What if the signs are in the stars?

I'll bet you're wondering what the answer was to that question back in the 50s in the middle of Indiana in a tiny Methodist church? I was told that we did not study astrology, that it was "of the devil". But yet all these years, I have wondered about this verse:

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;

That's the King James Version. But the Consistent Translation shows:

LUKE 21v25 And signs will-be in sun and moon and stars, and over the earth (a) holding-together of-nations in perplexity, (as) sea and surf (is) sounding,

So, what signs? And how do we see them? Because I never studied astronomy, and barely knew the difference between that and astrology, this has been a difficult study for me, but I am completely fascinated with some of the results I'm finding.

Planet X comes into our solar system every 3660 years. So if you start with next year and subtract 3660 years, that takes us back to 1645BC. Geologists say that was the great volcanic explosion of the Santorini calders whose drifting ash cloud was described in EX 9.

3660 years prior to that was 5308 BC when geologists say the Great Flood of Noah's day covered the earth. Dating is based on geological evidence involving the Black Sea.

Planet X is also called Nibiru or Elenin. It was aligned with the Sun, Earth and Mercury on 3/11/11 (spring equinox) when the Japan 9.0 earthquake hit.

So looking at Elenin's alignment with the earth, I put together this grid: (click to enlarge)

Remember my blog about God shaking His finger at us? Our legislators are looking at a debt resolution. If they vote on one on Monday and it eliminates support to Israel (guaranteeing loans for them, etc.), then we are in a perfect position for God to "shake His finger" at us once again.

I do think everything depends on the actions of our leaders.....and we are the ones who vote them into office, so it depends on each of us.

Consider these events coming up:

1. Between 9/24 and 9/27, the UN will consider a resolution to create a Palestinian State, having Israel return to her 1967 borders and move the boundaries of Jerusalem. (Zach 12: 1-3)
2. An estimated 1 million Palestinians to take to the streets after the UN meetings.
3. Egypt has their first election making a Muslim Brotherhood ruler imminent (Isaiah 19:4) Election preparations start on 9/18.
4. 9/28 is the Feast of Trumpets in Israel. This will be the 63rd Feast of Trumpets since the birth of Israel which leaves 7 years until Israel turns age 70. And 70 years represents a generation.
5. 9/20, the gay and lesbian service members can serve openly in the US military
6. Israel is preparing for war to start in September. US aircraft carriers CVN77 and CVN 76 have entered the Persian Gulf. Lebanon has 50,000 missiles pointed at Israel, Egypt and Hamas, maybe Jordan, will send in missiles, Iran - possible nuclear warheads? But God is on Israel's side, and that makes Israel a majority.
7. Israel's Labor Party primary on 9/12 and they are expected to discuss leaving Netanyahu's coalition after that.
8. California schools start - the first state to require public schools add lessons about gay history in social studies classes.
9. 9/22 starts the Durban III Conference (targets Israel) in NYC
10. Increased earthquakes in and around the "ring of fire"
11. Increase volcanic activity i.e., steam venting, earth cracking....

Do we need to look up a little more often?

"He telleth the NUMBER of the stars, he calleth them all by there NAMES". PS 147:7

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night SHEWETH KNOWLEDGE. PS 19:1

So that was another childhood question I remember asking. If HE numbered the stars and called them all by name, how many stars were there? And I was told I'd find out when I got to heaven! Amazing that we can know the answers today.

There are 1,064,340,000,000,000,000 stars in the sky. Soncino Talmud, Vol 16, page 201 Berakoth 32b: "Resh Lakish said, The Holy One, blessed be He, answered her: My daughter, twelve constellations have I created in the firmament, and for each constellation I have created 30 hosts, and for each host I have created 30 cohorts, and for each cohort I have created 30 maniples, and for each maniple I have created 30 camps, and to each camp I have attached 365 thousands of myriads of stars, corresponding to the days of the solar year, and all of them I have created only for thy sake." This quote was taken from "The Law Prophesied" by R. H. Mount. (page 13)

Now, my understanding is simply that when Elenin, Planet X, aligns itself with earth, there is magnetic pull which can cause earthquakes, tidal changes, weather changes, pole shifts, and other things. But is this God's way of preparing us....we know the dates based on the movement of the stars (signs)?

Going back to my discussion of God shaking His little finger at us, is it possible He might shake His fist at us in September? If America votes to support a Palestinian state, He could use the magnetic pull of Elenin to cause huge earthquakes on earth. He could continue to punish America for promoting homosexuality in the military. He could do so much. And I have to ask.....what if the signs are in the stars?

If God condemns sun worship, are you guilty?

One of those early childhood questions that no one answered was “why do we worship on Sunday?” I was very good at math. I knew that Sunday was the FIRST day of the week, not the 7^th day of the week. I was very good at logic. I knew Sunday was not the 7^th day of the week. But no one ever took the time to explain to me the history of the conversion between the Sabbath and Sunday worship. Probably because no one really knew (1950s – no internet, and our little local library didn’t have much in it).

So who changed the 7^th day to the 1^st day?

Long before Jesus arrived on earth, pagans worshiped on Sunday. It was the day the sun was worshiped. The Chaldeans, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medo-Perisnas, the Grecians and the Romans were sun worshippers.

http://www.bibletruth.cc/Body_Sunday.htm

Acts shows us that the first Christians were Jews, and the earliest church is classifiable as a messianic sect within Judaism. The disciples were frequently found in the temple, continued to observe the law, circumcision, Sabbath worship and the food laws.

So, you see, there were 2 conflicting factors….the pagans who had been worshiping on Sunday, and the new Christians and the Jews who were worshipping on the Sabbath.

In the 4^th century Constantine saw that half the people worshiped on Sunday – pagans, half kept the Sabbath – professed Christians/Jews. He wanted to cement the 2 factions. He published 2 edicts – the first enjoined the solemn observance of Sunday and the second directed the regular consultation of the auspices – a pagan practice.

Fact: Constantine was a pagan to every inch of his body. He was a non-discriminatory heathen. Constantine worshipped all the gods - especially Apollo the god of the sun. He held the title Pontifex Maximus which was the title of the high priest of paganism. These and other considerations make it clear that Constantine's form of Christianity was actually a modified version of mystery religion. - The Mystery of Iniquity that had been at work since the time of Babel.

Constantine saw something that the emperors before him did not see - the opportunity to make peace through compromise. He never really converted to Christianity. But what he did accomplish was to convert Christianity to paganism. He was a pawn in Satan's hand to pervert the Christian faith with all of paganism's trappings.

On March 7, 321, Constantine gave forth his Sunday law:

“Let all the judges and town people and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun (Dies Solis); but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by Heaven.” Right there we find the genesis of Sunday keeping in the Christian Church.

The church followed the leadership of Constantine, and in the year 364, at the council of Laodicea, passed a law requiring that Christians must “not Judaize by resting on Saturday.” Eusebius, a noted bishop of the church, states, “All things whatsoever that it was duty to do on the Sabbath, these we have transferred to the Lord’s day.” Here, then, it is plain that a human hand, and not a divine, changed the Sabbath. Eusebius says, “We have transferred.”

Finally the Sabbath was crushed, and Sunday, the pagan holiday, was instituted. Henceforth, it was espoused by the church, and supported, as it is in our day. Doctor Eck, the astute lawyer and champion of the Church in its controversy with Martin Luther, admits, “The church has changed the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday on its own authority, without Scripture, doubtless under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”

And that got me to thinking, what do Hebrews call the days of the week on their calendar?

1. Yom Rishon = first day (gentile’s Sunday)
   
2. Yom Sheni = second day
   
3. Yom Shlishi = third day
   
4. Yom Revi’I = fourth day
   
5. Yom Chamishi = fifth day
   
6. Yom Shishi = sixth day
   
7. Yom Shabbat = Sabbath day, day of rest
   
   

They just go by numbers!

When the Gregorian calendar was established, the names of the days were taken from planets and gods

Sunday – Sun’s day, day of the sun

Monday – Moon’s day, day of the moon

Tuesday, Tyr’s day. Tyre was a god of combat and heroic glory in Germanic paganism, day of Mars

Wednesday – Day of Wodan, more commonly known as Odin, the highest god in Norse mythology, a prominent god in England until the 7
^th century, day of Mercury

Thursday – Thor’s day, Germanic god of thunder, day of Jupiter

Friday, Day of Frige, the Germanic goddess of beauty, an incarnation of the Norse goddess Frigg, day of Venus

Saturday – Saturn’s day, Roman god associated with the Titan Cronos, father of Zeus and many Olympians.

Why on earth did that happen???? Another one of Satan's ways to rule this earth.

I think it’s pretty obvious that we are not to worship the sun:

Deut 4:19; 17:3

II Kings 23:5

Job 31:26-23

Ezek 8:16 - most clearly against sun worship...God says, "I will deal with them in anger: I will not look on them with pity or spare them."

But of all things – to worship on the Sun’s day? Not to mention that scripture clearly states that we are to keep the Sabbath forever (it's a commandment, you know?)…if you worship on Sunday….it’s pagan.

What are other symbols of sun (pagan) worship? Feel free to google them, but here’s my list:

Churches that face West (members face east to worship

Statues with sun burst coronas (liberty)

Facing east to pray

Facing east for any part of a religious service

Obelisks – honor the sun god

Sunrise service – face east

And a most interesting thought:

Marks of the sun:

http://www.markswatson.com/marksun.pdf

It’s interesting that a lot of the “old time” church buildings were built facing east and you walked straight in and faced west to worship. Yet they had other items such as an obelisk (steeple). And all of them worshiped on Sunday.

I always hated Easter sunrise service. Nothing at all to do with the fact that we got up when it was pitch black, drove forever to some place outside that was freezing cold....it was that the sun hurt my eyes something horrible when I looked into it. I have to wonder if that was God's way of protecting me? While others were praising their sun god, I was wincing in pain, looking down, unable to look to the east. To this very day, the morning sun hurts my eyes if I look to the east. Praise Jehovah. Praise Him that even though my questions were not answered when I was a child....He still led me where He wanted me to go. Amazing grace.

If you know it’s pagan, if you know it’s against scripture, why do it? If you know that God will deal with you in anger, if He will not look on you with pity, or spare you.....why do you still do it? If you face the east in any part of your worship, if your building has a steeple on it, if there's an image with a sunburst on it, it is pagan. And if you want to continue to worship that way, at least acknowledge that you are pagan.

And because He commanded that you keep the Sabbath and a pagan ruler made the change to Sunday, know that if you worship on Sunday, you are pagan.

It's never to late to learn what scripture really says and to change your daily life to be more of what He tells us to be.

What if there isn't going to be a rapture, then what will happen next?

Even as a child, listening to some preacher up in the pulpit screaming his head off, ranting and raving that the "end is now" and that "Jesus can come at any moment....right this very single moment.....are you ready?".....I KNEW it was a lie. I KNEW there were things in the Bible that hadn't happened, that had to happen before Jesus could return.

Was I a perceptive child? Probably not. But I think I learned about logic and reasoning at a very young age. I learned what if/then hypotheses were. I knew that if the Bible said Elijah had to come before the Messiah came and Elijah wasn't here, then the Messiah wasn't going to come back that very second! Of course, whenever I would ask, "Did Elijah come?" I would get a blank look. There were times when I simply thought no one else really read the Bible. Understand that back then, I took scripture quite literally....and I still do.

Where did the idea come from that Christ could return at any moment? Is it an attempt to appease us, make us believe that we will escape any future suffering? That we will be raptured out before the end times start? What a great way to get you to stop studying. Just believe that you don't have to live through it, so why bother studying about it! Now, don't stop reading yet, I'll talk more about the "rapture" later on.

I have also come to understand how important it is to study Greek and Hebrew words. I remember how I hated conjugating verbs in grade school. It was just so boring. But how terribly important that I did learn what each tense of a verb means. And if it is important in the English language to understand tenses....to know what we mean, then how much more important is it to understand tenses in Greek and Hebrew?

And the other thing is that I need to understand when scripture is literal and when it is figurative. I think that's more important than most preachers let on. It seems that everyone wants to take every little verse and apply it to some personal aspect of their life. But I'm not sure that's the intent at all. I'd more nearly think that we apply it solely in the context that it was written understanding specifically who it was written to and understanding history of the era when it was written. Probably really important.

The Bible is about 80% prophecy. And in order to know what prophecy has been fulfilled, you have to know history. You have to be able to look at history and understand what has happened over the last 6000 years and to know how it ties in with Bible prophecy.

And you have to watch world news today in order to see what prophecy is currently being fulfilled. I certainly wouldn't leave that task up to someone else, knowing that they probably don't view scripture the way that I do.

Mark 13:32: But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Most people understand this verse to say that no one can know the day or hour of the Lord's return. They often add that you can only know the approximate time.

But what if that verse is only addressing the specific people that it was written to. That "those" people could not know the day or hour.....but the rest of us could? And it might make sense that Jesus, as a man on earth, could not know. But when he joined the Father, he did know. I feel pretty certain that He knows now.

And consider that the Thessalonians knew. I Thes 5:1-4. Paul did not have to write to them on this subject. They already knew. What did they know? And if they knew, can we? I think that with the study of scripture, being acutely aware of the meaning of words and the tenses of verbs, we can know. But a knowledge of past and current history is necessary as well.

So, consider history: Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70AD. The Jews were sent into worldwide dispersion. The seasons of gentile rule began:

1. Season of Rome 130 - 615 AD

2. Season of Persia 615-619 AD

3. Season of the Eastern Empire 629-637AD

4. Season of the Saracen Empire 637-1099 AD

5. Season of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem 1099-1187 AD

6. Season of Egypt 1187 - 1229 AD

7. Season of Germany 1229 - 1243 AD

8. Season of Korasmians 1243 AD

9. Season of Turkish Empire 1244 - 1917 AD

10 Season of Great Britain 1917 - 1948 AD

11 Season of Jordan 1948 - 1967 AD

June 7, 1967, Jerusalem is returned to Israel and the "seasons" of Jerusalem's administration by Gentile nations was fulfilled per Luke 21:24. Jerusalem had to be returned to the Jews before the Messiah could return.

So Jesus could not have returned before this happened. I can write off all those preachers who were claiming an immediate rapture at any moment in my entire childhood!!

What if the tribulation of the Jews started in 70 AD with the destruction of the Temple? They were sent into dispersion throughout the world. They have been killed, persecuted, tossed out of the lands they were on, forced into captivity......certainly has been a 2000 year tribulation for them. So what if the tribulation has been going on for the last 2000 years?

Some of the things that have happened and are according to prophecy include....

1. Apostasy in the organized church 2 Thes 2:3. Began about 1900 AD.

a. Rejection of the Word of God in "Christian" Schools...seeing that today

b. Laodicean Church age- we're living in it right now

2. Regathering of Israel - happening now

3. Evolution gets a foothold (1859) 2 Peter 3:3-5

a. prior to 1859, there was only the creation theory

4. World nations come on the scene in line with Bible prophecy

a. Greece 1830

b. Syria 1920

c. Egypt 1922

d. Iraq 1932

e. Italy 1861

f. where is Assyria?

5. State of Israel, May 14-16, 1948 (a land born in a day)

6. Seasons for Gentile Nations to hold Jerusalem ended June 6, 1967.

7. Russian Revolution 1917 begins preparation for Russian invasion of Middle East (Ezk 38:39)

8. Turning of world nations against Israel. happening now from 1967 to the present. Prepares for God's wrath in the Day of Jehovah (Joel 3:1-3)

9. Recognition of Red China by US 1978 launches China into lead position in Far east in preparation of "kings of the east" (Rev 16:12)

10. Changes in Iran (Persia) 1978 - 1979, starts Moslem rise toward antichrist power.

11. Communism as against God, and Muslims opposed to idols, prepare religion of Antichrist (Dan 11:37, 2 Thes 2:4)

What still needs to happen? (according to prophecy)

12. Russian invasion of Middle East will force Israel to rely on God (Ezk 39:7)

13. Israel to build the Temple (Joel 1:13, Ezk 40-48)

14. Man of Sin is revealed (2 Thes 2:3) (he sits in the temple, so temple must be built first)

15. Elijah returns (Malachi 4:5) - not John the Baptist, but Elijah himself.

16. World nations arrive at false peace (1Thes 5:30z)

17. Cosmic disturbances start (Joel 2:11, 31)

The modern approach to lift Christians into bliss in the heavens via a rapture before the tribulation, has done a great deal to stifle Bible study rather than to encourage it.

What if, the presence of Christ in glory is on Jerusalem, but the gross darkness is on the peoples. Isaiah 60 hasn't happened yet. When the Temple is rebuilt, the nations will still exist. In Isaiah 62:7, it says Jerusalem will be a praise in the earth. Not heaven. Has this happened? Not yet.

It is only as history fulfils prophecy that we can be absolutely certain of what the chronology is. The foundation in chronology depends on the Jew.

1. The Jew still exists in spite of all of Satan's forces.

2. The Jew has been scattered for 1900 years

3. The Jew is being regathered.

4. The Jew is hated by all nations.

5. Jerusalem has been taken from the Gentiles and restored to the Jew.

6. The land of Israel is being turned from desolation to a fertile land

7. The Jew still keeps circumcision.

8. The Jew still keeps the Sabbath.

9. God is giving the land to the Jew little by little.

These are just a few historic facts.

Keep your eyes on Israel!

Possible order:

1. Some sort of peace with the Jew under Gentile dominion 2 Thes 2:3-4,

antichrist sitting in the temple, Rev 13: 4-7, 16-18,

authority to continue for 42 months, authority over every nation (may not use it).

The mark of the beast will be the cross. Rev 11, 1-4. 2

witnesses will prophesy for 1260 days. One will be Elijah. Will the other be Moses?

354 days in a normal Jewish year. Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles (last day) is 175 days. + 3 years (1062 days) = 1237 days + 29 Days for Adar 11, = 1256 days + 7 days of feast = about 1260 days

2. International revolt Rev 16:12-16, Zech 14:1-2, Matt 24:32-34.

Kings of the east come under leadership of China and fight against Jerusalem.

3. Jehovah comes (figurative) to fight. Zech 14: 3-4, 2 Thes 2:8

all nations against Jerusalem

a Jewish flight through the split mountains

4. Tribulation of those days.

sun dark, moon not give light, all tribes of earth shall morn

sound of trumpet

5. Day of Jehovah Sets in. Matt 24:29-31, Rev 1:14-15, Rev 2:18, Rev 10: 1

6. We meet up with the Messiah to escort HIM to Jerusalem. Where His kingdom will be.

If you want to continue to use "rapture", then be sure to explain that you are making a u-turn and just going over to Jerusalem to live there with Him. 1 Thes 4:15-17. 2 Thes 2:1 (ah! remember, the Thessalonians already knew about the Messiah's return, so Paul did not have to explain it to them!)

Understand what the verb means in the Greek. It doesn't say we will stay in the air. The verb means to meet and return.

This then would be the beginning of the Messianic age. Here on earth. We're not going with Him to "heaven" because He is coming here. Think about it.

Besides, all you need to do is google origins of the term rapture and you will learn that it is a fairly new term, originating in England in the early 1800s. Prior to that, no one believed in the rapture. So what changed? Surely not scripture. Again - I think it's just a way to get you to not study what's going to happen if you think you are going to be raptured out of it!

The Greek word for "mansion" is abode. He is preparing a place for us to abode with Him. Our bodies are Tabernacles. He is preparing a place for our Tabernacles to abode with him. See how important it is to know what the actual Greek word means? Not mansions on streets of gold. But a place for us to tabernacle with Him. These are English words that a translator used in order to appease a King of England in order to keep from being beheaded! Reason enough to study the meaning of each and every word.

The generation that sees these things shall not pass away until all these things are accomplished. Matt 24:33-34

1900 (?) to 2000, 100 years, this generation? Or is a generation 70 years? Israel formed in 1948. The generation born starting in 1948? Turns 70 in 2018. Or the generation that "sees" these things, so those who were perhaps age 13 and older in 1948? As a whole, this generation will not pass away. We are going to live through it.

The return is not imminent. But perhaps within sight. The Messiah is not going to come today as the things scripture says has to happen have not happened yet. Keep your eyes on Israel. Pay close attention to world events. We may not know to the minute when the Messiah will return. But we can certainly know what has and hasn't happened, and that is what will allow us to know when to expect Him.

For many reasons, I am convinced that He will come during Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles.

Chronology 1 from Mount Bible Trust is a great place to start your study of things to come.

If YOU think the Bible is not clear on this, then try the Greek and Hebrew as they seem to be extremely clear!

What if you are not going to be raptured out of it, don't you want to know what to expect?

What if the maps tell the story?

How many people know the history of the land of Israel? If you don't ask questions, you will never know, and if you don't study, you will never find out.

This is Israel's story in maps:

King David ruled Israel from 990 BCE to 968 BCE and his son Solomon ruled until 928 BCE. I Kings 4:24 - Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza, he was at peace with all his neighbors

(click on the maps to enlarge them)

King Herod was king of Israel from 40 BCE to 4 BCE. He was appointed by Rome and conquered thekingdom from the Hasmoneans. He was rewarded for hisloyalty and added Jerico, Bashan, Horen, Tarchon, and the Golan Heights.

During the 7th to the 11th centuries (600 - 1000AD) the Jews remained mainly in the Galilee and in larger cities:

In 1906, the southern border of Israel was set when the British changed the border between the Ottoman Empire and Egypt.

The northern border as set 1916 - 1923. France and Gr Britain signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement in May 1916.

Then the British Mandate in 1920 included Transjordan, then reduced, and the League of Nations approved the changed mandate which took effect in 1923.

Next as the UN partition plan on November 29, 1947:

Then the 1949 - 1967 Armistice Lines

June 10, 1967, Israel after the Six Day War:

1980 - 1982 Peace Treaty with Egypt and Sinai Redeployment:

Modern day Judea and Samaria. Click to enlarge. Note, only the yellow is full Palestinian control. All of the blue shades are Israeli control and the brown are Israeli military control. Much of the blue area was privately held by Israelis prior to 1967.

And current day Jerusalem - since the 1967 Six Day War

So the US is wanting to give away more land that is controlled by Israel than land that is controlled by the PA? That hardly seems fair.

Next, take a look at the land that was promised to Abraham:

Israel

Jordan
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Rahrain
Kuwait
Syria
Lebanon
Egypt's Sinai
part of Turkey

All will belong to Israel.

These maps prove that historically, this land has belonged to Israel (Jews who were dispersed throughout the world). It is not for us or anyone else to take away from. They are a tiny spec, surrounded by a muslim world. Let the PA have their state in one of these other places, not in Israel's promised grounds.

Let the maps tell the story.

For more on these maps, click here.

The entire Consistent New Testament (CT) available for download!

The Consistent New Testament

Thanks to someone in Florida (I think) and South Carolina and Millie in NYC - we now have the New Testament available for download in a searchable word document.

It is the BEST honest translation of the words from the Greek to the English.

Just click on the link above, then on the next page, click on "download" in the upper left area, and this will download to a word document on your desktop.

If you don't have word and would like this in a pdf file, let me know.

If you know of a better (free) way to get this online, just let me know!

But at least this is a start!

If you love this and want to make a donation - just look on my blog over on the right hand side and send donations to the Mount Trust Fund.


Ralph H. Mount Jr, made this translation about 1987. He took one English word for one Greek word and consistently applied that same English word each time the Greek word was used. He didn't use different English words for a single Greek word. And he didn't use different Greek words for a single English word. Thus - a more consistent translation of the Greek into English.

He also didn't take previous translations of scripture and use them to make decisions. He translated directly from Greek to English.

If you see multiple words with hypens between them, they should be read as a single word. The best way I can explain that is if there is a Greek word "xyz" and Mount has it as "going-to-the-store" then that single Greek word is best translated as the 4 English words hypenated together. It takes a little bit of time to get used to reading scripture this way - but it makes perfect sense. If you've ever studied a foreign language, I think you will get it.

If you truly want to know what scripture says, that the word "love" really is the English word "charity", then you will love this CT. If you want to study even more, order the cassettes from the source over on the right.

Finally, you can go to any website and pull up a King James version of the New Testament and place it to the right of this word document and make your own comparison. But if you want them printed side-by-side, then order it from the Mount Trust. It's truly a great resource to own!

What if it makes a difference how many points a star has?

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.

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:

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!