The Cult of Personality



"Jesus Christ" aka Jeffrey Hunter

Studies have shown that people who are tall, thin, good looking and sociable tend to be more successful in life than those who are short, overweight, unattractive and shy.

There's even biblical evidence for that. The ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah, who lived in Judah during the 8th Century B.C., prophesied that the Jewish Messiah, who the ancient Jews eagerly longed for, would look like nothing they expected him to look like. 

Here's what Isaiah wrote concerning the physical appearance of the Messiah: "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him."(Isaiah 53:2)Even John the Baptist admitted that he had a hard time recognizing Christ when he first saw him: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)

Indeed, Jesus Christ looked nothing like a messiah to the ancient Jews. He was a very ordinary looking man who probably stood slightly less than six feet tall. He was the very antithesis of the messiah that the ancient Jews were looking for. When he appeared in Israel 2,000 years ago, few recognized him because he didn't resemble what they imagined a messiah should look like.

And yet, Christ didn't enter the world to win a beauty contest or get on the cover of GQ Magazine. He came into the world to become the everlasting atonement for sin on a Roman cross that God's infinite justice demanded. Isaiah continued: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

If Christ appeared in the world today, he would probably be treated just as contemptuously as he was by the ancient Jews because of his looks. But outward looks don't mean much or equate with greatness unless a person is a professional model or a movie star. Indeed, the fallen world always judges the outside, but God judges the inside. (1 Samuel 16:7)

And so, in the fallen world that we live, personality and good looks are everything. Barack Obama is America's 44th president because he looks good and gives inspiring speeches. But beneath his polished exterior, he's a hack politician with minimal skills. In a sense, Obama is the classical cult leader; good looking, charming, charismatic and well-spoken.

And that's what most cult leaders are--dynamic looking, charismatic personalities that attract multitudes of people through their charm and persuasion. Real leaders and godly men may not be much to look at on the outside, but they're golden on the inside. Christ may not have been very attractive on the outside, but he possessed the Spirit of God on the inside.

And when we consider Christ, we need to consider what lived inside of him rather than his outward appearance. Hollywood certainly dressed him up and chose great looking actors such as Jeffrey Hunter to play his role. But good looks and a charming personality could not have accomplished what Christ accomplished for us on the cross 2,000 years ago.

Unwelcome and Unwanted

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."--Matthew 24:9

If you're a bible-believing Christian who (1) rejects evolution; (2) considers the homosexual lifestyle to be sinful and (3) actually practices your faith beyond the walls of a church building, then be warned--you're in for some rather difficult times in the days ahead.

Certainly, Christianity is considered the equivalent of cancer in much of the eastern world where Islam dominates, followed by Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism etc. But in the west, Christianity--true fundamental Christianity as opposed to dead, apostate Sunday Morning Only Christianity--is becoming repugnant to many folks.

It was President Barack Obama, then known as Sen. Obama in 2008 who, while running for the presidency, stated his honest opinion of fundamental Christians during a speech he gave to a crowd of elitist snobs in San Francisco at a campaign stop--they "cling to their guns and religion" in difficult times.

Actually, true born-again Christians cling to their faith in Jesus Christ during difficult times rather than to guns and religion. But Obama's entitled to his opinions, no matter how misguided they are.

Unfortunately, Obama's misguided opinion of fundamental Christians is the prevailing view of secularists who hate those who actually believe in a God that all human beings are accountable to.

For example, someone named Bill Hicks, who obviously doesn't think too highly of bible-believing Christians, wrote this concerning those who embrace a biblical worldview concerning creation and the existence of the physical universe: “Fundamentalist Christianity: fascinating. These people actually believe that the world is twelve thousand years old. Swear to God. Based on what? I asked them...They believe this. But you ever notice how people who believe in Creationism usually look pretty unevolved. (sic) Eyes really close together, big furry hands and feet? "I believe God created me in one day." Yeah, looks like he rushed it."
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/511079-fundamentalist-christianity-fascinating-these-people-actually-believe-that-the-world

Perhaps Hicks can explain how the cells of every living organism, that each contain over 300,000 bits of digitally coded information known as DNA, were formed and arranged by some unintelligent process he calls evolution. It takes a lot more faith to believe in evolution that it does to believe in intelligent design. But intelligent design is for those hicks that Bill Hicks disdainfully looks down his nose at because if intelligent design is true, then pseudo-intellectuals such as Bill Hicks are in for a terrible surprise when they enter eternity.

Biblical prophecy reveals that the end times are going to be extremely bad times for Christians throughout the world. While Christians have historically been persecuted in predominant Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist nations, they're now facing scorn, ridicule lawsuits and incarceration in many western nations. 

From foxnews.com: "An American pastor is facing a federal lawsuit filed by a George Soros-funded organization alleging that the pastor’s messages on homosexuality are a “crime against humanity” – a lawsuit that some Christians fear might have far-reaching consequences for church mission groups...Scott Lively, a Massachusetts pastor known for his opposition to homosexuality, was sued by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). They claim that he incited the persecution of homosexuals in Uganda...Lively traveled to Uganda in 2009 where he delivered messages that shared his Biblical views on homosexuality."

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/anti-gay-pastor-facing-federal-lawsuit-for-crimes-against-humanity.html

While Lively is being sued by a gay organization in Uganda for speaking out against homosexuality while he was there, don't expect Obama's Justice Department to come to his defense. He's on his own as are all true Christians who defend their faith by speaking out against practices that the Bible concemns.

Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul revealed that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12) Indeed. And it's only going to get worse as we get closer to Christ's return. Jesus Christ himself said this concerning the end time persecution of His true followers: "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." (Luke 21:16-19)

So, be warned. If you're a true bible-believing Christian who openly shares your faith, you're going to be persecuted. You'll be insulted, ostracized, maligned, slandered, incarcerated, tortured and even killed. But you have the choice to either save your skin and lose your soul by selling out Christ, or you can gain eternal life by standing firm in your faith in the face of satanic hatred.

Indeed, it's your choice.   

Gay Isn't Okay in Russia



Russian police arrest a protester at a gay rally

In Russia, if you want to be gay, then you'd better stay in the closet, or else.

From Russia, courtesy of apnews.myway.com:
MOSCOW (AP) - Kissing his boyfriend during a protest in front of Russia's parliament earned Pavel Samburov 30 hours of detention and the equivalent of a $16 fine on a charge of "hooliganism." But if a bill that comes up for a first vote later this month becomes law, such a public kiss could be defined as illegal "homosexual propaganda" and bring a fine of up to $16,000.

Rev. Sergiy Rybko, who certainly understands that political correctness isn't something the clergy have to be concerned with in Vladimir Putin's new Russia, followed up with this interesting tidbit: "Until this scum gets off of Russian land, I fully share the views of those who are trying to purge our motherland of it."
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130121/DA3UJM9O1.html

Rybko probably won't be invited to give the benediction at any future presidential inaugurations in America, certainly not after the White House Presidential Inaugural Committee revealed that Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio "decided" not to give the benediction at Barack Obama's recent inauguration. The reason why? It turns out that some liberal "watchdog" organization discovered that Giglio declared homosexuality a sin in a sermon he delivered about 20 years ago.

More likely, Giglio was told to get lost after his 20 year-old sermon that condemned homosexuality surfaced. Someone named Addie Whisenant, a member of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, admitted as much with this statement: "We were not aware of Pastor Giglio's past comments at the time of his selection, and they don't reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this inaugural." (The Berean Call, 1/21/2013)

In Russia, they'll be celebrating diversity sans gays and lesbians. Many Russian lawmakers, including President Putin, are concerned about Russia's declining birthrates, and they believe that homosexuality contributes to that decline. They want those birthrates to rise and they feel that condemning and outlawing homosexuality will strongly discourage young people from choosing "alternative" lifestyles.

Russia's crackdown on homosexuality has prophetic significance. Biblical prophecy reveals that Russia is going to become a global superpower in the last days and we're seeing the fulfillment of that. And religion is going to play a significant part in Russia's return to global prominence. Nearly 2,600 years ago, the ancient Hebrew prophet Daniel prophesied of a powerful northern kingdom (Daniel 11) that would rise in the end times and threaten the entire world. Daniel's prophecy also reveals that the dreaded Antichrist will eventually come from this nation. I believe that nation is Russia.

Under Putin, Russia is greatly expanding its military and nuclear capabilities while the United States, under President Obama, is emasculating its military and disposing of its nuclear weapons. Furthermore, while the U.S. and many western nations chase the pipe dream of clean green energy, Russia has a plan to take control of the world's fossil fuel supply through its energy giants such as Gazprom and Rosneft.

When green energy inevitably fails to deliver on its promises to rid the world of its dependence on fossil fuels, the Russians will be in a position to control the world's energy supply. The nation that ultimately controls the world's fossil energy will control the world.
http://www.prophecyreviewonline.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=82695&columnid=

And so, while leftism relentlessly destroys the United States like a methodical cancer, the Russians are on the rise politically, economically and militarily. And the Russians want nothing to do with homosexuality. As far as Putin is concerned, the western world can have it. And soon enough, the Russians will have the western world as well.

Why Do They Die So Young?

Lillian Katz: 1915-1928

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."--Matthew 19:14

One of life's worst tragedies is the death of children and adolescents. It has a profound affect on the parents who suffer the horrible anguish of losing a precious child that they proudly and joyfully brought into the world.

Some people are so crushed by the loss of a child that it destroys them forever. Many parents who lost children in the tragic Our Lady of Angels fire that occurred on Dec. 1, 1958 at a Roman Catholic elementary school in Chicago never recovered emotionally. Some blamed themselves; others blamed God and others eventually died of physical maladies brought on by broken hearts. 

Charles Darwin's terrible book: On the Origin of the Species that he published in 1859 that attempted to explain the existence of physical life sans God was motivated by the death of his young daughter Annie. Darwin believed that no loving God would ever allow a young child to die, so he exacted his revenge against God by writing a thesis that dismissed God as a primitive myth created in the minds of ignorant men. In doing so, Darwin unleashed a destructive lie upon the world that has become the foundation for anarchy, civil disobedience and moral decay since the mid-19th century.

How do you encourage someone who has tragically lost a child to put their faith and trust in God? Very firmly and very carefully. Certainly, the loss of a child could well indeed be related to a curse inherited from a godless ancestor. In the Second Commandment, the Lord explained that "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:5-6)

In some cases, the Lord takes people prematurely in order to prevent a greater evil or tragedy from occurring in the future.  However, in one specific case, the Lord actually changed his mind after he had informed Hezekiah, the King of Judah during the 8th century B.C. that he was going to bring Hezekiah's life to an end. (Isaiah 38:1) When Hezekiah pleaded with the Lord to spare his life, the Lord relented and granted him 15 more years. (Isaiah 38:4-5) 

What happened during those 15 additional years that Hezekiah lived? He bore a son named Manasseh who became a wicked king that rebelled against God and brought a terrible curse upon the Jewish people that still exists to this day. These are the words that the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah concerning Manasseh's rebellion: "I will make them (the Jews) abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem." (Jeremiah 15:4) 

What did Manasseh do? As Judah's king who succeeded his father Hezekiah, Manasseh reintroduced pagan shrines in Israel to false gods that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. Had the Lord not granted Hezekiah 15 additional years, Manasseh would've never been born. But Hezekiah was granted those additional 15 years to prove an important point concerning why some people and even children may be taken away prematurely.

Certainly, it's cruel to suggest that children die prematurely because of curses, even if that is the case. And we don't know whether the Lord takes children prematurely because they might grow up to become evil and wicked adults. Since many children do grow up to become vile and wicked adults, there's no simple explanation as to why some innocent young children die while others grow up and enjoy long lives of evil and depravity.

I can say this in regards to the tragic deaths of young children; I believe that they are welcomed into heaven by Christ because he loves children. And at the resurrection, we will be reunited with them forever, never to experience disease, death or destruction again.

Oh, What a Lucky Man

"Oh, what a lucky man he was."--Emerson Lake and Palmer

Contrary to popular opinion, I don't hate Barack Obama. I think he's a delightful, well-spoken and intelligent guy. I just don't think that he's qualified to be the President of the United States. Or the president of any other nation on earth for that matter. But in 2008, he became an extremely lucky man when he was elected as America's 44th President.

But then again, I thought that George W. Bush was extremely lucky to be elected as America's 43rd President in 2000. Like the Leftists who adore and worship Obama, Bush was enamored by many conservatives and Evangelicals who held him up as a messianic figure who had come to heal the nation and restore integrity to the White House after eight years of Bill Clinton.

Many conservative Christians actually believed that Bush's election would trigger a new era of conservatism that would also ignite a great Christian revival that would sweep across the United States and eventually spread throughout the world. How wrong they were.

Instead, Bush became just another political-ecumenical empty suit who praised Islam as a religion of peace, betrayed Israel by coercing the Jewish nation into relinquishing the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians in 2005 and he sold out conservatives by ignoring the Constitution to infringe on personal freedoms in the name of "homeland security."
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010917-11.html

Oh yes, and Bush also became the biggest spending president in history before Obama. While Obama has rightly been criticized for his failed $800 billion stimulus in 2009, it was Bush who signed TARP into law in 2008. TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) authorized the U.S. Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of bad mortgages from banks and financial institutions that had played fast and loose by issuing millions of high-risk NINJA (No Income, No Job, No Assets) loans to unqualified home-buyers. In what now seems like the ancient past, banks that operated so recklessly usually went out of business. Today, they get bailed out if they play the right politics.

And so, for those who are truly convinced that George W. Bush is the devil and Barack Obama is America's political savior, consider this; Obama pledged to close the Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay) detention center for terrorists and yet it remains open. Obama pledged to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and yet U.S. troops remain in those nations.

Obama also pledged to reverse the reckless spending and gross expansion of government that occurred under George W. Bush. Instead, he continues to expand the government while spending America into bankruptcy. And Obama pledged to end the CIA's clandestine program of flying suspected terrorists to undisclosed locations throughout the world to "interrogate" them for information.
http://prorevnews.blogspot.com/2013/01/obama-continues-illegal-detentions.html

There's really very little difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush. And I'm convinced that had Mitt Romney defeated Obama back in November, nothing much would've changed.

What does all this really mean? It means that for many decades, our presidential elections have largely been a sham and we're headed for a world government. Beneath the surface, our presidents going back to Lyndon Johnson have all been the same; they've acted according to the international interests that pull their strings.

So indeed, Barack Obama is a lucky man. He gets another four years to hold the title of the most powerful man on the planet. But he's really just a puppet who's being played by the globalists and international money men such as George Soros to bring an end to American hegemony and move the world closer to a global government.

For Christians and conservatives, it's time to stop trying to advance the gospel through politics and start doing it by the power of God's Holy Spirit. You aren't going to elect a president who's going to become an American pope. Remember what happened with George W. Bush? Get back into your churches and start doing your job correctly. As the apostle Paul stated: "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:4) 

Indeed. Our commanding officer is Jesus Christ, not Barack Obama or any American president. And his throne is located in heaven, not at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington D.C.

Modern Pharisees

Michael Moore

If there's a model spokesman for America's Far Left, then Michael Moore is that person.

Moore is an extremely wealthy filmmaker who considers himself morally and intellectually superior to most people. Therefore, he believes that he has an unquestionable right to tell them what to do and how to live their lives. Such as in the areas of gun ownership, health care and economics.

Moore doesn't believe that the average Joe Shmoe (that would be you, me and anyone else who he looks down his nose upon) should possess firearms. Like most of his leftist brethren, Moore truly believes that doing away with all guns--not merely assault weapons--will do away with gun violence. That's been tried in Chicago for decades and it hasn't worked. Last year, Chicago led the nation in homicides with over 500, the majority of them committed by handguns, even though the city has banned handguns for many years.

Of course, while Moore and his associates want to repeal the Second Amendment and take away your right to own a gun, they have no problem surrounding themselves with heavily armed thugs who protect them from their adoring fans. 

Moore is also a staunch believer in socialized medicine. He's a passionate spokesman for Obamacare and he's unabashedly praised Fidel Castro's glorious health care system in Cuba. Under socialized medicine, you have the choice to either become a vegetarian health nut if you want to survive or you can submit yourself to a health care system that will most likely fail you if you're one of the following; over 50, obese, have a preexisting condition or you're poor.

You'll notice that Moore certainly doesn't practice what he preaches in regards to health care. He looks like he's spent a considerable amount of his lifetime inside a Burger King, but since he's a very wealthy man, he can afford to pay for his own health care. While he has no problem carrying a considerable amount of weight on his corpulent frame, Moore believes that you should eat healthy, exercise and control your weight so that you don't overburden a health care system that's sure to be a success like the one down in Cuba where the mortality rate is extremely high.

Moore often demonizes capitalism, even though he's made a fortune through that economic system. But he doesn't believe that you should be able to enjoy that same economic success. Because that might deprive others of money that should rightfully go to them even though they didn't earn it. When Moore and his ilk frequently complain that capitalism purportedly allows the rich to exploit the poor, that obviously doesn't apply to them. If Moore truly cares about the plight of the poor, then he should sell his palatial vacation estate in Michigan that's worth a fortune and give the money to those who need it more than he does.

But he won't because he's a hypocrite--a modern day Pharisee who seldom practices what he preaches. During Jesus' time in ancient Israel (not Palestine) Christ often held the Pharisees up to contempt as the worst examples of those who never practiced what they preached. They were Israel's corrupt religious leaders who were in league with the Roman government, much as today's Left (the media, Hollywood, academia, etc.) is in league with the Obama Administration. 

Here's what Christ said concerning those repugnant religious leaders: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do,  for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." (Matthew 24:2-4)

And so it is with modern day Pharisees such as Michael Moore. Don't do what he says because he doesn't do what he wants you to do. When Moore is willing to shed his corpulence and start sharing his wealth with the poor, then you can start taking him seriously. Until then, consider him to be just another big fat clown with a big fat mouth.

When God is Forgotten

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the  knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done."--Romans 1:28

According to biblical prophecy, the last days on earth directly preceding the return of Jesus Christ are going to be pretty bad.

How bad? According to the apostle Paul, they're going to be this bad: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Paul recorded that prophecy 2,000 years ago. Without a doubt, that prophecy is being fulfilled in our time.

But why are we seeing such an increase in wickedness in our modern times? Because much of the world has rejected God and thus, has rejected His commandments and His transcendent moral laws. When mankind turns its back on God then depravity reigns.

In another epistle he wrote to the early church in Rome, Paul described what happens to people who reject God: "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." (Romans 1:28-31)

A major part of that wickedness that Paul warned would permeate the end times has manifested in gun violence that has resulted in thousands of murders and endless tragedies. Unfortunately, since a growing number of people no longer believe in the existence of evil, they no longer believe in the fallen sinful nature that is inherent in all human beings.

So instead, many increasingly attribute gun violence to the availability of guns rather than to those who use guns to harm and destroy their victims. Yet those who are morally depraved don't need guns to harm others.

During the same week last month that Adam Lanza committed mass murder at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct. a man murdered 22 children at a Primary School in China. Since guns are outlawed in China, the man used a knife to commit mass murder.

The antidote for violence isn't more restrictive gun laws or even the elimination of the Second Amendment. It's instilling the fear and knowledge of God in human beings so that they will understand that they're morally accountable to Him for their thoughts and actions during their lifetimes here on earth. Nearly 3,000 years ago King Solomon wrote: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7)

Maybe leftists should think about what Solomon wrote before they continue to deal with the symptoms of depravity while ignoring the root causes of depravity. Getting rid of guns won't get rid of violence and murder. But getting rid of the sin that dwells in the hearts of moral reprobates most certainly will.

Mary Mary Quite the Contrary

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your false church grow? With supernatural tricks that deceive the ignorant hicks who believe whatever the corrupt clergy crows."

Consider that more than half of the world's seven billion residents honor and worship the Virgin Mary as a religious figure. That includes nearly two billion people who identify as Christians and two billion Muslims.

What's so significant about that? Consider this: Biblical prophecy warns us of a coming global spiritual revival that's going to be so potent that millions across the world are going to be taken in by it.

And the Bible also reveals that supernatural signs and wonders are going to be the catalyst that drives this revival. Concerning spiritual deception in the end times, Jesus Christ himself warned: "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." (Mark 13:22-23)

A global spiritual revival that culminates with a one-world religion seems like a fantasy when you consider that religious disputes are one of the main factors that contribute to the strife that takes place between various nations.

And so, in order for a global religious revival to take place, two things must happen: (1) the manifestation of powerful supernatural events that will appeal to millions throughout the world and (2) the events will occur through a widely recognized religious figure that will have the power to bridge the differences between historically hostile religions.

Who would this religious figure be? That figure would be the Virgin Mary who is not to be confused with Christ's physical mother Mary or Miriam. The Virgin Mary is nothing but a modern manifestation of the ancient Babylonian goddess Ishtar who was worshiped as a goddess of war, sex and fertility. She was later embraced by the ancient Egyptians as the Queen of Heaven and she has also gone by other names throughout history such as Astarte, Asherah and Ashtoreth.

Mary is also venerated by Muslims as Fatima. And according to Islamic scholars, Mary is highly esteemed by Islam. According to Bruce Lawrence, an Islamic scholar and the author of The Qu'ran: A Biography: "Without a doubt, she (Mary) is the most spectacular female figure in the whole of the Koran." Robert Moynihan, the editor of Vatican Magazine concurs: "I would say that Muslims have more veneration of Mary--those who are believing Muslims--than most Christians today. That's because of the decline of Marion veneration in Christianity."

But not for too much longer. Many professing but biblically ignorant Christians are going to be taken in by the coming Marion apparitions when they begin manifesting throughout the world. And coupled with Islam's veneration of Mary, you have the spiritual recipe for a global revival that is eventually going to lead to a one-world religion and the worship of the Antichrist.

When is this counterfeit revival going to happen? The apostle Paul revealed this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

So be warned and be ready. This revival is coming and it's going to be so potent that even many true Christians are going to fall for it. This is what makes the burgeoning Signs and Wonders Movement sweeping through a growing segment of Christendom so dangerous; because it ignores end time biblical prophecies that warn of this very event to chase after supernatural thrills sans biblical truth.

Be on your guard and be ready.

Reaping and Sowing

Sandy Koufax

"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."--Proverbs 13:4

It goes without saying that Sandy Koufax was the best pitcher in baseball from 1961 until 1966 when he was forced to retire after the World Series that year because of an arm injury.

And certainly, his great ability and his accomplishments have been well documented. He had great stuff and great command of that stuff as anyone who played against him readily admitted. Willie Stargell, a slugging first baseman who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during that era, compared hitting against Koufax to eating soup with a fork. Pitcher Ray Culp, who played for several teams, claimed that Koufax had the best stuff of any pitcher he ever saw.

However, one thing that Koufax has rarely been noted for was his work ethic. While many have raved about his great fastball and his explosive curve that helped get him into baseball's Hall of Fame, few have acknowledged or even understood that Koufax became a Hall of Fame pitcher because he worked extremely hard to develop his skills.

You see, Koufax had little interest in baseball while growing up in Brooklyn N.Y. He played a lot of basketball and he was very good at it. So good that he earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. He also dabbled in baseball, but he was a lousy hitter. And anyone who understands baseball knows that lousy hitters who are left handed usually don't have a future in that sport since baseball discriminates against left handers. 

But Koufax had a terrific arm. And his terrific arm landed him a spot on Cincinnati's baseball team after a tryout. Ironically, Koufax admitted that he wanted to make the baseball team so he could travel with them to New Orleans for a spring junket. However, when he began pitching, he immediately attracted the attention of pro scouts and his baseball career was launched.

Koufax signed in 1954 with his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers who were the best team in the National League in those days. He was signed as a bonus player which in those days necessitated that he remain with the major league team. Under the rules back then, bonus players who were sent down to the minors could be drafted by other teams. The Dodgers had previously made that mistake with a great young outfield prospect named Roberto Clemente who they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They didn't want to make that mistake again with Koufax.

Unfortunately, that became a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing for Koufax because he learned his craft under some great pitchers such as Don Newcombe, Carl Erskine, Clem Labine, Billy Loes and Johnny Podres. But it was a curse because he was a proverbial fish out of water--an inexperienced young pitcher on a great team loaded with talent. He seldom pitched and he was reviled by some veteran players because he took a roster spot that should've gone to a more seasoned veteran player.

But he endured, worked hard and learned how to pitch. When he finally became a regular rotation pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961, he became a superstar. He won 20 games three different times, (1963, 1965, 1966) pitched four no hitters including a perfect game in 1965 and he won the Cy Young Award three times when that award was only given out once instead of twice.

What's the moral of this story? Hard work. Talent alone doesn't guarantee success. Without long hours of practice and hard work, Koufax never would have become the star that he became. That principle applies to everyone, not just to professional athletes. You always reap what you sow.

The New World Order

The Club of Rome's proposed map for global government

"And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name."--Revelation 13:1

Look at the map above. It was drawn up by the Club of Rome, a global think tank and a de facto affiliate of the United Nations that is actively working toward the establishment of a one-world government.

The map proposes dividing the world into 10 regions or 10 new political unions that would be governed by 10 leaders who would be under the authority of a powerful world ruler. 

Though that sounds like something out of the Apocalypse, the Club of Rome doesn't believe in prophecy and certainly didn't draw up its map according to a biblical prophetic template. Nevertheless, consider how closely the map resembles the visions of the ancient prophet Daniel (Sixth Century B.C.) and the apostle John. (First Century A.D.)

This is what Daniel saw: "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns." (Daniel 7:7)

Daniel described a metaphorical beast that symbolized an end time global kingdom. Daniel's vision tells us that this kingdom will be powerful, violent and destructive. And the beast's 10 horns represent 10 kingdoms that will initially be governed by 10 rulers until a supreme global ruler removes three kings leaving seven remaining kings to govern the 10 political unions. (Daniel 7:24)

Now compare Daniel's vision with the vision that John received about 700 years later while he was in exile from Rome on the desolate island of Patmos. (Revelation 13:1) Later, John saw this metaphorical beast yet again, with a new twist; he saw someone riding atop this beast: "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns." (Revelation 17:3)

Who is the mysterious woman that John saw riding atop this metaphorical beast? She represents a global religion that will become partners with this global government. But what is her identity? John revealed that her clothing is purple and scarlet (Revelation 17:4) and that she has the name Mystery Babylon stamped on her forehead. (Revelation 17:5) Furthermore, John revealed that she is located in a city that sits on seven hills. (Revelation 17:9)

There are only two cities in the world that sit on seven hills; Rio de Janeiro that is located in Brazil and Rome that is located in Italy. Rome is the world  headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Furthermore, the colors worn by the Roman Catholic priesthood are purple and scarlet, and the Catholic Church has historically referred to herself as Mystery Babylon. When John recorded the Revelation in about 90 A.D. the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence until the Fourth Century A.D.

Is this just an amazing coincidence? Not likely. We are headed toward a world government. But a global religion headed by the Roman Catholic Church? How is that going to happen since the Catholic Church seems like a dying institution? Stay tuned.   

Immoral Imbeciles

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done."--Romans 1:28

In the utopian fantasyland of leftism, doing away with guns will do away with violent crime.

Such as the violent crime that occurred last month at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct. where 20 children and six adults were gunned down by Adam Lanza. And the violent crime that occurred last summer in a North Aurora, Co. theater where 12 people were shot to death by James Holmes. During the same week that the Sandy Hook tragedy occurred, another mass murder occurred at a Primary School located in China. That tragedy involved the deaths of 22 children, although it received scant attention from the U.S. news media.

That's because the mass murder that occurred in China was committed by a man who wielded a knife rather than a gun. Since guns are outlawed in China, the man had to make do with a knife to commit mass murder. But mass murder he did commit.

When he was pressed about those who prefer to use knives to commit murder, the buffoonish Al Sharpton, who masquerades as an ordained minister replied that knife control regulations should be considered.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/randy-hall/2013/01/02/al-sharpton-claims-knife-control-may-follow-restrictions-guns

And so it goes with leftists who continually ignore sin as the root cause of moral depravity. Instead, leftists love to attribute the consequences of sin such as violence, crime, drug, gambling and alcohol addictions to various social pathologies such as poverty, racism, bad schools, homophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, dysfunctional families, sexual abuse etc. In their never ending quest to create a secular paradise on earth, leftists believe that they can legislate their way to peace and prosperity via bigger and more intrusive government.

A large part of that vision involves doing away with guns. But that's a powerful delusion of the highest order. For example, the city of Chicago has some of the strictest handgun laws in the United States. And yet Chicago led the nation's big cities in 2012 with over 500 homicides, the majority of them committed by--you guessed it--handguns. Criminals don't obey laws and Chicago has an army of criminals--many of them street gang members--who are heavily armed.

But screaming for gun control is a lot easier than calling for moral accountability. The former is politically correct and inoffensive while the latter involves challenging people to become responsible for their own actions and not continually blame their failings on others.

That also includes not having children out of wedlock; getting married, raising children to honor and respect authority; teaching them the clear difference between right and wrong and instituting tough discipline when it's called for. That's what helps create a healthy society rather than the passage of endless laws that merely restrict freedoms and don't change human hearts.

There is simply no substitute for the fear of God and the knowledge of his laws and commandments. When that doesn't exist, this is what people inevitably become, according to the apostle Paul: "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." (Romans 1:28-31)

Paul wrote that epistle 2,000 years ago. Human nature never changes. Apart from God, men become utterly depraved. The antidote is being reborn again unto God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, that's beneath the dignity of arrogant and evil men who think that they can legislate their own brand of peculiar, secular morality sans a Holy God.

Jesus is the Only Way

John 14:6

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the (Heavenly) Father except through me."--John 14:6

Despite the overwhelming evidence that Jesus Christ is indeed the Jewish Messiah who fulfilled over 300 prophecies recorded in the Old Testament that reveal specific details concerning the life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Messiah, many people today simply refuse to believe in Him.

Or, they refuse to accept the fact that Christ is the only path to heaven and eternal life. Indeed, Kathryn Jefferts-Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the highly apostate Episcopal Church U.S.A., denies that faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice for all sin on the cross and His resurrection from the dead is essential for salvation. Rather, Jefferts-Schori teaches that there are multiple paths to eternal life. By doing this, Jefferts-Schori has called Christ a liar. 

From David Virtue of virtueonline.org: "She (Jefferts-Schori) has publicly said that Muslims do not need converting to Christ and that she would never tell them they do, or that Jews are saved under the first covenant. In her most recent statement, uttered publicly at General Convention in Anaheim, she stated that personal or individual conversion (to Christ) is a Western heresy and likened it to "work" rather than that of free grace."

The Episcopalian Church isn't the only major Christian denomination that denies that eternal life is a free gift from God by grace, given only to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior strictly by faith. 

The Roman Catholic Church, the world's oldest and largest denomination doesn't believe that salvation is a free gift. Rather, the Catholic Church teaches that salvation is a lifelong process that begins at birth and doesn't end until after death in a place called purgatory where a person's soul must be completely cleansed of his or her sins by fire before being allowed into heaven. From the Council of Trent, Canon 9: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."  

http://carm.org/council-trent-canons-justification

An anathema is a curse that the Catholic Church pronounces upon anyone who rejects the Roman Catholic gospel. And yet, the apostle Paul, who lived over three centuries before the Catholic Church came into existence, wrote this concerning salvation and eternal life through faith in Christ: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Where is the irrefutable evidence that proves Christ is the Messiah? It's found throughout the Bible's Old Testament, recorded in numerous prophecies written by Israel's ancient prophets hundreds and thousands of years before Christ appeared in the world. Here's one, recorded in the 8th century B.C. by the ancient prophet Isaiah: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

The Jewish rabbis, who reject Christ as a fraud, claim that modern biblical translations of Isaiah 53 aren't reliable because they were perverted throughout the centuries by translators who tried to make that famous chapter fit Christ. But that's total hogwash. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 in caves near the Dead Sea, the Book of Isaiah was found among 972 texts that date back to the Third Century B.C. 

The Book of Isaiah that was discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls says exactly what the modern bible translations say which debunks the arguments of the rabbis. Furthermore, until the Middle Ages, many rabbis reluctantly acknowledged that Isaiah 53 referred to the Jewish Messiah. What caused them to change their minds? Because they realized that if they acknowledged that Isaiah 53 referred to the Jewish Messiah, then they would have to admit that Christ fulfilled Isaiah's writings. But rather than admit that, the rabbis concocted a strange interpretation of Isaiah 53 that claimed the prophet was referring to the nation of Israel instead of the Messiah.

Jesus Christ is indeed the only way to eternal life. And it is only by faith in Christ's death on Calvary's cross for our sins and His resurrection from the dead that we gain eternal life. It's not gained through religion, good deeds, charity, intellect, inheritance etc. Christ is simply the only way. There is no other way. If you're trusting in anyone else other than Christ for eternal life, you're going to be in for a terrible surprise just moments after you die.

A Counterfeit Revival

A Miracle from God?

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible."--Matthew 24:24

A global religious revival based upon signs, wonders and miracles seems like a utopian fantasy these days. And yet biblical prophecy reveals that incredible supernatural events that science won't be able to explain are going to occur throughout the world in the last days.

Well, how can we be sure? We can be sure of that because Jesus Christ himself, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Trinity told us so. 

In his famous discourse he had with His disciples shortly before he went to His crucifixion, Christ revealed nine specific signs that would signal that His return was near. Here are those signs: (1) The appearance of false messiahs; (2) the increase in wars and rumors of wars; (3) the rise in conflicts between nations; (4) the increase of famines and earthquakes; (5) the persecution of true Christians; (6) the decline of Christianity; (7) the appearance of many charismatic false prophets; (8) the explosion of wickedness and crime worldwide and (9) the gospel being preached to every nation on earth. (Matthew 24)

Christ's prophecy concerning the global increase in famines and earthquakes in the last days is being fulfilled. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) approximately 330 minor and major earthquakes occurred across the world between 1900 and 1950. However, since 1950, the USGS has recorded an astounding 1,008 earthquakes worldwide; an increase of over 300 percent from the 1900-1950 period. 

Furthermore, according to the USGS,  the world experienced 27 major famines during the nineteenth century while that figure rose to 37 major famines globally during the last century. And the USGS reports that 14 major famines have already struck the world during the current century that is only 12 years old. If the trend continues, the world will experience more famines in the 21^st century than in any previous century. And that's definitely a fulfillment of Christ's prophecy.

But Christ's prophecy concerning the explosion of supernatural events across the world in the last days is indeed intriguing because very few miracles have occurred over the past 2,000 years since the early days of Christianity. Like Christ, the apostle Paul also revealed that miracles would begin appearing all over the earth in the very last days directly preceding the appearance of a wicked global leader the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. 

Paul wrote this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

This is going to be an extremely potent revival. And it's going to be a bad one because it's going to be based upon supernatural phenomena rather historical revivals that were based upon repentance from sin, the recognition of Christ's atonement for all sin on the cross and the pursuit of holiness.

But what's going to spark this revival? I believe that we're going to see an increase in Marian apparitions worldwide that's going to be the progenitor of supernatural events. Why Marian apparitions? Because the Virgin Mary (not to be confused with the Biblical Mary or Miriam who bore the physical body of Christ) is recognized globally by over one billion Roman Catholics and over one billion Muslims. She could very well be the religious figure that has the ability to unify the world. And more Marian apparition sightings were reported worldwide during the 20th century than in any other century in recorded history.
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/aprtable.html

And so, be ready because a spiritual revival is coming that will be unlike anything we've ever seen. It will be deadly. And it will even be embraced by many confessing Christians who will be taken in by this powerful delusion. What will culminate with this revival? A global religion; the appearance of the Antichrist and the terrible persecution of those who will refuse to go along with this counterfeit revival.

Powerful Delusions

Karl Marx

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."--Proverbs 14:12

In Detroit, only seven percent of public school eighth graders read at grade level. And that represents the best scholastic results that come from Detroit's hellhole system of public education. 

From Cnsnews.com: "Detroit public-school eighth graders do even worse in math than they do in reading, according to the Department of Education. While only 7 percent scored highly enough on the department’s National Assessment of Educational Progress test in 2011 to be rated “proficient” or better in reading, only 4 percent scored highly enough to be rated “proficient” or better in math."

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/only-7-detroit-public-school-8th-graders-proficient-reading

And so, it goes without saying that Detroit's public schools have become the model for everything that's wrong these days with America's public school educational system. Certainly, it's not as bad in other places or America would soon become a third-world sewer. Unfortunately, if the status in American public school education remains the quo, then the United States may indeed be on the road to Zimbabwe or Bolivia.

America's educational system wasn't always this bad. In the early 1960s, the United States ranked first among the world's industrialized nations in scholastic achievement scores. (ACT, SAT) But that was then and this is now.

What happened? What happened was that American educators rejected America's Judeo-Christian roots and instead, imported the failed theories of godless humanists such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, John Dewey, Anton Carlson and Margaret Sanger into public school education. You may remember Sanger; she was the founder of Planned Parenthood that has quadrupled Hitler's Holocaust with over 40 million abortions in the U.S. since abortion was legalized in 1973 by the United States Supreme Court. 

Taking their orthodoxy from Karl Marx, the father of Communism, humanists decided that American education had to be reinvented because it corrupted the minds of students by glorifying capitalism. In their eyes, capitalism was the cause of every social pathology such as crime, poverty, violence etc. Humanists believed that capitalism was corrupt because it rewarded success to a select few while punishing the vast majority with failure. Those that failed were doomed to be plucked like chickens by those who succeeded.

Humanists decided to level the academic playing field by inverting the process; they would reward failure and punish success. That way, everyone would feel good about themselves because everyone would succeed. However, if everyone succeeded regardless of their achievements--or lack of--then what was the point of study and hard work if those who refused to study were rewarded with the same results as those who did?

American public school education has become another prime example of the failure of Marxism. Instead of creating a new class of intellectuals by promoting the Marxist Utopian pipe dream of equality outcome education, secularists have produced a generation of uneducated zombies like Detroit's public school students by discouraging idealism and demonizing achievement. There is little incentive for success when those who are lazy and unmotivated are rewarded despite their failures. 

What's the answer? The answer is always found with God's word in the Bible. Everyone has different talents and gifts, a reality that the apostle Paul alluded to in his first epistle to the Corinthian Church. Paul spoke of nine different gifts (1 Corinthians 12) that God imparts to His people through His Holy Spirit to help promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Every human being has a gift or a talent. If America's blind educators would realize that and concentrate on helping each student find and develop his or her gift instead of brainwashing them with useless, Marxist ideology that masquerades as "education", then America would indeed get back on the road to success and get off the dead end road that leads to ruin and destruction.