 
Enlightenment

For

Christian Controversies

By

Phil Myers

Copyright © 2014 Phil Myers

Smashwords Edition

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INTRODUCTION

In one's search for genuine truth, there must be a cooperation and agreement of our knowledge of the unadulterated, infallible Word of God in the Holy Scriptures of the Bible and our personal experience with the Holy Spirit of God.

At times like these, where our Ecclesiastical Environment has brought forth so many doctrinal viewpoints coming from a mixture of tradition, worldwide opinion and Biblical Interpretation, it would seem imperative that a few major surviving truths should shine forth and stand in our Christian thought.

These truths are sometimes overlooked, and if continually ignored, will keep our Christian walk impeded and in bondage to erroneous beliefs and convictions, resulting in bad tradition and a false interpretation of Biblical Scriptures.

Due to the reality of the overall popularity of some of these so called traditional and highly questionable beliefs, the Lord Jesus has led me, through this book, to hopefully inspire and encourage Christians to embrace, even at the cost of expected harsh persecution, the Truth of God's Word, the Bible, in opposition to their questionable Christian traditions and integration to the alternative world view beliefs.

This manuscript is basically a collection of many of the most damaging false beliefs to growing Christians, stemming from some false interpretations of Biblical Scriptures and how this affects our relationship to the world around us. In response, I offer the Biblical solution and the reaction that Christians should make and adhere to in order to have a greater walk with God and farther insure their eternal security. It is hopeful that Christians will grow closer to God by understanding and observing these Truths.

The purpose of this book, therefore, is to evaluate and possibly eliminate erroneous beliefs and falsehoods that the Protestant Churches today have embraced for many years.

It is hoped that the gulf of prevailing ignorance stemming from tradition, apathy and avarice, would be halted and stifled to hopefully bring some degree of clarity, and that Christian people will question, possibly re-analyze and accurately assess some of the propositions and doctrines that they have been taught by their local churches, and theological books or the Christian media.

Except for the specific important subject matter discussed in this book, other basic fundamental issues such as, the sinners need for Salvation through the sacrificial Blood of our Lord Jesus or general Christian growth and family lifestyle, are not brought up in great detail in this manuscript. It is assumed that the readers have already made some initial commitment to Jesus Christ. Plus, we know that many good books have been written on these subjects already.

The audience for this manuscript would consist of all sincere Christians seeking true growth in the Lord and that would include church pastors, teachers and laity alike. God is no respecter of persons. However, to be more specific, this book would probably be more attractive to the potential Protestants of any and all denominations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

CHAPTER 2: Church Attendance and the Sabbath

CHAPTER 3: The Truth about the Tithe

CHAPTER 4: Marriage, Divorce and Re-Marriage

CHAPTER 5: Military Service

CHAPTER 6: Dangerous and Fraudulent Sciences

CHAPTER 7: Biblical Chronology of the Persian Empire

CHAPTER 8: False Premises and Erroneous Statements

CHAPTER 9: Abortion: "The Curse of a Nation"
Chapter 1

THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST

What could be more frustrating to a God called Christian Minister, than to realize that 98% of the fundamentalist Protestant church organizations today refuse to believe the entire biblical covenant that has been given to all mankind by the atoning death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?

His covenant with mankind has not changed in over 2000 years. We are still under the dispensation of Grace, whereby we are saved through Faith that is by him (Eph. 2:8). Where does that start? It starts by our spirit man being born again by God's Spirit(John 3:3-5).At that point in time we receive God's Spirit(the Holy Ghost) in our new born again spirit (Eph.1:13) to live and reside forever (John 14:17), where there is righteousness, peace and joy. He now becomes our guide and our teacher in our future Christian walk on the earth (John 16:13 ; 14:26).

Up to this point, there doesn't seem to be any major problem with most Protestant organizations, with respect to their believing, teaching and adhering to these fundamental points of doctrine.

The true problem lies in their reluctance and sometimes downright refusal to believe in the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, which is initially evidenced by the speaking with other tongues or languages as the Spirit of God gives the utterance, just as was received by the believers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4) and all through the book of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:17 ; 10:44-46 ; 19:6).

Many professing Christians say that they have received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost or Spirit when they were born again, and say that the evidence or sign of the other tongues did not have to be present because, as they claim, this sign or evidence is not necessary for today. Some groups claim that it died out with the Apostolic Age, or time of the Apostles over 2000 years ago. This claim is absolutely false teaching. Consequently, many of these ministries also deny the presence of the miracles, signs and wonders, which are suppose to be following the preached Word of God today (Acts 8:5-8). When Philip preached about Jesus, many miracles took place in Samaria.

The word (baptism) comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and simply means immersion. True, a person could, and many do, receive the born again experience, and receive the Holy Spirit within their spirit, but unless at that time, or in the future they are immersed in the Spirit, they already have, they have not received this Filling or Baptism (immersion) with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this experience happens simultaneous to conversion, as it did in Cornelius's house at Caesarea when Peter preached about Jesus and his resurrection. The Italians were converted and Baptized (filled) with the Holy Ghost at the same time (Acts 10:44-46). Others receive at a later time, following their born again conversion. So obviously, I am not saying, a person must receive this experience of the Baptism or Filling with the Spirit at the time he or she is converted and born again, although it shouldn't be too hard for a person to be filled with the same Spirit of God that is already residing in his or her new born again spirit.

Some people fight the speaking in tongues as the initial and ultimate way that God gives the Baptism with the Holy Ghost or Spirit. If a person attempted to give you a present wrapped with green paper and a red ribbon, what do you think would be their response if you told them that you wanted it wrapped in blue paper with a yellow ribbon? The answer is obvious. He wouldn't give it and you wouldn't get it, sighting your lack of gratitude and stubborn preference. Stop striving with your maker (Isa. 45:9)! It's his program, not ours. These tongues were prophesied 700 years before the appearing of Christ Jesus on the earth (Isa. 28:11-12) showing his rest and refreshing for us, and was fulfilled through his New Covenant to mankind (Matt. 11:28-30 ; Acts 3:19).

The Baptism or Filling with the Holy Spirit is an experience with God that will bring you closer to him (John 14:23). It will bring you greater guidance (John 16:13 ; Romans. 8:14), knowledge, understanding, revelation, perception into the spirit world, and discernment (John 14:26). It will bring you greater power over temptations to sin and disbelief, it will give you endurance in trials, and it will make you a better witness for Christ (Acts 1:8).

Praying in tongues causes you to have a prayer language with God, that is actually the best form of prayer, because if flows in direct harmony and conjunction with God's perfect will and purpose for your life (Rom. 8:27). I am not in any way excluding praying or praising in our known language when we worship God. I am just saying that praying, praising or worship in tongues does not have to be understood by the person speaking in order to receive fulfillment, enlightenment and joy with our Father in Heaven (1 Cor. 14:14), but comes up from groanings within our inner most being that may not be necessarily understood by anyone but God. When we pray this way, we are praying with our spirit by the aid of the Holy Spirit directly to the Father in Heaven (Rom. 8:26). A lot of praying in tongues is self edification and building up our spirit man (1 Cor. 14:2). We know that we are saved by faith in God's word (Rom 10:17), but we must "build up our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 1:20). Also when we pray in tongues, God gets to control our tongues (Jam 3:5-8), which is pleasing to him.

In the Old Testament the people of Nimrod built the "Tower of Babel" to reach Heaven (Gen.11:4-9), so God confounded their speech into different languages. This scattered them into various areas of the world. On the Day of Pentecost all of these languages were unified once again when Jews from all the different nations of the known world were present in Jerusalem and heard the "wonderful works of God" being brought forth when 120 believers were filled with the Spirit of God and spoke in the respective languages of those Jews home countries (Act.2:3-11). God has also unified us personally to himself by giving each one of us a special language to speak to him in prayer and worship that's more exact in meeting our true needs according to his will (1Cor.14:14). Incidentally, it's a language the enemy of our soul doesn't understand!

Such a great part of our Christian prayer and worship life is being overlooked, rejected, repressed, compromised, diminished, diluted and preached against because of the demonic, greedy, self serving influence incorporated by these half way conferences and ministries. I say half way, because they will tell you how to begin with Christ Jesus, that is being born, but they have no solution or power to offer from the Word of God, the Bible, to keep you from falling from Grace. They'll say you can't fall, and once you're saved, you're always saved, no matter how you live. This doctrine is of the devil.

When a minister, who is not called of God, takes over a church or ministry, and is offered sustenance, shelter, and pay, he will, most of the time, adopt and adhere to the fundamental doctrine of that ministry in order to keep those benefits. These material objectives are the primary motivation behind his ministry. The pride and prestige of his position as Pastor will not allow him to yield to an anointed interpretation of God's Word, the Bible, versus that of his seminary taught doctrine.

Notice, I said a minister, "who was not called of God." The Lord Jesus doesn't call someone to his ministry who would have intensions and motives of rejecting the Christian fundamental principle that would keep a person saved and from falling into the hands of the enemy in a backslidden condition. God does not call people to the ministry who would reject or diminish praying in tongues as a way to renew one's mind to be more like Christ Jesus. Praying and worshipping God in the Spirit, in tongues, absolutely will do these things, because you'll be walking in the Spirit (Rom.8:1).

When you pray in tongues, the power that is generated will destroy bad habits and addictions in your life. I know, from firsthand experience in my life, the completeness of his delivering power.

Often times, a pastor whose organization does not believe in speaking in tongues as a worship language with God, changes his attitude through prayer, and or personal experience, and receives the infilling. Then he tries to tell his church of his experience and the truth behind it. Immediately he is extracted from his church organizational conference, and of course, all of his financial and security privileges are revoked. But a person, who is truly called of God, will keep his integrity, not continuing to compromise God's true and free gift to his church. I personally know many pastors that have started their own church charter organization because of this.

There is an all important factor that should be examined and exposed in the reason why tongues are rejected by most ministries and their congregational members. It begs for a simple answer, and there is one that may be a little unsettling for most. I'll ask this question. How can the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), say to one person, yes, this experience is for today and is real, and to another, no, it is not for today and isn't a true Godly experience? I ask you. Does this make any sense at all, striving with our maker, calling him a liar (Num. 23:19)? God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33)!

The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost or Spirit, does not enter into a man or woman's spirit at their new birth to lie to them! Not only is someone here wrong, but I summit that someone here may not even have the true Spirit of Christ living within them, and was probably never born again of God in the first place (Rom. 8:9), which makes him "none of his." Wow, what a shock, especially to those who warm a church pew every week, pay their tithes, and shake the pastor's hand! Whether you're a minister, member or just attending an organized church occasionally, if you're bucking, like a goat, at the doctrine of our Lord from the Bible that sustains and supports a Christian's overcoming power to walk with Christ, you are fighting against God, the Father (Isa. 45:9 ; Pro. 14:12), which constitutes the way of spiritual death. I'll say it again in another way. The rejection of the evidence, presence and manifestation of the Spirit of God, is evidence of the absence of the Spirit of God living in a person and could constitute blasphemy of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31-32) if not addressed with a serious attitude.

These pastors, through their conference doctrine, who repress, hinder, compromise and deny people the truth about the infilling of the Spirit of God, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as a prayer language and form of worship with our God, are heaping severe judgment on themselves, and their congregations who believe them (Rom. 1:18 ; Matt. 7:22-23 ; 15:14).

Some people go to church to ease their conscience a little about some sins they do, to shake the pastor's hand, and support him financially. These things, in themselves, do not constitute a personal relationship with Jesus. If you're going for your children, or to satisfy grandmother, this is not being born again. If you're going to be seen on Sunday, so that no one might suspect how you live the rest of the week, you can't hide what you do from God (Isa. 29:15 ; Pro. 15:3). Start reading your Bible to see if you're truly born again of the Spirit of God. If you truly are, you won't be fighting what God wants you to experience in order to be an overcomer of the enemy in your life (Eph. 6:12), and you'll seek and desire this power to conquer these principalities and rulers of darkness that want to destroy you.

Some of these ministries tell you that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit only to be used in the church with an interpreter present (1 Cor. 12:10). This shows their deliberate ignorance or deception. The initial evidence and sign (Mar 16:17) of the Holy Spirit in prayer, praise and worship is for all believers when being filled with the Spirit. The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues are extensions of the common filling given to all believers, so that the church can be edified and built up in a unified way, their combination, being a form of Prophecy. This is that which is designated in 1 Cor. 12:30 (The Gift of Tongues and Interpretations). The reason that Paul criticized the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians, chapter 14 is because of their lack of controlling their volume in self-edification worship, because speaking loudly in tongues may give the impression of a message from the Spirit of God, coming forth to the unified group of believers (1 Cor. 14:28). Also, take notice in that scripture that he says "if there be no interpreter" you just don't keep silent, as many ministers would have you believe or deliberately neglect to mention, but "we are to speak to ourselves and to God," showing again that we are still worshiping in tongues! In addition, Paul said that overly loud speaking may cause a visiting person, not yet a converted Christian, to think you are mad or crazy because he or she doesn't understand, (1 Cor. 14:23). Please study chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians.

Some people claim that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is just for people who are called to the Lord's Ministry (Eph. 4:11), but that could not be further from the truth. Granted most will be better witnesses for the Gospel of Jesus after being filled with the Spirit (Acts 1:8), but we all need to have this power to overcome the old habits, addictions, and sin that had us bound before we were brought into the light of the Gospel of Christ (Matt. 26:41). When Jesus said "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), he wasn't just speaking about water baptism. For in Acts 1:5 he told his disciples that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from his ascension to Heaven. We also see that in his commission written in Matthew 28:18-20 to his disciples, he says that they are to teach their followers to observe all things that he has taught them to observe. That would obviously include the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. It's for all believers. You belong to Jesus. The only excuse I can think of you not receiving the Baptism or Filling with the Holy Spirit is ignorance of the truth, but now you know, and are responsible (Isa. 55:11) to God to accept, ask and receive from him. "To whom much is given, much is going to be required (Luke 12:48). To refuse to do what we know is right and good constitutes sin on our part (James 4:17).

Of course, there are difference times for different people. The main thing is that a person will believe, and go on to seek to be filled with the same Spirit he already has living in him.

Let's examine ourselves; whether we be in the Faith (2 Cor. 13:5), or rather that his Spirit lives in us (1 John 3:24), so that we can ask him to give us his prayer language, that we may communicate with him in the perfect way he would prefer.

Notice what is brought up in Hebrews 6:1 - 2 under the Fundamental Doctrine of Christ. The "doctrine of baptisms" is emphasized in Hebrews 6:2. There are 3 Baptisms. First we are immersed (Baptized) into the Body of Christ or with other Christian Believers (1 Cor. 12:13) by the operation of God's Spirit at conversion. This is a spiritual resurrection and rebirth of our spirit person (John 5:24-25). Then we are immersed (Baptized) in water by man (hopefully a true man of God) as a symbol of our new resurrected spirit coming into True Life with Jesus Christ (Rom.6:4; Acts 8:12; I Pet. 3:21). The third Baptism is given to us from the Father God by Our Lord Jesus (Acts 1:5; 2:4), which is that of being immersed by the Spirit of God coming upon us, and by the Spirit of God we already have in us (Acts 8:16-17 ; 10:44-46).

You see, if you already have the Spirit of God living in you, just pray, ask and receive in faith. Remember what the scripture says in Acts 2:4. Notice, here, that the Spirit didn't do that speaking. They spoke by the faith and unction of God. The Spirit of God gave the utterance or interpretation of that air that passed by their vocal chords as a result of the groaning deep within their spirit and heart (Rom 8:26-27). "Groaning which cannot be uttered" means they cannot be expressed in an audible, understood language. As we allow this groaning within to come forth, we will experience great joy and peace within. This supernatural experience brings ecstasy and euphoria in your body, soul and spirit. You will feel elation and a tremendous sense of well being as you yield your soul (mind, will and emotions) to the Lord (Act 2:13). So let that well that springs forth unto everlasting life bring forth rivers of living waters in ourselves and to the benefit of others (John 4:14;7:38). This is the package that St. Peter talked about where he said "It's joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8). What are you waiting for?

Granted, there are a lot of phony antics going on out in the church world, where people are doing and saying things that are not in the Spirit and anointing of God. The devil always has a counterfeit to try to deceive you, but just as St. John said "we have an unction from the Holy One, and we know all things" (1 John 2:20). The True Spirit of God will not allow you to be tricked. Don't let the phonies and charlatans discourage you from receiving from the Lord what he wants you to have. When you have a genuine, sincere heart with the Lord Jesus, he will reward you with his blessing (Gal 3:14; Luke 11:13).

If you're still not convinced, it couldn't be because you haven't been taught, because now you know and are responsible to God (Luke 12:48 ; Matt.7:21). It may be because you don't have the Spirit of Truth living in you (Rom. 8:9) and were never really born again and need to be. Please give up to Jesus. He loves you very much! Hopefully, it's not because you really don't want to get too close to the Lord. In either case, "to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

You may have gone to the altar at home, or in church, because you felt guilt or even sorrow about your sins, but you really never had a desire to let Jesus come into your heart, and take them from you (Rev. 3:20). Also, you didn't want to be totally committed to him, as to make him Lord and Master of your life (Rom. 10:9). Maybe you just don't care enough about your soul, to read and understand your Bible, which is God's Word to you (Pro. 1:23), which means you're probably in a backslidden condition (Pro. 14:12, 14). Anyone who had the Spirit of Truth living in him, (was born again) would have a desire and curiosity to find out through God's Word (the Bible), who he was serving, and what his Master would require from him. In either case, it's just like Jeremiah the prophet said in Jeremiah 2:13, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and have hewed to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." You can have your self- interests, occupational and work obsessions, entertainments, toys and others distractions, but they won't bring you lasting joy, peace and security. Remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:46. If we call him Lord, why not do what he says.

Jesus said "the Way to Life is straight and narrow and few there be that find it" (Mat.7:14). We must do his will in order to enter into Heaven (Mat.7:21). Don't be lukewarm in our worship (Rev.3:15-16). We must be overcomers (I John 5:4 ; Rev.3:5).

When the enemy comes at you with temptation, trials and tribulation, you are going to need plenty of this power to overcome, and be victorious, to live a holy life (Heb. 12:14). If we'll walk in the Spirit, staying filled with his Spirit, living in holiness and in the light of his Word, we will make it to the feet of the Master.

Chapter 2

CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND THE SABBATH

A lot of church people today make church house attendance a priority in their Christian way of life. When we say "church attendance," we mean that they attend whenever the church house doors are open, usually on Sunday and mid-week evening services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

There are two different issues that need to be addressed here. How important is church house attendance? And why do we attend on Sunday more than any other day?

First of all, let's make it clear that church house attendance by itself does not save you. You're not born again through the blood of Jesus because you bow down to the altar at the invitation of the preacher, even though this coming to the altar may be initiated by the Holy Spirit. If and when the Holy Spirit draws one to give his or her heart to Jesus and accept him as their personal Lord and Savior, it will probably be after they have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. However, this does not have to happen in a church setting. It could just as easily happen based on the preaching of another Christian friend, family member, co-worker or any other individual at any time at any place. The word "preach" simply means to proclaim and declare. When a person preaches the Gospel they are just proclaiming the Good News of God (Rom. 10:15). God chooses the foolishness of preaching to save those that are lost (1 Cor. 1:21). If we limit this to the church house service only, then why did Jesus call upon all of us to be witnesses (Acts. 1:8)? In actuality, all of us are called upon to preach and proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of Christ crucified (Rom. 10:13-15). All are not called, of course, to be pastors or evangelists, but all are called upon to declare the Good News of God to others.

The Church of Jesus Christ and members of a church house or organization may or may not be one and the same (Matthew 16:18). The true Church of Jesus Christ is the born again, blood-bought, sanctified Christians who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, and believe in his sacrificial death for their sins. They believe in his resurrection and present intercession in Heaven for them with our Father. The church house, it's congregation and members, and even their pastor, may or may not necessarily even be born again Christians.

When we, as Christians, attend a church service it should be for the sole motivation and intent of worshipping the Lord. This is, of course, in contrast to our daily walk with Him and our personal, individual prayer and worship time at home. Group worship may draw God's greater power and anointing if just a portion of the parishioners come in with an attitude that they will worship in the Spirit. The trouble is that many people come to church for reasons other than this. Some come simply to ease their sinful conscience after the last week of living like the rest of the world. Some come to see a good show put on by the musicians, choir or other guest singers. Some come only to look good in the eyes of other relatives and family members. Some come to see if that church has a position for them involving something that they would want to do, not something that the church would need them to do. Some come to find a suitable husband, wife or sleeping companion. Some come only to fellowship with other believers or to just show off their clothing and appearance. And finally, some come to examine the church organization's doctrines, the pastor and his sermon, and the way he operates and allows his church services to function. Only one of these reasons should be an initial and introductory motivation for finding the proper church house to attend on a regular basis. The only way that we'll be able to accomplish our first base goal for attending a church service, which is primarily to worship God, is to first examine the fundamental doctrinal belief of the church organization itself in order to ensure that the services are allowed to be operated and dictated by the Holy Spirit and not by man alone. The basic doctrine, teaching, and belief of the church organization should always be examined with reference and comparison to the Christian beliefs of God's Word (The Bible). These things should become apparent and clear to us after attending a church house the first time or two through inquiries made to the ministerial group of that church, or by trying (testing by our spirit through the Holy Spirit) the spirit of the pastoral leadership of that group (1 John 4:1 ; 2:27). If by comparison through the Word of God and his anointing, we find that the ministry in question is flowing in harmony with a free, unabated flow of God's personal direction, then we've probably found a good candidate church house for our continued future attendance and spiritual growth. However, if we find that the doctrine of the church does not flow in harmony with God's directives and with basic Biblical truths, and that the church leadership does not move in the direction of the free flow worship with the Holy Spirit, then our church house search must continue. We should, as Christians, always try to find a church service where we know these things are present. If we have the Spirit of God living in us, which we have to possess in order to be saved (Romans 8:9), then we can make these decisions through the spiritual discernment which the Lord gives us (1 John 4:1 ; 2:27).

Finding an acceptable church house service is not always easy or immediate, but we shouldn't let other people make us feel guilty for not always attending and accepting any church organization that comes down the road, especially if they're not meeting the basic fundamental requirements for worship in the Holy Spirit. We know from scripture that we are "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25), and that is the one line that other parishioners may use to make you feel guilty. Notice the keyword here, "ourselves" in that scripture. That is to say, in it's true intended meaning "those that are in one mind and one accord." This doesn't necessarily mean all of the laity, but rather all people that are in one mind accord with the ministry and teachings of the Apostles Creed of two thousand years ago. Unfortunately, this is not the case today. That's why we have so many numerous different church denominations, because of all of the discord and disagreement on major points of doctrine.

We as Christians should seek a church that teaches the truth of the Bible and doesn't hinder free exercise of outward praise and worship during their services. There are many church houses around, but few of them offer this. Why? It's because of the binding, hindering spirits emanating from many pulpits today that claim they prefer quieter, more reserved, subdued and dignified services. It's a good thing, if we as Christians, find an acceptable church house to worship in and support it with our time, abilities and money, but let's not make this a priority over our individual Bible study and prayer and worship time with the Lord. Let's remember to conduct our lives in a holy manner whether we are inside or outside the church house itself (Heb.12:14 ; II Cor. 7:1).

The main reason for conducting church services is to worship in unity with fellow Christians, therefore hopefully bringing more of God's power, essence and love into our presence. In this way, we can receive great blessings in our worship. Also, we are to hear and understand the Word of God preached by the Pastor and his associates to help us grow in the Lord (Rom. 10:17 ; Jam. 1:21 ; I Pet. 2:2). When these purposes are fulfilled in the church services, souls will then be added to the True Church, backsliders will surrender again their lives to God, and people will be delivered and healed. Let's keep in mind that for all of the bad reasons we've brought forth here for parishioners attending any church, they are underscored by the possibility that someone may sincerely give their heart to Jesus and get saved in any church house service.

I agree completely with the concept of church house attendance (Heb.10:25), but why should we be critical of others in a congregation for not attending every service when we don't know all of the circumstances involved in their absence? This brings up another point. If someone must work on a Sunday because it is a requirement of their employer, and they are unable to attend services when the church house doors are open, why are they and their salvation through Christ held in question? Those who say that they must work on the "Sabbath Day" are criticized for breaking the Fourth Commandment. It's important to know that though Sunday may be the traditional day of worship for most of the Christian world, it is not the Sabbath Day of the Old Testament or of the Ten Commandments. Technically, that day was the seventh day of the week, on a Saturday (Rom. 14:4-5). Under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, which all people live in today, the "Sabbath Day" is defined in a different way. Now that Jesus has finished His mission on earth and has fulfilled the Law of Moses, this changes and fulfills the way we are to look at the " Sabbath"(Mat.5:17). If we look in the New Testament and examine the scriptures in Hebrews, Chapters 3 and 4, we will be able to see that the Sabbath Rest in our New Covenant with Jesus Christ is not talking about a certain particular twenty-four hour day at the end of the work week. We know, first of all, from the Old Testament, that the Children of Israel were commanded to keep the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as a day of rest after their six-day work week, and not to do any work on that particular day. This coincides with God resting from his work on the seventh day after his creation of all things (Exod. 20:8-11).

We see in our study that the author of the book of Hebrews, who was probably Paul, goes one step further in his examination in making this period of rest a time when the Children of Israel would enter into the land which God had promised them after their exodus and freedom from their four hundred, thirty years of bondage in Egypt. Paul goes on to say that these people could not enter into the Promised Land because of their continual disbelief of God's ability to sustain them on their wilderness journey and in their later supposed possession of this Promised Land of Palestine (Heb. 3:10-11 ; 3:16-19). These people looked at the entrance and possession of this land of promise and viewed it as an impossible task, and therefore did not have faith that God would see them through its dangers (Heb. 4:2). And so, most of that generation died in the wilderness, never having the opportunity to see that " rest" that God had promised them. David's Psalms are quoted by Paul in several verses (Heb. 3:7-8 ; 3:15 ; 4:7), where he is trying to show that David's Psalms (Psa. 95:7-8) are referring to a different future day of " rest" for the people of God, very different from the " rest" of the Children of Israel under Moses. Paul states that David is speaking about a future rest not given when the second generation of Israel finally entered into the Promised Land of milk and honey, under Joshua (Heb. 4:9). He is saying that even though they did not enter into their rest, we Christians can enter into our " New Covenant Rest" with Jesus if we don't follow the same pattern of disbelief and lack of faith as they did (Heb. 4:9-11).

Now, this rest that we Born Again Christians have entered into and have experienced is firstly, a rest of ceasing from our own works and now doing the Lord's works (Heb. 4:10 ; Eph. 2:10). That is, we being totally under God's control by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, who leads, guides and comforts us in our walk by faith in Jesus (John 6:29). This is the rest that was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah 28, versus 11-12, and that Jesus spoke about in fulfilling it 700 years later in Matthew 11, verses 28-29. We have rest from the burden and the bondage of sin by the refreshing of the Holy Spirit within us (Acts 3:19). We, having entered into that rest, have entered into a permanent Sabbath time with every day being a day of rest from our own labors and now letting Jesus work within us by His Spirit (Col. 3:23-24 ; Phil. 2:13).

Even though we are saved by faith, Paul asks "Shall we make void the law through faith?" No, he says "God forbid, we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31). To make something "void," as it applies to the law, means to make it useless and of no legal force or effect. Paul says that the Law of God becomes effective within us by the Holy Spirit, and becomes defined and established in our hearts through walking in faith by Christ Jesus. So now, all of us being under the New Covenant of Christ, which he brought forth by the fulfillment of the Law (Matt. 5:17), realize that we have entered into God's rest accompanied also by eternal life, and establish the Law within ourselves that "every day is the Sabbath under the Lord." For, every day is esteemed holy unto the Lord because it is the day that the Lord has made. So let us rejoice, be glad and holy in it (Psa. 118:24 ; II Cor. 7:1).

So if and when we do find and appropriate church house to worship in, we can attend that church any day of the week it is open, remembering that the concept of Sunday Service is strictly one of tradition, and therefore not mandatory, as Sunday is not considered the only Sabbath Day of the week (Rom. 14:4-6 ; Col. 2:16).
Chapter 3

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TITHE

Within the first few years of my Christian walk with the Lord Jesus, I became confused about the continual church preaching I had heard on the tithes from Malachi 3:6-9. The Holy Spirit living in me then motivated me to become enlightened through the study of the Old and New Testament teaching on this subject. First of all, I realized that this was written to the house of Jacob in the Old Testament, still under the Law of Moses, and not necessarily addressed to New Testament Christians. My conclusion, although contrary to most of the popular ecclesiastical teachings on the subject, became an obstacle that I thought may destroy my evangelical witness to the major truths of the Good News of the Gospel of Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Holy Spirit led me to realize from the study of scripture, that this subject of tithing or of giving a tenth, may not be as essential or expedient as the teaching of the fundamental principles of the doctrine of Christ or of being born again (Heb. 6:1-2). Therefore, I was led to avoid preaching and teaching in churches on this subject. Only at certain times, with certain people, under a particular conversation, did the Lord move me to open up on the truth he had taught me through his Word on the subject of tithing.

The Holy Spirit led conclusion, although probably unpopular with 95% of the Christian Church organizations today, is that tithing, or the giving of a tenth of our salary to our local and foreign church establishment, under the compulsion of a retaliatory threat of a curse of God, is not Biblically sound, and the proof of this premise should become obvious to any Christians showing themselves to be approved unto God, work-men and work-ladies who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (II Tim. 2:15).

The proof through God's Word (The Holy Bible) is simple. First of all, the curse written to the house of Jacob by God in Malachi 3:9 came under the overall Law of Moses written in Deuteronomy 28, where there were definite curses from God pronounced for any disobedience to that Law. But we as Christians today, who are not under the Law of Moses, but under Grace (Eph. 2:8), must look to Christ Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), to discover this fulfillment of that Law (Matt. 5:17). It's written by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:13, where it emphatically states that "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law" because he became the curse for us at his sinless death for all mankind at the cross.

Our true way to "give" is directly pronounced by Paul in II Corinthians 9:7, saying that "a person is to give as he or she purposes in their heart." A heart motivated by God will be directed by the Holy Spirit in being a good steward through all his or her financial endeavors. Knowledge of these profound truths should help aid us in our God-given discernment involving the proper distribution of our finances and abilities to the work of God in establishing his covenant upon the earth (Deut. 8:18), and giving to those in need (Eph. 4:28). These are the purposes for our giving. Jesus tells us to give in Luke 6:38. A Christian who does not give willingly has a problem with his or her heart, which should be addressed before they can say that they're walking that straight and narrow path to eternal life (Matt. 7:14 ; 25:44-45). This is not to mention the fact that they are probably ignorant of a greater blessing to be received in return for their giving (II Cor. 9:6).

Some preachers of today, taking Old Testament Scriptures under the Law of Moses (Mal. 3:6-9) out of context to establish a steady income for themselves and their families, or to just claim plain ignorance, is inexcusable to the Lord. Why don't they practice what they preach to their congregations? That is, to have faith that "the Lord will provide for all their needs through His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). Also, many Christians realize that the tithing envelope is designed as an invasion of one's private income and has a hypocritical tone, as to receive back from the government what one has already given to God.

In my efforts to eradicate ignorance from the church (The body of Christ), I am in no way indicating that I am against church house attendance for the purpose of our unified worship of our Lord Jesus, or to receive the perfection of our growth through the preaching of anointed ministers. I'm simply stating the truth, which I know I will have to stand before God for. No apology, therefore, is necessary for the truth. I only hope that you will acknowledge it.

Let's acknowledge Christian, that all of our money belongs to God anyway, not just a tenth! Again, we give to the work of God and to those who have needs. The house of Jacob, under the Law of Moses, owed God, and owing is not same as giving. That's why he said they had robbed him. Jesus, in fulfilling the Law (Matt. 5:17), has rectified this under his grace. What you owe God is not fifty dollars out of five hundred dollars, but rather a humble and contrite heart and spirit (Psa. 51:17) in relinquishing our will to him in all issues, and that would also include the economic management of our lives. Of course, this would include how much and to which ministry we would allocate and give our funds. Notice that "give" is the word used here, and not "owe."

The most familiar arguments for the tithe are debunked very simply:

The Levitical storehouse mentioned in Malachi 3:10 is not the New Testament church house of today, and should not be construed as such. We are now the Temple of God, and we store up spiritual food from God's Word in our hearts (I Cor. 3:16) so that we may be guided by its light and bring forth this food for the purpose of another's salvation (Psa. 119: 105, 130 ; John 6:27).

When Jesus was speaking in reference to tithing in Matthew 23:23, he was criticizing the Pharisees for forgetting and neglecting the weightier matters of the Law such as judgment, mercy and faith, while they were only paying a tenth in spices. We are no longer under the Law, but under the grace of Christ Jesus through his crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.

Another argument for the tithe is that Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils he had attained at the slaughter of the kings, not being under the Law of Moses as of yet. The main theme that the Seventh Chapter of Hebrews verses 1-11 brings forth is how our new covenant with Christ alludes to an old covenant of Abraham before the Law, where he gave a certain King of Salem named Melchizedek, a man of unknown genealogy, a tenth or tithe of all of his spoils (Gen. 14:20). Then in Hebrews, he makes a contrast between the covenant under Abraham and the later Levitical covenant of the Law of Moses in stating in Hebrews 7:8 that the Levitical priests who were under the Law, who eventually died, were commanded by the Lord to receive tithes from the children of Israel, but Abraham gave his tithes to a Priest that lived perpetually. In other words, he lived forever (Psa. 110:4). The major argument here may be that if Abraham gave a tenth (tithe) to Melchizedek, not under the Law, then we are similarly obligated, and must give a tenth (tithe) to the High Priest of our present covenant, namely Christ Jesus, not under the Law, but rather under grace. The problem with this seemingly plausible conclusion is that our High Priest, the Lord Jesus, has gone to Heaven to be with God, the Father. So we have no tangible, in-the-flesh being, such as Melchizedek to give our tenth to. The true answer, therefore, is that He has left us his comforter, the Holy Spirit who is with us and in us (John 14:17 ; Col. 1:27) to establish his Law of Righteousness (Rom. 3:31), which is by the faith of Jesus Christ. Now we have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16) that we may know His will and purpose for the distribution of our funds as well as his guidance in all of our affairs.

The Law of Moses brought with it three types of law: The Moral Law, the Ritual Law, and the Civil Law. The Ritual and Civil Laws ended with the redemptive fulfillment by Christ Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection. The rest of the Law is clear. Jesus said that if we follow the first two commandments (Matt. 22:37-40) we are fulfilling the entire Moral Law of God, and Paul, The Apostle said not to fulfill the lust of the flesh or the old wicked human nature (Gal. 5:19-21). In conjunction with this, we see that the Covenant of Abraham, before the Law of Moses, included a commandment from God to circumcise every male of their tribe. This being part of the Ritual Law, was discredited and rebuked by Paul as having no part in a person's salvation by grace under Christ's New Covenant of faith in Him alone (Gal. 5:6). Tithing, or the giving of the tenth, which was part of the Ritual Law, was never mentioned by Paul or any other Apostle as a requirement for continued right standing with God. In fact, trying to keep the Ritual Law under the New Covenant of Christ would not bring justification with God (Rom. 3:20-28), but rather condemnation if broken only once (Jam. 2:10).

The book of Genesis alludes to this same relationship between tithing and circumcision where Jacob, Abraham's grandson, first makes a vow with God to pay a tenth of all that he has if God will take care of his provisions (Gen. 28:19-22). Then we see, down the line, that Jacob's sons convinced another group, or tribe of people, to be circumcised also as a requirement of their further future fellowship through inter-marriage and their union in other economic endeavors (Gen. 34:21-24). So we see that tithing and circumcision were both introduced already by God as a prelude to the Ritual Law under Moses, which we know ended with the New Covenant of Christ, where the shedding of His blood is our only redemption from sin. Faith in Him and His blood alone is our only way to Salvation, not the retention of rituals such as circumcision or tithing. Tithing is not fire insurance!

The tenth or tithe of our income may seem to some as a good standard or guide to giving in our church or in other ministries, but we must be careful of not making vows to God that we cannot keep (Eccl. 5:5). Also, we must be mindful to give as our heart within us, guided by the Holy Spirit, dictates, and not out of obligation or necessity in attempting to keep the laws of God (II Cor. 9:7), and always in fear of offending in one point and therefore being found guilty of being in violation of the entire Law (Jam. 2:10 ; Rom. 4:5).

As an illustration, let's take the conversation I had with a pastor some time ago that believes in Tithing. I said to him "There was this man who earned $100 a week and he gave his Tithe (a tenth of his salary) to the local church every week. But one week was different. He had a problem, so he went to his pastor to get an answer. He told his pastor that he had spent $90 that week for groceries for his family and that he wanted to know what he should do with other $10 (10% of his salary). He told the pastor that he noticed that his little daughter desperately needed a pair of shoes to walk 5 miles to school every day, for the pair that she owned had holes in them and snow was on the ground. The pastor responded for him to pay his tithes (the last $10) and the Lord would provide." At this point I asked the pastor that I was telling this story to what he would do? Probably being somewhat embarrassed since he just finished telling his congregation that they were going to hell if they didn't pay there Tithes, this pastor said that he would advise the man to buy his little daughter a pair of shoes, and just double up the next week at church (pay $20). Then I said, "What if the man died before that next Sunday service and had to stand before God to give an account for his actions? You see, he tried to keep the Law of Moses from the Old Testament, and our New Testament Scriptures make it clear that he that tries to keep the Law and offends in one point, is guilty of the entire Law" (Jam. 2:10)! That pastor didn't know how to respond. We are not under the Law, but under Grace.

There is simply no proof anywhere in our New Testament covenant with Jesus Christ that tithing, that is, the giving of a tenth of our salary or income to a church or religious organization is a necessity for our continued Salvation, nor is there any proof of a curse upon you if you don't. So if you are not cursed, Christian brothers and sisters, then you are blessed (Eph. 1:3). On the other hand, giving bountifully always brings a greater blessing from God (Luke 6:38 ; II Cor. 9:6).
Chapter 4

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND RE-MARRIAGE

Marriage is a sacred institution, established by God, the Father. The man and the woman that get married enter into a covenant with God and with each other (Matt. 19:4-6).

God instituted the Law of Marriage to control the existence and perpetuation of family life, which is the basis of human order and government. It's a way God sent for us to help one another in our life on earth (Gen. 2:18, 22-24). It's the only way God wanted children to be born, and for couples to enjoy sexual relations. It's the way to avoid fornication, which is defined as any unlawful sexual relationships outside of marriage (I Cor. 7:2). Marriage is God's first and longest covenant with mankind. He intended and made it to be monogamous, one man and one woman, not several partners or relationships.

A saved, regenerated person should always be praying that the Lord will lead him or her to another true Christian person, if they desire to possibly marry in the future (II Cor. 6:14; I Cor. 7:39). This will give that marriage the best chance for future success and survival, being led of the Lord into "God's type of Love" for one another and any family they may have. This "Agape" Love of God goes beyond sexual pleasures and emotional attachment.

What we learn about marriage and divorce from the Biblical Books of Matthew, Mark and Luke, is basically a review given to the Jewish people of the Rules set down by God under the Old Mosaic Covenant of the Law. Remember, the Covenant of the Law under Moses, included the Moral Law, the Ritual Law and the Civil Law, because it was a "Theocratical" form of government set up by God. In his Civil Law statements to the Jews and Pharisees, Jesus was reminding all, especially men, that under the Law of Moses, they could not be released from a marriage partner unless they found that partner to be presently involved in sexual relations with another person. In other words, that partner would have to be found guilty of fornication or adultery (Matt. 19:9). If for any other reason, a man persisted in having his wife put out (Deut. 24:1-2), to seek another partner, because of the hardness of his heart, he must give her a "Writing of Divorcement" (Mark 10:2-5) to show her innocence in this separation, which would satisfy any future inquirers who might desire to remarry her. This also applies to the woman who would desire to separate from her husband (Mark 10:11-12), although, most of the time, it was the domineering man, who having the adulterous mind and social power, considered his wife to be a personally possession, that could be dealt with as he pleased.

Before our New Covenant was ushered in, with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Law of Moses was still in effect when Jesus was speaking to the Lost Children of Israel, to whom he was sent. Our New Covenant Church today, has misused and misunderstood many of the Scriptures written in Matthew, Mark and Luke. For example: the term "putting away," in the root Greek Language, means to "be dismissed" and does not, in any way mean "divorce or Writing of Divorcement." The Greek word "Apoluo" is used in the New Testament Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, and means "putting away or dismissed." This coincides perfectly with the Hebrew word "Shalach" for "putting away" in the Old Testament, used in Malachi 2:14-16, as well as many other places. Neither of these words means a "Writing of Divorcement." The Hebrew word for divorce, "Keriythuwith," coincides perfectly in our New Testament words of Jesus with the Greek word "Apostasion."

Where did church organizations today, ever begin to read "whosoever divorces his wife," into those places that Jesus literally said, "whosoever puts away, abandons or dismisses his wife?" It may be the one place where "Apoluo" was mistranslated "divorced" in 1611, which started the whole process. Yes, as unfortunate as it seems, there exists this mistranslation in Matthew 5:32, of the King James Version, although we know that in most other areas, the King James is the best and most accurate translation of the ancient scriptures. The King James Version translated the word "Apoluo" as "put away" ten out of eleven times Jesus said it. That eleventh instance seems to be the source of the problem. In 1611, in one place the King James translators wrote the word "divorce" instead of "put away" in Matthew 5:32. They wrote "and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, commits adultery." The word used here is not the Greek word "Apostasion" (divorce), but is a form of that same Greek word "Apoluo," which did not include a Writing of Divorce for the woman. She, technically and lawfully would still be married.

This is very significant. In a world of total male domination, men often took many wives and did not provide a written release when they forsook those wives and married others. The Jewish Law demanding written divorce was largely ignored. Jesus was primarily looking at the rights of the women who were being put out or dismissed from their marriage without a written divorce and left to carry within them the stigma or appearance of being an adulterous woman. If a man or woman were found guilty of adultery, the penalty was death by stoning (Deut. 22:22), which of course, meant automatic divorce. No document was required, but the penalty of death was rarely carried out. This was because it was probably enough of a guilt trip for the husband to be forcing his wife out of the house, making way for his own lust for another. He probably thought, "why should he compound his guilt by calling for the death of a woman that he knows is innocent of infidelity?" Jesus demanded equal rights for women. He said to those men that "when you put away your wife, without a Writing of Divorcement, and marry another (while she is still technically married to you), you are guilty of adultery (Luke 16:18)." Not only this, but she that is "put away" is in jeopardy, because, along with carrying the stigma of being a woman of adulterous character, she has no divorce document and would be guilty of committing adultery if she married again, seeing she is still technically married by Law. Why would the man that marries her be guilty of adultery also, because he either married an adulterous woman, or married a woman still legally married to another man.

Understanding now, that Jesus was talking to the Jewish people, under the Old Mosaic Covenant, commanding them to obey the Law, where does this leave us, in our New Covenant of Grace with Christ Jesus on the subject of marriage and divorce? In our New Covenant of Grace, Jesus has now fulfilled the Law of Moses, ending the Ritual and Civil portions of God's Government of National Israel. What remains in our New Covenant is, of course, the Moral Law, which is implanted in our individual hearts when we become Born Again Christians (Rom. 3:31; Gal. 5:18). We, as Christians, should not have to be told that the Ten Commandments are still in enforcement by God today (Exod. 20:1-17). Jesus explained how they became condensed in "loving the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves" (Matt. 22:37-40). The one to note here, of course, is the seventh, "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery."

When we marry it should be with the intention of having that one and only partner for life (Matt. 19: 3-8), "true monogamy, till death do you part, letting no man put asunder." God's only allowance for divorce on the part of an innocent partner is physical adultery on the part of the other. Of course, there is no penalty of death for the unfaithful partner in most countries that we live, but we as Christians have the right, if we so desire to exercise it, to seek, file for and receive a divorce from a spouse who has had sexual relations with another person during our marriage with them.

God uses civil governments in our countries and states that have provisions for marriage and divorce. We should adhere to them as much as possible, because if we don't, we are not obeying the Lord (Rom. 13:1-4 ; I Pet. 2:13-15).

The worldly people today practice the ungodly doctrine of devils, "forbidding To marry" (I Tim.4:1-3). Sexually active partners who are not married bring curses and sin against their own bodies and fall into the judgment of God, here and here after their life on earth (I Cor. 6:18 ; Heb. 13:4). So when disagreements occur in a relationship, there's no incentive or desire that's pronounced to correct ones behavior in order to conform to a contractual agreement or covenant. There's no binding agreement to remind their conscience to be faithful to their partner in sexual matters or in any other way. So many people today claim that they are married in God's eyes by just making their personal vows to him, without any formal, civil ceremony or record being made with the state where they reside. No, you are not! Others today feel that they'll try living together to see if they will be compatible before getting married. Where's their faith in God and in that person as a potential life partner? Incidentally, there is no such thing as "Common Law Marriage" in God's eyes. How does God say one day, that " fornication (sexual contact outside of the marriage covenant) is a sin against him" (Gal. 5:19), and then, seven years later, call it a legal, blessed marriage, with no formal commitment with any legal, civil authorities, which have been ordained of him (Rom. 13:1-3 ; I Pet. 2:13). It should also be noted, that same sex marriage is not acknowledged or blessed by God. In fact, it is an abomination to him (Lev. 18:22 ; Rom. 1:26-27).

God, the Father, requires all people of the opposite sex, saved or unsaved, to obtain a legal marriage if they so desire to be joined intimately with another person of the opposite sex. Yes, the unsaved, unregenerate people should always be encouraged to marry legally if they desire to have sexual relations with another. Why is this? First of all, the Marriage Covenant is the first and oldest Covenant God made with mankind (Gen. 2:24). The Marriage Covenant separates us from the animal kingdoms, which copulate out of instinct (I Cor. 15:39). Our conscience makes us aware through law and ordinances within us (Rom. 1:19-20) that sexual contact is regulated to that single person who we are married to, only.

God desires financial, emotional and educational support, and comfort for the weaker vessels of the family, in case of separation for any reason of the parties involved in a relationship. Children can more readily be given the father's name, if the parties are married. Curses, to some degree, are diminished on the two parties involved in sexual contact if they get married, seeing they won't be sinning against their own bodies (I Cor. 6:18). Also, generational curses on the children that are born might be eliminated (I Cor. 7:14).

The Apostle Paul, in his Epistles to the Corinthian Church, sites another reason that would be acceptable to the Lord for a person to seek a divorce from their spouse. If an unbelieving spouse totally deserts their marriage partner, let them depart (I Cor. 7:15). For the believing partner is no longer bound to that marriage, but can seek to be divorced from them. But before all this, Paul commands, that if a person becomes Born Again (Saved) while he or she is married to an unsaved spouse, they are not to leave that spouse. For how does he or she know that the good Christian example that they show will not win the unbelieving spouse to receive the Lord also (I Cor. 7:12-14)? Also, Paul says that if a wife or husband leaves on a temporary basis, let them later be reconciled only to each other (I Cor. 7:10-11).

Many other wonderful words of advice and counseling are given by Paul in the seventh chapter of First Corinthians. All would be well advised to read and study this Chapter and many other scriptures in other Epistles that give excellent guidance for married couples and their families to follow (Col. 3:18-19 ; Eph. 5:22-25 ; I Pet. 3:1-7 ; Pro. 18:22).

There is one other cause for separation and possible divorce that I think God would endorse. Spousal abuse can be a very serious problem for a wife or a husband. For example: If a husband is constantly, physically abusing his wife, either because of drugs or alcohol abuse, or an extreme anger problem, this is an issue that has to be addressed because of the extreme threat of danger to the wife, children and other members of that family home. Here we must consider God's Commandment; "Thou Shalt Not Kill" (murder). If a wife consistently becomes exposed to physical assault and battery from her abusive husband, she is knowingly summiting herself to danger that can leave her crippled or even dead. She would be committing suicide (murder) by allowing her husband to beat her to death, not to speak of the potential danger to her children. If violent abuse like this is not corrected by the civil authorities, counseling, or a moral and spiritual character change on the part of the husband, then it is my opinion, and I think God's also, that this wife should first separate herself from that husband, and then, if this violent behavior and character flaw is still not addressed and corrected through some type of counseling, then she should seek a divorce decree from him.

In review, the reasons God allows for divorce begin with physical fornication or adultery on the part of either party. Also, total departure (desertion and abandonment) of either partner would, over an extended period of time, denote probable infidelity on the part of the one who leaves. Finally, a spouse that is experiencing extreme violent physical abuse from a partner could file for divorce. Given the personal circumstances of each of these three situations, we should always be seeking God's blessings and help through prayer in making the right, God guided, decisions.

Many large Christian Conferences have placed burdensome requirements on applicants for a Ministerial License. The worst one of all is one that we name in a minister's jest, "the unpardonable sin," which is that of "being married before our present marriage." If an applicant has been previously married, then divorced, and now is re-married to someone other than his first wife or husband, he or she is sometimes automatically disqualified, due to a mistranslation of God's Word on the part of some of these Christian Conferences.

Even if that first marriage and divorce occurred before he was born again (saved), this automatic disqualification would still apply because most of these organizations and conferences make no allowances or excuses for divorce and re-marriage. If God forgave all your sins from the past at your new birth in Jesus Christ, whether you were guilty or innocent in your previous marriage and divorce, of course, he has already forgiven any and all past issues having to do with that divorce and re-marriage. These conferences, in their "no excuse attitude" for divorce and re-marriage, believe that Paul, in writing to Timothy on the qualifications for Bishops and Deacons, was saying that they couldn't have been married before their present marriage (I Tim. 3:2,12 ; Tit. 1:6). This is incorrect. "Let the Deacons be the husband of one wife" (I Tim. 3:12) should be translated to mean "that he has to be currently married to only one woman." Since "Polygamy" was practiced extensively back then (2000 years ago), the least that was expected of a Deacon Applicant was that he had given a "Writing of Divorcement" to any other woman that he had married previously. This would make his present marriage "Monogamous" and not adulterous.
Chapter 5

MILITARY SERVICE

Question: Is our Lord Jesus pleased when a Christian person, young or older, joins the Armed Services of a nation? To answer this, we must answer other questions that only God's Word (The Holy Bible), can answer.

We know from the Old Testament Scriptures that the Nation of Israel was not only allowed to have physical combat with other enemy nations, but was commanded to do so on many occasions. The obvious reasons were for self-defense, and the driving out of other nations from the land the Lord God had promised them.

We can understand from this example, how the Democratic Nations of the world today may feel justified in their engagement in wars with other nations and influencing or drafting people for governmental military services to fight those wars.

Some of these Democratic Nations do this under the guise of claiming that they are Christian nations or say that they have a Christian foundation. But what, in reality, is a Christian Nation, or what would we determine to be a Nation under God's true influence? It would not be a "Democracy," which by definition is a government that is "by the people, for the people." A true Godly Nation would have to be a "Theocracy," which is a nation and government that is set up, established and run by God, the Father, for his people and their benefit. This is the kind of nation that Israel had in the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant Law of Moses, before Christ and our New Testament Covenant, in his Blood, came into being. Therefore, we know and understand why God allowed and endorsed physical wars with other neighboring nations in the Old Testament Covenant. God was "covenant," or as we would say, "contract" bound with primarily this nation, Israel, as a whole. He gave his Law of the land directly to his people through their mediator, Moses, which makes this the ultimate example of a Theocracy.

In a Democracy, there is no direct Law from God, only men claiming to be influenced and directed by God in their law making, wherein lies much scrutiny and doubt.

The very core of this subject should start with the Words of Our master and Lord Jesus, in coming to fulfill the Law of Moses. In Matthew 5:43-44 we learn that we are to love our enemies. How do you love your enemy, if you in fact deem him your enemy, by shooting him with a rifle or shoving a knife or bayonet into his chest?

As an illustration of how some men feel about killing another person, let's take for example, the time that I asked a renowned evangelist from a well-known protestant organization, why he took the stand in support of a society taking the life of a person convicted of murder (Capital Punishment). His answer was very clear and personal. He said "If I was the executioner of a particular prison and had to execute someone convicted of murder, I would tell that person that I loved him just before I threw the switch." I was astounded at his answer. Imagine telling someone that you love them, then killing them through electrocution! Remember that Jesus said "by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:37). I might kill a dog that was dying already, to stop it from suffering, but not a man. People get the idea that they can bring in the "eye for an eye" and "tooth for a tooth" theology from the Old Testament anytime it seems convenient, but Jesus said in fulfilling the Law, that not only are we to love our neighbor, but we are to love our enemies as well, and that can't be to kill him (Matt. 5:38-39, 43-44)!

Remember that God, Our Father, allowed the Old Testament Israelites to engage in physical combat and wars because he was supposed to be their only source of influence and guidance, and they were under his Law, exclusively. In contrast, God, through the sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus and his New Covenant of Grace, has given us his Holy Spirit to guide, to influence, to comfort and to dictate his Law to our hearts. It's totally an individual salvation that he offers and seeks for us to obtain, not a national one. As a whole, if a nation sins and forgets God, it can be open to any type of calamity the devil can muster up (Psa. 9:17). Jesus came to save men from their sins, not nations. He came to his own nation and people (Israel) and they as a whole, rejected and despised him by disobeying his Law, and committing Idolatry (Isa 53:3). Under our present New Covenant of Christ's Blood, the only nation that God accepts is one of Jews and Gentiles combined that accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. This is the New Israel of God (Rom. 2:28-29 ; 9:6-8).

Jesus never endorsed men and women to join any institution, underground or government organization, that would engage in physical combat with other nations or countries to solve it's social, political, domestic or economic problems (Jam. 4:1-3). Government motivations are more than obvious. Fear of political overthrow or take over, possibly resulting in the change or destructions of our way of life, could be the reason, but more than likely, it would be to protect economic stability, escalating big business to the point of greed, avarice, and corruption, along with a blatant disregard for the worth of a human life (Luke 12:15).

To a lot of people today, Jesus' Words of "Loving your Enemy" just don't make logical sense in the face of three major arguments.

Christian Organization today may ask, "What shall we do with the scriptures that pertain to obeying our country's local and national laws?" (Rom. 13:1-3; I Pet. 2:13-14). Naturally, we are to obey every law of the nation that we live under, except when those laws come in complete contradiction and direct conflict with the fulfillment of God's Law set down by Jesus in our New Testament Scriptures. Therefore, it would be in complete contradiction to "loving your enemy" to be a member of a military group, government or otherwise, that has decided to do physical harm to someone they or you have decided is you or your country's enemy.

This, therefore, answers our main question right up front. "No," our Lord God is not pleased with those people who call themselves Christians, yet join military organizations, governmental or otherwise, and have made a vow that they will defend their nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic, even with the possible risk or cost of their own lives. In essence, they are saying that they will kill another person, if necessary, to accomplish that goal (Hab. 2:12).

In coordination with this subject, notice when Jesus said "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to God that which is God's" (Mark 12:14-17), he was talking about giving your money in taxes to the leadership of your nation and giving your life and body as a sacrifice to God for his purpose and glory (Rom.12:1).

This would bring us to the second argument most folks would have. If everyone in our nation was a conscientious objector to killing our country's enemies, which every Christian should be, who would defend our country against its enemies foreign and domestic who would want to conquer our government and destroy our way of life, to subject us to their tyranny and dominance? To answer this argument we must first look at the motivations that cause men to kill each other. When a country or nation is under attack from another, for example, the government of the country under attack will want its people to defend it. So, some people of that nation may feel that they have to make a sacrifice to defend their way of life, loved ones and property, even if it means losing their life in the process. Others may join a military organization or armed forces for other reasons. Some people just want to be part of something that is involved with team work, where there is a sense of belonging to something they believe is important. Still, others like the idea of excitement, accompanied by "adrenaline rushes" in doing things that are dangerous. Some want to experience the glory of war and combat, only to sadly find that its end is trying to hold your intestines in when your insides are opened up. Some are just bored or fed up with the peaceful life they have of working a job they feel is monotonous with no risks involved.

Many of our youth, in the past or present, have been brain washed into patriotism to a country and cause that will misguide and exploit their youthful energies for a government's own self- seeking, covetous, controlling purposes. They lore them with the excitement of learning new technologies they may not even be able to use in the civilian life they re-enter, and most of the time, they don't tell them that their tour of duty may end in their being crippled for the rest of their life or that they may even be killed. Please, don't misunderstand me. My heart goes out to the people who have suffered from wars, either from combat or as a result of being in a combat zone. My prayer is that they will acknowledge the futility of physical war, and recognize that God's Word (the Bible) should be our supreme authority in this matter. The life that God has given you Christians is for his glory only and is much more precious to him than to be wasted on a battle field for the purpose of a bureaucratic nation.

The bottom line is this. The motivations that cause people to join the military, whether they are fear of loss, excitement to kill or be killed, revenge or hate, getting away from failure or disappointment in civilian life or the promise of an education or vocation, do not come from God. They come from the spiritual enemy, Satan, who wants to destroy you.

Christian, you need to know that God has a plan to protect you in this New Covenant we have in Jesus Christ from all enemies of our nation, foreign and domestic. His plan, as shocking as it may sound, is to use the people that have the motivational tendencies we've just discussed to do it for you. Why? They are predisposed to defend you physically, because their conscience is not where it should be with God. If they were really obeying God, and living by the Words of the Lord Jesus, despite the possible persecution they may suffer, they could not be deceived into believing that they would have to join the armed forces of a nation for any reason.

We see from our Old Testament Scripture, that God let the Israelites engage in physical combat with other nations many times, where the normal odds of them winning the battle would be very slim. They always won because God was with them, giving them that edge they needed to succeed in defeating their enemies. The only exception to this would be if the nation of Israel, as a whole, became disobedient to God. Then his blessing of protection from loss would be diminished or removed. If a soldier died in battle, from the Israelite Army, he probably went to the Old Testament Heaven, as long as the other areas of his life were lived by faith in obeying God's Laws. This is because, under the Old Covenant of Moses, God gave them permission and even endorsement for physical combat. Where do we see this instruction and permission given by Our Lord Jesus, in our New Testament Scripture? Nowhere, do we see it. On the contrary, we see his gentle, humble example of love on earth for everybody (Act. 10:38 ; Matt. 11:28-30), and we here his Word that says that "They that live by the sword, shall die by the sword" (Matt. 26-52). Nowhere in Scriptures is a disciple of Christ told to fight a physical battle, as the Jewish Zealots fought against their Roman oppressors. Nor were they told to physically fight anyone because their battle was a spiritual one (Eph. 6:12). They were told to preach the Gospel and love all mankind. They were told to teach only peace, not war and killing, motivated from fear or greed for another person's goods (I John 4:7,12).

Use Godly Wisdom, Christian. Let God use these people that are predisposed, through pride, deception or for patriotism to their government, protect you who are obedient to your Lord, as humble servants, loving all mankind. Jesus said that, "if person doesn't love me more than his family, he's not worthy of me (Matt. 10:37), and went on to say that if a person doesn't love me more than his own life, and is not willing to forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26,33).

This may sound very harsh to some people. For many have died in wars to secure the physical freedoms that we have or appear to have, such as security for our lives and families, or security for our property and our way of life. However, the Freedoms of the Lord, which are, freedom from sin, spiritual blindness and spiritual death, can only be secured through obedience to the Word of Christ Jesus, the True God and Eternal Life (I John 5:20).

A final argument of reasoning is this. If everyone in our country believed, and did what Jesus said, that is to refuse joining the Armed Services, who would come in defense of our nation if we were threatened or attacked by another? The answer is obvious. If everyone was a Christian, and followed Christ Jesus' Words, God Our Father, himself, would defend us from enemy attack, foreign or domestic.

Your Bible tells so many times just how God delivered his people when they could not defend themselves, where the numbers or odds were just not in their favor logically to win. Most of the time, God only allows his people to suffer physical violence in oppression from others, if they are being persecuted from Christ Jesus' Name sake, or for living by the Word of God. We Christians must sometimes suffer this persecution (II Tim. 3:12). But in suffering an enemy attack, we have his Word (Isa. 54:17) that " no weapon formed against us will ever prosper, and when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will life up a standard against him."(Isa.59:19). The trouble with people is that they're not Christian enough in faith to believe God would do this for them. It's just as St. James said. "They struggle to obtain, cannot obtain, so kill to get it," whether it be peace, protection, property or money (Jam. 4:1-3). But if we seek to obtain those things that are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God, like more faith, patience, guidance and wisdom, we will let his will be done in and for our lives (Col. 3:1-3).

So, let God take care of your enemies, foreign and domestic, allowing his form of protection to prevail and cover you, whether it be under his pillar of fire, confusion brought to the enemy, a cloud of smoke, fire come down from Heaven, or men and women programmed and predisposed to physical violence and combat.

Now, if a nation institutes a "Draft" (compulsory service), there still exists the alternative of jail. Do we seek to please our Lord, who wants to preserve our life for his purpose and Glory, or men, whose motives are dubious in regard to human life? They can't make you kill anyone (Mat. 16:25).

Also, acknowledging you as a conscientious objector, may lead military officials to influence you into a non-combative type service, where you are not exposed to violence or engages in combat. This is another trick that still leaves you responsible to God for the death of people involved in the combat and mayhem that would take place in the event of a war. Any job with military implications could make you responsible to God. A clerk, for example in the payroll office is just as responsible for the death and injury of an enemy soldier as the soldier who physically killed or wounded him.

Inordinate or exaggerated interest in political issues can be another downfall for a Christian. Idolatry can come in many forms (II Tim. 2:4 ; I Cor. 6:12 ; 10:23). Of course, there are exceptions, such as abortion, or other inhuman injustices that should be addressed and often protested openly in accordance with the Laws of the land, and peacefully objected to through marches and speeches.

Remember, a true hero is one who fights against spiritual enemies of the heart and soul, not against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12 ; II Cor. 10:4-5). True courage is to suffer the persecution that will accompany this battle.
Chapter 6

DANGEROUS AND FRAUDULENT SCIENCE

Certain issues in today's modern sciences should be closely examined by Born Again Christians.

To start with, the beliefs, theories and attitudes of modern day Psychology should be compared to our understanding of the Holy Scriptures (the Bible). Modern worldly Psychology exclaims that it is defined as the study of human behavior and the mind of man. The proponents of Psychology say it is a science because it uses systematic collections and observations of data to try to answer questions about the mind of mankind, his behavior, and their interactions.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed a "Psychoanalytic Theory," being concerned with the individuals and their mental health problems. He drew a distinction between consciousness (a mental state of awareness, to which we have ready access), and the unconsciousness (those mental processes to which we do not normally have access).

As Christians, we understand these obvious distinctive parts, as the Soul (mind, will and emotions) of a person, coinciding to the "Conscious state," and the spirit or heart of a person, coinciding to the " Unconscious state." These two parts of a person will interact in playing a role in a person's behavior pattern. Freud said that the unconscious, or what we as Christians call the spirit or heart, is where our motivations and the source of our problems exist. This statement is true in a sense, in that, we Christians believe that if the spirit (heart) of a person is changed, recreated, in other words, he is Born Again, then his behavior will be modified in a good, positive way. This will be to the expectation and pleasure of God (John 3:3, 5), the Holy Spirit, who is leading and guiding his or her soul to do righteousness, which is by Faith of Jesus Christ (John 16:13). This, of course, is the solution to human problems of the mind and its resulting behavior. Reading and studying our Bibles, and letting our conscious mind or souls be led by the Holy Spirit, which resides in our New Born Again spirit (Psa. 51:10), is the solution to any personality or behavioral problems (Pro. 16:3 ; Rom. 8:14).

Most of the theories of Psychology are not based on Christian Principles. Freud's theory of separating personalities into three different parts (Id, Ego, and Super-Ego), has three separate forces of a person's mind fighting for control of his behavior. In the Christian view, the Bible teaches that the forces that control an individual's mind and behavior are a combination of his own will, tainted by an inherent sin nature for his desires, and Angelic influences. Freud said the "Id" is the source of mental energy and desire. It operates on the desire for maximum pleasure. The "Super-Ego" represents rules and obligations, and "Ego" operates as the intermediate between the other two, going after desires that can be satisfied only if the means to satisfy them exists and is available. This balance is completely unscriptural. According to the Bible, we are born into a "sin nature" (Rom. 5:12 ; 3:23 ; Eccl. 7:20), because of Adam and Eve's fall from Grace (Gen. 3:11-24). Mankind now seems to continue in that disobedience to the Laws of God because of his free sinful will, and the Demonic influence of falling Angels (Eph. 6:12), If we are Born Again by the drawing of the Holy Spirit, we will then become aware that our old nature has been changed (II Cor. 5:17), that is our spirit man within, and that our Soul (mind, will and emotion) must be renewed day by day through God's power in revealing his word to us (Psa. 119:130 ; Rom.10:17).

Once the heart of a person is changed, then they are freed from sin (Rom. 6:1-2) and can live holy lives by God's power (II Cor. 5:17, Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:23-24, Rom. 6:18). So we understand, that this Freudian conflicting personality struggle of the "Id, Ego, and Super-Ego" is in direct contradiction with God's Word. Thank God for Jesus, who bore our sins at his atoning redemptive death. Accepting and following him brings Eternal Life, Joy and Peace. This brings a personality change.

Freud said that the Ego of a person will use certain "Defense Mechanisms" in helping the individual reduce tensions and maintain a healthy outlook. Some of these are "Repression" from bad memories or desires that would provoke anxiety. But our Bible tells us to keep our thoughts on good things (Phil. 4:8). As Christians we should monitor and filter our thinking to embrace good thoughts (Phil. 3:15). "Displacement" is another mechanism he mentions that redirects our anger away from its source. Our Bible says for us to be angry, but sin not (Eph. 4:26). Our anger with a situation or person should not have a lasting effect or be unfairly directed at another. This anger could lead to sin, but we have control of our emotions by the Holy Spirit that resides in us. Freud says that "Reaction Formation" is something we do to cover up a disturbing desire that might be socially unacceptable. But we Christians should be honest and without deceit in all our social dealings. Other "Defense Mechanisms" he sights, such as "Compensation," "Rationalization" and "Regression" would be rectified if a person would just shed off his pride (Prov. 16:5 ; 16:18). So we see that failures in our personality traits would be improved by our close fellowship to God in prayer and meditation on his Word. All of these theories that have been discussed come from Freud's Psychoanalytic Theories, and have not been developed through empirical testing, and they consistently conflict with God's Word (The Bible).

There are "Humanistic Theories" of personality, which are supposed to emphasize the uniqueness and richness of a being human. One such theory is "Self Actualization," which is becoming in a creative way, the person you are capable of being. This also suffers from a lack of empirical evidence. An overall optimistic view of our life is not a realization of the true nature of mankind and his unregenerate, depraved state before he or she is Born Again (Jer. 17:9 ; Mark 7:20-23).

The real problem in Psychology and Psychiatry is the treatments they offer in "abnormal behavior," which is defined by them as "deviating statistically from a typical behavior." Also, part of that definition is that "it interferes with a person's ability to function in a particular situation." It's labeled "abnormal" in the society in which it occurs. Finally, "abnormal behavior" is characterized by perceptual or cognitive dysfunction.

Let's address some disorders that Psychology is treating today. There are "Anxiety Disorders," such as panic attacks. Then there is "Obsessive Compulsion Disorder," such as taking up the day, with washing one's hands, obsessed with germs, etc. There is "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," caused by the trauma of war or violence. Finally, there are "Phobias" such as "the fear of situations, snakes, open spaces, etc." Then there are "mood disorders," such as "bipolar" and "Depression" which could bring a lack of interest, low self-esteem, low energy and thoughts of suicide.

Finally, there are several types of "Schizophrenia," such as "Catatonic," marked by a stupor and rigid body postures for extended periods of time. There's "Disorganized," characterized by incoherent speech and inappropriate emotional affect, and finally there's "Paranoid Schizophrenia," characterized by auditory hallucinations and feelings of persecution. They may also have "delusions of grandeur." With the other forms of this malady, there are personality disorders and multiple personality disorders, where two or more distinct personalities appear present in one individual. The treatments for these various maladies and behaviors vary. Psychoanalysis focuses on past "defense mechanisms of repression and rationalization," to understand the unconscious cause of a problem. In "Free Association" the patient reports any and all conscious thoughts and ideas which could bring out hints to the nature of the unconscious conflict. With Freud, it means the imbalance of the "Id, Ego and Super-ego," being the root cause of the problem.

In Psychoanalysis, a therapist strives to remain detached from the patient with the intent of encouraging transference, where the patient shifts thoughtful feelings about certain people or events onto the therapist, which is suppose to help reveal the nature of the patient's conflicts.

We as Christians, should not look on this as being Scientific Method, or even helpful in solving a person's mental problems. First of all, if a person is not a Christian, he needs to except and receive Our Lord Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior, not run to some Psychiatrist or Psychologist to pour out his personal life to. If we are truly Born Again Christians, the Lord Jesus is supposed to be our personal Counselor who we tell our troubles to in prayer (Isa. 9:6). We are not controlled by three internal personality components of "Id, Ego and Super-ego." The heart or spirit of a person, which they call the "unconscious" is the main item to be addressed by God in our life before and after we are Born Again, then he deals with our Soul (mind, will and emotions) in our walk with his Spirit, in understand his Word, and being obedient to it. Worldly, people, who will not follow God's plan of Salvation, will usually seek therapy from Psychologists and Psychiatrists for the abnormalities in their behavior, but we as Christians, have our past abnormal behaviors (sins) covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ, and his sacrificial death has given us a permanent forgiveness and atonement for them. With this Atonement, why would a Christian allow a therapist to drag out old memories, thoughts and feelings, when we have a God who helps us in all of our troubles (Psa. 50:15 ; Jer. 33:3), and will keep our conscious minds in perfect peace (Isa. 26:3)?

Psychiatry does not believe that there are Demonic Forces that invade and oppress our minds (Eph. 6:12). We Christians have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us, and prayer is the weapon we use to overcome these mind invading forces (I John 4:4). Other weapons at our disposal are the Word of God, the Name of Jesus, the Fruit of the Spirit, and the Gifts of the Spirit (II Cor. 10:4-5). This Christian concept is totally foreign and complete foolishness to the Psychiatric Community (I Cor. 1:18, 25). They believe that an individual's behavioral problems originate from an internal "persona," motivated by his or her environment and inherited genetic makeup, not from a person's internal, inherent sin nature and demonic influences.

Freud also believed that images and items in a person's dreams are symbols representing other items or events in the unconscious mind. One example is "knives representing male genitals." It is appalling to think that an atheist such as Freud could be a God given dream interpreter, such as "Daniel" the Prophet in the Bible.

In Humanistic Psychology, Carl Rogers says the therapist provides an unconditional positive regard to help a client reach a state of unconditional self-worth. We know as Christians, we have integrity, and are important to God in his love toward us (John 3:16), but God will not, and does not have an unconditional positive regard for any unconfessed sin (I John 1:9 ; Isa. 55:7). As far as self-worth is concerned, we should be careful to have a modest opinion of our own worth or importance, not an exaggerated one (Jam. 4:6,10 ; Matt. 18:3-4 ; Luke. 14:11). We need to have a humble attitude about ourselves. Man is not an "island to himself or his own man." We are God's creation, made to glorify him. Man, in his fallen unregenerate, depraved state is not, as some think, basically a good person. This is a deceptive, self- righteous premise that leads people to think that they don't need or want to believe in a God, with rules that put restrictions on their conduct in life.

Therapists may take positive feelings generated by drinking alcohol, and replace them with a new reaction, namely negative feelings concerning alcohol. All one has to do is read the Bible to see how dangerous alcohol consumption is (Pro. 20:1 ; 23:29-35). We as Christians need to get filled with the joy, peace, elation, and euphoria of the Holy Ghost, and we won't want to drink alcohol (Eph. 5:18). Giving a person "Anabuse" or some other drug to make them sick, won't cure Chronic Alcoholism. Only Jesus, by the power of his Holy Spirit, can deliver a person from Alcohol Demons.

Some therapists use "relaxation techniques" to counteract feelings of anxiety in a patient. These are only mental parlor tricks, that may work for a while, but do not bring real deliverance that only our Lord's power can bring through prayer.

Sometimes, if people have a fear of spiders, the therapist may expose them to spiders, so that, presumably, they will realize the situation is not dangerous. Whether it be of spiders, snakes, or heights, any phobia can be taken away by the power of God, although I'm sure the Holy Spirit would have us use caution concerning such things, and not be careless (Matt. 4:7). Let's not tempt God. A phobia is just a temptation from demons, to fear something that might not be dangerous at all.

Therapists also use reward systems to reward a person's good behavior. This is ludicrous. Jesus gives our greatest reward for following and worshipping him. This will bring Eternal Life and Peace, starting in this world (John 10:10).

Certain "maladaptive schemas" can cause a client to experience "cognitive distortions," which in turn, lead them to feel worthless or incompetent. The goal of the "Cognitive Theory" is to eliminate or modify the individuals "maladaptive schemas." As Christians, however, our thinking pattern should be consistently altered to think more righteous, good thoughts about ourselves and God's will for our life (Eph. 4:23-24). As we stay in obedience to Jesus, he gives us a healthy, well balanced mind, not Psycho-therapy (Pro. 16:3).

Our God can deliver us from any depression or anxiety disorder. For how can we be depressed or anxious with God in our lives, keeping us from the power of the rulers of darkness of this world? God can deliver us from any Demonic power of Schizophrenia-"Catatonic or Paranoid." As Christians we realize the power of God is the solution to most mental health problems (Luke 10:19 ; Mark 16:17 ; Acts 1:8), not Psychology or Psychiatry with their Psychoanalytic Treatments. This is fraudulent, erroneous science and should never be approached as a remedy to a mental disorder (I Tim. 6:20). Faith that works by Love is God's solution (Gal. 5:6). Let God take care of our minds as we stay in attendance to his Word and prayer (John 14:27).

It's unfortunate that the Psychiatric Society does not acknowledge Demonic Possession as true. Otherwise, they would probably not use such biological therapies, as "Electro-Convulsive Treatments." By submitting high voltages across the head of a person, they cause amnesia, at the very least, in patients with major depression or schizophrenia. Electric shocks could cause brain damage that is permanent. Such Psycho-Surgeries, as "Prefrontal Lobotomy," where parts of the frontal lobes of the brain are cut off, would not be performed on patients that are too violent or have been deemed criminally insane, if the Psychiatric Association acknowledged Demon Possession, Oppression and Depression. Instead they throw up their hands with these "Zombie-like" resulting remedies for mental reform.

Such anti-psychotic drugs as "Chlorpromazine" and "Halopeudal," that are supposed to treat the systems of patients with schizophrenia, bring on side effects of jerking movements, tremors and muscle stiffness. If this is the best that we can expect from Psychiatric medications, why not let Christianity take a turn at casting out the Demonic forces that are causing these mental disorders and abnormal behaviors? But of course, we know why they won't let Christianity take a shot. There's no money in it!

There are many anti-depressant drugs offered by Psychiatry today. But why do Christians need these happy pills, when in Christ we should have "joy unspeakable, and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:8), and all the "fruits of the Spirit" to keep us happy (Gal. 5:22-23). The fact that Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is seated on the right hand of the Father God on high to make intercession for us in our troubles, should keep us in perfect peace always (Phil. 4:7). Although sometimes we may have trials and tribulation (John. 16:33) that can cause us stress and emotional pain (Jam. 1:2-4), praying in the Spirit can bring us great comfort (Rom. 8:28).

There are personality disorders that we as Christians, must grow out of, such as distrust, unreasonable suspicion toward others and a disregard for another's rights and interests. Also, some have a need for others to focus on them only, a need for constant attention. God is working constantly on us Christians, to improve our personality disorders and our relations with others, to teach us to love one another, as Christ loves us.

"Multiple Personality Disorder" is evidence that a person may have a Demon residing in him as another personality. Criminal behavior, a lot of times, show Demon Possession, especially where one say's that he has no memory of an evil act he may have committed. The demon blocked out his conscious mind, but got him active in performing an unacceptable criminal act.

"Hypnosis" is a dangerous practice used in Psychology and Psychiatry. Hypnotized persons can be convinced that they see things that are not even present, or that they are having experiences that they aren't having. Hypnotized people can sometimes recall things that they could not recall when they were in a normal state of consciousness. There's no recollection of the hypnotic state upon return to normal consciousness. It's used in Psychoanalysis to bring out the subconscious mind, to extract bad memories that were repressed from the conscious mind. "Posthypnotic Suggestions" are a set of instructions given to people when they are hypnotized that are to be implemented after they wake. Such suggestions have had limited success in treating chronic pain, reducing blood pressure, or in helping people quit smoking.

Opening the mind through hypnosis, and giving control to some therapist, opens the portal for demonic intervention, paramount to witchcraft and necromancy (Deut. 18:10-12). When we sleep, we are unconscious, and are made sometimes to dream negative, horror filled dreams, that demonic angels could bring to us because of our lack of conscious control. For example, when you hear about a person who, while in a hypnotized state, talked in a language that he's never learned, from a country that he's never been, or told the therapist that he is a person that lived, by verified documented proof, hundreds of years ago, the therapist was probably talking to a demonic, angelic fallen angel that lived back there in that time and place. The demon's intention was and is to strengthen the popular belief in Reincarnation, especially if this session is documented for public reading (Heb. 9:27). His leader, the devil (Satan), is a liar and the father of lies (John. 8:44). Reincarnation is an erroneous doctrine and belief that is a trick of the enemy. It's to make you think you're coming back after death into another human, flesh and blood body, born of a woman again. Why would we Christians allow therapists to bring out repressed memories and events? Jesus can heal us of old repressed memories of people and events that would hinder our future Christian walk. He came to heal the broken hearted (Luke. 4:18). Our past repressed or known to us, should never be on exhibition for another's scrutiny, even under the guise of mental healing, unless the counseling that is received is Biblically based. The accuser (the devil) never lets us forget or forgive our old life style before our Christian Conversion. God, Our Father, has forgiven and forgotten our old sins. Why don't we (I John 1:9 ; Isa. 43:25 ; Psa.103:12) Hypnotism brings us no control over whatever is being put into our spirit, or whoever else is controlling it.

Focusing again on "Schizophrenia," let's take a look at some interesting facts. If a worldly, un-regenerated person believed and dabbled in Witchcraft and the Occult, or believed in Ghosts, Terra Cards, Astrology or Beings from Outer Space, there's a very good possibility that he would experience hallucinations, visual or auditory, coming from demon spirits (Eph. 6:12 ; II Cor. 11:14). Schizophrenia is caused by a person, knowingly or unknowingly, being exposed and familiar with these fallen, demon spirits.

I don't wonder what diagnosis the Psychiatric Society would give to many of the Prophets in the Bible, who heard God's voice and saw visions of his Glory. They would probably say that they had "Paranoid Delusions and Hallucinations" because many of these Psychologists and Psychiatrists do not even believe in the God of the Bible.

Although most Psychology and Psychiatry is not science at all, and should be totally avoided as detrimental and contrary to our fundamental Christian beliefs about mental health, Neuro-anatomy or the "physiology of the nervous system" could be beneficial in finding medicines to help people with Organic Disorders, such as Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, although, of course, we Christians believe that nothing is impossible for our God to heal (Jer. 32:27).

Behavioral Genetics states that physical and psychological characteristics are inherited through our genes and our personality also develops through our environmental experiences (Nature vs. Nurture). The truth is, the genes that develop our mental outlook are tainted with a sin nature. Our environment, positive or negative, won't change the nature that we've been born into (Jer. 17:9). Only by accepting and receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, will the Holy Spirit, which we receive in us at conversion, change our character and personality significantly, to be more like Jesus, if we'll obey him. When scientists are trying to find and identify gene or genes associated with behaviors such as risk taking, drug addiction, alcoholism, or of phenomena, such as aging, disease susceptibility, and any other abnormal behaviors, they should be reminded that the sin nature that is present in our genes causes most of our problems, from not doing the will of God. The answer is being Born Again, with God's nature living on the inside of us, and walking in his Spirit.

Our next category of Dangerous and Fraudulent Sciences to be addressed are "Genetic Engineering, Genomics, and Genetic testing and Research."

As Christians, we should beware of any science or series of sciences that deals with manipulation and exploitation of our human genes.

Genomics is the study of an entire "DNA" sequence of an organism. Human Genomics tackles the task of sequencing the entire genome of humans.

Genetic Engineering or Molecular Genetics researches, experiments and changes or alters genes, which are the building blocks of our physical make-up because they are messengers for our particular traits. Any science or scientific endeavor that endangers human life or fails to observe the genuine worth and dignity in its construction and consistent Godly preservation, is something we Christians need to become cautious about, to say the least.

"DNA" Code is used by your body to create proteins (cellular workers) that control how your cells function. We Born Again Christians need to be careful about issues associated with altering this "DNA" Code of organisms, as science leads to the application of "Recombinant DNA Technology." We need to openly consider the moral and ethical implications of what Genomic Techniques and Genetic Engineering do, and then choose carefully to try to reap the benefits of this technology, without creating even larger problems and mistakes in our lives.

Recombinant DNA Technology is controversial, even to the scientific community. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), that contain genes from a different organism, are used in agriculture, but some are concerned that GMOs may interbreed with wild species, transferring genes for pesticide resistance to weeds, or GMOs engineered to make toxins to kill agricultural pests, could also impact other types of insects.

Genetic testing of fetuses could allow the early detection of genetic diseases, which if taken to extremes, leads to unnecessary abortion, leading to a society where only the perfect people are allowed to survive.

The Genomic Age might be about preventing certain types of individuals from entering the gene pool at all, through "In-Vitro-Embryonic Genomic Testing" or through "Prenatal Genomic Testing" and subsequent abortion. This Eugenics philosophy is no different than sterilization or ethnic cleansing demonstrated by Nazi Germany in the nineteen thirties and nineteen forties, with its euthanasia and death camps. These tests and subsequent abortions are to promote their social and political agendas. What about scientists like this, who claim to uncover genetic influences on complex human social behavior, such as, intelligence, sexuality and aggression, that we as Christians, know are shaped by unpredictable environmental factors, in addition to being born physically into a sin nature (Psa. 51:5)? It could cause our society to sanction more abortions to those future women whose children show a higher risk for certain negative types of traits. We, as Christians, should not believe everything so called physicians, that would specialize in these areas of practice, tell us about the future diagnosis or prognosis of our unborn. Abortion is murder (Exo. 20:13).

Future insurance companies may use genetic profiles of individuals, to make decisions about who they should insure, especially in hiring potential employees. An individual's consent in genetic testing, which could be through a routine blood test, could be conducted and used to discriminate against that individual. Because genetic tests have the capacity to both diagnose pre-existing conditions and forecast future health, there is great potential for misuse.

Human hormones, like "Insulin" and "Human Growth Hormone," are produced by bacteria through "Recombinant DNA Technology," and used to treat Diabetes and Pituitary Dwarfism. However, some people will later seek growth in other types of hormones for cosmetic reasons. Is it ethical and moral for Christian parents to make these choices for their children, to change something in their makeup, interfering with what God has made, changing physical traits, hair color, eye color, etc.--- for their own benefit? Of course, this is going back to looking for a perfect child to satisfy a parent's selfish desires, when we know that all humans have worth and importance in God's eyes.

Because the umbilical cord is an excellent source of "Stem Cell," even though the baby is supposedly not harmed in taking them after birth, this may lead to an extreme future scenario, where children are born to serve as bone marrow or organ donors for existing people.

Although genetic scientists have identified the genes for several genetic diseases, including Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle-Cell Anemia, Huntington Disease, Alzheimer's, and breast Cancer, scientists must still discover safe vectors that can transfer genes into human cells. In using "virus vectors," these viruses may recombine with exiting viruses to recreate a disease causing strain. They may cause a severe allergic reaction that is life threatening. These viruses could interrupt the function of normal genes. There are a lot of "ambiguous maybes" when believing and trusting in Genetic Engineering or Genome. Gene Therapy through "Stem Cells" must be repeated at regular intervals to maintain populations of healthy cells, to enhance a possible cure for the disease. A "Stem Cell" can become any type of cell. In other words, they can access any genetic information in the cell's genomic storage house. If Stem Cells can be transplanted into a Diabetic Pancreas, and triggered to become new functioning Pancreas Cells, it may affect a cure. Scientists are now experimenting with Stem Cells in healing spinal cord injuries, replacing skin tissue, and organ repairs. Also, they are used in treating a wide range of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. All of this is good, but where are they getting these Stem Cells from?

"Human Embryonic Stem Cells" are taken from unused embryos left over from "Vitro Fertilization Techniques," whatever that is? No human embryonic cells should be used in finding Stem Cells. Isn't there enough blood that has spilled already with the millions of abortions since 1973? Do we kill "John" to save "Jim?" Human life is precious to God and any birth is his will, or he would not have allowed that conception to take place. Hopefully the Geneticists will use adult Stem Cells, but probably they will use more, dead, murdered babies, legal or illegal, for their research.

As Christians, it's hard enough after we have prayed, to allow medical science and physicians to treat us, without putting our trust in a group of intellectual, materialistic extremists that are willing to play "Frankenstein" in "Cloning" people or parts of people, with no regard for the God that created them, nor really understanding what they are, in reality, attempting to do (Psa. 100:3). As Christians, we should be careful and cautious about people that can't find answers for human ills without using dead babies or their parts to appropriate a cure.

In the United States, science and medicine could, and sometimes did, engage in unethical, immoral behavior. Institutionalized, mentally retarded children were purposely infected with Hepatitis to determine the "disease period of infectivity." Parents gave consent, but they were not told the hazards involved. In another case, twenty two patients were injected with live cancer cells as part of a study of immunity to cancer. They were not told that the cells were cancerous. In 1932, three hundred, ninety nine black men in Alabama had the progression of their "Syphilis" followed for forty years, not giving them any treatment of "Penicillin," knowing it would be effective against the disease because it had previously, since the 1940s. We should not be shocked as Christians, understanding that unsaved mankind will get away with whatever he can without regard for others or their human rights. That's why the government must institute and enforce a series of ethical laws to govern all human research protocols. Subjects for research should not be systematically selected because of their easy availability, such as welfare patients, racial and ethical minorities, or persons in institutions. This is also discrimination for reasons not directly related to the problem being studied.

On September 17, 1999, Jesse Gelsinger, a nineteen year old patient in an experimental gene therapy protocol at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Human Gene Therapy, died from a severe immune reaction within hours of under-going treatment. Gelsinger had been born with the rare metabolic disorder, "Ornithine Transcarbamoylase" Deficiency (OTC). Babies born without the capacity to produce the metabolic enzyme "OTC" usually die soon after birth, but patients like Gelsinger, who are only deficient in the enzyme, can survive on a strict diet with drug treatment. Although Gelsinger did not need the gene therapy to survive, he volunteered for a "Phase One Safe Trial," hoping that his participation might someday improve the quality of his life, and help save the lives of those born with the more severe form of "OTC."

The informed consent forms that should have told Gelsinger and others about all the risks associated with the trial were edited without FDA knowledge, to eliminate mention of primate animals that had died because of receiving a similar treatment. And Gelsinger was included for study, despite the fact that his blood ammonia levels were above those considered safe for his participation.

When researchers stand to benefit financially from the outcome of their research, many worry that profits will trump safety and ethics. That is what appears to have happened in the tragic case of Jesse Gelsinger. Only by eliminating circumstances in which financial incentives out-weigh or compete with patient safety, can researchers help ensure that there will be no more tragedies like that which befell Jesse Gelsinger.

Science and Medicine that are true need to continue to work to improve human health and minimize harm, and though Genomic and Genetic Scientists continue to develop technologies that allow them to screen for traits in embryos, we as Christians should not permit, through intimidation, the manipulation of those traits. If and when that technology is feasible, we should not be lured or enticed by genetic enhancements, that would not just treat disease but, as they would say, make us "better than well." This may seem like an enhancement to humanity in ways foreseen only in science fiction, but ultimately could prove to be humanity's greatest error.

Another one of our Fraudulent Sciences is "Anthropology" in certain areas of its research and conclusions. It deals specifically with the species of "Man". It proceeds on the assumption, that to understand Man's physical makeup, it is necessary to trace him through time and space, and thus, to observe the changes he has undergone during his long history.

Anthropology has two major divisions, namely physical and cultural, but these are closely integrated by making Man's behavior, in society, the focal point of interest. Physical Anthropology has two major interests; human history and the processes leading to physical change and stability. These processes, leading to physical change, present the main problems of error and irrationality in Anthropology. Certain physical traits or similar appearing vestiges, such as muscles behind the ears that could come from a tail, other muscles that lead to an upright position, or embryological development of high primates, have led to the erroneous assumption that the species of "Man" and the Anthropoid Apes had a common ancestry far back in time.

The Anthropologist compares the most primitive of the fossil men with the most manlike forms of apes, as it is reported by Geologists and Paleontologists. They believe that mankind has gone through various stages of development over thousands or even millions of years, to become his present physical form of "Homo Sapiens," or the species of man as we know him now.

The problem for us, as Christians, is that this theory is contrary to God's Word, the Bible, in the Genesis account of the creation of Man, in him being made from the dust of the earth and God breathing in him the breath of Life (Gen. 2:7). This theory comes from man's assumptions, not from God's Word, and originates in Darwin's Theory of Evolution, which claims that all forms of life come from previously existing forms. Anthropologists teach that the known groups of animals and plants have evolved from ancestral groups over long periods of earth history, through many relatively small individual changes. Thus, they say that most groups can ultimately be traced back to the lowest known forms of life on this planet, probably from some two thousand million years ago.

The trouble with this theory is that, although many different species of the past, now extinct, may have been discovered through fossil discoveries, this does not prove any succession or change to a higher form from a lower form of any group of species of animal or plant. It just brings out the richness of our God in his creativity, past and future, in making new species of life, according to his pleasure, under his care. "Carbon Dating," where Anthropologists are supposedly able to calculate this great number of years for aging fossils, has been brought under extreme question and scrutiny. It's only conjecture, through physical similarities that gives them any evidence for grouping. And this is not evidence at all. For example: where one might show the evolutional development through art pictures of an elephant, God probably just kept creating a new species, more adaptable to its natural environment. This is what makes "Creationism" different from Evolution. Creationism says God created, reproduces and sustains. Evolution will say that it all happened by accident.

Darwin's Theory of "Natural Selection" or "survival of the fittest," where in nature, he says that suitable variations of life are perpetuated or allowed to survive, and others are eliminated in the famed "struggle for existence." There is no natural anything without God, who is allowing what he wants to happen and exist (John 1:3). God is in control of everything, every creature and any change in his character (Col. 1:16-18). The only reason why one creature or animal may destroy or kill another for food is because of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden (Rom: 8:19-23).

True Christians believe in creationism, by God, where he created Adam and Eve, their descendants, and Noah's Ark, to verify the origins of humanity, to set the earth's age at about six thousand years and explain the possible death of the dinosaurs during the flood of Noah's time.

"Intelligent Design Advocates," who do not base their beliefs in religion, use scientific arguments based on empirical evidence. They say that some features of the natural world are best explained as the product of an intelligent cause, as opposed to an undirected process such as "natural selection." "Intelligent Design Theory" is supported by a growing number of scientific journals, conference proceedings and books. While Intelligent Design may have a religious implication, as Darwin's Theory does, it does not start a from religious premise. They're argument is that nature's complexities, such as the anatomy of the human eye or the multistep chemical process that coagulates blood, cannot be fundamentally explained by material causes, random mutations and the "survival of the fittest" doctrine, as the Evolution Theory says. These theorists say that something else is needed to explain the origin of mankind, the biological complexity of life and other loose ends of evolution. They say that something else is "Intelligent Design."

My question at this point is, who is the "Intelligent Designer?" We know him as the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:8-10). The bottom line for Christians is this. Evolution, in the sense of common ancestry, might be true, but Evolution in the Neo-Darwinian sense, "an unguided, unplanned process of random variation and natural selection," is not true. Any system of thought that denies or seeks to explain away overwhelming evidence for deliberate design in biology, is false ideology, and not science.

Knowing this, where do we stand with that portion of Evolution's Daughter, the science of Anthropology, which says that mankind "Homo Sapiens," have descended from the lower forms of life (An Ameiba- to an ape- to an ape-man- to a man)??

The whole issue of finding human body parts from the past and reassembling them to prove the existence of some primitive man is highly questionable to say the least. First of all, the finding of certain fossilized skulls and skeleton parts proves nothing. Even if they have been reassembled correctly, they don't represent a man that God created in the beginning (Gen. 1:27 ; 2:7). They may however, prove that some other extinct animal life other than man, although possibly resembling a man in certain physical features, existed before the flood of Noah's time. If apes existed before the flood of Noah's time, then maybe a "Cro-Magnon" or " Neanderthal" Beast existed, but not a Man created a living Soul, in the Image and Likeness of God Our Father. Also, let's keep in mind that an elaborate, deliberate hoax could be set up in assembling a skull and other skeletal remains, just to make them resemble visually, a man's skeletal remains, all for the purpose of credibility, honor and prestige.

In any analysis, my Bible does not tell me that mankind evolved or descended from a lower primitive form of life. For all God's animals, birds and fish are all different types of creatures (I Cor. 15:39).

This is the part of "Anthropology" that is irrational, unscientific and totally false.
Chapter 7

BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE

A False belief today is that our present day Theological Chronology is correct as concerning the Bible Prophets under the Persian Empire, and that this Historic Chronology brings forth and is in total harmony with the line of Persian Monarchs.

The most accepted Chronology of the Persian Empire comes from Claudius Ptolemy, who was the author of the Ptolemaic System of Astronomy. He was one of the founders of the Science of Geography. But in Chronology he was only a late compiler and contriver, not an original witness and not a contemporary historian, for he lived in the 2nd century after Christ. He is the only authority for the Chronology of this period. He is not corroborated. He is contradicted, both by the Persian National Traditions preserved in "Firdausi," by the Jewish National Tradition preserved in the "Sedar Olan," and by the writings of "Josephus."

It has always been held to be unsafe to differ from Ptolemy, and for this reason, his Canon, or List of Reigns, is the only thread by which the last year of Darius Hystaspes, B.C. 485, is connected with the first year of Alexander the Great.

PERSIAN KINGS AS GIVEN IN PTOLEMY'S CANON

Cyrus-reigned 9 years from 538 B.C., Cambyses-8 years from 529 B.C., Darius I. Hystaspes-36 years from 521 B.C., Xerxes-21 years from 486 B.C., Artaxerxes I. Longimanus-41 years from 465 B.C., Darius II. Nothus-19 years from 424 B.C., Artaxerxes II., Mnemon-46 years from 404 B.C., Artaxerxes III. Codomannus-4 years from 335 B.C., to Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. (total-207 Years).

From these 207 years of the Medo-Persian Empire, we must deduct (subtract) the first two years of the co-leadership of Cyrus with Darius the Mede. This leaves seven years to Cyrus as sole King, the first of which, B.C. 536, is the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia. Notice that in II Chronicles 36:22, he made his proclamation giving the Jews liberty to return to Jerusalem. That leaves 205 years for the duration of the Persian Empire proper.

Had Ptolemy never written, profane Chronology must have remained to this day in a state of ambiguity and confusion, utterly unintelligible and useless, nor would it have been possible to have ascertained from the writings of the Greeks or from any other source, except from Bible Scripture itself, the true connection between sacred Chronology and profane, in any one single instance, before the dissolution of the Persian Empire in the 1st year of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy had no means of accurately determining the Chronology of this period, so he made the best use of the materials he had, and contrived to make a Chronology. He was a great astronomer, a great astrologer, a great geographer, and a constructor of synthetic systems. But he did not possess sufficient data to enable him to fill the gaps, or to fix dates of the Chronology of this period, so he had to resort to the calculation of eclipses. In this way then, not by historical evidence or testimony, but by the method of astronomical calculation, and the conjectural identification of the recorded calculated eclipses, the Chronology of this period of the world's history has been fixed by Ptolemy, since when, through Eusebius and Jerome, it has won its way to universal acceptance. It is contradicted (1) by the national traditions of Persia, (2) by the national traditions of the Jews, (3) by the testimony of Josephus, and (4) by the conflicting evidence of such well-authenticated events as the Conference of Solon with Croesus, and the Flight of the Mistocles to the court of Artaxerxes Longimanus, which make the accepted Chronology impossible. But the human mind cannot rest in a state of perpetual doubt. There was this one system elaborated by Ptolemy. There was no other except that given in the prophecies of Daniel. Hence, while the Ptolemaic astronomy was overthrown by Copernicus in the 16th Century, the reign of the Ptolemaic Chronology remains to this day. There is one, and only one alternative. The prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 fixes the period between the goings forth of the commandment to return to build Jerusalem (in the first year of Cyrus) unto Messiah the Prince (at Jesus' Baptism in the year A.D.26) as a period of 483 years. If this be the true Chronology of the period from the 1st year of Cyrus to the Baptism of Jesus, it leaves only 127 years instead of the 205 given in Ptolemy's Canon, for the duration of the Persian Empire.

Consequently the received or Ptolemaic Chronology, now universally accepted, must be abridged by these 78 years. The error of Ptolemy has probably been made through his having assigned too many years, and perhaps too many Kings, to the latter part of the period of the Persian Empire, in the scheme which he made out from various conflicting data.

We have to choose between the Heathen Astrologer and the Hebrew Prophet.

The point of departure from any and all other interpretations for the 70 weeks of years (490 years) and therefore for the 483 years also, is unquestionably the 1st year of Cyrus, B.C. 536 (Dan. 9:1 ; Chron. 36:20-23 ; Ezra 1:1-4 ; Isa. 44:28 ; 45:1-4, 13), and no other epoch would ever have been suggested but for the fact that the count of the years was lost, and wrongly restored from Ptolemy's conjectural astronomical calculations.

It would be far better to abandon the Ptolemaic Chronology and fit the events into the 483 years of the Hebrew prophecy.

The one great fundamental fact to be remembered is that modern Chronology rests upon the calculations of Ptolemy as published in his Canon or list of Reigns. And since the foundation of Greek Conjectural Computation Chronology, upon which Ptolemy's Canon rests, is unstable, the superstructure is likewise insecure. Ptolemy may be called as a witness. He cannot be allowed to arbitrate as a judge. He cannot take the place of a court of final appeal. He cannot be erected into a standard by which to correct the Chronology of the text of the Old Testament.

The three great works of "Flavius Josephus" contain most valuable chronological materials, but the figures given are not reliable. They are not always self-consistent, in some cases they have been carelessly copied, and in others they have been "corrected" by his Hellenistic editors in order to bring them into accord with those of the LXX (Septuagint-An ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek). Apart from this, it must be admitted that Chronology was not a strong point with Josephus, and Chronology being but as secondary object with him, he was not always over careful in his calculations. The consequence is that the Chronology of Josephus in its present state is a mass of confusion. We may reject his Chronology but his history is that of a historian of the first rank, with its succession of the High Priests and the Kings of Persia, which are good evidence against the list given by Ptolemy, and in favor of the shorter Chronology of the prophet Daniel, and the Book of Nehemiah.

How long did the Persian Empire last? We may ask the Persians themselves, and if we do they will tell us that they have no records of the period, these having been all swept away by the Greek and Mohammedan Invasions.

Or again we may ask the Jews, and they would tell us that the Persian Empire lasted 52 years, from the first of Cyrus to the first of Alexander the Great. We may go to Ptolemy, and if we do he will determine the length of the period and make out a list of kings for us by means of astronomical calculations and conjectural identifications recorded with calculated eclipses, and then we shall get a Persian Empire lasting 205 years. But if we take the account given in Nehemiah, and the years specified by the prophet Daniel, we shall find that the Persian Empire continued for a period of 127 years, changing the date of Cyrus. The true date of the 1st year of Cyrus is B.C. 458, not B.C. 536, which makes the Chronology of this period 78 years too long.

It may be objected that the Battle of Marathon, was fought supposedly in B.C. 490. Darius Hystaspes was defeated by the Greeks, and that the Greek Chronology, which was reckoned by Olympiads from B.C. 776 onward, cannot be at fault to the extent of 78 years. But that is just the very point in dispute. The Greeks did not make a single calculation in Olympiads, nor had they any accurate chronological records until 60 years after the death of Alexander the Great. All that goes before that is guess work, and computation by generations and other contrivances, not the testimony of contemporary records.

There are no contemporary chronological records whatever to fix the dates of any of the Persian Monarchs after Darius Hystaspes. The clay tablets of Babylon fix the Chronology for the reigns of Cyrus, Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis and Darius Hystaspes, but they do not determine the date of any subsequent Persian King.

In Daniel's vision, "the scripture of truth" from a man in white (Dan. 11:2), he says "Behold there shall yet stand up three Kings in Persia" after the present King, (1) Cyrus (2) Ahasuerus (Cambyses) (3) Darius Hystaspes and (4) Xerxes; and the 4th (Xerxes), "shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecian," a prediction which refers to the mighty host of 1,800,000 men with which, as Herodotus tells us, Xerxes crossed the Hellespont in which he was led to a disastrous defeat, at Thermopylae and Salamis, in the year B.C. 480, which from our correction is B.C. 401.

The remainder of the history of the Persian Empire is unknown, there being no authentic contemporary records until we reach the time of Alexander the Great.

The general received opinion is that Cambyses and Pseudo-Smerdis are not mentioned in Scripture, that Xerxes is the Ahasuerus of Esther, and that Artaxaxerxes Longimanus is the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1 and Nehemiah 2:1 ; 5:14, and 13:6. This is Impossible!

The next Persia King "Darius" was a great conqueror. He conquered Asia Minor, Europe, India and the Isles of the Sea. In B.C. 416 he sent an expedition against Athens under his son-in-law Mardonius, but he was defeated and forced to return. In B.C. 412 another expedition was fitted out by Datis and Artaphernes, and was utterly routed in the famous battle of Marathon

It is only the mistaken identification of the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah with Artaxerxes Longimanus, a King who's supposed reign was after Xerxes (B.C. 407-387), instead of with Darius Hystaspes (B.C. 443-407), and by consequence the mistaken date assigned to Nehemiah that has led to the distinguishing of the Nehemiah of the first year of Cyrus (Ezra 2:2 ; 7:7) from Nehemiah the cupbearer and the Tirshatha of Neh. 1:11 and Neh. 8:9.

And it is only the mistaken identification of the Ahasuerus of Esther with Xerxes (B.C. 407-387) instead of with Darius Hystaspes (B.C. 443-407), that has led to the Distinguishing of the Mordecai of the first year of Cyrus (Ezra 2:2 and Neh. 7:7), from the Mordecai of the Book of Esther, and the torturing of the passage in Esther 2:5-6 to make it mean that Kish was carried away with Jeconiah, instead of what it really does say, which is, that Mordecai was carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah (about B.C. 519).

Since "Scaliger," the first modern Chronologist introduced the new notion that Ahasuerus must be Xerxes, most modern scholars have adopted his error, which rests on no more substantial ground than that of philosophical conjecture, and supposed congruity of character.

We must clear the ground by removing those erroneous presuppositions which make the understanding of the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther impossible, for these never can be understood until we realize that Darius Hystaspes, the Artaxerxes of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the Ahasuerus of Esther are one and the same person!

The change of the name, which is so puzzling to us, was perfectly understood at the time when the Book of Ezra was written, and is thus a proof that both names were referring to the same person.

But in order that there might be no mistake about the matter, the writer tells us in the most distinct and explicit manner that this Darius is the King who was also called Artaxerxes. In Ezra 6:14 he says, "They built and finished it according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius (even Artaxerxes), King of Persia." Two persons, and two only, are named here; and two decrees, and two only are specified, and the Hebrew "Vav" should be translated "Darius, even Artaxerxes," not "Darius and Artaxerxes," as though a reference were intended to some 3rd decree by some 3rd person, a reference which was not in the writer's mind at all.

The word "Artaxerxes" is an appellation like "Pharaoh." The word "Xerxes" survives to this day. It is the ancient form of the modern "Shah." "Arta" signifies great or noble, and "Arta-Xerxes" is the exact equivalent of Darius the Great or Xerxes the Great. Similarly the son and successor of Darius Hystaspes, Xerxes in his Inscription at Persepolis, calls himself in one sentence "Xerxes the great King," and in the next "Darius the King."

Amended Chronology of the Persian Empire

Cyrus, Ezra 1:1-3

Cambyses is the Ahasuerus of Ezra 4:6

Darius Hystaspes is identified as all of the following:

Darius of Ezra 4:5, 24 ; 5:5, 6 ; 6:1, 12, 14, 15 and

Artaxerxes of Ezra 6:14 ; 7:1-26 ; Neh. 2:1 ; 5:14 ; 13:6 and

Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther

The whole of the Chronology of this period depends entirely upon the correct identification of the monarchs mentioned in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

We learn that in the 1st year of Cyrus (B.C. 458) that he issued his proclamation (Ezra 1:1-3). He was now the undisputed master of all kingdoms of the earth. It is clear from Ezra 1:2 that Cyrus was acquainted with the prophecy of the Isa. 44:28 and Isa. 45:13, which may have been pointed out to him by Daniel, since Daniel was in a position of high authority at Shushan, in the province of Elam, in the 3rd year of Belshaxxar, in about B.C. 461 (Dan. 8:1), where he attended to the King's business (Dan. 8:27). More details are given respecting the proclamation in Ezra 5:13-15 and Ezra 6:3-5. From these passages we learn that when he delivered the sacred vessels to Sheshbazzar he made him Governor of Judah, and that the foundations of the house were to be strongly laid at the King's expense.

In Ezra, chapter 4 we read about the restoration delay of 15 years because the Samaritans troubled them, and hired counselors to frustrate them all the days of Cyrus, and until the reign of Darius, King of Persia (Darius Hystaspes). From Ezra 4:6 we learn that in the reign of Ahasuerus (Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus, B.C. 451-444), the Samaritans wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

The next King who occupied the throne only 7 months, was usurper during the absence of Cambyses on a trip to Egypt in B.C. 444. In Ezra 4:7-24, we learn that in the days of this Artaxerxes (Pseudo-Smerdis), Bishlam, Mithredath and Tabeel wrote to Artaxerxes, King of Persia (Pseudo-Smerdis), and also that Rehum and Shimshei wrote against Jerusalem to this Artaxerxes. This (Pseudo-Smerdis), after receiving their complaint letter, sent his own letter back by Rehun and Shimshei, telling them to cease their re-construction efforts immediately (Ezra 4:23). So it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius, King of Persia (Ezra 4:24).

This last verse cannot be torn from its immediate connection with the preceding verses respecting Artaxerxes. It proves therefore, that the Artaxerxes was King of Persia before Darius Hystaspes.

The passages of Ezra 4:6-23 cannot, therefore, be an episodical illustration referring to a later opposition in the days of Xerxes and Artaxerxes Longimanus, though many modern scholars advocate that interpretation of it.

Nothing can be plainer than the fact that the writer of the passage represents Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes as Kings of Persia, who reigned between the time of Cyrus and that of Darius Hystaspes, and since no other Kings but Cambyses and the false Smerdis did reign between Cyrus and the Darius Hystaspes, it must follow that none but Cambyses and the false Smerdis are intended.

Some valuable chronological information is contained in the genealogical and other lists in the Books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. The list of those who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Neh. 10:1-13) is almost identical with the list of those who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, given in Neh. 12:1-9.

This is the crowning argument for the identification of Artaxerxes of Nehemiah with Darius Hystaspes.

Between the 1st of Cyrus and the 20th of Darius Hystaspes was a space of 34 years, at the end of which time most of "the priests and Levites that went up with Zerubbabel" (Neh. 12:1) might still be living and able to seal the covenant with Nehemiah (Neh. 10:1).

But if the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah was Artaxerxes Longimanus, as all modern scholars maintain, the length of time between the 1st of Cyrus and the 20th of Artaxerxes Longimanus is 91 years, after which space of time 20 out of 30 priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel are still alive!

The argument is absolutely conclusive. It must convince every scholar who pays attention to it that the accepted Chronology is impossible. The Artaxerxes of Nehemiah reigned at least 32 years (Neh. 5:14 ; 13:6), but no other Persian Monarch except Darius Hystaspes reigned so long within such a space of time that 20 out of 30 men, who were old enough to be priests and Levites in the 1st year of Cyrus, could still be alive in the 20th year of such other Persian monarch's reign.

Other proofs that Darius Hystaspes is the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7 and Nehemiah are (1) the continuity of the narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah, being one Book, and (2) if the Artaxerxes of Ezra was Artaxerxes Longimanus (B.C. 387-?), then Ezra would be 128 years old when he came from Babylon in his 7th year to be present at the dedication of the Temple. Also if the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah was Artaxerxes Longimanus, Nehemiah must have been 103 years older when he returned to Babylon in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, than he was when he came to Jerusalem in the 1st year of Cyrus as one of the leaders of the people. Also, we know the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah reigned 32 years. We also have the testimony of Josephus, the Old Testament Apocrypha, and the Jewish Tract, "Sedar Olam." Lastly, the mention of the "King's sons" in Ezra 7 corroborates the identification of the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7 with Darius Hystaspes, for he had several sons before he became King, who disputed the succession with his sons by his second wife Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, one of whom Darius Hystaspes appointed to succeed him, and that was Xerxes.

How to show the identity of Ahasuerus of Esther to be that of Darius Hystaspes also, we see that "Mordecai" was carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon carried away. Then again we have the Testimony of Josephus and the Old Testament Apocrypha. We know that Ahasuerus "reigned from India to Ethiopia, over 127 Provinces" (Est. 1:1). Darius the Mede set 120 Princes over his Kingdom in B.C. 460 (Dan. 6:1). By the time of Darius Hystaspes (B.C. 443-407), the Empire had grown to 127 provinces which he divided up into 20 Satrapies of which he collected a tribute. Est. 10:1 says Ahasuerus "laid a tribute upon the land and upon the Isles of the Sea." Lastly, the dates and the events recorded in Esther, fit in exactly with the dates and the events of the reign of Darius Hystaspes.

These are data supplied from the Old Testament. The years given are the approximate amended chronological dates correcting the Ptolemaic system of chronology for the time of Darius Hystaspes. If we start with the beginning of our Cyrus Proclamation, starting with B.C. 458, and subtract down to the 2nd year of Darius, we find that B.C. 458-15 yrs. =B.C.443. Then, from there we just subtract 2 at his 2nd year. Also "YR" stands for the year of Darius Hystaspes's reign corresponding to each event.

As touching the late Persian period, the celebrated Parian Marble, found in the Island of Paros, only mentions 2 Kings after Xerxes, (Artaxerxes Mnemon and Artaxerxes III Ochus). This is remarkable in itself, but when compared with (1) the history of this period in Josephus' writings and (2) the tenor of the Jewish and the Persian tradition of the Chronology of this period, it suggests very forcibly that the Chronology of the latter part of the Persian period from Xerxes to Alexander the Great has been exaggerated, and that the 5 Kings who fill this period were perhaps in fact only 2 or 3 multiplied into 5 in order to fill the gap made by the artificial enlargement of the Chronology by some 78 years, more or less.

The case then stands thus. For the period from Xerxes to Alexander the Great we have no authentic contemporary record of the Chronology of the Persia Kings. The only strand that continues the Chronology throughout this period of Ptolemy's Canon, is a late compilation that was put together 600 or 700 years after the events it tabulates, and this was done with the absence of authentic data being made good by the estimates of the early Chronologists who planned the scheme of the Chronology. They filled in the intervals as best they could, using where necessary "the method of conjecture."

No blame attaches to Ptolemy for this. He did the best he could with the materials at his disposal. But the real blame does attach to the modern scholar, who refuses to recognize a proved error, and continues to regard as an infallible chronological guide, a table of reigns, which, as regards this part of the Persian period, is incapable of verification, suspect as to its source and false in its facts.

The reconstruction of the late Persian and Greek period, from the close of the Old Testament Records (about B.C. 410), to the Christian era, does not come within the scope of the present work. It must be left over to investigation by other workers in this department. It is enough for our purpose that the received Ptolemaic Chronology of this period has been shown to be false and cannot therefore be resorted to as a court of final appeal, nor even regarded as a trustworthy witness against the historic data, testimony, and evidence or proof of the Chronology of the Old Testament.

Chapter 8

FALSE PREMISES AND ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS

There are many False Premises that the churches have embraced for many years. Our first False Premise is that any Bible Version today is acceptable and accurate for reading and study.

There are many reasons for the rejection and avoidance of the following revised versions of today that are called God's Word.

These versions include: The New International Version (NIV), The New American Standard Version (NASB), The Revised and New Revised Standard Version (RSV,NRSV), Today's English Version (TEV), Good News Bible (GNB),New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Bible, The Living Bible, Philips New Testament, The Catholic Bible, The Book, The Everyday Bible, The American Bible, Jehovah's Witness Bible, CEV,REB and many more.

The first reason for rejection of these versions is there are at least forty-two verses or portions of verses that have been omitted from the Original King James Version of 1611. Many verses or portions verses, have been altered and or translated incorrectly from their original intended meaning in the King James Version. There are six thousand or so alterations, mistranslations and omissions in these revised versions of the Bible, resulting purely from a Greek Text by two university scholars, named Westcott and Hort.

The Greek Text of Westcott and Hort, from which the revised versions have been compiled, have claims of having true God breathed meaning, although they come from only one percent of all the original manuscripts found in ancient times. In contrast, the King James Version has claim to ninety-nine percent of the original manuscripts backing its true God breathed meaning. Also, the Westcott and Hort Greek Text was finished in 1881, wherein, the King James Version was compiled in 1611.

A history of the lives of Westcott and Hort shows that they practiced witchcraft and dabbled in the occult. Many times they had séances and practiced necromancy (talking to the dead), and were active in other esoteric events.

There are however some observations that I have made in reference to the New King James Version. This version is a word to word translation compared to the other rejected versions, which are idea to idea translations. Although this may seem like a better translation because the words are more up to date, there still are some incorrect word translations, especially in the marriage and divorce scriptures written in about 5 or 6 areas where Jesus speaks in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Primarily, the words "putting away" are mistranslated "divorce," which is totally unacceptable. See chapter 4 on Marriage, Divorce and Re-marriage.

Another False Premise today is many of the Church's beliefs on Eschatology (the study and evaluation of future events).

The study of the prophecy of future events has been greatly polarized for many Christians today into one basic scenario, which encompasses a future temple, a specific personal Anti-Christ, a catching away to Heaven of the prepared of the Saints (Rapture), a seven year tribulation period for the remaining people on the earth, and another future coming of our Lord for a thousand year reign on earth, and so on.

In reality this scenario or prediction is not even Biblically accurate, and has no sound Biblical basis for belief. The truth I and many others have found is that 98% of what these Premillennial Dispensationalists believe to be true has already taken place in history, and is misunderstood because most people do not understand the prophetic symbolisms, analogies, metaphors, and imagery used by the Prophets of the Old and New Testament.

Present day Premillennial Dispensational beliefs, propagated by these end day Bible Interpreters, has a foundation that's destroyed when we understand that "Daniel's Seventy Weeks of Years" was completed at the 70th week, with our Lord's three and one half year mission on earth, and concluded with three and one half years, that remained, during which period the New Testament of our Lord was revealed and confirmed to the Jews, bringing many Jewish Believers to the Christian Faith (Dan. 9:24-27).

Another fact is that the Book of Revelation was written primarily with much Old Testament symbolism, addressed to the Jews in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas of Judea, in allowing them to become aware of and prepare for the impending tribulation period that was coming upon Jerusalem and its final destruction by the Roman Armies and their Allies, in A.D. 70. We know that "St. John," an Apostle of Jesus, wrote the Book of Revelation on the Isle of Patmos. A theory that this Book was written after A.D. 70 has no evidence to substantiate it. Although some scholars have uncritically accepted the statement of St. Irenaeus (A.D. 120-202), that the Revelation Prophecy appeared "toward the end of Domitian's reign" (around A.D. 96), there is considerable room for doubt about his precise meaning (he may have meant that the Apostle John himself "was seen" by others). The language of St. Irenaeus is somewhat ambiguous; and, regardless of what he was talking about, he could have been mistaken. St. Irenaeus, incidentally, is the only source for this late dating of Revelation. All other "sources" are simply quoting from him. It is thus rather disingenuous for commentators to claim that early Christian tradition is almost unanimous in assigning the Apocalypse to the last years of Domitian's reign. Certainly, there are other early writers whose statements indicate that St. John wrote the Revelation much earlier, under Nero's persecution.

In detail, this symbolic and historic knowledge may be verified and understood by the vigilant student Christian who wants to know the Truth and has decided to study, and not be deceived. The Old as well as the New Testaments in one's study should include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Daniel, Joel, Revelation, Matthew (Chapter 24), Luke (Chapter 17 and 21), Mark (Chapter 13), and many other Books of the Bible that could have certain prophetic inferences and meanings in their Scriptures. Also a moderate understanding of basic history during the times of these Prophets would definitely help us to match up the fulfillment of many of their prophecies. There's just too much detail to go into here, but the Holy Spirit will reveal the Truth to your diligent, sincere heart and mind.

Jesus is only coming back one time, and that's it Brothers and Sisters. If you are ready, you will be with him in Glory, with your New Resurrected Body. Don't be fooled by people that tell you that you will have 7 years, after a "Rapture" (lifting away) of a more prepared group of Christians, to make things right with God. Along with the other numerous deceptions this is a major, erroneous, dangerous misconception that these Premillennial Dispensationalists offer an unsuspecting, or un-regenerated, calculating heart and mind, and it is adding to God's Word (Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Incidentally, this "Rapture" that they speak about in I Thessalonians 4:14-18, is in reality the Apostle Paul speaking about the general end time Resurrection of the Saints of God.

The Christian Movement today has much competition in view of other world religions and beliefs. From my own research and conclusions, I believe that in the future we may be heading toward a one world political, economic, religious system that is going to be totally intolerant to excepting the exclusive belief that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6), and will punish that expression of exclusiveness in persecution, hostility, incarceration, torture and even death. At any time Our Lord Jesus could return in Glory to resurrect our bodies and to establish his Everlasting Kingdom. Let us be ready to meet him.

Another False Premise is that many church doctrines today believe that Isaiah 53:5 contains certain words that imply our preconceived physical healing.

This Bible Scripture, found in Isaiah 53:5, is used extensively in Christian ministries and circles to denote that physical healing of various sicknesses and diseases is guaranteed by God in the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because it says "with his stripes we are healed."

It should be noted however, that although the vocal repetition of this scripture may generate faith in God, even to the point of a person receiving true physical healing, this scripture was not intentionally written by the inspiration of God to mean or be translated as "physical healing." If Christians will read the entire scripture addressed hear, and all of the other scriptures in Isaiah 53, and pray about their true meaning, they will clearly see that the Lord is talking about one being healed of his or her "sin sick nature."

There are many scriptural promises that show that God will heal us, if we ask him in faith. Why not believe these promises, ask in faith and receive our healing. We need not use a scripture out of context to generate faith, especially a scripture that is denoting that we are already healed of physical sickness. If that were true, then why do we experience or feel the original physical symptoms of a particular sickness or disease?

Our God is an active God in our lives, and his desire for us is that we are healthy (spirit, soul and body). But if we become sick, physical healing has not already taken place, until we ask in Jesus' Name, believe and receive at that time (John 16:23-24).

Atonement for our sins, past, is what God guarantees (Rom. 3:25) in the redemptive work of his Son Jesus, because his shed blood is the sacrifice that God accepted for the forgiveness of any persons sins that will accept him as Personal Savior and Lord. This is the same thing that St. Peter, in his letter, is making reference to, in foreshadowing Isaiah 53:5. He says in I Peter 2:24, "by whose stripes ye were healed," meaning, that these Christians he is addressing have had their sins forgiven, and are under the blood of Jesus, "sin sick nature" destroyed. Many other scriptures in our Old Testament show this point, of the "sin sick nature" of man. Some examples are: Isaiah 6:10 ; 19:22 ; 57:18, and Jeremiah 3:22 ; 14:19 ; 15:18 ; 17:14 ; 30:13-14 and 33:6, but the most impressive of these is Matthew 13:15, where Jesus was quoting Isaiah 6:10, referring to his opinion of many of the people of Israel. In it he says "this people's heart is waxed gross (callous), their spiritual eyes and ears are closed, that hopefully or perhaps, in the future, their spiritual eyes and ears may be opened, and they would understand with their heart and become converted, that I may heal them." In this passage, the Lord is talking about the people being healed from their "spiritual blindness" and a "sin sick nature," not from physical infirmities.

To prove Isaiah 53:5 and I Peter 2:24 denote and show physical healing, some ministers bring up Isaiah 53:4, which says "he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," which could be translated "he took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." These ministers say that the Gospel writer St. Matthew noticed the fulfillment of that scripture (Isa.53:4) in his observation in Matthew 8:16-17, because of the many physical healings performed by Jesus at that time. Of course, Matthew was commenting on the scriptural fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4. As long as Jesus was on the earth, not yet in Heaven, where he now resides with his Father God, that was the conclusion of that fulfillment. There's no need to prolong that fulfillment, except to make a bad point stand, and impose it against its intended meaning. Of course, God is still our healer, but through the Holy Ghost and in the Name of Jesus Our Lord.

Some Christian people may think that there's no harm in using these scriptures out of context, against the way they were intended to be translated, but God wants our faith to stand in his ever present constant giving to us, upon our confident petition, and sometimes, patient waiting for the negative physical symptoms of a condition to improve. Let's utilize the other many Biblical scriptural promises that he has provided for us in his Word in bringing our faith to the proper climax, to receive our healing. Read Mark 11:23-24 and James 5:14-15.

Healing, of a physical nature, is provided for in the Atonement as well as our prosperity, but it is not guaranteed already, as the redemption of our sin is when we're Born Again, or when we need his blood applied in our repentance for a sin we've committed. If you had healing already, you wouldn't have to ask for it, because it would just be present without petition. Ask in faith, and you shall receive. Just believe he will do it and he will.

Another False Premise today is that Christians must be obligated to participate and adhere to "holidays of the world." Notice, I said "holidays of the world," meaning traditional holidays that our secular society has popularly deemed and acknowledged as important and essential for social order and their sense of well-being.

Actually, most holidays have nothing to do with our Lord Jesus Christ or his redemptive work on earth, and before being engaged in, should be examined thoroughly as to their devotional content (I John 4:1). After our Christian investigation as to their commitment to worldly tradition, witchcraft, superstition, or party enhancements, we should be able to distinguish which ones, if any that we would really want to participate in.

It's not really necessary that we be obligated to, acknowledge, or take part in any national or state holiday, especially those that profess some sort of religious background. For example, just because the Old Testament of our Bible shows the observance of many Jewish Holidays, this does not mean that we, in our New Covenant with Jesus Christ, should have any part of those ritual proceeding or observances that originate under the Law of Moses. In fact, to observe them would bring us back under the Law, ignoring the grace of our Lord's permanent Atonement for our sins. Although Jewish and other pagan holidays are not necessary to be observed and could even be harmful to our Christian walk, we must consider the Lord's guidance on these things, being careful not to judge others too harshly who would decide to participate in them (Col. 2:16). Although ministers, many times, may preach and teach from Old Testament principles and stories as a platform for a subject, this does not mean in any way that we are to take part in their rituals, ceremonies or observances, or to have these as part of our church services. Again, participation in these rituals may prove harmful in our Christian walk with the Lord.

Aside from the child's play with Santa Claus and his reindeer, a choice to observe Christmas should be left up to each individual to decide for his or herself. A person who has the Holy Spirit living in him might not need to add a Christmas spirit unless he or she could theorize or maybe reason that the two Spirits were one and the same Spirit from our God, which would probably justify an observance on the 25th of December, which incidentally, has been proven by Professor Ernest Martin, through painstaking analysis, to be the approximate date of the "Nativity Scene," where the "Wise Men" written about in Luke visited our Lord Jesus at the age of about one and a half years old, in B.C. 02. Also, through much research into Revelation 12:1, he also has been able to determine the birth date of our Lord Jesus to be B.C. 9/11/03 (Looks like some other groups knew this date before most Christians did)!!!

On the other hand, if one does not possess the Holy Spirit living in them, the end of the time of the holiday season and their Christmas spirit will be empty, lifeless and disappointing, which is the case for an un-regenerated heart. Many have a Christmas spirit, but don't have the Holy Spirit because they are not Christians at all. The world has a tendency to take the Holy Spirit out of Christmas through its commercialism and buying gifts for one another and not being rich toward God.

"Easter" is a word that comes from the celebration of the pagan gods of fertility, and is actually a mistranslation in our King James Version (Acts 12:4). This word should have been translated "Passover," which happens to be the time of that particular Jewish holiday and the approximate time of our Lords crucifixion. The crucifixion of our Lord, his resurrection and ascension should be remembered in a memorial ceremony when we partake of our "Holy Communion," and not just once a year. This, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily mean that we shouldn't observe the holiday, because most people do look at it as the time of year of our Lord's death and resurrection, regardless of whether they believe it or not, or whether they've even excepted the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, As long as people are not telling children that bunnies lay eggs, what's the harm in seeing the church houses filled up at least once a year. Some people that aren't right with God might repent, get their heart right and except the Lord Jesus as Savior.

"Halloween" is said to be the devils day, but every day is the day of the Lord, and we are to "rejoice and be glad in it." If Christians want to change the negative connotation of Halloween, with its witchcraft and threat of danger to their children, they should try to encourage their respective churches to incorporate activities that their children could participate in, on or around that day. It's not the children's fault that the world's parents have made the 31st of October exciting and attractive for their children through letting them "trick or treat" and have various parties.

Personally, I enjoy "Thanksgiving." I get to thank God for all the blessings that he has given me over the past year, with or without the turkey.

The good thing about holidays is that it gives people time off from work, to spend time with their families and maybe get closer to God through prayer, Bible study and other Godly motivated activities.

Let's try not to judge others for failing to observe a holiday that we think is important to us, and let us be careful about the holidays that we ourselves participate in.

Many Erroneous Statements and sayings are prevalent today in our churches.

One of these Erroneous Statements is: "Once Saved; Always Saved."

How would we define a statement such as this? One would probably say that his means, " if you are Born Again, you are considered Saved from hell and damnation at that point, and can never do anything to jeopardize that Salvation." In other words, a person's behavior or way of life, moral or immoral, can never affect his good standing with God, and if he dies, not living a holy and sanctified life, he will still go to Heaven. This is one of the biggest Christian lies that ever came down the Christian pike.

Many, so called, good intentioned preachers have made this statement popular to a people who are always wanting justification and license for their immoral life style and lack of true repentance toward God for their sins. True repentance means change because of shame, not continuous repetition of a habitual sinful conduct. As Christians, we should not practice or engage in any sinful conduct, but we are commanded to live holy lives (II Cor. 7:1). If we slip back from proper obedience to God, the Holy Spirit, we need to repent, realizing that, though he will forgive us (I John 1:9), we should not make a habit of frustrating his mercy (Grace) toward us (II Pet. 3:15). The main point to realize is that if we do not allow this sinful conduct of ours to change by the Power of God's Holy Spirit, then we will surely end up in a burning hell (Rev. 21:8). Unfortunately, before this happens, because of our blatant disregard for God's convicting power, we will be given over to a "reprobate mind," in believing that anything that we feel to do is acceptable to God, and nothing will keep us from going to Heaven (Rom. 1:28). In other words we will think that no matter what we believe, however we live, however we treat others, and no matter how disobedient to God's Word we are, that we are just fine and pleasing to God, and will never miss going to Heaven when we die (II Thes. 2:11-12). It's unfortunate, just how wrong one could be!

There are so many scriptures contrary in God's Word, the Bible, to the statement of "Once Saved, Always Saved," that if most people would just read their Bibles more often, they would clearly see that unless our "Born Again Experience" is not followed by a changed lifestyle (II Cor. 5:17) that demonstrates a love of God and our neighbor, goodness, faith and holiness, we really do not appreciate what Jesus has done for us enough to receive the power of his Spirit to overcome the temptations that would bring us back into sin again.

Don't be fooled. Once you're Born Again (Saved), yes, you could lose your Salvation if you live after the old lifestyle dictated by the devil, and continue to stay in that backslidden condition (Rom. 8:13). The truth is this: "Once Saved, not necessarily always saved, unless we live a life dictated and led by God through the Holy Spirit, which is pleasing to him." There is no such thing as "Unconditional Eternal Security."

Another Erroneous Statement is: "It Doesn't Matter What Type of Music Is Present In Our Worship Service, As Long As The Lyrics Glorify God."

What God are we talking about glorifying? To analyze this statement, we must first define "God" as The Lord Jesus Christ, in order to make some part of this statement true. (John 1:1,14 ; I John 5:20). If the God that is being glorified in the words of the worship song is Jesus, that's all well and good, but we are still left with whether the music that's behind the lyrics matters, and I'm sure to show here that it does.

First of all, there is no such thing as "Christian Country, Christian Rock or Christian Rap." The beats and rhythms of this music are satanic in nature, even if they speak of Jesus.

Even if all the words of a song in our worship give glory to Our Lord Jesus, the music that they are accompanied with must still be analyzed and examined by our true Christian (Born Again) spirits within us, occupied by the Holy Ghost that resides in us (I John 4:1).

This is a most difficult subject for disclosure, since we understand that music itself can be very mesmerizing to our sense of hearing and emotions. Therefore, our determination of whether a group of musical tones, notes or sounds are giving glory to God and are pleasing to our Lord, must be based on our definition of true joy, peace and tranquility in our worship. If we are true Christians, full of the Holy Ghost, we should be able to determine the sounds that would be obtrusive and objectionable to the Lord in our worship. For example: rough sounds, such as a motorcycle or diesel truck engine, or gun shots, might be considered objectionable sounds to a lot of people's human ears, in shocking their nervous systems, and agitating their normal peaceful mental stability. From my own experience, in my younger teenage years in sin, I found that playing Rock and Roll and Hard Rock Music brought spirits of many emotions that made me feel good, in my then present sinful state. I know now, and can therefore pinpoint some of the problems in our so called Christian Contemporary Music today. I believe, that by the leading of the Holy Spirit, most of us can see that unless a song is done as a total instrumental, over-emphasis on instrumentation, such as, adlibbing solos in the middle of the singing of a song brings glory to the instrument being played, taking away from the Glory that should be given to God through the words spoken in the song. Also, the accompaniment of instruments such as guitar, piano, organ, bass and drums must be lower in volume than the vocal portion of a song as well as being in proper rhythm and tempo. Drowning out the singer because the background music is too loud does not honor God. Aside from volume control, much of this Contemporary Music contains Rock and Roll beats that are not giving glory to God. The evidence is overwhelming. Electric Guitars are acceptable, but not when the abusive, metallic, distorted sounds of "fuse-wass" and "echo chambers" are applied to them. Also, there could be too much reverb. Bass Guitars are also acceptable, but not being played with the abusive emphasis on extensive "rock patterns." Simple patterns applied to the notes and chords of the song, are all that is needed. Percussion Instruments should try to limit volume and grandstanding "drum rolls," so that the emphasis can be put on the words of the song being sung in faster tempo songs. Metallic hard rock sounds and beats can bring Demons that will hypnotize and mesmerize people, causing them to jump and dance to a syncopated rock and roll beat and not by the motivation of the Holy Ghost.

In my observation of people, when they are "dancing in the True Spirit of God," and when the music stops, they don't necessarily stop, unless that's the order of the service by the Spirit of God. Usually, at this point though, the Holy Spirit just takes over and moves the people in more of this same direction. Some run and some dance in the True Spirit of God, and sometimes without any music even initiating their movements.

Most Gospel Music is good, but a lot of the Contemporary, so called Christian music today, is questionable, to say the least, and should be examined with much scrutiny by the "Anointing" that we have within us at church worship time, in order for us to feel that peace, joy and tranquility of the Holy Spirit in our worship, and know that we are just as pleasing in the ears of the Lord as we are in his eyes.

Unfortunately, many church members and leaders do not understand these things and may gain many of the people's trust and their money, but lose the true blessings of God, to satisfy a group of people that's not seeking, nor do they want the True Holy Spirit in their lives.

The question we should ask, and notice immediately, when we are exposed to a new or unfamiliar type of music, is simply, who is getting the "Glory?" Is it a person or the Lord? The how is probably the easier question to answer.

Our devotional and worship music, as well as the lyrics, must be accompanied by the Anointing of God in order for it to be pleasing to Jesus.

Our final Erroneous Statement is: "Pleading The Blood Over"—What?

For years I heard this terminology being used in Christian circles and the pulpit and wondered where it comes from, obviously, not from the Bible. Although it may sound good and holy, there is no Biblical basis for this statement. The only thing the Blood of Jesus is used for is our Atonement, a pleasing sacrifice for God, Our Father, for the forgiveness and remission of our sins.

Why do people plead his blood over negative situations and circumstances, the salvation of others, demon oppression and possession, or sickness and disease, when all we are instructed to do, is ask God, and according to his will, he will hear us, and will answer our prayer in accordance with what he feels is best for us (Matt. 7:7 ; I John 5:14-15 ; Mark 9:23)?

Of course, we see God pleading with people all through the Biblical scriptures, to get themselves right with him and to obey the Covenant that they are under. But we should not use unbiblical terms, unacceptable to God, because of ignorance and traditions that are unsound. Rather, we should just ask God to guide us in dealing with stressful situations, heal our bodies and prosper us. We should petition him to send witnesses to convict the hearts of our unsaved loved ones and others, or allow for circumstances to evolve that will bring their souls to God for repentance. Also, we should pray directly for those that are sick and suffering from demonic depression and oppression.

If we are going to plead, we should only plead for his blood to be applied to a sin we may have committed and repented of, as we first did when we were Born Again. Pleading the Blood of Jesus over anything else is a waste of time and effort. But, on the other hand, to be more accurate, we really do not have to plead for Jesus' Blood to cover our sins, because our repentance automatically applies it to them.
Chapter 9

ABORTION: The Curse of A Nation

In January of 1973, Norma McCorvey became known as Jane Roe, when the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision of "Roe vs.Wade," creating a woman's right to an abortion. Since then, Norma has said that she repents of what she has done in her afford to promote this right. She says that now she is a child of God, and a new creation in Christ Jesus. She says she's forgiven by God, and she recants all involvement in the tragedy of Abortion. She asks for the forgiveness of millions of women and unborn children who have suffered the violence of abortion. She says she will strive, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to end this holocaust.

My Christian Friend; today this is the greatest holocaust that we have seen in this century, although how do most Americans view this holocaust. The statistics may surprise you a little bit. Statistically, 11% of people are in favor of abortion for any reason during the entire 9 months of a woman's pregnancy. On the other hand, 89% of Americans are against and oppose abortion for most reasons, and they oppose the present day laws on abortion, except of course, in cases of rape and incest, or in the case of a health endangerment to the mother, which surprisingly, cover only 1% of all abortions performed.

So we see, most Americans are not statistically, in favor of abortion. This brings the question up of, why isn't something being done about it? Why aren't the laws being changed? Why isn't "Roe vs. Wade" being reversed? I think in attempting to answer this, we must turn to a Christian Community, the moral factor in our society today, to really understand the answer to this dilemma, though it is very basic. You see, Christians know that abortion is occurring. They know that 4000 babies are bring murdered every day, but they know if they look at it too directly, they will not be able to live at peace with themselves unless they try to stop it. And they know, on the other hand, if they attempt to intervene or do something about it, that there may be a price to pay for their heart-felt intervention. They may lose friends or have to face other types of opposition. So, they do not want to make the sacrifice necessary to confront the injustice. The solution, in their mind to this dilemma is to ignore the problem. We see here, that denial protects them from the pain of the situation. That's why a lot of Christians actually get angry or upset when one brings up the subject of abortion. You see, they were successful in ignoring it, until the subject is again brought to the surface.

What are some of the statistics this tragedy today? First, we know that a baby dies every 22 seconds, and we know also that the average abortion takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Every 22 seconds a baby dies, and we see that at least 1.4 million are murdered every year. At least 4000 are killed every day. Another statistic says that 43% of women who have had one abortion will probably have 2 or more before their life time is over. 50% of women, who have abortions, have it as their only means of contraception, their only means of birth control. This, Brother and Sister, is to say the least, self-centered, insensitive, and indifferent to rights of the unborn. This has to be changed.

We know, clinically, that when a person's heart stops beating, they are supposed to be dead, and most medical science would agree with that. What we know about unborn babies is that in 18 days, or about 3 weeks, his or her heart starts beating in the mother's womb. So we must logically acclaim that life is in that baby at that time. In 6 weeks we can measure brain waves, which indicate brain functioning. Then we go to 8 weeks, and we see that all the other physiological systems of the baby are functioning properly. Unfortunately, this 8 week period and after is the time that 800,000 of the 1.4 million that I have mentioned are killed. After this 8 week period, they're murdered.

Now, let's hear another horrible statistic. 45 babies are murdered a day after the 20 weeks or 5 month period, and it is a known fact that many of these children could have lived, only they were murdered in abortion clinics.

Brothers and Sisters, we have to get down to the basics of this issue. Abortion is murder of helpless, innocent human beings, created in God's image and likeness (Gen. 1:27). You see, they're not only breaking the 6th commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," but they're also breaking the 9th commandment, and that is "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor." This is not only a matter of speaking a falsehood about a wrong somebody has done. No, this commandment also forbids the false testimony about who our neighbor is, what value and dignity our neighbor possesses and what our obligations are to our neighbor.

You see, the question in the abortion issue is not only, "when does life begin," but more basically and more deeply, "what does life mean?" What are the implications of human life? Is human life disposable when it is unwanted, inconvenient or not recognized by our government?

Abortion not only takes a life, but it makes a statement about life. It not only makes a statement about the life it has just taken, it makes a statement about all our lives. Abortion says that your life is disposable, your value is determined by others, and there is no intrinsic dignity in human life that requires its absolute protection, and no destiny that goes beyond the U.S. Supreme Court.

Abortion lies about the value of human life, but Jesus Christ speaks and reveals the truth about the human person that he has created. The Holy Bible tells us about that life. Psalms 100:3 clearly says "Know ye the Lord, for he is God. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. It is not we that made ourselves, but he made us." So, God is our creator and the author all creation (Col. 1:16-18). Not only this, but Christ is Life itself. St. John said "In Him is Life, and that Life is the Light of Men" (John 1:4). Jesus said about himself: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John14:6). He said "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25-26). You and I are to seek his Life for ourselves and our children. Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us clearly, where the Father God in the Old Testament says "I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, I set before you both Life and Death, Blessing and Cursing, therefore choose Life that you and your seed may live." When he's talking about our seed, he's talking about our children, who are to be treated as members of the human family, and not merely as part of the mother's body. Jeremiah was told of his personhood by God; In Jeremiah 1:5 we read "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee, and before thou comest forth from thy mother's womb, I sanctified thee and ordained thee a prophet of the nations." So, Jeremiah, along with being an actual person from conception onward, existed in the mind of God before that conception ever took place. Also, we read about the Psalmist David in Psalms 139:13-14, explaining how God made him. He says "Thou hast formed my inward parts Oh Lord, thou hast covered me in my mother's womb, I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." We don't see David here, merely referring to the embryo or fetus that became him, rather, human life is attributed from its earlier beginnings. God knew and loved each one of us before we were ever born. Surely he feels the same about his unborn children today. Isaiah 49:15 asks the question: "Will a woman forget her baby, or will she not have compassion for the child she has born? "Surely" the Lord says, "Though she forgets, I will not forget," and God will not forget. We can notice the scene with the Virgin Mary. She has conceived the Lord Jesus, by the Holy Ghost overshadowing her (Luke 1:30-35). Then we see her visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who is now 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:36, 39-41). The Bible says in Luke, "At the salutation of Mary" or a greeting of Mary to Elizabeth, as we would say today, immediately "the child leaped in Elizabeth's womb and she was filled with the Holy Ghost!" Did you get that? This unborn child, John the Baptist, leaped in his mother's womb! Here we see activity and proof of life before birth. For birth is not the beginning of life, it's only a change of residence for the already living, active person.

We know that the Bible in the Old Testament dictates that the killing of children is strictly forbidden by God. We see the Children of Israel, as they were led into the land that they were to occupy, that foreign nations were there first. Some of these nations had the custom of killing some of their children, and burning them in fire as a sacrifice to their gods. The Children of Israel were told directly not to share in this sin, although they did. And as Psalms 106: 35-38 reads, "They mingled with the nations, and learned their works, and sacrificed their sons and daughters to Demons, and shed innocent blood." One may ask, how does this sacrificing of children have anything to do with abortion or denote any kind of symbolism to it today? The answer is very basic. You see, people are sacrificing their children in abortion for selfish convenience of lifestyle and to avoid and eliminate problems, situations and circumstances that would come about as a result of their pregnancy or because they are about to give birth. This abortion is just something that God hates! He says in Proverbs 6:16 that one of 6 things he hates is "Hands that shed innocent blood," and our Lord Jesus made it very clear when he said, "Whosoever will offend one of these little ones that believe on me, it would be better for him that a millstone were tied around his neck and he be cast into the sea and drawn" (Matt. 18:6).

Jesus also said to be careful, or "take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels do always behold the face of my Father, which is in Heaven" (Matt. 18:10), and "it is not the will of my Father that any one of these little ones should ever perish." It is not God's will that any of these unborn children should perish. If God did not want a baby to be born, he would not have conceived it in the womb in the first place.

Now we understand that virtual reality and genetic science may give us the feeling or vision of power, but we are not gods. We are not our own or anyone else's creator, and for our own sakes we should not seek to be. You parents out there, who have been entrusted with the special guardianship over new life; you do not own your children. That's right! Just as one person does not own another, your children, technically belong to God. And here lies our only security; that no one but the creator God is sovereign over all basic human rights, beginning with the right to life.

Let's go over some terms and slogans that are very deceiving and misleading. The term "pro-choice" is misleading, in that it fails to point to what exactly is being chosen, and would never be applied to a violent crime such as child abuse or rape. Why is this? A lot of our choices have victims, and the choice of abortion has two victims; (1) the child that's being killed and (2) the mother, who's mental and physical health is put into jeopardy, and she could even loss her life. So yes, some choices have victims.

Another term that is misleading is "safe and legal abortion," which implies that, if it's legal, then it must be safe, and to keep it safe, we must keep it legal. But the truth of the matter is that, just because something is legal, doesn't necessarily mean that it safe. The fact is that the abortion industry is the most unregulated surgical industry in our nation today, and regularly destroys the health and the life of women who procure it in our legal facilities every day. And what are some things that are going on in these legal facilities? First, we must understand the different forms of contraception, such as; "the pill," "Depo-Provera," "Nor plant," "IDU" and the "patch." These contraceptives are supposed to be safe, but even though they act to inhibit ovulation and prevent conception, they also act to alter the lining of the womb so that transplantation of newly conceived children cannot occur. If a newly conceived child cannot implant itself on the lining of the womb, to receive nourishment, he or she will die. The best form of contraception, as we should be aware of as Christians, is abstinence.

In view of these facts, let's review the different forms of abortion. First, there is "RU486," which would be used just after a woman found out that she was pregnant. This is a chemically induced abortion. It's been out since 1981. Basically, it's a series of pills, beginning with a pill that starves the baby to death. Then another pill causes a miscarriage. A lot of people think that this pill is safe in its present form (this chemically induced abortion), but I'm here to tell you that it's not safe. There are side effects, and the worst side effect of all is death. There have been known cases where women and young girls have actually died from this "RU486." Aside from death, there is nausea, abdomen pain, vomiting and bleeding that can occur. There is also possible impaired future fertility, not to mention that it could be harmful to future children that would be born. So, we see that the side effects are very apparent with this "RU486."

Now, let us go over the appalling surgical types of abortion, as gruesome as they are. The first type is a suction type, where a large pump is put up inside the mother and the baby is actually pulled apart, ripped to pieces, as it is literally sucked out of the womb (a very painful death). Another type is where certain forceps are used to cut the baby's legs, snap the back and spine, and crush the skull, and the baby again comes out in pieces. And although the mother may be given an anesthetic, the child has none to diminish his or her pain. Also, there are types of procedures where certain things are injected into the sack. A Saline Salt Solution is injected into the sack, and the baby dies a painful, burning death. Potassium Chloride is injected into the sack in order to induce a heart attack. Sometimes they inject certain hormones into the uterine muscle, which causes violent contractions, ending in another painful death. And finally, the most repulsive and detestable of all is the "D and X" or "partial birth abortion." This type is practiced during the 3rd trimester, which goes from 4 to 9 months of pregnancy. Any time during this period the baby is pulled into a breach position and almost completely delivered, and then the back of the head is pierced, and the brains of the baby are sucked out for ease of exist. This is a horrible procedure of death that tortures beyond reason!

Another lie that's told is that there are no side effects to the women, and no medical complications that come as a result of these abortions. Some of these complications are very clear, starting with blood clots, hemorrhaging, infection, cut or torn cervix, perforated uterus, impaired future fertility, and even death. There are also severe emotional effects from these abortions. Many women experience nervousness, depression, insomnia, and feelings of regret and remorse. 50% of these women suffer from nightmares and thoughts of suicide, and an inability to make and have a healthy relationship with others. Many of them turn to alcohol and drugs.

A sad part about this abortion issue is again, 45 babies are murdered a day after the 20 weeks or 5 month period, and it is known truth that many of these babies could have survived, only they were murdered in abortion clinics. Why is that? Abortion builds on a lie that the smallest and weakest among us is of less value and can even be discarded. But you and I have to realize that there's dignity and worth in every person, whether you're small or you're big, young or old, healthy or sickly, wanted or unwanted, convenient or inconvenient.

Did you know that dead babies are big business? Did you know that baby parts are sold on the market for big profits? That's right! Fetal tissue harvesting is the procurement of organs, tissues and other external parts from aborted babies, for the use in research, testing and experimentation. Baby parts are sold to various wholesale companies and shipped to such organizations as "the National Institute of Health," "the Environmental Protection Agency," "Johns Hopkins University," "the Cancer Institute" and many pharmaceuticals, just to name a few. Because it is against Federal Law to sell baby parts, these wholesale companies and clinics use alternative terminologies when shipping these baby parts so they won't be discovered by authorities. Did you know that there is evidence that aborted babies are being converted into a material called Collagen? This substance is being used in the manufacture of many cosmetics, beauty creams, beauty oils, shampoos and soaps that are on the market today. Do you realize that in the country of China aborted babies are being eaten as a health food? They claim that it is to control the population control. This is horrendous and nothing short of cannibalism. These appalling uses of aborted babies far outweigh the atrocities of Nazi Germany, in their death camps, in the nineteen thirties and forties.

The Alan Guttmacher Institute, which favors a woman's right to terminate unwanted pregnancies, has come up with 3 basic reasons why women ask for abortions. 3/4ths of them say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities. 2/3rds say that they can't afford a child. 50% say that they do not want to become a single mother, or are having trouble with their husband or male companion. So, we can see here that the reasons these people seek this type of procedure has nothing at all to do with medical necessity. What it has to do with is self-convenience.

Many Christians and others will hesitate to become active in the Pro-Life Movement because they think that to oppose abortion, means to oppose those women who had them. They do not want to compromise their relationship with their sister, cousin or their friend. But, if they see that being pro-life means embracing these women with forgiveness, they may be more inclined to join the Movement. And this is what we want today. We want them to understand that the Pro-Life Movement is not only in the business of saving lives, which it is, but it's also in the business of forgiveness of these women who have had abortions as well as the forgiveness of anyone who has had anything to do with abortion. God is in the business of forgiveness. In the Bible we learn through Isaiah 55:7 that God says "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous their thoughts, and let them return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and abundantly pardon them." In Isaiah 1:18 God says, "Come let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as the wool." And in I John 1:9 we read "If we confess our sins, God's faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The Blood of Jesus Christ will wash away all of our sins, if we will just repent (Rev. 1:5). It doesn't matter what part we have played in this abortion situation, God will forgive us. So again, the Pro-Life Movement is not only in the business of saving the life of the child, the mother, and her health, but also in the business of forgiving any mother that has had an abortion in the past. That's right, without forgiveness and love we have nothing.

Now many who oppose abortion will lament it, but will feel out of place trying to stop it. They will see it as wrong, but as a personal wrong, with which it is none of their business to interfere. Today you would never hear someone say "I would never abuse my child, but if someone else wants to do it, that's their choice." The reason you don't hear someone say that is because most people realize that some choices have victims. When someone's choices destroys or threatens the life of someone else, that's everybody's business. It is after all, the business of Love, which interferes to save our Brothers and Sisters in need. This is why it is precisely, both our business and our privilege to work to stop abortion. The right to health, the right to home, the right to work, the right to family and to culture, are false and illusory, if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental of all human rights, is not defended with maximum determination. As Christians, our responsibility to provide protection from injustice clearly extends to the child in the womb. Just as Moses the prophet stood as an intercessor between the Children of Israel and God, we are to "stand in the gap, make up the hedge" (Ezek. 22:30) for these innocent, helpless babies, made in God's image and likeness. Proverbs 24:11-12 tells us that "we are to deliver those that are ready to be slain, and those that are drawn unto death. If we try to disclaim our responsibility by saying that we didn't know what to do, or we didn't know about it, or something like that, does not He that pondered the heart, consider it, and He that keeps your soul, will He not know, it, and will He not render to every man according to his works." St. James 4:17 says "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it's sin." The Apostle John says "let us not love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (I John 3:18).

As Christians we understand the trouble is not that there is nothing that can be done about abortion, the trouble is there are not enough people doing the perfectly legal, peaceful, effective activities that they can do to stop abortion. What are some of these activities that we can become involved in? First, let us get some insight on abortion alternatives. The good news is that the Church and the Pro-Life Movement have provided and are providing better choices, and have a wide range of help available to all that need it. Thousands of helping centers provide financial assistance, medical services, legal advice, counseling, work, education, a place to live, and assistance in keeping the child, or to place it for adoption. So, again, what activities can you and I be involved in to stop abortion? First of all, we can pray! We can pray that the convicting power of God's Spirit comes upon all who are involved in abortion. Whether they are ladies, young or old, considering abortion, or whether they are the abortionist themselves, or whether they are people that are influenced in a pro-choice direction, the hope is that the conviction of God would come upon them, causing them to stop this activity and direction. We should also pray for the health of the mothers and the spiritual, physical and emotional recovery of the women who have had these abortions. Also, we should pray that those considering abortion would respect and acknowledge the other human life growing in them.

We should also pray for our Legislators, that legislation would become enacted to reverse "Roe vs. Wade," and that they would become more Pro-Life. We should take the time to educate ourselves and others in the Pro-Life issues. We need to talk to our family, and friends and our neighbors about our Pro-Life convictions. We should also work to commit our church to a more Pro-Life attitude and action. We should distribute Pro-Life Literature in various locations where we know that it will be read. We should also support our legislators and legislation that is Pro-Life. That's right! Sometimes you and I have got to get out there and be politically active, voting for our Pro-Life Candidate. We need to vote for legislators and law makers that would bring in Pro-Life Legislation. We should also contact our Legislators though letters, or personally, to make them aware of our Pro-Life views. Also, we should see if we can get some petitions signed by various groups, such as churches and other Christian organizations. Finally, we should join a Pro-Life Group and volunteer our time and money, when we have it, to this Pro-Life Group. We should volunteer our time for marches, and for Pro-Life Chain, and even picket abortion clinics when we can, in a lawful manner of course, and only under the guidance and leadership of our Pro-Life Group Leader. If we can volunteer our services to that Pro-Life Group in any way, we should do it.

Now, in conclusion, if we will do what we can to help to halt this holocaust of abortion, we may see in the near future, a reversal of the decision of "Roe vs. Wade" and an end to this tragedy of murdering these innocent children.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alcorn, Randy – "PRO-LIFE ANSWERS TO PRO-CHOICE ARGUMENTS" (Portland, OR: Multnomah Books, 1994)—Chapter 9

Anstey, Martin – "THE ROMANCE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY" (London, England: Marshall Brothers, 1913)—Chapter 7

Chilton, David – "THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE" (Tyler, TX; Dominion Press, 1987)—Chapter 8

Desalle, Bob and Yudell, Michael – "WELCOME TO THE GENOME" (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2005)—Chapter 6

King James Version – "THE HOLY BIBLE" (1611)—Chapters 1-9

Kratz, Rene Fester (Ph. D) – "MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY FOR DUMMIES" (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc. 2009)—Chapter-6

Mauro, Phillip – "THE SEVENTY WEEKS AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION" (Dahlonega, GA: Crown Rights Book Company, 1944)—Chapters 7-8

Riplinger, G.A. – "NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS" (Munroe Falls, OH: A.V. Publications, 1994)—Chapter 8

Scott, Walter Dill (B.A., Ph.D, LL.D.) – "THE AMERICAN PEOPLES ENCYLOPEDIA", Book 2, Page: 053-67 (Chicago, IL: Spencer Press, 1954)--Chapter 6

Staff of the Princeton Review – "CRACKING THE AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM" (New York, NY: Random House Inc., 2006-2007)—Chapter 6

Strong, James (S.T.D., LL.D) – "THE EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE" (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1901)—Chapters 1-9

Zodhiates, Spiros (TH.,D.)- "WHAT ABOUT DIVORCE" (Chattanooga, TN:AMG Publishers, 1992)—Chapter 4

Zodhiates, Spiros (TH.,D.)- "MAY I DIVORCE AND REMARRY"(Chattanooga, TN:AMG Publishing, 1992)—Chapter 4
