Please Stop Calling Me a Racist

Since the election, social media posts from many of my black friends are disheartening.  The same was true during the Charlotte Race Riots several weeks ago.  Some of my social media friends have been my friends since we were 11 years old.  The most egregious was this one:

"Wow, the Presidency, the House AND the Senate?!  AmeriKKKa showed it's true colors."

My first reaction was fury but I was determined not to let it ruin my day.  I stewed on it for several days and then I realized if one of my white friends had made such an inflammatory statement, I would not let it go, so this was my reply:

Abolitionists Were Republicans

I was very hurt by this post. For its broad stroke of racism but for the historically and factual inaccuracies of such a statement. Historically, the party of Lincoln was founded in response to elite DC politicians who were fine with the status quo (Whigs, with our modern day equivalent being the establishment GOP) and slave owning Democrats. The Republican Party stood with black Americans in opposing slavery; millions of gallons of Republican blood was shed for that noble cause.

Campaign Poster from the 1800's

It was the Republican Party that stood between newly freed blacks and the vicious Democratic Party. When the Dems could not win in the field of ideas, they formed the terrorist group KKK. Read about the Wilmington Massacre, it is to date the only violent uprising and armed coup de'tat in our nation's history.

The First Black Senators and House Members were Republicans

It was the Democrats who intimidated black voters and passed Jim Crowe laws. It was the Democrats who opposed Republican Civil Rights Laws. There was only one candidate in this Presidental race who praised a former Exalted Cyclops of the KKK as a friend and mentor, that is Hillary Clinton in reference to the late Senator Robert Byrd. The KKK is still controlled by the Democrats they just have fooled everyone; they pose as Republican organization but their leader is the Devil and we know the Devil is a liar. The KKK is not and never has been a Republican organization, it's always been a weapon of the Democrats. (See this video)

Hillary's Senate Mentor KKK Exalted Cyclops Senator Robert Byrd

It was Hillary Clinton who has spoken her praise of Margaret Sanger the founder of Planned Parenthood. Margaret Sanger was a Eugenist and saw planned Parenthood as a way to keep the population of blacks down.  It was Hillary Clinton who believes you can suck out a babies brain on the day of its birth.

It was Hillary Clinton who wrote her thesis on Saul Alinsky whose book Rules for Radicals was dedicated to Satan.

Hillary Clinton is a Student of Saul Alinsky

81% of Evangelical Christians voted for DJT in this election because we oppose racism, because we oppose oppression, because we oppose the systematic murder and enslavement of the population. We are not racist, we are your brothers and sisters in Christ. A vote against Hillary Clinton was actually the least racist vote we could have made.

I tolerate no racism, in my friends, on my facebook, and in my life. The only racism I have experienced in my life is my friends, who I thought WERE my friends, turn out to be their race before all else.

Drugs and the Forbidden Dimension

There is a realm right on the other side of the gossamer curtain.  A dividing line between the natural and the spiritual where a curtain protects mankind from a realm which we are forbidden.  This mystical place of altered senses, powerful visions, wondrous colors is where the addict goes when he's high, at least at first.

The universe is governed by the rules of the Most High and the beings that exist behind that curtain know the rules, we do not.  They are bound by God's laws and must obey but when a hapless and foolish human stumbles into their den, all bets are off.  Much like the legend of the vampire, where he can not attack you unless you invite him into your home, the wickedness that lives on the other side must receive an invitation.  So how are people inviting them in?

The Zombie Drug

Drugs - the most prevalent way to move into a dimension you are not supposed to be.  Since the nation rejected God in the early 1960's when the Supreme Court struck down prayer in schools, we have been given over to a steady decline.  Drug abuse, once rare, and limited has swept across our nation and is playing out nightly on the news and in cell phone video.

As the drugs get stronger and the time gets shorter, we see horrifying examples of what happens to people that use that gateway.  The potency, prevalence, and side effects of street drugs have intensified every year.  Even marijuana that was a relatively innocuous recreational drug in years past has been modified and treated with hallucinogenic properties.

Synthetic Marijuana

Heroin was at one point a rarely used and hardcore drug, it's in high schools now.  The epidemic of overdoses is reported in towns across America, recently Huntington WV had 27 overdoses in 4 hours.  (source)  Cut with all sorts of dangerous chemicals, junkies are turning into the walking dead.

krokodil heroin

This drug epidemic, while more prevalent and dangerous, is not new.  Mixing potions, holding seances, and crossing the veil is as old as the fall.  The greek word is pharmakeia, it is where we get the origin of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, it also means witchcraft.

Man is created in God's image with a mind, soul, and spirit.  The part of us that yearns for fellowship with God will take a cheap substitute and enter into a spiritual world for which they have no preparation or protection from.  They stumble into this place for fun, but there is nothing fun about what lies in wait.

The Enemy has no new material, he proclaims there is no god and by eating, drinking, or smoking a cursed substance, you will be like god.  The first time and only the first time, the user enters into a beautiful magical world but it's an illusion and a lie.  Subsequent forays get darker and darker as the hapless soul tries to recapture that first time but it will never come and they are now in the grips of powerful spiritual entities that will destroy them.

This is why the Scripture forbids witchcraft and why practitioners are under a death sentence in the Old Testament.  Paul warns us, Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Yet, the promise is ever true, the lure of the unknown and the mystical is tempting and seductive.  Those who live according to the desires of the flesh are searching for something they will never find, there is a way that seems right to man but leads only to death.

The Promise of "Heaven" in a Jar

I have warned many not to step behind the curtain, for you do not know the rules, you are not equipped to fight, and you have no legal rights in that place.  I speak from experience, I've been behind that curtain.  I understand the draw, the power, the depth of experience, I know what it's like to be over there but I tell you the truth the desires of the flesh will destroy you.  The wickedness in that place is ancient and powerful and much stronger and smarter than you are, you will eventually lose.

Repentance and salvation are the only hope.  If you find yourself in the grip of a powerful addiction, if you have a loved one that has stumbled into this hell, pray this prayer with me:  Father in Heaven, we come to you today with a broken heart, we realize that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, forgive us today and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We confess our sins and cry out to you for salvation.  We believe in the death and the resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ who died for our sins.  We plead the blood of Jesus over ourselves and our loved ones.  We ask that the Holy Spirit fill us and banish any unclean and wicked spirits from our bodies, our homes, and our lives.  Keep us safe in your perfect will Father, protect us from the enemy and help us to move and live in your ways and to walk upon your paths.  Seal us Oh, Lord with your salvation and heal us from our sins.  We pray these things in Jesus' holy name.  Amen.

The Great Deception

Have you ever been fooled?  Have you ever fallen for a trick?  Have you ever believed a liar?  Once the deception was revealed, didn't you feel stupid for falling for it?  What if there is a lie coming that is so great it will fool most of mankind and damn your soul to Hell?  

2 Thessalonians 2:9 This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. 11 So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do.

What does the above Scripture mean?  It means that once the church is Raptured and the Antichrist is revealed there will be a great deception to all men who have previously heard the gospel and rejected it because they loved sin more than truth.

WOW!  That is going to be one big whopper, which is no surprise, for Satan is the Father of Lies.  What kind of lie do you think he could make up and have the whole world buy it?  For many years, the Evangelical community has been putting forth the theory that it will be an alien themed deception.

Picture this:  The world is thrown into chaos after the Rapture of the Church.  I believe that is why the US is not mentioned in the End Times Prophecies, I think we are wiped out when the church is gone.  The huge power vacuum that exists in the world after a US collapse will set the stage for the rise of a One World Government and enigmatic ruler.  Add an alien presence in the sky and a Catholic Church that has already prepared new doctrine based on an alternative gospel and you have the framework for the great deception.

We have been being prepared for an alien invasion for decades.  TV, movies, and books have pervaded our culture.  There is a recent survey that says that more people believe in aliens than in God.  In many circles, belief in aliens (Scientology and Mormons) are considered enlightened while belief in Jehovah is considered backward.  A decade ago, people were skeptical about aliens; no longer.  We have been fed a steady diet of aliens, space travel, and post apocalyptic/end of the world stories.

There is credible evidence to support UFO's.  There are hundreds or thousands of sightings a year by normal folks.  There are stories of police and military chases with hundreds of witnesses to these unexplained events.  There are monthly compilations of UFO videos on YouTube.

Many Evangelicals believe that these UFO's are real, but we do not believe they are aliens from another planet.  We believe they are fallen angels and demons that are coming under the guise of aliens.  Satan and his demons are called the Prince in the Power of the Air.  For we wrestle, not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities in high places.  So in Scripture we are told that Satan rules the skies.

He's not going to drop out of the sky with a pitchfork, horns, and a tail.  He is going to come as an angel of light. It is entirely rational and conceivable that the stage for the great deception is set, don't be fooled.

Satan as an Angel of Light

There are two schools of thought on whether or not people who have heard the Gospel can be saved after the Rapture.  I tend to lean toward the school that says if you have heard it and rejected it, you will be given the great deception.  Your soul is lost for eternity.  For we are saved through our belief and faith in the atonement, death and resurrection of Jesus; it takes very little faith to come to Christ when all the believers are gone.  That is why I am so desperate about my friends who are unsaved, because what is coming to you is beyond horrible.  I urge you to accept the gift of grace, love, and salvation before it is too late.

(Originally published August 4, 2013)

The Night the Devil Came for John Lennon

Irreverent and rebellious, the Beatles arrived at a tipping point in world history.  The massive Baby Boomer generation, having been raised by their Depression Era and WWII parents (who just wanted peace and quiet), were the first generation of Americans to not pray in public High School, and fell under the spell of the four lads from Liverpool.  There was a spiritual aspect to Beatlemania; a worshipful frenzy that does not correspond with the beauty of the music.

It did not take long for the youth to embrace the Magical Mystery Tour and go on a drug induced journey into Eastern Mysticism.  Repeating mantras over and over again calls upon spiritual beings that are not who they pretend to be.  Yoko Ono said, "It was more the Four people, it was like they were mediums.  They weren't conscience of all they were saying and all that was coming through them." (Source, The Playboy Interviews, 1980.)

"Do what thou wilt" John Lennon famously quoted the Satanist Alastair Crowley, who also appeared on the Sargent Pepper album cover.  He admitted that, "I've sold my soul to the Devil."   Yoko Ono admits that right before John Lennon died, "It was finally time to consummate all of these spells by making a living sacrifice and signing a pact with the devil." (Source and Albert Goldman, The Lives of John Lennon, pg. 586)

John Lennon Sold His Soul to the Devil

John Lennon famously stated that they had more power, popularity, and influence than Jesus Christ. After the backlash, he doubled down, "Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that. I'm right and will be proved right. . . .We're more popular than Jesus now." (San Francisco Chronicle, April 13, 1966, p.26).   He held Christians and Jesus in contempt and blasphemed the Lord by saying, "Jesus El Pifico, a garlic-eating, stinking little yellow, greasy fascist bastard catholic Spaniard." (A Spaniard in the Works, p.14).

Lennon admitted to the Beatles official biographer that he was often possessed by spirits who would take control of his body.  (Source).  Perhaps, these creatures even wrote "Imagine", which is a thinly disguised Atheist Anthem.  (For a detailed breakdown of the song, watch this great video.)  A classic act of obedience to Satan is infanticide, below the Beatles show their true colors:

Infanticide Imagery on the Beatles Album Cover

The last interview Lennon gave he admitted to the spiritual fugue of demon possession and affirmed he'd "been possessed by this the rock and roll devil".  Through the interview of normal life and parenting he says, "I would like to be a happy contented person. I don’t want to have to sell my soul again – as it were – to have a hit record."  Yoko Ono fully owned their New Age philosophy when she said, "And, if each person, all of us, would really be centered, you know, and really start thinking for ourselves then they don’t have a chance. Because we’re really like very powerful Gods and Goddesses, you know?" and then "We are fully aware of our power – whatever that is – and we nurture it and we try to be very careful about our own life because of that. And also try to communicate and, you know, communicate as much as we can with that power, you know?"  

In the end, John confirmed his rebellion, "I was always wanting something, even though I always wanted to be the rebel on the outside, part of me always wanted to be a part of it. And it… it’s an insecurity. I’m not sayin’ that anybody who’s become a born-again Christian or a born-again whatever the other groups are… but, in general, to me it looks like a sign of insecurity because I recognize it in meself." (Source) 

The last words of the interview are haunting, "Oh, it’s a pleasure… I… I’m a fan of people, too, you know? I like people to sign their books when they give ’em to me and all that… "

Lennon's life was claimed suddenly and violently by a demonically possessed "fan"on December 8th, 1980.  Mark Chapman had battled with demons his whole life and was heard by his wife screaming that Lennon was a "phony fool he doesn’t even realize that soon he’s going to be dead. Just imagine that.” (Source)  In the records of the police investigation, it was reported that the killer had heard an interior voice of the Devil telling him to end Lennon’s life. The voice said: “Kill Lennon, he is mine and I want him.” (source)  Revolution 9, Lennon's song on the White Album, has eerily prophetic connotations.  Lennon is heard moaning and mumbling while back masking plays "Deadman". (Further reading, see here.)

I was just a kid but remember the time after.  I was confused and mildly repulsed by the mourning and adoration of people.  The tributes went on for weeks, the radio played Imagine over and over and over again until I wanted to pull my hair out.  It was disturbing and now I understand why.

American Pie - An American Prophecy

My college car did not have Air Conditioning, which is fine for the temperate North Carolina mountains but makes for an uncomfortable afternoon commute in Charlotte.  One August day in 1990, I was baking in the asphalt oven, traffic was gridlocked, and my nerves were frayed.  On a whim, I pulled into a restaurant.  Never one to eat by myself, I did not have a book or a cell phone to keep me occupied but the booth was cool and dinning room empty so I settled in patiently anticipating my burrito el grande.

1980 Honda Accord - Air Conditioning Optional

In the quiet, the opening strum of American Pie came over the speakers.  I smiled, as does anyone who grew up in a time when radio stations would actually play an 8:40 song.  My American Pie story is of being a 4 year old with a ruptured appendix being rushed to the hospital while singing the chorus.  I still remember laying down in the back seat and my Mother admonishing me to please pick another song.  I didn't understand why it upset her and it hurt less when I sang.

Anyway, back to the Mexican restaurant:  As I sat there I heard the song for the first time.  Notions of the Rapture and the End Times were a concept that I had the briefest acquaintance and then only because my Dad had begun his journey into eschatology.  I was finishing my burrito as Don was finishing his song and it struck me that this song was about America after the Rapture.  I was stunned.  I remember mentioning it to my Dad later and his warm brown eyes caught that look, the one he got when I would get on his level spiritually and feed him a nugget.  Oh Lord, I miss that look.

So in honor of Dad, who loved prophecy (and pie, by the way), and in honor of Mom who didn't wreck the car on the way to the ER all those years ago, and July 4th, 2015 let's break down American Pie from a Prophetic view point.

French Kissing the Devil

(Update:  the below blog was written Saturday 11/14 as the news from Paris rolled in.   I was very troubled in my spirit and sat down to compose a blog.  As I was writing, the Lord gave me a vision of a person walking up to the Devil, embracing and tongue kissing him.   When they pulled away, blood dripped from their lips and was smeared across their face.  The person stood with their arm around the shoulders of Satan and threw me a look of hatred.  It was disturbing and I was hesitant to write this or the blog.  It seemed insensitive and cruel but I was obedient.  It is now revealed that the concert the French victims were watching in the theater was a satanic metal band.  The song they were singing as the terrorist entered the concert hall was "Kiss the Devil".)

My Dad always asserted that at the end of the age the dividing line between good and evil would be so stark that there would be no gray.  I believe the day is upon us, the great delusion has begun.  People believe in their own righteousness, they reject God and his truth.

The humanist point of reference declares that man is the arbiter of right and wrong, that each person goes along the path they feel best suits them.  When you remove the immovable laws of God and right and wrong the morality of the world breaks down.  This is what we are witnessing.

If you are not firmly entrenched in the Word of God, you will be deceived.  We are seeing it everywhere as great madness descends upon the world.  Well meaning atheists are recoiling at the slaughter and terror in Paris but what they fail to realize is that they have by default aligned themselves with the same team.  By rejecting the free gift of Salvation, they choose their side.

In human standards, they may believe themselves to be good and righteous but by the standard of holiness required for salvation, we all have sinned and fall short of the perfection demanded by a holy God.  Thus, they are blinded.

Kissing the Devil Unaware

They walk up to the devil disguised as an angel of light and reason, put their arm around his shoulder, and tongue kiss him.  They pull away from the bloody kiss and see the world through their blind eyes.  The original promise of having the knowledge of good and evil was a lie for they can not see the difference and will call what is good evil and what is evil good.  For the devil is a liar, he was a liar from the beginning, and when he speaks he speaks his native language of lies.  The world has embraced the liar and he will destroy them.

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 24 Blame it on the Jews

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Modern Anti-Semitism

And thus, the source of the hatred of the Jews, spoken to Satan in the Garden of Eden.  One can always find tell tale Satanic activity wherever there is violent and virulent hatred of the Jews.  From a practical perspective it's a pretty easy and quick way to gauge where somebody's heart is or where the organization is coming from.  Take a minute and watch Gary's update, keep in mind that at some point the church is going to be taken out and the Jews will no nation on Earth to call friend.

So, if this global house of cards comes tumbling down like so many believe the Devil is already setting the Jews up for the fall.

One day back in March when I was frantically writing down all the revelations on the Millenium (see the above tab for the study, it is the best work on this blog), the Lord gave me a word:  "Israel must lose all of her friends, that is the only way she will ever turn back to me."  Can you hear the longing in His voice?  I could and soon so will they.

Rapture Index Scores:

Lovers of Self - Day 1: 10 out of 10
Perplexities of Nations - Day 2:  8 out of 10
Mass Animal Deaths - Day 3:  7 out of 10
Revilers - Day 4:  8 out of 10
Signs in the Heavens - Day 5:  9 out of 10
Commotions - Day 6:  7 out of 10
Scoffers - Day 7:  10 of 1
Vexed Souls - Day 8:  10 of 10
Greed -Day 9:  8 of 10
Famine - Day 10:  8 of 10
Itching Ears- Day 11:  10 of 10
Rushing to and fro - Day 12: 10 of 10
Blind Eyes and Hard Hearts - Day 13:  9 of 10
Brutal Men - Day 14:  8 of 10
Wars and Rumors of Wars - Day 15:  9 of 10
Boasters - Day 16:  9 of 10
Messianic Jews - Day 17:  7 of 10
Demonic Activity - Day 18:  8 of 10
Lawlessness - Day 19: 9 of 10
Hedging Your Bets - Day 20:  9 of 10
You Make Me Want to Vomit  - Day 21:  10 of 10
Earthquakes- Day 22:  10 of 10
Nobody Loves Philadelphia - Day 23:  10 of 10
Antisemitism - Day 24:  9 of 10

Rapture Index Total to date:  212 out of 240 or 88.33%

30 Days of Birth Pangs - Day 18 Demonic Activity

Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven." Luke 10:18 and "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" John 10:10.

Be sober-minded; watch. Your adversary the devil prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, 1 Peter 5:8.

Revelation 12:12 ... But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Brothers and Sisters, the enemy does indeed know his time is short.  He was there when Adam fell, he knows when his lease on this planet is up, many believe the Scroll in the Seal Judgments (Revelation 5:9) is the very document.  Thus, if even we humans know the Devil's time is short, how much more does he?

As such, we can expect, from Scripture a heightened activity in the demonic realm as this age draws to a close.  One area in particular that has struck me is the number of demonic inspired "deliverance" that have been in the news recently.  Morgan Freeman's granddaughter was murdered by a man claiming to try and save her from a demon.  A Canadian man kills his ex-girlfriend claiming she was possessed by a demon.  A NC woman is arrested after police find her relative unconscious and her claiming to be a higher power who was performing a deliverance.  This is an every day occurrence these days.

Clear thinking, rational people recognize that the demons were possessing someone all right but in these cases it was the perpetrators, not the victims.   Before 2011, I would have scoffed at these murders; but I have an empathy and an understanding now.  Several times in the last few years, I have been horribly attacked, tormented, and oppressed.  The Lord has let Satan sift me like wheat.  It is only when I have come through the trial that I realize what it was and am restored.  I am always quite disappointed with myself for not having recognized what was wrong at the time, but the enemy is crafty and has been at this longer than I.  Furthermore, the Lord uses those times of fire to purify us, to teach us, and because He is sovereign He has His reasons and His purposes.  (John Eckhart of Charisma Magazine has a fantastic article on the subject that rang true to my experiences, if you are interested in the subject here is a link.)

What these highly publicized cases serve to do though, is cast a shadow over deliverance ministries and deliverance ministers.  People seeking help, relatives desperate for loved ones, will be less inclined to get the help they need and THAT serves the kingdom of darkness.  As the time of the end draws closer, the increase in demonic activity will manifest.  The veil between the natural and the supernatural becomes thinner by the day.

Burning Man Festival - Not What it Appears

If you've stumbled upon this page by accident. looking for information on the Burning Man Festival, it is no accident you are here.  I implore you, stay away from this event and this organization - they are not what they appear to be.  (Matthew 26:41)

Our very popular Blood Moons and More post has me on the look out for other pivotal events that will occur during this time.  I stumbled across this material today which proves paganism is alive and well.  Kicking off the pivotal September 2015, we find the Burning Man Festival, an annual event that is held on U.S. government land in northern Nevada’s remote Black Rock desert.

Burning Man Festival Dates

"As the founding legend is told, in 1986 Larry Harvey and a dozen friends burned an effigy of a man on San Francisco's Baker Beach in a cathartic act of spontaneous creativity." This festival boasts "all-night parties and dancing, riding around naked on bikes and participating in the Slut Olympics (yes, this is one of hundreds of events)." (source) - (Leviticus 26:1)

Burning Man (credit)

Note, the burning or wicker man is a recreation of Druid human sacrifices that took place on pagan high holidays.  No pagan festival is complete without the obligatory pyramids of power and space aliens.  (Deuteronomy 12:31)

Pyramid Worship (source)

Spaceship Imagery (source)

The burning man logo is reminiscent of Freemasonry, but evokes an image of a man raising hands to a space craft coming from Heaven. (2 Thessalonians 2:9)  Lest you just think this is a hippie fest let's see what former Congressman Dennis Kucinich has to say about the event:

Did you catch that?  Opening a portal?  A physical manifestation of change and the new world?  These folks are "crafting the change"?  Lest you think this is not an organized group, their Burning Man Global Leadership Conference boasts 65 events in 25 countries.  (Proverbs 6:17-19)

Burning Man Global Events

Finally, if you were indeed wondering if Dolley has finally gone off the deep end,  I give you a screen shot from their Network Page...How sweet!  The image of a dragon.  (Revelation 12:9)

The Dragon

Folks, there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The enemy comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).  The first rule of symbolism is that there is always a double meaning, the light side given to the public and then the deeper darker meaning for the initiated.  Symbols are ways of communicating under the radar.

Dr, Michael Lake recently said, "There are two views of history and world events:  Accidental and Conspiratorial.  The Accidental view says that everything that happens is random, accidental, and completely organic.  The Conspiratorial view says that there is an architect behind the scenes and that many events are planned.  The Christian has to consider what we know, we know that the ultimate authority in everything is the Lord and that we have an enemy that works behind the curtain so logically, the Christian must adopt the conspiratorial worldview.  You don't to your own peril.  (John 14:30-31)

Who is the Anti-Christ?

Abigail and Dolley readers books have been written around the question, "Who is the Anti-Christ?".  Internet bloggers have built huge followings around their theories and speculations.  People living during WWII could have made a good argument that Hitler was he.  Those living at the end of the Romanoff age in Russia could have made an equally good argument for Rasputin.  A few contemporary candidates are Obama, Putin, and Tspiras.  The Bible has plenty to say on the subject, so let's look at this together.

The Apostle John is the first to use the term Anti-Christ in 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, and 2 John 7.  It is interesting to note that the term, is only used four times and never in Revelation.  We can see from the above Scriptures that the spirit of Anti-Christ was on the Earth in the 1st century and is at work right now.  This tells us that since the resurrection, the Devil has had a plan in place.  Do you think that he would not, at all times have people in place?  Do you think for a moment that the Rapture of the Church would have caught him napping and not ready to fight his last battle?

Lucifer - The Beautiful

It is reasonable to assume then that on Earth at any given time in history, there are 12 powerful and chosen men ready to assume the role.  Why 12?  Well, the Devil always counterfeits what the Lord does.  Secondly, we know there are 10 kings (Rev 17:2), 1 False Prophet, and 1 Anti-Christ (Rev 19:20).

Speculation about the exact identity of THE Anti-Christ, while entertaining is somewhat futile.  The last book JR Church wrote, The Bloodline of the Anti-Christ, has the most thorough research and solid teaching on the subject.  Please know, that the Bible teaches that his identity will not be revealed until after the Rapture.  2 Thes 2:7-8 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Thus, in closing, our key spiritual point is that the these evil men are on the Earth right now.  They are waiting in the wings, they are chomping at the bit, they are ready to go.  But you friend, you spirit filled believer, the Holy Spirit Power living within you, restrains this wickedness.  Never forget that.

The Time Span of the Bible - Millennial Bible Study Part 1

Hi Friends!  The Lord has seen fit to lead me into a few insights recently.  I attempted to compile them all into one post but it was a discombobulated mess that seemed to go on for days!  Most of this is new territory for me and perhaps it will be for you, so I've decided to break this up into bite size parts.  Hopefully, this will allow us to spend the appropriate time, reference the applicable Scriptures, and let the Word of God accomplish what it will in our lives.  I'm excited to explore ideas, avenues and truths that are not your common Bible study fare and have not been exhausted, even among eschatology enthusiasts.  I will try to site Scriptures where new ideas are represented or to provide interesting context, I won't go into an exhaustive study on the basic doctrine.

(Note, these posts were originally published from March 1, 2015 forward.  I've amended the dates of the posts so that they will appear in order under the Millennial Bible Study Tab)

The Period of the Bible:

Have you ever wondered about the war in Heaven when the Devil and his angels fell?  Have you ever wondered who or what demons are?  Have you ever wondered what we are going to be doing for eternity?  Have you ever contemplated why we don't have that information?

Here is a clear spiritual truth:  The Bible is specific to this 7000 year period of man on Earth.

That's it, no more, no less - we don't know much about what God was doing before the Earth was created and we don't know much about eternity after the Millennium.

Before Creation:
The Lord does give us some info and primarily seems to give us information about the enemy.  Here's what we do know:

We see that the angels were witnesses to the Creation (Job 38:4-7), so we know that they were around before the Earth.

Psalm 8 appears to be written from an angel's point of view, right after the Creation because it states that God walks with man (Psalm 8:4).

We do not know the timing of Satan's rebellion but we do know that by Genesis 3, he was already the enemy of God.  We know how the rebellion began in Satan's prideful heart (Ezekiel 28:17) and we know that he sought to exalt himself above the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Jesus says that he saw Satan thrown down from Heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18) but we are not quite sure when this took place!

Eternity:
In addition, we are not told much about eternity, except the most salient point which is the assurance that the church will be with the Lord always (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Revelation 22:14-15 is totally confusing if you try to study it through the "eternity" filter.  Sin?  Unsaved people?  How can that be in eternity?

The mistake stems from Rev 21:1, the new Heaven and the new Earth.  This looks like eternity but it's not.  Like 42% of Revelation, it's taken directly from the Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22.  Taken in context this is clearly the coming age of Israel - the thousand year reign of the Lord on the Earth; the Millennium.

Once we understand that the Bible was written for yesterday, today, and tomorrow and that tomorrow only goes as far as the end of the Millennial Kingdom, we can study the Scriptures with increased discernment and understanding.

Satan is Prince of the Power of the Air

What Does it Mean that Satan is Prince of the Power of the Air  (Ephesians 2:2)?"

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1–2). In this text the apostle Paul describes Satan first as a “prince” with power, because he has authentic power in the world (1 John 5:19). This power has been given him by God (Luke 4:6). Satan has power over some illnesses (Luke 13:16; see also 2 Corinthians 12:7—it’s unknown if Paul’s “thorn” was an illness or something else). In some sense, Satan has power over death (Hebrews 2:14). The reason Satan is called a prince rather than a king is because there is only one King—Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:15).

Satan also has power over some people. The “sons of disobedience” referred to in Ephesians 2:2 are those who have not trusted Christ as Lord and Savior (cf. Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:12). The demons are also under the rule of Satan (Matthew 12:24), and one of his titles is “prince of demons” (Matthew 9:34). Satan has a kingdom (Matthew 12:26) and a throne (Revelation 2:13). Satan is called a prince because he is a ruler and possesses power to manifest evil in the world through influencing people and commanding demons.

“The air” in Ephesians 2:2 may refer to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move and exist. This space, of course, is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This evil realm called the “air” could be an actual locality, but it could also be synonymous with the “world” of John 12:31. This whole world is Satan’s domain (Matthew 4:8–9).

Although Satan has power and authority in the current world system in which we exist, his power is limited, always under the sovereign control of God (Job 1:12), and it is temporary (Romans 16:20). God has not revealed all of the why’s and when’s concerning Satan’s rule, but He has made it clear that there is only one way to escape the power of Satan’s dominion, and that is through His Son, Jesus (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13–14). It is Jesus who, speaking of the impending cross, declared victory: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31).

(from GotQuestions.org, CEO Michael Houdmann)

Denial of Evil and the Appeal of Ron Paul

Abigail and Dolley readers I am deeply disturbed by the rise and popularity of Ron Paul.  The unlikely assent of an elderly, squeaky voiced, isolationist, Libertarian begs the question - why?  Why have hoards of people latched on to this man and why are they all but worshiping him?  Furthermore, why are they so ANGRY with everyone else?  If you have run into any of them online, you will know of what I speak.  They are collectively vicious tongued zealots who gleefully libel all of the other candidates and spread lies and smear, like jelly on toast.

I believe I have figured out the appeal, these folks are deeply afraid.  They are afraid of what is happening to our economy.  They are afraid of what is happening on the world's stage and they are afraid of where Big Government is taking us.  Okay, most of us are also afraid of that, so what is the difference?  The difference is, that Ron Paul preaches a gospel that there is no evil in the world other than us, if we would just behave, evil would leave us alone.

You have to admit, it is sort of enticing.  I mean, if we could just behave in a certain manner and evil would disappear, that seems like a pretty good deal.  The Paulian worldview, at its core, asserts that you can control evil.  His followers are buying into this with a fervor and a zealotry that always attaches itself to a cultish figure that claims to have the answers and is the only one who can save them.

Unfortunately, Ron Paul and his supporters are wrong.  You don't control evil by being good.  It is naive and while understandable, ultimately very dangerous.  Evil exists in the hearts of men and in the powers and principality, in the spiritual dark places of wickedness and the only way to defeat it is to fight it.  To shine the light of righteousness on it and to go after it with everything that you have.

We as a nation are tired of fighting off the evil.  We look around and see spent lives, endless war, collapsing world economies, ineffective governments and we say enough!  I just want to go home and live my life!  Leave me alone and I will leave you alone, okay?  Have we been perfect, of course not!  Have we made mistakes, yes but is it time to retreat?  To stop being a global force that stands up to the evil in the world and says, "Not so fast, Buster."  The results, if we were to follow the Paulian plan, would be disaster on a scale of which the world has never seen.  Evil does not change, evil does not get nicer, evil only grows and seeks to destroy all that is in its path and it wants to consume all that is good and righteous in this world.

Don't fall for the lie folks, it's an old one and if you pay careful attention, it smells of fire and brimstone.

Holy Saturday - The Second Day

Abigail and Dolley readers I have been contemplating today, Holy Saturday for a few months now.  This is the day after Good Friday and the day before Easter.  This is the day that Jesus' body lay in the tomb.  To the followers of Christ, this must have been the darkest day of their lives.  Think about it for a minute, forget your knowledge of the Resurrection, forget that you know the end of the story, simply go to the upper room with me and imagine.

The Apostles are hiding, certain they will be killed if found.  The fear of gruesome death and humiliation torments them.  They have lived with Roman oppression, they know what happened to Jesus.  He was the most powerful man on Earth and they killed him, how vulnerable they must have felt!  How terrified would you be waiting for the knock at the door that signaled they had come for you?

Their friend Judas had betrayed the Lord and was gone.  He had fallen prey to the lies of the Devil himself.  With Jesus out of the way, the poor disciples who had cast out demons in Jesus name must surely know that the hoards of Hell were coming after them.  With Jesus dead, they would be fresh meat for the demons.

Judas was the caretaker of the money for the group and it stands to reason he would have taken all of their funds with him when he left.  So they are broke, with a price on their heads, and they are trapped.  They have no way to pay off anyone to help them escape, how are they going to get food?  The followers of Jesus had scattered and the people of Jerusalem had called for the Lord's Crucifixion, without funds there is no one to help them.

Then there is the disillusionment.  These men had given up everything to follow Jesus - homes, families, business, position in the community.  I am sure there were those in their families that thought they were crazy, that condemned them for not doing the "responsible" thing and leading a normal life.  I am sure there were a few Mother-in-laws who had condemned them for leaving home and hearth to follow this rabbi.  As they sat in the upper room that day, they had to face the crushing possibility that they had been wrong and everyone else had been right.  Had they wasted the last three years?

Jesus had predicted his own death about a dozen times, but from all accounts His words seem to have been hidden from the Apostles.  It was like Jesus had spoken in code and they had not heard or understood what He was saying.  This is demonstrated by their disbelief on Easter morning and Thomas' rejection of the testimony of the ten.  So I do not believe that they took comfort and hope that Jesus would rise again, this Saturday did not serve that purpose.

Holy Saturday was designed to buffet the Apostles.  It was designed for them to reflect.  It was designed to bring them to the lowest points in their lives and to prepare them for the work to come.  Holy Saturday is what Christianity would be without the Resurrection - dead.

I believe we all have Holy Saturdays in our lives.  Our dreams, hopes, aspirations, and loved ones are taken away on Friday.  We curl up in hiding, mourning, and fear on Saturday.  Saturday is lonely and scary but take heart Sunday is on the way.  Sunday their is victory, new life, and resurrection!  Praise God.

What's With the Chain License Plate Frame?

Abigail and Dolley readers I was driving home today and noticed a chain license frame on the back of a nice minivan driven by a black woman. For years I did not know what it symbolized and thought they were actually quite stylish (yes, I know, naive...) until my husband informed me that it was a symbol of slavery. I must confess I was confused why anyone would want to sport that on their car - the last time I looked, slaves had been free for about 140 years.

There are a couple of Bible verses I have memorized over the years: "All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." There is another that says, "What the Devil meant for evil, I have used for your good." Should those verses not be applied to every person who was brought to the USA in chains? Should we not be grateful that we are here and let go of the pain and the victim mentality?

I mean seriously, have you looked at Africa lately? Not exactly a bastion of freedom, opportunity, and long life, if you know what I mean. Anyone born in this country has been given a gift of immeasurable worth, why do you want to go back to slavery? Why do you put that on your car? I just don't get it.

Glory

I always find it amazing that those who profess not to believe in God will be the first ones to blame Him when bad things happen.  They will curse Him and shake their fists toward Heaven and say that this disaster proves there is no God and if there is, He is a fiend.  They justify their rebellion by blaming God for all that is evil in the world.

Such are the fools and the scoffers in the liberal media concerning Haiti.  One said that God was a murderer.  Others sneer at the ridiculous premise that there is a Devil and he plays a part in world events.  Does any of this make sense to you?

It does to me; give me a minute.  If you are a Believer, I am going to feed you some spiritual meat.  If you are a skeptic, open your heart to the truth.

When God created the Earth, He created it for man and it was intended to be a place where God could visit and have fellowship with his creation.  The Garden of Eden was a perfect paradise, the likes we can not even imagine.  Adam and Eve would have been glorious and beautiful creatures.  God would have made them very smart, perhaps even witty with a great sense of humor.  After all, if I was creating a companion those are the attributes I would give to my creation.  Wouldn't you?

God came to visit Adam in the Garden of Eden and walked with him during the cool of the day.  Yet, the Bible describes God as an all consuming fire that no man could stand to be near..  When He spoke to the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai, His voice was so thunderous they begged Moses to ask Him to never speak to them again.  When Moses asked to see God's face, God only allowed him to see His back because no man could see God's face and live.  So, what made Adam different?

Psalm 8 tells us, I believe this is written from an angel's perspective just after the creation: 
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour

Crowned him with glory.... the glory of the Lord crowned Adam, yet because he was sinless he was not consumed.  If you do a Concordance Search on the Glory of the Lord you will find that it is a fearsome sight.  It is always accompanied by fear and trembling.  When the glory of the Lord filled the temple no one could enter.  The fire pillar that led the children of Isreal through the desert was the glory of God. During the Transfiguration, the Disciples saw the true glory of Jesus and they fell to the ground in fear and trembling.  Yet, this is the stuff that covered Adam.  This is what allowed Adam to walk with the Lord and not be consumed.

(The Heavens Declare the Glory of the Lord)

Enter the Deceiver; the Hater of all that is good and pure and wholesome.

Part Two:  The Earth Lease
and Part Three:  Covering

The Earth Lease

Part One - This is heavy lifting for my Christian readers and is intended to edify you and put current events in perspective.  If you are a skeptic and still hanging with me, then read on friend:

Among the perfection of Eden; enter the Deceiver; the Hater of all that is good and pure and wholesome. This envious monster loathed Adam and Eve with an unmatched fury.  He looked upon the earth and coveted it.  He could not take it by force, his war in the Heavens had taught him that, but he could steal it.

He would have to make the man rebel.  Satan knew that if the man sinned against God that the glory would depart from Adam.  Subsequently, God would not be able to be near Adam without destroying him.  God would have to leave the Earth and the Devil could take over.

His plan worked.  God is a just God and I believe that Satan knew enough about God's ways and justice to understand what was at stake and how God would HAVE to react.  Satan understood the rules; I don't pretend to but this is what I think.

I believe that by causing man to sin, Satan did not receive the Earth, but some type of lease on it.  Some say this is a 6000 year period, but it is clear Satan is allowed to rules for a time.  He is described as the prince of this world and Jesus does not refute his claim when He was being tempted in the desert.  Thus, in a manner of speaking, Satan has a lease on the Earth.

As such, he has full privileges of a tenant, but is still restrained by God.  Never doubt, the Devil is able to accomplish much evil in this world.  He has some control over the weather as described in the book of Job.  He is said to be roaming the earth like a roaring lion seeking who he can destroy.

God's Earth

Thus, in this fallen world, bad things will happen.  Is God ultimately in control, yes He is, but He does allow the Devil to operate.  So the next time something bad happens, think about who is really behind the evil in this world.

Continued tomorrow - Part III - The Covering of Sin