All posts for the month April, 2011

From light to darkness: how Lucifer became Satan

Is there a real devil or is the devil merely a personification of the concept of evil?  The Bible tells us that Satan’s existence is just as real as the existence of people on Earth. To help us understand how he came to be who he is today, God gives us two detailed accounts of Satan’s origins in the Old Testament (OT). In these two accounts, Jehovah also lets us know the ultimate end of the archnemesis of the household of God.

The first account is in Isaiah 14 where God tells a proverb about Satan’s ultimate defeat:

 4 …thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

This is a parallel prophecy of the fall of Belshazzar, last king of Babylon, and the fall of the spiritual entity who held him up–Satan.  Satan started all false religion and one of his great accomplishments was at Babel which became Babylon.  The ideas started there continue today.  Those who know God’s truth know that false teachers love to babble on because their doctrines are from Babylon.  The oppressor is Satan.  One day he and his earthly rulers will have their power taken away.  Satan loves to devour people in his unrelenting anger and that’s how he rules over the nations.  But one day the persecutor will be persecuted by God and no one one will stop it.

7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.9Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. [Isaiah 14]

When Satan is finally defeated, the whole earth will rejoice, including nature.  Even the trees will be safe.  In hell, the kings of nations who are there will see Satan being cast into the lake of fire where they are and will be amazed at how weak he really is in that he suffers the same fate as them.  Even the noise of Satan’s music industry, which predominates the airwaves of our world, will be silenced.

 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.16They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;17That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? [Isaiah 14]

Lucifer, a name that means light-bearer, was so puffed up that he thought he could dethrone Jehovah in heaven and rule over his fellow angels.  Instead, God made his domain hell and one day mankind will see that although Satan talks a good game to boast about himself, to deceive people, and to make them fearful by his threats, his power will not even come close to Jehovah’s power.  The destroyer will be destroyed.  The one who makes people his spiritual prisoners will be imprisoned.

The second detailed account of Satan’s origins in the OT is in Ezekiel 28:

12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Jehovah tells us Lucifer was a created being among the class of angels called cherubs.  God created him with perfection.  Lucifer “sealest up the sum”, which is to say he was the pattern and example of perfection in his physical form, in his actions, and in his wisdom.  He was clothed in gems and precious metals of many colors.  Having a coat of many colors is symbolic in the Bible of God’s blessing and favor.  God created him with the ability to craft musical instruments like no one else to make beautiful music.  Is it any wonder that he controls the secular music industry and that they worship him? 

Jehovah created him to be an anointed cherub that covered the throne of God with his wings as symbolized in the ark of the covenant.  He was one of the highest ranking angels.  But all angels, like men, were created with a free will.  Lucifer became prideful because of his position, beauty, and good works.  He chose to sin and became sin’s originator.

16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.18Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.19All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. [Ezekiel 28]

Lucifer became Satan in his rebellion against God.  When he chose to rebel against the Most High, he enlisted 1/3 of the angels [Revelation 12:4] to start a war in heaven in an attempt to take God’s throne so he could rule the universe–a war they lost and they were kicked out of heaven [Revelation 12:7-9] since they did not keep their first estate, leaving their own habitation.  Some of them are roaming around freely while others are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day [2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6].

You can also notice in this passage that Satan is a merchant, a trafficker.  He has all kinds of sin to sell and often uses violence to promote his goods in his trafficking.  He also has “sanctuaries” throughout the earth where people worship at altars of their iniquity.  His sanctuaries of sin include mosques, pagan temples, false churches, your local adult video store, and secular radio stations, among other things.  But one day Satan’s wickedness will end and God will give him a perp walk before the rulers and sinners of the Earth before he is destroyed by fire.

So what good is it to follow Satan?  Compared to God, his power is useless and he’s such a loser.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 30, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 30, 2011

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Teens who drink with parents still abuse alcohol

Results of a study by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs has proven wrong a common view held today.  It has often been thought that teens who drink with their parents are not prone to abuse alcohol as they get older, but this new study shows that thinking is incorrect.  In fact, teens who drink with parents end up drinking more and still face harmful consequences of their drinking.

For this study, a group of 1,900 teens were monitored from the seventh to ninth grade.  Half of them were from Victoria, Australia where drinking alcohol in small amounts with parents is widely accepted.  The other half were from Washington state where drinking is considered taboo under all circumstances for everyone under 21.  By the time they reached the 8th grade, 67% of the Australian teens had drunk alcohol with their parents and 35% of the Washington teens had done the same thing.  While they were in the 9th grade, 36% of these teens who drank faced negative consequences from drinking, including blackouts, violence, and not knowing when to stop drinking.  This also happened to 21% of the Washington teens.  Both groups also noted that they were more prone to get drunk as time progressed and they started drinking even when their parents weren’t around.

Barbara J. McMorris from the University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing, who led the research, came to the conclusion that this study proves that “Kids need parents to be parents and not drinking buddies.  Adults need to be clear about what messages they are sending.”

I am of the opinion that drinking is fine as long as it’s done in moderation and maybe it’s best that parents demonstrate to their teens how to drink responsibly without letting their teens drink with them.

29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. [Proverbs 23]

Source: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, vol. 72, issue 3, May 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 28, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 28, 2011

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Capitalism failing the middle class? Really!?

Nobel prize-winning economist Michael Spence and co-author Sandile Hlatshwayo released a report recently concluding that capitalism is not really working out for the middle class and instead has hurt them.  This report was sponsored and published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a New World Order (NWO) organization.  The authors studied economic trends over the past 20 years to reach their conclusions.

Globalization and advances in technology are the two main factors highlighted in the report as helping economic advances overall with the downside of causing the salaries and pay for middle class workers at the lower end of the labor force to stagnate.  The authors note, “One way to think about what is going on is that global markets are becoming more integrated in tradable sectors and functions, whereas before they were separated geographically by high transactions costs and policy barriers. When markets merge, or partially merge, there are effects on prices, wages, and incomes. Some rise and others fall. Not everyone is happy.”

They then point out that “This seems fairly clear in the U.S. economy. The most educated, who work in the highly compensated jobs of the tradable and nontradable sectors, have high and rising incomes and interesting and challenging employment opportunities, domestically and abroad. Many of the middle-income group, however, are seeing employment options narrow and incomes stagnate. Recent surveys suggest that people have doubts about the opportunities available for future generations. This may be pessimism induced by the tremendous shock of the crisis, high unemployment, and a difficult recovery. But it appears that the declining employment opportunities in the tradable sector for middle-income employees predate the crisis. Uncertainty about both the quantity and quality of the employment opportunities for this group is considerable.”

Spence believes there are no market failures causing these changes. “Multinational companies, which operate in a way that gives them access to these assets and to growing markets, are doing exactly what one would expect them to do. The resulting efficiency of the global system is high and rising.  So, there is no market failure.  The system is complex and constantly evolving, but the operatives in the system adapt to the shifting sands of comparative advantage and market size…”

Mr. Spence and his co-author are, in my opinion, the puppets of the NWO who are attempting, with this report, to get us to take our eyes away from the real reasons behind the shrinking of the middle class.  The middle class has been a powerful force and stands in the way of the NWO having the complete control they desire.  Capitalism is not failing the middle class.  The policies of those who control the markets are unfairly targeting the middle class for extinction.  They are using the markets, governments, and multinational corporations to re-distribute the wealth of the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe to developing countries to kill off the middle class so there can be the ruling class of the extremely wealthy at the top with the poor at the bottom who will have to depend solely on the ruling class to survive.

Capitalism is a neutral ideal that can be used for good or evil.  It was capitalism that helped the top 2% rise to power and now those who have joined the NWO organizations are looking to burn down the bridge of capitalism behind them.  Capitalism is what has given many churches the ability to support the work of missionaries abroad in the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why did these authors focus on the last 20 years?  Because the last 20 years is when we have seen the various trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA between the U.S. and other nations take effect.  These lopsided agreements were meant to bring about the results we now see.  If their study went back further, the trend of a shrinking middle class would not have existed as it does now.

The report is basically a mind game that many Americans may fall for, especially when one considers that in the world of academia, professors teach college students that capitalism is bad and socialism is good.  The CFR wants the middle class to be brainwashed into thinking capitalism doesn’t work so we can embrace the socialism they want to set up all over the world for centralized control of the masses and to exalt one leader for the whole world, the one we Christians call the Antichrist.  I pointed all of this out in a post I did awhile back entitled Everybody wants 2 rule the world.

5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. [Revelation 6]

Sources:

Capitalism is Failing the Middle Class, FoxNews.com, April 19, 2011.

Spence, Michael and Hlatshwayo, Sandile. The Evolving Structure of the American Economy and the Employment Challenge. Council on Foreign Relations, March 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 19, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 19, 2011

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Mexican drug cartels targeting evangelicals

When 500 worshipers gathered on Sunday, April 10, a group of masked men entered Christian Center El Shaddai with machine guns, firing them in the air.  As the members hit the deck, the men took pastor Josué Ramírez Santiago away in the city of Lázaro Cárdenas.

His family received a ransom demand for 20 million pesos, or $1.7 million, the next day but even if they could raise that amount, kidnap victims are never guaranteed to be returned by kidnappers.  It is estimated about 100 evangelical pastors have left Ciudad Juarez because they are often targets of extortion, threats, kidnapping, and murder by drug cartels since President Calderon declared war on them in 2006.

According to Arturo Farela, who leads the National Fraternity of Evangelical Churches in Mexico, evangelicals are targeted by these criminals because churches own the majority of the drug rehab centers and collect large amounts of money for ministry purposes–money that the cartels want.

I pray, Father, that you will be a hedge of protection around your pastors in Mexico so your gospel will continue to be preached to the lost souls of that nation.  If pastors and other evangelicals continue to be kidnapped, I pray that you will turn the kidnappings around for your glory and that your people will stand firm in the faith and be used by you as your mouthpiece to preach the gospel boldly to their kidnappers because you sent your son to die for drug traffickers.  I pray for the salvation of these drug traffickers to show that your power to save is far above the power of the drug cartels to work their evil.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Source: Elisabeth Isais, Suspected drug traffickers kidnap pastor in Mexico, Christianity Today, April 15, 2011

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2011

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Angry Muslim mob attacks village in Pakistan

On the morning of April 16, 2011, an angry mob of Pakistani muslims believed to number in the hundreds attacked the village of Khokarki in the state of Punjab.  The village’s citizens, who are Christians, abandoned their homes and fled.  The mob gathered in response to an accusation by local muslims that Mushtaq Gill, 60, and his son desecrated a Quran.

The father, who is vice president of the Christian Technical Training Center in that region, and son were arrested on April 15 based on the accusation that a Quran found near their home had torn pages in it.  A preliminary investigation of the accusations is ongoing, according to the local police.  When the Gill family found out about the arrest of Mushtaq and his son, they sought refuge with friends in an undisclosed location.

The region where the village of Khokarki is located has a history of attacks against Christians, whether it is against church buildings, comfiscation of Christian property, or murders based on false accusations of blasphemy.  Earlier this month, Arif Masih, a Christian from another village in Punjab, was arrested based on the same accusations, but it was discovered he was falsely accused because a neighbor had some kind of land dispute with him.

The family of Mushtaq Gill and his son have sought the legal aid of the Masihi Foundation, who mount legal defenses for religious minorities in Pakistan.

This is the legacy of sharia law that ”progressives” in the media, government, and social agencies want to sweep under the rug as if it’s nothing to be worried about.  When people can make false accusations to stir up angry emotions and angry mobs to carry out violence to violate human rights, everyone becomes a potential victim of such vigilante injustice.  Christians suffering under false accusations dates back to what our Lord himself and his apostles were subjected to.  In the midst of us shining light on such injustices and having righteous anger at them, there is also room for Mushtaq and his son to rejoice and be exceeding glad in suffering for the Lord’s sake.

9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

 12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: [Acts 6]

Source:  Jibran Khan, Punjab, Muslims attack a Christian village, AsiaNews.it, April 16, 2011

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2011

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Heat from the sun flares up

After a longer period than usual of the sun burning at a minimal rate, scientists are now reporting that sunspots have returned with a vengeance. Richard Fisher, who heads NASA’s Heliophysics Division in DC, has shown that solar flares have returned to the sun after a long three-year hiatus.

Recordings of the sun’s activity by satellites on February 15th, March 7th, and March 9th showed solar flares had reappeared and they are in the most powerful class of x-rays.  Scientists have kept records of the sun’s cycles since the mid-1700s and they now believe this recent flare-up marks the beginning of the 24th cycle since that time.  They believe this new cycle is off to a rather slow start, but the intensity of the class of these x-rays may make up for that slow start.

Jesus told the generation of his day that they were evil and wicked for seeking after signs from him in the heavens [Matt. 12:39, Mark 8:12, Luke 11:29].  But in their case, they were testing him out of unbelief for him to give them a sign that fit in their restrictive parameters.  Nevertheless, for the generation of believers that would be in existence before his return, Christ told us to keep an eye on the signs of the times and the sun will play a big part in those signs.  These cycles of increase and decrease in solar flares proves that God has the power to turn the sun up or turn it down according to how he sees fit.

Not only will we witness signs in the sun before his coming, but after the rapture during the great tribulation the sun will both be darkened and intensified as punishment on unbelievers.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [Luke 21]

12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. [Revelation 8]

 8And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. [Revelation 16]

Source:

 Solar Activity Heats Up: Sunspots Finally Return, ScienceDaily.com, April 16, 2011.

ScienceCasts: Solar Activity, YouTube.com, April 13, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Federal Reserve gives money to Wall St. wives

New revelations have been coming to light over the money that has been given out from the Federal Reserve thanks to an act passed by Congress to bring the Fed’s transactions into the sunlight.  Since the Federal Reserve’s books have been opened, their records show that Wall Street wives have been making off with Fed money like gangbusters.

 The Fed has the ability to give out money to whoever they please without having to answer to the President or Congress.  They have given bailout funds in the billions to banks in Bahrain, Bavaria, and Mexico, Japanese car companies, and to several millionaires and billionaires with addresses in the Caymans.  Now Rolling Stone has reported that approximately $220 million has been given directly to Christy Mack, wife of  the chairman of Morgan Stanley, and to Susan Karches, the widow of the former president of Morgan Stanley’s investment banking division.

 The women, who do not have any notable business experience, set up a Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) which is part of a special government bailout program set up in November 2008 to invigorate lending to consumers.  Mack and Karches put up $15 million of their own money toward the TALF and got $220 million from the Fed to buy student loans and commercial mortgages.  Under the agreement for the “loans,” Mack and Karches can keep all of the profits on their investments while the Treasury and the Fed would have to absorb 90% of all losses on the investments.  Talk about a sweetheart of a deal.

So the majority of people who caused our most recent recession not only avoid prosecution, but finagle their way into stealing more money with the help of the Fed.  Meanwhile, the middle class continues to be in the crosshairs with home foreclosure programs that don’t work and the formerly unemployed finding new jobs that pay a lot less than their previous jobs.

As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.  They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. [Jeremiah 5:27-28].

Source: Matt Taibbi,  The Real Housewives of Wall Street, Rollingstone.com, Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 15, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 15, 2011

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postmodern humanism–the old is new again

Humanism is thought to be a rather new philosophy or worldview, but it has actually been around since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Humanism is the belief that humans are basically good, so the universe around us is in its best state when our best values, characteristics, and behavior are implemented in lieu of any supernatural authority.  In other words, each human has the capacity within themselves to be a god.  Its current rise in popularity is reflected in the recent movie Limitless, and in the recent release of the humanist “Bible” called The Good Book.

Adam and Eve fell for this lie when the serpent told Eve “…God doth know that in the day ye eat [of the tree of knowledge of good and evil], then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” [Genesis 3:5].  Then Eve ate the fruit after she thought it would “make one wise.”  And man has been battling with the idea of trusting in humans versus trusting in God ever since that fateful day.

Now it’s perfectly fine for us to trust humankind to a certain degree such as trusting our doctor to give us accurate, helpful advice concerning our health. It is also good for children to trust responsible parents to give them good advice.  We should also expect government officials to be trusted to reward those who are good by God’s standards and punish evildoers as stated in Romans 13:1-4.  It is the government’s God-given duty to “legislate morality.”  But where we run into trouble is when we turn our backs on God, having no faith in his abilities and principles, and instead put our complete trust in humans for our physical, social, civic, and spiritual wellbeing.

God warns us against this and used Israel as the example of this faulty way of thinking.  They mistakenly thought they could enlist the help of other nations to fend off punishments that God had in store for their disobedient behavior.  They also believed if they showed deference to the powerful as opposed to obedience to God’s statutes, that all would be well for them in the midst of their hardships.  Here are some of the things God told them in response:

1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. [Isaiah 30]

1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 2Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. 3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. [Isaiah 31]

12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? [Isaiah 51]

5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [Jeremiah 17]

So God made it clear that if you put men on pedestals, placing your complete trust in him instead of God, you will be spiritually destitute and lacking in God’s blessings in this life and in the life to come.  Those who trust in the Lord will receive “manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting,” [Luke 18:30].  There shall be showers of blessings from God for them.  They will prosper and be in health, even as their soul prospers [3 John 1:2].

Unfortunately, humanism has even crept into the church through several false teachings, such as Dominion Theology, also known as the “Kingdom Now” movement.  This errant teaching is the belief that those who claim to be Christian must take power over all the governments worldwide to establish a physical kingdom for Christ in order for him to return from heaven.  It places emphasis on what man does instead of acknowledging that it’s “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts,” [Zechariah 4:6].

Churches steeped in humanist doctrines need spiritual healing, but are much like Asa, king of Judah, when he was sick–”And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.  And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign,” [2 Chronicles 16:12-13].  He placed all of his trust in man and let man have the final say on his condition instead of allowing God to have his final say for his healing.

May our eyes be open, Lord, to forsake any of our humanist leanings in the body of Christ so we may turn back to you.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 14, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 14, 2011

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/postmodern-humanism-the-old-is-new-again/

Request for no-fly zone over Gaza coming soon

With violence escalating recently between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Arab League met in Cairo to draft a request to the UN for a no-fly zone to be enforced over Gaza.  According to the Amr Mussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, the request for the no-fly zone is “to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza.”

The political wing of Hamas recently expressed its wishes for a ceasefire in light of the Palestinian casualties and Israel’s success with its “Iron Dome,” an armament of short-range missiles stationed throughout Israel to shoot down rockets launched by Israel’s enemies.  Both sides of the conflict said they would stop firing if the other side does.

Strikingly absent from the press releases announcing the upcoming request to the UN for the no-fly zone is the fact that this most recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians began when Palestinians, emboldened by the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, escalated firing rockets into southern Israel from Gaza at the beginning of this year.  Since then the mortar attacks have increased and Israel had no choice but to defend themselves.  In addition to the mortar attacks came the bombing at a bus stop in March that killed a Christian missionary and injured 30 people. 

So the same old tactics from Israel’s enemies continues.  They start a fight and when Israel defends itself, they claim that Israel is the aggressor.  News reports out today say that the ceasefire called by both sides appears to be taking hold as the attacks dropped significantly on Sunday in Israel.

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. [Romans 11]

Source: Selim Saheb Ettaba, Gaza truce holds after days of deadly clashes, Yahoo News, April 10, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 10, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 10, 2011

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/request-for-no-fly-zone-over-gaza-coming-soon/

Truly beastly: Antichrist’s actions & fall

Now that I’ve discussed the Antichrist’s origins and who helps him gain power, I will highlight what he will accomplish as he exercises leadership over the One World Government. The bulk of his actions are prophesied in Daniel and Revelation.

Before the beast steps onto the world stage, the building of the new temple in Jerusalem has to happen with its daily sacrifices under a covenant that is established with Israel. Until then, the identity of the Antichrist and his accomplishments are a ways off and any end time events are just the “beginning of sorrows” as Jesus said.

Here are highlights about his actions, not necessarily in chronological order:

■ During his first year in power as king of the north he will “forecast his devices against the strong holds,” [Daniel 11:22] to war against his opposers.  One of his enemies is the king of the south, “And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand,” [Daniel 11:25].  So the king of the south will not stand and is one of the three kingdoms of the 10 kingdoms from the Roman Empire that will fall.  This king of the south is Egypt and those in alliance with Egypt, possibly an Islamic/African contingent.

“And both of these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed,” [Daniel 11:27].  The two kings will have diplomatic talks to end the war, but they will lie to each other when the agreement is made.  The beast returns to his kingdom with the spoils of war, will set his crosshairs on the “holy covenant” with Israel [Daniel 11:28, 30] and set future plans against the kingdom of the south [Daniel 11:29].

■ Then Antichrist shall “have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits,” [Daniel 11: 30-32].  So “by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.  And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered,” [Daniel 8:11-12].

Daniel 12:11 tells us there are 1,290 days (3 1/2 years)  from the halt of daily sacrifices in the temple to the setting of the abomination of desolation.  This is the first half of the great tribulation period.  The total amount of time for the period where the sacrifices are halted, the abomination of desolation is erected, and the host is “trodden under foot” of the Antichrist is 2,390 days (6 years)[Daniel 8:13-14].  So the first year of the seven year tribulation, Antichrist is warring to solidify his power while making plans to stop the sacrifices.

During the first half of the tribulation period, God will raise up his two witnesses to preach in Jerusalem for 1,260 days (3 1/2 years), according to Revelation 11.  Toward the end of their 3 1/2 year preaching campaign, the beast will kill them close to the time of his abomination of desolation.  The two witnesses along with the 144,000 Messianic Jews during this first 3 1/2 years are the ones who know their God, shall be strong and do exploits.  They have godly understanding and will instruct many people with the gospel in spite of them being slaughtered, tortured, and taken captive [Daniel 11:32-35].

■ The beast will have another showdown with the king of the south and will annihilate him [Daniel 11:40].  He will also overthrow countries in the “glorious land,” the lands which were promised to Israel.  The present borders of Israel are just a small part of what was promised.  Among the nations that will fall in this war will be Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia [Daniel 11:41-43].

■ After conquering these southern lands, he will hear news that will disturb him from the north (Russia) and from the east (possibly from the lands of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and/or others).  He will war against them and defeat them [Daniel 11:44].  At this point he will have conquered all three of the 10 kingdoms from the Roman Empire he was prophesied to conquer.  This will be toward the end of the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.  During this period he will also be killed and revived [Rev. 13:3, 14].

■ The people will worship Satan and the beast with their praises of “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” [Rev. 13: 4].

■ Antichrist will build a palace on Mt. Zion as part of his abomination of desolation project [Daniel 11:45]. 

■ The beast will be “a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences. …he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many…” [Daniel 8:23-25].  The crafts that will prosper will be the occultic arts, warcraft, and spycraft.

He will war against the tribulation saints and prevail against them [Daniel 7:21].  “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time,” [Daniel 7:25, see also Rev. 13:5-7].  For a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and the dividing of time (1/2 year), for a total of 3 1/2 years, he will win against the tribulation saints.  This is the second half of the tribulation, since ”the holy city shall they [the Gentiles] tread under foot forty and two months,” [Revelation 11:2].

“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain,” [Daniel 11:36-39].  This shows just how self-absorbed he will be.  The fact that he does not regard the desire of women may mean he will be homosexual.

■ When he sets up his abomination of desolation [2 Thess. 2:4-12], the false prophet, the Antichrist’s spokesperson, will command everyone to worship the beast and his image or die.  The false prophet will, like Jannes and Jambres in Pharoah’s court, work supernatural signs and wonders to deceive the people.  He will also cause the image of Antichrist to speak [Rev. 13:11-15].

■ The beast will set up his decree that no one can buy, sell, or trade goods without the mark of the beast, or his name, or the number of his name 666 in their right hand or forehead [Rev. 13:16-18].

■ Antichrist and his 10 kings come together to raise an army for the annihilation of Israel [Ezekiel 38-39; Rev. 16:12-14, 16; 17:12-14; 19:19-21]

11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. …

20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. [Rev. 19]

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints to the glory of God!

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 3, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Antichrist, Bible, Christianity, End times, religion
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 3, 2011

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/truly-beastly-antichrists-actions-fall/

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