Islam
is a religion of WHAT? - By
Jackie Mason & Raoul Felder
http://www.jewishworldreview.com
| Standing on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, on the afternoon of September 11,
2001, looking west to Manhattan, the fires had turned the horizon a bright
orange that rose to great heights painted against a perfect pitiless blue sky.
Observing this terrible beauty, the residents of the neighborhood danced in the
streets, laughing, shouting to each other, shaking hands. These people were not
what one would suppose to be fanatical or militant Muslims. They were people who
had come to these shores from the Middle East, mostly shop keepers, bakers,
purveyors of eastern spices, tradesmen, cab drivers and the usual diversity of
people found in a New York ethnic neighborhood on a warm fall weekday. They were
American citizens however, who were expressing their judgment — joy at the
events of that horrible day that forever changed our world and America's place
in that world. They were also the followers of Islam: religion of oppression,
discrimination, violence, terror, war, superstition, intolerance and prejudice.
They were the followers of a religion of hate who, at the very least, if not
active participants in the events of that world-changing day, took unashamed
pleasure in the violence visited upon those — including their fellow citizens
and neighbors — who did not share their beliefs.
The President has said about Islam: ...Islam inspires countless individuals to
lead lives of honesty, integrity and morality (12/5/02). A...It's [Islam] a
faith based on love, not hate. (9/10/02) "The Islam that we know...teaches the
value and the importance of charity, mercy and peace. (11/15/01).
Well, he is the President, and like Tony Blair, probably has to say these sorts
of politically-correct things in the belief that they are necessary to be said,
because to declare the truth would create a threat to the maintenance of order
or, it might provoke an outraged citizenry to retaliate in a vengeful and
illegal way, jeopardizing domestic tranquility. We have no such impediment and
trust that the truth can only serve to enlighten and not to incite.
Islam exists as it is taught in the Koran and lived by Muhammad. Muhammad, by
the way, was hardly an example that one would wish to emulate. He had affairs
with maids and slave girls and was also a pedophile (and before we get outraged
e-mails on the latter point, here is chapter and verse: the girl's name was
Aisha, she was 9 he was 53. He was also involved in the slave trade,
assassinations and genocide. But, what the heck, nobody is perfect.)
Let's, as the sportscasters say, go to the record, which, in this case is the
Koran.
Kill the disbelievers wherever we find them. (2:191)
Fight and slay the pagans (translation: that's us) seize them, beleaguer them,
and lie in wait for them in every stratagem. (9:5)
Slay or crucify or cut the hands and feet of the unbelievers...(5:34)
...strike off the heads of the disbelievers...[make a] wide slaughter among
them, carefully tie up the remaining captives [for ransom] (947:4)
[treatment of disbelievers]...garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be
poured over their heads boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and
skin shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods (22:19).
The Koran also instructs Muslims to slay or crucify or cut the hands and the
feet of the unbelievers (5:34), fight unbelievers until no other religion except
Islam remains. (3:85)
Given these basic teachings of Islam there is little reason to be surprised at
the beheading of Americans Nick Berg, Paul Johnson and Marine Cpl. Wasef Ali
Hassoun.
Of course, not all Muslims participate in violence or even express joy at the
perpetration of violence against the West in general, or Americans in
particular, just as all Germans in the forties did not believe when they heard
their anthem, Deutschland uber alles, that it meant literally that Germany must
conquer all other nations. Some Germans embraced a passive longing for Germany
to be victorious; some few actually despised fascism, and some, an almost
non-existent few acted against it. So it is with Islam and the Muslims. About
the best the civilized world can expect is a joyous but passive reaction to the
mindless violence.
Empires have come and gone. Rome, Portugal, France, Holland, Germany and even in
our time, Great Britain, have seen their moment of world dominance - have seen
it flicker, and then, extinguish. And yet, they accepted it as part of the
panorama of history, and have moved on. Not so with Islam.
It is not by accident that our enemies call the coalition forces in Iraq the
Crusaders. To Islam the war, which they lost centuries ago, continues.
[It is of interest to note that the United States went to war with Muslim powers
in 1801. Barbary pirates kidnapped and made slaves of our citizens, demanding
tribute for their release. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson asked of the envoy of
Tripoli by what right did he make his claim for payment. As reported to Congress
by Jefferson, "The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of
their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should
not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and
duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found and to make slaves of
all they could take as Prisoners." ]
The enemy is not really the United States, nor even Israel. The enemy is
modernity itself and the forces of change that have made them irrelevant. The
West has persevered and they have lost. They are the have-nots, and to the
degree that they have the economic power of oil, even this has been denied to
them as a society by the corruption of their own despotic rulers. They are the
past in a present and future that belongs to the West. There is a chord that
joins them with other losers like Lee Harvey Oswald and Lee Boyd Malvo, devoid
of any distinction or ability to even control their own lives, who strike out in
spasms of hate-filled rage.
Muslims, married to a failed past, offer little hope for integration into modern
society. Israel giving them land to which they are not entitled, or the United
States not punishing them for criminal acts will not assuage their rage. America
must learn it cannot negotiate or reason with people who consider us infidels.
It must recognize that the enemy is often among us and all the exposure
available to them in Western civilization with its tolerances and respect for
individual rights will not affect their seething anger at imagined wrongs,
injustices, and illogical sense of entitlement.
Historically, use of strength, swift and certain punishment, and resolve of
purpose are all that is left us to effectively deal with their primitive
madness. And until we recognize this, there will be many more beheadings and
September elevenths.
The New Age & Devil Worship
- By Thomas Horn RNU News Sr.
Reporter
Do those who practice paganism worship "devils?"
RNU.com – (Raiders News Update) - A few years ago during the Christmas season my
wife and I walked through a local mall. As we perused the different shops, we
came across a New Age bookstore conducting a "Grand Opening". In a derisive tone
I said to my wife, "Can you believe some people's lack of intelligence?"
Casually, I strolled into the store, and without hesitation snatched a book from
the shelf and began offering a sarcastic commentary as I read from the pages. I
noticed my wife growing uncomfortable and so I placed the book back on the
shelf, and proceeded out of the store.
Suddenly, a dull sensation hit me. It began in my stomach and shot upward
through my head, impacting my equilibrium. As I stepped outside, into the main
mall walkway, my head started to spin, my hands started shaking. I felt as if I
was going to faint. It was literally as if an invisible terror had "jumped" on
me, and was somehow injecting powerful feelings of nausea and anxiety throughout
my entire body. I tried shaking it off, but couldn't. I attempted to walk it off
and failed. At last, feigning interest in something, I moved away from my wife
and began to pray. I asked the Lord to forgive me for my sarcastic attitude, my
lack of caution, and for my want of concern for the lost. I prayed for
deliverance from evil and for healing of the body and mind. After several hours
of such walking and praying, I was finally restored.
I discovered a valuable lesson that day: while a Christian may not be
demon-possessed, it's equally true that the "princes" of this world are
powerful, and we should enter their arena only after prayer, and at the
prompting of the Lord.
I also learned the mystical forces of the New Age movement are genuine (and
willing to protect their territory!), and that much of what is currently
published under the guise of New Age "enlightenment", is nothing less than Old
Age doctrines of nefarious invisible hosts.
As in antiquity, so in modern times, those who practice paganism are guilty of
worshipping "devils" (Rev. 9:20). The dogmas which were once embraced (and still
are through the New Age Movement) as the wisdom of the gods, are defined in the
scriptures as the "doctrines of devils". The Apostle Paul declared: "the things
which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils" (1 Cor. 10:20). In Acts
7:41-42 (Jerusalem Bible), we find that those who worship idols are joined to
the "army of heaven" [stratos, the "fallen angel army"], and Psalm 96:5
concludes that "all the gods of the nations are idols" (elilim, LXX daimonia
[demons]). Thus, pagan images, such as represented the ancient gods and
goddesses, were elilim (empty, nothing, vanity), but behind the empty idols were
the living dynamics of idolatry, and spiritual objects of heathen adoration, the
daimonia (demons) of the Bible.
Since the Bible clearly defines idolatry as the worship of demons, and since
demons are eternal personalities which desire the worship of men, it is fair to
conclude the characterization of such deities as "Zeus," "Amun-Ra," "Demeter,"
and "Isis," were simply the classical names attributed to specific fallen
spirits. In other words, Apollo was a real personality; Osiris was a genuine
underworld fiend; Hecate actually lived, and still does!
One also concludes that the images of the gods (falcon headed statues, animal
forms, etc) served the purposes of such spirits by providing a point of focus,
and by revealing the "nature" of the particular spirit existing within the god.
The iconographies, myths and rituals of each deity exhibited the specific
characteristics (nature, gender, underworld authority, etc) of that particular
entity. Thus, the myths and images of Zeus, according to such theory, were the
physical manifestations of a literal demon of air, while statues of the goddess
Demeter represented an earth spirit.
Today, it is my assertion and the claim of my book THE GODS WHO WALK AMONG US,
that the same spirits of antiquity, including Zeus, Athene, Dionysus, and
others, continue to express themselves within modern paganism. My coauthor, Dr.
Jones agrees, asserting that the connection between the New Age Movement and the
gods of mythology is strong.
"Nothing has changed in Satan's game plan," says Jones, "just the names of the
players, and, in some instances, even the names are the same."
Paganism in America is exploding as we enter the new millennium. Throughout
Hollywood, government, cyberspace, and even the church, the masses are embracing
the religious philosophies of the New Age of Aquarius.
As a modernistic process by which the old gods are worshipped, the New Age
Movement emerged in the United States during the 1960s, and has experienced a
steady growth ever since. The broad appeal of the New Age Movement as a Western
phenomenon can be explained to some degree as the result of a changing culture.
Americans have gradually abandoned the fundamental precepts of Christianity
(prayer in school, Bible in courts, etc) which provided the cornerstone of civil
life and jurisprudence in American society for more than 200 years. As a
generation of baby-boomers has focused on human potential and the "god within us
all", Eastern philosophies of Monism, Pantheism, Hinduism, and Self Realization
are providing Americans and even some Christians with an alluring opportunity to
throw off the "outdated ideas" of fundamental Christianity and to espouse a more
"enlightened" worldview of God and reality.
Some notable celebrities have joined the political ambitions of the New Age
Movement (goals include a United Nation's sponsored Environmental Sabbath for
the Goddess Earth), including Shirly MacLaine, Dick Gregory, Lindsay Wagner,
Dennis Weaver, Dirk Benedict, Cloris Leachman, Richard Gere, Ally Sheedy, and
the late John Denver. Many mainstream "Christian" denominations have also
annexed the New Age ideas, and believers who once held strong doctrinal
positions of the supremacy of Christ, have abandoned those views in exchange for
a New Age universal philosophy. Examples include a witch who teaches principles
of Goddess worship at a Roman Catholic college in California, and United
Methodist pastors who propose replacing the name of Jesus with Sophia (Goddess
of Wisdom) when reading about the crucifixion. Such persons claim we should join
the efforts of New Agers and be sympathetic to "Goddess-minded Christians."
Former New Age devotee, Judy Vorfeld re-discovered the real Jesus after
embracing such ideas. She became involved in freelance writing as a result of
experiencing the dangers involved in participating in the New Age Movement. For
many years she actively avoided anything to do with the Christianity of her
childhood. When she was in her early forties, a neighborhood minister said he
was starting a new church, and she thought the time might be right to look at
Christianity again. Judy writes:
'For a time I was involved in a fellowship that worshipped a different deity
than the God of the Bible....I joined a church that evolved from ecumenism to
religious syncretism....Six months after I became part of the fellowship,
fundamental Christianity was retired in favor of a universal religious system,
one designed to be inoffensive to people of any theological persuasion. The
fellowship then put together a creed that would be acceptable for any visitors
coming to worship with us. Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists were welcome, as
were Theosophists, Rosicrucians, and Hare Krishnas....Our minister brought a
popular seminar, advertised as a self-improvement course, into our church. Most
of us were impressed with the professional manner of the leaders and their
sophisticated system of teaching self-realization....The organization's format,
we were told, held the answers to all our problems....Church leadership eagerly
blended the organization's ideas into an agenda that became a part of our church
curriculum. Eastern meditation, physic healing, and guided imagery were all
practiced.'
Judy Vorfeld is a friend of mine and has provided me with guidance on the New
Age Movement. In a recent correspondence she described modern Druids, and spoke
of their methods of magic healing through "visualization." She confessed:
"Tom.... When we were involved in Silva Mind Control [through her local
church!], we did the same thing [visualized healing]. At that time, I thought
God was behind all this stuff. I "saw" people in my mind's eye who had various
diseases, and I sent energy to heal them. In groups like this, the leader often
has a list of people who are sick. This gives them a way to follow through and
see who was healed. I have no doubt some people were healed, but since we were
invoking a power other than that of the real God, what were we doing?"
What indeed.
An amazing component of the New Age Movement (as verified by such examples as my
friend, Judy) is its capacity to adapt to a variety of religious, even Christian
ideas. Consequently, many of the popular "Christian" doctrines advocated today
are nothing more than the cultic propositions of Eastern mysticism and ancient
paganism. These include concepts of psychic healing, self-realization, emotional
experiences, rules of success, breathing techniques, positive confession, name
it and claim it, environmental theology, the ecumenical movement, visualization,
hypnosis by clergy, mind manipulation, and so on.
At times, and I say this with caution, even the activity within the
"fundamental" church, including certain physical phenomena we sometimes embrace
as the miraculous evidence of "revival," is a modern form of magic and opens the
door for "old gods" and their mysticism to invade the church. The line between a
true manifestation of God, and human orchestration, is often blurred. Sincere
people, in a quest to experience God, frequently mimic the doctrinal and
physical activity of others. Some physical phenomena (crawling on the church
floor and making animal sounds, etc) is extra-biblical in nature (not everything
that is extra-biblical is un-biblical, however) and therefore undefined by New
Testament teachings.
As a result, some Christians have been drawn after mystical experiences rather
than concentrating on God and His Word. Even sermons preached by well-meaning
ministers have tempted Christians to pursue "supernatural" encounters with
"God", rather than instructing them to live by faith. The danger of such
undisciplined sincerity is that human nature rarely limits its opportunity for
experience. If the Bible has no clear guidlines of conduct and order, and the
activity is being promoted by church authorities as a way of experiencing God,
then the person seeking the "experience" may have trouble defining what is, and
what isn't acceptable, and thus go too far. For emotional people the
"experience" may be expressed by a physical reaction, while academics tend to
interpret mystical "experiences" with God as divine revelations or imparted
knowledge. The dangerous consequences of such conduct often leads to religious
behavior more reminiscent of Dionysus or Apollo worship than of New Testament
Christianity. As a result, people like Judy Vorfeld start out in a Christian
church and wind up in the New Age movement.
The dangers of mysticism, such as those inherent with emphasizing experiences
over doctrine, were soundly illustrated in a recent report by Samantha Smith.
She writes:
'I became strongly concerned about this movement after observing a "service" at
a south Denver Vineyard church....[a woman] stood in the middle of a group of
people who ran their hands over her body (within an inch or so of the clothing),
then kept swooshing some invisible thing toward her heart area. Saddened, I
walked toward the door, where a church member said, "You should come back on
Sunday night. That's when they levitate."...[another group] in Seattle...sit in
circles, clucking, flapping their tucked arms and visualizing themselves
hatching the "Man Child Company," a heretical Manifested Sons of God concept. In
Kansas City, a pastor watched in horror as men and women lay on the floor with
their knees up and legs spread apart, trying to birth the same thing....I
tape-recorded a group of Episcopalians howling at the moon, like wolves—giving a
"Howl-le-lu-ia Chorus" for Earth Day. It gets worse. There are reports of "holy
vomiting" (seance ectoplasm?) and of Christians becoming demonized by being
"slain in the spirit." How can this be?'
I echo Samantha Smith's concerns.
PANDEMONIUM!—THE PAGAN GOSPEL OF THE NEW AGE GOD-KING
The gospel according to the New Age Movement is an expansive idea centered
around the birth of a new world "consciousness." As a religion of monism (all is
one), New Agers hope to accomplish what the builders of the Tower of Babel
failed to do—unify the masses of the world under a single religious umbrella,
and, at the macro level, harmonically converge the world's energies with the
power of Gaia. To promote such goals, New Agers claim that God is pantheistic
(God is all and all is God) and that humans are divine members of the whole
"that God is." According to New Ageism, Jesus came to reveal this pantheistic
nature of God and to teach humanity the gospel of Self-Realization. After
illustrating the divine principle of "God within us all," Jesus ascended to a
place of distinction to live among the Masters of the Spiritual Hierarchy—Buddha
and Krishna. Jesus promised that the essence of God would be revealed from time
to time, and thus New Agers look for the imminent appearing of a World Teacher
who will, as Jesus did, illustrate the divine human potential. In this way, New
Age theology prepares the world for the coming of the False Prophet and the
Antichrist.
Pagans claim such a religion of Self-realization—a belief that will be
championed by the Antichrist—is older than Christianity.
That's true.
The gospel according to the New Age Movement—a gospel of "becoming god"— is as
old as the fall of man. It began when the serpent said to the woman "ye shall be
as gods" (Gen. 3:5), and it will zenith during the reign of the Tribulation
god-king. The New Age movement provides the perfect creed for implementing such
an end-time religion. It unifies the religions of the world. It consecrates the
forces of nature. It provides for human divinity, and it is vogue, post modern,
and politically correct.
Tal Brooke—former New Age disciple of Hindu holy man, Sai Baba, confirms that
"the New Age movement, and its progeny, Gaia, are spiritually correct for a new
world order. Christianity is not."
Thus, history repeats itself, and the ancient Egyptian gospel of men becoming
"gods" is fashionable again!
Consequently, New Age celebrities such as Shirley MacLaine represent themselves
as "I AM that I AM" at human potential symposiums around the world, and the Vice
President of the United States, Al Gore, describes God in terms of "a constant
and holy spiritual presence in all people, all life, and all things" [emphasis
added]. Ex president's wife, Hillary Clinton, channels the spirits of the dead,
and members of the House of Representatives warn Congress of "increasing
evidence of a government-sponsored religion in America...[a] cloudy mixture of
New Age mysticism, Native American folklore and primitive earth worship."
For many years Christians wondered how the Antichrist would deceive the earth's
masses. How does one convince millions of people, especially in countries where
Christianity exists, to exchange their souls for temporary earthly benefits?
Then the New Age Movement came along with its focus on human-potential and
self-empowerment and successfully drew many Christians away from Christ-exalting
doctrines. Old-fashioned gospel preaching was replaced with positive thinking,
self-realization, and pop psychology, and mystical experiences which tantalize
the flesh were sanctioned as "the last great revival." As a result, celebrity
preachers advance sermons focusing on "the inner self," and Sunday morning
services begin with shouts of "Are you ready for God to do great things!?" The
implication that God will meet with believers and grant their many requests is
touted as dynamic Christianity. The days of unconditional Christian devotion are
threatened as contemporary congregations expect God to "manifest" Himself and
please the whims of the audience. Although Jesus warned of an "evil and
adulterous generation [that] seeketh after a sign," physical and mystical
"thrills" have become the benchmark of many popular Christian gathering places.
The result is a growing superficiality among some Christians who are preoccupied
with mysticism and "me-ism."
As a businessman and ministry leader I've tasted the bitter results of the "new
age" segment of Christianity. Too often these believers fall, flop, quiver,
shake, and gyrate on Sunday, but can't get out of bed and go to work Monday
morning. Among such employees, I've found insignificant character differences
between religious groups, and "Christians" have been just as likely as
non-believers to lie, cheat, and steal at my place of business. Perhaps I've
been unlucky, or maybe, as I believe the case to be, twenty years of popular New
Age metaphysical focusing on "self" has so impacted this generation that many
"Christians" are willing to dilute their character to acquire what pleases them.
Either way, an inward-focusing generation of "religious people" willing to trade
their soul for whatever makes them happy is exactly what is necessary for the
appearance of Antichrist. "You can stamp my hand if you'l give me what I want"
is the required attitude. While many Christians and New Age devotees are
sincere, giving people, the lasting result of the New Age Movement is
nevertheless demonic, self-absorbed, and paves the way for the coming of
paganism's preeminent materialization—the god-king of the Great Tribulation.'
Fulfilling
the Call: Bringing God's People Home To Israel
- By C. Hart
Last year, more than 12,000 Jews from the "Land of the North" kissed their
relatives goodbye and journeyed to Israel.
CBN.com – On the Mediterranean Sea -- Waves of immigrants, numbering in the
millions, have resettled and established the nation of Israel. This was foretold
in the Bible, and some believe that it is one of the great prophetic themes of
our time. While they compose a great throng of people, they are made up of
individuals with everyday concerns and challenges. CBN News recently focused on
two families from the former Soviet Union as they made the journey to a new land
and a new life.
For hundreds of years, Jewish people have wandered in the nations, eventually
settling in their Promised Land and building a new life.
In the late 1980's, when the Soviet state finally let the people go, Jews fled
under threatening conditions, sometimes carrying only a few possessions with
them.
Last year, more than 12,000 Jews from the "Land of the North" kissed their
relatives goodbye and journeyed to Israel. Yet, those numbers do not compare to
the almost 200,000 who arrived at the peak of immigration, in 1990.
Going by bus and train to waiting planes and ships, it has never been easy
leaving friends and family behind.
Yuri Odintzov and his wife Ludmila boarded the Jasmine cruise ship in May 2004,
along with 63 other Russian immigrants.
Yuri Odintzov said, "I wouldn't say that I have fear of the future, or some
worries or anxiousness. The only thing that I have now in my heart is sadness
about leaving my friends and relatives behind. But, I think with time, these
concerns will vanish."
Hosted by Ebenezer Emergency Fund, a Christian organization, they sailed from
the port of Odessa to the port of Haifa.
Hebrews 11 says that Abraham was called to go to the place of his inheritance.
For these new Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union, it is one of the
biggest decisions they have made. And, like Abraham, they are leaving the land
of their birth, and going to their new homeland, Israel.
Since the 1990's, Ebenezer has helped Israel's Jewish Agency bring more than
100,000 Jews home. But, Peter Malpass claims the numbers have dropped off since
the Intifada began in September 2000.
Malpass said, "It's not only the terrorism in the land, it's also the economic
position which people are afraid about. They hear reports from the land that
it's difficult to get jobs, and this deters them from actually moving."
Looking out on the calm seas, some of the new immigrants, known as "olim" in
Hebrew, spent time contemplating the decision they had made.
Joan Thomas, head intercessor for Ebenezer, said the Scriptures bring comfort,
but the olim are anxious about starting new lives.
Thomas said, "The first day on the ship, there is a lot of working through
things. But what we've experienced is that the Lord's love is here; His
anointing is here. His love comes and just brings that quiet release."
In the biblical account of Jeremiah, the people are commanded to praise the
Lord, for He will bring the remnant of Israel from the North country and gather
them from the ends of the earth. A great throng shall return to Zion.
Onboard the ship, the new olim learned the folk dances of Israel.
Ludmila Odintzov said that she and Yuri plan to settle in the Jerusalem area,
joining their daughter and her family who immigrated there four years ago.
"We would like to live together with our children, said Ludmila Odintzov. "We
don't want to live separately from them, because otherwise we would stay in the
Ukraine and live there. Our daughter wants to buy an apartment, and we are
coming to support her, as we can, so that this dream of hers would become true."
The Odintzov's enjoyed the company of Ludmila Mezentsev and her daughter Olya
onboard ship. Ludmila Mezentsev said she looks forward to seeing her husband
when they arrive in Israel. Her greatest concern is for nine-year-old Olya.
Ludmila Mezentsev said, "I think that life in the Ukraine is not easier or
safer. We can face difficulties and different kinds of troubles. The most
important for me is that everything will be good with my daughter… we would like
her to adjust to the new life as soon as possible, because she needs new friends
and she needs to feel at home, herself."
As the ship sailed closer to Haifa, the new olim looked out at the land of their
forefathers with hope in their hearts.
Once they arrived and embarked at the port, most of the immigrants did not go to
an absorption center. Instead, they had already arranged to live with family
members who had settled in.
Yuri and Ludmila will stay with daughter Natalia and her family. The daughter
and family recently moved to a new rented apartment north of the city.
Yuri, who has been in Israel for a while, said, "I need to help my son-in-law,
George, fix everything. And, we need to remodel the apartment. And there will be
a lot of cleaning, and also we need to decide, with the children, how to set it
up so it will be comfortable and beautiful."
After a few weeks in the land, Ludmila Odintzov celebrated her 61st birthday.
She admitted that she and Yuri had not settled in yet. They understand very
little about their new surroundings, but their lives are full.
Ludmila Odintzov said, "I have some fear and uncertainty, and I don't know if we
are going to be able to settle here; and, if we are going to succeed or not.
But, just the fact that every day I can see my daughter, and my grandson, Dima;
well, you cannot compare that with anything."
In a town near Haifa, the Mezentzev family has re-united. But, already, Ludmila
has faced the harsh reality of being the new immigrant on the block. She does
not feel accepted yet by her Israeli neighbors. Ludmila and her husband Vadim
are determined to find work, so they will not be dependent on social welfare.
Ludmila Mezentsev said, "I have hope that, step by step, we'll find jobs and
we'll settle. And, we'll have a normal life with everyday cares. And, then when
you have your everyday cares, you don't pay attention too much to other things
around you, especially unpleasant or difficult things."
Ludmila says that one of the adjustments will be sending Olya off to boarding
school so she can get a better education. Another hurdle will be learning the
Hebrew language so they can fit into society.
Thomas said, "The olim stay upon the hearts of those who pray. And, they do pray
for them - for their settling in; for you know, just the adjustment; the huge
adjustment that it is."
As the Jasmine gets ready for its next sailing from the Ukraine, more Jewish
people will be saying goodbye to loved ones. According to the Jewish Agency,
there are still 800,000 Jews remaining in the former Soviet Union.
For many, it is a long, difficult road ahead. But, they believe the God of
Israel promises, once again, to gather His people and bring them back to their
own land.
Despite terrorism, economic instability and Israel's uncertain political future,
Jews from around the world continue to move to the land. Today, more than one
million olim from the former Soviet Union constitute Israel's largest immigrant
population. It is biblical prophecy being fulfilled!
Brainwashing for Global Control
- Jeff Stryker
How brainwashing came to life and thrived
Director Jonathan Demme fiddles with the classics again. After a remake of
"Charade," he now offers up "The Manchurian Candidate" for a nervous, post Sept.
11 era.
The original 1962 film featured Angela Lansbury as a political Svengali and
Frank Sinatra as an Army major who tracks down Laurence Harvey, an American
soldier captured during the Korean War and programmed through hypnotism for
assassination by Chinese Communists. The film was based on a 1959 best-selling
book by Richard Condon. For all the critical acclaim and subsequent political
attention (Did Lee Harvey Oswald see it or not?), the movie flopped initially
and was withdrawn from release after John F. Kennedy's assassination.
"The Manchurian Candidate" remake brings to a wider audience questions about the
role of the state in brainwashing and mind control, a topic usually reserved for
the "nutters" on the Internet, as a character in the new movie puts it
succinctly.
Updating the politics of the era, the Communist evil empire has been replaced by
a multinational corporation, Manchurian Global. Updating the science, hypnosis
and brainwashing have been augmented with electrodes in the brain, microchips
implanted in the body and electroshock.
The term "brainwashing" was first popularized by Edward Hunter, in his 1951
book, "Brainwashing in Red China." Brainwashing was his translation for a
Chinese term "hsi-nao," meaning, roughly, "cleansing of the mind." "It is
practically impossible to fight something until it has been given a name,"
Hunter wrote, saying that brainwashing had a more "flesh-and-blood" quality than
a more clinical alternative, "menticide," which means murder of the mind.
The fear of brainwashing was rooted in wartime, fueled by anti-communist fervor
and tinged with racism and xenophobia. Some U.S. prisoners of war in Korea
renounced their citizenship in radio broadcasts and many signed confessions
against American interests, including charges, still debated today, that the
United States was engaged in germ warfare with anthrax.
For Americans to abandon their ideals, the Communists must have devised some
nefarious new means of thought control -- or so it was thought.
The Army conducted shipboard interviews with more than 4,000 returning American
prisoners of the Korean conflict. Robert Jay Lifton, one of the psychiatrists
who conducted the interviews, analyzed them in his 1961 classic book, "Thought
Reform and the Psychology of Totalism."
Lifton concluded that the Chinese interrogation techniques were merely
time-honored methods of psychological coercion: isolation, humiliation and the
repetition of propaganda. But by this time, it was too late. The "flesh-and-
blood" term brainwashing had come to life and refused to be contained, never
really losing its power.
George Romney's 1967 comment that he had been "brainwashed" about the Vietnam
War put the kibosh on Romney's run for the presidency, prompting opponent Eugene
McCarthy to quip that a "light rinse would have done."
The question of whether religious cults were brainwashing adherents kept the
notion alive through the 1960s and '70s. Brainwashing was claimed as a defense
in a number of American court cases, but without much success (It did not work
for Patty Hearst, for example). In recent years, claims of brainwashing have
been asserted for sniper Lee Boyd Malvo, the American Taliban soldier John
Walker Lindh and kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart.
"Today, the notion surfaces in court mostly in child custody disputes, where one
parent accuses the other of 'brainwashing' -- more as a rhetorical flourish
rather than any real scientific claim," said Alan Scheflin, a professor of law
at Santa Clara University and author of "The Mind Manipulators."
To update the science of brainwashing for the new "Manchurian Candidate," Demme,
the director, turned to Jay Lombard, a physician who treats brain disorders in
Nyack, NY.
Lombard said it wasn't a big stretch to think that as scientists got better and
better at understanding how the brain works, they could eventually use that
knowledge to influence behavior. As an adviser to Demme, he said he "put on my
devil's cap and used my own fantasies as to what might be possible. "
Other experts in neurosciences asked about the technology in "The Manchurian
Candidate" agreed that true mind control -- the ability to create specific
thoughts or memories with brain chips or electromagnetic waves -- is still the
stuff of science fiction. But the movie's theme of medical technology morphing
into nefarious military applications resonated nonetheless.
"The same thing that might help a fighter pilot control his plane by brain waves
might also help a spinal cord patient control his environment," said Martha
Farah, a scientist with the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University
of Pennsylvania, who is an exponent of the burgeoning field known as "neuroethics,"
a term coined by New York Times columnist William Safire.
The worry that research in the neurosciences might get out of hand is not
without historical precedent.
Helen McGonigle, a Connecticut lawyer who represents victims of trauma and
sexual abuse, knows she sounds like one of the nutters on the Internet when she
talks about the history of military involvement in mind control.
When asked if she thinks the government is still in the business of mind
control, McGonigle responded without skipping a beat. "Absolutely," she said.
"The history of the Bluebird, Artichoke and MKULTRA definitely raise the bar of
suspicion," McGonigle said, ticking off a series of government experiments
involving hypnosis, sleep deprivation and the use of psychotropic drugs.
MKULTRA, underway from 1953 to 1966, involved research into mind-control agents
at scores of prestigious institutions by prominent psychologists. MKULTRA
scientists attempted to determine whether LSD could be aerosolized effectively;
the CIA even hired a magician to teach field agents how to slip LSD into the
drinks of unwitting subjects.
Other experiments involved various forms of sleep deprivation and hypnosis.
Consider a research question posed in CIA documents from the Bluebird
experiments in the 1950s: "Could we seize a subject and in the space of an hour
or two by post-H[ypnotic] control have him crash an airplane, wreck a train,
etc.?"
The techniques of Cold War mind control experiments -- slipping unwitting
subjects a Mickey Finn -- seem quaint from the perspective of today's high-tech
approaches. Indeed, many of the bits and pieces of neuroscience in the new movie
are already science fact, even if they don't necessarily add up neatly.
Microchips have long been used to track animals and to tag surgical implants.
Today's microchips, which are about the size of a grain of uncooked rice, can
now be linked to Global Positioning System equipment for surveillance and
equipped with technology to relay information about vital signs remotely. A
"brain fingerprinting" technique is already accepted by some courts;
scalp-measured brain waves can detect so-called guilty knowledge, such as
familiarity with people, objects or even terrorist training. Just a few weeks
ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first implant to treat a mood
disorder: an electrode placed on the vagus nerve to treat depression.
Wrye Sententia monitors these developments, fighting the good fight for
"cognitive liberties" as the executive director of the Center for Cognitive
Liberties & Ethics in Davis. "We say 'cognitive liberties' rather than 'freedom
of thought,' because cognitive liberties marks the intersection of brain science
and policy," she said. The center is not out to stop brain research, but
believes the Constitution and other legal protections should guarantee both the
right to be free from unwarranted mental intrusions and to have access to new
neurotechnologies, for those who want them.
"The Manchurian Candidate"-style advances have prompted the center to expand its
mission to monitor military activities, including the government's "weaponizing
of psychoactive drugs." According to reports in Mother Jones last year and the
New York Times magazine last week, university and government scientists
interested in "non-lethal weapons" are considering the use of psychoactive
drugs, such as ecstasy or Valium, as "calmative" weapons to subdue unruly
crowds.
It sounds like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster.
The
unknown Newton - By DAN
FALK
The genius who gave us three laws of motion wrote even more about the Apocalypse
and the Whore of Babylon. Eventually, all of his work -- about 10 million words
-- will be on the Web. DAN FALK reports
When we think of Isaac Newton, we usually think of his insight into gravity
(remember the falling apple?), or perhaps his work on optics, or his invention
of calculus.
Yet if we go by sheer word count, physics was only one of Newton's intellectual
priorities. He devoted more time to what we would now regard as non-scientific
topics such as theology and alchemy, writing treatise after treatise on early
church history and biblical prophecy.
Scholars have long known that Newton dabbled in the occult, but the sheer
magnitude of his devotion to such matters has only recently come to light,
bolstered by a British-led project trying to put all of his writings -- about 10
million words in all -- on the World Wide Web.
"We think of Newton, obviously, primarily as a scientist," says Stephen Snobelen,
a historian of science at King's College in Halifax. "So this awareness that
there is this four-million-word corpus of theological texts, and another one
million words on alchemy, is quite a revelation for many people."
Prof. Snobelen is the leading Canadian contributor to the Newton Project, which
is based at Imperial College, London, and also involves researchers at Cambridge
and at universities in France and the United States.
The project was also a major topic of discussion at a conference held at King's
College this week. The conference, titled Circulating Knowledge, was jointly
organized by the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science and
the leading British and U.S. history-of-science associations.
The Newton Project (http://www.newtonproject.ic.ac.uk) began in 1998 with a
£330,000 (about $800,000) grant from the British Arts and Humanities Research
Board, and may take 20 years or more to complete. It is by far the largest and
most technologically sophisticated such project dealing with Newton, and one of
the largest Web-based projects involving any single historical figure.
The project will involve Web versions not only of transcriptions of Newton's
writings, but also colour images of the original documents, as well as the
annotations and margin notes from the books he kept in his personal library --
most of it never before made public.
It will use the latest XML (Extensible Markup Language) technology --
essentially "a more robust version of HTML," the familiar code that most
Internet sites currently use, says Robert Iliffe of Imperial College, an
editorial director of the project.
The XML format allows, among other things, virtually endless "links" between
different sections of the website as well as electronic "tagging" that makes the
files easier to search and catalogue.
Perhaps the most startling aspect of the Newton Project is what it is revealing
about the magnitude and depth of Newton's non-scientific output, as well as the
contrast between his private writings and those he made public.
"The sheer amount of manuscripts on the Whore of Babylon, the two-horned and
10-horned beasts, the two witnesses, all this stuff -- is amazing," Prof. Iliffe
says. "It is 50 years of his work. That's what he spent most of his time on. He
never stopped."
Many early-Newton scholars, eager to secure his place as Britain's greatest
scientist and an icon of the Enlightenment, played down his non-scientific
interests. "The old Enlightenment view was that Newton did his theology when he
was senile," Prof. Iliffe says. "But that's not true. He did it when he was at
his most powerful as a thinker."
Although Newton was a deeply religious Christian, he held starkly anti-Catholic
and anti-Trinitarian views. For him, there was only "God the father." (Denying
the Holy Trinity was a criminal offence in England in Newton's day.)
He also obsessed over the early history of the church, especially the third,
fourth and fifth centuries, when, in his view, Christianity became corrupted.
Not surprisingly, Newton kept most of his theological musings to himself. And
yet he often wrote in a very formal style -- not at all like the kind of writing
you would expect to see in notebooks to be read only by their own author.
"I've argued -- I hope it's not banal -- that he's writing it for God," Prof.
Iliffe says. "Or maybe for some other people who are yet to come. But there's no
evidence that he showed most of this material to anybody."
And yet he did allow an "inner circle" of friends and colleagues -- like-minded
individuals whom he could trust to keep his secrets -- in on his speculations.
For example, he once sent an apocalyptic time chart to philosopher John Locke.
The chart covers most of the events described in the Book of Revelation, from
the appearance of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to the time when "the Word
of God makes war with ye Beasts & Kings of ye earth" and to the creation of a
"new heaven, new earth & new Jerusalem."
Yet even some of Newton's published writings seem to contain allusions to his
theological beliefs.
For example, Prof. Snobelen argues that Newton left clues to those beliefs
hidden "between the lines" even in some of his most famous works. Much of
Newton's writing is "layered," he says -- the surface layer being accessible to
everyone, with a deeper layer accessible only to an elite group of followers.
For Prof. Snobelen, this aspect of Newton's character is reminiscent of
Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician who led a cult-like group of young
thinkers, all of whom were sworn to secrecy.
"Newton was extremely careful about his wording," he says. "He was walking on a
knife edge. If he presented [his theology] too openly, then he would have been
caught. If he didn't present it openly enough, no one would have seen the
message."
Meanwhile, the larger scholarly debate continues to focus on the links between
Newton's theological views and his science. Part of the problem is that so much
has changed since his day. For example, we now think of science and theology as
completely separate disciplines. But even the term "scientist" is relatively
new; it was coined only in the 1830s.
Newton would have seen himself as a "natural philosopher," someone whose
interests included -- but were not limited to -- what we would now call science.
He also clearly saw God as an essential part of nature, the "first cause" on
which everything else depended. "He thought that doing natural philosophy was a
religious activity," Prof. Iliffe says.
In Newton's view, God revealed himself in two books -- Scripture and the "book
of nature." The latter Newton investigated directly through his science; the
former, presumably, was equally worthy of his attention. "There's certainly a
religious and a theological element to his science," Prof. Iliffe says.
And yet scholars are still struggling to comprehend how such a rational thinker
-- the man who gave us three laws of motion, the law of universal gravitation
and so much more -- could have simultaneously immersed himself so deeply in
arcane matters. It almost seems, at times, like there were two Isaac Newtons --
or, at the very least, one man who led two very different lives.
"He's one of the most prominent public officials in the country, he's president
of the Royal Society, he's Master of the Royal Mint," Prof. Iliffe says. "And
then when he goes back to his Chelsea home, he does all this stuff on the
Apocalypse and the Whore of Babylon. . . . This is a guy who lives out his day
in the public sphere and deals with this world -- and then he goes home and he
deals with the third, fourth, fifth century."
Part of the answer, Prof. Iliffe suggests, is the scope of Newton's hunger for
knowledge. Whatever facts he had obtained, whether about nature or theology,
were never enough.
"He's just incredibly ambitious," Prof. Iliffe says. "He's supremely confident
he's a 'chosen one' -- a chosen person who can overturn centuries and millennia
of error. And now is the time when truth is being revealed. And that's the case
in both his private theology and in science and mathematics."
The Newton Project will let scholars probe the connections between the many
facets of Newton's persona more closely than ever before.
"Not only can you read his manuscripts about theology and church history and
heresies, but you can actually 'drill down' and have access to the original
manuscripts and books in his own library that he's using to construct his
arguments," says Dolores Iorizzo, a colleague of Prof. Iliffe at Imperial
College. "And that's a completely new idea about how to do research."
The Arab/Muslim Nazi Connection-
written by Paul Longgrear, Raymond McNemar
Arab leaders and media outlets have long been addicted to comparing Israel to
the Nazi regime, while at the same time demeaning the extent of the Holocaust.
This obsession with defaming and antagonizing the Jewish people and state was on
full display in recent months and reached a crescendo – or rather nadir – the
day before Pope John Paul II visited the Temple Mount during his Holy Land
pilgrimage. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, just hours before
hosting the Pope, gave a series of press interviews, first telling the AP: "The
figure of 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust is exaggerated and is used
by the Israelis to gain international support… It's not my problem. Muslims
didn't do anything on this issue. It's the doing of Hitler who hated the Jews,"
asserted the acid-tongued Mufti – a figure appointed by Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat. "Six million? It was a lot less," Sabri repeated for an Italian
newspaper. "It's not my fault if Hitler hated the Jews. Anyway, they hate them
just about everywhere." The Mufti finished the day with Reuters, charging, "We
denounce all massacres, but I don't see why a certain massacre should be used
for political gain and blackmail." However, as a matter of record, there was a
well-documented, thriving relationship between the Arab/Muslim world and Nazi
Germany, with perhaps the most significant figure linking Hitler to the Middle
East being none other Sabri's very own predecessor, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj
Amin el-Husseini. Here is a brief review of that dark, overlooked chapter in
history.
The Führer's Mufti: After World War I, the Great Powers of Europe jockeyed for
influence in the Middle East's oil fields and trade routes, with France and
Britain holding mandates throughout most of the region. In the 1930s, the
fascist regimes that arose in Italy and Germany sought greater stakes in the
area, and began courting Arab leaders to revolt against their British and French
custodians. Among their many willing accomplices was Jerusalem Mufti Haj Amin
el-Husseini, who fled Palestine after agitating against the British during the
Arab Revolt of 1936-39. He found refuge in Iraq – another of Her Majesty's
mandates – where he again topped the British most wanted list after helping pull
the strings behind the Iraqi coup of 1941. The revolt in Baghdad was
orchestrated by Hitler as part of a strategy to squeeze the region between the
pincers of Rommel's troops in North Africa, German forces in the Caucuses and
pro-Nazi forces in Iraq. However, in June 1941 British troops put down the
rebellion and the Mufti escaped via Tehran to Italy and eventually to Berlin.
Once in Berlin, the Mufti received an enthusiastic reception by the "Islamische
Zentralinstitut" and the whole Islamic community of Germany, which welcomed him
as the "Führer of the Arabic world." In an introductory speech, he called the
Jews the "most fierce enemies of the Muslims" and an "ever corruptive element"
in the world. Husseini soon became an honored guest of the Nazi leadership and
met on several occasions with Hitler. He personally lobbied the Führer against
the plan to let Jews leave Hungary, fearing they would immigrate to Palestine.
He also strongly intervened when Adolf Eichman tried to cut a deal with the
British government to exchange German POWs for 5000 Jewish children who also
could have fled to Palestine. The Mufti's protests with the SS were successful,
as the children were sent to death camps in Poland instead. One German officer
noted in his journals that the Mufti would liked to have seen the Jews
"preferably all killed." On a visit to Auschwitz, he reportedly admonished the
guards running the gas chambers to work more diligently. Throughout the war, he
appeared regularly on German radio broadcasts to the Middle East, preaching his
pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic message to the Arab masses back home.
To show gratitude towards his hosts, in 1943 the Mufti travelled several times
to Bosnia, where on orders of the SS he recruited the notorious "Hanjar
troopers," a special Bosnian Waffen SS company which slaugh-tered 90% of
Bosnia's Jews and burned countless Serbian churches and villages. These Bosnian
Muslim recruits rapidly found favor with SS chief Heinrich Himmler, who
established a special Mullah Military school in Dresden.
The only condition the Mufti set for his help was that after Hitler won the war,
the entire Jewish population in Palestine should be liquidated. After the war,
Husseini fled to Switzerland and from there escaped via France to Cairo, were he
was warmly received. The Mufti used funds received earlier from the Hilter
regime to finance the Nazi-inspired Arab Liberation Army that terrorized Jews in
Palestine.
The Arab Embrace of Nazism: Husseini represents the prevalent pro-Nazi posture
among the Arab/Muslim world before, during and even after the Holocaust. The
Nazi-Arab connection existed even when Adolf Hitler first seized power in
Germany in 1933. News of the Nazi takeover was welcomed by the Arab masses with
great enthusiasm, as the first congratulatory telegrams Hitler received upon
being appointed Chancellor came from the German Consul in Jerusalem, followed by
those from several Arab capitals. Soon afterwards, parties that imitated the
National Socialists were founded in many Arab lands, like the "Hisb-el-qaumi-el-suri"
(PPS) or Social Nationalist Party in Syria. Its leader, Anton Sa'ada, styled
himself the Führer of the Syrian nation, and Hitler became known as "Abu Ali"
(In Egypt his name was "Muhammed Haidar"). The banner of the PPS displayed the
swastika on a black-white background. Later, a Lebanese branch of the PPS –
which still receives its orders from Damascus – was involved in the
assassination of Lebanese President Pierre Gemayel.
The most influential party that emulated the Nazis was "Young Egypt," which was
founded in October 1933. They had storm troopers, torch processions, and literal
translations of Nazi slogans – like "One folk, One party, One leader." Nazi
anti-Semitism was replicated, with calls to boycott Jewish businesses and
physical attacks on Jews. Britain had a bitter experience with this pro-German
mood in Egypt, when the official Egyptian government failed to declare war on
the Wehrmacht as German troops were about to conquer Alexandria.
After the war, a member of Young Egypt named Gamal Abdul Nasser was among the
officers who led the July 1952 revolution in Egypt. Their first act – following
in Hitler's footsteps – was to outlaw all other parties. Nasser's Egypt became a
safe haven for Nazi war criminals, among them the SS General in charge of the
murder of Ukrainian Jewry; he became Nasser's bodyguard and close comrade. Alois
Brunner, another senior Nazi war criminal, found shelter in Damascus, where he
served for many years as senior adviser to the Syrian general staff and still
resides today.
Sami al-Joundi, one of the founders of the ruling Syrian Ba'ath Party, recalls:
"We were racists. We admired the Nazis. We were immersed in reading Nazi
literature and books... We were the first who thought of a translation of Mein
Kampf. Anyone who lived in Damascus at that time was witness to the Arab
inclination toward Nazism."
These leanings never completely ceased. Hitler's Mein Kampf currently ranks
sixth on the best-seller list among Palestinian Arabs. Luis Al-Haj, translator
of the Arabic edition, writes glowingly in the preface about how Hitler's
"ideology" and his "theories of nationalism, dictatorship and race… are
advancing especially within our Arabic States." When Palestinian police first
greeted Arafat in the self-rule areas, they offered the infamous Nazi salute -
the right arm raised straight and upward.
The PLO and notably Arafat himself do not make a secret of their source of
inspiration. The Grand Mufti el-Husseini is venerated as a hero by the PLO. It
should be noted, that the PLO's top figure in east Jerusalem today, Faisal
Husseini, is the grandson to the Führer's Mufti. Arafat also considers the Grand
Mufti a respected educator and leader, and in 1985 declared it an honor to
follow in his footsteps. Little wonder. In 1951, a close relative of the Mufti
named Rahman Abdul Rauf el-Qudwa el-Husseini matriculated to the University of
Cairo. The student decided to conceal his true identity and enlisted as "Yasser
Arafat."
Who Wrote the Bible? - Jack Kinsella -
www.omegaletter.com
There are two answers to that question. The short answer, and the easiest to
defend, is also the most obvious. God did. The Bible says so.
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2nd Peter 1:21)
I say that is the easiest to defend because Christians don't need much more
evidence than that. The Bible is a living Book to those who are indwelt by the
Holy Spirit.
To a Christian, the mere fact that there are people who devote their lives to
arguing its Authorship is evidence of its Divine inspiration. It makes perfect
sense to a Christian -- it makes no sense at all to an unbeliever.
While it is a totally unsatisfactory answer to the skeptic, 1st Corinthians 1:18
proves itself to the believer every time he picks up the Book and ponders its
truths:
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God."
Frankly, I don't think it is possible to convince a skeptic by debating the
truth of the Scriptures vs. their chosen 'truths' -- it would be like debating
whether something was red or mauve with a person blind from birth.
It takes a spiritual 'operation' to remove that blindness, but we can only point
a person in the direction of the Surgeon. After that, they have to request the
'operation' for themselves.
But the Bible's Authorship is proved by its very existence. There is the
testimony of the forty different individuals chosen by God to record His Word.
There are the acts of the Apostles;
2nd Peter 1:16 explains; "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but
were eyewitnesses of His Majesty."
The Apostle Luke begins his testimony to Theodophilus; "Forasmuch as many have
taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most
surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the
beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the Word." (Luke 1:1-2)
To deny the historical truth of the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles is
tantamount to denying the historical accuracy of the eyewitness testimony of the
witnesses to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Each of the Apostles was an apostate Jew in the eyes of their friends and
families. They were ostracized, insulted, beaten, run out of town, arrested,
imprisoned, and generally hounded everywhere they went. Each of them was given
an opportunity to save his own life by renouncing his testimony of Jesus.
And with the exception of the Apostle John, every single one of them chose a
brutal, torturous death, instead. (The Apostle John was tortured by being boiled
alive, but somehow survived and was exiled to the Island of Patmos. He was later
freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an
old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.)
The skeptic denies their eyewitness testimony, but fails to give any reasonable
explanation for why. Why would they all accept a life of misery and deprivation,
culminating in a torturous death, just to spread a myth?
Does it seem reasonable that twelve guys would sit around a campfire and make up
a story that ruined their lives (in the natural) just so they could be known by
their first names 2000 years later?
Nobody denies the accuracy of Plato's writings. Or Tacitus. Or Homer. Or
Suetonius. Or Flavius Josephus (except the part where he refers to Jesus as an
actual historical figure).
Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls our earliest Hebrew copy of the Old
Testament was the Masoretic text dating around 800 A.D. The Dead Sea Scrolls
date around the time of Jesus copied by the Qumran community, a Jewish sect
living around the Dead Sea.
We also have the Septuagint which is a Greek translation of the Old Testament
dating in the second century B.C. The oldest existing original manuscript of a
New Testament book dates to 125 A.D. and was found in Egypt, some distance from
where the New Testament was originally composed Asia Minor). In all, there are
more than 24,000 ancient manuscripts against which to compare our modern Bible.
The number of manuscripts is astonishing, when compared to other
universally-accepted ancient historical writings, such as Caesar's "Gallic Wars"
(10 Greek manuscripts, the earliest 950 years after the original), the "Annals"
of Tacitus (2 manuscripts, the earliest 950 years after the original), Livy (20
manuscripts, the earliest 350 years after the original), and Plato (7
manuscripts).
New Testament manuscripts agree in 99.5% of the text (compared to only 95% for
the Iliad). Most of the discrepancies are in spelling and word order.
A few words have been changed or added. There are two passages that are disputed
but no discrepancy is of any doctrinal significance. Most Bibles include the
options as footnotes when there are discrepancies. How could there be such
accuracy over 1,400 years of copying?
Two reasons: The scribes that did the copying had meticulous methods for
checking their copies for errors. 2) The Holy Spirit made sure we would have an
accurate copy of God's word so we would not be deceived.
Skeptics, liberals, and cults and false religions such as Islam that claim the
Bible has been tampered with are completely proven false by the extensive,
historical manuscript evidence.
But it doesn't matter. The skeptics continue to assault the Bible on any and all
fronts, applying the most unreasonable standards for accuracy imaginable.
They hate it, and they can't even explain why. That is also, to the Christian,
evidence of its Divine Origin.
That hatred is so blind, so unreasoning, and so irrational that it cannot be
explained in any other way.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the
Son of Man's sake." (Luke 6:22)
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." (1 John 3:13)
"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." 2nd Peter 3:3-4)
Welcome to the 'Neighborhood' -
Jack Kinsella - www.omegaletter.com
In December, 2003, the European Union unveiled a new strategy dubbed "The
European Neighborhood Policy" -- creating yet a fifth tier of membership within
the Union.
Currently, the 28-state European Community consists of ten Full Members, six
Associate Members, seven Associate Parters, and five Observers.
According to the European Neighborhood Policy [ENP]'s website, the mission of
the ENP is to "prevent the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged
EU and its neighbours and to offer them the chance to participate in various EU
activities, through greater political, security, economic and cultural
co-operation. ENP will also help address one of the strategic objectives the
European Union set in the European Security Strategy in December 2003, that of
building security in our neighbourhood."
The ENP has invited Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and the
Ukraine. Oh, notes the ENP website, "also the Palestinian Authority."
Take another look at the list again. There is one country that sticks out even
more egregiously than the country the ENP website calls the "West Bank and Gaza
Strip (no official name, but current denomination)."
Called an 'action plan', the ENP requires each country to meet certain political
and econoic prerequisites. In October, Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko
swept the elections in what the EU determined was 'less than free and fair'.
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, reports one EU news report, one EU diplomat
said that Belarus "can forget about the neighborhood policy" now.
The Russians aren't too happy with the idea of the EU extending its influence
into Moscow's traditional sphere of influence in places like the Ukraine,
Moldova, Belarus and the former Soviet republics in the Caucasus. But it is also
eager to sign up for the economic benefits offered by joining the 'neighborhood'
-- but Moscow is seeking yet a sixth tier of membership.
According to the Moscow Times, Russia wants only "a bilateral relationship with
the EU ... and a free hand to try to reintegrate its near abroad," said Michael
Emerson, senior research fellow at the Center for European Policy Studies in
Brussels.
The EU has drafted a "strategic partnership" in four areas: trade and EU
investments in Russian transport, telecommunications and energy projects;
cooperation in law enforcement and nonproliferation issues; settling border
disputes with new EU members Estonia and Latvia; and negotiations for visa-free
travel for Russians in Western Europe.
The "strategic partnership" aims to boost European investments in Russia's
energy sector. The EU already accounts for 58% of the Russian energy export
market.
The European Commission is slated to meet this week to decide whether to approve
the action plans for admission into the ENP of the first wave of countries and,
of course, the Palestinian Authority.
The other countries involved, in addition to Israel, are Jordan, Moldova,
Morocco, Tunisia, and Ukraine. Diplomatic officials said the Israeli action plan
is the only one in doubt.
The action plan currently under discussion has two "baskets," one political and
the other economic. The political basket deals with formalizing a dialogue on
issues such as the peace process, terrorism, small arms, non-proliferation, and
human rights.
This would effectively institutionalize a role for the EU on Israel's internal
political issues. Nonetheless, of all the countries slated for inclusion in the
ENP, no country wants entry more than the Israelis.
Through entry to the ENP, Israel hopes to gain entrance to a number of
institutions and programs that are currently closed to non-EU members, such as
the European Space Agency and the European Environment Agency.
In months of negotiations, the sides have looked for a "balance" between the
baskets, meaning that if Europe wants to institutionalize a political role in
different regional issues, it will have to compensate Israel by giving it
entrance to various economic, scientific, and technological programs currently
closed to it.
Opposing Israel's admission are France, Belgium, and Britain. They fear it would
be interpreted in the Arab world as 'anti-Palestinian' if Israel is included in
the neighborhood.
Interesting.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier wrapped up his three-day visit to Israel
with a lecture at Tel Aviv University Tuesday on Tuesday. He explained the EU's
'vision' of Middle East peace as one in which there is coexistence between
Israel and a democratic, viable Palestinian state, with recognized borders and
its capital in east Jerusalem.
Barnier also said such a state must "demonstrate a will" to give Israel the
security guarantees it needs.
"History has taught us that we don't chose our enemies," Barnier said, "but with
them we have to make peace. I know what the conventional wisdom here is about
the head of the PA, and what is said about those who meet with him. But our
opinion is that nothing will happen without Yasser Arafat, or against [his
will], and that keeping him a prisoner reduces the chances of bringing him to
take the steps that everyone expects of him."
Barnier also said that France and the European Union will support Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan -- on the condition that it will be done in
cooperation with the Palestinians, and is part of the road map.
Since Sharon has already rejected both conditions, the French were, in effect
drawing a line in the sand.
Assessment:
There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now in Europe -- taking place at
breakneck speed from the standpoint of ordinary diplomacy. And it continues to
follow the outline given by Scripture for the last days.
Europe is expanding its influence outward, moving into the political vacuum
created by the sudden loss in American prestige brought about by four years of
partisan infighting that turned a first term president fighting a global war
into a lame duck presidency of four years' duration.
The ten toes of Daniel's vision, (the ten Full Members) pretty much rule the
entire geographic region that made up the old Roman Empire, from the Middle East
to the steppes of Russia, from the United Kingdom to Baltic Sea.
The Russians are looking for ways to develop an economic partnership with the EU
on a unilateral basis -- meaning Russia will not be 'part' of the EU -- as
Ezekiel 38-39 outlined 2500 years in advance.
Daniel says that somehow, the leader of this revived Roman Empire will introduce
what appears to be a workable peace deal between Israel and her enemies, based
on a pre-existing seven-year 'land for peace formula'.
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. . ." (Daniel 9:27)
(He can't 'confirm' an agreement unless it already existed, anymore than you can
'confirm' a dentist's appointment unless you had already made one.)
Of the antichrist who will lead the revived Roman Empire through its final seven
years of existence, Daniel tells us;
"Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall
acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to RULE OVER MANY,
and shall DIVIDE THE LAND FOR GAIN." Daniel 11:39)
I want you to stop and think about this for a minute. The whole of the Big
Picture as it is lining up. . .
The Apostle Peter said;
"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." (2nd Peter 3:2-3)
So much is happening so quickly -- and the Rapture hasn't yet happened -- that
even some Christians are beginning to take that attitude. Things DO seem to
continue as they were from the beginning. The sun rises every morning. It sets
each night.
For some, it is beginning to look like the Tribulation is already here. Maybe
that whole pre-trib Rapture thing really IS some cosmic 'great escape' theory,
instead of sound doctrine. If the Rapture hasn't happened yet, maybe the post-trib
view is right after all.
The Lord, speaking through Peter, anticipated that attitude and addresses it in
the next couple of verses;
"For this they willingly are 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: But the heavens
and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. " (3:5-7)
The Word that was ignored by everyone except Noah didn't make that Word invalid.
The rains still came. Noah and his family were saved -- regardless of popular
opinion that he was nuts.
That same Word says the Church will be Raptured so that the 'Restrainer" of 2nd
Thessalonians 2:7 can be 'taken out of the way' in order that "that Wicked be
revealed' (2:8)
God's Word says the Holy Spirit will indwell the Church until Jesus returns.
Jesus tells us through the Apostle John of a miracle that takes place during the
Tribulation.
Revelation Chapter 7 details the 'sealing' of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists,
"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed
the servants of our God in their foreheads." (Revelation 7:3)
This 'sealing' of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists is so important that God
devotes an entire chapter to it. It is important because the ONLY ones who have
'it' during this period are those Jews chosen to be sealed.
This 'sealing' is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the
Father sealed." (John 6:27)
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
(2nd Corinthians 1:22)
"In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13)
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)
If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period and is raptured at some point
in the middle, or at the end, it can only mean one thing.
It means that the Comforter, (the Holy Spirit - John 14:26) must be withdrawn
from the Church during a time Jesus said would be so terrible that, if allowed
to run its full course, 'there should be no flesh saved'.
John 16:7 would have to be revised to read:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for
if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will
send him unto you UNTIL YOU NEED HIM THE MOST. THEN YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN." (allcaps
mine)
Jesus promised; "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you FOREVER." (John 14:16)
Jesus said the Comforter He would send us in the Church Age would abide with me
FOREVER. 'Forever' is a long time, and makes no allowances for a seven-year
separation.
Recapping, then, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit must be 'taken out
of the way' BEFORE that 'Wicked' be revealed. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
is promised to Church Age believers 'forever' . The Apostle Paul says that
indwelling is "whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
The Apostles, as Jesus ascended to the heavens from their sight, were told by
two men "in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
Paul tells us that "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)
Daniel's feet and toes of iron and clay are trudging through the Middle East,
increasing their influence and expanding their empire to rival that of ancient
Rome. The whole world stands against Israel over the issue of who will control
Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Jesus told us that when these things BEGIN to come to pass, our redemption draws
near. (Luke 21:28)
We can already see the antichrist's shadow on the wall of the EU Parliament
Building in Brussels. Scripture says he won't be revealed until after the
Comforter has been 'taken out of the way' with the Rapture of the Church.
The time is short. The fields are white with the harvest. And the stakes are
enormous. Both for the lost -- and for those of us who know the truth.
"But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he
is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's
hand." (Ezekiel 33:6)
There is much to do -- and not much time left in which to do it.
Will We See Christ's Return? The Last
Generation - by J. Michael Hile
We know from the Scriptures that the first generation began with Adam and Eve.
Noah was the tenth generation. Which generation do we represent? And, which
generation of people was Christ talking about that would see His return when He
said: "…This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Mt
24:34)? The answer to this elusive, 2000-year-old question may be closer than we
think, if the many prophecies we see converging on the horizon continue their
march towards fulfillment in the 21st century.
The Generation of His Coming
Perhaps the most intriguing and controversial prophetic Scripture passage found
in the Bible is contained in the Olivet Discourse. This dynamic "end times"
message by Jesus, contained in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21,
describes major events that will impact the Jewish people just before the Lord
returns to set up His Kingdom.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory…Now learn a parable of the fig tree;
When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is
nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near,
even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till
all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels
of heaven, but my Father only. -Matthew 24:30-36
This remarkable prophecy of future events, given by Jesus on Mount Olivet after
leaving the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, was in response to three questions from
His disciples: "When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy
coming, and of the end of the world" (Mt 24:3)? The generation that will be
living on the earth when Christ returns is alluded to in this discourse. The
belief that the generation Jesus was talking about was the generation that
passed away in 70 A.D. does not fit within the context of a literal return of
Christ back to earth, as described in the Scriptures preceding and following the
parable of the fig tree. Two questions one might raise about this unique
generation and other generations described in the Bible are: 1) How long is a
generation? and 2) Which generation was Christ talking about?
The Generation Question
One of the most perplexing and sought-after answers among students of Bible
prophecy is the length of a generation. There is much disagreement among both
secular and religious writers concerning the length of a generation. Is the
length of a generation 40 years? When Israel became a nation in 1948, some
believed that Israel's birth date marked the beginning of the generation that
would see all the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. This theory
was based upon the generation alluded to in the parable of the fig tree, in
which the fig tree was symbolic of the nation Israel. (For a more detailed study
of the fig tree in Biblical history, see Judg 9:8-15; Jer 24:1-10; Lk 13:6-9; Mt
21:17-21; Mk 11:11-14, 20-21; Lk 19:41-44; Rom 11:1,2,25-27; Isa 66:8; Mt
24:32-51; Mk 13:28-37; Lk 21:29-36; and Rev 6:13.)
When 40 years passed in 1988 without fulfillment of any of the events
surrounding the Second Coming of Christ, the 40-year generation theory fell into
disrepute. Either 1948 was not the starting date for the generation described in
the fig tree parable, or a generation must be longer than 40 years, according to
the theory. Additional arguments put forth claimed that 1967, the year Jerusalem
was captured, or some other future date could be the birth of the generation
that would see the return of Christ.
Some proponents of the "end times" generation theory questioned whether 40 years
was actually the length of a generation today. Is there any evidence to suggest
that the length of a generation is longer than 40 years? A few sources hold that
a generation is now 20 to 30 years in length (but this better represents a
generation "gap"). Other opinions range from 40 to 100 years. Just how long is a
generation today? Is there an answer to the generation question?
The Longevity of Mankind
A generation, as described in the Bible, begins at conception and ends at death
(Gen 17:6-9; Ps 22:30; Jer 1:4,5; Act 13:36; Josh 24:29-31). The length of a
generation is not an arbitrary period of time that occurs within the life span
of an individual or group of people. Joshua's age at the time of death, 110
years (including 9 months gestation), was the length of the generation he
represented. Some of his generation died before him and some after him.
Consequently, the average life span of a group of people living at about the
same time constitutes the length of that generation.
The length of a generation has not always been constant since the days of Adam
and Eve. Before the Biblical flood, the average life span of man was over 900
years. Today, if a person lives to be a hundred years old, it is a special
occasion in which the person is accorded celebrity status. In order to
understand how long a generation is today, it will be helpful to know what the
length of a generation was before the Flood and what happened to the life span
of man immediately following the Flood. Has man's life span increased, decreased
or stayed the same down through the centuries?
[This chart]1 shows that the average length of a generation was about 930 years
for those living before the Flood but decreased to around 120 years by the time
Moses crossed the Red Sea and ended his 40-year sojourn in the wilderness of
Sinai. Since there are not very many 120-year-old individuals walking around
today, it is apparent that the average life span is no longer 120 years. Eli, a
High Priest and Judge of Israel whose life bridged the 13th and 12th centuries
B.C., died at the age of 98 years (1 Sam 4:15). According to the Scriptures, he
was considered to be a "very old" person at the time of his death (1 Sam 2:22).
The Wilderness Generation
Perhaps the most widely held belief for the length of a generation is forty
years. A 40-year period was required for the disobedient generation of Moses'
day to die off in the wilderness. Those who hold to the forty-year generation
concept do not take into account the total age of those who had sinned against
the Lord. The curse was to be against the men who had reached twenty years of
age (Num 32:11-13, Ps 95:8-11, Heb 3:7-11). After the 40-year judgment period
was completed, there were no men left older than 60 years of age except Joshua
and Caleb. Although Joshua was not a descendant of Moses or Aaron, he
represented the succeeding generation that was to enter the "Promised Land."
Joshua and Caleb were the only two males permitted to live after the Lord cursed
the rebellious generation that would not return and retake their land in Canaan.
So forty years could not have been the length of that generation, but it was the
time God allotted for that generation to die off. Most of the recorded life
spans during this time were well over 40 years. Aaron was 123, Moses 120, Joshua
110, and Caleb was over 85 when their generations died off.
A View from the Psalmist
Disregarding untimely or unnatural deaths due to epidemics, famine, and war,
there is evidence in the Scriptures and in recent history to support a 70 to 80
year life span for the past 3000 years. The evidence for a 70 to 80 year life
span was present during the 10th century B.C., during the reign of King David
(c.1010-970). As David approached the end of his life, he was considered to be
an old man by those living at that time. The Scriptures reveal that David served
his generation and was seventy years old when he died (1 Chr 23:1; 2 Sam 5:4; 1
Kgs 2:10; Act 13:36). Perhaps the most significant declaration in the Bible for
the life span of man is given in Psalm 90. The Psalmist states that the life
span of man is seventy years, with eighty years being the upper range of normal
life expectancy.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that
is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of
strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for
it is soon cut off and we fly away. -Psalm 90:9,10
If 70 to 80 years still represents the length of a generation, as described in
Psalm 90:9,10, one would expect the life span of those living today to be close
to that figure. The life expectancy of those living in the United States in 1850
was less than 40 years but increased to 47 years by 1900 and then mushroomed to
77 years (1999) by the end of the 20th century. 2 According to the 2002 World
Almanac and Book of Facts, the average life expectancy in the United States is
77 years (74 years for males and 80 years for females). For Israel it is 79
years (77 years for males and 81 years for females). The average life expectancy
at birth for Israel is projected to be 82 in the year 2025.3
Which Generation was Christ Talking About?
With Israel back in their land after almost 2000 years of dispersion (the
Diaspora) and other end time prophecies coming into focus, the Jewish people now
living in Israel could very well be the generation Christ was talking about.
Luke's version of the fig tree parable, which mentions the fig tree (Israel) and
all the trees (nations of the world-see Judg 9:8-20; Dan 4:26; Ps 2:1-12; Mt
25:31,32), states:
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When
they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh
at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the
kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not
pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words
shall not pass away. -Luke 21:29-33
If the length of David's generation, Christ's generation, and the average life
span of those living today in Israel is between 70 and 80 years (a 3000-year
span), it would be reasonable to conclude that the generation Christ was talking
about in the parable of the fig tree will also be 70 to 80 years in length. If
the fig tree in this parable represents the nation of Israel, as many prophetic
scholars believe, and the generation that is described has a life span of 70 to
80 years, then recent events such as the rebirth of Israel as a nation (Isa
66:8), the Jerusalem controversy in the "end times" (Zech 12:1-3), preparations
for rebuilding the Jewish Temple (Rev 11:1,2), and the ongoing negotiations for
a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians (Dan 9:27) are strong
indicators that the generation Christ was talking about has already been born,
and the return of Jesus Christ to establish His reign for a thousand years is
close at hand.
The Most Significant End Time Prophecy
The "end time" events described in the Olivet Discourse and the book of
Revelation could not take place without Israel back in their land. Israel's
return to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the 20th century is the most
important event that signals the soon return of Jesus Christ.
...I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they
may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children
of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime...And thine house and thy
kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be
established for ever. -II Samuel 7:10-16
Israel's rebirth as a nation has also served as a catalyst for other "end time"
prophecies that are beginning to converge on the world scene (Dan 2:42-22; Ezek
38-39). The Apostle Paul told us "...that in the last days perilous times shall
come" (2 Tim 3:1-7). Jesus said there would be a time of worldwide conflict and
wars that would be "the beginning of sorrows" (Mt 24:8). Christ said, "except
that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved…" (Mk 13:20).
The ability of man to destroy all flesh on the earth became a real possibility
for the first time in the history of the world during the second half of the
20th century with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons. The 21st century will witness an unprecedented increase in surveillance
and eavesdropping as the global government "big brother" system wraps its
tentacles around every aspect of human life, while promising "peace and
security" to those who relinquish their freedoms (Rev 13:16-18; 1Thess 5: 3).
Christians who take the Bible seriously should be actively watching the
prophetic shadows that are appearing in today's headlines. And as we entertain
the possibility that we may be the generation Jesus was talking about in the fig
tree parable nearly 2000 years ago, we are admonished by the Scriptures to watch
and be prepared (Mt 24: 37-51).
As stated clearly by Jesus in Matthew and Mark, no man knows the day or the hour
of his coming, but the Father only. The same Jesus, however, was very angry with
the Pharisees and Scribes for not discerning "the signs of the times" (Mt 16:3)
and not knowing the "time of their visitation" (Lk 19:44).
One day there will be a generation of Christians that will escape the grip of
death and be ushered into Heaven, the "final frontier" for believers (1 Thess
4:13-5:11). The generation that is "left behind" will face the ruthless tyranny
of a global dictatorship (Rev 13:11-18). The world stage is now being set for
the closing act of this dispensation, and the climax of world history (Christ's
return) is drawing near. As God's children, we may very well be the generation
that is chosen to "escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand
before the Son of man" (Lk 21:34-36). That possibility is certainly worth
pondering!
Mathematics bombshell: God
'confirmed in Bible'
Skeptical statistician IDs hidden messages that 'prove' Scripture's divine
authorship
For a lot of people, the Bible and mathematics are dry subjects, but not
for Edwin Sherman – he believes he's found how the two fit together.
Sherman, founder of the Isaac Newton Bible Code Research Society and a
professional mathematician, is convinced that the Hebrew Bible contains
coded messages that are evidence of God's authorship of the Bible. His
book, "Bible Code Bombshell: Compelling Scientific Evidence that God
Authored the Bible," describes numerous examples of encoded phrases and
sentences that are both lengthy and relevant to the text where they were
found.
In 1997, Michael Drosnin, a reporter, wrote "The Bible Codes" a book based
on the work of Israeli mathematician Eli Rips that attained popularity, in
part, from Drosnin's claim that future events, such as the Holocaust,
Yitzak Rabin's assassination and the Gulf War were encoded in the Bible.
Such claims invited attacks from skeptics like mathematician and physicist
Dave Thomas, who wrote in 1997, "Hidden messages can be found anywhere
provided you're willing to invest time and effort to harvest the vast
field of probability. He, Drosnin, underestimates the power of chance
combined with the brute force of computers. He says these messages are
beyond the power of chance, and I've proven they are not."
Another skeptic who was convinced he could prove Drosnin's messages to be
fakes or statistical artifacts was Edwin Sherman.
R. Edwin Sherman (courtesy Southern Oregon News)
Sherman says he found most of Drosnin's examples trivial. "They were the
simple kinds of words and phrases you might find if you searched for
encoded messages in the Jerusalem phone book," he tells the Southern
Oregon News. But he was intrigued enough to develop his own software and
begin analyzing the Masoretic text of the Old Testament. "I was very
skeptical about the whole thing," he says. "I started a project to try and
show the whole thing was bogus."
Instead, he says he found many examples of messages that went beyond
simple words and phrases – and they often were contextually similar to the
Biblical passage in which they were found.
"Finding dozens of lengthy encoded messages on the same topic in one short
section of text is about as likely as winning a one-in-a-million jackpot
ten times in a row," he says. "Basically, it cannot happen by chance."
The process of searching for encoded messages involves analysis of the
Biblical Hebrew text in digital form. The Scriptures are encoded by
removing all spaces between words and creating long strings of letters.
According to Sherman, vowels are inserted in the strings of letters – the
Hebrew alphabet lacks vowels – according to standard rules based on the
sequence of consonants. Software then analyzes the strings in search of
patterns based on equidistant letter sequences.
"The shorter an expression, the easier it is to find," Sherman notes, "but
when we find longer statements that have a connection to the actual
biblical passage, and we find those longer statements with frequency, it
leads us to believe that those statements were purposely implanted in the
Bible by God."
Some of the most compelling evidence of a mathematical pattern in the
Hebrew text comes from the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, a passage most Bible
scholars see as messianic and which Christians have traditionally seen as
prophecy about Jesus.
Sherman developed a baseline using non-encoded Hebrew texts as his
standard of comparison for determining whether the number of messages he
found in a Biblical passage were statistically significant. Isaiah 53
proved to be a rich cluster of hidden messages, containing 42 encoded
statements relating to Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, far more
than his baseline predicted.
As evidence, Sherman points to statements such as "Gushing from above, my
mighty name arose upon Jesus, and the clouds rejoiced," "Dreadful day for
Mary," "In his name as he commanded, Jesus is the way," "Resurrection of
Jesus, he is risen indeed," and others that echo Isaiah's prophecy.
It is the coherence between the hidden messages and the Hebrew text from
which they are drawn that excites Sherman, who has no interest in
predicting the future or looking for new "truths." The messages plucked
from the text are more like divine fingerprints.
"The Bible itself claims to be written by God, and when the subject of the
encoded messages ties in so closely with the subject of the literal text,
it has to make you take notice," says Sherman. "I just want ... to capture
the curiosity of skeptics and cause them to consider the possibility that
the Bible is not written by men, but by God, and should therefore be taken
very seriously."