When I was in the second grade, I drew wonderful stars. I made them using 2 triangles. I just loved my pretty stars. My teacher got quite angry with me. She took my hand with my pencil in it and very hard, made me draw a 5 pointed star without lifting my pencil from my paper. She very emphatically told me that I should NEVER draw a star with 6 points....that I should always draw them with 5 points.
Well, I quit drawing. I hated those 5 pointed stars as I could never get them even. They were lop-sided, crooked, un-balanced. But she scared me to death, so I simply quit drawing stars!
Today, I find it quite interesting that my natural instinct was to draw a "Star of David". And now I understand the real reason that teacher didn't want me drawing it. The year was about 1958, 10 years after Israel was formed. She surely knew that Israel was using a 6 pointed star on their flag. She surely knew that the Jews in the holocaust had to wear a yellow 6 pointed star on their clothes. She most likely didn't want "that" star anywhere in her classroom.
Anyone can research the Star of David and learn that much of it's use in early times was probably in paganism. But it is also known as the Seal of Solomon and we know that he used it as an emblem in architecture in his buildings.
The term "Star of David" does not appear in scripture. Or does it? Remember the story of David and Goliath? In that time period, about 1000 BC, it was common to make military shields using 2 triangles, inverted, layered one on top of the other. A "Star of David" protected him.
In Hebrew, it is called a Magen David, which means Shield of David.
It has only been associated as a symbol of Judaism in the last 200 years or so.
Simply put, it is a hexagram. Nothing more. Nothing less. As a human being, you can apply whatever meaning you want to it...pagan, Jewish, Christian, protection, mysticism.....it is up to you. A satanist may claim that a hexagram is a powerful tool to invoke Satan. A Christain may claim that it is the Sheild of David, it will protect you from Satan. There are those who claim the inverted triangles represent a sexual union.
So, what came first? The original intent? The satanic counterfiet? What if this was the shape of the shield carried by David in the Old Testament? Or what if it refers directly to God, who shielded David in battle?
Ever look at a snowflake? They all have 6 points. They all can form a Star of David. I have always seen a connection between snowflakes and the Star of David. To say the Star of David is a pagan symbol....does that then mean snowflakes are pagan symbols?
Israel has made a decision to use the Star of David on her flag. Is 62:1 shows us that a burning torch represents Israel's salvation. The word is not lamp, or flame, or burning bush, it is "burning torch" - something bright enough to light the way. So those who claim that the image of a burning bush should be on Israel's flag are incorrect as well.
As long as Israel flies the Star of David on her flag, I will use the symbol in my art, in my jewelry, in my adornments at home because for me, personally, it means that I stand with Israel, I support the Jews, I honor them as God's chosen people.
But I also claim the Star of David as my shield, my protection.
The Hebrew letter dalet, looks like a triangle and stands for the name, David, which means beloved.
God gave the rainbow to Noah as a promise, but that symbol has been hijacked by the gays. Was the hexagram given to God's people and then hijacked by others?
It is important to understand that the 5 pointed star together with a crescent moon have been internationally recognized as a symbol of the faith of Islam. It is featured on the flags of several muslim countries and other entities Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosniaks, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Turkey, Tunisia, Comoros, Cyrenaica, Hyderaad, Tatarstan, Uyghur, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan....Singapore, Janjira, Nation of Islam, Portsmouth UK, Alpha Theta Sigma, Shriners of North America, Red Cross, the badge of the New Orleans police department...and so much more. First used about 1453. Those symbols have always been used by pagans to worship sun, moon and sky gods. Think one might want to stay clear of organizations and other entities that use a 5-pointed star and/or the crescent moon. The 5-pointed star used alone has been called the "star of islam." Consider what it now means if you put that star on top of your christmas tree, or adorn it on the outside of your home. While a specific image may not have meaning to you, be aware of what the worldwide meaning and useage is.
I think Jehovah was leading my hand when I stopped drawing 5-pointed stars as a child.
Today, most of the world associates the Star of David with the Jewish people and with Israel. If you want to be associated with Israel, would that happen if you wear a cross? a 5-pointed star? a fleur-de-lies? a sword? Probably not.
There is yet one more use of the Star of David. It is the symbol representing the rebirth of the nation of Israel.....that G-d promised would happen. When the rabbi's (you probably still call them wise men) saw the star, Matt 2:10 says they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. That star in the sky alerted them to the coming of the Messiah. In the same way, the star in Israel's flag (the Star of David) announces the coming of the Messiah - because Israel had to become a state before He can come.
To me, for my own personal use, it is simply my sign that the Messiah is coming - my remembrance to study hard, to know the scriptures, to look for prophecy being fulfilled. And it shows the rest of the world that I identify with Israel, that no matter where I am, I stand with Israel.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
What if your "pastor" is not a pastor?
One day in 10th grade English class, the teacher was having us write out definitions of words, or conjugating verbs or some such nonsense. I can't remember exactly what it was. We were all beyond bored with our homework. We were all miserable. We just were not learning a single thing by doing such repetitive stuff. So, we all got together and each one of us did one paragraph, then copied our work....so that there were 10 or so matching papers. We thought it was a brilliant idea.
We all got Fs and our parents were called to school.
I asked the teacher what difference it made? She said there were 2 things. One, I needed to learn to simply follow the rules. And two, I needed to write my own answers because once in awhile it might be different from someone else and everyone might learn something from what I wrote.
I learned a few things that day. Never cheat. It's just not worth it! Write what you think - it really isn't always the best thing to write what you think others want you to write.
She was a teacher. She took the time to answer my questions. Good or bad, right or wrong....she was a teacher.
I usually learned something new just about every day in school. Now remember, I've said that I went to Sunday School, church, evening church, Wednesday prayer meeting, Thursday Bible study, weekend youth group and every evening when there was a revival we were at the church.
Did I learn something new every time? Hardly! Why? Because none of my questions ever got answered? No, because my "pastor" was not a teacher and therefore, not called to the ministry. It was merely an income for him, a "job". Is your pastor a shepherd and teacher? How can you know?
First, the word "pastor" is nowhere in scripture. It is a translation of a word that means "shepherd".
Eph 4:11 says in the consistent translation:
And he himself gave
on-the-one-hand THE apostles,
on-the-other-hand THE prophets,
on-the-other-hand THE bringers-of-good-news,
on-the-other-hand THE shepherds and teachers.
I love the consistent translation because you can SEE what is there and what isn't there. In Greek, the word "the" is "tous". And in the Greek text, the word "tous" is there!
So what is different about each line and each noun above?
There is NO article "THE" before "teachers" in the last line.
This would mean that shepherds and teachers are one in the same. A shepherd has to teach and a teacher has to shepherd. They are one and the same person.
I am not a Jehovah's Witness, but their Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scripture has:
And he gave
the indeed apostles,
the but prophets
the but evangelizers
the but shepherds and teachers
At least they have left the word "the" in the interlinear.
An online Greek interlinear has:
And same gives
the indeed apostles
the yet prophets
the yet well-messengers
the yet shepherds and teachers
The King James translated the word "shepherd" to pastor. While there are 3 interlinears that show the word is shepherd, the KJ changed the word to pastor. And all 3 interlinears show that the article "THE" is missing before the word "teacher".
So in the KJ, it reads:
And he gave
some, apostles:
and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
Why did the KJ leave OUT the article? What good is an article? It is a pointer. IF you studied English in high school, you will know that "the" is a definite article that points to the noun that follows it. For example, "let's read the book" means a specific book. "let's read a book" means any book. And what sense does it make to leave it out: "let's read book"?????
I believe that the apostles put every single word into the Greek text by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What right does a human man have to remove it? How can anyone claim that the King James version of the Bible is the "inspired" or "only" version? (OK, that's a whole new "if-ism"!)
Back to this "if". If a shepherd and teacher are one and the same, then if your pastor (shepherd) is not a teacher, then he was never called to the ministry.
90% of the pastors are NOT teaching today. Thus they were never called to the ministry. What are the chances that you attend a "church" with a pastor who was not called to the ministry? Pretty good I imagine!
Now, you may think your pastor is teaching. But pay attention.
Does he leave the pulpit when a guest pastor is there? (I think he would be wanting to know what someone else is teaching, don't you?) Probably not a teacher.
Does he answer your questions with scripture references.....or with words that will attempt to make you feel good? If he doesn't answer with scripture, he's probably not a teacher.
Do you attend one of those places where the pastor seems to be more interested in numbers - who can get the biggest attendance by getting the people riled up, excited, "all shook up"? If you are just there to get excited, you probably are NOT learning much of anything. He's probably not a teacher.
Ask to attend a staff meeting. Listen to what they are doing to gain attendance. Might change how you think about your "church".
Consider Eph 4:14 where it states in the KJ:
If you attend one of those places where they work hard to get you all excited, then you are like a child, being led around....and I think it is Satan who is deceiving you. He (Satan) certainly doesn't want you to learn anything about what the Bible really has to say. He'd much rather have you all excited, singing, crying, jumping up and down, waving your hands.....BUT
what did you learn?
Did the shepherd (pastor) TEACH you anything? Anything that is actually in the Bible? Anything other than how to make it through the next week?
Interesting, huh?
Oh, and not just church, you should be learning in Sunday School as well. You should learn every time you step foot into the place.
If your shepherd (pastor) is a teacher, then I would think that he/she would be teaching you scripture. And not a translation of what someone else thought scripture said. I think they would get to the Greek and Hebrew texts and show you the real meaning of each and every word that was in the original text. It is truly an amazing study!
The sad truth is that 90% of the "pastors" were never called to the ministry. They never had a teacher who was a shepherd and they never learned what the scripture really has to say. It is a job to them.
I know a pastor who flys to Las Vegas to drink and gamble but says "don't tell anyone". He has over 15,000 people in his "church".
I know a pastor who says he understands what I am saying with my if-isms, but that the people who listen to him would never believe him, so he won't "teach" it. He maybe has 200 people in his "church".
I know a pastor who is gay and believes he is a "holy" man. Again, a "church" of about 3000.
I know a pastor who can get you so riled up you will be in tears and walk out thinking you just experienced the most moving, fulfilling day of your entire life - but he never said one word about the Bible. His "church" has about 2000.
I know a pastor who will let everyone get up and say anything they want and then he will read for 10 minutes from a daily devotional. He has a "church" of about 50.
I don't attend "church" today because I'm pretty certain none in my area have shepherds (pastors) who are teachers. And I think most are filled with Satan and his deception. (again, another If-ism)
And not a single one of them (pastors) will ever teach you anything that is actually in scritpure.
If your pastor is not a shepherd, if your pastor is not a teacher, if your paster was never called to the ministry, how do you ever expect to learn anything?
I once read a quote that said, "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts!" Is that you? Your mind is made up and you don't really want to know what scripture has to say? You "think" you know all the facts and there is nothing else you need to learn?
So if you know all that, perhaps you can answer my question - why did the translators of almost every Bible out there leave out the article and change the word shepherd to pastor and NOT tell us that a shepherd has to be a teacher and a teacher has to be a shepherd and that if they are not, they were not called to the ministry and if you attend a "church" where you do not learn what scripture really has to say, then you are most likely being deceived as it clearly states in Eph 4:14?
OK, you don't really have to send me an answer. I already know it is Satan's way of deceiving you. Just food for thought with another one of my "ifs".
So, now, IF you know that your "church" or your "pastor" are not teaching you what scripture really states, WHY are you still attending there? For years, I told myself I simply went to church to fulfil a social need, or to sing in the choir, to teach my sons. What a cop-out that was! I went because Satan had me in his lure and I couldn't get out. That "preacher" made me feel good about myself. He made me walk away elated. But I certainly was NOT learning anything about scripture.
13 years later, I am finally on a path where I am actually studying scripture. I am LEARNING what it says. I am sorting out the mistakes, errors and ommissions of the King James and other translations. I am excited and elated and uplifted daily because I am learning something new every single time I study. The "choir" is now my song to Jehovah. My socialization is with others who truly study scripture in it's original format (Greek and Hebrew). My writing here - an effort to leave a legacy to my sons. So that they may come to know Jehovah Jesus Messiah the way I do. Praise Jehovah!
We all got Fs and our parents were called to school.
I asked the teacher what difference it made? She said there were 2 things. One, I needed to learn to simply follow the rules. And two, I needed to write my own answers because once in awhile it might be different from someone else and everyone might learn something from what I wrote.
I learned a few things that day. Never cheat. It's just not worth it! Write what you think - it really isn't always the best thing to write what you think others want you to write.
She was a teacher. She took the time to answer my questions. Good or bad, right or wrong....she was a teacher.
I usually learned something new just about every day in school. Now remember, I've said that I went to Sunday School, church, evening church, Wednesday prayer meeting, Thursday Bible study, weekend youth group and every evening when there was a revival we were at the church.
Did I learn something new every time? Hardly! Why? Because none of my questions ever got answered? No, because my "pastor" was not a teacher and therefore, not called to the ministry. It was merely an income for him, a "job". Is your pastor a shepherd and teacher? How can you know?
First, the word "pastor" is nowhere in scripture. It is a translation of a word that means "shepherd".
Eph 4:11 says in the consistent translation:
And he himself gave
on-the-one-hand THE apostles,
on-the-other-hand THE prophets,
on-the-other-hand THE bringers-of-good-news,
on-the-other-hand THE shepherds and teachers.
I love the consistent translation because you can SEE what is there and what isn't there. In Greek, the word "the" is "tous". And in the Greek text, the word "tous" is there!
So what is different about each line and each noun above?
There is NO article "THE" before "teachers" in the last line.
This would mean that shepherds and teachers are one in the same. A shepherd has to teach and a teacher has to shepherd. They are one and the same person.
I am not a Jehovah's Witness, but their Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scripture has:
And he gave
the indeed apostles,
the but prophets
the but evangelizers
the but shepherds and teachers
At least they have left the word "the" in the interlinear.
An online Greek interlinear has:
And same gives
the indeed apostles
the yet prophets
the yet well-messengers
the yet shepherds and teachers
The King James translated the word "shepherd" to pastor. While there are 3 interlinears that show the word is shepherd, the KJ changed the word to pastor. And all 3 interlinears show that the article "THE" is missing before the word "teacher".
So in the KJ, it reads:
And he gave
some, apostles:
and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
Why did the KJ leave OUT the article? What good is an article? It is a pointer. IF you studied English in high school, you will know that "the" is a definite article that points to the noun that follows it. For example, "let's read the book" means a specific book. "let's read a book" means any book. And what sense does it make to leave it out: "let's read book"?????
I believe that the apostles put every single word into the Greek text by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What right does a human man have to remove it? How can anyone claim that the King James version of the Bible is the "inspired" or "only" version? (OK, that's a whole new "if-ism"!)
Back to this "if". If a shepherd and teacher are one and the same, then if your pastor (shepherd) is not a teacher, then he was never called to the ministry.
90% of the pastors are NOT teaching today. Thus they were never called to the ministry. What are the chances that you attend a "church" with a pastor who was not called to the ministry? Pretty good I imagine!
Now, you may think your pastor is teaching. But pay attention.
Does he leave the pulpit when a guest pastor is there? (I think he would be wanting to know what someone else is teaching, don't you?) Probably not a teacher.
Does he answer your questions with scripture references.....or with words that will attempt to make you feel good? If he doesn't answer with scripture, he's probably not a teacher.
Do you attend one of those places where the pastor seems to be more interested in numbers - who can get the biggest attendance by getting the people riled up, excited, "all shook up"? If you are just there to get excited, you probably are NOT learning much of anything. He's probably not a teacher.
Ask to attend a staff meeting. Listen to what they are doing to gain attendance. Might change how you think about your "church".
Consider Eph 4:14 where it states in the KJ:
That we, henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
If you attend one of those places where they work hard to get you all excited, then you are like a child, being led around....and I think it is Satan who is deceiving you. He (Satan) certainly doesn't want you to learn anything about what the Bible really has to say. He'd much rather have you all excited, singing, crying, jumping up and down, waving your hands.....BUT
what did you learn?
Did the shepherd (pastor) TEACH you anything? Anything that is actually in the Bible? Anything other than how to make it through the next week?
Interesting, huh?
Oh, and not just church, you should be learning in Sunday School as well. You should learn every time you step foot into the place.
If your shepherd (pastor) is a teacher, then I would think that he/she would be teaching you scripture. And not a translation of what someone else thought scripture said. I think they would get to the Greek and Hebrew texts and show you the real meaning of each and every word that was in the original text. It is truly an amazing study!
The sad truth is that 90% of the "pastors" were never called to the ministry. They never had a teacher who was a shepherd and they never learned what the scripture really has to say. It is a job to them.
I know a pastor who flys to Las Vegas to drink and gamble but says "don't tell anyone". He has over 15,000 people in his "church".
I know a pastor who says he understands what I am saying with my if-isms, but that the people who listen to him would never believe him, so he won't "teach" it. He maybe has 200 people in his "church".
I know a pastor who is gay and believes he is a "holy" man. Again, a "church" of about 3000.
I know a pastor who can get you so riled up you will be in tears and walk out thinking you just experienced the most moving, fulfilling day of your entire life - but he never said one word about the Bible. His "church" has about 2000.
I know a pastor who will let everyone get up and say anything they want and then he will read for 10 minutes from a daily devotional. He has a "church" of about 50.
I don't attend "church" today because I'm pretty certain none in my area have shepherds (pastors) who are teachers. And I think most are filled with Satan and his deception. (again, another If-ism)
And not a single one of them (pastors) will ever teach you anything that is actually in scritpure.
If your pastor is not a shepherd, if your pastor is not a teacher, if your paster was never called to the ministry, how do you ever expect to learn anything?
I once read a quote that said, "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts!" Is that you? Your mind is made up and you don't really want to know what scripture has to say? You "think" you know all the facts and there is nothing else you need to learn?
So if you know all that, perhaps you can answer my question - why did the translators of almost every Bible out there leave out the article and change the word shepherd to pastor and NOT tell us that a shepherd has to be a teacher and a teacher has to be a shepherd and that if they are not, they were not called to the ministry and if you attend a "church" where you do not learn what scripture really has to say, then you are most likely being deceived as it clearly states in Eph 4:14?
OK, you don't really have to send me an answer. I already know it is Satan's way of deceiving you. Just food for thought with another one of my "ifs".
So, now, IF you know that your "church" or your "pastor" are not teaching you what scripture really states, WHY are you still attending there? For years, I told myself I simply went to church to fulfil a social need, or to sing in the choir, to teach my sons. What a cop-out that was! I went because Satan had me in his lure and I couldn't get out. That "preacher" made me feel good about myself. He made me walk away elated. But I certainly was NOT learning anything about scripture.
13 years later, I am finally on a path where I am actually studying scripture. I am LEARNING what it says. I am sorting out the mistakes, errors and ommissions of the King James and other translations. I am excited and elated and uplifted daily because I am learning something new every single time I study. The "choir" is now my song to Jehovah. My socialization is with others who truly study scripture in it's original format (Greek and Hebrew). My writing here - an effort to leave a legacy to my sons. So that they may come to know Jehovah Jesus Messiah the way I do. Praise Jehovah!
Friday, June 25, 2010
What if G-d is really only shaking His little finger at us?
When I was a kid, I remember asking a preacher what G-d had been doing since Jesus died. After all, the New Testament ended with a forecast of what was coming…..but no one had been writing about what had happened. The preacher told me that G-d was asleep. That He had been asleep for the last 2000 years.
Well, in my young mind, I could hardly fathom that G-d was asleep. But over the years, various other preachers would say similar things. Not that G-d was necessarily asleep, but that He would not do anything until the Messiah returned. Or that He was “leaving earth alone”.
One day recently, I was visiting mom and there was some natural disaster that had just happened – I can’t remember which one – and mom said “G-d is only shaking His little finger at us….just wait until He shakes His whole fist!”
And that single statement hit me and stuck with me (Mom is just so smart!) It got me to wondering…..what will happen if He shakes His whole hand at us? And how many times has He shaken His little finger at us?
PS 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executed
PS 109:27 That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
Matthew 10:29, if a small sparrow falls to the ground, God knows. The Lord goes on to say, ". . . the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30) Nothing takes the Lord by surprise. The smallest event does not escape His Omnipresent eye. Zechariah 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things?
I went online and decided to see if there are correlations between events that destroy us…and our treatment of Israel. Not “us” as individuals, but “us” as a nation. Here’s what I found:
10/30/91 Oslo Accord signed – land for peace
10/31/91 The Perfect Storm – a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester MA. Waves 100 ft high. Destroyed Bush’s Maine home. Then the storm tracked down the east coast, the opposite direction of hurricanes.
8/23/92 Land for Peace talks took place in Washington DC
8/23/92 Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida with $30B in losses
1/16/94 President Clinton and Syria President Hafez Assad met to discuss Israel giving the Golan Heights to Syria.
1/17/94 6.9 earthquake in Southern California (Northridge)– 2ndworst natural disaster to ever hit America up to that time. $30B in damages.
3/2/97 Clinton invited Yasser Arafat to the White House to discuss Jerusalem’s status. As Arafat was flying there, a series of tornados ripped across 7 states…the worst damage to Arkansas, Clinton’s home state. The worst flooding ever in the Ohio River.
1/21/98 Benjamin Netanyahu summoned to the White House to discuss land for peace.
1/21/98 Clinton/Lewinski scandal became headlines
9/27/98 Sec of State Madeleine Albright met with Yasser Arafat to discuss Israel giving away land
9/27/98 Hurricane George slammed the Gulf Coast with 175 mph gusts and caused $1B in damage. It stalled until Arafat left.
5/3/1999 4:45 pm CST in America was May 4th in Israel. Clinton had arranged for Yasser Arafat to declare an independent state.
5/3/1999 The most powerful tornadoes to ever hit the USA struck. Winds up to 316 mph and several F-4 and F-5 tornadoes struck simultaneously. Billions of dollars in damage, whole cities leveled.
9/13/99 US forced Israel to meet with Yasser Arafat’s deputies to work out the final status details of Israel giving land away.
9/13/99 Hurricane Floyd grew in ONE DAY to a cat 5 hurricane
9/16/99 Hurricane Floyd hit North Carolina and caused the 2nd greatest evacuation in America’s history.
9/16/99 Hurricane Dennis hit land the same day
6/8/01 Bush sent CIA director George Tenet to the Middle East to further broker a land for peace settlement
6/8/01 Tropical storm Allison destroyed 25,000 homes & businesses & 50,000 vehicles in Houston alone. Meteorologists state that this was the worst tropical storm in history and dumped as much rain in 10 days as is normally released for the entire US on 1 year.
8/25 – 9/10/01 US, Arab and Israel prepared the most comprehensive “peace plan” ever.
9/10/01 US Army devised a plan for enforcing a major Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.
9/11/01 twin towers destroyed. $50B cost
8/17/05 - 8/23/05 Israel’s disengagement evacuation and eviction from the Gaza Strip, mandated by the US
8/23/2005 Tropical Depression 12 formed and quickly became Hurricane Katrina.
Ariel Sharon saw the largest eviction of Jews in Israel’s history
President Bush saw the largest natural disaster and displacement of people in the US history
9000 Israelis were evicted by their government
1,000,000 Americans were evicted by Hurricane Katrina
Apr 12, 2010 Holocaust Memorial Day
Apr 14, 2010 England announced they are banning the image of "kotel" (Western Wall) in relation to Israel.
Apr 15, 2010 Volcano errupted in Ireland, blanketing all of Europe with ash
4/19/10 Obama announces the US will not automatically stand behind Israel in the UN security council
4/20/2010 BP oil Rig Explosion & Spill
I know there are many other events. Big and small. I could probably connect every single earthquake or tornado to something our leaders said against Israel. I started to look at stock market dips and it seems that each one of them can also be tied to less than 24 hours after our government has said or done something against Israel.
So, if all of these are just G-d shaking His “little” finger at us, what can we expect to happen should He shake his entire hand at us?
What will it take for each of us to step back and look at history and understand that G-d is not asleep. He is not waiting for the Messiah to return. He is active, oh! Ever so active, in every single moment of our lives. He is listening to our every move. If He knows when a small sparrow falls to the ground, He surely knows when we write or speak or act against Israel.
May Jehovah protect and shelter me when He shakes His whole hand at America.
Gen 12: 2-3
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse”
May our leaders bow to the ground and pray to Jehovah that He will bless Israel - in order that we might be blessed as well
Updates:
6/25/10: Obama tells Saudi Arabia King that he wants a Palestinian homeland
6/25/10: Dow Jones fell 326 points hitting an 8 month low
Well, in my young mind, I could hardly fathom that G-d was asleep. But over the years, various other preachers would say similar things. Not that G-d was necessarily asleep, but that He would not do anything until the Messiah returned. Or that He was “leaving earth alone”.
One day recently, I was visiting mom and there was some natural disaster that had just happened – I can’t remember which one – and mom said “G-d is only shaking His little finger at us….just wait until He shakes His whole fist!”
And that single statement hit me and stuck with me (Mom is just so smart!) It got me to wondering…..what will happen if He shakes His whole hand at us? And how many times has He shaken His little finger at us?
PS 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executed
PS 109:27 That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
Matthew 10:29, if a small sparrow falls to the ground, God knows. The Lord goes on to say, ". . . the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30) Nothing takes the Lord by surprise. The smallest event does not escape His Omnipresent eye. Zechariah 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things?
I went online and decided to see if there are correlations between events that destroy us…and our treatment of Israel. Not “us” as individuals, but “us” as a nation. Here’s what I found:
10/30/91 Oslo Accord signed – land for peace
10/31/91 The Perfect Storm – a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester MA. Waves 100 ft high. Destroyed Bush’s Maine home. Then the storm tracked down the east coast, the opposite direction of hurricanes.
8/23/92 Land for Peace talks took place in Washington DC
8/23/92 Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida with $30B in losses
1/16/94 President Clinton and Syria President Hafez Assad met to discuss Israel giving the Golan Heights to Syria.
1/17/94 6.9 earthquake in Southern California (Northridge)– 2ndworst natural disaster to ever hit America up to that time. $30B in damages.
3/2/97 Clinton invited Yasser Arafat to the White House to discuss Jerusalem’s status. As Arafat was flying there, a series of tornados ripped across 7 states…the worst damage to Arkansas, Clinton’s home state. The worst flooding ever in the Ohio River.
1/21/98 Benjamin Netanyahu summoned to the White House to discuss land for peace.
1/21/98 Clinton/Lewinski scandal became headlines
9/27/98 Sec of State Madeleine Albright met with Yasser Arafat to discuss Israel giving away land
9/27/98 Hurricane George slammed the Gulf Coast with 175 mph gusts and caused $1B in damage. It stalled until Arafat left.
5/3/1999 4:45 pm CST in America was May 4th in Israel. Clinton had arranged for Yasser Arafat to declare an independent state.
5/3/1999 The most powerful tornadoes to ever hit the USA struck. Winds up to 316 mph and several F-4 and F-5 tornadoes struck simultaneously. Billions of dollars in damage, whole cities leveled.
9/13/99 US forced Israel to meet with Yasser Arafat’s deputies to work out the final status details of Israel giving land away.
9/13/99 Hurricane Floyd grew in ONE DAY to a cat 5 hurricane
9/16/99 Hurricane Floyd hit North Carolina and caused the 2nd greatest evacuation in America’s history.
9/16/99 Hurricane Dennis hit land the same day
6/8/01 Bush sent CIA director George Tenet to the Middle East to further broker a land for peace settlement
6/8/01 Tropical storm Allison destroyed 25,000 homes & businesses & 50,000 vehicles in Houston alone. Meteorologists state that this was the worst tropical storm in history and dumped as much rain in 10 days as is normally released for the entire US on 1 year.
8/25 – 9/10/01 US, Arab and Israel prepared the most comprehensive “peace plan” ever.
9/10/01 US Army devised a plan for enforcing a major Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.
9/11/01 twin towers destroyed. $50B cost
8/17/05 - 8/23/05 Israel’s disengagement evacuation and eviction from the Gaza Strip, mandated by the US
8/23/2005 Tropical Depression 12 formed and quickly became Hurricane Katrina.
Ariel Sharon saw the largest eviction of Jews in Israel’s history
President Bush saw the largest natural disaster and displacement of people in the US history
9000 Israelis were evicted by their government
1,000,000 Americans were evicted by Hurricane Katrina
Apr 12, 2010 Holocaust Memorial Day
Apr 14, 2010 England announced they are banning the image of "kotel" (Western Wall) in relation to Israel.
Apr 15, 2010 Volcano errupted in Ireland, blanketing all of Europe with ash
4/19/10 Obama announces the US will not automatically stand behind Israel in the UN security council
4/20/2010 BP oil Rig Explosion & Spill
I know there are many other events. Big and small. I could probably connect every single earthquake or tornado to something our leaders said against Israel. I started to look at stock market dips and it seems that each one of them can also be tied to less than 24 hours after our government has said or done something against Israel.
So, if all of these are just G-d shaking His “little” finger at us, what can we expect to happen should He shake his entire hand at us?
What will it take for each of us to step back and look at history and understand that G-d is not asleep. He is not waiting for the Messiah to return. He is active, oh! Ever so active, in every single moment of our lives. He is listening to our every move. If He knows when a small sparrow falls to the ground, He surely knows when we write or speak or act against Israel.
May Jehovah protect and shelter me when He shakes His whole hand at America.
Gen 12: 2-3
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse”
May our leaders bow to the ground and pray to Jehovah that He will bless Israel - in order that we might be blessed as well
Updates:
6/25/10: Obama tells Saudi Arabia King that he wants a Palestinian homeland
6/25/10: Dow Jones fell 326 points hitting an 8 month low
3/11/2010: Japan said it deplored Israel housing construction.
3/1/2011: Japan and PA signed agreement for Japan to provide $32.5M to PA to treate waste water.
3/8/2011: Japan increases food support to Palestinian People
3/11/2011: 9.0 Earthquake hits Japan, tsunami kills 25,000.
4/27/2011: Obama released his long form birth certificate (most likely a fake)
4/27/2011: White House spokesman Tonny Vietor said, "The US supports Palestinian reconciliation....."
4/28/2011: 173 tornadoes tore through the South killing almost 292 people.
5/22/11: Obama calls for Israel's borders to revert to 1967 at AIPAC
5/22/11: Joplin MO destroyed by tornado, 125 killed, 1500 missing
5/23/11: Dow Jones down 130.78
5/31/11: Obama's proclamation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trangender Pride Month
6/1/11: US Stock market fell 280 points. Steepest losses in a year.
7/18/11: Norway backs Palestinian state
7/22/11: Bomb killing 80 in Norway
7/22/11: Obama certifies repeal of "Don't ask, Don't Tell" - will end 9/20/11
7/22/11: East Coast temps hit 118 degrees in the heat index
9/21/11: Obama tells the UN he wants 2 states in Israel (means taking away land from Israel)
9/23/11: Stock market was 11412 on 9/21, down to 10656 at 10:30 am EST.
Things to watch:
Donor: Amount given to PA
EU 185.5M Euros
Britain 60M british pounds
India 10M dollars
Norway 53M dollars
France 19M dollars
World Bk 40M dollars
Japan 18.5M dollars
EU 41.4M euros
Britain 30M british pounds
US 225 M dollars
Ireland 1.5M dollars
Japan 11.9M dollars
what will G-d do to punish these countries?
what next?
what next?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What if the world IS a stage and we are merely players?
William Shakespeare wrote:
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players......
But what if that's really true in the grande scheme of things? The world is a stage and the play has been going on for almost 6000 years now. The leading role is held by Jehovah G-d. His actors - His chosen people are the Jews. The other leading role is held by Satan, the adversary, and his actors include everyone else in the world.
The overall plot is that Jehovah wants His chosen people to acknowledge that He is their G-d. He even sent His son, Jehovah Jesus Messiah, to earth to be their King, but they rejected Him. The Jews are still awaiting the Messiah. And because He will come again - that's not such a problem at all.
Jehovah created His assembly - the assembly of the Jewish people. All they need do is call on the armies of G-d and G-d will lead them. It's been that way throughout history. A king that repented and fought for Israel - God would forgive them and they had a good reign. If they had a wicked king, then Israel suffered.
Follow that down to today when the Jews first returned to Israel, they fought for the land, won, and started to rebuild. Then gradually, Israel began to give the land away and problems have beset the Jews. They simply need a leader who will repent and fight for Israel.
In the meantime, Satan has been gradually taking over the rest of the world, has been busy making himself look like God. He took over the churches, incorporated pagan rituals with religious rituals, changed the calendar, corrupted every world leader and is working to get the entire world to turn against the Jews. He even got translators to change words in scritpure. He has used "christians" over the centuries to persecute and execute the Jews. His last holdout are the Jews - God's chosen people. He wants all of Jerusalem.
And this whole stage is made up of people who come and go, who enter and leave as they are born and die, and each one of us has an opportunity to view this play. The "plan" of salvation has been here from day one. In the Old Testament days, it was a sacrifice, a willingness to put a lamb on the alter....and then the Messiah became the lamb that was sacrificed for our sins.
But that is where Satan really took hold. He wants us to think that the Messiah left the Jews and turned to the Gentiles. That's where the play starts to get reinterpreted by so many who can't step back and look at what's been going on for thousands of years. So let's step back into the world play. Jehovah sent His son to earth. The Jews rejected Him as their King. Nothing changed. The Jews are still Jehovah's chosen people. All Jews will be "saved" because they are His people.
Gentiles who believe this can be grafted into the branch and have eternal life. But how many Gentiles actually believe that the Jews are Jehovah's chosen people? How many Gentiles send their gifts to Israel? support a synagogue? keep Passover?
In the meantime, Satan is reigning in today's church. Of course, he "wants" you to go do missions and convert the Jews and get them to join his church...take them away from the synagogues and temples. Yikes!!! He wants you to give your money to grow his churches. He wants you to celebrate all the pagan holidays. And most importantly, he, Satan, wants you to think it's easy to have eternal life. And he certainly doesn't want anyone to study world history....or even know what's going on in the world today. Think about it. You probably know more about the lives of Hollywood stars than you do about anything happening this month in Jerusalem. Why? Probably because Satan doesn't want you even thinking about prophecy that is being fulfilled in our lifetime.
Always remember that Satan said he would make himself "like the most high". He's been working on it for centuries. We are on the stage for but a "second". Very few of us can even see the play, much less care about it, want to learn more of it, want to study scripture, know what prophecies have been fulfilled and those that are being fulfilled today. Very few of us actually know who Jehovah Jesus Messiah is.
So, what if the world is a stage...and we are just players? Who's side are you on? Do you support the Jews? Or do you support your local church?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
What if we are in the last period of history?
When I was a child, I remember an evangelist saying we were living in the Philadelphia church. I honestly thought the man was crazy because I was living in Indiana at that time!!! Preachers just have no idea what kids hear, do they?
But that was the late 50s, and I think he was on the verge of being both right and wrong. If we can put approximate dates to each of the 7 churches - periods of time in history....he was on the cusp for sure.
Periods of church history:
1. Ephesus (desireable) Pentecost to 100AD
Good works, rejection of false teachings
2. Smyrna (myrrh – embalming the dead) 100AD- 313 AD – persecuted
major persuctions of the church under 10 different Roman Emperors:
1. Nero AD54
2. Domitian AD 81
3. Trajan, AD 98
4. Adrian, AD 117
5. Septimus Severus, AD 193
6. Maximum, AD 235
7. Decius, AD 249
8. Valerian, AD 254
9. Aurelian, AD 270
10. Diocletian, AD 284
3. Pergamos 313AD – 460AD. Thoroughly married. Paganism married with the church
Constantine was converted and declared that Christianity would be the State Religion. Incorporation of Pagan rituals into religious rituals in order to get more converts.
4. Thyatira 460 AD – 1517 AD – corrupt
Growing power of the Roman Papacy. Mass became obligatory.
5. Sardis 1517 AD – 1750 AD – reformation
Major translations of the Bible, major splits in various religions. Martin Luther, John Calvin…..
6. Philadelphia 1750 AD – 1950/70 - missions
World wide evangelism. Revivals. Religious cults.
7. Laodicea -1950/70 - ? - personal rights
It's all about what your own personal rights are...the rights of this group or that, the rights of one sector of a population against another. We are definitely living in this period today!
I have read those who believe the Laodicea period started as early as 1880, but I don't see how anyone can believe that revivals ended then. They were definitely going on in the 50s and 60s when I was a child. And there was a continued emphasis on missions during that time frame. Not going to argue it because again, this is simply what I believe.
When you step back and look at the overall, global picture....the meanings of the words of the names of the churches can be tied to periods of history - in the order that the churches were listed. And while the dates are approximate, the overall sequence of events is all there. Because we are at the "end", we can look back and see it exactly as it happened. But do we have the faith to look forward and know what is next?
In Rev 3:17 it was written to the Laodiceans "Because you-are-saying, Because I-am rich and I-have-become-rich-and-am-still-rich and also I-am not having one need, and you-know not absolutely that you yourself are the one miserable and pitiful and destitute and blind and naked,"
May I always know that I am miserable, pitiful, destitute, blind and naked. Because if I am such, then I will always study to learn the truth.
Monday, May 31, 2010
What if God really doesn't love the "world"?
You should be laughing about now over all my childhood questions. Didn't you have them?
Jn 3:16 - we all know it so I won't quote it here. Didn't you have these questions?
1. How can G-d LOVE the world and allow guys I went to high school with be killed in VietNam?
2. How could HE let little children in China starve? (Well, Grandma always did say to eat all my food because there were starving children in China!)
3. How could He have killed every single living person on the planet except for 8 people during the flood? Seriously, didn't He love the entire world?
4. Why would He have given us all these different languages at the tower of Babel and made everyone go live somewhere else?
So I never quite understood that verse. OK....I never actually BELIEVED that verse - in the context that I never believed God loved every single person who ever lived on earth!!!
Unless you start to define the word "world". Could it have different meanings?
Does the word "world" perhaps mean something like "age" or "period" or "time"?
In Greek....ok, was the word translated 100% correctly into English.....or is the word "world" simply the "best possible" translation and it doesn't mean world as we know it today? I think we can all agree that the King's English of the 1500s is quite a bit different from our English today. Even today, words that we know and understand in the US have a completely different meaning in England and they are the same word.
Was there a world from Adam to the flood that G-d destroyed. We know that He covered the earth with water for 40 days and everyone perished. Did He love those people? If He loved them, why the flood to destroy them? I think we can pretty much agree that He did not "love" the "world" before the flood.
A second "world" from the flood to the tower of Babel that He again destroyed by dispersing it all over the earth?
A third "world" from Babel to perhaps the present day and this "world" is His covenant with Abraham reaching down through the Jews.....and that He has allowed Satan to contol the rest of the "world"?
Gen 17:4
Not only do you need to define "world" - you need to define "love" - which is actually the word "cherish" which is different than love. I can really understand it if it is translated this way:
Jehovah cherished the "people of the earth that HE made HIS covenant with" and came to earth as the promised Messiah of the Jews and if you believe that........
I don't think G-d loves the whole world at all. He couldn't possibly love all the horror that is among us these days. But if I understand this correctly, then He still does love the Jews - His chosen people. And Satan has control over the rest of the "world". And yes, we can be "saved" and grafted in.....but for the moment...I just want to clarify that G-d does NOT love the entire inhabited earth. He doesn't love you if you are a sinner. He doesn't love you if you practice sinful things. This verse does not cover those individuals. He doesn't love anyone....He cherished His people (the Jews) so much.....and that I have no problem believing and understanding at all.
Isn't it amazing how we have gotten things so twisted up with these corrupt translations? Ah! Was and is Satan behind all this mis-translation? Is that yet another way he is trying to be like the most High?
Was it Satan's plan to change the calander as well and thus take us away from the proper dates of the Messiah's birth and death?
and while we're on the subject of translating "words" and what the really mean.....
Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word Christos which actually should be translated Messiah.
So then should anti-christ actually be "anti-Messiah"?
How can you know something if you don't know what that something is? How can we know who Christ is if we should be learning who the Messiah is?
And no, I no longer believe what the preachers have been preaching for centuries. You cannot take scripture and take it out of context and apply it to today's living and make Jn 3:16 mean that God loves you. We have to put it back into context, study history, study Hebrew and Greek, and really understand what it meant.
God so cherished the Jews, His chosen people, that He sent His only begotten Son, the Messiah......
and if we understand fully that His chosen people are the Jews
and that the world is full of anti-semetism because Satan has been working for centuries to make himself equal to G-d
and that the churches of the world today are mostly run as Satan's way of controlling the entire world because there's not one of them left that teach the truth about what's in the Bible - they all celebrate Christmas and Easter....
well, it does answer those childhood questions I had.
G-d does not love the world as I know it, He cherishes the Jews.
Jn 3:16 - we all know it so I won't quote it here. Didn't you have these questions?
1. How can G-d LOVE the world and allow guys I went to high school with be killed in VietNam?
2. How could HE let little children in China starve? (Well, Grandma always did say to eat all my food because there were starving children in China!)
3. How could He have killed every single living person on the planet except for 8 people during the flood? Seriously, didn't He love the entire world?
4. Why would He have given us all these different languages at the tower of Babel and made everyone go live somewhere else?
So I never quite understood that verse. OK....I never actually BELIEVED that verse - in the context that I never believed God loved every single person who ever lived on earth!!!
Unless you start to define the word "world". Could it have different meanings?
Does the word "world" perhaps mean something like "age" or "period" or "time"?
In Greek....ok, was the word translated 100% correctly into English.....or is the word "world" simply the "best possible" translation and it doesn't mean world as we know it today? I think we can all agree that the King's English of the 1500s is quite a bit different from our English today. Even today, words that we know and understand in the US have a completely different meaning in England and they are the same word.
Was there a world from Adam to the flood that G-d destroyed. We know that He covered the earth with water for 40 days and everyone perished. Did He love those people? If He loved them, why the flood to destroy them? I think we can pretty much agree that He did not "love" the "world" before the flood.
A second "world" from the flood to the tower of Babel that He again destroyed by dispersing it all over the earth?
A third "world" from Babel to perhaps the present day and this "world" is His covenant with Abraham reaching down through the Jews.....and that He has allowed Satan to contol the rest of the "world"?
Gen 17:4
Not only do you need to define "world" - you need to define "love" - which is actually the word "cherish" which is different than love. I can really understand it if it is translated this way:
Jehovah cherished the "people of the earth that HE made HIS covenant with" and came to earth as the promised Messiah of the Jews and if you believe that........
I don't think G-d loves the whole world at all. He couldn't possibly love all the horror that is among us these days. But if I understand this correctly, then He still does love the Jews - His chosen people. And Satan has control over the rest of the "world". And yes, we can be "saved" and grafted in.....but for the moment...I just want to clarify that G-d does NOT love the entire inhabited earth. He doesn't love you if you are a sinner. He doesn't love you if you practice sinful things. This verse does not cover those individuals. He doesn't love anyone....He cherished His people (the Jews) so much.....and that I have no problem believing and understanding at all.
Isn't it amazing how we have gotten things so twisted up with these corrupt translations? Ah! Was and is Satan behind all this mis-translation? Is that yet another way he is trying to be like the most High?
Was it Satan's plan to change the calander as well and thus take us away from the proper dates of the Messiah's birth and death?
and while we're on the subject of translating "words" and what the really mean.....
Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word Christos which actually should be translated Messiah.
So then should anti-christ actually be "anti-Messiah"?
How can you know something if you don't know what that something is? How can we know who Christ is if we should be learning who the Messiah is?
And no, I no longer believe what the preachers have been preaching for centuries. You cannot take scripture and take it out of context and apply it to today's living and make Jn 3:16 mean that God loves you. We have to put it back into context, study history, study Hebrew and Greek, and really understand what it meant.
God so cherished the Jews, His chosen people, that He sent His only begotten Son, the Messiah......
and if we understand fully that His chosen people are the Jews
and that the world is full of anti-semetism because Satan has been working for centuries to make himself equal to G-d
and that the churches of the world today are mostly run as Satan's way of controlling the entire world because there's not one of them left that teach the truth about what's in the Bible - they all celebrate Christmas and Easter....
well, it does answer those childhood questions I had.
G-d does not love the world as I know it, He cherishes the Jews.
In the Consistent New Testament, Jn 3:16: For thus the God cherished the world so-that he-gave his son, namely-the only-begotten, in-order-that every-one the one trusting with-reference-to him might not perish, BUT he-might-be-having life eternal.
maybe that really means.....
Jn 3:16: Jehovah G-d cherished the "people of the earth that HE made HIS covenant with" (the Jews) and dispatched his son to earth as the promised Messiah of the Jews and if you trust that, then you will have life eternal.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Was it a cross?
There's a recent movie out called "Cross" and I'm sure it will make millions of dollars. It amazes me that people will assume something is so just because a preacher, priest, rabbi - whoever- says it is so.
So the question today is - If Jesus died on a cross as in 2 pieces of wood crossed over each other....or did he die hanging from a single pole. Something never depicted in photographs. And why worry about the difference at all?
The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: "The Greek word for cross, stau•ros′, properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling [fencing in] a piece of ground. . . . Even amongst the Romans the crux (from which our cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole" [Imperial Bible Dictionary, edited by P. Fairbairn (London, 1874), Vol. I, p. 376].
Consider this. If you are hanging from a pole, your hands are above your head - your rib cage tightens, and makes it hard to breath. Blood slows down. There is less oxygen in the body.
Dieing on a pole would have been a much slower process than dieing on a cross.
Why is it important? I believe that if He died on a pole....and you wear a cross as a pendant or have a cross in a church, then you are in danger of using a form of an idol in worship. If you worship a cross - and that is not what He died on at all - then it would be idol worship. I walk into an assembly and see a cross, I walk out.
Finally, you can google this and learn that the cross was a symbol used in pagan religions as early as 1500 years before Jehovah Jesus Messiah was on earth. It is, yet again, something else that was pagan that was brought into the "church" in order to get the pagans to join in the worship. It was not even used in the "church" until 200 years after the death of the Messiah. The cross was not used in early paintings until the over 600 years after His death. And then it looked like the letter "T" - not as a cross would look today.
The marking of a cross upon the forehead and the chest is regarded as a talisman against the powers of demons. A pagan practice.
But more important that that, I feel that Satan (the Adversary) has been working for centuries to alter scripture, add pagan items into scripture in order to lead true believers away from Jehovah and into the "kingdom" of Satan.
All my life, the cross was used in every church service I attended. But if there's a hint of it being a pagan item, of it representing idol worship, then for me, it would be wrong to continue to use it.
Something to think about.
So the question today is - If Jesus died on a cross as in 2 pieces of wood crossed over each other....or did he die hanging from a single pole. Something never depicted in photographs. And why worry about the difference at all?
The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: "The Greek word for cross, stau•ros′, properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling [fencing in] a piece of ground. . . . Even amongst the Romans the crux (from which our cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole" [Imperial Bible Dictionary, edited by P. Fairbairn (London, 1874), Vol. I, p. 376].
Consider this. If you are hanging from a pole, your hands are above your head - your rib cage tightens, and makes it hard to breath. Blood slows down. There is less oxygen in the body.
Dieing on a pole would have been a much slower process than dieing on a cross.
Why is it important? I believe that if He died on a pole....and you wear a cross as a pendant or have a cross in a church, then you are in danger of using a form of an idol in worship. If you worship a cross - and that is not what He died on at all - then it would be idol worship. I walk into an assembly and see a cross, I walk out.
Finally, you can google this and learn that the cross was a symbol used in pagan religions as early as 1500 years before Jehovah Jesus Messiah was on earth. It is, yet again, something else that was pagan that was brought into the "church" in order to get the pagans to join in the worship. It was not even used in the "church" until 200 years after the death of the Messiah. The cross was not used in early paintings until the over 600 years after His death. And then it looked like the letter "T" - not as a cross would look today.
The marking of a cross upon the forehead and the chest is regarded as a talisman against the powers of demons. A pagan practice.
But more important that that, I feel that Satan (the Adversary) has been working for centuries to alter scripture, add pagan items into scripture in order to lead true believers away from Jehovah and into the "kingdom" of Satan.
All my life, the cross was used in every church service I attended. But if there's a hint of it being a pagan item, of it representing idol worship, then for me, it would be wrong to continue to use it.
Something to think about.
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