Single Global Currency by 2024

By Ray Gano

I would like to comment on a couple of things regarding the G-20 and one world currency (OWC)

To bring you up to speed, here is a quote…

"The Single Global Currency Association is dedicated to the goal of implementing a Single Global Currency, within a Global Monetary Union and managed by a Global Central Bank by 2024. We shall achieve this goal through education and persuasion."

I have been getting emails asking if the 2024 date is for the rapture and others speculating on Christ’s return.

Folks, we are to allow God’s Word to be our filter, not what is taking place out in the world.

Sure many of us point to this and that, but we must always apply scripture.

Here was a question I got…

If the one world money system doesn't come until 2024, does that preclude the coming of the lord before then, and the tribulation?

I understand that the individual is asking and it is a good question, the speculative answer is yes.

But my answer in light of scripture is… Has to be I don’t know.

In these last days we need to be very cautious about how we read the signs of the times and we need to let scripture be our lens that we view the world and it’s events through.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV) For now we see through a glass, darkly;

No where in scripture is the rapture tied to any event. Although many of us like to put the rapture in a neat little box and have our timelines and charts, scripturally, it is an independent event.

Being a staunch supporter and apologist for the Pre-Tribe, I say that the rapture will take place prior to the rise of the antichrist and the tribulation.

Here is the issue. The rapture could take place this very minute, tomorrow or next week. BUT… the tribulation could start 1-5-10 years from the rapture.

What initiates the tribulation is the signing of the peace treaty by “The Prince” as he is called in Daniel 9:26-27

Daniel 9:26 (KJV) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Daniel 9:27 (KJV) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

What initiates the rapture is the following…

Romans 11:25(KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

For more information about defending and understanding the pre-tribe rapture, read my article "We Have to Prepare for the Tribulation???"

Located at the following URL … http://www.prophezine.com/PZArticles/PreparefortheTribulation/tabid/265/Default.aspx

As you can see, these events are independent from one another.

For example I am not one who believes that if the rapture would take place today, and tomorrow the antichrist has his empire in place and is ruling the world.

No matter what, people need time to be moved and herded into a direction. It is human nature. Moving all the people who are left behind in one direction and towards the antichrist’s empire will take more than 24 hours.

On top of that the logistics and infrastructure need to be put into place to rule the world by one man.

Another quick point here, Satan is NOT omnipresent like God is. He can only be one place at one time. So if Satan is to control all of man during the Tribulation, he will need the electronic surveillance and infrastructure in place to do that. Yes demons will help, but they are not omnipresent either.

We are a big brother society, but not to the point where ever person in the world is able to be monitored 24/7.

So there is some technology that still needs to be put into place and fully funtional.

Another point that I want to make is that just because there is a one world currency does not make that currency the mark of the beast.

The mark of the beast comprises of three things:

• it is a financial system
• it is a religious system
• it is a political system

We read in Revelation 13…

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Although it is highly draconian, a one world monetary system is not the mark of the beast.

Now, a one world currency can be used as one of the tools to implement the mark of the beast, but if everyone is carrying around New World Dollars, it does not make that piece of paper the mark of the beast.

I hope that I am making myself clear here.

We need to remember that the mark involves a complete submission to a financial, religious and political system. Those who take it are aligning themselves with the antichrist and they know it.

We as Christians accept Christ as our personal savior, those who take the mark are submitting their lives to the antichrist as their “master.”

They will fully know and understand whom they will serve.

So again, If all three of these things are not in place and being accepted all at once, it is not the mark.

In the 1930s Social Security was enacted. Having a SS # was made mandatory.

Many folks during that time were claiming that to be the mark.

But again it was not because people were not submitting to a religious, financial and political system. They saw a tool that could be used to help bring the mark about, but it in and of itself is not the mark.

Folks, we are living in the last days of the last days.

More than ever we need cleave to what God’s Word says and use that as the lens in which we view the world, not view the world and then look to scripture to see if it fits.

This is why it is utterly important that we are in God’s Word daily and that we hide it within our hearts.

If we do not know God’s word, how do we know what is the truth?

God’s word is the ultimate truth and it is through His Word that all things are illuminated and understood.

Our problem is that we just don’t spend enough time in His Word.

Times are going to get harder and harder. Being in His Word becomes more and more important.

Now more than any other time in history we must know God’s Word inside and out.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior.

To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.
If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

---

About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.

Watch our latest endeavor Prophezine’s This Week In Bible Prophecy at
http://www.youtube.com/prophezine

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

visit their new daughter ministry Wisdom Farms at http://www.wisdomfarms.com

Last Days? ...Yea So What!

By Ray Gano

I have to admit that I have been a little out of sorts recently.

Why?

Seems that no one cares anymore.

Let me ask you this, "Are we living in the last days?"

Now many of you will say "YES!"

OK, now how about this? " Can Jesus return at any moment?"

Again many of you will probably say "YES."

Ok, if we are living in the last days, what proof can you give showing that this statement is a fact?

:::::: The sound of crickets chirping :::::::

Better yet, if we are living in the last days and Jesus Christ could return at ANY MOMENT, what are you doing about it?

:::::: More sounds of crickets chirping :::::::

Here is the problem that I see. We have a boat load of believers walking around believing in the imminent return of Christ and yet very few people …

1. Do not really know the signs of the times

2. Are really doing anything about it.

"wow Ray, you are being pretty hard on people."

Look at everything that is going on around us and yet nothing is stirring people (Christians) to action.

We clearly see the signs of the times taking place every hour of ever day. Just look at some of these I have listed…

· Increasing instability of nature.(Matthew 24:7 & Luke 21:11)

· Increasing lawlessness and violence.(Matthew 24:12)

· Increasing immorality.(Matthew 24:37)

· Increasing materialism.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Increasing Hedonism.(2 Timothy 3:4)

· Increasing influence of Humanism.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Depraved entertainment.(2 Timothy 3:4)

· Calling evil good and good evil.(2 Timothy 3:3 & Isaiah 5:20)

· Increasing use of drugs.(2 Timothy 3:3)

· Increasing blasphemy.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Increasing paganism.(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

· Increasing despair.(2 Timothy 3:1)

· Increasing knowledge.(Daniel 12:4)

· Increasing travel.(Daniel 12:4)

· The explosion of cults.(Matthew 24:11)

· The proliferation of false christs.(Matthew 24:5)

· Increasing apostasy in the Church.(2 Timothy 4:3-5)

· Increasing attacks on Jesus.(Romans 1:18-19)

· Increasing attacks on the Bible.(Romans 1:18-19)

· Increasing persecution of Christians.(Matthew 24:9)

· Increasing occultism. (1 Timothy 4:1)

Now this is just the short list, I could go on with even more, but this gives you a good example.

The issue is that we see many of these and even more biblical signs taking place daily and yet many of us who claim the title Christian, are doing nothing, except maybe chasing the signs.

So many people talk about the imminent return of our Lord and Savior, but it seems like nobody cares. It is as if people have become numb to the fact and people do not care about their fellow man who is lost and destined to hell.

It almost appears that people have the attitude of " Well I am going to heaven, who cares about anyone else."

"Yep, I've got my 'E' ticket to paradise, so …to bad so sad for all you friends, family and neighbors out there, you can find your own way."

As rude as that sounds, that is what many Christians are expressing today, maybe not verbally, but definitely in action, or better said the lack of action.

I mean think about it here for a second.

We are living in the last days of the last days. We are literally walking the razor's edge, and the imminent return of our Lord and Savior can take place at any moment of time.

Knowing this, shouldn’t we be out there letting those we love and care for know that they are on the path to hell? How about our lives, shouldn't we be living holy and acceptable life unto Him?

Folks, unless people repent of their sins and trust Christ as their personal savior and follow him, they have no hope in making it to heaven. What are we doing about it?

What we are witnessing today is utter complacency.

Here is how Christ described it…

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

In the days of Noah, the people did not care.

Signs, Signs, Signs

Here is some insight I want to point out to you.

Do you realize that many of those spoken of by Christ in this statement were also Noah's relatives?

Yep, they were his own brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, ect.

How do I know this?

Genesis 5:26 -31 (KJV) And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

Not only did Noah have brothers, sister, and such. Many forget that he, Noah, also knew his Grandfather, Methuselah. Yea, it is common sense, but we often forget that just from reading Genesis and all those "begots."

I say this because even before Noah, the people living at that time knew and understood that God's Judgment was coming upon them and they had a clear sign.

What was that sign? |The people had Methuselah, the oldest living man known.

Well why is that important you may ask?

Do you know that Methuselah's name meant "when he dies judgment comes" or "in the year he dies it will be sent."

Both of these are referring to the flood of Noah. Which means that Methuselah was alive up to a year if not days prior to the flood and then died.

So to spell it out for you…

Here we have the world's oldest man, whose name means "when he dies judgment comes." Folks, this is the oldest guy living; everyone knew who he was. Many of these people are his own descendants and kin. They know that when Methuselah dies, judgment is coming. Not only did Noah preach on this, but so did Methuselah. I mean how does one go through life with a name meaning "when he dies judgment comes" and NOT warn the people? How can you be a relative to Methuselah and not hear the warning?

See what I mean…But did the people care?

NO… they just went on with their lives eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day when Noah entered the ark.

So the people knew and understood what was going on, we can clearly see that in scripture.

When Methuselah died, the rains came.

They Saw The Signs

Folks, during the days of Noah the people not only had Methuselah preaching and being a witness, they also had Noah and his sons. Noah was not only preaching, but also building this huge ark. Here are at least three clear signs of their time. What did the people do? "Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage." They did not care about what was going on.

Looking at today, look at how many signs we have and yet the people of today do not care, Christian and heathen alike.

I state all of this because we are seeing a repeat of the days of Noah taking place right here, right now.

Christ told us "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The people of Noah's day did not care that the end of the world was coming. Just like people of today do not care that the Coming of The Lord is at hand. But what is troubling is that even the Christians have bought into the complacency.

How many people care?

How many watchmen are really out there?

Folks, as I have said before we are living in the last days of the last days. We have signs of His return all over. So much so that even the heathen knows something is going on. One cannot turn on the nightly news and in fifteen minutes not see something dealing with Bible prophecy.

God's prophecies are everywhere and yet no one seems to care anymore.

Christ is standing at the threshold, his imminent return is nigh and nobody cares.

It makes me have to ask, is everyone who claims the title Christian really a Christians in the first place if they don't even care about the return of their own Lord and Savior?

Last Days? Yea So What!

Look around, we have all these signs of the Lord's return and yet many Christians don’t care. In fact at times it seems that people are more interested in chasing the "signs" versus looking for the Savior. Sure they say they are looking for the savior, but if they really were, their lives would reflect that.

Sad thing is that in many Christians lives, that reflection of an imminent return is lacking.

Here is what scripture says…

1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

With all these signs of the Lord taking place, why is it that most of the world no longer cares about Jesus Christ?

It seems that riding on the "highway to hell" is more important to Christians and heathens alike than looking for the return of our Lord and doing something about it.

Here is what scripture says…

Matthew 7:20-23 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Do your fruits show that you love the Lord?

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Knowing that Christ can return at any moment, do people know and see your faith by your actions?

1 Peter 1:16 (KJV) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Can people tell you apart because you live a holy life? Or are you just another person taken up with "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage?"

In other words, what is more important, Sunday's church and meditating on the
Lord OR Sunday's football/baseball/basketball game with BBQ , Budweiser and the buddies?

Here is a goad, how many of you laughed just now as you read that and chose the second then said to yourself "oh not really" and changed your mind?

I guess what I have to ask is where is the urgency?

Everyone professes a belief in Immanency and yet very few produce the fruits to show it. I hear the same ol' I am to busy, I don't know the bible, I am not a preacher, yada yada excuses from many people claiming the title Christian, but where are the fruits being produced?

Here is the rubber meets the road point I am trying to make...

1. Either you love the Lord, believe in the imminent return and have an urgency in your heart moving you to action to share the gospel with everyone you know because time is just about out.

Or

2. You've been playing a real good game and have everyone fooled thinking you really love the Lord, and that you really care, but in reality you are just living a lie.

If you are number #1, great, but I have a good feeling that there are some of you reading this who are really #2.

If you were #1, your lives would show it. Sure you can give all the excuses you wish to give, what is key though is that your witness lacks thus producing no fruit.

Your faith without works is dead.

Now I know that I am probably ticking off many folks right now. But again I have to ask "knowing what you know and knowing that we are living in the last days of the days, why aren't you doing anything about it?

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Either you really don’t love the Lord nor wish to further his kingdom thus you are living a lie, or you do love the Lord and are doing something about it.

Which is it?

Now I do know that there is a third category…

3. You are so wrapped up in life, one feels like the rat running on that wheel day in and day out and yet you are going nowhere. All you know what to do is eat, sleep and run on that wheel trying to stay ahead getting nowhere fast. Is that is how your life feels?

If this is you, then I know you very well because I was there myself and from time to time it is easy to slip back onto that wheel. But I will let you in on something, one rarely gets to number #1 until you have gone through #3.

So is this you?

You love the Lord and you have given your life to Him. You read your bible, (from time to time), you go to church sometimes but you are living an empty life because you are missing one critical point without knowing what it is. At times you even shake your fist at God wondering why He isn't there for you and why you cannot feel his presence like others claim. You live a pretty good life on the outside, but you have emptiness on the inside wishing for that real personal relationship with the Lord. You have tried everything, gotten involved at church, maybe even teach Sunday school. But still life is empty.

What is the real issue? You gave Him your heart, but you have not given him your all. You might say that you have given Him your all, but if you are running on the rat wheel and I have described you above, then you have a propensity to maintain control of your own life.

And if that is the case, you control the "steering wheel of life," and not the Lord.

You love Him, but you have not submitted your all to Him; and until you come to that point where you finally give it all up and you can no longer run, you will be trapped on that wheel, quite possibly till the end of your days.

What you are battling is that sin nature, it is one of the steps of working out your Sanctification. Please note I said Sanctification and NOT your Salvation. You are already saved by grace, but now it is your turn to do as Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2….

Romans 12:1 -2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Once you realize your "reasonable service" then you are on the path of giving Him your all.

Here is at tip to help you in the right direction. There is complete freedom in submitting to the Lord. Hard to believe, but the freedom comes from knowing His word and then obeying His word. When you really have submitted to Him, you really have no desire to partake of the things of the world because you enjoy the peace freedom and happiness that only He can give you and not what the world has to offer.

As long as you are running on that treadmill of life, you will see very little of what the Lord offers in the way of His favor and His abundance. In other words living a content life happy in what the Lord has provided and what you have been given stewardship over.

Once you give up your all to Him, then you will really understand that we are living in the last days of the last days and then you will see that urgency that we must share with those who do not know the Lord.

Finally you will care about your fellow man and not be complacent, you will pick up your cross and follow Him.

Where is the freedom?

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

What is your reasonable service?

Romans 12:1 -2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What are we called to do?

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Time is critically short. Stop chasing signs, start looking for the Savior.

Christ or the Canaanites

By Ray Gano

Joshua 24:14 -15 (KJV) Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

When Joshua stated these words, he was on his deathbed. He called all of Israel together to speak to them one last time.

You see, he feared for Israel. He started to see Israel become lazy and choose the apostate ways of the Canaanites, the false ways, the ways of the world.

Like Joshua, we too must choose this day, who we are going to serve. Once we have chosen, we must take action on it.

Too often we see people making excuses so that they can indulge in the ways of the Canaanites, the ways of the world, the ways God has told us to stay clear of.

Oh, we put fancy words to it and all. We get all warm and fuzzy by slapping the name “Christian” on it to fool the ignorant. In reality all this does is dilute what God has said and in turn we excuse our indulgence with the ways of the world.

Before I get into this, I want to make sure you understand that I am not refuting the doctrine of eternal security. I believe once saved always saved. What I do have a problem with are those who are claiming the title Christian thinking that they are saved and living an open life of sin that is not according to God’s word. But instead they are indulging in the many ways of the world and making excuses for it.

Looking at the world today we see MANY people claiming the title “Christian” but I do not see them living the life worthy of a Lord who personally died for their sins.

Matthew 7:15-16 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:18-20 (KJV) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I get a lot of emails telling me “who are you to judge me, your not God.” I agree, I am not God, but in the verse above I am told how we are to know who is NOT of God. This is also echoed again in Ephesians 5 talking of good fruit and worldly fruit. It is by their fruits that we shall know them.

It is through their fruits they identify themselves as to who they really serve.

In the days before Joshua’s death, Israel had many victories and won many battles over those who lived in the land. But we also learn that it was the tribe of Dan that led to the ultimate fall of Israel. You can read about this in Joshua 19. Because Dan dwelt among the Canaanites and Philistines they became exposed to the ways that were not of the Lord. They were introduced to their false gods, worldly ways and wild women. This in turn spread like a cancer, which Joshua saw in Israel.

In Joshua 24, it is seen that a covenant was made between Joshua, the people and God. They said that they would not turn away from the Lord and that they would turn away from the ways of the Canaanites and not worship their gods.

But when Joshua died, excuses came into play. Apostasy went to work and cancer spread throughout all of Israel.

This is exactly what we are seeing in Christianity today

Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

This should be a very sobering verse to those who are claiming the title and not living the proper life for the Lord.

It amazes me what people are doing today all in the name of Christianity and thinking that Grace gives them a license to sin.

Here is a short roadmap in which the ways of the world which have entered the church…

The Avenue (Wide Road)

- Watered down modern versions of the bible, NIV, The Message, RSV, Living Bible, NASB pretty much anything based upon the Westcott and Hort school of thought.

- Christian contemporary, Heavy Metal, Death Metal Rock

- Co-mingling of worldly beliefs and biblical beliefs

The Actions (Compromise)

- Christian Yoga; Yoga for kids

- Healing and practicing Reiki (wizardry)

- Feng Shui (occultic lay lines and earth magic)

- Walking the Labyrinth

- Contemplative prayer – (Transcendental Meditation - TM)

- Tai Chi and other forms of “Christian” martial arts

- The return of the Liturgy

- The return of candles, icons and incense

- The return of the worship of saints, mother Mary and of Angels

The Results (False Gospel)

- Salvation without the Blood of Christ, death burial and resurrection

- Salvation by works

- Rejecting the Bible as the infallible word of God

- Rejecting of doctrine and the tenants of the faith

- Complete acceptance of new age thought and belief along with the occult and pagan practices

I can go on, but I think you get the idea.

NOW… if something in this list has “ticked you off” or is a point of contention, you need first need to ask yourself “WHY?”

Why are you getting upset that your pet sin, belief or practice is listed here?

If you are a child of God, there should be some conviction going on as well as recognition that you have been indulging in the world’s ways.

Now if you refuse to accept the conviction in your heart, the next thing that usually happens, one usually lashes out at the messenger, which is me at the moment. This usually consists of calling me some name, attacking my intelligence, calling me a Pharisee, judgmental, stiff necked, fanatic, fundamentalist, ect. Saying that I have no idea what I am talking about.

Next the excuses come as to why we are allowed to wallow in some of these sins and pagan ways and working to discredit the messenger.

I point back to what Joshua said..

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve”

Often people think there is grey area with God. This is a major mistake. God is a YES / NO, binary, black or white God.

He is also a God who does not change His mind or ways to suit modern day man. Many would have us to believe that just because it was not ok for the Israelites doesn’t mean He holds us to the same standards of obedience today. It seems as if today’s thought in Christian circles is God does not care how I live, what I do or how I act as long as I am “working” for Him.

This is just not true. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Now, some of you out there may be involved in some of the things I have mentioned and not know it is living in the ways of the world. That is because you have been deceived. But, now that you know, you have a choice to make. Do you continue living in disobedience (sin) or not?

Now, If you continue living in disobedience this tells me one of two things.

1. You really are not saved
2. You are living in rebellion

If this is you, which one are you?

What sort of fruit are you producing in the eyes of God? Is this fruit godly and good - or wicked and corrupt? The Word of God has much to say about this issue, and anyone who claims Jesus Christ as their personal Savior should have no problem accepting the Bible as the final authority. Knowing this, we are called to submit to Him 100%. Again if you choose not to, you then serve your father the devil as stated in John 8:44. The other option is you are His and choose rebellion.

Personally, I would not want to be in ones shoes who choose to live in rebellion.

Here is how God will deal with those who choose to serve the world when they are His.

2 Chronicles 7:19 - 22 (KJV) But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Now, I can hear it already. If you are one of these people you are going to say to yourself, “well what I am doing is good, it isn’t hurting anyone and through it I am being a good Christian example and have even talked about God and shared the gospel, so I guess that it is ok and I can keep doing what I feel is right.”

Do you see what went on in that excuse? It is pretty much the same argument that Eve had with herself regarding the apple.

They went against God’s Word. Here is what God says…

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 16:25 (KJV) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Isaiah 8:20 (KJV)"to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

Romans 12:2 (KJV)"and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of god."

“Yea, hath God said??” said the snake to the Eve.

Are you leaning upon your own understanding, your own beliefs, your own wants, desires, lusts?

Are you ignoring what God’s word clearly says?

Here is what God’s word says…

Matthew 7:18-20 (KJV) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

1 Corinthians 10:21 (KJV) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Like the verses in Matthew 7; 1 Cor 10:21 is very clear in that you can not serve two masters. Either you serve the devil and produce the fruits of the world, or you serve Christ and produce fruits of the spirit. There is no mixing the two.

Going back to Mat 7:14 we KNOW that there are not many who will go to heaven.

Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

We also know that many will claim the title but God will not know them.

Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We also learn that many claim the title, but the roots did not take hold. If one is not producing the good fruit of the Lord, then there is a good chance that they are not one of His.

Matthew 13:3-9 (KJV) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Being a Christian is not easy, Christ told us that himself. But because we are His, we have the strength to continue on daily in His will. Paul tells us that our strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

It is when we submit 100% to him and His will, then the Lord does great things in our lives.

Living a life of sin, even when you claim the title seems easy, but in the long run, will lead to destruction.

Matthew 7:13 (KJV) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

The church has lost its way. Many people claim the title, but in reality many are not His. Many choose the ways of the Canaanites, ways of the world, their father the Devil and not the ways of the Lord. This is just another sign of the last days.

Here is what God’s word says…

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If you are one of those who got upset at me when you read this, you need to reexamine your life and get right with the Lord. If you are not a Christian, but claiming the title, you too need to get right with the Lord or choose you this day who you will serve.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:21(KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22(KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23(KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

---

About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

visit their new daughter ministry Wisdom Farms at http://www.wisdomfarms.com

Daniel's Colloquialisms and Turning Them Into a Literal Translation

By Ray Gano

As many of you know I lean towards an "eastern leg" of Roman Empire idea. Recently we had a really good conversation going on the Prophezine Yahoo Group board and I thought that I would share a post I responded too. In this we were discussing the 10 kingdoms, America and the "west" in Bible Prophecy. One poster named Dan stated the following...

> While Psa 83 is a list of 10 nations, we must interpret
> Scripture in context and when Dan 7:23-24 says that fourth
> kingdom devours the "whole earth" with 10 kingdoms coming out
> of it, then we would be wise not to reject that statement in
> favor of a list of 10 nations found in the Psalms, IMO.

This is the common idea that many believe.

First of all, I want to let you all know that I am not trying to put anyone down, but I do try to show "holes" and errors in many people's logic in light of scripture.

What is taking place here is the common error of taking an allegory or colloquialism and turning it into a literal translation. Folks, this is something I have even done it myself.

To refute this, my first point, the word "earth" used in Dan 7:24 is not "erets"... Hebrew for earth, but in the verse you are referencing it is ar-ah' which is a figurative for "low".

In fact the "context" that Daniel is using is not earth at all, but the "whole land" or commonly understood that being the known world of the time.

If we are to take a literal translation of Daniel 7 and maintaining "literal context" then I have to ask the following regarding Daniel 7:3.

Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

In writing this Did Daniel mean four beast LITERALLY came out of the sea? It is obviously No

But to better understand the context it helps to know who are the four beasts spoken of in Daniel 7.

We know for a fact that the first three beasts are Babylon, Persia, and Greece.

Now did any of these nations rule the "whole earth"? No, but here Daniel while interpreting Nebuchadnezzar dream of the statue states that one of the kingdoms did in fact rule over ALL THE EARTH.

Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

Now we know based on prophecy fulfilled that Greece was the third kingdom as it was the third beast spoken about later in chapter 7. Knowing that I have to ask, did Greece literally rule over ALL THE EARTH? To further expand on this point, did the Indians in the Americas shake and tremble at the sight of Greece? What about the natives in Papa New Guinea? Did the people of Japan know of the power of Greece and did they succumb to her?

Anyone with a hint of historical knowledge knows the answer to these questions is No. If fact without coming out and saying it, the common man understands that what is spoken about here is the known world and not ALL THE EARTH when viewed in proper context and understanding of the colloquialisms Daniel as well as many of the writers of the Bible often used. It is a style of writing that Daniel in particular embraced.

We know that Greece ruled the KNOWN WORLD, but not ALL THE EARTH. Just like Babylon and Persia did as well.

So to use the word "WHOLE EARTH" and associate it to the entire globe is not what is being said here. What Daniel is referencing is the known world at that time, AKA the Middle East. Daniel used colloquialisms, so we can not take those and make them literal.
Now here is another point, what about the fourth kingdom?

Many people state that it is Rome. This is an incorrect belief that began with Martin Luther and his protesting of the catholic church. He is the originator of much that is being taught today about Rome, the Catholic church, the pope, ect. While many are aware that Luther (father of the Protestant Reformation) came to view the Rome's Catholic Papacy as the spiritual seat of the Antichrist, few are aware that Luther believed that actually the Turks were the Kingdom of Antichrist:

"The Pope is the spirit of Antichrist, and the Turk (Muslim) is the flesh of Antichrist." source - Martin Luther, Tischreden, Weimer ed., 1, No. 330

In Luther's 1520 Open Letter to the Christian Nobility, Luther declares: "There is no doubt that the true Roman Empire, which the writings of the prophets foretold in Numbers 24[:24] and in Daniel [11:30f], has long since been overthrown...That was brought to pass...especially when the `Turkish' [Mohammadan] Empire arose almost a thousand years ago." source - Works, Holman, Philadelphia, 1915, II, pp.149 & 154

To help prove a point regarding Rome, please answer following questions...

- During what reign, empire or kingdom did John the revelatory live?

- Who imprisoned him?

- When was the book of Revelation written?

I ask these questions to help point out that John, the author of Revelation clearly stated 3 times that Rome WAS NOT, the fourth kingdom.

To basically answer the questions which we as students of bible prophecy pretty much know, John was imprisoned by the Romans, lived during the Roman empire during the reign of Emperor Domitian on the Isle of Patmos and wrote Revelation around AD 95-96. Even it one does not know this off the top of one's head, it is very easy information to find out.

Moving forward...

Please read the following scriptures that John of Patmos wrote.

Revelation 17:8 (KJV) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 17:11 (KJV) And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Right here in black and white John is clearly saying that the Revived Empire of the last days is NOT Rome.

Not only does he say it once, but as I stated before he makes the point three times.

1. The beast that thou sawest was, (It existed prior to the time of John's writing Revelation) and is not; (DID NOT EXIST during the time of John writing Revelation) and shall ascend (shall return in the future) out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:

2. when they behold the beast that was, (It existed prior to the time of John's writing Revelation) and is not, (DID NOT EXIST during the time of John writing Revelation) and yet is. (shall return in the future)

3. And the beast that was, (It existed prior to the time of John's writing Revelation) and is not, (DID NOT EXIST during the time of John writing Revelation) even he is the eighth (shall return in the future)

John is clearly stating that the revived empire is not Rome and yet the traditions of men say it is Rome. So who is correct? Is it men in all their teaching or is it God's Word? I know that I am going against the grain of many of you, but I have to say it, the teaching of a Revived Roman Empire does not match up to what Scripture states. John as well as Daniel back this up as well.

In fact it is Daniel in chapter 11 where he states where the AC will hail from by giving prophecy about Anticus Epiphanies the first "king of the North and then giving prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled about the modern King of the North... AKA the Antichrist. It is this same "king of the north" that will align himself with the 10 kingdoms, this is also backed up clearly in Psalms 83 with the 10 kingdoms mentioned. WHICH are also the same kingdoms that belong to the blood feud originating with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob spoken of in Genesis.

The EU, Illuminati, Rome, US, the West, ect are not named in Bible Prophecy, neither are they part of the blood feud originating with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Again I point out that what the church has done over the ages is a kin to replacement theology. We have placed "the west" and the church in place of Israel and the middle east, in God's Word, the Bible, which is all about Israel and the Middle East. Clearly the end time players are from the Middle East and it is Christ Himself who comes and rescues Israel from the 10 kings of Psalms 83 and The beast, Assyrian, King Pharaoh of Egypt, Prince of Tyre, The King of the North that person whom we call the Antichrist.

To take my point even further, often teachers of Bible Prophecy point to a EU strawman claiming this mystery person will be the Antichrist. Yet they can not point to any solid evidence and instead use self supporting circular reasoning to prove their points.

Well here is a mind bender for you.. Islam, the primary religion of the Middle East and the modern form of Baal worship has a person whom they are looking for to be their savior. This man is known as the Mahdi.

The following is a list comparing what we know about the Antichrist and what we know about Islam's Mahdi.

Both Deny Trinity And Cross
Both Deny The Father And The Son
Both Are Blasphemous
Both Are Called Deceiver
Both Claim To Be Messiah
Both Kingdoms Suffer A Head Wound
Both Work False Miracles
Both Ride A White Horse
Both Attempt To Change The Law
Both Deny Women's Rights
Both Rule Over Ten Entities
Both Are the Source of Death and War
Both Use Military Force
Both Honor Their God with Gold and Silver
Both Honor a God of War And Advance His Glory Through War
Both Condon Rape
Both Usher Seven Years Peace Treaty
Both Deceive And Destroy By Peace
Both Break Treaties
Both Love War for Booty
Both Desire World Domination
Both Lead A Turkish-Iranian Invasion
Both Exalted As God
Both Ascend To Heaven
Both Are Described As Beautiful And Wise Bird
Both Are Light Beings
Both Are Pride Filled
Both Are Lords of This World and the Underworld
Both Are Called the "Son of the Dawn"
Both Are Afflicters
Both Are Cast Out Of Heaven
Both Are "The Lords of Demons"
Both Are Possessed
Both Practice Beheading
Both Desire Israel's Destruction
Both Occupy the Temple Mount

Can the proponents of a EU / Western Antichrist point to anyone, any comparisons? All they have to point to is some smoke and mirrors sort of person personified in many western books and in fact a whole series was dedicated to this vapor of a person. So many now believe the book series and give it as much credit as they do scripture even though the authors clearly state that it is pure fiction and a work of their own imagination.

What many are guilty of, and I include myself in that as well is what I call "Parroting the parrots."

What we need to do is get back to scripture and allow scripture to interpret scripture and put away many of the old teachings of men. When we realize that the bible is a book authored by God through the Hebrew oracles about the promised land, the blood feud and the coming messiah, all of a sudden things seem to just fall into place. No more square pegs being forced into round holes. Things make clear sense because instead of using the ideas of man to interpret, we are relying on the original author, the Holy Spirit to show us and illuminate the scripture.

To say it in a more "courtroom" way... If Scripture Fits, We Must Submit.

I look forward to questions and comments. I enjoyed the chance to present these points from scripture.

TIME TO CHOOSE - Cowboy UP or Complacency

By Ray Gano

Ever have one of those nights where you wake up and then you can’t get back to sleep because all of a sudden your brain has gone into overdrive? Seems that at times like these I am able to solve the world’s problems, write novels in my head, design and draw our dream house, etc. Well this time it was kind of different and no matter what I thought to change the direction I kept coming back.

It is kind of hard to put a finger on it and my thoughts kept coming to me from a zillion different directions. Funny thing is that they all corresponded with each other.

There is a saying here in Texas, when the going gets tough, “Cowboy Up.” The term means to dig down deep within yourself and muster up what you need to muster in order to get the task at hand completed. Other versions of this is.. Buck Up, Suck it up, Get it together, Get with the program, ect.

Before we go any further, let me make this clear. I am not a prophet, son of a prophet and I did eat Mexican food yesterday. But these thoughts were going through my mind while I was awake, not asleep and no matter how hard I tried I could not tune the thoughts out.

One of the thoughts that kept coming back was a pretty deep discussion I had with Bill Koenig about a year ago. We were talking about the separation of the church, or what we are both seeing as a separation of the wheat from the tares. No matter where I look I am seeing two types of Christians. One type who have maintained the traditions of our fore fathers and the fundamental principals of Christianity found in God’s Word and then there are the rest who are just “Christian lolly gagging” through life with a “fa la la” attitude. And yes those are official Ray Gano technical terms and I hope you understood there complexity.

Bill estimated that there are about one million, if that many, so called solid hard core, know the Word, live the Word, Jesus is my rock Christians. You see, Bill lives on the road 3 out of four weeks per month speaking and sharing the Gospel. So I believe his estimate. Not only that, but I have heard this also from my friend Walid Shoebat as well as several others who are out on the road also. Interesting thing is that not only are we seeing this, many of you out there are seeing it too.

George Barna came out with a report that shown that only 6% of Americans hold to a biblical world view, that means that 94% do not. Kind of a scary thought.

A little while ago my Pastor taught from these verses and they resonated with my spirit as I ponder these things.

Proverbs 22:28 says, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."

Deuteronomy 6:4 – 9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Folks I am deeply concerned.

1. I am concerned that we as Christians have stepped completely away from the solid teachings, the solid Word of God, and the solid songs, hymns, and psalms of the Lord. We have forgotten the “ancient landmarks” of our forefathers.

2. We no longer love the LORD thy God with all our heart, soul and might. We do not meditate on Him or on His Word. We no longer teach it to our children and we do not meditate on it day and night 24/7. We have forgotten the LORD our God and have put Him away and in His place we have accepted a sugar coated humanistic social gospel.

3. We have not separated ourselves. We are Christians no longer holy and acceptable unto God. We have watered down the gospel, watered down our churches, watered down the very word of God and watered down our praise and worship. The authority of God’s Word no longer matters. It is group thought and our own subjective thought that counts, who cares that the Bible is only the infallible Word of God.

4. We are in love with the world and to justify it, we slap the word Christian on all our actions. Our actions give us that warm fuzzy feeling. This is a lie and we know it. We have become friends of the world and we willingly have done so. The warm fuzzy is the trappings of the world and we have willingly partaken of those trappings much like Adam and Eve took to the apple.

5. We no longer have men of God and in its place we have created feminized men who are now leading the church with a touchy feely sugar coated, don’t offend anyone attitude. Women, due to the vacuum men have created; have stepped up to the plate. This is not their calling, nor their place.

1Timothy 2:12 - 13 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

This is nothing new but is horribly wrong. Here is a short story that was told by our Pastor; who by the way is a man completely committed to the Word of God and makes no bones about it.

“Theodore Roosevelt taught Sunday School at Christ Church, but he was so muscular a Christian that the decorous vestrymen thought him an unwise guide in piety. For one day a boy came to class with a black eye which he had got in fighting a larger boy for pinching his sister. Theodore told him that he did perfectly right--that every boy ought to defend any girl from insult--and he gave him a dollar as a reward. The vestrymen decided that this was too flagrant approval of fisticuffs; so the young teacher soon found a welcome in the Sunday School of a different denomination.”

- Theodore Roosevelt: An Intimate Biography By William Roscoe Thayer

You see, what Teddy Roosevelt did was correct, but where the church erred is turning the other cheek… a soft response. Teddy was in between two commands from the bible.

1. Turn the other cheek

2. Defend the weak.

Teddy rewarded the boy for defending the weak. The church fired him for his approval of the boy’s actions. What Teddy was doing was instilling the values of being a Godly man where the “men” of the church chose a more feminized solution.

Fast forward to today and look at what kind of church the men of God lead today. Many of them are unwilling to take a firm stand for the Word of God, unwilling to defend and to stand up to be counted as true men of God. We as men of God have forgotten how to be the true leaders in our family. We have delegated the position of spiritual leader to the wife, a role, responsibility and burden that she was not meant to have nor created to have. Because we are unwilling to lead in the family, we are unable to truly lead in the Lord’s Church today.

I am concerned… deeply concerned.

By this time I have probably ticked off every single one of you off in one way or another. See that is another area we have forgotten; accountability. We are no longer accountable to God, accountability to our church, nor to each other. We all walk around with 400 pound gorillas called “LOVE FOR THIS WORLD” strapped to our backs and no one has the guts to neither mention them nor even expose them.

Here is what God’s word says…

Psalm 119:128 -- "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."

Romans 16:17 -- "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

Galatians 2:11 -- "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed."

1 Timothy 1:19-20 -- "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."

2 Timothy 2:16-18 -- "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

I have said all of that to state this.

I see a battle coming and tough times ahead. We as the church have two options.

1. Cowboy UP and get right with God so that when that day comes we are able to stand and be counted.

OR

2. Maintain our status quo of complacency, refusing to occupy till He returns because we are spineless jellyfish.

You see, we serve the Great I AM. We forget that “all things are possible through Christ Jesus.”

We as God’s people must separate ourselves from this world. The battle coming brings great opportunity. The opportunity we have is to once again be the true church of God of our fore fathers. We have the chance to grow great leaders the likes of Charles Spurgen, DL Moody, Clarence Larken, Billie Sunday, etc.

The rapture can take place this very moment. But if it does not we are commanded to occupy till He returns. We have come up seriously lacking to the duty given us. We have neglected our stewardship in exchange for the world.

We have the chance to impact the world like never before. We have the chance to once more have the church be the salt and light to this world and not the ineffective lukewarm Laodicean church we are today.

Here is the answer.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Joshua 24:15 b - But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

I leave you with these words from Paul to meditate upon…

Philippians 3:13 -14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this ONE thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and REACHING FORTH unto those things which are before,

I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK

FOR THE PRIZE

OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
(emphasis mine)

A special thanks to David Beatty Sr. A pastor I am honored to follow as well as a valued counselor for Prophezine.