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Globalism and the Changing Face of Religion & A Special report on the Tsunami Event
I respectfully submit that though it is hard to discern America's place in the end times prophecies, it does not mean that she does not exist geographically. Like some of you, I disagree with many arguments promoting America's involvement in end times prophesies, I do strongly believe that she is indicated in Daniel and Revelations but is difficult to discern because of our current paradigm. I respectfully submit that America does not appear as some say because what we now know as America is transforming itself into another image as evidenced by it's involvement in and participation with the setting up of a global system of economy, government and religion. Think about it, there is no other Nation on earth that possesses the kind of fire power and horrific arsenal of weapons of massive destruction as the United States has in its inventory. There is no other Nation taking the lead to expedite the forthcoming fulfillment of prophesies other than America under President George W Bush's leadership. This of course is all being done in the name of freedom under the label of democracy having the appearance of Christian resolve. The plethora of evidence we are sitting on at Cephas Ministry clearly shows that she is a key player but will have a new face and name. The seat of secular power on the planet right now seems to be situated in this country and the democratic influence it has on the rest of the world is undeniable. I'm sure you agree that the main player of religious authority is still the Catholic Church which has itself continued to shape-shift it's outward appearance for the sake of making peace with other recognized religious authorities. I am certain that America is not the Christian Nation that so many suppose but is one of the key players in ancient prophesies likely one of the beasts with one of many daughters borne by the harlot riding upon its back. After all, she is called the "Mother of all harlots." James McCutchan recently wrote, "THE BEAST CARRIES THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND HER HARLOT DAUGHTERS." I must confess Lady Liberty often seems like a harlot to me though Yahweh long ago-judged Israel as the harlot and granted her a "Certificate of Divorce." There is no doubt that the supposed peace plan ("Road Map to Peace") will be met with open arms by many but in the process, so many otherwise well intending Christians will have traded in their inheritance for a counterfeit promise. What little faith remained will have all but disintegrated among them holding out for the promise of a better world. The face and image of Christianity is rapidly deteriorating already and being replaced by something much less offensive to other religions of the world and that is what the mainstream is buying into. Wouldn't you agree? Remember Esau and how displeased God was over the trading in of his inheritance? That's what's happening here in this country on a broad scale with common Christians and it is largely because of the US Government's role in subtly developing a more palatable religion for Americans to subscribe to. What's alarming about this is that they will likely call it by some other name but it will have very Christian concepts in their revised doctrines to avoid offending the vast majority of evangelical (politically correct) Christians. Just look at what example the many divided Christian Churches have shown us over the last 200 + years. While they are forming palatable alliances with one another, they are creating a larger rift between their systems of belief and what the Bible calls for. One thing is for certain, the deception will be smooth and creamy and the changes will be so subtle that discerning these changes will be hard to detect for most. I am also certain even with the increased likelihood of more storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunami's resulting in increased losses of property and lives especially our coastal communities, America will still be that big chunk of land that rises out of the sea in the west. The further calamities and natural disasters imposed on us for a time will bring about the need for further global involvement in supporting aid and assistance from our neighboring nations thereby increasing the perceived need for a globalized type of world government, economy and cooperation. In a recent video, "Manipulating the Church into Globalism," produced by Dr. Robert Kleneck, he revealed that George W. Bush gathered all the highly esteemed church leaders from all denominations, Mormons, Islam etc. to sign a covenant in Washington DC which is expressly forbidden by the Bible. Is it no wonder that Christian denominations are all caught up in the current tide of globalism? It should therefore come as no surprise that it's about money and its money that they are fleecing to the tune of $45bill. The video, "Manipulating the Church into Globalism," shows how they are pumping the public, regardless if they are Christians or not, for millions in one meeting and forcing the deceived flocks to make commitments for pumping millions more into their coffers over a given period of time. Sadly, most do not believe or can see what they are doing yet they (the elite) continue to gain wealth and power by brainwashing the people. The carrot stick that leads the horse is money and its money that people are seeking to enrich and empower their lives with. The drama that is unfolding here is one that only the most discerning can perceive and understand. We are finally beginning to see what the "mark of man and beast" looks like. We have the US government now seeking worldwide dominion and alliance with other Nations who are using man's religious virtue to persuade the moral objective of people to participate in the building of a one-world economy under the guise of "peace and security, democracy and freedom." My stomach is made bitter by the sickening reality of this revelation. Remembering that the number of man is six, I submit the following as my understanding of the "mark" given to those who shrink back or are not of the FAITH that is in Christ Jesus. MAN'S ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE BEAST (S) = 6 Alliance Surely there is more to say regarding the horns on top of the heads of the primary beast. But don't think there exists a separation between man's government and man's religion because the great beast upon whose back the harlot rides has seven heads all with blasphemous names (Religions) written upon each. There indeed is a symbiotic relationship between all three and all that ally themselves with this system are taking the mark. Do not be deceived! The revelation to John on Patmos makes it clear that some who are called faithful have the name of GOD written upon their foreheads and the rest of the world who worships the beast (a form of patriotism) will have upon their foreheads or hands the mark of their alliance, worship and desire. "You will know them by their word and deed. He who has understanding, let him declare it and warn the people," declares the Spirit in me. A Nexus Facilitating Change It seems like Scroll number 7 has gotten the most activity
of all Scrolls since Scroll number 21 of volume one, What is truly interesting is that this one event has become
a nexus causing the entire planet to re-group, re-organize and
assist the millions of victims who survived this history-making
event. One of the things I am calling for in Scroll number 7
is charity, relief and aid and on a large scale it appears that
God has given the US Military something more to do than to expense
bombs and bullets in the Middle East. Dan Rather of CBS News
recently called this, "soft power." The US Government
now has a new line item on the American tax payers budget; Tsunami
Relief Aid. This of course is drawing every faith based, religious
organization together in a globalized effort to cooperate and
work together in a humanitarian cause. But the compassionate
response of individual Christians involved in the relief aid
is being somewhat restricted in that Christians are being told
not to preach their God or influence the Muslim peoples towards
Christianity because it might offend them. East Indian people
especially do not want to hear Christ preached to them but will
gladly accept whatever charitable offering your heart leads you
to render. You can keep your God; just give us your money and
food! Is it no wonder that American Christianity is putting on
a different costume to appeal to and be accepted by other major
religions; namely Jewry and Islam? Excerpts from a Newsweek article
In a Newsweek article dated January 10, 2005 Kenneth L. Woodward, a staff reporter writes, "Most of those who died - had never heard of Noah or the Biblical God of Wrath, figures so familiar to Christians and Jews; they were, instead, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. Caught up in the disaster, they had no time for religious ceremonies of any kind." Syed Abdullah, a local imam from the ancient South Indian Port of Nagapattinam said, "Let the dead be buried together. They died together in the sea. Let their souls get peace together." Of the Hindus, Kenneth writes, "Those hardest hit by last weeks tsunami were poor fishing communities whose inhabitants - mostly Hindus - are untutored in refined theological speculation on life and death. - "Their religious world views and practices provide a measure of spiritual relief from the toil of their labor. Along the coast of south India, Hindus tend to worship local deities; most of them female and far down the Hindu hierarchy of divinities. - These local gods are ambivalent: they have the power to destroy as well as create. The ocean itself is a terrible god who eats people and boats but also provides fish and food." That's odd, I didn't know that the Word of God or Christ's redeeming sacrifice was a matter for speculation or theological debate and what of the hierarchy of their Hindu gods? I would think that such a powerless formula for salvation could be easily countered by a solid and fundamental application of Christ's Gospel. How could anyone with a basic moral fiber reject such a loving and compassionate God? Don't we have the testimony of an Ethiopian man being converted and baptized in Scripture? Could it be that the Roman Catholic Church and all the religions it has spawned over the centuries made it nearly impossible for us to promote and preach the true Jesus, Savior of mankind? Most probably, but why? My answer to this is simple; man's zeal for his religion has most often condemned the innocent and has been responsible for much bloodshed over the centuries because man is not following a simple fundamental rule that God demonstrates through Christ. What is the rule? Is it not FREEDOM OF CHOICE a.k.a. FREE WILL? When did Jesus ever unprovokingly condemn a person for their failure to follow Him? Who were the people at the brunt of Christ's rebuke? Was it not the religious elite; the hypocrites and brood of vipers?" Did Jesus not gently and compassionately persuade people to abide God's will and obey all that He commanded? Is it no wonder that our faith in Christ crucified is largely rejected because of the stain and reproach that man's religion has put on us who still believe upon our Lord who suffered for our sakes? Are we not to overcome our enemies with love and compassion? The report continues. On Muslims, Kenneth writes, "Like the Bible, the Qur'an recognizes no natural laws independent of God's will. All that happens is allah's doing and nature itself - wind, rains, storms - constitutes signs of his mercy and compassion. Even the destructive tsunami, therefore, must have some hidden, positive purpose. "Ninety percent of Muslims will understand a tragedy like this in this way," says Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic studies at American University. "They also have this notion that god is testing them by taking away a child or spouse. Will you loose your faith or will you continue to believe?" On Christians, Kenneth writes, "For them, there is the example of Jesus on the cross - the God who takes on human flesh and, with it, a criminal's cruel torturing and death. But even though the acceptance of suffering is deeply embedded in the Christian world view, the death of so many innocent children alone was an excruciating test of the Christian that their God is a God of love." Kenneth continues, "Job, too, was tested, his patience tried to the extreme. But he was only one just man. This tsunami's roiling force has obliterated whole families, whole communities, countless pasts and futures. Little wonder that from Sumatra to Madagascar, innumerable voices cry out to God. The miracle, if there is one, is that so many still believe." When we understand the fundamental essence of God's love and faithfulness and that His love incorporates certain hatreds and His faithfulness is a guarantee of His consistent nature, then we are better able to accept the "why" such things occur. Simply put, God set all these things into motion eons ago and His compassion has allowed humanity an extraordinary amount of time to love and accept Him as the Lord GOD Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them. He established by His Word long ago how we are to have healthy and productive relationship with Him. Those who still deny Him and reject the Salvation that He has been long offering are promised to be forgotten and not recognized. Didn't Jesus say that if you deny Him as Lord, He would deny you before the Father? Is it really insensitive of me to expect ourselves as Christians to uphold the glorious commission that we are commanded to partake in? Brethren, we cannot afford to shirk our duty and responsibility in witnessing our God of compassion, grace and mercy to those who still don't know Him. We know that the outcome for unbelief has disastrous results so why should any of us be moved to be politically correct in our approach to ministering Christ crucified to the unbelievers? The very Word of God judges all these things and we are expected to up-hold it as duly appointed faithful witnesses to God's sovereign will and authority despite what our personal feelings might be regarding the magnitude of this event. Though it was being reported as the worst disaster in the last 100 years, I dug up some information that refutes this claim. Those of you who have been long with me are aware that I have been keeping track of the increased number and ferocity of natural cataclysmic events on the planet; especially of earthquakes and volcanic activity. Among the largest earthquakes registering 9.0 or greater on the planet since 1900, this event in the Indian Ocean has had the greatest number of lives lost associated with it. In 1952 a 9.0 quake registered in Russia with no loss of life and the same occurred in Alaska in 1957 in a 9.0 quake. Alaska was hit again in 1964 with a 9.2 causing 125 deaths. In 1960, a monstrous quake 9.5 on the Richter scale hit causing 5700 deaths. Among 9.0 earthquakes, this recent quake caused the most deaths and as of this writing is being blamed for a death toll in excess of 162,000 people. Much worse losses of life have been associated with other quakes of less magnitude since 1900. In 1920, an 8.6 quake hit China killing approx. 200,000 people and just seven years later another quake hit China 7.9 in magnitude costing the lives of another 200,000 people. In 1923, a 7.9 quake hit Japan killing 143,000 but the mother killer of them all was again in China. In 1976 (Remember?) a 7.5 quake caused the deaths of over 255,000 people. These losses are relative to the proximity (epi-center) of the quakes and how dense the populations were at the time each one hit. The greatest losses incurred by China are a result of their poorly built structures, much of which was fabricated and framed by bamboo. Most of these destructive quakes registering 8.0 or greater occur in seismically volatile regions where tectonic plates shift and is known in the Pacific region as "the Ring of Fire." There have been 31 earthquakes known to have resulted in tsunamis since 1900. By my count, there have been 113 earthquakes registering 8.0 or greater since 1900. Hmmm, birth pangs indeed! Matthew 24:5-8 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must come to pass; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. But all these things are the beginning of travail." No doubt, the stage is being set for the Anti-Christ to take his seat. Humanism (belief in self, mans pride, self glory) is getting all the publicity and credit for compassion and mercy and none but a few discernment ministries and scattered preachers are warning others to REPENT NOW lest they also be caught up in the wake of increasing tribulation. Most all who are writing the history books and making record of all that is taking place are not writing from a Biblical perspective which means that God is being left out of the end times story. In fact, I am one of the few who write epistles, letters, exhortations and scrolls from a Biblical perspective inclusive of contemporary prophetic warnings. Strangely enough, when I am the most upset, angry or despaired over the "way things are" and I express myself with ever-increasing passion, boldness of speech and exhortation, calamity and tribulation strikes in various places around the planet with increasing intensity. Though I am not the cause of any of these things, I seem to be well connected spiritually to that which is affecting our entire planet. In more simple terms, I am aware and able to discern. To the point I made in Scroll 7, "Something greater than a man's suffering is being conveyed here. What we are doing to one another, we are doing to our Lord." You might not agree but I happen to know that since before the 6.8 Nisqually earthquake in 2001, I have been and still am being used as a vessel of warning. That is what I am called to do and to that, I must remain steadfast and unwavering. There is a part of me that wants terribly to render some kind
of support and minister to victims needs in the tsunami stricken
areas but like I pointed out in Scroll number 7, we can't on
a personal level or as a ministry due to lack of funding and
financial resource and therefore I feel like all I have is a
word and no substance to share where it is needed the most. I
don't mind telling you that I'm crushed and felt all the more
helpless after the earth-shaking event took place. Reminds me
of a very convicting passage in the book of James...
I am currently engaged in one of the best theological debates I've ever had. It is with a devout Catholic named Mickey who is attempting to convert me over to the Roman Catholic Church. I find him to be gentle and of reasonable character. This debate is probably one of the most respectable discourses I've engaged in. Both of us understand our duty to exhibit the gentle nature of the Holy Spirit and there is respect between us as there should be for any of us who engage in apologetic forums. This ongoing discourse can be viewed on my forum at the Nicholas Scrolls site. The following is a portion of my last reply. In response to your question, "By what authority do I
speak?" I say only that nothing I commit in writing or exhortation
is without a great deal of prior testing and searching out the
Word for the purposes of remaining a faithful witness to my Lord
and Savior. "Test all things by the
Spirit." I treat what I hear or discern by
the Spirit in the same manner. That is, I test all things by
the Word, which is given us for our reproof, training, discipline
and instruction. My faith in Christ Jesus is strong but in no
way do I proclaim to be anything other than a simple, God fearing
man who is called to witness to the Gentiles and Jews not the
least among which are contemporary Christians of various denomination
and faith. I am a scribe and a messenger and my knowledge and
faith continues to grow each day. You will see if you have not
already observed that the authority by which I speak is the same
authority we lend in Scripture and it is by that which all men
are judged and measured. Where deficiency exists, therein is
opportunity for man to make effort in conforming to the pattern,
image, likeness and example of Christ Jesus and His appointed
Apostles as it is so described in the unchanging Word of God. Now having said this, I will provide you with the evidence that we have to prove that there is indeed a problem with the Roman Catholic Church. Since one good turn deserves another, I would like to request of you to provide me with the answer to the following question according to your understanding and knowledge. My question is this, According to your Catholic belief, who were the first three immediate successors to the Apostle Peter after he was crucified by Agrippa under Nero, the fifth Emperor of Rome? Now, keep in mind that your belief prescribes all Catholic Popes to be the immediate successors and so I am looking for these successors to be named from 78AD, the time when Peter was crucified. It is only fair that I ask you for your evidence since I am more than willing to provide you with my evidence based on well-documented history. I hope that you'll accept my challenge and provide the necessary reasoning for your belief. Mickey wrote back and provided the following list and its sources: Here are the first 10, from New Advent www.newadvent.org 1. St. Peter (32-67) The whole list is here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm In an effort to avoid filling this exhortation with a volume of Catholic dogma, I am only providing you with my responses to his latest letter, which made attempt to justify the authenticity and authority of the Roman Catholic Church. You will understand the main points he raised as you read my rebuttal to them in the following passage. One of the main arguments we are discussing is the suspect authenticity of the Roman Catholic Church's claim that the Popes are successors to the authority, which was handed unto Peter by Jesus. Remember how Jesus so passionately rebuked the Pharisees for their partiality and selfish exultation of their supposed self-righteousness? They too, had "readings" from the Old Testament scrolls at regular weekly intervals designed to teach those who gathered but they also had traditions handed down over the centuries that are referred to as "oral teachings." It is noteworthy to mention that scripture confirms it was the "oral teachings" handed down by the Pharisees over centuries that was the main point of contention and rebuke coming from Jesus. Be cautious then of oral tradition that is passed down for generations. It was recorded that Jesus attended one of these gatherings and do you remember what He did and what the response was from the attendees? Were they not going to kill him then for blasphemy after He stated that He was the fulfillment of that particular passage from which He read? Please keep that in mind throughout our discourse as I intend to prove to you what fulfillment looks like in living flesh. I will again address oral teachings in a minute. I am well familiar with the arguments presented for and against "Sola Scriptura." You are right that the authority of Scripture must be administered in the context of the Church. Where you and I differ is our fundamental understanding of what the "Church" (gathering of believers of Christ Jesus) is and how it is actually represented in the historical text of Scripture. You see a great institution with all-encompassing power and authority over the whole earth. I see the scattered pockets of believing Christians huddled together in various places and homes throughout the earth seeking to fellowship, praise and minister to the communities in which they are located. What you call the "Church" I call the "Temple." What you call the "Universal Church" (meaning Catholic) I call the "Catholic Religion." The gatherings I speak of are in the context of what scripture identifies as churches. Throughout the whole of New Testament, the churches were identified by their location and not by their separate doctrines, faith or teachings save one, the teachings and admonitions of Jesus the Christ. The Catholic Church, though identifying itself as Christian, has always maintained its own agenda, precepts and doctrines separate from but mixed in with the fundamental teachings and examples afforded us in scripture. Note that the epistles were always written to the Churches at Corinth or Ephesus or Galatia etc. It is also noteworthy to offer that in John's Book of Revelation, there were "seven churches" identified by location, not separate in faith, that were ministered to by "seven angels" sent from GOD. These were not super sized institutions but were many smaller gatherings scattered throughout the cities, each being identified as churches. Remember that the believers and followers of Christ Jesus were under constant persecution and needed to be discrete and somewhat hidden. They're numbers were always small. Even the upper room described for us in Acts where the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred had only 120 persons gathered. When larger crowds assembled, it was necessary for them to assemble outside the city as were the crowds and multitudes who "came out" to hear Jesus preach. The early Church was always looking over its shoulder for fear of further persecution. There is absolutely no evidence that exists that the Catholic Church was formed out of these smaller gatherings. Regarding oral teachings… I am well aware that there was no "New Testament" in existence when the Apostles were planting and ministering various gatherings. It therefore stands to reason that the Apostles became oral teachers but many letters were also written to those churches that were a distance away and it was expected that these letters be shared among the churches. The letters (epistles) which were scribed, copied and distributed became for us a series of historical recordings, only, some of which were later canonized and became the New Testament. The 27 books (gospels & epistles) were but a smattering of the volume of scrolls, which were actually used in ministering to the early churches. These that were canonized centuries later were written between 52AD and 96AD. In my years of study of these other gospels and epistles not included in the Canon, I am often disparaged that many were dismissed as being authentic in doctrine and authorship. When I allow the known Canon of scripture (KJV) to judge these other writings often determined to be apocryphal, I am compelled to ask, "Who were we to determine that these other books don't also serve as edifying witness and testimony to the greater glory of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior?" Therefore, I must confess that I have a problem in the way that Canon was determined by men, some of whom were part of the early Catholic Church. To me, it is an example of men picking and choosing what is convenient and desirable over what the fuller measure of potential existed in allowing for all the scrolls to bear witness of Christ in the early days of Christendom. You have to admit that a great deal of context is left out when we neglect these other precious writings which were copied, handed down and preserved through the ages for our benefit and edification. I am referring to those documents, which were written in the first and second century AD. You quoted from 2 Timothy saying, "You, then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:1-2). As with all scripture, I steadfastly cling to and apply myself accordingly, not to religious institutional dogma but to the example, pattern and historical teachings afforded us in the Bible. Mickey, my faith is not at all contradictory with the Word or Faith in Christ but is an example and testimony to a living faith in a living God who desires to dwell still in the flesh of man to this day. There would be no shame by my admission that the authority by which I speak is not my own but by the authority of Christ dwelling in me through His eternal Spirit. Is that not the example and pattern shown us in scripture? Christ's Word is my judge just as He so confessed. It is perfect and blameless all by itself without the erroneous judgements of men. Though history does not lie, historians who write the history books have often been partial in their understanding and have left out critical details. Regarding accepted authority… You wrote, "The fact that you accept these books means you accept the authority of the Catholic Church." Actually my friend, I accept the purity of the canonized gospels and epistles that make up our New Testament and employ them as a measuring rod to judge, test and measure all other manuscripts which I study that were written in the early days of Christianity. I find no contradiction in the canonized script but only affirmation. When I compare or contrast other writings not part of the accepted Canon, I either find edification of Christ's Gospel or discontinuity. In the same way, when I compare or contrast the model of our contemporary churches of today with the aforementioned accepted cannon, I see much discord and discontinuity in both Catholic and Protestant applications. Because I highly regard the authority of the writings from the early Church, I also allow the Word of God to judge, test and measure my person and my own application of faith. In the process, I am conformed to that which was thus prescribed and am able to grow in good measure and application of my faith. What I am saying here in simple terms is that where there is contradiction or discontinuity evidenced, I embrace the fundamental doctrines of scripture over and above the examples of man's religious institutions. Regarding my person, where my heart and mind is convicted by an apparent contrast existing between my application and what the Word prescribes, I am led towards repentance when in error or my faith is further solidified by my proper application and demonstration of scriptural doctrine. This is the power of the written Word and the effect it has on me as a disciple of Jesus. I have more poetically described this in prior writings by stating, "When I accepted the Word and began applying it to my life, these words on paper literally leaped off the pages and took hold of me, both, convicting and comforting me at the same time." Reading and interpreting and subjecting myself to the Word does not make me more Catholic as you say but in fact has made me more an obedient disciple of Christ Jesus, a man who is under authority and command to remain faithful to the Word. I submit that your reference again to the epistle of Paul to Timothy, "And that the Church, and not the Bible alone, is the "pillar and bulwark of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15)" is in-fact what I am describing to you as my application of faith and my understanding of the true example of Christ's Church, His body of believers and disciples. Our disagreement exists only because of our differing view and definition of the word, "Church." When you replied, "You also mention, "Word of God defines and interprets itself!"...Again, this assertion is un-Biblical. In Acts 8:30-31, Phillip instructs the Ethiopian in the faith. If Scripture was easy to understand and "interpreted itself", the Ethiopian would have converted on his own, without need of a teacher. ("How can I, unless someone instructs me?")." First, you fail to acknowledge that the Hebrew scriptures were in a different language than what the Ethiopian spoke. You also fail to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit of fire is what confirms, convicts or judges. The Word from which I feed daily is my sustenance and is what sustains my faith and allows for me to maintain communion and companionship with Him who is in me. Did Jesus not say, "the Word is the Spirit, the Spirit of truth?" Paul confirms for us that the Word can and does dwell in us as I also confirm to you. Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God." Therefore I have shown you that the Word does indeed confirm itself. You are in error when you declare it to be unbiblical for I tell you truly that what is written shall be fulfilled and what was intended by God and prescribed to us is revealed in the Book of John. John 14:10-21 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you. Yet a little while and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him." As hard as it might be for you to accept Mickey, I believe whole heartedly and deny Him not for I know what becomes of those who only partially accept what was left for us and all future generations unto the final appearance and coming of our Lord when He shall put an end to all that holds us back and keeps us held captive on earth. I have no shame in my faith but a strong resolve to make a difference in an otherwise indifferent world. It is not me but Christ in me doing a work that becomes the evidence of a powerful faith and acceptance of His universal truth made available to all mankind. My expression of love is impartial. You wrote, "Scripture testifies that Christ left a Church with divine authority to teach in His name (Mt.16:13-20, 18:18; Lk. 10:16), and that the Church will last until the end of time, and the Holy Spirit protects the Church's teaching from corruption (Mt. 16:18, 28:19-20; Jn. 14:16)." What you wrote is true but it also becomes that which serves as evidence against man's weaker religious institutions. Again the disparity between us exists only because of our fundamental difference and understanding in how the true Church is actually represented through all time. Cephas, by the way means "stone" and it is by that name that we who are least in God's Kingdom are called to serve in humble submission and capacity. I make no claim as the Pope does to being a successor to Peter and neither will I engage in blasphemy by claiming that I am of the eternal order of Melchizedek as the Popes do. For your information Mickey, Hebrews 7:21-22 "(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." Hebrews 7:26-27 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." Lets look more closely at Peter and who he was. Peter possessed and exhibited the greatest gift of supernatural power by faith in Christ known to man next to Jesus after the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. Peter confessed that the power that was in him was not his own but was that of Christ in him, that very Spirit we call Holy. Peter never sat upon a throne nor did Peter build any temples of worship. In fact, Peter, James and John his brother were warned by God not to build such. Scripture records for our understanding: Matthew 17:1-8 "And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and be not afraid.' And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only." Clearly, it was not the will of our Father in heaven that we continue to worship in temples practicing various traditions, precepts and commandments of men. My understanding may sound foolish to you but Jesus said that what the Father desires of us is to be "worshipped in Spirit and truth." Scripture further testifies to this in the following: 1 Corinthians 3:17-18 "If any man destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise." 2 Corinthians 6:15-18 "And what concord hath Christ with Belial or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." The above testifies and judges most accurately the error of man's religious ways and works. It is vainglory to suppose that we were to continue with what God had destroyed. God chose to dwell in a new and better temple for scripture further confirms the will and purpose of our Lord's sacrifice. Hebrews 9:8-14 "the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing; which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:24-28 "For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation." The above testifies to a new and living way by which man is redeemed. As Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit without blemish to God, so also are we. Does Scripture not declare the same? Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The point then is that we are called to follow the very pattern that Christ Jesus established for us and forsake that which consisted of cardinal ordinances and traditions. You might well say that the above refers to the Jews and their system of temple worships but this Word was also passed down to the Gentiles as evidenced in the book of Romans. Why should the author of a new and better way have a different set of instructions for the Gentiles of whom we are referring in regards to the Catholic Church of which you are so fond? Does it not stand to reason that what was being offered to the Jews who largely rejected the salvation would also be offered to the Gentiles as prophesied in the Old Testament? Does the New Testament not reveal that we were allowed to enter in the new and better way apart from the laws and traditions of men? If you allowed the accepted Word of God to judge these matters without an erroneous Catholic interpretation of it then you would be compelled to admit that the Gentiles have made for themselves an utter debauchery of divisive faith and have done no better with the gift of salvation than the Jews did with all their various regulations and rituals. I stated before, "Scripture defines itself and does not require special interpretation of men." Scripture defines and validates itself. The evidence is clear and compelling. How can you not see this? The golden verse for me that opened wide this revelation which came to me was Hebrews 9:8 "the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;" It is the will of the Lord GOD our Father that we walk in the footsteps of His Son Jesus the Christ in the same selfless pattern so that we may be approved before God as sons and daughters to Him! This then is how we offer ourselves as living and holy sacrifices unto God; again, following the same pattern which Jesus authored. For scripture says it very plainly in black and white; Hebrews 10:9-10 "then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." The evidence I offer you Mickey is irrefutable and there can exist no reasonable argument for the contemporary Churches existence and their memberships of partiality to exist save one. That being, they still exist because man has not yet matured to the fuller understanding as he ought but instead has preferred an easier path with less strife and difficulty than the one Jesus leads us into. Your beloved Roman Catholic Church has kept millions of parishioners weak and defiled for centuries by feeding them seeds of heresy and blasphemy and for much of their history, kept the large collection of precious scrolls and manuscripts from the public thereby fostering ignorance in the people. Though Martin Luther made a good effort to protest the error of Catholicism, he carried with him much of the same that was role modeled for him in the Catholic teachings under which he was thus tutored. The result has been that though some appear to have escaped the Synagogue (Church) of Satan, failure to truly turn away (repent) from all the error has allowed Satan to maintain his dominion and authority where man's divisive religion is concerned. Scripture further testifies where Satan went and what he purposed to do after he could not bring down the Son of Man we call Jesus or His brethren. In the proper context, I'm sure that you would agree the woman is representative of the Church (the faithful in Christ). Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus," (speaking of all the redeemed who build and make up the true Church). I would agree that the Catholic Church is the oldest, largest and longest running contemporary religious institution in New Covenant times and I would also agree that she is indicated in the end times and definitely has a role to play but she is an agency and institution of man. Like the Jewish institutions of faith became corrupted by Satan's influence, so too has the very visible Catholic Church. The true church described for us in the New Testament is all that believe upon Christ Jesus alone as Lord, Savior and only redeemer of mankind and they are what make up the "body of Christ" on earth during the time of "reformation." We who are a part of that body are still very much scattered and the size of our gatherings (churches) has not changed much over the centuries since the apostolic ministries. The method and faith and resulting works is still much the same as it was then. We still do not worship in temples nor allow ourselves to be in subjection to various cardinal ordinances, doctrines and precepts of men. Why? Because Jesus is our Lord to whom we are submitted and obey and we are free to move about the planet and continue the on going witness of Christ Jesus having come the in flesh. To this day, though we are few, we are still examples of His pattern and the Holy Spirit dwells in us as promised by Jesus to effectually pattern and demonstrate the very same example that Christ and His Apostles patterned. We do not recognize any real distinction of color or flesh (race) but know that our witness must be carried out the same way as was told to us. For those of us who live, we have died and that is why we live. It no longer is I but it is Christ in me that is able to speak and work through me because I continue to offer myself up as a willing vessel of service and sacrifice for my Lord's sake. "I die daily," Paul says. All who live this way and remain surrendered and submitted unto Christ Jesus our Lord are the Church of the "living God," the redeemed. The list of disciples your Roman Catholic Church claims to be successors to Peter and are acknowledged as Popes is terribly flawed. I will point out one large error and hope that it will be enough for you to further investigate this claim. St Clement I (88-97) was a co-laborer with Apostle Paul and carried on the same ministry after Paul had died. There would have been solid evidence of a paradigm shift in application and administration of the gospel if this claim that he was Pope were true. Some of the others indicated were indeed disciples but of the early Christian Church. Other than the claim made by the Catholic Church, I see no evidence that any of these men were installed as Popes because history records that the familiar image of the early Catholic Church did not first appear until about the middle of the second century. My records indicate clearly that by the middle of the third century, the Catholic Church was making its presence well known. An interesting note: in 252AD, Novatian was elected Pope even though the council at Rome condemned his schism in 251AD. He refused to re-admit apostates to the Church and gained the reputation of being a "puritan." Where the RC really got a boost was when "Constantine the Great" became 44th Emperor of Rome. He is noted as being the first Christian Emperor Rome had after seeing a vision of a Cross appearing in the sky in the year 313AD. In 325AD, Constantine ordered the first Ecumenical Council in an attempt to bring about unity in the Christian faith. The council was held at Nice in Bithynia. In attendance were 318 Bishops and 2048 Ecclesiastics (preachers). They were from varied backgrounds of faith. Not all were Christian or Catholic and some occults were also in attendance. It was at this time that the Catholic Church really started becoming the "Universal Church" it is named for today. For the first time in history, a branch (sect) of Christianity was accepted by secular government and embraced by a Christian ruler of Rome. To this day, the Catholic Church is still very much an Ecumenical governing body. Now I must take my leave and rest. I feel like I've been on the mount preaching all day. It's your turn. Please consider this. The time we are now in is a time where God is checking in on His servants in the field. Some are working, many are sleeping and still more are dead, engaging in deader works. "Judgment begins with the household of God." Since the Word declares this, don't you think it more important to apply ourselves only to Christ's doctrine and faith without intermixing it with contrasting religious dogma and things that were not sanctified by Christ's redeeming work on the cross? And what about all the graven images that adorn every Catholic Church I've ever attended? Come on Mickey, you have to admit that there are some real large contrasts here between what Jesus commands and sanctifies versus what the Catholic Church considers Holy. May our Lord shower you with the humility and grace I've become so familiar with. I pray He grant you the eyes to perceive and ears to hear so that you may have the mind to understand and accept the faith that was once delivered to the Apostles. James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves." AMEN This discourse can be viewed in its entirety at the http://nicholasscrolls.cephasministry.com site. Please see: http://pub28.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=2325136311&cpv=1 Special Note: Please contact us directly by email or phone. If you would
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