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Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 January 2024

SAM ADAMS INDEPENDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH: DERANGED ANTI-SEMITIC RHETORIC

(177) Scofield's Hyper-Zionists: The Useful Idiots of Talmudic Judaism - YouTube

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

They say that in war, truth is the first casualty. In other words, facts are often distorted or suppressed during a conflict. It is virtually impossible to understand exactly what is happening between Israel and her enemies, and how much the deep state is involved. We are largely at the mercy of the media and self-appointed "experts" engaging in newspaper eisegesis. The scriptures are the only reliable source for Christians to somehow make sense of world events. 

Tragically, many dispensational pre-trib believers have been taken in by leaders promoting the false teaching of cult leader John Nelson Darby and the corrupt Scofield Reference Bible which was widely circulated during the 20th century. It is a tragedy that many have been deceived by these charlatans, and the fallout from their deception continues to damage the body of Christ. Pre-trib dispensational teachers are the worst culprits who constantly speculate about the timing of the rapture and the "tribulation" which they wrongly define as a seven-year period.1 Those "prophecy experts" who incessantly churn out end-time speculations about an imminent rapture should know better. The false hope of a pre-trib rapture is a critical issue that has divided the body of Christ. I fear this dangerous nonsense will end badly for many unless there is urgent repentance. (Proverbs 13:12; Matthew 24:10).   

There are some critical points in Sam Adams' deranged "sermon" regarding Jewish Israelis and the land of Israel that are important to reject. 

Adams' reaction to what he describes as the "hyper-Zionist manifesto" is an opinion that is difficult to corroborate! He describes the Jews as highly aggressive warmongers..

Adams: "As a result of their rightful claim to the land, Israel has a right, just as they did in the days of Joshua, to wage wars of aggression to drive out the Canaanites, now known as the 'Palestinians' to occupy and take over their land and their homes. That is basically what these people believe. No one I know will actually come out and say this is their position, but the fact is, this is their position.." Adam's views are based on pure speculation since no such thing has been stated. (1 John 4:1). (54:00 mark)

Adams further speculates: "Point 5 of the hyper-Zionist manifesto: 'Those who claim to be Palestinians should move to Jordan or to some other location, and if they refuse to move then they must actually surrender their civil liberties or convert to Judaism.' Again, most hyper-Zionists will not say this is their position.."  (56:00 mark)

Adams: "..today Israeli Jews have not even come near to the place where they will receive the Lord Jesus as their Messiah and until they come to that place which I do not believe will happen until the end of the tribulation when Christ returns in power and Glory. Until that time we can presume that their house is left unto them desolate and they have no claim to all that land. That's right and all we can also presume that Jerusalem will be trod to the Gentiles until that wonderful day comes when Jesus does return in power and glory.. (52:00 mark) And yet the Jews are beloved!  As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. (Romans 11:28).

In a previous video, Adams claims: "The Jews have no claim to that land..  not one verse in the bible that shows that the Jews will be restored to all the land before the end of the tribulation.." 2 Adams' narrative is very dangerous! No one that I am aware of is arguing that the Jews have a right to all the land of "Palestine" at the present time. As such this is a moot point. The land allocated to Israel in 1948 doubled after the six-day war in 1967. Whether the land taken during the six-day war was warranted is highly debatable - there are strong opinions on both sides. This is a very complex situation that is not helped by speculative inflammatory judgements. (2 Corinthians 13:1). Why does Adams bring this up if not to fuel Antisemitism? Are Christians to make judgments about those outside the church? (1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Luke 12:2).

The other side of the argument is that Israel's very survival depends upon her ability to defend herself against her enemies. It seems certain that Israel would be obliterated if they did not defend themselves! The slogan "Free Palestine from the river to the sea"  implicitly advocates the dismantling of Israel, and is a call for the removal or extermination of the Jewish population of the region.3

Israel's existence was determined by the United Nations following the horrors of the Holocaust. The Jews did not make an arbitrary decision to occupy the land as their "right". As many have pointed out, the land of Israel is a tiny speck compared with the vast lands of the surrounding Muslim nations in the Middle East. Before Israel’s Declaration of Independence on the 14th of May 1948, the land of Israel was sparsely populated and no one was interested in it. (Deuteronomy 28:63). This is borne out by many sources, including Mark Twain's travel book The Innocents Abroad following his trip to Israel in 1867. Twain described "a desolate country – devoid of both vegetation and human population". 

Twain: “..A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds… a silent mournful expanse…. a desolation…. we never saw a human being on the whole route…. hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”4 

It is clearly God's will for the Jews to return to their ancestral land at this time. God's unconditional promises to the true descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are irrevocable. I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you. (Genesis 15:18,26:3-4; Exodus 6:8 etc.). The presumption in the New Testament is that the Jews will occupy the land of Israel before Jesus' return. Ezekiel 37 describes the Jews returning to the land in an unregenerate state. Christians cannot possibly object to the Jewish occupation of the land, but inevitably their presence is objectionable to the enemies of Jesus Christ, as well as a significant number of professing Christians. 

Is Adams' hostile rhetoric about the Jews helpful to anyone at this critical time, or has he gone beyond his remit?

Adams ignorance of the scriptures

Another assumption by Adams is that Charles Spurgeon was "post-trib". I am not sure why Adams should seek confirmation from the writings of Calvinist Charles Spurgeon whose eschatology was unclear.

The Master's Seminary Journal: "Lewis A. Drummond states, "Spurgeon confessed to be a pre-millennialist."1 Peter Masters, current 1 Lewis A. Drummond, Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1993) 650. 184 pastor of Spurgeon's church, The Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, stated, "Spurgeon . . . would have stood much closer to amillennialism than to either of the other scenarios recognized today"2 Erroll Hulse firmly declared Spurgeon to be postmillennial.3 2Peter Masters, 'Spurgeon's Eschatology,' The Sword and Trowel (December 1989):39. 3Erroll Hulse, The Restoration of Israel (London: Henry E. Walter Ltd., 1968) 154. Some in the 'Theonomist' movement (which holds postmillennialism as a cornerstone of its system) in their writings have implied that Spurgeon was postmillennial. See Gary DeMar and Peter Leithart, The Reduction of Christianity (Tyler, Texas: Dominion, 1988) 41. Spurgeon could not have held all these positions. However, in which, if any, did he fit? The issue is an important one, as Spurgeon continues to be one of the most popular Christian authors in print, even a century after his death. Men of different positions seek to marshal support for their prophetic interpretations by appealing to Spurgeon." 5 

Spurgeon appeared to believe that believers would go through the tribulation. However, we cannot assume that he was post-trib as he might just as easily have been prewrath. 

Adams seems ignorant of the fact that the tribulation ends with the cosmic disturbances before the wrath of God is poured out on the ungodly (the Day of the Lord). The rapture of the church becomes imminent after the cosmic disturbances and occurs before the seventh seal is opened as the scriptures indicate.  

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mathew 24:29-31).

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slaved and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

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Wednesday, 12 October 2022

FIVE RED HEIFERS: THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN OXYMORON

On the 25th of September Israel365 announced the news that five red heifers landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. The heifers were discovered and brought to Israel with the help of the Boneh Israel (Building Israel) and its founder/team leader Byron Stinson. Stinson is an American Christian who describes himself as a "Judeo-Christian believer". {1}

In the Old Testament, the red heifer was essential for ritual purification resulting from proximity to, or direct contact with, a dead body. (Numbers 19:1-22). Since the destruction of the second temple in 70AD, the cessation of ritual sacrifices, and the absence of a red heifer, all Jews are presently considered ritually impure. The red heifer is therefore a critical component for Orthodox Jews and their hope to reinstate the Temple Service and their plan to rebuild the Third Temple on the Temple Mount. The quest for an unblemished red heifer has been underway for about a decade, with hopes raised and dashed during the process. According to 12th-century Jewish scholar Rambam, the rebuilding of the third temple will be a major sign that humanity has reached the End of Days. {2} 

Stinson: “We are not just Christian as a nation. It is Judeo-Christian. I believe that there is a bloodline for many Christians that calls us by the Spirit to be part of this land. I believe I am one and these people who are called to this, their hearts make them come.” {3} 

John Enarson, the non-Jewish Christian Relations Director for Cry For Zion, believes that reinstating the Red Heifer and Temple service would be a positive step for Christianity. Cry for Zion is a movement of Jews and Christians for Jewish sovereignty and freedom on the Temple Mount (Zion). {4} Enarson acknowledges that this is a controversial subject and that many Christians view the arrival of the red heifers and the prophetic establishment of the Jewish Third Temple with apprehension. {5}



This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come. (Numbers 19:2).

 


In common with Orthodox Jews, many Christians view the building of a literal temple as a critical eschatological event. However, a significant number of Christians view the Third Temple negatively due to the prophetic material in Daniel 9 repeated by Jesus. (Matthew 24:15). Paul confirms both Daniel and Jesus in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). We therefore have strong evidence that the Antichrist will defile the temple at the close of the present age. 

Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:24-27). 

According to Daniel, the Third Temple sacrifices will occur during the first half of the period known as "the 70th week of Daniel" (a week of years i.e. seven years). (Daniel 9:27). The above passage describes the destruction of the second temple by Titus in 70 AD. (Daniel 9:26). Daniel goes on to describe a particular individual (the Antichrist) who will make and break a strong covenant with many for one week". The short, but devastating reign of the Antichrist will commence with the event known as "the abomination of desolation" at the midpoint of the 70th week. (Matthew 24:15). Daniel 9:27 is a critical verse that indicates that temple sacrifices will be reinstated at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel and that the Antichrist will put an end to them at the midpoint of the week. This ties in with the Olivet discourse and Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians which describes the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) who will take his seat in the temple of God and declare himself to be God at the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel. 

So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. And let no one in the field return for his cloak. How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance. (Matthew 24:15-25).

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

A covenant with death and hell. (Isaiah 28:14-18). These verses probably refer to Judah's covenant with Egypt (eighth-century BC). However, it does tie in with Israel's ultimate covenant with the Antichrist in the middle of the 70th week. (compare Isaiah 28:15; Daniel 9:27).

Red heifer typology

The sacrificial law of the red heifer is a type and shadow of the atonement of Jesus Christ. The children of Israel became ritually clean following contact with a corpse through the ashes of the red heifer. However, it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that it is possible to be cleansed from sin and death. (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Jesus' prayer in the garden at Gethsemane took place on the Mount of Olives where the red heifer sacrifice took place. In the Old Testament, the red heifer was the only sacrifice that was offered "outside the camp". (Numbers 19:3,9). Jesus Christ suffered outside the gate.. 

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. (Hebrews 13:12-13).

And it shall be a statute forever for them. (Numbers 19:21).

Gill: And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them,.. To the children of Israel, throughout their generations, unto the coming of the Messiah, when the ceremonial law, which stood in divers washings and purifications, was abolished: {6} 


The above video gives some insight into the thinking of John Enarson, and presumably other Christian supporters of the Third Temple. 

The group of three men discussing this subject are Josh Wander (Jewish author), Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz (Israel365 News), and John Enarson. Enarson begins by stating that the Antichrist or "the ultimate false Messiah" is not a concept known within mainstream Judaism. This is a very significant point that effectively positions the Jews in an extremely vulnerable position. 

Enarson claims to understand the prophecies of both Jesus and Paul regarding the defilement of the future temple as explicit references to the Jewish story of Hannukah in Maccabees i.e. the Jewish revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes IV (167 BC). Enarson: "Both Jesus and Paul say something like the Hannukah story will repeat itself". Most New Testament scholars agree that Antiochus Epiphanes IV is a significant type of the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:21-35). A number of teachers believe that Daniel 11:36-45 goes beyond Antiochus and refers to the future Antichrist. (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:1-18; Daniel 10:14; 12:1).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown: "The wilful king here, though primarily Antiochus, is antitypically and mainly Antichrist, the seventh head of the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-18, and the 'beast' of Armageddon (Revelation 16:13, 16; 19:19)."  {7} 

Enarson views the belief that the Third Temple will be "the temple of the Antichrist" as a misconception even though he admits that both Jesus and Paul anticipate a repeat of the Hannukah story.

Enarson: "It is the temple of God, it is holy to the God of Israel, the God of the bible not say that it is a temple of antichrist that will be built for the antichrist! The “man of lawlessness” can only defile something that is holy to God." {8}

Paul speaks about "the temple of God" without any other qualification in 2 Thessalonians 2:4. It appears that the Third Temple will ostensibly be "God's temple". The concern that many Christians have is that the Antichrist will initially deceive the Jews into thinking that he is their powerful ally. He will make a "strong covenant with many" (including or primarily Israel) for seven years, and he will probably facilitate the construction and function of the Third Temple. However, halfway through this period he will put sacrifice and offering to an end. (Daniel 9:27). At the midpoint of the week, the Antichrist will reveal his true agenda and will openly blaspheme God and he will exalt himself against every so-called God, including false gods with the true God. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6). My present view is that the Antichrist will not be Jewish since he will rise up from the sea i.e. the nations. (Revelation 13:1).

Enarson: "The New Testament in the book of Hebrews says clearly that the temple on earth.. and all the sacrifices there, were never meant to save your eternal soul for the world to come. It served a different function..    Unless you make personal shuva (repentance) then the sacrifice is meaningless." 

The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were used to offer atonement for sins, albeit they were a temporary covering until Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The animal sacrifices foreshadowed the complete, perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. It is regrettable that Enarson did not explain this clearly to his Jewish friends during the discussion. 

Enarson submits that just as it was God's mandate for the Jews to rebuild the Second Temple (Haggai 2:1-5; Zechariah 4:8-10); Nehemiah 1:9), it is unequivocally God's mandate for the Jews to build the Third Temple. In other words, the prophetic mandate to rebuild the Second Temple has been reapplied in order to justify the existence of the Third Temple. There is a mountain of evidence in the New Testament to refute this view. Jesus' prophecy concerning the destruction of the Second Temple and the establishment of the new covenant in His blood absolutely negates the necessity for a Third Temple and the reinstatement of the Mosaic system.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37:39).

But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”(Matthew 24:2).

These appear to have been the last words Jesus spoke as he left the temple, never to re-enter it again. Jesus abandoned the temple following his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees earlier in chapter 23 and their fate is duly sealed. The only future hope for Israel from now on is the time when they repent of their rejection of Jesus Christ, their Messiah.  

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 cf. Hosea 3:4-5).

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture).. (John 19:28).

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Matthew 27:50-51).

by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (Ephesians 2:15)
Strongs: "I make idle (inactive), make of no effect, annul, abolish, bring to naught, (b) I discharge, sever, separate from." {9}

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthains 11:25 cf. Hebrews 9:15-22).

Reinstating animal sacrifices and rebuilding the temple is viewed by many Christians as tantamount to rejecting what has been accomplished on the cross by Jesus Christ. Technically the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled i.e. it has been rendered inoperative and its requirements no longer apply. For all practical intents and purposes, the Mosaic Law is therefore abolished. (Romans 3:31). 

Jesus Christ declared himself to be the completed, atoning sacrifice: It is finished. (John 19:30). 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve tee living God. (Hebrews 9:11-14 cf. 1 Peter 1:2)).

Ezekiels Temple - Ezekiel 40-48

The proposed Third Temple should not be confused with the Millennial Temple i.e. Ezekiel’s Temple. The book of Revelation speaks of vast topographic changes on the earth when the seventh angel pours out his bowl. The "great city" is probably Jerusalem. (Revelation  16:19; 11:8).

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. (Revelation 16:1-720).

The land area dedicated to the Millennial temple and to its service will be one-mile square. It appears that the temple will be situated on Mount Zion and will measure approximately one mile in height. The land surrounding the Millennial temple will measure approximately 52 miles long and 21 miles wide. The proportions of the proposed third Jewish temple have not been divulged, but clearly, the Third Jewish Temple will not be remotely comparable to the vast proportions described by Ezekiel. 

The reinstatement of animal sacrifices during the Millennium is a subject that has puzzled many bible scholars. (Isaiah 56:6-7; 60:7; Ezekiel 43:18-27; 45:17-23; Zechariah 14:16-21). Some hold the view that Millennial sacrifices will be a memorial in much the same way that the Lord's Supper is a memorial. An interesting theory is that animal sacrifices during the Millennium will serve as ritual purification. Mark Hitchcock: "During the Millennium, a holy God will be dwelling on earth in the midst of people in their glorified bodies but also in the midst of sinful people living in natural, unglorified bodies. These sacrifices prevent these worshippers from defiling God’s holy Temple when they come to worship Him. It is a matter of ritual purification. Sacrifices during the Millennium will not be a substitute for Christ’s atoning work. Instead, they will provide ritual purification for unglorified people on earth who approach the holy God in worship." {10} 

John Enarson's skewed logic. 

Berkowitz points out that even if the Third Temple is a setting for the Antichrist, it is not something that Christians should "prevent" because it is actually part of the prophecy. Enarson: "If you are working for the ultimate redemption to bring it closer, then are you thereby bringing something bad into the world by troubles that are promised to come? 

This is tantamount to saying "The end justifies the means". 

And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. (Romans 3:8 cf Romans 6:1,15).

I do not imagine that Christians can prevent the construction of the Third Temple. However, we would be remiss if we fail to warn the Jewish people that their present course of action will lead to the devastating time known as "Jacob's Trouble". (Jeremiah 30:7 cf. Zechariah 13:8-9). Christians who actively support the Third Temple are facilitating Satan's ultimate plan to deceive the Jews, and ultimately the entire world. (Revelation 13:3).     
 
Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes. (Matthew 18:7).

The mandate given to believers is to make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19). 

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (1 Corinthians 15:1-7).

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16).

1. ISRAEL365 EXCLUSIVE: Red Heifers arrive in Israel [WATCH] (israel365news.com)
2. Will God or the Messiah Build the Third Holy Temple? - Israel News (israel365news.com)
3. Christians weigh in on the relevance of the red heifer (israel365news.com)
4. Temple Mount | Cry For Zion
5. Christians weigh in on the relevance of the red heifer (israel365news.com)
6. Numbers 19 Gill's Exposition (biblehub.com)
7. Daniel 11 Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (biblehub.com)
8. What About the Temple of Antichrist? (cryforzion.com)
9. Strong's Greek: 2673. καταργέω (katargeó) -- to render inoperative, abolish (biblehub.com)
10. Millennial Sacrifices - (apologeticanswers.org)
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Thursday, 30 July 2020

JACOB PRASCH: METATRON HERESY REFUTED BY ONE FOR ISRAEL

In yet another a desperate attempt to prove his Metatron heresy, Prasch recently put up a video on YouTube from ONE FOR ISRAEL.

Dr Eitan Bar, ONE FOR ISRAEL'S Director of Evangelism and Apologetics has unequivocally refuted Prasch's claims concerning their use of the Metatron as Jesus Christ in Jewish evangelism.

Eitan Bar: "On the issue of 'the Metatron' - I do not believe in the Metatron nor that he exists. I only see him as a fictional character, an imaginary mythical figure who I only refer to, as a rabbinic myth. The only purpose in referring to this concept is to show Orthodox Jews that the concept of 'the son of God' exists in their literature as well, and therefore the concept of Yeshua, the Son of God is not a "pagan non-Jewish" one, as most rabbis today will claim against Christianity."


Metatron - Hasidic Jewish Evangelism and Jacob Prasch

"Dr. Eitan Bar is a native Jewish-Israeli follower of Yeshua. He serves as ONE FOR ISRAEL’s Director of Evangelism & Apologetics since 2013. Under Eitan’s creative leadership ONE FOR ISRAEL’s media evangelism has become the primary source through which Israelis and Jewish people around the world engage with the message of Yeshua. The fruit of this labor includes over 100 Million views of our evangelistic videos, which has also drawn a lot of attention from national Israeli media outlets." 

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Sunday, 26 July 2020

ANDY WOODS FALSE REPORTING: TWITTER ~ STAR OF DAVID HATEFUL IMAGERY?

PPOV Episode 133. The GREAT GLOBAL RESET - Pt. 3. 7-24-20.
According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, several Twitter users reported that their accounts were locked after they posted the Jewish symbol the Star of David during July. Andy Woods and Jim McGowan of Sugar Land Bible Church were quick to point the finger, but their accusations regarding Twitter's alleged antisemitism are false. (37:00 mark) Woods and McGowan must have been aware that Twitter acted quickly to correct their error two days prior to the date they recorded this video.



Woods continued: "There is so much complete and total nonsense floating around today concerning the Star of David. ..Wikipedia were trying to link the Star of David, which is the national symbol for Israel, to Satanism, the occult and the pentagram. Folks that is just rubbish and that is just absolute insanity.."  Actually Wikipedia does not link the Star of David to Satanism or the occult {1}

Woods went on to make the false assertion that the Star of David comes from the oracle of Balaam in the book of Numbers:

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. (Numbers 24:17).

This verse is a reference to the Messiah! There is no evidence whatsoever that this verse relates to the Star of David!

Encyclopedia Britannica: "The Jewish community of Prague was the first to use the Star of David as its official symbol, and from the 17th century on the six-pointed star became the official seal of many Jewish communities and a general sign of Judaism though it has no biblical or Talmudic authority." {2}

M. Hirsch Goldberg in his book The Jewish Connection states: "The Star of David is not of Jewish origin - and the ancient Israelites never used it as their religious symbol" (they used the Menorah or Seven Candlestick). {3} 

A short excerpt of my previous research into this subject in 2017 below reveals some disturbing facts.
(See Further Links below for the full article)

In reality the hexagram star is the star of rephaim/repham/remphan and has particular evil connotations in both the Old and the New Testaments. Remphan has links with Moloch, a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice. Stephen condemned the practices associated with "Moloch and the star of your god Rephan" shortly before he was stoned (Acts 7:43; Amos 5:26). This particular star god is known both as Rephan and Kalwan (Hebrew Chiun). Kewan is probably the Old Babylonian Kayawanu for the planet Saturn. Stars are often associated with, and named after, specific pagan gods, for instance Aphrodite is Venus, Zeus is Jupiter etc. The "host of heaven" presented a particular temptation for the ancient Israelites towards false worship (1 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 21:1). The Israelites were censured for false worship of the sun god Adrammelech (2 Kings 17:31) and Amon (Jeremiah 46:25); the moon goddess Anammelech and Diana/Artemis (Acts 19:24-35); and Merodach/Marduk (Mars?) (Jeremiah 50:2). Stars are sometimes illustrative of angels and fallen angels in the scriptures. (Job 38:7; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 12:4). John erroneously fell down to worship at the feet of an angel (Revelation 22:8). Satan himself, the "shining one" translated "star of the morning", masquerades as an angel of light. (Isaiah 14:12; 2 Corinthians 11:14) in the place of Jesus Christ, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:16). The Masonic Dictionary provides convincing evidence that the "star of Remphan" refers to the Seal of Solomon.

 The Star or Shield of David became an official symbol of Judaism after it was chosen to represent the First Zionist Congress in 1897 by secular Jew, Theodore Herzl. Herzl was the President of World Zionism and the founder of the First Zionist Congress, the political movement created to ensure a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Edmond de Rothschild, the real power behind Zionism, worked closely with both Theodore Herzl and his successor, Chaim Weizmann. Rothschild told Weizmann: "Without me Zionism would not have succeeded...."  Hence, the “Rothschild Hexagram” was adopted as the "flag of Zion" in 1948. When the Flag of Israel was unveiled, it met with tremendous opposition from many Jews who were aware of its historical connection with the mystery religions as the symbol of Moloch:

"..the symbol continued to be controversial for many years afterward. When the modern state of Israel was founded, there was much debate over whether this symbol should be used on the flag." {4} 

Opposition to the hexagram star symbol necessitated significant revisionist propaganda in order to transform it into an acceptable Jewish symbol. The saying: "If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it" is attributed to Joseph Goebbels. The often repeated revised explanation for the hexagram star is as follows:

"The two blue stripes represent a tallit or prayer shawl, and both sides of the split Red Sea that the Hebrews walked through as written in the Book of Exodus." 

"The Star of David also represents the Jewish identity of Israel, as well as the culture and history of the Israeli people." {5}

In reality, the star of Remphan morphed into the occult Seal of Solomon and the Rothschild Hexagram aka the Illuminati Hexagram. I view Magen David as a satanic facade in order to obscure the true demonic history of the Star of Remphan. Even the designation 'the shield of David' is a misnomer. With no scriptural basis and all the evidence of evil and death attending this symbol prior to the 19th century, the hexagram is surely not God's choice for the symbol of Israel. This symbol evokes the propensity for the ancient Israelites to worship the true God and other gods concurrently. We therefore have the usurper, the so called Star or Shield of David, competing with the menorah for precedence. 

I can't imagine what Andy Woods' motives are for making such deceptive assertions, but his assumptions regarding the Star of David have no factual basis whatsoever. I caution those who follow Woods to be very wary indeed. (1 John 4:1).

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Tuesday, 9 June 2020

CHARLES COOPER'S APPRAISAL OF THE RICHARDSON/WHITE ANTICHRIST DEBATE

We All Lost! The Richardson/White Debate - An Appraisal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH5FkVL4Jdc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1YZnmOpNcdpLzWzwLWvIF15eSfQGNZ-Hq-MAJAUSuKKi983lt8M9thCac

DEBATE With Joel Richardson & Chris White: Will The Antichrist Be A False Jewish Messiah?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2ytMSFvm0

This post exposes the various inconsistencies in Charles Cooper's "appraisal" of the recent debate between Joel Richardson and Chris White regarding the ethnicity of the Antichrist. Charles Cooper's assessment, including his personal remarks about Robert Van Kampen, Chris White and Joel Richardson was extremely insulting and unnecessary. I really did not want to hear that Van Kampen could be "very mean and nasty" and that "his bible study skills were limited". Apparently Cooper thinks that it is acceptable to say negative things about Van Kampen because he died in 1999 and is no longer with us. I wonder how Van Kampen's family feel about Cooper's attempt to tarnish his reputation. As founder of the PreWrath Resource Institute in Orlando, Florida, I question whether Cooper's remarks were helpful to the prewrath cause, especially since this debate did not specifically concern either Van Kampen or the prewrath rapture position.

Van Kampen was a very gifted man. As well as being a successful businessman and investor, he rediscovered and developed the biblical prewrath rapture position held by the early church fathers. As such, he presented a significant challenge to the false the pre-tribulation rapture camp. I don't know whether Van Kampen had any recognized theological qualifications, but his prewrath work surpassed that of many qualified theologians in my view. Unlike the pre-trib or post-trib views, the prewrath rapture view is incredibly accurate when tested against the scriptures. (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11).

I was aware of Van Kampen's view that Hitler will be the Antichrist, but I have not read his books The Sign or The Fourth Reich. The sign is a discourse on the end times featuring the prewrath rapture, and The Fourth Reich is a novel. Undoubtedly Hitler was a type of the Antichrist in that he fulfilled many of the "qualifications" for such a candidate, in particular his hatred for the Jews. Van Kampen clearly convinced himself about Hitler, but his conclusion is questionable. Considering that Van Kampen's views about the Antichrist were not the subject of this debate, I can't see that Cooper's remarks were at all relevant or edifying to those considering the prewrath position.

The Van Kampen Collection is one of the most significant collections of biblically related artifacts, scrolls, manuscripts and early printed editions of the Bible in the world. The Collection was assembled by the Van Kampen family and is open to the public at The Scriptorium: Center for Biblical Antiquities at The Holy Land Experience in Orlando Florida. Unfortunately it is now owned by TBN. {1}

Cooper's "expert advice" was to counsel people not to watch this debate. He also stated that he was "very disappointed" at least three times.

Cooper: "Joel Richardson ~ I have never met the man..  I have only just read some of his works. Friends of mine have..  but when I read some of his first works, it became very clear to me that Mr Richardson is a fiction writer ~ most of what he writes is fiction. He thinks it's truth but it's not. He has very limited exegetical skills, same as Van Kampen, they don't work in the original languages..  When you get to the level that these men are presenting themselves, you got to know how to deal with the text.. Mr Richardson violates and makes the error of 'illegitimate totality transfer' over and over again, assuming that because a word or phrase or idea in one place that it is going to mean that same thing somewhere else..  When I read his book I realized he has no spiritual discernment, none.." (22:00 mark)

Cooper openly admits that he only has a superficial knowledge of Richardson's early material (apparently only one book). As such, he is not in a position to make any judgements about Richardson's work. (Matthew 7:1-5).

Following his attack on Richardson, Cooper proceeded to direct his negative attention towards White.

Regarding White's book (presumably) False Christ: Will the Antichrist Claim to Be the Jewish Messiah? {2} Cooper said: "I really really really REALLY wish had allowed me to read it before he published it."  (15:20 mark)

Cooper: "As prewrathers we got to stick together particularly when it comes to teaching what is essential to prewrath. Its alright to speculate.. to have cofee-esk... what or what is not the meaning of the scripture we should have extreme caution and we should proceed very carefully.. needless unnecessary distractions... and we don't need that... Chris has used a lot of my material... in a lot of ways he is like Van Kampen, these guys are tenacious..   he is in many many ways the consummate researcher,  but in many ways he doesn't have refined exegetical skills..  you cannot use a simplistic hermeneutic..  illegitimate totality transfer...   argue that the antichrist is a Jew a Jew who is timing to be the messiah, the true messiah and that he is a Jew...  the accumulative build up of a lot of circumstantial evidence.."  (29:00 mark)

Clearly White did not feel that it was necessary to defer to Cooper before he published his book, and why should he? Although Cooper claims to know White, he obviously does not know him very well. Cooper admitted that he has not read White's book and that he was not even aware that he held this view. White has stated that it took him some years to come to this view, and that two previous books preceded this one. {2} This suggests that the two men have had no contact for a number of years, since the book in question was published in 2014. It seems very strange that Cooper should denigrate White's exegetical skills when (apparently) he has had no recent contact with him and has not even read his material. Cooper's unkind attacks on both Richardson and White were superficial in that they were not based on a thorough or current assessment of their work.

Cooper has a strong personality and is very good at promoting himself. He tells us that people are waiting with bated breath for him to publish his latest book: "..people want me to (publish), they are begging me, they want me to put it out, they are excited.." (18:00  mark)

Cooper seems to think that other prewrath scholars need to defer to him in order for them all to sing from the same hymn sheet, in other words he seeks to rule others. In reality this is never going to happen. It appears that Cooper believes that he is the only bible scholar with superior exegetical skills. I must say that I haven't noticed! Cooper also boasts of having superior revelations that most of us mere mortals are not ready to hear. (47:00 mark) I can only hope and pray that he continues to keep them to himself! Having observed his cringeworthy performance at Fellowship Bible Chapel Fall Prophecy Conference Q&A last year, I can say nothing good about Cooper's exegetical skills:

Fellowship Bible Chapel Fall Prophecy Conference Q&A: Charles Cooper Concerns
https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2019/10/fellowship-bible-chapel-fall-prophecy.html
Fellowship Bible Chapel Fall Prophecy Conference Session 3 - Charles Cooper
https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2019/11/fellowship-bible-chapel-fall-prophecy.html

Cooper does himself no favours by attacking others in the guise of protecting the prewrath position. As far as I can determine, the biggest obstacle to the prewrath cause is Cooper himself rather than those he perceives as his underlings.

Was the debate between Richardson and White a waste of time as Cooper claims? Even though I did not resonate with a number of points on both sides of the debate, I found it interesting and I learned a lot from it. In my view, the anti-Semitic remarks were overdone by Richardson. Although he did not directly claim that White was anti-Semitic, the inference was there. By the same criteria, we could say that Richardson's position is Islamophobic.

Richardson seems not to value the principle of biblical separation. His appearances on TBN and CBN with various questionable characters alarms me very greatly. Those with any kind of influence in the church should not defile themselves, and by implication, influence others, by knowingly associating with apostates and false teachers. (Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:11).

For the purposes of this post, I will limit myself to Richardson's co-author Walid Shoebat ~ God's War on Terror: Islam Prophecy and the Bible) {3} I am in the process of reading Chris Whites book, Islamic Antichrist Debunked. {4} In chapters 7 and 8 of this book, White successfully demolishes Shoebat's flawed exegesis of Isaiah 21 which refers to historic Babylon and not end time Babylon as Shoebat claims. White also destroys Shoebat's proposition that Edom is Babylon, and he also unmasks Shoebat's unsound translation of pséphizó (calculate) and arithmos (number) in Revelation 13:18. In short, White thoroughly exposes Shoebat's unhinged hermeneutics in favour of an Islamic Antichrist. I have to say at this point that it absolutely astounds me that so many "teachers" change the book of Revelation, apparently for their own quesionable reasons. (Revelation 22:18)

Shoebat's translation of the mark of the beast can be found on the following link: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtquNNEO7Fw
Shoebat's tranlsation is also exposed by C Michael Patton:
https://credohouse.org/blog/walid-shoebat-youtube-video-on-the-mark-of-the-beast 

Apart from his dubious theology, Shoebat's claim to be a former terrorist has come under scrutiny and was investigated by CNN’s Anderson Cooper in 2011: "..finding no evidence of him being a terrorist, nor did Shoebat’s relatives, who were interviewed for the investigation, support his claims. More damningly, CNN’s Jerusalem bureau reported: “The Tel Aviv headquarters of Bank Leumi had no record of a firebombing at its now-demolished Bethlehem branch. Israeli police had no record of the bombing, and the prison where Shoebat says he was held ‘for a few weeks’ for inciting anti-Israel demonstrations says it has no record of him being incarcerated there either.” {5} 

There is too much to say about the flawed Islamic Antichrist theory in this post. I recommend White's book in which he comprehensively breaks down the position point by point.

White keeps better company than Richardson. However, I have difficulty accepting his thesis that the Antichrist will be Jewish.

White: "The thesis of this book is that the Antichrist will attempt to present himself as the Jewish Messiah, that he will try his best to appear as if he is instituting what Jewish believers know as the Messianic Age and what Christians know as the Millennial reign."  {6}

White's claim that this was the earliest view of the church can be confirmed, but I am still not convinced. {7} Problematically, I find nothing in the scriptures that supports this view. As Richardson points out: "The Bible does not specifically say that the Jews will accept the Antichrist as the Messiah." {8} This is a a critical point.

My view is that at this stage it is impossible to definitively identify the ethnicity of Antichrist. All the various theories about the Antichrist seem to be fraught with difficulties. Certainly the various conjectures about Obama, Macron etc. are mere speculation. It is entirely possible that no one will know the answer to this question until the Antichrist is "revealed".

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Having said that, it appears that it will be possible for the wise to identify the beast at some point: ..let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:18).

There is much to think about following this debate. It has certainly challenged me to search the scriptures and to undertake further research on the subject.

1. https://legacy-cdn-assets.answersingenesis.org/assets/pdf/am/v4/n2/scriptorium-guide.pdf
2. https://www.amazon.co.uk/False-Christ-Antichrist-Jewish-Messiah/dp/0991232925
3. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gods-War-Terror-Islam-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00C0UQGLU
4. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Islamic-Antichrist-Debunked-Comprehensive-Critique/dp/0991232941
5. https://tribune.com.pk/story/247165/walid-shoebat-false-prophet-of-fear/
6. https://www.amazon.co.uk/False-Christ-Antichrist-Jewish-Messiah/dp/0991232925
7. https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-antichrist
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH5FkVL4Jdc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1YZnmOpNcdpLzWzwLWvIF15eSfQGNZ-Hq-MAJAUSuKKi983lt8M9thCac
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Tuesday, 5 November 2019

Fellowship Bible Chapel Fall Prophecy Conference Session 3 - Charles Cooper


2019 10 12 FBC Fall Prophecy Conference Session Three - Charles Cooper

The following observations on Session 3 are a follow up to my previous post regarding the final Session 5 Q&A, in which I took issue with a number of Cooper's assertions, including:

* The application of 1 Kings 17:14-16 to believers during the great tribulation.
* The apostasy of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refers specifically to Israel.
* The cleansing of the church will occur before the great tribulation.
* The Antichrist will take his seat in "a holy place".
* Jesus' return with the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:14-15) will not include the resurrected saints.

My refutation of Cooper's skewed assertions can be found on: https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2019/10/fellowship-bible-chapel-fall-prophecy.html

At the beginning of Session 3, Cooper expressed some sympathy with his audience for "enduring" the length of his sessions (an hour and a half as against Alan Kurschner's one hour sessions). Indeed Cooper's habit of wandering off into all kinds of extraneous subjects and side issues does call for endurance!

Session 3 is described as "An an-depth look at the significance of the Seals and Bowls in relationship to the rapture, resurrection, and Day of the Lord."

During this session Cooper confirmed my previous suspicion that his "tradition" is probably Charismatic. Cooper: "In my tradition people stand up, clap, run round, they do things .."

Cooper: "Keep the main thing to the main thing. Don't get distracted into arguments that have nothing to do with the core values and beliefs of the (prewrath) position. This.. has hurt the pre-trib position... because you try to argue too many things that don't have a solid textual basis. It is unnecessary - it makes your position weak because you are arguing something that is tendential. It is the old theological noise.. 'how many angels can sit on the head of a pin'. What does that have to do with the timing of the Lord's return?" (3:00) Perhaps Cooper has not considered the possibility that the weakness of the pre-trib position necessitates frequent digressions into all kinds of unnecessary speculations. In other words, their recurrent deviations may be a deliberate ploy to distract attention away from "the main thing".

Ironically Cooper condemns pre-trib "novices" who do not articulate their position well. (5:30) We should remember that God created all of us with free will and that we in the west are privileged to live in a society that upholds freedom of expression. The abuse of freedom of expression does have some unpleasant consequences, but the alternative is dictatorship. At the present time we are obliged to endure "novices" who make uninformed judgements, though we may refute them. (Titus 1:9). Those who twist the scriptures will face eventual judgement. (2 Peter 2:3). In some sense we are all "novices". (1 Corinthians 13:12). The state of apostasy generally prevailing in the professing church necessitates a challenge, and that challenge falls upon faithful Christians outside the apostate denominations to make informed judgements on various dubious teachings. God is accessible to all the faithful, and every Christian has equal potential to minister for God. The doctrine of the "priesthood of believers" stands in opposition to the concept of a spiritual aristocracy or hierarchy within Christianity. All Christians are exhorted to "test the spirits". (1 John 4:1). 

Cooper claims that Jesus Christ is not going to ask you "What was your eschatology?" In saying this, he immediately relegates eschatology to a non essential subject. I would argue that understanding the timing of the return of Jesus Christ is essential in many key respects if Christians are to avoid being deceived as we approach the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:4,5,10). Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees and Sadducees: "..you cannot interpret the signs of the times." (Matthew 16:3 cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:4).

Cooper states that eschatology will not ultimately matter. "What will have mattered is how you treated me as a fellow believer in Christ. The fact that we both believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, died and rose from the dead and is returning.. but you chose not to fellowship with me because of a theological difference on a point, that I think concerns God."

Cooper bemoans the animosity exhibited by the pre-trib camp against anyone who does not hold their view of the rapture. By calling it calling it "one little theological difference" (!!), Cooper grossly underestimates and de-emphasises the gravity of the pre-trib error. If it were such a small matter, then people like Alan Kurschner, Joe Schimmel etc. would not waste their time refuting it. I hold the same core beliefs about Jesus Christ as many pre-tribbers, and yet I believe that their error is lethal  i.e. lethal to the extent that it will lead many of its adherents to eventual apostasy! (Matthew 24:10). I could not attend a church that teaches pre-trib because in many cases their error frames the whole of their theology. A case in point is JD Farag, who made the insane accusation that anyone who attacks the pre-trib rapture is "satanic". {1} This is a classic case of calling good evil and evil good. (Isaiah 5:20). The scriptures tell us that divisions are unavoidable: for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. (1 Corinthians 11:19). At its source pre-trib is a satanic deception with not one verse of scripture to verify it. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 4:1). Although I would not deliberately subject or expose myself to the pre-trib error, I do have some sympathy for genuine believers who have been sucked into this deception. The "main thing" is not to put fellowship above truth as Cooper would have it; the "main thing" is to maintain sound doctrine. Those who persistently err in significant areas are to be avoided. (Romans 16:17). 

Pretrib Pastor J. D. Farag talking with Jan Markell and Amir Tsarfati said, 'This is not hyperbole. If it were not for the blessed hope of the soon return of Jesus Christ in the [imminent, pretrib] rapture…I would go literally insane. I would lose my mind. [Amir Tsarfati interjects and says, 'I wouldn’t live.'] I would not be able to handle what my eyes see – the evil and the darkness is such that the likes of which we have never seen in human history'" {2}

Referring to the hostility between pre-trib and prewrath believers, Cooper stated: "There is going to come a day when we are going to need one another." (7:50) When might that day be? If he is referring to persecution during great tribulation, I assume that he does not attribute the apostasy of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 to pre-trib believers (amongst others). Indeed, during Session 5, he made the unaccountable assertion that he attributes the apostasy to Israel.

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:10-13).

Cooper's paraphrase of Revelation 6:10: "God when are you going to get down there and start kicking butt for what they did to us?" (14:00).

Revelation 6:10: They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

These kind of cheap remarks devalue the terrifying events of Revelation. Teachers especially need to show a proper respect for God's Holy Word. (1 Peter 5:3).

I have great difficulty with Cooper's assertion that the Antichrist will take his seat in "a holy place". (1:24) My understanding is that the unveiling of the Man Of Lawlessness will be in the rebuilt third Jewish Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4). As far as I am aware, the third temple will be an ecumenical centre and will be located near or actually on the plot presently occupied by the Dome of the Rock. As such, I cannot see how the temple where the Antichrist takes his seat can possibly be holy.. although no doubt it will be known as "holy".

..who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ = temple of God or temple of a god.

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ) (Matthew 24:15).

According to Cooper, the Antichrist will not take his seat at the location of the temple of old i.e. the site of Solomon's temple, but "in the only holy place in existence right now - Mount Zion." 

I stand to be corrected, but I am not at all convinced that physical Mount Zion is a holy place at the present time?

In the book of Revelation, Jerusalem is described symbolically as Sodom and Egypt. (Revelation 11:8).

For Christians, a physical place of worship is not a necessary requirement. In the book of Hebrews, Zion is considered as a type of the church.(Hebrews 12:18). 

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, (Hebrews 12:22). 

 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation). (Hebrews 9:11).

When Jesus returns, He will rule over the entire earth during the millennial kingdom from Zion. (Joel 3:17-21; Zechariah 14:8-9, 20-21; Revelation 20:4-6).

As Christians we anticipate the heavenly Jerusalem that descends from heaven.." a new heaven and a new earth."

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2).



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Sunday, 26 March 2017

IS THE STAR OF DAVID A LEGITIMATE SYMBOL FOR ISRAEL?

How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)


Emblem of the State of Israel

The Emblem of the State of Israel (Hebrew: סמל מדינת ישראל‎, translated Semel Medinat Yisra'el‎, depicts a menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, and the writing "ישראל" (Hebrew for Israel) below it.[1] Since ancient times, the menorah has gained recognition as the most enduring and iconic Jewish symbol. The menorah was chosen as the Emblem of the State of Israel in 1948. This particular depiction may be based on the vision of the Zechariah, where he describes seeing a solid gold seven branched lampstand flanked by two olive trees, one on each side. (Zechariah 4:1-14). The Torah states that God Himself gave the instructions for the precise design and construction of the menorah directly to Moses. The golden lampstand was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the future Messiah. The lampstand symbology carries right through from Moses to the vision of Zechariah, to the seven lampstands in Revelation 1:20.

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups mgade like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talente of pure gold. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain. (Exodus 25:31-40).

 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand. (Numbers 8:1-4).

The menorah was an obvious choice as the official symbol for Israel in 1948, and yet somehow! the flag of Zionism which displays the so called Shield of David took precedence over it. In complete contrast with the menorah, Māḡēn Dāwīḏ, David's shield aka the Star of David was never a uniquely Jewish symbol until relatively recently. The word magen can be found sixty three times in the Old Testament and its short definition is shield. [2] However, there is no mention of David's shield in the scriptures, or for that matter in early rabbinic literature. The symbol is so rare in early Jewish literature and artwork that art dealers suspect forgery if they find the symbol in early Jewish works.[3]

M. Hirsch Goldberg in his book The Jewish Connection states: "The Star of David is not of Jewish origin - and the ancient Israelites never used it as their religious symbol" (they used the Menorah or Seven Candlestick). [4]

In reality the hexagram star is the star of rephaim/repham/remphan and has particular evil connotations in both the Old and the New Testaments. Remphan has links with Moloch, a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice. Stephen condemned the practices associated with "Moloch and the star of your god Rephan" shortly before he was stoned (Acts 7:43; Amos 5:26). This particular star god is known both as Rephan and Kalwan (Hebrew Chiun). Kewan is probably the Old Babylonian Kayawanu for the planet Saturn. Stars are often associated with, and named after, specific pagan gods, for instance Aphrodite is Venus, Zeus is Jupiter etc. The "host of heaven" presented a particular temptation for the ancient Israelites towards false worship (1 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 21:1). The Israelites were censured for false worship of the sun god Adrammelech (2 Kings 17:31) and Amon (Jeremiah 46:25); the moon goddess Anammelech and Diana/Artemis (Acts 19:24-35); and Merodach/Marduk (Mars?) (Jeremiah 50:2). Stars are sometimes illustrative of angels and fallen angels in the scriptures. (Job 38:7; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 12:4). John erroneously fell down to worship at the feet of an angel (Revelation 22:8). Satan himself, the "shining one" translated "star of the morning", masquerades as an angel of light. (Isaiah 14:12; 2 Corinthians 11:14) in the place of Jesus Christ, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:16). The Masonic Dictionary provides  convincing evidence that the "star of Remphan" refers to the Seal of Solomon:

".....we can infer that this star of Remphan may well be the Seal of Solomon. In Qabbalistical magical texts attributed -- either rightly or wrongly -- to King Solomon, we see that both of these symbols, the pentagram and hexagram, when incased in a circle, are used to conjure spirits and called, respectively, the 'Pentacle of Solomon' or the 'Hexagram of Solomon'."  [5]

"The Seal of Solomon or the Shield of David, for under both names the same thing was denoted, is a hexagonal figure consisting of two interlaced triangles, thus forming the outlines of six-pointed star. Upon it was inscribed one of the sacred names of God, from which inscription it was opposed principally to derive its talismanic powers." [6]

Remphan was probably Saturn (Satan), the supreme god of the Chaldeans. Saturn was important to the religion of Mithra and also the Druids. Osiris, Egyptian god of the afterlife and lord of the dead is also represented by Saturn. The horned deity, the “great god Pan” represented Saturn in ancient paganism. This half-man half-goat creature is considered the ancestor of our modern depictions of Satan.

Manley P. Hall: “The pipes of Pan signify the natural harmony of the spheres, and the god himself is a symbol of Saturn because this planet is enthroned in Capricorn, whose emblem is a goat.” [7]

There are also occult links between Chium/Saturn and the mark of Cain. According to Blavatsky: “The god of time was Chium in Egypt, or Saturn...and Chium is the same as Cain.” [8]

Interestingly, Rome was originally known as Saturnia, the City of Saturn. The Roman Catholic church retains much of the Saturn worship in its ritual. Black cubes and monoliths also play a part in Saturn’s dark symbolism. The supreme deity Ēl or Il (Father of Heaven / Saturn) is the husband of the goddess Asherah and was represented by a black cube according to the clay tablets of Ugarit.

Masonic author John Sebastian Marlow Ward associated Saturn with Satan:
“Saturn is the opposite to Jupiter; his symbol is the cross above the sign of Luna. He is the Satan, the Tempter, or rather the Tester. His function is to chastise and tame the unruly passions in the primitive man.”  [9]

 There is a direct link between Rephaim and evil spirits in the book of I Enoch. The Rephaim were the offspring of the "watchers" or fallen angels, the giants, who were condemned to become evil spirits. (Enoch 15:8-9 cf. Daniel 4:13, 17. 23). I think that we must take the Book of I Enoch seriously since it is identified as prophecy by Jude, the Lord's half brother and one of the twelve apostles. (Jude 1:14 cf.  Jude1:6). Og king of Bashan appears to be the last remaining of the Rephaim, Moses having previously struck and dispossessed them. (Joshua 12:4, 13:12 Deuteronomy 3:11). The Rephaim were variously known also by other names: Emim, Gibborim, Zamzummim, Anakim and Avim. (Deuteronomy 2:10-23). Evidence for the existence of antediluvian/postdiluvan giants is compelling. Not only do giants appear as the Nephilim in the scriptures (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33), in the Book of I Enoch and other extra-biblical material, references to giants (Greek Gigantes) appear in the ubiquitous mythology and legends of many cultures.

Demonic associations with the hexagram star can easily be brought up to date. The hexagram is a very powerful witchcraft symbol and is used to conjure evil spirits (the Rephaim) when it is drawn inside a circle. Aleister Crowley devised the unicursal hexagram, which he claimed further codified the symbolism contained within the hexagram, the rosy cross, and the ankh. In fact, Crowley gave prominence to the hexagram and described it as "the lesser ritual of the pentagram". Thelemapedia  makes a distinct connection between the hexagram and the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercury and Luna.[10] Blavatsky noted the significance of the theosophic hexagram, and Hitler, who was a member of the Satanist Thule Society, used this curse symbol to mark the Jews during the holocaust.

The Star or Shield of David became an official symbol of Judaism after it was chosen to represent the First Zionist Congress in 1897 by secular Jew, Theodore Herzl. Herzl was the President of World Zionism and the founder of the First Zionist Congress, the political movement created to ensure a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Edmond de Rothschild, the real power behind Zionism, worked closely with both Theodore Herzl and his successor, Chaim Weizmann. Rothschild told Weizmann: "Without me Zionism would not have succeeded...."  Hence, the “Rothschild Hexagram” was adopted as the "flag of Zion" in 1948. When the Flag of Israel was unveiled, it met with tremendous opposition from many Jews who were aware of its historical connection with the mystery religions as the symbol of Moloch:

".....the symbol continued to be controversial for many years afterward. When the modern state of Israel was founded, there was much debate over whether this symbol should be used on the flag." [11] 

Opposition to the hexagram star symbol necessitated significant revisionist propaganda in order to transform it into an acceptable Jewish symbol. The saying: "If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it" is attributed to Joseph Goebbels. The often repeated revised explanation for the hexagram star is as follows:

"The two blue stripes represent a tallit or prayer shawl, and both sides of the split Red Sea that the Hebrews walked through as written in the Book of Exodus." 

"The Star of David also represents the Jewish identity of Israel, as well as the culture and history of the Israeli people."  [12]

In reality, the star of Remphan morphed into the occult Seal of Solomon and the Rothschild Hexagram aka the Illuminati Hexagram. I view Magen David as a satanic facade in order to obscure the true demonic history of the Star of Remphan. Even the designation 'the shield of David' is a misnomer. With no scriptural basis and all the evidence of evil and death attending this symbol prior to the 19th century, the hexagram is surely not God's choice for the symbol of Israel. This symbol evokes the propensity for the ancient Israelites to worship the true God and other gods concurrently. We therefore have the usurper, the so called star or shield of David, competing with the menorah for precedence.

The Rothchilds are believed to own and control 80% of the state of Israel and are one of the wealthiest families on earth. The red background of the Rothschild family shield is identical to that found on the heraldic arms of the Byzantine emperors and the Vatican. The history of the Rothschild dynasty is key to the implementation of the star of David as the premier Israeli symbol. Ashkenazi Jew, Mayer Amshel Bauer (born 1744), started his career at the Oppenheim banking-house in Hanover and rose through the ranks to become a junior partner. The Oppenheimers were early members of the Bavarian Illuminati, and it appears that this was the catalyst that enabled Baur to ingratiate himself with the Luciferian elite. Baur possessed immense intellectual ability and was a shrewd businessman. Around the year 1760 Baur began doing business with the court of Hanau, aided by his acquaintance with General von Estorff. In 1763 Baur returned to Frankfurt having acquired his father's business. It was at this time that he changed his name to Mayer Amschel Rothschild (red shield) and adopted the symbol of the hexagram.[13]

"Give me control over a nation's currency, then it does not interest me who makes the laws." Mayer Amschel Rothschild
    
The history of the hexagram star is compelling, but in addition, the six-sided star numerically equals 666 (6 points, 6 triangles, 6-sided hexagon). Because this symbol is comprised of a six within a six within a six ( 6 points, 6 triangles, 6 sides of the inner hexagon), some speculate that it is the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:18).

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV)

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).

 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_of_Israel
[4] http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=47474&forum=34
[7] Manly P. Hall, Secret Teachings of All Ages
[8] Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine (897:390)
[9] J.S.M. Ward, Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods
[11] https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-star-of-david
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