“2The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:14-17)
“2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:2-3)
This Christmas season wherein we commemorate Jesus as the Light of the world, great darkness still covers the people. And this darkness is certainly growing deeper and darker, even as dark as before the creation of the world when all was without form and void (Genesis 1:1-2). And as the darkness grows, the shadowy beast system is slinking stealthily upon the world stage for the final countdown of time itself. All secret societies are boldly straining to amass enough of a stronghold, to unite the world under a new world order, like the tower of Babel, before God can reveal the rest of His preordained plan. Nearly every nation is right now flexing its muscles, suppressing its people, creating chaos, slowly demolishing their own money, establishing – unbeknownst to most of its patriots – a new set of laws, and enforcing medical tyranny and moral depravity. The distant storm once seen far in the distance is now upon us. Though not everyone understands why the storm is here (rising gas and food prices, immoral transgender agendas, unfair judicial decisions, legislatures that do not represent the people anymore, warnings from well-known economists about the plunging stock market, and the intensifying persecution of Christians in nation after nation including China, North Korea, and even Ukraine where it is the Ukrainian government that is unfairly intimidating Christians under the false accusation that their church takes orders from Russian based organizations), there are those of us who do know why. But whether we understand or not, the darkness is here and growing more palpable.
I have heard from various Christians from different walks of life, that there is a heaviness right now. Depression is hitting harder. Discouragement is stronger. Feeling alone or a failure or dismal is a force to be reckoned with more so now than ever. People don’t want to get up in the morning. Along with everything that is happening on the world stage, Christians are facing very real, insurmountable odds in their own lives. They are battling cancer, recovering from major surgery, dealing with deep grief over the recent loss of a loved one, fighting illness, going home for the holidays to unsaved loved ones or unhealthy situations, unemployed, deep in credit card debt, their one child with whom they are close has moved far away or is moving far away, some can’t go to college because they can’t afford it, others are wondering what their purpose is, and the list could go on indefinitely. All in all, everything seems to powerfully overwhelming.
Not long ago, I was overwhelmed. At first I just went with the feeling, and thought it was warranted. So, I felt a little depressed. I had a right to be. But, something was wrong. And as I attempted to shake it, it grew stronger. But, I just kept praising and worshiping God anyway, and kept the worship music on in my home and car. As I called out to God to clean out the room of my heart and to be the Lord and Master of this throne, I felt a burden lift that had been quite heavy. But, that same night I awoke to a terrifying, demonic dream wherein a muscle-bound entity was wrestling with me. After wrestling it off and feeling weak, I moved to reach out to someone I know for help, but the entity made a surprise attack at that point of my weakness. I awoke with a loud cry.
I am sharing this to let you know that it is not okay to indulge any longer is depression, feeling sorry for oneself, discouragement or any of those downhearted feelings, for they are not just feelings. There is a demonic element to it. Whatever you and I got away with before in the arena of emotion, we are not going to get away with it now. It is time to take authority in Jesus’ name, and it is time to stand in agreement with a brother or sister in Christ in Jesus’ name. This is exactly what I did immediately after that nightmare. I rebuked the demon, and then went to my best friend who stood in agreement with me. And though depression has attempted to return, I have not allowed it. I know now first hand that it is not just an emotion. It is demonic, and not to be tolerated.
Yes, it’s dark out there. Yes, it is easier to just give in to an emotion. Yes, our circumstances are disheartening. But, we as Christians are called to shine anyway; we’re called to rejoice anyway; we’re called to praise anyway; we’re called to bless God and accept good and bad from Him anyway.
Jesus called us, in Matthew 5:14-16, the lights of the world. Not only is He the LIGHT of the world, but He gave us the same title. And we must not let our lights go out. We must not allow the darkness to overcome us when we’ve been made more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. We must not give in to the demonic forces when we have authority to trample upon them.
Paul did not allow his beatings and shipwreck and being lost at sea and intense persecution and opposition to keep him from rejoicing always (2 Corinthians 11). For he knew the sufficiency of God’s grace, and that when he was weakest, God’s strength was strongest (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). For though “we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4) We are not to lose heart for “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4).
Joseph did not lose heart though his brothers at first conspired to kill him, and then decided to sell him into slavery instead. Joseph did not lose heart when he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and unjustly imprisoned. He knew his God was bigger and would fulfill what He had promised through the dreams He had given. (Genesis 38-50)
Job did not lose heart, and said to his dear, grieving wife that she must not be like one of the foolish women but instead was to accept from the Lord both good and evil (Job 2:10)
And a modern day example is that of my friend Don. For ten years his wife faded away into the darkness of Alzheimer’s at a care center where I was chaplain a number of years. But, unlike so many who only visit a few times and don’t stay long with their loved one, he came daily for around 5 hours at a time. He fed her, watched over her, attended hymn sings and Bible studies with her, and wheeled her down to get her hair done. And one time, I unbeknownst to him, saw Don and his wife dancing – she in her wheelchair and he twirling her around to music in the activity room. It was a sight I will not soon forget and still impacts me today. For that man could have been out on the golf course in denial about everything or could have been depressed or angry with God, but instead, he chose to dance. He chose to shine.
There is much in this life that does not make sense. There is so much heartache, hardship, unfairness, injustice, pain and grief. But, just like Paul and Joseph and Job and Don, they did not let their light, momentary affliction destroy them. Instead, they chose to shine.
For, whether you know it or not, there is always someone watching you. It might be a co-worker, a neighbor, or a relative, and you have absolutely no idea that they are seeing your response to things. They are observing your reaction. They are admiring your ability to rejoice in spite of suffering. They are inspired that you’ve chosen to smile, to sing, to dance, to press on no matter what your burden or insurmountable obstacle. I was one of those who saw. I was one of those impacted. I was one of those who still sees in my memory, Don dancing with his beloved wife in the midst of a trial turned to gold.
Even so, I call on you, dear overwhelmed brother and sister in Christ, chose to shine like the stars in the universe as you stand blameless and harmless before a watching world, even a crooked and perverse generation, holding fast to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-16).
In this Christmas season, as you admire all those beautiful lights around you, may you reflect on Jesus who came as the LIGHT of the world. His own did not receive Him (John 1). He was rejected and despised, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53). But, did He diminish in His brightness? No. He is the LIGHT, and as such cannot help but shine!
Do you think you can top Jesus in your suffering or challenges or disappointments? Do you think you are poor? Think of Jesus born in a stable/cave around animals. Do you think you have no purpose? Think of Jesus who was born to die. That’s right. He was born the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. This means He was born as a sacrificial Lamb for us. Born to die. Do you think you are unloved or rejected? Reflect on Jesus was was rejected to the point of being crucified. Do you think you are treated unfairly or unjustly? Well, meditate on Jesus was was given a mock trial and condemned to die through no fault of His own by those who knew that He was innocent. Do you think your pain is greater? Think on Jesus who was beaten mercilessly, had his beard plucked out, thorns pressed harshly into His scull, was forced to carry a heavy cross, and then nailed to it where He took upon Himself the weight of all the sins of the world and died of heart failure.
This same LIGHT calls US His lights in this world (Matthew 5:14-16), and thus, we too ARE lights. And as lights, we are made to shine no matter what the storm, no matter what the attack, no matter what the injustice, no matter how fearful the situation, no matter how deep the darkness. You ARE light (Ephesians 5).
So, this Christmas season, choose to dance; choose to rejoice; choose to love others to Jesus; choose not to worry about anything but to pray about everything and let Jesus protect your hearts and minds with His peace (Philippians 4:6-7). Choose to shine as the lights of the world that Jesus has commissioned and created you to be, and do not lose heart! We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us, for He is greater in us that he that is in the world! (Philippians 4:13; 1 John 4:4). And Jesus has overcome the world! As Jesus said, “33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” (John 16).
Jesus is coming soon. Let’s be found faithful, and as people of faith. Let Him turn your trial to gold. Let’s be ready!
(many sources are listed below, sources regarding Coverstone’s dream, Christians and Halloween, the fall of the Western Church, and the schism taking place in many denominations over transgenderism. Please, scroll down and view the sources along with quotes from many of those sources)
While a chaplain at a Christian health care facility who had a Christian board and mostly Christian residents, I was slapped in the face by an overwhelming acceptance of Halloween. For the years I was there, they went all out in decorating competitions, costume competitions, and little trick-or-treaters invited yearly to go room to room for candy. Competition judges were called in to pick winners, and pictures were posted proudly in our newsletter and even in the local paper. Each year I was reminded of how one by one those who would not wear a costume were eventually pressured into wearing one and participating. So for several years I made sure that I went home early before all the craziness would start so as to remain unnoticed. For several years I flew under the radar on the covert mission of ministering to the residents, and continued undetected like the military’s stealth bomber flying over an unsuspecting nation.
But, then one day I could not fly undetected anymore. They came after me by sending the most outspoken Christian – and she was very evangelistic and everyone knew her beliefs about Jesus – to talk to me about participating in the Halloween madness. She spoke of innocent themes, even Bible themes, in hopes to influence me to dress up the next year. If I was not the only one left not who had not compromised it sure felt like I was the only one the way they targeted me. And though I cannot remember at all what all I said to her, after all, I am not good in confrontational moments. But, I do know that my heart was this, “I cannot ever participate in the devil’s holiday no matter how innocently dressed it might be.” And that heart is what I communicated however imperfectly.
Martin Luther did no differently on that fateful day that he stood before his judges at the Diet of Worms in 1521. They called on him to recant what he had written in the form of 95 Theses nailed to the Wittenburg chapel door as well as other literature he had published. “The official transcript quotes him as saying, “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. So help me God. Amen.”” (https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/blog/post/here-i-stand-i-can-do-no-other/) Or as he is popularly remember as saying as quoted from Luther’s books, ““Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”
In Luther’s day, the Church was polluted with compromise, filth, unscriptural practices, and demonically inspired doctrine. Corruption, fornication, indulgences, purgatory, fear, and ignorance had so riddled the Church that it was ripe for judgment. The pronouncement of that judgment was heard in the footsteps of a monk-professor crossing the frosty street and ascending the Wittenberg chapel steps, hammer and nail in hand. The pronouncement of God’s verdict was heard loudly and clearly with the firm rap of the hammer to the nail, the echo of which has resounded for 505 years into this present year of October 31, 2022. And that hammer and nail, that pronouncement, that verdict, that uncompromised stance brought about a dividing of the sheep from the goats, a separation of wheat from the tares, gold from the dross, light from darkness.
Today, the modern day western Church is polluted with compromise, filth, unscriptural practices and the doctrine of devils. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes while at the same time saying God had given them leave to do it. Dizzy with the cloud of incantations said against them and ignorant of what the Scripture says while proudly saying otherwise, they are deceived into believing that mixing and mingling with the world is not a sin. This has produced a “root of bitterness” in our midst that has polluted from the top down. This is not a bitterness of unforgiveness, as some mistakenly think, but rather, is a root of rebellion that like a little leaven it leavens the who lump, tainting the whole. As Deuteronomy 29 so adeptly states, there will be those “18…whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.” The writer of the book of Hebrews addresses this in chapter 12 when he says, “14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright…28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29For our God is a consuming fire.”
The Corinthians felt they were so wise, so enlightened that they could not possibly be contaminated by evil. They truly felt that they could justifiably attend the idol feasts wherein pagans gathered in fellowship around the sacrifice of an animal before an idol, and then were able eat together of that sacrifice and chant in worship to another god. Since they really did believe in only One God, they felt they were safe in doing so. The Corinthians really thought they were immune to this because they knew that the idol was just an idol, and the food was just food. After all, they were gathering for business purposes (that is where business people would gather in those days – which was not much different than secret societies of modern times), or because their family wanted to do so (like going to a restaurant), not because they believed all that stuff. However, the Apostle Paul in three chapters (1 Corinthians 8-10) lays out two very important points against such behavior. Number one, to do so will likely cause your weaker brother or sister to stumble, and that the Corinthian’s freedom was therefore unloving. Number two, the idol was not just an idol but was backed by a very real demonic entity, and that to have koinonia with pagans and to partake of the altar was to partake with demons. “14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.18Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
This is exactly what is happening when a church or Christian participates in Halloween by wearing the costume of the festival or partaking of the candy of the holiday or by hanging out those, particularly unbelievers, who are doing so. This is the modern day equivalent of idolatry.
But it goes beyond Halloween. The sanctuary of the living God has been polluted by little things here and little things there, until its very spiritual walls have been decorated with images much like in Ezekiel’s day. “6“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing—to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations.”…10 engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. 11Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel…Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. 12“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ” And “14Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz…16So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.” (Ezekiel 8)
So, what is happening in the Church? What has decorated its walls and filled its inner sanctuary? Oh where shall I begin?
There has been the witchcraft teaching of the “word faith” philosophy wherein each can call into being what is not, which fuels the fire of the greed of Balaam and covetousness and creates an atmosphere of entitlement and discontentment, which is contrary to Scripture (Jude 1; Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:6; James 4). We are riddled with New Age practices such as yoga while thinking it can be redeemed by calling it Christian and doing it at church; altered by mystical Catholicism and its labyrinth walks and contemplative prayer that empties your mind instead of filling it with Scripture (Psalm 1) and opens you up to the demonic; inundated with the Hindu Kundalini spirit parading as the Holy Spirit with its lying signs and wonders of the New Apostolic Reformation; flooded with the foul demonic doctrines of the manifest sons of God wherein Christians are all becoming christ, and Dominionism wherein Jesus cannot come back until we get the world cleaned up and all seven mountains are taken and made ready for Him; overwhelmed with the unbiblical thought that we are not to judge in matters of the body of Christ and sin and thus we are filled with adultery, fornication, homosexuality, transgenders, people co-habiting, pornography, etc.; infiltrated by witches and warlocks who get in close with the leadership in order to turn them from the narrow way and truth and render them ineffective; permeated with ecumenism and its many Jesuses (Isa of Islam, christ-consciousness of New Age, Krishna of Hinduism, the Jesus of Catholicism whose mother is a co-redemptrix and who requires works in order to be fully saved, the Jesus of Mormonism who is brothers with Lucifer and who became god and taught us how to become gods too), and the belief that the Christian Jesus is not the only way to heaven.
And now there is a great schism taking place in the body of Christ today because the Church has refused to “bind and loose” as they ought. Though Scripture clearly teaches that we must loose away from us that which is unholy, and bind to us what is holy via Biblical judgment and loving correction (Matthew 18; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Timothy 2:23-26), believers of the western world are not well-versed in Scripture anymore, and they are indeed, perishing for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). For according to a Probe Ministries survey 70% of Christians today do not think that Jesus is the only way for everyone, and only half of Protestant pastors have a Biblical worldview. And according to “American Worldview Inventory published…by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University…ofan estimated 176 million American adults who identify as Christian, just 6% or 15 million of them were actually found to hold a biblical worldview.” (sources listed below)
It is no wonder then that so many can be and are deceived!
Last week Pastor Dana Coverstone shared a recent dream he has had that he entitled, “The Halloween Dream.” In this dream, Pastor Dana is late to the Sunday morning service at church, and as he runs into the church and toward the sanctuary he is told that he is late several times. After initially being barred from the sanctuary, he finally enters and encounters a crowd of Christians most of whom are dressed in costumes of witches and goblins, Bob the Builder, and kids dressed up like as if they were adult doctors and lawyers. The man speaking at the front was wearing a clerical robe and collar, and he was saying that the Ten Commandments were outdated “in practice and in principle” and that “a new set of ideas was needed” and that everyone should be able to do whatever they want to do because “grace is our friend more than our foe”.
There were a few in the audience who were not wearing costumes, and who were visibly though quietly disagreeing with the speaker.
Pastor Dana is then accosted by one of the ushers and told to quit noticing things and told to put on a costume. But, Pastor Dana did not comply and shouted, “What kind of church is this?” To which the man at the podium replied, “this is our church and we make the rules around here.” At that response, Pastor Dana ran to the front of the church and stated point blank, “By questioning the Ten Commandments you are violating the foundation of Scripture.” To which the minister replied, “We no longer need Scripture to live right. We must allow culture to guide us.”
At that moment Jesus entered the back of the church and marched to the front where He stated to the man at the front, “You can try to keep me out, you can discount my word, but I will not be silent or locked out.” At that, He walked up to the minister and took a hold of his face and took off the mask he was wearing, and behind the mask was a demonic pasty face. And everyone gasped. The speaker tried to speak, but Jesus said, “You will speak no more!” and breathed on the pale face until it disappeared like a wisp of smoke.
Jesus then said to the crowd, “As I expose the truth you’ll be given the chance to take your mask off. If not, your circumstances will tear them from your face and take your eyes with them. You that know the word know better. And those that never studied my word will stay dressed in a costume and miss heaven because you chose to remain in ignorance. Even if you hide from the truth it will confront you, and it will confront you to the front of your face.”
Jesus then said to Coverstone, “It’s not too late to warn the body as there are still many who will hear it. But woe to those who refuse to listen at this point.”
Ushers were attempting to keep people inside the church, but many were trying to leave. Costumes had been taken off, and many seats were empty. The majority remained behind however. After finally exiting with great effort, about 50 people in the parking lot questioned what was next. Coverstone then stated that Jesus had told them to warn the others. Thus, they all dispersed in every direction to do just that. The dream had started in the morning, but was now ending with the sun setting quickly. The time was short, the night was coming fast.
All that I have written about today is exactly this. God is shaking the church, and the masks are coming off. There is filth in the body of Christ, and it is being exposed. Church denominations are splitting over the transgender abomination, and other heresies and doctrines of devils are being revealed. And though, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” (2 Timothy 3:13) it is clear that we are not to “14… be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). For we “…are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9), and are called to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Indeed we are not our own but are bought at a price (1 Corinthiains 6:19-20), and are now the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5) who are being conformed into the image of Jesus (Roman 8).
And it is time to shine. It is time to get our lights out from under the bed. It is time to quit sitting idly by while ministers or any so-called Christian spew blasphemy from the pulpit or elsewhere. We are children of light, children of the day, and that light cannot help but expose darkness wherever we go!
“8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14Therefore
He says:
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5)
This battle has gone on for ages, and Jesus has already made us more than conquerors (Romans 8). The battle that Martin Luther faced is before us still today. But, he made the choice to nail up those 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, and to stand unwaveringly in the face of a death sentence in 1521. And many before and after him made the same stand against the Goliath of their time, steadfastly persevering and even dying for the sake of the truth of the Gospel. They chose to live unadulterated and unpopular lives of holiness, to shine their lights into the darkness, to not become weary in well doing. Youth died because they owned a Bible or would not say the Rosary; uncompromising men and women of all ages outspokenly stood against the heresy of their times at any cost. For they knew that their lives were not their own. They belonged to Christ and him alone, and marched to the beat of a different drummer, heads lifted up looking for their redemption that was drawing near with every step. They died to themselves daily and counted themselves as already dead for the cause of Christ.
Why then do we, who have such a great cloud of witnesses, march so out of step and to the tune of the Pied Piper of this world instead of the cause of Christ? Why are we so lukewarm when the power of the Holy Spirit is still for us today and readily at hand if we would but press in and zealously seek that we might find? Why are we so dim when we are the lights of this ever darkening world?
Now is not the time for compromise in the name of some hybrid unbiblical love! Jesus is coming back for a Bride unpolluted by this world, unstained and untainted, holy and set apart, standing on His promises, people of unadulterated faith, shining out like stars in this wicked and depraved generation, holding forth the word of life!!!!!!!!!! Now is the time to stand, for we can do no other – so help us God!
Jesus is coming soon. Let’s be ready.
Vigilantly,
Holy Light Ministries
(Again, many sources are listed below, sources regarding Coverstone’s dream, Christians and Halloween, the fall of the Western Church, and the schism taking place in many denominations over transgenderism. Please, scroll down and view the sources along with quotes from many of those sources. Also, please be encouraged by this very inspired song of the Christian worship team Shane and Shane. God bless!)
Quote: At the beginning of this video following the heading of ‘Should Christians Celebrate an Alternative Festival in Place of Halloween?’ Former Satanist John Ramirez responds, “Why would you take something that is demonic and slap the name of Jesus on it? Jesus isn’t going to show up and bless your stuff.”
At the 40 second mark after the heading ‘5 Reasons Why Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween’ he begins to list them beginning with #1 Legal Rights, #2 Eternal Mistake, #3 Satanists Celebrate, #4 We Bring It Into Our Churches, and #5 Demonic Candies
At 1 minute and 5 second mark he says, “Even as a Christian you could say ‘I’m a Christian and I love God’ but you are cheating on Him on Halloween. When you dress up for Halloween…you are giving the devil the legal rights to change your identity.”
At the 1 minute and 25 second mark he says, “Anton Lavae…priest of the church of Satan…a devil worshiper for many, many years. He had 8,000 people in his church…he said, ‘I want to thank every Christian parent for allowing their children at least one time a year to celebrate my holiday.’”
At 2 minute and 25 second mark, “I don’t see Satantist…saying…’Good Friday’s coming, can I come to your church? Could I come celebrate Good Friday with you because’…I don’t hear Satanists packing out churches on Good Friday…”
At the 4 minute mark, “I’m gonna tell you as an ex-devil worshiper for 25 years…a lot of these candies that you give your kids that you buy in the store for Halloween, they are prayed for…demonic people have prayed over these candies…they pray over these costumes…”
Quote: The interviewer says, “what do you say to those Christians who are sort of on the fence or they’re struggling to know whether it’s the right thing to do?” Jenn Nizza responds, “Well, I think you have to think about why you are trying to redeem something that is demonic. Why are we trying to redeem that? If it’s the matter of…the nostalgia you want…why as a Kingdom follower are you wanting to participate in something that could open a demonic door? We know that the devil is manipulative…and he’s sneaky. So something that might be as seemingly innocent as bobbing for apples or having a little party or putting a costume…you don’t want to entertain something that belongs to…the evil one…that would open a door to demonic entities…don’t get involved in it. Don’t do it.”
Quote: At the 12 minute and 46 second mark Jenny Weaver states, “…the person that…started the satanic church – he’s passed on now – but he said he loves that Christians allow their children to participate in and worship the devil at least one night of the year.”
Quote: “Nearly 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God, according to a new survey from Probe Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to help the Church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview…The survey also found that among the top reasons given by born-again Christians for not telling others about their faith is the acceptance of pluralism. When asked why they don’t share their beliefs with others, born-again respondents chose “They can get to Heaven through their different religious belief,” “We shouldn’t impose our ideas on others,” and “The Bible tells us not to judge others” as their top three responses, respectively…confusion among Christians and what they believe was also recently reflected in the American Worldview Inventory published last month by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University. Of an estimated 176 million American adults who identify as Christian, just 6% or 15 million of them were actually found to hold a biblical worldview. The study showed, in general, that while a majority of America’s self-identified Christians, including many who identify as evangelical, believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and is the Creator of the universe, more than half reject a number of biblical teachings and principles, including the existence of the Holy Spirit.
Strong majorities were also found to errantly believe that all religious faiths are of equal value, people are basically good and that people can use acts of goodness to earn their way into Heaven. The study further showed that majorities don’t believe in moral absolutes, consider feelings, experience or the input of friends and family as their most trusted sources of moral guidance, and say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue.”
Quote: According to a 2004 Barna study, “57% of the pastors of Baptist churches (other than Southern Baptist) had a biblical worldview, as did 51% of non-denominational Protestant pastors, 44% of pastors of charismatic or Pentecostal churches, 35% of pastors of black churches, and 28% of those leading mainline congregations.”
QUOTE: “The U.S. House of Representatives voted July 19 to codify same-sex marriage into law with the help of one-fifth of its Republican members and to the chagrin of Southern Baptist leaders.
With all the Democrats and 47 Republicans voting in favor, the House approved the Respect for Marriage Act in a 267-157 roll call. The proposal would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and require federal and state recognition of same-sex marriages considered legal in the jurisdiction where they took place…
The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission “stands firmly opposed to this legislation, and it should not make any more advances in the legislative process,” said Brent Leatherwood, the ERLC’s acting president. “Its passage by the House is yet another reminder of how far our culture has moved away from the biblical understanding of marriage as being between one man and one woman for life and why God’s design for that union is meant for our flourishing.
“Marriage is bound up in the Gospel itself and so, regardless of any act of Congress, it is imperative that we, as Christians, continue to show how it is a picture of Christ joining with His bride, the church,” Leatherwood told Baptist Press in written comments.
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the vote shows the country’s “political class has decided to vote for same-sex marriage, and 47 House Republicans decided to get aboard the train.”
“Yesterday, those of us who know that marriage is and can only be the union of a man and a woman found ourselves facing the undeniable reality that our political class will not rise to defend society’s most fundamental institution,” Mohler wrote in a column Wednesday (July 20) for WORLD Opinions.”
QUOTE: “After months of preparation, a theologically conservative denomination has broken away from the Reformed Church in America, with 43 congregations joining the new body on New Year’s Day…
“Now the realignment that began in the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is reaching the Dutch Reformed – but without the lawsuits and acrimony that characterized some of those prior splits,” wrote Walton
“Delegates to the RCA General Synod in October approved recommendations that allow transferring churches to retain assets and church buildings.””
QUOTE: “A conservative group in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) has left the denomination and formed the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC) due to disagreements over same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy. Same-sex marriage and LGBT-identifying clergy have caused splits in many denominations and now the RCA will split as well. At the RCA’s 214th General Synod last October, the denomination set in motion the split after longstanding disagreements over LGBT issues.Churches that hold to the biblical view of marriage will be allowed to seek another denominational home, including the ARC, without giving up their assets and buildings…Some are concerned that the RCA, a denomination with less than 200,000 members and 1,000 churches, will not survive the split.”
QUOTE: “This week, North America’s oldest denomination will confront its gridlock over LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage. Votes cast in Tucson at the Reformed Church in America’s General Synod—delayed 16 months due to the pandemic—will chart the course for the already-splintering denomination…
The RCA is a historically Dutch Reformed denomination dating back to the 1620s, when New York was known as New Amsterdam. Today, the RCA has fewer than 200,000 members and 1,000 churches. While in theory RCA churches are united by their polity, history, and Reformed convictions, they hold a range of political and theological beliefs.
The RCA isn’t the only Protestant denomination facing division over views on sexuality. Next year, the United Methodist Church is expected to vote on a proposal to split the denomination over the inclusion of LGBTQ members, and the RCA’s sister denomination, the Christian Reformed Church, will grapple with its contentious human sexuality report at its own synod.”
QUOTE: ““The Christian Reformed Church, a small evangelical denomination of U.S. and Canadian churches, voted Wednesday (June 15) at its annual synod to codify its opposition to homosexual sex by elevating it to the status of confession, or declaration of faith.
The 123-53 vote at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, caps a process begun in 2016 when a previous synod voted to form a study committee to bring a report on the “biblical theology” of sexuality.
The vote, following a long day of debate, approves a list of what the denomination calls sexual immorality it won’t tolerate, including “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography and homosexual sex.””
QUOTE: “Any rebellion against God’s perfect design is sin. It separates us from God and distorts intimacy… Some seek to redefine the created nature of our sexuality in rebellion (Romans 1:24–27). They desire the intimacy or pleasure of sex apart from the divinely established context of marriage between a man and woman (1 Corinthians 6:16; cf. Genesis 2:24), such as homosexual or extra-marital sexual activity. Others seek an illusion of intimacy through actively indulging in lust, fantasizing, and/or pornography. All of these are indicators of our rebellion against God.”
QUOTE: “Increasing political and religious advocacy for homosexual1 practices, same-sex marriage, and alternate sexual identities has prompted us to clarify our position on these critical issues. We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on the basis of Holy Scripture, which is our infallible guide (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Since the Bible does speak to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that the Church correctly understands and articulates what it actually teaches on these matters which have now become so controversial and divisive.
A reaffirmation of biblical teachings has become all the more urgent because writers sympathetic to the LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender)2 communities have advanced revisionist interpretations of relevant biblical texts that are based upon biased exegesis and mistranslation. In effect, they seek to set aside almost two thousand years of Christian biblical interpretation and ethical teachings. We believe these efforts are reflective of the conditions described in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”3 (See also v. 4.)
It should be noted at the outset that there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual activity, same-sex
marriage, or changes in sexual identity found anywhere in Scripture. Male and female genders are
carefully defined and unconfused. The consistent ideal for sexual experience in the Bible is chastity4
for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity5 for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.”
It ends by stating, “Christians should also do all they can to assist the person who has struggled with homosexual behaviors and desires to change and find deliverance. Change is not always easy but it is possible. It may require the help of others in the body of Christ, such as counselors and pastors, as well as a supportive church fellowship. Christian organizations are also available to help those who seek to change their lifestyles.
We desire all to be reconciled to God—to experience the peace and joy that stems from the forgiveness of sin through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God does not want any to perish in their sins; He invites all to accept His offer of eternal life (John 3:16). As part of His church, we issue that invitation to life in Christ to everyone.”
QUOTE: Under the heading, ‘General Assembly Declaration and Apologetic of Marriage,’ it says, “We, the Presiding Bishop, the General Board and the Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ, solemnly proclaim that the institution of marriage was established and ordained by God (Genesis 2:24) …We believe that the homosexual practices of same-sex couples are in violation of religious and social norms and are aberrant and deviant behavior. We believe that these unions are sinful and in direct violation of the law of God in that they are a deviation from the natural use and purpose of the body….in spite of the progressive normalization of alternative lifestyles and the growing legal acceptance of same-sex unions; we declare our opposition to any deviation from traditional marriages of male and female. Notwithstanding the rulings of the court systems of the land in support of same-sex unions; we resolve that the Church of God in Christ stand resolutely firm and never allow the sanctioning of same-sex marriages by its clergy nor recognize the legitimacy of such unions.”
Under the heading ‘Statement of Faith in Human Rights Declaration’: “The Church of God in Christ utterly rejects and uncompromisingly denounces the practice of homosexuality. Homosexual relationships are a violation of the biblical teaching on marriage and are strongly condemned in the scriptures… At the same time, as Christians we are called to treat all sinners with compassion and to lovingly proclaim the message of salvation and restoration to all, recognizing that we are all sinners in need of the atoning gift of Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore for the Christian homosexual marriage is not a human right, nor a morally and legally sanctioned entitlement. Sexual preferences do not constitute rights.”
QUOTE: “Episcopal clergy are highlighting The Episcopal Church’s support for LGBTQ couples this week while condemning an announcement by the Vatican that it would not allow blessing of same-sex unions because the relationships are seen by the Roman Catholic Church as sinful…
QUOTE: “With an estimated 2.3 million members, the Episcopal Church is open and welcoming of the LGBTQ community. Unlike the Worldwide Anglican Communion, of which it is a part, the Episcopal Church does not condemn homosexuality.”
QUOTE: “We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of gender, sexual identity or orientation.
We believe that God loves us all – no exceptions.”
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Note about the Presbyterian church: the Presbyterian Church (USA) is more liberal in theological and social issues and is said to be 5x as big as the Presbyterian Church in America. However, while the PC(USA)’s number of members is going down, the membership numbers of the PCA are going up.
QUOTE: “On Wednesday, June 20, the Presbyterian Church took a historic step by voting unanimously to accept three Overtures submitted at their biennial conference in Missouri. The Overtures both celebrate LGBTQ people of faith and speak out against religious freedom being used to discriminate against the LGBTQ community…
The Church’s move is in line with growing support in the LGBTQ nondiscrimination movement from religious leaders and congregations around the country. Last year, nearly 1,300 faith leaders signed on to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which concerned a bakery that refused service to a same sex couple by citing their religious beliefs. The brief stated that religion cannot be used to justify discrimination, and that businesses must be open to all. Furthermore, the weekend before oral argument in the case, more than 100 congregations celebrated the National Weekend of Prayer for LGBTQ Justice.”
QUOTE: “…the Presbytery of the Palisades had cast its vote in favor of an amendment to the PC(USA) Constitution that would change the description of marriage from being between “a man and a woman” to being between “two people.” In doing so, it had become the 86th presbytery to cast an affirmative vote, providing the majority needed among 171 presbyteries to approve the change.”
“I think for evangelicals the mystifying question is how then does the church speak prophetically about anything, how do we call anyone to repentance, if we’re simply conforming to the culture? You can observe the dynamic and astounding evangelical fruit God is producing through [some] new denominations, and I have great hope that an evangelical Presbyterian movement is going to happen. I regret that’s going to happen outside the PC(USA). I do think, though, there is a potential for hope and benefit. Let’s start talking about definitions of goodness, holiness, beauty, and truth, and stop talking about sex. Start talking about what it means to be in Jesus Christ, in His goodness, holiness, beauty, and truth. And then ask whether we individually and corporately as a denomination are going to conform to these realities.” —Carmen Fowler LaBerge
Presbyterian Church in America
Note: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is more conservative than their cousin the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), and they are also about 5x smaller. However, in recent years the PCA’s membership numbers have been increasing while the PCUSA’s numbers have been in decline.
QUOTE: ““’The Nashville Statement,’ carefully worked out by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood in 2017, is a timely statement that speaks into the current confusion surrounding gender and sexuality within the evangelical church (including the PCA) and the broader culture,” stated the Overture.
“Signed by many leaders within the Reformed and evangelical world, it is a balanced and biblically faithful attempt to ‘speak the truth in love’ (Eph. 4:15) on one of the most pivotal and controversial issues facing the church today.””
Article 1 of the Nashville Statement reads, “WE AFFIRM that God has designed marriage to be a covenantal, sexual, procreative, lifelong union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife, and is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church. WE DENY that God has designed marriage to be homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous relationship. We also deny that marriage is a mere human contract rather than a covenant made before God.” https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement#articles
QUOTE: “Conservatives have officially parted ways with the United Methodist Church (UMC) after years of debate on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay pastors. The new denomination, called the Global Methodist Church, took effect on Sunday following a five-day meeting with UMC bishops. As CBN News has previously reported, church members have been at odds for years with some members in the United States leading the call for full inclusion of LGBTQ people within the denomination.
While other mainline Protestant denominations have embraced gay-friendly practices, the UMC still bans them, though acts of defiance by pro-LGBT clergy have multiplied. Many have performed same-sex weddings. Others have come out as gay or lesbian from the pulpit.
Differences came to a head in February 2019 at a conference in St. Louis where delegates voted 438-384 for a proposal called the Traditional Plan, which strengthens bans on LGBT-inclusive practices.
A majority of U.S.-based delegates opposed that plan and favored LGBT-friendly options, but they were outvoted by U.S. conservatives teamed with most of the delegates from Methodist strongholds in Africa and the Philippines…
Global Methodist organizers have launched a new website that states the new denomination would allow women to serve at all levels and seek membership.
Regarding LGBTQ issues, organizers said the denomination would adhere to “the traditional understanding of Christian marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman and as God’s intended setting for human sexual expression.”
QUOTE: “Boyette said the Transitional Leadership Council doesn’t know how many more will follow this summer. He did not have numbers Monday for how many clergy, churches or conferences had joined the denomination with the launch, but he believes hundreds of churches across the U.S. already have begun the process to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and most will land in the Global Methodist Church.
“I don’t think anyone is dancing with joy that we are at this place in Methodism. I think there is a sadness that we have come to this and that we find ourselves in this season,” Boyette said.
QUOTE: “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod overwhelmingly passed a resolution reaffirming its traditional, biblical stance on gender identity and sexual orientation, while also calling for churches to “minister compassionately” to people who identify as LGBT…
…the resolution reaffirmed “the biblical truth that God created humanity as male and female” and commended people who “continue to live chaste and decent lives in repentant faith” in spite of “same-sex attraction and gender identity confusion.”
QUOTE: “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with approximately 3.8 million members, has passed repeated resolutions to welcome LGBTQ people since 1991. Of the three leading Lutheran organizations operating in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is considered the most welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ members. Formed in 1988 with the merger of three smaller Lutheran organizations, the ELCA is based in Chicago and encompasses nearly 10,000 congregations and more than 3.8 million members across the country…
LGBTQ ministers have been ordained by the ELCA since 2010. However, church policy, like that for same-sex marriage, gives individual congregations autonomy in calling ministers to serve.”
QUOTE: “The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has ousted four of its churches, two for forming policies that are considered to be too welcoming of the LGBT community, while the other two for hiring pastors who were sex offenders.
QUOTE: “The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with over 16 million members, has discriminated against gay and lesbian people for more than a quarter-century.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with over 15 million members, traces its history to 1845 when it broke off from Northern Baptists over slavery. The roots of Southern Baptist history go back to the Baptist churches established in the American colonies in the 17th century.
“In 2017, top leaders of the SBC joined other evangelical leaders in a statement Aug. 29 denouncing LGBTQ people and their identities as “inconsistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption.”
The Southern Baptist Convention does not ordain openly LGBTQ people, nor does it ordain women. However, alternative Baptist denominations such as the Alliance of Baptists do ordain both women and LGBTQ people.”
QUOTE: “The American Baptist Churches USA is the fifth-largest Christian denomination in the United States, with approximately 1.3 million members and 5,000 congregations worldwide.
Although ABCUSA shares many traditions, beliefs and values with other Baptists, ABCUSA is a distinct entity from its relatives, the American Baptist Association (ABA), the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the Alliance of Baptists, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
A 1992 denominational vote determined “the practice of homosexuality” to be “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Noting that individual members of the denomination may not agree with all resolutions which are approved, the church does acknowledge that issues such as sexual orientation require full and continuous engagement in dialogue.
In 2006, more than 300 churches from the Pacific Southwest region of ABCUSA voted to withdraw from their 1.5-million member parent denomination after its leaders refused to address complaints about the membership of “welcoming and affirming” churches, or churches that accept as members unrepentant homosexuals, in the denomination…
LGBTQ ordination is not explicitly accepted nor banned in the American Baptist Churches USA. However, in several regions there are statements that a candidate must sign stating they are not a “practicing homosexual” prior to ordination.”
QUOTE: “”The controversy over homosexuality has consumed our agenda, our discussion time, and our energy; yet the controversy still threatens to break us apart as American Baptists. The prevailing view among American Baptists is that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” Because American Baptist polity allows for respectful dissent, individuals and congregations who hold different viewpoints exist among us.”
QUOTE: “Formed in the early 1800s in response to the practice of Christian denominations acting in exclusion of each other rather than collaboration, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have a history of reaching out to other traditions. They established the Council on Christian Unity in 1910 to foster inter-denominational community and were active in forming the National and World Councils of Churches. In 1989, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ formed a close partnership that emphasized shared global in global and domestic ministries.”
“With a total membership of approximately 600,000 people, individual congregations are organized in 32 self-governing regions across North America.”
“At the General Assembly in 2013, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to affirm and welcome LGBTQ people in all aspects of church life, including leadership. While the resolution does not dictate policy for individual congregations, the denomination actively encourages congregations interested in becoming more inclusive.”
QUOTE: “The United Church of Christ, a mainline Protestant denomination with about 1.3 million members, has been one of the most accepting religious groups of LGBTQ people, although not every church in the denomination is supportive…the United Church of Christ (UCC) is recognized as one of the most welcoming and affirming Christian denominations, celebrating same-sex marriages since 2005 and ordaining LGBTQ pastors since 1972. Numbering more than 5,000 churches and close to a million members, the UCC core values include an “Extravagant Welcome,” and the affirmation, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.””
Ecumenism, the World Council of Churches, the UN’s Agenda 2030, the World Economic Forum and the Church, Free Masonry etc.
Quote: ‘Waking the Giant’ is a global ecumenical initiative of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). It aims to empower churches to contribute effectively to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative provides churches and church-related actors with tools and training to relate their on-going work to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of the global ‘Waking the Giant’ network, churches and church-related actors come together for experience exchange, mutual learning and joint action. LWF also supports churches and ecumenical partners in selected countries to set up implementation mechanisms for taking stock of their existing work in relation to the SDGs and engage in joint planning for direct action and advocacy…
In a worldly analogy to Christ’s promise to “make all things new” (Rev. 21.5), the SDGs represent an opportunity to enhance human dignity and our stewardship towards God’s creation…
Many churches have established themselves as important actors in the provision of social and development services and as advocates for global human values, such as gender equality, peace and justice. They distinguish themselves through the permanence of their presence, an often high level of credibility and a wide reach at community level, including to the remotest areas where state institutions may be absent.”
Quote: “The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has joined with Christian churches and faith- based organizations to urge the international community to work towards a more just and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The call comes in a joint statement to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the main UN platform for follow up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Quote: “Together they will reflect and pray on the Assembly theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”…The WCC Assembly is the largest ecumenical gathering of its kind and is estimated to bring together more than 4,000 Christians.”
Quote: “The controversial 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace, backed by George Soros and the globalist-controlled German government and other powerful forces, aimed to unify the world’s religious organizations behind key elements of the establishment’s agenda — including a UN-guided “modern order.”
Operating in almost 100 nations, the alliance claims to be “the world’s largest and most representative coalition of religious and indigenous communities.” It is funded by Soros, the Rockefellers, the Ford Foundation, the UN Foundation, various UN agencies, U.S. taxpayers the State Department, and more.”
Quote: “Noted Catholic Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has issued a scathing criticism on Pope Francis and his association with The Great Reset…
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Klaus Schwab’s idea of the Fourth Economic Revolution, which is the basis for previous discussions of “The Great Reset,” is mentioned by Vigano right at the opening of the clip. He then mentions Pope Francis’ connected to this movement.
The archbishop accuses Pope Francis of being a “zealous cooperator” in the Great Reset. He said that the Pope wants to demolish the Church and replace it with an organization inspired by Masons.
“The fourth revolution theorized by Klaus Schwab and the family of international finance find in Bergoglio [Pope Francis], not a neutral spectator, which would itself already be an unheard- of thing, but actually a zealous cooperator who abuses his own moral authority in order to support ab extra, outside the church, the project of the dissolution of traditional society,” said the archbishop.”
The outlet went on to explain that the Pope seems unconcerned about spirituality or sin. More to the point, he is concerned about climate change and the downfall of capitalism. All of the Pope’s main contributions, in a nutshell, are in sync with the objectives of the WEF and its Great Reset.
In fact, in December, Forbes reported that Pope Francis has formed a shadow council of the world’s top businessmen to address capitalism’s flaws. They’re called the “Guardians.”
Also according to another allegation, a Benedictine Nun named “Mother Miriam” has a video going around social media warning people of a globalist depopulation plan. Pope Francis, according to the nun, is the spiritual head of the globalist elites – which includes Bill Gates and George Soros.
According to Mother Miriam, the COVID vaccine shots are part of the global elites’ depopulation plan.”
Quote: On May 25, 2022, the Vatican News reported that the World Economic Forum and the Vatican’s global policies are in alignment and that the Vatican is already putting them into action. This was revealed during an interview with Catholic Priest Leonir Chiarello, who is “at the forefront of many WEF Forum agenda items at a global and local level.” [1]
The Vatican News reported the following:
“The Catholic Church is already committed to the various issues considered at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, both globally and locally … Just a few examples: the perspective proposed by Pope Francis on the care of nature and the promotion of a more inclusive economy in Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti … The various programs for job creation, development, education, and health care, among other programs promoted by the Catholic organizations and religious congregations at global and local levels.”
Quote: The former head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) is under fire for his connections with globalist organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF). The controversy erupted when Michael O’Fallon of Sovereign Nations shared an image of Dr. Richard Land with a briefcase carrying the logo of the World Economic Forum. O’Fallon posted the picture and then said, “Why is the SBC heading down a progressive, social justice, globalist paved path? This picture of the former President of the ERLC, Richard Land, is worth a thousand words. Focus on the briefcase…”
The World Economic Forum is a globalist organization pushing leftist goals such as Stakeholder Capitalism and concepts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The WEF was all about the Leftist Build Back Better agenda in Westernnations. (For more on the WEF, read on.) The WEF is connected with other prominent evangelicals including Rick Warren.”
Quote: “Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren told the globalists of the World Economic Forum (WEF) how to use the church as a partner during a pandemic or similar emergency. Warren promoted the use of free church volunteers and as a “universal distribution” system while at the 2008 WEF event in Davos, Switzerland. Warren promoted the church as one leg of a three- legged partnership between government, business, and religion. This highlights a recent Daily Wire report showing a link between churches spreading government propaganda during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The video begins, “This is Rick Warren author of The Purpose Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church. I’m here at Davos with a lot of my friends and we’re talking about what are the biggest problems on the planet and how are we going to solve them. Right now, I think there are five that I call global giants: extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, illiteracy, corruption and the spiritual emptiness…
The entire report is important; however, it is this deserves special attention: “During Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren’s special broadcast with Collins on behalf of Health and Human Services, he mentioned that he and Collins first met when both were speakers for the billionaires and heads of state who gather annually in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. They reconnected recently, Warren revealed, at an ‘off-the- record’ meeting between Collins and ‘key faith leaders.’ Warren did not say, but one can make an educated guess as to who convened that meeting and for what purpose, given the striking similarity of Collins’ appearances alongside all these leading Christian lights.
Quote: “The nation’s largest conservative, Protestant denomination revealed on Friday it is under investigation by the Biden administration over claims of sexual abuse and harassment…
The Southern Baptist Convention outsourced a report examining how the executive committee handled sexual abuse reports between 2000 and 2021. An outside firm, Guidepost Solutions, reported in a 288-page report in May that one member of the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee compiled a list of 703 people “suspected of abuse” but never released it publicly. The report records “703 abusers” but notes curiously that only 409 are “believed to be SBC-affiliated at some point in time.”
Days after the report’s release, Guidepost Solutions tweeted its support for Pride Month and the LGBT movement. The Southern Baptist Convention subsequently printed a list of 205 pages of pastors, church workers, and volunteers “credibly accused” of abuse—a list, it notes, that includes cases that “resulted in an acquittal.” The report redacted the names and some details of those found innocent, or not accused of sexual impropriety—resulting in some entries with every detail blacked out.”
Quote: “Welcome. is a women’s group promoting evangelical involvement in immigration. Its website is welcomeimmigrants.org. That website’s Internet Registry information shows World Relief as its administrative contact, and an email contact address with the National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum is a group funded by George Soros. Baptist Press promoted this women’s mission group in a story released September 12, 2019. Baptist Press detailed how Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty staffers explored the border at the invitation of an “online community of women” engaged in the immigration issue…
A review of the Internet registration for the Welcome. website, verifies the site was registered by World Relief and the Soros-funded National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum (NIF) received millions of its funding from George Soros. (For links on the Evangelical Immigration Table and the National Immigration Forum to George Soros, see reports from National Review, The Institute on Religion and Democracy’s blog Juicy Ecumenism, the Center for Immigration Studies and The Christian Post.)…
This is not the first time Southern Baptist entities promoted a Soros-funded political propaganda arm promoting immigration. As previously reported, in 2017, the ERLC tweeted out Soros-funded immigration videos made by the group Christiandreamers.us. Later, Baptist Press published a story on one of the ChristianDreamers.us leaders.
Southern Baptist leadership including ERLC [ethics and religious liberty commission] employees have tweeted their support for open borders policies and promoted anti- Christian groups like the George Soros funded Media Matters…
So, why do so-called conservative Southern Baptists tweet out propaganda from Soros- funded groups like Media Matters and Christiandreamers.US? Why do ERLC employees attend a trip for a group created by a Soros-funded pro-immigration group? Why did Baptist Press promote a pro-immigrant group that is in partnership with the Soros-funded National Immigration Forum?
Quote: “Well, likely because Soros and his money have infiltrated many so-called Christian organizations. Soros has funded the National Immigration Forum. That group funded the Evangelical Immigration Table. Our Southern Baptist ERLC has even tweeted out immigration propaganda produced directly by the National Immigration Forum through the Christiandreamers.us website—a website created and controlled directly from Washington, DC by the National Immigration Forum.
Want more info on the Soros topic? Sovereign Nations has a podcast and supporting documents detailing Soros meddling in Christian groups. It exposes how progressive money has coopted conservative Christian organizations and leaders.”
Quote: “The Protestant evangelical church has been a massive conservative force over the past 50 years. With nearly 40 million members, evangelicals are normally politically active, voting for their morals as well as for the preservation of our republic.
But something has happened over the past 7 years or so that has radically changed the priorities and mission of the largest evangelical seminaries and churches in the United States. Seminaries previously focused on Scriptural exegesis and proclamation are now focusing on teaching their future pastors postmodern concepts such as critical race theory and intersectionality. Churches throughout the nation are pushing progressive agendas along with the teaching of unconscious bias training and the deceptive idea of ‘white privilege’.
Faithful church members are being encouraged to reject constitutional conservatives and to embrace open borders, reject normative patriotism, and embrace progressive concepts and social justice policies normally reserved for radical socialists or open society adherents.”
Quote: “First, it was Drag Queen Story Hour is a Blessing of Liberty David French supporting Bart Barber for President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Now, it is World Economic Forum speaker Rick Warren endorsing his friend Bart Barber for Southern Baptist Convention President…
The Daily Wire reported, “During Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren’s special broadcast with Collins on behalf of Health and Human Services, he mentioned that he and Collins first met when both were speakers for the billionaires and heads of state who gather annually in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. They reconnected recently, Warren revealed, at an ‘off-the-record’ meeting between Collins and ‘key faith leaders.’ Warren did not say, but one can make an educated guess as to who convened that meeting and for what purpose, given the striking similarity of Collins’ appearances alongside all these leading Christian lights.”
Quote: “In 1992 James Holly, a Southern Baptist medical doctor, requested that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) conduct a study of Freemasonry. It was agreed, and Dr. Holly wrote a 70+page article that summarized his investigation: “Freemasonry Watch: The Southern Baptist Convention and Freemasonry.” Setting aside the study that was done, the SBC published its report on Freemasonry in 1993, noting SBC leaders who were also Masons, points of agreement between Freemasonry and Christianity, and areas of disagreement between the two. At that Convention the following recommendation was approved:
“In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination’s deep convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church, membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in the light of the Lordship of Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of God.” H11-6 Last Revision Board of Directors February 2010
The Masons responded by publishing the following: “Because of your support, the vote of the Southern Baptist Convention is a historic and positive turning point for Freemasonry. Basically, it is a vitalization of our Fraternity by America’s largest Protestant denomination after nearly a year of thorough, scholarly study. At the same time, it is a call to renewed effort on the part of all Freemasons today to re-energize our Fraternity and move forward to fulfilling its mission as the world’s foremost proponent of Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God” (The Scottish Rite Journal, Aug. 1993).
Note: Though Dr. Holly suggests at the beginning of his article that everything within the SBC was resolved in the 1993 statement, upon reading the above, it was not resolved at all. In fact, the Freemasons praised the convention’s decision and thanked them for the support. That is not resolved, at least not in the correct way.
Quote: “This booklet has been prepared with a prayer for revival among Southern Baptists. It does not pretend that the only problem hindering revival is Freemasonry. It does recognize however that the leaven of the occult will corrupt the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and will sap her vitality.
The men who are involved in Freemmasonry, on the whole, are not evil men. Yet, they are men who are being used for an evil purpose. It is the spirit which empowers the Lodge which we wish to expose. The ludicrousness of the secret words and the secret handshakes would be laughable if it were not for the spirit behind Freemasonry. The spirit makes this more than a bad joke, it makes the issue of Freemasonry among Southern Baptists a serious issue of life…
“WHAT ARE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS TO DO ABOUT FREEMASONRY? *
“The intent of this booklet is to encourage the Southern Baptist Convention to take a stand on the issue of Freemasonry, and then for each individual church to apply that stand as they are led by the Lord. Recently, an African pastor, led to Christ by a Southern Baptist missionary, was asked, “What are the hind- rances to revival among Southern Baptists?” He said: “rebellion…ignorance of the supernatural (spiritual warfare, not charismatic gifts)…and the toleration of Freemasonry in the church.”
How each of our hearts yearn for the Holy Spirit empowered, Christ-honoring, life-changing revival to sweep America. It may happen. It can happen. We can be a part of it happening. Prayerfully read this booklet and support the S.B.C.’s declaring of Freemasonry to be incompatible with the message of the Bible and with the ministry of the church.
You absolutely must view September 18, 2022’s prophecy update of Pastor JD Farag, entitled “A September to Remember” (https://www.jdfarag.org/bible-prophecy?sapurl=LytkNmtjL2xiL21pLytrY2Qycm04P2VtYmVkPXRydWUmcmVjZW50Um91dGU9YXBwLndlYi1hcHAubGlicmFyeS5tZWRpYS1zZXJpZXMmcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPSUyQjgyeXhwOGY=). It is imperative, and I urge you to drop everything and watch it all the way through to the end, because even when you think he is wrapping things up, he’s not. Though Pastor JD does not cover all that I am about to touch upon (such as the year of Jubilee and Elul 29) nor do I get into all Pastor JD speaks about (like how mRNA technology is about re-writing the genetic code), Pastor JD calls us all to be looking up, because Jesus’ return is incredibly near, and could very well be this coming Yom Teruah – “the day that no man knows”.
So, here’s what’s going on right now. Elul 29 in this Shemita/Jubilee year is swiftly approaching. What is Elul 29 and what is the Shemita? The Shemita is the Sabbatical year on the Hebrew calendar, and it comes every seven years. In the Biblical Sabbatical year all debt was wiped out. This happened every seven years on God’s calendar. Then every 50 years is the Jubilee which comes on the back of a Shemita year – in other words one flows into the other. In the year of Jubilee all land is to be returned to its original owner. (Deuteronomy 15-18 and Leviticus 25). On the Hebrew calendar Elul 29 is the last day before Yom Teruah also known as Rosh HaShanah.
Elul 29
Historically speaking on this day in American history Elul 29 has been a day in which financial collapses have happened (sometimes on the day sometimes right after). Elul 29 this year falls on September 24/25th on our calendar, and Yom Teruah begins the evening of the 25th on into the 26th. Remember the Jewish day begins in the evening. According to Jonathan Cahn in a Charisma interview of 2015, “In September, the Shemitah reaches it peak on Elul 29, the Day of Nullification, when all debt and credit are wiped away.” (https://www.charismanews.com/world/50468-jonathan-cahn-offers-biblical-insight-on-elul-29-the-day-of-nullification). It is also stated by a Kabbalistic Jewish website that “As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking — a time to review one’s deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming “Days of Awe” of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur” (https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?hdate=6/29&mode=j) (and no, Holy Light Ministries does not advocate Kabbalah. This has been quoted only to make a point).
The Shemita and the Jubilee
Now, why is Elul 29 significant this year? In short, the Shemita year is rolling into the Jubilee, and historically speaking, that has been a time of financial upheaval. In a September 5, 2022 article of Holy Light Ministries entitled “What is Really Going On: The Final Seconds,” I stated, “…the leadership of this world are in league together and are plotting to change the monetary system, possibly even by the end of this year. And I want to remind you, that Elul 29, according to Jonathan Cahn in his book The Mystery of the Shemita, has always been an important date when it comes to stock market crashes and other not so nice things (if you don’t have the book, just google the topic and you’ll find lots of commentary on it). By the way, Elul 29 this year is September 25, 2022. On top of this, this year of 2022/23 is thought to be the year of Jubilee, which is an incredible time wherein God said that those who’d lost their land could regain it and those who owed money no longer owed it, and all debt large and small was erased (Isn’t God awesome?! – Deuteronomy 15 and Leviticus 25). And wouldn’t it be just like Satan to be a copy cat and use that timing to bring about his own concept of a “reset”? Something that makes me go “hmmmmm”.”
Financial experts have been warning recently and publicly of looming problems in the economy, including Jamie Dimon who is JP Morgan Chase CEO and Greg Jensen who is co–chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates. (sources listed below)
Even “Pope Francis has ordered that the Holy See and connected entities move all financial assets to the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican bank.” And this is to be done no later than September 30, 2022. (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252093/pope-francis-instructs-vatican- entities-to-move-all-funds-to-vatican-bank-by-sept-30)
The Ukrainian Connection?
Furthermore, a member of the German Parliament and chancellor of the Christian Democratic Union party Friedrich Merz has warned recently, “Everyone will not forget September 24, 2022 and everyone will know exactly where he or she was” (http://endoftheamericandream.com/what-ominous-event-do-they-have-planned-for-september-24th/). A direct quote from the subtitles of Merz on youtube states, “… this twenty-fourth of September 2022 will remain in our memories . . .” And though Merz does allude to Ukraine regarding that date, it remains unclear as to what he thinks will have happened on that date. (Note: the chancellorship of this party once belonged to Angela Merkel until she retired in 2021).
Thus, quite possibly what is about to happen financially is inseparably linked to the fictitious Ukrainian/Russian conflict (https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2022/03/17/do-not-be-deceived-ukraine/). In other words, the narrative among world leaders and the new media will be that whatever happens financially was caused by the conflict in Ukraine. (For more on why I call it a fictitious war please visit this link. And “fictitious does not mean people are not affected. It means the leadership of most nations are all on the same team and in league with the World Economic Forum and are marching in lockstep toward one goal: a one world order. https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2022/03/17/do-not-be-deceived-ukraine/)
Could it be nuclear?
Could this be regarding Taiwan as well?
UPDATE as of 09-21-22
It appears to be starting already! “Russia’s Stock Market Crashes After Putin’s Partial Mobilization Message” https://share.newsbreak.com/1t5uwa5d
The Red Heifer and the Rebuilding of the Temple
And on top of what is about to happen in the economy and Ukraine, there is the incredible unfolding news regarding the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. For years they have had all the resources and money available to them to begin the building of the Temple, but they apparently lacked two things: red heifers and the right timing. It appears that on September 15th the right timing and the red heifers arrived in Israel. “The Temple Institute and Boneh Israel made a huge step towards reinstating the Temple service on Thursday when five red heifers landed at Ben Gurion International Airport…From the time of Moses, who personally prepared the first heifer, until the destruction of the Temple, only nine red heifers were prepared. Nonetheless, this was sufficient to maintain the ritual purity of the entire nation for almost 2,000 years. According to Jewish tradition, there will only be ten red heifers in human history with the tenth heifer ushering in the Messianic era. Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides), the most renowned medieval Jewish scholar known by the acronym Rambam, wrote in his explanation of the mitzvah that “the tenth red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily, Amen, May it be God’s will.””
The Temple Train and Passover 2023
To show that they mean business another article from September 7, 2022 states, “Israel is upgrading its already impressive international airport. The government is also working on a railway infrastructure that will bring international travelers directly from the airport to the Temple Mount. This will enable all 70 nations to come to worship God in Jerusalem’s House of prayer, a vision that the government has already hinted is their true intention. The Director General of the Airports Authority, Hagai Topolansky, announced that in 2023, Ben Gurion International Airport will open a new mega-terminal…In 2020, Israel’s Transportation Ministry said that it would move ahead with plans to build an extension of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed line that would directly connect Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A proposal was made to name the future Temple train station after Donald Trump…Transportation infrastructure will play an essential role in the Third Temple as a “House of Prayer for All Nations.”…this pre-Messiah train phenomenon being played out to an even stronger degree with the new high-speed track that will bring travelers directly from Ben Gurion International Airport to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The train is expected to begin service in April, just in time for the Passover holiday.”
Conclusion
So, here’s the run down: the Temple train will be ready for passengers by Passover April 2023, there are perfect red heifers recently delivered to Israeli soil, financial experts are predicting “something worse than a recession” coming very soon, a German chancellor just predicted that September 24th will be a day we will long remember, the Russian economy has already crashed, Dr. Doom has predicted long and horrible economic crash in the U.S. no later than by the end of 2022, the Biblical Sabbatical year is merging into a the year of Jubilee, and the day of Elul 29 in which other economic crashes has happened is coming quickly upon us.
Though we do not know when Jesus really will return, and though we do not know what really will take place on September 24th or 25th or 26th or any day after or before that for that matter, I am called to warn others of what appears to be coming based on the signs at hand (Ezekiel 33). Indeed, we all are. Furthermore, Jesus wants us to be vigilant in prayer, boldly evangelistic, and fearlessly looking up for our redemption is drawing near. There are far too many who think we are called to be “Joseph’s” in a physical sense, meaning we are to be storing up all sorts of food and supplies. In reality, Jesus never eluded to Joseph and never told anyone to store up food when you see all these things coming on the earth. Instead, Jesus called us to trust the Father for our “daily” needs (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3; Luke 12:13-34). Think about that. Daily. Indeed, if we are to be like Joseph at all, it would be in a spiritual way in that we provide people with spiritual food that they need to get through this overwhelmingly dark and demonic time. ““Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11).
Please view the link to JD Farag’s Prophecy update. It is very insightful, poignant, and powerful. Be blessed as you listen to this precious, godly man who is eagerly excited about and longing for Jesus’ appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). As always, Pastor JD has presented documented sources all pointing to the life-changing fact that the clock is winding down, that time is nearly up, that the final seconds are indeed on the clock, and Jesus Christ is indeed coming SOON. No, there will be no “rising up”, no “taking back”, no “making great again,” just a looking up and a being snatched up and Jesus coming back again. As Pastor JD said, “You can have this world. Just give me Jesus.” Amen.
– whitehouse.gov, “Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and BiomanufacturingInnovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/09/12/executive- order-on-advancing-biotechnology-and-biomanufacturing-innovation-for-a-sustainable- safe-and-secure-american-bioeconomy/
What is transpiring today, even as I write and even as you read this article, Satan and his human co-conspirators are conjuring up how to make their next move. And it appears that that next move will be a financial one. Nation after nation, in lock step with the plans of the World Economic Forum and its one world order United Nations Agenda 2030, are preparing to switch their currant currency to a digital currency. This digital currency will bring them one step closer – a very large step closer – to global control, for with this they will be able to track all citizens and cut off the funds of any citizen that does not cooperate with the new world order. A taste of this was seen not long ago in Canada when the protesting truckers had their bank accounts frozen, and many who had donated money to them were also cut off from accessing their money. Think also of China’s social credit score, and the EU’s mandatory COVID passports.
I want to encourage you all to watch Pastor JD’s prophecy update “Follow the Money” below. It is the first listed in the links, as well as Tony Koretz’s latest video “Prepare – Things are Rapidly Starting to Break Down” which is the second link listed.
Pastor JD Farag is very and exactly right when he says that anyone who thinks we have ten or more years in this world are horribly deceived.
Satan – god of this world
For those who are wondering why God is allowing Satan to do all this, I would remind them of 2 Corinthians 4:4 that speaks of the “god of this age” who has blinded the minds of unbelievers, and is the “prince of the power of the air” who now “works in the sons of disobedience” of Ephesians 2:2. Even Jesus does not dispute this in Matthew 4 when Satan states, “8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”10Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Notice that Jesus did not correct Satan’s statement regarding the kingdoms of the world.
And as a further reminder, Job 1 states regarding Satan,
“6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:6-7)
The passage from Job 1 makes it clear that though Satan has access to the entire world, he cannot be everywhere at once. After all, he is not God. However, Satan has free access and power as the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world, but, he is limited. So, how then does he obtain control of the entire earth by Revelation 13?
The Beast of Revelation 13 to whom “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” had it “…granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” And of the second Beast of Revelation 13 it is said in verse 12 that he “exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast…14And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
All Authority is from God
Now we know from Romans 1:1 that “…there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” This means that all this authority that the Dragon has and then gives to the Beasts come from God. After all, throughout the Old Testament God used godless rulers to carry out His judgment upon His people and other nations. Just read Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, all of the minor prophets, the Psalms, and even the Pentateuch and you will see time after time after time, God uses godless rulers to judge His people.
Judges 2 explains, “14And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And Judges 4:2 reads, “…the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim.”
According to Daniel and Revelation, God will use Satan to bring about His purpose of judgment upon the entire world that has forsaken Him. From the riders of the four horses of the Apocalypse being given authority to do what they do, to the Dragon of Revelation 12, Beast #1 and Beast #2 of Revelation 13, and the Scarlet Beast of Revelation 17, all will be used by God for the sake of pouring out His wrath upon each and every person who has rejected God. Though it may not make sense to us, it is how God does things. And may we not forget what God Himself said in Isaiah 55,
“8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
So, if God has always used godless rulers for His purposes, why not use Satan and the Beasts of Revelation?
That being said, God never allows this authority to be used for long, but allows it to be used for the purpose of bringing His judgment upon a nation, nations, and in the end the entire world.
Judging the World
Now, why is God going to judge the world? Doesn’t He love it? Didn’t He send His only begotten Son to die for it?
Romans 1 explains, “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them…24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness… 26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions…28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind…32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
And 2 Thessalonians 2 says, “7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
At the time of the end which we are swiftly approaching and are actually mere seconds away from on the heavenly time clock, God will shake the entire world, every nation, every ruler, every person, and literally everything. Why? According to Psalm 2, the nations raged and the people plotted a vain thing and took their stand against God and against His Anointed Son Jesus. They did not “kiss the Son”, but instead, will march on Jerusalem and array themselves to overthrow God Himself and His people. (“Psalm 2: Prophecy Unfolding Now,” https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2022/02/26/psalm-2-bible-prophecy-unfolding-now/) Furthermore, according to Isaiah 24, the inhabitants of the world are haughty and they have broken the holy covenant, transgressed God’s law, and changed God’s ordinance. In short, they have knowingly rejected God. (“Isaiah 24: The Shaking of the World,” https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/isaiah-24-the-shaking-of-the-world/ Isaiah 24 makes this crystal clear.
“1Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants. 2And it shall be: As with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the creditor, so with the debtor. 3The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, For the Lord has spoken this word.
4The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish. 5The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, And those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, And few men are left.”
Isaiah 24
Why Now?
For those who may wonder why is this happening now, I would answer with a question, well, questions really. Why not now? If not now, when? When else in all of human history has everything been in such alignment? When else has Matthew 24/Luke 17 and 21/Mark 13/and all the prophets been so close to complete fulfillment? When else have we been on the cusp of the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse with God’s judgment of sword and violence, famine, pestilence and wild beasts (including microscopic) being seen worldwide?
And really, no matter when God would choose to bring all things to an end, that generation would always ask, ‘why now?’ I mean really when you think about it, when is the end convenient? When is persecution convenient for that matter, or judgment, or life?
The Shemita and the Year of Jubilee
Even so, the leadership of this world are in league together and are plotting to change the monetary system, possibly even by the end of this year. And I want to remind you, that Elul 29, according to Jonathan Cahn in his book The Mystery of the Shemita, has always been an important date when it comes to stock market crashes and other not so nice things (if you don’t have the book, just google the topic and you’ll find lots of commentary on it). By the way, Elul 29 this year is September 25, 2022. On top of this, this year of 2022/23 is thought to be the year of Jubilee, which is an incredible time wherein God said that those who’d lost their land could regain it and those who owed money no longer owed it, and all debt large and small was erased (Isn’t God awesome?! – Deuteronomy 15 and Leviticus 25). And wouldn’t it be just like Satan to be a copy cat and use that timing to bring about his own concept of a “reset”? Something that makes me go “hmmmmm”.
It appears that we are down to the final seconds. And yes, those final seconds can seem like an eternity. So, let’s stay awake. Let’s keep watching. Let’s keep praying. Let’s keep looking up, for our REDEMPTION is so close we can nearly touch Him! Jesus is coming soon! Let’s be ready!
Quote: “It’s not about the U.S. versus China. It’s about what underpins a world order is always the financial system…What we’re seeing in the world today, I think, we are on the brink of a dramatic change, where we are about to, and I’ll say this boldy, we’re about to abandon the traditional system of money and accounting, and introduce a new one. And the new one, the new accounting is what we call blockchain. It means digital. It means almost having a perfect record of every single transaction…It also raises huge dangers in terms of the balance of power between states and citizens…but also, this new money will be sovereign in nature…What I see are superpowers introducing digital currency. The Chinese are first. The U.S. is on the brink…The Europeans are committed to that as well. And the question is will that new system of digital money and digital accounting accommodate the competing needs of the citizens of all these locations so that every human being has a chance to have a better life. Cause that’s the only measure of whether a world order really serves.”
Quote: “The pope’s rescript, issued Aug. 23, clarifies the interpretation of a paragraph in the new constitution of the Roman Curia, Praedicate Evangelium, promulgated in March. According to Francis’ rescript, financial and liquid assets held in banks other than the IOR must be moved to the Vatican bank within 30 days of Sept. 1, 2022.The IOR, based in Vatican City State, has 110 employees and 14,519 clients. As of 2021, it looked after 5.2 billion euros ($5.6 billion) of client assets. Though commonly called a “bank,” the IOR is technically a financial institute, with no branches, working within Vatican City State to provide services to clients, which include the Holy See and connected entities, religious orders, clergy, Catholic institutions, and Holy See employees.”
Quote: “Whenever the White House says it is working on a plan that would transform a vital part of the U.S. economy, and that the administration is doing so with the “highest urgency,” it should go without saying that the press should pay close attention to what’s going on…On March 9, the Biden administration released an executive order (EO) instructing a long list of federal agencies to study digital assets and to propose numerous reports about their use and proposals to regulate them. Much of the executive order is focused on cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum, which run on blockchain technology and have become increasingly popular among many investors and consumers in recent years.But there is an even more important part of the EO: President Biden has instructed the federal government and Federal Reserve to lay the groundwork for a potential new U.S. currency, a digital dollar…Digital dollars…would be traceable and programmable. The Federal Reserve (or some other designated entity) would have the ability to create more digital dollars whenever it sees fit, and, depending on how the legislation is written setting up the currency, the dollars could be formulated to have various rules and restrictions built into their design. For example, a digital dollar could be crafted to restrict fossil-fuel use, to give bonuses to people for spending at particular businesses, to enact de facto price controls by disallowing users from spending too much on particular products, or even to redistribute wealth.”
Quote: “Pakistan’s interior minister is warning that outspoken critics of the current government could find their biometric identity cards blocked, leaving them without access to their bank accounts…Tyrannical government control over people’s freedom and finances has also been developing at unprecedented levels in several other countries, including communist China. And there are concerns about the European Union and the United States falling in line with the idea of digital identity monitoring as well. As CBN News has reported over the last couple of years, China’s move toward a cashless society with a digital currency mirrors how the entire world is literally being set up for heightened levels of government control…”There will be a point where the People’s Bank of China, the central bank of their country, is going to be able to look, peer inside of every single transaction, what everyone does, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” warned Bethel.This means if you are a human rights activist or a Christian, authorities can use this new technology to punish you if you engage in activities they consider to be anti-communist… Some are warning that the European Union is currently undergoing a “Chinafication.” As CBN News reported this week, the EU will reportedly test a new digital identity program for its citizens later this year with a rollout planned for September 2023.”
Quote: “One of its chief critics, European Parliament Member Cristian Terhes, was born in Communist Romania. He’s been warning of the EU’s so-called “Chinafication” since the EU made COVID passports mandatory. Terhes says, “Clearly we are witnessing right now, the ‘Chinafication’ of Europe, because we see what is happening in China right now with the social credit score, where the government is monitoring … all the people from the beginning to end, everything that they do, everywhere they walk. They control everything and watch everything. This is an example of tyranny.”…
“The EU insists the digital identity program will be voluntary. Skeptics are wondering how long before it becomes mandatory.European Parliament Member Rob Roos from the Netherlands asked, “How voluntary is the European Digital Identity Wallet? But even more importantly, how voluntary will it remain in the future? Because the European union always comes up with nice plans to eventually abuse it, to create more control.”The EU’s COVID passport was supposed to be temporary. Now Brussels wants to extend it until at least June of next year. COVID passports have been used to prevent the unvaccinated from crossing borders, entering grocery stores, using public transportation, and even going to their jobs. They have also helped fuel violent demonstrations the likes of which Europe hasn’t seen for decades…
Not only are digital IDs coming, but in Italy, the cities of Rome and Bologna have begun social credit programs that reward citizens for behavior that officials think will fight climate change, like using a bike instead of a scooter. A social credit system could be easily incorporated into a digital identity.
Austrian Catholic activist Alexander Tschugguel of the St. Boniface Institute, says that in any European social credit system, Christians will lose, because of their opposition to issues like abortion, which the EU views as a human right. “Therefore I do not want the European Union to have the possibility to look into everything I do, everything I say, everything I have and how I move and where I am at any time,” Tschugguel said, “Those systems are pushed by people who are highly anti-Christian.” Terhes warns that the EU’s new digital ID is the next step in a process in which the government in Brussels will micromanage every aspect of people’s lives.He said, “This is what makes the difference between a tyranny and democracy: When you know everything about what your government does, that’s democracy. When the government knows everything about you, that is tyranny.”” (emphasis mine)
Quote: “The transformation is not yet complete, cash is still widely used but some argue it’s inevitable that eventually we will evolve fully to a world entirely without it… The full blown digitization of national currencies, “CBDCs” – Central Bank Digital Currencies, is the grand prize and Canada is well positioned to lead the trend globally.It’s a behemoth of a worldwide opportunity now taking shape…The World Economic Forum says it’s time to take them seriously, CNBC explores what they would look like, the US Federal Reserve published a literature review, the IMF a set of considerations for their use and Brookings a set of design options. The Bank of England offers this discussion paper to explore the topic in detail and HSBC comments on them here.Early pioneers include Switzerland, Ghana and the Marshall Islands seeking to blaze the trail, and China has ambitions to lead the world in this field…Already early innovators like the City of Calgary are pioneering the path and the Bank of Canada has laid the groundwork. In Dec 2020 Timothy Lane, deputy governor of the bank and head of research at the fintech and crypto department, claimed that Canada’s CBDC might see the light of the day “sooner than expected.” ”
Quote: “It’s still summer in Poland. But winter is coming.According to Reuters, outside the Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka coal mine, people are lining up in their cars and trucks to stock up on coal.Why? Because 3.8 million households in the country are relying on it for heating in the winter.“This is beyond imagination, people are sleeping in their cars,” a 57-year-old man named Artur tells Reuters. “I remember the communist times but it didn’t cross my mind that we could return to something even worse.””
Quote: “If energy is life and the lack of energy is death, then Europe’s dismantling of its energy security is equivalent to civilizational suicide.Europe is again on the brink of lockdowns—though its goal this time is not to “stop the spread” of a virus.This time, European Union members and even the U.K. are imposing energy rationing schemes in an attempt to keep people from freezing to death this winter…Several German cities plan to open warm public shelters by winter for those who cannot afford heating at home.Hungary instructed schools as well to look into wood-burning to keep warm.Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands are urging citizens to shower less, and Spain is literally regulating people’s thermostats.Authorities in Warsaw have allowed citizens to forage for firewood in forests to keep their homes heated amid spiraling energy costs. Poland is amid a coal shortage after banning Russian imports.”
I wonder…
What is the national anthem of heaven?
What are its colors?
What is its flag?
What do the uniforms of the military Host look like?
And what are the protocols of the court of our great God?
How awesome His splendor!
How glittering!
How grand!
Can you see it?
The flag raised high,
the clear, strong trumpets announcing the King,
the Host is all at attention in their shining white,
as “regal robes are now unfolding,
and heaven’s grandstand is all in place,”
the drums begin to roll
and the heavenly, national anthem begins
as the courts of heaven ring forth the triumphant sound
of the Kingdom that will never end
and a King whose fair renown will never fade with time!
"How marvelous, how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous, how wonderful!”
A nation truly under God
and indubitably indivisible,
with liberty in Christ,
and unadulterated justice for all.
"Land of the free,
Home of the brave!"
A land that right now is “fairer than day,
and by faith we can see it afar”
– yet not so very far now! –
for Jesus is at the door,
and His jubilant and long awaited inaugural entry is about to commence.
“All hail King Jesus!
All hail Emmanuel!
King of kings!
Lord of Lords!
Bright Morning star!”
And the government will rest upon His shoulders!
Our Everlasting Father,
Mighty God,
Prince of Peace,
Wonderful Counselor!
Whose government will have no end!
Hallelujah!
Can you hear the music starting?
Can you see the flags unfurling?
Can you smell the fragrance of heaven?
“And the things of earth”
are growing “strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace”.
The earth is fading away.
The sky is receding like a scroll.
All nations of this earth are falling
and becoming the "kingdoms of our Lord
and of His Christ! And of His Christ!
And He shall reign forever and ever!
And He shall reign forever and ever!"
Amen!!!
The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”
All pilgrims and strangers of earth,
all true citizens of heaven say, “Come!”
“Let all the redeemed of the Lord say so!”
Praise the Lord!
With breathless anticipation We waitWith eager expectation and ceaseless hope
We waitWith deepening love and relentless faith
We wait The door is opening...The King is Coming!Even so, “Come Quickly Lord Jesus!”
Hallelujah!!!
AMEN.
prose written by: H. E. Basaar
written on: July 4, 2022
Updated: July 5, 2022Dedicated to friend Don who inspired the writing of this piece.
********************************************
Be blessed this July 4th as we look back on what was the God-blessed greatness of the United States of America and of His eternal Kingdom’s greatness then, now, and yet to come!
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. It seems these days that too few churches even mention the name or even come close to celebrating it. But the day, or rather two days of Pentecost, are incredibly special and underappreciated. It ought to be observed by every church the world over, even as Christmas and Resurrection Sunday are. After all, it is the day that God sent His Spirit to empower believers for the propagation of the Gospel. It is the day that the new covenant was enacted publicly, and the Church was born. Without it, we would not be here.
Remember, God has ordained holidays, and His holidays were performed as dress rehearsals, foreshadows and pictures of His promises yet to be fulfilled. He desired them to be celebrated year after year to prepare the people for their final culmination in Christ. Four of them have been fulfilled. Passover (Jesus was our spotless, sacrificial Lamb), Unleavened Bread (Jesus was buried as one without sin), First Fruits (Jesus was resurrected and promises resurrection to all who believe in Him), and Pentecost (the birthday of the Church).
So, when was the first Pentecost? Did it all begin with the 120 who were gathered in the upper room in Acts 1 and 2? No. This was not the first Pentecost. The first Pentecost, also known as Shavuot, was initially observed three months following the exodus from Egypt. It is called the feast of “weeks” because it comes seven weeks after God’s holy feast of First Fruits, now called Resurrection Sunday. So, seven weeks after the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea, they encamped at Sinai where the first Pentecost unfolded.
The First Pentecost
Exodus 19:1, 16-20 relates the first Pentecost story:
“In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai… And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.”
God Came Down
In this incredible scene, God came down to meet the people. In the verses we did not read, God told them to get washed up to meet Him. And so, for three days they prepared for God’s arrival. Take note of the details we just read. It happened in the morning. There was a loud noise called the “voice of the trumpet,” which was God’s voice, for it has been noted in other parts of Scripture that God’s voice is like trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 1:10). And there was fire, smoke, thunder and lightning. It was so amazing that the people, including Moses, trembled at the sights and sounds and feelings. It has been said by several sources, that God with His trumpet voice, spoke forth the law into seventy languages. Then over the course of forty days and in the presence of Moses alone, He wrote the law on stone with His own finger (Exodus 31:18).
But, why did God come down on Mt. Sinai? He came to initiate the Hebrews as a nation and as the members of a covenant. Now, a covenant always involves blood that essentially seals the deal. In Hebrew the word covenant comes from a root word meaning “to cut,” for there was the cutting of an animal and the shedding of blood sealed the deal. Without the blood there was no covenant.
And so, the LORD presented the covenant to them, and they accepted, thus becoming His covenant people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6; 24:3,7). “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning these words…” (Exodus 24:8). The Hebrews were initiated as God’s covenant nation on the day of first Pentecost at Mount Sinai.
The Ascension and the Promised Return
In Acts 1 ten days before Pentecost commenced, we read that Jesus had just ascended into heaven. “9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” In this we find our eternal hope of Christ’s promised return. To this we cling when all looks bleak, the color of the world dims from gray to black, disasters increase and both world wars and spiritual wars insatiably spread and concerns for our families overwhelm our hearts and minds. Jesus is coming back! Even as He promised to come, He has promised to return. Even as He ascended up into the clouds forty days after His resurrection, He will come back with the clouds of heaven.
In the Meantime…
In the meantime, Jesus knew exactly what, or shall I say Who, we would need. For until that awesome hoped for day, He has promised to empower us with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1 we read, “4 And, being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.8…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem… These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren… (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)…”
Pentecost Fulfilled
Acts 2:1-21
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Exodus 19 and Acts 2
Just as in Exodus 19 God came down in the morning to initiate the Hebrews to His covenant and nationhood, even so in Acts 2 Peter confirms that it was 9:00am in the morning when God came down again. Just as in Exodus 19 there were loud noises of thunder, even the trumpet of God, in Acts 2 there also was the loud sound of a mighty, rushing wind. Even as there was much fire upon Mount Sinai, in Acts 2 the Holy Spirit descended in what appeared to be tongues of fire. As some scholars believe that God on that first Pentecost spoke forth the law into the 70 languages of the world, even so the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 declared the wonders of God in the languages of the world through the believers who had tarried in Jerusalem. And that day, God fulfilled His promise by writing His word upon the hearts of those who believed instead of on tablets of stone (2 Corinthians 3:3). Even as the Hebrews had been brought into a covenant with God and were sprinkled with the blood of sacrificial animals, Acts 2 saw the ceremony of a new covenant in Christ’s blood brought to the believers, forming and empowering them as a holy nation. Though Acts 2 was not the first Pentecost it was the incredible fulfillment of what God had promised for it brought about an interminable and indomitable Pentecost.
After all, the first Pentecost at Sinai was but a foreshadowing of a better covenant through the shed blood of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the initiation of Christians as a holy nation. As it says in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Today
And so that remarkable day of Pentecost God brought to pass what He had always intended. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, the rushing wind of the Most High God swept through that room as the Holy Spirit baptised the believers with tongues of fire as they were immersed into a new covenant of Christ’s holy blood. They were made a new nation of priests and kings empowered here as ambassadors, spokespersons of the heavenly kingdom and of it’s eternal, almighty King.
While we await the day of Christ’s return, He has promised to empower us with His Holy Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-31 and Acts 1). Jesus says in John 7:38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
Today Jesus is glorified and is seated at the right hand of the Father on high, and believers are still promised this empowering of the Holy Spirit of the Living God, and true sign and seal of the new covenant established in Christ’s blood.
Conclusion
We conclude today with Hebrews 12:18-24.
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”
As we remember Pentecost, let us also live in Pentecost. Jesus is coming soon! Let’s be ready!
“The Angels and the Giving of the Law,” Rev. Stewart, http://www.prca.org/current/Doctrine/Volume%2013/NEWS-M20.pdfNote: the views expressed in this article on infant death has no bearing on the topic of angels, and is not agreed with by myself, the author of the present article. Although Rev. Stewart who wrote on angels, who I do quote in my article may agree with the article on infant death, I do not agree.
Mark Biltz, “The Feasts of Israel,” DVD series. Note: Mark Biltz has recently come under the influence of Yitzhak Shapira who says he is a Messianic Jew, but is really a Kabbalist in disguise and a member of the Chabad Lubavitch sect of Judaism. Though he claims conversion, there are terms and phrases that he uses that should not only give one pause but give one reason to distrust him. Others are also being deceived by Shapira, such as Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice. Mark Biltz produced this video on the feasts of Israel before his association with Shapira. And I also must say that are elements within the video that are based in rabbinic tradition, and must be weighed heavily with Scripture. I do not take everything Biltz says at face value, and I encourage everyone to be good Bereans.
I do not think we on earth will ever fully grasp the awesome grandeur of our God. All too often we act far too familiar with Him by calling Him our friend, as well as dismissing the gravity of our sin (whatever its type) weighed against the enormity of His holiness. Jesus to us in the western world seems to have become a soft, “warm and fuzzy” sort of man, who is all about social justice and being non-judgmental. It is assumed that the God of the Old Testament was holy and harsh, but the God of the New Testament is permissive and meek and mild. And the two do not meet in the middle. However, in so believing, we miss the true power and nature of who Jesus was/is and what Jesus did when He as eternal God laid aside His glory and put on human flesh for us.
To even begin to catch a glimpse of the immense nature of what He did, let’s first take a look at two Old Testament passages of God’s glory.
“4Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures…22The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads…26And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:4-5, 22, 26-28)
“2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.6Before the throne therewas a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”” (Revelation 4:2-8)
This is Jesus’ home. This is the realm from which He came to earth. And this very glory belonged to Him as well, as it states in John 1, “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him…” Colossians 1:16-17 in agreement states, “16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” And to wrap this all together in a nice bow, Jesus prays in John 17, “5And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Thus, Jesus shares such glory with the majesty and splendor of the God enthroned in Ezekiel and Revelation (as well as Isaiah 6 that was not quoted here). He is the One who measures the sky with His hands and holds the oceans in His hands (Isaiah 40:12), the One who sends the snow and the hail (Job 37), who rides the whirlwind (Nehemiah 1), and commands the stormy winds (Psalm 147) and calms the stormy sea (Psalm 107). This is our Jesus. This is the same Jesus who descended and took on human flesh, as Philippians 2 so powerfully presents when it says,”5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Think about that passage. He was in the “form” of God. This means that He was forever in the visible image/shape of God continuously, even while here, for the word is a present participle which implies continuous action. Thus the image of God did not cease while He here. Nevertheless, while He remained in the image of God continuously, He did not consider His equality with God something to be held onto tightly. In other words, He did not cling to His heavenly role, but rather, descended and made Himself of no reputation, which means that He divested Himself of His rightful dignity. He did not cling to His rights as an equal with God. Instead, He actively took upon Himself the essence of a slave. Even as He was in the visible shape of God, He also came in the visible shape of a slave. He had not existed as a human before, but became a human in every sense of the word. And not just any human but that of a humble servant. No one did this to Him. He brought Himself low, like a king in ancient times who would set aside His royal robes and put on beggar’s clothes for a brief period of time. Even so, Christ clothed Himself in a human body as a slave, and was obedient to the point of death on the shameful cross. Indeed, as Hebrews 12 so aptly says Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame because of the joy that was set before Him.
Jesus in all of His grandeur and majesty, robed in righteousness and splendor, surrounded by holy angels, a sea of glass before Him, majestic music permeating the atmosphere, and worshipful calls of “holy, holy, holy” echoing into eternity, laid aside His regal robes and all the beauties of heaven to come down here…for us.
As the old hymn goes,
“The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, When men who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call, God’s love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam’s race— The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.”
As we reflect on Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and as we reread the Gospel story of Jesus and His love, let us remember the height from which Jesus came in order to die on our behalf that He might lead captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8), defeat and shame the principalities and powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15), fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-20) and then nail the oppressive law to the cross (Colossians 2:14), “to preach good tidings to the poor . . . heal the brokenhearted . . . proclaim liberty to the captives . . . opening of the prison to those who are bound . . . to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD…” (Isaiah 61). And that year is still now. Jesus’ blood still atones, and he whom the Son has set free is still free indeed!
And let us not forget what the angels said in Acts 1:11 as Jesus ascended into heaven and disappeared in the clouds of God’s throne, “…this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus! The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”
Blessings in Christ,
Holy Light Ministries
Sources:
Bible Hub Interlinear
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, by Zodhiates
We have entered the Christmas season. Whether one celebrates Christmas or not, the signs are evident; the signs are clear; the signs are everywhere. Cut trees of all shapes and sizes and different shades of green are lined up in front of grocery stores and on special lots. In spite of “restrictions”, shortages and unhappy messages from public officials, happy Christmas tunes fill the airwaves while people pack stores shopping for gifts and specialty snacks. Peppermint bark mochas and pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu at local coffee shops. The most notable sign of this being the Christmas season, however, is the wonder of light. Strings and strings of white lights and colored lights caress houses, brighten store windows, twinkle from garlands of greenery, bedazzle pedestrians and drivers along streets, and sparkle from the branches of trees lighting up the night with the brilliance and splendor of Christmas.
Light overcoming darkness is truly the theme of Christmas, and actually, is the theme of life here since the beginning of creation. Let’s set the stage today, of how the world looked when Jesus entered it first as Creator, then as Savior, and SOON as coming King.
Genesis 1
It says in the very first book of the Bible, in the very first chapter and and very first verse, Genesis 1:1 that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep….and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the waters. The statement of Genesis 1, “The earth was without form and void”, carries more weight than most people think, for those words “without form” and “void” equal something far more dark and sinister than at first comprehended at a cursory glance, or even a second and third reading. It is difficult for us in the English language to grasp the enormity associated with these words, but they represent “chaos, confusion, and disorder,” and has to do with destruction that follows God’s judgment (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament, pgs. 121 #922 bohu and 1214 #8414 tohu). What accompanied this chaos was darkness so dense that it could be felt, and this darkness lay upon a fathomless surging abyss of water. (Strong’s, #8415 tehom and root word #1949 huwm). Genesis 1 presents to us a scene of tumult, judgment and chaos and the darkness that covered all with its barbarous, suffocating tentacles. This is the realm into which God’s Spirit entered, hovered as an eagle over her young (#7363 rachaph), gently moving upon the face of the tumultuous deep.
And then it happened, that which shook the world and shattered the tangible darkness sending tremors into the very void…the Creator enters the scene. Genesis 1:3 states, “then God said, “Let light be!” The breath of God breathed over the universe in that moment and with those words, blew back the cover of thick demonic evil, and shattered the darkness How incredible those words were, and how much more incredible is the God who spoke them, commanding light to shine forth into a chaotic world filled with ruinous confusion, covered with turbulent waters and tangible midnight. But, at His word, He is who is light, and in whose light we see light (Psalm 36:9), overwhelmed and overcame the darkness, and the darkness could not comprehend it.
John 1
In the Gospels we are again confronted with a similar scene of chaos, turbulence and deep darkness. Leader after leader and king after king in both Israel and Judea had done evil in the sight of the Lord plunging the land into the midnight of idolatry and immorality until pagan empire after pagan empire swept through, devastating the land like locusts and dispersing its people like chaff before the wind. Then, for over 100 years, Rome trampled upon the independent spirit of Israel, and the Jewish people groaned under the weight of their oppression and longed to breathe free, to have their kingdom reestablished, to serve their own king, to be independent once more. Just as in Egypt, they cried out to God.
But, this midnight extended beyond the political and national borders of Israel to that of the spiritual, for the darkness of ignorance and blindness and hopelessness covered an astounded world. From nation to nation, sea to sea, nomadic deserts to snow-capped peaks, from the land down under to the land of the midnight sun, sin and depravity held captive the helpless and fear-filled masses via the tentacles of religion and superstition. In Israel it was no different. For there the Pharisees and Sadducees had burdened the people with man-made traditions and the condemnation of strident rules.
In the midst of this oppression one can hear the cries of one particular Christmas song written by an unknown author in 1100 and found and translated by John Mason Neale.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
The Jews were a harassed people politically, physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually; they were like sheep without a shepherd, longing for God’s healing and deliverance once more. They thought they only needed a political savior – their long promised Messiah – to dispel their darkness and give them liberty, but unbeknownst to them, just like in Genesis 1, the darkness plunged deeper than the mere surface, and it would take a miracle of God to put it to flight.
Even so, a young girl named Mary waited breathlessly, contemplating her nation’s dire need, and meditated upon the promises of God. No doubt her heart thought back on the stories of old and how God had time and again rescued His people, and blessed the nation on behalf of the patriarchs. She more than likely reflected on the Messianic passages, and wondered when God’s Messiah would come, if he was living already, and when he would arise. Though from the line of David, Mary did not think highly of herself, and saw clearly how far the house of her fathers had crumbled to dust and fallen in every way. Perhaps, her young heart was broken for her people. Perhaps, she felt the stirring of the hope that God was answering the cry of her people’s hearts.
Her espoused Joseph, though busy preparing a place for his new bride-to-be, must also have pondered this grave matter as well. As a man of the tribe of Judah and a direct descendant of both Solomon and David, what weight he must have felt upon his shoulders since there was nothing that he could do to help his people! He was of noble blood, the line anointed by God as king, but no king had sat upon the throne for approximately 400+ years.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
This was the desperate heart’s cry of the Jews. This was the subject of their prayers. This was the hope of the nation. And deeper still their spirits wept, and the souls of all mankind in unison cried out:
From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory o’er the grave!
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight!
Another translator of this Latin hymn translated this same stanza as follows:
O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.
One incredible thing to remember is that God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect. Time after time God sent leaders, warriors, judges, prophets and kings to save His people, but these were mere foreshadows of the ultimate One who was to come, who would not only free His people from the darkness of their political and national oppressors, and release them from the shackles of physical ills, but who would save His people from the even greater darkness of their sins and demonic oppression that enslaved them.
Thus, God, with the finesse and precision of an orchestra conductor, and with the stealth of modern Israeli special forces, ushered into this world the most extraordinary being ever to walk the earth in human flesh. The eternal Creator entered His the darkened stage once again, this time clothed in humanity and humility, and again said loud and clear, with all authority and power, “I Am the Light of the world!” And the proud, puffed up darkness could not grasp what had happened, nor could it overcome, nor could it seize by force the Word and the Light of the Living Creator God. For the very “I AM” had entered the world, and it could not silence Him, the very light itself had pierced the darkness. It could not cover Him. It could not hide Him. It could not shake Him. It could not defeat Him! John 1:5 says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
Isaiah 60:1-3 says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
The Coming Eternal Light
Even so, that same holy light that pierces the darkness is coming SOON in living color. As it says in Revelation 19, “11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He [e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in [f]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a [g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
“8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
Conclusion
Thus, this Christmas season, let us remember that as the darkness of our world grows darker, that Jesus is still the Light of the world! He shattered the darkness at the beginning of creation, and pierced it when He came as Savior, and will destroy it once and for all with the brightness of His return. While we await this blessed hope, let us remember that we are children of light. We are not longer children of darkness. Thus, we are to be imitators of God — we are to look like Him, talk like Him, act like Him, sound like Him, think like Him. Depression, anger, fear, doubt, lying, hate, despair, sexual deviance, and the like have no place in us. There is no excuse for these to remain. It is time for them to go. There is no more time to blame our father, our mother, any other relative, friend, teacher, society, or our country for whatever bad behavior we demonstrate. It is time as the Bride of Christ and children of the Light and sons of God, to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), who is the light of the world and in whom is no darkness at all (James 1:17).
This Christmas season as Christ’s return is nearer now than ever before, let us shine out like stars in the universe holding forth the word of truth (Philippians 2:14-16). Jesus is coming soon. Let’s be ready as we cry out with the unknown author of the 1100s,
Something not often thought of happened on October 31st, something that has nothing to do with costumes, candy, or carving pumpkins; something that impacted the world; something that paved the way for the founding of America. Indeed, it is so pivotal that if it had not happened, America would not have happened. On October 31st of 1517, the high holy day of Samhain (Satan) lord of death –the holiday now called Halloween– 34-year-old Martin Luther pounded 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Castle church in Germany. Indeed that was the nail and hammer not only heard round the world but one that shook the powers of darkness. But the battle did not begin here, and the battle did not end there either.
The Battle’s Beginning in Genesis 1: Let There Be Light
The battle’s beginning is conveyed in the very first verses of the first chapter of the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
“The earth was without form and void”, this statement of Genesis 1 carries more weight than most people think, for those words “without form” and “void” equal something far more sinister than at first comprehended at a cursory glance, or even a second and third reading. It is difficult for us in the English language to grasp the enormity associated with these words, but they represent “chaos, confusion, and disorder,” and have to do with destruction that follows God’s judgment. And there was darkness on the face of the deep. The darkness spoken of here is a darkness that could be felt, and the “waters of the deep” is reference to an abyss of a surging mass of agitated waters of fathomless depth. In other words, this was not a serene scene of still waters and a gentle earth waiting to be formed. No… Genesis 1 presents to us a scene of tumult, judgment and chaos and the darkness that covered all with its barbarous, suffocating tentacles. This is the realm into which God’s Spirit entered, hovered as an eagle over her young, gently moving upon the face of the tumultuous deep.
And then it happened, that which shook the world and shattered the tangible darkness sending tremors into the very void…Genesis 1:3 states, “then God said, “Let light be!” How incredible those words are, and how much more incredible is the God who spoke them, commanding light to shine forth into a chaotic world filled with ruinous confusion, covered with turbulent waters and blinding darkness. But, at His word, Light overwhelmed and overcame the darkness, and the darkness could not comprehend what had happened.
John 1: And the Darkness Could Not Comprehend It
Even so, in John 1, the darkness of ignorance and blindness and hopelessness covered a world overwhelmed by sin and depravity wherein religion held captive the helpless masses. For, into the world stepped the most extraordinary being ever to walk the earth. Though He was clothed in humanity and humility, He was the very Word of God entering this darkened world and with that entrance saying loud and clear with all authority and power, “I Am the Light of the world!” And the proud, puffed up darkness could not grasp what had happened, nor could it overcome, nor could it seize by force the Word and the Light of the Living Creator God. For the very “I AM” had entered the world, and it could not silence Him. It could not cover Him. It could not hide Him. It could not shake Him. It could not defeat Him!
Persecution: Like Gasoline on a Flame
Time after time, that same darkness has fought to overcome that Light, that Word of God. From the very birth of the Church, it has sought to silence the Gospel of Life and Light, mainly through persecution and fear. Upwards to 2 million martyrs have spilled their blood for Christ, as Roman emperors burned the Scriptures, crucified Christians, burned them alive, tortured them, ruined their businesses, and drove them into the catacombs. But, the Gospel was not defeated. The more pressure the darkness placed upon the Body of Christ, the more the Gospel spread. In the words of early church Christian writer and apologist Tertullian of Carthage, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Truly, persecution was like gasoline to the flame of Christianity.
Temporary Peace and Infiltration: the Dimming of the Light
Then, as the Roman empire began to disintegrate from within and without, an eerie lull descended on the Church bringing at first a needed respite from the fangs of ravenous persecution. Constantine was the Roman emperor who observed the disintegration of his empire with great interest. He was the high priest of the Mithras religion (the worship of Apollo the sun god), but he found in Christianity a common bond. For the stories of the sun god Mithras and the Son of God Jesus Christ seemed in his mind, to mesh. It is even said that before marching into battle one day, this emperor while worshiping the sun, saw a vision of the cross and was told by a voice that in this sign he was to conquer. Upon returning from great victory in battle, he realized that all religions must have freedom, and that all religions must find common ground. The Edict of Milan was issued in the year 313, as a joint venture of the Roman emperors of the West and the East. Through this edict it became illegal to persecute Christians, and tolerance of all religions became the law of the land. Everyone was to get along. There was a common prayer that all could pray to the nameless deity all held in common and thus not offend. Syncretism (a blending together of different religions) was put into place as the order of day, worship on Sundays for Christians and the celebration of Christmas was protected, which also meant protection for those of the Mithras religion who also worshiped their sun god (Apollo) on Sundays and celebrated Christmas. Everyone was free to practice their own religion, but the Emperor was to be Pontifex Maximus (the high priest—literally meaning the “greatest bridge maker” –of them all. Though this temporary amity gave the Church a brief break from outside persecution and allowed for the Nicene Creed (of A.D. 325) and the Canon of the Bible to be compiled, the pulsating darkness of paganism and syncretism began to spread its tentacles within the Church. Christians became comfortable in their new found peace. This led to the Gospel being proclaimed less, until eventually the Word of God was withheld from the common people. Thus, the Dark Ages descended upon the Church.
The Flickering Lights of the Dark Ages
Fear of death dominated people’s minds. Owning a Bible was against the law; relics (even bones stolen from graves that the Roman church claimed were of Stephen or Peter or Paul) were superstitiously bought and venerated; the Pope was seen as Christ (The Vicar of Christ – from the Latin Vicarious meaning “substitute”) on earth and his word was infallible; salvation was through works and the buying of indulgences. They were taught by the Roman Church that they would eventually, upon death, go to purgatory (a place where sinners must be purged of their sins before going on to heaven), but if they bought indulgences they could cut their time there short and also free other loved ones from that horrific place. Perilous pilgrimages were made to Rome where they would pay to kiss statues, kneel on hundreds of steps while praying in a certain fashion, etc. in order to obtain indulgences that would shorten their time in purgatory. “For hundreds of years (approximately 500-1600 A.D.) through the Roman Catholic Church, the insatiable appetite of evil had taken hold of the people. Though little groups here and individuals there had sought the truth of Scripture, they were mercilessly persecuted and martyred by those who wanted to keep them in tangible darkness. People like John Huss, John Wycliffe and Jerome Savonarola spoke out against the immorality and unbiblical practices of the Roman Catholic church, and because of this they and others like them (thousands upon thousands) were pressured unsuccessfully to recant and then without trial” martyred for their faith (quote from “Let Us Not Forget” listed below).
1517: The Light That Pierced the Darkness
By the year 1517, over 1500 years of darkness had suffocated the multitudes with superstition, papal power and frightening visions of purgatory. According to various sources, during that time period between 50 million and 150 million Christians were martyred for their faith, even for simply owning or reading a Bible in their own language.
Then, 504 years ago on October 31st of 1517, in the midst of colorful leaves and the crisp, cool autumn air, 34-year-old Martin Luther placed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle church in Germany. The pounding of the hammer to the nail echoed throughout the land of Germany, rattled the foundations of the Pope’s Roman residence, shook the powers of darkness, and its sparks sent the demons squealing with terror. Indeed, it was the hammer heard round the world! For not only did Luther dare to nail his 95 debate questions to the door, but they knew that that the Johaness Gutenburg printing press of 1440 that had at one time printed thousands upon thousands of indulgences now would print the Word of God in the language of the people.
A copy of Luther’s New Testament translated from Greek into the German language of the people “was released September 21, 1522…”. “In two months, no less than five thousand copies were sold. In twelve years, nearly a quarter of a million New Testaments were distributed amongst the German people”. Finally, in 1534, the whole of the Bible had been translated by Luther into the German language. And the light spread as the truth of the Gospel was preached in France, Holland, England and beyond. Soon the Bible was translated into other languages of the people, so that, as John Wycliffe had desired (also known as “the morning star of the reformation”), every plow boy could read the Word.
The endless night of the Dark Ages ruled by Popes and Bishops, superstition and mysticism was pierced by the blinding, enduring light of God, as Martin Luther nailed the theses to the chapel door and then as he translated and printed the words of Scripture into the German language. Indeed, in the words of Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” And the people in Germany had and did see that great light. A people who had never owned a printed work in their lives nor the lives of their parents nor grandparents nor great grandparents now embraced a copy of the Word of God. Though for hundreds of years the insidious midnight desperately attempted to suppress the truth, to keep the Bible from the people, to steal, kill and destroy all hope of salvation, and to snuff out the last embers of light, the Light of the World still could not be comprehended nor overcome.
503 years ago, a young man named Martin Luther risked his life to ask questions that needed to be asked, and though he honored the Roman Catholic Church he dared to question the unScriptural behavior of its leadership. Though he knew the flesh and blood that stood against him and sought to kill him, he also was more than aware that he wrestled not against that flesh and blood, “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). One of several hymns he wrote reveals this spiritual warfare reality in the life of Martin Luther, entitled, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” (lyrics below)
Final Encouragement:
Because of Martin Luther and a multitude of others who unashamedly declared the truth, because of the handful who translated the Scripture at the risk of their lives and those of their families’, and because of the millions who chose to die for Jesus, one day in 1620 Christian Pilgrims crossed the turbulent Atlantic Ocean to form a nation founded on freedom of worship. Thus, today in America, Christians are free to read a Bible in their own language and can freely partake of Communion in remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. This is the incredible testimony of the great impact the Reformation has had on the world. Without the Reformation there would have been no Pilgrims, no Puritans, and thus no America as we know it today.
I encourage us all to not take for granted what Christ has done for us nor take for granted our religious liberty. 503 years after Martin Luther, our enemy is still at work, and another Dark Ages has descended upon this nation and the western church. Since the foundation of the world until now, the darkness still hates the light.
Let us therefore, today on October 31st, celebrate Reformation Day. Let us celebrate Martin Luther and others who shined in the darkness, and celebrate the light of Jesus that cannot be overcome. Let us celebrate this holiday of light, and not Halloween the holiday of darkness. Let us celebrate this holiday of eternal life, and not Halloween the holiday of death and human sacrifice. Let us not compromise like the Church of Constantine’s day, but instead stand firm like Martin Luther. Let us not be mesmerized by candy-coated Satanism, after all, Halloween really is the devil’s holiday. God is about to judge America for defiant compromise. Let’s not be a part of that! (For an excellent source on Halloween, please check out this article by Good Fight Ministries, “A Christian Response to Halloween,” https://www.goodfight.org/articles/cults-occult/christian-response-halloween/?fbclid=IwAR1mnhYxev1YTAdMpndr21-yVF-RwfUipjdWk-YkocqEQMBjjJ5LQc4fs5U).
Furthermore, let us also keep in mind those such as John Wycliffe, Jerome Savonarola, and John Huss who uncompromisingly laid down their lives, and men like Martin Luther who risked it all so that we today could have the Bible in our own language and worship God freely. Let us remember other Christians throughout the ages who have lived and died as children of light in the midst of grave darkness. I want to encourage my fellow Christians to remember that we too are children of the Light, that we are of the day, that our greatest offensive combat weapon is the sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God, that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. As Philippians 2:15-16 says, “Let us truly be “the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.”
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, by Martin Luther in 1529
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the Right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who That may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
from age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
Sources:
The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament, pgs. 121 #922 bohu and 1214 #8414 tohu, and #7363 rachaph.
“1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”6And He said to me, “It[c] is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes [d]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21)
Today is the 8th day of God’s holy day of Tabernacles. In Scripture it is referred to as the day of a “solemn assembly” (Leviticus 23). This is the only one of God’s holidays that has an 8th day, which of course stands out because there are not eight days in the week. This is indeed significant and not to be overlooked.
It is my theory (after all, no one really knows) that this 8th day follows the Millennial reign of Christ. Thus, upon Jesus’ Second Coming when His garments are dipped in blood and Satan is thrown into prison (Revelation 20), He fulfills Tabernacles by dwelling among us physically as well as ruling and reigning. But, the 8th day of Tabernacles will not yet be fulfilled. That is a special day, a separate day. The “solemn” day of assembly will likely come in Revelation 21 when the New Heavens and the New Earth will appear, and the Holy City the New Jerusalem shall descend out of heaven. Revelation 21 states in verse 3 and 5a, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and god himself shall be with them, and be their God…And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”
Even as we can equate the fulfillment of Tabernacles as being Christ’s soon coming Millennial reign, the 8th day of Tabernacles will be fulfilled at the end of the Millennium when all is made new and God will dwell with us forever. In other words, the 8th day is the new beginning of forever, an eternity that we know nothing about except that it is spent in the presence of the Most High in perfect majesty and holiness and is unending. Oh what a day, glorious day that will be!
How incredible! May this blow your mind today and fill you with hope and joyful expectation!
“13You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. 15Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. 17For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our [c]horn is exalted. 18For our shield belongs to the Lord, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 89:13-18)