A Spiritual Trojan Horse

 

The story of the Trojan Horse came from the war between the Greeks, and the City of Troy, located in modern day Turkey. After ten years of siege, the Greeks had not been able to penetrate the wall around Troy, nor force surrender. They convinced the citizens of Troy that they were retreating by ship, and left a large horse outside the wall of the city. The horse, the Trojans were told, was a peace offering. However, the Greeks had hidden a force of soldiers inside the horse. The Trojans brought the horse inside the gates of the wall, and when night fell, the hidden Greeks came out of the horse and opened the gates of Troy for the enemy Greek army to enter. Troy fell to the Greeks.

This message is about a spiritual Trojan Horse. It is a deception of the End Times. It is already operating in the American church. There are many in the church who profess Christ, but do not possess Christ. Many are not taught the scriptures, and rely upon what they hear about Christ from other sources.
Jesus offered this parable to describe the condition in Mt. 13:24-30:
"The kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way."
As the crops grew and matured, it became apparent that tares were also among the crop. Tares look like wheat while growing, but do not produce a head of grain at maturity. It was obvious that an enemy had done this, but the owner told his servants to wait until the harvest to separate the wheat from the tares, the false wheat. The wheat would be gathered into the barn, but the tares would be gathered for the fire. The purpose of the tares was to affect the fullness of the harvest with a counterfeit. As the time of spiritual harvest draws near, the time of the separation between the genuine and the counterfeit also draws near.
Jesus points out that the tares were able to be sown by an enemy while all were sleeping. The church is also seemingly asleep, not awake nor aware of the Last Days, nor the dangers of this age. This makes the church vulnerable to this kind of attack.
All of the apostles of the New Testament are united by their revelations, and in their descriptions, of the spiritual condition of the End Times. It is a time of deception and counterfeits. They are also in agreement that the deception will fool many.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world....Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God...and every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."     1 Jn. 4:1-3
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you , who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."   2 Pet. 2:1-2
Not only do the false teachings deceive many, but evil will be spoken about the truth of God, the truth of Jesus. We are already living in these conditions. As the Apostle John said, it "is now already in the world." Jesus also spoke about false prophets coming:
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because iniquity (perversity, depravity, moral evil, wickedness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."   Mt. 24:11-13
The deception will be accepted by not just a few, but by many. Even those who love Him will believe the deception because iniquity has become so prevalent around them. We see that abounding iniquity now. Not only does it abound, but it is without repentance.
The Apostle Paul described manifestations of this iniquity:
"This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."    2 Tim. 3:1-5
Paul is describing the days in which we live. These men claim to know God, like the tares pretended to be wheat in the parable of Jesus. Paul goes on to describe how these men lead others astray into deception. The most vulnerable are those who are the least familiar with the truth of God (v. 6-7). These deceivers not only spread falsehood, but actively resist and rebel against the truth, and those who teach the truth (v.8).
These false doctrines teach deceptions about the Word of God, about who Jesus was in the flesh, what He taught and the miracles He performed. They also falsely describe the timing and manner of His soon return, and offer counterfeits of all. Jesus warned His disciples that false Christs and false prophets would arise. It would be claimed that Christ would be found in various locations, saying "Here He is". These false Christs and false prophets would show many wonders and great signs, so impressive, that even the most knowledgeable and elect of God's people will be fooled (Mt. 24:22-24).  Jesus concludes by warning us, "Behold, I have told you before."



In order to prepare us for the lies that will be told, and are even now being told, Jesus described for us His return. It will be unlike His first coming, when He was born in the flesh:
"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."       Mt. 24:27
No one will have to go to a geographical location to find Him, for all shall see the moment of His return.
We read in 2 Pet. 3:1-8, that many in the last days will mock the idea of the return of Christ as taught by the holy prophets and the apostles by saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?...all things continue as they were..."
We see articles and books written now, even by spiritual leaders of the church, with these very same arguments and disregard for the Word of God. Even now, many are accepting these things as truth.
The deceptive Trojan Horse of history was accepted as a peace offering after years of terrible siege. Many today are quick to accept a similar "peace offering" of false prophets teaching false doctrine, even false Christs, because they sound and seem good. They are received as a relief from the turbulence and turmoil of our age. However, like the people of Troy, they will find that the deceptive "peace offering" of lies, once inside their gates, will only lead to their destruction. The turmoil will only grow worse in the days ahead, but the lies are not Christ, and they cannot save. In this age of deception, it will not be enough to know "about" Jesus. In order to withstand the deception, we will have to know Him for ourselves, and know His Word for ourselves, for His Word is saving truth.
As Jesus said, "Behold, I have told you before."



It's Time To Call Fire Down From Heaven

 

 There is a spiritual condition among us, the people of God, that mirrors a condition of the people of God in scripture. It is the failure to distinguish between the LORD God, and the gods of this world. 

Near the beginning in scripture, we see the birth of Adam's grandson, Enosh. The name Enosh means "mortal man, weak, sick, frail, incurable, woeful". Sin in mankind was already taking a toll, as Enosh's name reveals. It is at this time that "men began to call upon the name of the LORD." (Gen. 4:26). Men realized that they needed to call upon and rely upon the LORD God for their very lives.

As the generations progress, we are introduced to a god, an idol named Baal in Num. 22:41- 23:1. Baal's name means, "lord, master, husband". We are told that the high places had been dedicated to this god. The Moabite king, Balak ("devastator, lay waste, to make empty and void"), sought out a certain oracle, Balaam ("not of the people"), son of Beor ("burn up, wasted") from Pethor ("soothsayer"). King Balak wants Balaam to curse the people of God, whom he feared, who had settled next to his lands after escaping Egypt (Gen. 22:5-6). From these high places of the god Baal, the full extent of the people of God could be seen. Seven altars were built there, and sacrifices offered. The LORD God did not allow the oracle, Balaam, to curse His people even though Balaam was willing to do so for the reward he would receive (2 Pet. 2:15, Jude 1:11). It is interesting to note that Balaam does counsel King Balak to allow his people to have intimacy with the Israelites in order to destroy them from within. It is through this intimacy that Baal worship was introduced into their midst according to Moses (Num. 31:16). Jesus also warned His own church at Pergamos about the insidious counsel of Balaam within their midst, and its destructive effect, again because of reckless intimacy ( Rev. 2:14). The name Pergamos means a fortified tower of great height used to repel a hostile attack, and to enable a watchman to see in every direction. Instead of this church being a spiritual tower of defense, Jesus said that the enemy, Baal, was able to enter into it.

As the Israelites settled in their new land in Canaan, their leader Joshua, and the generation of elders with him, passed away. This generation had knowledge the great name of the LORD, and had witnessed the great works of the LORD God among the people of Israel. The generation of Israel that rose after them did not know the LORD, and did evil in His sight by serving the Baals (Judges 2:8-13). When our younger generations do not know the name of the LORD or His works, they become vulnerable to a counterfeit, and its consequences. This danger has come upon our own children as the knowledge of the LORD has been systematically removed from them.

The nature of Baal worship should sound very familiar to us today. Some of the practices included perverse sexual activity as part of worship, religious prostitution, human sacrifice, child sacrifice by burning in fire, even burying these children in the foundations of new building projects to insure economic favor and prosperity (I Ki. 16:34). It also included the worship of the creation - the sun, moon, and stars. The danger of Baalism is not just in the manner of worship. The danger lies in the fact that it inserts itself among the people of God in a way that makes them unaware that they are no longer worshipping God, but Baal.

 



In the time of Gideon, whom the LORD used to bring deliverance to His people, Baal worship was flourishing among God's people. Gideon's own father had erected an altar to Baal. His father's name was Joash, which means "Given by the LORD, "The Altar Fire of the LORD", yet he built an altar for fire to Baal. Gideon destroyed this altar, as the LORD instructed him to do, and built an altar to the LORD and gave sacrifices upon it (Judges 6:25-26). When the men of the city found out that Gideon had destroyed Baal's altar, they wanted to kill him (v. 30). Gideon's father finally spoke up and told the mob to let Baal plead for himself! Challenging the worship of Baal, whether then or now, results in persecution, even the threat of death.

Later, in the times of the kings of Israel, King Ahab ("Kinsman or brother of the Father") married the daughter of Ethbaal ("with Baal"). This daughter was named Jezebel ("Baal exalts, Baal is husband"). After Baal worship entered in through this marriage, Ahab not only built altars to Baal, but temples as well. Because their king was under the influence of Baal, the whole nation became affected. Prophets served Baal and this queen, for the favor and riches they received at her table (1 Ki. 18:19). The religious and government systems enabled and supported each other in this idolatrous worship. We see a similar situation today as churches compromise the truth in agreement with the government in order to keep certain privileges. Those prophets of the LORD who did challenge Baal worship in Israel were persecuted and killed (v.4).

However, as the LORD knew, and as He instructed His prophet Elijah, the challenge and showdown with Baal and his servants would have to take place for the sake of the hearts and souls of God's children, Israel. The prophet Elijah set up the challenge between himself, as a prophet of the LORD, and the false prophets of Baal. To all the people of the land Elijah demanded:

"How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word."   1 Ki. 18:21

The people were unable to choose between the LORD and Baal. They could not distinguish between the two. This was their spiritual condition.

Elijah told the people that he would challenge the prophets of Baal in the following manner:

"Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."   1 Ki. 18:24

The prophets of Baal built an altar and prepared a sacrifice for the god they served. Elijah repaired the altar in the name of the LORD that had been broken down, using twelve stones to represent the tribes of Israel. His offering was prepared. The prophets of Baal were in a frenzy, trying their hardest to move their god to answer them, even cutting themselves to draw blood, while Elijah mocked.

Elijah then had the LORD's altar and offering drenched with water several times and prayed,

"...let it be known this day that You are God in Israel...Hear me, O LORD, hear that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again...Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench."

As they witnessed the fire of the LORD, the people fell on their faces and cried out,

"The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"   (1 Ki. 18:36-37,39)

In many cases, like the Israelites of scripture, the Church of our time has accepted the customs and beliefs of the people around them. Like the prophets of Baal, they are awash with corruption and worldliness in an effort to make the unholy, holy for the favor and advantages they receive at the queen's table. The Baal-type worship of abortion, sexual promiscuity and sin, the acceptance of lies about marriage, the worship of the creation rather than the Creator even in churches today, is practiced under the guise of "social justice", "love", "tolerance", and "relevance to the times". However neither the LORD God, nor Jesus changes (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8). So how can a church change the intent and meaning of the Word of God, saying this is who Jesus and the Father now are, and this what They now say?  Baalism has infiltrated, and they are no longer able to differentiate between Jesus and Baal. At the same time, many in our nation, including in the church, are told that foreign gods, by whatever various names they are called, are the same as the only LORD God, but this is not the truth. As a result, there is no discernment in the peoples' hearts between the false gods of this world, the Baalim, and God who is Creator, Father, and LORD. All of these things are rooted in the same deception and darkness that stole the hearts of God's people away from Him so long ago.

This is the word for the churches: For those who still know the name of the LORD, for those who still know His works, and still serve Him, it is time to challenge the false prophets of Baal in our time, and to call down the fire from heaven. This is not a fire of judgment, as Jesus' disciples desired (Lk. 9:52-56). This is a fire of the revelation of the LORD God as it purges, and cleanses the hearts of His people, to turn them back to Him. It is a fire that comes to save lives, not to destroy them. Only then will we once again hear in our land, "The LORD, He is God!  The LORD, He is God!"

Photo top: Elijah calls down the fire of heaven

Photo center: Gideon destroys the altar of Baal



Are You Ready To Come Out?

 

 

 

Jesus taught about a separation that must take place before the Son of Man would be revealed. It is a separation process directed by God. He pointed to examples of this in scripture:

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise, as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed."        Lk. 17:26-30

Not only did Jesus teach about a physical separation between those who belong to God and His righteousness and those who have rejected it, but also a separation from anything that might continue the connection between the two:

"In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his stuff is in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise, the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."     v. 31-34

Jesus refers to Lot's wife as a warning to those who do not make a complete separation.
Twice, the angels, who were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, had to separate Lot from Sodom. Once when Lot tried to reason with, and make a compromise with the inhabitants of Sodom who demanded access to the angels in Lot's house. Their desire was to molest the angels. The men of Sodom accused Lot of being a sojourner in their city, who now thought he could judge them. This sounds very similar to attitudes found in our society today toward those who do not compromise the Word concerning sin. The angels physically grabbed Lot to pull him back into his house, and they shut the door (Gen. 19:10). After this separation, the angels blinded the inhabitants of Sodom.
The second separation occurred after the angels commanded Lot to hurry and get out of the city:
"...whomever you have in this city-take them out of this place!...lest you be consumed in the punishment of this city."    Gen 19:12



Yet, even after the urgency of this command, Lot lingered (v. 16). The angels took hold of Lot's hands, and those of his family, and brought him out, and set him outside the city. The angels told him to hurry, because they could not do anything until he arrived at a safe place (v. 22). From that nearby city, disregarding the angels' warning, Lot's wife looked back behind Lot as the destruction of Sodom began, and she became a pillar of salt (v. 26). Sometimes we also are reluctant to separate from the world and the possessions of the world when the call comes. We try to reason and compromise with unrighteousness. We linger, and look back at what is supposed to be left behind. We waver because others, like Lot's sons-in-law, laugh and treat the idea as a joke.  As Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife."
As Jesus emphasized, the separation must be complete, with nothing compelling us to "look back", or return. In fact, the angels told Lot that God's plan of deliverance could not proceed until His people, Lot and his family, had separated themselves for their own safety. Jesus taught that it would be the same, when He is about to be revealed.
What allowed Lot to finally be physically separated from Sodom, was the fact that he was spiritually separated from it. He was a righteous man who was vexed and oppressed in his soul from day to day hearing and seeing the lawless deeds of Sodom (2 Pet. 2:8). Are we also vexed and tormented in our souls as we witness the Sodom around us, or have we adjusted to it and become "tolerant" of it? We need to get out of it, and separate from it in order for the deliverance of the LORD to take place, in order for the Son of Man to be revealed.

Isaiah talks about a strong city that opens its gates allowing the righteous nation who keeps the truth to enter in. They are kept in perfect peace because their minds and their trust are stayed on the LORD. His name is the desire of their souls. Their souls have sought Him by night, and their spirits have sought Him by early morning. They understand that the judgments of the LORD are not just to punish and destroy, but to reveal hidden evil and teach righteousness to the inhabitants of the world, thereby saving those who will receive it (Isa. 26:1-9). However, though they have prayed and feel that the time of deliverance is at hand, they do not see the deliverance of God until they have come out, and separated themselves:

"Come, My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood(shed), and will no more cover her slain."      Isa. 26:20-21



This great deliverance that occurs upon the closing in, or separation of God's people, not only deals with the iniquity of bloodshed hidden by the earth, but also brings resurrection of the dead from the same earth:

 

"Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise.

Awake and sing you who dwell in the dust;

For your dew is like the dew of herbs,

And the earth shall cast out the dead."    Isa. 26:19

 

As Jesus told us in Lk. 17, the separation of God's people must come before God's deliverance is seen, and the Son of Man, seen above in Isaiah as The Resurrection, is revealed.

Scripture also describes the demonic stronghold of Babylon, which is drunk on the blood of the saints, and is the mother of all the abominations of the earth (Rev. 17:5-6). It will be judged, and the earth will be delivered from her. The earth will be delivered from the plagues of death, mourning, and famine which are contained within her (v. 8). As Jesus warned us in Lk. 17 not to even take the time to go back for our goods, all of Babylon's riches, luxuries, goods, precious objects, merchandise, all the things which are rich and splendid, even the bodies and souls of men belonging to her, will be destroyed with her:

"For in one hour such great riches came to nothing..."     Rev. 18:17
Some think Babylon is a false religious system, rather than a political/commercial power, perhaps even an apostate church, which opposes the true Church, the Bride of Christ. F.B. Meyer, commenting on this possibility said, "...the seat of the great apostasy. If that be the case, the merchandise described here does not refer to literal commerce, but to the carnal delights which are often permitted and fostered by false religious systems to win the adhesion of the worldly and unclean."

Many would say that an apostate church has indeed permitted, and even fostered carnality at its worst in order to draw souls with the promise that all is allowed and tolerated. This false religious system would also certainly prosper in a world where repentance is despised. Either way, as the time of this judgment and deliverance approaches, once again, the call goes out from heaven for the people of God to come out of her, and separate themselves from her:

"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."        Rev. 18:4-5

 

The time grows near, and the call is going out from heaven to the people of God saying, "Come out of her!"  Are you ready to come out?

*Note: Top photo: Lot's wife looks back
            Second photo: Lot's Wife Pillar, Mt. Sodom, Israel



Last Days Priesthood Continued-Is There Yet A Zadok Remnant in America?

 

The above is a portion of a quote by French writer and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, from his book "Democracy in America" (De La Democratique en Amerique), published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, after he visited America for nine months to perform a study for the French government. This is the full thought:

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”  

 

De Tocqueville went on to write that the democracy existing in America was very unique, unlike the democracy found in Europe. He thought this was because American democracy was birthed from Puritan seeds of faith and scriptural truth, which were integrated into our earliest government. As the full quote above states, he found that America's continued greatness was still very much connected to the uncompromising Spiritual truth coming forth from pulpits at the time of his study.

Scripture established this connection between the preaching of righteousness and the condition of the land even before de Tocqueville revealed it. Scripture warns that the lack of goodness, or righteousness coming from the "pulpit", the priesthood, will cause loss of righteousness and create great woes throughout the land. The LORD gave His word to Ezekiel saying:

"The conspiracy of her prophets...is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things...Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean;...Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy..."      Ezekiel 22:25-29 (excerpt)

Ezekiel notes above that the profane, unclean, unholy condition of the land began with the corruption of the prophets, then the priests, then the princes (government), and then, finally, the people. It started with the spiritual gatekeepers of the land, and continued to progress from there.

The LORD sadly continues in v. 30:

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."

The Prophet Isaiah also describes the woes of God's judgments that would come upon the land:
"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope;
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,...Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!...Therefore, the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people..."     Isa. 5:18-25 (excerpt)
What is the attitude of those involved in this cycle of unrighteousness? It is an attitude of mockery and scoffing towards the LORD, and His judgment:
"Woe to those...that say, "Let Him (God) make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." (v. 19).
The Psalms and Proverbs also mourn the effect of unrighteousness upon the land:
"Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."    Ps. 11:3, 12:1-4, Prov. 29:18
These are the same spiritual conditions found in our own nation today.
However, the LORD has not left us in this desolate condition. He teaches us a remedy. The remedy will not be found in a political candidate, but in a remnant:
"How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem...Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out...surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways, and their doings...And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their doings..."  Ez. 14:21-23 (excerpt)

and



"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood...they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge...whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall put on linen garments...And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."                   Ez. 44:15-17, 23 (excerpt)

Unrighteousness, uncleanness, and the failure to teach the people the difference between the holy and unholy marked the prophets and priests of Ez. 22, and the effects of these things trickled down to the governing princes, and eventually to the people as a whole, corrupting the whole land. Now, however, in the verses above, we see the opposite happening. The Zadok priesthood, that remnant, is coming forth to bring the righteousness of the blood (of Jesus), the righteousness represented by their linen garments (Ps. 132:9, Rev. 19:8), the righteousness from faithfully teaching the people the difference between the holy and the unholy. Here we see the effect of that righteous Zadok priesthood upon the land.
As corruption trickled down from a corrupt priesthood to all the people of the land, righteousness now trickles down from a righteous priesthood. This is a priesthood that stands in the gap. This is a priesthood that humbles itself, prays, seeks God's face, and turns from its wicked ways, embracing not their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ, and teaching that righteousness to others. They not only teach it, but they live it. That righteousness trickles down, like the oil of anointing poured upon Aaron's ("Light Bringer") head in Psalm 133. It continues to trickle down his beard, and down his garments. That righteousness is like the dew ("covering") over Mt. Hermon ("dedicated for destruction, extermination") that continued downward. The righteousness of this priesthood is like the righteousness of our High Priest, Jesus, that trickled down from His pierced head to His pierced feet and beyond. In the same manner, this Zadok priesthood's righteousness  trickles down to cover a nation.
Does this Zadok priesthood still stand in an America that has turned its back on its Puritan beginnings, whose people are no longer taught the difference between the holy and the unholy? Will this priesthood rise up and cause the pulpits of America to once again be "aflame with righteousness" as de Tocqueville described, a flame that transforms a nation?
These are the priests spoken of by the LORD to the Prophet Joel:
"Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD..."     Joel 2:17


Recommended Reading:  "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
                                           http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/815?msg=welcome_stranger

                                          George Washington's Third Vision of America
                                          http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/Washington.html 



Becoming the Priesthood of Truth

 

The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that in the last days, perilous times will come. One of the perils he speaks of is a resistance to truth. Men in these last days, he also warns, will be always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of truth (2 Timothy 3:1, 7-8).

As believers in Christ, and in the Word of God, we have received the truth:

"...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."   1 Peter 1:23-25)

We were born again out of the abiding, incorruptible nature of the word, which makes it truth ("Thy word is truth", Jn. 17:17). Becoming born again is the direct result of that very power of truth.
Jesus came to bring truth to us:

When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus answered,

You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."  Jn. 18:37.

Sadly, Pilate reflects not only the world spirit of his time, but of our time as well, by cynically asking "What is truth?"

This truth to which Jesus came to bear witness, is an offense to those who refuse to hear it, to those who "resist the truth". Jesus exposed this even in those who were believers in Him:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

                                                                               Jn. 8:31-32

However, these believing Jews took offense in this, saying that their father was Abraham, and Abraham had already made them free. They declared they had no need of an additional freedom. Jesus pointed out that by sin, they were in bondage still, and they needed the freedom of the truth that He brought, the truth of His Father. These believers became so offended, that they desired to kill Jesus. "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has brought you the truth which I heard from God..."  (v. 40). They also accused Jesus at that point of having a demon (v. 48). And these were those who believed in Him!

We have accepted the truth, and have been born again as a result of truth, and perhaps we feel that we "have arrived" at our spiritual destination. However, our journey does not end there. Peter reveals the spiritual truth and responsibility of a priesthood:

"...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."    1 Peter 2:5

This spiritual house, this priesthood, is built upon a chief cornerstone of truth, Jesus Christ. However, while this cornerstone of truth is precious to us, it is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense (v. 6-8) to those who reject the truth, just as Jesus revealed in His own believers, above. They were offended, even to the extent of desiring to murder.

Scripture gives strong warnings to those who purposefully deny and suppress the truth-the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. They are also sent strong delusions that cause them to believe the lie that condemns them, because they did not believe the truth, and they did not receive the love of the truth. They will never be allowed to enter the beautiful city of God, the New Jerusalem, because they love and practice a lie. (Rom. 1:18, 2 Thess. 2:10-12, Rev. 21:27, and 22:15).

God will not allow the lie to live beside His truth. It is the same in the holy priesthood of believers spoken of in 1 Peter. If this priesthood does not stand for the truth, the LORD has a controversy with them. The whole land mourns because of a priesthood that compromises the truth of their Chief Cornerstone, with the lie:

"There is no truth or mercy

Or knowledge of God in the land.

...Therefore the land will mourn;

And everyone who dwells there will waste away

With the beasts of the field

And the birds of the air;

Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

...My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me.

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children."

Hosea 4:1, 3, 5-6

 

We can easily see that the condition of our land today is the same as that being described by the Prophet Hosea, above.  A priesthood that forgets, or purposefully rejects the truth, or is offended by the truth, or afraid to offend others with the truth, is a priesthood that is rejected by God. It is a priesthood that brings mourning to the land and its inhabitants. Bondage, instead of freedom, covers the land. Where is the holy priesthood of believers?

 



We, the priesthood, are instead exhorted by Paul who said:

"...God, from the beginning, chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  2 Thess. 2:13-15

 

 

 

Recommended viewing: "Monumental", a 2012 documentary

See trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuN86qIqfw0



Oppositions of Science

 

Noah's Ark has often been in the headlines lately. There are places where full-scale ark replicas have been built for people to experience. They have been built according to the dimensions and description found in the Book of Genesis. These replicas have been subject to many challenges and attacks. There are many mockers, some of whom mock in the name of science.

One particular article is the account of someone, describing himself as a Christian, who visited one of the newly built replicas. This article describes his belief that the flood and ark descriptions in Genesis are not to be believed as truth. He also describes his god, who bears no resemblance to the God of scripture.

It is very interesting to note that scripture itself brings warnings of those who do not believe  the accounts of the flood, nor the saving ark of Genesis. These warnings also have to do with the deceptions of the Last Days that will come upon the earth:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished."            2 Peter 3:3-6

In the above verses, Peter tells us that these mockers are willfully ignorant of the flood event. They choose to ignore the event, rejecting the idea that a divine judgment had once covered the earth. They apply this same denial to the return of the Lord. Recognizing the truth of a world-wide judgment, as well as the return of Christ, would require a change in behaviors from them, of course.
Both Peter and Paul discuss the motives and methods used to deny the concept of the flood specifically, and God's judgment in general. The methods used include false prophets and teachers, even among the church, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord. Their followers will blaspheme the way of truth (2 Peter 2:1-2). These heresies ruin those who hear them, and cause the increase of ungodliness. They spread like a cancer, destroying from within, causing the hearers to stray from the truth, and overthrow their faith (2 Tim. 2:14-18). They also use science falsely called to oppose the Word of God as being unbelievable, and unreasonable (1 Tim. 6:20).
True science is not an opponent of God, nor of scripture. Many scientific principles and laws were revealed in scripture hundreds and even thousands of years before man discovered them. "Science falsely called" in the 1 Tim. 6:20 scripture above, if it is like the false science of today, ventures outside of the protocols of the scientific method, and is filled with bias and unverifiable, unrepeatable conclusions. It is interesting that even in Paul's day, as it is today, these biased false findings tried to present themselves as fact. We are aware of the terrible toll some of these biased, unverifiable "theories" have had on faith in our time, because they have been taught as fact.
The motive behind these heresies that overthrow faith in the hearers, is the desire to continue in the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that are destined for the judgment of God as the earth is corrupted by them. These behaviors are rooted in lusts, and covetousness, by those who are self-willed and presumptuous (2 Peter 2 and 3). We have seen these behaviors proliferate in our time, and we have seen the hostility and rejection of God's Word in these same persons. The nature of the deception of these blasphemies and heresies is such as to cause them to be acceptable to even some of faith, and that faith becomes ruined. As mentioned in the above example of the person who visited the ark replica, even some who claim Christianity see no problem in denying the truth of the nature of God, and of His Word.





The judgment flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis are true. Every culture in the earth has a common flood account*. The accounts of these judgments told in scripture are told not only as truth, but as a warning example not to be willfully ignored. Along with these warnings, also comes the message of deliverance and salvation. Noah and those with him were delivered in the ark out of the judgment of the flood. Lot and his family were delivered by angels out of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:5,7,9). The LORD's deliverance was always a foreshadow of His Salvation, His Son, Jesus. So the heresies not only try to rob man of the truth of God's judgment, but also to rob the knowledge of God's provision of merciful deliverance and salvation from that judgment. No doubt we will hear more challenges and mockery of the Genesis flood and the ark in the future because it is a phenomenon of the Last Days.
However, even as the rebellious angels who sinned and were chained with darkness in the pit, were not spared judgment, sure judgment is also determined for those who teach the destroying heresies that overthrow the faith of others in order to increase ungodliness (2 Peter 2:4-9).





What are our instructions in these matters? Paul tells us to shun these deceptive teachings, which are profane and idle babblings, and teach instead the truth with gentleness, patience, and humility, correcting those who are in opposition. It is possible, through these efforts, that God may grant them repentance. We are to flee from our own destructive lusts, and cling to righteousness, guarding what has been entrusted to us (1 Tim. 6:20-22). We are to study the Word of God, rightly dividing (holding the straight course, teaching correctly) the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:16-25).
Though heresies and deceptions abound, we determine in our hearts to guard what has been entrusted to us.


*Flood Accounts of Different Cultures Handed Down from Antiquity
http://www.nwcreation.net/noahlegends.html


Redeeming the Time, Redeeming the Land

 

We are living in a time of great darkness, with the darkness seeming to grow deeper every day. That darkness manifests in many different ways, but it is all of the same darkness. It is the spiritual darkness that rejects truth and life. It rejects the Word of God, and rebels against His LORDship. In recent days, as in the past, the darkness has taken the form of racial hatred and violence, terrorism, perversions, child murder, murder in general, and other forms that we are seeing on the news every day. Sometimes, we are tempted to forget the plan of God in the midst of this darkness. Even as we see this darkness seeming to spread further and further over our nation and the whole earth, scripture tells us that God foresaw it happening and prophesied about it:

"Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you."

Isa. 60:1-2

The same (kabode) glory that the LORD, Himself, possesses, He has given to us, as well as the same (ore) light as is Jesus, who said, "I am the light of the world." (Jn. 8:12, 9:5). This is the same light that Jesus spoke of when He told us that we also were the light of the world (Mt. 5:14).

It is the way of the LORD, that when darkness tries to reign, He pours out His glory light upon us and tells us to shine with it. As we know in the natural, the darker the surroundings, the greater effect light has upon it. So it is also in the spiritual realm.

The prophet Daniel told us that when the darkness of wickedness would flourish, "...the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." (Dan. 11:32).

The call and purpose for God's people in these troubling dark times is clear. This is when the light of the Gospel in us should appear at its greatest. This is the time when the light of the uncompromised truth of God's Word is needed to save lives and souls, to deliver them out of that darkness and into His marvelous light, even as we were delivered.

The Apostle Paul instructs us, when dealing with those outside the faith, to let our speech "always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:5-6). We are always to speak the grace of God, but also with the salt of truth that preserves and cleanses. He says by doing this, we "redeem the time". What a deep concept. It means to recover from the power of another the epoch waited for, the fixed time when things are brought to crisis. We can possibly say then that the darkness is trying to have power over the timing, or delay the timing, of the return of Christ, the awaited epoch. However, one reason that God has poured out His own glory, and His Son's light upon us, is for the purpose of taking back that time. It requires us to be the fullness of that light.

Why is it so important that we not compromise the truth we know with the darkness around us? The light that the darkness cannot destroy from the outside (Jn. 1:5), it will try to destroy from the inside. Jesus warned:

"The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness....If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light."

Lk. 11:34-36

Even a small compromise with darkness, destroys the whole light within, according to Jesus.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. 5:1-27 to be imitators of God, avoiding the works of darkness, and to walk as children of light. He says that these dark works and behaviors are even shameful to talk about. These behaviors come from fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, and idolatry. Do not be partakers with them. While we once shared in these dark works, we are now light in the Lord, proving (giving evidence) of what is acceptable to the Lord, rather than the abominations of darkness. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, he tells us, but rather expose them, making them manifest out of hiding by the light of Christ.

He concludes these thoughts by saying in v. 16:

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Again, he talks about the concept of "redeeming the time".  While we are redeeming the time from the power of the darkness, we are also redeeming our land from that darkness. If we care about the spiritual condition of our land, God has given us His own glory to bring to it, if we will walk in that glory and light.

Let us understand, above all, that "Christ is head of the church; and Savior of the body." (v.23).  A church that compromises with darkness, though it pleases the world, has removed Christ from its headship. For by His headship, He is presenting to Himself a "glorious (kabode) church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (v.27).

 

 

Recommended reading: "Redeeming the Land", by Gwen Shaw, 1987 (see links below)

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