THERE ARE NO OTHER LIFE FORMS IN THE UNIVERSE EXCEPT HUMAN BEINGS! GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE! ALL OTHER EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENTITIES ARE DEMONIC!

DEMONICS

As far as there being any other life form in the universe besides human beings, such as "extraterrestrials" from other planets, there are none!

This increasing narrative that there exists other humanoids in the universe, who supposedly visited earth and have been guiding "humans" in an evolutionary journey, is sheer nonsense and scurrilous propaganda by Pharisaical cabbalists. All of God's creatures are formed in His own image! The image above is demonic, plain and simple!

There is an obvious accelerating preoccupation with UFO's and extraterrestrials, especially in the last 10 to 15 years, speedingly out of control more so in the last couple of years. You can't turn on your TV set or turn on the Internet where were are not being inundated by this phenomenon and space cadet lore. Conspiracy experts claim all of this is a planned special event designed to usher in the most evil personage in history, and thereby culminating in the revelation of the antichrist.

One of the most well known protagonists of this meme is Kevin Burn's Prometheus Entertainment 
company, which produces the "Ancient Aliens" series for the History Channel and other cable networks. Basically, the series promote the hypothesis that Eric Van Daniken presented in his book, "The Chariots of the Gods", over forty years ago, that mankind is a seed planted by extraterrestrials, and that UFO sightings are in reality the extraterrestrials visiting earth to see how their crop is growing. Obviously the main goal of this sordid underlying meme is that God is not the creator of mankind.

One of the most glaring proofs of this sinister agenda is the re-introduction of a myriad of so-called "extraterrestrial" images that have been recorded (or carved with precise diamond studded chisels by neanderthals) throughout history inside caves and mountains and gigantic granite rocks all over this world. Those ghoulish images of monsters and other anomalies have been taken to new heights by the clever and artistic minions who have invented electronic wizardry to produce these characters for the Hollywood elite propaganda machines.

There are many extraterrestrials out there, of two varieties; they are the good angels and the bad angels (or demons). While I can never say that I have seen an angel, the Bible makes mention of them in many scripture of individual entities who spoke to (and that were instantly recognized by) Abraham, Lot, Daniel, and other Bible characters. Their mention in scripture did not contain any negative portraits. They just appeared like any other men (to them), but they were known to be angels. We are also told in Hebrews 13:2, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Obviously, God's good and faithful) messengers reside among us with good intentions. But those extraterrestrials that occupy the minds and times of most people, do not necessarily have the best of intentions.

The good ones can appear and disappear as they have throughout history, and they apparently have not looked monstrous or ghoulish as media portray the bad angels. The good ones are God's messengers who guide and protect His children.The bad angels (Satan's family) are those who left their holy status to co-habitat with earthly woman, as we read in Jude 1:6, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Their offspring are the demonic entities we struggle with on a daily basis, those spoken of in Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The good angels would obviously look just like us human beings because man was created and formed in the image of God. Bad angels were created beautiful at the outset; however, all that changed for them when they bolted Heaven to dwell and frolic among God's feminine species. Therefore, those we call the greys or other monster-looking hybrids out there (whom ancient alien theorists claim come from other planets or dimensions) can be nothing else but demons. Once they left their former estate, they must have lost all of their beauty because none of these so-called gods in history has presented Mayans and the rest of the human culture with beautiful beings; they all appear distorted from a human perspective, looking more like serpents and half-human and half animal anomalies.

Those sons (little gods) of Satan have been trying to create humanoids like God did in the beginning but they can't duplicate His creation. Satan (in competition with God) has been trying to duplicate the creative powers of God, but he keeps failing and falling on his pitchfork. This could be one of the reasons why all UFO kidnappings that have been recorded throughout history, report accounts where abductees were placed on a table and subjected to a myriad of tests, being probed and experimented on, by extracting semen and ovaries from their bodies in failed attempts to duplicate God's creation process.

All of these extraterrestrial appearances to early cultures such as Mayans have presented themselves as gods from other planets who ostensibly created them (and all mankind), helping them build pyramids and ancient cities in Peru, etc and infused their cultures with wisdom and knowledge to achieve greatness in sciences and technologies that mankind did not discover until the last three hundred years. These gullible humans of yesteryear were not an advanced society (as posited by ancient alien theorists); but, rather were pawns of demonic chicanery, manipulation and downright subterfuge. But that's the biggest lie ever perpetrated on mankind, a diabolical lie; which is Satan's chief characteristic trait, he the father of lies ( see. …43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

As can be attested to by propaganda we see in the myriad of television programs (like the popular "Ancient Aliens" series on the History Channel), Satan has launched the most sophisticated plan in human history to confuse various native cultures throughout the world and build upon their theories that it was they that created mankind and not God. They have appeared as gods to those early cultures in the form of hybrid entities (the results of their failed experiments to create mankind as God did) but they have failed! Those demons used obvious technological abilities they possess to build (or help erect) large megaliths throughout the world (such as Stonehenge, Pyramid of Giza) et al, just as they have injected flying saucers into the narrative to scare and perplex mankind for centuries. These so-called (bad) extraterrestrials obviously have the same spaceship technology by God (although God's arsenal is far superior), which is not so far-fetched as we read in Ezekiel's wheel within a wheel analogy of what could be a flying saucer he is describing in Ezekiel 1:16. 

The pillar of fire described in the book of Ezekiel also suggests that may well be the case as we read about God possibly leading the Israelites on their journey in Exodus 13;21-22, "The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

Does God drive a flying saucer? Who truly knows. One thing is for sure; He is not an extraterrestrial from another planet, as ancient alien theorists suggest.

Those Satanic beings obviously have various powers to shape themselves into other worldly beings, which has forced them to continue their ruse that they are entities from other planets, to the exclusion that God is the creator of all things. Those demons left their former habitation and can no longer go back to their stellar angelic bodies that God created specifically for them. Therefore they will use whatever remaining powers to confuse mankind in an attempt for it to deny God and end up in the Lake of Fire that Satan and his minions are destined for.

A Christian friend of mine told me that our universe is so vast that it is inconceivable that humans are the only living life form; he even said we should not deny the glory of God of having the ability to create such creatures as other life forms. I agree! But for what purpose? I asked him what would be the purpose to create another form of life besides the human beings He already created? If those so-called extraterrestrials are really from other planets, who created them and for what purpose? Would they not come under the same ruler ship of God, the one and only creator of life itself? Could our God have created them to tease us humans that He has other sheep out there, which has been posited by many theorists? God does not toy with His creation. Our journey is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, not dwell on vicarious theories that do nothing worthwhile other than to uplift our respective egos.

No dear friends, those ghoulish entities that we saw in the movie, "Independence Day" are not from other planets, they are demons who are trying to drive a wedge between God and His creation. They have no power over us. Jesus Christ defeated them at the cross. Therefore, whether they will soon be returning and appearing in Nephilim form, or as Transhumanists, or as robots; fear not for they are mere demonic creatures that have no power over you and me!

For more information about the author and his books, blogs and web sites, please click on Joe Ortiz.

A Baptist Perspective: Southern Baptist Heresy: Rapture and Premillennial Dispensationalism

A Baptist Perspective: Southern Baptist Heresy: Rapture and Premillennial Dispensationalism

Spiritual Warfare is on the increase; can you discern its presence/

                          (Matthew Henry gives us a good example of spiritual warfare                                                   in his commentary on Acts, Chapter 16)

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities, (Acts 16:16-19) Paul and his companions, though they were for some time buried in obscurity at Philippi, yet now begin to be taken notice of.

I. A damsel that had a spirit of divination caused them to be taken notice of, by proclaiming them to be the servants of God. Observe,

1. The account that is given of this damsel: She was pythonissa, possessed with such a spirit of divination as that damsel was by whom the oracles of Apollo at Delphos were delivered; she was actuated by an evil spirit, that dictated ambiguous answers to those who consulted her, which served to gratify their vain desire of knowing things to come, but often deceived them. In those times of ignorance, infidelity, and idolatry, the devil, by the divine permission, thus led men captive at his will; and he could not have gained such adoration from them as he had, if he had not pretended to give oracles to them, for by both his usurpation is maintained as the god of this world.

This damsel brought her masters much gain by soothsaying; many came to consult this witch for the discovery of robberies, the finding of things lost, and especially to be told their fortune, and none came but with the rewards of divination in their hands, according to the quality of the person and the importance of the case. Probably there were many that were thus kept for fortune-tellers, but, it should seem, this was more in repute than any of them; for, while others brought some gain, this brought much gain to her masters, being consulted more than any other.

2. The testimony which this damsel gave to Paul and his companions: She met them in the street, as they were going to prayer, to the house of prayer, or rather to the work of prayer there, v. 16. They went thither publicly, everybody knew whither they were going, and what they were going to do. If what she did was likely to be any distraction to them, or a hindrance in their work, it is observable how subtle Satan is, that great tempter, in taking the opportunity to give us diversion when we are going about any religious exercises, to ruffle us and to put us out of temper when we need to be most composed.

When she met with them she followed them, crying, "These men, how contemptible soever they look and are looked upon, are great men, for they are the servants of the most high God, and men that should be very welcome to us, for they show unto us the way of salvation, both the salvation that will be our happiness, and the way to it that will be our holiness.'

Now, (1.) This witness is true; it is a comprehensive encomium on the faithful preachers of the gospel, and makes their feet beautiful, Romans 10:15. Though they are men subject to like passions as we are,and earthen vessels, yet, [1.] "They are the servants of the most high God; they attend on him, are employed by him, and are devoted to his honour, as servants; they come to us on his errands, the message they bring is from him, and they serve the purposes and interest of his kingdom. The gods we Gentiles worship are inferior beings, therefore not gods, but these men belong to the supreme Numen, to the most high God, who is over all men, over all gods, who made us all, and to whom we are all accountable. They are his servants, and therefore it is our duty to respect them, and harken to them for their Master's sake, and it is at our peril if we affront them.' [2.] "They show unto us the way of salvation.'

Even the heathen had some notion of the miserable deplorable state of mankind, and their need of salvation, and it was what they made some enquiries after.

"Now,' saith she, "these men are the men that show us what we have in vain sought for in our superstitious profitless application to our priests and oracles.' Note, God has, in the gospel of his Son, plainly shown us the way of salvation, has told us what we must do that we may be delivered from the misery to which by sin we have exposed ourselves.

But, (2.) How came this testimony from the mouth of one that had a spirit of divination? Is Satan divided against himself? Will he cry up those whose business it is to pull him down? We may take it either, [1.] As extorted from this spirit of divination for the honour of the gospel by the power of God; as the devil was forced to say of Christ (Mk. 1:24): I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

The truth is sometimes magnified by the confession of its adversaries, in which they are witnesses against themselves. Christ would have this testimony of the damsel to rise up in judgment against those at Philippi who slighted and persecuted the apostles; though the gospel needed no such testimony, yet it shall serve to add to their commendation that the damsel whom they looked upon as an oracle in other things proclaimed the apostles God's servants. Or, [2.] As designed by the evil spirit, that subtle serpent, to the dishonour of the gospel; some think she designed hereby to gain credit to herself and her prophecies, and so to increase her master's profit by pretending to be in the interest of the apostles, who, she thought, had a growing reputation, or to curry favour with Paul, that he might not separate her and her familiar. Others think that Satan, who can transform himself into an angel of light, and can say anything to serve a turn, designed hereby to disgrace the apostles; as if these divines were of the same fraternity with their diviners, because they were witnessed to by them, and then the people might as well adhere to those they had been used to. Those that were most likely to receive the apostles' doctrine were such as were prejudiced against these spirits of divination, and therefore would, by this testimony, be prejudiced against the gospel; and, as for those who regarded these diviners, the devil thought himself sure of them.

II. Christ caused them to be taken notice of, by giving them power to cast the devil out of this damsel. She continued many days clamouring thus (v. 18); and, it should seem, Paul took no notice of her, not knowing but it might be ordered of God for the service of his cause, that she should thus witness concerning his ministers; but finding perhaps that it did them a prejudice, rather than any service, he soon silenced her, by casting the devil out of her.

1. He was grieved. It troubled him to see the damsel made an instrument of Satan to deceive people, and to see the people imposed upon by her divinations. It was a disturbance to him to hear a sacred truth so profaned, and good words come out of such a wicked mouth with such and evil design. Perhaps they were spoken in an ironical bantering way, as ridiculing the apostles' pretensions, and mocking them, as when Christ's persecutors complimented him with Hail, king of the Jews; and then justly might Paul be grieved, as any good man's heart would be, to hear any good truth of God bawled out in the streets in a canting jeering way.

2. He commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. He turned with a holy indignation, angry both at the flatteries and at the reproaches of the unclean spirit, and said, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her; and by this he will show that these men are the servants of the living God, and are able to prove themselves so, without her testimony: her silence shall demonstrate it more than her speaking could do. Thus Paul shows the way of salvation indeed, that it is by breaking the power of Satan, and chaining him up, that he may not deceive the world (Rev. 20:3), and that this salvation is to be obtained in the name of Jesus Christ only, as in his name the devil was now cast out and by no other. It was a great blessing to the country when Christ by a word cast the devil out of those in whom he frightened people and molested them so that no man might pass by that way (Mt. 8:28); but it was a much greater kindness to the country when Paul now, in Christ's name, cast the devil out of one who deceived people and imposed upon their credulity. Power went along with the word of Christ, before which Satan could not stand, but was forced to quit his hold, and in this case it was a strong hold: He came out the same hour.

III. The masters of the damsel that was dispossessed caused them to be taken notice of, by bringing them before the magistrates for doing it, and laying it to their charge as their crime. The preachers of the gospel would never have had an opportunity of speaking to the magistrates if they had not been brought before them as evil doers. Observe here,

1. That which provoked them was, that, the damsel being restored to herself, her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, v. 19. See here what evil the love of money is the root of! If the preaching of the gospel ruin the craft of the silversmiths (ch. 19:24), much more the craft of the soothsayers; and therefore here is a great outcry raised, when Satan's power to deceive is broken: the priests hated the gospel because it turned men from the blind service of dumb idols, and so the hope of their gains was gone. The power of Christ, which appeared in dispossessing the woman, and the great kindness done to her in delivering her out of Satan's hand, made no impression upon them when they apprehended that they should hereby lose money."

Christian colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to require students attend chapel services or require them to profess a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Democrats, LGBT activists’ sinister plan to crack down on Christian schools FILE -- If California Democrats have their way, Christian colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to require students attend chapel services or require them to profess a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Senate Bill 1146 would close a loophole that lawmakers say allows Christian universities to discriminate against students based on their gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

“All students deserve to feel safe in institutions of higher education, regardless of whether they are public or private,” said Senator Ricardo Lara, the author of the legislation. “California has established strong protections for the LGBTQ community and private universities should not be able to use faith as an excuse to discriminate and avoid complying with state laws.”

The legislation has already passed the Senate and is expected to clear hurdles in the Assembly. Thus far, Lara has refused to compromise with the state’s Christian colleges and universities.

“No university should have a license to discriminate,” he said in a statement.

If the loophole is closed, it would only exempt schools that prepare students for pastoral ministry.

“It discriminates against religious colleges, said John Jackson, the president of William Jessup University. “If we don’t play ball with state — the state will attempt to drive us out of existence.”

The president of the Sacramento-based university called the proposed legislation chilling.

“The passage of this bill would destroy the foundation upon which this university was founded,” said Jackson. “Systematically discriminating against religious institutions and preventing student access and choice to Christian higher education is bad policy and will have a negative effect on the state of California.”

Lee Wilhite, vice president of university communications at Biola University, said they, too, have serious concerns with the bill.

“It functionally eliminates the religious liberty of all California faith-based universities,” he told me. “It really does infringe on how we carry out our mission.”

Like most Christian universities, Biola integrates the Bible through all of their courses — something they’ve been doing for more than 100 years.

If the loophole is closed, it could have a devastating impact on faith-based institutions.

“We would no longer be able to require a profession of faith for students,” Wichita said. “That’s something Biola requires of all incoming students.”

Schools would no longer be allowed to integrate faith throughout their teaching curriculum, he added.

Leaders at three universities I spoke to say that they would not be allowed to require mandatory chapel attendance or mandatory core units of Bible courses.

“The danger for Biola University is that it prevents us from carrying out our mission the way we have for 108 years,” Wichita said. “It would eliminate our ability to continue our mission. That’s why it has our attention.”

The legislation would also give students a right to sue if — for example -- they were offended by a prayer in a class.

Biola and William Jessup refute the notion that LGBT students are discriminated against on their campuses.

“We don’t tolerate harassment or bullying of any of our students,” Wilhite told me.

Many of the schools are working with the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities to urge Lara to amend his bill to include a religious exemption.

“If passed without amendments, the new law would also very likely disqualify students attending California Christian colleges and universities from eligibility for Cal Grants, a key state-level student aid program,” wrote Kurt Krueger, president of Concordia University Irvine.

“Sen. Lara wants to safeguard LGBT students. We want the same protection for all students, including members of the LGBT community. The bill calls for more transparency from schools about their beliefs and recourse for unfair treatment. We share his concerns about student safety, transparency and recourse. With every prospective student, we share who we are, we provide the framework for how we build community and do life together and we ask those who enroll to uphold our student standards of conduct. Right now the proposed bill would invite challenges to required chapel attendance and public and communal observation of Christian sacraments such as the Eucharist and baptisms, among other activities central to our identity.”

Several of the universities I contacted said they are going to respectfully stand their ground -- even if it means taking their case to the Supreme Court of the United States.

“We are not willing to change our policies,” Jackson said. “There is a very intentional attempt to marginalize those who don’t accept the notions of sexual orientation and gender identity as the government has framed them.”

And Jackson warned that what’s happening in California could happen in other parts of the country.

“Religious freedoms are in play in California,” Jackson told me. “Ultimately, I’m concerned that what begins in California rolls across the nation.” Posted by Shlomo Maccabee at 12:57:00 PM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest

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Do You Fear Death? If So, Do You Know Why?

The following is an excerpt from our book, "Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation, which is the sequel to our first book "The End Times Passover." This excerpt is actually part of the 12th and last chapter of this book, with a similar title from the first book, but we call it, "God's End Times Passover."

We don't want to confuse the reader, but this excerpt is probably the most important chapter from both books, because it deals with the subject of death and (especially) the topic of suffering, which most folks would rather avoid. The fear of suffering and death could very well be why the topic of the Rapture to Heaven is so popular. Most people perceive that this Rapture theory represents an escape not only from death but from all of the horrors we see spoken of in the Book of Revelations. 

People also call this escape "The Blessed Hope." Those pastors, teachers and evangelists who hold to this dogma are obviously more popular than those of us who have studied deeply into this topic and found the Rapture to Heaven theory wanting. None of us cares to experience tribulation (persecution) at the hands of anti-Christian forces, much less being on earth when God pours out his wrath on unrepentant sinners. The wise know the Bible tells us that we are not destined for wrath, but it also says (in Acts 14:22) that we "must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God."

Do we fear persecution? Not just being denied our Christian rights, but great tribulation (such as being tossed into prison and being tortured) like those poor souls who experienced great tribulation during the Inquisition and the Great Crusades. Or does the thought of dying scare us more so? This excerpt answers this question!

Tribulation or Wrath?

The biggest confusion the author has seen coming from the secret escape from tribulation camps has been their inability to recognize the difference between tribulation and wrath.  The man of lawlessness and his cohorts will afflict (Gr. thlipsis, tribulations) and even kill many Christians, but God’s wrath is designed solely for the unbelieving and unrepentant.  The wrath by the man of lawlessness is the called out ones’ tribulation, but God’s wrath is His vengeful punishment on the unrepentant, that wrath which He will pour out on those who did not accept His gift of salvation:

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him, (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10 NIV).[Bold and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]

All of the scriptures mentioned so far in this chapter prove that God is able to deliver His people from any calamity.  He did so throughout the Bible as previously mentioned with Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego, Noah and so many others.  Why would anyone think that God is not able to protect His chosen people while at the same time He is pouring out His wrath on the unrepentant? 

Unfortunately, what many Christians are not prepared for, nor even want to imagine, is what was spoken about in Matthew 24, where it states that Christians will be persecuted, and even at the hands of relatives and other loved ones.  That’s the true horror, that many of our so-called friends and loved ones (and maybe even fellow church members) will abandon the faith and acquiesce to the pressures of the world and literally sell out their souls to antichristian forces. Many in exchange even for mere scraps of food and water, and to avoid any pain being inflicted on them. The treachery by those who we once befriended, loved, trusted and supported in all things, will, in a self preservation mode, betray their former friends and relatives. “The horror, the horror,” is the appropriate and descriptive phrase for this time, words which actor Marlon Brando uttered so agonizingly in the movie, Apocalypse Now.

So, the truth remains that many, hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of Christians will be brought before the magistrates, kings, or government officials that will comprise the authorities of the Beast state, to face charges of treason and sedition for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many called out ones will be tortured and even killed for what will be perceived as blasphemy against the world’s new ruling order, which will (by then) have abolished the freedom of religion.  However, God said not to worry, He will provide His called out ones with words to speak that cannot be dissuaded, words that will pierce the hardest of hearts in order to bring great glory to God and to His Kingdom.  These select Christians will become witnesses (martyrs) as a result of being accused, judged and executed as enemies of the state, at those diabolically controlled tribunals. Many in attendance at (or who view through media) these trials, who do not believe in Christ, will be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit. They will stirred by the testimonies of these called out ones to also pick up their cross for Jesus, as they themselves will witness those innocent soldiers of the cross being convicted of no crime save their belief in Jesus Christ. Many will be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit as they witness the diabolically induced injustice against the called out ones. They will repent and hitherto will instantly convert to the Lord, also placing them in harm’s way. Unfortunately, the Pre-Tribulation theory, that bespeaks Christians will be secretly caught away to safety in heaven before God pours out His wrath, has literally lulled millions into a false sense of security.  When in fact, millions will suffer for Christ’s sake and will be put to death at the hands of anti-christian forces. 

No one wants to think about death or dying, primarily because no one really knows what death truly entails.  Ecclesiastes states that when a person dies, they remember or know nothing henceforth, until The Resurrection. There have been numerous recorded accounts of out-of-body experiences by those who came close to death.  And in each of those cases, those who came back have reported that after supposedly experiencing either a hellish encounter or seeing a wonderful white light (or even seeing Jesus) or departed family members, after being resuscitated back to life, have never reported or could remember the pain of death or dying.  Who really knows what death is like until it is experienced? There must be something about death that God knows needs not to be feared. 

Humans fear death for many reasons.  Fear of leaving loved ones behind uncared for, fear of leaving their earthly possessions to others, fear of not being able to finish a work. However, as the Bible clearly states, the biggest fear is in not knowing what death holds in store. The biblical reality is that we have this fear because we don’t know true love, the love that one can only know and experience from God. Those who don’t know the love of God have fear of punishment, because there is punishment for sin, our daily sinful actions. Those who know true love have experienced the forgiveness God provided when Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins. If we have not accepted this grace and forgiveness, we will always fear death because the only judgment for those who do not accept this forgiveness is eternal punishment. In the book of 1 John 4:10-21, the author clearly explains this profound truth:

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him.  18 There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  19 We love because he first loved us.  20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  21 And he has given us this command:  Whoever loves God must also love his brother, (1 John 4:10-21, NIV). [Bold, italics and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]

Based on our understanding of this group of scriptures, an important question begs to be asked. If Christians have already been caught up to heaven for safety reasons, seven or three and a half years before Christ returns to pour out His wrath on the unrepentant, why would John be giving Christians a warning about love being complete among them so that they should have confidence on the Day of Judgment?  If the Christian Church has already been Raptured (before this great onslaught of tribulation), obviously it has already made it to heaven and needs not fear death or judgment.  The answer is that we fear death because fear has to do with punishment.  If the Christian Church is already in heaven, God’s love for it is made complete and, at this point in time, there is no punishment due to the church because living in God is love and whoever lives in love lives in God and, if we live in God, we need not have the want for confidence on the Day of Judgment. Therefore this exhortation would not be necessary. However John does warn the called out ones about this aspect, because the ecclesia will be here on earth when Christ returns to pour out His wrath on the unrepentant. While many fear this aspect, they fail to understand that experiencing martyrdom so others can obtain salvation is the zenith of the human experience. Jesus Christ showed mankind this great love, and conquered sin and Satan by giving His life so others may live, and called out ones, during this most horrific period in history, will also have an opportunity to be conquerors themselves:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, (John 15:13, KJV).

Next to God’s (in the person of Jesus Christ) willingness to lay down His life so others can live, there exists no greater example than the love resident in martyr Stephen’s heart. One of the author’s all-time favorite Bible chapters is Acts 7, because it paints a perfect picture and example of what he believes Christians will be experiencing at the End Times. This chapter ends with how Stephen’s soon-to-be assassins reacted to the words of his piercing truth; and, his last dying wish as he succumbed to the stoning by those very same people, was a prayer that God had to answer:

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.  Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  When he had said this, he fell asleep, (Acts 7:1-60, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]

As mentioned in an earlier chapter, the author is convinced that God answered Stephen’s last prayer, and thereby called out Paul (and possibly many others) amongst this band of legalistic Jews, a man He converted and used like no other man has been used by God to bring others to His Kingdom.  The entire Chapter of Acts 7 shows us how Stephen was not only the first, but one of the greatest martyrs in Bible history, but it also shows us a profound role model and a perfect example of what Christians can truly expect to experience immediately before the Lord’s return.  

Like Stephen, God will use many called out ones during the End Times to bring others to Christ. And the author believes that many of those called out ones will be mere humble and faith-believing servants of God, unknown by many, and not necessarily will include renowned evangelists, pastors, Bible teachers, prophecy writers and others who take so much pride in their knowledge of theology and seek worldly acceptance as great religious leaders:

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.13 and it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14   Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17   And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18   But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls, (Luke 21:12-19, KJV). [Bold and underline by the author, solely for emphasis]

Of course, none of us wants to think about death and dying, but that’s what many Christians will truly experience in the End Times, especially those who choose not to shrink back, those who hate their lives and will find it, as opposed to those who love their lives and will lose them. [To grasp a greater understanding of the phenomenon of dying for Christ, please read Foxe's Book of Martyrs after finishing this book]

It is interesting to note that the true beauty of Acts, Chapter 7, is that the word Stephen (stephanos, in the Greek) is the very word used for the ‘crown of life’ reward Jesus brings with Him upon His return, as mentioned in Revelation 22:12. Nevertheless, as profound an example of what true Christians can and should be prepared to experience during the End Times, most humans (Christians, too) still have this inbuilt fear of death. The author is not claiming that all Christians will experience martyrdom during this period immediately before The Second Advent. However, the possibility of persecution unto death is highly probable for many Christians. No one truly knows if God has chosen us for this fate; but, individually, each and every true believing Christian alive today is a strong candidate for martyrdom. Some (or many) will have to face this possibility. Others may escape death before The Second Advent.

To Know and Feel the Love Of God

Scriptures abound that speak of the love of God for His creation. Those who have experienced the regenerative power of forgiveness can attest to the knowledge and feeling of God’s love. Many a Christian who was once bogged down in the swamp of sin, who openly welcomed the forgiveness of God, can attest to the wondrous feeling of His love.

The author believes Christ loves each and every one of us and does not want us to suffer pain. This is so clear especially in the Book of John, Chapter 17.  While true faith is not based on feeling, as we read this chapter, one can feel the special and personal closeness and love Jesus has for each and every one of us, as He prays to the Father for our protection during the End Times.  Read this in its entirety, and feel His tremendous love:

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.  5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.  They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them.  They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  9 I pray for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.  And glory has come to me through them.  11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.  12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.  None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.  13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.  25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them, (John 17:1-26, NIV). [Bold and underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]

The most important verse in this chapter, which is crucial to the major premise of this book, is verse 15, which bears repeating.  “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”  If there is any one scripture that confirms that there will be no secret Pre-Tribulation escape to heaven before The Second Advent, it is this one verse.  Here, Jesus Christ Himself is praying to God for Him not to take us out of this world, but to protect us from the evil one. God is perfectly able to do this without removing us anywhere. God is able to pour out His wrath on the unrepentant, and still provide protection for all of His saints, as Peter so boldly states:

For if God did not spare angels, when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) – 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to Hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment, (2 Peter 2:4-9, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]

Yes, my friends, God truly has an End Times Passover program.  Many of the called out ones will be persecuted and killed by the man of lawlessness and his demonic minions, and maybe even by friends, neighbors and relatives; and, sadly, even by former church members.  Many will be alive when the Lord snatches His ecclesia to meet and greet Him in the air, to escort Him back to earth, where each called out one will actually see Him pouring out His wrath upon the unrepentant.  Some of members of the ecclesia might still feel a little squeamish about the possibility that they will be tortured or killed for standing up for Him, while others will escape unscathed through His End Times Passover.  Regardless, when He does return, whether we die a martyr’s death or remain alive upon His return, we will finally be united forever with Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God; we will be able to look Him in the face and hear Him say “Well-done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many, (Mathew 25:23, NIV).

Therefore, the author herewith boldly encourages his fellow called out ones. As we begin to faintly hear in the distance, the imminent hoof beats of that great white horse, carrying our soon-to-return Messiah, to stand firm and, as Ephesians 6:10-18 so boldly exhorts, let us:

…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  11 put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV).

In conclusion, the author believes he has provided in these two books sufficient scriptures that literally refute both the secret Pre-Tribulation escape to heaven theory, and the establishment of a 1000-year geopolitical kingdom reign for Nationalistic Jews. God’s Kingdom reign will be established on earth, its headquarters will be inside of the soon-to-descend New Jerusalem, and it will be an eternal kingdom. Until this day arrives, the world and its people will continue to slide further down the diabolical trash heap of history. One only has to see on television, hear on radio, read in newspapers and the Internet, to realize that mankind is drifting farther and farther away from God. The world is being dragged asunder by demonic forces, appearing as angels of light, twisting God’s message set forth in His Holy word. Heathen religions (and even many Protestant denominations) are fomenting a different Gospel than the one Paul was given by Jesus Christ, the very God of creation Himself!

In the United States (especially), many churches and their leaders are propagating a soothing, titillating Gospel and lulling many uninformed Christians into a false sense of religious security. Many American citizens (especially), believing they are true God-fearing people, are being duped by religious charlatans, whose sole mission is to glorify themselves and fill their coffers by writing and promoting false doctrines at the expense of people who genuinely seek the truth, who genuinely seek forgiveness for their sinful lives, and the proper direction to serve God in truth. Many of them have fallen victim to “quick fix” religious formulae used by the thousands of false teachers and prophets, who use the media as their pulpit of expediency, charming and seducing many of God’s children away from their local congregations, and the faithful service required in their immediate households and in their respective neighborhoods. These demonically inspired (and so-called) men of God are snatching our loved ones from the flock right before our very eyes.

Yet, while many who boldly speak forth the gospel truth, which calls for the genuine sacrifice of prayer and faithful service to the poor, hungry and homeless, they are being told that they will be Left Behind to suffer God’s wrath, while their adherents are being craftily seduced to believe they will not experience tribulation through secret escape to heaven mythologies.

The choice is yours. Keep waiting for a secret escape to heaven, or pick up your cross and follow Jesus, wherever that path may lead. Are you ready to pick up your cross, and follow Him? Are you ready to lay down your life so others can also share eternal life with Jesus Christ, our God?

Until next time, maybe sooner, when we will be joined together in that great meeting in the air at His Coming, the author leaves you with this profound message:

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.  2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.  4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.  5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.  6 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.  Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.  9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.  10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.  11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.  So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.  12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him.  And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death,  (Hebrews 2:1-15, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]

For more information about the author and his books, please click on Joe Ortiz

WHAT PRETRIBS DON'T SAY! by Dave MacPherson

     Noisy pretribs can sure be quiet when they want to sell another book or video.
     Take the famous "rapture" passages in I Thess. 4-5 and I Cor. 15.
     Pretribs endlessly see an "any-moment rapture" in I Thess. 4 and paint it in glowing pretrib colors. But the same Paul in the same book ties together the "times and seasons" (5:1) of the rapture (4:17) with the "sudden destruction" (5:3) part of the (posttrib) "day of the Lord" (5:2) - which doesn't have even a hint of pretrib coloring!
     (The "day of the Lord" is posttrib because the posttrib sun/moon darkening happens BEFORE that "day" - see Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:20.)
     And can you guess what's in the rapturous I Cor. 15 that pretrib teachers love to cover up? They screech to a stop at "twinkling of an eye" and "last trump" and then omit telling that what is "changed" (vss. 51-2) is tied to the end of death (vs. 54). (Trib death ends when the posttrib arrival of the Victor over death ends trib death!)
     Ready for more? Look at Acts 2:34-35, Acts 3:21, and II Thess.1:6-10. Christ stays in heaven UNTIL it's time to come to earth to destroy His wicked foes and restore "all things" and give "rest" to His followers!
     If pretribism can easily skip over Scripture, wait till you see how they cover up their own history which was never a part of Christian theology or any organized church before 1830!
     Throughout most of the 1900s, leading Christian scholars assumed - while influenced by those who were repeating and not researching - that John Darby of the Brethren had fathered the pretrib rapture view in the 1830s. No scholar had ever found any clear public teaching of pretrib in the centuries preceding Darby. Even the late Dr. John Walvoord, the longtime No. 1 pretrib authority and head of Dallas Theological Seminary, had stated in his book "The Rapture Question" that Darby (who admitted in print that pretrib was then a totally "new" doctrine!) had been one of the "early pretribulationists"!
     My books, from the 1970s to the present time, have provided long forgotten and newly uncovered evidence (endorsed by many eminent scholars) that Darby furtively plagiarized British pastor Edward Irving and his followers, all of whom had credited a young Scottish woman with the initial pretrib "spark"!
     Trying to distance themselves from the scandals associated with the earliest pretrib developers and promoters of the 1830s, today's pretrib defenders have been desperately trying to find anyone before 1830 who seemed to have at least a hint of pretrib in their writings. Today's desperados can even "find" pretrib in Old Testament passages that tell about folks merely "escaping" trouble, or "find" pretrib in folks being raptured before an endtime "conflagration" in an obvious posttrib setting!
     Two historical figures of the past that present-day pretrib promoters have tried to put revisionist pretrib make-up on are Pseudo-Ephraem (8th cent. ?) and Rev. Morgan Edwards (whose quoted sermon is dated 1788).

     To see the hatchet job on Pseudo-Ephraem, Google "Pseudo-Ephraem Taught Pretrib - Not" and "Chuck Missler (left)- Copyist" (and catch deceitful censors at work).
     For the complete skinny on Morgan Edwards, Google "Morgan Edwards' Rapture View" (and find out what Thomas Ice etc. knew they couldn't hide forever).
     For more information about how you can get my 300-page book "The Rapture Plot" (the most accurate and detailed book on pretribism's sordid history) dial 800.643.4645, or you can check it out via inter-library loan at any library.
     For in-depth theology and what the Greek New Testament is really saying about any Rapture to Heaven mythology, when it comes to Bible-based facts, check out Joe Ortiz' two superb books  at "The End Times Passover" web site.

    

Dave MacPherson. What People are saying

What They Are Saying About ... THE RAPTURE PLOT!                                                                           

Gary DeMar (President American Vision): "A majority of prophecy writers and speakers teach that the church will be raptured before a future tribulational period. But did you know that prior to about 1830 no such doctrine existed. No one in all of church history ever taught pretribulational rapture. Dave MacPherson does the work of a journalistic private investigator to uncover the truth....The Rapture Plot is the never-before-told true story of the plot - how plagiarism and subtle document changes created the 'mother of all revisionisms.' A fascinating piece of detective work." Robert H. Gundry (Professor Westmont College): "As usual MacPherson out hustles his opponents in research on primary sources. C. S. Lovett (President Personal Christianity): You don't read very much of Dave MacPherson's work before you realize he is a dedicated researcher. Because his work has been so honest and open his latest work The Rapture Plot has produced many red faces among some of the most recognized rapture writers of our time. When their work is compared to his it is embarrassing for them to see how shallow their research is." R. J. Rushdoony (President Chalcedon): "Dave MacPherson has been responsible for major change in the eschatology of evangelical churches by his devastating studies of some of the central aspects thereof. In The Rapture Plot MacPherson tells us of the strange tale of 'rapture' writings, revisions, cover-ups, alterations and confusions. No one has equaled MacPherson in his research on the 'pretrib rapture.' Attempts to discredit his work have failed...."

About the Author: Born 1932 of Scotch/English descent Dave MacPherson is a natural for British historical research. His calling was journalism. Receiving a BA in English in 1955 he spent 26 years as a newsman reporting and filming many notable events persons presidents and dignitaries.