The Gun and Jesus-Christ

Reblogged from www.omegashock.com

As I read the stories of broken lives and stolen futures, my blood just boils. I want the kleptocrats in Washington, D.C. and the banksters in New York to pay. I want the pornographers and the pedophiles to pay. I want the corrupt judges and the corrupt lawyers to pay. I want the psychopaths running our intelligence services and corporations to pay. I want them all to pay.
I am white-hot at the evil that is happening, and the desire for vengeance boils in my blood. And, I would be seeking a way to be out there exacting that vengeance, …except for one thing.
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Pope Meets With Head of International Islamic Organization

Reblogged from http://christiannews.net/2013/12/16/pope-meets-with-head-of-international-islamic-organization/
 
December 16, 2013 | Filed under: Apostasy,Top Stories,World | By: Heather Clark

 

ROME – The pope met with the head of an international Islamic organization on Friday, a meeting that was characterized as the first-ever for the group.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), sat down with Pope Francis at the Vatican in an effort to create dialogue between the Muslim and Roman Catholic worlds. A news release from OIC outlined that the presence of Muslims has increased in “historically Christian countries.”

“In this context, the discussions expressed the need for greater efforts to foster respect for religious pluralism and cultural diversity, and to counter the spread of bigotry and prejudices,” the group explained. “It was stressed that interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and as such it is a duty for adherents of all faith traditions.”

OIC also advised that Ihsanoglu discussed with the Pope “his vision regarding the need for a ‘historic reconciliation’ between Islam and Christianity based on the common Abrahamic roots and in order to support multiculturalism and harmonious societies.”

According to Rome Reports, the two exchanged gifts following the talks, with Ihsanoglu donating a 14th century publication–presumably Islamic–to the Vatican library, and Pope Francis giving Ihsanoglu and his entourage his papal medallion. The pope then asked the men for their prayers and posed for photographs.

This is not the first time, however, that the pope has engaged in dialogue with members of the Islamic religion. As previously reported, in August of this year, Pope Francis had issued a written greeting to Muslims in recognition of the close of the Islamic holiday Ramadan.
“Turning to mutual respect in inter-religious relations, especially between Christians and Muslims, we are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values,” he wrote. “Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are attacks on one or other of these!”

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Francis also held an ecumenical meeting in March, greeting Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders, as well as those who ascribe to no faith at all. During the occasion, he praised the Muslim leaders that had come for the meeting, remarking that they were men who “adore the one, living, and merciful God and who call upon Him in prayer.”
“For my part, I wish to assure you, following in the path of my predecessors, of my firm will to continue on the path of ecumenical dialogue,” he said, referencing the Second Vatican Council. “I also ask of you the kindness of a special prayer for myself, so that I might be a pastor in harmony with Christ’s heart.”

However, Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries of Plano, Texas, told Christian News Network that it is concerning to observe the Vatican’s ecumenical talks with the followers of Islam.

“The pope’s meeting with Muslim leaders is an indication of his continuing efforts to rebuild the religious tower of Babel,” he said. “It is outrageous that he welcomed an organization that promotes Muslim solidarity and which releases an annual report showing the discrimination some societies have against Muslims.”

“He must not be aware that the Quran contains over 100 verses that call Muslims to war against nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule,” he continued. “Muslims who do not join the fight are called ‘hypocrites’ and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.”

Gendron, a former Roman Catholic, stated that he also found it disturbing that Pope Francis asked OIC for their prayers.

“The pope’s request for prayers from the Muslims is consistent his belief that they worship the same God,” he stated. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 841, reads, ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims … together with us they adore the one, merciful God.’ This is a blatant rejection of the teachings of Christ, who declared He is the only way to the Father. Those who do not believe Jesus is God will die in their sins.”

The New Age Movement -- Beginning in the garden of Eden -- Notes and Outline

Post written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

What is the New Age Movement (NAM for short)? What are its beliefs?

The NAM does not consist of a single group of people and is not identified by a single set of beliefs or source book like the Bible. Rather, it is a network of organizations that are independent and yet bound together by anti-Biblical religious beliefs. Some of these beliefs are:
    1. Monism: the belief that everything flows out from one divine energy. All is one.
    2. Pantheism: the belief that God is all and all is God, including nature and mankind.
    3. Reincarnation and Karma: explaining good and evil.
    4. Universal religion: all religions are just alternate paths to the same goal.
    5. Personal transformation: a mystic or psychic experience that will usually result in a shift from an “old world” belief system to the realization of the “New Age” belief system.
    6. Planetary vision: the belief that the earth possesses a life in and of itself. New Agers are attempting to realize the notion of a “mother earth” or “Gaia” whose children are assimilated into a religio-socio-political consciousness. They believe that a shift of political power that emphasizes the environment (pollution, acid rain, etc.) will help bring about this planetary consciousness.
    7. New Age eschatology: the belief that a coming world leader or avatar will usher in the New Age. (For a more thorough study , see Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, George A. Mather and Larry A. Nichols)

In Eccl. 1:9 Solomon stated that, “ There is nothing new under the sun.” The New Age ideas are old, but repackaged in a deceiving look of updated and more sophisticated vocabulary.
With New Age philosophy, Satan is using the same temptation that he used in the Garden of Eden: the promise of “hidden knowledge” (Gnosticism) that will make people be “like God”.

PRINCIPLE: DO NOT ENTER INTO A DIALOGUE WITH SATAN.
• What does God say? In Gen 2:16, “ The Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” It means that they were alive and immortal before eating of the fruit.

• What does Satan say? In Gen 3:1, first, Satan plants a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind by hissing sweetly, “ Did God really say, “ You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Eve should have stopped him right there, rebuked him with the Word of God like Jesus and run away like Joseph. Then, openly contradicting the word of God, he asserts in verse 4, ” You will not surely die… for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened.”
    • Were their eyes closed before? Certainly not.

Then, Satan further states in the same verse, ” You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
    • Weren’t they like God already? In which way? Gen 1:27 declares, "So God created man in his own image.”
    • Didn´t they already know good? Absolutely! They knew God as Creator, Father, Provider, Teacher, Master Gardener, to name a few of the ways God related to them. They knew Him whose “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.” James I: 16.
    • Did they know evil? No. They had not yet met the father of lies.

So, before the fall, they saw and knew only the good there was, God their father, their creator, the person whose nature and character are absolute, pure and eternal goodness and the source of all that is good according to Gen 1:31 which says that, “God saw all that he had made and it was very good.” 

 

Consequently, the only knowledge that they could gain or acquire was that of a deadly and confusing mixture of good and evil. They fell from the free state of God-consciousness to the state of enslavement that is Self-consciousness which carried to its extreme logical conclusion leads to Self-Realization, the state of having and experiencing the fullness of self in all its ugly rebellion and defiant independence from God and being like its original, perfect model and example, Satan himself.

 

“The acorn doesn´t fall far from the tree”!

It doesn´t get any clearer than this. 
Examine the following statements about the nature and practice of Kriya Yoga and see if you can find any similarity with the account of the first temptation in the garden of Eden. 

This is the primary meaning of Kriya. The involuntary movements caused by the repeated practice of this technique are just the symptoms and results of a deeper involvement with things forbidden by God.  

Kriya Technique Source https://kriya-yoga.com/kriya-technique/ "The teaching of Kriya Yoga is done gradually. It is sectioned into six stages referred to as First Kriya, Second Kriya and so on. The beginner starts with First Kriya. First Kriya is the root, the very foundation which allows for progress through the spiritual path for followers of any religion." Note: (Now, don´t miss this very crucial element of syncretism inherent in Hinduism and present in the apostate ecumenical church [my words added]) It gives access to knowledge of the body, of the Soul and the chakras. It allows for comprehension of the gross body, the astral body and the causal body. Later, after having practized regularly over a period of time and achieved the necessary demanding level of mastery, one can receive second Kriya, and thus progress towards the higher Kriya levels. Describing Kriya Yoga in words has little meaning. A person may truly understand only through practice. If you wish to know what an apple is, a simple description is not enough. Take the fruit, touch it, taste it, then you will really and immediately understand what an apple is. The same goes for Kriya Yoga. The Ultimate Goal The constant practice of iswara pranidhana (practice of breath control in every moment) gives the siddhi (perfection) of samadhi. The incoming breath is î - power, outgoing breath is ra - light, sva - yourself, is between these two. isvara gives life and will fill yourself.  Iswara pranidhana  means that by constantly observing the breath which enters and leaves the body, through practice one will come to the formless state. Then you remain in the divine light enabling yourself to achieve constant nirvana or liberation in your life time. As Jesus Christ said in the Bible: "You can’t see, feel or realize God, but you can be".   Another well researched  article about the religious nature of Yoga : click on the link below:
http://www.arcapologetics.org/articles/article14.htm

Notice that Satan says: Not if you eat, but when you eat. As if it were understood that they were going to do it, that it was only a matter of time. Satan always presents an alluring picture to us, the undeniable pleasure of sin before we discover the very high price we have to pay later for disobeying God.

     • Was the fruit really good or did it appear pleasing to Eve’s eyes? Gen 3:6.
    • How did she know that it was desirable for gaining wisdom? Satan told her.
All she knew about the fruit is what Satan told her, and what she could see with her own eyes. Satan could not give them anything that they didn’t have before the fall, except the knowledge of evil, the disease of sin, the curse of the ensuing fall of all mankind and his destructive, demonic wisdom.

He lied to them - but was it a total lie?
    • What truth was mixed with the lie?
    • Was it true that they were going to know evil? Yes.

Eccl 10:8 states: “He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks a hedge, a snake shall bite him.” (NKJV)

If we are on Satan’s territory, he defines the terms, the rules. We don’t. When he says “you will know”, he doesn’t mean “you will have information about evil, some data to store in your computer memory so that when you see evil you’ll run away from it.”.

Knowing evil on Satan’s terms involves participation, just as knowing God involves participation in His life, His works and the lives of His people.

Satan meant you will know or experience evil in your mind, soul, and body. And in that he was right and true.

    • What does God say about wisdom? Prov 2:6 declares: “It is He who gives wisdom.” Wisdom is not just having knowledge of evil, as Satan said.
Isaiah 11:2 -3 says this about the Lord Jesus: “And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear.” (NAS)

PRINCIPLE: WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURE OF AN IDEA, AN ACTIVITY, STRETCH THE POSSIBILITY OF INVOLVEMENT TO ITS CONCLUSION.
There are 2 trees in the beginning: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
    • 2 kinds of fruits. One gives life, the other death.
    • 2 kinds of choices - one right, one wrong
    • 2 persons:
        1. God, our Father who loves us, wants the best for our lives.
        2. Satan, who is a liar from the beginning, and who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. He wants to take us away from God and His blessings, he wants to take us out of commission instead of being a part of the Great Commission.

The New Age fruit that is so desirable is a change in consciousness through various methods, means, or techniques that will cause one to look at God, the universe and oneself, in a different way. ( Paradgim shift).

Look at Psalm 1., this psalm gives us the general principle of the progression in involvement with sin: walking, standing, sitting. In the case of drugs, it also includes lying down and flying out of one’s mind.

New Age techniques produce the same effect without the help of drugs and deceives people into believing that they have had a spiritual encounter with the source of life. It produces in the adept or devotee a sense of superior self-righteousness due to a false sense of their own purity as they compare themselves to the drug addict or drug user or a christian bible believer. 

However, they have fallen into the bigger trap of Satan which has them bound in their pride which is the first step to anybody’s downfall and destruction.
Look at Gal 6:7: “ Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

If you are asked to accept a new idea or participate in a questionable activity and have any doubt in your heart that it is right remember Romans 14:23 which says: “But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

As Christians, if we want to know, we can study, and apply the word of life. Deuteronomy 29:29 says: “The secret things belong to the LORD but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

In the beginning there were 2 trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. At the end in Rev 22:2: “on each side of the river stood the tree of life.” In the end there is only one tree, the tree of Life. Only one God, only truth, only the righteous.

When it comes to something seemingly new, we have to ask ourselves 2 questions:
    1. Where does this come from, what is the source of the information?(The seed, the root)
    2. Where does it lead? (the branches and the fruit)

• FIRST STEP: Be informed. Ask your parents, your youth group leader, your Pastor, an older Christian or anybody spiritually mature enough in this area who can answer your questions or direct your inquiry to someone knowledgeable. If you want information, don’t read directly from the New Age authors. There is plenty of material written on the New Age and cults by people that have been involved, have come out and given their testimonies. You can trust the word of a burnt person who tells you that fire burns.

 
Don’t assume that you are different, that you know better, that you are smarter than the next person. Here is a warning to us from Israel’s history. I Cor 10:1. “(Do not be idolaters…be careful that you don’t fall.)”

• SECOND STEP: Look at the fruit. This is the hardest test of all, because a lot of New Age people seem to be very calm, peace loving, well organized, caring individuals who use their personal resources and energy to promote what they believe are positive changes in themselves, their environment, and society. These may seem good, but they are done in ignorance and rebellion against our Creator, who has His own good plans for bringing peace and light to the world. And they don’t address the real problem with our world - sin.

Remember, these persons however well intentioned and highly motivated are deceived. They have allowed themselves to believe the lie of Satan that “wisdom” is a tool to acquire “god-power”, when such hidden wisdom is really a trap. Unfortunately, in the eyes of God they are like Eve and Adam, as responsible for their sin as is their leader or teacher.

In Matt 7:15-20, Jesus warns his disciples with these words: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.” (NKJV)

John 16:1. Right after chapter 14 and 15 about the coming of the Holy Spirit of truth, abiding in the vine, the inability to do anything without Him, the command to love each other and to bear fruit, our Lord Jesus warns: "all this I have told you so that you will not go astray".

Then, there is the temptation to “be open-minded”, rather than “intolerant” of these “alternative religions”. Aren’t we supposed to explore and discover?

 

Here is a good analogy: 
"Let’s say you live in a house and it’s summertime. You want to breathe fresh air, so you open the window. What happens? You get fresh air, but along with it, you get dust, pollen, and bugs. The proper thing to do is to put a screen on the window." (Source: heard in a talk given by Greg Laurie)

The word of God acts as a screen that rejects all the impurities, corrupt thoughts, lies, and false teaching that invade our minds, but for that screen to be effective in our lives, we have to study, understand, believe, know and practice what the Word of God says in obedience to our Lord´s command. Psalm 119:9,11: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.”

Finally, It is my prayer that, “Your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus-Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:9-11.

Related articles: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2012/12/prayer-of-contrite-repentant-backslider.html

https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-personal-experience-of-very-young.html

 

https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/03/update-to-poison-of-false-teachings.html7/03/update-to-poison-of-false-teachings.html

 

Jean-Louis

Winter 1989. Shared at The St.Giles Presbyterian Church’s Youth Group.
Revised and shared in Hendersonville, N.C. Winter 1997 for the 1st. Baptist Church Youth Group.

2006. Taught a Sunday School on the subject at Pinecrest Presbyterian Church
Revised, amplified November 2013, Indaiatuba, Brazil.

"My Hope America" with Billy Graham, and a look at Graham's teachings (Part 1)

Reblogged from the-end-time.blogspot.com 

Billy Graham is about to turn 95-years-old. He is often called "the world's most admired man" or "the greatest living American." He is said to have personally presented the Gospel to 215 million people, and to millions more via programs on the web, tv, radio and film.

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you." (Matthew 24:4)

Given Mr Graham's extensive-lasting impact on the world, his long life, and the flurry of interest around his upcoming movie, "My Hope America with Billy Graham", I am writing these things so that we can all be reminded that deception can come in any form and at any time.

If you have not been aware of the various aberrant and doctrines Mr Graham believes, then you might be shocked and upset that I am daring even to say these things about such a person of stature. However, as Cecil Andrews laid out the case against Graham carefully out in his 2001 speech, "Billy Graham: The Man and His Message," (link at end)

"We need to do that [test the spirits] not just with Billy Graham, but with many others who are up on pedestals in the evangelical world. They've built a reputation early in their life, but where are they today? I'll tell you, they are in the forefront of the compromising, ecumenical world that you and I are being challenged with."

When the Apostle Paul was tested by the Bereans, and his words and teaching compared with scripture, and the Bereans were lauded for it.

"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11)

Note that they were said to be of noble character because of two things: they received the word with eagerness, and they examined them against Scripture to see if what was being taught was true. Mr Graham, despite his popularity, or perhaps because of it, should no more escape scrutiny than any other teacher of our faith.

Graham, Osteen, Warren

I have long thought personally, that the three seemingly-Christian men most impacting the faith in negative ways in the 20th and 21st century are Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, and Rick Warren. For the women, I personally believe Beth Moore has done the most damage. I've written about or mentioned most of those on my list, but not Mr Graham, because he is no longer active. However with his new film being produced and promoted, to be released next month, I felt it necessary to lay out the case for caution, for your scrutiny and edification. Take heed.

Born November 7, 1918, according to the website NNDB, which offers profiles of noteworthy individuals, "Graham's "big break" came in the 1940s, when publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst got wind of Graham's then-recurring theme that the Cold War was a showdown between good and evil, and that communists were Satan-worshippers. "Either communism must die or Christianity must die," Graham famously preached, and Hearst sent a memo to all of his papers' editors, ordering them to "puff Graham". Prior to that, Graham had been just another traveling evangelist, holding meetings in half-empty tents. After that and for the rest of his life, he has been America's most prominent Christian leader."

Please note that the man came to prominence expounding on political, worldly matters. His statement equates an eternal, heavenly faith structure with a man-made worldly political structure. Secondly, anyone who reads the bible knows that Christianity will not die, no matter how many political or governmental structures have existed or will come to existence. However, in 1949, communism was a very big problem, consuming the interest and attention of those in power.

Yet in 60AD, Apostle Paul did not say that "Either Rome's Emperor system must die or Christianity must die." It is written, 

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1)

Since then, Mr Graham has appeared on Gallup's list of most admired men of the 20th century, appearing 55 times since 1955 (including 49 consecutive years), more frequently than any other individual in the world.

"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." 

(Luke 6:26)

But let's go back to his beginnings. In his youth, Graham was rejected for membership in youth group because he was "too worldly". After graduating high school in 1936, Graham attended Bob Jones College but he felt constrained by the restrictions and called it too legalistic (likely because Graham had earned a stack of demerits for disobedience). In addition, he was almost expelled, and wound up having a long sit-down with Bob Jones, Sr. about Graham's future. Graham transferred to another college. After attending three total colleges, Graham eventually graduated from Wheaton in 1943 with a degree in anthropology. His college sojourn lasted 7 years, and please note his degree was not in religious or biblical studies. (Source, and source)

When he burst upon the scene in 1948 Graham did not seem to compromise on the basics, at least overtly, but over time he retreated on all fronts. David Frost said that in the beginning Graham used to say "the bible says" but as time went on he would more often say 'what Billy Graham thinks'.

The basics, or essential doctrines to which one must adhere or the truth is not in them, according to CARM.org are:

"The Bible itself reveals those doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith. They are 1) the Deity of Christ, 2) Salvation by Grace, and 3) Resurrection of Christ, 4) the gospel, and 5) monotheism. These are the doctrines the Bible says are necessary. Though there are many other important doctrines, these five are the ones that are declared by Scripture to be essential (I call them primary essentials since the Bible declares them as essential). A non-regenerate person (i.e., Mormon or Jehovah's Witness, atheist, Muslim), will deny one or more of these essential doctrines. Please note that there are other derivative doctrines of scripture that become necessary also, the Trinity being one."

Though there are many troubling statements Mr Graham has made which gives one pause for thought, (I'll list them below and also provide links) the essential doctrine Mr Graham denies is the Gospel. Let's take a closer look. CARM.org again:

"The Gospel:

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Gal. 1:8-9). Verses 8 and 9 here in Galatians are a self declarative statement that you must believe the gospel. The gospel message which in its entirety is that Jesus is God in flesh, who died for sins, rose from the dead, and freely gives the gift of eternal life to those who believe."

He gives the gift of life to those who believe. Mr Graham has on many occasions, years and decades apart, denied the exclusivity of the Gospel, denied who are truly believers, and denied what they must believe. Here are specifics:

Graham & Schuller

In his interview with Robert Schuller in May 1997 on The Hour of Power, Billy Graham opened up the family of faith to Buddhists, Muslims, and non-believers. Here in a sermon from 2000, John MacArthur repeats the interview and expounds in between each of Graham's statements with biblical truth:

-------------------begin MacArthur-----------------------

John MacArthur: "Those of us who teach the Bible, those of us who uphold sound doctrine have to rise up and speak the truth. I've tried to show you the breadth of this problem and I want to conclude comments on people and issues with a particular focus this morning."

"Through the years we have all become influenced by Billy Graham. One way or another he has, for us, been the spokesman for evangelical Christianity. He has become the symbol of gospel preachers to the world and even to the church. He, more than anyone else, has influenced evangelicalism through his preaching, through his cooperative evangelism, through his influence on Wheaton College, Fuller Seminary, Christianity Today and many other agencies."

"There is an article in a journal that comments and reviews his autobiography, Just As I Am. And I think it's worth giving you some insight into that because I think it points out the breadth of this problem. The editor of the journal says, "While Graham has become the very symbol of gentle, compassionate and loving evangelicalism, he has also become the symbol for evangelicalism that speaks cautiously, politically and non-theologically. He was never able to escape the fuzzy a-theological pragmatism of modern evangelicalism. It is Billy Graham more than any other figure in this century who helped to create by his overwhelming persona the present evangelical crisis which threatens to destroy the very institutions and causes in which Graham invested his life and energy for over 55 years," end quote."

"That is a sad statement, but it is an appropriate one in view of the facts. A recent public interview with Billy Graham and Robert Schuller underscores this. Graham has uncritically praised Schuller's ministry, which is a ministry of what is called neo-orthodoxy combined with psychology, not a true historic Christianity. But in the discussion, and here it is verbatim, I'll just share some things that will open to you the understanding."

"Dr. Schuller speaks, speaking to Billy Graham. "Tell me, what is the future of Christianity?"

Dr. Graham: "Well, Christianity and being a true believer, you know, I think there's the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time."

"Now let me stop there. He said that non-Christian groups are members of the body of Christ, that people can love Christ and know Christ whether they're conscious of it or not and be members of the body of Christ. And therefore we're not going to see a sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time, ostensibly because it isn't necessary."

"He [Graham] goes on to say. "What God is doing today is calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not...he says...even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."

Dr. Schuller: "What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into a human heart and soul and life even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?"

Dr. Graham: "Yes it is because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, have never heard of Jesus but they've believed in their hearts that there is a God and they tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

Dr. Schuller: "This is fantastic. I'm so thrilled to hear you say that. There's a wideness in God's mercy, Dr. Graham, there is...there definitely is."

"In response to that interview, the editor of this journal wrote the Billy Graham Organization and received a reply that said, "Dr. Graham's views were the same as they have always been." Apparently his views have always been that Muslims are part of the body of Christ, Buddhists are part of the body of Christ, non-believers are part of the body of Christ, people who have never heard of a Bible are part of the body of Christ if they're trying to be better than the people around them. People who never heard of Jesus are part of the body of Christ."

-------------------end MacArthur-----------------------

(Television interview of Billy Graham by Robert Schuller, broadcast in southern California on Saturday, May 31, 1997).

Graham refused to speak the Gospel to Larry King in 2005, and in fact refused to declare Jews or Mormons were lost souls

KING: But what about those faiths -- the Mormons and the others that you mentioned -- believe in Christ. They believe they will meet Christ. What about those like the Jews, the Muslims, who don't believe they ...

GRAHAM: That's in God's hands. I can't be the judge.

KING: You don't judge them?

GRAHAM: No.

KING: How do you feel when you see a lot of these strong Christian leaders go on television and say, you are condemned, you will live in hell if you do not accept Jesus Christ, and they are forceful and judgmental?

GRAHAM: Well, they have a right to say that, and they are true to a certain extent, but I don't -- that's not my calling. My calling is to preach the love of God and the forgiveness of God and the fact that he does forgive us. That's what the cross is all about, what the resurrection is all about, that's the gospel. And you can get off on all kinds of different side trends, and in my earlier ministry, I did the same, but as I got older, I guess I became more mellow and more forgiving and more loving."

Is it loving to refuse to use the worldwide media opportunity such as the then-popular Larry King show to expound on what Jews and Muslims need to do to be saved? No, it is not.

In each decade from the 1950s onward, since Graham burst upon the scene, Christians have been presented clear indications of Graham's aberrant beliefs. He praised Catholicism in the 1950s, in fact in In 1967, he was the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school. He has included rabbis and priests as counselors to inquirers at each crusade, effectively handing over little children seeking Jesus to a devastating cycle of apostasy and hopelessness. As mentioned in the Decision Magazine inquiry, Graham has believed since at least 1960 that most people will go to heaven. He believes in baptismal regeneration, the inclusion of old earth and evolution as part of God's works, that Mary the mother of Jesus should receive higher due, that there is life on other planets who worship God ... and so on.

His aberrant beliefs cannot be attributed to recent old age, infirmity, confusion, or anything else except that he was and is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I am sorry to say that and it gives me no pleasure, but in testing his beliefs against the bible, one must conclude that Mr Graham does not know the true, biblical Jesus, and is in fact a liberal compromiser in pursuit of earthly rewards, fame, and celebrity.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1-6)

In part 2 I'll look at Mr Graham's movie, the movie's designated evangelistic strategy of 'friendship evangelism', discuss 'decisional regeneration', and conclude with some general remarks. Below are many links to writings, quotes, and videos of Mr Graham's apostasy. Please check them out yourself and as with everything test the spirits and use only the bible as your benchmark of truth. And stay away from Graham's "My Hope America" movie.

--------------------------

Links

Tim Challies: Billy Graham and Ecumenicism (essay)

John MacArthur clip, A Wideness in God's Mercy? (video)

Cecil Andrews: Billy Graham: The Man and His Message (video)

World View Weekend: Billy Graham (article)

David Cloud: Billy Graham’s Sad Disobedience To The Word Of God (note: I disagree with a lot of Mr Cloud's teaching but the article I've linked to is mostly Graham quotes and discussion of same, with sources)

John MacArthur: Deliverance: From the Temporal World to the Eternal Kingdom (sermon)

Midwest Today: A Conversation with Billy Graham, 1997 (news article, printed interview)

CARM.org: Billy Graham

Hi Folks, From the Heart - Prophecy Update

Reblogged from Prophecy Update

 

Hi Folks,

From the Heart

Where does one begin? There are so many things going on in the world that are prophetically related that it makes one dizzy trying to keep up with it all. When I first started Prophecy Update back in February of 1999, it was a struggle to find enough material to fill the newsletter. There would be only a handful of major bible prophecy related events a year along with several minor related events and some of those articles even were a real stretch to fit in the prophetic scenario.

Fast-forward 13 years later, 2013, there are so many prophetically related events happening daily, almost hourly, that I have to decide which articles to post and which articles to hold. 

Let's examine a few the prophecy related events trending right now:

Israel / The Middle East

We have the Middle East about to reach the boiling point as the war in Syria intensifies. With over 100,000 Syrians killed and the ever intensifying chance of Chemical Warfare, the world may soon witness the fulfillment of Isaiah 17, the destruction of Damascus. Civil war is erupting in Egypt and in just the last two days there has been nearly 700 deaths reported. The Israeli Defense Force is moving its Iron Dome Missile Defense system near Haifa amid heightened tensions in North and another Iron Dome Missile Defense system South to deter any missiles coming out of the Sinai Peninsula. 

If that wasn't enough for Israel to deal with, we have U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Jerusalem trying to force Israel to give up land, stop building settlements and bow to the demands of the Palestinians by going back to the 1967 borders, still without the Palestinians acknowledging the right of Israel to exist. On top of all this they have now set a 9 month period to make peace along with Israel having to appease the Palestinians with release of hundreds of murderers and terrorists that had been convicted, tried, condemned and in prison. 

Meanwhile Iran continues to build its nuclear program while at the same time it's arming and supplying weapons to Syria's Assad. Also helping arm and supply Syria is longtime ally Russia along with China and North Korea. Several recent reports have stated that Israel is about to take out Iran's nuclear capabilities once and for all, any day now!

Is Isaiah 19 Finding Fulfillment Amidst Egypt's Chaos? - by Bill Salus - http://www.prophecydepot.net/2013/is-isaiah-19-finding-fulfillment-amidst-egypts-chaos/

A dear friend sent me an important email recently. Amidst the backdrop of the current chaos occurring in Egypt between the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood, he asked me if we could be witnessing the fulfillment of Isaiah 19, and if so, who might emerge as the cruel master of Isaiah 19:4.

The friend is the bestselling author and CBN TV host, Erick Stakelbeck. His latest blockbuster book called The Brotherhood: America's Next Great Enemy has raced to the top-seller list on Amazon. Erick is rapidly becoming the Mideast expert in demand on FOX News and many other mainstream media sources.

I have had the blessed opportunity to have appeared on several of Erick's Stakelbeck on Terror TV shows. (Watch them at the links below).

My response to Erick is below, and it is in direct correlation with my commentary on Isaiah 19, which is also included further down.

.........

Erick - In all my research I can't find any past fulfillment within Egypt's history of Isaiah 19. The prophet penned this prophecy approximately 2700-years ago, and from then to now, no evidence exists that suggests anything other than this is still a pending prophecy.

Since it appears too still be pending, then the litmus test as to whether or not the current chaotic events in Egypt indicate that Isaiah 19 is occurring, are to ask a few simple poignant questions. If the answers to these questions are "Yes" on all accounts, then I would suggest that the prophecy is now in play.

1. Are things deteriorating swiftly in Egypt? (Isaiah 19:1)

The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

2. Is there civil strife that is burgeoning into a revolution? (Isaiah 19:2)

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3. Are there religious reasons behind the revolution? (Isaiah 19:3)

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

4. Are geopolitical conditions ripe for a dictator to rise to power? (Isaiah 19:4)

And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts.

5. Is Egypt's economy in dire straits? (Isaiah 19:5-10)

And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

6. Is wisdom lacking as to why Egypt's society is collapsing? (Isaiah 19:11)

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

7. Is Egypt's future uncertain, and are the Islamic clerics dumfounded? (Isaiah 19:12)

Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

8. Are Egyptians staggering about as if in a drunken stupor? (Isaiah 19:14)

The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

9. Is the unemployment rate on the rise as a result of the turmoil? (Isaiah 19:15)

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

10. Are many Egyptians fearful of what the future holds for Egypt? (Isaiah 19:16)

In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

11. Is Egypt terrified of Israel? Is that why they have a treaty together? (Isaiah 19:17)

And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

In my estimation the honest answer to all the questions above is YES, YES, and YES..... Thus, I would say that there is a high degree of likelihood that Egypt is experiencing the judgment predicted in Isaiah 19. If this Egyptian crisis morphs into the type of revolution that has been ongoing in Syria since the Arab Spring of 2011, then it would become almost certain that Isaiah 19 is presently finding final fulfillment.

Return of the Islamic Mahdi

Iran is also anticipating and expecting the return of their Mahdi, one high ranking Iranian parliament member went so far as to say, 'One can smell ... the end of times and the last Islamic messiah.' Shiites, whose clerics rule Iran with an iron fist, believe that at the end of times, the 12th Imam, Mahdi, a 9th century prophet, will reappear with Jesus Christ at his side, kill all the infidels and raise the flag of Islam in all four corners of the world. Many analysts believe Iran is seeking nuclear capability to bring on that Armageddon. 

A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On

Several Volcanoes around the world, some that have been dormant and some that semi-active are suddenly showing an increase in seismic activity and are billowing plumes of volcanic ash and sulfur miles into the atmosphere. Almost daily there is at least one major earthquake 5.0 or higher somewhere in the world, some days there are several. 

Just today New Zealand had a 6.5 earthquake and at least six aftershocks of 5.0 or higher. We also have reports confirmed by NASA that the Sun's magnetic field is about to flip and possibly cause severe Solar Storms that could affect us greatly here on earth by disrupting power and communications. Also we are seeing an increase in the number of large sinkholes and landslides along with reports of unexplained animal deaths, some in mass quantities and some that appear to have been mutilated. Not to mention a rise Sars like diseases, drug resistant super-bugs and a huge increase in what was once thought to have been eradicated, Tuberculosis, which is becoming harder and more expensive to control.

Blood Red Moons 2014 - 2015

I have a video that I would like to sure with, it's been making the rounds on the internet and will surely give you plenty of food for thought about the extraordinary times in which we are currently living in:

http://youtu.be/WmQDSXMGDNo

Do you Think God is trying to get our Attention?

The above was just a few examples of what's happening every day, most of what I wrote was taken just from today's headlines and I didn't even scratch the surface!

Bible Prophecy is exponentially speeding towards Armageddon, which means the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of the Tribulation is right around the corner.

To sum it all up one of my favorite Bible Prophecy teachers, Hal Lindsey says of our times:

"Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey

I could not agree more with Hal, we all must make the short time we have left count for all eternity. Words between Israel and Iran and Syria could escalate into a full scale war any day; many experts feel that war will happen this summer. Meanwhile Israel still has to deal with the Palestinian issue, Hamas, Hezbollah, internal issues as well as outside pressure from the US and the rest of the world.

A Psalm 83 war scenario could also breakout at any time! With Israel's Leviathan Oil and Gas discovery and a victory over its surrounding neighbor countries, Israel would gain more of their Promised Land and control of a major amount of the Middle East oil. Israel would thus become a very tempting hook in jaw. Israel will be like shiny lure causing Magog from the north to come down to Israel to capture the spoil (just drop the s and the p "oil"), you have Ezekiel 38.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is still in economic and political turmoil and war in the Middle East will cause a major disruption of the flow of oil and even higher prices. Food prices are growing higher every day, natural disasters are still happening at a quickening pace and more frequent, diseases are becoming resistant to antibiotics, the populace is becoming more and more restless with fear and anxiety. Moral depravity is at an all-time high, with the U.S. Supreme Court practically legalizing gay marriage this week, the saying living in a perilous time is an understatement. 

Some Bible prophecy teachers believe that our current Pope is the last Pope and will actually help usher in the Antichrist. The Muslim world is waiting and expecting their Mahdi, the 12th Iman at any time, the Jews are waiting for their Messiah to return and help them rebuild their Temple, the Bible describes this Islamic Mahdi and this Jewish Messiah will be one and the same, the Bible calls him the Antichrist. The world is looking for someone to lead them out the mess that we are in; the world is ripe for the Antichrist! We must use our time and resources to reach and warn as many as we can while there is still time! 

I am not date setting or telling you to quit your job and sell your home and max out your credit cards, I am just stating the obvious facts, obvious that is to believers. Now more than ever we should be sharing the Word and evangelizing to our non-saved family members, friends and co-workers. The rest of the world is completely blinded, they are oblivious to what's going on as it relates to Bible Prophecy and sadly so are many churches. 

Most churches do not teach Bible Prophecy or worst yet they teach Replacement Theology, which falsely teaches that the Church has replaced Israel. If you are going to a church that does not teach Bible Prophecy then you are going to a church that does not teach the whole Word of God and you are missing out on nearly one third of the Bible! If your church does not teach Bible Prophecy or if your church teaches Replacement Theology, then I advise you to find a church that rightly teaches the whole Word of God and one that still believes that Israel is the cornerstone of Bible Prophecy!