THE SECOND COMING ... PART TEN
Wednesday May 30, 2012 11:50 am
Today I will give you a twofer: that is 2 signs in one blog – GOSPEL PUBLISHED IN ALL NATIONS (and) HEART ATTACKS.
I suppose that in one sense the Gospel has already been published in all nations. Keep in mind the Bible neither states nor implies that “every single soul" will hear the story of Christ... it simply states that the Gospel (good-news) will be “published” (or proclaimed) in all nations.
Think about it: by Internet, radio, television, tracts, and missionaries, the good news of Christ has certainly been sent around the globe. My biggest concern though is what passes for some as the 'Gospel'? The Gospel: according to the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ! That, and that alone is the complete and atoning work of God for fallen mankind. Christ lived as a perfect man, thereby He had no sin debt of His own which needed paying. Otherwise when He died He would have only been fulfilling Romans 6:23 (the wages of sin is death) for Himself. However, because He was sinless He could now fulfill the role of an Old Testament sacrificial lamb. (On Earth, He was even born in a stable like other sheep have been.) As He is standing before Herod, Christ is seen as the Old Testament sacrifice Isaiah wrote about.
Isaiah 53:7 speaks of the future sacrifice of Christ as the 'lamb.' “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
And of course we see that fulfilment as Christ is standing meekly before Herod... Luke 23:8-9: “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. (9) Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.” (HE ANSWERED HIM NOTHING... HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH.)
Of course as Christ was dying on the cross He continued the role of a lamb and He “gave up the ghost” (died) before the Roman guard could break His legs. Because in the Old Testament God would not allow the lamb that was used for sacrifices to have any broken or marred limbs. THEY HAD TO BE PERFECT!
His death satisfied God's quest for redemption for mankind as the 'sin debt' had now been paid. However, the next role Christ had to fulfill was that of High Priest. As now someone had to place the blood upon the Mercy Seat in order for the sacrifice to be accepted. In the Old Testament that was done by Aaron or one of his sons. In the New Testament that was done by Christ after His bodily resurrection.
In the Old testament once Aaron had washed his body and made himself presentable to God he could enter the Holy of Holies (the inner-room behind the thick purple curtain) and place the blood upon the Mercy Seat on the Day of Atonement. It's also important to note that once Aaron was physically cleansed there were two things he could not do. He could not sit down, and neither could he be touched by human hands before the sacrifice was complete.
We see Christ fulfilling both those roles as High Priest when (after His bodily resurrection) He cautioned Mary not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Of course, we know the sacrifice was completed and accepted when He returned to the upper-room and implored Thomas to touch Him and feel Him so that Thomas would no longer be faithless. Then, of course, there is a wonderful verse that lets us know that Christ is forever more the intercessor on the behalf of all those who trust Him because in the Kingdom of Heaven He is no longer standing as the High Priest, but having completed all things to accomplish salvation for mankind... Christ is now sitting at God's right hand. Colossians 3:1: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
I wrote those things to be certain that everyone knows the COMPLETE Gospel found in I Corinthians 15:1-4: “MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
There you have it... DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION of Christ is “THE GOSPEL!”
I wrote the above to try and make the point that I do believe the Gospel has already been published in all nations... but, I am concerned that what passes for the Gospel in many parts of the world, and even here at home has been corrupted. The Gospel is not a social message! Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and other “humanitarian” groups are not preaching the Gospel. They are only helping man's flesh... not his soul. What I write next, would you please read twice? It is not because what follows are some great words nor even profound thoughts. It is just that if you read it only once you will most probably completely misunderstand what I am saying.
I, Robin Johnson, have not in the past, do not at present, and have no plans in the future of giving money, clothes, food, or any other type of help to anyone in need... UNLESS … UNLESS … I can either witness to them, or at the very least give them a Gospel tract. I quit supporting a (well-known) down-town Louisville mission a few years ago when they stopped requiring those they helped to listen to a Gospel message. At that time they quit becoming servants of God's and they became nothing more than "helpful humanists."
There is a reason why I wanted you to read the above statement twice. It is because I do help people: i.e., strangers broken down along the highway, pan-handlers wanting a handout, etc. etc. etc. However, I ALWAYS hand them a tract along with the money I give them. Otherwise, I am nothing more than a humanist trying to help a “fellow traveller” along life's journey? So, I am not for any Habitat for Humanity builders: even though I have also done that. Unless, along with helping to build a house you also witness to the people you are helping.
(I also have helped people, financially and otherwise, who are already saved, naturally I do not attempt to witness to them.) The main reason, apart from the fact we are commanded to witness, I witness to lost people when I help them is so that in their eyes I am not the one receiving the credit. Many times I have even said something to the effect that the only reason I am helping is that I am saved and the Lord would expect that from me.
Also, if I were ever at a restaurant and you were my server you would like me as a customer, and that is because I always tip... and very well. The reason I do this is because I always put their tip money inside of a Gospel tract and my hope is that they will be more likely to read it if the tip is well-beyond what they typically receive.
Now... HEART ATTACKS. Luke 21:25-26: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (MEN'S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR.)
I love the verbiage of the KJV... 'men's hearts failing.' What do you think the number one killer in America has been for the last two decades? If you guessed... heart failure (men's hearts failing) you would be correct!
It's also important to know that worldwide this is becoming the NUMBER ONE KILLER across the globe. And, just in case you think it has always been that way, let me set you straight on that point. If you go back in time and search each decade you will find that different things were the number one killer of men and women in different eras and in different countries. Example: in America in the '40's and '50's the number one killer was stroke... today though, it is heart failure.
Today in the following countries and regions around the world it is also heart failure. Africa, Central America, Asia, South America, Middle East, Western Europe, Australia and Eastern Europe. Now do you understand why I said it was important to understand that all ten signs will be happening everywhere and all at once. See, if the Lord would have returned in the '40's or '50's then heart failure would not have been a leading cause of death at that time. However, it is when all ten signs are happening on top of each other... that is when our “redemption draweth nigh.”
Now, call or write some cardiologist and ask them this next question just to prove to yourself how amazingly accurate the Bible is. Ask them what usually precipitates a heart attack? The number one precursor of a heart attack is... ready for it... FEAR! Do you know how they know this? The survivors of heart attacks tell the same story, and that is within a 24 hour period WHICH preceded their heart attack they had some major stress (fear) in their life! Remember... MEN'S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR! The Bible is always right... great, huh.
THE SECOND COMING ... PART NINE
Tuesday May 29, 2012 11:58 am
Last evening I wrote
about FAMINES... and today I will list another of the ten signs.
Before I begin writing about the sign of PESTILENCE I want to give a
quick update on a previous sign I had already written about,
earthquakes. Today, in the same region in Italy another quake hit
like the one from nine days ago. That earlier quake was the strongest
to hit that area since the 1,300's... that is seven hundred years
between such strong events. This is the type of thing people need to
watch, at least those who are somewhat interested in prophecy. But,
interested or not: still, it will all come to pass.
I used to hear people
make the statement, “The Lord said it, I believe it, and that
settles it.” Of course, the middle part of that statement is not
valid. Whether a person believes anything God has said or not doesn't
matter. In the end, believe or disbelieve... it's going to happen
anyway.
Last week, and by phone,
I was “debating” with someone who has apparently been reading
what I have been writing about the Second Coming, and they completely
disagree with me. Can you imagine that... someone disagreeing with
me! How dare they!!! Don't they know I'm always right! (LOL)
What I tried to
“patiently” (lol) explain is that on the surface they were
correct. That is, they had taken the position that these signs have
all happened in the past... and they pointed out that certain signs
had even been greater in strength or number than what we are
experiencing in the world today. That is true, but what is also true
is that while all of the signs have sporadically happened in the
past... NEVER have all of them been happening at the same time
worldwide. I mean, WWI had more nations fighting and on more fronts
than what we are experiencing today: but, the cluster of celestial
events, earthquakes, pestilence, etc. was not present at that same
time.
What follows is an
excellent verse to see the truth of all things happening in concert.
Luke 21:28: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look
up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” It
is when the entire list of all ten signs “begin to come to pass”
that is the time to “...look up, and lift up your heads; for your
redemption draweth nigh.”
Failing to understand
that it is the culmination of all ten signs happening at once is what
has led many to poke fun at His Second Coming. II Pater 3:3 “Knowing
this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking
after their own lusts...” Now, read verse 4 and you will see why
they are scoffing: and it is the very same reason why this person I
spoke to on the phone was disagreeing with me. II Peter 3:4: “...And
saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
the creation.” Notice: ALL THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY WERE FROM THE
BEGINNING OF THE CREATION!
The scoffers say that
there has (since the beginning of time) been earthquakes, pestilence,
famine, wars, etc. etc. etc. and... they are right! But, what they
are ignorant of, willingly or otherwise, is that we were never to
have expected His Second Coming until ALL TEN SIGNS were happening
worldwide and at the very same time in history! It is when you see
“...these things (all ten signs) begin to come to pass...” that
is when Christ will return!
Now, more about the
present pestilence we are experiencing on a global scale. Three years
ago when I was first compiling statistics for the radio broadcast I
suppose I had the most fun with this one. I know that might seem odd
to say: but, I am not a doctor and the names of certain diseases that
are often at epidemic numbers (and now increasingly in large parts of
the world these diseases are reaching pandemic numbers) are quite a
mouthful to say. And because this was to be aired over the radio I
had to be certain I could properly pronounce words like:
Trypanosomiasis... Cryptosporidiosis... Dengue... Leishmaniasis...
Visceral Leishmaniasis... Onchocerciasis... Shigellosis... etc. etc.
etc. So, it was sort of “fun” for me to learn how to properly say
the names of the diseases I listed.
For the radio broadcast I
listed 25 different diseases worldwide that are infecting, sickening,
and outright killing multiplied millions every year. For example,
just three infectious diseases by themselves: tuberculosis, malaria,
and AIDS will sicken 300 million people this year and five million
will die from those three alone.
Before I name a few more
diseases and their dire consequences let me make another point.
Although not everyone agrees with the symbolism of the Four Horseman
of the Apocalypse (in Revelation six) as representing: Pestilence
(White Horse) – War (Red Horse) – Famine (Black Horse) – Death
(Pale Horse) we do know that the imagery of the Four Horseman and
some of the ways in which they will kill are found in Revelation 6:8:
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on
him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto
them over the fourth part of the earth...” (Now, notice the
different ways they will take life.) “... to kill with sword, and
with hunger, and with death, and with beasts of the earth.” In this
verse we see three of the ten (end-time) signs revealed... “sword”
(war), “hunger” (famine), and “death” (pestilence).
I honestly don't care to
type all of the information I compiled for the original broadcast...
but, I will still list several of the known diseases and the numbers
of new cases (annually) associated with those diseases.
African Trypanosomiasis …
infects 450,000 people yearly. It is spread by the tsetse fly and if
untreated and in its second stage it is always fatal.
Cholera … spread mostly
by contaminated and unsafe drinking water and 200,000 new cases
happen yearly with 5-10% percent of those infected dying.
Dengue Fever … today
estimated at 50 million new cases every year... it is brought on by
the bite of a certain mosquito. (Aedes aegypti)
Hepatitis A … 1.4
million people infected every year.
Hepatitis B … nearly 2
billion people worldwide: almost one in three people have this
disease. 350 million of those people never rid themselves of the
disease and because of chronic infection they will develop cirrhosis
of the liver or liver cancer and they will die.
Hepatitis C … worldwide
180 million people are infected with 3 to 4 million new cases every
year.
Influenza … Though it
sounds like a fairly common affliction: in this country alone every
single year 20,000 people will die from the flu virus.
Japanese Encephalitis …
caused by mosquito's in Asia where 50,000 cases occur each year with
approximately one in every three people dying.
Leishmaniasis … has
many different forms. Some causes lesions, or skin ulcers which
causes great pain, disability and extensive scarring. And in its most
serious form... Visceral leishmaniasis it is always fatal. (It is
caused by the bite of a sandfly.)
Malaria … is also
mosquito-borne and more than 500 million people yearly contract this
disease and between one and three million of those people will die.
Measles … as recently
as 2006 (worldwide) 30 million people got them and there were 240,000
deaths.
Meningitis … 1.2
million new cases every year and more than 10% of those infected will
die.
Onchocerciasis (river
blindness) is caused by a parasitic worm that lives in their human
hosts. 18 million people in Africa are infected... with 270,000 of
those infected having gone blind.
Rotavirus … more than
600,000 children die every single year from this disease.
Shigellosis … More than
500,000 people die annually from this infection.
Tuberculosis … causes
more than 2 million deaths every single year! The World Health
organization (WHO) estimates at its present growth rate that in the
next eight years (2020) one billion people, or one out of every six
people, will have this disease.
Typhoid … 12 to 17
million new case will happen this year and more than 600,000 of those
infected will die.
Yellow Fever … will
have 200,000 new cases this year and one in ten will die from this
plague.
I'm already tried of
typing and I haven't even written about specific pestilence like:
Swine Flu... West Nile Virus... or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Yes,
folks... it is a very sick and dying world out there and all of the
ten signs are happening all around us. Remember... “And when these
things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads;
for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
THE SECOND COMING ... PART EIGHT
Monday May 28, 2012 11:41 pm
Only one of the ten signs
recorded in the Bible that herald's the return of Christ is not a sad
sign... celestial events. Other than that one, each of the other nine
signs bring about many deaths and much heartache throughout the
world. Of course, even with celestial events there have been many
people who have died: howbeit, usually by their own hand. Hale-Bopp
immediately comes to mind. With the misguided Applewhite (Heaven's
Gate founder) as their spiritual leader and because of a celestial event he caused more than three dozen
people to take their own lives. But, the rest of the signs all have
mass death that awaits mostly unsuspecting people. And these deaths are not
usually by their own hand.
I wrote that to say that
this next sign I am writing about (FAMINE) is tragic on any scale...
let alone at the level it is at in the world today. At present more
than 850 million people in the world do not have enough daily food to
sustain a healthy life. Most of these people dying from
starvation, or from diseases that are caused by starvation live in
developing countries. Each year approximately six million children
will die before their fifth birthday because of malnutrition.
Here are some statistics taken from headlines. Since 2002 global food
prices have soared. in 2008 for example , and in just one calendar year prices
increased 35% from the previous year. A couple of examples on
individual products. Keep in mind that I am talking about the world
market and not just your corner grocery store. Between 2008 and 2009
dairy prices rose 80% and grain 42%.
Now I will list a few
examples taken from other headlines around the world. The reason I am doing
this is that we (in America especially) get a very skewed look at
what is happening today in the rest of the world because, for the most part, we are living well
in our own land.
In Thailand, farmers are
sleeping in their fields because thieves are stealing rice, worth
$600.00 a ton. (They are stealing the rice straight out of the fields.)
In Egypt four people were
killed in a riot over flour that was being sold on the black market.
Other countries that have also had riots over food are: Morocco,
Senegal, and Cameroon.
Argentina, Kazakhstan and
China have imposed restrictions on grain exports to try and keep more
food in their own countries. Both Vietnam and India have also imposed
similar restrictions on overseas sales of grain.
In cycles of fifty year
periods certain regions of India gets overrun with rats... because of
that they are expecting millions more to die from starvation or
illness with malnutrition as a direct cause. The plague of rats (in 50 year
cycles) is because of heavy flowering of a local species of bamboo. This flowering
provides the rodents with a feast of high-protein foliage. Of
course, once they consume the foliage they turn on the crops...
consuming hundreds of tons of rice and corn. This cycle is called a
mautam. The last one was 1958 and eye witness accounts recorded the
rats devouring areas as large as a soccer field in a single night.
In Africa... maybe they
are a little smarter? According to Africa News, Karamojongs... they
have begun hunting down and eating rats as famine has already
stricken that area.
I write this next part as
a knock, and a way to poke fun of all the “green-living” people
out there. According to many experts the worst damage is being done
by government mandates and subsidies for biofuels that (supposedly)
reduce carbon dioxide emissions and “fight” climate change. (What
a joke!) Here is just one example: In 2009, 30% of the U.S. Grain
harvest went to ethanol distilleries. Sure... feed cars, not people.
(That ought to be Gore's new motto.)
And it's not just me
saying that. In London, Gwynne Dyer wrote: “A huge amount of the
world's farmland is being diverted to feed cars, not people.” This
is what is leading to the famine the world faces today. In six of the
last seven years the human race has consumed more grain than it grew.
In 2009 world grain reserves were down to only 57 days... and that is
the lowest it has been and just a decade before it had stood at 180
days. In 2009 nearly one in four bushels of corn was used by the
U.S. To make ethanol.
I'll give one more quote
on this matter about using food for gasoline. Janet Larson, director
of research at the Earth Policy Institute (an environmental group in
Washington) said, “Turning food into fuel for cars is a major
mistake on many fronts. One, we're already seeing higher food prices
in the American supermarket. Two, perhaps more serious from a global
perspective, we're seeing higher food prices in developing countries
where it's escalated as far as people rioting in the streets.”
The famine is already in
many parts of the world and it is growing! Every year South Koreans
speculate on how many more North Koreans will starve to death before
the fall harvest. A U.N. Study said that at least one-third of the
mothers and children in North Korea are malnourished or starving to
death. The average eight year old boy in North Korea is 7 inches
shorter and 20 pounds lighter than a boy of the same age in South
Korea. (That is what I mean by people literally starving to death
quickly, or dying more slowly from being malnourished.)
Let me show you how this
is not just a problem in impoverished countries. The Daily News in
New York City said that the Food Bank, which supplies food to more
than 1,000 agencies and helps about 1.3 million people, states that they are
experiencing the worst shortages since their founding 25 years before.
Please remember... the world has seen famines before... and earthquakes, false prophets, etc. HOWEVER... the world has not seen all of the ten signs happening in record numbers and at the same time in history. That is why I believe that we are very close to Christ's return.
I'll give you a hint of when I expect it to be. Before I do though I also want to say that I really don't have an exact date... that would be preposterous. However, I do think I have some clues that might get us close to a timeline and on my last blog on this matter I will lay out certain events and the order I believe they will happen, and an approximate time of His return. Now, here is my clue for tonight and the ??? I think the rapture will take place.
I am 56... and I have no idea if I will live long enough to finish this blog in the next two minutes? However, if I were given (by God) my three-score and ten years the Bible speaks about... I don't believe I would be here on Earth to see my 70th year.
I am scheduled off work the next two days and other than some cycling I have no other plans... so, I might try and write some more and get this series finished sooner: rather than later. I think for now I might go and cry myself to sleep as I just saw the "70" in the above paragraph and I realize again that I am much closer to the end of life, rather than the beginning. LOL
THE SECOND COMING ... PART SEVEN
Sunday May 27, 2012 9:27 pm
I waited until this evening to write about the next sign as it seemed fitting to talk of wars on the eve of Memorial Day. For all families who have given up so much... as soldiers have both fought and died to protect us at home, I say, "Thank you!" I know that is far too small of a gesture for what has been lost: yet, I don't know how to properly express gratitude for such large sacrifices.
At times there are certain words and expressions that seem far too insignificant for me to use whenever I am trying to express the depth of how I feel. I once tried to explain love to someone and the word (love) itself seemed trite and completely inadequate, and not even close to what I was actually feeling inside. Yet, I was at a loss as what better word I might have used? To me it seemed like everyone used that word to describe all things, even the completely trivial: foods they enjoyed, movies they watched, etc. etc. etc. Anyway, I was dumbfounded at that time trying to speak my heart... and I am again at a complete loss trying to express gratitude for those who have given and lost so very much! I don't know how to say it any better than, "Thank you" ... sorry ):
Out of all the signs this
next one will be easily recognized even among the uninformed. And,
before starting I mean no sarcasm by saying some who reads my blog
might not be well-informed. For example: I happen to know a person
whom I admire... yet, on purpose she is not up-to-speed on world
events and that is because she does not like to read or fill her
mind with bad things. (Philippians 4:8) Anyway, you might be like
her, highly intelligent... yet uninformed in current events. And for
you I say, “Great!” You have certainly chosen the high road.
Sadly though for me and others like me: my mind has already been
corrupted to the point that watching the tragedy of nightly news
unfold is like a stroll in the park would be for most normal people.
This next sign I am
writing about is “wars and rumors of wars.” I am not an expert on
anything... literally. Yet, I do know a little about history and I
also read voraciously. However, when I first started studying this
phenomenon of the above sign I was taken aback as I saw that there
were many wars which had taken place in my lifetime... and I was
totally ignorant of several of them.
Would it shock you as
much as it did me to know that in my lifetime there have been 170
recognized and documented “conflicts” and “wars.” At present
there are 36 wars going on in the world as I sit here this evening
and type these words. But, don't let the word “conflict” confuse
you... these are WARS. A good example is the KOREAN CONFLICT. Truman
called it a “police action” and others called it a “conflict”...
but in this WAR it is estimated that 2,500,000 soldiers died in this
“police action.” That is two and one-half million soldiers ... dead!
Never in the history of
the world has so many wars been... and are presently being fought all
around the globe, AND with the other nine signs also happening at the
same time! And as far as “rumors” of wars, it is impossible to
turn on any newscast without some country vociferously threatening
annihilation to their neighbor!
Here is just a brief
example from the headlines. According to the papers Russia is, again,
“saber rattling.” China threatened to strike Tokyo if the U.S.
Shoots down any of North Korea's rockets. Pakistan has repeatedly
stated that if India were to invade, because they are much smaller...
that as a country they would launch nuclear tipped rockets into
India.
Some in the Middle East
have reported what they call the “Samson Initiative” as it
relates to Israel. Because Israel is completely surrounded (more on
that sign later) by its enemies... if Muslims were ever to invade,
then Israel would launch a full-scale nuclear attack against all
Muslim nations nearby. (It is because Samson killed more of God's
enemies as he was dying than he ever did in life: that is why it is
called the “Samson initiative.” Because if Israel perceives they
are dying... they will take all of their enemies with it.)
Anyway... the whole world
is either actively fighting with their neighbors, or are threatening
to do so! Again, the King is coming!
THE SECOND COMING ... PART SIX
Sunday May 20, 2012 7:39 pm
Before I begin this evening I will give a mini-update on something I wrote about awhile ago. I guess it's official: I am slated to pay my school bill this Monday and then start classes June 4th. I guess I will be the oldest student in the history of the world! Or is it just that I sort of feel that way? Other than some Bible college classes (Mountaineer Bible Institute) I have never before been to college. I was recently asked if I was at all excited to begin? The honest truth is, I don't know? Maybe if I had been afforded this opportunity while I was still young... then the answer would most probably be, "Yes." I suppose that would have been because I have always liked experiencing (and trying) new and different things. But, at this point in my life... I'm honestly not sure how I feel: maybe a little out of place? (Now, on to another sign.)
(The last blog I wrote about the Second Coming was on the sign of, earthquakes. Today in Bologna, Italy
they had a significant earthquake: the important fact to remember
about this is that the Bible had said that in the last days there
would be earthquakes in “divers” places; i.e., “diverse,” or
many different locations. Are you aware that in that particular part
of the world where today's earthquake took place... that this was the first
earthquake there in the last several hundred years!)
I thought I would wait
until today to talk about another sign, and that is the large number
of celestial events that the Bible declared would be on display just
before His return. The main reason I wanted to wait until today is that we are experiencing the
“ring of fire” eclipse of the Sun. It is important to remember it
is not that all of these signs have not happened in the past, nor is
it true that if the world lasts they will not happen again in the
future. What is true, and what makes this appear to be the end time
for the world is that never before in world history has every single
sign recorded in the Bible been happening simultaneously... and each
individual sign is happening in record setting numbers!
The first sign I spoke
about was false prophets, and the second sign I wrote about was
earthquakes... now, "signs in the heavens." This will be the shortest
blog on any of the signs and there is an easy to understand reason
for this. Go back just ten to fifteen years until today, and do a little online
research about all of the celestial events which have clustered
together in this past decade: then, see how many years it will be into
the future until there will be any similar cluster of celestial
events. I can clue you in: it will be hundreds of years into the
future before we will see any thing like what has transpired within
the last fifteen to twenty years.
Now, here is the part I
feel I need to drive home: we do not need to look for any especially
unusual events... they might well have happened a century ago and
would happen in another hundred years or so? But, it is more than
just coincidence that this cluster is happening now, and in
conjunction with the other nine signs.
When you are doing your
own research on celestial events please look for certain trigger
words like “rare,” or “extraordinary.” I tried to remember as
many celestial events from the very recent past as I could before I
began to look them up for myself... and in less than ten minutes of searching I'll list just a few that I found. In 1997 there was Hale-Bopp, which will not
happen again for another 2,532 years. Halley's Comet will not be
repeated until 2,062. July 22, 2009 we had the century's longest
solar eclipse, and the next one of similar duration will not happen
again until June 13, 2,132. And of course, the number of “blood
Moons” we have seen... the large comet crashing into Jupiter just a
few years ago, etc. etc. etc.
So, if you get a chance to see today's eclipse please do so.
However, in this part of the USA we are in that won't be possible. For those of us who would like to see it live, but can't... everyone ought to at least go online and view some images
from people who film it. It should be spectacular! Look, it is just
God's way of trying to get people to 'look upward' and maybe... just
maybe, they might begin to imagine that in all the heavens with all
of their majesty... God had to be in that wonderful creation!
In 2009 when I first
began studying and preparing this message I called a well-respected
expert in the field of documenting and speaking about celestial
events... Dr. Ruth of Indiana University. I wanted to get his take on
why all of a sudden in the last 20 years we see many of these events
seeming to happen on top of each other. I will say that at first he
was forthcoming and very candid... at least until I was completely
honest with him and told him why I was researching celestial events
in the first place.
At that time in our phone
conversation he backpedaled somewhat and said that although it
“appeared” that a lot of things were happening at once: given
enough time (centuries) they would all be repeated, and in similar clusters. I told him that I
understood that as well: but, was he aware that in addition to all of
the celestial events that were happening even now... the other nine signs
Christ spoke about were also happening all around the globe? He had
no comment on that.
This evening if you are
in the southern part of our country... or in many parts of Asia where
the viewing ought to be especially great: go out and enjoy part of
God's creation and see the “ring of fire” for yourself! Happy
viewing.
FUN!!!
Friday May 18, 2012 8:00 am
Before I write about something else I wanted to say that if my mom had lived she would be 85 years old today. It's difficult to imagine what she would be like at that age... though I wish I could have seen it.
Very late, and into the
early hours of this morning we were watching (at Steph and Roger's) a
bootleg (pirated) copy of the Avengers... it was great! I have seen
several movies done like this and in many of them, because of the
vantage-point, you see the tops of peoples' heads who are in front of
the person doing the recording: but not this one. Apparently this was
recorded from a high balcony... or maybe even filmed from the
projection room?
Every once in awhile you
could hear someone sneeze, cough, etc. Once, it sounded like a person
was tearing open a foil bag... maybe potato chips? And, of course you
could hear laughter! The banter between the super heroes was extra
good. Besides, what's not to like? This movie had two, of my three
favorite heroes of all time in it... Thor and Hulk. I guess if they
could have somehow inserted Thing into the mix it would have been the
perfect movie!
From the time I was young
I think I always liked Thor because I enjoyed the thought of a “god”
fighting for us mere mortals... and every boy just had to admire
Hulk. I mean, here is a guy who is mostly gentle and just wants to be
left to himself, at least until he gets mad: then watch out!
I also always liked
Thing. He was a big block of a guy who took nothing off of anyone. I
know it sounds silly now but when I was younger and knew I was
getting ready to fight... if I was wearing a ring I would be slipping
it into my pocket and at nearly the same time I would be handing my
watch to someone standing nearby to hold: and always in my mind I was
saying three words: “It's Clobberin' time!” Yeah... those three
guys were my favorites!
The writers had one thing
down perfectly. And that was the fact that if such a collection of
heroes were ever assembled there would still be a lot of testosterone
around, and tons of ego... so, they would not just automatically want
to band together and be a team. Because of that, some of the
exchanges between Iron Man (especially) and the rest of them was
superb. Also, there were two scenes that caused me to bust out
laughing! (I think because both were so unexpected?)
The first, especially
funny scene was after Thor and Hulk had fought side-by-side against
the aliens and they ended up on the street beside each other. It
seemed like this was going to be a time of male bonding? Then, like
an impudent child... Hulk landed a massive blow to the side of Thor's
head and sent him flying out of the picture! LOL
But, the time I laughed
the hardest was when Hulk was facing Loki and Loki began to bluster
about who he was and how no brute (Hulk) was going to act that way
around him... suddenly, Hulk grabbed him by his ankles and repeatedly
dashed his head on the concrete: back-and-forth he did this like an
angry child might do with a rag doll! Then, the wide-eyed stare Loki
gave while on his back was priceless! I mean, that was either an
extremely funny scene... else it was 2:00 in the morning after a long
day and I was batty? Either way, I laughed and laughed over that one!
I had a lot of fun
watching it!
FROM NOW ON... IT'S ME AND THE TURTLES
Wednesday May 16, 2012 8:15 pm
The day before yesterday
I took my mail from the box and there was a small book inside marked, “Resident.” So, I spent the next 30 minutes knocking on doors
close to my house to see if a Mr. or Mrs. 'Resident' lived nearby?
Sorry, that's my terrible joke for the day (: Anyway... the small
(223 page paperback) book was evidently intended for whoever opened
their mailbox, so I decided to read it.
I'll tell you what most
intrigued me about it and why I am posting this instead of continuing
tonight with another excerpt on the several part message about the Second Coming of Christ. Maybe though I have found another sign? Perhaps
this other sign is the glut in the market today of books impostering
as “Bibles?”
The book in my mailbox was titled: The
Seed Principle. In reality a lot of it was interesting... yet they
had to make some incredible reaches in order to try and make their point in
certain places. Anyway, would you believe that in this single 223
page book... they used 18 different “Bible” versions. 18
DIFFERENT BIBLE VERSIONS!!!
Before I name all the
different versions they used could I ask the readers of this blog an
easy question to answer? Here it is: “If two statements are made,
and they are opposed to each other... can both be right?” Of course
the answer is an emphatic, “No!”
Now in the above scenario
about two different statements being made I will give a couple of
possibilities. First: it is possible that one statement is correct
and the other is wrong. Secondly: it is also possible that both
statements are wrong. But... it is NOT POSSIBLE that two statements
which disagree with each other are both correct!
Of course I am meaning
“absolute” statements. For example: a person could say it is
raining outside and another person might say it is not: and both
could be correct. Because, the rain could have started and stopped...
the two statements about rain could have been made at different
times... the two people talking about the rain could be speaking
about different locations, etc. etc. etc. (I am really not interested
in someone reading this and making up straw-man arguments like the
one I thought up and wrote about rain: in order to try and imagine
some way that two opposing statements could both be right?) In this
blog I am honestly only trying to reach any person who is sincere and
using some version other than the KJV... and for them I would like to
ask what should be an easy to answer question: why?
I'll now list the 18
different version they used in their small book in order to “prove”
their doctrine. May I humbly say... if you can't either prove or
disprove your point with a single Bible then you honestly don't have
much going for you anyway!
Here is the order the
verses appeared in the book. Now, many of the verse references were
used in multiple places throughout the entire book.
KJV (King James Version)
ICB (International
Children's Bible)
NVC (Who knows? More on
this later.)
NLT (New Living
Translation)
NIV (New International
Version)
NCV (New Century Version)
NRSVA (New Revised
Standard Version Apocrypha)
TLB (Tyndale Living
Bible)
DNT (Same as the NVC???)
YLT (Young's Literal
Translation)
TMNT (Again... I could
find nothing about this one either. However, I might have figured
this one out?)
NKJV (New King James
Version)
TMSG (The Message Bible)
GWT (God's Word
Translation)
ISVNT (This one can take
its place with the NVC, DNT, and the TMNT in the who knows category.)
NRSV (New Revised
Standard Version)
TEV (The last one in the
I have no idea category.)
NASB (New American
Standard Bible)
There you have it... 18
different “Bibles” being used in this short book to try and teach
doctrine: and wait for it... I checked, and many of the supposedly
same verses disagreed with each other! Surprised?
For the letters that I
couldn't find books for I actually took the time to skim back through
and make certain I hadn't transposed letters... I hadn't. The NVC is
first quoted on page 6. The DNT and the TMNT are both (first) quoted
on page 12. The ISVNT is (first) quoted on page 57. And the TEV is
quoted on page 127.
Now, you might be reading
this and saying to yourself that is “a little excessive” to quote
that many supposed Bibles to try and make a point. But, I'll ask
you... what is an acceptable number for you to use when you
supposedly believe that the Bible is God's Word! And the fact that
God's Word... at least His true Word, would have no disagreements.
I'll ask you in the same
way I ask those who kill children in the womb to give me a number.
For them I ask when is it acceptable to kill a baby. How about... one
minute after birth? No? Okay... one minute before birth? No? An hour
before birth? No? Anyway, I keep asking them to back up in hours,
weeks, months, etc. and usually they can't name a time when it is
accepatable to kill a living child.
So, I'll ask you... how
many “Bibles” would be good to use in order to try and make your
point... 16? No? How about 12? No? Why not? See, any honest thinking
person can tell that people use multiple “Bibles” usually because
they are searching for some reading that is supposed to be from God
that will “prove” some strange doctrine they believe: else, they
search many different versions trying to find some that doesn't name
sin in the same way the KJV does. Why? Perhaps it is so they will not
feel as guilty whenever they are reading their “Bibles” and their
particular sin they are enjoying has been watered down to the point
that it almost doesn't even sound like sin?
Do you want to see some
verses that state the above truth. II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their
own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned into fables.”
I began this by saying
that maybe the glut of so-called “Bibles” on the market is
another sign that the end is near: in truth, that might be very close to
the mark. Because, as the end draws nearer... there are more and more
false men and women who are out there preaching “another Gospel”
and using faux Bibles.
Look... if you knew me
you, rather than only reading what I write, then you would know I am
the worst sinner you have ever met: and sadly, I'm not even kidding.
But, one thing I refuse to do: I refuse to hunt for some other book
that is pretending to be the Bible just so I can somehow try and make
myself believe that God doesn't really hate sin after all? Nor, will
I go looking for teachers and preachers who never name sin and are
nothing more than cheerleaders telling everyone that they are okay.
Sorry, that's not for me.
I'll now tell you that I
did figure out what the TMNT Bible is. As with the others I couldn't
figure out I tried to imagine what the letters would stand for? This
one I now know. The TMNT “Bible” is the TEENAGE MUTNANT NINJA
TURTLE. (I feel very confident that is right.) Because of that and
the great respect I have for those four turtles... in the future I am
only going to do my reading and receive my inspiration from the KJV AND the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's book. Doesn't that sound good?
THE SECOND COMING ... PART FIVE
Monday May 14, 2012 10:48 pm
Another sign, in
conjunction with the other nine, which Jesus said would mark His
return is earthquakes. It is common knowledge that since man has
recorded time... there has always been evidence of earthquakes: and
some of them have caused unbelievable devastation.
Example: the
earthquake of 1906 which hit San Francisco is one of the most famous
earthquakes and it measured approximately 7.7 on the Richter Scale.
But, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth happened
nearly 52 years (May 22, 1960) ago in Valdivia, Chile... and that
measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. The reason I am giving that
information is to let everyone know that I am well aware that man has
always recorded earthquake data. Remember... the sign of earthquakes
being a precursor to the Lord's return is not that they happen, and
have always happened: but, it is their frequency and the unusual
(divers) places in the world that they are happening.
The data I am recording
is from the National Earthquake Information center, U.S. Geological
Survey. I am going to give two tables: each table will cover a ten
year period. The first will be 1990 – 1999 and the second one will
be 2000 – 2009*.
(What I am going to ask you to notice is the
increased activity (across the board) in earthquakes. I am going to
begin with 1990 and go forward year-by-year, comparing '90 to 2000:
then '91 to 2001... etc. etc. etc. When I originally gathered this
data (June 16, 2009) in 10 years cycles the U.S. Geological Society
had not yet given the totals for 2009, because that year wasn't
complete. Because of that I'll not be able to compare 1999 -- 2009.
In 1990 (worldwide) there
was a total of 16,612 recorded earthquakes.
In 2000 (worldwide) there
was a total of 19,136 recorded earthquakes. (+ 2,524)
In 1991 (worldwide) there
was a total of 16,515 recorded earthquakes.
In 2001 (worldwide) there
was a total of 23,847 recorded earthquakes. (+ 7,332)
In 1992 (worldwide) there
was a total of 19,548 recorded earthquakes.
In 2002 (worldwide) there
was a total of 27,454 recorded earthquakes. (+ 7,906)
In 1993 (worldwide) there
was a total of 21,476 recorded earthquakes.
In 2003 (worldwide) there
was a total of 30,748 recorded earthquakes. (+ 9,272)
In 1994 (worldwide) there
was a total of 19,371 recorded earthquakes.
In 2004 (worldwide) there
was a total of 31,863 recorded earthquakes.
(+ 12,492)
In 1995 (worldwide) there
was a total of 21,007 recorded earthquakes.
In 2005 (worldwide) there
was a total of 32,553 recorded earthquakes.
(+ 11,546)
In 1996 (worldwide) there
was a total of 19,938 recorded earthquakes.
In 2006 (worldwide) there
was a total of 29,604 recorded earthquakes. (+ 9,666)
In 1997 (worldwide) there
was a total of 19,872 recorded earthquakes.
In 2007 (worldwide) there
was a total of 28,692 recored earthquakes. (+ 8,820)
In 1998 (worldwide) there
was a total of 21,688 recorded earthquakes.
In 2008 (worldwide) there
was a total of 30,183 recorded earthquakes. (+ 8,495)
In 1999 (worldwide) there
was a total of 20,827 recorded earthquakes. (*** incomplete year for
2009. Because of that I am not adding the 20,287 recorded earthquakes
to the total for the decade of the '90's... and, of course, I will
not put any totals into the 2009 tally either ***)
1990 – 1998 there was a
grand total of 176,027 recorded earthquakes worldwide. And, according
to the U.S. Geological Society this decade was (by far) the most
recorded earthquakes in history!
2,000 – 2008 there was
a grand total of 254,080 recorded earthquakes worldwide. Keep in
mind... the previous ten years had set a worldwide record for
earthquakes in a single decade and now the last full decade has beat
that record by an astounding 78,053 MORE EARTHQUAKES!!! (That is
78,053 MORE in the same span of time!!!)
By the time I am done
with this series the main point I am hoping to prove to everyone is
that ALL TEN signs which the Lord said would be happening just before
His Second Coming are happening... and, EACH INDIVIDUAL SIGN is
happening at never before seen numbers on planet Earth!!!
Remember... the first
sign I wrote about was false prophets. And today, 2012: there are
more of these men and women alive and preaching heresy than ever
before in the history of the world.
And for the second sign I
just wrote about we see that, worldwide... earthquakes are happening
at never before seen numbers. Good news though... THE KING IS
COMING!!!!!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY... A LITTLE EARLY
Saturday May 12, 2012 7:07 pm
Tomorrow will be a very busy day for me as I begin my 17 week (119 day) push until my first full Iron-man event at Cedar Point, Ohio. For several weeks my left knee has been causing me great pain and I have fallen behind in my workout regimen. But... tomorrow afternoon: after church and a dinner I have my longest bike ride planned that I have done in the last 90 days. It will, according to our local weather prognosticator be a long ride in the rain... no fun!
Because I won't have time tomorrow I would like to offer (today) a
heartfelt wish for all the ladies to have a very happy Mother's Day.
And for any girls who might read this and are married... but not yet
mother's? Well, I would still like to offer you a wish for a happy
Mother's Day as well. My best guess is that your husbands (at times)
still act like little boys and you occasionally have to do some
mothering. Or, am I the only one who refuses to grow up? (lol)
Anyway, regardless your situation... to all the ladies... Happy
Mother's Day!!!
As I was searching
through old tapes and books while preparing for the series I am writing
on the Second Coming of Christ I found the first poem I ever tried to
write. (At least I think this was the first one?) Anyway, when we got
the great news that Tammy and Bob were adopting two little boys
(Aaron and Ethan) it came upon my heart to write a poem for them and
the boys. Because it is almost Mother's Day I thought I would take a small
break from the series I am doing and interject something lighter. So, here is the poem I had written for them. It was not
written for Mother's Day: however, it was written because she was becoming a
mother... does that count? (:
Before I reproduce the
poem let me add something: I have always liked numbers, dates, and
names. (I know, I'm really weird!) Because of that whenever I first
meet someone and if I like them and (or) take some special interest I
have always looked up their birth-dates (to see what all was
happening in the world during the time of their birth) and their
names to see what they mean? So, several years ago when I first
learned the boys names I looked them up. In the Hebrew language Aaron
means “Exalted” and Ethan means “Steady.” (The reason I told
you that is it will be important to know what the boy's names mean in
order to understand one particular stanza I wrote in this poem.)
Also, at that time the little guys were very small and couldn't say,
“Grandpa” … so I signed my short story and poem the way the
boys said my name.
(When I wrote the poem I
began it this way:)
FAMILY
Now there was a day when
the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and
Gabriel came also among them. He was bearing a petition:
And the Lord said,
through the years,
I have heard their
crying;
And have witnessed the
tears,
With two heavy hearts
sighing;
Flesh of our flesh,
And bone of our bone;
Is their heartfelt
request,
To have a child of their
own;
I have heard their
speech,
And my strength is not
lax;
It is within my reach,
To give more than they
ask;
A woman in great pain,
Not ready to mother;
Her life is so vain,
Yet, born are two
brothers;
A sparrow cannot fall,
Without His seeing;
Two babies call,
For they are needing;
It is for a home that
they call,
But much more than that;
Because any four walls,
Can make up a flat;
Asking and pleading,
Was part of His plan;
Lonely and needing,
He remembered Bob, and
Tam;
Exalted is one,
And the other is Steady;
Both are their sons,
For now are they ready;
Your two sons are to have
and to hold,
You must keep within
reach;
For they are to love and
to mold,
And you are always to
teach;
To walk in the light,
And not to follow man;
Teach them to do right,
For that was His plan;
A family of two,
And how it became four;
He makes all things new,
And later with God,
perhaps... even more?
And Gabriel said to the
Lord, what if they query – why not – bone of my bone and flesh of
my flesh?
And the Lord smiled and said unto Gabriel, “Just remind
them that by choice ... all of my own sweet children are also adopted.”
Romans 8:15: “For ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
July 26, 2005
Story and poem by 'gampa'
THE SECOND COMING ... PART FOUR
Thursday May 10, 2012 11:19 pm
As promised I will begin this fourth part speaking about one of the ten signs mentioned to show Christ's soon return: and that will be “false prophets.” Now, to be fair, there has always been false prophets around. I believe some of these men and women were only out to make a buck and in doing so started a cult or religion. The two which immediately come to mind in this category are Joseph Smith (Mormons) and L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology).
Both men found an easy way to dupe people and make money. I can find no historical evidence that either of these men actually believed what they told others about their made-up religion... and in both cases hard evidence exists that they intended to make money off what they were doing. (Example: L. Ron Hubbard made a bet with Robert A. Heinlein that he could create a religion all by himself. Now, some Scientologists say that isn't true. However, many of Heinlein's autobiographical pieces show that this bet did take place and Heinlein's wife also has many of her own writings stating the same. And of course, Smith... what a joke! With his treasure hunting: scrying, divination rods and seer stones, it is almost mind boggling that anyone would ever believe anything he ever wrote or said. In his spoken words and by his own writings he changed his stories and accounts of past events as it related to “his visions” so many times as to be easily proven a deceiver and a liar. (Especially these two rascals set out to (on purpose) deceive people for money.)
However, I think for the most part these men and women who are false prophets are themselves duped and (or) deceived. In other words... they (their own selves) actually do believe the foolishness they spit out. I will begin with a man: a money-grubbing deceiver (Simon Magus) who was a well-known false prophet. This man came onto the scene within 30 years of the resurrection of Christ. In doing this I want to show that although false prophets have always been with us... NEVER... NEVER in the numbers they are at the present time! And of course, not only are today's false prophets abounding in never before seen numbers... the other nine signs are also happening at accelerated and record setting paces!
First: what is a false prophet? In order to be declared a false prophet all that you have to do is proclaim a vision or revealed truth (supposedly) from God and that “vision” or “truth” can be proven to be anti-Biblical. Or the vision... or supposed truth fails; then, you are a false prophet and as such was never sent from God! What follows is commonly known to be the Bible test for a prophet. In other words, it is easy to see if an evangelist, preacher, teacher, etc. is really of God, or has been blinded by greed for money, or fame, or has been duped by Satan, or even have deceived their own selves.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22: “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. (Now here is the test to see if a prophet is from God – verse 21.) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? (Now here is the proof that the prophet is not from God – verse 22.) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (Remember: ...IF THE THING (vision or supposed truth) FOLLOW NOT, NOR COME TO PASS...)
There you have it... teach and preach falsehoods and (or) make predictions that a preacher has stated were revealed by divine inspiration, or some special discernment from the Lord... then, if these predictions prove to be false... or if their predictions do not come to pass: then they are false and lying prophets and were not sent from God! (The very best thing about this particular Bible test is that given enough time we can always tell who were false preachers and teachers from the past and who used the name of God to make their lying proclamations known.)
Other than the first deceiver (false prophet-Simon Magus) I will write about... a lot of the contemporary preachers I am going to expose (in light of Scripture only) will be in some form or fashion tied to the modern day charismatic movement.
I do this knowing that not every believer, teacher, or preacher involved in certain of these movements are deceivers or trying to teach error. But, even a cursory examination of what many of the leaders in this modern day movement have written in books or broadcast over the air is certainly enough to prove that this movement is rife with false and apostate preachers... and much of what they practice and preach goes against large passages of Scripture.
To the very time of this writing I have both family and (some) I love dearly in churches like what I will be writing about: yet, knowing these individuals... I believe them to be both dedicated and born-again believers. But, that in no way lets off the hook apostate preaching and (or) practices by leaders in their respective churches.
Rather than typing the massive amount I would have to in order to fully write about Simon Magus I would encourage all who reads this to simply look him up yourself and you will be able to see that he was indeed a false prophet... and very soon after Christ walked the Earth. I will quote just a few stories about him though so you can clearly see his apostasy.
In the book: A Dictionary of Early Christian beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church fathers: (Davis W. Bercott, Editor) it states: “There was a Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius Caesar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic... He was considered a god, and as god was honored by you with a statue. This statue was erected on the Tiber River, between the two bridges. It bore the following inscription in the language of Rome: “To Simon, the holy God.” ...And almost all the Samaritans, and a few even of other nations worship him. They acknowledge him as the first god.” Justin Martyr 160 A.D.
Tertullian wrote in 197 A.D. “”You install Simon Magus in your Pantheon, giving him a statue and the title of Holy God.”
In 248 A.D. Origen wrote: “Celsus next pours down upon us a heap of names saying that he knows of the existence of certain Simonians, who worship Helen... as their teacher. They are called Helenians, However, it has escaped the notice of Celsus that the Simonians do not at all acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of God. Rather, they consider Simon to be the power of God.”
Hippolytus in 225 A.D. Wrote: “The disciples, then, of this {Simon Magus} celebrate magical rites, and they resort to incantations. They transmit both love spells and charms... This Simon, deceiving many in Samaria by his sorceries, was reproved by the apostles, and he was put under a curse. All of this has been written in the Acts. But Simon afterwards renounced the faith... And journeying as far as Rome, he came in conflict with the apostles. Peter offered repeated opposition to him, for Simon was deceiving many by his sorceries.”
There are literally dozens of accounts in secular history about this early apostate... but I'll record just one more. Of course for all who knows their Bible this is the same Simon whom Peter rebuked and sent away when he was trying to (with money) purchase the power of the Holy Ghost. Irenaeus wrote in 180 A.D. That after he was rebuked by the Apostles of Christ and sent away that Simon gave himself entirely to the black arts and became an accomplished sorcerer and deceiver. In the city of Tyre he redeemed a slave woman named Helena and he began to take her with him and told throngs of people that this woman was the first conception of his own mind!
Keep in mind that as crazy as that sounds... I will prove that this same teaching is prevalent in many charismatic churches today. They go by different names, but the teaching is the same. That is... God was a man who became exalted and we... that is you and I, can also become gods... even the same as Christ! If you think that is blasphemous... you are right! But, I will show some very well known Pentecostal preachers who teach that very thing today. If you ever hear words like... God being a man “in the skin” RUN, don't walk away from that apostate church and its blasphemous teachings... RUN!!!
Before I show some well known preachers who teach blasphemous things and show themselves (even like Simon Magus) wanting to be little gods let me ask you as a believer a simple question. The God we worship... was He ever a man? Of course not! Why then do you, as a believer in Christ... sit and listen to charismatic preachers and teachers who publicly spew this particular blasphemy!
Now for everything I write about these men and what they have said... I can back it up with their own recordings, books, tapes, or even You Tube videos. So, without a doubt they have said what I am now going to write about them.
Today's false prophets and their blasphemous teachings go by many different names... but it is still the same cultist religion that Simon Magus was preaching in the first century A.D. Some of the more common names today are: Manifest Sons of God Doctrine... Latter Rain Teaching... The Anointed... etc. etc. etc. But all of them are teaching the same wicked thing. We can become gods... EXACTLY like Jesus! Of course, that is utter blasphemy!
I will begin with a local group. They are not a particularly large group of people as compared to just about any and all people with a named religion... but, it is easy to expose what has been taught as contrary to the Bible... AND this group has the same philosophy as Simon (we are, or can become gods) and these falsehoods abound in charismatic churches today. Remember: they believe and teach this because even as the Mormons teach... they think God was once a man as we are. Because of that... we too can become a god: which is complete heresy!
In The Mighty God Unveiled Branham said, “God always had skin on Him.” Repeatedly this same group today continues to call God … a man “in the skin.” God, at least the true God of the Bible is a Spirit and was never a man: exalted or otherwise. God took the form of man (Jesus) when He became flesh and dwelt among us... but in eternity past He was never a man: with “skin on him” as they teach.
All of these men, from the past until today who teach these heretical and blasphemous things learned it from Satan in the Garden of Eden. Remember the temptation of Eve? What did the devil say to her in order to get her to rebel against God? Genesis 3:5: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ...YE SHALL BE AS GODS...
Once you hear a preacher teach error... such as God was once a man... or always had “skin on him” then it is time to see if this is a failed prophet, lying, false, etc. So, for me personally I start gathering tapes, books, and everything else I can find where the man or woman I'm researching has written or spoken: then I listen and read. Let me show you some other error I found taught by this man, Branham.
Before I do that let me ask you a question. Would a true prophet, or man of God change Scripture to suit their own teaching? Of course not... right? In The Revelation of the Seven Seals: An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages; pp. 28, 48 Branham states: “Now don't let anyone say that I don't believe in a lake of fire and in punishment, I do. I don't know how long it will last, but it will eventually be removed. In Rev. 21:8, it says that those sinners mentioned will have their part in the lake of fire. But the true interpretation of the word is not 'part' but it is 'time.”
In other words... contrary to what the Bible clearly teaches... Branham falsely taught that God's punishment upon the lost was only for a time? But, in order to do that he had to change Scripture. Now, let me state up front: I have enough to do in understanding the English language without pretending to understand the Greek language. Because of that truth I bought a Greek Lexicon and I looked up the word 'meros' which Branham said should have been translated 'time' and not 'part' as the KJV reads. What do you suppose I found?
"Meros" has no translation that had anything to do with time: but it always was a part or piece of something. Now, I wanted to be certain I had not overlooked anything in my own studies so I called several different universities until I was able to actually speak to men who not only understood the Greek language, but taught it at university level. There was a consensus! From the Greek Lexicon to all of these teachers of the Greek language: “meros” has absolutely nothing to do with time! Here are some definitions I was given; “meros” – a part due or assigned to one lot … destiny a measure … as respect a part … severally … individually … etc. etc. etc.
I wanted to show that to help people understand that once these so-called “modern day prophets” start to teach falsehoods... it escalates, and soon all of their teaching becomes corrupted. I guess I'm including this next part because in a few days we celebrate Mother's Day. When we understand that God took a rib from Adam, and not a heel bone to create a woman does that not imply that she (hopefully, the love of his life) was to walk by his side through life, and not to be crushed or trodden under foot?
What do you think when you read passages in the Bible like Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE)
How about Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.” Now... verse 28a: “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies...” (LOVE YOUR WIFE AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH)
Before I write what Branham taught and thought about women could I ask you, as a believer in Christ, to find any verse in the Bible that would teach what I am going to record Branham as having said about women. In the book, William M. Branham 'My Life Story' he states, “I... This was my remark then, THEY'RE NOT WORTH A GOOD CLEAN BULLET TO KILL THEM WITH IT. That's Right. And I hated women. That's right. And I just have to watch every move now, to keep from still thinking the same thing.” (That was Branham preaching.)
Now, it's one thing to imagine that because (as a youth) his dad had polluted his mind with heretical teaching that Eve had sexual intercourse with the serpent... and that might have caused Branham to hate all women: I don't know? But, as an adult... and supposedly a spirit-filled believer he STILL had to continually watch “every move now” to keep from thinking that women were not worth a good clean bullet to kill them with it? (It's no wonder that those who sat under this man's tutelage had so little regard for women!)
From Simon Magus to every apostate preacher today, all of them spoke about seeing 'beings of light' and being given divine inspiration. Joseph Smith, Branham, and just about every Pentecostal preacher of any fame have all said the same thing; they have seen visions of God as a being of light! But, I am not at all surprised. For it's the same manifestation Even saw in the Garden as Satan was transformed into an angel of light. II Corinthians 11:13-15: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
So, when these modern day apostates say they have been visited by “beings of light.” I, for one, do not doubt that” however, after these visions (and) whenever they begin to preach and teach contrary to the Bible... well, then we know their visitation was not of God: rather it was Satan as a being of light, deceiving them! Again... II Corinthians 11:14: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
That is why the Bible declares to try the spirits and see if they are of God. The litmus test is always the same. Do these “spirits” who visit these men teach Bible truth... or do they err from the Holy Writ? If they only add to sound doctrine and teaching, then the Spirit might well be of God. But, if they now err from revealed truth, then their visitation was from a transformed devil. I John 4:1: “BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
I love reading old church history as well as the Bible. In this way as I read certain passages of Scripture I am cognizant of what was going on in the secular world during the lives of these great men who wrote the Bible. Now, imagine John as he was penning the above verse. This would have been nearly 60 years after Christ's resurrection and years after John had already withstood Simon Magus to his face. Don't you figure John was thinking of Simon as one of the many false prophets who had already been misled by Satan and was in the world preaching heresy.
(This is running so long that I will have to talk about earthquake data on my next entry. The day I originally walked into the pulpit to record this message for the radio I had 26 pages of typed notes... complete pages. I am telling you that because I will not be able to record all of the heresy that these men I am going to name have spoken. Suffice it to say that I have all of it documented and if any person wants to write and request it... I will make copies and mail them out to you. I will tell a few more choice stories of some of these men to prove they are all false prophets: then, I will end this with a list of their names... at least some of them.)
Kenneth Hagin (tape #44H06) said, “We {the church} are Christ. As Christ is – So are we.” Then, in The Incarnation The Word of Faith, p. 13 Hagin said, “Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.” (Keep in mind that all false prophets are god-makers and they try to place their own pitiful selves along side Christ and act like His equal.)
Hagin was Kenneth Copeland's mentor and you can see the corrupt apple fell very close to the corrupted tree. In Zoe: The God-Kind of Life, pgs. 35-36, & 41 Copeland says, “{Man} was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without any consciousness of inferiority... God made us as much like Himself as possible... He made us the same class of being that He is Himself... Man lived in the realm of God. He lived on terms equal with God... {The} believer is called Christ... That's who we are; Christ.” (Of course Copeland is blasphemously wrong!)
Morris Cerullo (The Endtime Manifestation of the Sons of God World Evangelism tape – 1) leading people in a chant: “Who are you? Come on, who are you? Come on, say it: 'Sons of God!' Come on say it! And what does work inside us, brother, is that manifestation of all that God is and all that God has. And when we stand up here, brother, you're not looking at Morris Cerullo; you're looking at God. You're looking at Jesus.” (Of course, in reality for all who were there and saw this heretical display they were in reality looking at a goat who was pretending to be a sheep!)
Benny Hinn, (Praise-a-Thon, TBN, November 6, 1990) “When you say, 'I am a Christian,' you are saying, I am mashiach,' in the Hebrew, I am a little messiah walking on earth, in other words. That is a shocking revelation... May I say it like this? You are a little god on earth running around.”
(Our position in Christ – tape # A031190-1) Benny Hinn said, “Are you ready for some real revelation knowledge... you are god.” (Remember... everyone of these lost apostate preachers all teach the same thing... blasphemous ideas about who God is and who man is.)
I am going to list several names of apostate leaders in charismatic churches and all of them I have recordings and books of each of them preaching blasphemy. E.W. Kenyon, Benny Hinn, (who has often said that he gets anointing from God from the bones of dead men as he visits grave-sites) Marilyn Hickey, Paul Crouch, John Hinkle, Jack Hayford, Gerald Coates, Gwen Shaw, Tommy Tenney, Paul Cain, Earl Paulk, Jack Deere, John Wimber, John Robert Stevens... I swear I could type another 50 men and women who I have listened to their tapes or read their literature and every single one of them are trying to make gods out of sinful men and women. They are all false prophets.
I was going to stop here but I want to tell you two more things about Mr. Branham. I have three routes I ride on my bike whenever I am getting in some mid-range exercise. I have a nine mile... a 17 mile... and a 23 mile bike ride. Whenever I am doing any of those three I start in the same direction and take the very same streets in the early part of the ride. If I am riding farther than that I start out from my house in a different direction. Anyway... on the shorter three routes which I try to ride a few times each week I pass Mr. Branham's gravesite in Eastern cemetery. I do this twice on every ride: once going out and once coming back. His site is so near the road where I ride that a child could throw a stone and reach it. I honestly believe I have never passed that grave without an involuntary shake of my head. I just can not fathom a man who said he was of God being buried under a pyramid. A pyramid!!!
The Egyptian pyramids were burial chambers for many of the Babylonian mystery religion believers. These people believed in reincarnation and worshiped Ra, the Sun god: Horus, the god of the dead: Isis, the fertility goddess, and many more pagan gods. William M. Branham, Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word Publications, said that the "zodiac" and the "Egyptian pyramids" were equal to the Scriptures in the revelation of God's word! (Can you imagine... equal to the Bible: completely heretical teaching!)
The zodiac was founded in Babylon by Nimrod (who led the first false) religious system) after the Great Flood. And we all know that throughout Scripture God condemns the zodiac and people who study it. How is it possible that a man who purports to know Scripture (Branham) could not have known that?
Because of things like that is why I know for a fact that Branham was deceived... I do not know if he was a deceiver! There is a difference. He was clearly wrong, but he might not have known that himself. Remember... Satan is an angel of light and he has deceived many people and made them believe in visions even when they have gone against Scripture. So, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt since I never met him. But, I have read dozens of his sermons to find a lot of error and teachings that are completely anti-Biblical.
Now, some of his followers: are for a fact… DECEIVERS! Let me prove that to you... then I will end this part on false prophets. Because his followers believed him to be a god... many of them to this day go to his gravesite every Easter morning expecting him to arise, (I swear I'm not joking) of course they are ALWAYS going to be disappointed in that matter. Anyway, because they believed him to be a little god... as he talked they recorded everything. I mean everything! Even when he coughed or sneezed or anything else they recorded that... remember: EVERY SINGLE WORD!
Now with that truth in mind let me tell you a little story and prove that at least some of them today are knowingly deceiving people. What is a test for a failed prophet? Do you remember? If any of their prophecies fail... they were not sent from God. Right?
Okay, now I am going to reproduce part of his message where he was talking about the Second Coming of Christ. This particular message is found in: An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages, P. 322. Branham says, “Based on these seven visions, along with the rapid changes which swept the world in the last 50 years, I predict (I do not prophesy) that these visions will have all come to pass by 1977.” (Now to this point he is fine in this message. He has said no more than any preacher might say about Christ's return. In fact, he seemed to go out of his way to say that it was only a prediction based on current events. So far... so good.)
Branham continues, “And though many may feel that this is an irresponsible statement in view of the fact that Jesus said that 'no man knoweth the day nor the hour,' I still maintain this prediction after 30 years because, Jesus did not say no man could know the year, month, or week in which His coming was to be completed.” (Now... get ready: up to this point he is still fine in what he has said... only his opinion as to the time. However: the next part shows his error and proves he was a failed prophet.)
Branham continues, “So, I repeat, I sincerely believe and maintain as a private student of the word, along with divine inspiration that 1977 ought to terminate the world system and usher in the Millennium.” (Notice... ALONG WITH DIVINE INSPIRATION!!!) Now, that was the message that was copied and sent out to all of his followers word-for-word for years. That is until 1977 passed. Now, what do you suppose some of his sycophants did? Keep in mind that this was a group of people who even wrote down if he coughed or sneezed! Now these deceivers actually removed from the later books four measly words! Can you guess what the four words were? ALONG WITH DIVINE INSPIRATION! (That was the four words they removed.) Why? Because they have enough Bible knowledge to know that this showed Branham was a failed prophet. His followers knew it and that is why they were removed. That is the reason I said I could not know for sure if Branham was trying to deceive others, or if it was nothing more than he (himself) was deceived. But, the people who did this in the later books ARE DECEIVERS... and of the worst sort!
Also in the tape, “Choosing a Bride” Branham said that by 1977 California would have already slid into the ocean, the WCC would have swallowed up all denominations... and the Roman Catholic Church would by now be controlling all denominations. One failed prophesy followed another!
Anyway... Simon Magus and a handful of false prophets have been around for centuries: today though false prophets number in the thousands and all of them are little god-makers. Either trying to make man exalted and equal to God. Or trying to bring God down to the level of man. In both cases it is heresy and another sign that the end is near.
I think I'll do like Branham did when he falsely predicted Christ would return in 1977... Ellen White (founder of Seventh Day Advent) falsely predicted Jesus would return in 1844... Joseph Smith (Mormons) falsely predicted Christ's return in 1891... Charles Russell (founder J.W.'s) falsely predicted God would return in 1914. (As a side note, Russell was the funniest of the group. He predicted Christ would return at three different times. Finally, after being wrong each time he said that Christ DID RETURN! But, it was a spiritual return and not a physical one. That's laugh-out-loud funny... don't you think?)
In reality I won't do that... I mean at least not the hour or the day? I will get within a week though... lol.
No, I think what I might do when I finally end this series is to push a date out far enough that I'll be long dead and beyond ridicule by that time... yeah, that's what I'll do. So, if you keep reading until I finally finish all of the parts: I'll do like the rest of them and throw together a date... OK?