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Tag Archives: theology

Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.

22 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy

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feast of tabernacles, Jewish, King Nebuchadnezzar, lion of the tribe of judah, religion, Romans 11:11, tabernacle, tabernacle in the wilderness, theology, tribe of judah, Zechariah 14:16, Zechariah 14:9

Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.

Today, millions of people who profess to be followers of Christ acknowledge that the babe found lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes1 was born king of the Jews2. Yet, far too few realize that the roots of their religious beliefs are, and will always be, Jewish3. Most Christians view their faith as a new Gentile religion founded by the apostles Paul and Peter. In actuality, Christianity is the acceptance of the Jewish Messiah as both Savior and Lord4. In fact, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious5.

Some may contend that we are living in an age of grace, and therefore the Jewish Festivals no longer hold significance for the believer. For many it does not matter whether we choose to celebrate Easter and ignore Passover, or hang Christmas ornaments and neglect the observation of the Feast of Tabernacles. Of course what one chooses to celebrate is not an essential salvation issue, but has the church forgotten that our Savior is the Holy One of Israel6?

A millennium before the birth of Christ, the mode of Israel’s worship was ordained by the LORD. The tabernacle in the wilderness and the House of the LORD in Jerusalem were patterned after the heavenly temple7. When the Lord returns, He will rule the nations from Zion8 seated on His throne in His temple and the nations will go up each year to Jerusalem to worship the King9.

Not only did our Creator choose to incarnate as a Jewish baby and live his life as an observant Jew10 and rabbi, the King of the Jews11 was crucified and then gloriously resurrected as the eternal Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David12. When He returns, the LORD will be King over all the earth13.

For those who contend that there will not be a literal, earthly reign of King Messiah, please consider King Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic dream found in the book of Daniel. The rock that was cut out, but not by human hands, smashed the great statue which represented literal, earthly empires. Then, that rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth14 (emphasis mine).

Jesus is coming back soon. When He returns all the nations will go up year after year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles15. Don’t be too disappointed, but when the God of Israel returns we probably won’t be searching for Easter eggs or hanging up stockings for Santa.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Footnotes:

1Luke 2:12                                                                       

2Matthew 2:2                                                     

3Romans 11:18                                                   

4Romans 10:9-10                                                 

5Romans 11:11                                                   

6Isaiah 43:3                                                            

7Exodus 25:40; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 9:11    

8Psalm 2:6-8

9Zechariah 14:16

10Luke 4:16

11Luke 23:38

12Revelation 5:5

13Zechariah 14:9

14Daniel 2:35

15Zechariah 14:16

The Messiah is the Son of David

22 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy

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Dovid Melech, geneological line, HaShem, iniquities, Lion of Yehuda, offspring, religion, root, root of jesse, ruach hakodesh, scriptural proofs, sixty-two sevens, son of david, theology, transgressions, yehuda, Yeshua

The Messiah is the Son of David

THE SON OF DAVID

Why do the rabbis who are experts in Torah say that the Messiah is the son of David (Moshiach Ben Dovid), when David himself, speaking by the Ruach HaKodesh (Psalm 110:1) declared:

“HaShem said to my Adonai:

‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ”

David himself calls him Lord (Adonai). How then can he be his son?

Answer: The Moshiach is both the “Root” and “Offspring” of Dovid Melech.

(The Messiah is both the root and offspring of King David.)

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

Isaiah 11:1

“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;

the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.”

Isaiah 11:10

The Messiah preexisted David. He is the both the Root (that which gave David’s father Jesse sustenance) and the Son (in the geneological line) of King David. Moshiach is both Adonai and Son of David. He is a Banner for the Goyim (nations).

Do you know of any other rabbi in history that millions of Gentiles have embraced as the Messiah (Greek – The Christ)?

The Tanakh offers much evidence that Messiah has already come. The following references are just a few scriptural proofs:

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…”  Daniel 9:25-26a

Daniel was in exile in Babylon and the Temple built by Solomon was destroyed.  It is written that there will be seven ‘sevens’ (7 X 7 = 49 years) from the issuing of the decree to allow the exiles to return until the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt. From the time of the restoration of the city and the building there would be sixty-two ‘sevens’ (62 X 7 = 434 years) until the Anointed One (Moshiach) would come and be cut off (killed) and then the Second Temple (the sanctuary) and Jerusalem (the city) would be destroyed.

Were the Second Temple and the Holy City rebuilt after the Babylonian exile? Yes they were. Were they built in times of trouble and according to the time table of Daniel? Yes they were. Were the sanctuary and the city destroyed a second time as prophesied? Yes they were. Did Messiah have to come and die before the destruction of the Second Temple? Yes, according to the Scriptures!

Following are some excerpts from the end of Isaiah 52 and Isaiah 53. These passages cannot speak of Israel because Israel cannot atone for her own sins. These are messianic prophecies that speak of a man. Read them with an open heart that is seeking truth.

“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him –

his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man

and his form marred beyond human likeness-

so will he sprinkle many nations,

and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

For what they were not told, they will see,

and what they have not heard, they will understand.”

The Gentiles did not have the Torah or Hashem’s prophets. They were not told about Messiah. Yet many Goyim have embraced the “Anointed One” who came while the Temple stood and then was “cut off” before the sanctuary was destroyed.

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the L-RD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Messiah came as a suffering servant to bear our sins, but He is coming again as the “Lion of Yehuda” to judge the earth.

The prophets spoke the Word of the L-RD. Are you listening?

The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy, Feasts & Festivals

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antichrist, Antiochus IV, Chasidim, Epimanes, grecian, Hanukkah and the antichrist, history of hanukkah, human-rights, Jerusalem Temple, Madman, middle-east, Modein, politics, religion, The Thummim, theology

The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!

Hanukkah or Chanukah is an eight day festival to celebrate the ancient victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians whose leader typifies the Antichrist. This “Feast of Dedication” is popularly known as the “Festival of Lights.” This festival is associated with the miracle in which the lamps stayed lit for “eight” days while the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated, although there was only enough oil to fuel the Temple’s lamps for only “one” day.

After the death of Alexander the Great, who died without leaving an heir to his throne, the Greek Empire was divided among his four generals known as the Diadochi. Nicator Seleucus took control of the eastern provinces. Antiochus IV, a later Seleucid king, named himself Epiphanes which means “god manifest.” But Antiochus’ brutality and megalomania was better expressed sarcastically by his subjects privately who referred to him as Epimanes – the Madman.

One of the smallest states of the Grecian world empire was the kingdom of Judea. It lay between two giant powers, Egypt to the south and Syria to the north. Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemies and Syria was ruled by the Selucids. Judea was surrounded on all sides by countries who had succumbed to Greek culture. This culture came to be known as Hellenism. People everywhere began to speak Greek, dress like the Greeks, embrace Greek philosophy and worship the gods of Greece. Only in Judea, did the people live in a markedly distinct fashion from their Greek oppressors.

The southern kingdom of Israel, though small and poor, was the corridor which linked Asia, Europe and Africa. Through it troops could be moved from one continent to another. The trade routes of commerce and caravans cut across it from east to west and from north to south. It was a highly prized territory and was buffeted back and forth between its greedy neighbors.

Daniel chapter 11 is a prophetic depiction of the future conflicts, wars and alliances between the kings of the Ptolemies to the south and the kings of the Selucids to the north. Judea and the holy city of Jerusalem were caught between these two warring factions.

The Selucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes was the prophesied evil monarch from Syria – the ultimate “king of the north” – who came down and defeated “the king of the south” and took possession of Judea (Daniel 11:21-30).

Antiochus had the Jewish High Priest assassinated, and installed a man of his own inclination in his place. He instituted Greek customs throughout the Jewish population and finally ordered the Jewish religion abolished completely and replaced it with his own pagan gods. Anyone who failed to abide by his decrees, he had executed. His forces desecrated the Jerusalem Temple and its altar of worship by slaughtering a swine on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus with his own likeness in the sanctuary. Antiochus typifies the Antichrist who will set up an abomination (an idol of himself) that causes desolation (those who love the true God to flee Jerusalem).

A revolt started in Modein where Mattathias killed a Jew making a profaned sacrifice and then killed the king’s official who enforced such sacrifices. Mattathias fled to the hills with his sons. Seleucid troops from Jerusalem pursued the rebels and slaughtered a group of women and children on the Sabbath. His successor, Judas Maccabee, along with many pious Jews – called the “Chasidim” (pious ones) – joined the revolt. They would descend from the mountains and would strike the Syrians with swift unexpected attacks (Maccabee – “Battle hammer”). After three years of fighting against overwhelming odds, the Maccabees regained control of the Temple.

After cleansing the Temple, the lamps of the sacred lampstand needed to be lit. There was only enough oil found to keep the lamps burning for one day. It would take a messenger a week to bring fresh supplies, but no one wanted to wait that long to rededicate the sanctuary. Miraculously, they lit the lampstand and the oil lasted eight full days!

High Priest and Lampstand

‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:9

Solomon’s Temple (the former house or first Temple) contained five glorious elements that were missing in the present house (the 2nd Temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel) of Haggai’s day:

· The fire from heaven on the altar

· The ark of the covenant

· The glory of the divine Presence (Shechinah)

· The Urim

· The Thummim

In addition to these missing spiritual elements, the physical structure of Solomon’s Temple was so ornate and elaborate than the 2nd Temple, that those who were old enough to remember it (the survivors of the Babylonian exile) wept aloud when the foundation was laid.

Why then was it prophesied that the glory of the physically inferior 2nd Temple which lacked the Shechinah glory and the Ark of the Covenant would be even greater than that of The Temple built and dedicated by Solomon? In addition, how did the LORD God give peace in this place (the 2nd Temple) if it was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD? Why did the miracle of Hanukkah last eight days, when the oil could be replaced in seven days?

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” John 10:22-24

The latter glory of the second house was greater than that of Solomon’s Temple because the glorious Son of God, the “Light of the World” had come into the Temple. Jesus came into the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. The Light of the World who filled the Temple with glory was asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” He had confirmed again and again that He was the Messiah by his signs, wonders and miracles. Even the eight day miracle of Hanukkah pointed to Yeshua the Messiah.

In Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, as well as Greek, the language of the New Testament, each letter possesses a numerical value. Gematria is the calculation of the numerical equivalence of letters, words, or phrases. And, on that basis, Gematria helps to gain insight into interrelation of different concepts and exploring the interrelationship between words and ideas. Most Christians are familiar with the concept that the value of the name of the Antichrist is calculated to be 666.

By utilizing principles of Gematria, we can determine that the following numerical values can be determined in relation to Jesus:

TITLE TOTAL VALUE DIVIDED BY 8

Messiah 656 8 x 82

Lord 800 8 x 100

Son 880 8 x 110

Savior 1,408 8 x 8 x 22

Christ 1,480 8 x 185

Emmanuel 25,600 8 x 8 x 8 x 50

JESUS 888 8 x 111

During the Festival of Lights, the Menorah is lit by a servant candle. Although the “Shamash” is located above the other candles, it must bow low to light them. Jesus humbled himself, took on the form of a servant, and shared his glorious light with us.

The fulfilled prophecy of Haggai 2:9 is only one of over 300 prophecies fulfilled that confirm that Yeshua (Jesus) is truly the promised Messiah of Israel. The probability of one man fulfilling only 48 of the over 300 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power. Not only did the miracles that Yeshua performed attest to the fact that He is the Son of God, but the statistical evidence is proof beyond any shadow of doubt that Yeshua is Adonai (Jesus is Lord).

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the suffering servant Messiah at the First Advent, when the Lamb of God was slain and gloriously resurrected. When Yeshua returns as the conquering king Messiah, He will sit on his throne in Jerusalem.

“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.

Daniel 11:36

During the time of the Maccabees, the arrogant murderous ruler Antiochus IV had defiled the Temple and set up an image of himself demanding that he be worshipped. After three years, his army was defeated and he was overthrown. The Temple was cleansed and rededicated to the worship of the God of Israel.

Revelation 13:18

This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

There is literal fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 11:36 still to come concerning the last world empire and the evil Antichrist king who will exalt and magnify himself. As the number seven represents heavenly perfection and completeness, the number six represents sinful man who is imperfect and incomplete. The number 666 may remind us that man falls short three ways—in body, soul, and spirit—of God’s glorious nature. Antichrist exemplifies this complete “triple six” sinfulness of mankind. He is totally corrupt and debased, carnally minded, blasphemous, and lives in spiritual darkness. He is the bond servant of Satan, numbered 666.

Revelation 19:19-21 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

After 3 ½ years, the Antichrist and his armies will be defeated and the Temple will be cleansed and rededicated to the worship of the God of Israel just like in the times of the Macabees. Jesus Christ will sit on his throne in Jerusalem and rule over the nations.

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-12

Is He the Lord of your life?

THE POWERFUL PRAYER OF JABEZ

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Scripture Studies

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1 chronicles, 1chronicles 4:9-10, blesssing of jabez, faith, israel, jabex, meaning of jabez, middle-east, name of jabexz, politics, power in jabz, prayer of jabex, prayer of jabez, religion, theology

THE POWERFUL PRAYER OF JABEZ

1Chronicles 4:9-10 reads:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from evil so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

The data of Israel’s history was organized and recorded by the Chronicler to address the exiles who had returned from Babylon. The first nine chapters of First Chronicles are devoted to the genealogies which span from the time of Adam to the generation that returned to rebuild Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity.

These two verses concerning Jabez stand out in stark contrast to the mere recording of name upon name which characterizes most lineages. Although it is evident that Jabez descended from the tribe of Judah, unlike the others whose names are recorded, there is no clear reference to Jabez’ clan or family. Obviously, this account of Jabez was not included to focus upon his lineage, but to emphasize the impact that his prayer had upon his life.

Keil, in his commentary, supposes that these verses are a record of a vow made by Jabez. Keil goes on to suggest that the vow was so significant and its fulfillment so apparent that it has been handed down.

More importantly, we must remember that the information recorded in the Books of the Chronicles are not only historic fact, but are the inspired Word of God. The account of Jabez has been preserved by God to teach us spiritual lessons and to help us draw nearer to Him.

His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

Jabez’s mother named her son a name which sounds like the Hebrew word for pain or suffering. It also can be translated as sorrow maker. Biblical names are very significant. Some names have been prophetic, such as the name Jesus which means Savior. More often they expressed some outstanding personal characteristic. Abram, which means exalted father, had his name changed by God to Abraham, which means the father of many. Abraham’s grandson was named Jacob which means he grasps the heel or figuratively means the usurper or deceiver. After Jacob spends twenty years being deceived by his uncle Laban, he returns home. On his journey home, he spends a night wrestling with the Angel of the LORD.  Jacob is renamed Israel which means he strives with God or having power with God.

It can be assumed that Jabez, who was named the sorrow maker, harmed others, and in turn, his life was filled with pain.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel …

Jabez descended from Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel who had seen the misery of His people during their Egyptian bondage. The LORD God heard as Israel cried out because of their harsh taskmasters.

“Oh, that you would bless me indeed …

As a Jew, Jabez was circumcized as a sign that he was a partaker of the Abrahamic covenant. Jabez knew that God’s gracious covenant with Abram was full of blessings. Because Abram was obedient and left his country, his people and his father’s house in order to follow God, the LORD promised the following to him:

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Gen 12:2-3

Jabez understood that God is a God of love and grace who desires to bless His people.

… and enlarge my territory!

Jabez knew that when the Israelites were finished with their wilderness experience and entered into the promised land that the LORD said to Joshua:

“I will give you every place where you set foot, as I promised Moses.”  Joshua 1:3

The God of Israel also promised that if Joshua obeyed the Law handed down through Moses, that Joshua would be successful wherever he would go. Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous in battle because the LORD’S hand would be with him. So Jabez prayed:

Let your hand be with me …

Jabez desired to be blessed and his territory enlarged. Jabez realized that in order for his sphere of influence, his personal wealth, and his impact for God’s kingdom to increase, it would take the grace of God, the power of God and the presence of God’s Spirit – the hand of God –  to accomplish it.

… and keep me from evil so that I will be free from pain.”

Jabez cried out to God “keep me from evil.”  Just as the children of Israel fervently cried out to God to be delivered from their physical bondage and physical pain, Jabez fervently cried out to be delivered from his spiritual bondage and emotional pain. He was named the “Sorrow Maker.” Jabez caused others to suffer pain. Jabez wanted to be kept from evil so that he could be free from pain. Doing what is evil is sin. All wrong doing is sin. Sin not only breaks our relationship with God, but also harms others as well as ourselves.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.

Why is a man named pain who had to cry out to God, “keep me from evil…” called more honorable than his brothers?  Because Jabez wanted to turn from his painful ways and knew from whom to seek help.

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Ps 121:1-2

The LORD is translated from the Hebrew Yahweh – the covenant name of the God of Israel. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel for deliverance and blessing. Jabez was not more righteous than his brothers because of his noble character or actions, but because he humbled himself, repented of his sins, and trusted in the grace of God for forgiveness and blessing.

His mother named him Jabez …

Jabez came from a disfunctional family. He was cursed from birth by his own mother who labeled her newborn as a pain maker. He may have been ridiculed by other children and even by his own brothers. Jabez may have even tried to live up to his name. But we have no record of the names of the brothers of Jabez. Although he was named “Sorrow Maker,” the Scripture refers to him as an honorable man.

And God granted his request.

Jabez was blessed indeed. Jabez’s wealth, influence and impact for God’s kingdom remarkably increased. God presence and power was with him. Jabez was kept from evil and free from pain.

Have you come from a disfunctional family?

Are you burdened with the guilt of pain that your misdeeds have wrought?

Do you want to experience true forgiveness?

If you desire the power and presence of God in your life, then be encouraged by the following passage from Romans 10 verses 9-10:

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this simple prayer of faith and accept God’s gracious gift of salvation:

“Lord Jesus Christ,

I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to earn my way to heaven. Although I deserve God’s wrath, by God’s mercy, I accept your free gift of eternal life by faith. I believe that You were born of a virgin and died on the cross to pay the price of my sins. I believe you were buried, rose again on the third day, have ascended into heaven, and will soon come again.

Lord, please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and take control of my life.” AMEN

If you have just prayed this prayer then go to:

Now I Know

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day of Atonement

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy, Feasts & Festivals

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atonement, beelzebub, blasphemy, Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, day of atonement, demon, demons, kingdom of god, ministry of the holy spirit, pharisees, religion, ruler of this world, spirit of god, strong man, the day of atonement, theology

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day of Atonement

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons.”And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  “If I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.   ” He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

” Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

” Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:24-32

Blasphemy of the Spirit is known as the unpardonable or unforgivable sin. It is commonly defined as denying the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit which is to convict of sin:

“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”  John 16:8-17

If a person is not convicted concerning sin, and they do not believe in the finished atoning work that Christ accomplished on the cross, that person cannot be forgiven in time or eternity.

The sin of blasphemy of the Spirit has been defined as it relates to each individual and their personal rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But blasphemy of the Spirit must also be defined in the light of the historic and cultural circumstances as it related to the nation of Israel as a corporate entity. Jesus rebuked the people of Israel of his day corporately calling them “a wicked and adulterous generation” (Mt 12:39). Except for a called out remnant which stood in opposition to the religious leaders of the day, that generation was condemned for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

“The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.

“The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.”  Matthew 12:41-42

Prior to this miracle that was attributed to demonic power by the Pharisees who had witnessed it, Jesus spoke plainly to the multitudes in Israel. The “Sermon on the Mount” was taught by Jesus so that the his disciples and the crowds would understand and put into practice moral and ethical living as opposed to traditions which focused on the “letter” and not the “spirit” of the Law. But after blaspheming the Spirit, Jesus taught by way of parables so that  “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand (Matthew 13:13b).  Jesus did not interpret his parables for the multitudes sake, but only his disciples were blessed with eyes to see and ears to hear.

At the First Advent, Jesus came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him (John 1:11). During the Church Age, there has been a remnant of Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ).

I say then, God has not  rejected His people, has He?  May it never be! For  I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God  has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord,  THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

But what is the divine response to him? ” I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Romans 11:1-5

Israel’s rejection of Jesus resulted in the message of the gospel being preached to all nations in order to make Israel jealous.

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?  May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their  fulfillment be!

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,  if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.  Romans 11:11-14

But the Word declares that there will be a future generation of Israel that will corporately and nationally receive Jesus as Messiah.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the  fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“ THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,

HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

” THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,

WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”  Romans 11:25-27

The salvation of Israel occurs after the full number of Gentiles has entered into the Kingdom of the Son. The salvation of Israel occurs after the Rapture.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  Romans 11:15

The time period when the dead are raised to life, the resurrection of the righteous which occurs before the millennial reign of Christ on earth, is closely associated with Israel’s acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. How can the Rapture occur seven years before all Israel is saved (pretribulation theory), when their acceptance will be life from the dead?  Israel must first suffer through the time of Jacob’s trouble.

Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7

All Israel will be saved, but only those who survive through the Great Tribulation. When the church is raptured at Rosh Hashanah, those who pierced Him see Christ in the air in his glorious splendor and He leaves with the resurrected saints. During the Ten Days of Awe, the LORD  pours out a spirit of grace and supplication the nation of Israel.

“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.  Zechariah 12:10

The generation of Jesus’ day committed a corporate national sin. Blasphemy of the Spirit was not unintentional sin, but a sin of wickedness and rebellion. Traditional concepts of the ministry of the Messiah included an expectation that the Messiah would uniquely perform miracles greater than any of those of the true prophets. Spit was defiling. The rabbis believed that even the spittle of the Messiah would be virtuous.

They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him.

Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;

and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  Mark 7:32-34

The rabbis also believed that there would be three miracles that only the true Messiah could perform: healing a man blind from birth – believing that either the man or his parents had sinned, healing a Jew of leprosy – for it was recorded that only the Gentile Naaman had been cleansed miraculously, and exorcising a demon from a mute – for it is necessary to know the name of the demon in order to cast it out. After miraculously healing many of leprosy including ten men at once, nine of which were Jews (Luke 17:11-17), as well as healing a man blind from birth by his spittle (John 9:1-7),

Jesus  was brought a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed this man so that the man could both talk and see.

All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David, ?”

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, that this fellow drives out demons”  Matthew 12:23-24

Beelzebub was the lord of the flies. He was the ruler of filth and bodily waste. The Pharisees attributed the glorious works of God to Beelzebub and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The people believed that Jesus might be the Son of David, the promised King Messiah. Jesus had attested to the fact that He indeed was God’s anointed by this  miraculous feat of healing a demon-possessed mute. The crowds turned to the Pharisees for an answer because the Pharisees were the religious authorities. The religious leaders of that day rejected Jesus as the Christ because of their pride and because of their compromise with the pagan Roman government.

Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  John 11:47-48

That generation was condemned because of wickedness and rebellion. There is only one day a year on the Hebrew calendar when the high priest can offer sacrifices for both the sins of the nation as well as for intentional sin. Through the year, all sin and trespass offerings are for unintentional sin – not knowing the Law, sins committed in haste and weaknesses of the flesh. Adam knew God’s prohibition concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and he choose, by an act of his free will, to disobey. He rejected God’s Word. The nation of Israel during the time of Jesus’ ministry witnessed many signs and wonders that attested to the fact that Jesus was the Christ yet they choose to reject the Living Word.

“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.

“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites – all their sins –  and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.   Leviticus 16:20-21

On the Day of Atonement, Jesus will return to the earth to redeem Israel. The sins of the nation including wickedness and rebellion will be taken away. On that day, ungodliness will be removed from Jacob. It will be the year of Jubilee!

The Covenant of Circumcision between El Shaddai and Abraham

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Genesis

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The Covenant of Circumcision between El Shaddai and Abraham

In Genesis 17:1 the Bible first records God revealing Himself as El Shaddai to Abraham.

Almighty God who is “More Than Enough” confirmed His covenant.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Genesis 17:1-2

The Septuagint and other early translations usually translate “El Shaddai”as “God Almighty.” Shaddai is connected to shadayim, the Hebrew word for “breasts.” El points to the power of God Himself. Shaddai signifies the One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies. In several instances in the Torah the name El Shaddai is connected with fruitfulness. El Shaddai is a name that means God is “The All-Sufficient One” and that God is “More Than Enough.” Our God is capable of meeting all our needs.

So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Genesis 15:9-10

The LORD had already cut a blood covenant with Abram promising that Abram would have a son coming from his own body and numerous descendents. But Sarai, who was barren, had grown impatient and gave her handmaid Hagar to her husband in an attempt to build a family through her servant. In confirming His covenant, God continues in the progressive revelation of His divine character and power as well as clarifies the terms of the agreement.

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” Genesis 17:3-6

Abram prostrated himself before the LORD. This act is one of humility and reverence. The worshipper drops to his knees, falls forward onto his elbows, and bends his face forward until his forehead touches the ground.

Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:9-10

John the Revelator after he fell at the feet of an angel was commanded not to worship anyone but God.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:4-6

A slave can bow before his master, and a commoner can bow before his king. These are forms of respect and honor given by a person of lower estate to a person of higher authority. But bowing before a carved or graven image – a statue carved from wood or chiseled from stone – breaks the 2nd commandment. The act of bending your knees before a statute in reverence is idolatry and provokes God to jealousy.

God changed Abram’s name which means, “Exalted Father,” and gave him the name, Abraham which means “Father of Many.” He would be the patriarch of numerous natural children through both Ishmael (the Arabic tribes), as well as through Isaac (the tribes of Israel).

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7-8

The Hebrew word – ~’lw{[ (owlam) which is translated as, “everlasting” means that the covenant between the LORD and Abraham’s descendants is forever and always. This covenant’s existence is continuous and perpetual, having an unending future because it is eternal. The land of the promise – the whole land of Canaan – is to be an everlasting possession as well.

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” Genesis 17:9-14

The “brit milah” or “bris miloh” (covenant of circumcision) is performed on the eighth day. It is a blood covenant and the Hebrew word “brit” literally means “to cut.” A variety of modern-day studies suggest that circumcision is linked with decreased risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

But why did the LORD command that circumcision be performed on the eighth day? Vitamin K is responsible for the production (by the liver) of the element known as prothrombin. If vitamin K is deficient, there will be a prothrombin deficiency and hemorrhaging may occur. Oddly, it is only on the fifth through the seventh days of the newborn male’s life that vitamin K (produced by bacteria in the intestinal tract) is present in adequate quantities. Vitamin K, coupled with prothrombin, causes blood coagulation. On the eighth day, the amount of prothrombin present actually is elevated above one-hundred percent of normal—and is the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case under normal conditions. If surgery is to be performed, day eight is the perfect day to do it. Vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. Romans 4:11-12

Abraham is not only the father of many natural children, but also the father of many spiritual children who by faith have undergone the circumcision of their hearts.

God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Genesis 17:15-16

Sarai is the fourth woman mentioned by name in the Bible, and the first woman named who is in the line of Seth. The name Sarah comes from the Hebrew verb sarar meaning – to rule, reign, to be princely or govern. The feminine derivation, sara is identical to the name Sarah, and is used for royal ladies of the court. “Sarai” means “my princess”, but “Sarah” means simply “Princess”, indicating that she will be exalted, not only by her husband but by all nations.

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Genesis 17:17-18

Abraham’s laughter was a reaction of his delight. Abraham believed that he and his wife Sarah would be blessed with a son in spite of their advanced ages. The covenant was to be established and passed on to the next generation through this miraculous conception. Abraham may have come to the realization that Ishmael was not the son of the promise. Concerned that Ishmael might be forsaken, Abraham petitions God seeking a blessing for Ishmael.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:10-12

Abraham believed that God was able and faithful to fulfill His promise. Abraham did not focus on his impossible circumstances but upon a God through whom all things are possible. Therefore Abraham was to be blessed with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (the spiritual seed of Abraham) and as countless as the sand on the seashore (the natural descendants of Abraham).

Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Genesis 17:19

God told Abraham to give the son that Sarah will bear the name, “Isaac.” The name Isaac which originates from the Hebrew word, “Yitschaq” means, “He laughs.” The son that Abraham and Sarah will conceive was to be named Isaac. This name was chosen because Abraham laughed with joy that a son would be born to him when was hundred years old and his wife was ninety. To dispel any doubt in Abraham’s mind that the son of the promise will be Isaac and not Ishmael, God reiterates His statement to Abraham that Sarah will bear him a son. God confirms that it will be through Isaac and his descendants that the covenant will be established and not through Ishmael.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. Genesis 17:20

God response to the plea of Abraham on behalf of Ishmael is, “I have heard you.” The name Ishmael means, “God hears.” The opening phrase of Genesis 17:20 can be literally translated, “And as for God hears, I have heard you.”

Ishmael is given a physical blessing. He is promised to become the father of 12 tribes and the patriarch of a great nation. But Ishmael does not partake of the Abrahamic covenant which includes the “Promised Land,” nor is he in the line of the promised Messiah.

“But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. Genesis 17:21-22

In repeating His statement, the LORD emphasizes the fact that the covenant will be established with Isaac. The LORD clearly states that as for Ishmael, he will be fruitful – BUT my covenant I will establish with Isaac.

So why then is there any doubt that the Jews and not the Arabs have the right to the land of Israel? Why does the Quartet – The European Union, The United Nations, Russia and the United States insist that the Jews must give up so-called occupied territories for the promise of peace with their enemies who have vowed their annihilation?

The Koran (Qur’an) states:

“The Prophet Ishmael (Isma’il) “was a Messenger and a Prophet;” he was the son of Abraham and Hagar, Abraham’s second wife. When Abraham was young he received a “dream” from God in which he was “slaughtering” Ishmael. Although this was extremely difficult for Abraham to do, he proceeded anyway into the desert to sacrifice Ishmael. When Abraham told his son what God planned, Ishmael offered himself willingly saying, “Father, do what thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if Allah please, steadfast.” But God made Abraham’s knife dull like wax and Abraham was unable to shed Ishmael’s blood. God saw both Abraham’s tears and his devotion and, therefore, God caused a ram to appear for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Ishmael.”

This claim in the Koran that it was Ishmael that was to be sacrificed is totally contradictory to the account in Genesis 22 where Isaac pre-figures Messiah and was bound on an altar. According to the account in Hebrews 11:19: “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” Note that the New Testament is in agreement with the account in Genesis that it was Isaac and not Ishmael offered up by Abraham.

The Koran was written in the late 7th century, while most of the Torah was written 3,000 years ago. The Books of Moses pre-date the Koran by 17 centuries. Muslims claim that the Bible has been corrupted. But the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were written 900 years before the Koran, confirms that the Hebrew Scriptures have remained virtually intact.

The Koran also claims that:

“When Ishmael grew older God called on Abraham and his son to go to Mecca and rebuild the mosque (Ka’ba) there. The original shrine, built by Adam, was displaced during the flood. Upon its completion, Ishmael “settled in [the] barren valley near Thy Sacred House” of Mecca with his mother; there he married. Ishmael’s progeny became known as the Quraysh, the direct ancestors of Muhammad. Ishmael was the first Prophet to write and preach of the one true God – to “perform Prayer with due observance”– in Arabic; he is the “father of all the Arabs.”

Muhammad is the father of all Arabs. The Muslims deny the divine right of the covenant people of God – the children of Israel – to live in the Promised Land, because they replaced the true son of the promise – Isaac – with Ishmael.

Today’s world leaders, spiritually blind and desiring Arab oil, are more than willing to appease the Muslim world by demonizing Jews as occupiers and oppressors rather than the rightful heirs to the land of Israel. The Quartet is pressuring Israel to, “Give up land for peace.” After Israel gave the Gaza Strip over to the Palestinians, instead of peace, Israel received periodic rocket attacks. Land for peace also means that the Golan Heights will go back to Syria. The hostility, the ongoing bombardments, the shooting and the terror the entire Jordan Valley lived under for 19 years will start all over again. In return for piece of paper that has no meaning to the Arabs (they have not honored on one clause of the Oslo Accords and the Road Map to Peace), the nation of Israel is to go back to the pre-1967 borders. The true purpose of a “land for peace” agreement is to render the land of Israel as virtually indefensible.

On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that same day. And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him. Genesis 17:23-27

Jews are circumcised on the eighth day according to the Abrahamic Covenant. Isaac was circumcised on the 8th day. This commandment is reiterated in Leviticus 12:1-3:

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.

Of all of the Torah’s 613 commandments, the “brit milah” (the Covenant of Circumcision) is probably the one most universally observed. Even the most secular of Jews, who observe no other part of Torah, are almost always circumcised. The commandment is binding upon both the father of the child and the child himself. Jews are circumcised on the 8th day as a sign of the covenant between the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants.

On the other hand, Ishmael was circumcised when he was thirteen.

According to the Qur’an, there is not an obligation on parents to circumcise their children. Unlike the Jewish tradition, in Islam circumcision is not a symbol of Allah’s covenant with humans. But the prophet Mohammed is reported to have stated that “Circumcision is a sunnah (customary or traditional) for the men.”

Islamic sources do not fix a particular time for circumcision. It depends on family, region and country. A majority of Ulema (Muslim legal scholars) however take the view that parents should get their child circumcised before the age of ten. The preferred age is usually seven although some Muslims are circumcised as early as on the seventh day after birth and as late as at the commencement of puberty.

By their own admission and according to the Qur’an, circumcision is not a symbol of a covenant for Muslims. They are not in covenant relationship with the Almighty – the Creator of heaven and earth. The descendants of Ishmael covet was rightfully belongs to the descendants of Isaac and are willing to rob, kill and destroy to get it. But one day, the prophetic name Isaac – He laughs – will find its ultimate fulfillment as recorded in Psalm 2 and verses 1-6:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael

Sarai bore Abram no children, so she gave Hagar to him. When Hagar was pregnant, she despised her mistress & was mistreated. Hagar fled to the desert.

Genesis Chapter 16

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Genesis 16:1-2a

Children are a blessing from God. It is apparent that Sarai is displeased with the LORD because He has caused her to be barren. She tells her husband Abram that he should sleep with her handmaid Hagar. Probably Hagar was one of the servants that they had acquired when they went down to Egypt during the time of the famine in Canaan. The child of a female slave would then become the property of the slave’s mistress. Sarai reasoned that she could build a family though her maidservant.

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Genesis 16:2b-4a

Abram had left the Ur of the Chaldeans when he was 75 years old. His wife Sarai was ten years his junior. The trip along with the stop at Haran to replenish the livestock was approximately a year long. After living in Canaan ten years Sarai was about 76 years old. Both Abram and his wife probably believed that Sarai was beyond child bearing age.

Abram had already demonstrated that he was a great man of faith. The account of Genesis chapter 12 informs us that Abram did not question the LORD when asked to leave his home and country. Abram faithfully obeyed and embarked on a 1,000 mile journey to an unknown land. In Genesis chapter 15, the LORD reassured Abram that he would indeed have a son coming from his own body and that Abram’s offspring would be as innumerable as the stars in the sky. Abram had believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Yet when Sarai desired to give her handmaiden to him, he did not inquire of the LORD but slept with Hagar to please his wife. The phrase “to be his wife” is merely a euphemism for sexual intercourse. Abram did not take Hagar as his wife but Sarai gave her maidservant to him for the purpose of bearing a child for her.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” Genesis 16:4b-5

Hagar, who was Sarai’s handmaiden, treated her mistress as her inferior and with contempt by reproaching her for her barrenness, as Peninnah did Hannah before the birth of Samuel. Hagar’s actions were not only prideful but ungrateful, since it was because of her mistress that Hagar was given to Abram so that she may conceive. Although the plan to build Sarai’s family though Hagar was her own idea, Sarai shifts the blame to her husband for the mistreatment that she is suffering. Perhaps Sarai thought that it was Abram’s duty to make sure Hagar knew her rightful place in the household. In any case, Sarai believed that her cause is so just that she declared, “May the LORD judge between you and me.”

“Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. Genesis 16:6

Abram did not attempt to mediate between Sarai and Hagar as if they held equal positions in his household; instead he told his wife Sarai to do whatever she thought was best in dealing with her contemptuous slave. Sarai mistreated Hagar. In the original language of Hebrew the intent is that Sarai afflicted Hagar to humble her. Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar fled from her mistress.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Genesis 16:7-8

It is important to note that the text does not say that an angel found Hagar but records that “The angel of the LORD” found Hagar near a desert spring. The account in Genesis 16:7 is the first time that the Bible records the appearance of “The angel of the LORD.” There is a phenomenon in the Bible which theologians refer to as “The Law of First Mention.” The very first time any significant word or symbol is mentioned in the Bible, Scripture gives that word its most complete and accurate meaning. This not only serves as a “key” in understanding the word’s Biblical concept, but to also provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible. The encounter between Hagar and the angel of the LORD will enable us to identify this unique being.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16:9-10

After Hagar answered the angel of the LORD’s questions, he commanded Hagar to go back to her mistress Sarai and submit to her. Then the angel of the LORD said that he would increase Hagar’s descendants. No created being could fulfill that promise. It is also interesting that the language used and the promise made is strikingly similar to the promise of numerous descendants made by the LORD to Abram earlier.

The definition of the “Angel of the LORD” by Louis Goldberg is cited in Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:

“(Hebrew – mal’ak yehwah). Supernatural being who bears a message on behalf of God. In many passages in the Old Testament, the angel of the Lord is identified with God, while in other instances a distinction is made between the Lord and the angel. In general, however, the terms “the angel of the LORD, “ “the LORD,” and “God” are interchangeable.The angel of the Lord is the messenger of both good and evil. He comes to Hagar after she has fled from the abusive Sarai (Genesis 16:7-14) to assure her that God has heard about her misery and that her descendants will be too numerous to count. She names him “You are the God who sees me” (verse 13).”

In chapter 18 of the book of 2 Kings is the record the of Sennacherib king of Assyria whose army attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. In response, Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

Although Hezekiah had paid tribute to Sennacherib, the king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. In 2 Kings 18:31-35, the field commander spoke to Hezekiah’s officials and said:

“Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

The supreme commander of the Assyrian army purposed to dishearten Hezekiah’s officials. The commander intended to make them fearful, so that they would abandon their king and surrender their fortified city.

In the first verse of chapter 19 of 2 Kings we read: When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord.

We also read in verses 14-19:

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

“It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

Then Isaiah the prophet sent an encouraging message to Hezekiah saying that the LORD, the God of Israel had heard his prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. Isaiah also prophesied that the LORD would defend Jerusalem and save it, for His sake and for the sake of David His servant.

That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. 2 Kings 19:35-36

Although Yahweh declared that He would defend the city, the angel of the LORD executed judgment on behalf of the LORD. He put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp, thereby saving Jerusalem from decimation.

Continuing with Louis Goldberg’s entry on the “Angel of the LORD”:

“The angel of the LORD both commissions and commends God’s servants. The commander of the LORD’s army commissions Joshua to undertake the LORD’s battles for Canaan, just as Moses had been commissioned to confront Pharaoh (Joshua 5:13-15; cf. Exodus 3:5). The angel of the LORD appears to Abraham. He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and commends him because he has not withheld his only son from God (Genesis 22:11-18). Abraham identifies the angel as God, calling the place The LORD Will Provide.

The angel of the LORD carries out a ministry of reconciliation. He asks how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah (Zechariah 1:12). The connection between the angel of the LORD and the preincarnate appearance of the Messiah cannot be denied. Manoah meets the angel of the LORD, and declares that he has seen God. The angel accepts worship from Manoah and his wife as no mere angel, and refers to himself as “Wonderful, “ the same term applied to the coming deliverer in Isaiah 9:6 (Judges 13:9-22). The functions of the angel of the LORD in the Old Testament prefigure the reconciling ministry of Jesus. In the New Testament, there is no mention of the angel of the LORD; the Messiah himself is this person.”

The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Genesis 16:11-12

Ishmael means God will hear. The son Abram’s concubine will bear will be named Ishmael for the LORD heard Hagar’s misery. The 12 sons of Ishmael, and his Egyptian wife, became princes and progenitors of as many tribes. The region occupied by these Ishmaelites included most of central and northern Arabia.

The wild donkey lived a solitary existence in the desert away from society. Ishmael’s descendents would be free-roaming or nomadic. Bedouins are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arabian ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes, or clans. The Arabic term badawi derives from the word badiyah which means semiarid desert. The term “Bedouin” therefore means, “Those in badiyah” or “Those in the desert.”

All Arabs, following Mohammed’s example, claim descent from Ishmael. … his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him. In an effort by the Muslims to destabilize and take control of more and more territory, everywhere in the civilized world there are Islamic insurgencies and senseless acts of terror. There is no where on earth where Islam has ever brought peace, unless you define peace as the slaughter of all dissenters. Islam cannot bring peace because the god of Islam is Satan himself disguised as the moon god, Allah.

… and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers. When the Ummah (the worldwide Muslim community) is not busy slaughtering infidels, it reverts to slaughtering itself. The prophesied hostilities of brother against brother are evidenced by conflicts between different sects of Muslims such as Sunni against Shia, and Sunni and Shia against Sufi.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13-14

The angel of the LORD had spoken to Hagar, yet Hagar gave this name to Yahweh who spoke to her, El Roi “You are the God that sees me.” Again the angel of the LORD speaks but is identified as God himself. Hagar’s son will be named “Ishmael” which means “God will hear.” Hagar testifies that not only will God hear our cries and petitions, but He is a God that sees our difficult and troubling circumstances. Hagar had fled to a spring in the desert. After she encountered the angel of the LORD, she and named that well, “Beer Lahai Roi” which means “Well of the Living One who sees me.”

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. Genesis 16:15-16

Hagar returned at the command of the angel of the LORD, believing the promise that God had made to her. Abram named his son Ishmael according to the command given to Hagar. Since it was the LORD who chose the name, Abram may have believed that Ishmael was the fulfillment of the promise of an heir from his own loins. It would be 13 more years until it would be revealed to Abram that he would father the son of the promise through his wife and not her hand maiden.

The Tower of Babel & the Ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion

17 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Genesis

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The Tower of Babel & the Ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion

Genesis 11:1–9 speaks of the purpose of building the Tower of Babel, man’s rebellion against the LORD God and the Ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion.

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:1-4

When the flood waters had receded and the water had dried up from the earth, Noah and his family emerged from the ark along with all of the animals. Noah, a man of righteousness, in obedience had built the ark. When he emerged from the ark, using stones, the first thing Noah built was an altar to the LORD. Noah took some of all the clean animals and clean birds and sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD was pleased by the aroma of the sacrifice and promised to never again destroy all living creatures (Genesis 8:20-21).

If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. Exodus 20:25

The altar of sacrifice was not to be made from hewn or polished stones. The altar was not to be ornate and comprised of dressed stones or made from bricks but made from what God provided naturally. Otherwise, men might attribute the atonement provided on God’s altar to the work of their own hands. Bricks are uniform and indistinguishable from one another. Whereas, stones are unique in shape, size and color. Bricks need mortar to hold them together. Stones can be fitted together without mortar. Jerusalem’s first and second temple both were built from large stones fitted together without mortar.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

As stones of various size and shapes were fitted together to build the temple in Jerusalem, individual believers in Messiah Jesus with their unique looks, personalities and gifts are being built into a spiritual house. We are fitted together without mortar so that we must not only lean upon one another but hold up each other as well.

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

The followers of Nimrod, whose name means the “Rebel,” or literally, “Let us Rebel,” made bricks in order to build a fortified city and a tower to reach to the heavens.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:27-28

As recorded in Genesis chapter one, are the first words God spoke to Adam and Eve. After God blessed them, they were commanded not only to be fruitful but to fill the earth with their offspring. In disobedience to God’s command give to Adam and Eve, and later reiterated to Noah and his sons to multiply in number and fill the earth, rebellious men desired to build a city. Their wicked intention was to purposefully disobey God by clustering together in a city and therefore avoid being scattered over the face of the earth. In their pride they declared that they would make a name for themselves by building a tower that reached to the heavens. The Tower of Babel was thought to have been a ziggurat. A ziggurat is a temple used by the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians. The word ziggurat comes from an Akkadian word meaning “to build on a raised area or platform.” These ancient Mesopotamian temple towers consisted of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top.

Around 2100 B.C. king Ur-Nammu built a ziggurat in honor of the god Sin the in the city of Ur. The god Sin is the Akkadian name for the moon god. This temple tower was called Etemennigur which means “House Whose Foundation Creates Terror.” Ur is located in southern Iraq. Today, those radicals who worship Allah (the moon god) are often labeled as “terrorists.”

The intension concerning the proposed height of the tower of Babel was not to literally reach up to the heavens, but that it should be raised exceedingly high. Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. Like the cities in Canaan, said to be walled up to heaven according to Deuteronomy 1:28, the tower was to be the tallest manmade structure of its day. The purpose of building this tower was to erect a temple to the host of heaven for the worship of the sun, moon and the planets.

And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars – all the heavenly array – do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Deuteronomy 14:19

The worship of the sun, moon, stars and planets is perhaps the oldest form of idolatry practiced by ancient peoples. Moses sternly warned the Israelites against worshiping the host of heaven as was the religious practice of the surrounding pagan nations.

Titus Flavius Josephus, also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu, was a Jewish historian in the first-century A.D. He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and recorded the events. His two major works are The Jewish War and The Antiquities of the Jews. The first tells the story of the Jewish revolt against the Romans from A.D. 66 to 70. The second is a history of the world from a Jewish perspective.

In The Antiquities, Josephus mentions that the first human government was built by Nimrod, the mighty hunter. Josephus wrote:

“Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to reach. And that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers.

Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod, and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree negligent about the work: and, by reason of the multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than anyone could expect; but the thickness of it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen, that it might not be liable to admit water…”

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3

In their own strength and foolish stubbornness of heart, Nimrod’s followers were defying the LORD God by building a high waterproof tower. Instead of learning a lesson from the Flood by fearing the LORD and turning from evil, they trusted in the arm of flesh. The purpose of the tower was the worship of the heavenly hosts which is known as “The Babylonian Mystery Religion.”

When Nimrod died, the Babylonian mystery religion in which he figured prominently continued on. His wife Queen Semiramis saw to that. Once he was dead, she deified him as the Sun-god. Later, when this adulterous and idolatrous woman gave birth to an illegitimate son, she claimed that this son was Nimrod reborn. Semiramis named her son Damu (from the Sumerian “dam,” or blood), which in the later Babylonian language became Dammuzi, in Hebrew Tammuz, and in Greek Adonis.

Semiramis claimed that her son, Tammuz was supernaturally conceived. She declared that she had been visited by the spirit of Nimrod, who left her pregnant with the boy and that he was the promised seed, the “savior” that was promised by God in Genesis 3:15. However, not only was the child worshipped, but his mother was also worshipped as much (or more) than the son. Nimrod was deified as the god of the sun and father of creation, while Semiramis became the goddess of the moon and fertility.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.” And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel 8:12-14

In the old fables of the Mystery cults, their savior Tammuz, was worshipped with various rites at the Spring season. According to the legends, after he was killed by a wild boar, he went into the underworld. But through the weeping of his mother, he mystically revived in the springing forth of the vegetation. Each year a spring festival dramatically represented his supposed “resurrection” from the underworld.

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” Genesis 11:5-7

The LORD God is omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (all present). He did not have to come down to gain information that He did not know. Yahweh came down to reveal His presence and power to mankind. The phrase, “let us go down” is another biblical proof of the triune nature of the Godhead.

So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:8-9

Josephus continues in his commentary:

“When God saw that they acted so madly, he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former sinners; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them diverse languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages, they should not be able to understand one another. The place wherein they built the tower is now called Babylon, because of the confusion of that language which they readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word Babel, confusion…”

As men were scattered over the face of the earth speaking different languages, they continued in their worship of the sun, moon and other heavenly bodies. Therefore, the same mythical gods and goddesses they worshipped were called by different names based upon the language that was spoken. In various cultures Nimrod later became known as Baal, the Great Life Giver, the god of fire, Baalim, Bel, Molech, etc. Baal (sun worship) was the chief male deity of the Canaanites, Zeus the chief deity of the Greeks and Jupiter the chief deity of the Romans.

Semiramis became known as the “Queen of Heaven,” and was the prototype from which all other pagan goddesses came. Semiramis is the name of the moon goddess for the Assyrians. Ashtorah is a moon goddess for the Canaanites. Isis is the Egyptian name. Ishtar is the Babylonian name. Artemis was worshipped by the Greeks and known as Diana by the Romans.

Today the ancient Mystery Babylonian religion not only infiltrates into the Eastern mystic religions, but was practiced by apostate Israel and is a major influence in Islam which is the worship of the moon god Allah and in Roman Catholicism which has many elements that symbolize the sun god. The Holy Roman Emperor Constantine rejected the seventh day Sabbath for the venerable day of the sun. The Roman calendar which names its days and many of its months after pagan gods is a solar calendar.

Semiramis and her son were worshipped as “Madonna and child.” As the generations passed, they were worshipped under other names in different countries and languages. Many of these are recognizable: Fortuna and Jupiter in Rome; Aphrodite and Adonis in Greece; and Ashtoreth/Astarte and Molech/Baal in Canaan.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5

In his article, “Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces” by Father William G. Most, Father Most declares:

Closely related to the Catholic teaching on Mary’s cooperation in the redemption is the teaching that, with through and under her Son, she is Mediatrix of all graces. Since Mary was associated with her Son in acquiring grace for us, she will also share with him in distributing that grace to us. This fits well with the words of the Popes, who call her the administra of grace, meaning that she administers or dispenses it. So Pope Leo XIII, Iucunda semper, said:

“… when He [the Father] has been invoked with excellent prayers, our humble voice turns to Mary; in accordance with no other law than that law of conciliation and petition which was expressed as follows by St. Bernardine of Siena : ‘Every grace that is communicated to this world has a threefold course. For by excellent order, it is dispensed from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, from the Virgin to us.’”

In Catholicism, Mary, the Mother of Jesus is known by many titles, including the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, Theotokos (Mother of God) and Our Lady (Notre-Dame in French; Madonna in Italian).

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke 1:41-43

After the middle of the fourth century the Roman Catholic Church transformed the “mother of the Lord” into the mother of God, the “humble handmaid of the Lord” into the queen of heaven, the “highly favored” into a dispenser of favors, the “blessed among women” into an intercessor above all women, the redeemed daughter of fallen Adam into a “sinless holy co-redeemer.”

There are shrines, feast days, miraculous medals, churches and societies dedicated to Mary, the perpetual virgin. Ten “Hail Marys” are said for every “Our Father” when praying the rosary.

The Catholic doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception” is the belief that Mary was “sinless” from the moment of her conception. If Mary was without sin, then she would not die. Therefore, the doctrine of the “Assumption of Mary” would necessarily follow. Catholic tradition teaches that Mary left this world without dying for God can do what He wills. Then she was simply transferred to eternal glory. Although neither of these two doctrines have any basis in Scripture, they became the foundation which led to the acceptance of Marian Apparitions.

There are claims that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to several visionaries over many years all over the world. These visible sightings are known as Marian Apparitions. Today Catholic pilgrims travel to these places to be strengthened, blessed and healed. Countless pilgrims have journeyed to sites where the Virgin Mary appeared and have been blessed with an abundance of graces in the form of healings, visible miracles and conversions of the heart. At some of the sites there are still regular appearances of Mary.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9

Elevating the handmaid of the Lord to the title and position of the Mother of God who is the Mediatrix of all Graces is deceiving multiple millions into the worship of Madonna and child. The Marian Apparitions are demonic deceptions.

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:5

“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.” Revelation 17:9

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 1 Peter 5:13

She refers to your sister church. The great city in Mesopotamia was in ruins and ancient Babylon was mostly a desert in the first century. It is generally agreed that “Babylon” in 1 Peter 5:13 is a cipher for the city of Rome. There was a reason for connecting the Babylonian and Roman empires, because the Roman legions like those of Babylon at an earlier time destroyed the temple and Jerusalem.

The topography or terrain that marks the geographical location of the center of the false religion is noted for its seven hills. The Whore of Babylon is a religious system that is characterized as prostituting itself. Spiritual fornication is idol worship. The Empire of the Caesars had its capital in Rome which was built on seven hills and was well-known for its many statues of its Roman gods and goddesses including the Caesars. Julius Caesar as Rome’s Pontifex Maximus held supreme religious authority in Rome. He was not only the ruler of the state but the high priest of the pagan Roman religion.

The term “Pontifex Maximus” is applied to the high priest of the Roman Catholic Church today. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition: ‘For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise.” Not only does the Pope continue under the titles of the Caesars of Rome but claims to be the Vicar of Christ on earth. The Pope claims to be authorized to act as the substitute or agent of Christ on earth.

Jesus himself promised us that He would send the Holy Spirit to act on his behalf and not a fallible man. As Christ Jesus had been the Master, Counselor and Guide to believers, He promised to send the Holy Spirit as His substitute so that He might abide with them forever (John 14:16).

The ancient Babylonian Religion that began at the Tower of Babel will be a vehicle for the Antichrist in these last days. The Ecumenical Movement will fulfill the motto that was adopted at the Ecumenical Assembly held in Amsterdam in 1948 – “ONE WORLD — ONE CHURCH,” when the apostate Protestant churches of the world merge with the Roman Catholic Church.

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