tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78130516996740921712024-03-13T12:09:15.231-07:00YOU ARE ISRAELThis blog has a singular purpose: To demonstrate that the true Nation of Israel, both by faith and by promise, is the entire collection of believers from around the world that call on the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and as Savior.
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Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
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</p>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-11297256568131613122016-02-28T18:28:00.003-08:002016-02-28T18:28:59.317-08:00It is time to stand up and be heard, stand in the gap, and proclaim the truth!<br /><br /><br />
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<br />You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-53012012853359073312015-12-18T15:34:00.002-08:002015-12-18T15:36:24.634-08:00Nation in shock as Yale students enthusiastically sign petition to completely eliminate the First Amendment <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Watch this. This is how easy it will be to stir up those without Jesus Christ to demonize those that exercise their Freedom of Choice and Conscience!</div>
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Voting isn't going to help.<br />
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People need the Heavenly help from the only one that can provide it...Jesus Christ!<br />
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visit the link: http://www.naturalnews.com/052352_Yale_students_First_Amendment_petition.html</div>
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<br />You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-660592254851891132015-12-18T13:16:00.001-08:002015-12-18T13:21:51.389-08:00What choice would you make?Always ask questions! <br /><br />The Light of Truth in God is not afraid of questions!In fact, evidence demands them.<br /><br />Whether one chooses to believe or not, from the Christian viewpoint this is actually the Righteous way to consider man's/Satan's government on earth. One of utter indifference for we are "ambassadors of Christ" and if I'm not mistaken an Ambassador represents the "character" of the country they are from.
Why would we as Christians purposely enter into Satan's sophistry of politics?<br /><br />This is the question everyone must answer for themselves. Politics is a verbal warfare between individuals and groups. Is that the Christian way? Did Jesus ever travel to the Roman seat to plead His case?
<br /><br />Satan's way is force, fear, intimidation, manipulation and above all, deception! Why do we, feeble and helpless mankind, who have no defenses against Satan's way without Faith in the Sheild of Jesus Christ's righteousness, insist we can somehow 'change the world' by using Satan's methods?<br /><br />Remember the early Christian believers circa 100-300AD, where freedom of conscience was attacked to the point whole families were fed to lions in the Roman coliseums or dipped in tar and set ablaze as torches during the nights of revelry for the belief that Jesus Christ was the King of the World.
<br /><br />Would you be willing to be fed to lions or used as a torch for your belief in Jesus Christ?<br />
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You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-74860387765366740302011-01-03T09:22:00.000-08:002011-01-03T09:32:41.661-08:00Um, Pastor Hagee...Abraham was a Gentile.Someone needs to remind Pastor Hagee that when God blessed Abram and later entered into a covenant with him that Abraham was a gentile, not an Israelite. He also needs to be reminded that all, not some of the nation's were to be blessed through Abraham's seed and that seed is Jesus Christ.<br /><br />While I can't speak to Pastor Hagee's motivation I can speak to his doctrine. His doctrine is as crooked as a three-dollar bill as my dad used to say.<br /><br />Pray for Pastor Hagee that he gives up on this terribly false doctrine.<br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n4LEiE1s1qg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n4LEiE1s1qg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-76467745528880020162010-12-30T14:09:00.000-08:002011-01-03T10:24:23.900-08:00What's in a name?I sometimes debate with atheists/evolutionists on various web site forums. It's a bad habit of mine! Usually, for the most part, these discussions can be quite reasonable and cordial. I do try hard to answer questions about the Bible honestly and fairly noting that many atheists it seems have a lot of misconceptions with God's nature and character and the Bible in general. <br /><br />Yet I'm always left with certain questions.<br /><br />For example one question I like to ask the atheists/evolutionists is, "Shouldn't Christopher Higgins change his name?" I mean most names have a meaning attached to them. Mine for example, David, means "beloved." Biblical names have meaning. <br /><br />Christopher is a derivation of a Biblical name, or in this case a title and is of Greek origin. It means "bearing Christ inside". Higgins is obviously an atheist so I doubt he's bearing Christ on the inside (not saying that there isn't hope one day that he will!). I mean to be consistent one would think that the first thing an atheist would want to do is change their name once they become an atheist. It seems to make sense; to automatically want to divulge themselves of any name that has Hebrew/Biblical origins, right?<br /><br />Christopher Hitchens, from what I've been told about his huge brain and wonderful intellect is, apparently, not like "other people" (though he puts his pants on one leg at a time like you and I do). I just think such a grand thinker as Chris is would have "thought" about this and changed his name accordingly.<br /><br />Just an observation. Carry on!You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-21925290853897051072010-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:002011-01-03T16:05:28.079-08:00Has Science Buried God?Generally I don't place entire videos on my blog. I definitely wanted to post this entire video of a debate between Oxford University Professors Richard Dawkins and John Lennox. It's a wonderful debate. Being a young earth creationist of course I'm biased towards Professor Lennox but that shouldn't stop you from taking the time to watch this wonderful exchange between the two highly skilled minds. <br /><br />It's thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part 1</span><br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-UiOQfQTcoA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-UiOQfQTcoA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part 2</span><br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BwsHPI3586s?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BwsHPI3586s?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part 3</span><br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UKvztSn5954?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UKvztSn5954?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 4<br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5yJ8Mvolbfo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5yJ8Mvolbfo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 5<br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K-1Tq_CA904?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K-1Tq_CA904?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 6<br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1Rediv3zWY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1Rediv3zWY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-37429378379204627922010-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:002010-12-28T10:08:28.203-08:00Don’t Ask Don’t TellBy now I’m sure you are all aware that the 17 year-old military policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” regarding gays in the military has been repealed by congress and signed into law today by President Obama.<br /><br />This is not a piece regarding that particular legislation, far from it in fact.<br /><br />I’ve learned over time that, in spite of whatever the people may think, whether pro or con on any issue, the government and the Congress are basically going to do what they want to do. Is that an overly negative view regarding politics and the government and our role in the functions of said government? Not as I see it. I see it as an extremely pragmatic view in light of what King David tells us in the Psalms.<br /><br />In Psalm 2 by inspiration of the Holy Spirit David asks an important question that, whenever things such as this recent vote on this policy (or other governmental action for that matter) comes up I find myself asking.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?”</span> Fortunately God, through the Psalmist, doesn’t leave us alone to answer this question. He provides us the answer:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“The kings of the earth take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us.”</span> And what does God do when these things come to pass when the kings of the earth take counsel against Him? The Psalmist says, <span style="font-style:italic;">“He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”</span><br /><br />No doubt these are great and comforting words! Whenever we see government engaged in things that go against the firm counsel that the Lord has provided in His word it is not for us, the Christian church, to become overly vexed to the point of “wailing and gnashing” our teeth; God has everything under control. Yet this is exactly what will happen in these next few months in the majority of Christian churches across this land. Pastors of all kinds will set their hair on fire and rail against the President, Congress, the Supreme Court and even the local dog catcher (if necessary). They will wail and bemoan this decision by the government as if it was somehow either unexpected or impossible to conceive of. <br /><br />I used to be involved, for a long time in my younger years, in the political process. Before I became a Seventh-day Adventist I made a decided effort to never vote again or take part in the political process. The straw that broke the proverbial camels back for me was the 2003 Governors election in California. That circus literally turned me off of politics for good. <br /><br />I began to see that politics was ideally just a show. Little did I realize that three years later I would step inside a Seventh-day Adventist church and two years after that what I would read from some little old lady (with no more than a third grade education and hit in the head with a rock mind you) that would further enlighten me on the absolute fruitlessness of entertaining political questions. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />“Our work is to watch, and wait, and pray. Search the Scriptures. Christ has given you warning not to mingle with the world. We are to come out from among them and be separate, “and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). Whatever the opinions you may entertain in regard to casting your vote in political questions, you are not to proclaim it by pen or voice. Our people need to be silent upon questions which have no relation to the third angel’s message. If ever a people needed to draw nigh to God, it is Seventh-day Adventists. There have been wonderful devices and plans made. A burning desire has taken hold of men or women to proclaim something, or bind up with something; they do not know what. But the silence of Christ upon many subjects was true eloquence.<br /><br />My brethren, will you not remember that none of you have any burden laid upon you by the Lord to publish your political preferences in our papers, or to speak of them in the congregation, when the people assemble to hear the Word of the Lord.<br /><br />We are not as a people to become mixed up with political questions. All would do well to take heed to the Word of God, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers in political strife, nor bind with them in their attachments. There is no safe ground in which they can stand and work together. The loyal and the disloyal have no equal ground on which to meet. <br /> <br />He who breaks one precept of the commandments of God is a transgressor of the whole law. Keep your voting to yourself. Do not feel it your duty to urge everyone to do as you do.”</span>—Letter 4, 1898. <br /><br />These words from Mrs. White have given me comfort to know that my decision to abstain from voting and the political process was indeed the right one. Moreover it is amazing just how much these words are foreign to many Christians today. Many Christians today hold out all hope that they can change this country through the political process. Such rational seems extremely misplaced in light of the scripture from Psalm 2 and considering the record of this country - especially since the turn of the 20th century. <br /><br />It’s not as if we Christians haven’t been warned that we would see things like this recent decision by the Congress coming to pass. Christians have been given advanced notice by our Lord that things like this would indeed take place. <br /><br />And even though God gives the kings of the earth this instruction He has also given them, as well as us, a way to escape the judgment to come:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.”</span> – Psalm 2:5-12<br /><br />In spite of what the kings of the world may do we can have great confidence in the promises of the Lord and the redemption He promises to those in Christ Jesus.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-40199120538307062102010-12-10T12:51:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:35:33.927-08:00Is it possible...Is it possible that God made the universe so incredibly vast and this planet & human beings so incredibly small and seemingly insignificant so as to humble mankind and to demonstrate His great power and authority? Just asking.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-29850874447836945982010-11-27T13:44:00.000-08:002010-11-28T23:06:15.856-08:00Slowly but Surely...It's coming. Just listen to Judith Shulevitz's comments regarding the state and that the state's position supersedes that of Seventh-day Adventist's and even Jews, which remarkably she happens to be one! There will be a Sunday law one day.<br /><br /><object width="410" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0sjMJN9MD8U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0sjMJN9MD8U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-66374475973302647902010-11-01T16:30:00.000-07:002010-11-01T16:44:33.899-07:00The Sign of the CrossHere's a new video from Nicolas from Presents of God Ministry.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fkPVefr5fqk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fkPVefr5fqk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="385"></embed></object>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-38995778353474431002010-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:002010-06-27T15:07:59.174-07:00Scary God or Scary People?Here's another excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ and the God of the Old Testament from Dr. Brad Cole from the 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. I know you'll enjoy it.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-56875971355401617372010-06-11T22:26:00.000-07:002010-06-27T15:48:31.015-07:00What does a Christian look like?An excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ from Greg Boyd at the recent 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. Enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.heavenlysanctuary.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100509160006227"><span style="font-weight:bold;">What Does A Christian Look Like?</span></a>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-91667152913316847062010-06-01T22:10:00.000-07:002010-11-01T16:43:52.409-07:00The Twin Pillars Of The ReformationMore from Professor Veith and the "Rekindling the Reformation" series. Fascinating how far Christianity has not only come but how far it has fallen since the Reformation began. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/embed?id=588&widthmax=410"></script>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-59025679894687148952010-05-24T22:09:00.000-07:002010-06-01T20:51:33.607-07:00Who is a Jew?Ran into this web site called <a href="http://www.beingjewish.com/identity/whoisajew.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Being Jewish</span></a> while checking on something completely different than what I was looking for (doesn't that always happen?) where this statement was made: "The Torah also forbids a Jewish man to marry a Gentile woman, and if he does, his children by that woman will not be Jewish."<br /><br />Having my curiosity pricked I decided to write and ask a question. My question was: How do you explain Boaz's marriage to Ruth? <br /><br />As you will recall Ruth was a Moabitess. She later was married to Boaz, a Jew (Ruth 4:13). Thus springing from Boaz's loins came Obed who was the grandfather of David who later became the King of Judea (Ruth 4:17).<br /><br />When, or if, I get an answer I'll fill you in.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-69647824573154433062010-05-23T22:45:00.000-07:002010-05-23T22:47:32.674-07:00We can see in the darkFor just a few seconds imagine if you will that you are enclosed in a room totally devoid of any light. At first the room would appear pitch black making it virtually impossible to see anything. And yet, over time however your eyes would begin to adjust to the darkness and something truly amazing would begin to happen. As your eyes adjusted to the darkness something you would begin to see, believe it or not, light!<br /><br />Now I'm not about to get into a lesson on the physics of light because simply put that would be tantamount to the blind leading the blind!<br /><br />What I can say with certainty is that in a darkened room our eyes would adjust to the point that they would actually able to sense single photons of light as they penetrated the walls of the darkened room. These photons penetrate and pass through all forms of matter such as our bodies and walls. These photons of light are what our eyes are able to pick up even if we were to be placed in a blackout room.<br /><br />And this brings me to my point. Being placed in a blacked out room is analogous to, and illustrative of, how the light of the world - Jesus Christ - enlightens the darkened of heart of man. The heart of course isn’t the literal heart but is our mind - our thinking, our reasoning, our understanding and our comprehension.<br /><br />In the first chapter of the Gospel of John the disciple tells us quite plainly in verse 4 that, “In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” Verse 5 continues by saying “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”<br /><br />John is telling us that in Jesus was life and the life of Jesus was the light of men and that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness just can’t understand this. And yet we can understand from a very simple illustration that light does indeed penetrate even a darkened room devoid of is light.<br /><br />This light is still with us and still available to us anytime we choose to seek it through Christ’s Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit our darkened minds can be illuminated to His life and His life, told to us in His word, lightens our path which allows us to see our way even as we travel in the dark!You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-55964337008267249892010-05-23T22:35:00.000-07:002010-05-23T22:49:36.983-07:00Why Can't I Own a Canadian?One of my Facebook friends recently posted this letter from 2002 titled, "Why Can't I Own a Canadian?" Here's the link to the article: <a href="http://bit.ly/aqaCrk">http://bit.ly/aqaCrk</a><br /><br />The letter is rather funny in spots, yet also quite sad in a way, especially when we contemplate the necessity for God to even have to give people such laws in the first place. Looked at wrong and it can give one the impression that God is simply mean, vindictive, harsh, vengeful, arbitrary, exacting and capricious. Personally I think misunderstanding God makes God look bad.<br /><br />For example from the letter is this: "I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?" Now that's funny if for the simple fact that footballs are made from cowhide and not pig skin! However it should not necessarily render such advice from God as being somehow arbitrary or severe. Pigs are after all fairly dirty animals, especially if we can imagine the conditions during the days of the Exodus. The way I see it God was simply dispensing good advice to the children of Israel.<br /><br />It's the same principal as when a parent doesn't want their child to eat all the cookies in the cookie jar before dinner when we really think long and hard about it. Is it because the parent is trying to ruin junior's fun or is it because the parent knows what will happen to the child that eats nothing but cookies? You know, I always post this video when questions about God's guidance as to what to eat or what to touch come up because it illustrates just how good and true God's guidance really is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJCh7bR1Nf0 - this video is quite informative and definitely insightful.<br /><br />Another example might be, "...as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend)...." Hopefully we'll learn to know that garments, i.e. clothing, in the Bible are always a sign of Christ's righteousness...always. So there is actually some deep spiritual connotation to this advice that God dispensed.<br /><br />Job 29: 14 I <span style="font-weight:bold;">put on</span> righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.<br /><br />Isaiah 59:17 For he <span style="font-weight:bold;">put on</span> righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. (Eph. 6;15-17)<br /><br />Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have <span style="font-weight:bold;">put on</span> Christ. The NIV changes "put on" to clothed.<br /><br />Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same <span style="font-weight:bold;">shall be clothed</span> in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.<br /><br />Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have <span style="font-weight:bold;">washed their robes</span>, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.<br /><br />Interestingly the law of God dealt only with marrying flax and woolen garments together which, when we ponder them, are of themselves quite symbolic. I did a presentation at one of the prisons I go to for the inmates regarding this one time.<br /><br />When we question the laws of God without seeking the meaning of them or attempting to understand the reasons why God felt it necessary to give them to the Children of Israel then we run a huge risk in misunderstanding God and His nature and character. Our Heavenly Father is a wonderful, loving, gracious and merciful God. He loved us all in spite of ourselves and all our faults, and demonstrated this most vividly and poignantly on the cross! Our God is the same today as He was yesterday, and yet when we misunderstand Him it is easy to characterize Him as vengeful, arbitrary, vindictive or severe.<br /><br />As I have had it illustrated to me by Dr. Brad Cole of Heavenly Sanctuary in one of their Good News Tour events we as parents tell young kindergartners not to run with scissors in their hands but we don't tell grad school students to do this. Could you imagine a world where we had to? The children of Israel were equivalent to kindergartners, not grad students. God had to bring them along in the wilderness because He had to meet them at the level of understanding the could comprehend.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-66804808814592553842010-05-23T22:11:00.000-07:002010-11-01T16:35:07.742-07:00They Have Made Void Thy Law - Parts I & IIProfessor Veith from the "Rekindling the Reformation" series. Great stuff as always.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/embed?id=594&widthmax=425"></script><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/embed?id=600&widthmax=425"></script>You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-54083810279250965112010-05-10T15:21:00.000-07:002010-05-10T15:25:59.352-07:00Obama's ChoiceIf President Obama's choice for the soon to be vacant Supreme Court seat presently held by John Paul Stevens, Elena Kagan, the U.S. solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is confirmed there will be a grand total of ZERO protestants on the Supreme Court.<br /><br />Gee, that's fairly interesting.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-34051432612866987642010-03-23T10:00:00.000-07:002010-04-03T16:50:28.939-07:00Do you remember your birthday?How many of you actually remember what day your birthday is on? I’m going to guess everyone does. Mine happens to fall on March the 8th and for that reason March 8 is always significant in my life. Now as I’m sure you are aware March 8th doesn’t fall on the same day every year. Sometimes it’s a Monday, as it was this year, or sometimes it’s a Thursday, or a Saturday, or it could fall on another day of the week. Oh, and just in case you have begun planning ahead next year March 8th falls on a Tuesday; mark your calendars!<br /><br />Similarly this Monday, March 29th at sundown marks the historical significance of a time that I would imagine might also be quite meaningful to most of us that have chosen to call themselves Christian, provided we know about it. For you see, just like your birthday the date itself never changes, yet your birthday may fall on a different day from year to year so to then the time of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior occurs during a specific time period, yet never actually falls on the same day from year to year.<br /><br />If you aren’t aware Passover begins this coming Monday at sundown which, according to Hebrew reckoning, is really the 14th day of the month of Nisan. If you’ll recall, from the instructions given to the Hebrew people by God in the book of Exodus chapter 12 the Hebrew people where to set aside a one year-old male lamb, without spot or blemish, on the 10th day of the first month (Ex 12:3-5). On the 14th day of the month that lamb was to be slain and its blood placed upon both the upper and side door posts of the house (Ex. 12:6-7). This was to be done as an act of faith to remind the Hebrews of the protection that the blood of the slain lamb would offer from the visitation of the angel of death.<br /><br />The symbolism of Exodus chapter 12 is still very much with us to this day and that is why Monday, March 29th at sundown should actually be quite significant for you, the Christian. For just like your birthday, it marks the time when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; the Lamb of God slain before the world was first created, was crushed by the tremendous weight of sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, so much so that He actually began to sweat drops of blood. He was then arrested, tried in a sham trial, and shamefully handled mistreated, beaten, bruised and subsequently crucified - all to bring mankind into full reconciliation with God the Father.<br /><br />Thus just before sundown on March 30th which would mark the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan we are privy to remembering our Savior’s on the cross and His last plea to His Father when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” We can remember His last gasping breath, “It is finished.” We can remember this was the eve of the Sabbath where pious and holy men were able to kill the Son of God (this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook) and rush home in time to honor the Sabbath day.<br /><br />This means then that the actual anniversary date that Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, thus holding captivity captive; so that we too could have that blessed hope and faith of being resurrected from the dead and into a new life with Christ will fall on Thursday, April 1st, for He rested in the tomb on what would have been Nisan 16 or this year the 31st of March. So when you awake next Thursday morning remember the truly awesome significance of the day. For it is the anniversary when Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James came to the tomb of Christ to finish anointing Him with the spices they had prepared only to find that the stone covering the sepulcher had been rolled away and two men in shining garments asking the women, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again”<br /><br />Let us prayerfully remember the events of that Passover so long ago when our Lord and Savior, through His death on the cross, sought to bring mankind into greater understanding of the love of our Heavenly Father and the great expense He chose to pay.<br /><br />If you would like a deeper, fascinating description of, and look into the events surrounding the crucifixion of our Lord I invite you to read <a href="http://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/da.asp">chapters 74 to 83</a> in the book, <a href="http://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/da.asp">The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.</a><br /><br />God Bless.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-17396994870495118232009-12-24T09:14:00.000-08:002009-12-24T10:25:50.206-08:00The Erosion of Religious FreedomI am apolitical. Unabashedly so in fact. Have been for quite a number of years now. The circus that was the election for the California Governor's seat in 2003 sealed the deal for me. And no, I didn’t vote for Arnold. I voted for one of the other 100+ candidates vying for my attention. To some it might seem odd then that I feel compelled to speak on political things from time to time, but I do, however very rarely. I haven’t written a “letter to the editor” in years. Yet now is one of those times, but not for the reasons you may think.<br /><br /> I remember that I used to argue with my mother (Heavenly Father, rest her soul) while growing up as a young adult when she used to say to me, “If you don’t vote you have no right to complain” to which I would always retort, “Mom there’s nothing in the First Amendment that says if you don’t vote you have no right to speak out against the government.” To me this is still true today. Now interestingly, some may equate the voting process as a form of speaking pro or con and our “civic duty”. They indeed have a legitimate point. However I don’t see the right to speak freely limited to just the voting booth. With that said, I have purposely limited myself to rarely, if ever, speaking out about our government and what the government chooses to do. I mean seriously if anyone thinks they are going to tell a 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla where to sit, where to stand and what to do then I have news for you — you are seriously kidding yourself.<br /><br /> No, the reason I’m bringing politics into the mix here is to make a simple illustration about religious liberty and how I believe it will eventually be eroded away. The Senate has set itself to finalize a vote to pass President Obama’s massive heath care reform bill on Christmas eve. That bill, whether you agree with it or not or even whether you believe this or not, includes language that a person must buy health coverage and if they don’t they will be taxed. Seriously. The last time such a massive power grab was instigated against the American people by Congress at Christmas time we got the Federal Reserve Act and we all know where the cliff is that that Act has eventually led this nation to.<br /><br /> Now frankly to tell anyone that they have to buy health coverage or else be taxed is unconscionable and a violation of basic human rights. Basically the equivalent to telling a vegetarian that they must buy and eat Filet Mignon and if they don’t they will be taxed. Vegetarian? So what. Buy and eat....or else! It’s the equivalent of telling someone that doesn’t eat swine (like me!) that they have to buy hog maws and pickled pigs feet and eat. Swine free? So what. Buy and eat....or else!<br /><br /> As we know this bill will be passed and signed by the President. Guaranteed. It will then make the obligatory rounds through the press and the courts, where it is my prediction that the Supreme Court will eventually give us some wonderfully flowery language how this bill is good for the nation as a whole, outweighs individual liberty and thus the 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla must get it’s way. Now, of course I could be all wrong, that none of this will in fact happen, but I don't think so.<br /><br /> This is where I believe the aspect of religious liberty can and will eventually be tested. The questions regarding of freedom of conscious — brought to bear by this bill and it’s attendant wrangling will thus be settled once and for all. Can the questions regarding our religious liberty to worship on the day we choose be far behind? Personally, I don’t think so. Once that 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla is in the room anything is liable to happen.<br /><br /> When Caesar knocks at the door and says, “Pay up” what shall we as Christians do? When the government comes and demands our participation in this future boondoggle what shall we do? We shall say, “Yes sir, how much you want?” It is clear from scripture (and you may disagree) that if Caesar thinks something is his, whatever that something is, we are to give it to him because we know in reality that whatever Caesar has doesn’t actually belong to Caesar, it belongs to our Heavenly Father. When Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render unto God the things that are God’s” Jesus made the situation as plain as day. He shocked everyone in the process. He made it plain that nothing belongs to Caesar and everything belongs to God. Yet if Caesar wants something, give it to him. <br /><br /> What then are we to do when Caesar tells us what day we can take off to worship or even what day in fact we can worship? What then? Well that’s easy. We obey God. Our Heavenly Father has given us something, His Sabbath day, that no man has a right or any authority to take or to claim for it belongs to Him. The Sabbath is God’s day. He made it, He owns it. It was made for man to enjoy. If Caesar wants to violate our freedom of conscious to tell us want to buy then that is certainly something Caesar can and will do. However, if Caesar wants to violate our freedom of religious conscious and tell us what day we can or can’t worship our Heavenly Father then you are free to tell Caesar sorry, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” - Psalms 118:24You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-59901492292775416672009-11-23T22:01:00.000-08:002009-11-24T18:32:47.825-08:00The Meekness of MosesI have spoken with a few folks about this quarter's Sabbath School lesson on the book of Numbers and to a man (an woman!) everyone is quite enthusiastic and grateful for the particular lesson. And why not. This quarter's lesson has brought for many renewed interest in a book of the Bible that many consider, quite frankly, fairly boring. I've read the book before but this quarterly has helped shed new light on a number of topics and given new light to, and renewed interest in, this book. When examined much closer the book of Numbers is a book full of many fascinating, dramatic and certainly heart wrenching stories of both individuals, and the congregation of the children of Israel in particular. These stories really cause the brain to work overtime in an attempt to understand just exactly what is happening and the lessons we are being taught from scripture.<br /><br />Then something hit me this morning while I was reading the E.G. White Notes book that is part of the Sabbath School quarterly. Moses was not just meek, he was super meek (if there is such a thing)! <br /><br />Regarding the Sin of Moses and Aaron Inspiration writes: <span style="font-style:italic;">"Aaron and Moses both sinned in not giving glory and honor to God at the waters of Meribah. They were both wearied and provoked with the continual complaining of Israel, and, at a time when God was to mercifully display His glory to the people, to soften and subdue their hearts and lead them to repentance, Moses and Aaron claimed the power of opening the rock for them. "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Here was a golden opportunity to sanctify the Lord in the midst of them, to show them the long-suffering of God and His tender pity for them. They had murmured against Moses and Aaron because they could not find water. Moses and Aaron took these murmurings as a great trial and dishonor to themselves, forgetting that it was God whom the people were grieving. It was God whom they were sinning against and dishonoring, not those who were appointed of God to carry out His purpose. They were insulting their best Friend in charging their calamities upon Moses and Aaron; they were murmuring at God's providence." {3T 301.3}</span><br /><br />And that's when it hit me just exactly who Moses was, and what a truly a meek and humble man was. While it is certainly evident in all the wonderful actions of Israel's first shepperd in guiding God's children, and his magnanimous pleadings and prayers to God, just exactly how meek and humble Moses is what dawned on me. The quote above helped me figure it out. <br /><br />Now, if we believe that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, and I see no reason not to believe this considering just how many theologians believe this, then this quote from Numbers 20:10 really is quite fascinating: <span style="font-style:italic;">"Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?"</span> Moses was writing about himself! He was writing about what he had done. He was admitting for all to see his fault, his misstep, his error and most of all his sin. How many of us could do this? He goes on to tell us even more in verse 11: <span style="font-style:italic;">"And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]."</span> Wow, what honesty in the face of all the difficult times he had been through with Israel amd on the heels of the death of his sister.<br /><br />How many could, or would, write so little about the death of our sister and yet be so open and honest about the very sin that would keep Moses from entering into the promised land? While pondering this I couldn't help thinking about just exactly how great a servant of God Moses truly was. Would any of us have been so willingly honest and open regarding our own sinfulness? Would we write what happened without embellishment and admit our fault as Moses did? <br /><br />The humbleness, humility and honesty of Moses are truly magnificent gifts that God gave this man, who in spite all that he went through with Israel, was still able to delivery them into the hands of Joshua. Mission accomplished.You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-42284136366283274422009-11-16T22:43:00.000-08:002009-11-25T09:18:16.909-08:00So.....where are we headed?While tooling around You Tube I ran into www.3angelstube.com which is a link from a channel a lady named Pamela who invited me to be a You Tube friend. I'm glad I accepted because I found this link from Pamela's channel. As a result I've added the following video from Hope Video because this video clearly shows where our Adventist church is heading. It is also full of Sister White quotes that clearly demonstrate she was from a true prophet of God. So check out the video below and explore the other video's at www.3angelstube.com.
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<br />"Hope Media Ministry (www.hopevideo.com) invites you to watch this warning to all of God's people for this new movement - The Emergent Church - A New Spirituality has taken root in the Church today and an attempt to reinvent Christianity itself is underway. Ellen White exposed the Alpha of heresies in her day as pantheism and warned that it would resurface in the Omega apostasy before Christ's return. What are the characteristics of the Omega? What is the Emergent Church? Let's delve into contemporary Christianity and the inroads that Spiritualism and Catholicism are making both inside and outside the Christian Church. Be sure to watch both part 1 and part 2."
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<br />Follow this link to the second half of this presentation: http://www.3angelstube.com/video/242/The-New-Spirituality-Pt-2You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-89480987438140088982009-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-13T12:28:56.997-08:00One man's opinionMy buddy Keith Johnson, who got me involved in prison ministry, in an email that he sent just a few days ago has commented on the recent incident at Foot Hood that I thought was interesting and worth sharing. So I asked him for permission to post it here. Thankfully he was glad to share.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">One man's opinion<br />by Keith Johnson</span><br /><br />A Poor Excuse for a Major, a Physician, and a Human Being<br /> <br />Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a religious and a medical fraud. As a veteran, I served in the Marine Corps from 1966-1969; during the time of the draft where one could claim to be a conscientious objector for religious reasons and/or choose to serve as a medic/corpsmen while refusing to carry a weapon.<br /> <br />The late Desmond Doss is the only Congressional Medal of Honor winner to never carry a weapon in combat. Doss said, "I am willing to die for my country, but not kill for my country." He also referred to himself as Cooperative Objector. Yet, he chose to go to war and not carry a weapon, while taking valor to a whole other dimension.<br /> <br />But Major Hasan willingly wounded and murdered unarmed personnel, while claiming Muslims should not be killing other Muslims. Well, if all Muslims held firmly to that belief then please explain to me how Iraq and Iran could go to war for 10 years; while killing, wounding, and maiming millions of Muslims? Was not that war, Muslims killing Muslims? Or can Sunnies kill Shites and visa versa and that rule not apply? Then again, how can all of the suicide bombers be relentlessly killing civilian Muslims every day? What book are they reading, because there are some who are definitely not on the same page of those who have reached a higher calling?<br /> <br />Where is their religious code against Muslims killing Muslims? I am smelling religious hypocrites... thousands of them, maybe millions or more. If their mantra is true about Muslims not killing Muslims, then they should be living in peace, love, harmony, and serenity, but we know that is not the case. So much for zealous religious beliefs.<br /> <br />In addition, Major Hasan also took the Hippocratic Oath as a medical doctor and a portion of that oath reads, " ...I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. ..." Did he just gloss over this oath or something? Or did he have his fingers crossed--when he swore to its creed? Or was he just kidding?<br /> <br />Furthermore, he also took an oath to defend the Constitution from enemies within and without. Meaning, as a professional soldier, he volunteered. Nobody forced him to enter a professional standing Army. So, in reality he is more than a deranged hypocrite despite the oaths that he took, it reveals that he is another typical, religious, pious fraud. So, to those who think he is a hero, then you are just as big a fraud as Major Hasan, for it is clear that by his actions, he endorses the bombings of innocent Muslim men, women, and children that are occurring in Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran as I compose this. Muslims killing Muslims...to the demented zealots is an everyday occurrence. They are so demented that they call cowards and liars, heroes. Will somebody please pass me a dictionary, because one of us appears to have a hard time finding truth, even if truth is the only light peering out of a dimly lit room--Major Hasan would obviously not be able to find it.<br /> <br />Yet, he is in dire need of prayer for he is utterly deceived.<br /><br />End of the article.<br /><br />_____________________________________________________________________________________<br /><br />Isn't it interesting how it is so easy to see the deception from Satan that we are all subject to when it is so dramatically, vividly and personally brought home to roost by such public displays of evil, yet when these very deceptions are personified closer to home they can be sometimes harder to see and recognize? <br /><br />This from the pen of Inspiration:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe.</span> We shall be affected by it unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations? Professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God's people from giving their allegiance to false Christs? "Go not ye after them. The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to teach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase, and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the whole armor on." - SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1114You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-90646219710279929532009-07-23T16:34:00.000-07:002009-07-23T22:36:28.367-07:00Luke 16:18Have you ever thought much about this verse? Have you ever wondered why this verse is where it is in scripture and why Jesus uses the language here just before He goes into the second half of the Parable of the Unjust Steward?<br /><br />I have and that is why I find this verse so interesting and compelling.<br /><br />If we think about it this verse almost seems out of place. It really starts as the Pharisees begin to deride Jesus. v. 14. Then Jesus, after being derided, takes His turn and begins dressing down the Pharisees! Jesus chides the Pharisees right after concluding the first half of the parable of the Unjust Steward.<br /><br />"You like to look good in public, but God knows your evil hearts. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God. Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and eager multitudes are forcing their way in. But that doesn't mean that the law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is stronger and more permanent than heaven and earth." - v. 15-17<br /><br />Then comes the "coup de gras" if you will:<br /><br />"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."<br /><br />I was always somewhat confused about this verse and why it was there in the first place frankly but especially right before the continuation of the parable with the tale of Lazarus and the rich man.<br /><br />That was until it suddenly dawned on me one day that God always likens going after spiritualism, false religion and false pagan worship as adultery. Spiritual adultery. Now God had laid down some pretty specific rules as to why He didn't want the Children of Israel to go after "strange gods." His advice was for an obviously good reason - He didn't want these people corrupted with paganism. Now coupled with the parable in Luke 16 and the story of Lazarus and the rich man and then the reasons for this verse became much clearer.<br /><br />Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.<br /><br />Even God had to unfortunately grant a "bill of divorce" to Israel and uphold the very law He gave to Israel because through their going after other gods and idols Israel became unclean. They became unclean because of the constant chasing and acceptance of paganism. Thus they were considered engaged in adultery and harlotry.<br /><br />Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.<br /><br />Isa 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.<br /><br />The books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah are filled to the brim of all the various forms of adultery and harlotry that Israel and Judah committed against the Lord. This adultery and harlotry was a result of accepting all the false gods and false religion and the most grotesque spiritualism of the pagan cultures around her.<br /><br />Jer 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.<br /><br />Jer 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.<br /><br />Eze 16:28 Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.<br /><br />Eze 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;<br /><br />It is plain to me now that the reasons Jesus lays into the Pharisees the way He does and why He considers them to be adulterer. Jesus explains what happens in the case of the Pharisees adultery in recounting the tale of Lazarus and the rich man. It is because the Pharisees had accepted another teaching. In Jesus’ recounting this story of Lazarus and the rich man it is clear that He was comparing the Pharisees own understanding of what happens in the afterlife. That understanding was derived from the neighboring pagan cultures – in this case, the Greeks.<br /><br />It is the Greeks that taught that man had a “dual nature” and that man was a in possession of an immortal soul. Jesus was using the Pharisees own false belief system which was borrowed from the pagans against them. At the same time He is deriding them even further.<br /><br />That is why verse 18 in Luke 16 will always and forever be to me one of the most fascinating single verses in all of scripture. It is so brilliant in it’s application with regards who it was directed at and in relation to what it concludes about these false beliefs.<br /><br />"But Abraham said, `If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"<br /><br />The Pharisees had long before this time given up on seeking the higher meaning of God's character and instead were comfortable being their "own gods" if you will. This is even true of many Christian sects associated with the beliefs of 'modern' pagan Rome. Pagan protestantism has adopted so many of these same false beliefs.Thus both Rome and Protestantism are committing the same "spiritual adultery" that the Pharisees did.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.<br /><br />As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought,the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.<br /><br />The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.</span> - Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 588You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813051699674092171.post-49020683593483315342009-07-14T17:32:00.000-07:002010-12-10T13:06:23.780-08:00The Fallacy of the Secret RaptureSadly it seems that most Christians today who preach about end time prophecies believe that prior to the end the church era true believers will be secretly raptured and flown home to heaven to escape the coming of tribulation.<br /><br />This event will supposedly commence in the midst of the 70th week of Daniel 9:25-27. During this time 144,000 Jews will be converted and will rebuild a temple at Jerusalem where animal sacrifices will resume. Then these Jews will get on with the business of preaching the gospel to all the world. Of course, let's keep in mind, that the preaching of the Gospel has been going out to the entire world for centuries now.<br /><br />Rapurists believe that the beast power, the mysterious antichrist figure, will then appear and make a "peace treaty" with these 144,000 Jews. After 3½ years of keeping a covenant with the Jews, the beast will break the covenant and commence 3½ years of persecution on the Jews and their converts. Finally there will be a third coming of Jesus to end it all and Jesus will rescue His people.<br /><br />This is all a wildly fantastic scenario. The fact that it is pure fiction, found only in the pages of the "Left Behind" books and the fiction section of your local bookstore, and not anywhere in the pages of scripture should cause anyone even remotely interested in the truth to question this scenario.<br /><br />It can be demonstrated quite clearly and distinctly from recent world history that this school of prophetic interpretation, coined "futurism," was developed by a Spanish Jesuit by the name of <a href="http://www.hol.com/~mikesch/antichrist.htm">Manuel De Lacunza</a> as a counter measure to the Protestant Reformation which had identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. It was later made popular by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture">Brethren Movement</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture">Cyrus Scofield and the Scofield Bible</a>. In the last 50-60 years it has become the prevailing view of many, if not most Evangelical churches. This teaching has many serious differences with the prevailing historical prophetic teaching and understanding of the Reformation and in particular Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. Some of the major flaws of this dispensational secret rapture scenario are:<br /><br /> 1. There is second chance to believe in Jesus after His second coming if somehow one misses out on the secret rapture. This has got to be the most dangerous aspect of this doctrine.<br /><br /> 2. The Antichrist appears after the church age era and this occurs after the church is raptured. Yet clearly scripture teaches us that even in the apostles day, as 1 John tells us, there were many antichrists in the church.<br /><br /> 3. These end time prophecies call for the re-establishment of the State of Israel and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. Clearly this is an extremely myopic and somewhat convoluted interpretation of scripture because so many of these prophecies are taken from prophecies that have already been fulfilled regarding Judas return from captivity in Babylon.<br /><br /> 4. This scenario of the secret rapture 1) absolves a Christian from the necessity of preaching the word of God to modern day Jews, which, for most Christians would be practically impossible because they do not know their scriptures better than even a nominal Jew, and 2) it neglects the obvious symbolic connection between Israel, Christ's fulfillment of prophecies regarding Israel and the fact that Jesus Christ is in fact the physical embodiment of Israel.<br /><br />And yet the commission to preach the three angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 make it abundantly clear that "the everlasting gospel" is to be preached to them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" and that all should "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The Three Angels messages easily dispel the notion that the word of God will be preached after the church has flown away.<br /><br />And it must be stressed that this admonition is something that is to be done now, not later, in anticipation and in preparation for the fall of Babylon and before the coming of the mark of the beast.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"</span> - Revelation 14:8-9<br /><br />Therefore it makes the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist and the historic interpretation to the entire world, including modern day Jews living in that secular, nation/state of corporate ISRAEL clearly different, and vital to that of most every other church in the world. In this preaching, it has to be noted and responded to the "secret rapture" view by pointing out the following:<br /><br /> 1. After the second coming of Jesus Christ there is no opportunity to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Outside of His second advent which will be glorious, noisy, powerful, and final there is just no second chance. It is this belief the secret rapture proponent is teaching a "fairy tale" and this can cause many to fail to follow Christ now and possibly be lost eternally. It's a harbinger of a "I'll wait and see" attitude. According to the Three Angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 the gospel and its preaching to the entire world, which directly challenges men and women to accept Christ now, is central to this issue.<br /><br /> 2. The Antichrist is now operating in the church and has been for many centuries. The first epistle of John makes this abundantly clear. In John's day there were antichrist's in the church. The Beast power is Papal Rome, according to a historical interpretation of Daniel and Revelation, who along with other temporal political powers and her harlot daughters is set to arise and work at the end time just as she has through the centuries.<br /><br /> 3. At this time there is no genuine significance to the Jews as a nation fulfilling Bible prophecy. In fact, it has already been accomplished by the person of Jesus Christ. We all belong to Israel, "fellow citizen's with the saints," as a result of Jesus' sacrifice. The New Testament teaches that the Christian church is true Israel. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28<br /><br />The final end time battle will be fought all over the world, wherever God's people are to be found and it will center around the commandments of God and His authority as opposed to the mark of the beast system and that authority. The battle lines are clearly drawn: <span style="font-style:italic;">"Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> - Revelation 14:12. Whether the Jews rebuild a temple in Jerusalem is of no significance as the true temple of God is to be found in heaven where Jesus Christ our righteousness now dwells.<br /><br />Lastly, it should be noted that this prophetic message does make those with the historic interpretation of scripture much, much different from practically every other church denomination today. It is very interesting to also note that in recent years there has been a moving away from the teachings of futurism by many prominent scholars. The movement has been more towards the historic interpretation held by the early reformers position which can only be the work of God.<br /><br />It is an undeniable fact that God has commissioned all Christians in Revelation 14:6-12 to preach some great truths namely, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His soon return and the glory of His commandments and His faith to both Christians and non-Christians alike to prepare all them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" to meet Jesus when He returns.<br /><br />There can be no more dangerous interpretation of scripture than the notion of a "rebuilt temple" and a "secret rapture."You Are Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235006074442365168noreply@blogger.com0