The Occult Bot

It is a pity, if not tragic, that for 2000 years the “Christians” refuse to grow, they refuse to mature, they prefer to remain infants and talk about their Big Brother, Jesus, who did everything for them!

Instead of getting on with the job Jesus asked his followers to do, they endlessly argue about baptisms, Trinity, who is “saved” and who is going to hell, throwing verses against each other from the same Book they all believe to be the infallible Word of God! Instead of picking up their own “cross”, denying themselves and following Jesus’ example, they spend their time and energy in fighting against each other. At the same time, by their childish attitude and ridiculous doctrines and creeds, push many a good people to atheism or to the arms of other religions, while the world around them is suffering more and more by wars, violence, hatred, exploitation, injustice and man-made disasters.

At last, Christians, wake up! Christ does not need any advertising by you! All he wants you to do is to go about his Father’s, your Father’s, our Father’s business!

Do not deceive yourselves! No one has or can “save” you. You must save yourselves and the world about you. You must become peacemakers. You must hunger and thirst for justice and righteousness! You must, we must, be embodiments of love; we must demonstrate God’s qualities in our lives. People with common sense couldn’t care less about your doctrines; in fact they laugh when they hear you propagating your far-fetched dogmas. Who cares about dogmas? People want to see your deeds, our deeds!

In the darkness of our present hedonistic culture, people look for a light to enable them to find their way “home”. Are you this light? Can you be this light? Do you want to be the Light? It will cost you…

Jesus was a human being like you and I, and he left a precious teaching and example for us to follow, in order to make this world a better place for ourselves, our families, the society in which we live and the world as a whole. The archons of his day crucified him because they could not stand his “woes” against them. It is as simple as this! Nothing mysterious about his death; he was hated just as all the true prophets before him were. His message wasn’t popular because it hurt those he addressed. As you know, the Truth always hurts!

Would you, self-proclaimed, self-righteous, “Christians”, stand up and speak the Truth to the leaders of your country? Would you judge their warmongering policies? Would you, actually, be the Light in your country, opposing, for a change, the forces of darkness? In other words, would you permit yourselves to abandon Christian infancy, get out of your comfortable kindergarten, and do God’s business?

God can only change the world through you and I. It is only through us that He can manifest and thus affect things on this planet. Stop waiting for that illusive “rapture”! It is never going to happen! It is a utopia, a myth written for infants! No Messiah will ever come to sort out the mess we have created in our planet! We have to do it ourselves.

Would you, please, do yourselves a favour? Just think soberly, and use your common sense, your God-given reason, to re-examine some of your childish religious doctrines, and decide to get rid of your deceptions. I am not saying that this is easy. Religious brainwashing is a serious mental and emotional disorder that does not go away easily. But you have to try. Nobody else can do it for you!

And remember: “perfect love casts out fear”. Don’t be afraid of losing your “salvation”! After all, no one can lose something one does not have! “Salvation” is an ongoing process and it requires inner enlightenment. It is a lifetime spiritual evolution, for those who will choose and follow the narrow path Christ was talking about. Nothing easy about it… It takes self-denial, unconditional love and contentment. One must be content even if none of his/her prayers are answered, even if none of his/her dreams have been fulfilled. One must only care about being the LIGHT, allowing God to manifest through his/her inherent spirit – God’s principle in each and everyone of us.

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Celebrating Advent as a Family
By Lisa M. Hendey

For families longing to build traditions related to their identity as Roman Catholics, few times of the year hold greater promise than the liturgical season of Advent. The sites and sounds of the holidays fill the air around us, as we communally anticipate the glory and majesty of Christmas. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, Catholic families have the opportunity to share the treasures of our faith with our children in prayer, symbolism and song.

Meredith Gould, author of The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days, and Every Day (Doubleday, February 2004, hardcover, 256 pages) writes on the customs and rituals prevalent in Catholic culture. A recent convert to Catholicism, Gould shares the following advice for families looking to truly rejoice in the season of Advent with their loved ones.

Q: Why is it important for Catholic families to observe and celebrate the liturgical season of Advent?

Gould: Advent is not “pre-Christmas,” it’s a separate, distinct, important liturgical season that deserves the same attention and reverence as Lent. Like Lent, it’s a penitential season where we have yet another opportunity to recall, reflect, recollect, and reconcile. During Advent, we do this within the context of watchful waiting for the birth of Jesus, who is not yet our Christ.

We also have an opportunity to contemplate the vast meaning of Mary’s “yes.” I think this is particularly important given our general cultural resistance to obedience, along with our need, as women, to balance saying “yes” with saying “no.”

Advent is a season of discernment. I love it! And I love that living in the northeast means that I get to do this in rhythm with days that are shorter and colder, thus amenable to hibernation.

Q: For families who have no tradition of celebrating Advent, what are some simple traditions and rituals you would recommend?

Gould: Definitely start simple, perhaps adding a new tradition or ritual every year. The easiest one to start with is the Advent wreath, especially because it’s a home-based tradition that everyone can see practiced in church as well. (Gould’s book describes the meaning and significance of the symbolism and colors, enriching the practice.)

The Advent calendar is also very easy to incorporate. Here I make a big deal (read: stink) about finding a calendar that has doors that open onto scripture and religious art. I think Advent calendars with Santa and secular nonsense (e.g., reindeer) are an abomination…and you may quote me!!!

The Jesse Tree is a bit more elaborate and labor intensive, but is a wonderful way to teach salvation history and offset the mania around decorating a Christmas tree within 20 minutes of digesting Thanksgiving turkey n’ trimmings.

Q: What are some of your family’s favorite Advent traditions?

Gould: I was raised Jewish, so I have the blessing of being able to come to this season without preconceived notions of what has to happen.

Today, I fill my home with the sights, scents, and sounds (including hefty periods of silence) of the season: Candles, different renditions of “O come, O come, Emmanuel” (O Antiphons!), frankincense & myrrh incense. Whatever wreaths or garland I have is left undecorated until Christmas Vigil. I move my Mary paraphernalia (icons, etc.) front n’ center in my living room, kitchen, bedroom, and office. I invite friends for a light soup n’ bread supper to craft ornaments. I believe adults are better able to convey wonder and mystery when *we* feel it ourselves.

I also, I confess, have the Three Kings from my Nativity Scene travel from the nether reaches of my home to the crche. I’m opposed to having the whole thing set up before Christmas Vigil…Mary and baby Jesus should not make an appearance before midnight. Aren’t converts annoying???

I think it’s important for readers to know that we Catholic hail from a religion that celebrates God’s creation and presence in all things, so that décor actually has meaning. As Fr. Andrew Greeley writes in The Catholic Imagination, “As a rule of thumb, if there are no votive candles it, a church really isn’t Catholic.”

Q: How can observing the season of Advent enhance a family’s Christmas celebration?

Gould: I encourage people to observe Advent as a way to heighten their appreciation for Christmas. Watchful waiting gives way to delighted awe at the birth of Jesus. I think it’s also a great way to instill (in children and adults) an appreciation for the value of cultivating patience. We move way too fast in this society. We’re too often ahead of ourselves. Even Catholics need to learn how to “be here now” and Advent is a pretty powerful “now.”

Q: What recommendations would you give for parents who would like to emphasize the spiritual celebration of the holiday season over material celebrations?

Gould: Well, the forces of culture are so strong it’s a major challenge for parents to push this back. But I think key to this is having parents understand the true nature of Advent. I think this is a necessary first step. I also think parents ought to reestablish their authority within the domestic church. I’m truly shocked by the ways parents cave in to their children’s’ demands. (Easy for me to say? I guess.)

Basically, my recommendations boiled down to: 1) Make sure *you* understand the spiritual nature of the season so you can convey that to your kids; 2) Make sure your kids understand that *you* are in charge of the home/domestic church.

With the beginning of Advent, we welcome a new liturgical year. Why not begin this new Church year with the resolution to grasp hold of each occasion to share your Catholicity with your children? By building family traditions related to the season of Advent, we teach them what is truly special about Christmas, ensuring precious memories they will one day share with their own children.

For additional information on The Catholic Home visit http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385509928/catholicmomcom

For activities, crafts and devotions related to the season of Advent, visit http://www.catholicmom.com/advent.htm

Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic fiction and non-fiction.

About the Author

Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic fiction and non-fiction.

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“Paine knew that Christianity was not a new or unique religion, and declared that if Jesus had intended to found a new religion he would have written the system himself. He was willing to admit that Jesus might have been an actual character, although he had found no historical corroboration of the fact. When he compared the conflicting accounts of the genealogy of Jesus by Matthew and Luke, their discrepancies convinced him that this genealogy, instead of being a solemn truth, “is not even a reasonable lie.” If these two Apostles started the history of Jesus with a palpable falsehood, “what authority is there for believing the strange things they tell us afterwards?” As for the four Gospels, he was convinced that they were not written by the persons to whom they are ascribed, as not even the names of their authors were known at the time the New Testament was assembled.

Thomas Paine was also a deep student of astronomy. When he considered the immensity of space and the vast number of worlds and solar systems encompassed therein, he failed to understand how “the Almighty, who had millions of worlds equally dependent upon His protection, should quit the care of all the rest, and come to die in our world because, they say, one man and one woman had eaten one apple.” Although he was unable to accept the Jewish or Christian concept of God, he still called himself a Deist. But the God he worshipped was the “First Cause eternally existing, of a nature totally different to any material existence we know of, and by the power of which all things exist.” As Space is beginningless and endless, could God be less than Space? As Time is beginningless and endless, could God be less than Time? The Christian faith, in which God is presented as a limited Being, seemed to him to be a “species of Atheism — a sort of religious denial of God.”

Thomas Paine believed that this Universe is governed by immutable Law. A miracle, therefore, was inconceivable. “Unless we know the whole extent of nature’s laws,” he argued, “we are not able to judge whether anything that may appear miraculous to us be within, or contrary to her natural power of acting.” Hence the “miraculous birth” of Jesus appeared to him as an “obscene humbug,” and he decried the sort of faith built upon such a premise.

Thomas Paine’s own faith was centered in the belief of a First Cause eternally existing and of a Universe governed by Law, while his religion was summarized in his famous sentence: My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. As his religion transcended the formal professions of any cult or sect, he refused to accept the creed of any Church. “My mind is my church,” he said, “and churches are but human inventions, set up to enslave mankind and monopolize power and profit.”

The expression of such thoughts as these caused Thomas Paine to be called an infidel. Christian writers have claimed that he died a drunkard, that on his death-bed he confessed his error in attacking religious dogma, but these lies have long since been disproved. A splendid vindication of Paine as a temperate man to the day of his death, and as one who maintained his philosophic convictions to the last, is to be found in the works of Robert G. Ingersoll. Paine maintained that infidelity “does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving.” It consists in professing to believe what one does not actually believe. Paine showed from history the record of the Christian Church and boldly asserted that ‘however unwilling the partisans of the Christian system may be to believe or acknowledge it, it is nevertheless true that the age of ignorance commenced with the Christian system. There was more knowledge in the world before that period than for many centuries afterward.’” (1)

Paine was an alchemist and inventor like Count Rumford. He is claimed as a leading light now by three countries but Rumford is claimed by none except perhaps Bavaria which is no more. I rue the day that this kind of lying became the norm. And there is only one way that Theosophy (From whom the above quote comes.) can claim he was one of their members or lineage and that is through alchemy as I see it. They talk about adepts behind the scenes and claim these adepts were part of their secret group but they did not even exist (Unless you believe they are part of the Chain of Ascended Masters).

Author of many books available at Lulu and World-Mysteries.com

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Consider the past. A time when we were prosperous and growing?

Consider the past, when God added to the church daily, such as needed to be saved.

Consider the past, when many were healed and redeemed, many were set free from captivity, oppression and delivered.

Consider the past, when, where there was a problem, we all met it head on and it was overcome.

The Lord says consider it.

Consider the Present. The European Union is getting Stronger.

Consider the Present. Iraq signs military pact with Iran.

Consider the Present. Russia signs accord with China and India.

Consider the Present. US voices fears over Chinese military build-up.

Consider the Present. Prayer, The Ten Commandments, unlawful in Schools and Government Buildings.

Consider the Present. Gay Marriage, Gay priest, Women Deacons.

Consider the Present. Uzbekistan Christians Detained and Tortured for Their Faith.

Consider the Present. Council members in a South Carolina town can no longer mention the name of Jesus Christ or another specific deity in their prayers during meetings.

Consider the Present. A massive, international “gay pride” event previously held in Rome, at the doorstep of the Vatican, has chosen Jerusalem as its next venue.

Consider the Present. More than a third of Church of Scotland ministers do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ.

The Lord says consider it.

The Lord says consider this;
Hag 2:11-18, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Very strong words from Haggai.

A nation cannot be clean, before God, if it handles the unclean thing. When are we going to realize that the unclean thing is anything that is an abomination to God? “So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.” God will not be part of uncleanly-ness or unrighteousness. A nation of reprobate people cannot stand before God and then desire that their prayers be answered.

Look at the things that God asked us to consider.

1. Prayer, The Ten Commandments, unlawful in Schools and Government Buildings.

2. Gay Marriage, Gay priest, Women Deacons.

3. A massive, international “gay pride” event previously held in Rome, at the doorstep of the Vatican, has chosen Jerusalem as its next venue.

Jerusalem the Pride of God, the Holy City. Blassfeamers,adulterers, double minded hypocrites. Where is your since of right and wrong, good and evil? Haven’t you been chastised by God enough, what will it take? And these are just a few. Doesn’t this appear to be a double minded man ? [Speaking as a Nation]

Jam 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

2Pe 2:10-16. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

Cannot the people see the chastisement of God upon them, cannot they see that God is willing to bless, but He will not bless the unclean thing.

Consider now, how one woman took prayer from school, consider now, that one group is introducing gay books to children, consider now, how a hand full of people can change the life of Gods children by introducing acceptance training for gays and lesbians.

Compromise, compromise, the down fall of humanity and righteousness in our land of plenty. This land we call home will become as Sodom and Gomorrha, a land of want and famine.

Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider it. “So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.”

Consider the past, Consider the present and Consider your future?

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R. Smith
Sermons International http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

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Most forms of Hinduism and many forms of Buddhism center on a concept known popularly as “karma.” The concept of karmic justice suggests that the way you live your life will affect your welfare both later on in this life, and in your many lives to come. Thus, this notion usually comes as a package deal with the ideas of reincarnation (you get a new body or form) and what students of religions call the “transmigration of the soul.”

Together these teachings mean that karma will punish or reward us based on our words and deeds. Thus, if you behave badly toward others, you may die only to be reborn in your next life as a lower life form, say maybe, a dragonfly or cockroach. Now, hundreds of millions of people believe this stuff, so don’t laugh — at least not yet. Let us move on instead to ask a few pointed questions about this worldview, assessing each of these teachings with a critical eye. Let us first list them singly to see how well they fit each other. Here are the propositions.

1. Karma will judge you.
2. Karma will meet out punishments and rewards.
3. Bad behavior will bring you an undesirable “next life.”
4. Karma may cause lower forms of life to advance, or vice-versa.

First, we want to know how “karma” — which is allegedly a natural process (like “melting” ice or “raining” water) and not a person — “judges” people. This seems nonsensical. How does an impersonal process make moral judgments? Sometimes ice melts, and melting is a process. What sense would it make for me to say that “melting” will judge you? Everything about our experience tells us only persons judge. The Christian response to this, of course, is that God is personal. He is a judge. But that option to resolve them problem does not avail itself to Hindus. Bit if a Hindu will concede that it is God who judges, then what need do we have of “karma”??

But even if we grant this very odd view — that a process could judge people — we should still want to know what standard of ethics this process uses to make such judgments. If there is no law code, there can be no violations (crimes). What is the law code? For justice requires that a person know what the rules are before a judge can punish sentence upon him for breaking them.

Since “karma” has not published the rules it expects us to follow in a book, or written them in the sky, it would seem that karma represents a law of INjustice, not of justice.

Next, you will notice that karma supposedly punishes and rewards people. This would require karma to have an intimate knowledge of each individual. The “new form” in your nest life — with which karma punishes or rewards you — will only be a reward if you personally like it, and a punishment if you find it sour. For instance, is it better to be born a poor wise man or a rich fool? Different people will answer this question variously, and even many who give the same answer will do so for different reasons.

How does ‘karma” — a process — know everyone so intimately as to know what they like and dislike?? Again, karma seems inadequate to the task assigned to it. Of course, these problems do not plague the Christian outlook at all, since God knows all things, and created both man and woman after his own image.

Karma would, of course, face the same problem with reincarnating you as a monkey or other animal, since this would require a process to decide just which animal form was “higher” or better than another. Are giraffes more advanced than elephants? What standard to use here? What kind of taxonomy does “karma” use? What does it even mean for a dragonfly to “behave itself” so it can become a monkey? And can Karma prove that monkies are better (or more “advanced”) than dragonflies? Okay, NOW you can laugh.

The bottom line here is this: you have no need to fear “bad karma.” This is just a man-made superstition. Jesus said, “I will tell you whom you shall fear. Do not fear men, who, after killing the body can do nothing more. But fear Him who, after killing the body, can cast both body and soul into hell…”

And again, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and essays with the goal of glorifying God and helping others live wisely and well. You can visit his websites at http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (The Omniblog) or http://extremeprofit.blogspot.com (Carson’s Day Trading Outpost).

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I Love you, but, I don’t Like You. Psa 78:38-39 But he, being
full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them
not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir
up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a
wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. God remembers that
man is just flesh and prone to mistakes and evil. Gods
compassion for mankind, as it has become, is not limitless but
has a time line that will be followed. Have you ever told anyone
that you loved them but were not, In Love with them? Very
strange words that man comes up with. But is it really strange
or are they just taking the thoughts of God to Heart? We all
know that we have the mind of Christ, because the Bible says
that we do. But we don’t have the mind of God and that is why I
thought I would instill a little thought of my own, into you,
about His mind and the way He thinks about His creation. In
genesis, everything that God created in days 1 thru 5 he said
were good, but when it came to man, He didn’t say that it was
good, neither did He say that what He created was good. Gen 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them. As mans ability grew,
God became a little frustrated with His creation and repented
that He created Him. Genesis 6:5 thru 6, And GOD saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on
the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Grieved; to wound
the sensibilities of; to make sorrowful; to cause to suffer; to
afflict; to hurt. Heart; The seat of the affections or
sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy,
grief, courage, and the like; rarely, the seat of the
understanding or will; usually in a good sense, when no epithet
is expressed; the better or lovelier part of our nature; the
spring of all our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life
and character; the moral affections and character itself; the
individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender,
loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart. Man had, and still does,
wound the sensibilities of and the individual disposition and
character of God. God Loves us but He doesn’t like us. Simple
but true. Our disposition is set against the laws and statutes
of God because its in our nature to do so, sense the fall of
Adam. Man continually wars against God because of his inbred
nature of world conquest and greed for another mans possessions.
Jesus was sent to this earth to save man from himself and save
the soul of man from an angry God, again because God loved His
creation but didn’t like it. Jesus had a difficulty with man
also for He and the Father spoke as one, for they are one. In
Matthew 23:37 Jesus said; “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee,
how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
The following beautiful Greek epigram, taken from the
Anthologia, affords a very fine illustration of this text.
Beneath her fostering wing the Hen defends Her darling
offspring, while the snow descends; Throughout the winter’s day
unmoved defies The chilling fleeces and inclement skies; Till,
vanquish’d by the cold and piercing blast, True to her charge,
she perishes at last! O Fame! to hell this fowl’s affection
bear; Tell it to Progne and Medea there: – To mothers such as
those the tale unfold, And let them blush to hear the story
told! – T.G. Jesus would protected and saved man as He was but
for mans ir-respect for Him and His Father. Man then, as is
today, have fallen away from God and is hurting Him with his
sinful nature. Its not just the un-believer but also some that
say they are Christians and are not but do lie. I wanted to read
a little from the same chapter of Matthew. 23:32 thru 36. Fill
ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of
them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them
from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous
blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto
the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between
the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these
things shall come upon this generation. Psalms 139:20 thru 23.
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy
name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am
not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them
with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O
God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: David was
not rebuked by God for these statements, God understood what
David was saying as we all should. Man has grieved God from
generation to generation. Gods love, as stated in John 3:16,
still stands today but His dislike for His creation also stands.
Just imagine giving your only son for a creation that is
burdensome to you, this is the type of Love God showed us and
the type of man that David was as He spoke those words. God
enemies are our enemies. When they blaspheme Gods Name they hurt
us because that is our Father they speak of. Romans 7:18 For I
know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:
for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is
good I find not. Romans 8:8, So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. Just remember that God, being full of
compassion, will forgave your iniquity but there is coming a
time that his anger will not be turned away, but He will stir up
all his wrath. Exo_32:14; Num_23:19; Deu_32:36; 1Sa_15:11,
1Sa_15:29; 2Sa_24:16; 1Ch_21:15; Psa_106:45, Psa_110:4;
Jer_18:8-10, Jer_26:19; Hos_11:8; Jon_3:10; Mal_3:6; Rom_11:29;
Heb_6:17, Heb_6:18; Jam_1:17 grieved: Deu_5:29, Deu_32:29;
Psa_78:40, Psa_81:13, Psa_95:10, Psa_119:158; Isa_48:18,
Isa_63:10; Eze_33:11; Luk_19:41, Luk_19:42; Eph_4:30; Heb_3:10,
Heb_3:17

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This is perhaps the most often asked question heard in connection with the second coming, at least for Americans. It a reasonable question for any North American to ask, but it is far from easy to answer. I would be remiss if I were to say that the Bible expressly names America in any passage from Genesis to Revelation. That some passages may refer to America is very possible but not provable and that is the very kind of conjecture I will not entertain.

Naturally all the events surrounding the second coming of Christ are global or universal in nature so they necessarily include the United States. That the antichrist rules America for the same short period he rules the rest of the world is covered in Revelation 13:7. How he gets this powerful and fiercely independent nation to cow to his will is probably the more interesting question to try to answer.

Some people believe that America will be forced to comply with antichrist after an invasion of our shores by a great Eurasian pact of nations. Mostly, the invasion idea stems from the vision of George Washington. In that vision it is said that Washington told this story to his aide who in turn told it to someone else just before he died at about the time of the civil war.

Washington was told that three great calamities would befall the nation. Starting with the revolutionary war, following that the civil war and finally some future war where America would be invaded. My learned opinion of this vision is, “who knows?”
That America would require force to he pushed into the rule of the antichrist is easy to believe but the force in question could be of a different nature. The remaining two views of how the United States is forced into the final pact of nations are probably more tenable.

The antichrist does not act alone but he is aided by one the scripture refers to as the false prophet. Rev. 16:13. 19:20. 20:10 We know little about who this person is today, hut what is known about him is that he doesn’t come from the same region, country and perhaps even the same hemisphere as the antichrist. The antichrist rises up from out of the sea according to Rev. 13:1.

The false prophet rises up out of the land. Rev. 13:1 1-16. The antichrist rules from the revived Roman Empire or The European Union. Where the false prophet is stationed exactly is not known but some think it will be America. This of course is speculative, even though it is very possible. The false prophet will probably not be connected to any religion, but it is most likely he will be a political figure or a minister of science. What he is may he uncertain, but the influence he wields over the world is not. He is able to produce signs in the heavens and draw fire down from heaven at will. Whether he does this supernaturally through the aide of the devil or engages some star wars type pyrotechnical display is also not known.

What is known is that his antics are very successful in persuading the people on earth to give antichrist both credence and rule. Some biblical scholars have thought that he could come from America and while this is not known for sure, it gives rise to the idea that America will he assuaged to join with antichrist by his direct influence. But again, while it is very possible, it is still only conjectural at this time.

A third and perhaps a far more likely scenario is that America will undergo a collapse of all of its markets and financial institutions. Following a collapse, a desperate nation may seek to join with antichrist’s emerging economic systems that will be so successful throughout much of the rest of the world at that time. Not long ago I asked some people the question, what do you think would be the most disastrous thing that could happen to America and what would change its nature significantly, an all out invasion of our shores or a complete and pervasive financial collapse? The majority answered that it obviously would be the collapse of our economy.

America is in the long stretch of the good times. We have many years between us and the dust bowl days and the stock market crash of twenty nine. World War Two is also far behind and the post war boom has become a post war glut. Any people that might decide to invade the shores of this powerful and fiercely proud nation would be in great peril. But take away what Americans really love, their affluence, money and material blessings and you could make them dance to just about any tune. This is the theorem that when applied to the question of how America joins the great evil new world order is the most believable, if not the most likely.

If the compunction to have more, drives a few to fraud, robbery and murder, then what will the lack of almost all consumer goods do to this nation? If history teaches us anything, the answer to this question is not a pretty one.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books, one on the second coming of Christ. He has hundreds of articles published both online and in print.

Visit the website at http://www.americanprophet.org.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books. He has also written dozens of articles both online and in print.

Please visit the website http://www.americanprophet.org.

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I rarely read fiction. This has nothing to do with a dislike of the genre; I spent many days of my youth curled up with a wonderful story lost in other lives and other places. But as time marched on, and life became busy with work, graduate school, and now two children, non-fiction took over my reading lists as a practical necessity. Recently, however, I indulged in The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album (Hyperion Press, 2003). It relates the story of Eddie, an amusement park maintenance man who dies while attempting to save a young girl on a broken ride. Eddie then goes on to meet five people on the other side. Some he knows and some he does not but all have either impacted his life or been impacted by his life. All serve to help explain and help Eddie come to terms with his life, a life he sees as an abysmal failure.

Whether we actually meet five people to explain our life after we die is immaterial, but the book raises some very interesting points to ponder. The first is the interconnectedness of life. Some of the people Eddie encounters he did not even know or knew as distant acquaintances, yet their lives were irrevocably interwoven. Every life impacts so many others in ways we could never even begin to imagine. How many lives do we touch in our daily lives? Whose day have we brightened by a smile, a kind word, or thoughtful deed? Whose path have we made more difficult, perhaps without even realizing it? Like the proverbial stone creating ripples in the pool of water, our actions have far-reaching effects.

A second point for reflection is the meaning of a life. Eddie saw his life as worthless ? he had lost those he had loved and worked at what he saw as a dead-end job, yet he comes to discover that everything had its purpose. How many times in our lives do we search for meaning? As women, caught up with the responsibilities of family and home, we can sometimes feel invisible. There are also times when paid employment can seem devoid of purpose, a means to a paycheck but little else. For us who believe in God, we trust that there is a plan for our lives. As Philip Yancey states in Searching for the Invisible God (Zondervan Publishing House, 2000) ?God promises to use any circumstance to serve his ultimate will.? The seemingly mundane, even painful, aspects of our lives are woven together with the extraordinary moments to create the unique tapestry that God has designed especially for us. As difficult as it can be at times, we should embrace our lives and realize that every breath we take is imbued with the mystery of God. We are all a part of a great plan that we haven?t even begun to understand. Hopefully, like Eddie in Album?s book, someday it will all be clear.

About the Author

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of “The Spiritual Woman Newsletter” providing information and inspiration for women who seek to deepen their relationship with God – http://www.spiritualwoman.net and author of “Letters to Mary from a Young Mother” (iUniverse, 2004)

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I am sharing an article that I wrote after 9/11/01.

First, I would like for all to know that my prayers are with the world, families, nations, volunteers, workers and just everybody. I am asking the Almighty God to lead us, heal us, bring us closer together and work a miracle in all our lives.

We do not represent grief counseling nor are we certified.

I am not a Pastor, Minister nor Clergy.

My only hope and resource is the Divine Holy Bible, Inspired Written Word of God.

I would like to travel back in time to about A.D. 96 or A.D. 68.My traveling will take me to The Island of Patmos and I am thinking on Revelation first through the seventh chapter.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

Revelations 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Revelations 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

It is human to be in grief. I have never met a person yet that has been able to escape the experience of grief.

The book of Job 2:13 tells me that “So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.

“There is no school that I have heard of yet that can teach you how to master grief. Diaster is a sudden, unexpected guest that we do not want to meet.

The book of Acts 27:10,14 tells me that “This voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

“Seven Epistles addressed to the churches of the seven cities of Asia, named in chapters one and two, and now written to in the same order, beginning with Ephesus and ending with Laodicea.

The apostle wrote to the 7 churches in Asia, and maybe others were touched by what he wrote. The number 7 stands for unity/completion in my understanding; and the 7 churches as mentioned in John’s revelations must represent one universal church.

The church encountered trials, tribulations, persecution, and open opposers. The church was able to overcome and stand firmly. The faithful shall be rewarded. To him(her) that overcometh, there is a great reward.

As you know all things will not please us and there will be some trying times in our lives. A reminder to me we must learn to bear things, endure them to the end.

John’s vison revealed that in spite of this period of unprecedented suffering involving nations of the whole earth, the wicked shall be overthrown and the end will not be a period of destruction, but of salvation.

Even Brother Job arose out of his afflictions with a victorous shout, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, even after the worms, my skin, they shall destroy, yet out of my flesh, I shall come and stand, and see God for myself.”

Biblical Guidance:

Angels minister at the moment of death Luke 16:22

Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9

Guidance Psalm 25:4-12; Proverbs 1:7; 3:5-6

Love Psalm 63:3; John 14:21,23; Romans 5:5

Power II Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 3:14-21

Protection Psalm 5:11,12; I Peter 1:5

Mediation Psalm 63:3,4; 89:1-11, 119:15

Prayer I Timothy 2:1-8; Hebrews 4:16

Bible Study II Timothy 3:16, 17; 4:1,2

Enemy Opposition Romans 7:23; I Peter 5:8; I John 2:15;Galations 5:16; James 4:7; I John 5:4

Pray for Israel Psalm 122:6, Isaiah 62:6-7Our Rulers I Timothy 2:1-3

Recommended Book Reading:Does God Have E-mail? Barbara Davey, Author. ISBN: 1-58244-137-5 and Published by Rutledge Books. I enjoyed this book very much; it is a book of inspirational messages.

It touches on death, angels, views each day as an opportunity to rejoice, miracles, and yes it does touch on MAIL. I would recommend for all Pastors/Spiritual Leaders, Schools, Churches, Grief/Professional Services/Programs, Parents, etc. to review this book for possible sharing and helping others.

I do not represent grief counseling nor am I certified.

The messages contained in this 113 page book could be a help in this time.

When looking at this book some things came to my mind: Genesis 1:1 tells me “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” Mark 13:10 tells me “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Daniel 12:4 tells me “But thou., O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

May The Almighty God send peace to all worldwide.

God is in TOTAL control and God is not sleep. HE knows and HE understands.

Jehovah – Shalom is my peace Judges 6:23-24

Angela Watkins

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This is not any attempt to show off some knowledge of Greek or to be superior in any way. But the above expression is found only 5 times in the Bible, and all five are found in Ephesians. And since Ephesians opens up a great mystery or secret, we look at every new thing that comes up in order to find light on the hope and calling of today.

Four times it is translated, In heavenly places, and once high places.
This realm is mentioned in other parts of the Bible, but under different names. Here are a few of them;
1. Heaven of heavens. Deuteronomy 10:14.
2. Far above all. Ephesians 4:10.
3. Holies, Holiest of all. Ephesians 2:19.
4. Glory. Colossians 3:4.
By using a concordance, one can find the other occurrences of these terms.

This place is not the third heaven of 2 Corinthians 12:2 for that heaven does not now exist. It is the new heaven of Revelation 21. As you find in Peter’s writings, there was a heaven and earth that then were (Genesis 1:1), the heavens and earth that are now (Genesis 1:6), and the heavens and earth to come, the new ones.

So John was caught up to see something that does not yet exist. We know little about the heavens above us now, and much less about those that then were.

But our subject is the heaven of heavens. As far as we know, no one has ever traveled from the earth into that sphere, except the Lord Himself. He ascended far above all heavens.

There is no description to be found anywhere of this realm. It is far beyond the stars. That would put it many billions of miles away. It would take some time to make the trip in earthly physical bodies. The citizenship of the church which is the body of Christ is there. Philippians 3:20. And from that homeland, or commonwealth we are to look for the Savior, when He appears or shines forth. That is the hope of the members of the church which is His body. See Colossians 3:4. Note also Titus 2:13.

It is not hard to discern the things that differ, and here is a case that needs that discernment, if one is to rightly divide the Word of truth. The millennial kingdom here on the earth is not to be compared with this glorious abode of God and of Christ, the future home of the church.

There is no possible way that the great sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) could have any relationship with this place far beyond the stars. Also, one soon notes that things connected with this hope and sphere have no relationship with things on the earth, or any kingdom on the earth. You might do well to study these things and then make up your mind which would be preferred as a future hope and abode. Do this in light of Colossians 3:1-4. Set your affection on things above, in en tois epouraniois.

Deuteronomy 10:14. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s the God.
1 Kings 8:27. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee.
Nehemiah 9:6. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host.
Psalms 8:1. O Lord our Lord…Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens.
Psalms 57:5. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Psalms 57:11. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Psalms 108:5. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Psalms 113:4. The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens.
Psalms 115:16. The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s.

Psalms 148:4. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens. We have already written about The Three Earths, and The Three Heavens. But here we find something far outside these two spheres. It is far beyond the heavens and the earth. So far, astronomers have not explored this territory. We have set out above the 10 references to this realm which appear in the OT.

Five times we find this realm mentioned in Ephesians. The Greek is en tois epouraniois. Literally, it is in the above heavenlies. So this is a continuation of the 0T terms. Briefly, the structure is;
A. 1:3. Blest in.
B. 1:20. Christ in.
C. 2:6. Church enthroned in Christ in.
B. 3:10. Principalities and powers in.
A. 6:12. No wrestling in.

Definitely this sphere outside of the creation is the home, the destined resting place of the Church which is His body.

Other references in the NT are as follows; Ephesians 4:10. Far above all heavens. Ephesians 1:18. In the saints. Holy of Holies. Ephesians 2:19. The saints, household of God. Col 1:12. Partakers of the inheritance of the saints, the holiest of all. Colossians 3:4. Appear with Him in glory. Philippians 3:20. Our commonwealth in heaven. Now you will note that in all the OT references, there is no thought of anyone inhabiting the heaven of heavens except God Himself. There is no mention of it being a hope for any believer. There is the one reference where Satan planned to set his throne above all. Note what he says in Isaiah 14:13,14. I WILL ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God: I WILL sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL be like the Most High. Satan was a WILFUL creature, who would set himself above his Creator.

But God, in His wonderful grace, has already set the Church in the heavenlies.

About the Author

Paul Griffitts has been a Bibical Researcher for over 30 years
Currently Paul is the Editor of The Good News Letter for Believer.com
Free eBook The Two Natures in the Child of God

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