Calvin L. Smith: Stephen Sizer as Anti-Replacement Theology Champion?

I just thought I would direct you to a post written by Dr Calvin Smith, a post for all of you who are interested in modern Israel, the Jews and the implications for the Church. In that post he writes about Stephen Sizer, supercessionism and replacement theology which is an ongoing debate within Christendom at the moment. As time goes on — and as Israel and Jerusalem becomes more of a stumbling block in the political world — it will also become a topic that concerns the Church more and more.

Here’s a snippet of the post to whet your appetite…

I note Stephen Sizer will be speaking at Bethlehem Bible College’s Christ at the Checkpoint conference (March 2010), aimed at promoting a reading and reflection upon Scripture from a distinctly Palestinian perspective. The title of Sizer’s paper is "Israel and the Church: Challenging Zionism, Anti-Semitism and Replacement Theology."

Anyway, the notion of Stephen challenging replacement theology appears somewhat incongruous. In the past, several other supercessionists have tried (not very successfully) to distance themselves from the label "replacement theology". You see, ditching punitive supercessionism while holding to variations of either economic or structural supercessionism (see R. Kendall Soulen’s useful book The God of Israel and Christian Theology for definitions of the terminology) doesn’t qualify as having eschewed replacement theology. True, there are technical differences between these variations of supercessionism, nonetheless all mean the same thing semantically and theologically[…]

If you want to weigh in on the debate, I know that Calvin would be all to willing and happy to answer any questions about this ongoing issue regarding The Jews, Modern Israel and the New Supercessionism that we see today.

Please direct any queries and comments to this link: Calvin L. Smith: Stephen Sizer as Anti-Replacement Theology Champion?

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Israel, Middle East, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

The Negro Project | Margaret Sanger Would Have Loved Barack Obama

As long as there is breath in my body I will always speak out against all forms of abortion be it early term or partial birth abortions and now we have The Born Alive Victims Act to which a certain politician voted against. Those babies do not have a voice, but I do! I really don’t see a difference in early termination to late term abortion. My last post showed you a video of an ultrasound image of a twelve week old baby struggling violently against the doctors suction tube which rips this baby apart limb to limb. The baby heartbeat doubles in rate, the baby opens its mouth as if to scream and tries to escape its impeding death!

I don’t care what particular leaders in our society are in favour of this silent holocaust. Whether they are politicians of the charismatic nature on either side of the political fence or ministers who are so liberal in their biblical theology that they have watered down the Word of God to better suit their sensibilities. Aargh!!! I think I want to throw up when I think of such ministers of the faith who have become so spineless that they fear man rather than God! I have absolutely no respect for such people! None!

To be sure, if you speak out against the accepted social norm in any way you will be called a right wing extremist and labelled a moron, idiot and many other things that do not bare repeating on my blog. The fact is, abortion is murder and it does kill babies. By the time a mother finds out that she is pregnant, chances are the baby’s heart is already beating! Is that life or not?

Anyway, in my research in regards to this most horrible topic I have come across a name that you may or may not have heard of — Margaret Sanger. She was a staunch racist and she had an agenda…

 

The strategy:

Convince the targeted community to accept their eugenic racist plan by selecting one from their ethnicity to promote it.  One of Planned Parenthood’s earliest known projects was in 1939.  It was called the “Negro Project” — a project designed to control the birth of "human weeds" which was how Margaret Sanger referred to colored people; a project designed to introduce abortion, sterilization and different forms of birth control.  This is what a co-eugenic wrote to Margaret Sanger to make sure the "Negro Project" was a success:

Clarence Gamble, heir of Proctor and Gamble, wrote a memorandum in November, 1939 entitled: "Suggestions for the Negro Project."  In the letter he suggested black leaders “be placed in positions where it would appear they were in charge."

This is a letter to Clarence Gamble, from Margaret Sanger, in which she wrote,

"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities.  The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal.  We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members."

For those of you that don’t know, Barack Obama became a "minister" of Planned Parenthood a long time ago.  He’s so good at carrying out their racist, murderous, agenda against Afro-Americans and society at large, they gave him a 100% score on his voting record.  Planned Parenthood is following the strategy of their racist founder, Margaret Sanger, to the letter.

[…]

Pam Sutherland … of … Illinois Planned Parenthood … told ABC News, "We worked with him specifically on his strategy.  The Republicans were in control of the Illinois Senate at the time.  They loved to hold votes on ‘partial birth’ and ‘born alive.’ They put these bills out all the time because they wanted to pigeonhole Democrats. …"

Let me interpret.  We, Planned Parenthood, told him what to say, and how to say it, so we could continue to kill infants; babies, just a few inches from birth, and those completely out of the womb that we missed!  Our "colored minister" was well prepared by Planned Parenthood.  Partial Birth abortion — which I will not describe here — but know that 80% of Americans don’t want this barbaric act practiced in this country – Barack Obama voted to keep legal!  The Born Alive Victims Act is a law to protect a child that was born alive after a botched abortion; a law that would require that the child would receive medical assistance.  Barack Obama voted against it! Yes.  Barack Obama, with an "engaging personality" is being used by the leading abortion provider in the United States to promote and execute infanticide of predominately minority babies!

BlackGenocide.org | Margaret Sanger Would Have Loved Barack Obama

 

Filed under: Abortion, Bioethics, Freedom of Speech, Political, Political/Christian, discernment

Red Letter Christians: Neo-Marxism in the Church?

I have spoken about this a few years ago HERE, HERE, and more recently I address “Christian Pragmatism” HERE…in a book called ‘Mere Christianity’ by C S Lewis. In that book, Lewis says that soon enough being a Christian would mean just to be a good person and not necessarily holding to biblical truths…Now if once we allow people to start spiritualising and refining, or as they might say ‘deepening’, the sense of the word Christian, it too will speedily become a useless word. I wondered at how this would start, this newly defined Christianity. From what I have seen it is pragmatism that has paved ‘a’ road — and I say a say ‘a’ road because I believe that this road is one of many roads – to an all inclusive self authentic spiritual life.

And don’t think that this is not a political Christianity…During the latter part of the nineteenth century virtually all cardinal doctrines of the faith were challenged or denied by the growing liberalism (derived mostly from German Rationalism and Higher Criticism) which was threatening the evangelical  church. From the Godhead to the necessity for salvation to the existence of hell to the atonement to the inspiration of Scripture to the meaning of the gospel, every doctrine held precious by the evangelical community was gutted of biblical meaning and infused with ideas fitting the times.

Gary E. Gilley rightly says…

But the contention of conservative believers has always been that life emerges from sound doctrine; right living is never formed in a truth vacuum.  Joel Beeke had it right when he wrote, “Doctrine must produce life, and life must adorn doctrine.”

[…]These men (McLaren and Bell) see no vital connection between what we believe and how we live, between orthodoxy and orthopraxy.  Having accepted this disconnect they move on to elevate orthopraxy to the exclusion of orthodoxy.  Right beliefs are simply superfluous.  How we live is all that matters.  Pragmatism reigns. [source]

It seems that many people are being challenged by the Red Letter Christians, as predicted. But where does this lead? These value voters have re-directed the more controversial conservative biblical values and have taken the safer road toward more contemporary issues like social in-justice and environmental issues; that is to say they have broadened their views toward the global village. In broadening their path do they run the risk of not even finding the narrow gate – maybe the path has become less recognizable because the signposts have changed altogether and are pointing to different things? (Matt 7:17)

So it seems that a stronghold in the post-modern Church is “Christian Marxism” and those who are leading the naive Church are finding a political voice like never before… 

Some who believe this way practice a form of neo-Marxism and others would call it "Christian Marxism" — an oxymoron if there ever was one. They note that the early church shared everything (socialism).  A close cousin to this is "liberation theology.  "Those who are high profile in this movement include Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren and his Emergent bunch, and the National Council of Churches.

Red-letter Christians join the chorus of those who believe in a utopia with no wanting or war. Yes, that will come someday, but not the way they think. This could come as a shock to them just because they have little to no regard for other parts of the Bible. They have almost created a new meaning for the term "biblical illiteracy." 

It is also tragic that these folks are frequently called "the evangelical Left." They don’t have even 1% of evangelical theology in a single bone in their body. They cherry- pick the verses they like, almost exclusively the red letters of Jesus.

Also on a sad note, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is promoting a Leftist conference featuring Jim Wallis October 21. This was announced in their "NAE Update" received today, October 5, by e-mail. Tooley’s more Mainline Protestant Institute for Religion and Democracy takes a more righteous stand against Leftist causes than does the NAE.

To better understand deception issues, visit our Web site and the category of "Spiritual Deception." 

Read Jan’s take on this subject in an article called – Red Letter Christians: Neo-Marxism in the Church?

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Church History, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Post-modernism, Religion, Theology, discernment

What do you think the word “Evangelical” actually means???

1Co 9:16  For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Just quickly…what do you think about Rob Bell’s answer to the question about the word “Evangelical”…

Q. OK, how would you describe what it is that you believe?

A. I embrace the term evangelical, if by that we mean a belief that we together can actually work for change in the world, caring for the environment, extending to the poor generosity and kindness, a hopeful outlook. That’s a beautiful sort of thing.

Read the rest of the interview here – Bell aims to restore true meaning of ‘evangelical’ – The Boston Globe

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Post-modernism, Religion, Theology, discernment

Biblical Prophecy – it’s cyclical…

I have been learning from Jacob Prasch of Moriel Ministries for over ten years now. The one thing that I’m forever grateful is for the teaching on Midrash and its applications. You can see cyclical biblical patterns and glean from them and see that they foreshadow what will happen before Christ comes again.

The first time I ever went to see Jacob Prasch speak I was introduced to this and I was absolutely floored! I basically had a light bulb moment right there sitting in this old inner city Church of about 20 or so people. Now, whenever I read my bible I completely understand that it is truly the living word even for us today.  Understanding patterns and typology has opened a whole new dimension for me and the depth of this is quite staggering.

Jacob Prasch points out that if you want to know what happens in the ‘last days’ Church then read what happened to the first Church outlined in the New Testament. He also said that certain biblical prophecy has been fulfilled yet it recapitulates towards the ultimate fulfillment. Using this type of methodology you can actually be a preterist and a futurist at the same time.

The article that I read today deals with the topic of Christ before His first coming which actually shows us what to expect and how to recognise the signs of His second coming…

One of the repeated teachings at Moriel is that prophecy is not so much about the fulfillment of specific events at a specific pre-set date and time as much as it is really patterns which repeat themselves, growing ever stronger until their last, ultimate fulfillment. That is why a lot of what we understand about Christ’s Second Coming is foreshadowed – a pattern – revealed during His First Coming. Learning as much as we can about His First Coming teaches a great deal about how things will ultimately take place at His Second Coming. And I have a very strong suspicion that we are seeing some of these things taking place right now. The religious authorities of the day knew Scripture so well that without hesitation they answered the Magis’ question about the Messiah, but like many today, they were completely blind to actually seeing it take place. Moriel Archive » Blog Archive » Witnessing History Repeat Itself

Filed under: Apostasy, Christianity, Church History, Dominionism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, History, Israel, Midrash, Philosophy & Religion, Political/Christian, Prophecy, Theology, discernment

Is Israel God’s unfinished business?

Not sure if you know this, but Calvin L Smith has his own personal blog and has been busily putting together many posts on the subject that interests him at the moment. That interest is about Israel and her prophetic role for today. He also does an excellent job in discussing the New Supersessionists in his book which you can find HERE.

Anyway, he has written quite a few posts on this often heated debate regarding Israel and is just itching for some feedback!

In this particular post he starts with the historical Church and her reaction to 2nd century Judaism…

The Church’s reaction to anti-Christian Judaism in the second century caused it to emphasise some aspects of the canonical narrative at the expense of others. In short, the New Testament was elevated and the Old Testament relegated. Naturally, this demotion of the Jewish Scriptures also downgraded the theological importance of Israel, which features so prominently in the Old Testament. Soulen refers to this relegation of Israel as “structural supercessionism” (supercessionism, also known as replacement theology, is the theological position which argues that the Church has superceded Israel as the people of God). Soulen also identifies other forms of supercessionism (economic and punitive) in his book.

[…]My own position focuses on and traces the Jewish people as a biblical theology theme, rather than the land. As such, this focus on people not land permits me, theoretically at least, to entertain the possibility of exchanging some land for peace. [source]

I have been over to his site to comment that is waiting for approval, but I have to ask him…

So, I am wondering if you [Calvin] think that the current gathering of Jews into Israel the land is not currently fulfilling biblical prophecy? Or are they being gathered in unbelief ready to be judged because of their unbelief?

The way I see it, they have been returning to their promised land for a purpose, not because they deserve it. Perhaps that purpose is to drive them back to Mosaic Judaism which in turn will teach them about the fulfilment found only in their Messiah Jesus. The judgement of their unbelief is outlined in Zech 13:

Zec 13:7  "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zec 13:8  In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.
Zec 13:9  And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’"

On a side note in verse 7 the ESV says that God will turn His hand against the little ones… yet in other translations it says "upon" a big difference depending on how you read it.

Anyway, I think that the Hand of God is "upon" these little ones, perhaps referring to those who are the true Israel, the remnant.

Not sure?

After the fire and persecution/judgement it does say that they will call upon God’s name and they will be His people and He will be their God.

This is when All Israel will be saved, right?

I can’t wait for him to answer and perhaps then I can try and understand the prophetic time table more!

Have your own say, and make sure you read his post to find exactly where Calvin is coming from. Here’s his post called: Consulation Paper: A Christian View of Israel

Cheers

Vee

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Church History, History, Islam, Israel, Judaism, Middle East, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Prophecy, Religion, Theology, discernment

Luke 21:24 – Has it REALLY been fulfilled???

Calvin Smith has a new, personal blog! You can find it HERE. It is one that you simply must go and check out and blogroll!!!I will be adding his blog to my blogroll.

I know Calvin personally, and he is probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure to meet and work with. He has this knack of being able to ask the big questions for great discussion without it becoming a slanging match – especially when it comes to the topic of Israel, Palestine, Christian Zionism and Supersessionism.

When he argues a point he doesn’t use polemical and polarised views which is very important for theological and eschatological discussion. He really is open to Constructive debate about many issues.

The post I am linking to is about the well known verse found in Luke:

Luk 21:24  They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

He has a simple question to ask you…

All I am asking is this: can Bible-believing Christians say with certainty Luke 21:24 has been fulfilled and we are indeed in the last times?

Go over to his post called “Beware an overly dogmatic interpretation of Luke 21:24”, give it a read and some careful consideration and see if you agree or disagree with him. I dare you!!!

One thing for sure, it will challenge you!

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Church History, History, Islam, Israel, Middle East, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

The Great Return of the Remnant…

Scott Brisk has put together an important “Be Alert” which shows us that biblical prophecy is being fulfilled right before our very eyes. He has found so many articles and links showing that the Jewish people are being drawn together.

But we have to realise that the purpose of them being drawn together is so that they will believe their Messiah in whom they have long awaited for is in fact Yeshua/Jesus Christ.

Before this happens though, they must be brought back into their land to be judged. That time is called Jacob’s trouble…

Isa 11:10-12  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Jer 30:3-9  For, lo, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith Jehovah; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that Jehovah spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman; but they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

So, you may want to check out all of what Scott has brought together. To do so see HERE.

Here’s just a little bit of Scott’s intro to the “Alert”…

The title of this alert comes from a commentary by Nick Cohen published back in February called “Hatred is turning me into a Jew”. This commentary appears about half way down this edition of Be Alert!
What struck me immediately when reading this is how The Word of The LORD is coming true and so few know or understand it. Through the worldwide hatred of the Jewish People, God is drawing them together, back to their heritage and back to their land. God prophesied all this thousands of years ago in intricate details. Now more Jewish People are coming to believe in their Messiah Yeshua than ever before. Indeed, they need to before the time of Jacob’s trouble when the Bible tells us that two thirds of all Jewish people will be killed before Christ returns. This is terrible but the truth that must be told.
Indeed His return is very near.
Additionally, our president, our country and increasingly much of the church are turning against Israel. This is something the Lord does not take lightly and judgment has always come upon those who have turned against Israel.

We are indeed living in those days that Christ spoke about, just before His return. Let us keep close to His Word, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that His ancient people receive their Yeshua  as their Messiah.

Just quickly, for any Jewish people who have come across this site, I have a couple of excellent links for you to read through…

• One Messiah: Two Comings

and…

• “Five Questions If You’re a Jew” by James Jacob Prasch

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Persecution, Christianity, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, Gnosticism, Hebrew, Israel, Judaism, Middle East, Midrash, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Prophecy, Religion, Theology, discernment

How to spread the gospel…

This is just too good not to post. Carla from “More Books and Things” came across it, thanks Carla for another great link

When Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, He meant that. Tell them the truth about Jesus Christ.
When Romans says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, that means someone heard or read the word of God.
When Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch, he did it with his mouth and not his actions.
When Jesus witnessed to the woman at the well, it was a verbal conversation. You never see Him getting the water for that woman.
Being nice to people is not witnessing. Should our actions go with our words? You better believe it! I will have a DVD coming out about that soon. But doing nice things for people is not a substitute for sharing the Gospel with them.

Read what the above is in response too at – News :: Mark Cahill Ministries

I have previously written about the humanitarian/social gospel before…

There is a move today within Christendom that is redefining what it means to be a Christian. I first read about this around 15 years ago in a book called ‘Mere Christianity’ by C S Lewis. In that book, Lewis says that soon enough being a Christian would mean just to be a good person and not necessarily holding to biblical truths…Now if once we allow people to start spiritualising and refining, or as they might say ‘deepening’, the sense of the word Christian, it too will speedily become a useless word. I wondered at how this would start, this newly defined Christianity. From what I have seen it is pragmatism that has paved ‘a’ road — and I say a say ‘a’ road because I believe that this road is one of many roads – to an all inclusive self authentic spiritual life.

Pragmatism becomes a form of religion itself…

If there is a common religion to be found within the Western world it surely is pragmatism – the religion of “what works?”  Pragmatism has no cathedrals; it follows no liturgy, hires no pastors and cannot be found in any listing of denominations, yet it is woven into the very fabric of the Western church.  Whether we are talking about mainline, Pentecostal, Fundamentalist, Emergent or Orthodox, it does not take much observation to realize that pragmatism is interlaced throughout each tradition.  To attempt to remove pragmatism is to pull a thread which could very well unravel the whole structure of Christianity and church life as we know it today, yet to pull on that thread we must.

Few people have extensive understanding of philosophy but it doesn’t take a philosopher to recognize that the prevailing attitude today, an attitude which has invaded the church, is to “settle for what works” and not be overly concerned about truth.  After all, postmoderns believe that we can never be certain of truth anyway; therefore pragmatism will have to do. But when we exchange truth for what works or, better, what we think works, we have elevated our thoughts above God’s.  Or as Gordon Clark warns, “Since God is truth, a contempt for truth is equally a contempt for God.” [source]

I really like the point that Gary E Gilley makes when he writes…But when we exchange truth for what works or, better, what we think works, we have elevated our thoughts above God’s.  Or as Gordon Clark warns, “Since God is truth, a contempt for truth is equally a contempt for God.”

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Post-modernism, Religion, discernment

America’s descent – refitting the shoe…

This article was written by a Russian guy called Stanislav Mishin a Russian columnist’s take on what’s happening in the US today. He makes some excellent points. His blog goes under the pseudonym Mat Rodina which means Mother Motherland/Homeland in Russian…

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America. [source]

To read some of the comments in relation to this article see HERE and HERE.

To get a biblical picture of why America is being downsized see my post called “American, the big fat toe”…

Every indication that the Bible gives us about the final last day 10-king power coalition is that they are roughly proportionate in size. First, in Daniel 2 these kings are shown as a normal set of 10 toes (verses 41-42), and in Daniel 7, Revelation 12, 13 and 17 they are shown as 10 horns. In the “horn” imagery, the 10 are compared in size only once, and this to an emerging 11th horn, a small one that then uproots three of the existing horns (Daniel 7:8).

As such, we are led to recognize that the final 10 kings will not be small in size (relative to other nations of the world), and that some will assuredly be bigger or more powerful than others, just as the big toe is normally bigger than the smallest of the toes. But in the recent era, there has only been one big toe—a hugely outsized one at that—that does not yet fit into the shoe.

Walter Russell Meade points out in a recent book, that the Anglo Saxon countries of Britain and America have been on top of the world for several centuries (though sometimes fighting each other). We recognize here that the world has really only had one “big toe” these past three hundred years or so, and a hugely disproportionate toe at that.

For the time being, the US is still the most powerful nation in the world. It represents a very big toe … so big, in fact, that it still can render any other coalition of 10 kings ineffective.

[...] America must decline relative to the 10 kings in one way or another. But that is not to say that it is prophetically necessary for America to rush and accelerate the fulfillment of prophecy by collapsing into a toothless tiger. Prophecy in this case can be fulfilled in a number of ways. 10 other kings could become powerful enough to supersede the geopolitical position of the US, or at the other extreme, America be disastrously downsized … either becoming one of the 10 kings or not at all. Which will it be?

Filed under: Apostasy, Christian Pragmatism, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Freedom of Speech, Globalism, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, discernment

The Spirit behind — Or should I say [s]pirit…

A very good and reputable friend of mine sent me an email today with a link provided. The link was to an article found at the “Omega Letter”. It addressed lying within politics. I actually spent some time putting together an article with references and such but I decided to delete it.

But after going over to the Moriel site I found that the issue is worth blogging about…

The recent shockwaves of public frustration, coming out of town hall meetings across the nation [I have found a youtube on it!], have stunned both the media and elected representatives from both parties. It has become increasingly obvious that they don’t know what’s going on. The real problem is more than mere politics, and goes much deeper than the healthcare issue. The real problem is spiritual.

This is a conflict between the traditional American vision of personal responsibility, private property, productivity, individualism, and self-government, as opposed to the new vision -”change”- i.e.: collectivism, cradle to grave government “compassion”, equality of outcomes, leadership by an elite anointed class, and yes the “S” word – (Socialism).

One could almost liken it to a clash of two revolutions, the American Revolution and its Judeo Christian ideals, and the failed promise of the Atheistic French Revolution, of ”liberty, equality, and brotherhood”.

It is spiritual on the level that those who drink deeply of the original vision of the Founders, of a self-governing nation, based upon personal responsibility, merit, respect for private property, and individualism are partaking of a Christian vision of life. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. God is God, not government.

Those who have mainlined on the vision of the left, of an all-sufficient government, cradle to grave care, collectivism, larger than life, personality cult leadership, equality of all outcomes, etc., whatever faith they may profess, are imbibing an Atheistic vision of “the good”. There is no God, but Government. How can there be any reconciliation between the two?

[source]

And this from the email that a dear, dear friend gave me – the article is called “The Mean Spirit”…

In Friday’s OL, we discussed the presidential contention that AARP had endorsed his health care plan. AARP promptly issued a statement denying the endorsement. At the daily press briefing, spokesman Robert Gibbs dismissed it by saying the president ‘misspoke.’

That strategy requires the mainstream media to stay in the tank for Obama without breaking ranks to tell the truth. Think about that for a minute. The entire strategy is one based on being able to tell provable, known and deliberately repeated lies without worrying about being exposed by a pet White House press corps.

These are not accidental lies; nor are they inconsequential lies. To a senior who only gets their news from one of the network nightly news broadcasts, (old habits die hard) the fact that the health care plan is endorsed by AARP is sufficient to get their support for it.

Obama knows it isn’t a fact — but they don’t –AND he knows that Katie Couric or Brian Williams aren’t going to correct him. So he repeats the lie, even after being corrected, betting that only those paying close attention will know — and they’ve already been marginalized as a ‘mob’.

Obama knows that claiming he ‘misspoke’ twice on the same topic wouldn’t fool my father. Or very many of his generation. The first time might be an accident. The second time is deliberate. So the only alternative understanding is that he doesn’t care. And he doesn’t.

The disrespect that Obama has for the American people borders on open contempt. Those who disagree with him are demonized and marginalized and insulted and disrespected as unAmerican, dishonest partisans who are all card-carrying Republicans or right wing conservatives.

[source]

The author above also speculates how the foundation stones are being laid for a full on One World Currency and a New Socialist World Order. This does not surprise me…

This is where we’re heading . . . the stimulus bill, cap and trade, the government takeover of key industries, the monetizing of the debt, the trillion dollar printing press and now control over one sixth of the nation’s economy — health care — clearly the intent is to destroy the dollar.

The only logical reason is so that a new currency can be imposed to replace the dollar, which is already transparently worthless. It’s been over-collateralized to the point where nobody wants to risk holding anymore US debt.

And since the majority of US debt is held by countries like China and Russia, nobody can afford a US default.

That only leaves one alternative to total, global economic collapse. A new currency backed by more than the old one is. The Amero would have been backed by the inclusion of the Mexican and Canadian economies, plus their abundant natural resources, but public opposition has put that plan on hold, if it hasn’t killed it altogether.

Anyway, those of you who know biblical prophecy would not be surprised at the way in which governments are changing the world.

For over twenty years I have read many books  that explain that for an anti-Christ kingdom to be set up economics must be controlled by the government. Religions too, must be controlled via offence laws. This is exactly what we see happening today! For the anti-Christ to have full power over the whole globe economically and religiously this must happen – CONTROL!!! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out!

Related:

Obama’s Misleading Medicine

Filed under: Christianity, Dominionism, Freedom of Speech, Globalism, New World Order, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Prophecy, Religion, discernment

New Age Terminology within the Church

I just came across something that may be of help to you… a pdf file outlining some of the New Age terms being used within the apostate church.

I wonder if you have heard these terms being used in church, or have even read some of them in certain books recently? Obviously context is important. So this file outlines the traditional meaning and compares it with the misleading meaning. The misleading meaning is used to lead a change of thought towards the real meaning.

Example:

Revival:

The Traditional Meaning – Stirring up religious faith among those who have been indifferent.

The Misleading Meaning – An experience-based event in which people profess change, make decisions, encounter phenomena, or undergo catharsis.

The Real Meaning -  A global transformation of the church in which people are subject to experience-based events through occult influences and/or smoke and mirrors.

So… you may want to check out the file and see if you have heard, read or discussed these terms at all.

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Creation/Evolution, Cults, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, New-Age, Occult, Philosophy & Religion, Political/Christian, Post-modernism, Religion, Spiritual Formation, Theology, discernment, mysticism

A Muslim wants to rebuild the 3rd Temple – Huh?

This is just too important not to blog about. I am even going to RED FLAG this post!!!

A Muslim whose name is Adnan Oktar, who uses the pen name of Harun Yahya, is a controversial but highly influential Muslim intellectual and author with over 65 million of his books in circulation worldwide. Oktar recently met with three representatives from the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin, a group of 71 Orthodox rabbis and scholars from Israel, to discuss how religious Muslims, Jews and Christians can work together.

What was said is absolutely mind boggling…

Oktar has also stated that the Temple of Solomon "will be rebuilt and all believers will worship there in tranquility." During his meeting with the Sanhedrin rabbis, Oktar expressed his belief that the Temple could be rebuilt in one year:

It could be done in a year at most. It could be built to the same perfection and beauty. The Torah says it was built in 13 years, if I remember correctly. It could be rebuilt in a year in its perfect form.

And this too…!!!

The vision of God’s Holy Mountain may not be all that far off. The Obama administration has also suggested that Jerusalem could become an international city that would be shared by peoples from all three Abrahamic faiths.

Even the Knesset is getting in on the discussion. Members of the Israeli Knesset gathered together last week with several Jewish scholars to discuss the role of the Jewish Temple in Jewish life. Referring to those Muslims who do not acknowledge the Jewish history of the Temple Mount, Dr. Mordechai Keidar stated, "The struggle for Jerusalem is not territorial, it is theological. … Do we give in to the Muslim claim that Judaism is no longer relevant?"

Want to see an artistic interpretation of the 3rd temple…

• Check out the painting depicting the 3rd Temple along side the Dome of the Rock! It says the following about the painting…

The artistic image on the enclosed card depicts a rebuilt Jewish Temple in peaceful proximity to the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque and other existing Islamic and Christian shrines in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the prophecy: “On that day God will be One and His Name One” (Zechariah 14:9)

Want to know about the vision behind it all…

• About the Vision…

This is a vision about transforming the Temple Mount from a place of contention to truly God’s Holy Mountain, a house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7). It represents the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 of the One God worshipped by the entire world in peace together.

Are you interested in how the Sanhedrin fits into all of this…

• How the Sanhedrin fit into this – in their own words!!!

From June 30 – July 3, 2009, representatives of the Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noah met with Mr. Adnan Oktar, also known as Harun Yahya. Two statements were prepared, one from the Jerusalem Court, one from Mr. Oktar

1) We have come here, at the gracious invitation of Mr. Adnan Oktar, otherwise known as Harun Yahya, to look for leadership in the Islamic community. Over the centuries there have rarely been sincere leaders who fought for truth and understanding and against corruption and disbelief. We have heard that Harun Yahya is leading an intellectual struggle against atheist ideologies to increase belief and end corruption and atheism in the world. We understand that together we are looking forward to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zephania:
For then will I turn clear language to the Nations, that they may all call upon the name of G-d, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

 

The Bnei Noah rang alarm bells for me big time.

Why?

Because I have already blogged about them a while back and what I found out is almost impossible to believe! The Noahide Laws of the Bnei Noah allows for BEHEADING those who do not follow their seven laws!!! Does this sound vaguely familiar to you???

• Noahide Laws could be Global laws for all citizens of the World! 

…also documented the punishment for not following the Noahide Law, one of which is death by beheading. This is from the official Bnei Noah Site.

I too, have wondered about these laws and have found it interesting that the Temple has to be rebuilt in order for these laws to come into effect. For this to happen there is the problem of the Dome of the Rock. But this is not so much of a problem when you consider that the Dome of the Rock can stay just where it is, and be classed as the court of Gentiles according to Prof. Joseph Patrich who got back to me with an email and said this… It is outside the temple court, but still within the screen barring gentile entrance.

A MUST read alert. Once again coming from Scott Brisk Moriel Ministries.

The following is found on the Sanhedrin’s site:

• Adnan Oktar’s Meeting With Sanhedrin Rabbis (Islamic website) pictures and video
• Adnan Oktar’s "Union of Faiths" (Islamic website)
• Adnan Oktar’s meeting with Jewish Rabbis – Harun Yahya’s statement to Jews (Silentside.net)
• Sanhedrin Meeting With Harun Yahya – Joel’s Trumpet (July 7, 2009)
• Israeli Rabbi (not Sanhedrin) Calls For Turkish Mediation For Middle East Peace – Joel’s Trumpet (July 6, 2009)
• Sanhedrin Makes Link with Turkish Author to Oppose “The Unbelievers” – Bartholomew’s Notes on Religion (critical)

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Persecution, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Creation/Evolution, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, Gnosticism, Hebrew, Islam, Israel, Judaism, Middle East, New World Order, News, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Prophecy, Red Flag Posts, Religion, The Strange, Theology, discernment, mysticism

P.E.A.C.E and ecumenical/interfaith unity…

There is so much in this article that I could have quoted the whole thing. McMahon, T.A. does an excellent job in outlining the ecumenical/interfaith movement and how the Cross of Christ is put on the back burner.

We all know that Rick Warren is one of the most influential men in Christendom today. But is his P.E.A.C.E plan the biblical peace that only Jesus can offer when you come to the foot of the cross as a sinner asking for forgiveness?

To accommodate working with people of all faiths Warren has revised the "P" in his P.E.A.C.E. from "planting evangelical churches" to "(P)romoting reconciliation" and the "E" from "equipping [church] leaders" to "(E)quipping ethical leaders." Warren has elsewhere acknowledged his practical shift to pluralism: "Who’s the man of peace in any village—or it might be a woman of peace—who has the most respect?…They don’t have to be Christian. In fact, they could be Muslim, but they’re open and they’re influential, and you work with them to attack the five giants [to which he has added global warming]." He quotes a secular leader who affirms what he’s doing: "I get it, Rick. Houses of worship are the distribution centers for all we need to do."

Warren has joined the advisory board of Faith Foundation, established by former British prime minister and recent Roman Catholic convert Tony Blair. The Foundation’s goal is to further understanding and cooperation among the six leading faiths: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jewish. How does the Cross fit into this ecumenical gathering?

Clearly Rick Warren is making headway with all religions in the name of peace!

I have often wondered how there seems to be a contradiction concerning the second coming. In one verse it says that there will be people saying “Peace and Safety”…

1Th 5:1-3  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

…yet there are seasons of times that we must understand. The disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His times…

Mat 24:3  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Christ spoke of things that were going to happen before His second coming that do not sound very peaceful or safe…

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.
Mat 24:5  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
Mat 24:6  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Mat 24:8  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Mat 24:9  "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Mat 24:12  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Mat 24:13  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus follows with the words…

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The gospel of good news is the salvation gospel, Rick Warren knows this doesn’t he?

The ones who are going to enter the kingdom are those who endure right until the end. The Greek word for endure means the following…

…to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: – abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

I personally abide in the truth that is found in Christ Jesus alone. That truth is that my works wont save me, but my faith in what He did for me on the cross while I was still in sin is what saves me. Salvation cannot be found in any other way! We must always come back to the cross and be remindful of Jesus dying to take away all sins. He in fact became sin on our behalf…

Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

2Co 5:21  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become God’s righteousness in him.

That is the good news, why not share that!!!

Related:

Why did Jesus have to die for our sins?

Filed under: Apostasy, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, Islam, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

The salt has lost its saltiness…

An interesting article written by Danny Isom about the Church and how it has changed having lost its way and has fallen away from truth straight into apostasy…

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first…” (1 Th. 2:3)

Statistically speaking there is currently no discernible difference on almost any moral issue between those who claim the label “Christian” and those who don’t. The divorce rate is the same, the abortion rate is the same, attitudes about homosexuality are no longer hugely different, and on and on and on. I know there are individual exceptions here and there – I’m speaking, however, about the overall picture. I believe we’ve reached the point where the church is no longer the salt of the earth as described in Matthew 5:13.

Now I’ve said all of this, believe it or not, in order to provide the framework for a greater observation having to do with the arrival of the Antichrist. [source]

After reading the article and reflecting on what you see is happening in society — including what books now grace Christian book stores –  do you think that the Church has become less salty?

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Church History, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, Gnosticism, Philosophy & Religion, Political/Christian, Polls, Prophecy, RENOVARE, Religion, Spiritual Formation, Theology, discernment

A Return to the Tower of Babel through the Social Emergent Gospel…

Here’s another article that pretty much sums up what I have been talking about as far as the tower of Babel being rebuilt during these ecumenical days…

[…]but these people gathered together saying, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, let we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). This was not what God had commanded. God’s plan for man was to continue to spread over the face of the Earth, not come together in one city and defy Him. As my pastor preached through this I began to see the similarities and parallels with the emergents and the purpose driven and seeker sensitive folks and, in fact, any of those cultic type forms of Christianity that seek to gather a people together in as large a group as possible in order to “make a name for themselves.”

[…]the push in the emergent’s cry for a new reformation based on a social gospel that brings all men together instead of dividing is not of God. The settlers in Shinar did the same thing when they decided to build a walled city and tower to heaven. It is also the same thing that we see today in “Christian” leaders such as Rick Warren making overtures to Islamic leaders seeking a “common ground.” There is no “common ground” in genuine Christianity and any false versions of it or any other religion. No, there can be no compromise between the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and any manmade religion.[source]

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, New World Order, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

False Unity – New World Government, not so new…

I have just received the Moriel newsletter today and in newsletter Scott brings to my attention the tower of Babel and how that system is not too unlike the one that is being brought about today…

Scripture teaches us that there is nothing new under the Sun and there is nothing ‘new’ about this idea [New World Order – Global Government] as it is complete rebellion against God and His command to Noah and his descendants after the flood to "’Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.’" (Genesis 9:1) However, man did not listen and sought to congregate on plain in the land of Shinar (Babylon) in defiance of God, led by the first antichrist named Nimrod of which all false religion and religious systems can be traced back to, including his wife Semiramis and father Cush who many consider to be the father of the great apostasy. This is all thoroughly documented in The Two Babylon’s by Alexander Hislop.
At the Tower of Babel, The LORD confused the language of men and created the nations otherwise "’nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.’" (Genesis 11:6) This was actually loving restraint put on us by our maker, yet we men have been trying to return to this original "false unity" ever since God kicked him out.

It just occurred to me that a false unity coupled with political correctness, which therefore gags the salvation message which is only found in Messiah Jesus; this gospel, within this system, would be considered redundant and even irrelevant!

Inside such a system it would be very hard to spread the salvific message if there is false unity where everyone remains unchallenged and seemingly happy walking their own path to their God (or gods) all the while remaining in their sin? 

Just putting it out there!

Filed under: Apostasy, Catholicism, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Dominionism, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Freedom of Speech, Globalism, Gnosticism, Hebrew, History, Israel, Middle East, New World Order, New-Age, Occult, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

What is the biggest global problem anyway?

WASHINGTON, DC – Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders [Rick Warren] in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems. [source]

Wouldn’t you say that SIN is the most devastating global problem of all? Wouldn’t you want to be saved from the consequence of sin?

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

Ye have the poor always. Always opportunities to do good to them, but what was done for Christ in the flesh must be done at once. [the peoples New Testament]

Wouldn’t you want to share the salvation gospel with people and explain that it is through Christ only that you can be saved?

To just say that "My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ" was not enough to a thoroughly lost crowd. The hour is too late to withhold a gospel message without which they will face a Christless eternity, and you will be held accountable. Read more HERE.

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Ecumenicalism, Globalism, Islam, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

Unequally Yoked!

2Co 6:14  Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

On July 5 the Washington Times online reported that Pastor Rick Warren told his Islamic audience, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA,) that he envisions "a coalition of faith." Whether Pastor Warren knows this or not, this is just another term for the coming one-world religion outlined in Revelation 13. It is further outlined in Revelation 17. I have not taken on the issue of Rick Warren all that often, but after reading what the Washington Times has to say about his message to a group of spiritually lost Muslims, I feel I must address this in an open letter to who many say is the most influential pastor in America and some would say the world.

You simply must read this open letter at – An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren

Carla from More Books and Things has more to say and more links to offer you HERE.

Filed under: Apostasy, Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Globalism, Islam, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment

The Anglican Church and the Social Gospel…

Another thing I read today is about the Anglican Church and the Social Gospel. I have written much about the “Social Gospel” and the possible ramifications. Mike from Mikescape found a great article that shows that there is a division happening within the Anglican Church! Division is something that is not to be taken lightly, but this division shows real hope! Check out Mike’s post and read what is happening within the Anglican Church!

Theologically, the Social Gospel leaders were overwhelmingly post-millennialist. That is because they believed the Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort. Social Gospel leaders were predominantly associated with the liberal wing of the Progressive Movement and most were theologically liberal. [source]

Filed under: Christian Pragmatism, Christianity, Church History, Ecumenicalism, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Globalism, News, Philosophy & Religion, Political, Political/Christian, Religion, Theology, discernment