Today we hear much about “guns and God” as if being a Christian means that we need to enshrine the second amendment in our hearts and vow to bear arms against any tyranny that oppresses us. Evidently these people believe Jesus himself would have carried a concealed weapon or worn a holster with a six-shooter if Rome had had its own equivalent to the second amendment. I believe the multitude of Christian political pundits and commentators do not really know the teachings of the God they claim to serve. Giants rule our land today, not Christians. Christians want to keep their guns so they can fight them. But, they face a defeat exactly like the rebellious Israelites who refused to take the land by faith.

The people of God could have stood for righteousness over the past three generations as America fell away from its Godly heritage, but they did not. Instead they entered in and took part in the increasing lawlessness and debauchery of society. When the Supreme Court outlawed prayer and the Bible in their public schools in 1962 they did nothing. They continued to send their infants there as sending sheep to the slaughter. When the Supreme Court made abortion the law of the land in 1973 again they did nothing… they even began paying for abortions for their sons and daughters. When their public schools became havens for drugs and sex education and when they kicked Christ out of Christmas again they did nothing. They still supported the public schools when in a day, if all Christians had withdrawn their children, they could have reformed their schools. Now it is too late to reform. Tyranny has come to fruition and full bloom. And now Christians want to arm themselves for the coming revolution?

Today giants rule in the land called America, not Christians. Christians did not fight the giants when they could have. Instead they partied with them, married them, and became one with them. Yes, they rode them just as Revelation describes the harlot Babylon (defiled Christians) riding the beast (man’s government and ways). And now they want to fight the beast? Read Revelation 17 and 18 to understand what will happen to her when she does. And this is all according to the prophetic pattern of parabolic history told in the Book of Numbers in the following passage:

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah. (Numbers 14:39-45 KJV)

Christian, beware. Do not take up arms against the sovereign who rules this nation. Caesar and his provincial rulers were no friends to Jesus, Paul, James, John, Peter and Matthew. Yet, they never, never counseled us to fight against the rulers which God ordained. Instead, we need to depend upon the LORD Jesus himself as the women in the story linked here did!

Psalm 12 contains several important prophecies concerning these last days.

First David earnestly seeks God’s intervention because God’s people are being destroyed throughout the earth. He desperately declares that he can no longer find faithful people among men. Surely this describes the scarcity of righteousness and holiness among those who name the Name of God in our time.

 “Save, O Lord, for ^(A)the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” (Psalm 12:1 ESV)

Next he describes the main characteristic of the people that he does find.

Everyone ^(B)utters lies to his neighbor;
    with ^(C)flattering lips and ^(D)a double heart they speak. (Ps. 12:2)

David prophecies of a time when no one can trust the other, a time when people speak simply to flatter someone else, a time when men say one thing but mean another because they speak with a “double heart,” a double mind. We see this clearly in political leaders. They always say exactly what the people want to hear, yet when elected they act contrary to their promises. Once elected they say they are doing what they promised, but they lie. America’s leader today, President Obama, states publicly over and over again that he is doing the exact opposite of what he is really doing. He deliberately lies over and over again and still his supporters believe every word he says. The newspapers dutifully report Obama’s lies and embellish them with their own. On the other hand Republicans have voted overwhelmingly to nominate a man who claims publicly to oppose those things that Obama does and yet Romney’s own past actions and words show that he supports every major policy that Obama has and wants to implement. Everyone it seems loves the lie. Therefore David prays that God will bring an end this lying lawlessness.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,

4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

I don’t watch the movie stars, the rock stars, the sports stars, or the political stars anymore, but I still remember how they shamelessly honor one another with their lips. Their friends and acquaintances are always the best, the most gracious, the most loving, generous, giving, and lovely person you could ever meet! Their lips, their words, are with them and for them. Who could dare come against them and master them? They are the stars of the earth, the ones everyone looks to for advice, wisdom, and approval. Consider again how President Obama surrounds himself with movie stars and basks in the glow of their never-ending approval. No one can master them!… they think.

But God has other plans, plans which very soon will come into effect.

5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

The time has come for God to arise from his throne and place all of Christ’s enemies under his feet. He has patiently watched for millennia as men threw off the restraints of his laws, both moral and physical. He has even continued watching as man’s breaking of natural laws through genetic modification of plants and animals, biological weapons, chemical weapons, and atomic weapons now threatens to destroy the entire world. But, he can sit idly by and watch no longer. Now he must arise. He must stand and utter his judgment, his terrible judgment.

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.

God’s words of judgment will not be like men’s flattering words of lies and deception. God speaks pure words, as pure as the purest silver or gold, words purified seven times, that is, unto perfection.

7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us[b] from this generation forever.

Contrary to double-minded, lying men, our LORD will “keep” his words. He will guard “this generation.” Which generation will he guard? He will guard the generation that sees vileness exalted among the children of man, the generation that witnesses the age-old foundation of God’s moral order turned on its head and destroyed. He will guard the generation who live during the times described by the last verse of this prophetic psalm.

8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

What could be a truer statement than this concerning America in the year 2012? Is it vile? Then it’s exalted. Look at Lady Gaga. Is it vile? Then its exalted. Look at open homosexual activity in America’s military, states that pass laws giving special rights and the right to marry the same sex to homosexuals. Is it vile? Then its exalted. Look at genetically modified plants and animals and the push toward transhumanism in man’s attempt to usurp God’s throne. Look at laws which prohibit ownership and use of God’s creation, like raw milk and healing herbs, and which protect big pharma and other corporations which prey upon the poor. Look at lawless laws like Obamacare which enslave the people to the whims of a few.

And since vileness is exalted by our society it has become true as well that the wicked prowl in every city and lurk on every corner. We live in dark, desperate days. And this is what we should expect because we have entered the Day of the LORD when darkness covers the earth. But, as David prophesies, now it is time for God to arise and God’s Word is certain. He will keep his word! Great tribulation and great judgment is coming upon the wicked. It is but a breath away.

As if foreseeing the days we live in and the taunt of the enemy David says,

“In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ^(A)`Flee like a bird to your mountain, ² for behold, the wicked ^(B)bend the bow; ^(C)they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.’” (Psalm 11:1-2 ESV)

Today all of God’s faithful people still sit in their own homes and huddle together in their tiny churches or home group meetings. They see the LORD’s enemies massing against them in the forms of unrighteous legal mandates which order them to do things they do not want to do, thousands of police departments arrayed in military gear ever ready to take them to places they do not want to go, and in an American military that fights against every nation (or belief) on earth that does not bend to its will. And so the enemy taunts us and says, “Where will you go now? Will you flee to your hide out in a cave in the ground or on some mountain top?” But, like David we say, “No. Only in the LORD do I take refuge.”

Yet, also like David we understand that “³ if ^(D)the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”^[a]  

Yes, we know the ultimate victor of this age-long war and we take refuge in HIM! The final battle is about to begin. I have my armor on and my sword ready. Do you?

In Psalm 9 David prophesies the destruction of the wicked, but first he worships and praises his God.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your ^(A)wonderful deeds.
² I will be glad and ^(B)exult in you;
    I will ^(C)sing praise to your name, ^(D)O Most High.

³ When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before^[c] your presence.
⁴ For you have ^(E)maintained my just cause;
    you have ^(F)sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. (Psalm 9:1-4, ESV)

After praising God and “recounting” his past deeds David begins to prophesy concerning the final judgment upon the men and nations who despise God and his ways. We have now come to the time when these things David predicts will occur.

⁵ You have ^(G)rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
    you have ^(H)blotted out their name forever and ever.
⁶ The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

Then David contrasts the kingdoms of men to God’s Kingdom, and describes the foundation of God’s throne for Yahweh establishes his government upon the twin principles of justice and righteousness, truth and mercy, law and grace. And through his own experiences David always remembers that mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁷ But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
⁸ and he ^(I)judges the world with righteousness;
    he ^(J)judges the peoples with uprightness.

Then David calls upon all men at all times to put their trust in this God who saves and praise his holy Name.

But then David remembers the present and his current afflictions, troubles similar to those each of us face even today.

^13 (S)Be gracious to me, O Lord!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from ^(T)the gates of death,
¹⁴ that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of ^(U)the daughter of Zion
    I may ^(V)rejoice in your salvation.

Yet immediately David begins to prophesy yet again about the sure destruction of the wicked and the exaltation of the “poor and needy,” those who have practiced righteousness and waited patiently and faithfully upon him.

Christians en mass simply do not understand that God requires us to be holy as he is holy. Hebrews says,

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12:13-16)

The prophet John wrote,

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3)

The LORD’s own brother said,

Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: For the anger of man works not the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and extreme wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:19-27)

For almost two thousand years the visible church turned the grace of God into a license to sin. Sometimes the church actually sold licenses to sin, which she called “indulgences.” Today, though, she does not sell her licenses; she gives them away. Thus she became as Israel of old whom God condemned as being worse than a harlot, for a harlot sells her pleasures for money, but God’s people (both in Old and New Testament times) give their pleasures, their indulgences, their licenses to sin, away for free.

Thus we accepted a false view of salvation, a “free” salvation which cost us nothing. Yet God never taught such a false doctrine. God only spoke of the gift of salvation with respect to Jesus’ atonement for our sins and our reconciliation with God. Jesus purchased our spiritual salvation by his own blood and gave it to us freely as a gift. But most of the Bible deals with the salvation of our soul and this salvation comes only at great cost. Paul said we must work out this salvation with “fear and trembling.” Do you fear that you may not hear that last trumpet? Do your insides tremble that you may not be called to “come up here” even if you do hear that last trumpet? If not, then you’re not working out your own salvation. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Martin Luther’s reformation of Catholic doctrine has been hailed for hundreds of years as a great thing, and certainly the Catholic church needed to be reformed. But Luther began a Protestant era which saw the doctrine of salvation by grace and faith alone obliterate almost all sound doctrine. In its wake Christians walk mindlessly into fleshpots of sin believing they “have grace” to indulge.

But James proclaims, “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:24) This one statement turns almost all Christian dogma upon its head. Again James says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26) Then he says, “You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) And, just to be sure you don’t miss his point, he states, “if you [Christians] … commit sin [you] are convicted of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9)

“Oh my God!” you say. “Now we are no longer saved by grace through faith alone, and the Law still convicts us! What hope do any of us have?!”

Not much if you have not understood this series of teachings.

Prophecy by J. Leland Earls

The fourth church to which I wrote was Thyatira. Dur­ing this era, the apostasy culminated with the complete centralization of power in the bishop ofRome who was given the title of ‘Pope’ or papa of bishops. The eastern section of the organized church resisted this centralization of power in the west, and gradually a schism developed to such propor­tions that an open split resulted. After commending the faithful of the church of Thyatira for their works and charity and service and faith and patience, I expressed my displeas­ure at the increased apostasy: ‘Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jeze­bel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to se­duce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols’ (Rev. 2:20). That which was the ‘doc­trine of Balaam’ during the Pergamos era, became, in the Thyatira period of the church, the seducing tactics of ‘that woman Jezebel.’ Jezebel was the wife of the wicked king Ahab during the days that Israel had almost completely aban­doned the faith of their fathers. She was the daughter of a foreign king who brought her alien religion into lsrael, and because of the weakness of Ahab, she dominated the religious life of the nation, destroying the true prophets of God and establishing the prophets of Baal and Asherah. (see I Kings 16:30-32, 18:4, 13, 19). This is the typical picture I chose in order to portray the religious condition of the Thy­atira period, commonly referred to as the Middle Ages: the inception of which was in the years of growing papal power.

The word I spoke declares that Jezebel seduced my servants to commit fornication. Symbolically, this Jezebel is one and the same as the great whore described in the 17th chapter of Revelation, ‘with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication’ (Rev. 17:2). This ‘fornication’ has to do with the illicit relation­ship of church and state, primarily; however, it relates also to the unholy union of church and man-made organizations which purport to speak for me. It is the church turning to the arm of flesh for its sustenance and propagating power. (See Jer. 17:5). This ‘mother of harlots’ is symbolic of false religion – that which is alien to the true spirit of Christ. She has filled the earth with her abominations, and the in­habitants of the earth are drunk with the wine of her forni­cation.

This woman has plied her trade for many centuries, even before the Christian era began. She is pictured as sit­ting upon many waters, or peoples, and also upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 17:1-3). From the over-all his­torical perspective, the seven heads are seven major nations or empires which have been, or will be, influenced by this woman. They are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome (both pagan and Christian, including those nations which have apostatized into communism, raking up­on their heads the name of blasphemy – Rev. 13:1), and the coming world government of the false prophet which must continue for a short time (Rev. 13:11-18, 17:10, 19:20). The woman, or false religion, will continue to hold sway in the coming era of the seventh head, for the corrupt religious systems, both Catholic and Protestant, will enter into league with it. The sixth head, which ruled in the apostle John’s day (Rev. 17:10), has continued until this day, as its hereditary power has continued through Christendom, even though apostate and blasphemous.

Historically, the woman, which is the priestcraft of false religion, has affected the affairs of the nations direct­ly through the close relationship of government and an offi­cially supported priesthood. The priesthood has helped the ruling forces to maintain their power and control by keeping the masses of people in subjection through fear and supposed paternalistic favor. Thus the woman is supported or carried by the beast through an official working relationship between religion and state. In those former Christian nations which have taken upon their heads the name of blasphemy, how­ever, there is a different relationship between the woman and the beast. The woman is responsible for the coming into being of such Marxist dictatorships by fostering conditions leading to severe reaction against the corrupt system which prevailed through her fornication. Thus false religion actu­ally is responsible for spawning communism; it is her off spring. And because she has spawned it, she shall be judged by it. This is portrayed in the prophetic picture by the following: ‘And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make, her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:16). The ten horns are ten nations which will be completely taken over by Marxist elements and become an integral part of the ‘sea beast’ of communism. (Rev. 13:1). They shall then turn on the religious systems and decimate them, both Catholic and Protestant. This will include the very stronghold of the Roman church system in Italy - the Vatican. Think not that only the Catholic branches of apostate Christianity will feel the wrath of the beast. The harlot daughters of the Protest­ant fold will also be greatly affected.

In the letter to Thyatira I gave this warning concern­ing Jezebel: ‘Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds’ (Rev. 2:22). It will be during the great tribulation that the great whore will be decimated by the communist powers, which correspond to the dogs that ate Jezebel after she was cast down and trodden under foot. (See II Kings 9:30-37). I have given her much opportunity to repent of her fornication but she has refused, therefore “I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts: and I will give to everyone of you according to your works’ (Rev. 2:21, 23). My people, the time is drawing near when all of these things shall take place. Therefore consider what I speak to thee, for even now you are being tried; and even now I am searching your heart. Andto you I say, as I did to certain ones in Thyatira, ‘as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put on you none other burden. But that which you have already hold fast till I come” (Rev. 2:24).

As in the other letters, there is a promise given to the overcomers in the message to Thyatira. ‘And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.’ (Rev. 2:26-28). In the letter to Thy­atira, the first mention is made of the great tribulation which comes at the close of the church age. This is because the apostate religious system which became entrenched during the Thyatira period continues until the tribulation and will be judged at that time. The initial fulfillment of the promise to the overcomers will come at the beginning of the tribula­tion period. I will translate and take to myself 144,000 of the choicest of my saints, and they will be given power over the nations during the tribulation. They will be func­tioning in their glorified bodies and will have the power to appear and disappear on the earth. This ability will con­stitute the ‘rod of iron’ which will be used as the means to speak my word and enforce my judgments. As I have received of my Father authority, so will I give to them authority to implement my will among the nations, and those nations which heed not that which they make known shall be broken in pieces as a potter’s vessel. These firstfruits saints are also given the pledge of the ‘morning star;’ this is my betrothal to them as the Bridegroom. They are the wise virgins, re­ceived into the marriage at the midnight hour. (Matt. 25:10). They make up ‘the queen in gold of Ophir’ to be ‘brought unto the king in raiment of needlework.’ (Psalm 45:9-14). ‘The virgins her companions that follow her’ shall be brought to me at the close of the tribulation. (see Psalm 45:14-15). They are the foolish virgins who are not completely ready at the beginning of the tribulation, when I come as a thief in the night. (Matt. 25:11-13). He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.  

Paul reveals God’s heart concerning being conformed to his own image in Romans 8, and in summary declares, “For whom he [God] did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29 KJ2000) As this study progresses we will examine the whole of Romans 8 more carefully, but for now notice this one thing, God predestinated or ordained that certain people would one day “be conformed to the image of Jesus.” This means that Christians, by virtue of simply believing in Jesus or having faith him, are not automatically remade into the image of their Savior. Paul makes it clear that being made into Christ’s image remains a future event. But, before we discuss how that ever happens or who it happens to, let’s find out more about what it even means.

As with all other important doctrines we must go back to the very beginning, back to the Book of Genesis. In order to ever understand God’s Word we must know and believe certain verses of Scripture, including,

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 KJ2000)

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (Isaiah 46:10 KJ2000)

Christianity has burdened itself with many false doctrines because it forgot these two Scriptures. The first declares that God does not change. This means that his ways with man remain constant and consistent. Specifically, for one important example, this means that the path of man’s salvation has always remained the same… “by grace [mercy] through faith.” If salvation depended upon man’s ability to perfectly obey God by, for example, perfectly obeying the Law under the Old Covenant, then man would be “consumed” because he would always fail. God, however, does not destroy man because he changes not, his ways are and always have been the ways of mercy.

The second verse quoted above tells us that God declares the end from the beginning, the “things that are not yet done” even from ancient times. The book of Genesis describes the most ancient times known to man, the times of his actual creation, saying,

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all^[a] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27, NKJV)

Now I ask you, was man fully conformed to God’s image when first created? If you think the answer is yes, then ask yourself, why did he disobey God at the very beginning of his life? What is an image? The Hebrew word “tselem,” translated as image, means a “representative figure.” Later in Scripture this word is used to represent idols, men’s representations of the false gods they worshipped. In Genesis 1:26 God also uses the word “likeness” to describe the man he made. This word comes from the Hebrew word “demooth” which means “resemblance,” or “like.” So, in the beginning God created a likeness of himself.

Clearly, however, this likeness did not possess all the attributes of God himself because Adam was not created perfect; when tempted, he sinned. God does not sin and so we see that Adam, although created in the image and likeness of God, was not finally finished on the sixth day. I believe that God determined not to perfect Adam in his initial creation because then Adam would have been more like a computer than the one God. He would have been “programmed” to do good without the possibility of doing evil. But Isaiah says that God declares the end from the beginning. God did declare that he made man in his image, in his likeness, but we do not yet see him as such. But that which God declared he will do.

Thus we see that God devised a plan by which man could be fully made into his image. And that plan required a helper, a helper whose name is… Satan.

We have now reached the end game of history, or as Jonathan Kleck says, “We are now in the red zone.” Jonathan Kleck, Mike Hoggard, and many others post YouTube videos dealing with the times we live in from a Christian perspective. I also encourage you to read “Corrupting the Image” by Douglas Hamp. All of these men convincingly show that Satan is busily making mankind into his image. They, and especially Mike, take us through history and demonstrate how Satan, the “god of this world,” slowly but surely infiltrated and contaminated virtually every aspect of society. Both demonstrate how the devil’s final plan even involves co-mingling mankind’s DNA with demonic DNA in an attempt to turn man into the very image of Satan. These and others also clearly prove that Satan’s final plan involves demons pretending to be aliens from other planets in their final effort to delude men into accepting their plan to “fix” all that ails the world. Yes, the world we now live in is like the scariest science fiction movie or novel, but this time it’s real.

Jonathan Kleck uses this reality to appeal to men to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. He hopes this reality will literally scare the hell out of them. He may be right. This stuff is so scary that, if I were not already walking with Jesus, it would scare the hell out of me. I think some have already believed in Jesus through his preaching.

Jesus told us that Satan is the god of this world. Two thousand years ago Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and Jesus did not tell him that they were not his to offer. A “one world order,” or “new world order” has always been Satan’s agenda. And Satan has always sought to usurp God’s throne of rule in the heavenlies as well.

A most critical aspect of believing in Jesus becomes apparent when listening to Kleck, Hoggard, and others as they discuss the aliens agenda. I have to believe now that “alien” abductions of humans actually have occurred over the past few decades. Actually, I believe that demons carry out these wicked plans. Those abducted by aliens commonly say that if they cry out in the name of Jesus then these kidnapping entities will always leave. The typical story involves a person suddenly awakening, but being unable to move. He or she feels some type of presence, but can do nothing. Then he remembers his Savior and cries out or rebukes the presence in the Name of Jesus. The demonic presence immediately leaves and his paralysis ends. I have read this type of story numerous times and both my wife and I each experienced a similar event at least one time. I know another Christian who testifies that he was literally abducted by aliens and later came to realize they had been demons. He also testifies that the abductions involved things dealing with reproduction.

All of the clues we now see point to an imminent disclosure of aliens who, in actuality, really are demons. In addition it now appears that the mark of the beast and the abomination of desolation relate somehow to a literal mark of Satan somehow connected to, or intertwined with, our DNA. Thus we see that Satan plans to actually make mankind into his own image.

But, God has always told us these things in his own way. From the very beginning he said he created man in his own image. (Genesis 1:26-27) Then he wrote a book describing how this creation actually occurs. It’s called the Bible. Within this book God lays forth his plan for man and he gives him a choice. Will man choose to be made into God’s image, or will he choose Satan’s image instead? (To be continue…)

In many past posts I have shown and taught that the real (spiritual) meaning of the phrase “food sacrificed to idols” in Scripture is interpreting doctrine or truth according to the idols of our own hearts. When we see this then we understand how Christians come to the place where they allow blatant sin to reign in the midst of their various churches. Today virtually every church has its own set of sins that it tolerates, and not only tolerates, but actually condones and encourages the practicing of those sins. Churches which ordain homosexuals as ministers and/or teach that abortion is a “blessing” top this blasphemous pyramid of churchianity, but all churches I know have their pet sins they will not judge.

Jesus, though, goes even beyond what has been my definition of food sacrificed to idols. He says, “My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34 KJ2000) Interpreting, then, he teaches us that true food is the doing of God’s will and that anytime we engage in activity that is not God’s will, we are sacrificing food (our own willful works) to idols, to demons.

In his letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2-3) Jesus often remarks that he “knows” each church’s works. Most people, I think, when they read this think that Jesus speaks of their “good” works. I very highly doubt it. I believe that we will all one day find that most of the works we did were our own works, works that originated in our own minds and were performed for our own glory. I am firmly convinced that most missionary trips that people go on fall into this category. We travel to Russia, Asia, and Africa and “convert” the indigenous people into the twice the sons of hell we ourselves already are. Most of us have no clue what God requires of us; much less do we know what God would have us teach people of cultures we do not even understand. We cannot even teach the things of God to the culture we do understand, so is it not gross presumption to those whose language we cannot even speak and attempt to teach the Word of God?

Jesus teaches us that true food is to do God’s will, but we have not understood, even after 2000 years, what that will is. Clearly, none of us perfectly does the will of God. Nevertheless, this is the high calling of all of his sons. At the present time only his overcomers even desire this ability, this nature which only wants to do the will of the Father. We will only and finally be able to actually do the perfect will of God when our resurrection, our glorification, comes. Until then let us seek to know his will by first learning his ways. He has shown us that much, but the vast body of Christianity began to discard his holy way a long time ago. Now we swim adrift in an ocean of lawlessness, just about drowned. Come LORD Jesus, while we still have breath!

 ⁸ “Remember ^(K)the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ^9 (L)Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God;in it ^(M)you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who ^[e]stays with you. ^11(N)For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11, NASB)

This command deals with two issues so dear to God’s heart that that he requires every one of us to understand them and do them.  If we will not, then he will kill us (the second death in the Lake of Fire). He ordered Moses to execute the man caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath for reason that obeying this particular commandment is very, very important and for another reason we will discuss below.  Have you ever noticed that this is the longest of any of the Ten Commandments?  That’s because it deals with something we need to understand and obey.

But today’s Christians tend to relegate this command to the netherworld of the forgotten. I remember one of the last times that I attended a Thyatira type church.  It was a large, thriving charismatic church in a Kansas City, Missouri suburb. The popular Christian pastor there preached on Numbers 15:32-36.  Here is the whole passage in context:

^27(AA) ”If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. ^28(AB) And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. ^29(AC) You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. ^30(AD) But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. ³¹Because he has^(AE) despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

A Sabbathbreaker Executed

 ³²While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man^(AF)gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. ³³And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. ^34(AG) They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.³⁵And the LORD said to Moses,^(AH) ”The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall^(AI) stone him with stones outside the camp.” ³⁶And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:27-36, ESV)

The key to this troubling account can be found in verses 27 to 31, just before the capital offense occurs. Obviously this man picked up sticks “with a high hand,” that is, he “despised the word of the LORD,” and “intentionally” sinned against him. God commanded that such a man must be “cut off” from his people (executed) because his type of rebellion would (and did) destroy the entire society. All of society would be harmed and, therefore, all society took part in stoning the offender. The goal of the law was to bring people into God’s rest and to keep the society holy, to keep it as a people separated unto God.

But, the popular preacher condemned Moses’ verdict (by doing so he condemned God too) and taught the people that Moses was “legalistic.” (He was preaching on grace versus legalism). The man (Alan Koch of Christ Triumphant Church) made this grave mistake because he did not understand God’s Law, did not understand God’s Law as it relates to grace, did not understand Jesus’ or Paul’s teaching about the Law, and did not understand God. We met a couple that we had “home-churched” with for a couple years after church and they asked us what we thought of that “great sermon!” I can’t remember our response, but I don’t think we have ever seen this couple again. This confirmed for us that we were at the end of that particular fellowship.

For most of its history the United States honored the Sabbath (I, like Paul, do not argue about keeping a particular day like Saturday or Sunday).  Few stores in America used to be open on the Sabbath.  Many people did become legalistic concerning Sabbath rules, however, during this time.  They forbade their children to even play on the Sabbath, for example.  To them the Sabbath meant a time of becoming somber before the LORD. They did not understand Jesus’ words that the Sabbath was “for men,” not “men for the Sabbath.” As cars became ubiquitous gas stations began to open on the Sabbath. As this country turned further and further from God more and more stores began to open on Sunday.  States passed “blue laws” to try to keep people from buying “bad” things like liquor on the Sabbath. Now most of those laws have been repealed or overturned by courts zealous to remove every vestige of God from the public square. Consider the second psalm:

^1(A) Why do^(B) the nations rage^[a]
   and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and the rulers take counsel together,
   against the LORD and against his^(C) Anointed, saying,
³“Let us^(D) burst their bonds apart
   and cast away their cords from us.”

 ⁴He who^(E) sits in the heavens^(F) laughs;
   the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his^(G) wrath,
   and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶“As for me, I have^(H) set my King
   on^(I) Zion, my^(J) holy hill.”

 ⁷I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me,^(K) ”You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and^(L) the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall^(M) break^[b] them with^(N) a rod of iron
   and dash them in pieces like^(O) a potter’s vessel.”

 ¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth.
^11(P) Serve the LORD with^(Q) fear,
   and^(R) rejoice with trembling.
^12(S) Kiss^(T) the Son,
   lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
   for his^(U) wrath is quickly kindled.
^(V) Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  (Psalm 2, ESV)

America, and indeed the whole world, now refuses to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. The nations rage against God and continually plot to keep his influence away from them. We have not entered his rest (see Hebrews 3 & 4) and we do not keep the Sabbath holy.  We have become abomination before him. The abomination of desolation has been revealed.