Jericho and Gobekli Tepe Not as Old as They Say

After looking at the timelines of these ancient settlements supposedly from around 10,000BC, I have to say that it seems scientists and archaeologists will go to great lengths to pre-date what the Bible says even if they are easily proven wrong by the Bible itself as well as a little critical thinking. For example, these timelines have all kinds of archaeological "evidence" suggesting man existed prior to 4000BC. I'm not a young earther (nor do I believe in evolution) but when Christians are going with every "expert" opinion on these discoveries, suggesting creation had to have been about 15,000BC, Adam was 13652BC and the flood was 6/7000BC they are saying that the Bible's explicit timing is wrong and merely allegorical in its historical account.

Offering evidence that the walls of Jericho were built around 7000BC, the earliest food production was about 9000BC, and that the Egyptian dynastic period started around 5000BC, I'm not sorry to say that I am highly skeptical. I have little faith in archaeological dating from that far back, especially when I know that there have been repeated attempts to forge the fossil record with fake specimens.  Scientists and archaeologists are all-to-often compelled to force assertions that are in line with their own career objectives, biases and their desire to secure funding.

The first civilization was Sumer, where Abram came out of, which started around 3500BC or so. All these other attempts to show the evolution of civilization before this time (like Göbekli Tepe) are at best inaccurate and at worst a satanic conspiracy (consider how much money the elite ruling class have at their disposal). If they can fake the moon landings what else can they accomplish together?

If you take the Bible seriously these things were built after 4000BC and some of them had to have been after the flood. Radio carbon dating seems to be in line with the common theory but I have a lot of skepticism regarding the accuracy of RC dating since it's not very scientific and requires a lot of speculative assumptions in the method itself. Besides, who are the people funding the dating? Might they have an agenda? Also, does it seem more likely that Jericho and Gobekli Tepe were established in neolithic times, buried and abandoned for centuries, re-established, buried and abandoned again for centuries and re-re-established again in the bronze age OR is it much more plausible that the inhabitants came later, stayed there, covered the old site and successively rebuilt on top of it?

Creation was around 4000BC (actually, it's a re-creation/restoration but I can't explain all that on here - just look up the Gap Theory and my views are very similar http://www.heart4god.ws/foundations-of-faith.htm). This is easily discerned from diligently studying what the Bible teaches. If we actually used the resources we have at our disposal in this age of information and used our God-given discernment to seek the truth we would know this and not build timelines that are blatantly antithetical to the truth behind the narrative in the Bible. Further, articles like this are a great example of people just making stuff up: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150722144709.htm

If with every new discovery every other month we have to keep rethinking what our "ancestors" were capable of further and further back in time, there might be something fishy going on. Dagon-style fishy.

Years ago I was driving to work on a crowded highway. There was a toll stop about 1-2 miles ahead. Most people were going slow but there were gaps in the traffic so I changed lanes often to the next fastest lane (This was admittedly before I developed more patience). The traffic was going no faster than 45 MPH. I only had an opportunity to speed up about 10 MPH to change lanes because of the congestion. The speed limit was 50. The next thing I know I have a motorcycle cop waving me to pull over. He proceeded to yell at me all red-faced about wreckless driving (it wasn't all that wreckless) and then gave me a ticket for going 28 MPH over the speed limit. My question is, since it was physically impossible for me to have been going 78 MPH in that congestion how is it he was able to produce a radar reading of "me" going 78 MPH?

If teams of archaeologists and scientists have forged numerous fossils to make them appear to be missing links (prime example: Piltdown Man, Nebraska Man, Archaeoraptor and isolated, questionable partial specimens like Lucy where a baboon bone was accidentally included) and these forgeries/misappropriated specimens are allowed to be in the fossil record for decades, influencing modern science until they are proven as fakes or accidents then what else are these people capable of? Surely the artist recreations of these partial skeletons are reliable because... well, scientists and mass media moguls told them what to draw and sculpt. You know, I think they put obvious fakes out there like this to legitimize the "real" fossil record, like they are performing their due diligence to keep the record pure. Who really knows for sure what they are showing us is real? Doesn't it require an act of FAITH?

If companies like Monsanto, DuPont and Bayer can concoct skewed studies that prove their chemicals are safe so they can make billions when they are later proven to be human carcinogens then what else are "they" capable of?

If climate change science is spurious and inaccurate in its assumptions due to skewing of data in favor of specific results then...

If it is provable beyond a doubt that we have never been to the moon (by a mountain of solid evidence including confessions from NASA that they a) can't get back to the moon today because they b) can't reproduce the technology they had in the 60's and c) all the data/footage from the moon landing missions has accidentally been erased, AND d) they can't figure out how to get men in tin boxes passed the Van Allen Radiation Belts), then what else are the Luciferian elite ruling classes with their teams of scientists capable of?

Mainstream science is more often driven by confirmation bias, logical fallacies and a desire to show off than a desire for the truth. The fact is that the truth doesn't come by logic or reason. It comes by faith in the One who is Truth. True science comes from Him revealing deeper understanding of His nature to us AT HIS WILL, not ours. We should be responsible enough with what He gives us to not jump conclusions and rebel against our Father in vain attempts to make huge leaps in human progress. Yet, as moral relativists say, "Should is a dirty word."

Free Will?

There is only one way to do good, and that is by receiving and following the Spirit of God. We are born into sin, for the psalmist says, "Surely I was sinful at birth." So "as in Adam all die, in Christ all shall be made alive, but each in his own order." If God can harden Pharaoh's heart and if as He says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion" then surely He can change someone's free will at any time He wants "by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself".

He uses the wicked to chasten and judge His children. Are those people wicked by nature or by His will? Good question. In Revelation 17 it says, "For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled," and "These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast." Also, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is aionios life." If we are slaves to God by His Spirit, and do only as He commands, entering Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4), then is there really a such thing as free will? If our old man who is a slave to sin has died and you have been born again to a life yoked to Christ then you, like He, speak, "not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak," and "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" and yet again "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

"But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you."

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence."

The Ancient Origins of the Holiday Season

I came across this quote recently (from Tertullian, "On Idolatry") that is the smoking gun I was looking for in my search for evidence of idolatry and syncretism regarding the holiday season, specifically in the very early church. Read this quote multiple times considering what is would mean if the church were, even today, leading heathens "into the fold" by means of false doctrines and idolatrous traditions.

But, however, the majority (of Christians) have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear the Name be blasphemed. Now the blasphemy which must quite be shunned by us in every way is, I take it, this: If any of us lead a heathen into blasphemy with good cause, either by fraud, or by injury, or by contumely, or any other matter of worthy complaint, in which the Name is deservedly impugned, so that the Lord, too, be deservedly angry. Else, if of all blasphemy it has been said, By your means My Name is blasphemed, we all perish at once; since the whole circus, with no desert of ours, assails the Name with wicked suffrages. Let us cease (to be Christians) and it will not be blasphemed! On the contrary, while we are, let it be blasphemed: in the observance, not the overstepping, of discipline; while we are being approved, not while we are being reprobated. Oh blasphemy, bordering on martyrdom, which now attests me to be a Christian, while for that very account it detests me! The cursing of well-maintained Discipline is a blessing of the Name. If, says he, I wished to please men, I should not be Christ's servant. But the same apostle elsewhere bids us take care to please all: As I, he says, please all by all means. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 No doubt he used to please them by celebrating the Saturnalia and New-year's day! [Was it so] or was it by moderation and patience? By gravity, by kindness, by integrity? In like manner, when he is saying, I have become all things to all, that I may gain all, 1 Corinthians 9:22 does he mean to idolaters an idolater? to heathens a heathen? to the worldly worldly? But albeit he does not prohibit us from having our conversation with idolaters and adulterers, and the other criminals, saying, Otherwise you would go out from the world, 1 Corinthians 5:10 of course he does not so slacken those reins of conversation that, since it is necessary for us both to live and to mingle with sinners, we may be able to sin with them too. Where there is the intercourse of life, which the apostle concedes, there is sinning, which no one permits. To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this? The Holy Spirit upbraids the Jews with their holy-days. Your Sabbaths, and new moons, and ceremonies, says He, My soul hates. By us, to whom Sabbaths are strange, and the new moons and festivals formerly beloved by God, the Saturnalia and New-year's and Midwinter's (Brumae) festivals and Matronalia are frequented — presents come and go — New-year's gifts — games join their noise — banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself! Not the Lord's day, not Pentecost, even it they had known them, would they have shared with us; for they would fear lest they should seem to be Christians. We are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathens! If any indulgence is to be granted to the flesh, you have it. I will not say your own days, but more too; for to the heathens each festive day occurs but once annually: you have a festive day every eighth day. Call out the individual solemnities of the nations, and set them out into a row, they will not be able to make up a Pentecost. (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XIV, c. 155 – c. 240 AD)

Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis (c. 310–320 - 403AD) says that at Alexandria Aion's birth from Kore the Virgin was celebrated January 6:[13] "On this day and at this hour the Virgin gave birth to Aion." The date, which coincides with Epiphany, brought new year's celebrations to a close, completing the cycle of time that Aion embodies...In Ptolemaic Alexandria (305 BC-30 BC), at the site of a dream oracle, the Hellenistic syncretic god Serapis was identified as Aion Plutonius. The epithet Plutonius marks functional aspects shared with Pluto, consort of Persephone and ruler of the underworld in the Eleusinian tradition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aion_(deity)

In the Eleusinian tradition, dating back to the 4th century BC, Persephone was taken to the underworld in the winter months, causing her goddess mother Demeter to withdrawal her blessing on the land so that it would get cold and nothing would grow. Nothing but the evergreen and holly, of course, which are symbols in Norse and Germanic cultures of life even in the dead of winter. You can see this in the tradition of the Holly King and the Oak King, although much of these ancient traditions is only speculative. There is, however, enough glimpses into ancient tribal and pagan cultures to make an educated guess at what they were about. One such celebration is Calennig. "Machen traces the Calennig to the Roman Saturnalia and suggests that the custom was brought to Caerleon by the Romans." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calennig)

https://youtu.be/QD8xtoVbAg8 (A modern telling of ancient stories surrounding Calennig).

A winter tradition resembling Yultide is illustrated partly in Jeremiah 10. We see nature worship there and pagan winter holidays were clearly a long standing tradition before the book of Jeremiah was written. God told us not to worship as the heathen do. Do not declare a feast day unto Yahweh, and do not presume that God is pleased with your "holy" day. Holy = “apartness, set-apartness, separateness, sacredness.” Christians have inserted Christ into something Christ was not in to begin with.

The true origin of the "Holiday Season..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brumalia


The smoking gun I have been looking for taken with the mountain of evidence one can present along with it should be enough to convict the church as "guilty" of idolatry by any righteous jury. Evidence does not get clearer than this. Christians were widely syncretizing with pagan customs in the early church. Not only that but apparently they were trying to Christianize them by bringing them into the church in order to lure in heathens to the fold. These two quotes by Tertullian and Epiphanius say it all, but let's end with some more modern support for forsaking Christmas.

Charles Spurgeon on Christmas:
“We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas. First because we do not believe in any mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English: Secondly, because we find no scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Savior’s birth, although there in no possibility of discovering when it occurred. It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the birth of our Lord; and it was not till long after the western Church had set the example, that the eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known. Probably the fact is that the “holy” days were arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals. We venture to assert that if there be any day in the year of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which our Savior was born it is the 25th of December. Regarding not the day, let us give God thanks for the gift of His dear Son.” —C. H. Spurgeon Dec. 24, 1871 (Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, p. 697)

“No evidence remains about the exact date of the birth of Christ. The December 25 date was chosen as much for practical reasons as for theological ones. Throughout the Roman Empire, various festivals were held in conjunction with the winter solstice. In Rome, the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun. When Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the church either had to suppress the festivals or transform them. The winter solstice seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ’s birth. Thus, the festival of the sun became a festival of the Son” (Holman Bible Dictionary, entry for Christmas)

The basic premise that appears to go back as far as Babylon and Egypt is that in the winter the sun shines its light the least in the cycle of the year, essentially dying, and therefore everything else withers and dies, except the evergreen. Pantheists believe that God is in everything and that there are spirits in the evergreens which help them survive the winter. That is why they are central to this season and why they are brought indoors and worshiped. You are bringing that "life" into your home as a... guess what? What is all paganistic idolatry about? Fertility. Fertility of the land and fertility of the womb to conceive. God told us not to worship as the heathen do. This is why I personally want nothing to do with Christmas and I find it difficult even to worship with those who do because they are inviting a spirit into their lives by participating in the holy-daze. This spirit stays around. If you clean out your home and don't fill it with the Holy Spirit then 7 more unclean spirits will come inhabit you. What you become is an idolator by the works of your own hands and by the traditions of men. What does the Bible say about associating with those who call themselves brethren but are idolators? It would behoove the "church" (not "circe" or "kirk" but rather ekklesia or assembly) to consider exactly why they do what they do. Is your worship based on what God has shown you by the Holy Spirit or by vain traditions of men?

I would like to conclude with a video from Skywatch TV. It is a good starting point for most Christians and I really appreciate what they say about division, a subject I struggle with when it comes to serious concerns like idolatry. Personally, I think a person should do everything they can to share the truth with the elders at their church, IN LOVE and PATIENCE, in order to help them see the truth. If they just flat out refuse to hear then it mioght be time to take it to God for direction from the Spirit whether you should "kick the dust from your heals."

https://youtu.be/UmRy831ZVOQ


Here is an additional note I'd like to add to Tertullian's quote from "On Idolatry". Some have argued that Bruma or Brumalia have no connection to Saturnalia and there are no descriptions of this festival. They say it simply means Winter time. See the Latin text for a reference to Brumae as the "Midwinter's festivals" and note that Tertullian gives a fairly detailed description of these events:

Nobis, quibus sabbata extranea sunt et numeniae et feriae a deo aliquando dilectae, Saturnalia et Ianuariae et Brumae et Matronales frequentantur, munera commeant et strenae, consonant lusus, conuiuia constrepunt.

Normal Vincent Peale's Bible of American Autohypnotism

From knightstemplar.org regarding 33rd degree Freemason, "Sir" Norman Vincent Peale (and his "Power of Positive Thinking"). He was also given the York rite degrees and was a holder of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to theology. His influence on Christianity cannot be downplayed. His works formed the minds of modern Christianity, and that is not a compliment.
http://www.knightstemplar.org/KnightT…/articles/20110521.htm

A psychiatrist critical of Peale, R. C. Murphy, once exclaimed, "All this advertising is vindicated as it were, by a strict cleaving to the side of part truth..."

That is the best summary of modern Christianity I can think of.

A second major accusation of Peale is that he attempted to conceal that his techniques for giving the reader absolute self-confidence and deliverance from suffering are a well known form of hypnosis, and that he attempts to persuade his readers to follow his beliefs through a combination of false evidence and self-hypnosis (autosuggestion), disguised by the use of terms which may sound more benign from the reader's point of view ("techniques", "formulas", "methods", "prayers", and "prescriptions"). One author called Peale's book "The Bible of American autohypnotism".

While his techniques are not debated by psychologists, Peale said his theological practice and strategy was directed more at self-analysis, forgiveness, character development, and growth much like the Jesuits of the Catholic Church. Anyone who knows anything about the Jesuits will understand just how satanic that statement is.

As a child, Donald Trump attended Marble Collegiate Church (where Peale preached for most his life) with his parents, Fred and Mary. Both he and his two sisters were married there. Trump has repeatedly praised Peale and cited him as a formative influence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale



In case anyone is wondering why I post so much "negative" stuff it's because I'm trying to show you that you can't live in a bubble and ignore what Satan is doing in the world. If you really believe the Bible and hear the call to be a disciple you must face the darkness and expose it in the light. This is why Yahshua said you will suffer. It is not because you ate too much RoundUp, slept next to a smart meter for years and wound up with cancer. It's not because some random act of violence happened to you. It's the righteous acts of the saints that bring about righteous suffering. That does not mean you don't carry the peace and joy of Yahweh. You carry it through the trials which come from persecution towards those who stand with the lamp of His truth in the midst of a wicked world. The peace and joy comes from knowing the promise, not from ignoring the pain of the present. Is there reward for suffering which comes from partaking in the things of this world and reaping the consequences but still keeping a happy face while proclaiming the name of Christ? That's not the Gospel. Isn't the Gospel confrontational? Isn't this the example that was set by Christ and the apostles? They heard what God has declared, saw what He was doing, saw what the enemy was doing and called a spade a spade. The spades killed them for it. "And they did not love their lives even unto death." They also encouraged good things when they saw them but they did not ignore the truth for the sake of "peace and safety" in their hearts and lives.

December 25th Is Not Christ's Birthday

Do you know why the date of Dec 25th was chosen to be Christ's birthday? Jewish tradition is that all prophets are conceived and die on the same day. There is ZERO evidence of this but since Christ died on Passover, we have a presupposed fallacy that He must have been conceived on Passover (late April). This has served as a foundation for eager minds to try and prove, spuriously, the date of Christ's birth. April to December is only 8 months BTW which I supposed could be possible.

Using the story about the angel visiting Zechariah to tell him he is going to conceive a child, early bishops "over-curiously" (words of Clement of Alexandria c. 190AD) try to guess the date of Christ's birth. They say they can trace the time back to exactly when Zechariah was serving in the temple and establish that as the conception time of John the Baptist (more speculation but I guess there *could* be something to that). Since the Bible tells us that Yahshua was supposedly born 6 months after John they then trace the date of Christ's birth to either Dec 25th or Jan 6th. One thing they missed is that God doesn't have to fulfill His promises right away. Who is to say that John was conceived soon after the angel visited Zechariah? Luke says, "Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived." That's not very specific. Also note that Mary received a visit from Gabriel when John was in the womb somewhere between 5 and 6 months (again not very specific). There is nothing indicating Christ was conceived right then and there either. He may have been conceived a month or two later. So considering all these things, any attempt at nailing down even a somewhat accurate timing is very, very dubious. Besides, there were shepherds watching their flocks in the open fields at Christ's birth. That doesn't sound like winter*(see edit below).

Another important question to ask is why there were bishops going to such great lengths to calculate the date of Christ's birth 150+ years after His death? If it was important, surely the apostles, who were very close to Him, would have written it down or something? So many questions surround this date and I can't get past asking, "Why stretch so hard to make it fit?" There IS an answer to that question. You have to know your history really well in order to understand it though. Are you willing to look into it or are you going to be lazy and just go with the flow?

Charles Spurgeon on Christmas:
“We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas. First because we do not believe in any mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English: Secondly, because we find no scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Savior’s birth, although there in no possibility of discovering when it occurred. It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the birth of our Lord; and it was not till long after the western Church had set the example, that the eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known. Probably the fact is that the “holy” days were arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals. We venture to assert that if there be any day in the year of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which our Savior was born it is the 25th of December. Regarding not the day, let us give God thanks for the gift of His dear Son.” —C. H. Spurgeon Dec. 24, 1871 (Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, p. 697)

“No evidence remains about the exact date of the birth of Christ. The December 25 date was chosen as much for practical reasons as for theological ones. Throughout the Roman Empire, various festivals were held in conjunction with the winter solstice. In Rome, the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun. When Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the church either had to suppress the festivals or transform them. The winter solstice seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ’s birth. Thus, the festival of the sun became a festival of the Son” (Holman Bible Dictionary, entry for Christmas)

EDIT:
I do have to correct myself on one thing. Evidently, sheep do often stay outside in the winter months. Here is a blog about it:
http://www.livingwithgotlands.com/2015/02/how-can-sheep-survive-bitter-cold-weather/
Now shepherds were actually living in the fields with their flocks but since the temperature in Bethlehem only gets down to about 35 degrees at worst it is not unreasonable to expect this. I stand corrected on that particular fact, however it does not retract from the mountain of other facts presented on this subject here or anywhere else.

The Cloud of Witnesses and the First Resurrection

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
​ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 11-12

In reading this it would appear that there is a contradiction. The former spoken of obtained the promise but the latter did not? There is a dichotomy going on here on multiple levels. Those who obtained the promise were first tortured, despised, rejected and/or ignored. The power of God is still shown through them because of their faith, and this happened in their life on this planet, yet their faith persists today as a testimony. Paul is referencing people before and after Christ dies, old and new covenants, and he is looking toward the future in those who were alive at that time and those who would follow. We have them as a cloud of witnesses as well as ourselves. Scripture says Christ will return in the clouds and we are those clouds. (See Rev 1:7, Zech 12:10, Matt 26:64, Acts 1:9-11). He will return the same way which He left. This a parable.

Speaking to the Pharisees Christ said, "...from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
FROM NOW ON.

When the two men spoke to the disciples from heaven, "...why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven," they were asking them a rhetorical question. Why are you gazing up into heaven? He was received by the cloud of witnesses in heaven and He will be received by His witnesses on earth who will one day be caught up into the clouds with Him. The heavens declare the glory of God. HalleluYah!

Those who suffered in times past for their faith and experienced the power of God in different ways will not be made perfect apart from us. We all are made perfect together, those who are of the household of faith. Still the suffering is not over. I'm torn between the torture of this existence and the peace and joy of God. Why? Because in the here and now there must be suffering, like Lot (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard - not only in Sodom and Gomorrah but later as seen in the story of Moses and Egypt). Still, knowing the promise is what brings peace and joy. We receive pieces of the promise through our faith, hope and love during trials but we do not obtain the promise until God's appointed time. Then we will sit with Him on His throne and judge righteously, those who attain the firstfruit resurrection.

I say "we" inclusively in hope because we do not know whether we will be a part of the firstfruits. The firstfruits are overcomers, and they overcome by the blood and testimony of Yahshua. The testimony of Yahshua is the spirit of prophecy and we should not despise prophecies (nor ignore them). They are as important as any other doctrinal understanding. Let us be like the men of Issachar who understood the times in which they lived so they knew what to do.

The Bush Family and the Nazi Connection

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914, then made Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues. I helped rape half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street and did the same to Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912." -Major General Smedley Butler (By the end of his career, Butler had received 16 medals, five for heroism. He is one of 19 men to receive the Medal of Honor twice, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal (along with Wendell Neville and David Porter) and the Medal of Honor, and the only Marine to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.)

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler

Note the connection to the Brown Brothers...

Prescott Bush, a founding partner of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., (1931) was the Wall Street front for several Nazi companies and U.S. financial interests of Fritz Thyssen. Thyssen was an early financial backer of the Nazi party. Bush was a director and shareholder, along with George Herbert Walker, his father-in-law, in the Union Banking Corporation (UBC) which also ran a complicated financial web that supported Hitler until 1942.

Isn't this pattern of "Oops, we 'accidentally' supported terrorists!" beyond old at this point? The elite fund both sides of wars in order to create chaos so that out of that chaos they can create a reaction which in turn brings an opportunity for them to present a pre-supposed solution. In other words, you are being manipulated into supporting wars for the evil interests of the elite ruling class. This is only one small example in a multitude - an ocean of deception.

Yeshu - a Cursed Derogatory Name?

The Hebrew phrase yimakh shemo ימח שמו "May his name be obliterated" is a curse placed after the name of particular enemies of the Jewish people. A variant is yimakh shemo ve zikhro ימח שמו וזכרו "Obliterate his name and his memory." Yimakh shemo is one of the strongest curses in the Hebrew language.

The term although Hebrew, may be inserted as a set phrase in languages other than Hebrew, including Yiddish, e.g. "Dos iz a kol-boynik, yemakh-shmoy!" ("He is a scoundrel, yemakh-shmoy!") and English. When the phrase is used in English of plurals the Hebrew plural -am ("their names and their memories" yimach shemam ve-zichram) is applied. The epithet may be abbreviated as "Y. S." in some English texts. In Hebrew the abbreviation is (יש"ו) y-sh"u. The curse connects with examples of erasure of names in other cultures, but has been called "the classic Jewish curse."

- Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Language Revival and Multiple Causation

See of footnote #3 in the link below.
There are arguments that Yeshu (translated here as "sinners of Israel" after controversy over the original reference to Yeshu) is A) not Christ but some other less important figure who didn't have much influence, and B) that this is just a reference to a Jewish curse that means "May his name be obliterated." It equates this person with Balaam, who led Israel astray. You make the judgment call. Is it talking about Christ? http://www.come-and-hear.com/gittin/gittin_57.html#57a_2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzoah_Rotachat

Just as the Jews removed the name of Yahweh from the Old Testament they seem to have had a hand in the corruption of Christ's name as well. The commonly accepted name in Hebrew for Christ is Yeshua or more commonly in secular or some orthodox circles in Israel, Yeshu. After reading what is above and knowing what is written in the Babylonian Talmud (which a vast majority of rabbis and scholars use to this day) is it not highly suspicious that they use this name instead of the more obvious "Yahshua"?

If the name Jesus has any connection to this I wonder if it carries the meaning of cursing Christ and all who are His to remove their names from existence. Jesus is closer to Yeshua than Yahshua when you look at the Greek Iesus. It sounds like "Yeshu". The Jesuit order may have consciously picked this name for that reason. "The Society of Wiping out the Name of that Unspoken Apostate Jew from Existence". Of course that's pure speculation. I have no evidence of that last statement other than what was said here, which is not enough to draw that conclusion, however if you research the history of the Jesuits you will find that many of the things they've been involved in do seem to go along with that idea. "In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God." The Catholic-backed Jesuits along with teachings of the Jewish Talmud and Islam all teach something in common, that it is OK to do something wrong to an enemy as long as the intentions are towards righteousness. Where I come from that's spelled H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y.

Forever Fun - Tickle My Bible Translation

Let's translate this passage like most of the other passages containing the Greek words with the root "aion." It'll be fun!

"...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of forever."

Even more fun...

"...and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of forever, and the harvesters are angels."

"As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of forever."

Jesus answered [Wait, who is this "Jesus" character? I thought His name was Yahshua.], “The sons of forever marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy to share in forever to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this forever or in the one to come."

SEE! Didn't I tell you this would be fun? Why stop there?

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of forever past, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us...

Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

Hmmm, now I really like this one.

"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting"

FROM everlasting... TO everlasting. Now does that make sense?

Let's do the same with the phrase οὐ μή (ou mē). Here are some examples of correct translations made wrong for the sake of illustrating how ridiculous it is to translate this phrase as "never." “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will never pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Mat 5:18 Assuredly, I say to you, you will never get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Mat 5:26 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall never have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Mat 10:23 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall never taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Mat 16:28 For I say unto you, Ye shall never see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Mat 23:39 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, never one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall never be thrown down.” Mat 24:2 But I say unto you, I will not G3364 drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Mat 26:29 Here is one passage corrected to what it should be: For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, nor will be. Mat 24:21 Is this making sense now? We have to rightly divide the word of truth.

A Sol Invictus Christmas - Syncretism for the sake of unity

Part 1 - Tolerance

A gold multiple of "Unconquered Constantine" with Sol Invictus, struck in 313 AD.

Note the Battle of Milvian Bridge, where Constantine supposedly had a vision from the Christian God, occurred in 312AD. If Constantine converted to Christianity in this moment why would he continue minting coins that reinforce his right to rule by the authority of a pagan god? In the gold coin you can clearly see the battle of Milvian Bridge depicted on the shield. So what god then did he see while looking into the sun? Sol as depicted on the same coin, a god who is associated with the Greek god Apollo. Why also would he continue to erect monuments to pagan gods, ie; the giant archway leading into Constantinople, dedicated in 315AD, which has no Christian references on it whatsoever, yet depicts his victory at Milvian Bridge?

There is evidence that Constantine became more involved in the church in his later years but this does not preclude the lie about his supposed conversion in 312. Why would historians write such things? Perhaps because the emperor was their patron and loyalty was more important to them than the truth. Perhaps because that same emperor had the kind of character that would have his own son and wife killed and then attempt to erase all record of them from history, so why not them and everyone they hold dear?

Remember this coin and the title "Unconquered Constantine". It is useful in studying Roman religious festivals and their connection to modern holidays. Specifically the reference on the Roman calendar to "Natalis Invicti" (meaning birthday of the unconquerable one) in 336AD, which is hotly debated as evidence for or against Christmas, depending on the side you take and the evidence you weigh. The argument for Christmas states that Sol Invictus is a separate holiday in October and is unrelated to Natalis Invictus, which is probably a reference to Christ since this same calendar marks Christ's birthday as the same day. The problem with that is Sol is the "unconquerable one" and Constantine is making a statement about that here, claiming power in that god's name. It was common for Roman emperors to do that. Sol means "sun" and the fact that his name was changed from Apollo to Sol is revealing the Roman ecumenical desire to generalize the worship of the sun. It was not long before they conflated this with the worship of the "Son" of God. The reason the sun is so important to pagans is that it is a visible source of life. Without it we would not exist. The winter solstice is important in pagan religions because it is the time when the days are the shortest in the year, when the sun "dies" and is reborn. It is unconquerable.

The accuracy of the date of Christ's birth (as well as the attempt to date it to begin with) is another topic of discussion for a later time but this is clear evidence of the Romans having typical pagan celebrations on December 25th. This is a piece of evidence to take note of as we explore the history of Christmas further. For now we need to finish the foundation of why we even need to consider this subject.

The next point to note is Constantine's goal of unity, and not just Constantine but the men of high power in his kingdom. The Edict of Milan, which was written by those men and signed by Constantine and Licinius, was supposedly issued in 313AD. It was declaring forced tolerance of all religions, of which Christianity was an addendum. Although Christians were probably the most persecuted people at the time, especially in the eastern part of the empire, the edict was meant to legitimize ALL religions.  This itself is an assumption because no such edict was ever found. The only sources are two versions included in works by Lactantius and Eusebius. Each man's account of what it said differs. What we can glean though is that it was not "legalizing Christianity" in those certain terms but rather an ecumenical statement of religious decriminalization so people can worship who they please. Constantine was not the first to do this. Galerius did the same in 311. Note two specific statements that are recorded by Lactantius and Eusebius. They reveal the motives of this edict.

"It directed the provincial magistrates to execute this order at once with all energy so that public order may be restored and the continuance of divine favour may 'preserve and prosper our successes together with the good of the state.'"

"When you see that this has been granted to [Christians] by us, your Worship will know that we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases; this regulation is made that we may not seem to detract from any dignity of any religion."

Most people say that Constantine actively promoted Christianity after converting in 312 but where is the evidence of this? It appears that it was all a matter of tolerance for the sake of order, as is stated above. A strong kingdom is not divided within. He certainly understood that. Our leaders today certainly understand that and they use it to their advantage. They divide and create conflict in order to direct the storm. "Order out of chaos" is the philosophy of Gnostic, Neo-Platonic Luciferians. They will use any means necessary to achieve what they consider to be a "noble" cause. They will lie, cheat, steal and kill if it means something "good" will come out of it. Most of these political, religious, educational and economic leaders are VERY convincing too.

"In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me." John 16:2-3

Constantine was no loyalist to his previous gods. His patron god before Sol was Mars. Who knows what his motives were in waiting to be baptized until he was practically on his death bed (I'd guess to have his bases covered with all the biggest gods, especially the up-and-coming popular One?). From the evidence I've seen it is clear he was more concerned about unity than religion. This is the spirit of Babylon. At this point I'll remind you to read Revelation 17:17 to see what God thinks of this way of thinking and what He is doing about it to this very day.

Why is this important to understand? Because the history you've been told is probably a lie. History is often written and revised by victorious conquerors and those who support them. People are dooped into believing lies and carry them forward as unquestionable traditions - traditions of MAN, not God.

The picture that hides under the surface of a prettied up painting reveals bits and pieces of a larger narrative that has been at work since the "dawn of man." If you can understand this then you will have a better understanding of the working of the powers of this age, including the rulers of the present day. All the greatest rulers of nations and empires employ the use of propaganda as a form of indoctrination in order to gain more power. It is the basic premise of the art of war, which is not fought on the battle field but in the mind.



EDITS and ADDITIONS:

It is clear from the 313AD coinage and the 315AD archway into Constantinople that Constantine saw Sol (which means "sun") in the sun. Anyone who overlooks this evidence, whether from seminary or not, is ignoring the truth. The reasons for Constantine's embrace of Christianity is clear from the evidence we have in the writings of Lactantius and Eusebius about the Edict of Milan (a document that was supposedly kept safe in the official library of Constantinople, yet is nowhere to be found today). The goal was unity, not truth - to have an undivided empire that would rule the world. I won't say that Constantine didn't develop a desire to explore Christianity and even support it but saying what he did was the turning point for Christianity (at least in a positive light) is unfounded. It was a turning point which established a base for church and state to rule unquestionably, just as the Roman Empire had always done. Syncretize and assemilate, like Babylon as well. The end goal was always the New World Order, if I may use that term retrogressively. Christianity was merely the convenient vehicle for that goal. I won't even question that those who called themselves Christians really thought they were doing right and good, but the problem is Christianity was already corrupt at that point, so much so that they didn't even understand the basic doctrine of who Christ was. They had to hold councils to try and figure it out. Both Christ and Paul warned this would happen and it did. Isn't it also interesting that Constantine named the new Roman capitol after himself? Makes sense when you understand the history of Roman Emperors associating themselves with gods and seeing Constantine doing this very thing on his coinage.

Keep in mind that at this point Christian liturgy was evolving to be Catholic in nature, a word not officially used as a title for the church until later. This means that they were participating in mass, specifically the Eucharist, which today very much resembles sun worship. We don't know what it looked like at that time but we can see what it became. The beginning of the Catholic Church was more accurately here, not with Peter or the other 1st or 2nd century writers who used the prepositional or adjective term "kath holos." The evidence that the Catholic Church integrated elements of sun worship into Christianity is still present today.

"But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration."
Justin Martyr -- The First Apology of Justin
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html

Is that not conflating pagan sun worship with Christianity? This statement shows that Justin Martyr related pagan ideas to the Sunday mass. Is what he is saying here not assigning meaning where none was instructed by our Savior or His apostles? Is it not inventing traditions according to the logic of men? So, if we can conclude that syncretization was happening in the church and that the new church and state were converging to become a new form of dictatorship then we can certainly see what happened over the course of history up to the modern day is for the purpose of world domination - dominion theology.

I wrote all of this mainly to make the point that everything we know about history must be examined with spiritual eyes. We must, as judges with God's indwelling Spirit (assuming you have the Spirit), rightly divide and weigh all evidence as we diligently search out the truth. If we can, by the grace of God, see through the wool that has been pulled over our eyes then we can unravel the mess that has been made of the truth and walk firmly towards the light of our Salvation. This is a good starting point for understanding the true motives of the powers that God has allowed to reign on earth. Syncretism, ecumenism, universalism... all are foundations for building up the walls of Babylon. We are not called into Babylon. We are called out of her.

Divine Provision for the Prison Ministry

Joseph got an email from a reader of his blog asking if he wanted some ink for his Colorqube printer. Of course he said he'd be glad to take it. The man said his company was throwing out their printers and supplies! Just throwing them out! He was gracious enough to save what was left in his department and send it to us. I was only expecting a few packs of ink but after opening the box I found 2 maintenance kits as well as about 12 packs of ink. In total that would run about $1800. It was a real blessing and encouragement to receive this gift.

Poem about Love and Light

(A recent post I made on FB)

A poem I recently read:

I am a point of light within a greater Light.
I am a strand of loving energy within the stream of Love divine.
I am a point of sacrificial Fire, focused within the fiery Will of God.
And thus I stand.

I am a way by which men may achieve.
I am a source of strength, enabling them to stand.
I am a beam of light, shining upon their way.
And thus I stand.

And standing thus, revolve
And tread this way the ways of men,
And know the ways of God.
And thus I stand.

Christian friends, do you like this?

Before you hit that like button look a bit closer. Yeah, this post was a trap for the undiscerning. This is where that came from: https://www.lucistrust.org/arcane_school

A UN recognized NGO represented regularly at UN briefings, originally called "Lucifer Trust". They are on the roster for the UN Economic and Social Council. https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/support_un

Oaths, Agreements and Lies

At Bible study Monday night the subject was brought up about oaths and how God expects us to honor our commitments, even if those who we have committed to have lied to us. I asked everyone to consider how many oaths they are currently under, from federal and local law to even FB's terms of service. We talked about how marriage is a covenant too. Consider this: There is no separation between the law of man and marriage even though it was originally a God-mandated institution. Man has allowed this sacred covenant to be usurped by the laws of man and so we must abide by those laws. When you get married you are bound by the law of the land in regards to that subject. If the law states that you must vaccinate your children and you have agreed to that law by virtue of participation in this beast system God expects you to follow through with it. It's why we must pay our taxes. If we choose to work to make money we are bound by the law that governs that money which by proxy means we must serve those who control that money, ie; banks, corporations... but even higher than that are demonic forces at play vying for your favor, your voluntary submission. This is critical to understand in this hour especially with a One World Government coming. That internet service agreement, that smart meter agreement with your power company, your cell phone service agreement, public education for your children... oaths taken all over the place, lightly on your part - oaths you haven't read, oaths you don't understand and agreements with people you don't know who have an agenda that is set against your religious beliefs.

What does it mean to come out of Babylon then? It is not just a spiritual message which applies only to your heart. It is first spiritual, then practical.

"Those who lead into captivity will go into captivity." Revelation 13:10

Wait on the Lord

I was speaking with brother Joseph recently about Revelation 8 where the prayers of the saints are being hurled to the earth with hot coals, causing earthquakes, etc. That verse can be taken along with Revelation 18 where God tells His people to come out of Babylon, then to repay her double for her iniquities. Also Revelation 2 is consistent in this message where He says those who overcome will rule and reign with Him as a rod of iron (correction). Revelation consistently paints a picture of the saints, martyrs and angels praying for recompense on the wicked and rejoicing in His wrath. I remembered also Psalm 35:

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded. May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away. May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues. For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into their own destruction. Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

I was conflicted because of other messages in the Bible that seem to contradict this line of thinking.  After talking this over with Joseph I came to a conclusion that I wasn't quite yet settled on - that there is an appointed time for everything, just as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Later I asked God for guidance and a verse came to mind:

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:22

This echos the hot coals in Revelation. Then another came to mind:

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21

Is this how a rod of correction is given by us? This is not the message of Revelation 18 though. It says to repay according to the evil done with torment and sorrow. Is this the conviction a wicked person is supposed to experience in the face of one who repays good for evil? As I said, I'm conflicted over these seemingly contradictory messages. It is clear that those who are nearest to God in Revelation are rejoicing in the recompensatory side of shalom (salem or salam) which not only means "peace" but "repay." Think about that. According to "normal" human understanding these two concepts are a dichotomy but in God's terms they are complimentary.

Consider Revelation 18 again where "she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see mourning.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and misery and famine; and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

This is the attitude of many Christians today. They refuse to accept that God will lead them into suffering to be refined in His fire. They cling to peace and security because they think this is what God wants. My brothers and sisters, He DOES want this, but the time in which we live is a conflicted time. We might choose to cling to the peace and joy of the Lord in the midst of a storm but what about stepping out into uncomfortable territory to be tested and tried as gold? Are you willing to walk where the Lord would lead you even if it means giving up your comfortable life, your dreams, ambitions, even the very desires you claim that He has granted you in your Christian liberty? Consider that there are greater blessings awaiting you. Consider your attitude toward the times in which we live and what He has declared in His prophetic Word.

While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3

It was reported that Abu Hurairah (A Muslim scribe) said "When one of you joins a gathering, let him say 'Peace'. When he wants to get up and leave, let him say 'Peace'. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salam

Many church leaders are rubbing shoulders with universalism. The Rick Warrens of our day are rising up saying, "Peace, peace!" when there is no peace.

“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain. From prophet to priest, all practice deceit. They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 6:13-15

My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD. Because they have led My people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, tell those whitewashing it that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. Ezekiel 13

It doesn't seem to me that a "rod of iron" is unconflicted peace and security. The Christian walk is a conflicted walk, yet our rest in is knowing Him and His plan of salvation. We are to expose spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to be our brother's keeper.

I prepared this response to send to Joseph, yet after waiting to send it the Lord showed me another verse:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time (or the proper time ie; moed?), casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11

He has confirmed that our attitude at the present time should be humble, loving but honest and sincere, and we should bear the rod of correction only by His Spirit. We should not be led astray into a false sense of "peace and safety" but know that the suffering we must endure will bring about great transformation in our spirits, souls and bodies, the kind that only He can produce at His appointed time. Only when He has declared, "Come out of her my people" should we stand up and leave. Only when He says, "Repay her double" should we repay. As David waited for the reign of Saul to be over according to God's will, and as he also waited and prayed before taking back Israel's captive women and children, so should we wait on Him.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Spiritual Pacification with Marijuana & Coffee

Christians who advocate smoking pot: It is like putting a spiritual pacifier in your mouth. I know from life experience. I've seen a lot of Christians who justify "partaking of the herb" by saying that it is a medicinal plant God put on the earth. Consider this: The very ground on which we walk is cursed (see Genesis 3).

There is other plant life God put on earth that is considered "medicinal" in some respects too, like peyote, shrooms, ayahuasca, coca leaves... Should we be consuming them recreationally justifying it by lying to ourselves that we are reaping health benefits from doing so, or that we are more happy and productive with them? Where does one draw the line? Even coffee and sugar have several similar and potentially destructive effects as many hard drugs, including addiction and impairment.

Something that bugs me is this coffee mug I see in many Christian homes that reads, "Jesus and coffee." Wow. Just think about the implications of that. It is not a cute, benign, fun statement. Jesus and Cheetos. Jesus and ice cream. Jesus and (attach any preferred idol here). How many of you can't even get your day started without a cup of coffee? I bet you aren't happy when you can't have it. You feel the withdrawals even if you say you can manage. What things do you cling to that hold an equal or higher position in life than Christ? Even if you aren't a coffee addict, why would you want to set an example with a statement like "Jesus and coffee?" It seems like mixing the holy with the profane to me.

Here is where you roll your eyes and say, "Lighten up, George."

Go ahead. Take a moment to savor the flavor of your thoughts. Take it lightly if you will. I'm just trying to get us all to consider what we think we can't live without and what types of examples we are setting for others. We've got a lot of problems that aren't being addressed because of laziness and lukewarm attitudes. Ever had lukewarm coffee? You want to spit it out right? What did Christ say about lukewarm Christians? Even though it may be tiring and cumbersome ask yourself, is your spiritual condition worth the hassle of self-examination?

It all comes back to the pride of idolatry. Pharmekeia, that is, the sorcery in the works of man's hands which seeks pleasure aside from God's direction. "Jesus and coffee" is not a message from God. It is profanity.

And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:3

Be Fruitful and Multiply

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1

God is concerned first and foremost with our spiritual state of being. He speaks to us first spiritually and His words cascade down into the physical. Let us look first at the spiritual.

What are the fruits of the Spirit? Patience, faith, love, truth, self-control... all the good things of God. What is the end result of these fruits? Discipleship leading to Sonship. Multiply the talents given to you. Make disciples of all nations by hanging your lamp high wherever you are and follow the Spirit wherever He leads. Fill the earth, this dusty flesh, with a desire for the fruits of God. Subdue the land of your body and the beast nature. Help those who are struggling in their own blood to see the Highest Way to life. Be an example of one who walks in the Spirit. When you are right with God spiritually you are made to be right with God physically. He allows you to come boldly before the throne of grace when you are in His Son. I pray that the saints will overcome this world of fleshly desire and seek first the kingdom of God today and always in the name of, the character and power of Christ Yahshua. Amen.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Prison Ministry Update

PRAISE GOD! I think He's finally given me a breakthrough with my prison ministry roadblock! He woke me up early one morning last week and told me, "You already have everything you need," as He revealed to me a vision of how to manage all the data I've been struggling with for months. With my skills in Excel and Word I can get everything rolling again with confidence. Thank you Lord for Your help and guidance. Now I just need to get test this new process. Say a prayer for me that all the issues have been addressed and anything that arises will be overcome quickly.

Prison Ministry Update

Hello readers. I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the prison ministry. As I stated in a previous blog I have been working on developing a new computer program to manage the printing and tracking of the subscriptions after Joseph's system crashed over a year ago. I have been making some serious attempts at getting this system up and running but no matter what I did I just couldn't find the right direction to go. After much prayer God sent me a brother named Timothy to help, yet still we experienced roadblocks every step of the way. In all honesty there were times where I wanted to throw my hands in the air and say, "Well, if God doesn't want to bless this ministry I don't know what to say!" I confess that in my frustration I laid the project down a few times for several weeks while inmates kept writing asking to be added to the list. I felt terrible but I didn't know what to do. All I could do was write some of them back individually but I didn't consider that honoring what I was supposed to be doing in God's eyes. I managed to get only 4 rounds of newsletters out in 9 months. Needless to say, I feel convicted this was just not my best performance by any stretch of the imagination.

Well, all things considered I had a nagging feeling that God was working some purpose in all the delays and the trials. Indeed I have come to find there are several issues with my mindset He wanted me to come to terms with. Not only that but there are several other activities God is leading me in regarding the local community. I won't elaborate on the full story at this time but suffice to say that everything is coming together just as He has planned it and I have found security in trusting His provision.

After an attitude adjustment I have hit the ground running with Timothy again, this time with a fresh approach to the concept of how to accomplish the goal at hand. I believe we are on the brink of a breakthrough and the lessons learned will benefit this ministry in tremendous ways. Keep us in your prayers please! May the Spirit bless and keep you in the light of Yah's love and truth my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Letter to a Prisoner - Pouring His Spirit on ALL

Dear James,

I have to say, the letter you sent gave me much to think about. There are a lot of things I’d like to respond to and I hope I can address them all. First, it is clear to me that, by your own admission, you do not know Yahweh. Be assured, friend, that he does want you to. He is our everlasting Father. By my own testimony I can declare faithfully that He is the father I never had. I won’t go into my whole life story but I’ve had some experiences in life that have made me question whether God even cares. Looking back now I can see that He was always there, even in my iniquity, nudging me back towards the right track. Through all the indecision I had about Him in my life I have come to find that He is pouring His Spirit out on ALL flesh James. It is up to us to receive Him and to continue receiving Him. He has given us that choice. He didn’t have to do that. If He were a tyrant He would have created everything perfect and not given us a choice. We are the ones who walk away from Him and because of that He turns us over to our own wickedly deceived hearts, allowing Satan to sift us as wheat so-to-speak, like Peter, who denied Christ 3 times before His crucifixion.

One of the mysteries of Yahweh is that He does in fact hate what mankind has become. He doesn’t hate us, His children. He hates what we think and what we do – that we worship the creation over the Creator. We have taken advantage of His gift to us. We have demanded our inheritance and squandered it away, like the parable of the prodigal son. Humans live for the flesh first, not for Him.

Let me make something clear: Yahweh does not want rote, mechanical praise. He wants us to love Him as He loves us but there is a barrier between us and Him, a barrier that was broken by Christ Yahshua, His salvation – His provision and propitiation for reconciliation. Fear of the LORD is the BEGINNING of wisdom. So then, what is the end result of wisdom? LOVE. God is love. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). His Spirit is truth. These two, His indwelling love and truth, agree as One and give us witness to His greatness. The only way to Him is by the narrow path He has provided, the Way of the cross. I know this seems cruel to most humans who love the flesh and seek to eliminate all unpleasurable things in life but it is the unpleasurable things that often help us to grow. I’m not advocating unnecessary suffering but just trying to communicate that suffering is a part of being reconciled to God, not by His will but by the nature of being a human in a fallen state. It is painful to see just how wicked we really are but once we get though that BY HIS POWER, there is freedom and peace in knowing Him, no matter the circumstances. Let us not impose our own humanitarian sense of fairness on this present age. There is an age to come where He will rule implicitly in all of our hearts, not as a dictator but as our Father, Friend and Advocate. This is His promise to those who show they truly desire Him. The prodigal son must come back on his knees as a servant but the Father welcomes him as a son.

His children, if they abide in Him, may ask whatever they want of Him and it will be done here in this age and in the age to come. We have an inheritance prepared for us in the age to come that is pure and truly beyond anything we can possibly comprehend in this flesh. Let us not discount what it is like to be allowed in God’s holy presence. Do you think any pleasure of this flesh could compare to that whether art, sex, marriage? Yah is the great artist and if He is the author of our ways we can experience something far greater than a mere parable of Him within His creation. We can experience HIM!

I understand your position. I have felt that way, like there was no proof of God’s existence, that every Christian I met was a hypocrite (and believe me I held it against them hypocritically), that I couldn’t do anything to help save someone else because I couldn’t save myself. I learned that I was saved THROUGH saving someone else by sacrifice and service, for there is no greater love than this: that one would lay down his life for his friends. The fruits of a true disciple’s labor are joy, peace, longsuffering, patience and self-control. By these virtues we are the lights for others to be guided into the truth. The truth is a two-edged sword because it divides between the soul and the spirit. It’s not comfortable but it is ultimately liberating. The lights who dwell in this dark world will not be snuffed out but as the battle rages and things get worse and worse towards the end of this age, the lights that do remain will shine brighter and brighter. The church is experiencing birth pangs my friend. She is laboring to bring forth the Christ child that lives IN us. Yes, most of the church has fallen into apostasy but I have found that this is no reason to condemn her nor divide myself from her. God Himself will bring us out of her through the painful process of labor as He works His purpose in us and purifies us by the fire of His Holy Spirit, as silver is purified and as gold is tried. This is the mystery of the curse placed on Eve in the garden. Just as there is a second Adam of the Spirit so too there is a second Eve and she will bring forth the true fruit of Yahweh, that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

If I might, please let me call out some more academic topics addressed in your letter. There are some facts I would like to set straight using Scripture and historical evidence. I’ll try to go in order as I read through your letter again. There is no solid evidence the council of Nicea declared canonical Scriptures. Constantine did gather all available manuscripts and have them compiled into 50 Bibles but my research has revealed that there was no declaration of canonicity. Since about 50 years later we see the first declaration of Catholic canonical authority there is speculation these two events may be related. I do not believe there was a conspiracy to make the Bible 66 books for any numerological reason, although the number 6 is very important in Luciferian doctrine. I could talk about the occult significance of that number at length if you desire.

I noticed as symbol you drew in the word “fallacies” in your letter. It looks like this:

I was wondering why you drew it. It looks a lot like the symbol for air in 5 element magick, perhaps mixed with an arrow pointing downward towards the earth. It made me think of the esoteric philosophy of “as above, so below.” Needless to say I found it odd, perhaps even evidence of demonic influence in your life. I would be on guard and in prayer if I were you. Then again, maybe you put it on the word “fallacies” as a way to make a statement about this sort of philosophy. I’m not quite sure.

In response to your statement about people attaching a disclaimer as reverse psychology to discourage people from challenging their works I can tell you this is not the case with me. I say this because it is not only Scriptural but my hopes and intentions are for you to do your due diligence in seeking out the matter for yourself, like the Bereans, whom the apostle Paul honored for searching the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true. The Bible says you needn’t anyone to teach you if you have the Spirit. Sometimes we all need encouragement and none of us are perfect, so it is natural for me to want to encourage you to do as I and countless others have done – to seek the truth of God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength in patient prayer.

You said that you have never heard the voice of Yahweh or Satan audibly. I have heard Yahweh on a couple of occasions but if I hadn’t prayed and listened for an answer I wouldn’t have known He answered. Most of the time He doesn’t answer in voice. For me it was a voice in my head – yeah, now the crazy police will start beating down my door for sure. Most of the time I pray and He divinely orders my steps. I suppose in prison it might seem like God isn’t really present. I assure you He can manifest in any way He wants in His creation and He has declared His glory in all creation for all to see, in parables or images of Him, so that none are with excuse to deny Him. I think it is not a good thing to call Yah “it” in the manner you have because He has chosen to identify Himself in the male for a reason. “It” is in line with gnostic and New Age thinking, like God is some impersonal force to be tapped into. No, He is intimately involved with every aspect of life in His creation as a loving Father, whether we choose to see Him or not. Satan wants your eyes off of Him. Don’t give him that ground in your life. Resist the devil with all the goodness that God will give you if you only ask for it.

James, no matter what you’ve done He is faithful to forgive and receive you. I think you know that but you just won’t forgive yourself. Let Him be our judge and let us trust in His blood to cleanse us from evil conscience. Let our consciences be ruled by His mercy and grace. Never forget His mercy and grace and always remember to keep the blood of Christ applied to your life, that is the symbol of self denial and submission to what is greater than us: His perfect goodness, which we can all experience in our hearts here and now and into the age to come in greater ways than our minds can even comprehend. If you have denied Him, He will deny you, but if you declare Him and keep His words, He will declare you and stand by you before our Father at the great throne of judgment.

You stated that you do not know how to pray or even feel unworthy for God to even hear your prayers. I think that God hears us more when we have grown closer to Him. It is a two way street, but just as the prodigal son came slumping down the road to his father’s house after squandering away his inheritance the father came running to him.

I would like to give you a bit of a view of the promised inheritance for the saints who overcome this world of flesh and sin. The overcomers will rule and reign with Christ on His throne. They will teach the world His Way which is the only good way, not by human perception but by the truth and love of the One True God Almighty. There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth in the age to come, which means new heavenly hosts. Who do you think will be the heavenly hosts? Paul says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” I don’t think of angels as heavenly zombies, as you wrote, but as beings who experience the bliss of higher states of consciousness because they are very close to Yah. Doing His will is not duty. Does it feel like service if you enjoy it?

Our Father does not want us to have blind faith. That is why we were given Scriptures, but we must be dedicated to understanding them, not just as words but as a spiritual message meant to transform us inside now glory by glory until our full redemption. The good news is that Christ Yahshua came into the world to save sinners so that we can be reconciled to Yahweh.

You mentioned that it has been almost 2000 years since Christ promised to return and we have seen nothing of the sort. I would challenge you to consider carefully the following passages of Scripture:

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”  And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ” So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.” So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),   that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. Joshua 3

And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as a day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:7-9

"Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:1-3

What do you think these prophesies are declaring? Moreover, HOW do you think Christ is returning? WHERE do you think He is returning? If you can answer that you will KNOW Yahweh’s plan of salvation.

...when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2 Thes 1:10

And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’ Is 49:3

For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. Deu 32:9

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Mat 16:28

I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. Ezek 20:41

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Cor 2:12

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Rom 8:14

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:18-23

James, I want you to know that your letters are an encouragement to me in ways you can’t know. Maybe one day I’ll explain that. Yah is making good use of you whether you know it or not. I hope this message has been an encouragement. May the love of Yahweh shine true on your heart today and always. Reach out to me any time you need but more importantly, seek Yah with all your heart. I’ll leave you with the following Scripture:

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16

Sincerely,

George