THIS WILL BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT,,,
WHEN YAHUVEH LEADS YOU TO WALK CLOSER WITH HIM,,, HE WILL SCATTER THE NAY SAYERS... HE WILL OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE WORD THAT WAS WRITTEN CENTURIES AGO.
THESE SAME, WORDS WILL BE LIKE A FRESH DRINK OF WATER AFTER WORKING ALL DAY IN THE SUN. THESE SAME WORDS THAT YOU HAVE READ BEFORE,, WILL COME TO LIFE LIKE A NEWLY PLANTED VEGTABLE GARDEN.
WHEN YOU BREAK UP THE FALLOWED HARDEN UNPREPARED GROUND ,,PULLING UP ALL WEEDS, GRASS, ROCKS, STICK,, HIDDEN ROOTS,,,GETTING RID OF THE NASTY CRAWLY THINGS THAT MAY BE HIDDEN ALSO.....(PAGANISM,FALSE TEACHINGS, FALSE gods, SELFISH DESIRES, HIDDEN SIN, FALSE HOLIDAYS,FALSE DAYS OF WORSHIP, UNCLEAN FOODS)
YOU THEN MUST,,,,, TILL,, OR CHOP UP THE DIRT TO PREPARE IT FOR SEEDLINGS TO GROW IN. SEEDLINGS WILL NOT LIVE LONG IN HARD DIRT THAT HAS NOT BEEN TILLED DEEP, ENOUGH TO ALLOW DEEP HEALTHY ROOTS TO GROW.
IF THE SOIL(HEART,THE SOUL, THE MIND) HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED ACCORDING TO YAHUVEH'S LAWS, THEN THE SEEDLINGS(YAH'S WORD) WILL SPRING UP ALRIGHT, BUT THEY WILL ENDURE ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE. THE HEAT FROM THE SUN (THE ADVERSARY) WILL CAUSE THEM TO WILT AND DIE,,,,BECAUSE,,, THERE IS NO ROOM DEEP ENOUGH, FOR THE ROOTS TO SPREAD AND GATHER NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL. (THE, TRUE ROOTS CONNECTED TO OUR HEBREW GOD)
PEOPLE HAVE BEEM TAUGHT, TO HATE HEBREWS(OR YAHUDIMS) SO BADLY, THAT THEY DESIRE TO OMIT OUR HERITAGE ROOTED IN THE BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL CULTURE, THAT LEADS BACK TO YAHUVEH THE CREATOR AND LOVER OF THIS PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE SAME WITH SALVATION.... WE MUST PREPARE OUR HEARTS TO RECEIVE THE ROOTS OF THE WORD OF YAH,,,IT IS NOT EASY AT FIRST, BECAUSE OUR HEARTS HAVE BEEN HARDEN WITH THE TRADITIONS AND VIEWS OF MEN,,,(TODAY'S ORGANIZED CHURCHES)
AND NOT THE TRUE WORD OF YAHUVEH. WE MUST ALLOW YAHUVEH TO TEAR UP THE LIES , SATANIC, DECEPTIONS AND TRADITIONS OF MEN FROM OUR HEART,SO THAT,,,,HIS TRUE WORD CAN BE DEEPLY ROOTED,,,, AND SEARCH OUT HIS,,,, TRUTH.... HIS WAYS, HIS LAWS, HIS LIKENESS ,,,,, WHICH IS NUTRITION FOR OUR SOUL AND NUTRITION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
JUST LIKE A FRUITFUL GARDEN NEEDS DEEP ROOTS TO GATHER NUTRIENTS.
OUR HEART NEED TO BE PREPARED TO SEARCH OUT THE TRUTH CONCERNING OUR FATHER AND CREATOR YAHUVEH. OUR FRUITS SHOULD REPRESENT HIS IMAGE,,, NOT THE IMAGE OF MAN.
SEEK HIS SON,,, OUR MESSIAH,,YAHUSHUA,,,(JESUS)
SHALOM, SHALOM, YERUSALEM,,PEACE BE TO YOU, WHEN MESSIAH, COME TO TAKE US HOME, MAY HIS GRACE, BE FOUND IN YOU.
STUDY THE ROOTS OF ALL THINGS... STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELVES APPROVED. MUCH LOVE TO YOU.
SHALOM
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
SPIRITS
SPIRITS OF THE BIBLE
A spirit is the personality or character of a being, whether it be an angelic or heavenly being, or a being in a flesh body. It is spoken of in both masculine and feminine terms. It is the part of us known to God, before He placed it in a flesh body, and it is the part of us that returns to Him when we die; Eccl. 12:7. The spirit is the part of us that if it is wrong, must be changed or perfected, in order to attain eternal life.
A flesh man apparently is not always aware of the nature of his own spirit. A spirit is a part of us that can be taught. A spirit doesn't take any form, but has an ambiance or atmosphere. A spirit can exist without a body, but a body without a spirit is dead; James 2:26 ; Stephen, calling . . . receive my spirit; Acts 7:59
.
THE HOLY SPIRIT TESTIFIES
BY EACH WORD IN THE HOLY BIBLE
Gen 1:2 Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters; 6:30 My spirit shall not always strive with man; Num. 11:17 I will take of the spirit which is upon thee; 27:118 Joshua . . . in whom is the spirit; 1Sam. 16:14 (19:9) evil spirit from the Lord troubled him; 28:7 Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit; 2Kings 2:9 let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me; 1Chr, 28:12 the pattern of all that he had by the spirit; Neh. 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct; Job 4:115 a spirit passed before my face; Ps. 31:5 (Luke 23:46) Into thine hand I commit my spirit; 32:2 in whose spirit there is no guile; 34:18 Lord . . . saveth such as be of a contrite spirit; 51:10 renew a right spirit within me; 51:17 sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 27:8 generation . . . whose spirit was not stedfast with God; 104:4 (Heb. 1:7) Who maketh his angels spirits; 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit; 143:10 my God: thy spirit is good; Prov. 1:23 (Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17); Eccl. 8:8 no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; 11:5 thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit; 12:7 spirit shall return unto God who gave it; Isa. 11:2 spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; 40:13 (40:7) Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or . . . taught; 42:1 (Matt. 12:18) I have put my spirit upon him; 44:3 I will pour my spirit upon thy seed; Ezek. 1 :12 whither the spirit was to go, they went; 1:20 (1:21; 10:17) spirit of the living creature was in the wheels; 2:2 spirit entered into me when he spake unto me; 3:12 spirit took me up, and I heard; 8:3 (11:1, 24; 43:5) spirit lifted me up between the earth; 11:19 (36:26-17; 37:14) I will put a new spirit within you; Dan. 4:8 (5:11) in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; 6:3 Daniel was preferred . . . because an excellent spirit was in him; Hosea 4:12 spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err.
Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:17) I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; Hag. 2:5 my spirit remaineth among you; Zech. 4:6 Not by might. . . but by my spirit; 6:5 those four spirits of heavens; Matt. 4:1 (Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1) Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness; 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; 8:16 he cast out the spirit with his word; 10:1 (Mark 6:7) he gave them power against unclean spirits; 10:20 it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father; 12:43 (Luke 11:24) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man; 12:45 (Luke 11:26) taken with himself seven other spritis; 14:26 (Mark 6:49 saying it is a spirit; Mark 1:10 (John 1:32) Spirit like a dove descending upon him; 5:8 come out of the man, thou unclean spirit; Luke 1:47 my spirit hath rejoiced in God; 4:36 commandeth the unclean spirits, and they came out; 9:5 Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; 23:46 into thy hands I commend my spirit; 24:37 supposed that they had seen a spirit; 24:39 spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me; John 3:5 born of water and of the Spirit; Heb 12:23 spirit of just men made perfect.
The Bible references evil spirits, and spirits that can beguile and contrive false impressions to make lies appear as truth. We are to avoid those who would conjure up spirits, and we are to discern and test the spirits of those with whom we come into contact, so as not to be manipulated or deceived. Evil spirits can also be sent by God for specific purposes. More than one spirit can inhabit a flesh body at the same time. Spirits don't have any power of their own, but can be given power by their host. Jesus often demonstrated how to make undesirable spirits leave their human hosts.
Lev 19:31 regard not them that have familiar spirits; 20:6 soul that turneth after . . . familiar spirits; 20:27 hath a familiar spirit . . . shall surely be put to death; Deut. 18:11 charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits; 1Sam. 16:23 evil spirit from God was upon Saul; 28:7 (28:3-14) said Saul . . . Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit; 2Kings 21:6 (2 Chr. 3:6) dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; 23:24 workers with familiar spirits . . . did Josiah put away; 1Chr. 10:13 Saul died. . . asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit; Isa. 8:19 Seek unto them that have familiar spirits; Matt. 8:16 cast out the spirit with his word; 10:1 gave them power against unclean spirits; 12:45 seven other spirits more wicked than himself; Mark 1:23 man with an unclean spirit; 3:11 unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down; 5:8 Come out of the man, thou unclean spirits; 9:25 he rebuked the foul spirits; 16:17; Luke 6:18 vexed with unclean spirits; 9:55 know not what manner of spirit ye are of; Acts 8:7 unclean spirit, crying with a loud voice, came out; 16:18 Paul . . . said to the spirit, I command thee . . . to come out; 19:15 evin spirit . . . said, Jesus I know; 1Tim. 4:1 giving heed to seducing spirits; 1John 4:1 try the spirits whether they are of God. Jesus preached to the spirits in prison; 1Pet. 3:19 .
A spirit can not be seen, but it can be felt, experienced, sensed, perceived, discerned, examined, trusted, believed, considered and changed. A spirit has no power of its own, with the exception of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears testimony of God's presence, and reminds us that God is always with us, to comfort, guide and protect.
Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved
A spirit is the personality or character of a being, whether it be an angelic or heavenly being, or a being in a flesh body. It is spoken of in both masculine and feminine terms. It is the part of us known to God, before He placed it in a flesh body, and it is the part of us that returns to Him when we die; Eccl. 12:7. The spirit is the part of us that if it is wrong, must be changed or perfected, in order to attain eternal life.
A flesh man apparently is not always aware of the nature of his own spirit. A spirit is a part of us that can be taught. A spirit doesn't take any form, but has an ambiance or atmosphere. A spirit can exist without a body, but a body without a spirit is dead; James 2:26 ; Stephen, calling . . . receive my spirit; Acts 7:59
.
THE HOLY SPIRIT TESTIFIES
BY EACH WORD IN THE HOLY BIBLE
Gen 1:2 Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters; 6:30 My spirit shall not always strive with man; Num. 11:17 I will take of the spirit which is upon thee; 27:118 Joshua . . . in whom is the spirit; 1Sam. 16:14 (19:9) evil spirit from the Lord troubled him; 28:7 Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit; 2Kings 2:9 let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me; 1Chr, 28:12 the pattern of all that he had by the spirit; Neh. 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct; Job 4:115 a spirit passed before my face; Ps. 31:5 (Luke 23:46) Into thine hand I commit my spirit; 32:2 in whose spirit there is no guile; 34:18 Lord . . . saveth such as be of a contrite spirit; 51:10 renew a right spirit within me; 51:17 sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 27:8 generation . . . whose spirit was not stedfast with God; 104:4 (Heb. 1:7) Who maketh his angels spirits; 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit; 143:10 my God: thy spirit is good; Prov. 1:23 (Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17); Eccl. 8:8 no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; 11:5 thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit; 12:7 spirit shall return unto God who gave it; Isa. 11:2 spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; 40:13 (40:7) Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or . . . taught; 42:1 (Matt. 12:18) I have put my spirit upon him; 44:3 I will pour my spirit upon thy seed; Ezek. 1 :12 whither the spirit was to go, they went; 1:20 (1:21; 10:17) spirit of the living creature was in the wheels; 2:2 spirit entered into me when he spake unto me; 3:12 spirit took me up, and I heard; 8:3 (11:1, 24; 43:5) spirit lifted me up between the earth; 11:19 (36:26-17; 37:14) I will put a new spirit within you; Dan. 4:8 (5:11) in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; 6:3 Daniel was preferred . . . because an excellent spirit was in him; Hosea 4:12 spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err.
Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:17) I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; Hag. 2:5 my spirit remaineth among you; Zech. 4:6 Not by might. . . but by my spirit; 6:5 those four spirits of heavens; Matt. 4:1 (Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1) Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness; 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; 8:16 he cast out the spirit with his word; 10:1 (Mark 6:7) he gave them power against unclean spirits; 10:20 it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father; 12:43 (Luke 11:24) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man; 12:45 (Luke 11:26) taken with himself seven other spritis; 14:26 (Mark 6:49 saying it is a spirit; Mark 1:10 (John 1:32) Spirit like a dove descending upon him; 5:8 come out of the man, thou unclean spirit; Luke 1:47 my spirit hath rejoiced in God; 4:36 commandeth the unclean spirits, and they came out; 9:5 Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; 23:46 into thy hands I commend my spirit; 24:37 supposed that they had seen a spirit; 24:39 spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me; John 3:5 born of water and of the Spirit; Heb 12:23 spirit of just men made perfect.
The Bible references evil spirits, and spirits that can beguile and contrive false impressions to make lies appear as truth. We are to avoid those who would conjure up spirits, and we are to discern and test the spirits of those with whom we come into contact, so as not to be manipulated or deceived. Evil spirits can also be sent by God for specific purposes. More than one spirit can inhabit a flesh body at the same time. Spirits don't have any power of their own, but can be given power by their host. Jesus often demonstrated how to make undesirable spirits leave their human hosts.
Lev 19:31 regard not them that have familiar spirits; 20:6 soul that turneth after . . . familiar spirits; 20:27 hath a familiar spirit . . . shall surely be put to death; Deut. 18:11 charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits; 1Sam. 16:23 evil spirit from God was upon Saul; 28:7 (28:3-14) said Saul . . . Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit; 2Kings 21:6 (2 Chr. 3:6) dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; 23:24 workers with familiar spirits . . . did Josiah put away; 1Chr. 10:13 Saul died. . . asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit; Isa. 8:19 Seek unto them that have familiar spirits; Matt. 8:16 cast out the spirit with his word; 10:1 gave them power against unclean spirits; 12:45 seven other spirits more wicked than himself; Mark 1:23 man with an unclean spirit; 3:11 unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down; 5:8 Come out of the man, thou unclean spirits; 9:25 he rebuked the foul spirits; 16:17; Luke 6:18 vexed with unclean spirits; 9:55 know not what manner of spirit ye are of; Acts 8:7 unclean spirit, crying with a loud voice, came out; 16:18 Paul . . . said to the spirit, I command thee . . . to come out; 19:15 evin spirit . . . said, Jesus I know; 1Tim. 4:1 giving heed to seducing spirits; 1John 4:1 try the spirits whether they are of God. Jesus preached to the spirits in prison; 1Pet. 3:19 .
A spirit can not be seen, but it can be felt, experienced, sensed, perceived, discerned, examined, trusted, believed, considered and changed. A spirit has no power of its own, with the exception of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears testimony of God's presence, and reminds us that God is always with us, to comfort, guide and protect.
Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
BABYLON, MYSTERY RELIGION AKA CHRISTIANITY
Chapter Twenty-One
The Mystery of the Mixture
From Babylon, Mystery Religion
Reverend Ralph Woodrow, 1965
WE HAVE SEEN – by scores of examples – how it was a MIXTURE of paganism and Christianity that produced the Roman Catholic church. In the last two chapters, we have seen how many of our common, well-known holidays and customs originated. We have mentioned these things because they are so well know to us all that they are outstanding examples of how pagan customs were renamed and slightly changed to make them appear to be of Christian origin. And even as this was done with holidays and their observances, so in things much more serious – in DOCTRINE and WORSHIP – such mixtures were also made:
Even as the pagans worshipped and prayed to a MOTHER goddess, so the fallen church adopted this pagan Mother-worship also, attaching the Christian name of Mary to disguise the MIXTURE. The pagans and gods and goddesses associated with various days, occupations, and events in life. The fallen church adopted this system; but to make the MIXTURE less obvious, these "gods" were no longer referred to as "gods", but were now called "saints" – while the old worship continued! Even as the pagans used idols or statues of their pagan deities in their worship, so the fallen church did also, simply called them by different names. From ancient times, pagans had used the "T" cross image, the initial letter of Tammuz, as a protector and an amulet. This symbol spread to the nations and took on various forms. The fallen church MIXED these superstitious uses of crosses with the cross of Christ. They continued to honor the cross image, while the true "finished", once-for-all work of the cross became hidden beneath the rituals of the pagan Mass with its rites of transubstantiation, sun-images, mystery drama, and prayers for the dead!
Even as the heathen had their repetitious prayers and rosaries, so these things were also MIXED into the fallen church, given a surface appearance of Christianity, and have continued to this day. The pagan nations had their relics that were highly venerated and which were believe to possess supernatural powers. The use of relics was also cleverly MIXED into the worship of the fallen church.
Pagan religion had its supreme Pontiff, so when paganism was MIXED with Christianity at Rome, this office – as unscriptural as it was – found a place in the fallen Romish church. The pagans carried their pontiff in procession; this practice was also MIXED into the fallen church. The pontiffs of paganism claimed "infallibility", and finally this too came to be associated with the Popes, the Roman pontiffs – in spite of the abundant evidence to the contrary! Even as the pagan pontiffs ruled over a college of Cardinals, priests of the Hinge, so does the pontiff of the fallen church. In literally hundreds of ways, pagan rites were merged with Christianity at Rome and this MIXTURE produced what is known as the Roman Catholic Church (as we have seen).
In his book "The Development of the Christian Religion", a noted Catholic writer, Cardinal Newman, admits that: "Temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and seasons of devotion, processions, blessing of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, and images...are all of PAGAN origin"! However, because these pagan customs have been "Christianized"; that is MIXED with similar Christian rites, days or doctrines – renamed and rededicated – many reason that these things now receive God's approval. Catholics believe that even though a rite or custom was originally paganistic, that if it is applied to Christ, then it is acceptable to God, even though it has no scriptural basis! But this is mere human reasoning – a reasoning that is completely contrary to the written word of God! Let us notice this carefully:
Let us notice how was the case in the days when the Israelites set up the golden calf (Exodus 32). None who read this account would deny that such worship as they engage in was false, was heathenistic, and an abomination in the sight of God. They wanted a god they could see – a sort of supplement to their worship of the invisible and Eternal God. And so they set up the golden calf – a symbol of the son of the sun-god. They sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. They practiced heathenistic rites in which they made them selves naked (Verse 25). Whatever these rites may have been, they were no doubt rites that they had learned in the pagan land of Egypt, which in turn had received its paganism from Babylon. We have record that in Babylon there were certain heathenistic rites that priests carried out naked. Nevertheless, it is evident that the worship of the golden calf into which the Israelites fell was paganistic to the core! YET –and this is the main thing we wish to point out – they claimed that they were having a "feast for the LORD" – the true God! (Verse 5). Here then was a MIXTURE – an attempt to merge heathenistic rites into their worship and call it a feast to the LORD. Did God approve of this worship? We all know the answer. About three thousand fell by the sword as a result of such apostasy! Now if God did not accept such worship then, even though they said it was a feast to the LORD, then why should we suppose that he accepts worship today that is likewise a MIXTURE – a mixture between paganism and Christianity?
During the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel carried the tabernacle of God. They were strong believers in the true God, as we all know. However, some of them were not content with this, so they added something. They made unto themselves a Babylonian tabernacle that they carried with them also! As God said: "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images" (Amos 5:26). This apostasy is also mentioned in the New Testament where these idol gods they carried are called Remphan and Chiun, which are but different names of BAAL (Nimrod) and ASTARTE (the Mother-Goddess). Because tof this mixture, God rejected their songs of worship, sacrifices, and offerings. Though these were made to him – to the true God – yet such worship was not accepted because it was a MIXTURE.
To cite another Biblical example of how paganism and the worship of the Lord were mixed together, let us notice the Seventeenth Chapter of Second Kings. In this chapter, we read that the children of Israel fell into false worship. They instituted secret rites; built high places; worshipped the sun, moon, and stars; used divination and enchantments; cause their children to pass through the fire; etc. (Verses 9-17). As a result, they were driven from their own land. Then the king of Assyria brought men from various nations, including Babylon, to inhabit the land from which the children of Israel had been driven. These nations also practiced heathenistic rituals and God sent lions among them. Seeing that the LORD was against their paganism, they sent for a man of God that had been carried away in the captivity. They wanted him to teach them how to worship and fear the LORd. "Howebeit every nation made gods of their own" and these gods are listed in verses 29-31. They attempted to worshop these gods and the LORD also – a MIXTURE. "SO" – in this way – "they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests...they feared the LORD, and served their own gods" (Verse 32). Such worship was rejected by God – he hates a mixture. Even though these nations claimed to worship the LORD, they served idols also. Today, likewise, Romanism claims to worship the LORD, but it is obviously a system that is a mixture of idol worship.
In the days of Zephaniah, another attempt to merge heathen worhsip witht he worship of the true God occurred. Concerning this, our Lord said: "I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place...And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham" (Zephaniah 1:4-5) Why was God going to destroy them? Were they not worshipping the LORD? Yes, but this worship of the LORD was mixed with Baal worship. God requires a pure worship and rejects a mixture-worship!
In the 17th and 18th chapters of Judges, we read that a certain man had a "house of gods" – a special chapel in which statues of pagan deities were placed. It had a priest called "father." The description plainly shows that such worship was idolatrous and false. Yet – and this we mention to show another example of MIXTURE – these people claimed to be seeking the four of the LORD (Judges 17:3-13) And the young father-priest claimed to speak the word of the LORD (Judges 18:6) So here again was a case of an attempt to MIX heathenism with the worship of the true God!
Another example of a MIXTURE of paganism into the worship of the LORD is found in Ezekiel Eight. Right in the very entrance of God's temple, the people had erected an idol. Inside the temple of God, even the ministers were offering incense to false gods. In this case, these abominations were pictures upon the walls – pictures of creeping things, beasts, idols, etc. This was plainly Babylonish, for such pictures are also found on the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. Also connected with the House of GOD were "women weeping for Tammuz" – the false Babylonian messiah – and men with their "backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east" – worshipping the symbol of the Babylonian sun-god! Now these people that had mixed such rites into their worship were people who had known the true God, the house of Judah (Verse 17) Though their worship was carried on in the House of God, thought they prayed to God – the true God – yet God refused their worship (Verse 18). God does not bless a mixture!
In Ezekiel 23, we read of a time of apostasy when people that had known God caused "their sons...to pass for them through the fire" and practiced other pagan rites. Concerning this, our Lord said: "Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary...For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the SAME DAY into my sanctuary to profane it" (Verses 38-39)
Jeremiah also wrote of this apostasy. His message was to the people that claimed to be the people of God. These people when they came to the temple of the LORD, came "to worship the LORD" (Jeremiah 7:2) But notice that along with their worship of the LORD, other rites had been mixed in that were of paganistic origin! "Behold," God said, "Ye trust in lying words that cannot profit. Ye...burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods...and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name" (Verses 8-10) And this same people that came to the house of God, this people that claimed to worship the LORD, not only worshipped Baal, but the worship of the pagan Mother, the "Queen of Heaven" was mixed into their religion also! (Verse 18)
By repeated examples then, we can see from the scripture that God will not accept a worship that is a MIXTURE. As Samuel preached tot he children of Israel when they attempted to worship God and still at the same time hold on to paganism: "If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth (the pagan Mother worship) from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him ONLY: and he will deliver you..." (I Samuel 7:3) And this is still the unchanging message of our God today. Worship and serve the Lord ONLY, with no mixture of paganism, with no mixture of rites and doctrines whose roots are in heathenism!
Satan does not appear as a monster with horns, a long tail, and a pitchfork. No, to deceive people, he appears as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14) Likewise, when he wanted to continue his old paganism, he knew that to deceive the world, he would have to continue it in disguise! Thus, little by little, he caused men to MIX Babylonish paganism into Christianity. This was done very smoothly over a long period of time until paganism was established in what was called the "church" – now dressed up with outer garments that appeared to be "Christian." As Jesus warned about "wolves" in sheeps' clothing (Matthew 7:15), so pagan wolves took on Christian garments – and this clever mixture has deceived millions. But even as might remove the skull-and-cross-bones label from a bottle of poison and substitute a peppermint candy label in its place, such would never change the contents on the inside. The contents would be deadly just the same. So also is paganism deadly, no matter how much it may be dressed up on the outside!
Because of the clever way that paganism was mixed with Christianity, the true Babylonish origin of fallen "Christianity" became hidden – became a MYSTERY – "Mystery Babylon." But even as a detective gathers clues and facts to solve a mystery, so in this book we have presented many Biblical and historical clues as evidence to solve the mystery. Some of these clues may have seemed insignificant at first glance, but when the full picture is seen, these things all go together to conclusively solve the mystery of Babylon – ancient and modern!
We have seen that: (1) Babylonian religion originated with Nimrod, his Queen-wife Semiramis, and her supposed god-child Tammuz; (2) as men were scattered from Babylon, they took this religion with them which developed in various forms and names; (3) when Rome conquered the world, these various phases of the Babylonian religion were absorbed into the Roman Empire becoming what is known in history as Pagan Rome; (4) then later, as history clearly reveals, much of this paganism was mixed with Christianity at Rome – a mixture which produced the Roman Catholic church; (5) the Reformation rejected a certain amount of the pagan element in Romanism, but still retained parts of it. And so today, much of what is called "Christianity" is still in a "fallen" condition – as the result of that great falling away of the third and fourth centuries that has deceived the world! And concerning this fallen system that is called "Mystery Babylon", God has spoken: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins..." (Revelation 18:4).
To whome then shall we look for salvation? Let us look to YAHUSHUAH , the author and finisher of our fiath, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, the Lamb of YAHUVEH ELOHIM , the Captain of our Salvation, the Bread from heaven, the Water of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Our salvation then is not dependent on a human priest. Is is not dependent on "Mary", the "saints", or the Pope! YAHUSHUA said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Salvation then comes through Christ – and only through Him! Will we accept Him and obey His word the BIBLE or will we follow a religion that is built on "mixtures" that originated in BABYLON? Which will we choose?
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The Mystery of the Mixture
From Babylon, Mystery Religion
Reverend Ralph Woodrow, 1965
WE HAVE SEEN – by scores of examples – how it was a MIXTURE of paganism and Christianity that produced the Roman Catholic church. In the last two chapters, we have seen how many of our common, well-known holidays and customs originated. We have mentioned these things because they are so well know to us all that they are outstanding examples of how pagan customs were renamed and slightly changed to make them appear to be of Christian origin. And even as this was done with holidays and their observances, so in things much more serious – in DOCTRINE and WORSHIP – such mixtures were also made:
Even as the pagans worshipped and prayed to a MOTHER goddess, so the fallen church adopted this pagan Mother-worship also, attaching the Christian name of Mary to disguise the MIXTURE. The pagans and gods and goddesses associated with various days, occupations, and events in life. The fallen church adopted this system; but to make the MIXTURE less obvious, these "gods" were no longer referred to as "gods", but were now called "saints" – while the old worship continued! Even as the pagans used idols or statues of their pagan deities in their worship, so the fallen church did also, simply called them by different names. From ancient times, pagans had used the "T" cross image, the initial letter of Tammuz, as a protector and an amulet. This symbol spread to the nations and took on various forms. The fallen church MIXED these superstitious uses of crosses with the cross of Christ. They continued to honor the cross image, while the true "finished", once-for-all work of the cross became hidden beneath the rituals of the pagan Mass with its rites of transubstantiation, sun-images, mystery drama, and prayers for the dead!
Even as the heathen had their repetitious prayers and rosaries, so these things were also MIXED into the fallen church, given a surface appearance of Christianity, and have continued to this day. The pagan nations had their relics that were highly venerated and which were believe to possess supernatural powers. The use of relics was also cleverly MIXED into the worship of the fallen church.
Pagan religion had its supreme Pontiff, so when paganism was MIXED with Christianity at Rome, this office – as unscriptural as it was – found a place in the fallen Romish church. The pagans carried their pontiff in procession; this practice was also MIXED into the fallen church. The pontiffs of paganism claimed "infallibility", and finally this too came to be associated with the Popes, the Roman pontiffs – in spite of the abundant evidence to the contrary! Even as the pagan pontiffs ruled over a college of Cardinals, priests of the Hinge, so does the pontiff of the fallen church. In literally hundreds of ways, pagan rites were merged with Christianity at Rome and this MIXTURE produced what is known as the Roman Catholic Church (as we have seen).
In his book "The Development of the Christian Religion", a noted Catholic writer, Cardinal Newman, admits that: "Temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and seasons of devotion, processions, blessing of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, and images...are all of PAGAN origin"! However, because these pagan customs have been "Christianized"; that is MIXED with similar Christian rites, days or doctrines – renamed and rededicated – many reason that these things now receive God's approval. Catholics believe that even though a rite or custom was originally paganistic, that if it is applied to Christ, then it is acceptable to God, even though it has no scriptural basis! But this is mere human reasoning – a reasoning that is completely contrary to the written word of God! Let us notice this carefully:
Let us notice how was the case in the days when the Israelites set up the golden calf (Exodus 32). None who read this account would deny that such worship as they engage in was false, was heathenistic, and an abomination in the sight of God. They wanted a god they could see – a sort of supplement to their worship of the invisible and Eternal God. And so they set up the golden calf – a symbol of the son of the sun-god. They sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. They practiced heathenistic rites in which they made them selves naked (Verse 25). Whatever these rites may have been, they were no doubt rites that they had learned in the pagan land of Egypt, which in turn had received its paganism from Babylon. We have record that in Babylon there were certain heathenistic rites that priests carried out naked. Nevertheless, it is evident that the worship of the golden calf into which the Israelites fell was paganistic to the core! YET –and this is the main thing we wish to point out – they claimed that they were having a "feast for the LORD" – the true God! (Verse 5). Here then was a MIXTURE – an attempt to merge heathenistic rites into their worship and call it a feast to the LORD. Did God approve of this worship? We all know the answer. About three thousand fell by the sword as a result of such apostasy! Now if God did not accept such worship then, even though they said it was a feast to the LORD, then why should we suppose that he accepts worship today that is likewise a MIXTURE – a mixture between paganism and Christianity?
During the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel carried the tabernacle of God. They were strong believers in the true God, as we all know. However, some of them were not content with this, so they added something. They made unto themselves a Babylonian tabernacle that they carried with them also! As God said: "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images" (Amos 5:26). This apostasy is also mentioned in the New Testament where these idol gods they carried are called Remphan and Chiun, which are but different names of BAAL (Nimrod) and ASTARTE (the Mother-Goddess). Because tof this mixture, God rejected their songs of worship, sacrifices, and offerings. Though these were made to him – to the true God – yet such worship was not accepted because it was a MIXTURE.
To cite another Biblical example of how paganism and the worship of the Lord were mixed together, let us notice the Seventeenth Chapter of Second Kings. In this chapter, we read that the children of Israel fell into false worship. They instituted secret rites; built high places; worshipped the sun, moon, and stars; used divination and enchantments; cause their children to pass through the fire; etc. (Verses 9-17). As a result, they were driven from their own land. Then the king of Assyria brought men from various nations, including Babylon, to inhabit the land from which the children of Israel had been driven. These nations also practiced heathenistic rituals and God sent lions among them. Seeing that the LORD was against their paganism, they sent for a man of God that had been carried away in the captivity. They wanted him to teach them how to worship and fear the LORd. "Howebeit every nation made gods of their own" and these gods are listed in verses 29-31. They attempted to worshop these gods and the LORD also – a MIXTURE. "SO" – in this way – "they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests...they feared the LORD, and served their own gods" (Verse 32). Such worship was rejected by God – he hates a mixture. Even though these nations claimed to worship the LORD, they served idols also. Today, likewise, Romanism claims to worship the LORD, but it is obviously a system that is a mixture of idol worship.
In the days of Zephaniah, another attempt to merge heathen worhsip witht he worship of the true God occurred. Concerning this, our Lord said: "I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place...And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham" (Zephaniah 1:4-5) Why was God going to destroy them? Were they not worshipping the LORD? Yes, but this worship of the LORD was mixed with Baal worship. God requires a pure worship and rejects a mixture-worship!
In the 17th and 18th chapters of Judges, we read that a certain man had a "house of gods" – a special chapel in which statues of pagan deities were placed. It had a priest called "father." The description plainly shows that such worship was idolatrous and false. Yet – and this we mention to show another example of MIXTURE – these people claimed to be seeking the four of the LORD (Judges 17:3-13) And the young father-priest claimed to speak the word of the LORD (Judges 18:6) So here again was a case of an attempt to MIX heathenism with the worship of the true God!
Another example of a MIXTURE of paganism into the worship of the LORD is found in Ezekiel Eight. Right in the very entrance of God's temple, the people had erected an idol. Inside the temple of God, even the ministers were offering incense to false gods. In this case, these abominations were pictures upon the walls – pictures of creeping things, beasts, idols, etc. This was plainly Babylonish, for such pictures are also found on the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. Also connected with the House of GOD were "women weeping for Tammuz" – the false Babylonian messiah – and men with their "backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east" – worshipping the symbol of the Babylonian sun-god! Now these people that had mixed such rites into their worship were people who had known the true God, the house of Judah (Verse 17) Though their worship was carried on in the House of God, thought they prayed to God – the true God – yet God refused their worship (Verse 18). God does not bless a mixture!
In Ezekiel 23, we read of a time of apostasy when people that had known God caused "their sons...to pass for them through the fire" and practiced other pagan rites. Concerning this, our Lord said: "Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary...For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the SAME DAY into my sanctuary to profane it" (Verses 38-39)
Jeremiah also wrote of this apostasy. His message was to the people that claimed to be the people of God. These people when they came to the temple of the LORD, came "to worship the LORD" (Jeremiah 7:2) But notice that along with their worship of the LORD, other rites had been mixed in that were of paganistic origin! "Behold," God said, "Ye trust in lying words that cannot profit. Ye...burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods...and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name" (Verses 8-10) And this same people that came to the house of God, this people that claimed to worship the LORD, not only worshipped Baal, but the worship of the pagan Mother, the "Queen of Heaven" was mixed into their religion also! (Verse 18)
By repeated examples then, we can see from the scripture that God will not accept a worship that is a MIXTURE. As Samuel preached tot he children of Israel when they attempted to worship God and still at the same time hold on to paganism: "If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth (the pagan Mother worship) from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him ONLY: and he will deliver you..." (I Samuel 7:3) And this is still the unchanging message of our God today. Worship and serve the Lord ONLY, with no mixture of paganism, with no mixture of rites and doctrines whose roots are in heathenism!
Satan does not appear as a monster with horns, a long tail, and a pitchfork. No, to deceive people, he appears as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14) Likewise, when he wanted to continue his old paganism, he knew that to deceive the world, he would have to continue it in disguise! Thus, little by little, he caused men to MIX Babylonish paganism into Christianity. This was done very smoothly over a long period of time until paganism was established in what was called the "church" – now dressed up with outer garments that appeared to be "Christian." As Jesus warned about "wolves" in sheeps' clothing (Matthew 7:15), so pagan wolves took on Christian garments – and this clever mixture has deceived millions. But even as might remove the skull-and-cross-bones label from a bottle of poison and substitute a peppermint candy label in its place, such would never change the contents on the inside. The contents would be deadly just the same. So also is paganism deadly, no matter how much it may be dressed up on the outside!
Because of the clever way that paganism was mixed with Christianity, the true Babylonish origin of fallen "Christianity" became hidden – became a MYSTERY – "Mystery Babylon." But even as a detective gathers clues and facts to solve a mystery, so in this book we have presented many Biblical and historical clues as evidence to solve the mystery. Some of these clues may have seemed insignificant at first glance, but when the full picture is seen, these things all go together to conclusively solve the mystery of Babylon – ancient and modern!
We have seen that: (1) Babylonian religion originated with Nimrod, his Queen-wife Semiramis, and her supposed god-child Tammuz; (2) as men were scattered from Babylon, they took this religion with them which developed in various forms and names; (3) when Rome conquered the world, these various phases of the Babylonian religion were absorbed into the Roman Empire becoming what is known in history as Pagan Rome; (4) then later, as history clearly reveals, much of this paganism was mixed with Christianity at Rome – a mixture which produced the Roman Catholic church; (5) the Reformation rejected a certain amount of the pagan element in Romanism, but still retained parts of it. And so today, much of what is called "Christianity" is still in a "fallen" condition – as the result of that great falling away of the third and fourth centuries that has deceived the world! And concerning this fallen system that is called "Mystery Babylon", God has spoken: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins..." (Revelation 18:4).
To whome then shall we look for salvation? Let us look to YAHUSHUAH , the author and finisher of our fiath, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, the Lamb of YAHUVEH ELOHIM , the Captain of our Salvation, the Bread from heaven, the Water of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Our salvation then is not dependent on a human priest. Is is not dependent on "Mary", the "saints", or the Pope! YAHUSHUA said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Salvation then comes through Christ – and only through Him! Will we accept Him and obey His word the BIBLE or will we follow a religion that is built on "mixtures" that originated in BABYLON? Which will we choose?
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Monday, February 11, 2008
ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY
The Origin of Christianity
by A.B. Traina
It is generally believed and taught that Christianity was founded by the Savior from Nazareth, when He was on earth. But a question immediately arises, which particular sect was the one He originated ? This is very important, for any thinking person knows that of the thousands of sects making up Christendom, no two agree entirely. Naturally, the Savior did not inaugurate so many conflicting divisions. The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the one and only church of God, the true bride of Christ, and that all Protestant sects are heretics. On the other hand, the Protestants deride the Catholic Church as the harlot mother of Revelation 17; 5, not knowing that the same text condemns them likewise.
Those that are acquainted with the facts know Christendom is made up of Christian nations, whose faith was founded not by the Savior of Nazareth, but by pagan philosophers a generation after the death of Messiah's immediate followers. Christianity is an apostate, as we can readily prove. The denominations, sects, churches or factions, which make up Christianity, are not followers of the Savior of the world. The doctrine He taught, the life He lived, the worship He practiced, are not those of modern Christianity.
Christianity is Hellenic paganism, nationalized by Roman emperors for national solidarity. It was molded from the doctrines of Plato, Socrates and the Gnostic Grecian philosophers. Christianity is but a newer name of the old religion of the philosophers. It is molded after them in doctrine, in practice, in worship and in name !
The Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say relative to this appeasement policy of the ( apostate ) church:
" Nothing perhaps has tended more thoroughly to corrupt Christianity than the introduction into it of superstitions which are really pagan themselves, or have been suggested by pagan practices. Paganism, unable to oppose Christianity successfully, had done much to corrupt it, and in numberless ways had made inroads into its purity."
Christianity, as such, was not firmly established as a religion until the time of Constantine the Great, who needed a national religion to solidify his empire. ( Same as Jeroboam 1 Kings 12; 26-33 ) He, therefore, adopted the new religion then going into apostasy, and made it into a national sect. He not only caused its acceptance as the one and only religion of the empire, but he formulated its policies, and caused to be accepted its doctrines, and stigmatized as heretics those who would not accept the new religion, banishing them from his kingdom, or putting them to death. Anyone may verify the above by referring to any religious encyclopedia on the life of Constantine. Thus began the Roman Catholic Church, from whence sprang the church daughters making up the sects of Christianity.
When the Messiah was born into the world, His mother was a maid of Israel, of the tribe of Judah. He was born into a holy household, one which worshiped the Almighty according to the doctrine and ritual given by the Most High through the Holy Spirit to the prophets. There is not one iota of evidence in New Testament records that the Savior ever departed from the religion of his people, which was the Scriptural worship of the prophets ( that is the Holy Scripture ), but, rather to obey them, fulfilling them in every yod and title. " Think not I am come to destroy, but to fulfill." - Matt. 5; 17.
He taught the same precepts of holiness, practiced the same life of righteousness, observed the same sacred feasts, hallowed the same weekly Sabbath day, as did the patriarchs and the prophets before Him. But, for the apostate church of His day, he emphasized the power of a life of holiness so lived that its influence would change the vilest sinner, making him whole in body and spirit again. It was the message of the prophets placed into practice of His life, and in the lives of His immediate followers. This life of holiness not only influenced individuals, but through them affected the course of nations, and remodeled the world, in a fashion. But the Savior died, then ascended, and His disciples carried on after Him, until they, too, died.
As long as the immediate followers of the Messiah lived, they patterned their doctrine and manner of life after that of their Savior, for they were mainly of the Jewish ( Judean is the correct word, and hereafter used as such ) nation, and from the Israelite faith. They continued to live, to teach, to worship, as true Israelites, following the example of their Master.
Concerning Philo, Eusebius says, " Moreover, from His very accurate description of the life of our ascetics it will be plain that he not only knew but welcomed, reverenced, and recognized the divine mission of the apostolic men of his day, who were, it appears, of Hebrew origin, and thus still preserved most of the ancient customs in a strictly Israelite manner."
Eusebiud is speaking of Philo's treatise, " On the Contemplative life of Suppliants." Book 11, Chap. xvii - Eusebius, " Ecclesiastical History." After the destruction of Jerusalem, in the year 70, the Judeans were dispersed ( as prophesied by Messiah in Matt. 12; 30) into all parts of the Roman Empire; and the disciples of the Messiah, being of the tribe of Benjamin, were scattered with the others. With them, these disciples took pristine faith, which they had received from the Savoir. They formed assemblies wherever they went, and so the true faith was sown throughout the world.
Hegisippus says, " Until then ( 106 or 107 A.D. at the martyrdom of Symenon ) the church remained a pure and uncorrupted virgin, for those who attempted to corrupt the healthful rule of the Savior's preaching if they existed at all, lurked in obscure darkness. But when the sacred band of the Apostles and the generation of those to whom it had been vouchsafe to hear with their own ears the divine wisdom had reached the several ends of their lives, then the federation of godless error took its beginning through the deceit of false teachers, who, seeing that none of the Apostles still remained, barefacedly tried against the preaching of the trust the counter -proclamation of knowledge, falsely so-called." Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 111, Chap. xxxii.
From among the nations where they were scattered, the true believers gathered proselytes to their true faith, and so the assemblies grew in members made up from the various nationalities mixed with believers from the nation of Judah. These new numbers, however, had been connected with other religions then, just as it is now. And then, as now, there was no salvation in them ! When these converts came into the fold from the pagan religions they neglected to leave all their former beliefs behind, but often brought their paganistic doctrines and practices into the true fold.
"The propensity of the rude and uneducated converts from paganism to cling to the festival rites of their forefathers proved to be invincible, so that it was seen to be necessary to seek to adopt the old usage's to the new worship rather than to abolish them altogether; moreover, although the Empire hand became Christian, it was manifestly expedient that the old ( pagan ) holidays should be recognized as much as possible in the new arrangement of the calendar." Encyclopedia Britannica. In time, as the true believers from Judea died off and the ones who held to the true faith decreased in numbers, the other element which had been proselytes from the pagan religions became the dominant force in the new faith, and soon, except for isolated instances, the new religion became a mongrel, a half-breed, part pagan and part true faith. It was not the faith of the Messiah, nor was it the old time paginate, nor was it known by any of the former names, but became known, in time, as Christianity. This change was gradual, beginning even in the time of St. Paul, and culminating in the Roman Catholic State Church during the reign of Constantine.
Of this change of true faith into that of the mongrel religion, Dr. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, the noted church historian, says, "For fifty years after St. Paul's life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we vainly strive to look; and when it at last rises, about 120 years A.D. with the writings of the earliest chuchfathers we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Paul and St. Peter."
Unto this time ( the fall of Jerusalem, A.D.70 ) the church had been regarded by the Roman government and by the people at large as a branch of the Judean religion; but henceforth Judeans and Christians were apart. A small section of the Judean Christians endured for two centuries, but with ever decreasing numbers, ( Messiah said as in Luke 18; 8, " .......when the Son of Man cometh, will He find faith on earth ?") the Ebionites, a people by themselves, scarcely recognized by the general church and despised as apostates by their own race. "
Hurlbut's story of the Christian church, p 43.
" There is a strong support of the theory that the earliest Christianity was Judaistic in every way; that it was, in essence, a Judaistic Reformation with the addition of Messianic principles which had been already current among the Judeans for about two centuries. Judaistic Christianity, however, practically disappeared after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70." Funk & Wagnall's New Std. Encl. - Article Bible. In the wars with the Judeans, the Romans considered them as enemies, as indeed they were. This feeling influenced the people of the Roman Empire in their attitude towards the true disciples , who were mainly from Judea. Many of the citizens of the empire refused to have anything to do with the new sect, because they consider it Judean. Even the members of the assemblies from the nations were influenced by this spirit, and said, " Let us have nothing in common with the rabble of the Judeans," and so everything in the new faith which had a taint of Judaism was discarded, and a new religion formed which had nothing Judean about it.
The new creation was Christianity, but not the faith of the Messiah. Christianity is not the faith of the Messiah, but an amalgamation of paganism and Judaism, sprinkled with a tincture of the true faith as taught by the Messiah.
Hurlbut says,
"As long as the church was mainly Judean, the Hebrew Sabbath was kept; but as it became increasingly Gentile, the first day ( Sunday ) gradually took the place of the seventh."
Not only was the Sabbath dropped from the new religion, and Sunday ( a holiday of the pagans ) adopted; but they likewise rejected the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened bread, and adopted Lent and Easter Sunday ( Astartè's Sun-day ).
The Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement were forgotten, and the birthday of the Sun-god took their place as Christmas;
Sprinkling took the place of immersion;
immortality of the soul, adopted from paginate, replaced the doctrine of conditional eternal life;
the resurrection and day of judgment was taught through which the dead entered heaven, or hell, no resurrection being necessary in this program.
The kingdom of heaven, as an actual earthwide government under whole heavens was ignored, as the members of the new religion sought to please "the powers that be."
Truly, Hurlbut said, " We find a church in many aspects different" from that of St. Paul and St. Peter and the Messiah. This new church, different, was Christianity; and for its deities it adopted various ones from the heathen, discarding the Most High of the Israelite Scriptures, and His blessed Son, Jahshuwah.
Once again we find the churchmen giving way to these heathen in order to win them to Christianity. Quoting from Frazer's Golden Bough, we find; "Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian and the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental. They mark the compromise which the church in the hour of it's triumph was compelled to make with its vanquished still dangerous rivals. The inflexible Protestantism of the primitive missionaries, with fiery denunciations of heathendom, had been exchanged for the supple policy, the easy tolerance, the comprehensive charity of shrewd ecclesiastics, who clearly perceived that if Christianity was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles of its Founder, by widening a little the too narrow gate which leads to salvation."
The new religion was not the old paganism, but really a new creation. It was a general amalgamation, made up of various beliefs of the new members of the old cults. They took something from one and another and formed the whole into Christianity;
Sunday from pagan Romans,
Easter from the pagan Egyptians,
Christmas from the pagan Babylonians,
the truingod from the Gnostics; immortality from the pagan Greeks,
and some from the teaching of the Messiah,
and with many other doctrines were combined,
and thus the religion of Christianity was formed, which, eventually, became the state religion of the Roman Empire.
In many places the pagan temples were turned into Christian churches. The services of worship increased in splendor but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times. "The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and worship." Brothingham says, speaking of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome:
"Into what depth of antiquity the ceremonies carried me back ! To the mysteries of Eleusis, to the sacrificial rites of Phoenicia. The boys swung the censors as censors had been swung in the adoration of Bacchus.
The girdle and cassock of the priests came from Persia; the veil and tonsure were from Egypt;
the alb and chasube were prescribed by Numa Popilius;
the stole was borrowed from the official who used to throw it on the back of the victim that was to be sacrificed;
the white surplice was the same as described by Juvenal and Ovid." -Atlantis, pp. 210,211.
The pagan temples not only became churches, the heathen festivals became church feasts,
the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday,
but even the heathen worship was transferred, as they substituted the adoration of the Virgin Mary for the worship of Venus and Diana.
Zeus/Jupiter
What did the pagan care about the name of the idol, or the name of the religion, just so that he could understand that it was the same. So the new religion adopted the statues of Venus and Diana, Jupiter, or Zeus, Apollos, etc., and chiseled off the pagan names, and engraved thereon the new names adopted for the new religion, called Christianity. The heathen had been worshipping Diana, or Venus, so they were now adoring the Virgin Mary.
They had worshipped Zeus, or Jupiter, as the supreme deity, so now they were told the new name was Theos, or Dios, or God. There savior was Zeus, so now they were to accept Jesus ( Iesous, or Zeus ).
Pagan temples became Christian churches,
pagan idols became holy-days,
pagan rites and ceremonies became Christianized - and so was born Christianity.
The Hebrew prophets worshipped the Creator of the world, and to them He had revealed that His name was Jahwah ( Isa. 42; 8 ). The prophet declares this was the only name ( Psa. 83; 18 ) of the Almighty.
Just as Scripture reveals that there is only one Supreme Almighty, so it also declares that He has but one name, and that name is Jahwah. Over 7 000 times the the sacred Scriptures reveal that sacred name to man.
Jahwah
The patriarchs, the prophets, the Savior and His disciples worshipped the only true Creator and called upon Him by His only revealed name of Jahwah, or the shorter form Jah.
When the Savior was with man, He worshipped the Mighty One of Israel, and knew and taught the sacred name. He prayed, " I have manifested Thy name unto the men Thou gavest Me out of the world." John 17; 6. " I have kept them in Thy name." John 17; 12. " I have declared upon them Thy name." John 17; 26.
After the death of the disciples, Jahwah was no longer the one worshipped in the Assemblies, and the gods of the nations ( Jahshuwah warned the Judeans that another one would come in his own name, and that man will listen to him, John 5; 43, another Jesus, 2 Cor. 11; 4 ), took His place in the Bible, and the new religion. The prophet said, " All nations walk, every man in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of Jahwah, our Mighty One, to times aged-abiding and beyond. " Micha 4; 5.
When the Sacred Writings were translated into the tongues of nations, the translators ignored the sacred names revealed in the Scriptures, and inserted the names of the national deities in the place of Jahwah. In every case the national deity in opposition to Jahwah was placed in the honored position. Each of the nations worshipped a supreme deity, and it had a national name. Where such a name could be used, it was placed in the translations. And thus, foreign gods received the praise, the honor, the worship, which were justly Jahwah's. No wonder the Almighty declares, " I Am Jahwah, that is My Name, and My esteem will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images." Isa. 42; 8.
" The god of nineteen-twentieth of the Christian world is only Bel, Moloch, Zeus, or at least Osiris, Mithras or Adonai, under another name, worshipped with the old pagan ceremonies and ritualistic formulas. It is the statue of Olympian Jove, worshipped as the Father, in the Christian church that was a pagan temple; it is the statue of Venus, become the Virgin Mary." - Pike, Morals and Dogma, p 296.
The word, pagan, according to Webster's International Dictionary;
1. Heathen, a follower of a polytheistic religion. ( as in ancient Rome )
2. One that has little or no religion and that is marked by a frank delight in and uninhibited seeking after sensual pleasures and material goods: an unrestrained irreligious hedonist and materialist < is a ~ of the decadence.......takes the world with exquisite nonchalance and prefers a well-ordered dinner to a dissertation on the immorality of the soul - T.L.Peacock >
3. relating to, < ~ customs > < represents the earthy, ~ acceptance of life in all its sensual vulgarity - R.M. Kain > < the concept of death and oblivion as the natural end of life - Cyril Connolly >
Jahwah is not the supreme one of Christianity, but the songs, the prayers, the praise, and the honor, ascend to the name of a foreign god, in every language under the heaven. ( Even Adonai, the Jewish form of the pagan god Adonis.) The Greeks pray unto Kurios and Theos; Strong's exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, # 2962; Kurios; by implicating Mr. a respectful title: - God, lord master, Sir. In other words not the name of Jahwah.
The Germans unto Herr and Gott;
the Poles unto Bog and Pan ! the English unto Lord and God.
Hosea 2; 16. "............and shalt call Me no more Baali," from the Companion Bible Dr. E.W. Bullinger, Baali = Lord.
And so it is throughout Christendom. The name of Jahwah is ignored by the apostate religion.
When the Savior was born into the world his mother was a Hebrew maid of the tribe of Judah; but His Father was the Almighty whose name alone is Jahwah, or Jah.
Strong's, Hebrew # 3050; Jah; the sacred name. As He was the Son of Jahwah, it was evident that He would carry His Father's name, and He plainly states saying, " I am come in My Father's Name." John 5; 43.
Our translated scripture says that Jahwah's Son's name is Jesus, a compound word of Ie and Zeus. But remember the heavenly messenger spoke unto a Hebrew, and declared His name in the Hebrew, which the writer explained to mean, "Jah is Salvation."
This name, Jahshuwah, being Hebrew, was objectionable to the Greeks and Romans, who hated the Judeans, and so it was deleted from the records, and a new name inserted.
Jahshuwah was thus replaced by Ie-Sous, now known to us as Jesus.
The new religion was known as Christianity, because the supreme deity of it was called Christos, and so we ask, whence came Christos ?
The Hebrews called their coming Savior the Messiah. The disciples of the Savior accepted Him as such, and to them He was known as Jahshuwah the Messiah. The Greeks, however, rejected the Hebrew name, and called Him Christos, similar to Chrisna ( Krisna ), name of the deity-savior of the East.
Among the people of the East, a sun-god savior was worshipped by the name of Krisna, and so among the Greeks of the new religion the Savior was known as Kristos, or Christos. Thus the Sanskrit name was of the Indian messiah became the name of the messiah of the new religion, and it was known as the new Christian ( Krisna ) faith.
The religion revealed in the Scriptures is the worship of the Creator, whose Name alone is Jahwah. Baal is not the Creator,
Adonis is not the Almighty,
Pan is not the Holy One, neither is Lord, Kurios or God.
Jahwah is the Supreme One. Worship Him. Psa. 91; 14,
" Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will deliver Him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name."
The only Savior in the Scripture is the Jahshuwah, the Son of Jahwah, who has come to restore the peace with Jahwah through RIGHTEOUSNESS alone.
He came in His Father's Name and by that we must adore Him. Away with the pagan name Christ, heathen name Jesus, and exalt the Savior, Jahshuwah, the Son of Jahwah, by His own name.
Let's forget Christianity, with its pagan worship and pagan deities, pagan festivals, pagan doctrine. Matt. 6; 33,
" But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of Jahwah, and His RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these THINGS ( from verses 31 and 32 ) shall be added unto you."
Righteousness, get back to the old ways, Jer. 31; 21. Our entreaty today to the reader is to consider well his ways so that he can enter the rest; Hebr. 4; 11, " Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest ( be sure to read 3; 10 and 11 as well as Matt. 7; 21-23 !!!), lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. "
Reject all traditions and commandments of man, and worship Jahwah in Spirit and in Truth. May Jah bless !
* * *
Faith Bible and Tract Society
P.O. Box 222
Salem, West Virginia
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by A.B. Traina
It is generally believed and taught that Christianity was founded by the Savior from Nazareth, when He was on earth. But a question immediately arises, which particular sect was the one He originated ? This is very important, for any thinking person knows that of the thousands of sects making up Christendom, no two agree entirely. Naturally, the Savior did not inaugurate so many conflicting divisions. The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the one and only church of God, the true bride of Christ, and that all Protestant sects are heretics. On the other hand, the Protestants deride the Catholic Church as the harlot mother of Revelation 17; 5, not knowing that the same text condemns them likewise.
Those that are acquainted with the facts know Christendom is made up of Christian nations, whose faith was founded not by the Savior of Nazareth, but by pagan philosophers a generation after the death of Messiah's immediate followers. Christianity is an apostate, as we can readily prove. The denominations, sects, churches or factions, which make up Christianity, are not followers of the Savior of the world. The doctrine He taught, the life He lived, the worship He practiced, are not those of modern Christianity.
Christianity is Hellenic paganism, nationalized by Roman emperors for national solidarity. It was molded from the doctrines of Plato, Socrates and the Gnostic Grecian philosophers. Christianity is but a newer name of the old religion of the philosophers. It is molded after them in doctrine, in practice, in worship and in name !
The Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say relative to this appeasement policy of the ( apostate ) church:
" Nothing perhaps has tended more thoroughly to corrupt Christianity than the introduction into it of superstitions which are really pagan themselves, or have been suggested by pagan practices. Paganism, unable to oppose Christianity successfully, had done much to corrupt it, and in numberless ways had made inroads into its purity."
Christianity, as such, was not firmly established as a religion until the time of Constantine the Great, who needed a national religion to solidify his empire. ( Same as Jeroboam 1 Kings 12; 26-33 ) He, therefore, adopted the new religion then going into apostasy, and made it into a national sect. He not only caused its acceptance as the one and only religion of the empire, but he formulated its policies, and caused to be accepted its doctrines, and stigmatized as heretics those who would not accept the new religion, banishing them from his kingdom, or putting them to death. Anyone may verify the above by referring to any religious encyclopedia on the life of Constantine. Thus began the Roman Catholic Church, from whence sprang the church daughters making up the sects of Christianity.
When the Messiah was born into the world, His mother was a maid of Israel, of the tribe of Judah. He was born into a holy household, one which worshiped the Almighty according to the doctrine and ritual given by the Most High through the Holy Spirit to the prophets. There is not one iota of evidence in New Testament records that the Savior ever departed from the religion of his people, which was the Scriptural worship of the prophets ( that is the Holy Scripture ), but, rather to obey them, fulfilling them in every yod and title. " Think not I am come to destroy, but to fulfill." - Matt. 5; 17.
He taught the same precepts of holiness, practiced the same life of righteousness, observed the same sacred feasts, hallowed the same weekly Sabbath day, as did the patriarchs and the prophets before Him. But, for the apostate church of His day, he emphasized the power of a life of holiness so lived that its influence would change the vilest sinner, making him whole in body and spirit again. It was the message of the prophets placed into practice of His life, and in the lives of His immediate followers. This life of holiness not only influenced individuals, but through them affected the course of nations, and remodeled the world, in a fashion. But the Savior died, then ascended, and His disciples carried on after Him, until they, too, died.
As long as the immediate followers of the Messiah lived, they patterned their doctrine and manner of life after that of their Savior, for they were mainly of the Jewish ( Judean is the correct word, and hereafter used as such ) nation, and from the Israelite faith. They continued to live, to teach, to worship, as true Israelites, following the example of their Master.
Concerning Philo, Eusebius says, " Moreover, from His very accurate description of the life of our ascetics it will be plain that he not only knew but welcomed, reverenced, and recognized the divine mission of the apostolic men of his day, who were, it appears, of Hebrew origin, and thus still preserved most of the ancient customs in a strictly Israelite manner."
Eusebiud is speaking of Philo's treatise, " On the Contemplative life of Suppliants." Book 11, Chap. xvii - Eusebius, " Ecclesiastical History." After the destruction of Jerusalem, in the year 70, the Judeans were dispersed ( as prophesied by Messiah in Matt. 12; 30) into all parts of the Roman Empire; and the disciples of the Messiah, being of the tribe of Benjamin, were scattered with the others. With them, these disciples took pristine faith, which they had received from the Savoir. They formed assemblies wherever they went, and so the true faith was sown throughout the world.
Hegisippus says, " Until then ( 106 or 107 A.D. at the martyrdom of Symenon ) the church remained a pure and uncorrupted virgin, for those who attempted to corrupt the healthful rule of the Savior's preaching if they existed at all, lurked in obscure darkness. But when the sacred band of the Apostles and the generation of those to whom it had been vouchsafe to hear with their own ears the divine wisdom had reached the several ends of their lives, then the federation of godless error took its beginning through the deceit of false teachers, who, seeing that none of the Apostles still remained, barefacedly tried against the preaching of the trust the counter -proclamation of knowledge, falsely so-called." Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 111, Chap. xxxii.
From among the nations where they were scattered, the true believers gathered proselytes to their true faith, and so the assemblies grew in members made up from the various nationalities mixed with believers from the nation of Judah. These new numbers, however, had been connected with other religions then, just as it is now. And then, as now, there was no salvation in them ! When these converts came into the fold from the pagan religions they neglected to leave all their former beliefs behind, but often brought their paganistic doctrines and practices into the true fold.
"The propensity of the rude and uneducated converts from paganism to cling to the festival rites of their forefathers proved to be invincible, so that it was seen to be necessary to seek to adopt the old usage's to the new worship rather than to abolish them altogether; moreover, although the Empire hand became Christian, it was manifestly expedient that the old ( pagan ) holidays should be recognized as much as possible in the new arrangement of the calendar." Encyclopedia Britannica. In time, as the true believers from Judea died off and the ones who held to the true faith decreased in numbers, the other element which had been proselytes from the pagan religions became the dominant force in the new faith, and soon, except for isolated instances, the new religion became a mongrel, a half-breed, part pagan and part true faith. It was not the faith of the Messiah, nor was it the old time paginate, nor was it known by any of the former names, but became known, in time, as Christianity. This change was gradual, beginning even in the time of St. Paul, and culminating in the Roman Catholic State Church during the reign of Constantine.
Of this change of true faith into that of the mongrel religion, Dr. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, the noted church historian, says, "For fifty years after St. Paul's life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we vainly strive to look; and when it at last rises, about 120 years A.D. with the writings of the earliest chuchfathers we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Paul and St. Peter."
Unto this time ( the fall of Jerusalem, A.D.70 ) the church had been regarded by the Roman government and by the people at large as a branch of the Judean religion; but henceforth Judeans and Christians were apart. A small section of the Judean Christians endured for two centuries, but with ever decreasing numbers, ( Messiah said as in Luke 18; 8, " .......when the Son of Man cometh, will He find faith on earth ?") the Ebionites, a people by themselves, scarcely recognized by the general church and despised as apostates by their own race. "
Hurlbut's story of the Christian church, p 43.
" There is a strong support of the theory that the earliest Christianity was Judaistic in every way; that it was, in essence, a Judaistic Reformation with the addition of Messianic principles which had been already current among the Judeans for about two centuries. Judaistic Christianity, however, practically disappeared after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70." Funk & Wagnall's New Std. Encl. - Article Bible. In the wars with the Judeans, the Romans considered them as enemies, as indeed they were. This feeling influenced the people of the Roman Empire in their attitude towards the true disciples , who were mainly from Judea. Many of the citizens of the empire refused to have anything to do with the new sect, because they consider it Judean. Even the members of the assemblies from the nations were influenced by this spirit, and said, " Let us have nothing in common with the rabble of the Judeans," and so everything in the new faith which had a taint of Judaism was discarded, and a new religion formed which had nothing Judean about it.
The new creation was Christianity, but not the faith of the Messiah. Christianity is not the faith of the Messiah, but an amalgamation of paganism and Judaism, sprinkled with a tincture of the true faith as taught by the Messiah.
Hurlbut says,
"As long as the church was mainly Judean, the Hebrew Sabbath was kept; but as it became increasingly Gentile, the first day ( Sunday ) gradually took the place of the seventh."
Not only was the Sabbath dropped from the new religion, and Sunday ( a holiday of the pagans ) adopted; but they likewise rejected the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened bread, and adopted Lent and Easter Sunday ( Astartè's Sun-day ).
The Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement were forgotten, and the birthday of the Sun-god took their place as Christmas;
Sprinkling took the place of immersion;
immortality of the soul, adopted from paginate, replaced the doctrine of conditional eternal life;
the resurrection and day of judgment was taught through which the dead entered heaven, or hell, no resurrection being necessary in this program.
The kingdom of heaven, as an actual earthwide government under whole heavens was ignored, as the members of the new religion sought to please "the powers that be."
Truly, Hurlbut said, " We find a church in many aspects different" from that of St. Paul and St. Peter and the Messiah. This new church, different, was Christianity; and for its deities it adopted various ones from the heathen, discarding the Most High of the Israelite Scriptures, and His blessed Son, Jahshuwah.
Once again we find the churchmen giving way to these heathen in order to win them to Christianity. Quoting from Frazer's Golden Bough, we find; "Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian and the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental. They mark the compromise which the church in the hour of it's triumph was compelled to make with its vanquished still dangerous rivals. The inflexible Protestantism of the primitive missionaries, with fiery denunciations of heathendom, had been exchanged for the supple policy, the easy tolerance, the comprehensive charity of shrewd ecclesiastics, who clearly perceived that if Christianity was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles of its Founder, by widening a little the too narrow gate which leads to salvation."
The new religion was not the old paganism, but really a new creation. It was a general amalgamation, made up of various beliefs of the new members of the old cults. They took something from one and another and formed the whole into Christianity;
Sunday from pagan Romans,
Easter from the pagan Egyptians,
Christmas from the pagan Babylonians,
the truingod from the Gnostics; immortality from the pagan Greeks,
and some from the teaching of the Messiah,
and with many other doctrines were combined,
and thus the religion of Christianity was formed, which, eventually, became the state religion of the Roman Empire.
In many places the pagan temples were turned into Christian churches. The services of worship increased in splendor but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times. "The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and worship." Brothingham says, speaking of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome:
"Into what depth of antiquity the ceremonies carried me back ! To the mysteries of Eleusis, to the sacrificial rites of Phoenicia. The boys swung the censors as censors had been swung in the adoration of Bacchus.
The girdle and cassock of the priests came from Persia; the veil and tonsure were from Egypt;
the alb and chasube were prescribed by Numa Popilius;
the stole was borrowed from the official who used to throw it on the back of the victim that was to be sacrificed;
the white surplice was the same as described by Juvenal and Ovid." -Atlantis, pp. 210,211.
The pagan temples not only became churches, the heathen festivals became church feasts,
the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday,
but even the heathen worship was transferred, as they substituted the adoration of the Virgin Mary for the worship of Venus and Diana.
Zeus/Jupiter
What did the pagan care about the name of the idol, or the name of the religion, just so that he could understand that it was the same. So the new religion adopted the statues of Venus and Diana, Jupiter, or Zeus, Apollos, etc., and chiseled off the pagan names, and engraved thereon the new names adopted for the new religion, called Christianity. The heathen had been worshipping Diana, or Venus, so they were now adoring the Virgin Mary.
They had worshipped Zeus, or Jupiter, as the supreme deity, so now they were told the new name was Theos, or Dios, or God. There savior was Zeus, so now they were to accept Jesus ( Iesous, or Zeus ).
Pagan temples became Christian churches,
pagan idols became holy-days,
pagan rites and ceremonies became Christianized - and so was born Christianity.
The Hebrew prophets worshipped the Creator of the world, and to them He had revealed that His name was Jahwah ( Isa. 42; 8 ). The prophet declares this was the only name ( Psa. 83; 18 ) of the Almighty.
Just as Scripture reveals that there is only one Supreme Almighty, so it also declares that He has but one name, and that name is Jahwah. Over 7 000 times the the sacred Scriptures reveal that sacred name to man.
Jahwah
The patriarchs, the prophets, the Savior and His disciples worshipped the only true Creator and called upon Him by His only revealed name of Jahwah, or the shorter form Jah.
When the Savior was with man, He worshipped the Mighty One of Israel, and knew and taught the sacred name. He prayed, " I have manifested Thy name unto the men Thou gavest Me out of the world." John 17; 6. " I have kept them in Thy name." John 17; 12. " I have declared upon them Thy name." John 17; 26.
After the death of the disciples, Jahwah was no longer the one worshipped in the Assemblies, and the gods of the nations ( Jahshuwah warned the Judeans that another one would come in his own name, and that man will listen to him, John 5; 43, another Jesus, 2 Cor. 11; 4 ), took His place in the Bible, and the new religion. The prophet said, " All nations walk, every man in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of Jahwah, our Mighty One, to times aged-abiding and beyond. " Micha 4; 5.
When the Sacred Writings were translated into the tongues of nations, the translators ignored the sacred names revealed in the Scriptures, and inserted the names of the national deities in the place of Jahwah. In every case the national deity in opposition to Jahwah was placed in the honored position. Each of the nations worshipped a supreme deity, and it had a national name. Where such a name could be used, it was placed in the translations. And thus, foreign gods received the praise, the honor, the worship, which were justly Jahwah's. No wonder the Almighty declares, " I Am Jahwah, that is My Name, and My esteem will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images." Isa. 42; 8.
" The god of nineteen-twentieth of the Christian world is only Bel, Moloch, Zeus, or at least Osiris, Mithras or Adonai, under another name, worshipped with the old pagan ceremonies and ritualistic formulas. It is the statue of Olympian Jove, worshipped as the Father, in the Christian church that was a pagan temple; it is the statue of Venus, become the Virgin Mary." - Pike, Morals and Dogma, p 296.
The word, pagan, according to Webster's International Dictionary;
1. Heathen, a follower of a polytheistic religion. ( as in ancient Rome )
2. One that has little or no religion and that is marked by a frank delight in and uninhibited seeking after sensual pleasures and material goods: an unrestrained irreligious hedonist and materialist < is a ~ of the decadence.......takes the world with exquisite nonchalance and prefers a well-ordered dinner to a dissertation on the immorality of the soul - T.L.Peacock >
3. relating to, < ~ customs > < represents the earthy, ~ acceptance of life in all its sensual vulgarity - R.M. Kain > < the concept of death and oblivion as the natural end of life - Cyril Connolly >
Jahwah is not the supreme one of Christianity, but the songs, the prayers, the praise, and the honor, ascend to the name of a foreign god, in every language under the heaven. ( Even Adonai, the Jewish form of the pagan god Adonis.) The Greeks pray unto Kurios and Theos; Strong's exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, # 2962; Kurios; by implicating Mr. a respectful title: - God, lord master, Sir. In other words not the name of Jahwah.
The Germans unto Herr and Gott;
the Poles unto Bog and Pan ! the English unto Lord and God.
Hosea 2; 16. "............and shalt call Me no more Baali," from the Companion Bible Dr. E.W. Bullinger, Baali = Lord.
And so it is throughout Christendom. The name of Jahwah is ignored by the apostate religion.
When the Savior was born into the world his mother was a Hebrew maid of the tribe of Judah; but His Father was the Almighty whose name alone is Jahwah, or Jah.
Strong's, Hebrew # 3050; Jah; the sacred name. As He was the Son of Jahwah, it was evident that He would carry His Father's name, and He plainly states saying, " I am come in My Father's Name." John 5; 43.
Our translated scripture says that Jahwah's Son's name is Jesus, a compound word of Ie and Zeus. But remember the heavenly messenger spoke unto a Hebrew, and declared His name in the Hebrew, which the writer explained to mean, "Jah is Salvation."
This name, Jahshuwah, being Hebrew, was objectionable to the Greeks and Romans, who hated the Judeans, and so it was deleted from the records, and a new name inserted.
Jahshuwah was thus replaced by Ie-Sous, now known to us as Jesus.
The new religion was known as Christianity, because the supreme deity of it was called Christos, and so we ask, whence came Christos ?
The Hebrews called their coming Savior the Messiah. The disciples of the Savior accepted Him as such, and to them He was known as Jahshuwah the Messiah. The Greeks, however, rejected the Hebrew name, and called Him Christos, similar to Chrisna ( Krisna ), name of the deity-savior of the East.
Among the people of the East, a sun-god savior was worshipped by the name of Krisna, and so among the Greeks of the new religion the Savior was known as Kristos, or Christos. Thus the Sanskrit name was of the Indian messiah became the name of the messiah of the new religion, and it was known as the new Christian ( Krisna ) faith.
The religion revealed in the Scriptures is the worship of the Creator, whose Name alone is Jahwah. Baal is not the Creator,
Adonis is not the Almighty,
Pan is not the Holy One, neither is Lord, Kurios or God.
Jahwah is the Supreme One. Worship Him. Psa. 91; 14,
" Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will deliver Him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name."
The only Savior in the Scripture is the Jahshuwah, the Son of Jahwah, who has come to restore the peace with Jahwah through RIGHTEOUSNESS alone.
He came in His Father's Name and by that we must adore Him. Away with the pagan name Christ, heathen name Jesus, and exalt the Savior, Jahshuwah, the Son of Jahwah, by His own name.
Let's forget Christianity, with its pagan worship and pagan deities, pagan festivals, pagan doctrine. Matt. 6; 33,
" But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of Jahwah, and His RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these THINGS ( from verses 31 and 32 ) shall be added unto you."
Righteousness, get back to the old ways, Jer. 31; 21. Our entreaty today to the reader is to consider well his ways so that he can enter the rest; Hebr. 4; 11, " Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest ( be sure to read 3; 10 and 11 as well as Matt. 7; 21-23 !!!), lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. "
Reject all traditions and commandments of man, and worship Jahwah in Spirit and in Truth. May Jah bless !
* * *
Faith Bible and Tract Society
P.O. Box 222
Salem, West Virginia
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Sunday, February 10, 2008
666 The Mark of The Beast
Mark Of The BeastMark of the Beast
Page Two Page Three Page Four
Mark of the Beast - Page four
By Steve Wohlberg
Taken from Chapter 8 of his eye-opening book, Truth Left Behind.
Now available at www.truthleftbehind.com
After Constantine, the Roman Catholic Church continued to enforce the keeping of Sunday in Europe for over 1,000 years. Sunday laws were also enforced in England for centuries. Amazingly, this practice was continued in colonial America. I have in my library a book, Dateline Sunday, USA-The Story of Three and a Half Centuries of Sunday-law Battles in America, written by Attorney Warren L. Johns (1967). This book reveals that in spite of the desire of the early American Puritans to get away from everything Catholic, they still maintained the keeping of Sunday and even the enforcement of Sunday laws. In the 1600s, if you lived in Massachusetts, Virginia, or Connecticut, you were required by law to attend church on Sunday. Disobedience was punished by heavy fines, whipping, confinement in a cage, and in some cases, even by death. Thus, colonial Protestant America still followed the example of Constantine and the Catholic Church in the uniting of church and state, and in the enforcement of Sunday laws.
The American Revolution resulted in complete separation from England and in the forming of a new nation. The American Constitution and the Bill of Rights fully established the doctrine of religious freedom. The First Amendment now denies the right of government to enforce religion. The Statue of Liberty at the entrance to New York harbor remains a monument against Rome and against the history of religious persecution in Europe. In the United States, the state is separate from the church, and the church is separate from the state. Both have their place, and both are to remain free. Yet history reveals that Protestant America has never completely cut loose from the City of Seven Hills, from the Vatican itself.
On May 21, 1888, a New Hampshire Christian senator introduced the following bill into the fiftieth Congress, “Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that no person, or corporation, or the agent, servant, or the employee of any person or corporation, shall perform or authorize to be performed any secular work . . . on the first day of the week, commonly known as the Lord’s day” (The National Sunday Law, Arguments of Alonzo T. Jones before the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor at Washington, D.C., December 13, 1888. 1889, p. v.). The purpose of this bill was to produce enforced Sunday keeping nationwide, and this proposed legislation had the support of Christian churches across America who were seeking to inject more religion into an increasingly secular society. Yet the Blair Sunday bill was finally ruled unconstitutional, and it died in committee.
That was over a hundred years ago. Yet the problem of immorality remains; in fact, it is getting worse. Every Christian knows society is in moral trouble, and we struggle for solutions. What does the future hold? Bible prophecy predicts that what happened in Europe leading to the forming of the beast will eventually happen in America leading to the image of the beast. In the fourth century, Rome was disintegrating. Constantine decided that the solution to the problem was to unite the government of Caesar with the Roman Catholic Church and to enforce the keeping of Sunday. Something similar will happen again. During a future crisis, in an hour of desperation, Protestant America will finally conclude that the only solution to the national emergency will be to unite the church with the federal government and to enforce the keeping of Sunday.
Pastor John Hagee, a much-respected Christian television evangelist, recently said, “I believe that in the next two years America will either return to God—or we will be a nation that goes beyond the brink and forever turns away from God. We are in that decision-making process now. It’s time we rise up and Take America Back!” (John Hagee Ministries, Ministry Resource Catalog. Fall issue, 1999-2000, back cover). Pastor Hagee is correct when he says America needs to come back to God, yet (and I trust he would agree) this must be done through the love of Jesus Christ without the use of force.
On May 31, 1998, Pope John Paul II issued a lengthy pastoral letter, Dies Domini (The Day of the Lord), which contained a passionate appeal for the revival of Sunday observance. The pope said the prevailing neglect of Sunday reflects a spiritual crisis inside the Catholic Church and within Christianity in general. Notice his words: “The Lord’s Day has structured the history of the Church through two thousand years: how could we think that it will not continue to shape the future?” Shockingly, the pope then urged world governments to enforce Sunday laws! “In the particular circumstances of our own time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy.” Such statements are right in line with this official Vatican position: “Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 528. 1994, italics supplied).
This view is shared by Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition. In his best-selling book, The New World Order, Pat Robertson (like Pastor Hagee) correctly emphasizes the need for America to come back to God. His book envisions a time when this will occur. But he also writes: “The next obligation that a citizen of God’s world order owes is to himself. ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,’ is a command for the personal benefit of each citizen. . . . Only when people are permitted to rest from their labors, to meditate on God, to consider His way, to dream of a better world can there be progress and genuine human betterment. . . . Laws in America that mandated a day of rest from incessant commerce have been nullified as a violation of the separation of church and state” (Pat Robertson, The New World Order, p. 236. 1991).
Do you realize what you just read? Pat Robertson is envisioning an America that has returned to God. As part of this new world order, he also sees an America that is keeping the Sabbath, yet by the Sabbath, he really means Sunday. He then looks back to the days of colonial America when Sunday was enforced by law. He wants to see this again. He says what is stopping Sunday laws from being enforced is the separation of church and state, which, he has concluded, is really a doctrine of the liberal left. This is a mistake. The founding fathers separated government and religion as a reaction to the Church of Rome and in favour of inalienable rights. As we have already seen, the Catholic Church is against the separation of church and state and is in favour of Sunday laws. When Protestants attack the separation of church and state and at the same time seek for Sunday laws, “They know not what they do.” They are really lining up with the Roman Catholic Church and are preparing the way for the image of the beast and for the enforcement of his mark.
In the blazing light of Bible prophecy, these developments are more chilling than the scariest horror movie. I am not questioning anyone’s sincerity or deciding people’s destinies, yet the truth must be spoken. Truth Left Behind may never become as “wildly popular” as Left Behind, and it probably won’t receive a host of positive reviews from Christian leaders nationwide. Nor will its contents be viewed as altogether politically correct. But, like Martin Luther, I have my orders, and they come from above. How many people accepted the preaching of Noah? How many boarded the ark? I am writing this book because the Spirit of God is compelling me and because Christians must be warned. Lucifer himself is hiding underneath many of Christianity’s most popular trends. In fact, the enemy has recently spoke directly from heaven in support of Sunday observance. Have you heard of the apparitions of Mary? They are definitely increasing. We should have no doubt they really come from Satan. Notice these words from a Catholic author who has compiled an entire book about these appearances: “One evening our Lady appeared to a local farmer, Michael O’Donnel. She told him, ‘Preserve Sunday for prayer’ ” (The Thunder of Justice, by Ted and Maureen Flynn, MaxKol Communications, Inc., 1993, p. 30).
“Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat its mistakes.” It already happened in Europe. The Roman Empire was falling apart, so Constantine decided to unite the government of Caesar with the Roman Catholic Church and to enforce the keeping of Sunday. This helped form the beast, and it will happen again in America. Our country is now sinking in the quicksand of sin, and immorality is raging out of control. Like the approaching footsteps of a midnight thief, the final crisis is coming. In a soon-coming dramatic hour of desperation, prophecy predicts America will reject over two hundred years of freedom. Sincere, and yet misguided Christians will take the reins of government. The appropriate separation of government and religion will disappear as Protestant America forms an image of the Roman Catholic Church. In a final attempt to bring America back to God, Sunday observance will once again be enforced by law. Yet this time, unlike the past, the enforcement will be universal. Protestants, Catholics, and even the apparitions of Mary, will all be united in this. The reasons will sound good; the movement will look Christian, and it will seem like our only hope. Yet deep in the midst of these turbulent waters will be Satan himself. He will have finally pulled off his ultimate masterpiece of delusion. He will have led Christians, in the name of the Lamb, to enforce the Mark of the Beast. Those who refuse to cooperate will not be able to buy or sell. And this is not an issue that some fictitious Tribulation Force will have to deal with. No. It will apply to you and me.
“He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16, 17). Notice carefully that people will get either the mark, the name, or the number. This doesn’t mean the government will someday say, “Take your pick. Do you want the mark, the name, or the number?”—as is taught in The Mark—The Beast Rules The World (p. 86). Not a chance. We are dealing here with deep spiritual issues. Sunday is the “mark” of Rome’s authority. And just like “the name” of God refers to His character (Exodus 34:5-7), even so does “the name of the beast” refer to his character. The beast “thinks” it’s OK to change God’s law (Daniel 7:25). Those who think like this during the closing seconds of time will be sharing in the character of the beast. They will have his name on their foreheads, instead of the name of the heavenly Father (Revelation 14:1).
What about that mysterious “number of his name . . . 666” (Revelation 13:17, 18)? Consider this: What day was man created? On the sixth day. What day did God rest? On the seventh day (Genesis 1:26; 2:1-3). What number is God’s number all throughout Revelation? Seven! The book of Revelation talks about seven churches (1:20), seven lampstands (1:20), seven stars (1:20), seven seals (5:1), seven trumpets (8:2), and finally seven last plagues (15:1), which will be emptied on those who get the number 666! Revelation says that 666 is man’s number (Revelation 13:18), representing man trying to take the place of God. Seven is God’s number, representing complete submission to Jesus Christ, our Creator. In fact, Jesus is represented in Revelation as a Lamb with “seven horns and seven eyes” (5:6), therefore the number seven is also Jesus Christ’s special number. Those who keep the Sabbath reveal to the whole universe that they have entirely surrendered pride and self to the love of Jesus Christ, the Maker of all life, and to the full power of His Cross. By God’s grace, they overcome where Lucifer failed. This is the core issue.
When the Mark of the Beast is finally enforced by law around the world, the Good Shepherd will call His sheep. During that fateful crisis, there will be sincere Catholics and Protestants everywhere who have never understood the real issues. The Spirit of the Almighty will talk to their hearts. The three angels’ messages will be heard from the pulpit, in print, on the radio, on television, on the World Wide Web, and via satellite. People will have a chance to learn what is truth. Jesus Christ will be lifted up, His cross will be seen, and actual cause of His death will be more deeply understood by Christians. Why did Jesus die? The Bible says, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Simply put the pieces together. Jesus Christ died because human beings have broken the Ten Commandments, including the forgotten one, which says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). Therefore our Jesus Christ, our Creator, also died because we broke His Sabbath!
During the crisis surrounding the Mark of the Beast, it will be understood that Jesus is the Saviour of the world and the Maker of all life. The Sabbath will be presented as a special day, which uniquely reveals Jesus Christ and His love for His own lost world. He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). People will then be brought face to face with the core issue that will ultimately decide their destiny. Will they worship Jesus Christ, the Creator, and keep the commandments of God? Or will they worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark? Humanity will have reached its final crossroads. Heaven’s clock will have struck the midnight moment. The last hour of decision will have come. During those closing seconds, the seventh-day Sabbath will represent allegiance to Jesus Christ, the Maker of all life, while Sunday will represent allegiance to Rome.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The heart of the issue is love for Jesus Christ. Out of sincere appreciation for His grace and for the magnitude of His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, Christ’s true followers will fully take their stand on the Lord’s side, no matter what the cost. The three angels’ messages are clear: Those who accept the gospel, embrace the Lamb, worship the Creator, and keep the commandments, will not receive the Mark of the Beast. This is what the Bible says! The third angel describes God’s final apocalyptic people in this way: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
During planet Earth’s last crisis, when the Mark of the Beast is globally enforced by law, after a person truly sees the core issue and then chooses to believe in Rome’s Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath of Jesus Christ—then and only then, will God Almighty look into the inner recesses of his or her mind, and consider that person to have the mark in the forehead. Those who don’t believe in Sunday keeping, yet who go along with it because of intense social and economic pressure to conform, will receive the mark in their right hand. Those who reject the use of force, who follow the Lamb, keeping the Sabbath no matter what the cost, will be revealing their supreme loyalty to the great Creator of heaven and earth. They have the name of God in their foreheads.
After everyone has made his final choice, the hinges of heaven’s door will close forever. Jesus Christ will then make this final, tremendous announcement: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:11, 12). A mysterious voice will thunder from the heavenly temple, commanding the seven angels: “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:1, 2). These seven last plagues will totally desolate planet Earth. But as the Lord protected the Israelites in Egypt during the falling of the ten plagues (Exodus 8:22, 23; 9:6, 26; 10:21-23), even so will he fully protect His trusting and obedient children who have His holy name in their foreheads.
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Psalm 91:4-10).
At the conclusion of the seven last plagues, at the end of “the time of trouble such as never was,” God’s loyal people shall look up with wonder and see the coming of the King. “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30, 31). Contrary to the fictitious account of Left Behind, this is when the Rapture takes place!
Jesus Christ, the Babe of Bethlehem, the carpenter’s Son, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the King of kings, the Lord of the Sabbath, and the Maker of all life, the One who loves us and died for us, will soon return to take His children home. Oh friend, will we be “caught up” on that great day? Will we follow the Bible or tradition? True Protestantism or Jesuit futurism? The Creator or the beast? Will we be marked in our minds or will we have the name of God in our foreheads? The choice is up to us. It is up to you. “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9).
Select the following for an excellent revision on 666 and the mark of the beast.
If you have a reasonably fast internet connection and would like to watch an online Prophecy Seminar that reveals who the little horn of Daniel 7 and the Beast of Revelation 13 is that changed the Sabbath to Sunday, you will find Revelation Reveals the Antichrist very enlightening. You may want to start about 17.5 minutes in to bypass singing items etc. You can also watch Histories Greatest Hoax on the truth about the Sabbath and ideally should be watched first. There is also an episode covering 666 and the mark of the beast. To watch more from this Prophecy Seminar you will find the menu here. Be prepared to discover many mind blowing, lost Bible truths.
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Mark of the Beast - Page four
By Steve Wohlberg
Taken from Chapter 8 of his eye-opening book, Truth Left Behind.
Now available at www.truthleftbehind.com
After Constantine, the Roman Catholic Church continued to enforce the keeping of Sunday in Europe for over 1,000 years. Sunday laws were also enforced in England for centuries. Amazingly, this practice was continued in colonial America. I have in my library a book, Dateline Sunday, USA-The Story of Three and a Half Centuries of Sunday-law Battles in America, written by Attorney Warren L. Johns (1967). This book reveals that in spite of the desire of the early American Puritans to get away from everything Catholic, they still maintained the keeping of Sunday and even the enforcement of Sunday laws. In the 1600s, if you lived in Massachusetts, Virginia, or Connecticut, you were required by law to attend church on Sunday. Disobedience was punished by heavy fines, whipping, confinement in a cage, and in some cases, even by death. Thus, colonial Protestant America still followed the example of Constantine and the Catholic Church in the uniting of church and state, and in the enforcement of Sunday laws.
The American Revolution resulted in complete separation from England and in the forming of a new nation. The American Constitution and the Bill of Rights fully established the doctrine of religious freedom. The First Amendment now denies the right of government to enforce religion. The Statue of Liberty at the entrance to New York harbor remains a monument against Rome and against the history of religious persecution in Europe. In the United States, the state is separate from the church, and the church is separate from the state. Both have their place, and both are to remain free. Yet history reveals that Protestant America has never completely cut loose from the City of Seven Hills, from the Vatican itself.
On May 21, 1888, a New Hampshire Christian senator introduced the following bill into the fiftieth Congress, “Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that no person, or corporation, or the agent, servant, or the employee of any person or corporation, shall perform or authorize to be performed any secular work . . . on the first day of the week, commonly known as the Lord’s day” (The National Sunday Law, Arguments of Alonzo T. Jones before the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor at Washington, D.C., December 13, 1888. 1889, p. v.). The purpose of this bill was to produce enforced Sunday keeping nationwide, and this proposed legislation had the support of Christian churches across America who were seeking to inject more religion into an increasingly secular society. Yet the Blair Sunday bill was finally ruled unconstitutional, and it died in committee.
That was over a hundred years ago. Yet the problem of immorality remains; in fact, it is getting worse. Every Christian knows society is in moral trouble, and we struggle for solutions. What does the future hold? Bible prophecy predicts that what happened in Europe leading to the forming of the beast will eventually happen in America leading to the image of the beast. In the fourth century, Rome was disintegrating. Constantine decided that the solution to the problem was to unite the government of Caesar with the Roman Catholic Church and to enforce the keeping of Sunday. Something similar will happen again. During a future crisis, in an hour of desperation, Protestant America will finally conclude that the only solution to the national emergency will be to unite the church with the federal government and to enforce the keeping of Sunday.
Pastor John Hagee, a much-respected Christian television evangelist, recently said, “I believe that in the next two years America will either return to God—or we will be a nation that goes beyond the brink and forever turns away from God. We are in that decision-making process now. It’s time we rise up and Take America Back!” (John Hagee Ministries, Ministry Resource Catalog. Fall issue, 1999-2000, back cover). Pastor Hagee is correct when he says America needs to come back to God, yet (and I trust he would agree) this must be done through the love of Jesus Christ without the use of force.
On May 31, 1998, Pope John Paul II issued a lengthy pastoral letter, Dies Domini (The Day of the Lord), which contained a passionate appeal for the revival of Sunday observance. The pope said the prevailing neglect of Sunday reflects a spiritual crisis inside the Catholic Church and within Christianity in general. Notice his words: “The Lord’s Day has structured the history of the Church through two thousand years: how could we think that it will not continue to shape the future?” Shockingly, the pope then urged world governments to enforce Sunday laws! “In the particular circumstances of our own time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy.” Such statements are right in line with this official Vatican position: “Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 528. 1994, italics supplied).
This view is shared by Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition. In his best-selling book, The New World Order, Pat Robertson (like Pastor Hagee) correctly emphasizes the need for America to come back to God. His book envisions a time when this will occur. But he also writes: “The next obligation that a citizen of God’s world order owes is to himself. ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,’ is a command for the personal benefit of each citizen. . . . Only when people are permitted to rest from their labors, to meditate on God, to consider His way, to dream of a better world can there be progress and genuine human betterment. . . . Laws in America that mandated a day of rest from incessant commerce have been nullified as a violation of the separation of church and state” (Pat Robertson, The New World Order, p. 236. 1991).
Do you realize what you just read? Pat Robertson is envisioning an America that has returned to God. As part of this new world order, he also sees an America that is keeping the Sabbath, yet by the Sabbath, he really means Sunday. He then looks back to the days of colonial America when Sunday was enforced by law. He wants to see this again. He says what is stopping Sunday laws from being enforced is the separation of church and state, which, he has concluded, is really a doctrine of the liberal left. This is a mistake. The founding fathers separated government and religion as a reaction to the Church of Rome and in favour of inalienable rights. As we have already seen, the Catholic Church is against the separation of church and state and is in favour of Sunday laws. When Protestants attack the separation of church and state and at the same time seek for Sunday laws, “They know not what they do.” They are really lining up with the Roman Catholic Church and are preparing the way for the image of the beast and for the enforcement of his mark.
In the blazing light of Bible prophecy, these developments are more chilling than the scariest horror movie. I am not questioning anyone’s sincerity or deciding people’s destinies, yet the truth must be spoken. Truth Left Behind may never become as “wildly popular” as Left Behind, and it probably won’t receive a host of positive reviews from Christian leaders nationwide. Nor will its contents be viewed as altogether politically correct. But, like Martin Luther, I have my orders, and they come from above. How many people accepted the preaching of Noah? How many boarded the ark? I am writing this book because the Spirit of God is compelling me and because Christians must be warned. Lucifer himself is hiding underneath many of Christianity’s most popular trends. In fact, the enemy has recently spoke directly from heaven in support of Sunday observance. Have you heard of the apparitions of Mary? They are definitely increasing. We should have no doubt they really come from Satan. Notice these words from a Catholic author who has compiled an entire book about these appearances: “One evening our Lady appeared to a local farmer, Michael O’Donnel. She told him, ‘Preserve Sunday for prayer’ ” (The Thunder of Justice, by Ted and Maureen Flynn, MaxKol Communications, Inc., 1993, p. 30).
“Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat its mistakes.” It already happened in Europe. The Roman Empire was falling apart, so Constantine decided to unite the government of Caesar with the Roman Catholic Church and to enforce the keeping of Sunday. This helped form the beast, and it will happen again in America. Our country is now sinking in the quicksand of sin, and immorality is raging out of control. Like the approaching footsteps of a midnight thief, the final crisis is coming. In a soon-coming dramatic hour of desperation, prophecy predicts America will reject over two hundred years of freedom. Sincere, and yet misguided Christians will take the reins of government. The appropriate separation of government and religion will disappear as Protestant America forms an image of the Roman Catholic Church. In a final attempt to bring America back to God, Sunday observance will once again be enforced by law. Yet this time, unlike the past, the enforcement will be universal. Protestants, Catholics, and even the apparitions of Mary, will all be united in this. The reasons will sound good; the movement will look Christian, and it will seem like our only hope. Yet deep in the midst of these turbulent waters will be Satan himself. He will have finally pulled off his ultimate masterpiece of delusion. He will have led Christians, in the name of the Lamb, to enforce the Mark of the Beast. Those who refuse to cooperate will not be able to buy or sell. And this is not an issue that some fictitious Tribulation Force will have to deal with. No. It will apply to you and me.
“He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16, 17). Notice carefully that people will get either the mark, the name, or the number. This doesn’t mean the government will someday say, “Take your pick. Do you want the mark, the name, or the number?”—as is taught in The Mark—The Beast Rules The World (p. 86). Not a chance. We are dealing here with deep spiritual issues. Sunday is the “mark” of Rome’s authority. And just like “the name” of God refers to His character (Exodus 34:5-7), even so does “the name of the beast” refer to his character. The beast “thinks” it’s OK to change God’s law (Daniel 7:25). Those who think like this during the closing seconds of time will be sharing in the character of the beast. They will have his name on their foreheads, instead of the name of the heavenly Father (Revelation 14:1).
What about that mysterious “number of his name . . . 666” (Revelation 13:17, 18)? Consider this: What day was man created? On the sixth day. What day did God rest? On the seventh day (Genesis 1:26; 2:1-3). What number is God’s number all throughout Revelation? Seven! The book of Revelation talks about seven churches (1:20), seven lampstands (1:20), seven stars (1:20), seven seals (5:1), seven trumpets (8:2), and finally seven last plagues (15:1), which will be emptied on those who get the number 666! Revelation says that 666 is man’s number (Revelation 13:18), representing man trying to take the place of God. Seven is God’s number, representing complete submission to Jesus Christ, our Creator. In fact, Jesus is represented in Revelation as a Lamb with “seven horns and seven eyes” (5:6), therefore the number seven is also Jesus Christ’s special number. Those who keep the Sabbath reveal to the whole universe that they have entirely surrendered pride and self to the love of Jesus Christ, the Maker of all life, and to the full power of His Cross. By God’s grace, they overcome where Lucifer failed. This is the core issue.
When the Mark of the Beast is finally enforced by law around the world, the Good Shepherd will call His sheep. During that fateful crisis, there will be sincere Catholics and Protestants everywhere who have never understood the real issues. The Spirit of the Almighty will talk to their hearts. The three angels’ messages will be heard from the pulpit, in print, on the radio, on television, on the World Wide Web, and via satellite. People will have a chance to learn what is truth. Jesus Christ will be lifted up, His cross will be seen, and actual cause of His death will be more deeply understood by Christians. Why did Jesus die? The Bible says, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Simply put the pieces together. Jesus Christ died because human beings have broken the Ten Commandments, including the forgotten one, which says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). Therefore our Jesus Christ, our Creator, also died because we broke His Sabbath!
During the crisis surrounding the Mark of the Beast, it will be understood that Jesus is the Saviour of the world and the Maker of all life. The Sabbath will be presented as a special day, which uniquely reveals Jesus Christ and His love for His own lost world. He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). People will then be brought face to face with the core issue that will ultimately decide their destiny. Will they worship Jesus Christ, the Creator, and keep the commandments of God? Or will they worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark? Humanity will have reached its final crossroads. Heaven’s clock will have struck the midnight moment. The last hour of decision will have come. During those closing seconds, the seventh-day Sabbath will represent allegiance to Jesus Christ, the Maker of all life, while Sunday will represent allegiance to Rome.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The heart of the issue is love for Jesus Christ. Out of sincere appreciation for His grace and for the magnitude of His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, Christ’s true followers will fully take their stand on the Lord’s side, no matter what the cost. The three angels’ messages are clear: Those who accept the gospel, embrace the Lamb, worship the Creator, and keep the commandments, will not receive the Mark of the Beast. This is what the Bible says! The third angel describes God’s final apocalyptic people in this way: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
During planet Earth’s last crisis, when the Mark of the Beast is globally enforced by law, after a person truly sees the core issue and then chooses to believe in Rome’s Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath of Jesus Christ—then and only then, will God Almighty look into the inner recesses of his or her mind, and consider that person to have the mark in the forehead. Those who don’t believe in Sunday keeping, yet who go along with it because of intense social and economic pressure to conform, will receive the mark in their right hand. Those who reject the use of force, who follow the Lamb, keeping the Sabbath no matter what the cost, will be revealing their supreme loyalty to the great Creator of heaven and earth. They have the name of God in their foreheads.
After everyone has made his final choice, the hinges of heaven’s door will close forever. Jesus Christ will then make this final, tremendous announcement: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:11, 12). A mysterious voice will thunder from the heavenly temple, commanding the seven angels: “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:1, 2). These seven last plagues will totally desolate planet Earth. But as the Lord protected the Israelites in Egypt during the falling of the ten plagues (Exodus 8:22, 23; 9:6, 26; 10:21-23), even so will he fully protect His trusting and obedient children who have His holy name in their foreheads.
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Psalm 91:4-10).
At the conclusion of the seven last plagues, at the end of “the time of trouble such as never was,” God’s loyal people shall look up with wonder and see the coming of the King. “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30, 31). Contrary to the fictitious account of Left Behind, this is when the Rapture takes place!
Jesus Christ, the Babe of Bethlehem, the carpenter’s Son, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the King of kings, the Lord of the Sabbath, and the Maker of all life, the One who loves us and died for us, will soon return to take His children home. Oh friend, will we be “caught up” on that great day? Will we follow the Bible or tradition? True Protestantism or Jesuit futurism? The Creator or the beast? Will we be marked in our minds or will we have the name of God in our foreheads? The choice is up to us. It is up to you. “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9).
Select the following for an excellent revision on 666 and the mark of the beast.
If you have a reasonably fast internet connection and would like to watch an online Prophecy Seminar that reveals who the little horn of Daniel 7 and the Beast of Revelation 13 is that changed the Sabbath to Sunday, you will find Revelation Reveals the Antichrist very enlightening. You may want to start about 17.5 minutes in to bypass singing items etc. You can also watch Histories Greatest Hoax on the truth about the Sabbath and ideally should be watched first. There is also an episode covering 666 and the mark of the beast. To watch more from this Prophecy Seminar you will find the menu here. Be prepared to discover many mind blowing, lost Bible truths.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Torah Has Not Been Done Away With
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