tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929122398609616372024-02-20T15:08:43.084-08:00Roger Sherman SocietyStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-28344304687091458482014-06-15T13:01:00.000-07:002014-06-15T13:01:28.216-07:00Obama a Marxist?I made the statement in "Remember Lot's Wife" that Mr. Obama is a "certified Marxist" and one of my blog visitors took exception to that statement. RampantCrumpet wrote "Obama is not by any stretch of the imagination a 'Marxist'."<br />
<br />
He's entitled to his view, of course. But before one can categorize Mr. Obama's political philosophy, it would be helpful to know what a Marxist is.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia provides the following:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<b>Marxism</b> is a worldview and method of societal analysis that focuses on class relations and societal conflict, that uses a materialist interpretation of historical development, and a dialectical view of social transformation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism" target="_blank"><b>Marxism</b> from Wikipedia</a></blockquote>
The original post was written several years ago, and RampantCrumpet's comment is also fairly old. In the time that has transpired, I think it has become abundantly clear that Mr. Obama relies heavily on "class relations" (that is, conflict between classes) and that he is working aggressively to re-make the American social fabric. The outworking of Marxist philosophy in the world's political arena is well-known and I believe there is little doubt that Mr. Obama is taking America down that road as quickly as he can.<br />
<br />
In short, I stand by my statement and believe history bears out its accuracy. By the way, the case has been made that Islam is Marxist-socialism in the guise of a religion. We probably don't have time to explore that, but in view of the direction these anti-God philosophies go, it's not hard to make the case.<br />
<br />
Mr. Crumpet also stated that I've gone off the road into political theory. My conclusion is that political philosophies have theological roots. I've said that many times and, again, I believe history bears it out. To lay out any theological conclusion and not explore the political and cultural implications is to leave the discussion unfinished.<br />
<br />
A final comment, that Obama's economic policies "do not and should not concern Christians" is a mystifying conclusion. "Thou shalt not steal" is a commandment. Institutionalizing theft should be a concern of Christians as much as institutionalizing the murder of inconvenient children.<br />
<br />
<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-55992571603997107502010-05-27T13:02:00.000-07:002010-05-27T15:03:38.350-07:00Remembering Lot's WifeWives actually don't show up all that favorably in the Bible. Some stellar exceptions are Noah's wife in the Old Testament and Aquila's wife in the New. But from Eve to Mrs. Job to Mrs. Lot to Jezebel to Sapphira ... we get the picture.<br /><br />But of all the wives, Jesus admonished us to remember one in particular: Mrs. Lot. We know the story — angelic visitors were sent, by God's grace, to rescue Lot and his family before Sodom was destroyed. Lot warned his family, but some of them thought he was joking. Whether motivated by love, obedience or faith, just three left with Lot before the city was destroyed.<br /><br />We know the story: she didn't believe enough to remain obedient. She looked back — after being warned explicitly not to — and she became a pillar of salt. Now, why would Jesus point to this particular incident as something that those living in these last days should remember? A few reasons come to mind. <br /><br />First, Mrs. Lot didn't know where she was living. She apparently didn't believe that she was living in a city that was coming under judgment. <br /><br />Second, she didn't know <i>when</i> she was living. She may have believed, in a general sense, that God would judge the world "some day." She did not know that the day had come. <br /><br />Finally, it appears that she did not know WHY she was living. Her "job description" as Lot's wife involved being a "suitable helper" for her husband. By disobeying and looking back, she effectively deserted Lot just when he probably needed her the most. <br /><br />These things are coming into sharper focus for me as we see the judgments against America continuing. As I write, a dispersant called Corexit is being dumped in massive quantities in the Gulf of Mexico, which is making that body of water TOXIC. At the same time, national weather services are predicting an <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100527/us_nm/us_hurricane_forecast_2" target="_blank">unusually severe hurricane season</a>. We have a certifiable Marxist in the White House and an economy on the brink of total collapse. It should be clear to any student of scripture that God's benevolent hand of restraint is being withdrawn, and that some frightening things are in the very near future. It troubles me that many who consider themselves Christians are either unaware, or unconcerned. <br /><br />Most of us have never experienced an economic collapse. Most of us have never lived in an aggressive police state (such as existed in Germany under Hitler and in Russia under Stalin). None of us has experienced a hurricane that is spreading toxic waste and oil over large portions of the landscape. And tragically, most of us continue in the false hope that "it can't happen here." <br /><br />Remember Lot's wife. <br /><br />America has shed the blood of over 50 million innocent babies, and that blood — like Abel's — cries out to the just Judge for vengeance. God has given us ample time to repent, and we have not repented. The problems now facing us are not political problems or environmental problems or economic problems; they are SPIRITUAL problems — the hard-heartedness, rebelliousness and disobedience of people who purport to be children of God. We are occupied by the activities of our busy lives and the amusements of the culture. The Titanic is going down but we're in the lounge playing cards and can't be distracted. <br /><br />God is not deceived; neither will He be mocked. He is not mollified by our little prayer asking Jesus into our hearts, or our superficial once-a-week religious exercises. The Judge of all the earth will do right, and He has been warning us continually. Will we listen? Will we OBEY? <br /><br />Remember Lot's wife.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-51689650519594268592010-05-07T12:39:00.000-07:002010-05-27T15:01:04.268-07:00National Day of Prayer Outrage<a href="http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2010/fancyjo57-1.htm">http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2010/fancyjo57-1.htm</a><br /><br />Billy Graham is apparently a 32nd or 33rd degree Mason, and the <a href="http://newine.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/asheville/">physical contact shown here</a> is allegedly a Masonic handshake (see response by "Oops" at the end of the posting) of some sort. Whether either of these allegations is true, your view of these things is probably correct. I strongly suspect that Franklin is "one of us" and his dad is not.<br /><br />Political philosophy grows from theological roots, and I believe that Billy's easy-believism "gospel" and his promotion of the non-participatory and Nicolaitan American church model did plenty to prepare the country for the rise of Obama. Pastors and surveys consistently show that most people choose a church and go to church "to have their needs met," NOT to "prepare them for works of ministry" or even "to participate in corporate worship." So we have a bunch of folks who call themselves Christians because they said a prayer once or made a decision to "accept" Jesus - and they want God and government to take care of them.<br /><br />Satan's strategy folks: to engender rank disobedience in the body of Christ to the command to "grow up in all things in Christ" (Ephesians 4) so that Jesus has an eternal day-care center and NOT the mature bride He deserves.<br /><br />Obama and Billy Graham are theologically on the same page. Graham nurtured the roots of this blasphemous fruit, and Obama is now finishing what Graham began. Obama hasn't made much of a secret about his contempt for Bible-believing Christians, and one can only wonder how Billy really feels about those of us who take Christ seriously.<br /><br />The scripture plainly states: "<i>And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them]</i>" (Eph. 5:11). <br /><br />Come quickly, Lord Jesus.<br /><br />Steve<br /><br /><br />Raleigh, North-Carolina<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/stevekerp">Anakypto Forum on BlogTalkRadio</a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-52651183954992513792010-04-17T16:02:00.000-07:002010-11-06T06:35:11.932-07:00A word about "false prophets"<a href="http://falseprophetwatch.blogspot.com/2009/11/prophecy-for-x-mas-day.html">http://falseprophetwatch.blogspot.com/2009/11/prophecy-for-x-mas-day.html</a><br /><br /><br />I was doing some web research and came upon this link. The blog author positions himself as one able to root out and expose "false prophets" - his tag line being "Exposing False Prophets Who Refuse To Repent of their False Prophecies or Abominations."<br /><br />Hear! Hear! - He seems to think that citing Amos 3:7 is somehow a flashing neon sign that says, "What follows is a false prophecy."<br /><br />Oh, well. The self-appointed prophets of Micaiah's day sang from the same hymn book. John Lawler added his voice to many with his admonition that served as source material for the anonymous "falseprophetwatch" blogger. John's warning is here:<br /><a href="http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2009/stevec1126.htm">http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2009/stevec1126.htm</a><br />I guess I'm guilty by association, but would like to point out to the skeptics viewing these posts that Jonah was also a "false prophet." By their definition, anyway -- Jonah said that Nineveh was 40 days from destruction. No fudge factors, no weasel words, nothing ambiguous. "Forty days and you're done!"<br /><br />But God relented. Jonah may have been upset because he was embarrassed; his prophecy didn't come to pass! More apparent, however, is that Jonah was upset because he hated the Ninevites and WANTED THEM DESTROYED. And this was a true prophet of God.<br /><br />That to say this: first, John Lawler's Christmas prophecy did not specify WHICH Christmas. Obviously, it wasn't last Christmas. But the imagination need not be stretched to believe that this coming Christmas could be the one in view. God, in His mercy, has given the people a WHOLE YEAR to get their affairs in order and leave the danger zone. In His mercy, He has given California a <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9F49LEO0&show_article=1">12.6% jobless rate</a>, further motivation for the people who live there to move anywhere else.<br /><br />Daniel Matson has pointed to November 8th as a likely "official" beginning of the Tribulation period, though for folks in Iceland (and downwind), their Tribulation period may have already begun. Suffice it to say, we're at least on the on-ramp to the last seven years of this highway to hell, and we can at least expect more folks like the falseprophecywatch blogger to come out of the woodwork and post their resistance ... until the infrastructure collapses here and the internet becomes, like so many other creature comforts, just a memory.<br /><br />That to say this: if you have a watching/warning ministry, keep at it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/stevekerp">Anakypto Forum on BlogTalkRadio</a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-35679338965073736982009-07-13T09:04:00.001-07:002009-09-26T20:17:20.582-07:00Anakypto Forum on BlogTalkRadio<embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BTRPlayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2fstevekerp%2fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=270&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="270" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/homework.htm" target="_blank"><b>HOMEWORK</b></a> - Click here for related resources and links to all previous programs.<br /><br /><p>Click <a href="mailto:steve@rogershermansociety.com" title="Click to send email"><b>HERE</b></a> to send email.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-21450773469499723112009-06-19T15:11:00.000-07:002009-06-21T10:15:16.812-07:00Are we a "Christian nation"?<p>I got a link to the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQOCvthw-o" target="_blank" title="YouTube video - a new window will open"><b><i>Our Judeo-Christian Nation</i></b></a> which is Congressman Randy Forbes' response to <a href="http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2009/stevec317-2.htm" title="Our Unsworn 'President'">Not-the-President Obama</a>'s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVd7YT0oWA" target="_blank" title="Obama In Turkey ''We Do Not Consider Ourselves A Christian Nation'' (new window will open)">recent comment</a> that we are not a Christian nation.<br /><br /><p>Here's my response after viewing the videos:<br /><br /><p>Obama did not deny our Christian heritage, so Forbes is answering a point that was never raised.<br /> <br /><p>Would a "Christian nation" really "legally" murder over 50 million children? Would a "Christian nation" really legalize homosexuality? I don't know what point Obama was trying to make, but like Caiaphas (see John 11:49-52) he may have been speaking a prophetic word. We — the nominal "Christians" in this country — have in fact <b><i>repudiated</i></b> our Christian heritage. David Barton has done landmark work in this area, and I would guess that most church-going Christians know more about the work of Simon Cowell than they do about Barton's achievements. <br /> <br /><p>John Adams said, "<i>Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.</i>" <br /> <br /><p>James Madison: "<i>We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions... upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.</i>"<br /> <br /><p>Are we a "moral and religious people" as contemplated by Adams, or Washington, or Witherspoon? Does the average American Christian even know the Ten Commandments?<br /> <br /><p>As Walt Kelly said many years ago through his "Pogo" comic strip: "<i>We have met the enemy, and they is us.</i>"<br /> <br /><p>2 Chron. 7:14 predicates national healing on the repentance of "My people who are called by My name." When we, as Christians, repent before the throne of God .... then Mr. Obama can eat those words. Until then, the Muslims actually have some of the moral high ground, because they don't murder their inconvenient children and they don't tolerate sodomy.<br /> <br /><p>Check out ---> <a href="http://www.prayersforthepeople.com/id100.html" title="20 FOLD, 20 FOLD, JUDGMENT IS UPON AMERICA">http://www.prayersforthepeople.com/id100.html</a> <--- for some sobering thoughts.<br /> <br /><p>I'm not defending Obama, not by a long shot. He is the most rabidly pro-abortion "<a href="http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2009/stevec317-2.htm" title="Our Unsworn 'President'">President</a>" in our history, not because he favors abortion (as a Muslim, he opposes it) but because he favors dead Americans.<br /> <br /><p>But we — the Christians — have brought this on ourselves. Check out Ezekiel 16:49-50. Sounds like us to me.<br /> <br /><p>We in Laodicean America are in deep, deep doo. And the problem is not Obama ... it's us. He did not repudiate our Christian heritage; we did.<br /> <br /><p>Will we repent? Will we rebuild our family altars? Will we turn off the streams of video immorality that flow into our homes and fall before our Savior in tears? Will we make restitution? Or will we continue to comfort ourselves that "we're Christians; the problem is with the Democrats/Socialists/homosexuals/Muslims" and that God is somehow indifferent to our sins because, after all, we "invited Jesus into our hearts"?<br /><br /><p>I posted these thoughts on an online forum, and one reader took exception to my statement that "the Muslims actually have some of the moral high ground, because they don't murder their inconvenient children." He pointed out what is fairly common knowledge by asking, "What would you call sending young children out as suicide bombers? What would you call it when Iran sent their little kids to the front lines to be the triggers/sensors for booby traps?"<br /><br /><p>It's a point worth considering. I don't believe for a second that Islam is more moral in the Biblical sense than Christianity. My point is that American "Christianity" is on the same level. They kill kids; we kill kids. They "justify" it because it's their war against the infidels. We "justify" it because "<i>we can't afford another child right now</i>" or "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpr_sN04j_0" target="_blank" title="''Dr. Tiller addresses a feminist conference at the NEA'' mature content YouTube video - new window and sign-in will open"><i>I won't be able to fit into my prom dress</i></a>" or "<i>what will the neighbors say? I'm a deacon!</i>" Have they killed fifty million yet?<br /> <br /><p>We in America are "horrified" that those "evil Muslims" would send their kids out onto the battlefield to trigger booby traps, but how much noise do we make about guys like Tiller and Haskell ... or the abortionist who has an office right down the street? What do American "Christians" have to say about that? A lot apparently said, "We want Obama." The one sin that Jesus rebuked more severely than any other was that of hypocrisy.<br /><br /><p>Matthew 12:41 comes to mind, as does Ezekiel 23:11. The Ninevites were no paragons, but they had the sense to repent in the face of imminent judgment. "Oholibah" had more spiritual light, and yet one-upped the wickedness of her sister. <br /><br /><p>They have the Koran; we have the Word of God.<br /><br /><p>And I stand by my statement. We had a Christian heritage, and we have squandered it. God will hold us accountable, and having "Proclaim Liberty" engraved on the Liberty Bell won't blunt His judgment. It's not Obama's fault and it's not Islam's fault; it is OUR fault.<br /><br /><p>We are in trouble. Will we repent? <br /> <br /><p>Time will tell. But there isn't much of that left, either.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-27044194972949817092009-06-12T16:34:00.000-07:002009-06-13T14:32:14.635-07:00When is Pentecost? And How Much Does It Matter?<p>I was recently asked why I am using July 23rd as my Pentecost date for <a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/pentecost.htm"><strong><em>The Final Fulfillment of Pentecost</em></strong></a>.<p>I had contacted Arnold Bowen and he said it's on July 22nd. Then I went to Troy Miller's "creation calendar" site and checked out <a href="http://www.creationcalendar.com/CalendarIssue/17-FeastOfWeeks.pdf">http://www.creationcalendar.com/CalendarIssue/17-FeastOfWeeks.pdf</a> and that seems to point to the 20th (unless I miscounted).<p>I also considered Deuteronomy 16:9-10, which says:<blockquote><em>"You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from [the time] you begin [to put] the sickle to the grain. Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.</em></blockquote><p>I can certainly sympathize with anyone who says the whole issue is confusing.<p>I selected July 23 because it's the "outside limit" and because, at the time, Arnold was my most trustworthy source. July 22 is the New Moon.<p>It will also be Obama's 183rd day in office. It could be that he plans to have all the Christians off the streets at the end of his 172nd day and then he will "rest" (faithful Muslim that he is) and we will have ten days in the slammer (Rev. 2:10) before we are delivered ... one way or the other. Highly speculative, I readily admit ... but in today's political climate it is not all that unlikely.<p>From a practical point of view, it's becoming less important to me because, when that time actually arrives, I believe there will be Magor Missabib ("terror on every side") and most of our neighbors will be freaking out. In any event, our calling at this hour, I believe, is to speak prophetically, and our example should be John the Baptist, during whose ministry the Kingdom was also at hand.<p>In <strong><em><a href="http://www.harvest-now.org/harvest-news/n/archive/2009/april/16/article/the-greatest-prophet/">The Greatest Prophet?</a></em></strong> Steve & Marilyn Hill point out:<blockquote><em>According to Jesus the greatest prophet was John the Baptist who came preaching "repentance for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." So far as we know John never had a vision, dream or angelic encounter. Yet Jesus called him the greatest prophet!</em><br /></blockquote><p>So if we get the date right, good for us. But if we get the message wrong ....<p>My prayer is that each of you remains strong and focused, and that you are extremely effective in the ministry God has given you.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-43506113231466552912009-06-01T11:42:00.000-07:002009-06-13T14:35:23.623-07:00Pentecost Rapture 2009<p>A case can be made that Pentecost is a feast that lasts more than one day (Acts 21:27). If the Feast of Weeks is a week long, we <em>still</em> could have a "Pentecost rapture" this year, while not knowing the day or the hour.<p>In the parable of the bridesmaids, the bridegroom was <em>delayed</em>. He was not there at the appointed time. At midnight, when ALL the lamps were apparently running out of oil, the delayed bridegroom's arrival was announced. Was the Lord telling us, in veiled parabolic language, how events would play out when He returned for His bride?<p>We can speculate, of course. What isn't speculative is the growing international animosity against Israel and the accelerating efforts of Iran to develop nuclear weapons. These are, to me, much more compelling arguments for the soon coming of Christ than are my extrapolations from parables. And Jesus definitely gave us signs to watch for that concern Israel, and relate her last-days distress to His return.<p>Not-the-President Obama is out of town this week. Most of his cabinet will be in the midwest. It appears that the NWO people in our federal government know that something major is about to happen, and that DC will not be a very safe place to be. A rapture in the next six days remains, to me, extremely likely.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-35283386787584555022009-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:002009-05-22T13:09:38.712-07:00What's Wrong With Being a 'Date-Setter'?<a href="http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/tt8.html" target="_blank">Thomas Ice</a> has a problem with it. So does Pastor Joseph R. Chambers of <a href="http://www.pawcreekministries.org/articles_pcm/prophetic_news_alerts/rapture_moment.htm" target="_blank">Paw Creek Ministries</a>, who asserts that "we are forbidden to set dates."<br /><br />Oh, really?<br /><br />I find it interesting that there was a specific date set for Jesus' first coming, and He held the Jews responsible for knowing it. Jesus rode into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 exactly 483 years TO THE DAY after the decree by Artaxerxes to rebuild the city, <i>just as Daniel said</i>.<br /><br />Brother Ice "supports" his position with scripture:<br /><br /><p> <b>Matthew 24:36</b> <i>"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.</i> <b>Mark 13:32 </b>is an exact parallel.</p><b>Matthew 24:42</b> <i>"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.</i><br /><p> <b>Matthew 24:44</b> <i>"For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will</i>.</p><b>Matthew 25:13</b> <i>"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.</i> <b>Mark 13:33-37</b> is a parallel passage.<br /><p> <b>Acts 1:7</b> <i>He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;</i></p><b>1 Thessalonians 5:1-2</b> <i>Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.</i><br /><br />Sorry, but I see no support here. I see neither a COMMAND nor any prohibition; simply statements of fact that were true when uttered, and applied to those to whom spoken. The fact that they don't know doesn't mean that WE <span style="font-style: italic;">can't</span> know, that we won't find out, or that we are forbidden to search for the answer. Nor do I see a refutation of Amos 3:7<p></p><p style="font-style: italic;">Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His <span class="criteria">secret</span> to His <span class="criteria">servants</span> the <span class="criteria">prophets</span>.</p>David Jeremiah recently pointed out that we probably know more about the book of Daniel than Daniel did. The prophecies concerning the end times were a 'closed book' for much of church history, but these things are for us to know in our time. Mapping current events to Bible prophecy is what the command to "Watch" is all about, and extrapolating to particular windows of time is hardly inappropriate.<p>I concede that Edgar Whisenant and many others have given themselves black eyes by making predictions that were inaccurate. But it does not logically follow that, because one or a hundred students of the Word make errors in their study, that the rest of us should stop watching and stop warning.</p><p>Is a watchman who won't warn any better (or any worse) than a watchman who won't watch?<br /><br />The king has departed on a long journey. He has given instructions to watch for his return. Does the watchman fulfill his duty by simply reminding the people that the king will return? If he does not know exactly when the king will return, does this excuse him from being at his post?<br /><br />And if he sees -- off in the distance -- something that indicates the king may be returning, should he announce it? Or should he "wait and see"? If he sees all the signs of the kings approach but does not see the king, should he proclaim it? If he thinks he knows when the king will arrive, should he say so?<br /><br />Jesus told us to "watch and pray." Just what did He mean by that? Did He really mean "wish and pray" or "hope and pray"? What does "watch" REQUIRE us to be doing?<br /><br />Perhaps it means watch for the signs that He said would immediately precede His return. If that's true, they why are so many Christians so ignorant of the signs, and so ignorant of what is going on in the world? Are we being .... disobedient?<br /><br />If we love Him, we are to keep His commandments. Did He command us to "watch"?<br /></p>I'm a date-setter. I have nothing to gain if I am right, and plenty to lose if I am wrong. But I believe that both current events and prophecy are pointing at Pentecost 2009 as the day of the rapture of the church, and I believe Jesus' command to me to be a watchman REQUIRES that I proclaim my conclusions and how I reached them.<br /><br />His command also requires some due diligence on the part of those who hear what I have to say.<br /><br />See you on Saturday.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-61665403966683587892009-05-14T18:48:00.000-07:002009-05-14T19:09:31.314-07:00Final Note on Corrie Ten BoomI took some heat for my previous post because I mentioned Corrie Ten Boom in what one reader thought was a "malicious" way. So it wasn't general heat; just one miffed brother. Except for that, the response to my theme -- that "<b><i>the problem is that the professional clergy does not prepare the saints for ANYTHING.</i></b>" -- was overwhelmingly positive.<br /><br />So let me briefly clarify: Corrie Ten Boom had a ministry of reconciliation, mainly for Europeans in the aftermath of World War II. I cannot and do not judge her, nor do I, did I, or did I intend to "malign" (malign: having or showing intense often vicious ill will: malevolent) her or her ministry. However, I was and remain unwilling to give her a pass for what I consider shabby eschatology. Nor can I countenance the vilification of Christians who see the reasonableness of a pre-trib rapture. I am not asserting that Corrie did so, but it appears that she considered pre-tribbers to be "heretics." I believe that rises to the level of vilification.<br /><br />I stand by my comments regarding the "celebrity Christianity" that seems to characterize much of American-style "Christianity" but I cannot include Corrie in that, since she apparently did not aspire to "celebrity" status and, in any event, she was not an American. She had a ministry, and she served with genuine humility, always seeking to glorify her Savior. Would that more of us would follow her example. <br /><br />The negative feedback I got began with my being accused of dishonesty, and descending from there. My dialog with my detractor has hopefully resolved our differences, and it would be inappropriate to post it here. Suffice it to say that I hope this suffices.<br /><br />'Nuff said.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-55726203565000798842009-05-03T06:07:00.000-07:002009-05-03T06:40:09.092-07:00The Rapture and Corrie Ten BoomIn <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4980005/Early-Church-Doctrine-Concerning-The-Rapture-And-A-Message-From-Corrie-Ten-Boom" target="_blank"><b><i>A History of the Early Church & Post-Tribulation Doctrine</i></b></a>, author Richard Perry presents his defense for the post-tribulation eschatology, and buttresses his arguments with the opinions of the late Corrie Ten Boom. <br /><br />First things first - if the pre-tribulation rapture is true, then it would be wrong to withhold it from Christians, to label it as false, or to marginalize it or vilify those who proclaim it. If it is true, it is God's truth, and God's truth -- ALL of it -- belongs to ALL of God's people.<br /> <br />Let's be clear on what it is that we believe: that there is a prophesied specific time of extreme tribulation that will affect the entire earth during the very last years before Christ's visible return to establish His Kingdom and begin to reign on the throne of David, and that Christians who are alive when this particular period of tribulation begins will be removed from the earth beforehand. <br /> <br />THAT is the pre-trib rapture position, and to attempt to make it apply to ALL hardship and ALL tribulation throughout the entire "church age" is to misrepresent the eschatology. Yes, Christians will be persecuted ... but to a point. The church has endured persecution and tribulation since Jesus left. All we're saying is that the final seven years of tribulation are not for the church.<br /> <br />That being said, let us consider for the sake of the argument that Christians will NOT be spared. Let's say they must prepare themselves spiritually for end-time tribulation. Just what does this "preparation" look like? How should the Christian proceed?<br /> <br />I would suggest that, first of all, the Christian deal with all known sin. Repent! When appropriate and possible, make restitution! Clean up your life - identify and discard every bad habit, every evil vice. Get all the garbage out of your home and out of your life. Get your prayer life on track; live by faith. If you are facing hardship, and especially hardship directed at you by an anti-Christian world that wants to destroy your faith, it would seem that your optimal preparations would be quite clear. You need to get your faith established. If you are being persecuted, you sure don't want sin in your life to get between you and God.<br /> <br />BUT - if you look at my suggested activities, you will see that they are exactly the same as I recommend for those anticipating the rapture. In other words, whether we live or whether we leave, we are the Lord's. Preparing for the rapture also prepares you for hardship.<br /> <br /><b><i>The problem is that the professional clergy does not prepare the saints for ANYTHING.</i></b> Many "believers" have such a casual view of sin that they see no need to deal with it; they think the rapture is a come-as-you-are party, and that spots and wrinkles, or even the total absence of a wedding garment, are nothing to be concerned about. <i>"Jesus loves me so much that sin doesn't matter! Let's party down!!"</i> I personally know people who consider themselves Christians who refuse to believe in the imminent rapture ... and also refuse to believe in imminent tribulation! They think things are gonna stay about the same, or eventually get better again.<br /> <br />I think Miss Corrie mis-identified the problem. At least she's correct in stating that there is a problem. But the problem is not Pre-trib eschatology, but American ecclesiology. The American way of "doing church" doesn't prepare anyone for much of anything. Going to a building and having someone lecture you for 45 minutes every Sunday morning is not the abundant Christian life. Singing hymns only equips you to sing hymns. Listening to "professional" Christians equips you to listen. Participating in the "Christian" youth group equips you to play video games or go to a theme park. Practically NONE of the Christian busy-work in American-style churches equips the saints for the hard work of living for Christ in a world that hates Him. Instead, we have embraced "Pagan Christianity." Most of the folks who I know who ARE equipped grew up at home on their own. They started their own small group, did their own Bible study or otherwise started taking their Lord very seriously. Very few are equipped or even encouraged by their "church leadership."<br /> <br />And Corrie allowed herself to become part of the problem. She has allowed herself (may she rest in peace) to become a "Christian celebrity." That's how we "do church" here. Most of us just spectate. Christianity, for many, is just another item on the "To Do" list that is checked off on Sunday morning. We want celebrities: the big name preachers and the big name musicians and the notorious sinners who got saved ... or the concentration camp survivors. The thing that gets left out is God's grace. Corrie endured the camp by grace; the same grace that holds my life together. But we prefer celebrities ... just like the world.<br /> <br />I agree that most American Christians are unprepared for either rapture or tribulation. The problem is not with the eschatology, however. It's with a liturgical, organizational (rather than organic) religionized Christianity that does not allow for the equipping of the saints, mainly because it strips Christ of His proper headship and replaces Him with Christian celebrities and professional clergy.<br /> <br />Final thought: Pre-trib rapture belief is not a heresy. Heresies mis-represent God and replace God-centered priorities with man-centered ones. Much "prosperity theology" is heretical because it posits that the comfort of man is paramount to holiness. "Family-centered" ministries also err in placing the "needs" of the family before our duty to love and serve God. Most of the pre-tribbers I know love God first and foremost; many have lost relationships with family members because they love the Lord first. The real heresy in this argument is the heresy that the body of Christ is an organization run by professionals, rather than an organism headed by Christ.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-20395878020460854842009-04-19T17:10:00.000-07:002009-05-03T07:40:42.279-07:00Preparing for His appearing -- "The Bride must make herself ready"The days before Christ's return are ticking down quickly. The most probable dates, to me, are May 21st (the Ascension) and May 31st (Pentecost). However, we should be ready for His appearing <em>at any moment</em>. I have recommended a few action steps, which I repeat here for those who may be new to this blog or may have not seen them:<br /><blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px;"><em> </em><div><em> </em><br /><li><em><em>Get your spiritual house in order. <strong>REPENT</strong>. This means align your life with the law of God. Where you have sinned, you must acknowledge your sin, confess it to God, and <strong>make</strong> <strong>restitution</strong> where-ever possible and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. </em> </em></li><br /><li><em><em>OBEY - Every person who was saved in the Church Age repented, <strong>confessed</strong>, was <strong>baptized</strong>, and submitted to the Lordship of Christ in ALL of life. If you are not living in newness of life, it's because you are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Do yourself (and your loved ones!) a favor: <strong>turn off the TV</strong>, take out the <strong>trash</strong> (foul books, music, videos, etc.) and get your heart right before God. DO NOT PUT THIS OFF. Don't trifle with God, His law, or His offer of salvation. He WILL preserve you if your belief is evidenced by <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);">obedience, hatred of sin, holy living, and love of the brethren</span></strong>.</em> </em></li><br /><li><em><em>Don't be deceived. Study your Bible. The time is getting really short. </em> </em></li><br /><li><em><em><strong>Pray</strong> for those you know who are still lost. No one can come to faith in Christ unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). IF you are saved, you have a privilege and an advantage that most people don't share: access to God's Throne of Grace. Use it! </em></em></li></div></blockquote><br />I know that, especially among the Evangelical community here in the U.S. there is still a lot of resistance to what is mis-characterized as "water salvation" and this leads to a great deal of resistance to water baptism. I was once among them. However, true conversion ALWAYS results in obedience, and immersion is both 1) a command of Christ, and 2) a prerequisite for the rapture. Check out <a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/epic.htm"><strong><em>The Epic Event</em></strong></a> and notice that according to Hebrews 10, to participate in the Event we must:<div><ol><br /><li><em> draw near with a true heart, </em></li><li><em> have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, </em></li><li><em> <strong><em>have our bodies washed with pure water</em></strong>, </em></li><li><em> hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, </em></li><li><em> stir up love and good works, and </em></li><li><em> exhort one another.</em></li></ol></div><br /><br />Here is an excellent audio resource by Mark Biltz that you may also find helpful: <div><br /><blockquote><em> </em><p><em><a href="http://elshaddaiministries.us/audio/spots.html"><b><i>A Church Without Blemish</i></b></a> — If you've ever wondered about the meaning of "spots, wrinkles and blemishes," this is an in depth study allowing the Bible to explain itself.</em></p></blockquote><br /><br /></div><em> </em><div>Remember - once that trumpet sounds, it will be TOO LATE to do any more preparation. Let's all be found without spot, wrinkle or blemish when our beloved Lord returns for us. Let's make it His most joyful day!</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-3149969789570630622009-04-18T18:47:00.000-07:002010-07-10T17:13:20.613-07:00Why the "Tea Party" Movement Will Go Nowhere<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>The "tea party" movement will go NOWHERE. Here's why:<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>Our problem is not economic or political. It is a moral rot undergirt by the culture's willingness to accept homosexuality, and primarily by the culture's willingness to accept the "right to choose."<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>Our rights come from God as an endowment, but we have squandered the endowment by embracing what God abhors. We now have the blood of 50 million innocent American babies crying out to God for vengeance. God has obviously decided to take our God-given rights away.<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>Were these tea-partiers staunchly opposed to the wickedness of abortion, we would at least have standing to appeal to God and rely upon His Divine providence. Or His mercy. But alas! many of our conservative and patriotic comrades-in-arms have no problem with abortion at all! They think "choice" in all matters is a good thing, and object only to an overbearing central government's meddling.<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>There is no consensus for righteousness amongst these tea-partiers, and God is properly using Obama and his ilk to punish America for her sins.<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>So this "tea party" fad is simply a tempest in a teapot. There is NO call for repentance, or for the end of the shedding of innocent blood. For this reason, the patriots cannot prevail.<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>In the days of Israel's revivals, the idols were torn down and the center of Molech worship in Jerusalem, the valley of the son of Hinnom, was turned into a garbage dump. When we give that sort of treatment to the abortion "clinics" in our communities, then maybe ... MAYBE ... God will hear and relent. But I don't think it's gonna happen. It appears that the Libertarians are the strongest bloc within the "freedom movement" and they still don't get it. On most of the political forums I've visited, talk of tax resistance is fine, but talk of ending abortion is "mixing politics with religion" ... the same old cop-out.<br /><br /></big></span></big></div> <div> </div> <div><big><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><big>I don't even know a lot of Christians who are passionate about ending abortion. So, if we won't end it, God will.<br /><br />P.S. Another excellent treatment of this topic was written by Joel McDurmon: <a href="http://americanvision.org/2362/tea-party-hypocrisy-how-much-socialism-is-acceptable/"><b><i></big></span></big>TEA-Party Hypocrisy: How Much Socialism Is Acceptable?</i></b></a></div></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-68691722807484015582009-02-18T16:06:00.000-08:002009-04-26T17:17:59.153-07:00Prophetic ImplicationsIn the world of eschatology, much has been made of the regathering of the Jews in their ancient homeland. I have been rather critical of this "sign" because many of the so-called "Jews" in the modern STATE of Israel are allegedly not descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Instead, they come from the Khazar kingdom of early Europe and they are not even Semitic people.<br /><br />That being said, it may still be that the re-establishment of a Jewish nation <i>could</i> be a sign. It is certainly unprecedented. And in view of the prophesied destruction of 2/3 of the people in the land at the hands of the "Magog Alliance," it is not outside the realm of possibility that the survivors could be Mizrachim Jews; that is, Semitic people.<br /><br />Highly speculative, and no offense intended. In any event, if the creation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948 <i>is</i> of prophetic significance -- if this is the "budding of the fig tree" that portends the final generation before the return of Christ -- then it's possible to crunch a few numbers. If the maximum time passes and Jesus does not return, we will know that Israel's re-establishment was not a sign. However, it is better to be prepared for the Lord's return and be mistaken, than to NOT be prepared and have Him come.<br /><br />A Biblical "generation" is generally agreed to be seventy years. Indeed, that is the only possibility remaining if the "fig tree" budded in 1948. In addition, a prophetic year is 360 days. Thus, the duration of a generation would be 25,200 days and the last day would be on May 12, 2017. If there is a final 7-year period of worldwide tribulation, which many Bible students see as the most likely meaning of the end-time prophecies, that period would have to begin no later than June 18, 2010<br /><br />However, a quick perusal of the news on the internet, or your favorite print media (if they haven't already gone bankrupt) seems to announce that some "tribulation" has already begun. Can you find anyone (who isn't trying to sell you something) who thinks things are going to get better any time soon? Will these multi-trillion dollar bail-out schemes help the average working stiff, or put any bread on YOUR table, or help you with YOUR mortgage?<br /><br />Is it possible that we are seeing a ramp-up to world-wide chaos: economies in shambles, people at war, violence in the streets, famines and plagues? What would one expect the world to look like after the Four Horsemen begin their work?<br /><br />My experience in discussing these things is that most people don't believe we are really on the threshold of the return of Christ. This, of course, is another confirming sign; just what Jesus said to expect. However, looking at the scriptures and at the state and direction of our world, it is hard to draw any other conclusion.<br /><br />This is it, folks. Jesus Christ IS coming back. Russia and Iran are forming an alliance, and the next major event (besides the removal of the Bride of Christ from the earth) will be a major war in the middle east, and judgment on the "coastlands."<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/pentecost.htm"><b><i>The Final Fulfillment of Pentecost</i></b></a> (or re-read it - it's been enhanced) and follow the links at the bottom. If you are fearful as you face the future, it's because your heart isn't right. <br /><br />Judgment is coming. Expect it, and be ready for it.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-41411566515237754262009-01-20T09:07:00.000-08:002009-01-20T09:20:50.322-08:00The Final Fulfillment of PentecostI've always been interested in prophecy, and I've always been a date-setter. One of the first books I read after becoming a Christian was a book by a guy named Taylor who had biblical "proof" that the rapture would occur in September of 1975, and that Juan Carlos of Spain HAD to be the Antichrist.<br /><br />We've come a long way.</span><br /><br />I've seen a lot of theories, believed a few of them, and have been "wrong" every time ... so far. But the point is not to be "right" ... the point is to be READY. Knowing when the Lord <em>could</em> come can be a very focussing activity. And whether the conclusions in my article are right or not is insignificant compared to whether we are ready ... or not.<br /><br />These are my concluding thoughts, which also appear at the end of the article. If you're "too busy" to read the article, please at least spend some time on these: <ol><li>First, this is NOT a time to panic. We have known for 2000 years that Jesus was going to return, set up His kingdom, and judge the earth.<br /><li>Get your spiritual house in order. REPENT. This means align your life with the law of God. Where you have sinned, you must acknowledge your sin, confess it to God, and make restitution where-ever possible and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.<br /><li>OBEY - <i>Every</i> person who was saved in the Church Age repented, confessed and submitted to the Lordship of Christ in ALL of life, and was baptized. If you are not living in newness of life, it's because you are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Do yourself (and your loved ones!) a favor: turn off the TV, take out the trash (foul books, music, videos, etc.) and get your heart right before God. DO NOT PUT THIS OFF. Don't trifle with God, His law, or His offer of salvation to those whose belief is evidenced by obedience, hatred of sin, holy living, and love of the brethren.<br /><li>Don't be deceived. Study your Bible. The time is getting really short.<br /><li>Pray for those you know who are still lost. No one can come to faith in Christ unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). IF you are saved, you have a privilege and an advantage that most people don't share: access to God's Throne of Grace. Use it!<br /><li>If June 1st arrives and none of these things have happened, it is because I made unwarranted assumptions or otherwise erred in my study. The Bible is still true. You will never be any worse off for preparing for your inevitable meeting with God. And you could still be hit by a truck on June 2nd. </li></ol><br />I hope this article blesses and encourages each of you, and I hope you have friends to whom you will want to forward the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/pentecost.htm">http://www.rogershermansociety.org/pentecost.htm</a><br /><br />Yes, I'm setting a date for the return of Christ. Please remember the boy in the fable who cried "wolf!" He was wrong every time ... except the LAST time. I have also been wrong every time ... but I've been ready. My earnest prayer is that we all will be; that we will not shrink back when He appears, or be found asleep instead of being ready as He commanded us.<br /><br />May the Lord continue to bless you as you seek the truth in Him.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-42007389206170604592009-01-07T08:37:00.000-08:002009-01-07T08:43:06.379-08:00"Whoever believes in Jesus will ....."I would submit that there are several Biblical ways to complete this, and all the completions are complementary. James says that the faith that saves is a faith that issues in <i>obedience</i>: "faith without works is dead." You SEE that a man is saved by works (because only God can see faith; all we can see is its results). Jesus said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments." A "faith" that does not create any visible change in the life of the person is not a saving faith.<br /><br /><b><font face="verdana" color="brown">"Do I have to be baptized?"</font></b><br /><br />That's probably not the real issue. The issue seems to me to be, "Just how disobedient and rebellious can I remain and still avoid hell?" These folks aren't particularly interested in loving God, submitting to Christ, becoming holy .... all they want is fire insurance. They want to remain fleshly; hence their aversion to burying the old man.<br /><br />I see this throughout "organized" Christianity; people who want to "follow the program" so they won't go to hell, but who at the same time don't want to allow the Lord to transform them. That's why they continue to listen to the same garbage music, watch the same garbage movies and TV programs, run with the same worldly crowd, and let their Bible gather dust.<br /><br />Baptism is a HUGE privilege. Those unwilling to submit to it are not going to fool God on the day of judgment. He won't be swayed by their theological rationale. But on the other hand, those who submit to the "ritual of baptism" and obey from the flesh rather than from the heart, and who don't continue in faith and obedience, will be just as lost as they were before they got wet. Baptism isn't magic; it's obedience. Talking about "saving faith" that does not issue in an obedient life is like talking about a one-ended stick. There is no such thing.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-59101057746912579022008-12-31T11:59:00.000-08:002008-12-31T12:16:56.498-08:00Rumor has it ....<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/12/31/atheist-michael-newdow-remove-god-from-inaugural-oath/" target="_blank">Rumor has it</a> that Michael Newdow, a fairly well-known atheist from California, has taken umbrage at the use of the phrase "so help me, God" in the inaugural oath of the President.<br /><br />Anyone who doesn't believe in God is unfit to "serve" in government.<br /><br />Period.<br /><br />I don't care how many PhD's he may have, how popular he may be, how long he's been around, or how clever his arguments against the existence of God may be. He is UNFIT to serve.<br /><br />Why do these morons keep giving Newdow and his ilk a platform? <br /><br />Interesting - Newdow will marshall a "constitutional" argument against references to God, but says nothing about Obama's constitutional disqualification because he was born in Kenya. What a hypocrite.<br /><br />There. I said it. I'm done ranting. Have a nice day.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-38832992790939398532008-12-21T08:29:00.000-08:002008-12-21T08:31:55.574-08:00Intemperate Thoughts About 'Christmas'I am happy that the world has not dressed Jesus in red and white, and had Him sliding down the chimney with His twelve apostolic-elves. I'm glad that His mother has not been re-cast as Mrs. Santa Claus ... or some similar abomination. Still, I'm sure Madison Avenue has at least toyed with the ideas, along with making gift-giving a new sacrament.<br /> <br />But I have abandoned Christmas. The "Christmas Story" is such a twisting of the biblical history that it's an embarrassment. This "baby Jesus" is not what the world needs. Jesus -- displayed as a helpless Babe in a manger is the only Jesus that our crumbling world can tolerate. But it needs to see Jesus Christ the Triumphant, the Judge of the World, the Lord of all the earth, the One Whose fierceness against sin this country will soon face.<br /> <br />We do our country no favor by going along with a pagan Saturnalia feast that's been recycled for the American pseudo-Christian culture. There is no historical record of Jesus or the early church celebrating Jesus' birthday. Why we trot out His baby pictures once a year in a commercialized buying frenzy, laden with guilt and sugar cookies, and then think there's something redeeming about the whole exercise, remains a mystery. "Christmas" is not Christian. It does not honor Christ, it does not edify His people, it does not minister to the lost.<br /> <br />The message America needs to hear now ... ESPECIALLY now .... is "Repent! Judgment is here!" ... not "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" or "Away in a manger."<br /> <br />Let the church BE the church.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-84676010425428656472008-12-20T15:40:00.000-08:002008-12-20T15:42:49.883-08:00Do we REALLY want revival?I have yet to hear anyone with any credibility suggest that things in this country are going to get better any time soon. Yesterday's pessimist is today's realist. The fact is that our country has been incredibly blessed by God for many, many years. We know from Romans 2:4 that God's goodness is intended to lead to repentance. But unfortunately, the more God has blessed us, the harder and more reprobate we seem to have become.<br /><br />I believe we are now seeing "Plan B" -- the removal of God's hand of blessing from our land. Our problems are not, nor have they ever been, economic. They have ALWAYS been spiritual. <br /><br />This is the year for us to get our lives right. This means relationships, not stuff. We can afford integrity, but not reputation. We should invest in caring for others, not impressing them. <br /><br />Please devote some time to the following two items. The article is good and the audio is better.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.revivalschool.com/index.php?page=how-to-have-a-personal-revival"><b>How To Have a 'Personal' Revival</b></a> (article) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=12130"><b>How To Experience Personal Revival</b></a> (audio)<br /><br />I believe this is the year that will make or break a lot of families. This isn't me pretending to be a prophet or anything; just looking at current trends and extrapolating their likely convergence and results. The economy is in melt-down, and nobody really trusts anyone. We're addicted to creature comforts and a police state is in the offing. These are all in-our-face symptoms of a formerly Christian culture that has repudiated its heritage. <br /><br />In short: there is a problem. I believe God will raise us up and allow us to be part of the answer, <b><i>but only if we submit to Him.</i></b> <br /><br />Please spend some quiet time reviewing the above links. Let's re-align our lives in the light of God's priorities.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-52374381484327402092008-12-11T11:07:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:33:41.498-08:00Prepare To Be HorrifiedWe got on the 'slippery slope' of infanticide and euthanasia back in the 1950s (remember?) when Thalidomide was being given to pregnant women to ease the discomforts of morning sickness during pregnancy. As it turned out, use in Germany had already revealed that birth defects were a likely result, but this information was withheld, possibly to foment debate on the "ethics" of aborting a pregnancy if it were known that the baby would be severely deformed, retarded, or both.<br /><br />Back then, the alarm bells sounded ... but alas! we wound up with abortion on demand about twenty years later.<br /><br />Then partial-birth "abortion" - the gruesome murder of the baby at the time of birth. And "benign neglect" - allowing a baby to die after birth if the baby survived the attempted abortion.<br /><br />Now, Baroness Warnock has weighed in with the second-to-the-last step on the slope: The <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1058404/Old-people-dementia-duty-die-pushed-death-says-Baroness-Warnock.html">DUTY to die</a> if one's life has become burdensome, either to others or to the state. According to Warnock, "Old people with dementia have a duty to die and should be pushed towards death." She doesn't say how hard a push should be administered, but the "duty" to die can only be followed by one thing: the "duty" to kill those who won't do their "duty" voluntarily.<br /><br />We can see this one coming, folks. This will be doctors REQUIRED to KILL THEIR PATIENTS if the patient's care becomes "too expensive" in the eyes of some state bureaucrat or, more likely, some formula developed by a committee so no one person need shoulder all the blame.<br /><br />We are talking about the State creating a DUTY to violate the 6th commandment. These are scary times, people. Surely, the return of the Lord and the Day of Vengeance cannot be far off. Jesus said, "Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved." The scripture also warns of a day when the living would envy the dead, and when people would cry out for the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of the Lamb. (Rev. 6:16)<br /><br />This nation is being turned into hell. Too many are still slumbering; aware of the dire straits we find ourselves in, but more afraid of Obama than they are of the Lord, or perhaps believing that "Messiah Obama" will actually 'turn things around' and get back to the way things used to be.<br /><br />Well, with the blood of over 50 million innocent children already spilled, and apparently more on the way, this will not happen. There is no spirit of repentance sweeping the land, and as much as we long for and pray for a spiritual revival, that revival will not protect those wicked among us who have chosen to defy the Law of God (including many, I might add, who are hiding out in churches).<br /><br />Don't be distracted, deceived, or dismayed. Judgment is almost here. Are you ready?Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-84120249011736087732008-10-28T06:41:00.000-07:002008-11-09T12:45:57.004-08:00"The Fix Has Been In"I found out through Devvy Kidd's research published in her column on <a href="http://newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd407.htm">NewsWithViews.com</a> that the McCain-Palin Compliance Fund was incorporated in Delaware in February of this year. My first reaction -- and I posted to the first version of this blog entry -- was that the whole "primary campaign" was a sham and a fraud. <br /><br />I found out subsequently, from another source, that the Fund was re-named after Sarah Palin accepted McCain's invitation to join him on the ticket.<br /><br />However, this does not serve to disabuse me of my original conclusion: that the whole game is RIGGED -- We, the People, have no more voice in the selection of our leaders than the Framers of this republic had in the matter of who sat on the British Throne.<br /><br />The "campaign" was almost totally for show, though it did serve a useful purpose in smoking out folks like Dr. James Dobson and a few other "Christian leaders" who neglected principles on their way to the polls because of their terror at the prospect of living in an ObamaNation come January.<br /><br />And I still believe that the folks who own The System had already decided who the winners and losers would be. They simply were not as careless with the 'smoking gun' as Devvy would have us believe. Every dime spent on "the campaign" for ANY candidate was wasted money down the rat hole (or, more properly, into the coffers of the Friends of The System in the media), with the exception of at least <em>some </em>of the money given to the Ron Paul effort, as his campaign was highly educational.<br /><br />This is no longer a Constitutional Republic, and we are no longer self-governing people. We are a conquered people. Through fraud, deceit, lies, and our own trusting stupidity, we have allowed our servants to become our masters.<br /><br />My first conclusion was that we now have a Duty to Disobey. We really have a primary duty to repent and discern the will of Jesus Christ as we go forward. It is, after all, to Him that we must give an account. That being said, our incoming administration and the federal bureaucracy upon which it rests ("the woman who rides the beast") are still illegitimate and they rule by force and terror, not by legitimate authority.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-3891443942129002042008-09-04T07:22:00.000-07:002008-09-04T07:34:28.927-07:00Once Saved - Always Saved?I'm plugged in to the ACA network, sponsored by Ning. It's membership is limited to members of the Church of Christ; that is, all "true" believers who follow the Bible in faith and practice.<br /><br />One of my fellow network members opened a discussion thread on the forum to discuss the idea of "once saved, always saved." This idea is generally rejected by the Church of Christ, and we were fairly freely discussing the issue.<br /><br />I say "fairly" because it must be understood that concluding that OSAS is true would be heresy. So the conclusion of the discussion is foregone. But the discussion remained civil and some of the points raised were intriguing .... at least, some of us thought so.<br /><br />And then .... alas! .... some questions were apparently posed that the Guardians of Orthodoxy could not answer and ... the discussion was electronically terminated.<br /><br />If you've browsed this blog, you already know that I don't like tyranny in any of its forms. But there is something stirring in the hearts of many Christians, and we may yet see the revival we've prayed for. And we will also see, once again, that the biggest resisters will be the religious establishment.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-33556756507843362892008-08-21T08:51:00.000-07:002008-08-21T08:55:14.317-07:00No Such Thing As A Good CopCommitting immoral violence is an unavoidable part of EVERY cop's job. There cannot be a "good cop" any more than there can be a "good car-jacker." Every cop's job is inherently evil, because a cop cannot just decide not to go after people who commit "victimless crimes," which make up MOST of the people the police harass, fine, or imprison.<br /><br />Read the whole story here: <a href="http://www.rogershermansociety.org/nosuchthing.htm">http://www.rogershermansociety.org/nosuchthing.htm</a><br /><br />By the way, of all the nations of the world, the U.S. now has the largest percentage of its people in prison. So much for the "land of the free."Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-20891357155119394752008-08-03T16:11:00.000-07:002008-08-03T16:29:30.878-07:00Why the UFO-nauts are still hidingOne of the weird things that's supposed to increase during the time of great tribulation just ahead will be demonic activity. Many skeptics who read the Biblical accounts of exorcisms like to ridicule those "backward" people who believed such "nonsense," preferring the enlightened opinions of guys like Freud. Well guess what? Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, and if He said it was a demon possession, then that's exactly what it was. The fact that these things are now rare can be easily explained by one simple fact: there are Spirit-filled disciples about, and no demon can stand against the Word of God wielded by a knowledgeable Christian spiritual warrior. In fact, even an <em>inexperienced</em> warrior is more than a match for a demon.<br /><br />So, while one of the Apollo astronauts, and the Pope, and a few other notable people have come out and done some advance work for 'aliens,' the fact is that no alien can stand in front of a TV camera and risk the possibility that he will be exposed by a Christian. The Spirit-filled believers must be taken out of the way.<br /><br />And this is one thing that the bad guys can't do. But God can, and as noted in previous posts, I firmly believe that He will do exactly that, and in the VERY near future.<br /><br />That is not to say that there won't be attempted "exorcisms" or similar confrontations after the Christians are gone. But they will play out like the episode in Acts 19, where seven guys got their clocks cleaned by a demon who knew they were spiritually unarmed. Those seven guys were fortunate that they didn't all get killed.<br /><br />In the Tribulation, nominal "Christians" may also try to rebuke demons/aliens in Jesus' name, but it will be the same story: "I know Jesus, but who are you?" They will discover ... too late ... that Jesus is a person to whom a true believer is totally submitted in faith, and not just a genie or cosmic bellhop who will come running whenever we tell Him to.<br /><br />I believe the signs in the heavens will not be limited to astronomical signs in the sun, moon and stars, but that alleged UFO activity will also be part of the end-time deception. Jesus' first words in the Matthew 24 Olivet discourse were, "Take heed that no one deceives you." And much of this deception will issue from spiritual "leaders" who affirm that Jesus is the Christ, and who claim to speak in His Name.<br /><br />How deceived are you?Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992912239860961637.post-22229173217285110332008-08-02T17:28:00.000-07:002008-08-02T17:57:53.558-07:00A few thoughts on the "Last Days"Peter announced the beginning of the "last days" on Pentecost, almost 2000 years ago. One must wonder what he meant. Is the 'last days' such a long period of time that the term is essentially meaningless? Or is there some other constraint we should be aware of?<br /><br />In a series of five things, one could not properly refer to the second thing in the series as one of the 'last' of the series. Speaking precisely, even the third in the series wouldn't be considered one of the last. So what are we to make of 'last' days that started two millenia ago? How many days would have to preceed them to make them 'last'?<br /><br />One very common construct is simply this: there are seven 'days' of creation; six of active work and a seventh day of rest. This is a model of the total amount of time created, a day is as a thousand years. There were four 'days' -- four thousand-year periods -- preceeding Peter's statement at Pentecost. The two thousand years since are 'last days' ONLY IF the total number of days is 7 or 8. <br /><br />Eight breaks the model. Eight is a new beginning, one obvious example is in music: do - re - mi - fa - sol - la - ti are the seven tones, and then the octave is a new beginning. The seven days in a week isn't a coincidence; it's the pattern. <br /><br />Scripture confirms this in many ways: "After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up." <br /><br />In the dire straits in which we currently find ourselves, it strains credulity to believe that we will continue to muddle along as we have and manage to even survive for another thousand years. This is it. All the horrors of Revelation are now technological possibilities. The stench of our sin has risen to the nostrils of God Himself, and He will no longer remain silent. The next events will be the Rapture of the overcomers, an incredible war starting at the Euphrates, and some sort of 'peace covenant' that will be confirmed for seven years.<br /><br />Other possibilities include: biological warfare that will decimate the world's population, alleged "extraterrestrials" (demons masquerading as UFO-nauts) who will try to 'confirm' evolution and necessarily debunk the Bible, and dictatorial government action taking direct control of all U.S. food sources.<br /><br />Some speculate that there will be EMP weapons deployed against the U.S. which would effectively roll our technology back about 100 years. I'm inclined to doubt this, mainly because the NWO needs technology for their plan to chip and control the survivors of their next war.<br /><br />In any event, it's becoming 'open season' on Christians around the world, and the U.S. was the last safe haven. However, even here a Christian who speaks out against either the dictatorial and illegal regime in Washington, or against sodomy or any of our other national sins, is now branded a 'dissident' or 'terrorist' and can expect to be rounded up and imprisoned, tortured, and executed. There is no place else to go.... except UP. <br /><br />We in Christ have served notice on the culture: our lives and message are an indictment against a world that has turned in active rebellion against God, against Jesus Christ, and against the Word of God. All that is left is wrath, and we in the U.S. will soon discover that God has more disaster than Washington has relief. And if we come to ourselves in time, we will also realize that WE DESERVE WHAT IS COMING.<br /><br />Months ago, when McCain and Obama emerged as our two 'candidates' from whom we would choose our next President, we should have fallen on our faces in bitter repentance. But we did not. As has been stated countless times, our problem is not political or economic -- it is spiritual. <br /><br />This world might stagger on for another hundred years before Jesus comes again; I might be all wrong on the Rapture. But the fact remains: we are on the brink of cataclysmic events that will forever change life on earth, and many of us won't survive the transition. For those who will shortly die at the hands of the NWO elites, this is their LAST days. A rapture in September doesn't matter to someone gunned down in August.<br /><br />Prepare to meet your God.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389668601017902813noreply@blogger.com0