The Bitch Ditch

Church on mission is definitely a popular saying that is anywhere you look these days. the concept that we need to label bodies of Christ, missional, has for eternity been weird to me. please, shouldnt all church buildings be missional in their very nature? why cant a church, at its very nature, desire to connect their culture and neighborhood with the good news as a missionary would in a foreign country? Isnt this what the places of worship is commanded to do in the final charge of Christ in Matthew 28:19? Our own city deserves this kind of church. Central Austin churches is slowly moving to what Jesus instructed in Holy Word.

The messiah gives the direction in Acts 1:8 saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 explains this topic as, right before Jesus Christ rises to Heaven, He sends the disciples on a exploration that would begin right in their individual community. He begins with their area of Jerusalem, and then enlarges the call to the outer parts of the world.

As believers, we are not called to isolation, but to be missional people who are actively going out and finding communities right where they are with the good news. We have seen this throughout history: God motivated Abraham on a mission to leave his home and his people and go to the land that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God urges Moses on a story to restore an enslaved people and lead them to joy (Exodus 3:8-10), God motivated Jesus on a journey to globe to restore all things to Himself through the crucifixion (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending us on a exploration to engage neighborhoods, cities, peoples, and even nations with the message of Jesus (Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we reject this call and continue to perceive the churches like a invite only country club ” requesting that people fix their talents, pay their dues, and walk to our church God will continue His mission without us.

The two witnesses are mentioned in the Book of Revelation 11. Within Revelation 11 it reveals the two witnesses are referred to in the Book of the Prophet Zechariah, specifically Zechariah 4:1-5 and Zechariah 4:11-14:

Zechariah 4:1-5

1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.

Zechariah 4:11-14 11

Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” 13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. 14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Both stand before the Lord of all the Earth ready to serve Him and obey His every command, like Elijah the prophet. Both men are filled with the Holy Spirit and generously share their God-given light of understanding with the nation Israel (collectively speaking of all Twelve Tribes of Israel) and to the world of Gentiles.

The two witnesses, wearing sackcloth (not suits and ties) will be in the one holy spirit, mission and purpose of “Elijah” - specifically the chief spokeman between the two who will hail from the Royal House of David (the other joins him from the Tribe of Levi - anciently these were the only two anointed positions in Israel). These two men, standing virtually alone against the wicked world, will be opposed by greedy Ahab (partially Israelite Europe) and pagan Jezebel (the Vatican), by Europe’s wannabe divine emperor (the Beast) and the False Prophet (pope) who promoted him into high office having misled the masses to support him.

These two prophets of the Most High God will be able to control the weather for 3 1/2 years and afflict supernatural disasters, as necessary, anywhere on Earth as our Great Creator God has so decreed! He backs up their message with His miracles! Yet most of mankind will hate their guts for trying to get God’s message across and undoubtedly jeer them saying, “You think you’re right and the whole world is wrong?” And the whole world will be wrong, dead wrong, since Revelation 11:7-10 show them celebrating their murder and exchanging gifts with each other!

If you’re interested in knowing more about the two witnesses, God’s greatest servants just before the return of Christ, who powerfully herald the coming of our King, boldly speaking the plain truth however unpopular and dangerous, feel free to look around the Two Witnesses blog or download for free Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall or read Beyond Babylon online for free since it contains their main message, as I understand it.

Occasionally we will hear something in the World News where some foreign leader will say something negative about the United States of America. Sometimes we feel bad because we think they do not like us. I say to you my fellow Americans, fear not and do not take these silly notions into consideration fore; The United States is the greatest and most noble nation ever created in the History of the human species period.

Do not listen to those who may talk smack about this great nation. Just to remind you that the USA GDP is almost 10 times that of the German Economy and 3.4 times the EU combined. The French economy is not even a drop in the bucket compared to the US or world economy. We know what we are doing. Recently we have heard some German Citizens talk about the United States and our efforts to talk with the Iranian Leadership, which sponsors International Terrorism and is now manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Well I say to them; “How dare you stick up for Iran’s terrorist leadership which promises to blow Israel off the map? Get real my German friend. We are allies, check your attitude at the door and remember why we are on the same team.”

In fact at least one hard liner Brit said last week that; “A Hiroshima demonstration by the US might just be a smart idea to remind the world why we do not want nation states who are run by radical religious nut cases and terrorist to have nuclear weapons.”

The United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth for a reason, and it is for that reason we must keep it that way and protect our allies, assets, nation and people come hell or high water. So consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

First let me explain what is meant by the end times. The ‘end times’ is a reference to the end of time remaining before the lord Jesus returns to remove the christians (his believers and followers) out of the world before the 7 year tribulation starts.

Whenever normal every day life is threatened by something abnormal such as a massive earthquake, meteor shower, war, famine, or something else, there was always someone who thought or said ’surely this must be the end times!’, this type of thinking has happened from right after Christ died on the cross over 2000 years ago, until present day.

These people surely did not read or study the bible, for if they had then they would of known that the end times could of not been here or had not even started, not until at least the year 1948. Once the year 1948 arrived, a great thing occurred that started what I call the ‘winding of the prophetic clock key’ this event was the creation of the independant state of ‘Israel’.

Jesus talks about the end times in the bible and says that when the fig tree blossoms the end is near. Jesus used the descriptive analogy of a “fig tree” as pertaining to Israel, to instruct his disciples about how we could discern the timeliness of his return. Before 1948 there was no Independent state or nation of Israel.

Another thing Jesus tells us will signal the closeness of the end times is that Jerusalem will be controlled by the Jews. Since 400 B.C. the city of Jerusalem has been controlled by one Gentile superpower after another. Here are a few of the dates when Jerusalem was under control of forces other than the Jews: A.D. 70, the Romans; 614 the Persians; 637 Caliph Omar; 1099 the Crusaders; 1187 Saladin; 1250 the Egyptian Mamelukes; 1517 the Turks; 1917 the British and others, then in 1967 during the 6th day war from June 5 to 10 of that year the jews captured Jerusalem.

Jewish control of Jerusalem is one of the most important signs because of Jesus’ statement in Luke 21:24. The disciples had asked Him, “When are you going to return and what will be the sign ?” Jesus replied, “Jerusalem shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” What was the Savior saying? Simply that the Jews would be scattered throughout the world and the city of Jerusalem controlled by Gentile powers until the time of His return. All the various Gentile groupsthe Romans, the Persians, the Crusaders, the Egyptians, and others controlled Jerusalem from A.D. 70 until May 1967. Then, in June 1967 the Jews took control of Jerusalem for the first time in more than nineteen hundred years.

The disciples also asked jesus, not only what the signs would be that signal the countdown to his return, but also what the signs of the actual end times would be. There are many signs we are told that we will see in the last days just before jesus returns, they include:

————————————

Earthquakes - Famines - Pestilences - Signs in space (sun, moons, stars, planets)

Luke 21:11 (King James Version) - “And great earthquakes shall be in divers (various, several) places, and famines, and pestilences;
and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

Famines:
Since 1975 to present, there has never been a year, that there wasn’t a famine some place on the earth.

————————————

Earthquakes:

Earthquakes are happening more frequently and are getting stronger. From 1920 - 1990 a period of 70 years, there was 10 Major Quakes. From 1990 - 2005 a period of 15 years, there was 15 Major Quakes. And this is only the major quakes, in the year 2000 there were 22,256 total earthquakes detected. In 2004 there was 31,199. of course most were not even hardly noticed or occurred in unpopulated areas, but there numbers are growing rapidly every year, as well as the major quakes.

The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction Just reported that between 1950 to 1959 there was 20 Major calamities costing $38 Million (1989 Dollar Value), in 1990 to 1999 there was 82 Major calamities costing $535 Billion.

————————————

Pestilences:

Since the 1980’s to present the number of new diseases that have formed is incredible. We now have SARS - AIDS - Herpes - West Nile - New Drug resistant TB - Mad Cow - New monkey pox virus with human-to-human transmission - and now the H5N1 (avian bird flu).
Data shows that both the incidence and severity of outbreaks of multi-drug-resistant pathogens have experienced a sharp upturn within the past 10 years. For example, Salmonella infections have gone up 25-fold in some countries in Europe since 1998. Similar increases are reported for haemorrhagic E. coli 0157 food poisoning: between 2002 and 2005, the frequency of infection increased 10 - fold in England and Wales, and 100 - fold in Scotland.

————————————

Signs in the sun and space:

The sun has been going wild, every 11 years or so we were told that the sun goes through cycles where it produces numerous solar flares or storms. This past cycle has been the strongest and strangest ever recorded since scientists and others have been studying solar activity, because even though the time for this solar phase should have passed. the sun is still producing massive flares and outbursts, and it’s getting worse. In fact the sun is getting brighter and hotter each recent year. This increase in warmth from the sun is warming the entire planet, and global warming is not longer just speculative, it’s a fact. The 14 hottest years ever recorded occurred after 1980.

The U.S. Geological Survey says Antarica is warmer now then it has been anytime in the past 4000 years. Half the glacier ice in the European Alps has disapeared in this century.

The following news reports were just released: ‘Warmest September Globally Since Beginning Of Reliable Instruments: The United States experienced its fourth warmest September on record, while global land surface temperatures were the warmest on record for the month, according to scientists at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.’ and it’s not just the U.S. but reports are coming in from around the globe, here’s one from Australia: ‘Australia headed for hottest year on record - SYDNEY (AFP) Nov 14, 2005 - Australia is having its hottest year on record and experts blame global warming for the trend, the government weather bureau reported Monday.

————————————

Signs in society - peoples thinking and actions:

2 Timothy 3:1-4 (King James Version) - “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

These things are occurring every day and it seems everyplace, listen to peoples conversations, read the newspapers, watch tv shows, etc…. morals and putting others before ones-self are thinking that is almost gone. Sinful thoughts, and sexual perversion is becoming a common way of life.

————————————

Preachers will not preach the biblical truth, and many will seek false and evil religions:

1 Timothy 4:1 - “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

Churches and sermons have become watered-down to please church members. Many Pastors don’t preach sermons anymore on the horrors of hell and the effects of sin. They have begun preaching about an all loving god, that loves everyone. This is true he does, but he is also a holy god, that cannot tolerate sin. And if someone lives a life of sin, they will be cast into hell. If you accept Jesus Christ as lord and saviour, the bible says you must also repent, a dictionary explanation for ‘repent’ says: ‘To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding it’, so you cannot just ask for salvation, then live your old life, the bible clearly tells us that, read this carefuly, it’s right from the bible: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Some Pastors are now even saying that Jesus Christ is not the only way to Heaven. We have removed the biblical truth and facts and have replaced it with what people want to hear, so they can continue their ways of living a life of sin.

————————————

Wars and rumors of wars:

The 20th century has been known as the century of warfare. We have had the big ones of course like World War 1, and World War 2, and the cold war (the ultimate era of ‘rumors of war’), we also had the vietnam war, korean war, and literally hundreds of other battles, including the gulf wars and other middle east conflicts to the present day rumors of possible war with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

Ethnic unrest and tribal warfare has killed millions in this generation alone, and it’s getting worse.

————————————

Massive Hurricanes and freak storms:

Does the bible mention Hurricanes when it tells of signs of the Lords return ? It sure does, Jesus tells the disciples in Luke 21:25: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.” See them last 6 words: ‘the sea and the waves roaring’, the exact effects of hurricanes. 2004 was said to have been the costliest hurricane season on record, that was true until the 2005 hurricance season. At the end of Oct 2005, Beta, the 26th named storm of a record Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall near La Barra, Nicaragua. And now on Fri, Dec 30 2005 we have this NEWS - Tropical Storm Zeta drifts across the Atlantic. The 27th named storm of a record-breaking hurricane season, Zeta had top sustained winds near 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters said Zeta was not expected to become a hurricane or threaten land. This Atlantic hurricane season has seen more named tropical storms and hurricanes than at any point since record-keeping began in 1851.

Here in Northeast Pennsylvania, from November 6-12, we were struck with multiple severe thunderstorms and a tornado watch. This wouldn’t be anything abnormal if it was summer, but this is November and we had not only multiple severe thunderstorms but a tornado watch and then a warning. According to local tv weathermen, we have never had as many severe thunderstorms and a tornado warning in this area so late in the year since record keeping began.

————————————

I could go on and on, but this article would be to large for what I wanted. The facts are plain and simple folks, according to what jesus and the bible says, the signs of the end times are happening right now. There are some folks that say ‘oh it says in the bible that the city of Damacus in Syria will be destroyed’ and this hasn’t happened yet, or something else hasn’t happened yet. yes, that is very true but the signs that have happened or are occurring are the ones that the bible says will signal the return of Jesus, the other signs may occur during the great tribulation after his return.

So what does it all mean, ‘The time of Jesus Christ’s return is here !’, I believe the countdown began in 1967 when the Jews took control of Jerusalem. .

Jesus told his disciples that the Generation that sees these things, ‘The creation of israel as a nation, and most importantly ‘Jerusalem under jewish control (1967) “This generation will not pass away (die)”, before he (Jesus) Returns.

So how long is a generation in the bible ? bible scholars used to say a generation is 40 years. So if the countdown to the ‘end times’ began in 1967 when the Jews re-took control of Jersualem, Christ may return (rapture of believers) before Dec 31, 2007. Now some other bible experts like ‘Jack Van Impe’ are saying that a biblical generation is 52 years. This is pretty amazing, because it falls in line with some other amazing date predictions. If the end time countdown began in 1967 when the Jews re-took control of Jersuale, and if you add 52 years to that date, that gives you the year 2019. Now if we subtract 7 years from 2019 (7 years being the time of the tribulation period), that gives us the date 2012. Strangely, both the Mayan and Aztec calendars end on the year 2012, predicting some major event that changes the whole earth in that year. Is this event the rapture, the return of Christ ? When it comes to exact dates nobody on the earth really knows when Jesus will return. Jesus himself says no man knows the day or the hour when he will return. In Mark 13:32 (KJV) “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” But Jesus doesn’t say we cannot know or figure out the year that he may come.

I say, don’t wait for the year 2012, I believe the time may be much shorter, the best thing to do is to be ready, give your heart and life to Jesus today, except his free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ before it’s too late. You never know if you will have a tomorrow, a car wreck, heart attack, stroke, murder, or the return of the lord may happen this very hour, and then it’s too late. All you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and ask him to forgive you of your sins, say the ’sinners prayer below’ then repent, change your lifestyle and thinking by not living in sin, and if possible start going to a bible believing Church whenever you can, and be baptised if possible. The gift of eternal life is a free gift from the lord Jesus, all you have to do is want it, and ask for it. Here is a simple sinners prayer, it’s all you need to say, just believe it: “God I know and confess that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness, I believe that your son Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I now accept and receive Jesus’s pardon for my sins, I want Jesus into my heart and life as my personal saviour, forgive me lord and save me, Amen’.

If you have just prayed that simple prayer and believed, you are now granted the gift of eternal life, Praise the Lord.

As I finish this article, the year 2005 has now ended, and 2006 has just begun, I sit here wondering what terrible things will happen in the world, and in our own country this year, but as the Bible says. “Don’t let you heart be troubled, all these things (end time signs) must occur, but look up for your redemption draws near.”

————————————

If you want to learn a lot more about end time events that are happening every day, and Biblical things such as the Rapture, Armageddon, the Tribulation and more, then visit this website: ‘ Signs Of The End Times ‘, for daily End Times news articles, and lots of other great Christian reading.

The ‘Signs Of The End Times’ Website can be found here:
http://www.rb59.com/end-times

By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

If you want to learn a lot more about end time events that are happening every day, and Biblical things such as the Rapture, Armageddon, the Tribulation and more, then visit this website: ‘ Signs Of The End Times ‘, for daily End Times news articles, and lots of other great Christian reading.

RB59.COM Software
http://www.rb59.com/software

If your view of religion is like most people, you think that religion is a list of do’s and don’ts or a set of rules, laws or other directives that should be guiding your behavior. What is taught in comparative religion courses is based on this simple premise. New Testament Christianity is thrown into this generalized heap usually by people who are not Christians and have no understanding of what Christ stands for. You might say I am making an excuse for them, but I am not. The result of this assumption can produce the greatest loss any man could ever endure.

If rules and ordinances are what makes a real religion then New Testament Christianity would barely make it into the list. It has only two outward or ceremonial ordinances and neither of them can produce salvation. They are water baptism and the communion or breaking of bread. What Jesus said was that he came to give men life (John 10:10), not another religion. Thank God he knew we already had enough of them. Here is one of the major differences between Christianity and every religion that came before or after it. When God sent his Son into the world to die for our sins, then resurrect him from the dead he was in effect saying, knock it off! He doesn’t require our feeble attempts to placate him with our endless religious hokey pokey. Essentially God was saying, stop trying to please me with those things you dream up and I will show you who I am and exactly what I want. What small child can possibly think of the best way to please his Dad? No child should have to decide what that is; a decent father sets the parameters and makes them known to his children. He already loves them because they are his, why would he require them to perform to make him love them more.

That real Christianity is not a religion but a way of life is given more credence by another little known fact. The Bible uses the word “religion” only five times and only once is it given a definition. That definition (James 1:27) offers no list of do’s and don’ts, no nine fold path, no Mosaic burdens and no stifling ceremonial ordinances. No one could give the New Testament a serious read and say Christ started a new religion. What he started was a way to deal with the our sins, both now and for all eternity.

Most religions are like doors that keep men out until they have done the work, performed the rituals, jumped through the hoops, cleaned up their act or something even harder than all that. Jesus who said he was the door (John 10:7) has become the passage into Gods presence both now and for eternity. He requires repentance and then a dedication to Him and his words but, and I do mean but, he never sets up any religious rules, codes, or requirements. There are no ceremonies, liturgies, or imaginary scales in the sky that are there to measure your goods and bads on a daily basis.

God said there are no other Gods; he alone made all there is including us. He isn’t jealous of other Gods, there aren’t any other Gods. He revealed himself through the patriarchs and prophets and finally through his Son. The history of man is cluttered with mans feeble and mistaken attempts to create God or a whole pantheistic slew of them from his own imagination or worse, with the help of the God of this world. (Satan) God has provided a clearer and far more approachable path to take the nonsense and guesswork out of it. But alas, mans propensity for religion is second only to his propensity for sin.

We would rather build shrines and cathedrals; we would prefer a set of rules and regulations rather than accepting a free gift from God. He offers the gift quite apart from any thing we could dream up; hey that’s why it is called a gift. Picture Peter, James and John looking at what most of will never see until the second coming of Christ. Jesus magnificently transfigured before them in a glowing radiance. Instead of standing in awe or quietly gazing and listening perhaps to learn something, instead they decide to build a shrine or a “Tabernacle” (Mt. 17:4) Jesus doesn’t reply to Peter who suggested the tabernacle but God the Father does. In one short reply God sums up the matter of shrines, tabernacles, laws, codes ceremonies, liturgies and all the other religious notions of men. He said…”This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Mt. 17:4b

That some of the religions that are compared in a comparative religions course are ancient and perhaps predate Christianity is often the argument for their veracity. The Bible says that God winked at mans former idolatries but after he sent his Son, those excuses would no longer stand. That man has held onto religions that do not lead to God for so long is only proof of our penchant for idolatry. Lots of things are ancient, that says nothing about their usefulness. Why should religion be any different?

Before Mohammed died he said some truth had been revealed to him. Before Buddha died he exclaimed that he was still searching for the truth. Jesus said quite clearly that he was the truth, John 14:6. The last time I checked the shortest distance between two points was still a straight line. I prefer the straight line when it comes to my entire future don’t you. Jesus is the straight line to God and as far as putting him along side others in a comparative religions course, there is little hope of making comparisons with one who sets the definition of incomparable.

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote “Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You,” publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled “An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ.” His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth” Rev Bresciani’s website is,

http://americanprophet.org

Hermeneutics is the science and art of the interpretive process which begins by determining the original meaning of the Biblical text and leads to elucidation of its sense for the body of Christ today. It is concerned with the presuppositions that are brought to the interpretation of texts because it consciously or unconsciously influences conclusions drawn.

Presuppositions are the philosophical or theological starting points of reference which are usually shared by someone else. It differs from prejudice in that prejudice includes more personal factors that affect the judgment of the interpreter. The problem of Biblical authority would probably be less bothersome if we were able to approach the Bible unbiasly. Unfortunately, this is not possible.

Therefore, we come with our mental baggage that is packed with previous involvement with Scripture which prejudice our reaction to the periscope under consideration. The result is, oftentimes, only an interpretation that mirrors our biases.

Even though it is humanly impossible to interpret presupposition-lessly, there are safeguards we can use in the interpretive process that minimizes pure subjectivity and interjecting into text our own preconceived ideas. They are:

1) Awareness of the presupposition problem.

2) Use of the historical-critical method of interpretation helps to keep theological presuppositions in check.
3) Methods must be open to constant modification by the text itself.
4) Method must be open to investigation, evaluation and so forth.
5) Presuppositions must be allowed to be shaped or discarded. Exegesis guided by rigid pre-understanding only establishes what the interpreter already knows.

When Scripture is rendered supreme, the text will interpret the interpreter as the interpreter interprets the text. Interpretation therefore, necessitates dialogue with Scripture.

I think very few of us are cognizant of the extent to which our responses to Scripture are conditioned by a previously chosen orientation toward the church in general and toward Scripture in particular. These orientations, apparently for purposes of identification, are grouped under certain titles. Two of the broadest and, no doubt, misunderstood classifications are “liberal” and “conservative.”

The typical liberal view of the inspiration of Scripture is that the Biblical writers were inspired in somewhat the same sense as Shakespeare and other great writers. What the writers transcribed were ancient religious conceptions about God and His workings. Liberals believe that Scripture is inerrant where it speaks on soteriological matters, but that it may possess errors in historical facts and other details.

The conservative view of the inspiration is that God worked through the personalities of the Biblical writers in such a way that, without suspending their personal styles of expression of freedom, what they produced was literally inspired. The emphasis of the text is that Scripture itself, as well as the authors, was inspired.

Of course there are those within each camp whose view of inspiration varies from the generally accepted. Both orientations also have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The strengths of the liberal position has been said to include the fact that they are not embarrassed by negative phenomena found in Scripture; no claim is made regarding Biblical inerrancy and so there is no need to deal with it; and since they do not believe texts are infallible, the do not have to be bothered with issues pertaining to canonicity of Scripture; and finally, liberals need not suspend their critical faculties when studying Scripture.

The weaknesses of this position are said to be located in its tendency to dilute the inspiration and authority of Scripture in a significant way. It places overemphasis on human reason; if Biblical claims cannot be grasped by human reason, it is unacceptable. Another weakness lies in the idea of progressive revelation. Liberals believe that as man developed mentally and spiritually, later divine revelation was superior to earlier ones. Thus, religious experience becomes the foundation for deciding divine inspiration. A further difficulty with this view is that it allows room to call into question or disallow all of the miraculous in Scripture.

Two outstanding strengths of the conservative view proposed are:

1) they take the Bible seriously as the only authority for life and the Christian faith; and ;

2) conservatives are serious about the actual texts of the Bible. Some of the weaknesses found in this view include: conservatives refusal to acknowledge obvious Biblical errors; the failure to see inconsistencies between any two scriptural passages; the proclivity to dislocate the true center of concern; the hermeneutical principles that guide them are extra-Biblical; and their harmonization process is flawed.

Achtemeier (Contemporary Theology) proposes another view of inspiration. He sees it as being located more in the interrelationship of tradition, situation, and respondent contained in Scripture rather than located in Scripture itself or the Biblical authors.

Whatever view one holds is important to hermeneutics. If we hold a liberal view of inspiration for example, it would probably be difficult, if not impossible, to not approach Scripture with the presupposition “Scripture contains errors”.

Thus, if we encounter apparent discrepancies, we may decide that one or both of the pages involved contain mistakes. Likewise, as a conservative, we may be inclined to find an exegetically justifiable way of resolving the seeming discrepancy rather than entertain an erroneous possibility.

(to be continued)

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.

“St Augustine” - DBA, you’ve made some very unorthodox statements over the past few weeks. Many here have dismissed you as being some loony nut, but I’m not going to do that. I’d like to hear your case regarding these things.

Whenever I say such biblical things, I offer the biblical proof. Those who contemptuously dismiss the plain truth can only ridicule, they can never refute what I say because what I share is simply what the Bible teaches.

And “unorthodox” according to who? To those who are steeped in traditional error, who have rejected the Word of God for their own ideas. Nevertheless, like my brother Paul stated for the record when accused of being “very unorthodox” (and gladly so):

Acts 24:14

14However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets….

You call the Holy Trinity blasphemous.

The demonic doctrine of the “trinity” is just another RELIGIOUS LIE of pagan “Christianity.” The word is never used in the Bible, it’s clearly from the pagan religions Rome adopted, and Paul addressed his inspired letters to the Father and the Son and NEVER the Holy Spirit as a separate entity. Daniel and the Book of Revelation both show the Father and the Son with their thrones, and never mention or show the Holy Spirit as a separate entity with its own throne.

You said that the Holy Spirit is really just an essence of the Father

The Holy Spirit is what the Scriptures teach: the essence or power of God. It is definitely not a separate entity.

and that the Son is the literal male child of God, and is not equal to the Father.

Yashua is equal to His Father in holiness, in character and composition, as we shall be also, but in authority the Father is “all in all” and Yashua clearly revealed the Father is greater than Him.

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

John 14:28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

You said that this world is a sort of reproductive cycle for God, and that Jesus was the first child, and that we are all equal to him and shall become as him upon death. The Holy Spirit is the essence of God which allows this transformation into… I’m not sure what? Do we become gods too?

That which is born of the flesh IS flesh - human - that which is born of the Spirit IS Spirit - divine. Truly converted Christians are God-Beings in the Making!

You say the Jewish dietary laws and other laws are still in effect, and that those Christians who eat pork and don’t celebrate the Jewish holidays are sinning in the eyes of God.

That’s what your Bible teaches. Yashua did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to make them even more binding, by magnifying the spirit or PRINCIPLE of the Law that includes attitude and action, the letter and the spirit of the Law, and Yashua said whoever taught against them wouldn’t be thought of too highly in God’s Kingdom. Rebellious traditional “Christianity” - like their father Satan the devil - hates God’s law and aren’t in the holy process of conversion that writes it upon the tablets of our heart and mind.

You said that the English are the descendents of the lost tribes of Israel

Don’t you believe the Prophets? God gave us clear prophetic birthmarks that would identify the “Lost Ten Tribes” in these last days of civilization as we know it. God has fulfilled His Word and we glorify God for His faithfulness in this great regard. The Plain Truth About the “Lost Ten Tribes” and Why You Need to Know!

and that Germans are evil and the antichrist will arrise from Germany.

I’ve never said the Germans are inherently evil. The Germans have been warlike and fierce like their Assyrian ancestors, starting WWI and WWII and Scripture indicates they’ll ignite WWIII, but ultimately they will be the third with Israel and Egypt. God will permit the German-dominated European Union to take out our hypocritical nations and they’re warned to remember to show us mercy once they’ve defeated and deported us or God will permit the Asians to ravage Europe with their 200 million man army.

You claim that all Christian denominations are really pagans, and that the Catholic Church is the antichrist.

The Catholic whore and her Protestant prostitute daughters are exposed as the Babylonian Mystery religion dressed in the drag of Gentilized traditional Christianity. Such a vile religious belief system is clearly identified by their pagan holidays and heathen customs and Gentile ways of Sunday, Christmas, Easter and every other unclean thing that Christ hates and doesn’t want to be associated with, unlike the true commandment-keeping Church of God that rejects such idolatrous traditions for God’s Word, however unpopular or politically incorrect.

Also, I would like to know- do you believe the followers of the “pagan” denominations go to hell, as followers of non-Christian religions do? What about the priests and leaders? What about the Jews?

The Sabbath-keeping Church of God know our God and Bible well enough to know that your traditional belief in “hell” is just another RELIGIOUS LIE spouted by your Babylonian Mystery religion that misrepresents God to be the sadist that Satan has proven himself to be.

We believe you are held accountable for breaking God’s holy commandments, especially after He brings it to your attention that you may confess and forsake such sin, walking in your new light of understanding.

If you reject such light to return to traditional darkness, you’ve condemned yourself - whether to suffer from the nuclear flames about to scorch the Earth or to be utterly destroyed in the future Lake of Fire - we gladly leave that judgment with God where it belongs. Meanwhile, check out “To Hell and Back.”

Presently, as the Bible clearly reveals, there are only a chosen few who are being called to salvation at this time. The vast majority won’t be called until Christ reigns on Earth and has restrained Satan from his deception of the nations. If our professing Christian nations refuse to let the Truth set them free, they’ll go into national captivity.

Many of these issues and more are addressed within Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall with plenty of Scriptures to keep you busy and your mind on the things above!

The year 2001 proved to be a life altering one. Barring our own personal problems which already may have had you in a state of despair, the attack on America left the nation- the world- in a state of sadness, disbelief and hopelessness.

As we are surrounded by the sites and sounds of Christmas, many of us show a bittersweet smile while gazing at lovely Christmas lights or hearing a children’s choir. We feel guilty for feeling happy when we are surrounded by so much tragedy and reflect upon a world that ‘once was’.

It feels like the Christmas spirit has been knocked out of our sails and we are drifting aimlessly upon a sea of tears.

Yes, it’s been one heck of a year. The loss we have sustained is incomprehensible. Combined with our individual problems; we’re left wondering how to get through Christmas with joy in our hearts. Where is the room for joy when our hearts are filled to the brim with sorrow?

My eyes mist when I think of the lives lost and the families who must be struggling to shop for their remaining family members. What angst they must be experiencing. Those of us who didn’t lose anyone feel for them- but, also feel helpless. How can we take away their pain? How can we make it easier for them to get through the season? That weighs heavily on many of us and contributes further to our attempts of feeling joy during a season that’s supposed to be joyous.

I’ve reflected a lot on this because of my own feelings of confusion and despair this Christmas. I’ve battled with guilt and sorrow. I’ve wondered if I should even bother decorating for Christmas when there are so many out there caught in the web of grief. My heart bleeds for them.

I ask myself, “What right do I have to be happy?”

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s okay, even necessary to experience the joy and hope of Christmas this year. If we take our focus away from the gifts and decorations and point it towards what Christmas really is- we will find comfort, solace, peace and joy. For Christmas is Christ and Christ is eternal love, hope, life, joy and peace. Isn’t that what we need right now- more than ever?

By focusing on Christ- the very reason this holiday exists- our burdens become lighter as we see a message of great hope and comfort. No, our pain isn’t gone. No, we can’t bring back those who were lost and no, we can’t reverse time. But, there is no load too heavy that Christ won’t carry for us. His birth was and is the greatest ‘Christmas Present’ anyone could ever hope for. And it’s real. Through Christ and His message to us, we can take comfort in many things. 1. Those beautiful people who were lost in the tragic attack on America are with our loving Father in a realm that is real, alive and eternal. Though not with us physically, they are very much alive and happy. They are missed dearly on the earthly plane, but are living a wonderful, fulfilling life in a world much more beautiful than the one we remain in. 2. No matter how heavy your load may be, Christ is always there to help you with it. His gift of hope, comfort, help, healing and life is there for you. You will be carried through your darkest hours. You will never be alone. There is someone right beside you who will get you through anything this world dishes out. Just ask. 3. The light of Christ shines within each and every one of us. The beauty of lights upon a tree or shining from a window symbolize his omnipresent light. If you do decide to put up lights this year- and are struggling with feelings of confusion - remember what those lights symbolize. They are symbols of the light of Christ and cannot ever be snuffed out. By displaying lights, you are showing hope to others who may need to be reminded of it very, very much.

It is my hope that we can, even with our very real pain, not just ‘get through’ Christmas, but celebrate it. It’s not the pretty packages and ribbons that make Christmas what it is. It’s God’s promise to us all- His Love for us all- His ultimate display of His love for us by sending his only son to earth to show us we have eternal life through Him. That’s what Christmas is about. Now more than ever before we need to hold fast to that promise and by doing that, we will find the joy in Christmas this year; even if it’s amidst tears.

May the light of Christ shine in all of your hearts this Christmas; give you comfort, peace and joy.

“Peace on Earth- Good will to men.”

© Ellen M. DuBois

“Sorat’s evil will be spread by his infernal army of soulless followers, willing to give their lives for his pleasure in subjecting mankind to horror of the ultimate magnitude.”

The above mentioned quote summarizes one of the main themes in Hearne’s political thriller, “Hulagu’s Web”. The book suggests that much of the horror, destruction and mayhem that happen in the contemporary world are explained by the endeavors of Sorat, Lucifer’s terrifying accomplice. It is said that Sorat incarnates every 666 years. 1998 would therefore be the year of his last manifestation. Coincidently, it is the same year that Usama Bin Ladin and his associates publicly declared their Jihad against the West with blatant orders such as “We - with Allah’s help - call on every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to comply with Allah’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.”

In his “Book of Revelation and the Work of the Priest”, Rudolf Steiner describes Abaddon’s attack on humanity. Abaddon (translated ‘destroyer’) is a demonic being born out of the abyss to lead an army of locusts with human-like faces. Rudolf Steiner explains the occult significance of this picture by suggesting that Abaddon’s army consists of human beings who have been completely deprived of their ego. Sorat can rule on Earth by populating the empty shells of such people with the spirits that serve him. This infernal army would subject mankind to trials compared to which all the horrors of the twentieth century would pale. Coincidently again, Abaddon is referred to in Revelation 9-11, the same date that is now synonymous with the destruction of the twin towers and the attack on the pentagon.

Sorat is described as the strongest power against good. To accomplish his desire of destroying the earth, Sorat would manifest his evil in the social evolution. The wars and mass murders of our time are evidence of his corruption.

The fanatism and the everyday hatred of man against man are evils often disguised as religious dedication and nationalism. Sorat would bend people to his will by using the influence of leaders, be them political or religious. Sorat’s alleged power lies in the ability to make followers believe that what they do for their fanatic leaders is right. As David J. Hearne says “the goal of this demon is to strip humans of their souls, egos and all goodness.” Sorat could make horrible acts virtually impossible to eradicate once people become unable to recognize actions as evil.

The video of a hostage being beheaded in Iraq is an example of the horror mankind is subject to. It shows how much influence such a leader can have over others. He would stay back from his disciples, as he directs them to behead the hostage. Whenever the men holding the prisoner looked uncertain, the leader would convince them that what they were doing was the just thing. The scene appears to be a struggle between the leader (persuading) and the followers (resisting). The film shows how the power of evil can pervert people’s senses to such a degree that destruction and horror replace the goodness and compassion in their souls.

The seductive powers of darkness act by using people’s vulnerability and weaknesses against them. Terrorists claim their actions are for their love of God. Most of them believe that what they are doing is right. Someone who they see as a prophet or a messenger leads them to believe that they act in God’s will. This messenger is trusted and considered more important than their own lives. Sorat would exploit these people to “give their lives for his pleasure in subjecting mankind to horror of the ultimate magnitude,” as mentioned in Hulagu’s Web.

It is difficult to understand why well-intentioned, logically thinking people fall into such traps. How can one induce another to become a suicide bomber willing to die for some obscure cause and kill other innocent people? How can the human mind become so clouded and susceptible to such evil and debasing acts? The answer lies in the fact that many people need something or someone to believe in. Sorat and his progeny would use this weakness to lead those susceptible to their influence. The reasons for their acts are masked, people follow because they need to believe and fail to ask themselves a rational explanation for what they are made to do. Nevertheless, if people saw the true intentions behind these schemes they would not follow. Evil exists as long it disguises itself.

Sorat could only maintain his power by distorting the way people perceive what is good. He would reduce each individual to his level - an entity without soul or conscious. His ultimate objective is to alter the human existence by spreading destruction and misery. Eradicating mercy, benevolence, compassion and humanity (most needed qualities that Christ himself advocated) is the only way Sorat can achieve his goals.