WATCH FOR FALSE PROPHETS THEY ARE ABOUT TO MOVE!!! 2

Parallels between Jesus Christ and the Antichrist.
The career of the Great Deceiver mimics the life of the Son of God.

The Antichrist	Jesus Christ
The Unholy Trinity: Alice Bailey taught of a trinity composed of Sanat Kumara, Maitreya the Christ, and Lucifer. However, the book of Revelation gives them as Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet.	The Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Son of Satan: Paul refers to the Antichrist as "the son of perdition," (2Thess.2:3). "Perdition" is from a Greek word meaning "destruction." Most scholars believe that the Antichrist will come from the union of a human female and Satan himself. Alice Bailey's theology places Sanat Kumara as presiding over the Shamballa energy, which she describes as a destructive force (Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p.89). She goes on to describe Nazism as an aspect of the Shamballa force (p.127).	Son of God: The human form of Jesus Christ was literally created through the Virgin Mary by God the Father.
The Antichrist will be given power over the earth for three and a half years: "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever." (Daniel 7:25-26)"The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for         forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation." (Revelation 13:5-7)	The active ministry of Jesus Christ lasted for three and a half years: Tradition has it that Jesus was baptized in the Fall season, and the Gospels describe Jesus then attending three Passover festivals (in the Spring). The third was marked by His crucifixion.
The Antichrist will be resurrected from the dead:"One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast."(Revelation 13:3) "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth... will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come." (Revelation 17:8) The Antichrist will be alive, then dead with his soul going to hell (the Abyss), then alive again. The world will be astonished. When he comes out of the Abyss he will kill the Two Witnesses (11:7) and have the Abomination of Desolation erected in the rebuilt Jewish Temple. It will be... "an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived," (13:14).	Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.
The public appearance of Maitreya is being preceded by Benjamin Creme, whose mission is to prepare the world to receive and accept Maitreya as the Christ returned:The Tara Center is a New Age organization that works with Benjamin Creme and aggresively promotes the New Age Religion. They have produced a video documentary on Benjamin Creme, and his predictions regarding Maitreya, which begins with the following words, "For over twenty years, a man whom some call 'a modern day John the Baptist'has been traveling the globe, telling audiences that the Second Coming of Christ will not be a celestial spectacle in a distant future, but is instead a real event, unfolding since 1977 behind the scenes of everyday life, and signifying the reappearance of a great spiritual teacher for all people..." ("Breaking the biggest story in history," listen to the audio here). Jesus Christ Himself made it clear that He would be preceded by an imposter, and that His real Second Coming would indeed be a "celestial spectacle." (Read Matthew 24.)	The public ministry of Jesus Christ was preceded by John the Baptist, whose mission was to prepare the nation of Israel to receive Him.

Other Statements and Predictions From Benjamin Creme

*Creme claims that Maitreya has entered society in a self-created body. However, the Bible gives the impression that the Antichrist will come from a union of Satan and a human female, to be born and grow to adulthood as any other human being.

*Creme claims that Maitreya is an Ascended Master, a perfected being who will appear on the scene out of nowhere and take advantage of a pre-existent global power structure that will immediately give him support. Biblically, it is possible that the Antichrist may seem to appear out of nowhere and may masquerade as an "Ascended Master," however, this scholar is under the impression that the Antichrist could just as well be an individual born to an influential family, who will gain power and prestige in a normal way, but whose identity will remain relatively unknown until he begins his blatant public attempts to achieve global dominance.

*Creme claims that Maitreya will make his public appearance through an occult Day of Declaration, when he will telepathically overshadow every human being on the earth, and put forth his plan for humanity calling us to his service. Biblically there is only one moment in time when the Antichrist may actually do this. This earth and every human being on it is the legal property of Satan, everyone except the individuals who have declared their allegiance to God and received His divine "seal of ownership" through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. ( "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."2Cor.1:21-22 -see also the conclusion of this article). There will be a future time when Jesus Christ takes every one of His faithful followers to heaven in a miraculous Rapture, snatching His people off of the surface of the earth. In the moments after this event every single person left on earth will be the legal property of Satan, and the Antichrist could conceivably fulfill the prediction that Creme has made concerning Maitreya's Day of Declaration. Prior to the Rapture Satan has no way of violating God's "seal of ownership" and intruding into the minds of those who follow Him. He could not telepathically reach out to every single individual on earth until the moments immediately following the Rapture.

*Creme claims that when Maitreya appears he will be known by a different, as yet ungiven name. Perhaps the nature of Maitreya's emergence will be in a manner that is completely unexpected, and perhaps the identity of the Antichrist will surprise everyone. Here is where Creme comments on Maitreya's unknown name.

*Creme claims that Maitreya descended from the Himalayas in 1977 and then flew to London on a 747, thus returning to human society "on the clouds of heaven," fulfilling Matthew 24:29. Of course it is possible that the Antichrist may have flown from Asia to London in 1977, but this trip would not in any way have fulfilled the prophecy regarding the visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

AM I READY FOR WHEN THE LORD RETURNS ?

Everyone in the world is expecting somthing dramatic to happen soon; just what it is alot of people don't have a clue. And those who know, seem to thing that there is time still. The enemy have many of God's people caught up in the affairs of this world by blinding many and lolling others to sleep. It as though we have forgotten the admonition of John.....15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

All that we are and going to be depend on where we stand now and where and whom we want to follow. "God sent His Son not to condemn the world but that the through Him Might be saved."

After reading Ezekiel 9, I know for sure that God wants to save man from sin, but there is a time when He will have to put an end to this ill that is destroying our world; how soon will this be and who will be destroyed you ask. The answer is all over the Bible. Ezekiel gives warning to the house of God and all shooould take note....bless!!!

Ezekiel 9
1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand.



2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was] clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.1 2 3


3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which [had] the writer's inkhorn by his side;


4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.4



5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:5


6 Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.6


7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.


8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?


9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.7 8


10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, [but] I will recompense their way upon their head.


11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which [had] the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.9

Mad science? Growing meat without animals

Pork chops or burgers cultivated in labs could eliminate multiple problems

By Charles Q. Choi

 

 updated 1:42 p.m. ET, Thurs., Nov . 19, 2009

 

Winston Churchill once predicted that it would be possible to grow chicken breasts and wings more efficiently without having to keep an actual chicken. And in fact scientists have since figured out how to grow tiny nuggets of lab meat and say it will one day be possible to produce steaks in vats, sans any livestock. 

 

Pork chops or burgers cultivated in labs could eliminate contamination problems that regularly generate headlines these days, as well as address environmental concerns that come with industrial livestock farms.

 

However, such research opens up strange and perhaps even disturbing possibilities once considered only the realm of science fiction. After all, who knows what kind of meat people might want to grow to eat?

 

 Advantages touted

Increasingly, bioengineers are growing nerve, heart and other tissues in labs. Recently, scientists even reported developing artificial penis tissue in rabbits. Although such research is meant to help treat patients, biomedical engineer Mark Post at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and his colleagues suggest it could also help feed the rising demand for meat worldwide.
The researchers noted that growing skeletal muscle in labs — the kind people typically think of as the meat they eat — could help tackle a number of problems:
Avoiding animal suffering by reducing the farming and killing of livestock.

Dramatically cutting down on food-borne ailments such as mad cow disease and salmonella or germs such as swine flu, by monitoring the growth of meat in labs.

Livestock currently take up 70 percent of all agricultural land, corresponding to 30 percent of the world's land surface, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Labs would presumably require much less space.

Livestock generate 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than all of the vehicles on Earth, the FAO added. Since the animals themselves are mostly responsible for these gases, reducing livestock numbers could help alleviate global warming.

Need to scale up

Stem cells are considered the most promising source for such meat, retaining as they do the capacity to transform into the required tissues, and the scientists pointed to satellite cells, which are the natural muscle stem cells responsible for regeneration and repair in adults. Embryonic stem cells could also be used, but they are obviously plagued by ethical concerns, and they could grow into tissues besides the desired muscles.
To grow meat in labs from satellite cells, the researchers suggested current tissue-engineering techniques, where stem cells are often embedded in synthetic three-dimensional biodegradable matrixes that can present the chemical and physical environments that cells need to develop properly. Other key factors would involve electrically stimulating and mechanically stretching the muscles to exercise them, helping them mature properly, and perhaps growing other cells alongside the satellite cells to provide necessary molecular cues.

So far past scientists have grown only small nuggets of skeletal muscle, about half the size of a thumbnail. Such tidbits could be used in sauces or pizzas, Post and colleagues explained recently in the online edition of the journal Trends in Food Science & Technology, but creating a steak would demand larger-scale production.

Dark thoughts

The expectation is that if such meat is ever made, scientists will opt for beef, pork, chicken or fish. However, science fiction has long toyed with the darker possibilities that cloned meat presents.

In Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson's epic sci-fi satire "Transmetropolitan," supermarkets and fast food joints sell dolphin, manatee, whale, baby seal, monkey and reindeer, while the Long Pig franchise sells "cloned human meat at prices you like."

"In principle, we could harvest the meat progenitor cells from fresh human cadavers and grow meat from them," Post said. "Once taken out of its disease and animalistic, cannibalistic context — you are not killing fellow citizens for it, they are already dead — there is no reason why not."

Of course, there are many potential objections that people could have to growing beef, chicken or pork in the lab, much less more disturbing meats. Still, Post suggests that marketing could overcome such hurdles.


"If every package of naturally grown meat by law should have the text, 'Beware, animals have been killed for this product,' I can imagine a gradual cultural shift," Post said. "Of course, we still have a long way to go to make a product that is even remotely competitive with current products."

© 2009 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

 Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.







 

Who's next on the Illuminati's sights?

When I mention Illuminati, I mean that loosely knit cabal begun by the Jesuit Weishaupt.
You probably wonder who the shadowy underworld government will target next?
Well, in my opinion it's the Empire of Nippon or as we call it in English, Japan.
Recently it was revealed that Japan Airlines (JAL), the state airway was experiencing financial difficulties. It was hinted that it might have to "partner" with a foreign airline carrier to be able to "survive".\
For the last two weeks Toyota, the world's largest motor vehicle manufacturer has been plagued by accelerator sticking problems. This is truly a sticky situation that won't go away!
The gas pedal problem was originally blamed on the floor mat, then a gadget was invented (arriving at dealerships on or about Thurday, 2/4/10) that would correct the anomally.

“The problem of sudden unintended acceleration has been reported to have

existed in some Lexus vehicles and Toyota vehicles going back to 1999 when CTS did not even make this product for any customer,” the manufacturer said in a statement last week.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0203/Toyota-recall-Are-sticky-gas-pedals-the-real-culprit
After Toyota announced a gigantic recall for 8 models that may have potentially hazardous mechanical problems; Now it has escalated to a probable electro-magnetic issue with the throttle. In the U.S. there are even Congressional hearings into the auto manufacturer's handling of the current issue. It seems as if this recall may not only cost Toyota huge sums of money; but also, its prosperity and reputation.
.Who's next on the chopping block for bankruptcies and global destitution?


.Chop, Chop, Chop. .........Job, jobs, jobs!
.Pretty soon they'll be able to establish their don't buy or sell list...
Posted by Arsenio A. Lembert Jr. at 4:42 PM

Labels: OPINION, Toyota

ONLY THEY THAT TRUST IN THE LORD WILL BE ABLE TO STAND IN THAT DAY

In these last days, when iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold, God will have a people to glorify his name, and stand as reprovers of unrighteousness. They are to be a "peculiar people," who will be true to the law of God, when the world shall seek to make void its precepts; and when the converting power of God works through his servants, the hosts of darkness will array themselves in bitter and determined opposition. Satan will work with "all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." He will employ every device of deception to seduce the souls of men and if "it were possible," he "shall deceive the very elect." {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 7}


We must put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand. There will be a constant conflict from the time of our determination to serve the God of heaven, until we are delivered out of this present evil world. There is no release from this war. The work of God for this time cannot be accomplished without arousing opposition, reproach, and calumny. Satan is at enmity with the truth, and he will instigate against its advocates every manner of warfare. His efforts to overthrow the word of God will not be wholly confined to the ranks of its avowed enemies; but among those who claim to believe and practice it, "some shall depart from the faith." The impression given by those who have turned away from the doctrines of the Bible, is that the work committed to men for this day will come to a speedy end, and thus they make it manifest that they have esteemed themselves as the very pillars of the truth. "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his;" and the work goes on to accomplish the fulfillment of the sure word of prophecy. The infinite God is the originator and sustainer of his work and his people. The cause of Christ does not stand in the wisdom of man, and it cannot be overthrown by his power. "The Lord knoweth them that are his." He can discern the steadfast souls who stand by faith, who will not be moved from their allegiance to him and his law. He reads the hearts of his children, and knows those, also, that believe not. {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 8}

Our work is an aggressive one, and as faithful soldiers of Jesus, we must bear the blood-stained banner into the very strongholds of the enemy. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." If we will consent to lay down our arms, to lower the blood-stained banner, to become the captives and servants of Satan, we may be released from the conflict and the suffering. But this peace will be gained only at the loss of Christ and heaven. We cannot accept peace on such conditions. Let it be war, war, to the end of earth's history, rather than peace through apostasy and sin. {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 9}

The work of apostasy begins in some secret rebellion of the heart against the requirements of God's law. Unholy desires, unlawful ambitions, are cherished and indulged, and unbelief and darkness separate the soul from God. If we do not overcome these evils, they will overcome us. Men who have long been advancing in the path of truth, will be tested with trial and temptation. Those who listen to the suggestions of Satan, and swerve from their integrity, begin the downward path, and some masterful temptation hastens them on in the way of apostasy, till their descent is marked and rapid. Sins that were once most repugnant, become attractive, and are welcomed and practiced by those who have cast off the fear of God and their allegiance to his law. But the most pleasurable beginning in transgression, will end in misery, degradation, and ruin. {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 10}

We need to be constantly on our guard, to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. The indulgence of spiritual pride, of unholy desires, of evil thoughts, of anything that separates us from an intimate and sacred association with Jesus, imperils our souls. We must have living faith in God. We must "fight the good fight of faith," if we would "lay hold on eternal life." We are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." If the thought of apostasy is grievous to you, and you do not desire to become the enemies of the truth, the accusers of the brethren, then "abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good;" and believe in Him who is "able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 11}      EllenWhite.

The Truth Behind St. Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is the world’s “holiday of love.” Since the Bible states that God is love (I John 4:8, 16), does He approve of the celebration of this day? Does He want His people—true Christians—partaking of the candy and cards, or any customs associated with this day?

When God says He wants you to live life abundantly (John 10:10), does that include celebrating a festive, seemingly harmless holiday like Valentine’s Day? The God who gives us everything—life, food, drink, the ability to think for ourselves, etc.—surely approves of St. Valentine’s Day, the holiday for lovers to exchange gifts—right?

Do not be so certain. Do not assume anything. Do not even take this article’s word for it. Go to history books and encyclopedias. Go to the Bible. Then you will know the real truth behind St. Valentine’s Day. And you will know what God expects you to do about it!

Valentine’s Past

Like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Year’s and other holidays of this world, St. Valentine’s Day is another attempt to “whitewash” perverted customs and observances of pagan gods and idols by “Christianizing” them.

As innocent and harmless as St. Valentine’s Day may appear, its traditions and customs originate from two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: Lupercalia and the feast day of Juno Februata.

Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia (known as the “festival of sexual license”) was held by the ancient Romans in honor of Lupercus, god of fertility and husbandry, protector of herds and crops, and a mighty hunter—especially of wolves. The Romans believed that Lupercus would protect Rome from roving bands of wolves, which devoured livestock and people.

Assisted by Vestal Virgins, the Luperci (male priests) conducted purification rites by sacrificing goats and a dog in the Lupercal cave on Palatine Hill, where the Romans believed the twins Romulus and Remus had been sheltered and nursed by a she-wolf before they eventually founded Rome. Clothed in loincloths made from sacrificed goats and smeared in their blood, the Luperci would run about Rome, striking women with februa, thongs made from skins of the sacrificed goats. The Luperci believed that the floggings purified women and guaranteed their fertility and ease of childbirth. February derives from februa or “means of purification.”

To the Romans, February was also sacred to Juno Februata, the goddess of febris (“fever”) of love, and of women and marriage. On February 14, billets (small pieces of paper, each of which had the name of a teen-aged girl written on it) were put into a container. Teen-aged boys would then choose one billet at random. The boy and the girl whose name was drawn would become a “couple,” joining in erotic games at feasts and parties celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would remain sexual partners for the rest of the year. This custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries.

Whitewashing Perversion

In A.D. 494, Pope Gelasius renamed the festival of Juno Februata as the “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.” The date of its observance was later changed from February 14 to February 2, then changed back to the 14. It is also known as Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

After Constantine had made the Roman church’s brand of Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (A.D. 325), church leaders wanted to do away with the pagan festivals of the people. Lupercalia was high on their list. But the Roman citizens thought otherwise.

It was not until A.D. 496 that the church at Rome was able to do anything about Lupercalia. Powerless to get rid of it, Pope Gelasius instead changed it from February 15 to the 14th and called it St. Valentine’s Day. It was named after one of that church’s saints, who, in A.D. 270, was executed by the emperor for his beliefs.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in early martyrologies under the date of 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at different distances from the city…Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing is further known.” Several biographies of different men named Valentine were merged into one “official” St. Valentine.

The church whitewashed Lupercalia even further. Instead of putting the names of girls into a box, the names of “saints” were drawn by both boys and girls. It was then each person’s duty to emulate the life of the saint whose name he or she had drawn. This was Rome’s vain attempt to “whitewash” a pagan observance by “Christianizing” it, which God has not given man the power or authority to do. Though the church at Rome had banned the sexual lottery, young men still practiced a much toned-down version, sending women whom they desired handwritten romantic messages containing St. Valentine’s name.

Over the centuries, St. Valentine’s Day cards became popular, especially by the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. These cards were painted with pictures of Cupid and hearts, and meticulously decorated with lace, silk or flowers.

First Man Called Valentine

But who was the original Valentine? What does the name Valentine mean?

Valentine comes from the Latin Valentinus, which derives from valens—“to be strong, powerful, mighty.” The Bible describes a man with a similar title: “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord” (Gen. 10:8-9). He was said to have hunted with bow and arrow.

As mentioned, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia to honor the hunter god Lupercus. To the Greeks, from whom the Romans had copied most of their mythology, Lupercus was known as Pan, the god of light. The Phoenicians worshipped the same deity as Baal, the sun god. Baal was one of many names or titles for Nimrod, a mighty hunter, especially of wolves. He was also the founder and first lord of Babel (Gen. 10:10-12). Defying God, Nimrod was the originator of the Babylonian Mystery Religion, whose mythologies have been copied by the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and a multitude of other ancient peoples. Under different names or titles—Pan, Lupercus, Saturn, Osiris—Nimrod is the strong man and hunter-warrior god of the ancients.

But what does the heart symbol have to do with a day honoring Nimrod/Valentine?

The title Baal means “lord” or “master,” and is mentioned throughout the Bible as the god of pagans. God warned His people not to worship or even tolerate the ways of Baal (Nimrod). In ancient Chaldean (the language of the Babylonians), bal, which is similar to Baal, meant, “heart.” This is where the Valentine heart symbol originated.

Now notice the name Cupid. It comes from the Latin verb cupere, meaning “to desire.” Cupid was the son of Venus, Roman goddess of beauty and love. Also known as Eros in ancient Greece, he was the son of Aphrodite. According to myth, he was responsible for impregnating numerous goddesses and mortals. Cupid was a child-like archer (remember, Nimrod was a skilled archer). Mythology describes Cupid as having both a cruel and happy personality. He would use his invisible arrows, tipped with gold, to strike unsuspecting men and women, causing them to fall madly in love. He did not do this for their benefit, but to drive them crazy with intense passion, to make their lives miserable, and to laugh at the results.

Many of the gods of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians and others were modeled after one man—Nimrod.

But what does this have to do with us today? Why should we be concerned with what happened in the past?

What God Thinks

Read what God commands His people concerning pagan customs and traditions: “Learn not the way of the heathen…For the customs of the people are vain” (Jer. 10:2-3). Also notice Christ’s words in Matthew 15:9: “…in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Throughout the Bible, God describes “heathens” as those who worship things that He had created (animals, the sun, the moon, stars, trees, etc.), or man-made idols, or anything but the one true God. He calls such people and their practices pagan. True Christians understand that God hates any customs, practices and traditions that are rooted in paganism.

But just how serious is God about paganism?

When He rescued the twelve tribes of Israel from brutal slavery and led them out of Egypt, He commanded them, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein you dwelt, shall you not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, shall you not do: neither shall you walk in their ordinances” (Lev. 18:3). God demanded the Israelites not to defile themselves with the pagan practices and customs of surrounding nations (vs. 24-29). “Therefore shall you keep Mine ordinance, that you commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that you defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God” (vs. 30).

God cursed Egypt—a nation of nature-worshippers—with ten plagues and freed Israel from slavery. He rescued Israel from Pharaoh’s army by parting the Red Sea and leading His people to safety. He fed the Israelites manna—special bread made by God—from heaven. He protected them from battle-tested Gentile armies, delivered them into the Promised Land and drove out their enemies.

How did Israel treat God in return? “Our fathers understood not Your wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of Your mercies; but provoked Him at the sea, even at the Red Sea…They soon forgot His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert…They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, which had done great things in Egypt; wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea…they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His word: But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of theLord …They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. Thus they provoked Him to anger with their intentions” (Psa. 106:7, 13-14, 19-22, 24-25, 28-29).

God explicitly commanded Israel to cast out and utterly destroy all nations that occupied the Promised Land (Canaan). Above all, His people were not to make political alliances with them or marry into their families (Deut. 7:1-3, 5, 16). “For they will turn away your sons from following Me, that they may serve other gods” (vs. 4).

But the Israelites thought they knew better than God. They decided to do things their own way. “They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils [demons], and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions” (Psa. 106:34-39).

To wake them up and get them back on track as the model nation He had originally intended, God gave Israel over to their enemies. Israel repented and cried out to God. God rescued them. With their bellies full and lives protected, the Israelites went back to pursuing other gods. God punished Israel again. Israel repented and cried out to God.

And so went the deliverance-idolatry-punishment-repentance cycle (vs. 40-46), until finally, God had no other choice but to divorce unfaithful Israel (Jer. 3:6-11).

He used the Assyrians, one of the most brutal warrior nations in history, to invade, conquer, enslave and relocate the entire northern kingdom of Israel (II Kings 17). Having “disappeared” from history, the modern-day descendants of those ten “lost” tribes are unaware of their true identity even to this day.

Later, God sent the southern kingdom of Judah (mainly the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) into Babylonian exile (II Kings 24 and 25). Because they kept (at least physically) the true Sabbath, which is a special sign that identifies the one true God and His people (Ex. 31:12-18), the Jews were able to retain their true identity.

The Israelites were severely punished because they lusted after pagan customs, rituals, traditions and practices. As you can see, God does not take paganism lightly.

WHERE WILL YOU STAND?

Am happy that there are so many people interested in Prophecy; it is however an attraction for some and for others a history lesson in some cases. My goal in this blog is to point as many as would visit an opportunity to know who Jesus is. Of late there are many views and concerns about the role of America in Prophecy and the Vatican’s position on world policies, but have we forgotten that as we view the many earthquakes and crimes on every hand, that the coming of our Lord and savior is even at the door?

Many are seeking after knowledge and for proof on things written in the Bible, but my God does not lie and so all that He says will come to pass. It is good and proper to teach and inform the world about all that is to transpire, but all need to be ready, for when the Lord returns, He will reward everyman as his work has been. (Matthew 16:27).

All around the world everyone is expecting something to happen, but as to what it is a lot of humanity doesn’t have a clue. It is therefore incumbent on those who call themselves Christians to live the life that is preached. For the Lord said that the doers and not the hearers of His words are just. (Romans 2:13).

We are at the cross road of this world’s history, just at the point of crossing over to eternal life or eternal damnation. All will give account for his/herself so why don’t we make it easy on ourselves and give God the glory by obeying His commandments for whom we choose to obey, his servants are you…(Romans 6:16).

God expects us to make the right choices especially at this time when we right at the border of eternal life.

  God desires us to reach the standard of perfection made possible for us by the gift of Christ. He calls upon us to make our choice on the right side, to connect with heavenly agencies, to adopt principles that will restore in us the divine image. In His written Word and in the great book of nature He has revealed the principles of life. It is our work to obtain a knowledge of these principles, and by obedience to cooperate with Him in restoring health to the body as well as to the soul.  {AG 103.5}

     Men need to learn that the blessings of obedience, in their fullness, can be theirs only as they receive the grace of Christ. It is His grace that gives men power to obey the laws of God. It is this that enables him to break the bondage of evil habit. This is the only power that can make him and keep him steadfast in the right path.  {AG 103.6}

     To the heart that has become purified, all is changed. . . . The Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul, bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the will of Christ; and the inward man is renewed in the image of God. Weak and erring men and women show to the world that the redeeming power of grace can cause the faulty character to develop into symmetry and abundant fruitfulness.  {AG 103.7}

  Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.