The Treasure Hunt: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

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)

Monday, May 28, 2012

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

Sunday, May 27, 2012

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!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

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.

Friday, May 18, 2012

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!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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?

Monday, May 14, 2012

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!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

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'

Thursday, May 10, 2012

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?

The Treasure Hunt