Text Hammer

Ok are you looking for a exciting method to savour your snow holidays? You are fed up of the the old routine, the snowboard cable car and then ski quickly down the run that everybody is skiing? You need to commence heli-skiing. One can snowboard untouched skiing slopes that barely any other skiers get an opportunity to ski.

But what is heli-boarding? Heliboarding is skiing, merrely rather than getting a ski lift to climb up to the summit of the mountain, you fly up in chopper. Heliskiing opens fresh virgin mountains for your skiing enjoyment.

Normally heliskiing jaunts require a modest group of adventurers steered by a practized skiing guide who knows the slope. Snowboarders are flown to the top of the field to be skied disembark and then snowboard to the end of the run. At the finish they’re met by the chopper to enjoy another run. You could enjoy six trips during the day. It is a pleasant and stimulating trip during which you will see view vistas and undergo excitements other people can only dream of. Heli-boarding is not without perils. Since you’re skiing off normal snowboarding pistes there will sometimes be unknown dangers. You also encounter a bigger likelihood of avalanches. Fortuitously many of these risks can be decreased when one goes heli boarding with a knowledgeable guide who recognizes the area extremely well. Therefore if one is booking a chalet then your chalet host can organise heliskiing on your behalf.

Pop singer Madonna came this week to Tel Aviv to take part in a congress of Kabbala studies. According to press releases, she is going to stay in Israel until Sunday night and will have on the last day of her visit, the opportunity to visit the graves of Jewish Tzaddikim (righteous holy people) near Safed, a small town in northern Israel.

Why Safed? What does Kabbala mean? (Literally it means “Receiving” in Hebrew).

I am not so sure the press has given the correct answers to these and other questions related to the background of this visit. Here is my humble contribution.

Safed , one of the four “holy cities” in Israel, together with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias, is actually a small mountain town (27,000 residents). As opposed to other historical cities in Israel, it is not even mentioned in the Bible.

Its golden era was during the Middle Ages, when it functioned as a Crusaders fortress and a Moslem administrative centre. But it was only in the 16th century that Safed was a city of international importance, as well as a Jewish cultural Capital.

What made Safed so special is linked to what Maddona is looking in Israel for.

The Jewish congregation of Safed is the oldest in Israel. It has been there for the last 800 years. But during the Crusaders time it was very small, because the Christian knights did everything they could to massacre Jews (and Moslems).

The turning point was the conquest of the area by the Turkish Sultanate. This Moslem empire gave shelter to the Spanish Jews during their mass expulsion in the end of the 15th century. The Turks, who were great warriors and administrators, did not master commerce, industry and science. They understood the great potential of Spanish Jews who were experts in these fields, and gave them asylum.

Some of those Jews, a few thousands, came to Safed and settled down there. Safed attracted them for two main reasons: The good water sources and the closeness to the grave site of the founder of the Kabbala, the Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

The water was needed for establishing a wool manufacturing centre which became one of the biggest in the world, and made Safed a flourishing city. The grave of Bar yochai, and an ancient tradition according to which the Messiah will first come out Safed, attracted some of the greatest Jewish religious scholars of Spain, most of them Kabbalists.

In Safed of the 16th century settled down Rabbi Yosef Karo, of Toledo, the greatest Jewish Law expert of the new era, who wrote the codification book “Shulkhan Arukh”, the third most important Jewish book, after the Bible and the Talmud.

Another great Kabbalist was Shlomo Alkabetz, who is known today more for his religious poetry. His most famous liturgical poem is called “Lecha Dodi”. It is used in every Synagogue to receive Sabbath. His brother in law was Rabbi Moshe Kordoveiro, a student of Rabbi Karo, who wrote the first book which explains the Kabbala methodically.

The greatest student or Rabbi Kordoveiro was Rabbi Yizhak Luria, who is more known as HaAri Hakadosh. Luria Died when he was only 38 years old. Only two and a half years he spent in Safed. But it was in that short period of time that he created a Kabbalist theoretical movement that has had an immense influence on the life of almost every Jew since then.

What does Kabbala mean? If you have time and patience just go to a site called http://kabbalaonline.org/ and start reading. It will take you a few days. Otherwise, here is a somewhat simplified explanation.

According to the Talmud, the world of Torah (the knowledge of Judaism) is based on four layers: Pshat (Literal meaning, in Hebrew), Remez (Implication), Drash (Interpretation) and Sod (Secrecy). Every one of these layers is a different way of weighing the same words of the Torah. The deepest layer is the Secrecy. The Secrecy doctrine, which includes the Kabbala, is so mysterious, deep, and special, that not everyone can understand it. Therefore, it is recommended by Jewish scholars to start studying it only at the age of 40. A younger person does not have the spiritual maturity needed to cope with its depths.

The Secrecy doctrine exists since the 2nd century, but did not appear in any book until the end of the 14th century, when a Spanish Jewish scholar named Rabbi Moshe de Leon rewrote and edited it in a book called “Seffer Hazohar” (The book of Glow, in Hebrew). The contents of the book is attributed to the Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (mentioned above) who had lived 1300 years before the time of de Leon. Believers claim that Bar Yochai wrote the book, but Kabbala researchers say that the text was written much later, in the middle ages.

“Seffer Hazohar” is not a text book. It is a collection of ideas and Torah material. Only in the end of the 15th century, another Spanish Rabbi, Moshe Cordoveiro, who later moved to Safed, wrote structured lessons which enabled a systematic studying of Kabbala.

As opposed to the other three layers of Torah world, dealing primarily with the Jewish religious laws, the Secrecy doctrine deals with the philosophical side of Judaism: For example, the eternal question of “Why do righteous people suffer in our world, and why are wicked people so successful?”

The Kabbala, developed in Safed by a genius nicknamed “HaAri Hakadosh” in the 16th century, uses abstract concepts which are incomprehensible to outsiders: “Elohut” (Divinity) and “Tzimtzum” (Reduction), for instance. The Divinity filled in the past the whole universe. It was later reduced to make room for the present world. Following this Reduction, the lights of Divinity were accumulated into “Sefirot”, the vessels which contain the immense Divine lights. The three upper “Sefirot” did their job. But the lower six broke into many pieces and scattered. This is called in Hebrew: “Shevirat Hakelim” (Breaking of Vessels). Because of this breaking of vessels, good and evil were mixed with each other in the whole universe. The splinters of the divine lights, called “Nitzotzot” (sparks), fell into the depths of “Clippot”, the evil powers of impurity. The broken “Divinity” went into exile among the “Clippot”. According to Kabbala, the fate of the Jewish people is similar to that of the “Divinity”. The Jews are still in exile amongst the nations. The salvation depends on every person. If people succeed in collecting all the “Nitzotzot”, the salvation of humanity will come. The collection of “Nitzotzot” will be done by good deeds, such as obeying the Jewish religious rules. When someone does so, he collects “Nitzotzot” and puts them back in place. He then deals with “Tikun Olam”, correction of the world.

The Kabbala has a great influence on Judaism, especially on the Hasidim movement. Kabbalic concepts, developed mainly in 16th century Safed, have penetrated the Jewish liturgy. One of them is the “Holy matching”. Philosophically, this concept has another meaning, but in the popular cognition it is perceived as a holy marriage treaty between God and the Jewish people.

For example, the “Shavuot” holiday, in which the Holy Torah was given by way of a pact between God and the Jews, has been compared to such a holy marriage. Also the customs of “Kabbalat Shabbat”, (receiving Sabbath), were changed following the Safed notion of “Holy matching”. The Kabbala followers in Safed started in the 16th century the custom of going Friday before sunset out of town, wearing white clothes, to receive the bride, Shabbat. Friday night was the link between God (the king) and Shabbat (the queen). Following the mystical marriage, souls of righteous people were born. This custom of going out of town Fridays was abolished after the fall of the Safed centre in the beginning of the 17th century, but its influence is felt until today the Alkabetz poem “Lecha Dodi”, mentioned above.

HaAri Hakadosh said that “the Shechinah (the presence of God) rests above Safed”. You can feel it even today. Its clear air and serenity helps visitors to contemplate about the philosophical subjects I have just mentioned, and others. It is worth visiting this place even if you do not have the faintest idea what you are going to do there.

The Author is a freelance journalist and a tour guide in Israel

Websites:
http://123freehost.co.uk/sites/israel-covered
http://pr4u.bravehost.com/
http://tourisrael.friendpages.com

As Christians, we believe we are forgiven of all our sins through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe it, we teach it, and our very HOPE is in this. If that’s so, why are we repeatedly asking God to forgive us? Undoubtedly, it’s because of our human, “religious” view of forgiveness and the incessant feelings of unworthiness we entertain. Face it, no matter how good we look or act, we live with ourselves and know what we perceive to be “the truth.”

Fortunately, God has quite a different perspective on forgiveness than we do.

As Believers in Jesus, everything we had ever done wrong, every sin, was forgiven (1 Jn 1:9). Rejoice! Your slate is clean! However, most of us had it explained to us that, if we ever sinned again, just ask and God would forgive us. Next thing we knew, we sinned.

Then we sinned again.

The “big” sins were easy to remember and ask forgiveness for later. But ALL those little ones…boy, we couldn’t keep up! The “white” lie, the gossip, the criticism, the lustful thought, the overall ungodliness about us. Some of us may have been taught that God doesn’t hold us accountable for what we can’t remember. Really? If God was THAT unconcerned about sin, explain His Son dying on the cross. Yes, He has a BIG problem with sin. He’s HOLY, remember? He HATES sin.

Now, God loved mankind but our sins separated us from Him. In order to have us near Him, He sent Jesus who made this possible, by grace, through faith in the finished work of the cross (Jn 3:16). Through salvation we went from sinner to saint in an instant. All our sins, past, present, and future were forgiven like that (snap). We were literally given Christ’s life. He is in us; we are in Him. When God sees us now, He sees His own righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Eph 4:22-24). The blood of Christ didn’t merely cover our sins; it washed them away (Is. 43:25; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Rev 1:5; Eph 1:7)!

Most verses that cause us to doubt our forgiveness are found PRIOR to the cross. WARNING: Don’t base your salvation on any Pre-cross teachings! Don’t search the Gospels to gather verses on forgiveness due to the Law there (Ex: Matt 18:21-35). Don’t build a forgiveness doctrine upon Christ’s messages to those who were as yet unregenerated. Pre-cross teaching is “salvation-motivated” teaching meant to bring sinners to their Savior. It’s tough, hard teaching that demands action. You won’t find anything but GRACE in the Post-cross teachings. Always be cognizant of the location of a verse. Let’s base our forgiveness doctrine upon God’s Word AFTER the cross; on the grace side.

What about the beloved “Lord’s Prayer,” or “Our Father,” Matthew 6:5? Jesus was teaching these unregenerated, unrenewed Jews, still under the Law just as much as He Himself was, how to develop intimacy in their relationship with God. He contrasted this to the REALLY religious hypocrites who made spectacles of themselves when praying. This was a Pre-Cross, Pre-Grace prayer. Even the “forgive us our debts” part, v. 12, as well as v.14 and 15, reflect our forgiveness FROM God as being contingent upon our forgiving OTHERS, first. There’s no grace, no favor in that.

Human logic demands an offender seek forgiveness for each offense. We most adopt God’s thinking on forgiveness if we will ever experience total freedom in Christ and experience “a peace that passes all understanding.” In Christ, we are forgiven (Col 2:13-14). That’s GOOD NEWS! The enemy loves it when God’s children feel unworthy to approach their Father and crawl into His lap. We’re trained to PERFORM that way from childhood, jumping through hoops to gain acceptance from parents, teachers, coaches, employers. Folks, we must believe that we’re totally accepted and that God doesn’t hold anything against us! As an omniscient God, He knows the sins of the past, present, and future. Therefore, His method of forgiveness is different than that of those of us who are bound by time. The only way for Him to obliterate any barrier was to forgive us of ALL sins… past, present, and future.

Jesus bore ALL our sins 2000 years ago at the cross. How many sins had you committed 2000 years ago? None. They were ALL future sins. Everyone’s. There are no Scriptures after the cross that require us to ask God’s forgiveness. Ever. Not even in 1 John 1:9. Observe: “If we confess our sins (agreeing with God), He is faithful and just (describes His nature and His gracious covenant) to forgive our sins (once for all time, using the MANY Scriptures to explain this One, not vive versa) and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (wash away, not merely cover).”

We are righteous in Christ, cleansed from all unrighteousness (2 Cor 5:21). If we haven’t been cleansed, we’re in trouble, because there’s no other Savior to do the job. Besides, in 1 Jn 1:1-10, John was clarifying his position on Gnosticism for the churches. This was the belief that all matter was evil, including human bodies; therefore, the Gnostics reasoned, Jesus could not have inhabited a human body. John’s letter contrasts true believers against the Gnostics over 30 times. John encourages and reassures the Christians that he was addressing by reminding them, “your sins are forgiven” in the very next chapter (1 Jn 2:12).

Seek the truth of God regarding His method of forgiveness (Hosea 4:6). We do not have a license to sin. Though, as human beings, we cannot help but sin…often. We will not WANT to sin because we have God’s laws written upon our hearts and our desire will be to honor Him. Thank God He has taken us out from under the Law!

In ancient Greece, whenever a debt was paid, a certificate of debt was issued as a receipt. The word “tetelestai” was written on the certificate and signed by the creditor. John 19:30 records Jesus’ last words on the cross as being, “It is finished!” In Greek: “Tetelestai!”

Confession has its place in the Christian lifestyle, too (James 5:16). When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we must confess it - or agree that we messed up - and repent. Admit it and quit it, in other words. Then go joyfully ACT forgiven, choosing to forgive others as you go. Chances are, you’ll sin again. Join the club. His mercy is new every morning. That means that you start fresh DAILY! Man, that’s good news!

Jesus offered forgiveness from the cross. We, too, must offer forgiveness to those who trespass against us. That way, through our loving actions, they may come to know Jesus, the Great Forgiver.

READ ‘EM & REAP!
Ps 103:12
Is 38:17
Is 44:22
Jer 31:34
Micah 7:19
Rom 8:1
Rom 8:33, 35, 38-39
1 Cor 6:11
Eph 4:32
Col 1:14,22
Col 2:13-14
Heb 10:8-10,14,17

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael’s mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast over 300 hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you’d like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

Punctuate life!

Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.com)

The one, big conflict between the theory of evolution and the Genesis creation account is this: The Biblical account speaks of a Creator who created man in His image and likeness. The theory of evolution requires no creator only a “big bang” and lots of time. Of course the theory of evolution bothers most believers because it attempts to explain how everything came to be over time without God. The Biblical account says that God has been from the very beginning working beside His sixth-day creation–man.

Humanity is unique to God; therefore, man is the only part of creation that has a spirit and soul. With his spirit, he becomes God conscience. With his soul, he becomes self-conscience. These unique dynamics of man give him meaning and purpose in living. Life is physical. Life is spiritual. Life is emotional. Life is for man. Let me illustrate this please.

Without proper punctuation, words can be meaningless. Take these fourteen words as an example: That that is is that that is not is not that it it is. Now punctuate them, and they read: That that is, is that that is not. Is not that it? It is. The significance of the fourteen unpunctuated words is not what they say, but what they don’t say. They say nothing because they are not punctuated. Life is that way. Unpunctuated, it is monotonous and meaningless. It takes the exclamation points, questions marks, periods, and the dashes to make life rich and relevant. Life without punctuation is like a piano with only one note, a phone book with one number, a thermostat with one degree, or a highway with one sign. The question marks of life perplex us, the commas try our patience, and the periods bring knowledge of man’s mortality. But without God life is only a riddle, a monotonous succession of unbroken days.

Rejoice and be glad! God has given us life, abundant life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus cared so much for us that he laid down His life for us. But before He died for us, He showed us how to live our lives. Life is caring for the other guy. Jesus cared for others. Life is participating. Jesus participated in joyful occasions like wedding feasts. He healed others by His touch, with His words, and by His love.

Jesus was at times angry with hypocrites, and He expressed His anger openly. He was at times tired, and would remove Himself from the crowds. Most of the time He met rejection, and from the very people He was helping. There was a time that He even wept. Jesus punctuated life with His very soul and spirit. He was emotionally involved with life. How about you? Are you involved in life? Are you making your mark in the world? If not, let me encourage you to start living with meaning and purpose. Punctuate your life in Christ Jesus.

KEEP the Faith! STAY the course! Jesus is coming again for you and me—just be ready.

Pastor T

Imagine writing your very first book, informing your local newspaper about its imminent publication, and then hearing nothing from them. Imagine such famous newspapers as The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Times giving your book advance publicity and yet your local newspaper that claims to be “One of America’s Great Newspapers” remains deathly silent, no encouragement, no support to help promote a local author.

Imagine then a smaller newspaper running an interview with you about your book and controversial beliefs, reaching East Toledo and many small Ohio towns. When I again wrote The Blade’s ombudsman, who allegedly deals with issues of fairness and accuracy, questioning why The Blade had yet to review my book when The Press already reviewed Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall, wondering why The Blade didn’t lead rather than follow and he merely responds with, “What Press?” and nothing more. I answered him both The Press and The Bowling Green Sentin el-Tribune had run articles about Beyond Babylon and didn’t hear back from him.

Before my nam e change from David A. Hoover to David Ben-Ariel, The Blade graciously published my pro-Israel letters almost monthly at times. Later when my staunch support of Israel, inspired by my Christian-Zionist beliefs, clashed with their pro-PLO bias, those published letters became fewer and far between, especially after I called them to inform them that, unlike a caption under a recent photo, and comments within various articles they ran, that Judaism’s holiest site wasn’t the Western/Wailing Wall but the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the fellow said the Temple Mount was a Muslim holy site and controlled by the Wakf (a Muslim board) and hung up! When I called right back and said regardless that the Muslims occupied the Temple Mount, it is still Judaism’s holiest site, he hung up again! How UNprofessional for “One of America’s Great Newspapers”!

I’m sure after several unpleasant incidents like this, especially when I publicized them in letters that appeared in The Jerusalem Post worldwide, commenting how The Blade could have easily verified what I said with any local rabbi or checked out this information at Toledo’s excellent main library (that is in walking distance of their handsome building), they weren’t too happy with me. It’s interesting to note that they didn’t have a single article about my unj ust deportation from Israel (due to politico-religious persecution), yet they had several about some area “Palestinians” who were justly deported from the Jewish homeland. The only mention of my harrowing experience was a single letter-to-the-editor that made it in The Blade, even though my case involved Ohio’s Mar cy Kaptur, Ohio Senators DeW ine and Voinovich, the Jerusalem-based Temple Mount Faithful and Israel’s General Security Serices (their “FBI”) and Israel’s High Court! Certainly newsworthy if only as a hum an-interest story, wouldn’t you say?

Recently I wrote the ombudsman Jack Lessenberry again, with a carbon copy to the editor-in-chief Tom Walton. He responded curtly that such reviews are usually done within the first six months of publication and they didn’t review self-published books. I promptly responded both Publish America and I had informed The Blade about the imminent publication of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall, as well as later informing them of its publication, and that since Beyond Babylon was NOT self-published, when could I expect a review? He wrote that I should contact the lady who is their book reviewer (without including her e-mail address).

Today I called her, after not hearing from her in a week and a half, to ask if she had received my information. Of course, she had. She said she emailed me yesterday to contact the business department. I told her Beyond Babylon wasn’t really business-related, but that it was politico-religious in nature. I had already contacted The Blade religion editor without any response, so she said that she doesn’t normally review a book unless it will be likely to become a best-seller. I asked her how a book could become a best-seller without publicity? She said to again contact Mr. Lessenberry, but she couldn’t “force him to review it.” I told her I was disappointed in The Blade and would hope that he wouldn’t have to be “forced” to help promote a local author.

What a run-around from “One of America’s Great Newspapers”! At the very least, looking at the bright side of such experiences, various departments of The Blade are now well aware of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall and they’ve provided me with this material for an article to share with readers worldwide, which I’ve now done and you’re one of them!

Ascendency of the United States of Europe as the “Revived Roman Empire” and ultimate base of a future Antichrist is finished! Why? For starters: The total rejection of the European Union’s Constitution by FRANCE! Isn’t it about time to wake up and smell the coffee, roses, or something dead? The American New World Order System trumps all bases for a future Antichrist. Sorry, Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye–the 11th Horn of Daniel is the elephant in the photo, not that silly little, ten-toed, Euro-Canary sitting on the behemoth!

THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE IS A JOKE!

By Doug Krieger

French Reject EU ConstitutionWe Await Chirac’s Resignation!
The anticipated rejection by the French of the much vaunted United States of Europe, and its Constitution (the vote in France was 45% for and 55% against), conclusively demonstrates, once again, European political and economic ineptitude compared to that of the United States of Americathe Dutch are soon to follow the French (Notwithstanding, the toilet (a French word) was invented by a Brit by the name of Thomas Crapper not by a Frenchman.)

Imagine, the extremity of European cultural diversity, language, religion, and history have all come full circle to highlight centuries of particularism, political fratricide, and religious intolerancenone of which could convince the European mindset that “unity with variety” would lead to a multipolar world in which Europe would function as the political/economic counterweight to the unipolar world of the United States of America.

The French originally spearheaded the European Union’s quest for economic and political integration . . . with the British providing noble resistance and forever frustrating “efforts” indirectly on behalf of the USA (Note: The USA from time to time gave tepid support, but all along it was only because it might be to her economic and political advantage.) The entire notion that the French would abandon their social safety net by opening up their labor markets to plumbers from Poland was ludicrous

“The treaty’s rejection in a bitterly contested referendum in France - the architect of the European project - could set the Continent’s plans back by years and amounts to a personal humiliation for the veteran French leader (President Jacques Chirac). Treaty opponents chanting ‘We won!’ gathered at Place de la Bastille, a symbol of rebellion where angry crowds in 1789 stormed the prison and sparked the French Revolution. Cars blared their horns and ‘No’ campaigners thrust their arms into the air.

‘This is a great victory,’” said Fabrice Savel, 38, from the working-class suburb of Aubervilliers. He was distributing posters that read: ‘No to a free-market Europe.’”

Viva la USA

As a result of all this Euro-nonsense and eco-politico-posturing (man, what a waste of time and money), the much-touted EUROthat economic counterweight, that renaissance of European leadershipcollapsed to its lowest 2005 level against the almighty dollar ($1.25 EU).

No matter what kind of united face-saving device you put on this (Note the inane remarks of Gerhard Schroeder of Germany): The European Union (as a counterweight to the USA) is dead!

And . . . something else smells liked it’s dead . . . and that’s what we here at the Tribnet wish to point out to those who know that the New American World Order System is not about to be challenged by our European forebears and erstwhile upstarts who know NOTHING about how to become a unified economic, military, and political power under girded by moral authority based upon the so-called Judeo-Christian ethic. What might that eschatological conclusion be? You guessed it: It is a total farce to conceive, since the turn of the 20th Century, that USA ascendancy could ever be challenged by the effete Europeans and, consequently, the BASE of Antichrist is not found in the squalid political and economically deficient European quagmire but in the New Rome: The United States of America.

Furthermore, the Europeans, especially the isolated French, are so intimidated (and rightly so) by FREE MARKETS (viz., the overt intrusion by the multi-nationalsled by US corporate interestsepitomized by the WTO, IMF and World Bank)that their idiotic celebration of the EU Constitution’s defeat only belies the vacuous pride they have in their insipid ignorance of the world formed by the Merchants of the Earth who delight to feed at the trough of Babylon the Great. Don’t think my seemingly prideful remarks are aimed at the Frenchno; they’re aimed at the evangelicals of the USA who haven’t a clue as to what’s been happening (politically, economically, and even religiously) since Manifest Destiny under Teddy Roosevelt kicked the Spanish out of the New World.

First of all, and for those of you out there who ponder the following “food fight” amongst us Premillenarians as naught but asinine theological posturing (perhaps interesting but absurdly irrelevant in the sum total of whatever counts), let me assure youthere’s a whole lot of present-day implications on what’s going down around us and how we live in our world as a result of these “ridiculous” observations.

Here’s where we start . . . a few quotes and comments (yours truly) from well-meaning, but totally off the mark brethren who wish to remain patriotic Americans will suffice:

“The mention of a core Europe or a core group of European nations resonates with Bible prophecy in the books of Daniel and Revelation. It concerns a latter-day revival of the Roman Empire. The prophet Daniel predicts that a group of 10 ‘kings’ (national leaders) will give rise to a frightening union that will fulfill many end-time prophecies. Depending on the decision of the French, and later the Dutch voters, the coming weeks may give some hint to the answer to the Economist’s intriguing question: ‘And What Happens to the Beast Now?’”

Imagine, brother Hal could say these remarks knowing the demise of the EU Constitution, and, ipso facto, the United States of Europewhat prophetical insight do we witness here! Come on Hal, get with the program. Your prognostications are so outmoded that even you know that the canary (really a crane) on the elephant is not the base of Antichrist, but the elephant itself!!

I repeat on behalf of the hard of seeing, the bird represents the fine efforts of Chirac and Schroeder, the elephantapparently utterly indifferent to the free ride he’s providing for the cranerepresents the European nemesis, the American New World Order System.

HAL’S TEN TOES AND THE THREE HORNS RIPPED UPA LESSON IN WORLD HISTORY 1

A meaningful, but brief digression, is in order before I get back to well-meaning brethren (and, incidentally, since most of them are Premillenarian, believing that the Kingdom of Heaven is yet to manifest itself upon the earth through the miraculous intervention of the Second Coming of Christ, my only intention here is to hit them over the theological head to get their attention vis–vis American hegemony and the consequences of its neglect).

First of all, a short lesson in world history might be in order; and, since I’m credentialed to teach the subject (man, I’m even certified as a “No Child Left Behind” instructor in the subject), I already have my reward . . . but let’s take a gander at the evolution of the Image seen in Daniel and alluded to in Hal’s above and most recent remarks.

What Hal alluded to was the Image of Daniel and the allusion to the Ten Toes of that same Image and its counterpart found in the book of Revelation where it is referred to as the 10 Toes/10 Kings/10 Horns (Daniel 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16)

The above picture of the Image seen by the Gentile world leader of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Nebuchadnezzar) envisioned the development and/or evolution of Gentile World Power set within the context of the Jewish exile; and, the commencement of “Jerusalem trodden under foot of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2) is/was confirmed by Jesus in His discourse on the latter days, and, subsequently, referred to by John in the Apocalypse.

The point of the matter here, insofar as metals relate to this revelation, is that the Babylonian head of gold evolves into the silver of the Medo-Persian Empire, which in turn evolves into the Grecian bronze, and ultimately into the two legs of iron represented by the Roman Empire. This imagery of Gentile World Powers and their evolution is decidedly a progression of WESTERN CIVILIZATION, not of Islam, Asian, African, or any other civilization which would/has dominated the planet (thank you Dr. Huntington)!

Next, the Ten Toes of this Image are described as a mixture of both clay and ironsome strong and some weakand clearly are an extension of the legs of the Roman Empire from whence they protrude (Daniel 2:33-45). It is likewise true that these 10 toes/horns are representative of ten kings and that these ten kings are European powers which in some way, shape and form constitute the original environs or sphere’s of landed-influence of the Roman Empire. Up to this point Hal and Doug concur; however, it is precisely at this point our convergence has a drastic departure!

Rome’s alleged demise in 476 A.D. (The Decline and Fall of Rome by Edward Gibbon) is, putting it mildly, a distortion of the historical account. Rome NEVER diedher simple metamorphosis, and I hasten to add, its ability to BORG (i.e., absorb all its enemies into the “collective”) all that came against her (be they the Phoenician Merchants, the Greeks and their culture, and the Christian religion). The idea that was Rome may have “outwardly” transformed, but the ideal of Western Empire never ceasedWestern Man, though seemingly weakened (clay), nevertheless, through world colonization, began to WALK THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH! (i.e., some clay nations were weaker in Europe than some of the “iron nations” or “toes” . . . for example, France was stronger than Belgium).

Yes, the Image began to walkpray tell, for what purpose do those feet and toes stand? Just to stand? No, no, noa thousand times no! “Them feet and toes are for walkin’.” And, walk they didall over the planet: Africa, the New World (North and South America), the Middle East (to this day), Asia, Australasia, the vast regions of the Pacific and even Antarctica. Scarcely an inch of earth escaped the Image! A little walk through Africa will assist your memory: (Note: All maps can be found on the graphic version @ www.the-tribulation-network.com)
…..and the Spanish (New World only) to name but a few (especially the “three horns”):

Now, thanks to our insightful brother and co-conspirator, Brian Piltz in Seattle, we discover a most revelatory exegesis of the following Scripture found in Daniel 7:8, 20-24:

“‘I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little (i.e., “younger”) one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words’” ((vs. 8)Note: This is, I affirm, an immediate introduction of the Antichrist himself and of his base/kingdom.)

“‘and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up (i.e., the ELEVENTH HORN), before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.’ Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings’” (vs. 20-24).

The sequence of disclosures recorded in Daniel 7 leave little doubt that the “little horn” who shall arise after them (i.e., after the Ten Horns/Toes) shall be different from the first ones (i.e., the first Ten Horns), and this “younger horn” shall subdue or “root up” three kings. Brother Piltz deduced that these three kings hail not “from Orient are” but are the three dominant European empires which encompassed nearly all of North America: The English, the French, and the Spanish–Britain, France and Spain. Through the Revolutionary War, the Spanish-American War, and even the French and Indian War (among other disquieting connivances), the Americans “subdued” these three kings/horns/toes and effectively over the last century and into the 21st Century, with their pompous declarations and fierce countenance and soon-to-be revealed World Leader/Antichrist, will/have devoured the whole planet!

Oh, well, you get the point: England, France and Spain were uprooted by the younger horn when this horn DEVOURED (i.e., uprooted or subdued) the original three. Sure, it took a while, but the ten horns who arose from the fourth beast (i.e., the original Roman Empire), and the three horns/kings (of the ten horns) who originally dominated North America eventually gave way to the one who arose after them (Daniel 7:24): The United States of America. I conclude: Some times the most obvious is the most difficult to see!

Let me be perfectly clearcount them, please:

1. England
2. France
3. Spain
4. Portugal
5. Belgium
6. Netherlands
7. Denmark
8. Italy
9. Germany
10. Russia

. . . walked the face of the entire planet and colonized the world!

These primary nations’ histories are wrought with expansion and colonizationto adjudge otherwise is a complete revision of world history.

(For remainder of the article go to: http://www.the-tribulation-network.com/dougkrieger/united_states_of_europe.htm)

About the Author

Doug is a member of the team at www.lastdaysnetwork.com . . . an evangelical ministry involved in news analysis relative to Religion and Politics and, as a prophetic voice, emphasize the Last Days apostasy and deception afflicting the Church, while pointing men and women to faith in Christ as the only solution to the current crisis.

THE GOSPEL OF CONVENIENCE

Of all the articles I have written lately, this article is the most troublesome and heavy on my heart and spirit, and will undoubtedly bring the most critical responses from Christians. It is in support of the thoughts expressed in The Coming 4th Reich! article here on this site, as the situations in this article define the apostasy that has taken the 21st century Church.

The subject of this document is so unpleasing to the 21st century American Christian, I believe that by writing it, I will step across a threshold of “Main stream evangelical Christian”, to a “radical”, a “dissenter”, “out there” and even “lost” in the eyes of some folks who read these words. So be it. (James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.)
If I have learned anything in the 35 years of being brought up and taught in this faith, it is that in most cases, the word of God and the truth of Jesus Christ are foolishness in the eyes of modern man, and they do not fare so well in the “marketplace” of public opinion. Most Christians would agree, that speaking the word as it is revealed by God, has never in the history of the world been accepted by the masses, and often times even by those who lay claim to membership in the kingdom of God. I have also learned that we who name the name of Christ are called not to be silent, when we see the work of Satan flourishing in the world around us, and we are called to speak with unwavering conviction, the word of God and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, with no regard for the consequences of that speech. I saw an interesting commercial on TV today, in which a young girl is standing on a dock, and a woman is drowning in the water in front of her. The girl is just standing there, watching her drown. The commercial is about when friends see friends having drug and alcohol problems, they wouldn’t just stand by and watch, they would help! In the same spirit, a Christian who sees another caught in the vile deceptions of the evil one, wouldn’t just stand by and watch that person be led to destruction, they would speak out! I am compelled to write this, and the other articles on this site, because of this principal.

What brother or sister in the Lord would stand by and watch his friends be deceived by the devil and not speak out? What man would see his brother about to fall into a ditch and not warn him? Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shall surely die; and thou give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. and again Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. and yet again, Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shall surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. I think it is interesting that this is stated a number of times in Ezekiel, I wondered why God would repeat himself so many times on this item in Ezekiel. I realized it is because he is saying something different in each instance. In the first instance 3:18, he mentions the wicked. In the second instance 3:20, he mentions the righteous, in the third instance 33:6, he mentions the people, and in the final instance 33:8, he returns to the wicked. I think there are no accidents here, I think God is making it clear, that no matter who we may see in error, (the wicked, the righteous, or all of the people) it is our call to warn them, and that if we do not, they will perish in their sins, but their blood will be required at our hands.

It is this spirit in which this article is written, and for this purpose I believe God has inspired us to open this site, and to speak out in the name of Jesus to anyone that he may direct to this site. A “voice crying in the wilderness of the internet” as it were, to anyone who will hear, and turn from the deceitfulness of unrighteousness…
2 Thessalonians 2: 8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The context of this scripture, is of the time of the end of the age, as Jesus is about to come, and it describes a state of affairs in the world and among the people of our world and the work of Satan to deceive them, and lead them to destruction. Paul is discussing the time when the one we know as Antichrist will appear on the earth, and will deceive the world, including as many of the people of God as possible. I believe that as you read these words, this scripture is being fulfilled in the world today.

I think most Christians would agree, that the deception spoken of by the Apostles, concerning the “Last Days”, is deception that will be directed at the true believers of God’s word, and in his Son Jesus Christ, not at the “world”, as the world was already deceived, there is no need to bother with them. The evil one’s target? I believe the target can only be the evangelical church of Jesus Christ.Therefore, I believe it is necessary to take a close look at how the Devil could possibly have worked a deception into that body of believers at this time, (we believe the time of the end). What is/are these deceptions, and how do they add up to the “Strong Delusion” spoken of by Paul? They would have to be the ones that our Lord warned us about throughout his entire ministry, #1, the love of money, #2 the love of this world, and #3 the love of darkness.

COMMENTS:

We believe that a time has come when the Devil, “as a roaring lion going about seeking whom he may devour” has resulted in a plethora of deceptions running freely in Christian doctrine today, and we can not help but speak out, sound the trumpet as it where, as the parable of “the watchman” commands us! See the full Article here…

“The Gospel Of Convenience”

or

“The Graphics enhanced version” (for fast connections)

About the Author

Writer for 11th Hour Ministries

http://www.11th-hour.info

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