Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

The Rev. Al Sharpton (left) and Tawana Brawley

Occasionally, I'm asked to write about the ongoing problems in America's black precincts. Since I don't believe that I'm the person who should be writing about that subject, I've usually refrained.

But after watching the buffoonish and incendiary Rev. Al Sharpton dance once again--this time on the grave of Michael Brown, I've decided to throw in my proverbial two cents.

While there are many social issues that have plagued African-Americans for decades, I think that Sharpton sums up best what's going wrong in black America today.

How's that? Sharpton's a classic race hustler. He's made his living by portraying blacks as an oppressed minority held down by the jackboots of racist, redneck whites who want to eliminate African-Americans from the United States.

Remember the infamous Tawana Brawley case? Brawley was a 15-year-old African American girl who went missing from her home in Wappingers Falls, New York in late November, 1987. When she was finally found, she was barely conscious and her body was smeared with excrement. And the letters KKK were scribbled on her body along with the words "nigger" and "bitch."

Brawley certainly looked like the victim of a vicious hate crime perpetrated by white supremacists. She claimed that she had been abducted and raped by three white men, one of whom she described as a police officer. One of the people who immediately took up Brawley's cause was the Rev. Al Sharpton.

The incident generated national outrage. Certainly, that sort of crime was all-too common in the old Jim Crow south where blacks were routinely persecuted and harassed. But in liberal and progressive New York? Was Jim Crow still alive there as well?

After an extensive investigation, it turned out that Brawley had fabricated the story. And she admitted it. She had run away from home to get away from her authoritarian mother who would often beat her because of her rebellion. And to stave off the consequences of her flight from home, Brawley devised the abduction-rape scheme.

Brawley's confession didn't faze the opportunistic Sharpton who exploited the incident to promote himself as a civil rights crusader against white racism. Though Brawley admitted the hoax, Sharpton continued to claim that she was the victim of white racists.

Then there was the infamous Crown Heights riot that took place in Brooklyn, New York in 1991. That riot began after a young black boy was struck and killed by a car driven by an Orthodox Jew. 

Tensions were already high between the two groups before the accident. Blacks felt threatened and exploited by the Jews, and some even believed that the seven-year-old victim had been purposely targeted by the driver. 

Like the Brawley affair, Sharpton saw his opportunity and jumped in, escalating tensions by calling Jews "diamond merchants" who took money out of black communities and put nothing back in. Sharpton's rhetoric provided the fuel for the riots that ensued that led to the death of an Orthodox Jew named Yankel Rosenbaum who was viciously beaten and stabbed to death.

The Crown Heights riots lasted three days and resulted in extensive property damage as well as several arrests, beatings and Rosenbaum's murder. And many of the rioters that caused trouble in Crown Heights came from out of town.

Does that sound familiar? It sounds like Ferguson, Mo. And who incited the riots in Ferguson? None other than the Rev. Al Sharpton who accused Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson of shooting Michael Brown in cold blood because Brown was black.

And even though an independent grand jury exonerated Wilson after a lengthy investigation, Sharpton continues to scream that Wilson targeted Brown because he was black. 

What makes Sharpton so dangerous isn't just his own racism which is obvious. He's a phony reverend who's taken seriously by many folks who believe that he's a legitimate spokesman for Christianity and the church. He's not and he never was. He's a con artist who's made a fortune by exploiting the ignorance and base instincts of gullible people who believe every word he says.

And so, unless and until blacks and whites decide to stop listening to buffoons such as Sharpton--who's only in it for himself--then race relations will continue to worsen in America. 

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the apostle Jude warned the early church to watch out for clever impostors who would sneak in and promote their own agendas: "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.  For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 1:3-4)

That's Sharpton. He uses the church of Jesus Christ to glorify and enrich himself. He's a false preacher and a false prophet. And he should be soundly condemned and shunned at all costs. 

Astroturf Rebellions

Protesters? Or useful idiots?

It was G. K. Chesterton who said it best: "Evil always wins through the strength of its splendid dupes; and there has in all ages been a disastrous alliance between abnormal innocence and abnormal sin."

Born in 1876, Chesterton was a British journalist and a Christian apologist who recognized the art of propaganda and how it was used by those who sought to overthrow governments and reorder societies to fit their radical worldviews.

Though he died in 1936, Chesterton witnessed the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the dawn of Hitler's fascist Nazi Germany in 1933. Both rose on discontent perpetrated against the status quo by radicals who followed with utopian promises of liberty, freedom, peace and prosperity.

Chesterton understood that those who foment rebellions need enemies--real or imagined--in order to accomplish their goals. And they need an effective system to deliver their propaganda.

Ironically, it was Vladimir Lenin, the father of the Russian Revolution who coined the term "useful idiots" to describe the fools who were lured by his propaganda to join the rebellion against the Czarist autocracy.

Hitler rose to power by blaming the Jews for Germany's political and economic woes. He blamed the Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I and he blamed them for sabotaging the economy and plunging that nation into a depression.

None of that was even remotely true. But Hitler had the advantage of the historical anti-Semitism that was embedded in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. The Jews were long despised in Germany and elsewhere throughout Europe. Thus, when Hitler fingered them for Germany's problems, he connected with millions of people.

When we look at the riots that unfolded recently in Ferguson, Mo., we see a similar modus operandi that was used to instigate past uprisings and political insurrections.

That modus operandi was the promotion of outright lies, distortions and denial of evidence coupled with leftist propaganda that turned a St. Louis suburb into a raging inferno.

The outright lie is that America has an abundance of racist white cops who target innocent black youths for persecution and murder. The distortions come from the false witnesses who are recruited and encouraged to fabricate stories in order to support the racist white cop theory.

The denial of evidence speaks for itself. An independent grand jury consisting of whites and blacks that was formed long before the Ferguson incident took place back in August, examined the evidence and exonerated the Ferguson cop who was accused of murdering a black teenager in cold blood.  

And the leftist propaganda emanates from folks such as Barack Obama and his disgraceful Attorney General Eric Holder who exploit incidents such as Ferguson to portray America as a nation controlled by white conservative bible-clinging rednecks who want to resurrect Jim Crow and get rid of blacks and other minorities.

If you don't believe that, then look at Obama's past associations from the arch-racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright to Harvard Prof. Derrick Bell to the Rev. Al Sharpton to Frank Marshall Davis. And look at the groups who his IRS targeted for abuse.

The useful idiots who serve Obama, Holder, Sharpton and their Marxist media lackeys are the people who willingly allow themselves to be indoctrinated into radical leftist propaganda without bothering to examine the evidence. That's the definition of a real idiot.

Obama desperately wants his own Selma, Alabama moment to be part of his legacy. That's what Ferguson means to him and Ferguson will indeed be a part of his legacy.

And this will be his legacy: History will define Barack Obama as the most divisive, radical, racist president America has ever elected, who ripped the nation apart and set race relations back nearly a century.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus Christ said this: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9) 

And those who will be called the children of the devil will be those who fomented evil in order to further their own political agendas.

The Harder They Fall

Bill Cosby

By now, many folks have heard the sordid allegations of Bill Cosby's sexual abuse. He's been accused by numerous women of rape and sexual harassment.  

Cosby is a legendary comedian and actor who's starred in numerous films and sitcoms. He's played serious and funny roles and he's played them all very well.

But now however, in the twilight of his life at age 77, his golden reputation as a man of conservative values and family responsibility is unraveling. And very quickly.

It should be noted that some of the allegations against Cosby aren't new. They've been around for many years. It's well known throughout the entertainment industry that Cosby has a healthy sexual appetite and he's fed it.

It should also be noted that Cosby isn't the only public person who's pursued sex. There are many actors, actresses, media stars, politicians and professional athletes who pursued it as well. 

For some, their sexual misconduct ruined their marriages. For others, it ruined their careers. And there were others who managed to hide it and protect their careers and reputations. That's what Cosby was able to do for many years until recently.

And so, at this point in time the allegations are more puzzling than they are troubling. Certainly, they make Cosby look like a hypocrite. And that's probably why Cosby's dirty laundry is being hung out on a clothes line on Main Street USA. To make him look bad.

Why now? That's anybody's guess but some folks may remember a speech Cosby gave in 2004 when he excoriated African-Americans for ignoring their children and abandoning Judeo-Christian values. 

Here's a portion of what he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, in our cities and public schools we have fifty percent drop out. In our own neighborhood, we have men in prison. No longer is a person embarrassed because they're pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father of the unmarried child."

And he said this: "Are you not paying attention, people with their hat on backwards, pants down around the crack. Isn't that a sign of something, or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up. Isn't it a sign of something when she's got her dress all the way up to the crack...and got all kinds of needles and things going through her body. What part of Africa did this come from? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans, they don't know a damned thing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Shaligua, Mohammed and all that crap and all of them are in jail. When we give these kinds names to our children, we give them the strength and inspiration in the meaning of those names. What's the point of giving them strong names if there is not parenting and values backing it up."

And finally, he said this: "Therefore, you have the pile up of these sweet beautiful things born by nature raised by no one. Give them presents. You're raising pimps. That's what a pimp is. A pimp will act nasty to you so you have to go out and get them something. And then you bring it back and maybe he or she hugs you. And that's why pimp is so famous. They've got a drink called the 'Pimp-something.' You all wonder what that's about, don't you? Well, you're probably going to let Jesus figure it out for you. Well, I've got something to tell you about Jesus. When you go to the church, look at the stained glass things of Jesus. Look at them. Is Jesus smiling? Not in one picture. So, tell your friends. Let's try to do something. Let's try to make Jesus smile. Let's start parenting."

http://www.eightcitiesmap.com/transcript_bc.htm

Needless to say, Cosby infuriated many leftists and black liberals with that speech. They accused him of selling out by "blaming the victims" instead of the perpetrators. In their eyes, blacks were being held down because of white racism. And Cosby had the audacity to rebel against the liberal-progressive orthodoxy. 

I'm not defending Cosby. If he's guilty of rape and sexual abuse then he deserves to be condemned in the court of public opinion. 

However, the timing of these allegations is suspicious. Could they be payback from those who loathe black conservatives such as Cosby? Indeed, they could and I believe they are. Since Cosby's now an elderly man, his career is essentially over. All he stands to lose is his reputation.

As for those who are condemning Cosby, they may want to remember something Jesus told a group of hypocritical religious leaders in Israel who wanted to stone an adulteress: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

The Eternal Destiny of Liars

Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Jon Gruber and Harry Reid

Even liars tell the truth once in awhile.

MIT Professor Jonathan Gruber, one of the architects of the infamous Affordable Care Act, (a.k.a. Obamacare) admitted that he and his cohorts resorted to lying to get the ACA passed because if the true intent of the legislation was revealed, few people would've supported it.

And then, of course, Gruber stated that many Americans were simply too stupid to know or even care what the ACA legislation contained. So that's why the ACA framers such as Gruber intentionally lied about it.

Gruber certainly did tell the truth about the American electorate. Indeed, many of them are too stupid and apathetic to vet their political candidates. So instead, they vote for those who tickle their ears with promises of entitlements and handouts. That's how Barack Obama won reelection in 2012 despite his abysmal record.

Certainly, when it comes to lying, Obama takes a back seat to no one. Obama lies because he understands that there are a lot of folks out there who'll continue to believe whatever he tells them despite the obvious mendacity of his remarks. And he knows that he has a compliant and corrupt media to protect him from scrutiny.

But Obama, Gruber and all who lie won't escape the scrutiny of God who hates lying. He hates it so much that He condemned it in His Law recorded by Moses: "Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another." (Leviticus 19:11)

Many people will claim that Leviticus 19:11 only applied to the ancient Israelites because it was contained in the Mosaic Law. But Leviticus 19:11 is part of God's universal law and it applies to everyone, past, present and future. 

Those who willingly lie and deceive others will pay a heavy price in eternity unless they repent of those sins. For those who don't believe that, consider the words of Jesus Christ spoken to the apostle John concerning those who will inherit eternal life and those who will be condemned: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice the magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:14-15)

Nearly 800 years before John recorded the Revelation, the prophet Isaiah recorded similar words from God concerning the new earth he will create at the end of time and those who will be allowed to live on it: "As the new heavens and new earth that I make will endure before me, so will your name (Israel) and your descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me. And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind." (Isaiah 66:22-24)

Among those who will be loathsome to all mankind will be unrepentant liars. And it matters not whether one claims to be a Christian who's confessed Christ as Lord. 

If you're someone who willingly lies and has no conviction for it, you're headed to hell unless you repent. Anyone who claims to be a Christian must turn away from sin. 

Why does God find lying so detestable among His people? Here's why: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7) That's the third commandment of the 10 Commandments.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and willingly lies, misuses His name. And unless they repent, they will wind up in hell after their life on earth is over. That's something to think about.

Imaginary Islam and Real Islam

 A woman is beaten in Bandeh Aceh Indonesia

In the world of imaginary Islam, millions of Muslims are peaceful individuals who love everyone and eschew hatred, violence and misogyny just as the Koran commands them to.

And in the imaginary world of Islam, the few "extremists" who commit violence and jihad against non-Muslims do so in opposition to the teachings of Muhammad.

Ironically, some of the biggest proponents of imaginary Islam are non-Muslims such as Barack Obama The Great and David Cameron The Diligent. 

Obama, who's great because he says so, continually emphasizes that Islam is a "Religion of Peace" that's been hijacked by a few radicals who besmirch Islam's historically peaceful reputation.

If you don't believe that Islam is indeed a Religion of Peace, then let the Great One enlighten you with these pearls of wisdom: "Throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality." 

Or, how about this great nugget of truth: "Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace." 

Or, this one: "Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance."
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=15200

Cameron, who's diligent because he cracks down hard on those who openly criticize the "Religion of Peace" in the United Kingdom, diligently fails to crackdown on those extremists and radicals who openly criticize such faiths as Christianity and Judaism.

His kingdom is literally falling apart because those few extremists and radicals who besmirch the Religion of Peace are causing a lot of trouble by persecuting all those dhimmis who refuse to convert to the Religion of Peace.

Since the dhimmis have dared to suggest that Islam isn't the Religion of Peace that its apologists boldly claim it is, then Cameron and his government have been forced to silence them so they don't offend that vast majority of peace-loving Muslims.

In the world of real Islam, the vast majority of Muslims are only peaceful because they're cultural Muslims rather than fundamental Muslims. A cultural Muslim, like a cultural Christian, follows only the rudimentary laws and customs of his faith while ignoring the core tenets of his faith.

A fundamental Muslim adheres to the strict teachings of the Koran. And there are over 100 war verses in the Koran that command Muslims to commit jihad against infidels (non-believers) until they either convert to Islam or they're killed.

Here's an example: "Take not from among them friends until they fly (follow) in Allah’s way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them." (Sura 4:89)

Here's an another example: "When you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates...(as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah." (Sura 47:4)

And finally, there's this one: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned. This shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement." (Sura 5:33)

You won't find a single verse in the Bible's New Testament where Christ ordered his disciples and followers to convert the world to Christianity by force. Christ ordered his followers to spread the Gospel peacefully and He expressively condemned violence: "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)

And yet, there are those who, in their desperate attempt to equate Christianity with Islam, point to the Crusades and the Inquisitions that happened centuries ago. Both of those events were orchestrated by the Roman Catholic Church and occurred in opposition to what Christ taught rather than in obedience to what He taught.

There is no comparison between true biblical Christianity and Islam. Christianity is the true Religion of Peace while Islam has historically used murder and violence to maintain itself and spread across the world.

Those who understand real Islam know that. Those who don't continue to live in an imaginary world of make believe. And believing that Islam is a peaceful religion will never change reality.

The Moment You Die

Few people contemplate death because it's an extremely depressing subject. Not only is death the destiny of all human beings, but it underscores the brevity of life.

And so, death is a topic that most folks avoid like a deadly plague until they're faced with the reality that their life is coming to an end.

Why do most people hate the topic of death? Because it terrifies them. Why? Because they don't know what happens after they die or where they'll be going.

Atheists reason that nothing exists beyond physical death because "when you're dead, you're dead." But that's ludicrous not merely because the Bible reveals that life goes on beyond the grave, but many folks who have never read the Bible have described graphic details of heaven and hell during near-death experiences.

Jesus Christ frequently talked about life beyond physical existence during his ministry in ancient Israel. In fact, he talked more about hell than he did about heaven. Why? Because hell is the destiny and abode of all sinners.

For example, here's what he said concerning the deadliness of sin: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)

Did Christ really encourage mutilation as a solution to combat sin? If it could prevent someone from being condemned to hell, then he encouraged it.

But Christ doesn't want us to mutilate ourselves in order to stop us from sinning. Even if mutilation could prevent us from sinning, it can't atone for the sins we've already committed.

And that's the reason why Christ came into this world: To pay the ultimate price for our sins on a Roman cross that we could never pay ourselves. Jesus said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

The eternal life that God promises us through our faith in Christ's atonement for our sins and His resurrection from the dead isn't some vain hope. It's real.

And it's a free gift that God offers to us no matter who we are or where we come from or how bad we are. For unlike fallen human beings, God doesn't play favorites. (Romans 2:11)

The security of eternal life in Christ is underscored by the writings of God's ancient prophets who recorded His words long before Christ appeared on earth.

For example, the prophet Isaiah, who lived over 700 years before Christ was born, recorded this: "But he (Christ) 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)

God's word emphatically teaches us that the work of our atonement was completed 2,000 years ago by Christ on the cross. There's absolutely nothing we can do to save ourselves. Rather, it's up to us to believe that Christ paid for our sins and publicly confess that before the world. (Romans 10:9-12)

The apostle Paul said it best: "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)

Therefore, no one needs to fear death if they've been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. And eternal life in Christ comes not by infant baptism, adherence to a system of religious sacraments or by one's own good deeds. It comes strictly by faith.

If you don't believe that, or refuse to because of religious or cultural reasons, then you should fear death. And you should be very afraid of what comes after you die.

Global Warming and World Government

Debating pseudoscience

What's Global Warming-Climate Change-Climate Correction really about? Is it truly about planet earth facing unmitigated disaster because of excessive carbon emissions?

Or, is it really about something else? Despite all the hysteria that's been spewed in recent years by so-called climatologists, the earth's atmosphere isn't heating up. In fact, it's remained quite steady over the past 17 years indicating that nothing much has been going on as the chart below clearly shows.

Global Warming? Not according to the evidence

And so, what's Global Warming truly all about? Let Vaclav Klaus, the former president of the Czech Republic (1998-2002) explain it: "As someone who lived under communism for most of my life, I feel obliged to say that the biggest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity at the beginning of the 21st century is not communism or its various softer variants. Communism was replaced by the threat of ambitious environmentalism."

Klaus believes that radical environmentalism has become the new communism of the 21st century. He understands how propaganda works and he understands who it works for and who it works against.

It works for global elitists who count on the stupidity and apathy of people to believe whatever they're told by those who pose as climate experts. It works against those who are either too stupid and or apathetic to take the time to investigate what they're being told is true or not.

Who are some of these elitists? They include Bill Gates, Al Gore, David Rockefeller, George Soros, Henry Kissinger, Ted Turner and George W. Bush. They are some of the most powerful and wealthy people on the planet and they believe that the solution to global peace and prosperity is the creation of a one-world government that would possess absolute power and authority over every person on the planet.

Why do they seek a world government? Because they're convinced that the earth's population is too large. And in their estimation, too many people on the planet causes widespread poverty and threatens the earth's ecosystem.

Therefore, some--if not many--people have to go. But how is global warming related to the earth's population?

Radical environmentalists claim that too much carbon dioxide is being emitted into the earth's atmosphere that's allegedly causing it to heat up. And unless the world unites to combat this nemesis, the world will turn into a giant desert.

What's the greatest source of carbon dioxide? Automobiles? No. Heavy industries? Again, no. It's human beings. Every time a person breathes, they exhale carbon dioxide. Therefore, human beings are the real enemy of radical environmentalists.

Here's what David Brower, the first executive director of the radical environmental group the Sierra Club has proposed: "Childbearing should be a punishable crime against society, unless the parents hold a government license. All potential parents should be required to use contraceptive chemicals, the government issuing antidotes to citizens chosen for childbearing."

And here's what media mogul Ted Turner says: "A total world population of 250 to 300 million people, a 95 percent decline from present levels would be ideal." 

And confrontational shock comedian Bill Maher says this: "I'm pro-choice, I'm for assisted suicide, I'm for regular suicide, I'm for whatever gets the freeway moving--that's what I'm for. It's too crowded--the planet's too crowded and we need to promote death."  
Thus, the ultimate solution of the elitists is a world government that would have the absolute power to determine who stays and who goes on the planet. 

And biblical prophecy warns us that a world government is coming that will indeed become a killing machine when it assumes power. Nearly 2,600 years ago, the prophet Daniel received a vision from God concerning four world empires symbolized as beasts that would rise and fall before the end of the age. 

According to Daniel, the fourth kingdom--the coming dreaded world government--will be a killing machine. Here's what Daniel wrote: "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)

The 10 horns represent 10 nation groups that will comprise this world government. How close are we to the reality of this one-world government? The more nations that are coerced into handing over their sovereignty and wealth to an international body such as the United Nations, the closer we get to a world government.

And how do nations give up their sovereignty? By handing over their wealth via carbon taxes to fight the phantom ghost of Global Warming-Climate Change-Climate Correction.

And so, if you want to follow the progress toward a one-world government, follow the money from the nations to the United Nations. 

The Prophetic Apostasy

Pope John Paul II kisses the Koran

Concerning the faith in the end times, Jesus Christ revealed two things: (1) That many people would abandon the church in the last days and (2) many false prophets would appear.

Here's what Christ said: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:10-11)

Christ clearly revealed that not only would many folks renounce Christianity in the last days, but that many would also leave the faith for an ecumenical counterfeit that would embrace all religions as valid paths to heaven.

It's obvious that many people are being led into a burgeoning end time ecumenical counterfeit by the very false prophets that Christ warned us to look out for. And by doing so, these folks are not only betraying their Lord Jesus Christ, but they're becoming spiteful of those who refuse to sell out Christ and join them in their ecumenical rebellion against God.  

Who are some of these false prophets? They include such big names such as Luis Palau, Rick Warren, Rick Joyner, Jack Van Impe and even the legendary Billy Graham.

Palau is an evangelist who has traveled the globe for many years promoting the Christian gospel. On his website (palau.org) his statement of faith proclaims the Trinity as God and the Bible as God's inspired word.

And yet, here's what Palau said in the past concerning God: "The bottom line is you can be any religion you want to be, as long as what you believe about God corresponds to reality." 
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ecumenism.htm

You can't "be any religion you want to be" if you believe that Jesus Christ is God's only true path to eternal life. (John 14:6) Islam doesn't believe that, nor does any other non-Christian faith. Their beliefs concerning God certainly don't correspond to the Bible's revelation of who God is. And yet, Palau believes that you can find God in any religion.

Warren, the pastor of Saddleback, a megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, believes that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, even though the Bible identifies God as Triune (three persons: God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit) while the Koran claims Allah is only one person.
http://slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/rick-warren-christians-and-muslims-serve-the-same-god/

The Rev. Graham, now in the winter of his life, has often praised the Roman Catholic Church and its commitment to the gospel even though the Catholic gospel is an unbiblical one based on works that can't save anyone.

In fact, Graham has been a close ally of the Vatican for over 50 years and has done more to legitimize Catholicism among Evangelicals and Protestants than anyone else outside of Rome.

And Graham also doesn't believe that a person needs to be born again in Christ in order to inherit eternal life. Here's what he said several years ago during an interview with Robert Schuller:  "I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."
http://apprising.org/2012/05/08/john-macarthur-on-roman-catholicism-billy-graham-and-evangelical-inclusivism/

Of course, when Palau, Warren, Graham and others are confronted with their heresies, they often claim that their comments were either taken out of context or they've been misquoted. But they haven't been misquoted. They've betrayed Christ.

And that's their prerogative if they choose to do so. But by doing that they're leading millions astray by promoting the ageless lie that all religions are valid and lead to God. They don't.

There's only one path to God and that's through Jesus Christ. Concerning that path, Christ said this: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Heavenly Father except through me." (John 14:6)

When he was nearing the end of his life, the apostle Paul said this: "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock." (Acts 20:29)

And certainly, Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled in these very last days preceding Christ's return. The savage wolves are hard for many to spot because they're wearing sheep's clothing.

Iran and 2016

While the nation of Iran has been a troublemaker in the world since 1979 when the Ayatollah Khomeini and his supporters overthrew the Shah, its rise to power is prophetic.

Iran's rise was foretold nearly 2,600 years ago by the Hebrew prophet Daniel. The prophet received a vision from God concerning the end times and the rise of a powerful entity that was symbolized as a two-horned ram. (Daniel 8)

In his vision, Daniel saw the ram obliterate all of its opposition until a shaggy, single-horned goat that traveled a great distance across the earth confronted and destroyed the ram.

What do the ram and the goat represent? An angel of the Lord explained to Daniel that the ram represented the kings of Media and Persia while the goat represented the king of Greece. The angel explained that these two kingdoms would terrorize the world for a period of time until the king of Greece attacked and destroyed them.

Many biblical scholars believe that Daniel's prophecy was fulfilled in 331 B.C. when Alexander the Great invaded and conquered Persia. However, the prophecy couldn't have been fulfilled then because the angel told Daniel that "the vision concerns the appointed time of the end." (Daniel 8:19)

When Alexander invaded Persia, Jesus Christ had yet to appear on earth, so Daniel's prophecy wasn't fulfilled then. It still hasn't been fulfilled, but its fulfillment is near.

Many scholars are puzzled by one of the players in this upcoming confrontation. They recognize that Media is now part of Iraq-Iran and Persia is now Iran. But Greece? Isn't modern Greece a weak nation with no military to speak of? How could Greece lead a successful invasion of Iran?

This calls for wisdom. Greece was the most prominent gentile nation on earth in the ancient times. In fact, the term Greek was often used as a reference to the gentiles, something the apostle Paul did in his epistles. (1 Corinthians 1:22, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11)

Therefore, the nation of Greece in Daniel's vision is symbolic for another gentile nation. What nation could that be? Daniel saw the allegorical goat come from the west, "crossing the whole earth without touching the ground." (Daniel 8:5) 

The literal nation of Greece exists to the northwest of Iran. The nation described by Daniel in his vision comes from a distant western location. And in the vision, this nation crosses the earth without touching the ground.

That sounds like an aerial invasion of jet fighters. They will have to come from a powerful nation that possesses a potent military. That certainly doesn't sound like the invasion will come from Greece, does it?

So what is the identity of the nation that will destroy Iran and its nuclear facilities? That nation is the United States that remains the world's greatest military superpower for the time being.

Certainly, this invasion will never take place under the abominable and inept Obama administration. That's why it has to take place under a different administration that recognizes just how dangerous a nuclear Iran is to Israel and the rest of the world.

That's why the upcoming 2016 presidential election in America is extremely important. Certainly, the forces of evil led by Satan want to elect another Barack Obama who will attempt to appease the enemies of Israel and the free world.

If Americans elect another Obama, then Iran will likely attempt nuclear attacks against Israel, Europe and the United States.

But biblical prophecy tells us that Iran's days are numbered. Unfortunately, so are America's. Daniel also recorded that after the allegorical goat destroys the ram, it will be cut off. (Daniel 8:8)  That means that the U.S. is going to fall from its superpower status to be replaced by four new kingdoms.

Why is America going to collapse as a world power? Stay tuned.

Bad Leaders and a Bad Culture

Barack Obama: A reflection of society

Many Americans are in a celebratory mood after the recent mid-term election that saw the Republican Party gain control over the Senate.

That means the Republicans control both the House and the Senate for the first time since 2006. While that gives a lot of folks the hope that life will finally start improving in America after six years of Barack Obama, they shouldn't get their hopes up.

Political leaders--especially bad ones such as Obama--are the mirror reflection of the society they come from. If a society is morally strong, then it will produce people of strong moral character who fear God and shun evil.

But if a society is morally weak, then it will produce people of bad moral character who will lie, steal and cheat the people who elected them to office.

Thus, the very reason why bad leaders get elected to office is because the people who vote for them are as bad--or even worse--than they are.

Barack Obama isn't some angel who became a victim of the polluted culture of Washington, D.C. He's a bad person and he's always been a bad person.

For starters, he's a Marxist who sat at the feet of communists such as Frank Marshall Davis and Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. He also embraced the bigotry of Harvard Professor Derrick Bell and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright whose racism was indistinguishable from the likes of Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan.

As a young Chicago lawyer working for the firm Davis, Miner and Barnhill in the early 1990s, Obama represented reprehensible slumlords such as Tony Rezko and Bishop Arthur Brazier. And Obama learned his politics from the utterly contemptible Chicago Democratic Machine that's made an art form out of corruption.

All this was well known even before Obama ran for the presidency. And yet millions of people who voted for Obama twice are expressing buyer's remorse, now claiming they were unaware of his sordid past.

If they were indeed unaware of his past, it's because they were too lazy to find out. And laziness is a foundational cause of moral weakness.

Over 80 years ago, the moral apathy of a nation led to the rise of one of history's worst mass murderers. In 1933, the German people elected Adolf Hitler as their chancellor, ostensible based upon his lofty rhetoric and hypnotic speeches that promised to fundamentally transform Germany and lead the nation into a new, prosperous age.

Does that sound familiar? It should. Like America in 2008, Germany was suffering severe economic problems in 1933. Like many Americans in 2008, Germans were looking for a messianic figure who would lead them out of despair and the economic abyss.

Germans were so desperate for a messiah that they willingly allowed themselves to be conned by Hitler.

And after the mask came off and Hitler revealed himself to be the monster he really was, many Germans expressed the same buyer's remorse that Americans have expressed with Obama. Many Germans professed shock that Hitler had not only betrayed them but had turned out to be so evil.

Sadly, had they bothered to vet Hitler, they would've discovered what he was all about. In 1925, Hitler published Mein Kampf that revealed his totalitarian ideology and his utter contempt for the Jews that he wanted to eliminate from the face of the earth.

Had the German people taken the time to background check Hitler, they could have prevented the Holocaust and World War II. But they refused. And the rest is history.

Certainly, Barack Obama isn't Adolf Hitler. But he's still a terrible leader who's undeserving and unqualified for the presidency. And he's in the White House because of the stupidity and apathy of millions of Americans who projected in Obama what they saw in themselves.

Nearly 3,000 years ago, Solomon wrote this: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7)

Without the fear of God in the land, people become stupid, lazy and morally corrupt. And they choose wicked leaders who are the mirror image of themselves.

The Endless Spiritual War

Many Christians believe that the ongoing cultural battle they face on a daily basis can simply be won at the ballot box. They're convinced that morality is something that can be imposed by legislative fiat.

But it can't be. If you want a strong, stable and moral civilization, then you have to start by raising children in biblical Judeo-Christian values so that they'll grow up to be God-fearing adults.

And you have to present those biblical values in a relevant way so that when the children become adults, they won't abandon them. Nearly 3,000 years ago, Solomon wrote this: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

The main reason why so many young folks today have rejected Christianity is because they see it as irrelevant. They view Christianity as an outdated belief system that was for their parents and grandparents, but isn't for them.

And the reason why Christianity has become so irrelevant throughout the western world is because Christendom has failed to contend for the faith that the apostle Jude (Jude 1:3) commanded the early church to never cease doing.

Jude warned the early church to contend for the faith because he recognized that Christendom had a diabolical enemy in the heavenly realms that worked tirelessly to destroy the church from within and without.

The apostle Paul identified the enemy as Satan. Furthermore, he recognized that Satan worked to marginalize and destroy the church through the popular culture.

Here's what Paul wrote: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:10-13)

How does Satan battle the church? He encourages the secular world to embrace his lies such as evolution, relativism, existentialism and universalism.

And since he has authority over everyone who doesn't belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ, he has an advantage in the sheer number of people he controls. Those are the folks he influences to do his evil bidding.

And many of the folks who willingly do his bidding have made contact with him and his demons through such channels as the occult, false religions, eastern mysticism and hallucinogenic drugs.

Paul called Satan, "the god of this age (who) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

The folks who have been blinded by Satan include violent jihadists who believe that heaven is obtained by murdering infidels; morally depraved celebrities, godless educators, and atheist politicians who want to eradicate Christianity.

Oh yes: The devil even tries to influence Christians to conduct their battles in the flesh by using the ballot box instead of the Spirit of God to advance the faith. Many Christians are convinced that they can fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20) by simply electing candidates who embrace conservative values.

But the Great Commission isn't advanced that way. It's never been advanced that way. And it will never be. That's why the western world has sunken into an immoral abyss. Because too much of the church has forgotten what Paul wrote to the early Ephesian Church 2,000 years ago. And as a result, Christianity has lost its influence.

If Christians want to rescue the world from its descent into depravity, then they're going to have to make their faith relevant once again.

That means that they're going to have to turn off their TV's; get off of their butts, get out of their churches and start preaching the Gospel once again. It won't be easy. But it's the only way.

When Evil Prevails

A preemie: Considered unworthy of life by a growing number of people

When the apostle Paul warned that terrible times would prevail across the world in the end times preceding the return of Jesus Christ, I don't think that even he realized just how bad things would get.

Here's what Paul wrote in his second letter to fellow apostle Timothy: "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. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Unless you live in an alternative universe--and many people do--then you know firsthand that Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled in our time.

Recently, a group of students at the University of Texas in Austin signed a petition that promotes the killing of children up to five years of age. Think about that for a moment. The petition asked students to support the killing of young children up to the age of five.

While some students recoiled at that hideous proposal, others didn't. In fact, a reporter from infowars.com named Joe Biggs who traveled to the Austin campus with the mock petition, actually got 12 students to sign it in less than an hour. 

Biggs undertook his assignment after an article that appeared on a website called The College Fix reported how infanticide is becoming increasingly acceptable among millenials. 

http://www.thecollegefix.com/?s=infanticide

Biggs wanted to see for himself just how prevalent this attitude has become among college students, so he created his petition and took it to UT. Afterward, Biggs remarked: "A little piece of me died today with this. It broke my heart."

Anyone with a conscience should be stunned that there are so many young people in the world today that have such little regard for life. But when you consider that over three generations of Americans have been brainwashed in the godless values of atheistic Darwinism via corrupt government schools, this shouldn't come as a surprise.

A growing number of young people see life as cheap, meaningless and disposable. They don't believe that human life has any more value or distinction than insects or worms. And they don't view human beings as created in the image of a Holy God, but rather the end product of millions of years of random evolutionary forces.

For the record, when people are asked to explain their support for infanticide, they reason that children below the age of five do not possess "self-awareness" and therefore cannot be considered human beings. That's absolutely frightening.

Kristina Garza, a spokeswoman for Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, traces the increasing social acceptance of infanticide among millennials to an arch-radical Princeton University professor named Peter Singer who wrote in 1979 that "human babies are not born self-aware, or capable of grasping that they exist over time. They are not persons … [therefore] the life of a newborn is of less value than the life of a pig, a dog, or a chimpanzee." 

While Singer has been dismissed as a kook by many people, he shouldn't be. He's an extremely dangerous man whose ideas are taken seriously by educators and leftists in the U.S. government who believe that the earth's population is too large and has to be drastically reduced.

Singer's ideas have also been neatly incorporated into the popular culture that increasingly believes that overpopulation is one of the causes of Global Warming-Climate Change. When you mix atheistic evolution with the radical ideas of Peter Singer, you create a volatile mix that manifests in the callous attitudes of young people who have no problem with murdering children.

The common denominator for this shocking embrace of evil in the last days is the impotency of the Christian Church that has failed miserably to "contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3) and keep it relevant to the world. 

Remember, Paul revealed that a form of powerless godliness would exist in the last days. (2 Timothy 3:5) That powerless form of godliness is the weak and decrepit Christian Church that has made such abominations as infanticide so socially acceptable among young folks today.

Catholicism and Christianity

Idolatry: Our Lady of the Roses

Millions of folks throughout the world consider Roman Catholicism to be synonymous with Christianity. And millions of folks consider Roman Catholicism to be based upon the Bible.

Both assumptions are wrong. The Roman Catholic Church can't be considered a genuine Christian faith because it isn't based upon the Bible. And it never was.

Rather, the Roman Catholic Church offers a different gospel and a peculiar theology based upon the compromise of pagan religious traditions and manmade doctrines. The Bible's role in the Roman Catholic Church is to support church doctrines rather than to correct or refute them.

As such, whenever the Bible clashes with Roman Catholic theology--which it frequently does--the Catholic Church acquiesces to its doctrines and traditions over biblical exegesis. Roman Catholics are encouraged by their clergy to listen to the church and ignore the Bible whenever the church and scripture are at odds.

For example, the Catholic Church has promoted evolution for over 60 years. Although the Bible's Book of Genesis clearly teaches that God created the physical universe and life in six literal days (Genesis 1:31), the Catholic Church denounces the Genesis revelation as merely an allegorical account that can't be taken literally.

Here's what Pope Francis said recently when he was asked about his church's teachings on the origin of life and the universe versus the Genesis account: "When we read the creation story in Genesis we run the risk of imagining that God was a magician, with a magic wand which is able to do everything. But it is not so. He created beings and let them develop according to internal laws which He gave every one, so they would develop, so they would reach maturity."
http://www.iflscience.com/brain/pope-endorses-scientific-account-origins

Then, Pope Francis said this: "The big bang, which is today posited as the origin of the world, does not contradict the divine act of creation; rather, it requires it."

That's pure bull. Even eminent scientist Albert Einstein, an agnostic who doubted God's existence, called the Big Bang theory a myth.

Why? Because, according to Einstein, if the universe occurred after an intense ball of matter exploded millions of years ago, then that matter would've been dispersed haphazardly throughout the universe. Instead, Einstein reasoned that the universe shows incredible design via the organization of the planets around stars in solar systems and the rotation of the galaxies.

Furthermore, Einstein reasoned that if the universe occurred via the Big Bang, then all the organic matter necessary for life would've been sterilized and destroyed by the intense heat from such an explosion. Thus, according to Einstein, evolution couldn't have occurred.

There are other serious theological problems with evolution and the Big Bang. If life indeed evolved over several millions of years, then man wasn't made in God's image as the Bible reveals (Genesis 1:26) but became the end product of random evolutionary forces.

If evolution is true, then death didn't enter God's creation with the initial sins of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:19) but existed long before the appearance of the first human couple.

And if evolution is true, then the Bible presents a fallacious account of God's creation of life and the physical universe, and is thus unreliable as a source of God's truth and wisdom.

And if evolution is true, as the Roman Catholic Church attests, then Christ's death on Calvary's cross becomes a murder rather than the everlasting atonement for the sins of mankind.

And so, stop and think about this: Assuming that you believe in God, when you look at His magnificent creation and the awesome beauty of the physical universe, then why would he have had to bring that about by some Big Bang and evolution?

Wouldn't you agree that he has the power to create life and the universe in six literal days? What possible purpose does the Big Bang and evolution serve to an incredible God who is brilliant and powerful beyond human comprehension?

And yet, the Roman Catholic Church claims that that's how God created the physical universe and life. However, the evidence says otherwise.

Nearly 2,800 years ago, the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote this concerning those who reject the wisdom of God for the idiocy of man's vain fantasies: "To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." (Isaiah 8:20)

The Roman Catholic Church has no light of dawn. It promotes a false gospel of works that condemns its adherents to hell; it promotes a false narrative of God's creation of the physical universe and life and it leads multitudes astray.

The Roman Catholic Church isn't Christian. And it never was. Rather, it's a dangerous cult that all discerning Christians should avoid like a deadly plague.

Contacting the Unholy

The Ouija Board

Biblical prophecy warns us that as we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ, the world will grow more violent and unholy.

Certainly, we've seen a significant increase in violence across the world over the past 100 years with the explosion of crime and numerous wars. In fact, more people died in wars fought in the 20th century (203 million) than in all the previous centuries combined.

But what about spiritual evil? How can that be measured? It can be measured in the growth of the occult industry that has expanded significantly since the dawn of the previous century.

While no there are no definitive statistics that underline the growth of the occult, it has become a lucrative industry for many and has gained significant credibility with the public in recent years.

Many people not only consider psychics to be at least as credible as psychiatrists and psychologists, they consider them to be more reliable for spiritual counsel than clergy. As such, they often seek help from psychics and psychiatrists before the clergy.

In the past, those who consulted with mediums and spiritists were usually considered uneducated, gullible and simple-minded. But not anymore.

According to the American Federation of Certified Psychics and Mediums Inc., in 2012, the average annual income for men who consulted psychics ranged from $40,000-$95,000 while the average annual income of women ranged from $20,000-$100,000.

Furthermore, the AFCPM estimates that on the average, men spend up to $2,000 on psychics while women spend $5,000. And furthermore, the average age of men who consult psychics is between 27-54 while the average age for women is between 21-60. Those are the age groups of people these days who are most likely to abandon Christianity.

The AFCPM also estimates that while only 300 men were willing to spend as much as $10,000 on psychics in 2011-12, a whopping 275,000 women were willing to spend that much to seek spiritual counsel from these folks.

As far as lucrative careers go, the AFCPM claims that successful psychics and mediums in the United States can earn in excess of $5 million annually. Obviously, the fortunetelling business can be very lucrative for those who obtain a large client base.

But why has the occult industry become so successful over the past several decades? Simply because the Christian Church has lost its influence over the culture. Fewer people trust the church and the Bible to provide for their spiritual and emotional needs. Thus, they are looking elsewhere for spiritual counsel. And by turning to psychics and mediums, they are turning to a dark spiritual realm ruled by Satan and his demons.

Nearly 2,000 year ago, the apostle Paul warned that 'in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1) Paul clearly revealed that in the end times, some Christians would become seduced by occultic doctrine and leave the church.
Jesus Christ also warned that "at that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:10-11)

And in his second letter to fellow apostle Timothy, Paul wrote this: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Many of these myths are being taught by demons that are communicating through psychics and mediums. What are some of these myths? One of the greatest myths the demons teach is that all religions are valid and lead to God. Another myth these unclean spirits teach is that hell doesn't exist.

Still another myth being taught is that God isn't a person but is rather a "life-force" or impersonal power, which is what the eastern religions teach.

But perhaps the greatest myth being conveyed through mediums and psychics is the falsehood that folks can make contact with deceased parents, relatives and friends. It is this belief that encourages many to turn to psychics in the hope that they'll be able to contact someone who is dead.

For example, a psychic named Julia Mary who operates in Detroit, Mi. related of a session with a woman whose dead brother allegedly made contact and encouraged his sister to divorce her husband. psychic medium michigan detroit

Renowned spiritist John Edward became a psychic after he was convinced by a medium that "highly evolved beings" dressed in white and gold were eagerly waiting to help him develop his "gift." As for the identity of these beings, Edward says this: "I have a hard time using the term angels in that realm. I don't feel comfortable doing that. One of them (spirit being) is an American Indian." Heaven, Hell and Talking With the Dead: Psychic John Edward Describes Discovering His Alleged Abilities and His Spirit 'Mafia' | TheBlaze.com

Not surprisingly, Edward's "spirit beings" describe the afterlife quite differently than the Bible does. Heaven, according Edward, is an "alternative dimension that we can access through portals, a place of communication and connection, a place of learning...a spiritual, energetic internet."

The reality is that the so-called spirit beings that Edward and other mediums are contacting are actually demons under Satan's authority that are extremely adept at impersonating the dead. They have extensive knowledge of the deceased and they use that knowledge to convince their human dupes that they are dead relatives, parents, acquaintances and friends who are now living happily in the spiritual world.

The purpose of this deceit is twofold: (1) To convince people that they can contact the dead and (2) that no eternal judgment for sin exists after physical death. Folks who attempt to contact the dead via psychics and mediums commit a grievous sin that brings them under God's judgment: "I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people." (Leviticus 20:6)

This is what Moses recorded concerning God's law that forbids everyone from practicing the occult: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

While many folks believe that those laws only applied to the ancient nation of Israel, they apply to everyone. And anyone who has attempted to contact the spiritual realm will not go unpunished. In fact, whether someone has consulted with a medium or merely read a horoscope, they will still come under judgment and even a curse for violating God's decrees against occultism.

Sadly, many folks--including biblically illiterate Christians--will get involved with the occult during the month of October because of the pagan celebration of Halloween. Many people will foolishly attempt to contact the dead via Tarot cards, the Ouija Board, or some other occult technique. Rather than harmless Halloween pranks, these devices are magnets for demonic spirits that can bring spiritual deception, oppression and even possession. And Christians have absolutely no excuse for dabbling in such abominations.

Remember the horror film The Exorcist? It was based upon the true story of an adolescent boy who attempted to contact his deceased grandmother via the Ouija Board. The boy, who was called Roland Doe, became possessed by a powerful demon that couldn't even be contained by chains, much like the demoniac recorded in Luke's gospel. (Luke 8:26-39)

The occult is very real and very dangerous. Halloween, along with its pagan practices is a demonic holiday that's historically been used by Satan as a recruiting tool to lure biblically ignorant people into the occult. And once they take the bait and get involved in some occult activity, they come under God's judgment. And that judgment can involve anything from sickness, disease, misfortune, death etc.

Concerning those who seek spiritual counsel, the Bible says this: "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." (Isaiah 8:19-20)