ words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Non-believes are blind to the truth, they aren’t able to understand the consequences surrounding their decision to reject Jesus until those blinders come off. You and I can help remove those blinders. 

 God will be glorified by our witnessing efforts because He is certainly able to equip us with all we need to complete our task. If we use the strength of Christ as we confront the lost, the enemy won’t be much of a hindrance, but relying on our own strength will be our Achilles heel.

 If we allow the current events we see going on around the world to affect our witness in that we become silent, we are allowing the enemy to get the upper hand. Can you just imagine what would have been the outcome of the Apostle’s ministry if they had simply gone about their pre-Jesus routine after the Lord had ascended into Heaven instead of spreading the good news of His Gospel as they were commanded to do? No Gospel proclaimed throughout the world, no Christian movement, and no Christian Church, just a world of lost sinners vying for whatever scraps of meaningless existence that could be grasped.

 Today Christians are standing in the sandals of the disciples of yesterday. It’s our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all nations. We must not retreat from our assigned task. Think about this, someday we’ll stand before Jesus Christ face to face. How can we possibly explain to our Savior our apathy? “I was too sacred”, “I didn’t trust You to protect me”, “My faith was too small”, “I didn’t care about others just myself”. Which of those excuses will you use?

 Certainly the Rapture of the Church is nigh, and we rejoice in knowing that soon we will be taken up to be forever with our Lord Jesus. We read and study our Bibles and those commentaries posted on various websites that all proclaim the end is in sight. Every day we grow more and more assured of what we believe about the times of the signs because of what we see happening around us. But if the majority of Christian believers continue in their stubborn refusal to spread the Gospel of Christ many of their family members and friends will be left behind to fend off the wiles of the devil without the help of the restrainer which is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is removed hell will break lose on earth.

 If your family is anything like mine, you have some relatives who, in their current state of mind, aren’t going to spend eternity with Jesus. They remain in unbelief. You’re okay though, you’re doing just fine. If that is your attitude you may very well be living in a false sense of security. As Charles Spurgeon puts it “If you have no heart for the lost you may not be saved yourself”, and you may find yourself spending eternity with your unbelieving family members after all. 

 Don’t let the ever nearing Rapture of the Church keep you from your assigned task. We should be witnessing now more fervently then ever before. Christians are to be salt and light to a lost world, but if that salt loses its saltiness then it’s absolutely worthless. Are you absolutely worthless? Say NO!

 God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

 

******

* I do not endorse Chuck Missler and knew little about him when I posted this article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga – A Christian Perspective

February 22, 2009 in Christians, discernment, religion | Tags: , | 4 comments

ABOUT YOGA – TODAY AND YESTERYEAR 

By Caryl Matrisciana

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun “wrote the wisest of all men King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1: 9
Yoga’s proposition today is no different to its original intention by Lord Shiva, the triune deity of Hinduism, the religion of India. At its core is the contemplative prayer (meditation) of Yoga consciousness that teaches one can be mentally, physically and spiritually “yoked” in the “inner self” with the outer “universal consciousness” known as Brahman, believed to be God and a divine energy. The conjured, self-invoked altered state of yoga consciousness is designed to bring “enlightenment”, an awareness of one’s god-self and the ability “self” has to control everlasting death (known as reincarnation).
The hope of all types of Yoga, (which in their very essence embrace Kundalini power) affirm that one will be “like God” and not die, the same spiritual lies offered by Kundalini (known in India as serpent wisdom) to Eve in the Garden if Eden.
The Bible recounts: “The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:1-5
Today, the cunning Kundalini (The great dragon…that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. Rev 12: 8-9) continues his strategy through yoga. First, he undermines God’s Authority by tricking us into using our own reasoning, thereby introducing doubt and confusion, “did God REALLY say?”
He continues to add to (or subtracts from) God’s Word. God had said earlier, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” But, Kundalini added to God’s Words making Him appear stingy, “you must not eat from ANY tree…”?
As Eve’s mind came under Kundalini’s treachery, (Jesus said Satan is “the father of Lies”, John 8:44) she too added words to God’s, “you must not touch it” further twisting the generous characteristics of God’s loving provision and care-taking.
“You shall not die” and “you shall be as god” remain the kernel doctrines of Hinduism’s reincarnation and self-deification. (for more information see “Yoga Uncoiled. From East to West” http://www.caryltv.com)
CAN “THE WILES OF THE DEVIL” BE CHRISTIANISED?
Paul told the Ephesians to “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6: 11-13)
Many Christians attempt to “Christianize” Yoga/Hinduism while others claim physical Yoga can be separated from spiritual Yoga, but was Eve’s physical eating of the fruit from the tree able to be separated from her spiritual downfall?
While the word “Yoga” isn’t mentioned in Scripture, the idea of “yoking” oneself to pagan gods and concepts is forbidden as is adulating self’s desire above God’s will. Our bodies were created to be “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1)” and “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4: 23). How do we know what truth is? Jesus claimed, “I am the truth. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:16)
To participate in Hinduism’s “postures” to get into God’s presence, or redefine other manipulations with Christian terminology are corrupt offerings to the LORD and an attempt to arrive by “another way”. In Genesis 4 we read God favored Abel’s worship because he sought to obey God ‘s desires, but Cain’s offering was rejected because it wasn’t according to God’s request. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
Sin crouches as Satan and his powers: rulers of darkness and wicked hosts, continually attempt to trap us into self-justification, self-achievement, self-glory or self-focus which is today’s religion of humanism. But Jesus Christ is also at the door, available to help us master crouching sins, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)
Yoga, humanism, et all, crouch at the door but God gives us power in Jesus to “master” sin. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans. 12: 2)
God said thousands of years ago: “Watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth.” (Deuteronomy 4:15-18).
Graven images are indigenous to the religion of Hinduism. Devout Hindus’ manufacture and worship graven images. Yoga postures are designed to form one’s body into the likeness of animals, birds, insects, snakes, fish and many more-all of which are understood to be deities within Hinduism as is man himself. (Yoga postures: http://www.santosha.com/asanas/) For more info http://www.caryltv.com VHS “GODS OF THE NEW AGE” and Book authored by Caryl Matrisciana. (Further info on Yoga/NewAge and more visit http://www.Christianresearchservice.com)
YOGA:
AN EXERCISE FOR DEATH PACKAGED AS “GOOD HEALTH”
Yoga is both a spiritual and physical technique designed to restore “a spiritual connection” from the sinner, who is separated from God, to become “as God”, and attempts to by pass the judgment of sin which is spiritual death. (“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23)
Hinduism teaches death can be procrastinated and controlled over “time” with “good deeds”. Good deeds are “knowledge” and “discipline”, and the realization that “self” and “powers of the universe” are part of divinity. Paul warned the outcome of self-seeking results in “shameful lusts” and leads to deception: they “changed the truth into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator”. (Rom. 1:25)
At Hinduism’s foundation is the belief in evolution, a theory that uses extensions of time, “billions of years”, (eons of time) to develop new forms. In its spiritual application, emerging into “higher” forms is yoga’s means to reduce “death cycles” (reincarnation) and advance “rebirths” into better future lives. (In other words, it is hoped one returns in the next reincarnated life as a more advanced life form than the last life, whether as a “higher” animal or “better” human)
No matter how arduous, yoga’s “self-actualization” disciplines are, there is no assurance of “shortening” death or “bettering” the next life but there is “an experience” through altered states which the Bible calls at best a “powerful delusion” (2 Thes. 2:11) and at worst demon possessed as spiritual “connections” are made through kundalini (serpent) power.
The actuality of death snatching us in a moment is as certain as the reality of life which also began in a moment. The Bible says God created everything in a moment with no “extended” time needed for evolution’s theory. God, Who is outside of time, created time for man: days and nights, seasons, and even the Sabbath. The Authority of God’s Word made invisible visible and is a witness to Him, His Presence and His Power.
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they (the suppressers of truth, the wicked and godless) are without excuse.” (Romans 1: 18 – 20)
Death, due to sin, is mankind’s inevitable conclusion, and without belief in Jesus Christ Hell will be man’s spiritual eternity. But God’s gracious gift is the choice of spending eternity with Him. Jesus offers power to live a righteous life and forgives all confessed sin: “Whoever believes on Jesus Christ shall be saved”. This confession of faith brings immediate eternal assurance through an act of the will, with a contrite heart, not by works that we should boast.
In that confession, we never “become as God”, but through His Grace are adopted in a moment as “sons of God” (Gal 3.26.) We are instructed to “abide in Christ” Who is our Head and we, the church, are His Body. “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Col 1:18-19
For more information on DVDs by Caryl Productions visit
http://www.caryltv.com
THE “WHOLENESS” OF YOGA CAN’T BE DIVIDED UP
Yoga is a spiritual discipline of body, mind and soul teaching that the spiritual condition of death and separation from God can be remedied by man’s capability through self-hypnosis and mental gymnastics.
Hinduism, similar to all eastern mysticism sees body, mind and soul as a “whole oneness” and each person as a part of the “wholeness of life, nature and the cosmos” .
The physical postures of Yoga are specifically intended to bring an experience of “oneness” of body with the mind and soul, and the “oneness of self” with the “oneness of the universe” resulting in a type of death state as “self” merges with everything thus becoming nothing. The Bible describes this dark state of “void” as the empty place before He created life: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep..” (Gen 1: 2)
The material world is taught to be illusion (Maya) and creation of one’s own reality in the mind is “higher reality” which the Bible describes as “powerful delusion”. It says, “In latter times men will follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim 4: 1 – 3)
God created each creature with distinction and after its own kind. (Gen 1: 21 & 24). He breathed His Spirit (spiritual life) into ONLY man who is uniquely made in God’s image and likeness with His eternal morals and values of Truth, Love, etc. Animals don’t have this unique “spiritual relationship” only animal instinct and animal behavior.
Eastern Mysticism, including Hinduism, doesn’t teach a high view of man but elevates nature and “forces” (demonic beings). This low view of man results in the demise of morals and traditional values of family and Church life. The promotion of abortion and euthanasia, etc is rationalized. After all, if society permits the killing of an animal for self convenience, why not kill a baby in the womb, or an elderly person who no longer contributes to society for self convenience?
Spiritual evolutionism teaches that animals (so-called “extinct species”) must be “protected” to “sustain” the environment (in India there are Rat Temples to preserve rodents) and promotes vegetarianism as a higher choice of food. Paul warns Timothy, “In the last days…. (those who abandon the faith) will order (people) to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected…” (1 Tim 4: 3-5). As society moves away from God’s opinions and His blessings, in opposition it will demand its own spirituality. (For more info http://www.caryltv “Evolution Conspiracy” book and VHS)
If Christians desire physical exercise they should pursue it through fitness programs designed to exercise the body and not lean on Yoga’s spiritual disciplines (combined with body postures) which claim to shorten reincarnation cycles and offer god-consciousness. – the yoking to such pagan teachings are forbidden in the Bible.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Tim 4: 8

 

Also see this review of Caryl’s book “Out of India”

https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/out-of-india-a-true-story-about-the-new-age-movement/

January 2026
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archives

Top Clicks

  • None

a

Blog Stats

  • 1,791,388 hits

Donations

I do not ask or want donations for this blog. God supplies all I need to share His Word and His Way of Salvation. Revelation 21:6 says, “..I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. “