End Times Hysteria Has Paralyzed the Church ("Days of Noah" Pundits Misinterpret Genesis 6)

The birth of the Internet has provided mankind with one of its greatest tools, ever! No one can deny the resourcefulness of this amazing invention. People throughout the world can now communicate with others 3000 miles away, as well as share their personal opinion on any issue on their minds. No other tool has changed the lives of business, big or small, as has the Internet.

One specific group that has sliced off a big chunk of this communications’ pie is religionists, especially evangelicals. They are everywhere, developing and using blogs, web sites, radio shows –and Facebook, of course – to share the Gospel and win souls for Jesus Christ, as was His Great Commission (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:15). The Internet has replaced the local community churches throughout the land, as did its radio and television forerunners, reaching every crevice of humanity, with their messages.

Sadly though, rather than simply preaching and teaching directly from the Bible, there is a great throng of “so-called” evangelicals that are promoting anomalies (such as Ufology, Ancient Aliens, Nephilim, Transhumanism, Zombies, and a myriad of spiritualistic phenomenon) that really have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, one of the more effective catch phrases being used to ostensibly validate their objectives is taken from Matthew 24:37, which say that the confirmation of the soon return of Christ will be the same  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

They interpret this to mean that the prevalent times spoken of in Genesis 6 relate more so to the presence of fierce giants roaming the streets and attacking humans. This premise ostensibly validates the works of many authors who write books about Nephilim, UFO’s Extraterrestrials, ancient aliens and other supernatural phenomenon that is gripping at the fearful hearts of their fellow Christians. Most certainly, this provocative agenda sells books and movies, of which sinister forces are promoting.
One of the biggest proponents of this theory is author and end times aficionado Chuck Missler, whose website includes the following:

“There continues to be a flow of articles, books, and entertainment programs dealing with UFOs, aliens, and the like.¹ Many wonder if there is a connection or relationship to the prediction of our Lord in Luke 17:26:

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man."

The emergence of the "Nephilim" was what brought about the Flood of Noah. Who were they? Is the current interest in the possibility of "alien" involvements somehow of Biblical relevance?

The Nephilim

Genesis 6 indicates that the "sons of God" (B'nai Elohim) took wives of the "daughters of men," which gave birth to the "Nephilim." What on earth was going on?

The B'nai Elohim is a term that refers to angels. It occurs four times in the Old Testament ² and is rendered "Angels of God" in the ancient Septuagint translation.³ The intrusion of certain angels into the human family resulted in unnatural offspring termed Nephilim, which derives from the Hebrew naphal (to fall), or the Fallen Ones. (The Greek Septuagint renders this term gigantes, which actually means "earth-born." This is often misunderstood to mean "giants"--which they also happen to have been, incidentally).”

There may be some partial truth to this theory. Our mission is not to debate this issue other than to say that Jesus’ main reference to the “Days of Noah” concerned itself primarily with “man” not evil spiritual entities. While the following group of scripture does make reference to the possible theory that fallen angels descended to earth and impregnated some human woman and supposedly their offspring became giants (the Nephilim), God is addressing the conditions of the times as they related to His creation: Man!

 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,² That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.³ And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.⁴ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.⁵ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.⁷ And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, (Genesis 6:1-8, KJV).

Obviously, by virtue of the words above that are underlined and marked in bold, God does not appear to be addressing so much the possible offspring of fallen angels, but with man! God was upset with the wickedness and every imagination of man’s heart which was only evil continually! Obviously (again) what we are witnessing in today’s society is the exponential increase of evil in man’s heart, which was the case in “the Days of Noah.” But the theorists who hold a monopoly on the prevailing evangelical agenda, place a greater significance on the possibility that we now have Nephilim on every corner of the earth, ready to destroy mankind, rather than fulfilling the great commission to preach the gospel and to attend to God’s work (see James 1:26-27). Obviously, focusing on titillating topics such as Nephilim, UFO’s, Transhumanism and other ghosts and goblins appeals more to the newly converted Christian; but this should not be so with church leaders, teachers, pastors and evangelists, who can make more money discussing or writing books about these supernatural anomalies.

Even worse is an element among evangelicals are those who focus primarily on “prophecy (supposedly the ability to predict the future)" by interpreting political and economic headline news and associating them with certain scripture. These folks come from primarily the ultra-conservative right-wing of American evangelicalism, which see every liberal entity as the enemy. They obviously cannot make the distinction between Americanism and theology, believing in their hearts that people who are not registered, conservative Republicans, must be of Satan.

Unfortunately, most of these folks hang their theological and worldview hats on the erroneous Premillennial Dispensationalism doctrine, which promotes escaping the increase of tribulation through a secret Rapture to Heaven, as well as placing the State of Israel as being more important than Jesus and His command to pick up our crosses and follow Him!

Sadly, they ignore the fact there exists a more sinister force that has been opposing Christ since the days of the Pharisees, maybe even before then. These diabolical Mammonites are controlled by their lust for wealth and worldwide power, which they have already obtained to a great degree. They have (through stealth) infiltrated most countries and usurped most of their resources including the financial and media empires throughout most of the free world, including the United States of America. Many (if not most) of these evangelicals unwittingly (or by choice) are supporting the Mammonite agenda as their Zionism ideology clearly indicates.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to note the last message Jesus Christ gave His followers before He ascended to Heaven, is one of the most ignored scripture in the entire Bible. Jesus repeatedly told us that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, (Matthew 24:36).

Jesus reiterates this command as He responds to their question concerning the restoration of His kingdom, reminding them about a more important event will transpire which will provide them with the power to endure all things, mostly for preaching the Gospel and fulfilling His will”

⁷ And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

¹¹ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, (Acts 1:7-11).

But, evangelical pundits (especially on the Internet) care more about their esoteric and profit agenda, than following and obeying the commands of God!

For information about his books, blogs and other websites, please click on Joe Ortiz.

Debunking Joe Farah's Jewish Fables by Rev. Ted Pike

History of Palestine (Peace between Jews and Palestinians)

Pictures of Palestine before 1947

Pictures of Palestine before 1948

Encyclopedia of the Palestinian Problem by Issa Nakhleh

November 1, 2012 - The following article addresses part of the history of Palestine before 1948, provided by the Reverend Ted Pike, published with his consent and approval. For those who may be interested in the peaceful existence in Palestine before 1948, visit the links above.

Debunking Joe Farah's Jewish Fables 

by Rev. Ted Pike

Editor's note:

Golda Meir largely invented the lie that Arabs virtually didn't exist in Palestine before the Zionists arrived, that Palestine was a desolation of sand dunes which Jewish agricultural genius and hard work made "blossom like the rose."

Last week Pam Geller loudly proclaimed this falsehood to her evangelical (largely WorldNetDaily) following. Zionist propaganda claims Arabs only came into Palestine to profit from Israeli prosperity. It says 800,000 fled in 1948 (despite Israel's pleadings to stay) so that invading Arab legions could annihilate the Jews, upon which the Arabs would return and seize Palestine.

Because Zionists like Geller and WND owner Joseph Farah continue to feed these lies to millions of gullible evangelicals, it is necessary to at least annually repost this article.The Bible warns Christians to ignore “Jewish fables.” (Titus 1:14) In 1948 Israel violently drove half of the Arab population from Palestine, stealing land on which they had lived and farmed for thousands of years. To distract the world from this outrage, Israel created an elaborate tapestry of fables deluding generations of evangelicals and much of the world.

The most audacious claim of such propaganda is that the Palestinians were not deprived of their land because the Palestinians as a land-owning people never existed! They never inhabited Palestine in significant numbers and only entered in the 20 th century as squatters, benefitting from the hospitality and prosperity of Israel. Zionist mythology also teaches that the number of Jews living in much of Palestine, especially in Jerusalem, always exceeded the Arabs, strengthening Israel’s right to remain the dominant occupant.

The Encyclopedia of the Palestine Problem explains Israel’s strategy:“In order to create an alleged justification for the crime of genocide they have committed against the Palestinian Arabs, the Zionists have tried to convince the world that Palestine was practically uninhabited, ‘A Land Without People For a People Without a Land.’ They created and propagated the myths that the Palestinian Arabs were nomads or semi-nomads without a culture and a civilization, that the Palestinians had neither a national identity nor existence, that the Palestinians lacked an economic structure and roots in the land.” [1]

Those accepting these lies include Joseph Farah, owner and editor-in-chief of WorldNetDaily. In his recent article “The Phony Mideast Debate,” he says, “Today, billions of people all over the world actually believe that the ‘Palestinians’ are just in their quest for a homeland they never knew, a homeland that never existed, a homeland that is as fictitious as their rewritten historical narrative.”Farah claims that Palestine, even after World War II, was “still largely unpopulated, untamed, undeveloped,” with most of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and adjacent regions being Jewish. Most Arabs, he says, became interested in coming to this near-waste land only after Zionists brought economic and agricultural prosperity. They then flooded in as migrants from Jordan and other Mideast countries "coinciding with Jewish immigration and ingenuity."

Zionist propaganda also claims that when war became imminent between the Israelis and Arabs in 1948, this large indigent population of about 800,000, possessing no loyalty to the land, fled to safer countries. After the war, Israel says they then preposterously claimed they were driven out of their "homeland," a land they never owned! Israel, says Farah, has been falsely “recast in the public’s mind as Goliath,” persecuting the Palestinian outcasts and occupying their ancestral property.

“This is not occupation, as the world suggests." Farah contends, "This is a people defending their one and only homeland against the most vicious and unjustified attacks imaginable.”

From Farah to Facts

In 1882, the Jewish population of Palestine was about 24,000. In 1914, the entire population of Palestine was estimated at 634,133 Muslim and Christian Arabs and 55,413 Jews. In 1920, after the British mandate, the official census showed the Arab population, both Muslim and Christian, at nearly 600,000, still greatly exceeding the Jews, who numbered 66,574. Until 1948 the Arab population continued to exceed the Jewish by roughly 2:1. [2] Farah says Jews for centuries had dominated the region, "the majority of the population of Jerusalem and surrounding areas being Jewish." Yet the last official British census in 1931 found Arabs in Jerusalem outnumbered Jews 2:1 with surrounding areas averaging 98% Arab! The Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question in the United Nations found in 1948 that, except for Haifa, "the Arabs have a clear majority over the Jews." [3]

So much for the Israeli/Farah claim that for centuries Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding areas have outnumbered a tiny Arab population!

During World War I, Arabs fought with the Allies against the Turks in hope of acquiring national independence. After the Balfour Declaration in 1917, the people of Palestine were considered by the League of Nations a “provisionally independent nation” very close to sovereignty. By 1947 Palestinian Arabs played a predominant role in government under the British. 

“The total number of government officials was 44,688 persons, of whom 4,314 were British, 30,178 Arabs, 9,276 Jews, and 920 others.” [4] Arabs also vastly outnumbered Jews in municipal councils and leadership in hundreds of primarily Arab towns and cities throughout Palestine.

The land of Palestine had been a breadbasket of agricultural plenty going back to the original inhabitants, the Canaanites and later Philistines (for whom Palestine is named). Enjoying a climate similar to California’s, the Old Testament description was a “land that flows with milk and honey.” Certainly, much of Palestine in recent centuries had been over-grazed, particularly the mountainous hill country of Judea surrounding Jerusalem. Such barrenness caused visitor Mark Twain to describe it as barren, with hardly an Arab to be seen. Yet, at nearly the same time, “Lawrence Oliphant, who visited Palestine in 1887, wrote that Palestine’s Valley of Esdraelon was ‘a huge green lake of waving wheat, with its village-crowned mounds rising from it like islands; and it presents one of the most striking pictures of luxurious fertility which it is possible to conceive.’” [5] 

Numerous pre-20th century accounts, recounted in the Encyclopedia of the Palestine Problem, describe it as a veritable cornucopia of every kind of agricultural produce, with excess exported by the Palestinians even to the nations of Europe.

The Encyclopedia confirms that before 1948 “these Arab towns and villages were not merely place names on a map. They were developed communities containing farms, factories, stores and schools, with an infrastructure of doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, merchants, mechanics, industrialists, workers, and farmers which would be the envy of any developing country today…Before 1948 they resided in 12 cities, 8 major towns, and 830 small towns and villages. Arab homes in the cities were either luxurious stone villas with beautiful gardens, or apartments with 2-5 bedrooms. These residences were well-furnished with modern furniture and household goods. No Arab home of the middle and upper classes contained less than eight valuable Persian carpets. All these homes and their furnishings were usurped by Israel.” [6]

General Moshe Dayan tells the truth:

“We came to this country which was already populated by Arabs, and we are establishing a Hebrew, that is, a Jewish state here. Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you, because these geography books no longer exist. Not only do the books not exist, the Arab villages are not there either. Nahalal arose in the place of Mahalul; Gevat in the place of Jibta; Sarid in the place of Haneifa and Kefar Yehoshua in the place of Tellshaman. There is not one place built in this country that did not have a former Arab population.” [7]

After 1948, Israel took over 12 cities and large towns and 526 small towns and villages. They bulldozed the towns and villages, building new towns with Jewish names. [8]The Encyclopedia extensively documents from British records that, far from Palestinians depending on Jewish prosperity, the Zionists were permeated with Marxist/collectivist values, resulting in eventual failure of the "kibbutz" experiment. Fairly new to Mideast agriculture, they were largely inefficient, dependent upon regular massive infusion of Western Jewish capital. [9] Despite a general Israeli policy of boycott of Palestinian goods and services, the Palestinians, with a rapidly growing population in 1948 of 1,444,274, were both politically, socially, and economically racing toward UN-sponsored nationhood in 1948.

Zionist Terror Ends Palestinian Dreams

Such prosperity came to an abrupt, horrific end after the Deir Yassin massacre by Zionist Irgun terrorists on April 9-10, 1948 and many subsequent Jewish outrages and atrocities, panicking 800,000 Palestinians into flight. 

“In 1948 the Zionists seized 90% of Arab-owned citrus groves, packaging and storage facilities, as well as that year’s crops, looting the prosperous Arab citrus growers, making them destitute refugees.” 

The same was true of all aspects of Palestinian industry, including olive oil, weaving, textile, tobacco, leather, dairy, wheat, fishing, and construction. In reality, confiscation of Palestinian resources largely constituted the “miracle” of Israel’s sudden abundant agriculture, of which the new state began boasting soon after expulsion of the Palestinians. 

This delighted evangelicals worldwide who saw it as stunning fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, making the "desert blossom as the rose." In reality, Israel now possessed thousands of acres of citrus, olives, wheat, etc. seized from the foremost agriculturists of the Middle East, Palestinian orchardists and farmers. The Encyclopedia: “The economic achievements of Israel today are built totally on the capital base of lands, property, and possessions usurped from the Palestinian Arabs.” [10]

Is Israel’s massively documented theft of Palestinian land, as well as Palestinian demand for compensation, really a “phony argument,” as Farah contends? For the safety of his eternal soul, I sincerely hope he has spoken out of ignorance of what really happened in 1948 and has naively made himself the mouthpiece of Zionist lies. 

It is difficult, however, to believe that Farah, himself of Syrian/Lebanese descent, does not know at least something of the enormous magnitude of injustice towards the Palestinians. If he does yet, continues to parrot Israel’s propaganda (perhaps to please both evangelicals and Jews), there is little doubt where the real phoniness exists: in Farah himself.

Footnotes:

The Encyclopedia of the Palestine Problem, edited by Dr. Issa Nakhleh, Continental Books, P.O. Box 756, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-0756, p. 33. This two-volume work, totaling about 1,800 pages, by this Christian Palestinian barrister and diplomat is available in most university libraries and online at www.palestine-encyclopedia.com.

Ibid., p. 25.
Ibid., p. 26.
Ibid., p. 28.
Ibid., p. 33.
Ibid., p. 34.
Ibid., p. 34.
Ibid, p. 347.
Ibid., p. 49.
Ibid., p. 34.


In his article, Farah also endorses the Zionist heresy that a nation of Christ-rejecting Jews can lawfully inhabit God's Holy Land. While God did promise the land to Abraham because of his faith and continuing obedience, He also told the Hebrews that only by such obedience could they enjoy the same covenant. God told them "because [emphasis mine]you listen to these judgments and keep and do them… the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His loving-kindness which He swore to your forefathers." (Deut. 7:12) 

In dozens of clear Scriptures, God is emphatic that only by obedience could the Hebrews as a people legitimately occupy Canaan. If they disobey, they will be expelled. Someday, a believing remnant of Jews will give Christ such obedience. But for the present, a wicked, Christian-persecuting Israel remains a counterfeit return. It is Babylon the Great, the Great Harlot of Rev. 17, promoting ascent of anti-Christ, not Jesus Christ. (See, 'Babylon the Great' is Israel)Scriptures laying down God's conditional terms for occupation include: Lev. 18:28; 26:27-46; Num. 14:23; Deut. 4:26-27; 6:18; 7:12; 28:21, 25, 37, 41, 56-64; 29:28; Deut. 30; Ezek. 13:9; Jer. 7:15; 29:13-14.

(Article originally written July 12, 2010) Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative watchdog organization.

Pre-Trib Rapture - A Staged Event

By Dave MacPherson

 

     Can pretrib rapturists find support for their view in the stages of a Jewish wedding, as some assert?
      Every encyclopedia I checked (including the Jewish Encyclopedia) states that there are two stages in such a wedding: the "kiddushin" (betrothal) and the "nissuin" (marriage).
      Although some pretrib leaders find proof for their rapture view in Jewish wedding stages, there is widespread disagreement among them over how many stages there are.
      In his comprehensive book "The End Times Passover," media figure Joe Ortiz refers to John Walvoord's book "The Rapture Question" which accepts R. C. H. Lenski's view that a Hebrew marriage has three stages.
      Charles Monk sees 5 "customs" (stages).
      Arnold Fruchtenbaum has found 6 "steps" (stages) that Thomas Ice has appropriated.
      The ReturnToGod.com site observes 12 "steps" (stages).
      Not to be outdone, Renald Showers actually sees 17 "customs" (stages).
(Think of all the work to boil down 17 or even 5 stages into a two-stage second coming!)
      An internet blog titled "For the Love of Truth" is representative of not a few that reveal that it's dangerous as well as unscriptural to base a pretrib rapture outlook on Jewish traditions. In an article titled "Jewish Wedding and Rapture" the same blog has some startling information:
      It says: "Jewish Wedding traditions being discussed are the rabbinic teachings found within the Talmud and Kabbalah." (Not only are these sources occultic and anti-Biblical but the Talmud is filled with lies and blasphemy about Jesus that are as irrational as they are totally evil!)
      It reveals that certain pretrib leaders "have taken snippets of the various Jewish wedding traditions" and "rearranged and reinvented the content and events and then made the declaration that the Jewish wedding tradition is really the story of Christ and the rapture...."
      It also states that "the seven blessings [during the ceremony] obviously have nothing to do with Jesus Christ or His return," adding that "Nowhere does the Bible tell us to interpret scripture by looking to man's traditions."
      Incidentally, it's well-known that pretrib rapture defenders claim that certain Bible passages are on "church" ground while other passages are on "Jewish" ground and that we should always maintain the Darby-approved "church/Israel separation" principle. However, with impunity they can jettison that principle in the twinkling of an eye if they need support for their 182-year-old novelty from occultic Jewish traditions or from Lev. 23's Jewish feasts!
      Since far too many pretrib leaders seem to be "stagestruck," and since their strickenness has rubbed off on me, I hereby share a personal "revelation" I've had lately that I've titled "The Seven-Stage Coming (I Thess. 4)" which proves that pretribs should be looking for a seven-stage coming and not just a measly two-stage coming:
    
1 - The Lord descends.
2 - The shout.
3 - The archangel's voice.
4 - The trumpet of God.
5 - The dead rise.
6 - The caught up (rapture).
7 - The meeting in the air.
    
     Yes, seven stages. And isn't 7 supposed to be a perfect number?
      Something else. Have you noticed the unnatural language pretribs like to use? If a friend visits me, goes away for a month, and then comes back and visits me again, he never says: "I'm back for the SECOND stage of my one visit." But pretribs use wording like this when they place SEVERAL YEARS between their two stages!
      During their short history pretrib promoters have disagreed on many things in addition to the number of stages in a Jewish wedding. They have also disagreed on which Jewish feast is symbolic of a pretrib rapture, and disagreed on which symbol in the book of Revelation is the best "pretrib" symbol. (For 30 years Darby's basis for a pretrib rapture was Rev. 12:5's "man child" that is caught up!).
     Finally, it's apparent that pretrib teachers are experts in arithmetic - the MULTIPLYING of stages which has caused a lot of DIVIDING among Christians!

     For 300 pages of the most accurate documentation anywhere on the long covered up but now revealed history of the pretrib rapture view, I invite you to obtain Dave MacPherson's book "The Rapture Plot" at Armageddon Books and other online stores. Google "Scholars Weigh My Research" to see how eminent scholars have evaluated his discoveries. Also Google "Pretrib Rapture Secrets," "Pretrib Rapture Secrecy" and "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty."


For information about Joe Ortiz books, please click this link> (The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access Joe's blogs and web sites, please click this link>Joe Ortiz.

The True Enemies of the World are the Mammonites!

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, (1Timothy 6:10).

In my efforts to bring forth truth as to what is truly happening to the world, I have found myself pointing out various culprits (such as Zionists, Illuminati, Freemasons, Bilderbergs, Jesuits  and other clandestine forces that are the vogue (especially) of pundits. One of the main problems is those who always have defense responses against identifying these rogues, who come up with some rationale explanations. For the most part, they instantly lump one as being a “conspiracy fanatic” and more often of being an “Anti-Semite.”

In order to overcome being branded as either a conspiracy fanatic and or an anti-Semite, I felt the need to zoom in on that one undeniable characteristic trait that is inherent in these culprits is their “love of money!”

It can be argued by members of the Illuminati, Freemasons, Jesuits, et al that their purpose is honorable, well-intended to help their respective communities and constituents, and even for the overall good of humanity. Zionism (the philosophical and political claim that the Hebrew people throughout the world have the right to return to what they consider to be their homeland), is a well-intended goal, one that is supported by over 70 million Christians throughout the world, especially in the United States. To question this ideology will quickly subject a person to be branded as being “Anti-Semitic”

However, when we zoom in and clearly identify the true enemy, by pointing out their true characteristics, no one can deny that the motivating force behind these people is their love of money, better labeled Mammon as we see in the Bible. This is the reason I coined the phrase “Mammonites” when addressing their crimes against humanity. Who are The Mammonites?

 The Bible says we cannot serve both God and Mammon." Mammon is "the love of money."

 1. Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

2. Luke 16:9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

3. Luke 16:11
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

4. Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. W.E. Vine’s Greek Dictionary defines this word Mammon:

 “Mammon: Greek=mamonas, a common Aramaic word for "riches," akin to a Hebrew word signifying "to be firm, steadfast" (whence "Amen"), hence, "that which is to be trusted;" Gesenius regards it as derived from a Hebrew word signifying "treasure" (Gen. 43:23); it is personified in Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:9,11,13.”

While the ancient Greeks understood that “mammon” could be trusted to secure them peace, provisions and prosperity, throughout the word of God we are told that temporal and worldly riches are not the goal of God’s disciples. We are told to store our treasures in Heaven. What are these treasures? The Bible clearly tells us that:

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other, (Galatians 5:22-26).”  Who are these that manifest the above mentioned qualities? Jesus tells us explicitly, that “You will know my children by their fruit, (Matthew 7:16).

Therefore, any individual person, group (Christian or otherwise) who practices a life that goes against what God’s words tell us above, is the enemy of mankind. Those whose involvement entails the search and activity to gain riches and treasure for himself and his cohorts, are the true enemies of God!

Jesus’ last message to us focused in on this, making it the most important task ahead for all believers:

^“ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

²⁶ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

²⁷ For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

²⁸ Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom, Matthew 16:24-28).

Anyone doing otherwise than what Jesus Christ expects from His faithful believers and followers, is a “Mammonite” and I will always challenge you and your true purpose in life, especially if it tries to usurp the Glory of Jesus Christ!

Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism (or, Armageddonism and Politics)

                                       by Dave MacPherson

    As always, we are excited whenever prolific research and eschatology writer extraordinaire, Dave MacPherson, submits articles to be published in our blog. Known as the top expert on the origins of the "Pre-Tribulation to Heaven" mythology, our dear friend and fellow servant sent us this article to comment on today's "end times" hysteria that has taken over the mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
    Both Dave and I agree that (on the Internet, at least) Christians have become more absorbed with political and supernatural trivia (such as UFO's, Nephilim, New World Order conspiracies, and other demonic anomalies), which are stifling the great commission to preach and practice the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both of us also agree that one of the prime culprits is the injection of the premillennial dispensational doctrine concocted by ersatz theologians John Nelson Darby and C.I. Scofield, who gleaned the Rapture myth from the Irvingites of England in the mid 1800's. Following are his most recent comments on this topic: 

    First , let's get something straight. Many American evangelicals are not looking for the "world's end" or "judgment day" or an "Antichrist" or even the "second coming."
    Although these phrases are in their theology books, the same books emphasize what they are waiting (and would almost die) for: the "any-moment pretribulation rapture" - a sudden coming of Christ occurring not only BEFORE the final second coming but (most importantly) even BEFORE the apocalyptic "great tribulation" (a.k.a. "Antichrist's reign of terror") preceding the second coming!

    So what's been the appeal of the 182-year-old pretrib rapture view? Although it was dreamed up and first publicly aired in Britain in 1830 (and made history by promising Christians an unheard of lift-off from earth before the horrors of Antichrist's reign), it wasn't fully accepted and merchandised in America until almost a century later.

    Hal Lindsey, the big rapture guru of the late 20th century, ended his bestselling book "The Late Great Planet Earth" with the word "MARANATHA" which pretribulation rapturists know is a code word for their rapture. And the same literal removal from earth at any moment lurks in Lindsey's other writings.

   Tim LaHaye, the current rapture tycoon whose "Left Behind" bonanza has left even Lindsey behind, knows how to milk the rapturized masses. After his 1992 pro-rapture book "No Fear of the Storm" was published, it was revealed that he had sloppily omitted 49 words when airing the pretrib originator's brief handwritten "revelation" account (the same 49 words Thomas Ice had somehow omitted when he had reproduced it three years earlier!).
    After sales slowed down, it was re-issued as "Rapture Under Attack" and later on as "The Rapture" (with the same 49 missing words!). But not even these title changes seemed to help things, and merchandiser LaHaye knew it was time to come up with some other titles that could further his rapture obsession. And Jerry Falwell never seemed to miss an opportunity, when
preaching, to remind his audience that he most certainly believed in the "pretribulational rapture" view. I can almost believe that the middle name of many Christian Right leaders is "Rapture"!
    When checking pre-19th century prophetic development, one finds that "dispensational" thinking as well as Christian Zionistic roots had been in existence long before the emergence of pretribulation rapturism. Even the prophetic word "rapture" had been in print well before the 19th century - but always in reference to only an after-the-tribulation coming and never to a
pretribulation coming which was never a part of any organized church or any official Christian theology before 1830!

    Many are still unaware that the pretrib rapture idea was first publicly aired in the fall of 1830 in "The Morning Watch" (hereafter: TMW), a little-known quarterly journal published by the Irvingites (followers of famed London preacher Edward Irving) from 1829 to 1833 in Britain. Not only was this innovative publication years ahead of John Darby and his Plymouth Brethren colleagues, rapturally speaking, but in it we find shocking militancy that has been observed recently in Christian Zionist preachers like John Hagee, Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, Jan Markell etc.
    As early as the September 1830 issue of TMW (pp. 510-514) a writer declared that only worthy Christians (which he labeled "Philadelphia") would be raptured before "the great tribulation" and less worthy ones (labeled "Laodicea") would be left on earth. The September 1832 issue of the same journal (pp. 6-7) saw "Jews" as well as the less worthy Christians left behind.

    But the March 1833 issue (p. 147) said that only "the Jews" would be excluded from the rapture. So within a short period of time the Irvingites, while following the same Scriptures, revealed their innate anti-Jewishness by switching from a "church/church" dichotomy to a "church/Israel" dichotomy after convincing themselves that only "the Jews" would deserve a future tribulation!
    After their adoption of an escapist view that no leading Greek scholar had ever taught before 1830, the same early pretrib rapturists, feeling superior, began exhibiting some vices that often come to powerless persons who suddenly obtain power - vices like pride, hatred and persecution of others, playing God, and so on.

    Sounding like Hagee and other warlike warmongers, TMW expressed even more delusional, rapture-inspired fantasies: The September 1830 issue (p. 514), looking ahead to the hoped for "great escape," declared that the raptured believers would then collectively become "the victorious ministerer of the great tribulation" upon those left behind!
    In March of 1832 the same Irvingite journal (p. 3) taught that the "vials" of wrath in the book of Revelation "shall be poured out by the risen [raptured] saints"! And TMW in September 1832 (p. 27) went even further and announced that the collective group of raptured ones will "wield the thunders of its power against the dragon [Satan] and his angels, and cast them down from heaven"!
    Note that these fanatics were more than willing to be the "chosen ones" to pour out tribulation and wrath on those not worthy to be "chosen": the Jews. (I'm glad to report that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina is now the only North American institution that contains a complete set of every issue of "The Morning Watch." I recently gave SEBTS my vast collection of rare historical material including those issues and Robert Norton's valuable 1861 book on the Irvingites, a copy of which I found while researching throughout Britain.)

    We've just had a glimpse of vengeful and power-crazy fanaticism within the very earliest pretrib rapture group. But where in the Bible did those deluded Britishers find support for such "rapture rage"? And where are the followers of Christ commanded to pick up a sword and conquer or convert non-believers with it - or even support such sword-bearers? Why have so many
    Christian Zionists, who seemingly give more attention to governments than to their Gospel, turned the Great Commission into the Great Commotion?

    Many of the above historical details are in my 300-page book "The Rapture Plot," the most complete and documented history of the 182-year-old pretribulation rapture merchandised today by Hagee, LaHaye, Ice, Strandberg, Lindsey, Swaggart, Van Impe, Markell, etc. for their pet agendas - an escapist view still held by Americans and others who have had little persecution!
    To see my web articles, Google or Yahoo "Pretrib Rapture Diehards,"
"X-Raying Margaret," ""Edward Irving is Unnerving," "The Unoriginal
John Darby," "Famous Rapture Watchers," "Thomas Ice (Bloopers),"
"Pretrib Expert John Walvoord Melts Ice," "Pretrib Rapture Secrets,"
"The Rapture Index (Mad Theology)," "Wily Jeffrey," "Pretrib Rapture
Secrecy," "Appendix F: Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Pretrib Hypocrisy,"
"Pretrib Rapture Politics," "Christ's return is NOT imminent," "Islam
will purify Jews and Christians" and "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty."
BTW, my book "The Rapture Plot" is available at online bookstores
like Armageddon Books.

    Do Hagee and his fellow preachers really love Jewish persons as much as they say they do? Then why do they pervert Scripture to try to get themselves raptured off earth before their future and final "tribulation" instead of wanting to remain on earth during that period to minister love to ALL of earth's citizens including Jews and Muslims?

    Hagee stated on July 19, 2006 that "The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West...." Which Bible verse inspired him to utter this - the one that says "Love ye your enemies" or the one saying "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"?
    It would appear that Hagee and other pretribulation rapture traffickers and Christian Zionists are trying to identify with the predicted group whose love will "wax cold" (a la Matthew 24:12) during what Hagee etc. see in the future as earth's darkest days!

[What They Are Saying About ... THE RAPTURE PLOT by Dave MacPherson:

 

Gary DeMar (President American Vision): "A majority of prophecy writers and speakers teach that the church will be raptured before a future tribulational period. But did you know that prior to about 1830 no such doctrine existed. No one in all of church history ever taught pretribulational rapture. Dave MacPherson does the work of a journalistic private investigator to uncover the truth....The Rapture Plot is the never-before-told true story of the plot - how plagiarism and subtle document changes created the 'mother of all revisionisms.' A fascinating piece of detective work." Robert H. Gundry (Professor Westmont College): "As usual MacPherson out hustles his opponents in research on primary sources. C. S. Lovett (President Personal Christianity): You don't read very much of Dave MacPherson's work before you realize he is a dedicated researcher. Because his work has been so honest and open his latest work The Rapture Plot has produced many red faces among some of the most recognized rapture writers of our time. When their work is compared to his it is embarrassing for them to see how shallow their research is." R. J. Rushdoony (President Chalcedon): "Dave MacPherson has been responsible for major change in the eschatology of evangelical churches by his devastating studies of some of the central aspects thereof. In The Rapture Plot MacPherson tells us of the strange tale of 'rapture' writings, revisions, cover-ups, alterations and confusions. No one has equaled MacPherson in his research on the 'pretrib rapture.' Attempts to discredit his work have failed...." About the Author: Born 1932 of Scotch/English descent Dave MacPherson is a natural for British historical research. His calling was journalism. Receiving a BA in English in 1955 he spent 26 years as a newsman reporting and filming many notable events persons presidents and dignitaries.]

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It's Not What You Did, It's What You Didn't Do That Will Cost You!

Many people doubt their salvation and worry much whether God is merciful enough to forgive all of our sins, especially our own unspeakable sins that few know about, except for close friends and family members. We speak not about those sins such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, larceny, embezzlement, sins that are unlawful and require jail time. We speak about sins of omission such as failing to adhere to the role designed for a spouse, treating each other in a respectful and honorable manner, and failing to submit to one an another as God has ordained in his word. Now, I’ll probably get many negative responses with this particular message, especially by the wives in your respective families. So be it; this message is Bible truth.

The first subject matter deals with the formula God established in regard to marriage, one that we believe works well by those who practice it: Submission! We find this formula in Ephesians 5:21-33. Oh, I can hear the groans and moans already, especially by the younger and more liberal-minded wives who say, “Here comes one of those submit to your husband sermons!”

“We are living in the 21st century and those verses need to be applied by today’s standards,” lament many of today’s wives, especially by (believe it or not) Christian woman. “Besides,” they complain, “you have no idea what I have to deal with this lummox I married.”

This is true! Especially when one considers the images that the Pharisaical-controlled media have subtly foisted on society these last 50 years or so, which demasculinize the male image and conversely give a preponderantly masculine character to cause (a female) to take on male characteristics. While there is proof that the females throughout history were denied numerous ‘rights’ (voting, owning property, entering male dominated vocations, etc), there has been a concerted effort to focus largely on promoting the female as a strong, independent and ‘take charge’ person, characteristics that often diminish traditional male role models.

There is no need to debate this at this time, albeit it would require about ten years before any mutually acepted and rational conclusion could be realized. Therefore, we will focus on the biblical mandate as difficult as it may be to make the salient point being addressed in this article. Actually, if the reader will take the time to read Ephesians 5:21-33 before moving forward, it will become abundantly clear that the man’s responsibility in this formula carries a heavier burden, one that requires his life. (Please go back and click this group of scripture, if you haven’t done so already) and then return to the following paragraph.

Another issue that will also incur an indignant outcry from woman is what Paul speaks about the role a wife should play concerning teaching and preaching in a church setting. Brother Al Shannon, who writes for the BIBLE PROOF, in his most recent article addressed this issue in his article entitled “Not Every Saint is a Preacher.” He stated thus:

“Can Women Preach The Word? It takes a Saint to be a preacher, but not every Saint is a preacher. This is evident because women can’t serve as a gospel preacher because they were forbidden to publicly address the congregational assembly (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Women were prohibited from teaching the Word of God anywhere, (1Timothy 2:11-15). They were not to take that authority away from men. Women with their godly behavior could win her own husband to Christ, but were prohibited using the Word of God to do the same. (1 Peter 3:1)

The prohibition of women teaching and preaching was only in regards to the Word of God. Aged women could teach younger women to be chaste keepers at home, to love their husband and children, (Titus 2:3-5). Women can sing songs of praise to God as all Christians are commanded, however, they can’t lead the singing. (Ephesians 5:19),” [Al Shannon, BIBLE PROOF, August 17, 2012].

Shannon’s reminder of this biblical proof must have taken tremendous courage to write. Most Christian churches fail to preach this part of the Bible, and it’s understandable why. Obviously, if a preacher delivered such a sermon, you can well imagine that on the way home from church the husband would be the recipient of those peering eyes from his wife, as if to say, “Don’t you even think about it and don’t you even go there!”  Many church-active and studiously trained Bible-based woman, probably do know their Bible better than most husbands.

 Nevertheless, the wise woman (in such a case) has an opportunity to approach her husband and ask him to take a more leadership role in the family by studying and becoming more knowledgeable of the Bible than her.

Lastly, many married couples have skipped over a very important part of the Bible, where we are told in Matthew 13:57-58 that a Prophet is never without honor except in his country and within his own house:

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  

The most interesting aspect to this group of scripture is verse 58, which confirms that very little positive work can be accomplished under a familial or communal atmosphere where exists little faith. How many anointed and dedicated men’s ministry have failed for this exact reason? How many great ministries have failed to get off the ground because the family members, collectively did not practice what is stated in Ephesians 5:21-33?

Understandably (and I have experienced this to a great degree), whenever you start sharing the word of God to close friends and family members, especially with the younger generation, they look at you like, “Give me a break. I remember you in your earlier years. Now you got religion and you are Mr. Holy Roller. Where’s that fun guy we remember so well?” Believe it or not, this is felt to a greater degree among married couples:

“Come on honey, save it for your audience,” said the smug wife.

Sadly, with many couples, ‘familiarity does breed contempt’ especially when both of you have experienced many trials together, exposed yourself to numerous emotions that would appear trivial, childish, juvenile and most importantly involving situations you would share with none other but your spouse. Yet, opportunity presents itself that this is the time to reinforce your obligation where the wife MUST submit and show reverence (respect) to her husband. (Excuse me, I had to check my ear plugs due to all that screaming noise).

Nevertheless this brings us back full circle. As we stated at the beginning, God will no longer remember our past sins regardless of how severe. You may have committed murder, rape, robbery, embezzlement and other heinous crimes that many view God is so small He can’t forgive. Oh, you will pay the price in jail or even be executed for that grave peccadillo. But, He will forgive you, and you may still qualify for the Kingdom.

Likewise, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that not all Christians will enjoy the same positional status and have the same honor, responsibility and blessing in God’s Kingdom. It is true that each one who trusts in Christ has the same salvation and will enter into the Kingdom.

But beyond salvation there will be rewards for Disciples according to their service, and each must give an account for failing some of the tasks they were given by God. Many will fail those missions because they believed what worldly pastors taught , based on their own conduct and example. These church leaders may have been charismatic, eloquent, dynamic orators, writers of great books, articles and blogs with great literary flair, being able to spew out scripture and their corresponding numbers like a local auctioneer. But, yet, failing to preach the simple gospel; never realizing that your call was a simple one.

'Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad,' 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

We know Paul worked hard, we know why he endured such persecution, gave up home, family, good name, ease, honors, in order to win souls. He was laboring to be acceptable to Jesus Christ! He knew that he would one day meet the Savior and longed to have Jesus say to him, 'well done, good and faithful servant' (Matthew 25:23). But, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what we did for the glory of Christ will be measured:

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire, (1st Corinthians 3:11-15).

A person who genuinely believes they have been called by Christ to preach or teach the word of God, needs to pray and examine what God truly desires in their lives. Those motivated and committed individuals may go out and pass out 1000 Bible tracts a day, they may go on the Internet and post 35 Bible verses a day, post 100 religious photos on their web site, write 10 books, host a weekly 5 hour radio shows, or pastor a church that has 20 thousand members, and make claim they led 100 souls to Christ, and smugly sit back and say, “Yes, I worked for the glory of God’ I will reap much in the Kingdom. Maybe; however, as the word of God tells us, all of those claims can burn and cause great loss!

What works do not burn? 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law, (Galatians 5:22-23).

God knew beforehand how He would redeem His creation. He designed the manual for life based on His own unique wisdom; which no man or woman has been able to discern or understand why He does the things He does in His own way and in His own time, to form the effective family unit He has always desired.

I am reminded of a sermon given by Charles Spurgeon, on June 19, 1989, about what was said in the book of John 5:2, as the most renowned woman in the world was dealing with taking care of her guests.

“It does not need a strong imagination to picture Mary, probably at that time the widowed mother of our Lord. She is full of love, and of a naturally kind, sympathetic disposition. She is at a marriage; and she is very pleased that her Son is there, with the first handful of his disciples. Their being there has made a greater demand upon the provisions than was expected, and the supply is running short; so she, with an anxiety that was natural to such a mother, of her years, and of her gentle spirit, thinks that she will speak to her Son, and tell him that there is a want, so she says to him, "They have no wine."

There was not much amiss in that, surely; but our Lord, who seeth not as man seeth, perceived that she was putting to the front her motherly relationship, at a time when it was needful that it should be in the background. How needful it was, history has shown; for the apostate church of Rome has actually made Mary a mediatrix, and prayers have been addressed to her; she has even been asked to use her maternal authority with her Son. It was well that our Savior should check anything that might tend to give any countenance to Mariolatry, which has been altogether so mischievous; and it was needful for him to speak to his mother with somewhat more of sharpness than, perhaps, her conduct, in itself alone, might have required.

So her august Son felt bound to say to her, "Woman, what have I to do with thee in such a matter as this? I am not thy son as a miracle-worker; I cannot work to please thee. No; if I work a miracle as the Son of God, it cannot be as your son; it must be in another character. What have I to do with thee in this matter?" And he gives his reason: "Mine hour is not yet come."

It was a gentle rebuke, absolutely needful from the prescience of all that would follow. You can easily picture how Mary took it. She knew Christ's gentleness, his infinite love, how for thirty years there had never come anything from him that had grieved her spirit. So she drank in the reproof, and gently shrank back, thinking much more than she said; for she was always a woman who laid up these things, and pondered them in her heart. She says very little, but she thinks a great deal; and we see in her after conduct, in respect to this very miracle, that she thought very much of what Jesus had said to her. Brethren, you and I, with the very best intentions, may sometimes err towards our Lord; and if he then in any way rebukes us, and puts us back, if he disappoints our hope, if he does not allow our ambitious designs to prosper, let us take it from him as Mary took it from Jesus. Let us just feel that it must be right, and let us in silence possess ourselves in his presence.”

Are you doing the things that Christ wants you to do, or are you still trying to do it your own way?

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For more information about the author and his books, blogs and web sites, please click on Joe Ortiz.