America, Falling Down

There was a time, in America, when most people were well aware of God, and gave Him the respect He deserved.

 

‘Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse’  (Romans 1:19-20)

 

Yet, there were men among them

 

‘ . . . that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.’  (Romans 1:21)

 

Rather than thank God for His bounty and blessings, they sought to accumulate wealth and power for themselves.  In their cleverness, and with the help of fallen angels, they devised many captivating inventions.  They used these inventions to draw others away from God, and into their ways of thinking.

 

‘Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,’  (Romans 1:22)

 

Before long the people, and their children, withdrew from the beauty of God’s creation and began spending more and more of their time indoors, partaking of a world of fantasy and vain imaginations.

 

‘And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.’  (Romans 1:23-25)

 

Having grown up in this world of fantasy, it became the reality of those who were trained by it.

 

‘And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;

full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;

whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:’  (Romans 1:28-31)

 

‘ . . . God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.’  (Romans 1:26-27)

 

Eventually, even those who claimed to walk in His ways

 

‘Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only [did] the same, but [had] pleasure in them that [did] them.’  (Romans 1:32)

 

Their judgment was not far off, for God judges nations . . . once they have known Him . . . by whether they continue to walk with Him, or whether they turn aside from His ways.  As He warned long ago . . .

 

‘ . . . it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God . . . that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field.   Cursed [shall be] thy basket and thy store.  Cursed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.  Cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou comest in, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou goest out.

The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.

The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.  And thy heaven that [is] over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee [shall be] iron.  The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed. The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.  And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray [them] away.

The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.  The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:  And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. Thine ox [shall be] slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass [shall be] violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep [shall be] given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue [them].  Thy sons and thy daughters [shall be] given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail [with longing] for them all the day long: and [there shall be] no might in thine hand.

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:  So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.  The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.  The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.  And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather [but] little in; for the locust shall consume it.  Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress [them], but shalt neither drink [of] the wine, nor gather [the grapes]; for the worms shall eat them.  Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint [thyself] with the oil; for thine olive shall cast [his fruit].  Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.  All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.  The stranger that [is] within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.  He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:  And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.  Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things]; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;  A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which [also] shall not leave thee [either] corn, wine, or oil, [or] the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.   And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:  [So that] the man [that is] tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:  So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all [things] secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, [even] great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.  Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.  Also every sickness, and every plague, which [is] not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.  And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

And it shall come to pass, [that] as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.  And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:  And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:  In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.  And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy [you].’  (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

 

Many would argue that this only applies to the children of Israel, that we are Gentiles who are not under The Law.  Are you sure about that?  There are scholars who have traced the movements of people over time, who have studied the prophetic blessings in Scripture . . . who can demonstrate that the people of the ‘Western World’ are primarily the descendants of the ‘lost’ tribes of Israel, who were long ago taken into captivity for turning away from their God.  History repeats.

No Fear

There is a great foolishness in our culture today.  It is the idea of  ‘no fear’.  It seems to manifest itself in two ways

1. Avoidance
2. Experimentation

Both are foolish.  God has given us the ability to feel fear for a reason.  It is part of our innate nature, to help protect us.  Fear warns us of danger–danger to our body or soul . . . and danger to our spirit.

The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  I would go so far as to suggest a dual interpretation:

1. fear of the awesome power and judgment of God
2. the intuitive fear given to us, by God, when we are in the presence of danger or evil

Perhaps it is because we live in such perilous times, that people grow weary of fear . . .  we could say they suffer from ‘fear overload’.  So, many have made a point of trying to combat fear.

Some people will close their eyes to anything that makes them afraid–we call this denial.  They create–to whatever degree–an alternate reality where their fear doesn’t exist.  (Drugs and alcohol are common means to that end.)  But if denying fear doesn’t work–or someone pierces their alternate reality with truth–they become angry and confrontational.

The problem is, fear is not the enemy to be overcome.  Nor is truth the enemy.  The enemy is what is lurking behind the fear:  evil.

There are many ‘good people’ who hate the impact that evil has in this world.  They don’t understand it, nor do they want to.  They try to avoid it, and be kind, positive and good.  They don’t understand that the tiniest seeds of evil are present in each of us at birth.

Many of them also don’t understand that evil has a promoter, one who embodies it and cultivates it in us.  By being ignorant of this, many ‘good people’ unwittingly become pawns in his hands.

Fear is a symptom.  Fear points to the problem . . . evil.  Evil cannot be overcome by avoidance.  Evil cannot be escaped.  It finds each one of us, because it is within each of us.

Evil can only be overcome by God.  We cannot overcome evil through good alone–but we can submit ourselves to God, and allow ourselves to be tools in His hands.  Only God is good.  Only God’s goodness can overcome evil.

If you are an ‘avoider’, begin to allow yourself to feel fear . . . but with a different perspective.  When you feel fear, examine why.  Are you in the presence of danger . . . or potential danger?  Are you in the presence of something evil?

God is the antidote for fear.  God can protect you, give you wisdom and direction, and even deliverance from evil forces.

If it is God you are afraid of–good!  You’re on the right track.  If you haven’t ‘gotten right with God’, the fear of God you feel is natural.  If we are not right with God, we have His judgment to fear.

If you have repented and are living right, then fear is warning you of something evil or dangerous in your life.  Pray that God will make it known to you where that fear is coming from–then deal with it!  Hiding from fear will not remove the danger or the evil it is trying to warn you of!

If, on the other hand, you are not an avoider . . . you probably pride yourself on your lack of fear.  You tend to confront fear head on.  Whatever makes you (or others) afraid, you will jump right into.  Bravo! . . . maybe.

There is a brand of fearlessness that many demonstrate today, that is rooted in foolishness.  People that behave this way have the mistaken belief that they are immune to the danger or the evil that lurks behind fear.  It seems to be their mission to demonstrate to others that their fears are unfounded.  They will do foolish things to defy danger, and will survive many of them .  But in most cases, if they persist long enough, they will perform one feat too many, and become an interesting story that will illustrate why certain things shouldn’t be done.

That’s all well and good, when we’re talking about risking one’s life . . . and when one is aware of the inherent risk in what they are doing.  The problem today, is that many are diving into things which threaten their eternal soul, without understanding the risk.

(Now, it should be understood, that if you have not accepted Jesus’ atoning death on your behalf, and if you have not surrendered your life to God in return, then you are already damned . . . because all of us are condemned once we begin to sin.  But if you have accepted Jesus, and have continued in [or gone back to] sin, then you have turned back to damnation too.)

This foolish attitude has led many to continue to be involved in activities which are spiritually dangerous and/or evil.  Rather than grounding their beliefs in sound doctrine, their overridding motto is ‘no fear’, and they latch onto any teaching that allows them to do as they please, and that downplays the danger.  ‘No fear’ of God’s judgment (because of faith in a false doctrine of ‘once saved always saved’), ‘no fear’ of disobeying God’s laws, ‘no fear’ of the powers of darkness, ‘no fear’ of evil, etc.

These are people who have made a practice of hardening their heart to their God-given natural fears.  Because of this, they perceive things incorrectly.  But, because they neither fear God, nor man, nor spiritual forces, it is impossible to reason with them.  These people are harboring a spirit of rebellion, which becomes evident when one attempts to confront them with the truth, being met with accusations of ‘fear mongering’ or ‘legalism’, rather than repentance.

Satan’s ‘no fear’ propaganda campaign has done much to set the stage for his rise to power.  Many people (including many professed ‘Christians’) are opening the door to him through rebellion, others have simply stifled their intuitive fear  of evil and no longer possess the discernment to see what is happening, and a vast multitude are living in a fantasy world that denies the very existence of evil.  Brilliant.

The Man And The Woman Created God, In Their Image They Created Him

I am posting the comment below (submitted in response to:  ‘Christians, Vampires, and Dragons’) because it summarizes a lot of false beliefs that are popular these days.

Submitted by krakowski@live.com on 2011/03/04 at 10:47 pm

“No mortal man should know the name and will of god. As mortals, we have no right to deem what is suitable for all. Only god will deem each man and woman worthy of heaven.

So many have redone the bible, ripped out sections and tried to adapt it to themselves.

Salvation is found in the true belief and love of god, however you choose to find god. True faith is found in the love and acceptance of all people, as jesus christ taught the masses.

To do other is to do evil.

To believe any mortal knows the will of god is arrogance. To pretend to know it is a blasphemy all it’s own. God never speaks or comes through mortal man.

The words of a page are written by man. The words of faith are written by man. Only a true believer will know god, not by written words or coersion. Only true faith will lead each to god.

To have the love of christ, to share it with others, is to not judge–to accept, love and nurture each as who they are. Jesus Christ didn’t demand his followers to be different. He merely helped them be better people. He nurtured, guided and loved.

How can anyone, as followers of Christ, do less?”

 

When a person has too much pride in himself, he will be offended at the nature of God.

• If a man prides himself on being ‘tolerant’, he will be offended that God appears to be intolerant.
• If a man prides himself on being nonjudgmental, he will be offended to learn that God judges.
• If a man prides himself on being kind, he will be offended at actions of God that he deems to be unkind.
• If a man is exceedingly proud, he will be offended at any indication that God can be humble.

When man is prideful, he will be offended at the nature of God.  Then, he will set about to create a god in his own image–a god that reflects and protects his prejudices and beliefs . . . a god that excuses his weaknesses and justifies his behavior.  The gods that men create are gods that rubber stamp their beliefs and behaviors.

The ‘tolerant’ man will create a tolerant god, the nonjudgmental man will create a god that does not judge, the kind man will create a god who seems to be very kind, the exceedingly prideful man will create a god who is exceedingly arrogant, etc.

The god a man creates is a window into the man’s soul.

It usually turns out, however, that these ‘nonjudgmental’ gods appear to be quite judgmental towards others who don’t believe in them.  These ‘tolerant’ gods are quite intolerant of those who believe in Jehovah-God.  The kind gods are quite hostile towards those who follow the one, true God.

If your god is truly so tolerant, nonjudgmental, and kind . . . then lets see that reflected in your attitude, throughout the course of your life, towards EVERYONE–including those of us who follow Jehovah (because we surely do not serve the same God!)

And that is the crux of the matter–we do not serve the same God!

My God is not ‘tolerant’.  He is not nonjudgmental.  Nor is He always kind (according to the standards of man) in the short term.  He is a God of black and white . . . truth vs. lies . . . light vs. darkness . . . good vs. evil.  In fact, my God is SO judgmental that He will not just judge men by their actions–but by the intent of their heart!

It just happens that Jehovah/God does not fit  with the current picture of what is culturally acceptable!!

What absurd arrogance, to believe that our grand life experience (all of 120 years or less) qualifies us to know what nature God must have to equip him to rule the entire universe through all the ages!  How short sighted man is!

When men creates gods, they are gods that are relevant to their times and prejudices.  But, how will their god hold up when times and conditions change?  How can their god be fair and equitable, truly kind, righteous, and good, if everything and everyone is tolerated, and no one is ever judged?

What does their weak, ineffective god do or say when some pedophile kidnaps their little daughter, then rapes, tortures and kills her?  Is he tolerant of the pedophile?  Surely their tolerant, nonjudgmental god cannot judge him!  And if that pedophile commits suicide to avoid capture–will he be judged in the hereafter?  Who knows?  According to you,

‘As mortals, we have no right to deem what is suitable for all. Only god will deem each man and woman worthy of heaven.’

How great, and good, and just would you now believe your god to be if he decided not to judge that man?  If there was never justice or recompense for loss?

Or, what if he does judge that man?  Then we have to feel sorry for him, in a way, because (according to you)

‘To believe any mortal knows the will of god is arrogance. To pretend to know it is a blasphemy all it’s own. God never speaks or comes through mortal man.’

How could a pedophile, kidnapper, or murderer know that what he was doing was wrong . . . if man cannot know the will of your god?  If your god does not communicate with man?  Perhaps such actions felt perfectly suitable to him–why should he be judged for doing what ‘came naturally’ to him, if others are not judged by the same standard?

Your ‘god’ is  full of holes.  Have you really taken the time to think this through?

Now let me answer some of your other points . . . based on what I DO know of the nature and will of God–Jehovah.

“True faith is found in the love and acceptance of all people, as jesus christ taught the masses.”

Jesus never equated ‘true faith’ with loving and accepting all people.  Nor did he accept the behavior of all people. He was clearly displeased with the Sanhedrin and the moneychangers.

Maybe you should go back and read a little more about Jesus–you can find the chronicles of his ministry in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Also, much is taught about Him, by the apostles, in the books of Acts, Romans, and Hebrews.

“To do other is to do evil.”

Your opinion and definition.

“To have the love of christ, to share it with others, is to not judge–to accept, love and nurture each as who they are.”

Are we talking about the same Jesus?  God, come to Earth as man . . . born in the flesh, of a virgin . . . lived a perfect life . . . had neither wife nor kids . . . ministered for three and a half years . . . was crucified . . . died . . . then rose again on the third day . . .?

Those of us who believe in THIS Jesus are each called first to REPENT, then to turn from our wickedness, and to follow Him!

Jesus says that if we love Him, we must obey His commands.  He also explained that He is God, and His commands are the spirit of the ten commandments.  If we are loving/obeying Him, we will be living in harmony with the ten commandments.

‘nurture each other as ‘who they are’–no, we are called to correct, rebuke, and encourage each other.  Two of those three terms signify a confrontation of another’s behavior.  According to your jesus, we would only need to encourage one another.

Jesus Christ didn’t demand his followers to be different. He merely helped them be better people. He nurtured, guided and loved.

How can anyone, as followers of Christ, do less?”

Did He demand? No.  Did He teach them to be different?  Yes.  He urged them to understand the spirit of the Law, and to do ‘above and beyond’ what it required of them.

Following Jesus is a free-will choice.  It is not demanded of anyone.  But if one follows Him, then they must submit to His ways.

“Salvation is found in the true belief and love of god, however you choose to find god.”

Excuse me?  You create a god that you can truly love and believe in–then that leads to your salvation . . . How exactly do you define salvation? And what do you  need salvation from, if your jesus just loves and accepts everything about you, as you are  now?

God, through His Word, the Bible, teaches that we need salvation from our SINS.  Which means that everything is NOT tolerable and acceptable.  It means that we are NOT already ok, and just in need of love and acceptance,  nurture and guidance.

The heart of man is sinful and that sinful nature will give birth to acts of sin.  Sinful acts require judgment, from a righteous God.  We need salvation from ourselves–but your religion deifies your self!

“The words of a page are written by man. The words of faith are written by man.”

Yeah, yeah.  Over forty authors, writing over a period of about 2,000 years . . . a multitude of prophecies fulfilled, etc.  . . . just coincidence . . . merely the work of men . . . blah, blah, blah . . . whatever.

“So many have redone the bible, ripped out sections and tried to adapt it to themselves.”

Sadly, it seems this is what you are doing.  Your ‘understanding’ surely has not taken into consideration the entirety of Scripture.  The little bit of what you say that actually seems to have some small relation to the Bible, pertains to Jesus.  Yet even there, I see no indication that you have actually read any of it.  The little bit of what you say about Jesus is the sort of thing one picks up from listening to others’ opinions.

“No mortal man should know the name and will of god.”

No mortal man should know his name–what caused you to develop such a strange opinion?

And how can your god hold men accountable for their actions if they don’t know his will– oh wait, he doesn’t judge does he?  So . . .  we should all just do what seems best to us, and if he likes us we’ll get to go to heaven?

How do you know that what you think is good is the same as what your god thinks is good?  What if your god loves the ways of pedophiles, kidnappers, murderers and thieves–and you aren’t one?

But, here is the conclusion of the matter:

“Only a true believer will know god, not by written words or coercion. Only true faith will lead each to god.”

The god that you talk about is a god that you have created for yourself–and your god is a projection of your own prideful beliefs about yourself.

That pride is what you call ‘true faith’.  But, you are right that your ‘true faith’ (your pride) will lead you to your god, because:

You ARE your god!

Christians, Vampires And Dragons

On the one hand, I find it hard to believe that a post such as this would be necessary to write for Christians, but (considering what the Bible tells us about the times we are living in) it appears to be vital, and perhaps a bit late in coming.

Christian–vampires are real! Certainly not as they are so favorably portrayed on television though.  There most certainly are foul, demonic spirits with a bloodlust that go about in search of a human to inhabit, in order to fulfill their lusts!

In fact, a lot of the strange ‘beings’ you see today on TV, and in movies, are actual types of demonic beings that are only visible in the spirit realm.  We are being allowed to ‘see’ them, to desensitize us to them–and to change our attitudes towards them.  (I suspect a day may even come when they will be able to manifest in the physical realm.)  Movies today are even teaching kids that they can ‘train their [own] dragon’!

What a misrepresentation!  The whole idea that these beings are subject to us is an absolute lie!  Neither are they ‘just misunderstood’ or harmless to their ‘friends’.  These beings, in reality, are demons–dangerous, deceiving and manipulative.

We can debate all day whether it is possible for a Christian to be possessed, or whether a possessed ‘Christian’ ever truly was a Christian, but there are things we may never completely understand, in this life.  The working of the spirit realm are one of those things.  The Bible gives us glimpses into what happens there, but most of it is hidden from us.  (definition of  ‘occult’ = hidden)

I think one of the reasons that people are so drawn to occult is that they fail to understand the nature of life.  In this world, we are mortal.  But this world is only a testing ground, and a place to develop and refine our character.

Most of us wish to be immortal (but is this world really a place where you would wish to be trapped forever?).  Some people will go to great lengths to achieve immortality.  Sadly, they are easily led astray.

Only what is good and righteous will be granted the gift of immortality! This universe has a Creator, and it is His purpose to sift the good from the bad and destroy all wickedness forever.  He is good, and it is His will that what is good and righteous will be with Him for all eternity.  Because He is the Creator, He makes the rules and He gets to choose!!

Now, the sad thing is, all mankind is bad.  The seed of evil(ness) lies within each of us.  I believe it is encoded in the DNA of man.  Each and every human being inherits a physical body, complete with a tiny seed of evil.  God watches to see whether we will feed and nurture that seed of evil, or whether we will fight it.

But, even fighting it is not enough.  Because each of us has that spot of rottenness inside us, we cannot take part in the immortal world that exists beyond this life.  But here is the mystery that God performed: He came to Earth (Jesus) and lived a life of perfection inside a human body.  Then, rather than die a natural death, He arranged that men would put Him to death.  Because He was perfect and completely innocent, He was able to take our sins upon Himself, and suffer in our place, to make a passage into eternity for us.

Make no mistake, this is the only exception God ever has or ever will make for mankind to enter into immortality!

Since Jesus was perfect, and without sin–whose sins did He suffer and die for?  Any of us who is really sorry for the wrong we have done, and who is willing to stop doing wrong!  But, each person has to ask God for their own forgiveness and trust that Jesus died in their place (this is your ‘ticket’).

Then we must live life differently–we must turn away from evil and do good.  We must be obedient to God’s rules for the rest of our life–this protects us from evil.  (Living this new life is what ‘gets you to the airport when it’s time for the plane to leave’.  Many people have accepted the ‘ticket’, but have failed to  ‘be at the airport’ when the plane took off–because they went back to living an evil life.)  If you truly want to be immortal and spend eternity with God, you need to spend your life here with Him too.  There is no immortal life apart from God.

What does any of this have to do with vampires?

As most of you are aware, there is a hidden spirit world.  God lives there.  He created the immortal beings that also live there–angels.  But not all angels are good.  One of the chief among them decided He could do a better job than God, and he (the devil/Satan/Lucifer) is in rebellion against God.  Nearly 1/3 of the angels have joined in his rebellion.  (They are now called ‘fallen angels’, ‘demons’, ‘evil spirits’).

From their point of view, they believe Satan is going to win the fight against God.  Therefore, when they make contact with humans, they make you all kinds of promises of what things will be like for you, if you befriend them and join in the rebellion.

Here’s something to remember though–God created Satan.  God and the devil are not equals.  There is no question that Satan will lose his fight against God.

God created a destroyer to nurture evil, and to fight goodness.  This opposition makes goodness stronger, and makes evil visible.  At the time He has planned, God will sift the good from the evil, and will destroy all evil.  This was God’s purpose in creating the role of ‘The Destroyer’.  None of this was a mistake, or a surprise to God.  This is why God allows evil–because it must grow to maturity before the judgment day.

But God is just.  He will avenge and He will repay.  He will make right the things that we suffer here.  Whatever we lose in this short life will be more than repaid in eternity.

Back to vampires and evil spirits . . . the devil is going to be given a short time (3 1/2 years) to be in charge of the whole world.  He will enter into, and possess, a man who will be global leader for 42 months.  During that time, he will try to kill all of God’s people (Christians and Jews).  That day is very close.

These days, there are evil spirits everywhere.  These spirits are telling people a lot of things (some true, some not) and making a lot of promises.

Some of these demonic spirits have fooled people into believing that they are space aliens, a superior race which has come here to teach and help us.

Others claim to be angels  (technically they are:  fallen angels), and they promise to lead people into new truth.   Many different groups of demons lead people into the many false religions around the world.  Some lead people into a particular type of wickedness–such as drug abuse, homosexuality, or astrology.  Others seduce people to explore or experiment with evil–demonic music, ouija boards, invoking spirits, watching or reading about witchcraft, sorcery, and vampirism, etc.

Some demons portray themselves as good, loving and compassionate–‘white witchcraft’, nature spirits, male cross dressers, some religious spirits, etc.–while others are very proud of their violence and wickedness.  Some even portray themselves as gods (I suspect these are fallen angels that were given control over a specific geographical location, before they fell).

But they all have one purpose in common: to spread the rebellion against God and destroy His people.  And they all have this in common:  they twist people’s perception of God and teach them to disobey the one true God, in one way or another.

You are going to have to decide if you believe them, and which side you want to be on.

It is important to understand–angels and demons know God’s rules and what the Bible says.  Demons just choose not to believe it anymore.

You also need to know that angels and demons are immortal–but there is no savior for angels that go bad.

Why are these things important to know?  For a number of reasons:

• Angels don’t make mistakes.  If there is even one thing wrong in what an angel tells a person, that is a deceiving angel–because all angels know the truth.
• Angels who obey God will only speak to a child of God who is living in obedience . . . WHEN and IF God instructs them to . . . and will only say what God instructs them to say . . . and this VERY rarely happens.
• Obedient angels who do contact humans are only messengers.  They never draw attention to themself, or allow themself to be worshiped.  They speak only on behalf of God and they give God praise and glory.
• Obedient angels’ messages always line up with the Bible–the whole Bible message, not just one passage.  They never contradict God or His Word.
• Obedient angels never tempt people to sin.
• Angels who follow God don’t disobey Him, because an angel that disobeys will not have a place in God’s kingdom in eternity.
• Because angels are immortal, even an angel that disobeys God will not die.  Disobedient angels suffer eternal punishment.
• Obedient angels don’t accidentally disobey God.

Many people, knowingly and unknowingly, are doing things that are enabling more demonic spirits to enter our physical world.

Some of these ways are obvious: seances, taking hallucinogens, staring in the mirror while speaking satanic invocations, etc.

Others may be a little less obvious: tarot readings, palm readings, playing with ouija boards, talking to dead relatives, listening to certain music, using drugs, watching horror movies, watching or reading porn, etc.

Besides those, there are many ways that would be surprising to many people:  hanging out in cemeteries, piercing, tattooing, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking prescription meds, having ‘lucky’ objects, calling on luck when playing games, having sex with someone you aren’t married to, etc.

And there are some that would be very surprising even to Christians:  having hands laid on you, or being prayed over (even in church), by someone who has demons or is demonically influenced.

Some of these things are spiritually dangerous, no matter what your mindset. You would need to be fasting and praying in order not to be overtaken by them.  Others are dangerous if approached with an emptiness, a desire, an expectation, or an openness that you long to have filled.  (In other words, if your ‘defenses are down’, you will be susceptible.)

The Bible warns against all these things.  If you read the Bible, you should not be surprised that these things are ‘wrong’ or dangerous.  God makes rules to protect you–because He knows what you don’t:  how things work in the spirit realm!

Any kind of rebellion is an open door, and an invitation, to rebellious demonic spirits.  But there are some spiritually dangerous things that seem less obvious.  (They should be obvious, but because of being around them so much, many of us have become desensitized to them.)

So, last but not least, one that will probably surprise everyone:  watching television!

Television, as we know it in America, is in a class by itself.  It puts us into a very receptive, trance-like or hypnotic state while we watch.  In this way, it is able to bypass our objective mind and implant its messages (both verbal and nonverbal) directly into our subconscious.

Most people have some understanding that this happens, in regard to convincing us to buy different products, etc.  But I think very few people see how television molds and shapes the collective conscious of our nation.

The American consciousness (way of thinking/belief system/paradigm/virtual reality) is outwardly manifest in our ‘culture’, but it is first created in our minds through television.  This virtual reality is a composite of the messages that are promoted through television.

It is highly unlikely that the people that create television programs, or television networks, have much awareness of what they are doing–although many of these men are unquestionably demonically influenced.  Such a level of sophistication, deception, and evil intent is required to create this alternate reality, that I am certain it is the mastermind of very powerful demonic entities.  It is a very intentional form of thought and behavior control that is being created and controlled from the darkest spiritual realms.

It is ironic, that the nation which possesses the most truth and the most religious freedom, also has the most scoffers–and ‘Christian’ scoffers (‘Christians’ who don’t believe in the spirit realm) are the worst!!  Truly we have a ‘form of godliness, but deny its power’!

When the truth is taken to  other parts of the world–to ‘unsophisticated’ and ‘backwards’ people, to ‘third world’ nations, they receive it with joy!  They are very aware of the nature of demonic influence around them, and seek to be freed.  But, in America, such things are denied!

Who, from one of these places, if brought to America, would fail to discern the tremendous number of demonic beings here?  Who would not see the myriad ways in which we openly welcome demonic spirits into our lives?

Who would fail to see the obvious danger of television, and how it is being effectively used by the devil to corrupt an entire nation?  Who would not be amazed that we sit (with our little children) in front of this demonic teacher, and absorb the teachings and subtle propaganda from hell that it spews?

Christian: there is little hope that you will have spiritual discernment if you don’t turn off your television!  The devil’s power and ability to deceive is far greater than the level of wisdom and discernment that most of us have!  How much more so, when it is done subliminally!!

Jesus said that few would find the way (to truth and eternal  life).  It is a certainty that if you really want to find God, most of the time you are going to stand apart from other people!  You cannot conform yourself to the crowd and live in truth!  If you can’t stand to not ‘fit in’, you aren’t going to be able to stand for God.

If you want to stand for God–before anything else, you have to make up your mind that it is ok not to fit in!

Until standing for God is more important to you than standing with the crowd, any correction given to you is just a waste of time.  All teaching, all truth, will be totally lost on you.  You will accept a lie–even an ugly, wicked, obvious lie–before you will accept the truth.

The themes that Satan is promoting in America, through television, are becoming more evil, and more blatant, every day.  In fact, if you are following something that is popular in movies and books, and on TV, it is a virtual certainty that it is propaganda from hell in the rebellion against God.

Christian–wake up!  Think about it:  Satan is consolidating the mindset of the world, to accept evil and to rebel against God.  Have you been so blinded that you have to wonder whether or not it is ok to read Harry Potter books?  to watch Twilight and True Blood?  to be getting tattooed and pierced?  to smoke?  to be ‘hooking up’?

Television has so desensitized Americans to evil and danger that we walk around with a fearless mentality–as though evil isn’t real, or we are somehow above it.   Yet, at the same time, many American ‘Christians’ have opened so many doors to demons that their own bodies have become habitations for every sort of foul spirit!  No wonder they can’t discern when evil spirits infiltrate their churches–they are already living in  harmony with them every day!!

It is time to wake up, and be afraid!!  Some things are not meant to be toyed with!  While it is true, that believers who are living righteously have power over the enemy, it is not true that we can live carelessly and nothing can touch us!

You may not need to fear being seized by some violent evil spirit that will cause you to jump off a cliff–but you certainly need to be very aware that you can easily be seduced into opening yourself to a deceiving spirit, by partaking of things that you shouldn’t.

Deceiving spirits can be hard to detect.  They affect your mind, twist your understanding of truth, and distort your perception of God. They burrow deep into your heart and mind, looking for seeds of unbelief and rebellion that they can cultivate.  Then they lead you away from God, and into sin.  They can work very slowly, and it may take decades to see the fruit of their work in your heart.  You may even continue to ‘do great things for God’ outwardly, while your heart is being drawn away from Him.  But, if you live long enough, one day it will become apparent that the fruit you produce, that looks so beautiful on the outside, is full of rottenness and worms on the inside.

One last thing you need to know: demons multiply!  Once a demon has taken up residence inside you, others will join it.  Wise people know this principle and will warn you against many things that may seem trivial.  It is easy to laugh them off, but think about it:  if some activities, that seem safe enough, can provide entry points for demons . . . and if demons ‘multiply’, once they have taken up residence . . . is there really any way to be sure how many and what kind of demons you may eventually have inside, if you carelessly allow the first one in?

When spirits move in, you become ‘possessed’; you are ‘taken captive’, ‘in bondage’–no longer in control! Does this still sound like fun?

How do you know that you won’t end up with ‘multiple personalities’?  or a schizophrenic spirit? an epileptic spirit? a homosexual spirit? a ‘serial killer’ spirit?  a pedophile spirit? an alcoholic spirit?  a suicidal spirit?  Yes, any of those could enter in–and you don’t get to pick!

If you are playing with these things today, there’s a good chance you’ll later end up in jail, a mental institution, or the morgue!  Go ahead and laugh, but remember this: once evil spirits move in, your spirit is merely in the way . . .

 

American Empire–Sowing The Seeds Of Hatred

Will You Know Him When He Comes?

The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against Us

Angels, Demons & Raising the Dead

What Does The Devil Look Like?

Capitalism

I am so amazed, and grieved, by the greed and depravity that rules men’s hearts.

Jesse Ventura’s latest episode of Conspiracy Theory is just mind boggling, as far as the depths of evil to which some will sink.  I’m too disgusted to even know what to write, but some of you may find this information very informative, so I am posting the link.

Let it suffice to say, that one of the things God is judging America for is GREED.

We are all so steeped in it, so accustomed to it, so warped by it, that most of us would vehemently deny it!  Almost all of us have unquestioningly adopted the paradigm that ‘the ends justify the means’ as long as they are done in the name of capitalism and free enterprise!  We give just about anything a pass if it is done by some crafty entrepreneur.  The mantra is “everyone is entitled to make a profit . . . ” and, as political correctness dictates, we nod and smile.

People’s hearts are desperately wicked!  Wealthy, influential men cloak and protect their selfish inclinations by incorporating/creating a corporation to shield their actions.  Then, they believe they are exempt from the constraints of decency and morality.  After all, a corporation is a legal entity–a proxy for men.  But, a corporation is not a human, and is not bound to a moral code.

Such men must think they are quite clever, but God is not mocked!

Behind every corporate facade are men–men who make the decisions, men whose hearts will be judged.  It makes no difference if  they shield themselves behind a corporate identity–they are still accountable, to God, for the choices they make, in the service of that corporation.  They cannot simply leave God at the door when they go to work.

Every officer, everyone on the Board of Directors, perhaps even every employee and investor. . . every one is a willing participant, a part of the giant organism that we refer to as a corporation.  Each one has a role in the actions of the corporation, and each one will answer for their part.

People, don’t be fooled!  It doesn’t matter where you go, or what you do–there is nowhere that you can go to escape God.  You are responsible for every action you take, every word you speak.  But, more than that, you MUST understand, that you are responsible for your HEART . . . what you spend your time dreaming about, working towards, loving, hating, wishing for, fantasizing about.

God sees your heart, and he knows what you condone, and what you condemn, what you envy, and what disgusts you.  Every day people put on a nice outward show, to win the approval of others.  But it is only men that judge by outward appearance. It is what is in your heart that God will judge!

 

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 1 of 6

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 2 of 6

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 3 of 6

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 4 of 6

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 5 of 6

Great Lakes Conspiracy, 6 of 6

Who Really Pulls Obama’s Strings?

Geez, when I started this post yesterday, it was just going to be a short prelude to something else . . . however, it is starting to look like these two people could very well be the major players behind a lot of our (current) top headlines!  I knew almost none of this, until I started asking  ‘who is . . . ?’  yesterday.

A couple of days ago, Glenn Beck aired a video of former FBI agent Larry Grathwohl in 1982.  His role, in the mid ’70s,  had been to infiltrate ‘The Weather Underground.  He was the only person who was able to successfully do so.

The Weather Underground was a domestic terrorist organization that was devoted to the overthrow of America.  So what?  That was a long time ago?  Think again.  Do names like Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn ring a bell?  Bill and Bernardine were leaders of this communist revolutionary group.

Bill Ayers girlfriend, Diana Oughton, was one of the people helping build a bomb (for their campaign of bombing public buildings), when it detonated and killed her and a couple other ‘Weathermen’, in Greenwich Village in 1970.

He later married Bernardine Dohrn**.  They were the primary leaders of ‘Weatherman’ aka ‘The Weather Underground’.  Bill Ayers = William Ayers*. This is the same William Ayers who is an associate of Mr. Obama.

Anyhow . . . back to the video.  Here is a portion from it (the speaker is the FBI agent who infiltrated Weatherman):

‘I brought up the subject of what’s going to happen after we take over the government. You know, we become responsible then for administrating, you know, 250 million people. And there was no answers. No one had given any thought to economics, how are you going to clothe and feed these people. The only thing that I could get was that they expected that the Cubans and the North Vietnamese and the Chinese and the Russians would all want to occupy different portions of the United States.

They also believed that their immediate responsibility would be to protect against what they called the counterrevolution and they felt that this counterrevolution could best be guarded against by creating and reestablishing reeducation centers in the southwest where we would take all the people who needed to be reeducated into the new way of thinking and teach them how things were going to be. I ask, well, what is going to happen to those people that we can’t reeducate, that are diehard capitalists? And the reply was that they would have to be eliminated. And when I pursued this further, they estimated that they would have to eliminate 25 million people in these reeducation centers. And when I say eliminate, I mean kill. 25 million people.’

‘ . . . when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.’  Daniel 8:23

Interestingly, this is the same Glenn Beck who did a show debunking the myth (?) of FEMA camps being built across America as detention centers for dissidents!  (I wonder if he sees the possible connection yet?)

The FEMA camp ‘myth’ is another thing I haven’t wanted to believe.  But, if satan was floating that idea over 30 years ago–and why should we be surprised, it’s just what he did in Nazi Germany–then likely that is his plan now too.

It is important to understand that satan has always had the same plan.  Throughout history God has allowed him little tastes of success.  God uses satan as His means of judgment on His people, when they pursue a life of rebellion.

God is stepping aside.  He is loosening His restraint on evil. This is satan’s hour.  Unless there is a mighty revival–of humbleness and repentance, among God’s people–this is the end of ‘The Dispensation of Grace’.

Very, VERY soon, the window of opportunity, for our repentance to halt the flow of events, will be forever closed.

Unfortunately, humility and admitting oneself wrong are anathema to modern Americans.

Make no mistake, America is God’s people.  America represents the largest of the tribes of Israel on the Earth today.  We are Manasseh.

*Don’t let it escape you that William Ayers career centers around education reform and curriculum!

More info on Bill/Billy/William Ayers:

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/eyewitness-to-the-ayers-revolution/?singlepage=true

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/eyewitness-to-the-ayers-revolution/?singlepage=true (scroll down to the Updates)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1810338,00.html (I totally disagree with the writer’s viewpoint–but more info is here that I hadn’t seen elsewhere.)

Additional video links here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMIwziGrAQ&feature=player_embedded

Footnotes:

**Interestingly, Bernardine is Jewish.  (There always seems to be a Jewish connection!  There have been questions whether Hitler or Ahmadinejad were/are Jewish.)  Here is a quote from foreignpolicy.com that seems to sum it up:

‘ . . . classic pattern for religious converts: Adopt Islam (or whatever anti-Jewish path), leave the hometown where people might know you as a Jew, move to a new location where blending into the [Muslim] population is easier, take up different occupations, and, just in case anyone were to question their confessional fidelity, demonstrate zeal for [Islam] by attacking their former religion [and other minority faiths.]‘  (comments mine)

For whatever reason,  it seems that satan prefers to use Jews that rebel against being Jewish to do his bidding.  Perhaps it is his hope that it will lend credence to his lie that all Jews are evil . . . guilty by association.  Don’t believe the lie!

UPDATES:

1. Before even posting this I have found another, very timely, excellent link

2. When I wrote  ‘Coincidence? Sabotage? Who Would Gain The Most?’ a few days ago, I did not feel convinced that sabotage is what happened, but I felt the possibility deserved examination.  However, after watching the 3rd video in the  link above (Update #1), it no longer seems like a stretch of the imagination!  Not only is sabotage a possibility–Obama is closely tied to people (Ayers & Dohrn) who have a history of similar acts!!

Do You Recognize This Man?

First Beast Rising

(Once again, I have written an entire post leading up to the subject I really wanted to cover!)

Lets See What You’re Made Of

God created everything from ‘nothing’, yet it was formed of some substance.  That substance was not pure.  It was seeded with corruption.  Everything created from that substance had the ability to either mature into evil–which would eventually consume all good within it–or to mature into good.

When God created darkness and light, He ‘saw that the light was good.’  When he created the land and the seas; the plants; the stars, the sun and the moon; the birds and the animals; He ‘saw that [His creation] was good’.  And when He created man He ‘saw that [His creation] was very good’

Mankind has always interpreted that as ‘perfect’.  God’s creation was not perfect, because the substance from which He formed it was not perfect.  Neither was the Garden of Eden perfect.  But it was a place of protection.  A place of God’s absolute provision, peace, and safety.  Similarly, God’s promise to the Israelites was protection, provision, peace, and safety.

God’s hope for mankind was that they would choose Him, and be content with that–that they would not even learn about evil, much less experience it.  But, through disobedience, sin entered the world.

By the time of Noah, sin had become so rampant that only eight souls could be spared.  By the time of Abraham, only one man sought Him.  Years later, when God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He hoped they had seen enough evil that they would leave it behind and let Him lead them in the paths of righteousness.  But that was not to be.  Most of them died in the wilderness.

The real promise of the ‘Promised Land’ was that it would be a place set apart, a land of abundance, protection, peace, safety, and the presence of God–but first, evil had to be conquered.

The land itself was filled with evil–evil brought about by its inhabitants worshiping the spirit beings (principalities) that God had appointed to oversee the different areas of the earth.  Along with man, angels fell.

It was God’s plan to carve out a small place on the earth, for Himself and His people–a place to which others could come, who wanted to know Him.  God directed His people to purge the land of its inhabitants, because they were consumed with evil, and His angels did war in the spiritual realm, binding the principalities of darkness and preparing a place where He could reside.

There He lived among them.  The land flourished and the people became prosperous.  He gave them guidelines to live by, so that evil could not gain a foothold in their hearts.  He promised His protection, whenever evil would come against them.  But He could not abide evil within them.  God’s war has always been a war against evil, in whatever form it takes.  Woe to him who harbors evil inside himself, for he has made himself an enemy of God.

And there He lived among them–those whom  He had chosen to protect from the evil outside their borders, those whom He would teach to overcome the evil within themselves.

He allowed the light that emanated from that place to provoke the forces of darkness and evil to wrath.  Driven mad by their rage, they would come against the place of light, and the people of God, and He would execute judgment against them.  This is how He continually purged the land of evil.

Yet, even His people continued to gravitate towards sin, so He let them go into captivity.  They preferred evil, so He gave them over to it.  Too few chose righteousness, and they invited the gods of the surrounding nations into their land.  Eventually He withdrew His presence.

Eventually people covered the face of the earth, and sin abounded.  The time had come to send His son–as savior, and ambassador of the good news about Him.  Jesus came and sought out eleven men in whom He saw the desire for righteousness–and one more, who was locked in a life and death struggle with the powers of darkness, and needed His personal intervention.  He would teach them to overcome the evil within, and to battle the evil without.

He would not promise them His abundance and protection in the earthly realm, because shielding men from evil had only caused them to become complacent and proud.  He would not promise them peace, because it would be their duty to confront evil and battle it head on.  He would not promise them safety, because their motivations in serving Him must be pure. But He would promise them His presence, and power to overcome.

It would be their task to seek out others and teach them, and those would eventually go on to do the same.  He told them to go to the four corners of the earth to share the truth about good and evil, and how to be reconciled to Him.  And He postponed judgment on those who persecuted them, because He wanted to sift the souls and intentions of all men.

Again, as He had done with the nation of Israel, He used the light that emanated from them (‘the Church’ aka ‘Christians’) to provoke the forces of  evil to wrath.  Driven mad by their rage, they would come against the ambassadors of truth,  the people of God, and He would store up judgment against them.  This is how He would finally purge the earth of evil.

We are living in the final days of this part of God’s plan.  The forces of evil are rising up once again, to come against all of God’s people, in the hopes of erasing His presence, His name, and His people from the earth forever.

And, as He always has, God will let His light shine forth to infuriate the forces of darkness into attacking.  This will bring judgment upon them–but this time, judgment will be quick in coming!

Testing And Purging

How Can You Say Your Way Is The Only Way?

Testing And Purging

God’s overall plan is to eliminate evil.  We all have within us the capacity to choose evil or good.  But because Adam & Eve chose evil, we actually have a seed of evil within us.  We can either choose to let evil permeate us, or we can struggle against it.  Unfortunately, even those who fight to overcome it cannot set themselves free.  But, if they choose, they can ask God to remove it from them.

There is a process involved in removing the evil within us

• First, the soul must understand the difference between good and evil.
• Then, one must long for righteousness.
• When they realize they cannot overcome it on their own, they may come to God, in repentance for their sins and ask His forgiveness.  His forgiveness was paid for by the death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who died in our place.
• Once forgiven, we are baptized in water.  This signifies our cleansing by repentance and obedience to the Word of God.  Water is the first means that God used to separate the righteous from the evil, when He washed the world with a flood, and spared the only eight righteous souls that He found.
• Then He fills us with the Holy Spirit.  This is the seal of God and the constant indwelling of His presence.  Once within us, the Holy Spirit begins the work of purifying & refining us.  We must continue to walk in righteousness, but God allows us to be tested and tried by the forces of evil.   The testing reveals where we are vulnerable to evil, or where it remains inside us.  He works in us, to purge the evil and strengthen us in those areas.  If we stumble when we are tested, His Holy Spirit picks us up and leads us to repent.
• This continual process of purging/refining us is the ‘baptism with fire’.  We live in the portion of time where God portrays himself as fire:  Moses and the burning bush; God leading the Children of Israel through the wilderness, His constant presence with them manifesting as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire in the darkness of night, etc.  (Our world today is dark with the presence of evil, but God’s children [Christians] are the flames that shine forth from the darkness.) Fire is also the final means that God will use to purge evil from His Creation.
• Before He takes us to Himself, we have a final test, to make sure no remnant of sin remains in us.

This phase of God’s plan for mankind is drawing near its end.  The world is steeped in darkness.  It is now that God’s light will shine the brightest.  However, evil is approaching its peak, and the testing of God’s people will be more severe and widespread than ever before.  This will require patience and endurance from His people.  It will also require trusting Him completely.

Even the most righteous among God’s people are more stained and deceived than they realize.  There are very few who, in their hearts, desire complete holiness–and even less that pursue it as a way of life.  In many ways, today’s Christians are just a subset of society–a group that indulges in the same things as society, but to a lesser degree.  Christianity’s light has almost gone out.  Its ability to cleanse and preserve society seems almost a thing of the past.

The Holy Spirit will continue working with each of us (Christians), to bring us to perfection, as long as we will participate.  However, not everyone who says they are a Christian is–and some who are, will fall by the wayside.  Do everything you can to encourage and strengthen each other.  Help those in need.  Gently confront those who have gone astray.  Live your life as an example.

Wickedness is so pervasive, and has affected our ways of thinking and behaving so deeply,  that many of us will require a lot of work to be made pure.  Trust that He will use the hardships and trials you endure to test you, strengthen you, and perfect you.

Many things are going to slam America and American Christians.  It will be one wave of hardship after another.  The Lord has granted us several months to reflect and repent, and to ‘get our house in order’.  Those days are now drawing to a close.

Great suffering is coming to America, Israel, and the ‘Western Nations’–and to Christians.  God has been restraining powerful forces of evil, but He will soon release them, allowing them to help purify and refine His children, and to provoke the ungodly to reveal the sin that lives inside their hearts.

Along with His children (the wheat), the Lord has allowed many wicked men (tares)  to thrive.  If we had been truer to the guidelines that Paul so painstakingly laid out for the church, we would not have so many of them sitting beside us in the pews, or standing behind the pulpits.

As it is, there are many imposters among us.  They have received the same blessings as we have, from our loving Father’s hand.  However, they have corrupted our understanding of God’s Word with their doctrines of demons and men, and their lying prophecies.  A great shaking is about to occur, and many you have listened to and trusted for years are going to be revealed as ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’.  Stand firm.

Their (and our) testing will come as persecution from the ungodly.  Remember, trials do not form character so much as they reveal it.  It is not from pressure and persecution that people fall into sin–trials are God’s way of revealing what is already inside.  Don’t let anyone fool you by claiming that they fell into sin as a result of this pressure.  Those who truly wish to serve God will repent when their sin is revealed–those who place blame elsewhere are deceivers.

For those who truly repent–have the grace to forgive them, but they must not serve as leaders again, until God’s work is completed in them.  If their repentance is sincere, they will be humbled.  But if they remain proud, their repentance is not complete.

When you are beset by trials and tribulations, trust God.  He is working to strengthen and perfect you.  Many of the things that happen in the months and years ahead are going to be too shocking for some Christians to comprehend.  Everything they’ve held to be true will be upended.

If that is you, if you feel like you’re in shock from what is happening, and what you are learning–understand that we have been persuaded by false doctrines and lulled to sleep by false prophets.  We have been lied to–sometimes intentionally, often not.  Hold onto God.  Trust Him to uphold you.  Be pliable in His hands.  Be humble.  Repent where necessary.  Trust Him to finish the work He began in you.  Pray always.  Be encouraged and know that The Day of The Lord is near.

(For those of you who are still playing with sin: you must choose whether you will humble yourself before God and repent, or whether you will continue to consort with the evil that has courted and tempted you–the evil that will soon delight in your shame as it ‘outs’ you to the world!  Will you choose humility, or will you be given humiliation?)

Unconditional Salvation?

We Will Turn The World Upside Down!