Fire from Heaven

And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Revelation 13:13

They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. Revelation 20:9

He who scorches last scorches best. Mr. 13:13 performs wonders, no doubt about that. But he is another temporary menace, whose rule is limited to the second half of Daniel's seventieth week--Daniel 9:24-27, a period of 3-1/2 years. We Christians will be in heaven by then, fulfilling the promise of Jesus in Revelation 3:10 to save us from this time of tribulation for earth dwellers.

Sometimes we focus on trouble. There is plenty of that in the Bible, but we neglect God's remedies. In this case--payback time--He burns all evil from the Earth, forever. For those reluctant to read about the agony ahead, this is such good news. For the defense of His people, and for the sake of His glory, God will not "turn the other cheek".

Another Attack on the Scofield Bible

I talk about this a lot, don't I? But this great teaching tool constantly comes under attack.

Recently, I read of the Scofield being responsible for the rise of Zionism. Just the opposite is true, of course. The dispensations outlined in this wonderful book show that this present age is the time when God is calling out a people for His name. This is the Church Age.

The first church council (in Acts 15) reveals that Israel will be restored, but only after the church is complete. This is just the reverse of what Zionists believe. They promote the present restoration of Israel, since 1948. To enforce their stand, Zionists are slaughtering innocent Palestinians.

There are many attacks on the Scofield Bible. Yet I have not seen even one that quotes any offending passages from it. So where in the Scofield Study Bible does it promote Zionism? Can its critics not show us at lease one place where it does?

Rather, they attack Scofield himself. This is like rejecting the book of Psalms because of David's sins.

Absent from the Body

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

The above scripture is used by many to prove that we have immortal souls. And why not? Since there are no scriptures that say we do--and many that say we die--these people must wrest the scriptures in their vain attempt to make their point.

Do you see a proof of immortality here?

I share Paul's sentiments as expressed about, yet am certain we die completely.

Those who misinterpret this verse may clap their hands together and proclaim, "There's your proof." They are very quick in their judgement. They take less time than I do when buying a shirt, and I'm not picky.

When we try to establish or disprove a doctrine, it really helps to read, at least, the whole chapter from which we select a verse. When we read this chapter, we see that Paul is telling us about two bodies. The one we have now, and the one we shall have. At no time does he speak of a disembodied soul. He yearns to be in the presence of Christ, in his heavenly tent, not made with hands.

I wish for the same thing, very much, and an immortal soul has nothing to do with it.

If only we would all take the time to read before we make judgements. Paul, the tent maker, uses this simile concerning how we will be in glorified bodies when we see Christ.

Snow in Alaska!

Recently, I have listened to some very wonderful and well informed Christians who are alarmed about the recent apostasy of the church. They are very upset. Some keep saying they are stunned.

Famous Christians are turning to the Catholic church. The ones alarmed are very lovable Christians, armed with a good knowledge of the Bible. So, I am amazed at their reactions to the recent falling away of the church.

It would be as if someone who lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, heard a weather forecast of snow. They tell their friends, "You're not going to believe this, but the weatherman just predicted snow!" The friends answer, "Snow is normal here. It even gets very cold. So why are you surprised?"

Apostasy has been a part of church history since the days when Paul wrote Galatians, and the great and final falling away was predicted by him in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

Saddened, perhaps, but surprised?

What bothers me most is the lamentation over the departure from sound doctrine by "giants" of the church, especially J.I. Packer. I was in a Reform church where a man said that he considered the works of J.I. next to the Bible. This was pronounced with such awe that it was almost humorous. Some churches really do worship men.

Next are those who lament the departure of church denominations or organizations, as if they were exempt from such evils.

All these things were predicted. You cannot--and should not--try to change them. Suing the weatherman won't prevent snow from falling. Better to prepare on your own to go to heaven. We won't be cold there.

The Man at the Bus Stop

A man waits in the growing darkness at a bus stop. His weather alert radio goes off warning him of approaching storms.

Soon a cab stops next to him and the driver jumps out and shouts, "If you don't get in my cab, you will die and burn throughout eternity. There are no other cabs."

Would the man want to get in the taxi and go with the driver? Or would he prefer to take his chances on the street?

Let us say that the man considers the cab driver who warns him a total lunatic, and does not get in with him.

It happens every day that people who witness for Christ do so by threatening people with a hell where they will burn in torment forever.

Now let us imagine the same man, apprehensive of nightfall and the approaching storm, hearing a driver say to him, "Mister, there is a bad storm coming. If you stay here, the tornado over there will kill you. If you get in I'll take you to a shelter where the storm won't get you. I'm on my way there now."

Are we talking about "sales techniques" or of just telling the truth? Scaring people with mythology used to work. Now it is a turnoff. Also, incidentally, it is an unscriptural lie.

In witnessing, as in preaching, there is no better way to communicate with the lost and uninformed than speaking the truth in a calm voice.

Show Me Just One Church

Show me just ONE church that does not promote Satanic doctrines. I mean really push them.

Imagine a fire sale on "hell". That sort of thing.

Imagine a man walking with his wife when they meet a man coming towards them. The stranger looks at the woman and says "Hi, bitch." The husband goes into fight mode. But his wife tries to calm him down by saying, "It's ok, he did tip his hat."

So we go to churches that carry the Devil's freight in doctrine and practice, but tip the hat to conventional Christianity.

I'll make you a bet. If you continue to go to such a church, smile at everyone, shake hands with the preacher, but withhold any money--I mean everyone does it--how long before you'll hear from someone?

They may say, "There were no contributions last week. What goes? Is everybody so needy that they can't support the church?"

You answer, "Oh, it's not that. We have plenty of money, but we will not contribute any more to a church that supports false doctrine and honors the spirit of the world."

How long would it be before the elders, deacons, or presbytery, would hold an emergency meeting, (even during Super Bowl Sunday) and ask, "What the hell is going on? No contributions mean no church buildings and no jobs."

Here is my bet. If the church leaders found out that false beliefs equaled no contributions, I'll bet they would drop the false beliefs. Ergo, when you contribute to such a church, you are paying for the teaching of lies.

So what harm is there in this?

Use that argument on God at the judgement seat of Christ.

Going to Heaven With Jesus

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

There is a common belief that when we die our "immortal souls" go to heaven by themselves. Some believe these souls are accompanied by angels. The time of the journey is often given as 15 minutes. The scriptures present another picture.

Some day Jesus will return and both the resurrected dead and those living at the time will be caught up to meet Him in the air. This is the Bible's way of telling us that we will all go to heaven together, led by Jesus and accompanied by angels.

When this scriptural proof is presented, the reply is, "That is just our bodies." This answer, to me, is part of the Devil's doctrine that we do not die. Present, natural immortality is an extremely important part of the doctrine of being gods.

Paul says we must put on immortality: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53). This will take place at the resurrection.

The pagan idea of separate immortal souls makes the resurrection a mere second stage in going to heaven. First your souls go there, then later Jesus returns to pick up your bodies. So, they say, in contradiction of the creation account, we're really two entities, with the soul being the most important part.

Better quit now, or this old man will get a "splitting" headache.

One Fold and One Shepherd

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. John 10:16

Such a beautiful, simple message by our Lord. If it were not so important, it would be humorous to read the various interpretations of it that are offered. Now, I am a leftover from an era when people still cared about interpretation and doctrine. But things are different now.

"Will you please stop beating on the tambourines and stop shouting? People are trying to talk here!"

But for those who care, I would like to talk about this statement of Jesus. "One shepherd is not a problem, but one fold.

I got in on the eccuminical movement. At that time (the fifties) we thought it meant Catholics and Protestants getting together. My father spoke in hushed tones of such a possibility. Imagine attending a Methodist Mass! Now, as an old guy, I realize that they are together.

When Corporate Churches are under one management, I believe it is called a Conglomarate. To others the combination or takeover of Israel by the church is in view, as in replacement theology.

An athiest cleared up the term "ecumene". It means, not one religion, but the whole inhabited earth. If we know what "one fold" does not mean, then what does it mean? Is it Jews and Gentiles coming together as one fold in the church? This idea is supported in the New Testament as applied to the church.

But I would like to give you a scripture as pertaining to national Israel and the Gentiles. Not blended together in one body (which is wonderful) but retaining their identities, just as steel and concrete make up a building, but retain their individual qualities.

Here is where I find this beautifully illustrated--in the New Jerusalem.

It had a great high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Rev. 21:12

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev. 21:14

They Cut Down My Tree

I had a beautiful, decorative tree in the front of my apartment. It had shiny leaves and fragrant blossoms in the Spring. But a storm took it down almost completely. A crew came with chainsaws, cut it into logs and hauled it away.

Guess I should be sad or angry--something like that. But now I can see the nearby woods, a view formerly blocked by the beautiful tree. I can watch the setting sun's last rays light up the distant trees.

My life itself, like my nearby little tree, is about to end. My reaction? Finally!

As I gaze at the tall trees in the distance, I think, if the little tree nearby was still standing, I could not see this distant vista, and I like it this way. My next view will be of heaven. The details of the world and my life were in the way of the Big Picture all along.

Parsnips in Heaven

I look forward to a great feast some day. The host will be Jesus. The guests will be all the saints. There will be many who have been resurrected from the dead. There will also be many who were raptured alive, but we'll all be there.

Such a feast, though I believe in it with all my heart, is beyond my imagining. I believe it will be totally literal. But what we will eat is a mystery to me. That is why I mentioned parsnips.

I am not trying to be trivial, though it may sound that way. But some roasted parsnips with butter and a glass of wine would make me very happy. I am sure God will have a wonderful menu. Every good thing will be on it.

As a five year old I was offered some angel food cake. I was awed. I was sure it was the kind of cake angels ate. But for now, I would be happy with buttered parsnips.

I plan to shut up (a miracle in itself) and revel in the wonderful table talk. We will no longer just read the wonderful words of John, Paul, and Peter. We will meet them face to face, and I intend to listen.

Is it Church Theology or Bible Theology?

Be nice if they were the same would it not? But through the years people seem to choose a church over the Word of God.

I told you about a Watchtower Society lady who used to knock on my door. She was like a bulldog--kept coming back. Her final words were, "Our religion is based on the Bible." When told that many diverse groups say that, she replied, "But ours really is." I told her that they say that too. Upon hearing this she seemed to deflate somewhat, which surprised me.

I have a New Age translation which the Society has produced to support their beliefs. I do not shut the door on these people. I hear them out, but usually they will not listen to you.

Once I had a very good talk with two men from the Witnesses. One especially did listen. But in my most recent confrontation, two nice guys just would not. I kept telling him that I had heard it all before and read their books, going back to the late twenties. Nothing would stop his spiel.

I feel that the Watchtower Society has found serious errors that have crept into the real church. An investigation will prove them right. But they do not have Christ, and , like the Mormons, that is their fatal flaw.

I am aware of many errors taught today in true Christian churches. Accretions, a geologist might call them. We should completely get rid of beliefs we cannot find in the Bible, like popes, and the mass, for instance.

There are grievous errors, even in my favorite Bible, the King James. Many will turn away if you say that. I once did.

How wonderful it would be if men could come together and discuss things! Instead there is anger. I believe this fierce anger comes from insecurity--fear that we cannot support our beliefs. Like little children, people get angry and run home to momma. In this case momma is the church, or a preacher, not the Bible.

We lose our opportunity to witness (or be witnessed to) when we depart from God's Word. Like Galileo's foes we may be afraid to "look through the telescope". This can end up with groups of very good Christians who will not even talk to one another.

A lady who was denying all religion said to me, "What's the use? You'll never change your mind!" I asked if she was willing to.

God is Either Trying to Save all people and Failing, Or is Saving His Elect, and Succeeding Every Time

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:13

If God is trying to save all people, then He is failing. All people since the beginning have not even heard a message of salvation. Most live their lives in ignorance, then die. I say this to head off the argument that unsaved people are lost because of their choice. You can't reject a message you have not heard.

An example is all the unborn babies who died in the flood and never heard any message at all. All babies for that matter.

To remedy this flaw in their argument, those who misunderstand John 3:16 (who have never studied it) have invented the "age of accountability", which says that under the age of twelve we are not held accountable for being born in sin. I ask, if babies were not held accountable back in the flood days, why did God kill them? Would killing babies (as in abortion) guarantee their salvation?

The Bible has a much simpler explanation. God has chosen His elect before the world was made. He saves His elect just as Noah and his family were saved and lets the non-elect die. No elect persons died in the flood, just as they are not lost today.

Using "free will" as a basis for salvation will not do. God's saving of His elect is not dependent on the will of man being for or against it. Unsaved man is corrupt and fallen. He is unable to do any good, as in "choosing God".

John the Baptist responded to the Holy Spirit while in his mother--too young for even a Baptist to use his free will.

C.S. Lewis became aware that he was one of the elect while visiting the Whipsnade Zoo. He described it as not believing in Jesus when he went to the Zoo, but being a believer on is return. The "most miserable convert in all of England". Miserable, because he did not choose to believe, but realized he was one of God's chosen because God had chosen him. As a college prof he had chosen not to believe, yet God's irresistable will outvoted him. The zoo trip was his road to Damascus.

Our will cannot choose correctly. It is fallen. We are not saved because of ANYTHING we do, including choose God.

Of Cabbages and Demons

Back in the eighties I read a book telling of miraculous happenings in Findhorn, Scotland. Among these was the growing of forty pound cabbages. This was no ordinary gardening book, but rather about the intervention of demonic spirits disguised as pixies and even the god Pan. I had no idea that something as innocent as cabbages would lead me to look into the New Age Movement.

I once grew a cabbage that won a blue ribbon. I'm certain it did not weigh 40 pounds, but I did have to turn it on its side to get it through the door. Forty pounds was what the book on Findhorn bragged about, along with other huge vegetables. This was the proverbial nose of the camel in the tent. But this time the camel was backing in.

The Magic of Findhorn claimed that spirits made the vegetables grow to such sizes. Gardening was just a come-on, as this book, and many, many others, introduced the occult world of demonology to people just wanting to know about such innocent things. Then they were finding they were being led into a very dark world of deception on a Biblical scale.

This book was my introduction to the "Rainbow Culture". It is bigger than anyone could imagine, without studying it. But study I did.

Imagine that while on a streetcar, you meet a goat-like fellow with cloven hooves. You immediately recognize the god Pan and invite him home. This is part of the world of Spengler, an intensely clever fellow who starts like Lewis Carroll and soon becomes Dante. Many have done great investigative work on the fraud of Findhorn.

My wife and I visited Palmer, Alaska, just outside Anchorage. They too grow enormous crops. At the state fair the record breaker won with a 138 pound cabbage, almost 3-1/2 times larger than the Scotch one attributed to spirit entities. Their explanation--it is the northern latitude's long summer day and moderated color of its light. Palmer is at 61.6 degrees North. Findhorn is 57.6 degrees.

But the damage was done. The influence of Spengler and his books is almost impossible to exaggerate. Since the 80's the New Age movement has covered the world--not all of Spengler's influence, of course, but he is a large part of it. My introduction was with cabbages, but these people work for the Devil himself.

Now Hold Still, This Won't Hurt at All

The worker was injecting a long line of children. That was his standard comment to them.

"Pardon me, but what are these shots for?" asked someone standing by.

"Oh, a whole bunch of things," the worker replied. "You have to have 'em. They prevent independent thinking."

Once again the bystander asked, "Is that so bad?"

The weary worker snapped back, "Bad! How would you like it if you lived in a country where people thought for themselves? It's particularly dangerous in churches. You could lose complete control of people. That's how bad it would be."

After examining the card hanging from one child's neck, he moved him on without giving him a shot.

"So how come you're not giving all the children shots?"

"Some of them have already had shots of a different kind. They're already 'under', as the directors like to say. They're Muslims and Jews, programmed for different things, but still very much under control."

The line seemed endless.

"How long have you worked here?"

The worker apparently didn't hear the question, so they were asked again. "Have you always worked here?"

"Oh, I really don't work here. Most of us giving these control shots have other jobs, like teachers or pastors. Everyone from the mainline media take turns here."

"So does it pay well--I mean giving the injections?"

A passing orderly was flagged down. "We're running low on serum. Better tell Dr. Lies."

"In answer to your question, it's not how much you're paid. It's what they do to you if you don't volunteer."

Marjo Gortner

A kid phenom on the so-called evangelist circuit, he pulled 'em in. Before TV, he was well known, at least in some circuits. How could a little boy know so much as to be called a "walking Bible"? That was his reputation. He was a showman or a showchild.

The two linked videos below reveal so much about the carnival aspect of Christianity, that I recommend watching them. Are we Americans particularly vulnerable to this hype? I wouldn't be surprised.

Perhaps church people, being more honest, feel others are honest too. But Lindon Johnson said that when he heard someone describe himself as "just an old country boy", he kept one hand on his wallet.

Little Marjoe's reference to hell and the Rich Man and Lazarus shows he knew how to get the money, even then. It still goes on, as long as there are "buyers".

Watch the following videos.

• Marjoe Gortner - Hell is a place...

• marjoe gortner exposes evangelists

Two Performances

As a young man I had the privilege to see a lot of classical music performed. What stands out to me are two performances of opposite nature and audience response.

The first was a composer unknown to me, conducting his own work. I was just a kid, but I remember him as a huge, angry man. He led the orchestra in some very discordant, violent music. He stomped his feet, snorted, and actually spat.

In those days, Cincinnati was a very genteel city with sharp social distinctions. When you attended Music Hall, you dressed for the occasion.

After this disturbed man ceased his violent, jerky gestures, he stormed off the stage. There was no applause at all! Only once have I witnessed such rejection.

Years later, at an afternoon performance, I saw the exact opposite take place. A young lady who was to play a piano solo walked onto the stage, wearing a beautiful off the shoulder gown. She looked like Gail Russell with the same shy manner. I don't remember what she played--something by Chopin perhaps.

From her first appearance, there was a feeling of sympathy and love for her. You could feel it in the air. She completed her piece to thunderous applause. People came forward and brought bouquets to line the stage. What I most remember was her shocked expression, as if to say, "I wasn't that good."

Disgust and love on the same stage. In this age of angry, warning preachers, and often laymen, how I wish we could have quiet presentations of the Word. Let God speak. Leave your anger, real or feigned, at home.

Many of the conflicts that I hear are inside the person ranting about them. Like the meek and modest lady pianist, concentrate on the Composer.

Satan, "Kinda" Bound

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Revelation 20:2

For almost two thousand years there has been a Satanic attack on the book of Revelation from within the church. The main feature of this attack is that this book is beyond understanding. Seems God cannot write a book that makes sense. Of course, to ones with an agenda which is contradicted by Revelation, it is considered a deadly threat. And it is.

This situation is not just something I heard about. I have been exposed to it since I was a school boy. My father warned about staying away from Revelation. He followed the attitude of his Methodist church, instead of the Bible, although he was otherwise a faithful Christian.

Can you feel me straining to shut up about this? I could talk about this struggle so long that it would make a three hour speech by Fidel Castro seem like a hiccup. So I will restrict my comments to one item--the binding of Satan.

This thousand year binding is one way to define the period of the Millennium. It will be the only time in history when people will live free of his evil influence through binding.

Why binding rather than being cast into the Lake of Fire? Because his role is not yet complete.

Our zoo released an anteater so that he could eat up all the termites in an infested desk. Nature's vacuum cleaner. Satan has such a job ahead for him--to help dispose of the non-elect at the end of the millennium. But during this thousand year period he will be bound.

I told you of debating the issue of the millennium with a young man, many years ago. He maintained that Satan was bound so that he could not deceive the nations any more--only for that one reason!

Imagine, that since the beginning of the church age, Satan has not deceived the nations. What age was this, where Satan has not deceived the nations? It would be an age without wars. Who has heard of such a time? So, according to the young man, Satan was partially bound during the indefinite period of time which is the Presbyterian church's idea of the millennium.

Did you know that according to their theology, we are now living in a kind of millennium?

My wife, typing away as she entered data, said, "As long as I have these cataracts I know we are not in the millennium."

And no more death will take our loved ones away. It will be a time of peace, which we certainly do not have now.

The young man later interrupted my Braille Bible class, held in the church library, to accuse me of stealing from the petty cash drawer. Had he pressed charges, I could have been sentenced to "partial jail", so that I could not steal change for an indefinite period of time.

If Only Getting Angry Was the Answer

If getting angry revealed that your ideas and your doctrines were correct, we couldn't wade through all the "correct" people.

It's happened to me. You start to talk about something from the Bible, and suddenly a contorted face comes into view along with a screaming voice, condemning not only your ideas, but you. Never bring up some subjects to certain people while they have a potentially deadly weapon in their hands!

First of all, I see these people as coming from congregations where you are not allowed to disagree with or even question Bible doctrines or church practices.

Let's see now, I believe that in secular governments, that is called totalitarianism. Pardon me folks, but are you a member of a totalitarian church? Such ideas are considered an abomination in government, but are tolerated in religion.

Secondly, I see the Angry Christian as one who is insecure in his belief. "If only my preacher was here, he'd show you!"

When we are not allowed to ask questions, something is very, very wrong.

So, how did I get to be so non-argumentative? No one can make me angry about my faith. After all when a boat builder has worked on his craft for years, he should not be afraid to take it out on the water.

Election Day

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9

Today is election day is it?

No, that would be true of politics, in which I have no interest. But this election took place before the world was made. The only One who voted was God. He had a large slate of candidates and they all won. The Devil would like to impeach them, but he can't, although he does try to ruin their reputations by involving them in all kinds of scandals.

Did He vote for everyone?

Oh, no, in fact His is the minority party, but there are still a lot of them.

Did He vote for the rich and good?

No, curiously, He voted for many who never were rich, and some of them were terrible sinners, but He chose them anyway.

So, since God chose His people before the world was made, I guess they are in power right now?

Many of them think they should be and are trying to run the world. But the Devil's party are still in office until their term is up, which it soon will be.

It's quite hard for many to understand, but we must wait for Inauguration Day. The election is over, but Satan won't relinquish his power without a fight. He is what is called a Lame Duck though, and soon will be out of office and put into prison.

I never thought that politics could be so interesting.

This is not really politics. It is about a great King choosing His subjects. Someday we will rule with Him, when the struggle for power is over. The King's term of office is eternal, so our jobs will be secure.

I Don't Want to Cross Over Jordon

When a lady heard I was going to the Holy Land, she asked if I could please bring her a stone from the banks of the Jordan River. I could tell that it meant a lot to her. When I stood on the river's bank, I found her a pebble, and my wife took a picture of the location.

The Jordan is important in the Bible. So why don't I want to "cross over Jordan"? I have nothing against this river, but I have a much higher hope. I want to go to heaven.

Ideas concerning the history of Israel have been planted in our imaginations, as if they were about the church. The Gospel song "Beulah Land" does this when it combines God's promise of the land of Israel with our hope of heaven. So, Beulah Land for those to whom it was intended. Heaven will be or home.

When New Jerusalem comes down from above, both the church and the twelve tribes will live there. Until then,I like mashed potatoes and ice cream, but not mixed together.

Angels Without Wings, Please!

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2

One cannot miss angels. They have big white wings on their backs. Not big enough to fly with, but plenty big enough to notice.

People used to have halos too. They were of different styles. Some were a four fold solar disk, such as the one around the huge Egyptian obelisk in St. Peter's square at the Vatican. Others were thin little rings.

Moses is sometimes shown with horns, because the early Catholic Bible, the Vulgate, mistook horns for rays.

I am so sorry that we retain these horrible pagan ideas, inherited from medieval art. Not only is "old" considered better, it is as impossible to extinguish as skunk odor from a wool sweater.

But doesn't the Bible describe angels with wings?

What is in view here are cherubim. And no one ever entertained one of them unawares! We see a detailed description of them in Revelation 4:8. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Ezekiel chapter ten gives us an even more detailed view of these creatures. These are the covering angels around the throne of God.

But old art is filled with winged angels, and now we have little "cherubs" with tiny wings, and bows and arrows (happy Valentine's Day!). Once paganism is allowed out, it is harder to contain than a box full of puppies. If people wish to have these images, what harm? I once wanted to ride on Pegasus.

But where we are going we can soar without wings. We will "fly to our windows like doves", and we won't need wings to do it.

The Great Mystery of Death - There is No Mystery

As a young man, I remember my mother saying that no one has ever come back from the world of the dead to tell us what lies beyond. She feared death as she neared it later in life.

She had faithfully attended a Methodist church, but they neglected to tell her about this "mystery". Since their membership follows the pagan Roman Catholic teachings concerning immortal souls and the mythical place of everlasting torment--hell--it is better that they remained silent. All she had been taught was wrong. Not that they had time for such things anyway. Business and self-improvement took up all their time.

So I will say, in her honor, that there is no mystery about death. Jesus came back from the dead. Lazarus (the real one) came back from the dead, and a number of others. Strange is it not that they had no stories to tell us? At least according to common belief, it is strange. No stories to tell us because until they were resurrected, they were dead.

I told you that all of my efforts will change no one's mind on this point. But those who cling to pagan beliefs cannot say that they never heard that there is no hell or immortal souls to suffer in it. But they will not even listen to Luther who laughed at immortal souls. So, I figure I am in good company on this point. Perhaps, if a subject was announced as "The mystery of your honesty" or "The mystery of your wife's chastity", that would draw some attention.

Why do we pay people to tell us lies? Church doctrine is followed more than Bible doctrine almost every time.

Truth in [Brackets]

Poor little brackets! They are like little arms offering a delicious treat that almost no one wants.

The person preparing and offering the treat--say some home baked bread--has their labor shunned, because someone only eats store-baked bread. "It's traditional," they say. "Our family has only eaten the old style bread, so that is all I'll eat." No matter how hard and long the baker has worked in joyful anticipation that someone would eat their bread, it is turned down. Tradition rules the day.

This is how I feel about those who will not read the correct translation of the Bible's words in the brackets of a study Bible. The King James, or Authorized Version, is the subject of a cult.

I just looked at an attempt by Jack Chick to justify the use of "Easter" in Acts 12:4. He gets a lot of inquiries on this point. "Easter" is used only one time in the KJV. No other Bible translation that I have seen uses "Easter", at all. But Jack, and others, prefer to use "Easter", even though Luke says Passover.

There are a lot of people to whom being fundamental means adhering to the King James and its terrible errors. To them, the KJV is the Bible. All other translations are compared to it. But shockarama, the KJV is not the Bible. It is a very beautiful translation of the Bible. There are editions of the KJV that retain its language, but offer true translations of its errors in brackets.

The great error of the King James is to enthrone "hell" in the hearts and minds of the unsuspecting. Like Easter, hell has been inserted into the word of God. To the KJV cultists, the modern trend of disbelief in hell is blasphemy. To me, it is a waking up to the deception of the Roman Catholic church.

The use of hell is the greatest fund raiser of all time. When you see St. Peter's cathedral, remember that it was funded by selling indulgences to buy people out of hell.

Hold out your arms, little brackets. I'll eat your bread.

God's Great Genocide

Genocide. That means killing a lot of people, doesn't it? Now why would I be thinking about that, especially as an act of God?

I heard a story on the morning news about a college girl who was raped at a party by a football team. Onlookers cheered and took pictures. A doctor who examined her saw many blunt force bruises, indicating multiple "partners", he said.

That is why I am thinking of God's genocide.

It is impossible for many Christians to think of God as killing many people, like billions of them. They ignore the flood of Noah's day. They do not like to think of the Great Tribulation, the Great White Throne and its killing by means of the Lake of Fire. They much prefer thinking "nice" thoughts and an only-loving, always- forgiving God. So they do.

Much of the Bible must be ignored or even contradicted by these people. They must ignore Romans chapter nine, for example. Perhaps if their daughter had been the girl at the party, they would feel differently. But the non-elect will overshadow them, numerically.

I am totally sick of delusional thinkers. Those who refuse to see how evil the world is.

Proof? If you read the Bible you will see what God will do to it. He will destroy all of the non-elect and clean the world with unquenchable fire. Now really, would He do that if the world and its people were not evil?

I hope I never have to meet another "positive-thinking" person again. They make the truth of God and his Bible to be a lie.

The Wise Little Dog

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out. Romans 11:33

A little dog stood in the middle of a one way street. He knew that traffic only went in one direction, so he only looked that way. Then he heard the sound of a siren coming from behind him and saw the flashing lights of a rescue vehicle. Though their direction was wrong in his experience, he quickly ran to the sidewalk and watched the speeding truck pass.

He could have wondered why the rescuers were driving in the wrong direction. After all, didn't they see the one-way sign? Instead, he moved to safety quickly. He could ask his mother about it later. For this was a wise little dog.

He had learned not to judge the "why" of things, but just to respond to "what" was taking place. For instance, the little dog loved to go for rides.

The family cat became extremely upset when in a moving car. To her it was not logical--scenery flashing by, being thrown around in different directions. Not understanding what was happening caused her to hate the whole thing.

But the little dog trusted the driver, so he just stuck his head out the window and enjoyed all the "sniffs".

We have all known people like the cats. To their way of thinking, whether or not to believe in God depends on whether He can pass their tests of logic. Haven't you heard them say, "I refuse to believe in a God who...?

Each has very stringent conditions that God must meet before they will believe in Him. For, to them, God is an extension of themselves and their values. He is to be made in their image.

I had to learn to be like the little dog. Instead of trying to figure things out, I had to be humbled way down. I had to realize that I was incapable of understanding any "whys".

The cat people laugh at God's trusting little ones. But we little puppies love to be with our Master. We let Him do the driving and are happy to go anywhere He goes.

The Plant Press I Won't Buy

Not that I don't want it, it sounds terrific, but I don't think I will be able to use it. By the time the flowers and wild plants are ready, I don't think I will be.

The press in mind is one I have just heard of. You place plants or flowers in a little book between blotting sheets and place it in a microwave. It dries them so quickly that their colors are preserved.

I once had a heated laminater press that had the same ability. Not only were specimens heat dried under pressure but they also left a color record on the sheets. As the saying goes, "suitable for framing".

Have you ever bought a used book and found a pressed flower inside it? I would wonder what type of person was moved to keep the flower, and why it was never removed.

A lady I knew ran a bookstore and described the fate of some once treasured books. The owner died and the books were put into a dumpster to be hauled away. She retrieved some of them.

So, my press will not be purchased, seeing such a fate ahead for my intended plant treasures. I hope that in my heavenly destination, there will be gardens. Like Edens without serpents. Wouldn't it be neat if there were huge flowers, so large that by comparison, we would seem like insects. Then we could explore blossoms, like bees do? Talk about a close up view.

Mr. Smarty Pants on Getting an Education

Dear Smarty Pants, O Exalted One,
What gives you the right to preach to people as if you are some fount of wisdom? From what I can gather from your meanderings, you only have an associate degree and have read some books. Does this qualify you to sound off as if you were some kind of expert?

Dear Skeptical questioner, You are proving my point. Yes, my formal education is not very good. But I have been writing since 2009 to show that a person with little formal education, who reads and uses Bible study aids, can gather a lot of knowledge. What I have learned can be checked in the Bible to see if it is true.

I have read thousands of hours because, for years I could read on company time. Not only the Bible, but a wide range of secular books. In thousands of hours you will find you can build a good knowledge base and can debate with people who have had a far more extensive formal education.

The more you denigrate my formal education, the more you prove my point. It is hours of reading and thinking, not degrees, that can equip anyone with knowledge.

All, or Nothing at All

You know how I rave about Zechariah--its concentrated prophecies. But I confess, it starts in a very puzzling manner. I have heard skilled interpreters struggle with its various colored horses, its horns and carpenters. It would have been refreshing had they said, "I don't understand this part, so let's just skip it."

To many, misunderstanding one part of the Bible may cause them to abandon reading the rest. Some times it is very hard to understand writings that refer to thousands of years ago. But read on. The future is there, too.

There are wonderful people who can make complicated things simple. Find such a specialist if you care to know more.

There is a true story about a plumber who wrote to the government about a discovery he had made. Clogged drains could be opened up by pouring hydrochloric acid into them. A government agency letter replied, "We do not advocate the use of acidic substances in drains as it has a deleterious effect on the metallic fixtures."

The plumber wrote back. "I am glad you like my idea. Do you think I could patent it?"

The correspondence continued like this until an understanding man wrote to the plumber. "Do not use hydrochloric acid to clear clogged drains. It eats hell out of the pipes."

We all have trouble from time to time in understanding certain scriptures. Read on until you do understand, unless you can find a teacher as good as the man who wrote to the plumber.

Knowledge Shall Be Greatly Increased

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:4

I have ranted about the mis-interpretation of this verse before. It keeps coming back, so I do too

Unlike the book of Revelation, which we Christians are urged to read, Daniel is a sealed book--sealed to the Jews. Today it is an embarrassment to them. Jesus as Messiah is set before their eyes, and they cannot see Him.

Among some amateur interpreters, Daniel 12:2 is used as a sign of the end times. These foolish sensation seekers start off by confusing the end times for Israel with those of the church. God has more than one "end time" and explains them very clearly, for those who take the time to read about them. After the completion of the church age, we will be taken to heaven (all of us together), then come the end times for Israel.

In order to prove that we are in the last days, the shameful mis-handlers of the Word cite that people are running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing. Zow! That proves it! People have been running to and fro for a long, long time, and knowledge has been increasing.

What is misunderstood is that this running and knowledge are in relation to the sealing of Daniel's prophecy. A literal rendering is, "Peoples eyes will run to and fro over this prophecy, and their knowledge of it shall increase." In other words, to Israel, this prophecy is now sealed; but in the latter days it will be unsealed.

Please, please, no more illustrations of a dazzled Daniel seeing jets and rockets and great libraries. Even Jewish interpreters know better than this.

Knowledge Shall Pass Away

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:8

There are a great number of Christians who maintain that the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians are still in effect. Whole branches of the church believe this. Others say that these gifts are "sign gifts", given to the early Christians until the Bible was completed, and were marks to set early believers apart and to authenticate them.

Paul tells us that these gifts of the Spirit would pass away. To many, including those who believe such gifts are still with us, the question is, when. Some say we will have these gifts until Christ returns.

In defense of the idea that the gifts are still operational, the question is asked, "Has knowledge ceased?" The answer is very plain--yes. For the knowledge Paul is speaking about is not a mere conglomeration of facts, such as one can get by attending college. We have plenty of that today. Rather, this knowledge is what only the Holy Spirit can convey.

The prophecies of Agabus are an example. His predictions came true in the lifetime of the early church and were quite specific. This is special knowledge conveyed by the Holy Spirit to certain individuals.

There is a strong tendency for some to use a word in different ways without clarification. They bend it to fit the doctrine they wish to prove.

I once had a black cat that I called my little leopard. A lady vet said she thought they were so authentically wild, with a jutting lower jaw, and looked almost like their jungle counterparts. A lady I was talking to on the phone was alarmed when I told her my little leopard was asleep in my lap. She was afraid I would keep it until it grew up and became dangerous.

To use the word "knowledge" the same way, with no distinction between a Spiritual gift and general information, is just as misleading.

One Hundred Million Angels

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Revelation 5:11

Not only would this be a wonderful sight, it will be, when we get there, not too long from now. How fascinating that John not only saw them, he heard them. Imagine the sound of one hundred million angels! What John saw and heard, we will also.

What must happen before this glorious time? What must take place before we are there in heaven?

The church age, the time of the ingathering of the saints, must be fulfilled. The first three chapters of Revelation are a history of the church, from beginning to end. For the church age will end. Like a woman getting married, we will change our name. From chapter four forward we will be the Bride.

Is there any evidence of when the church age is over? We do know some things that will be true of this time. Paul speaks of the "falling away" that will mark this time. Some feel this period is well underway, as churches deny sound doctrine, and some even deny Christ himself. This latter apostasy has not occurred in any previous age.

The fact that the land of Israel is dominated by Zionists, while faithful Jews live among the Gentiles, may be of great significance also. Foreshadowings of tribulation, the time of "Jacob's trouble", are in evidence, too.

But, before this period takes place, there will be a reorganization of the nations that rule over the Holy Land, into the ten toes of Daniel 2:42, and the ten horns of Revelation 13:1. The coming world economic collapse could set the stage for such a reorganization. Goodbye to "recent" or non-Biblical nations. The USA is not in view.

Once again, the nations of the revived Roman Empire will rule over the land of Israel. Anti-Christ may be Israel's only ally. By then, we will be in heaven, listening to 100 million angels sing.